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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.
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.
(Gaden Monastery Aangan. Dhuaan chhat chuka hai, students aur teachers hosh mein aa rahe hain.)
Kareeb aadhe ghante baad, jab uss meethi zehar ka asar kam hua, toh behosh duniya mein zindagi ka pehli sargoshi lauta.
Logon ko hosh aana shuru hua. Sir dard. Gala sookh kar kaanta. Jaise ek behad gehre, meethhe sapne se zabardasti kheench liya gaya ho.
Ek-ek karke baaki sab uthne lage. Pehle confusion, phir ehsaas, aur phir... cheekhein. Afra-tafri mach gaya. Principal Malhotra apna sir pakad kar baith gaye. Phir Kabir, jo Amit ko hila raha tha.
Phir... Ms. Meera ki aankhein khuli. Ms. Meera ka chehra aansuon se bheeg gaya.
Aur phir ek dil cheer dene wali cheekh jo pahaadon se takra kar goonj utha.
MS. MEERA: (Rote hue, awaaz mein bebasi)
"Sia! Sia kahan hai?! Koi Sia ko dhoondo! Hey Bhagwan! Kahan gayi woh?!"
Teachers ne foran, kaanpte haathon se police ko call kiya. Network mushkil se mil raha tha, par call lag gaya.
RAVI , Woh bheed ka hissa nahi tha. Woh ek zakhmi, qaid shikaari ki tarah aangan ke ek kone mein deewar se peeth lagaye, har saans ke saath ek an-kaha ghussa pee raha tha. Uska zakhmi haath uski jacket ki jeb mein tha. Woh bheed ko nahi, woh jungle ke uss andhere raaste ko ghoor raha tha, jahan se Kai ke bhoot gayab hue the. Uska aankhein laal angaare ban chuke the.
Lagbhag 20 minute ke andar, jo sadiyon jaise lage, police jeeps ke siren ka teekha awaaz pahaadon ke khamoshi ko cheerte hue kareeb aane laga. Monastery ke bahar 3 police jeeps tez raftaar se aakar ruke, unke tyres pathreele zameen par 'screech' ki awaaz karte hue thame.
Aur unmein se jo pehli shakhsiyat utri... use dekh kar wahan maujood har shakhs ke nigahein wahin ruk gayeen. Waqt jaise ek pal ke liye tham gaya.
Woh ACP Kavya Singh thi.
Umar yahi koi 25-26 saal. Lambi, lagbhag 5’8” ki height. Crisp, perfectly ironed khaki uniform jo uske athletic figure par aise fit thi jaise uske liye hi bani ho. Baal ek tight, no-nonsense bun mein bandhe hue the, ek bhi lat idhar se udhar nahi.
Chehre par na koi makeup tha, na koi dar, na hi koi confusion. Sirf faulaad.
Uski aankhein... gehri kaali, teekhi... aisi ki insaan ki rooh ke aar-paar dekh lein. Unmein ek aisi tezi aur authority thi jo umar se nahi, kaabiliyat, zidd aur shayad... kuch purane zakhmon se aati hai.
Uske chalne ka andaaz ek sherni jaisa tha – napha-tula, confident, aur har qadam mein ek an-kahi dhamki.
Uske saath ek thake hue, par alert Inspector Rawat aur 8-10 rifle-dhari constables tezi se utre.
ACP KAVYA SINGH: (Inspector Rawat se, awaaz mein na koi jaldbaazi, na koi ghabrahat, sirf thanda command)
"Rawat, jagah ko cordon karo. Crime scene protocols. Kisi ko andar-bahar aane ki ijaazat nahi hogi jab tak main na kahun. Har ek student, har ek teacher ka bayaan lo. Details. Chhote se chhota detail. Aur Principal se mujhe milna hai. Abhi."
Uski awaaz mein ek faulaadi tha, jo pahaadon ki hawa se bhi zyada thanda tha.
Principal Malhotra ne darte-darte, haklate hue use sab kuch bataya – trip, Monastery ka visit, anjaan canisters, dhuaan, behoshi, aur phir... ek student (Sia) ka gayab hona.
Kavya har detail ko ek supercomputer ki tarah apne dimaag mein store kar rahi thi, tabhi Lama Tashi, jo ab tak shaant khade the, aage badhe. Unka chehra gambhir tha.
LAMA TASHI: (Awaaz mein shaanti, par aankhon mein chinta)
"ACP Sahiba, sirf ek student nahi. Ek ladki jo humari sharan mein thi... Jaanvi... woh bhi laapata hai. Hamla unhi ke liye hua tha."
Kavya ki aankhein ek pal ke liye sikudi. Do ladkiyan. Ek student... aur ek sharan li hui ladki. Yeh maamla ab aur bhi gehra ho chuka tha.
Tabhi uski teekhi nazar bheed se alag khade Ravi par padi.
Woh aangan ke ek kone mein, deewar se peeth lagaye khada tha, uska zakhmi haath uski jacket ki jeb mein tha. Uska chehra pathar jaisa sakht tha, aur woh gusse mein saamne stupa ko aise ghoor raha tha jaise woh usse hi tod dega. Uska aankhein... woh laal angaare ban chuke the.
Kavya Singh, ek shikaari ki tarah, bina awaaz kiye uske paas pahunchi.
KAVYA: (Awaaz shaant, par dhaar-daar)
"Tum kaun ho? Jab sab wahan hain, tum yahan itne alag kyun khade ho? Kuch dekha tumne?"
Ravi ne palat kar bhi nahi dekha. Uska poora wajood ek tanav bhari kamaan ke tarah khincha hua tha.
RAVI: (Bina uski taraf dekhe, awaaz mein ek sard ghussa)
"Main woh hoon jise aapke aane ka intezaar nahi karna chahiye tha."
Kavya ki aankhein halki si sikudi. Yeh jawaab usne expect nahi kiya tha.
KAVYA: "Excuse me? Yeh police investigation hai, tumhara personal playground nahi. Tameez se baat karo."
Ravi ab uski taraf palta. Unke nigahein takrayeen. Ek taraf Qayamat ki aag thi, toh doosri taraf kaanoon ka faulaad. Ek an-dekha spark hawa mein crackle hua.
RAVI: (Aankhon mein aag liye, awaaz ab bhi dheema par har lafz ek chot)
"Investigation? Jis raftaar se aapki file banega, report likhe jayega, gawahon ke bayaan honge... tab tak woh log in pahaadon mein hawa ho chuke honge! Yeh kidnapping hai, ACP Sahiba, koi cycle chori ka case nahi! Waqt... waqt sabse bada dushman hai yahan!"
Dono ek dusre ko ghoorte rahe. Kavya uska aankhon mein jhaank rahi thi, uske gusse ke peeche chhupe kisi aur hi jazbaat ko padhne ki koshish kar rahi thi. Woh samajh gayi, yeh ladka aam nahi hai.
"Apni awaaz neeche rakho, ladke. Aur apni salah apne paas. Main apna kaam jaanti hoon. Tum sab abhi ke abhi apne resort wapas jaaoge. Buses ka intezaam ho raha hai. Yeh jagah ab crime scene hai aur safe nahi hai. Resort ke bahar 10 constables ki duty lagegi. Koi bhi... I repeat... koi bhi meri ijaazat ke bina resort se bahar qadam nahi rakhega. Am I clear?"
Yeh ek aadesh tha. Ismein sawaal ki gunjaish nahi tha.
Ravi ne gusse se apne daant bheenche. Woh kuch kehna chahta tha, shayad cheekhna chahta tha, par tabhi Aarav (Phoenix) ne uske kandhe par haath rakh kar use halke se dabaaya. Ek an-kaha paigaam – 'Abhi nahi. Waqt aayega.'
Ravi ne ek gehra saans liya aur apna ghussa pee gaya.
Sabhi students ko police escort mein wapas resort bhej diya gaya. Mahaul mein ab utsah nahi, sirf khauf aur anishchitata thi. ACP Kavya Singh aur Inspector Rawat bhi wahin resort mein ek kamra lekar ruk gaye. Kavya jaanti thi, yeh maamla itna seedha nahi hai jitna dikh raha hai.
( Arjun ke resort kamre mein)
Arjun apne kamre mein band tha, tezi se aage-peeche tehel raha tha. Police ke aane se uska saara plan, saari calculation bigad gaya tha. Uska chehra gusse se tamtama raha tha. Usne Kai ko secure line par call kiya.
ARJUN: (Gusse mein, awaaz dabaate hue)
"Yeh kya hai?! Tumne Ravi ko kyun nahi uthaya? Order saaf tha! Usey zinda pakadna tha! Aur ab yeh police! Poora plan chaupat kar diya!"
KAI: (Doosri taraf se bilkul shaant, be-jazbaat awaaz)
"Plan badalna pada, Rathore Junior. Aapka 'target' akela nahi tha. Uske saath do aur the... jo 'students' nahi lag rahe the. Professional the. 20 aadmiyon ke saath un teen se ladna... bekaar ka khoon-kharaba hota. Aapka kaam ho gaya hai. Jaanvi (primary target) hamare paas hai."
ARJUN: "Aur Sia?! Usey kyun uthaya?!"
KAI: "Collateral damage. Nahi. Ek... 'bonus'. Aapne kaha tha aap Ravi ko uske kamzori se maarenge. Maine aapko woh kamzori laakar de diya hai. Ab aapke paas dono hain. Gawaah bhi... aur Ravi ko todne ka hathiyaar bhi."
Kai ne call kaat diya.
Arjun ne gusse mein phone deewar par patak diya. CHHANNNAAAKK! Woh ek pinjre mein band sher jaisa mehsoos kar raha tha. Khel uske haath se nikal kar kisi aur, anjaan khiladi ke paas jaa chuka tha.
Kai ne uske order ko ignore kiya tha. Aur ab... ACP Kavya Singh naam ki ek nayi museebat aa gayi thi. Uska dimaag hazaaron sawaalon mein ulajh gaya tha. Usey pehli baar laga... ki woh Baadshah nahi, shayad khud ek mohra tha.
PART 6: TOOFAN SE PEHLE KI SHAANTI... AUR QAYAMAT KI UDAAN
(Resort ki chhat. Shaam dhal chuka hai, raat ki barfeeli kaalima pahaadon par utar raha hai.)
Shaam ho chuka tha. Resort mein ek ajeeb sa, daraawni khamoshi tha, jaise hawa bhi ACP Kavya Singh ke hukm ka paalan kar rahi ho. Constables resort ke perimeter par saaye ki tarah pehra de rahe the, unki presence suraksha kam, qaid ka ehsaas zyada de rahi thi.
Resort ka chhat par, jahan se poori Manali valley ka nazara ek khoobsurat, par ab khooni lagne wala postcard tha, Aarav (Phoenix) aur YuKi (Kitsune) khade the. Ek dusre se kaafi door, jaise do anjaan shikaari jo ek hi shikaar ke intezaar mein hon. Hawa itna tez aur thanda tha ke woh khanjar ki tarah jism ko cheed rahe the, par un dono par iska koi asar nahi tha.
YUKI: (Awaaz mein barf ki si safaai)
"Sia Sharma aur Jaanvi ka gayab ho jaana... yeh sab ek sochi-samjhi chaal hai. Par Shehzaade... itne khamosh kyun hain? Unke andar toh laava phat jaana chahiye tha. Unhein toh ab tak is poore resort ko raakh kar dena chahiye tha."
AARAV: (Aasmaan mein ubharte pehle taare ko dekhte hue, awaaz mein ek gehra samandar)
"Yeh khamoshi hi toofan hai, Kitsune. Samandar Qayamat laane se pehle hamesha apni saansein rok leta hai. Woh intezaar kar rahe hain... Sahi waqt ka. Ek aise waqt ka jab dushman apni jeet ka jashn mana raha ho."
Tabhi unhein apne peeche ek aahat mehsoos hui. Itni halki ki ek aam insaan ke kaan use pakad bhi nahi paate. Par unke liye... yeh ek toofan ki dastak thi.
Ek saaya chhat ke doosre kone mein, andhere se ubhra tha.
Ravi.
Usne ek baar un dono ki taraf dekha. Sirf ek baar. Uski aankhon mein... ek aisi duniya ka aks tha jahan na darr tha, na umeed... sirf ek anant, thanda iraada.
Phir, isse pehle ki Aarav ya YuKi kuch samajh paate, ya apni jagah se hil paate...
Usne daudna shuru kiya.
Ek sprint. Ek aisi raftaar jo insaani nahi lag rahi thi. Seedha chhat ke kinaare ki taraf. Us taraf... jahan kuch nahi tha. Sirf hazaaron feet neeche maut ka khula jabda.
Aur phir, bina ruke, bina soche, bina ek pal ki hichkichahat ke... usne chhalang laga di.
Chaar manzil neeche. Khuli hawa mein. Ek bebaak, Qayamat ki udaan.
Aarav aur YuKi ki aankhein dehshat aur hairat se phati ki phati reh gayeen. Yeh sucide nahi tha. Sucide itna khamosh, itna controlled nahi hota. Yeh... yeh kuch aur tha.
Yeh physics ke niyamon ka, gravity ka, maut ka mazaak udana tha.
Ravi hawa mein gir nahi raha tha; woh naach raha tha. Usne girte hue apne shareer ko ek wehshi parinde ki tarah control kiya. Ek corkscrew twist ke saath woh hawa ko kaatta hua neeche aaya. Teesre floor ki balcony ka patla sa metal railing uske haathon se bas kuch inch door thi. Usne girte hue, ek haath se railing ko pakda – pakda nahi, jakda. Ek aisa grip jo lohe ko bhi mom kar de.
Uske jism ne ek zabardast jhatka khaya, par ruka nahi. Usne uss railing ko ek fulcrum ki tarah istemaal kiya, apne shareer ko ek violent pendulum ki tarah ghumaya, railing ke neeche se hota hua... aur doosre floor ki chhajje (ledge) par... ek billi ki si furti aur khamoshi se land kiya. Landing ka impact usne apne ghutno aur kandhe mein aise absorb kiya jaise woh zameen par nahi, makhmal par utra ho.
Wahan se ek aur chhalang – ek calculated leap of faith... aur woh zameen par tha.
Bina kisi awaaz ke. Bina kisi nishaan ke. Jaise kabhi wahan tha hi nahi. Jaise woh hawa se aaya tha aur hawa mein hi laut gaya.
Aarav ka munh khula reh gaya. Uske trained dimaag ko yeh samajhne mein waqt lag raha tha ki usne abhi kya dekha.
AARAV: (Awaaz mein hairat aur ek anjaana sa khauf)
"Woh... woh pagal ho gaya hai! Woh marna chahta hai!"
YUKI: (Uska aankhon mein khauf nahi, ek ajeeb sa samajh tha)
"Pagal nahi... azaad ho gaya hai. Usne resort ka qaid nahi toda... usne apne andar ka zanjeerein toda hain. Ab use koi nahi rok sakta."
Aarav aur YuKi ne ek dusre ko dekha. Lafzon ki zaroorat nahi thi. Unke dimaag mein ek hi manzil thi. Bina kuch kahe, woh bhi kinaare ki taraf daude. Unhone neeche nahi kooda – shayad unke liye bhi yeh mumkin nahi tha. Par deewar par bane pipes, window ledges aur building ke structure ka sahara lete hue, 3-4 calculated jumps mein, woh bhi kisi peshewar climbers ki tarah neeche utar gaye.
Unhein pata tha Ravi kahan jaa raha hai. Wapas... uss jagah jahan khel shuru hua tha. Wapas... uss jagah jahan aaj khoon behna tha.
Waapas... Gaden Monastery
PART 7: ANDHERE MEIN IKATTHE HOTE SAAYE
(Resort ke alag-alag hisse. Ravi ke nikalne ke kuch hi minute baad.)
ACP Kavya Singh ki 'qaid' tooti thi, par sirf Ravi ke liye nahi. Jaise hi Qayamat ne pehla kadam uthaya, baaki saaye bhi harkat mein aa gaye.
( Staff Quarters - Ground Floor)
Aryan Rathore, jiska chehra gusse aur badle ki aag mein tap raha tha, ne apne zakhmi aadmi Vikrant ko ek secure room mein band kiya.
ARYAN: (Vikrant se) "Tum yahin raho. Main uss haramzaade (Arjun) ko uske anjaam tak pahuncha kar aata hoon."
Usne police constables ke patrol route ko do minute tak observe kiya. Jaise hi woh kona ghoome, Aryan ek bhoot ke tarah building ke pichhle hisse se nikla aur jungle ke andhere mein ghul gaya. Uska manzil bhi wahi tha... Gaden Monastery.
(Students Wing - Third Floor)
Teen alag-alag kamron ke darwaaze... lagbhag ek hi saath, bina kisi awaaz ke khule.
Andhere corridor mein teen figure nikle.
Yeh ab "students" nahi lag rahe the. Unhone sleek, full-body tactical suits pehne hue the, jo unke jism se aise chipke the jaise unke doosri khaal hon. Unke chehre poori tarah se matt-black (bina chamak waale) masks ke peeche chhipe the, jisse unke pehchaan, unka gender, unke insaaniyat... sab chhip gaye the.
Unka pehchaan chhipa hua tha, par unka maqsad saaf tha. Unke aankhon mein koi darr nahi tha. Unka ek hi mission tha: Jaanvi.
PEHLA SAAYA: (Sargoshi mein, awaaz dabakar)
"Target (Jaanvi) ab 'in motion' hai. Aur baaki sab bhi (Ravi, Aryan) Monastery ke taraf jaa rahe hain."
DOOSRA SAAYA: "Monastery ab ek warzone ban chuka hai. Humara wahan jaana..."
"...Zaroori hai. Mission badla nahi hai. Hum Jaanvi ko nikaal kar laayenge. Baaki sab... collateral damage hain."
Woh teeno lift ki taraf nahi gaye. Woh emergency exit ki taraf badhe, aur agle hi pal, woh bhi resort ki chaar-deewari se bahar, andhere mein, Monastery ki taraf rawaana ho chuke the.
Jungle mein ab sirf teen shikaari nahi... alag-alag maqsad waale saat shikaari... ek hi taraf badh rahe the.
PART 8: ANDHERE MEIN ROSHNI... YA QAYAMAT KA ISHAARA?
(Gaden Monastery Aangan. Raat ka gehra sannata. Police ki sealing sirf ek formality lag raha hai.)
Ravi jab raat ke pichhle peher Monastery pahuncha, toh wahan sirf hawa ka sard sargoshiyan aur chaand ki bejaan roshni tha. Police ki sealing tape ek kamzor dhaage ki tarah latak raha tha.
Woh ek saaye ki tarah nahi, ek bhoot ke tarah un dhaagon ke paar guzar gaya, jaise woh wahan the hi nahi.
Usne uss aangan ko dekha jahan kuch ghante pehle zindagi tha, aur phir... Qayamat ka sannata. Usne apni aankhein band kiya. Uska dimaag ek high-definition recorder ki tarah uss scene ko recreate kar raha tha – canisters ka girna, dhuein ka uthna, logon ka behosh hokar girna, aur phir... un naqaabposh saayon ka dhuein se ubharna. Har detail, har second uske dimaag mein zinda ho raha tha.
Usne aankhein khola. Uska nazar ab ek aam insaan ka nahi tha. Woh ek shikaari ka tha, jo apne shikaar ke chhode hue nishaan dhoondh raha tha. Woh zameen par ghutno ke bal baith gaya. Police ne saboot ikattha kiye the – canisters ke tukde, shayad kuch footprints. Par Ravi woh dhoondh raha tha jo police ki nazron se, unki samajh se, bach gaya ho.
Ek aisi cheez jo sirf ek shikaari hi pehchaan sakta tha.
Woh patharon ke beech, stupa ke qareeb, jahan Sia behosh giri thi, apni ungliyon se zameen ko mehsoos kar raha tha.
Aur phir... use woh mil gaya.
Stupa ke paas rakhe ek bade prarthna-chakra ke neeche, dhool aur barf ka halka parat ke neeche daba hua, ek behad chhota sa, angoothe ke naakhun se bhi chhota, kaale ceramic jaisa tukda. Us par koi nishaan nahi tha, par uska banawat... woh military grade lag rahi thi. Usne use uthaya, apni ungliyon ke beech mehsoos kiya. Halki si garmahat ab bhi baaki tha.
(Inner Monologue - Ravi): "Active Dampener Fragment. High-frequency signal jammer ka hissa. Sasta nahi... specialized equipment. Yeh log sirf kidnap karne nahi aaye the... woh yeh bhi ensure kar rahe the ki koi unhein track na kar sake. Par yeh toota hua hai... matlab...? Shayad jaldbaazi mein gira... ya..."
Uska dimaag tezi se dauda.
"...Ya unka target area aisi jagah hai jahan signal waise hi nahi milta, aur yeh device redundant ho gaya. Jungle... gehri gufayein... ya..." Usse ek local legend yaad aaya jo Deenu Kaka ne sunaya tha – Monastery ke neeche purani, bhooli hui surangein.
Tabhi Aarav aur YuKi wahan pahunche, unke saansein thode phoole hue the, par aankhein Ravi par tike the. Woh uske focus ko todna nahi chahte the.
Ravi ne bina kuch kahe woh kaala tukda unhein dikhaya. Aarav ne use gaur se dekha, phir YuKi ne. YuKi ki aankhon mein pehchaan ki ek halka sa chamak aaya.
YUKI: (Awaaz mein ek nayi seriousness) "Ceramic casing... miniaturized signal dampener ka. Yeh aam mercenaries ka kaam nahi. Yeh... yeh toh unke gear ka signature hai. 'The Chimeras' ka."Suna hai yeh log bhoot hain. Aate hain, kaam karte hain, aur hawa mein gayab ho jaate hain. Koi nishaan nahi chhodte."
Usne tukde ko apni mutthi mein bheench liya. "Aur yeh nishaan... humein unke bil tak le jaayega."
Tabhi unke peeche se ek bhaari, shaant awaaz aaya, jo Monastery ke khamoshi mein ek mantra ki tarah goonja.
"Chimeras ko dhoondhne ke liye, unke andhere mein utarna padta hai, bachchon."
Teeno jhatke se palte.
Lama Tashi stupa ke saaye se nikle the. Unke chehre par abhi bhi wahi shaanti tha, par unke aankhon mein ek sadiyon purani jung ka iraada saaf dikh raha tha.
Unke peeche, andhere se ubharte hue, lagbhag 10 Baudh Bhikshu (monks) khade the. Par yeh mamuli bhikshu nahi the. Unke shaant chehron ke peeche, unke maroon chogon ke andar, faulaad jaise shareer the, jin par waqt aur training ne apne nishaan chhode the. Unki aankhon mein gyaan nahi, jung ki aag tha.
Yeh Monastery ke 'Guardian Monks' the – woh anjaan yoddha jo sadiyon se is jagah ke raazon ki hifazat karte aaye the.
LAMA TASHI: (Ravi ke aankhon mein dekhte hue, unke awaaz mein ab sirf gyaan nahi, ek hukm tha)
"Waqt aa gaya hai, Shehchaade. Apne usool todne ka nahi... apne wajood ko pehchaanne ka. Apne andar soye uss toofan ko azaad karne ka jise tum kab se qaid kiye hue ho."
