MR PHANTOM-SHADOW OF FEAR

Ek sawaal poochun...

Jis aadmi ko tum roz subah, “गुड मॉर्निंग, सर” kehte ho... jiska handshake itna sober hota hai ki tum khud thoda seedhe khade ho jaate ho... uska raat ka chehra kaisa hoga?

Kabhi socha hai?

Kaisa hoga vo insaan jo din mein apni family ke liye ek sanskaari aur shaant beta ho... aur raat ko ek monster?

Kaisa hoga vo insaan?

Lucknow mein ek aisa hi aadmi hai... jo din mein suit pehenta hai aur crores ke deal sign karta hai... aur jiski subah apni maa ke haathon bheji hui cold coffee se shuru hoti hai...

Lekin jab raat aati hai... aur shehar so jaata hai...

Tab woh koi aur ho jaata hai.

Ek monster.

Aur jinhone uska woh doosra chehra dekha hai...

Woh phir kabhi subah dekhne ke liye bache hi nahi.

Teen mahine pehle...

Iss shehar mein sirf ek hi aisa aadmi tha jo andhere mein aisi maut baant sakta tha ki hawa tak awaaz na kare.

Aaj raat... uska bhi bharam toot gaya.

Kyunki aaj raat... kisi aur ne bhi wahi kaam kiya.

Waise hi khamoshi se.

Waise hi nishaan ke saath.

Chalo...

Subah se shuru karte hain.

Kyunki iss kahaani mein subah kabhi utni seedhi nahi hoti jitni dikhti hai.

Lucknow ki subah khulti hai... jaise koi purani kitaab ka panna palatte diye ja rahe ho...

Aur Hazratganj ki sadkon par abhi bhi raat ki thandak taiyaar baithi hai... jaane ka naam nahi le rahi.

Par Khan Mansion ke andar...

Waqt kisi aur hi raftaar se chalta hai.

Kyunki wahaan din 5:42 par hi shuru ho jaata hai.

Miliye...

Farhan Khan se.

Jo apne gym mein teesra set khatam kar raha hota hai...

Kaale tracksuit mein.

Chehre par mehnat ka koi nishaan nahi tha...

Jaise body kaam kar rahi ho...

Par dimaag kahin aur bhatak raha ho.

Tabhi...

Halki dastak hoti hai.

Aur Kai andar aata hai.

Shorts mein.

Ek tolia kandhe par daale hue.

Haath mein do steel bottles thaame hue.

Aur jab woh ek bottle table par rakhta hai...

Toh muskura kar kehta hai—

“Loo... apna cold coffee. Maa ne khud banayi hai subah subah... aur dhamki bhi mili hai... seedha Farhan ke haath mein de aana... warna nazar mat aana.”

Farhan bar rack par rakhte hue uthata hai.

Vo bottle uthaakar aadha ek hi saans mein khaali kar deta hai.

Aur phir poochta hai...

Saans abhi bhi thodi tez thi—

“Aaj kya hai?”

Kai phone nikalta hai...

Aur bolna shuru karta hai, jaise roz karta hai—

“9 baje board meeting hai... naya vendor wala jhamela. 1 baje Ankit ke saath lunch... uska export deal discuss karna hai. Shaam ko—”

Aur yahin par woh thoda ruk jaata hai.

Ek waisa pause...

Jo Farhan ke kaan turant pakad lete hain.

“Shaam ko kuch nahi. Khaali hoon bas...”

Farhan uski taraf dekhta hai.

Sirf ek second ke liye.

Lekin chhe saal saath rehte hue itna toh seekh hi liya hai...

Ki Kai jab “kuch nahi” itni jaldi bolta hai...

Tab woh kuch zaroor hota hai jo woh chhupa raha hota hai.

“Kai.”

“Haan?”

“Sach bol.”

Kai apna gardan tolia se poonchta hai...

Aur jawab dene se pehle thoda time leta hai.

Jaise soch raha ho...

Kaise kahe.

“Raat ko ek call aaya tha.”

Farhan ki aankhein uski taraf uthti hain.

“Purana number... jo chaar saal se band pada tha... achanak zinda ho gaya.”

Farhan bottle table par rakh deta hai.

Aur uski awaaz waise hi rahti hai...

Jab woh poochta hai—

“Kisne kiya call?”

“Pata nahi. Number blocked tha. Bas ek missed call aaya... uske baad ek text—”

Kai ek pal rukta hai.

“‘Tumhara chhaya wapas aa gaya lagta hai, Kai. Bahut logon ne dekha hai use pichle hafte.’”

Kamre mein khamoshi phail jaati hai.

Aur bahar chidiyaan bolti rehti hain...

Jaise unhe pata hi na ho ki andar kya chal raha hai.

