Episode 13
Blessing in Disguise
"Yeh kaisa vibe hai? Bohat awkward lag raha hai…" Sikandar ne socha.
Thodi dair tak dono ek dusre ko ghurte rahe, phir Rosie ne chup todhi:
"Tum wahan kharay kyun ho? Baith jao na."
Sikandar hosh mein aaya aur sir hila diya. Dono restaurant ke ek kone mein jaa kar baithe jahan unki baat koi sun nahi sakta tha—ya kam az kam unko aisa laga.
Magar Adhara door se peechay aa rahi thi, jaise asal stalker. "Kya woh is Rosie larki se mil raha hai? Yeh kaun hai? Mujhe bas kal raat wali baat par shak hai," usne apne dil ko behlane ki koshish ki.
Rosie aur Sikandar ek dusre ke samne baithe hue thay, dono ke darmiyan ab bhi awkward silence tha.
Rosie kuch kehna chahti thi lekin lafz uske gale mein atak gaye, is liye usne nazar neeche kar li aur Sikandar ki aankhon se bachne lagi.
Sikandar soch raha tha ke sawal kaise kare—seedha ya ghooma phira kar. Lekin samajh gaya ke agar Rosie ka intezar kiya to baat aage nahi badegi.
Mood halka karne ke liye usne kaha:
"Kaunsi class mein ho tum? Mujhe laga tum high school mein ho."
Rosie ne foran jawab diya:
"Main class 1-B mein hoon. Kya? Tum keh rahe ho main minor lagti hoon?" Uske lehje mein thoda bura lagne wali baat thi.
Sikandar ne halka sa muskurate hue kaha:
"Nahi, mera matlab tha tum young lagti ho bas."
Magar baat dobara awkward silence mein badal gayi.
Sikandar ne dekha ke Rosie ab bhi neeche dekh rahi hai aur apne haathon se kheil rahi hai—uski ungliyan halki halki kaamp rahi thi.
"…Tum mujhse darte ho?" Sikandar ne puchha.
Rosie chup rahi, koi jawab nahi diya.
Sikandar muskuraya aur kaha:
"Tension mat lo, woh meri ghalti thi. Dobara aisa slip-up nahi hoga." Phir woh menu dekhne laga jaise order decide kar raha ho.
Rosie ne chori chori uski taraf dekha. "Usay aise dekh kar bhi yaqeen nahi aata ke yeh itna bara darinda ban sakta hai…", usne socha.
Order karne ke baad Sikandar ne halka mazak karte hue kaha:
"Toh tumne parents ko kuch kaha? Mujhe lagta hai training room mein maine kaafi asar chhorr diya tha."
Rosie ne dheemi aawaz mein jawab diya:
"Maine bas itna kaha ke ek stray werewolf ghar mein ghus aaya tha, lekin khushkismati se woh bhaag gaya tha."
Sikandar ne sukoon ka saans liya:
"Toh tumne jhoot bola hai… iska matlab hai tum mujhse kuch lena chahti ho. Kya hai woh?"
Rosie ne seedhi nazar uski taraf daali aur kaha:
"Mujhe tumse ek cheez chahiye, lekin pehle tum mere sawal ka jawab do."
Sikandar ne ghabrahat mein sar hila diya.
Rosie ne dheemi aawaz mein kaha:
"…Tum Insaniyat ke side pe ho ya Supernaturals ke?"
Phir bina rukay usne kaha:
"Agar tum Humanity ke side pe ho to mujhe apna boyfriend ban kar pretend karna hoga. Aur agar tum Supernatural ke side pe ho… to mujhe maar dena."
Sikandar ki aankhen phat gayin, woh hiraan reh gaya. "Yeh kaisi ulat seedhi demand hai? Ya boyfriend bano ya mujhe khatam kar do? Uska reason kya hai?" usne dil mein socha.
Phir chup cha gayi.
