Aarohi ke haath abhi bhi kaanp rahe the…
Usne bina time waste kiye jaldi se cab book ki.
"City Hospital…" usne driver ko jaldi me bola.
Dil itna zor se dhadak raha tha jaise kabhi bhi ruk jayega.
"Please Bhagwan… Kabir ko kuch mat hona…" wo baar-baar mann me bol rahi thi.
Har second usse heavy lag raha tha.
Road ke har signal pe usse gussa aa raha tha.
"Bhaiya thoda fast chalao na please!" usne almost ro kar kaha.
Finally…
Cab hospital ke bahar ruki.
Aarohi bina paise ka wait kiye hi jaldi se bahar utar gayi.
Wo seedha reception ki taraf bhagi..
"Excuse me… Kabir… Kabir Sharma… kaha hai?" uski awaaz toot rahi thi.
Receptionist ne system check kiya…
Phir dheere se kaha..
"ICU…"
Aarohi ka dil ek second ke liye ruk gaya.
Wo bina kuch soche ICU ki taraf bhagi.
Gate ke bahar rukte hi uske kadam thamm gaye.
Andar se machines ki awaaz aa rahi thi…
Beep… beep… beep…
Usne dheere se glass ke through andar dekha..
Aur jo usne dekha…
Uski duniya wahi ruk gayi.
Kabir…
Bed par pada tha…
Poora body bandages me…
Aur uske face par oxygen mask tha.
Aarohi ke aankhon se aansu ruk hi nahi rahe the.
"Ye… kya ho gaya tumhe…" wo dheere se bolti hui neeche baith gayi.
Usse kal ka har moment yaad aa raha tha..
Kabir ke calls…
Uske messages…
Aur uska ignore karna…
"Ek baar baat kar leti to…" wo khud se keh rahi thi.
Tabhi ek nurse uske paas aayi..
"Patient ki condition critical hai…" usne serious tone me kaha.
Aarohi ka dil toot gaya.
"Main… usse mil sakti hoon?" usne umeed se pucha.
Nurse ne sir halka sa naa me hila diya..
"Abhi nahi…"
Aarohi wahi ICU ke bahar baith gayi…
Aankhon me aansu…
Dil me guilt…
Aur dimaag me sirf ek hi baat..
"Kya main sach me late ho gayi…?"
"Kya Kabir Aarohi se ek baar baat kar payega…?"
To be continued…