Subah 7 baje. Veer ki aankhen khuli toh pehli awaaz TV ki thi โ kuch zor se chal raha tha. Usne dekha, TV screen par unki aur Ishani ki court marriage ki photos thi. Headline flash ho rahi thi:
"Business Tycoon Veer Rathore ne ki apni step-mom se shaadi โ shock to the society."
Veer ki saans ruk gayi. Woh turant uth kar TV ke paas gaya. Channel change kiya โ wahan bhi wahi khabar. Social media par toh aur bhi zyada โ hashtag chal raha tha: #VeerIshaniScam, #FakeLove.
Ishani bhi uth kar aayi. Usne TV dekha โ uska haath kaanp gaya.
"Veer... yeh..."
"Riya ne kar diya. Usne sab ko bhej diya."
Dono kuch der tak chup rahe. TV par log unke khilaf bol rahe the โ "Yeh galat hai," "Step-mom se shaadi," "Inko jail hona chahiye."
Veer ne TV band kar diya. Usne Ishani ki taraf dekha โ uski aankhon mein aansoon the, par woh gir nahi rahe the.
"Dar lag raha hai?" Veer ne puchha.
"Thoda. Par tum ho toh nahi."
Veer ne uska haath pakda. "Main hoon. Aur main hamesha rahoonga."
Usi pal phone ghuma โ media houses ke calls, friends ke messages, aur Riya ka ek taunting message:
"Dekha? Ab tumhari zindagi kaisi lagti hai? Main toh abhi bhi khatam nahi hui."
Veer ne phone rakh diya. Usne gehri saans li โ aur phir Ishani ki aankhon mein dekha.
"Humein saamna karna hoga."
"Kaise?"
"Press conference. Sab ke saamne khade honge. Sach bataayenge."
Ishani ne uska haath pakda โ is baar uski aankhon mein dar nahi, josh tha. "Main tayyar hoon."
Shaam 4 baje. Veer ne press conference bulayi. Media wale aaye โ kuch supportive, kuch hostile. Veer aur Ishani stage par baithe. Veer ne mic uthaya โ aur sab ko dekha.
"Namaskaar. Main Veer Rathore hoon. Aur yeh meri wife, Ishani Rathore hain."
Media wale ne puchha โ "Veer ji, aapne apni step-mom se shaadi kyun ki?"
Veer ne aankhen band kar li โ phir kholi. "Kyunki main usse pyaar karta hoon. Pyaar ko step-mom, step-son, ya kisi rishte ki zaroorat nahi hoti. Pyaar bas ek ehsaas hai."
Ek aur reporter โ "Par yeh samaj mein galat hai!"
Veer ne seedha jawab diya โ "Samaj wahi hai jo humein judge kare. Par humne koi galat nahi kiya. Ishani ko mere baap ne force kiya tha. Usne apni behen ki jaan bachane ke liye shaadi ki thi. Aur main โ main usse pyaar kar baitha. Humne court marriage kar li hai. Yeh legal hai. Yeh sach hai."
Ishani ne bhi mic liya โ "Main Ishani hoon. Veer ki wife. Maine apni zindagi apni family ke liye kurbani di. Par Veer ne mujhe nayi zindagi di. Agar aap log humein judge karna chahte hain โ toh karein. Par humein farak nahi padta. Kyunki humara pyaar sachcha hai."
Media wale chup ho gaye. Kuch ne taaliyaan bhi bajai โ par kuch abhi bhi hostile the. Press conference khatam hui. Veer ne Ishani ka haath pakda aur stage se neeche aaya.
"Tumne bahut himmat dikhayi," Veer ne kaha.
"Main toh tumhare saath hoon."
Veer ne usko gale laga liya โ sab ke saamne. "Main tumse pyaar karta hoon."
"Aur main tumse. Hamesha."
Raat 10 baje. Ghar aate hi Veer ne Ishani ko bataya ki Riya ab court case karegi.
"Usne message kiya โ kal court mein haazir hona."
"Toh kya? Hum tayyar hain."
Veer ne Ishani ko apni taraf kheecha โ aur uske honthon ko chhooa. Dheere, gehre, aur pyaar se. Ishani ki ungliyan uski peeth par โ woh usey apne paas kheechti hai. Veer ka haath uski kamari par โ woh dono ek ho gaye.
"Kal se nayi jung hai," Veer ne kaha.
