Adultery AZTARAAB

[Greenwood]

Update 2



Bengaluru ki subah thi.
Khidki ke parde se chhankar aati dhoop dheere-dheere bedroom mein phail rahi thi. Bahar sadak par gaadiyon ka shor shuru ho chuka tha, lekin Reyansh ke liye duniya abhi bhi kuch minute aur ruk sakti thi.
Uska alarm baj raha tha.
Tring... Tring... Tring...
Reyansh ne aankhein khole bina haath badhaya aur alarm band kar diya.
Do second ki khamoshi.
Phir usne doosra alarm laga diya.
Aur phir kambal apne upar kheench liya.
Lekin zindagi mein kuch log aise hote hain jo aapki neend ki izzat nahi karte.
Aur unmein se ek ka naam tha Shalu.
Ding-Dong!
Reyansh ne aankhein kholi.
Darwaze ki taraf dekha.
Phir ghadi ki taraf.
Reyansh: "Itni subah kaun aa gaya?"
Darwaze ki ghanti dobara baji.
Ding-Dong! Ding-Dong!
Reyansh uthkar baitha aur apne baal theek karne ki ek nakaam koshish ki.
Reyansh: "Aa raha hoon! Darwaza todne ka contract mila hai kya?"
Woh darwaze tak pahuncha aur khola.
Saamne Shalu khadi thi. Ek haath mein sabziyon ka bag aur doosre mein apna purse.
Usne Reyansh ko dekha.
Phir uske bikhre baalon ko.
Phir uske peeche bedroom ki taraf dekha.
Shalu: "Good morning, sir."
Reyansh: "Good morning."
Shalu: "Soyi hui thi kya, aapki zindagi?"
Reyansh ne use dekha.
Reyansh: "Kyun?"
Shalu: "Aapko dekhkar lag raha hai abhi-abhi janam hua hai."
Reyansh ne ek pal uski taraf dekha, phir darwaze se hat gaya.

Woh kitchen ki taraf chali gayi.
Reyansh darwaze par khada use jaate hue dekhta raha.
Reyansh: "Ek din main bhi tumse badla loonga."
Kitchen se awaaz aayi.
Shalu: "Pehle bed se toh badla le lo, sir!"
Reyansh ne sar hilaya.
Reyansh: "Is ghar mein meri koi izzat hi nahi hai."
Phir woh khud hi hans diya.
Kam se kam subah ki shuruaat boring nahi thi.


Kuch der baad Reyansh naha-dhokar kitchen mein aaya. Shirt ki sleeves aadhi mudi hui thi aur baal ab insaan jaise lagne lage the.

