[Greenwood]

Update 18



Agla Sunday.
Pichhle update ke baad ek din guzar chuka tha. Reyansh ki zindagi mein weekend ka woh hissa aa gaya tha jahan office ke emails kuch der ke liye band kiye ja sakte the, lekin Arshad jaise dost ke messages se bachna namumkin tha.
Subah kareeb gyarah baje Reyansh apne living room mein baitha coffee pee raha tha. Shalu breakfast bana kar ja chuki thi. Table par uska laptop khula tha, lekin uski nazar screen par kam aur phone par zyada thi.
Arshad ka message aaya.
Arshad: Aaj free hai?
Reyansh: Nahi. Main international conference mein hoon.
Arshad: Achha. Toh wahan se ek coffee mere liye bhi bhej dena.
Reyansh: Conference mein coffee nahi, bewakoofiyon ka distribution ho raha hai. Tere liye special quota rakha hai.
Arshad: Mazak uda le. Do baje mil. Baat karni hai.
Reyansh ne phone uthakar call kar diya.
"Kal bhi toh baat hui thi. Ab kya naya crisis aa gaya?"
Arshad ki awaaz aayi, "Kal Sakshi se dobara mila tha."
Reyansh seedha baith gaya.
"Achha. Phir?"
"Phir kya? Baat hui."
"Arshad, main tere saath antakshari nahi khel raha. Bata kya hua."
"Usne kaha ki woh chahti hai hum dono apne future ko lekar honestly baat karein. Maine bhi usse kaha ki main ab baat ko taalunga nahi."
"Good."
"Lekin ab mujhe sach mein baat karni padegi."
Reyansh hans diya.
"Yaar, tu problem solve karne ke baad bhi problem se pareshaan ho jaata hai."
"Main creative aadmi hoon. Mere dimaag mein ek saath bahut saare tabs khule rehte hain."
"Bas ek tab mein kaam karna seekh le."
Arshad ne gehri saans li.
"Do baje mil raha hai na?"
"Haan, aa jaunga."
"Late mat hona."
"Tu mujhe jaanta hai."
"Isi liye bol raha hoon."
Call kat gayi.
Reyansh ne coffee ka aakhri ghoont liya. Phir laptop band kar diya.
Uski nazar saamne wali building par padi. Khidki ke us paar kisi ne kapde sukhane ke liye daale hue the. Bengaluru ka Sunday apni normal raftaar se chal raha tha.
Usne phone uthaya aur Jheel ki chat kholi.
Pichhli raat Jheel ne English practice ke baad ek sentence bheja tha.
Jheel: I am getting better at speaking English.
Reyansh ne us waqt reply kiya tha, You are. Keep practising.
Aaj usne ek naya message bheja.
Reyansh: Aaj homework kiya?
Jheel ka jawab kuch minute baad aaya.
Jheel: Sunday ko bhi?
Reyansh: English ko Sunday nahi milta.
Jheel: Teacher ko bhi nahi?
Reyansh: Teacher ko coffee mil sakti hai.
Jheel ne message padha.
Jheel: Ye English class ka part hai ya aapka koi naya business model?
Reyansh muskura diya.
Reyansh: Abhi research chal rahi hai.
Jheel ka jawab aaya.
Jheel: Research complete ho toh batana.
Reyansh ne phone rakh diya.
Kuch der baad woh taiyar hokar ghar se nikal gaya.
Aaj uske do plans the. Ek dost ke saath, jise uski zaroorat thi.
Doosra ek aise rishte ke saath, jise abhi kisi naam ki zaroorat nahi thi.