Aur woh khamoshi tab tak rehti hai...

Jab tak Farhan khud nahi kehta—

“Dekha.”

Kai phone Farhan ki taraf badhata hai.

Farhan phone leta hai.

Aur ek baar padhta hai.

Phir dobara.

Aur uski aankhon mein kuch harkat hoti hai...

Itni halki...

Ki agar koi gaur se na dekhe...

Toh miss kar de.

“Delete kar de.”

Woh phone wapas karte hue kehta hai—

“Aur agli baar aaye toh seedha mujhe batana... kisi aur ko nahi.”

“Ankit ko bhi nahi? Divyansh ko bhi nahi?”

“Jab tak main na kahoon.”

Kai sar hilata hai.

Lekin uske chehre par ek line abhi bhi baithi rehti hai...

Jo bata rahi hai ki jawab se woh poori tarah satisfy nahi hua.

Yahan Farhan aur main workout khatam karke office ke liye ravaana ho jaate hain.

Khan Industries — 9:07 AM

38th floor ka boardroom sheeshe ki deewaron se ghira hua hai.

Neeche Lucknow ki poori skyline phaili padi hai.

Aur tabhi Farhan andar aata hai...

Charcoal grey three-piece suit mein.

Uski kalai par Patek Philippe chamak rahi thi.

Toh poora kamra apne aap thoda zyada formal ho jaata hai...

Jaise kisi ne ek switch on kar diya ho.

“Good morning, sir.”

Poori table ek saath bolti hai.

Aur Farhan apni jagah baithta hai...

Khidki ki taraf peeth karke.

Jaise light hamesha uske peeche honi chahiye...

Uske chehre par nahi.

“Start.”

Woh bas itna kehta hai.

Rajeev Malhotra, VP, khada hota hai.

Projector on karte hue...

Aur bolna shuru karta hai—

“Sir, teen options mile hain Purvanchal ke solar project ke liye... aur inmein sabse sasta padta hai Solvix Renewables... lekin unka background thoda saaf nahi hai.”

“Matlab?”

“Do saal pehle unke ek project mein kisan protest pe utar aaye the zameen ke maamle ko lekar. Case toh dab gaya... lekin kaise dabaya gaya, yeh kisi ko pata nahi.”

Farhan thodi der chup rehta hai.

Phir bolta hai...

Seedhe seedhe—

“Toh unke saath nahi karenge.”

“Sir, pricing 12% kam hai baaki dono se—”

“Rajeev.”

Bas itna hi bolta hai.

Lekin poore kamre mein tension aa jaata hai...

Jaise kisi ne temperature gira diya ho.

“Khan Industries ka naam kisi aise vendor ke saath nahi lagega jisne kisan ki zameen zabardasti li ho... chahe woh kitna bhi sasta kyun na pade.”

“Doosra vendor dhoondo.”

“Aur kal tak dhoondo.”

“Ji, sir.”

Meeting yahin par khatam karke Farhan apni chair se uthta hai.

Aur sabse haath milata hai.

Har ek se do second ki eye contact rakhta hai.

Bas.

Na zyada.

Na kam.

Aur jab woh room se nikal jaata hai...

Rajeev apne junior se dheere se kehta hai—

“Yeh aadmi business mein bhi rules nahi todta... aur phir bhi itna aage nikal gaya hai. Samajh nahi aata kaise.”

Junior sirf kandha uchka deta hai.

Jaise bol raha ho—

“Usse kya hi pata hoga...”

Udhar Lucknow se door...

Filmcity, Mumbai mein—

Ek period drama ka set bikhra pada hai.

Cables floor par idhar-udhar failey hue hain.

Crew members apne walkie-talkies mein bolte hue idhar-udhar bhaag rahe hain.

Aur inn sab ke beech...

Aisha Khan apni vanity van se bahar nikalti hai.

Bhaari Rajasthani lehenga mein.

Gehno se laadi hui.

Makeup itna perfect aur low ki roshni padte hi chehra kisi painting jaisa lagne lagta hai.

Lekin uske andar kuch aur hi chal raha hota hai...

Jo bahar se kisi ko dikhta nahi hai.

Director Ravi Oberoi uski taraf aata hai.

Tablet haath mein liye.

Aur kehta hai—

“Aisha... thoda vulnerability daal na iss scene mein. Bahut zyada hi strong lag rahi ho screen pe.”

Aisha ruk jaati hai.

Ek pal ke liye.

Aur phir jawab deti hai.

Awaaz mein control ke saath...

Thoda tension bhi—

“Ravi, yeh scene hai jahan woh apne pati ke against khadi ho rahi hai... aur agar main yahaan vulnerability daaloongi toh poora character hi galat direction mein chala jaayega.”

“Main director hoon, Aisha.”

Woh kehta hai.

