Meeraal ne khaali nazron se canvas ki taraf dekha

Meeraal ne khaali nazron se canvas ki taraf dekha. "Wohi… jis ka chehra kabhi mukammal nahin hota." Mehak khamosh ho gayi. Us ne pehli baar Meeraal ki painting ko ghour se dekha… Aur chand lamhon baad us ke chehre ka rang urr gaya. Kyun ke aaj… Painting mein chehra pehle se zyada wazeh tha. Aur woh chehra… kisi zinda insaan jaisa lag raha tha. Agli subah university mein annual art exhibition thi. Meeraal ne poori raat nahin soya. Jab woh gallery hall mein daakhil hui… logon ke shor… roshniyon… aur tasveeron ke darmiyan use achanak ghutan mehsoos hui. Woh bahar jaane ke liye muri hi thi ke saamne kisi se takra gayi. Us ke haath se file gir gayi. "Sorry." Gehri… dheemi awaaz. Meeraal ne sar uthaya… Aur waqt jaise ruk gaya. Saamne ek ajnabi khara tha. Lamba qad… khamosh chehra… sanjeeda aankhein… Aur ajeeb baat yeh thi ke use dekhte hi Meeraal ke haath kaanpne lage. Kyun ke… Wohi aankhein us ne khwaab mein dekhi thin. Larke ne chand lamhe use dekha… jaise woh bhi kuch pehchaanne ki koshish kar raha ho. Phir pehli baar us ne kaha: "Kya hum… pehle kabhi mile hain?" Meeraal ke haath se dobara file gir gayi. Woh larka jise woh sirf khwaabon mein dekhti thi… aaj haqeeqat mein saamne khara tha.