ARJUN vs ZAHEER

[Greenwood]

Update 78


Zaheer or shanu ko ab competition jeete huye 2 din ho chuke they,lekin abhi bhi collage me har jagah unhi ke charche chhaye huye they...

Sham ka waqt tha, hawa me halki si thandak thi. Zaheer ghar ke verandah me baithkar chai ki chuski le raha tha. Table par ek plate me garam samose pade the, jinse masalon ki khushboo uth rahi thi. Ammu ek taraf uske samne baith kar apni chai cup me ghoom rahi thi, aur Asma apne phone me busy thi, beech-beech me hansi chhodti ja rahi thi kisi meme par.
Zaheer cup table par rakhte hue bol utha
Aaj kal lagta hai hum celebrity ban gaye hain. College me jao to har doosra banda ruk ke bas baatein karna shuru kar deta hai.
Ammu halka sa hansi rok kar
Haan, waise college ka cover photo dekha? Tum dono ka itna bada photo… main to soch rahi thi tumhare autographs bikna shuru ho jayenge.
Asma ne phone se nazar uthayi
Aur bhai, tumhe dekh ke mere college ke dost bhi puchte hain… tum sach me mere bhai ho?
Zaheer ne hans kar ek samosa utha liya
Haan, lekin tum log samajh lo ki main ab free autograph nahi doonga. Fee lagegi.
Ammu ne aankh ghumayi
Aur fee me kya lega? Ek samosa?
Zaheer ne ek bite lete hue nakhre se bola
Kam se kam do samose… aur ek cup chai.
Teeno ki hansi verandah me gungunane lagi. Bahar suraj dheere dheere dhal raha tha, aur hawa me shaam ki mithas ghul gayi thi. Yeh wo lamhe the jo kisi medal ya trophy se zyada keemti lagte the—bas ek doosre ke saath hona, bina kisi wajah ke muskuraana.

Sham ka waqt tha. Ghar ki badi balcony mein dhoop ka rang dheere-dheere sona ban kar phail raha tha. Aangan ke ek kone se aati champa ke phoolon ki khushboo hawa mein ghul rahi thi. Madhu ek tray mein chai ke cups lekar aayi, jismein se ubalti hui chai ki bhaap dheere-dheere hawa mein ud rahi thi.
Arjun aur Shanu dono floor cushions par baithe the, beech mein low table, jis par biscuit ka plate rakha tha. Shanu haath mein cup pakad kar ek sip leti hai, phir aankhon mein woh glow aa jata hai jo ghar ki chai hi la sakti hai.
Camera ka focus Arjun par—wo cup uthata hai, par pehle apni ungliyon se uske rim ke paas ka condensation wipe karta hai, jaise apni soch ko settle kar raha ho.
Shanu
Tere match ka footage kal tak poore YouTube par viral ho jayega… ab toh tu star ban gaya hai, bhai
Arjun halki muskaan ke saath ek sip leta hai, cup ke upar se uski aankhen Shanu ko dekhti hain—ek aisa look jisme dikh raha tha ke shor sharabe ke baad ye shaant pal kitna mehsoos ho raha hai.
Peeche Madhu un dono ko dekh kar muskura rahi hoti hai, aur Pratap newspaper fold karke chair se uthkar join kar lete hain. Chaar cups table par, biscuit ki plate beech mein—sab ek saath baat karte hue, kabhi hansi, kabhi match ke moments yaad karte hue.
Camera dheere-dheere upar zoom out hota hai, sunset ki golden light un sab ke upar girti hai, jaise yeh pal hamesha ke liye frame ho gaya ho.

