Episode 56
New opponent
Suraj hairani se apne samne kharay makhlooq ko dekh raha tha. Use yaqeen hi nahi aa raha tha ke Sikandar apne andar ke demon ko dabane mein kamyab ho gaya… aur us ne ek Supernatural ko zinda chhor diya.
Us ke samne jo makhlooq khari thi, woh ek Cyclops tha — Ugrok.
Ugrok ne garaj kar zor se roar kiya.
Us ki roar se hawa par bojh sa mehsoos hua, jaise pressure wave phail gayi ho. Leader aur us ke saathi buri tarah hila diye gaye. Unhein yaqeen nahi aa raha tha ke woh kya dekh rahe hain.
‘Cyclops?! Yeh yahan kaise aa gaya?’
Leader ne dil hi dil mein hairani se socha.
Ugrok ke pehle hamlay mein jo chaar aadmi uchhal kar door ja gire thay, woh buri tarah zakhmi ho chuke thay. Ugrok ke bhari club ne un ke seenay ke right side par zor daar war kiya tha, jis ki wajah se unhein saans lena mushkil ho raha tha.
Leader ne bhonwen sikor li.
Us ka jism aag se jal uthha.
Irad girad ka temperature aik dum barh gaya.
Us ke right haath ki pith par ek rune chamak uthi — roshni itni tez thi ke aankhein chubhne lagen.
Yeh rune Sikandar ke black lightning rune se mukhtalif thi, aur Adhara ke purple fire rune se bhi.
Yeh rune mukammal thi.
‘Yeh waqai Rank Five Awakened hai…’
Suraj ne dil mein socha.
Phir us ne Ugrok ki taraf dekha jo un sab par saaya ban kar khara tha.
‘Kya yeh Cyclops… ek Rank Five Awakened ko hara sakta hai?’
Suraj ke zehan mein sawal uthha.
Ugrok ki aik aankh laal ho gayi.
Us ke jism ki nasen phool gayin. Us ke daant aur seeng tez aur mote ho gaye. Us ka jism aur zyada bara ho gaya.
Suraj ne dekha ke Ugrok ke jism se dark-yellow aura nikal rahi thi.
Yeh dekh kar Suraj chok gaya.
Us aura mein kuch aisa tha jo use Sikandar ke white aura ki yaad dila raha tha.
Agar Sikandar yahan hota, to woh bhi hairan reh jata.
Yeh dark-yellow aura asal mein Force ka aik aala darja thi.
Force ke maamle mein, Ugrok ne Sikandar ko bhi peeche chhor diya tha.
Woh dark-yellow Force ko control kar raha tha.
Ek lamha zaya kiye baghair, Ugrok ne leader ki taraf daur laga di.
Leader ki aankhein phail gayin jab us ne mehsoos kiya ke Ugrok ki aura use daba dene wali hai.
“Fire Magic — Sea of Fire!”
SWOOSH!!
Zameen aik dum aag mein ghiri.
Darakhtey jal uthay…
lekin Ugrok ki raftaar par koi asar nahi hua.
Us ka jism dark-yellow Force ke barrier mein dhaka hua tha jo aag ko roak raha tha.
“Kya?!”
Leader haraas ho kar cheekh pada aur side par chalang laga di.
CRACK!!
Ugrok ne pagalpan se club ghumaya.
Kai darakht toot kar gir gaye. Is waar ki taqat itni zyada thi ke Rank Five Awakened bhi isay halke mein nahi le sakta tha.
Jab Ugrok leader se larr raha tha, Suraj chup chaap side ki taraf nikal gaya.
Woh un zakhmi aadmiyon ke paas gaya jo pehle Ugrok ke hamlay mein gir chuke thay.
Suraj ke dil mein koi reham nahi tha.
Jo log kuch dair pehle use qatal karna chahte thay, un ke liye koi rehm nahi.
Dabba khol kar us ne daggers nikaalay.
Ek ek kar ke…
Us ne sab ko khatam kar diya.
Koi bhi zinda nahi bacha.
BOOM!!
Achanak leader hawa mein urta hua Suraj ke paas se guzra aur zor se darakht se takra gaya.
Ugrok ka waar laga tha.
Ugrok ka jism aag mein jal raha tha.
Dark-yellow barrier toot chuka tha — aakhir Rank Five Awakened ke spells mazaaq nahi hotay.
Lekin ajeeb baat yeh thi…
Ugrok ko koi nuqsaan nahi hua tha.
Leader mushkil se uthha.
Us ka jism neelay daaghoon aur khoon se bhara hua tha.
ROAR!!
Ugrok ne phir se garaj kar roar kiya.
Hawa kaanp uthi.
BOOM!!
Us roar se ek khofnaak soundwave nikli.
Qareeb ke tamam darakht zameen se lag gaye.
Leader ne apne aag se bane baazu samne la kar guard li, phir bhi woh peeche dhakel diya gaya.
Jaise hi soundwave khatam hui, leader ne Ugrok ke jism mein tabdeeli mehsoos ki.
Ugrok ki laal skin se intehai tez garmi nikal rahi thi.
Us ki aankh se aansu behne lage…
lekin garmi ki wajah se foran bhap ban kar ghayab ho gaye.
Agar Sikandar yahan hota, to woh foran pehchan jata.
Yeh Ugrok ka aakhri aur sab se taqatwar attack tha — wohi skill jo kabhi Sikandar ko bhi zakhmi kar chuki thi.
Ugrok ki taqat har second barh rahi thi.
Leader ka chehra safed par gaya.
Us ne aik pal bhi zaya nahi kiya… aur bhaag nikla.