Sikandar ne ghoorti nazar se Rosy ko dekha, sochne laga aur phir keh diya:
"Toh tumhari family tumhari shaadi kisi bade khandaan ke ghatiya larke se karna chahti hai, tum mujhse bachna chahti ho agar main acha insaan hoon, aur agar main bura insaan hoon toh chahti ho main tumhari zindagi khatam kar doon. Kya main sahi keh raha hoon?"
Rosie ne halka sa muskura kar kaha:
"Qareeb ho. Meri family chahti hai ke meri shaadi ek high-ranking family mein ho, taki hamara rutba barh jaye. Kyunki unko pata chal gaya hai ke meri ability average hai, main apni zindagi mein sirf rank four tak pohanch paungi."
Woh muskurayi, lekin us muskaan mein udaasi chhupi thi.
Sikandar ne samajh kar kaha:
"Toh tumhe meri jawab pehle se hi maloom tha na?"
Usne yaad kiya ke us raat jab woh werewolf bana tha, uska aur Rosie ka takraar hua tha. Lekin akhir mein jab usne final blow maarna tha, usne apne aap ko roka aur khidki se bahar chala gaya.
Rosie ki muskaan smirk mein badal gayi:
"Haan, us raat tumne mujhe khatam karne ke bajaye khidki se chhalang laga li thi."
Sikandar ne sar pakad kar kaha:
"Matlab tum mujhe scapegoat bana rahi ho?"
Rosie ne masoomiyat se muskuraya aur sar hila diya.
Sikandar ne gahri saans li:
"Aur tumhe kaise yaqeen hai main tumhari baat maan jaunga?"
Rosie ne shaitani muskaan ke saath kaha:
"Areh, mera moonh thoda khujla raha hai… kya main Papa ko bata doon ke us raat tum kitne khatarnak thay? Yeh tumhare liye masla nahi ban jayega?"
Sikandar ne gusse se ungli uski taraf uthai:
"Tum…!" phir bhaari saans lekar apna gussa dabaaya aur kaha, "Tumhe pata hai main tumse chutkara le sakta hoon, right?"
Rosie aram se uth kar uske qareeb aayi, uske kan ke paas jhuki aur dheeme se kaha:
"Kar sakte ho… lekin karoge nahi." Phir usne wink karte hue khelon bhare lehje mein kaha:
"Waise, main buri girlfriend nahi banungi. Don’t worry."
Sikandar ne dil hi dil mein socha: "Yeh larki… uff, chhoro. Usne meri identity chupayi hai, is favor ka qarz ada kar leta hoon."
Rosie ne apni chhoti ungli aage barhayi:
"Deal?"
Sikandar ne thaki hui saans li aur kaha:
"Fine."
Phir usne bhi apni chhoti ungli uthai aur Rosie ke saath lock kar li.
Before Rosie can celebrate, Sikandar said,
"Galat fehmi mat lena, main yeh sab sirf tumhara ehsaan chukane ke liye kar raha hoon."
Rosie ne shararat bhari muskaan ke saath kaha,
"Oh really sweetheart? Tumhari aankhein toh meri body par chipki hui thi jab se tum idhar aaye ho."
Sikandar halki si muskaan ke saath bola,
"Aray yaar, itna toh maaf kar do, main bhi ek normal ladka hoon."
Ye keh kar usne khana khana shuru kiya jo abhi abhi uske samne aaya tha.
Rosie hans kar boli,
"Chinta mat karo, agar tumne mujhe waqai madad ki toh shayad tum sirf dekhne se zyada bhi kar sako."
Ye keh kar usne Sikandar ka bazu zor se hug kar liya.
Sikandar ne foran apna haath jhatak kar alag kiya, lekin Rosie meethi si hasi hassi.
Khana khatam karne ke baad dono restaurant se bahar nikal gaye.
Rosie abhi bhi uske bazu ko zor se hug kiye hue thi jaise ek koala chipak jata hai, aur Sikandar bas gehri saans le kar use karne de raha tha. Usne mana toh nahin kiya…
Lekin door se baithi Adhara ne dono ki baatein saaf saaf sun li thi.
