The Echo of Silence
Subah ki halki dhoop khidki se kamre ke andar aa rahi thi. Kamra zyada bada nahi tha, lekin saaf aur aaramdayak tha. Ek kone me simple sa single bed rakha hua tha, jis par safed chadar thodi si sikudi hui padi thi. Bed ke bilkul paas ek lakdi ka study table tha. Table par kitaben ek ke upar ek rakhi hui thi, kuch khuli hui aur kuch band. Ek notebook, kuch pens aur ek chhota sa table lamp bhi wahi pada tha.
Kamre ki diwaron par kai anime characters ke posters lage hue the. Kuch posters purane ho chuke the aur unke kone thode mud gaye the, lekin phir bhi unhe dekh kar pata chalta tha ki Arix ko anime dekhna pasand tha. Khidki ke paas rakhe ek chhote se shelf par bhi kuch novels aur manga volumes saji hui thi.
Tabhi alarm ki tez awaaz kamre ki khamoshi ko tod deti hai.
Arix dheere se aankhen kholta hai. Kuch pal tak woh bed par baitha rehta hai, jaise abhi bhi neend aur haqeeqat ke beech kahin khoya hua ho. Uski nazar saamne rakhe study table par padti hai. Kitabon ke dher ko dekh kar woh halki si saans leta hai aur bed se uth kar neeche aa jata hai.
Woh dheere-dheere bathroom ki taraf badhta hai. Bathroom me pahunch kar uski nazar aaine par padti hai. Kuch seconds tak woh khud ko dekhta rehta hai, phir uske chehre par ek halki si muskurahat aa jati hai.
"Ek aur naya din..." woh dheere se khud se kehta hai.
Thande paani se muh dhote hi uski neend poori tarah udd jati hai. Fresh hokar woh naha leta hai aur saaf kapde pehen kar kamre me wapas aata hai. Apna bag check karta hai, zaroori kitaben andar rakhta hai aur phir kitchen ki taraf chala jata hai.
Kitchen me uski maa pehle se hi nashta taiyar kar rahi hoti hain. Table par garam nashta rakha hua tha. Arix chupchaap kursi par baith kar nashta karne lagta hai. Khidki se aati thandi hawa aur subah ki shaanti us pal ko aur sukoon bhara bana rahi thi.
Nashta khatam karne ke baad woh apna bag kandhe par daalta hai. Darwaza khol kar ghar ke bahar nikalta hai.
mausam kaafi suhana tha. Thandi hawa dheere-dheere chal rahi thi aur aasman badalon se halka sa dhaka hua tha. Sadak par zyada bheed nahi thi. Pedon ke patte hawa ke saath hil rahe the aur door kahin pakshiyon ki awaazein sunai de rahi thi.
Arix ek baar aasman ki taraf dekhta hai, phir apne raste par chal padta hai, bina ye jaane ki aaj ka din uski zindagi me kya badlav lane wala hai.
Raste se chalte waqt Arix ki nazar ek chhote se bookstore par padti hai, woh usi taraf chalne lagta hai, bookstore ke andar kadam rakhte hi, woh yaha waha dekhta hai dher saari kitaabe thi, une dekhte hi arix man hi man
“bookstore chota hai par kitni saari nayi kitaabe hai yaha jo mene abhi tak padhi bhi nahi”
Bachapan se uske hath me phone kam kitaabe jaada dikhti thi, comics aur manga padhna bahut pasand tha, shayad isliye uske ghar wale use kuch kehte nahi the.
Store ke andar purani kitabon ki halki si smell faili hui thi, Arix dheere dheere shelves ke beech chalne laga, kabhi kisi comic ko dekhta, kabhi kisi novel ko,Tabhi uski nazar store ke ek kone par padi ek purani diary par jaakar ruk gayi, Diary thodi purani thi, jaise kaafi time se kisi ne use chhua tak na ho, Arix ne use uthaya aur counter par baithi lady se pucha,
“Excuse me… ye diary kiski hai?”
Lady ne diary hath me li dekha aur halka sa soch kar Arix ko batane lagi, kuch hapto se diary yahi padi hai ek ladke ne yaha aa kar rakh di thi aur abhi tak woh is diary ko lene bhi nahi aaya, woh kon tha une nahi pata tha, Arix kuch seconds tak diary ko dekhta raha,
“To… kya main ise le ja sakta hoon?”
