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Thriller"D R A C O – Sach Ka Pehredaar Ya Tabahi Ka Naam?"
SORRY GUYS MEIN BAHOT KOSHIS KAR RAHA HU LEKIN THIK SE TIME NAHI NIKAL PAA RAHA HU...... MERA MAINS KA EXAM 3 MAHINE KE ANDAR HAI ISILIYE MEIN AB YE STORY KO 3 MAHINE KE LIYE HOLD PE RAKH RAHA HU ..... I AM EXTREMELY SORRY
Ek aisi khamoshi jo cheekhon se bhi zyada shor kar raha tha.
Magar yeh woh shaanti nahi tha jo raat apne saath laata hai. Yeh woh qabristan wala khamoshi tha jo abhi-abhi dafnaye gaye hazaaron cheekhon ke upar lipat jaata hai. Ek aisi bhaari, dam ghontu khamoshi jo qatl-e-aam ke shor ko ek hi baar mein pee gaya tha, jaise koi bhookha bhediya apne shikaar ka aakhri saans ko hawa se kheench leta hai.
Waqt... waqt uss kamre mein ek zakhmi parinde ki tarah phans gaya tha, jiske pankh toot chuke the aur jo udne ki koshish mein sirf zameen par tadap sakta tha. Hawa mein khoon ki feeki, lohe jaisi mehek ab bhi tha, jo saste disinfectant ki tez, chubhne wali gandh ke saath milkar ek aisi nauseating (matli karne wala) cocktail bana raha tha jo sirf saans lena hi nahi, zinda rehna bhi ek saza bana raha tha.
Ravi ka aakhri sawaal, "Darr lag raha hai... ya maza aa raha hai?", ek zehreele khanjar ke tarah ab bhi uss kamre ki sard hawa mein latka hua tha.
Woh sawaal nahi tha; woh ek aaina tha – ek khoon se ranga, toota hua aaina – jo Sia ke wajood ke saamne rakh diya gaya tha, uski apni hi tooti hui rooh ka aks dikhane ke liye.
Sia bistar ke neeche se bahar nahi nikli; woh rengti hui bahar aayi, jaise kisi ne usse ek zinda qabr se baal pakad kar, ghaseet kar kheench liya ho. Uska jism, uski rooh, uske wajood ka har qatra... har saans... tharthara raha tha.
Ek hi jagah par jam gayi, aankhein phati hui, uss shakhs ko dekhte hue jo kuch pal pehle tak uske liye Ravi Mishra tha – ek uljha hua raaz, ek khamosh dard.
Par ab...
Ab woh koi aur tha.
Koi anjaan. Koi benaam. Koi aisa... jiska aankhon mein insaaniyat ka aakhri lau bhi phoonk maar kar bujha di gaya tha. Nahi, bujhaaya nahi... uss lau ko nigal liya gaya tha. Ek aisa wajood jise bayaan karne ke liye shayad insaani zabaan mein lafz bane hi nahi the.
Qayamat.
Ek zinda, saans leta hua, khoobsurat... aur utna hi bhayanak namoona.
Usne kamre ko dekha – ek ummeed ke saath ki shayad kuch toh galat ho, kuch toh nishaan baaki ho jo saabit kare ki usne jo dekha woh sach tha.
Par nahi.
Dehshat ki ek barfeeli leher uski reedh ki haddi mein neeche tak daud gayi. Yeh woh kamra ho hi nahi sakta tha jahan abhi-abhi chaar insaan... nahi, chaar cheezein... keede-makodon ki tarah masle gaye the. Yeh ek aam, be-jaan, be-rooh hotel ka kamra tha. Zameen par khoon ka ek qatra nahi tha, jaise kisi ne har boond ko chaat liya ho. Jaise maut yahan aayi hi na ho. Deewaron par ladaai ka ek nishaan nahi tha, ek kharonch tak nahi.
Itna saaf... itna gair-fitri (unnatural) taur par saaf... ki Sia ko khud ke dimaag par, apni aankhon par, apne wajood par shaq hone laga.
Kya main paagal ho gayi hoon? Kya yeh sab mere dimaag ka khel tha? Woh cheekhein... woh haddiyon ke tootne ka awaaz... woh khoon...
Agar uske kapdon par bistar ke neeche ki dhool na chipki hoti, agar hawa mein woh khoon aur disinfectant ka zehreela milan na hota, toh woh qasam khaa kar keh sakti thi ki yeh sabse bhayanak, sabse wehshi sapna tha jo usne kabhi dekha tha.
SIA: (Awaaz ek toote hue, besure saaz ki tarah nikli, jo sirf ek fufusaahat... ek sargoshi bhi nahi, bas hilti hui hawa thi) "...Tum... tum kaun ho?"
Yeh ek kamzor, haari hui koshish thi – uss andhere mein, uss Ravi ki parchhayi ko dhoondne ki jise woh shayad kabhi jaanti thi, ya shayad kabhi jaana hi nahi tha.
Ravi, jo balcony ke andhere se wapas palta tha jaise raat ka ek hissa jism ikhtiyaar kar gaya ho, uske paas aakar ruka. Usne Sia ke sawaal ko suna – uss tooti hui awaaz ko, uss dehshat ko.
Aur phir... usne usey poori tarah nazarandaaz kar diya.
Aise, jaise Sia ne kuch pucha hi na ho. Jaise woh wahan ho hi na. Jaise uski awaaz, uski dehshat, uski maujoodgi... is kamre mein utna hi bemaayne tha jitna abhi-abhi saaf kiye gaye khoon ke daag.
RAVI: (Awaaz itna thanda, itna be-jaan, itna khaali ki Sia ki haddiyon tak mein barf jam gayi) "Yeh tumhara jawaab nahi tha, Sia."
Woh uski taraf badha. Ek kadam. Har qadam ek shikaari ka napa-tula, be-awaaz qadam tha. Ek aisa qadam jo zameen par nahi, dushman ki rooh par padta hai.
Sia pichhe hati. Ek kadam. Uska har qadam ek ghabraaye hue, phanse hue shikaar ka tha.
Yeh silsila tab tak chala jab tak ki uski peeth uss kamre ki thandi, bejaan deewar se nahi ja lagi.
Raasta band. Ek band gali. Ek shikaari. Ek qaid shikaar.
Par Ravi usse chhoone, darane ya dhamkaane ke liye nahi badha tha. Uski nigahein Sia par nahi, Sia ke aar-paar theen. Jaise woh ek kaanch ki deewar ho jiske peeche Ravi ko kuch nazar hi na aa raha ho.
Woh uske itne kareeb se guzra ki Sia uske jism se uthti barfeeli thandak ko... uske jism se uthti maut ki mehek ko... apni saanson mein mehsoos kar sakti thi.
Woh guzra... aur seedha bathroom mein chala gaya.
KHATAAK! THAK!
Nal ke khulne ki tez, hinsak (violent) awaaz aayi.
Awaaz itna achanak aur tez tha ki Sia jhatke se kaanp gayi, jaise kisi ne uske kaan ke paas goli chala di ho. Woh awaaz uss kamre ke qabristani sannate ko ek pal mein cheer gaya, jaise kisi ne ek shaant, khoon ki jheel mein dinamite phod diya ho.
LOCATION: BATHROOM – KUCH PAL BAAD (Barf Par Lahu Ki Sargoshi)
Sia ne apni saansein roki hui thi. Itni zorr se, ki uske phephdon mein jaise sui chubhne lagi ho. Use darr tha ki kahin uski saans lene ki awaaz hi uss qabristani khamoshi ko tod na de aur uss cheez ka dhyaan apni taraf na kheench le.
Deewar se chipak kar, jaise woh ussi ka hissa ban jaana chahti ho, woh rengti hui bathroom ke darwaze tak aayi. Uski himmat poori tarah se, rooh tak se, jawab de chuki thi. Par ek anjaani, morbid curiosity (maut ko kareeb se dekhne ki bechaini) usse ek andekhe dhaage se kheench rahi thi.
Andar ka manzar...
Andar ka manzar uss qatl-e-aam se bhi zyada darawna tha. Kyunki wahan maut ka shor nahi tha, wahan maut ka sannaata tha.
Ravi aaine ke saamne khada tha.
Uska khoon se lathpath, geeli shirt zameen par ek bekaar kapde ke tukde ki tarah pada tha, jaise ek saap apni kechuli utaar deta hai. Ventilation se aata chaand ki dhundhli, bejaan roshni uska nangi peeth par pad raha tha. Aur uss roshni mein purane, halke pad chuke zakhmon ke kuch dhundhle nishaan saaf dikh rahe a– jaise kisi ne uska khaal par ek bhoola hua, dardnaak kahaani likh diya ho. Woh nishaan... ek alag hi, unsuni jung ka daastaan bayaan kar rahe the.
Par uska poora dhyaan... uska poori kaynaat... uss ek haath par tika tha jise qaatil ne cheed diya tha.
Woh behad shaanti se, lagbhag ek trance ki haalat mein, apne gehre, ubalte hue zakhm ko tez behte, baraf jaise thande paani ke neeche dhoye jaa raha tha. Paani ke saath uska gehra laal khoon milkar, sink ke safed ceramic par maut ke abstract art jaisa ek bhayanak pattern bana raha tha. Khoon behta jaa raha tha... behta jaa raha tha... jaise uske jism mein paani ki jagah lahu hi bhara ho.
Aur uske chehre par...
Uske chehre par dard ka ek qatra bhi nahi tha. Na maathe par shikan, na honthon par takleef ki lakeer. Na hi woh dard se apni aankhein bheench raha tha. Kuch nahi. Bilkul kuch nahi. Aisa lag raha tha jaise woh pathar ka bana ho. Jaise woh haath... uska ho hi nahi, kisi aur ka ho, jiska dard mehsoos karna uska zimmedari nahi.
Yahi woh cheez thi jisne Sia ko andar tak... uski rooh ki gehraaiyon tak hila diya.
Marna-maarna jung ka hissa ho sakta tha. Ghayal hona uska nateeja ho sakta tha.
Par dard ka na hona... dard ko mehsoos na karna... yeh insaaniyat ka hissa nahi tha. Yeh uss lakeer ke paar ki baat tha jahan insaan khatm hota hai aur... kuch aur shuru hota hai.
Shayad... haiwaniyat? Ya usse bhi badtar?
Sia ki nazar paas rakhe First-Aid kit par padi, jo shayad hotel ne formality ke liye rakha hoga. Uska dimaag, uska har hissa, uski rooh cheekh rahi thi,
'Bhaag ja, Sia! Zinda bachna hai toh yahan se ek pal mein bhaag ja! Abhi!'
Par uske pair... uske pair zameen se aise chipak gaye the, jaise unpar barf jam gayi ho. Kyun? Shayad isliye kyunki usne uss ek pal mein ek faisla kar liya tha. Ek aisa faisla jo uski zindagi badalne wala tha.
Agar yeh shaitaan tha, toh woh aaj shaitaan ki aankhon mein dekhegi. Woh uss andhere ke paar jhaankegi.
Usne kaanpte haathon se woh kit uthaya. Har saans ek bojh lag raha tha.
Woh bathroom ke darwaze par nahi, uske andar daakhil hui. Ek anjaan, khatarnaak ilaaqe mein pehla qadam.
Hawa mein khoon aur thande paani ki mehek aur tez ho gaya, itna tez ki uski aankhon mein jalan hone lagi. Ravi ne aaine mein uske aks ko dekha – ek dari hui, kaanpti hui parchhayi. Woh jaanta tha woh aa gayi hai. Woh jaanta tha woh aayegi. Par woh palta nahi. Woh abhi bhi uss behte khoon ko dekh raha tha, jaise woh usmein apna hi aks dhoondh raha ho.
Sia ne bina ek lafz kahe, apne hosh ko qaabu mein rakhte hue, antiseptic ki botal kholi aur rui (cotton) usme bhigoya. Uske haath itne bure tarah se kaanp rahe the ki rui uske haath se phisal kar neeche girne hi wala tha.
Woh Ravi ke paas aayi. Uske bilkul peeche. Usne apna haath badhaya... uske zakhmi, khoon se sane haath ko pakadne ke liye.
Jaise hi uski thandi, kaanpti ungliyon ne Ravi ki aag jaisi garam kalai ko chhua...
Ek jhatka.
Jaise hazaar volt ka current Ravi ke jism mein daud gaya ho. Uska poora jism ek lohe ki tarah sakht ho gaya. Uske haath ki mutthi bheench gayi.
Sia ne dehshat se foran apna haath pichhe kheench liya, jaise usne aag ko nahi, maut ko chhoo liya ho.
RAVI: (Bina uski taraf dekhe, aaine mein uske darre hue, safed pade chehre ko ghoorte hue, awaaz ek zehreelee sargoshi tha) "Haath... kaanpne nahi chahiye, Sia."
Uska awaaz ek whisper tha, par bathroom ke thande tiles se takra kar woh ek dhamaka ban gaya.
RAVI: "Jab tum dushman ke gale par khanjar rakho... ya dost ke zakhm par dawa. Dono ke liye... haath sthir (stable) hone chahiye." Usne ek pal ka pause liya. "Rooh nahi."
Sia ki saansein uske gale mein hi barf ban kar jam gayi.
Yeh ek sabak tha. Ek inteqaam ki duniya ka pehla sabak. Aur shayad... ek dawat-naama (invitation) tha... uski duniya mein. Us nark mein.
Sia ne ek lambi, thar-tharati saans li. Apni saari himmat... apni saari nafrat uss shakhs ke liye jisne Ravi ko is haal mein laaya tha... apna saara darr uss shakhs se jo ab Ravi ban chuka tha... sab kuch ikattha kiya. Usne iss baar Ravi ka haath zyada mazbooti se pakda. Uske haath ab bhi kaanp rahe the, par usne rui ko zakhm par rakh diya.
Tsssssssss....
Antiseptic ke jalan ka halka sa, gosht ko jalane jaisi awaaz aaya.
Ravi ne dard se aankhein nahi band kara. Usne uff tak nahi kiya.
Par Sia ne dekha. Aaine mein. Usne saaf dekha.
Uska aankhon ki putliyan (pupils) ek pal ke liye... ek second ke hazaarwein hisse ke liye... sikud (contract) gaye the. Jaise ek andhere kamre mein achanak roshni aa gaya ho.
Ek pal ke liye. Par woh pal kaafi tha.
Woh insaan tha. Usey dard hota tha. Woh bas uss dard ko chhupane ka... ya shayad uss dard ko peene ka... maahir tha.
Sia ko jaise ek andhere surang mein roshni ki ek kiran mil gayi. Ek naya hausla. Usne bina kuch kahe, poore focus ke saath uska zakhm saaf kiya aur uspar tezi se patti (bandage) baandh di.
Poore waqt, Ravi bas aaine mein usey dekhta raha. Uski nazrein Sia ke haathon par nahi, uske chehre par tha. Woh uske darr ko... uske darr ke peeche ubharte hue uss anjaane iraade ko padh raha tha.
Jab Sia ne aakhri girah (knot) baandhi, tabhi...
Click. Flicker. Bzzzzzz!
Kamre ki lights... poore wing ki lights... ek jhatke ke saath wapas aa gaya. Generator ka backup nahi, main power. Arjun ka khela blackout khatm ho chuka tha.
Tez, safed, be-rehem roshni ne andhere ko cheer diya.
Iss roshni mein, Sia ne pehli baar Ravi ko 'saaf' dekha. Uska chehra thakaan aur khoon behne se lagbhag safed pad gaya tha, honth thode neele the. Uske jism par purane nishaan ab aur gehre lag rahe the.
Par uski aankhein...
Uski aankhein ab bhi uss andhere kamre mein qaid theen. Roshni un tak pahunch hi nahi paa rahi thi.
Sia ne apna haath pichhe kheench liya. Woh Ravi ke sawaal ka jawaab de chuki thi. Apne amal se.
Darr lag raha hai... ya maza aa raha hai?
Darr... Darr toh ab uski saanson ka, uski rooh ka hissa ban chuka tha. Lekin maza? Maza shayad iss baat mein tha ki shaitaan ne usey aaina dikhaya... aur woh uss aaine mein dekh kar tooti nahi. Usne nazar nahi jhukaayi.
Usne shaitaan ke zakhm par marham lagaya tha.
Ravi dheere se palta. Aaine se hatkar, pehli baar uss raat, usne Sia ko seedha apni aankhon se dekha. Un aankhon mein ab woh sannaata nahi tha. Ek alag sa, sard si parakh tha. Jaise ek Master apni nayi shishya ko parakh raha ho.
RAVI: (Awaaz thandi, saaf, aur antim faisle jaisa) "Welcome to the real world, Sia."
Yeh swagat nahi tha. Yeh ek paigaam tha. Ek elaan tha.
Ki masoomiyat ka khel... khatm ho chuka hai.
LOCATION: ARJUN’S ROOM – USSI WAQT (Jab Shikaari Ke Naakhun Toot Jaate Hain)
CRUNCH.
Earpiece se aaya haddi ke kuchalne ki woh aakhri, geeli, intimate awaaz.
Aur uske baad...
Maut jaisa sannata. Ek aisa sannata jo cheekhon se bhara hua tha, par sunayi nahi de raha tha.
Yeh khamoshi Arjun ke dimaag mein ek blast furnace ki tarah phata. Yeh sirf uske bheje hue qaatilon ki maut ki awaaz nahi tha; yeh uske 'control' ke, uske 'aham' (ego) ke, uske wajood ke tootne ka awaaz tha. Ek soundproof kamre mein, uska apna hi banaya hua duniya, uske saamne, chaknachoor ho raha tha.
Uske saamne laptop par, smoke detector ke camera se aaya live feed ab ek gusse waale, bematlab ke static mein badal chuka tha – HSSSSSSSS.
Ek digital cheekh. Par static aane se theek... ek... nanosecond pehle, usne Ravi ka woh aakhri gesture dekha tha. Uska rooh ne dekha tha.
Ek angutha... jo behad dheere se, ek qasam ki tarah, gale par kheencha gaya tha.
Ek Maut ka elaan. Uske liye.
Kamre mein hawa itna bhaari ho gaya, itna zehreelee, ki saans lena ek aziyat ban gaya. Virat aur Rishi, jo kamre ke kono mein buut bane khade the, Arjun ke taraf dekhne ki himmat tak nahi kar paa rahe the. Woh uske andar ubalte laave ke phatne ka intezaar kar rahe the.
Aur laava phata.
"IMPOSSIBLE!"
CHHANNNAAAAKKK!
Arjun ne saamne rakha whiskey ka bhaari crystal glass uthakar poore taaqat se saamne wale deewar par de maara. Kaanch hawa mein barood ki tarah bikhra. Par woh ruka nahi. Ek wehshi jaanwar ke tarah, usne poora botal uthaya aur usey seedha laptop screen par patak diya. Screen kaanch ke zakhmi tukdon mein bikhra, static ki awaaz ek ghuti hui cheekh ke saath hamesha ke liye band ho gaya.
Sannata. Gehra, kaala, khooni sannata.
Sirf Arjun ka tez, ukhda hua, wehshi saansein sunayi de raha tha.
Toote hue kaanch ke tukde poore kamre mein bikhre pade the, bilkul uske toote hue ghamand ke qirchon ke tarah. Deewar se behti mehengi whiskey aisi lag raha tha jaise woh deewar bhi Ravi Mishra ke naam se khoon ke aansoo ro raha ho.
VIRAT: (Haklaate hue, jaise uska zabaan par barf jam gaya ho) "Bhai... yeh... yeh kya... tha? Hunter... Team Hunter... aur 'Saaye' bhi... Dono teams? Usne... akele? Andhere mein? Woh... woh insaan nahi hai!"
Arjun ne apna aankhein band kiya. Uska poora jism ek kaabu se bahar machine ki tarah tharthara raha tha. Chehra khoon ke garmi se laal ho chuka tha. Usne Ravi ko ek sharmila, kamzor, darpok pyada samjha tha. Ek sadak ka keeda jise woh jab chahe, apne mehenge joote ke neeche masal dega.
Par woh keeda nahi... woh ek zang laga hua, nark ke aag mein bujha hua, Qayamat ka talwar nikla. Ek aisa talwar jise chalaane wala... shayad insaan tha hi nahi.
ARJUN: (Behad dheere se, jaise har lafz uske gale mein chub raha ho, khud se baat karte hue) "Usne Hunter ko andhere mein toda. Bina hathiyaar. Bina... awaaz kiye. Usne 'Saayon' ko... aise saaf kiya... jaise woh koi gandagi hon."
Aur phir... jaise ek switch daba ho.
Arjun ka gussa ek pal mein pighal kar bhaap ban gaya. Aur uss pighle hue laave ke jagah, uska aankhon mein baraf jaisi thandak aa gaya. Ek aisa thandak jo uske gusse se hazaar guna zyada khatarnaak tha. Yeh haar ka nahi, yeh ek naya, bhookha, behis shikaari ka thandak tha.
Woh tezi se Virat ke taraf palta. Uska nazar mein ab koi jazbaat nahi tha. Sirf calculation.
ARJUN: "Sameer kahan hai?"
RISHI: (Jaldi se, jaise hukm ka intezaar kar raha ho) "Bhai, woh... woh uss archery waale qisse ke baad se hi qaid hai. Apne kamre mein lock ho kar baitha hai. Dehshat mein."
ARJUN: (Ek thandi, bejaan muskaan ke saath) "Dara hua? Good. Dar kamzoron ko zinda rakhta hai. Par ab darne ka waqt gaya." Usne apna phone uthaya. Ek number dial kiya. Mr. Khanna.
ARJUN: (Phone mein, awaaz ekdum sapaat, jaise mausam ka haal bata raha ho) "Khanna. Blackout band karo. Sabkuch normal kar do. Lights on. Agar koi music system hai, toh use chala do. Aise... jaise kuch hua hi na ho. Jashn manao... naya din aa gaya hai."
Usne call kaata aur Virat ko dekha. Uski nazrein ekdum sthir theen, jaise kisi surgeon ki jo operation se pehle nishaan laga raha ho.
ARJUN: "Sia kahan hai?"
VIRAT: "Bhai, plan ke mutaabik, maine use roka nahi tha. Woh Ravi ke wing ki taraf gayi thi. Power cut se theek pehle. Abhi... abhi tak wapas nahi aayi."
Ek pal ke liye kamre mein sirf toote hue kaanch par padte Arjun ke mehenge jooton ki krrunch-krrunch ka awaaz aaya.
Aur phir...
Arjun ke chehre par ek behad bhayanak, shaatir, zehreele saanp jaisa muskaan phail gaya. Woh dheere se hansa. Ek aisi hansi jo sunne wale ki rooh ko cheer de. Ek aisi hansi jismein khushi nahi, sirf tabahi ka nasha tha.
Usne apni chair ghumaya aur bahar andhere, barfeele pahaadon ko dekha, jaise woh uske naye shatranj ka board ho.
ARJUN: "Toh... shikaari ko apna shikaar mil gaya. Ya shayad... shikaar ko apna shikaari. Ravi Mishra... tumne mera plan nahi, mera aham zakhmi kiya hai. Tumne mere 'Saayon' ko raakh kiya... koi baat nahi."
Woh palta. Uska aankhon mein ek aisa chamak tha, ek aisa junoon, jise dekhkar Virat aur Rishi ne apne saansein rok liye.
ARJUN: "Virat... 'Parchhai' ko activate karo."
Yeh naam sunte hi Virat ka chehra safed pad gaya. Woh do qadam pichhe hat gaya.
ARJUN: (Dahaadte hue, par awaaz ab bhi ek zehreelee sargoshi tha) "...Jab koi dushman nahi, Iblis (devil) saamne ho. Haan. Aur yeh Ravi Mishra insaan nahi hai. Yeh ek glitch hai. Ek aberration. Jise mitana zaroori hai. 'Parchhai' ko isiliye rakha gaya tha. 'Project Snowfall' ke liye ek contingency plan. Ab waqt aa gaya hai."
VIRAT: (Ab bhi confused) "Bhai, ab... ab plan kya hai? Monastery?"
ARJUN: "Plan badal gaya hai, Virat. 'Project Snowfall' ab sirf Jaanvi ko thikane lagane ke liye nahi hai. Woh toh bas... ek side dish hai." Usne ek aur naya, an-toota glass uthaya aur usmein bacha hua whiskey daala.
ARJUN: "Kal Monastery mein... main Ravi Mishra ko uska sabse bade kamzori se maarunga. Nahi..." Usne Virat ki aankhon mein dekha. Uska nazar mein ab sirf calculation tha. "...Main usse nahi maarunga."
ARJUN: "Main usse Sia ke haathon se maarunga."
Usne glass uthaya, jaise jeet ka nahi, Qayamat ka jaam pee raha ho.
ARJUN: "Kal ka suraj... uss 'Shehzaade' ke liye nahi ugega. Aur agar ug bhi gaya... toh woh dua karega ki kaash woh aaj raat hi mar gaya hota." Uska awaaz ab bilkul bejaan tha.
ARJUN: "Kyunki kal... main usse zinda nahi maarunga. Main uska rooh ko maarunga. Main Sia ko uske khoon se sane haath dikhaunga... aur usey yeh yakeen dilaunga... ki jisse woh masoom samajhti hai, woh ek shehzaada nahi... ek lahu-lahaan, wehshi raakshas hai."
