The Maze of Mirrors

Ek robotic si thandi awaaz goonjti hai:
“Welcome to the final game – The Maze of Mirrors.”
Iss final game mein tum teeno – Shahid, Ahmed aur Zoya – ek doosre ke opponent ho.
Achaanak kamre ki chaaron deewarein hilne lagti hain aur unme se seedhiyaan nikalti hain jo aage naye kamron tak jaati hain. Teeno woh seedhiyan chadh kar aage barhtay hain. Seedhiyaan khatam hoti hain to saamne ek bohot bara hall nazar aata hai. Hall ke beech ek azeem shisha (mirror) chamak raha hota hai.

Teeno ke saamne ek-ek box ubhar kar aata hai. Har box ke andar ek key hoti hai. Jo sabse pehle mirror ko unlock karega, wahi game ka winner hoga.

Music bajna shuru hota hai. Saara hall ek circle ki tarah ghoomna shuru kar deta hai, aur asli mirror ke aas paas aur bhi mirrors ban jaate hain, sab ek jaise.
Shahid, Ahmed aur Zoya ek doosre ka haath mazbooti se pakad kar faisla karte hain:
“Hum ye game ikathey chhodenge.”
Lekin kahin na kahin Ahmed aur Zoya ke dil mein akelay jeetne ki khwahish chhupi hoti hai.
Hall ki raftaar barhti jaati hai. Hawaa tez ho jati hai, mirrors barh jaate hain. Teeno ek dusre ka haath aur zor se pakad lete hain.

Ahmed kehta hai:
“Main pehle try karta hoon!”
Magar hall itni tez ghoomta hai ke Ahmed ek sheeshe se takra jata hai. Or zameen par girta hai uski chabi dur ek mirror k pass ja girti hai woh hall ky taiz ghumny ki wajah sy musalsal sheeshon sy takra raha hota hai  Achanak woh ek sheeshy sy takrata hai jo toota hoa hota hai or uska ek baazu kat kar jism se alag ho jata hai!
Zoya cheekh uthti hai. Hall ki speed mazeed barh jaati hai. Ahmed zor-zor se chillata hai:
“Mujhe bachao! Mujhe bachao!”

Lekin woh bar-bar sheeshon se takra raha hota hai. Achanak ek tez sheesha uski gardan par lagta hai aur gardan jism se alag ho kar Shahid aur Zoya ke paon ke paas ja girti hai.
“Ahmeeeeedddd!!!”
Dono cheekh uthte hain.
Magar Ahmed ki maut ho chuki hoti hai.
Phir robotic awaaz goonjti hai:
“Five minutes left…”
Zoya roti ja rahi hoti hai:
“Hum bhi mar jaayenge yahan!”
Shahid uska haath mazbooti se pakad kar kehta hai:
“Zoya! Humein yahan se nikalna hoga.”
Hall aur tez ghoomta hai. Mirrors aur barh jaate hain. Dono ko chakkar aane lagte hain.
Phir Shahid ko nazar aata hai – ek mirror sab se alag hai. Baqi sab kaale, andhere se bhare hote hain. Sirf ek shishe se roshni nikal rahi hoti hai.
Shahid samajh jaata hai:
“Yehi asal mirror hai.”
Dono ek dusre ka haath pakad kar dheere-dheere roshni wale mirror ki taraf barhtay hain.
Robotic awaaz phir goonjti hai:
“Three minutes left…”
Mirror ke paas pohonchte hi Shahid ko chabi lagane ke liye Zoya ka haath chhodna padta hai.
Jese hi woh haath chhodta hai, Zoya hall ki raftaar ki wajah se phisal kar Ahmed ki kati hui gardan ke paas ja girti hai.
“Zoyaaaaa!!!” Shahid cheekhta hai.
Zoya aansuon ke beech muskurati hai:
“Shahid… tum meri fikr mat karo. Chabi lagao… aur mirror kholo.”
Shahid rohte hue chabi mirror me daal deta hai. Darwaza khulta hai. Samne chamakdar alfaaz likhe hote hain:
“Roshni ka Safar”

Aur mirror Shahid ko apni taraf kheench leta hai. Ek taiz roshni jhalak rahe hoti hai…
Phir halki si awaaz goonjti hai:
“Shahid… uth jao beta, 7 baj gaye. School jana hai.”
Shahid aankh kholta hai. Woh apne bistar par hota hai. Bahar din nikla hota hai. 7 baj rahe hote hain.
Woh sukoon ki saans leta hai. Allah ka shukr ada karta hai ke sab ek khwab tha…

Lekin dil ke kone me ek sawaal chhoda jata hai:
Zoya? Ahmed? Aur woh kitab… kya sab sirf khwab tha? Ya phir koi sach jo abhi khulna baqi hai… 

Mai hun apki dost Day Dreamer🕊️ agr ap chahty hain k is story ka agla part b aye tw comment mai zaror btayen…