Lift mein enter kiya… aur jaise hi usne 4th floor ka button dabaya…
Lift ka door band hua…
Aur ek naya button glow hone laga — "7"
Rohit ka heart fast ho gaya.
Usne kabhi pehle ye button nahi dekha tha.
Curiosity mein… usne 7 dabaya.
Lift chalne lagi…
1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6…
Phir rukne ke bajaye… ek aur floor upar gaya.
"7"
Ding…
Door dheere se khula.
Bahar pura andhera tha.
Na koi light… na koi awaaz.
Bas ek long corridor… jismein ek bhi door properly band nahi tha.
Rohit dheere se bahar nikla.
Uske footsteps ki awaaz hi sirf sunai de rahi thi.
Achanak…
Ek door ke andar se awaaz aayi:
"Finally… koi toh aaya."
Rohit ka gala sukh gaya.
"Kaun hai?" — usne poocha.
Door dheere se khula…
Aur andar…
Ek aadmi khada tha — bilkul Rohit jaisa.
Same face. Same clothes.
Woh aadmi dheere se bola:
"Main 3 saal pehle yaha aaya tha… aur tab se niche nahi ja paya."
Rohit darr ke maare peeche hata.
"Matlab??"
Woh aadmi muskuraya:
"Lift sirf ek ko wapas le jaati hai…"
Itna sunte hi…
Lift ka door apne aap band hone laga.
Rohit bhaaga… par tab tak der ho chuki thi.
Door band.
Lift neeche chali gayi.
Aur Rohit…
7th floor par akela reh gaya.
Agli subah…
Naye tenant ne lift use ki.
Aur pehli baar…
Usne dekha —
ek extra button: "7"