ARJUN vs ZAHEER

[Greenwood]

Update 19

college stairs – late afternoon

zaheer se bench pe chhoti si baat ke baad shanu canteen wale side stairs pe baithti hai —

ek sip juice ka leti hai, lekin ab uska mood clear nahi hai.

uske mann mein abhi bhi zaheer ka woh flat, emotionless tone goonj raha hota hai:

"ammu ke liye rishta aaya hai... abhi usse bataya nahi."

shanu apna phone nikalti hai — uske fingers thoda ruki-ruki si hoti hain, jaise confused ho ki kya kare.

fir screen pe scroll karte hue... “arjun”.

shanu (andar hi andar):

uska haq banta hai yeh jaanna...

chahe kitna bhi gussa kyun na ho.

wo turant call tap karti hai.

roadside chai tapri – arjun & nikhat

arjun aur nikhat ek roadside tapri ke paas khade hain —

nikhat chai le rahi hoti hai aur arjun apne phone ko silent pe dal ke pocket mein daal chuka hota hai.

nikhat usse kisi old championship story suna rahi hoti hai, aur arjun usme engaged hai, halki si hansi bhi uske chehre pe hai —

kaafi din baad relaxed.

tabhi uska phone silent mode mein vibration karta hai —

“shanu calling...”

lekin arjun unaware hota hai.

screen blink karta hai: “call not answered.”

shanu thoda der dekhti rehti hai — aankhon mein kuch mix emotions hote hain:

annoyance nahi, par ek chhupi si frustration — jaise dil keh raha ho ki arjun ko farq padna chahiye.

shanu (soft sigh leke):

fine..

wo phone side mein rakhti hai, bag uthati hai.

stairs se utarte hue ek second ke liye rukti hai...

phir aankhon mein thoda thaka hua smile aata hai.

shanu (andar hi andar, calmly):

shaam ko bata dungi... samne baith

ek black matte finish bike pe arjun aur nikhat baithe hote hain. arjun front pe, perfectly balanced. nikhat piche, bina kisi hesitation ke — full confident vibe mein. dono ne helmets pehne hain, lekin aankhon ka no-nonsense expression dikh raha hai.

background mein music chal raha hota hai — koi lo-fi beat ya instrumental

(jese: electric guitar ke soft riffs + drum rolls)

bike jaise hi smooth turn leti hai, hawa donon ke jackets ko thoda flutter kar rahi hoti hai.

nikhat (slightly leaning forward, helmet ke andar se):

“right gear lagaya tune?”

arjun (calm tone mein, throttle smooth karta hai):

“fourth pe hoon. full control mein hai.”

nikhat (halka sa hansi ke saath):

“kabhi kabhi lagta hai tu race nahi, meditation karta hai.”

arjun (smirks):

“bike bhi agar feel kare ki rider sure hai... to zyada noise nahi karti.”

cut to: flyover ka curve —

arjun smooth lean leta hai, body naturally tilt hoti hai. nikhat perfectly uska motion follow karti hai, jaise dono ek hi body mein ho. koi imbalance nahi, koi doubt nahi.

cut to: red signal — bike rukti hai.

nikhat arjun ke shoulder pe thoda knock karti hai.

nikhat:

“next turn pe chalein left... shortcut hai mere Ghar ka.”

green signal.

bike blast karti hai aage — lekin bina harsh throttle ke. full grace, full flow. hawaa bike ke 360° around ghoom rahi hai — jaise dono rider us road ke sirf guest nahi, owners hain.

cut to: ek open highway patch —

arjun slightly speed badhaata hai.

nikhat (excited voice mein):

“yesss... that’s the feeling!”

arjun (almost whispering):

“this is it. no crowd. no noise. just us... and the road.”

nikhat ke ghar ke paas ka rasta, shaam ke 5 baje

bike smoothly chal rahi hoti hai. traffic kam hai. hawa thodi thandi ho gayi hai. nikhat peechhe se halka jhukti hai arjun ke paas.

nikhat (helmet ke andar se cheekhti hai):

“ghar pe chhod de raha hai ya coffee pila raha hai?”

arjun (helmet ke andar se hansi chhupata hai, bas ek haath se thumbs up dikhata hai aur sir nod karta hai):

“coffee. tu treat de rahi hai, right?”

