Adultery AZTARAAB

[Greenwood]

Update 16


Sunday, dopahar ke kareeb 12:40 baje.
Bengaluru ki sadkon par weekend wali susti thi. Reyansh apni car mein baitha Shivani ke ghar ki taraf ja raha tha. Ek haath steering par tha aur doosre mein phone, jiski screen par Arshad ke teen messages chamak rahe the.
Arshad: Oye, kal raat ghar pahunch gaya tha ya kisi aur party mein ghus gaya?
Reyansh: Ghar pahunch gaya tha. Subah uthte hi tu kyu phone kar deta hai
Arshad: bad dekh liya tera pyaar, har baat meri izzat ka janaja nikalta hai
Reyansh: Teri izzat thi kahan jo janaza nikalta?
Arshad: Wah! Dosti ke naam par zehar. College mein bhi aisa hi tha tu.
Reyansh: Aur tu tab bhi itna hi bolta tha. Kuch log degree ke saath badhte hain, kuch sirf volume.
Arshad ka reply turant aaya.
Arshad: Chal nikal. Aur haan, agli party mein main dance nahi karunga.
Reyansh: Achha hai. Public safety ke liye zaroori hai.
Reyansh hans pada. Signal green hua toh phone side mein rakh diya.
Kuch hi der mein woh Shivani ke ghar pahunch gaya.
Door khulte hi saamne Shivani thi. Haath mein kitchen towel, chehre par wohi badi behen wali nazar, jo insaan ko dekhte hi uski aadhi pol khol deti hai.
"Janab aa gaye!"
Reyansh ne sunglasses utaarte hue kaha, "Ji haan. Aapke invitation ki izzat rakhne aa gaya."
"Invitation ki izzat? Maa ne subah se chaar baar pooch liya ki tu kab aayega. Papa ne toh ek baar balcony se road bhi check kar li."
Peechhe se papa ki awaaz aayi, "Maine road nahi check ki thi. Bas dekh raha tha traffic kaisa hai."
Reyansh ne andar aate hue kaha, "Haan, aur traffic mein meri shakal dikh gayi hogi."
Papa hans diye.
"Mere bete ko apni shakal kaafi pasand hai. Isliye har baat mein wahi le aata hai."
"Papa, aap meri side hain ya opposition mein?"
"Main toh bachpan se opposition mein hoon. Teri mummy ruling party hain."
Drawing room mein baithe sab hans pade.
Maa kitchen se bahar aayi.
"Achha, ab baap-bete ki parliament band karo. Reyansh, haath-muh dho le. Khana lagne wala hai."
Reyansh ne maa ke pair chhuye aur unke gale lag gaya.
"Kaisi ho, Maa?"
"Main theek hoon. Tu bata, chehra kyun utara hua hai?"
"Chehra utara hua nahi hai. Ye mera natural handsome look hai."
Shivani ne uske kandhe par halki si chapat maari.
"Isko dekho! Do minute ghar mein aaya nahi aur apni tareef shuru."
"Di, talent ko chhupana bhi toh talent ki beizzati hai."
"Talent?" Shivani ne use upar se neeche tak dekha. "Kal raat ke photos dekhe maine."
Reyansh ek pal ke liye ruk gaya.
"Kya photos?"
Shivani ne phone nikala aur Arshad ki story khol di. Screen par Arshad dance floor par ajeeb se expressions ke saath haath hila raha tha. Peechhe Reyansh bhi nazar aa raha tha, jo hans-hanskar dohra hua ja raha tha.
Shivani ne screen uske saamne kar di.
"Tu apne dost ko bachane ke bajaye uska mazaak uda raha tha?"
"Di, main uski performance dekhkar emotional ho gaya tha."
"Kis baat par?"
"Ki itna confidence insaan mein aata kahan se hai?"
Papa zor se hans pade.
Maa ne sir hila diya. "Tum dono abhi bhi college mein hi atke hue ho."
