अपने राजा की तलाश

Aurora

"Aurora, uth jao!" Maa ki awaaz mere dimaag mein kisi banshee ki tarah chilla rahi thi, jaise unhone koi megaphone pakda ho.

Maine karahate hue takiye ko apne sar par kheench liya. "Ugh, Maa, sach mein? Abhi toh subah bhi theek se nahi hui hai. Kya ye suraj nikalne tak nahi ruk sakta?"

Unhone bina rukae kaha, "Mujhe mating ball ki taiyari mein tumhari madad chahiye," wo itni khush thi jaise meri neend kharab karna koi bahut bada kaam ho. "Ek din tum Queen Luna banogi, aur event organize karna tumhara royal duty hoga."

Wah. Royal duty ka matlab shayad ye hai ki nashte se pehle neend puri na ho aur log tum par hukum chalayein.

"Iska fayda kya hai?" maine apne kanpatiyan masalte hue kaha. "Main abhi 21 saal ki bhi nahi hui hoon, toh mujhe mera mate nahi milega. Mujhe yahan ghaseet kar kyun laya ja raha hai jaise ye sab bahut zaroori ho?"

Unka jawab sakht tha, bahas ki koi gunjayish nahi. "Tumhare paas taiyar hone aur mujhse neeche milne ke liye sirf das minute hain."

Zahir hai. Kyunki frustration aur zabardasti ki dikhawa toh is sabka hissa hai hi.

Maine wahi kiya jo mujhe kaha gaya tha. Maa kamre mein ek khoobsurat toofan ki tarah ghoom rahi thi, unki harkatein ekdam fluid aur hypnotic thi. Wo apne rang mein thi, phoolon ko aise saja rahi thi jaise mushkil kaam bahut aasaan ho. Unke chhoone se sajawat khil uthti, aur kamra kisi sapne ki tarah lagne lagta. Wo is kaam mein mahir thi, jaise khoobsurti paida karna unki fitrat ho.

Main dikhne mein un jaisi bilkul nahi hoon. Main apne papa par gayi hoon: kaale baal, toofani neeli aankhein, lambi aur mazboot ek warrior ki tarah. Dusri taraf Maa, ekdam sharp grace wali hain. Unke baal safed hain, jaise chandni mein nayi barf, aur unki teekhi hari aankhein kuch bhi miss nahi karti. Wolf ki duniya ke hisaab se wo thodi chhoti hain, par is dhoke mein mat rehna. Wo tumhe ek ghuse mein zameen par gira sakti hain aur tumhare girne se pehle centrepiece bhi thik kar sakti hain.

"Thik hai, mujhe kahan hona chahiye?" maine ek bigde hue bachche ki tarah pair ghasitte hue kaha. "Main iske liye warrior training miss kar rahi hoon, pata hai? Mere dushman mera intezar nahi karenge jab tak main centrepiece thik karungi."

Maa ne us bouquet se nazar tak nahi hatayi jise wo mehnat se saja rahi thi. "Aurora, tum neend mein bhi rogues ki puri fauj ko khatam kar sakti ho. Ek training session miss karne se tum marshmallow nahi ban jaogi."

Maine dheere se badbadaya, "Haan, par marshmallows ko heels pehen kar anjan logon ke samne muskurana nahi padta."

"Main chahti hoon ki tum wahan pade napkins ko modna shuru karo," Maa ne kaha. Wo kamre ke doosre kone mein ribbon aur eucalyptus ki daliyon ke sath vyast thi. Unhone kapdon ke ek dher ki taraf ishara kiya jinhe ya toh hans (swan) ki tarah ya fir kisi aisi shakal mein modna tha jo ‘elegant par desperate nahi’ dikhe.

Maine ek lambi saans li aur us dher ko aise dekha jaise usne mujhe koi niji dushman bana liya ho.

