Adultery AZTARAAB

[Greenwood]

Update 10

Shaam ke saat baj rahe the.
Bengaluru ki sadkon par traffic abhi bhi apni poori ko weekend ki shuruaat karni thi, aur kuch log aise bhi the jo traffic mein phanse hue apni zindagi ke faislon par dobara soch rahe the.
Reyansh teesri category mein nahi aata tha.
Uska maanna tha ki zindagi ke bade faislon ke liye weekend kaafi nahi hota, aur chhote faislon ke liye itna sochna hi kyun?
Filhaal uske saamne ek chhota sa faisla tha.
Kaunsi shirt pehni jaaye?
Bed par do shirts padi thi. Ek black, doosri dark blue.
Reyansh ne dono ko dekha, phir almari mein latki teesri shirt nikaal li.
White.
Khud hi apne faisle par muskura diya.
"Options jitne zyada ho, insaan utna hi bewakoof banta hai."
Phone par Arshad ka message aaya.
Arshad:
Bhai, nikal raha hai ya aaj bhi apne flat mein baithkar apni jawani ka antim sanskar karega?
Reyansh:
Main ready hoon.
Arshad:
Photo bhej.
Reyansh:
Kyun?
Arshad:
Confirm karna hai ki tu ready hai ya sirf bakchodi kar raha hai
Reyansh ne apni selfie bhej di.
Kuch seconds baad reply aaya.
Arshad:
Theek lag raha hai. Bas chehre par jo divorced aadmi wali maturity aa gayi hai, uska kuch nahi ho sakta.
Reyansh:
Tu apni shakal dekh le. Tere chehre par toh janam se hi pending EMI likhi hai.
Arshad:
Personal attack! Dosti khatam.
Reyansh:
Club mein mil. Wahan bhi yahi bolna.
Arshad:
Wahan main tujhe pehchanunga hi nahi.
Reyansh hans pada.
Kam se kam aaj ki shaam ke liye, uske paas kisi cheez ko lekar sochne ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Na office ki presentation.
Na agle hafte ki deadlines.
Na woh sawaal jinse woh kabhi-kabhi khud ko bhi bachata tha.
Aaj bas bahar jaana tha.
Music, dost, thodi bakwaas aur ek aisi raat jismein agle din ke liye koi khaas agenda na ho.
Usne wallet uthaya, phone pocket mein rakha aur flat lock kar diya.
Lift mein khade hokar usne mirror mein apne baal theek kiye.
Phir khud ko dekhkar bola, "Perfect."
Lift ka darwaza khula.
Saamne Mrs. D'Souza khadi thi.
Unhone Reyansh ko upar se neeche tak dekha.
"Going somewhere?"
"Ji, thoda bahar."
"Achha! Aur ghar ka dinner?"
Reyansh ek second ke liye ruka.
"Weekend hai, aunty. Aaj dinner mujhe nahi, restaurant ko banana hai."
Mrs. D'Souza hans padi.
"Enjoy, beta. Aur late mat hona."
"Ji, mummy."
"Main tumhari mummy nahi hoon!"
"Isiliye toh aapki baat maan leta hoon."
Woh hansi aur Reyansh parking ki taraf chala gaya.
Aaj raat ki shuruaat theek thi.


Club Bengaluru ke ek lively part mein tha.
Bahar pahunchte hi music ki bass sadak tak mehsoos ho rahi thi. Entrance ke paas groups photos le rahe the. Kuch log apni party shuru hone se pehle hi itne excited the jaise andar jaakar unhe koi award milne wala ho.
Reyansh ne gaadi park ki aur entrance ki taraf badha.
Arshad pehle se wahan khada tha.
Black shirt, jacket, baal set karne ki nakaam koshish aur chehre par wohi confidence jo sirf us insaan mein ho sakta hai jise apni galtiyon ka bhi entertainment value pata ho.
Uske paas Sakshi khadi thi.
Sakshi ne Reyansh ko dekhkar smile ki.
"Finally! Tumhare dost ko samjhao ki har jagah late pahunchna personality trait nahi hota."
Reyansh ne Arshad ki taraf dekha.
"Isko samjhana mere bas ki baat nahi hai. Main toh iske saath sirf purani dosti ki saza kaat raha hoon."
