Raat ka waqt tha. Barish halki halki gir rahi thi, jaise shehar ke purane zakhmon ko dhone ki koshish kar rahi ho. Ali apni gaari se utra aur samne kharay purane banglay ko dekha. Deewarain maili, khirkiyan tooti hui, aur darwazay par zung laga hua tala.
Yahi wo jagah thi jahan 15 saal pehle uski behan Sara achanak gaib ho gayi thi.
Police ne case band kar diya tha. Logon ne keh diya tha ke Sara bhaag gayi hogi. Magar Ali jaanta tha — Sara kabhi bhaag nahi sakti thi.
Aaj, 15 saal baad, Ali wapas aaya tha… kyun ke usey ek letter mila tha.
Sirf teen jumlay likhay thay:
"Sara zinda hai.
Agar sach chahte ho,
to Aakhri Darwazay tak aao."
Letter par koi naam nahi tha. Sirf ek nishan — ek chhota sa circle, jiske beech ek seedhi lakeer.
Ali ne deep saans li aur banglay ke darwazay ko dhakka diya. Darwaza cheekhta hua khul gaya. Andar andhera tha, aur hawa mein nami aur purani cheezon ki boo.
"Hello?" Ali ne awaaz di.
Koi jawab nahi aaya.
Wo torch jalata hua andar chala gaya. Hall mein purane furniture par safed chadarain padi hui theen. Zameen par dhool ke nishan… jaise koi haal hi mein yahan se guzra ho.
Mara dil tez dhadakne laga.
Usne seedhiyan dekheen jo upar ja rahi theen. Aur phir uski nazar deewar par lagi ek cheez par gayi.