Shalu nashta taiyaar kar rahi thi.
Reyansh: "Coffee bani?"
Shalu: "Haan."
Reyansh: "Achhi wali?"
Shalu ne palatkar use dekha.
Shalu: "Nahi, sir. Aapke liye toh maine kal wali hi garam kar di."
Reyansh chup ho gaya.
Shalu ne coffee ka cup uski taraf badha diya.
Shalu: "Lijiye. Aaj cheeni thodi kam hai."
Reyansh ne ek sip liya.
Reyansh: "Achhi hai."
Shalu: "Kal aapne kaha tha zyada meethi hai."
Reyansh: "Toh?"
Shalu: "Aaj kam ki toh keh rahe hain achhi hai. Kal zyada ki toh bhi pee gaye. Aapko coffee chahiye ya bas haath mein cup lekar baithna hai?"
Reyansh ne cup neeche rakha.
Reyansh: "Shalu, tumhare andar ek bahut achhi quality hai."
Shalu ne dilchaspi se dekha.
Shalu: "Kya?"
Reyansh: "Tum insaan ko bolne ka mauka diye bina uski beizzati kar deti ho."
Shalu hans padi.
Shalu: "Aapse hi seekha hai."
Reyansh ne coffee uthayi aur dining table ki taraf chala gaya.
Nashta karte waqt uska phone bajne laga.
Office se call tha.
Usne call receive ki aur seedha kaam ki baat par aa gaya.
Reyansh: "Good morning. Haan, proposal mil gaya. Main presentation dekh lunga. Bas final changes bhej dena, phir hum client ko share kar denge."
Do minute baat hui.
Call khatam karke usne phone table par rakh diya.
Shalu plates rakh rahi thi.
Shalu: "Sir, aap office mein bhi itni hi English bolte ho?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: "Nahi. Kabhi-kabhi Kannada mein bhi daant deta hoon."
Shalu: "Mujhe toh laga English bolne se salary badh jaati hogi."
Reyansh hans diya.
Reyansh: "Aisa hota toh main ab tak London mein hota."
Shalu bhi muskura di.
Kuch pal baad woh apne kaam mein lag gayi.
Reyansh ne nashta khatam kiya, laptop bag uthaya aur darwaze ki taraf badha.
Reyansh: "Shalu, main nikal raha hoon. Lunch ke liye kuch bana lena."
Shalu: "Ji, sir."
Reyansh: "Aur haan, coffee achhi thi."
Shalu ne bina palte jawab diya.
Shalu: "Kal aur achhi banaungi. Bas aap kal time par uth jaana."
Reyansh darwaze par ruk gaya.
Reyansh: "Itni badi demand?"
Shalu: "Koshish karungi ki chhoti kar doon."
Reyansh muskurate hue ghar se nikal gaya.
Uske jaane ke baad Shalu ne dining table saaf ki.
Uski nazar kuch pal Reyansh ke laptop bag par padi, jo woh saath le jaana bhool gaya tha.
Woh turant bag lekar darwaze ki taraf bhaagi.
Shalu: "Sir! Laptop bag!"
Reyansh lift ke paas khada tha.
Usne bag dekha, phir apna khaali haath.
Reyansh: "Great. Aaj office mein laptop ke bina presentation deta."
Shalu ne bag uske haath mein pakdaya.
Shalu: "Aapko dekhkar lagta hai aapka office aapko salary nahi, sambhalne ka bhatta deta hoga."
Reyansh ne bag liya.
Reyansh: "Tumhari promotion pakki hai."
Shalu: "Pehle salary toh badhaiye."
Lift ka darwaza khula.
Reyansh andar gaya aur Shalu ko ishara karte hue bola.
Reyansh: chutte nahi hai, kal aana.
Shalu kuch pal wahin khadi rahi, phir hanskar apne kaam par laut gayi.


Office mein din aam tha.

