Chapter 13 — Sach Ka Samna
Do din beet gaye.
Na Hamid ne Arman ko message kiya…
na Arman ne dobara call kiya.
Lekin dono ke andar ek ajeeb si bechaini thi.
Teesre din shaam ko, jab Hamid dukan band kar raha tha, tabhi usne peeche se awaaz suni—
"Hamid."
Usne mud kar dekha.
Arman uske saamne khada tha.
Uski aankhon me thodi si narazgi thi… aur thodi si confusion bhi.
"Tum avoid kyun kar rahe ho?" Arman ne seedha pucha.
Hamid kuch seconds tak chup raha.
"Main avoid nahi kar raha," usne dheere se kaha.
Arman thoda irritate ho gaya.
"Seriously? Do din se na call, na message… aur tum keh rahe ho avoid nahi kar rahe?"
Hamid ke paas jawab nahi tha.
Woh bas nazar jhuka kar khada raha.
Arman ne ek gehri saans li.
"Hamid, agar koi problem hai to bol do… par aise chup rehna solve nahi karega."
Yeh sun kar Hamid ke andar kuch toot sa gaya.
Usne dheere se kaha—
"Us din… phone kisi ladki ne uthaya tha."
Arman ek pal ke liye chup ho gaya… phir usne halka sa surprise se pucha—
"Bas itni si baat?"
Hamid ne uski taraf dekha.
"Tumhe pata bhi hai mujhe kaisa feel hua tha?" uski awaaz halki si bhar gayi.
Arman ab serious ho gaya.
"Woh meri cousin thi, Hamid," usne calmly kaha, "Lucknow se aayi hai kuch din ke liye."
Hamid ekdum se chup ho gaya.
Usse samajh nahi aa raha tha kya bole.
Arman ne dheere se kaha—
"Par main ek baat samajh nahi pa raha…"
Woh thoda paas aaya.
"Tum itna affect kyun hue?"
Yeh sawaal sun kar Hamid ka dil zor se dhadakne laga.
Uske paas ab koi bahaana nahi tha.
Uski aankhon me halka sa darr tha.
Aur phir…
usne dheere se kaha—
"Kyuki… tum mere liye sirf dost nahi ho."
Do pal ke liye sab kuch khamosh ho gaya.
Hawa bhi jaise ruk si gayi.
Arman bas usse dekhta raha.
Hamid ne nazar jhuka li.
Usse lag raha tha ab sab khatam ho jayega.
Lekin usse ab apni sachchai chhupani nahi thi.