ARJUN vs ZAHEER

[Greenwood]

Update 23

husna thoda cough karti hai, dupatta thoda adjust kar ke officially introduction shuru karti hai.

husna:

“toh… sabse pehle main aap sabko milwa doon un logon se jinke liye yeh rishte ki baithak rakhi gayi hai.”

sab log thoda seedhe ho jaate hain. madhu chai ka tray pakadne ja rahi hoti hai, par ruk jaati hai.

ammu ki nazar neeche, dupatta lapet ke baithi hoti hai.

arjun apna glass paani uthakar halke sips lene lagta hai.

husna ek haath se ishaara karti hai ek smartly dressed ladke ki taraf, jo medium height, clean-shaven, white kurta aur grey waistcoat me baitha hota hai — confident, lekin over-smart nahi.

husna:

“yeh hain asad sayed… hamare rishtedaar ke bete.

engeneer hai, or bahut zaheen or shant kism ka ladka hai

khud bhi simple, aur life bhi simple rakhte hain — lekin family-oriented bacha hai.

aur cricket aur shayari ka shauq hai.”

Asad thoda modest smile deta hai, sabko halka sa salaam karta hai.

madhu politely smile karti hai, pratap sir hila ke greet karta hai.

ammu us taraf dekhe bina, bas sir jhukaye rehti hai.

husna ab ek middle-aged couple ki taraf mudti hai —

lady red silk suit me, gajra lagaye, halki gold bangles ke saath.

aadmi simple light blue kurta aur glasses me.

husna:

“aur yeh hain asad ke mummy-papa sarfaraz bhabhi aur saeed bhai.

Sarafaraz bhabhi har mehfil ki rooh hoti hain kitne saalon ka rishta hai humara.

aur saeed bhai, ab toh retired hain, lekin ek zamaane me education department me inspector the.”

Sarafaraz ek classy nod karti hain, saeed bhai sirf gentle smile dete hain jaise: “hum bas formality ke liye hain.”

madhu respectfully unhe greet karti hai

husna ab ek modern aur soft-spoken ladki ki taraf dekhti hai — green churidar, open hair, and a stylish clutch.

husna:

“aur yeh hain nausheen — asad ki chhoti behen.

fashion designing padhi hai, aur abhi boutique sambhal rahi hai delhi me.

thodi kam bolti hain, lekin dil ki badi saaf hai.”

nausheen halki smile deti hai ek side glance ammu ki taraf, ek madhu ki taraf.

shanu use politely smile dekar nod karti hai.

aur last me husna ek choti ladki ki taraf dekhti hai — jo sofa pe apne frock ko baar-baar set kar rahi hoti hai aur juice ke glass me sirf ice dhoondh rahi hoti hai.

husna (halki hansi ke saath):

“aur yeh hum sabki nani — mariya. nausheen ki beti hai, lekin sabko lagta hai salman ki manager hai.

har baat pe sawaal karti hai, har plate me se kuch chhupa leti hai.

lekin bacchi itni pyari hai ki jab tak ghar me awaaz na ho, sukoon nahi milta.”

mariya muh me straw lekar madhu ki taraf dekh ke kehti hai:

“aunty, aapke yahan gulab jamun hai kya?”

sab halki si hansi rok lete hain  pratap aankhon se smile karta hai,

husna sabke chehre dekh kar kehti hai:

husna:

ab toh sab se mil bhi liya, toh socha ek choti baithak ho jaaye…

aap log ammu se thoda baat kar lo, hum sab yahin hain.

drawing room me husna ab ammu se baat cheet ki tayyari kar rahi hoti hai.background me log hansi-muskaan ke saath chai ke cups le rahe hote hain.

camera dheere se zoom karta hai ek kone ki taraf jahaan arjun quietly apni seat se uth kar side corridor se kitchen ke taraf badhta hai.uska chehra blank hai, raat ki neend bachi hai or ek yawning karta hai or apne hath stretch karta hai madhu aur asma abhi kitchen me busy hoti hain, lekin thoda side jaane ke baad arjun ek breathing space dhoondhta hai

tabhi peeche se usse shanu mil jaati hai, jise ammu ne andar bheja tha water lene ke liye.

shanu uske chehre ka expression dekhte hi thoda alert ho jaati hai.

shanu (dhimi awaaz me):

“arjun… kya hua?”

arjun (deep breath leke, aankhen jame hue):

“yeh… kya chal raha hai andar?”

