Adultery AZTARAAB

[Greenwood]

Update 07



Bengaluru | Friday | Shaam 6:42 PM
Bengaluru ki sadkon par shaam ka traffic apne poore iraade ke saath jama hua tha.
Signal par khadi gaadiyon ke beech se bikes nikal rahi thi. Kisi ko ghar pahunchne ki jaldi thi, kisi ko office ki call khatam karni thi, aur kisi ko bas itna chahiye tha ki saamne wala horn bajana band kar de.
Reyansh ki gaadi bhi isi bheed ka hissa thi.
Steering par ek haath, doosre haath mein phone, aur phone ke speaker se Arshad ki awaaz.
"Main keh raha hoon, client ko tagline pasand nahi aayi toh uski galti hai. Tagline mein emotion hai."
Reyansh ne saamne lage red signal ko dekha.
"Achha? Aur client ko emotion samajh nahi aaya toh?"
"Toh uske liye ek alag tagline bana denge. Emotion samajhne ke liye bhi emotion chahiye."
Reyansh hans pada.
"Tu advertising mein hai ya motivational speaker banne ki koshish kar raha hai?"
"Main multi-talented aadmi hoon. Bas duniya meri talent ko budget ke hisaab se pay karti hai."
"Budget ki baat aayi hai toh pichhli baar ke paise kab de raha hai?"
Doosri taraf kuch seconds ki khamoshi hui.
Phir Arshad bola, "Signal green ho gaya. Gaadi chala."
Reyansh ne windshield ke paar dekha.
Signal abhi bhi laal tha.
"Saale, mere saamne signal hai. Tere saamne shayad koi aur duniya chal rahi hai."
"Achha, chal rakh. Mujhe kaam karna hai."
"Kar le. Aur paise—"
Call kat gayi.
Reyansh ne phone ki screen dekhi aur muskurate hue use passenger seat par rakh diya.
"Harami."
Signal green hua toh gaadi aage badh gayi.
Din ka kaam khatam ho chuka tha, lekin dimaag mein abhi bhi office ki kuch baatein chal rahi thi. Ek presentation kal subah tak revise karni thi. Neha ne uske liye points bheje the, aur Reyansh ne ghar jaakar dekhne ka faisla kiya tha.
Aaj kisi se milne ka plan nahi tha.
Na dinner ka invitation, na doston ke saath outing.
Bas ghar, khana, thoda kaam aur phir jo mann kare.
Use apni zindagi ka yeh hissa bura nahi lagta tha.
Har shaam kisi ke saath bitana zaroori bhi toh nahi tha.
Kabhi-kabhi aadmi ko bas apne ghar ka darwaza kholna hota hai, jootey utaarne hote hain aur duniya ko kuch der ke liye bahar chhod dena hota hai.
Reyansh ko aaj bhi yahi karna tha.