Kuch emails, ek chhoti meeting aur campaign ke final changes.
Reyansh apne desk par baitha laptop par kaam kar raha tha. Uske saamne coffee ka cup tha, jo subah wali coffee se bilkul alag thi.
Iska taste bhi alag tha.
Ismein office ki majboori ghuli hui thi.
Reyansh: "Yeh coffee hai ya garam paani mein kisi ne apni feelings daal di hain?"
Paas se guzarti uski colleague Neha hans padi.
Neha: "Tumhe har cheez mein problem hoti hai."
Reyansh: "Har cheez mein nahi. Sirf un cheezon mein jo meri zindagi mein zabardasti aati hain."
Neha: "Jaise yeh coffee?"
Reyansh: "Aur Monday."
Neha hanskar uske saamne wali chair par baith gayi.
Neha aur Reyansh ek hi team mein kaam karte the. Dono ki achhi banti thi. Office mein woh aksar ek-doosre se mazaak kar lete the, aur zaroorat padne par kaam mein madad bhi karte the.
Neha ne uske laptop ki taraf dekha.
Neha: "Kaam ho gaya?"
Reyansh: "Almost."
Neha: "Achha hai. Waise tumse ek baat poochun?"
Reyansh ne laptop se nazar nahi hatayi.
Reyansh: "Pooch lo. Agar personal hui toh jawab dene ke paise lagenge."
Neha: "Tumhari har baat mein paise kyun aa jaate hain?"
Reyansh: "Corporate aadmi hoon. Emotions ka GST alag lagta hai."
Neha muskurayi, lekin agle hi pal uska andaaz thoda sanjeeda ho gaya.
Neha: "Reyansh, ek baat kahun? Bura mat maanna."
Reyansh ne ab uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: "Tum pehle hi bol chuki ho. Ab bura maanunga toh tum kahogi warning de di thi."
Neha ne halki si saans li.
Neha: "Reyansh, chhe mahine ho gaye hain. Ab toh aage badho. Duniya kitni khoobsurat hai, aur tum abhi sirf thirty ke aas-paas ho. Zindagi mein abhi bahut kuch hai."
Reyansh ke chehre ki muskurahat dheere se gayab ho gayi.
Koi bada reaction nahi.
Bas usne nazar laptop ki screen par kar li.
Kuch seconds tak woh chup raha.
Neha ko bhi apni baat ka ehsaas hua. Shayad woh achhe iraade se keh rahi thi, lekin kuch baatein sahi waqt par hi achhi lagti hain.
Neha: "Mera matlab... main bas chahti hoon ki tum khush raho."
Reyansh ne ek chhoti si muskurahat laane ki koshish ki.
Reyansh: "Main theek hoon, Neha."
Neha: "Mujhe pata hai. Bas kabhi-kabhi lagta hai tum apne aap ko bahut busy rakhte ho."
Reyansh: "Busy rehna buri baat hai kya? Kam se kam kaam toh waqt par ho jaata hai."
Neha kuch kehne lagi, lekin Reyansh ne laptop band kar diya.
Reyansh: "Waise client ka response aaya? Kal tumne bola tha unhe revised design bhejna hai."
Neha samajh gayi ki woh baat badalna chahta hai.
Usne bhi uska saath diya.
Neha: "Haan, mail aaya hai. Do chhote changes hain. Main tumhe forward kar deti hoon."
Reyansh: "Perfect. Thanks."
Neha uthkar jaane lagi, phir ek pal ruki.
Neha: "Aur Reyansh..."
Usne nazar uthayi.
Neha: "Jab kabhi baat karne ka mann ho, you can talk to me. Advice nahi dungi. Promise."
Reyansh ke chehre par is baar ek asli, chhoti si muskurahat aayi.
Reyansh: "Tumse advice nahi milegi toh phir baat karne ka fayda kya?"
Neha hans padi.
Neha: "Idiot!"
Reyansh: "Professional language, please. Office hai."
Neha apni hansi rokti hui wahan se chali gayi.
Reyansh ne dobara laptop khola.
Screen par emails the. Pending tasks the. Calendar mein agle din ki meeting thi.
Sab kuch apni jagah par tha.
Lekin kuch pal pehle kahi gayi baat uske dimaag mein ab bhi ghoom rahi thi.
Ab toh aage badho.
Usne coffee ka cup uthaya.
Ek sip li.
Chehra bana liya.
Reyansh (khud se): "Is coffee se toh koi bhi aage badh jaaye."
Cup neeche rakhkar woh kaam mein lag gaya.
Aur dheere-dheere uska dhyaan doosri cheezon mein bant gaya.
Filhaal, uske liye itna kaafi tha.


Shaam ke kareeb saat baj rahe the.

Reyansh office se nikla toh hawa mein halki si thandak thi. Bengaluru ki sadkon par roz ki tarah traffic tha. Horn ki awaazein, logon ki jaldi, signal par rukti gaadiyan.
Reyansh apni gaadi mein baitha aur ghar ki taraf nikal pada.
Raste mein uska phone baja.
Screen par naam chamka.
ARSHAD CALLING...
Reyansh ne Bluetooth connect kiya.
Reyansh: "Haan, bol."
Arshad: "Zinda hai?"
Reyansh: "Nahi. Bhoot bol raha hoon."
Arshad: "Achha! Toh ek kaam kar. Apne office ke HR ko dara de. Shayad teri jagah mujhe naukri mil jaaye."
Reyansh: "Tujhe naukri chahiye ya meri jagah?"
Arshad: "Dono mein se jo free mile."
Reyansh hans diya.
Reyansh: "Kya hua?"
Arshad: "Kuch nahi. Socha dost ki khairiyat pooch loon."
Reyansh: "Tujhe meri khairiyat ki fikr kab se hone lagi?"
Arshad: "Jab se tune pichhli baar chai ke paise khud diye the. Mujhe laga tu kisi serious problem mein hai."
Reyansh: "Tu paise dene ke liye phone nahi kar sakta tha?"
Arshad: "Bilkul kar sakta tha. Lekin phir tu phone nahi uthata."
Reyansh: "Sahi baat hai."
Arshad: "Waise kahan hai?"
Reyansh: "Ghar ja raha hoon."
Arshad: "Ghar jaakar kya karega?"
Reyansh: "Khana khaunga."
Arshad: "Phir?"
Reyansh: "TV dekhunga."
Arshad: "Phir?"
Reyansh: "So jaunga."
Do second ki khamoshi rahi.
Phir Arshad ki awaaz aayi.
Arshad: "Bhai, tu zindagi jee raha hai ya phone ka battery-saving mode chala raha hai?"
Reyansh zor se hans diya.
Reyansh: "Kya chahiye tujhe?"
Arshad: "Chai."
Reyansh: "Toh pee le."
Arshad: "Akela?"
Reyansh: "Haan, kyun? Chai ke saath rishta lekar baithna hai?"
Arshad: "Tu aa raha hai ya main teri gaadi ke saamne let jaun?"
Reyansh: "Drama band kar."
Arshad: "Location bhej raha hoon. Dus minute mein pahunch. Aur haan, paise lekar aana."
Reyansh: "Kyun?"
Arshad: "Aaj main emotional support dunga. Uska bill alag hai."
Call kat gaya.
Reyansh ne sar hilaya.
Reyansh: "Pagal aadmi."
Lekin uske chehre par muskurahat thi.
Usne gaadi ka rukh ghar ki taraf se modkar us jagah kar diya, jahan Arshad ne location bheji thi.

