ARJUN vs ZAHEER

[Greenwood]

Update 6

Shaam ka waqt hai. Sky thoda lavender-orange ho chuka hai. Colony mein halki-thandi hawa chal rahi hoti hai. Neeche se cooker ki seetiyaa radio ki awaaz, aur doodh wale ka horn aa raha hota hai.Ammu chhat pe aati hai kapde lene. Wire pe kuch kurtis latki hoti hain, ek corner pe chhoti se stool rakhi hoti hai.

She’s wearing a loose home kurta, baalon ka messy bun. Ek haath se kapde uthati ja rahi hai, doosre haath se clips nikaalti.Tabhi chhat ke dusre kone se halki si “tap” ki awaaz aati hai. Ammu seedha dekhti hai to Arjun chhat-to-chhat jump karke uske ghar ki chhat pe land kar chuka hota hai.

AMMU: (surprised whisper):-“Tu pagal hai kya? Koi dekh leta toh?”

ARJUN: (casual tone, halki smile):-“Main toh dheere aaya tha... tu hi zyada sun leti hai.”

AMMU:"Yeh koi coffee shop hai kya jo jab chahe aa jaayein?"

ARJUN:Tu agar coffee hoti toh main roz yahin aata.

Ammu ek kapda uske muh pe fake deti joke mein.

AMMU:“Shut up, flirt.”

ARJUN(laughs, holding that dupatta like towel):-Tu serious hoti hai tab bhi cute lagti hai.

Ammu thoda blush karti hai but ignore kar deti hai. Fir quietly kapde fold karte hue bolti hai

Ammu thoda rukti hai. Ek second ke liye uske paas aa jaati hai, bagal mein khadi hoti hai dono chhat ke railing pe tik jaate hain.

Thoda silence.

AMMU:Main usually kisi se itna open nahi hoti... pata nahi tere saath ho jaata hai.

ARJUN:Main tujhse kuch expect nahi karta... isliye shayad tu khud se zyada real ho jaati hai mere saath."

Wind thoda aur cool ho jaata hai. Ammu apne baal thoda adjust karti hai. Arjun uski taraf nahi dekhta wo sky ki taraf dekh raha hota hai, but uska mood calm ho jaata hai.

Ammu softly bolti hai:

AMMU:Tu kabhi milne aaya toh... bas dheere aana. Mujhe pata toh chale.

ARJUN (side glance ke saath):-Tab toh maza chala jaayega.”

Dono thoda laugh karte hain quietly, jaise duniya se chhup ke hasna ho.

Background mein kisi ghar ke bartan bajte hain. Ammu last kapda uthake folded pile pe rakhti hai.

AMMU:Ab jaa... kisi ne dekh liya toh…

ARJUN:Main gaya... but ek cheez chhod ke jaa raha hoon."

AMMU:Kya?"

ARJUN:Apni smell… tu jab terrace aayegi, yaad aayega main aaya tha."

Ammu us par phir se kapda maarne ke liye uthti hai, Arjun has ke chhat ke dusre side se quietly vanish ho jaata hai.

BACKGROUND MEIN RADIO BAJTA HAI:

“…yeh shaam mastani, madhosh kiye jaaye…”

Madhu kitchen mein kaam kar rahi hoti hai pressure cooker ki seeti, tadke ki awaaz, TV living room mein low volume pe chal raha hota hai. Shanu pichhle 10 minute se idhar udhar ghoom rahi hai, exact moment pakadne ke mood mein.

SHANU(kitchen ke gate pe khadi hoti hai, casually):-Maa, ek baat poochhun?

MADHU(palak saaf karti hue bina dekhe):-

Poochhne ka time dekh liya tune? Baat seedha bol.

SHANU(soft voice, testing waters):-College ka trip plan ho raha hai… outstation.”

MADHU(turns toward her, straight):-Kya matlab outstation, Itna jaldi toh pichla bag bhi dhang se saaf nahi kiya tune.”

SHANU(half eye-roll, half smile):-

Maa please… is baar proper faculty ke saath hai. Girls ka alag tent hoga. Ammu bhi ja rahi hai.

MADHU(frown karke, kaam karte karte):-Jab se college join kiya hai, adventure ke peeche hi lag gayi hai tu... pehle club ki night practice, ab jungle mein tent.

SHANU:-Mummy jungle nahi resort area hai… aur sab group mein hi honge.

MADHU:-Tu kisi group mein itni ghulti kab se hai?

