Adultery The First Glance and the Quiet Obsession

[Sikhari]

Arjun Sharma, 21 saal ka ladka, second-year MBBS student tha Noida ke ek reputed medical college mein. Gym jaata tha kabhi-kabhi, lekin obsessed nahi. Padhai mein average se thoda upar, dost logon ke saath mazak karta, lekin andar se kuch alag sochta rehta. Uske sabse purane dost the Rohan Kapoor – society ke hi, bachpan se saath khelte, padhte, bakwas karte. Rohan ka ghar Arjun ke ghar se sirf 200 meter door tha.Ritu Kapoor, Rohan ki maa, 46 saal ki. Senior gynecologist ek achhe hospital mein. Figure abhi bhi sundar tha – mature curves, fair complexion jo thakaan se kabhi-kabhi dull ho jaati, lambe baal jo woh aksar bun mein bandh leti thi. Saree pehenne ka andaaz purana college wala – perfect dbang, blouse ke saath. Woh strict nahi thi, lekin doori banaye rakhti thi. Hasna kam, muskurana measured. Widow thi 8 saal se.

Rohan ko akeli uthaya tha, career banaya tha. Logon ko lagta tha woh strong hai. Arjun ko bhi yahi lagta tha – pehle.Pehla Din – Sirf Ek Normal MulakatGarmi ka mausam tha. Arjun Rohan ke ghar notes lene gaya tha. Rohan abhi tak college se nahi pahuncha tha. Darwaza khula tha."Arre Aunty, Rohan nahi aaya abhi tak?" Arjun ne poocha, bag side mein rakhte hue. 

Ritu kitchen se aayi. Light blue cotton saree mein thi. Pallu waist pe tucked, haathon mein thodi aata lagi hui thi – roti bana rahi thi shayad. "Nahi beta, usne call kiya tha late ho jayega. Tu baith sofa pe. Paani piya kya?"Arjun baith gaya.
 Usne notice kiya – Ritu ghar mein sandals nahi pehen rahi thi. Barefoot thi. Pair lambe, ungliyan straight, high arches, thodi si veins dikh rahi thi hospital ke lambe standing hours ki wajah se. Left ankle pe chhoti si payal, jo har kadam pe halka sa sound karti thi. Arjun ka dil thoda sa tez dhada. Yeh fascination usme bachpan se tha – pairon ki taraf, unki shape, unki care, unki thakaan. Par kabhi kisi ko nahi bataya. Especially not Rohan ki mom ko."Ji Aunty, paani pi liya tha." Usne normal voice mein kaha.Ritu kitchen ke counter pe thoda sa lean hokar baat kar rahi thi. "Tu abhi tak college adjust ho gaya? Rohan toh roz complaint karta hai workload ki.""Haan Aunty, thoda tough hai. Anatomy ke diagrams raat ko sapne mein bhi aate hain," Arjun ne muskurate hue kaha, lekin uski nazar kuch seconds ke liye neeche gir gayi jab Ritu ne ek pair ko doosre pair pe rakha.Ritu ne halka sa laugh kiya. "Sapne mein bhi? Beta, yeh toh shuruaat hai. Main toh ab bhi kabhi-kabhi operation theatre ke baad thak jaati hoon. Pair dukhne lagte hain." Usne casually kaha, aur ek pair ko thoda sa rub kiya floor pe.Arjun ka dimag flash ho gaya – soch raha tha ki agar woh roz ke thake hue pairon ko rest de sake, massage kar sake toh kaisa lagega. Par turant control kiya. "Aunty aap itna sab handle karti ho... respect hai sach mein."Conversation dheere dheere chali. Ritu ne poocha uske parents ke baare mein, uske future plans ke baare mein. Arjun ne bataya ki woh surgery mein interest rakhta hai. Ritu ne apne college days ki kuch purani stories sunayi – kaise usne night shifts kiye the Rohan ko chhote mein. "Tu Rohan se kahin better lagta hai studies mein," unhone tease kiya. "Woh toh abhi bhi girlfriend ke chakkar mein time waste karta hai."Arjun: "Aunty, aapko pata hai sab kuch?" (muskurate hue)Ritu: "Maa hoon uski. Sab pata hota hai. Tu bhi mat padna in sab mein abhi. Pehle career bana."Woh 25 minute baatein karte rahe. Ritu ne chai bana di. Jab woh table pe rakh rahi thi, uska ek pair thoda sa aage badha. Arjun ne dekha – thodi si dhool lagi thi sole pe. Usne mann mein socha, "Kitna natural hai... kitna real."Phir Rohan aa gaya. Scene normal ho gaya. Arjun notes leke ghar chala gaya. Raat ko usne kuch zyada nahi socha – bas ek normal din tha.Agla Hafte – Chhoti Chhoti MulakateinAgla kuch dinon mein Arjun 2-3 baar gaya. Kabhi Rohan ke saath group study, kabhi Rohan ne bola "notes le aana". Har baar Ritu se 5-10 minute baat hoti.Ek din balcony mein:Ritu plants ko paani de rahi thi. Salwar suit mein thi, dupatta side pe. Pairon mein simple black chappal."Arjun beta, yeh heavy bag kyun utha ke laaya? College se seedha yahan?""Ji Aunty, Rohan ne bola tha urgent hai. Aap thak gayi lag rahi ho aaj."Ritu ne ek deep breath liya. "Haan, aaj OPD bahut heavy thi. Pregnant patients kaafi the.

