The Scar I was Born with

Chapter 1

The Scar I Was Born With

21 September 2016.

Yeh meri birth date hai.

Obviously mujhe us din ki koi memory nahi hai. Kaun yaad rakhta hai apna janam?

Jo kuch bhi mujhe pata hai, woh Mom ne mujhe baad mein bataya tha.

Main Delhi ke ek hospital mein dopahar kareeb 2 baje paida hua tha.

Mom kehti thi ki jab nurse ne mujhe unki god mein diya tha, toh unhone sabse pehle meri aankhen dekhi thi.

Green eyes.

Unko meri aankhen bahut pasand aayi thi.

Phir nurse Dad ko bulane chali gayi.

Mere father ka naam Cassian hai.

Dad room mein aaye aur seedha mere paas aa gaye.

Mom ko laga woh khush honge.

Aur woh the bhi.

Kam se kam shuru ke do second tak.

Phir unki nazar mere chehre par gayi.

Aur unka expression badal gaya.

Mere left eye ke paas ek scar tha.

Patla sa.

Aankh se nose tak.

Kuch khaas bada nahi tha.

Lekin problem yeh thi ki Dad ke face par bhi bilkul wahi scar tha.

Same jagah.

Same shape.

Mom kehti thi ki Dad ka chehra us waqt dekhne layak tha.

Jaise unhone koi bhoot dekh liya ho.

"Yeh mere jaisa hai..."

Bas itna hi bola tha unhone.

Mom ne us baat ko seriously nahi liya.

Unhone mujhe aur paas kar liya aur bola,

"Hum iska naam Reyansh rakhenge."

Dad ne koi objection nahi kiya.

Bas mujhe dekhte rahe.

Aaj jab main peeche mudkar dekhta hoon, toh lagta hai shayad woh scar dekh nahi rahe the.

Shayad unhe kuch yaad aa gaya tha.

Kuch aisa jo unhe yaad nahi aana chahiye tha.

Lekin us waqt kisi ko kuch pata nahi tha.

Do din baad hum ghar aa gaye.

Aur honestly...

Mujhe lagta hai Indian relatives hospital se bhi fast pahunch jaate hain.

Hum ghar aaye aur ghar pe already bheed lagi hui thi.

Sab mujhe dekhna chahte the.

Mom thaki hui thi.

Bahut zyada.

Lekin phir bhi sabke liye breakfast bana rahi thi.

Aaj bhi mujhe samajh nahi aata mothers yeh kaise kar leti hain.

Main hota toh seedha so jaata.

Relatives ek ek karke mere paas aa rahe the.

"Kya pyara bachcha hai."

"Aankhen dekho iski."

"Bilkul doll lag raha hai."

Mom smile kar rahi thi.

Phir kisi ne scar notice kar liya.

Aur room ka mood thoda weird ho gaya.

"Arre..."

Ek aunty ne kaha.

"Yeh toh Cassian wala nishaan hai."

Kisi ne kuch nahi bola.

Phir unhone ek aur line maar di.

"Poor boy."

Mujhe lagta hai unko lag raha tha woh sympathy de rahi hain.

Reality mein unhone room aur awkward bana diya.

Mom chup ho gayi.

Dad bhi.

Aur baat wahi khatam ho gayi.

Main bada hone laga.

Aur teen saal normal guzre.

Kam se kam mujhe toh normal hi lage.

Main cartoons dekhta tha.

Walls par crayons se drawing karta tha.

Aur phir daant khaata tha.

Ek baar toh maine living room ki poori wall par dinosaur bana diya tha.

Mujhe woh masterpiece lag raha tha.

Mom ko nahi.

Dad us din hans diye the.

Sach bolun toh...

Dad hamesha bure nahi the.

Yeh baat logon ko samajhni chahiye.

Kabhi kabhi woh mere saath cricket khelte the.

Kabhi toys la dete the.

Kabhi mujhe shoulders par bitha lete the.

Bas...

Kabhi kabhi unka mood ajeeb ho jaata tha.

Aur woh mujhe dekhkar chup ho jaate the.

Main tab chhota tha.

Mujhe lagta tha shayad maine kuch galat kar diya.

Ab lagta hai baat kuch aur thi.

Phir aaya mera pehla school day.

Main us din alarm se pehle uth gaya tha.

Sach mein.

Main itna excited tha.

Naya uniform.

Nayi books.

Naye dost.

Mujhe lag raha tha life amazing hone wali hai.

Reality ko meri excitement pasand nahi thi.

Kitchen mein Dad breakfast bana rahe the.

Boiled eggs aur milk.

Main normally eggs dekhkar bhaag jaata tha.

Lekin us din maine complaint bhi nahi ki.

Mom baar baar instructions de rahi thi.

"Teachers ki baat sunna."

"Kisi se fight nahi karna."

"Lunch khatam karna."

Main har baat par sirf head nod kar raha tha.

Actually main sun hi nahi raha tha.

Mera focus sirf school par tha.

Bus aayi.

Main bhaag kar gate tak gaya.

Mom mera bag lekar peeche aa gayi.

Driver uncle ne mujhe dekha aur smile ki.

"Ready?"

Maine hero wali smile di.

"Yes."

Bus mein kuch hi bachche the.

Main ek ladke ke paas jaakar baith gaya.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Mera naam Reyansh hai."

"Mera Advay."

Aur hum dono baat karne lage.

Us waqt mujhe laga tha Advay mera pehla dost banega.

Life ko irony bahut pasand hai.

School bahut bada tha.

Mere liye toh bahut hi bada.

Glass walls.

Big playground.

Hundreds of kids.

Main literally muh kholkar dekh raha tha.

Classroom mein enter kiya toh kuch bachche ro rahe the.

Ek ladka toh itna ro raha tha jaise usse jail bheja ja raha ho.

Teacher usse chocolates dekar chup karane ki koshish kar rahi thi.

Main usse dekhkar soch raha tha.

"School itna bhi bura nahi ho sakta."

Mujhe nahi pata tha main kitna galat tha.

Main apni seat par baitha hi tha ki ek ladke ne mujhe dekha.

Seedha mere scar ko.

"Eww."

Maine socha shayad kisi aur ko bol raha hoga.

Phir usne finger meri taraf point ki.

"Nahi seriously. Uske face ko dekho."

Ek aur bachcha paas aa gaya.

Phir teesra.

Aur kuch hi seconds mein mujhe samajh aa gaya ki problem kya hai.

Scar.

Wahi stupid scar.

"Yeh kya hai?"

"Kya hua iske face ko?"

"Monster jaisa lag raha hai."

"Kahin alien toh nahi?"

Kuch bachche hans rahe the.

Kuch sach mein darr gaye the.

Main bas baitha raha.

Mujhe samajh hi nahi aa raha tha kya bolun.

Main pehli baar realize kar raha tha ki shayad mere face mein kuch aisa hai jo dusron ko weird lagta hai.

