Aarav ki car raat ke andhere me city roads ko cut karti hui seedha Naina ke apartment ki taraf badh rahi thi.
Uska dimaag abhi bhi un photos me atka hua tha.
Naina…
Raghav…
Aur Vivaan.
Teen naam jo ab ek hi jagah par mil rahe the.
Steering wheel par uski grip tight ho gayi.
"Bas… ab sach saamne aayega," Aarav ne dheere se kaha.
Kuch hi minutes baad uski car Naina ke apartment building ke bahar ruk gayi.
Aarav bina time waste kiye seedha andar chala gaya.
Lift ka wait karna usse ab unbearable lag raha tha, isliye wo seedhiyan chadhne laga.
Har step ke saath uska gussa aur badh raha tha.
Aakhir wo Naina ke flat ke saamne khada tha.
Usne zor se door knock kiya.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Kuch seconds tak koi response nahi aaya.
Phir andar se halki footsteps ki awaaz sunai di.
Door khula.
Naina saamne khadi thi.
Uske chehre par clearly surprise tha.
"Aarav…? Itni raat ko?"
Lekin Aarav ke chehre par koi expression nahi tha.
Sirf thandi aankhen.
Usne seedha ek photo Naina ke saamne kar di.
"Explain this."
Naina ne photo dekhi.
Aur uska face turant pale ho gaya.
Usne Aarav ki taraf dekha.
"Yeh tumhe kahan se mila?"
Aarav ki aankhen aur narrow ho gayi.
"Toh tum jaanti ho yeh kya hai."
Naina kuch seconds chup rahi.
"Aarav… tum samajh nahi rahe—"
"Main sab samajh raha hoon," Aarav ne uski baat kaat di.
Usne doosri photo uske saamne kar di.
Is baar photo me Raghav clearly dikh raha tha.
"Aur yeh?"
Room me ek heavy silence chha gaya.
Naina ki aankhon me tension clearly dikh rahi thi.
"Aarav… kuch cheezein itni simple nahi hoti."
Aarav ka patience finally toot gaya.
"Simple nahi hoti?"
Uski awaaz thodi loud ho gayi.
"Mera bhai kidnap hua hua hai, Naina!"
"Vivaan us warehouse me bandha hua hai!"
"Tum Raghav ke saath wahan kya kar rahi thi?!"
Naina ne aankhen band kar li jaise wo kuch decide kar rahi ho.
Phir usne dheere se kaha:
"Agar main tumhe sach bata doon… toh tum aur bhi zyada danger me aa jaoge."
Aarav ek second ke liye ruk gaya.
"Danger?"
Usne sarcastic laugh kiya.
"Mera bhai uske paas hai, Naina."
"Usse zyada danger kya hoga?"
Naina kuch bolne hi wali thi…
Tabhi Aarav ka phone vibrate hua.
Usne phone nikala.
Unknown number.
Aarav ne call receive ki.
"Hello?"
Doosri taraf se ek thandi aur confident awaaz aayi.
"Aakhir tumhe photos mil hi gayi."
Aarav ki aankhen instantly narrow ho gayi.
"Kaun?"
Doosri taraf se halki si hansi sunai di.
"Aarav… tumhe sach jaanne ki itni jaldi hai?"
"Phir milte hain."
"Raghav industries warehouse."
Call cut ho gayi.
Room me silence chha gaya.
Aarav dheere dheere Naina ki taraf muda.
Uski aankhon me ab sirf ek hi cheez thi.
Gussa.
"Lagta hai tumhare dost ne mujhe invite kiya hai."
Naina ka face suddenly tense ho gaya.
"Aarav… wahan mat jaana."
Aarav ne thandi awaaz me kaha:
"Ab bahut der ho chuki hai."
"Is baar…"
"Main khud Raghav se milunga."
Lekin Aarav ko bilkul idea nahi tha…
Ki warehouse me uska intezar sirf Raghav nahi kar raha.
Balki…
Ek aur aadmi bhi wahan maujood tha.
Jo Aarav ki zindagi ko hamesha ke liye badalne wala tha.
___________________________________________
Ending
Aur us warehouse ke andhere kone me…
Ek aadmi chair par bandha hua tha.
Usne dheere se sir uthaya.
Vivaan.
To be continued in chapter 12…