"I told you already… kal mera board ka first paper hai."
Sach kahun to mujhe us din kisi se baat karne ka bilkul mood nahi tha.
Class 12th board exams.
Stress already dimag mein ghoom raha tha.
Main apne exam centre pe baithi thi, answer sheet ka wait karte hue.
Tabhi meri nazar ek ladke par padi.
Woh mere aage wale bench par baitha tha.
Main soch rahi thi…
"Isse baat karun? Naam puchun?"
Lekin phir socha… chhodo.
Main chup hi rahi.
Phir suddenly woh mud kar mujhe dekhta hai.
"Tum mera naam nahi puchogi kya?"
Main thodi awkward ho gayi.
"Puchun? Theek hai… aapka naam kya hai?"
"Ayaan."
Phir usne seedha ek aur sawaal pooch diya.
"Padh ke aaye ho?"
Main honestly bolne wali type hoon.
"To be honest… bas pass ho jaaun utna padha hai."
Woh hans pada.
"Accha hai. Main to pass hone walon ko dekh kar hi likh leta hoon."
Main turant bol padti hoon—
"Arey main to apne baju wale par bharosa karke aayi hoon… aur tum mujh par bharosa kar rahe ho?"
Woh thoda sa smile karta hai.
Phir bell bajti hai.
Paper start.
Aur main apne paper mein bilkul kho jaati hoon.
Beech beech mein woh halki si awaaz mein bolta—
"Thoda sa dikha do."
Main gardan hila kar kehti—
"Theek hai."
Aur phir ajeeb sa silent teamwork start ho jaata hai.
Woh logon se baat karke answers nikaal leta.
Aur thoda mujhe dikha deta.
Main jo likh rahi hoti… woh thoda dekh leta.
Paper khatam.
Aur bas.
Aise hi hamari pehli interaction hui.
---
Agle kuch papers bhi aise hi guzre.
Thodi baat.
Thoda cheating teamwork.
Thoda teasing.
Phir ek din paper ke baad usne casually pooch liya—
"Yahan paas mein ek jagah hai… bahut achha khana milta hai. Chalogi?"
Mera face turant awkward ho gaya.
"Mere paas paise nahi hain."
Woh bilkul normal tone mein bola—
"Koi baat nahi. Main khila deta hoon. After all… you're my friend."
Friend.
Usne mujhe friend bola tha.
Aur sach kahun…
Mujhe khana mana karna duniya ka sabse mushkil kaam lagta hai.
Main almost haan bolne wali thi.
Lekin jaise hi exam centre se bahar nikli…
Mere papa already bahar khade the.
Game over.
Main chup chaap ghar chali gayi.
Aur pura rasta bas ek hi cheez soch rahi thi—
"Yaar… khana reh gaya."
---
Ghar jaake bhi main 2–3 ghante tak woh scene rewind karti rahi.
Woh ladka.
Uska "friend" bolna.
Aur woh food plan.
Phir maine khud ko daanta—
"Pagal nahi hoon main. Exam bhi dene hain."
Aur main padhne baith gayi.
---
Next paper ke din.
Main exam centre pahunchi.
Aur woh already wahan tha.
Mujhe dekhte hi bola—
"Hello!"
"Hello."
"Long time."
Main turant bol padti hoon—
"Aur long time hona chahiye tha."
Woh thoda confuse ho kar mujhe dekhne laga.
Phir dheere se bola—
"Main soch raha tha… kab se nahi dekha."
Usne itni low voice mein bola tha ki mujhe properly suna hi nahi.
"Kya?"
"Nothing. Ghar par mummy padhai ke liye daant rahi thi… dimag kharab ho gaya tha."
Main bas sir hila deti hoon.
"Okay."
---
Aur phir wahi routine.
Paper.
Silent teamwork.
Thoda teasing.
Paper khatam hone ke baad woh phir bolta hai—
"Is baar khane chalogi?"
Main turant bolti hoon—
"Agar papa nahi aaye to."
Woh thoda smile karta hai.
"Paise laayi ho?"
Main proud tone mein bolti hoon—
"Haan."
Woh turant bolta—
"Maine kab bola paise laane ko? Tumhare paas jitna hai woh padhai mein lagao."
Main gusse mein—
"Zyada zubaan mat chalao."
Woh hans kar bolta—
"Sach to yahi hai."
Main bolti—
"Kisi din tum—"
Woh turant lean karke poochta—
"Kisi din main…?"
Butterflies.
Exactly wahi moment.
Aur tabhi…
Main centre ke bahar aati hoon.
Aur guess what.
Papa.
Already.
Standing.
Outside.
Again.
Ayaan mujhe dead look dekar bolta—
"Tumhare papa kabhi late nahi ho sakte kya?"
Main sirf—
"Hmm… 🥲"
Woh haath hilata hai.
"Bye. Last paper mein milte hain."
Main bhi bol deti hoon—
"Padh ke aana. Kab tak zubaan ke bharose aaoge?"
Woh hans ke bolta—
"Theek hai bhai sahab."