 Pair mein dard ho raha hai sach mein." Usne casually ek foot ko doosre pe ragadte hue kaha.Arjun ka dil tez ho gaya. Par usne normal tone rakha. "Aunty, aapko rest karna chahiye. Hospital wale doctors ko khud ki care nahi karte."Ritu ne uski taraf dekha – pehli baar thoda surprised. "Tu itna sochta hai sabke baare mein? Achha ladka hai tu. Par main theek hoon. Roz ka hai yeh."Unhone us din weather ke baare mein, traffic ke baare mein, college canteen ke khane ke baare mein baat ki. Dheere dheere. Koi jaldi nahi. Ritu ne ek chhoti si personal baat share ki – kaise uske husband ke jaane ke baad woh raaton ko books padhti thi distract hone ke liye.Arjun sunta raha. Respect se. Uske man mein attraction badh raha tha, lekin woh jaanta tha – yeh aurat itni aasani se nahi patne wali. Hard to crack. Usne kabhi compliment nahi diya uske looks pe. Sirf genuine baatein.Pehla Chhota SetbackEk din Rohan ne casually kaha dinner ke time, jab teeno saath the: "Yaar Arjun, tu ab har doosre din yahan aa jaata hai. Mom se bhi zyada baat karta hai mujhse!"Ritu ne haske kaha tha, "Rohan, chup kar. Arjun helpful hai." Par Arjun ne dekha – Ritu ka expression thoda change hua tha. Thodi si uncomfortable. Us din usne jaldi bye bol diya.Agle 4-5 din Arjun ne jaana avoid kiya. Sirf college mein Rohan se milta. Ritu se milne ka koi bahana nahi banaya. Yeh uske liye test tha – kya woh control kar sakta hai apne feelings ko?Ritu ne bhi notice kiya. Ek shaam jab Arjun society ke park se guzar raha tha, Ritu walk kar rahi thi. "Arjun? Kitne din baad dikha. Busy ho gaya kya studies mein?" Usne poocha, halki smile ke saath."Ji Aunty, thoda sa. Aap theek ho?"Conversation phir se shuru hui – dheere. 10 minute park mein khade khade. Ritu ne bataya ki hospital mein ek nayi junior doctor aayi hai jo attitude dikha rahi hai. Arjun ne sunaa. Usne phir se uske pairon ki taraf dekha jab woh thak kar bench pe baith gayi – sandals nikaal ke pair ko rub kar rahi thi halke se.Arjun ne offer nahi kiya. Sirf dekha aur mann mein feel kiya. Slow. Bahut slow.

[Sikhari]

