Adultery AZTARAAB

[Greenwood]

Update 11:

Club ki raat khatam ho chuki thi, lekin Arshad ke liye ek baat abhi bhi khatam nahi hui thi.
Uski dancing.
Subah ke kareeb nau baje Reyansh ke phone par lagataar teesri call aayi.
Reyansh ne takiye ke neeche se phone nikala. Screen par naam chamak raha tha.
Arshad Calling...
Usne aankhein band rakhte hue call receive ki.
Reyansh: "Agar tu apni dancing ko defend karne ke liye phone kar raha hai, toh main mar chuka hoon."
Arshad: "Good morning bolne ka tareeka thoda casual hai tera."
Reyansh: "Good morning."
Arshad: "Ab uth ja."
Reyansh: "Kyun?"
Arshad: "Kyunki zindagi mein bahut kuch karna hai."
Reyansh: "Jaise?"
Arshad: "Sabse pehle kal raat ki teri badtameezi ka jawab dena hai."
Reyansh ne aankhein khol di.
"Tu abhi bhi usi baat par atka hai?"
"Ussi baat par? Bhai, tune mere dance ko public mein insult kiya tha."
"Public mein? Wahan aadhe log apne pairon par khade rehne ki koshish kar rahe the."
"Reyansh, ek baat bata."
"Bol."
"Tu dost hai ya meri zindagi ka unpaid critic?"
Reyansh hans pada.
"Unpaid hi rehne de. Paid hua toh sach bolna padega."
Arshad kuch seconds chup raha.
"Achha, ek baat bata. Kal jab main Sakshi ke saath dance kar raha tha, tu wahan se uthkar kyun chala gaya tha?"
Reyansh ne bed par baithte hue apne baal peeche kiye.
"Music loud tha."
"Music sabke liye loud tha."
"Mere kaan thode sensitive hain."
"Tere kaan nahi, teri social battery khatam ho gayi thi."
"Doctor kab bana?"
"College mein tere saath rehkar. Tere symptoms bahut dekhe hain."
Reyansh ki hansi nikal gayi.
"Chal, ab phone rakh. Nahane de."
"Ek minute."
"Ab kya?"
"Kal raat maza aaya tha?"
Reyansh ne kuch pal socha.
"Haan. Achha tha."
"Bas?"
"Bahut achha tha, huzoor."
"Thank you. Itni si appreciation ke liye aadmi ko kitna intezaar karna padta hai."
"Ab tu ro mat dena."
"Main ro nahi raha. Meri aankhon mein tere dance ki yaadein aa gayi hain."
Reyansh ne call kaat di.
Phone bed par phenka aur khud bathroom ki taraf badh gaya.
Uski hansi abhi bhi nahi ruki thi.
Kabhi-kabhi dosti mein kisi khaas baat ki zaroorat nahi hoti. Do log ek doosre ko bewakoof banate rehte hain, aur isi beech din thoda aasaan ho jaata hai.


Reyansh jab kitchen mein aaya, Shalu gas par chai rakh chuki thi.
Usne Reyansh ko dekha.
"Sir, aaj bade khush lag rahe ho."
Reyansh ne fridge khola.
"Main roz khush rehta hoon."
"Achha?"
"Haan."
"Toh kal jab maine poochha tha ki doodh khatam ho gaya hai, toh aapne aise dekha tha jaise maine aapki property maang li ho?"
Reyansh ne fridge ka darwaza band kiya.
"Woh doodh nahi tha. Meri subah ka aakhri sahara tha."
Shalu hans di.
"Matlab doodh ke bina aapki zindagi adhuri hai."
"Bilkul."
"Phir shaadi kyun ki thi?"
Reyansh ka haath ek pal ke liye ruk gaya.
Shalu ko apni baat ka andaaza hua toh usne turant nazar gas ki taraf kar li.
"Sorry, sir. Aise hi bol diya."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Uske chehre par na gussa tha, na koi khaas reaction.
"Arre, koi baat nahi. Waise bhi meri shaadi ka doodh se kya connection?"
Shalu ne rahat ki saans li.
"Connection toh aap hi bata sakte ho."
"Main bataunga toh tu apni chai mein chini ki jagah namak daal degi."
"Main itni bhi buri cook nahi hoon."
"Bilkul nahi. Bas kabhi-kabhi khana khaate hue insaan ko apne faislon par sochne ka mauka mil jaata hai."
