Anjaani Jise Yaad Kiya Wahi Gaya

Mera naam Ruhan hai, aur aaj main tumhe ek aisi kahani sunane jaa raha hoon jo mere hote hue kabhi likhi hi nahi gayi. Shayad isiliye tum isse padh rahe ho, kyunki jise likhna nahi tha, usse sirf mehsoos kiya jaa sakta tha. Aur ab tum mehsoos karne wale ho. Sab kuch ek purani factory ke paas shuru hua. Main photography karta hoon, aur us jagah par main sirf ek burnt building ka shoot karne gaya tha. Lekin wahan mujhe ek photo mili — purani, black and white, lekin bilkul fresh. Photo mein ek ladki thi, lekin uski aankhon mein koi direction nahi tha… jaise woh kisi cheez ko dekh rahi ho jo exist hi nahi karti. Main us photo ko le aaya. Aur us din ke baad har photo mein woh ladki dikhne lagi. Mere shots mein, mere doston ke selfies mein, CCTV footage mein — bina kisike saamne aaye, woh har jagah thi. Kabhi khidki ke peeche, kabhi mirror mein. Par sirf tabhi jab koi uska naam nahi yaad karta. Kyuki jab bhi koi uske baare mein bhoolta… tabhi woh yaad ban jaati thi. Aur woh yaad kisi aur ke dimaag mein ghus jaati thi. Jaise kisi ne virus bhej diya ho. Main us ladki ke baare mein pata karne gaya. Kayi saal pehle ek ladki us factory mein kaam karti thi, par uska record kahin nahi tha. Na naam, na address. Bas ek file thi jisme likha tha — "Jo yaad mein aaye, woh kabhi thi hi nahi." Uske baad se har rat ko ek hi sapna aata — ek aadmi, bina chehre ke, mere sir ke paas baithta aur kehta: "Yaad rakhna, uska naam lena band mat karna. Agar tune bhool gaya… tu uski jagah le lega." Main us sapne se uthta, lekin mere haath mein kuch likha hota — "Tumhara dimaag ab uska nahi hai." Mere dost ne ek din mazaak mein us ladki ki photo delete kar di. Do din baad uski aankhon mein bas darkness thi. Retina normal thi, lekin uske dimaag mein koi aur yaadein thi — woh cheezein yaad kar raha tha jo usne dekhi hi nahi. Ek jagah, ek ladki, ek fire… usne kaha: "Woh wapas aa gayi hai." Uske baad se jo bhi uske paas gaya, unhe ek word yaad reh gaya — "Anjaani." Anjaani. Naam bhi nahi, chehra bhi nahi. Par yaad sabko hai. Aur agar koi use yaad rakhne se mana karta hai… woh yaad ban jaata hai uske andar. Jaise koi dusra version. Maine ek din decide kiya ki main uss factory mein wapas jaunga. Wapas jaate hi mera phone dead ho gaya. Watch ne time dikhana band kar diya. Aur har awaaz ek hi cheez keh rahi thi: "Tu usse bhool gaya. Ab tu woh banega." Wahan ek mirror mila. Mirror mein main tha hi nahi. Sirf ek figure thi — ek ladki jiska chehra nahi tha, par aankhon ke jagah se dhooa nikal raha tha. Usne bola: "Tu mujhe yaad rakhe bina zinda kaise reh gaya?" Maine chillana chaha, lekin awaaz nahi nikli. Bas ek photo li maine us moment ki. Aaj tak woh photo meri gallery mein nahi dikhti… par har naye phone mein aati hai, bina kisi source ke. Main yeh kahani isliye likh raha hoon kyunki main us ladki ka naam bhool gaya hoon. Shayad isse likh ke yaad rakh paun… ya shayad tum yaad kar lo. Par agar tum bhool gaye… to tumhara chehra kisi aur ke sapne mein aayega. Aur tum us sapne ke andar locked rahoge. Jab tak koi aur tumhe yaad na kare. Aur jab tum khud ko bhool jaoge… tabhi tum us ladki ke sath ek hi photo mein dikhoge. Bina naam ke. Bina aankhon ke. Sirf yaadon ke saaye mein. Aaj raat agar tumhare sapne mein ek purani factory aaye… ya koi awaaz kahe "yaad rakhna," to please… uska naam lena. Ya fir tayyar rehna uske banne ke liye. Main Ruhan tha… ya shayad hoon. Tum decide karo. Aur jab andhera tumhare chehre ke upar rukh jaaye… tab aankhen band mat karna. Kyuki woh tabhi dekhti hai.