ARJUN vs ZAHEER

[Greenwood]

Update 18

college canteen – lunch break

canteen usual full hai. kuch ladke chips leke bench pe baithe hain, kuch window pe order de rahe hain. arjun apne group ke saath corner table pe hota hai — relaxed, thoda hassi-mazak, lekin andar se thoda detached. doosri taraf zaheer ek aur group ke saath, thoda intense mood mein, par chill dikhate hue.

canteen window pe ek staff ladka chillaata hai:

"arre jiska veg roll aur cold coffee ka bill pending hai, wo le jao! 130 rupaye!"

koi uthta nahi.

staff guy irritate hokar fir chillata hai:

"zaheer bhai, tumhare table se hai. clear kara do!"

zaheer confusion mein uthta hai —

zaheer (canteen wale se):

humne sirf samosa aur chai li thi. check kar lo dobara.

canteen staff:

par woh order issi token se gaya hai. naam likha tha — "a", ussi pe hai.

tabhi arjun peeche se chillata hai — thoda sarcastic smile ke saath:

arjun (loudly):

arre woh "a" mera nahi tha bhai, zaheer bhai ka "a" hoga.

canteen mein halki hansi gungunati hai. zaheer ke group ke kuch log bhi haas dete hain.

zaheer seedha arjun ki taraf dekhta hai — aankhon mein wo purana chubhan.

zaheer (cold):

mazak kar raha hai ya blame kar raha hai?

arjun (bina dekhe):

jo sun raha hai, uski samajh pe chhod de.

zaheer (walks to his table):

aur jab blame aata hai toh tu hamesha door khada hota hai... bolne ke liye line hoti hai tere paas, zimmedaari ke liye kabhi nahi.

arjun (looks up slowly):

aur tu hamesha victim ban ke khada hota hai...

tere saath kuch bhi ho, sabki galti main hi hoon?

canteen mein vibe instantly change ho jaati hai. sab slow ho jaate hain. chewing stops. aankhen dono pe tik jaati hain.

zaheer (steps closer):

maine kabhi tere naam pe blame nahi kiya.

aaj tak jo bola, face pe bola.

yeh indirect punch maarna... woh tere jaise logo ko suit karta hai.

arjun (rises from chair):

aur tere jaise logon ko kabhi joke aur taunt mein farq samajh hi nahi aata.

ego itna bhara pada hai ki har baat personal lagti hai.

zaheer:

kyunki tu personal ho chuka hai mere liye.

arjun:

same.

chhoti si baat thi — ek roll aur coffee ke bill ka.

par dono ko woh ek line chubh jaati hai: "tu personal ho chuka hai mere liye."

zaheer apni chai ki cup uthata hai, bina kuch aur bole wapas chala jaata hai.

arjun fir se baith jaata hai — lekin ab smile nahi hai. sirf thoda tight expression, jaise kuch aur toot gaya ho andar.

canteen slowly apne normal tone mein lautta hai... par woh bench aur woh table — dono alag-alag ho chuke hain ab.

shaam ki thandi dhoop terrace ke tiles pe pad rahi hoti hai. hawa mein ek shaant si garmi hai. ammu aur shanu dono wahan chhup ke aayi hoti hain — lunch ke baad, bina kisi plan ke.

dono paas mein bethi hoti hain — ek chhoti si steel ki bottle beech mein, dono turn by turn sip le rahi hoti hain. niche se thoda laughter aur chaos aa raha hota hai, lekin yeh spot shaant hota hai.

Shanu (dekhti hai door horizon ki taraf):

tere bhai... kaafi alag ho gaye hain na?

Ammu (thoda pause leke):

aur tere bhai... zyada heavy ho gaye hain. matlab... unka mood, unka chehra... sab kuch silent-sa lagta hai ab.

