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Shaadi ho chuki thi. Heer apna sab kuch peeche chhod kar ek anjaan aadmi ke saath ek bilkul nayi duniya basane aa gayi thi.

Nayi duniya?

Uske khwab toh bas Henry saja raha tha, magar Heer ka maksad kuch aur hi tha. Dono ek doosre ke iraadon se anjaan the.

Sehmi hui Heer ko Iqbal ki biwi Henry ke kamre mein chhod kar chali gayi, aur Heer ke dimag mein sirf ek cheez gunj rahi thi— uski maa ki kahi hui baatein.

Aur yeh soch use dara rahi thi ke use apna sab kuch ek dushman ke hawaale karna hoga. Magar kaash use pata hota ke jise woh apna dushman samajh rahi hai, jo is raat ka khauf uske dil-o-dimagh par chaaya hai, wahi aadmi us par apni jaan tak nyochhavar karne ko tayyar baitha hai.

Chinta mein doobi Heer ki dhadkane tez hoti ja rahi thi. Uski bechaini aur bhi badh gayi jab usne mehsoos kiya ke Henry kamre mein aa chuka hai.

Heer ne apna dupatta mazbooti se muthi mein daba liya. Uski aankhein nam ho gayi. Zindagi mein pehli baar use sach mein darr lag raha tha.

Henry ne jaise hi Heer ko dekha, uska dil zor-zor se dhadakne laga. Heer laal suit mein sitare ki tarah chamak rahi thi. Uske chehre ki roshni kisi bhi gehne se zyada thi. Henry ka dil chahta tha ke bas uski ek jhalak mein hamesha ke liye kho jaye. Woh dheere se Heer ke paas baith gaya, aur Heer ki saansein aur tez ho gayi. Uske haath-pair thande padne lage.

Henry ne dheere se uska ghoonghat hataya, aur ek pal ke liye uski apni saansein bhi tham gayi Heer ki khoobsurati ko dekh kar.

Heer ki palkein jhuki hui thi, sharm aur ghabrahat dono uske chehre par saaf dikh rahi thi. Magar jo toofaan Heer ke dil mein umad raha tha, woh sirf Heer hi jaanti thi.

Henry uski aankhon mein doobna chahta tha, par Heer ki jhuki palkon ne uski yeh khwahish adhoori chhod di.

Lekin Heer ki bechaini badhti hi ja rahi thi. Henry ne jaise hi halke haathon se uski thodi uthai taaki Heer uski taraf dekh sake, Heer ne apni aankhein aur zyada kas kar bandh kar li.

Henry, jiske dil mein apne baap ki maut ka selab umad rahq tha, apne gham ko ek halki si muskurahat ke piche chhupa gaya, taaki Heer ki nayi zindagi ki shuruaat uski wajah se gham se ghiri na ho.

Usne muskurate hue kaha, "Will you not even look at me now?"

Lekin Heer ki band aankhon se behta ek aansu Henry ke dil mein teer ki tarah chubh gaya. Aur uske lafzon ne Henry ka dil cheer kar rakh diya—

"Kyun? Ek aur nai saza muqarrar karenge kya ab aap? Aapse zabaan darazi ki saza to main shaadi ki shakal mein bhugat chuki hoon. Ab aapki taraf na dekhne ki kya saza milegi?”

Heer ke alfazon ne Henry ke dil ke tukde kar diye.

Magar afsos toh is baat ka tha ke woh yeh tukde use dikha bhi nahi rakh sakta tha. Use samajh hi nahi aaya ke kya kahe, kya pooche.

Lekin ek sawal, jo Heer ki baatein sun kar uske zehan mein umda, usse poochne se woh khud ko rok nahi saka.

"Was this marriage not of your own free will?"

Heer ke kaanpte honth aur uski aankhon se behte aansu aise lag rahe the jaise angaron ki tarah Henry ke dil par gir rahe ho.

"Is samaj mein auraton se unki marzi kab poochi jati hai?" Heer ne kaha.

Uski aankhein ab bhi band thi, aur saansein tez chal rahi thi. Henry ne apna haath badhaya uske aansu pochne ke liye, par uske ilzaam sunne ke baad, usse chhoone ki himmat na kar saka. Na chahte hue bhi uske ansun na ponch saka.

"Why do you think that? Why would I take revenge on you? And for what?" Henry ne pyaar se poocha.

