ARJUN vs ZAHEER

[Greenwood]

Update 87




Sham ka waqt tha. Shanu ghar aayi toh drawing room abhi bhi shaant tha. Madhu kitchen me bartan samet rahi thi, Pratap akhbaar padhe baitha tha. Arjun apna bag sofa par phenka aur sidha apne room ki taraf chala gaya, jaise din bhar ka hero ab thoda relax lena chahta ho.
Lekin uske peechhe Shanu tez kadam uthate hue aayi. Uske chehre par abhi bhi gussa tha, aankhon me wohi intense sawal jo din bhar se dabaye hue the.
Shanu
Arjun!
Arjun ne palat kar dekha, uske tone se hi samajh gaya ki ab ek lecture start hone wala hai. Wo door ke frame par aaram se tik gaya, shirt ke button kholte hue muskaan ke saath bola.
Arjun
Aha, madam shuru ho gayi. Ab bolo… kya case file karne aayi ho mujhpe?
Shanu ne haath kamar par rakhe.
Shanu
Case file karna chahiye tha tujhe dekh kar. Arjun, yeh kya nautanki thi? Dhol nagade, gulal, bheed, DJ… pura college mela ban gaya tha. Ye koi election ka form bharne ka tareeqa hota hai?
Arjun ne sir jhuka kar hansi dabaayi, jaise uske taunts uske liye ek comedy show ho.
Arjun
Aur kya karta? Silent entry leta aur form bhar ke aa jata? Tab kaun yaad rakhta Arjun ko? Politics me shuruat hi dhamaka hone chahiye, warna log samajhte hain yeh bhi bheed ka hissa hai.
Shanu ne aankhen ghumayi, gussa aur badh gaya.
Shanu
Mujhe ye sab stunt lag raha hai. Tumhe pata bhi hai college ke teachers kya soch rahe honge? Aur students… unko tumhari leadership chahiye ya tumhara drama?
Arjun ne casual andaaz me apna bag uthaya aur bed par daal diya. Uska tone abhi bhi halki shararat bhara tha.
Arjun
Drama nahi Shanu… impression. Aur mujhe laga tumhe to khushi hogi ki tumhare bhai ko pura college support kar raha hai.
Shanu
Support? (usne tikhhi awaaz me kaha) Ya bas tamasha dekhne aaye the? Tumhe lagta hai sab tumhari talwar ki tarah khinch jaayenge? Arjun, neta banna sirf bheed jodna nahi hota… zimmedari bhi hoti hai.
Arjun ek second ke liye rukha, uski aankhon me thoda sa sparkle tha jaise Shanu ke words usse challenge kar rahe ho. Phir wo dheere se hansa aur bola.
Arjun
Relax, behen. Tumhara bhai khud se badi zimmedari kisi ko nahi deta. Tum tension mat lo. Abhi to bas shuruat hai… asli khel abhi baaki hai.
Shanu uske tone se aur irritate ho gayi. Usne finally haath utha kar bola.
Shanu
Bas Arjun. Tum kabhi bhi kisi baat ko serious nahi lete. Tumhe lagta hai tum invincible ho, lekin ek din yeh overconfidence tumhe bahut mehenga padega.
Arjun ne halki muskaan ke saath uski baat sun li, lekin jawab nahi diya. Wo bas apne bed par let gaya jaise uski har baat ko hawa me uda raha ho.
Arjun bed par aada let kar phone scroll kar raha tha, jaise Shanu ke lecture ka uspar zara bhi asar na hua ho. Lekin Shanu abhi ruki nahi thi. Usne darwaza pakad kar band kar diya aur phir seedhe uske paas aayi. Aankhon me wohi gussa aur dard, dono mila hua.