Arshad ne dono ko dekha.
"Wah! Main tum dono ko bahar lekar aaya aur tum log milte hi mere khilaaf alliance bana rahe ho?"
Sakshi ne uski jacket ka collar seedha kiya.
"Baby, alliance nahi. Public awareness."
"Public awareness?"
"Haan. Logon ko pata hona chahiye ki tum kitne irritating ho."
Arshad ne Reyansh ki taraf dekha.
"Tu dekh raha hai? Main is ladki se kitna pyaar karta hoon."
Reyansh ne sar hilaya.
"Tu pyaar karta hai ya customer feedback collect karta hai?"
Sakshi zor se hans padi.
Arshad ne haath utha diye.
"Bas. Andar chalo. Bahar hi meri izzat ka post-mortem kar doge."
"Post-mortem ke liye izzat ka zinda hona zaroori hai," Sakshi ne kaha.
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Nice one."
Arshad ne dono ko ghoora aur andar chala gaya.
"Ek din tum dono ko alag-alag pakadunga."
Sakshi ne Reyansh se dheere se kaha, bad ek sath mat pakadna
Or sakshi ne ek look diya Reyansh ko jise wo samajh nahi Paya ya fir undekha kar diya
Dono hans pade aur uske peeche andar chale gaye.

Club ke andar roshni aur music ka alag hi sansaar tha.
Dance floor par log apni-apni dhun mein the. DJ ka music poore hall mein goonj raha tha. Bar ke paas bheed thi, aur side ke seating area mein kuch log drinks ke saath baatein kar rahe the.
Arshad ki aankhon mein chamak aa gayi.
"Bas! Ye hoti hai zindagi!"
Reyansh ne uske kaan ke paas aakar kaha, "Paanch minute pehle traffic mein tu zindagi ko gaali de raha tha."
"Traffic zindagi ka dark phase hai. Club uska character development."
Sakshi ne uska haath pakad liya.
"Chalo, Mr. Character Development. Dance floor par."
Arshad ne turant haath chhuda liya.
"Ek minute. Pehle environment assess karne do."
Sakshi ruk gayi.
"Environment?"
"Haan. Main bina planning ke kuch nahi karta."
"Achha? Toh hamari pehli date par tumne kya planning ki thi?"
Arshad ka chehra ek second ke liye badal gaya.
"Us din planning nahi thi. Woh toh meri zindagi ki natural disaster management exercise thi."
"Matlab?"
"Matlab tum saamne aayi aur meri saari planning fail ho gayi."
Sakshi ke chehre par smile aa gayi.
"Flirt kar rahe ho?"
"Main? Bilkul nahi. Main toh factual report de raha hoon."
"Achha, report baad mein dena. Ab chalo."
Is baar Arshad ne bahana nahi banaya.
Woh Sakshi ke saath dance floor ki taraf chala gaya.
Reyansh kuch der unhe dekhta raha.
Arshad music ke saath apne hi andaaz mein dance kar raha tha. Uske steps mein koi khaas technique nahi thi, lekin confidence itna tha ki aas-paas ke logon ko lag sakta tha ki shayad yahi asli choreography hai.
Sakshi uska mazaak uda rahi thi, phir uske steps copy karne lagi.
Arshad ne use ghumaya.
Woh hansi.
Usne Arshad ka haath pakadkar use apni taraf kheench liya.
Dono ke beech ki familiarity kisi bade romantic gesture mein nahi thi. Woh ek doosre ko jaante the. Ek doosre ki aadaton par hanste the. Kabhi ek doosre ko chidhate, kabhi bina kahe hi samajh jaate ki saamne wale ko kya chahiye.
Arshad ne kuch kaha.
Music ki wajah se Reyansh ko sunai nahi diya.
Sakshi hans padi aur uske kandhe par halka sa dhakka diya.
Arshad ne dramatic andaaz mein seena pakad liya, jaise uske dil par seedha vaar hua ho.
Sakshi ne use phir dance karne ke liye kheench liya.
Reyansh ke chehre par halki si smile aa gayi.
Use achha lag raha tha ki Arshad khush tha.
Aur Sakshi bhi.
Lekin kuch der baad Reyansh ko mehsoos hua ki woh un dono ke beech khada rehkar bas unki masti ka spectator bana hua hai.
