Alpha CEO's 90 Day Contract

Chapter 16: Wada

Boardroom ki badi glass window se raat ke sheher ki roshni dikh rahi thi. Conference table ke beech me files bikhri padi thi, par ab kisi ka dhyan kaam me nahi tha.

Meeting khatam huye 20 minute ho gaye the. Sab director ja chuke the. Sirf Vivaan aur Anaya reh gaye the.

Anaya ki saans abhi bhi tez chal rahi thi. Vivaan ke us ek jumle ne uska dil hila diya tha - _"Zindagi bhar saath rehne ka wada. Bina kisi contract ke. Sirf mohabbat se."_

"Vivaan..." Anaya ki awaz dheemi thi.

Vivaan table ke doosre kone par khada tha. Usne coat ka button khola aur dheere dheere Anaya ki taraf chala. Uske jooton ki awaz khamosh room me goonj rahi thi.

"Kya soch rahi ho?" Usne poocha.

Anaya ne nazar jhuka li. "Main soch rahi hu... ye sab sach hai ya phir se koi contract hai jiska mujhe baad me pata chalega?"

Vivaan ruk gaya. Usne Anaya ke saamne ghutne tek diye. Haan, us billionaire CEO ne, jiski ek call par crore ka deal hota tha, aaj zameen par baith gaya.

"Anaya, dekho meri taraf," usne Anaya ka chehra apne haathon me liya. "90 din ka contract us din khatam ho gaya jis din tumne mere liye bina soche apni jaan daav par laga di thi. Yaad hai? Jab wo client mujh par bandook tan raha tha aur tum beech me aa gayi thi."

Anaya ki aankhon me aansu aa gaye. Wo din wo kaise bhool sakti thi.

"Uss din mujhe samajh aa gaya tha," Vivaan ki awaz bharra gayi. "Ki maine 90 din ke liye ek ladki kharidi thi, par usne 90 din me mujhe insaan bana diya. Tumne mere zakhmi dil par marham lagaya. Tumne mujhe sikhaya ki pyaar contract se nahi hota."

Anaya ne dheere se haan me sar hilaya.

"Isliye main tumse koi sign nahi mangunga. Koi paper nahi. Bas ek baar... bas ek baar bolo ki tum bhi yehi chahti ho," Vivaan ne kaha.

Room me sirf AC ki halki awaz thi. Anaya ne apne aansu ponche. Pichle 90 din uske liye jung the. Bhai ki bimari, paise ki tangi, aur phir Vivaan jaisa aadmi. Pehle use laga ye uski majboori hai. Phir laga ye uski saza hai. Aur aaj?

Aaj use samajh aa raha tha ki ye uska inaam hai.

"Vivaan," Anaya boli. "Jab main chhoti thi na, meri maa kehti thi - beti, jab sachcha pyaar mile to usse darna mat. Chahe duniya kuch bhi kahe."

"Maa sahi kehti thi," Vivaan muskuraya.

"To main darungi nahi," Anaya ne seedha Vivaan ki aankhon me dekha. "Haan. Main bhi yehi chahti hu. Bina contract ke. Bina shart ke. Sirf tumhare saath."

Jaise hi ye shabd uske muh se nikle, Vivaan ne use apne gale se laga liya. Itna kas kar ki Anaya ko saans lene me takleef hone lagi. Par usne shikayat nahi ki.

"Thank you Anaya. Meri zindagi banane ke liye thank you," Vivaan ne uske kaan me dheere se kaha.

5 minute tak wo aise hi khade rahe. Sheher ki roshni unke upar pad rahi thi.

Phir Anaya peeche hati. "Par ek shart hai meri bhi."

"Kaunsi?" Vivaan ne bhanwe chadhayi.

"Meri shart ye hai ki ab tum office ke baad ghar jaldi aaoge. Mere bhai ke liye time nikaloge. Aur... aur mujhe har raat good night bolo ge," Anaya sharmate hue boli.

Vivaan zor se has pada. "Bas itni si baat? Manzoor hai. Aur meri bhi ek shart hai."

"Bolo."

"Ki tum kabhi mujhse door jaane ki baat nahi karogi. Kabhi nahi," uski awaz gambhir ho gayi.

Anaya ne uska haath pakda. "Promise."

Dono ne ek dusre ko dekha aur muskuraye. 90 din pehle shuru hua ek jhootha rishta, aaj sach me badal gaya tha.

Agla din - Vivaan Mansion

Subah ke 8 baje the. Anaya kitchen me chai bana rahi thi. Uske chhote bhai Aarav, jo ab theek ho chuka tha, table par baith kar cartoon dekh raha tha.

"Didi, wo uncle kaha hain?" Aarav ne poocha.

"Kaun uncle?" Anaya ne mud kar poocha.

"Wahi jo humein hospital le gaye the. Jinke paas badi wali car hai," Aarav masoomiyat se bola.