Pichhle hisse mein park wali chhoti si mulakat khatam hui thi. Arjun ghar laut aaya tha, dimag mein Ritu Aunty ke woh thake hue pair aur halki smile ghum rahi thi. Usne decide kiya tha ki ab zyada force nahi karega. Sirf natural hone dega.Agla Din – Ghar Pe Chai aur Lambi BaatDo din baad Rohan ne call kiya: “Yaar aa ja, mom ne kaha hai tere liye paneer bhurji bana rahi hai. Tu bahut din se nahi aaya.”Arjun hesitation ke saath gaya. Ritu darwaze pe hi thi jab woh pahuncha.“Arre aa gaya? Andar aa beta. Haath muh dhoke baith ja. Bahar bahut garmi hai aaj.” Ritu ne normal, caring tone mein kaha. Aaj woh light green saree mein thi, blouse simple, baal open kiye hue the ghar pe hone ki wajah se. Pairon mein ghar wali soft slippers.Arjun fresh hokar living room mein baith gaya. Ritu kitchen se aayi, tray mein chai aur biscuits.Ritu: “Le beta, garam garam chai. Rohan abhi tak nahane gaya hai, woh 15-20 minute lagega. Tu bata, college kaisa chal raha hai ab? Pehle din toh tune kaha tha diagrams raat ko sapne mein aa rahe the.”Arjun (cup lete hue, muskurate): “Abhi bhi aa rahe hain Aunty. Kal raat ko histology ka slide sapne mein tha. Par aap logon ko toh roz itna heavy hota hoga na hospital mein.”Ritu ne saamne wali chair pe baithte hue pairon ko cross kiya. Ek slipper thoda sa dhila ho gaya, par nahi nikla. “Haan beta, roz ka hai. Subah 8 baje se OPD start, phir rounds, kabhi kabhi emergency. Aaj toh teen delivery hue the. Thak toh jaati hoon, par aadat ho gayi hai. Tu hi bata, tere parents kya kehte hain itni padhai ke baare mein?”Arjun: “Papa toh bolte hain doctor ban ja toh life set. Mom tension leti rehti hai. Aunty, aapne akeli Rohan ko itna bada kiya... aapko kabhi lagega nahi ki thak gayi ho?”Ritu thodi der chup rahi. Chai ka sip li. “Lagta hai beta... bahut baar. Raat ko jab sab so jaate hain, tab lagta hai koi saath baith ke baat kare. Par main sochti hoon – Rohan ko dekh ke himmat aa jaati hai. Tu bhi toh aisa hi hai, padhai pe focus karta hai. Kabhi girlfriend wali baat nahi suni teri.”Arjun (halki si hansi ke saath, nazar neeche): “Girlfriend? Aunty, abhi time nahi hai. Aur waise bhi meri choice alag hoti hai... mature log, jo samajh sakein life ko.”Ritu ne uski taraf dekha, eyebrow raise kiya. “Mature? Tu itna chhota hai abhi, yeh sab sochne ka time baad mein. Abhi career bana. Par haan, samajhdaar ladki mile toh accha hai.” Woh thoda muskurayi. “Mujhe toh lagta hai tu bahut samajhdaar hai. Rohan se zyada.”Conversation aise hi chalti rahi. Ritu ne hospital ki ek interesting case bataya – ek patient jo twins ke saath aayi thi aur complications hue. Arjun ne interested hokar poocha details. Phir baat ghar ke khane ki ho gayi.Ritu: “Aaj paneer bhurji bana rahi hoon teri favorite. Rohan ko bhi pasand hai par woh bolta hai zyada masala mat daalna. Tu kaisa pasand karta hai?”Arjun: “Thoda spicy Aunty, jaise aap pehle banati thi. Aur haan, aapke haath ka khana bahut accha hota hai. Ghar pe mom bhi banati hain par aapka alag flavour hai.”Ritu (haste hue): “Flattery kar raha hai? Theek hai, aaj thoda extra mirch daal dungi. Par beta, yeh sab bolne se pehle soch liya kar – main teri aunty hoon, itna praise mat kar warna main sochne lag jaungi.”Arjun ne sirf smile kiya. Usne notice kiya – jab Ritu hasi, toh usne apna left foot thoda sa aage badhaya aur slipper se play karne lagi. Pair ki sole thodi si pinkish thi tiredness se. Arjun ne mann hi mann feel kiya woh warmth, lekin kuch nahi bola. Sirf dekhta raha subtly.Rohan aaya toh teeno ne dinner kiya. Table pe baatein – college gossip, movies, politics. Ritu beech beech mein comment karti.Ritu: “Arjun, tu movie dekhta hai kabhi? Rohan toh har weekend jaata hai.”Arjun: “Kabhi kabhi Aunty. Last week ek old classic dekhi thi – calm wali, jisme family drama tha.”Ritu: “Mujhe bhi aisi pasand hain. Ab action wali nahi dekhti. Thakaan ke baad dimag ko shanti chahiye.”Dinner ke baad Arjun help karne kitchen gaya. Ritu plates dhone lagi.Arjun: “Aunty, main help kar doon?”Ritu: “Nahi beta, tu baith. Par haan, agar mann kare toh woh cupboard se glass nikaal de.”Jab woh cupboard khol raha tha, Ritu ke paas se guzra. Uske pair bilkul paas the. Woh neeche jhuk kar kuch uthane lagi thi aur us waqt uska right foot thoda peeche utha. Arjun ne close se dekha – soft skin, clean nails, thodi si dryness heels pe. Dil tez dhada. Par woh turant upar hokar glass diya.Ritu: “Shukriya. Tu sach mein helpful hai. Aajkal ke ladke aise nahi hote.”Chhota Setback aur DistanceAgla hafte Arjun ne sirf ek baar call kiya Rohan ko. Ritu se mulakat nahi hui. Usne socha overdo mat kar. Ek din society ki WhatsApp group mein message aaya – “Monthly kitty meet at Kapoor house”. Arjun ke parents ja rahe the, usko bhi bulaya.Wahan Ritu ne usse dekha toh smile di, par baat kam ki. Busy thi guests ke saath.Ritu (jab thoda free hui): “Arjun beta, kya haal hai? Padhai theek chal rahi?”Arjun: “Theek hai Aunty. Aap busy lag rahi ho aaj.”Ritu: “Haan, ghar pe itne log... thoda sa tired hoon. Pair bhi dard kar rahe hain standing se.” (usne halke se pair ko shift kiya)Arjun ne offer nahi kiya. Sirf “Rest kijiye Aunty” bola aur door chala gaya. Ritu ne uski taraf dekha – jaise soch rahi ho ki ladka door kyun ja raha hai.Us raat Arjun ne socha – yeh sahi pace hai. Jaldi kuch nahi hoga. Ritu jaise aurat ko time chahiye, trust chahiye. Aur usko bhi apne feelings ko control karna seekhna hai.