Uski aankhon mein hairani thi,
“Jumped out the window? Monstrous us raat? End her life? Yeh kya kar dala usne?!“
Adhara apne dil mein cheekh uthi.
---
Agla Din
Sikandar subah usual tarah se class ke liye ready hua, casual kapray pehne aur nikal gaya.
Uski routine utni change nahi hui thi — workout aur class hi uska schedule tha.
Lekin farq yeh tha ke ab har dafa jab woh apne kamre se bahar nikalta, Rosie foran uska intezaar kar rahi hoti.
Class 1-B aur 1-C ek line mein nahi the, magar Rosie zidd karti ke woh Sikandar ko chal kar class tak le kar jaye. Uske "na" ka koi matlab hi nahi tha.
Majbooran Sikandar Rosie ke saath saath chalne lagta, lekin usse ye centre of attraction wali feeling pasand nahi aa rahi thi.
Rosie apni class ki sabse pretty ladki thi, aur uske peeche already anek ladke diwane the.
Naturally sabhi ladke Sikandar ko ghoor ghoor kar dekh rahe the:
"Yeh kaun hai jo Rosie ka haath pakad ke chal raha hai?"
"Nahi… meri princess…"
"Life kitni na-insafi hai, ek non-awakened loser ne Rosie ko kaise pa liya?"
Sikandar ne haath se apna chehra pakad kar face-palm kiya.
Woh Rosie ka haath chhudane ki koshish kar raha tha, lekin bekaar.
Apne dil mein socha:
“Shant ho ja Sikandar… yeh ladki thodi crazy hai, agar use mana kiya toh pata nahi kya kar daale.“
Us waqt Rosie achanak ruk gayi, aur bheed ke saamne zor se bol uthi:
"Sun lo sab log! Yeh mera naya boyfriend hai — class 1-C ka student! Agar himmat hai toh ise challenge karo!"
Sikandar ke pairon tale zameen nikal gayi.
Wo jaise bijli karke se strike ho gaya.
Usne foran Rosie's mooh par haath rakha:
"Pagal ho gayi ho tum?! Yeh kya kar rahi ho?!"
Rosie ne uska haath hata kar shokhi se kaha:
"Aray tum mere boyfriend ho, toh tumhe sabit karna padega. Waise bhi, mere parents ko manana asaan ho jayega agar tum famous ho jao."
Phir usne uske kaan ke paas jakar halki si fuskha mari:
"Waise tum toh werewolf ho na, tumhe kuch nahi hoga."
Sikandar uski teasing se tang aa gaya, aur gusse mein class ke andar chala gaya.
Rosie ne glass door ke us paar se use bye kiss kiya aur wink bhi kar diya.
Poore classmates ki nazrein ek saath Sikandar par jam gayi.
Ladkon ki aankhon mein nafrat thi — jaise teer uske seene mein ghus rahe ho.
Rosie apni class ke bawajood poore university mein mashhoor thi — uski khubsurti aur figure ki wajah se.
Sabhi ladke chaahte the woh unki girlfriend bane, chahe juniors ho ya seniors.
Adhara aur Laura ne bhi usse blank expression ke saath dekha, dono ke chehron par udaasi thi.
Sikandar apne dil mein soch raha tha:
“Yeh toh hadh ho gayi! Main low profile rehna chahta hoon… LOW PROFILE!“
Woh so kar Mr. Joseph ka intezaar karne hi wala tha ke class ka darwaza zor se khula, aur chaar ladke gusse mein andar aaye:
"Kaun hai tum mein Sikandar?!"
Sikandar jhatke se uth baitha, usse laga teacher bula raha hai kyunki woh so gaya tha.
Lekin jab usne dekha toh chaar ladke darwaze ke paas khade the, unke chehre par buri niyyat thi.