Suraj us ke peeche bhagna chahta tha, lekin leader bohat tez tha.
‘Laanat… woh bhaag gaya. Baad mein wapas aayega…’
Suraj ne daant peeste hue socha.
Woh jaanta tha ke use leader ko marna chahiye tha — lekin woh itna taqatwar nahi tha.
Agar Cyclops na hota… to aaj Suraj zinda na hota.
‘Yeh log zaroor Platchi ki taraf se thay… Sikandar ko phansane ke liye mujhe bait banana chahte thay,’
Suraj ne socha.
Tabhi us ke peeche se bhaari qadamoon ki awaaz aayi.
Thud… Thud…
Ugrok Suraj ke paas aakar ruk gaya.
Us ka bara jism Suraj ki nazar ko poori tarah dhak raha tha.
Ugrok ne neeche dekha.
Suraj paseene mein naha gaya.
Ugrok ne use sunghta hua kaha,
“Ugrok ko lagta hai… tumhari khushboo pehchani si hai.”
Suraj foran bola,
“Mujhe Sikandar ne bheja hai. Mujhe yeh bag us raaz wali jagah mein rakhna hai… us gaddhay ke andar.”
Us ne hollow hole ki taraf ishara kiya.
Ugrok ne isharay se Suraj ko follow karne ko kaha.
Har qadam par zameen kaanp uthti.
Ugrok pehle se zyada taqatwar lag raha tha.
Shayad… agar Sikandar werewolf na banta, to Ugrok use bhi hara deta.
Suraj ne haath hole ke andar dala.
Usay mehsoos hua jaise haath kahin aur teleport ho raha ho.
Andar thand zyada thi… aur jagah bilkul mukhtalif mehsoos ho rahi thi.
Yaqeen hone ke baad, Suraj khud bhi andar chala gaya.
Andar ka manzar pehle jaisa tha… lekin is dafa khaali.
Sirf Ugrok aag ke paas baitha tha… aur aik aur wajood tha.
“Woohoo!!”
Aik laal skin ka 1 chota sah bacha— mushkil se aik saal ka — idhar udhar bhaag raha tha.
Us ki raftaar hairan kun thi.
“Dyrmir, idhar aa kar khana khao,”
Ugrok ne kaha.
Khane ka naam sunte hi Dyrmir pal bhar mein aa kar baith gaya.
Suraj ne gaur se dekha.
Dyrmir ke paas lightning power thi.
Aur… us ki do aankhein thi.
“Yeh… aap ka beta hai?”
Suraj ne hichkichate hue poocha.
“Dyrmir, Ugrok ka beta hai.
Woh half-human hai,”
Ugrok ne jawab diya.
Suraj ne sar hila diya.
Ab sab samajh aa gaya.
Ugrok ne poocha,
“Bag mein kya hai?”
Suraj ne bag uthha kar kaha,
“Sikandar ne kaha hai yahan rakhna. Kholna mat… warna woh ghussa ho jaye ga.”
Ugrok ne bag hut ke andar rakh diya.
“Tumhara naam?”
Ugrok ne poocha.
“Suraj.
Sikandar ka sab se qareebi dost,”
us ne jawab diya.
Suraj aag ke paas baith gaya aur bola,
“Jab tak sab theek nahi hota… main yahin rukoon ga.”
Aag ki lapton mein dekhte hue, us ke zehan mein sirf ek baat thi—
Yeh jung abhi khatam nahi hui.
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Meanwhile…
Duncan hamesha ki tarah apne office mein baitha tha ke achanak uska phone baj utha. Usne sust andaaz mein phone uthaya aur kaan se laga liya.
“Kaun hai?” usne uktaye hue lehje mein kaha.
Dusri taraf se ek ghabraayi hui awaaz aayi,
“President! Ek bohat buri situation ho gayi hai!”
Duncan seedha ho kar baith gaya.
“Spellbooks! Wo… wo hamari inventory se gayab ho chuki hain! Koi unhein chura kar le gaya hai!”
Yeh sunte hi Duncan apni kursi se uth khara hua.
“WHAT?! Ye kaise ho sakta hai?! Tum logon se ye kaise hone diya?!”
“A-alarm baja tha sir, hamare aadmi foran pohanch gaye thay… lekin jab tak wo wahan pohanchay, box pehle hi gayab ho chuka tha.”
Duncan ki ungliyan kaanp rahi thin jab usne agla sawaal kiya,
“Kya kuch bhi mila? Koi clue? Koi lead?!”
“Sir… unhon ne teen log dekhe thay. Safaid kapron mein, aur unki gardanon mein laal scarves thay. Alarm bajne ke foran baad ek aadmi ne unhein dekha.”
Duncan ne ghusse mein phone zameen par patak diya aur call khatam kar di.
Wo wapas kursi par baith gaya, gehri soch mein doobta hua.
“Teen log safed kapron mein… akhir ye kaun ho sakte hain?”
Kuch dair sochne ke baad usne na-chahte hue ek aur number dial kiya.
“Behtar hai khud bata doon… warna agar unhein khud pata chal gaya to anjaam aur bura hoga.”
Kuch rings ke baad call uthai gayi.
“Sir… mujhe afsos hai ke disturb kar raha hoon, lekin Spellbooks chori ho chuki hain. Teen afraad thay, safed libaas aur laal scarves ke sath,” Duncan ne khauf chupate hue kaha.
Uske maathe par paseena tha.
Dusri taraf se sakht ghussa sunayi diya. Gaaliyan, dhamkiyan… lekin Duncan hairaan reh gaya jab usay koi saza nahi mili.
