Subah hospital se aayi call ne Anaya ki neend tod di.
Uska dil bina wajah hi tez dhadakne laga.
"Condition stable hai… par risk abhi bhi hai," doctor ne calmly kaha.
Anaya ne relief ki saans li, par poori tasalli nahi mili. Ye sirf ek pause tha, end nahi.
Aarav already ready tha. Jaise use ye call expected thi.
"Tum hospital jaogi," usne kaha. "Aur main meeting attend karunga."
"Meeting?" Anaya ne poocha.
"Contract se judi," Aarav ne short reply diya.
Hospital ke bahar Anaya ne ruk kar Aarav ko dekha.
"Jo bhi ho raha hai… main sirf ek naam nahi banna chahti."
Aarav ne pehli baar bina hesitation kaha,
"Tum sirf ek naam nahi ho."
Ye words chhote the, par unka weight zyada tha.
Anaya ne samajh liya—
ye chapter sirf uski maa ke liye nahi,
balki uske apne liye bhi ek pehla compromise tha.
Aur kahin na kahin, Aarav ke liye bhi.