Episode 55
New Problem
Karan ne motay aadmi ki gardan par khanjar rakh diya.
Uski harkat itni tez thi ke mota aadmi react bhi na kar saka.
Karan ki aankhein tez aur chokanni theen.
Usne table par rakhi plate par nazar daali—
aur aglay hi lamhay uske chehray ke ta’assurat badal gaye.
Jo khana mota aadmi kha raha tha,
wo us laash ka gosht tha jo kuch dair pehle phenki gayi thi.
Laash ko chhotay chhotay tukron mein kaat diya gaya tha—
aisa manzar jo kisi bache ke liye bardasht se bahar tha.
Karan ne foran nazar hata li.
Usne motay aadmi ki gardan pakri aur usey zor se side par phenk diya.
BRAK!!
Mota aadmi buri tarah deewar se ja takraya.
Zameen par beth gaya, laachar aur bebas,
uska pait idhar udhar hil raha tha.
Karan ka jism ghussay se ubal raha tha.
Use yaqeen nahi aa raha tha ke uske samne khara insaan
itni gandi harkat kar sakta hai.
Ek insaan ka doosray insaan ko khana—
yeh sirf ghin nahi, balkay wehshat thi.
Aur yeh sab authorities ki aankhon ke neechay ho raha tha.
Karan ne nafrat bhari nazron se usay dekha.
“Bolo.”
BAM!
Karan ne apna paon motay aadmi ki gardan par rakh kar usey zameen se chipka diya.
Uski aankhein baraf ki tarah thandi aur be-ehsaas theen.
“Tum kaun ho, aur Platchi Family mein tumhari position kya hai?”
Yeh sun kar mota aadmi panic mein aa gaya
aur bas Karan ko dekhta reh gaya.
“M-main… uh…”
wo haklane laga.
Phir achanak uski nazar Karan ke peeche gayi—
uski aankhon mein khauf saaf nazar aa raha tha.
Yeh dekhte hi Karan foran jhuk gaya.
SWOOSH!
BRAK!
Lakri ka furniture lohay ke bat se tukray tukray ho gaya.
Ek aadmi Karan ko miss kar ke aage ladkhara gaya.
Karan side mein roll hua aur us aadmi ko dekha.
Isi dauran usne motay aadmi ko ulti karte hue dekha—
jo insani gosht usne khaya tha,
ab khoon ke sath uske munh se bahar aa raha tha.
“Kya isay majboor kiya gaya tha?”
yeh khayal Karan ke zehan mein aaya.
Magar soch ka silsila us waqt toot gaya
jab woh aadmi dobara metal bat le kar
seedha us par jhapat pada.
Us aadmi ka jism laal roshni se chamak raha tha—
yeh wazeh tha ke wo bhi ek Awakened tha.
Karan ne uski kalai pakri aur zor se ghooma di.
Uska chhota jism is waqt darinday jaisi taqat dikha raha tha—
Werewolf banne ka asar poori tarah zahir tha.
Aadmi ki aankhein hairat se phail gayin
jab Karan ne usey zor se zameen par patakh diya.
Magar girte hue us aadmi ne
Karan ki taang par waar kar diya,
aur dono zameen par ja giray.
BAM!
Zameen par ghamsaan ki jang shuru ho gayi.
Karan khanjar se waar karne ki koshish kar raha tha,
jabke woh aadmi puri taqat se
uska haath pakar kar jaan bachane ki koshish kar raha tha.
Dono zameen par idhar udhar roll karte rahe—
taqat lagbhag barabar thi.
Akhir ek lamhay ke liye
Karan ne usay hairat mein daal diya
aur khanjar seedha uske seene mein utaar diya.
“ARGHH!”
aadmi dard se cheekh utha.
Karan ne foran uska munh band kiya
aur doosra waar kar ke
uski zindagi hamesha ke liye khatam kar di.
Wo bhari saans lete hue zameen par gir gaya.
Woh aadmi peak Rank Three Awakened tha,
isi liye jang itni sakht aur thaka dene wali thi.
Khush qismati se usne spells ka use nahi kiya.
Wo hungama nahi chahta tha—
agar authorities ka dhyaan market par chala jata
toh sab ke liye tabahi hoti.
Karan ne kuch dair mein khud ko sambhala
aur phir motay aadmi ki taraf dekha.
Wo abhi bhi ulti kar raha tha,
zameen par khoon ka gaddha ban chuka tha.
Karan khara hua aur uska collar pakar liya.
“Ab jawab do.
Mujhe majboor mat karo ke main tumhein maar doon.”
Zameen par pari laash dekh kar
mota aadmi toot gaya.
“Main… main koi nahi hoon,”
usne larazti awaaz mein kaha.
“Platchi ne mujhe saza di…
kyun ke maine unke warehouse se $1,000 chura liye thay.”
Yeh sun kar Karan ki aankhein phail gayin.
Sirf paison ke liye
kisi insaan ko doosra insaan khilana—
yeh zulm tha, aur hadd se zyada ghinauna.
Ghalat tha woh aadmi,
lekin yeh saza insaniyat se bahar thi.
Karan ne dobara uska collar pakra.
“Front door ke ilawa koi aur rasta hai?”
“Mujhe nahi pata,”
mota aadmi bola.
Jawab na milne par Karan ne jagah ka jaiza liya.
Yeh kamra sirf saza ke liye use hota lag raha tha—
baqi kamray khaali the.
