" kahan hai vo jagah " vikrant ko daru pita dekh akshad bol pada. Vikrant ko umid thi ki pehla sawal kuch aur hoga lekin uski dilchaspi dekh use hairani hui. Usne glass ki bachi hui sharab pite hue use table par rakha aur akshad ki taraf dekhte hue bola.
" Hunga Tonga, South pacfic "
" to ? " akshad sharab ka ghunt pite hue bola " kab jaa rahe ho tum ? "
" jaldi hi, vaise kis kaam ke liye bulaya tha tumne " vikrant mudde ki baat par aya jiske liye use akshad ne ghar par bulaya tha.
" Tumne apne kaam ke liye mujhe itne bade plan ka hissa banaya isliye mei chahta hun ki ab tum mujhe is treasure ka hissa banao " vikrant ko jaise is baat ki umid pehle se hi thi ki akshad use kuch yahi kehne wala hai.
" puch sakta hun is dilchaspi ki vajah ? " vikrant ne sharab muh se lagate hue pucha.
" itna sab kuch ek insan kisi mamuli chiz ke liye nahi karta aur na hi ye treasure mamuli lag raha hai. Shayad tum sahi ho iske piche koi bada raaz chupa hai "
" sorry par mei tumhe nahi le ja sakta " vikrant apni jagah se khada hua. Akshad ne uski taraf dekha par kuch nahi bola. " map ke liye shukriya, iske badle mei tumhe case se bacha chuka hun aur isi ke sath hamara kaam khatam " vikrant ke pal khada rehne ke baad jane laga.
" tumne hi kaha tha ki ek mauka mila hai apni galti sudharne ka " akshad ki baat sun vikrant ruka " mujhe vo mauka chahie vikrant haar kimat par " vikrant ne apni nazar piche modhi to akshad usi ki taraf dekh raha tha.
" theek hai phir jane ka sara intezam tum karoge " vikrant ne akshad ke jawab ka intezar nahi kiya aur chala gaya. Vikrant ke jane ke baad akshad vapis kursi par baith kar sharab glass mein dalne laga. " court se razamandi lijeye dixit ji "
" akshad what are you doing ? " pratiksha dixit ke jawab dene de pehle bol padi.
" what i needed to " usne sharab pite hue jawab diya.
" par akshad this will take time, tum abhi-abhi case se bahar aye ho itni jaldi tumhe bahar jane ki izazt nahi milegi " dixit bola.
" to unhe meri travel history aur mera kaam dikhao aur use bhi na ho to aap dusra tarika jante hi ho "
" theek hai mei kosish karta hun "
" kosish nahi dixitji mujhe result chahie "
" ok " vo apni jagah se khada hua " i guess mujhe ab chalna chahie "
" ek aur chiz " akshad uski taraf ghuma to vo ruk gaya " hire the best assassin "
" for what ? "
" to remove vikrant and his existance " akshad ke bolte hi pratiksha hariani mein apni jagah se khadi hui. Dixit bhi hairani mein use dekhne laga. Akshad apni jagah se khada hua " aap logon ko kya laga usne jo mere sath kiya use mei khush hun " vo ek pal chup hua " nahi, mei to bas us treasure ko pana chahta hun. Vo mera karma badalne chala tha mei uski zindagi ko uske karma se hi alag kar dunga " vikrant se badla lene ka faisla usne usi din le liya tha jab use ye malum hua tha ki usne Kavya ka murder kiya hai vo to uska sath isliye deta raha taki vikrant ka maksad jaan sake aur jab use pata chala ki vo koi treasure hunt ke piche hai jiski wajah se usne itna bada plan banaya aur jis din vikrant ne treasure ki sachai batai tab vo usi pal soch baitha tha ki vo uski madad sirf isliye karega taki vo treasure apne kabze mein le sake.
" pratiksha tum vikrant ki madad karogi, whatever he needs, use bilkul shaq nahi hona chahie ki vo vahan se vapis kabhi nahi aa payega " akshad ne ek gehri sans chhodi, pratiksha use mana karna chahti thi lekin ye shayad sahi mauka tha akshad ko khud par bhaorsa vapis dilane ka. Dixit to wahan se chala gaya lekin pratiksha ruk gayi uske man mein kuch sawal chal rahe the. Dono bar counter ki kursi par baithe the, samne sharab ka glass bhara hua rakha tha.
" how do you know vikrant ? " is sawal ko bahut dino se puchna chahti thi, kafi kosish ke baad bhi is sawal ka jawab vo khoj nahi payi thi.
