ARJUN vs ZAHEER

[Greenwood]

Update 81




Subah ke 11 baj rahe the. College ke lawn me hamesha ki tarah shor sharaba, doston ka laughter aur groups ka gossip chal raha tha. Shanu, Ammu, Priya aur Taz ek bench par baithe the, apni chai aur snacks ke saath hansi mazak karte hue.
Priya ek new trend wali reel ke baare me excitedly baat kar rahi thi, Shanu uska mazaak uda rahi thi, Ammu hassi rokne ki koshish kar rahi thi aur Taz apna hi comedy show chala raha tha. Unka chhota sa circle apni duniya me busy tha.
Lekin us din ek cheez unusual thi.
Arjun jahan hamesha unke beech me hota, har baat pe comment karta, kabhi Ammu ko irritate karta, kabhi Shanu se ladta, aur kabhi Taz ka partner in crime ban jaata… aaj waha tha hi nahi.
Shanu ne thoda casually idhar udhar dekha aur bola
Shanu
Arre… Arjun kidhar hai? Subah se dikh hi nahi raha.
Priya ne shoulders ucha diye
Priya
Mujhe kya pata. Waise usually to aaj ke din sabse pehle aa jata hai.
Taz ne hansi me bola
Taz
Kahin Nikhat coach ke saath secret training pe to nahi chala gaya?
Sab hans diye, bas Ammu thoda chup si baith gayi. Usne apni coffee ka cup haath me ghumate hue lawn ke dusre corner ki taraf dekha, jaise dil se expect kar rahi ho ki shayad Arjun wahi se aa jaye.
Lekin… Arjun sach me nahi tha. Uski usual energy aur presence ke bina group me halki si khamoshi ka feel tha, jo unke hansi mazak ke peeche chup rahi thi.

Lawn me group ka laughter chalta raha, lekin Arjun ki kami sabko halki si feel ho rahi thi. Shanu ne do teen baar casually phone check kiya, jaise Arjun ka message aane ka wait kar rahi ho, lekin kuch bhi nahi tha. Ammu thodi si absent minded lag rahi thi, kabhi Priya ki baaton par hassi bhi, par phir turant chup ho gayi. Uske chehre pe bas ek sawal tha – Arjun kahan hai?
Doosri taraf, library ke andar ek alag hi scene chal raha tha.
Waha ek quiet si peace thi, aur lambe tables ke beech ek kone me Zaheer baitha tha. Uske saamne khuli hui books, ek side notes, aur chehre pe ek naya confidence. Aaj uska mood alag tha – subah ki voh khamosh intimacy, raat ki madahosh kar dene wali yaadein… sab uske andar ek ajeeb sa sukoon bhar gaye the.
Kal tak jo tension aur bechaini uske andar hoti thi, aaj wo sab gayab thi. Uske aankhon me freshness thi, aur dil padhai pe properly lag raha tha. Har page palatne par uske hothon pe ek halki si muskaan aa jaati, jaise wo apne andar hi apni girlfriend ki yaadon ka secret treasure lekar baitha ho.
Library ke kuch students uski taraf dekh ke soch rahe the, Zaheer aaj itna happy aur focused kaise lag raha hai? Lekin sirf usse aur Shanu ko maloom tha is chehre ke peeche ka asli reason.

College ke lawn me dhoop halki si golden ho rahi thi. Hawa chal rahi thi, aur sab log apne apne jokes aur mazak me ghule mile the. Priya ek funny story suna rahi thi jisme Taz ke expressions pe sab zyada hass rahe the. Shanu bhi zyada hi loud laugh kar rahi thi, jaise deliberately apna mood light rakhna chahti ho.
Lekin beech beech me Ammu ka chehra saaf alag lag raha tha. Uski aankhen baar baar lawn ke entrance pe jaa rahi thi. Har group ke aane jaane wale students me wo ek hi chehra dhoondh rahi thi. Arjun. Lekin wo kahin nazar nahi aaya.
Ammu ka dil thoda uneasy tha. Usne Taz ki baat pe smile di, par uske andar ek ajeeb si bechaini thi. Kal raat ke baad Arjun se ek alag si connection feel kar rahi thi, aur aaj uska yun bina bataye gayab rehna usse disturb kar raha tha.
Dusri taraf, library ki shaant hawaon me Zaheer ekdum ulta scene jee raha tha. Uske saamne open textbook thi, aur wo bina distraction ke notes likh raha tha. Kal raat ki warmth aur closeness abhi tak uske chehre pe ek glow ki tarah chamak rahi thi. Jaise har word samajh aa raha ho, har formula easy lag raha ho.
Kabhi kabhi wo apna pen thoda rukwata aur halki si smile karta, jaise Shanu ke saath guzaare un moments ko yaad kar raha ho. Phir turant wapas page par focus kar leta, jaise ab life me clarity aa gayi ho.
Sham ka waqt tha. Dining area me nashta ka mood bana hua tha – table par pakode, chutney, aur steaming chai ke cup rakhe the. Shanu apni maa ke paas aa kar chair khinchti hai aur ek pakoda utha leti hai. Casual tone me boli