Awaaz mein halki irritation ke saath—

“Script follow karo jo likha hai.”

Woh kuch aur kehna chahti thi...

Lekin thodi door khadi producer Meenal ki ek nazar usse rok deti hai.

Chup rehne wali nazar.

Jo bina bole bahut kuch keh jaati hai.

Kyunki set par sabko pata hai iss film ka budget kitna bada hai.

Aur agar Aisha ne “difficult” hone ki reputation banayi...

Toh agla project milna mushkil ho jaayega.

Kyunki industry chhoti hai.

Baatein yahaan jaldi failti hain.

Aisha apni jagah leti hai camera ke saamne...

Aur scene karti hai...

Jaisa director chahta hai.

Apni asli soch andar dabaakar.

“Cut!”

Ki awaaz aate hi woh crew ki taraf muskurati hai.

Van mein wapas chali jaati hai.

Aur darwaza band karte hi...

Kuch der ke liye wahin khadi rehti hai.

Aankhein band karke.

Jaise koi bhaari cheez utaar rahi ho apne chehre se.

Woh...

Phone nikalti hai.

Aur ek unsent message dikhta hai...

Jo kal raat Farhan ko likha gaya tha...

Lekin bheja nahi gaya—

“Aaj phir wahi ho raha hai set pe. Kabhi kabhi lagta hai main sirf ek face hoon, actor nahi.”

Aur woh use delete kar deti hai.

Bina bheje.

Jaisa woh pehle bhi kai baar kar chuki hai.

Idhar Lucknow mein...

Khan Mansion — Shaam, 1:10 PM

Ankit Soni lounge mein baitha hai.

Table par do glass thandi coffee ke rakhe hain.

Farhan ka intezaar karte hue.

Ankit baar-baar apna phone check kar raha hai...

Jaise koi khabar aane wali ho...

Jiska usse darr bhi hai...

Aur intezaar bhi.

Aur tabhi Farhan andar aata hai.

Jacket utaarte hue table par rakhta hai.

Aur seedha poochta hai—

“Kya hua?”

Kyunki usse dekhte hi pata chal jaata hai...

Kuch theek nahi hai.

Ankit lambi saans leta hai.

Aur bolna shuru karta hai—

“Yaar... Surat wale supplier ne achanak contract cancel kar diya. Koi wajah nahi batayi.”

“Aur Dubai wale buyer ne bhi delivery date push kar di... bina kisi reason ke.”

“Yeh dono toh alag-alag lagte hain.”

“Bas lagte hain.”

Ankit kehta hai.

“Lekin dono pichle das dinon mein hue hain... aur...”

Woh ruk jaata hai.

“Aur?”

Farhan dohraata hai.

“Kal raat warehouse manager ne bataya... koi aaya tha shipment records maang raha tha. Khud ko customs officer bata raha tha... lekin jab ID check ki toh fake nikla.”

Farhan coffee ka glass uthata hai.

Aur ek ghoont leta hai.

Par kuch nahi bolta.

Thodi der.

Kyunki uske dimaag mein subah wala message ghoom raha hota hai—

“Tumhara chhaya wapas aa gaya lagta hai.”

Aur woh yeh baat Ankit ko batana nahi chahta.

Kam se kam abhi nahi.

“Divyansh se baat hui?”

Woh poochta hai.

“Uska bhi ek showroom deal achanak khatam ho gaya. Bol raha hai koi badi baat nahi... but—”

Ankit rukta hai.

“Lekin laga mujhe batana chahiye tumhe.”

Ankit uski aankhon mein dekhte hue bolta hai.

Kyunki 15 saal ki dosti thi.

Sirf business partnership nahi.

Bhai jaisa rishta tha unka.

Aur isliye woh keh deta hai...

Jo bhi uske dil mein hota hai—

“Farhan... agar koi target kar raha ho humein—”

“Koi nahi kar raha.”

Farhan turant jawab deta hai.

Shaant...

Lekin final.

Jaise baat wahin khatam karna chahta ho.

“Business mein coincidence hota hai.”

“Main dekh lunga.”

Ankit bas apna sar hila deta hai.

Lekin poori tarah trust nahi karta jawab ko.

Kyunki Farhan ko itna achhe se toh jaanta hai...

Ki jab woh itni jaldi kisi baat ko khaarij kar deta hai...

Iska matlab hota hai...

Ki woh khud bhi utna sure nahi hai...

Jitna dikha raha hai.

Idhar...

Raat ke 1:14 AM — Chinhat, ek purane godown mein

Teen aadmi andhere mein khade the.

Smuggled hathiyaaron ke consignment ke crates ke saath.

Aur unka leader...

Lamba, daadhi wala aadmi tha.

Naam...

Salim.

Salim baar-baar ghadi dekh raha hai.

