(London – 8:00 PM)

London ke sabse prestigious royal hotel me ek grand masquerade business gala chal raha tha.

Ye event sirf invited guests ke liye tha...

Business tycoons...

Royal families...

Politicians...

Aur kuch special guests.

Har chehre par ek mask...

Jisse koi kisi ko pehchaan na sake.

───

University ki taraf se Professor Simran Khurana ko bhi invitation mila tha.

Lekin Simran akele nahi aayi thi.

Uske saath uski close friend Emily bhi thi.

Emily: "Sim... tum har party me itni serious kyun rehti ho?"

Simran (smiling): "Main yahan networking ke liye aayi hoon... dance karne ke liye nahi."

Dono halki si hansi ke saath drinks lekar baat karne lagti hain.

───

Dusri taraf...

Black luxury car hotel ke entrance par rukti hai.

Atishay Kapoor bahar utarta hai.

Black tuxedo...

Black mask...

Aur wahi cold aura.

Jis taraf wo chalta...

Log khud raasta chhod dete.

Business partners uske paas aakar baat karne lagte hain.

Tabhi ek famous model, Sophia, uske paas aati hai.

Sophia: "Mr. Kapoor... ek dance to banta hai."

Atishay: "I'm not interested."

Sophia (hanskar): "Aaj mana nahi kar sakte... ye gala ki tradition hai."

Wo bina jawab sune Atishay ka haath pakadkar dance floor par le jaati hai.

Atishay majboori me dance shuru karta hai.

───

Host announce karta hai—

"Royal Mask Waltz... and as always... partners will change after every minute."

Music shuru hota hai.

Sab couples dance karne lagte hain.

Ek minute baad...

Sab partner change karte hain.

Sophia kisi aur ke saath chali jaati hai.

Aur...

Atishay ke saamne aakar rukti hai...

Ek unknown masked girl.

Black gown...

Silver mask...

Aur gehri aankhen.

Simran.

Dono bina ek shabd kahe dance shuru karte hain.

Jaise hi Atishay uska haath pakadta hai...

Uski heartbeat achanak tez ho jaati hai.

Uske aas-paas ka shor dheere-dheere gayab hone lagta hai.

Music bhi jaise door se sunai dene lagta hai.

Usse sirf...

Us ladki ki aankhen nazar aa rahi thi.

Pehli baar...

Atishay Kapoor ka dhyaan business, power ya deals par nahi...

Kisi insaan par tha.

Simran bhi ek pal ke liye uski taraf dekhti hai.

Uski aankhon me ek ajeeb sa sukoon...

Aur saath hi ek anjaana dard nazar aata hai.

Atishay (dheere se): "I don't know your name... but I'm certain I'll never forget your eyes."

Simran bas halki si muskurati hai.

Simran: "Masks isi liye hote hain... taaki log chehre se kahani na padh sake."

Atishay uski baat sunkar bas use dekhta reh jaata hai.

Jaise waqt wahi ruk gaya ho.

───

Music khatam hota hai.

Isi waqt Simran ke phone par vibration hoti hai.

Screen par sirf ek naam flash hota hai...

"Muffin "

Simran ek second ke liye call dekhti hai.

Simran: "Excuse me."

Wo dance floor se nikal jaati hai.

Emily bhi uske peeche chali jaati hai.

Dono jaldi se hotel se bahar nikal kar car me baith jaati hain.

Car kuch hi seconds me wahan se chali jaati hai.

───

Atishay jaise hosh me aata hai.

Wo turant dance floor se bahar aakar us unknown girl ko dhoondhne lagta hai.

Ballroom...

Garden...

Lobby...

Terrace...

Har jagah.

Lekin wo kahin nahi milti.

Assistant uske paas aata hai.

Assistant: "Sir... sab theek hai?"

Atishay ki nazar ab bhi entrance par hoti hai.

Atishay: "Ek ladki thi..."

Assistant hairaan hokar poochta hai—

Assistant: "Naam?"

Atishay dheere se sir hilaata hai.

Atishay: "Naam nahi pata..."

"Bas itna pata hai..."

"Uski aankhon ne meri saari duniya rok di."

Camera hotel ke bahar jaati hui black car par zoom karta hai...

Jisme Simran khidki ke bahar dekh rahi hoti hai...

Aur use bilkul bhi ehsaas nahi hota...

Ki uski zindagi ka sabse khatarnak aadmi...

Ab sirf usse dhoondhne wala hai.

To Be Continued...