Akhir mein sirf itna kaha gaya,
“Ab kuch nahi ho sakta. Unhein dhoondho… lekin yaad rakhna, ye bohat khatarnak hoga.”
Call khatam hui.
Duncan ne gehri saans li.
“Lagta hai higher-rank families phir se harkat mein aa chuki hain… aur chor koi aam banda nahi ho sakta.”
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Sikandar aur Adhara iss waqt gaari mein thay, shehar ki sarkon par tezi se aagay barh rahe thay. Dono formal kapron mein thay — lagta tha kisi khaas jagah ja rahe hon.
“Adhara,” Sikandar ne awaaz di.
Adhara khidki se bahar manzar dekh rahi thi. Usne halka sa sar mod kar kaha,
“Hmm?”
“Tum jaanti ho na… hum ek dusre se sab kuch share kar sakte hain?” Sikandar ne narmi se kaha.
Adhara ne nazar chura li.
“…”
“To phir batao… tum Faraday University shift hone se kyun inkaar kar rahi ho? Mujhe sach bata sakti ho,” Sikandar ne poocha.
Kuch lamhon tak khamoshi rahi. Adhara ne hont daanton mein daba liye.
Aakhir usne dheemi awaaz mein kaha,
“Unhon ne kaha hai… agar main yahan ruki rahi, to wo mere Dad ka kata hua haath wapas uga denge. Main unse kabhi kabhi nafrat karti hoon… lekin phir bhi… main chahti hoon ke wo pehle jaise ho jaayen.”
Sikandar ki bhonhein sikud gayin.
“Is liye…”
Usne dil mein system se poocha,
“System, kya koi item hai jo aik normal insaan ka haath restore kar sakay?”
<System: Haan. Body Restoring Pill aik normal insaan ka haath wapas la sakti hai.
Qeemat: 5,000 gold>
Sikandar hairaan hua, lekin mutmain bhi.
“Mehngi hai… lekin na-mumkin nahi.”
Wo Adhara ki taraf dekhta hua bola,
“Tum mere sath Faraday University chalo. Main khud tumhare Dad ka haath theek kar dunga.”
Adhara ne shock se Sikandar ko dekha.
“T-tum ye kar sakte ho?!”
“Bas mujh par bharosa rakho,” Sikandar ne halka sa muskura kar kaha.
Usne pyaar se Adhara ke sar par haath rakha.
Ye chhota sa ishara Adhara ke dil tak utar gaya. Uske gaal halkay se surkh ho gaye aur usne nazar jhuka li.
Uske seene mein ajeeb si garmi mehsoos hui — jaise wo kisi ke liye waqai ahmiyat rakhti ho.
Wo phir Sikandar ko dekhne lagi, lekin iss dafa uski aankhon mein ek naya yaqeen tha.
“Shayad… main waqai us par bharosa kar sakti hoon.”
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Internet par maujood har mumkin maloomat hasil karne ke baad, Sikandar aur Adhara library se bahar nikal aaye.
Faraday University ke principal ne unhein aik favor dene par razamandi zahir ki thi.
Sikandar ko umeed thi ke principal kuch waqt baad phone ya message ke zariye jawab dein ge, lekin uski umeed ke bilkul bar’aks, principal ne achanak khud unhein face-to-face meeting ke liye bula liya, aur yeh bhi bataya ke unhein jawab pehle hi mil chuka hai.
Yeh baat Sikandar aur Adhara dono ke liye hairat angez thi.
Itni gehri aur purani maloomat itni aasani se mil jana… yeh normal baat nahi thi.
Aakhirkaar, Sikandar aur principal ke darmiyan yeh tay hua ke woh Ochyra University ke qareeb maujood aik six-star hotel restaurant mein milenge — Amethyst Hotel, jo awam aur khaas dono mein bohot mashhoor tha.
Amethyst Hotel sirf aam logon ke liye nahi, Awakened logon ke liye bhi mukammal facilities rakhta tha. Yeh hotel celebrities aur elite Awakened ko accommodate karne ke liye jana jata tha, apni high-end services aur shandaar security ki wajah se.
Mukhtasir yeh ke, Amethyst Hotel is sector ka aik legendary hotel tha.
Sikandar aur Adhara hotel pohanchte hain, gaari se utarne se pehle apne kapron ko theek karte hain, phir gaari se bahar nikalte hain.
Sikandar ne black tuxedo pehna hua tha — woh tuxedo jo Adhara ne kuch ghantay pehle zabardasti kharidwaya tha is meeting ke liye.
Tuxedo uske jism par bilkul fit baith raha tha, uski muscular posture ko aur bhi numaya kar raha tha.
Us par lagayi hui mehngi cologne uski mardana personality ko aur gehra bana rahi thi.
Adhara, doosri taraf, O-neck red dress mein thi jo dekhne walon ki nazar ko khud ba khud apni taraf kheench rahi thi.
Dress uski lambi, patli tangon ka halka sa ishara deti thi, aur red high heels uski height ko Sikandar ke barabar la rahi thi.
Uske baal neatly bun mein bandhay hue thay, uski safed aur mulayam gardan bilkul numaya thi, jo uski khoobsurti ko aur barha rahi thi.
Usne natural makeup kiya hua tha, jab ke gehri laal lipstick uske dress ke saath kamal ka contrast paida kar rahi thi.
Jaise hi woh gaari se bahar nikli…
kai nazrein us par tik gayin.
Sikandar ne aik nazar idhar-udhar dekhi, phir Adhara ki kamar par haath rakha aur dono hotel ke entrance ki taraf chal diye.
