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Thriller"D R A C O – Sach Ka Pehredaar Ya Tabahi Ka Naam?"
Yeh sirf lafz nahi, yeh 'Qayamat' ki aakhri sargoshi hai.Yeh kahani nahi, yeh 'Mahapralay' ka ant hai.Toofan ab shaant ho chuka hai. Andhera ab simat chuka hai.
Is anjaam ko sirf padhna mat... iske baad ki khamoshi ko apne rooh mein mehsoos karna. Har tabahi ke baad ki shaanti ko suno. Har zakhm ke bharne ke ehsaas ko dekho.
Agar iss 'Mahapralay' ka anjaam tumhare dil tak pahuncha hai, toh apne Like aur Follow se is kahani ko hamesha ke liye amar kar do.
Yeh safar shayad bahut lamba tha, par 'Mahapralay' ka ant bhi utna hi bhaari hota hai. Jo tumne dekha, woh aakhri shola tha... jo ab bujh chuka hai.
YEH ANJAAM THA.
Asli 'Mahapralay' ab khatm ho chuka hai. Agle update mein woh nayi subah hoga, jiska tumne sirf intezaar kiya hai.Ruko... aur saans lo...
(Scene: Resort, Presidential Suite - Kuch der baad)
Sab suite ki sheeshe ki deewar se baahar dekh rahe the.
Ek behad advanced, stealth technology wala, matt-black helicopter pahaadon ke beech se nikalta hua resort ki taraf aa raha tha. Us par koi nishaan nahi tha. Woh akele aaya tha. Uska awaaz itna kam tha ki woh ek bhoot ki tarah hawa mein tairta hua lag raha tha.
Helicopter resort ke main ground mein land hua. Uske engine band ho gaye. Kuch pal tak koi harkat nahi huA. Ek ajeeb sa, intezaar karne wala sannata.
Phir, uska darwaza khula.
Andar se sirf ek shakhs neeche utra.
Usne ek behad sophisticated, full-body tactical suit pehna hua tha, jo kaale aur gehre khooni laal rang ka tha, jaise raat aur lahu ka milan ho. Uska chehra ek aisi advanced helmet ke peeche chhipa tha jiska visor bilkul kaala tha – ek aisa andhera jiske paar dekhna namumkin tha. Uske suit ke seene par ek stylized Dragon ka emblem bana hua tha, jo andhere mein bhi halka sa chamak raha tha.
Woh bilkul shaant khada raha, jaise Vikram ke 200 commandos, jo ab positions le chuke the, uske liye astitva hi na rakhte hon. Usne surrender karne ka koi ishara nahi kiya, na hi ladne ka. Woh bas khada tha. Ek statue. Ek anjaana khatra.
Vikram ke 20 elite commandos ne use chaaron taraf se gher liya, unke advanced assault rifles ke laser dots uske suit par naachne lage. Par woh hila tak nahi. Jaise woh faulaad ka bana ho.
Vikram ne suite ke secure intercom par aadesh diya. "Use yahan le aao. Agar koi bhi hoshiyari kare... toh shoot to kill. Sir nahi... pairon par. Mujhe yeh zinda chahiye... abhi ke liye."
Commandos uske paas badhe. Usne koi virodh nahi kiya. Ek kaidi ke tarah nahi, ek baadshah ki tarah jo apni marzi se darbaar mein jaa raha ho, woh unke saath chal pada.
Kuch hi minute mein, suite ka bhaari darwaza khula. Do commando us suit pehne hue shakhs ko andar laaye aur Vikram Rathore ke saamne, suite ke beechon-beech laakar khada kar diya.
PART 2: BAADSHAH KE SAAMNE (Before the King)
Vikram ne whiskey ka aakhri ghoont bhara aur glass ko side table par rakha. Woh apni aalishan kursi se utha aur us anjaan shakhs ke saamne aakar khada ho gaya. Dono ke beech bas kuch foot ki doori thi. Ek saltanat ka Baadshah... doosri, anjaani, khooni saltanat ke numainde ke saamne.
Vikram: (Awaaz mein ghamand aur tanziya lehja) "Toh... yeh hai Red Dragon. Jiske naam ke khauf se poora Mumbai kaanpti hai."
Uska nazar us shakhs par upar se neeche tak gaya, jaise koi apne naye khareede hue ghulam ko parakh raha ho. "Ghutno par aa jao. Tumhare liye ek aakhri offer hai. Mere saath shaamil ho jao. Rathore ka saltanat aur Dragon ka khauf. Hum mil kar is desh ka... nahi, is duniya ka kismat likhenge."
Woh ek pal ruka, uska aankhein barf jaisi thanda ho gaya. "Aur agar inkaar kiya... toh tum mere liye sirf ek badhta hua museebat ho. Aur main museebaton ko paalta nahi, unka kabr khodta hoon."
Prince sofe se uth khada hua, uska aankhon mein ek shaitani, bachkaani chamak tha. Woh aage badha aur us anjaan shakhs ke helmet par apni ungli se knock kiya, jaise darwaza khatkhata raha ho.
Prince: "Uncle, yeh bejaan putla kya bolega? Iska naqaab utaariye. Dekhein toh sahi, is suit ke peeche kaun sa launda... ya shayad laundiya chhipi hai." Woh gande tarah hansa.
Vikram ne sar hilaya. "Sahi kaha. Utaaro iska naqaab!"
Par uska zaroorat nahi pada. Us shakhs ne apne haath uthaye aur behad dheere-dheere, apne helmet ke side mein lage locks ko kholne laga. Ek halka sa 'hiss' ka awaaz aaya. Phir doosra.
Usne apna helmet utaar diya.
Aur jaise hi helmet utra... kamre mein ek qaatil sannata chha gaya. Vikram Rathore ki aankhein hairaani se phail gaya, jaise usne bhoot dekh liya ho. Prince ke haath se uska knife chhoot kar 'thud' ke awaaz ke saath mehenge Persian carpet par gir gaya. Commandos bhi ek pal ke liye apni bandookein neeche karna bhool gaye.
Jis Red Dragon ne poore desh mein dehshat macha rakha tha... Jisne poora Mumbai police aur underworld ko ghutno par la diya tha...
Woh sirf ek 15-16 saal ka ladka tha. Patla sa, lamba, chehre par ek ajeeb sa masoomiyat jo uske wajood se bilkul mel nahi kha raha tha. Par uska aankhon mein... ek aisa gehraai tha, ek aise sadiyon purani thandak thi jo uske umar se kahin zyada the.
Vikram ko ek zabardast jhatka laga. Uska itna bada dushman... ek bachcha? Yeh uski beizzati thi. Yeh uske power ka mazaak tha.
Par us ladke ne Vikram ki soch ke bilkul vipreet kaam kiya. Usne ghutno par aane ki jagah, behad shaanti se aage badh kar, Vikram ke saamne waale aalishan, khaali pade sofe par aise baith gaya, jaise woh us suite ka, us resort ka, is poori situation ka maalik ho.
RED DRAGON: (Uska awaaz shaant tha, par usmein ek aisi authority tha jo hawa mein wazan daal raha tha) "Vikram Rathore. Aur Prince... tera baap Mumbai ka Don hai na? Baitho. Dono baitho."
Yeh hukm tha. Ek aisa hukm jise ignore karna mushkil tha. Vikram aur Prince, jo ab tak hairat mein the, anjaane mein hi waapis apni jagahon par baith gaye.
RED DRAGON: "Tum mujhe apni team mein shaamil karne, ghutno pe laane, ya maarne ka faisla karo... usse pehle, main tum sab ko ek kahaani sunaata hoon."
Woh thoda aage jhuka. Uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb si, gehri chamak thi, jaise woh unpar taras kha raha ho.
RED DRAGON: "Tumhe kya lagta hai... tum log baazi jeet gaye? Dragon ko pakad liye?"
Woh hansa. Ek feeki, thandi hansi jo kisi ke bhi rooh ko barf kar de.
"Tumhare galatfehmi door kar doon. Dragon aasmaan mein udne wala woh cheez hai, jo tum jaise zameen ke keedon ke taraf dekhta bhi nahi. Aur tumhe kya lagta hai... main Asli Dragon hoon? Asli Dragon ke saamne aane ke liye... tumhare rooh bhi ijaazat nahi dega."
Yeh sunkar Vikram aur Prince ke chehre par ek naya, gehra khauf utar aaya. Toh yeh... yeh asli Dragon nahi hai?
PART 3: ATEET KA GOONJ AUR EK KAHAANI
ATEET KI GOONJ (RAVI'S MIND - WITHIN THE SUITE)
Suite mein RED DRAGON ka awaaz goonj raha tha, par ussi pal, behosh Ravi ke dimaag mein yaadon ka ek alag hi toofan chal raha tha. Andhera... aur phir roshni. Flashbacks... tukdon mein.
Woh teen saal ka tha. Ek behad bada, aalishan ghar. Uske aangan mein, hari ghaas par, woh khilkhilata hua daud raha tha. Uske chhote-chhote kadam dagmaga rahe the.
CHHOTA RAVI: "Papa! Papa, mujhe pakad ke dikhao! Pakad ke dikhao!"
Ek lamba, tagda aadmi, jiske chehre par ek robdaar moochh tha, par aankhon mein Ravi ke liye beshumaar pyaar tha, uske peeche daud raha tha. Usne Ravi ko pakda aur hawa mein utha liya.
CHHOTA RAVI: "WEEEE!"
Uske papa ne use gol-gol ghumana shuru kar diya. Ravi ne apne dono haath hawa mein faila diye, jaise uske pankh nikal aaye ho.
CHHOTA RAVI: "Dekho papa! Main hawa mein ud raha hoon! Main ud raha hoon!"
Uske papa ruke. Unhone Ravi ko apne seene se laga liya. Unke awaaz bhaari aur dumdaar thi.
PAPA: "Aise hi... hamesha aasmaan mein udna, beta. Zameen par rehne ke liye bahut log hain."
Unhone Ravi ko neeche utaar kar apni god mein baitha liya. Chhota sa Ravi unke chehre par aaya moochhon se khelne laga.
CHHOTA RAVI: "Papa... aap ko sab 'Wild Tiger' kyun kehte hain? Kya aap jungle mein rehte ho? Main bhi aap ka beta hoon. Kya main bhi Tiger hoon?"
Uske papa ne uske sar par haath phera. Unki aankhon mein ek ajeeb sa chamak tha, jaise woh uska bhavishya dekh rahe ho.
PAPA: "Nahi, beta. Tu... hamesha aasmaan mein udne ke liye paida hua hai. Sher aur Tiger zameen par raaj karte hain. Par aasmaan ka sirf ek hi raja hota hai."
Unki awaaz ek raaz ki tarah dheemi ho gaya. "Tu Tiger nahi hai."
"Tu Dragon hai."
"Ek Dragon, jo hamesha aasmaan mein raaj karta hai."
Ravi ke behosh dimaag mein yeh lafz... 'Dragon'... goonj raha tha. Ek anjaani, bhooli hui pehchaan jaag raha tha.
KASHMIR KI KALI RAAT
Suite mein, RED DRAGON ne apni kahaani shuru kiya. Uska awaaz shaant tha, par har lafz mein ek aisa taaqat tha jo sabko sunne par majboor kar raha tha.
"Aaj main kuch aisa sunane jaa raha hoon, jise aaj tak maine apne ghar walon ke alawa kisi se share nahi kiya," usne kaha
"Umr yahi koi 10 saal ka raha hoga.Ek bacha apne parents ke saath Kashmir gaya hua tha. Poore teen mahine ki chhuttiyon par. Wahan, ek din, wo ek local school dekhne gaye. Sab kuch kitna shaant tha, kitna normal... aur tabhi... woh kaan phaad dene wala awaazein goonja. Hamla hua tha.”
FLASHBACK: 6 SAAL PEHLE
BARF PAR LAHU KA PEHLA RANG
JANNAT MEIN JAHANNUM
KASHMIR KI VAADIYAAN
Hawa mein kesar aur barf ki mehak tha. Jheel ka paani aasmaan ka aks liye aise shaant tha, jaise waqt khud yahan aakar theher gaya ho. Par us din, jannat mein jahannum utarne wala tha.
