School ki subah hamesha ek jaise shuru hoti hai. Assembly ki bell, corridors me faila hua shor, aur students ki bhaag-daud. Par us din Sana ko sab kuch thoda alag lag raha tha. Dil bina kisi wajah ke tez dhadak raha tha, jaise kuch hone wala ho.
Wo late thi.
Second floor ke corridor me pahunch kar jaise hi Sana ne turn liya, wo kisi se zor se takra gayi. Uske haath se books fisal kar floor par gir gayin.
"I'm so—"
Uski awaaz adhoori reh gayi.
Samne khada ladka chup tha. Bilkul shaant. White shirt thodi loose, tie theek se bandhi hui, aur aankhen—gehri aur serious. Un aankhon me kuch aisa tha jo Sana samajh nahi paayi. Ek pal ke liye unki nazrein mili, aur Sana ko laga jaise corridor ki saari awaazein ruk gayi hon.
Aliyar.
Naam usne pehle suna tha. Class ka topper. Hamesha last bench par baithne wala ladka. Jo kisi se baat nahi karta.
"I'm really sorry," Sana ne dheere se kaha, neeche jhuk kar books uthate hue.
Aliyar ne ek book uthayi, Sana ko pakda di, aur bina kuch kahe wahan se chala gaya. Na koi expression. Na koi reaction. Sirf khamoshi.
Sana kuch seconds tak wahi khadi rahi.
Class me baithne ke baad bhi uska dhyaan board par nahi lag paaya. Uski nazar baar-baar last bench ki taraf ja rahi thi. Aliyar window ke paas baitha tha, baahar dekhte hue. Jaise wo class ka hissa ho hi nahi.
Teacher ne jab uska naam liya, Aliyar ek pal ke liye ruk gaya. Sana ne notice kiya—uski fingers bench ke edge ko zor se pakad rahi thi. Phir usne calmly answer diya. Perfect. Bilkul flawless.
Lunch break me Sana apni friends ke saath canteen ki taraf ja rahi thi, jab uski nazar playground ke corner par padi. Aliyar wahan akela baitha tha. Bag paas me tha, lunch box band.
Na koi dost. Na koi phone.
"Aliyar hamesha aise hi rehta hai?" Sana ne poocha.
"Haan," ek friend ne kaha. "Log kehte hain usse door hi rehna chahiye."
Sana ne kuch nahi kaha, par uske dil me ajeeb si bechaini uthne lagi.
Agla period free tha. Library almost khaali thi. Sana ek book lene aayi thi, par ek table par Aliyar ko dekh kar ruk gayi. Wo apni notebook me kuch likh raha tha, phir kaat raha tha, phir likh raha tha.
"Tum project ke liye likh rahe ho?" Sana ne dheere se poocha.
Aliyar chaunk gaya. Usne upar dekha.
"Nahi," usne sirf itna kaha.
Silence phir se wahan aa gayi.
"Tum Sana ho na?" Aliyar ne achanak kaha.
Sana thodi surprised hui. "Haan… tumhe kaise pata?"
"Tum hamesha front row me baithti ho," usne bina dekhe jawab diya.
Bell baji. Sana uth khadi hui. Jaate waqt usne peeche mud kar dekha. Aliyar apni notebook band kar raha tha. Is baar uska chehra serious tha, almost tense.
Shaam ko ghar aane ke baad bhi Sana ke dimaag se Aliyar ka chehra nahi gaya. Uski khamoshi, uska akelapan—sab sawal ban chuke the.
Raat ko phone check karte waqt ek unknown number se message aaya.
"Tumhe Aliyar se door rehna chahiye."
Sana ka dil zor se dhadak utha.
Wo reply likhne hi wali thi ki doosra message aa gaya.
"Kuch kahaniyan sirf school tak limited nahi hoti."
Sana ne phone haath me pakad kar khidki se baahar dekha. Andhera gehra tha. Bilkul usi tarah jaise Aliyar ki aankhon me chhupa hua koi raaz.
Aur us pal Sana ko samajh aa gaya—
ye sirf school love ki kahani nahi hai.
Ye ek raaz ki shuruaat hai.