Rekha 42 saal ki thi। Successful, independent, apni life apne rules pe jeene wali। Achhi job, apna ghar, apni pehchaan… sab kuch tha। Bas ek cheez jo society ko hamesha chubhti thi — uski shaadi nahi hui thi।

Har family function mein ek hi sawaal—
“Ab to shaadi kar lo… ab kya karogi akeli?”
“40 ke baad kaun milta hai… jo mil raha hai haan kar do…”

Rekha muskurati thi, par andar se thak chuki thi।

Ek din uski college friend Neha mili। Neha ki shaadi 23 mein ho gayi thi। Do bachche, ghar, zimmedariyaan… aur aankhon mein ek ajeeb si thakan।

Coffee pe baat hui—

Neha boli,
“Rekha, kabhi kabhi lagta hai maine jaldi mein decision le liya… khud ko samjhe bina shaadi kar li।”

Rekha chup thi।

Phir Neha ne pucha—
“Tu sach mein khush hai?”

Rekha ne pehli baar bina soche jawab diya—
“Ha… par kabhi kabhi lagta hai kya kuch miss kar diya?”

Neha muskurayi—
“Hum dono ne kuch na kuch miss kiya hai… par ek baat bataun?
Shaadi ya single rehna… dono mein sacrifice hai। Farq sirf itna hai ki decision apna hona chahiye, pressure ka nahi।”

Us raat Rekha ne bahut socha।

Kya use shaadi karni hai?
Ya bas society ko khush karna hai?

Kuch dino baad uski life mein Arvind aaya— 45 saal ka, divorced, mature aur samajhdaar।
Dono mile, baatein hui… koi jaldi nahi, koi pressure nahi।

Arvind ne seedha kaha—
“Main companionship chahta hoon… koi jaldbaazi nahi। Agar tum comfortable ho tab hi aage badhenge।”

Rekha ko pehli baar laga— ye decision uska ho sakta hai।

Kuch mahino baad…

Rekha ne shaadi ki— par society ke pressure mein nahi, apni marzi se।
Aur agar wo nahi karti… tab bhi wo utni hi complete hoti।

Ending line:

“40 ke baad shaadi karo ya na karo…
Zaroori ye nahi ki duniya kya kehti hai…
Zaroori ye hai ki tumhara dil kya chahta hai।”