Azad apni purani diary ke pages slowly flip kar raha tha…
Har page pe kuch likha tha… lekin sab adhura.
Jaise kisi ne kahani start ki ho… par kabhi complete hi na ki ho.
Ek page pe uski nazar ruk gayi.
Us par bada sa likha tha:
"Agar ye sach bahar aa gaya… to sab kuch khatam ho jayega."
Azad ke haath halki si kaanp gaye.
"Yeh page… maine kab likha tha…?" usne dheere se khud se poocha.
Uska dimaag zor se kaam kar raha tha…
lekin usse yaad hi nahi aa raha tha.
Tabhi…
"Bhaiya… aap kya dekh rahe ho?"
Azad jhatke se peeche mudha.
Radhika khadi thi.
"Ku… kuch nahi… bas old notes hain," Azad ne diary band karte hue bola.
Radhika ne seedha uski aankhon mein dekha—
"Bhaiya… aap humse kuch chhupa rahe ho na?"
Ek second ke liye Azad chup ho gaya.
Phir zabardasti smile ki—
"Pagal hai kya… chal so ja."
Same Night…
Sab so chuke the.
Azad quietly ghar se bahar nikla.
Raat ka andhera… thandi hawa… aur bilkul silence.
Woh seedha us jagah gaya jahan wo kabhi wapas nahi jaana chahta tha…
Ek purana, toota hua makan.
Darwaza aadha khula tha…
Jaise koi uska intezaar kar raha ho.
Azad dheere se andar gaya.
Usne pocket se ek purani photo nikali.
Photo mein wo khud tha…
Aur uske saath ek unknown ladka.
Azad ne photo ko tight pakad liya—
"Tum wapas nahi aa sakte… samjhe tum…?" usne dheere se kaha.
Tabhi…
Peeche se awaaz aayi—
"Par main aa chuka hoon…"
Azad ka heart ek second ke liye ruk gaya.
Usne dheere se peeche mudhkar dekha…
Aur uski aankhen shock se phail gayi—
"Tu…??"