Hotel ke bahar mehngi aur luxury gaariyon ki lambi line lagi hui thi, aur andar aane walay log bhi kamyab aur powerful lag rahe thay — chahe woh Awakened hon ya normal.
Reception par pohanch kar Sikandar ne kaha:
“Excuse me, main Vargas Pierce ke naam se book ki gayi room ke liye aaya hoon.”
Principal ne pehle hi Sikandar ko message kar ke room booking ka naam bhej diya tha.
Sikandar nahi jaanta tha ke Vargas kaun hai, lekin woh sirf principal ki hidayat follow kar raha tha.
Jaise hi receptionist ne yeh naam suna…
Uska rawaiya turant badal gaya.
Woh foran jhuk kar salaam karta hai aur Sikandar aur Adhara ko khud guide karne lagta hai.
Hotel ka interior white, grey aur black rangon se bhara hua tha — classy aur elite.
Grey marble floor, safed deewarein aur unique soft lighting poori jagah ko bohot hi pur-sukoon bana rahi thi.
Receptionist unhein restaurant section se guzarta hua second floor par aik khaas room tak le jata hai.
Pool ke paas se guzar kar, woh aik bohot bari aur bhaari darwaze ke samne rukta hai.
Darwaza khulta hai…
Aur waqai woh aik hall hota hai.
Hall ke beech mein aik lambi dining table rakhi hoti hai, aur us par do log maujood hotay hain.
Sikandar ne foran pehchan liya —
Principal aur uske saath khara aik aur aadmi.
Jaise hi Sikandar aur Adhara andar dakhil hotay hain, dono log kharay ho jatay hain.
Receptionist adab se darwaza band kar deta hai.
“Ah… Sikandar Silverstar, welcome,” principal muskurate hue kehta hai aur haath aagay barhata hai.
Sikandar bhi haath barhata hai, dono haath milate hain.
Phir Sikandar poochta hai:
“Agar bura na manayen… kya Vargas Pierce aap ka naam hai?”
Yeh sun kar principal halka sa hans deta hai.
“Ab jab tum ne poocha hai, toh haan… main ne apna naam pehle kabhi bataya hi nahi,”
“Ji haan, mera naam Vargas Pierce hai.”
Phir Vargas ki nazar Sikandar ke saath khari khoobsurat aurat par padti hai.
Adhara aisi lag rahi thi jaise har mard ki nazar ko majbooran apni taraf kheench le — chahe woh kitna hi experienced ya umar-rasida kyun na ho.
“Toh yeh woh larki hai jiska tum zikar karte rehte ho… Adhara Alpenore,”
Vargas kehta hai aur Adhara ki taraf barhta hai.
Woh adab se Adhara ka haath pakar kar halka sa bosa deta hai.
“Greeting, Ms. Adhara. Mera naam Vargas Pierce hai… aur main tumhara future principal bhi hoon.”
Adhara ne sar jhukaya aur narmi se muskurate hue jawab diya:
“Aapse mil kar khushi hui, Sir Vargas.”
Mukhtasir ta’aruf ke baad, waiter hall mein dakhil hota hai aur khana serve karta hai.
Potted crabs aur salmon ki plates un teeno ke samne rakh di jati hain.
Khane ki khushboo foran hawa mein phail jati hai.
“Business shuru karne se pehle,” Vargas kehta hai,
“kyun na hum thori dair khane ka lutf uthayein?”
Sikandar aur Adhara aik dosray ki taraf aik choti si nazar daalte hain, phir khana shuru kar dete hain.
Unhein jaldi thi…
Lekin Vargas ko jaldi nahi karwai ja sakti thi.
Aakhirkaar, woh un par ehsaan kar raha tha.
Is dauran, Vargas ke saath khara aadmi aik pal ke liye bhi nahi hila.
Uska chehra bilkul be-ta’assur tha — jaise aik machine.
Na awaaz, na harkat, na tawajjo.
Kuch bhi ho raha ho, woh bilkul mutasir nahi lagta tha.
Sikandar us par chori chhupi nazrein dalta hai.
Vargas yeh notice kar leta hai aur halki si muskurahat ke saath kehta hai:
“Fikar mat karo, yeh mera assistant hai.”
“Aur agar tum soch rahe ho ke yeh khane mein shamil kyun nahi… toh wajah yeh hai ke yeh abhi duty par hai.”
Vargas halki si hanssi ke saath yeh baat kehta hai.
Yeh sun kar Sikandar bhi adab se muskurata hai.
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Jab teeno log khana kha rahe thay,
Karan khidki ke paas baitha khamoshi mein soch raha tha. Uske dil par abhi tak apni ghalti ka bojh tha. Us raat jo kuch bhi hua, uski zimmedari ka ehsaas usay andar se kha raha tha. Wo kisi hal tak pohanchna chahta tha, kisi aise raaste tak jo us museebat ko suljha sake jo usne khud paida ki thi.
Raat ki thandi hawa uske chehre ko chhoo rahi thi, aur uski aankhein halki si chamak rahi theen.
Usne aik kaghaz uthaya aur likhna shuru kiya—us raat ki har choti bari baat. Jo kuch usne mehsoos kiya, jo dekha, jo suna… aik aik lamha. Kaghaz dheere dheere alfaaz se bharne laga.
Karan ne apni nazar se us raat ke tamam waqiaat likhe—Fatman ka kidnap hona, factory ke andar ka waqia, aur woh sab kuch jo usne apni aankhon se dekha.