Uski awaaz narm thi, magar uske peeche jo dukh chhupa tha, Heer usse mehsoos na kar saki.

Heer ne koi jawab nahi diya, par uski aankhon se aansu behte rahe, jaise har ek katra uske dil ka bojh kam kar raha ho.

"Answer me," Henry ne bahut pyaar se kaha. "At least look at me. Look into my eyes—do you truly see any hatred for you in them? Do I seem like someone who seeks revenge on you?"

Uski awaaz mein dalil thi, ek dukh bhari bechaini thi, par Heer par iska koi asar nahi hua.
Na usne kuch kaha, na hi apni aankhein kholi.

Henry ne gehri saans lete hue kaha, kyunki Heer ki berukhi use andar se tod rahi thi—jitna ke wo pehle hi tut kar bikhar chuka tha.
"If you truly believe this is just a punishment, then look into my eyes and tell me… does it really feel like just a punishment to you?"

Bas ek baar, wo chahta tha ke Heer uski aankhon mein dekhe. Uske pyaar ko samjhe. Uske jazbaat ko koi saza na samjhe.

Lekin Heer ne apni aankhein nahi kholi. Uske hoth halke se kanp rahe the, jaise wo apne aansuon ko rokne ki koshish kar rahi ho.

Henry ki awaaz aur narm ho gayi. "Why would I ever punish you? But if you still feel that way, then I will do everything in my power to win your heart—to make you believe that I have no such intentions."

Yeh keh kar Henry palang se uth gaya. Heer ne ek kapkapi bhari saans chhod di, jaise wo na jaane kab se use roke baithi thi. Henry ki peeth uski taraf thi, par wo mehsoos kar sakta tha ke Heer uske alfazon ko dil se sun rahi hai.

Usne drid nischay ke saath kaha, "I will erase this fear from your mind. And until I do, I will never force you to accept me as your husband. Even if I have to wait a lifetime for you."

Yeh sunte hi Heer ne hairani se aankhein kholi aur Henry ki taraf dekha—par Henry ab bhi uski taraf nahi dekh raha tha.

"This is not a punishment, Heer. Not at all. This is a beautiful bond, but I know you’re not happy in this relationship. Yet, I cannot leave you—not even for your happiness."

Henry ne gehri saans bhari. "I made a promise to your father, and I will uphold that promise until my last breath. Your father placed your hand in mine with complete trust, and I will never let go of it. Not even in death."

Heer ki soch thithak gayi. Ek angrez afsar aisi baatein kar raha tha? Use yakeen hi nahi ho raha tha.

"I know you don’t particularly like us British, but I will do everything in my power to help you understand what you truly mean to me, Heer."

Ye kehkar Henry uski taraf mudha, par Heer ne phir se nazrein jhuka li. Henry ne ek kadam badhaya, par Heer halki si piche sarak gayi.

Henry ne turant peeche hat gaya, uski aankhon mein dukh chhupana mushkil ho gaya. "Don't worry. I will never force anything upon you. I won’t even touch you until you accept me on your own."

Heer ne hairani se Henry ki taraf dekha. Kya koi mard aise bhi soch sakta tha? Usne jo kuch suna tha, jo samjha tha, wo to kuch aur hi tha. Aur yahan uska pati uski marzi ke bina use na chhoone ka wada kar raha tha.

Pehli baar, Heer ki bheegi aankhein Henry ki bebas aankhon se mili. Henry ka dil thamm gaya. Jin aankhon mein usne sirf khushi bharne ki kasam khai thi, aaj unmein aansu the. Aur un aansuon ki wajah wo khud tha.

Usne dard bhari saans li. "But, Heer, I cannot leave this room. There are servants in the house, and if word gets out that I’m not staying in my own room after our wedding, people will start talking. And that—I will never tolerate. I won’t let anyone point fingers at you."

Heer ki hairani aur badh gayi. Jo kuch uski maa aur saheli ne samjhaya tha, yahan to sab ulta ho raha tha.

Aaj ki raat… jo raat ek aurat ke liye ek imtehaan hoti hai, jisme usse apne jism aur rooh ki qurbani deni padti hai, uske liye ye ek alag hi manzar tha.

Isse pehle ki wo kuch aur soch paati, Henry ki awaaz phir se sunai di.

"Just bear with my presence, that’s all I ask. Otherwise, I’ll spend most of my time outside the house."

Ye kehkar Henry paas rakhi rocking chair par baith gaya.

