Deal ya Dhoka?

Hospital ke corridor me khadi Kavya ke haath ab bhi halka sa kaamp rahe the…

Uske dimaag me sirf ek hi baat ghoom rahi thi — 5 lakh… itni badi amount wo itni jaldi kaise arrange karegi?

Arjun uske saamne khada tha… bilkul calm, bilkul composed… jaise usse kisi baat ki jaldi hi na ho.

“5 lakh…” Kavya dheere se repeat karti hai, jaise khud ko hi yakeen dilane ki koshish kar rahi ho.

Arjun uski aankhon me seedha dekhte hue kehta hai,

“Main arrange kar sakta hoon.”

Kavya ekdum se uski taraf dekhti hai… shock aur confusion dono uske chehre par saaf nazar aa rahe the.

“Aap…?” uske muh se bas itna hi nikalta hai.

Arjun halka sa smirk karta hai.

“Tumhare papa ka operation ho jayega… bina kisi delay ke.”

Kavya ke dil me ek choti si umeed jagti hai… lekin saath hi darr bhi.

“Kyun…?” wo seedha sawaal karti hai.

Kuch seconds ke liye waha silence chha jaata hai.

Phir Arjun apni coat ki pocket se ek folded paper nikalta hai… aur uske saamne rakh deta hai.

“Because mujhe tumse ek deal karni hai.”

Kavya ka dil zor se dhadakne lagta hai.

“Deal…?” wo confused ho kar paper ki taraf dekhti hai.

Arjun seedha bolta hai,

“Contract marriage.”

Jaise hi ye words Kavya ke kaano me padte hain, uske pairon ke niche se zameen khisak jaati hai.

“W-what…?” wo hichkicha kar kehti hai.

“Ek saal ke liye tum meri wife banogi. Sirf naam ke liye. No emotions, no interference in personal life. Bas kuch rules honge… aur tumhe follow karne honge.”

Kavya ko samajh nahi aa raha tha ki wo hase ya roye.

Ye sab itna achanak ho raha tha ki uska dimaag kaam karna hi band kar raha tha.

“Ye mazaak hai na…?” wo dheere se kehti hai.

Arjun ka expression ek second me serious ho jaata hai.

“Main kabhi mazaak nahi karta.”

Kavya ki aankhon me aansu bhar aate hain.

“Main kisi unknown insaan se shaadi kaise kar sakti hoon…?” uski awaaz toot jaati hai.

Arjun uske paas thoda aur aata hai… uski aankhon me dekhte hue kehta hai,

“Unknown nahi hoon main. Aur tumhare paas time bhi nahi hai.”

Ye baat seedha Kavya ke dil par lagti hai.

Usse ICU me pade apne papa yaad aate hain… unki halat, unki saanse… sab kuch.

“Operation kal subah tak hona chahiye…” Arjun dheere se kehta hai,

“Warna risk badh jayega… right?”

Kavya aankhen band kar leti hai.

Usse lag raha tha jaise wo kisi andhere raaste par chal padi hai jahan se wapas aana mushkil hai.

“Tumhe bas ek signature karna hai…” Arjun uske haath me pen de deta hai.

Kavya ka haath kaamp raha tha.

Ek taraf uski self-respect, uski zindagi…

Aur dusri taraf uske papa ki saanse.

“Ye galat hai…” wo dheere se bolti hai.

“Ho sakta hai,” Arjun bina emotion ke kehta hai,

“Lekin kabhi kabhi galat cheezein hi sahi result deti hain.”

Kavya dheere dheere contract ke papers kholti hai… uski aankhen har line ko padhne ki koshish karti hain, lekin usse kuch samajh nahi aa raha tha.

Uske dimaag me sirf ek hi chehra tha — Papa…

Aansu uski aankhon se nikal kar paper par girte hain.

Aur phir…

Kuch seconds ki khamoshi ke baad…

Wo pen uthati hai.

Uska dil zor zor se dhadak raha tha.

Aur dheere se…

Wo sign kar deti hai.

Arjun usse dekh raha hota hai… uske lips par ek halki si mysterious smile aa jaati hai.

“Good choice,” wo kehta hai.

Kavya uski taraf dekhti hai… uski aankhon me darr saaf dikh raha tha.

Usse ab ehsaas ho raha tha—

Usne sirf ek deal sign nahi ki…

Usne apni zindagi kisi aur ke haath me de di hai.

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