Nikhat (shocked)

Tu???

Arjun (smirk)

Main dosto ko tu hi bolta hu...

Nikhat(teasing)

Main dost kab ban gayi... Coach hu tumhari

Arjun(flirt)

Dost nahi to kuch or ban ja... Teri itni madad ki hai competition me.. kuch or na sahi kam se kam dosti ka to naam de is rishtey ko

nikhat (teasing tone):

“dekh le... moka mila toh main challenge bhi doongi!”

arjun (thoda speed badhata hai):

“challenge accepted.”

cozy street-side café – “bean theory”

wooden tables, yellow lights, light jazz-pop music chal raha hai background mein. dono bike park karke andar aate hain, helmets table pe rakhte hain. dono thode relaxed, lekin energy high.

nikhat:

“main cappuccino lungi. tu kya lega — ya bas mujhe taadta rahega?”

arjun (casually):

“black. bina sugar ke. jaise teri reality.”

nikhat:

“shut up. tujhe zyada bolne ki aadat ho gayi hai jab se finals ke baad free hua hai.”

waiter order le jaata hai. dono table pe baithte hain, glass ke bahar ka road view dikh raha hota hai.

nikhat aankhon mein spark leke:

“sun, bet lagate hain. agar tune mere drink mein pehle sip liya… toh tu meri ek baat bina argue kiye maannega.”

arjun (eyebrow raise karke):

“aur agar main na loo?”

nikhat:

“toh main maanungi. fair?”

arjun:

“deal.”

nikhat drink ke aane ka intezaar karti hai. tab tak dono ek dusre ko taunting look de rahe hote hain. waiter dono cups rakh ke chala jaata hai.

nikhat (coffee ke cup ko slow motion mein uthate hue, arjun ki aankhon mein dekhte hue):

“tu darega nahi toh…”

jaise hi wo peene lagti hai — arjun lightning fast uska cup kheench ke pehle sip le leta hai.

nikhat:

“ohhhhhh cheater!!”

arjun (victory smile ke saath):

“you said if i sip first. now i win.”

nikhat (hans ke):

“fine. ab sun. tu café ke andar gaana bajte hi uthke thoda sa jhoomega — aur main bhi karungi... let’s make the whole café groove.”

arjun (shock):

“what— tu serious hai?”

nikhat (firm):

“no backing out. tu hi toh bola tha — bina argue maanoonga.”

background mein gaana bajta hai: "lehenga – jass manak" ya koi upbeat punjabi track

nikhat turant uth jaati hai aur table ke paas thoda jhoomne lagti hai. café ke kuch log pehle awkwardly dekhte hain, lekin phir ek ladka bhi uthke beat pe tap karne lagta hai.

arjun pehle resist karta hai, lekin phir slowly uthta hai, shoulders shake karta hai, aur nikhat ke opposite groove mein aa jaata hai.

thodi der mein poora café laugh aur beat mein jhoom raha hota hai.

nikhat:

“dekha? main vibe create karti hoon.”

arjun (laugh ke beech):

“tu vibe nahi, full viral moment hai!”

café mein ab light laughter aur normal vibe wapas aa gayi hai. arjun aur nikhat table pe wapas baith chuke hain, dono ke chehre flushed from dance and energy.

nikhat (table pe elbows rakhti hai):

“man, tu actual mein sahi partner nikla dance ke liye.”

arjun (coffee sip lete hue):

“bas tune signal diya... aur main flow mein aa gaya.”

tabhi waiter arjun ka special black coffee leke aata hai — cup se halki steam nikal rahi hoti hai, aroma strong.

nikhat (eyebrow raise karke):

“ab meri baari. same bet.”

arjun (cup ko haath mein uthate hue):

“same rule?”

nikhat:

“obviously. agar main pehle sip le lungi toh... tu mere saath ek aur round dance karega — is baar slow wala.”

arjun (smiles):

“aur agar main jeeta?”

nikhat:

“toh main kuch bhi karungi. bol.”

arjun (slight smirk ke saath):

“bet locked.”

nikhat cup ke taraf haath badhati hai — lekin arjun usse ek second pehle sip le leta hai. phir se!

nikhat:

“NOOOO!! again?! tu psychic hai kya?”

arjun (cup table pe rakhta hai, lean karke casually bolta hai):

“main bas timing samajhta hoon.”

nikhat:

“fine. bolo kya karna hai mujhe?”

arjun (eyes narrowed, voice thoda mysterious):

“nahi... abhi nahi bataunga.”

nikhat (confused + annoyed):

“kya matlab?! tu jeet gaya hai — mujhe bataana padega na?”

arjun (coolly):

“nahi. waqt aane par. abhi bas yaad rakh... ek baat baaki hai.”

nikhat uski aankhon mein dekhti hai — thoda challenge karne wali look, thoda interest.