"Heer, you are not a prisoner in this home or this marriage. Not at all. You are free to live as you wish, to go wherever you want, to do whatever you want. I will never impose any restrictions on you, nor will I bind you to this house or this relationship like a prisoner."

Heer ne Henry ko dekha—woh rocking chair par baitha tha, lekin uske chehre ki thakaan aur jazbat uske dil ki halat bata rahe the. Usne sir peeche tikaya aur aankhein bandh kar li. Jaise wo apne andar ke dukh ko daba raha ho.

Heer ne dheere se ek saans li. Wo ab bhi samajh nahi paa rahi thi ki Henry aisa kyun kar raha hai? Ek angrez hone ke bawajood usme woh sab kuch kyun nahi hai jo Heer ne un jaise logo ke baare mein suna tha? Kyun uska pati ek rakshas nahi, balki ek insaan lag raha tha?

Uska dil ek ajeeb si halat mein tha. Ek taraf use gussa aana chahiye tha—kyunki uski shadi ek dushman se hui thi. Doosri taraf, Henry ki batein uske andar ek ajeeb si halchal macha rahi thi.

Kya sach mein woh uski parwah karta tha? Ya sirf ek angrez hone ke naate apni izzat bachane ke liye yeh sab keh raha tha?

Usne dheere se apni mutthi band ki.

"Mujhe ispar vishwas nahi karna chahiye," Heer ne socha. “Ye ek dushman hai. Bas ek dushman.”

Lekin phir uske zehan mein Henry ki woh bebas aankhein aa gayi.

Jin aankhon mein na garv tha, na ahankar—sirf ek dukh, ek intezaar tha. Lekin dukh akhir kis baat ka tha wo ye smjh nahi paa rahi thi.

Kamre mein khamoshi chhayi rahi. Sirf ghadi ki sui ka halki awaz goonj rahi thi.

Henry ne aankhein khol kar Heer ki taraf dekha. ""LYou must be tired… get some rest." usne dheere se kaha.

Heer kuch nahi boli. Usne sirf dheere se apna dupatta theek kiya aur palang ke ek kone mein ja kar let gayi. Uska dil ab bhi shant nahi ho raha tha.

Henry ne ek pal ke liye use dekha, phir apni nazar hata li. Usne apni chair ko dheere se jhula diya aur chand ki roshni mein khud ko kho diya.

Aaj ki raat sirf Heer ke liye nahi, balki Henry ke liye bhi ek naye mod ki shuruaat thi.

Kamre mein ek ajeeb si khamoshi thi. Sirf halki si hawa ka leharana aur kabhi-kabhi dur se aati ghadi ki tik-tik sunai de rahi thi. Henry rocking chair par baitha chand ko dekh raha tha, par uski aankhon ke saamne kuch aur hi tasveerein ubhar rahi thi—uske bhootkaal ki tasveerein.

Woh sirf ek pati nahi tha, ek beta bhi tha… ek aise beta jo apne pita ko ek be-reham jang mein kho chuka tha. Uske dil mein aaj bhi woh chehra taaza tha—uske pita ka chehra, jo ek shaheed ki maut mar gaye the.

Aur Henry, ek itna badkismat beta jo akhri baar apne pita ko dekh tak na saka. Wo to ye tak nahi janta uske pita ki kabr kaha hogi. Hogi bhi ya nahi hogi. Kya wo kabhi apne pita ki kabr dekh bhi sakega? Yehi baat use andar hi andar se khai ja rahi thi.

Usne apni mutthi band ki, jaise dukh aur guroor dono ek saath dabane ki koshish kar raha ho. Jang ne sirf unka sharir nahi, Henry ke andar ke vishwas ko bhi maar diya tha.

Use ye sab ab baimana sa lagne laga tha. Akhir kiske liye aur kyu ye sab ho raha tha? Jung mein itni jane jaa chuki thi aur yahan hindustani bhi har din apni azadi ke liye hazaron mautein mar rahe the lekin hukumat ko kya farak padta tha akhir kitne hi ghar ujadh jae yan phir kitne hi bache yateem ho jaein.

Wo to ye tak nahi janta tha ke akhir uski maa uske pita ki shahadat ke bare mein jaan chuki hai ya nahi? Henry mein toh itni himat bhi nahi bachi hai ke apni maa ko khat likh kar unse afsos hi jata sake.