Shanu thoda sir hilati hai. aankhen neeche ja rahi hoti hain — jaise har cheez observe kar rahi ho.

ammu (softly):

arjun ... hasta tha pehle. aankhon se.

ab jab haste hain na, toh lagta hai zyada zor diya hai khud pe.

shanu:

zaheer bhi pehle bolta tha khul ke. ab lagta hai... sab andar store karta hai.

pata nahi kis cheez ka bojh hai dono ke beech.

ammu:

wo dono best friends the na?

shanu:

inse zyada close koi nahi tha.

ammu apni bottle rotate karti hai — steel ki halki khanak hoti hai.

ammu:

par ab dono ek dusre ko dekhte bhi nahi properly.

aise jaise koi line khinch gayi ho — dikhayi bhi deti hai, mehsoos bhi hoti hai.

shanu:

aur sabse ajeeb baat?

na unhone fight ki... na kisi ne kuch directly bola...

phir bhi sab kuch toot gaya.

ammu:

jaise dosti sirf ek thread pe latak rahi thi...

aur ek din hawa zyada tez thi, bas... chhoot gayi.

shanu:

aur hume lagta tha ye dono toh kabhi nahi alag honge.

ammu uski taraf dekhti hai. aankhon mein thodi moist si honesty.

ammu:

kabhi kabhi na... dosti bhi pyaar jaisi ho jaati hai.

chhoti baat ka bura lag jaata hai. aur jab ego aa jaye na... sab khatam.

shanu (slowly):

par main chah ke bhi zaheer se kuch pooch nahi sakti.

main bas... dekh sakti hoon uska badla hua chehra.

ammu:

mujhe bhi same feel hota hai arjun bhai ko dekh ke.

par main kuch keh nahi sakti... mujhe lagta hai keh diya toh sab aur mushkil ho jayega.

shanu:

aur un dono ko lagta hoga — "ab kehne se kya hoga?"

ammu:

aur hum dono sirf... beech mein hain.

na unke saath... na ek dusre ke khilaaf.

ek chhota sa silence. hawa chalti hai. dono thoda door dekh rahi hoti hain. ek gentle realization ka moment hota hai.

shanu (halke se muskurate hue):

kabhi kabhi lagta hai... hum dono apne bhaiyon ke breakup ko quietly handle kar rahe hain.

ammu (narmi se):

jaise do dosti tootne ka dard... hum feel kar rahe hain.

khud unse zyada.

dono ek dusre ki taraf dekh ke ek chhoti si smile share karti hain — woh wali smile jo keh rahi hoti hai “main samajh rahi hoon tujhe.”

azhar ka drawing room – shaam ka waqt

TV band hai. ek kone mein table fan ghoom raha hai. azhar kurti pehna hua, ek purani diary aur chashma ke saath sofa pe aaram se baitha hai. table pe chai ka glass rakha hai, jisme aadhi chai thandi pad chuki hai.

ghar ka mahaul shaant hai. kitchen se halki si bartan ki awaaz aa rahi hoti hai — ammu rotiyaan sek rahi hoti hai, asma apne kamre mein chup chap silai kar rahi hoti hai.

tabhi azhar ka phone bajta hai.

screen pe naam flash hota hai: “Husna Apa”

azhar phone uthata hai, halka sa seedha ho jaata hai.

azhar:

salaam apa... sab khairiyat?

husna (phone pe, halka excitement ke saath):

wa alaikum salaam, azhar... haan sab khair hai.

ek chhoti si baat thi, socha seedha tumse hi baat kar loon.

azhar (thoda alert):

haan haan boliye, kya baat hai?

husna:

kal ek mehndi thi... wahan ek ladka mila. padhe likhe, shaant tabiyat ka. engineer hai, private firm mein achhi job karta hai.

baat karte karte mujhe pata chala ke shaadi ke liye ladki dekh rahe hain...

tumhara ghar yaad aaya. ammu yaad aayi.

azhar (thoda rukh ke, soft voice mein):

ammu?

abhi toh uski umar bhi zyada nahi hai... college chal raha hai...