" Devraj dutta yaad hai tumhe ? " akshad gehri soch mein tha mano yahi soch raha ho aur pratiksha ne uski soch ko pakad liya ho. Pratiksha ne dimag par zor dala to use yaad aya ki akshad kiske bare mein keh raha hai.
" Godfather " vo behad dhimi awaz mein boli aur chup ho gayi. Akshad ko han mein sar hilata dekh vo boli " par uska tumse kya connection ? "
" har raaz tum logon ne hi nahi chupaye pratiksha, kuch mujhse bhi jude hain " akshad ki awaz shabdon ke sath gehrati gayi. Pratiksha jaise bas jawab ka intezar kar rahi thi " tumne Priates ki kahani suni hogi ? " akshad ki baat par pratiksha ne hami bhari " to unke ships par sone ki kahani bhi suni hogi ? "
" wahi gold jise ek myth bataya jata hai "
" hmm, wahi gold jiske liye mene apni zindagi ke pandrah saal lagaye lekin sirf mein hi nahi tha jo us gold ke piche tha, Devraj dutta bhi uske piche tha "
" par vo to sirf ek myth hai, aaj tak kabhi kisi ko uske bare mein pata nahi chala "
" mujhe vo gold mil chuka tha pratiksha " akshad ki ankhein sharab ke glass par tiki hui thi aur pratiksha hairani mein ankhein khol use ghure jaa rahi thi.
" lekin mei abhi bhi tumhara aur vikrant ka connection samjhi nahi "
" Mene godfather ke sath gaddari ki thi pratiksha " vo ek pal chup hua " Dutta ko mei kafi waqt se janta tha, godfather banne se pehle vo dock par kaam karta tha. Smuggling aur phir dhire-dhire drugs mein pakad lene ke baad usne illegal weapons par apna hath dala. Meri use custom ke dauran mulakat hui thi, vo mere kaam aa sakta tha isliye mene use dosti badai par ek din pata chala ki vo usi gold ki talash mein hai jise mein khoj raha hun. Uske pas unlimited resouce ke karran mei uske sath kaam karne ke liye razi hua lekin mei use usme se kuch bhi na dene ka faisla kar chuka tha. Jis gold ka vo 80% apne pass rakhna chahta tha usme se use mene 1% bhi nahi diya. Uske liye vo sona kabhi mila hi nahi lekin mene usi ke resource ko use karke us sone ko khoja aur chupa diya lekin use mujhpar doubt hone laga tha. Mei samajh chuka tha ki ab kisi din bhi meri maut tay hai lekin mei janta tha ki jab tak use sona nahi milega tak tak mei zinda hun bas mujhe us sone ko aisi jagah chupana tha jahan vo use kabhi khoj na sake " vo ek pal phir chup hua " insan puri dunia mein dhundta hai lekin kabhi apne ghar mein nahi khojta. Vo sona usi ke ghar ke niche chupa hua hai " pratiksha ko apne kaano par yakin nahi hua jo bhi usne suna.
" Pandrah Saal pratiksha, mene apne jeevan ke pandrah saal diye the, sari zindagi ki ayashi chhod kar. Tumne sahi kaha tha mene bahut kurbani di hai " vo kuch pal shant raha, pratiksha ko connection nahi mil raha tha lekin vo chup rahi use pata tha ki akshad shayad wahi batane wala hai " Dutta dhire-dhire godfather banta jaa raha tha aur mujhpar usne nazar kafi tezz kar di thi. Sona abhi bhi uske bangle ke niche chupana baki tha lekin pata nahi kaise use pata chala ki mene use sone ki khoj chupai hai. Har thode din mein mujhe alag-alag tarah ki dhamkiyan milne lagi par phir mere pas ek envolope aya takreeban aaj se che saal pehle. Mei office mein baitha bas yahi soch raha tha ki kaise is musibat se bahar niklu aur jaise koi jadugar meri batein sun raha tha. Envolope dekh kar mujhe laga ki shayad Devraj ki hi ek chaal hogi. Uspar ek black stamp laga hua tha aisa stamp mene aaj se pehle kabhi nahi dekha tha. Mere hath kanp rahe the ki ise kholo ya nahi lekin mene use khola. Usme likha tha ki mujhe jo pehchan pareshan kar rahi hai us pareshani ka hal nikal chuka hai. Kabhi dubara jarurat pade to yaad jarur karna "
" vikrant " pratiksha boli.
