14-02-2026, 01:12 AM
(This post was last modified: 14-02-2026, 05:37 AM by Celebrorn. Edited 8 times in total. Edited 8 times in total.)
Chapter 2
Shreya ne gaadi ko apne Barakhamba road wale office ki parking mein lagaya aur tez kadmo se office ki taraf badi. Aaj woh phir se late ho gayi thi. Boss is mauke ko chhodne wale nahi they.
Woh ek insurance company mein ek as an assistant manager kaam karti thi. Bhale hi job title mein 'manager' shabd juda hua tha, par asliyat mein uska kaam kafi administrative tha. Officers ki help karna, unki files ko final touch dena, aur corporate office se deal karna. Is role ne use office ke sabse senior head tak pahunch de rakhi thi.
Aaj se 13 saal pehle uske husband yahin isi office mein kaam kiya karte they. Unke jaane ke baad use yeh naukri 'compassionate grounds' par mil gayi thi. Yeh sochte hi Shreya ka muh utar sa gaya, kuch bhi compassionate nahi tha us situation ke baare mein, na unki death mein, aur na hi is naukri ko paane ke tareekon mein.
Kitna mushkil tha uske liye shuru shuru mein yeh job karna aur ek chhote se bachhe ko sambhalna. Ek ladki jo kabhi ghar se bahar nahi nikli thi, achanak corporate jagat ki bhagam bhagam ka hissa ban gayi thi.
Yahan na sirf use kaam seekhna pada, balki logon ko samajhna pada. Is male-dominated office mein use aksar yeh mehsoos hota tha ki logo ki nazrein us par thodi der zyada tik jaati. Log usmein kuch jyada hi dilchaspi lete. Kuch hi dino mein yeh achhi tarah samajh aa gaya tha ki har muskaan ka matlab professional nahi hota tha, aur har madad ke peeche niyat saaf nahi hoti.
Use apne aap ko mehfooz rakhna seekhna pada, poori tarah na sahi toh jahan tak mumkin tha.
Office mein ghuste hi security guard ne use good morning bola aur woh sar hilate hue jaldi se apni seat par pahuchi. Bag rakha bhi nahi tha ki uske saamne ki seat par baithe Rishabh ne uski taraf pareshaan hote hue dekha.
"Sir dhoond rahe they aapko." Rishabh ghabrate hue bola.
Shreya ne koi khaas reaction nahi diya aur aaram se apna bag rakha, "Acha..."
Rishabh usse kafi junior tha, aur kafi jyada shy aur introverted.
"Do baar puch chuke hain. Maine kaha main help kar deta hoon par unhone mana kar diya. Kafi nakush lag rahe they. Ma'am maine kuch gadbad toh nahi ki na?"
Uski baat sun kar Shreya ko thodi irritation hone lagi, use samajh nahi aata tha ki Rishabh itni jaldi ghabra kyun jaata tha.
"Itna nahi darte. Main handle kar lungi. Tumne kal wali files poori kari?"
"Haan... main raat late tak baitha tha." Usne Shreya ki table ki taraf ishaara kiya.
Shreya ne use ignore karte hue apne baal theek kiye aur boss ke cabin ki taraf chal padi. Shreya ko saaf ehsaas ho raha tha ki kuch nazrein uski saree aur chalne ke dhang par tiki hui thi, par woh unhe ignore karna seekh chuki thi.
Shreya ne ek bhari lakdi ke darwaze par knock karte hue halke se khola, "Sir, may I come in?"
Andar Boss phone par busy they par unhone Shreya ko haath ke ishaare se andar bualaya aur apni call jaari rakhi. Shreya andar aayi aur dheere se darwaze ko band kiya. Woh unke desk ke saamne jakar khadi ho gayi. Boss ke desk par rakhi unki nameplate mein unka naam 'Manish Kapoor' golden letters mein likha hua tha.
![[Image: image.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/mgRC4m8j/image.jpg)
Manish baat karte waqt laptop mein dekh rahe they, par beech-beech mein unki nazar Shreya ke chehre se hoti hui neeche tak jati aur phir wapis screen par laut aati. Shreya ko laga jaise woh kisi showroom mein rakhi numayish ki cheez ho.
Kuch der baad Manish ne phone rakha aur kursi par peeche hokar baith gaye.. "That was Corporate. Phir se ek naya issue, tumhare desk se... woh ladka, kya naam hai uska..."
"Rishabh..."
"Haan... Rishabh... use naukri se nikaalna padega." Manish ne baithe baithe apne haath mein pen ghumaya.