Lady muskurayi arix ko diary le jane ke liye de di,
Arix ne diary apne bag me rakhi aur halka sa smile karte hue,
“Thank you…”
Keh ke store se bahar nikal gaya, Arix apni bag ek kandhe pe leke chal raha tha, chalte-chalte
“lagta hai aaj ghar jane me late ho jau ga“
Khud se kehta hai, aur thoda aage chalne lagta hai uski najar ek purane railway station par padhti hai, aas-pass dekhta hai, par puri khali jagah thi, aur thandi hawayein chal rahi thi, Arix thodi der ke liye us jagah ko dekhta hi rahta hai, aur bina kuch bole chalne lagta hai,
Shaam dheere-dheere andhere me ghul rahi thi, Ghar pahunchte hi usne bag sofa par phenka aur seedha apne room me chala gaya,
Kamre me khamoshi thi, Woh bed par baitha aur apne bag se diary nikali,
diary ke cover ko ghurne laga cover par kuch likha tha, arix use padhne ki koshish karta hai par waha Jo likha tha vo mit chukka hota hai,
“chalo ye to samjh nahi aya ki yaha kya likha tha” khud se kehta hai “adar kya likha ho sakta hai ?”
dheere se diary ka pehla panna kholta hai
Pehle panne par sirf ek line likhi hui thi,
“Maine yaadein to kho di…
par meri likhi hui yaadein abhi bhi zinda hain.”
Ye line padhte hi Arix kuch pal ke liye chup sa ho gaya. Agla panna khola aage padhne laga…
Roz wahi safar hota hai. Wahi adhoora shehar.
Wahi ghar lautne ka rasta. Bus ki khidki ke paas baitha main sheeshe par girti baarish ko dekhta hoon. Boondein dheere-dheere phisalte hue neeche gir jaati hain, bilkul waise hi jaise yaadein—jo pakadne ki koshish karo, toh aur tez bhaagti hain.
Shehar peeche chhoot raha hota hai. Ya shayad… main khud se peeche chhoot raha hota hoon. Mujhe nayi cheezein pasand hain… isliye main hamesha bahar dekhta rehta hoon.
Kyunki jab logo ko dekhta hoon, toh chehre kam aur sawal zyada milte hain. Mujhe logo ki baate pasand nahi thi, Unki awaaz me aksar wo nahi hota jo wo kehna chahte hain.
Isliye mujhe akela rehna pasand hai. Sab se door. Kam se kam khamoshi jhoot nahi bolti.
School pahunchta hoon. Class bhari hui hoti hai, par mera bench hamesha khaali lagta hai.
Ladke-ladkiya aas-paas baithe hote hain, par unki hansi, unki baatein, sab kisi aur duniya ki lagti hain. Lunch break me dost baate karte hai plan's bante hai me bench par chup chap baitha hota hu, Koi mere kandhe par haath rakh kar kehta hai,
“Tu hamesha chup kyu rehta hai.?”
Main bas halka sa muskurata hoon. Uski taraf dekhta hu,
“Kabhi-kabhi jagah zyada bolti hain,” main kehta hoon, “aur kuch log… sunne wale hote hain.”
Par kaun samjhe? Kabhi socha hai un logon ka kya hota hai… jo khul kar baat nahi kar paate? Jo har baat bolne se pehle ye sochte hain ki kahin ye bhi bekaar na samjha jaaye.
“Soch rahe hoge… main kaun hoon.?”
Mera naam Ivaan hai. 17 saal ka. Student. Aur shayad… thaka hua.
School ke baad raste se chalte wakt vending machine ke pass ruk jata hu, waha se ek cold drink can kharid ta hu, can ko open kar ke use peene lagta hu, Phir khaali can ko pair se kick karta hoon Can sadak par ludhak jaati, Main ruk jaata hoon. Use utha ke dekhta hoon.
“Meri life bhi is can jaisi ho gayi hai,” main khud se kehta hoon.
“jahan jaana chahiye… wahan ja hi nahi rahi.”