Bhala khaton se kaise dukh banta ja sakta hai? Wo to bas apni maa ke paas Jana chahta hai aur bache ki trha apni maa ke aanchal mein chup kar sog manana chahta tha.

Aur ab, yahan Heer thi. Jo yahan ho kar bhi uske sath nahi thi.

Ek aur rishta, ek aur vaada. Jo rishta usne khud nahi chuna tha… lekin Heer ne nahi. 

Uske andar ek aur kasak ubhri. Heer ki berukhi usse bardaasht nahi ho rahi thi. Uska yeh sochna ki Henry ek zalim pati hoga, sirf ek aurat ka darr nahi, balki uske apne logon ka bharosa todne ka natija tha. Heer sirf Henry se nahi, uske poore nasl se nafrat karti thi. Aur uss nafrat mein Henry ki jagah kya thi? Wo yehi soch soch kar pagal hua ja raha tha.

Ab toh bas wo koshish hi kar sakta tha Heer ka vishwas jeetne aur use apne pyar ka yakeen dilane ka.

Kya Heer kabhi jaan sakegi ki woh bhi ek ghayal insaan hai? Ki uska dil bhi ek jang lad raha hai—andar se, khud se?

Henry ne ek gehri saans bhari aur apni kursi thodi aur peeche jhula di apni akhein band karli.

Dusri taraf, Heer ab tak soyi nahi thi. Uska dil zor-zor se dhadak raha tha.

Usne suna tha ki angrez mardon par bharosa nahi kiya ja sakta. Usne suna tha ki shaadi ki pehli raat ek aurat ki sabse badi kasauti hoti hai. Usne suna tha ki ek baar pati ka haq mil jaaye, toh phir aurat ki marzi koi maayne nahi rakhti.

Woh sochna nahi chahti thi, par uska dimaag bas yahi sab soch raha tha.

Uski kamar se lekar gardan tak ek ajeeb si thandak chali gayi, jaise koi usse dekh raha ho.

Usne dheere se apni aankhein kholi. Henry waisi hi kursi par baitha tha, aankhein bandh kiye. Kya woh so raha tha? Ya sirf dikhava kar raha tha?

Heer ne apna dupatta aur kas ke lapet liya. Agar usne achanak aankhein kholi aur…?

Usne apni saans andar kheench li, jaise koi uske paas aane wala ho.

Par kuch nahi hua.

Sirf khamoshi thi. Sirf chand ki roshni.

Henry hil bhi nahi raha tha.

Heer ki aankhon se ek aansu nikal aaya. Uska darr sach tha ya bas uske zehan mein pada hua ek bojh?

Woh sari raat aise hi leti rahi—kabhi apne haath kas kar bandh leti, kabhi palak jhapkati, kabhi apni saans ko rok leti.

Par Henry ne ek baar bhi uski taraf nahi dekha. Ek baar bhi nahi.

Aur jab subah ki pehli roshni khidki se andar aayi, tab usne dekha—Henry ab bhi rocking chair par hi baitha tha. Uski aankhein bandh thi, jaise usne bhi sari raat neend nahi li ho.

Magar Heer ko ek ajeeb sa sukoon mehsoos hua.

Kyun?

Shayad kyunki uska darr sach nahi tha.

Ya shayad kyunki Henry sach mein waise nahi tha, jaise usne socha tha.

Par kya Sach mein?

“Nahi wo ek dushman hai.” Heer ne khud ko yaad dilaya.

Subah ke pehle suraj ki kirne jab khidki se andar aane lagi, Heer ki aankhein thodi der ke liye band hui, par uska man ab bhi bechain tha. Raat ka har ek pal uske dil par likh diya gaya tha—uski bechaini, uska darr, aur sabse zyada... Henry ka alag tareeka.

Usne dheere se apni palkein uthayi. Kamra ab bhi waisa hi tha jaise raat ko chhoda tha. Aur Henry? Woh ab bhi rocking chair par tha. Usi tarah baitha hua, sir peechay tikaye. Uski aankhein band thi, magar saans chal rahi thi. Kya woh soya bhi tha? Ya jaagta raha poori raat?

“Isne sari raat be-arami mein akhir kyun guzari hai?” Heer ne socha Henry ko kursi par baitha dekh.

Heer ke dil mein ek ajeeb si kasak uthi jo woh khud bhi nahi samajh paayi. Usne bas ek pal ke liye Henry ko dekha. Woh ek dum shaant lag raha tha, jaise kisi gehre khayal mein kho gaya ho.