Akhir usne aik juaa khelne ka faisla kiya.
“Is taraf hi hoga.”
Usne deewar par mukka maara—
poori koshish ke sath ke awaaz kam se kam ho.
CRASH!!
Deewar mein surakh ban gaya.
Karan ne motay aadmi ko uthaya
aur foran wahan se nikal gaya.
Kuch dair baad guards andar aaye
aur tabahi dekh kar
baqi logon ko report bhej di.
Karan is waqt rooftop par wapas tha.
Use hairat hui ke
jo andheri taqat use mili thi
wo doosron par bhi asar kar sakti thi—
mota aadmi us andheray mein ghul chuka tha.
Neeche guards galiyoon mein
motay aadmi ko dhoondtay phir rahe thay.
“Mujhe unke warehouse tak le chalo,”
Karan ne hukm diya
aur apne tamam traps samet kar
black bag mein daal liye.
Mota aadmi usay dekh kar bola,
“Tum bohat jawan lagtay ho…
kya tum kisi aur family se taluk rakhte ho?”
Karan ne koi jawab nahi diya.
“Warehouse,”
usne dobara kaha,
uski baat ko bilkul ignore karte hue.
Samajh kar ke Karan jawab nahi dega,
mota aadmi ne sirf sar hila diya
aur usey raasta dikhane laga.
Dono raat ke saayon ki tarah chal pade.
Karan usey uthaye
building se building par chalangain lagata raha—
police aur doosray Awakened se bach kar.
Yahan qanoon tha
ke public jagah par powers use nahi ki ja sakti.
Taqreeban 20 minute ke baad
woh shehri ilaqay se kaafi door
factory zone mein pohanch gaye.
Yahan sirf factories aur warehouses theen.
Kuch mazdoor subah jaldi kaam par aa chuke thay
taake apne ghar walon ke liye rozi kama saken.
Karan ek andheri factory ke paas ruka—
lagta tha ke yeh abhi operate nahi ho rahi,
kyun ke subah hone wali thi.
Uske samne do warehouses theen,
dono bilkul aik jaisi.
“Dahina wala,”
mota aadmi bola,
“Platchi ka inventory wahin hai.”
Karan ne dahina warehouse khola
aur motay aadmi ko side par phenk diya.
Andar bohot se boxes pade thay.
Wo jaise hi aik box check karne laga—
BEEP!!
Achanak poori jagah roshni se bhar gayi.
Jaldi mein Karan ne
peeche rakha hua aik lamba box uthaya.
Yeh doosron se mukhtalif tha—
sirf lakri ka bana hua,
jabke baqi sab metal ke the.
Karan ne aik nazar
kona mein simtay motay aadmi par daali.
Wo pehle hi khaufzada tha,
ab bilkul peela aur kaanpta hua lag raha tha—
jo dekh kar Karan ko thori si reham aa gayi.
Baghair peeche dekhe
Karan warehouse se bahar nikal gaya.
“Isay chhor deta hoon,”
Karan ne socha.
“Platchi ne jis tarah iska haal kiya hai,
yeh ab kuch nahi karega.”
Aur phir wo andheray mein gaib ho gaya۔
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Agli subah…
Sikandar aur Adhara training hall ke andar maujood thay. Dono abhi abhi sparring khatam kar chukay thay, unke jism paseenay se bheegay hue thay.
Ab dono apni apni practice par focus kar rahe thay.
Sikandar ne Adhara ko dekha—uske haath mein dagger tha, aur uski body movement itni smooth aur precise thi ke dekh kar hairani hoti thi.
“Tum dagger ke sath kaafi achi ho gayi ho,” Sikandar bola, “lagta hai Suraj se training li hai?”
Yeh sab tab mumkin hota hai jab koi bohot mehnat kare—aur Adhara ne waqai bohot mehnat ki thi.
Yeh sun kar Adhara halka sa sharma gayi, phir muskurate hue boli,
“Of course. Main tumhari right hand hoon, yaad hai na?”
Uski muskurahat itni garam aur sincere thi ke Sikandar ka dil aik pal ke liye ruk sa gaya. Woh wahi ajeeb si feeling phir se mehsoos karne laga.
Sikandar ki nazar dhundhli si ho gayi jab woh Adhara ko dekhne laga.
Dono is waqt university ke ek private training room mein thay—jo sirf top-rank students ke liye banaya gaya tha. Zyada bada nahi tha, lekin privacy bohot thi.
‘System… yeh feeling mere liye masla ban rahi hai,’ Sikandar ne dil hi dil mein kaha.
‘Kya tum ise hata sakte ho?’
Woh har dafa Adhara ke qareeb aate hi aisa mehsoos nahi karna chahta tha.
Aakhir woh bhi ek mard tha.
Adhara ne notice kiya ke Sikandar ki aankhon ka rang achanak violet ho gaya. Itna achanak ke jaise yeh koi normal baat ho.
Usay hawa mein bhi aik ajeeb si vibration mehsoos hui. Sikandar dheere dheere uski taraf barh raha tha.
Lekin is se pehle ke mahaul aur intense hota—
RING!
Sikandar ka phone baj utha.
Dono ka khayali lamha toot gaya.
Sikandar ne sar jhatka, peeche hata aur call utha li.
“Hello? Kaun bol raha hai?”
“Sikandar… main hoon, woh buddha jisse tum pehle milay thay.”
‘Buddha?’ Sikandar aik pal ke liye confused hua, phir achanak samajh aa gaya.
