Chapter 1: Dhundh Mein Lipte Saaye
Mussoorie ki thand haddiyon ko cheer rahi thi. Sham ke saare panch baje rahe the, par kohra (fog) itna ghana tha ki do kadam aage ka rasta bhi saaf nahi dikh raha tha. Aryan apni purani Jeep se utra aur us "Khamosh Kothi" ke samne khada ho gaya. Ye ghar panch saalon se band tha—bilkul Aryan ke dil ki tarah.
Usne wo bhari chabi ghunmayi aur darwaza ek karvi aawaz ke saath khula. Ghar ke andar ek ajeeb si khamoshi thi, jaise deewarein kuch kehna chahti hon par zubaan nahi thi. Dhool ki ek moti teh har cheez par jami hui thi. Aryan ne ek gehri saans li aur seedha upar ki manzil par gaya.
Wahan ek kamra tha—Uska Kamra.
Panch saal pehle, wo (jis ladki ko Aryan ne apni jaan se zyada chaha tha) bina kisi wajah ke gayab ho gayi thi. Log kehte the wo kisi aur ke saath bhag gayi, kuch kehte the wo mar gayi. Aryan ne sab kuch bhulane ki koshish ki, par aaj wapas aana hi pada.
Usne purani almari ka darwaza khola. Kapdon ke beech ek purani nili diary dabi hui thi. Jaise hi usne use uthaya, uske pannon se ek sukha hua gulab aur ek adhuri chitthi niche giri. Aryan ke haath kaanpne lage. Chitthi par uski wahi purani, sundar hand-writing thi:
"Aryan, agar tum ye padh rahe ho, toh shayad main bahut door ja chuki hoon. Mujhe pata hai tum mujhse nafrat karoge, par mera yakeen karo, maine tumse kabhi jhoot nahi bola. Kuch raaz aise hote hain jo batane se zyada chhupane mein sukoon dete hain. Mere peeche mat aana, kyunki yahan sirf andhera hai..."
Aryan ki aankhon se ek aansu diary par gira. "Tumne alvida bhi nahi kaha tha," usne dhime se kaha. Usne diary ke panna palta, wahan ek tareekh likhi thi: 14th October—Misty Corner Cafe, 9:00 PM. Sach wahi hai.
Aryan ko samajh aa gaya ki ye sirf ek bhagne ki kahani nahi thi. Ye ek saazish thi.