Woh Darwaza Jo Sirf Ek Baar Khulta Hai… Aur Uske Baad

Raat ke lagbhag 11 baje the, aur main apne nani ke purane ghar mein akela baitha tha. Ghar bahut bada nahi tha, but uski deewarein aise khamosh lagti thi jaise unhone bahut kuch dekha ho. Har room mein ek ajeeb si thandak thi, aur hawa mein mitti aur purane lakdi ki smell thi.

Unhi rooms ke beech ek darwaza tha, jo kisi bhi normal darwaze jaisa nahi lagta tha. Nani hamesha uske baare mein bas itna kehti thi, “Usse chhedna mat. Woh sirf ek baar khulta hai.” Main pehle sochta tha ki yeh bas unki purani kahaniyon mein se ek hogi. Lekin us raat, mujhe pata chala ki kuch cheezein majak nahi hoti.

Main hall se guzarte hue us darwaze ke paas gaya. Wood pe halki si carving thi, jo pehle kabhi notice nahi ki thi. Jaise kisi ne bahut pehle apne haath se ek naam mitaane ki koshish ki ho. Maine handle ko touch kiya toh thanda sa jhatka laga. Tabhi andar se ek halki si awaaz aayi — jaise koi dheere se saans le raha ho.

Mere pair jam gaye. Phir bhi curiosity ne mujhe aage badhaya. Maine darwaza khola.

Uske peeche koi room nahi tha. Sirf ek andhera sa corridor tha, jo neeche ki taraf ja raha tha. Aisa lag raha tha jaise ghar ke andar hi ek aur duniya chhupi ho. Main ek kadam andar gaya, aur usi pal se mujhe laga ki koi mere peeche khada hai. Main palta, par koi nahi tha.

Corridor ke end mein ek chhota sa kamra tha, aur uske beech ek purani wooden chair par ek envelope pada tha. Uspar mera naam likha tha. Haath kaanpte hue maine envelope khola. Andar sirf ek line thi:

“Agar tumne yeh padh liya hai, toh darwaza ab dobara kabhi nahi khulega.”

Maine hasne ki koshish ki, but awaaz gale mein hi atak gayi. Kyunki usi waqt, mere piche se darwaze ki creak sunai di. Main tezi se mud gaya. Corridor ka entrance ab wahan tha hi nahi. Uski jagah bas ek solid brick wall thi.

Saans ruk si gayi. Main wall ko haath se touch karta raha, dhoondhta raha, chillata raha. Par jo darwaza tha, woh gayab ho chuka tha. Bas us room mein ek cheez aur badli thi — chair ke neeche se ek aur envelope nikla, jo pehle wahan bilkul nahi tha.

Usme likha tha:

“Ab tum bhi us ghar ke logon mein se ho, jo ek baar andar aaye aur kabhi waapas nahi gaye.”

Subah jab nani ne mujhe roti hui aankhon se dekha, unhone sirf itna kaha, “Maine mana kiya tha na…” Unhone mujhe bataya ki yeh darwaza unke parivaar mein generations se hai. Har kuch saalon mein ek baar khulta hai. Jo bhi uske andar jaata hai, woh ya toh kuch le aata hai, ya kuch chhod jaata hai. Aur sabse ajeeb baat? Uske baad ghar mein uski awaaz, uska saya, aur uski yaadein thodi-thodi badal jaati hain.

Aaj bhi jab main us ghar ko yaad karta hoon, toh ek hi sawaal dimag mein ghoomta hai — woh darwaza asal mein tha kya? Koi raaz, koi warning, ya phir kisi aur duniya ka entry point?

Bas itna pata hai ki uske baad mere liye raat kabhi pehle jaisi nahi rahi. Aur jab bhi kahin purana darwaza dheere se khulta sunai deta hai, mere badan mein ek hi thought aata hai: shayad woh ab bhi kisi aur ka naam likh raha hai.