Shaam 7:18 baje Reyansh apni apartment building ke basement mein gaadi park kar raha tha.
Parking ki jagah par pahunchte hi usne dekha ki ek delivery boy apni bike ko galat jagah khadi karne ki koshish kar raha tha. Security guard use samjha raha tha, aur delivery boy baar-baar apne phone ki screen dekh raha tha.
"Sir, bas do minute lagenge," ladke ne guard se kaha.
Guard ne haath baandh liye.
"Sabko do minute hi lagte hain. Phir aadha ghanta gaadi yahin chhod dete hain."
Reyansh apni gaadi se utarte hue unke paas se guzra.
"Flat number?"
Delivery boy ne phone dekha.
"304, sir."
Reyansh ek pal ke liye ruka.
"Third floor?"
"Ji, sir."
"Lift udhar hai. Parking ke andar bike mat chhodo, warna Bhatia uncle ka agla speech tumhare naam hoga."
Guard hans diya.
Delivery boy ne ghabrakar bike seedhi ki.
"Thank you, sir."
Reyansh ne haath hila diya aur lift ki taraf badh gaya.
Usne koi khaas baat nahi sochi. Building mein naye log aaye the, toh deliveries aana normal tha.
Lift ka button dabakar woh apne phone par Neha ka message padhne laga.
Neha: Presentation ke third slide mein customer insight wala point thoda weak lag raha hai.
Reyansh: Weak nahi hai. Bas usko better explain karna padega.
Neha: Tum har weak cheez ko explain karke strong bana dete ho.
Reyansh: Job description mein likha hai.
Neha: Nahi, job description mein likha hai Senior Brand Manager. Baaki tumhara personal delusion hai.
Reyansh ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Reyansh: Kal meeting mein milna. Main tumhara delusion door kar dunga.
Neha: Coffee lekar aana. Phir sochungi.
Lift khul gayi.
Andar koi nahi tha.
Reyansh ne third floor ka button dabaya aur phone pocket mein rakh diya.
Lift doosre floor se aage badhi hi thi ki achanak ruk gayi.
Darwaze khule.
Saamne Jheel khadi thi.
Ek haath mein grocery ka bag, doosre mein ek chhota sa cardboard box. Usne pehle lift ke andar dekha, phir Reyansh ko pehchaanne ki koshish ki.
"Third floor?" Reyansh ne poochha.
Jheel ne halka sa sir hila diya.
"Ji."
Woh andar aa gayi.
Reyansh ne apne aap ko thoda side kar liya, taaki use jagah mil sake.
"304?"
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
"Ji. Aapko kaise pata?"
"Aapke delivery wale ko parking mein dekha tha. Aapka samaan poori building mein famous ho raha hai."
Jheel ke chehre par halki si muskurahat aayi.
"Oh."
Bas itna hi.
Phir use shayad apna jawab thoda ajeeb laga.
"Matlab... samaan zyada aa raha hai. Abhi ghar mein kuch cheezein baaki hain."
"Koi baat nahi. Naya ghar hai. Pehle hafte mein toh lagta hai aadha bazaar khareedna padega."
Jheel ne grocery bag ko thoda upar kiya.
"Main toh sirf zaroorat ka samaan laayi hoon."
Reyansh ne bag ki taraf dekha.
Usmein dhaniya, tamatar, bread aur kuch packets nazar aa rahe the.
"Achha. Phir toh zaroorat kaafi saari hain."
Jheel ne is baar thoda khulkar muskuraya.
"Kitchen abhi set ho raha hai."
"Samajh sakta hoon. Mere ghar mein toh kitchen set hai, lekin mujhe phir bhi har doosre din pata chalta hai ki kuch na kuch khatam ho gaya."
Jheel ne dheere se poochha, "Aap khud khana banate hain?"
"Sawaal ka jawab dene se pehle ek clarification chahiye."
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
"Kya?"
"Khud banane ka matlab ingredients ko pan mein daal dena hai ya phir sach mein khana banana?"
Jheel hans di.
Zyada zor se nahi, bas ek chhoti si hansi.
"Lagta hai aapko khana banana nahi aata."
"Yeh galat ilzaam hai. Mujhe anda banana aata hai."
"Bas?"
"Anda ek bahut versatile cheez hai. Omelette, bhurji, boiled egg..."
"Yeh sab alag-alag recipes hain?"
"Bilkul. Main kitchen mein creativity ko bahut importance deta hoon."
Jheel ne apni hansi rokne ke liye hoth daba liye.
Lift teesre floor par pahunch gayi.
Darwaze khule toh dono bahar aa gaye.
Reyansh ne 303 ki taraf kadam badhaye, phir Jheel ko yaad aaya ki uske haath mein box bhi tha.
"Ek minute..."
Woh box sambhalte hue grocery bag ko doosre haath mein lene lagi, lekin bag ka ek handle uski ungliyon se phisal gaya.

Tamataron mein se ek neeche ludhak gaya.
Reyansh ne jhukkar use utha liya.
"Yeh raha aapki zaroorat ka ek hissa."
Jheel ne sharmindagi se muskurate hue tamatar le liya.
"Thank you."
"Welcome."
Woh apne flat ke saamne ruk gaya.
Jheel 304 ki taraf badhi, phir palatkar boli, "Waise, aapko khana banana seekhna chahiye."
Reyansh ne chaabi nikaalte hue uski taraf dekha.
"Main seekh sakta hoon."
"Achha hai."
"Par ek condition hai."
Jheel ne sawaal bhari nazar se dekha.
"Jab main pehli baar kuch banaunga, aapko taste karna padega."
Jheel ke chehre se muskurahat dheere-dheere gayab hone lagi.
Usne ek second socha.
Phir boli, "Pehle aap bana toh lijiye."
Reyansh zor se hans diya.
"Fair enough."
Jheel apne flat mein chali gayi.
Reyansh ne bhi apna darwaza khola.
Kuch seconds baad dono apne-apne gharon ke andar the.
Ek chhoti si conversation khatam ho gayi thi.
Na koi khaas baat hui thi, na koi bada impression bana tha.
Lekin ab 303 aur 304 ke beech sirf ek deewar nahi thi.
Ek doosre ka naam na jaante hue bhi, dono ab ek-doosre ko pehchaanne lage the.

