CHAPTER 5: THE MIDNIGHT ESCAPE
Baarish ab ek qatl-e-aam par utar aayi thi. Bijli ki har kadak ke saath Ishani ka chota sa kamra roshan ho uthta, aur Raj ki muscular body ki parchayi deewar par kisi bhatke hue saaye ki tarah dikhti. Meher khidki par khadi thi, uski aankhon mein wahi purani khamoshi thi, lekin uske alfaaz zeher ki tarah teekhe thhe.
"Police ki gaadiyan do gali peeche hain, Raj. Aryan ke baap ne poore area ki nakebandi (blockade) karwa di hai," Meher ne kaha, uski awaaz baarish ki shor mein bhi saaf sunayi de rahi thi.
Raj ne apni leather jacket pehni. Uska kandha (shoulder) abhi bhi dard kar raha tha, par usne apne chehre par ek bhi sikan nahi aane di. Usne ek nazar kitchen ke band darwaze ki taraf dekha, jahan Ishani uske liye shayad haldi wala doodh ya koi dawa dhoond rahi hogi.
(Internal Monologue - Raj): 'Ishani... masoom hai. Agar police ne mujhe yahan dekha, toh iska naam bhi mitti mein mil jayega. Iski masoomiyat ko main apne raaste ka kanta nahi banne de sakta.'
"Chalo," Raj ne kaha aur khidki se bahar kood gaya.
Baarish ka thanda paani jaise hi uske garm jism se takraya, uske shareer se halki si bhap (steam) nikalne lagi. Uska Greek-god jaisa shareer bheegh kar aur bhi chamakne laga tha. Meher ne dekha ki Raj ki aankhon mein darr ka ek katra bhi nahi tha.
Dono tezi se gali ke peeche ki taraf bhage. Tabhi, door se neeli aur lal battiyon ki roshni dikhne lagi. *Wooo-Wooo...* Police ka siren kareeb aa raha tha.
"Meri bike wahan peeche wale garden ke paas khadi hai. Humein jaldi nikalna hoga," Meher ne Raj ka haath pakda aur use ek tang gali (narrow lane) ki taraf kheencha.
Jaise hi wo garden ke paas pahunche, Raj ne dekha ki Meher ki bike ek vintage-style heavy cruiser thi.
"Piche baitho," Meher ne kaha.
"Raj kisi ke piche nahi baithta, Meher," Raj ne ek magnetic muskurahat ke saath kaha aur Meher ke haath se chabi (keys) cheen li. "Tum baitho. Main chalaunga."
Meher ne ek pal ke liye Raj ki aankhon mein dekha. Usne hamesha logon ko dominate kiya tha, par Raj ke saamne uski har zid dam tod deti thi. Wo piche baith gayi aur usne Raj ki kamar (waist) ko zor se pakad liya.
Raj ne engine start kiya—*Ghrrr-Ghrrr!* Jaise hi bike sadak par daudi, Raj ne dekha ki samne se do police ki gaadiyan aa rahi hain. Usne gear shift kiya aur bike ko ek side ki kachhi sadak par utaar diya. Kechad (mud) ud raha tha, aur baarish unki raftar ko rokne ki koshish kar rahi thi.
"Tight pakdna," Raj ne kaha aur speed aur badha di.
Meher ne apna chehra Raj ki peeth (back) par tika diya. Use Raj ki body ki garmahat mehsoos ho rahi thi. Raj ki muscular back kisi pahad ki tarah mazboot thi. Meher, jo hamesha ladkon se door rehti thi, aaj pehli baar kisi ke itne kareeb thi ki use Raj ke skin ki mehek aur uske jism ki taqat ka ehsaas ho raha tha.
(Internal Monologue - Meher): 'Log thik kehte hain... ye ladka nahi, ek nasha hai. Iski proximity mein rehkar hosh khona itna asaan kyun hai?'
Udhar, Ishani kitchen se bahar aayi, haath mein patti aur garam doodh lekar. "Raj, dekho main kya layi... Raj?"
