Adultery AZTARAAB

[Greenwood]

Update 06


Bengaluru | Wednesday | Subah 7:18 AM
Bengaluru ki subah apni raftaar pakad chuki thi.
Sadkon par office jaane walon ki bheed badhne lagi thi. Kahin chai ki dukaan par pehli chai ban rahi thi, toh kahin log apni cab ka intezaar karte hue phone par meeting ke messages padh rahe the.
Aur ek residential apartment ki teesri manzil par Reyansh abhi bhi apne bistar se dosti nibha raha tha.
Alarm saat baje baja tha.
Usne band kar diya.
Saat bajkar das minute par dobara baja.
Usne phir band kar diya.
Saat bajkar pandrah minute par phone ki screen chamki.
Shivani Calling...
Reyansh ne call uthaya, lekin aankhein band hi rakhi.
Reyansh: "Haan, Didi."
Shivani: "So raha hai?"
Reyansh: "Nahi, meditation kar raha hoon."
Shivani: "Bistar par?"
Reyansh: "Modern meditation hai. Ismein insaan apne saare kaam bhool jaata hai."
Shivani: "Achha. Toh meditation khatam karke doodh le aana."
Reyansh ki aankhein khul gayin.
Reyansh: "Kya?"
Shivani: "Mummy ka phone aaya tha. Woh pooch rahi thi ki tune kal raat khana khaya ya nahi. Maine kaha, haan, usne khaya hoga."
Reyansh: "Toh doodh ka kya connection hai?"
Shivani: "Koi connection nahi. Bas yaad aaya ki bachpan mein tu doodh peene se bhaagta tha. Socha aaj bhi bhaag raha hoga."
Reyansh: "Didi, tum subah-subah meri beizzati karne ke liye phone karti ho?"
Shivani: "Nahi. Kabhi-kabhi shaam ko bhi karti hoon."
Reyansh hans diya.
Reyansh: "Theek hai. Main uth raha hoon."
Shivani: "Good boy."
Reyansh: "Main tees saal ka hoon."
Shivani: "Mummy ke liye abhi bhi wahi ho jo bachpan mein doodh se bhaagta tha."
Call kat gaya.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakha aur chhat ko dekhne laga.
Uske paas aaj bhi wahi ghar tha, wahi routine aur wahi subah uthne ki pareshaani.
Bas farq itna tha ki ab use uthne ke liye koi doosra nahi kehta tha.
Khud ko hi kehna padta tha.
Aur khud ki baat maan lena, duniya ka sabse mushkil kaam tha.