ARJUN: "Kal ka jaam... Sia ke naam. Jo anjaane mein... apne aashiq ki qaatil kehlayegi."
LOCATION: RESORT PERIMETER (AARAV) / YUKI’S ROOM – USSI WAQT (Jab Qabrein Khamosh Ho Jaati Hain)
PHOENIX KA INTKAAM (The Phoenix's Vigil)
Resort ke sabse door ke, jahannami chhor par, jahan barf se dhaka, daant jaisa nukili chattanen andhere jungle ke jabde mein ghus rahe the...
Aur hawa... hawa ek ustaad qasaai ke tez khanjar ki tarah jism ko kaat-ta hua, haddiyon tak thandak pahuncha raha tha...
Ek saaya pathar bana baitha tha.
Nahi, woh baitha nahi tha. Woh ek barfili, dhaar-daar chattan se aise chipka hua tha, jaise sadiyon purana, khoon ka pyaasa gargoyle (pathar ki wehshi moorat) jo aasman se apne agle shikaar ko dekh raha ho.
Aarav. Phoenix.
Military-grade thermal-goggles uska aankhon par aise jame hue the jaise woh uske chehre ka hi hissa ho. Uska nazrein... ek bhookhe, sabr karte hue baaz ke tarah uss wing par tike theen jahan Ravi Mishra ka kamra tha – ek andhera daag uss barfeeli safedi par.
Woh yahan Arjun ka hifaazat ke liye nahi tha; woh yahan Arjun ke anjaam ke liye tha. Woh yahan Ravi ko bachane nahi aaya tha; woh yahan uss Qayamat ko dekhne aaya tha jiske baare mein sirf purani kahaniyon mein suna tha.
Usne 'Barf ke Saayon' ko andar jaate dekha tha. Thermal vision mein, andhere ke uss kaale samundar mein, paanch insaani aag ke shole (human heat signatures) saaf dikhe the. Ek... Do...Teen... Chaar. Poore Chaar. Team Hunter – Arjun ke kiraye ke kutte. Aur 'Saaye' – barfeele qaatil.
Woh Chaar garam, saans lete hue jism... ek thande, andhere kamre mein daakhil hue the. Jaise Chaar patange, ek anjaan shole ki taraf.
Phir...
Blackout. Surgical. Precise.
Thermal-goggles bekaar ho gaye. Screen par sirf andhera. Ek be-ant andhera. Ek aisa kaala rang jo sab kuch nigal gaya.
Aur ab...
Click.
Uss kamre ka light wapas jal gaya tha. Ek bejaan, safed roshni. Aarav ka poora jism ek lohe ki tarah tanav se akad gaya. Uska saansein, jo ab tak ek trained soldier ke tarah bilkul kaabu mein theen, ek pal ke liye uske seene mein hi atak gaya.
Kyun?
Kyunki kuch bhi nahi hua tha.
Koi cheekh nahi sunayi diya tha. Koi goliyon ki awaaz nahi. Koi Bhaag-daud nahi. Koi 'Saaya' khidki se kood kar nahi bhaaga tha. Koi jeet ka ishara nahi, koi haar ki sargoshi nahi.
Chaar log andar gaye the. Professional qaatil. Aur roshni jalne ke baad, darwaaze se koi bhi... kuch bhi... baahar nahi aaya.
Ek aisa khamoshi jo sirf qabr mein milta hai. Ek aisa khamoshi jo abhi-abhi hua chaar cheekhon ko nigal gaya tha. Chaar garam jism andar gaye.
Aur ek bhi garam rooh... baahar nahi aayi.
Aarav ne dheere se, apni nangi ungliyon ko dekha, jinpar barf jamne laga tha. Woh kaanp raha tha. Thand se nahi. Dehshat se. Ek aisa dehshat jo usne kabhi mehsoos nahi kiya tha. Yeh woh haath the jo duniya ke sabse mushkil taale khol sakte the, sabse complex bomb defuse kar sakte the, jo palak jhapkte hi dushman ki saans rok sakte the.
Ab yahi haath... kaanp rahe the.
Usne apna secure satellite phone nikaala. Ungliyan, jo patli se patli taar par naach sakte the, ab message type karte hue aise ladkhada rahe the jaise unmein jaan hi na bachi ho.
Sirf ek text. Ek naye, anjaane number par. Ek aise number par jo sirf tab istemaal hota tha jab Qayamat darwaze par dastak de chuka ho.
Woh type karne laga... ruk gaya... phir type kiya.
"Lama... Taaboot khula hai."
Usne ek pal ke liye ruka, uski saansein hawa mein safed dhuan ban kar jam rahe the. Uske dimaag mein sirf ek hi manzar tha – woh khaali kamra, woh be-nishaan farsh. Woh qatl nahi tha. Woh mitana tha. Wajood ko hi mita dena.
Usne aakhri lafz type kiye, har lafz ek hathode ki chot jaisa tha:
"Qayamat... azaad ho gaya hai."
KITSUNE KA JAAGNA (Qayamat Ki Pehli Aahat)
( Resort, YuKi ka kamra. Raat ka wahi waqt jab Ravi ke kamre mein maut ka khel chal raha tha.)
Doosre taraf, apne kamre ke gehre, barfeele andhere mein, YuKi (Kitsune) padmasan (lotus position) mein ek pathar ki murti ki tarah baitha tha. Kamra ek qabr ki tarah khamosh aur thanda tha.
Par YuKi... YuKi jal nahi raha tha. Woh sulag raha tha. Jaise andar hi andar ek jwalamukhi phatne ko taiyaar ho, jiska laava uske rooh ko pighla raha tha.
Usne aankhein itne zorr se band kiya hua tha ki uske palakon ke neeche dard ke lakeerein ban gaye the. Uska jism, jo sadiyon ke anushaasan se faulaad ban chuka tha, halke-halke, aniyamit taur par kaanp raha tha. Uske maathe par paseene ki boondein, is barfeeli thand ke bawajood, taaze khoon ki boondon ke tarah chamak rahe the.
Usne 'usse' mehsoos kiya tha. Abhi. Isi pal.
Yeh koi darr nahi tha. Darr toh uske liye ek bachpana khel tha. Yeh koi aura nahi tha.
Yeh ek hamla tha. Ek roohaani visphot (spiritual implosion), jo uske dimaag ke andar nahi, uske wajood ke har zarre mein hua tha. Jaise kisi ne barf ki ek poori jheel mein ubalta hua suraj hi daal diya ho. Jaise kisi ne waqt ko hi rok kar, uske haddiyon ko nahi, uske rooh ko tod kar choor-choor kar diya ho.
Ek aisi thandi aag. Ek aisi qaatilana, paak (pure), ibadat jaisa nafrat.
Ek aisa shakti jo sirf tab paida hota hai... jab koi devta... Shaitaan banne ka faisla karta hai. Jab woh apne andar ki har achhai ko raakh karke, uss raakh se ek naye, bhayanak wajood ko janm deta hai.
Qayamat.
YuKi ka gala sookh kar kaanta ban gaya. Saansein uske seene mein hi atak gaye, jaise uss roohaani dhamake ne uske andar ki saari hawa hi nahi, uske zindagi hi kheench liya ho.
Woh... jaag gaya hai.
Itne saalon baad... Ustaadon ne... Maharani ne... Kismat ne... usey aakhir jaaga hi diya. Nahi. Usey majboor kar diya. Uske andar sadiyon se soye hue uss jaanwar ko... uss rakshak ko... uss qaatil ko azaad kar diya.
Usne apni laal, paani se bhari aankhein khola. Par ab unmein paani nahi, unmein barf jama tha. Ek aisa barf jismein Qayamat ka aks saaf dikh raha tha.
Vibrate hua. Humesha khamosh rehne wala screen roshan hua. Screen par ek naya message tha. Ek aise number se jo barson se khamosh tha. Jaise koi murda bol utha ho.
Sirf ek lafz. Ek hukm. Ek farmaan.
"JAAGO."
YuKi apni jagah se uth khada hua. Ek jhatke mein. Aise, jaise uske jism mein sadiyon ke thakaan ke baad achanak Qayamat ke bijli daud gaya ho. Uske jism ka kaanpna band ho chuka tha. Uske chehre par ab paseena nahi, ek sthir, pathar jaisa, be-rehem sankalp (determination) tha.
Shehzaada... Qayamat jaag gaya tha. Toh ab... 'KITSUNE' (Japani Lomdi/Rakshak/Qaatil) ko bhi jaagna tha.
Waqt aa gaya tha. Apne ateet ka karz chukane ka. Apne maqsad ko poora karne ka. Aur apne Shehzaade ka...
Usne aankhein band ki aur ek lambi, gehri saans li. Woh saans ab kamre ki thand se nahi, ek alag hi, sulagta hua aag se bhari tha.
"...Pehredaar banne ka." "...Ya uska Jallad."
Jaise hi yeh sard, antim faisla uske zehen mein goonja, wahi mobile jo ab tak message dikha kar shaant ho chuka tha, ek baar phir jee utha. Par is baar message nahi, ek incoming call tha.
Screen par koi naam nahi tha. Sirf ek shahi mohar chamak raha tha – Gwalior Rajgharane ka symbol.
YuKi ne call uthaya. Uske gale se ab jo awaaz nikla, woh uss thande, kaanpte hue YuKi ka nahi tha. Yeh 'Kitsune' ki awaaz tha. Sthir, gehri, aur har jazbaat se khaali. Par agle lafz mein... ek sadiyon purana rishta jhalak gaya.
YuKi: "Maa."
Doosri taraf se Maharani Divyangi ki awaaz aayi. Ek aisi awaaz jismein sadiyon ki hukumat, ek Rani ka faulaadi iraada, aur ab... ek maa ka do-guna dard ghula hua tha.
Maharani Divyangi: (Awaaz mein ek anjaani si bechaini) "Tumne... mehsoos kiya, Kitsune?"
YuKi: (Kamre ke bahar andhere pahaadon ko dekhte hue) "Qayamat ka pehla dahaad... ansuna nahi reh sakta, Maa. Woh jaag gaya hai."
Maharani Divyangi: (Ek lambi saans ki awaaz aayi) "Toh tum jaante ho tumhara waqt shuru ho gaya hai. Woh waqt jiske liye tumhein paala gaya... taiyaar kiya gaya hai. Woh waqt jo humari sadiyon ki qurbaaniyon ka anjaam likhega."
Ek pal ki bhaari khamoshi. Sirf YuKi ki sthir saanson ki awaaz.
Maharani Divyangi: (Awaaz ab ek maa ki fikr mein doobi hui) "Kaisa hai woh...? Mera Shehzaada..."
YuKi ne apni barfeeli aankhein band kiya. Yeh sawaal hamesha uske dil ko cheerta tha. Mera Shehzaada. Usne apne jazbaaton ko qaabu kiya. Uske dimaag mein woh roohaani visphot ka ehsaas ab bhi taza tha.
YuKi: (Awaaz mein ek ajeeb sa, gehra dard tha) "Woh... ek gehra samundar hai, Maa. Jiske upar khamoshi hai, par andar hazaaron toofan qaid hain. Ek aisa toofan jo ya toh duniya ko bacha sakta hai... ya usey hi nigal sakta hai."
Maharani Divyangi ki taraf se ek halki si, dabi hui siski ki awaaz aayi, jo unhone foran kaabu kar liya. Unki awaaz ab phir se ek Rani ki thi – apne bete ko aadesh deti hui.
Maharani Divyangi: "Uska khayal rakhna, Kitsune. Duniya se, uske dushmano se... aur sabse badhkar... khud uske andar ke Shaitaan se. Usey woh mat banne dena jiske liye usey paida nahi kiya gaya tha... par jiske liye usey majboor kiya jaa raha hai."
YuKi ka aankhein khula. Unmein ab barf nahi, ek sulagta hua zimmedari ka aag tha. Wada. Karz. Pehredaar. Jallad. Aur ek bete ka farz.
YuKi: (Faulaadi iraade ke saath) "Main apna farz nibhaunga, Maa. Shehzaade ka har saans... meri amaanat hai."
Usne call kaat diya. Kamre ki thand ab uske jism ke andar nahi, uski rooh mein daakhil ho chuki thi.
Kitsune... jaag gaya tha. Aur uske jaagne ka matlab tha... Qayamat ab akela nahi tha.
LOCATION: RAVI’S ROOM / CORRIDOR – SUBH SE THEEK PEHLE (PRE-DAWN) (Qayamat Ke Baad Ki Khamoshi)
Patti bandhne ke baad, kamre mein ek aisi khamoshi ne ghar kar liya tha jo kaanon ko nahi, rooh ko phaad raha tha.
Hawa mein khoon ka lohe jaisa, meetha sa gandh, antiseptic ka teekha chubhan aur... maut ka ek aisa bhaari, gala ghontne waala mehek tha jo har saans ko ek saza bana raha tha. Yeh woh khamoshi tha jo ek buchar-khaane (slaughterhouse) mein aakhri jaanwar ke zibah hone ke baad aata hai.
Sia deewar se aise chipki khadi thi, jaise woh uss thande pathar mein hi sama jaana chahti ho, uski sard gehraaiyon mein chhup jaana chahti ho. Uska dimaag... uska dimaag abhi bhi unn aakhri, wehshi palon ke replay mein phansa hua tha – haddiyon ke chatakne ki woh geeli awaaz, gosht ke phatne ka woh narm thump, aur phir... woh khamoshi. Woh be-insaaf khamoshi.
Aur Ravi...
Ravi ne apni khoon se lathpath, geela shirt wapas pehen liya tha. Zakhm ke oopar. Beparwahi se nahi, balki ek rasm ke tarah. Jaise woh zakhm, woh khoon, uske jism ka nahi, uska pehchaan ka hissa ho.
Woh bilkul shaant tha. Itna shaant ki yeh shaanti hi sabse badi, sabse dehshatnaak cheekh tha. Uske chehre par na gussa tha, na afsos, na jeet ka nasha. Sirf... ek khaali pan. Ek banjar, be-ant khaali pan. Jaise usne abhi-abhi ek bahut saara, bahut ganda, bahut zaroori kachra saaf kiya ho.
Usne bathroom ke nal ko theek se band kiya, jo abhi tak tip... tip... tip... tapak raha tha, jaise maut ki ghadi ki aakhri awaazein ho. Woh ek boond paani ki awaaz bhi bardaasht karne ke mood mein nahi tha. Usse mukammal khamoshi chahiye thi.
RAVI: "Tumhein jaana chahiye."
Uska awaaz sapaat tha. Bina kisi jazbaat ke. Ek machine ka command.
SIA: (Awaaz ek toote hue kaanch ki tarah bikhri hui, har lafz ek zakhmi qatra) "C-Chaar... Chaar log the... Maine... maine gina tha. Unke... unke haath... unke gardan... T-Tumne... tumne unhein... kya bana diya?"
'Maarna' lafz uske halaq mein hi ghut kar mar gaya. Kyunki jo usne dekha tha, woh 'maut' nahi tha. Maut toh ek anjaam hai. Yeh... yeh toh mitana tha. Wajood ko hi raakh kar dena tha.
Ravi palta. Aur uske kareeb aaya. Ek qadam. Do qadam.
Is baar Sia pichhe nahi hati. Isliye nahi ki woh bahadur thi. Isliye... ki uske pairon ne kaam karna band kar diya tha. Woh dehshat se jamm chuki thi, ek zinda, saans leti hui barf ki murti. Uska dimaag yeh maan hi nahi paa raha tha ki saamne wala shakhs... zinda hai. Ya shayad... zinda kehna hi galat tha.
RAVI: (Uske aur kareeb aakar, awaaz ek zehreelee sargoshi. Itna kareeb ki Sia uske saanson se uthti barfeeli thandak ko apne chehre par mehsoos kar sake)
"Galat."
Yeh ek lafz... ek thappad se zyada zordaar tha. Ek aisa thappad jo gaal par nahi, zameer par padta hai.
RAVI: "Tumne safai dekhi." Uski awaaz mein nafrat nahi, sirf ek thandi, be-rehem haqeeqat thi. "Woh 'log' nahi the, Sia. Woh hathiyaar the. Arjun ne unhein mera shikaar karne nahi... mujhe parkhne bheja tha. Ek test... jo woh fail ho gaye."
Usne apna patti bandha haath uthaya. Taaza khoon ab bhi patti se halka-halka ris kar uski shirt par gir raha tha.
RAVI: "Jab ek auzaar (tool) kaam karte hue toot jaata hai... toh usey joda nahi jaata. Usey phenk diya jaata hai. Uski jagah... dusra, behtar auzaar laaya jaata hai."
Woh usse door hua aur darwaze ki taraf badha.
RAVI: "Tumne aaj raat jo dekha hai, woh tumhari neend nahi... tumhari rooh ko kha jayega." Usne palat kar Sia ko dekha. Uski nazar mein ab na khaali pan tha, na shaanti. Ek ajeeb si, sard si taras thi. Jaise ek buzurg qaatil ek nausikhiye ko uski pehli galti par dekh raha ho.
RAVI: "Aaj ke baad, jab tum pahaadon ko dekhogi, toh tumhein nazaare nahi, chhipne ki jagah (sniper nests) dikhegi. Jab tum sangeet sunogi, toh tumhein dhun nahi, badalte hue qadmon ki aahat sunai degi. Jab koi tumse muskura kar haath milayega... toh tum uske haath dekhogi, yeh sochte hue ki woh unhein hathiyaar ki tarah istemaal kar sakta hai ya nahi."
Woh Sia ke paas wapas aaya, aur uske kaan ke paas jhuka. Uska sargoshi ab ek mantr jaisa tha, ek abhishaap (curse).
RAVI: "Yeh hai meri duniya, Sia. Ek aisa duniya jahan har saans ek jung hai. Aur ab... yeh tumhari bhi hai. Welcome to the war."
Usne darwaza thoda sa khola. Corridor khaali tha. Subah hone mein abhi kuch waqt tha. Aasman ka rang kaale se gehra, zaalimaana neela ho raha tha – jaise Qayamat se pehle ka aakhri pal ho.
RAVI: "Jao. Apne kamre mein. Aur aise so jao jaise yeh sab ek bura sapna tha." Uska awaaz ekdum sakht ho gaya, ek fauji command ke tarah. "Aur agar tumse koi pooche... toh yeh ek bura sapna hi tha. Samjhi tum? Aaj... tum mera parchhai nahi banogi."
Usne Sia ki aankhon mein dekha.
RAVI: "Tum ek bhoot banogi. Bilkul khaamosh. Bilkul adrishya. Jo dekhti sab kuch hai, par dikhti kisi ko nahi."
Sia ne ek pal ke liye uski peeth ko dekha, jo ab andhere mein ghul rahi thi. Woh kuch kehna chahti thi... shayad cheekhna chahti thi... par lafz uske gale mein hi barf ban kar jam gaye.
Woh ek zinda laash ki tarah, bina koi awaaz kiye, darwaze se bahar nikli aur uss neele, be-rehem andhere corridor mein gum ho gayi.
Ravi ne darwaza band kiya.
CLICK.
Lock ka awaaz ek goli ke tarah uss khaali kamre mein goonja. Usne lights band kar diya.
Kamra phir se andhere ki gehraaiyon mein doob gaya. Woh khidki ke paas khada hokar bahar uss neele andhere ko dekhta raha. Uski patti ke neeche zakhm, antiseptic ki wajah se, sulag raha tha. Jal raha tha.
Par yeh jalan... usey zinda mehsoos kara raha tha. Usey yaad dila raha tha ki khel abhi khatm nahi hua hai.
(Inner Monologue - Ravi)
"Arjun ne 'Saaye' bheje..."(Honton par ek sard, zehreele saanp jaisa muskaan phail gaye) "... Andhere mein chhipne waalon ko."
"Usey pata hi nahi... ki main khud woh Andhera hoon jismein 'Saaye' panah lete hain."
Usne apna zakhmi haath khidki ke thande sheeshe par daba diya. Dard ne uske aankhon mein ek wehshi aag jala di.
"Tumne mujhe 'Shehzaada' kaha, Rathore. Par tum galat the."Uska saansein tez ho gaye.
"Main 'Shehzaada' nahi... Main 'Pralay' (Apocalypse) hoon ... MAHAPRALAY."
Uska awaaz uske dimaag mein goonja, ek dahaad ke tarah.
"Main woh Qayamat nahi jiska shor hota hai... Main woh Qayamat ke baad ka raakh hoon. Woh khamoshi hoon." "Khel... tumne shuru kiya, Arjun. Par khatm... main karunga."
Lekin yeh woh masoom subah nahi thi jo nayi ummeedein laata hai. Yeh ek naqaabposh subah tha.
Pahaadon ke peeche se suraj ki pehli kiran ne barf ko sone mein zaroor badla tha, par resort ki hawa mein raat ke andhere ka kaala rang abhi bhi ghula hua tha. Lobby mein students ka shor tha – ek khokhla, be-jaan shor. Raat ke 'power cut' aur un anjaani, wehshi awaazon ke baad sab thode sehme hue the, par Gaden Monastery jaane ka utsaah ek jhoothe muskaan ke tarah unke chehron par chipka hua tha.
Nashte ki mehek hawa mein thi, par har saans ke saath ek anjaana sa khauf bhi andar jaa raha tha. Bahar se sab kuch 'normal' lag raha tha. Bilkul perfectly normal.
Aur yahi normality sabse bada jhooth tha.
Kyunki parde ke peeche, shatranj ki bisat par, mohre nahi... wajood apni jagah badal rahe the.
TABLE 1: THE FAÇADE OF INNOCENCE (Masoomiyat Ka Dhong)
Kabir aur Amit ek table par baithe the, Ravi ka intezaar kar rahe the. Kabir ka energy, jo hamesha 100 watt ke bulb ki tarah jalte rehte the, aaj thoda dhundhla tha.
KABIR: "Had hai yaar. Yeh Ravi kahan hai? Na phone utha raha hai, na dikh raha hai. Aur Sia bhi laapata. Raat ke 'haunted house' episode ke baad dono ne milke nayi kahani shuru kar di kya? Power cut ne waise hi sabka..."
AMIT: (Chashma saaf karte hue, uska analytical nigahein lobby mein har chehre ko scan kar raha tha)
"Tum 'haunted house' ka baat kar rahe ho. Main 'system shock' ka. Raat ko jo hua, woh sirf ek power cut nahi tha, Kabir. Woh ek stimulus tha. Ek extreme external pressure. Aur jab ek system (insaan) par itna pressure padta hai, toh woh sirf darta nahi hai... woh badalta hai. Paani ubal kar bhaap ban sakta hai, ya jam kar barf. Dono hi paani hain, par unka wajood alag hai."
KABIR: "Oye Professor Proton! Subah subah quantum physics? Normal baat kar! Dekh..."
Tabhi Kabir ki nazar lobby ke shandaar, lakdi ke bane entrance par pada.
Ravi andar daakhil hua.
Bilkul shaant. Bilkul normal. Itna normal ki gair-fitri lage. Jaise usne raat ko gehri, sukoon bhari neend li ho. Jaise raat kuch hua hi na ho. Ek shikaari jo shikaar ke baad, apne khoon saaf karke, bheed mein ghul mil gaya ho.
KABIR: "Abe, Qayamat ke farishte! Kahan tha? Chal jaldi, nashta—"
Kabir ka baat uske gale mein hi atak gaya. Uske chehre ki muskaan ek pal mein hawa ho gaya. Uski nazar Ravi ke haath par pada safed patti par jam gaya. Patti taaza tha. Aur uske kinaaron se... khoon ka halka sa nishaan ab bhi jhaank raha tha.
KABIR: (Awaaz mein asli chinta) "Bhai! Yeh kya hua? Haath... yeh toh gehra lag raha hai! Kab laga? Kaise?"
Ravi ne apne haath ko aise dekha, jaise woh khud use pehli baar dekh raha ho. Phir usne Kabir ke aankhon mein dekha. Uske chehre par ek aisi sapaat beparwahi tha jo dil cheer de. Usne ek bilkul taiyaar, pathar jaisa jhooth bola.
RAVI: "Kuch nahi. Bathroom mein fisal gaya tha. Toota hua glass tha... uspe haath lag gaya."
KABIR: "Fisal gaya? Abe, tu aur fisal gaya? Tu toh hawa mein bhi balance bana le! Tera pair..."
Kabir bolte-bolte ekdum chup ho gaya. Uska munh khula ka khula reh gaya.
Kyunki uske theek peeche, lobby mein Sia ne qadam rakha tha.
Agar Ravi shaant tha, toh Sia... be-jaan thi. Ek khoobsurat, chalti-phirti laash. Uska chehra... ek safed kaagaz jaisa tha jispar dehshat ki siyahi se ek anjaan kahaani likh di gayi ho. Koi emotion nahi. Bas ek khaali pan. Uski aankhein thaki hui, sooji hui theen, jaise sadiyon se soyi na ho, par unmein ek ajeeb si, thandi, gehri khaamoshi thi.
Usne aate hi sabse pehle Ravi ko dekha. Sirf ek pal ke liye.
Ek pal ka woh connection... jise bayaan karne ke liye lafz nahi the, shayad saansein bhi kam pad jaayein. Ek aisa connection jo do toota hua roohon ke beech, Qayamat ke baad ka raakh par banta hai.