" naam ke alawa bas ek number jo mene tumhe diya tha jise tumhe uska ghar ka address mila tha "
" kya use pehle tumne us number ko use nahi kiya tha ? "
" kiya tha.. lekin jab bhi number milata vo kabhi reach nahi hota aur ek hi message bar-bar milta ' Karma is in Process ' " akshad jitna hairan hua karta tha utni pareshani ab pratiksha ke chehre par thi.
" uske baad ? "
" Dutta usi raat mara gaya "
" vikrant " uska muh khul gaya.
" han pratiksha vikrant, vo janta tha ki sona mere pas hai lekin use meri jarurat thi isliye usne dutta se mujhe bachaya taki vo mera istemal baad mein kar sake. Vo envelope sirf mujhe isliye bheja gaya taki jab mera waqt aye to mei use hi chunnun aur jo admi mujhe dutta se bacha sakta hai sirf wahi mujhe is case se bacha sakta tha isliye mene tumhe bheja aur har kimat par use mere liye hire karne ko kaha lekin mujhe us waqt ye nahi pata tha ki it was all planned " Akshad ne glass ko majbut hathon se pakad liya tha. Pratiksha ko jawab mil chuka tha ki kyun akshad vikrant ko apne liye har haal mein chahta tha. Galti uski nahi thi agar vo uski jagah hoti tab vo bhi wahi karti.
" par kaise ? "
" iska jawab sirf vikrant ke pas hai aur shayad iske baad vo koi aur jawab kabhi nahi de payega " usne sharab pite hue jawab diya aur glass wahin rakh khada ho gaya.
" kitna sona tha ? " pratiksha sawal karna nahi chahti thi lekin akshad ko jatte jatte usne puch hi liya.
" itna ki is desh ki gareebi mit jaye " akshad kamre mein ghuste hue bola " good night pratiksha " aur uski ankhon ke aage se ojhal ho gaya.
Chalis din ki mehat aur noton ki gaddi ke baad kanun se akshad ko izazt mil chuki thi. Vikrant ki tayari puri ho chuki thi vo apne dad ke gayab hone ke sach se bas kuch hi kadam dur tha. Vo apne dad ki tasveer ke aage khada use dekhe jaa raha tha, usne ek baar tasveer ke niche likhe naam par hath faira " i am coming dad " uski awaz aur akhein dono hi bhari thi. Ek pal vo aur khada raha phir ghar se sara saman lekar nikal gaya.
" Hunga Tonga, South pacfic "
" to ? " akshad sharab ka ghunt pite hue bola " kab jaa rahe ho tum ? "
" jaldi hi, vaise kis kaam ke liye bulaya tha tumne " vikrant mudde ki baat par aya jiske liye use akshad ne ghar par bulaya tha.
" Tumne apne kaam ke liye mujhe itne bade plan ka hissa banaya isliye mei chahta hun ki ab tum mujhe is treasure ka hissa banao " vikrant ko jaise is baat ki umid pehle se hi thi ki akshad use kuch yahi kehne wala hai.
" puch sakta hun is dilchaspi ki vajah ? " vikrant ne sharab muh se lagate hue pucha.
" itna sab kuch ek insan kisi mamuli chiz ke liye nahi karta aur na hi ye treasure mamuli lag raha hai. Shayad tum sahi ho iske piche koi bada raaz chupa hai "
" sorry par mei tumhe nahi le ja sakta " vikrant apni jagah se khada hua. Akshad ne uski taraf dekha par kuch nahi bola. " map ke liye shukriya, iske badle mei tumhe case se bacha chuka hun aur isi ke sath hamara kaam khatam " vikrant ke pal khada rehne ke baad jane laga.
" tumne hi kaha tha ki ek mauka mila hai apni galti sudharne ka " akshad ki baat sun vikrant ruka " mujhe vo mauka chahie vikrant haar kimat par " vikrant ne apni nazar piche modhi to akshad usi ki taraf dekh raha tha.
" theek hai phir jane ka sara intezam tum karoge " vikrant ne akshad ke jawab ka intezar nahi kiya aur chala gaya. Vikrant ke jane ke baad akshad vapis kursi par baith kar sharab glass mein dalne laga. " court se razamandi lijeye dixit ji "
" akshad what are you doing ? " pratiksha dixit ke jawab dene de pehle bol padi.
" what i needed to " usne sharab pite hue jawab diya.
" par akshad this will take time, tum abhi-abhi case se bahar aye ho itni jaldi tumhe bahar jane ki izazt nahi milegi " dixit bola.