Unhone apne choge ke andar haath daala aur teen cheezein nikaale, jo chaand ki roshni mein aise chamka jaise aasman se taare toot kar unke haath mein aa gaye hon.
Teen lambi, khamosh, ghatak... Katanas.
Unke saya (sheath) purani tha, par blade... blade aise chamak rahe the jaise abhi-abhi unhein banaya gaya ho, ya shayad... jaise unpar kabhi waqt ka asar hua hi na ho. Unhone ek-ek katana un teeno ke haath mein diye.
Ravi ne katana ko haath mein lete hi ek anjaana sa, purana sa pehchaan mehsoos ki. Jaise yeh talwaar uske jism ka hi ek hissa ho jo sadiyon pehle bichhad gaya tha. Uske haath ka zakhm jaise ek pal ke liye so gaya.
LAMA TASHI: "Yeh sirf talwarein nahi... yeh tumhare rooh ka hissa hain. Yeh Gaden ke Pehredaar hain. Yeh sirf kaat ta nahi, yeh insaaf karta hain. Chalo. Jungle unka, aur tumhara, intezaar kar raha hai."
13 logon ki yeh anokhi sena – ek Qayamat ka Shehzaada, ek barfeela Kitsune, ek anjaan Phoenix, aur das faulaadi Guardian Monks – andhere jungle mein uss anjaane base ki taraf badh chale.
Hawa mein ab sirf sardi nahi tha... inteqaam ka mehek tha. Maut unka intezaar nahi kar raha tha... woh maut ko dawat dene jaa rahe the.
PART 9: SHIKAARI BANA SHIKAAR
(Gaden Monastery ke neeche ka ghana jungle. Raat.)
Jungle ke uss andhere mein, jahan sirf chaand ki roshni zameen tak chhan kar aa raha tha, Aryan Rathore ek zakhmi sher ki tarah aage badh raha tha. Uska movement tez tha, par khamosh nahi. Uske har qadam mein gussa tha, badle ke aag tha, jo usse andha bana raha tha. Woh jhaadiyon ko todta, patharon par phisalta hua, tezi se aage badh raha tha.
Uska poora dhyaan sirf ek cheez par tha: Gaden Monastery, jahan usey laga ki Kai, Arjun ka plan anjaam dega.
Woh nahi jaanta tha... ki woh akela nahi hai.
Uske theek 50 meter peeche, pedon ki shaakhon par, zameen par nahi... teen saaye uske saath tair rahe the.
Teen Saaye.
Woh hawa ke tarah khamosh the. Jahan Aryan ke jooton ki awaaz poore jungle mein goonj rahi thi, wahin unke qadam... pad hi nahi rahe the. Woh ek ped se doosre ped par aise jaa rahe the, jaise barfili hawa ka jhonka ho.
PEHLA SAAYA: (Sargoshi, jo earpiece mein bilkul saaf tha)
"Yeh 'chhota Rathore' (Aryan) ek pagal kutte ki tarah daud raha hai. Shor macha raha hai."
TEESRA SAAYA: (Jo sabse aage, Aryan par nazar rakhe hue tha) "Use lagta hai woh shikaari hai. Usey pata nahi ki woh humein seedha shikaar tak le jaa raha hai."
DOOSRA SAAYA: "Humara mission Jaanvi hai. Isse (Aryan ko) beech mein se hata dein?"
PEHLA SAAYA: "Nahi. Abhi nahi. Yeh ek 'variable' hai. Dekhte hain yeh Arjun ke plan mein kya rukaawat daalta hai. Usey aage jaane do. Humara raasta bhi wahi hai."
Teen saaye, Aryan ko ek 'shield' ki tarah istemaal karte hue, uske peeche-peeche andhere mein aage badhte rahe. Jungle mein ab shikaar ki ek nayi chain ban chuke the.
PART 10: MAHAPRALAY KA TANDAV
KHAMOSHI KA HAMLA (THE PERIMETER PURGE)]
(Jungle ke beechon-beech, purani Lumber Mill Base. Raat ka gehra andhera.)
Jungle ke dil mein... woh purani lumber mill ek zakhmi, bhule hue jaanwar ke tarah khada tha. Chaand ke roshni uske toote hue chhaton aur zang lage machinery par padkar usey aur bhi bhayanak bana rahe the.
Yeh ek qila tha.
Is qile ki deewaron par 20 se zyada heavily armed guards pehra de rahe the. Night vision goggles, automatic rifles, communication devices. Unke chehron par ek beparwaaha tha. Unhein laga tha ki woh is andhere jungle ke Baadshah hain.
Woh galat the.
Andhera... zinda ho gaya.
Pehla hamla Lama Tashi aur unke 10 Guardian Monks ne kiya. Woh jungli billi ki tarah nahi, woh jungle ki rooh ban kar aage badhe. Unke qadam zameen par nahi pad rahe the; woh paton par, shaakhon par, hawa mein tair rahe the. Unke maroon choge andhere mein khoon ke dhabbon jaise lag rahe the.
Takedown 1: The Watchtower (Guard 1) Ek monk uss 30 foot oonche, zang lage metal watchtower par aise chadha, jaise gravity ka uspar koi asar na ho. Uske haath-pair metal par nahi, makhmal par chal rahe the. Koi awaaz nahi. Guard 1, jo tower mein baitha tha, apni rifle ke thermal scope se jungle ko dekh raha tha. Woh 'green' jungle mein garmi dhoondh raha tha. Usey aakhri cheez jo mehsoos hua... woh tha uske kaan ke theek neeche, gardan ke soft spot par... do ungliyon ka ek tez, vibrating pressure. Ek 'Hummingbird Strike'. Yeh strike muscle ko nahi, seedha vagus nerve ko target karta hai. Na 'KRAK', na 'SNAP'. Sirf ek... thump. Jaise computer ka power button daba diya ho. Guard ki aankhein waise hi thermal scope par tike reh gayen, par uske andar ka light hamesha ke liye bujh chuka tha. Woh behosh hokar aage gira. Par uska rifle neeche nahi gira. Monk, jo ab uske peeche khada tha, ne usey hawa mein hi pakad liya.
Takedown 2 & 3: The Main Gate (Guards 2 & 3) Dono guard aag ke paas haath sek rahe the. Guard 2 ne ek bura sa joke maara. Guard 3 hansa. Jaise hi usne hansne ke liye munh khola... Ek saaya (Monk 1) aag ke peeche se nikla. Usne Guard 3 ka munh nahi, uske jabde ke dono taraf (TMJ) ke pressure points ko apni ungliyon se ek saath daba diya. Munh lock ho gaya. Cheekh andar hi phans gaya. Ussi pal, Guard 2 (jo joke maar raha tha) palta. Uske saamne ek aur Monk (Monk 2) tha. Guard 2 ne rifle uthaana chaaha, par Monk 2 ne uski rifle ki barrel ko pakda... usey ek jhatke mein ghuma diya... aur ussi rifle ke bhaari stock (butt) se uske apne hi chehre par ek brutal, side-ways vaar kiya. CRUNCH. Naak aur jabde ke tootne ki geeli awaaz. Dono guards... ek hi pal mein, bina koi alarm bajaaye... aag ki roshni mein dher ho gaye.
Takedown 4, 5 & 6: The Patrol Team (Guards 4, 5, 6) Teen guards ka ek group base ke pichhe patrol kar raha tha. Achanak, Guard 4 ke saamne, andhere se ek choga (robe) hawa mein uda... aur uske chehre par lipat gaya, uske night vision ko bekaar kar diya. Woh andhepan mein ghabraya. "Wha—" Tabhi do Monks (Monk 3 & 4) uske dono taraf se nikle. Ek ne uske ghutne ke peeche (hollow), doosre ne uske kandhe ke joint par ek saath vaar kiya. Poora jism lock ho gaya aur woh behosh ho gaya. Guard 5 aur 6 ne yeh dekha, woh chillaana chahte the, "CONTACT!"... Par unke lafz 'CON-' par hi atak gaye. Ek Monk (Monk 5) ped se ulta latka hua tha. Usne Guard 5 ke gale mein apne pairon ko ek scissor-lock mein phansaya... aur apne jism ke poore wazan se uski gardan ko ghuma diya. Na haddi tooti, na saans ruki... sirf blood flow dimaag tak jaana band ho gaya. Guard 6 ne rifle uthayi. Par ek aur Monk (Monk 6) ne zameen se daudte hue, uske rifle ke trigger guard mein apni ungliyan phansa di, rifle ko cheen liya... aur agle hi pal uss rifle ko ek lathi ki tarah istemaal karte hue uss guard ki dono pasliyon (ribs) par vaar kiya. KRAK! KRAK! Haddiyan tootne ki awaaz uska apni cheekh se pehle aaya. Woh zameen par gira, dard se behosh.
The Cleanup (Guards 7 - 20+) Yeh qatl nahi tha. Yeh ek symphony tha. Ek khamosh tufaan. Har Monk ek alag maut ka farishta tha. Ek Monk ne ek guard ke haath se rifle chheena, uska magazine nikala... aur uss khaali, bhaari magazine ke corner se uska kanpati (temple) par vaar kiya. Tss. Behosh. Ek aur Monk do guards ke beech dauda. Usne daudte hue, apne dono haathon ki kohniyon se un dono guards ka gardan ke side mein (carotid artery)... ek saath... do brutal strikes kiye. Dono guards ki aankhon ke saamne andhera chha gaya aur woh bina awaaz kiye gir pade. Ek guard ne ek Monk ko dekh liya aur uspar fire karne hi wala tha. Monk ne apne choge ke andar se ek chota sa Prarthna Chakra (Prayer Wheel) nikaala aur usey ek frisbee ke tarah poori taaqat se phenka. Metal ka chakra hawa mein ghoomta hua gaya aur Guard ke rifle ke trigger par nahi, uske haath par vaar kiya. Ungliyan toot gayin. Isse pehle ki woh doosre haath ka istemaal karta, Monk uske saamne tha aur ek high kick uske jabde par pad chuka tha.
Yeh surgery tha. Ek anushasan jo sadiyon ki tapasya se paida hua tha.
5 minute. Sirf 5 minute ke andar... poora perimeter shaant ho chuka tha. 20 se zyada guards, zinda the, par toote, adhmare, aur behosh. Unke hathiyaar unke paas hi pade the. Alarm system... dead. Communication lines... cut.
Base andha aur behra ho chuka tha.
Lama Tashi, jo ab tak andhere mein khade the, ne ek halka sa ishara kiya.
Jungle ke andhere se teen saaye nikle. Hawa se bhi tez. Ravi. Aarav. YuKi.
Unke haathon mein woh katanas aise chamak rahe the jaise chaand ne apne tukde unhein de diye hon. Woh base ke toote hue darwaze se andar daakhil hue. Unke peeche, 10 Guardian Monks ne apni positions le liye, jaise qile ke naye pehredaar ho.
Andar ka mahaul bilkul alag tha. Emergency lights ka laal roshni jal raha tha. Kareeb 250 log – Kai ke mercenaries, hathiyaaron se less, alert.
Unhein bahar ki khamoshi ajeeb lag rahe the.
Ek mercenary ne intercom par chillaya, "Perimeter, report! Kya hua hai bahar?!"
Koi jawaab nahi.
Aur phir shuru hua... Asli Maut Ka Tandav
[ JAHANNUM KE MEHMAAN]
(Lumber Mill Base - Thodi der baad)
Jungle ke andhere ko cheerta hua, Aryan Rathore ek pagal saand ki tarah daudta hua Lumber Mill tak pahuncha. Uska poora jism gusse se jal raha tha. Woh yahan Arjun se badla lene aaya tha.
Usne mill ke toote hue main gate se andar jhaanka... aur uske pair wahin jam gaye.
Andar ka manzar... woh jahannum tha.
Emergency lights ki laal roshni mein, 250 se zyada mercenaries... kat rahe the. Mar nahi rahe the, kat rahe the. Cheekhein, goliyon ki awaaz, metal ke katne ki awaaz... sab milkar ek bhayanak sangeet bana rahe the.
Usne dekha ki 10 maroon choge pehne hue Monks, ek anokhi sena ki tarah, mercenaries ko tod-phod rahe the.
Par uska nazar un teen par tike.
Ek saaya (YuKi) hawa mein naach raha tha, uska talwaar goliyon ko kaat rahe the. Doosra saaya (Aarav) ek tank ke tarah unke beech ghuskar unhein ukhaad phenk raha tha. Aur teesra (Ravi)... woh ek bhoot tha. Woh dikh nahi raha tha, sirf uske peeche laashein gir rahe the.
Aryan ka saara gussa... ek pal mein... khauf mein badal gaya. Yeh jung nahi tha. Yeh ek-tarfa qatl-e-aam tha. Woh samajh gaya ki woh yahan shikaari nahi, ek keeda bhi nahi tha.
Usne foran cover liya. Apni jaan bachane ke liye, woh bhaag kar mill ke compound mein khada ek purani, zang lagi lumber truck ke neeche ghus gaya aur apni saansein rok kar uss qatl-e-aam ko dekhne laga.
(Ussi waqt - Mill ki chhat)
Theek ussi pal, mill ka toota hui chhat ke kinaare par, teen aur saaye aa ruke.
Woh Aryan ke peeche-peeche aaye the, Jaanvi ko dhoondhte hue. Par unhone bhi jab neeche ka manzar dekha, toh woh teeno pathar ban gaye.
Yeh log professional qaatil the. Unhone jung dekhe the. Par yeh... yeh kuch aur tha. Yeh art tha. Maut ka ek brutal art.
PEHLA SAAYA: (Mask ke andar se sargoshi, awaaz mein pehla baar hairat tha)
"...Yeh... yeh kaun log hain? Unke speed... unka coordination... yeh insaani nahi hai."
DOOSRA SAAYA: "Woh... woh goliyon ko kaat raha hai... goliyon ko!" (Uska ishara YuKi ke taraf tha).
TEESRA SAAYA: (Uska nazar sirf Ravi par tika tha, jo ek saaye se doosre saaye mein badal raha tha)
"Bhool jao. Humara mission Jaanvi hai. Is Mahapralay mein humein koi nahi dekhega. Chhat ke raaste (rafters) se andar chalo. Apne target ko dhoondo aur nikal jaao. Inse... door rehna."
Teeno saaye, jungle ke sabse bade shikaari, aaj khud chhipne par majboor the. Woh bhoot ki tarah chhat ke toote hisse se andar daakhile aur mill ke oopri hisse (rafters) mein chhip kar, neeche chal rahe asli Mahapralay ko dekhte hue, apne mauke ka intezaar karne lage.
MAHAPRALAY KA TANDAV (THE ULTIMATE CARNAGE)]
(THE APOCALYPTIC DANCE)]
(Mill ka main hall. 250 Mercenaries vs. 3 Qayamat. Aryan truck ke neeche aur Teen saaye chhat par, sab saansein roke dekh rahe hain.)
Base ke main hall mein, jo kabhi lakdiyon ka godown raha hoga, ab hathiyaaron ka zakhira tha. 250 mercenary, alert, positions mein. Unke saamne... sirf teen log the.
Par woh log nahi the. Woh Qayamat ke teen alag-alag roop the.
Ek mercenary hansa. "In teen ch*tiyon ko jannat bhej do!" Usne fire kiya.
Aur phir... Jahannum shuru ho gaya.
YUKI (KITSUNE) - Hawa Ka Khanjar (The Blade of the Gale)
Woh pehla tha jo hila. Ek jhonka. Ek blur. Uski raftaar hawa se tez tha.
Move 1 (Bullet Slice): 5 Mercenaries ne ek saath uspar automatic fire kiya. Goliyon ki bauchaar (Tracers) laal roshni mein uske taraf badhe. YuKi dauda nahi... woh naacha. Woh goliyon ke beech se Matrix-style nikal nahi raha tha, woh unke taraf badh raha tha. Uska katana ek chaandi ka lakeer tha jo hawa mein naach raha tha. TING! TING! TING! Usne pehle teen goliyon ko hawa mein hi kaat diya. Metal ke garam tukde zameen par gire. Baaki mercenaries ki aankhein phati reh gaye. Yeh namumkin tha.
Move 2 (The Disarm Symphony): Ussi flow mein, woh un paanch ke beech pahuncha. SWISH! - Pehle ki rifle ke do tukde hue. SWISH! - Doosre ke dono haath kalaaiyon se kat kar hawa mein uchhal gaye. Woh cheekhne ke liye munh khola, par YuKi ka agla vaar (katana ka pommel/hilt) uske jabde par pada. CRACK! Teesre ne ghabrahat mein trigger dabaya, par YuKi ne uska rifle ko oopar utha diya, goliyan chhat mein laga. YuKi ne apni katana ko reverse grip mein pakda aur uss mercenary ke dono kandhon ke neeche, jahan body armor nahi tha, ek saath ghusa diya. "Aaaargh!" Chautha aur Paanchva... woh bhaage. Par YuKi unse tez tha. Usne apni katana unke taraf phenka. Woh hawa mein ek chakri (propeller) ke tarah ghooma... aur un dono ke pairo ke peeche (Achilles tendons) ko kaat ta hua nikal gaya. Dono zameen par gir pade. YuKi ka naach khoobsurat tha, par utna hi ghatak. Woh maar nahi raha tha; woh bekaar kar raha tha.
Move 3 (Physics-Defying Dodge): Ek mercenary ne shotgun se fire kiya. Ek aam insaan neeche jhukta ya pichhe hatta. YuKi... daudta hua deewar par chadh gaya. Woh zameen ke parallel (horizontal) dauda, poora shotgun ka blast uske neeche se nikal gaya.
Move 4 (Saya Strike): Jab woh deewar par daud hi raha tha, doosre mercenary ne uspar automatic fire kiya. YuKi ne hawa mein hi apne katana ko nahi, uske sheath (saya) ko nikaala... aur ek javelin ki tarah uss mercenary ki taraf phenka. THWACK! Metal ki bhaari sheath seedha uss mercenary ke gale (throat) par laga. Woh bina awaaz kiye wahin dher ho gaya.
Move 5 (The Bullet Symphony): YuKi zameen par utra. 10 Mercenaries ne usey gher kar ek saath fire kiya. Goliyon ki laal lakeerein (tracers) uski taraf badhin. YuKi dauda nahi... woh naacha. TING! TING! TING! TING! TING! TING! Uski talwaar itne tezi se naach rahe the ki woh ek silver shield (chaandi ka dhaal) jaisa lag rahe the. Woh goliyon ko kaat nahi raha tha; woh unke beech se aise nikal raha tha ki uska katana aata hua har goli ko deflect kar raha tha. Ek bullet... doosri bullet se takra kar hawa mein phat gaya. Chingaariyan... metal ke garam tukde zameen par gire. "Yeh... yeh namumkin hai!" ek mercenary cheekha.
Move 6 (The Gale's Flow): Ussi flow mein, woh un 10 ke beech pahuncha.
Merc 1: SWISH! Pehle ki rifle ke do tukde hue.
Merc 2: SWISH! Doosre ke dono haath kalaaiyon se kat kar hawa mein uchhal gaye.
Merc 3: Woh cheekhne ke liye munh khola, par YuKi ka agla vaar (katana ka pommel/hilt) uske jabde par pada. CRACK! (Yeh move aapke diye gaye scene se liya gaya hai).
Merc 4: Ghabrahat mein trigger dabaya... YuKi ne uski rifle ko oopar utha diya, goliyan chhat mein lagin.
Merc 5 & 6: YuKi ne Merc 4 ko ek springboard ki tarah istemaal kiya... uske kandhon par pair rakha... hawa mein double backflip kiya... aur neeche girte hue, Merc 5 aur 6 ki gardan par ek saath cross-slash kiya.
Merc 7 & 8: Dono ghabra kar bhaage. YuKi ne apni katana unke taraf phenka. Woh hawa mein ek chakri (propeller) ke tarah ghooma... aur un dono ke pairo ke peeche (Achilles tendons) ko kaat ta hui nikal gaya.
YuKi ka naach khoobsurat tha, par utna hi ghatak. Woh maar nahi raha tha; woh bekaar kar raha tha.
AARAV (PHOENIX) - Faulaad Ka Toofan (The Iron Hurricane)
Agar YuKi hawa tha, toh Aarav faulaad ka toofan tha. Woh goliyon se bach nahi raha tha; woh unke beech se guzar raha tha.
Move 1 (The Wall): 10 Mercenaries ne uspar fire kiya. Aarav ne daudte hue, ek bhaari metal work-table ko ek haath se uthaya aur usey ek dhaal (shield) ke tarah saamne kar liya. Goliyan table par THUD! THUD! THUD! karke laga.
Move 2 (The Human Club): Jab goliyan ruke, Aarav uss laash ke paas pahunch chuka tha. Usne laash ko nahi phenka. Usne laash ko pair se pakda... aur usey ek club (gadde) ki tarah ghumana shuru kar diya. Laash ka bhaari jism... do... teen... chaar... zinda mercenaries se takraya. Haddiyon ke tootne ki awaaz... CRUNCH! CRACK! SNAP!... poore hall mein goonj gayi. Jaise koi bowling ball pins ko uda raha ho.
Move 3 (Brutal Force): Woh unke beech ghus gaya. Ek mercenary ne shotgun se fire kiya. Aarav ne shotgun ki barrel ko apni katana se nahi, apne nange haath se pakad liya. Shotgun ka garm metal uske haath ko jala raha tha, par usne parwaah nahi kiya. Usne ek jhatke mein shotgun ko cheena... aur agle hi pal uss mercenary ko ussi ki shotgun se uthakar, paas khade doosre mercenary par de maara. Ek mercenary ne us par pichhe se vaar karna chaha. Aarav bina palte, apni katana ko pichhe ki taraf ghuma kar (reverse thrust) uske pet mein utaar diya. SQUELCH! Usne katana ko kheencha nahi; usne usey andar hi ghuma diya. Andar sab kuch... raakh ho gaya. Uska har vaar ek dahaad tha. Woh tod raha tha. Haddiyan tod raha tha, himmat tod raha tha.
Move 4 (Environmental Destruction): Ek sniper ne upar rafter (chhat ki lakdi) se uspar fire kiya. Aarav ne laser dot ko apne seene par dekha. Woh muskuraaya. Usne upar sniper ko nahi dekha. Usne apni katana ko dono haathon se pakda... aur uss support pillar (khambe) par vaar kar diya, jispar woh sniper baitha tha. KRA-KOOM! Ek hi vaar mein, sadiyon purana lakdi ka khamba... kat gaya. Poora rafter... sniper ke saath... neeche baithi mercenaries ki team par gira. Ek zordaar CRASH ke saath 6-7 log uss malbe ke neeche dafan ho gaye.
Uska har vaar ek dahaad tha. Woh tod raha tha. Haddiyan tod raha tha, himmat tod raha tha.
RAVI (QAYAMAT) - Sannate Ka Shehenshah (The Emperor of Silence)
Aur phir tha Ravi.
Woh YuKi ke tarah naach nahi raha tha. Woh Aarav ki tarah tod nahi raha tha.
Woh... mitta raha tha.
