ARJUN vs ZAHEER

[Greenwood]

Update 5

Barish ab thamm chuki hai. gili sadak, thoda mist, aur street lights ki reflection puddles mein chamak rahi hoti hai.

Collage se ghar aate hi Ammu ke ekdam bhav badle huye they Ammu quietly apne room mein enter karti hai. Kapde se halka paani tapak raha hota hai. Wo bag rakh ke khidki ke paas jaake khadi ho jaati hai.

Bahar se baarish ke baad ki thandi hawa aa rahi hai. Wo aankh band karke ek second ke liye feel karti hai.

Table pe uska wet scarf rakha hota hai jise Arjun ne bike chalate waqt uske shoulders pe adjust kiya tha.

Ammu softly smiles. Koi blush nahi, koi dreamy music nahi bas ek fresh, honest si smile.

Wo diary uthati hai… likhne ka mann hota hai… phir ruk jaati hai.

AMMU (under her breath)

Aaj kuch likhne ka nahi... bas mehsoos karne ka din tha.Ammu quietly apne room ka door band karti hai.

She’s still a little damp baal se paani tapak raha hai, lekin uske chehre pe koi urgency nahi.

Bas ek sukoon sa hai.

Wo mirror ke saamne jaake apne baal kholti hai…

Ek pal ko apne reflection ko dekhti hai thoda tired, thoda raw, but strangely beautiful.

Background mein halki si baarish ki aawaaz ab bhi sunai deti hai.

Wo slowly smile karti hai woh wali smile jo kisi joke pe nahi, kisi memory pe aati hai.

AMMU (soft whisper to herself)

Tu ajeeb hai Arjun… lekin… safe lagta hai.

Phir she shrugs, jaise khud ko bhi thoda tease kar rahi ho.

Shanu ka room messy hota hai — kapde idhar-udhar, ek mug bed ke paas. Wo andar aake shoes nikaalti hai, ek long sigh leke bed pe gir padti hai.

Wo apne phone ka gallery kholti hai ek group photo search karti hai, milti nahi.

Phir accidentally camera on ho jaata hai aur wo khud ko screen pe dekhti hai: baal gile, aankhon mein halka sa sparkle, lips pe ek smile.

SHANU (whispers to herself)

Kya Zaheer sach mein boring hai… ya main hi galat padhti thi?

Phir phone side pe rakh ke light band karti hai face pe wahi soft smile bani rehti hai, jo wo khud bhi explain nahi kar sakti.Wo suddenly kuch yaad karti hai Zaheer ka woh expression jab usne bina bole uski help ki, woh halki awkward smile… woh chai wali tapri.

Wo bed pe girti hai pura thak chuki hoti hai, lekin aaj kuch light mehsoos ho raha hota hai uske andar.

Backpack se ek tissue girta hai — wohi wala jo usne Zaheer ke cup ke liye use kiya tha.

Uska haath us tissue tak jaata hai… ruk jaata hai… aur fir wo smile kar deti hai.

SHANU (to herself)

Not bad, Zaheer. Not boring either.

She looks at the ceiling.

Eyes half closed.

Smile full.

Dono apne apne beds pe hoti hain.… par dono ke chehre pe ek hi tarah ki smile hoti hai.

Jaise kisi ne andar ka ek button dabaya ho

na jise dikhaya jaa sake, na explain kiya jaa sake.

Bas… baarish ke baad ka asar hai.

Jo dil tak jaata hai, aur kabhi kabhi raat bhar wahi rehta hai.

Dono apne beds pe, apne apne thoughts mein lete hue

ek ne kisi ke kandhe par lean kiya tha,

dusri ne kisi ka simple gesture feel kiya tha.

Unke chehre pe same muskaan hoti hai

ek aisi muskaan jisme koi naam nahi,

par feel poora hota hai.

Sham ke waqt Ammu kitchen mein sabzi kaat rahi hoti hai baal thode se gile, halki thakan, lekin chehre pe ek ajeeb si soft smile chipki hoti hai.

Background mein baarish ki halki awaaz chal rahi hoti hai.

Asma kitchen ke counter pe baithi hoti hai ek haath mein phone, dusre haath se chips kha rahi hoti hai.

ASMA:-Didi, adrak daal diya? Kal tu bhool gayi thi, sabzi bilkul hospital wali taste lag rahi thi.

AMMU:-Haan daal diya, masterchef junior.

Ammu kaat rahi hoti hai, lekin uska dhyaan thoda udhar hota hai —

Arjun ka woh line yaad aata hai: "Tu jaisi hai, waise hi mast hai..."

Ek second ke liye uska haath rukta hai.

