Present Day
"I am proud of you," Veer halka sa jhuk kar kehta hai.
Ek tooti hui muskaan ke saath Veer dheere se nazar uthata hai. Uski aankhen nam hain. Palkein bhaari si hain, par woh jhapakne se bach raha hai. Woh apni mutthi band kar leta hai. Ungliyaan phir bhi thodi si kaamp rahi hain.
Chaaron taraf shor hai. Flight announcements ki awaaz speakers se hawa mein phail rahi hai.
Log tezi se uske aas-paas se guzarte jaa rahe hain. Wheels ghaseetne ki aur trolley bags takraane ki awaazein aa rahi hain…
Par Veer ke liye sab dhundla ho chuka hai.
Uski nazar sirf uske chehre par tiki hai.
"Goodbye, Veer," woh nazrein chura kar bolti hai. Aur turant palat kar chali jaati hai. Uska chehra bheed ke beech ojhal hone lagta hai.
Woh bas khamoshi se usse jaate hue dekhta rehta hai…
Tab tak…
Jab tak woh bheed mein poori tarah kho nahi jaati.
Veer ki saansein tez hone lagti hain.
Shor wapas kaanon mein chubhne lagta hai.
***
Six years earlier — 7 January 2025, New York.
Khurana Enterprises ke boardroom mein kaafi shor hai. AC ki humming bhi background mein chal rahi hai.
Files ke pages tez-tez palatne ki awaazein aa rahi hain. Log dheeme se aapas mein baat kar rahe hain. Behas tez hoti ja rahi hai.
Veer Khurana khamoshi se baitha hai. Baaki sab bol rahe hain, par woh sirf sun raha hai. Uski nazar saamne glass wall par girti hui baarish ki boondon par ruki hai.
"Mr. Khurana, aap jo suggest kar rahe hain woh kaafi risky move hai," Mr. Oberoi apna chashma theek karte hain. "Humne last month hi naye product ki marketing mein invest kiya hai. Right now, we don't have sufficient capital."
Mr. Kukreja beech mein bolte hain. "Mr. Oberoi bilkul sahi keh rahe hain, Veer. Itna reckless expansion hum abhi afford nahi kar sakte."
Veer dheere se chair ghumata hai aur Kukreja ki taraf mudta hai.
"I understand what you're saying, Mr. Kukreja," woh shaant awaaz mein kehta hai. "But this is exactly the time we need to expand, if we want to move forward…"
Kukreja uski baat kaat dete hain.
"Veer, ambition without experience is just gambling. Your father understood the difference… You clearly don't."
Veer ke chehre par koi bhaav nahi hai. Uski nazar saamne rakhi khaali chair par jaakar ruk jaati hai — sirf ek pal ke liye.
"You're right," Veer ki nazar wapas Kukreja par aati hai. "I don't have his experience."
Veer file band karke side mein rakhta hai.
"But I do know what happens when we wait too long."
Poora room shaant ho jaata hai.
"Aap last year bhool gaye kya, Mr. Kukreja?"
Veer ki awaaz bilkul dheemi hai, par har shabd saaf chubh raha hai.
"Aapke ek 'safe' decision ki wajah se hum almost bankrupt ho gaye the."
Kukreja gusse se uski taraf dekhte hain,
par kuch kehte nahi.
Tabhi Mr. Sharma beech mein bolte hain.
"Veer, hum aapka vision samajh rahe hain. But realistically, abhi funds kaafi tight hain."
Veer ka dhyaan unki taraf jaata hai.
"Mr. Sharma, funds manage karna aapki zimmedari hai," woh calmly kehta hai. "And I'm confident you'll manage. That's exactly why you're sitting at this table."
Mr. Sharma chup reh jaate hain.
Table ke aas-paas baithe logon ke beech ab sirf ek bhaari sannata hai. Veer ki nazar sab par ghoomti hai. Sabki nazrein jhuki hui hain. Koi bhi usse aankh nahi mila raha.
Mr. Oberoi ab bhi naa mein sar hila rahe hain.
Veer ek baar table par ungli tap karta hai.
"Fine. Hum yeh decision abhi hold par rakhte hain. Iss quarter ki report ke baad meeting phir se resume karenge."
Meeting khatam ho jaati hai. Chairs khisakti hain. Log apne papers samet kar room se bahar nikalne lagte hain.
Veer apni jagah se uthkar seedha Mr. Kukreja ke paas jaata hai, jo apni file band kar rahe hain.
Bina palkein jhapkaye, Veer unki aankhon mein seedha dekhta hai.