Ek 10 saal ka ladka, jiska naam Aarush tha, apne parents ke saath ek local school ke annual function mein tha. Woh sheher ki bheed se aaya tha, uske liye yeh shaanti ek naya anubhav tha. Usi function mein, school ke bachchon ke beech, ek 9 saal ka ladka baitha tha. Uska aankhon mein ek aisa thehra hua khamoshi tha, jaise woh is duniya ka hissa hokar bhi isse bahut door ho. Woh chupchaap apni sketchbook mein ek pencil se pahaadon ki tasveer bana raha tha.
School ke gate ko todte hue, 40 aatankwadi, haathon mein AK-47 aur nafrat liye, andar daakhil hue. Unhone school ko ek qile mein badal diya. 200 bachche, teachers, aur Aarush jaise kuch tourists... sab ab unke qaid mein the.
Dehshat hawa mein zeher ke tarah phail gaya. Bachche ro rahe the, unke maa-baap gidgida rahe the. Aarush, dar ke maare, ek desk ke neeche chhipa hua kaanp raha tha.
Par wo Bacha... woh abhi bhi shaant tha. Usne bas ek pal ke liye upar dekha, jaise machharon ke bhinbhinane se uske painting mein khalal pad gaya ho, aur phir waapis apne kaam mein lag gaya. Uske pencil ab bhi utne hi shaanti se kaagaz par chal raha tha. Yeh khamoshi... dar se bhi zyada darawani tha.
AAG KA JANAM(The Birth of Fire)
Ek aatankwadi, shayad unka commander, ka nazar uss Bacha par pada. Is maahaul mein ek bachche ka yeh sukoon use apni beizzati laga. Woh gurrata hua uss Bache ke paas aaya.
Terrorist: "Kya bana raha hai, be?"
usne sketchbook chheen liya. Usmein ek khoobsurat pahaad ka tasveer tha. Usne gusse mein us sketchbook ko Bache ke aankhon ke saamne phaad diya. Kaagaz ke tukde hawa mein udne lage.
"Apna kabr bana raha tha kya?" woh hansa.
Aarush ne dekha... woh bachcha ab bhi shaant tha. Woh dheere se neeche jhuka aur apna phati hua sketchbook ke pannon ko aise uthane laga, jaise woh toote hue sheeshe ke tukde ho.
Yeh shaanti us aatankwadi ke bardasht se baahar ho gaye. Usne bachche ka collar pakda aur use ek haath se hawa mein utha liya.
Terrorist: "Jawaab de!"
Aur tab... Aarush ne woh dekha jo woh apne zindagi mein kabhi nahi bhool paaya.
Us bachche ki aankhon mein jo khamoshi ka samandar tha, usmein aag ka ek jwalamukhi phat pada. Uska aankhein, jo ab tak shaant tha, ek pal mein laal ho gaya. Jaise andar soya hua koi shaitaan jaag gaya ho.
Jis pencil se woh kuch pal pehle kaagaz par jaan daal raha tha... ab us pencil ne kisi ka jaan le liya tha.
SSHHHCK!
Isse pehle ki woh aatankwadi palak jhapkaata, us bachche ne hawa mein hi apne haath ko ghumaaya aur woh pencil... poori taaqat se... us aatankwadi ki gardan aur kandhe ke beech ke us soft spot mein ghusa di , jahan se saari nasein dimaag tak jaata hain.
Pencil poori ki poori uske jism mein utar gaya.
Aatankwadi k aankhein phata reh gaye. Uske munh se cheekh ke jagah bas ek halka sa 'ghhh' ki awaaz nikla. Uska pakad dheeli pad gaya.
Par yeh... yeh toh bas shuruaat tha. Ab shuru hua tha... maut ka taandav.
EK BACHCHE KA TAANDAV (THE CHILD'S RAMPAGE)
Us bachche ne aatankwadi ka girta hua laash se khud ko alag kiya. Ek perfect backflip ke saath, usne land karne se pehle hi us laash ke jabde par aisa laat maara ki haddi tootne ka awaaz poore kamre mein goonj gaya. Baahar se awaaz sunkar, kuch aur terrorist, haathon mein AK-47 liye, daudte hue andar aaye.
BRUTAL ACTION: 40 KILLS
Woh bachche ko ek laash ke paas khade dekh kar hanse. Par unke hansi jald hi cheekhon mein badalne wala tha."
Unhone trigger dabaya. Par woh wahan tha hi nahi.
Woh hawa ke raftaar se dauda tha. Woh unke goliyon ka nishana nahi tha; woh hawa tha. Usne zameen par ek sweep kick maara, jis se aage waale do terrorist ka balance bigda. Isi mauke ka fayda utha kar, woh unke pairon ke neeche se aise slip hua jaise paani ho, aur unke peeche pahunch gaya. Unke paas palatne ka waqt bhi nahi tha. Uske haath mein wahi pencil tha (jo usne laash se nikaal liya tha). Usne ek terrorist ki kamar ke neeche, jahan body armor nahi tha, wahan pencil ghusa diya. Doosre ki gardan ke peeche. Dono cheekhte hue gir gaye."
Fir Ek terrorist ke pairon ke neeche se slide karte hue, usne apni pencil uske ghutne ke peeche ki nas mein ghusa diya. Jaise hi woh cheekhta hua gira, usne uska AK-47 liya. Par usne goli nahi chalaya. Usne gun ko ulta pakda aur uske bhaari stock aur ek terrorist ke chehre par vaar kiya. Naak aur daant tootne ka awaaz aaya.
Ek aur ke taraf usne gun phenka, jaise hi usne gun ko pakda, Bacha ne daud kar uske seene par aisa laat maara ki woh deewar se ja takraya. Agle ke paas pahunchne tak, usne zameen se ek toota hua compass utha liya tha. Usne terrorist ke aankh mein woh compass ghusa diya.
"Baaki do ghabra gaye. Ek ne andha-dhund firing shuru kar diya. Woh bachcha pillars aur desks ke peeche aise move kar raha tha jaise yeh uska playground ho. Usne ek desk ko laat maara, jo seedha ek terrorist ke ghutno par ja laga. Jaise hi woh neeche gira, bachche ne daud kar, deewar par pair rakh kar, hawa mein chhalang lagaya aur apni dono taangein us terrorist ki gardan mein phansa diya. Usne poori taaqat se apni body ko ghumaaya. CRACK! Gardan tootne ka saaf awaaz aaya."
"Aakhri terrorist ab kaanp raha tha. Usne bachche par gun taani, par woh bachcha wahan tha hi nahi. Woh uske peeche tha. Usne terrorist ke gun waale haath ko pakda, uski kohni ko ulta moda, aur uske hi haath se trigger dabwa diya. Goli seedha us terrorist ke apne pair mein ja lagi. Jaise hi woh cheekhta hua gira, bachche ne uske haath se gun chheeni, use reverse pakda, aur gun ke stock se uske chehre par tab tak maara, jab tak woh behosh nahi ho gaya."
Cheekhein. Ab tak 10-12 aur aatankwadi, goliyon ki awaaz sunkar, us hall mein jama ho chuke the.
Woh bachcha ab shikaari ban chuka tha. Woh ek classroom mein ghusa, darwaza band kiya aur khidki se kood kar baahar nikal gaya. Jaise hi aatankwadi darwaza tod kar andar ghuse, darwaze ke upar chhipa woh bachcha unke upar kood gaya. Usne ek ke sar ko pakad kar deewar par de maara, doosre ki gardan ko apne pairon mein phansa kar tod diya.
Dehshat phail gaya. Aatankwadi ab ek anjaane, un-dekhe dushman se lad rahe the. Woh ek bachche ko nahi, ek bhoot ko dhoondh rahe the.
Woh school ke har kone ko apna hathiyaar bana raha tha:
Chemistry Lab Mein: Usne do acid ki bottles ko milakar ek temporary smoke bomb banaya. Jab 3 aatankwadi dhuein mein andhe hue, usne ek ko test-tube se aankh par maara. Doosre ke gale mein tooti hui beaker ghusa di. Teesre ke munh mein Nitric Acid udel diya. Uska cheekhein corridor mein goonj gaya.
Sports Room Mein: Usne hockey stick se ek aatankwadi ke dono pair tod diye. Doosre ke gale mein skipping rope phansa kar use fan se latka diya. Teesre ko usne cricket bat se itna maara ki bat toot gaya.
Library Mein: Woh shelves ke upar chhip gaya. Jaise hi koi neeche se guzarta, woh ek bhaari kitaab uske sar par giraata, aur uske behosh hote hi, woh neeche kood kar, ek toote hue ruler ki tez dhaar se uska gala kaat deta.
Woh shor nahi kar raha tha. Har maut... khamosh the. Laashein bas milta jaa raha tha. Aatankwadi pagal ho gaye. Woh andhere corridors mein ek doosre par hi shak karne lage. Unka dushman ek 9 saal ka bachcha nahi, unka apna khauf ban chuka tha.
Aakhri 7 aatankwadi bache the. Unka leader bhi unhi mein tha. Unhone bachchon ko assembly hall ke stage par ikattha kar liya. Unhone socha, ab woh bachcha unke saamne aane par majboor hoga.
Woh bachcha saamne aaya. Bilkul shaant. Uska chehra... khoon ke chheeton se bhara hua tha.
Leader: (Haste hue) "Ek bachche ke liye itna dar? Maar do isse!"
Unhone ek saath fire kiya. Par woh bachcha ek parchhayi ki tarah unke goliyon ke beech se nikal gaya. Woh stage ke parde ke peeche gayab ho gaya.
Kill 34: Ek pal baad, stage ke upar se, lohe ki ek bhaari lighting rod aakar ek aatankwadi ke sar par gira. SQUELCH! Woh wahin dher ho gaya.
Kill 35 & 36: Isse pehle ki baaki upar dekhte, woh bachcha stage ke neeche se nikla aur do aatankwadiyon ke pairon ko kheencha. Jaise hi woh gire, usne unke saron ko stage ke concrete edge par patak diya. CRACK! CRACK!
Ab sirf leader aur 3 log bache the. Woh us par jhapte. Yeh ek brutal, haath-paayi ka ladaai tha.
Kill 37: Usne ek ke haath ko moda, uski chaaron ungliyan ek saath tod diya. SNAP!
Kill 38: Doosre ki kohni ko uske joint se ukhaad diya. POP!
Kill 39: Teesre ko usne utha kar stage se neeche audience (khaali chairs) par phenk diya. Chair toot gayi, aur uski reedh ki haddi bhi.
Ab sirf leader bacha tha. Woh usse double size ka tha. Usne bachche ko pakad liya. Par usne ek bachche ko nahi, aag ko pakda tha. Us bachche ne uske pakad mein rehte hue hi, apni kohni se uske seene par kayi vaar kiye. Phir usne apne daanton se uske haath par kaat liya. Jaise hi leader ki pakad dheela hua, woh azaad hua, ek poora circle ghuma aur apni edi (heel) se us leader ki kanpati par vaar kiya.
THWACK!
Kill 40.
Sab kuch shaant ho gaya.
"Pandrah minute , 40 terrorist. Aur ek 9 saal ka bachcha. Jab tak army andar aayi, tab tak jung khatm ho chuka tha."
unhone apni zindagi ka sabse khaufnaak manzar dekha. Chalees laashein... aur unke beech... khoon se sana ek 9 saal ka bachcha, jo shaanti se apni phati hui sketchbook ke panne utha raha tha.
"Army ne bohot pucha. Par koi bhi yakeen nahi kar paaya ki yeh sab us ek bachche ne kiya hai. Shayad army walon ko bhi pata tha sach kya hai. Woh bhi chup rahe."
DOSTI, JAHANNUM KI TRAINING AUR EK WAADA
Do din beet gaye, Arush ek jheel ke paas ghumne gaya. Aur woh bachcha wahan baitha tha. Bilkul shaant. Pattharon par. Arush bhi uske paas jaakar baith gaya. Dheere-dheere, unke dosti ho gaye. Ek mahine tak, main uska pehla aur aakhri dost tha. Uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb sa khamoshi aur udaasa tha."