Uska raftaar... woh dekhna namumkin tha. Ek pal mein woh hall ke ek kone mein tha, agle pal mein dusre. Aisa lag raha tha jaise woh goliyon ke beech se teleport ho raha ho. Woh goliyon se bach nahi raha tha; shayad goliyan us tak pahunch hi nahi paa rahe the.
Move 1 (The Shadow Kill): Ek mercenary ne us par machine gun ka poora magazine khaali kar diya. Jab dhuaan hata... Ravi wahan nahi tha. Mercenary ghabra kar palta. Ravi uske theek saamne khada tha. Uske aankhein... khaali the. Be-jaan. Mercenary ke aankhein dehshat se phat gaye. Usne trigger dabana chaha... Par Ravi ne kuch nahi kiya. Bas usse dekha. Aur apni katana ki nok (tip) se... uske trigger finger ko kaat diya. Tss. Ungli zameen par gira. Mercenary dard se cheekha... par agle hi pal Ravi ka haath ek saap ke tarah utha aur uski gardan par pada. Na CRUNCH. Na SNAP. Sirf ek halka sa... click. (Cervical dislocation). Mercenary ka aankhein khula reh gaya aur woh ek putle ke tarah gir gaya.
Move 2 (The Bullet Redirect): Ek mercenary uske chehre ke saamne aaya aur point-blank range par apni pistol ka trigger dabaya. CLICK! Goli chalne se pehle... Ravi ka haath itni tezi se hila ki usne uss mercenary ka pistol ki barrel ko pakad kar mod diya. Barrel... mercenary ke apne hi saathi ke taraf mud gaya. Mercenary ne ghabrahat mein trigger daba diya. BLAM! Goli uske apne saathi ke sar mein jaa laga. Jis mercenary ne goli chalaya tha, woh dehshat se jam gaya. Usne apni zindagi mein aisi cheez nahi dekha tha.
Move 3 (The Surgical Deconstruction): Ravi ne uss jame hue mercenary ko dekha. Aankhein khaali. SWISH! - Katana chala. Uska trigger finger (ungli) kat kar zameen par giri. SWISH! - Doosre haath ka angootha (thumb) kat gaya. (Ab woh kabhi reload nahi kar sakta). SWISH!SWISH! - Dono ghutno ke peeche ki nas (kneecaps) kat gaye. (Ab woh khada nahi ho sakta). Mercenary, abhi bhi zinda, cheekhta hua zameen par gira. Ravi ne usey chhod diya... aur aage badh gaya. Yeh maut se badtar saza tha.
Move 4 (The Annihilation): 12 logon ka ek group, jo Aarav se bach kar bhaaga tha, unhe Ravi ko gher liya. Unhone socha unhone usey phansa liya. Ravi ne apni katana ko hawa mein nahi ghumaya. Usne usey zameen mein gaad diya. Aur phir... usne apne haathon se ladna shuru kiya. Wohi brutal, efficient style jo Sia ne dekha tha. Par ab usmein ek nayi cheez tha – Qayamat ki speed. Woh itni tezi se ghoom raha tha, itni tezi se vaar kar raha tha ki aisa lag raha tha jaise uske do nahi, das haath hon.
Guard 1: Ravi ne uska rifle pakda, usey uske hi chehre ki taraf moda, aur uske haath se trigger dabwa diya. BLAM!
Guard 2: Uske peeche se aaya. Ravi ne bina dekhe, apna kohni (elbow) se uske seene par vaar kiya. KRAK! (Pasliyan toota).
Guard 3 & 4: Ek saath jhapte. Ravi neeche jhuka... un dono ke haath aapas mein takraaye... aur jaise hi woh neeche jhuke, Ravi ne uthte hue, apne dono haathon ke hatheliyon (palm strike) se un dono ki thuddi (chin) par ek saath vaar kiya. Dono ke sir pichhe ki taraf jhatke khaaye aur woh wahin dher ho gaye.
Guard 5: Usne Ravi ko pakadna chaha. Ravi ne uske haath ko pakda, usey ghumaaya... aur uska ungliyon ko pichhe ki taraf tod diya. SNAP! SNAP! SNAP! Ravi unhe maar nahi raha tha; woh unke wajood ko hi mita raha tha.
Guard 6 & 7 (New Move): Do logon ne uspar ek saath punches maare. Ravi unke punches ke beech se nikla... dono ke haath pakde... aur unhein ek doosre ki taraf kheench liya. Dono ke chehre aapas mein takraaye. CRUNCH!
Guard 8 (New Move): Ek ne neeche se uske pair pakadne ki koshish kiya. Ravi hawa mein uchhla... uske sar par dono pairon se stomp kiya... aur uski gardan ko zameen mein gaad diya. SQUELCH!
Baaki 4: Dehshat se jam gaye. Unhone apne hathiyaar phenk diye. Ravi unke paas chalta hua gaya... aur ek-ek karke... click... click... click... click... Chaaron ke gardan tod diya.
THE MONKS (The Silent Purge - Mook Safaaya)
Jaise hi teen toofan (Ravi, Aarav, YuKi) ne mercenaries ke himmat aur unke ginti ko tod diya, tab... Guardian Monks ne hall mein pravesh kiye.
Woh bikhre hue nahi the. Woh ek unit ki tarah aage badhe. Unka kaam qatl karna nahi, shuddhikarann karna tha.
Move 1 (The Triad Lock): Teen Monks ne 5 ghabraaye hue mercenaries ko ghera. Isse pehle ki woh hathiyaar uthaate, teeno Monks ek saath hile.
Monk 1: Ne daudte hue pehle mercenary ke rifle par laat maare, usey hawa mein uchhaal diya.
Monk 2: Ne hawa mein hi uss rifle ko pakda...
Monk 3: Ne uss rifle ko Monk 2 ke haath se lete hue, usse ek lathi ke tarah istemaal kiya aur agle do mercenaries ke ghutne tod diye. KRAK! KRAK!
Yeh sab... ek second mein hua. Teeno Monks ek hi saans le rahe the.
Move 2 (The Mala (Prayer Beads) Whip): Ek bhaari-bharkam mercenary, jo 7 foot ka tha, Aarav se bach kar bhaaga aur ek Monk ke saamne aa gaya. Usne Monk ko ek keeda samajh kar punch maara.
Monk ne punch ko deflect nahi kiya... woh punch ke saath ghoom gaya.
Usne apne haath mein li hui metal ki bhaari mala (prayer beads) ko ek koad (whip) ki tarah ghumaya.
WHIIIISH-CRACK!
Mala uss mercenary ki kanpati (temple) par lagi. 7 foot ka woh daanav... ek tooti hui gudia ki tarah, bina awaaz kiye, zameen par dher ho gaya.
Move 3 (The Nerve Shutdown): Do Monks ek mercenary ki taraf badhe jo unpar pistol taane hue tha.
Monk 1: Ne shaanti se uske aankhon mein dekha aur phoonk maara.
Mercenary ek pal ke liye confuse hua... 'Yeh kya tha?'
Ussi ek pal ka faayda utha kar, Monk 2 (jo uske side mein kab aa gaya, pata hi nahi chala) ne apni do ungliyon se uske kandhe aur kohni ke nerve clusters par ek saath vaar kiya.
Tzzk!
Mercenary ka poora haath... pistol samet... be-jaan ho kar latak gaya. Usne doosre haath se pistol uthaani chaahi, par Monk 1 ne uske maathe par ek 'Palm Strike' kiya, aur woh behosh ho gaya.
Move 4 (The Calm in Chaos): Chaar Monks hall ke beech mein 'Padmasan' (Lotus position) mein baith gaye, jaise woh jung ke beech meditation kar rahe hon. 10 mercenaries unhein kamzor samajh kar unpar chillaate hue daude.
Jaise hi woh kareeb aaye... chaaron Monks bina haathon ka istemaal kiye, zameen se hawa mein uthe (Leg Spring)...
...aur hawa mein hi ghoomte hue, unhone apne pairon se (flying kicks) un 10 logon ke chehron aur seene par vaar kiye.
Jab tak woh Monks waapis zameen par land kiye... woh 10 log zameen par pade tadap rahe the.
Yeh jung nahi tha. Yeh ek safaaya tha. Ek brutal, efficient, aur rooh ko kaanpa dene wala safaaya.
THE CONCLUSION (Anjaam aur Dekhne Waale)
(Reaction - Chhat Par) Chhat ke rafters par chhipe, Teen Saaye yeh manzar dekh kar bilkul pathar ban gaye. Unke saansein thode tez ho gayen, par woh hile nahi. Yeh unke level se, unke training se... pare tha.
PEHLA SAAYA: (Mask ke andar sargoshi, awaaz mein ab khauf nahi, balki ek thandi calculation tha) "Achha hai Yeh... yeh hamare dushman nahi hain. Yeh Qayamat hain."
DOOSRA SAAYA: "Hum inke ladhayi ke beech jaakar Jaanvi ko nahi nikaal sakte. Yeh su*cide hoga."
TEESRA SAAYA: (Jo ab tak sabse shaant tha, uski nazar neeche Ravi par tika thi) "Mission abort nahi hoga. Mission pause hoga. Hum intezaar karenge. Yeh toofan jab thamega... jab yeh log yahan se hatenge... tab hum Jaanvi ko uthaayenge."
Uske awaaz mein ek naya, anjaana sa khauf tha, par mission abhi bhi jaari tha.
TEESRA SAAYA: "Abhi... khamosh raho. Aur dekho."
(Reaction - Truck Ke Neeche)
Truck ke neeche chhipa, Aryan Rathore yeh sab dekh raha tha. Uska badla... uska gussa... sab pishaab ban kar behne hi wala tha. Usne apni aankhein band kar liya aur apne kaan dhaanp liye, taaki woh haddiyon ke tootne ki awaaz na sun sake. Woh samajh gaya tha... ki Arjun ko maarne se pehle, usey inse bachna hoga.
PART 11: SHIKAARI KA MAHAPRALAYIK ANJAAM
(Lumber Mill Base - Control Room. Ravi, Aarav, YuKi andar daakhil hote hain. Saamne sirf Kai khada hai.)
Qatl-e-aam ke baad, hall mein ek bhaari, khooni sannata chha gaya. Har taraf sirf karaahein aur toote hue jism pade the. Ravi ki aankhein laal theen, woh Sia ko dhoondh raha tha, uski har saans mein inteqaam ka aag tha.
LAMA TASHI: (Ek Monk ko ishara karte hue) "Base ko secure karo. Ladkiyon ko dhoondo."
Tabhi, hall ke doosre kone mein, ek metal ki seedhi (staircase) ke oopar, control room ka darwaza khula.
Click.
Sabke nazar udhar ghooma.
Andhere se ek saaya nikla. Kai. Woh bilkul shaant tha. Usne neeche biche 250 jismon ko dekha, phir apni nazar Ravi par laakar lock kar diya. Uske chehre par ab bhi wohi sard muskaan tha, par aankhon mein... ek anjaani sa bechaini. Usne Qayamat ko dekh liya tha. Usne uss tabahi ka manzar dekh liya tha jo teen aam insaan nahi laa sakte the.
KAI: (Muskurate hue, par awaaz mein halka sa kaampan, uska har saans mein darr aur ghamand ka mishran) "Aakhirkaar... asli muqabla. Gaden ke Monks...Kitsune...Phoenix... aur... Qayamat ka Shehzaada.
Arjun Rathore ne sahi keemat lagaya tha... par shayad kam."
Usne apni kamar se do behad tez, custom-made combat knives nikaale. Unki dhaar laal emergency light mein chamak utha. Un knives ke blade par scorpion ka nishaan bana hua tha – uska signature.
YuKi aur Aarav aage badhe, unka katanas taiyaar theen. Par Ravi ne apna haath utha kar unhein rok diya.
RAVI: (Awaaz itna thanda ke Kai ka muskaan jam gaya, uska aankhon mein ab koi insaani jazbaat nahi the, sirf ek thanda, anant inteqaam)
"Yeh... mera hai."
Aarav aur YuKi bina sawaal kiye peeche hat gaye. Woh jaante the... yeh Ravi ka inteqaam tha. Sia aur Jaanvi ka inteqaam. Yeh Ravi nahi tha. Yeh Qayamat tha.
Kai ek professional tha. Usne Ravi ki aankhon mein apni maut ko nahi, usse bhi badtar kuch padh liya tha. Par woh bina lade marne walon mein se nahi tha. Woh Kai tha.
Woh ek bijli ke tarah Ravi par jhapta. Seedhiyon se kood gaya. Uske do knives hawa mein ek maut ka jaal bun rahe the. Woh itne tezi se unhein ghuma raha tha ki aisa lag raha tha jaise uske do nahi, bees haath hon.
Ravi apni jagah se hila nahi. Usne apni katana ko ek phool ki tarah, behad nazakat se ghumaaya.
CLANG! TING! SHINK!SHING! TING! CLANG!
Steel se steel takrane ki awaazein control room mein goonj utha. Chingaariyan aise nikal rahi theen jaise do baadalon ke beech bijli kadak raha ho.
Kai ka raftaar hairaan kar dene wala tha. Par Ravi... Ravi usse bhi tez tha. Uski har movement Kai ki teen moves par bhaari tha.
Kai ne ek knife se Ravi ke pet par vaar kiya. Ravi ne usey katana se nahi roka. Usne sirf apna jism thoda sa sidhe kiya, aur knife uske jism ke theek bagal se hawa mein nikal gaya, uske kapdon ko cheerta hua.
Ussi pal, Kai ne doosra knife Ravi ki gardan ki taraf chalaya. Ek throat-slice move.
Ravi ne katana ko chhod diya... Kai ke aankhein dehshat se phata reh gaya. Talwaar chhod diya? Yeh pagal hai?!
Ravi ne apne khaali haath se Kai ka kalai (wrist) ko nahi pakda... usne sidhe uske haath ke middle finger ko pakda, jismein usne gardan par vaar kiya tha... aur usey reverse mein, poori taaqat se tod diya. SNAP! (Haddi ki geeli awaaz) Kai cheekha. Knife uske toote hue haath se chhoot gaya aur zameen par gira.
Ravi ne ussi toote hue haath ko pakda... usse kheencha... Kai ko apne kareeb laaya... aur apni kohni (elbow) poori taaqat se uske chehre ke side par de maari. KRA-BOOM! Kai ke jabde ke tootne ki aur daanton ke andar tootne ki geeli awaaz aaya. Kai ka munh khoon se bhar gaya.
Kai ladkhada kar peeche gira. Uska khud ka combat knife (jo Ravi ne chhoda tha) uske pairo ke paas gira. Usne usey gusse aur dard mein utha liya, apne aakhri bache hue sahi haath se.
Ravi ne apni katana nahi uthaya. Woh Kai ki taraf badha.
Kai ne gusse mein, apne aakhri knife ko Ravi ke dil mein ghusaane ke liye jhapta.
Ravi ne vaar ko block nahi kiya. Woh vaar ke andar chala gaya. Usne Kai ke haath ko pakda... aur usse aur zorr se apni taraf kheencha... SQUELCH! Kai ka apna hi knife... Ravi ke left shoulder (kandhe) mein utar gaya, haddi tak.
Kai ki aankhein jeet se chamak uthin. "Pagal...! Tu khud ko maar raha hai!" Uske chehre par ek dard-bhari, khooni muskaan tha. Par Ravi ke chehre par... dard nahi... ek shaitaani muskaan tha.
RAVI: (Sargoshi mein, uski awaaz Kai ke kaanon mein ek thandi maut ke tarah goonja)
"Tum... phans gaye ho. Jaanwar."
Ravi ne apne kandhe mein ghuse ussi knife ko... aur Kai ke haath ko... apne doosre (right) haath se pakad liya. Kai ab usse jud chuka tha. Phans chuka tha. Usey na tode hue haath ka dard yaad raha, na toote jabde ka. Sirf Qayamat ka khauf.
RAVI: "Mera haath chhod...!" Kai gusse mein, darr mein, cheekha. Woh azadi ke liye tadap raha tha.
Ravi ne uske chehre par dekha... uski aankhon mein ghusa... aur apne sar (forehead) se uske toote hue naak par de maara. CRUNCH! Kai ki cheekh nikli, uski aankhon se paani aur khoon ek saath nikla. Ravi ne phir maara... CRUNCH! (Naak ka baaki haddiyan bhi andar ghus gayin.) ...Aur phir maara... CRUNCH! (Kai ka chehra ab sirf khoon aur haddiyon ka ek lump ban chuka tha).
Ravi ne apne zakhmi kandhe ka parwaah kiye bina, Kai ko ussi tarah pakde rakha... aur usey control room ki metal deewar par patak diya. THUD! (Deewar mein dent pad gaya.) Kai zameen par gira, uska jism ab bas ek tadapta hua maas ka loonthra tha.
Ravi ne zameen se apni katana uthaya. Uska katana ka dhaar par Kai ka khoon lag chuka tha.
KAI: (Zameen par rengte hue, khoon thookte hue, uska munh toot chuka tha, saaf bol nahi pa raha tha) "M-Maaf kar do... P-P-Please... Main... main bataata hoon... la-ladkiyan kahan hain... Arjun ne... woh sab kuch... b-bataata hoon..."
Ravi uske saamne aa khada hua. Uske aankhein poori tarah kaali ho chuke the. Unmein koi daya nahi tha.
RAVI: (Uska awaaz ek goonj ths, jo Kai ki rooh ko cheer raha tha) "Tumne usey chhua... Tumne meri duniya ko chhua... Aur uske liye... tumhe har pal ka hisaab dena hoga."
SWISH! Ravi ki katana ek pal ke liye laal roshni mein naha gayi. Kai wahin khada reh gaya. Uska aankhein hairat se phaila hua tha.
Usne neeche dekha. Uska dono haath... kalaaiyon se kat kar... zameen par gir pade. Khoon ke fawware uske kate hue haathon se ubal pade. Kai dard se cheekha, ek aisi cheekh jo uske toote hue jabde se sirf ghoongat mein nikal saki.
Par Ravi ruka nahi. Uska chehra bilkul bhaav-heen tha.
SWISH! Ravi ka agla vaar... ek horizontal slash... Kai ki gardan par pada. Sirf ek lakeer. Ek halki si laal lakeer.
Kai ka sir... uske jism se alag hokar... zameen par ludhak gaya. Uska aankhein ab bhi khule the, unmein aakhri baar Ravi ka aks qaid tha. Ek aisa aks... jahan sirf Qayamat tha.
Uska be-sir jism... ek pal ke liye khada raha... phir ek putle ki tarah zameen par dher ho gaya.
Khel khatm tha. Shikaari ka anjaam ho chuka tha.
(Reaction - Chhat Par)
Saaye ne yeh dekha. Unhein apni aankhon par yakeen nahi hua. Unka professional training, unka saari planning... is Mahapralay ke saamne chota lag raha tha.
PEHLA SAAYA: "Usne... usne khud ko zakhmi kar liya... sirf usey pakadne ke liye? Yeh... yeh deewangi hai."
DOOSRA SAAYA: "Woh sirf Kai ko nahi maarna chahta tha. Woh usey todna chahta tha. Uska rooh tak ko todna chahta tha."
TEESRA SAAYA: (Uski awaaz mein ek thandi, nishchitata thi)
"Yeh Qayamat hai. Hum apne mission par focus karenge. Abhi... hum saaye hain. Saaye hi rahenge."
(Reaction - Truck Ke Neeche)
Truck ke neeche chhipa, Aryan Rathore ka poora jism paani-paani ho chuka tha. Usne apni aankhein zor se band kar liya tha. Uske kaanon mein haddiyon ke tootne, Kai ki cheekhein... aur Ravi ki sard awaaz goonj raha tha. Uska badla... ab darr mein badal chuka tha. Woh samajh gaya tha... ki Arjun ko maarne se pehle, usey inse bachna hoga.
[QAYAMAT KE BAAD KI DASTAK]
(Lumber Mill Base - Control Room. Kai ki laash Ravi ke kadmon mein hai.)
Sannata.
Kai ka be-sir laash se behte khoon ki tap-tap ki awaaz uss poore hall mein goonj raha tha. Ravi shaant khada tha, uska chehra khoon ke chhenton se bhara tha, uske kandhe se abhi bhi Kai ka knife ghusa hua tha, jisse khoon ris raha tha.
Aarav, YuKi aur Monks hosh mein the, par thake hue. Unhone abhi-abhi 250 logon ki sena ko raakh kiya tha.
Tabhi...
GHARRR... GHARRR... GHARRR...
Ek aisa awaaz aaya jisne poore lumber mill ki neenv hila diya. Jaise aasman phat gaya ho. Ek tez, kaan phaad dene wala awaaz.
Military helicopters ke rotors ki awaaz.
Ek nahi...
Paanch.
Base ke chhat, jo pehle hi toota hua tha, ek zordaar KRA-BOOM! ke saath poori tarah se khul gaya.
Upar, raat ke kaale aasman mein, paanch military-grade attack helicopters (Apache jaise) hover kar rahe the. Unke searchlights ne neeche maut ke manzar ko ek stadium ki tarah roshan kar diya.
AARAV: (Chillaaya) "YEH KYA—!"
Rassiyan (fast-ropes) neeche aayen
Aur un par se... 30 black-clad commandos, kisi zehreele spiders ke tarah, neeche utre. Unke movements machine jaise the. Unhone neeche utarte hi positions le liye, unke advanced assault rifles (SCAR-H) Ravi, Aarav, YuKi aur har zinda Monk par tan gaye.
Aur phir... aakhri helicopter se... ek shakhsiyat neeche utra. Dheere se. Jaise uske paas duniya ka saara waqt ho.
Woh Prince tha. Wahi Mumbai ka Shehzaada. Usne ek designer black leather trench coat pehna tha, jo hawa mein lehra raha tha. Uske chehre par ek shaitani, bachchon jaisi muskaan tha, par uska aankhon mein... Qayamat ka thandak tha.
Aur uske theek peeche... Arjun Rathore khada tha. Uske chehre par ab jeet ka, badle ka, ek wehshi sukoon tha. Usne neeche biche laashon ko dekha, aur phir uska nazar truck ke neeche chhipe apne bhai, Aryan, par pada. Arjun ka muskaan aur bhi gehra ho gaya.
PRINCE: (Awaaz itni shaant ki hall ke har kone mein saaf sunayi de, par usmein ek anjaani si power tha)
"Party khatm, Shehzaade."
Usne Ravi ko dekha.
PRINCE: "Ya shayad... abhi shuru hua hai?"
[ JAHANNUM KA NAYA LEVEL]
Arjun ne apne haath mein ek device uthaya aur ek button dabaya. PSSSHHHH! Hall ke har kone se wahi meethi, behosh karne wala gas nikalna shuru ho gaya.
YUKI: (Dahaada) "NAHI! PHIR SE!"
Lama Tashi, YuKi, Aarav aur saare Monks... woh thak chuke the. Unhone 250 logon se ladte hue apni saari saansein istemaal kar liye the. Iss naye chemical hamle ke liye woh taiyaar nahi the.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Commandos ne unpar tranquilizer guns se fire kiya. Ek-ek karke... Lama Tashi... unke monks... Aarav... YuKi... sab ek-ek karke, bina koi virodh kiye, zameen par gir gaye. Unke chehre par haar ka nahi, thakaan ka sukoon tha.