"Mr. Kukreja."
Kukreja rukte hain.
"Next time… meri baat khatam hone ka wait karna."
Veer thoda aage jhukta hai.
"Aur haan — mere father ne mujhe jitna sikhana zaroori tha, sikha diya hai. Isliye unka naam mere boardroom mein dobara naa laaya jaaye."
Veer mudta hai aur apne cabin ki taraf chal deta hai. Bahar baarish ab bhi lagataar gir rahi hai. Uske kadmon ki aahat khaali corridor mein goonjti rehti hai.
Veer cabin ke andar aata hai aur darwaza band karta hai. Bahar ka shor band ho jaata hai.
Woh haath mein rakhi files ko zor se phekne jaata hai…
Magar uske haath hawa mein hi ruk jaate hain.
Woh unhe aur zor se pakad leta hai. Ungliyaan safed padne lagti hain.
Phir aaraam se unhe table par rakh deta hai.
Woh chair mein jaake baithta hai. Ek lambi saans leta hai.
"Fuck…"
Tabhi darwaze par knock hoti hai.
Woh darwaze ki taraf dekhta hai.
Ab kaun hai yaar…
Woh chidh kar apni aankhen ghumata hai.
"Come in."
Darwaza khulta hai.
Kavya professional suit pehne, wahi usual confident smile ke saath andar aati hai.
Veer rukhi hui awaaz mein kehta hai,
"Kavya, agar tum expansion se related—"
Kavya darwaza andar se lock kar deti hai.
Click ki awaaz sannate mein goonjti hai.
"Relax," woh smile karti hai. "Topic woh nahi hai."
Woh files uske table par rakhti hai.
"Yeh naye collection ke designs hain."
Woh pages palatti hai.
"Tumhara final input chahiye."
Veer designs par nazar daalne lagta hai.
Kavya ghoom kar Veer ki chair ke peeche aa jaati hai. Woh aage jhukti hai. Uska shareer Veer ke kandhe se halka sa touch hota hai.
"Yeh wala design better hai…"
Uski ungliyaan Veer ke haath par thehar jaati hain.
Veer haath halka sa hataata hai, aur chair peeche karke khada hota hai.
"Kavya… don't do this again."
Kavya pal bhar wahi khadi rehti hai, phir ek kadam aur aage aati hai.
"Main sirf touch hi toh kar rahi thi… itna defensive kyun ho rahe ho?"
Veer ki awaaz sakht ho jaati hai.
"Maine kal hi clear kiya tha. We are done."
Kavya uske aur kareeb aati hai.
Veer uske bagal par rakha bag uthata hai.
"Mujhe jaana hai."
Kavya chid jaati hai.
"Har waqt tumhari marzi nahi chalegi?"
Veer uski baat ignore karke aage badhta hai.
Kavya uske saamne aake rasta rok deti hai. Uski aankhen nam hain.
"Kya tumhare liye hamare beech jo hai… woh matter nahi karta?"
Veer sakht awaaz mein kehta hai,
"Hamare beech koi relation nahi hai, Kavya."
Kavya ki nazar jhuk jaati hai.
"Tumhare liye yeh sab itna easy hai?"
Veer halka sa peeche hota hai.
"Main starting se clear hoon, Kavya."
Kavya uske qareeb aati hai.
"Itne mahino baad bhi… tumhe ek second ke liye bhi mere liye kuch feel nahi hua?"
Veer uski aankhon mein dekhta hai.
"Jo bhi tha hamare beech, usse complicated mat karo. Tum jaanti thi yeh kya tha."
Woh uske bagal se darwaza khol kar chala jaata hai.
Kavya bas usse jaate hue dekhti rehti hai. Woh kuch bolne ke liye hont kholti hai… phir band kar leti hai.
Veer hallway mein tez kadmon se chal raha hai.
Woh phone nikaal kar assistant ko message karta hai:
Veer: Reschedule all meetings. Main kal se Delhi wale office se operate karunga. Transfer expansion files there.
Tabhi usse ek aur message aata hai:
Mom: Beta tum aa rahe ho naa?
Veer phone screen ghoorta hai.
Kya chal raha hai inke dimaag mein…
Veer: Haan Mom, aa raha hoon.
Veer car mein baithta hai aur thakaawat se darwaza band karta hai.
"Airport chalo."
Veer khidki ke bahar dekhta hai. Baarish ab dheemi ho chuki hai. Wipers ki halki awaaz ke siwa, ab bas sannata hai.
