Café wale din ke baad…
Sab kuch normal lag raha tha।
Par sach to yeh tha—
kuch bhi normal nahi tha।
Riya ghar aayi, par uska dhyaan kahin aur hi tha।
Usne bag side me rakha aur seedha bed par let gayi।
Uske dimaag me baar-baar wahi moment repeat ho raha tha—
Aman ki aankhen…
uska "Kya badal gaya?" poochna…
aur uska khud ka jawab— "Main."
"Main sach me badal gayi hoon?" usne khud se poocha।
Par dil ke andar se ek hi awaaz aayi—
"Haan… par shayad ab sach me khud ke paas aa rahi ho।"
Dusri taraf…
Aman bhi aaj unusually quiet tha।
Kabir ne usse message kiya—
"Bhai, kya scene hai? Tu aaj kuch zyada hi silent tha।"
Aman ne reply kiya—
"Kuch nahi… bas thoda soch raha hoon।"
Kabir ne turant likha—
"Riya ke baare me?"
Kuch seconds tak Aman ne typing ki…
phir delete kar diya।
Phir finally usne sirf ek word bheja—
"Shayad।"
Kabir ne phone side me rakha aur muskuraya—
"Game abhi khatam nahi hua…"
Agle kuch din…
Riya aur Aman ke beech messages start hue।
Pehle casual—
"Reached home?"
"Class kaisi thi?"
"Assignment complete?"
Par dheere-dheere…
baatein lambi hone lagi।
Ek raat…
Riya ne message kiya—
"Tum ab bhi late night jaagte ho?"
Aman ne reply diya—
"Kabhi-kabhi… aadat abhi gayi nahi।"
Riya muskura di—
"Same here।"
Kuch seconds ke baad Aman ka message aaya—
"Par pehle reason alag tha।"
Riya ka dil halka sa ruk gaya।
"Ab?" usne poocha।
Aman ne thoda time liya…
phir reply kiya—
"Ab bas neend nahi aati।"
Riya screen ko dekhti reh gayi।
Usne type kiya—
"Sorry…"
Par phir delete kar diya।
Kuch cheezein aisi hoti hain…
jinhe "sorry" se theek nahi kiya ja sakta।
Agle din…
College me Riya apni friends ke saath baithi thi।
Tabhi Neha ne casually poocha—
"Riya, tum kisi ko like karti ho kya?"
Riya thodi ghabra gayi—
"Kyu?"
"Bas aise hi… tumhari vibe kuch alag lag rahi hai aajkal," Neha ne hansi ke saath kaha।
Riya kuch nahi boli…
par uske dimaag me sirf ek naam aaya—
Aman।
Usi waqt…
Aman apne college me tha।
Uske paas ek ladki aayi—
"Hey Aman, notes mil sakte hain?"
"Yeah, sure," Aman ne normal tone me kaha।
Wo ladki uske paas baith gayi…
aur baat karne lagi।
Kabir ne ye sab dekha…
aur usne turant Riya ko message kiya—
"Btw, Aman ke college me koi new friend bani hai "
Riya ne message padha…
Aur pata nahi kyun…
uske dil me ek ajeeb sa feel hua।
"Good for him," usne reply kiya।
Par uske haath thode heavy lag rahe the।
Kabir ne phir message kiya—
"Sirf friend hi hai… ya kuch aur, pata nahi "
Riya ne phone lock kar diya।
Usne khud se kaha—
"Mujhe kya farak padta hai…"
Par sach yeh tha—
use farak pad raha tha।
Raat ko…
Riya aur Aman phir chat kar rahe the।
Sab normal chal raha tha…
par Riya ke dimaag me Kabir ki baat ghoom rahi thi।
Finally…
wo khud ko rok nahi paayi।
"Waise… tumhare college me new friends ban gaye?" usne casually poocha।
Aman ne reply kiya—
"Haan… kuch log achhe hain।"
"Special koi?" Riya ne type kiya…
Aur send kar diya।
Message bhejte hi uska dil tez dhadakne laga।
Kuch seconds…
phir ek minute…
Aman ka reply aaya—
"Maybe…"
Riya ka dil ek second ke liye ruk gaya।
Usne phone ko thoda tight pakad liya।
"Maybe ka kya matlab?" usne poocha।
Aman ne likha—
"Matlab… abhi sure nahi hoon।"
Riya ne screen ko dekha…
aur uski aankhon me halki si nami aa gayi।
Usne dheere se phone side me rakha।
Aur us pal usse samajh aa gaya—
Dooriyan sirf distance se nahi banti…
kabhi-kabhi waqt aur decisions bhi logon ko door kar dete hain।
Par kahin na kahin…
ek chhoti si umeed ab bhi thi—
shayad yeh dooriyan hi unhe phir se kareeb le aayein।