Mukesh ek chhote se sheher ka seedha-saadha ladka tha. Din bhar apne pitaji ki bookshop sambhalta, aur raat mein akela chaand ko dekhta rehta. Uske liye pyaar sirf kitaabon mein tha—filmon jaisa, kahaniyon jaisa, lekin zindagi mein kabhi nahi aaya tha.
Ek din, uski dukan par ek ladki aayi—Chandni. Baal halki baarish se geele the, aankhon mein kuch udasi thi, par muskaan mein ek ajeeb sa sukoon. Chandni ne ek purani diary maangi. Mukesh ne diary toh de di, par dil usne wahi chhod diya.
Chandni har hafte aane lagi. Har baar ek nayi kitaab, ek nayi muskaan, aur ek nayi baat. Mukesh ka dil har baar zyada dhadakta. Usne kabhi nahi socha tha ki ek ladki ki aankhon mein itne raaz chhupe ho sakte hain.
Ek raat, jab Mukesh ne poocha:
"Chandni, tum itni udaas kyun hoti ho?"
Chandni ne kaha:
"Mujhe ek aise insaan ki talaash hai jo sirf mujhe samjhe, meri kahani bina kahe sun le."
Mukesh muskaraaya:
"Toh phir galat jagah nahi aayi ho. Main toh kitaabon mein rehne wala ladka hoon. Har kahani padh chuka hoon—ab teri kahani sunni hai."
Aur usi raat se, Chandni ne apna dil khol diya. Uski purani dard bhari kahani, uske sapne, uska pyaar, sab Mukesh ko de diya. Aur Mukesh ne, bina kisi shart ke, uska saath.
Dono ne ek dusre mein woh mohabbat paayi jo sirf kahaniyon mein hoti hai.
