Raat ka sannahata sheher par apni chadar phela chuka tha. Asman par baadal gehre thay aur halki halki boonda-baandi ne mausam mein ek ajeeb si khunki paida kar di thi. Magar Zoya ke dil mein jo aag sulag rahi thi, uske samne ye thandak kuch bhi nahi thi. Wo apne kamre ki khirki ke paas khari baher andhere mein ghuri ja rahi thi. Uske haath mein uske marhoom baap ki ek purani tasveer thi, jise wo zor se bheencha hue thi.

"Bhale hi goli Zain ke baap ne chalayi thi, par mere liye wo poora khandan hi gunahgaar hai," Zoya ne dhiime se khud se kaha, uski awaz mein ek ajeeb sa dard aur nafrat ka imtizaj tha. "Jiska baap qatil ho, uska beta maseeha kaise ho sakta hai?"

Zoya ki zindagi ka ek hi maqsad tha—apne baap ke qatil se badla lena. Wo us bad-naseeb raat ko kabhi nahi bhool sakti thi jab uske haste baste ghar ko aag aur khoon mein dooba diya gaya tha. Us din ke baad se, Zain ka naam uske liye sirf ek dushman ka naam nahi tha, balki us har takleef ka nishani tha jo usne aur uski maa ne jheli thi. Zain, jo is waqt sheher ka ek maaroof aur ba-asar shakhs ban chuka tha, poore sheher ke liye khauf aur dabdabbe ki alamat tha. Log uske naam se kaanpte thay, uske faislon ke samne sar jhukate thay. Magar Zoya? Zoya usse shadeed nafrat karti thi.

Wahi doosri taraf, sheher ke ek aalishan penthouse ki balcony mein khara Zain aik gehri soch mein dooba hua tha. Uske haath mein sigaret thi, jiska dhuan raat ke andhere mein gayab ho raha tha. Uska chehra sangeen aur uski aankhein gehri thien, jinmein ek ajeeb si deewangi aur obsessive look saaf nazar aati thi. Wo poore sheher ko apni ungliyon par nachata tha, magar jab baat Zoya ki aati, toh uska saara ghoor aur takabbur khak mein mil jata.

Zain ko maloom tha ke Zoya usse aur uske khandan se kitni nafrat karti hai. Use ye bhi maloom tha ke Zoya ke baap ki maut ka ilzam uske baap par hai. Magar wo is sab ke bawajood Zoya ko pane ke liye kisi bhi had tak jaane ko tayyar tha. Uski ye mohabbat aam nahi thi; ye ek junoon tha, ek aisi aag jo usse andar hi andar jala rahi thi.

"Tum mujhse chahe jitni nafrat kar lo Zoya," Zain ne dhiime se muskurate hue sigaret ka dhuan baher nikala, "Magar tumhari ye nafrat bhi mujhe tumse door nahi kar sakti. Main tumhare liye apni poori zindagi badalne ko tayyar hoon, magar main tumhe kisi aur ka nahi hone doonga."

Agli subah, Zoya apni aam ruteen ke mutabiq university ke liye nikli. Wo aam taur par bus se safar karti thi, magar aaj mausam kharab hone ki wajah se raste sunsaan thay. Jab wo ek khali sarak se guzar rahi thi, toh achanak ek kaali chamakti hui bari gari uske paas aakar ruki. Gari ke sheeshe neche hue aur andar se Zain ka saaf chehra namoodar hua.

Zoya ka dil tezi se dharakne laga, magar darr se nahi, balki gussay se. Usne apni muthhiyan bheenchi aur wahan se tezi se aage barhne lagi.

"Zoya, ruko. Mausam kharab hai, main tumhe drop kar deta hoon," Zain ne gari se baher nikalte hue kaha. Uska lehja narm tha, jo uske aam rawaiye se bilkul mukhtalif tha.

Zoya wahin ruk gayi aur mud kar uski aankhon mein dekha. "Mujhe ek qatil ke bete ki hamdardi ki koi zaroorat nahi hai, Zain Shah! Tumhare khandan ka saya bhi agar mujh par pare, toh mujhe ghin aati hai."

Zain ke chehre par ek pal ke liye dard ki lareer ubhri, magar agle hi pal usne khud par qabu pa liya. Wo Zoya ke qareeb aaya, itna qareeb ke Zoya uski saansons ki garmi mehsoos kar sakti thi. Zoya ne pichhe hatne ki koshish ki, magar Zain ne uska haath mazbooti se pakar liya.

"Chhoro mujhe!" Zoya chillayi.