Dopahar do baje, Koramangala ke ek cafe mein.
Arshad pehle se baitha tha. Uske saamne coffee aur ek notebook thi. Notebook ke ek panne par kuch points likhe the.
Reyansh uske paas aakar baitha aur notebook apni taraf kheench li.
"Ye kya hai? Sakshi ke saath meeting ka agenda?"
Arshad ne notebook wapas kheench li.
"Haath mat laga. Personal hai."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Tu relationship discuss karne ke liye notes bana raha hai?"
"Main apni baat theek se rakhna chahta hoon."
Reyansh ki hansi dheere-dheere kam hui.
"Achhi baat hai."
Arshad ne notebook band kar di.
"Kal Sakshi ne mujhse ek baat poochhi."
"Kya?"
"Usne poochha ki agar hamare ghar wale hamare rishte ko lekar agree na karein, toh main kya karunga."
Reyansh chup raha.
Arshad ne coffee ka cup uthaya.
"Maine us waqt kaha ki pehle dekhte hain. Lekin usne bola ki hum har mushkil ko aane ke baad nahi dekh sakte. Kuch cheezon ke baare mein pehle bhi sochna padta hai."
"Galat toh nahi kaha usne."
"Jaanta hoon."
Arshad ne cup wapas rakh diya.
"Mujhe Sakshi se koi problem nahi hai, Rey. Main uske saath khush hoon. Woh meri life mein apni jagah rakhti hai aur main uski. Lekin family ke saamne baat aayegi toh cheezein complicated ho sakti hain."
Reyansh ne dheere se poochha, "Aur tu kya chahta hai?"
Arshad ne turant jawab nahi diya.
Yahi toh sawaal tha jisse woh bach raha tha.
"Main chahta hoon ki sab theek rahe."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Ye toh har insaan chahta hai. Lekin agar sab apne aap theek ho jaata, toh duniya mein aadhe lawyers aur poore therapists berozgaar hote."
Arshad hans pada.
"Tu har emotional conversation mein joke kyun maar deta hai?"
"Taaki tu ro na pade. Tera rona dekhkar main bhi emotional ho jaunga, phir hum dono ka bill kaun bharega?"
Arshad ne napkin uski taraf phenki.
"Saale!"
Dono hans diye.
Phir Reyansh ne apni awaaz sanjeeda ki.
"Dekh, main tujhe koi decision nahi de sakta. Ye tera relationship hai. Lekin tu Sakshi ko itna toh bata sakta hai ki tere dimaag mein kya chal raha hai. Usse ye mat feel hone de ki woh akele future ke baare mein soch rahi hai."
Arshad ne sir hilaya.
"Kal main usse milunga. Is baar bina kisi excuse ke."
"Good."
"Tu bhi saath chalega?"
Reyansh ne hairani se use dekha.
"Main kyun?"
"Support ke liye."
"Main tera dost hoon, relationship ka legal guardian nahi."
Arshad hans pada.
"Achha, mat aa. Main khud sambhal lunga."
Reyansh ne uske kandhe par haath rakha.
"Tu sambhal lega. Bas pehli baar baat ko joke se cover mat karna."
Arshad ne haan mein sir hilaya.
Kuch pal baad uska chehra phir khil gaya.
"Waise, teri padosan kaisi hai?"
Reyansh ne aankhein band kar li.
"Lo. Ab aa gaya asli agenda."
"Main toh bas pooch raha hoon."
"Tu har serious baat ke baad meri zindagi mein ghusne ki koshish kyun karta hai?"
"Kyuki teri zindagi mein entry fee nahi lagti."
Reyansh hans pada.
"Jheel theek hai. Apni English improve kar rahi hai."
"Tu padha raha hai?"
"Thodi help kar raha hoon."
Arshad ne uski taraf dekha.
"English?"
"Haan."
"Sirf English?"
Reyansh ne coffee ka cup uthaya.
"Arshad, aaj teri relationship counselling free mein ki hai. Ab mujhse cross-questioning mat kar."
Arshad ki hansi cafe mein goonj uthi.
Lekin uski aankhon mein pehle se thoda sukoon tha.
Kam se kam ab woh apne sawaal ko pehchan raha tha. Jawaab abhi bhi baaki tha.

