Mobile screen phir se chamki.
2:17 AM
Aarohi ne neend me hi haath badhaya aur phone uthaya.
Screen par sirf ek cheez likhi thi—
Unknown Number
Call uthane se pehle hi call cut ho chuki thi.
Usne gusse me phone bed par rakh diya.
"Roz ka drama," usne khud se kaha.
Pichhle 7 din se, bilkul isi waqt, wahi missed call.
Na ek second kam.
Na ek second zyada.
2:17 AM.
Aarohi uth kar baith gayi. Dil bina wajah tez dhadak raha tha.
Room me complete silence thi—sirf wall clock ki tik-tik.
Usne call history open ki.
2:17 AM – Missed Call
2:17 AM – Missed Call
2:17 AM – Missed Call
Same number.
Har raat.
Usne number dial kiya.
📞 "The number you have dialed does not exist."
Uske haath thande ho gaye.
"Exist nahi karta… phir call kaise?"
Tabhi phone phir vibrate hua.
Is baar call aa rahi thi.
Wahi number.
Aarohi ne ek pal ke liye socha—
Call uthau ya nahi?
Saans rok kar green button dabaya.
"Hello?"
Dusri taraf…
koi awaaz nahi.
Bas…
saans lene ki awaaz.
Slow.
Heavy.
Bilkul uske kaan ke paas jaise.
"A–aap kaun ho?" uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi.
Saans achanak ruk gayi.
Phir ek halki si fusfusahat
"Darwaza lock kar lo."
Call cut.
Aarohi ne phone gira diya.
Uski nazar dheere-dheere bedroom ke darwaze par gayi.
Darwaza…
aadha khula hua tha.