Anaya sharma gayi. "Wo... wo office gaye hain beta."

Tabhi darwaza khula. Vivaan andar aaya. Haath me phool ka guldasta aur Aarav ke liye chocolates.

"Good morning," usne Anaya ki taraf dekha aur aankh maari.

Anaya ka chehra laal ho gaya. "Office nahi gaye?"

"Gaya tha. 30 minute me saara kaam khatam karke aa gaya. Kaha tha na, ab ghar jaldi aaunga," Vivaan ne Aarav ko god me uthaya. "Kaise ho champ?"

Aarav khilkhila kar has pada. "Theek hu. Aap didi se shaadi karoge?"

Anaya ko chakkar aa gaya. "Aarav!"

Vivaan haste hue bola, "Haan karunga. Bahut jaldi. Tum barat me dance karoge?"

"Haaan!" Aarav taliyan bajane laga.

Anaya ne sharm ke mare muh dusri taraf kar liya. Par dil ke andar ek sukoon tha. Pehli baar us ghar me khamoshi nahi, hansi thi. Pehli baar dar nahi, bharosa tha.

Shaam - Vivaan ke Office

Vivaan apne cabin me baitha tha. Saamne HR head baitha tha.

"Sir, shaadi ki announcement karni hai? Media ko batana hai?" HR ne poocha.

Vivaan ne kalam ghoomayi. "Nahi. Abhi nahi. Pehle Anaya ko duniya ke saamne laane ke liye taiyar karna padega. Log bahut baatein karenge. 90 din ka contract..."

"Sir par aap dono to..."

"Main jaanta hu hum dono kya hain," Vivaan ne beech me roka. "Par main nahi chahta meri wajah se Anaya ko koi baat sune. Use time do. Jab wo khud bolegi, tab sabko batayenge."

HR sir hila kar chala gaya.

Vivaan ne phone uthaya aur Anaya ko call kiya.

"Ghar pahunch gayi?"

"Haan. Aarav so gaya hai," udhar se Anaya ki awaz aayi.

"Khaana khaya?"

"Abhi nahi. Aapka wait kar rahi hu."

"Bas 10 minute. Aa raha hu. Aur haan... I love you."

Phone kat gaya. Anaya ne phone seene se laga liya. Uske chehre par muskan thi.

---

Raat - 11 baje

Vivaan ghar aaya to Anaya terrace par baithi thi. Thandi hawa chal rahi thi.

"Neend nahi aa rahi?" Vivaan uske paas baith gaya.

"Nahi. Dar lag raha hai," Anaya ne sach kaha.

"Kaisa dar?"

"Ki kahin ye sapna na ho. Ki subah uthu to sab khatam ho jaye."

Vivaan ne uska haath pakda. "Sapna nahi hai Anaya. Chuo mujhe."

Anaya ne dheere se uske gaal ko chhua. Garam tha. Asli tha.

"Dekha? Main yahi hu. Aur hamesha rahunga," Vivaan bola.

Anaya uske kandhe par sir rakh kar baith gayi. "Pata hai, jab maine wo contract sign kiya tha na, to maine socha tha main apni izzat bech rahi hu. Par mujhe nahi pata tha ki uske badle mujhe izzat milegi. Pyaar milega. Ghar milega."

"To ab shikayat nahi hai na?" Vivaan ne poocha.

"Bilkul nahi," Anaya hasi. "Bas ek shikayat hai."

"Kya?"

"Ki 90 din itne jaldi kyu khatam ho gaye?"

Dono has pade.

Aasman me chaand nikla hua tha. Neeche sheher so raha tha. Aur upar terrace par do log the jinhone contract se shuru hui kahani ko mohabbat se khatam kiya tha.

Vivaan ne Anaya ka haath aur kas kar pakda.

"Wada hai," usne dheere se kaha.

"Wada hai," Anaya ne bhi jawab diya.

Hawa me gulab ki khushbu thi. Terrace par rakhe gamlo me raat ki rani ke phool khile hue the. Vivaan ne dheere se Anaya ke baal kaan ke peeche kiye.

"Kya kar rahi ho?" Anaya sharmate hue boli.

"Tumhe dekh raha hu," Vivaan muskuraya. "90 din me jitna nahi dekha, utna aaj ek raat me dekh lunga."

Anaya ne nazar jhuka li. "Pagal ho gaye ho kya?"

"Haan, tumhare pyaar me pagal ho gaya hu," Vivaan ne uska haath apne gaal par rakha. "Anaya, pata hai sabse achhi baat kya hai?"

"Kya?"

"Ki ab mujhe har subah uth kar ye sochna nahi padega ki contract ke kitne din baaki hain. Ab har subah sirf tumhara chehra dekhna hai."

Anaya ki aankhon me nami aa gayi. "Vivaan, main... main bahut darti thi."

"Kisse?"