Aur us moment ne meri poori life change kar di.

Main chup baitha raha.

Pehle din hi.

Pehli class mein hi.

Aur mujhe lagne laga ki shayad school utna exciting nahi hone wala jitna maine socha tha.

Teacher ne attendance leni shuru ki.

Ek ek naam bulaya ja raha tha.

Sab bachche "Present Ma'am" bol rahe the.

Phir mera naam aaya.

"Reyansh Cassian."

Main khada ho gaya.

"Present Ma'am."

Teacher ne meri taraf dekha.

Ek second ke liye.

Bas ek second.

Lekin mujhe laga unki nazar bhi scar par hi gayi thi.

Phir unhone attendance register mein tick lagaya aur aage badh gayi.

Mujhe pata nahi kyun us baat se aur bura laga.

Jab bachche stare karte hain toh samajh aata hai.

Lekin jab bade bhi waise hi dekhein...

Toh feeling alag hoti hai.

Poora din dheere dheere guzra.

Kisi ne mujhse baat nahi ki.

Advay bhi nahi.

Subah bus mein toh normal lag raha tha.

Ab woh bhi dusre bachchon ke saath baitha hua tha.

Kabhi kabhi meri taraf dekh leta.

Phir nazar hata leta.

Jaise usse bhi decide nahi ho raha ho ki mere saath dosti karni chahiye ya nahi.

Lunch break mein main akela baitha raha.

Playground ke kone mein.

Baaki sab groups mein the.

Koi football khel raha tha.

Koi tag.

Koi bas bhaag raha tha bina kisi reason ke.

Aur main...

Bas unhe dekh raha tha.

Us din mujhe pehli baar akela feel hua.

Sach wala akela.

School khatam hua.

Bus se ghar aaya.

Aur ghar ke bahar pahunchte hi mujhe andar se chillane ki awaaz sunai di.

Main ruk gaya.

Mere parents normally argue nahi karte the.

Ya shayad karte the.

Bas mere saamne nahi.

Lekin aaj awaaz bahar tak aa rahi thi.

Main dheere se andar gaya.

Mom aur Dad living room mein khade the.

Dono gusse mein.

Maine pehle kabhi unhe aise nahi dekha tha.

"Maine kaha tha na..." Dad chillaye.

"Main aur nahi kar sakta!"

Mom bhi gusse mein thi.

"Toh phir kya karoge? Batao mujhe!"

Mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha tha.

Main bas un dono ko dekh raha tha.

Phir maine Dad ke paas jaakar poocha,

"Dad... aap Mom par kyun chilla rahe ho?"

Aur agla moment...

Aaj bhi mujhe yaad hai.

Dad ne mujhe zor se dhakka de diya.

Main seedha floor par gir gaya.

Sab kuch ek second ke liye blank ho gaya.

Mom shock mein reh gayi.

Main bhi.

Dad bhi shayad.

Lekin jo baat mujhe sabse zyada yaad hai...

Woh unki aankhen thi.

Woh normal nahi lag rahi thi.

Jaise woh mujhe dekh hi nahi rahe the.

Jaise kisi aur ko dekh rahe ho.

Phir unhone dheere se kaha,

"Sab tumhari wajah se ho raha hai..."

Main samajh nahi paaya.

"Kya?"

Unhone daanton ko bhinch liya.

Aur phir woh word bola.

"Monster."

Room bilkul chup ho gaya.

Mujhe laga shayad maine galat suna.

Dad mujhe monster kyun bolenge?

Main toh bas school gaya tha.

Main toh bas...

Main toh bas main tha.

Mom turant mere paas aayi.

Unhone mujhe uthaya.

Mujhe itni zor se hug kiya ki main saans bhi mushkil se le paa raha tha.

"Nothing is wrong."

Unki awaaz kaanp rahi thi.

"Nothing is wrong, okay?"

Maine sir hila diya.

Lekin mujhe pata tha kuch toh galat tha.

Bahut galat.

Us raat dinner awkward tha.

Bahut awkward.

Dad ne ek bhi word nahi bola.

Mom bhi mostly chup thi.

Sirf plates ki awaaz aa rahi thi.

Aur clock ki ticking.

Bas.

Main kabhi Mom ko dekhta.

Kabhi Dad ko.

Phir apni plate ko.

Mujhe laga shayad subah tak sab normal ho jayega.

Jaise movies mein hota hai.

Characters fight karte hain.

Phir next scene mein sab theek.

Real life movies jaisi nahi hoti.

Us raat mujhe neend nahi aa rahi thi.

Main bed par leta hua ceiling dekh raha tha.

Dad ki awaaz baar baar yaad aa rahi thi.

Monster.

Monster.

Monster.

Har baar woh word aur zyada loud lagta.

Main blanket ke andar ghus gaya.

Phir bhi.

Woh word dimag se nahi gaya.

Aur phir...

Maine kuch dekha.

Ya mujhe laga maine dekha.

Aaj bhi sure nahi hoon.

Mere room ka darwaza aadha khula hua tha.

Hallway andhera tha.

Aur us andhere mein...

Kuch khada tha.

Ek shadow.

Insaan jaisa.

Lekin poora clear nahi.

Jaise smoke se bana ho.

Main freeze ho gaya.

Mera gala sookh gaya.

Main chillana chahta tha.

Lekin awaaz nahi nikli.

Shadow hili nahi.

Bas khadi rahi.

Aur mujhe dekhti rahi.

Kam se kam mujhe aisa hi laga.

Phir maine aankhen jhapkaayi.

Aur woh gayab thi.

Bas andhera bacha tha.

Aur kuch nahi.

Main shayad thakaan ki wajah se so gaya.

Lekin subah uthte hi mujhe sab yaad tha.

Shadow.

Dad.

Monster.

Sab kuch.

School mein bhi zyada kuch change nahi hua.

Log mujhe avoid kar rahe the.

Jaise kal kar rahe the.

Main break time mein phir akela baitha tha.

Is baar school ke peeche wale purane ground ke paas.

Wahan zyada koi nahi aata tha.

Basketball hoop toot chuka tha.

Football post ka net gayab tha.

Aur grass itni badi ho gayi thi ki lagta tha kisi ne saalon se safai nahi ki.

Mujhe woh jagah achhi lagti thi.

Kam se kam wahan koi stare nahi karta tha.

Main mitti mein stick se lines bana raha tha.

Tabhi kisi ne poocha,

"Aaj bhi akela ho?"

Main palta.

Aur pehli baar Hazel ko dekha.

Sach kahun?

Meri pehli thought thi ki uske baal fake hain.

Silver hair.

Kaunse bachche ke silver hair hote hain?

Main literally kuch seconds uske baalon ko hi dekhta raha.

Hazel hans padi.

"Kya dekh rahe ho?"

Main embarrass ho gaya.

"Kuch nahi."

"Jhooth."

"Thoda."

"Thoda kya?"

