Lockdown Love: Ek Anjaani Shuruaat

Kabhi-kabhi zindagi me kuch log bina kisi wajah ke special ban jaate hain… Aur hume khud bhi nahi pata chalta ki kab wo sirf ek insaan nahi… balki ek aadat ban jaate hain। Aaj bhi wo din bilkul yaad hai… 2020… Jab poori duniya ruk si gayi thi। School band ho chuke the, aur classes ab mobile screen tak simat gayi thi। Har din ek hi routine—online classes, assignments aur ghar ki chaar deewarein। Mujhe lagta tha ye saal meri zindagi ka sabse boring saal hone wala hai… Par shayad kismat ko kuch aur hi manzoor tha। Shuru ke kuch mahine sab normal tha। Daily classes attend karna, homework complete karna, revision karna… ye sab mere routine ka hissa ban chuka tha। Main class ki topper to nahi thi, par haan… teachers ko kabhi shikayat ka mauka nahi diya। Waqt aise hi nikalta gaya… Online classes, exams, aur phir summer vacation bhi khatam ho gayi। Aur phir… Wo din aaya jisne sab kuch badal diya। Lockdown ke baad, naye session me hume pehli baar school jane ka mauka mila। School ka pehla din… Main subah jaldi uth gayi thi। Shayad excitement zyada thi… ya phir andar hi andar ek ajeeb si feeling। Jaldi se ready hoke main school bus se school pahunchi। Apni class dhundi aur jaakar 3rd desk par baith gayi। Mujhe nahi pata tha ki mere section me kaun-kaun hoga। Online classes me kabhi kisi ka face properly dekha hi nahi tha। Kuch purane classmates the… par zyadatar chehre mere liye naye the। Meri koi close friend bhi is baar mere section me nahi thi। Isliye main chup-chaap akeli baithi rahi। Classes shuru hone wali thi… Tabhi… Class ke gate par kisi ne knock kiya। Ek ladka andar aaya— Bikhre baal… serious face… innocent shakal… aur thoda sa attitude। “May I come in, ma’am?” Ma’am ne gusse me kaha— “Ye school hai, college nahi! Pehle apni shirt aur tie theek karo… phir andar aao!” Mujhe aise ladke bilkul pasand nahi the… Aur wo ladka bilkul waisa hi laga—careless, attitude wala। Ya shayad… maine jaldi judge kar liya tha। Wo last bench par jaakar baith gaya। Class shuru ho gayi… Par pata nahi kyu… Mera dhyaan baar-baar usi ki taraf ja raha tha। Kabhi wo khidki ke bahar dekh raha tha… Kabhi notebook me kuch likh raha tha… Aur phir… Ek pal aisa aaya… jab usne meri taraf dekha। Hamari aankhein bas ek second ke liye mili… Par us ek second me… Jaise kuch badal gaya tha। Jaise meri zindagi me kuch naya shuru hone wala tha… Aur shayad… mujhe us waqt iska ehsaas bhi nahi tha। Us ek nazar ke baad… sab kuch normal hona chahiye tha. Class chal rahi thi, teacher padha rahi thi… Par mera dhyaan kahin aur hi tha. Pata nahi kyu… par dil baar-baar usi pal ko yaad kar raha tha. Jaise wo ek second… mere liye kuch zyada hi important ban gaya ho. Maine khud se kaha — “It’s nothing… bas ek normal sa moment tha.” Lekin dil maan hi nahi raha tha… Tabhi achanak… “Tum… last bench wale!” Mam ki awaaz poori class me gunj uthi. Maine turant uski taraf dekha… Wo khada tha… bilkul careless style me. Jaise usse kisi baat ka farq hi nahi padta. “Answer do… warna bahar jao!” Mam ne thoda gusse me kaha. Puri class uski taraf dekh rahi thi… Aur main bhi. Par is baar… pata nahi kyu… Mujhe uske answer se zyada… uski reaction dekhni thi… Puri class bilkul chup ho gayi… Sabko lag raha tha ki ab ye pakka fas gaya. Lekin… Wo bilkul bhi nervous nahi tha. Usne halki si smile di… aur bina jaldi kiye bola — “Mam, answer hai…” Aur phir usne itni confidently aur perfectly answer diya… ki poori