husna (halki si hansi ke saath):

arey bhai, abhi shaadi thodi na ho rahi hai.

sirf mulaqat.

ladka ke walid bhi yahi keh rahe the “milwa dijiye, baat aage chale na chale, kam se kam tasalli toh ho.”

maine kaha, pehle tumse puchh loon.

azhar (sochta hua):

main... pehle ammu se baat karna chahunga.

husna (narmi se):

baat toh zaroor karo... par mulaqat ka plan bana lo.

bina pressure ke. is bahaane ladke waale bhi mil lenge, aur ammu se bhi wahi pe softly baat kar lenge.

azhar (thoda soch kar, dheere se):

theek hai apa...

aap bol dijiye milne ke liye.

main... samjha lunga usse.

husna:

tumhara bhala ho azhar... Bina maa ki bachi hai, koi kasar nahi rakhungi.

tumhara faisla hi aakhri hoga. hum toh sirf behtar soch rahe hain.

azhar:

haan... samajh gaya aapa, tumhari hi bachi hai... Jaisa theek lage kijiye

phone cut hota hai.

azhar sofa pe chupchaap baitha rehta hai. diary ab band hai, chai ka glass untouched. aankhon mein kuch soch chhupi hai.

door se ammu ki awaaz aati hai:

“baba, roti garam hai... abhi le lijiye na.”

azhar sirf us taraf dekhta hai — ammu kitchen se peeth ki taraf hai, roti palat rahi hai. azhar kuch bolta nahi. uske chehre pe ek thaka hua sa decision lamba sa thehra hota hai.

Pratap ka ghar

ek chhoti si jagah jahan books, files aur ek purani chai ki kettle rakhi hoti hai.

pratap table pe baitha hota hai, specs pehne hue — kuch register dekh raha hota hai. ek kone mein old transistor se halki si raag malhar baj rahi hoti hai.

tabhi door halki si khat-khat ke saath khulta hai.

andar se azhar aata hai — kurti thodi loose, aankhon mein thakan.

pratap (dekhe bina):

andar aa ja... chai abhi garam hi hai.

azhar (softly):

aur kya... tumhare pass aaye bina koi masla hal hota hai kab?

pratap muskurata hai. specs utaar ke side rakhta hai.

pratap:

aisa kya masla hai iss baar?

azhar (baithte hue, thoda ruk ke):

ammu ke liye rishta aaya hai.

pratap (eyebrows uthenge):

accha? kis taraf se?

azhar:

zaheer ki khala... husna apa. unke kisi rishtedaar ke ladke ka hai.

engineer hai... accha ghar, acchi naukri...

wo log kal milna chahte hain.

pratap:

aur tu pareshan hai?

azhar (slowly):

haan...

pata nahi kyun, par andar kuch ulta lag raha hai.

ammu se kuch bola nahi... par lagta hai jaise uske liye abhi nahi...

ya shayad main hi taiyaar nahi.

pratap uski baat shanti se sunta hai — koi interruption nahi, koi judgement nahi.

pratap (soft voice mein):

azhar...

ammu apni bachi hai. aur bachi agar sach mein khush nahi hogi, toh tu toh pehle samajh jaayega.

abhi milne ki baat hai, faisla nahi.

aur agar tujhe lagta hai waqt sahi nahi... toh rok de.

kisi ke kehne se zindagi ke faisle nahi liye jaate.

azhar:

main sirf uska future secure dekhna chahta hoon...

par har baar jab uske chehre pe muskurahat dekhta hoon... toh lagta hai, koi aur duniya jee rahi hai wo... mere plan se bilkul alag.

pratap (thoda muskurate hue):

bachche apna plan khud leke aate hain, bhai.

hamara kaam sirf dekhna hai ki wo plan unke liye safe ho.

aur tu toh waise bhi...

ammu ke liye duniya se lad jayega.

azhar (aankhon mein halka paani):

darr lagta hai pratap...

main galti na kar baithun.

pratap (uska haath dabate hue):

agar tu ammu se poochhne jaa raha tha hai — toh wahi sabse sahi kadam hai.

baat karega... toh sab clear ho jaayega.

aur agar ammu khud nahi chaahti... toh main tere saath hoon.

dekh lenge.

azhar (soft smile, aankhon mein sukoon):

bas yehi sunne aaya tha...

