**Part 1 – “Pehli Mulaqat”**
Zayan ne apni ghari dekhi, 8:45 ho rahe the aur lecture 9 baje ka tha. University ka pehla din hamesha ek ajeeb si excitement aur ghabrahat lekar aata hai. Wo tez tez qadam badhata hua campus ke main gate se guzra. Aasman pe halki si badal ki chaadar thi aur halki hawa chal rahi thi. Uska dil ek ajeeb sa sooraj ki roshni jaisa halka halka chamak raha tha—shayad naye safar ki shuruat thi.
Classroom ke darwaze ke paas pahunchte hi uski nazar ek ladki par padi jo apni notebook me kuch likh rahi thi. Safed dupatta uske kandhe se halka sa phisal raha tha, lekin wo jaise apni hi duniya me khoyi hui thi. Zayan ne bas ek lamha usay dekha, lekin us lamhe me kuch tha jo dil ko rok gaya. Uska naam us waqt Zayan ko maloom nahi tha, magar uska chehra jaise yaadgar ban gaya.
Lecture shuru hua, aur Zayan ne ek khaali seat dhundhne ke liye classroom ka kona dekha—wo ladki usi corner me baithi thi. Zayan ne sharmate hue uske bagal wali seat le li. “Hi… main Zayan,” usne dheemi awaaz me kaha. Ladki ne halka sa muskara ke jawab diya, “Eshaal.” Bas, itna keh kar wo phir se apni notebook me masroof ho gayi.
Din guzarte gaye, lekin Zayan ko ye ehsaas hone laga ke wo bas ek classmate nahi—shayad kuch aur ban rahi hai. Uski har muskaan, har lafz, Zayan ke din ka highlight ban jata. Magar Eshaal ki aankhon me ek chhupi hui udaasi thi, jaise wo apne dil ke darwaze par tala lagaye baithi ho.
Us din sham ko, Zayan library ke raaste se ja raha tha jab usne Eshaal ko phone par rote hue dekha… lekin usne turant call cut kar di aur Zayan ko dekhte hi muskara di.
Kya wo muskaan asli thi… ya ek dard ko chhupane ki koshish?
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**Part 2 – “Chhupi Hui Kahani”**
Agla din subha, university ka campus phir se students ki awaz aur halki si chah-chahahat se goonj raha tha. Zayan ne library ka rukh kiya, kyun ke uska ek assignment pending tha. Wahan pohanch kar usne dekha ke Eshaal ek corner table par baithi hai, coffee ka cup uske samne rakha hai aur ek novel me doobi hui hai.
Zayan ne socha ke bas casual baat karega, lekin jaise hi wo paas aaya, Eshaal ne halka sa sir uthaya. Aankhon me halka sa surkhapan tha, jaise kal raat ne neend chura li ho.
“Tum theek ho?” Zayan ne poocha.
Eshaal ne jhuthi muskaan di, “Haan, bas thoda tired hoon.”
Zayan ne baat aage nahi badhai, lekin uske dil me yeh soch chal rahi thi ke jo muskaan wo roz dekhta hai, wo shayad sirf ek naqaab hai.
Din beetne lage. Class ke baad kabhi kabhi dono canteen me baith jaate, kabhi group projects me saath kaam karte. Zayan ko Eshaal ke baare me chhoti chhoti cheezein maloom hone lagi—uski favorite coffee, uska pasandida music, aur ye ke wo barish ke mausam me khidki ke paas baithna pasand karti hai. Lekin ek cheez jo wo nahi samajh pa raha tha—uske dil ka bojh.
Ek sham, jab campus khaali ho chuka tha, Zayan apni bike ke paas jaa raha tha ke usne dekha Eshaal ek bench par baithi hai, haath me ek purani diary. Uska chehra udaas, lekin aankhon me ek ajeeb si chamak thi.
Zayan ne dheere se kaha, “Eshaal… tum mujhse kuch share karna chahti ho?”
Eshaal ne diary band ki, uski taraf dekha, aur bas itna kaha…
“Har kahani sunne layak nahi hoti, Zayan… kuch kahaniyan sirf mehsoos ki jaati hain.”
Wo keh ke uth gayi, lekin Zayan ke dil me hazaron sawaal chhod gayi.