“you’re playing with fire, singh.”

arjun (smirking, aankhon mein thoda tease):

“tabhi toh warm coffee pasand hai mujhe.”

background mein ek soft acoustic version of “ilahi – yeh jawaani hai deewani” bajta hai.

cut to: dono window side pe baith ke coffee finish karte hain, slow beat ke saath... nikhat andar se curious hoti ja rahi hai, lekin arjun full chill mode mein —

[b]café ke bahar – shaam dhundhli hone lagi hai[/b]

arjun aur nikhat café se nikalte hain. dono ka mood light aur happy hai. bike pe wapas baithte hain.

nikhat (helmet pehna start karti hai):

“jaldi chalo, varna amma ka interrogation shuru ho jaayega.”

arjun (hassi chhupate hue):

“main toh bas delivery boy hoon. time pe parcel pohcha deta hoon.”

nikhat:

“haan haan. main toh parcel hi hoon.”

dono hans kar bike start karte hain.

kuch hi door chale hote hain ki tez barish shuru ho jaati hai

paani pehle halki phuhar hota hai, fir achanak full downpour.

arjun (shout karta hai, over rain):

“nikhat! cover kar le apna sir! jacket ka zip band kar!”

nikhat (helmet utaar ke, dono haath hawa mein fela deti hai):

“NO! let it happen!”

bike slowly chal rahi hoti hai. nikhat peeche se thoda sa seedhi ho jaati hai, dono haath upar, face sky ki taraf — aankhein band — cheekon par boondein girti hain.

uski jacket bheegti hai, lekin uska chehra glow karta hai. boondein uski lashes pe tikti hain, lips par halki si muskurahat... jaise har drop ek mehfil ho.

arjun apna focus lose nahi karta, lekin uske liye mano sab slow motion me ho raha hai... traffic security officer wale ka sity bajana, sadak se pani ka udna, kisi ki scooty sadak me slip hona, samne se tez aati car.... wo mirror se uski nazar baar-baar jaake nikhat pe tik jaati hai.

uska man kare toh bike rok de, sirf uski har ek ada ko dekhte rahe.

nikhat ki woh raw khushi, bina kisi pose ke — bas feel karna, bina kisi soch ke.

arjun (andar hi andar, bike chalate hue):

Just beautiful ? 

barish aur tez ho jaati hai. road ke kinare paani jama ho raha hai. log chhup rahe hote hain — lekin yeh dono us paagalpan mein nikalte ja rahe hain, jaise duniya sirf un dono ki ho.

slow background music bajta hai — “raabta (agent vinod slow version)” ya phir koi soulful acoustic melody.

arjun ka face — mirror mein nikhat ko dekhte hue, ek light si smile ke saath... aur nikhat — aankhein band, face barish ke neeche, haathon se hawa ko pakadne ki koshish karti — jaise wo har pal ko chhuna chahti ho.

nikhat ka ghar — ek purana, lekin beautifully maintained bungalow, white jali wali windows aur green gate

bike thak-thak sound ke saath gate ke paas rukti hai. dono poore bheege hue — arjun ka hair se paani tapak raha hota hai, nikhat ki jacket cheekon se chipki hoti hai, lekin aankhon mein wohi barish wali masti.

nikhat (gate kholti hai, chhoti si smile ke saath):

“andar aaja... warna barish tujhe dissolve kar degi.”

arjun (jacket nikalte hue):

“lagta hai barish rukne wali nahi”

andar se darwaza khulta hai — ek aurat, simple cotton dupatta pehne, ek almost 50s age ki aurat— lekin aankhon mein warmth. yahi hai ‘khala’.

khala (door par aankh mein paani dekhte hue):

nikhat! itni tez barish mein? kapde dekho zara!