"Nahi chhoroonga Zoya. Jab tak tum meri baat nahi sun leti," Zain ne uski aankhon mein dekhte hue kaha, jahan sirf aur sirf ek junooni diwangi thi. "Mere baap ne jo kiya, uski saza tum mujhe kyun de rahi ho? Main tumse mohabbat karta hoon, aur ye baat tum badal nahi sakti."

"Mohabbat?" Zoya ne tanziah hansi hansti hui kaha, uski aankhon mein aansu thay magar lehja pathar ki tarah sakht tha. "Tumhare khandan ne meri khushiyan cheeni hain. Tum se mohabbat karna toh door, main tumhari maut ki dua karti hoon. Tumhara ye junoon meri nafrat ke samne kabhi nahi jeet payega."

Zain ne uska haath chhor diya, magar uski aankhon ka junoon kam nahi hua. Zoya tezi se wahan se bhaag gayi, magar wo nahi jaanti thi ke ye toh sirf shuruaat thi. Ek aisi dushmani aur junooni mohabbat ki dastan shuru ho chuki thi, jahan nafrat ki sulgati aag mein dono ko jalna tha. Kya mohabbat apni jagah bana payegi? Ya ye junoon sab kuch rakh kar dega?

Zoya university ke gate ke andar dakhil hui toh uska dil abhi tak tezi se dharak raha hai. Uske haath halkay se kaanp rahe thay aur chehre par khauf se zyada gussa tha. Zain Shah ke pakar ki garmi abhi tak uski kalai par mehsoos ho rahi thi. Wo jitna us khandan se door bhagna chahti thi, qismat use utna hi unke qareeb kheench rahi thi.

"Zoya! Tum theek toh ho? Chehra kyun itna utra hua hai?" Uski sab se achi dost, Ayla, ne uske paas aakar pareshani se poocha.

Zoya ne ek gehra saans liya aur khud ko sambhalne ki koshish ki. "Kuch nahi Ayla, bas raste mein mausam ki wajah se thoda ajeeb lag raha tha. Chalo, class ka waqt ho raha hai." Usne baat ko taala, kyunke wo nahi chahti thi ke koi bhi Zain Shah ka naam lekar uski subah kharab kare.

Magar Zoya ye nahi jaanti thi ke Zain Shah ki nazar se bachna namumkin tha. Class shuru ho chuki ti, professor whiteboard par lecture likh rahe thay, magar Zoya ka dhyan kahin aur tha. Uske dimaag mein bar bar us bad-naseeb raat ke manazir ghoom rahe thay. Uske baap ki aakhri saansein, uski maa ki cheekhein, aur un sab ke piche khari wo sangeen shakhsiyat—Zain ka baap, Asif Shah.

"Main unhein kabhi maaf nahi karungi. Kabhi nahi," usne dhiime se socha, aur uske haath mein pakra hua pen uski ungliyon ki sakhti se larazne laga.

Wahi doosri taraf, Zain Shah apne aalishan office ke bade se glass window ke paas khara sheher ko dekh raha تھا. Uska secretary, Farhan, darwaze par dastak dekar andar dakhil hua. Uske haath mein ek file thi.

"Sir, aap ne jo maloomat mangi thien, wo sab is mein hain," Farhan ne adab se kaha.

Zain ne bina mure sirf apna haath aage barhaya. Farhan ne khamoshi se file uske haath mein thama di. Zain ne file kholi, us mein Zoya ki university ka poora schedule, uske doston ke naam, aur uske ghar ke raste ki ek ek detail maujood thi. Zain ki aankhon mein ek ajeeb si chamak ubhri—ek aisi chamak jo sirf ek deewane aashiq ke chehre par hoti hai jo apne shikaar ko ghern ki tayyari kar raha ho.

"Zoya... tum samajhti ho ke tum mujhse nafrat kar ke mujhse door reh sakti ho?" Zain ne dhiime se muskurate hue file ko apne seene se laga liya. "Tumhari nafrat meri is mohabbat ko mazeed gehra karti hai. Main tumhe is tarah apni zindagi mein shamil karunga ke tum chah kar bhi mujhse door nahi ja paogi."

"Sir, ek aur baat," Farhan ne thoda hichkichate hue kaha. "Aapke baap, Asif Shah sahab ne pucha hai ke aap aaj raat ki party mein shamil ho rahe hain ya nahi? Unho ne kaha hai ke sheher ke bade business tycoons wahan aa rahe hain."

Zain ka chehra sangeen ho gaya. Uski aankhon mein apne baap ke liye koi izzat ya mohabbat nahi thi, balki ek ajeeb sa tanz tha. "Unhein keh dena ke Zain Shah apne faisle khud karta hai. Agar mera mood hua, toh main aunga."

