The Shadow Between Us: The Forgotten Truth - Chapter 3 | DatingTales
Chapter 3: The Forgotten Truth
Max, Riya, and Aryan ne ab apne aas-paas ki hawa ko badalte hue mehsoos kiya. Savitri ki chehra pe chhupi hui samajh aur chinta ne unhe aur ghabra diya tha. Jab shadow unhe dekhti rahi, unka dil dhadak raha tha. Kya unhe ab is raaz ko samajhne ki himmat milegi?
“Yeh shadow kya hai, Savitri?” Max ne poocha, uski awaaz thodi suni sunai thi. Usne andheron se utpatang ho rahe khauf ko mehsoos kiya.
Savitri ne unhe gahrayi se dekha aur ek thoda samay liya, jaise usse apne shabdon ko chuna ho. “Yeh sirf ek shadow nahi hai,” usne kahaa. “Yeh ek purani kahani ka hissa hai, jo is gaon mein kabhi nahi bhulaaya gaya. Ek baar kisi ne is kitaab ko khola, to yeh shadow unke peeche lag gayi.”
Aryan ne samjha ki is kahani ka sachai samajhna zaruri hai. “Toh kya hume yeh shadow se ladna hoga?” usne poocha.
Savitri ne sir hilaate hue kaha, “Tumhe pehle is shadow ke asal raaz ko samajhna hoga. Is shadow ke peeche ek aisi kahani chhupi hai jo tumhe tumhare dosto se alag karegi.”
Max ne ab sochne laga. Uski man mein ek sawal tha: “Kya yeh shadow mujhe bhi is kahani se alag karegi?” Uska dil ab bhi thoda dhadak raha tha, lekin usne socha ki yeh uska samay hai is raaz ko samajhne ka.
Savitri ne unhe ek puraani kitaab dikhai jo uske paas thi. “Yeh wahi kitaab hai jisse shadow ka janm hua. Har padhne wale ko iski kahani pata nahi hoti, lekin yeh unke saath kabhi kabhi jeet jaata hai.”
Riya ne hamesha samajhdari se faisle liye the, lekin ab uski aankhen khuli thi. “Hum isko padh kar kya samajh sakte hain?” usne poocha.
Savitri ne jawab diya, “Tumhe sirf is kitaab ki kahani sunni hai. Jab tum sunoge, tab tumhe pata chalega ki tumhare liye kya sahi hai. Lekin yaad rakhna, har kahani ki ek daastaan hoti hai.”
Max ne ab sochne laga. Kya uska yeh safar sirf dosti tak simit hai, ya isme kuch aur bhi hai?
Savitri ne aakhri baar kaha, “Jab tumhe lagta hai ki tumhara safar khatam ho gaya hai, tabhi nayi kahani shuru hoti hai. Is shadow ko samajhne ka ek hi raasta hai — uski asal kahani sunna.”
Usi pal, ek aur ghamandi chehra gaon ke kone se aaya. Woh tha Rohan, jo kabhi Max aur uske doston ka dost tha, lekin ab woh badal gaya tha. Rohan ke chehre par ek ajeeb muskaan thi, jo uski asli soorat ko chhupa rahi thi. Uska rang thoda badal gaya tha, aur aankhein ab uski dosti se zyada, raaz bhari thi.
“Tum log kyun yahan khade ho?” Rohan ne kaha, uski awaaz mein kuch zyada hi taunt tha. “Kya tumhe pata nahi hai ki yeh jagah khatarnaak hai?”
Aryan ne gusse se jawab diya, “Humein yeh sab pata hai. Aur humein yeh shadow ka raaz samajhna hai.”
Rohan ne ek hasna shuru ki, lekin uski aankhon mein kuch aur tha. “Tum sochte ho tum isse samajh jaoge? Is shadow ne mere jaise logon ko bhi bhaga diya hai.”
Riya ne hairani se kaha, “Tumhe is raaz ka kya pata hai, Rohan?”
Rohan ne jawab diya, “Main jaan gaya hoon ki is shadow se ladne ka kya asar hoga. Tumhare liye sab kuch asaan lag raha hai, lekin yeh tumhe akele chhod degi.”
Max ko ab apne doston ke saath milkar kuch karna hoga. Kya yeh shadow sirf ek kahani hai ya iski asal wajah kuch aur hai? Uski soch ab thodi saaf ho gayi thi.
“Hum is shadow ka samna karenge,” Max ne aakhir mein kaha, uski aankhon mein junoon tha. “Hum is kahani ko jaanenge, chahe jo bhi ho.”
Savitri ne unhe ek samay ki baat yaad dilayi. “Har kahani ke peeche ek sach hota hai. Is kahani ko jaanne se tumhari dosti aur mazboot hogi ya chhuti, yeh tum par hai.”
Kya yeh safar unhe unki dosti ke aakhri pariksha tak le jaayega, ya yeh shadow unhe alag kar degi? Max ka dil ab bhi dhadak raha tha, lekin is baar uski soch mein ek naya junoon tha.
To be continued...
Next chapter: Chapter 4 - The Hidden Connection
Max aur uske doston ke saamne ab ek naya raaz khulne wala hai. Kya unhe yeh pata chalega ki yeh shadow unse kaisa sambandh rakhti hai?