Classroom ka mahaul ab bhi waise hi tha…
log haste the, baatein karte the…
par Ahana ke liye sab kuch badal chuka tha.
Aaj wo chup rehne wali nahi thi.
Wahi ladka phir se bola —
"Waise tum logon ko toh reservation mil hi jata hai… tension kya hai?"
Is baar Ahana ne sir uthaaya.
Uski aankhon me darr nahi… gussa bhi nahi…
bas ek ajeeb sa confidence tha.
"Reservation meri pehchaan nahi hai… meri mehnat hai."
Class ekdum silent ho gayi.
"Tum logon ko sirf mera caste dikhta hai…
par tumne kabhi meri mehnat dekhi hai?"
Kisi ke paas jawab nahi tha.
Ahana ne apni kitab uthayi…
aur calmly baith gayi.
Us din pehli baar…
use laga ki usne khud ke liye awaaz uthayi hai.
Aur ye bas shuruaat thi.