Update 6
Armaan ne Nishant aur Shadab ki saari baatein suni. Usne turant apna laptop on kiya.
Shikha apne ghar mein breakfast bana rahi thi. Uske ghar mein lage camere se Armaan use dekh paa raha tha. Armaan ne Shikha ko phone kiya. Armaan ka naam screen par dekhte hi Shikha darr gayi aur usne turant phone utha liya.
“Hello...yes Master?” Shikha ne kaanpti hui awaz mein kaha.
“Tumhari jaan ko kharta hai,” Armaan ne kaha, “Abhi ke abhi apne ghar se nikalo. Bilkul samay nahi hai tumhare paas. Kuch gunde aa rahe hai tumhare ghar, tumhe uthwane.”
Shikha uski baat sunkar darr se thar thar kaanpne lagi.
“Main ek location bhej raha hun,” Armaan ne kaha, “Wahan mera ek aadmi tumhe milega aur tumhe mere paas le aayega. Leave right now, Shikha, woh log kisi bhi waqt wahan pahunch sakte hai.”
Shikha ne chulha band kiya aur apne ghar se turant bahar nikali. Woh apni scooter par baithkar us location ke liye chal padi jo Armaan ne bheja tha.
Armaan camera se Shikha ka ghar dekhta raha. Kuch hi der mein Shadab apne aadmiyon ke saath wahan pahuncha. Darwaza todke woh log andar ghuse the.
Shadab ke aadmiyon ne poora ghar chhan maara lekin na Shikha mili, aur na woh kahan gayi hogi iska koi saboot mila.
Shabad ki nazar kitchen mein chulhe par rakhe pan mein bane omlette par gayi. Usne dekha ki Sikha bana banaya nashta chhodkar kahin chali gayi hai. Use shaq hua ki Sikha ko inform kiya gaya tha ki use uthwane ke liye gunde bheje jaa rahe hai. Phir Shadab ki nazar camera par gaye jis se Armaan Shikha ka ghar dekh paa raha tha. Usne us camere mein gusse se ghoora aur tod diya. Armaan ki screen blank ho gayi.
Thodi der mein Armaan ka aadmi Shikha ko sabki nazar se bachkar Armaan ke paas le aaya.
Armaan ne Shikha ko woh camera footage dikhayi. Apne ghar mein sach mein gunde ghuse hue dekh kar Sikha ki cheekh nikal gayi.
“Inhe dhyaan se dekho,” Armaan ne kaha, “Pehle kabhi dekha hai?”
“Is aadmi ko ek baar dekha tha,” Sikha ne Shadab ki taraf ishara karte hue kaha, “Ek din mera peecha kar raha tha yeh, jaise mujhpar nazar rakh raha ho.”
“Tumhe in logon se khatra hai Shikha,” Armaan ne kaha, “You have to be alert.”
“Kaun hai yeh log, Master, aur kyu mujhe uthwana chahte hai?” Sikha ne poocha.
Armaan Shikha ke kareeb aaya aur uska chehra ke phool ki tarah apni hatheliyon mein thama.
“Tumhara Mumbai mein rehna ab safe nahi hai,” Armaan ne kaha, “Main yahan se bahot door ek sheher bhej raha hun. Wahan tumhe ek ghar dilaya jayega aur kuch paise. Apni zindagi naye sire se shuru karna Shikha, I am setting you free.”
Armaan ke baat sunkar Sikha ki aankhon mein aansu aa gaye. Shikha ne apni azadi ke sapne tak dekhna chhod diya tha.
“Kyu, Master?” Shikha ne poocha, “Kya mujhe koi galati ho gayi?”
Armaan muskuraya. “Tumse koi galati nahi hui Shikha,” Armaan ne pyaar se uski baalon mein se haath pherte hue kaha, “Tumne meri har baat maani hai. You have been a good girl. I am the bad guy, sweetheart. Maine bahot julm kiye hai tumpar. Tumhari majboori ka faida uthaya. Ho sake to mujhe maaf kar dena.”