Can ko haath se marod kar dustbin me daal deta hoon. Aur chal padta hu,
pata nahi jindagi ka safar aage ka kaisa hoga.?
Tabhi arix ko room ke bahar se awaaj ati hai
“dinner taiyar hai beta jaldi aa jao”
“are yaar mammy ko bhi abhi bulana tha” Arix khud se kehta hai “chalo baki ka baad me padhu ga”
dairy ko teble par rakh kar dinner karne chale jata hai, dinner karte wakt arix ke papa arix ki taraf dekhte hai,
“kal tumara exam hai yaad hai na” arix ke papa kehte hai. “tayaari to puri kar li hogi ?”
Arix hath me spoon pakde chup chap tha arix ke papa aur mammy dono use dekh rahe the…
“exam…huh,” arix man hi man “mujhe padhai utni khas pasand nahi”
Arix ke papa fir se vahi baat doharate hai
“Hmm..” arix unki taraf dekh kar smile karta huve “maine exam ki puri taiyari kar li hai papa”
Woh ghar walo se jhooth bolta hai, dinner ke baad arix apne room aakar sochta hai.
“kal hi diary ko padhu ga abhi thoda padhai kar leta hu”
aur teble par rakhi diary side me rakh deta hai aur padhai karna shuru kar deta hai
Subh ho jati hai arix padhai karte karte hi teble pe so Gaya tha, uski mammy ki awaaj ati hai, awaaj sun kar arix ki aakhe khul jati hai roj ki tara college Jane ke liye ready ho jata hai.
Breakfast karta hai aur ghar se bahar nikal jata hai, raste se chalte wakt ek ladki aage chalti huve dikhti hai tabhi arix waha se jaldi jaldi aage badhne lagta hai. Us ladki se aage nikal jata hai, Tabhi piche se.
“Hyy… Arix!!”
Peeche se aayi awaaz sun kar Arix ne mud kar dekha.
College ki white shirt aur black skirt pehne ek ladki uski taraf aati hui dikhayi di. Uske chehre par hamesha ki tarah halki si muskurahat thi. Kandhon tak aate baal hawa ke saath hil rahe the.
Woh Anna thi.
Anna class ki un ladkiyon me se thi jo lagbhag sabse baat kar leti thi. Chahe koi naya student ho ya purana, woh har kisi se aasani se ghul-mil jaati thi. Lekin ajeeb baat ye thi ki Arix ke saamne aate hi woh khud thodi shaant ho jaati thi.
“Good morning,” Anna ne uske paas aakar kaha.
Arix ne halka sa smile kiya.
“Morning.”
Dono saath-saath college ki taraf chalne lage.
Kuch der tak sirf hawa ki awaaz aur sadak par chalne ki aahat sunai deti rahi.
“Taiyari kaisi hai?” Anna ne poocha.
“Thik hai.”
“Bas thik hai?”
“Hmm.”
Anna ne sir hila diya.
“Tumse poori baat nikalwana sach me mushkil hai.”
Arix bas halki si muskurahat de deta hai.
Arix aam taur par class me kisi se zyada baat nahi karta tha. Lecture khatam hote hi aksar kitabe padta rahta tha. Lekin Anna un kuch logon me se thi jinse woh bina pareshani ke baat kar leta tha.
“Waise mujhe exam se zyada result se darr lagta hai,” Anna ne aasman ki taraf dekhte hue kaha.
“Pehle exam to de do.”
“tum padhai kam karte ho par tume sab kuch ata hai.”
“shayad hi.”
Is baar Anna hans padi.
College ka gate saamne dikhne laga tha. Campus me aaj aam dinon se zyada bheed thi. Har taraf students notes dekh rahe the aur exam ki baate kar rahe the.
“Chalo, dekhte hain aaj kya hota hai,” Anna ne kaha.
“Hmm.”
Dono classroom me pahunch gaye. Arix ne apna bag desk ke paas rakh diya aur apni seat par baith gaya. Anna bhi apni jagah baith gayi.
Classroom me dheere-dheere sab students aane lage. Exam shuru hone me abhi kuch waqt tha.
Anna ne ek baar apni notebook dekhi, phir piche Arix ki taraf dekha.
“Best of luck.”