“Oh! Sir Principal. Aap kaise yaad kiys? Main kya madad kar sakta hoon?”
Phone par maujood shakhs Faraday University ka principal tha—jisse Sikandar wahan se nikalte waqt mila tha.
“Bas yeh poochne ke liye call kiya hai ke tumne apna faisla kar liya ya nahi.”
Sikandar ne aik pal ke liye pause liya. Usne Adhara ki taraf dekha—woh bhi usey dekh rahi thi.
“Ji haan… lekin meri ek choti si condition hai, agar aap sunna chahein.”
Principal hansa.
“Kaho beta. Yeh buddha apni poori koshish karega.”
“Main sirf itna chahta hoon ke mere sath ek aur student ka transfer bhi ho.”
Principal aur zyada khush ho gaya.
“Bilkul! Tumhari recommendation se aane wala student yaqeenan genius hoga. Hum sab arrange kar denge.”
“Phir theek hai. Main aapki offer accept karta hoon. Details thori dair mein bhej deta hoon.”
Call khatam kar ke Sikandar ne Adhara ki taraf dekha aur seedha kaha,
“Apna samaan pack karo. Hum Faraday University shift ho rahe hain.”
Yeh keh kar woh Adhara ke paas se guzarta hua training resume karne laga.
Tab achanak—
“Main Faraday University nahi ja rahi,” Adhara ne sakht lehje mein kaha.
“Main yahin Ochyra University mein rahoon gi.”
Yeh sun kar Sikandar ruk gaya.
Woh palat kar confused nazron se Adhara ko dekhne laga.
Adhara ne pehle kabhi uski baat is tarah nahi kaati thi.
“Kyun?” Sikandar ne poocha.
“Wahan hum zyada tezi se strong ban sakte hain.”
Faraday University ki facilities, benefits aur resources—sab kuch yahan se kai guna behtar tha.
Adhara ne gehri saans li. Uske chehre par uljhan saaf nazar aa rahi thi.
“Main nahi ja rahi,” woh dobara boli.
“Main Ochyra mein hi rahoon gi.”
‘Isay kya ho gaya hai?’ Sikandar ne socha.
Usne Adhara ke chehre ko gaur se dekha.
“Kya tum mujh se kuch chhupa rahi ho?” woh bola.
“Humne wada kiya tha ke hum aik dusre se kuch nahi chhupayenge.”
Adhara foran palat kar boli,
“Tum khud bhi toh nahi bataya ke tumhein Faraday University se approach aayi hai.”
Sikandar lajawab ho gaya.
Woh jaanta tha ke Adhara sahi keh rahi hai, lekin usne socha tha yeh baat itni ahm nahi.
“Tumhein bhi Ochyra University ne approach kiya hai na?” Sikandar ne poocha.
Uski zidd dekh kar Sikandar ko yaqeen ho gaya tha ke zaroor koi wajah hai.
Dono aik dusre ko dekh rahe thay. Tension barhne lagi.
Tabhi—
RING!
Sikandar ka phone dobara baj utha.
Usne aik lamha tak phone nahi uthaya, bas Adhara se aankhon mein aankhein daal kar dekhta raha. Phir call receive ki.
“Kaun hai?”
“SIKANDAR! Bohot bura ho gaya hai!”
Doosri taraf se cheekh sunayi di.
“SURAJ?” Sikandar ghabra gaya.
“Kya hua? Tum par attack hua hai kya?”
Suraj ki awaaz kaanp rahi thi.
“Kaash aisa hota… lekin yeh us se bhi zyada bura hai. Yeh Karan ke baare mein hai.”
“Kya woh pakra gaya?!” Sikandar ne ghabra kar poocha.
“Yeh kaise ho sakta hai?!”
Adhara bhi qareeb aa gayi. Karan ka naam sunte hi uska chehra safed par gaya.
Suraj ne foran mana kiya.
“Nahi… baat woh nahi hai. Masla yeh hai ke—”
Suraj ne jo aage kaha…
Usay sun kar Sikandar ki saans atak gayi.
Uski aankhen phail gayin.
“Woh… KYA?!”
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Us raat…
Ek mota aadmi warehouse se ghabrahat mein bhaag raha tha.
Uski chaal dheemi thi, magar usne apni poori taqat laga di thi — kyun ke usse darr tha ke kahin pakra na jaye.
“Agar Platchi ko pata chal gaya ke maine kya kiya hai… toh main gaya,” mota aadmi soch raha tha.
Woh factory ke gate se bahar nikal chuka tha.
Is waqt uska sirf ek hi khwab tha — is jagah se bhaagna, sab kuch bhool jana, aur kahin door ja kar ek seedhi, aam zindagi jeena.
Platchi ke paisay lena…
Ab usse har lamha us faislay par afsos ho raha tha.
Uski aankhein baar baar idhar-udhar daur rahi thin.
Warehouse ke andar se logon ke qadam aur cheekhein aa rahi thin, lekin woh itna door nikal chuka tha ke unki awaazain us tak saaf nahi pohanch rahi thin.
Agar kisi bhi tarah woh log us tak pohanch gaye…
Toh yaqeenan usay bina reham ke torture karke maar diya jata.
Akhirkaar woh sadak tak pohanch gaya.
Usne ek gaari ko guzarte dekha.
Uske chehray par umeed bhari muskurahat aa gayi.
Usne apni raftaar aur tez kar di — magar cheekhne se pehle hi…
Ek haath ne side se usay pakar liya.