Farhan ne sar jhukaya aur khamoshi se kamre se baher nikal gaya. Zain ne apna phone uthaya aur ek number dial kiya. "University ke baher gari tayyar rakho. Mujhe theek dopehar do baje wahan hona hai."

Dopehar ko jab university ki chutti hui, toh halki halki barish ab bhi ho rahi thi. Zoya aur Ayla baher niklien. Ayla ke bhai ne use lene aana tha, isi liye wo dono khari intezar kar rahi thien.

"Zoya, mausam bohot kharab ho raha hai. Tum hamare sath hi chalo, hum tumhe tumhare ghar drop kar denge," Ayla ne fikar-mandi se kaha.

"Nahi Ayla, tumhara ghar doosri taraf hai. Main bus se chali jaungi, tum fikar mat karo," Zoya ne muskurate hue mana kiya. Usne nahi chahti thi ke uski wajah se kisi aur ko takleef ho.

Ayla ki gari aayi aur wo chali gayi. Zoya akeli bus stop ki taraf barhne lagi. Sarak par gaariyan kam thien aur barish ke thandے qatre uske chehre par gir rahe thay. Achanak, ek dafa phir wahi kaali chamakti hui gari uske paas aakar ruki. Magar is baar gari se Zain nahi, balki do bodyguards baher nikle.

Zoya darr ke maare do qadam piche hati. "Tum log kaun ho? Mere raste se hato!"

"Madam, Shah sahab ne aapko yaad kiya hai. Meharbani kar ke gari mein baithiye," ek bodyguard ne nihayat adab magar sakht lehje mein kaha.

"Main kisi Shah ko nahi jaanti! Chale jao yahan se, warna main shor macha dungi!" Zoya ne gussay aur khauf ke milay julay lehje mein chillayi.

"Humein zabardasti karne par majboor na karein, madam," doosre ne kaha aur Zoya ka baazu pakarne ke liye haath aage barhaya.

"Hath mat lagao mujhe!" Zoya ne piche hatne ki koshish ki, magar sarak sunsaan thi aur barish ki wajah se koi aas paas nahi tha. Uska dil tezi se dharak raha tha. Usne bhagne ki koshish ki, magar bodyguards ne use gher liya.

Usi pal, gari ka pichla darwaza khula aur andar se Zain Shah baher nikla. Uske haath mein ek kala umbrella (chata) tha. Uska lamba coat aur uski sangeen aankhein is mausam mein mazeed dravni lag rahi thien. Usne bodyguards ko ishara kiya, aur wo dono foran piche hat gaye.

Zain dhiime dhiime qadmon se Zoya ke qareeb aaya. Usne chata is tarah kiya ke barish ke qatre Zoya par girna band ho gaye, aur wo dono ek hi chate ke neeche aa gaye. Zoya ne nafrat se Zain ki aankhon mein dekha.

"Yeh kya badtameezi hai, Zain? Tumhari himmat kaise hui mere raste mein is tarah aane ki?" Zoya ki awaz kaanp rahi thi, magar gussa saaf tha.

"Badtameezi?" Zain ne ek gehri aur narm hansi hansti hui kaha. "Zoya, main toh sirf tumhari hifazat kar raha hoon. Mausam kharab hai, aur main apni jaan ko is tarah sarak par akela nahi chhor sakta."

"Main tumhari jaan nahi hoon! Main tumhari dushman hoon, Zain Shah! Mujhe tumse ghin aati hai," Zoya ne chillakar kaha, uski aankhon mein aansu tairne lage.

Zain ka chehra ek pal ke liye sakht hua, uski pakar chate par mazboot hui. Usne apna doosra haath aage barhaya aur Zoya ke bheege hue baalon ki ek lat ko uske chehre se piche kiya. Zoya ne jhatke se apna sar piche kiya, magar Zain ke chehre par wahi junooni muskurahat wapas aa gayi.

"Dushmani? Mujhe tumhari is nafrat se bhi mohabbat hai, Zoya. Agar tum mujhse mohabbat nahi kar sakti, toh nafrat hi sahi. Magar yaad rakhna, tum ho sirf meri. Bhale hi mujhe iske liye poori duniya se larna pare, ya tumse hi kyun na larna pare."

Zain ne gari ka darwaza khola. "Ab sharafat se andar baitho, warna mujhe ache se pata hai ke tumhe gari mein kaise bithana hai."