***
Agla din.
Veer Delhi airport ke sliding doors se bahar aata hai. Dilli ki jaani-pehchaani thandi hawa uske chehre se takraati hai.
Woh idhar-udhar dekh hi raha hota hai ki door ek Rolls Royce par tikka Ayaan Khurana haath hilata dikhta hai.
Veer uske paas jaata hai.
"Bohot paas laga di gaadi… aur thoda door lagaani thi."
Ayaan hasta hai.
"Aalsi kahin ka!"
Woh aage badhta hai aur Veer ko zor se gale laga leta hai.
Veer ek second ke liye still rehta hai, phir dheere se hug return karta hai.
Ayaan muskurata hai.
"Ek hafta door reh ke mujhse aakhir yaad aa hi gayi meri?"
Veer smirk karta hai.
"Tu nahi tha toh sach mein bahut sukoon lagta tha. Aur ab teri faltu baatein sunni padengi."
Ayaan ignore karte hue muskuraata hai.
"Woh sab chhod. Yeh bata, kaisa lag raha hai Delhi itne saalon baad aa kar?"
Veer chaaron taraf dekhta hai.
"7 saalon baad aaya hoon… ab bhi waisa ka waisa hai. Wahi sadkein, wahi log, wahi pollution."
Dono ek dusre ki taraf dekh kar zor se thahaake lagate hain.
Ayaan car ke andar baithte hue kehta hai,
"Chal ab nikalte hain, warna Mom pahunchne par interrogation chalu kar degi."
Veer bhi car mein baithta hai. Darwaza ek heavy thud ke saath band hota hai, aur bahar ka shor ekdum cut ho jaata hai.
Car aage badhti hai.
Veer ki nazar khidki ke bahar tik jaati hai.
Ayaan usse dekh kar smile karta hai.
"Aur bata, kaisi rahi teri pehli board meeting mere bina… pakka wahan yaad bahut aayi hogi meri?"
Veer uski taraf nazar ghumata hai.
"Mat puch yaar. Dimaag kharab ho gaya tha. But maine handle kar liya."
Ayaan smirk karta hai.
"Jaise baaki time bahut badhiya rehta hai… pata chala mujhe kya handle kiya tune."
Veer chid kar kehta hai,
"Chhod yaar abhi yeh sab baatein."
Aur wapas khidki ki taraf mud jaata hai.
Ayaan apne tablet mein kuch kaam karne lag jaata hai.
Veer bahar dekh raha hai. Uski nazar ek jaani-pehchaani building ke gate par padti hai.
Gate par bheed waisi hi hai.
Ek pal ke liye, bheed mein kuch jaane-pehchaane chehre dikhai dete hain. Haste hue.
Uski aankhen ek tapri par jaakar rukti hain.
Uski saans ek pal ke liye dheemi pad jaati hai.
Wahan koi nahi hai.
Par usse ek pal ke liye mehsoos hota hai — kisi ka haath uske haath mein hai. Ek kulhad chai. Dhuan. Aur woh hansi.
Veer tezi se palkein jhapakta hai aur apna dhyaan doosri taraf kheench leta hai.
Ayaan usse notice karta hai aur dheemi awaaz mein bolta hai,
"Woh time bhi kya sahi tha, na? Koi tension nahi. Bas tu, main, Ajeet… aur Mira."
Veer khamosh rehta hai. Uski nigaah aage nikalte sheher par tiki hai.
Tabhi uski nazar ek deewar par bane mural par padti hai.
Ek ladki ne apna dil apne haathon mein sambhaal kar rakha hai.
Usse dekh kar Veer ke chehre par halki si smile aati hai — bina uske jaane.
Thodi der baad, Ayaan silence break karta hai.
"Koi idea hai tujhe ki Mom ne tujhe kyun itni jaldi mein bulaya hai?"
Veer thakaawat se aah bharta hai.
"Haan, thoda bahut… but I hope woh reason naa ho."
Ayaan tease karte hue smile karta hai.
"Zyada hope mat rakh. Pehle hi warn kar deta hoon."
"I swear yaar, inhone phir se sha—"
Achanak driver zor se brake marta hai.
SCREECH…
Ayaan ke haath se tablet gir jaata hai.
Veer ka sar jhatke se aage dashboard se takraane hi wala hota hai ki seatbelt usse zor se peeche kheench leti hai.
"What the fuck…"
Driver hadbada kar peeche mudta hai.
"Sir! Woh… woh achanak gaadi ke saamne aa gayi!"
