THE SILENT MELODY – PART 2
Us message ke baad main poori raat so nahi paayi…
"Stay away from Kim Aarav…"
Ye words baar baar dimaag me ghoom rahe the.
Next day…
Main seedha campus gayi… sirf usse dekhne ke liye.
Aur wo wahan tha…
Same bench… same place…
Jaise kuch hua hi nahi.
Main uske paas gayi… aankhon me gussa aur dard dono tha.
Meera: "Tum mujhe avoid kyun kar rahe ho?"
Wo chup raha…
Meera (teary): "Kal tak sab theek tha… aur aaj tum keh rahe ho door rehna? Why Aarav?"
Usne finally meri taraf dekha…
Par is baar uski aankhon me woh softness nahi thi…
Aarav: "Maine jo kaha… woh samajh lo."
Mera patience khatam ho gaya…
Meera: "Nahi samajh rahi! Mujhe reason chahiye!"
Wo thoda irritated ho gaya…
Aarav (loud): "Because I don't love you!"
Jaise kisi ne seedha dil pe hit kiya ho…
Main wahi freeze ho gayi…
Aankhon me aansu automatically aa gaye…
Meera (broken voice): "Toh kal… jo tha… woh kya tha?"
Wo kuch seconds tak chup raha…
Phir dheere bola—
Aarav: "Mistake…"
Bas ek word…
Aur sab khatam…
---
Main wahan se bhaag gayi…
Rain fir se shuru ho gayi thi…
Jaise meri life ka permanent background ban chuki ho.
---
2 din tak main campus nahi gayi…
Phone off… kisi se baat nahi…
Par dil maan hi nahi raha tha…
Kuch toh galat tha…
Aarav jhooth bol raha tha… mujhe feel ho raha tha.
---
3rd day…
Main uske hostel ke paas gayi…
Risky tha… par jaana zaroori tha.
Raat ka time tha…
Main chupke se uske room ke paas pahunchi…
Aur andar se awaaz aa rahi thi…
Unknown girl: "Tumne usse hurt kyun kiya?"
Mera heart fast beat karne laga…
Aarav (low voice): "Taaki wo safe rahe…"
Mere steps wahi ruk gaye…
Safe…? Matlab…?
Girl: "Tum sach kab tak chhupaoge?"
Aarav: "Jab tak main yahan hoon… usse door rehna hi better hai…"
Meri aankhon se tears silently girne lage…
Toh wo jhooth bol raha tha…
Sirf mujhe door rakhne ke liye…
---
Main wapas jaane lagi…
Par tabhi door suddenly open hua…
Aur Aarav ne mujhe dekh liya…
Hum dono freeze ho gaye…
Aarav (shocked): "Meera… tum yahan?"
Main uske paas gayi… aankhon me aansu…
Meera: "Sach kya hai Aarav?"
Wo kuch bol nahi paaya…
Bas mujhe dekh raha tha…
Meera (crying): "Tum mujhse pyaar karte ho na?"
Silence…
Phir usne dheere se haan me sir hila diya…
Mera heart ek second ke liye khush hua…
Par next moment…
Usne kaha—
Aarav: "Par main tumhare saath nahi reh sakta…"
Main uske collar pakad ke ro padi…
Meera: "Kyu?!"
Wo finally toot gaya…
Usne mujhe tight hug kar liya…
Itna tight… jaise last time ho…
Aarav (broken voice): "Because my past… is dangerous…"
Maine usse aur tight hug kiya…
Meera: "Mujhe farak nahi padta…"
Wo slowly mujhe door karne laga…
Par main nahi chhodi…
Meera: "Main tumhe nahi chhodungi…"
Wo meri aankhon me dekha…
Aur suddenly… usne mujhe kiss kar liya…
Is baar kiss intense tha… emotional tha…
Jaise saari feelings ek hi moment me nikal rahi ho…
Meri saanse heavy ho gayi…
Aankhon se aansu girte rahe…
Par main us moment ko rokna nahi chahti thi…
---
Kuch seconds baad…
Wo peeche hata…
Aur dheere se bola—
Aarav: "Agar tum mere paas rahi… toh tum hurt ho jaogi…"
Meera: "Already ho chuki hoon…"
Silence…
---
Tabhi…
Us unknown girl ne kaha—
Girl: "Late ho raha hai… hume jaana hoga…"
Maine confused hoke Aarav ko dekha…
Meera: "Jaana…? Kahan?"
Aarav ne aankhen band ki…
Phir bola—
Aarav: "Kal subah… main yahan nahi rahunga…"
Mera heart literally ruk gaya…
Meera: "What…?"
Aarav: "This is my last night here…"
---
Next morning…
Main usse milne bhaagi…
Par…
Wo ja chuka tha…
Room empty…
Phone switched off…
Koi trace nahi…
Bas ek chhota sa paper pada tha…
Us par likha tha—
"Meera… agar kismat ne chaha… toh hum fir milenge…"
---
Par story yahan khatam nahi hui…
Usi din…
Mujhe ek aur message aaya…
"You didn't listen… now be ready."
Mera haath kaanp gaya…
Kya Aarav ka past sach me itna dangerous hai…?
Wo ladki kaun thi…?
Aur ab mere saath kya hone wala hai…?
To be continued…