Kamra khali tha. Khidki khuli thi aur baarish ka paani andar aa raha tha. Ishani ke haath se glass niche gir gaya aur chaknachoor ho gaya. Wo khidki ki taraf bhaagi, par bahar sirf andhera aur baarish thi.
"Chale gaye? Bina bataye?" Ishani ki aankhon se aansu behne lage. Use aisa laga jaise uske dil ka ek hissa Raj apne saath le gaya ho.
Wahi doosri taraf, Raj ne bike ko ek sunsaan bridge ke neeche roka. Police ki gaadiyan door nikal chuki thi. Raj haanp raha tha, uska khoon patti ke bahar se phir se dikhne laga tha.
Meher bike se utri aur Raj ke saamne khadi ho gayi. Usne dekha ki Raj ki shirt baarish mein poori tarah bheegi hui thi aur uske chest ke muscles har saans ke saath upar niche ho rahe thhe.
"Tumne apni jaan khatre mein daal di thi, Raj. Aryan ke baap ko tum nahi jaante, wo ek powerful politician hai," Meher ne kaha, uski awaaz mein ab fikar (concern) thi.
Raj ne ek kadam aage badhaya aur Meher ko bridge ki deewar se sata diya. Usne apne dono haath Meher ke dono taraf deewar par rakhe. Meher ab Raj ke magnetic aura mein qaid thi.
"Power toh mere paas bhi hai, Meher. Fark sirf itna hai ki uski power paison mein hai... aur meri... meri mujh mein hai," Raj ne bohot dheere se, uske hothon ke paas kaha.
Meher ki saansein bhari ho gayi. Raj ka chehra uske itne kareeb tha ki unki naak (nose) ek dusre se touch ho rahi thi. Raj ne dekha ki Meher ki aankhon mein wahi chamak hai jo kisi ko tabah karne ke liye kaafi hai.
"Tum bohot khatarnak ho, Raj," Meher ne phusphusaya.
"Khatarnak cheezein hi toh yaad rehti hain, Meher," Raj ne kaha aur dheere se apna haath Meher ke bheege hue baalon mein dala.
Tabhi, Raj ka phone baja. Screen par 'Unknown Number' tha. Raj ne phone uthaya.
"Hello?"
"Raj... bacha toh nahi ja sakta tumse, par koshish achi thi." Ye awaaz kisi aur ki nahi, balki **Anjali (Head Girl)** ki thi. Par uska lehja badla hua tha. "Main tumhe bachane ke liye nahi, balki tumhe arrest karwane ke liye aa rahi hoon. Main tumhare thik piche hoon."
Raj ne mudkar dekha. Bridge ke doosre kone par ek car ki lights on hui. Anjali gaadi se bahar nikal rahi thi, uske haath mein uska phone tha aur chehre par ek dheet (stubborn) expression.
(Internal Monologue - Raj): 'Toh Head Girl ne apna jaal bichha hi diya. Interesting. Ab maza aayega.'
Bridge par sannata tha, sirf baarish ki boondein purane lohe se takrakar ek dhundli goonj paida kar rahi thi. Anjali ki car ki headlights ne Raj aur Meher ko ek luminous aura mein lapet liya tha. Anjali car se bahar nikli, uske hath mein uska phone tha, screen par police ka dialer khula hua tha.
Uska face gusse se laal tha, par uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb si kashmakash thi jo wo chupa rahi thi.
"Piche hat jao, Meher," Anjali ne chillakar kaha, uski awaaz baarish ko cheer rahi thi. "Raj ne jo kiya hai uski saza use milni chahiye. Aryan hospital mein hai aur police har jagah ise dhoond rahi hai. Agar tumne iska saath diya, toh tum bhi phasogi."
Meher ne Raj ki taraf dekha. Raj bilkul khamosh tha. Usne dheere se Meher ka haath apni kamar se hataya aur Anjali ki taraf badhne laga. Uske har kadam ke saath ek ajeeb sa pressure build ho raha tha.
"Raj, ruko! Wahi rukh jao!" Anjali ne dhamkaya, uska angutha (thumb) 'Call' button ke bilkul upar tha.
