Chapter 1: The Day Everything Changed
Shaam dhal rahi thi. Aasman narangi rang me dheere dheere doob raha tha. Hawa halki si chal rahi thi, aur sheher apni usual awaaz me jee raha tha.
Us bheed me ek ladka tha — Reito Kuroshin.
Ek bilkul normal ladka. Na koi bada sapna, na koi khaas pehchaan. Bas ek simple si zindagi. Woh hasta tha, doston ke saath waqt bitata tha, aur har din ko aise hi jeeta tha jaise kal bhi waise hi hoga.
Lekin zindagi kabhi warning nahi deti.
Us din Reito park ke paas se guzar raha tha. Tabhi uski nazar us par padi.
Ek ladki.
Hawa uske baalon ko dheere se hila rahi thi, aur uske chehre par ek halki si muskaan thi. Kuch alag tha usme. Kuch aisa jo samajh nahi aa raha tha, par feel ho raha tha.
Reito ruk gaya. Usne kabhi aisa feel nahi kiya tha. Dil tez dhadakne laga.
"Yeh kya hai...?"
Woh dheere dheere uske paas gaya.
"Hi..."
Ladki ne uski taraf dekha aur halki si smile ki. Aur ussi pal, Reito ki duniya badal gayi.
Din guzarte gaye aur unki baate badhti gayi. Hasi, mazaak, chhoti chhoti fights... aur phir woh feeling. Pyaar.
Sab kuch perfect lag raha tha. Reito ko laga shayad usse apni duniya mil gayi hai.
Lekin... ek din sab kuch khatam ho gaya.
Reito ghar laut raha tha. Usne seedha us ladki ke ghar ki taraf kadam badhaye.
Lekin darwaza khula tha.
Andar koi nahi tha.
"Hello...?"
Silence.
Uska dil tez dhadakne laga. Woh bhaagte hue idhar udhar dekhne laga. Lekin koi nahi tha.
Baad me usse sach pata chala.
Ek accident.
Aur us accident ne sab kuch cheen liya.
Reito chup khada tha. Na aansu, na awaaz. Bas ek khali pan.
Us raat baarish ho rahi thi. Aur us baarish ke beech Reito ne pehli baar apni aankhen band ki.
"Yeh duniya galat hai..."
Usne dheere se apni mutthi band ki.
"Main isse badal dunga."