ASMA:-Tu muskura kyu rahi hai? Sabzi mein pyar daal rahi hai kya?

AMMU (snap out karke)

Shut up, Asma. Tere dimaag mein sirf memes hi bhare hain.

Ammu ignore karte hue bhi blush kar jaati hai. Wo chutney nikalti Asma ko dekhti hai dono ki aankhon mein sisters wali masti.

Phir Ammu slowly gas kam karti hai, aur spoon se sabzi taste karti hai...

ek second ke liye palkein band kar leti hai

aur woh soft muskaan fir se aa jaati hai.

Shanu Kapde change karne ke baad, ab sofa par baith ke kapde fold kar rahi hoti hai.

TV par news chal rahi hai, but Shanu ka dhyaan kahin aur hai.

Uske haath mein ek white t-shirt aati hai wohi jo baarish mein pehni thi.

Us t-shirt ko dekhte hi Zaheer ki yaadein flash karti hain chai ki tapri, awkward smile, “main boring hoon na?”

SHANU t-shirt ko fold karte hue halki si smile karti hai. Bina realize kiye softly kuch bol padti hai:

SHANU:-Haan… boring hai tu. Par ache waale boring.

MADHU :- Kisse bol rahi hai boring?

Shanu thoda jhatak ke palat kar dekhti hai — maa kitchen se jhaank rahi hoti hain.

SHANU:-Kuch nahi mummy… t-shirt ko bol rahi thi.

MADHU:-T-shirt se baat karne lagi hai tu?

Baarish mein bheeg jaati ho aur dimaag bhi leke aati ho kya?

SHANU (has ke, folded t-shirt stack karti hai)

Shanu:- Kuch cheezein hoti hain… mummy ko samjhaana mushkil hota hai.

MADHU:-Bas mujhe ye samjha… khana banana hai ki nahi?

SHANU:-Ban jayega mummy... pehle thoda... fold karna therapy chal rahi hai.

Madhu sirf ghoorti hai aur muttering karti hai kuch "drama queen" jaisa, aur kitchen mein chali jaati hai.

Shanu uske jaane ke baad slowly smile karti hai — fir woh t-shirt pakad ke bed ke kone mein softly rakh deti hai, jaise kisi ki cheez ho.

SHANU (under breath):- Zaheer... tu sach mein... not bad.

Subah ka time hai. Footpath pe baarish ke baad ke puddles dikh rahe hain. Hawa halka sa cool hai, students slow walk mein campus ke andar aa rahe hain.

Zaheer apne usual style mein aata hai jeans, simple T-shirt, bag shoulder pe. Headphones ka ek ear nikal ke chal raha hai.

Thoda soaked-in-thoughts lag raha hai as if kuch baaki chal raha ho andar.

Shanu bhi enter karti hai uski entry full confident, lekin aankhen subconsciously usse dhoond rahi hoti hain.

Ek lamha aata hai  Zaheer aur Shanu ek hi narrow corridor se opposite directions mein ja rahe hote hain.

Zaheer sidhe dekhte hue guzar jaata hai.

Shanu bas ek pal ke liye uski taraf dekhti hai aur uska chehra khil uthta hai, bina kisi wajah ke.

Na call out. Na rukna. Na smile exchange.

Bas guzarna. Lekin kuch reh jaata hai.

Shanu ka chehra halka blush karta hai, aur wo apne aap se softly kehti hai:

SHANU (under breath, playful):- Boring… par impact toh hai.

COLLEGE BACKSIDE – QUIET CORNER

Ek quiet jagah hai, chhota sa bench, thoda greenery jahan usually koi nahi hota.

Arjun aur Ammu wahan baithe hain dono ke haath mein chai ke cups hain.

ARJUN:-Tu waise aaj zyada calm lag rahi hai. Kuch khaya-vaya?

AMMU:-Kal raat mein... bas thoda real feel hua. Jaise koi filter hata diya ho.

ARJUN (soft smile):-Tere filter ke bina tu aur bhi interesting lagti hai.

AMMU:-Tu hamesha cheesy bolta hai kya?

ARJUN:-Nahi... sirf tere saath.

Ek second ka pause. Koi flirt nahi, koi forced smile nahi.

Bas ek silence jisme dono comfortable hote hain.

AMMU(looking down at her chai):-Tumhare saath baat karna easy lagta hai... pressure nahi hota.

ARJUN:-Main therapy ki tarah hoon. Side effects kam, result guaranteed.

Dono hansi mein phir se relax ho jaate hain.

Ammu Arjun ke shoulder se halki si takra jaati hai — not romantic, but real. Friendly comfort jaisa.