Usne kabhi Sikandar ko gusse mein nahi dekha tha. Uski nazar mein Sikandar hamesha pur-sukoon, hamesha control mein rehta tha.
Sikandar ka har qadam itna bharosa aur yaqeen rakhta tha jaise har cheez uske haath mein ho. Magar aaj… aaj uske jazbaat phoot pare thay.
Iska sirf aik matlab tha—masla is dafa bohat zyada gehra tha.
Isi liye Karan uski madad karna chahta tha, chahe uski madad kitni hi choti kyun na ho. Use nahi pata tha ke wo Sikandar ke liye ye sab kar raha hai ya apne dil ke bojh ko halka karne ke liye.
Magar jo bhi tha, isi ehsaas ne Karan ko majboor kiya ke wo Sikandar ki madad kare.
Isi dauran, doosre kamray mein Ryze zameen par simat kar leta hua tha.
Agar koi ghour se dekhta, to uski band aankhon se aansoo behte nazar aate. Wo khamoshi se ro raha tha… akela.
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Wapas Amethyst Hotel mein,
“Adhara bhi Rank Four Awakened hai, is liye wo Faraday University ki taqat mein izafa karegi. Aur wo Kevin ke khilaaf jeet bhi sakti hai,” Sikandar ne fakhr se kaha.
Yeh sun kar Vargas ki aankhein chamak utheen.
Wo pur-josh nazron se Adhara ko dekh kar bola,
“Kya tum apna element dikha sakti ho?”
Sikandar ke sar hila kar ishara dene par, Adhara ne apni mana jama ki aur apni hatheli par markooz ki.
Agle hi lamhay, purple fir uski hatheli par bharrak uthi aur poora mahaul purple roshni se chamak utha.
Yeh dekh kar Vargas kursi par peechay jhuk gaya, uski nazar sirf us aag par jami hui thi.
Sikandar sirf uske chehre se hi andaza laga sakta tha ke Vargas kitna hairaan ho chuka hai.
“La-jawab… yeh Purple fire waqai aik Peak Great Element hai,” Vargas ne hairani se kaha.
Wo gehri saans le kar Purple fire ko dekhta raha, jaise wo aag kisi khoobsurat aurat ki tarah uske samne raqs kar rahi ho.
Adhara ne phir aag ko khatam kiya aur seedhi ho kar wapas baith gayi.
“Tum dono ke hamari university join karne se hamara rank yaqeenan bohat upar chala jaye ga,” Vargas hans kar bola.
Uske chehre ki halki jhurriyan bhi uski khushi chhupa nahi pa rahi theen—wo waqai jawan sa lagne laga tha.
Adhara ne koi jawab nahi diya. Usne pehle hi Faraday University join karne ka faisla kar liya tha.
Sikandar ne usse wada kiya tha ke wo uske Dad ka kata hua bazoo wapas lauta dega—aur Adhara ke liye yeh wada kaafi tha.
Kuch dair baad,
Sikandar aur Adhara ne starter khatam kar liya. Khana la-jawab tha, lekin wo sirf khanay ke liye yahan nahi aaye thay.
“Principal, maazrat ke sath… kya hum khanay ke dauran Shane Thompson ke baare mein baat kar sakte hain?” Sikandar ne poocha.
Yeh sun kar Vargas ne khana chhor diya aur kone mein kharay waiter ko ishara kiya ke wo kamra chhor de.
Waiter ke jaate hi, Vargas ne aik bhuri file nikali.
Usne file table par rakh kar Sikandar ki taraf sarka di.
“Shane Thompson ke baare mein har zaroori cheez is report mein hai—uski paidaish, uska record, uske connections, hatta ke uski maujooda rehaish bhi,” Vargas ne wazeh kiya.
Sikandar ne foran file kholi—sab kuch waqai andar maujood tha. Phir usne system se scan karwaya, taake koi cheez miss na ho.
Usne file Adhara ko de di, jisne use apne bag mein rakh liya.
Sikandar ne mehsoos kiya ke Adhara ki harkatein sakht aur saans be-qaabu si hain.
‘Ye ghabra rahi hai… isay aadat dalni hogi,’ usne socha.
Sikandar shukriya ada karne hi wala tha ke—
“Sikandar… kya tum kisi mushkil mein ho?” Vargas ne beech mein hi pooch liya.
Sikandar aik lamhay ke liye sakta mein aa gaya.
Un dono ke darmiyan sakht eye contact ho gaya. Itna gehra ke Adhara ne bhi ghoont liya.
Yeh Sikandar ki aadat thi—jab wo sochta tha, wo saamne walay ki aankhon mein seedha dekhta tha.
Kuch lamhon baad, Sikandar ne kaha,
“Sab kuch mere control mein hai.”
Vargas ne aankhein sikor kar use dekha.
“Mujhe tumhari aankhein pasand hain… bilkul meri jawani jaisi. Be-khof aur be-larzah,” Vargas bola.
Phir uski awaaz halki ho gayi,
“Magar wahi ghalti mat karna jo maine ki… main ne isi zid ki wajah se apni beti kho di.”
Wo nazar hata kar peeche ho gaya.
Mahol udaas hone hi wala tha ke—
“Lekin mujhe yaqeen hai tum sahi faislay karoge. Mujh se madad mang kar tumne theek kiya,” Vargas ne kaha.
Achanak uska assistant aaya aur uske kaan mein kuch kaha.
Vargas ne Sikandar ki taraf dekha,
“Tum dono ke sath khana khana acha laga, lekin mujhe jana hoga. Baqi ka khana enjoy karo.”
Itna keh kar Vargas aur uska assistant wahan se chalay gaye.