Shikha Armaan se lipat kar rone lagi. Usne kabhi nahi socha tha ki uski zindagi mein yeh pal aayega. Armaan ne jo julm kiye the uspar, uska koi hisaab nahi tha. Armaan ne use is kadar toda tha ki woh bhagne ka soch bhi nahi sakti thi, usne zindagi bhar apne aap ko uska gulaam maan liya tha. Aur ab achanak Armaan ne use azaad kar diya tha aur us se maafi bhi maang raha tha. Woh samajh hi nahi paa rahi thi ki yeh sapna hai ya haqeeqat.
“Hey sweetheart,” Armaan ne Shikha ke aansu pochte hue kaha, “Maine bahot rulaya hai na tumhe, ab aur nahi. Ab tum apni zindagi apni marzi se jiogi, dua karunga ki Bhagwan tumhe woh saari khushiyan dein jo maine tumse cheeni thi. I am sorry for everything I did to you. I know ki is se kuch nahi badlega...but...”
Armaan bolte bolte chup ho gaya. Shikha ko ek genuine emotion dikha uski aankhon mein.
“Tumhe chalna chahiye,” Amraan ne kaha, “Jitni jaldi tum is sheher se door jaogi utni surakshit rahogi. Take care, Shikha.”
Itna kehkar Armaan wahan se chala gaya. Armaan ka aadmi Shikha ko lekar Mumbai se bahot door chala gaya.
***************
“Shikha bach nikli,” Shadab ne Nishant se kaha, “Uske ghar se uska hair brush mila hai, maine use DNA matching ke liye bhej diya hai.”
“Bachi kaise woh?” Nishant ne gusse se ghoorte hue poocha.
“Kisi ne use tip di thi,” Shadab ne kaha, “Koi hai jo andar ki khabrein leak kar raha hai.”
Nishant gehri soch mein pad gaya. Uske dimag mein bahot saare khayal daud rahe the.
*************
Armaan Nishant ke phone ki photos aur videos dekh raha tha. Woh dekh paa raha the ki kis qadar Ragini par nirantar julm kiye jaa rahe hai aur videos banaye jaa rahe hai.
Armaan ne Raghav ko phone kiya.
“Ragini ko nikalna hai yaar wahan se,” Armaan ne kaha, “Bahot buri halat mein hai woh. Din raat noch raha hai woh use.”
“Jaanta hun. Koshish kar raha hun,” Raghav ne kaha, “Lekn apne kisi bhi aadmi ko Nishant ke ghar ke andar bhejna mushkil hai. Main laga hua hun. Jaise hi mauka milta hai aapko inform kar dunga Sir.”
**************
Shaam ko Nishant drugs le raha tha apne kamre mein.
Iss baar drugs ka kuch alag sa asar ho raha tha uspar. Sar ekdum bhari ho raha tha, aur apne chaaron taraf ek pal rang birangi lightein chamak rahi thi to agle hi pal andhera ho jaa raha tha.
Phir achanak usne woh awaz phir suni. Usi aurat ki hasi uske kaanon mein goonjne lagi. Nishant apne kaanon ko dhak ke cheekhne laga.
“CHUP!” woh cheeka, “Chup ho jaa saali!”
“Mujhe chup karayega?” woh aurat haste hue boli, “Armaan ka to muh khulwa nahi paaya, chutiya Nishant.”
“Chahti kya hai tu?” Nishant chillaya.
“Tujhe sach batana,” woh aurat pagalon ki tarah haste hue boli, “Tera bhai teri ki tarah chutiya tha...ladki ke haathon maara gaya, harami saala.”
“Rihaan ke baare mein kuch bhi bola na..to..” Nishant use dhamkane laga.
“To kya?” woh aurat haste hue boli, “Kya ukhad lega mera tu, suar kahin ke! Rihaan ki itni hi parwah hai to use us khod ke nikal use tere hi aangan us bargat ke ped ke neeche se jahan Armaan ne use gaada hai. Bechara akela sad raha hai...”
Nishant pagalon ki tarah chillata hua kamre ki cheezein idhar udhar phenkne laga. Shor sunkar Anvit wahan aa gaya.
“Sir, kya hua?” Anvit ne poocha.
“Dono bhai chutiye the, chutiye ho aur chutiye rahoge...” woh aurat haskar boli.
