Shehar ki shaam apne rang bikher rahi thi. Suraj ahista ahista ufaq syy nichy ja chuka tha, aur thandi hawaon ne har gali ko apni giraft mein le liya tha. Lekin uss pursukoon lagne wale shehar ke peeche aaj ek ajeeb si bechaini chhupi hui thi… jo sirf un do logon ki mulaqat se wabasta thi.

Aliyan apni black car se utarta hai. Uske chehre par wohi sakht si laaparwahi, aankhon mein wohi ghamand jo usay doosron se alag banata tha. Wo har cheez ko control karne kii aadat rakhne wala insaan tha… siwaye apne gusse ke.

Woh building ke andar dakhil hota hai—corporate meeting ka hall. Aaj uski company ka naya project launch honyy Wala tha.

“Welcome Mr. Aliyan,” receptionist ne muskurate hue kaha.

Aliyan ne sirf halka sa nod kiya aur seedha andar chala gaya.

Lekin usay kya pata tha… aaj uski zindagi ka sabse bada tufaan uska intezar kar raha tha.

Drwaza khulta hai.

Aur samne woh khadi thi—

Aliyah.

Sufaid formal dress, haathon mein files, aankhon mein confidence… lekin uski nazar Aliyan par padte hi oski ankho myy oss shks k lie nafrat chamak uthi.

“Tum?” Aliyah ne thanday lehje mein kaha.

Aliyan ne bhi usay upar se neeche dekha, jaise uska yaha majood hona hi usay pasand na aya ho...

“Main yahan project lead krny aya hoon,” Aliyan ne spatt lehjy myyy kaha.

Aliyah ne ek sard muskurahat di.

“Lead? Tum? Interesting… mujhe toh laga tha yahan professionals rakhe jate hain.”

Room mein ek pal ke liye khamoshi chha gayi.

Aliyan ki aankhon mein gussa utar aaya.

“tumhy baat karne ki tameez nh ati ya zuban myy srf aisy hi krwy alfaz hai?”

Aliyah ne file table par rakh di.

“zuban ka toh nahi pata… lekin tameez tum se zyada hai.”

Bas… yahin se shuru hui thi nafrat ki pehli mulaqat.

Meeting shuru hui, lekin dono har baat par ek doosre ko challenge karte rahe. Har idea par takraar, har faisly par tanqeed.

Sab log inki ye nokk jhook dykh rhy thy aur tng ho rhy ho rhy thy.

Meeting khatam hui.

Aliyan jaate hue rukta hai aur Aliyah ke paas aakar dheere se kehta hai:

“Tum jaisi ladkiyan sirf rules follow karti hain… lead nahi kar sakti.”

Aliyah bina dare uski aankhon mein dekhti hai.

“Aur tum jese log sirf control karte hain… mehsos nahi karte.”

Ek lmhy k lie khamoshi chaa gai…

phir Aliyan chala jata hai.

Lekin Aliyah ke dil mein ek ajeeb si bechaini reh jati hai… aur Aliyan ke dimagh mein ek naam baar baar gonjnye lagta hai—

Aliyah.

Woh pehli mulaqat thi… jahan se nafrat ne apni kahani likhni shuru ki thi…

lekin kisi ko kya pata tha, yeh nafrat hi aage chal kar mohabbat ka pehla darwaza banne wali thi…

Aakhri Pal

Aliyah usay jaate hue dekhti rehti hai.

Uske dil mein ajeeb si bechaini hoti hai… nafrat bhi, aur ek unknown curiosity bhi.

Woh dheere se khud se kehti hai:

“Yeh insaan… ya toh meri sab se bari takleef banega… ya meri zindagi ka sab se bara hissa.”

Doosri taraf Aliyan lift mein khara hota hai.

Uske chehre par gussa hai… lekin uske dimagh mein ek hi naam ghoom raha hota hai:

Aliyah.

Aur usay khud bhi samajh nahi aata ke yeh sirf irritation hai… ya kuch aur shuru hone wala hai.