"Maine pehle kabhi silver hair nahi dekhe."

Woh aur zor se hans padi.

Aur us moment par...

Pehli baar school mein kisi ne mere scar ko nahi dekha.

Kisi ne meri aankhon mein dekha.

Aur woh feeling ajeeb tareeke se achhi thi.

"Main Hazel hoon."

"Mujhe pata hai."

"Kaise?"

"Attendance mein naam suna tha."

"Toh tum secretly sabko observe karte ho?"

"Nahi."

"Jhooth."

"Thoda."

Hazel phir hans padi.

Pata nahi kyun.

Lekin uski hansi sunkar mujhe bhi hansi aa gayi.

Aur shayad wahi pehli baar tha...

Jab mujhe laga ki shayad school itna bura bhi nahi hai.

Aur mujhe bilkul bhi andaza nahi tha...

Ki Hazel se milna meri zindagi ki sabse important cheezon mein se ek banne wala tha.

Aur na hi mujhe pata tha...

Ki kuch hafton baad...

Main uske baare mein aisi cheez jaanne wala hoon jo kisi aur ko nahi pata thi.

Aur jo shayad pata honi bhi nahi chahiye thi.

Hazel mere saamne khadi thi.

Silver hair.

Blue eyes.

Aur face par woh expression jo usually un logon ke paas hota hai jinhe duniya ki koi tension hi nahi hoti.

Maine pehle kabhi usse notice nahi kiya tha.

Shayad isliye kyunki pehle din mera poora focus bachchon ke comments par tha.

Ya phir shayad...

Woh pehle kabhi mere paas aayi hi nahi thi.

"Tumhara naam Reyansh hai na?"

Maine sir hila diya.

"Yeah."

"Tum lunch break mein hamesha yahan akele baithte ho?"

"Do din hue school aaye."

"Haan woh bhi hai."

Main hans diya.

Pata nahi kyun.

Lekin uske saath baat karna easy lag raha tha.

Ajeeb tareeke se easy.

Jaise hum pehle se dost hon.

Hazel mere paas baith gayi.

Bilkul normally.

Jaise scar exist hi nahi karta.

Main usse dekh raha tha.

Woh mitti mein stick se circles bana rahi thi.

Kuch seconds baad maine pooch hi liya.

"Tumhe mera scar weird nahi lagta?"

Hazel ne stick chalana rok diya.

Phir meri taraf dekha.

Sach mein dekha.

Direct aankhon mein.

"Nahi."

"Bilkul bhi nahi?"

"Nahi."

"Lekin sab bolte hain."

"Sab idiots hain."

Main phir hans diya.

Hazel bhi.

Aur honestly...

Us din woh line mujhe kisi superhero dialogue se kam nahi lagi.

"Khelna hai?" Hazel ne poocha.

"Kya?"

"Kuch bhi."

"Yahan?"

"Haan."

"Yahan toh kuch hai hi nahi."

Hazel khadi hui.

Phir dono haath faila diye.

"Imagination naam ki bhi cheez hoti hai."

Main confuse ho gaya.

Woh storage room ki taraf bhaagi.

"Chalo."

Main uske peeche bhaaga.

School ke peeche wala ground aur paas se aur bhi zyada creepy lagta tha.

Broken basketball hoop.

Jung laga hua football post.

Toote hue benches.

Aur storage room.

Purana.

Band.

Paint utar chuka tha.

Door par bada sa lock laga hua tha.

Main us jagah ko dekhkar hi uncomfortable ho gaya.

Hazel ko koi farq nahi pad raha tha.

Woh grass ke beech mein khadi thi.

"Hide and seek."

"Kya?"

"Hide and seek."

"Hum dono?"

"Haan."

"Do logon mein?"

"Haan."

"Yeh boring nahi hoga?"

"Nahi."

"Tum cheating karogi."

"Main kabhi cheating nahi karti."

Uski smile dekhkar hi pata chal gaya tha woh jhooth bol rahi hai.

Main count karne laga.

"One..."

"Two..."

"Three..."

Hazel bhaag gayi.

Main wall ki taraf muh karke count karta raha.

"Seventeen..."

"Eighteen..."

"Nineteen..."

"Twenty."

Main palta.

Ground khaali tha.

Bilkul khaali.

Hazel gayab.

Main pehle football post ke paas gaya.

Nahi mili.

Phir broken bench ke paas.

Nahi mili.

Phir storage room ke aas paas.

Nahi mili.

Aur tab...

Mujhe phir woh feeling aayi.

Wahi wali.

Kal raat wali.

Jaise koi mujhe dekh raha ho.

Main ruk gaya.

Poora ground shaant tha.

Hawa bhi nahi chal rahi thi.

Bas door se school ki awaazein aa rahi thi.

Aur phir...

Storage room ke peeche kuch hila.

Main freeze ho gaya.

Dil tez dhadakne laga.

Ek second ke liye mujhe laga woh wahi shadow hai.

Wahi jo maine kal raat dekhi thi.

Maine dheere se ek step aage badhaya.

Phir ek aur.

Aur ek aur.

Storage room ke corner tak pahunchte hi—

"BOOO!"

Main literally uchhal gaya.

Hazel zameen par baith kar hasne lagi.

"OH MY GOD!"

"Tumhara face dekhna chahiye tha!"

Main apna heart pakad kar khada tha.

"Mujhe heart attack aa jayega."

"Tum paanch saal ke ho."

"Toh?"

"Paanch saal ke bachchon ko heart attack nahi aata."

"Tum scientist ho kya?"

"Nahi."

"Phir kaise pata?"

Hazel do second chup rahi.

"...good point."

Uske baad hum aur bhi khele.

Aur pehli baar school mein waqt fast laga.

Bahut fast.

Jab bell baji toh mujhe yakeen hi nahi hua.

"Already?"

Hazel ne bhi muh bana liya.

"Unfair."

Main sir hila diya.

"Very unfair."

Hum class ki taraf chal diye.

Aur poore raste woh random baatein karti rahi.

Kabhi apne dog ke baare mein.

Kabhi kisi cartoon ke baare mein.

Kabhi teachers ke baare mein.

Uski baatein mostly nonsense hoti thi.

Lekin achhi lagti thi.

Classroom mein enter karte hi sabki nazar hum par aa gayi.

Main instantly uncomfortable ho gaya.

Hazel ko farq hi nahi pada.

Woh seedha meri bagal wali seat par baith gayi.

Aur bas.

Jaise yeh duniya ki sabse normal cheez ho.

Peeche se awaazein aani shuru ho gayi.

"Why is she sitting with him?"

"No idea."

"Doesn't she know?"

"Kya?"

"Uska scar."

Hazel ne suna.

Definitely suna.

Lekin usne react nahi kiya.

Ek baar bhi nahi.

Maths class shuru hui.

Teacher board par numbers likh rahi thi.

Main honestly aadha bhi nahi samajh raha tha.

Mera focus baar baar Hazel par ja raha tha.