Amit ne yeh sab note kar liya. Har details, har choti – badi cheez. Usne Ravi ko dekha (calm predator). Usne Sia ko dekha (traumatized prey). Usne Ravi ke haath par laga patti ko dekha (evidence of violence). Uska dimaag ek supercomputer ka tarah tezi se sab jod-tod kar raha tha.
(Amit ke dimaag mein... Processing... Shuru)
Hypothesis: Ravi ka bahana ("bathroom mein fisal gaya") == JHOOTH.
Observation 1 (Zakhm): Patti se khoon abhi bhi ris raha hai. Yeh chot kisi tez, dhaar-daar cheez ki hai. Accident mein sheeshe par girne se aisi chot nahi lagta. Uske jhooth bolne ka chance... 1% se bhi kam hai.
Observation 2 (Ravi - System 1): Uska state... woh zaroorat se zyada shaant hai. Yeh adrenaline (gusse ya josh) ke baad wala shaanti hai. Ek 'Alpha-Predator' (bade shikaari) wala shaanti.
Observation 3 (Sia - System 2): Uska state... woh 'Sadme' mein hai. Bilkul pathar ban gayi hai. Aankhein khaali hain. Aisa tab hota hai jab insaan maut ko bilkul apne saamne dekhta hai.
Observation 4 (The Link): Dono ka ek hi time par aana. Ek doosre ko dekhna. Yeh ittefaq (coincidence) nahi hai, yeh ek hi ghatna ka asar (causation) hai. Matlab saaf hai: Sia ne woh dekha hai... jo Ravi ne kiya hai.
Observation 5 (The Gaze - Nazar): Sia ki nazar Ravi par. Haan, darr hai. Lekin... ek ajeeb sa bharosa bhi hai. Jaise uss par depend ho gayi ho. Yeh 'Trauma Bond' (sadme se bana rishta) shuru ho gaya hai kya?
(Analysis... Sab jodh kar dekhte hain...)
Raat ka surgical blackout (Asli Vajah / Trigger).Ravi (System 1) par pressure (Attack) pada.Result: Uska 'Phase Transition' ho gaya (Uska roop badal gaya).
Woh pehle se hi 'super-cooled liquid' tha... (Matlab, tha toh paani, par hamesha se barf banne ko taiyaar baitha tha).Raat ka attack woh 'dhakka' tha... aur woh fauran 'super-cooled ice' (sakht barf) ban gaya. Thanda, khatarnaak, be-rehem.
Aur Sia? (System 2)? Woh 'liquid' (normal) thi. Uss badlaav ko dekh kar... woh 'frozen vapor' (sadme se jami hui bhaap) ban gayi. Ek zinda laash.
(Process Complete. Nateeja
AMIT: (Dheere se, sirf khud se, jaise koi paheli suljha raha ho) "Ek zabardast energy transfer hua hai... Ek ka roop badla, doosre ka wajood. Raat ko kuch 'phisla' zaroor hai, Ravi... par woh glass nahi tha."
(Amit apni nazrein chashme ke upar se uthakar Ravi ke thanda, shaant aankhon ko dekhta hai.)
AMIT: "Woh shayad... insaaniyat tha."
TABLE 2: THE HUNTER'S CALM (Shikaari Ka Khamoshi)
Lobby ke doosre kone mein, aalishan sofa par baitha, Arjun Rathore behad itminaan se apni imported coffee ka chuskiyan le raha tha. Uska chehra bilkul shaant tha, jaise raat ko uske bheje hue professional qaatil gaajar-mooli ke tarah kaate hi na gaye hon.
Par uske aankhon mein shaanti nahi, ek barfeeli thandak tha. Haar ne uske gusse ko aag nahi, ek mahapralay laane wala glacier bana diya tha.
Usne apne state-of-the-art, encrypted phone se do calls kiye. Pehla call Rajasthan gaya. Uske baap, Cabinet Minister Vikramaditya Rathore ko.
ARJUN: (Awaaz mein bilkul shaanti, jaise business deal final kar raha ho) "Dad, yahan situation thoda... 'interesting' ho gaya hai. Ek mamuli pyaada, Wazir banne ki koshish kar raha hai. Maine faisla kar liya hai. Aap Prince ko phone kijiye. Unse kahiye... unke level ka yahan ek chhota sa 'practical exam' hai. Ek ziddi keeda... jise masalne mein unhein shayad maza aaye."
Doosra call, Manali mein hi unke private, heavily guarded estate par gaya. Receiver par Kai ka sard awaaz tha.
ARJUN: "Kai. Plan mein thoda badlaav hai. Monastery mein aaj hi hamla hoga. Par target ab sirf Jaanvi nahi hai." Usne ek pal ka pause liya, Ravi par ek thandi nazar daalte hue. "Ek aur hai. Ravi Mishra. Agar woh Jaanvi ke raaste mein aaye... ya na bhi aaye... usey zinda pakadna hai. Zakhmi kar sakte ho... par saansein chalta rehna chahiye. Mumbai se Prince aa raha hai... woh uss se khaas taur par milna chahta hai."
Ravi ab dushman nahi, ek 'trophy' ban chuka tha – ek zinda trophy jise Prince ke saamne pesh kiya jaana tha.
TABLE 3: THE SPIES AND SHADOWS (Jasoos Aur Saaye)
(PART A - THE HANDLER)
Ek alag table par, Alisha (The Silencer) shaanti se orange juice pee rahi thi, par uski nigahein Ravi par ek laser beam ki tarah tiki hui theen. Woh 'The Handler' ko secure line par, bina honth hilaye, apne high-tech earpiece ke zariye report kar rahi thi.
ALISHA: (Mann mein) "...Woh unexpected nahi, ek anomaly hai. Ek 'glitch' in the system. Uske andar kuch aisa hai jo hamare data, hamare analysis se pare hai. He's adapting too fast. He didn't just survive... he dominated."
THE HANDLER (V.O.): (Awaaz mein pehla baar halka sa... bechaini?)
"Glitch ko theek karna hoga, Alisha. Permanently. Arjun ab gusse mein andha hai. Woh galti karega. Tum bas Ravi par nazar rakho. Mujhe usse akele mein milna hai. Monastery sabse behtar jagah hai. Uska kamzori, Sia, uske saath hoga. Usey alag karo. Isolate the target."
THE HANDLER (V.O.): "Lekin... abhi ke liye ruko. Kuch mat karna. Raat ka ghatna... aam nahi tha. Hawa mein kuch badal gaya hai. Jab tak main na kahun, sirf nazar rakho. Don't engage."
(PART B - BHAIRAVA)
(Resort se kuch meel door, ek high-tech, adrishya 'stealth' van mein)
Andar, 'Bhairava' akela baitha tha. Ek shikaari ki tarah, bilkul shaant. Woh ek king tha jo doosre king (Vikram Rathore) ka shikaar karne aaya tha. Uske saamne thermal scans aur audio feeds ka ek jaal bicha tha.
Usne ek record kiya hua audio file play kiya... jismein kuch nahi tha. Sirf sannata. Ussi waqt ka, jab 'Saaye' maare gaye.
BHAIRAVA: (Khud se, awaaz mein gussa nahi, balki ek professional shikaari ka curiosity tha) "Chaar trained 'Saaye'... aur unki maut ke awaaz tak nahi aaya. Sirf... static. Jaise wajood hi mita diya gaya ho."
Usne apni screen par Arjun Rathore ki live feed dekha, jo lobby mein coffee pee raha tha, aur Vikram Rathore ke aane ka flight details ko dekha.
BHAIRAVA: "Tumhara waqt aa gaya tha, Vikram. Par ab... is jungle mein ek naya, anjaan jaanwar aa gaya hai. Ek aisa bhoot jo saayon ko bhi kha jaata hai."
Usne apni sniper rifle ka case band kar diya.
BHAIRAVA: "Ek jungle mein do sher ek hi waqt par shikaar nahi karte. Pehle... main is bhoot ko parakhunga. Tumhara maut... maine 'pause' kar diya hai, Rathore. Jab tak yeh naya khiladi... maidaan se hat nahi jaata."
Uska aankhon mein ek thanda chamak tha. Woh darr nahi raha tha; woh intezaar kar raha tha. Sahi mauke ka.
(PART C - ZORAWAR)
(Resort ke saamne wali pahaadi. Ek ped par.)
Subah ke pehli kiran mein, ek saaya ped par baitha tha. Zorawar. Uska aankhein ek sniper scope se bhi tez the. Woh Arjun ko nahi, woh uss poore mahaul ko dekh raha tha. Usne raat ka sannata mehsoos kiya tha.
ZORAWAR: (Apne earpiece mein, seedha Samraat ko) "Samraat. Yahan khel badal gaya hai. Arjun Rathore ke 'Saaye' ... raakh ho chuke hain."
ZORAWAR: (Pause) "Nahi. Yeh 'Phoenix' (Aarav) ka kaam nahi hai. Yeh... yeh alag hai. Saaf. Be-rehem. Bina jazbaat ke. Aisa laga jaise... Qayamat khud yahan se guzra ho. Maidaan mein ek naya, anjaan shikaari utar chuka hai. Humein pichhe hatna hoga. Ab yeh hamari jung nahi raha."
(PART D - ARYAN RATHORE)
Isi beech, resort ke staff quarters ke ek andhere, seelan bhare kamre mein, Aryan Rathore apne zakhmi, toote hue aadmi, Vikrant, ke paas ghutno ke bal baitha tha. Vikrant ne toote hue saanson mein, dard se karahate hue use sab kuch bata diya tha – Arjun ka dhokha, Jaanvi ko maarne ka plan, Kai naam ka woh bhoot jaisa qaatil.
Aryan ki aankhein... woh laal nahi hua tha. Woh jal raha tha. Ek aisa aag jo sirf khoon se bujh sakta tha. Uske haath ki mutthiyan itni kass gaya tha ki uske naakhun uske hatheli mein ghus kar khoon nikaal rahe the.
ARYAN: (Gurrate hue, awaaz mein apne hi bhai ke liye bepanah nafrat tha) "Apne hi khoon se gaddari... Ek masoom ladki ki jaan lekar woh kya saabit karna chahta hai? Ki woh Dad se bhi bada rakshas hai? Taiyaar ho jao." Usne Vikrant ko sahara dekar uthaya. "Hum monastery ja rahe hain. Arjun ka khel... aaj khatm hoga. Uske hi khoon se."
THE CONFRONTATION (Aankhon Ka Khel)
Arjun apni 'War Council' (Virat, Rishi) ke saath utha. Usne ek confident, jhoothi muskaan ke saath sabko dekha. Uska nazar Ravi par pada, phir uske haath ke patti par (jise dekhkar uske honthon par ek pal ke liye ek sard muskaan aaya), aur aakhir mein Sia par.
Usne Sia ko dekh kar ek behad charming smile diya.
'Yaadgaar' lafz par usne aisa zor diya jaise woh Sia ko nahi, Ravi ko dhamki de raha ho.
Sia ne usse aankhein milayi. Uski aankhon mein ab dar nahi tha. Na hi khaali pan. Ek ajeeb si, thandi, anjaani khaamoshi thi. Jaise woh ab is khel ki spectator nahi, ek khiladi ban chuki thi.
Tabhi Ms. Meera ne seeti bajayi. Unki awaaz mein ek zabardasti ka josh tha.
MS. MEERA: "Chalo, students! Buses taiyaar hain! Gaden Monastery, here we come!"
Khel ka maidan badal chuka tha. Shatranj ki bisat ab Manali ke barf par nahi... Gaden Monastery ki sadiyon purani, raazon se bhari deewaron ke andar bichhne wala tha.
PART 3: ATEET KA ZAKHM (Jab Gawaahi Maut Ka Farmaan Ban Jaati Hai)
(Flashback - Mumbai Port - Kuch Mahine Pehle)
Yeh sab shuru kaise hua?
Mumbai Port par Qayamat baras chuka tha. Red Dragon ka khooni taandav khatm hone ke baad, jab baarish ki boondein zameen par bikhre lahu ko dhone ki nakaam koshish kar rahi theen, tab bachayi gayi ladkiyon ke beech ek alag hi toofan chal raha tha – khauf ka, bechaini ka, aur ek anjaani azaadi ka.
Red Dragon ki team unhein surakshit jagahon par pahunchane, unke gharon ka pata lagane mein laga tha. Mahaul mein ek ajeeb sa khamoshi tha, jaise ek bhayanak sapne ke baad ka subah ho.
Zyadatar ladkiyan ab bhi dehshat se kaanp rahi theen, kuch ro rahi theen, kuch bas khaali aankhon se andhere ko ghoor rahi theen.
Par unhi ke beech, ek ladki thi – Jaanvi. Umar yahi koi 17-18 saal. Uske chehre par khauf tha, par us khauf ke neeche ek alag hi aag jal rahi thi – insaaf ki, sach bolne ki. Us raat usne jo dekha tha, woh uski rooh mein ek zinda angaare ki tarah dehek raha tha.
Jab Red Dragon ka commander (Revenant) unhein aakhri baar tasalli de raha tha, "Tum sab ab mehfooz ho. Hum tumhein tumhare ghar pahuncha denge. Woh log ab kabhi wapas nahi aayenge," tab Jaanvi ne apni saari himmat batori. Woh kaanpte hue qadmon se aage badhi.
JAANVI: (Awaaz mein darr thi, par lafzon mein faulaad) "Ek... ek baat hai jo aapko jaanni chahiye."
Commander ne uski taraf dekha. Unka aankhon mein (helmet ke visor ke peeche) koi hairat nahi tha, bas ek thandi, parakhne wala nazar tha.
JAANVI: "Maine... maine uss raat ek shakhs ko dekha tha. Jab humein us container mein band kiya ja raha tha... ek behad taaqatwar aadmi wahan aaya tha. Rana usey 'Minister Sahab' keh raha tha. Maine... maine uska chehra dekha tha."
Woh ek pal ruki, ek gehri saans li.
JAANVI: "Woh... woh Cabinet Minister Vikram Rathore tha. Woh uss deal ko final karne aaya tha jise aap sab log 'The Politician's Cut' kehte hain."
Commander ke aas paas khade Dragon ke baaki members ke beech ek halka sa hulchul hua, par Commander bilkul sthir raha. Jaise use yeh pehle se pata ho, ya jaise yeh itna badi baat ho hi na.
COMMANDER (REVENANT): (Awaaz thandi aur sapaat) "Tumhari himmat ki daad dete hain, bachchi. Par sirf tumhara kehna kaafi nahi hai. Vikram Rathore ek bhoot hai... woh apni parchhayi bhi peeche nahi chhodta. Uske khilaaf saboot laana... samundar se ek khaas boond dhoondhne jaisa hai."
Unhone ek pal ke liye Jaanvi ki aankhon mein jhaanka.
COMMANDER (REVENANT): "Hum us par vaar karenge... zaroor karenge. Par sahi waqt par... sahi hathiyaar se. Jab shikaar ko yeh gumaan bhi na ho ki shikaari uski saans bhi gin raha hai. Abhi ke liye... tumhari hifazat, tumhari zindagi sabse zaroori hai. Kyunki tum ab sirf ek gawah nahi... tum ek zinda saboot ho."
(Scene: Flashback - Manali - Agle Din)
Jaanvi Manali ki hi rehne wali thi. Red Dragon ne usey behad khufiya tareeke se uske ghar pahuncha diya.
Par uske maa-baap... unhein apni beti ke lautne ki khushi se zyada uski aankhon mein basi dehshat ne tod diya tha. Woh jaante the ki unki beti ne ek sheshnaag ke phan par pair rakh diya hai. Rathore ka naam Manali mein bhi khauf ka doosra naam tha. Unhein raat ko neend nahi aate the, har dastak par unka dil uchhal jaata tha.
Unhein pata tha ki Manali mein, pahaadon ki goad mein, sirf ek hi jagah hai jahan Vikram Rathore ka saaya toh kya, uski soch bhi nahi pahunch sakti – Gaden Baudh Math. Ek aisi jagah jahan sirf dharm nahi, sadiyon purani shaktiyaan bhi panah leti hain.
Agle hi din, woh Jaanvi ko lekar Lama Tashi ke paas gaye. Math ki shaanti bhi unke dil ki bechaini ko kam nahi kar paa rahi thi.
JAANVI KE PITA: (Lama Tashi ke kadmon mein girte hue, awaaz mein bebasi) "Lama ji... iski jaan bacha lijiye. Anjaane mein isne ek aise Shaitan ko dekh liya hai jiski parchhayi bhi maut laati hai. Yeh ab hamari beti se zyada... aapke paas ek amanat hai. Bas kuch din ki baat hai... jab tak yeh toofan guzar na jaaye."
Lama Tashi, jinke aankhon mein sadiyon ka gyaan aur pahaadon ki shaanti tha, ne Jaanvi ki aankhon mein jhaanka. Unhein wahan dar ke saath-saath ek sach ke ziddi taaqat bhi dikhayi diya. Ek aisi taaqat jo shayad bade se bade toofan ka rukh mod sakta tha.
LAMA TASHI: (Awaaz mein ek gehri karuna aur faulaadi iraada) "Pahaad har uss rooh ko panah dete hain jiska dil sach ki roshni se bhara ho. Tumhara beti ne zulm dekha hai, par usne sach ka saath nahi chhoda. Yeh aaj se hamari beti hai. Jab tak Gaden Math ki deewarein khadi hain, iski taraf koi buri nazar nahi uthega."
Aur is tarah, Jaanvi – jo Vikram Rathore ke khilaaf sabse bada, sabse zinda saboot thi – ussi saboot ko bachane ke liye, pahaadon ki goad mein, waqt ki aankhon se, maut ke saaye se... aa chhipe.
Ek anjaan toofan se bachne ke liye... ek purane, shaant toofan ki panah mein.
UPDATE 12 (B) MAHAPRALAY - 1(Qayamat Ka Janam) PART 4: MONASTERY MEIN MAYAJAAL (Jannat Mein Jahannum)
(Bus Gaden Monastery ki taraf badh raha hai)
Pahaadi raasta har mod ke saath aur bhi tang aur khatarnaak hota jaa raha tha. Buson ke tyres kachhe pathreele raaste par apni pakad banaaye rakhne ke liye sangharsh kar rahe the. Ek taraf oonche, barf se dhake pahaad the, jin par suraj ki roshni aankhon ko chaundhiya rahi thi; doosri taraf hazaaron feet gehri khaai, jiske neeche ghoomti hui Beas nadi ek chaandi ke dhaage jaisi lag rahe the.
Hawa mein pine ke pedon ka taazi mehek tha aur door se kahin-kahin prayer flags ki phadphadahat sunayi de raha tha. Mahaul roohaniyat se bharpoor tha, par buson ke andar baithi kuch roohon mein toofan pal raha tha.
Bus 1 (The Chaos & The Calm):
Iss bus mein zyadatar students the, jahan Kabir ne mahaul ko halka karne ka zimmedari utha rakha tha. Antakshari aur jokes chal rahe the.
Amit, hamesha ke tarah, khidki se bahar pahaadon ki banawat ko dekh kar kuch calculations mein laga tha.
KABIR: "Oye Professor! Kya gin raha hai? Pahaadon ki umar ya khaai ka gehraayi? Dono hi tere samajh se bahar hain!"
AMIT: (Bina nazar hataye) "Main 'structural integrity' aur 'potential geological stress points' ka anumaan laga raha hoon. Yeh pahaad dekhne mein sthir lagte hain, Kabir, par andar hi andar 'tectonic pressure' accumulate ho raha hai. Ek chhota sa trigger... aur poora ka poora 'system collapse' kar sakta hai. Physics hamesha warning deti hai, bas hum usey sunte nahi."
Kabir ne uska sar hila diya. "Tu rehne de. Tu bas yeh soch ki bonfire mein kaun sa gaana gaayega."
Issi bus ke pichhle hisse mein Ravi, Sia, Riya aur Alisha the. Unke beech ki ankahee tension bus ke shor mein bhi mehsoos ho rahe the. Ravi khidki se bahar dekh raha tha, par woh pahaadon ko nahi, woh raaston ko, chhipne ki jagahon ko scan kar raha tha. Sia khaali aankhon se saamne dekh rahi thi.
Bus 2 (The Power & The Plot):
Iss bus mein khamoshi itni gehra tha ki engine ki awaaz bhi shor lag raha tha.
Arjun Rathore aage ki seat par, apne doston Virat, Rishi, aur dehshat-zada Sameer ke saath baitha tha, jaise apne command center mein ho.
Aryan kuch seats piche baitha tha, khidki se bahar ghoorta hua, uska chehra pathar jaisa sakht tha, uske dimaag mein sirf apne bhai ke khoon ka khayal tha.
Issi bus mein YuKi aankhein band kiye, meditation mein tha. Aarav (Phoenix) khidki se bahar dekh raha tha, uski nazar kisi khaas cheez ko talaash raha tha.
Zayn, Adira aur Maya shaant baithe the, par unke aankhein... unke aankhein har mod, har ped, har saaye ko scan kar rahe the. Jaise woh nazaare nahi, khatre dhoondh rahe hon.
(Scene: Gaden Monastery ka pravesh dwaar)
Buson ka kaafila Monastery ke vishaal, lakdi ke bane pravesh dwaar ke saamne ruka.
Jagah... adbhut tha. Ek oonchi pahaadi ke kataav par bana yeh Monastery aasman mein tairta hua lag raha tha. Sadiyon purane pathar, jin par waqt ne apni kahaani likh diya tha, Tibetan architecture ka behtareen namoona the. Hawa mein jalta hua jadi-bootiyon ki ek pavitra mehek tha aur hazaaron prarthna-chakra ke ghoomne ki halki, dhyaan lagane wali dhwani tha. Yeh jagah shaanti ka saagar lag raha tha.
Sabhi students neeche utre, unke chehron par hairat aur curiosity saaf tha. Unke awaazein uss shaant mahaul mein thodi be-sur lag rahe the.
Lama Tashi, apne maroon choge mein, darwaze par unka swagat karne ke liye khade the. Unke chehre par ek gehri, sadiyon purani shaanti tha, par unke aankhein... unke aankhein zinda the. Woh har student ko dekh rahe the, par unke nazar bheed mein Ravi, Sia, Aarav aur YuKi par aakar kuch pal ke liye theher gaya. Jaise woh unke naqaabon ke paar, unke andar sulagti aag ko dekh sakte hon.
LAMA TASHI: (Muskurate hue, awaaz mein pahaadon jaisa thehraav) "Om Mani Padme Hum. Aap sab ka is shaanti ke ghar mein swagat hai. Yeh Gaden Math hai, jahan pahaad dhyaan karte hain aur hawa mantr gungunata hai. Yaad rakhiyega, yahan ki deewarein patthar ka nahi, gyaan aur itihaas ka bana hain. Har painting ek kahani kehta hai, har mantra ek raaz kholta hai, aur har khamoshi... ek jawaab deta hai."
Sab andar daakhil hue. Monastery ka aangan vishaal tha. Beech mein ek bada sa stupa tha, jiske chaaron taraf rang-birange prayer flags hawa mein lehra rahe the. Mahaul ek picnic jaisa ho gaya. Students idhar-udhar phail gaye, photos lene lage.
KABIR: (Ek vishaal Thangka painting ko dekh kar) "Wow! Amit, dekh! Yeh 'Wheel of Life' hai! Maine Discovery par dekha tha. Ismein janam, maran, aur karma ka poora cycle hai!"
AMIT: (Painting ke intricate details ko gaur se dekhte hue) "Technically, Kabir, yeh sirf story nahi, yeh cosmic blueprint hai. Ek representation of cyclical existence governed by the laws of cause and effect. Har rang ek emotion represent karta hai, har symbol ek philosophical concept. Yeh sirf art nahi, yeh physics aur metaphysics ka sangam hai..." Dekho, patterns mein ek underlying mathematical structure hai... shayad fractal geometry? It represents the universe's fundamental principles – impermanence, interdependence..."
Ms. Meera unhein Baudh dharm ke mool siddhanton ke baare mein bata rahi theen. Unki awaaz shaant mahaul mein ek guide ki tarah thi.
MS. MEERA: "Buddhism ka sabse buniyaadi siddhant hai 'Ahimsa', yaani kisi bhi jeev ko kasht na pahunchana. Aur 'Karma'... yeh universe ka fundamental law hai. Aap jaisa karoge, waisa hi bharoge. Aapke har action ka ek reaction hota hai, jo aap tak laut kar zaroor aata hai... isi janam mein, ya agle mein."
Arjun, jo Sia ke saath khada tha, ne yeh sunkar dheere se Sia ke kaan mein kaha, uski awaaz mein ek thanda, vyangya bhara ishaara tha.
ARJUN: "Aur kuch karmon ka phal... isi janam mein, isi jagah par dena padta hai, Sia."
Uska ishara, bina naam liye, bheed mein kahin khade Ravi ke taraf tha. Sia ne uska baat sunkar uncomfortable feel kiya aur nazrein ghuma li.
Ravi, Aarav aur YuKi aangan ke ek kone mein, ek purane ghanta ghar ke saaye mein khade the. Jaise woh is duniya ke hansi-mazaak ka hissa hi na hon.
Ravi ka aankhein... woh ek hawk ki tarah theen. Woh students ko nahi, woh unke beech chhupe saayon ko, woh Monastery ki banawat ko, woh har chhipne ki jagah, har nikalne ke raaste ko scan kar raha tha.
