Ego and Heart

Episode 11 – Scene 1

Aaj do hafte guzar chuke thay, magar itne din beetne ke baad bhi Aarav apne aap ko wahi khara mehsoos kar raha tha jahan Anaya usko chor kar gayi thi. Itni raaton ki neend aur din ka sukoon kho chuka tha. Uske andar ek ajeeb si bechaini thi jo kisi haal bhi kam nahi ho rahi thi. Meetings cancel hoti rahi, kaam se dil uthta raha. Uska dil aur dimagh jaise kisi aik jagah atak gaya tha—Anaya ki aankhon mein jo dukh tha, wo uske zehen se mit nahi raha tha.

Aaj bhi ek bohot important meeting thi. Uska assistant aaya aur bola, “Sir, client meeting room mein wait kar rahe hain.” Aarav ne ek gehri saans bhari. “Haan… main aaraha hoon,” usne be-dili se kaha. Woh nahi chahta tha jaaye, magar yeh meeting bohot zaroori thi. Kis tarah se usne meeting attend ki, kaise words bole, kaise numbers discuss kiye—sab kuch ek dhund mein dikhai de raha tha. Meeting khatam karte hi woh bina kisi se baat kiye seedha ghar nikal gaya.

Aarav ki Maa

Jaise hi ghar pohcha, seedha apni maa ke kamre ki taraf gaya. Uski maa, Mrs. Kapoor, sirf ek ameer aurat nahi balki ek social worker bhi thi. Woh hammesha madad karne ke liye tayar rehti thin. Unki shafqat bhari aankhein, narm lehja aur muskurahat har kisi ke dil ko jeet leti thi. Woh un logon ke gham sunti thin jo duniya ke liye sirf ek kahani thay. Woh sirf badi parties ka hissa nahi thin, balki un jagon par bhi jati thin jahan dukh aur takleef thi. Unka jazba aur mehsoos karne ki salahiyat unko aur bhi mukhtalif banati thi.

Aarav ko dekh kar unhone hairani se kaha, “Aray, beta tum is waqt? Koi meeting nahi thi?”
Aarav ne dheere se kaha, “Maa… bas dil ajeeb sa ho raha tha, isliye agaya.”
Unhone pyaar bhari nazar se dekha, “Tumhari tabiyat toh theek lag nahi rahi mujhe… koi baat hai?”
Aarav ne sirf muskurane ki koshish ki, “Kuch nahi maa… bas aapko dekhne aaya tha. Aap kahin ja rahi hain?”
Unhone thoda ruk kar kaha, “Haan, ek social event mein invited thi… par agar tum chaho toh nahi jaati?”

Aarav thodi der sochta raha, phir dheere se sir hila diya. “Nahi maa, aap jayein. Main theek hoon. Bas apne kamre mein thoda aaram karna chahta hoon.”
Unhone phir bhi ek baar poocha, “Are you sure beta?”
Aarav ne zabardasti ek halka sa smile diya, “Haan maa, don’t worry.”
Woh thoda dekh kar boli, “Theek hai, tum jao apne kamre mein, main tumhare liye ek achi si coffee bhejti hoon. You’ll feel better.”

Aarav sirf “Thanks maa” keh kar apne kamre ki taraf chala gaya.

Aarav ki Bechaini

Kapray change karke woh bed par jaise gir gaya. Aankhein band ki to har taraf andhera mehsoos hua, lekin us andheray mein sirf ek chehra bar bar samne aaraha tha—Anaya. Uske aansuon se bheegi aankhein, woh be-bas muskurahat, woh dukh jo uske har lafz se tapak raha tha… yeh sab kuch ek ajeeb si kasak banke Aarav ke dil ko cheerta chala gayi.

Usne aankhein zor se bandh ki, lekin jitna band karta utni hi taqat se Anaya ka dukh uske andar barhne lagta. Ek ajeeb si khalish, ek ajeeb si bechaini uske andar phail gayi. Usne jhatke se aankhein khol di, pasine se bheeg chuka tha. Uske hont khud ba khud hilay, aur ek dard se bhari aawaz nikal gayi—“Anaya…”

Uske dil ka gham uske lafz ban kar nikal chuka tha… Magar shayad deer ho chuki thi

Scene 2

Anaya ab kaafi behtar mehsoos kar rahi thi. Usne office jaana shuru kar diya tha, wo phir se apni usual life mein wapis aagayi thi. Lekin… sirf zindagi jee rahi thi, mehsoos nahi kar rahi thi. Jo Anaya pehle thi, jo har chhoti chhoti baat par muskura deti thi, jo zindagi ki har chhoti khushi ko apna leti thi, jo apne aap se muhabbat karti thi—wo Anaya toh usi din mar gayi thi.

