Adultery AZTARAAB

[Greenwood]

Update 15


Saturday ki shaam thi.
Reyansh office se lautkar abhi shoes utaar hi raha tha ki uska phone baj utha.
Arshad Calling...
Reyansh ne call uthaya.
"Bol, advertising ke Amitabh Bachchan. Aaj kis brand ki barbaadi karni hai?"
Arshad ne bina greeting ke kaha, "Saat baje ready rehna." ( Amitabh style)
"Kyun?"
"Bahaar jaana hai. (Amitabh styl)
"Kahan?"
"Bataya toh tha. Surprise."(Amitabh styl)
"Arshad, pichhli baar tune surprise bola tha toh hum tere ek dost ke birthday par gaye the, jahan birthday wale ko khud nahi pata tha ki uska birthday hai."
"Planning mein thodi gadbad thi."
"Thodi?"
"Achha, theek hai. Is baar pakka maza aayega."(Amitabh style)
Reyansh ne shoes rack mein rakhe aur kitchen ki taraf dekha. Shalu dinner ki taiyaari kar rahi thi.
"Main ghar par hi kha lunga. Tu bata, kitne baje aayega?"
"Main neeche hoon."
Reyansh ruk gaya.
"Kya?"
"Neeche, mere sher! Tere building ke bahar. Jaldi aa."
Call kat gaya.
Reyansh ne phone dekha, phir darwaza.
"Is aadmi ko ek din kisi building ki security pakadkar bahar nahi nikaalegi, toh mujhe hairani hogi."
Shalu ne kitchen se awaaz lagayi, "Sir, dinner bana doon?"
"Haan, bana do. Main dost ke saath bahar ja raha hoon."
"Achha. Kitne baje aaoge?"
Reyansh ne socha.
"Yeh sawaal Arshad se poochhna chahiye tha."
Shalu ne sir hila diya.
"Phir toh khana garam karne ka kaam bhi mujhe hi karna padega."
Reyansh hans pada.
"Emergency ke liye thoda khana rakh dena."
"Ji, sir."
Woh taiyaar hokar neeche utar gaya.
Arshad apni gaadi ke paas khada tha. Dark jeans, casual shirt aur chehre par wohi muskurahat jo aksar kisi bewakoofi bhare plan se pehle nazar aati thi.
Reyansh paas aaya.
"Chal, bata. Kahan ja rahe hain?"
Arshad ne gaadi unlock ki.
"Ek jagah jahan log khud ko bahut interesting samajhte hain."
"Matlab tere office ki party hai?"
Arshad ne seene par haath rakh liya.
"Ek din meri creativity ki izzat kar lena."
"Karunga. Pehle creativity dikha."
Arshad ne darwaza khola.
"Baith, Professor. Raaste mein samjhata hoon."
Reyansh baith gaya.
Gaadi chal padi.
Use abhi tak nahi pata tha ki Arshad use kahan le ja raha hai. Lekin use itna zaroor pata tha ki shaam shaant rehne wali nahi hai.

dheere-dheere aage badh rahi thi.
Reyansh passenger seat par baitha phone dekh raha tha. Arshad steering sambhalte hue gaana gaa raha tha, lekin sur ka uske driving licence se koi sambandh nahi lag raha tha.
Reyansh ne phone se nazar uthayi.
"Ek request hai."
"Bol."
"Gaana band kar de. Gaadi mein music system hai, emergency siren nahi."
Arshad ne gaana aur zor se gaana shuru kar diya.
Reyansh ne khidki se bahar dekhna behtar samjha.
Kuch der baad Arshad ne kaha, "Aaj mere ek college friend ki house party hai."
"Naam?"
"Kabir."
"Kaun Kabir?"
"Wahi jo college mein mere saath tha."
"Arshad, tere college mein aadhe Bengaluru ke ladke honge. Thoda specific ho."
"Woh jo annual fest mein stage par chadhkar principal ki mimicry karta tha."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Achha! Woh Kabir!"
Arshad ne muskurakar poochha, "Yaad aaya?"
"Bilkul. Principal ne uski mimicry ke baad use stage se utara nahi tha. Seedha stage hi band karwa diya tha."
Dono hans pade.
Arshad ne gaadi ka indicator diya aur ek side road par mud gaya.
"Usne naya apartment liya hai. Housewarming ke naam par party rakh raha hai."
"Housewarming mein log ghar dekhne jaate hain ya ghar walon ko pareshan karne?"
"Hum dono doosri category mein aate hain."
"Kam se kam apni category ka toh tujhe pata hai."
Arshad ne uski taraf dekha.
"Waise, Sakshi bhi aa rahi hai."
Reyansh ne muskurakar kaha, "Toh tune mujhe bulaya kyun? Tujhe toh apni girlfriend ke saath waqt bitana chahiye."
Arshad ka expression badla nahi, lekin usne ek pal ke liye road se nazar hata kar Reyansh ko dekha.
"Uske dost bhi honge. Main har jagah sirf uska boyfriend bankar nahi ghoomna chahta. Aur tu mera dost hai. Tere saath bhi waqt bitana hai."


