ICU ke bahar corridor me khadi Anaya ne gehri saans li. Har beep uske kaanon me goonj rahi thi. Nurse ne visiting time khatam hone ka ishara kiya aur Anaya chupchaap bahar aa gayi.
Aarav thodi door phone par baat kar raha tha. Uski awaaz low aur serious thi. Call khatam karte hi usne Anaya ki taraf dekha.
"Doctor ne jo kaha… uska matlab hai humein jaldi decision lena hoga."
Anaya ne bag se contract document nikala. "Isme jo likha hai… kya wahi sab hai?"
Aarav kuch seconds chup raha. "Sab nahi."
Ye jawab Anaya ko chubha, phir bhi usne khud ko sambhala. "Main bhaag nahi rahi. Par bina samjhe haan bhi nahi keh sakti."
Hospital ke bahar ek aadmi Aarav ka intezaar kar raha tha. Usne sir jhukaya.
"Everything ready hai."
"She's the one," Aarav ne sirf itna kaha.
Car me baithte waqt Anaya ka dil phir tez dhadakne laga. Aarav ne uske haath me ek envelope diya.
"Ye first layer hai. Baaki baad me."
Anaya ne envelope dekha, phir Aarav ki taraf.
"Main sign karungi… par apni sharton par."
Aarav ke chehre par halki si smile aayi.
"Fair enough."
Aur Anaya samajh gayi—
ye contract sirf majboori ka nahi, ek shuruaat tha.