Woh notebook ke corner par cats draw kar rahi thi.

Teacher maths padha rahi thi.

Hazel cat bana rahi thi.

Confidence dekho.

"Kya dekh rahe ho?" usne dheere se poocha.

"Tum."

"That's weird."

"Cat kyun bana rahi ho?"

"Because cats are cool."

"Dog bhi cool hote hain."

"Nahi."

"Hote hain."

"Nahi."

"Hote hain."

"Nahi."

Teacher mud gayi.

Hum dono seedhe baith gaye.

Jaise kuch hua hi nahi.

Lunch break mein hum saath baithe.

Usne apna sandwich mujhe offer kiya.

Maine mana kiya.

Usne phir offer kiya.

Maine phir mana kiya.

Usne sandwich mere haath mein rakh diya.

"Ab mana karo."

Main haar gaya.

Aur sandwich kha liya.

Honestly...

Kaafi accha tha.

"Yeh tumhari Mom ne banaya?"

"Haan."

"Lucky."

"Tumhari Mom nahi banati?"

"Banati hain."

"Phir?"

"Unke sandwiches boring hote hain."

Hazel itni zor se hasi ki uska juice gir gaya.

Us din jab school khatam hua...

Mujhe pehli baar laga ki shayad sab theek ho sakta hai.

Shayad school itna bura nahi hai.

Shayad log itne bure nahi hain.

Shayad scar utna important nahi hai jitna main soch raha tha.

Mujhe nahi pata tha...

Ki agle hi din sab phir se kharab hone wala hai.

Aur mujhe bilkul bhi nahi pata tha...

Ki jis storage room ke paas hum aaj khel rahe the...

Uske andar saalon se kuch aisa band tha...

Jiske baare mein school mein koi baat nahi karta tha.

Koi bhi nahi.

Aur kuch raaz...

Band rehne ke liye hi hote hain.

Us din ghar aate waqt bhi main smile kar raha tha.

Bus ki khidki ke paas baitha hua.

Bahar ki buildings dekhte hue.

Aur shayad pehli baar school se ghar lautte waqt mujhe jaldi ghar pahunchne ki excitement nahi thi.

Main bas Hazel ke baare mein soch raha tha.

Funny hai.

Kabhi kabhi ek insaan sirf ek din mein tumhari life ka important part ban jaata hai.

Aur tumhe pata bhi nahi chalta.

Ghar pahunchte hi Mom ne notice kar liya.

"Mood accha lag raha hai."

Main seedha kitchen mein ghus gaya.

"Mom, maine friend bana li."

Athena literally freeze ho gayi.

"Sach?"

"Haan."

"Finally."

"Finally matlab?"

"Nothing."

Woh hans padi.

Mujhe tab samajh nahi aaya.

Ab samajh aata hai.

Woh tension leti thi.

Bahut zyada.

Jitna mujhe us waqt pata bhi nahi tha.

"Naam kya hai uska?"

"Hazel."

Mom ka expression ek second ke liye change hua.

Bas ek second.

Phir normal.

"Hazel?"

"Haan."

"Achha naam hai."

"Tum jaanti ho use?"

"Nahi."

Unhone turant jawab diya.

Thoda zyada jaldi.

Us waqt maine ignore kar diya.

Lekin baad mein mujhe woh moment yaad aaya tha.

Bahut baar.

Us raat sab normal tha.

Dad ghar par nahi the.

Kisi kaam se bahar gaye hue the.

Main dinner kha kar room mein aa gaya.

Homework naam ki cheez technically mili thi.

Lekin kindergarten ke homework ko homework bolna insult hai.

Do circles color karne the.

Bas.

Maine paanch minute mein khatam kar diya.

Raat ko bed par leta hua main ceiling dekh raha tha.

Aur pata nahi kyun...

Mera dimag storage room par atak gaya.

School ka woh purana room.

Band.

Toota hua.

Weird.

Maine khud se poocha,

"Wahan kya hoga?"

Kuch nahi.

Obviously.

Purana furniture.

Broken chairs.

Dust.

Normal cheezein.

Lekin phir bhi...

Pata nahi kyun.

Mujhe lag raha tha wahan kuch aur hai.

Maine aankhen band kar li.

Aur kuch der baad neend aa gayi.

Us raat mujhe ek sapna aaya.

Ya shayad nightmare.

Main school mein tha.

Lekin school khaali tha.

Poora khaali.

Koi teacher nahi.

Koi student nahi.

Koi sound nahi.

Bas main.

Aur corridor.

Lamba.

Endless.

Main chal raha tha.

Aur mujhe lag raha tha ki mujhe kahin pahunchna hai.

Lekin kahan?

Pata nahi.

Phir mujhe awaaz sunai di.

Kisi bachche ki.

Bahut door se.

Bahut dheere.

"Reyansh..."

Main ruk gaya.

Awaaz phir aayi.

"Reyansh..."

Main us direction mein chalne laga.

Aur jitna aage badhta gaya...

Utna hi corridor dark hota gaya.

Lights ek ek karke band hone lagi.

Peeche se.

Tak.

Tak.

Tak.

Jaise koi switch off kar raha ho.

Phir maine use dekha.

Corridor ke end par.

Ek ladka.

Meri age ka.

Shayad.

Face clear nahi dikh raha tha.

Bas silhouette.

Woh meri taraf dekh raha tha.

Bilkul chup.

Bilkul still.

Main uske paas jaane laga.

Ek step.

Do step.

Teen step.

Aur phir...

Usne sir uthaya.

Aur main jaag gaya.

Main seedha bed par uth kar baith gaya.

Saans tez chal rahi thi.

Poora room andhera tha.

Khidki se sirf thodi moonlight aa rahi thi.

Main paani peene ke liye utha.

Aur tab maine dekha.

Mere room ka darwaza khula hua tha.

Maine clearly yaad tha.

Mom darwaza band karke gayi thi.

Hamesha karti thi.

Hamesha.

Toh phir...

Ab khula kyun tha?

Main kuch seconds usse dekhta raha.

Bas dekhta raha.

Pata nahi kyun.

Dil keh raha tha jaakar band kar do.

Pair keh rahe the bed se mat utro.

Phir hallway se awaaz aayi.

Tap.

Main freeze.

Tap.

Jaise koi chal raha ho.

Slowly.

Bahut slowly.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Mera gala sookh gaya.

"Mom?"

Maine dheere se bulaya.

Koi jawab nahi.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Awaaz aur paas aa gayi.

Ab main sach mein dar gaya tha.

Main blanket ke andar ghus gaya.

Haan.

Hero wali baat nahi hai.

Lekin main paanch saal ka tha.

Paanch saal ke bachche blanket defense system use karte hain.

Legal hai.

Kuch seconds baad awaaz band ho gayi.

Poora ghar phir se shaant ho gaya.

Aur pata nahi kab...

Main dobara so gaya.

