The Side Character
Title: Who I Am - Part 1
Writer: Sandeep
"Mera naam... khair, naam mein kya rakha hai? Rehne dete hain.
Socha toh laga yeh kahani shayad choti hogi, aur baaki dastaanon ki tarah shat-pratishat perfect nahi. Par kyunki yeh meri pehli koshish hai, toh thodi naadaniyan lazmi hain. Khair, aaiye shuru karte hain.
Mera naam Sandeep hai.
Maine aksar suna hai ki jo log bheed se door rehte hain, jo zyada ghul-mil nahi paate, duniya unhe 'Introvert' kehti hai. Mujhe is lafz ka sahi matlab toh nahi pata tha, par shayad... main wahi hoon.
Lekin yeh kahani mere introvert banne se pehle ki hai.
Yeh tab ki baat hai jab main Middle School mein tha. Tab mere paas doston ki kami nahi thi. Par sach kahoon? Us daur mein bhi main apni hi zindagi ka ek 'Side Character' tha. Na main bohot bura tha, na bohot achha. Na kisi se koi lafda, na koi pareshani. Zindagi ekdum aam, saadhaaran aur shant chal rahi thi.
Phir aaya hamara Farewell—Vidai ka din.
Us din ke baad sab badal gaya. Rishtey aur raste alag ho gaye. Naye school mein naye log mile, dost wahan bhi bane... par dil hamesha purane doston ki galiyon mein bhatakta raha. Lagta tha—kaash hum sab aaj bhi saath hote.
Lekin yaadon ka asli jhatka tab laga, jab ek din maine un sabhi purane doston ko ek saath dekha.
Mere man mein ek khayal aaya—'Kaash main bhi unke beech hota.' Par is baar, faasle itne badh chuke the ki na maine unhe pukaara, aur na hi kisi ne meri taraf dekha.
Us ek lamhe mein, maine pehli baar khud ko behadd akela aur toot-ta hua paya. Aur shayad wahi se shuru hua mera sabse bada badlaav... ek introvert ke gehre akelepan mein girne ka safar—"Introvert Falling."