“Aaaah—!”
Mota aadmi hairat aur dard ke sath side par phenk diya gaya.
Zameen par girte hi uske bazu chil gaye, khoon behne laga.
“Damn it! Kaun hai ye—?!”
Woh karahte hue zameen par palta.
Uske samne teen log uski taraf aa rahe thay.
Woh teenon safed uniforms mein thay, jin par sonay ke naqshi kaam tha.
Unki gardan par laal scarf bandha hua tha, aur har ek ke paas chandi ka bana hua weapon tha.
Magar woh aam weapons nahi thay.
Un se itni zabardast taqat nikal rahi thi ke ek normal aadmi bhi usay mehsoos kar sakta tha.
Aur mota aadmi toh phir bhi ek Awakened tha.
Unko dekhte hi uska chehra peela par gaya.
“Tum… tum kaun ho?”
Uski awaaz kaanp rahi thi.
Sirf un teenon ki aankhon se hi woh samajh gaya tha —
Agar uske paas hazaar zindagiyan bhi hotin, tab bhi woh in se panga nahi le sakta tha.
Un mein se ek aurat aage badhi.
Uske lambe, gehre sabz baal thay.
Usne apni heels seedha mote aadmi ke seene par rakh di.
Woh usay aise dekh rahi thi jaise kachra ho.
Uski aankhon mein nafrat saaf nazar aa rahi thi.
Uski cheerti hui nazar ne mote aadmi ka gala sukha diya.
“Honey,”
woh aurat thanday lehje mein boli,
“Tum ne hamara plan barbaad kar diya hai.
Is liye humein tum se kuch sawalat poochne hain…
Aur mujhe umeed hai tum unka sahi jawab doge.”
Side par kharay aadmi ne halka sa hans kar kaha,
“Agar main tumhari jagah hota, toh sach bol deta.
Yeh kaafi khatraak aur bereham hai.”
Yeh sunte hi mota aadmi samajh gaya —
Chahe woh bhi ek Awakened hi kyun na ho…
Is dafa bhaagna mumkin nahi.
“Main buri tarah phans chuka hoon,”
usne dil hi dil mein kaha.
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Dudri traf
Sikandar apne ghar mein tez qadmon se ghus aaya.
Uske peeche Adhara thi — bilkul be-khabar ke asal masla kya hai.
“Woh kahan hai?!”
Sikandar ne gusse aur pareshani ke sath idhar-udhar dekhte hue kaha.
Suraj aage badha, uske sath Karan khara tha.
Karan ka sar neeche jhuka hua tha.
Sikandar ne Karan ko ghoora.
Uski aankhon mein gussa tha — magar woh jaanta tha ke is mein uski apni bhi ghalti thi.
“Suraj ne tumhein tumhara objective nahi bataya tha?
Phir tum ne contact kyun kiya?!”
Sikandar ne sakht lehje mein kaha.
“Woh best mauqa tha sneak in karne ka,”
Karan ne apna difa kiya.
“Aur isi wajah se mujhe unke warehouse ka pata bhi chala.”
Magar Sikandar ki nazar ke neeche woh apna sar upar nahi utha saka.
Haalat ko sambhalte hue Suraj aage aaya.
“Chalo, doosre kamray mein chalte hain,”
usne kaha.
“Cheez wahin rakhi hai.”
Suraj aur Sikandar doosre kamray mein chale gaye.
Kamray ke beech mein ek lamba lakri ka box rakha tha.
Dekhne mein bilkul aam sa.
Suraj ne sir se ishara kiya, jaise keh raha ho:
Khud dekh lo.
Sikandar ahista ahista box ke paas gaya.
Usse khud nahi pata tha ke woh andar kya dekhne wala hai.
Usne haath barhaya…
Aur box ka dhakkan khol diya.
Thud!
Dhakkan zameen par gir gaya.
Sikandar ki aankhein phail gayin.
Woh hairani se apna chehra haathon mein chhupa leta hai, phir Suraj ko be-yaqeen si nazar se dekhta hai.
“Andar teen bohot high-ranking Wind Spellbooks hain,”
Suraj ne wazeh kiya.
“Ek offensive, ek defensive…
Aur teesri ek bohot zyada powerful enhancement spell.”
Box ke andar na sirf qeemti spellbooks thay,
balkeh unke sath kuch khaas stones bhi thay.
Yeh log jackpot maar chuke thay.
Magar phir bhi…
Dono ke chehray sanjeeda thay.
Sikandar gehri soch mein neeche dekhta hai.
Suraj ne dheemi awaaz mein kaha,
“Tum samajh rahe ho iska matlab kya hai, na?”
“Warehouse ke itne saman mein se…
Karan ko yahi cheez uthani thi,”
Sikandar ne ghusse aur thakan ke sath kaha.
“Lagta hai ek aur bara masla
meri zindagi mein aa gira hai.”
Sikandar ne system ke zariye spellbooks aur stone dono ko dobara check kiya, aur yeh baat bilkul sach nikli.
Yeh teeno behad taqatwar Wind Element spellbooks the. Inhein seekhne ke liye kam az kam Rank Seven Awakened hona zaroori tha.
Suraj deewar ke saath tek laga kar khara ho gaya, uske chehre par sakht aur pareshaan expression tha.
“We have to give it back.”
“WAPAS kaise?!” Sikandar gusse se chilla utha, uske jazbaat control se bahar ho rahe the.