“Akhir ye insaan aisa kyun hai? Ya phir ye sirf ek dikhawa hai?” Heer ne hairani mein socha aur usne turant apni nazar hata li. 

Woh dheere se bistar se uthi, apni chaadar theek ki aur ek pal ke liye ruki. Uska dil zor-zor se dhadak raha tha. Kya woh bina kisi awaaz ke yahan se nikal sakti thi? Kya woh Henry ko jagaye bina darwaza khol sakti thi?

Usne ek dheere saans li aur kadam aage badhaya. Magar jese hi uska pehla kadam zameen par pada uski payalon ki jhankar sunte hi Henry ki palkein halke se hilli. Heer turant rukh gayi, saans andar kheench li jaise koi pakda gaya ho.

Henry ne dheere se apni aankhein kholi. Subah ki dhundhli roshni mein uski thaki hui aankhein aur bhi narm lag rahi thi. Heer ko dekhte hi uske chehre par ek pal ke liye ek ajeeb si muskurahat aayi, par turant hi wo muskurahat ek gehre dukh mein badal gayi uske chehre ki mayusi dekhte hi.

"Did you not sleep at all last night?" Henry ki awaaz narmi se uthi uski laal akhein dekh kar, magar Heer ke dil ko ek ajeeb si chubhan de gayi.

Heer ne turant apni nazar jhuka li. Uske honth kaanp rahe the, magar usne kuch nahi kaha.

Henry ne ek gehri saans li. Woh dheere se khada hua. Uske lambe kad ki parchhayi Heer ke paas se guzri, magar usne Heer ko chhooa tak nahi. Bas ek baar usne uski taraf dekha, par Heer ab bhi apni jagah sthir thi, jaise kisi andekhe bojh se dab gayi ho.

"Good morning," Henry ne dheere se kaha.

Heer ne bas ek pal ke liye uski taraf dekha, par kuch nahi kaha.

Henry ne uske aankhon ki bechaini ko mehsoos kiya, lekin usne phir bhi Heer se koi sawal nahi kiya. Woh jaanta tha ki Heer abhi bhi uska bharosa nahi karti. Par yeh bhi jaanta tha ki ek din woh zaroor samjhegi—samjhegi ki yeh rishta sirf majboori nahi hai, yeh uska sachcha pyaar bhi hai.

Woh dheere se doori banata wapas mud gaya. "You can take your time getting ready. The bathroom is over there. I'll be downstairs." Henry ne kamre mein ek dusre darwaze ki aur ishara karte hue kaha.

Aur yeh kehkar woh bina Heer ki taraf dekhe darwaze ki taraf badh gaya. Magar jaane se pehle ek pal ke liye ruka.

"If you need anything, you can let me know." Aur phir bina koi aur lafz kahe, Henry darwaza khol kar bahar chala gaya.

Jaise hi darwaza band hua, Heer ne ek gehri saans chhod di. Pata nahi yeh sukoon tha ya ek ajeeb si bechaini jo use mehsoos ho rahi thi.

Woh palang par baith gayi, apne haathon par lagi mehndi dekhne lagi. Raat ka darr abhi bhi uske andar tha, magar us darr ke beech ek naya ehsaas bhi tha.

Henry ki baatein… uska alag andaz… uska yeh kehna ki woh Heer par kabhi koi zabardasti nahi karega…

Kya koi angrez aisa ho sakta tha?

Apne ansune sawalon ke beech, woh palang se uthi aur snaanagar mein jaakar naha kar din ke liye tayyar hone lagi.

Woh abhi tayyar ho hi rahi thi ki uski nazar shringar daan par pad gayi—sindoor ki dibbi uske saamne thi. Uske haath ek pal ke liye thode kanpe, magar phir himmat kar ke usne woh sindoor uthaya aur apni maang bhar li.

Lekin jaise hi usne aaine mein apne aap ko dekha, toh wahan sirf Heer nahi thi.

Woh koi aur hi thi.

Woh sirf Heer nahi rahi thi—ab woh Heer Caldwell thi.

Usne apne gehne pehne. Ek vyaapari ki beti aur Lieutenant Colonel ki patni... shaadi ke baad woh kaise suney kaan aur khaali haath reh sakti thi? Phir usne apne sar ko dupatte se dhaka aur apne kamre se nikal aayi.