"Usne kuch galat nahi kiya hai." Shreya ne turant use defend kiya, woh achi tarah jaanti thi ki Manish ko bas mauka chahiye tha use dabane ke liye. "Main baat karti hoon Corporate se, un logon ko sahi se files padna bhi nahi aata."
"Aur tumhe bahut achhe se aata hai sab. Aakhir teacher jo itna achha mila tha." Manish ke chehre par ek smug si muskaan aayi.
"Main jayun?" Shreya ne dheere se poocha.
"Aaj kal kafi late aane lagi ho. Kya baat hai?" Manish ki aawaz achanak thodi strict ho gayi.
"Beech mein kahin construction work chal raha hai jisse traffic kafi kharaab ho jaata hai, par main kal se aur jaldi nikalne ki koshish karungi."
"Koshish nahi... time par hi aana hai. I can't show partiality in the office. Nahi toh mujhe disciplinary action lena padega."
Shreya ne apne honth daanton ke neeche dabate hue kaha, "Yes sir. Understood."
Manish kuch pal Shreya ko ghoorta raha aur phir achanak uske chehre ka tanav gayab ho gaya aur woh khada ho gaya. "Shreya, don't be upset."
Yeh Manish ka purana khel tha, pehle darr dikhayo, phir raham. Shreya unse aankhen nahi mila paa rahi thi. Itne saalon ke baad bhi woh us par poori tarah hawi hona achhe se jaante they.
"I am not upset." Shreya ki aawaz kisi tarah bahar nikli.
"Mujhe pata nahi chal raha kya. Waise aaj kafi sexy lag rahi ho is saree mein. Mere liye khaas pehni hai na?"
Manish desk ke doosri taraf aa gaya aur Shreya ki taraf kadam badane laga. Shreya ne turant ek-do kadam peeche le liye, "Yahan nahi sir... koi bhi aa sakta hai."
"Aaj tak aaya hai kya koi? It's our secret," Manish ne desk par tek lagate hue kaha, uski aankhon mein tharak saaf thi. "Toh phir... is weekend?"
Shreya ne sochte hue mana kiya, "Nahi sir, possible nahi hai. Main busy hoon."
Manish ke chehre ki smile gayab ho gayi, "Kafi busy rehti ho aaj kal. Kya hua, koi doosra jugaad dhoond liya hai kya?"
Yeh sawaal ek thappad ki tarah Shreya ko laga. Manish ki nazarein uske blouse par tiki hui thi.
"So... Saturday afternoon... we will have fun." Manish ne phir se commanding tone mein usse bola.
Shreya thoda sa hichkichayi aur phir dheere se boli, "Sir... weekend par Rohit ghar par hota hai. Bada ho gaya hai woh."
"Toh use bhej dena na kahin! Valentine Day hai waise bhi is weekend. Agar uski girlfriend hai toh use ghumane le jayega. Main sponsor kar dunga agar zaroorat hai toh."
"Nahi... aisi koi zaroorat nahi hai." Shreya ko unka ye offer achha nahi laga, "Bas woh ghar par... ab thoda odd lagta hai. Agar milna hi hai toh, bahar kahin..."
"Aree... nahi yaar. You know na, mujhe yeh cheap hotel types pasand nahi, kab kaun kahan secretly video kheech le. Pichhli baar gaye they toh bahut ganda sa laga tha, jaise kisi prostitute ko apne saath le jaa raha hoon."
Manish ke yeh shabd Shreya ke kaleje mein teer ki tarah chube. Ek pal ke liye mann kiya woh Manish ko... wahin... par woh bas apni mutthi kas paayi.
"Phir... aapke ghar?" Shreya ne taana maarte hue pucha.
"Pagal ho kya," Manish ek dam se jhallaya, "Meri biwi hai... daughter hai... servants hai... tumhe wahan le jakar marna hai kya."
Shreya ko uski is hypocrisy par gussa aa raha tha, uske ghar aur family ki izzat, izzat thi, aur Shreya ka ghar bas ek adda, jahan jab mann kare maze lene aa jayo.
"Please yaar... bahut din ho gaye ab toh. Maine itna control kiya hua na apne aap ko." Manish gidgidate hue bola.
"Theek hai... par yeh last time hai," Shreya ne haar maante hue kaha, uski aawaz tharrayi hui thi. "Iske baad hum strictly professional rahenge."
"Haan... dekhte hain woh sab." Manish ne laparwahi se kaha.
"Nahi aap pehle promise karo." Shreya ne zor de kar kaha.
"Maine bola na dekhte hain, baat karenge, promise."
Shreya achhe se jaante thi is promise ka koi matlab nahi tha.