Ab hall mein sirf Ravi akela khada tha. Uske kandhe se khoon beh raha tha. Woh tezi se saans le raha tha, gas se bachne ki koshish kar raha tha. 30 commandos aur Prince... sab usse gher kar khade the.
PRINCE: (Dheere se Ravi ki taraf badhte hue, usne Kai ki be-sir laash ko pair se thokar maara)
"Tumse toh mujhe akele mein milna tha. Suna hai tumne mere 'warm-up match' ko kuch zyada hi seriously le liya?
" PRINCE: "Par koi baat nahi. Asli khel... toh ab hai."
Prince ne apne commandos ko ishara kiya. "Peeche hato."
Commandos peeche hat gaye.
PRINCE: "Yeh... yeh mera hai."
Usne apna trench coat utaar kar Arjun ki taraf phenka. Coat ke neeche, usne sirf black tactical pants aur ek tight black t-shirt pehna tha, jo uske ripped muscles ko dikha rahi thi. Woh ek fighter tha. Ek brutal, anubhavi fighter.
(Reaction - Chhat Par) Trio, jo nikalne hi waale the, ruk gaye.
PEHLA SAAYA: "Yeh... yeh toh Mumbai ka Prince hai. Arjun Rathore ka sabse bada hathiyaar."
TEESRA SAAYA: "Arjun... Prince... Commandos... Jaanvi... aur yeh Qayamat ka Shehzaada. Saare shikaari ek hi jagah par. Yeh... yeh ek trap tha."
DOOSRA SAAYA: "Hum abhi bhi nikal sakte hain."
TEESRA SAAYA: "Nahi. Ab nahi. Ab hum dekhenge... ki Qayamat aur Prince ki takkar mein... kaun zinda bachta hai."
(Reaction - Truck Ke Neeche)
Aryan kaanp raha tha. Usne Arjun ko dekha... phir Prince ko... phir un commandos ko. Usse laga uske baap (Vikram Rathore) ki poori sena yahan aa chuka hai. Woh samajh gaya... ki woh... buri tarah phans chuka hai.
PART 13: QAYAMAT VS. IBLIS (IBLIS = DEVIL/PRINCE)
(Lumber Mill Base - Main Hall. Ravi, kandhe mein knife liye, Prince ke saamne khada hai. 30 Commandos ne unhein gher rakha hai. Gas ka asar hawa mein hai, par Qayamat par nahi.)
Yeh sirf ek ladai nahi tha. Yeh do toofano ka takkar tha. Do Qayamaton ka aamna-saamna.
Prince ek bhookhe bhediye ki tarah Ravi par toota. Woh fresh tha. Taaqatwar tha. Aur wehshi tha. Uski raftaar hairaan kar dene wale the. Uske punches aur kicks hawa mein ek blur bana rahe the. Woh Mumbai ke underground fight clubs ka Baadshah tha. Uska style raw, brutal aur unpredictable tha.
Move 1 (Prince's Assault): Prince ne ek spinning back kick se shuruaat kiya. Ravi, jo thaka hua tha, sirf pichhe hat paaya. Kick uske seene ko chhoota hua nikal gaya, par uska saans ek pal ke liye atak gaya. Prince ruka nahi. Usne agle hi pal ek low kick Ravi ke pair par maara, aur jaise hi Ravi ne balance banaya, Prince ne apni kohni (elbow) Ravi ke chehre par chala di. Ravi ne kohni ko block kiya, par impact itna zordar tha ki woh do kadam peeche hat gaya.
ARJUN: (Side se chillaaya) "Maaro usse, Prince! Tod do usse!"
PRINCE: (Hanste hue, Ravi ke chaaron taraf naachte hue) "Yeh hai Qayamat? Yeh toh thaka hua, zakhmi kutta hai. Dekh..."
Move 2 (Targeting the Wound): Prince ne achanak direction badla aur ek brutal side kick... seedha Ravi ke zakhmi kandhe par maara. "GAHH!" Ravi ke munh se ek ghuta hua cheekh nikla. Kick... uss knife par laga tha jo pehle se uske kandhe mein ghusa hua tha. SQUELCH! Knife... kandhe mein aur andar ghus gaya. Ravi dard se ek ghutne par aa gaya. Uske munh se khoon ka halka sa nishaan aaya.
Arjun ke chehre par jeet ki muskaan phail gaya. Commandos bhi relax ho gaye.
PRINCE: (Ravi ke baal pakad kar uska sar upar uthate hue) "Khatm? Itni jaldi? Maine toh socha tha Shehzaade thodi..."
Move 3 (Ravi's Retaliation - The Headbutt): Isse pehle ki Prince apna sentence poora karta... KRA-BOOM! Ravi ne, ghutno par baithe hue hi, ek wehshi ki tarah apne sar (forehead) se Prince ke chehre par de maara. Yeh ek aam headbutt nahi tha. Yeh ek hathoda tha. Prince ka naak ka haddi tootne ka awaaz poore hall mein goonja. CRUNCH! Prince dard se chillaata hua pichhe gira, uska poora chehra khoon se laal ho gaya.
Ravi utha. Uske chehre par... koi dard nahi tha. Sirf ek thanda calculation.
(Inner Monologue - Ravi): "Speed hai. Power hai. Par discipline nahi. Gusse mein ladta hai. Uska gussa... uska kamzori hai."
Move 4 (The Brutal Exchange): Prince gusse mein pagal ho gaya. "HARAMZAADE!" Woh ek zakhmi saand ki tarah Ravi par toota. Usne punches ka baarish kar diya. Ravi defense par tha. Woh Prince ke har vaar ko rok raha tha, deflect kar raha tha. Uska zakhmi haath (left) lagbhag bekaar tha, par woh apne right hand aur pairon se lad raha tha. Prince ne ek zordaar hook punch Ravi ke jabde par maara. Ravi ne block kiya. Par yeh ek feint (dhokha) tha. Jaise hi Ravi ne punch block kiya, Prince ne apne daanton se... Ravi ke gale (neck) par kaatne ke koshish kiya. Ravi jhatke se pichhe hata.
Move 5 (The Turning Point - The Knife): Prince phir se jhapta. Is baar usne Ravi ko grapple kar liya. Dono zameen par gir gaye. Prince, jo zyada taaqatwar tha, oopar aa gaya. Usne Ravi ke chehre par punches maarne shuru kiye. THUD! THUD! Ravi block kar raha tha, par Prince ka wazan uspar haavi tha. Tabhi Prince ki nazar Ravi ke kandhe mein ghuse knife par padi. "Good night, Shehzaade." Prince ne Ravi ke chehre ko chhod kar... uss knife ke handle ko dono haathon se pakad liya... aur usey ghumaane ki koshish ki... taaki woh andar hi andar sab kuch kaat de. Ravi ka aankhein dard ki uss inteha se phail gaye jo bayaan nahi kiya jaa sakta. Uska peeth zameen se uth gaya. "AAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!" Yeh ek insaan ka cheekh nahi tha. Yeh Qayamat ki dahaad tha.
(Reaction - Chhat Par)
Trio ne yeh dekha.
PEHLA SAAYA: "Woh mar gaya..."
(Reaction - Truck Ke Neeche) Aryan ne apni aankhein band kar liye.
Par Ravi mara nahi. Ussi dard mein... ussi aag mein... usne apne zakhmi haath (left hand) se... Prince ki aankhon mein apni ungliyan ghusaane ki koshish kiya. Prince ne dard se apna chehra pichhe kiya... ...Aur yahi Ravi ko chahiye tha. Ravi ne Prince ki pakad (jo knife par tha) ko ignore kiya... usne apni taangein uthaya... Prince ki gardan ke chaaron taraf unhein lock kiya (Triangle Choke)... ...Aur apni poori taaqat... apni poori nafrat... uss lock mein jhonk diya.
Prince ka chehra, jo abhi laal tha, ab neela padne laga. Woh Ravi ke kandhe ka knife chhod kar apni gardan par lage lock ko kholne ki koshish karne laga. Par Ravi ki pakad... lohe ki thi. Ghhh... ghhhh... Prince ki aankhein bahar aane lagin.
ARJUN: (Dehshat se chillaaya) "COMMANDOS! MAARO USSE! SHOOT HIM!"
Commandos ne apni rifle uthaye. Par unhein darr tha ki goli Prince ko na lag jaaye.
Tabhi... Prince, jo mar raha tha, ne apni aakhri chaal chala. Usne apni jeb se ek chota sa combat knife nikaala... aur usey Ravi ki pasliyon (ribs) mein ghusa diya. SHANK! Ravi ki pakad (Triangle Choke) dard se ek pal ke liye dheela pada. Prince uss pakad se nikla, khaansta hua, haanfta hua.
Dono khade hue. Ravi... jiske kandhe mein ek knife tha. Aur ab ek knife pasliyon mein. Khoon beh raha tha. Prince... jiska naak aur jabda toot chuka tha, gala neela pad gaya tha.
RAVI: (Uska awaaz ab ek sargoshi nahi, ek dahaad tha) "Kyunki main Qayamat hoon."
Prince ne gusse mein ek aakhri, wehshi hamla kiya. Ek spinning heel kick. Ravi is baar taiyaar tha. Woh neeche nahi jhuka. Usne kick ko block nahi kiya. Usne... uss ghoomte hue pair ko... hawa mein hi pakad liya. Prince ka poora jism hawa mein hi ruk gaya, uska balance bigad gaya.
Ravi ne Prince ke опор (supporting) leg ke pichle hisse par – hamstring par – ek sateek, brutal heel kick nahi maara. Usne... uss pair (jise pakda tha) ko ghuma diya... ...Aur Prince ke doosre pair ke ghutne (supporting knee) par... side se... poori taaqat se stomp (laat) maara.
SSSSNNNNAAAAAAPPP!
Yeh awaaz... goliyon ke awaaz se bhi tez thz. Yeh haddi ke do tukde hone ki awaaz tha. Prince ki cheekh poore hall mein, poore pahaadon mein goonj gaya. "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Uska pair bejaan ho gaya. Woh zameen par gir pada, tadapne laga
Khel khatm tha. Iblis... ghutno par tha.
Ravi uske saamne khada tha. Khoon se lathpath. Do knives uske jism mein. Par woh khada tha. Arjun ka chehra... safed pad chuka tha. Commandos jam gaye the.
Par khel abhi khatm nahi hua tha.
PART 14: MAHAPRALAY KA SHIKANJA
(Lumber Mill Base - Main Hall. Prince zameen par toote hue pair ke saath tadap raha hai. Ravi, do knife wounds se khoon bahaata, khada hai. 30 Commandos ne usse gher rakha hai.)
Sannata.
Sirf Prince ki dard bhari cheekhein ("AAAAAH! MERA PAIR!") uss hall mein goonj rahe the.
Commandos... 30 trained, professional qaatil... jam gaye the. Unhone apne aankhon ke saamne apne leader ke 'Boss' (Prince) ko ek zakhmi, thake hue ladke ke haathon tootte hue dekha tha. Unke rifles Ravi par tane the, par unki ungliyan trigger par kaanp rahe the. Unka dimaag yeh process hi nahi kar paa raha tha.
Ravi ne Prince ki taraf dekha bhi nahi.
Usne apni nazrein uthaya. Khoon se lathpath. Aur seedha... Arjun Rathore par lock kar deen.
Arjun, jo ab tak jeet ka jashn mana raha tha, uss nazar ko mehsoos karte hi kaanp gaya. Uska chehra safed pad gaya. Yeh ek insaan ki nazar nahi thi. Yeh Qayamat ka nazar tha, jo apne agle shikaar ko chun chuka tha.
Ravi ne... ek kadam aage badhaya. Arjun ke taraf.
ARJUN: (Dehshat se chillaaya, uska awaaz phat gaya) "FIRE! MAARO USSE! GOLI CHALAO! SAB KE SAB! MAAR DAALO USSE!"
Commandos hosh mein aaye. Unhone ek saath trigger dabaane ka socha. 30 rifles... ek zakhmi aadmi.
Par tabhi...
(Reaction - Chhat Par)
TEESRA SAAYA:
(Jaise hi commandos ne trigger par ungli rakha) "...Ab!"
[DO-TARFA HAMLA (THE REAL WAR)]
Action 1: The Phantoms Strike (Saayon Ka Hamla)
CLICK!BZZT! Hall ki lights... phir se... band ho gaye. TEMPEST ne chhat se hi ek EMP grenade phenka tha. Hall mein poora andhera chha gaya. Sirf helicopters ki searchlights baahar se aa rahi theen.
"EMP! EMP! NVGs DOWN!" (Night Vision Goggles) Commandos chillaaye. Unke mehenge NVGs ek pal ke liye flare hue aur mar gaye. Woh andhe ho chuke the. "SWITCH TO THERMAL! KAHAN HAIN WOH!"
Par isse pehle ki thermal vision on hota...
BZZZZZZT! TEMPEST ne neeche 10-12 Shock Discs phenk diye. Discs commandos ke body armor se chipak gaye aur high-voltage current chhod diya. 10 commandos... zameen par gir kar tadapne lage, unke jism aithne lage, unki cheekhein unke gale mein hi ghut gaye.
Pfft... pfft... pfft... pfft... pfft! Andhere mein, REVENANT ne chhat se neeche fire karna shuru kar diya. Uska suppressed pistols se nikla har goli, ek headshot tha. Ek commando ne thermal vision on kiya... "Got you!"... Pfft. Goli seedha uske thermal scope ke aar-paar hote hue uski aankh mein jaa lagi. 5 aur commandos bina awaaz kiye gir gaye.
SWISH... THUMP. SWISH... THUMP. PHANTOM ek bhoot ki tarah neeche utri. Koi usey dekh nahi paaya. Usne andhere mein... ek-ek karke... apne monofilament wire (behad patla, adrishya wire) se 3 commandos ke sar (heads) hi unke jism se alag kar diye. Ek commando ne fire kiya, par uski goliyan uske apne hi saathi ko lagin, jiska sir uske saamne zameen par gira.
30 mein se... 18 commandos... 10 second mein dher ho chuke the.
Action 2: Qayamat's Rage (Qayamat Ka Gussa)
Bache hue 12 commandos ghabra gaye. Woh andhere mein, do alag-alag dushmano par, andhadhund fire karne lage. "KAHAN HO TUM!"
Par Ravi... Ravi uss chaos (afra-tafri) mein ghul gaya. Usey andhere ke zaroorat nahi tha. Woh khud andhera tha. Goliyan uske aas-paas se nikal rahe the.
Woh commandos se lad nahi raha tha. Woh unhein ignore kar raha tha. Woh ek zakhmi, khoon se lathpath missile tha jo apne target (Arjun) par lock tha.
Commando 1: Ne flashlight jalaakar usey dhoondh liya. "FREEZE!" Ravi ruka nahi. Commando ne fire kiya. BLAM! BLAM! Do goliyan... Ravi ke usi zakhmi kandhe mein jaa lagin jismein knife ghusa hua tha. Ravi roya nahi... woh dahaada. "RRRAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHH!" Usne goli khaate hue... daud kar... uss commando ki rifle ko pakda... uski kalai (wrist) ko rifle ke oopar hi tod diya... SNAP! ...aur uss commando ko ek dhaal ki tarah istemaal kiya.
Commando 2 & 3: Ne unpar fire kiya. Goliyan commando 1 ke jism mein lagin. Ravi ne uss laash ko un dono ki taraf phenka... aur unke neeche girte hi... unke upar se koodta hua nikal gaya.
[BAADSHAH GHUTNO PAR]
Arjun Rathore... dehshat se paagal ho chuka tha. Uske commandos mar rahe the. Prince zakhmi tha. Aur woh bhoot (Ravi)... ussi ki taraf aa raha tha. Woh palta aur bhaaga.
THUD!
Woh deewar se nahi... Ravi se takraya. Ravi, jo andhere mein usse bhi tez tha, uske saamne aa khada hua tha.
Arjun zameen par gir gaya.
Hall ki emergency lights (Red) waapis aa gayin.
Manzar badal chuka tha. Hall mein har taraf laashein aur tadapte commandos pade the. Prince ek kone mein behosh tha.
Aur hall ke beech mein... Arjun Rathore... ghutno par baitha tha. Uske saamne... Ravi khada tha. Khoon se lathpath. Kandhe mein do goliyan aur ek knife. Pasliyon mein ek knife. Par khada tha. Aur Arjun ke peeche... The Trio (Revenant, Tempest, Phantom) khade the. Unke hathiyaar abhi bhi tayaar the.
Arjun Rathore... Qayamat aur Saayon ke beech... phans chuka tha.
RAVI: (Uska awaaz ab uska apna nahi tha. Woh Qayamat ka dahaad tha. Usne Arjun ke baal pakde, uska chehra upar uthaya)
"Maine kaha tha na, Arjun...
" RAVI: "...Khel... khatm... main karunga."
Ravi ne apna ghutna uthaya... Arjun ke chehre par maarne ke liye...
Par tabhi...
MAHAPRALAY KA BAAP (THE REAL KING)
GHARRR... GHARRR... GHARRR...
Ek nayi awaaz aaya. Pehle waale paanch helicopters se bhi bhaari. Aisa laga jaise aasman phat gaya ho.
Par yeh awaaz sirf oopar se nahi aa rahe the. Yeh awaaz... chaaron taraf se aa rahe the.
VRRROOOOM! SCREEECH!KRA-BOOM!
Lumber mill ka main gate... visphot (explosion) se udd gaya. CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! Mill ki kamzor deewarein... toot kar gir gayin.
Chaalis (40)... Military-grade Armored SUVs aur Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs)... mill ke compound mein ghus aaye. Unhone ek ring of death (maut ka ghera) bana liya. Unki hazaaron watt ki LED floodlights ek saath jalin... Raat... din mein badal gayi. Ravi, Trio, sab uss be-rehem roshni mein andhe ho gaye.
Aur un gaadiyon se... DO SAU (200) log utre. Yeh Prince ke commandos nahi the. Yeh Vikram Rathore ka private army tha. Full black tactical gear. Ballistic helmets. Quad-NVGs. Aur unke haathon mein... military-grade LMGs (Light Machine Guns) theen. Unhone ek pal mein... Ravi, Trio, aur har zinda cheez par... position le liye.
GHARRR... GHARRR...
Ab... woh vishaal Mi-26 Transport Helicopter... uss roshni ke beech... neeche utra. Uske rotor wash (hawa) itne tez the ki laashein aur metal ke tukde udne lage.
Helicopter ka pichla hissa (Ramp) hawa mein hi khula... Aur un sabke beech... ek shakhsiyat ne qadam rakha. Lambe kad ka. Kaale, mehenge coat mein. Chehre par koi bhaav nahi, sirf sadiyon purani thandak. Aankhon mein power ka nasha nahi... power khud tha.
Vikram Rathore.
Woh ramp se neeche utra, uske mehenge joote Kai ke khoon par pade. Usne neeche bichi laashon (Prince ke 30 commandos) ko dekha. Usne apne zakhmi, dehshat-zada bete (Arjun) ko dekha. Usne behosh Prince ko dekha.
Uske chehre par koi expression nahi badla.
Uski aankhein aakhir mein Ravi par jaakar ruken... jo abhi bhi Arjun ko pakde hue tha.
Do sau (200) rifles ke safety switch... ek saath... off hue. Har gun ka laser sight... Ravi ke jism par... laal nishaan bana raha tha.
Ravi... ab Mahapralay se ghir chuka tha.
Bilkul. Shikanja kass chuka hai. Mahapralay ke baad, ab Baadshah ki baari hai.
PART 15: MAHAPRALAY KA SHIKANJA
(Lumber Mill Base - Main Hall. Vikram Rathore ki 200 logon ki sena ne sabko gher liya hai. Har gun Ravi par tani hai.)
Sannata.
Ek aisa sannata jo 200 rifles ke safety switch off hone ki awaaz se toota tha. Helicopters ki searchlights... 40 gaadiyon ki floodlights... sab ek hi insaan par focus the.
Ravi.
Woh Arjun ke baal pakde khada tha. Khoon se lathpath. Kandhe mein do goliyan aur ek knife. Pasliyon mein ek knife. Uska jism kaanp raha tha... thakaan se... khoon behne se... par uska pakad lohe ka tha.
RAVI: (Dahaadte hue, par awaaz mein thakaan saaf tha) "PEECHHE HATO! SABKO PEECHHE HATAO! WARNA YEH MAR JAYEGA!"
Vikram Rathore hansa nahi. Usne muskuraya bhi nahi. Usne bas ek lambi, thaka hua saans liya... jaise ek baap apne nalayak bete ki report card dekh raha ho.
Usne Arjun ki taraf dekha, jo darr se kaanp raha tha.
ARJUN: (Kaanpte hue) "D-Dad... P-Peeche hato! Yeh... yeh pagal hai! Yeh mujhe maar dega!"
Vikram ne apna nazar... Arjun se hata liya... aur waapis Ravi par tika diya.
VIKRAM RATHORE: (Awaaz ekdum sapaat, jaise mausam ka haal bata raha ho) "Tum... ek zakhmi, marte hue ladke... meri 200 gunon ke saamne... mujhe order de rahe ho?"
Woh ek pal ruka.
VIKRAM RATHORE: (Arjun se) "Tum... meri sabse badi galti ho. Itna shor... itna gandagi... ek ladke ko sambhaal nahi paaye."
Woh waapis Ravi ko dekhta hai.
VIKRAM RATHORE: "Maaro usse."
ARJUN: (Dehshat se chillaaya, uska aankhein phat gaye) "NAHI! DAD! NAHI! RUKO! YEH MUJHE MAAR DEGA! DAD!"
VIKRAM RATHORE: (Apne bete ki taraf dekhe bina) "Toh mar jao. Rathore khandaan ko kamzor logon ki zaroorat nahi hai."
Yeh... antim farmaan tha. 200 commandos ke ungliyan trigger par kass gaye.
Trio ne yeh dekha.
TEMPEST: "Woh... apne hi bete ko marwa raha hai."
REVENANT: "Nahi. Woh checkmate bol raha hai. Woh jaanta hai ki woh ladka (Ravi) ek masoom (Arjun) ko nahi maarega... bhale hi Arjun kitna bhi bura ho."
Aur Vikram sahi tha. Ravi ki aankhon mein ek pal ke liye... hichkichahat aayi. Uski pakad... Arjun par... ek pal ke liye... dheeli padi.
Vikram ki aankhon mein ek jeet ki chamak aayi. Pakad liya.
Par Ravi ne Arjun ko chhoda nahi. Usne Arjun ko... ek hathiyaar ki tarah istemaal kiya.
RAVI: (Dahaadte hue) "RRRAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHH!"
Usne apni aakhri taaqat se... Arjun ko ghumaaya... aur usse phenk diya... ...seedha commandos ki pehli line par!
Commandos ghabra gaye. Unhone Arjun ko sambhaalne ke liye apne position tode. Aur Ravi... Ravi... Vikram ki taraf nahi dauda.
Woh... uss control room ki taraf dauda... jahan se Kai nikla tha. Uska aakhri soch... uska aakhri maqsad... Sia... Jaanvi...
