Gaon mein ek gareeb aadmi rehta tha… naam tha Ramu
Ramu ke paas paise bilkul nahi the… ek din woh jungle ke paas baitha soch raha tha—
"Kaash mere paas paisa hota…"
Tabhi achanak ek ajeeb aadmi aaya… kala coat pehne hue
Usne kaha—
"Main tumhe 1 lakh rupaye dunga… bas mujhe tumhari parchhai chahiye…"
Ramu hairaan reh gaya—
"Parchhai ka kya karega tu?"
Woh aadmi muskuraaya—
"Woh tum mat socho…"
Ramu ne bina soche haan kar di
Jaise hi deal hui… Ramu ki parchhai gaayab ho gayi!
Shuru mein sab normal tha… paise mil gaye, life set
Lekin raat hote hi… ajeeb cheezein hone lagi…
Ramu ko lagne laga koi uska peecha kar raha hai
Darwaze apne aap khul jaate
Aur ek din…
Usne dekha…
Uski parchhai khud zinda ho chuki thi!
Parchhai boli—
"Ab main azaad hoon… aur ab main teri jagah loongi…"
Ramu darr gaya
Parchhai dheere-dheere uski life churaane lagi…
Log Ramu ko pehchaan hi nahi pa rahe the
Sab parchhai ko asli samajhne lage
Aakhir mein…
Ramu sadak par akela reh gaya… bina pehchaan ke
Aur ek din...
Wahi aadmi phir aaya…
Aur bola—
"Ab kya apni zindagi bhi bechoge?" "Kabhi bhi chhoti si cheez ke liye apni pehchaan mat becho…"