Hospital ke corridor me Anaya chupchaap baithi thi. Maa stable thi, par doctors ka kehna clear tha—danger abhi tala nahi hai.
Isi beech Aarav ka message aaya:
"Meeting khatam hui. Kuch naya pata chala hai."
Anaya ka dil thoda aur tez dhadak gaya.
Shaam ko jab Aarav mila, uska expression usual se zyada serious tha.
"Contract sirf ek arrangement nahi," usne dheere se kaha. "Ye kisi aur ke interest se bhi juda hai."
"Kaun?" Anaya ne poocha.
Aarav ne seedha jawab nahi diya. "Abhi nahi."
Ye 'abhi nahi' Anaya ko samajh aa gaya—
sab sach ek saath nahi aane wala.
Usne ek kadam aage badhaya. "Par jo bhi hai, main peeche nahi hatungi."
Aarav ne use dekha—jaise pehli baar kisi ne uske game ke rules accept kar liye hon.
"Phir tayyar raho," usne kaha. "Kal se cheezein badalengi."
Anaya ne hospital ki taraf ek last nazar dali.
Ye sirf uski maa ki ladai nahi thi…
ye uski apni bhi shuruaat thi.