Subah jab utha toh sab normal tha.

Kitchen mein breakfast.

Mom.

Dad.

Everything normal.

Jaise raat ko kuch hua hi nahi.

Maine Mom se poocha.

"Kal raat aap mere room mein aayi thi?"

"Nahi."

"Aapne door khola tha?"

"Nahi."

"Why?"

"Bas."

Main chup ho gaya.

Dad newspaper padh rahe the.

Unhone meri taraf dekha.

Ek second ke liye.

Phir newspaper fold kar diya.

"School kaisa chal raha hai?"

Main almost choke kar gaya.

Dad normally school ke baare mein poochte nahi the.

"Achha."

"Dost bane?"

"Haan."

"Koi problem toh nahi?"

Maine sir hila diya.

"Nahi."

Main jhooth bol raha tha.

Aur pata nahi kyun...

Mujhe laga Dad ko pata tha.

Bus aayi.

Main chadh gaya.

Aur jaise hi andar gaya...

Maine Hazel ko dekha.

Woh already baithi hui thi.

Lekin aaj kuch alag tha.

Bahut alag.

Woh normally smile karti thi.

Aaj nahi kar rahi thi.

Woh khidki ke bahar dekh rahi thi.

Aur uska face serious tha.

Bahut serious.

Main uske paas baitha.

"Good morning."

"Kuch hua hai?"

Hazel ne jawab nahi diya.

Bas bahar dekhti rahi.

Do second.

Teen second.

Phir usne dheere se poocha.

"Reyansh."

"Hmm?"

"Kal raat tumne koi sapna dekha tha?"

Mera dil ek second ke liye ruk gaya.

Sach mein.

Ruk gaya.

Kyuki maine usse apne nightmare ke baare mein nahi bataya tha.

Kabhi nahi.

Ek baar bhi nahi.

Aur phir bhi...

Usne woh question poocha.

Bilkul seedha.

Jaise usse pehle se pata ho.

Main uski taraf dekh raha tha.

Hazel meri taraf nahi dekh rahi thi.

Bas khidki ke bahar.

Aur pehli baar...

Mujhe usse dekhkar thoda sa darr laga.

Main uski taraf dekhta reh gaya.

"Tumne kya kaha?"

Hazel ne finally meri taraf dekha.

Uski blue eyes normally bright lagti thi.

Aaj nahi.

Aaj woh thaki hui lag rahi thi.

Jaise usne raat bhar neend na li ho.

"Maine poocha... tumne kal raat koi weird sapna dekha tha?"

Mera gala sookh gaya.

"Kyun?"

"Pehle answer do."

Main kuch seconds chup raha.

Phir dheere se bola,

"Haan."

Hazel ne nazar jhuka li.

Jaise usse already pata tha.

Bus chalti rahi.

Main uska answer wait karta raha.

Woh kuch nahi boli.

Finally maine poocha,

"Tumhe kaise pata?"

"Kya?"

"Ki maine sapna dekha."

Hazel ne window ke bahar dekhte hue kaha,

"Guess kiya."

"Jhooth."

Usne meri taraf dekha.

Ek second ke liye.

Phir nazar hata li.

"Maybe."

Ab mujhe sach mein weird lagne laga tha.

Hazel strange thi.

Pehle bhi thi.

Lekin achhe tareeke se.

Aaj...

Alag lag rahi thi.

Jaise woh kuch chhupa rahi ho.

School pahunchte hi woh bina kuch bole bus se utar gayi.

Main uske peeche bhaaga.

"Hazel!"

Woh ruki.

"Hmm?"

"Tum theek ho?"

Usne smile karne ki koshish ki.

Koshish.

Bas.

"Theek hoon."

Aur phir woh class ki taraf chal di.

Poore din woh unusual thi.

Lunch mein bhi.

Class mein bhi.

Break mein bhi.

Normally woh nonstop baat karti thi.

Aaj hardly kuch bol rahi thi.

Mujhe irritate hone laga.

Agar problem hai toh batao.

Aise suspense kyun create kar rahi ho?

Lunch break mein hum usual tree ke neeche baithe.

Main sandwich kha raha tha.

Hazel bas grass ko dekh rahi thi.

"Hazel."

"Hmm?"

"Tum mujhe dara rahi ho."

Woh blink ki.

"Kya?"

"Tum ajeeb behave kar rahi ho."

"Sorry."

"Bas sorry?"

"Haan."

Main annoyed ho gaya.

"Great."

Kuch der dono chup baithe rahe.

Phir usne achanak poocha,

"Reyansh... tum storage room ke paas kal gaye the?"

Main ruk gaya.

"Haan."

"Kitna paas?"

"Bas... paas."

"Kitna paas?"

"Yaar mujhe meter thodi yaad hai."

Hazel nahi hansi.

Bilkul nahi.

Aur wahi moment tha jab mere pet mein ajeeb sa knot bana.

Kyuki Hazel har baat par hasti thi.

Har baat par.

Usne dheere se kaha,

"Wahan mat jaana."

"Kyun?"

"Bas mat jaana."

"Kyun?"

Hazel ne seedha meri aankhon mein dekha.

Aur bahut dheere bola,

"Because kuch cheezein jagani nahi chahiye."

Maine uski baat sunkar hansne ki koshish ki.

"Horror movie dekhkar aayi ho kya?"

Hazel nahi hansi.

Bilkul nahi.

Aur mujhe pehli baar laga...

Shayad woh mazaak nahi kar rahi.

Usi waqt bell baj gayi.

Conversation khatam.

Hum class mein laut aaye.

Lekin mera dimag ab padhai mein nahi tha.

Storage room.

Storage room.

Storage room.

Bas wahi chal raha tha.

Jitna koi bachche ko mana karta hai...

Utni curiosity badhti hai.

Ye universal law hai.

Aur main bhi exception nahi tha.

Last period boring tha.

Bahut boring.

Teacher plants ke baare mein padha rahi thi.

Class ka aadha hissa so raha tha.

Do bachche crayons khaane ki koshish kar rahe the.

Aur main...

Storage room ke baare mein soch raha tha.

Phir maine notice kiya.

Hazel khidki ke bahar dekh rahi thi.

School ke peeche wale area ki taraf.

Bilkul us direction mein...

Jahan storage room tha.

Aur uska face phir se tense lag raha tha.

Jaise woh kisi cheez ka wait kar rahi ho.

Ya kisi cheez se darr rahi ho.

Us din dismissal ke baad main bus ki taraf nahi gaya.

At least immediately nahi.

Maine wait kiya.

Jab corridor khaali hone laga...

Jab teachers busy ho gaye...

Jab playground almost empty ho gaya...

Tab main quietly school ke peeche ki taraf nikal gaya.

Mujhe pata tha mujhe nahi jaana chahiye.

Hazel ne mana kiya tha.

Lekin exactly wahi reason tha ki main ja raha tha.

Ground usual se bhi zyada khaali lag raha tha.