Reyansh ne mazaak mein kaha, "Yeh baat kisi recording mein rakhni chahiye. Kal ko tu mukar gaya toh?"
"Tu rakh le. Main bhi tere khilaaf evidence jama kar raha hoon."
Gaadi apartment complex ke entrance par pahunch gayi.
Arshad ne parking mein gaadi laga di.
"Welcome to the world of educated idiots."



Apartment ke andar music chal raha tha.
Living room mein kuch log baatein kar rahe the, kuch balcony mein khade the aur kitchen ke paas snacks ki plates rakhi thi. Mahol lively tha, lekin itna shor nahi tha ki baat karna mushkil ho.
Kashi ne Arshad ko dekhte hi awaaz lagayi.
"Oye copywriter! Aa gaya tu!"
Arshad ne dono haath phaila diye.
"Main toh aa gaya. Ab party ka standard badhega."
Kashi ne use gale lagaya.
"Standard badhega ya neighbours complaint karenge, woh raat batayegi."
Reyansh ne haath milaya.
"Kashi, congratulations."
"Thank you, bhai. Aao, andar aao."
Arshad ne Reyansh ka kandha pakda.
"Yeh Reyansh hai. College ka sabse seedha ladka."
Kashi ne Reyansh ko dekha.
"Tu? Seedha?"
Reyansh ne Arshad ki taraf dekha.
"Isne apni reputation bachane ke liye meri bali chadha di."
Kashi hans pada.
"Achha hai. Aaj purane doston ki beizzati hogi."
"Bas ek request hai," Reyansh ne kaha, "Arshad ko mic mat dena."
Arshad ne turant jawab diya, "Mic mil gaya toh teri poori biography suna dunga."
"Biography mein facts hone chahiye."
"Tere case mein imagination ki zaroorat padegi."
Teenon hans pade.
Arshad kisi se milne chala gaya. Reyansh ne ek drink li aur living room ke kone mein khada hokar logon ko dekhne laga.
Tabhi Sakshi uske paas aayi.
"Reyansh! Tum aa gaye."
"Arshad ne kidnapping ke tareeke mein bulaya tha. Mana karne ka mauka nahi mila."
Sakshi hans di.
"Usne mujhe bhi bas itna bataya ki tum dono aa rahe ho."
"Toh hum dono hi uske plan ke victims hain."
"Main toh ab aadat daal chuki hoon."
Sakshi ne uske haath mein glass dekha.
"Enjoy kar rahe ho?"
"Abhi toh investigation chal rahi hai. Party ka verdict baad mein dunga."
"Please, apni report Arshad ko mat dena. Woh phir agle hafte bhi kisi party mein le aayega."
Reyansh ne muskurakar kaha, "Usse rokna mushkil hai."
Sakshi kisi aur se milne chali gayi.
Reyansh ne drink ka ek sip liya aur balcony ki taraf badh gaya. Wahan comparatively kam shor tha.
Balcony mein do log baat kar rahe the. Ek ladki railing ke paas khadi phone par kisi ko message kar rahi thi.
Usne black sleeveless top aur dark trousers pehne the. Baal khule the aur ek haath mein phone tha. Uske chehre par aisa expression tha jaise party mein hone ke bawajood uska dhyaan kisi aur hi baat mein ho.
Reyansh uske paas se guzra hi tha ki uske phone se ek chhota sa card neeche gir gaya.
Usne card uthaya.
"Excuse me. Yeh aapka hai?"
Ladki palti.
"Haan. Thank you."
Usne card le liya aur phone wapas haath mein pakad liya.
Reyansh ne bas itna kaha, "You're welcome."
Woh wapas andar jaane laga.
"Wait."
Reyansh palta.
Ladki ne card par nazar daali.
"Yahan itna shor hai ki main phone par baat karne ke liye bahar aayi thi. Ab lag raha hai andar hi chali jaun."
Reyansh ne balcony se living room ki taraf dekha.
"Yeh toh party ka success hai. Log shor se bachne ke liye ghar ke andar se balcony mein aa rahe hain."
Ladki hans di.
"Good point."
"Waise, aap Kashi ki friend hain?"
"Haan. Aur aapki bhi,
If you remember