Usne apni ghadi dekhi.
Phir dance floor ki taraf.
Phir club ke doosre hisse ki taraf, jahan comparatively kam bheed thi.
Usne Arshad ko door se ishara kiya.
Arshad ne music ke beech kuch samajhne ki koshish ki.
Reyansh ne haath se signal diya ki woh side mein ja raha hai.
Arshad ne thumbs-up kar diya.
Agla hi second woh Sakshi ke saath kisi naye dance step mein ulajh gaya.
Reyansh hans diya.
Phir woh seating area ki taraf chala gaya.
Use na kisi se shikayat thi, na akela baithne ka koi khaas dukh.
Kabhi-kabhi doston ke saath aakar bhi insaan apni marzi se kuch der akele baithna chahta hai.
Aur Reyansh ko aaj bas itna hi chahiye tha.
Ek seat.
Thoda music.
Aur apne dimaag ko bina kisi kaam ke idhar-udhar bhatakne dene ki azaadi

.Seating area dance floor se thoda door tha.
Yahan music ab bhi loud tha, lekin baat karne ke liye kisi ko saamne wale ke kaan mein chillaane ki zaroorat nahi pad rahi thi.
Reyansh ne ek corner wali seat choose ki, jahan se poora dance floor dikh raha tha.
Usne waiter se ek mocktail order ki aur phone check karne laga.
Tabhi uski nazar paas wali table par padi.
Ek ladki apne phone par kuch dekh rahi thi. Uske saamne ek glass tha aur table ke kone par ek chhota sa handbag rakha hua tha.
Woh apne aas-paas se bilkul unaffected lag rahi thi.
Uska outfit stylish tha, lekin usse bhi zyada noticeable uska confidence tha. Woh baar-baar idhar-udhar dekhkar apni appearance check nahi kar rahi thi. Na kisi group ki taraf dekhkar approval dhoondh rahi thi, na apne akele baithne ko lekar uncomfortable thi.
Kuch hi pal baad ek waiter drinks lekar uski table ke paas aaya.
Usne glass rakhte hue galti se handbag ko chhoo diya.
Bag table se phisla aur neeche gir gaya.
Ladki ne turant phone side mein rakha aur bag lene ke liye jhuki to uske kapde se uske boobs dikhne lage jise waiter ne dekh liya or hasne laga or is baat ko Reyansh ne bhi notice Kiya ki ladki ke boobs show ho rahe hain or waiter kaise dekh ke hans raha hai ladki kuch seconds baad uthi or
Waiter ne maafi maangi.
"Sorry, ma'am."
"It's okay. Bas next time thoda dhyaan rakhna."
Usne baat khatam kar di. Na unnecessary gussa, na extra sweetness.
Waiter aage badha hi tha ki bag se ek chhota sa card nikal kar zameen par gir gaya.
Reyansh ki seat uske paas thi.
Usne card uthaya aur uski taraf badha diya.
"Shayad ye aapka hai."
Ladki ne card liya.
"Thanks."
"Welcome."
Bas itni si baat thi.
Reyansh dobara apne phone ki taraf dekhne laga.
Lekin agle hi pal usne suna.
"Excuse me?"
Usne sar uthaya.
Ladki uski taraf dekh rahi thi.
"Ji?"
"Yahan baithne se music thoda kam sunai deta hai?"
Reyansh ne apni seat ke aas-paas nazar ghumayi.
"Thoda. Lekin agar aapko bilkul shaanti chahiye, toh shayad library better option hoti."
Ladki ke hothon par halki si smile aayi.
"Library mein Saturday night ko kaun jaata hai?"
"Jo club mein aakar bhi logon ko observe kar raha ho."
Usne Reyansh ko ek pal dekha.
"Fair point."
Reyansh ne mocktail ka glass uthaya.
"Waise main observe nahi kar raha. Bas apne dost ka dance dekhkar uski dosti par dobara soch raha hoon."
Ladki ne dance floor ki taraf dekha.
Wahan Arshad apne dono haath hawa mein uthakar koi aisa step kar raha tha jise dance kehne se pehle dance community se permission leni padti.
Woh hans padi.
"Your friend?"
"Unfortunately."
"Kaafi confidence hai."