Subah 7:42 AM | Reyansh Ka Flat
Reyansh bathroom se nikla toh kitchen se bartan takrane ki awaaz aa rahi thi.
Shalu aa chuki thi.
Woh gas par chai rakhkar nashta bana rahi thi. Reyansh ne fridge se paani nikala aur ek glass peene ke baad kitchen ke darwaze par aakar khada ho gaya.
Reyansh: "Shalu, ek baat batao."
Shalu: "Ji?"
Reyansh: "Tum subah itni energetic kaise rehti ho?"
Shalu ne palatkar use dekha.
Shalu: "Kaam karna hota hai, sir."
Reyansh: "Mujhe bhi office jaana hota hai. Phir main aisa kyun hoon?"
Shalu: "Aap raat ko phone chalaate rehte honge."
Reyansh ne bhaunhein chadhaayin.
Reyansh: "Tumhe kaise pata?"
Shalu: "Kal raat jab main bartan rakhne aayi thi, tab bhi aap phone par the."
Reyansh: "Woh important kaam tha."
Shalu: "Ji. Reel dekhna bhi important hota hai. Dimaag ko aaram milta hai."
Reyansh use dekhne laga.
Reyansh: "Tum mujhe judge kar rahi ho?"
Shalu: "Nahi, sir. Aapki aadaton ka observation kar rahi hoon."
Reyansh: "Kyun?"
Shalu ne chai cup mein daali.
Shalu: "Taaki aapko kabhi sudharne ka mauka mile."
Reyansh chup raha
Shalu: "Aap chai pi lijiye, sir. Thandi ho jayegi."
Reyansh cup lekar dining table par aa gaya.
Kuch hi der mein nashta tayyar tha.
Aaj Shalu ne poha banaya tha. Reyansh ne plate apni taraf kheench li.
Reyansh: "Aaj kuch special hai?"
Shalu: "Poha."
Reyansh: "Woh toh dikh raha hai."
Shalu: "Toh phir pooch kyun rahe hain?"
Reyansh ne ek niwala liya.
Reyansh: "Tumhare andar bahut potential hai."
Shalu: "Kis cheez ka?"
Reyansh: "Mujhe chup karane ka."
Shalu: "Uske liye toh mujhe zyada mehnat bhi nahi karni padti."
Reyansh hans pada.
Nashta khatam karke usne apna bag uthaya aur darwaze ki taraf badha.
Shalu: "Sir, aaj jaldi aayenge?"
Reyansh: "Kyun?"
Shalu: "Aapka ek parcel aaya hai. Reception par rakha hai."
Reyansh: "Achha, le aaunga."
Shalu: "Aur haan, kal ka lunchbox dhokar rakh diya hai."
Reyansh darwaze par ruka.
Reyansh: "Thank you, Shalu."
Shalu ne bas muskurakar sir hila diya.
Reyansh bahar nikla aur lift ki taraf badh gaya.
Uske flat ke bahar ek chhota sa corridor tha. Dono taraf flats ke darwaze, deewaron par lage naam aur beech mein lift.
Roz woh isi raaste se nikalta tha.
Aksar bina kisi se baat kiye.
Lekin aaj lift ke paas pahunchte hi uski mulaqat building ke pehle permanent character se ho gayi.
Ek aadmi, haath mein newspaper, chehre par aisi gambhirta jaise poori building ka annual budget usi ke kandhon par ho.
"Good morning, Mr. Reyansh!"
Reyansh ne use pehchaan liya.
Reyansh: "Good morning, Mr. Bhatia."
Yeh the Prakash Bhatia, building ki residents' association ke secretary.
Aur building mein rehne wale logon ke mutabik, unke paas har cheez ka ek rule tha.
Chahe woh parking ho, lift ho, ya kisi ke darwaze ke bahar rakha hua shoe rack.
Bhatia: "Aapki gaadi kal raat thodi line se bahar khadi thi."
Reyansh ne ek pal socha.
Reyansh: "Achha?"
Bhatia: "Ji. Maine photo bhi li hai."
Reyansh ne unki taraf dekha.
Reyansh: "Sir, aap photo kheench rahe the ya wildlife photography kar rahe the?"
Bhatia ne newspaper neeche kiya.
Bhatia: "Rules sabke liye barabar hote hain."
Reyansh: "Bilkul. Agli baar gaadi seedhi khadi karunga."
Lift aa gayi.
Dono andar gaye.
Bhatia ne floor ka button dabaya.
Phir ek aur baat yaad aayi.
Bhatia: "Aur haan, kal raat aapke flat se thodi awaaz aa rahi thi."
Reyansh ne unki taraf dekha.
Reyansh: "TV tha, sir."
Bhatia: "Awaaz thodi kam rakha kijiye."
Reyansh: "Ji."
Do second ki khamoshi.
Reyansh: "Aapko neend nahi aayi thi kya?"
Bhatia ne use dekha.
Lift ka darwaza khula.
Reyansh bahar nikal gaya.
Reyansh: "Have a nice day, sir!"
Bhatia kuch bolne ke liye munh kholte, usse pehle lift ka darwaza band ho gaya.
Reyansh parking ki taraf badhte hue khud se bola:
"Building mein ghar kam hain, departments zyada."