Shalu ne palatkar use dekha.
"Sir, aapko kabhi seedhi baat karni aati hai?"
"Bilkul. Lekin uske paise alag lagte hain."
Dono hans pade.
Shalu ne plate mein poha rakha aur table par rakh diya.
Reyansh baith gaya. Khidki se dhoop kitchen ke ek hisse mein aa rahi thi. Bahar building ke compound mein bachche cycle chala rahe the.
Shalu ne apna bag uthaya.
"Sir, main chalti hoon. Aaj ghar par thoda kaam hai."
"Sunday ko bhi kaam?"
"Sir, gareeb aadmi ki chhutti bhi uske budget se poochhkar aati hai."
Reyansh ne poha khaate hue uski taraf dekha.
"Yeh dialogue kisne sikhaya?"
"Kisi ne nahi. Experience hai."
Usne bag kandhe par rakha, phir jaane se pehle palatkar poochha.
"Sir, ek baat poochhun?"
"Tu aaj sawaal poochhne ke paise lekar aayi hai kya?"
"Main seriously poochh rahi hoon."
"Achha, bol."
"Aapko apni job sach mein pasand hai?"
Reyansh ne is baar mazaak nahi kiya.
"Kyun poochh rahi hai?"
"Bas aise hi. Aap roz kaam karte ho. Kabhi phone, kabhi laptop, kabhi meeting. Kabhi lagta hai aapko kaam karna pasand hai aur kabhi lagta hai bas kar rahe ho."
Reyansh ne kuch pal socha.
"Dono baatein sach hain. Kaam pasand hai, lekin har din nahi. Kabhi-kabhi bas zimmedari hoti hai."
Shalu ne dheere se sir hilaya.
"Samajh gayi."
"Tu kya karna chahti hai, woh socha?"
Shalu kuch pal chup rahi.
"Abhi nahi pata. Lekin kuch aisa karna hai jisse lage ki main bhi kuch kar rahi hoon. Bas gharon mein kaam karte rehna hi poori zindagi nahi honi chahiye."
Reyansh ne plate side mein rakhi.
"Toh pehle yeh pata kar ki tujhe kya achha lagta hai. Phir dekhna ki usmein aage badhne ka raasta kya hai. Sirf doosron ko dekhkar apna raasta mat chunna."
Shalu ne uski taraf dekha.
"Jaise aapne chuna?"
Reyansh halka sa muskuraya.
"Maine bhi bahut kuch doosron ko dekhkar chuna tha. Har baar sahi nahi nikla."
Shalu ko laga jaise woh kuch aur keh sakta tha, lekin usne baat aage nahi badhayi.
"Achha sir, main chalti hoon."
"Haan. Aur agali baar doodh khatam hone se pehle bata dena. Meri zindagi ka sahara khatam nahi hona chahiye."
Shalu hansi aur darwaza band karke chali gayi.
Reyansh ne chai uthayi.
Uski zindagi mein bahut se sawaal the, lekin har sawaal ka jawab usi waqt dena zaroori nahi tha.


Dopahar ke aas-paas Reyansh balcony mein baitha tha.
Laptop khula hua tha, lekin uski nazar screen par nahi thi. Usne kaam se thoda break liya tha.
Phone vibrate hua.
Shivani Calling...
"Hello, madam."
"Hello, janab. Zinda ho?"
"Nahi. Meri aatma phone utha rahi hai."
"Achha hai. Aatma se hi baat karni thi."
Reyansh hans diya.
"Kya hua?"
"Kuch nahi. Bas poochhna tha ki kal raat ghar theek se pahunch gaya tha?"
"Haan, mummy ji."
"Bahut funny. Main seriously poochh rahi hoon."
"Haan, pahunch gaya tha. Arshad aur Sakshi bhi ghar chale gaye the."
"Achha. Aur tumne kuch khaya tha?"
"Club mein."
"Club mein khane ko khana kehte hain?"
"Di, wahan khana bhi milta hai."
"Reyansh, tumhari baaton se lagta hai tumhe ghar mein khaana milta hi nahi."
"Mujhe milta hai. Bas ghar ka khaana mujhe dekhkar khush nahi hota."
Shivani hans padi.
Kuch der dono idhar-udhar ki baatein karte rahe. Mummy-papa ka haal, Shivani ke ghar ka ek chhota sa kaam aur phir ek purane family joke par hansi.