"Talent ho ya na ho, confidence hona chahiye. Mere dost ka maanna hai."
"Achha philosophy hai."
"Uski nahi. Uske paas itni philosophy hoti toh ab tak dance classes khol chuka hota."
Ladki phir hans di.
Arshad ne door se kuch ajeeb sa move kiya.
Reyansh ne use dekhkar apna chehra haath se dhak liya.
Ladki ne kaha, "I think he saw you."
"Usse pehle ki woh mujhe dance floor par bulaye, main apni location change karne wala hoon."
"Smart decision."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Waise aap bhi kisi ka wait kar rahi hain?"
"Nope."
"Toh?"
"Toh kya?"
"Bas aise hi pooch raha tha."
Usne apna phone uthaya.
"Main apna Saturday kisi aur ke schedule ke hisaab se nahi chalati."
Jawab seedha tha.
Na usne attitude dikhane ki koshish ki, na apni baat ko justify kiya.
Reyansh ne sar hilaya.
"Good policy."
"Works for me."
Kuch seconds ki khamoshi hui.
Music badal gaya. Dance floor par bheed ne ek naye gaane ke saath shor machana shuru kar diya.
Ladki ne apne glass se ek sip liya.
Phir Reyansh ki taraf dekhkar boli, "Aap bhi apne dost ko enjoy karne dene ke liye yahan aakar akele baith gaye?"
Reyansh ne halka sa hanskar kaha, "Aapne do minute mein kaafi investigation kar li."
"Observation. Investigation ke liye zyada time chahiye."

"Fair enough."
Woh apni seat se uthne lagi.
"Anyway, thanks for the card."
"Anytime."
Ladki ne apna bag uthaya.
Phir jaane se pehle rukkar boli, "Aur haan, aapke dost ko dance class ki zaroorat hai."
Reyansh ne seedha jawab diya, "Usse bataunga toh woh instructor ko hi sikhaane lagega."
Woh hans padi.
"Good luck with that."
"Thank you. I need it."
Woh apni table se phone utha kar doosri taraf chali gayi.
Reyansh ne uske peeche dekhne ki koshish nahi ki.
Usne uska naam nahi poochha tha.
Usne bhi uska naam nahi poochha.
Koi number exchange nahi hua.
Koi filmi nazar nahi mili.
Bas ek chhoti si conversation thi, jismein do ajnabiyon ne ek doosre ko kuch minute ka entertainment diya aur phir apni-apni raahon par chal diye.
Ladki ka naam Myra tha.
Lekin Reyansh ko yeh baat abhi pata nahi thi.
Aur Myra ke liye bhi woh filhaal bas ek funny stranger tha, jiska dost dance floor par apne alag hi career ki shuruaat kar raha tha.
Kabhi-kabhi kisi se milne ke liye uska naam jaanna zaroori nahi hota.
Kam se kam us waqt tak toh nahi, jab tak zindagi khud dobara milwane ka faisla na kare.

Kuch der baad Arshad aur Sakshi seating area mein laut aaye.
Arshad ki saansein tez chal rahi thi.
Sakshi bilkul normal thi.
Reyansh ne dono ko dekha.
"Ek ne dance kiya hai aur doosre ne workout."
Arshad ne kursi kheenchkar baithte hue kaha, "Bhai, tu samajh nahi sakta. Dance ek art hai."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Art ko bhi apni izzat bachane ka mauka milna chahiye."
Sakshi hansne lagi.
Arshad ne paani ka glass uthaya.
"Main tum dono ki negativity se door ja raha hoon."
"Kidhar?" Sakshi ne poochha.
"Apne andar."
"Udhar bhi jagah nahi milegi," Reyansh bola. "Wahan pehle se teri overconfidence baithi hai."
Arshad ne paani peete-peete khansi kar di.
Sakshi uski peeth thapthapane lagi.
"Bas karo tum dono!"
Reyansh hans pada.
Thodi der baad Sakshi washroom ki taraf chali gayi.
Arshad ne Reyansh ki taraf dekha.
"Kaisa lag raha hai?"
"Club achha hai."
"Club nahi, raat."
Reyansh ne dance floor ki taraf nazar daali.
"Achhi hai."
Arshad kuch pal use dekhta raha.