Lekin Raj nahi ruka. Wo chalta raha jab tak wo Anjali ke itne kareeb nahi pahunch gaya ki Anjali ko apna sir upar uthakar use dekhna pada. Raj ki bheeghi hui white vest uske chest par chipki hui thi, aur baarish ki boondein uske muscles se hote hue niche sarak rahi thi.
"Dabao button, Anjali," Raj ne bohot dheeme aur nishile lehje mein kaha. "Kardo mujhe police ke hawale. Tum toh Head Girl ho na? Rules follow karna toh tumhara dharam hai."
Anjali ka hath kaanpne laga. Raj ki magnetic aankhon mein ek aisi taqat thi jo uske saare discipline ko pighla rahi thi. Raj ne apna garm haath Anjali ke thande haath par rakha—wahi haath jisne phone pakda tha.
"Tumhe lagta hai tum mujhe arrest karwa kar sukoon se so paogi?" Raj ne phusphusaya, uske hoth Anjali ke kaan ke itna paas thhe ki Anjali ko uski har saans mehsoos ho rahi thi. "Tumhari aankhein kuch aur hi keh rahi hain, Anjali. Tum yahan mujhe arrest karne nahi aayi ho... tum dekhne aayi ho ki main sahi-salamat hoon ya nahi."
Anjali ne apni aankhein band kar li. (Internal Monologue - Anjali): 'Nahi, ye galat hai. Ye ladka ek mujrim hai. Par... iska touch itna overpowering kyun hai? Main hosh kyun kho rahi hoon?'
"Main... main duty follow kar rahi hoon," Anjali ne kamzor awaaz mein kaha.
Raj ne dheere se uske hath se phone cheen liya aur car ki bonnet par rakh diya. Usne Anjali ko car se sata diya (pinned her to the car). Anjali ki saansein tez ho gayi. Baarish mein bheeghi hui uski school uniform uske jism se chipak gayi thi, revealing her curves.
"Duty dil se badi nahi hoti, Anjali," Raj ne kaha aur uske chehre se bheege hue baal hataye. Uska sparsh (touch) itna sensual tha ki Anjali ke poore badan mein ek sihran daud gayi.
Piche khadi Meher ye sab dekh rahi thi. Uski aankhon mein jalan (jealousy) ki ek chingari uthi. Use lag raha tha ki Raj sirf uska hai is waqt, par Raj toh har dil ko jeetne ka hunar jaanta tha.
"Raj! Humein nikalna chahiye, police kabhi bhi yahan pahunch sakti hai!" Meher ne piche se chillaya.
Raj ne Anjali ki aankhon mein dekha. "Toh kya kehti ho, Head Girl? Mujhe jane dogi, ya mere saath is toofan mein bheeghna chahogi?"
Anjali ne ek gehri saans li aur Raj ki shirt ko apni mutthi mein bhich liya. Usne faisla kar liya tha. "Gadi mein baitho. Main tumhe apne farmhouse le ja rahi hoon. Wahan koi nahi dhoond payega."
Meher ki aankhein phati ki phati reh gayi. Raj ne ek vijayi (victorious) smile di. Usne phone Anjali ko wapas diya aur car ka darwaza khula.
(Internal Monologue - Raj): 'Toh disciplined Anjali ne bhi rules tod diye. Ishani mere intezar mein tadap rahi hogi, Mrs. Khanna pareshan hogi, aur yahan do aur sherniyan mere liye lad rahi hain. Phase 1 ab khatam hone ko hai.'
Raat ke andhere mein, Anjali ki car tezi se shehar se door ek sunsaan raste par nikal gayi. Raj piche baitha tha, aur uske dono taraf Meher aur Anjali ki bechaini thi.
Lekin wo ye nahi jaante thhe ki koi aur bhi tha jo unhe follow kar raha tha. Ek kaali gadi thodi doori par unka picha kar rahi thi. Wo koi police nahi thi... wo Aryan ke baap ke bheje hue peshewar gunde thhe, jinhe sirf ek hi order mila tha:
"Raj ko zinda mat chhodna."
Kahani ab ek aise mod par thi jahan ishq, dushmani aur maut ka milan hone wala tha.