Aaj ki Anaya… bas chal rahi thi, bina kisi manzil ke. Na koi ehsaas, na koi jazbaat, na koi dukh, na koi khushi. Ek robot ban gayi thi, jo bas apna kaam kar raha tha, bina kisi shikayat ke, bina kisi umeed ke. Usne apne aap se wada kiya tha ki ab wo nahi roye gi, ab koi bhi uske aansuon ka haqdar nahi hai. Aur usi liye usne apne jazbaat maar diye thay.

Colleague Ki Zid

Aaj kaafi dinon baad uska ek colleague, Rehan, usko zabardasti office se bahar le aaya tha. Wo aur Anaya ne saath office join kiya tha, is liye wo sirf ek dost tha jo ab bhi uski fikr karta tha.

“Chalo Anaya, kahin ice cream khane chalte hain,” Rehan ne casually kaha.
Anaya ne mana karne ke liye muh khola tha, lekin usne bina sunay uska haath pakar liya. “Bohat hogayi tumhari akailay baithne ki aadat, ab zara normal life bhi jeo,” Rehan ne usko zabardasti uthaya.

Anaya ne thoda protest kiya, lekin Rehan usko takreeban kheench kar le gaya.

Aarav Ka Anaya Ko Dekhna

Chhoti si ice cream parlor mein dono ice cream kha rahe thay. Rehan kuch mazak kar raha tha, aur Anaya bas ek bejaan muskurahat ke saath uski baat sun rahi thi. Tabhi bahar ek gari rukti hai.

Aarav.

Usne bas ek pal ke liye Anaya ko dekha aur phir jaise waqt ruk gaya.

Woh wahi khara reh gaya. Anaya kisi aur ke saath thi. Woh has nahi rahi thi, magar uske saath thi. Aarav ke andar ek ajeeb si jalan uthne lagi. Uska dil tez dhadakne laga. Itne dinon se wo bas Anaya ke baare mein soch raha tha, aur yahan Anaya kisi aur ke saath bethi thi? Woh itni aasani se aage barh gayi?

Uske haath steering wheel par kas gaye. Lekin jo cheez sabse zyada usko disturb kar rahi thi, wo thi Anaya ki aankhein—bejaan, khaali, ek aisi aankhein jo ab kisi se shikwa bhi nahi kar rahi thin.

Yeh wohi Anaya thi jo ek waqt pe har baat pe hasti thi?

Usne ek baar aur dekha, jaise confirm kar raha ho ke yeh waqai wohi Anaya hai. Aur tabhi, jaise hi Anaya ne halka sa apna sar uthaya, uski nazar Aarav se mili.

Ek lamha. Sirf ek lamha.

Aur uske chehre ka rang udd gaya.

Anaya ne foran apni nazar hata li. Uska dil jaise dob gaya ho. Yahan kyun aaya hai yeh? Phir se dukh dene? Phir se girane?

Usne apni saans andar kheench kar apne aap ko normal dikhane ki koshish ki. Lekin andar kahin sab kuch tut raha tha.

Aarav ka dil cha raha tha ke wo gari se utar kar seedha uske samne jaaye aur usse pooche—“Tum kisi aur k sath kaise?” Magar kya haq tha ab poochne ka?

Aur Anaya? Usne aik nazar Rehan ki taraf dekha jo maze se ice cream kha raha tha. “Mujhe chalna chahiye,” usne jaldi se kaha.

Rehan ne hairan ho kar dekha, “Aray, abhi toh aaye hain.”

“Mujhe jana hai,” usne bas itna kaha aur jaldi se bahar nikal gayi.

Aarav ne Anaya ki jaldi mein bhagti shakl dekhi, uska bechain chehra dekha, aur phir bina kuch soche apni gari aage badha di.

Wahan rukne ka ab koi faida nahi tha. Jo dekha tha, usne uska dimaag aur dil dono aur uljha diye thay. Aarav bhi bina peechay dekhe nikal gaya.

Scene 3

Aarav’s Restlessness

Din guzarte gaye, magar Anaya ko kisi aur ke saath dekhna Aarav ke liye sirf ek dukh nahi, ek jalan ban chuka tha. Har din, har raat uske dimag mein ek hi sawaal goonjta—kaun tha wo? Jo Anaya ke saath muskura raha tha, jo uske saath ice cream kha raha tha, jo uski zindagi mein meri jagah le raha tha?

Yeh soch uske andar ek bechaini ko barhati rahi, jab tak ek din usne iss sawaal ka jawab lene ka faisla nahi kar liya.

Aaj woh Anaya ke office ke samne khada tha.

Anaya’s Office – A Silent World

Chhota sa, magar professionally maintained office. Entrance ke andar reception area tha, ek chhoti si wooden desk jahan ek receptionist laptop par kaam kar rahi thi. Side par ek waiting area tha—ek sofa aur glass-top table jahan ek magazine padhi thi. Soft yellow lights office ke mahal ko garamahat aur sukoon deti thi, lekin Aarav ke andar aaj sirf ek tufaan tha.