Sadak ke kone par ek chhoti si chai ki tapri thi.

Do taraf plastic ki chairs, saamne ek purana sa counter, aur uske peeche ubalti chai ki badi si ketli.
Kuch log office se lautte hue chai pee rahe the. Ek aadmi phone par zor-zor se baat kar raha tha. Do college students kisi baat par behas kar rahe the.
Aur beech mein Arshad khada tha.
Ek haath mein chai ka glass, doosre haath se hawa mein aise ishare kar raha tha jaise saamne wala uski baat nahi, desh ka bhavishya galat samajh raha ho.
Arshad: "Bhai, main tumhe simple si baat samjha raha hoon. Agar chai mein adrak kam hai, toh usko adrak wali chai bolna customer ke saath dhokha hai!"
Chai wala use dekh raha tha.
Chai wala: "Bhai, paanch rupaye ki chai mein kitna adrak daalun?"
Arshad ne ek pal socha.
Phir apni ungli uthayi.
Arshad: "Yeh tumhara business model hai. Main tumhari creativity par sawaal nahi utha raha."
Chai wala: "Toh?"
Arshad: "Toh ek biscuit aur de do."
Paas khada ek aadmi hans pada.
Tabhi Reyansh wahan pahunch gaya.
Usne gaadi park ki aur kuch door khada hokar Arshad ki harkatein dekhi.
Reyansh: "Isko chai pilane bulaya tha ya tapri ka audit karne?"
Arshad ne palatkar dekha.
Uski aankhein chamak uthin.
Arshad: "Aakhir aa hi gaya! Dosto, taaliyan ho jaayein. Is aadmi ne apni marzi se ghar ke alawa bhi kisi jagah kadam rakha hai!"
Reyansh uske paas aaya.
Reyansh: "Tu har jagah itna hi bolta hai?"
Arshad: "Nahi. Ghar par meri ammi bolti hain. Main sirf beech-beech mein apni izzat bachane ki koshish karta hoon."
Reyansh: "Aur bach jaati hai?"
Arshad ne apni shirt theek ki.
Arshad: "Izzat nahi bachti, lekin koshish ka record bahut achha hai."
Dono hans pade.
Arshad ne chai wale ki taraf ishara kiya.
Arshad: "Bhai, ek aur chai. Is baar adrak wali."
Chai wala bina kuch bole chai banane laga.
Reyansh ne Arshad ko dekha.
Reyansh: "Kitni chai pee chuka hai?"
Arshad: "Yeh sawaal mat pooch."
Reyansh: "Kyun?"
Arshad: "Doctor ne mana ki hai."
Reyansh: "Toh phir pee kyun raha hai?"
Arshad ne chai ka glass uthaya aur ek chhota sa sip liya.
Arshad: "Doctor ne zindagi mein bahut si cheezein mana ki hain. Main usko apna dushman thodi bana loon."
Reyansh ne hanskar sar jhuka liya.
Yahi Arshad tha.
Ek baat ko seedha bolna uske liye shayad duniya ka sabse mushkil kaam tha. Woh baat ke chaaron taraf itne chakkar kaat leta ki saamne wala asli baat bhool jaaye.
Lekin uski ek aur aadat thi.
Woh logon ke chehre padhta tha.
Aur apne dost ke chehre ko toh khaas taur par.
Dono tapri ke paas khadi ek khaali table par baith gaye.
Chai aa gayi.
Arshad ne pehla sip liya, phir aankhein band karke sar hilaya.
Arshad: "Wah!"
Reyansh ne use dekha.
Reyansh: "Ab kya hua?"
Arshad: "Adrak sahi hai."
Reyansh: "Pichhli wali mein bhi yahi adrak tha."
Arshad: "Nahi, usmein meri umeedein kam thi."
Reyansh hans pada.
Arshad ne uski taraf ungli dikhayi.
Arshad: "Bas! Yehi chahiye tha."
Reyansh: "Kya?"
Arshad: "Teri hansi. Pichhle kuch din se tu aise baat karta hai jaise har sentence ke end mein full stop nahi, tala laga ho."
Reyansh ki muskurahat halki pad gayi.
Usne chai ka glass table par rakh diya.
Reyansh: "Kuch nahi hai, yaar. Bas office ka kaam."
Arshad ne apni kursi par peeth tika di.
Arshad: "Achha. Office ka kaam."
Usne aise sar hilaya jaise use duniya ki sabse badi khabar mil gayi ho.
Arshad: "Toh phir main bhi ek kaam karta hoon. Apni agency mein resign kar deta hoon. Phir hum dono ghar par baithkar office ke kaam ki yaad mein aansu bahaayenge."
Reyansh: "Teri agency tujhe resign karne se pehle hi nikaal degi."
Arshad: "Dekha? Ab aaya na asli Reyansh bahar!"
Woh muskuraya.
Lekin is baar usne mazaak ko aage nahi badhaya.
Kuch pal dono chupchaap chai peete rahe.
Sadak par ek bus guzri. Hawa ke saath dhool ka halka sa jhonka aaya. Tapri wala kisi naye customer ke liye chai banane laga.
Arshad ne apni nazar saamne sadak par rakhi.