Veer gusse mein windshield ke paar dekhta hai.
Car ke bumper se sirf kuch inch door… ek ladki zameen par baithi hai.
Uski gaud mein ek chhota sa puppy hai.
Woh darr ke maare buri tarah kaamp raha hai aur halki si awaaz nikal raha hai.
Ladki ki ungliyaan usse apne seene se aur tight laga leti hain.
Woh haanf rahi hai. Gusse mein uska chehra laal hai. Zulfein bikhri hui hain aur uske chehre par aa rahi hain.
Woh jhatke se khadi hoti hai aur ek pal ke liye khud ko sambhalti hai.
THAK! THAK! THAK!
Woh driver side ki window zor se bajati hai.
Driver darr ke maare door kholta hai.
"Sorry madam…"
Woh usse gusse se ghoorti hai.
"Andhe ho kya? Sadak par itna chhota sa puppy nahi dikhta? Abhi thok hi dete tum. Aur phir peeche mud kar dekhte bhi nahi."
Ayaan car se utarta hai aur us ladki ke saamne jaata hai.
"Relax… main driver ki taraf se maafi maangta hoon."
Woh coat ki pocket se apna wallet nikalta hai.
"Jo bhi nuksaan hua hai, bata do. I will pay."
Ladki ki aankhen wallet dekh kar aur chhoti ho jaati hain.
"Mujhse kya maafi maang rahe ho? Iss puppy se maafi maango."
Woh puppy ko Ayaan ke chehre ke paas laati hai.
"Dekh nahi rahe… kaamp raha hai yeh?"
Ayaan puppy ko dekhta hai, phir ladki ko.
"Kutte ke bachche se maafi maangun?"
"Iski jagah agar insaan ka baccha rehta toh" ladki turant jawaab deti hai.
Sadak par bheed jama hone lagi hai. Kuch log phone nikal lete hain.
Ayaan idhar-udhar dekhta hai.
Beta Ayaan, isse pehle aur bheed jama ho, sorry bol aur nikal yahan se…
Woh gehri saans leta hai aur neeche jhukta hai. Puppy ko sehlata hai.
"Sorry, buddy."
Ayaan wapas khada hota hai.
"Lo ho gaya. Maang li maafi."
"Sirf maafi maangne se kuch nahi hoga. Tumhe paise dene the naa… ruko ek sec."
Ladki apni pocket se phone nikalti hai. Screen par kuch tap karti hai aur Ayaan ke chehre ke saamne kar deti hai.
"Scan karo."
Ayaan screen dekhta hai.
SANKALP NGO
Uski aankhen ek pal ke liye ruk jaati hain.
Yeh toh Mom ka NGO hai.
Ayaan ek pal ke liye ladki ko dekhta hai, phir apna phone nikalta hai.
Beep.
Payment done.
Ladki apna phone wapas kheenchti hai aur screen check karti hai. Green tick.
"Good."
"Ho gaya? Ab jaayein hum log… agar aapki permission ho toh?"
Ladki ki nazar Veer ki dark tinted window par rukti hai.
"Jaao. Aur agli baar dhyaan rakhna."
Woh halka sa rukti hai.
"Har kisi ki life airbags ke saath nahi aati… magar shayad kuch logon ko farq nahi padta."
Woh Veer ki tinted khidki par aise nazar gaadti hai jaise aar-paar dekh sakti ho.
Woh apni nazar ghumati hai aur mud kar jaane lagti hai.
Veer usse tab tak dekhta rehta hai jab tak woh bheed mein ojhal nahi ho jaati.
Uske chehre par ek chhoti si smile hai.
Ajeeb ladki thi…
Uski nazar ab bhi ussi direction mein tiki rehti hai.
Ayaan saans chhodta hai aur car ke andar aake baithta hai. Woh Veer ko dekhta hai.
"Kya pagal ladki thi yaar. Kutte se kaun sorry bulwata hai?"
Veer Ayaan ki shakal dekh kar hans padta hai.
Ayaan usse chid kar ghoorta hai.
"Hans le beta, hans le… ghar jaake waise bhi tujhe rona hi hai."
Veer ki hansi turant gaayab ho jaati hai.
Ayaan apni nazar ghuma kar bahar dekhne lagta hai.
Veer dheere se seat par peeche tikta hai. Car ka engine wapas hum karke start hota hai.
Woh bahar dekhne lagta hai.
Woh thak kar sheeshe par apna sar tikata hai aur aankhen band kar leta hai.
Great. Welcome home, Veer.
To Be Continued…