Shanu
Maa… Arjun ko chai di thi na? Warna fir mujhe hi blame karega ki main uska khayal nahi rakhti.
Madhu thoda hairaan si palak utha kar boli
Madhu
Kaha se chai di usko? Jabse tu Dilli gayi thi tabse laad saab to ghar me tikte hi nahi. Dekh, aaj bhi ghar pe nahi hai.
Shanu ka haath adhe raste me hi ruk gaya. Pakoda plate me wapas gir gaya. Uski eyebrow ekdum narrow ho gayi, jaise andar hi andar kuch equation fit karne ki koshish kar rahi ho.
Shanu
Nahi hai? Matlab… subah to college bhi nahi gaya tha… ab ghar bhi nahi hai?
Madhu ekdum normal tone me shoulder ucha kar boli
Madhu
Haan, maine socha tere sath gaya hoga… ya dost ke yaha hoga. Waise bhi uska schedule to mujhe samajh hi nahi aata.
Shanu table se uth kar khidki ki taraf gyi. Uski aankhon me clearly chinta thi. Dil me ek hi sawal ghoom raha tha – Arjun aakhir hai kahan? Uski har din ki routine usse yaad thi, par aaj sab kuch alag tha.
Shanu ke mann me ek halki si anxiety uth rahi thi. Jaise puzzle ke tukde uske saamne bikhar gaye ho aur wo samajh nahi pa rahi thi ki kis taraf baithkar solve kare.

Subah ka waqt dhal kar shaam me badal raha tha. Ammu kitchen me khadi chai banate hue dudh ko ubalne se rok rahi thi. Khidki se jhaankti hui uski nazar ek do baar living room ki taraf chali gayi.
Waha Zaheer sofa par aaram se baitha tha. Uske chehre par ek alag hi chamak thi — aankhon me ek halka sa noor aur lips pe baar-baar apne aap hi muskaan aa ja rahi thi. Haath me ek kitaab thi, par clearly padhne se zyada wo khud ke khayalon me dooba tha.
Ammu ne chhupke se uske expressions notice kiye. Kal tak jo bhai subah uth kar chidhchidhata tha, ajj uska andaaz hi naya tha. Ekdum fresh, relaxed aur jaise duniya se khush. Ammu ke dil me sawal aya — aisa kya hua hai jo uske chehre par aaj itni satisfaction hai?
Chai ke cup me chai dalte waqt bhi uska dhyaan Zaheer par hi tha. Usne dekha, Zaheer ekdum halki si hansi ke saath apne baalon me haath pher raha tha, jaise kuch yaad karke khud hi khush ho gaya ho.
Ammu ke lips se halki si fufkni nikli… ajeeb lag raha tha ye badlav.
Usne apne aap se socha
Kal tak kitna udaas aur tension me tha… aur aaj ekdum badla-badla… kya secret hai iske peeche?
Phir Ammu ne apni maa ki taraf se awaz suni,
Chai ready hai kya?
Ammu ek jhatke se apne khayalon se bahar aayi, cup tray me rakhe, aur mann hi mann thoda aur curious ho gayi. Usne decide kiya ki aaj wo zaroor jaanegi ki Zaheer ke mood ke peeche raaz kya hai.
Sham thodi aur gehri ho chuki thi. Snacks khatam karke sab apne-apne kamron me chale gaye. Shanu ne apne mann ki baat maa ko kuch nahi batayi, par uske dimaag me ab bhi wahi baat ghoom rahi thi — Arjun ka ajib missing hona aur maa ka kehna ki wo ghar me rukta hi nahi.