Woh jaane ke liye mudi hi thi ki Manish ki excited si aawaz aayi, "Suno... yeh lo. Maine khaas tumhare liye bahar se mangwayi hai."
Manish ne ek chhota sa package Shreya ke haath mein thamaya, "Bahut expensive cream hai, isse saare hairs nikal jaate hai aur skin ekdam silky ho jaati hai. Tum Saturday se pehle ise laga lena, bahut maza aayega."
Shreya uski tharak se bhari aankhon mein dekh rahi thi. Manish abhi se tay kar chuka tha ki Saturday ko woh Shreya ke saath kya kya karne wala tha.
Shreya package ko pakde hue jaldi se cabin se bahar nikal gayi aur apne desk par jaate hue jaldi se package ko apne bag mein rakh liya. Usne apne desk par baithte hue apna focus apne computer par lagane ki koshish kari. Par uske chehre par frustation saaf dikh rahi thi.
![[Image: 121.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/hjxtfBGb/121.jpg)
"Kya hua ma'am. Sir ne kuch kaha kya." Doosri taraf se Rishabh ki dari hui si aawaz aayi.
Shreya ne ek gehri saans bhari, uska gussa ab Rishabh par nikalne ko tayyar tha. "Corporate... Corporate wale na bilkul Choo..." Rishabh ki shakal dekhte hue usne apne aap ko roka. "Gadhe hain bilkul. Tum call lagayo unhe, aur is baar tum baat karoge, main nahi!"
Rishabh ghabrate hue bola, "Main? Meri nahi sunenge."
"Rishabh! Agar tum logo ko aise hi apne upar hawi hone doge na, toh tumhara kabhi kuch nahi ho sakta." Shreya ko yeh bolte bolte ehsaas hua ye baat Rishabh ko nahi, apne aap ko chilla kar bol rahi thi.
Rishabh ne dheere se haan mein sar hilaya.
"Chalo... call lagayo. Mujhe bhi conference in kar lena. Par bologe tum." Shreya ne kafi authoritatively use kaha.
Jaise hi Rishabh phone ke buttons daba raha tha, Shreya apna sar hilate hue sochne lagi. Ek Rishabh tha jo hamesha ghabraya hua rehta tha, aur ek uska beta, Rohit, jo kisi ko bhi kuch bhi kehne mein hichakta nahi tha. Kaash woh ek ki thodi si energy doosre mein transfer karke dono ko balance kar paati.
Shreya ne gaadi ko apne Barakhamba road wale office ki parking mein lagaya aur tez kadmo se office ki taraf badi. Aaj woh phir se late ho gayi thi. Boss is mauke ko chhodne wale nahi they.
Woh ek insurance company mein ek as an assistant manager kaam karti thi. Bhale hi job title mein 'manager' shabd juda hua tha, par asliyat mein uska kaam kafi administrative tha. Officers ki help karna, unki files ko final touch dena, aur corporate office se deal karna. Is role ne use office ke sabse senior head tak pahunch de rakhi thi.
Aaj se 13 saal pehle uske husband yahin isi office mein kaam kiya karte they. Unke jaane ke baad use yeh naukri 'compassionate grounds' par mil gayi thi. Yeh sochte hi Shreya ka muh utar sa gaya, kuch bhi compassionate nahi tha us situation ke baare mein, na unki death mein, aur na hi is naukri ko paane ke tareekon mein.
Kitna mushkil tha uske liye shuru shuru mein yeh job karna aur ek chhote se bachhe ko sambhalna. Ek ladki jo kabhi ghar se bahar nahi nikli thi, achanak corporate jagat ki bhagam bhagam ka hissa ban gayi thi.
Yahan na sirf use kaam seekhna pada, balki logon ko samajhna pada. Is male-dominated office mein use aksar yeh mehsoos hota tha ki logo ki nazrein us par thodi der zyada tik jaati. Log usmein kuch jyada hi dilchaspi lete. Kuch hi dino mein yeh achhi tarah samajh aa gaya tha ki har muskaan ka matlab professional nahi hota tha, aur har madad ke peeche niyat saaf nahi hoti.
Use apne aap ko mehfooz rakhna seekhna pada, poori tarah na sahi toh jahan tak mumkin tha.
Office mein ghuste hi security guard ne use good morning bola aur woh sar hilate hue jaldi se apni seat par pahuchi. Bag rakha bhi nahi tha ki uske saamne ki seat par baithe Rishabh ne uski taraf pareshaan hote hue dekha.
"Sir dhoond rahe they aapko." Rishabh ghabrate hue bola.
Shreya ne koi khaas reaction nahi diya aur aaram se apna bag rakha, "Acha..."