“Wo warehouse ab logon se bhara hoga jo is cheez ko dhoondh rahe honge!”
Uske paas pehle hi bohot maslay thay, aur ab ek naya museebat uske sir par aa gira tha.
Aur yeh museebat choti nahi… bilkul tabah kun thi.
Suraj ne Sikandar ko gaur se dekha aur bola,
“Hum bas box ko Platchi market ke qareeb chhor dete hain. Wo khud use dhoondh lenge, aur sab kuch normal ho jayega.”
Yeh sun kar Sikandar ne haath jhatka aur balcony ki taraf chal diya.
Use thandi hawa chahiye thi, khud ko sambhalne ke liye.
‘Yeh emergency hai… humein kya karna chahiye?’ Sikandar ne bhari saans lete hue socha.
Box ke andar jo tha, wo teen aisi wind spellbooks the jo sirf Rank Seven se upar walay hi use kar sakte thay.
Platchi family rankings mein sirf 25th number par thi.
Unka leader, Duncan Platchi, khud ek Rank Seven powerhouse tha.
Magar Duncan Fire Elementalist tha.
Iska matlab saaf tha — yeh spellbooks Platchi ke liye nahi thi.
Yeh box kisi aur ke liye tha… aur wo “koi aur” yaqeenan bohot hi powerful log thay.
Platchi kabhi bhi itni qeemti cheez market mein openly nahi laate. Agar aisa karte, toh bohot si forces un par toot parti.
Isliye Sikandar ko poora yaqeen tha ke Platchi sirf courier ka kaam kar rahe thay — lowkey rehne ke liye.
Is sab ke peeche koi Platchi se bhi zyada powerful family thi.
Aur Sikandar ki current condition mein, wo Platchi se deal karne mein hi mushkil mehsoos kar raha tha…
Unse bhi zyada powerful family ka sochna bhi namumkin tha.
Sikandar balcony ke floor par baith gaya, bhari paishani ke saath gehri soch mein doob gaya.
Takreeban das minute baad, Adhara balcony mein aayi aur Sikandar ko floor par baitha hua dekha.
“Sikandar…” usne ahista se pukara.
Sikandar ne palat kar use dekha, aankhon mein sawal tha.
Adhara uske paas aa kar baith gayi.
“Kya hua? Kya Karan ne kuch aisa kar diya jo tumhein pareshaan kar raha hai?”
“Usne ghalat fucking box utha liya!” Sikandar gusse se bola.
“Mission ke sirf ek din ke andar! SIRF EK DIN! Aur itni bari ghalti kar di!”
Situation us par haavi hoti ja rahi thi.
Adhara ne Sikandar ke galay mein bahein daal di, seedha uski aankhon mein dekhte hue uski god mein baith gayi.
“Calm down… mujhe batao, itna bura kya ho gaya hai?”
Sikandar ne shuru se le kar aakhir tak Karan ki har ghalti use bata di.
Adhara ki aankhein hairat se phail gayin.
“Agar unhein pata chal gaya ke box hum ne liya hai, toh hum khatam ho jayenge,” Sikandar ne bhari awaaz mein kaha.
“Wo hum se bohot zyada powerful hain.”
Usne gehri saans li, khud ko sambhalne ki koshish ki.
Tab Adhara boli,
“Toh phir box ko us jagah rakh dete hain… jahan Ogre rehta hai.”
Sikandar ki aankhein achanak chamak uthi.
“Cluster Domain…!”
“Yeh acha idea hai,” usne kaha. “Is se humein sochne ka waqt mil jayega.”
Wo turant ghar ke andar gaya.
Andar Karan kursi par baitha hua tha.
Uske honton ke paas khoon ka halka sa nishan tha.
Sikandar samajh gaya… Suraj ne phir se saza di hai.
Sikandar ne Adhara se kaha,
“Garam pani mein towel bhigo kar lao.”
Ab Sikandar ka gussa kaafi had tak shaant ho chuka tha.
“Hey… theek ho?” usne Karan se poocha.
Karan ne nazar uthayi, phir sharam aur guilt ke saath chehra ghooma liya.
Sikandar uske samne ghutnon ke bal baith gaya. Adhara ne towel uske haath mein thama diya.
Usne naram andaaz mein Karan ke chehre se khoon saaf kiya.
“Yeh meri ghalti hai ke main ne tumhein jaldi mein mission par bheja,” Sikandar bola.
“Isliye khud ko doshi mat samjho.”
Yeh sunte hi Karan ki aankhon mein roshni aa gayi.
“Mujhe batao,” Sikandar ne poocha,
“kya kisi ne tumhein box uthate hue dekha?”
Karan ne poori kahani sunayi.
Market mein usne ek aadmi dekha jo Platchi ke khilaaf jurm karne ki wajah se qaid tha.
Usne guard ko maar kar use bahar nikala.
Phir interrogation ke dauran us aadmi ne warehouse ka rasta bataya.
Lekin jaise hi Karan wahan pohncha, alarm baj gaya.
Majbooran usne paas mein pada hua wooden box utha liya.
Suraj aur Adhara khamoshi se sun rahe thay.
Ryze doosre kamray mein tha, use is maamlay se door rakha gaya tha.
“Us aadmi ko maara?” Sikandar ne poocha.
Karan ne sar hila kar mana kar diya.
“Wo bohot pitiful lag raha tha…”
Sikandar ne ahista se sar hila diya.