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**Part 3 – “Dil Ke Safhe”**
Us raat Zayan ne neend me bhi Eshaal ki baat sochi—*"Kuch kahaniyan sirf mehsoos ki jaati hain"*—ye lafz uske dimaag me baar baar goonj rahe the. Agle din lecture ke baad Zayan ne decide kiya ke wo Eshaal se direct baat karega.
Canteen me dono saamne baith gaye. Zayan ne coffee ka sip lete hue kaha, “Eshaal, main tumse ek sawal karun… promise karta hoon judge nahi karunga.”
Eshaal ne thoda chup rehte hue kaha, “Pocho.”
“Tum apni muskaan ke peeche kya chhupa rahi ho?”
Eshaal ne pehle to aankhon se bachane ki koshish ki, lekin phir dheere se handbag se wo purani diary nikali. Uske cover par chhoti si golden writing me likha tha *"Meri Adhoori Kahani"*.
“Zayan… ye meri zindagi ka woh hissa hai jise main dobara jeena nahi chahti, lekin shayad tumhe batane ka waqt aa gaya hai.”
Usne diary ka pehla safha khola. Us par ek tasveer chipki thi—Eshaal aur ek ladka, dono hansi se chhalkte hue. Neeche likha tha: *"Aariz aur Eshaal – Forever"*.
Zayan ne tasveer dekhi aur dil me ek ajeeb sa khinchav mehsoos kiya.
“Kaun hai ye?” Zayan ne poocha.
Eshaal ki awaaz halki si kaamp gayi, “Mera pehla pyaar… Aariz.”
Usne batana shuru kiya ke kaise Aariz uski school life ka hissa tha. Wo dono ek doosre ke liye duniya se ladne ko ready the. Lekin ek accident ne sab kuch badal diya… Aariz ki maut ne Eshaal ka saara jeevan andhere me dhakel diya.
Zayan chupchaap suntar raha. Uske dil me ek ajeeb si halat thi—Eshaal ka dard mehsoos bhi kar raha tha, aur kahin andheron me khud ke liye jagah banane ki khwahish bhi.
Eshaal ne diary band ki aur kaha, “Main phir se pyaar nahi kar sakti, Zayan… mujhe darr lagta hai.”
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**Part 4 – “Darr Ke Paar”**
Us raat Zayan ne lambe waqt tak socha. Eshaal ka dard samajhna mushkil nahi tha, lekin uska dil ye maan nahi raha tha ke kahani yahan khatam ho jaye. Wo jaanta tha ke pehla pyaar bhoolna aasaan nahi, lekin kya ek insaan zindagi bhar apne dil ke darwaze band rakhe?
Agle din, lecture ke baad Zayan ne casually Eshaal se poocha, “Chalo, tumhe ek jagah le chalta hoon.”
Eshaal ne thoda hesitate kiya, “Kahan?”
Zayan muskara ke bola, “Surprise.”
Wo dono campus se bahar gaye. Zayan ne bike ek chhoti si lake ke paas roki. Aasman me suraj dhal raha tha, aur pani me uski laal roshni ek shaandar manzar bana rahi thi.
“Yahan main aksar aata hoon jab dimaag heavy ho. Pani ki lehrein suno, lagta hai jaise sari tension kheench le jaati hain,” Zayan ne kaha.
Eshaal ne chup chaap lake ko dekha. Hawa uske balon se kheli, aur ek pal ke liye Zayan ko laga ke shayad wo apne dard se ek kadam door aa gayi hai.
“Eshaal, main tumhara past change nahi kar sakta… lekin main tumhare present ko behtar bana sakta hoon. Tumhe koi promise nahi karta ke main Aariz ki jagah le sakta hoon, bas ye keh sakta hoon ke tumhe kabhi akela mehsoos nahi hone dunga.”
Eshaal ne kuch nahi kaha, lekin uski aankhon me halki si nami aa gayi. Usne bas itna kaha, “Zayan… tum bohot alag ho.”
Wapas aate waqt dono ke beech ek ajeeb si khamoshi thi—wo uncomfortable nahi, balki wo jo do logon ke dil ke beech ek nayi kahani likhne lagti hai.