Dono chai khatm karte hai or apne apne class ko chal dete hai Ammu aur Arjun, dono ek dusre se alag jaake bhi ek baar palat kar dekhte hain — ye wo dosti hai jisme kahin rush nahi hai... sirf waqt hai.

Singh house me dinner time chal raha hota hai or Table pe khana laga hua hai — simple ghar ka meal: daal, bhindi, salad.

Madhu roti garam karte hue sabko serve kar rahi hoti hain. Pratap calmly kha rahe hain, Shanu aur Arjun apni plate mein busy.

MADHU (as she sits)

Aaj bazaar ke corner pe Zaheer mil gaya.

Asma ke college ke liye kuch books le raha tha. Khud cycle leke jaa raha tha — seedha simple baccha hai.

PRATAP

Haan, woh bachpan se waise hi hai.

Na zyada baat karta hai, na attitude.

Kaam quietly karta hai, bas.

SHANU kuch nahi bolti — lekin uske spoon ka motion slow ho jaata hai. She keeps eating… but sunn rahi hoti hai dhyan se.

MADHU

Aur college ke fest mein bhi kaafi help kar raha tha.

Mujhe laga, itna quiet sa ladka hoga kya karega...

Par kaam toh pura organized tha uska.

PRATAP (nodding)

Kya kar raha tha woh?

MADHU

Logistics handle kar raha tha.

Stage ke light-time ka pura schedule usne hi banaya tha. Arjun bata raha tha na?

ARJUN

Hmm. Jab main late tha rehearsal mein, usne hi manage kiya tha sab.

Bina stress ke banda calmly kaam kar jaata hai. I like that.

SHANU ab lightly smile karne lagti hai, bina dekhe.

Ek chhoti si, genuine si muskaan — jaise kuch suna ho jo already mann mein tha, ab kisi aur se bhi confirm ho gaya.

MADHU (without looking up)

Achhe dost hote hain aise log. Na shor, na show.

Bas... sahi waqt pe haazir.

PRATAP

Haan. Reliable hai.

Aur jo reliable hota hai, wo kabhi bhi awkward nahi lagta. Bas... apna lagta hai.

SHANU (softly)

Hmm.

ARJUN (casually)

Kya hmm? Tujhe toh kuch suna hi nahi gaya lag raha hai.

SHANU (without looking up)

Sun liya sab tera dost hai isliye jyada mat ban... Sab janti hu tum log ka

Or (Shanu smile karti chupke se)

EARLY MORNING

Ek typical residential lane — thodi se damp mitti, subah ki halki dhoop.

Doodhwala cycle se aa raha hota hai, ek hand pe bottle wala bag, doosre se balance banaye.

Left side pe: SINGH HOUSE

Gate ke paas Pratap akhbaar le rahe hote hain, pyjama-kurta mein.

Andar se Madhu ki awaaz aati hai:

“Shanu! Breakfast thanda ho gaya!”

Right side pe: QURESHI HOUSE

Zaheer porch pe jhaadu laga ke corner mein rakh raha hota hai.

Andar se Asma chilla rahi hoti hai:

“Ammu Didi! Mere socks kidhar rakhe?”

Gali ke beech ka aam din... lekin hawa mein thoda excitement hai.

Shanu gate se nikalti hai — backpack lagake, hair loosely tied.

Fresh face, lekin aankhon mein kuch soch rahi hoti hai.

Gate band karte hi Qureshi side se Ammu bhi nikalti hai — notebook aur pen leke.

Dono walk karte ja rahi hoti hain.

Aage thoda distance pe Zaheer aur Arjun dikhte hain — casual mode mein, coffee lete hue kisi tapri se.

Ammu aankh bhar un dono ko dekhti hai, fir casually nazar hata leti hai.

Shanu bas ek glance leti hai Zaheer ki taraf — nothing dramatic, sirf ek stillness jaise kuch cheez notice hui ho.

SHANU (lightly)

Kaafi thand lag rahi hai aaj subah...

AMMU (hans kar)

Monsoon hai baby... Andar kuch pehna nahi hai kya aaj tune

Or Ammu hansti hai or shanu use look deti hai

College gate ke andar har taraf posters lag rahe hote hain:

✨ College Trip: Details Soon!

Destination: TBA – Start Packing!

Sab students excited mood mein.

Kahi koi baat kar raha hai about clothes, kisi ko DJ night ka idea zyada pasand aa raha hai.

Zaheer ek side wall pe khada hota hai poster casually padhta hai, phir chal ke andar chala jaata hai.

Shanu kuch doston ke saath guzarti hai  lekin poster pe nazar padte hi walk slow ho jaati hai

Arjun class ke notice board ke saamne bored face ke saath “trip coming soon” poster padhta hai, phir quietly smile karta hai.