Usne dheere se uthi aur seedha Arjun ke kamre ki taraf gayi. Darwaza band tha, lekin latch nahi laga tha. Usne halki si dhakkan ke saath darwaza khola.
Andar sab kuch bilkul waise hi tha jaise hamesha hota tha. Study table par books sahi se rakhkar bandh ki hui, chair neatly push ki gayi. Bed par folded blanket, aur pillow ekdum sahi jagah par. Almirah band thi, aur floor par ek bhi cheez bikri hui nahi thi.
Shanu ne thoda aage badhkar kamre ke andar nazar daali. Usse laga shayad koi clue milega ki Arjun kahan gaya hoga. Par nahi — har ek detail ekdum usual thi, jaise Arjun bas ek normal din ke baad nikla ho.
Shanu ne halki saans kheench kar apne lips press kiye. Uske dimaag me aur zyada sawal uthne lage. Agar sab normal hai to Arjun itna alag kyon behave kar raha hai? Wo apne routine se alag kyon ho gaya hai?
Usne dheere se room ka darwaza wapas band kiya aur andar hi andar decide kiya — ab use aur careful rehna hoga. Arjun apni zindagi me jo bhi kar raha hai, wo clearly sabko chhupakar kar raha hai. Aur uske liye sirf ek cheez important thi: uske bhai ko kisi musibat me padne se bachana.
Wo hallway me laut rahi thi, uske chehre par ek calm expression tha, lekin andar andar uske dimaag me determination aur chinta dono barabar me chal rahe the.

Shaam ke waqt ka ghar ekdum shaant tha. Kitchen ki khidki se halki hawa aa rahi thi jo chai ki khushboo ko aur faila rahi thi. Ammu tray lekar living room me aayi jahan Zaheer relaxed mood me sofa par baithe the, newspaper unke haath me khula hua tha.
Ammu unke saamne baith gayi aur casually chai serve karte hue baat chhedi.
Ammu
Aaj toh mausam bhi kitna accha hai, na? Baarish ki halki khushboo lag rahi hai… bilkul movie ke scene jaisi.
Zaheer ne muskurakar sir hila diya.
Haan, waise bhi August ka mausam aisa hi hota hai… thoda unpredictable.
Ammu ne thoda ruk kar fir casually bola.
Kal raat TV par ek purani film chal rahi thi… Rajesh Khanna wali. Kitne dil se acting karte the na wo log? Ab toh aajkal ke actors me wahi baat hi nahi rahi.
Zaheer halka sa hansa.
Sahi keh rahi ho. Unke dialogues me ek alag hi weight hota tha. Ab toh bas glamour aur show-off reh gaya hai.
Ammu ne ek aur sip chai ka liya, phir seedhe nazar milane ke bajaye casually baat ko aur ghuma diya.
Kabhi lagta hai ki humari life bhi movie jaisi hoti hai… kabhi drama, kabhi comedy… kabhi suspense.
Zaheer ne newspaper fold kar ke table par rakha aur ekdum usual andaaz me bola.
Life toh hamesha unpredictable hi hoti hai. Isi me maza hai.
Unke simple jawab sun kar Ammu ne halka sa forced smile diya. Usne ek lamha unhe dekha, jaise kuch samajhna chahti ho, par Zaheer ke chehre par bas ek calm, normal expression tha.
Camera jaise dheere se Ammu ke chehre par zoom karta — wo chai ki chuski le rahi thi, par uski aankhon me ek disappointment saaf dikh rahi thi. Itni baaton ke baad bhi usse Zaheer ke dil ki asli baat samajh nahi paayi thi.
Raat ka waqt tha. Dono behne apne-apne kamre me the. Ammu bed par side lamp ki roshni me diary band karke apna phone uthati hai aur Shanu ka naam screen par dikhai deta hai. Call connect hota hai.

Shanu
Ammu, arjun se baat hui kya aaj? Ghar me nahi aaya shaam ko… maa keh rahi thi din bhar nazar hi nahi aaya.
Ammu ne halki si sigh li.
Nahi, mujhe bhi phone nahi aaya uska. Subah college me bhi nahi dikha tha. Pata nahi kahan busy hai.
Shanu thoda chintit lag rahi thi.
Hamesha toh apna time table clear hota hai uska… aaj kal ajeeb ho gaya hai.
Ammu ne baat ko halka karne ki koshish ki.
Arjun aisa hi hai… kabhi kabhi apne world me ghus jata hai. Shayad koi practice hogi ya dost ke sath hoga.
Shanu ne ek lambi saans chhodi, jaise apne aap ko samjha rahi ho.
Haan… chalo dekhte hain. Tu bata, tere yahan sab theek?
Ammu ne muskurakar jawab diya.
Haan, baba apne papers me busy hain. Asma ki tests chal rahe hain… aur Zaheer bhi aaj khush mood me tha, poore din padhai karta raha.
Shanu ko thoda maza aaya.
Oho, Zaheer bhai ka mood accha tha matlab ghar ka mahaul light raha hoga.
Dono behne kuch general baatein karti rahi — ghar ki chhoti chhoti baatein, college ke gossip, Priya ke naye kapde, aur Taz ki hamesha ki shararat. Hansi mazak me time nikal gaya, lekin beech beech me Arjun ki kahani dono ke beech ek unsaid tension ki tarah chhupi hui thi.
Call cut hone ke baad Ammu thodi der tak phone ko dekhti rahi jaise uske dil me bhi ek khali si curiosity ho, ke Arjun aakhir kahan aur kis haal me hoga.