Ravi ke jism par... ek nahi, do nahi... darjanon tranquilizer darts aa lage. Uska speed... jo Qayamat jaisa tha... ...dheemi padne laga. Uska haath jo seedhi ko pakadne ke liye utha tha... hawa mein hi ruk gaya. Dard... khoon ka behna... aur ab yeh zehar...
Uska jism ab uska saath chhod chuka tha.
Woh... ghutno par gira. Uske aankhon ke saamne... andhera chha raha tha. Behosh hone se pehle... usne aakhri baar upar dekha... ...Vikram Rathore uske saamne khada tha.
Ravi... Qayamat... so gaya tha.
(The Mop-Up)
Jaise hi Ravi gira, The Trio ne ek doosre ko dekha. Khel khatm ho chuka tha.
PHANTOM: "Mission failed. Ab... survival."
Isse pehle ki woh bhaagte... Vikram ke 50 commandos Untak pahunch chuke the. Unhone Trio ko chaaron taraf se gher liya.
COMMANDER: "Hathiyaar neeche. Abhi."
Trio ne ek doosre ko dekha. Woh professionals the. Woh jaante the yeh jung jeeta nahi jaa sakta. Ek-ek karke, unhone apne hathiyaar neeche daal diye.
(Control Room - Thodi der baad)
Vikram Rathore control room mein khada tha. Uske saamne... Behosh Ravi... zanjeeron mein jakda hua tha. Behosh Aarav, YuKi aur 10 Monks... qaid the. The Trio (Revenant, Tempest, Phantom)... ghutno par, haath bandhe hue. Arjun... ek kone mein, zakhmi, par zinda, apne baap ko khauf se dekh raha tha.
Vikram Rathore: (Apne ek guard ko ishara karte hue) "Naqaab utaaro inke."
Guard ne aage badhkar, ek-ek karke, un teeno ke masks kheench diye. Ek pal ke liye hall mein phir se sannata chha gaya. Par is baar yeh sannata khauf ka nahi... hairat ka tha.
Zayn, Adira, Maya... Revenant, Tempest, Phantom... Red Dragon ke yeh khatarnaak saaye... Sirf 15-16 saal ke bachche the.
Wahi chehre jo school ke corridors mein dikhte the. Wahi masoom lagne wale aankhein... jinmein ab haar nahi, sirf ek thandi nafrat tha.
Arjun: (Haklate hue) "T-Tum log...? School mein...? Yeh... yeh sab kya hai?!"
Woh Zayn ko ghoor raha tha, jise usne canteen mein challenge kiya tha. Woh Adira ko dekh raha tha, jo class mein shaant rehta tha. Woh Maya ko dekh raha tha, jo jaise wahan hoti hi nahi thi.
Yeh... yeh namumkin tha.
Zayn ne Arjun ki taraf dekha. Uski aankhon mein ab bhi wahi mazaak tha, par ab woh mazaak behad khooni lag raha tha.
Usne mere maal par haath daala tha... ab main uske sabse khaas logon par haath daalunga. Agar woh chahta hai ki uske yeh pyaare bachche zinda rahein... toh usey khud yahan aana hoga."
Call lag chuka tha. Line ke doosri taraf se phone uthaya gaya. Par koi awaaz nahi aaya. Sirf ek gehra, intzaar karne wala sannata.
Vikram ne phone Adira ke haath se le liya. Uske chehre par ek Baadshah wala muskaan tha.
Vikram Rathore: "Suna hai tum Dragon ho? Main Vikram Rathore. Shayad tumne mera naam suna hoga."
Doosri taraf ab bhi khamoshi tha. Par Vikram ko laga jaise woh khamoshi... usey sun rahi hai.
Vikram Rathore: "Tumne galti kar diye, Dragon. Bahut badi galti. Tumne mere ilaaqe mein ghus kar, mere maal par haath daala. Ab tumhare yeh anmol LOG mere kabze mein hain. Agar tumhein yeh zinda chahiye... toh khud aao. Akele. Jagah main bataunga."
Ek lamba pause. Phir, line ke doosre taraf se ek awaaz aaya. Ek aisa awaaz jo Vikram Rathore ki rooh tak ko hila gaya. Ek awaaz jo na mard ka tha, na aurat ka. Na insaan ki, na machine ki. Ek awaaz jo sadiyon purana lagta tha, aur utna ha naya. Ek awaaz jismein samundar ka gehraayi tha, aur Qayamat ka dahaad bhi.
RED DRAGON (O.S.): (Awaaz itna shaant ki woh cheekh se zyada darawni tha) "Tumne galti nahi kiya hai, Rathore. Tumne... gunaah kiya hai. Aur Dragon ke saamne gunaah ka maafi nahi hota... sirf saza hota hai. Main aa raha hoon... tumhara anjaam likhne."
Line cut gaya. Vikram Rathore ke haath mein phone ek bejaan cheez ke tarah reh gaya. Uske chehre par jeet ke muskaan... dheere-dheere... khauf mein badal gaya. Usne Red Dragon ko bulaya tha... par usey ehsaas ho gaya tha... ki usne shayad... Qayamat ko hi dawat de diya hai.
Tabhi ek commando andar aaya.
COMMANDO: "Sir. Dono 'packages' (Sia aur Jaanvi) mil gayi hain. Secure hain. Unhein kahan le jaana hai?"
Vikram ne behosh Ravi ki taraf dekha.
VIKRAM RATHORE: (Ek sard muskaan ke saath) "Sabko SAFE HOUSE le chalo."
VIKRAM RATHORE: "Mahapralay... ab mere mehmaan-khaane mein jaagega."
THE CONCLUSION (Anjaam aur Dekhne Waale)
(Reaction - Chhat Par) Chhat ke rafters par chhipe, Teen Saaye yeh manzar dekh kar bilkul pathar ban gaye. Unke saansein thode tez ho gayen, par woh hile nahi. Yeh unke level se, unke training se... pare tha.
PEHLA SAAYA: (Mask ke andar sargoshi, awaaz mein ab khauf nahi, balki ek thandi calculation tha) "Achha hai Yeh... yeh hamare dushman nahi hain. Yeh Qayamat hain."
DOOSRA SAAYA: "Hum inke ladhayi ke beech jaakar Jaanvi ko nahi nikaal sakte. Yeh su*cide hoga."
TEESRA SAAYA: (Jo ab tak sabse shaant tha, uski nazar neeche Ravi par tika thi) "Mission abort nahi hoga. Mission pause hoga. Hum intezaar karenge. Yeh toofan jab thamega... jab yeh log yahan se hatenge... tab hum Jaanvi ko uthaayenge."
Uske awaaz mein ek naya, anjaana sa khauf tha, par mission abhi bhi jaari tha.
TEESRA SAAYA: "Abhi... khamosh raho. Aur dekho."
(Reaction - Truck Ke Neeche)
Truck ke neeche chhipa, Aryan Rathore yeh sab dekh raha tha. Uska badla... uska gussa... sab pishaab ban kar behne hi wala tha. Usne apni aankhein band kar liya aur apne kaan dhaanp liye, taaki woh haddiyon ke tootne ki awaaz na sun sake. Woh samajh gaya tha... ki Arjun ko maarne se pehle, usey inse bachna hoga.
PART 11: SHIKAARI KA MAHAPRALAYIK ANJAAM
(Lumber Mill Base - Control Room. Ravi, Aarav, YuKi andar daakhil hote hain. Saamne sirf Kai khada hai.)
Qatl-e-aam ke baad, hall mein ek bhaari, khooni sannata chha gaya. Har taraf sirf karaahein aur toote hue jism pade the. Ravi ki aankhein laal theen, woh Sia ko dhoondh raha tha, uski har saans mein inteqaam ka aag tha.
LAMA TASHI: (Ek Monk ko ishara karte hue) "Base ko secure karo. Ladkiyon ko dhoondo."
Tabhi, hall ke doosre kone mein, ek metal ki seedhi (staircase) ke oopar, control room ka darwaza khula.
Click.
Sabke nazar udhar ghooma.
Andhere se ek saaya nikla. Kai. Woh bilkul shaant tha. Usne neeche biche 250 jismon ko dekha, phir apni nazar Ravi par laakar lock kar diya. Uske chehre par ab bhi wohi sard muskaan tha, par aankhon mein... ek anjaani sa bechaini. Usne Qayamat ko dekh liya tha. Usne uss tabahi ka manzar dekh liya tha jo teen aam insaan nahi laa sakte the.
KAI: (Muskurate hue, par awaaz mein halka sa kaampan, uska har saans mein darr aur ghamand ka mishran) "Aakhirkaar... asli muqabla. Gaden ke Monks...Kitsune...Phoenix... aur... Qayamat ka Shehzaada.
Arjun Rathore ne sahi keemat lagaya tha... par shayad kam."
Usne apni kamar se do behad tez, custom-made combat knives nikaale. Unki dhaar laal emergency light mein chamak utha. Un knives ke blade par scorpion ka nishaan bana hua tha – uska signature.
YuKi aur Aarav aage badhe, unka katanas taiyaar theen. Par Ravi ne apna haath utha kar unhein rok diya.
RAVI: (Awaaz itna thanda ke Kai ka muskaan jam gaya, uska aankhon mein ab koi insaani jazbaat nahi the, sirf ek thanda, anant inteqaam)
"Yeh... mera hai."
Aarav aur YuKi bina sawaal kiye peeche hat gaye. Woh jaante the... yeh Ravi ka inteqaam tha. Sia aur Jaanvi ka inteqaam. Yeh Ravi nahi tha. Yeh Qayamat tha.
Kai ek professional tha. Usne Ravi ki aankhon mein apni maut ko nahi, usse bhi badtar kuch padh liya tha. Par woh bina lade marne walon mein se nahi tha. Woh Kai tha.
Woh ek bijli ke tarah Ravi par jhapta. Seedhiyon se kood gaya. Uske do knives hawa mein ek maut ka jaal bun rahe the. Woh itne tezi se unhein ghuma raha tha ki aisa lag raha tha jaise uske do nahi, bees haath hon.
Ravi apni jagah se hila nahi. Usne apni katana ko ek phool ki tarah, behad nazakat se ghumaaya.
CLANG! TING! SHINK!SHING! TING! CLANG!
Steel se steel takrane ki awaazein control room mein goonj utha. Chingaariyan aise nikal rahi theen jaise do baadalon ke beech bijli kadak raha ho.
Kai ka raftaar hairaan kar dene wala tha. Par Ravi... Ravi usse bhi tez tha. Uski har movement Kai ki teen moves par bhaari tha.
Kai ne ek knife se Ravi ke pet par vaar kiya. Ravi ne usey katana se nahi roka. Usne sirf apna jism thoda sa sidhe kiya, aur knife uske jism ke theek bagal se hawa mein nikal gaya, uske kapdon ko cheerta hua.
Ussi pal, Kai ne doosra knife Ravi ki gardan ki taraf chalaya. Ek throat-slice move.
Ravi ne katana ko chhod diya... Kai ke aankhein dehshat se phata reh gaya. Talwaar chhod diya? Yeh pagal hai?!
Ravi ne apne khaali haath se Kai ka kalai (wrist) ko nahi pakda... usne sidhe uske haath ke middle finger ko pakda, jismein usne gardan par vaar kiya tha... aur usey reverse mein, poori taaqat se tod diya. SNAP! (Haddi ki geeli awaaz) Kai cheekha. Knife uske toote hue haath se chhoot gaya aur zameen par gira.
Ravi ne ussi toote hue haath ko pakda... usse kheencha... Kai ko apne kareeb laaya... aur apni kohni (elbow) poori taaqat se uske chehre ke side par de maari. KRA-BOOM! Kai ke jabde ke tootne ki aur daanton ke andar tootne ki geeli awaaz aaya. Kai ka munh khoon se bhar gaya.
Kai ladkhada kar peeche gira. Uska khud ka combat knife (jo Ravi ne chhoda tha) uske pairo ke paas gira. Usne usey gusse aur dard mein utha liya, apne aakhri bache hue sahi haath se.
Ravi ne apni katana nahi uthaya. Woh Kai ki taraf badha.
Kai ne gusse mein, apne aakhri knife ko Ravi ke dil mein ghusaane ke liye jhapta.
Ravi ne vaar ko block nahi kiya. Woh vaar ke andar chala gaya. Usne Kai ke haath ko pakda... aur usse aur zorr se apni taraf kheencha... SQUELCH! Kai ka apna hi knife... Ravi ke left shoulder (kandhe) mein utar gaya, haddi tak.
Kai ki aankhein jeet se chamak uthin. "Pagal...! Tu khud ko maar raha hai!" Uske chehre par ek dard-bhari, khooni muskaan tha. Par Ravi ke chehre par... dard nahi... ek shaitaani muskaan tha.
RAVI: (Sargoshi mein, uski awaaz Kai ke kaanon mein ek thandi maut ke tarah goonja)
"Tum... phans gaye ho. Jaanwar."
Ravi ne apne kandhe mein ghuse ussi knife ko... aur Kai ke haath ko... apne doosre (right) haath se pakad liya. Kai ab usse jud chuka tha. Phans chuka tha. Usey na tode hue haath ka dard yaad raha, na toote jabde ka. Sirf Qayamat ka khauf.
RAVI: "Mera haath chhod...!" Kai gusse mein, darr mein, cheekha. Woh azadi ke liye tadap raha tha.
Ravi ne uske chehre par dekha... uski aankhon mein ghusa... aur apne sar (forehead) se uske toote hue naak par de maara. CRUNCH! Kai ki cheekh nikli, uski aankhon se paani aur khoon ek saath nikla. Ravi ne phir maara... CRUNCH! (Naak ka baaki haddiyan bhi andar ghus gayin.) ...Aur phir maara... CRUNCH! (Kai ka chehra ab sirf khoon aur haddiyon ka ek lump ban chuka tha).
Ravi ne apne zakhmi kandhe ka parwaah kiye bina, Kai ko ussi tarah pakde rakha... aur usey control room ki metal deewar par patak diya. THUD! (Deewar mein dent pad gaya.) Kai zameen par gira, uska jism ab bas ek tadapta hua maas ka loonthra tha.
Ravi ne zameen se apni katana uthaya. Uska katana ka dhaar par Kai ka khoon lag chuka tha.
KAI: (Zameen par rengte hue, khoon thookte hue, uska munh toot chuka tha, saaf bol nahi pa raha tha) "M-Maaf kar do... P-P-Please... Main... main bataata hoon... la-ladkiyan kahan hain... Arjun ne... woh sab kuch... b-bataata hoon..."
Ravi uske saamne aa khada hua. Uske aankhein poori tarah kaali ho chuke the. Unmein koi daya nahi tha.
RAVI: (Uska awaaz ek goonj ths, jo Kai ki rooh ko cheer raha tha) "Tumne usey chhua... Tumne meri duniya ko chhua... Aur uske liye... tumhe har pal ka hisaab dena hoga."
SWISH! Ravi ki katana ek pal ke liye laal roshni mein naha gayi. Kai wahin khada reh gaya. Uska aankhein hairat se phaila hua tha.
Usne neeche dekha. Uska dono haath... kalaaiyon se kat kar... zameen par gir pade. Khoon ke fawware uske kate hue haathon se ubal pade. Kai dard se cheekha, ek aisi cheekh jo uske toote hue jabde se sirf ghoongat mein nikal saki.
Par Ravi ruka nahi. Uska chehra bilkul bhaav-heen tha.
SWISH! Ravi ka agla vaar... ek horizontal slash... Kai ki gardan par pada. Sirf ek lakeer. Ek halki si laal lakeer.
Kai ka sir... uske jism se alag hokar... zameen par ludhak gaya. Uska aankhein ab bhi khule the, unmein aakhri baar Ravi ka aks qaid tha. Ek aisa aks... jahan sirf Qayamat tha.
Uska be-sir jism... ek pal ke liye khada raha... phir ek putle ki tarah zameen par dher ho gaya.
Khel khatm tha. Shikaari ka anjaam ho chuka tha.
(Reaction - Chhat Par)
Saaye ne yeh dekha. Unhein apni aankhon par yakeen nahi hua. Unka professional training, unka saari planning... is Mahapralay ke saamne chota lag raha tha.
PEHLA SAAYA: "Usne... usne khud ko zakhmi kar liya... sirf usey pakadne ke liye? Yeh... yeh deewangi hai."
DOOSRA SAAYA: "Woh sirf Kai ko nahi maarna chahta tha. Woh usey todna chahta tha. Uska rooh tak ko todna chahta tha."
TEESRA SAAYA: (Uski awaaz mein ek thandi, nishchitata thi)
"Yeh Qayamat hai. Hum apne mission par focus karenge. Abhi... hum saaye hain. Saaye hi rahenge."
(Reaction - Truck Ke Neeche)
Truck ke neeche chhipa, Aryan Rathore ka poora jism paani-paani ho chuka tha. Usne apni aankhein zor se band kar liya tha. Uske kaanon mein haddiyon ke tootne, Kai ki cheekhein... aur Ravi ki sard awaaz goonj raha tha. Uska badla... ab darr mein badal chuka tha. Woh samajh gaya tha... ki Arjun ko maarne se pehle, usey inse bachna hoga.
[QAYAMAT KE BAAD KI DASTAK]
(Lumber Mill Base - Control Room. Kai ki laash Ravi ke kadmon mein hai.)
Sannata.
Kai ka be-sir laash se behte khoon ki tap-tap ki awaaz uss poore hall mein goonj raha tha. Ravi shaant khada tha, uska chehra khoon ke chhenton se bhara tha, uske kandhe se abhi bhi Kai ka knife ghusa hua tha, jisse khoon ris raha tha.
Aarav, YuKi aur Monks hosh mein the, par thake hue. Unhone abhi-abhi 250 logon ki sena ko raakh kiya tha.
Tabhi...
GHARRR... GHARRR... GHARRR...
Ek aisa awaaz aaya jisne poore lumber mill ki neenv hila diya. Jaise aasman phat gaya ho. Ek tez, kaan phaad dene wala awaaz.
Military helicopters ke rotors ki awaaz.
Ek nahi...
Paanch.
Base ke chhat, jo pehle hi toota hua tha, ek zordaar KRA-BOOM! ke saath poori tarah se khul gaya.
Upar, raat ke kaale aasman mein, paanch military-grade attack helicopters (Apache jaise) hover kar rahe the. Unke searchlights ne neeche maut ke manzar ko ek stadium ki tarah roshan kar diya.
AARAV: (Chillaaya) "YEH KYA—!"
Rassiyan (fast-ropes) neeche aayen
Aur un par se... 30 black-clad commandos, kisi zehreele spiders ke tarah, neeche utre. Unke movements machine jaise the. Unhone neeche utarte hi positions le liye, unke advanced assault rifles (SCAR-H) Ravi, Aarav, YuKi aur har zinda Monk par tan gaye.
Aur phir... aakhri helicopter se... ek shakhsiyat neeche utra. Dheere se. Jaise uske paas duniya ka saara waqt ho.
Woh Prince tha. Wahi Mumbai ka Shehzaada. Usne ek designer black leather trench coat pehna tha, jo hawa mein lehra raha tha. Uske chehre par ek shaitani, bachchon jaisi muskaan tha, par uska aankhon mein... Qayamat ka thandak tha.
Aur uske theek peeche... Arjun Rathore khada tha. Uske chehre par ab jeet ka, badle ka, ek wehshi sukoon tha. Usne neeche biche laashon ko dekha, aur phir uska nazar truck ke neeche chhipe apne bhai, Aryan, par pada. Arjun ka muskaan aur bhi gehra ho gaya.
PRINCE: (Awaaz itni shaant ki hall ke har kone mein saaf sunayi de, par usmein ek anjaani si power tha)
"Party khatm, Shehzaade."
Usne Ravi ko dekha.
PRINCE: "Ya shayad... abhi shuru hua hai?"
[ JAHANNUM KA NAYA LEVEL]
Arjun ne apne haath mein ek device uthaya aur ek button dabaya. PSSSHHHH! Hall ke har kone se wahi meethi, behosh karne wala gas nikalna shuru ho gaya.
YUKI: (Dahaada) "NAHI! PHIR SE!"
Lama Tashi, YuKi, Aarav aur saare Monks... woh thak chuke the. Unhone 250 logon se ladte hue apni saari saansein istemaal kar liye the. Iss naye chemical hamle ke liye woh taiyaar nahi the.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Commandos ne unpar tranquilizer guns se fire kiya. Ek-ek karke... Lama Tashi... unke monks... Aarav... YuKi... sab ek-ek karke, bina koi virodh kiye, zameen par gir gaye. Unke chehre par haar ka nahi, thakaan ka sukoon tha.
Ab hall mein sirf Ravi akela khada tha. Uske kandhe se khoon beh raha tha. Woh tezi se saans le raha tha, gas se bachne ki koshish kar raha tha. 30 commandos aur Prince... sab usse gher kar khade the.
PRINCE: (Dheere se Ravi ki taraf badhte hue, usne Kai ki be-sir laash ko pair se thokar maara)
"Tumse toh mujhe akele mein milna tha. Suna hai tumne mere 'warm-up match' ko kuch zyada hi seriously le liya?
" PRINCE: "Par koi baat nahi. Asli khel... toh ab hai."
Prince ne apne commandos ko ishara kiya. "Peeche hato."
Commandos peeche hat gaye.
PRINCE: "Yeh... yeh mera hai."
Usne apna trench coat utaar kar Arjun ki taraf phenka. Coat ke neeche, usne sirf black tactical pants aur ek tight black t-shirt pehna tha, jo uske ripped muscles ko dikha rahi thi. Woh ek fighter tha. Ek brutal, anubhavi fighter.
(Reaction - Chhat Par) Trio, jo nikalne hi waale the, ruk gaye.
PEHLA SAAYA: "Yeh... yeh toh Mumbai ka Prince hai. Arjun Rathore ka sabse bada hathiyaar."
TEESRA SAAYA: "Arjun... Prince... Commandos... Jaanvi... aur yeh Qayamat ka Shehzaada. Saare shikaari ek hi jagah par. Yeh... yeh ek trap tha."
DOOSRA SAAYA: "Hum abhi bhi nikal sakte hain."
TEESRA SAAYA: "Nahi. Ab nahi. Ab hum dekhenge... ki Qayamat aur Prince ki takkar mein... kaun zinda bachta hai."
(Reaction - Truck Ke Neeche)
Aryan kaanp raha tha. Usne Arjun ko dekha... phir Prince ko... phir un commandos ko. Usse laga uske baap (Vikram Rathore) ki poori sena yahan aa chuka hai. Woh samajh gaya... ki woh... buri tarah phans chuka hai.
PART 13: QAYAMAT VS. IBLIS (IBLIS = DEVIL/PRINCE)
(Lumber Mill Base - Main Hall. Ravi, kandhe mein knife liye, Prince ke saamne khada hai. 30 Commandos ne unhein gher rakha hai. Gas ka asar hawa mein hai, par Qayamat par nahi.)
Yeh sirf ek ladai nahi tha. Yeh do toofano ka takkar tha. Do Qayamaton ka aamna-saamna.
Prince ek bhookhe bhediye ki tarah Ravi par toota. Woh fresh tha. Taaqatwar tha. Aur wehshi tha. Uski raftaar hairaan kar dene wale the. Uske punches aur kicks hawa mein ek blur bana rahe the. Woh Mumbai ke underground fight clubs ka Baadshah tha. Uska style raw, brutal aur unpredictable tha.