Us raat ki yaad ab bhi Shanu ke dil ke kone me mehfooz thi… jaise ek halki si garmahat jo thandi shaam me bhi mehsoos hoti hai.
Kamre ka andhera sirf table lamp ki mithi roshni se kat raha tha. Har cheez dheemi thi—samay, saansein, aur dil ki dhadkanein.
Zaheer uske saamne tha, lekin dono ke beech ki doori… jaise har lamha dheere dheere kam ho rahi ho. Shanu ko ab bhi yaad hai uski ungliyon ka halka sa sparsh, jo pehle toh bas ek jhijhak tha, phir jaane kab ek narmi me badal gaya.
Wo raat sirf baaton ka silsila nahi thi, wo khamoshiyon ki zubaan thi… aankhon ki guftagu thi. Zaheer ka chehra itna kareeb tha ki Shanu ko apne dil ki dhadkan uske kaanon me goonjti hui sunayi di. Us pal me koi shabd nahi tha, bas ek ahsas tha—gehra, sachcha, aur thoda sa darr bhara.
Usne apni palkein band ki thi… aur lagta tha jaise duniya ruk gayi ho. Us raat ka wo lamha Shanu ke liye ek raaz ban gaya—jo kisi ko samjhane ki zarurat nahi, bas mehsoos karne ki cheez hai.
Scene – Shanu’s Bedroom, Present

Kamre me halki si narangi roshni side lamp se aa rahi thi. Pankha dhimi awaaz me ghoom raha tha, par Shanu ne ek baar phir apni taraf se blanket khinch kar side me kar di. Uska dil shant hone ka naam hi nahi le raha tha. Palat palat ke wo ek hi pal me do jagah jee rahi thi — yahan apne bistar par, aur wahan… us raat me.
Flashback Begins
Andhera thoda gaha tha. Window se thandi hawa aa rahi thi, lekin kamre me ek alag hi garmi thi. Shanu pichhe hatne ki soch rahi thi par pair apne aap aage barh rahe the. Zaheer bas ek kadam door tha.
Shanu
Tum… sach me yahan rukoge?
Zaheer (halki muskaan ke sath)
Agar tum chaho to…
Shanu ka dil tez dhadak raha tha. Uske haath apne aap Zaheer ke haathon me chale gaye. Unki ungliyan aapas me ulajh gayin jaise kabhi alag nahi ho sakti.
Shanu
Pata nahi… kyun lagta hai tum paas ho to sab kuch…
Zaheer (thoda dheere, jaise samjhate hue)
Bas keh do… aur kuch mat socho.
Usne dheere se Shanu ke baalon ko kaan ke pichhe kiya. Shanu ko laga jaise waqt rukh gaya ho. Kamre me sirf saanson ki halki awaaz thi.
Shanu (dheere se, nazar jhuka ke)
Tum itne… kareeb kyun aa rahe ho?
Zaheer
Kyuki tum door jaane nahi deti.
Shanu ne sir utha ke dekha. Us pal me wo dono bas ek doosre ki aankhon me kho gaye. Ek pal baad Zaheer ne apna haath uske gaal par rakha, jaise pooch raha ho ki main kar sakta hoon? Shanu ne jawab me palak bhi nahi jhapkai.
Hawa me ek pal ka sannata tha… phir sab kuch dheere dheere apni hadon se aage nikal gaya — baatein halki pad gayin, sirf ehsaas baaki rahe.
Flashback Ends
Shanu ne apne bistar par palat liya, aankhen band ki, par dil ka shor kam nahi hua. Usne apne aap se socha,
Ye sab sach me hua tha… ya bas ek lamha tha jo sapne me khil gaya?