Raat ka waqt tha, ghar me gehri khamoshi thi. Sirf kahin door se ek do kutte bhaukne ki awaaz aa rahi thi. Ammu apne kamre me, chhoti si roshni bed side lamp se nikal rahi thi jo off karne se pehle hi uske sath neend me kho gayi thi. Uska saans lena bilkul aahista tha, kachi neend ka asar uske chehre par tha.
Tabhi, darwaza halki si khat khat ke saath khula. Dheere se kadam rakhta hua Arjun andar aaya, jaise andhera uska apna dost ho. Uske chehre par ek alag hi intensity thi, jaise din bhar ki mystery ab iss pal me khud ba khud clear hone wali ho.
Arjun bed ke paas aakar rukta hai, Ammu ko kuch pal tak dekhta hai. Uski aankhon me wo bhook thi jo shayad usne poore din daba rakhi thi. Bina waqt zaya kiye wo seedha uske upar let jata hai, apna body uske saath chipka kar. Ammu abhi bhi neend me thi, bas thoda sa hilaati hai.
Arjun apna face uske gale me ghusa deta hai, aur ek ke baad ek tez aur bhookhe jaise kisses dene lagta hai—us tarah se jaise raat ko koi insaan bhookha ho aur khana milte hi sidha tod padta hai. Uske lips ki garmi, uske shwas ki tez raftaar Ammu ki neend tod deti hai.
Ammu ne aankhen dhundhali si kholi. Uska dimaag abhi bhi half-sleep me tha, par Arjun ki body ka weight aur uske gale par lagataar kisses ne use pura hosh dilana shuru kar diya.
Ammu halki si awaz me, neend se bhari hui fasaahat ke saath bolti hai
Arjun… aa gaye tum... Kaha they??
Arjun rukta nahi, uska jawab bhi uske lips ki harakat me tha. Uska touch aur uski urgency, jaise din bhar ke saare raaz us pal me sirf ek hi cheez maang rahe ho—Ammu ke paas rehna.
Ammu ki aankhen ab thodi aur khul gayi thi, neend se bhari hui si, par Arjun ki ungliyan uske baazu pakad ke apna weight us par daale huye thi. Uske gale par lagataar garam, bhookhe kisses pad rahe the—kabhi uske collarbone ki taraf sarakte, kabhi uske jawline par.

Ammu thoda resist karte hue haath uske seene par rakhti hai
Ammu
Arjun… yeh kya kar raha hai tu… raat ke is waqt?
Arjun apna face uske cheek ke paas le jaakar fasaahat me bolta hai
Din bhar tujhse door raha… ab aur bardasht nahi hota, Ammu.
Uske words ke sath hi uski lips wapas uske neck pe lagti hain, aur iss dafa thoda zyada possessive, thoda zyada intense. Ammu ka dil tez dhadakne lagta hai. Wo apne hont dabakar resist karne ki koshish karti hai, par Arjun ka touch jaise uska saara control tod raha tha.
Ammu apna chehra side me ghumati hai, halki si awaz me bolti hai
Arjun… please…
Arjun rukta sirf ek pal ke liye, uski aankhon me gahrayi se dekhta hai. Uske chehre par wo bhook, wo pyar aur wo dard tha jo shayad usne poore din chhupaya tha. Fir bina kuch kahe uske lips Ammu ke lips par gir jate hain.
Pehle Ammu thodi stiff thi, uske hoth band the jaise rok rahi ho. Lekin Arjun ke pressure, uske hothon ki garmi aur uske haathon ki tight grip se wo dheere dheere pighalne lagti hai. Uska saans tez ho jata hai, aankhon me confusion ke sath ek ajeeb si attraction jag rahi thi.
Arjun apni ungliyan uske baalon me phansata hai, aur Ammu ka resistance dheere dheere khatam hone lagta hai. Ab uske hoth bhi thoda sa response dene lagte hain. Palak ke neeche se uske galo par ek laal rang ubharne lagta hai.
Arjun uske ear ke paas hushed tone me bolta hai
Bas ek pal ke liye… mujhe rok mat, Ammu.
Ammu ne aankhen band kar li. Uske andar ka darr aur uska dil dono ek dusre se lad rahe the. Uski ungliyan ab Arjun ke kandhe ko zor se pakad rahi thi—resist karne ke liye nahi, balki us touch ko jhelne ke liye......

To be continued...