Reyansh kuchh sochta hai
Reyansh ne ghar mein ghuste hi apni chaabiyan entrance table par rakh di.
Shoes rack mein daale, sleeves upar ki aur seedha kitchen mein chala gaya.
Fridge khola.
Doodh.
Dahi.
Do ande.
Ek aadha khula sauce ka bottle.
Aur ek dabba jiske andar kya tha, yeh jaanne ki usmein bilkul dilchaspi nahi thi.
Usne dabba band kar diya.
"Shalu!"
Awaaz dene ke baad use khud hi yaad aaya ki Shalu toh subah aati thi.
Ghar mein koi jawab nahi aaya.
"Excellent, Reyansh. Khud hi bula le apne aap ko."
Usne phone uthaya aur Shalu ko message kar diya.
Reyansh: Kal subah aate waqt bread le aana. Ghar mein khane layak cheezon ki kami hai.
Kuch der baad reply aaya.
Shalu: Sir, aapke ghar mein fridge hai ya museum?
Reyansh hans pada.
Reyansh: Museum mein bhi kuch na kuch rakha hota hai.
Shalu: Toh kal se aapke fridge ka ticket laga dena chahiye.
Reyansh: Bread laana mat bhoolna.
Shalu: Ji, sir. Aapke fridge ki aakhri umeed.
Reyansh ne phone rakh diya.
Aakhir mein usne omelette banane ka faisla kiya.
Pehla anda todte waqt thoda sa shell bowl mein gir gaya.
Usne use ungliyon se nikaalne ki koshish ki.
Phir doosri baar.
Phir teesri baar.
"MasterChef mein yeh sab editing mein hata dete honge."
Aakhir omelette pan mein aa hi gaya.
Thoda zyada pak gaya tha, lekin khaya ja sakta tha.
Reyansh ne plate lekar living room mein jagah banayi. TV par ek comedy show laga diya aur khana khane laga.
Phone par office ke messages aate rahe, lekin usne unhe kuch der ke liye ignore kar diya.
Aaj ka kaam khatam.
Ab uske paas kam se kam aadha ghanta apna tha.
Show mein ek aadmi apni biwi se chhupkar shopping karne ki koshish kar raha tha.
Reyansh ne bina soche halki si hansi chhodi.
Phir uska dhyaan plate par chala gaya.
Omelette ka aakhri tukda khaate hue usne khud se kaha, "Bura nahi tha."
Do second baad usne namak ka dabba dekha.
Shayad thoda zyada tha.
"Agli baar better."
Woh plate lekar kitchen mein gaya, use sink mein rakha aur laptop kholkar dining table par baith gaya.
Neha ki presentation saamne thi.
Usne third slide kholi, do lines badli aur customer insight ke neeche ek naya point jod diya.
Kaam karte hue use waqt ka pata nahi chala.
8:56 PM.
Usne file save ki aur Neha ko bhej di.
Reyansh: Updated. Check kar lena.
Neha: Itni jaldi?
Reyansh: Talent.
Neha: Ya dinner mein kuch khane layak nahi mila, isliye kaam kar liya?
Reyansh ne screen ko dekha.
"Yeh ladki bhi..."
Reyansh: Tumhare paas meri personal life ki report kaise aa rahi hai?
Neha: Tumhari presentation se pata chal raha hai. Insaan jab bhooka hota hai toh jaldi kaam karta hai.
Reyansh: Kal coffee nahi milegi.
Neha: Presentation approve hone ke baad bhi nahi?
Reyansh: Especially uske baad nahi.
Neha: Noted, sir.
Reyansh ne laptop band kar diya.
Uske paas ab koi urgent kaam nahi tha.
Usne phone uthaya. Arshad ka message tha.
Arshad: Zinda hai?
Reyansh: Nahi. Meri aatma reply kar rahi hai.
Arshad: Achha. Toh kal teri aatma mere saath chai peene chalegi.
Reyansh: Kal dekhte hain.
Arshad: Tere jeevan mein har cheez kal par kyun hai?
Reyansh ne message padhkar phone rakh diya.
Jawab dene ki zaroorat nahi samjhi.
Kuch sawalon ka jawab na dena bhi ek tarah ka jawab hota hai.