Call khatam hone se pehle Shivani ne kaha, "Achha sun, ek baat bataun?"
"Batao."
"Aarohi ka message aaya tha."
Reyansh ne phone kaan se thoda door kiya.
"Aarohi?"
"Haan. Yaad hai na? Mere ghar par mile the."
"Di, meri memory abhi itni kharab nahi hui."
"Toh phir aise kyun poochh raha hai?"
"Bas naam sunke laga koi nayi celebrity launch kar di tumne."
"Bahut bakwaas karta hai tu."
"Yeh toh bachpan se meri speciality hai."
Shivani ki awaaz mein halka sa apnapan tha.
"Aarohi ka Bengaluru mein ek kaam tha. Usne poochha tha ki aas-paas koi achhi jagah hai jahan woh coffee le sake. Maine tumhara naam de diya."
Reyansh ne bhauhein sikodi.
"Mera naam coffee shop hai?"
"Matlab agar tum free ho toh use koi jagah suggest kar dena. Tumhe shehar ki jagahen achhi pata hain."
"Achha, toh Google Maps ki naukri bhi mere naam."
"Tu mana kar de, main kisi aur se poochh lungi."
"Nahi, main kar dunga."
"Bas. Itni si baat thi."
Call khatam ho gaya.
Reyansh kuch pal phone dekhta raha, phir usne Aarohi ka contact khola.
Contact pehle se saved nahi tha.
Usne Shivani ko message kiya.
Reyansh: Number bhej dena. Main use jagah suggest kar dunga.
Shivani ne number bhej diya.
Reyansh ne Aarohi ko message kiya.
Reyansh: Hi Aarohi, Reyansh here. Shivani ne bataya tumhe Bengaluru mein coffee ke liye koi achhi jagah chahiye.
Kuch minute baad reply aaya.
Aarohi: Hi! Haan, actually ek meeting ke baad thoda time hai. Koi peaceful place suggest kar sakte ho?
Reyansh ne kuch jagahon ke naam bheje.
Reyansh: Agar traffic se bachna hai toh apni location ke aas-paas wali choose karna. Bengaluru mein kabhi-kabhi coffee se zyada time coffee shop tak pahunchne mein lag jaata hai.
Aarohi: Yeh toh sahi kaha. Thank you!
Reyansh: You're welcome.
Baat khatam.
Na koi lambi conversation hui, na kisi ne conversation ko zabardasti aage badhaya.
Reyansh ne phone rakh diya aur laptop ki taraf laut gaya.


Shaam ko Reyansh building se bahar nikla toh parking ke paas Jheel khadi thi.
Uske haath mein ek kapde ka bag tha aur doosre haath mein phone. Woh kisi se baat kar rahi thi.
"Haan, Mummy. Sab theek hai. Aap tension mat lo."
Kuch pal woh sunti rahi.
"Nahi, maine khaana bana liya tha. Haan, vegetables bhi khaayi hain."
Reyansh parking ki taraf badh raha tha. Jheel ne use dekha aur halka sa smile kiya.
Usne call khatam ki.
Reyansh ne paas aakar poochha, "Vegetables ki attendance lag rahi thi?"
Jheel ne use dekha.
"Kya?"
"Phone par. Aunty poochh rahi thi na ki vegetables khaayi ya nahi?"
Jheel ke chehre par chhoti si hansi aa gayi.
"Aapne sun liya?"
"Bas last line. Waise bhi mothers ko vegetables se special attachment hota hai."
Jheel ne bag thoda upar kiya.
"Meri mummy ko lagta hai main abhi bhi college mein hoon."
"Achha hai. Meri mummy ko abhi bhi lagta hai main bina supervision ke kuch nahi kar sakta."
Jheel hansi.
"Toh aap kya kar rahe the?"
"Main?"
"Haan."
"Main ghar se bahar nikal raha tha. Bina supervision ke."
Jheel ne sir hilaya.
"Aapko toh bahut freedom mili hui hai."
Reyansh ne ek pal uski taraf dekha, phir muskuraya.
"Haan. Kabhi-kabhi zaroorat se zyada."
Jheel ne uski baat ka koi khaas matlab nahi nikala.
"Waise aap kahan ja rahe hain?"
"Chai peene. Neeche wale stall par."
"Oh."
Reyansh ne uske bag ki taraf dekha.