Ammu ka room andhera tha, sirf bed ke paas rakhi chhoti si lamp ki soft roshni poore kamre ko halki golden glow de rahi thi. Window se thandi raat ki hawa aa rahi thi, lekin uske dil me garmi thi… wo garmi jo Arjun ke saath guzari us ek raat ke baad uske andar bas gayi thi.
Woh pal use baar-baar yaad aa rahe the…
Jab Arjun ne usse apni baahon me kheench liya tha… uske saath blanket ke neeche ek dum shant, lekin dil ko hila dene wali nazdeekiyan mehsoos hui thi. Us raat Arjun ka saath kisi dream jaisa tha — unke beech lafzon ka silsila kam tha, lekin saansen tez thi, dhadkanein loud. Arjun ke haathon ka halka sa touch, uska cheek ke paas aana, aur phir wo cheek pe ruki hui halki si narmi… jaise duniya sirf un dono tak simat gayi ho.
Ammu ab jaanti thi… Arjun ka cuddle sirf ek aadat nahi, ek zaroorat ban chuka hai. Uske sine se lag kar sona… uske haathon ka weight apne upar mehsoos karna… aur raat bhar unki heartbeat sunte rehna.
Aaj, jab Arjun abhi tak nahi aaya tha, to bechaini uske chahre par clearly likhi thi.
Woh bed par karwat badalti, apne haathon me Arjun ka pillow daba leti… shayad thoda sa Arjun ki khushboo mil jaaye.
Ammu
Arjun… kahan ho tum…
Uski awaaz halki si toot rahi thi. Nazar bar-bar door ke taraf ja rahi thi, jaise wo bas abhi aayega.
Uske dimag me phir se us raat ka ek aur lamha flash hua…
Arjun ka apni ungliyon se uske baalon ko side karna, aur phir maang ke beech me apne hothon ka ek halkasa, sakoon bhara sparsh.
Woh mehsoos karte hue uski aankhein band ho gayi thi, jaise har sans, har lamha bas Arjun ke naam likh gaya ho.
Reality me laut kar, usne apni blanket thodi aur tight lapet li.
Thodi der baad usne phone uthaya, Arjun ka naam dekh kar screen ko bas chhup chap dekhti rahi… call karne ki himmat nahi hui.
Ammu ki aankhon me halka sa paani aa gaya.
Dil keh raha tha ke bas darwaza khule aur wo familiar kadam ki aahat sunai de… phir Arjun usse apni baahon me le le, jaise har raat karta hai.
Location: College Canteen

Time: Next Morning, 10:45 AM
Canteen ka mahaul usual tha — chai ki khushboo, pakode ka garam tel, aur students ki hansi-mazaak ka ek familiar sa shor. Corner wale table par Taz, Priya, Arjun, Shanu aur Ammu baithe hue the. Zaheer aaj campus me tha hi nahi, toh group ka mood kaafi relaxed tha.
Taz ek samosa tod kar Priya ki plate me daal raha tha, aur Priya thodi nakhre se muh bana rahi thi.
Taz
Tu kha le, waise bhi tu diet par sirf Monday ko rehti hai
Priya
Aur tu, tu kaunsi sports practice se aata hai jo itna khaata rehta hai
Shanu has ke chai ka sip le rahi thi, tabhi Arjun casually apna cup side me rakh kar Taz ki taraf jhuka.
Arjun
Waise Taz, kal practice me ball kaise miss ki tune? Camera me slow motion me bhi ajeeb lag raha tha
Taz ne aankh guma di.
Taz
Haan haan, tu toh Messi hai na, bas mujhe hi problem hai
Ammu chup chaap apni plate me spoon se kheer hila rahi thi, lekin Arjun ki ek chhoti si side glance us par pad gayi. Wo nazar sirf ek second ke liye thi, magar enough thi uske dil ki dhadkan thoda tez karne ke liye.
Shanu ne Ammu ko halki si kohni maari.
Shanu
Madam, aaj kaafi chup ho, ya phir tum bhi Taz ki practice pe hans rahi ho dil me?
Ammu ne normal tone me muskara ke jawab diya.
Ammu
Nahi, bas neend poori nahi hui
Arjun ne coffee ka ek sip le kar, jaise baat casually nikal di.
Arjun
Haan, raat ko phone pe late tak jagoge toh aisa hi hoga
Priya turant bol uthi.
Priya
Kis se baat kar rahi thi raat ko?
Ammu ne thoda sa sarcasm ke saath Priya ki taraf dekha.
Ammu
Tumhare bossy sawalon ka jawab dena mandatory hai kya?
Sab hans pade, lekin Arjun ke lips ke kone par ek chhupi hui smile thi, jo sirf Ammu ne notice ki.
Thodi der baad jab Priya aur Taz kisi aur baat me ulajh gaye, Arjun ne table ke neeche apne pair se halkasa Ammu ke sandal ko touch kiya. Ammu ne bas apna spoon cup me rakh diya aur casually dusri taraf dekhne lagi, jaise kuch hua hi na ho.
Phir bhi uske chehre par wo chhoti si blush aa gayi jo Arjun ke din ko banane ke liye kaafi thi.
Location: College Art Gallery Courtyard, late afternoon, 12:30 PM.