“Chup saali raand!” Nishant chillaya.
Anvit harani se Nishant ko akele badbadate hue dekhne laga.
“Dekh kya raha hai be lodu,” Nishant chillaya, “Jaake pakad usko!’
“Kisko?” Anvit ne kaha.
“Bargat ka ped, yaad hai na,” woh aurat phir boli, “Woh kya hai na, tere jaise ganjediyon ki yaadaash thodi kamjor hoti hai, isiliye yaad dila rahi hun.”
“Tujhe sunai nahi de raha hai kya be harami?” Nishant ne Anvit par chillate hue kaha, “Bakwaas kiya jaa rahi hai!”
“Bakwaas lag raha hai to khod ke dekh na bargat ke ped ke neeche,” woh aurat haste hue boli.
Nishant cheekh utha. Woh frustrate ho raha tha ki Anvit ko us aurat ki baat nahi sunai de rahi thi. Woh aurat ki hasi aur uski baatein Nishant ko pagal kiye jaa rahi thi.
“Security ko alert kar de!” Nishant ne kaha, “Aaj woh haraamzaadi bach ke nahi jaani chahiye! Aur naukaron se kehkar bargat ke ped ke paas ki zameen khudwao.”
Us aurat ki hasi Nishant ke kaanon mein goonjti rahi.
Nishant balcony mein khada apne naukaron ko ped ke aas paas ki zameen khod te hue dekhne laga. Raat bhar khudai chalti rahi. Subah tak ped ke chaaron taraf ki zameen 6 feet neeche tak khod di gayi thi lekin wahan kuch nahi mila. Aur woh aurat ki kahin nahi mili jiski awaz Nishant ko pagal kiye jaa rahi thi.
“Tera chutiya kaatna kitna aasaan hai re,” woh aurat phir boli, “Maine bargat ka ped kaha, tune khudwa liya...ha.ha.ha...”
Nishant pagalon ki tarah cheekhne laga.
Uske pita Rajvardhan ji kamre mein aa gaye.
“Tum theek ho beta?” Rajvardhan ji ne kaha, “Raat bhar jaag rahe the, suna hai akele hi badbada rahe the!
“Nahi papa,” Nishant ne aansu bahate hue kaha, “Main theek nahi hun. Rihaan ke saath kuch bahot bura ho gaya hai...aur woh haram ka jana Armaan, khula ghum raha hai! Koi saza nahi mil rahi use!”
“Uske khilaaf koi saboot bhi to nahi hai,” Rajvardhan ji ne kaha, “Ho sakta hai woh involved na ho. Ek cufflink hi to mila hai Rihaan ka uske ghar se. Is se kuch saabit nahi hota beta.”
“Kisi ladki ne maara hai Rihaan ko papa,” Nishant ne kaha, “Aur Armaan us ladki ko bachane ke liye yeh sab kar raha hai.”
“Cufflink par ladki ka khoon mila hai,” Rajvardhan ne kaha, “Lekin iska matlab yeh nahi hai ki ladki ne Rihaan ko kuch kiya hai. Aur is baat ka bhi koi saboot nahi hai ki woh khoon Armaan ke ghar mein laga hai. Police investigation bhi dead end par hai.”
“Aap chahte kya hain Papa?” Nishant chillaya, “Kya aap Rihaan ka pata bhi nahi lagana chahte? Bada beta tha woh aapka! Aap ko bete se jyada sympathy votes ki padi hai jo bete ke gaya hone ki wajah se aapko milne waali hai! Aap to chahte hi nahi ki chunav se pehle Rihaan ka kuch pata chale!”
“Main bas itna kehna chahta hun ki jo bhi karna hai soch samajh ke karo,” Rajvardhan ji ne kaha, “Armaan manjha hua khiladi hai. Uske paas aise bahot se saboot hai jo meri aur meri party ki political chabi ko kharab kar sakte hai. Woh lihaj kar raha hai to hume bhi karna chahiye. Don’t be ruthless. He is a strong player. Uske khilaaf bina pukhta saboot ke koi action nahi liya jaa sakta.”