Reyansh sofa par baith gaya.
"College ke din achhe the, Maa. Tab Monday se pareshani hoti thi. Ab toh Monday khud ghar aa jaata hai."
Shivani ne uske saamne paani ka glass rakh diya.
"Achha, Mr. Monday Se Pareshan, ab bata. Office kaisa chal raha hai?"
"Badhiya."
"Bas? Ek shabd?"
"Office mein poora din bolta hoon. Ghar aakar meri battery low ho jaati hai."
Shivani uske paas baith gayi.
"Achha hai. Kabhi-kabhi chup bhi raha kar. Teri battery ke saath humari bhi jaan bach jayegi."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Di, aapko pata hai na, main aapse kitna pyaar karta hoon?"
"Jab tujhe mujhse kuch kaam hota hai tab pata chalta hai."
"Galat. Main toh bina kaam ke bhi aapko yaad karta hoon."
"Kitni baar?"
Reyansh ne sochne ka natak kiya.
"Jab-jab kisi ko paise dene hote hain aur mere paas nahi hote."
Shivani ne cushion uthakar uski taraf phenka.
"Chup kar!"
Ghar mein hansi phir se goonj uthi.
Kuch pal aise hote hain jahan kisi ko kuch samjhana nahi padta. Saamne wale ko bas itna pata hota hai ki tum apne ho.
Reyansh ke liye yeh ghar unhi jagahon mein se ek tha.


Dining table par ghar ka bana khana laga tha. Maa ne Reyansh ki pasand ki sabzi banayi thi aur papa apni usual aadat ke mutabik TV par chal rahe cricket match ki commentary ka zikr kar rahe the, jabki match khatam hue ghante bhar se zyada ho chuka tha.
"Papa, aapko match ki har ball yaad rehti hai," Reyansh ne roti todte hue kaha, "bas ye yaad nahi rehta ki aapne chashma kahan rakha hai."
Papa ne turant jawab diya, "Tera bachpan bhi yaad hai mujhe. Jab tu college mein apna lunchbox bhool jaata tha."
Shivani beech mein boli, "Lunchbox? Ek baar toh apni notebook ghar par chhodkar college pahunch gaya tha aur teacher se keh raha tha ki aaj homework notebook mein hi nahi tha."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Di, aap meri biography likh rahi ho ya lunch karne aayi ho?"
"Biography likhungi toh title hoga Ek Ladka, Hazaar Bahane."
Papa ne ungli uthayi. "Ismein ek chapter mera bhi hoga. Maine Isko Itna Sar Par Kyun Chadhaaya."
Maa ne sabko daantne ka natak kiya.
"Bas bhi karo. Bechare ko khana toh kha lene do."
Reyansh ne maa ki taraf kritagyata se dekha.
"Thank you, Maa. Is ghar mein aap hi meri izzat karti ho."
Maa ne uski plate mein ek aur roti rakh di.
"Roti kha. Izzat ka baad mein dekhte hain."
Sab phir hans diye.
Khana khatam hone ke baad papa balcony mein chale gaye. Maa kitchen mein thi. Shivani aur Reyansh drawing room mein chai lekar baith gaye.
Shivani ne cup table par rakhte hue poochha, "Waise, teri weekend life mein aajkal chal kya raha hai?"
"Weekend life?"
"Haan. Office, ghar, Arshad. Iske alawa bhi duniya hai."
Reyansh ne chai ka ghoont liya.
"Di, aapko lagta hai main ghar mein band rehta hoon?"
"Maine aisa kab kaha? Main bas pooch rahi hoon."
"Toh jawab bhi simple hai. Kabhi doston ke saath nikal jaata hoon. Kabhi akele coffee peene. Kabhi ghar par aaram."
Shivani ne uske chehre ko gaur se dekha.
"Aur kabhi kisi padosi ke saath chai?"
Reyansh ka cup hothon tak jaate-jaate ruk gaya.