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**Part 5 – “Naye Jazbaat, Naya Imtehaan”**
Agle kuch hafton me Zayan ne apne tarike se Eshaal ki zindagi me rang bharne shuru kiye. Kabhi library me uski favorite coffee le aata, kabhi unke group study sessions me bekaar si jokes sunata, sirf is liye ke wo thoda sa hans le. Eshaal ke chehre ki muskaan ab pehle se zyada asli lagne lagi thi.
Ek din, jab mausam me halki si barish ho rahi thi, Zayan ne Eshaal ko campus ke chhote se garden me le aaya. “Tumhe barish pasand hai na?” usne poocha.
Eshaal ne sir hila kar ‘haan’ kaha, aur dono chhata le kar lambe raste par chalne lage. Har boond jaise Eshaal ke dil ke dariyaye ko halka kar rahi thi. Zayan ne dekha ke wo khud se hans rahi hai—wo pehli baar tha jab usne Eshaal ko itna khush dekha.
Lekin zindagi hamesha aasaan kahani nahi likhti. Us shaam, jab Zayan hostel laut raha tha, uska phone bajha. Call Eshaal ki thi. Uski awaaz ghabrahat se bhari hui thi, “Zayan… mujhe tumse milna hai… abhi.”
Zayan turant coffee shop pohonch gaya jahan Eshaal ne use bulaya tha. Wo table par baithi thi, haath me ek envelope tha. Uski aankhon me wo hi purani udaasi laut aayi thi.
“Yeh dekho,” Eshaal ne envelope Zayan ki taraf badhaya. Uske andar ek shaadi ka card tha… lekin naam dekh kar Zayan ka dil ek pal ke liye ruk gaya—*“Eshaal & Saif”*.
Zayan ne halki si awaaz me poocha, “Yeh kya hai, Eshaal?”
Uski awaaz toot rahi thi, “Yeh meri family ka faisla hai… aur main shayad is faisle ke aage kamzor pad jaungi.”
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**Part 6 – “Faislon Ka Bojh”**
Coffee shop ki us shaam ki khamoshi me sirf barish ki halki halki tip-tip sunai de rahi thi. Zayan ke haath me wo shaadi ka card tha, lekin uski aankhon me sirf Eshaal thi—wo ladki jo kuch hafton pehle apni muskaan wapas paa rahi thi, aur ab phir se udaasi ke samundar me doob rahi thi.
“Eshaal, tum mujhse sach bolo… tum chahti kya ho?” Zayan ne poocha, awaaz me gussa nahi tha, sirf ek bechaini thi.
Eshaal ne aankhen jhuka di, “Main Saif se shaadi nahi karna chahti… lekin meri family… wo Aariz ke baad samajhti hai ke main apni life decide nahi kar sakti. Unhone Saif ko bachpan se jaanta hai, wo unka choice hai. Aur main… main unke khilaf jaane ki himmat nahi rakh sakti.”
Zayan ne uska haath pakad liya, “Himmat tumhare paas nahi hai… ya tum darr rahi ho ke agar tumne apni khushi choose ki, to unka bharosa toot jayega?”
Eshaal ki aankhon me aansu bhar aaye, “Dono…”
Zayan ne gehri saans li, “Eshaal, zindagi tumhari hai. Tumhare decisions, tumhare sapne… yeh kisi aur ka haq nahi. Main tumhe force nahi karunga, lekin main tumhare saath khada rahunga agar tum apne liye ladna chahti ho.”
Eshaal ne pehli baar uski aankhon me seedha dekha. Wo dekhi rahi thi ke Zayan sirf lafz nahi bol raha, wo sach me uske liye ladne ko tayyar hai. Lekin phir usne apna haath wapas kheench liya, “Mujhe waqt chahiye…”
Wo uth kar chal di, aur Zayan wahan baitha raha—barish ke boondein shishe par gir rahi thi, jaise har boond ek sawaal pooch rahi ho—*"Kya tum haar maan jaoge?"*
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**Part 7 – “Saif Ki Entry”**
Agle din Zayan ne decide kiya ke wo chup nahi baith sakta. Usne Eshaal ko space dene ka promise kiya tha, lekin iska matlab ye nahi tha ke wo uski khushi ke liye kuch karega hi nahi.