"Jab wo ho jaye," unhone apni edi par ghoomte hue kaha, "toh saare glasses, cutlery aur plates ko ekdam aise lagana." Unhone ek jagah ki taraf ishara kiya jo kisi royal butler ne OCD ke sath sajayi ho, crystal glass ekdum sahi angle par, cutlery ki map bilkul surgical, aur napkin ek aise phoenix ki tarah moda hua tha jo raakh se uth raha ho.

Maine use dekha. "Tum chahti ho ki main aisa banaun?"

Wo bina ruke boli, "Haan. Sau baar. Aur dhyan rakhna ki chamachon ko dekh kar aisa na lage ki kante (forks) unhe judge kar rahe hain."

Zahir hai. Kyunki ‘mating ball’ mein passive-aggressive silverware se zyada kuch nahi hota.

"Main ye sab akele nahi kar sakti," maine protest kiya, napkins ke us pahaad ko ghoorte hue jaise wo mere khilaf saazish kar rahe hon.

Maa ne palat kar bhi nahi dekha. "Jab Christina raat ke khane ka menu final kar legi, toh wo tumhari madad karegi."

Oh, great. Christina. Royal Beta female aur Maa ki ekdum perfect mini-me. Wo shayad napkins military precision ke sath modti hogi aur mazaak mein jadi-bootiyon ko alphabetize karti hogi.

Maine seating chart dekha aur bhauhein sikodi. "Sirf sau seat kyun? Koi paanch sau wolves aa rahe hain."

Maa ne thandi saans bhari, wo sabra wali thi par ek hi baat baar-baar keh kar thak gayi thi. "Wo seats Alphas, Lunas, aur Betas ke liye reserved hain, beta. Maine tumhe bataya tha."

Sahi hai. VIPs ko kursi milegi. Baaki humein dukhne wale pair aur banawati muskurahat.

Maine shikayat karna band kar diya. Agar ye Maa ke liye zaroori hai, toh mere liye bhi hoga. Bhale hi isme napkin origami aur plate ki choregraphy hi kyun na ho.

"Kya hum kuch gaane chala sakte hain?" maine pucha. "Isse mujhe kaam karne mein madad milegi. Shayad main zinda bhi bach jaun."

"Ye main kar sakti hoon," unhone muskurate hue kaha aur apna phone stereo mein connect kar diya jaise wo sadi ki sabse dhamakedar playlist chalane wali hon. "Aaj kya sunna hai?"

"Club music," maine kaha. "Kuch thirakne wala. Shayad.."

Unhone apni bhauhein uthakar mujhe beech mein hi tok diya. "Ek Queen twerk nahi karti, beta."

Maine nak chadhayi. "Khair, ye queen napkins ko aise modti hai jaise DJ beats ko, toh party shuru karte hain."

Assi ke dashak ke disco hits bajne lage, aur Maa shuru ho gayi. Unke ek haath mein ribbon tha, dusre mein centrepiece, aur phir bhi wo aise shoulder pop kar rahi thi ki Donna Summer ko bhi naaz hota.

Main dar aur thode prabhav ke sath unhe dekh rahi thi. Ye din bahut lamba hone wala hai.

"Maa, please batao ki ye party ki playlist nahi hai," maine pucha, unhe dessert table ke paas moonwalk karte dekh kar.

Unhone muskurate hue kaha, "Ab tum bas bakwas kar rahi ho. Ek live band aa raha hai."

Moon Goddess ka shukr hai. Mujhe nahi lagta ki mehmaan meri Maa aur bouquet ke sath conga line ke liye taiyar hain.

Maine khud ko kaam par focus karne ke liye majboor kiya, napkins ko aise moda jaise meri jaan usi par atki ho. Aakhir mein, mujhe rhythm mil gaya, aur mujhe dukh hua ki main bhi us bhatke hue disco playlist par dance kar rahi thi. Main full-on shoulder shimmies aur toe taps kar rahi thi. Napkins mujhe judge kar rahe the, main mehsoos kar sakti thi.