Unke jaate hi Adhara seedha kursi par dhair ho gayi.
“Tension khatam ho gayi,” usne gehri saans le kar kaha.
“Adhara , kya tumhein unmein koi malicious intent mehsoos hui?” Sikandar ne poocha.
Adhara emotional aura dekh sakti thi—isi liye Sikandar use har aisi meeting mein sath rakhta tha.
“Uski beti ka zikar karte waqt uske andar gham tha… lekin mujhe koi dushmani mehsoos nahi hui,” Adhara ne jawab diya.
Sikandar ne sar hila diya.
Usne Vargas ka intekhab is liye kiya tha kyun ke agar wo dono mar gaye, to Vargas ka bhi nuqsaan hota.
Yeh aik win-win deal thi.
Jab Sikandar aur Adhara uth kar jaane lage,
“Hm?” Sikandar ke chehre par ghera pan aa gaya.
Usne achanak teen bohat taqatwar auras mehsoos kiye.
Wo Adhara ko kheench kar khidki ki taraf le gaya, lekin jaisay hi wo koodne wala tha—hawa ka aik barrier saamne aa gaya.
Wo zor se peeche dhakel diya gaya.
‘Humein phansa liya gaya hai,’ Sikandar ne socha.
“Sikandar Silverstar… humein lagta hai ke tumhare paas koi cheez hai jo asal mein hamari hai,” aik aurat ki awaaz kamray mein goonj uthi.
Sikandar ne peeche mudh kar dekha—teen log wahan kharay thay.
Usne foran unhein scan kiya… aur usi lamhay bhag jane ka khayal chhor diya.
‘Is se bhagna mumkin nahi,’ Sikandar ne dil mein kaha.
_ _ _ _
Sikandar ke saamne jo log safed uniforms pehne kharay thay, woh aam log bilkul bhi nahi thay. Woh sab intehai taqatwar Awakened thay—khaaskar woh aurat jo unke group ki leader lag rahi thi.
Sikandar ne pehle hi teeno ko scan kar liya tha, aur jo nateeja nikla us ne usay andar se hila diya.
Aurat ke dono sides par kharay mard Peak Rank Five Awakened thay, aur dono Wind Elementalist—bilkul us aurat ki tarah.
Lekin asal masla woh aurat khud thi.
Woh Early Rank Six Awakened thi.
Sikandar ne pehle bhi us se zyada taqatwar Awakened dekhe thay, jaise Vargas, lekin us ne kabhi kisi Rank Six Awakened ko larte hue nahi dekha tha.
Usay yeh bhi nahi pata tha ke koi Awakened rank six tak pohanchta kaise hai.
“Yeh bura hai… yeh log humein pakar chukay hain,” Sikandar ne dil hi dil mein socha.
Usay poora yaqeen tha ke yeh wahi group hai jo un Spellbooks se ta’alluq rakhta hai jo Karan ne churaayi thin. Andaza lagana mushkil nahi tha—teeno Wind Elementalist thay.
Bilkul seedhi shakal ke saath, Sikandar ne Adhara ka haath pakra aur dining table ki taraf chal diya.
Uske dimaagh mein sirf ek hi sawal ghoom raha tha:
Yeh itni jaldi hum tak kaise pohanch gaye?
Sikandar ne pehle Adhara ke liye kursi kheench kar rakhi, phir khud uske paas baith gaya. Phir us ne haath ke ishaaray se us aurat ko apne saamne baithne ka ishara kiya.
“Please,” Sikandar ne pur-sukoon awaaz mein kaha.
Sikandar ke be-parwah rawaiye ko dekh kar aurat ki bhonhein sikur gayin, lekin phir bhi woh uske saamne aa kar baith gayi.
Jaise hi woh baithi, hawa ke saath us aurat ki lakri aur jangli darakhton jaisi khushboo Sikandar ki naak tak pohanchi.
Us khushboo ne Sikandar ke zehan mein koi purani yaad jaga di.
Aurat ne baithte hi dobara kaha,
“Main samajhti hoon tumhare paas woh cheez hai jo humari hai, Sikandar Silverstar.”
“Kaunsi cheez?” Sikandar ne bilkul thanday lehje mein jawab diya.
Usne pehle hi shop se ek Transferral Crystal khareed rakha tha.
Abhi baat chal hi rahi thi ke ek waiter khana le kar andar aa gaya.
Jaise hi us ne kamray ke andar teen ajnabi log dekhe, woh sakta mein aa gaya. Kamra pehle hi booked tha. Woh turant bahar ja kar manager ko bulana chahta tha, lekin darwaza kholne se pehle hi—
Fwoosh!
Aurat ke saath kharay dono mardon mein se ek pal bhar mein uske paas pohanch gaya aur darwazay ke saamne aa khara hua.
Waiter ka chehra khauf se safed ho gaya.
Woh mard shaitani muskurahat ke saath usay ghoorne laga, lekin Sikandar ne haath ke ishare se waiter ko kaha ke khana table par rakh do.
Kamray mein tanav barhta ja raha tha jab waiter kaanpte haathon se plates table par rakhne laga.
Khana rakhne ke baad, Sikandar ne ishara kiya ke waiter uske paas aa kar khara ho jaye.
Waiter ne foran hukm maana. Woh sar jhukaaye, poora kaanpta hua khara tha.
Sikandar ne steak ka ek tukra kaata aur pur-sukoon andaaz mein dobara kaha,
“Kaunsi cheez? Jane Atkins.”
Internet par ki gayi research ke zariye, Sikandar ne har mashkook family ke main members ka record nikaal liya tha.