Woh jaanta tha, yeh shaanti ek dhokha hai. Ek behad khoobsurat, behad khatarnaak dhokha.
Usne Aarav ki taraf dekha. Aarav ne halka sa sar hilaya. 'Hum par nazar hai.' YuKi ka aankhein band theen, par uska jism ek kamaan ke tarah khincha hua tha. 'Woh yahan hain.'
Tabhi...
PSSSSssssssss.....
Ek halka sa, saanp ki phunkar jaisa awaaz. Aur uske saath hi, 3-4 chandi rang ke, fist-sized canister hawa mein udte hue aaye aur aangan ke alag-alag hisson mein, students ke beech jaa gire.
Unke girne ki awaaz itna halka tha ki zyadatar logon ne notice bhi nahi kiya.
"Gas!" Aarav chillaya.
Par bahut der ho chuka tha , isse pehle ki koi kuch samajh paata, un canisters se gaadha, doodh jaisa safed dhuaan behad tezi se nikalne laga. Dhuaan zameen par nahi phaila, woh hawa mein ek deewar ke tarah uthne laga, tezi se poore aangan ko apni lapet mein leta hua.
PRINCIPAL MALHOTRA: (Hairat aur gusse se) "Yeh kya badtameezi hai?! Kisne phenka yeh?! Sab log..."
Unka baat poori nahi ho saka. Dhuaan ab un tak pahunch chuka tha. Usmein ek ajeeb sa, behosh karne wala meetha sa gandh tha – jaise Gulaab aur... maut ka milan ho.
Students aur teachers ke chehron par hairat ki jagah ab khauf aur confusion ne le li. Kuch log khansne lage. Kuch ki aankhon mein jalan hone lagi.
RAVI: (Sia ki taraf daudte hue cheekha) "SAANS ROK LO! SIA!"
Par Sia us tak pahunch paati, usse pehle hi uski aankhein band ho gayin.
Phir... ek-ek karke, jaise kisi ne unke putlon ki dor kaat di ho, woh bina koi awaaz kiye, behosh hokar girne lage. Ek ladki, jo photo le rahi thi, uska phone haath se chhoot kar pathar par gira. Ek ladka, jo hans raha tha, uska hansi adhoori reh gaya aur woh wahin dher ho gaya. Kuch log bhaagne ke koshish kiye, par unke pair unka saath chhod gaye.
Ek minute... shayad usse bhi kam waqt mein... poora aangan behosh jismon se pat gaya. Jaise kisi anjaan kalaakar ne 'still life' ki painting bana di ho. Jaise kisi ne waqt ka button 'pause' kar diya ho.
Sirf woh safed dhuaan tha jo ab bhi hawa mein halke-halke tair raha tha, aur Lama Tashi, jo stupa ke paas pathar ke buut bane khade the, unke aankhon mein sadiyon mein pehla baar... khauf dikh raha tha.
...Lekin uss dhuein ke samundar mein... teen saaye abhi bhi khade the.
Ravi. Aarav. YuKi.
Unhone pehli 'hiss' ki awaaz par hi apni saansein rok liye the. Unka anushaasan (discipline) uss chemical zehar se zyada taaqatwar tha.
Aur uss dhuein ke pardey ke peeche se... bilkul shaanti se... bilkul be-awaaz... Kai aur uske lagbhag 20 naqaabposh aadmi nikle.
Un sabne gas mask pehne hue the, unki aankhein kaale sheeshon ke peeche chhipi thi. Unke kadmon ki koi awaaz nahi thi. Woh zameen par nahi, hawa mein tair rahe the. Woh bhoot the. Andhere ke bhoot... jo din ke ujaale mein shikaar karne aaye the.
KAI: (Apne high-tech earpiece mein, awaaz bilkul sapaat, jaise weather report de raha ho) "Stage set hai. Audience so chuka hai. Ab hum... mehmanon ko dhoondhte hain."
Uske aadmi behosh jismon ke beech tezi se phail gaye. Unke movements behad professional aur coordinated the. Unka kaam sirf Jaanvi ko dhoondhna tha. Ek aadmi ne behosh Sia ke paas aakar uski nabz check ki. Phir usne ek choti si device se uski aankh ki putli ko scan kiya.
AADMI 1: (Earpiece mein) "Negative ID. Subject sedated. Not the primary targ.......
Uska baat adhoori reh gaya. Uska nazrein dhuein ke paar un teen saayon par pada jo abhi bhi saans roke khade the. Uska poora jism ek pal ke liye jhannn se reh gaya. Yeh plan mein nahi tha.
Arjun ka order tha: 1. Jaanvi ko uthao. 2. Ravi Mishra ko zinda pakdo.
Par Ravi Mishra zinda aur hosh mein tha. Aur uske saath do aur thay, jo 'aam' nahi lag rahe the. Kai samajh gaya... 20 aadmiyon ke saath in teen se ladna... ek su*cide mission tha.
Use ek second mein faisla lena tha.
KAI: (Earpiece mein, plan badalte hue) "PLAN B! PLAN B! TARGET 1 (JAANVI) KO SECURE KARO! TARGET 2 (RAVI) KO CHHODO! USKA KAMZORI (SIA) KO UTHA LO! COVER FIRE! MOVE! MOVE!"
Kai ke aadmi do hisson mein bant gaye.
10 aadmiyon ne apni automatic rifles uthayi aur Ravi, Aarav aur YuKi ke taraf andhadhund firing shuru kar diye. TRA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA!
Goliyon ka bauchaar ne teeno ko Stupa aur purane ghanta ghar ke peeche cover lene par majboor kar diya. Pathar se goliyan takra kar chingaariyan nikaal rahe the.
Issi cover fire ka faayda uthaate hue, Kai aur uske 10 aadmi tezi se aage badhe. Ek team ne behosh Jaanvi ko (jo alag kamre mein thi) aur doosri team ne behosh Sia ko apne kandhon par aise uthaya jaise woh maans ki boriyaan hon.
RAVI: (Cover se nikalne ki koshish karte hue dahaada) "SIA!!!"
Par goliyon ki baarish itna tez tha ki woh sar nahi utha paaya.
KAI: (Apne aadmiyon ko earpiece mein) "Retreat! Jungle ki taraf! Abhi!"
Jaise bhoot ki tarah woh aaye the, waise hi Monastery ke pichle, gupt darwaze se jungle ke andhere mein gayab ho gaye.
Goliyan chalne band ho gaye.
Peeche chhod gaye sirf ek aangan bhara behosh jism, hawa mein tairta woh meetha zehar, aur teen yoddha jo pehli baar... haar gaye the.
(Ravi stupa ke peeche se nikla. Uska aankhein laal angaare ban chuke the. Hawa mein ab bhi meetha zehar ghula tha, par Ravi ke saanson mein ab sirf inteqaam ka aag jal rahe the. Goliyon ka goonj khamosh tha. Aarav aur YuKi uske paas aaye. Unke chehron par haar nahi, ek naye toofan ka intezaar tha.
Ravi ne apni zakhmi mutthi kassa. Zakhm se tapakta khoon barfili zameen par gir kar jam gaya.
Usne jungle ke taraf dekha jahan Kai, Sia ko lekar gayab hua tha.
Uska chehra bilkul shaant ho gaya. Ek aisa qabristani shaanti jo hazaar dahaadon se zyada bhayanak tha. Uska awaaz ab insaani nahi tha. Woh ek sargoshi tha, jo pahaadon se takra kar,
poore ghaate mein goonj utha.)
RAVI:"Arjun Rathore ne ek bohot bada galti kar diya."
(YuKi aur Aarav ne uske taraf dekha.) RAVIBina unki taraf palte, uska nazrein ab bhi uss jungle par tha) "Usne socha... woh meri kamzori ko chheen kar mujhe tod dega."
(Ek pal ka khamoshi. Aur phir... Ravi ke honthon par ek aisa sard, zehreele saanp jaisa muskaan phail gaya, jise dekh kar Aarav aur YuKi ka rooh bhi kaanp gaye) RAVI:"Naadan ko yeh nahi pata... ki usne Qayamat ka aakhri zanjeer... khud apne haathon se tod diya hai."
(Usne apni gardan ek taraf chatkaya, jaise sadiyon ki thakaan utaar raha ho.)
RAVI:"Khel khatm. Ab... sirf shikaar hoga." (Ek pal ka sard pause,uske honthon par ek maut jaisa muskaan tair jaata hai.)
RAVI:"...Ki usne meri rooh nahi, apne 'Mahapralay' ko azaad kiya hai."
RAVI:"Aur Mahapralay... jung nahi jeetta. Woh bas... har cheez ko raakh mein badal deta hai. Shuruaat... uske naam se hoga."
Mahapralay ke agle UPDATE mein: Qayamat Ka Inteqaam.
Yeh sirf lafz nahi, yeh 'Qayamat' ke pehla dahaad hai.Yeh kahani nahi, yeh 'Mahapralay' ka janm hai.Andhera ab jaag chuka hai. Khamoshi ab toot chuka hai.
Is naye adhyaay ko sirf padhna mat... iske thandak ko apne haddiyon mein mehsoos karna. Har sargoshi ke peeche chhupe toofan ko suno. Har zakhm ke peeche ke aag ko dekho.
Agar iss 'Qayamat' ke goonj tumhare rooh tak pahunche hai, toh apne Like aur Follow se isse 'Mahapralay' ki aag mein badal do.
Yeh update shaayad thoda lamba ho gaya, par 'Mahapralay' ka janm itna aasan nahi hota. Jo tumne dekha, woh toh bas pehli chingari tha.
YEH TOH BAS TRAILER THA.
Asli 'Mahapralay' toh ab shuru hoga. Agle update mein woh tabahi machega jiska tumne sirf naam suna hai.Intezaar karo...
UPDATE 12 (B) MAHAPRALAY - 1(Qayamat Ka Janam) PART 4: MONASTERY MEIN MAYAJAAL (Jannat Mein Jahannum)
(Bus Gaden Monastery ki taraf badh raha hai)
Pahaadi raasta har mod ke saath aur bhi tang aur khatarnaak hota jaa raha tha. Buson ke tyres kachhe pathreele raaste par apni pakad banaaye rakhne ke liye sangharsh kar rahe the. Ek taraf oonche, barf se dhake pahaad the, jin par suraj ki roshni aankhon ko chaundhiya rahi thi; doosri taraf hazaaron feet gehri khaai, jiske neeche ghoomti hui Beas nadi ek chaandi ke dhaage jaisi lag rahe the.
Hawa mein pine ke pedon ka taazi mehek tha aur door se kahin-kahin prayer flags ki phadphadahat sunayi de raha tha. Mahaul roohaniyat se bharpoor tha, par buson ke andar baithi kuch roohon mein toofan pal raha tha.
Bus 1 (The Chaos & The Calm):
Iss bus mein zyadatar students the, jahan Kabir ne mahaul ko halka karne ka zimmedari utha rakha tha. Antakshari aur jokes chal rahe the.
Amit, hamesha ke tarah, khidki se bahar pahaadon ki banawat ko dekh kar kuch calculations mein laga tha.
KABIR: "Oye Professor! Kya gin raha hai? Pahaadon ki umar ya khaai ka gehraayi? Dono hi tere samajh se bahar hain!"
AMIT: (Bina nazar hataye) "Main 'structural integrity' aur 'potential geological stress points' ka anumaan laga raha hoon. Yeh pahaad dekhne mein sthir lagte hain, Kabir, par andar hi andar 'tectonic pressure' accumulate ho raha hai. Ek chhota sa trigger... aur poora ka poora 'system collapse' kar sakta hai. Physics hamesha warning deti hai, bas hum usey sunte nahi."
Kabir ne uska sar hila diya. "Tu rehne de. Tu bas yeh soch ki bonfire mein kaun sa gaana gaayega."
Issi bus ke pichhle hisse mein Ravi, Sia, Riya aur Alisha the. Unke beech ki ankahee tension bus ke shor mein bhi mehsoos ho rahe the. Ravi khidki se bahar dekh raha tha, par woh pahaadon ko nahi, woh raaston ko, chhipne ki jagahon ko scan kar raha tha. Sia khaali aankhon se saamne dekh rahi thi.
Bus 2 (The Power & The Plot):
Iss bus mein khamoshi itni gehra tha ki engine ki awaaz bhi shor lag raha tha.
Arjun Rathore aage ki seat par, apne doston Virat, Rishi, aur dehshat-zada Sameer ke saath baitha tha, jaise apne command center mein ho.
Aryan kuch seats piche baitha tha, khidki se bahar ghoorta hua, uska chehra pathar jaisa sakht tha, uske dimaag mein sirf apne bhai ke khoon ka khayal tha.
Issi bus mein YuKi aankhein band kiye, meditation mein tha. Aarav (Phoenix) khidki se bahar dekh raha tha, uski nazar kisi khaas cheez ko talaash raha tha.
Zayn, Adira aur Maya shaant baithe the, par unke aankhein... unke aankhein har mod, har ped, har saaye ko scan kar rahe the. Jaise woh nazaare nahi, khatre dhoondh rahe hon.
(Scene: Gaden Monastery ka pravesh dwaar)
Buson ka kaafila Monastery ke vishaal, lakdi ke bane pravesh dwaar ke saamne ruka.
Jagah... adbhut tha. Ek oonchi pahaadi ke kataav par bana yeh Monastery aasman mein tairta hua lag raha tha. Sadiyon purane pathar, jin par waqt ne apni kahaani likh diya tha, Tibetan architecture ka behtareen namoona the. Hawa mein jalta hua jadi-bootiyon ki ek pavitra mehek tha aur hazaaron prarthna-chakra ke ghoomne ki halki, dhyaan lagane wali dhwani tha. Yeh jagah shaanti ka saagar lag raha tha.
Sabhi students neeche utre, unke chehron par hairat aur curiosity saaf tha. Unke awaazein uss shaant mahaul mein thodi be-sur lag rahe the.
Lama Tashi, apne maroon choge mein, darwaze par unka swagat karne ke liye khade the. Unke chehre par ek gehri, sadiyon purani shaanti tha, par unke aankhein... unke aankhein zinda the. Woh har student ko dekh rahe the, par unke nazar bheed mein Ravi, Sia, Aarav aur YuKi par aakar kuch pal ke liye theher gaya. Jaise woh unke naqaabon ke paar, unke andar sulagti aag ko dekh sakte hon.
LAMA TASHI: (Muskurate hue, awaaz mein pahaadon jaisa thehraav) "Om Mani Padme Hum. Aap sab ka is shaanti ke ghar mein swagat hai. Yeh Gaden Math hai, jahan pahaad dhyaan karte hain aur hawa mantr gungunata hai. Yaad rakhiyega, yahan ki deewarein patthar ka nahi, gyaan aur itihaas ka bana hain. Har painting ek kahani kehta hai, har mantra ek raaz kholta hai, aur har khamoshi... ek jawaab deta hai."
Sab andar daakhil hue. Monastery ka aangan vishaal tha. Beech mein ek bada sa stupa tha, jiske chaaron taraf rang-birange prayer flags hawa mein lehra rahe the. Mahaul ek picnic jaisa ho gaya. Students idhar-udhar phail gaye, photos lene lage.
KABIR: (Ek vishaal Thangka painting ko dekh kar) "Wow! Amit, dekh! Yeh 'Wheel of Life' hai! Maine Discovery par dekha tha. Ismein janam, maran, aur karma ka poora cycle hai!"
AMIT: (Painting ke intricate details ko gaur se dekhte hue) "Technically, Kabir, yeh sirf story nahi, yeh cosmic blueprint hai. Ek representation of cyclical existence governed by the laws of cause and effect. Har rang ek emotion represent karta hai, har symbol ek philosophical concept. Yeh sirf art nahi, yeh physics aur metaphysics ka sangam hai..." Dekho, patterns mein ek underlying mathematical structure hai... shayad fractal geometry? It represents the universe's fundamental principles – impermanence, interdependence..."
Ms. Meera unhein Baudh dharm ke mool siddhanton ke baare mein bata rahi theen. Unki awaaz shaant mahaul mein ek guide ki tarah thi.
MS. MEERA: "Buddhism ka sabse buniyaadi siddhant hai 'Ahimsa', yaani kisi bhi jeev ko kasht na pahunchana. Aur 'Karma'... yeh universe ka fundamental law hai. Aap jaisa karoge, waisa hi bharoge. Aapke har action ka ek reaction hota hai, jo aap tak laut kar zaroor aata hai... isi janam mein, ya agle mein."
Arjun, jo Sia ke saath khada tha, ne yeh sunkar dheere se Sia ke kaan mein kaha, uski awaaz mein ek thanda, vyangya bhara ishaara tha.
ARJUN: "Aur kuch karmon ka phal... isi janam mein, isi jagah par dena padta hai, Sia."
Uska ishara, bina naam liye, bheed mein kahin khade Ravi ke taraf tha. Sia ne uska baat sunkar uncomfortable feel kiya aur nazrein ghuma li.
Ravi, Aarav aur YuKi aangan ke ek kone mein, ek purane ghanta ghar ke saaye mein khade the. Jaise woh is duniya ke hansi-mazaak ka hissa hi na hon.
Ravi ka aankhein... woh ek hawk ki tarah theen. Woh students ko nahi, woh unke beech chhupe saayon ko, woh Monastery ki banawat ko, woh har chhipne ki jagah, har nikalne ke raaste ko scan kar raha tha.
Woh jaanta tha, yeh shaanti ek dhokha hai. Ek behad khoobsurat, behad khatarnaak dhokha.
Usne Aarav ki taraf dekha. Aarav ne halka sa sar hilaya. 'Hum par nazar hai.' YuKi ka aankhein band theen, par uska jism ek kamaan ke tarah khincha hua tha. 'Woh yahan hain.'
Tabhi...
PSSSSssssssss.....
Ek halka sa, saanp ki phunkar jaisa awaaz. Aur uske saath hi, 3-4 chandi rang ke, fist-sized canister hawa mein udte hue aaye aur aangan ke alag-alag hisson mein, students ke beech jaa gire.
Unke girne ki awaaz itna halka tha ki zyadatar logon ne notice bhi nahi kiya.
"Gas!" Aarav chillaya.
Par bahut der ho chuka tha , isse pehle ki koi kuch samajh paata, un canisters se gaadha, doodh jaisa safed dhuaan behad tezi se nikalne laga. Dhuaan zameen par nahi phaila, woh hawa mein ek deewar ke tarah uthne laga, tezi se poore aangan ko apni lapet mein leta hua.
PRINCIPAL MALHOTRA: (Hairat aur gusse se) "Yeh kya badtameezi hai?! Kisne phenka yeh?! Sab log..."
Unka baat poori nahi ho saka. Dhuaan ab un tak pahunch chuka tha. Usmein ek ajeeb sa, behosh karne wala meetha sa gandh tha – jaise Gulaab aur... maut ka milan ho.
Students aur teachers ke chehron par hairat ki jagah ab khauf aur confusion ne le li. Kuch log khansne lage. Kuch ki aankhon mein jalan hone lagi.
RAVI: (Sia ki taraf daudte hue cheekha) "SAANS ROK LO! SIA!"
Par Sia us tak pahunch paati, usse pehle hi uski aankhein band ho gayin.
Phir... ek-ek karke, jaise kisi ne unke putlon ki dor kaat di ho, woh bina koi awaaz kiye, behosh hokar girne lage. Ek ladki, jo photo le rahi thi, uska phone haath se chhoot kar pathar par gira. Ek ladka, jo hans raha tha, uska hansi adhoori reh gaya aur woh wahin dher ho gaya. Kuch log bhaagne ke koshish kiye, par unke pair unka saath chhod gaye.
Ek minute... shayad usse bhi kam waqt mein... poora aangan behosh jismon se pat gaya. Jaise kisi anjaan kalaakar ne 'still life' ki painting bana di ho. Jaise kisi ne waqt ka button 'pause' kar diya ho.
Sirf woh safed dhuaan tha jo ab bhi hawa mein halke-halke tair raha tha, aur Lama Tashi, jo stupa ke paas pathar ke buut bane khade the, unke aankhon mein sadiyon mein pehla baar... khauf dikh raha tha.
...Lekin uss dhuein ke samundar mein... teen saaye abhi bhi khade the.
Ravi. Aarav. YuKi.
Unhone pehli 'hiss' ki awaaz par hi apni saansein rok liye the. Unka anushaasan (discipline) uss chemical zehar se zyada taaqatwar tha.
Aur uss dhuein ke pardey ke peeche se... bilkul shaanti se... bilkul be-awaaz... Kai aur uske lagbhag 20 naqaabposh aadmi nikle.
Un sabne gas mask pehne hue the, unki aankhein kaale sheeshon ke peeche chhipi thi. Unke kadmon ki koi awaaz nahi thi. Woh zameen par nahi, hawa mein tair rahe the. Woh bhoot the. Andhere ke bhoot... jo din ke ujaale mein shikaar karne aaye the.
KAI: (Apne high-tech earpiece mein, awaaz bilkul sapaat, jaise weather report de raha ho) "Stage set hai. Audience so chuka hai. Ab hum... mehmanon ko dhoondhte hain."
Uske aadmi behosh jismon ke beech tezi se phail gaye. Unke movements behad professional aur coordinated the. Unka kaam sirf Jaanvi ko dhoondhna tha. Ek aadmi ne behosh Sia ke paas aakar uski nabz check ki. Phir usne ek choti si device se uski aankh ki putli ko scan kiya.
AADMI 1: (Earpiece mein) "Negative ID. Subject sedated. Not the primary targ.......
Uska baat adhoori reh gaya. Uska nazrein dhuein ke paar un teen saayon par pada jo abhi bhi saans roke khade the. Uska poora jism ek pal ke liye jhannn se reh gaya. Yeh plan mein nahi tha.
Arjun ka order tha: 1. Jaanvi ko uthao. 2. Ravi Mishra ko zinda pakdo.
Par Ravi Mishra zinda aur hosh mein tha. Aur uske saath do aur thay, jo 'aam' nahi lag rahe the. Kai samajh gaya... 20 aadmiyon ke saath in teen se ladna... ek su*cide mission tha.
Use ek second mein faisla lena tha.
KAI: (Earpiece mein, plan badalte hue) "PLAN B! PLAN B! TARGET 1 (JAANVI) KO SECURE KARO! TARGET 2 (RAVI) KO CHHODO! USKA KAMZORI (SIA) KO UTHA LO! COVER FIRE! MOVE! MOVE!"
Kai ke aadmi do hisson mein bant gaye.
10 aadmiyon ne apni automatic rifles uthayi aur Ravi, Aarav aur YuKi ke taraf andhadhund firing shuru kar diye. TRA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA!
Goliyon ka bauchaar ne teeno ko Stupa aur purane ghanta ghar ke peeche cover lene par majboor kar diya. Pathar se goliyan takra kar chingaariyan nikaal rahe the.
Issi cover fire ka faayda uthaate hue, Kai aur uske 10 aadmi tezi se aage badhe. Ek team ne behosh Jaanvi ko (jo alag kamre mein thi) aur doosri team ne behosh Sia ko apne kandhon par aise uthaya jaise woh maans ki boriyaan hon.
RAVI: (Cover se nikalne ki koshish karte hue dahaada) "SIA!!!"
Par goliyon ki baarish itna tez tha ki woh sar nahi utha paaya.
KAI: (Apne aadmiyon ko earpiece mein) "Retreat! Jungle ki taraf! Abhi!"
Jaise bhoot ki tarah woh aaye the, waise hi Monastery ke pichle, gupt darwaze se jungle ke andhere mein gayab ho gaye.
Goliyan chalne band ho gaye.
Peeche chhod gaye sirf ek aangan bhara behosh jism, hawa mein tairta woh meetha zehar, aur teen yoddha jo pehli baar... haar gaye the.
(Ravi stupa ke peeche se nikla. Uska aankhein laal angaare ban chuke the. Hawa mein ab bhi meetha zehar ghula tha, par Ravi ke saanson mein ab sirf inteqaam ka aag jal rahe the. Goliyon ka goonj khamosh tha.
Aarav aur YuKi uske paas aaye. Unke chehron par haar nahi, ek naye toofan ka intezaar tha.
Ravi ne apni zakhmi mutthi kassa. Zakhm se tapakta khoon barfili zameen par gir kar jam gaya.
Usne jungle ke taraf dekha jahan Kai, Sia ko lekar gayab hua tha.
Uska chehra bilkul shaant ho gaya. Ek aisa qabristani shaanti jo hazaar dahaadon se zyada bhayanak tha. Uska awaaz ab insaani nahi tha. Woh ek sargoshi tha, jo pahaadon se takra kar,
poore ghaate mein goonj utha.)
RAVI:"Arjun Rathore ne ek bohot bada galti kar diya."
(YuKi aur Aarav ne uske taraf dekha.) RAVIBina unki taraf palte, uska nazrein ab bhi uss jungle par tha) "Usne socha... woh meri kamzori ko chheen kar mujhe tod dega."
(Ek pal ka khamoshi. Aur phir... Ravi ke honthon par ek aisa sard, zehreele saanp jaisa muskaan phail gaya, jise dekh kar Aarav aur YuKi ka rooh bhi kaanp gaye) RAVI:"Naadan ko yeh nahi pata... ki usne Qayamat ka aakhri zanjeer... khud apne haathon se tod diya hai."
