Raat ka waqt tha. Halki-halki baarish ho rahi thi, aur sadak ke street lights pani ke boondon me chamak rahe the.
Nidhi apne bag ko sir par rakh kar tezi se chal rahi thi.
"Yeh baarish bhi na… jab zarurat ho tab aati hi nahi," usne thoda irritate hoke kaha.
Tabhi achanak uska pair fisla—
"Careful!"
Ek strong haath ne use girne se pehle pakad liya.
Nidhi ne aankhen utha kar dekha…
Samne ek ladka khada tha. Uski aankhon me ek ajeeb si shanti thi, jaise wo is bheegi raat ka hissa ho.
"Tum theek ho?" usne halki si smile ke saath poocha.
Nidhi kuch seconds tak chup rahi… jaise waqt ruk gaya ho.
"Uh… haan… thanks," usne halki si awkward smile di.
"Waise baarish me akele ghoomna thoda risky hota hai," ladke ne kaha.
"Main ghoom nahi rahi… ghar ja rahi hoon," Nidhi ne thoda defensive tone me jawab diya.
Ladka halka sa hansa.
"Same difference."
Dono kuch der tak chup rahe… sirf baarish ki awaaz thi.
"By the way, main Jeck hoon," usne haath aage badhaya.
Nidhi ne uska haath dekha… phir dheere se apna haath usme rakh diya.
"Nidhi."
Us ek chhoti si handshake me kuch alag tha… jaise dono ke beech ek silent connection ban gaya ho.
Tabhi bijli chamki ⚡
Aur zor ki baarish shuru ho gayi.
"Chalo, wahan shade ke neeche khade ho jaate hain," Jeck ne signal kiya.
Dono ek chhoti si chai ki dukaan ke shade ke neeche khade ho gaye.
Garam chai ki khushboo, thandi hawa, aur beech-beech me unki chhoti si baatein…
"Tum yahan nayi ho?" Jeck ne poocha.
"Haan… abhi kuch din pehle shift hui hoon," Nidhi ne jawab diya.
"Interesting…" Jeck ne dheere se kaha, jaise usne kuch socha ho.
"Tum?" Nidhi ne poocha.
Jeck thoda ruk gaya…
"Main… yahin ka hoon."
Uska tone suddenly thoda serious ho gaya tha.
Nidhi ne notice kiya, lekin kuch kaha nahi.
Kuch der baad baarish ruk gayi.
"Lagta hai ab tum safely ja sakti ho," Jeck ne halka sa smile diya.
Nidhi ne sir hilaya… lekin jaane se pehle ruk gayi.
"Shayad… hum phir milenge?" usne dheere se kaha.
Jeck ne uski aankhon me dekha…
"Shayad nahi… pakka."
Nidhi muskura di aur wahan se chal di.
Lekin usne ek baar bhi peeche mud kar nahi dekha…
Aur Jeck?
Wo wahi khada raha… uski jaati hui parchai ko dekhte hue.
"Game just started…" usne dheere se khud se kaha.