[Sikhari]

Pichhle parts ki tarah, sab kuch abhi bhi bahut dheere dheere badal raha tha. Arjun ne apne mann ko control mein rakha tha. Woh jaanta tha ki Ritu Aunty itni aasani se close nahi hone wali. Par college ki padhai ne uske liye ek natural door khol diya.Second year ka syllabus heavy hone laga tha. Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry – diagrams, concepts, practicals. Arjun ko Biochemistry mein kuch topics bahut confusing lag rahe the, especially Metabolic Pathways aur Enzymes. Rohan bhi struggle kar raha tha, par uska focus kam tha. Arjun ne socha ki Ritu Aunty doctor hain, gynecologist hone ke bawajood unka basic medical knowledge strong hoga.Pehli Official Doubt Clear Karne Ki MulakatEk shaam Arjun ne Rohan ko call kiya.
Arjun: “Yaar Rohan, teri mom se ek baar poochh sakta hoon kya? Biochemistry ka yeh Krebs cycle aur uske regulations samajh nahi aa raha. Notes mein likha hai par clear nahi ho raha.”Rohan: “Haan bhai, poochh le. Mom abhi hospital se aane wali hai. Ghar aa ja.”Arjun ghar pahuncha around 7:30 PM. Ritu abhi abhi hospital se aayi thi – light grey saree mein, thodi si thaki hui, baal bun mein, chashma pehne hue.Ritu: “Arjun? Aa gaya. Rohan bata raha tha tu doubts ke liye aaya hai. Baith beta, main fresh ho ke aati hoon. Paani pi le.”10 minute baad Ritu aayi – ab comfortable cotton salwar suit mein change kar chuki thi. Pairon mein ghar wale soft slippers. Woh sofa pe baith gayi, pair thoda cross kiye.Ritu: “Bata, kya doubt hai? Biochemistry toh mera favourite nahi tha college time pe, par basics toh aate hain.”Arjun ne apna notebook khola aur explain kiya – TCA cycle ke steps confuse ho rahe the, regulation kahan se hoti hai. Ritu ne patiently sunna.Ritu: “Arre, yeh toh basic hai beta. Dekh, Citrate se shuru hota hai... (woh dheere dheere explain karne lagi, notebook mein draw karte hue). Samajh aa raha hai?”Arjun: “Haan Aunty, ab thoda clear ho raha. Par yeh allosteric regulation wala part...”Unki baat 35-40 minute tak chali. Ritu ne har cheez ko real life examples se samjhaya – jaise hospital mein patients ke metabolic issues kaise dikhte hain. Beech-beech mein personal touch bhi aa gaya.Ritu: “Tu itna seriously padh raha hai, accha lagta hai dekh ke. Rohan toh abhi bhi phone pe laga rehta hai. Thak gayi hoon main aaj, pair mein dard ho raha hai pura din standing karne se. Par tera doubt clear karne mein maza aaya.”Arjun (subtly notice karte hue uske pairon ko jab woh sofa pe pair faila kar baithi): “Aunty, aap itna time de rahi hain, shukriya. Agar roz thoda sa bhi help mil jaye toh bahut faayda hoga. Main try karunga khud se, par kabhi kabhi stuck ho jaata hoon.”Ritu Ka Decision – Natural OfferAgla 4-5 din Arjun ne roz chhote-chhote doubts WhatsApp pe bheje. Ritu ne patiently voice notes mein explain kiye ya text se. Par ek din hospital se late aane ke baad woh thak gayi.Ritu (phone pe call karke): “Arjun beta, roz text mein explain karna thoda mushkil ho raha. Diagrams nahi dikha paati properly. Agar tu chahe toh shaam ko 8 baje ke baad ghar aa sakta hai jab main free ho jaati hoon. Offline better rahega. Ya phir video call pe bhi kar