Shanu
Aur ek baat… tujhe pata bhi hai aaj college me kya hua? Woh gunde jo crowd me the… woh seedha mere paas aaye the. Mujhe dhakka dene ki koshish ki. Agar main sambhalti nahi to…
Arjun ne apna phone side me rakha aur utha, uski aankhen ab thodi tez chamak rahi thi.
Arjun
Unhe maloom nahi tha ki tu meri behen hai, Shanu. Agar hota… to wo tujhe chhoo bhi nahi sakte the. Tujhe darne ki zarurat nahi thi.
Shanu ka gussa ab phat pada.
Shanu
Yeh kya bakwaas hai, Arjun? Matlab agar main teri behen na hoti to unke liye sab allowed hota? Tum jaante ho tum kya bol rahe ho? Tere liye meri izzat sirf isliye safe hai kyunki tu Arjun hai? Aur baaki ladkiyan? Unki koi value nahi?
Arjun ek second ke liye chup ho gaya. Uska chehra ab bhi confident tha, lekin Shanu ke shabd uske liye ek thoda tough blow the.
Phir Shanu ka tone aur bhi brittle ho gaya, uske chehre par aankhon ke kinaare bhar aaye.
Shanu
Aur ek baat aur… tumhe lagta hai mujhe dikhayi nahi diya? Saare ladke milkar mere peeche haath se signal kar rahe the, hans rahe the… mera mazak uda rahe the. Sabko laga main bhi tere show ka hissa hoon. Tumhe pata bhi hai mujhe kitni insult feel hui?
Arjun ka expression pehle thoda soft hua, phir usne khud ko sambhala aur phir se apna wohi half-smile banayi.
Arjun
Logo ka kaam hai hasna, chillana. Tum unki wajah se weak feel karogi to wo jeet gaye. Shanu, tum meri behen ho… tumhe samajhna hoga ki jab main spotlight me aata hoon to tum bhi uska hissa ban jaati ho.
Shanu uski baat sun kar aur bhi zyada chilayi.
Shanu
Bas Arjun! Tumhe sirf apni image ki parwah hai. Tumhe is baat ki parwah hi nahi ki meri izzat ke saath khel hua. Tum hamesha mazak bana kar nikal jaate ho… lekin ek din tumhe samajh aayega ki sab kuch tumhari mardo-wali ego aur power ke aas paas nahi ghoomta.
Shanu ne yeh keh kar darwaza zor se band kiya aur room se nikal gayi.
Arjun ek pal ke liye uske words ko sochta raha. Uska chehra ab bilkul neutral tha—na regret, na guilt. Sirf wohi soch jisme har criticism ek aur challenge ban jata tha.
Usne apne phone ka screen dobara unlock kiya, party ke messages khole aur halki muskaan ke saath dheere se bola…
Arjun
Yeh toh bas shuruat hai.

Dining table par sab shant baithe the. Madhu rotiyan sek kar la rahi thi, Shanu plate me daal dal rahi thi, aur Arjun bilkul relaxed mood me, jaise kuch hua hi na ho, chair pe ek haath rakh kar baitha tha.
Pratap ne thoda waqt chup rehne ke baad apni nazar Arjun par daali. Uski awaaz aaj zyada serious thi, woh fatherly tone jisme pyaar bhi tha aur ek kasak bhi.
Pratap
Beta… humse to puch leta. Politics kya chiz hai, ye sab hum achhi tarah jaante hain. Agar tujhe jaana hi tha, hum tujhe rokte nahi. Jo karna chahta hai usme tera sath dete. Lekin ek baat samajh nahi aati… apna football career chhod kar tu is taraf kyun ja raha hai?
Table par ek chhota sa silence cha gaya. Shanu ne chhuri-chammach rok diye, Madhu ne palat kar Arjun ki taraf dekha.
Arjun bas halka sa hans pada, wohi beparwah confident smile ke saath. Usne daal ka ek bite liya aur plate me aaraam se baitha raha, jaise question uske liye koi badi baat hi na ho.
Arjun
Football career kabhi mera tha hi nahi, Papa. Ground par main khelta tha… par asli khel to yaha hai. Jahan power hai, jahan asli game hai. Aur mujhe wahi jeetna hai.
Pratap kuch seconds tak uska chehra dekhta raha. Arjun ke tone me wohi thandak thi jo usse aur zyada intense banati thi. Pratap ne saans andar kheench kar chhodi, phir apni plate ki taraf nazar ghumayi.
Usne aage kuch nahi bola. Dinner ki khamoshi wapas laut aayi. Sirf bartan ki khanak aur fan ki ghoomti awaaz sunayi deti rahi.
Arjun ne apni smile zara aur gehri kar di, jaise usne conversation pe ek invisible full stop laga diya ho.
Raat ko ghar khamosh tha. Sab apne-apne kamre me chale gaye the. Pratap newspaper khol kar baith gaya tha, Shanu apne room me diary likh rahi thi.