(Usne apni gardan ek taraf chatkaya, jaise sadiyon ki thakaan utaar raha ho.)
RAVI:"Khel khatm. Ab... sirf shikaar hoga." (Ek pal ka sard pause,uske honthon par ek maut jaisa muskaan tair jaata hai.)
RAVI:"...Ki usne meri rooh nahi, apne 'Mahapralay' ko azaad kiya hai."
RAVI:"Aur Mahapralay... jung nahi jeetta. Woh bas... har cheez ko raakh mein badal deta hai. Shuruaat... uske naam se hoga."
Mahapralay ke agle UPDATE mein: Qayamat Ka Inteqaam.
UPDATE 12 (B) MAHAPRALAY - 1(Qayamat Ka Janam) PART 4: MONASTERY MEIN MAYAJAAL (Jannat Mein Jahannum)
(Bus Gaden Monastery ki taraf badh raha hai)
Pahaadi raasta har mod ke saath aur bhi tang aur khatarnaak hota jaa raha tha. Buson ke tyres kachhe pathreele raaste par apni pakad banaaye rakhne ke liye sangharsh kar rahe the. Ek taraf oonche, barf se dhake pahaad the, jin par suraj ki roshni aankhon ko chaundhiya rahi thi; doosri taraf hazaaron feet gehri khaai, jiske neeche ghoomti hui Beas nadi ek chaandi ke dhaage jaisi lag rahe the.
Hawa mein pine ke pedon ka taazi mehek tha aur door se kahin-kahin prayer flags ki phadphadahat sunayi de raha tha. Mahaul roohaniyat se bharpoor tha, par buson ke andar baithi kuch roohon mein toofan pal raha tha.
Bus 1 (The Chaos & The Calm):
Iss bus mein zyadatar students the, jahan Kabir ne mahaul ko halka karne ka zimmedari utha rakha tha. Antakshari aur jokes chal rahe the.
Amit, hamesha ke tarah, khidki se bahar pahaadon ki banawat ko dekh kar kuch calculations mein laga tha.
KABIR: "Oye Professor! Kya gin raha hai? Pahaadon ki umar ya khaai ka gehraayi? Dono hi tere samajh se bahar hain!"
AMIT: (Bina nazar hataye) "Main 'structural integrity' aur 'potential geological stress points' ka anumaan laga raha hoon. Yeh pahaad dekhne mein sthir lagte hain, Kabir, par andar hi andar 'tectonic pressure' accumulate ho raha hai. Ek chhota sa trigger... aur poora ka poora 'system collapse' kar sakta hai. Physics hamesha warning deti hai, bas hum usey sunte nahi."
Kabir ne uska sar hila diya. "Tu rehne de. Tu bas yeh soch ki bonfire mein kaun sa gaana gaayega."
Issi bus ke pichhle hisse mein Ravi, Sia, Riya aur Alisha the. Unke beech ki ankahee tension bus ke shor mein bhi mehsoos ho rahe the. Ravi khidki se bahar dekh raha tha, par woh pahaadon ko nahi, woh raaston ko, chhipne ki jagahon ko scan kar raha tha. Sia khaali aankhon se saamne dekh rahi thi.
Bus 2 (The Power & The Plot):
Iss bus mein khamoshi itni gehra tha ki engine ki awaaz bhi shor lag raha tha.
Arjun Rathore aage ki seat par, apne doston Virat, Rishi, aur dehshat-zada Sameer ke saath baitha tha, jaise apne command center mein ho.
Aryan kuch seats piche baitha tha, khidki se bahar ghoorta hua, uska chehra pathar jaisa sakht tha, uske dimaag mein sirf apne bhai ke khoon ka khayal tha.
Issi bus mein YuKi aankhein band kiye, meditation mein tha. Aarav (Phoenix) khidki se bahar dekh raha tha, uski nazar kisi khaas cheez ko talaash raha tha.
Zayn, Adira aur Maya shaant baithe the, par unke aankhein... unke aankhein har mod, har ped, har saaye ko scan kar rahe the. Jaise woh nazaare nahi, khatre dhoondh rahe hon.
(Scene: Gaden Monastery ka pravesh dwaar)
Buson ka kaafila Monastery ke vishaal, lakdi ke bane pravesh dwaar ke saamne ruka.
Jagah... adbhut tha. Ek oonchi pahaadi ke kataav par bana yeh Monastery aasman mein tairta hua lag raha tha. Sadiyon purane pathar, jin par waqt ne apni kahaani likh diya tha, Tibetan architecture ka behtareen namoona the. Hawa mein jalta hua jadi-bootiyon ki ek pavitra mehek tha aur hazaaron prarthna-chakra ke ghoomne ki halki, dhyaan lagane wali dhwani tha. Yeh jagah shaanti ka saagar lag raha tha.
Sabhi students neeche utre, unke chehron par hairat aur curiosity saaf tha. Unke awaazein uss shaant mahaul mein thodi be-sur lag rahe the.
Lama Tashi, apne maroon choge mein, darwaze par unka swagat karne ke liye khade the. Unke chehre par ek gehri, sadiyon purani shaanti tha, par unke aankhein... unke aankhein zinda the. Woh har student ko dekh rahe the, par unke nazar bheed mein Ravi, Sia, Aarav aur YuKi par aakar kuch pal ke liye theher gaya. Jaise woh unke naqaabon ke paar, unke andar sulagti aag ko dekh sakte hon.
LAMA TASHI: (Muskurate hue, awaaz mein pahaadon jaisa thehraav) "Om Mani Padme Hum. Aap sab ka is shaanti ke ghar mein swagat hai. Yeh Gaden Math hai, jahan pahaad dhyaan karte hain aur hawa mantr gungunata hai. Yaad rakhiyega, yahan ki deewarein patthar ka nahi, gyaan aur itihaas ka bana hain. Har painting ek kahani kehta hai, har mantra ek raaz kholta hai, aur har khamoshi... ek jawaab deta hai."
Sab andar daakhil hue. Monastery ka aangan vishaal tha. Beech mein ek bada sa stupa tha, jiske chaaron taraf rang-birange prayer flags hawa mein lehra rahe the. Mahaul ek picnic jaisa ho gaya. Students idhar-udhar phail gaye, photos lene lage.
KABIR: (Ek vishaal Thangka painting ko dekh kar) "Wow! Amit, dekh! Yeh 'Wheel of Life' hai! Maine Discovery par dekha tha. Ismein janam, maran, aur karma ka poora cycle hai!"
AMIT: (Painting ke intricate details ko gaur se dekhte hue) "Technically, Kabir, yeh sirf story nahi, yeh cosmic blueprint hai. Ek representation of cyclical existence governed by the laws of cause and effect. Har rang ek emotion represent karta hai, har symbol ek philosophical concept. Yeh sirf art nahi, yeh physics aur metaphysics ka sangam hai..." Dekho, patterns mein ek underlying mathematical structure hai... shayad fractal geometry? It represents the universe's fundamental principles – impermanence, interdependence..."
Ms. Meera unhein Baudh dharm ke mool siddhanton ke baare mein bata rahi theen. Unki awaaz shaant mahaul mein ek guide ki tarah thi.
MS. MEERA: "Buddhism ka sabse buniyaadi siddhant hai 'Ahimsa', yaani kisi bhi jeev ko kasht na pahunchana. Aur 'Karma'... yeh universe ka fundamental law hai. Aap jaisa karoge, waisa hi bharoge. Aapke har action ka ek reaction hota hai, jo aap tak laut kar zaroor aata hai... isi janam mein, ya agle mein."
Arjun, jo Sia ke saath khada tha, ne yeh sunkar dheere se Sia ke kaan mein kaha, uski awaaz mein ek thanda, vyangya bhara ishaara tha.
ARJUN: "Aur kuch karmon ka phal... isi janam mein, isi jagah par dena padta hai, Sia."
Uska ishara, bina naam liye, bheed mein kahin khade Ravi ke taraf tha. Sia ne uska baat sunkar uncomfortable feel kiya aur nazrein ghuma li.
Ravi, Aarav aur YuKi aangan ke ek kone mein, ek purane ghanta ghar ke saaye mein khade the. Jaise woh is duniya ke hansi-mazaak ka hissa hi na hon.
Ravi ka aankhein... woh ek hawk ki tarah theen. Woh students ko nahi, woh unke beech chhupe saayon ko, woh Monastery ki banawat ko, woh har chhipne ki jagah, har nikalne ke raaste ko scan kar raha tha.
Woh jaanta tha, yeh shaanti ek dhokha hai. Ek behad khoobsurat, behad khatarnaak dhokha.
Usne Aarav ki taraf dekha. Aarav ne halka sa sar hilaya. 'Hum par nazar hai.' YuKi ka aankhein band theen, par uska jism ek kamaan ke tarah khincha hua tha. 'Woh yahan hain.'
Tabhi...
PSSSSssssssss.....
Ek halka sa, saanp ki phunkar jaisa awaaz. Aur uske saath hi, 3-4 chandi rang ke, fist-sized canister hawa mein udte hue aaye aur aangan ke alag-alag hisson mein, students ke beech jaa gire.
Unke girne ki awaaz itna halka tha ki zyadatar logon ne notice bhi nahi kiya.
"Gas!" Aarav chillaya.
Par bahut der ho chuka tha , isse pehle ki koi kuch samajh paata, un canisters se gaadha, doodh jaisa safed dhuaan behad tezi se nikalne laga. Dhuaan zameen par nahi phaila, woh hawa mein ek deewar ke tarah uthne laga, tezi se poore aangan ko apni lapet mein leta hua.
PRINCIPAL MALHOTRA: (Hairat aur gusse se) "Yeh kya badtameezi hai?! Kisne phenka yeh?! Sab log..."
Unka baat poori nahi ho saka. Dhuaan ab un tak pahunch chuka tha. Usmein ek ajeeb sa, behosh karne wala meetha sa gandh tha – jaise Gulaab aur... maut ka milan ho.
Students aur teachers ke chehron par hairat ki jagah ab khauf aur confusion ne le li. Kuch log khansne lage. Kuch ki aankhon mein jalan hone lagi.
RAVI: (Sia ki taraf daudte hue cheekha) "SAANS ROK LO! SIA!"
Par Sia us tak pahunch paati, usse pehle hi uski aankhein band ho gayin.
Phir... ek-ek karke, jaise kisi ne unke putlon ki dor kaat di ho, woh bina koi awaaz kiye, behosh hokar girne lage. Ek ladki, jo photo le rahi thi, uska phone haath se chhoot kar pathar par gira. Ek ladka, jo hans raha tha, uska hansi adhoori reh gaya aur woh wahin dher ho gaya. Kuch log bhaagne ke koshish kiye, par unke pair unka saath chhod gaye.
Ek minute... shayad usse bhi kam waqt mein... poora aangan behosh jismon se pat gaya. Jaise kisi anjaan kalaakar ne 'still life' ki painting bana di ho. Jaise kisi ne waqt ka button 'pause' kar diya ho.
Sirf woh safed dhuaan tha jo ab bhi hawa mein halke-halke tair raha tha, aur Lama Tashi, jo stupa ke paas pathar ke buut bane khade the, unke aankhon mein sadiyon mein pehla baar... khauf dikh raha tha.
...Lekin uss dhuein ke samundar mein... teen saaye abhi bhi khade the.
Ravi. Aarav. YuKi.
Unhone pehli 'hiss' ki awaaz par hi apni saansein rok liye the. Unka anushaasan (discipline) uss chemical zehar se zyada taaqatwar tha.
Aur uss dhuein ke pardey ke peeche se... bilkul shaanti se... bilkul be-awaaz... Kai aur uske lagbhag 20 naqaabposh aadmi nikle.
Un sabne gas mask pehne hue the, unki aankhein kaale sheeshon ke peeche chhipi thi. Unke kadmon ki koi awaaz nahi thi. Woh zameen par nahi, hawa mein tair rahe the. Woh bhoot the. Andhere ke bhoot... jo din ke ujaale mein shikaar karne aaye the.
KAI: (Apne high-tech earpiece mein, awaaz bilkul sapaat, jaise weather report de raha ho) "Stage set hai. Audience so chuka hai. Ab hum... mehmanon ko dhoondhte hain."
Uske aadmi behosh jismon ke beech tezi se phail gaye. Unke movements behad professional aur coordinated the. Unka kaam sirf Jaanvi ko dhoondhna tha. Ek aadmi ne behosh Sia ke paas aakar uski nabz check ki. Phir usne ek choti si device se uski aankh ki putli ko scan kiya.
AADMI 1: (Earpiece mein) "Negative ID. Subject sedated. Not the primary targ.......
Uska baat adhoori reh gaya. Uska nazrein dhuein ke paar un teen saayon par pada jo abhi bhi saans roke khade the. Uska poora jism ek pal ke liye jhannn se reh gaya. Yeh plan mein nahi tha.
Arjun ka order tha: 1. Jaanvi ko uthao. 2. Ravi Mishra ko zinda pakdo.
Par Ravi Mishra zinda aur hosh mein tha. Aur uske saath do aur thay, jo 'aam' nahi lag rahe the. Kai samajh gaya... 20 aadmiyon ke saath in teen se ladna... ek su*cide mission tha.
Use ek second mein faisla lena tha.
KAI: (Earpiece mein, plan badalte hue) "PLAN B! PLAN B! TARGET 1 (JAANVI) KO SECURE KARO! TARGET 2 (RAVI) KO CHHODO! USKA KAMZORI (SIA) KO UTHA LO! COVER FIRE! MOVE! MOVE!"
Kai ke aadmi do hisson mein bant gaye.
10 aadmiyon ne apni automatic rifles uthayi aur Ravi, Aarav aur YuKi ke taraf andhadhund firing shuru kar diye. TRA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA!
Goliyon ka bauchaar ne teeno ko Stupa aur purane ghanta ghar ke peeche cover lene par majboor kar diya. Pathar se goliyan takra kar chingaariyan nikaal rahe the.
Issi cover fire ka faayda uthaate hue, Kai aur uske 10 aadmi tezi se aage badhe. Ek team ne behosh Jaanvi ko (jo alag kamre mein thi) aur doosri team ne behosh Sia ko apne kandhon par aise uthaya jaise woh maans ki boriyaan hon.
RAVI: (Cover se nikalne ki koshish karte hue dahaada) "SIA!!!"
Par goliyon ki baarish itna tez tha ki woh sar nahi utha paaya.
KAI: (Apne aadmiyon ko earpiece mein) "Retreat! Jungle ki taraf! Abhi!"
Jaise bhoot ki tarah woh aaye the, waise hi Monastery ke pichle, gupt darwaze se jungle ke andhere mein gayab ho gaye.
Goliyan chalne band ho gaye.
Peeche chhod gaye sirf ek aangan bhara behosh jism, hawa mein tairta woh meetha zehar, aur teen yoddha jo pehli baar... haar gaye the.
(Ravi stupa ke peeche se nikla. Uska aankhein laal angaare ban chuke the. Hawa mein ab bhi meetha zehar ghula tha, par Ravi ke saanson mein ab sirf inteqaam ka aag jal rahe the. Goliyon ka goonj khamosh tha.
Aarav aur YuKi uske paas aaye. Unke chehron par haar nahi, ek naye toofan ka intezaar tha.
Ravi ne apni zakhmi mutthi kassa. Zakhm se tapakta khoon barfili zameen par gir kar jam gaya.
Usne jungle ke taraf dekha jahan Kai, Sia ko lekar gayab hua tha.
Uska chehra bilkul shaant ho gaya. Ek aisa qabristani shaanti jo hazaar dahaadon se zyada bhayanak tha. Uska awaaz ab insaani nahi tha. Woh ek sargoshi tha, jo pahaadon se takra kar,
poore ghaate mein goonj utha.)
RAVI:"Arjun Rathore ne ek bohot bada galti kar diya."
(YuKi aur Aarav ne uske taraf dekha.) RAVIBina unki taraf palte, uska nazrein ab bhi uss jungle par tha) "Usne socha... woh meri kamzori ko chheen kar mujhe tod dega."
(Ek pal ka khamoshi. Aur phir... Ravi ke honthon par ek aisa sard, zehreele saanp jaisa muskaan phail gaya, jise dekh kar Aarav aur YuKi ka rooh bhi kaanp gaye) RAVI:"Naadan ko yeh nahi pata... ki usne Qayamat ka aakhri zanjeer... khud apne haathon se tod diya hai."
(Usne apni gardan ek taraf chatkaya, jaise sadiyon ki thakaan utaar raha ho.)
RAVI:"Khel khatm. Ab... sirf shikaar hoga." (Ek pal ka sard pause,uske honthon par ek maut jaisa muskaan tair jaata hai.)
RAVI:"...Ki usne meri rooh nahi, apne 'Mahapralay' ko azaad kiya hai."
RAVI:"Aur Mahapralay... jung nahi jeetta. Woh bas... har cheez ko raakh mein badal deta hai. Shuruaat... uske naam se hoga."
Mahapralay ke agle UPDATE mein: Qayamat Ka Inteqaam.
Ek aisi khamoshi jo cheekhon se bhi zyada shor kar raha tha.
Magar yeh woh shaanti nahi tha jo raat apne saath laata hai. Yeh woh qabristan wala khamoshi tha jo abhi-abhi dafnaye gaye hazaaron cheekhon ke upar lipat jaata hai. Ek aisi bhaari, dam ghontu khamoshi jo qatl-e-aam ke shor ko ek hi baar mein pee gaya tha, jaise koi bhookha bhediya apne shikaar ka aakhri saans ko hawa se kheench leta hai.
Waqt... waqt uss kamre mein ek zakhmi parinde ki tarah phans gaya tha, jiske pankh toot chuke the aur jo udne ki koshish mein sirf zameen par tadap sakta tha. Hawa mein khoon ki feeki, lohe jaisi mehek ab bhi tha, jo saste disinfectant ki tez, chubhne wali gandh ke saath milkar ek aisi nauseating (matli karne wala) cocktail bana raha tha jo sirf saans lena hi nahi, zinda rehna bhi ek saza bana raha tha.
Ravi ka aakhri sawaal, "Darr lag raha hai... ya maza aa raha hai?", ek zehreele khanjar ke tarah ab bhi uss kamre ki sard hawa mein latka hua tha.
Woh sawaal nahi tha; woh ek aaina tha – ek khoon se ranga, toota hua aaina – jo Sia ke wajood ke saamne rakh diya gaya tha, uski apni hi tooti hui rooh ka aks dikhane ke liye.
Sia bistar ke neeche se bahar nahi nikli; woh rengti hui bahar aayi, jaise kisi ne usse ek zinda qabr se baal pakad kar, ghaseet kar kheench liya ho. Uska jism, uski rooh, uske wajood ka har qatra... har saans... tharthara raha tha.
Ek hi jagah par jam gayi, aankhein phati hui, uss shakhs ko dekhte hue jo kuch pal pehle tak uske liye Ravi Mishra tha – ek uljha hua raaz, ek khamosh dard.
Par ab...
Ab woh koi aur tha.
Koi anjaan. Koi benaam. Koi aisa... jiska aankhon mein insaaniyat ka aakhri lau bhi phoonk maar kar bujha di gaya tha. Nahi, bujhaaya nahi... uss lau ko nigal liya gaya tha. Ek aisa wajood jise bayaan karne ke liye shayad insaani zabaan mein lafz bane hi nahi the.
Qayamat.
Ek zinda, saans leta hua, khoobsurat... aur utna hi bhayanak namoona.
Usne kamre ko dekha – ek ummeed ke saath ki shayad kuch toh galat ho, kuch toh nishaan baaki ho jo saabit kare ki usne jo dekha woh sach tha.
Par nahi.
Dehshat ki ek barfeeli leher uski reedh ki haddi mein neeche tak daud gayi. Yeh woh kamra ho hi nahi sakta tha jahan abhi-abhi chaar insaan... nahi, chaar cheezein... keede-makodon ki tarah masle gaye the. Yeh ek aam, be-jaan, be-rooh hotel ka kamra tha. Zameen par khoon ka ek qatra nahi tha, jaise kisi ne har boond ko chaat liya ho. Jaise maut yahan aayi hi na ho. Deewaron par ladaai ka ek nishaan nahi tha, ek kharonch tak nahi.
Itna saaf... itna gair-fitri (unnatural) taur par saaf... ki Sia ko khud ke dimaag par, apni aankhon par, apne wajood par shaq hone laga.
Kya main paagal ho gayi hoon? Kya yeh sab mere dimaag ka khel tha? Woh cheekhein... woh haddiyon ke tootne ka awaaz... woh khoon...
Agar uske kapdon par bistar ke neeche ki dhool na chipki hoti, agar hawa mein woh khoon aur disinfectant ka zehreela milan na hota, toh woh qasam khaa kar keh sakti thi ki yeh sabse bhayanak, sabse wehshi sapna tha jo usne kabhi dekha tha.
SIA: (Awaaz ek toote hue, besure saaz ki tarah nikli, jo sirf ek fufusaahat... ek sargoshi bhi nahi, bas hilti hui hawa thi) "...Tum... tum kaun ho?"
Yeh ek kamzor, haari hui koshish thi – uss andhere mein, uss Ravi ki parchhayi ko dhoondne ki jise woh shayad kabhi jaanti thi, ya shayad kabhi jaana hi nahi tha.
Ravi, jo balcony ke andhere se wapas palta tha jaise raat ka ek hissa jism ikhtiyaar kar gaya ho, uske paas aakar ruka. Usne Sia ke sawaal ko suna – uss tooti hui awaaz ko, uss dehshat ko.
Aur phir... usne usey poori tarah nazarandaaz kar diya.
Aise, jaise Sia ne kuch pucha hi na ho. Jaise woh wahan ho hi na. Jaise uski awaaz, uski dehshat, uski maujoodgi... is kamre mein utna hi bemaayne tha jitna abhi-abhi saaf kiye gaye khoon ke daag.
RAVI: (Awaaz itna thanda, itna be-jaan, itna khaali ki Sia ki haddiyon tak mein barf jam gayi) "Yeh tumhara jawaab nahi tha, Sia."
Woh uski taraf badha. Ek kadam. Har qadam ek shikaari ka napa-tula, be-awaaz qadam tha. Ek aisa qadam jo zameen par nahi, dushman ki rooh par padta hai.
Sia pichhe hati. Ek kadam. Uska har qadam ek ghabraaye hue, phanse hue shikaar ka tha.
Yeh silsila tab tak chala jab tak ki uski peeth uss kamre ki thandi, bejaan deewar se nahi ja lagi.
Raasta band. Ek band gali. Ek shikaari. Ek qaid shikaar.
Par Ravi usse chhoone, darane ya dhamkaane ke liye nahi badha tha. Uski nigahein Sia par nahi, Sia ke aar-paar theen. Jaise woh ek kaanch ki deewar ho jiske peeche Ravi ko kuch nazar hi na aa raha ho.
Woh uske itne kareeb se guzra ki Sia uske jism se uthti barfeeli thandak ko... uske jism se uthti maut ki mehek ko... apni saanson mein mehsoos kar sakti thi.
Woh guzra... aur seedha bathroom mein chala gaya.
KHATAAK! THAK!
Nal ke khulne ki tez, hinsak (violent) awaaz aayi.
Awaaz itna achanak aur tez tha ki Sia jhatke se kaanp gayi, jaise kisi ne uske kaan ke paas goli chala di ho. Woh awaaz uss kamre ke qabristani sannate ko ek pal mein cheer gaya, jaise kisi ne ek shaant, khoon ki jheel mein dinamite phod diya ho.
LOCATION: BATHROOM – KUCH PAL BAAD (Barf Par Lahu Ki Sargoshi)
Sia ne apni saansein roki hui thi. Itni zorr se, ki uske phephdon mein jaise sui chubhne lagi ho. Use darr tha ki kahin uski saans lene ki awaaz hi uss qabristani khamoshi ko tod na de aur uss cheez ka dhyaan apni taraf na kheench le.
Deewar se chipak kar, jaise woh ussi ka hissa ban jaana chahti ho, woh rengti hui bathroom ke darwaze tak aayi. Uski himmat poori tarah se, rooh tak se, jawab de chuki thi. Par ek anjaani, morbid curiosity (maut ko kareeb se dekhne ki bechaini) usse ek andekhe dhaage se kheench rahi thi.
Andar ka manzar...
Andar ka manzar uss qatl-e-aam se bhi zyada darawna tha. Kyunki wahan maut ka shor nahi tha, wahan maut ka sannaata tha.
Ravi aaine ke saamne khada tha.
Uska khoon se lathpath, geeli shirt zameen par ek bekaar kapde ke tukde ki tarah pada tha, jaise ek saap apni kechuli utaar deta hai. Ventilation se aata chaand ki dhundhli, bejaan roshni uska nangi peeth par pad raha tha. Aur uss roshni mein purane, halke pad chuke zakhmon ke kuch dhundhle nishaan saaf dikh rahe a– jaise kisi ne uska khaal par ek bhoola hua, dardnaak kahaani likh diya ho. Woh nishaan... ek alag hi, unsuni jung ka daastaan bayaan kar rahe the.
Par uska poora dhyaan... uska poori kaynaat... uss ek haath par tika tha jise qaatil ne cheed diya tha.
