Raat Ka Last Call
Aarav ko night shift ki aadat thi. Us raat bhi woh apni bike se ghar laut raha tha. Time tha raat ke 2:17. Sadak bilkul khaali thi. Na koi gaadi, na koi aadmi. Sirf thandi hawa… aur kabhi-kabhi streetlight ka blink karna.
Uska phone baar-baar vibrate ho raha tha.
Screen par ek hi number flash ho raha tha:
Unknown Caller
Pehle usne ignore kiya. Phir dobara call aaya. Phir teesri baar.
Tang aakar Aarav ne call utha li.
"Hello?"
Do second tak sirf khamoshi.
Phir ek dheemi, toot-ti hui aurat ki awaaz aayi—
"Peeche mat dekhna…"
Aarav hansa. "Kya bakwaas hai?"
Awaaz phir aayi, iss baar zyada saaf—
"Jo bhi ho… peeche mat dekhna."
Call cut.
Aarav ne phone ko pocket mein dala aur bike tez chala di. Lekin ab uska dil ajeeb tarah se dhadak raha tha. Jaise hawa achanak thandi se barf ban gayi ho.
Do minute baad phone phir vibrate hua.
Same number.
Is baar usne turant uthaya. "Kaun ho tum?"
Aurat ki saans sunai de rahi thi. Tez. Ghabraayi hui.
"Woh tere peeche baitha hai."
Aarav ke haath handle par jam gaye.
Usne dheere se rear-view mirror mein dekhna chaha… lekin mirror mein sirf andhera tha. Uski bike ki pichhli seat khaali dikh rahi thi.
"Tum pagal ho kya?" Aarav ne zor se bola.
Aurat ne fuskara kar kaha—
"Mirror mein woh kabhi nahi dikhta."
Call cut.
Ab Aarav sach mein dar gaya tha.
Usne bike aur tez kar di. Aage ek chhota sa petrol pump dikh raha tha, lekin jaise-jaise woh paas pahunchta, pump utna hi door lagta. Jaise sadak lambi hoti ja rahi ho.
Phone phir baja.
Is baar Aarav ne bina soche speaker on kiya.
AB JO CALL PE AARAV NE SUNA WO KAL KE PART ME PTA CHALEG...