Do din beet gaye, lekin café ka woh moment — jab Namjoon aur Yoongi ne usse “choose karo” kaha tha — Kajal ke dimaag me ghoomta raha.
Wo apne classes attend kar rahi thi, assignments submit kar rahi thi, lekin har break me ek ya toh Yoongi ka calm lekin stubborn face ya Namjoon ki intense gaze uske mind me aa jaati.
Friday raat, hostel me lights dim thi jab Kajal ka phone vibrate hua — ek unknown number se message:
“Yoongi in trouble. Come to 27th Street warehouse. Don’t tell anyone.”
Kajal ka dil ek second ke liye skip hua.
27th Street…? Wo jagah thoda shady thi, jaha music equipment kaam price pe milta tha lekin illegal deals bhi hoti thi.
Message anonymous tha, lekin instinct keh rahi thi ki yeh mazaak nahi hai.
Usne bina soche jacket pehni, phone uthaya, aur nikalne lagi… tabhi screen pe Namjoon ka call flash hua.
“Kajal, tum free ho? Ek urgent kaam hai,” Namjoon ka tone serious tha.
“Main ek live interview pe jaa raha hoon, jo mera career decide kar sakta hai. Mujhe tumhara support chahiye — press se ek cheez handle karni hai.”
Kajal freeze ho gayi.
Namjoon ka interview — usne pehle bataya tha ki yeh music label ke saath uska biggest chance hai.
Lekin Yoongi ka safety… agar woh sach me trouble me hai, toh der karna dangerous ho sakta hai.
“Kajal? Tum sun rahi ho?” Namjoon ka tone ab thoda anxious lag raha tha.
Kajal ke dimag me flash hua:
— Agar main Namjoon ke saath gayi, toh Yoongi shayad trouble se nikal na paaye.
— Agar main Yoongi ke paas gayi, toh Namjoon ka trust break hoga, aur shayad uska career ka biggest chance chala jaaye.
Ek side loyalty… doosri side safety.
Aur beech me wo khud.
“Namjoon… main—” Kajal ne start kiya, lekin uske words throat me atak gaye.
Usne ek deep breath li, phir decide kiya.
Perfect 👍
Main Chapter 18 ka continuation dono versions me likh dunga —
Version A: Kajal chooses Namjoon (Yoongi ka trust damage hota hai)
Version B: Kajal chooses Yoongi (Namjoon ka career stake par lagta hai)
Tone same rahega — Hinglish, high emotional stakes, aur dono me alag-alag consequences.
Kajal ne phone ka grip tight kiya.
Yoongi ka naam dimaag me ghoom raha tha… lekin Namjoon ka tone uske kaan me echo kar raha tha. "Mujhe tum ka support chahiye."
“Namjoon… main tumhare saath hoon,” Kajal ne finally kaha.
Dusre end se ek halki si relief bhari sigh aayi. “Thanks, Kajal. I knew I could count on you.”
Wo turant hostel se nikal kar Namjoon ke venue pahunch gayi. Bright lights, flashing cameras, aur reporters ke sawaal ka ek samundar tha.
Namjoon ne jaise hi usse dekha, ek confident smile di — us smile me ek subtle ownership thi.
“Tum perfect timing pe aayi,” usne slow whisper me kaha, aur turant ek reporter ko answer dene laga.
Interview flawless chala. Namjoon ke answers smart, charming, aur media-friendly the. Kajal ko pata tha ki aaj usne apne career ka ek bada step le liya hai.
Lekin… poore event me Kajal ka phone baar-baar vibrate hota raha — unknown number se.
“Where are you? He needs you.”
“It’s getting worse.”
Kajal ne ignore kiya… lekin andar ek guilt ka boojh badhta gaya.
Raat ko jab wo hostel wapas aayi, to Yoongi ka phone finally connect hua. Uski voice heavy thi.
“Kajal… tum nahi aayi.”
“Main… main nahi aa paayi, ek urgent—”
Yoongi ne cut kiya, “Mujhe hospital jana pada. Lekin shayad tum busy thi.”
Uske words calm the, lekin us calmness me ek thandi distance thi.
Kajal ne phone cut karte hi realise kiya… aaj raat usne Namjoon ka trust strong kiya hai, lekin Yoongi ke dil me ek crack ban chuka hai.
Agle din subah, Kajal hostel ke room me coffee cup lekar window ke paas khadi thi.
Raat ka scene abhi bhi fresh tha — Namjoon ke saath flashing lights, media ke questions, aur uska confident smile.
Aur phir… Yoongi ka phone call. "Mujhe hospital jana pada. Lekin shayad tum busy thi."
Kajal ka chest heavy feel kar raha tha.
Usne apne phone me Yoongi ka number dial kiya, lekin ring ke baad bhi koi answer nahi aaya. Dusra call… phir bhi same.
Messages type kiye:
“Yoongi, main kal tumhare paas nahi aa paayi… sorry.”
“Tum theek ho?”
Lekin blue ticks bhi nahi aaye.
Dopahar ko Namjoon ka message aaya:
“Meet me at the office. We need to talk.”
Office pahunchte hi Namjoon ne usse ek proud smile di. “Kal raat tumne mera biggest interview save kiya. Tum thi, isliye main press ke beech comfortable tha.”
Kajal ne weak smile di. “Mujhe khushi hai tumhara kaam accha hua.”
Namjoon ne thoda closer hote hue kaha, “Not just accha… game-changing. Label ne mujhe contract offer kiya hai. Tumhare support ke bina yeh possible nahi tha.”
Uske words genuine the, lekin Kajal ka mind Yoongi par atka hua tha.
Wo bas slow nod kar paayi.
Namjoon ne uski aankhon me dekha, “Kya hua? Tum thodi… off lag rahi ho.”
Kajal hesitate kar gayi. “Bas… Yoongi se baat nahi ho pa rahi.”
Namjoon ka expression thoda unreadable ho gaya. “Kajal, tumne kal ek choice ki thi. Main nahi keh raha ke tum usse ignore karo, lekin… kabhi kabhi choice ka matlab hota hai kisi ek ko pehle rakhna.”
Kajal ne uski baat sun kar sirf ek faint “Hmm” kaha.
Lekin andar se ek guilt wave fir se uthi — jaise uska decision Namjoon ke liye right tha… par Yoongi ke liye ek chhupa hua betrayal.
Shaam ko finally Yoongi ka message aaya:
“Main theek hoon. Rest kar raha hoon.”
Kajal ne turant reply kiya:
“Main tumse milne aa sakti hoon?”
Lekin jawab aaya:
“Kal.”
Bas ek word. No warmth. No emoji.
Kajal screen ko blank stare se dekhti rahi. Usne realise kiya ki ek chhota sa crack kabhi kabhi chhupkar zyada dangerous hota hai… kyunki pata hi nahi chalta wo kab bada ban jayega.