“Wo Platchi se nafrat karta hai,” Karan bola.
“Wo kabhi unhein nahi batayega.”
Suraj beech mein bola,
“Lekin uska ghaib hona aur tumhara mission aik hi waqt par hua. Wo shuba ke tehat zaroor aayega.”
“Agar torture hua, toh wo sab ugal dega,” Sikandar ne kaha.
“Aur agar nahi bhi, doosri forces us tak pohanch jayengi.”
Karan chup ho gaya.
Wo samajh gaya ke use sikhaya ja raha hai.
Sikandar ne uske haath dekhe — bilkul steady.
“Tumhara haath kaanp nahi raha… jab ke tum ne kal hi aik aur insaan maara hai.”
Yeh baat Karan ko hila kar rakh gayi.
“Isliye main kabhi kabhi be-rahm hota hoon,” Sikandar bola.
“Agar tum nahi chahte ke tum kisi ko maaro, toh phir doosron ko apni problems mein mat ghaseeto.”
Karan ne sar jhuka liya.
Darwaze se nikalte hue Sikandar ne sirf itna kaha:
“Killing mere zimmedari hai.”
_ _ _
Ghar se nikalte hue,
Sikandar ne Adhara aur Suraj se kaha,
“Suraj, mujhe tum se ek kaam chahiye. Tum Emham Forest jao, bilkul us jagah par jahan main tumhein guide karunga.”
Us ne Suraj ko Cluster Domain ke baare mein bataya aur saath hi yeh bhi kaha ke yeh ek secret jagah hai.
Yeh sab sun kar Suraj ne koi sawal nahi kiya. Uska Sikandar par poora bharosa tha, chahe uska faisla acha ho ya bura.
Sikandar ko laga ke khud wahan jana us ke liye theek nahi hoga, kyun ke uska chehra bohot log jaante hain.
Suraj ke muqable mein, woh Faraday University se tha, is ilaqe mein zyada log usse nahi pehchante thay.
Phir Sikandar ne kaha,
“Adhara, tum mere saath chalogi. Humein yeh pata lagana hai ke hum kis ke saath deal kar rahe hain.”
Lakri ke box ke andar jo cheezein thin, unse Sikandar ko ek important lead mili thi.
Woh powerful spellbooks sirf Wind Elementalist ke liye the. Is ka matlab tha ke jis family ka haath is mein hai, woh Wind Element-based hogi aur us mein kai powerful Awakened honge.
Suraj ne kaha,
“Agar Wind-based families dhoondh rahe ho, toh internet par search kar lo. Yeh families kaafi famous hoti hain, asaani se shortlist ho jayengi.”
Yeh sun kar Sikandar ne sar hila diya.
Lekin jab Suraj box ke saath nikalne laga, Sikandar ne use roka,
“Suraj, ehtiyaat se. Ho sakta hai unhein pata chal gaya ho ke hum hi chori ke peeche hain.”
Agar mota admi sach mein unke dushmanon ke haath lag chuka hai, toh woh uski saari details ugal dega.
Karan ka libaas poora black tha, chehra black mask se dhaka hua, sirf aankhein nazar aati thin.
Agar koi aisa Awakened hua jo trace kar sakta ho, toh woh log jaldi hi unke peeche honge.
Suraj ne sir hilaaya. Usne lakri ka box apni black bag mein rakha — wahi bag jismein woh apna uniform rakhta tha — aur phir Emham Forest ki taraf rawana ho gaya.
Suraj ke jaane ke baad,
Adhara ghar ke andar gayi aur Karan ko strictly mana kar diya ke woh bahar na nikle.
Usne Karan ko contact lenses di jo Sikandar ne system se khareedi thin.
Yeh bohot risky tha ke woh aise hi ghoomta phire.
Kai Awakened ki perception bohot tez hoti hai, aur Karan ki aankhein usse turant expose kar sakti thin.
Is liye Sikandar ne do turquoise contact lenses li thin taake Karan ki aankhon ka rang change ho jaye.
Yeh kam az kam ek extra layer of caution thi.
Iske baad, Sikandar aur Adhara university library chale gaye.
Unhone ek quiet room liya aur research shuru kar di.
Unhein jaldi se jaldi pata lagana tha ke asli dushman kaun hai.
Sikandar ne kaha,
“Yahan 7 families hain jo candidates ho sakti hain — Granlor, Atkins, Seaton, Shelford, Reed aur Quentin family.”
Usne online rankings dekhi thin, yeh sab Wind Element affinity wali families thi.
Adhara ne poocha,
“Un mein se kaun si family ke paas sab se zyada powerful Awakened hain?”
Sikandar list ko dekhte hue bola,
“Is data ke mutabiq, Atkins, Reed aur Granlor ke paas Rank 7 se upar ke sab se zyada Awakened hain. Decision in teen ke beech hoga.”
Atkins, Reed aur Granlor ki rankings 9, 11 aur 17 thi.
Yeh teenon, Platchi family (Rank 25) se kaafi zyada powerful thi.
Is ka matlab spellbooks ka asal malik in teen mein se koi ek tha.
Adhara ne pareshani se poocha,
“Lekin humein kaise pata chalega ke asal mein kaun si family involved hai?”
Sikandar bhi uljhan mein tha.
Use nahi pata tha ke kaun si family Platchi ko courier ke taur par use karegi.
‘Spellbooks bilkul naye lagte hain… iska matlab hai ke koi naya pioneer is ke peeche hai,’ Sikandar ne socha.
