Riya ne jab divorce papers par sign kiya, us din usne sirf ek rishta nahi chhoda… usne apni saansen wapas le li thi.

Par kahani yahin khatam nahi hui thi.
Asli kahani toh us din shuru hui thi.

Ghar ke bahar kadam rakhte hi nazrein badal gayi thi.
Kuch log chup the… par unki aankhon mein sawal the.
Kuch log bol pade—
“Arre kya hua tha?”
“Thoda adjust kar leti…”
“Shaadi mein thoda upar-niche toh hota hi hai…”
“Ladke toh dusri le aayenge… tera kya hoga? Bacchon ka kya?”

Har sawal ek teer tha… jo baar-baar uske dil ko cheer deta.

Riya bas muskura deti thi.
Kyuki har baar sach batana mumkin nahi hota…
Aur har koi sach samajh bhi nahi sakta.

Raat ko jab sab so jaate…
tab woh toot jaati.
Chup-chaap… bina awaaz ke roti thi.
Itna roti thi ki aansu bhi thak jaate the.

Kabhi-kabhi woh khud se poochti—
“Galat kya tha? Chhodna ya sehna?”
“Alag ho jana galat hai… ya us ghar mein ghut-ghut kar jeena sahi tha?”

Par jawab kabhi seedha nahi hota…

Usne koshish ki thi.
Bohot ki thi.
Har din apne aap ko tod kar… us rishte ko jodne ki koshish ki thi.
Har baar socha tha—
“Bas aaj thoda aur adjust kar leti hoon… kal sab theek ho jayega…”

Par “kal” kabhi nahi aaya.

Aur jab usne finally “bas” kaha…
toh duniya ne use “galat” keh diya.

Sabse zyada dard tab hua…
jab apne hi door ho gaye.
Maa-baap bhi chup ho gaye.
Unki majboori thi… samaj ka darr tha…
par Riya ke liye woh bhi ek tanhaai ban gaya.

Ab har mod par woh akeli thi.
Par pehli baar… woh apne saath thi.

Dheere-dheere usne khud ko sametna shuru kiya.
Chhoti-chhoti khushiyon se dosti ki.
Apni pehchaan wapas dhoondi.
Aur ek din… usne mehsoos kiya—

“Main toot kar khatam nahi hui… main toot kar nayi bani hoon.”

Log aaj bhi poochte hain—
“Sach mein kya hua tha?”

Riya ab muskura kar kehti hai—
“Jo hua… usne mujhe khud se milwa diya.”

Aur shayad…
yeh hi uski jeet thi.