Usne Eshaal ke close friend, Hira, se contact kiya. Coffee shop me milte hi Zayan ne seedha poocha, “Hira, tum jaanti ho ke Eshaal khush nahi hai… phir tum sab chup kyun ho?”
Hira ne thoda hesitant hote hue kaha, “Zayan, main jaanti hoon, lekin tum Saif ko nahi jaante. Wo sirf family ka choice nahi, wo apne aap ko Eshaal ka ‘protector’ samajhta hai. Aariz ke death ke baad usne Eshaal ke parents ko promise kiya tha ke wo uska khayal rakhega. Unke liye Saif ek perfect damad hai.”
Zayan ne haan me sir hila diya, lekin uska dimaag already plan bana raha tha. Usne decide kiya ke wo Saif se milke khud baat karega.
Do din baad, ek family gathering me Zayan wahan pohonch gaya jahan Saif bhi tha. Pehli nazar me hi Saif ka confidence samajh aata tha—suit pehne, calm expression, lekin aankhon me ek ajeeb sa haq jatane wala look.
Zayan ne casual tareeke se baat shuru ki, “Tum dono ka card dekh kar mujhe samajh nahi aaya… tum sure ho ke Eshaal is shaadi ke liye ready hai?”
Saif ne halka sa muskara kar jawab diya, “Mujhe uski readiness ki parwaah nahi. Main jaanta hoon ke uske liye best kya hai. Aariz ke baad uska future main secure kar sakta hoon.”
Zayan ne andar hi andar gussa daba liya, lekin usne calmly kaha, “Aur agar wo apni khushi chune to?”
Saif ne thoda lean hote hue kaha, “Wo apni khushi nahi jaanti, Zayan. Uska faisla main hoon.”
Us waqt Zayan ko samajh aa gaya ke ye sirf ek love story ka masla nahi… ye Eshaal ki azaadi ka sawaal hai.
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**Part 8 – “Apni Awaaz”**
Us raat Zayan ne apne hostel ke kamre me baith kar lambe waqt tak socha. Saif ke lafz uske kaan me gunj rahe the—*"Uska faisla main hoon."*
Zayan jaanta tha ke agar Eshaal khud nahi bolegi, to koi bhi is faisle ko nahi tod paayega.
Agli subha, usne Eshaal ko message bheja:
*"Aaj sham ko lake par milo… please."*
Sham dhalte hi Eshaal wahan aayi. Wahi jagah jahan pehli baar Zayan ne uske saamne apni feelings ka ek hissa rakha tha. Lake ka paani aaj shaant tha, lekin hawa me ek ajeeb si bechaini thi.
Zayan ne seedha uski aankhon me dekha, “Eshaal, tumhe ek baat samajhni hogi. Main tumhare liye lad sakta hoon… Saif se bhi, duniya se bhi. Lekin agar tum khud apne liye nahi ladogi, to ye sab bekaar hai.”
Eshaal chup rahi. Uski aankhon me aansu bhar aaye, lekin wo girne se pehle usne sir jhuka liya.
Zayan ne diary uske haath me di—wohi “Meri Adhoori Kahani” wali diary. “Isme tumne apna dard likha… ab apni khwahish bhi likho. Sirf ek page. Agar tum chaho ke main tumhare liye rukoon, to mujhe tumhara ‘haan’ chahiye… tumhari awaaz chahiye.”
Eshaal ne diary kholi, pen uthaya… lekin phir usne diary band kar di.
“Zayan… main tumse ek sach chupaa rahi thi,” uski awaaz kaamp rahi thi, “Main sirf Aariz ki maut se nahi tooti… Saif ne… us din Aariz ko force kiya tha ke wo mujhe chhod de, warna…”
Zayan ka dil ekdum se tez dhadakne laga, “Warna… kya?”
Eshaal ne aansu pochhe, “Warna wo mere family ke against kuch kar dega. Aariz ne mujhe bachane ke liye mujhe chhodne ka natak kiya… aur usi din accident ho gaya.”
Zayan ke liye ab yeh sirf pyaar ka nahi, insaaf ka maamla ban chuka tha.