Sikandar ne andar hi andar khud se mazaak banaya:
“Wah bhai… kya zabardast shuruaat hai Rosie's boyfriend banne ki. Pehla din aur ladke peetne aa gaye. Kya kamaal ki zindagi hone wali hai meri.“
__________
"KAUN HAI TUM MAIN SE SIKANDAR?"
Class 1-C ke students ne apni bhawen tang kar li, unhein bilkul pasand nahi aaya ke char groups ke ladke unki class mai aake hungama kar rahe hain.
Class president, Aldo, jhat se khara ho gaya:
"Samajhte kya ho apne aap ko?! Hamari class mai ghus ke masla khara karoge aur baki students chup bethenge?!"
Ye sun kar un groups ka leader hans pada:
"Main Lucas Platchi ka aadmi hoon, aur tumhari himmat ke tum mujhse upar aawaz uthao?"
Lucas Platchi ka naam sunte hi Aldo ke daant bhinchnay lage, magar woh chehra pher ke chup chap beth gaya.
"Ha! Mujhe bhi pata tha," group leader ne tang karte hue kaha.
Iss dauran Laura aur Adhara ne Sikandar ki taraf dekha jo apna chehra bigaad raha tha jaise kosh regret kar raha ho. Dono larkiyon ne socha: “Lagta hai Sikandar ko Rosie ka boyfriend ban’ne ka faisla bhaari par raha hai.” Ye soch kar dono muskara uthi.
Aur waqai unka guess sahi tha—Sikandar ko bohot regret ho raha tha.
Sigh… kya mujhe waqai in bachon se ladna parega? usne socha. Lekin usi waqt use yaad aaya,
"System, agar main inhein harata hoon to mujhe EXP milega?"
<Yes>
System ne usual cold jawab diya.
Sikandar ke honton par halki muskaan aa gayi:
"Toh Rosie ka scapegoat banna bhi ek blessing in disguise nikla."
Woh uth khara hua, aur foran group ka dhyaan us par jam gaya.
"Main hoon Sikandar. Chalain, bahar chal kar decide karte hain," usne puri himmat se kaha.
Military mai Sikandar hamesha rough style ka aadmi tha. Experienced fighters se lada tha, lekin awakened ke saath kabhi ladai nahi ki. Phir bhi usse lag raha tha ke in bachon se larna uske liye insult hai.
Group leader hans kar bola:
"Ho, bohot himmat hai teri! Class ke samne apni izzat bachane ki koshish kar raha hai? Theek hai, chalo."
Sikandar ne sir hila kar unka peecha kiya.
Woh use ek abandoned corridor mai le gaye jo khaali tha, sirf kuch locked doors dikh rahe the.
Leader ne hasi urate hue kaha:
"Lucas ne kaha tha tujhe pitai karo, lekin woh bohot dayalu hai. Agar tu chahe to mar khaane ke bajaye sirf kapre utar ke uske samne maafi maang le. Kya kehta hai?"
Sikandar ne cheekh ke hansna nahi chaha, sirf apna sar hila kar socha:
"Even military mai aisi bachkani harkate nahi hoti. Kya zamana aa gaya hai!"
Uska calm chehra dekh kar group gusse se bhar gaya.
Leader ne chillate hue kaha:
"Thik hai! Toh tum Rey se samna kar."
Square-faced larka—Rey—aage badha, evil smile ke sath. Uske shareer se bronze roshni phootne lagi, woh apni knuckles crack karke intimidation show kar raha tha. Lekin Sikandar ko yeh sab funny lag raha tha.
System ne Rey ke stats show kiye:
<Rey Blockhead>
Race: Human
Power: Rank 2 Awakened (Early) – Earth Elementalist
Mental: 3
Strength: 8
Agility: 6
Endurance: 4
Intelligence: 10
Stats dekh ke Sikandar hans para.
"Power ke hisaab se main Late Rank 2 Awakened ke barabar hoon."
