Chapter 7 — Dil Ki Uljhan
Arman se milna ab Hamid ki daily life ka ek hissa ban gaya tha.
Din bhar dukan par kaam karne ke baad bhi uske dimaag me ek hi khayal hota tha—
"Shaam ko Arman milega."
Ek shaam dono park ke paas wali road par chal rahe the.
Hawa halki si thandi thi aur aasman dheere-dheere andhera ho raha tha.
Arman achanak ruk gaya aur bola,
"Hamid, kabhi-kabhi lagta hai tum kuch chhupa rahe ho."
Hamid ka dil ek pal ke liye tez dhadakne laga.
"Matlab?" usne pucha.
Arman halka sa muskura kar bola,
"Matlab… tum bahut sochte ho, par bolte nahi."
Hamid kuch pal chup raha.
Uske dil me bahut saari baatein thi… par woh unhe shabdon me nahi la pa raha tha.
"Shayad aadat hai," usne dheere se kaha.
Arman ne uski taraf dekha aur bola,
"Hamid, har baat akela feel karna zaroori nahi hota."
Us waqt Hamid ko ajeeb sa feel hua.
Jaise koi uski andar ki ladai ko samajh raha ho.
Us raat ghar jaate waqt usne khud se ek sawaal kiya:
"Main Arman ke baare me itna kyun sochta hoon?"
Aur pehli baar usse laga…
shayad uska jawab dosti se thoda zyada hai.