"Aapko kuch chahiye wahan se?"
"Nahi, thank you. Main bas thoda walk karne nikli thi."
"Achha. Toh main chalta hoon."
Jheel ne sir hilaya.
Reyansh do kadam aage badha, phir use ek baat yaad aayi.
"Jheel?"
Woh palti.
"Ji?"
"Chai peene mein koi problem toh nahi? Matlab, agar aapko bhi peeni ho toh."
Jheel kuch pal use dekhti rahi.
"Nahi, problem toh nahi."
"Toh phir?"
"Bas aise hi poochh rahi thi."
Reyansh hans pada.
"Achha. Toh aise hi poochhte-poochhte chai bhi ho jaaye."
Jheel ke chehre par halki si muskurahat aa gayi.
"Theek hai."
Dono building ke gate se bahar nikal gaye.
Chai ke stall par bheed zyada nahi thi.
Reyansh ne do chai order ki.
"Ek normal aur ek kam chini wali," Jheel ne kaha.
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Aap kam chini peeti hain?"
"Haan."
"Health conscious?"
"Nahi. Bas zyada meethi chai pasand nahi."
"Achha. Mujhe laga aap fitness influencer hain."
Jheel ne hairani se dekha.
"Main?"
"Haan. Aap chai peene se pehle uske ingredients check karti hongi."
Jheel hans padi.
"Aap har baat ka mazaak banate hain?"
"Har baat ka nahi. Kabhi-kabhi serious bhi hota hoon."
"Jaise?"
Reyansh ne chai ka cup uthaya.
"Jaise abhi. Main bahut seriously chai pee raha hoon."
Jheel ne apni hansi rokne ki koshish ki.
"Samajh gayi."
Dono stall ke paas khade hokar chai peene lage.
Thodi der baad Jheel ne poochha, "Aapko Bengaluru mein rehna achha lagta hai?"
Reyansh ne cup se nazar uthayi.
"Achha lagta hai. Shehar ko samajhne mein waqt laga tha, lekin ab apna sa lagta hai."
"Aap yahin ke hain?"
"Haan. Family bhi yahin hai."
"Phir aap akele kyun rehte hain?"
Sawaal bilkul aam tha. Jheel ke lehje mein koi jaanne ki zid nahi thi.
Reyansh ne cup haath mein ghumaya.
"Bas, aise hi. Apni jagah par rehne ki aadat ho gayi."
Jheel ne sir hilaya.
"Samajh sakti hoon."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Aapko akele rehna achha lagta hai?"
Jheel ne kuch pal socha.
"Achha bhi lagta hai. Kabhi-kabhi thoda ajeeb bhi."
"Kis tarah?"
"Jaise ghar mein koi cheez kharab ho jaaye toh khud dekhna padta hai. Kabhi tabiyat theek na ho toh khud hi manage karna padta hai. Lekin apne hisaab se rehne ki freedom bhi hoti hai."
Reyansh ne muskurakar kaha, "Yeh toh bilkul sahi baat hai."
Jheel ne cup mein bachi chai pi.
"Waise aap khana bana lete hain?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Yeh sawaal kyun? Building mein meri cooking ki reputation kharab ho gayi hai kya?"
"Nahi. Bas us din aapne omelette ka zikr kiya tha."
"Achha, woh. Haan, bana leta hoon."
"Kya-kya?"



Reyansh ne ungliyon par ginana shuru kiya.
"Omelette. Maggi. Toast. Kabhi-kabhi pasta."
Jheel use dekhti rahi.
"Bas?"
"Ek minute. Main chai bhi bana leta hoon."
Jheel ki hansi nikal gayi.
"Bahut talented hain aap."
"Thank you. Aapke muh se tareef sunkar achha laga."
"Main tareef nahi kar rahi thi."
"Main apni taraf se kar raha hoon."
Dono hans pade.
Kuch der baad Jheel ne phone dekha.
"Mujhe chalna chahiye."
"Haan, chaliye."
Reyansh ne chai ke paise de diye.
Jheel ne turant kaha, "Meri chai ke paise main de deti hoon."
"Arre, koi baat nahi."
"Nahi, aise theek nahi lagta."
Reyansh ne use dekha. Uske lehje mein zid nahi thi, bas apni baat par qayam rehne ki aadat thi.
"Theek hai. Agali baar aap de dena."