Tabhi, meri madad ki guhaar ke jawab mein, Christina wahan aayi. Regal, shant, aur clipboard liye hue, usne royal assassin ki precision ke sath silverware lagana shuru kar diya. Maine mann mein Moon Goddess ka shukr ada kiya. Agar koi is glitter-bhari jang ke maidan ko sambhaal sakta hai, toh wo Christina hai. Aur uski perfectly symmetrical chamach lagane ki kala.

Dopehar tak, mera pait bagawat kar raha tha, aur aise sanket bhej raha tha jaise main napkins ke kisi sunsaan dweep par phans gayi hoon.

"Maa, main lunch karne ja rahi hoon aur centrepiece par behosh hone se pehle wapas aa jaungi," main kitchen ki taraf badhte hue boli.

Unhone upar dekhe bina kaha, "Theek hai, par wapas aane se pehle apne haath dho lena. Mujhe mere napkins par tel ke nishaan nahi chahiye. Wo swans hain, gande kabootar nahi."

Main hasi, apna sar hilaya, aur kitchen ki taraf chal di.

Kitchen mein ronak thi, bartan baj rahe the, masale udd rahe the, aur Clarise, hamari head omega, sabko aise sambhaal rahi thi jaise koi culinary jaadugar ho. Sach mein, mujhe nahi pata wo ye kaise karti hai. Paanch sau bhookhe wolves ko khana khilana koi mamuli kaam nahi hai, par wo aise kar rahi thi jaise kisi choti si dinner party ki taiyari ho.

Puri jagah ko chamkaya ja raha tha, har cheez shine kar rahi thi, dhool ka ek zarra bhi wahan nahi tha. Ye sirf taiyari nahi; ye ek ritual tha. Iska saboot ki humne kaise adapt karna, ghulna-milna aur zinda rehna seekh liya hai.

Pidhiyon se, hum insaano mein chhupe hain, apne instincts ko charm aur sabhyata ke peeche chhupa kar. Lekin technology ab jungli aag ki tarah badh rahi hai; surveillance, biometrics, drones. Raaz ki ye duniya har naye kadam ke sath mushkil hoti ja rahi hai. Bahut saare packs ne iske sath kadam milane mein sangharsh kiya hai, unki paramparayein modern dabav mein bikhar rahi hain.

Mere dada ne ye pehle hi dekh liya tha. Duniya ke judne se bahut pehle, wo royal pack ko pahadon ki gehrayi mein le aaye aur ek sanctuary banayi—ek bada resort jo do hazaar wolves ko rakh sake. Garmiyon mein, yahan shanti hoti hai. Lekin sardiyon mein, jab barf pahadon ko dhak leti hai aur ameer log luxury aur akelepan ki talash mein aate hain, tab ye resort khub chalta hai. Ye hamari aamdani ka sabse bada zariya hai, jo asliyat ko chhupane ka ek hoshiyar mask hai.

Resort ke alawa, hamari pahunch poore desh mein hai. Businesses, investments, silent partnerships, humne khud ko economy ke taane-baane mein bun liya hai. Kuch packs apne kaam ko zameen se jodte hain: lakdi ka kaam, kheti, aise dhandhe jo unhe kudrat ke kareeb rakhte hain aur shak se door. Har venture ek dhaal hai, har dukaan ek kahani. Ye sirf survival nahi, strategy hai. Aur yahi ek rasta hai ki hamari kaum is duniya mein dikhe bina chalti rahe.

"Aurora, kuch bhi mat chhoona," Clarise ne bina piche mudte hue kaha, shayad kamre ke us kone se meri snack-hunting energy ko mehsoos kar liya. "Lunch courtyard mein lag gaya hai. Eithan wahan pehle se hi thuns raha hai."

Zahir hai.

Eithan, future Royal Beta, bachpan se mera best friend, aur wahi wajah jiske kaaran maine sabse pehle abbs par dhyaan dena shuru kiya. Uska aisa personality hai ki log mud-mud kar dekhte hain. Uske features sharp hain, unchi cheekbones, mazboot jawline, aur hothon par hamesha ek smirk, jaise wo kuch aisa jaanta ho jo tum nahi jante. Uski aankhein gehri neeli hain, aur aksar shararat ya gambhir charm se chamakti rehti hain.

