Train phir se raat ke andhere mein tezi se daud rahi thi. Riya window ke paas baithi bahar dekh rahi thi. Is baar uske mind mein dar kam aur curiosity zyada thi.
Usne old man ki taraf dekha.
"Agar future change ho sakta hai, toh kya main apna best future choose kar sakti hoon?" Riya ne pucha.
Old man halka sa muskuraaya.
"Future choose nahi kiya jaata," usne calmly kaha.
"Future banaya jaata hai."
Riya uski baat sochne lagi.
Train ka atmosphere ab thoda warm lag raha tha. Lights pehle se bright thi aur train ka sound bhi smooth ho gaya tha.
Tabhi train dheere-dheere slow hone lagi.
Old man ne apni pocket watch dekhi.
"Agla stop," usne kaha.
Train ruk gayi aur doors open ho gaye.
Riya bahar utri.
Is baar scene bilkul different tha.
Yeh ek bada sa auditorium tha jahan bahut saare log baithe hue the. Stage par bright lights thi aur audience excited lag rahi thi.
"Yeh jagah kya hai?" Riya ne pucha.
Old man ne stage ki taraf ishara kiya.
"Dhyan se dekho," usne kaha.
Riya ne stage ki taraf dekha.
Wahan ek young girl stage par khadi thi aur mic pakad kar speech de rahi thi.
Audience uski baat dhyan se sun rahi thi.
Riya ki aankhen shock se wide ho gayi.
Woh girl bhi bilkul Riya jaisi hi lag rahi thi.
"Phir se… main?" Riya ne surprise se kaha.
Old man ne sir hilaaya.
"Haan. Yeh tumhara ek aur possible future hai," usne kaha.
Riya dhyan se dekhne lagi.
Future wali Riya confident lag rahi thi. Woh stage par khadi thi aur log uski baat se inspire ho rahe the.
Speech khatam hote hi audience ne loud claps kiye.
Riya ke face par smile aa gayi.
"Yeh future toh bahut achha lag raha hai," usne kaha.
Old man ne calmly jawab diya,
"Yeh future tab possible hai jab tum apne fears ko ignore karke apne dreams follow karogi."
Riya ne stage par khadi future version ko dekha.
Woh confident thi.
Happy thi.
Aur sabse important… woh apni life enjoy kar rahi thi.
Riya ne dheere se kaha,
"Main aisi life chahti hoon."
Old man ne uski taraf dekha.
"Tab tumhe different choices leni hongi," usne kaha.
Riya samajhne lagi thi ki ye journey usse kya sikha rahi hai.
Life mein har chhota decision important hota hai.
Agar woh fear ki wajah se chances miss karegi, toh uska future boring ho sakta hai.
Lekin agar woh brave banegi aur opportunities le gi, toh uska future exciting ho sakta hai.
Train ka whistle phir se sunai diya.
"Chalo," old man ne kaha.
Riya ne ek last time auditorium ko dekha aur phir train ki taraf chal padi.
Train ke andar wapas aakar woh seat par baith gayi.
Is baar uske mind mein ek clear thought tha.
"Future depend karta hai ki main aaj kya decide karti hoon," usne socha.
Old man ne halka sa smile kiya, jaise usne Riya ke thoughts sun liye ho.
Train phir se chalne lagi.
Bahar phir se andhera tha.
Lekin Riya ke mind mein ab ek nayi light jal chuki thi.
Usse feel ho raha tha ki ye journey usse sirf past aur future nahi dikha rahi…
Ye usse apni life ko better banane ka chance de rahi hai।
Aur Riya ko bilkul idea nahi tha…
Ki next stop par woh ek aisa moment dekhne wali thi jo uski sabse badi mistake se related tha।