Arshad: "Waise, aaj ka din kaisa tha?"

Reyansh: "Theek tha."
Arshad: "Office mein sab theek?"
Reyansh: "Haan."
Arshad: "Ghar par?"
Reyansh: "Haan."
Arshad ne dheere se uski taraf gardan ghumayi.
Arshad: "Aur tu?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Yeh sawaal baaki sawaalon jaisa nahi tha.
Ismein na mazaak tha, na koi chhupa hua lecture.
Bas ek dost tha, jo jawaab sunna chahta tha.
Reyansh kuch pal chup raha.
Reyansh: "Main bhi theek hoon, Arshad."
Arshad ne uski aankhon mein dekha.
Phir ek lambi saans lekar apni kursi par seedha baith gaya.
Arshad: "Theek hai."
Reyansh ko shayad umeed thi ki woh ab aur sawaal karega.
Lekin Arshad ne jeb se phone nikala aur screen dekhne laga.
Arshad: "Waise ek baat bata."
Reyansh: "Ab kya?"
Arshad: "Tere paas cash hai?"
Reyansh ne use ghura.
Reyansh: "Kyun?"
Arshad: "Chai wale ko paise dene hain."
Reyansh: "Toh tu de."
Arshad ne apni dono jebein check ki.
Phir shirt ki pocket.
Phir dobara trousers ki jeb.
Aakhir mein usne ek purana sa das rupaye ka note nikala aur use aise dekha jaise kisi purane dost se mulaqat ho gayi ho.
Arshad: "Mil gaya!"
Reyansh ne note dekha.
Reyansh: "Bill kitna hai?"
Arshad: "Chalis."
Reyansh: "Baaki tees?"
Arshad: meri pocket mein hath daal
Reyansh: ab yeh kya nayi backchodi hai
Arshad: dalna sake
Reyansh hath dalta hai or bolta hai chhii
Sale kutte!! yeh kya hai
Chai wala: sir bill
Arshad: sale meri chaddi fati padi hai, or tere ko bill chahiye yakeen nahi to saab se puchhle,
Chai wala Reyansh ki taraf dekhta hai or Reyansh uth kar muh banata hua chai Wale se Pani lekar hath dhone lagta hai
Arshad ne bade aaraam se Reyansh ki taraf haath badha diya.
Arshad: "Dosti mein hisaab?"
Reyansh ne jeb se paise nikale aur table par rakh diye.
Reyansh: "Teri dosti mein toh CA rakhna padega."
Arshad: "Rakh le. Lekin uski salary tu dena."
Dono hans pade.
Aur is baar Reyansh ki hansi thodi der tak ruki nahi.