"Par hum saath hain. Toh jeetenge."
"Main jaanta hoon."
Subah 7 baje. Veer ki aankhen khuli toh pehla khayal court ka tha. Aaj Riya ne court mein case file kiya tha โ aur unhe haazir hona tha. Usne Ishani ko dekha โ woh abhi bhi so rahi thi, uska haath uski chhati par, aur uski saans dheemi thi. Usne dheere se uske baal sahlaaye aur socha โ aaj ka din unki zindagi ka sabse important din hoga.
"Utho, meri jaan," Veer ne dheemi awaaz mein kaha.
Ishani ki aankhen khuli. "Veer... aaj court hai na?"
"Haan. Par hum tayyar hain."
"Main dar rahi hoon."
"Main hoon na."
Ishani ne usko gale laga liya โ aur kuch der tak chup rahi. Veer ne uski peeth sahlaayi โ "Kuch nahi hoga. Hum saath hain."
Subah 10 baje. Court. Veer aur Ishani ne andar kadam rakha โ toh mahaul bhaari tha. Riya already baithi thi โ haath mein lawyer, chehre pe wahi shaitaani. Usne Veer aur Ishani ko dekha โ aur taunt bhari muskan di.
"Toh aa gaye. Step-mom aur step-son."
Veer ne kuch nahi kaha. Bas Ishani ka haath pakda aur apni seat par baith gaya.
Judge aaya. Sab khade ho gaye. Judge ne case ki file dekhi โ aur phir Riya ki taraf dekha.
"Riya Sharma, aap ne Veer Rathore aur Ishani Rathore ke khilaf case file kiya hai. Aap kya kehna chahti hain?"
Riya ne lawyer ki taraf dekha โ aur phir seedha judge ki taraf boldi.
"Your Honour, Veer Rathore ne mujhe dhoka diya. Woh pehle mere boyfriend the. Phir unhone apni step-mom Ishani ke saath pyaar karna shuru kar diya โ aur phir court marriage kar li. Yeh society ke khilaf hai, yeh galat hai!"
Judge ne Veer ki taraf dekha โ "Veer Rathore, aap kya kehna chahenge?"
Veer ne Ishani ki taraf dekha โ aur phir judge ki taraf seedha bolna shuru kiya.
"Your Honour, Riya meri ex-girlfriend thi โ 2 saal pehle humne break up kar liya tha. Woh mujhse badla lena chahti hai kyunki maine usse shaadi nahi ki. Ishani meri wife hai โ humne court marriage kar li hai. Yeh legal hai. Yeh sachcha pyaar hai. Aur humein kisi ki permission nahi chahiye."
Riya ne beech mein kaha โ "Your Honour! Yeh jhooth bol raha hai!"
Judge ne Riya ko rok diya โ "Riya Sharma, aap apni baari ka intezaar karein."
Ishani ne apna haath uthaya โ "Your Honour, main kuch kehna chahti hoon."
Judge ne kaha โ "Boliye."
Ishani khadi hui โ uska haath thoda kaanp raha tha, par uski awaaz mazboot thi.
"Your Honour, main Ishani hoon. Veer ki wife. Maine shaadi pehle apni behen ki jaan bachane ke liye Rajnath ji se ki thi. Woh blackmail tha. Par Veer ne mujhe nayi zindagi di. Usne mujhe pyaar sikhaya. Aur main usse pyaar karti hoon. Yeh koi crime nahi hai โ yeh pyaar hai."
Court mein kuch der ke liye chup chaap thi. Judge ne gehri saans li โ aur phir Riya ki taraf dekha.
"Riya Sharma, aap ke paas koi proof hai โ ki Veer ne aapko forced kiya?"
Riya ka chehra thoda bigda. "Your Honour... mere paas photos hain... messages hain..."
Judge ne kaha โ "Dikhaayein."
Riya ne lawyer ko signal diya โ lawyer ne kuch documents submit kiye. Judge ne dekha โ aur phir Veer ki taraf dekha.
"Veer Rathore, kya aap in photos aur messages ko accept karte hain?"
Veer ne dekha โ photos toh thin unki aur Riya ki, par woh purani thin (2 saal pehle ki). Usne kaha โ "Your Honour, yeh photos 2 saal pehle ki hain. Jab hum ek saath the. Iska humari current life se koi lena dena nahi hai."