Subah 8:03 AM | Apartment Lobby
Reyansh parking se apni gaadi nikaalne hi wala tha ki phone vibrate hua.
Arshad ka message tha.
Arshad: Kal ghar pahunch gaya tha?
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Nahi. Abhi bhi cafe mein baitha hoon.
Arshad: Bill bhar diya tha na?
Reyansh: Tujhe apni izzat ki chinta hai ya paise ki?
Arshad: Paise ki. Izzat toh tu kal hi le gaya.
Reyansh muskuraya aur phone rakh diya.
Office jaane se pehle use reception se parcel lena tha.
Woh lobby mein wapas aaya toh reception ke paas ek ladki khadi thi.
Haath mein kuch papers aur doosre haath mein chhota sa brown envelope. Woh receptionist se dheemi awaaz mein baat kar rahi thi.
Ladki: "Excuse me, yeh maintenance form yahin submit karna hai?"
Receptionist ne uski taraf dekha.
Receptionist: "Ji, madam. Flat number likh dijiye."
Ladki ne pen uthaya.
Tabhi ek paper uske haath se phisal kar neeche gir gaya.
Reyansh uske paas se guzar raha tha. Usne paper uthakar aage badha diya.
Reyansh: "Excuse me. Yeh aapka hai."
Ladki ne turant paper le liya.
Ladki: "Thank you."
Uski awaaz dheemi thi.
Reyansh: "You're welcome."
Bas itni si baat.
Reyansh waha se nikalne laga, lekin tabhi receptionist ne use awaaz di.
Receptionist: "Sir, ek minute!"
Reyansh ruka.
Receptionist: "Yeh aapka parcel hai. Kal delivery boy aaya tha, lekin aap ghar par nahi the."
Reyansh: "Haan, Shalu ne bataya. Thank you."
Usne parcel liya aur darwaze ki taraf badh gaya.
Woh ladki ab bhi form bhar rahi thi.
Reyansh ki nazar ek pal ke liye us par padi, phir woh apne kaam par nikal gaya.
Na koi khaas ehsaas.
Na koi filmy moment.
Bas ek aam subah ki ek chhoti si mulaqat.


Dopahar 1:15 PM | Reyansh Ka Office
Lunch break mein Reyansh apni desk par baitha tha.
Usne lunchbox khola aur phone par messages check karne laga.
Neha ka message aaya.
Neha: Client ne revised presentation approve kar di. Finally!
Reyansh: Congratulations. Ab party?
Neha: Pehle tum apna pending kaam finish karo, phir party ki baat karna.
Reyansh: Tum logon ko meri khushi se problem kyun hai?
Neha: Tumhari khushi se nahi. Tumhare pending kaam se.
Reyansh hans diya.
Usne reply kiya:
Reyansh: Fine. Coffee meri taraf se.
Neha: Screenshot le liya hai. Baad mein mukarna mat.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakha.
Office ka din apni raftaar se guzar raha tha. Ek chhoti meeting, kuch emails aur ek call.
Koi bada drama nahi.
Shaam hone tak uska kaam lagbhag khatam ho gaya.
Woh laptop band karne laga toh Arshad ka call aa gaya.
Reyansh: "Bol."
Arshad: "Aaj shaam kya plan hai?"
Reyansh: "Ghar jaunga. Khana khaunga. So jaunga."
Arshad: "Teri zindagi mein adventure naam ki cheez nahi hai?"
Reyansh: "Hai. Bhatia ne meri gaadi par complaint kar di."
Arshad: "kon wo takla, sala gokuldham ka bhindi"
Reyansh: "Haan, parking ke kanoon ka khatarnak mujrim."
Arshad hansne laga.
Arshad: "Achha sun, weekend par milte hain."
Reyansh: "Dekhenge."
Arshad: "Tu har baat par dekhenge kyun bolta hai?"
Reyansh: "Kyunki dekhna padta hai."
Arshad: "Kabhi jeena bhi padta hai."
Reyansh kuch pal chup raha.
Phir bola:
Reyansh: "nahi aa raha. Chal Kaam kar."
Arshad: "Theek hai, bye
Reyansh ne bag uthaya aur office se nikal gaya.
Aaj ghar jaane ka mann tha.
Aur kabhi-kabhi, bina kisi khaas wajah ke ghar jaane ka mann hona bhi kaafi hota hai.

Shaam 6:18 PM | Apartment Lobby
Reyansh building mein lauta toh lobby mein kuch alag hi mahaul tha.
Reception ke paas do log khade baat kar rahe the. Lift ke saamne ek aunty kisi ko phone par samjha rahi thi ki "maine toh pehle hi kaha tha".
Aur Bhatia apne haath mein ek file liye khade the.