SHANU:-Bas... ab ho gayi hoon.

SHANU(pretending to act busy, thoda jaldi bolti hai):-Toh kya jaane doongi ya form cancel kar doon?

MADHU(ruk ke uske face ko dekhti hai, fir soft tone mein):-Ek condition pe.

SHANU(hopeful):-Kya?”

MADHU:-Har raat ek baar call karegi. Or ulta sidha nahi khayegi

SHANU(grinning):-Madhu smile karte hue fir se kaam mein lag jaati hai. Shanu quietly peeche mudti hai aur apne kamre ki taraf jaane lagti hai.

Shanu door band karti hai, bagal ki table pe trip ka form rakhti hai.Saans bahut halki si chhodti hai.Mirror ke saamne rukti hai.Thoda softly mirror mein dekhti hai, smile karti hai. Fir aankhen thoda aur narrow karti hai jaise kisi chehre ka soch ke dikh raha ho.

Zaheer.

Kuch nahi bola jaata, kuch text nahi, lekin uski aankhon mein woh chhupa hua sa khayaal hai.Woh smile karti hai… aur thoda blush bhi. Hawa halka se curtain hila deti hai.

Raat ke 10 baj rahe hain. Fan slowly ghoom raha hai. Bahar se kabhi-kabhi kisi scooter ya kutte ke bhaukne ki awaaz aati hai.Zaheer table pe baitha hai, kuch papers dekh raha hai  lagbhag bills ya dukan ka hisaab. Uska kurta thoda grease se halka sa daag wala hai.Chehra thaka hua, lekin focused.Ammu chhoti thali mein doodh leke aati hai dono ke liye.Apne liye ek plain glass,Zaheer ke liye haldi waala doodh.

AMMU:Piyo. Subah se ek cup chai ke alawa kuch nahi liya tumne.

ZAHEER:(eyebrows raise kiye bina):-Tu kaunsi nutritionist ban gayi hai

AMMU:Nahi, par main woh hoon jo fridge mein akhri dudh ke liye argue nahi karti.

Zaheer halke se hansi rokta hai. Glass le leta hai usse bina nazar uthaye.TV off hai, lights dim hain. Room mein sirf fan aur ek table lamp ki light hai.Ek second ke liye dono chup rehte hain. Ammu bed ke edge pe baith jaati hai  pair fold karke.

ZAHEER:College mein woh trip ka kya hua?”

AMMU:(slowly)Form bhar diya hai… ab Madhu aunty se permission lena hai. Shanu ke saath hi poochhungi.”

ZAHEER: baba ko mat bolna. Tu jaa rahi hai, mujhe farak nahi… lekin unka mood kharab ho jaata hai bina wajah ke.”

AMMU:“Haan… samajh gayi.”

Thoda pause.

ZAHEER:(taking a sip):-“Packing kab karegi?”

AMMU: Sunday ko nikalna hai, toh Saturday night… lekin tu jaane se pehle chappal le aana please. Jo mere paas hai uska sole nikal raha hai.

ZAHEER:Haan, le aaoonga. Bas tu extra socks mat bhoolna, barish ho gayi toh…

AMMU:-(cutting in)Tu mujhe bacchi kyun samajhta hai?”

ZAHEER:(look up finally, soft smile ke saath):-Tu hai bacchi.”

AMMU:“Main trip se wapas aa gayi na, toh tujhe ek bar properly daantne wali hoon.”

ZAHEER:“Aur main tab tak naya cushion le aaoonga. Is wale ka zip bhi kharab hai.”

Dono ek second ke liye hansi rokte hain. Raat ka thakaan unke tone mein hai, lekin connection mein warmth hai.Clock ka second hand sunai deta hai.Ammu apna glass finish karke uthti hai, bartan uthati hai quietly.

AMMU:“Light off karna, mujhe neend aa rahi hai.”

ZAHEER:“Main 10 minute mein.”

Ammu chhup chaap chali jaati hai — uske steps halki si aahat chod jaate hain cement floor pe.Zaheer lamp ki light mein fir se paper dekhne lagta hai, lekin ek second ke liye ruk jaata hai aur Ammu ke doodh ke glass ko dekhta hai jo khali hai,table pe.

Thoda relaxed expression aata hai uske face pe.