class ekdum shock reh gayi. Mam bhi kuch seconds ke liye chup ho gayi… jaise unhe bhi expect nahi tha. “Hmm… not bad.” Mam ne kaha, thoda surprise hote hue. Class me halki si whispers shuru ho gayi — “Yaar isko sab aata hai kya?” “Attitude bhi aur brain bhi…” Aur main… Main bas usse dekh rahi thi. Ab wo mujhe pehle jaisa bilkul nahi lag raha tha… Shayad main galat thi… Ya shayad… wo utna simple nahi tha jitna wo dikhta hai. Tabhi… Usne phir se meri taraf dekha. Is baar… thodi der ke liye. M usse nzre milana nhi chaa rhi thi.. or khud ko uski taraf dekhne se bhot roka par..... pta nahi ku bar bar usko hi dekhne ka mn krta. Class chal rahi thi… Par mera dhyaan ab bhi usi par tha. Kabhi wo notebook me likh raha tha… kabhi bina wajah smile kar raha tha… Aur pata nahi kyu… mera dhyaan usse hat hi nahi raha tha. Tabhi achanak — “Tum! 3rd bench wali…” Mam ki awaaz sunte hi mera dil ek second ke liye ruk sa gaya. “Haan tum… khadi ho jao.” Main dheere se khadi ho gayi… Puri class ki nazrein ab mujh par thi. “Itni der se kya dekh rahi ho? Batao, maine abhi kya samjhaya?” Mam ne thoda strict tone me pucha. Mere paas koi answer nahi tha… Main chup thi… bilkul chup. “Answer?” Mam ne fir se kaha. Mera dimaag blank ho chuka tha… Aur dil zor-zor se dhadak raha tha. Tabhi… Peeche se ek awaaz aayi — “Mam, main bata deti hoon…” Maine turant mud kar dekha… Ye meri classmate thi, jo hamesha mujhse jalti thi… Kyuki main unki class me baatein karne wali aadat teachers ko bata deti thi. Usne bina ruke pura answer de diya. Mam ne uski taraf dekha aur phir mujhe — “Next time dhyaan se sunna… sit down.” Main chup-chaap baith gayi… Mujhe kaafi embarrassment feel ho raha tha… Class khatam hone ke baad… Jaise hi main apni notebook pack kar rahi thi… Tabhi… Koi mere paas aakar ruk gaya… “Next time… dhyaan idhar-udhar kam rakha karo…” Maine upar dekha… Meri wahi classmate mere saamne khadi thi. Main kuch bol hi nahi paayi… “Waise… tumhe answer nahi aata tha, ya tum kisi aur cheez me busy thi?” “Mujhe aata tha…” maine dheere se kaha, “bas dhyaan nahi tha.” “Haan, wo to dikh hi raha tha… Tumhara dhyaan kis par tha… I mean, kahan tha…” Uski baat sunkar mujhe thoda gussa bhi aaya… Par maine kuch nahi kaha… Shayad… abhi jawab dene ka time nahi tha. Tabhi peeche se ek familiar si awaaz aayi — “Tum yahan ho…?” Maine turant mud kar dekha… Wo tha. Par is baar… wo mujhse nahi, usse dekh raha tha. “Arey, tu…!” meri classmate ke face par ekdum se smile aa gayi. “Kitne time baad mil rahe hain…” Main bas dono ko dekh rahi thi… thodi confused si. “Tum dono… ek dusre ko jaante ho?” maine finally pucha. “Haan,” usne casual tone me kaha, “Hum childhood friends hain.” Mere liye wo ek normal line honi chahiye thi… Par pata nahi kyu… Dil me ek ajeeb sa feel hua. Wo dono baat kar rahe the… Jaise unke beech sab pehle se hi normal ho. Kabhi wo usse tease kar raha tha… kabhi wo usse smile karke jawab de rahi thi… Aur main… Bas unhe dekh rahi thi. Pata nahi kyu… Par mujhe achha nahi lag raha tha. Tabhi school ki bell baj gayi… Sab apne bags uthane lage… Wo bhi apne friends ke saath chala gaya… Aur jaate-jaate… Usne ek baar bhi mud kar nahi dekha. Main wahi khadi thi… Usse door jaate hue dekhte hue… Shayad… Aaj mujhe samajh aa gaya tha… Ki kuch feelings… bina bataye hi shuru ho jaati hain… Aur shayad… bina poore hue hi reh jaati hain… Aur is tarah… mera pehla school day khatam hua… Par kahani… abhi shuru hui thi… To be continued…