Lunch break ka time hota hai:- Ammu canteen ki line mein khadi hoti hai, aur ek corner seat dhoondti hai  jaise ab woh kisi specific ke saath baithna chahti ho, bina confess kiye.

Canteen mein usual bheed hai  chai, samose, chutney ki khushboo hawa mein.

Corner wala ek lamba table mostly khaali hota hai ek sirf do ladke baith ke uthte hi hain.

Zaheer tray leke aata hai chai aur bread pakoda.

Table dekh ke quietly baith jaata hai ek end pe.

2 mins later Ammu around dekhte hue spot karti hai Zaheer ko.

She walks over.

AMMU (casually):-Yahan baithe ho? Yeh table toh VIP zone lag raha hai akele ka.

ZAHEER (light smile):- Main hi waiter hoon yahan. Baith jao... service slow hai, par safe hai.

Ammu laughs lightly, sits diagonally.

Thodi der baad Arjun aata hai — tray mein fries aur coke.

Zaheer ko dekh ke aata hai.

ARJUN:-Oh great. Mere fries ko silence ka saath milega.

Baith jaata hai unke across.

ZAHEER:-Silence bhi snack hai. Toh fries ke saath match hoga.

ARJUN (to Ammu):-Dekha? Shayari level ka ketchup milta hai is bande ke saath.

AMMU (grinning):-Better than cafeteria ka ketchup toh hoga hi.

Itna bol hi rahe hote hain, tabhi Shanu canteen ke main gate se entry leti hai wallet aur phone haath mein.

Kahi seat nahi mil rahi hoti. She notices the trio.

AMMU (calling softly):-Shanu... idhar aa ja.

Shanu pehle hesitate karti hai... fir normal face banake chal ke aati hai.

Zaheer uske aane pe sirf ek glance leta hai  aur phir apni chai sip karta hai.

SHANU (sitting down):-Tum log kuch kha rahe ho ya bas vibes le rahe ho?

ARJUN:-Fries ke saath dosti bhi chal rahi hai.

SHANU (grinning):-Cool. Mujhe samosa chahiye... aur peace of mind.

ZAHEER (without looking up):-Samosa milega, peace thoda time lega.

Sab lightly laugh karte hain — koi flirting nahi, bas ek achha sa flow.

AMMU:-Kya lagta hai trip real hoga?

ARJUN:-Agar college ne sirf poster ke liye kiya ho, toh main complain form bharunga.

Ek full file banake.

SHANU:-Main toh mentally ready hoon.Safar acha lagta hai

ZAHEER (softly):-Kabhi kabhi destination important nahi hota.

Log aur lamhe yaad reh jaate hain.

Shanu ek second ke liye uski taraf dekhti hai zaahir nahi karti, par uske spoon ka movement rukh jaata hai.

AMMU:-Waise agar trip hua... toh tent wala group banega kya?

ARJUN:-Main toh alag tent lunga. Main raat mein logon ka snoring tolerate nahi kar sakta.

Sab table pe hansi chhuti hoti hai. Shanu bhi haasti hai, lekin uski aankhen kuch der se thoda quietly Zaheer par tikti hain.

Zaheer is masti mein full involved nahi hota wo chai stir karta hua chill mood mein rehta hai, lekin Shanu uski har reaction subtly observe kar rahi hoti hai…

SHANU:-(casually, but sirf Zaheer ki taraf dekhte hue)

"Tu kis tent mein hoga?"

ZAHEER(eyes still on his cup):Main? Main toh jungle side tent lunga. Kam se kam log disturbance se dur rahenge.

ARJUN:-Aur tu jungle mein lion ke cousin banke royega poori raat."

ZAHEER:-Main chup rehne wala lion hoon. Sirf zarurat pe dahadta hoon.

Shanu uski is line pe kuch nahi bolti  sirf ek soft smile aati hai, lekin wo smile kisi aur ne notice nahi ki.

Ammu Arjun ki cup kheench leti hai joke mei

AMMU:-Tu chai peeta hai ya dialogues rehearse karta hai?

ARJUN:-Mujhe chai nahi... stage chahiye.

ZAHEER:-Stage mil jaaye toh bolta nahi, fir mic check karte rehta hai.”

SHANU(ab softly hansi rokti hai, but again sideways glance at Zaheer)

Mic toh chal raha hai... par frequency sirf kuch logon ko sunai deti hai.

[i]Zaheer bas ek chhoti si aankh utha ke dekhta hai Shanu ki taraf. No smile, no reaction — sirf eye contact for 1 second.[/i]

[i]Shanu turant aankhen hata leti hai — like kuch feel ho gaya par usne cover kar liya.[/i]