Us raat Kiran ko sone ki koshish nahi karni padi.
Neend khud aayi—
jaise kisi ne usse kheench liya ho.
Wo phir usi sheher me tha.
Par is baar sheher use dekh raha tha.
Buildings thodi jhuki hui thi.
Sadkein dheere-dheere saans le rahi thi.
Lights blink kar rahi thi—bilkul aankhon ki tarah.
"Yahan kuch badal gaya hai,"
Kiran ne kaha.
"Haan,"
doosra Kiran bola.
"Kyuki tumne jaag ke dekh liya."
Achanak hawa tez ho gayi.
Sheher ke upar aasman phatne laga—
aur wahan se wo aankh dikhai di.
Badi.
Purani.
Aur bilkul zinda.
Kiran ke pair kaanp gaye.
"Ye… ye kya hai?"
Doosra Kiran chup ho gaya.
Aankh ne baat ki—
par awaaz seedha dimaag me ghusi.
"Main hoon jo dekhta hoon."
"Main hoon jo yaad rakhta hoon."
Kiran ne sir pakad liya.
Uske dimaag me hazaaron scenes chalne lage—
log jo yahan aaye…
aur kabhi wapas nahi gaye.
"Tum sab mujhe kyu dekh rahe ho?"
Kiran chillaya.
Aankh ki awaaz thandi thi.
"Kyuki tumne rule tod diya."
"Kaunsa rule?"
"Sapne sirf mehsoos kiye jaate hain."
"Samjhe nahi jaate."
Sheher ka ek hissa crumble ho gaya.
Zameen niche girne lagi—endless andhera.
Doosra Kiran dheere se bola,
"Ab wo tumhe chhod ke nahi jaayega."
"Kaun?"
Usne upar ishara kiya.
"Aankh."
Awaaz phir goonji—
"Tum ab kahani ka hissa nahi ho."
"Tum kahani ban chuke ho."
Usi pal Kiran ki kalai jal uthi.
Darwaaza wala nishaan khulne laga.
Aur uske andar se roshni nikli.