Hawa chal rahi thi.

Grass halki halki hil rahi thi.

Broken hoop awaaz kar raha tha.

Kreeeek...

Kreeeek...

Kreeeek...

Storage room saamne tha.

Purana.

Chup.

Band.

Main dheere dheere uske paas gaya.

Ek step.

Do step.

Teen step.

Aur phir maine kuch notice kiya.

Door ke neeche.

Mitti mein.

Kuch bana hua tha.

Main jhuk gaya.

Dhyaan se dekha.

Aur meri saans atak gayi.

Woh footprints the.

Chhote.

Bachche ke.

Lekin problem footprints nahi the.

Problem yeh thi...

Ki woh footprints storage room ki taraf ja rahe the.

Andar.

Aur wapas aane wale footprints the hi nahi.

Ek bhi nahi.

Main kuch seconds tak unhe dekhta raha.

Dimag samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha.

Tabhi...

Mere peeche se awaaz aayi.

Bahut dheere.

Bilkul mere kaan ke paas.

Jaise koi khada ho.

Aur phusphusaya ho.

"Reyansh..."

Mera khoon jam gaya.

Main turant palta.

Koi nahi tha.

Ground khaali tha.

Bilkul khaali.

Lekin ek second pehle...

Main kasam kha sakta tha.

Koi mere bilkul peeche tha.

Main palta.

Koi nahi tha.

Bilkul koi nahi.

Ground khaali tha.

Storage room mere saamne tha.

Broken basketball hoop left side mein.

Aur hawa.

Bas hawa.

Lekin meri heartbeat itni fast ho gayi thi ki mujhe lag raha tha poora school sun sakta hai.

---

"Hello?"

Maine dheere se bola.

Koi jawab nahi.

Main khud ko convince karne laga.

Shayad imagination thi.

Bas imagination.

Kal nightmare aaya tha.

Aaj Hazel ne weird baatein ki.

Dimag overthink kar raha hai.

Simple.

---

Phir maine dobara footprints ki taraf dekha.

Aur tab mujhe ek aur cheez nazar aayi.

Mitti ke paas kuch chamak raha tha.

Bahut halka sa.

Main jhuk gaya.

Aur usse uthaya.

---

Ek badge.

School badge.

Naam likha hua tha.

Lekin aadha scratch ho chuka tha.

Sirf kuch letters bach gaye the.

"...han"

Bas itna.

Poora naam nahi.

---

Main use ulat palat kar dekhne laga.

Purana lag raha tha.

Bahut purana.

Jaise saalon se yahan pada ho.

---

Tabhi...

Storage room ke andar se awaaz aayi.

Thak.

Main freeze.

---

Do second tak kuch nahi hua.

Phir dobara.

Thak.

Jaise andar koi cheez gir rahi ho.

Ya...

Koi chal raha ho.

---

Mera logical brain keh raha tha,

"Chooha hoga."

Mera baaki poora brain keh raha tha,

"Bus bhaag."

---

Main wahi khada raha.

Pata nahi kyun.

Shayad curiosity.

Shayad stupidity.

Dono mein zyada difference nahi hota.

---

Main dheere dheere door ke paas gaya.

Purana metal door.

Rust laga hua.

Lock laga hua.

Sab normal.

Lekin...

Andar se thandi hawa aa rahi thi.

Bahut thandi.

Unnaturally thandi.

---

September tha.

Delhi mein garmi thi.

Lekin storage room ke paas khade hote hi aisa lag raha tha jaise temperature achanak gir gaya ho.

Mere haath par goosebumps aa gaye.

---

"Bas ek second dekhkar chala jaunga."

Maine khud se kaha.

---

Door ke side mein ek chhota sa crack tha.

Paint tootne ki wajah se.

Main jhuk kar andar dekhne laga.

---

Andhera.

Sirf andhera.

Kuch dikh nahi raha tha.

---

Main aur paas gaya.

Aankh almost crack ke saath laga di.

---

Purani chairs.

Boxes.

Dust.

Bas.

Kuch bhi unusual nahi.

---

Maine relief ki saans li.

"Dekha?"

Maine khud se kaha.

"Kuch nahi hai."

---

Aur ussi second...

Andar kuch hila.

---

Meri body literally jam gayi.

Ek shadow.

Bahut fast.

Boxes ke peeche.

Ek second se bhi kam.

---

Main peeche hat gaya.

Seedha do kadam.

Dil control se bahar.

---

"Nahi."

Maine turant kaha.

"Nahi nahi nahi."

---

Jo bhi tha.

Maine clearly dekha tha.

Kuch move hua tha.

---

Aur phir...

Mere peeche se awaaz aayi.

"REYANSH!"

---

Main itna zor se uchla ki lagbhag gir gaya.

---

Hazel.

---

Woh mere peeche khadi thi.

Saans phooli hui.

Jaise bhaag kar aayi ho.

---

"Tum pagal ho kya!?"

Usne gusse mein kaha.

---

Main abhi bhi shock mein tha.

"Tum mujhe heart attack de dogi."

---

"Tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?"

---

"Main bas—"

---

"Bas kuch nahi."

Usne meri baat kaat di.

---

Woh genuinely gusse mein lag rahi thi.

Pehli baar.

---

"Tumne promise kiya tha?"

"Maine koi promise nahi kiya tha."

"Technically nahi."

"Exactly."

---

Hazel ne apne forehead ko pakad liya.

Jaise usse migraine ho gaya ho.

---

"Tum impossible ho."

---

Main chup.

---

Phir maine poocha,

"Tum itni worried kyun ho?"

---

Hazel ka expression badal gaya.

---

Ek second ke liye.

Bas ek second.

---

Jaise usne kuch bolne ka decide kiya ho.

Phir decide change kar diya.

---

"Kuch nahi."

---

"Jhooth."

---

"Reyansh."

---

"Kya?"

---

"Please."

---

Uski awaaz alag thi.

Bahut alag.

---

"Bas mujh par trust karo."

---

Main usse dekhne laga.

---

Normally main aur push karta.

Questions poochta.

Lekin is baar...

Pata nahi kyun.

Main ruk gaya.

---

Shayad uski aankhon ki wajah se.

---

Woh dar rahi thi.

Sach mein.

---

Aur mujhe nahi lagta tha Hazel easily darti hogi.

---

Hum dono bus stop ki taraf chalne lage.

---

Kuch minute tak koi nahi bola.

---

Phir maine casually poocha,

"Tumhare Dad kaise hain?"

---

Hazel ruk gayi.

---

Bas ek second ke liye.

---

Phir chalne lagi.

---

"Better."

---

"Good."

---

"Hmm."

---

Conversation wahi khatam ho gayi.

---

Lekin mujhe ek cheez ajeeb lagi.

---

Jab maine uske Dad ka zikr kiya...

Uski smile gayab ho gayi thi.

---

Aur pehli baar mujhe laga...