Usne system ki notifications dubara open ki, jo pehle usne sirf surface level par check ki thi.
Yeh ek supreme magic spellbook hai jo sirf Rank 7 ya us se upar ke Wind Elementalist seekh sakte hain.
Yeh ek storm domain create karta hai jo caster ke stats ko multiple times enhance karta hai.
Saath hi, yeh caster ko domain ke andar teleport hone aur apne jism ko hawa mein tabdeel karne ki salahiyat deta hai.
Yeh parh kar Sikandar ke chehre par gheri lakeer aa gayi.
Spellbook mein maker ka naam likha hi nahi tha.
Usne foran Adhara se kaha ke Suraj ko call kare aur pooche ke box ke andar koi aur clue hai ya nahi.
Phone par Adhara ne kaha,
“Suraj, kya tum spell ka pioneer dekh sakte ho?”
Suraj ne dheemi awaaz mein jawab diya,
“Abhi? Main public space mein hoon.”
“Haan, abhi chahiye,” Adhara ne foran kaha.
Thori der baad Suraj ne phone par kaha,
“Naam hai… Shane Thompson.”
Usne bataya ke yeh naam spellbook mein nahi, balkay box ke andar ek black paper par likha hua tha.
Yeh baat use bhi ajeeb lagi.
Yeh sunte hi Adhara ne call kaat di aur Sikandar ko naam bata diya.
Sikandar ne internet search ki — lekin Shane Thompson ka koi record nahi mila.
Woh thak kar kursi par dheela par gaya.
‘Yeh info internet par milne wali nahi,’ usne socha.
Adhara bhi fail ho gayi.
Dono gehri soch mein doob gaye.
Aakhir Sikandar ne apna sar pakra aur kaha,
“Mujhe majbooran us se madad leni hogi…”
Usne ek number dial kiya.
Ring…
Ring…
Do teen rings ke baad awaaz aayi,
“Sikandar, kya baat hai? Kya abhi move in karna chahte ho?”
“Sir Principal, mujhe ek favor chahiye. Main yeh qarz zaroor chukaunga,” Sikandar ne sanjeedgi se kaha.
Principal muskuraya,
“Favor ki baat kyun? Batao kya chahiye.”
“Main ek pioneer ke baare mein maloomat chahata hoon… Shane Thompson,” Sikandar ne kaha.
Dusri taraf kuch lamhon ki khamoshi hui, phir awaaz aayi,
“Shane Thompson… huh.”
.
.
.
.
Udhar…
Suraj train mein baitha hua tha.
Usne apni car use nahi ki, kyun ke woh track ho sakti thi.
Is liye usne train ka rasta chuna.
Emham Forest zyada door nahi tha, aur train zyada safe thi.
Suraj ne denim jacket pehni hui thi, white T-shirt ke saath.
Sar par black cap aur haath mein ek black bag.
Bag aam lag raha tha, lekin agar kisi ko uske andar ka pata chal jata, toh khoon ugal deta.
Train logon se bhari hui thi.
Suraj ne jaan bujh kar economic class li thi — crowd uski shield tha.
Koi Awakened itni bheer mein attack karne ki himmat nahi karta.
UWO is cheez ko bilkul tolerate nahi karta.
Train chal padi.
Suraj ne apni cap theek ki…
Tabhi use ehsaas hua ke koi usse bohot der se dekh raha hai.
Usne chori chhupi us aadmi ki taraf dekha — aur woh foran apna chehra ghuma gaya.
‘Kya yeh log itni jaldi trace kar gaye?’ Suraj ne socha.
Jaise hi train ruki, log utarne lage.
Bilkul usi lamhe, Suraj jhuk kar bheer ke saath bahar nikal gaya.
Uska dil tez dhadak raha tha.
Phir use phir se wohi ehsaas hua…
Woh aadmi uska peecha kar raha tha.
Suraj logon ke darmiyan jhuk kar chalne laga.
Kuch log ajeeb nazron se dekhne lage.
Tabhi uski nazar ek clothes stall par padi…
Bina stall keeper ke dekhe, us ne aik black hoodie uthai aur foran pehan li.
Apni denim jacket us ne seedha kachray ke dabay mein phenk di aur black hoodie pehan li. Us ki movement itni smooth thi ke aas paas kisi ko bhi shak tak na hua.
Abhi wo seedha khara hi tha ke char log stall ke paas aa gaye aur idhar-udhar dekhne lage.
Suraj ne yeh sab dekh liya. Us ne foran apni cap neeche kheench li aur bilkul normal andaaz mein wahan se chal para.
“In ki tadaad aik se zyada hai… mujhe yahan se jaldi nikalna hoga,” us ne dil mein socha.
Us ke baad wo seedha Emham Forest ki taraf chal diya.
Forest ke entrance par security ne use roka aur check kiya ke wo Awakened hai ya nahi. Suraj ne apni aag ki powers dikha kar tasdeeq karwai, phir andar chalne laga.
Tabhi peeche se awaaz aayi,
“Hey tum, aik minute ruko!”
Suraj ne aahista se peechay mur kar dekha aur bilkul pur-sukoon lehje mein bola,
“Kya koi masla hai?”
Wo bilkul laid-back rehne ki koshish kar raha tha. Chehre par masoom si muskurahat thi jab wo us security guard ki taraf dekh raha tha jo us ki taraf aa raha tha.
Guard ne sawal kiya,
“Bag mein kya hai?”