[i]Subah ki halki-halki dhoop gali ke kone tak phaili hoti hai. Singh aur Qureshi house ke beech mein doodhwala cycle le jaa raha hai, kuch kids college bags pehne jaa rahe hain.[/i]

SAME TIME

Ammu ironed dupatta fold kar rahi hoti hai. Table pe ek purani pouch, kajal, aur ek notebook rakha hota hai. She’s neat, quick, no-nonsense mode mein ready ho rahi hai.

ZAHEER’S ROOM – SAME TIME

Zaheer mirror ke saamne combing kar raha hota hai — casual kurta-jeans look. Phone charging pe laga hai, aur bag side pe rakh diya hai. He picks up his wallet and keys. Ready to leave.


SAME TIME
Arjun bed pe lete-lete phone scroll kar raha hota hai. Madhu neeche se cheekh ke awaaz lagati hai.

MADHU : “Arjun! 8:15 baj gaye  Jaldi uthja”

Arjun karte karte uthta hai, ek mast smile ke saath mirror mein apna pose check karta hai.


SHANU’S ROOM – SAME TIME

Bathroom ka door khulta hai. Halki steam nikalti hai. Shanu freshly showered, towel wrapped, baal thode gile. Chehra pink aur fresh. Jaise hi wo apne bed ke paas aati hai, corner mein rakha old radio khud se chalu ho jaata hai.

? “Mere khwabon mein jo aaye, aake mujhe chhed jaaye...” ?

Shanu rukti hai. Mirror ki taraf dekhti hai. Phir thoda muskaraati hai.

SHANU:(to herself):-Kya timing hai…”

Shanu towel mein wrapped, wet hair ke saath mirror ke samne aati hai. Chehra fresh, eyes mein shine.
Gaana sunte hi uske lips pe ek naughty si smile aa jaati hai. Ek second ke liye rukti hai  phir mood mein aa jaati hai.She starts lightly grooving full-on Bollywood heroine vibe, mirror ke saamne thoda lip sync, thoda twirl, thoda head tilt.
Suddenly…

ZAHEER (stairs se aata hai, casually shout karta hai):-“Arjun bhai! Chalna hai kya college?”

Arjun ka room cross karke galti se Shanu ka door khol deta hai jo halki si latch pe tha. Door khulta hai  aur saamne Shanu towel mein dance karte hue.

? “...jo dil ko churaaye…” ?

Ek second mein sab freeze. Shanu ki aankh Zaheer se milti hai. Uske haath ka towel halka sa slip hota hai bas girne hi wala hota hai, lekin turant sambhal jaata hai.

Next second Shanu lightning speed se bathroom mein bhaag jaati hai, door band.Zaheer khud pe freeze. Aankh blink bhi nahi karta. Thoda shock. Fir thoda sharminda. Phir... suddenly react karta hai.

ZAHEER:- “Main toh gaya... main toh literally gaya!”

Phir full speed mein neeche ke taraf bhaagta hai.

Neeche Madhu glass leke saamne mil jaati hai.

MADHU: “Arey Zaheer beta, mil liya Arjun se?”

ZAHEER:(stammering awkwardly):- “Haan... matlab... milne gaya tha... par... Arjun nahi mila, lekin… signal mil gaya.... Wo bhi strong wala signal.” Main chalta hoon aunty, late ho raha hai!”

[i]Aur wo literally hawa mein udta hua gate se nikal jaata hai.[/i]

[i]COLLEGE CAMPUS – LATE MORNING[/i]

College ka open courtyard students idhar-udhar chill kar rahe hain, canteen se bread pakora ki smell aa rahi hai. Garmi ka halki si dhoop, aur final year wale apne circle mein baithke usual masti kar rahe hain.

Arjun bench ke edge pe baitha hota hai, bag side mein daala hua. Ammu uske paas khadi hai  dono kisi baat pe casual hansi kar rahe hote hain.

Tabhi gate se andar aati hai Shanu  white kurti, jeans, side bag. Chehra freshly ready, lekin aankhon mein halke se last night ke towel-wale episode ka hangover. Pehle confident walk karti hai, lekin jaise hi aankh casually Zaheer se milti hai, ek second mein expression flicker karta hai. Zaheer bhi corner mein apne doston ke saath khada hota hai  bina kuch bole, uski body stiff ho jaati hai jaise kisi ne pause dabaa diya ho.

Dono ki nazrein ek second ko takraati hain, phir dono ne alag direction mein dekhna shuru kar diya

ZAHEER’S MIND:-

ZAHEER’S MIND

“Mujhe farak kyun pad raha hai? Kya farak padna chahiye?”