sakte hain agar tu comfortable ho. Par roz nahi, jab zarurat pade tab. Main bhi thak jaati hoon hospital se.”Arjun (dil mein khushi, par calm voice): “Aunty agar aapko takleef na ho toh bahut accha rahega. Main sirf jab doubt ho tab aa jaunga. Aapka time waste nahi karunga.”Ritu: “Time waste nahi beta. Tu padh raha hai, help karna mera farz bhi hai. Bas itna yaad rakh – main teri aunty hoon, isliye koi sharam nahi. Doubt clear kar, aur ghar chala jaana. Theek?”Pehla Regular Evening Session (Bahut Dheere aur Detailed)Pehla proper session agle din hua. 8:15 PM. Ritu hospital se aayi thi, thodi late. Usne turant change kiya aur living room mein baith gayi.Ritu: “Sorry beta, aaj OPD late chali. Tu wait kar raha hoga. Chai piyega?”Arjun: “Ji Aunty, agar aap thak gayi ho toh aaj chhod bhi sakte hain.”Ritu: “Nahi nahi, baith. Yeh lo notebook. Aaj kya topic hai?”Session shuru hua. Ritu explain kar rahi thi, kabhi notebook pe, kabhi phone pe diagram dikhate hue. Baat dheere dheere studies se hatne lagi.Ritu: “Tu itna focused kyun rehta hai? Kabhi break le liya kar. Main toh roz sochti hoon ki life mein balance hona chahiye. Hospital ke baad ghar aati hoon toh bas khana kha ke so jaati hoon aksar.”Arjun: “Aunty, aapke jaise log dekh ke hi motivation milta hai. Aap akeli itna sab sambhalti hain. Kabhi lagega nahi ki aap thak jaati hain?”Ritu ne deep sigh maara. Pairon ko sofa pe upar utha liya thoda sa rest ke liye. Slippers neeche gir gaye. “Thakti hoon beta... bahut. Aaj kal pair swell karne lage hain standing se. Kabhi sochti hoon ki koi ho jo poochhe ki din kaisa tha. Par aadat ho gayi.”Arjun ne notice kiya – uske pair thode swell hue the, arches prominent, veins dikhti hui. Woh mann mein feel kar raha tha, par bahar se sirf sympathetic tha.Arjun: “Aunty, aapko roz thoda rest karna chahiye. Aur haan, agar kabhi mann kare toh bata dena... main help kar sakta hoon chhoti chhoti cheezon mein.”Ritu (halki si smile ke saath, par wall rakhte hue): “Help? Tu already doubts clear karwa ke help kar raha hai. Bas yahi kaafi hai. Zyada mat soch. Ab yeh last part samajh le.”Session 50 minute chala. Ritu ne end kiya: “Ab ja beta, khana kha ke so ja. Kal phir doubt ho toh bata dena.”Arjun ghar gaya. Dil mein excitement tha par woh jaanta tha – yeh sirf studies hai abhi. Ritu abhi bhi fully guarded thi. Kabhi kabhi woh uske doubt ke messages ka reply der se deti, kabhi mood off rehta hospital ke wajah se

• Ek din Ritu ne cancel kiya last minute: “Aaj bahut thak gayi hoon beta, kal karte hain.”
  
• Rohan ne casually comment kiya: “Bhai tu ab mom ke tuition pe aa gaya?”
  
• Arjun ko guilt bhi hota – dost ki mom ke paas itna time bitana.
  

Par sessions regularly hone lage – hafte mein 2-3 baar. Har session mein studies ke saath 10-15 minute personal baatein bhi hone lagi. Ritu dheere dheere khul rahi thi, apni chhoti-chhoti frustrations share karti – hospital politics, Rohan ki carelessness, apni akelapan.Arjun ka fascination badh raha tha – har session ke end mein jab Ritu thak kar pair faila leti, woh subtly notice karta. Kabhi woh pair ko rub karti, kabhi stretch. Arjun kuch nahi bolta, bas feel karta.