Chhupa Raaz – (Chapter 3) "Akhir Kaun Hai Wo"

 

Aarav agle din college jaata hai, thoda thaka hua, lekin aankhon mein ek alag sa confidence hota hai. Uske andar kuch chal raha hota hai, lekin baahar se wo bilkul normal lagta hai. College ke annual fest mein ek strategy-based competition hota hai. Bina kisi show-off ke, Aarav quietly participate karta hai — aur jeet jaata hai. ₹50,000 ka cash prize milta hai.

Uske doston — Vivek, Zoya, aur Raghav — usse party maangte hain. Aarav bas ek halka sa smile deta hai aur kehta hai, “Party hogi… lekin yaadgar hogi.” Wo apne phone se ek luxury hotel book karta hai — The Imperial Crown. Sabko batata bhi nahi ki kitna mehenga hai, bas kehta hai, “Shaam ko ready rehna.”

Shaam hoti hai, sab college ke bahar milte hain. Aarav ek cab book karta hai, sabko leke hotel pahuchta hai. Gate pe pahuchte hi sabki aankhen phat jaati hain. Marble floors, golden chandeliers, aur valet parking. Vivek ruk jaata hai — “Bhai, ₹50,000 se yeh hotel toh sapne mein bhi nahi aata.” Aarav bas kehta hai, “Tum mere saath ho, bas.”

Reception pe jaake Aarav apna naam batata hai — “A. R.” Staff turant lounge ke liye escort karta hai. Sab andar jaate hain, thoda hesitant, thoda excited. Lounge mein pahuchte hi sabse pehle nazar padti hai Meher aur Kabir par — already drinks enjoy kar rahe hote hain. Kabir Aarav ko dekh kar smirk karta hai, Meher ki kamar mein haath dalta hai, usse apni taraf kheenchta hai — jaise Aarav ko chidhana chahta ho.

Kabir bolta hai, “Aarav, itne bade hotel mein aaye ho… ₹50,000 se zyada ka bill afford kar paoge?” Aarav kuch nahi bolta, bas aankhon se dekhta hai. Meher thoda awkward feel karti hai, lekin chup rehti hai.

Tabhi Meher uthti hai aur table ke paas rakha ek antique piece gir jaata hai — ek chhoti si haathi ki murti, jo asli sona lagti hai. Staff turant aata hai, gusse mein — “Madam, iski keemat ₹50 lakh hai!” Kabir bhi chillata hai — “Tumhe classy banne ka shauk hai, par tameez nahi.”

Sab shocked hote hain. Aarav ke dost bhi lounge mein pahuch jaate hain, thoda dar ke — itna bada hotel dekh kar. Tabhi manager Mr. Rathi aata hai, Kabir aur Meher ko dekh kar gusse mein bolta hai — “₹50 lakh ka bill abhi clear karo, warna police ko bulaata hoon.”

Tabhi uski nazar Aarav par padti hai. Ek second ke liye wo freeze ho jaata hai. Phir turant Aarav ke paas jaata hai — thoda emotional ho kar kehta hai:

“Sir, agar aap pehle batate toh main khud aapko welcome karne airport se le aata. Aakhir... yeh jagah toh unhi haathon se bani hai jinke naam se aapka initial hai.”

Kabir ka chehra safed pad jaata hai. Meher confused hai. Dono ek dusre ko dekhte hain — samajh nahi paate ki ek normal student jaisa dikhne wala ladka itne bade hotel ka manager se itna respect kaise le raha hai. Aarav kuch nahi bolta — bas ek halka sa sir hilaata hai. Uski aankhon mein ek aisi shanti hoti hai jo sirf un logon mein hoti hai jinke paas sab kuch hota hai, par dikhana kuch bhi nahi.

Manager turant mudta hai, Kabir aur Meher ki taraf jaata hai, aur thande lekin teekhe shabdon mein bolta hai:
“₹50 lakh ka bill abhi do. Na jaane kahan kahan se aa jaate hain jahil log.”
Phir Aarav ki taraf dekhta hai aur kehta hai:
“Sir, main abhi lounge clear karwa deta hoon. Aap premium lodge ki taraf aaiye.”

Aarav uski aankhon mein dekhta hai, phir calmly bolta hai:
“Nahi Mr. Rathi, iski koi zarurat nahi. Ye bhi mere dost hi hain. Inhe jaane do.”

Manager turant jhuk jaata hai — “Sir, maafi chahta hoon. Pehchaan nahi paaya.”

Sab stunned hote hain. Aarav ke dost ab usse alag nazar se dekhte hain. Kabir aur Meher quietly bahar chale jaate hain — Kabir ka ego crush ho chuka hai.

Raat ko Aarav terrace pe akela baitha hota hai, breeze chal rahi hoti hai. Uska phone bajta hai — ek encrypted call.

“Sir, Kabir ne aapke naam pe ek fake tender file kiya hai. Woh aapki identity leak karne ki planning mein hai.”

Aarav aankhon mein gusse ke saath bolta hai —
“Raaz se khelne wale… khud raaz ban jaate hain.”

To Be Continued...

Agle part mein kya hoga? Kabir expose karega ya khud expose ho jaayega? Meher ko kab pata chalega ki Aarav sirf ek student nahi, ek legacy hai?