Chai khatam ho chuki thi.

Arshad aur Reyansh ab tapri se thoda door footpath ke paas khade the. Shaam dheere-dheere raat mein badal rahi thi.
Arshad: "Chal, dinner karte hain."
Reyansh: "Nahi, ghar jaunga."
Arshad: "Kyun?"
Reyansh: "Khana bana hoga."
Arshad: "Kisne banaya?"
Reyansh: "Shalu ne."
Arshad: "Toh phir toh jaana hi padega. Bechari ne khana banaya hai, aur tu yahan chai ke saath zindagi guzaar raha hai."
Reyansh ne gaadi ki chaabi ghumayi.
Reyansh: "Kal milte hain."
Arshad ne use dekha.
Arshad: "Kal busy hai?"
Reyansh: "Pata nahi."
Arshad: "Theek hai. Jab free ho, bata dena."
Reyansh ne sar hilaya.
Woh gaadi ki taraf badha hi tha ki Arshad ki awaaz aayi.
Arshad: "Oye, Reyansh!"
Woh palta.
Arshad ne apne dono haath pockets mein daale hue the. Chehre par wahi halki si shararat thi, lekin awaaz pehle se zara naram.
Arshad: "Har baar theek hone ka certificate dena zaroori nahi hota, samjha?"
Reyansh chup raha.
Arshad ne kandhe uchkaye.
Arshad: "Kabhi mood kharab ho toh seedha bol dena. Main doctor nahi hoon, lekin bakwaas karne mein specialist hoon. Shayad kaam aa jaaye."
Reyansh ke chehre par ek halki si muskurahat aayi.
Reyansh: "Teri bakwaas se mood theek hone ke bajaye aur kharab ho gaya toh?"
Arshad: "Toh kam se kam tujhe ek nayi problem mil jaayegi. Purani ko bhoolne ka mauka."
Reyansh hans diya.
Phir kuch pal dono ek-doosre ko dekhte rahe.
Reyansh: "Thanks, yaar."
Arshad ne turant apna chehra badla.
Aankhein badi kar li, ek haath seene par rakha aur doosre se hawa mein ishara kiya.
Arshad: "Ruko! Ruko! Yeh kya sun liya maine? Reyansh ne thanks bola? Koi video bana raha hai kya? Kal ko yeh khud chai ke paise bhi de dega!"
Reyansh: "Main wapas le raha hoon."
Arshad: "Nahi! Ab toh yeh historical moment hai. Main is par article likhunga. Headline hogi: Ek Pathar-Dil Aadmi Aur Uska Das Rupaye Ka Ehsaan."
Reyansh hans-hanskar uske kandhe par halka sa mukka maar gaya.
Reyansh: "Chal, nikal bhosdike
Arshad: "Ja raha hoon, ja raha hoon. Lekin yaad rakhna, agli chai teri."
Reyansh: "Bilkul nahi."
Arshad: "Dosti khatam!"
Reyansh: "Theek hai."
Arshad do kadam chala, phir palatkar aaya.
Arshad: "Achha, aadhi teri, aadhi meri?"
Reyansh: "Nikal, lode
Arshad zor se hans pada aur haath hilata hua doosri taraf chala gaya.
Reyansh use jaate hue dekhta raha.
Phir apni gaadi mein baith gaya.
Engine start hua.
Radio apne aap chal pada.
Kisi purane gaane ki dhun gaadi mein bhar gayi.
Reyansh ne volume thoda badha diya.
Aaj ka din kuch khaas nahi tha.
Office mein kaam tha. Ek baat thi jo use achhi nahi lagi. Kuch pal aise the jinhe woh nazarandaaz karna chahta tha.
Lekin phir ek purana dost mila.
Chai mili.
Hansi mili.
Aur bina kisi sawaal ka jawaab diye bhi, thoda halka mehsoos hua.
Shayad har din zindagi badalne ke liye nahi hota.
Kuch din bas itna karte hain ki insaan agle din tak pahunch jaaye.
Reyansh ne signal par gaadi roki.
Uske phone par ek message aaya.
ARSHAD: Ghar pahunchkar message kar dena.
Doosra message turant aaya.
ARSHAD: Aur haan, kal chai ke paise mat bhoolna.
Reyansh ne screen dekhi aur muskurate hue type kiya.
REYANSH: Kal se dosti khatam.
Arshad ka reply aa gaya.
ARSHAD: Theek hai. Purane dost ko block karne se pehle uske paise de dena.
Reyansh hans diya.
Signal green hua.
Gaadi aage badh gayi.
Aur Bengaluru ki bheed mein, apni hi raftaar se chalta hua Reyansh ek aur shaam ghar laut raha tha.
Uski zindagi abhi bhi wahi thi.
Lekin aaj ki shaam mein ek dost ki hansi jud gayi thi.
Kabhi-kabhi, filhaal ke liye itna hi kaafi hota hai.