"Ye padosi wala department aapko kisne kholne diya?"
Shivani ne masoom chehra bana liya.
"Maine toh bas chai ki baat ki."
"Di, aapki aankhon mein sawal hai aur zubaan par chai."
"Achha ji! Toh chai peene wale logon ki list ban gayi hai?"
Reyansh hans diya.
"Ek neighbour hai. Jheel. Achhi ladki hai. Humari building mein rehti hai."
"Achha."
Bas ek shabd.
Lekin Shivani ke chehre par jo chhoti si muskurahat aayi, Reyansh ne use dekh liya.
"Di!"
"Kya?"
"Ye jo aapne 'achha' bola na, iske peeche poora paragraph tha."
Shivani ne chai uthayi.
"Tujhe har baat mein paragraph kyun nazar aata hai?"
"Corporate aadmi hoon. Har chhoti baat ko presentation bana deta hoon."
Shivani hans padi.
"Chal, theek hai. Main kuch nahi poochti."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Do second baad woh phir boli, "Waise, Jheel naam achha hai."
Reyansh ne aankhein band kar li.
"Di, aapka promise bhi aapki tarah zyada der nahi tikta."
Shivani ki hansi ruk hi nahi rahi thi.
Reyansh ne bhi muskurate hue chai khatam kar di. Usne Jheel ka naam pehli baar ghar mein liya tha aur baat bas itni hi thi. Uske liye woh abhi bhi pados mein rehne wali ek ladki thi, jiske saath baat karna dheere-dheere aasaan ho raha tha.
Kam se kam, filhaal toh itna hi.


Shaam dhalne lagi thi jab Reyansh apne parents ke ghar se nikla.
Maa ne gate tak aakar kaha, "Agli baar itni jaldi mat jaana. Raat ka khana kha kar jaana."
Reyansh ne unhe gale lagaya.
"Agli baar pakka."
Maa ne uski peeth thapthapayi.
"Har baar yahi bolta hai."
"Is baar sach mein."
Peechhe se Shivani ki awaaz aayi, "Maa, iske 'pakka' ko likhkar mat rakhna. Warranty nahi milti."
Reyansh ne mudkar kaha, "Di, aapko main ek din apni life se block kar dunga."
Shivani ne haath hila diya.
"Kar dena. Phir Maa ke phone se call karungi."
Papa gate ke paas khade muskura rahe the.
"Chal beta, dhyaan se jaana."
Reyansh car mein baitha aur unhe haath hila kar nikal gaya.
Kuch door jaane ke baad usne music chala diya. Gaana purana tha, lekin use pasand tha. Woh gaane ke saath dheere-dheere gungunane laga.
Signal par car ruki toh phone ki screen jagmagayi.
Arshad calling...
Reyansh ne Bluetooth par call receive ki.
"Bol, copywriter saab."
Arshad ki awaaz aayi, "Kya haal hai, parivaar ke laadle? Maa ne kitne dabbe pack kar diye?"
"Ek bhi nahi."
"Jhooth. Teri mummy ko pata hai tu akele rehta hai. Unhone kuch na kuch toh diya hoga."
"Do parathe diye hain."
"Bas do?"
"Ek tere liye bhi rakhun?"
Arshad ne turant kaha, "Dosti mein aisi baatein nahi karte. Dono de de."
Reyansh hans pada.
"Tu kabhi sudhrega nahi."
"Main kyun sudhrun? Duniya ko mere jaise original pieces ki zaroorat hai."
"Original piece toh hai. Bas thoda defective."
"Defect hi toh personality hai, mere bhai."
Reyansh ne sir hila diya.
"Achha sun, aaj shaam ka kya plan hai?"
"Abhi toh ghar ja raha hoon. Aage dekhenge."
"Free hai toh mil lete hain."
"Aaj nahi, ustad. Aaj ghar par hi rahunga."