Ek soft exhale. Fir uske lips pe ek almost invisible smile aati hai jaise khud ko pakad liya ho kisi thought mein.

Vo note band karke book mein rakh deta hai. Study light band karta hai, aur bed pe jaake stare karta hai ceiling ki taraf eyes open, mind chal raha hai.

ZAHEER’S MIND

“Kya wo abhi mere baare mein soch rahi hogi…?”

Silence.

Fan ghoomta hai. Lights dim.

“Aaj subah jo dekha... woh uske liye kuch aur toh nahi lag raha na? Main... main galat jagah galat waqt pe tha. But... uski aankhon mein... disappointment tha kya?”

SHANU’S MIND :-
Usne mujhe towel mein dekh liya. Main pagal ho gayi thi kya? Usse kya laga hoga... main har subah aise hi dance karti hoon kya? Great, Shanu. Just great.”



Shanu Arjun ke paas aake rukti hai  Arjun ek casual nod deta hai, lekin Shanu ki aankh Zaheer se bach ke reh jaati hai.*

AMMU (low voice):“Kya hua Shanu? Aaj toh full late hai.”

SHANU:“Bas... ready hone mein thoda time lag gaya.”

Shanu thoda awkward sa smile kar ke baith jaati hai, lekin uski aankh baar baar unintentional corner of the eye se Zaheer ki presence check karti hai woh ab bhi kisi se baat kar raha hai, lekin visibly uncomfortable lag raha hai.Dono apne doston ke beech hain, phir bhi mind ek dusre ke reaction pe atka hua hai. Na shanu normal ho paa rahi hai, na zaheer properly present lag raha hai. Small silences, broken eye contact, aur body language hi sab kuch bol rahi hai.

SHANU’S MIND
Mujhe chill hona chahiye… but uske saamne main self-conscious ho gayi hoon. Shit. Yeh toh main kabhi nahi hoti…”

ZAHEER’S MIND
“Wo mujhse nazar nahi mila rahi. Shayad use laga main… cheap tha. Par main wahan Arjun ke liye gaya tha. Main kuch nahi keh sakta… bas door rehna sahi hoga.”

Ek hawa chalti hai. Papers udte hain. Ek second ke liye dono ki aankh fir se milti hai  phir instantly fir down.

Group ke log mazaak kar rahe hain, lekin Shanu aur Zaheer dono emotionally absent dikhte hain.

ZAHEER’S ROOM – EVENING
Kamra thoda dim light mein hai. Ek purani table fan ghoom raha hai. Zaheer apne study table pe baitha hai  books khuli hain, lekin uski aankhen un pe tikki nahi hain.
Haath mein pen hai, par woh kab se ek hi jagah pe ghoom raha hai. Back wall pe Azhar ke kaam ke kuch posters lage hain  goats & meat rate chart, etc.
Uski aankhon mein wohi ek scene baar-baar flash ho raha hai —Shanu towel mein, startled, uski aankhon se ghabrahat, phir uska bathroom mein chhup jaana.


ZAHEER'S MIND
“Mujhe nahi dekhna tha. Main galat waqt pe wahan gaya... Par uski aankhon mein... kya tha woh? Gussa? Shame? Ya bas shock?”

Zaheer apna pen table pe rakh deta hai. Forehead pe haath le aata hai, jaise kuch samajhne ki koshish kar raha ho.
Fan ki awaaz background mein chalti hai. Ghar mein sirf kitchen se halki khanak sunai deti hai. Zaheer apni kursi pe peeche jhukta hai, dono haath sir ke peeche le jaata hai, aur ceiling ko dekhne lagta hai.

ZAHEER’S MIND
“Main itna uske baare mein kyun soch raha hoon? Roz toh milte hain. Roz hi college mein dekhte hain. Par aaj... kuch alag laga.”

Ek beat ka pause.

Wo mujhe dekh ke awkward thi… par main bhi toh... main normal kyun nahi ho paaya?”

Uska hath shanu ek random note uthata hai jo kuch dino pahle hi collage project me usne diya tha

[i][i]ZAHEER's mind[/i][/i]
Mujhe fark kyu pad raha hai? Kya fark padna chaiye ?
(Soft exhale). lips par invisible smile aati hai jaise khud ko pakad liya ho kisi thought mein
wo study light off karta hai or bed par jake stare karta hai ceiling ki taraf eyes open,mind chal raha hai


Zaheer mind

kya wo abhi mere bare me soch rahi hogi ???

Silence fan ghoomta hai,lights dim ho jati hai....