Woh reception par aaya. “Mujhe Anaya se milna hai.”

Receptionist ne professional lehje mein poocha, “Aapka naam?”

Ek second ke liye Aarav ruk gaya. Phir bina soche “Rohan” keh diya.

Receptionist ne Anaya ko call milai. “Ma’am, ek Rohan aap se milne aaye hain.”

Anaya’s Shock

Anaya ne suna toh pehle uske dimag mein confusion aayi. Rohan? Kaun Rohan?

Woh curiosity mein uth kar reception ki taraf aayi. Magar jaise hi usne waiting area mein baithe shakhs ko dekha, uske qadam ek dum ruk gaye.

Aarav!

Uska dil zor se dhadakne laga. Saamne wohi chehra tha jo kabhi uska sab kuch tha, magar ab sirf ek dukh ki yaad ban chuka tha.

Wo pal bhar ke liye saans lena bhool gayi.

Waqt jaise ek dum ruk gaya. Sab kuch freeze ho gaya. Woh bas usse dekh rahi thi, magar apne dil ko samajh nahi pa rahi thi.

Ye yahan kyun aaya hai?

Phir jaise hi us din ki yaad uske dimaag mein wapas ayi, jab Aarav ne uska mazak banaya tha, uska dil turh diya tha—ek tez dard se uska dil bhar gaya.

Usne foran wapas murh kar jaane ka socha.

Lekin tabhi… woh awaaz jo kabhi uski sabse pyari thi, uske kaan mein goonji—

“Anaya!”

Anaya ki aankhein ek pal ke liye band ho gayi. Woh awaaz… jise sunne ke liye wo kabhi raat bhar jagti thi, jise sun kar uska dil khush ho jata tha, aaj phir se sunai di thi.

Woh palti, lekin jaise hi usne Aarav ki aankhon mein dekha, uski aankhon ke samne uske diye gaye dukh ka ek ek scene wapas chalne laga.

Us din ka dukh phir se taaza ho gaya.

Woh phir se murh gayi.

Lekin is baar, Aarav ne tez kadam barhaye aur uska haath pakad liya.

Aarav’s Desperation

“Anaya, please. Mujhe tumse baat karni hai.” Aarav ki awaaz sakht thi, magar us mein ek bechaini thi. Ek tadap bhi thi.

Anaya ne apna haath jhatakne ki koshish ki. “Mujhe tumse koi baat nahi karni.”

Aarav ka sabr jawab de gaya. “Lekin mujhe karni hai!” Woh sakhti se bola. “Ab tum decide karo, mere sath bahar chal rahi ho ya yahin sabke samne tamasha karna hai?”

Anaya ki aankhein gusse se bhar gayi. Uski izzat uske liye sab kuch thi, woh Aarav ko ek aur mauqa nahi dena chahti thi, magar us waqt uske pass koi aur rasta nahi tha.

Woh bina kuch kahe bahar aayi.

Lekin jaise hi bahar aayi, usne jhatk se apna haath chudaya.

“Mujhe tumse kuch nahi sunna!” Uska lehja pathar jaisa thanda tha.

Aarav ka sab kuch toot raha tha. Woh bas ek sawaal le kar aaya tha. Ek aisi jalan jo use zinda kha rahi thi.

“Ek baat batao, wo kaun tha jiske saath tum ice cream kha rahi thi?” Aarav ki awaaz mein shikayat thi, gussa tha, dard tha.

Anaya ne hairani se usko dekha. “Tumhe kya farq padta hai?”

Aarav ek kadam aage bara. “Farq padta hai! Tum toh mera intezaar karti thin. Tum kehti thi meri batein tumhain achi lagti hain. Toh kahan gayi wo baatein? Itni jaldi sab khatam?”

Anaya bas uski taraf dekh rahi thi.

Phir usne bohot shant lehje mein kaha, “Woh mera colleague hai. Mere sath office mein kaam karta hai.”

Aarav ka dil ek ajeeb sukoon mehsoos kar raha tha, jaise kisi ne uska bojh halka kar diya ho. Woh bas ek colleague tha.

Anaya ne wapas jaane ke liye kadam barhaya, magar jaise hi usne peeth mori, Aarav ke andar se ek aawaz ayi.

“Mat jao.”

Ek aisi aawaz jo pehli baar uske dil ne bina ego ke, bina garoor ke nikaali thi. Ek aawaz jo sirf sach thi.

Anaya ruki. Phir se palti. Is baar uski aankhon mein surprise tha.

Aarav ab apne ghutnon par tha. “Anaya, mat jao.”

Uski aankhon mein dard tha. Aansoon tha. Ek bechaini thi jo pehle kabhi nahi thi.