Jaise waqt uski marzi se chalega.

“Buyer late hai.”

Ek aadmi bolta hai.

“Time pe aata hai woh kabhi...”

Salim kehta hai.

“Ghabra mat.”

Tabhi...

Usse shaanti mein footsteps ki awaaz goonj jaati hai...

Aur—

Teeno ek saath freeze ho jaate hain.

Kyunki godown mein sirf ek bulb jal raha hai.

Aur uski roshni deewaron par lambi-lambi parchhaiyan bana rahi hain...

Jo waise hi hilti hain...

Jaise koi zinda cheez ho.

“Kaun hai?”

Salim chillata hai.

Apni pistol nikaalte hue.

Par koi jawab nahi aati.

Tabhi...

Bulb bujh jaata hai.

Aur godown mein...

Chaos shuru ho jaata hai.

Goliyan chalti hain andhere mein...

Bina kisi target ke.

Dono aadmi apni-apni taraf fire karte hue cheekhte hain.

Aur tabhi...

Ek bhayanak cheekh aati hai...

Aur khatam ho jaati hai.

Phir doosri cheekh aati hai...

Aur woh bhi khamosh ho jaati hai.

Aur tabhi Salim ka ehsaas hota hai...

Ki yeh bhayanak cheekhe...

Uske hi dono aadmiyon ki thi.

Ab sirf Salim bacha hai.

Peeth deewar se lagi hui.

Pistol dono haathon mein kaskar pakde hue.

Uski saans phool rahi thi.

Poore jism mein ek darr bhar gaya tha.

“Tum... tum kaun ho be?”

Woh chillata hai andhere mein.

Par usse pata hai...

Koi jawab nahi aayega.

Par uske andaaze se alag...

Ek awaaz uske bilkul kareeb se aati hai.

Itni kareeb...

Ki rooh tak kaanp jaaye—

“Tumhe pata hona chahiye tha... yeh maal kis area se guzarta hai.”

Bas isi awaaz ke saath...

Salim ki pistol jhatke se chhoot jaati hai.

Kyunki kisi ne uski kalai itni tezi se mor di hai...

Ki dard mehsoos hone se pehle hi hathiyaar zameen par gir chuka tha.

Woh zor se cheekhta hai.

Tabhi...

Bulb ek second ke liye flicker karta hai.

Aur uss ek second mein Salim ko woh dikhta hai...

Jo usse dikhna nahi chahiye tha.

Kaala coat.

Kaala mask.

Aur aankhein...

Jo insaan ki lagti hi nahi thi.

Kyunki vo aankhein ekdum laal thi.

Khoon jaisi.

Aur unmein darr naam ki koi cheez hai hi nahi.

“Please—”

Woh chillata hai.

Uski cheekh ke saath...

Ek sword ki chalne ki awaaz aati hai.

Aur uski cheekh...

Hamesha...

Hamesha ke liye shaant ho jaati hai.

Bulb bhi wapas bujh jaata hai.

Agli subah...

Police godown pahunchti hai.

Kisi ne anonymous tip di thi.

Aur jab woh andar jaate hain...

Unhe yahaan teeno laash milti hain.

Aur ajeeb baat yeh hai...

Ki ek bhi nishaan ya footprints yahaan nahi the.

Aur hathiyaaron ka poora consignment waisa hi pada tha...

Jaisa tha.

Ek cheez tak nahi hili thi wahaan se.

Bas...

Deewar par khoon se nahi...

Kisi kaale marker se ek symbol bana hua hai.

Chhaya jaisa ek nishaan.

Jo Sub-Inspector Rakesh Verma nahi pehchan pata.

Lekin jab poore force ke sabse purane officer...

Inspector Balwant Rathi...

Uss symbol ko dekhte hain...

Unka chehra ek second mein safed pad jaata hai.

“Sir?”

Verma poochta hai.

“Aap jaante hain yeh nishaan?”

Rathi jawab nahi dete.

Sirf itna kehte hain—

“Iss case ki file mujhe do... abhi.”

“Aur kisi ko bhi kuch mat batana.”

“Samjhe?”

“Kisi ko bhi nahi.”

Kyunki Rathi ne yeh symbol pehle bhi dekha hai.

Teen saal pehle...

Ek aise case mein...

Jo aaj tak close nahi hui.

Aur uska connection...

Ek aisi jagah se hai...

Jiska naam sunte hi...

Poore underworld ke log aaj bhi kaanp jaate hain.

Aur shayad...

Yahi woh pal tha...

Jahan se Farhan Khan ki do zindagiyon ke beech ki asli kahaani shuru hone wali thi.

Ek zindagi... jo duniya dekhti thi.

Aur...

Ek saaya... jise duniya dekhne se darti thi.