Reyansh: "Kya hua, sir? Building mein election ho rahe hain?"
Bhatia ne use dekha.
Bhatia: "Nahi. Fourth floor par ek naya tenant aaya hai."
Reyansh: "Achha. Toh?"
Bhatia: "Unhone moving ke waqt lift kaafi der tak block rakhi."
Reyansh ne dheere se sir hilaya.
Reyansh: "Bahut badi ghatna hai."
Bhatia ne uski baat nazarandaaz ki.
Bhatia: "Association ke rules samjhana zaroori hai."
Reyansh ne lift ka button dabaya.
Reyansh: "Sir, unhe rehne dijiye. Naye hain. Samajh jayenge."
Bhatia: "Aap har baat ko itna casual kyun lete hain?"
Reyansh: "Kyunki agar main har baat ko serious lene laga, toh aapke jaisa ban jaunga"
Paas khadi aunty hans padi.
Bhatia ne unki taraf dekha.
Aunty ne turant phone kaan par laga liya.
Aunty: "Haan, haan, main sun rahi hoon."
Lift khul gayi.
Reyansh andar chala gaya.
Usne button dabaya aur peeche deewar se tek laga li.
Building mein rehne wale log apni-apni zindagi jee rahe the.
Kisi ko parking ki chinta thi.
Kisi ko lift ki.
Kisi ko doosron ke ghar mein kya ho raha hai, uski.
Aur kisi ko bas apne ghar pahunchkar sukoon se baithna tha.
Reyansh filhaal aakhri category mein aata tha.
Kam se kam uske hisaab se.

Shaam 6:25 PM | Third Floor
Lift khuli.
Reyansh bahar nikla aur apne flat ki taraf badha.
Usne dekha ki corridor mein ek darwaza aadha khula tha. Andar kuch cartons rakhe the aur ek aadmi furniture ko sahi jagah rakhne ki koshish kar raha tha.
Shayad wahi naya tenant tha.
Reyansh apne darwaze tak pahunchne hi wala tha ki andar se ek awaaz aayi.
"Papa, woh wala box idhar rakh dijiye na."
Reyansh ne bas ek pal ke liye us taraf dekha.
Ek ladki darwaze ke paas khadi thi. Uske haath mein kapdon ka ek chhota bundle tha.
Usne Reyansh ko dekha toh halka sa ruk gayi.
Reyansh ne normal andaaz mein sir hilakar greeting di.
Reyansh: "Hi."
Ladki ne bhi dheere se jawab diya.
Ladki: "Hello."
Phir woh apne kaam mein lag gayi.
Reyansh ne apne flat ka darwaza khola aur andar chala gaya.
Darwaza band karne se pehle usne ek baar corridor ki taraf dekha.
Naye padosi.
Bas.
Usne darwaza band kiya, bag sofa par rakha aur shoes utaar diye.
Kitchen se Shalu ki awaaz aayi.
Shalu: "Sir, aa gaye?"
Reyansh: "Haan."
Shalu: "Chai bana doon?"
Reyansh: "Please."
Woh sofa par baith gaya.
Kuch minute baad Shalu chai lekar aayi.
Shalu: "Sir, aapke saamne wale flat mein naye log aaye hain."
Reyansh ne cup uthaya.
Reyansh: "Haan, dekha."
Shalu: "Gujarati hain shayad."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: "Tumhe kaise pata?"
Shalu: "Unki aunty se baat hui thi. Woh samaan rakh rahi thi. Unhone bataya."
Reyansh: "Achha."
Shalu kuch pal ruki.
Shalu: "Unki beti bhi hai."
Reyansh ne chai ka sip liya.
Reyansh: "Haan, woh bhi dekhi."
Shalu ke chehre par ek chhoti si shararat aayi.
Shalu: "Achha. Aapne toh sab dekh liya."
Reyansh ne cup neeche rakha.
Reyansh: "Shalu."
Shalu: "Ji?"
Reyansh: "Chai achhi bani hai."
Shalu muskurayi.
Shalu: "Topic change karne ka tareeka bhi achha hai, sir."
Reyansh ne aankhein band kar li.
Reyansh: "Mujhe ek din tumse bachne ke liye doosre shehar jaana padega."
Shalu: "Wahan bhi kaam karne wali mil jayegi, sir. Lekin jawab dene wali nahi."
Reyansh hans pada.
Phir usne chai khatam ki aur remote utha liya.
Uske liye woh din bhi aam tha.
Usne ek naye padosi ko dekha tha.
Bas itna hi.
Na usne naam poochha.
Na koi khaas baat hui.
Aur shayad isi liye woh mulaqat abhi sirf ek mulaqat thi.