Ek din, Arush ne himmat karke kaha, "Mujhe... mujhe bhi tumhare tarah ladna sikhna hai."
Us bachche ne shaanti se Arush ke taraf dekha. "Kal se. Raat ko theek 3 baje, isi jheel ke paas. 60 din tak."
Agle 60 din... jahannum the. Woh ek guru nahi, ek shaitaan tha. Par woh Arush ko insaan se hathiyaar bana raha tha.
Dard Se Dosti: Woh bachcha Aarush ko us barfeeli jheel ke neeche behte jharne (waterfall) ke neeche ghanton khada rakhta, taaki uska jism thand aur dard sehna seekh le. Woh use kaanton par chalata, taaki uske pairon ki chamdi patthar jaisi ho jaye.
Talwaar Ka Falsafa (The Philosophy of the Sword): Paanchve din, us bachche ne ped ki do shaakhein (branches) toda. Ek Aarush ko diya. "Yeh talwaar hai," usne kaha. "Yeh kaatne ke liye nahi, jism ka hissa banne ke liye hota hai." Shuru mein Aarush ne ise khel samjha. Par us bachche ne us par hamla kiya. Har vaar brutal tha. Lakdi ka talwaar Aarush ke haathon, pairon, seene par aise pad rahe the jaise lohe ki rod ho. Aarush cheekhta tha, girta tha, par woh bachcha rukta nahi tha. "Dard ko mat sun," woh kehta tha. "Talwaar ka awaaz ko sun. Hawa ko sun." Usne Aarush ko hazaaron baar ek hi move practice karwaya. Uske haath sooj gaye, jism par neele nishaan pad gaye. Woh bachcha kehta tha, "Talwaar ko pakad mat... use saans lene de. Jab woh khud chalna chahegi, tab tu ek yoddha banega." Usne Aarush ko aankhon par patti baandh kar, sirf awaaz sunkar vaar se bachna sikhaya. Har galat move ka saza... dard tha. Asli, brutal dard.
Jism Ko Hathiyaar Banana: Woh use pedon par laatein aur mukke marwata, tab tak, jab tak uske haathon se khoon nahi nikalne laga. Woh use apne jism ke har joint ko dislocate aur relocate karna sikhata, taaki woh kisi bhi pakad se nikal sake.
Rooh Ki Shanti: Woh usse barf mein, bina kapdon ke, ghanton meditation karwata, taaki woh apni saanson aur dil ki dhadkan ko control karna seekh le. Taaki woh dard, dar aur gusse se upar uth sake.
60 din ki jahannum jaisi training khatm ho chuka tha. Aarush ka jism thak kar toot chuka tha, par uske rooh mein ek nayi aag jal raha tha. Aakhri din, jab woh wahan se jaa raha tha, woh us 9 saal ke bachche ke saamne ruka.
Aarush ka aankhon mein aansu aur samman ka ek toofan tha. Woh ek jhatke mein apne ghutno par aa gaya. Apne guru, apne BOSS, apne bhagwaan ke saamne.
Us bachche ne shaanti se use dekha. Uska awaaz barf se bhi zyada thandi, par ekdum saaf tha.
"Uth."
Aarush ne sar nahi uthaya. Usne kaha, "Aapne mujhe jo diya hai, uske baad main aapke saamne khade rehne ke laayak..."
"MAINE KAHA, UTH!"
Is baar awaaz mein ek aisa authority tha jaise pahaad khud dahaad utha ho. Us bachche ne Aarush ko kandhe se pakda aur ek hi jhatke mein use khada kar diya. Unke aankhein mile.
Bachcha: "Ghutne woh tekte hain jinke paas ya toh himmat nahi hota, ya vikalp nahi hota. Maine tumhe dono diye hain. Maine tumhe jhukna nahi, todna sikhaya hai. Aaj ke baad agar tum jhuke... toh yeh mera training ka beizzati hoga."
Aarush ne kaanpte hue, par ek nayi zidd ke saath uska aankhon mein dekha.
Aarush: "Main is poori duniya mein kisi ke saamne nahi jhukunga, BOSS. Par har niyam ka ek apvaad (exception) hota hai. Aur woh aap hain. Main sirf aapke saamne jhuk sakta hoon."
Us bachche ne Aarush ke aankhon mein uska sachchai dekha. Ek pal ke liye uske chehre par ek ajeeb sa, halka sa bhaav aaya, jaise usne kuch aisa sun liya ho jiska use ummeed nahi tha. Phir woh bhaav gayab ho gaya.
Bachcha (awaaz ab ek ailaan jaisa tha): "Toh sun le, Aarush. Aaj... yeh Dragon apni aatma ka kasam khata hai. Jis din is duniya mein kisi ne tumhe ghutno par laane ka koshish bhi kiya... us din main uska naslon tak ko is zameen se ukhaad phenkunga. Yeh waada nahi hai... yeh ek anjaam hai."
Is ailaan se hawa bhi kaanp utha.
Aarush ne himmat karke pucha, "Dragon? Yeh naam..."
Us bachche ne jheel ke paar, andhere pahaadon ko dekha.
Bachcha: "Mera naam Dragon kisi khaas ne rakhe the Ek waqt tha jab main sirf Dragon tha. Par jo aag mere andar jalta hai... jo nafrat maine peea hai... usne mujhe badal diya hai. Main sirf Dragon nahi hoon. Main RED DRAGON hoon. Aag ka devta (THE LORD OF FLAME)."
Aarush aankhon mein ek nayi chamak, ek naya maqsad ke saath) 'Toh aaj se... main us aag ka, aapke Red Dragon ka... pehla sipahi banunga!'"
"Us bachche ke chehre par ek halki, par dumdaar muskaan aaya. Usne apna haath aage badha kar Aeush ke kandhe par rakha. Pehla baar."
Bachcha: "Nahi. Sipahi saltanat ke liye ladte hain. Woh marte hain, unke jagah naye sipahi le lete hain. Sipahi... replaceable hote hain."
"Usne Arush ke aankhon mein aakhri baar dekha."
Bachcha: "Tum sipahi nahi... Rakhwaala (Guardian) banoge. Sipahi saltanat ki hifazat karte hain. Rakhwaala... Baadshah ka rooh ki hifazat karta hai. Mere bina tum ho... par tumhare bina... Red Dragon ka koi astitva nahi."
"Uske aakhri shabd hawa mein theher gaye— 'Mere bina tum ho... par tumhare bina... Red Dragon ka koi astitva nahi.'"
Is bojh, is vishwas ko mehsoos karke Aarush ka aankhein nam ho gaya. Yeh aansu kamzori ke nahi, us samman ke the jo uska rooh ko bhigo raha tha. Usne apni mutthiyan bheencha, na sirf taaqat ke liye, balki apne andar uthte toofan ko qaabu karne ke liye.
Usne us 9 saal ke bachche ki aankhon mein dekha. Yeh ek student ke nazar nahi tha. Yeh ek bhakt ka nazar tha, jo apne bhagwaan ko dekh raha ho.
Uska awaaz kaanp raha tha, par har lafz ek pathar ki lakeer jaisa saaf aur atoot (unbreakable) tha.
Aarush: "Main banunga..." usne ek saans liya, jaise ek qasam kha raha ho, "...aapke us aag ka, aapke us wajood ka... Main banunga Red Dragon Ka Rakhwaala!"
Us bachche ne koi jawaab nahi diya. Woh bas shaanti se Aarush ka aankhon mein jhaankta raha, jaise uska rooh ke gehraaiyon ko naap raha ho. Uske chehre par koi muskaan nahi tha. Sirf ek sadiyon purana, gambhir samajh tha.
Phir, uska awaaz aaya. Ek sargoshi, jo dahaad se zyada bhaari tha.
Bachcha: "Main jaanta hoon."
Woh ek pal ruka, uska nazar aasmaan ke taraf utha, jaise woh laakhon saal door dekh raha ho.
Bachcha : "Purane kahaniyon mein, Jupiter... devtaon ka raja tha. Sabse bada, sabse taaqatwar. Aasmaan mein, woh ek protector hai. Ek guardian. Uska kashish (gravity) itna zyada hai ki woh bhatakta hua tabahi ko, toote hue taaron ko... apne se chhote grahon tak pahunchne se pehle hi rok leta hai. Unka raasta badal deta hai. Woh ek shant raja hai... jiske andar sadiyon se ek toofan qaid hai. Par woh toofan... hifazat ke liye hai."
Usne apni nazar waapis Aarush par tikaya. Unke nigahein ab ek doosre mein qaid tha.
Bachcha (rooh kaanpa dene wala): "Waisa hi tumhara dil hai, Aarush. Saaf, vishaal... aur ek paidaishi Rakhwaala. Sabhi dilon ke beech... Jupiter ke tarah. Isi liye yeh bojh... yeh zimmedari... yeh aag... sirf tum utha sakte ho."
Aaj se tum sirf arush nahi tum ho JUPITER – THE PROTECTOR.....
ASLI KHATRA (Vartaman)
Kahaani khatm ho chuka tha.
Suite mein maut jaisa sannata phail gaya. Har saans ruke hue the. Vikram Rathore ka chehra gusse aur hairat se laal-peela ho raha tha ,ek anjaana, gehra dehshat se safed padh raha tha .Prince ka haath, jismein woh knife pakadna chahta tha, carpet par hi jam gaya. ARJUN, sofe se chipka hua, kaanp raha tha.
"BAKWAAS! YEH SAB JHUT HAI! Ek... ek 9 saal ka bachcha? 40 trained terrorist? Tum... tum humein bewakoof bana rahe ho! Yeh sab man-gadant kahaniyaan hain! Tum ab mere qabze mein ho, ladke!
Tumhara Red Dragon... tumhara Jupiter... sab yahan, mere kadmon mein khatm hoga!"
Vikram ka dahaad kamre mein goonj kar mar gaya.
Par RED DRAGON... hansa nahi. Woh muskuraaya bhi nahi.
Usne bas... behad dheere se... apni gardan tilt kiya.
CRACK!
Ek halka sa awaaz, jo uss sannate mein Vikram ki dahaad se zyada zor se goonja. Jaise ek shikaari apne shikaar ko dekh kar, hamle se pehle apne jism ko tayaar kar raha ho.
Uske aankhein, jo ab tak shaant the, unke andar ka samandar... barf mein badal gaya. Ek aisa thandak jisne Vikram Rathore ki rooh ko jhinjhod diya.
RED DRAGON: (Awaaz ek sargoshi tha, par woh 200 rifles ki awaaz se zyada bhaari tha) "Kahani...? Tumhe yeh... ek kahani laga, Vikram Rathore?"
Woh sofe se utha. Ekdum shaanti se. Jaise uske paas duniya ka saara waqt ho.
Uske har kadam mein ek aisa authority tha ki Vikram ke 20 elite commandos, jo guns taane khade the, anjaane mein ek kadam peeche hatt gaye.
RED DRAGON: "Tumhara galti yeh nahi ki tumne mujhe pakda. Tumhara galti yeh nahi ki tumne uss kahani ko kahani samjha..."
Yeh ek ailaan tha. Ek aisi thandi, be-rehem awaaz, jisne Vikram ke gusse ko ek pal mein cheer kar uske rooh ke andar khauf ka beej bo diya.
Woh Vikram ki taraf badha. Do commandos ne uspar gun taan'ne ki koshish kiye.
COMMANDO: "FREEZE! WAHIN RUK—"
FWISSH—SNAP!
Isse pehle ki lafz 'RUK' poora hota, Red Dragon ek bhoot ke tarah un do commandos ke beech se nikla. Ek pal mein usne ek commando ki rifle chheena... uska kalai ko ulta ghuma kar tod diya... aur rifle ko doosre commando ki gardan par rakh diya.
Yeh sab... ek saans lene se bhi kam waqt mein hua.
Baaki 18 commandos jam gaye. Unhe samajh hi nahi aaya ki kya hua.