“So typical Dad!” Nishant ne jhallate hue kaha, “Bachpan se aapki yeh politics dekhta aa raha hun. Mere liye to aapke paas kabhi samay nahi tha. Rihaan ne mujhe pyar diya, bade bhai ka bhi aur baap ka bhi. Mere liye Rihaan sabse badhkar tha. Aaj bhi aapko apne bete ke kaatilon ko saza dene se jyada apni political image it parwah hai!”
“Agar Armaan involved hai, to woh bachega nahi,” Rajvardhan ji e kaha, “Yeh mera waada hai. Lekin har cheez ka samay hota hai beta, bas thoda sabr rakho. Jis tareeke se tum cheezon ko handle kar rahe ho...kuch haath nahi lagega tumhare.”
“Saabr rakho, my foot!” Nishant chillaya.
Nishant gusse mein kamre se bahar chala gaya.
Rajvardhan ji use chinta bhari nazron se jaate hue dekhne lage. Unhe apne bete ki bigadti mansaik halat ko lekar chinta thi.
*********
Kuch dino baad Shadab Nishant ke paas aaya.
“Woh cufflink par mila DNA Shikha ka nahi hai,” Shadab ne kaha.
“Shikha mili kya?” Nishant ne kaha.
“Nahi,” Shadab ne kaha, “Aisi gayab hui hai ki naamon nishaan nahi hai saali ka.”
“Armaan ne gayab kiya hai,” Nishant ne kaha, “Shikha ki aukaat nahi thi khud se bhaagne ki.”
“Armaan ke life se judi aur bhi auratein hai, Shikha se pehle woh..” Shadab ne kaha.
“Na, na...” Nishant ne kaha, “Main Rihaan ko jaanta hun. Usko purane maal mein koi interest nahi hai. In fact, Shikha se bhi woh bore ho chuka tha. Agar woh us raat kisi ladki ke saath tha, toh woh ladki Armaan ki latest shikar rahi hogi. Shikha ke baad kitni ladkiyan aayi Armaan ki life mein?”
“Meri jaankaari mein Shikha ke baad koi nahi thi,” Shadab ne kaha.
“Koi to zaroor thi, jise Armaan ne chupa liya hai,” Nishant ne kaha, “Armaan ki latest activities ko ek baar phir se review karo.”
***********
Raghav ne Armaan ko phone kiya.
“Nishant ke ghar mein koi pipe leak kar raha hai to unhone plumber bulwaya hai,” Raghav ne kaha, “Mera ek ladka hai, Neeraj. Highly trained hai. Usko bhej raha hun plumber banake. Ragini ko nikaal layega woh wahan se.”
“OK, but be careful,” Armaan ne kaha.
Raghav ka aadmi Neeraj Nishant ke ghar pahuncha.
Uske naukar ne uske andar aane diya aur us bathroom me le gaya jahan leaking pipe tha.
“Aap main water supply band kar dijiye,” Neeraj ne kaha, “Main tab tak yeh pipe theek karta hun.”
Naukar use akela chhodkar main water supply band karne gaya. Neeraj tezi se aas paas ke kamre check karne laga. Use tip di gayi thi ki Ragini kis kamre mein hai. Woh turant us kamre mein pahuncha. Usne dhyaan rakha ki kamre mein ghuste hue use koi nahi dekhe.
Ragini kutte ke pinjre mein band thi.
Neeraj ne lock pick ka istemaal karke pijre ka lock kholne laga.
“Ragini,” Neeraj ne kaha, “Main aapko bachane aaya hun.”
Ragini nashe mein itni chur thi ki use kuch hosh hi nahi tha.
Neeraj lock kholne ki kosish karta raha lekin lock khulne ka naam nahi le raha tha. Achanak use darwaze ki taraf badhti hui kadmon ki aahat sunai di.
Neeraj turant Ragini ke pinjre se door hatkar bed ke neeche chup gaya. Darwaza khula aur Anvit andar aaya. Woh Ragini ke pinjre ke paas ghutne ke bal baith gaya. Uske haath mein ek plate thi.
“Sandwich laaya hun, Ragini,” Anvit ne kaha, “Khaogi?”
Ragini hosh mein nahi thi. Usne koi jawab nahi diya. Anvit ne woh plate uske pinjre mein sarka di aur kaha, “Jab mann kare tab kha lena.”
