Ajnabi ki pehchaan… Kabhi kabhi ek lamha poori zindagi se zyada bhaari hota hai

Ajnabi ki pehchaan… Kabhi kabhi ek lamha poori zindagi se zyada bhaari hota hai. Meeraal ke liye woh lamha yahi tha… jab us ajnabi ne poocha tha: "Kya hum pehle kabhi mile hain?" Us ke haath se giri hui file zameen par bikhar gayi thi… magar Meeraal ko yun laga jaise bikharne wali cheez kaaghaz nahin… us ke andar chhupi hui koi deewar thi. Hall mein logon ki awaazein thin… magar dono ke darmiyan ek ajeeb khamoshi khari thi. Larke ne jhuk kar file uthayi. Us ki ungliyan chand lamhon ke liye Meeraal ke haath se chhooin… aur Meeraal ke wajood mein jaise bijli si daur gayi. Ek manzar achanak zehan mein chamka. Baarish… gaari ki brake… kisi ki cheekh… Woh peeche hat gayi. "Aap theek hain?" Us ki awaaz narm thi… magar aankhon mein wohi faasley the jo barson ki tanhaai mein paida hote hain. Meeraal ne bamushkil khud ko sambhala. "Ji…" Woh sirf itna hi keh saki. "Sahir Malik." Us ne mukhtasar sa taaruf karwaya. Naam suntay hi Meeraal ke dil mein ek anjaani kapkapahat utri. Jaise yeh naam us ne kahin suna ho… nahin, mehsoos kiya ho. "Meeraal." Woh aahista se boli. Sahir ne us ka naam dohra kar dekha. "Meeraal…" Jaise kisi bhooli hui cheez ko zubaan par la kar parakh raha ho. Mehak door se daurti hui aayi. "Tum yahan ho! Main kab se dhoond rahi hoon—" Woh ruki… phir Sahir ko dekha. "Oh… sorry." Sahir ne halka sa sar hilaaya aur peeche hat gaya. Magar jaate hue ek baar phir mura… aur Meeraal ko dekha. Woh nazar chand lamhe thehri rahi.