Aur usne is aurat ko pehchan liya tha—Jane, Atkins Family ki direct descendant.
Uske baal gehre hare rang ke thay, bilkul darakhton ke patton jaise—jo Atkins family ki mashhoor pehchaan thi.
Woh Ninth Rank Family thi—behad taqatwar.
Jane ne yeh sun kar meethi si hansi hansi.
Phir uski thandi, cheer dene wali nazar Sikandar par tik gayi.
“Games mat khelo. Batao, tum ne humari Spellbooks kahan chhupaayi hain?”
Sikandar ne steak ka ek tukra munh mein daala, jaise koi khatra ho hi na.
Woh chabate hue hairat se bola,
“Kya lazeez steak hai… tumhein bhi pasand aayi?”
Adhara ka chehra zard par gaya. Usay Sikandar ki soch bilkul samajh nahi aa rahi thi.
Jane ka chehra sakhht ho gaya. Uske saathi zubaan se tsk ki awaaz nikaalne lage.
“Main aakhri baar pooch rahi hoon,” Jane ne ghurrate hue kaha,
“Spellbooks kahan hain?!”
Sikandar ne seedhi nazar Jane se milayi.
“Tum log bina chehra chhupaaye yahan ghus aaye ho… kya tumhein expose hone ka darr nahi?”
Jane ne fakhar se kaha,
“Tum jaise bachay se? Main tumhein ungli ghumaa kar maar sakti hoon.”
Sikandar ne halki si hansi ke saath sar hilaaya.
“Hairat hai… itni badi family ki waris itni bewaqoof bhi ho sakti hai.”
Yeh sunte hi Jane ka gussa phat para.
Us ne table ka kinaara pakra aur poori taqat se deewar ki taraf phenk diya—
BAM!!
Table deewar se takra kar tukron mein toot gaya.
Adhara cheekh uthi.
Lekin Sikandar…
Uske chehre par zara si bhi tabdeeli nahi aayi.
Jane uth khari hui.
“Hum doosri dimension ki family se hain. Tum bachon ne bohat ghalat cheez se khelna shuru kar diya hai.”
Uske peeche hawa mein ek ajeeb si taqat jama hone lagi.
Sikandar ne ghour se dekha—
Yeh sirf aura nahi thi.
Yeh kisi zinda cheez ki energy lag rahi thi… jaise Jane ke andar koi aur makhlooq rehti ho.
Woh energy dheere dheere ek hawa se bana hue shetani parinday ki shakal ikhtiyar kar gayi.
Woh parinda ghurrata hua Sikandar ke saamne numaya hua, jaise woh laakhon laashon ke upar khara ho.
Sikandar bhi apni kursi se uth khara hua—bilkul pur-sukoon.
Jane ne dhamki dete hue kaha,
“Agar tum ne Spellbooks ka nahi bataya, to main tumhari choti si team aur tumhare gird sab ko aisi duniya dikhaungi jise woh kabhi samajh bhi nahi paayenge.”
Parinday ki taqat se poora kamra dabne laga.
Adhara zameen par gir gayi. Jis kursi par woh baithi thi, woh toot gayi aur woh pressure ke neeche dab gayi.
Saari taqat ka markaz Sikandar tha.
Jane ki aankhon mein hairani aa gayi—
Sikandar ghutnon par nahi gira.
Uska chehra bilkul normal tha.
“Andar se mushkil hai… lekin mumkin,” Sikandar ne socha.
Usne system se poocha:
“Yeh parinda… kya yahi cheez hai jo Rank Six banati hai?”
<System: Haan. Rank Six tak pohanchne ke liye Awakened ko kisi Spirit ke saath assimilate hona parta hai. Spirit ke saath merge hone ke baad, Awakened aisi taqat unlock karta hai jo uske tasawwur se bahar hoti hai.>
Sikandar ne dobara poocha:
“Yeh parinda aur jo Fire Serpent mujhe quest se milega… kaunsa zyada taqatwar hai?”
<System: Fire Serpent paanch hazaar saal purani Spirit hai. Tumhare saamne jo parinda hai, woh uske muqablay mein sirf ek bachcha hai.>
Yeh parh kar Sikandar muskuraya.
Is mulaqat se usay bohat qeemti maloomat mil chuki thi.
Atkins family ka shukriya… dil hi dil mein.
Ab bas ek hi masla tha—
Zinda yahan se nikalna.
Sikandar ne apne tuxedo ke andar jaib ki taraf haath barhaya…
Magar jaise hi Sikandar ne apne haath hilaaye—
SHRING!!
Bijli ki tarah chamakte hue do talwaarain seedha Sikandar ke gale par aa kar ruk gayin. Jane ke dono side kharay aadmi ek pal mein move hue aur apni talwaarain uski gardan se laga dein.
Sikandar aik lamhay ke liye bilkul sakht ho gaya.
Phir dheere se usne apni jaib se mobile nikala.
Usne screen par aik tasveer kholi—ek dabba jisme spellbooks maujood the—aur mobile aage karte hue kaha,
“Jo cheez tum dhoond rahi ho… woh mere paas hai. Tumhari teen spellbooks mere haath mein hain.”
Jane ki nazar pehle tasveer par gayi, phir seedha Sikandar par tik gayi.
Sikandar ne pur-sukoon lehje mein kaha,
“Mere aadmiyon ne yeh spellbooks ghalti se utha li theen. Humara chori ka koi irada nahi tha.”
Jane ki aankhon mein sakhti aa gayi.
“Toh phir wapas karo!”
Uske chehray par aik khelti hui muskurahat thi.