"Isse ki ek din tum kahoge ki contract khatam, ab jao. Main akeli reh jaungi. Bhai ka ilaaj beech me reh jayega."

Vivaan ne use apne seene se laga liya. "Shhh. Ab kabhi akeli nahi rahogi. Aarav mera bhi bhai hai. Uska ilaaj, uski padhai, sab meri zimmedari hai. Samjhi?"

Anaya ne haan me sar hilaya aur uske seene me aur chip gayi. Us pal dono ko laga jaise duniya ki saari khushiyan unke kadam me hain.

Subah - Vivaan Mansion

Dhoop khidki se andar aa rahi thi. Anaya ki neend khuli to dekha Vivaan bed ke kinare baitha usse ghoor raha tha. Haath me coffee ka cup tha.

"Good morning meri wali," Vivaan bola.

Anaya ek dum se uth baithi. "Aap yaha? Room me kaise?"

"Ye ghar ab tumhara bhi hai Anaya. Kaha jau?" Vivaan ne coffee uske taraf badhai. "Utho. Nashta karte hain. Phir Aarav ko school chhodna hai."

Anaya ne coffee li aur ek ghoont piya. "Aaj office nahi jana?"

"Jaunga. 11 baje. Pehle apni biwi aur saale ko time dunga," Vivaan aankh maari.

Anaya ka chehra laal ho gaya. "Biwi... abhi to shaadi bhi nahi hui."

"Ho jayegi. Bahut jaldi. Aur badi wali," Vivaan ne uske maang me se baal hataye. "Tum bolo kaisi shaadi chahiye? Mandap wali ya court wali?"

Anaya sharma kar boli "Jo aapko achhi lage."

"Mujhe tumhari pasand wali," Vivaan ne uske maathe par kiss kiya. "Ready ho jao. Neeche Aarav wait kar raha hai."

Dopahar - Oberoi Group Office

Vivaan apne cabin me baitha tha. Saamne uski Secretary Riya file lekar khadi thi.

"Sir, board meeting 3 baje hai. Aur... aur Nandini ma'am ka call aaya tha," Riya ne dheemi awaz me kaha.

Vivaan ka chehra sakht ho gaya. "Kya kaha usne?"

"Keh rahi thi ki wo 2 din me India aa rahi hain. Shaadi ki baat karni hai."

Vivaan ne kalam table par rakh di. "Riya, ek baat yaad rakhna. Meri life me ab koi Nandini nahi hai. Sirf Anaya hai. Agar aage se uska naam liya to naukri se haath dho baithogi."

Riya dar kar sir hila kar chali gayi.

Vivaan ne phone uthaya aur Anaya ko video call kiya.

Screen par Anaya aayi. Peeche kitchen dikh raha tha. Wo khana bana rahi thi. Baal bandhe hue the, maang me sindoor nahi tha par phir bhi wo Vivaan ko duniya ki sabse khoobsurat lag rahi thi.

"Kya kar rahi ho?" Vivaan ne poocha.

"Aapke liye khana. Rajma chawal. Aarav ki favorite hai," Anaya hasi.

"Ek plate mere liye bhi rakhna. 1 ghante me aa raha hu ghar," Vivaan bola.

"Kyu? Office nahi hai?"

"Office se badi office yahi hai," Vivaan ne camera ghooma kar apna cabin dikhaya. "Jaha meri biwi nahi hai, wo office nahi, jail hai."

Anaya has padi. "Thik hai. Jaldi aana."

Call katne ke baad Vivaan der tak muskurata raha. Pehli baar kaam ke beech me bhi chain tha.

Shaam - Ghar

Vivaan ghar aaya to dekha Anaya aur Aarav garden me khel rahe the. Aarav Vivaan ko dekhte hi daud kar aaya.

"Jiju!" usne Vivaan ko gale laga liya.

Vivaan ne use god me uthaya. "Kya kar rahe the?"

"Cricket. Didi haar gayi," Aarav khilkhila kar bola.

Anaya muh bana kar boli "Main nahi haari. Tum cheating kar rahe the."

Vivaan haste hue dono ke beech me baith gaya. "Chalo ab main khelunga. Dono ko haraunga."

3 log garden me 1 ghante tak khele. Dhoop dhal rahi thi. Thakaan ke baad bhi chehre par sukoon tha.

Raat ko khane ke baad teeno terrace par baithe. Aasman me taare the.

"Jiju, ek kahani sunao na," Aarav ne zid ki.

Vivaan ne Anaya ki taraf dekha. Anaya ne sar hila diya.

"Ek baar ki baat hai," Vivaan ne shuru kiya. "Ek raja tha. Bahut ameer. Par bahut akela. Ek din ek pari aayi aur uska akelapan door kar diya. Phir raja ne pari se wada kiya ki wo hamesha saath rahenge."

"Kya pari maan gayi?" Aarav ne poocha.

To be continue.....