Bayan-e-Awwal

Andar. Thana. Raat. Ek mez, do kursiyan, aur ek register jo bahut purana hai.

Thanedar ne pehla sawal wo nahin poochha jo sab poochte hain. Usne yeh nahin poochha ke kya hua. Usne poochha ke us raat chand nikla tha ya nahin — aur chowkidar ne fauran jawab diya, jo apne aap mein pehla suraagh tha.

Chowkidar

Chand tha, sahab. Poora nahin, magar itna ke rasta dikh jaye.

Thanedar

Aur tum rasta dekh rahe the?

Chowkidar

Main soya hua tha, sahab.

Thanedar register mein kuch likhta hai. Bahut aahista.

Jo aadmi so raha ho use yeh nahin pata hota ke chand poora tha ya adhoora. Thanedar ne yeh baat nahin kahi. Usne sirf chai mangwai — do cup — aur chowkidar ke chehre par jo cheez utri, wo dar nahin tha. Wo takleef thi.