Judge ne Riya ki taraf dekha โ "Riya Sharma, aap ke paas current proof hai? Ki Veer ne aapko force kiya?"
Riya ki aankhen ghoom gayi โ "Your Honour... main..."
Judge ne kaha โ "Riya Sharma, agar aap jhooth bol rahi hain toh aap ke khilaf case file ho sakta hai."
Riya ka chehra safed padh gaya. Usne Veer ki taraf dekha โ gussa aur nafrat se. Phir woh uth kar khadi ho gayi.
"Your Honour... main case wapas leti hoon."
Judge ne kaha โ "Theek hai. Case dismissed."
Court se nikalte hi Veer ne Ishani ka haath pakda โ aur uski aankhon mein dekha.
"Hum jeet gaye."
"Main jaanti thi."
"Kaise?"
"Kyunki sach humare saath tha."
Veer ne usko apni taraf kheecha โ aur uske honthon ko chhooa. Dheere, gehre, aur pyaar se. Court ke bahar log unhe dekh rahe the โ par unhe koi farak nahi tha. Woh ek doosre mein kho gaye.
"Riya ab humein kabhi pareshaan nahi karegi," Veer ne kaha.
"Main jaanti hoon."
Veer ne Ishani ko gale laga liya โ bahut der tak.
Shaam 6 baje. Ghar aate hi Dadi ka phone aaya.
"Beta, mujhe pata hai tum jeet gaye. Mujhe bahut khushi hai."
"Dadi... aap ka aashirwaad tha."
"Mera aashirwaad hamesha tumhare saath hai. Kal main aa rahi hoon โ tum dono ko dekhne."
"Hum wait karenge."
Phone rakh diya. Veer ne Ishani ki taraf dekha โ uski aankhon mein aansoon the โ khushi ke.
"Dadi aa rahi hain."
"Main bahut excited hoon."
Veer ne uska haath pakda โ aur uski aankhon mein dekha. "Ishani... aaj ke baad koi nahi rok sakta humein."
"Main jaanti hoon."
Veer ne usko apni taraf kheecha โ aur uske honthon ko chhooa. Dheere, gehre, aur pyaar se.
Subah 8 baje. Veer ki aankhen khuli toh pehla khayal Dadi ka tha โ aaj woh aa rahi thin. Usne Ishani ko dekha โ woh abhi bhi so rahi thi, uska haath uski chhati par, aur uski saans dheemi thi. Usne dheere se uske baal sahlaaye aur socha โ kal court case jeet gaye, Riya ko jawab mil gaya, aur aaj Dadi aa rahi hain. Zindagi dheere-dheere wapas normal ho rahi thi.
"Utho, meri jaan," Veer ne dheemi awaaz mein kaha. "Aaj Dadi aa rahi hain."
Ishani ki aankhen khuli. "Dadi? Haan! Main bhool hi gayi thi!"
"Tum bhool gayi? Main toh raat bhar soya nahi โ Dadi ke aane ke baare mein sochta raha."
"Tum toh pagal ho gaye ho."
"Tumhari wajah se."
Ishani ne usko gale laga liya โ aur uske honthon ko chhooa. Dheere, gehre, aur pyaar se. Veer ne uska haath pakda aur apni taraf kheecha. "Chalo, tayyar ho jao. Dadi kabhi bhi aa sakti hain."
Subah 10 baje. Doorbell baji. Veer ne darwaza khola โ Dadi khadi thin, haath mein ek chhoti si thali, jisme roli aur chawal the. Unke chehre par sukoon tha, aur aankhon mein aansoon the โ khushi ke.
"Beta... mujhe bahut khushi hai."
Veer ne Dadi ke paon chhooe. Dadi ne uske sir par haath rakha โ "Mera aashirwaad hamesha tumhare saath hai."
Ishani bhi aayi โ usne Dadi ke paon chhooe. Dadi ne uska sir sahlaaya โ "Beta... tum mere ghar ki bahu ho. Mujhe tum par garv hai."
Ishani ki aankhen bhar aayi. "Dadi... main aapko kabhi disappoint nahi karungi."
"Mujhe pata hai, beta. Chalo, andar chalein."
Dadi ne ghar mein kadam rakha โ aur chand lamhe ke liye ruki. Usne dekha โ ghar mein sukoon tha, khushbu thi, aur Veer-Ishani ka pyaar har jagah bikhar raha tha. Woh muskurayi.