Arix ne sirf halka sa sir hila diya.
“Tumhe bhi.”
Class teacher class me aati hai sab students exam ke liye serious hote hai, bs arix ko chhod kar, arix anna ko dekh raha hota hai.
“To…student” teacher kehti hai “mujhe lagta hai sab ne exam ke liye bohat mehnat ki hogi,
Sare students “yes…ma'am” kehte hai.
“All right chalo exam start karte hai.”
“best of luck”
Saare student likhna shuru kar dete hai har koi khush dikh raha hota hai koi man hi man kehta hai
“is sawal ka jawab to mujhe pata hai”
to koi kehta hai
“ye to mere liye easy hai”
sab student khush the. Arix khidki ke bahar dekhte hue man hi man bola,
“Yaar... kitna boring hai ye sab. Exam, homework, test... bas yahi chalta rehta hai.”
Usne gehri saans li.
“Kaash exams ki jagah missions hote. Jaise monsters ko khatam karna, aur unke liye ham jaise students ko bheja jata. Har kisi ki apni ability hoti, apni rank... S Rank, A Rank, B Rank, C Rank. Kitna mast hota na? Roz koi naya adventure, koi naya mission…”
“Huh... aisi cheezein sirf comics aur mangas me hi kyu hoti hain? Real life me bhi thodi interesting ho sakti thi.”
“khair chhodo”
Arix paper likhna shuru karta hai.
anna uski taraf dekhti hai aur anna sochti kisko chhod ne ki baat kar raha hoga, anna fir se paper likhna shuru karti hai.
Exam khatam hone me 15 minute Baki hote hai. Arix, pen ko table par rakh deta hai aur mast silent baith jata hai aur man hi man…
“Huuuh… mujhe pata jitna likha hai utne me to me pass ho hi jauga.”
Paper khatam hone ke baad..
anna arix ke bench ke pass aati hai arix khidki ke bahar dekh raha hota hai hawa ka zoka uske balo ko chuh kar Gujarta hai.
"Kya tum kisi baat se pareshan ho?" Anna ne dheere se poocha.
"Main? Nahi to" Arix halki si muskaan ke saath bola. "Mujhe to lagta hai pareshani tumhare chehre par likhi hui hai."
Anna ne nazrein jhuka li. Usne koi jawab nahi diya aur chupchaap wahan se chal padi.
Arix ne ek gehri saans li.
"Sach mein... ladkiyon ko samajhna kisi monster ko harane se bhi mushkil hai."
Ye sochkar woh ghar ki taraf nikal pada
Ghar pochne ke baad… sidha bag utar kar bed par let jata hai aur upar dekhte huve kuch gun-gunate huve kehta hai
“bs kal ke result ki deri hai mere sar se ye bhi tention dur…”
Arix table ki taraf muh kar ke woh diary ko dekhte huve sochta hai…
“mene jo dairy leke aya hu, wo Banda akhir apni diary bookstore me chhod kyu di?"
us ke man me sawal chalne lagte hai Tabhi phone vibrate karta hai arix jeb se phone nikalta hai.
ek… notification
arix phone khol kar dekhta hai ek massage…
Anna : kya tum free ho kya ham kahi ghumne chale :)
Arix ek dam se uth kar bed par baith jata hai.
Man hi man mere sath ? Ghumane ? Family ke siwa me kabhi kisi ke sath bahar bhi nahi gaya…
Arix : kal ?
Anna : nahi, Sunday ko.
Arix : kaha par ?
Anna : surprise hai.
Arix : mujhe surprise pasand nahi.
Anna : pata hai isliye bas itna bata deti hu waha bheed nahi hoti…
Arix : fir ?
Anna : ek chhota sa waterfall hai, ped-paudhe, thandi hawa aur shanti.
Arix : tume asi jagah kaise pata ?
Anna : bachpan me papa mujhe le jaya karte the, ab jaadya log us jagah ko jante bhi nahi
Arix : hmm…
Anna : aur ha mana mat karna
Arix : itna kyu bol Rahi ho ?
Anna : kyu ki mujhe pata hai tum mana karne wale ho.
Arix : …
Anna : tum college ke baad sidha ghar chale jate ho na kisi party me aate ho na kahi ghumne jate ho :!
