Lights band hote hi poori library andhere mein doob gayi.
Aarav ki saansen tez ho gayin.
"Sir… yeh sab kya hai?" usne kaanpti awaaz mein poocha.
Principal ne dheere se kaha,
"Tumhare papa ne jo dekha tha… wahi tum bhi dekhne wale ho."
Table lamp achanak phir se jal utha.
Uski roshni mein ek register dikh raha tha—
purana, dhool bhara.
Cover par likha tha:
"Night Records – Confidential"
Principal ne register khola.
Ek page par Aarav ka naam likha tha.
Name: Aarav Sharma
Entry Time: 11:58 PM
Exit Time: ———
Aarav peeche hata.
"Mera naam yahan kaise…?"
Tabhi uske phone par vibration hui.
Screen par wahi Unknown Number.
"Principal par bharosa mat karna."
Aarav ne nazar uthakar principal ko dekha.
Unki aankhon mein ab muskaan nahi thi—
sirf gussa.
"Phone band karo," principal ne hukm diya.
"Yahan sirf sach chalega."
Achanak library ke parde hilne lage.
Hawa tez ho gayi.
Aur ek awaaz goonji—
ek jaani-pehchani awaaz.
"Aarav…"
Uska dil ruk sa gaya.
"Papa?"
Andhere ke kone se ek aadmi bahar aaya—
thaka hua, daadhi badhi hui—
lekin woh uske papa the.
"Tum zinda ho…" Aarav ki aankhon se aansu aa gaye.
Papa ne kaha,
"Principal ne mujhe chup rehne par majboor kiya tha.
Jo maine dekha tha… agar bahar aa jata, to poora school band ho jata."
Principal zor se bola,
"Bas! Ab bahut ho gaya."
Usne bell dabayi.
Trinnnng…
School ki aakhri ghanti phir se baj uthi—
is baar aur zyada tez.
Papa ne Aarav ka haath pakda.
"Ab ya to hum sach bahar layenge…
ya yahin kho jayenge."
Aur tabhi floor dheere se khulne laga…