Jheel apne kitchen ke saamne khadi thi.
Counter par abhi bhi kuch grocery bags rakhe the. Ek shelf par masale ke dibbe the, doosri taraf bartan. Fridge mein samaan rakh diya gaya tha, lekin kitchen abhi bhi use poori tarah apna nahi lag raha tha.
Usne phone par apni maa ka message dekha.
Maa: Ghar pahunch gayi thi na? Khana kha lena. Saara din samaan lagane mein mat nikaal dena.
Jheel ne reply kiya.
Jheel: Haan, Maa. Ghar par hoon. Khana bana rahi hoon.
Maa: Kya bana rahi hai?
Jheel ne kitchen ki taraf dekha.
Tamatar.
Dhaniya.
Aloo.
Aur ek dabba jismein usne aata rakha tha.
Jheel: Abhi soch rahi hoon.
Do minute baad maa ka call aa gaya.
"Jheel, tune abhi tak khana nahi banaya?"
Jheel hans padi.
"Maa, ban jayega."
"Subah se ghar mein lagi hui hai. Thak gayi hogi."
"Thodi si."
"Toh kuch aasan bana le. Roz naye-naye pakwaan banane ki zaroorat nahi hai."
"Main roz naye pakwaan banati bhi nahi hoon."
"Achha? Toh pichhle hafte jo tune woh nayi recipe bheji thi, woh kya tha?"
Jheel ne aankhein ghumayi, lekin maa dekh nahi sakti thi.
"Woh bas try kar rahi thi."
"Bas wahi toh keh rahi hoon. Pehle khaana kha, phir duniya badalna."
Jheel muskurayi.
"Ji, Maa."
Kuch der ghar ki baatein hoti rahi. Maa ne poochha ki padosi kaise hain, building theek hai ya nahi aur use kisi cheez ki zaroorat toh nahi.
Jheel ne sab theek bataya.
Usne yeh bhi bataya ki building mein log normal hain aur ek padosi se lift mein baat hui thi.
"Kaisa hai padosi?" maa ne poochha.
"Achhe lag rahe the."
"Naam poochha?"
Jheel ek pal ruki.
Phir uske chehre par hairani aayi.
"Arre... nahi!"
Maa hans padi.
"Bas, pehle din hi padosi se baat kar li aur naam tak nahi poochha?"
"Maa, lift mein do minute ki baat thi. Naam poochhne ka dhyaan hi nahi aaya."
"Chal, koi baat nahi. Kal poochh lena."
Jheel ne sar hila diya, jaise maa saamne baithi ho.
"Ji."
Call khatam hui toh Jheel ne phone kitchen counter par rakha.
Phir aata nikala.
Rotiyaan banane ka iraada tha, lekin pehli roti belte waqt woh ek taraf se patli aur doosri taraf se moti ho gayi.
Usne use dekha.
"Chalo. Map of India toh nahi bani."
Doosri roti pehli se behtar thi.
Teesri aur bhi achhi.
Thodi der mein kitchen se tadke ki khushboo aane lagi.
Jheel ne khana plate mein nikala aur dining table par baith gayi.
Ghar mein khamoshi thi.
Woh khamoshi jo naye ghar mein pehle din kuch zyada mehsoos hoti hai. Har cheez apni jagah par hoti hai, phir bhi ghar ko ghar banne mein waqt lagta hai.
Jheel ne ek niwala khaya.
Phir phone par apni maa ko tasveer bhej di.
Jheel: Dinner ready.
Maa: Wah! Ab lag raha hai meri beti akeli reh sakti hai.
Jheel ke chehre par ek naram si muskurahat aayi.
Jheel: Main pehle bhi reh sakti thi, Maa.
Maa: Haan, lekin ab tujhe khud yaad rahega ki gas band karni hai.
Jheel hans di.
Usne khana khatam kiya, bartan dhoye aur kitchen saaf kar diya.
Phir living room mein aakar baith gayi.
Uske paas karne ko kuch khaas nahi tha.
Usne TV chala diya, kuch channels badle aur aakhir ek purana comedy show dekhne lagi.
Kuch der baad use lift wali baat yaad aayi.
"Anda banana aata hai..."
Woh apni hansi nahi rok paayi.
"Kaun anda banane ko itna bada talent samajhta hai?"
Phir usne remote uthaya aur TV ki awaaz thodi badha di.
Uski nayi zindagi ka pehla din dheere-dheere khatam ho raha tha.
Kal use kuch aur samaan lana tha.
Kuch boxes kholne the.
Aur shayad building ke kuch logon ko theek se jaanne ka mauka bhi milta.