Rey ne jhat se attack kia, zor ka punch mara. Lekin Sikandar ne asaani se uska haath pakad kar uske sar par thappad jaisa mara.
Uske nazar mai Rey ki moves itni slow thi ke jaise koi Noob Box mai lad raha ho.
Rey gusse mai chillaya:
"Tum non-awakened! Wahin khare raho!"
Sikandar hans pada:
"Main kyun khara rahun tere jaison ke saamne?"
Rey aur gusse mai aaya, dono haathon se zor laga kar neeche ki taraf war kiya. Uske haath mai mitti ka ek dull talwar ban gaya.
BAM!
Talwar Sikandar ke haath ke samne ruk gayi jaise diwaar se takra gayi ho.
Rey hairan reh gaya:
"Kya?! Ek non-awakened ne mera war block kar liya?!"
Sikandar ne uski aankhon mai dekhte hue kaha:
"Tere moves sluggish hain. Matlab tune kabhi proper close-combat training nahi ki. Ek mashwara doon? Agar aise hi raha to supernatural se samna karte hue sabse pehle tu marega."
Aur usne apna jism twist karke Rey ke seene par ek zor ka kick maara.
BAM!
"Whack!" Rey cheekh utha, uske seene ka saara hawa nikal gaya aur woh leader ke pairon ke paas ja gira.
Leader hairan reh gaya. Usne socha tha ke Lucas ka diya hua kaam easy hoga. Lekin yeh "non-awakened trash" itna strong nikle ga, usne kabhi socha bhi nahi tha.
<Defeat Early Rank 2 Awakened – Obtained 150 Exp>
Sikandar notifications parh kar muskuraya,
"Lagta hai logo ko peet’ne se level tez barhta hai… chalo Rosie ke pursuers ka faida uthate hain aur Exp harvest karte hain", usne socha aur ek plan banaya.
Sikandar ne apna jism mod kar teen bache hue ladkon ki taraf dekha,
"Chalo, mera sara din tum logon ke liye free nahi hai."
Group leader gusse se chilaya,
"Tum dono! Jaldi isse maaro!"
Do ladke jinki strength Rey ke barabar thi, foran aage badhe. Unke jism se laal aur neeli roshni (aura) nikli aur dono ne Sikandar par tezi se hamle kiye.
Magar Sikandar ke liye ye attacks kuch bhi nahi the. Wo ek trained close-quarter fighter tha jo veteran soldiers ko bhi takkar de sakta tha. Ye novice students uske liye bachon ka khel the.
Easy to predict, Easy to parry… bas andha dhund jhatke maar rahe hain, usne socha.
Agla pal – Sikandar ne dono ko ek sath mukka mara. Unke chehre par uski mukke lage aur dono wahin gir kar be-hosh ho gaye.
Sikandar ki taqat itni thi ke Laura (jo Early Rank 3 Awakened thi) bhi uske saamne kamzor pad jati thi. To ye ladke to ek mukka bhi bardasht nahi kar paaye.
Group leader ka rang ud gaya. Uski aankhon ke saamne uske teen saathi sirf chand secondon mai dharashai ho gaye.
---
<Defeat Early Rank Two Awakened – 150 Exp>
<Defeat Early Rank Two Awakened – 150 Exp>
---
Sikandar ne leader ki taraf dekha aur system se uska power check kiya:
<Brock Rigen>
Race: Human
Power: Rank Two Awakened (Mid) – Earth Elementalist
Mental: 9
| Strength: 11 |
Agility: 9 |
Endurance: 9 |
Intelligence: 14
"Middle-Rank 2… koi khaas khatra nahi, chalo khatam karte hain", Sikandar ne socha.
Wo bijli ki tarah Brock ke samne pohnch gaya aur seedha uske pait par mukka mara.
"Stone Skin!" Brock chilaya. Uski skin mitti jaisi sakht bhuri ho gayi.
BANG!