" to unhe meri travel history aur mera kaam dikhao aur use bhi na ho to aap dusra tarika jante hi ho "
" theek hai mei kosish karta hun "
" kosish nahi dixitji mujhe result chahie "
" ok " vo apni jagah se khada hua " i guess mujhe ab chalna chahie "
" ek aur chiz " akshad uski taraf ghuma to vo ruk gaya " hire the best assassin "
" for what ? "
" to remove vikrant and his existance " akshad ke bolte hi pratiksha hariani mein apni jagah se khadi hui. Dixit bhi hairani mein use dekhne laga. Akshad apni jagah se khada hua " aap logon ko kya laga usne jo mere sath kiya use mei khush hun " vo ek pal chup hua " nahi, mei to bas us treasure ko pana chahta hun. Vo mera karma badalne chala tha mei uski zindagi ko uske karma se hi alag kar dunga " vikrant se badla lene ka faisla usne usi din le liya tha jab use ye malum hua tha ki usne Kavya ka murder kiya hai vo to uska sath isliye deta raha taki vikrant ka maksad jaan sake aur jab use pata chala ki vo koi treasure hunt ke piche hai jiski wajah se usne itna bada plan banaya aur jis din vikrant ne treasure ki sachai batai tab vo usi pal soch baitha tha ki vo uski madad sirf isliye karega taki vo treasure apne kabze mein le sake.
" pratiksha tum vikrant ki madad karogi, whatever he needs, use bilkul shaq nahi hona chahie ki vo vahan se vapis kabhi nahi aa payega " akshad ne ek gehri sans chhodi, pratiksha use mana karna chahti thi lekin ye shayad sahi mauka tha akshad ko khud par bhaorsa vapis dilane ka. Dixit to wahan se chala gaya lekin pratiksha ruk gayi uske man mein kuch sawal chal rahe the. Dono bar counter ki kursi par baithe the, samne sharab ka glass bhara hua rakha tha.
" how do you know vikrant ? " is sawal ko bahut dino se puchna chahti thi, kafi kosish ke baad bhi is sawal ka jawab vo khoj nahi payi thi.
" Devraj dutta yaad hai tumhe ? " akshad gehri soch mein tha mano yahi soch raha ho aur pratiksha ne uski soch ko pakad liya ho. Pratiksha ne dimag par zor dala to use yaad aya ki akshad kiske bare mein keh raha hai.
" Godfather " vo behad dhimi awaz mein boli aur chup ho gayi. Akshad ko han mein sar hilata dekh vo boli " par uska tumse kya connection ? "
" har raaz tum logon ne hi nahi chupaye pratiksha, kuch mujhse bhi jude hain " akshad ki awaz shabdon ke sath gehrati gayi. Pratiksha jaise bas jawab ka intezar kar rahi thi " tumne Priates ki kahani suni hogi ? " akshad ki baat par pratiksha ne hami bhari " to unke ships par sone ki kahani bhi suni hogi ? "
" wahi gold jise ek myth bataya jata hai "
" hmm, wahi gold jiske liye mene apni zindagi ke pandrah saal lagaye lekin sirf mein hi nahi tha jo us gold ke piche tha, Devraj dutta bhi uske piche tha "
" par vo to sirf ek myth hai, aaj tak kabhi kisi ko uske bare mein pata nahi chala "
" mujhe vo gold mil chuka tha pratiksha " akshad ki ankhein sharab ke glass par tiki hui thi aur pratiksha hairani mein ankhein khol use ghure jaa rahi thi.
" lekin mei abhi bhi tumhara aur vikrant ka connection samjhi nahi "
" Mene godfather ke sath gaddari ki thi pratiksha " vo ek pal chup hua " Dutta ko mei kafi waqt se janta tha, godfather banne se pehle vo dock par kaam karta tha. Smuggling aur phir dhire-dhire drugs mein pakad lene ke baad usne illegal weapons par apna hath dala. Meri use custom ke dauran mulakat hui thi, vo mere kaam aa sakta tha isliye mene use dosti badai par ek din pata chala ki vo usi gold ki talash mein hai jise mein khoj raha hun. Uske pas unlimited resouce ke karran mei uske sath kaam karne ke liye razi hua lekin mei use usme se kuch bhi na dene ka faisla kar chuka tha. Jis gold ka vo 80% apne pass rakhna chahta tha usme se use mene 1% bhi nahi diya. Uske liye vo sona kabhi mila hi nahi lekin mene usi ke resource ko use karke us sone ko khoja aur chupa diya lekin use mujhpar doubt hone laga tha. Mei samajh chuka tha ki ab kisi din bhi meri maut tay hai lekin mei janta tha ki jab tak use sona nahi milega tak tak mei zinda hun bas mujhe us sone ko aisi jagah chupana tha jahan vo use kabhi khoj na sake " vo ek pal phir chup hua " insan puri dunia mein dhundta hai lekin kabhi apne ghar mein nahi khojta. Vo sona usi ke ghar ke niche chupa hua hai " pratiksha ko apne kaano par yakin nahi hua jo bhi usne suna.