Suraj ne sakoon se jawab diya,
“Bag? Mera weapon hai.”
Us ke chehre par panic ka aik nishan tak nahi tha.
Yeh sun kar guard ne aankhen tang ki aur bola,
“Dikhao.”
Suraj ne foran bag neeche rakha aur khol diya.
Sar neeche jhukate hi, aik hi pal mein us ka chehra brutal ho gaya, lekin sirf aik lamhe ke liye.
Bag ke andar aik lakri ka dabba tha. Guard ne isay dekh kar bhonwen chadha li aur apni side par rakhi gun ko pakar liya.
Suraj ke haath bilkul dheeme thay jab us ne lakri ke dabbe ka dhakkan khola.
Guard ka dil tez dharakne laga…
Aur phir dabba khula—
Andar do surkh daggers thay jo halki si laal roshni chhor rahe thay.
“Bas mera weapon hi hai,” Suraj ne kaha aur daggers bahar nikaal liye.
Yeh dekh kar guard ne sakoon ka saans li aur bola,
“Maafi chahte hain, aap ja sakte hain.”
Suraj ne muskurate hue jawab diya,
“Koi baat nahi, acha kaam jaari rakhein.”
Asal mein spellbooks Suraj ne pehle hi lakri ke dabbe ke neeche chupa di thi. Ye sirf aik ehtiyaat thi—agar kabhi kisi ko bag dikhaana par jaye to.
Khair, wo security ko dhoka dene mein kamyab ho gaya.
Wo andar Emham Forest mein chala gaya. Us ke dimagh mein Sikandar ke alfaaz goonj rahe thay:
“Tooti hui darakht ke beech aik khokhla suraakh, jo do barray pathron ke darmiyan daba hua hai.”
Suraj ne idhar-udhar dekha aur us ki nazar do bohat baray boulders par parhi.
Yeh dekh kar us ke chehre par khushi aa gayi aur wo seedha un ki taraf daura—
Lekin achanak,
BAM!
Daayi taraf se goli ki awaaz aayi. Suraj ne beech mein hi apni trajectory badal li. Us ke reflexes bohat tez thay, wo goli se bach gaya.
Agle hi lamhe, char log aik dum saamne aa gaye—
Ye wohi char log thay jo pehle train mein us ka peecha kar rahe thay.
Suraj un ke chehre pehchan chuka tha.
Samne khara shakhs muskuraya aur bola,
“Aakhir kaar tum mil hi gaye. Maan’na parega, tum kaafi tez ho… hum tumhein lagbhag kho hi chuke thay.”
Suraj ne sab ko scan kiya. Jo bol raha tha wo sab se taqatwar lag raha tha.
Us ke jism se nikalti aura dekh kar Suraj samajh gaya—
Rank Five Awakened.
“Main phans chuka hoon… mujhe us suraakh tak pohanchna hi hoga,” Suraj ne dil mein socha.
Us ki nazar baar baar us khokhle suraakh ki taraf ja rahi thi jiska zikar Sikandar ne kiya tha.
Sikandar ne kaha tha ke agar wo us suraakh ke andar chala gaya, to wo mehfooz ho jayega. Wo jagah kisi ko bhi us tak pohanchne se rok sakti thi.
Leader ne Suraj ki nazar dekh li aur hansi ke saath bola,
“Bhaagne ka soch rahe ho?”
Suraj ne us ki baat ko nazarandaz karte hue poocha,
“Tum log ho kaun?”
Leader ki muskurahat aur gehri ho gayi,
“Hum tumhein pakarne aaye hain. Tumhein istemal kar ke Sikandar ko bahar laayenge… aur phir use maar denge.”
“Toh yeh spellbooks ke peechay nahi hain…” Suraj ne socha.
Us ke dil mein khauf baith gaya ke kahin yeh log kisi powerful family se na hon. Agar aisa hua, to us ke liye bachna mushkil ho jaye ga.
Leader ne baqi teen ko ishara kiya,
“Pakro ise.”
Suraj ne aik bhi pal zaya nahi kiya.
Us ka jism aag se bhar gaya, muscles ubhar aaye. Wo poori taqat se us suraakh ki taraf bhaagna chahta tha—
Lekin teen log pal bhar mein hi us ke bilkul qareeb aa gaye.
Tabhi,
ROOOAAAR!!!
BOOOOM!!
Achanak aik bhari club ke waar se wo teenon hawa mein uchhal kar door ja gire. Sab kuch itna tez hua ke unhein react karne ka mauqa hi nahi mila.
Suraj ki aankhen hairat se phail gayin.
Us ne saamne dekha aur dil mein kaha,
“Us ne jhoot nahi bola… lekin yeh creature use mila kaise?”
_ _ _
Aaj ke liye itnah hi. I hope ye episode be aap sub ko pasind ahye gah
Mai chahta hun ke story ko jaldi jaldi post kiya karon. 1 2 din bad update de diya karon.
Kyo ke in dinu mai free hota. Is liye target be zada nahi deta.
But lagta hai story itni achi nahi ke target complete ho.
Agir story achi nahi lag rahi to btao mai stoey mai changes kar deta hun.
Apne suggestions diya karo yar. Agir koi problem hai story mai to mai wo thik karta.
Baki target is bar be 50.
Nahi to 30 December ko update ahye gah.
Baki bane rahiye sath milte hai next episode mai tab tak ke liye.
Thanks and Bye..