"Beta, tum dono ne bahut khoobsurat ghar banaya hai."
"Dadi, yeh ghar humara nahi โ yeh aapka bhi hai," Ishani ne kaha.
Dadi ne Ishani ko gale laga liya โ "Tum toh Nandini ki tarah ho. Woh bhi itni khoobsurat thi."
Veer ki aankhen bhar aayi. "Dadi... maa ko yaad karna mushkil hai."
"Mushkil toh hai, beta. Par tumhare paas Ishani hai โ aur woh Nandini ka aashirwaad hai."
Shaam 4 baje. Dadi ne kaha โ "Beta, aaj tum dono mere saath khana khao. Main khud banaaoongi."
"Dadi, aap kaam kyun karengi?" Ishani ne kaha.
"Kyunki main apni bahu ke liye kuch banaana chahti hoon."
Dadi ne khana banaya โ Veer aur Ishani ki favourite dishes. Teeno ne saath mein khana khaya โ kuch der ke liye duniya bhool kar. Dadi ne Veer aur Ishani ko dekha โ aur socha โ Nandini bhi yahan hoti toh kitni khush hoti.
"Beta, main tum dono ko ek baat batana chahti hoon," Dadi ne kaha.
"Kya?"
"Maine Rajnath se baat ki hai. Woh kal aana chahta hai โ tumse maafi maangne."
Veer ki aankhen thodi tedi hui. "Papa? Maafi?"
"Haan, beta. Unhe apni galti ka ehsaas ho gaya hai. Woh tum dono se maafi maangna chahte hain."
Veer ne Ishani ki taraf dekha โ uski aankhon mein koi gussa nahi tha.
"Dadi... agar woh sach mein aana chahte hain โ toh aayein."
Raat 8 baje. Dadi ne kaha โ "Beta, main ab jaa rahi hoon. Kal Rajnath aayega. Main bhi aaungi."
"Dadi, aaj raat yahan ruko," Veer ne kaha.
"Nahi beta โ tum dono ki zindagi mein sukoon hai. Main yahan nahi ruk sakti. Kal aaungi."
Veer ne Dadi ko gale lagaya. "Dadi... aap ne humein sambhala."
"Mera farz tha, beta. Chalo, khush raho."
Dadi gayi. Veer aur Ishani darwaze par khade rahe โ haath mein haath.
"Dadi bahut special hain," Ishani ne kaha.
"Woh humari strength hain."
Veer ne Ishani ka haath pakda aur apni taraf kheecha โ "Kal papa aa rahe hain."
"Main tayyar hoon."
"Dar nahi lagta?"
"Thoda. Par tum ho toh nahi."
Veer ne usko apni taraf kheecha โ aur uske honthon ko chhooa. Dheere, gehre, aur pyaar se. Ishani ki ungliyan uski peeth par โ woh usey apne paas kheechti hai. Veer ka haath uski kamari par โ woh dono ek ho gaye.
"Aaj raat mujhe bahut kuch mehsoos ho raha hai," Veer ne kaha.
"Kya?"
"Ki zindagi wapas normal ho rahi hai. Aur tum ho โ toh sab theek hai."
Ishani ne apna sar uski chhati par rakha โ "Main hamesha rahoongi."
Subah 9 baje. Veer ki aankhen khuli toh pehla khayal baap ka tha โ aaj Rajnath aa rahe the. Usne Ishani ko dekha โ woh abhi bhi so rahi thi, uska haath uski chhati par, aur uski saans dheemi thi. Usne dheere se uske baal sahlaaye aur socha โ kal Dadi ne bataya tha ki papa maafi maangna chahte hain. Kya woh sach mein badal gaye hain? Kya woh apni galti maanenge? Veer ko yakeen nahi ho raha tha, par woh tayyar tha โ chahe kuch bhi ho, woh Ishani ke saath khada tha.
"Utho, meri jaan," Veer ne dheemi awaaz mein kaha. "Aaj papa aa rahe hain."
Ishani ki aankhen khuli. "Veer... tum darte ho?"
"Thoda. Par tum ho toh nahi."
"Main hoon. Hamesha."
Ishani ne usko gale laga liya โ aur kuch der tak chup rahi. Veer ne uski peeth sahlaayi โ "Kuch nahi hoga. Hum saath hain."