Uske payalon ki ghunghruon ki madhur jhankaar sun kar Henry ki nazarien seedhiyon ki taraf uth gayi, aur ek pal ke liye uski saansein hi tham gayi.

Gehre hare rang ke suit mein, sar par surkh laal phulkari odhe, uske saamne ek alag hi Heer thi.

Woh woh ladki nahi thi jise usne mele mein ya library mein dekha tha.

Woh uski patni thi—ek suhagan—aur is roop mein uske liye duniya ki sabse khoobsurat ladki.

"Breakfast is ready, Mrs. Caldwell," Henry ne pyaar bhari muskurahat ke saath kaha, apni bagal wali kursi ki taraf ishara karte hue.

Heer dheere se kursi par baith gayi. Naukar aakar dono ke saamne nashta parosne lage. Jab Henry ke liye angrezi nashta lagaya gaya, toh Heer ke honth bas ek pal ke liye sikud gaye.

Yeh sab usse nahi khana tha.

Henry ne uska chehra dekh liya. Dheere se muskura kar bola, "Don't worry, my little jewel. This meal is just for me. The chef has prepared traditional food for you, just the way you like it."

Heer ki aankhein hairani se badi ho gayi, aur uska dil ek pal ke liye dhadakna bhool gaya—Henry ke muh se apne liye yeh naya naam sun kar.

Heer ne apni nazar jhuka li. Little jewel. Yeh shabd uske mann mein kahin gehre utar gaye, aur uske gaal laal ho gaye. Apne naam ka yeh arth sun kar woh yun sharm se bhar jaayegi, yeh usne kabhi socha bhi nahi tha.

Henry ne bhi yeh dekha, par aage kuch nahi kaha. Shayad yeh chhote-chhote kadam hi usse Heer ke dil tak pahuncha dein, usne socha.

Naukar ne Heer ke saamne paratha, makhan aur chulhe wali chai rakhi. Masalon ki sugandh uske manpasand nashtay ka pata de rahi thi. Uske honthon par ek halki si muskurahat ubhri.

Henry ne Heer ki aankhon mein woh chamak dekhi jo usse tasalli de rahi thi ki usne sahi faisla liya hai. Woh chahta tha ki Heer sirf uske saath na rahe, balki apni pehchaan aur apni pasand-naapasand ke saath rahe.

Wahi yeh chhota sa kadam Heer ke dil ko bhi bechain kar gaya. Dono ne nashta sannate mein kiya, par woh sannata kal raat ki tarah bhaari nahi tha.

Henry khush tha ki kam se kam Heer uske saath baith kar khana toh kha rahi thi. Aur wahi Heer ke dil mein ek chhoti si umeed jaag rahi thi—beshak shaadi uski marzi se nahi hui thi, par kam se kam uski abroo uski marzi ke bina nahi jaayegi.

Nashta khatam hone ke baad Henry apni kursi se utha, kyunki use apne daftri kaam niptane the.

"I'll be late coming home. Whatever you’d like for lunch, just let the chef know—he’ll prepare it for you."

Yeh keh kar Henry jaane ke liye muda, par Heer ka dil bechain ho utha.

Usse toh apne mayke jaana tha riwaayat ke mutaabik—aur Henry ne aisa kuch kaha hi nahi.

Heer ne apni nazrein uthai aur dekha ki Henry darwaze ke paas pahunch chuka tha.

Usne apne hoth apne danton mein daba liye bechaini mein. Ab kya kare? Uski maa ne kaha tha ki Henry ki ijaazat ke bina kabhi bhi ghar na aaye, aur agar Baldev ya Sahib use lene aaye aur Henry ghar na hua toh?

Heer apne ghar jaana chahti thi, aur uske liye Henry ka ghar pe rehna zaroori tha.

Lekin woh yeh bhi jaanti thi ki shayad Henry in sab riwayaton se anjaan hai. Par agar use apne ghar jaana hai toh use hi batana hoga.

Magar usse jhijhak ho rahi thi. Aakhir Henry ko bulaaye kaise?

Usne himmat jutate hue ek gehri saans bhari aur pehli baar Henry ko pukara..

"Lieutenant Saab!"

Henry wahi ruk gaya. Apne liye yeh naam sun kar uska dil khushi se naach utha. Woh turant hi muda.

"Yes, Princess!"

Jaise hi usne muskurate hue poocha, Heer ke gaal aur laal ho gaye.

Aur woh... bhool gayi ki use kehna kya tha.