Woh behad shaanti se, lagbhag ek trance ki haalat mein, apne gehre, ubalte hue zakhm ko tez behte, baraf jaise thande paani ke neeche dhoye jaa raha tha. Paani ke saath uska gehra laal khoon milkar, sink ke safed ceramic par maut ke abstract art jaisa ek bhayanak pattern bana raha tha. Khoon behta jaa raha tha... behta jaa raha tha... jaise uske jism mein paani ki jagah lahu hi bhara ho.
Aur uske chehre par...
Uske chehre par dard ka ek qatra bhi nahi tha. Na maathe par shikan, na honthon par takleef ki lakeer. Na hi woh dard se apni aankhein bheench raha tha. Kuch nahi. Bilkul kuch nahi. Aisa lag raha tha jaise woh pathar ka bana ho. Jaise woh haath... uska ho hi nahi, kisi aur ka ho, jiska dard mehsoos karna uska zimmedari nahi.
Yahi woh cheez thi jisne Sia ko andar tak... uski rooh ki gehraaiyon tak hila diya.
Marna-maarna jung ka hissa ho sakta tha. Ghayal hona uska nateeja ho sakta tha.
Par dard ka na hona... dard ko mehsoos na karna... yeh insaaniyat ka hissa nahi tha. Yeh uss lakeer ke paar ki baat tha jahan insaan khatm hota hai aur... kuch aur shuru hota hai.
Shayad... haiwaniyat? Ya usse bhi badtar?
Sia ki nazar paas rakhe First-Aid kit par padi, jo shayad hotel ne formality ke liye rakha hoga. Uska dimaag, uska har hissa, uski rooh cheekh rahi thi,
'Bhaag ja, Sia! Zinda bachna hai toh yahan se ek pal mein bhaag ja! Abhi!'
Par uske pair... uske pair zameen se aise chipak gaye the, jaise unpar barf jam gayi ho. Kyun? Shayad isliye kyunki usne uss ek pal mein ek faisla kar liya tha. Ek aisa faisla jo uski zindagi badalne wala tha.
Agar yeh shaitaan tha, toh woh aaj shaitaan ki aankhon mein dekhegi. Woh uss andhere ke paar jhaankegi.
Usne kaanpte haathon se woh kit uthaya. Har saans ek bojh lag raha tha.
Woh bathroom ke darwaze par nahi, uske andar daakhil hui. Ek anjaan, khatarnaak ilaaqe mein pehla qadam.
Hawa mein khoon aur thande paani ki mehek aur tez ho gaya, itna tez ki uski aankhon mein jalan hone lagi. Ravi ne aaine mein uske aks ko dekha – ek dari hui, kaanpti hui parchhayi. Woh jaanta tha woh aa gayi hai. Woh jaanta tha woh aayegi. Par woh palta nahi. Woh abhi bhi uss behte khoon ko dekh raha tha, jaise woh usmein apna hi aks dhoondh raha ho.
Sia ne bina ek lafz kahe, apne hosh ko qaabu mein rakhte hue, antiseptic ki botal kholi aur rui (cotton) usme bhigoya. Uske haath itne bure tarah se kaanp rahe the ki rui uske haath se phisal kar neeche girne hi wala tha.
Woh Ravi ke paas aayi. Uske bilkul peeche. Usne apna haath badhaya... uske zakhmi, khoon se sane haath ko pakadne ke liye.
Jaise hi uski thandi, kaanpti ungliyon ne Ravi ki aag jaisi garam kalai ko chhua...
Ek jhatka.
Jaise hazaar volt ka current Ravi ke jism mein daud gaya ho. Uska poora jism ek lohe ki tarah sakht ho gaya. Uske haath ki mutthi bheench gayi.
Sia ne dehshat se foran apna haath pichhe kheench liya, jaise usne aag ko nahi, maut ko chhoo liya ho.
RAVI: (Bina uski taraf dekhe, aaine mein uske darre hue, safed pade chehre ko ghoorte hue, awaaz ek zehreelee sargoshi tha) "Haath... kaanpne nahi chahiye, Sia."
Uska awaaz ek whisper tha, par bathroom ke thande tiles se takra kar woh ek dhamaka ban gaya.
RAVI: "Jab tum dushman ke gale par khanjar rakho... ya dost ke zakhm par dawa. Dono ke liye... haath sthir (stable) hone chahiye." Usne ek pal ka pause liya. "Rooh nahi."
Sia ki saansein uske gale mein hi barf ban kar jam gayi.
Yeh ek sabak tha. Ek inteqaam ki duniya ka pehla sabak. Aur shayad... ek dawat-naama (invitation) tha... uski duniya mein. Us nark mein.
Sia ne ek lambi, thar-tharati saans li. Apni saari himmat... apni saari nafrat uss shakhs ke liye jisne Ravi ko is haal mein laaya tha... apna saara darr uss shakhs se jo ab Ravi ban chuka tha... sab kuch ikattha kiya. Usne iss baar Ravi ka haath zyada mazbooti se pakda. Uske haath ab bhi kaanp rahe the, par usne rui ko zakhm par rakh diya.
Tsssssssss....
Antiseptic ke jalan ka halka sa, gosht ko jalane jaisi awaaz aaya.
Ravi ne dard se aankhein nahi band kara. Usne uff tak nahi kiya.
Par Sia ne dekha. Aaine mein. Usne saaf dekha.
Uska aankhon ki putliyan (pupils) ek pal ke liye... ek second ke hazaarwein hisse ke liye... sikud (contract) gaye the. Jaise ek andhere kamre mein achanak roshni aa gaya ho.
Ek pal ke liye. Par woh pal kaafi tha.
Woh insaan tha. Usey dard hota tha. Woh bas uss dard ko chhupane ka... ya shayad uss dard ko peene ka... maahir tha.
Sia ko jaise ek andhere surang mein roshni ki ek kiran mil gayi. Ek naya hausla. Usne bina kuch kahe, poore focus ke saath uska zakhm saaf kiya aur uspar tezi se patti (bandage) baandh di.
Poore waqt, Ravi bas aaine mein usey dekhta raha. Uski nazrein Sia ke haathon par nahi, uske chehre par tha. Woh uske darr ko... uske darr ke peeche ubharte hue uss anjaane iraade ko padh raha tha.
Jab Sia ne aakhri girah (knot) baandhi, tabhi...
Click. Flicker. Bzzzzzz!
Kamre ki lights... poore wing ki lights... ek jhatke ke saath wapas aa gaya. Generator ka backup nahi, main power. Arjun ka khela blackout khatm ho chuka tha.
Tez, safed, be-rehem roshni ne andhere ko cheer diya.
Iss roshni mein, Sia ne pehli baar Ravi ko 'saaf' dekha. Uska chehra thakaan aur khoon behne se lagbhag safed pad gaya tha, honth thode neele the. Uske jism par purane nishaan ab aur gehre lag rahe the.
Par uski aankhein...
Uski aankhein ab bhi uss andhere kamre mein qaid theen. Roshni un tak pahunch hi nahi paa rahi thi.
Sia ne apna haath pichhe kheench liya. Woh Ravi ke sawaal ka jawaab de chuki thi. Apne amal se.
Darr lag raha hai... ya maza aa raha hai?
Darr... Darr toh ab uski saanson ka, uski rooh ka hissa ban chuka tha. Lekin maza? Maza shayad iss baat mein tha ki shaitaan ne usey aaina dikhaya... aur woh uss aaine mein dekh kar tooti nahi. Usne nazar nahi jhukaayi.
Usne shaitaan ke zakhm par marham lagaya tha.
Ravi dheere se palta. Aaine se hatkar, pehli baar uss raat, usne Sia ko seedha apni aankhon se dekha. Un aankhon mein ab woh sannaata nahi tha. Ek alag sa, sard si parakh tha. Jaise ek Master apni nayi shishya ko parakh raha ho.
RAVI: (Awaaz thandi, saaf, aur antim faisle jaisa) "Welcome to the real world, Sia."
Yeh swagat nahi tha. Yeh ek paigaam tha. Ek elaan tha.
Ki masoomiyat ka khel... khatm ho chuka hai.
LOCATION: ARJUN’S ROOM – USSI WAQT (Jab Shikaari Ke Naakhun Toot Jaate Hain)
CRUNCH.
Earpiece se aaya haddi ke kuchalne ki woh aakhri, geeli, intimate awaaz.
Aur uske baad...
Maut jaisa sannata. Ek aisa sannata jo cheekhon se bhara hua tha, par sunayi nahi de raha tha.
Yeh khamoshi Arjun ke dimaag mein ek blast furnace ki tarah phata. Yeh sirf uske bheje hue qaatilon ki maut ki awaaz nahi tha; yeh uske 'control' ke, uske 'aham' (ego) ke, uske wajood ke tootne ka awaaz tha. Ek soundproof kamre mein, uska apna hi banaya hua duniya, uske saamne, chaknachoor ho raha tha.
Uske saamne laptop par, smoke detector ke camera se aaya live feed ab ek gusse waale, bematlab ke static mein badal chuka tha – HSSSSSSSS.
Ek digital cheekh. Par static aane se theek... ek... nanosecond pehle, usne Ravi ka woh aakhri gesture dekha tha. Uska rooh ne dekha tha.
Ek angutha... jo behad dheere se, ek qasam ki tarah, gale par kheencha gaya tha.
Ek Maut ka elaan. Uske liye.
Kamre mein hawa itna bhaari ho gaya, itna zehreelee, ki saans lena ek aziyat ban gaya. Virat aur Rishi, jo kamre ke kono mein buut bane khade the, Arjun ke taraf dekhne ki himmat tak nahi kar paa rahe the. Woh uske andar ubalte laave ke phatne ka intezaar kar rahe the.
Aur laava phata.
"IMPOSSIBLE!"
CHHANNNAAAAKKK!
Arjun ne saamne rakha whiskey ka bhaari crystal glass uthakar poore taaqat se saamne wale deewar par de maara. Kaanch hawa mein barood ki tarah bikhra. Par woh ruka nahi. Ek wehshi jaanwar ke tarah, usne poora botal uthaya aur usey seedha laptop screen par patak diya. Screen kaanch ke zakhmi tukdon mein bikhra, static ki awaaz ek ghuti hui cheekh ke saath hamesha ke liye band ho gaya.
Sannata. Gehra, kaala, khooni sannata.
Sirf Arjun ka tez, ukhda hua, wehshi saansein sunayi de raha tha.
Toote hue kaanch ke tukde poore kamre mein bikhre pade the, bilkul uske toote hue ghamand ke qirchon ke tarah. Deewar se behti mehengi whiskey aisi lag raha tha jaise woh deewar bhi Ravi Mishra ke naam se khoon ke aansoo ro raha ho.
VIRAT: (Haklaate hue, jaise uska zabaan par barf jam gaya ho) "Bhai... yeh... yeh kya... tha? Hunter... Team Hunter... aur 'Saaye' bhi... Dono teams? Usne... akele? Andhere mein? Woh... woh insaan nahi hai!"
Arjun ne apna aankhein band kiya. Uska poora jism ek kaabu se bahar machine ki tarah tharthara raha tha. Chehra khoon ke garmi se laal ho chuka tha. Usne Ravi ko ek sharmila, kamzor, darpok pyada samjha tha. Ek sadak ka keeda jise woh jab chahe, apne mehenge joote ke neeche masal dega.
Par woh keeda nahi... woh ek zang laga hua, nark ke aag mein bujha hua, Qayamat ka talwar nikla. Ek aisa talwar jise chalaane wala... shayad insaan tha hi nahi.
ARJUN: (Behad dheere se, jaise har lafz uske gale mein chub raha ho, khud se baat karte hue) "Usne Hunter ko andhere mein toda. Bina hathiyaar. Bina... awaaz kiye. Usne 'Saayon' ko... aise saaf kiya... jaise woh koi gandagi hon."
Aur phir... jaise ek switch daba ho.
Arjun ka gussa ek pal mein pighal kar bhaap ban gaya. Aur uss pighle hue laave ke jagah, uska aankhon mein baraf jaisi thandak aa gaya. Ek aisa thandak jo uske gusse se hazaar guna zyada khatarnaak tha. Yeh haar ka nahi, yeh ek naya, bhookha, behis shikaari ka thandak tha.
Woh tezi se Virat ke taraf palta. Uska nazar mein ab koi jazbaat nahi tha. Sirf calculation.
ARJUN: "Sameer kahan hai?"
RISHI: (Jaldi se, jaise hukm ka intezaar kar raha ho) "Bhai, woh... woh uss archery waale qisse ke baad se hi qaid hai. Apne kamre mein lock ho kar baitha hai. Dehshat mein."
ARJUN: (Ek thandi, bejaan muskaan ke saath) "Dara hua? Good. Dar kamzoron ko zinda rakhta hai. Par ab darne ka waqt gaya." Usne apna phone uthaya. Ek number dial kiya. Mr. Khanna.
ARJUN: (Phone mein, awaaz ekdum sapaat, jaise mausam ka haal bata raha ho) "Khanna. Blackout band karo. Sabkuch normal kar do. Lights on. Agar koi music system hai, toh use chala do. Aise... jaise kuch hua hi na ho. Jashn manao... naya din aa gaya hai."
Usne call kaata aur Virat ko dekha. Uski nazrein ekdum sthir theen, jaise kisi surgeon ki jo operation se pehle nishaan laga raha ho.
ARJUN: "Sia kahan hai?"
VIRAT: "Bhai, plan ke mutaabik, maine use roka nahi tha. Woh Ravi ke wing ki taraf gayi thi. Power cut se theek pehle. Abhi... abhi tak wapas nahi aayi."
Ek pal ke liye kamre mein sirf toote hue kaanch par padte Arjun ke mehenge jooton ki krrunch-krrunch ka awaaz aaya.
Aur phir...
Arjun ke chehre par ek behad bhayanak, shaatir, zehreele saanp jaisa muskaan phail gaya. Woh dheere se hansa. Ek aisi hansi jo sunne wale ki rooh ko cheer de. Ek aisi hansi jismein khushi nahi, sirf tabahi ka nasha tha.
Usne apni chair ghumaya aur bahar andhere, barfeele pahaadon ko dekha, jaise woh uske naye shatranj ka board ho.
ARJUN: "Toh... shikaari ko apna shikaar mil gaya. Ya shayad... shikaar ko apna shikaari. Ravi Mishra... tumne mera plan nahi, mera aham zakhmi kiya hai. Tumne mere 'Saayon' ko raakh kiya... koi baat nahi."
Woh palta. Uska aankhon mein ek aisa chamak tha, ek aisa junoon, jise dekhkar Virat aur Rishi ne apne saansein rok liye.
ARJUN: "Virat... 'Parchhai' ko activate karo."
Yeh naam sunte hi Virat ka chehra safed pad gaya. Woh do qadam pichhe hat gaya.
ARJUN: (Dahaadte hue, par awaaz ab bhi ek zehreelee sargoshi tha) "...Jab koi dushman nahi, Iblis (devil) saamne ho. Haan. Aur yeh Ravi Mishra insaan nahi hai. Yeh ek glitch hai. Ek aberration. Jise mitana zaroori hai. 'Parchhai' ko isiliye rakha gaya tha. 'Project Snowfall' ke liye ek contingency plan. Ab waqt aa gaya hai."
VIRAT: (Ab bhi confused) "Bhai, ab... ab plan kya hai? Monastery?"
ARJUN: "Plan badal gaya hai, Virat. 'Project Snowfall' ab sirf Jaanvi ko thikane lagane ke liye nahi hai. Woh toh bas... ek side dish hai." Usne ek aur naya, an-toota glass uthaya aur usmein bacha hua whiskey daala.
ARJUN: "Kal Monastery mein... main Ravi Mishra ko uska sabse bade kamzori se maarunga. Nahi..." Usne Virat ki aankhon mein dekha. Uska nazar mein ab sirf calculation tha. "...Main usse nahi maarunga."
ARJUN: "Main usse Sia ke haathon se maarunga."
Usne glass uthaya, jaise jeet ka nahi, Qayamat ka jaam pee raha ho.
ARJUN: "Kal ka suraj... uss 'Shehzaade' ke liye nahi ugega. Aur agar ug bhi gaya... toh woh dua karega ki kaash woh aaj raat hi mar gaya hota." Uska awaaz ab bilkul bejaan tha.
ARJUN: "Kyunki kal... main usse zinda nahi maarunga. Main uska rooh ko maarunga. Main Sia ko uske khoon se sane haath dikhaunga... aur usey yeh yakeen dilaunga... ki jisse woh masoom samajhti hai, woh ek shehzaada nahi... ek lahu-lahaan, wehshi raakshas hai."
ARJUN: "Kal ka jaam... Sia ke naam. Jo anjaane mein... apne aashiq ki qaatil kehlayegi."
LOCATION: RESORT PERIMETER (AARAV) / YUKI’S ROOM – USSI WAQT (Jab Qabrein Khamosh Ho Jaati Hain)
PHOENIX KA INTKAAM (The Phoenix's Vigil)
Resort ke sabse door ke, jahannami chhor par, jahan barf se dhaka, daant jaisa nukili chattanen andhere jungle ke jabde mein ghus rahe the...
Aur hawa... hawa ek ustaad qasaai ke tez khanjar ki tarah jism ko kaat-ta hua, haddiyon tak thandak pahuncha raha tha...
Ek saaya pathar bana baitha tha.
Nahi, woh baitha nahi tha. Woh ek barfili, dhaar-daar chattan se aise chipka hua tha, jaise sadiyon purana, khoon ka pyaasa gargoyle (pathar ki wehshi moorat) jo aasman se apne agle shikaar ko dekh raha ho.
Aarav. Phoenix.
Military-grade thermal-goggles uska aankhon par aise jame hue the jaise woh uske chehre ka hi hissa ho. Uska nazrein... ek bhookhe, sabr karte hue baaz ke tarah uss wing par tike theen jahan Ravi Mishra ka kamra tha – ek andhera daag uss barfeeli safedi par.
Woh yahan Arjun ka hifaazat ke liye nahi tha; woh yahan Arjun ke anjaam ke liye tha. Woh yahan Ravi ko bachane nahi aaya tha; woh yahan uss Qayamat ko dekhne aaya tha jiske baare mein sirf purani kahaniyon mein suna tha.
Usne 'Barf ke Saayon' ko andar jaate dekha tha. Thermal vision mein, andhere ke uss kaale samundar mein, paanch insaani aag ke shole (human heat signatures) saaf dikhe the. Ek... Do...Teen... Chaar. Poore Chaar. Team Hunter – Arjun ke kiraye ke kutte. Aur 'Saaye' – barfeele qaatil.
Woh Chaar garam, saans lete hue jism... ek thande, andhere kamre mein daakhil hue the. Jaise Chaar patange, ek anjaan shole ki taraf.
Phir...
Blackout. Surgical. Precise.
Thermal-goggles bekaar ho gaye. Screen par sirf andhera. Ek be-ant andhera. Ek aisa kaala rang jo sab kuch nigal gaya.
Aur ab...
Click.
Uss kamre ka light wapas jal gaya tha. Ek bejaan, safed roshni. Aarav ka poora jism ek lohe ki tarah tanav se akad gaya. Uska saansein, jo ab tak ek trained soldier ke tarah bilkul kaabu mein theen, ek pal ke liye uske seene mein hi atak gaya.
Kyun?
Kyunki kuch bhi nahi hua tha.
Koi cheekh nahi sunayi diya tha. Koi goliyon ki awaaz nahi. Koi Bhaag-daud nahi. Koi 'Saaya' khidki se kood kar nahi bhaaga tha. Koi jeet ka ishara nahi, koi haar ki sargoshi nahi.
Chaar log andar gaye the. Professional qaatil. Aur roshni jalne ke baad, darwaaze se koi bhi... kuch bhi... baahar nahi aaya.
Ek aisa khamoshi jo sirf qabr mein milta hai. Ek aisa khamoshi jo abhi-abhi hua chaar cheekhon ko nigal gaya tha. Chaar garam jism andar gaye.
Aur ek bhi garam rooh... baahar nahi aayi.
Aarav ne dheere se, apni nangi ungliyon ko dekha, jinpar barf jamne laga tha. Woh kaanp raha tha. Thand se nahi. Dehshat se. Ek aisa dehshat jo usne kabhi mehsoos nahi kiya tha. Yeh woh haath the jo duniya ke sabse mushkil taale khol sakte the, sabse complex bomb defuse kar sakte the, jo palak jhapkte hi dushman ki saans rok sakte the.
Ab yahi haath... kaanp rahe the.
Usne apna secure satellite phone nikaala. Ungliyan, jo patli se patli taar par naach sakte the, ab message type karte hue aise ladkhada rahe the jaise unmein jaan hi na bachi ho.
Sirf ek text. Ek naye, anjaane number par. Ek aise number par jo sirf tab istemaal hota tha jab Qayamat darwaze par dastak de chuka ho.
Woh type karne laga... ruk gaya... phir type kiya.
"Lama... Taaboot khula hai."
Usne ek pal ke liye ruka, uski saansein hawa mein safed dhuan ban kar jam rahe the. Uske dimaag mein sirf ek hi manzar tha – woh khaali kamra, woh be-nishaan farsh. Woh qatl nahi tha. Woh mitana tha. Wajood ko hi mita dena.
Usne aakhri lafz type kiye, har lafz ek hathode ki chot jaisa tha:
"Qayamat... azaad ho gaya hai."
KITSUNE KA JAAGNA (Qayamat Ki Pehli Aahat)
( Resort, YuKi ka kamra. Raat ka wahi waqt jab Ravi ke kamre mein maut ka khel chal raha tha.)
Doosre taraf, apne kamre ke gehre, barfeele andhere mein, YuKi (Kitsune) padmasan (lotus position) mein ek pathar ki murti ki tarah baitha tha. Kamra ek qabr ki tarah khamosh aur thanda tha.
Par YuKi... YuKi jal nahi raha tha. Woh sulag raha tha. Jaise andar hi andar ek jwalamukhi phatne ko taiyaar ho, jiska laava uske rooh ko pighla raha tha.
Usne aankhein itne zorr se band kiya hua tha ki uske palakon ke neeche dard ke lakeerein ban gaye the. Uska jism, jo sadiyon ke anushaasan se faulaad ban chuka tha, halke-halke, aniyamit taur par kaanp raha tha. Uske maathe par paseene ki boondein, is barfeeli thand ke bawajood, taaze khoon ki boondon ke tarah chamak rahe the.
Usne 'usse' mehsoos kiya tha. Abhi. Isi pal.
Yeh koi darr nahi tha. Darr toh uske liye ek bachpana khel tha. Yeh koi aura nahi tha.
Yeh ek hamla tha. Ek roohaani visphot (spiritual implosion), jo uske dimaag ke andar nahi, uske wajood ke har zarre mein hua tha. Jaise kisi ne barf ki ek poori jheel mein ubalta hua suraj hi daal diya ho. Jaise kisi ne waqt ko hi rok kar, uske haddiyon ko nahi, uske rooh ko tod kar choor-choor kar diya ho.
Ek aisi thandi aag. Ek aisi qaatilana, paak (pure), ibadat jaisa nafrat.
Ek aisa shakti jo sirf tab paida hota hai... jab koi devta... Shaitaan banne ka faisla karta hai. Jab woh apne andar ki har achhai ko raakh karke, uss raakh se ek naye, bhayanak wajood ko janm deta hai.
Qayamat.
YuKi ka gala sookh kar kaanta ban gaya. Saansein uske seene mein hi atak gaye, jaise uss roohaani dhamake ne uske andar ki saari hawa hi nahi, uske zindagi hi kheench liya ho.
Woh... jaag gaya hai.
Itne saalon baad... Ustaadon ne... Maharani ne... Kismat ne... usey aakhir jaaga hi diya. Nahi. Usey majboor kar diya. Uske andar sadiyon se soye hue uss jaanwar ko... uss rakshak ko... uss qaatil ko azaad kar diya.
Usne apni laal, paani se bhari aankhein khola. Par ab unmein paani nahi, unmein barf jama tha. Ek aisa barf jismein Qayamat ka aks saaf dikh raha tha.
Vibrate hua. Humesha khamosh rehne wala screen roshan hua. Screen par ek naya message tha. Ek aise number se jo barson se khamosh tha. Jaise koi murda bol utha ho.
Sirf ek lafz. Ek hukm. Ek farmaan.
"JAAGO."
YuKi apni jagah se uth khada hua. Ek jhatke mein. Aise, jaise uske jism mein sadiyon ke thakaan ke baad achanak Qayamat ke bijli daud gaya ho. Uske jism ka kaanpna band ho chuka tha. Uske chehre par ab paseena nahi, ek sthir, pathar jaisa, be-rehem sankalp (determination) tha.
Shehzaada... Qayamat jaag gaya tha. Toh ab... 'KITSUNE' (Japani Lomdi/Rakshak/Qaatil) ko bhi jaagna tha.
Waqt aa gaya tha. Apne ateet ka karz chukane ka. Apne maqsad ko poora karne ka. Aur apne Shehzaade ka...
Usne aankhein band ki aur ek lambi, gehri saans li. Woh saans ab kamre ki thand se nahi, ek alag hi, sulagta hua aag se bhari tha.
"...Pehredaar banne ka." "...Ya uska Jallad."
Jaise hi yeh sard, antim faisla uske zehen mein goonja, wahi mobile jo ab tak message dikha kar shaant ho chuka tha, ek baar phir jee utha. Par is baar message nahi, ek incoming call tha.