Subah 11 baje. Doorbell baji. Veer ne darwaza khola โ saamne Rajnath khade the. Unka chehra pehle se zyada budha lag raha tha, aankhon mein dard tha, aur haath thoda kaanp raha tha. Unhone Veer ko dekha โ aur kuch der tak kuch nahi bole.
"Veer... main..."
Veer ne kuch nahi kaha. Bas ek taraf hatt kar unhe andar bulaya.
Rajnath ne andar kadam rakha. Unhone dekha โ ghar mein sukoon tha, khushbu thi, aur Veer-Ishani ka pyaar har jagah bikhar raha tha. Unhe lagaa โ jaise woh kisi doosri duniya mein aa gaye ho. Unki aankhen bhar aayi.
"Ishani..." Rajnath ne kaha โ awaaz dheemi thi, kaanp rahi thi.
Ishani aage badhi. Usne Rajnath ko dekha โ uske aankhon mein dard tha, aur uske haath kaanp rahe the.
"Rajnath ji... aap baithiye."
Rajnath ne sofa par baith gaye. Dadi bhi aayi โ unke saath. Kuch der tak koi nahi bola. Rajnath ne gehri saans li โ aur phir Veer ki taraf dekha.
"Veer... main maafi maangne aaya hoon."
Veer ne uski taraf dekha โ uski aankhon mein gussa nahi, sukoon tha. "Papa... aap ne bahut kuch kiya. Maine socha tha ki main aapko kabhi maaf nahi kar paaoonga."
"Par..."
"Par Ishani ne mujhe sikhaya ki maaf karna bhi pyaar hai."
Rajnath ki aankhon se aansoon nikal gaye โ pehli baar Veer ne apne baap ko rote dekha. "Beta... main galat tha. Maine Ishani ko force kiya. Maine tumhe nahi samjha. Main apni galtiyon ko maanta hoon. Agar tum mujhe maaf kar do toh..."
Veer ne aage badh kar apne baap ka haath pakda. "Papa... main maaf karta hoon."
Rajnath ne Veer ko gale laga liya โ 15 saal mein pehli baar. Veer ne bhi apne baap ko gale lagaya โ aur dono kuch der tak chup rahe. Dadi ki aankhen bhar aayi โ woh janti thin ki yeh lamha bahut khaas tha.
Rajnath ne Ishani ki taraf dekha โ "Ishani... main tumse maafi maangta hoon. Tumne apni zindagi mujhe de di. Aur maine tumhe dard diya. Agar tum maaf kar do..."
Ishani ne Rajnath ke paon chhooe. "Rajnath ji... main maaf karti hoon. Kyunki aap Veer ke baap hain. Aur Veer โ woh meri zindagi hai."
Rajnath ne Ishani ka haath pakda โ "Tum mere ghar ki bahu ho. Aur main tum par garv karta hoon."
Shaam 5 baje. Rajnath ne sab ko dinner par bulaya. Dadi, Veer, Ishani โ sab saath baithe. Rajnath ne Ishani ko dekha โ "Ishani, tumhari boutique โ 'Nandini's Creations' โ main sun raha hoon ki bahut famous ho rahi hai."
"Ji, Rajnath ji. Log bahut aate hain."
"Tum Nandini ki tarah ho. Woh bhi itni creative thi."
Ishani ki aankhen bhar aayi. "Woh meri didi thin."
"Nahi, beta. Woh tumhari maa thin. Aur main tumhara baap hoon โ chahe main galat tha. Par ab main sudhar raha hoon."
Veer ne Ishani ka haath pakda โ aur muskuraya. "Papa... aap ne aaj bahut kuch sikhaya."
"Nahi, beta. Tum ne mujhe sikhaya โ ki pyaar kya hota hai."
Raat 9 baje. Rajnath aur Dadi chale gaye. Ghar mein sirf Veer aur Ishani the. Veer ne Ishani ko dekha โ uski aankhon mein aansoon the โ khushi ke.
"Ishani... aaj ka din bahut khaas hai."
"Haan. Tumhare baap ne maafi maangi."
"Aur tumne maaf kiya."
"Kyunki pyaar maaf karna hai."
Veer ne uska haath pakda โ aur uski aankhon mein dekha. "Main tumse pyaar karta hoon."
"Aur main tumse. Hamesha."
Veer ne usko apni taraf kheecha โ aur uske honthon ko chhooa. Dheere, gehre, aur pyaar se. Ishani ki ungliyan uski peeth par โ woh usey apne paas kheechti hai. Veer ka haath uski kamari par โ woh dono ek ho gaye.