Move 1 (Prince's Assault): Prince ne ek spinning back kick se shuruaat kiya. Ravi, jo thaka hua tha, sirf pichhe hat paaya. Kick uske seene ko chhoota hua nikal gaya, par uska saans ek pal ke liye atak gaya. Prince ruka nahi. Usne agle hi pal ek low kick Ravi ke pair par maara, aur jaise hi Ravi ne balance banaya, Prince ne apni kohni (elbow) Ravi ke chehre par chala di. Ravi ne kohni ko block kiya, par impact itna zordar tha ki woh do kadam peeche hat gaya.
ARJUN: (Side se chillaaya) "Maaro usse, Prince! Tod do usse!"
PRINCE: (Hanste hue, Ravi ke chaaron taraf naachte hue) "Yeh hai Qayamat? Yeh toh thaka hua, zakhmi kutta hai. Dekh..."
Move 2 (Targeting the Wound): Prince ne achanak direction badla aur ek brutal side kick... seedha Ravi ke zakhmi kandhe par maara. "GAHH!" Ravi ke munh se ek ghuta hua cheekh nikla. Kick... uss knife par laga tha jo pehle se uske kandhe mein ghusa hua tha. SQUELCH! Knife... kandhe mein aur andar ghus gaya. Ravi dard se ek ghutne par aa gaya. Uske munh se khoon ka halka sa nishaan aaya.
Arjun ke chehre par jeet ki muskaan phail gaya. Commandos bhi relax ho gaye.
PRINCE: (Ravi ke baal pakad kar uska sar upar uthate hue) "Khatm? Itni jaldi? Maine toh socha tha Shehzaade thodi..."
Move 3 (Ravi's Retaliation - The Headbutt): Isse pehle ki Prince apna sentence poora karta... KRA-BOOM! Ravi ne, ghutno par baithe hue hi, ek wehshi ki tarah apne sar (forehead) se Prince ke chehre par de maara. Yeh ek aam headbutt nahi tha. Yeh ek hathoda tha. Prince ka naak ka haddi tootne ka awaaz poore hall mein goonja. CRUNCH! Prince dard se chillaata hua pichhe gira, uska poora chehra khoon se laal ho gaya.
Ravi utha. Uske chehre par... koi dard nahi tha. Sirf ek thanda calculation.
(Inner Monologue - Ravi): "Speed hai. Power hai. Par discipline nahi. Gusse mein ladta hai. Uska gussa... uska kamzori hai."
Move 4 (The Brutal Exchange): Prince gusse mein pagal ho gaya. "HARAMZAADE!" Woh ek zakhmi saand ki tarah Ravi par toota. Usne punches ka baarish kar diya. Ravi defense par tha. Woh Prince ke har vaar ko rok raha tha, deflect kar raha tha. Uska zakhmi haath (left) lagbhag bekaar tha, par woh apne right hand aur pairon se lad raha tha. Prince ne ek zordaar hook punch Ravi ke jabde par maara. Ravi ne block kiya. Par yeh ek feint (dhokha) tha. Jaise hi Ravi ne punch block kiya, Prince ne apne daanton se... Ravi ke gale (neck) par kaatne ke koshish kiya. Ravi jhatke se pichhe hata.
Move 5 (The Turning Point - The Knife): Prince phir se jhapta. Is baar usne Ravi ko grapple kar liya. Dono zameen par gir gaye. Prince, jo zyada taaqatwar tha, oopar aa gaya. Usne Ravi ke chehre par punches maarne shuru kiye. THUD! THUD! Ravi block kar raha tha, par Prince ka wazan uspar haavi tha. Tabhi Prince ki nazar Ravi ke kandhe mein ghuse knife par padi. "Good night, Shehzaade." Prince ne Ravi ke chehre ko chhod kar... uss knife ke handle ko dono haathon se pakad liya... aur usey ghumaane ki koshish ki... taaki woh andar hi andar sab kuch kaat de. Ravi ka aankhein dard ki uss inteha se phail gaye jo bayaan nahi kiya jaa sakta. Uska peeth zameen se uth gaya. "AAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!" Yeh ek insaan ka cheekh nahi tha. Yeh Qayamat ki dahaad tha.
(Reaction - Chhat Par)
Trio ne yeh dekha.
PEHLA SAAYA: "Woh mar gaya..."
(Reaction - Truck Ke Neeche) Aryan ne apni aankhein band kar liye.
Par Ravi mara nahi. Ussi dard mein... ussi aag mein... usne apne zakhmi haath (left hand) se... Prince ki aankhon mein apni ungliyan ghusaane ki koshish kiya. Prince ne dard se apna chehra pichhe kiya... ...Aur yahi Ravi ko chahiye tha. Ravi ne Prince ki pakad (jo knife par tha) ko ignore kiya... usne apni taangein uthaya... Prince ki gardan ke chaaron taraf unhein lock kiya (Triangle Choke)... ...Aur apni poori taaqat... apni poori nafrat... uss lock mein jhonk diya.
Prince ka chehra, jo abhi laal tha, ab neela padne laga. Woh Ravi ke kandhe ka knife chhod kar apni gardan par lage lock ko kholne ki koshish karne laga. Par Ravi ki pakad... lohe ki thi. Ghhh... ghhhh... Prince ki aankhein bahar aane lagin.
ARJUN: (Dehshat se chillaaya) "COMMANDOS! MAARO USSE! SHOOT HIM!"
Commandos ne apni rifle uthaye. Par unhein darr tha ki goli Prince ko na lag jaaye.
Tabhi... Prince, jo mar raha tha, ne apni aakhri chaal chala. Usne apni jeb se ek chota sa combat knife nikaala... aur usey Ravi ki pasliyon (ribs) mein ghusa diya. SHANK! Ravi ki pakad (Triangle Choke) dard se ek pal ke liye dheela pada. Prince uss pakad se nikla, khaansta hua, haanfta hua.
Dono khade hue. Ravi... jiske kandhe mein ek knife tha. Aur ab ek knife pasliyon mein. Khoon beh raha tha. Prince... jiska naak aur jabda toot chuka tha, gala neela pad gaya tha.
RAVI: (Uska awaaz ab ek sargoshi nahi, ek dahaad tha) "Kyunki main Qayamat hoon."
Prince ne gusse mein ek aakhri, wehshi hamla kiya. Ek spinning heel kick. Ravi is baar taiyaar tha. Woh neeche nahi jhuka. Usne kick ko block nahi kiya. Usne... uss ghoomte hue pair ko... hawa mein hi pakad liya. Prince ka poora jism hawa mein hi ruk gaya, uska balance bigad gaya.
Ravi ne Prince ke опор (supporting) leg ke pichle hisse par – hamstring par – ek sateek, brutal heel kick nahi maara. Usne... uss pair (jise pakda tha) ko ghuma diya... ...Aur Prince ke doosre pair ke ghutne (supporting knee) par... side se... poori taaqat se stomp (laat) maara.
SSSSNNNNAAAAAAPPP!
Yeh awaaz... goliyon ke awaaz se bhi tez thz. Yeh haddi ke do tukde hone ki awaaz tha. Prince ki cheekh poore hall mein, poore pahaadon mein goonj gaya. "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Uska pair bejaan ho gaya. Woh zameen par gir pada, tadapne laga
Khel khatm tha. Iblis... ghutno par tha.
Ravi uske saamne khada tha. Khoon se lathpath. Do knives uske jism mein. Par woh khada tha. Arjun ka chehra... safed pad chuka tha. Commandos jam gaye the.
Par khel abhi khatm nahi hua tha.
PART 14: MAHAPRALAY KA SHIKANJA
(Lumber Mill Base - Main Hall. Prince zameen par toote hue pair ke saath tadap raha hai. Ravi, do knife wounds se khoon bahaata, khada hai. 30 Commandos ne usse gher rakha hai.)
Sannata.
Sirf Prince ki dard bhari cheekhein ("AAAAAH! MERA PAIR!") uss hall mein goonj rahe the.
Commandos... 30 trained, professional qaatil... jam gaye the. Unhone apne aankhon ke saamne apne leader ke 'Boss' (Prince) ko ek zakhmi, thake hue ladke ke haathon tootte hue dekha tha. Unke rifles Ravi par tane the, par unki ungliyan trigger par kaanp rahe the. Unka dimaag yeh process hi nahi kar paa raha tha.
Ravi ne Prince ki taraf dekha bhi nahi.
Usne apni nazrein uthaya. Khoon se lathpath. Aur seedha... Arjun Rathore par lock kar deen.
Arjun, jo ab tak jeet ka jashn mana raha tha, uss nazar ko mehsoos karte hi kaanp gaya. Uska chehra safed pad gaya. Yeh ek insaan ki nazar nahi thi. Yeh Qayamat ka nazar tha, jo apne agle shikaar ko chun chuka tha.
Ravi ne... ek kadam aage badhaya. Arjun ke taraf.
ARJUN: (Dehshat se chillaaya, uska awaaz phat gaya) "FIRE! MAARO USSE! GOLI CHALAO! SAB KE SAB! MAAR DAALO USSE!"
Commandos hosh mein aaye. Unhone ek saath trigger dabaane ka socha. 30 rifles... ek zakhmi aadmi.
Par tabhi...
(Reaction - Chhat Par)
TEESRA SAAYA:
(Jaise hi commandos ne trigger par ungli rakha) "...Ab!"
[DO-TARFA HAMLA (THE REAL WAR)]
Action 1: The Phantoms Strike (Saayon Ka Hamla)
CLICK!BZZT! Hall ki lights... phir se... band ho gaye. TEMPEST ne chhat se hi ek EMP grenade phenka tha. Hall mein poora andhera chha gaya. Sirf helicopters ki searchlights baahar se aa rahi theen.
"EMP! EMP! NVGs DOWN!" (Night Vision Goggles) Commandos chillaaye. Unke mehenge NVGs ek pal ke liye flare hue aur mar gaye. Woh andhe ho chuke the. "SWITCH TO THERMAL! KAHAN HAIN WOH!"
Par isse pehle ki thermal vision on hota...
BZZZZZZT! TEMPEST ne neeche 10-12 Shock Discs phenk diye. Discs commandos ke body armor se chipak gaye aur high-voltage current chhod diya. 10 commandos... zameen par gir kar tadapne lage, unke jism aithne lage, unki cheekhein unke gale mein hi ghut gaye.
Pfft... pfft... pfft... pfft... pfft! Andhere mein, REVENANT ne chhat se neeche fire karna shuru kar diya. Uska suppressed pistols se nikla har goli, ek headshot tha. Ek commando ne thermal vision on kiya... "Got you!"... Pfft. Goli seedha uske thermal scope ke aar-paar hote hue uski aankh mein jaa lagi. 5 aur commandos bina awaaz kiye gir gaye.
SWISH... THUMP. SWISH... THUMP. PHANTOM ek bhoot ki tarah neeche utri. Koi usey dekh nahi paaya. Usne andhere mein... ek-ek karke... apne monofilament wire (behad patla, adrishya wire) se 3 commandos ke sar (heads) hi unke jism se alag kar diye. Ek commando ne fire kiya, par uski goliyan uske apne hi saathi ko lagin, jiska sir uske saamne zameen par gira.
30 mein se... 18 commandos... 10 second mein dher ho chuke the.
Action 2: Qayamat's Rage (Qayamat Ka Gussa)
Bache hue 12 commandos ghabra gaye. Woh andhere mein, do alag-alag dushmano par, andhadhund fire karne lage. "KAHAN HO TUM!"
Par Ravi... Ravi uss chaos (afra-tafri) mein ghul gaya. Usey andhere ke zaroorat nahi tha. Woh khud andhera tha. Goliyan uske aas-paas se nikal rahe the.
Woh commandos se lad nahi raha tha. Woh unhein ignore kar raha tha. Woh ek zakhmi, khoon se lathpath missile tha jo apne target (Arjun) par lock tha.
Commando 1: Ne flashlight jalaakar usey dhoondh liya. "FREEZE!" Ravi ruka nahi. Commando ne fire kiya. BLAM! BLAM! Do goliyan... Ravi ke usi zakhmi kandhe mein jaa lagin jismein knife ghusa hua tha. Ravi roya nahi... woh dahaada. "RRRAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHH!" Usne goli khaate hue... daud kar... uss commando ki rifle ko pakda... uski kalai (wrist) ko rifle ke oopar hi tod diya... SNAP! ...aur uss commando ko ek dhaal ki tarah istemaal kiya.
Commando 2 & 3: Ne unpar fire kiya. Goliyan commando 1 ke jism mein lagin. Ravi ne uss laash ko un dono ki taraf phenka... aur unke neeche girte hi... unke upar se koodta hua nikal gaya.
[BAADSHAH GHUTNO PAR]
Arjun Rathore... dehshat se paagal ho chuka tha. Uske commandos mar rahe the. Prince zakhmi tha. Aur woh bhoot (Ravi)... ussi ki taraf aa raha tha. Woh palta aur bhaaga.
THUD!
Woh deewar se nahi... Ravi se takraya. Ravi, jo andhere mein usse bhi tez tha, uske saamne aa khada hua tha.
Arjun zameen par gir gaya.
Hall ki emergency lights (Red) waapis aa gayin.
Manzar badal chuka tha. Hall mein har taraf laashein aur tadapte commandos pade the. Prince ek kone mein behosh tha.
Aur hall ke beech mein... Arjun Rathore... ghutno par baitha tha. Uske saamne... Ravi khada tha. Khoon se lathpath. Kandhe mein do goliyan aur ek knife. Pasliyon mein ek knife. Par khada tha. Aur Arjun ke peeche... The Trio (Revenant, Tempest, Phantom) khade the. Unke hathiyaar abhi bhi tayaar the.
Arjun Rathore... Qayamat aur Saayon ke beech... phans chuka tha.
RAVI: (Uska awaaz ab uska apna nahi tha. Woh Qayamat ka dahaad tha. Usne Arjun ke baal pakde, uska chehra upar uthaya)
"Maine kaha tha na, Arjun...
" RAVI: "...Khel... khatm... main karunga."
Ravi ne apna ghutna uthaya... Arjun ke chehre par maarne ke liye...
Par tabhi...
MAHAPRALAY KA BAAP (THE REAL KING)
GHARRR... GHARRR... GHARRR...
Ek nayi awaaz aaya. Pehle waale paanch helicopters se bhi bhaari. Aisa laga jaise aasman phat gaya ho.
Par yeh awaaz sirf oopar se nahi aa rahe the. Yeh awaaz... chaaron taraf se aa rahe the.
VRRROOOOM! SCREEECH!KRA-BOOM!
Lumber mill ka main gate... visphot (explosion) se udd gaya. CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! Mill ki kamzor deewarein... toot kar gir gayin.
Chaalis (40)... Military-grade Armored SUVs aur Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs)... mill ke compound mein ghus aaye. Unhone ek ring of death (maut ka ghera) bana liya. Unki hazaaron watt ki LED floodlights ek saath jalin... Raat... din mein badal gayi. Ravi, Trio, sab uss be-rehem roshni mein andhe ho gaye.
Aur un gaadiyon se... DO SAU (200) log utre. Yeh Prince ke commandos nahi the. Yeh Vikram Rathore ka private army tha. Full black tactical gear. Ballistic helmets. Quad-NVGs. Aur unke haathon mein... military-grade LMGs (Light Machine Guns) theen. Unhone ek pal mein... Ravi, Trio, aur har zinda cheez par... position le liye.
GHARRR... GHARRR...
Ab... woh vishaal Mi-26 Transport Helicopter... uss roshni ke beech... neeche utra. Uske rotor wash (hawa) itne tez the ki laashein aur metal ke tukde udne lage.
Helicopter ka pichla hissa (Ramp) hawa mein hi khula... Aur un sabke beech... ek shakhsiyat ne qadam rakha. Lambe kad ka. Kaale, mehenge coat mein. Chehre par koi bhaav nahi, sirf sadiyon purani thandak. Aankhon mein power ka nasha nahi... power khud tha.
Vikram Rathore.
Woh ramp se neeche utra, uske mehenge joote Kai ke khoon par pade. Usne neeche bichi laashon (Prince ke 30 commandos) ko dekha. Usne apne zakhmi, dehshat-zada bete (Arjun) ko dekha. Usne behosh Prince ko dekha.
Uske chehre par koi expression nahi badla.
Uski aankhein aakhir mein Ravi par jaakar ruken... jo abhi bhi Arjun ko pakde hue tha.
Do sau (200) rifles ke safety switch... ek saath... off hue. Har gun ka laser sight... Ravi ke jism par... laal nishaan bana raha tha.
Ravi... ab Mahapralay se ghir chuka tha.
Bilkul. Shikanja kass chuka hai. Mahapralay ke baad, ab Baadshah ki baari hai.
PART 15: MAHAPRALAY KA SHIKANJA
(Lumber Mill Base - Main Hall. Vikram Rathore ki 200 logon ki sena ne sabko gher liya hai. Har gun Ravi par tani hai.)
Sannata.
Ek aisa sannata jo 200 rifles ke safety switch off hone ki awaaz se toota tha. Helicopters ki searchlights... 40 gaadiyon ki floodlights... sab ek hi insaan par focus the.
Ravi.
Woh Arjun ke baal pakde khada tha. Khoon se lathpath. Kandhe mein do goliyan aur ek knife. Pasliyon mein ek knife. Uska jism kaanp raha tha... thakaan se... khoon behne se... par uska pakad lohe ka tha.
RAVI: (Dahaadte hue, par awaaz mein thakaan saaf tha) "PEECHHE HATO! SABKO PEECHHE HATAO! WARNA YEH MAR JAYEGA!"
Vikram Rathore hansa nahi. Usne muskuraya bhi nahi. Usne bas ek lambi, thaka hua saans liya... jaise ek baap apne nalayak bete ki report card dekh raha ho.
Usne Arjun ki taraf dekha, jo darr se kaanp raha tha.
ARJUN: (Kaanpte hue) "D-Dad... P-Peeche hato! Yeh... yeh pagal hai! Yeh mujhe maar dega!"
Vikram ne apna nazar... Arjun se hata liya... aur waapis Ravi par tika diya.
VIKRAM RATHORE: (Awaaz ekdum sapaat, jaise mausam ka haal bata raha ho) "Tum... ek zakhmi, marte hue ladke... meri 200 gunon ke saamne... mujhe order de rahe ho?"
Woh ek pal ruka.
VIKRAM RATHORE: (Arjun se) "Tum... meri sabse badi galti ho. Itna shor... itna gandagi... ek ladke ko sambhaal nahi paaye."
Woh waapis Ravi ko dekhta hai.
VIKRAM RATHORE: "Maaro usse."
ARJUN: (Dehshat se chillaaya, uska aankhein phat gaye) "NAHI! DAD! NAHI! RUKO! YEH MUJHE MAAR DEGA! DAD!"
VIKRAM RATHORE: (Apne bete ki taraf dekhe bina) "Toh mar jao. Rathore khandaan ko kamzor logon ki zaroorat nahi hai."
Yeh... antim farmaan tha. 200 commandos ke ungliyan trigger par kass gaye.
Trio ne yeh dekha.
TEMPEST: "Woh... apne hi bete ko marwa raha hai."
REVENANT: "Nahi. Woh checkmate bol raha hai. Woh jaanta hai ki woh ladka (Ravi) ek masoom (Arjun) ko nahi maarega... bhale hi Arjun kitna bhi bura ho."
Aur Vikram sahi tha. Ravi ki aankhon mein ek pal ke liye... hichkichahat aayi. Uski pakad... Arjun par... ek pal ke liye... dheeli padi.
Vikram ki aankhon mein ek jeet ki chamak aayi. Pakad liya.
Par Ravi ne Arjun ko chhoda nahi. Usne Arjun ko... ek hathiyaar ki tarah istemaal kiya.
RAVI: (Dahaadte hue) "RRRAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHH!"
Usne apni aakhri taaqat se... Arjun ko ghumaaya... aur usse phenk diya... ...seedha commandos ki pehli line par!
Commandos ghabra gaye. Unhone Arjun ko sambhaalne ke liye apne position tode. Aur Ravi... Ravi... Vikram ki taraf nahi dauda.
Woh... uss control room ki taraf dauda... jahan se Kai nikla tha. Uska aakhri soch... uska aakhri maqsad... Sia... Jaanvi...
Ravi ke jism par... ek nahi, do nahi... darjanon tranquilizer darts aa lage. Uska speed... jo Qayamat jaisa tha... ...dheemi padne laga. Uska haath jo seedhi ko pakadne ke liye utha tha... hawa mein hi ruk gaya. Dard... khoon ka behna... aur ab yeh zehar...
Uska jism ab uska saath chhod chuka tha.
Woh... ghutno par gira. Uske aankhon ke saamne... andhera chha raha tha. Behosh hone se pehle... usne aakhri baar upar dekha... ...Vikram Rathore uske saamne khada tha.
Ravi... Qayamat... so gaya tha.
(The Mop-Up)
Jaise hi Ravi gira, The Trio ne ek doosre ko dekha. Khel khatm ho chuka tha.
PHANTOM: "Mission failed. Ab... survival."
Isse pehle ki woh bhaagte... Vikram ke 50 commandos Untak pahunch chuke the. Unhone Trio ko chaaron taraf se gher liya.
COMMANDER: "Hathiyaar neeche. Abhi."
Trio ne ek doosre ko dekha. Woh professionals the. Woh jaante the yeh jung jeeta nahi jaa sakta. Ek-ek karke, unhone apne hathiyaar neeche daal diye.
(Control Room - Thodi der baad)
Vikram Rathore control room mein khada tha. Uske saamne... Behosh Ravi... zanjeeron mein jakda hua tha. Behosh Aarav, YuKi aur 10 Monks... qaid the. The Trio (Revenant, Tempest, Phantom)... ghutno par, haath bandhe hue. Arjun... ek kone mein, zakhmi, par zinda, apne baap ko khauf se dekh raha tha.
Vikram Rathore: (Apne ek guard ko ishara karte hue) "Naqaab utaaro inke."
Guard ne aage badhkar, ek-ek karke, un teeno ke masks kheench diye. Ek pal ke liye hall mein phir se sannata chha gaya. Par is baar yeh sannata khauf ka nahi... hairat ka tha.
Zayn, Adira, Maya... Revenant, Tempest, Phantom... Red Dragon ke yeh khatarnaak saaye... Sirf 15-16 saal ke bachche the.
Wahi chehre jo school ke corridors mein dikhte the. Wahi masoom lagne wale aankhein... jinmein ab haar nahi, sirf ek thandi nafrat tha.
Arjun: (Haklate hue) "T-Tum log...? School mein...? Yeh... yeh sab kya hai?!"
Woh Zayn ko ghoor raha tha, jise usne canteen mein challenge kiya tha. Woh Adira ko dekh raha tha, jo class mein shaant rehta tha. Woh Maya ko dekh raha tha, jo jaise wahan hoti hi nahi thi.
Yeh... yeh namumkin tha.
Zayn ne Arjun ki taraf dekha. Uski aankhon mein ab bhi wahi mazaak tha, par ab woh mazaak behad khooni lag raha tha.