Raat ke kareeb nau baj rahe the.

Reyansh ghar pahuncha toh kitchen se khane ki khushboo aa rahi thi. Shalu apna bag sambhaal rahi thi.
Shalu: "Aa gaye, sir?"
Reyansh: "Nahi. Main toh bas apni shakal dikhane aaya hoon."
Shalu ne use dekha.
Shalu: "Aaj mood achha lag raha hai."
Reyansh ne chaabi table par rakhi.
Reyansh: "Kyun? Kal bura tha?"
Shalu: "Kal aapne mujhse teen baar poocha tha ki khana kab banega."
Reyansh: "Aaj nahi poochunga."
Shalu ne rahat ki saans lene ka natak kiya.
Shalu: "Malik ka shukr hai."
Reyansh hans pada.
Reyansh: "Khana laga do. Bahut bhook lagi hai."
Shalu: "Ji, sir."
Woh kitchen mein chali gayi.
Reyansh ne phone nikala. Shivani ka message tha.
Shivani: Sunday ko lunch yaad hai na? Is baar koi bahana nahi.
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Yaad hai, shivani
Phone table par rakhkar woh dining chair par baith gaya.
Kuch der baad Shalu ne khana laga diya.
Shalu: "Aaj kya hua, sir? Office mein koi achhi khabar mili?"
Reyansh ne pehla niwala liya.
Reyansh: "Nahi. Dost se mila tha."
Shalu: "Achha hai. Dost se milte rehna chahiye."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: "Tumhare dost hain?"
Shalu ne bartan uthate hue jawab diya.
Shalu: "Haan, sir. Do-teen hain."
Reyansh: "Unse milti ho?"
Shalu: "Kabhi-kabhi. Sab apne kaam mein busy rehte hain."
Reyansh: "Toh kabhi mil liya karo. Kaam toh chalta rahega."
Shalu ne ek pal ke liye use dekha.
Phir muskurakar boli.
Shalu: "Ji, sir."
Woh bartan lekar kitchen mein chali gayi.
Reyansh khana khata raha.
Aaj usne Shalu se koi badi baat nahi ki thi. Bas ek aam si salah di thi.
Lekin kabhi-kabhi insaan doosron ko woh baat keh deta hai, jo khud bhi sunna chahta hai.
Khana khatam karke Reyansh ne plate kitchen counter par rakhi aur apne bedroom mein chala gaya.
TV chalu kiya.
Kuch der channel badalta raha, phir ek comedy show par ruk gaya.
Screen par log hans rahe the.
Reyansh bhi hans diya.
Raat dheere-dheere aage badhti rahi.
Aur us din, sone se pehle, usne apne phone par Arshad ka message dobara dekha.
ARSHAD: Kal chai ke paise mat bhoolna.
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
REYANSH: Kal chai meri taraf se. Ab khush?
Kuch seconds baad jawab aaya.
ARSHAD: Mujhe pata tha. Dosti mein jaan honi chahiye, aur dost ki jeb mein paisa.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakha aur hans diya.
Phir light band kar di.
Kamre mein andhera chha gaya.
Bahar Bengaluru abhi bhi jaag raha tha.
Aur Reyansh?
Woh apni zindagi ke ek aur aam din ko peeche chhodkar so gaya.
Kuch din yaad rehne ke liye nahi aate. Kuch din bas yaad dilane aate hain ki hum abhi bhi jee rahe hain.