Arohi Sharma, 21 saal ki, university ki final year student thi. Smart, thodi si rebellious, aur class mein hamesha sabse alag. Uske long dark hair, sharp eyes, aur woh chhota sa mole lips ke kone pe… log notice kiye bina nahi reh paate the. Woh Contemporary Literature ki student thi, aur is semester uska professor tha Advik Mehra.

Advik 32 saal ka tha. Serious, thoda strict, aur apne subject ka master. Tall, sharp jawline, aur woh quiet intensity jo classroom mein hi feel ho jaati thi. Students usse respect bhi karte the aur thoda darte bhi the. Usne kabhi kisi student ke saath line cross nahi ki thi. Abhi tak.

Semester ke teesre week mein sab kuch badalna shuru hua.

Arohi uski class mein paanch minute late aayi. Baal khule the, thodi si baarish ab bhi unpe chipki hui thi. Usne koi maafi nahi maangi. Seedha second row mein baith gayi, bag neeche rakha, aur Advik ko dekhne lagi.

Normal student wali nervous nazar nahi thi. Yeh seedhi thi. Curious. Thodi si challenge karti hui.

Advik lecture continue kiya, awaaz normal rakhi, lekin uski aankhen baar baar Arohi pe jaa rahi thi. Woh aise sun rahi thi jaise har word ko feel kar rahi ho. Jab Advik ne modern poetry mein desire ke baare mein sawaal poocha, Arohi ka haath uth gaya.

“Mujhe lagta hai poet love ki baat nahi kar raha,” Arohi ne clear awaaz mein kaha. “Woh us tarah ki wanting ki baat kar raha hai jo thoda sa khud se nafrat dilwa de. Jo feel ho ki yeh tumhe barbaad kar sakti hai, phir bhi tum uske aur kareeb chale jao.”

Class chup ho gayi.

Advik ne usse ek second zyada der tak dekha. “Interesting interpretation, Miss Sharma.”

Arohi ne chhota sa private sa smile diya, jaise room mein sirf woh dono hon.

Class ke baad woh peeche ruk gayi, jaan-bujhkar dheere bag pack kar rahi thi. Advik board saaf kar raha tha jab uski awaaz peeche se aayi.

“Sir… kal office hours hain kya? Essay topic discuss karna tha.”

Advik muda. Woh usse expect se zyada kareeb khadi thi. Baarish aur halki si vanilla ki khushboo us tak aa rahi thi.

“Chaar baje,” usne kaha. “Late mat aana.”

Arohi ne head tilt kiya. “Nahi aaungi late.”

Us raat Advik bed pe der tak leta raha, ceiling dekhte hue. Arohi ke muh se nikla hua word barbaad baar baar dimaag mein ghum raha tha.

Agle din, 4:07 p.m.

Arohi ne ek baar knock kiya aur andar aa gayi. Simple white shirt thi, high-waisted jeans mein. Kuch bhi zyada revealing nahi. Phir bhi Advik ka throat tab tight ho gaya jab door click karke band hua.

Woh uske desk ke saamne baithi, notebook kholi, pen ready kiya. Barah minute tak essay ki baat hui. Proper. Academic. Safe.

Phir usne notebook band kar di.

“Ek personal si baat pooch sakti hoon, Sir?”

Advik peeche lean hua. “Depends.”

“Aap kabhi woh cheezein likhte ho jo actually feel karte ho… ya sirf woh jo paper pe intelligent lagti hain?”

Sawaal thoda bhaari tha. Advik ne uska face study kiya. Soft features, sharp eyes, aur lips ke kone pe chhota sa mole jo baar baar nazar kheench raha tha.

“Pehle likhta tha,” usne admit kiya. “Kaafi time pehle.”

Arohi ki awaaz thodi low ho gayi. “Phir kya hua jo ruk gaye?”

“Zindagi. Zimmedariyan. Woh usual cheezein jo logon ko careful bana deti hain.”

Woh dheere se khadi hui, desk ke around aayi, aur uski chair ke bilkul paas ruk gayi. Itni kareeb ki Advik uski body ki garmi feel kar sakta tha.

“Main careful nahi rehna chahti,” usne quietly kaha. “Hamesha nahi.”

Advik ka haath armrest pe tight ho gaya. Usne usse bolna chahiye tha ki wapas baith jao. Door khol dena chahiye tha. Lekin woh bilkul still raha jab Arohi ne fingers uthake uski sleeve ke edge ko halka sa touch kiya.

“Main sochti rehti hoon class mein jo kaha tha uske baare mein,” usne whisper kiya. “Us wanting ke baare mein jo barbaad kar sakti hai.”

Advik ki saans slow exhale mein nikal gayi.

“Arohi…”

Pehli baar usne uska naam ‘Miss’ ke bina liya. Us awaaz ne air hi badal di.

Arohi ne move nahi kiya. Uski nazar ek second ke liye Advik ke lips pe gayi, phir wapas aankhon mein. Intezar karti hui.

Advik khada ho gaya. Unke beech ka distance almost khatam ho gaya. Usse Arohi ki body ki warmth clear feel ho rahi thi. Usne haath uthaya, uski kamar ke paas le jaake roka.

“Yeh ek line hai,” usne low voice mein kaha. “Ek baar cross kar liya na, phir pretend nahi kar sakte ki kuch hua hi nahi.”

Arohi ka jawab almost saans jaisa tha.

“Phir shayad pretend karna hi nahi chahiye.”

Kaafi der tak koi nahi hila. Sirf AC ki halki si awaaz aur unki saansein chal rahi thi.

Aakhir mein Advik ne ek step peeche liya. Itna ki spell toot jaaye, itna nahi ki bilkul khatam ho jaaye.

“Ghar jao, Arohi.”

Usne ek second aur usse dekha, phir nod kiya. Door pe jaake ruki.

“Agle week same time?” usne poocha. “Essay ke liye.”

Advik ko na kehna chahiye tha.

“Haan,” usne jawab diya.

Door band hote hi Advik heavy sa baith gaya aur haathon se aankhen dabayi. Arohi ki kareebi ab bhi uski skin pe ghost ki tarah feel ho rahi thi.

Aur woh pehle se jaan gaya tha — woh usse wapas aane dega.

To be continued....