Aaj tak iska exact jawab mere paas nahi hai.
Na woh meri classmate thi,
na bachpan ki dost…
woh bas ek din achanak meri life mein aa gayi—
jaise kisi story ka woh character,
jiska entry pehle se likha hota hai.
Maine use pehli baar library mein dekha.
Corner mein baithi thi… ek book ke saath,
par uski aankhen book nahi, kisi aur hi duniya ko padh rahi thi.
Usme kuch alag tha…
na woh zyada bolti thi,
na bina wajah hansti thi…
phir bhi, use dekh ke ajeeb sa sukoon milta tha.
Maine khud se poocha—
"Main use baar-baar kyun dekh raha hoon?"
Dil ne dheere se answer diya—
"Kyuki ye shuruaat hai…"
Kuch din tak main bas use door se dekhta raha.
Woh roz aati… same jagah baithti…
aur bina kisi ko notice kiye chali jaati.
Phir ek din himmat karke main uske paas gaya…
aur bas itna kaha—
"Tum roz yahan aati ho?"
Woh thodi si chauk gayi…
phir halka sa smile karke boli—
"Shayad… aadat hai."
Bas…
us ek smile ne sab kuch change kar diya.
Us din ke baad,
library sirf padhne ki jagah nahi rahi—
woh meri duniya ban gayi… kyuki woh wahan thi.
Dheere dheere hum baat karne lage—
pehle books ke baare mein,
phir life ke baare mein…
aur phir, ek dusre ke baare mein.
Mujhe nahi pata main use kab pasand karne laga…
par itna zaroor pata tha—
Ab uske bina sab adhura lagta hai.
Uske saath waqt ruk jaata tha…
aur uske bina, sab kuch khali.
Par ek sawal ab bhi baaki tha—
"Woh aakhir hai kaun…?" 💫