Woh Ek Din

Sahil har din school se ghar aake seedha apne kamre mein jaata tha. Darwaaza band karta. Bag phenkta. Aur bed par muh chhupa kar leta rehta.

Mummy poochti — "School kaisa tha?" Sahil kehta — "Theek." Bas. Isse zyada kabhi nahi bola.

Lekin theek nahi tha. Bilkul bhi theek nahi tha.

Raj Aur Uska Gang

Raj class ka sabse popular ladka tha. Tall, smart, sports mein accha. Aur uska ek gang tha — 4-5 ladke jo uski har baat maante the.

Sahil Raj ka favourite target tha.

"Aye Sahil! Teri shirt kitni purani hai — dhobiyon ne bhi reject kar di hogi!"

"Sahil toh itna kamzor hai — hawa bhi aa jaaye toh gir jayega!"

Sab hanste the. Sahil chup rehta tha. Andar-andar toot raha tha — lekin kisi ko nahi dikhata tha.

Ek din Raj ne Sahil ka tiffin chhin liya. "Yeh kya laata hai! Mummy ko khaana banana nahi aata?" Poore class ke saamne Sahil ka tiffin zameen par phenk diya.

Sahil ne tiffin uthaya. Kuch nahi bola. Ghar gaya. Us raat khaana nahi khaaya.

Woh Ek Din

Agley din school mein ek event tha — "Share Your Story." Har bacche ko stage par aake apni ek baat share karni thi.

Sahil ka naam bhi tha. Woh nahi jaana chahta tha. Lekin teacher ne insist kiya.

Stage par gaya. Mic haath mein liya. Poora school saamne tha — Raj bhi, uska gang bhi.

Sahil ne deep breath liya. Aur bola:

"Mera naam Sahil hai. Aur main roz school aane se darta hun."

Hall mein silence chha gayi.

"Mere Papa nahi hain. 3 saal pehle guzar gaye. Mummy akeli mehnat karti hain. Mera tiffin woh subah 5 baje uthkar banati hain — apna khaana skip karke. Meri shirt purani hai kyunki hum nayi nahi kharid sakte. Aur... aur mujhe is sab ke liye roz mazaak udaaya jaata hai."

Sahil ki awaaz kaamp rahi thi. Lekin woh ruka nahi.

"Main yeh nahi keh raha ki mujhse mazaak mat udaao. Main sirf yeh keh raha hun — mazaak udaane se pehle ek baar socho ki saamne wale ki zindagi kaisi hai. Kyunki tumhe nahi pata uski kahaani kya hai."

Sahil stage se utra. Hall mein sannata tha. Phir ek teacher ne taali baajayi. Phir ek student ne. Phir poora hall.

Standing ovation.

Aur Raj? Raj apni seat par sir jhukaye baitha tha. Uski aankhon mein aansoo the.

Baad Mein

School ke baad Raj Sahil ke paas aaya. Pehli baar uski awaaz mein rudeness nahi thi.

"Sahil... I'm sorry. Mujhe nahi pata tha."

Sahil ne Raj ko dekha. Gussa aa raha tha — lekin usne kuch aur kiya.

Sahil ne haath milaya.

"Theek hai. Bas aage se kisi ke saath aisa mat karna. Tera nahi pata ki saamne wala andar se kya jhhel raha hai."

Raj ne sir hilaya. Us din ke baad Raj ne kabhi kisi ko bully nahi kiya. Aur Sahil? Sahil ab school aane se nahi darta tha.

Kyunki usne seekh liya tha — apni baat kehna kamzori nahi, sabse badi taaqat hai.