"main tere saath hoon."

pratap ek glass paani uske liye laata hai, dono ek thodi der tak chup baith jaate hain.

door ke bahar se halki si hawa chalti hai — ek aisi hawa jo thoda bharosa le aayi hoti hai.

next morning – azhar ka ghar, veranda – subah 7:30 ke aaspaas

subah ki halki dhoop veranda mein pad rahi hoti hai. ek kone mein mitti ke ghamle rakhe hain, jinme se ek mein thoda paani gira hota hai. azhar white kurta aur lungi mein baitha hota hai, chai ka cup haath mein. aankhon mein neend kam hai, par dimaag jaag raha hai.

andar se zaheer ready hoke nikalta hai — bag uske kandhe pe, shirt thodi halki si untucked, usual college wala mood.

azhar (slowly, bina dekhe):

zaheer...

zaheer rukh jaata hai, sandals pehne hi hota hai.

zaheer:

haan abba?

azhar (cup table pe rakh ke):

baith idhar.

do minute.

zaheer thoda confused hota hai, lekin veranda ke chabootre pe uske paas baith jaata hai.

azhar (halke se):

main soch raha tha...

kabhi kabhi lagta hai hum apne bachcho ko samajhne mein jaldi kar jaate hain.

zaheer (half-smiling):

kya hua? subah subah philosophy?

azhar (half-nazar us par):

filhaal nahi... baat kar raha hoon.

zaheer serious ho jaata hai. dono ke beech ek second ka khaamosh gap hota hai.

azhar (aankhon se door dekhte hue):

ammu ke liye rishta aaya hai.

husna apa ne recommend kiya hai.

zaheer ka chehra blank ho jaata hai — koi immediate reaction nahi deta, sirf aankhen tik jati hain.

azhar (continue karta hai, dheere):

kuch final nahi hai... sirf milne ki baat hai.

lekin pata nahi kyu... main khud se bhi confirm nahi ho pa raha.

zaheer (thoda der baad, calmly):

ammu ko pata hai?

azhar:

nahi.

usse batane se pehle... tere se poochhna zaroori laga.

tum dono... ek doosre ko zyada samajhte ho.

zaheer (quietly):

ammu... kisi aur duniya mein rehti hai abba.

azhar (slowly):

main isi baat se ghabra raha hoon.

kahi main uski muskurahat ke peeche chhupi baat ko na samajh pau...

aur koi faisla uske khilaaf ho jaaye.

zaheer (thoda aur soft tone mein):

fir ammu se baat karo... poochho usse khul ke.

wo kuch nahi chupayegi.

azhar uski taraf dekhta hai — pehli baar dono ki aankhein milti hain.

us moment mein baap-bete ke beech mein ek unsaid trust feel hota hai.

azhar:

aur tu?

zaheer:

main?

main hamesha uske saath hoon, chahe wo haan kahe ya naa.

azhar (smiling faintly):

tere andar apni maa ki baat hai.

chup rehta hai, lekin sab samajh jaata hai.

zaheer kuch nahi bolta.

sirf bag uthaata hai, phir rukh ke ek last line bolta hai:

zaheer:

abba, agar kuch galat mehsoos ho raha hai... toh usse ignore mat karna.

azhar (nodding):

nahi karunga.

zaheer nikal jaata hai.

azhar wapas apne chai ke cup ki taraf dekhta hai —

ab chai thandi ho chuki hai... lekin uska mann thoda halka lagta hai.

