Satya ek raat apne kamre me akela baitha tha. Bahar tez baarish ho rahi thi, aur bijli kabhi-kabhi chamak rahi thi. Ghar me ajeeb si khamoshi thi.
Tabhi uska phone baja…
Unknown number.
"Hello?" Satya ne dare hue awaaz me bola.
Dusri taraf se sirf halki si saans lene ki awaaz aa rahi thi…
"Haaah… haaa''..
Satya ne phone kaat diya.
Par turant dobara call aaya.
Is baar usne uthaya nahi.
Phir ek message aaya:
"Main tumhe dekh raha hoon."
Satya ka dil tez dhadakne laga. Usne turant room ke chaaro taraf dekha… sab normal tha.
Phir uska phone fir baja.
Is baar usne himmat karke uthaya.
"Kaun ho tum?" Satya cheekha.
Dusri taraf se dheemi awaaz aayi—
"Peechhe dekho…"
Satya dheere se palta…
Uske piche koi nahi tha.
Woh thoda hasa, "Pagal bana raha hai koi."
Tabhi uska phone fir se vibrate hua.
Message aaya:
"Ab upar dekho…"
Satya ne dheere se apni nazar upar uthayi…
Aur uski cheekh nikal gayi.
Chhat se ek kaali, uljhi hui chehre wali aurat ulti latki hui thi… uski aankhen seedha Satya ko ghur rahi thi… aur uske haath me wahi phone tha jisse call aa raha tha.
Agle din subah, Satya ka phone bed par pada tha…
aur screen par last message likha tha:
"Ab tum meri jagah ho…"