College ka pehla din hamesha special hota hai…
Par Ira ke liye, wo din uski zindagi ka turning point banne wala tha.
Campus me halki si hustle thi—
Freshers idhar-udhar bhaag rahe the, seniors apni groups me loud laugh kar rahe the, aur har taraf ek ajeeb si excitement thi.
Ira ne apna bag thoda aur tight pakda.
New place. New people.
Aur ek chhota sa dar… jo uske saath hamesha rehta tha.
“Relax Ira… bas ek normal day hai,” usne dheere se khud se kaha.
Par usse kya pata tha—
yeh “normal day” kabhi normal nahi rehne wala.
Lecture hall ke bahar bheed lagi hui thi.
Ira corner me khadi thi, quietly observe karte hue.
Tabhi…
Door khula.
Aur wo andar aaya.
Time jaise slow ho gaya.
White shirt.
Calm face.
Confidence… jo naturally uske andar tha.
Kabir Malhotra.
Naam Ira ko tab nahi pata tha.
Par us pal…
Usse sirf itna feel hua—
jaise uski duniya ek hi jagah ruk gayi ho.
Kabir bina kisi effort ke andar chala gaya.
Log usse greet kar rahe the, kuch log uske paas jaa kar baat kar rahe the.
Wo alag tha.
Different.
Special.
Ira ki nazrein usse hat hi nahi rahi thi.
Usne kabhi kisi ko aise notice nahi kiya tha.
Kabhi kisi ko itna… feel nahi kiya tha.
Dil thoda fast dhadak raha tha.
“Yeh kaun hai…?” usne halki si fusi me kaha.
Koi answer nahi tha.
Par uske andar ek ajeeb si awaaz aayi—
“Bas yehi hai…”
Lecture start ho chuka tha.
Teacher kuch explain kar rahe the, board pe likh rahe the…
Par Ira?
Uska dhyaan kahin aur tha.
Kabir second row me baitha tha, completely focused.
Pen smoothly chal raha tha, expressions calm the.
Jaise duniya me koi distraction ho hi nahi.
Ira last bench pe baithi thi.
Aur uski nazrein…
sirf us par thi.
Ek baar bhi usne peeche mudh kar nahi dekha.
Ek baar bhi nahi.
Aur shayad… wahi Ira ke liye enough tha.
Kyuki usse lagne laga—
“Main usse dekh rahi hoon… par wo mujhe kyun nahi dekh raha?”
Ek chhoti si curiosity thi.
Phir wo curiosity dheere dheere kuch aur banne lagi.
Lecture khatam hua.
Sab log uth kar bahar jaane lage.
Kabir apni files pack karke calmly khada hua aur bina kisi rush ke door ki taraf badh gaya.
Ira ne bina soche… uske peeche chalna shuru kar diya.
Distance maintain karke.
Chup-chaap.
Jaise koi invisible thread usse kheench raha ho.
Kabir canteen ki taraf gaya.
Friends uska wait kar rahe the.
Wo hasa.
Aur Ira… ruk gayi.
Door khadi… usse dekhte hue.
Uski hasi simple thi.
Par Ira ke liye…
wo kuch zyada hi thi.
“Tu new hai na?” peeche se kisi ne pucha.
Ira thodi jhijhki.
“Haan…”
“Phir tu usse kyun dekh rahi hai?” ladki ne tease karte hue kaha.
Ira confuse ho gayi, “Kisko?”
Ladki ne seedha point kiya—
“Kabir.”
Ira ka dil ek second ke liye ruk gaya.
Kabir.
Naam bhi perfect tha.
“Wo topper hai. Sab usse jaante hain,” ladki casually boli.
Topper.
Smart.
Confident.
Perfect.
Ira ne phir usse dekha.
Aur is baar… uski aankhon me sirf curiosity nahi thi.
Kuch aur tha.
Kuch jo usne pehle kabhi feel nahi kiya.
Shaam ko ghar aake, Ira apne bed par baithi thi.
Room silent tha.
Usne apni diary nikali.
Pen haath me liya.
Aur bina soche likh diya—
“Aaj maine usse dekha…
Aur mujhe nahi pata kyun…
par lagta hai…
Bas yehi hai.”
Wo ruk gayi.
Khud pe thoda sa hasi aayi.
“Pagal ho gayi hoon kya main?” usne dheere se kaha.
Par andar kahin…
wo line sach lag rahi thi.
Us raat Ira ne pehli baar kisi ke baare me itna socha.
Uska naam…
uska face…
uski smile…
Aur usse yeh bilkul idea nahi tha—
ki yeh ek normal crush nahi hai.
Yeh shuruaat hai…
ek aise junoon ki…
jo usse usi se cheen lega.
Chapter End Hook:
Next day…
Ira phir usse dekhne ke liye jaldi college pahunch gayi.
Par is baar…
Kabir ne pehli baar usse notice kiya.
Aur uski aankhon me…
clearly likha tha—
“Why is she always there?”
i want become a writer
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