college canteen – afternoon break

canteen mein usual rush chal raha hota hai — background mein boys ki hansi, trays ki khanak, aur ek corner mein speaker se ek old hindi gaana baj raha hota hai.

zaheer ek table pe do doston ke saath baitha hota hai — bag uske side mein rakha hai, samose ka plate aur thumbs up ka bottle.

dil pe thoda bojh, par chehre pe normal banane ki koshish.

tabhi arjun ek aur group ke saath entry karta hai. uske haath mein tray hoti hai — sandwich aur cold coffee.

wo ek table pe nazar daal ke dekhta hai — ek khaali kursi zaheer ke table ke paas hoti hai.

arjun ka dost (light joke maarte hue):

yaar lagta hai zaheer ke table pe baithna padega... warna poora canteen full hai.

arjun aankh se signal deta hai — “chup reh.”

par tab tak zaheer ne sun liya hota hai.

zaheer (bina ghoore):

jo jagah chhoti pad jaaye... wahan mat aaya karo.

arjun (calm but cold):

aur jo dosti chhoti ho gayi ho... uska table bhi chhota hi lagta hai.

zaheer uski taraf dekhta hai — dono ke beech hawa bhaari ho jaati hai.

zaheer (half smile):

dosti chhoti nahi thi...

tu khud hi itna bada samajhne laga tha apne aap ko.

arjun (stepping closer, sarcasm mein):

aur tu itna chhota sochne laga tha... ki dusre ka bhalai bhi ego lagne laga tujhe.

zaheer (voice raise):

dusre ka bhalai?

bina bole, bina puchhe... meri zindagi mein decision lena “bhalai” hoti hai kya?

canteen ka mahaul thoda freeze hone lagta hai — log sun nahi rahe, lekin vibe change ho chuki hoti hai.

arjun (thoda teekha):

main toh sochta tha tere jaise ke liye kuch bhi kar du...

par tu toh bas doubt hi karta raha — dosti pe, niyat pe, har cheez pe.

zaheer (ghusse mein):

kyunki tu har jagah hero banna chahta tha.

aur mujhe kisi aur ka hero nahi chahiye tha, arjun.

arjun (step aur pass aake, aankhon mein direct):

aur mujhe dosti mein villain banne ka shauk nahi hai.

ek second ke liye silence. dono ekdum pass.

table ka ek glass girta hai — kisi ladke ke haath se, jiska focus ab khaane pe nahi, zaheer-arjun ke war zone pe hai.

zaheer (nazar ghuma ke):

acchi baat hai...

ab kam se kam chehra dekh ke jhooti muskaan nahi dikhani padegi.

arjun (peeche hatte hue, bitter laugh):

main toh ab tera naam bhi nahi lena chahta.

arjun wapas mudh jaata hai. uske dost usse pakad ke le jaate hain.

zaheer seedha ho jaata hai, plate ka ek last tukda uthata hai, lekin kha nahi paata.

scene freeze hoti hai — dono alag directions mein nikalte hain.

background mein radio se ek purana line sunai deta hai:

"dil ke tukde tukde karke, muskura ke chal diye..."

canteen wale clash ke baad arjun gusse se seedha ground ke outer area mein aata hai.

sports gear fence pe latke hain, aur koi bhi player aas paas nahi hota.

arjun ek kone mein jakar apne bag ko zor se bench pe phekta hai.

uska chehra tapak raha hai — aankhon mein gussa, frustration, aur kuch unsaid pressure.

tabhi peeche se nikhat ki awaaz aati hai — clear, steady.

nikhat:

bench ne kya kiya?

arjun turant peeche dekhta hai. nikhat tracksuit mein hai, whistle gale mein.

arjun (rude tone mein):

i’m not in the mood, ma’am.

nikhat (aate hue, calmly):

i can see that.

isliye to aa gayi hoon.

arjun kuch nahi bolta. aankhen door fix hain.

nikhat uske paas aake khadi hoti hai. dono ke beech ek second ka silence.

nikhat:

maine suna... canteen mein show chal raha tha tumhara.