Usne mere maal par haath daala tha... ab main uske sabse khaas logon par haath daalunga. Agar woh chahta hai ki uske yeh pyaare bachche zinda rahein... toh usey khud yahan aana hoga."
Call lag chuka tha. Line ke doosri taraf se phone uthaya gaya. Par koi awaaz nahi aaya. Sirf ek gehra, intzaar karne wala sannata.
Vikram ne phone Adira ke haath se le liya. Uske chehre par ek Baadshah wala muskaan tha.
Vikram Rathore: "Suna hai tum Dragon ho? Main Vikram Rathore. Shayad tumne mera naam suna hoga."
Doosri taraf ab bhi khamoshi tha. Par Vikram ko laga jaise woh khamoshi... usey sun rahi hai.
Vikram Rathore: "Tumne galti kar diye, Dragon. Bahut badi galti. Tumne mere ilaaqe mein ghus kar, mere maal par haath daala. Ab tumhare yeh anmol LOG mere kabze mein hain. Agar tumhein yeh zinda chahiye... toh khud aao. Akele. Jagah main bataunga."
Ek lamba pause. Phir, line ke doosre taraf se ek awaaz aaya. Ek aisa awaaz jo Vikram Rathore ki rooh tak ko hila gaya. Ek awaaz jo na mard ka tha, na aurat ka. Na insaan ki, na machine ki. Ek awaaz jo sadiyon purana lagta tha, aur utna ha naya. Ek awaaz jismein samundar ka gehraayi tha, aur Qayamat ka dahaad bhi.
RED DRAGON (O.S.): (Awaaz itna shaant ki woh cheekh se zyada darawni tha) "Tumne galti nahi kiya hai, Rathore. Tumne... gunaah kiya hai. Aur Dragon ke saamne gunaah ka maafi nahi hota... sirf saza hota hai. Main aa raha hoon... tumhara anjaam likhne."
Line cut gaya. Vikram Rathore ke haath mein phone ek bejaan cheez ke tarah reh gaya. Uske chehre par jeet ke muskaan... dheere-dheere... khauf mein badal gaya. Usne Red Dragon ko bulaya tha... par usey ehsaas ho gaya tha... ki usne shayad... Qayamat ko hi dawat de diya hai.
Tabhi ek commando andar aaya.
COMMANDO: "Sir. Dono 'packages' (Sia aur Jaanvi) mil gayi hain. Secure hain. Unhein kahan le jaana hai?"
Vikram ne behosh Ravi ki taraf dekha.
VIKRAM RATHORE: (Ek sard muskaan ke saath) "Sabko SAFE HOUSE le chalo."
VIKRAM RATHORE: "Mahapralay... ab mere mehmaan-khaane mein jaagega."
(Reaction - Chhat Par) Chhat ke rafters par chhipe, Teen Saaye yeh manzar dekh kar bilkul pathar ban gaye. Unke saansein thode tez ho gayen, par woh hile nahi. Yeh unke level se, unke training se... pare tha.
PEHLA SAAYA: (Mask ke andar sargoshi, awaaz mein ab khauf nahi, balki ek thandi calculation tha) "Achha hai Yeh... yeh hamare dushman nahi hain. Yeh Qayamat hain."
DOOSRA SAAYA: "Hum inke ladhayi ke beech jaakar Jaanvi ko nahi nikaal sakte. Yeh su*cide hoga."
TEESRA SAAYA: (Jo ab tak sabse shaant tha, uski nazar neeche Ravi par tika thi) "Mission abort nahi hoga. Mission pause hoga. Hum intezaar karenge. Yeh toofan jab thamega... jab yeh log yahan se hatenge... tab hum Jaanvi ko uthaayenge."
Uske awaaz mein ek naya, anjaana sa khauf tha, par mission abhi bhi jaari tha.
TEESRA SAAYA: "Abhi... khamosh raho. Aur dekho."
(Reaction - Truck Ke Neeche)
Truck ke neeche chhipa, Aryan Rathore yeh sab dekh raha tha. Uska badla... uska gussa... sab pishaab ban kar behne hi wala tha. Usne apni aankhein band kar liya aur apne kaan dhaanp liye, taaki woh haddiyon ke tootne ki awaaz na sun sake. Woh samajh gaya tha... ki Arjun ko maarne se pehle, usey inse bachna hoga.
PART 11: SHIKAARI KA MAHAPRALAYIK ANJAAM
(Lumber Mill Base - Control Room. Ravi, Aarav, YuKi andar daakhil hote hain. Saamne sirf Kai khada hai.)
Qatl-e-aam ke baad, hall mein ek bhaari, khooni sannata chha gaya. Har taraf sirf karaahein aur toote hue jism pade the. Ravi ki aankhein laal theen, woh Sia ko dhoondh raha tha, uski har saans mein inteqaam ka aag tha.
LAMA TASHI: (Ek Monk ko ishara karte hue) "Base ko secure karo. Ladkiyon ko dhoondo."
Tabhi, hall ke doosre kone mein, ek metal ki seedhi (staircase) ke oopar, control room ka darwaza khula.
Click.
Sabke nazar udhar ghooma.
Andhere se ek saaya nikla. Kai. Woh bilkul shaant tha. Usne neeche biche 250 jismon ko dekha, phir apni nazar Ravi par laakar lock kar diya. Uske chehre par ab bhi wohi sard muskaan tha, par aankhon mein... ek anjaani sa bechaini. Usne Qayamat ko dekh liya tha. Usne uss tabahi ka manzar dekh liya tha jo teen aam insaan nahi laa sakte the.
KAI: (Muskurate hue, par awaaz mein halka sa kaampan, uska har saans mein darr aur ghamand ka mishran) "Aakhirkaar... asli muqabla. Gaden ke Monks...Kitsune...Phoenix... aur... Qayamat ka Shehzaada.
Arjun Rathore ne sahi keemat lagaya tha... par shayad kam."
Usne apni kamar se do behad tez, custom-made combat knives nikaale. Unki dhaar laal emergency light mein chamak utha. Un knives ke blade par scorpion ka nishaan bana hua tha – uska signature.
YuKi aur Aarav aage badhe, unka katanas taiyaar theen. Par Ravi ne apna haath utha kar unhein rok diya.
RAVI: (Awaaz itna thanda ke Kai ka muskaan jam gaya, uska aankhon mein ab koi insaani jazbaat nahi the, sirf ek thanda, anant inteqaam)
"Yeh... mera hai."
Aarav aur YuKi bina sawaal kiye peeche hat gaye. Woh jaante the... yeh Ravi ka inteqaam tha. Sia aur Jaanvi ka inteqaam. Yeh Ravi nahi tha. Yeh Qayamat tha.
Kai ek professional tha. Usne Ravi ki aankhon mein apni maut ko nahi, usse bhi badtar kuch padh liya tha. Par woh bina lade marne walon mein se nahi tha. Woh Kai tha.
Woh ek bijli ke tarah Ravi par jhapta. Seedhiyon se kood gaya. Uske do knives hawa mein ek maut ka jaal bun rahe the. Woh itne tezi se unhein ghuma raha tha ki aisa lag raha tha jaise uske do nahi, bees haath hon.
Ravi apni jagah se hila nahi. Usne apni katana ko ek phool ki tarah, behad nazakat se ghumaaya.
CLANG! TING! SHINK!SHING! TING! CLANG!
Steel se steel takrane ki awaazein control room mein goonj utha. Chingaariyan aise nikal rahi theen jaise do baadalon ke beech bijli kadak raha ho.
Kai ka raftaar hairaan kar dene wala tha. Par Ravi... Ravi usse bhi tez tha. Uski har movement Kai ki teen moves par bhaari tha.
Kai ne ek knife se Ravi ke pet par vaar kiya. Ravi ne usey katana se nahi roka. Usne sirf apna jism thoda sa sidhe kiya, aur knife uske jism ke theek bagal se hawa mein nikal gaya, uske kapdon ko cheerta hua.
Ussi pal, Kai ne doosra knife Ravi ki gardan ki taraf chalaya. Ek throat-slice move.
Ravi ne katana ko chhod diya... Kai ke aankhein dehshat se phata reh gaya. Talwaar chhod diya? Yeh pagal hai?!
Ravi ne apne khaali haath se Kai ka kalai (wrist) ko nahi pakda... usne sidhe uske haath ke middle finger ko pakda, jismein usne gardan par vaar kiya tha... aur usey reverse mein, poori taaqat se tod diya. SNAP! (Haddi ki geeli awaaz) Kai cheekha. Knife uske toote hue haath se chhoot gaya aur zameen par gira.
Ravi ne ussi toote hue haath ko pakda... usse kheencha... Kai ko apne kareeb laaya... aur apni kohni (elbow) poori taaqat se uske chehre ke side par de maari. KRA-BOOM! Kai ke jabde ke tootne ki aur daanton ke andar tootne ki geeli awaaz aaya. Kai ka munh khoon se bhar gaya.
Kai ladkhada kar peeche gira. Uska khud ka combat knife (jo Ravi ne chhoda tha) uske pairo ke paas gira. Usne usey gusse aur dard mein utha liya, apne aakhri bache hue sahi haath se.
Ravi ne apni katana nahi uthaya. Woh Kai ki taraf badha.
Kai ne gusse mein, apne aakhri knife ko Ravi ke dil mein ghusaane ke liye jhapta.
Ravi ne vaar ko block nahi kiya. Woh vaar ke andar chala gaya. Usne Kai ke haath ko pakda... aur usse aur zorr se apni taraf kheencha... SQUELCH! Kai ka apna hi knife... Ravi ke left shoulder (kandhe) mein utar gaya, haddi tak.
Kai ki aankhein jeet se chamak uthin. "Pagal...! Tu khud ko maar raha hai!" Uske chehre par ek dard-bhari, khooni muskaan tha. Par Ravi ke chehre par... dard nahi... ek shaitaani muskaan tha.
RAVI: (Sargoshi mein, uski awaaz Kai ke kaanon mein ek thandi maut ke tarah goonja)
"Tum... phans gaye ho. Jaanwar."
Ravi ne apne kandhe mein ghuse ussi knife ko... aur Kai ke haath ko... apne doosre (right) haath se pakad liya. Kai ab usse jud chuka tha. Phans chuka tha. Usey na tode hue haath ka dard yaad raha, na toote jabde ka. Sirf Qayamat ka khauf.
RAVI: "Mera haath chhod...!" Kai gusse mein, darr mein, cheekha. Woh azadi ke liye tadap raha tha.
Ravi ne uske chehre par dekha... uski aankhon mein ghusa... aur apne sar (forehead) se uske toote hue naak par de maara. CRUNCH! Kai ki cheekh nikli, uski aankhon se paani aur khoon ek saath nikla. Ravi ne phir maara... CRUNCH! (Naak ka baaki haddiyan bhi andar ghus gayin.) ...Aur phir maara... CRUNCH! (Kai ka chehra ab sirf khoon aur haddiyon ka ek lump ban chuka tha).
Ravi ne apne zakhmi kandhe ka parwaah kiye bina, Kai ko ussi tarah pakde rakha... aur usey control room ki metal deewar par patak diya. THUD! (Deewar mein dent pad gaya.) Kai zameen par gira, uska jism ab bas ek tadapta hua maas ka loonthra tha.
Ravi ne zameen se apni katana uthaya. Uska katana ka dhaar par Kai ka khoon lag chuka tha.
KAI: (Zameen par rengte hue, khoon thookte hue, uska munh toot chuka tha, saaf bol nahi pa raha tha) "M-Maaf kar do... P-P-Please... Main... main bataata hoon... la-ladkiyan kahan hain... Arjun ne... woh sab kuch... b-bataata hoon..."
Ravi uske saamne aa khada hua. Uske aankhein poori tarah kaali ho chuke the. Unmein koi daya nahi tha.
RAVI: (Uska awaaz ek goonj ths, jo Kai ki rooh ko cheer raha tha) "Tumne usey chhua... Tumne meri duniya ko chhua... Aur uske liye... tumhe har pal ka hisaab dena hoga."
SWISH! Ravi ki katana ek pal ke liye laal roshni mein naha gayi. Kai wahin khada reh gaya. Uska aankhein hairat se phaila hua tha.
Usne neeche dekha. Uska dono haath... kalaaiyon se kat kar... zameen par gir pade. Khoon ke fawware uske kate hue haathon se ubal pade. Kai dard se cheekha, ek aisi cheekh jo uske toote hue jabde se sirf ghoongat mein nikal saki.
Par Ravi ruka nahi. Uska chehra bilkul bhaav-heen tha.
SWISH! Ravi ka agla vaar... ek horizontal slash... Kai ki gardan par pada. Sirf ek lakeer. Ek halki si laal lakeer.
Kai ka sir... uske jism se alag hokar... zameen par ludhak gaya. Uska aankhein ab bhi khule the, unmein aakhri baar Ravi ka aks qaid tha. Ek aisa aks... jahan sirf Qayamat tha.
Uska be-sir jism... ek pal ke liye khada raha... phir ek putle ki tarah zameen par dher ho gaya.
Khel khatm tha. Shikaari ka anjaam ho chuka tha.
(Reaction - Chhat Par)
Saaye ne yeh dekha. Unhein apni aankhon par yakeen nahi hua. Unka professional training, unka saari planning... is Mahapralay ke saamne chota lag raha tha.
PEHLA SAAYA: "Usne... usne khud ko zakhmi kar liya... sirf usey pakadne ke liye? Yeh... yeh deewangi hai."
DOOSRA SAAYA: "Woh sirf Kai ko nahi maarna chahta tha. Woh usey todna chahta tha. Uska rooh tak ko todna chahta tha."
TEESRA SAAYA: (Uski awaaz mein ek thandi, nishchitata thi)
"Yeh Qayamat hai. Hum apne mission par focus karenge. Abhi... hum saaye hain. Saaye hi rahenge."
(Reaction - Truck Ke Neeche)
Truck ke neeche chhipa, Aryan Rathore ka poora jism paani-paani ho chuka tha. Usne apni aankhein zor se band kar liya tha. Uske kaanon mein haddiyon ke tootne, Kai ki cheekhein... aur Ravi ki sard awaaz goonj raha tha. Uska badla... ab darr mein badal chuka tha. Woh samajh gaya tha... ki Arjun ko maarne se pehle, usey inse bachna hoga.
[QAYAMAT KE BAAD KI DASTAK]
(Lumber Mill Base - Control Room. Kai ki laash Ravi ke kadmon mein hai.)
Sannata.
Kai ka be-sir laash se behte khoon ki tap-tap ki awaaz uss poore hall mein goonj raha tha. Ravi shaant khada tha, uska chehra khoon ke chhenton se bhara tha, uske kandhe se abhi bhi Kai ka knife ghusa hua tha, jisse khoon ris raha tha.
Aarav, YuKi aur Monks hosh mein the, par thake hue. Unhone abhi-abhi 250 logon ki sena ko raakh kiya tha.
Tabhi...
GHARRR... GHARRR... GHARRR...
Ek aisa awaaz aaya jisne poore lumber mill ki neenv hila diya. Jaise aasman phat gaya ho. Ek tez, kaan phaad dene wala awaaz.
Military helicopters ke rotors ki awaaz.
Ek nahi...
Paanch.
Base ke chhat, jo pehle hi toota hua tha, ek zordaar KRA-BOOM! ke saath poori tarah se khul gaya.
Upar, raat ke kaale aasman mein, paanch military-grade attack helicopters (Apache jaise) hover kar rahe the. Unke searchlights ne neeche maut ke manzar ko ek stadium ki tarah roshan kar diya.
AARAV: (Chillaaya) "YEH KYA—!"
Rassiyan (fast-ropes) neeche aayen
Aur un par se... 30 black-clad commandos, kisi zehreele spiders ke tarah, neeche utre. Unke movements machine jaise the. Unhone neeche utarte hi positions le liye, unke advanced assault rifles (SCAR-H) Ravi, Aarav, YuKi aur har zinda Monk par tan gaye.
Aur phir... aakhri helicopter se... ek shakhsiyat neeche utra. Dheere se. Jaise uske paas duniya ka saara waqt ho.
Woh Prince tha. Wahi Mumbai ka Shehzaada. Usne ek designer black leather trench coat pehna tha, jo hawa mein lehra raha tha. Uske chehre par ek shaitani, bachchon jaisi muskaan tha, par uska aankhon mein... Qayamat ka thandak tha.
Aur uske theek peeche... Arjun Rathore khada tha. Uske chehre par ab jeet ka, badle ka, ek wehshi sukoon tha. Usne neeche biche laashon ko dekha, aur phir uska nazar truck ke neeche chhipe apne bhai, Aryan, par pada. Arjun ka muskaan aur bhi gehra ho gaya.
PRINCE: (Awaaz itni shaant ki hall ke har kone mein saaf sunayi de, par usmein ek anjaani si power tha)
"Party khatm, Shehzaade."
Usne Ravi ko dekha.
PRINCE: "Ya shayad... abhi shuru hua hai?"
[ JAHANNUM KA NAYA LEVEL]
Arjun ne apne haath mein ek device uthaya aur ek button dabaya. PSSSHHHH! Hall ke har kone se wahi meethi, behosh karne wala gas nikalna shuru ho gaya.
YUKI: (Dahaada) "NAHI! PHIR SE!"
Lama Tashi, YuKi, Aarav aur saare Monks... woh thak chuke the. Unhone 250 logon se ladte hue apni saari saansein istemaal kar liye the. Iss naye chemical hamle ke liye woh taiyaar nahi the.
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Commandos ne unpar tranquilizer guns se fire kiya. Ek-ek karke... Lama Tashi... unke monks... Aarav... YuKi... sab ek-ek karke, bina koi virodh kiye, zameen par gir gaye. Unke chehre par haar ka nahi, thakaan ka sukoon tha.
Ab hall mein sirf Ravi akela khada tha. Uske kandhe se khoon beh raha tha. Woh tezi se saans le raha tha, gas se bachne ki koshish kar raha tha. 30 commandos aur Prince... sab usse gher kar khade the.
PRINCE: (Dheere se Ravi ki taraf badhte hue, usne Kai ki be-sir laash ko pair se thokar maara)
"Tumse toh mujhe akele mein milna tha. Suna hai tumne mere 'warm-up match' ko kuch zyada hi seriously le liya?
" PRINCE: "Par koi baat nahi. Asli khel... toh ab hai."
Prince ne apne commandos ko ishara kiya. "Peeche hato."
Commandos peeche hat gaye.
PRINCE: "Yeh... yeh mera hai."
Usne apna trench coat utaar kar Arjun ki taraf phenka. Coat ke neeche, usne sirf black tactical pants aur ek tight black t-shirt pehna tha, jo uske ripped muscles ko dikha rahi thi. Woh ek fighter tha. Ek brutal, anubhavi fighter.
(Reaction - Chhat Par) Trio, jo nikalne hi waale the, ruk gaye.
PEHLA SAAYA: "Yeh... yeh toh Mumbai ka Prince hai. Arjun Rathore ka sabse bada hathiyaar."
TEESRA SAAYA: "Arjun... Prince... Commandos... Jaanvi... aur yeh Qayamat ka Shehzaada. Saare shikaari ek hi jagah par. Yeh... yeh ek trap tha."
DOOSRA SAAYA: "Hum abhi bhi nikal sakte hain."
TEESRA SAAYA: "Nahi. Ab nahi. Ab hum dekhenge... ki Qayamat aur Prince ki takkar mein... kaun zinda bachta hai."
(Reaction - Truck Ke Neeche)
Aryan kaanp raha tha. Usne Arjun ko dekha... phir Prince ko... phir un commandos ko. Usse laga uske baap (Vikram Rathore) ki poori sena yahan aa chuka hai. Woh samajh gaya... ki woh... buri tarah phans chuka hai.
PART 13: QAYAMAT VS. IBLIS (IBLIS = DEVIL/PRINCE)
(Lumber Mill Base - Main Hall. Ravi, kandhe mein knife liye, Prince ke saamne khada hai. 30 Commandos ne unhein gher rakha hai. Gas ka asar hawa mein hai, par Qayamat par nahi.)
Yeh sirf ek ladai nahi tha. Yeh do toofano ka takkar tha. Do Qayamaton ka aamna-saamna.
Prince ek bhookhe bhediye ki tarah Ravi par toota. Woh fresh tha. Taaqatwar tha. Aur wehshi tha. Uski raftaar hairaan kar dene wale the. Uske punches aur kicks hawa mein ek blur bana rahe the. Woh Mumbai ke underground fight clubs ka Baadshah tha. Uska style raw, brutal aur unpredictable tha.
Move 1 (Prince's Assault): Prince ne ek spinning back kick se shuruaat kiya. Ravi, jo thaka hua tha, sirf pichhe hat paaya. Kick uske seene ko chhoota hua nikal gaya, par uska saans ek pal ke liye atak gaya. Prince ruka nahi. Usne agle hi pal ek low kick Ravi ke pair par maara, aur jaise hi Ravi ne balance banaya, Prince ne apni kohni (elbow) Ravi ke chehre par chala di. Ravi ne kohni ko block kiya, par impact itna zordar tha ki woh do kadam peeche hat gaya.
ARJUN: (Side se chillaaya) "Maaro usse, Prince! Tod do usse!"
PRINCE: (Hanste hue, Ravi ke chaaron taraf naachte hue) "Yeh hai Qayamat? Yeh toh thaka hua, zakhmi kutta hai. Dekh..."
Move 2 (Targeting the Wound): Prince ne achanak direction badla aur ek brutal side kick... seedha Ravi ke zakhmi kandhe par maara. "GAHH!" Ravi ke munh se ek ghuta hua cheekh nikla. Kick... uss knife par laga tha jo pehle se uske kandhe mein ghusa hua tha. SQUELCH! Knife... kandhe mein aur andar ghus gaya. Ravi dard se ek ghutne par aa gaya. Uske munh se khoon ka halka sa nishaan aaya.
Arjun ke chehre par jeet ki muskaan phail gaya. Commandos bhi relax ho gaye.
PRINCE: (Ravi ke baal pakad kar uska sar upar uthate hue) "Khatm? Itni jaldi? Maine toh socha tha Shehzaade thodi..."
Move 3 (Ravi's Retaliation - The Headbutt): Isse pehle ki Prince apna sentence poora karta... KRA-BOOM! Ravi ne, ghutno par baithe hue hi, ek wehshi ki tarah apne sar (forehead) se Prince ke chehre par de maara. Yeh ek aam headbutt nahi tha. Yeh ek hathoda tha. Prince ka naak ka haddi tootne ka awaaz poore hall mein goonja. CRUNCH! Prince dard se chillaata hua pichhe gira, uska poora chehra khoon se laal ho gaya.
Ravi utha. Uske chehre par... koi dard nahi tha. Sirf ek thanda calculation.
(Inner Monologue - Ravi): "Speed hai. Power hai. Par discipline nahi. Gusse mein ladta hai. Uska gussa... uska kamzori hai."