Arshad ne awaaz mein nakli udaasi bhar li.
"Samajh gaya. Ab doston ki jagah padosiyon ne le li hai."
Reyansh ne turant jawab diya, "Tujhe kisne bataya? Teri building mein bhi koi nayi neighbour aayi hai kya?"
"Tu topic mat badal."
"Main topic nahi badal raha. Teri research weak hai."
Dono hans pade.
Call khatam hui toh Reyansh ne music ki volume badha di.
Ghar jaane ka matlab hamesha kisi khaas jagah pahunchna nahi hota. Kabhi-kabhi bas din ke shor se nikal kar apni raftaar par lautna hota hai.
Aur aaj Reyansh ko shaam aaram se guzaarni thi.
Lekin Bengaluru mein uski building ke corridor mein ek aur chhoti si kahani uska intezaar kar rahi thi.


Shaam ke kareeb saat baje.
Reyansh lift se nikla toh uske haath mein car ki keys aur phone tha. Corridor mein halki si khushboo thi, shayad kisi ke ghar mein chai bani thi.
Flat 304 ke saamne Jheel jhukkar apne grocery bags se kuch nikaal rahi thi. Usne light blue cotton kurti aur off-white palazzo pehna tha. Baal dheele se bandhe hue the, kuch lattein chehre ke paas aa rahi thi. Kaam karte waqt uske maathe par halki si shikan thi, jaise kisi packet ne uski planning kharab kar di ho.
Reyansh apne flat ki taraf badha, phir ruk gaya.
"Madam, aapke grocery bags ne phir se ghar ke bahar protest shuru kar diya?"
Jheel ne palatkar dekha.
"Main bas samaan nikaal rahi hoon."
"Achha. Mujhe laga building association se permission nahi mili hogi, toh aapne samaan corridor mein rakh diya."
Jheel ke hothon par muskurahat aa gayi.
"Aapko har cheez mein joke kaise mil jaata hai?"
"Practice. Bachpan mein ghar wale serious hone hi nahi dete the."
"Toh aap kabhi serious nahi hote?"
"Salary aane ke baad hota hoon. Woh bhi paanch minute ke liye."
Jheel hans padi.
Reyansh ne grocery bags ki taraf dekha.
"Kaafi samaan hai."
"Haan. Kuch cheezein khatam ho gayi thi."
"Main help kar doon?"
Jheel ek pal ko ruki, phir boli, "Agar aapko problem nahi hai toh ye wala bag andar rakh denge?"
"Bilkul."
Reyansh ne bag uthaya. Usmein sabziyan, kuch packets aur ek bada sa cereal box tha.
"Madam, aap akele rehti hain ya kisi restaurant ka stock manage karti hain?"
Jheel uske peeche flat ke andar aayi.
"Main akele rehti hoon, lekin iska matlab ye nahi ki main roz hawa khaungi."
"Bilkul nahi. Hawa bhi aajkal mehengi ho gayi hai."
Jheel ne bag kitchen counter par rakhwaya.
"Thank you."
"Welcome. Waise aapne mujhe recipe dene ka promise kiya tha."
Jheel ne palatkar use dekha.
"Kaunsi recipe?"
"Poha. Aapne kaha tha na ki mujhe sikha dengi."
Jheel ne aankhein sikodi.
"Aapko sach mein poha banana seekhna hai?"
"Seekhna nahi, bas apni reputation bachani hai. Aapke saamne har baar cooking ke naam par meri beizzati ho jaati hai."
"Toh aapko lagta hai recipe seekhne se reputation bach jayegi?"
"Kam se kam mere paas jawab toh hoga."
Jheel ne hansi rokne ki koshish ki.
"Achha, theek hai. Main aapko message kar dungi."
Reyansh ne phone ki taraf ishara kiya.
"Recipe WhatsApp par? Ya phir aap mujhe handwritten notes dengi, taaki main future generations ko bata sakun ki poha kaise banta hai?"