Weather: Hawa me halki si garmi, lekin saath me ek naram thandi hawa ka jhonka.
Mood: Cinematic + funny
Taz gallery ke saamne wale corridor ke railing par thoda jhuk kar khada tha. Haath me coffee ka cup, aankhon me udasi ka ek artist-type expression, jaise koi painting banane ka soch raha ho, lekin asal me wo bas free lecture ka maze le raha tha.
Achaanak hawa ka ek tez jhonka aata hai. Wo itna filmy tha ki Taz ne apni aankhein bandh kar di, jaise background me koi romantic OST baj raha ho. Coffee ka cup thoda sa hilta hai, uske baalon me hawa ulajh jati hai.
Aur jab usne dheere se aankhein kholi…
Door se ek figure uski taraf chal rahi thi… slow motion me.
Nikhat.
Aaj tracksuit nahi. Aaj sports shoes nahi. Aaj uski usual coach-type entry nahi.
Aaj wo ek georgette ki saree me thi — royal blue shade, jiska pallu halki si hawa me hil raha tha.
Uske kadam dheere the, lekin confident. Jitna wo paas aati ja rahi thi, utna Taz ka dimag blank hota ja raha tha. Saree ka pleats uske waist ke curve ko highlight kar raha tha, aur halki si heel pe chalne ki wajah se uski chaal me ek alag hi elegance thi.
Taz ki internal monologue start hoti hai —
Bhai… yeh wahi Nikhat hai jo kal mujhe push-ups karwa rahi thi?
Yeh koi Bollywood ka dream sequence chal raha hai kya?
Background me jaise koi invisible fan chal raha ho, uske baal aur pallu perfect timing me udte hain. Ek do ladke corridor me ruk kar dekh lete hain, lekin Taz ka focus 200% lock ho chuka tha.
Uske haath me coffee ka cup ab bas prop ban gaya tha. Uska dil ek dum se race lagane lagta hai. Honth thode khule, aankhon me wo slow zoom shot wala expression.
Nikhat ab itni paas aa gayi thi ki uski perfume ki khushboo hawa me mil rahi thi. Taz ne thoda sa seedha hone ki koshish ki, lekin uski ungli cup ke rim se phisal gayi aur coffee ka thoda sa drop uski shirt pe gir gaya.
Taz (under breath, panic mode me)
Bas yaar, ab embarrassing mat ho ja… sambhal…
Nikhat ne bas ek halka sa smile diya, jaise use pata ho ki uska slow motion entrance ne kisi ka din bana diya hai… aur shayad bigaad bhi diya hai.
Taz ke liye to scene wahi freeze ho gaya. Baaki duniya static, bas wo saree aur slow motion.

Nikhat ke kadam gallery ke marbled floor par halki si goonj chhodte ja rahe the. Uska har qadam Taz ki saanson ke beech rukawat ban raha tha. Saree ka aanchal halki si hawa me lehrata, uske perfume ki mahak ek meethi saaz ban kar Taz tak pahunch rahi thi.
Taz ka dil ek dum se tez dhadakne laga. Uski aankhon me ek ajeeb si chamak, gaalon par laali, aur hoton par woh halki si muskaan jo kabhi kabhi apne aap aa jaati hai… bina bulaye. Har pal me ek khumari ghul rahi thi.
Jab Nikhat uske bilkul kareeb se guzri, Taz ka saans ek pal ke liye ruk sa gaya. Uski palkein dheere se band ho gayi jaise woh us lamhe ko apne dil me band karna chahta ho. Uski imagination me Nikhat ki chal, uski kamar ka halkasa jhukav, aur saree ke kapde ka uski chaal ke saath lehrana,uske wo hilte bounce hote mote chuche, or ek halki si cleavage… sab ek tasveer ki tarah thahar gaya.
Uske hothon se ek halki si, behad dabe hue lekin mehsoos hone wali siski nikal gayi… jaise uske dil me ek naram si tees lag gayi ho, jo dard nahi deti… bas gehra sa asar chhod deti hai.
Aur jab usne palkein kholi, Nikhat aage nikal chuki thi… lekin uske dil me uske kadam abhi bhi ghoonj rahe the.