Rishabh usse kafi junior tha, aur kafi jyada shy aur introverted.
"Do baar puch chuke hain. Maine kaha main help kar deta hoon par unhone mana kar diya. Kafi nakush lag rahe they. Ma'am maine kuch gadbad toh nahi ki na?"
Uski baat sun kar Shreya ko thodi irritation hone lagi, use samajh nahi aata tha ki Rishabh itni jaldi ghabra kyun jaata tha.
"Itna nahi darte. Main handle kar lungi. Tumne kal wali files poori kari?"
"Haan... main raat late tak baitha tha." Usne Shreya ki table ki taraf ishaara kiya.
Shreya ne use ignore karte hue apne baal theek kiye aur boss ke cabin ki taraf chal padi. Shreya ko saaf ehsaas ho raha tha ki kuch nazrein uski saree aur chalne ke dhang par tiki hui thi, par woh unhe ignore karna seekh chuki thi.
Shreya ne ek bhari lakdi ke darwaze par knock karte hue halke se khola, "Sir, may I come in?"
Andar Boss phone par busy they par unhone Shreya ko haath ke ishaare se andar bualaya aur apni call jaari rakhi. Shreya andar aayi aur dheere se darwaze ko band kiya. Woh unke desk ke saamne jakar khadi ho gayi. Boss ke desk par rakhi unki nameplate mein unka naam 'Manish Kapoor' golden letters mein likha hua tha.
![[Image: image.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/mgRC4m8j/image.jpg)
Manish baat karte waqt laptop mein dekh rahe they, par beech-beech mein unki nazar Shreya ke chehre se hoti hui neeche tak jati aur phir wapis screen par laut aati. Shreya ko laga jaise woh kisi showroom mein rakhi numayish ki cheez ho.
Kuch der baad Manish ne phone rakha aur kursi par peeche hokar baith gaye.. "That was Corporate. Phir se ek naya issue, tumhare desk se... woh ladka, kya naam hai uska..."
"Rishabh..."
"Haan... Rishabh... use naukri se nikaalna padega." Manish ne baithe baithe apne haath mein pen ghumaya.
"Usne kuch galat nahi kiya hai." Shreya ne turant use defend kiya, woh achi tarah jaanti thi ki Manish ko bas mauka chahiye tha use dabane ke liye. "Main baat karti hoon Corporate se, un logon ko sahi se files padna bhi nahi aata."
"Aur tumhe bahut achhe se aata hai sab. Aakhir teacher jo itna achha mila tha." Manish ke chehre par ek smug si muskaan aayi.
"Main jayun?" Shreya ne dheere se poocha.
"Aaj kal kafi late aane lagi ho. Kya baat hai?" Manish ki aawaz achanak thodi strict ho gayi.
"Beech mein kahin construction work chal raha hai jisse traffic kafi kharaab ho jaata hai, par main kal se aur jaldi nikalne ki koshish karungi."
"Koshish nahi... time par hi aana hai. I can't show partiality in the office. Nahi toh mujhe disciplinary action lena padega."
Shreya ne apne honth daanton ke neeche dabate hue kaha, "Yes sir. Understood."
Manish kuch pal Shreya ko ghoorta raha aur phir achanak uske chehre ka tanav gayab ho gaya aur woh khada ho gaya. "Shreya, don't be upset."
Yeh Manish ka purana khel tha, pehle darr dikhayo, phir raham. Shreya unse aankhen nahi mila paa rahi thi. Itne saalon ke baad bhi woh us par poori tarah hawi hona achhe se jaante they.
"I am not upset." Shreya ki aawaz kisi tarah bahar nikli.
"Mujhe pata nahi chal raha kya. Waise aaj kafi sexy lag rahi ho is saree mein. Mere liye khaas pehni hai na?"
Manish desk ke doosri taraf aa gaya aur Shreya ki taraf kadam badane laga. Shreya ne turant ek-do kadam peeche le liye, "Yahan nahi sir... koi bhi aa sakta hai."
"Aaj tak aaya hai kya koi? It's our secret," Manish ne desk par tek lagate hue kaha, uski aankhon mein tharak saaf thi. "Toh phir... is weekend?"
Shreya ne sochte hue mana kiya, "Nahi sir, possible nahi hai. Main busy hoon."
Manish ke chehre ki smile gayab ho gayi, "Kafi busy rehti ho aaj kal. Kya hua, koi doosra jugaad dhoond liya hai kya?"
Yeh sawaal ek thappad ki tarah Shreya ko laga. Manish ki nazarein uske blouse par tiki hui thi.