Sikandar ne halki si mockery ke sath muskura kar jawab diya,
“Badqismati se main itna naive nahi hoon. Agar main yeh wapas kar doon, toh tum mujhe zinda chhor do gi? Ya yahin maar daalo gi?”
Jane ne thanday lehje mein kaha,
“Main tumhein abhi maar kar tumhare accomplices ka pata laga sakti hoon.”
Usne haath ka ishara kiya—qatl ka hukm.
Magar Sikandar foran bola,
“Agar main mara, toh mera aik accomplice yeh teen spellbooks seedha Reed Family ko de dega. Aur doosra UWO ko inform karega.”
Uski aankhon mein chamak thi.
“Shane Thompson ne yeh books banayi hain… iska matlab yeh unlicensed hain, sahi kaha na?”
Jane ki aankhein hairat se phail gayin.
Usse yaqeen nahi aa raha tha ke aik student itni gehri soch rakh sakta hai.
Library mein research ke dauraan Sikandar ne sirf families hi nahi dekhi theen—balkay spellbooks ke peeche ka poora game samajh liya tha.
Uska andaza tha ke is sab ke peeche Atkins, Reed aur Granlor families ka haath hai.
Aur un teenon ke darmiyan aik cold war chal rahi hai.
Rankings ke mutabiq, Atkins aur Reed sab se qareeb thay.
Agar yeh spellbooks Atkins ke liye theen aur Sikandar inhein Reed ko de deta—
toh Reed unki position cheen sakta tha.
Yeh spellbooks bohat zyada powerful theen.
Unka asar poore balance ko hila sakta tha.
Yeh sab Sikandar ki theory thi—
magar Jane ke chehray par ubharte hue tension ne yeh sab confirm kar diya.
Aur yeh sirf aik chaal nahi thi.
Internet par research karte hue Sikandar ko UWO ka aik qanoon mila tha:
Har aik 25 top families mein se sirf aik unlicensed spellbook rakh sakti hai.
Baaki har spell officially register honi chahiye—warna sakht saza.
Power balance ko control karne ke liye yeh qanoon banaya gaya tha.
Teen powerful unlicensed spellbooks ka matlab tha—
Atkins Family ki tabahi.
Chaahay unhon ne jang mein kitni hi qurbaniyan kyun na di hon.
Sikandar ne Jane ki hichkichahat dekhi aur dheere se kaha,
“Agar tum pakri gayin… toh Atkins family ka direct descendant 50 saal ke liye jail ja sakta hai.”
Usne halka sa jhuk kar kaha,
“Top 10 family hone ki wajah se saza aadhi ho jaaye gi… connections laga kar bhi kam az kam 10 saal.”
Phir muskuraya.
“Itna waqt Reed aur Granlor ke liye kaafi hai… tumhein peeche chhorne ke liye, hai na?”
Jane ka jism gusse se kaanp utha.
Sikandar ka chehra bilkul sakoon mein tha—
aur yehi baat Jane ko aur zyada jala rahi thi.
“Chaaho toh check kar lo,” Sikandar ne kaha.
“Aaj main tumhare rehm o karam par hoon.”
Dono swordsman Jane ki taraf dekhnay lage—
hukm ka intezar.
Magar hukm nahi aaya.
Jane ne jabr se daant pees kar ishara kiya.
“Talwaarain hatao.”
Dono aadmi peeche hat gaye.
Adhara bhi sambhal kar khari ho gayi.
Uski aankhon mein hairani thi—
aise halat mein itna calm rehna… yeh aam baat nahi thi.
Agar woh Sikandar ki jagah hoti—
shayad zinda bhi na rehti.
Sikandar aur Jane aik doosray ko ghoortay rahe.
Tension phir barh gayi.
Magar is dafa—
upper hand Sikandar ke paas thi.
Sikandar ne apna tuxedo seedha kiya, Adhara ko dekha ke woh theek hai ya nahi, phir kaha,
“Tum se baat karna bekaar hai. Mere terms sirf aik hi sun sakta hai.”
Jane ne uljhan se poocha,
“Kaun?”
Sikandar ne seedha kaha,
“Main boss se baat karna chahta hoon.”
Jane ka dil dhak se reh gaya.
“Yeh larka… mere Dad se baat karna chahta hai?”
Sikandar ne Adhara ka haath pakra aur dono aage barh gaye.
Jane ke paas ruk kar Sikandar ne dheemi magar sakht awaaz mein kaha,
“Boss se mera matlab… Wesley Atkins hai.”
Phir woh waiter ke paas gaya—
Aur aik pal mein uska sar phat gaya.
Seedhi, painless maut.
“Maaf karna,” Sikandar ne dil mein kaha,
“Ghalat jagah, ghalat waqt.”
Woh pehle hi dekh chuka tha ke Jane ke aadmi waiter ko kis nazar se dekh rahe thay.
Uske baad—
Sikandar aur Adhara hall se nikal gaye.
Aur Jane…
apni jagah par bilkul jam chuki thi.
_ _ _ _
Aaj ke liye itnah hi. I hope ye episode be aap sub ko pasind ahya ho gah.
Like target abi be same 50. Ye kuch episode normal hai fight nahi hai aur mission be start nahi howa to like target zada nahi de raha. But 1 2 update ke bad mission shoron hone wala hai pir target zada ho jaye gah.
Aur full moon be ahne wala hai. Aur aap sub ko pata hi ho gah k full moon par hamesha problems hoti hai.
Next episode target complete hone par..
Bane rahiye sath. Milte hai next episode mai tab tak ke liye.
Thanks and Bye..