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**Part 9 – “Sach Ka Saamna”**
Us raat Zayan ne ek faisla kar liya—ab darr ka waqt khatam ho gaya tha. Eshaal ka past sirf ek dard nahi tha, balki ek sach tha jo Saif jaise aadmi ki asliyat dikhata tha. Agar ye raaz chhupa raha, to Eshaal zindagi bhar uske zulm ke saaye me rahegi.
Agli subha Zayan ne Hira se milke poora plan discuss kiya. “Mujhe Saif ka confession chahiye… kisi bhi tarah,” Zayan ne kaha.
Hira ne ghabra kar poocha, “Aur agar wo tum par haath utha de?”
Zayan muskara ke bola, “To kam se kam main jaanta hoonga ke maine koshish to ki.”
Do din baad ek chhoti family gathering thi jahan Saif, Eshaal, aur unke parents maujood the. Zayan ne wahan ek recording device chhupakar aana arrange kar liya tha.
Saif ko ek kone me le jaa kar Zayan ne provoke karna shuru kiya, “Sach batao, Saif… tumhe pata tha ke Eshaal tumse shaadi nahi karna chahti. Phir bhi tumne Aariz ko usse alag kiya?”
Saif ne pehle to chup raha, phir halki si hansi ke saath bola, “Haan… Aariz ek bekaar ladka tha. Main jaanta tha ke wo Eshaal ke laayak nahi. Usne mujhe rokne ki koshish ki, to maine use warn kiya… us din uska accident hua, aur main kehta hoon—achha hua.”
Ye lafz Zayan ke dil me aag ban gaye, lekin usne apna gussa daba liya, taake Saif aur bole.
Saif ne aakhri vaar kaha, “Eshaal meri hai, Zayan… chahe use pasand ho ya nahi.”
Itna keh ke Saif wahan se chala gaya, aur Zayan ne recording device uthaya. Uske haath me ab wo saboot tha jo Eshaal ko azaad kara sakta tha.
Magar usse andaza nahi tha ke Saif ne peeche se sab kuch dekh liya tha… aur ab wo chup nahi baithne wala tha.
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**Part 10 – “Aakhri Faisla”**
Us shaam Eshaal apne kamre me baithi thi, diary uske samne khuli thi. Zayan ka message aaya:
*"Mere paas saboot hai… tum aazad ho sakti ho."*
Usi waqt door par zor ka knock hua. Eshaal ne darwaza khola to Saif khada tha—ankhon me gussa, haath me wo recording device.
“Tum samajhti ho main tumhe chhod doonga?” Saif ki awaaz me zehar tha.
Eshaal ka dil tez dhadakne laga, lekin usne himmat karke kaha, “Ab tum kuch bhi kar lo, sach sabke saamne aayega.”
Peeche se Zayan aaya. Uske haath me ek doosri copy thi—original recording ka. “Yeh tumhare saath meri pehli mulakaat nahi, Saif… lekin aakhri zaroor hai,” Zayan ne thande lekin mazboot lehje me kaha.
Saif ne aage badhne ki koshish ki, lekin tabhi Eshaal ke parents aa gaye. Zayan ne bina waqt zaya kiye, unke saamne recording chala di. Har lafz, har sachai, sab unke saamne thi—Aariz ko alag karna, dhamki dena, aur uski maut ke baad ka Saif ka thanda lafz *“achha hua.”*
Eshaal ke walid ki aankhon me gussa aur sharm ek saath thi. “Saif, tum jao… aur dobara kabhi humare samne mat aana.”
Saif wahan se chala gaya, lekin Eshaal zameen par gir gayi—jaise bohot saalon ka bojh ek pal me utar gaya ho. Zayan ne uska haath pakda, “Ab tum azaad ho, Eshaal… apne liye jee sakti ho.”
Eshaal ki aankhon me aansu the, lekin is baar wo dard ke nahi, sukoon ke the. “Zayan… tum meri kahani ka woh hissa ho jo adhoora nahi rahega.”
Lake ke paas, kuch din baad, dono khamoshi me baith kar suraj dhalta dekh rahe the. Aasman laal ho raha tha, aur unki kahani ka naya safar shuru ho chuka tha—iss dafa, bina kisi darr ke.
**The End** ❤️
