Raat ke 1:57 AM…
Aarav apne kamre mein akela baitha tha. Laptop screen uske chehre par halki blue light daal rahi thi. Table par coffee ka ek thanda cup pada tha jo kab ka apni warmth kho chuka tha—bilkul Aarav ki life ki tarah.
"Yaar… kuch toh galat ho raha hai meri life mein…" usne dheere se khud se kaha.
College ke assignments pending the, internship reject ho chuki thi, aur ghar wale roz comparison karte the—
"Sharma ji ka beta dekh, kitna successful hai…"
Aarav ne frustrated hokar laptop band kar diya.
Clock ne 2:00 AM strike kiya.
TING!
Uska phone suddenly vibrate hua.
Aarav ne screen dekhi—
Unknown Notification
"Kya tum apni kismat badalna chahte ho?"
Aarav ne bhonhein sikodi. "Spam hoga…" usne socha.
Par notification gayab nahi hua.
Neeche ek aur line slowly type hone lagi, jaise koi live likh raha ho—
"Sirf 'YES' likho… aur sab kuch badal jayega."
Aarav ke andar curiosity jagi.
"Ye kaunsa app hai?" usne phone check kiya—koi naam nahi, koi icon nahi… bas ek black screen aur woh message.
Usne thoda hansa—
"Chalo dekhte hain… worst kya hoga?"
Usne type kiya—
YES
Enter dabate hi screen ek second ke liye pitch black ho gayi…
Phir ek naya message aaya—
"Deal accepted."
Aarav ka dil ek second ke liye ruk gaya.
"Okay… that's creepy…" usne phone side mein rakh diya aur bed par let gaya.
"Overthinking band kar Aarav… bas ek stupid prank hai," usne aankhein band karte hue kaha.
Lekin us raat usse neend nahi aayi।
Next Morning
Alarm bajne se pehle hi Aarav ki aankh khul gayi।
Usse ajeeb sa light feel ho raha tha… jaise kuch change ho gaya ho।
"Strange…" usne mirror mein dekha—uska face fresh lag raha tha, confident bhi।
College pahunchte hi pehla shock mila।
Professor ne announce kiya—
"Kal ka test result aa gaya hai… aur topper hai Aarav!"
Class ekdum silent ho gayi।
"WHAT?" Aarav ke muh se nikal gaya।
Usne toh properly padha bhi nahi tha।
Friends uske paas aaye—
"Bhai tu kab se itna smart ho gaya?"
Aarav bas awkward smile de raha tha… par andar se shock mein tha।
Same Day – Afternoon
Canteen mein baith kar Aarav apna phone scroll kar raha tha।
Ek email pop-up hua—
"Congratulations! You have been selected…"
Woh internship… jo usse reject kar chuki thi।
Aarav ka heartbeat fast ho gaya।
"Ye coincidence nahi ho sakta…" usne socha।
Usne turant kal raat wala notification yaad kiya।
Usne phone khola…
Wahi black screen khul gayi।
Aur ek naya message aaya—
"Kaisa lag raha hai… nayi kismat?"
Aarav ka gala sukh gaya।
"Tum… kaun ho?" usne type kiya।
Kuch seconds tak silence raha…
Phir reply aaya—
"Jo tumhari madad kar raha hai."
Aarav ke haath thande pad gaye।
"Aur badle mein?"
Screen flicker hui…
"Har cheez ki ek keemat hoti hai."
Days Passed
Agla ek hafta Aarav ke liye dream jaisa tha।
Jo bhi woh chaahta—mil jaata।
Exams mein top
Social media par viral fame
Paise, opportunities, respect…
Sab kuch।
Uski life perfect ho gayi thi।
Lekin…
Har raat 2 baje uska phone automatically on ho jaata।
Aur woh black screen usse dekh rahi hoti।
Jaise… koi usse watch kar raha ho।
7th Night – 2:00 AM
Room dark tha।
Clock ne 2 bajaye।
Phone vibrate hua।
Aarav already jaag raha tha।
Usne dheere se phone uthaya।
Screen par ek hi line thi—
"Ab payment ka time hai."
Aarav ka dil zor se dhadakne laga।
"Kya chahiye?"
Is baar reply turant aaya—
"Tumhari sabse keemti cheez."
Aarav ne confused hokar socha—
"Money? Career? Sab le lo… bas problem khatam karo…"
Par usse ek ajeeb si feeling aa rahi thi… jaise answer woh nahi hai jo woh expect kar raha hai।
Tabhi…
Phone screen par ek photo flash hui।
Uski chhoti behen—Anya।
Aarav ka khoon jam gaya।
"Nahi… ye mazaak hai… right?"
Screen blink hui।
"Tumne deal accept ki thi, Aarav."
Room ki lights flicker hone lagi।
Fan apne aap tez ghoomne laga।
Darwaza DHADAM se band ho gaya।
Aarav panic mein aa gaya।
"Nahi! Ye galat hai! Main cancel karta hoon!"
Usne phone par type kiya—
"Cancel the deal!"
Reply aaya—
"Too late."
Silence…
Phir…
Ek halki si awaaz aayi।
"Bhaiya…?"
Aarav freeze ho gaya।
Woh awaaz…"Bhaiya…?"
Woh awaaz itni halki thi ki jaise hawa ke saath beh kar aayi ho… lekin Aarav ke kaano mein woh bijli ki tarah lagi।
Uska gala sukh gaya. Saans tez ho gayi।
"Anya…?" usne dheere se pukara।
Koi jawab nahi।
Room mein sirf clock ki tick-tick goonj rahi thi।
Aarav ne himmat jutayi aur dheere dheere peeche mudha।
Darwaze ke paas ek shadow khadi thi।
Pehle toh sab normal laga… height, shape… sab Anya jaisa hi tha।
Lekin phir…
Woh shadow dheere dheere aage badhne lagi।
Light uske chehre par padi।
Aarav ki aankhein phat gayi।
Woh Anya thi… par poori nahi।
Uski aankhein… bilkul kaali thi। Jaise unme koi roshni hi na ho।
Aur uske honton par ek ajeeb si muskuraahat thi—thandi, bejaan, aur darawni।
"Bhaiya…" usne phir se kaha… lekin is baar uski awaaz do alag tones mein thi… jaise do log ek saath bol rahe ho।
Aarav ek kadam peeche hata।
"Nahi… tum Anya nahi ho…"
Woh cheez ruk gayi।
Phir uska sar dheere dheere ek taraf jhuk gaya… unnatural tareeke se।
"Tumne mujhe bulaya hai…" usne fufkaar kar kaha।
Aarav ka dimaag ghoomne laga।
"Mainne… nahi…"
Phone uske haath mein vibrate hua।
Screen par ek naya message flash hua—
"Payment received."
Aarav ne darr ke maare phone gira diya।
Jab usne dobara upar dekha…
Woh cheez uske bilkul saamne khadi thi।
Uski kaali aankhein seedha Aarav ki rooh mein ghus rahi thi।
Aur phir…
Usne dheere se muskurakar kaha—
"Ab tum kabhi akela nahi rahoge…" 😈
To be continued.....
Agar story pasand aa rahe hai to collection jarur Kare.