Uske baal, aksar uljhe hue, par stylish, dark brown se kaale rang ke hote hain, jo uske rebellious look ko badhate hain. Wo dubla-patla par athletic hai, uski body mein aisi grace aur taqat hai, jaise wo ramp walk bhi kar sake aur mukka bhi maar sake. Bhale hi wo leather mein ho ya suit mein, wo confidence ko apne kapdon ki tarah pehenta hai.

Eithan pichle hafte hi ikkis saal ka hua hai, jiska matlab hai ki wo aaj raat apna mate dhoond sakta hai. Ball mein. Sabke samne.

Maine ginna chhod diya hai ki kitni baar maine sapne dekhe hain ki wo main hoon. Hum. Wo pal. Wo bond. Wo nazrein. Par filhal, main lunch se hi kaam chala lungi.

"Wahan hai wo," Eithan ne muskurate hue kaha, "apni royal party planner wali life jee rahi hai."

Maine apni aankhein ghumayi, "Mazaak mat uda, Eithan."

"Tumne aaj subah ek epic training session miss kar diya," wo bolta raha, aur maza le raha tha. "Tumhare dad poore beast mode mein the. Mujhe pakka yakeen hai ki mere dad agle das saal tak langdayenge. Shayad cane ya wheelchair ki zaroorat pade. Ya ek maafi ki."

Maine nak chadhayi. "Sun kar lag raha hai ki maine ek khoon-kharaba miss kiya aur ek centrepiece paya. Lucky me."

"Tumhe apna mate aaj raat mil sakta hai," maine Eithan ko grin ke sath chedte hue kaha. "Kaisa lag raha hai, huh?"

Uska chehra aise bigda jaise maine use tax form se shaadi karne ko keh diya ho. "Ugh," wo karahaya, ek hi insaan ke sath zindagi bhar bandhe rehne ke khayal se hi dar gaya.

Future Royal Beta, ladies and gentlemen, jo rogue wolves ka samna toh kar sakta hai, par commitment se darta hai.

Maine apna grilled cheese aise khatam kiya jaise jang se pehle ka aakhri khana ho. "Phir milenge, alligator," maine dramatically kaha, "mujhe swan napkins modne hain aur kingdom ko impress karna hai."

Sahi rehne ke liye, maine Maa ko mind-link kiya taki wo ye na soche ki main bhag gayi hoon. Main wapas aa rahi hoon, promise.

Unka jawab turant aur classic tha. Apne haath dho lena. Na koi "I love you," na koi thank you, bas hygiene ka micromanagement.

Sahi hai. Chalo bathroom ki taraf, party prep ki unsung hero. Swan napkins intezar kar rahe hain, aur unhe saaf ungliyan chahiye.

Main sirf bees minute ke liye bahar gayi thi par jab main wapas aayi, ballroom aise lag raha tha jaise romance novel se nikla ho. Chamak, phool aur drama. Christina ne, beshak, place settings ko extreme precision ke sath khatam kar diya tha. Bas napkins bache the, jinhe ab main apna dushman manti hoon.

"Hum lagbhag khatam kar chuke hain, beta!" Maa mere paas se ghoomti hui nikli, glitter-bhari khushi bikherte hue.

Phir wo ruk gayi, aankhein choti karke jaise koi fashion crime dekh liya ho. "Aurora, main chahti hoon ki tum nahao. Aur apne baal dho lo."

Ugh. Aisa nahi ki main mitti mein lot rahi thi, main toh bas kapde ke panchi mod rahi thi aur emotional trauma se bach rahi thi.

"Main ek ghante mein upar aaungi tumhe style karne," unhone kaha, mere makeover ka plan banate hue. "Main nahi chahti ki tum kisi hussy ki tarah dikho."

Fantastic. Napkin goblin se royal debutante, saath minute mein. Koi makeover montage shuru karo.