Madhu dheere se Arjun ke kamre ke darwaze par aayi. Knock nahi kiya, bas halki si ungli se darwaza dhakka diya aur andar aa gayi. Arjun bed par aada letkar mobile scroll kar raha tha, jaise koi tension hi na ho.
Madhu uske paas aayi aur bed ke kone par baith gayi. Uska chehra soft tha, lekin andar chinta gehri thi.
Madhu
Beta… politics me gaye, theek hai. Lekin jo kuchh aaj college me hua, dhol, nagade, juloos… yeh sab dekh kar dil ghabra gaya. Tu samajhta hai na, politics koi khel nahi hai. Yeh galiyon ka safar football ground se zyada khatarnak hai.
Arjun ne phone side par rakha aur sidha apni maa ki taraf dekha. Uski aankhon me wohi calm confidence tha, jo uski baaton ko aur gehra bana deta tha.
Arjun
Maa, aapko yaad hai jab main bachpan me football khelne jaata tha aur pehli baar ground pe gira tha? Aapne kaha tha, girne se daro mat, kyunki jo khiladi girne se darte hain, wo kabhi champion nahi bante.
Madhu ne haan me sar hilaaya, uske chehre pe woh purani yaad ki softness aa gayi.
Arjun thoda seedha baith gaya, apne haath se maa ka haath pakad kar uske palm pe ungli ghumate hue baat aage badhata hai.
Arjun
Maa, abhi bhi wahi ground hai… bas khel badal gaya hai. Pehle ball ke peeche daudta tha, ab logon ke peeche daudna hai. Pehle goal karne ke liye takraata tha, ab power ke liye. Aur champion wahi banta hai jo dare bina khelta hai.
Madhu ki aankhon me aansuon ki nami aa gayi. Arjun ke tone me ek ajeeb sa determination tha, jaise wo maa ko bas samjha nahi raha, balki apna raasta justify kar raha ho.
Arjun aur nazdeek hokar halka sa muskara diya.
Arjun
Aapne hi sikhaya tha na maa… jo bhi karna, champion banna. Football ho ya politics… main haarne ke liye khelne nahi utarta.
Madhu bas uska chehra dekhti reh gayi. Uske dil me darr tha, lekin Arjun ki baaton me jo jazba tha, usne uske muh se aage shabd nikalne hi nahi diye. Usne bas apna haath Arjun ke sar par rakh diya, jaise dua de rahi ho.
Arjun ne aankhen band kar li aur ek lamhe ke liye maa ke haath ki warmth me khud ko ghula diya.

Raat ka waqt tha. Zaheer terrace par kursi dal kar baitha hua tha, thoda soch me dooba. Thandi hawa chal rahi thi. Usne dekha, Ammu chup-chaap neeche se pani ka glass le kar aa rahi thi. Uske kadam dheere the, jaise man me kuch bojh ho.
Zaheer
Ammu… tu abhi tak jaagi hai?
Ammu ne ek chhoti si muskaan banayi, lekin aankhon me tension saaf thi. Usne glass apne bhai ke samne rakha aur terrace ki railing se tek lagakar khadi ho gayi.
Zaheer uski taraf dekh kar serious tone me bola.
Zaheer
Main dekh raha tha… aaj din bhar tu zyada chup-chap rahi. Us gunde ne jo harkat ki, usne tujhe dara diya na?
Ammu pal bhar ke liye uski aankhon me dekhi, phir nazar jhuka li. Usne kuch kaha nahi. Sirf ek halki si haan jaisi neck movement ki. Zaheer ne samjha ki uski behen abhi bhi uss badtameezi ke scene se pareshaan hai.
Zaheer ne gehra saans liya, apne tone me thoda protectiveness bhar kar bola.
Zaheer
Tu tension mat le… main hoon na. Kal se dekh, un jaise log college ke aas paas bhi nahi dikhenge. Main sab dekh lunga.
Ammu ne apne hoth bhinche aur chhupakar apna dil dabaya. Dar sach me tha, lekin gunde ka nahi. Wo darr toh bas ek excuse tha jo zaheer ko dikha diya. Uske dil ke andar asli khauf Arjun ke liye tha… uski speeches, uska julus, uska naya safar. Usne socha, agar yeh rasta usko nuksaan pohcha de toh? Agar kal ko unhi gundon se, ya us raajneeti ki aag se, Arjun khud hi jakhmi ho gaya toh?
Ammu ke dil me yeh baat tufan ki tarah chal rahi thi, lekin usne apne chehre par kuch nahi dikhne diya. Sirf ek mask banaya aur halki si awaaz me kaha.
Ammu
Haan Bhai… mujhe pata hai, aap ho toh kuch nahi hoga.
Zaheer ne pyaar se uske sir pe haath rakha, jaise assurance de raha ho.
Zaheer
Tu bas tension chhod de. Main hoon na.
Ammu ne chhupakar apne dil ko samjhane ki koshish ki. Lekin uske andar ek ajeeb si bechaini thi… jaise kisi ki rooh se judi hui ho. Arjun ka khayal uske mann se ja hi nahi raha tha.
Raat ka waqt tha. Ammu apne kamre ki roshni kam kar ke bistar ke kinare baithi thi. Khidki se bahar chandni aa rahi thi, aur uske chehre par ek udaasi jhalak rahi thi. Aaj uski aankhon me wo pyaar bhara intezaar nahi tha jo roz Arjun ke liye hota tha. Aaj uske dil me ek aur darr tha, ek aur kasak.