Usne halka sa sir hilaya.
But I couldn't remember

Chalo yaad aa jaye to batana
Reyansh hans pada.
"Phir toh aapko uski baat par bilkul bharosa nahi karna chahiye."
Ladki ne phone apne bag mein rakh liya.
"Main generally logon ki baat par jaldi bharosa nahi karta"
"Achhi policy hai."
"Har baar kaam nahi karti."
Uski awaaz mein mazaak tha, lekin ek pal ke liye uska expression badal gaya.
Reyansh ne usse kuch poochha nahi.
Andar se Arshad ki awaaz aayi.
"Reyansh! Idhar aa, bhai!"
Reyansh ne mudkar dekha.
"Coming!"
Woh ladki ki taraf palta.
"Enjoy the party."
"You too."
Reyansh andar chala gaya.
Dono ne naam nahi poochhe.
Na number exchange hua.
Na kisi ne peeche mudkar doosre ko dekha.
Woh bas ek chhoti si mulaqat thi, jo kuch der baad dono ki yaadon mein shayad dhundhli pad jaati.


Living room mein Arshad kisi ko apne college ke dinon ka kissa suna raha tha.
"...aur phir professor ne mujhse poochha ki assignment kahan hai. Maine kaha, sir, assignment apki ass me."
Kashi hans-hanskar dohra ho raha tha.
Reyansh paas aaya.

Arshad ne Reyansh ko ghura.
"Tu mere character assassination ke liye hi aaya hai?"
"Main toh tere character ko pehchaan kar aaya hoon."
Sakshi paas aa gayi.
"Kya hua?"
Reyansh ne kaha, "Arshad apni academic achievements suna raha tha."
Sakshi ne Arshad ki taraf dekha.
"Achha? Kaunsi?"
Arshad ne turant kaha, "Maine college mein ek baar debate competition jeeta tha."
Reyansh ne sir hilaya.
"Debate nahi. Tujhe time khatam hone par stage se hata diya gaya tha."
Kashi zor se hans pada.
Sakshi ne Arshad ka haath pakda.
"Baby, tumne mujhe yeh story nahi batayi."
Arshad ne bahut masoom chehra banaya.
"Har kahani ka ek villain hota hai."
Reyansh ne apni taraf ishara kiya.
"Main toh sach ka killer hoon."
Sakshi ne kaha, "Nahi. Tum dono ek doosre ki zindagi ke unpaid fact-checkers ho."
"Exactly!" Arshad ne kaha. "Aur is fact-checker ki wajah se meri zindagi mein privacy naam ki koi cheez nahi hai."
Reyansh ne uske kandhe par haath rakha.
"Dosti mein privacy nahi, ladaivacy hota hai."
Sakshi hans padi.
Kuch der baad music badal gaya. Kashi ne Arshad ko dance floor ki taraf kheench liya.
Arshad ne Reyansh ko ishara kiya.
"Tu bhi aa!"
Reyansh ne haath utha kar mana kar diya.
"Main apni izzat ke saath yahin theek hoon."
Arshad ne door se chillakar kaha, "Teri izzat toh college mein hi khatam ho gayi thi!"
Reyansh ne jawab diya, "Kam se kam meri dance video viral nahi hui thi!"
Arshad ne turant apni dance moves aur kharab kar di.
Sakshi hansi se dohari ho gayi.
Reyansh ne phone nikaala aur video banane laga.
Arshad ne door se use dekh liya.
"Reyansh! Phone neeche!"
"Yeh historical documentation hai!"
"Delete kar!"
"Kal dekhte hain!"
Party mein hansi aur music ke beech waqt nikalta raha.
Reyansh ne kisi se zyada baat nahi ki, lekin woh bore bhi nahi hua. Kabhi Kashi ke saath college ki baatein, kabhi Sakshi ke saath chhoti-chhoti conversations aur kabhi Arshad ki harkaton par hansna.
Usne balcony wali ladki ko ek baar aur door se dekha. Woh kisi group ke saath baat kar rahi thi.
Reyansh ne apna dhyaan wapas Arshad par kar liya.
Aaj ki shaam ka maqsad kisi naye rishte ki talaash nahi tha.
Woh bas apne dost ke saath waqt bitane aaya tha.
Aur filhaal, itna kaafi tha.