(ek pause, fir almost whisper me)

“rishta hai ammu ke liye…

shanu uski taraf dekhti hai, phir thoda hesitant ho kar sir hila deti hai.

shanu (softly):

haan… husna aunty le kar aayi hain. azhar uncle ne haan kar di thi jab wo bimaar the… ab sab fix jaisa hi hai

arjun thoda panic me kadam peeche leta hai ,haath balled ho jaate hain jaise kuch tod dena chahta ho.

fir ek sharp breath ke saath ek low hiss me kehta hai:

arjun:

tum logon ne mujhe bataya tak nahi… ek word bhi nahi

shanu uska gussa feel kar leti hai — lekin apne tone ko calm rakhti hai.

woh do kadam aage aati hai aur dheere se uske samne khadi ho jaati hai.

shanu (firm but kind):

“arjun, abhi waha sab log baith ke chai pee rahe hain… mehmaan aaye hue hain.

tum agar yeh reaction yahin explode karoge na… toh sab bigad jaayega.”

arjun uski aankhon me dekhta hai — gussa uske cheekbone tak dikh raha hota hai.

lekin wo kuch bol nahi paata, sirf ek thandi si saans chhodta hai.

shanu fir dheere se kehti hai:

shanu:

“abhi chillaane ka waqt nahi hai. main teri side hoon…

lekin pehle tu khud decide kar kya chahiye tujhe,warna ammu sab ke kehne pe haan kar degi.”

arjun aankhen band karta hai, sir jhukata hai.

uske haath ki nasen tight ho gayi hain, lekin wo apne aap ko control karta hai.

kitchen ke fridge ke paas jakar bottle uthata hai aur paani peeta hai.

shanu bas ek pal ke liye uske saath khamosh khadi rehti hai.

dono ke beech ek silent understanding circulate karta hai

ek dusre ki feelings bina bole samajhne wali.

sab log chai aur snacks le chuke hain. husna ek narm si awaaz me sab se keh rahi hoti hai:

husna:

“ab jab itne ache log ek jagah baithe ho… toh mehfil mein ek kalam toh banta hai.”

Asad pehle toh modestly hichkichata hai. Sarafaraz aunty uske kandhe par haath rakhti hain,

aur husna gently insist karti hai:

husna:

“beta, amreen ke liye kuch ho jaaye… yeh toh hum sab ki farmaish hai.”

Asad ek halke smile ke saath dupatta sambhalti ammu ki taraf dekhta hai,

fir apna sherbet ka glass side karta hai aur thoda aage jhuk ke baithak wala pose le leta hai.

mehfil settle ho jaati hai. sab chup.

uski awaaz narmi se behti hai — ek deep, soulful aawaaz:

tum aaye toh dard bhi dilbar lage,

tanha sa har pal, magar lagne lage…

tujh se mila har lamha ek saaz tha,

har khamoshi mein tera andaz tha.

raat bhar teri yaadon ka silsila chala,

neend se zyada mujhe khwab mila.

kitaabon mein dhoonda tujhe har safhe par,

aur har she’r mein bas tera chehra mila.

dil ne kaha, “mat pooch tu uska haal”,

magar aankhon ne likh diya tera sawal.

lab khamosh rahe, dil fasaane likhta gaya,

dard chhupaya nahi, bas wo shayari ban gaya

main toot kar bhi khud ko jodta raha,

tera zikr kar ke sab kuch bhoolta raha…

tum aaye toh hawaon mein mahak si thi,

tum gaye toh zindagi be-rang si thi…

agar kabhi laut aaye toh kehna mat kuch,

bas ek muskaan de dena… main jee uthunga us lamhe mein.

sab pe ek pal ke liye jaise jaadu chha jaata hai.

uski awaaz dhalte dhalte room me sirf ek gehri khamoshi reh jaati hai — wo wali, jo respect wali hoti hai.

Sarafaraz aunty palkein thodi moist karti hain.

madhu aankhon me soft smile ke saath ammu ki taraf dekhti hai.

pratap aankhon se sir hila ke kehta hai:

“wah…”

shanu… jaise ek trance me. aankhon me ek shine. uska chehra pehli baar kisi outsider ke liye itna soft dikh raha hota hai.

zaheer corner se wapas aata hai — aur seedha shanu par uski nazar padti hai.

uska chehra dard aur shock ka combo hota hai.

lekin shanu… dekh bhi nahi rahi hoti. uski aankhon ka focus sirf asad par hota hai.

uski aankhen kehti hain: “maine yeh expect nahi kiya tha.”

arjun ek corner me glass haath me le kar wall ke saath tik gaya hota hai.

uski aankhen sabke chehre padhti hain… ek ek karke.

sab impressed hain. sab khush hain.

aur sabse zyada… ammu.

ammu ke chehre par ek ajeeb si sannata bhari muskaan.

wo bas baith ke kuch soch rahi hoti hai — kuch samajh nahi pa rahi, lekin andar kuch stir ho chuka hai.

shayari usse touch kar gayi hoti hai.

asad apni ghazal ke last sher pe thoda thehrta hai.

aakhri lafz ke baad ek second ki silence hoti hai —

phir sarfaraz aunty ke slow clap se mehfil thodi warm ho jaati hai.

sab log sir hila rahe hain, husna proud look de rahi hai.

yeh sab chal raha hota hai,

tabhi ek corner me thoda andhera wala spot — jahan ek purani almirah ke paas ek long bench lagi hoti hai —

wahaan dono bhai jaise log baithe hote hain: arjun aur taz.

arjun glass me sherbet hila raha hota hai, aur taz apni cap ko ulta pahne, ek papad tod raha hota hai.

dono ki aawaz itni dhimi hoti hai ki sirf ek dusre ko sunai de.

taz (aankhon se asad ki taraf dekh ke, papad chabate hue):