Arix : ghar me rahna hi achha lagta hai akele.
Anna : kabhi-kabhi ghar ke bahar ki bhi duniya dekho utni buri nahi hai.
Arix chup ho jata hai phone ki taraf dekhte huve…
man hi man ye mujhe itna achhe se kaise janti hai.
Anna : to final ?
Arix : thik hai… Sunday.
Kuch second tak reply nahi aata.
Anna : sach me ?
Arix : ha…
Anna : screen shot le leti hu. Tum baad me mukar na jana.
Arix : itna bhi bura nahi hu.
Anna : Dekhte hai Sunday ko pata chale ga :)
Arix phone ko side me rakh deta hai.
Aur uski akh lag jati hai…
Agle din college me result lagne wala tha. Subh se har taraf student apne result ko lekar excited aur nervous nazar aa rahe the.
Arix jab college pohuchta hai, tab tak anna pehle hi waha aa chuki thi.
“Good morning arix”
“Morning”
Dono saath me notice board ki taraf badhte hai. Waha students ki kafi bheed lagi hoti hai. Sab apna-apna result dekhne ki koshish kar rahe the…
Anna bheed me apna result dhoodhne lagi, jab ki arix chup-chap list ko dekh raha hota hai
Man hi man mujhe pata hai me top10 me to nahi aa sakta… lekin shayad me top15 me aa jauga agar mera guess sahi huwa to…
Tabhi anna ki najar apne naam par padi
2. Anna makane 98.06%
Ek pal ke liye uski aakhe chamak uthi
”What?” Anna kehti hai “top 2”
Uske pass khade students dekhne lage.
Student 1: anna! congratulations!
Student 2: wow, 98 persent !
Student 3: isi baat pe party to banti hai !
Sab use badhai dene lage anna ke chehre par khushi saaf nazar aa rahi thi.
Arix khud ka naam doodhne raha tha. Usne top 15 tak dekha uska naam nahi tha.
Man hi man …? kahi me top list me hi nahi aaya kya ?
Usne aur niche dekhna shuru kiya. Fir uski nazar ruk gayi.
25. Arix ***** 68.09%
Kuch second tak woh bas dekhta hi raha. Fir uske chehre par halki si muskan aa gayi.
Man hi man achha huwa kam se kam top 30 ke nichhe to nahi gaya. Bach Gaya.
Thodi der baad anna uske pass aayi.Anna ne list ki taraf dekha aur muskurayi.
“top 25 utna bhi bura nahi”
Arix anna ki taraf dekhta hai.
“Mere liye to kaafi hai”
“sach kahu” anna kehti hai “laga top1 pe hoge”
“top1 nah nah”
Par anna ko pata tha ki padhai me arix kamjor nahi hai arix ko ko achhe se jane chuki thi.
Shaam ke wakt arix aur anna raste se chal rahe hote hai aapas me kuch bolna chahte hai par kuch bol nahi paate dono bas Ghar ki taraf chal rahe hote hai. Kuch pal ki khamoshi ke baad arix.
“ummm… Sunday ko milte hai”
Asa kehte huve arix aage badh jata
“thik hai” anna dheere se kehti hai “sunday ko milte hai”
“Main Ghar aa gaya mom”
“Welcome”arix ki mammy kehti hai “aaj tumara result tha na”
“yes Pass hu 68 percent se, ab me apne room me jaa rahu”
“Naha lo beta"
Ye arix bhi na har baar chhote bachhe ki tara ise batana padta hai arix mammy man hi man kehti hai… aur dinner banane ke liye kitchen me chali jati hai.
Arix apne room me aakar diary ka agla panna kholta hai aur padhna shuru karta hai.
"Kuch log sach dhoondhte hain. Kuch log khud ko. Aur kuch log... ek aisi yaad ko, jo unki apni hokar bhi unki nahi hoti."
Ye line padhte hi Arix kuch pal ke liye ruk gaya.
"Apni hokar bhi apni nahi?”
Too be continue...
I hope. Aap ko ye chapter 1 pasand aya hoga. Agar aap ko pasand aya hai to follow aur feedback jarur de milte hai next chapter me ✍🏼🖤
