Chapter 1
subha ke 8.30 baje rahe the, classroom me students ki halki si baaen or note book ki pages paltne ki Awaaz gooung rahi thi, Teacher attendance register khol kar ek ek nam pukar rahi thi..
"Khushi"
"Yes ma'am" khusi ne dhire se jawab diya
Khusi class ki ek honhar or kabil ladki thi, class me uski kisi se jyada nehi banti thi, jyadatar time bo school library me hoto thi..
"Abhinav"
"Present ma'am"
Abhinav class ka cool sa banda, bhale him bo padhai me sabse piche ho per sports me sabse age tha, class ki sari ladkiyan uske piche diwani thi per uske dil me sirf khusi ke liye jagah thi, kiun ki bo Khushi ka ek lota childhood friend jo he..
"Lisa"
"Yes ma'am"
Kehne ko to lisa Khushi ki sabse achi dost thi per uske dil me Khushi ke liye siwae jalan or Nafrat ke kuch nehi tha, lisa Khushi ki khushiyan chin ne ke lie kisi bi haad tak ja sakti thi..
"Attention students! Ap sabko is semester ke end tak apna history project submit karna hoga, or ek Baat yea project group wise hoga so jaldi se 3 logon ka group banalo"
Jese hin teacher ne group ki bat ki Abhinav turant dodta hua Khushi ke pas aa kar khada ho gaya...
"Ma'am! ( haafte hie) me khusi ke sath project karna Chahata hun"
"Are wah Abhinav, padhai ke liye itna excited to mene tumhe pehelibar dekha he, it's good for you"
Tabhi Lisa uth kar bolti he....
"Ma'am me bhi khusi ke sath project karna chahti hun"
Ese hin Khushi ko na chahate hue bhi uska group milata he, class me baki students bhi group banane lagte hen..
"Again Attention Students " class bilkul sant ho jata he
"Mere pas ek or achi khabar he! , is bar ke project ke liye history department ne decide kiya he ki 2nd year students bhi hame join karenge us mentors, (koi dhire se bolta he "are wah!")
so be prepared for that , Have a nice day" or teacher Jane lagti hen
Teacher ke jate hin lisa Khushi ko corridor ki taraf le jati he uske piche piche Abhinav bhi jane lagta he..
"Seniors ke sath project karenge , intresting lagta he na khusi" smile ke sath Lisa bolti he
"Bas yea project thik se ho jae" khusi jawab me keheti he
"Are thik kese nehi hoga me hoon na" Abhinav pyari si smile ke sath Khushi ki taraf dekhte hue bolta he
Khushi bas halki si muskurati he...
"Are wah! Muskurati hui to tum bahat cute lagti ho, isliye tumhe sab bewakuf banadete hen" lisa ne majak me kaha
Na chahate hue bhi Khushi ko hansna pada par Abhinav ne yea notice karlia...
Tabhi piche se kisiki awaj ati he...
"Project ki chinta bad me karna, pehele apne gar ki karlo"
"Bichari... Bachpan se hin Baap ko kho dia ab tho sympathy se sab kuch mil jata hoga"
"Kia karen Yaar.. yea tho he hin manhus"
Khushi ka chehera udar gaya usne kuch nehi kaha or library ki taraf Jane lagi....
Khushi ki akhon se aansu hi nehi ruk rahe the, bo sidhe library ke ek sant kone me chali gayi, kitabon se gheri hui us jagah par kisi ka dhyan nehi tha.
Usne bookshelf ke pas khade ho kar dono hatho se apne chehere ko chupa liya.
"Papa",... bas itna hin shabd uske hothon se nikla aur bo phoot-phoot kar rone lagi.
Tabhi ek halki si awaj ati he...
Shelf per rakhi kuch bhari kitaben dheere-dheere uski taraf girne lagi.
Khushi ne jab upar dekha tho, dar ke mare apne sir ko niche jhuka liya...
kuch pal beet gaya...
Na koi dard hua...
Na koi kitab use lagi...
Dheere se usne aankhen kholi...
Uske samne ek lamba, mazboot aur behhat handsome ladka khada tha, dono hatho se usne girti hui kitaben sambhal lia tha.
Uski nazren sidha khushi ki akhoon me thi.
"Tum thik ho?" Usne sant lekin thode thande lehje Mein pucha
Khusi kuch pal ke liye bas use hin dekhti reh gayi
Jaise Waqt ek pal ke liye tham sa gaya ho.
"H..han..main theek hoon", usne ghabrate hue jawab diya.
Ladke ne bas halkasa sir hilaya, kitabon ko wapas se shelf per rakha aur bina kuch aur kahe mudkar chal diya.
Khusi der tak usse jaate hue dekhti rahi.
Pata nehi kiun...lekin us anjane ladke ki tasveer uske zehan main reh gayi thi.
Khud ko sambhalte hue bo jaldi se library se bahar nikalne lagi..
Darwaje tak pahachte hin bo achanak se ruk gayi, uski nazar ek moti purani kitab par gayi...
Usne dheere se kitab uthai or cover per se dhul ko saaf kiya..
"The Mystery of Rudra Temple"...Yea wahin mandir tha jahan salon pehele khushi ke papa ki maut hui thi.
Khushi ne kitab ko hathon main liya or chupchaap classroom ki taraf chal padi....