Zoya ne daayein baayein dekha, madad ke liye koi nahi تھا. Wo jaanti thi ke Zain ek deewana shakhs hai aur wo jo kehta hai, wo kar guzarta hai. Usne apni aankhein band kien, ek aakhri baar us par nafrat ki nazar daali, aur gari ke andar baith gayi. Zain bhi uske sath pichli seat par baith gaya aur gari tezi se aage barh gayi.

Tez raftar gari sarak par daur rahi thi. Gari ke andar khamoshi is qadar gehri thi ke sirf bahar barasne wali barish ki awaz sunayi de rahi thi. Zoya gari ke darwaze ke sath bilkul jud kar baithi thi, jaise wo Zain ke saaye se bhi door rehna chahti ho. Uski aankhon se gusse aur khauf ke aanso beh rahe the.

Zain ne ek nazar side mirror se uski taraf dekha. Uska chehra bilkul sapaat tha, jaise use Zoya ke rone se koi farq nahi par raha tha, magar uski pakar steering wheel par mazeed sakht ho gayi thi.

"Mujhe gari se utaro, Zain Shah! Tumhari himmat kaise hui mujhe is tarah uthane ki? Meri dadi pareshan ho rahi hongi!" Zoya ne dharte hue kaha, uski awaz mein kapkapi thi magar himmat poori thi.

Zain ne gari ki raftaar aur barha di. Usne bina Zoya ki taraf dekhe dhiimi magar bhaari awaz mein kaha,

"Dadi ki fikar mat karo, Zoya. Unhein bata diya gaya hai ke tum apni ek dost ke ghar par safe ho. Aur jahan tak baat tumhare utarne ki hai... toh ab tum sirf wahan utrogi jahan main chahunga."

"Tum ek deewane ho! Ek ziddi aur khud-garz insaan!" Zoya ne chillaye hue kaha.

"Haan, main hoon!" Zain ne achanak break lagayi. Gari ek jhatke ke sath ek bohot bade, aalishan lohay ke gate ke samne ruki.

Yeh **"Shah Haveli"** thi. Ek aisi jagah jahan ki deewarein sadiyon purani thin magar uski shaan-o-shaukat poore sheher mein mashhoor thi. Zoya ne khauf se us haveli ki taraf dekha jahan har taraf security guards khare the.

Zain gari se utra, ghoom kar Zoya ki taraf aaya aur darwaza khol kar uska hath pakar liya.

"Chalo, andar chalo," Zain ne kaha.

"Main nahi aaoongi! Chhoro mera hath!" Zoya ne apna hath chhudane ki poori koshish ki, magar Zain ki pakar lohay jaisi thi.

Zain ne jhuk kar uski aankhon mein dekha, jahan junoon ki ek aag thi.

"Zoya, ya toh khud sharafat se andar chalo... ya phir main tumhe apni baahon mein utha kar andar le jaoon. Faisla tumhara hai, log dekh rahe hain."

Zoya ne tadap kar apne aas-paas khare guards ko dekha jo nazrein nichay kiye khare the. Uske paas koi rasta nahi tha. Usne nafrat bhari nazar Zain par daali aur gusse se qadam barhati hui haveli ke aalishan lounge mein dakhil ho gayi.

Andar ka mahool bilkul khamosh tha. Tabhi lounge ke beech mein ek rudaabdar aurat khari dikhi, jinhone sfaid libas pehna hua tha aur unke chehre par sakhti thi. Wo Zain ki dadi, **Begum Shah** thin.

Begum Shah ne Zoya ko sar se paaon tak dekha aur phir gusse se Zain ki taraf mutawajjah huin.

"Zain! Yeh kya badtameezi hai? Tum is larki ko is tarah zabardasti haveli kyun lekar aaye ho? Iska humare khandan se kya rishta hai?!"

Zain ne Zoya ka hath abhi bhi pakra hua tha. Usne dadi ki taraf dekha aur bohot pur-sukoon magar dhasu awaz mein kaha:

"Dadi... yeh Zoya hai. Aur yeh is haveli mein mehmaan ban kar nahi aayi... balkay yeh bohot jald is ghar ki choti bahu aur meri biwi ban kar rahegi!"

Zoya ke paon tale se zameen nikal gayi. Usne jhatke se Zain ko dekha.

"Kya?! Pagal ho gaye ho tum? Main tumse kabhi shadi nahi karungi! Kabhi nahi!"

Zain halka sa muskuraaya, usne Zoya ke qareeb hokar uske kaan mein dheere se kaha,

"Tum karogi, Zoya... aur khud apni marzi se karogi. Kyunki tumhare paas koi doosra rasta nahi chhorunga main."