Shaam 7:10 PM | Flat Number 304
Naye ghar mein ab kuch cartons khul chuke the.
Living room mein sofa abhi apni final jagah par nahi tha. Dining table ke upar ek plastic cover pada tha aur kitchen mein bartanon ki awaaz aa rahi thi.
Jheel ne apne kamre ka darwaza band kiya aur bed par rakha bag kholne lagi.
Uski maa kitchen se awaaz de rahi thi.
Maa: "Jheel, beta, woh steel ke dabbe wale carton mein hain. Dekh lena."
Jheel: "Ji, Mummy."
Woh uthkar carton ke paas gayi aur usmein se dabbe nikaalne lagi.
Kuch der baad uske papa kamre ke darwaze par aaye.
Papa: "Thak gayi?"
Jheel ne halka sa muskurakar sir hila diya.
Jheel: "Thoda."
Papa: "Aaj bas itna hi karte hain. Baaki kal."
Jheel: "Nahi, Papa. Yeh rakh deti hoon. Phir sab set ho jayega."
Papa ne uske haath se ek carton le liya.
Papa: "Har cheez ek hi din mein set karna zaroori nahi hota."
Jheel ne unki taraf dekha.
Jheel: "Mujhe pata hai."
Papa: "Phir?"
Jheel muskurayi.
Jheel: "Bas achha lagta hai jab cheezein apni jagah par hoti hain."
Papa ne uske sir par pyaar se haath rakha.
Papa: "Theek hai. Lekin zyada thakna mat."
Woh carton rakhkar bahar chale gaye.
Jheel ne apne kamre ke chhote se window ke paas jaakar parde khole.
Bahar Bengaluru ki shaam dikh rahi thi.
Neeche sadak par log apne ghar laut rahe the. Door kisi balcony mein kapde sukh rahe the. Kisi ghar se TV ki awaaz aa rahi thi.
Naya ghar.
Nayi building.
Naya mahaul.
Jheel ko naye logon ke beech comfortable hone mein thoda waqt lagta tha. Woh pehle observe karti thi, phir dheere-dheere baat karti thi.
Uski maa kehti thi ki woh bachpan se hi aisi thi.
Jab doosre bachche kisi gathering mein zor-zor se baatein karte, Jheel aksar apni maa ke paas baithkar sabko dekhti rehti.
Iska matlab yeh nahi tha ki use log pasand nahi the.
Bas woh har kisi ke saamne turant khul nahi paati thi.
Usne window band ki aur kamre mein wapas aa gayi.
Table par rakha phone uthaya.
Uski ek dost ka message aaya tha.
Friend: Naya ghar kaisa hai?
Jheel ne reply kiya.
Jheel: Achha hai. Abhi samaan set kar rahe hain.
Friend: Building mein log kaise hain?
Jheel ne kuch pal socha.
Phir type kiya:
Jheel: Abhi kisi se baat nahi hui. Bas reception par ek uncle mile the.
Usne message bheja aur phone rakh diya.
Use abhi yeh nahi pata tha ki usi building mein rehne wala ek aadmi kuch der pehle uske darwaze ke paas se guzra tha.
Reyansh.
Dono ne ek-doosre ko dekha tha.
Ek chhota sa hello bhi hua tha.
Lekin Jheel ke liye woh bhi bas ek formal greeting thi.
Aur Reyansh ke liye bhi.