RED DRAGON ne rifle ko zameen par phenk diya, jaise woh ek khilona ho, aur waapis Vikram ke saamne aakar khada ho gaya. Tadapte hue commando ke cheekh ab background music tha.
RED DRAGON: "Tum uss 9 saal ke bachche ke taaqat se darr gaye? Ek bhoot ka kahani se?"
Uske chehre par ek aisa muskaan aaya, jo maut se bhi badtar tha.
RED DRAGON: "Toh socho... jisse uss 9 saal ke SHAITAAN ne... uss Asli Red Dragon ne... 60 din tak, har roz, apne haathon se Jahannum mein ragda ho..."
Woh ek pal ruka, jaise Vikram ke dimaag ko woh zehar peene ka waqt de raha ho.
RED DRAGON: "...WOH KYA HOGA?"
Yeh ailaan sunkar Prince dehshat se cheekhta hua sofe ke peeche gir gaya. Vikram Rathore ke pairon tale zameen nikal gaya.
Woh Vikram ke bilkul saamne aakar ruka. Unke chehre ke beech bas kuch inch ka faasla tha. Vikram Rathore, Baadshah, pehli baar apni zindagi mein, kisi ke saamne peeche hatna chahta tha, par uske pair zameen mein jadd ho chuke the.
RED DRAGON: (Awaaz ab ek sargoshi tha, jo dahaad se zyada darawni tha)
"Tum sach dhoondh rahe ho, Vikram? Tum uss 9 saal ke bachche ko dekhna chahte ho?"
RED DRAGON: "Woh kahani nahi hai... woh sach hai. Aur woh sach... tumhare saamne khada hai."
RED DRAGON: "Main woh 9 saal ka bhoot nahi hoon, Rathore."
Usne apni ungli uthaya... aur Vikram ke seene par nahi... apni khud ki chhaati par rakha.
RED DRAGON: "Main woh 10 saal ka ladka hoon... jisne uss bhoot ko 40 logon ko keedon ki tarah kuchalte hue dekha hai."
RED DRAGON: "Aur jisne agle 60 din... uss Shaitaan ko... apna Guru maana hai."
Ek pal ka sannata. Aur phir... uska awaaz phat pada.
Yeh ek 16 saal ke ladke ka awaaz nahi tha. Yeh ek aise shakti ka dahaad tha jisne uss suite ke deewaron ko kaanpa diya. Yeh uss grah (planet) ka gussa tha jiska naam use diya gaya tha.
RED DRAGON: (AWAZ AB EK DAHAD MEIN BADAL GAYA, JISNE SHEESHE TAK KO KAANPA DIYA)
"TUM JAISO KA AUKAAT BHI NAHI HAI USKE SAAMNE KHADE HONE KA! TUMNE QAYAMAT KO NAHI... QAYAMAT KE SAAYE KO QAID KIYA HAI!"
Vikram ne apne kaano par haath rakh liye.
RED DRAGON: (Dahaadte hue, uska aankhon se nafrat tapak raha tha) "TUMNE DRAGON KO NAHI... USKE RAKHWALE KO CHHEDA HAI!"
RED DRAGON: "RED DRAGON AAG HAI! EK TOOFAN HAI! EK QAYAMAT HAI!"
Usne zor se apni chhaati par haath maara.
RED DRAGON: "AUR MAIN! MAIN WOH PAHAAD HOON JO USS TOOFAN KE RAASTE MEIN AANE WAALI HAR TABAHI KE AAGE KHADA HOTA HAI! MAIN USKA SIPAHI NAHI... MAIN USKA DHAAL HOON!"
RED DRAGON: "MAIN USKA... RAKHWAALA HOON!"
AARUSH: ("MAIN HOON WOH 10 SAAL KA BACHCHA! MAIN HOON AARUSH! MAIN HOON WOH RAKHWAALA JISNE APNE BOSS KE LIYE 60 DIN TAK JAHANNUM JHELA HAI!"
"MAIN WOH DHAAJ HOON JO USS AAG AUR TUM JAISE KEEDON KE BEECH KHADA THA! MAIN USKA RAKHWAALA HOON!"
ARUSH: "MAIN... HOON... JUPITER."
Dahaad khatm hua. Sannata waapis lauta, ab pehle se hazaar guna zyada bhaari. Aarush neeche jhuka, Vikram ke chehre ke saamne, jo ab khauf se kaanp raha tha. Uski awaaz waapis uss barfeeli sargoshi mein laut aayi.
Uska chehra ekdum shaant ho gaya.
Yeh teen lafz sunkar Vikram Rathore ki aankhein phail gayin. Uske 200 commandos... uske hathiyaar... sab be-maayne ho gaye.
ARUSH: (Awaaz waapis uss barfeeli sargoshi mein laut aayi, jo ab aur bhi darawni lag raha tha) "Tumne mujhe ghutno par laane ko kaha... Tumne uss waade ko todne ki koshish kiye..."
" AUR TUMNE... MUJHE GHUTNO PAR LAANE KI KOSHISH KARKE... APNI NASLON KA ANJAAM LIKH DIYA HAI!"
"Aur tumne... abhi abhi... mujhe nahi... tumne uss 9 saal ke Shaitaan ko... Asli Red Dragon ko... yeh khabar bheja hai... ki uska Rakhwaala... khatre mein hai."
Aarush seedha khada hua aur sheeshe ki deewar se baahar pahaadon ko dekhne laga.
AARUSH: "Badhaai ho, Vikram Rathore. Tumne Dragon ko dhoondh liya. Ab... apni maut ka intezaar karo."
Aarush (Jupiter), ne apni nigahein Vikram Rathore aur Prince aur Arjun par tika. Woh ab 16 saal ka masoom ladka nahi lag raha tha. Woh ek sadiyon purana, jaaga hua Rakhwaala lag raha tha.
Aarush (Jupiter): "Toh socho," usne apni thandi, dumdaar awaaz mein kaha. "Jo maine uss 9 saal ke bachche se 60 din tak seekha tha... utna main agle 5 saal mein bhi akele nahi seekh paaya."
Aarush (Jupiter): "Agar main... us jahannum ki training ka ek chhota sa hissa lekar, aur paanch saal khud mehnat karke... aaj yahan tumhare saamne Red Dragon ka parchhayi bankar khada hoon... Uske naam ka ek poora empire khada kar diya hai..."
Tum jaise keedon ki aukaat bhi nahi hai uske saamne khade hone ka!
Yeh sunkar sabke rooh kaanp gaye. Vikram Rathore, Prince, unke commando... sabke chehron par khauf ki ek leher daud gayi.
Yeh ailaan sunkar, Prince dehshat se cheekhta hua sofe ke peeche gir gaya. Vikram Rathore ke pairon tale zameen nikal gayi. Uske 200 commandos... uske hathiyaar... sab be-maayne ho gaye.
Unhein ehsaas ho gaya tha... ki unhone Dragon ko nahi... uske Rakhwaale ko qaid karke... khud Qayamat ko dawat de diye the. Aur ab... toofan unke darwaaze par nahi... unke saamne khada tha. Aur dhaal ko todne ki koshish karne ka matlab... ab toofan khud unke taraf aa raha tha.
Aarush (Jupiter) ka shaant, barfeeli nazar Vikram Rathore ke chehre par jami rahi, jo ab khauf se safed padh chuka tha. Woh dheere se muskuraaya... ek aisi muskaan jo maut se badtar thi.
"Ghabrao mat, Vikram. Tumne use dhoondh liya..."
(Ek pal ka khamosh pause, jo sannate ko aur gehra kar gaya.)
"...aur ab, usne tumhe."
PART 4: JUNGLE MEIN NAYE SHIKAARI (New Hunters in the Jungle - Reactions)
LOCATION: RESORT PERIMETER - BHAIRAVA'S OBSERVATION POST
Resort se kuch kilometer door, pahaadon ke ghane jungle mein, jahan insaan nahi sirf barfili hawa aur anjaan khatre baste the, Bhairava khada tha. Wohi Chambal ka shikaari, jiska jism pathar ka aur iraade faulaad ke the. Uske saath uske 10 sabse khaas, jungli yoddha the, jo saayon ki tarah andhere mein ghule hue the. Woh high-powered military binoculars se resort par nazar rakhe hue the. Unhone helicopter ko aate dekha tha. Unhone Jupiter ko commandos ke saath jaate dekha tha. Unhone suite ki khidkiyon par parchhaiyon ki hulchul dekhi thi.
Bhairava ka Aadmi: "Bhai... Rathore ne bahut bhaari security bulaya hai. Helicopter, commandos... aur yeh naya suit wala... yeh kaun hai? Plan ke mutabik humein ab hamla karna tha."
Bhairava ne binoculars neeche kiye. Uske chehre par gussa nahi, ek thanda calculation tha. Usne Mumbai Port ka khabar suni tha. Red Dragon. Ab yeh suit wala. Yeh log... yeh uske khel ke hisse nahi the.
Bhairava: (Awaaz pattharon ke takrane jaisa) "Nahi. Yeh shikaar ab hamare liye nahi raha. Is jungle mein naye, zyada bhookhe sher aa gaye hain. Humara dushman Rathore hai, yeh anjaane bhoot nahi. Peeche hato. Abhi sirf dekho. Jab sher aapas mein ladte hain... tabhi gidad ko mauka milta hai."
Bhairava jaanta tha... usool todne ka waqt yeh nahi tha. Sabr. Shikaar hamesha sabr karne wale ka hota hai.
LOCATION: ALISHA'S HIDDEN POST - SECURE COMMUNICATION
Resort ke hi ek anjaan kone mein, shayad ek service room mein, Alisha apne encrypted device par tezi se type kar rahi thi. Uski report seedha The Handler ko jaa rahi thi.
Alisha (Report): "Situation Critical. Red Dragon is here. Identified as 'Rakhwaala'. Ravi Mishra neutralized & captured by Rathore. Heavy commando presence. Vikram Rathore & Prince on site. Red Dragon figure confirmed NOT Ravi Mishra, but Mishra's combat skills match 'Apocalypse' level threat profile. Recommend immediate extraction or abort mission."
Jawaab foran aaya. Utna hi thanda, utna hi calculated.
The Handler (Reply): "Negative extraction. Mission parameters changed. Red Dragon's presence not confirm the 'Haveli connection'. Rathore is desperate; Prince is volatile; Ravi is the unknown variable. This chaos... is opportunity. Maintain observation. Do NOT engage unless absolutely necessary. Your new priority: Observe Jupiter. Identify his connection to Ravi. And wait for the real Dragon's move. Abort is not an option."
Alisha ne message delete kar diya. Khel ab aur bhi khatarnaak ho gaya tha. Uska kaam ab sirf Ravi ko todna nahi... is poore khooni shatranj ke har khiladi par nazar rakhna tha.
LOCATION: DISTANT MOUNTAIN PEAK - ZORAWAR'S VANTAGE POINT
Hazaaron feet upar, resort se itne door ki woh sirf ek chamakta hua daag lag raha tha, ek barfili choti par, Zorawar (Scorpio wala) leta hua tha. Uske saamne ek behad powerful, military-grade spotting scope laga hua tha. Usne helicopter ko aate dekha, Jupiter ko pehchaana (shayad?), Ravi ko qaid hote dekha, suite ki khidki se Vikram Rathore ki parchhayi dekhi. Uska kaam sirf Ravi par nazar rakhna tha, par aaj usne kuch aisa dekha tha jiski khabar Samraat tak pahunchna zaroori tha.
Usne apna satellite phone nikala. Signal kamzor tha, par connection jud gaya.
Zorawar: (Awaaz sargoshi jaisa, par har lafz saaf) "Samraat... Shehzaada... qaid ho gaya hai. Rathore ne use pakad liya hai. Par... ek aur hai yahan. Ek saaya. Woh... woh khud ko Red Dragon ka Rakhwaala kehta hai. Jupiter." Woh ek pal ruka, jaise is naam ko bolne mein bhi khatra ho.
Line ke doosri taraf ek lamba, bhaari sannata chha gaya. Itna gehra ki Zorawar ko laga jaise line cut gayi ho. Phir, Samraat ki awaaz aayi. Pehle se zyada thandi. Pehle se zyada khatarnaak.
