Hostel ki chhat aur woh raat

Final year ke exams chal rahe the aur hostel mein light chali gayi thi. Sab log chhat par aa gaye the, kyunki neeche garmi se bura haal tha. Main apne notes le kar ek kone mein baith gayi, aur tabhi woh aayi — do cup chai aur ek torch ke saath.

Hum dono pehle saal se room-mates the. Saath mein padhai, saath mein raat ki Maggi, saath mein ladai bhi. Par us raat kuch alag tha. Usne apna sar mere kandhe par rakha aur boli, "Pata hai, college khatam hone ke baad sabse zyada tumhe miss karungi."

Maine kuch nahi kaha. Bas uska haath pakad liya. Aur usne chhoda nahi.

Hum dono ko nahi pata tha ki is feeling ka kya karein. Ghar walon ki shaadi ki baatein, relatives ke sawaal, aur future ka darr — sab kuch tha. Par us chhat par, us andhere mein, pehli baar laga ki main jaisi hoon, waisi hi sahi hoon.

Aaj hum alag shehron mein hain, par har hafte video call hoti hai. Kabhi kabhi light jaane par aaj bhi woh chhat yaad aa jaati hai. Agar tumhare paas bhi koi aisa dost hai jo tumhe tumhari tarah dekhta hai, toh use sambhaal ke rakhna.