Raat 8:05 PM | Third Floor Corridor
Reyansh dinner ke liye kitchen mein jaane hi wala tha ki doorbell baji.
Usne darwaza khola.
Saamne ek middle-aged aunty khadi thi. Haath mein chhota sa steel ka bowl.
Aunty: "Beta, tum saamne wale flat mein rehte ho na?"
Reyansh: "Ji."
Aunty: "Main Mrs. D'Souza. Flat 302 mein rehti hoon. Yeh thoda cake banaya tha, socha de doon."
Reyansh ne bowl le liya.
Reyansh: "Thank you, aunty."
Mrs. D'Souza: "Tum akele rehte ho?"
Reyansh: "Ji."
Mrs. D'Souza: "Family?"
Reyansh: "Yahin Bengaluru mein hai."
Mrs. D'Souza: "Achha. Kabhi ghar aana. Main achha khana banati hoon."
Reyansh muskuraya.
Reyansh: "Zaroor, aunty."
Aunty ne use ek baar dekha.
Mrs. D'Souza: "Aur beta, raat ko bahut der tak jagna mat. Health kharab hoti hai."
Reyansh ne andar hi andar socha ki building mein logon ko uski sleep schedule ki itni chinta kyun hai.
Lekin chehre par muskurahat rakhi.
Reyansh: "Ji, aunty."
Mrs. D'Souza: "Good boy."
Woh chali gayin.
Reyansh ne darwaza band kiya aur bowl ko kitchen mein rakh diya.
Shalu ja chuki thi. Dinner fridge mein rakha tha.
Usne khana garam kiya, plate nikali aur table par baith gaya.
Cake ka ek chhota tukda bhi plate ke paas rakh liya.
Pehla niwala khate hi phone vibrate hua.
Arshad ka message.
Arshad: Bhai, building mein koi naya scene?
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Ek uncle parking par nazar rakhte hain. Ek aunty meri neend par. Aur saamne naye log aaye hain.
Arshad: Aur koi heroine?
Reyansh ne aankhein ghumayin.
Reyansh: Teri zindagi mein Sakshi hai. Tu apni sambhaal.
Arshad: Meri toh sambhali hui hai. Teri kab sambhalegi?
Reyansh ne message padhkar phone table par rakh diya.
Kuch seconds baad dobara uthaya.
Reyansh: Meri zindagi bilkul theek hai.
Arshad ka reply aaya.
Arshad: Maine kab kaha kharab hai?
Reyansh ne screen ko dekha.
Phir phone lock kar diya.
Usne apna dinner khatam kiya, plate sink mein rakhi aur living room mein aa gaya.
TV chala diya.
Aaj ka din khatam hone wala tha.
Building mein kuch naye log aaye the. Kuch purane logon se thodi zyada baat hui thi.
Bas.
Kabhi-kabhi zindagi mein badlaav isi tarah aata hai.
Bina kisi announcement ke.
Bina kisi background music ke

Raat 10:47 PM | Reyansh Ka Bedroom
Reyansh bistar par letkar phone scroll kar raha tha.
Office ka ek message aaya, usne jawab diya.
Phir Arshad ne ek meme bheja.
Reyansh hans pada.
Reyansh: Teri shakal bhi aisi hi hai.
Arshad: Meri shakal par mat ja. Personality dekh.
Reyansh: Wahi toh nahi dekhi jaati.
Arshad ne laughing emoji bheja.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakha aur light band kar di.
Kuch der tak woh chhat ko dekhta raha.
Aaj ki subah Bhatia uncle se mulaqat hui thi.
Reception par ek ladki mili thi.
Shaam ko Mrs. D'Souza cake de gayi thi.
Saamne wale flat mein ek naya parivaar aaya tha.
Ek aam din.
Lekin us aam din mein kuch naye chehre jud gaye the.
Reyansh ne karwat badli aur aankhein band kar li.
Kal phir subah hogi.
Shalu aayegi.
Office jaana hoga.
Shayad building mein kisi se dobara mulaqat ho.
Shayad nahi.
Filhaal, use bas sona tha.
Aur is baar usne phone dobara nahi uthaya.
Kamre mein khamoshi thi.
Bahar corridor ki light jal rahi thi.
Flat number 304 mein Jheel apna samaan rakhkar so chuki thi.
Flat number 303 mein Reyansh ne bhi aankhein band kar li thin.
Dono ek-doosre ke itne kareeb reh rahe the ki unke darwazon ke beech bas kuch kadam ka faasla tha.
Lekin zindagi mein kabhi-kabhi do logon ke beech ki asli doori naapne ke liye kilometre nahi, waqt chahiye hota hai.