"WhatsApp par hi bhej dungi. Future generations ko aap khud sambhal lena."
Reyansh hans pada.
"Fair enough."
Woh darwaze ki taraf badha, phir palatkar bola, "Waise, aapko pata hai na ki poha banane ke baad uski photo bhi bhejni padegi?"
Jheel ne hairani se poochha, "Kyun?"
"Proof. Aajkal kisi par bharosa nahi kar sakte."
"Reyansh ji, aapko poha banana hai ya audit karna hai?"
"Corporate aadmi hoon. Documentation zaroori hai."
Jheel phir hans padi.
"Achha, jaaiye ab. Aapki documentation baad mein karenge."
"Ji, madam."
Reyansh apne flat mein aa gaya.
Darwaza band karte waqt uske chehre par halki si muskurahat thi. Jheel se baat karna ab kisi formal introduction jaisa nahi lagta tha. Unke beech chhote-chhote jokes banne lage the, aur dono ko pata tha ki saamne wala baat ko samajh lega.
Kabhi-kabhi dosti ki pehli seedhi koi badi baat nahi hoti.
Bas itna hota hai ki saamne wale ke saath khamoshi se zyada baat karna achha lagne lagta hai.


Raat kareeb nau baje.
Reyansh sofa par baitha laptop par ek email dekh raha tha. Kaam khatam karne ka irada tha, lekin uski nazar baar-baar phone ki screen par ja rahi thi.
Aakhir phone vibrate hua.
Jheel: Recipe bhejne wali thi, yaad hai na?
Reyansh ne turant reply kiya.
Reyansh: Mujhe laga aap bhool gayi hongi.
Jheel: Aapko lagta hai main har baat bhool jaati hoon?
Reyansh: Nahi. Bas mujhe surprise dena pasand hai.
Jheel: Toh ye raha surprise. Poha banane ke liye pehle poha chahiye hota hai.
Reyansh screen ko dekhkar hans diya.
Reyansh: Wah. Aisi knowledge ke liye toh cooking classes join karni padengi.
Jheel: Aap mazaak uda lijiye. Kal ko jab achha poha banayenge na, toh yaad karenge.
Reyansh: Kal? Itni jaldi meri capabilities par bharosa?
Jheel: Bharosa nahi hai. Bas dekhna hai ki aap kitni jaldi haar maante hain.
Reyansh: Aap toh kaafi dangerous teacher nikli.
Jheel: Aur aap kaafi difficult student.
Kuch der baad Jheel ne sach mein recipe bhej di. Saath mein ek chhota sa note bhi tha:
Jheel: Namak apne taste ke hisaab se. Aur please, pehli baar mein poore ghar ke liye mat banana.
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Aapko meri cooking par itna kam bharosa kyun hai?
Jheel: Experience ke bina bharosa karna risky hota hai.
Reyansh: Toh experience dilane ki zimmedari teacher ki hai.
Jheel ne message padha. Uske chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Jheel: Pehle student toh homework kare.
Reyansh ne phone sofa par rakh diya aur laptop ki taraf mud gaya. Email ab bhi khula tha, lekin uska mood pehle se halka tha.
Doosri taraf Jheel ne phone side mein rakha aur kitchen mein jaakar apne grocery bags se samaan nikaalne lagi. Woh bhi muskurati rahi, phir khud hi apne aap se boli, "Kitna bolte hain!"
Lekin usne chat delete nahi ki.
Na hi phone ko silent karke door rakha.
Bas kuch der baad ek baar phir screen check kar li, jaise shayad koi naya message aa gaya ho.
Us raat koi badi baat nahi hui thi.
Na kisi ne apne dil ki baat kahi, na kisi ne koi waada kiya.
Bas ek padosi ne doosre padosi ko poha ki recipe bheji thi.
Aur phir bhi, dono ki raat mein ek chhoti si muskurahat jud gayi thi.