Agli ki subah, Reyansh office pahunchte hi meeting room mein gaya.
Neha pehle se wahan baithi thi. Laptop khula hua tha, aur table par do coffee cups rakhe the.
Reyansh ne unhe dekha.
"Ek cup mera hai?"
Neha ne bina upar dekhe kaha, "Nahi. Dono mere hain."
"Subah-subah itni personal dushmani?"
"Kal tumne coffee cancel karne ki dhamki di thi."
"Main mazaak kar raha tha."
"Main nahi."
Usne ek cup Reyansh ki taraf sarka diya.
"Lo. Presentation achhi hai."
Reyansh ne cup uthaya.
"Thank you."
"Bas itna?"
"Kya chahiye? Appreciation certificate?"
"Kam se kam ek baar toh maan lo ki main sahi thi."
Reyansh ne coffee ka sip liya.
"Main maanta hoon ki tum kabhi-kabhi sahi hoti ho."
Neha ne use dekha.
"Kabhi-kabhi?"
"Zyada khush mat ho."
Dono hans diye.
Meeting shuru hone mein abhi kuch minute the. Reyansh ne presentation kholi aur Neha ke saath ek baar phir points check karne laga.
Office mein uski zindagi apni jagah chal rahi thi.
Deadlines, meetings, coffee aur colleagues ke saath chhoti-chhoti nok-jhonk.
Aur ghar par ek nayi padosan thi, jiske saath uski ab tak ki sabse lambi conversation anda aur tamatar ke aas-paas ghoomi thi.
Dono duniyaon ke beech abhi koi khaas rishta nahi tha.
Aur shayad isi wajah se sab kuch itna normal lag raha tha.


Usi shaam lagbhag saat baje Reyansh office se ghar lauta.
Lift se nikalte hi usne dekha ki Jheel apne flat ke bahar khadi thi. Uske haath mein ek chhota sa paper bag tha aur woh apne darwaze ke paas rakhe ek carton ko andar karne ki koshish kar rahi thi.
Reyansh ne chaabi nikaalte hue poochha, "Madad chahiye?"
Jheel ne palatkar dekha.
"Nahi, ho jayega."
Usne carton ko thoda upar uthaya, lekin darwaze ka kona uske raaste mein aa gaya.
Reyansh ne apna bag neeche rakha.
"Ek second."
Usne carton ka doosra hissa pakda aur use darwaze ke andar rakh diya.
"Bas?"
Jheel ne rahat ki saans li.
"Ji. Thank you."
"Welcome. Waise, aapka naam abhi tak nahi pata."
Jheel ne use dekha, phir halki si hansi ke saath kaha, "Jheel."
Reyansh ne sar hilaaya.
"Reyansh."
"Achha."
"Ab kam se kam agar tamatar girega toh pata hoga kiska hai."
Jheel hans padi.
"Tamatar mera hi tha. Aapka nahi."
"Abhi tak. Aage ka kuch keh nahi sakte."
Jheel ne aankhon mein halki si shararat ke saath kaha, "Aapko grocery khareedne jaana chahiye. Shayad aapke fridge mein bhi kuch mil jaaye."
Reyansh ek pal ke liye chup raha.
Phir usne apne flat ki taraf ishara kiya.
"Yeh baat aapko kisne batayi?"
"Anda banane wale aadmi ka fridge khaali hi hota hoga."
Reyansh hans diya.
"Fair point."
Jheel ne carton ko andar kheencha.
"Achha, main samaan rakh loon. Good evening."
"Good evening."
Darwaza band ho gaya.
Reyansh apne flat mein aaya toh uske chehre par abhi bhi muskurahat thi.
Koi badi baat nahi hui thi.
Bas ek naam pata chala tha.
Jheel.
Usne apni chaabiyan table par rakhin aur kitchen ki taraf chala gaya.
Fridge khola.
Doodh tha.
Dahi tha.
Do ande bhi the.
Reyansh ne fridge band kar diya.
"Kal bread bhi le aaunga."
Phir ek pal rukkar khud hi hans pada.
"Jheel ko report thodi deni hai."
Lekin usne bread ki list phone mein likh li.