Uska bistar ab bhi usi tarah sajha hua tha jaise wo chahti thi ki Arjun kabhi bhi aa jaye aur uske paas baith jaye. Lekin iss raat ka intezaar alag tha. Aaj wo apne cuddle ke liye nahi, balki usse samjhane ke liye ruki thi.
Ammu ne apne dil me khud se kaha
Arjun… tu samajh kyu nahi raha. Tu saaf dil ka insaan hai, tujhe is rajniti ke khel me kya lena. Yaha sirf dhokha hai, dushmani hai, khatra hai. Tu… tu is jagah ke layak hi nahi.
Usne apni diary kholi aur likhne lagi, jaise Arjun ke liye chitthi likh rahi ho. Har line me ek kasak thi.
Tu khud ko samajhta hai strong… par tere dil ki safai hi teri kamzori banegi. Jo log taaliyan baja rahe hain na teri speeches par, wahi kal ko tujhe neeche kheench lenge. Tujhe football ke ground par hona chahiye, jahan tera asli rang dikhai deta hai, na ki in kursiyon aur slogans ke beech.
Ammu ne pen rakh diya aur diary band kar di. Usne ek gehra saans liya aur apna chehra takiye me daba liya. Uske dil me bas ek hi khwaish thi – ki Arjun aaj aaye aur wo usse rokte-rokte rula de, keh de ki is raaste se laut jaa.
Wo intezaar kar rahi thi, jaise har awaaz par uske dil me ek chingari jagti. Darwaze ki halki si khat-khat, hawaa ki sarsarahat… sab me usse lagta Arjun aaya. Lekin waqt guzar raha tha aur Arjun nahi aa raha tha.
Ammu ki aankhen nam ho gayi. Usne dil hi dil me dua ki god
Arjun ko samjhade. Uska dil saf hai, usse yeh raasta barbaad kar dega.
Aur wo apni chadar me lipat kar chup ho gayi… par uski raat ka intezaar ab bhi zinda tha.


Us purani anonymous building ka hall phir se jagmagata tha, lekin is baar mahaul aur bhi bhari tha. Bade bade table par rakhhe kagaz, files aur posters scattered the, cigarette ke dhuen se kamra dhundhla lag raha tha. Ek bade se pankhe ki khad khad awaaz aur beech beech me kursiyon ke khisakne ki kharak, dono cheezein andar ka tanav aur badhati thi.
Ek aadmi file kholta hai aur aankh utha kar sabko dekhta hai
Arjun Singh ka form officially submit ho gaya hai. Ab is baat ko halki tarah lene ka sawal hi paida nahi hota.
Sab ke chehre par ek chinta ki lakeer ubhar aati hai. Ek ne haath jod kar kaha
Aap sab khud dekh rahe ho uski speechon ka asar. Us ladke ne sirf college nahi, pura sheher ka youth kheenchna shuru kar diya hai. Agar usne zara sa bhi time nikala aur campaign me jaan daali… election uske haath me hoga.
Dusre ne zyada gusse bhare lehje me bola
Yeh ladka aam contestant nahi hai. Iske paas ek junoon hai jo logon ko khinchta hai. Aur sabse badi baat, iska record bilkul saaf hai. Iske khilaf koi bhi purana daag nahi milta.
Sab ek dusre ki taraf dekha-dekhi karte rahe. Khauf sirf ek wajah se tha – Arjun ke saamne khada hone wala koi strong naam unke paas nahi tha.
Tabhi ek senior member, jo hamesha chup rehta tha, aage jhuk kar dheere se bola
Agar humne abhi koi strong contender nahi nikala… to Arjun Singh ki jeet tai hai. Aur uske baad…......
Aakhri bench pe baitha ek aadmi cigarette ka dhuaan bahar phenkta hai aur bas itna kehta hai
Yeh ladka sirf election nahi ladega… yeh pura khel palat dega. Aur agar humne rokne ki koshish nahi ki… to kal hum sab sirf darshak ban kar rah jayenge.
Room me bhaari hawa aur tez ho gayi, jaise har ek ko samajh aa gaya ho – khatra samne hi khada hai