Anvit usko dekh kar nam aankhon se muskuraya aur pyar se uske baalon mein haath phera. Phir woh uth khada hua aur us bistar tak gaya jiske neeche Neeraj chupa hua tha. Neeraj alert ho gaya. Agar Anvit use pakad leta hai to Anvit par attack karne ke liye Neeraj ne apna chaku taiyyar kiya.
Anvit ab bed ke bahot paas khada tha. Achanak se uski jeb se kuch gira, lohe ka, chabi jaisa. Neeraj alert ho gaya ki agar Avnit woh chabi uthane ke liye jhukega to woh Neeraj ko dekh lega. Apne bachav mein phir Neeraj to uspar attack karna padega. Lekin Anvit woh chabi uthane ke liye jhuka hi nahi. Woh bas muda aur darwaze ki taraf chala aur kamre se chala gaya.
Neeraj ne turant woh chabi utha li aur Ragini ke pinjre ka darwaza khol diya. Neeraj ne dekha ki Ragini ke badan par koi kapde nahi the. Neeraj ne aas paas se ek bedsheet uthai aur Ragini ke badan par lapetne laga
“Ragini,” Neeraj ne uska gaal thapthapate hue kaha, “Aankhein kholo please...humare paas waqt bahot kam hai.”
“Tum kaun ho?” Ragini ne dheeme poocha.
“Jisne tumne is kaam ke liye bheja tha, usi ne mujhe bheja hai tumhe yahan se nikalane ke liye,” Neeraj ne kaha, “Please thodi himmat jutao...aankhein kholo...uthne ki koshish karo...”
Par Ragini na aankhein khol paa rahi thi, na pinjre se bahar aa paa rahi thi. Uske haath pairon mein jaise jaan hi nahi thi. Aisi halat mein use lekar bhagna mushkil tha.
“Ragini,” Neeraj ne use halke se hilate hue kaha, “Please...kosish karo...please...”
Uski baatein sunkar Ragini poori koshish karne lagi aur pinjre se jaise taise bahar nikalkar uth khadi hui. Lekin woh do kadam chalkar hi zameen par gir padi.
Ragini ki halat dekh kar Neeraj hatash ho gaya. Usne Raghav ko call kiya.
“Woh bahot jyada nashe mein hai boss,” Neeraj ne kaha, “Chal bhi nahi paa rahi hai. Aisi halat mein usko lekar yahan se nikala to hum dono padke jayenge.”
“Abort mission,” Raghav ne kaha, “Nikalo wahan se turant.”
***********
Do din baad, Shadab Nishant ke paas ek photo lekar aaya.
“Ek kaam ki khabar pata lagi hai boss,” Shadab ne mej par ek photo rakhte hue kaha, “Rihaan ke gayab hone ke ek hafte baad, ek slave auction tha. Armaan ne is ladki ko utara tha auction pe.”
Nishant ne Pankhudi ki photo uthakar use dhyaan se dekha. Uski khoobsoorti, uski bholi aankhein dekh kar woh mantramugdh ho gaya.
“Kya naam hai iska?” Nishant ne poocha.
“Is ladki ka koi jikr nahi hai auction ke records mein,” Shadab ne kaha, “Yeh photo bhi mujhe ek dost se mili hai jo us auction mein maujood tha. Is ladki mein bahot logon ko interest tha, bids bahot high uthi thi iski...”
“Kyu nahi hoga isme interest, kya kadak cheez hai,” Nishant ne kaha, “Phir kya hua? Kisne khareeda ise?”
“Koi nahi jaanta ki isko kise becha gaya...iska kahin koi record nahi hai...” Shadab ne kaha, “Maine aur bhi pata lagane ki koshish kari, lekin is ladki ka na koi social media account hai, na bank account hai, na aadhar card hai, basically this girl is a ghost. Iska naam pata thikana pata karna ka koi tareeka hi nahi hai.”
Nishant ne ek gheri saans li aur kuch sochne laga
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Armaan us dono ki baatein sun raha tha. Woh alert ho gaya ki Nishant ke paas ab Pankhudi ki photo thi.