"Aaj raat... mujhe bahut kuch mehsoos ho raha hai," Veer ne kaha.
"Kya?"
"Ki zindagi wapas normal ho gayi. Papa ne maafi maangi, Dadi ka aashirwaad hai, aur tum ho."
Ishani ne apna sar uski chhati par rakha โ "Main hamesha rahoongi."
Raad 11 baje. Dono balcony mein baithe the. Raat ka aasman tha โ taare dikh rahe the. Ishani ne Veer ki taraf dekha.
"Veer... kya tum kabhi sochte ho โ ki humara pyaar sach mein galat tha?"
"Kabhi nahi. Pyaar kabhi galat nahi hota. Rishte galat ho sakte hain โ par pyaar nahi."
Ishani ne uska haath pakda โ "Tumne mujhe yeh sikhaya."
"Tumne mujhe zindagi sikhayi."
Dono ne ek doosre ko dekha โ aur mehsoos kiya ki unka pyaar har seema ko tod chuka hai. Woh ab sirf ek doosre ke the โ aur kisi ka nahi.
Teen din guzar gaye the โ Rajnath ki maafi ke baad se Veer aur Ishani ki zindagi mein ek naya sukoon aa gaya tha. Jaise unke dilon se koi bhoj utar gaya ho. Veer ne dekha ki Ishani pehle se zyada hans-ti hai, zyada muskuraati hai. Uski aankhon mein woh chamak thi jo pehle kabhi nahi thi โ jaise uski zindagi mein ab koi dar nahi tha.
Subah 8 baje. Veer ki aankhen khuli toh Ishani uski taraf dekh rahi thi โ uski aankhon mein pyaar tha, muskan thi, aur ek alag hi khushi thi.
"Kya dekh rahi ho?" Veer ne neend se bhari awaaz mein puchha.
"Tumhe."
"Roz roz dekhne se thak nahi jaati?"
"Tumhe dekh kar thakaan hoti hai? Tum toh meri taqat ho."
Veer ne Ishani ko apni taraf kheecha โ aur uske honthon ko chhooa. Dheere, gehre, aur pyaar se. Is baar kiss mein kuch aur tha โ jaise dono ne apne pyaar ko phir se mehsoos kiya ho. Ishani ki ungliyan uski peeth par โ woh usey apne paas kheechti hai. Veer ka haath uski kamari par โ woh dono ek ho gaye.
"Aaj ka plan kya hai?" Ishani ne puchha.
"Aaj tumhari boutique chalte hain. Main tumhe drop karunga. Phir shaam ko date?"
"Date? Phir se?"
"Haan. Kyunki main roz tumhe date par le jaana chahta hoon."
"Tum toh mujhe bigaad rahe ho."
"Tum bigadne layak ho."
Subah 10 baje. "Nandini's Creations" โ Ishani ki boutique ab shahar mein famous ho chuki thi. Log door-door se aate the โ shaadi ke lehangay, party wear, aur kuch special designs ke liye. Ishani ne Nandini ke naam par yeh boutique kholi thi โ aur aaj woh apni pehchan bana chuki thi.
Veer ne boutique ke bahar gaadi roki. "Main shaam ko aata hoon."
"Tum office nahi jaoge?"
"Office toh baad mein bhi ja sakta hoon. Pehle tumhe yahan chhodna zaroori hai."
Ishani ne usko gale laga liya โ "Main tumse pyaar karti hoon."
"Aur main tumse. Hamesha."
Veer ne Ishani ko boutique ke andar jaate dekha โ uski white suit, uski walking style, uski confidence. Woh kitni badal gayi thi. Pehle woh darti thi, apni zindagi se darti thi. Aaj woh apne pyaar aur apni pehchan dono ke liye khadi thi. Veer ne usko dekha aur muskuraya โ phir gaadi le kar office nikal gaya.
Shaam 6 baje. Veer boutique aaya. Ishani abhi bhi ek customer ke saath busy thi. Usne Veer ko dekha โ aur muskurayi. Veer ek kone mein baith gaya aur Ishani ko dekhta raha โ woh kitni khoobsurat thi, apna kaam karte hue, customers se baatein karte hue, apni creativity ko zinda karte hue.
20 minute baad customer chali gayi. Ishani Veer ke paas aayi.