" Pandrah Saal pratiksha, mene apne jeevan ke pandrah saal diye the, sari zindagi ki ayashi chhod kar. Tumne sahi kaha tha mene bahut kurbani di hai " vo kuch pal shant raha, pratiksha ko connection nahi mil raha tha lekin vo chup rahi use pata tha ki akshad shayad wahi batane wala hai " Dutta dhire-dhire godfather banta jaa raha tha aur mujhpar usne nazar kafi tezz kar di thi. Sona abhi bhi uske bangle ke niche chupana baki tha lekin pata nahi kaise use pata chala ki mene use sone ki khoj chupai hai. Har thode din mein mujhe alag-alag tarah ki dhamkiyan milne lagi par phir mere pas ek envolope aya takreeban aaj se che saal pehle. Mei office mein baitha bas yahi soch raha tha ki kaise is musibat se bahar niklu aur jaise koi jadugar meri batein sun raha tha. Envolope dekh kar mujhe laga ki shayad Devraj ki hi ek chaal hogi. Uspar ek black stamp laga hua tha aisa stamp mene aaj se pehle kabhi nahi dekha tha. Mere hath kanp rahe the ki ise kholo ya nahi lekin mene use khola. Usme likha tha ki mujhe jo pehchan pareshan kar rahi hai us pareshani ka hal nikal chuka hai. Kabhi dubara jarurat pade to yaad jarur karna "
" vikrant " pratiksha boli.
" naam ke alawa bas ek number jo mene tumhe diya tha jise tumhe uska ghar ka address mila tha "
" kya use pehle tumne us number ko use nahi kiya tha ? "
" kiya tha.. lekin jab bhi number milata vo kabhi reach nahi hota aur ek hi message bar-bar milta ' Karma is in Process ' " akshad jitna hairan hua karta tha utni pareshani ab pratiksha ke chehre par thi.
" uske baad ? "
" Dutta usi raat mara gaya "
" vikrant " uska muh khul gaya.
" han pratiksha vikrant, vo janta tha ki sona mere pas hai lekin use meri jarurat thi isliye usne dutta se mujhe bachaya taki vo mera istemal baad mein kar sake. Vo envelope sirf mujhe isliye bheja gaya taki jab mera waqt aye to mei use hi chunnun aur jo admi mujhe dutta se bacha sakta hai sirf wahi mujhe is case se bacha sakta tha isliye mene tumhe bheja aur har kimat par use mere liye hire karne ko kaha lekin mujhe us waqt ye nahi pata tha ki it was all planned " Akshad ne glass ko majbut hathon se pakad liya tha. Pratiksha ko jawab mil chuka tha ki kyun akshad vikrant ko apne liye har haal mein chahta tha. Galti uski nahi thi agar vo uski jagah hoti tab vo bhi wahi karti.
" par kaise ? "
" iska jawab sirf vikrant ke pas hai aur shayad iske baad vo koi aur jawab kabhi nahi de payega " usne sharab pite hue jawab diya aur glass wahin rakh khada ho gaya.
" kitna sona tha ? " pratiksha sawal karna nahi chahti thi lekin akshad ko jatte jatte usne puch hi liya.
" itna ki is desh ki gareebi mit jaye " akshad kamre mein ghuste hue bola " good night pratiksha " aur uski ankhon ke aage se ojhal ho gaya.
Chalis din ki mehat aur noton ki gaddi ke baad kanun se akshad ko izazt mil chuki thi. Vikrant ki tayari puri ho chuki thi vo apne dad ke gayab hone ke sach se bas kuch hi kadam dur tha. Vo apne dad ki tasveer ke aage khada use dekhe jaa raha tha, usne ek baar tasveer ke niche likhe naam par hath faira " i am coming dad " uski awaz aur akhein dono hi bhari thi. Ek pal vo aur khada raha phir ghar se sara saman lekar nikal gaya.