Raat ke 11 baj chuke the.
Shehar ki sadke almost khaali ho chuki thi, lekin Nidhi abhi tak ghar ke bahar khadi thi. Uske haath me phone tha, lekin woh screen ko dekh kar bhi kuch soch nahi pa rahi thi.
Usne gehri saans li… aur dheere se darwaza khola।
Ghar ke andar halki si roshni thi।
Living room me Aarav sofa par baitha tha — jaise woh uska intezaar kar raha ho।
"Tum aa gayi…" usne seedha kaha।
Nidhi ne aankhon se contact avoid kiya।
"Haan… office ka kaam tha, thoda late ho gaya।"
Aarav ne kuch seconds tak usse dekha… phir halka sa muskuraya — lekin woh muskurahat asli nahi thi।
"Roz hi late ho jaati ho aajkal…"
Room me ek ajeeb sa silence chha gaya।
Nidhi ne bina kuch bole apna bag rakha aur seedha bedroom ki taraf chali gayi। Uska dil tez dhadak raha tha — jaise woh kisi sach se bhaag rahi ho।
🌙
Mirror ke saamne khadi Nidhi khud ko dekh rahi thi।
Uski aankhon me thakaan thi… lekin uske peeche kuch aur bhi tha — guilt, ya shayad confusion।
Tabhi uska phone vibrate hua।
Screen par naam flash hua — Kabir।
Nidhi ke honton par halki si smile aa gayi।
Message tha:
"Pahunch gayi safely?"
Usne turant reply kiya—
"Haan… ghar aa gayi."
2 seconds ke andar reply aaya—
"Miss kar raha hoon."
Nidhi ne aankhen band kar li… aur uske dil me ek ajeeb si khushi daud gayi।
🌙
Kitchen me Aarav khada paani pee raha tha।
Usne door se Nidhi ko dekha — jo phone me busy thi aur halki si muskura rahi thi।
Aarav ne dheere se poocha—
"Kisi ka message tha?"
Nidhi thodi ghabra gayi, lekin turant normal ho gayi—
"Nahi… bas office ka group tha।"
Aarav ne sir hilaya।
"Achha…"
Lekin uski aankhon me ab doubt clearly dikh raha tha।
🌙
Raat aur gehri ho gayi।
Nidhi bed par leti hui thi, lekin usse neend nahi aa rahi thi।
Aarav uske paas hi so raha tha… lekin unke beech ek ajeeb si doori thi।
Usne dheere se phone uthaya।
Kabir ka ek aur message tha—
"Kal mil sakte hain?"
Nidhi kuch seconds tak screen ko dekhti rahi…
Phir usne type kiya—
"Haan… kal 5 baje."
Send.
Usne phone side me rakha… aur ceiling ki taraf dekhne lagi।
Usse pata tha — woh jo kar rahi hai, woh galat hai।
Lekin phir bhi… woh ruk nahi pa rahi thi।
🌙
Subah ka time।
Aarav breakfast table par baitha tha।
Nidhi ne casually kaha—
"Aaj thoda late aaungi… meeting hai."
Aarav ne seedha uski aankhon me dekha—
"Kitni late?"
"Pata nahi… 9 ya 10…"
Aarav ne bas ek line boli—
"Take care."
Lekin us "take care" ke andar bahut kuch chhupa tha।
🌙
Shaam ke 5 baje।
Ek chhoti si coffee shop।
Nidhi andar aayi… aur uski nazar seedha us par padi।
Kabir.
Wahi confident smile… wahi aankhen।
"Hi…" usne dheere se kaha।
Kabir khada hua… aur usne bas itna kaha—
"Tum bilkul nahi badli…"
Nidhi ka dil zor se dhadakne laga।
🔥 Cliffhanger (End of Part 1)
Kabir ne dheere se uska haath pakda… aur bola—
"Lekin is baar… main tumhe khona nahi chahta."
Nidhi ek pal ke liye jam si gayi…
Kyuki use samajh nahi aa raha tha—
yeh ek nayi shuruaat hai… ya ek badi galti।