Move 4 (The Brutal Exchange): Prince gusse mein pagal ho gaya. "HARAMZAADE!" Woh ek zakhmi saand ki tarah Ravi par toota. Usne punches ka baarish kar diya. Ravi defense par tha. Woh Prince ke har vaar ko rok raha tha, deflect kar raha tha. Uska zakhmi haath (left) lagbhag bekaar tha, par woh apne right hand aur pairon se lad raha tha. Prince ne ek zordaar hook punch Ravi ke jabde par maara. Ravi ne block kiya. Par yeh ek feint (dhokha) tha. Jaise hi Ravi ne punch block kiya, Prince ne apne daanton se... Ravi ke gale (neck) par kaatne ke koshish kiya. Ravi jhatke se pichhe hata.
Move 5 (The Turning Point - The Knife): Prince phir se jhapta. Is baar usne Ravi ko grapple kar liya. Dono zameen par gir gaye. Prince, jo zyada taaqatwar tha, oopar aa gaya. Usne Ravi ke chehre par punches maarne shuru kiye. THUD! THUD! Ravi block kar raha tha, par Prince ka wazan uspar haavi tha. Tabhi Prince ki nazar Ravi ke kandhe mein ghuse knife par padi. "Good night, Shehzaade." Prince ne Ravi ke chehre ko chhod kar... uss knife ke handle ko dono haathon se pakad liya... aur usey ghumaane ki koshish ki... taaki woh andar hi andar sab kuch kaat de. Ravi ka aankhein dard ki uss inteha se phail gaye jo bayaan nahi kiya jaa sakta. Uska peeth zameen se uth gaya. "AAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!" Yeh ek insaan ka cheekh nahi tha. Yeh Qayamat ki dahaad tha.
(Reaction - Chhat Par)
Trio ne yeh dekha.
PEHLA SAAYA: "Woh mar gaya..."
(Reaction - Truck Ke Neeche) Aryan ne apni aankhein band kar liye.
Par Ravi mara nahi. Ussi dard mein... ussi aag mein... usne apne zakhmi haath (left hand) se... Prince ki aankhon mein apni ungliyan ghusaane ki koshish kiya. Prince ne dard se apna chehra pichhe kiya... ...Aur yahi Ravi ko chahiye tha. Ravi ne Prince ki pakad (jo knife par tha) ko ignore kiya... usne apni taangein uthaya... Prince ki gardan ke chaaron taraf unhein lock kiya (Triangle Choke)... ...Aur apni poori taaqat... apni poori nafrat... uss lock mein jhonk diya.
Prince ka chehra, jo abhi laal tha, ab neela padne laga. Woh Ravi ke kandhe ka knife chhod kar apni gardan par lage lock ko kholne ki koshish karne laga. Par Ravi ki pakad... lohe ki thi. Ghhh... ghhhh... Prince ki aankhein bahar aane lagin.
ARJUN: (Dehshat se chillaaya) "COMMANDOS! MAARO USSE! SHOOT HIM!"
Commandos ne apni rifle uthaye. Par unhein darr tha ki goli Prince ko na lag jaaye.
Tabhi... Prince, jo mar raha tha, ne apni aakhri chaal chala. Usne apni jeb se ek chota sa combat knife nikaala... aur usey Ravi ki pasliyon (ribs) mein ghusa diya. SHANK! Ravi ki pakad (Triangle Choke) dard se ek pal ke liye dheela pada. Prince uss pakad se nikla, khaansta hua, haanfta hua.
Dono khade hue. Ravi... jiske kandhe mein ek knife tha. Aur ab ek knife pasliyon mein. Khoon beh raha tha. Prince... jiska naak aur jabda toot chuka tha, gala neela pad gaya tha.
RAVI: (Uska awaaz ab ek sargoshi nahi, ek dahaad tha) "Kyunki main Qayamat hoon."
Prince ne gusse mein ek aakhri, wehshi hamla kiya. Ek spinning heel kick. Ravi is baar taiyaar tha. Woh neeche nahi jhuka. Usne kick ko block nahi kiya. Usne... uss ghoomte hue pair ko... hawa mein hi pakad liya. Prince ka poora jism hawa mein hi ruk gaya, uska balance bigad gaya.
Ravi ne Prince ke опор (supporting) leg ke pichle hisse par – hamstring par – ek sateek, brutal heel kick nahi maara. Usne... uss pair (jise pakda tha) ko ghuma diya... ...Aur Prince ke doosre pair ke ghutne (supporting knee) par... side se... poori taaqat se stomp (laat) maara.
SSSSNNNNAAAAAAPPP!
Yeh awaaz... goliyon ke awaaz se bhi tez thz. Yeh haddi ke do tukde hone ki awaaz tha. Prince ki cheekh poore hall mein, poore pahaadon mein goonj gaya. "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!" Uska pair bejaan ho gaya. Woh zameen par gir pada, tadapne laga
Khel khatm tha. Iblis... ghutno par tha.
Ravi uske saamne khada tha. Khoon se lathpath. Do knives uske jism mein. Par woh khada tha. Arjun ka chehra... safed pad chuka tha. Commandos jam gaye the.
Par khel abhi khatm nahi hua tha.
PART 14: MAHAPRALAY KA SHIKANJA
(Lumber Mill Base - Main Hall. Prince zameen par toote hue pair ke saath tadap raha hai. Ravi, do knife wounds se khoon bahaata, khada hai. 30 Commandos ne usse gher rakha hai.)
Sannata.
Sirf Prince ki dard bhari cheekhein ("AAAAAH! MERA PAIR!") uss hall mein goonj rahe the.
Commandos... 30 trained, professional qaatil... jam gaye the. Unhone apne aankhon ke saamne apne leader ke 'Boss' (Prince) ko ek zakhmi, thake hue ladke ke haathon tootte hue dekha tha. Unke rifles Ravi par tane the, par unki ungliyan trigger par kaanp rahe the. Unka dimaag yeh process hi nahi kar paa raha tha.
Ravi ne Prince ki taraf dekha bhi nahi.
Usne apni nazrein uthaya. Khoon se lathpath. Aur seedha... Arjun Rathore par lock kar deen.
Arjun, jo ab tak jeet ka jashn mana raha tha, uss nazar ko mehsoos karte hi kaanp gaya. Uska chehra safed pad gaya. Yeh ek insaan ki nazar nahi thi. Yeh Qayamat ka nazar tha, jo apne agle shikaar ko chun chuka tha.
Ravi ne... ek kadam aage badhaya. Arjun ke taraf.
ARJUN: (Dehshat se chillaaya, uska awaaz phat gaya) "FIRE! MAARO USSE! GOLI CHALAO! SAB KE SAB! MAAR DAALO USSE!"
Commandos hosh mein aaye. Unhone ek saath trigger dabaane ka socha. 30 rifles... ek zakhmi aadmi.
Par tabhi...
(Reaction - Chhat Par)
TEESRA SAAYA:
(Jaise hi commandos ne trigger par ungli rakha) "...Ab!"
[DO-TARFA HAMLA (THE REAL WAR)]
Action 1: The Phantoms Strike (Saayon Ka Hamla)
CLICK!BZZT! Hall ki lights... phir se... band ho gaye. TEMPEST ne chhat se hi ek EMP grenade phenka tha. Hall mein poora andhera chha gaya. Sirf helicopters ki searchlights baahar se aa rahi theen.
"EMP! EMP! NVGs DOWN!" (Night Vision Goggles) Commandos chillaaye. Unke mehenge NVGs ek pal ke liye flare hue aur mar gaye. Woh andhe ho chuke the. "SWITCH TO THERMAL! KAHAN HAIN WOH!"
Par isse pehle ki thermal vision on hota...
BZZZZZZT! TEMPEST ne neeche 10-12 Shock Discs phenk diye. Discs commandos ke body armor se chipak gaye aur high-voltage current chhod diya. 10 commandos... zameen par gir kar tadapne lage, unke jism aithne lage, unki cheekhein unke gale mein hi ghut gaye.
Pfft... pfft... pfft... pfft... pfft! Andhere mein, REVENANT ne chhat se neeche fire karna shuru kar diya. Uska suppressed pistols se nikla har goli, ek headshot tha. Ek commando ne thermal vision on kiya... "Got you!"... Pfft. Goli seedha uske thermal scope ke aar-paar hote hue uski aankh mein jaa lagi. 5 aur commandos bina awaaz kiye gir gaye.
SWISH... THUMP. SWISH... THUMP. PHANTOM ek bhoot ki tarah neeche utri. Koi usey dekh nahi paaya. Usne andhere mein... ek-ek karke... apne monofilament wire (behad patla, adrishya wire) se 3 commandos ke sar (heads) hi unke jism se alag kar diye. Ek commando ne fire kiya, par uski goliyan uske apne hi saathi ko lagin, jiska sir uske saamne zameen par gira.
30 mein se... 18 commandos... 10 second mein dher ho chuke the.
Action 2: Qayamat's Rage (Qayamat Ka Gussa)
Bache hue 12 commandos ghabra gaye. Woh andhere mein, do alag-alag dushmano par, andhadhund fire karne lage. "KAHAN HO TUM!"
Par Ravi... Ravi uss chaos (afra-tafri) mein ghul gaya. Usey andhere ke zaroorat nahi tha. Woh khud andhera tha. Goliyan uske aas-paas se nikal rahe the.
Woh commandos se lad nahi raha tha. Woh unhein ignore kar raha tha. Woh ek zakhmi, khoon se lathpath missile tha jo apne target (Arjun) par lock tha.
Commando 1: Ne flashlight jalaakar usey dhoondh liya. "FREEZE!" Ravi ruka nahi. Commando ne fire kiya. BLAM! BLAM! Do goliyan... Ravi ke usi zakhmi kandhe mein jaa lagin jismein knife ghusa hua tha. Ravi roya nahi... woh dahaada. "RRRAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHH!" Usne goli khaate hue... daud kar... uss commando ki rifle ko pakda... uski kalai (wrist) ko rifle ke oopar hi tod diya... SNAP! ...aur uss commando ko ek dhaal ki tarah istemaal kiya.
Commando 2 & 3: Ne unpar fire kiya. Goliyan commando 1 ke jism mein lagin. Ravi ne uss laash ko un dono ki taraf phenka... aur unke neeche girte hi... unke upar se koodta hua nikal gaya.
[BAADSHAH GHUTNO PAR]
Arjun Rathore... dehshat se paagal ho chuka tha. Uske commandos mar rahe the. Prince zakhmi tha. Aur woh bhoot (Ravi)... ussi ki taraf aa raha tha. Woh palta aur bhaaga.
THUD!
Woh deewar se nahi... Ravi se takraya. Ravi, jo andhere mein usse bhi tez tha, uske saamne aa khada hua tha.
Arjun zameen par gir gaya.
Hall ki emergency lights (Red) waapis aa gayin.
Manzar badal chuka tha. Hall mein har taraf laashein aur tadapte commandos pade the. Prince ek kone mein behosh tha.
Aur hall ke beech mein... Arjun Rathore... ghutno par baitha tha. Uske saamne... Ravi khada tha. Khoon se lathpath. Kandhe mein do goliyan aur ek knife. Pasliyon mein ek knife. Par khada tha. Aur Arjun ke peeche... The Trio (Revenant, Tempest, Phantom) khade the. Unke hathiyaar abhi bhi tayaar the.
Arjun Rathore... Qayamat aur Saayon ke beech... phans chuka tha.
RAVI: (Uska awaaz ab uska apna nahi tha. Woh Qayamat ka dahaad tha. Usne Arjun ke baal pakde, uska chehra upar uthaya)
"Maine kaha tha na, Arjun...
" RAVI: "...Khel... khatm... main karunga."
Ravi ne apna ghutna uthaya... Arjun ke chehre par maarne ke liye...
Par tabhi...
MAHAPRALAY KA BAAP (THE REAL KING)
GHARRR... GHARRR... GHARRR...
Ek nayi awaaz aaya. Pehle waale paanch helicopters se bhi bhaari. Aisa laga jaise aasman phat gaya ho.
Par yeh awaaz sirf oopar se nahi aa rahe the. Yeh awaaz... chaaron taraf se aa rahe the.
VRRROOOOM! SCREEECH!KRA-BOOM!
Lumber mill ka main gate... visphot (explosion) se udd gaya. CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! Mill ki kamzor deewarein... toot kar gir gayin.
Chaalis (40)... Military-grade Armored SUVs aur Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs)... mill ke compound mein ghus aaye. Unhone ek ring of death (maut ka ghera) bana liya. Unki hazaaron watt ki LED floodlights ek saath jalin... Raat... din mein badal gayi. Ravi, Trio, sab uss be-rehem roshni mein andhe ho gaye.
Aur un gaadiyon se... DO SAU (200) log utre. Yeh Prince ke commandos nahi the. Yeh Vikram Rathore ka private army tha. Full black tactical gear. Ballistic helmets. Quad-NVGs. Aur unke haathon mein... military-grade LMGs (Light Machine Guns) theen. Unhone ek pal mein... Ravi, Trio, aur har zinda cheez par... position le liye.
GHARRR... GHARRR...
Ab... woh vishaal Mi-26 Transport Helicopter... uss roshni ke beech... neeche utra. Uske rotor wash (hawa) itne tez the ki laashein aur metal ke tukde udne lage.
Helicopter ka pichla hissa (Ramp) hawa mein hi khula... Aur un sabke beech... ek shakhsiyat ne qadam rakha. Lambe kad ka. Kaale, mehenge coat mein. Chehre par koi bhaav nahi, sirf sadiyon purani thandak. Aankhon mein power ka nasha nahi... power khud tha.
Vikram Rathore.
Woh ramp se neeche utra, uske mehenge joote Kai ke khoon par pade. Usne neeche bichi laashon (Prince ke 30 commandos) ko dekha. Usne apne zakhmi, dehshat-zada bete (Arjun) ko dekha. Usne behosh Prince ko dekha.
Uske chehre par koi expression nahi badla.
Uski aankhein aakhir mein Ravi par jaakar ruken... jo abhi bhi Arjun ko pakde hue tha.
Do sau (200) rifles ke safety switch... ek saath... off hue. Har gun ka laser sight... Ravi ke jism par... laal nishaan bana raha tha.
Ravi... ab Mahapralay se ghir chuka tha.
Bilkul. Shikanja kass chuka hai. Mahapralay ke baad, ab Baadshah ki baari hai.
PART 15: MAHAPRALAY KA SHIKANJA
(Lumber Mill Base - Main Hall. Vikram Rathore ki 200 logon ki sena ne sabko gher liya hai. Har gun Ravi par tani hai.)
Sannata.
Ek aisa sannata jo 200 rifles ke safety switch off hone ki awaaz se toota tha. Helicopters ki searchlights... 40 gaadiyon ki floodlights... sab ek hi insaan par focus the.
Ravi.
Woh Arjun ke baal pakde khada tha. Khoon se lathpath. Kandhe mein do goliyan aur ek knife. Pasliyon mein ek knife. Uska jism kaanp raha tha... thakaan se... khoon behne se... par uska pakad lohe ka tha.
RAVI: (Dahaadte hue, par awaaz mein thakaan saaf tha) "PEECHHE HATO! SABKO PEECHHE HATAO! WARNA YEH MAR JAYEGA!"
Vikram Rathore hansa nahi. Usne muskuraya bhi nahi. Usne bas ek lambi, thaka hua saans liya... jaise ek baap apne nalayak bete ki report card dekh raha ho.
Usne Arjun ki taraf dekha, jo darr se kaanp raha tha.
ARJUN: (Kaanpte hue) "D-Dad... P-Peeche hato! Yeh... yeh pagal hai! Yeh mujhe maar dega!"
Vikram ne apna nazar... Arjun se hata liya... aur waapis Ravi par tika diya.
VIKRAM RATHORE: (Awaaz ekdum sapaat, jaise mausam ka haal bata raha ho) "Tum... ek zakhmi, marte hue ladke... meri 200 gunon ke saamne... mujhe order de rahe ho?"
Woh ek pal ruka.
VIKRAM RATHORE: (Arjun se) "Tum... meri sabse badi galti ho. Itna shor... itna gandagi... ek ladke ko sambhaal nahi paaye."
Woh waapis Ravi ko dekhta hai.
VIKRAM RATHORE: "Maaro usse."
ARJUN: (Dehshat se chillaaya, uska aankhein phat gaye) "NAHI! DAD! NAHI! RUKO! YEH MUJHE MAAR DEGA! DAD!"
VIKRAM RATHORE: (Apne bete ki taraf dekhe bina) "Toh mar jao. Rathore khandaan ko kamzor logon ki zaroorat nahi hai."
Yeh... antim farmaan tha. 200 commandos ke ungliyan trigger par kass gaye.
Trio ne yeh dekha.
TEMPEST: "Woh... apne hi bete ko marwa raha hai."
REVENANT: "Nahi. Woh checkmate bol raha hai. Woh jaanta hai ki woh ladka (Ravi) ek masoom (Arjun) ko nahi maarega... bhale hi Arjun kitna bhi bura ho."
Aur Vikram sahi tha. Ravi ki aankhon mein ek pal ke liye... hichkichahat aayi. Uski pakad... Arjun par... ek pal ke liye... dheeli padi.
Vikram ki aankhon mein ek jeet ki chamak aayi. Pakad liya.
Par Ravi ne Arjun ko chhoda nahi. Usne Arjun ko... ek hathiyaar ki tarah istemaal kiya.
RAVI: (Dahaadte hue) "RRRAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHHHHH!"
Usne apni aakhri taaqat se... Arjun ko ghumaaya... aur usse phenk diya... ...seedha commandos ki pehli line par!
Commandos ghabra gaye. Unhone Arjun ko sambhaalne ke liye apne position tode. Aur Ravi... Ravi... Vikram ki taraf nahi dauda.
Woh... uss control room ki taraf dauda... jahan se Kai nikla tha. Uska aakhri soch... uska aakhri maqsad... Sia... Jaanvi...
Ravi ke jism par... ek nahi, do nahi... darjanon tranquilizer darts aa lage. Uska speed... jo Qayamat jaisa tha... ...dheemi padne laga. Uska haath jo seedhi ko pakadne ke liye utha tha... hawa mein hi ruk gaya. Dard... khoon ka behna... aur ab yeh zehar...
Uska jism ab uska saath chhod chuka tha.
Woh... ghutno par gira. Uske aankhon ke saamne... andhera chha raha tha. Behosh hone se pehle... usne aakhri baar upar dekha... ...Vikram Rathore uske saamne khada tha.
Ravi... Qayamat... so gaya tha.
(The Mop-Up)
Jaise hi Ravi gira, The Trio ne ek doosre ko dekha. Khel khatm ho chuka tha.
PHANTOM: "Mission failed. Ab... survival."
Isse pehle ki woh bhaagte... Vikram ke 50 commandos Untak pahunch chuke the. Unhone Trio ko chaaron taraf se gher liya.
COMMANDER: "Hathiyaar neeche. Abhi."
Trio ne ek doosre ko dekha. Woh professionals the. Woh jaante the yeh jung jeeta nahi jaa sakta. Ek-ek karke, unhone apne hathiyaar neeche daal diye.
(Control Room - Thodi der baad)
Vikram Rathore control room mein khada tha. Uske saamne... Behosh Ravi... zanjeeron mein jakda hua tha. Behosh Aarav, YuKi aur 10 Monks... qaid the. The Trio (Revenant, Tempest, Phantom)... ghutno par, haath bandhe hue. Arjun... ek kone mein, zakhmi, par zinda, apne baap ko khauf se dekh raha tha.
Vikram Rathore: (Apne ek guard ko ishara karte hue) "Naqaab utaaro inke."
Guard ne aage badhkar, ek-ek karke, un teeno ke masks kheench diye. Ek pal ke liye hall mein phir se sannata chha gaya. Par is baar yeh sannata khauf ka nahi... hairat ka tha.
Zayn, Adira, Maya... Revenant, Tempest, Phantom... Red Dragon ke yeh khatarnaak saaye... Sirf 15-16 saal ke bachche the.
Wahi chehre jo school ke corridors mein dikhte the. Wahi masoom lagne wale aankhein... jinmein ab haar nahi, sirf ek thandi nafrat tha.
Arjun: (Haklate hue) "T-Tum log...? School mein...? Yeh... yeh sab kya hai?!"
Woh Zayn ko ghoor raha tha, jise usne canteen mein challenge kiya tha. Woh Adira ko dekh raha tha, jo class mein shaant rehta tha. Woh Maya ko dekh raha tha, jo jaise wahan hoti hi nahi thi.
Yeh... yeh namumkin tha.
Zayn ne Arjun ki taraf dekha. Uski aankhon mein ab bhi wahi mazaak tha, par ab woh mazaak behad khooni lag raha tha.
Usne mere maal par haath daala tha... ab main uske sabse khaas logon par haath daalunga. Agar woh chahta hai ki uske yeh pyaare bachche zinda rahein... toh usey khud yahan aana hoga."
Call lag chuka tha. Line ke doosri taraf se phone uthaya gaya. Par koi awaaz nahi aaya. Sirf ek gehra, intzaar karne wala sannata.
Vikram ne phone Adira ke haath se le liya. Uske chehre par ek Baadshah wala muskaan tha.
Vikram Rathore: "Suna hai tum Dragon ho? Main Vikram Rathore. Shayad tumne mera naam suna hoga."
Doosri taraf ab bhi khamoshi tha. Par Vikram ko laga jaise woh khamoshi... usey sun rahi hai.
Vikram Rathore: "Tumne galti kar diye, Dragon. Bahut badi galti. Tumne mere ilaaqe mein ghus kar, mere maal par haath daala. Ab tumhare yeh anmol LOG mere kabze mein hain. Agar tumhein yeh zinda chahiye... toh khud aao. Akele. Jagah main bataunga."
Ek lamba pause. Phir, line ke doosre taraf se ek awaaz aaya. Ek aisa awaaz jo Vikram Rathore ki rooh tak ko hila gaya. Ek awaaz jo na mard ka tha, na aurat ka. Na insaan ki, na machine ki. Ek awaaz jo sadiyon purana lagta tha, aur utna ha naya. Ek awaaz jismein samundar ka gehraayi tha, aur Qayamat ka dahaad bhi.
RED DRAGON (O.S.): (Awaaz itna shaant ki woh cheekh se zyada darawni tha)
"Tumne galti nahi kiya hai, Rathore. Tumne... gunaah kiya hai. Aur Dragon ke saamne gunaah ka maafi nahi hota... sirf saza hota hai. Main aa raha hoon... tumhara anjaam likhne."
Line cut gaya. Vikram Rathore ke haath mein phone ek bejaan cheez ke tarah reh gaya. Uske chehre par jeet ke muskaan... dheere-dheere... khauf mein badal gaya. Usne Red Dragon ko bulaya tha... par usey ehsaas ho gaya tha... ki usne shayad... Qayamat ko hi dawat de diya hai.
Tabhi ek commando andar aaya.
COMMANDO: "Sir. Dono 'packages' (Sia aur Jaanvi) mil gayi hain. Secure hain. Unhein kahan le jaana hai?"
Vikram ne behosh Ravi ki taraf dekha.
VIKRAM RATHORE: (Ek sard muskaan ke saath) "Sabko SAFE HOUSE le chalo."
VIKRAM RATHORE: "Mahapralay... ab mere mehmaan-khaane mein jaagega."
Bina unki taraf palte, uska nazrein ab bhi uss jungle par tha)