“Anaya, mat jao.”

Anaya ne saans andar kheench li. Uske saamne woh shaks tha jo kabhi uska tha, jo kabhi uski duniya tha.

Aarav ki aankhon mein guilt tha.

“Jab se tum gayi ho, mera sukoon bhi chala gaya hai. Roz har din, har raat ek dard mein guzarta hoon. Main tumhe harana chahta tha, tumhe toorna chahta tha, magar pata nahi kyun… jeet kar bhi haar gaya.”

Anaya ka dil zor se dhadakne laga.

Aarav ki aankhon se aansu gir rahe thay. “Main jeet kar bhi haar gaya, Anaya.”

Anaya sirf use dekhti rahi. Woh shakhs jo kabhi uske emotions ka mazak udra raha tha, aaj uske samne toota para tha.

Aarav ki awaaz toot rahi thi. “Mujhe maaf kar do. Please, mat jao.”

Anaya ne apni aankhon se aansuon pochay. Uski aankhon mein sirf ek sawaal tha—ab kyun?

Usne dheere se kaha, “Agar maafi itni asaan hoti, toh dukh kabhi na hotay.”

Aur phir… woh wapas murh gayi.

The Final Scene

Aarav usko jaata dekh raha tha, lekin aaj woh use jaane nahi dena chahta tha. Isiliye wahi ruk kar uska intezaar karne laga.

Anaya’s Light Heart

Anaya ne office ke andar qadam rakha toh mehsoos hua jaise kayi dinon se bandh ek dariya aaj behne laga ho.
Uska dil halka halka mehsoos kar raha tha. Jaise ek bara bojh uth gaya ho. Aarav ki maafi ne jaise uske andar ki saari narazgi ko dhundh ki tarah uda diya tha. Woh mehsoos kar rahi thi ke uska dil phir se khush lag raha hai, bina kisi wajah ke.

Rehan usko dekh kar hasi rok nahi saka,
“Are wah! Subah toh ye freshness nahi thi, abhi achanak kahan se aa gayi? Bahar koi special hawa chal rahi hai jo mujhe nahi pata?”

Anaya ne ek halki si muskurahat di, “Jao, tum khud hi experience kar lo.”

Rehan ne nakhre se kaha, “Chhodo yaar, yeh kaam toh fursat de tab na! Banda hawa mehsoos kare bhi.”

Dono hass diye.

Aaj ka din itne dino k baad halka halka laga. Jaise dil ke andar koi rukhi zameen thi jo aaj barasti baarish se bheeg chuki ho.

Magar Anaya ko kya pata tha ke bahar ek shaks hai jo bechaini se uska intezaar kar raha hai.

Aarav’s Wait

Office ki chhutti hui. Anaya ne jaise hi bahar qadam rakha, samne khade Aarav ko dekha jo bechaini se uska intezaar kar raha tha.

Uske qadam ek dum ruk gaye.

Lekin is baar, uske dil mein takleef nahi thi. Aarav ki maafi ne uske purane jazbaat wapas la diye the. Uska gussa, uski narazgi—sab jaise pighal chuke thay. Ab usko Aarav ki bechaini achi lag rahi thi.

Woh dheere se aage aayi, phir ek befiqri se boli,
“Tum yahan kyun ruke ho? Gaye kyun nahi?”

Aarav ki aankhon mein ek ajeeb sa halka pan jaga us ko dekh kar, magar bechaini abhi bhi waisi hi thi.
Usne dheere se kaha, “Dil ne jaane nahi diya.”

Phir ek pal ruka, “Bas tum ek baar mujhe maaf kar do… please.”

Anaya ne uski aankhon mein dekha. Aaj pehli baar, usko laga ke Aarav sach keh raha hai, dil se keh raha hai.

Woh dheere se boli, “Maine tumhe maaf kiya.”

Aarav ko laga jaise koi thandi hawa ka jhoka uske andar utar gaya ho.
Jo bechaini ab tak uske dil ko toor rahi thi, woh ek gehre sukoon mein badal gayi.

Aarav ne lambi saans li, phir muskuraya.

“Toh phir chalein?”

Anaya ne na samajhne wale andaz mein usko dekha.

Aarav ne hass kar kaha, “Arey, coffee peene… Thank you bhi toh kehna hai!”

Anaya bas usko dekhti reh gayi. itne dino baad bina kisi jhijhak ke, bina kisi gile shikwe ke, woh khul kar muskurayi thi.

“Chalo.”

Jaise hi woh dono saath chale,
Ek halki si thandi hawa chali. Falak ne sooraj ko dheere se shaam ki laali se mila diya.
Aasman mein bikhri roshni jaise kisi naye suraj ka aaghaz ho.

Aaj koi jeeta nahi tha, koi haara nahi tha.
Aaj sirf do dil wapas ek naye safar par chale gaye the.