nikhat (khush hokar):

“khalaaa! relax, maza aa gaya.”

khala arjun ki taraf dekhti hain, phir uski bheegi condition dekh ke thoda narazgi aur pyaar mix expression aata hai.

khala:

“aur ye kaun hai? ye bhi bheega hua parcel hi lag raha hai.”

nikhat (laugh karte hue):

“arre ye toh mera delivery boy hai. mujhe ghar tak drop karne wala.

arjun (folded hands ke saath):

“namaste khala ji... main arjun.”

khala (narm ho kar):

“andar aao dono. pehle towel lo, phir chai.”

drawing room – warm yellow light, ek table pe dry towel, ek kone mein framed photos (nikhat ke maa-baap ke), ek low-volume radio baj raha hai

nikhat towel se baal sukha rahi hoti hai, arjun ek armchair pe baitha hota hai.

khala dono ke liye adrak wali chai aur biscuit laati hain.

khala (nikhat se):

“tere maa-baap hote toh tujhe daant padti... tu toh bas badmash ho gayi hai.”

nikhat (cup uthate hue):

“aur tu toh mummy papa dono ban gayi hai na... toh daant le abhi.”

khala halka sa hasti hain, lekin aankhon ke kone nam ho jaate hain — [b]unke liye yeh routine hai, lekin har baar thoda sa dil bhar jaata hai.[/b]

[b][b]arjun slowly un dono ke beech ki bonding observe karta hai. uska chehra serious ho jaata hai — pehli baar wo nikhat ko uske mask ke peeche dekh raha hota hai.[/b][/b]

nikhat (khala ki taraf dekhti hai):

“yehi hai woh... jo baarish mein bhi bike sambhal leta hai.”

khala (muskurate hue):

“toh iske liye kuch garam pakode bhi hone chahiye.”

nikhat (arjun ki taraf):

“ab tu gaya... khala ke haath ke pakode khaye bina koi nahi jaata.”

arjun (softly):

“main kahaan jaa raha hoon…

Or radio par ek gane ki line aati hai "rishta dil se dil ke aetbaar ka,zinda hai hamee se naam pyaar ka

— warm drawing room ka frame, ek table jahan chai, biscuit, aur thodi dosti — thodi khaamoshi — lekin sab kuch apna sa lagta hai.

nikhat ka drawing room – shaam ka waqt, bahar ab bhi halki barish ho rahi hai

arjun armchair mein relaxed baitha hota hai, khala pakode serve karte waqt tray rakh ke uski taraf dekhti hain.

khala:

“main nikhat ko bula laati hoon... chai thandi ho rahi hai.”

arjun (halki muskurahat ke saath):

nahi khala, aap baithiye. main le aata hoon... kaan pakad ke.”

khala (thoda hansi ke saath, aankhon mein dher saara pyaar):
“le ja beta. mujhe toh ab tu hi samajhdar lag raha hai.”

arjun uthta hai — slow pace mein ghar ke andar ki taraf badhta hai.
ghar mein purani wooden flooring, soft yellow bulbs aur walls pe black-and-white framed tasveerein. ek ghar jo purani yaadon se bhara hai, lekin carefully sambhala gaya hai.

arjun har kadam pe dheere se dekhta hai — ek corner pe harmonium, ek purana diya rack pe, aur ek shelf jismein nikhat ke maa-baap ki jawaani ki tasveer hai — nikhat ki aankhon jaisi aankhen uski maa ki, aur uska confident chehra uske baap ka.

ek kamre ke samne se guzarta hai — darwaaza halka sa khula hota hai. andar light jal rahi hai.

arjun thoda rukta hai — bas halki nazar dalta hai.

[b]andar ek clean room. ek study desk. ek diary jismein pen abhi bhi khula pada hai. ek white dupatta bed ke kone pe. aur ek wind chime jo barish ke hawa se hil raha hai — ting ting ki halka sa sound.arjun dhire se darwaza kholta hai or andar jata hai kamre me just enter hote hi left side me ek mirror hai jiske samne nikhat unhi gile kapdo me khadi hoti hai, or arjun use dekhne lagta hai... Nikhat ko abhi yeh maloom nahi ki koi is kamre me aa chuka hai[/b]