Screen par koi naam nahi tha. Sirf ek shahi mohar chamak raha tha – Gwalior Rajgharane ka symbol.
YuKi ne call uthaya. Uske gale se ab jo awaaz nikla, woh uss thande, kaanpte hue YuKi ka nahi tha. Yeh 'Kitsune' ki awaaz tha. Sthir, gehri, aur har jazbaat se khaali. Par agle lafz mein... ek sadiyon purana rishta jhalak gaya.
YuKi: "Maa."
Doosri taraf se Maharani Divyangi ki awaaz aayi. Ek aisi awaaz jismein sadiyon ki hukumat, ek Rani ka faulaadi iraada, aur ab... ek maa ka do-guna dard ghula hua tha.
Maharani Divyangi: (Awaaz mein ek anjaani si bechaini) "Tumne... mehsoos kiya, Kitsune?"
YuKi: (Kamre ke bahar andhere pahaadon ko dekhte hue) "Qayamat ka pehla dahaad... ansuna nahi reh sakta, Maa. Woh jaag gaya hai."
Maharani Divyangi: (Ek lambi saans ki awaaz aayi) "Toh tum jaante ho tumhara waqt shuru ho gaya hai. Woh waqt jiske liye tumhein paala gaya... taiyaar kiya gaya hai. Woh waqt jo humari sadiyon ki qurbaaniyon ka anjaam likhega."
Ek pal ki bhaari khamoshi. Sirf YuKi ki sthir saanson ki awaaz.
Maharani Divyangi: (Awaaz ab ek maa ki fikr mein doobi hui) "Kaisa hai woh...? Mera Shehzaada..."
YuKi ne apni barfeeli aankhein band kiya. Yeh sawaal hamesha uske dil ko cheerta tha. Mera Shehzaada. Usne apne jazbaaton ko qaabu kiya. Uske dimaag mein woh roohaani visphot ka ehsaas ab bhi taza tha.
YuKi: (Awaaz mein ek ajeeb sa, gehra dard tha) "Woh... ek gehra samundar hai, Maa. Jiske upar khamoshi hai, par andar hazaaron toofan qaid hain. Ek aisa toofan jo ya toh duniya ko bacha sakta hai... ya usey hi nigal sakta hai."
Maharani Divyangi ki taraf se ek halki si, dabi hui siski ki awaaz aayi, jo unhone foran kaabu kar liya. Unki awaaz ab phir se ek Rani ki thi – apne bete ko aadesh deti hui.
Maharani Divyangi: "Uska khayal rakhna, Kitsune. Duniya se, uske dushmano se... aur sabse badhkar... khud uske andar ke Shaitaan se. Usey woh mat banne dena jiske liye usey paida nahi kiya gaya tha... par jiske liye usey majboor kiya jaa raha hai."
YuKi ka aankhein khula. Unmein ab barf nahi, ek sulagta hua zimmedari ka aag tha. Wada. Karz. Pehredaar. Jallad. Aur ek bete ka farz.
YuKi: (Faulaadi iraade ke saath) "Main apna farz nibhaunga, Maa. Shehzaade ka har saans... meri amaanat hai."
Usne call kaat diya. Kamre ki thand ab uske jism ke andar nahi, uski rooh mein daakhil ho chuki thi.
Kitsune... jaag gaya tha. Aur uske jaagne ka matlab tha... Qayamat ab akela nahi tha.
LOCATION: RAVI’S ROOM / CORRIDOR – SUBH SE THEEK PEHLE (PRE-DAWN) (Qayamat Ke Baad Ki Khamoshi)
Patti bandhne ke baad, kamre mein ek aisi khamoshi ne ghar kar liya tha jo kaanon ko nahi, rooh ko phaad raha tha.
Hawa mein khoon ka lohe jaisa, meetha sa gandh, antiseptic ka teekha chubhan aur... maut ka ek aisa bhaari, gala ghontne waala mehek tha jo har saans ko ek saza bana raha tha. Yeh woh khamoshi tha jo ek buchar-khaane (slaughterhouse) mein aakhri jaanwar ke zibah hone ke baad aata hai.
Sia deewar se aise chipki khadi thi, jaise woh uss thande pathar mein hi sama jaana chahti ho, uski sard gehraaiyon mein chhup jaana chahti ho. Uska dimaag... uska dimaag abhi bhi unn aakhri, wehshi palon ke replay mein phansa hua tha – haddiyon ke chatakne ki woh geeli awaaz, gosht ke phatne ka woh narm thump, aur phir... woh khamoshi. Woh be-insaaf khamoshi.
Aur Ravi...
Ravi ne apni khoon se lathpath, geela shirt wapas pehen liya tha. Zakhm ke oopar. Beparwahi se nahi, balki ek rasm ke tarah. Jaise woh zakhm, woh khoon, uske jism ka nahi, uska pehchaan ka hissa ho.
Woh bilkul shaant tha. Itna shaant ki yeh shaanti hi sabse badi, sabse dehshatnaak cheekh tha. Uske chehre par na gussa tha, na afsos, na jeet ka nasha. Sirf... ek khaali pan. Ek banjar, be-ant khaali pan. Jaise usne abhi-abhi ek bahut saara, bahut ganda, bahut zaroori kachra saaf kiya ho.
Usne bathroom ke nal ko theek se band kiya, jo abhi tak tip... tip... tip... tapak raha tha, jaise maut ki ghadi ki aakhri awaazein ho. Woh ek boond paani ki awaaz bhi bardaasht karne ke mood mein nahi tha. Usse mukammal khamoshi chahiye thi.
RAVI: "Tumhein jaana chahiye."
Uska awaaz sapaat tha. Bina kisi jazbaat ke. Ek machine ka command.
SIA: (Awaaz ek toote hue kaanch ki tarah bikhri hui, har lafz ek zakhmi qatra) "C-Chaar... Chaar log the... Maine... maine gina tha. Unke... unke haath... unke gardan... T-Tumne... tumne unhein... kya bana diya?"
'Maarna' lafz uske halaq mein hi ghut kar mar gaya. Kyunki jo usne dekha tha, woh 'maut' nahi tha. Maut toh ek anjaam hai. Yeh... yeh toh mitana tha. Wajood ko hi raakh kar dena tha.
Ravi palta. Aur uske kareeb aaya. Ek qadam. Do qadam.
Is baar Sia pichhe nahi hati. Isliye nahi ki woh bahadur thi. Isliye... ki uske pairon ne kaam karna band kar diya tha. Woh dehshat se jamm chuki thi, ek zinda, saans leti hui barf ki murti. Uska dimaag yeh maan hi nahi paa raha tha ki saamne wala shakhs... zinda hai. Ya shayad... zinda kehna hi galat tha.
RAVI: (Uske aur kareeb aakar, awaaz ek zehreelee sargoshi. Itna kareeb ki Sia uske saanson se uthti barfeeli thandak ko apne chehre par mehsoos kar sake)
"Galat."
Yeh ek lafz... ek thappad se zyada zordaar tha. Ek aisa thappad jo gaal par nahi, zameer par padta hai.
RAVI: "Tumne safai dekhi." Uski awaaz mein nafrat nahi, sirf ek thandi, be-rehem haqeeqat thi. "Woh 'log' nahi the, Sia. Woh hathiyaar the. Arjun ne unhein mera shikaar karne nahi... mujhe parkhne bheja tha. Ek test... jo woh fail ho gaye."
Usne apna patti bandha haath uthaya. Taaza khoon ab bhi patti se halka-halka ris kar uski shirt par gir raha tha.
RAVI: "Jab ek auzaar (tool) kaam karte hue toot jaata hai... toh usey joda nahi jaata. Usey phenk diya jaata hai. Uski jagah... dusra, behtar auzaar laaya jaata hai."
Woh usse door hua aur darwaze ki taraf badha.
RAVI: "Tumne aaj raat jo dekha hai, woh tumhari neend nahi... tumhari rooh ko kha jayega." Usne palat kar Sia ko dekha. Uski nazar mein ab na khaali pan tha, na shaanti. Ek ajeeb si, sard si taras thi. Jaise ek buzurg qaatil ek nausikhiye ko uski pehli galti par dekh raha ho.
RAVI: "Aaj ke baad, jab tum pahaadon ko dekhogi, toh tumhein nazaare nahi, chhipne ki jagah (sniper nests) dikhegi. Jab tum sangeet sunogi, toh tumhein dhun nahi, badalte hue qadmon ki aahat sunai degi. Jab koi tumse muskura kar haath milayega... toh tum uske haath dekhogi, yeh sochte hue ki woh unhein hathiyaar ki tarah istemaal kar sakta hai ya nahi."
Woh Sia ke paas wapas aaya, aur uske kaan ke paas jhuka. Uska sargoshi ab ek mantr jaisa tha, ek abhishaap (curse).
RAVI: "Yeh hai meri duniya, Sia. Ek aisa duniya jahan har saans ek jung hai. Aur ab... yeh tumhari bhi hai. Welcome to the war."
Usne darwaza thoda sa khola. Corridor khaali tha. Subah hone mein abhi kuch waqt tha. Aasman ka rang kaale se gehra, zaalimaana neela ho raha tha – jaise Qayamat se pehle ka aakhri pal ho.
RAVI: "Jao. Apne kamre mein. Aur aise so jao jaise yeh sab ek bura sapna tha." Uska awaaz ekdum sakht ho gaya, ek fauji command ke tarah. "Aur agar tumse koi pooche... toh yeh ek bura sapna hi tha. Samjhi tum? Aaj... tum mera parchhai nahi banogi."
Usne Sia ki aankhon mein dekha.
RAVI: "Tum ek bhoot banogi. Bilkul khaamosh. Bilkul adrishya. Jo dekhti sab kuch hai, par dikhti kisi ko nahi."
Sia ne ek pal ke liye uski peeth ko dekha, jo ab andhere mein ghul rahi thi. Woh kuch kehna chahti thi... shayad cheekhna chahti thi... par lafz uske gale mein hi barf ban kar jam gaye.
Woh ek zinda laash ki tarah, bina koi awaaz kiye, darwaze se bahar nikli aur uss neele, be-rehem andhere corridor mein gum ho gayi.
Ravi ne darwaza band kiya.
CLICK.
Lock ka awaaz ek goli ke tarah uss khaali kamre mein goonja. Usne lights band kar diya.
Kamra phir se andhere ki gehraaiyon mein doob gaya. Woh khidki ke paas khada hokar bahar uss neele andhere ko dekhta raha. Uski patti ke neeche zakhm, antiseptic ki wajah se, sulag raha tha. Jal raha tha.
Par yeh jalan... usey zinda mehsoos kara raha tha. Usey yaad dila raha tha ki khel abhi khatm nahi hua hai.
(Inner Monologue - Ravi)
"Arjun ne 'Saaye' bheje..."(Honton par ek sard, zehreele saanp jaisa muskaan phail gaye) "... Andhere mein chhipne waalon ko."
"Usey pata hi nahi... ki main khud woh Andhera hoon jismein 'Saaye' panah lete hain."
Usne apna zakhmi haath khidki ke thande sheeshe par daba diya. Dard ne uske aankhon mein ek wehshi aag jala di.
"Tumne mujhe 'Shehzaada' kaha, Rathore. Par tum galat the."Uska saansein tez ho gaye.
"Main 'Shehzaada' nahi... Main 'Pralay' (Apocalypse) hoon ... MAHAPRALAY."
Uska awaaz uske dimaag mein goonja, ek dahaad ke tarah.
"Main woh Qayamat nahi jiska shor hota hai... Main woh Qayamat ke baad ka raakh hoon. Woh khamoshi hoon."
"Khel... tumne shuru kiya, Arjun. Par khatm... main karunga."
PART 2: JHOOTH KA SUBAH, SACH KA INTEZAR
LOCATION: RESORT LOBBY – SUBH (DAWN) (Naqaabon Ka Sawera)
Subah hua.
Lekin yeh woh masoom subah nahi thi jo nayi ummeedein laata hai. Yeh ek naqaabposh subah tha.
Pahaadon ke peeche se suraj ki pehli kiran ne barf ko sone mein zaroor badla tha, par resort ki hawa mein raat ke andhere ka kaala rang abhi bhi ghula hua tha. Lobby mein students ka shor tha – ek khokhla, be-jaan shor. Raat ke 'power cut' aur un anjaani, wehshi awaazon ke baad sab thode sehme hue the, par Gaden Monastery jaane ka utsaah ek jhoothe muskaan ke tarah unke chehron par chipka hua tha.
Nashte ki mehek hawa mein thi, par har saans ke saath ek anjaana sa khauf bhi andar jaa raha tha. Bahar se sab kuch 'normal' lag raha tha. Bilkul perfectly normal.
Aur yahi normality sabse bada jhooth tha.
Kyunki parde ke peeche, shatranj ki bisat par, mohre nahi... wajood apni jagah badal rahe the.
TABLE 1: THE FAÇADE OF INNOCENCE (Masoomiyat Ka Dhong)
Kabir aur Amit ek table par baithe the, Ravi ka intezaar kar rahe the. Kabir ka energy, jo hamesha 100 watt ke bulb ki tarah jalte rehte the, aaj thoda dhundhla tha.
KABIR: "Had hai yaar. Yeh Ravi kahan hai? Na phone utha raha hai, na dikh raha hai. Aur Sia bhi laapata. Raat ke 'haunted house' episode ke baad dono ne milke nayi kahani shuru kar di kya? Power cut ne waise hi sabka..."
AMIT: (Chashma saaf karte hue, uska analytical nigahein lobby mein har chehre ko scan kar raha tha)
"Tum 'haunted house' ka baat kar rahe ho. Main 'system shock' ka. Raat ko jo hua, woh sirf ek power cut nahi tha, Kabir. Woh ek stimulus tha. Ek extreme external pressure. Aur jab ek system (insaan) par itna pressure padta hai, toh woh sirf darta nahi hai... woh badalta hai. Paani ubal kar bhaap ban sakta hai, ya jam kar barf. Dono hi paani hain, par unka wajood alag hai."
KABIR: "Oye Professor Proton! Subah subah quantum physics? Normal baat kar! Dekh..."
Tabhi Kabir ki nazar lobby ke shandaar, lakdi ke bane entrance par pada.
Ravi andar daakhil hua.
Bilkul shaant. Bilkul normal. Itna normal ki gair-fitri lage. Jaise usne raat ko gehri, sukoon bhari neend li ho. Jaise raat kuch hua hi na ho. Ek shikaari jo shikaar ke baad, apne khoon saaf karke, bheed mein ghul mil gaya ho.
KABIR: "Abe, Qayamat ke farishte! Kahan tha? Chal jaldi, nashta—"
Kabir ka baat uske gale mein hi atak gaya. Uske chehre ki muskaan ek pal mein hawa ho gaya. Uski nazar Ravi ke haath par pada safed patti par jam gaya. Patti taaza tha. Aur uske kinaaron se... khoon ka halka sa nishaan ab bhi jhaank raha tha.
KABIR: (Awaaz mein asli chinta) "Bhai! Yeh kya hua? Haath... yeh toh gehra lag raha hai! Kab laga? Kaise?"
Ravi ne apne haath ko aise dekha, jaise woh khud use pehli baar dekh raha ho. Phir usne Kabir ke aankhon mein dekha. Uske chehre par ek aisi sapaat beparwahi tha jo dil cheer de. Usne ek bilkul taiyaar, pathar jaisa jhooth bola.
RAVI: "Kuch nahi. Bathroom mein fisal gaya tha. Toota hua glass tha... uspe haath lag gaya."
KABIR: "Fisal gaya? Abe, tu aur fisal gaya? Tu toh hawa mein bhi balance bana le! Tera pair..."
Kabir bolte-bolte ekdum chup ho gaya. Uska munh khula ka khula reh gaya.
Kyunki uske theek peeche, lobby mein Sia ne qadam rakha tha.
Agar Ravi shaant tha, toh Sia... be-jaan thi. Ek khoobsurat, chalti-phirti laash. Uska chehra... ek safed kaagaz jaisa tha jispar dehshat ki siyahi se ek anjaan kahaani likh di gayi ho. Koi emotion nahi. Bas ek khaali pan. Uski aankhein thaki hui, sooji hui theen, jaise sadiyon se soyi na ho, par unmein ek ajeeb si, thandi, gehri khaamoshi thi.
Usne aate hi sabse pehle Ravi ko dekha. Sirf ek pal ke liye.
Ek pal ka woh connection... jise bayaan karne ke liye lafz nahi the, shayad saansein bhi kam pad jaayein. Ek aisa connection jo do toota hua roohon ke beech, Qayamat ke baad ka raakh par banta hai.
Amit ne yeh sab note kar liya. Har details, har choti – badi cheez. Usne Ravi ko dekha (calm predator). Usne Sia ko dekha (traumatized prey). Usne Ravi ke haath par laga patti ko dekha (evidence of violence). Uska dimaag ek supercomputer ka tarah tezi se sab jod-tod kar raha tha.
(Amit ke dimaag mein... Processing... Shuru)
Hypothesis: Ravi ka bahana ("bathroom mein fisal gaya") == JHOOTH.
Observation 1 (Zakhm): Patti se khoon abhi bhi ris raha hai. Yeh chot kisi tez, dhaar-daar cheez ki hai. Accident mein sheeshe par girne se aisi chot nahi lagta. Uske jhooth bolne ka chance... 1% se bhi kam hai.
Observation 2 (Ravi - System 1): Uska state... woh zaroorat se zyada shaant hai. Yeh adrenaline (gusse ya josh) ke baad wala shaanti hai. Ek 'Alpha-Predator' (bade shikaari) wala shaanti.
Observation 3 (Sia - System 2): Uska state... woh 'Sadme' mein hai. Bilkul pathar ban gayi hai. Aankhein khaali hain. Aisa tab hota hai jab insaan maut ko bilkul apne saamne dekhta hai.
Observation 4 (The Link): Dono ka ek hi time par aana. Ek doosre ko dekhna. Yeh ittefaq (coincidence) nahi hai, yeh ek hi ghatna ka asar (causation) hai. Matlab saaf hai: Sia ne woh dekha hai... jo Ravi ne kiya hai.
Observation 5 (The Gaze - Nazar): Sia ki nazar Ravi par. Haan, darr hai. Lekin... ek ajeeb sa bharosa bhi hai. Jaise uss par depend ho gayi ho. Yeh 'Trauma Bond' (sadme se bana rishta) shuru ho gaya hai kya?
(Analysis... Sab jodh kar dekhte hain...)
Raat ka surgical blackout (Asli Vajah / Trigger).Ravi (System 1) par pressure (Attack) pada.Result: Uska 'Phase Transition' ho gaya (Uska roop badal gaya).
Woh pehle se hi 'super-cooled liquid' tha... (Matlab, tha toh paani, par hamesha se barf banne ko taiyaar baitha tha).Raat ka attack woh 'dhakka' tha... aur woh fauran 'super-cooled ice' (sakht barf) ban gaya. Thanda, khatarnaak, be-rehem.
Aur Sia? (System 2)? Woh 'liquid' (normal) thi. Uss badlaav ko dekh kar... woh 'frozen vapor' (sadme se jami hui bhaap) ban gayi. Ek zinda laash.
(Process Complete. Nateeja
AMIT: (Dheere se, sirf khud se, jaise koi paheli suljha raha ho) "Ek zabardast energy transfer hua hai... Ek ka roop badla, doosre ka wajood. Raat ko kuch 'phisla' zaroor hai, Ravi... par woh glass nahi tha."
(Amit apni nazrein chashme ke upar se uthakar Ravi ke thanda, shaant aankhon ko dekhta hai.)
AMIT: "Woh shayad... insaaniyat tha."
TABLE 2: THE HUNTER'S CALM (Shikaari Ka Khamoshi)
Lobby ke doosre kone mein, aalishan sofa par baitha, Arjun Rathore behad itminaan se apni imported coffee ka chuskiyan le raha tha. Uska chehra bilkul shaant tha, jaise raat ko uske bheje hue professional qaatil gaajar-mooli ke tarah kaate hi na gaye hon.
Par uske aankhon mein shaanti nahi, ek barfeeli thandak tha. Haar ne uske gusse ko aag nahi, ek mahapralay laane wala glacier bana diya tha.
Usne apne state-of-the-art, encrypted phone se do calls kiye. Pehla call Rajasthan gaya. Uske baap, Cabinet Minister Vikramaditya Rathore ko.
ARJUN: (Awaaz mein bilkul shaanti, jaise business deal final kar raha ho) "Dad, yahan situation thoda... 'interesting' ho gaya hai. Ek mamuli pyaada, Wazir banne ki koshish kar raha hai. Maine faisla kar liya hai. Aap Prince ko phone kijiye. Unse kahiye... unke level ka yahan ek chhota sa 'practical exam' hai. Ek ziddi keeda... jise masalne mein unhein shayad maza aaye."
Doosra call, Manali mein hi unke private, heavily guarded estate par gaya. Receiver par Kai ka sard awaaz tha.
ARJUN: "Kai. Plan mein thoda badlaav hai. Monastery mein aaj hi hamla hoga. Par target ab sirf Jaanvi nahi hai." Usne ek pal ka pause liya, Ravi par ek thandi nazar daalte hue. "Ek aur hai. Ravi Mishra. Agar woh Jaanvi ke raaste mein aaye... ya na bhi aaye... usey zinda pakadna hai. Zakhmi kar sakte ho... par saansein chalta rehna chahiye. Mumbai se Prince aa raha hai... woh uss se khaas taur par milna chahta hai."
Ravi ab dushman nahi, ek 'trophy' ban chuka tha – ek zinda trophy jise Prince ke saamne pesh kiya jaana tha.
TABLE 3: THE SPIES AND SHADOWS (Jasoos Aur Saaye)
(PART A - THE HANDLER)
Ek alag table par, Alisha (The Silencer) shaanti se orange juice pee rahi thi, par uski nigahein Ravi par ek laser beam ki tarah tiki hui theen. Woh 'The Handler' ko secure line par, bina honth hilaye, apne high-tech earpiece ke zariye report kar rahi thi.
ALISHA: (Mann mein) "...Woh unexpected nahi, ek anomaly hai. Ek 'glitch' in the system. Uske andar kuch aisa hai jo hamare data, hamare analysis se pare hai. He's adapting too fast. He didn't just survive... he dominated."
THE HANDLER (V.O.): (Awaaz mein pehla baar halka sa... bechaini?)
"Glitch ko theek karna hoga, Alisha. Permanently. Arjun ab gusse mein andha hai. Woh galti karega. Tum bas Ravi par nazar rakho. Mujhe usse akele mein milna hai. Monastery sabse behtar jagah hai. Uska kamzori, Sia, uske saath hoga. Usey alag karo. Isolate the target."
THE HANDLER (V.O.): "Lekin... abhi ke liye ruko. Kuch mat karna. Raat ka ghatna... aam nahi tha. Hawa mein kuch badal gaya hai. Jab tak main na kahun, sirf nazar rakho. Don't engage."
(PART B - BHAIRAVA)
(Resort se kuch meel door, ek high-tech, adrishya 'stealth' van mein)
Andar, 'Bhairava' akela baitha tha. Ek shikaari ki tarah, bilkul shaant. Woh ek king tha jo doosre king (Vikram Rathore) ka shikaar karne aaya tha. Uske saamne thermal scans aur audio feeds ka ek jaal bicha tha.
Usne ek record kiya hua audio file play kiya... jismein kuch nahi tha. Sirf sannata. Ussi waqt ka, jab 'Saaye' maare gaye.
BHAIRAVA: (Khud se, awaaz mein gussa nahi, balki ek professional shikaari ka curiosity tha) "Chaar trained 'Saaye'... aur unki maut ke awaaz tak nahi aaya. Sirf... static. Jaise wajood hi mita diya gaya ho."
Usne apni screen par Arjun Rathore ki live feed dekha, jo lobby mein coffee pee raha tha, aur Vikram Rathore ke aane ka flight details ko dekha.
BHAIRAVA: "Tumhara waqt aa gaya tha, Vikram. Par ab... is jungle mein ek naya, anjaan jaanwar aa gaya hai. Ek aisa bhoot jo saayon ko bhi kha jaata hai."
Usne apni sniper rifle ka case band kar diya.
BHAIRAVA: "Ek jungle mein do sher ek hi waqt par shikaar nahi karte. Pehle... main is bhoot ko parakhunga. Tumhara maut... maine 'pause' kar diya hai, Rathore. Jab tak yeh naya khiladi... maidaan se hat nahi jaata."
Uska aankhon mein ek thanda chamak tha. Woh darr nahi raha tha; woh intezaar kar raha tha. Sahi mauke ka.
(PART C - ZORAWAR)
(Resort ke saamne wali pahaadi. Ek ped par.)
Subah ke pehli kiran mein, ek saaya ped par baitha tha. Zorawar. Uska aankhein ek sniper scope se bhi tez the. Woh Arjun ko nahi, woh uss poore mahaul ko dekh raha tha. Usne raat ka sannata mehsoos kiya tha.
ZORAWAR: (Apne earpiece mein, seedha Samraat ko) "Samraat. Yahan khel badal gaya hai. Arjun Rathore ke 'Saaye' ... raakh ho chuke hain."