Shayad Hazel ke ghar mein bhi sab normal nahi hai.

---

Us raat.

Ghar pahunchne ke baad.

Main bed par leta hua tha.

---

Mere pocket mein ab bhi woh purana badge tha.

---

Maine use nikala.

---

"...han"

Bas itna hi likha hua tha.

---

Main use ghoorta raha.

---

Aur phir meri nazar peeche likhe ek number par gayi.

---

2009

---

Main confuse ho gaya.

---

2009?

---

Main toh 2016 mein paida hua tha.

---

Toh phir yeh badge itna purana wahan kya kar raha tha?

---

Aur sabse important...

---

Woh kis ka tha?

---

Mujhe nahi pata tha.

---

Lekin us raat...

Jab main finally sone laga...

Mere dimag mein ek naam baar baar ghoom raha tha.

---

"...han"

---

Aur bina wajah...

Mujhe lag raha tha ki maine yeh naam pehle bhi suna hai.

---

Kahin.

Kabhi.

---

Lekin kahan?

---

Mujhe yaad nahi aa raha tha.

---

Aur usi raat...

School ke storage room ke andar...

Andhere mein...

Kuch hil raha tha.

---

Kuch jo wahan hona nahi chahiye tha.

Main badge ko ghoorta raha.

"...han"

Bas itna hi bacha tha.

Naam ka aadha hissa gayab tha.

Aur peeche likha tha:

2009

Main bed par leta hua tha aur us badge ko baar baar ulat-palat kar dekh raha tha.

Koi normal banda hota toh shayad usse dustbin mein phenk deta.

Main normal banda nahi tha.

Main paanch saal ka tha.

Aur paanch saal ke bachchon ki curiosity dangerous level ki hoti hai.

"Reyansh!"

Mom ki awaaz aayi.

"Lights off."

"Bas do minute."

"Kal bhi do minute bole the."

"Is baar sach mein."

"Jhoothe."

Main hans diya.

Mom bhi.

Phir room ka door band ho gaya.

Main phir badge dekhne laga.

Pata nahi kyun.

Mujhe lag raha tha yeh important hai.

Bahut important.

Jaise koi puzzle ka piece.

Bas mujhe abhi pata nahi tha kis puzzle ka.

Aakhirkar neend aa gayi.

Aur us raat...

Maine phir sapna dekha.

Main wahi school corridor mein tha.

Wahi jo pehle nightmare mein tha.

Lamba.

Khaali.

Aur unnaturally silent.

Is baar ek difference tha.

Main akela nahi tha.

Koi mere aage chal raha tha.

Ek ladka.

Meri age ka.

Ya thoda bada.

Face ab bhi clear nahi tha.

Jaise dhund ke peeche ho.

Main uske peeche chalne laga.

Bina reason.

Bas chalne laga.

Usne ek baar bhi peeche mudkar nahi dekha.

Lekin mujhe lag raha tha usse pata hai ki main uske peeche hoon.

Corridor ke end par ek door tha.

Purana.

Black color ka.

School mein aisa koi door nahi tha.

Mujhe pata tha.

Phir bhi woh wahan tha.

Ladka us door ke saamne ruk gaya.

Aur pehli baar bola.

"Late ho gaye."

Uski awaaz ajeeb thi.

Na bachche jaisi.

Na bade aadmi jaisi.

Bas...

Ajeeb.

"Maine wait kiya tha."

Mera gala sookh gaya.

"Maine?"

Ladka dheere dheere meri taraf mudne laga.

Aur ussi second...

Main jaag gaya.

Main seedha uth kar baith gaya.

Saans phool rahi thi.

Room andhera tha.

Clock 3:14 AM dikha rahi thi.

"Again..."

Main dheere se bola.

Ab mujhe yeh coincidence nahi lag raha tha.

Do raat.

Do weird dreams.

Same school.

Same feeling.

Main paani peene ke liye utha.

Aur tab meri nazar desk par gayi.

Badge.

Woh desk par rakha hua tha.

Jahan maine rakha tha.

Lekin...

Uski position badli hui thi.

Main freeze ho gaya.

Mujhe clearly yaad tha.

Maine usse ulta rakha tha.

Number wala side neeche.

Ab woh seedha pada tha.

Main kuch seconds usse dekhta raha.

Phir khud ko daanta.

"Tu pagal ho raha hai."

Shayad yaad galat ho.

Simple.

Main wapas bed par aa gaya.

Lekin is baar neend bahut der baad aayi.

Subah school jaate waqt mera mood already off tha.

Bus mein chadha.

Hazel usual seat par baithi thi.

Aaj woh normal lag rahi thi.

At least thodi.

"Good morning."

"Morning."

"Tum zombie kyun lag rahe ho?"

"Mujhe nightmare aaya."

Hazel ki smile gayab.

Instantly.

"Maine bhi."

Main chup ho gaya.

"Same wala?"

Usne poocha.

Mere haath thande pad gaye.

"Kya matlab same wala?"

Hazel ne realize kiya ki usne zyada bol diya.

"Nothing."

"Nahi."

"Reyansh—"

"Tumhe kaise pata?"

Bus ke andar achanak sab awaazein distant lagne lagi.

Bachche baat kar rahe the.

Driver gaana chala raha tha.

Lekin mujhe kuch clear nahi sunai de raha tha.

Sirf Hazel.

"Tumhe kaise pata?"

Maine phir poocha.

Hazel ne khidki ke bahar dekha.

Aur bahut dheere kaha,

"Kyuki maine bhi usse dekha."

Mera dil literally skip kar gaya.

"Kise?"

Hazel ne jawab dene se pehle poori bus scan ki.

Jaise check kar rahi ho koi sun toh nahi raha.

Phir woh mere paas jhuk gayi.

Aur phusphusayi,

"Corridor wala ladka."

Meri reedh ki haddi tak thand utar gayi.

Kyuki maine usse corridor wale ladke ke baare mein kabhi nahi bataya tha.

Kabhi bhi nahi.

Aur ab...

Ya toh Hazel jhooth bol rahi thi.

Ya phir...

Hum dono ek hi nightmare dekh rahe the.

Aur dono options equally scary the.

Main kuch seconds tak usse dekhta raha.

"Stop joking."

Hazel ne koi reaction nahi diya.

Bilkul nahi.

"Tum mazaak kar rahi ho na?"

"Nahi."

"Tumne sach mein dekha?"

Hazel ne dheere se sir hila diya.

Mera pet ajeeb sa lagne laga.

Kyuki agar woh jhooth bol rahi hoti toh main samajh jaata.

Hazel jab jhooth bolti thi toh uske left eyebrow mein halka sa twitch aata tha.

Haan.

Main observe karta tha.

Abhi nahi aaya.

Ek baar bhi nahi.

Bus school ki taraf badh rahi thi.

Aur pehli baar mujhe laga ki shayad mujhe school jaana hi nahi chahiye tha.

"Tumne usse kya karte hue dekha?"

