THE WRONG NUMBER

THE PHONE CALL

A few minutes later, santosh came to her with the information of that number.
"Madam ye number kisi 'MALLIK MAM' ke naam par registered hai"

"Mallik mam" she repeated.

"Ji madam, vaise koi zaroori number hai kya?"

"Nahi kuch nhi"

"MALIK SAHIBA" she thought with a smile on her face.

"Vo awaaz...itna pyaara tha...itna sukoon tha us awaaz mein...humein aisa laga ki humari saari thakaan khtm ho gayi sirf vo awaaz sun kar! Humare dilo dimag mein chhaa gaya tha vo awaaz. Us phone call ke baad hamara life alag hi direction mein jaane laga. Subeh uthte to uska khayal....raat mein sone jaate to uska khayal...! Tang aa gye thy hum. Pehli nazar mein pyaar hota hai suna tha humne...magar kisi ki awaaz se pyaar ho jaaye ga aisa kabhi nahi suna tha...magar itne dino mein humein ye ehsaas ho chuka tha ki humein kahin na kahin uss awaaz se pyaar ho gaya hai.

Ek alag ehsaas hone laga hume...aur pyaar mein hum har tareeke ki bewkoofiyaan karne ko fauran taiyar ho jaate hain... Hai na!"

One night, Karishma was standing at  her balcony, gazing the sky. She was fidgeting her phone in her hand and then she gained some courage. Till now, she has learnt the phone number of that unknown caller by heart like we used to learn our parents number in childhood if in case we get kidnapped someday.

She dialled that number but herself cuts the call in 3-4 rings.

"Ye kya kar rahe hain hum" she said smacking her forehead. But love makes you stupid. She again dialled the number but this time she had enough courage to wait till the whole ring. But to her bad luck, no one picked up the call.

Disappointed, she walked back to her room and lied on the bed on her stomach, hugging the pillow. Half an hour later, her phone rang. With spark of excitement in her eyes, she picked her phone only to find the call from the same number. She immediately picked up the call.

"Hello?" The person said 

She closed her eyes feeling the essence of her voice. So relaxing.

"Kaun bol Raha hai?"

And she realized she has to answer her that why did she called her.

"Aap kaun?" She blurted out stupidly.

"Aapka call aaya tha Miss...humne toh call back Kiya hai"

"Ohhh acchaaa!! Aisi baat hai!!!... Accha laga jaan kar!!... Aapke ghar par sab thik hai?" She was saying whatever coming in her mind.

"Excuse me?"

"Excused"

"Hume lag raha hai shyad koi wrong number hai... Isliye hum phone rakh rahe hain"

"Haa ..haan wrong number hai ...shyad galti se lag gaya hoga ...hum maafi chahte hain aapse" she said 

"Ji koi baat nahi"

"Good night" karishma said to her before she could disconnect the call.

With a serene smile on her face, Karishma lied down on the bed putting her phone near her chest.

"Malik Sahiba...! Hamari toh raat ban gayi aapki awaaz sun kar"  she said and closed her eyes to let herself sleep.

"Hahah...nahi hum itne bhi buddu nahi  hain ki har pal unhe call karke pareshaan  karte. Humne unke call ka recording le rakha tha ...usko hi sunte rehte thy. Ek taraf ye darr bhi tha ki ye sab jo ho raha hai uska aage kuch future hai bhi ya nahi...par dusri taraf  ummeed bhi thi ki shyad humari Mallik Sahiba ke kabhi deedar honge hume... Waqt guzarne laga aur hum yun hi kabhi kabhi galti se unhe call laga diya karte thy alag alag numbers se. Kabhi pushpa ji ke , kabhi Santu toh kabhi cheetah. Apni in bewkoofiyon par kabhi kabhi hasi bhi aati thi. Wo bechari yahi sochti rehti hongi ki itne saare wrong numbers kyun unke peeche pade huye hain. Khair, ek baar humne unhe apne hi number se call lagaya.