ZORAWAR: (Pause) "Nahi. Yeh 'Phoenix' (Aarav) ka kaam nahi hai. Yeh... yeh alag hai. Saaf. Be-rehem. Bina jazbaat ke. Aisa laga jaise... Qayamat khud yahan se guzra ho. Maidaan mein ek naya, anjaan shikaari utar chuka hai. Humein pichhe hatna hoga. Ab yeh hamari jung nahi raha."
(PART D - ARYAN RATHORE)
Isi beech, resort ke staff quarters ke ek andhere, seelan bhare kamre mein, Aryan Rathore apne zakhmi, toote hue aadmi, Vikrant, ke paas ghutno ke bal baitha tha. Vikrant ne toote hue saanson mein, dard se karahate hue use sab kuch bata diya tha – Arjun ka dhokha, Jaanvi ko maarne ka plan, Kai naam ka woh bhoot jaisa qaatil.
Aryan ki aankhein... woh laal nahi hua tha. Woh jal raha tha. Ek aisa aag jo sirf khoon se bujh sakta tha. Uske haath ki mutthiyan itni kass gaya tha ki uske naakhun uske hatheli mein ghus kar khoon nikaal rahe the.
ARYAN: (Gurrate hue, awaaz mein apne hi bhai ke liye bepanah nafrat tha) "Apne hi khoon se gaddari... Ek masoom ladki ki jaan lekar woh kya saabit karna chahta hai? Ki woh Dad se bhi bada rakshas hai? Taiyaar ho jao." Usne Vikrant ko sahara dekar uthaya. "Hum monastery ja rahe hain. Arjun ka khel... aaj khatm hoga. Uske hi khoon se."
THE CONFRONTATION (Aankhon Ka Khel)
Arjun apni 'War Council' (Virat, Rishi) ke saath utha. Usne ek confident, jhoothi muskaan ke saath sabko dekha. Uska nazar Ravi par pada, phir uske haath ke patti par (jise dekhkar uske honthon par ek pal ke liye ek sard muskaan aaya), aur aakhir mein Sia par.
Usne Sia ko dekh kar ek behad charming smile diya.
'Yaadgaar' lafz par usne aisa zor diya jaise woh Sia ko nahi, Ravi ko dhamki de raha ho.
Sia ne usse aankhein milayi. Uski aankhon mein ab dar nahi tha. Na hi khaali pan. Ek ajeeb si, thandi, anjaani khaamoshi thi. Jaise woh ab is khel ki spectator nahi, ek khiladi ban chuki thi.
Tabhi Ms. Meera ne seeti bajayi. Unki awaaz mein ek zabardasti ka josh tha.
MS. MEERA: "Chalo, students! Buses taiyaar hain! Gaden Monastery, here we come!"
Khel ka maidan badal chuka tha. Shatranj ki bisat ab Manali ke barf par nahi... Gaden Monastery ki sadiyon purani, raazon se bhari deewaron ke andar bichhne wala tha.
PART 3: ATEET KA ZAKHM (Jab Gawaahi Maut Ka Farmaan Ban Jaati Hai)
(Flashback - Mumbai Port - Kuch Mahine Pehle)
Yeh sab shuru kaise hua?
Mumbai Port par Qayamat baras chuka tha. Red Dragon ka khooni taandav khatm hone ke baad, jab baarish ki boondein zameen par bikhre lahu ko dhone ki nakaam koshish kar rahi theen, tab bachayi gayi ladkiyon ke beech ek alag hi toofan chal raha tha – khauf ka, bechaini ka, aur ek anjaani azaadi ka.
Red Dragon ki team unhein surakshit jagahon par pahunchane, unke gharon ka pata lagane mein laga tha. Mahaul mein ek ajeeb sa khamoshi tha, jaise ek bhayanak sapne ke baad ka subah ho.
Zyadatar ladkiyan ab bhi dehshat se kaanp rahi theen, kuch ro rahi theen, kuch bas khaali aankhon se andhere ko ghoor rahi theen.
Par unhi ke beech, ek ladki thi – Jaanvi. Umar yahi koi 17-18 saal. Uske chehre par khauf tha, par us khauf ke neeche ek alag hi aag jal rahi thi – insaaf ki, sach bolne ki. Us raat usne jo dekha tha, woh uski rooh mein ek zinda angaare ki tarah dehek raha tha.
Jab Red Dragon ka commander (Revenant) unhein aakhri baar tasalli de raha tha, "Tum sab ab mehfooz ho. Hum tumhein tumhare ghar pahuncha denge. Woh log ab kabhi wapas nahi aayenge," tab Jaanvi ne apni saari himmat batori. Woh kaanpte hue qadmon se aage badhi.
JAANVI: (Awaaz mein darr thi, par lafzon mein faulaad) "Ek... ek baat hai jo aapko jaanni chahiye."
Commander ne uski taraf dekha. Unka aankhon mein (helmet ke visor ke peeche) koi hairat nahi tha, bas ek thandi, parakhne wala nazar tha.
JAANVI: "Maine... maine uss raat ek shakhs ko dekha tha. Jab humein us container mein band kiya ja raha tha... ek behad taaqatwar aadmi wahan aaya tha. Rana usey 'Minister Sahab' keh raha tha. Maine... maine uska chehra dekha tha."
Woh ek pal ruki, ek gehri saans li.
JAANVI: "Woh... woh Cabinet Minister Vikram Rathore tha. Woh uss deal ko final karne aaya tha jise aap sab log 'The Politician's Cut' kehte hain."
Commander ke aas paas khade Dragon ke baaki members ke beech ek halka sa hulchul hua, par Commander bilkul sthir raha. Jaise use yeh pehle se pata ho, ya jaise yeh itna badi baat ho hi na.
COMMANDER (REVENANT): (Awaaz thandi aur sapaat) "Tumhari himmat ki daad dete hain, bachchi. Par sirf tumhara kehna kaafi nahi hai. Vikram Rathore ek bhoot hai... woh apni parchhayi bhi peeche nahi chhodta. Uske khilaaf saboot laana... samundar se ek khaas boond dhoondhne jaisa hai."
Unhone ek pal ke liye Jaanvi ki aankhon mein jhaanka.
COMMANDER (REVENANT): "Hum us par vaar karenge... zaroor karenge. Par sahi waqt par... sahi hathiyaar se. Jab shikaar ko yeh gumaan bhi na ho ki shikaari uski saans bhi gin raha hai. Abhi ke liye... tumhari hifazat, tumhari zindagi sabse zaroori hai. Kyunki tum ab sirf ek gawah nahi... tum ek zinda saboot ho."
(Scene: Flashback - Manali - Agle Din)
Jaanvi Manali ki hi rehne wali thi. Red Dragon ne usey behad khufiya tareeke se uske ghar pahuncha diya.
Par uske maa-baap... unhein apni beti ke lautne ki khushi se zyada uski aankhon mein basi dehshat ne tod diya tha. Woh jaante the ki unki beti ne ek sheshnaag ke phan par pair rakh diya hai. Rathore ka naam Manali mein bhi khauf ka doosra naam tha. Unhein raat ko neend nahi aate the, har dastak par unka dil uchhal jaata tha.
Unhein pata tha ki Manali mein, pahaadon ki goad mein, sirf ek hi jagah hai jahan Vikram Rathore ka saaya toh kya, uski soch bhi nahi pahunch sakti – Gaden Baudh Math. Ek aisi jagah jahan sirf dharm nahi, sadiyon purani shaktiyaan bhi panah leti hain.
Agle hi din, woh Jaanvi ko lekar Lama Tashi ke paas gaye. Math ki shaanti bhi unke dil ki bechaini ko kam nahi kar paa rahi thi.
JAANVI KE PITA: (Lama Tashi ke kadmon mein girte hue, awaaz mein bebasi) "Lama ji... iski jaan bacha lijiye. Anjaane mein isne ek aise Shaitan ko dekh liya hai jiski parchhayi bhi maut laati hai. Yeh ab hamari beti se zyada... aapke paas ek amanat hai. Bas kuch din ki baat hai... jab tak yeh toofan guzar na jaaye."
Lama Tashi, jinke aankhon mein sadiyon ka gyaan aur pahaadon ki shaanti tha, ne Jaanvi ki aankhon mein jhaanka. Unhein wahan dar ke saath-saath ek sach ke ziddi taaqat bhi dikhayi diya. Ek aisi taaqat jo shayad bade se bade toofan ka rukh mod sakta tha.
LAMA TASHI: (Awaaz mein ek gehri karuna aur faulaadi iraada) "Pahaad har uss rooh ko panah dete hain jiska dil sach ki roshni se bhara ho. Tumhara beti ne zulm dekha hai, par usne sach ka saath nahi chhoda. Yeh aaj se hamari beti hai. Jab tak Gaden Math ki deewarein khadi hain, iski taraf koi buri nazar nahi uthega."
Aur is tarah, Jaanvi – jo Vikram Rathore ke khilaaf sabse bada, sabse zinda saboot thi – ussi saboot ko bachane ke liye, pahaadon ki goad mein, waqt ki aankhon se, maut ke saaye se... aa chhipe.
Ek anjaan toofan se bachne ke liye... ek purane, shaant toofan ki panah mein.
UPDATE 12 (B) MAHAPRALAY - 1(Qayamat Ka Janam) PART 4: MONASTERY MEIN MAYAJAAL (Jannat Mein Jahannum)
(Bus Gaden Monastery ki taraf badh raha hai)
Pahaadi raasta har mod ke saath aur bhi tang aur khatarnaak hota jaa raha tha. Buson ke tyres kachhe pathreele raaste par apni pakad banaaye rakhne ke liye sangharsh kar rahe the. Ek taraf oonche, barf se dhake pahaad the, jin par suraj ki roshni aankhon ko chaundhiya rahi thi; doosri taraf hazaaron feet gehri khaai, jiske neeche ghoomti hui Beas nadi ek chaandi ke dhaage jaisi lag rahe the.
Hawa mein pine ke pedon ka taazi mehek tha aur door se kahin-kahin prayer flags ki phadphadahat sunayi de raha tha. Mahaul roohaniyat se bharpoor tha, par buson ke andar baithi kuch roohon mein toofan pal raha tha.
Bus 1 (The Chaos & The Calm):
Iss bus mein zyadatar students the, jahan Kabir ne mahaul ko halka karne ka zimmedari utha rakha tha. Antakshari aur jokes chal rahe the.
Amit, hamesha ke tarah, khidki se bahar pahaadon ki banawat ko dekh kar kuch calculations mein laga tha.
KABIR: "Oye Professor! Kya gin raha hai? Pahaadon ki umar ya khaai ka gehraayi? Dono hi tere samajh se bahar hain!"
AMIT: (Bina nazar hataye) "Main 'structural integrity' aur 'potential geological stress points' ka anumaan laga raha hoon. Yeh pahaad dekhne mein sthir lagte hain, Kabir, par andar hi andar 'tectonic pressure' accumulate ho raha hai. Ek chhota sa trigger... aur poora ka poora 'system collapse' kar sakta hai. Physics hamesha warning deti hai, bas hum usey sunte nahi."
Kabir ne uska sar hila diya. "Tu rehne de. Tu bas yeh soch ki bonfire mein kaun sa gaana gaayega."
Issi bus ke pichhle hisse mein Ravi, Sia, Riya aur Alisha the. Unke beech ki ankahee tension bus ke shor mein bhi mehsoos ho rahe the. Ravi khidki se bahar dekh raha tha, par woh pahaadon ko nahi, woh raaston ko, chhipne ki jagahon ko scan kar raha tha. Sia khaali aankhon se saamne dekh rahi thi.
Bus 2 (The Power & The Plot):
Iss bus mein khamoshi itni gehra tha ki engine ki awaaz bhi shor lag raha tha.
Arjun Rathore aage ki seat par, apne doston Virat, Rishi, aur dehshat-zada Sameer ke saath baitha tha, jaise apne command center mein ho.
Aryan kuch seats piche baitha tha, khidki se bahar ghoorta hua, uska chehra pathar jaisa sakht tha, uske dimaag mein sirf apne bhai ke khoon ka khayal tha.
Issi bus mein YuKi aankhein band kiye, meditation mein tha. Aarav (Phoenix) khidki se bahar dekh raha tha, uski nazar kisi khaas cheez ko talaash raha tha.
Zayn, Adira aur Maya shaant baithe the, par unke aankhein... unke aankhein har mod, har ped, har saaye ko scan kar rahe the. Jaise woh nazaare nahi, khatre dhoondh rahe hon.
(Scene: Gaden Monastery ka pravesh dwaar)
Buson ka kaafila Monastery ke vishaal, lakdi ke bane pravesh dwaar ke saamne ruka.
Jagah... adbhut tha. Ek oonchi pahaadi ke kataav par bana yeh Monastery aasman mein tairta hua lag raha tha. Sadiyon purane pathar, jin par waqt ne apni kahaani likh diya tha, Tibetan architecture ka behtareen namoona the. Hawa mein jalta hua jadi-bootiyon ki ek pavitra mehek tha aur hazaaron prarthna-chakra ke ghoomne ki halki, dhyaan lagane wali dhwani tha. Yeh jagah shaanti ka saagar lag raha tha.
Sabhi students neeche utre, unke chehron par hairat aur curiosity saaf tha. Unke awaazein uss shaant mahaul mein thodi be-sur lag rahe the.
Lama Tashi, apne maroon choge mein, darwaze par unka swagat karne ke liye khade the. Unke chehre par ek gehri, sadiyon purani shaanti tha, par unke aankhein... unke aankhein zinda the. Woh har student ko dekh rahe the, par unke nazar bheed mein Ravi, Sia, Aarav aur YuKi par aakar kuch pal ke liye theher gaya. Jaise woh unke naqaabon ke paar, unke andar sulagti aag ko dekh sakte hon.
LAMA TASHI: (Muskurate hue, awaaz mein pahaadon jaisa thehraav) "Om Mani Padme Hum. Aap sab ka is shaanti ke ghar mein swagat hai. Yeh Gaden Math hai, jahan pahaad dhyaan karte hain aur hawa mantr gungunata hai. Yaad rakhiyega, yahan ki deewarein patthar ka nahi, gyaan aur itihaas ka bana hain. Har painting ek kahani kehta hai, har mantra ek raaz kholta hai, aur har khamoshi... ek jawaab deta hai."
Sab andar daakhil hue. Monastery ka aangan vishaal tha. Beech mein ek bada sa stupa tha, jiske chaaron taraf rang-birange prayer flags hawa mein lehra rahe the. Mahaul ek picnic jaisa ho gaya. Students idhar-udhar phail gaye, photos lene lage.
KABIR: (Ek vishaal Thangka painting ko dekh kar) "Wow! Amit, dekh! Yeh 'Wheel of Life' hai! Maine Discovery par dekha tha. Ismein janam, maran, aur karma ka poora cycle hai!"
AMIT: (Painting ke intricate details ko gaur se dekhte hue) "Technically, Kabir, yeh sirf story nahi, yeh cosmic blueprint hai. Ek representation of cyclical existence governed by the laws of cause and effect. Har rang ek emotion represent karta hai, har symbol ek philosophical concept. Yeh sirf art nahi, yeh physics aur metaphysics ka sangam hai..." Dekho, patterns mein ek underlying mathematical structure hai... shayad fractal geometry? It represents the universe's fundamental principles – impermanence, interdependence..."
Ms. Meera unhein Baudh dharm ke mool siddhanton ke baare mein bata rahi theen. Unki awaaz shaant mahaul mein ek guide ki tarah thi.
MS. MEERA: "Buddhism ka sabse buniyaadi siddhant hai 'Ahimsa', yaani kisi bhi jeev ko kasht na pahunchana. Aur 'Karma'... yeh universe ka fundamental law hai. Aap jaisa karoge, waisa hi bharoge. Aapke har action ka ek reaction hota hai, jo aap tak laut kar zaroor aata hai... isi janam mein, ya agle mein."
Arjun, jo Sia ke saath khada tha, ne yeh sunkar dheere se Sia ke kaan mein kaha, uski awaaz mein ek thanda, vyangya bhara ishaara tha.
ARJUN: "Aur kuch karmon ka phal... isi janam mein, isi jagah par dena padta hai, Sia."
Uska ishara, bina naam liye, bheed mein kahin khade Ravi ke taraf tha. Sia ne uska baat sunkar uncomfortable feel kiya aur nazrein ghuma li.
Ravi, Aarav aur YuKi aangan ke ek kone mein, ek purane ghanta ghar ke saaye mein khade the. Jaise woh is duniya ke hansi-mazaak ka hissa hi na hon.
Ravi ka aankhein... woh ek hawk ki tarah theen. Woh students ko nahi, woh unke beech chhupe saayon ko, woh Monastery ki banawat ko, woh har chhipne ki jagah, har nikalne ke raaste ko scan kar raha tha.
Woh jaanta tha, yeh shaanti ek dhokha hai. Ek behad khoobsurat, behad khatarnaak dhokha.
Usne Aarav ki taraf dekha. Aarav ne halka sa sar hilaya. 'Hum par nazar hai.' YuKi ka aankhein band theen, par uska jism ek kamaan ke tarah khincha hua tha. 'Woh yahan hain.'
Tabhi...
PSSSSssssssss.....
Ek halka sa, saanp ki phunkar jaisa awaaz. Aur uske saath hi, 3-4 chandi rang ke, fist-sized canister hawa mein udte hue aaye aur aangan ke alag-alag hisson mein, students ke beech jaa gire.
Unke girne ki awaaz itna halka tha ki zyadatar logon ne notice bhi nahi kiya.
"Gas!" Aarav chillaya.
Par bahut der ho chuka tha , isse pehle ki koi kuch samajh paata, un canisters se gaadha, doodh jaisa safed dhuaan behad tezi se nikalne laga. Dhuaan zameen par nahi phaila, woh hawa mein ek deewar ke tarah uthne laga, tezi se poore aangan ko apni lapet mein leta hua.
PRINCIPAL MALHOTRA: (Hairat aur gusse se) "Yeh kya badtameezi hai?! Kisne phenka yeh?! Sab log..."
Unka baat poori nahi ho saka. Dhuaan ab un tak pahunch chuka tha. Usmein ek ajeeb sa, behosh karne wala meetha sa gandh tha – jaise Gulaab aur... maut ka milan ho.
Students aur teachers ke chehron par hairat ki jagah ab khauf aur confusion ne le li. Kuch log khansne lage. Kuch ki aankhon mein jalan hone lagi.
RAVI: (Sia ki taraf daudte hue cheekha) "SAANS ROK LO! SIA!"
Par Sia us tak pahunch paati, usse pehle hi uski aankhein band ho gayin.
Phir... ek-ek karke, jaise kisi ne unke putlon ki dor kaat di ho, woh bina koi awaaz kiye, behosh hokar girne lage. Ek ladki, jo photo le rahi thi, uska phone haath se chhoot kar pathar par gira. Ek ladka, jo hans raha tha, uska hansi adhoori reh gaya aur woh wahin dher ho gaya. Kuch log bhaagne ke koshish kiye, par unke pair unka saath chhod gaye.
Ek minute... shayad usse bhi kam waqt mein... poora aangan behosh jismon se pat gaya. Jaise kisi anjaan kalaakar ne 'still life' ki painting bana di ho. Jaise kisi ne waqt ka button 'pause' kar diya ho.
Sirf woh safed dhuaan tha jo ab bhi hawa mein halke-halke tair raha tha, aur Lama Tashi, jo stupa ke paas pathar ke buut bane khade the, unke aankhon mein sadiyon mein pehla baar... khauf dikh raha tha.
...Lekin uss dhuein ke samundar mein... teen saaye abhi bhi khade the.
Ravi. Aarav. YuKi.
Unhone pehli 'hiss' ki awaaz par hi apni saansein rok liye the. Unka anushaasan (discipline) uss chemical zehar se zyada taaqatwar tha.
Aur uss dhuein ke pardey ke peeche se... bilkul shaanti se... bilkul be-awaaz... Kai aur uske lagbhag 20 naqaabposh aadmi nikle.
Un sabne gas mask pehne hue the, unki aankhein kaale sheeshon ke peeche chhipi thi. Unke kadmon ki koi awaaz nahi thi. Woh zameen par nahi, hawa mein tair rahe the. Woh bhoot the. Andhere ke bhoot... jo din ke ujaale mein shikaar karne aaye the.
KAI: (Apne high-tech earpiece mein, awaaz bilkul sapaat, jaise weather report de raha ho) "Stage set hai. Audience so chuka hai. Ab hum... mehmanon ko dhoondhte hain."
Uske aadmi behosh jismon ke beech tezi se phail gaye. Unke movements behad professional aur coordinated the. Unka kaam sirf Jaanvi ko dhoondhna tha. Ek aadmi ne behosh Sia ke paas aakar uski nabz check ki. Phir usne ek choti si device se uski aankh ki putli ko scan kiya.
AADMI 1: (Earpiece mein) "Negative ID. Subject sedated. Not the primary targ.......
Uska baat adhoori reh gaya. Uska nazrein dhuein ke paar un teen saayon par pada jo abhi bhi saans roke khade the. Uska poora jism ek pal ke liye jhannn se reh gaya. Yeh plan mein nahi tha.
Arjun ka order tha: 1. Jaanvi ko uthao. 2. Ravi Mishra ko zinda pakdo.
Par Ravi Mishra zinda aur hosh mein tha. Aur uske saath do aur thay, jo 'aam' nahi lag rahe the. Kai samajh gaya... 20 aadmiyon ke saath in teen se ladna... ek su*cide mission tha.
Use ek second mein faisla lena tha.
KAI: (Earpiece mein, plan badalte hue) "PLAN B! PLAN B! TARGET 1 (JAANVI) KO SECURE KARO! TARGET 2 (RAVI) KO CHHODO! USKA KAMZORI (SIA) KO UTHA LO! COVER FIRE! MOVE! MOVE!"
Kai ke aadmi do hisson mein bant gaye.
10 aadmiyon ne apni automatic rifles uthayi aur Ravi, Aarav aur YuKi ke taraf andhadhund firing shuru kar diye. TRA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA!
Goliyon ka bauchaar ne teeno ko Stupa aur purane ghanta ghar ke peeche cover lene par majboor kar diya. Pathar se goliyan takra kar chingaariyan nikaal rahe the.
Issi cover fire ka faayda uthaate hue, Kai aur uske 10 aadmi tezi se aage badhe. Ek team ne behosh Jaanvi ko (jo alag kamre mein thi) aur doosri team ne behosh Sia ko apne kandhon par aise uthaya jaise woh maans ki boriyaan hon.
RAVI: (Cover se nikalne ki koshish karte hue dahaada) "SIA!!!"
Par goliyon ki baarish itna tez tha ki woh sar nahi utha paaya.
KAI: (Apne aadmiyon ko earpiece mein) "Retreat! Jungle ki taraf! Abhi!"
Jaise bhoot ki tarah woh aaye the, waise hi Monastery ke pichle, gupt darwaze se jungle ke andhere mein gayab ho gaye.
Goliyan chalne band ho gaye.
Peeche chhod gaye sirf ek aangan bhara behosh jism, hawa mein tairta woh meetha zehar, aur teen yoddha jo pehli baar... haar gaye the.
(Ravi stupa ke peeche se nikla. Uska aankhein laal angaare ban chuke the. Hawa mein ab bhi meetha zehar ghula tha, par Ravi ke saanson mein ab sirf inteqaam ka aag jal rahe the. Goliyon ka goonj khamosh tha.
Aarav aur YuKi uske paas aaye. Unke chehron par haar nahi, ek naye toofan ka intezaar tha.
Ravi ne apni zakhmi mutthi kassa. Zakhm se tapakta khoon barfili zameen par gir kar jam gaya.
Usne jungle ke taraf dekha jahan Kai, Sia ko lekar gayab hua tha.
Uska chehra bilkul shaant ho gaya. Ek aisa qabristani shaanti jo hazaar dahaadon se zyada bhayanak tha. Uska awaaz ab insaani nahi tha. Woh ek sargoshi tha, jo pahaadon se takra kar,
poore ghaate mein goonj utha.)
RAVI:"Arjun Rathore ne ek bohot bada galti kar diya."
(YuKi aur Aarav ne uske taraf dekha.) RAVIBina unki taraf palte, uska nazrein ab bhi uss jungle par tha) "Usne socha... woh meri kamzori ko chheen kar mujhe tod dega."
(Ek pal ka khamoshi. Aur phir... Ravi ke honthon par ek aisa sard, zehreele saanp jaisa muskaan phail gaya, jise dekh kar Aarav aur YuKi ka rooh bhi kaanp gaye) RAVI:"Naadan ko yeh nahi pata... ki usne Qayamat ka aakhri zanjeer... khud apne haathon se tod diya hai."
(Usne apni gardan ek taraf chatkaya, jaise sadiyon ki thakaan utaar raha ho.)
RAVI:"Khel khatm. Ab... sirf shikaar hoga." (Ek pal ka sard pause,uske honthon par ek maut jaisa muskaan tair jaata hai.)
RAVI:"...Ki usne meri rooh nahi, apne 'Mahapralay' ko azaad kiya hai."
RAVI:"Aur Mahapralay... jung nahi jeetta. Woh bas... har cheez ko raakh mein badal deta hai. Shuruaat... uske naam se hoga."
Mahapralay ke agle UPDATE mein: Qayamat Ka Inteqaam.
Bina unki taraf palte, uska nazrein ab bhi uss jungle par tha)