Sikandar ka mukka laga, uske haath mein dard to hua par Brock ka bhi haal bura ho gaya.
Sikandar ne observe kiya ke Brock ka sir abhi normal skin par tha, yani wahan guard nahi tha.
Brock ne palat kar attack kiya. Usne apni ability se Sikandar ki right leg ko patharon se jakkar pakad liya aur foran uske chehre par punch maara.
Magar Sikandar ne uska haath pakad liya. Brock poori taqat laga kar bhi usse hilaa nahi saka.
"Agar iski taqat meri barabar hoti to mera paon toot jata… lekin ye mere barabar ka nahi" Sikandar ne socha.
Uski aankhen chamki aur usne Brock ke naak par zor se headbutt maara.
BAM!
Brock ki naak tut gayi, wo dard se chilla kar neeche gir gaya. Khoon behne laga.
Sikandar ne waqt zaya na kiya aur ek aur mukka maar kar usse be-hosh kar diya. Uske training ke mutabiq – rehmat dikhana mana tha.
Usne idhar udhar dekha aur thodi guilt se muskuraya,
"Kya maine zyada kar diya?"
---
<Defeat Middle-Rank Two Awakened – 200 Exp>
<Level Up!>
<All stats +1>
<Obtained 3 Attributable Stats>
---
Sikandar ki muskaan gahan ho gayi. "Sab kuch worth it tha."
Usne foran stats check kiye:
<Stats>
Name: Sikandar Silverstar
Level: 6 (370/800)
Race: Half-Blood (Werewolf)
Full-Moon: 26 Days – Dark Moon
Berserk: 35%
Sanity: 77%
Mental: 14
Strength: 19 (+3)
Agility: 12
Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 0
Attributable Stats: 0
(Average human adults ke stats 5–7 hotay hain)
---
Unconscious ladkon ko chhod kar Sikandar araam se wapas class ki taraf chal pada.
"Ye university frontline ke liye Awakeneds tayar karti hai… students ka apas mai ladna yahan normal hoga", usne socha.
Class mai dakhil hote hi Mr. Joseph ne ghura,
"Kahan se aa rahe ho? Class 5 minute pehle shuru ho chuki hai."
Sikandar ne muskurate hue jhoot bola,
"Sir bathroom gaya tha, pet dard ho raha tha. Dobara nahi hoga."
Mr. Joseph ne hans kar usse warn kiya aur baithne ka ishara diya.
Sikandar apni seat par baitha to dekha ke Adhara uske sath bethi thi.
Wo shaki andaaz mai boli,
"Tumne unhe peeta hai na?"
Sikandar ne be-parwai se kaha,
"Nahi, maine kaha na pet dard tha."
Adhara ne apne aap se sir hila kar kaha,
"Nahi, tumne zaroor peeta hai."
Sikandar ne mehsoos kiya ke uska jhoot kisi kaam ka nahi.
"Maine sirf baat ki thi…", usne dobara jhoot banaya.
Adhara ne phir bhi yakeen na kiya,
"Haan haan, tumne peeta hai."
Sikandar ne use ignore kar diya… tabhi system notification samne aya:
---
<DING!!>
<Quest Completed – Rosie ko user ki identity chhupane par majboor karna>
<Reward: 1000 Exp, 1 Skill Upgrade>
<Level Up!>
<All stats +1>
<Obtained 3 Attributable Stats>
---
Sikandar hairan reh gaya, "Ye quest abhi complete hua… kal Rosie se baat karne ke waqt kyu nahi?"
Phir usse samajh aya, "Ohh, to uss ziddi larki ne ab decide kiya ke meri secret rakhegi… aur ye decision tab aaya jab usne dekha mai un ladko ko hara diya. Annoying girl!"
---
Ajj ke liye itna hi. Apne review zaroor dena. Koi suggestion ho to wobe zaroor dena. Is update ka like target 13.
Nahi to next update 20 August ko ahye ga. Thanks and Good Night.