Samraat (O.S.): "Toh... aakhirkaar... dono shehzaade ek hi maidan mein hain. Khel... ab apne anjaam ki taraf badh raha hai. Nazar rakho, Zorawar. Har saans par. Har qadam par. Qayamat kehai pehredaar ko... kamzor mat samajhna."
Call cut gaya. Zorawar ne scope se phir neeche dekha. Pahaadon par raat utar raha tha. Ek aisa raat... jo shayad subah nahi dekhega.
(Scene: Resort, Presidential Suite - Kuch der baad)
Sab suite ki sheeshe ki deewar se baahar dekh rahe the.
Ek behad advanced, stealth technology wala, matt-black helicopter pahaadon ke beech se nikalta hua resort ki taraf aa raha tha. Us par koi nishaan nahi tha. Woh akele aaya tha. Uska awaaz itna kam tha ki woh ek bhoot ki tarah hawa mein tairta hua lag raha tha.
Helicopter resort ke main ground mein land hua. Uske engine band ho gaye. Kuch pal tak koi harkat nahi huA. Ek ajeeb sa, intezaar karne wala sannata.
Phir, uska darwaza khula.
Andar se sirf ek shakhs neeche utra.
Usne ek behad sophisticated, full-body tactical suit pehna hua tha, jo kaale aur gehre khooni laal rang ka tha, jaise raat aur lahu ka milan ho. Uska chehra ek aisi advanced helmet ke peeche chhipa tha jiska visor bilkul kaala tha – ek aisa andhera jiske paar dekhna namumkin tha. Uske suit ke seene par ek stylized Dragon ka emblem bana hua tha, jo andhere mein bhi halka sa chamak raha tha.
Woh bilkul shaant khada raha, jaise Vikram ke 200 commandos, jo ab positions le chuke the, uske liye astitva hi na rakhte hon. Usne surrender karne ka koi ishara nahi kiya, na hi ladne ka. Woh bas khada tha. Ek statue. Ek anjaana khatra.
Vikram ke 20 elite commandos ne use chaaron taraf se gher liya, unke advanced assault rifles ke laser dots uske suit par naachne lage. Par woh hila tak nahi. Jaise woh faulaad ka bana ho.
Vikram ne suite ke secure intercom par aadesh diya. "Use yahan le aao. Agar koi bhi hoshiyari kare... toh shoot to kill. Sir nahi... pairon par. Mujhe yeh zinda chahiye... abhi ke liye."
Commandos uske paas badhe. Usne koi virodh nahi kiya. Ek kaidi ke tarah nahi, ek baadshah ki tarah jo apni marzi se darbaar mein jaa raha ho, woh unke saath chal pada.
Kuch hi minute mein, suite ka bhaari darwaza khula. Do commando us suit pehne hue shakhs ko andar laaye aur Vikram Rathore ke saamne, suite ke beechon-beech laakar khada kar diya.
PART 2: BAADSHAH KE SAAMNE (Before the King)
Vikram ne whiskey ka aakhri ghoont bhara aur glass ko side table par rakha. Woh apni aalishan kursi se utha aur us anjaan shakhs ke saamne aakar khada ho gaya. Dono ke beech bas kuch foot ki doori thi. Ek saltanat ka Baadshah... doosri, anjaani, khooni saltanat ke numainde ke saamne.
Vikram: (Awaaz mein ghamand aur tanziya lehja) "Toh... yeh hai Red Dragon. Jiske naam ke khauf se poora Mumbai kaanpti hai."
Uska nazar us shakhs par upar se neeche tak gaya, jaise koi apne naye khareede hue ghulam ko parakh raha ho. "Ghutno par aa jao. Tumhare liye ek aakhri offer hai. Mere saath shaamil ho jao. Rathore ka saltanat aur Dragon ka khauf. Hum mil kar is desh ka... nahi, is duniya ka kismat likhenge."
Woh ek pal ruka, uska aankhein barf jaisi thanda ho gaya. "Aur agar inkaar kiya... toh tum mere liye sirf ek badhta hua museebat ho. Aur main museebaton ko paalta nahi, unka kabr khodta hoon."
Prince sofe se uth khada hua, uska aankhon mein ek shaitani, bachkaani chamak tha. Woh aage badha aur us anjaan shakhs ke helmet par apni ungli se knock kiya, jaise darwaza khatkhata raha ho.
Prince: "Uncle, yeh bejaan putla kya bolega? Iska naqaab utaariye. Dekhein toh sahi, is suit ke peeche kaun sa launda... ya shayad laundiya chhipi hai." Woh gande tarah hansa.
Vikram ne sar hilaya. "Sahi kaha. Utaaro iska naqaab!"
Par uska zaroorat nahi pada. Us shakhs ne apne haath uthaye aur behad dheere-dheere, apne helmet ke side mein lage locks ko kholne laga. Ek halka sa 'hiss' ka awaaz aaya. Phir doosra.
Usne apna helmet utaar diya.
Aur jaise hi helmet utra... kamre mein ek qaatil sannata chha gaya. Vikram Rathore ki aankhein hairaani se phail gaya, jaise usne bhoot dekh liya ho. Prince ke haath se uska knife chhoot kar 'thud' ke awaaz ke saath mehenge Persian carpet par gir gaya. Commandos bhi ek pal ke liye apni bandookein neeche karna bhool gaye.
Jis Red Dragon ne poore desh mein dehshat macha rakha tha... Jisne poora Mumbai police aur underworld ko ghutno par la diya tha...
Woh sirf ek 15-16 saal ka ladka tha. Patla sa, lamba, chehre par ek ajeeb sa masoomiyat jo uske wajood se bilkul mel nahi kha raha tha. Par uska aankhon mein... ek aisa gehraai tha, ek aise sadiyon purani thandak thi jo uske umar se kahin zyada the.
Vikram ko ek zabardast jhatka laga. Uska itna bada dushman... ek bachcha? Yeh uski beizzati thi. Yeh uske power ka mazaak tha.
Par us ladke ne Vikram ki soch ke bilkul vipreet kaam kiya. Usne ghutno par aane ki jagah, behad shaanti se aage badh kar, Vikram ke saamne waale aalishan, khaali pade sofe par aise baith gaya, jaise woh us suite ka, us resort ka, is poori situation ka maalik ho.
RED DRAGON: (Uska awaaz shaant tha, par usmein ek aisi authority tha jo hawa mein wazan daal raha tha) "Vikram Rathore. Aur Prince... tera baap Mumbai ka Don hai na? Baitho. Dono baitho."
Yeh hukm tha. Ek aisa hukm jise ignore karna mushkil tha. Vikram aur Prince, jo ab tak hairat mein the, anjaane mein hi waapis apni jagahon par baith gaye.
RED DRAGON: "Tum mujhe apni team mein shaamil karne, ghutno pe laane, ya maarne ka faisla karo... usse pehle, main tum sab ko ek kahaani sunaata hoon."
Woh thoda aage jhuka. Uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb si, gehri chamak thi, jaise woh unpar taras kha raha ho.
RED DRAGON: "Tumhe kya lagta hai... tum log baazi jeet gaye? Dragon ko pakad liye?"
Woh hansa. Ek feeki, thandi hansi jo kisi ke bhi rooh ko barf kar de.
"Tumhare galatfehmi door kar doon. Dragon aasmaan mein udne wala woh cheez hai, jo tum jaise zameen ke keedon ke taraf dekhta bhi nahi. Aur tumhe kya lagta hai... main Asli Dragon hoon? Asli Dragon ke saamne aane ke liye... tumhare rooh bhi ijaazat nahi dega."
Yeh sunkar Vikram aur Prince ke chehre par ek naya, gehra khauf utar aaya. Toh yeh... yeh asli Dragon nahi hai?
PART 3: ATEET KA GOONJ AUR EK KAHAANI
ATEET KI GOONJ (RAVI'S MIND - WITHIN THE SUITE)
Suite mein RED DRAGON ka awaaz goonj raha tha, par ussi pal, behosh Ravi ke dimaag mein yaadon ka ek alag hi toofan chal raha tha. Andhera... aur phir roshni. Flashbacks... tukdon mein.
Woh teen saal ka tha. Ek behad bada, aalishan ghar. Uske aangan mein, hari ghaas par, woh khilkhilata hua daud raha tha. Uske chhote-chhote kadam dagmaga rahe the.
CHHOTA RAVI: "Papa! Papa, mujhe pakad ke dikhao! Pakad ke dikhao!"
Ek lamba, tagda aadmi, jiske chehre par ek robdaar moochh tha, par aankhon mein Ravi ke liye beshumaar pyaar tha, uske peeche daud raha tha. Usne Ravi ko pakda aur hawa mein utha liya.
CHHOTA RAVI: "WEEEE!"
Uske papa ne use gol-gol ghumana shuru kar diya. Ravi ne apne dono haath hawa mein faila diye, jaise uske pankh nikal aaye ho.
CHHOTA RAVI: "Dekho papa! Main hawa mein ud raha hoon! Main ud raha hoon!"
Uske papa ruke. Unhone Ravi ko apne seene se laga liya. Unke awaaz bhaari aur dumdaar thi.
PAPA: "Aise hi... hamesha aasmaan mein udna, beta. Zameen par rehne ke liye bahut log hain."
Unhone Ravi ko neeche utaar kar apni god mein baitha liya. Chhota sa Ravi unke chehre par aaya moochhon se khelne laga.
CHHOTA RAVI: "Papa... aap ko sab 'Wild Tiger' kyun kehte hain? Kya aap jungle mein rehte ho? Main bhi aap ka beta hoon. Kya main bhi Tiger hoon?"
Uske papa ne uske sar par haath phera. Unki aankhon mein ek ajeeb sa chamak tha, jaise woh uska bhavishya dekh rahe ho.
PAPA: "Nahi, beta. Tu... hamesha aasmaan mein udne ke liye paida hua hai. Sher aur Tiger zameen par raaj karte hain. Par aasmaan ka sirf ek hi raja hota hai."
Unki awaaz ek raaz ki tarah dheemi ho gaya. "Tu Tiger nahi hai."
"Tu Dragon hai."
"Ek Dragon, jo hamesha aasmaan mein raaj karta hai."
Ravi ke behosh dimaag mein yeh lafz... 'Dragon'... goonj raha tha. Ek anjaani, bhooli hui pehchaan jaag raha tha.
KASHMIR KI KALI RAAT
Suite mein, RED DRAGON ne apni kahaani shuru kiya. Uska awaaz shaant tha, par har lafz mein ek aisa taaqat tha jo sabko sunne par majboor kar raha tha.
"Aaj main kuch aisa sunane jaa raha hoon, jise aaj tak maine apne ghar walon ke alawa kisi se share nahi kiya," usne kaha
"Umr yahi koi 10 saal ka raha hoga.Ek bacha apne parents ke saath Kashmir gaya hua tha. Poore teen mahine ki chhuttiyon par. Wahan, ek din, wo ek local school dekhne gaye. Sab kuch kitna shaant tha, kitna normal... aur tabhi... woh kaan phaad dene wala awaazein goonja. Hamla hua tha.”
FLASHBACK: 6 SAAL PEHLE
BARF PAR LAHU KA PEHLA RANG
JANNAT MEIN JAHANNUM
KASHMIR KI VAADIYAAN
Hawa mein kesar aur barf ki mehak tha. Jheel ka paani aasmaan ka aks liye aise shaant tha, jaise waqt khud yahan aakar theher gaya ho. Par us din, jannat mein jahannum utarne wala tha.
Ek 10 saal ka ladka, jiska naam Aarush tha, apne parents ke saath ek local school ke annual function mein tha. Woh sheher ki bheed se aaya tha, uske liye yeh shaanti ek naya anubhav tha. Usi function mein, school ke bachchon ke beech, ek 9 saal ka ladka baitha tha. Uska aankhon mein ek aisa thehra hua khamoshi tha, jaise woh is duniya ka hissa hokar bhi isse bahut door ho. Woh chupchaap apni sketchbook mein ek pencil se pahaadon ki tasveer bana raha tha.