"Tu enjoy kar raha hai na?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Haan, bhai. Main theek hoon."
Arshad ne sar hilaya.
"Theek hai."
Usne aur kuch nahi poochha.
Reyansh ko uski yeh baat achhi lagti thi. Arshad mazaak bahut karta tha, lekin kabhi-kabhi use pata hota tha ki kis baat ko mazaak mein nahi badalna chahiye.
"Waise," Reyansh ne kaha, "teri girlfriend achha dance karti hai."
Arshad ka chehra khil gaya.
"Mujhe pata hai."
"Tu uske saath dance kar raha tha ya usse bachne ki koshish?"
"Jealousy insaan ko bahut neeche gira deti hai, Reyansh."
"Main jealous hoon?"
"Bilkul. Tu akela baitha tha aur main apni girlfriend ke saath dance kar raha tha."
Reyansh ne uske kandhe par haath rakha.
"Khush reh, dost. Bas kabhi-kabhi apni shakal bhi dekh liya kar."
Arshad ne uska haath hata diya.
"Emotional moment barbaad kar diya."
Dono hans pade.
Sakshi wapas aayi toh Arshad ne uske liye kursi kheench di.
"Madam, aapki seat."
Sakshi baithte hue boli, "Thank you. Aaj tum bahut gentleman ban rahe ho."
"Main hamesha gentleman hoon."
Reyansh ne turant kaha, "Bas kabhi-kabhi evidence nahi milta."
Sakshi phir hans padi.
Arshad ne dono ko ghoora, lekin uske chehre par bhi smile thi.
Uske baad teeno ne kuch der saath baithkar baatein ki.
Arshad ne apne office ke ek client ki ajeeb demand sunayi. Sakshi ne apne course ke baare mein bataya aur kaise usne ek assignment ke liye poori raat jagkar kaam kiya tha. Reyansh ne office ki ek meeting ka kissa sunaya, jahan ek aadmi ne presentation ke baad wahi sawaal poochha tha jiska jawab presentation ki pehli slide par tha.
"Corporate duniya mein sabse zyada confidence un logon mein hota hai jo presentation nahi dekhte," Reyansh ne kaha.
Arshad ne glass uthaya.
"Is baat par toast hona chahiye."
Sakshi ne uska glass neeche kar diya.
"Pehle paani khatam karo. Tum already bahut bol chuke ho."
Arshad ne uski taraf dekha.
"Relationship mein meri freedom kahan hai?"
Sakshi ne muskurakar jawab diya, "Tumhari freedom wahi hai jahan tumhari common sense shuru hoti hai."
Reyansh ne table par haath maara.
"Is line ko likh le, Arshad. Tere next campaign mein kaam aayegi."
Arshad ne phone nikala aur sach mein notes khol liye.
Sakshi ne use dekha.
"Tum sach mein likh rahe ho?"
"Of course. Inspiration kabhi bhi aa sakti hai."
"Main tumhare saath relationship mein hoon ya tumhari unpaid creative consultant hoon?"
Arshad ne uska haath pakad liya.
"Dono. Lekin doosre role ka payment pyaar mein included hai."
Sakshi ne aankhein ghumayi, lekin apna haath nahi chhudaya.
Reyansh unhe dekhta raha.
Phir usne nazar hata kar apna glass uthaya.
Uske chehre par smile thi.
Aaj raat use kisi cheez ki kami mehsoos karne ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Woh apne dost ke saath tha.
Ek achhi jagah par tha.
Aur uski zindagi mein abhi bhi aise pal the jinmein bina kisi badi wajah ke khushi mil sakti thi.

Raat kaafi aage badh chuki thi jab teeno club se bahar nikle.
Bahar ki hawa andar ke music se bilkul alag thi. Sadak par ab bhi gaadiyan chal rahi thi, lekin shaam wali bheed kam ho gayi thi.
Arshad ne apni jacket pehni.
"Main officially declare karta hoon ki aaj ki raat successful rahi."
Sakshi ne poochha, "Kis basis par?"
"Main zinda hoon. Tum khush ho. Reyansh ne kisi se ladai nahi ki. Teenon objectives achieved."
Reyansh ne car ki keys ghumate hue kaha, "Mujhe toh laga tha tu apne dance ke baad stage par award lene jaayega."