"So... Saturday afternoon... we will have fun." Manish ne phir se commanding tone mein usse bola.
Shreya thoda sa hichkichayi aur phir dheere se boli, "Sir... weekend par Rohit ghar par hota hai. Bada ho gaya hai woh."
"Toh use bhej dena na kahin! Valentine Day hai waise bhi is weekend. Agar uski girlfriend hai toh use ghumane le jayega. Main sponsor kar dunga agar zaroorat hai toh."
"Nahi... aisi koi zaroorat nahi hai." Shreya ko unka ye offer achha nahi laga, "Bas woh ghar par... ab thoda odd lagta hai. Agar milna hi hai toh, bahar kahin..."
"Aree... nahi yaar. You know na, mujhe yeh cheap hotel types pasand nahi, kab kaun kahan secretly video kheech le. Pichhli baar gaye they toh bahut ganda sa laga tha, jaise kisi prostitute ko apne saath le jaa raha hoon."
Manish ke yeh shabd Shreya ke kaleje mein teer ki tarah chube. Ek pal ke liye mann kiya woh Manish ko... wahin... par woh bas apni mutthi kas paayi.
"Phir... aapke ghar?" Shreya ne taana maarte hue pucha.
"Pagal ho kya," Manish ek dam se jhallaya, "Meri biwi hai... daughter hai... servants hai... tumhe wahan le jakar marna hai kya."
Shreya ko uski is hypocrisy par gussa aa raha tha, uske ghar aur family ki izzat, izzat thi, aur Shreya ka ghar bas ek adda, jahan jab mann kare maze lene aa jayo.
"Please yaar... bahut din ho gaye ab toh. Maine itna control kiya hua na apne aap ko." Manish gidgidate hue bola.
"Theek hai... par yeh last time hai," Shreya ne haar maante hue kaha, uski aawaz tharrayi hui thi. "Iske baad hum strictly professional rahenge."
"Haan... dekhte hain woh sab." Manish ne laparwahi se kaha.
"Nahi aap pehle promise karo." Shreya ne zor de kar kaha.
"Maine bola na dekhte hain, baat karenge, promise."
Shreya achhe se jaante thi is promise ka koi matlab nahi tha.
Woh jaane ke liye mudi hi thi ki Manish ki excited si aawaz aayi, "Suno... yeh lo. Maine khaas tumhare liye bahar se mangwayi hai."
Manish ne ek chhota sa package Shreya ke haath mein thamaya, "Bahut expensive cream hai, isse saare hairs nikal jaate hai aur skin ekdam silky ho jaati hai. Tum Saturday se pehle ise laga lena, bahut maza aayega."
Shreya uski tharak se bhari aankhon mein dekh rahi thi. Manish abhi se tay kar chuka tha ki Saturday ko woh Shreya ke saath kya kya karne wala tha.
Shreya package ko pakde hue jaldi se cabin se bahar nikal gayi aur apne desk par jaate hue jaldi se package ko apne bag mein rakh liya. Usne apne desk par baithte hue apna focus apne computer par lagane ki koshish kari. Par uske chehre par frustation saaf dikh rahi thi.
![[Image: 121.jpg]](https://i.postimg.cc/hjxtfBGb/121.jpg)
"Kya hua ma'am. Sir ne kuch kaha kya." Doosri taraf se Rishabh ki dari hui si aawaz aayi.
Shreya ne ek gehri saans bhari, uska gussa ab Rishabh par nikalne ko tayyar tha. "Corporate... Corporate wale na bilkul Choo..." Rishabh ki shakal dekhte hue usne apne aap ko roka. "Gadhe hain bilkul. Tum call lagayo unhe, aur is baar tum baat karoge, main nahi!"
Rishabh ghabrate hue bola, "Main? Meri nahi sunenge."
"Rishabh! Agar tum logo ko aise hi apne upar hawi hone doge na, toh tumhara kabhi kuch nahi ho sakta." Shreya ko yeh bolte bolte ehsaas hua ye baat Rishabh ko nahi, apne aap ko chilla kar bol rahi thi.
Rishabh ne dheere se haan mein sar hilaya.
"Chalo... call lagayo. Mujhe bhi conference in kar lena. Par bologe tum." Shreya ne kafi authoritatively use kaha.
Jaise hi Rishabh phone ke buttons daba raha tha, Shreya apna sar hilate hue sochne lagi. Ek Rishabh tha jo hamesha ghabraya hua rehta tha, aur ek uska beta, Rohit, jo kisi ko bhi kuch bhi kehne mein hichakta nahi tha. Kaash woh ek ki thodi si energy doosre mein transfer karke dono ko balance kar paati.


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