School ke gate ko todte hue, 40 aatankwadi, haathon mein AK-47 aur nafrat liye, andar daakhil hue. Unhone school ko ek qile mein badal diya. 200 bachche, teachers, aur Aarush jaise kuch tourists... sab ab unke qaid mein the.
Dehshat hawa mein zeher ke tarah phail gaya. Bachche ro rahe the, unke maa-baap gidgida rahe the. Aarush, dar ke maare, ek desk ke neeche chhipa hua kaanp raha tha.
Par wo Bacha... woh abhi bhi shaant tha. Usne bas ek pal ke liye upar dekha, jaise machharon ke bhinbhinane se uske painting mein khalal pad gaya ho, aur phir waapis apne kaam mein lag gaya. Uske pencil ab bhi utne hi shaanti se kaagaz par chal raha tha. Yeh khamoshi... dar se bhi zyada darawani tha.
AAG KA JANAM(The Birth of Fire)
Ek aatankwadi, shayad unka commander, ka nazar uss Bacha par pada. Is maahaul mein ek bachche ka yeh sukoon use apni beizzati laga. Woh gurrata hua uss Bache ke paas aaya.
Terrorist: "Kya bana raha hai, be?"
usne sketchbook chheen liya. Usmein ek khoobsurat pahaad ka tasveer tha. Usne gusse mein us sketchbook ko Bache ke aankhon ke saamne phaad diya. Kaagaz ke tukde hawa mein udne lage.
"Apna kabr bana raha tha kya?" woh hansa.
Aarush ne dekha... woh bachcha ab bhi shaant tha. Woh dheere se neeche jhuka aur apna phati hua sketchbook ke pannon ko aise uthane laga, jaise woh toote hue sheeshe ke tukde ho.
Yeh shaanti us aatankwadi ke bardasht se baahar ho gaye. Usne bachche ka collar pakda aur use ek haath se hawa mein utha liya.
Terrorist: "Jawaab de!"
Aur tab... Aarush ne woh dekha jo woh apne zindagi mein kabhi nahi bhool paaya.
Us bachche ki aankhon mein jo khamoshi ka samandar tha, usmein aag ka ek jwalamukhi phat pada. Uska aankhein, jo ab tak shaant tha, ek pal mein laal ho gaya. Jaise andar soya hua koi shaitaan jaag gaya ho.
Jis pencil se woh kuch pal pehle kaagaz par jaan daal raha tha... ab us pencil ne kisi ka jaan le liya tha.
SSHHHCK!
Isse pehle ki woh aatankwadi palak jhapkaata, us bachche ne hawa mein hi apne haath ko ghumaaya aur woh pencil... poori taaqat se... us aatankwadi ki gardan aur kandhe ke beech ke us soft spot mein ghusa di , jahan se saari nasein dimaag tak jaata hain.
Pencil poori ki poori uske jism mein utar gaya.
Aatankwadi k aankhein phata reh gaye. Uske munh se cheekh ke jagah bas ek halka sa 'ghhh' ki awaaz nikla. Uska pakad dheeli pad gaya.
Par yeh... yeh toh bas shuruaat tha. Ab shuru hua tha... maut ka taandav.
EK BACHCHE KA TAANDAV (THE CHILD'S RAMPAGE)
Us bachche ne aatankwadi ka girta hua laash se khud ko alag kiya. Ek perfect backflip ke saath, usne land karne se pehle hi us laash ke jabde par aisa laat maara ki haddi tootne ka awaaz poore kamre mein goonj gaya. Baahar se awaaz sunkar, kuch aur terrorist, haathon mein AK-47 liye, daudte hue andar aaye.
BRUTAL ACTION: 40 KILLS
Woh bachche ko ek laash ke paas khade dekh kar hanse. Par unke hansi jald hi cheekhon mein badalne wala tha."
Unhone trigger dabaya. Par woh wahan tha hi nahi.
Woh hawa ke raftaar se dauda tha. Woh unke goliyon ka nishana nahi tha; woh hawa tha. Usne zameen par ek sweep kick maara, jis se aage waale do terrorist ka balance bigda. Isi mauke ka fayda utha kar, woh unke pairon ke neeche se aise slip hua jaise paani ho, aur unke peeche pahunch gaya. Unke paas palatne ka waqt bhi nahi tha. Uske haath mein wahi pencil tha (jo usne laash se nikaal liya tha). Usne ek terrorist ki kamar ke neeche, jahan body armor nahi tha, wahan pencil ghusa diya. Doosre ki gardan ke peeche. Dono cheekhte hue gir gaye."
Fir Ek terrorist ke pairon ke neeche se slide karte hue, usne apni pencil uske ghutne ke peeche ki nas mein ghusa diya. Jaise hi woh cheekhta hua gira, usne uska AK-47 liya. Par usne goli nahi chalaya. Usne gun ko ulta pakda aur uske bhaari stock aur ek terrorist ke chehre par vaar kiya. Naak aur daant tootne ka awaaz aaya.
Ek aur ke taraf usne gun phenka, jaise hi usne gun ko pakda, Bacha ne daud kar uske seene par aisa laat maara ki woh deewar se ja takraya. Agle ke paas pahunchne tak, usne zameen se ek toota hua compass utha liya tha. Usne terrorist ke aankh mein woh compass ghusa diya.
"Baaki do ghabra gaye. Ek ne andha-dhund firing shuru kar diya. Woh bachcha pillars aur desks ke peeche aise move kar raha tha jaise yeh uska playground ho. Usne ek desk ko laat maara, jo seedha ek terrorist ke ghutno par ja laga. Jaise hi woh neeche gira, bachche ne daud kar, deewar par pair rakh kar, hawa mein chhalang lagaya aur apni dono taangein us terrorist ki gardan mein phansa diya. Usne poori taaqat se apni body ko ghumaaya. CRACK! Gardan tootne ka saaf awaaz aaya."
"Aakhri terrorist ab kaanp raha tha. Usne bachche par gun taani, par woh bachcha wahan tha hi nahi. Woh uske peeche tha. Usne terrorist ke gun waale haath ko pakda, uski kohni ko ulta moda, aur uske hi haath se trigger dabwa diya. Goli seedha us terrorist ke apne pair mein ja lagi. Jaise hi woh cheekhta hua gira, bachche ne uske haath se gun chheeni, use reverse pakda, aur gun ke stock se uske chehre par tab tak maara, jab tak woh behosh nahi ho gaya."
Cheekhein. Ab tak 10-12 aur aatankwadi, goliyon ki awaaz sunkar, us hall mein jama ho chuke the.
Woh bachcha ab shikaari ban chuka tha. Woh ek classroom mein ghusa, darwaza band kiya aur khidki se kood kar baahar nikal gaya. Jaise hi aatankwadi darwaza tod kar andar ghuse, darwaze ke upar chhipa woh bachcha unke upar kood gaya. Usne ek ke sar ko pakad kar deewar par de maara, doosre ki gardan ko apne pairon mein phansa kar tod diya.
Dehshat phail gaya. Aatankwadi ab ek anjaane, un-dekhe dushman se lad rahe the. Woh ek bachche ko nahi, ek bhoot ko dhoondh rahe the.
Woh school ke har kone ko apna hathiyaar bana raha tha:
Chemistry Lab Mein: Usne do acid ki bottles ko milakar ek temporary smoke bomb banaya. Jab 3 aatankwadi dhuein mein andhe hue, usne ek ko test-tube se aankh par maara. Doosre ke gale mein tooti hui beaker ghusa di. Teesre ke munh mein Nitric Acid udel diya. Uska cheekhein corridor mein goonj gaya.
Sports Room Mein: Usne hockey stick se ek aatankwadi ke dono pair tod diye. Doosre ke gale mein skipping rope phansa kar use fan se latka diya. Teesre ko usne cricket bat se itna maara ki bat toot gaya.
Library Mein: Woh shelves ke upar chhip gaya. Jaise hi koi neeche se guzarta, woh ek bhaari kitaab uske sar par giraata, aur uske behosh hote hi, woh neeche kood kar, ek toote hue ruler ki tez dhaar se uska gala kaat deta.
Woh shor nahi kar raha tha. Har maut... khamosh the. Laashein bas milta jaa raha tha. Aatankwadi pagal ho gaye. Woh andhere corridors mein ek doosre par hi shak karne lage. Unka dushman ek 9 saal ka bachcha nahi, unka apna khauf ban chuka tha.
Aakhri 7 aatankwadi bache the. Unka leader bhi unhi mein tha. Unhone bachchon ko assembly hall ke stage par ikattha kar liya. Unhone socha, ab woh bachcha unke saamne aane par majboor hoga.
Woh bachcha saamne aaya. Bilkul shaant. Uska chehra... khoon ke chheeton se bhara hua tha.
Leader: (Haste hue) "Ek bachche ke liye itna dar? Maar do isse!"
Unhone ek saath fire kiya. Par woh bachcha ek parchhayi ki tarah unke goliyon ke beech se nikal gaya. Woh stage ke parde ke peeche gayab ho gaya.
Kill 34: Ek pal baad, stage ke upar se, lohe ki ek bhaari lighting rod aakar ek aatankwadi ke sar par gira. SQUELCH! Woh wahin dher ho gaya.
Kill 35 & 36: Isse pehle ki baaki upar dekhte, woh bachcha stage ke neeche se nikla aur do aatankwadiyon ke pairon ko kheencha. Jaise hi woh gire, usne unke saron ko stage ke concrete edge par patak diya. CRACK! CRACK!
Ab sirf leader aur 3 log bache the. Woh us par jhapte. Yeh ek brutal, haath-paayi ka ladaai tha.
Kill 37: Usne ek ke haath ko moda, uski chaaron ungliyan ek saath tod diya. SNAP!
Kill 38: Doosre ki kohni ko uske joint se ukhaad diya. POP!
Kill 39: Teesre ko usne utha kar stage se neeche audience (khaali chairs) par phenk diya. Chair toot gayi, aur uski reedh ki haddi bhi.
Ab sirf leader bacha tha. Woh usse double size ka tha. Usne bachche ko pakad liya. Par usne ek bachche ko nahi, aag ko pakda tha. Us bachche ne uske pakad mein rehte hue hi, apni kohni se uske seene par kayi vaar kiye. Phir usne apne daanton se uske haath par kaat liya. Jaise hi leader ki pakad dheela hua, woh azaad hua, ek poora circle ghuma aur apni edi (heel) se us leader ki kanpati par vaar kiya.
THWACK!
Kill 40.
Sab kuch shaant ho gaya.
"Pandrah minute , 40 terrorist. Aur ek 9 saal ka bachcha. Jab tak army andar aayi, tab tak jung khatm ho chuka tha."
unhone apni zindagi ka sabse khaufnaak manzar dekha. Chalees laashein... aur unke beech... khoon se sana ek 9 saal ka bachcha, jo shaanti se apni phati hui sketchbook ke panne utha raha tha.
"Army ne bohot pucha. Par koi bhi yakeen nahi kar paaya ki yeh sab us ek bachche ne kiya hai. Shayad army walon ko bhi pata tha sach kya hai. Woh bhi chup rahe."
DOSTI, JAHANNUM KI TRAINING AUR EK WAADA
Do din beet gaye, Arush ek jheel ke paas ghumne gaya. Aur woh bachcha wahan baitha tha. Bilkul shaant. Pattharon par. Arush bhi uske paas jaakar baith gaya. Dheere-dheere, unke dosti ho gaye. Ek mahine tak, main uska pehla aur aakhri dost tha. Uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb sa khamoshi aur udaasa tha."
Ek din, Arush ne himmat karke kaha, "Mujhe... mujhe bhi tumhare tarah ladna sikhna hai."
Us bachche ne shaanti se Arush ke taraf dekha. "Kal se. Raat ko theek 3 baje, isi jheel ke paas. 60 din tak."
Agle 60 din... jahannum the. Woh ek guru nahi, ek shaitaan tha. Par woh Arush ko insaan se hathiyaar bana raha tha.