arjun (dry laugh):

great. ab gossip bhi pahuncha diya gaya hoga staff room tak.

nikhat (shrugging):

nah... mujhe gossip pasand nahi.

bas tumhare chehre pe likha hua tha — “main kisi ko todne wala hoon.”

arjun (coldly):

kya farak padta hai, ma’am?

kisi ko kuch nahi fark padta.

nikhat (softly but directly):

tumhe padta hai.

warna itna react nahi karte.

arjun jawline tight karta hai. aankhen neeche jaati hain.

nikhat:

tumhare jaise players ko main pehli baar nahi dekh rahi...

talent jab emotion se bhara ho — toh ya toh medal milta hai, ya fracture.

arjun (corner smile):

toh aap mujhe fracture case samajh rahi ho?

nikhat:

nahi.

main tumhe ek player samajh rahi hoon jise sirf thoda space chahiye… aur sahi waqt pe ek kick.

arjun (softly):

kick toh mil gayi ma’am...

dil pe.

nikhat thoda smirk karti hai.

nikhat:

acha suno —

tumhare chehre pe “breakdown” likha hai.

main usse "warm-up" mein badalna chahti hoon.

Arjun kuch nahi bolta bas nikhat ki dekhta hai

Nikhat

Collage ke baad mujhe ghar chhod doge,

Arjun uska tone samajh jata hai or use ek smile pass karta hai,nikhat bhi uski aankho me dekh kar smile karti hai

college library ke bahar ka bench – dopahar ke baad ka waqt

shaam dhalne wali hoti hai. library ka outer corridor shaant hai.

books return karne wale student slowly nikal rahe hote hain.

zaheer ek kone wale wooden bench pe baitha hota hai — haath mein ek closed notebook, aankhen aage fix.

thodi der baad shanu aati hai, shoulder pe sling bag, ek haath mein juice bottle.

wo zaheer ko dekh ke ruk jaati hai — phir quietly uske paas aake bench ke dusre side baith jaati hai.

shanu (casually):

tum kabse yahan baithe ho?

zaheer:

jab se aankhon ne bheed dekhna band kiya.

shanu halka sa smile karti hai, kuch nahi kehti.

wo bottle se ek sip leti hai aur bag apne lap pe adjust karti hai.

shanu (thoda dekhte hue):

tumhara mood thoda... zyada hi calm lag raha hai aaj.

zaheer (half smile):

woh toh tab hota hai jab andar kuch chal raha ho.

thoda silence. dono bench ki opposite end par hote hue bhi, ek dusre ke mood ko absorb kar rahe hote hain.

zaheer (dekhe bina):

ammu ke liye rishta aaya hai.

shanu (thoda startled, par reaction control kar ke):

accha?

zaheer (same tone):

haan. khala ka reference hai.

amma... matlab sorry — abba baat kar rahe hain

Ammu ko abhi nahi bataya hai

shanu (softly, sir hilaate hue):

hmm...

wo thodi der uske chehre ko dekhti hai — na udasi hai, na khushi — sirf ek flat acceptance.

phir uski aankhon mein ek subtle curiosity aati hai.

shanu (teasing smile ke saath):

fir tumne mujhe pehle kyun bataya?

zaheer (seedha uski taraf dekhte hue, calmly):

kyunki ek tum hi to ho...

jisse dimag ki baatein bhi share kar sakta hoon...

aur dil ki bhi.

shanu uske aankhon se nazar chhupane ke liye thoda side dekhti hai.

chehre pe ek controlled blush aa jaata hai — wo sip lete hue aankhon se usse avoid karti hai.

shanu sirf apni ponytail ko adjust karte hue halki si laugh nikaalti hai... aur seedhi nikal jaati hai.

zaheer bench pe lean karta hai — notebook ab bhi bandh hai,

lekin chehre pe ek subtle peace hota hai — jaise kuch unsaid bol diya gaya ho.