"wah re miyan... ab toh shayar bhi ban gaya hai rishton ke saath."

arjun (bina dekhe, glass me ice ghumate hue):

“hmm... lag raha tha jaise reharsal chal rahi ho... stage show se pehle.”

taz (sar hila ke):

"aur voice dekhi uski? jaise udit nahi chudit narayan ho sala ,mic andar fit kara ho gale mein... full bass."

arjun (half smile ke saath):

"bass nahi… bas thoda extra drama.

shayari kam, script zyada lag rahi thi."

taz (thoda lean karke arjun ke ear ke paas):

“main toh samjha tha koi mehmaan khatam hone ke baad plate uthayega,

yeh toh sher uthake sabka mood le gaya.”

arjun halki si hansi rokte hue:

arjun:

“tumne dekha Ammu ka chehra?

aankhein band ho jaati toh dua samajh leta main.”

taz (mocking tone):

“arey bhai, jab har lafz me ‘tum aaye’, ‘tum gaye’ ho toh kaun nahi pighlega...

lekin talent... naa bhai... thoda overcooked tha.”

arjun:

"aur khala ka expression?

aankhon me aise chamak jaise asad nahi, gulzar baith gaya ho samne."

dono halki si hansi rok lete hain —

fir ek second ke liye chup ho jaate hain.

phir taz softly:

“par ek baat bolun...

ammu ki aankhon me kuch change tha...

wo bas shayari nahi sun rahi thi... kuch mehsoos kar gayi thi.”

arjun thoda stiff ho jata hai. uska haath sherbet ka glass pakde hue thoda thandaa pad jata hai.

phir wo slowly kehta hai:

arjun:

"wo bas moment ka effect tha...

tum dekhna, asli wajah pe mask jaldi chhodega yeh shayar sahab."

taz (smirking):

“bas bhai... tujhe bass lag gaya...

par tu us moment me akela tha jo clap nahi kar raha tha.”

arjun sarcastic smile ke saath:

“haan... main clap karta, toh meri jaan se bhi tali baj jaati.”

taz haas deta hai, aur cap aankhon par kheenchta hai.

taz (side glance le kar whisper me):

“bhai... uska kurta dekh.

satin pe ironing aise ki gayi hai jaise audition dene aaya ho... ghazal ke saath modeling bhi.”

arjun (glass ghumate hue):

“mujhe laga bas shayari karega...

yeh toh aankhon se bhi act kar raha tha —

har lafz pe eyelids slow-mo me band ho rahe the jaise koi perfume ad shoot kar raha ho.”

taz (fake impress hoke):

“aur uski awaaz? uff...

bhai mic laga rakha tha kya gale ke neeche?

jaise koi ghazal nahi, FM ka raat 2 baje ka RJ ho —

'namaskar doston... aaj ki tanha raat me...' vibes.”

arjun (nakhli tareef wale tone me):

“acha haan, aur jab bola ‘tum aaye…’

toh mujhe laga ab uth ke background dancers bhi aa jayenge!”

taz (has kar):

“tum aaye toh hawaon me mahak si thi…

aur uski smell khud hi hawaon me chhod gaya be,

deo mar ke aaya tha shayad — itna ‘musk’ maarta koi?”

arjun (glance leke smirk ke saath):

“aur hairstyle?

bhai, usne itna gel lagaya hai ki agar current lag jaye toh spark nahi, disco ball ban jaaye.”

taz (ulta jaake cap uthake aankhon pe karte hue):

“wo toh theek hai…

lekin main hil gaya jab usne aankhon band karke bola —

‘lab khamosh rahe, dil fasaane likhta gaya…’

bhai! lab khamosh isliye the kyunki tu full acting me chala gaya tha!”

Arjun(lean hoke whisper)

Are to behenchod apne ghar jakar kare na acting, yaha kyu aa gaya yeh ghalib ka choda...

Taz ( sharbat ko straw se khinchte huye bina arjun ki taraf dekhe)

Behen to bhaiya yeh humari chodega ab,

Arjun (ek look deta hai)

Hey...

Taz(same straw-sharbat)

Tu janta nahi in sabki nazro mein hum Ammu ke bhai hai

Arjun ka dil baith jata hai yeh sunkar,uski aankhein confuse ho jati hai...

husna suddenly casual tone me — lekin sab sun lein itne volume me keh deti hai:

husna (asad ki taraf dekhte hue):

"asad beta, tum aur amreen thoda upar chhat pe baith jao…

thoda aaram se baat karo, ek dusre ko jaan lo.

sabke beech kaise baat hogi?"

asad smile deta hai. ammu awkward ho jaati hai.

uski nazar turant madhu ki taraf jaati hai, phir chhoti si awaaz me kehti hai:

ammu:

"Amma … main yahin theek hoon. sab ke saamne hi baat kar lenge..."

madhu (softly, lekin firm):

"ammu, sab kuch sab ke saamne nahi hota.

ja beta… samajhdaar hai tu."

ammu phir se “please” jaise aankhon se dekhti hai,

lekin madhu apna haath uske shoulder pe rakh ke uthane lagti hai.