Dard Se Dosti: Woh bachcha Aarush ko us barfeeli jheel ke neeche behte jharne (waterfall) ke neeche ghanton khada rakhta, taaki uska jism thand aur dard sehna seekh le. Woh use kaanton par chalata, taaki uske pairon ki chamdi patthar jaisi ho jaye.
Talwaar Ka Falsafa (The Philosophy of the Sword): Paanchve din, us bachche ne ped ki do shaakhein (branches) toda. Ek Aarush ko diya. "Yeh talwaar hai," usne kaha. "Yeh kaatne ke liye nahi, jism ka hissa banne ke liye hota hai." Shuru mein Aarush ne ise khel samjha. Par us bachche ne us par hamla kiya. Har vaar brutal tha. Lakdi ka talwaar Aarush ke haathon, pairon, seene par aise pad rahe the jaise lohe ki rod ho. Aarush cheekhta tha, girta tha, par woh bachcha rukta nahi tha. "Dard ko mat sun," woh kehta tha. "Talwaar ka awaaz ko sun. Hawa ko sun." Usne Aarush ko hazaaron baar ek hi move practice karwaya. Uske haath sooj gaye, jism par neele nishaan pad gaye. Woh bachcha kehta tha, "Talwaar ko pakad mat... use saans lene de. Jab woh khud chalna chahegi, tab tu ek yoddha banega." Usne Aarush ko aankhon par patti baandh kar, sirf awaaz sunkar vaar se bachna sikhaya. Har galat move ka saza... dard tha. Asli, brutal dard.
Jism Ko Hathiyaar Banana: Woh use pedon par laatein aur mukke marwata, tab tak, jab tak uske haathon se khoon nahi nikalne laga. Woh use apne jism ke har joint ko dislocate aur relocate karna sikhata, taaki woh kisi bhi pakad se nikal sake.
Rooh Ki Shanti: Woh usse barf mein, bina kapdon ke, ghanton meditation karwata, taaki woh apni saanson aur dil ki dhadkan ko control karna seekh le. Taaki woh dard, dar aur gusse se upar uth sake.
60 din ki jahannum jaisi training khatm ho chuka tha. Aarush ka jism thak kar toot chuka tha, par uske rooh mein ek nayi aag jal raha tha. Aakhri din, jab woh wahan se jaa raha tha, woh us 9 saal ke bachche ke saamne ruka.
Aarush ka aankhon mein aansu aur samman ka ek toofan tha. Woh ek jhatke mein apne ghutno par aa gaya. Apne guru, apne BOSS, apne bhagwaan ke saamne.
Us bachche ne shaanti se use dekha. Uska awaaz barf se bhi zyada thandi, par ekdum saaf tha.
"Uth."
Aarush ne sar nahi uthaya. Usne kaha, "Aapne mujhe jo diya hai, uske baad main aapke saamne khade rehne ke laayak..."
"MAINE KAHA, UTH!"
Is baar awaaz mein ek aisa authority tha jaise pahaad khud dahaad utha ho. Us bachche ne Aarush ko kandhe se pakda aur ek hi jhatke mein use khada kar diya. Unke aankhein mile.
Bachcha: "Ghutne woh tekte hain jinke paas ya toh himmat nahi hota, ya vikalp nahi hota. Maine tumhe dono diye hain. Maine tumhe jhukna nahi, todna sikhaya hai. Aaj ke baad agar tum jhuke... toh yeh mera training ka beizzati hoga."
Aarush ne kaanpte hue, par ek nayi zidd ke saath uska aankhon mein dekha.
Aarush: "Main is poori duniya mein kisi ke saamne nahi jhukunga, BOSS. Par har niyam ka ek apvaad (exception) hota hai. Aur woh aap hain. Main sirf aapke saamne jhuk sakta hoon."
Us bachche ne Aarush ke aankhon mein uska sachchai dekha. Ek pal ke liye uske chehre par ek ajeeb sa, halka sa bhaav aaya, jaise usne kuch aisa sun liya ho jiska use ummeed nahi tha. Phir woh bhaav gayab ho gaya.
Bachcha (awaaz ab ek ailaan jaisa tha): "Toh sun le, Aarush. Aaj... yeh Dragon apni aatma ka kasam khata hai. Jis din is duniya mein kisi ne tumhe ghutno par laane ka koshish bhi kiya... us din main uska naslon tak ko is zameen se ukhaad phenkunga. Yeh waada nahi hai... yeh ek anjaam hai."
Is ailaan se hawa bhi kaanp utha.
Aarush ne himmat karke pucha, "Dragon? Yeh naam..."
Us bachche ne jheel ke paar, andhere pahaadon ko dekha.
Bachcha: "Mera naam Dragon kisi khaas ne rakhe the Ek waqt tha jab main sirf Dragon tha. Par jo aag mere andar jalta hai... jo nafrat maine peea hai... usne mujhe badal diya hai. Main sirf Dragon nahi hoon. Main RED DRAGON hoon. Aag ka devta (THE LORD OF FLAME)."
Aarush aankhon mein ek nayi chamak, ek naya maqsad ke saath) 'Toh aaj se... main us aag ka, aapke Red Dragon ka... pehla sipahi banunga!'"
"Us bachche ke chehre par ek halki, par dumdaar muskaan aaya. Usne apna haath aage badha kar Aeush ke kandhe par rakha. Pehla baar."
Bachcha: "Nahi. Sipahi saltanat ke liye ladte hain. Woh marte hain, unke jagah naye sipahi le lete hain. Sipahi... replaceable hote hain."
"Usne Arush ke aankhon mein aakhri baar dekha."
Bachcha: "Tum sipahi nahi... Rakhwaala (Guardian) banoge. Sipahi saltanat ki hifazat karte hain. Rakhwaala... Baadshah ka rooh ki hifazat karta hai. Mere bina tum ho... par tumhare bina... Red Dragon ka koi astitva nahi."
"Uske aakhri shabd hawa mein theher gaye— 'Mere bina tum ho... par tumhare bina... Red Dragon ka koi astitva nahi.'"
Is bojh, is vishwas ko mehsoos karke Aarush ka aankhein nam ho gaya. Yeh aansu kamzori ke nahi, us samman ke the jo uska rooh ko bhigo raha tha. Usne apni mutthiyan bheencha, na sirf taaqat ke liye, balki apne andar uthte toofan ko qaabu karne ke liye.
Usne us 9 saal ke bachche ki aankhon mein dekha. Yeh ek student ke nazar nahi tha. Yeh ek bhakt ka nazar tha, jo apne bhagwaan ko dekh raha ho.
Uska awaaz kaanp raha tha, par har lafz ek pathar ki lakeer jaisa saaf aur atoot (unbreakable) tha.
Aarush: "Main banunga..." usne ek saans liya, jaise ek qasam kha raha ho, "...aapke us aag ka, aapke us wajood ka... Main banunga Red Dragon Ka Rakhwaala!"
Us bachche ne koi jawaab nahi diya. Woh bas shaanti se Aarush ka aankhon mein jhaankta raha, jaise uska rooh ke gehraaiyon ko naap raha ho. Uske chehre par koi muskaan nahi tha. Sirf ek sadiyon purana, gambhir samajh tha.
Phir, uska awaaz aaya. Ek sargoshi, jo dahaad se zyada bhaari tha.
Bachcha: "Main jaanta hoon."
Woh ek pal ruka, uska nazar aasmaan ke taraf utha, jaise woh laakhon saal door dekh raha ho.
Bachcha : "Purane kahaniyon mein, Jupiter... devtaon ka raja tha. Sabse bada, sabse taaqatwar. Aasmaan mein, woh ek protector hai. Ek guardian. Uska kashish (gravity) itna zyada hai ki woh bhatakta hua tabahi ko, toote hue taaron ko... apne se chhote grahon tak pahunchne se pehle hi rok leta hai. Unka raasta badal deta hai. Woh ek shant raja hai... jiske andar sadiyon se ek toofan qaid hai. Par woh toofan... hifazat ke liye hai."
Usne apni nazar waapis Aarush par tikaya. Unke nigahein ab ek doosre mein qaid tha.
Bachcha (rooh kaanpa dene wala): "Waisa hi tumhara dil hai, Aarush. Saaf, vishaal... aur ek paidaishi Rakhwaala. Sabhi dilon ke beech... Jupiter ke tarah. Isi liye yeh bojh... yeh zimmedari... yeh aag... sirf tum utha sakte ho."
Aaj se tum sirf arush nahi tum ho JUPITER – THE PROTECTOR.....
ASLI KHATRA (Vartaman)
Kahaani khatm ho chuka tha.
Suite mein maut jaisa sannata phail gaya. Har saans ruke hue the. Vikram Rathore ka chehra gusse aur hairat se laal-peela ho raha tha ,ek anjaana, gehra dehshat se safed padh raha tha .Prince ka haath, jismein woh knife pakadna chahta tha, carpet par hi jam gaya. ARJUN, sofe se chipka hua, kaanp raha tha.
"BAKWAAS! YEH SAB JHUT HAI! Ek... ek 9 saal ka bachcha? 40 trained terrorist? Tum... tum humein bewakoof bana rahe ho! Yeh sab man-gadant kahaniyaan hain! Tum ab mere qabze mein ho, ladke!
Tumhara Red Dragon... tumhara Jupiter... sab yahan, mere kadmon mein khatm hoga!"
Vikram ka dahaad kamre mein goonj kar mar gaya.
Par RED DRAGON... hansa nahi. Woh muskuraaya bhi nahi.
Usne bas... behad dheere se... apni gardan tilt kiya.
CRACK!
Ek halka sa awaaz, jo uss sannate mein Vikram ki dahaad se zyada zor se goonja. Jaise ek shikaari apne shikaar ko dekh kar, hamle se pehle apne jism ko tayaar kar raha ho.
Uske aankhein, jo ab tak shaant the, unke andar ka samandar... barf mein badal gaya. Ek aisa thandak jisne Vikram Rathore ki rooh ko jhinjhod diya.
RED DRAGON: (Awaaz ek sargoshi tha, par woh 200 rifles ki awaaz se zyada bhaari tha) "Kahani...? Tumhe yeh... ek kahani laga, Vikram Rathore?"
Woh sofe se utha. Ekdum shaanti se. Jaise uske paas duniya ka saara waqt ho.
Uske har kadam mein ek aisa authority tha ki Vikram ke 20 elite commandos, jo guns taane khade the, anjaane mein ek kadam peeche hatt gaye.
RED DRAGON: "Tumhara galti yeh nahi ki tumne mujhe pakda. Tumhara galti yeh nahi ki tumne uss kahani ko kahani samjha..."
Yeh ek ailaan tha. Ek aisi thandi, be-rehem awaaz, jisne Vikram ke gusse ko ek pal mein cheer kar uske rooh ke andar khauf ka beej bo diya.
Woh Vikram ki taraf badha. Do commandos ne uspar gun taan'ne ki koshish kiye.
COMMANDO: "FREEZE! WAHIN RUK—"
FWISSH—SNAP!
Isse pehle ki lafz 'RUK' poora hota, Red Dragon ek bhoot ke tarah un do commandos ke beech se nikla. Ek pal mein usne ek commando ki rifle chheena... uska kalai ko ulta ghuma kar tod diya... aur rifle ko doosre commando ki gardan par rakh diya.
Yeh sab... ek saans lene se bhi kam waqt mein hua.
Baaki 18 commandos jam gaye. Unhe samajh hi nahi aaya ki kya hua.
RED DRAGON ne rifle ko zameen par phenk diya, jaise woh ek khilona ho, aur waapis Vikram ke saamne aakar khada ho gaya. Tadapte hue commando ke cheekh ab background music tha.
RED DRAGON: "Tum uss 9 saal ke bachche ke taaqat se darr gaye? Ek bhoot ka kahani se?"
Uske chehre par ek aisa muskaan aaya, jo maut se bhi badtar tha.
RED DRAGON: "Toh socho... jisse uss 9 saal ke SHAITAAN ne... uss Asli Red Dragon ne... 60 din tak, har roz, apne haathon se Jahannum mein ragda ho..."