Raat kaafi ho chuki thi jab Reyansh aur Arshad apartment se bahar nikle.
Parking mein aate hue Arshad ne poochha, "Kaisi lagi party?"
Reyansh ne gaadi ki taraf badhte hue kaha, "Theek thi."
Arshad ruk gaya.
"Bas theek?"
"Achhi thi."
"Bas achhi?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Tu review chahta hai ya Google rating?"
Arshad ne haath jod liye.
"Main ek dost ke liye itni mehnat karta hoon aur mujhe sirf theek milta hai."
Reyansh hans pada.
"Achha, paanch mein se chaar stars."
"Ek star kyun kaata?"
"Host ke dost ki dance performance ke liye."
Arshad ne uske kandhe par mukka maara.
"Saale!"
Dono gaadi mein baith gaye.
Raaste mein Arshad ne music chala diya. Is baar woh gaana nahi gaa raha tha.
Kuch der baad usne kaha, "Waise, aaj tujhe kisi se baat karte dekha tha balcony mein."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Ek ladki ka card gir gaya tha. Utha kar diya."
"Bas?"
"Bas."
Arshad ne muskurakar sir hilaya.
"Achha. Main toh soch raha tha ki aaj koi nayi kahani shuru ho gayi."
Reyansh ne khidki se bahar dekhte hue kaha, "Har mulaqat kahani nahi hoti, Arshad."
Arshad ne is baar mazaak nahi kiya.
"Haan. Lekin kabhi-kabhi kahani ek mulaqat se shuru bhi hoti hai."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Tu aaj zyada philosophical ho raha hai. Ghar jaakar paani pee aur so ja."
Arshad hans pada.
"Chal, nikal."
Gaadi apartment ke paas ruki.
Reyansh utarne laga toh Arshad ne awaaz di.
"Oye, Professor!"
Reyansh palta.
"Kal video bhejunga."
"Kaunsi?"
"Teri dance ki."
Reyansh ne gaadi ka darwaza band karte hue kaha, "Bhej. Main teri shaadi mein projector par chalaunga."
Arshad ka chehra badal gaya.
"Shaadi tak kyun le gaya baat ko?"
Reyansh hans pada.
"Good night, Arshad."
Woh building ke andar chala gaya.
Arshad kuch pal gaadi mein baitha raha, phir muskurakar nikal gaya.
Us raat Reyansh ghar lauta toh Shalu ja chuki thi. Dinner kitchen mein dhak kar rakha tha. Usne khana garam kiya, khaaya aur kitchen saaf karke bedroom mein chala gaya.
Phone par Arshad ka message aaya.
Arshad: Aaj ki party ke liye thank you, Professor.
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Agli baar invitation ke saath location bhi bhejna.
Arshad: Surprise ka concept samajh.
Reyansh: Surprise aur kidnapping mein farq hota hai.
Arshad ne laughing emoji bheja.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakh diya.
Usne aaj ek party attend ki thi, dost ke saath hansa tha aur ek anjaan ladki se kuch minute baat ki thi.