"Jealousy again."
"Tu har baat ko jealousy kyun samajhta hai?"
"Kyuki mere andar confidence hai."
Sakshi ne apna phone check kiya.
"Mujhe cab mil gayi."
Arshad ne turant kaha, "Main tumhe drop kar deta hoon."
Sakshi ne uski taraf dekha.
"Tumhara ghar doosri direction mein hai."
"Toh kya hua?"
"Toh ye hua ki main cab se chali jaungi. Tumhe extra drive nahi karni padegi."
Arshad ne kuch kehna chaha, phir ruk gaya.
"Okay. Ghar pahunchkar message kar dena."
"Kar dungi."
Usne Arshad ko hug kiya.
"Good night, idiot."
"Good night, beautiful."
Phir Sakshi ne Reyansh ki taraf dekhkar kaha, "Good night, Reyansh. Aaj tumne hum dono ko tolerate kiya, thank you."
Reyansh hans diya.
"Kal invoice bhej dunga."
Sakshi cab mein baith gayi.
Gaadi nikalne tak Arshad uske paas khada raha.
Reyansh ne uske kandhe par haath rakha.
"Chal, Romeo."
Arshad ne uski taraf dekha.
"Ek baat bolun?"
"Bol."
"Main sach mein khush hoon."
Reyansh ka expression halka sa badla, lekin usne baat ko unnecessarily serious nahi banaya.
"Achha hai, bhai."
Arshad ne sar hilaya.
"Bas."
Dono apni gaadiyon ki taraf badh gaye


Ghar pahunchte-pahunchte raat aur gehri ho gayi thi.
Reyansh ne flat ka darwaza khola, lights on ki aur shoes utaarkar sofa ke paas rakh diye.
Phone par Arshad ka message aaya.
Arshad:
Ghar pahunch gaya?
Reyansh:
Haan.
Arshad:
Aaj ka dance kaisa tha? Honest review.
Reyansh:
Main apne lawyer se baat karke jawab dunga.
Arshad:
Tu dosti ke layak nahi hai.
Reyansh:
Aur tu dance ke layak nahi hai.
Arshad:
Good night, dushman.
Reyansh:
Good night, dancer.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakh diya.
Kuch der baad Sakshi ka message aaya.
Sakshi:
Reached home. Arshad ko bolna kal uske dance steps ki practice karwaungi.
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh:
Please. Main chahta hoon ki duniya ko ek baar phir dance se pyaar ho.
Sakshi:
?? Good night!
Reyansh:
Good night.
Woh kitchen mein gaya, paani piya aur wapas living room mein aa gaya.
TV on kiya, lekin kuch dekhne ka mann nahi hua.
Usne remote table par rakha aur balcony ka darwaza khol diya.
Bengaluru ki raat saamne phaili hui thi.
Door kahin traffic ka halka sa shor tha. Kisi building ki balcony mein ab bhi light jal rahi thi. Neeche security guard apni chair par baitha phone dekh raha tha.
Reyansh railing ke paas khada ho gaya.
Aaj ki raat mein koi badi baat nahi hui thi.
Usne kisi se apna dil nahi khola.
Kisi ne uski zindagi badalne ka vaada nahi kiya.
Koi naya rishta shuru nahi hua.
Usne bas apne dost ko khush dekha, kuch ghante music suna, kuch jokes maare aur ek ajnabi ke saath chand lines exchange ki.
Aur shayad kabhi-kabhi itna hi kaafi hota hai.
Zindagi hamesha kisi bade mod ka naam nahi hoti.
Kabhi-kabhi zindagi bas ek aisi raat hoti hai jiske baare mein agle din sochkar insaan muskura deta hai.
Reyansh ne balcony ka darwaza band kiya.
Phone charging par lagaya.
Lights off ki.
Aur bed par let gaya.
Kal Sunday tha.
Koi office meeting nahi.
Koi presentation nahi.
Koi client call nahi.
Usne socha, kal subah aaram se uthega.
Shayad breakfast banayega.
Shayad bahar niklega.
Shayad kuch bhi nahi karega.
Usne aankhein band kar li.
Aur aaj ki raat ko wahin chhod diya, jahan use hona chahiye tha.
Ek achhi yaad ki tarah.