Woh ek pal ruka, jaise Vikram ke dimaag ko woh zehar peene ka waqt de raha ho.
RED DRAGON: "...WOH KYA HOGA?"
Yeh ailaan sunkar Prince dehshat se cheekhta hua sofe ke peeche gir gaya. Vikram Rathore ke pairon tale zameen nikal gaya.
Woh Vikram ke bilkul saamne aakar ruka. Unke chehre ke beech bas kuch inch ka faasla tha. Vikram Rathore, Baadshah, pehli baar apni zindagi mein, kisi ke saamne peeche hatna chahta tha, par uske pair zameen mein jadd ho chuke the.
RED DRAGON: (Awaaz ab ek sargoshi tha, jo dahaad se zyada darawni tha)
"Tum sach dhoondh rahe ho, Vikram? Tum uss 9 saal ke bachche ko dekhna chahte ho?"
RED DRAGON: "Woh kahani nahi hai... woh sach hai. Aur woh sach... tumhare saamne khada hai."
RED DRAGON: "Main woh 9 saal ka bhoot nahi hoon, Rathore."
Usne apni ungli uthaya... aur Vikram ke seene par nahi... apni khud ki chhaati par rakha.
RED DRAGON: "Main woh 10 saal ka ladka hoon... jisne uss bhoot ko 40 logon ko keedon ki tarah kuchalte hue dekha hai."
RED DRAGON: "Aur jisne agle 60 din... uss Shaitaan ko... apna Guru maana hai."
Ek pal ka sannata. Aur phir... uska awaaz phat pada.
Yeh ek 16 saal ke ladke ka awaaz nahi tha. Yeh ek aise shakti ka dahaad tha jisne uss suite ke deewaron ko kaanpa diya. Yeh uss grah (planet) ka gussa tha jiska naam use diya gaya tha.
RED DRAGON: (AWAZ AB EK DAHAD MEIN BADAL GAYA, JISNE SHEESHE TAK KO KAANPA DIYA)
"TUM JAISO KA AUKAAT BHI NAHI HAI USKE SAAMNE KHADE HONE KA! TUMNE QAYAMAT KO NAHI... QAYAMAT KE SAAYE KO QAID KIYA HAI!"
Vikram ne apne kaano par haath rakh liye.
RED DRAGON: (Dahaadte hue, uska aankhon se nafrat tapak raha tha) "TUMNE DRAGON KO NAHI... USKE RAKHWALE KO CHHEDA HAI!"
RED DRAGON: "RED DRAGON AAG HAI! EK TOOFAN HAI! EK QAYAMAT HAI!"
Usne zor se apni chhaati par haath maara.
RED DRAGON: "AUR MAIN! MAIN WOH PAHAAD HOON JO USS TOOFAN KE RAASTE MEIN AANE WAALI HAR TABAHI KE AAGE KHADA HOTA HAI! MAIN USKA SIPAHI NAHI... MAIN USKA DHAAL HOON!"
RED DRAGON: "MAIN USKA... RAKHWAALA HOON!"
AARUSH: ("MAIN HOON WOH 10 SAAL KA BACHCHA! MAIN HOON AARUSH! MAIN HOON WOH RAKHWAALA JISNE APNE BOSS KE LIYE 60 DIN TAK JAHANNUM JHELA HAI!"
"MAIN WOH DHAAJ HOON JO USS AAG AUR TUM JAISE KEEDON KE BEECH KHADA THA! MAIN USKA RAKHWAALA HOON!"
ARUSH: "MAIN... HOON... JUPITER."
Dahaad khatm hua. Sannata waapis lauta, ab pehle se hazaar guna zyada bhaari. Aarush neeche jhuka, Vikram ke chehre ke saamne, jo ab khauf se kaanp raha tha. Uski awaaz waapis uss barfeeli sargoshi mein laut aayi.
Uska chehra ekdum shaant ho gaya.
Yeh teen lafz sunkar Vikram Rathore ki aankhein phail gayin. Uske 200 commandos... uske hathiyaar... sab be-maayne ho gaye.
ARUSH: (Awaaz waapis uss barfeeli sargoshi mein laut aayi, jo ab aur bhi darawni lag raha tha) "Tumne mujhe ghutno par laane ko kaha... Tumne uss waade ko todne ki koshish kiye..."
" AUR TUMNE... MUJHE GHUTNO PAR LAANE KI KOSHISH KARKE... APNI NASLON KA ANJAAM LIKH DIYA HAI!"
"Aur tumne... abhi abhi... mujhe nahi... tumne uss 9 saal ke Shaitaan ko... Asli Red Dragon ko... yeh khabar bheja hai... ki uska Rakhwaala... khatre mein hai."
Aarush seedha khada hua aur sheeshe ki deewar se baahar pahaadon ko dekhne laga.
AARUSH: "Badhaai ho, Vikram Rathore. Tumne Dragon ko dhoondh liya. Ab... apni maut ka intezaar karo."
Aarush (Jupiter), ne apni nigahein Vikram Rathore aur Prince aur Arjun par tika. Woh ab 16 saal ka masoom ladka nahi lag raha tha. Woh ek sadiyon purana, jaaga hua Rakhwaala lag raha tha.
Aarush (Jupiter): "Toh socho," usne apni thandi, dumdaar awaaz mein kaha. "Jo maine uss 9 saal ke bachche se 60 din tak seekha tha... utna main agle 5 saal mein bhi akele nahi seekh paaya."
Aarush (Jupiter): "Agar main... us jahannum ki training ka ek chhota sa hissa lekar, aur paanch saal khud mehnat karke... aaj yahan tumhare saamne Red Dragon ka parchhayi bankar khada hoon... Uske naam ka ek poora empire khada kar diya hai..."
Tum jaise keedon ki aukaat bhi nahi hai uske saamne khade hone ka!
Yeh sunkar sabke rooh kaanp gaye. Vikram Rathore, Prince, unke commando... sabke chehron par khauf ki ek leher daud gayi.
Yeh ailaan sunkar, Prince dehshat se cheekhta hua sofe ke peeche gir gaya. Vikram Rathore ke pairon tale zameen nikal gayi. Uske 200 commandos... uske hathiyaar... sab be-maayne ho gaye.
Unhein ehsaas ho gaya tha... ki unhone Dragon ko nahi... uske Rakhwaale ko qaid karke... khud Qayamat ko dawat de diye the. Aur ab... toofan unke darwaaze par nahi... unke saamne khada tha. Aur dhaal ko todne ki koshish karne ka matlab... ab toofan khud unke taraf aa raha tha.
Aarush (Jupiter) ka shaant, barfeeli nazar Vikram Rathore ke chehre par jami rahi, jo ab khauf se safed padh chuka tha. Woh dheere se muskuraaya... ek aisi muskaan jo maut se badtar thi.
"Ghabrao mat, Vikram. Tumne use dhoondh liya..."
(Ek pal ka khamosh pause, jo sannate ko aur gehra kar gaya.)
"...aur ab, usne tumhe."
PART 4: JUNGLE MEIN NAYE SHIKAARI (New Hunters in the Jungle - Reactions)
LOCATION: RESORT PERIMETER - BHAIRAVA'S OBSERVATION POST
Resort se kuch kilometer door, pahaadon ke ghane jungle mein, jahan insaan nahi sirf barfili hawa aur anjaan khatre baste the, Bhairava khada tha. Wohi Chambal ka shikaari, jiska jism pathar ka aur iraade faulaad ke the. Uske saath uske 10 sabse khaas, jungli yoddha the, jo saayon ki tarah andhere mein ghule hue the. Woh high-powered military binoculars se resort par nazar rakhe hue the. Unhone helicopter ko aate dekha tha. Unhone Jupiter ko commandos ke saath jaate dekha tha. Unhone suite ki khidkiyon par parchhaiyon ki hulchul dekhi thi.
Bhairava ka Aadmi: "Bhai... Rathore ne bahut bhaari security bulaya hai. Helicopter, commandos... aur yeh naya suit wala... yeh kaun hai? Plan ke mutabik humein ab hamla karna tha."
Bhairava ne binoculars neeche kiye. Uske chehre par gussa nahi, ek thanda calculation tha. Usne Mumbai Port ka khabar suni tha. Red Dragon. Ab yeh suit wala. Yeh log... yeh uske khel ke hisse nahi the.
Bhairava: (Awaaz pattharon ke takrane jaisa) "Nahi. Yeh shikaar ab hamare liye nahi raha. Is jungle mein naye, zyada bhookhe sher aa gaye hain. Humara dushman Rathore hai, yeh anjaane bhoot nahi. Peeche hato. Abhi sirf dekho. Jab sher aapas mein ladte hain... tabhi gidad ko mauka milta hai."
Bhairava jaanta tha... usool todne ka waqt yeh nahi tha. Sabr. Shikaar hamesha sabr karne wale ka hota hai.
LOCATION: ALISHA'S HIDDEN POST - SECURE COMMUNICATION
Resort ke hi ek anjaan kone mein, shayad ek service room mein, Alisha apne encrypted device par tezi se type kar rahi thi. Uski report seedha The Handler ko jaa rahi thi.
Alisha (Report): "Situation Critical. Red Dragon is here. Identified as 'Rakhwaala'. Ravi Mishra neutralized & captured by Rathore. Heavy commando presence. Vikram Rathore & Prince on site. Red Dragon figure confirmed NOT Ravi Mishra, but Mishra's combat skills match 'Apocalypse' level threat profile. Recommend immediate extraction or abort mission."
Jawaab foran aaya. Utna hi thanda, utna hi calculated.
The Handler (Reply): "Negative extraction. Mission parameters changed. Red Dragon's presence not confirm the 'Haveli connection'. Rathore is desperate; Prince is volatile; Ravi is the unknown variable. This chaos... is opportunity. Maintain observation. Do NOT engage unless absolutely necessary. Your new priority: Observe Jupiter. Identify his connection to Ravi. And wait for the real Dragon's move. Abort is not an option."
Alisha ne message delete kar diya. Khel ab aur bhi khatarnaak ho gaya tha. Uska kaam ab sirf Ravi ko todna nahi... is poore khooni shatranj ke har khiladi par nazar rakhna tha.
LOCATION: DISTANT MOUNTAIN PEAK - ZORAWAR'S VANTAGE POINT
Hazaaron feet upar, resort se itne door ki woh sirf ek chamakta hua daag lag raha tha, ek barfili choti par, Zorawar (Scorpio wala) leta hua tha. Uske saamne ek behad powerful, military-grade spotting scope laga hua tha. Usne helicopter ko aate dekha, Jupiter ko pehchaana (shayad?), Ravi ko qaid hote dekha, suite ki khidki se Vikram Rathore ki parchhayi dekhi. Uska kaam sirf Ravi par nazar rakhna tha, par aaj usne kuch aisa dekha tha jiski khabar Samraat tak pahunchna zaroori tha.
Usne apna satellite phone nikala. Signal kamzor tha, par connection jud gaya.
Zorawar: (Awaaz sargoshi jaisa, par har lafz saaf) "Samraat... Shehzaada... qaid ho gaya hai. Rathore ne use pakad liya hai. Par... ek aur hai yahan. Ek saaya. Woh... woh khud ko Red Dragon ka Rakhwaala kehta hai. Jupiter." Woh ek pal ruka, jaise is naam ko bolne mein bhi khatra ho.
Line ke doosri taraf ek lamba, bhaari sannata chha gaya. Itna gehra ki Zorawar ko laga jaise line cut gayi ho. Phir, Samraat ki awaaz aayi. Pehle se zyada thandi. Pehle se zyada khatarnaak.
Samraat (O.S.): "Toh... aakhirkaar... dono shehzaade ek hi maidan mein hain. Khel... ab apne anjaam ki taraf badh raha hai. Nazar rakho, Zorawar. Har saans par. Har qadam par. Qayamat ke pehredaar ko... kamzor mat samajhna."
Call cut gaya. Zorawar ne scope se phir neeche dekha. Pahaadon par raat utar raha tha. Ek aisa raat... jo shayad subah nahi dekhega.
aankhon mein ek nayi chamak, ek naya maqsad ke saath)