Main usse pehli baar café me mila tha — library ke samne waala chhota sa café, jahan chai zyada aur log kam milte the.
Wo akeli baithi thi, hoodie me chhupi, aankhon me kuch bhari-bhari sa.
Mujhe lagaa koi novel padh rahi hogi. Par nahi — uske saamne ek blank page tha. Khali. Jaise uska andar.
Maine casually poocha,
"Kya likh rahi ho?"
Usne bina dekhe kaha —
"Jo likhne layak hota hai, wo jeene layak nahi hota."
Us waqt samajh nahi aaya... par ab lagta hai, usne ussi din mujhe warning de di thi.
Wo pyari thi, par easy nahi.
Touch karti thi, par dil se door rehti thi.
Kabhi kabhi lagta tha — main usse pyaar nahi, uske dard se attract ho gaya tha.