Jheel ne purse nikaalne ke bajaye phone apne bag mein rakh liya.
"Agali baar?"
Reyansh ne kandhe uchkaye.
"Agar chai achhi lagi ho toh."
Jheel ne halki si muskurahat ke saath kaha, "Chai achhi thi."
"Bas phir."
Dono building ki taraf chal diye.
Gate ke paas pahunchkar Jheel apne floor ki taraf jaane lagi.
"Good night, Reyansh."
"Good night, Jheel."
Woh lift ki taraf chali gayi.
Reyansh kuch pal lobby mein khada raha, phir apne flat ki taraf badh gaya.
Koi khaas baat nahi hui thi.
Na kisi ne apni zindagi ka raaz bataya tha, na koi wada hua tha.
Bas do padosi chai peene gaye the.
Lekin ab agali baar saamne aane par unke paas ek chhoti si baat aur hogi, jise yaad karke woh muskura sakte hain.


Raat kareeb das baje Reyansh apne sofa par baitha tha.
TV par koi purani comedy film chal rahi thi. Uska phone paas mein pada tha.
Arshad ka message aaya.
Arshad: Zinda hai?
Reyansh: Nahi. Aatma reply kar rahi hai.
Arshad: Meri line chori kar raha hai?
Reyansh: Achhi cheezein copy karni chahiye.
Arshad: Kal raat ke baad aaj kya kiya?
Reyansh: Kuch khaas nahi. Chai peene gaya tha.
Arshad: Akele?
Reyansh ne screen dekhi.
Uske chehre par ek halki si muskurahat aayi.
Reyansh: Nahi. Jheel bhi thi.
Do seconds baad Arshad ka call aa gaya.
Reyansh ne phone uthaya.
"Bol."
"Bhai, ek minute. Jheel kaun?"
"Padosi."
"Achha. Aur padosi ke saath chai peena ab breaking news hai?"
"Tere liye toh hai."
"Achha, bata. Kya baat hui?"
"Normal baatein."
"Kitni normal?"
"Arshad, chai pi. Baatein ki. Ghar aa gaya. Ab tu chahe toh is par documentary bana le."
Arshad hans pada.
"Achha, achha. Main toh bas poochh raha tha."
"Tu poochh nahi raha tha. Tu investigation kar raha tha."
"Professional habit hai."
"Tu copywriter hai, CID nahi."
Dono hansne lage.
Phir Arshad ka lehja thoda normal hua.
"Waise achha hai. Logon se milta raha kar."
Reyansh ne TV ki awaaz thodi kam kar di.
"Haan."
"Bas itna hi?"
"Ab kya bolun? Speech doon?"
"Nahi. Speech toh main de dunga. Tu bas sun lena."
"Isi darr se toh phone nahi karta main."
Arshad ne hansi mein gaali di aur call khatam kar diya.
Reyansh ne phone sofa par rakh diya.
TV par film chal rahi thi, lekin ab uska dhyan screen par tha.
Usne kuch der film dekhi, phir remote uthakar TV band kar diya.
Ghar mein achanak khamoshi ho gayi.
Usne paani piya, kitchen ki light band ki aur bedroom ki taraf badh gaya.
Din theek tha.
Kaam ka pressure nahi tha. Arshad se hansi-mazaak hua. Shivani se baat hui. Aarohi ko coffee ki jagah suggest kar di. Jheel ke saath chai bhi achhi rahi.
Aisa nahi tha ki use kuch kami mehsoos ho rahi thi.
Kam se kam us waqt toh nahi.
Woh bed par let gaya aur phone mein ek nazar notifications par daali.
Phir screen lock karke phone side mein rakh diya.
Aankhein band karne se pehle uske dimaag mein Jheel ka ek jumla aaya.
Achha bhi lagta hai. Kabhi-kabhi thoda ajeeb bhi.
Reyansh ko apni hi baat yaad aa gayi.
Bas, aise hi. Apni jagah par rehne ki aadat ho gayi.
Usne karwat badli.
Kuch baatein hum doosron ko aasani se keh dete hain.
Aur kuch baatein khud se bhi kehna zaroori nahi samajhte.
Kamre mein andhera tha.
Bahar Bengaluru ki sadkon par gaadiyon ki awaaz abhi bhi aa rahi thi.
Reyansh ne aankhein band kar li.
Uski zindagi mein abhi sab kuch apni jagah par tha.