Maine poocha.

Hazel kuch der chup rahi.

"Bas khada tha."

"Kahan?"

"Corridor mein."

"Usne kuch bola?"

Hazel ka face thoda pale ho gaya.

"Haan."

"Kya?"

Usne seedha meri aankhon mein dekha.

"'Tum late ho.'"

Mera gala sookh gaya.

Exactly wahi words.

Word to word.

Main kuch bol hi nahi paaya.

Hazel ne meri expression dekh li.

"Tumne bhi suna tha?"

Main dheere se sir hila diya.

Ab bus ke andar achanak bahut thand lagne lagi.

Aur phir...

Kisi ne peeche se hansi maari.

Main aur Hazel dono ek saath mud gaye.

Peeche wahi older boy baitha tha.

Wahi jo kuch din pehle mujhe seat par baithne nahi de raha tha.

Messy hair.

Sharp eyebrows.

Permanent angry face.

Lekin aaj woh hans raha tha.

Aur directly hamari taraf dekh raha tha.

"Tum dono weird ho."

Usne kaha.

Main irritate ho gaya.

"Tumse matlab?"

"Bas bol raha hoon."

Uski smile gayab ho gayi.

"Logon ko school ke peeche nahi jaana chahiye."

Meri body freeze.

Hazel bhi.

"Kya?"

Maine poocha.

Boy ne shoulders uchka diye.

"Kuch nahi."

Phir window ki taraf dekhne laga.

Jaise usne kuch kaha hi nahi ho.

Main aur Hazel ek dusre ko dekhne lage.

"Usse kaise pata?"

Maine dheere se poocha.

Hazel ne jawab nahi diya.

Kyuki uske paas bhi answer nahi tha.

School pahunch gaya.

Poore din mera focus classes par nahi tha.

Main sirf teen cheezon ke baare mein soch raha tha.

Nightmare.

Badge.

Storage room.

Aur ab fourth thing bhi add ho gayi thi.

Woh angry bus boy.

Lunch break aaya.

Main aur Hazel usual tree ke paas gaye.

Lekin aaj humne lunch touch bhi nahi kiya.

"Kya lagta hai?" maine poocha.

"Kis baare mein?"

"Jo ho raha hai."

Hazel ne grass ki taraf dekha.

"Mujhe nahi pata."

"Jhooth."

"Kyun sab mujhe jhootha samajhte hain?"

"Kyuki tum clearly kuch jaanti ho."

Hazel chup.

Ek minute.

Do minute.

Phir usne bahut dheere kaha,

"Mere Dad ne ek baar us storage room ke baare mein baat ki thi."

Mera attention instantly activate.

"Kya bola tha?"

"Zyada nahi."

"Please Hazel."

Woh uncomfortable lag rahi thi.

"Bas itna ki school mein bahut pehle ek accident hua tha."

"Kaunsa accident?"

"Pata nahi."

"Kitne pehle?"

Hazel ne kuch seconds socha.

"Shayad... jab mere Dad school mein the."

Main blink kiya.

"Huh?"

Hazel ke Dad maximum 35-40 ke honge.

Aur mere pocket mein jo badge tha...

Us par 2009 likha tha.

Achanak woh number phir yaad aa gaya.

Maine turant pocket check ki.

Badge wahan tha.

Relief.

Pata nahi kyun.

Lekin mujhe lag raha tha agar badge gayab milta toh main ro deta.

"Main tumhe kuch dikhana chahta hoon."

Maine kaha.

Hazel curious ho gayi.

"Kya?"

Main badge nikalne hi wala tha...

Tabhi ek shadow hum dono par padi.

Humne upar dekha.

Class teacher.

Aur woh khush nahi lag rahi thi.

"Reyansh."

"...Ji."

"Hazel."

"...Ji."

"Office."

Hum dono ek saath freeze.

"Kyun?"

Hazel ne poocha.

Teacher ka expression ajeeb tha.

Confused bhi.

Tense bhi.

Jaise woh khud bhi yahan nahi hona chahti.

"Principal ne bulaya hai."

Mere pet mein knot ban gaya.

"Kisliye?"

Teacher ne jawab diya.

Aur us jawab ne meri saari curiosity ko ek second ke liye uda diya.

"Kisi ne report kiya hai ki tum dono school ke restricted area mein gaye the."

Restricted area.

Storage room.

Maine aur Hazel ne ek dusre ko dekha.

Kyuki humne kisi ko nahi bataya tha.

Kisi ko bhi nahi.

Toh phir report kisne ki?

Aur usse kaise pata chala?

Principal ne drawer khola.

Andar se ek purani file nikali.

Dust se bhari hui.

Cover par likha tha:

INCIDENT REPORT – 2009

Mere aur Hazel ke beech ek ajeeb si khamoshi aa gayi.

Principal ne file kholi.

Kuch pages palte.

Phir achanak ruk gaye.

Unka chehra badal gaya.

Jaise unhe kuch unexpected mil gaya ho.

"Kya hua?" maine poocha.

Principal ne jawab nahi diya.

Bas file ko ghoorte rahe.

Phir dheere se ek photo nikali.

Aur mere saamne rakh di.

Mera dil ek second ke liye ruk gaya.

Photo mein school ke kuch bachche khade the.

2009 batch.

Lekin main kisi aur ko nahi dekh raha tha.

Main sirf ek ladke ko dekh raha tha.

Uske chehre par wahi scar tha.

Bilkul mera jaisa.

Same place.

Same shape.

Same everything.

Room ki hawa achanak bhaari lagne lagi.

"M-Ma'am..."

Meri awaaz kaanp gayi.

"Yeh kaun hai?"

Principal ne jawab dene ke liye muh khola hi tha ki—

THUD!

Office ke bahar se kisi cheez ke girne ki awaaz aayi.

Sabka dhyaan udhar chala gaya.

Hazel ne khidki ki taraf dekha.

Aur uska chehra ekdum safed pad gaya.

"Hazel?"

Maine poocha.

Usne bahar ungli point ki.

Kaanpte hue.

"Reyansh..."

"Maine usse dekha."

"Kise?"

Hazel ki aankhon mein darr tha.

Woh wala darr jo maine uske chehre par pehle kabhi nahi dekha tha.

"Corridor wala ladka."

Mera gala sookh gaya.

"Impossible."

Hazel ne dheere se sir hila diya.

"Nahi."

"Woh bahar khada hai."

Main aur Principal ek saath khidki ki taraf mud gaye.

Lekin...

Wahan koi nahi tha.

Koi bhi nahi.

Sirf ek cheez thi.

Ground ki mitti par.

Khidki ke bilkul neeche.

Chhote chhote footprints.

Aur woh footprints...

Seedha storage room ki taraf ja rahe the.

Aur is baar...

Unke saath ek aur set footprints bhi tha.

Barefoot.

Jaise koi bachcha nahi...

Koi aur chal raha ho.

To be continued....

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