"Kitna dekhoge?"
"Jitna dekhun kam hai."
"Tum toh roz yeh kehte ho."
"Aur roz sach kehta hoon."
Ishani ne usko gale laga liya. "Chalo, date chalte hain."
Shaam 8 baje. Ek chhoti si candlelight dinner. Veer ne pehle se booking kar rakhi thi โ ek private corner, jahan koi unhe disturb na kare. Unke saamne wine thi, candles jal rahi thin, aur ek chhoti si vase mein rose tha.
"Veer... yeh sab tumne kiya?"
"Haan. Tumhare liye."
"Main kabhi nahi bhool sakti โ tumne meri zindagi badal di."
"Nahi, Ishani. Tumne meri zindagi badal di. Main toota hua tha. Tumne mujhe jod diya."
Ishani ki aankhen bhar aayi. "Veer... main tumse pyaar karti hoon."
"Aur main tumse. Hamesha."
Veer ne uska haath pakda โ aur uski aankhon mein dekha. "Ishani... aaj main tumhe ek baat batana chahta hoon."
"Kya?"
"Main chahta hoon ki hum ek naya sapna dekhein. Ek nayi shuruaat. Shayad... ek parivaar."
Ishani ki aankhen khuli โ hairani se. "Veer... tum..."
"Haan. Main chaahta hoon ki humara ek bachcha ho. Tumhari aur meri ek jhalak."
Ishani ki aankhon se aansoon nikal gaye โ khushi ke. "Veer... main toh pehle se tumhari hoon. Aur jo bhi aayega โ woh humara hoga."
Veer ne usko apni taraf kheecha โ aur uske honthon ko chhooa. Dheere, gehre, aur pyaar se. Ishani ki ungliyan uski peeth par โ woh usey apne paas kheechti hai. Veer ka haath uski kamari par โ woh dono ek ho gaye.
"Main tumse pyaar karta hoon, Ishani."
"Aur main tumse. Hamesha."
Raat 10 baje. Ghar aate hi Veer ne Ishani ko apni taraf kheecha โ aur uske honthon ko chhooa. Is baar kiss mein kuch aur tha โ jaise woh apni poori zindagi ek doosre ko dedena chahte the. Veer ne Ishani ko bed par le leta hai. Uski baatein uske baal se khel rahi hain. Ishani ki aankhen band hain โ uski saans tez ho rahi hai. Veer uski gardan ko chhoota hai โ dheere, halke, jaise woh uski har saans ko mehsoos kar raha ho. Uske haath uski kamar par, uski peeth par, uski baahon par โ har jagah, har inch ko pyaar se chhoo raha hai.
"Veer... main..."
"Kya?"
"Main chahti hoon ki tum mujhe apna banao... poori tarah."
Veer ne uska haath apni chhati par rakha โ uski dhadkan tez thi. "Mehsoos kar... mera dil... sirf tumhare liye dhadakta hai."
Ishani ki aankhon se ek aansoon nikalta hai โ khushi ka. Veer use apne honthon se pooch leta hai.
Jab woh ek ho jaate hain โ toh koi awaz nahi. Sirf saans. Sirf dhadkane. Sirf pyaar. Raat ki chandni khidki se andar aa rahi thi โ jaise woh unhe aashirwad de rahi ho.
"Tumhe dard ho raha hai?" Veer ne puchha.
"Nahi... mujhe ehsaas ho raha hai... ki main zinda hoon. Ki main tumhari hoon."
Veer ne uske mathe par kiss kiya โ gehre, pyaar se. "Tum meri zindagi ho."
Raad 11 baje. Dono ek doosre ko gale laga kar baithe the. Ishani ne apna sar Veer ki chhati par rakha.
"Veer... aaj raat bahut khaas thi."
"Har raat khaas hai โ jab tum ho."
"Main tumse pyaar karti hoon."
"Aur main tumse. Hamesha."
Ishani ne aankhen band kar li โ aur apni ungliyan Veer ki ungliyon mein uljha di. "Veer... kal se nayi zindagi shuru hogi."
"Haan. Aur main tayyar hoon."
Veer ne Ishani ko aur zor se pakda โ jaise woh usey kabhi nahi chhodna chahta tha. Raat sukoon se guzar gayi โ unki aankhon mein sapne the, unke dil mein pyaar tha, aur unki zindagi mein ek nayi subah ka intezaar tha.