Shaam ke kareeb paanch baje Reyansh apni building mein lauta.
Lift se nikalte hi usne dekha ki Jheel apne flat ke bahar khadi thi. Uske haath mein ek chhota sa cardboard box tha aur woh use kholne ki koshish kar rahi thi.
Reyansh ne paas aakar poochha, "Kya hua? Parcel ne phir se aapke khilaaf case kar diya?"
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
"Iska tape khul hi nahi raha."
Reyansh ne box ki taraf dekha.
"Scissors?"
"Andar hain."
"Toh phir problem kya hai?"
Jheel ne seedha jawab diya, "Andar ka samaan hil raha hai. Main box ko ulta nahi karna chahti."
Reyansh ne haath aage badhaya.
"Dijiye."
Usne box ko ek taraf se sambhala aur Jheel ne scissors se tape kaata. Kuch hi seconds mein box khul gaya.
Andar ek chhota sa desk lamp aur kuch stationery thi.
Reyansh ne lamp dekha.
"Naya lamp?"
"Haan. Raat ko padhne ke liye. Room ki light se kabhi-kabhi aankhein thak jaati hain."
Reyansh ne lamp ko box mein wapas rakhne mein uski madad ki.
"Achha hai. English homework ke liye?"
"English ke liye bhi. Aur kuch aur cheezon ke liye bhi."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Kuch aur cheezein?"
Jheel ne box uthaya.
"Har baat ka interview kyun lete hain aap?"
"Corporate aadmi hoon. Curiosity professional hazard hai."
Jheel muskurayi.
"Bas, itna samajh lijiye ki main apne liye kuch naya karne ke baare mein soch rahi hoon."
Reyansh ka expression thoda sanjeeda hua.
"Kya karna chahti hain?"
"Abhi decide nahi kiya. Lekin main nahi chahti ki meri zindagi bas ghar aur office ke beech hi reh jaaye."
Reyansh ne uski baat dhyan se suni.
"Toh pehle chhoti cheezon se shuru kijiye. Koi course, koi skill, ya jo bhi aapko genuinely pasand ho. Zaroori nahi ki pehle din hi poora plan ready ho."
Jheel ne use dekha.
"Aap bhi aise hi sochte hain?"
"Main?"
"Haan. Aapko apni life mein jo chahiye, uske baare mein pehle se pata hota hai?"
Sawaal simple tha, lekin Reyansh ko jawab dene mein ek pal laga.
"Har cheez ke baare mein nahi," usne kaha. "Kuch cheezein waqt ke saath samajh aati hain."
Jheel ne dheere se sir hilaya.
"Fair enough."
Woh box lekar andar jaane lagi, phir palatkar boli, "Waise, aapki English class ke liye thank you."
Reyansh ne muskurakar kaha, "Welcome. Lekin fees abhi bhi pending hai."
Jheel ne aankhein sikodi.
"Kaunsi fees?"
"Coffee."
Jheel ne box ko counter par rakhne ke baad darwaze se kaha, "Aapko coffee chahiye ya company?"
Reyansh ek pal ke liye chup hua.
Jheel ke chehre par shararat bhari muskurahat thi.
Phir usne jawab diya, "Dono mil jaayein toh bura nahi hai."
Jheel ki muskurahat thodi badh gayi.
"Kal shaam?"
Reyansh ne haan mein sir hilaya.
"Kal shaam."
"Main time bata dungi."
"Ji, madam."
Darwaza band hone se pehle Jheel ne ek baar phir kaha, "Aur haan, English ka homework bhi karna."
Reyansh ne apne flat ki taraf badhte hue jawab diya, "Aapko lagta hai main homework nahi karta?"
Jheel ne darwaza band kar diya.
Andar se uski hansi sunayi di.
Reyansh bhi muskurata hua apne flat mein aa gaya.
Coffee ka plan ban gaya tha.
Bas coffee hi thi.
Kam se kam, usne apne aap se yahi kaha.


Monday ki shaam.
Office mein din lamba raha tha. Ek client ne presentation mein aakhri waqt par changes maange aur Neha ke saath Reyansh ko kuch der extra rukna pada.
Office se nikalte waqt Neha ne apna bag uthaya.
"Kal wali slide tumne change kar di?"
"Haan. Updated file mail kar di hai."
"Good. Warna client phir se bolta ki humne uski baat samjhi nahi."
Reyansh ne laptop bag kandhe par daala.
"Client ki baat samajhna aur client ki baat maan lena, dono alag cheezein hain."
Neha hans padi.
"Ye line meeting mein bol dete toh achha hota."
"Phir meeting ek ghanta aur chalti."
Dono lift ki taraf badhe.
Neha ne casually poochha, "Weekend kaisa tha?"
"Achha tha. Arshad se mila. Thoda family time bhi."
"Nice."
Usne Reyansh ki taraf dekha.
"Aaj tum jaldi nikal rahe ho?"
"Ek coffee ka plan hai."
Neha ne muskurakar kaha, "Office ke bahar wali coffee?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Coffee toh coffee hoti hai."
"Bilkul. Bas company badal jaati hai."
Reyansh hans diya.
"Neha, tum bhi na."
"Main toh bas pooch rahi hoon."
Lift aa gayi. Dono alag-alag floors ke buttons ki taraf badhe.
Neha ne haath hila kar kaha, "Kal milte hain."
Reyansh ne bhi haath hila diya.
Office ke bahar aate hi usne Jheel ka message dekha.
Jheel: Main 6:30 tak ready ho jaungi. Aapko convenient hai?
Reyansh: Haan. Kahan milna hai?
Jheel ne ek cafe ka naam bheja, jo building se kuch hi door tha.
Reyansh: Theek hai. Main wahin milta hoon.
Usne phone pocket mein rakha aur car ki taraf badh gaya.
Cafe mein Jheel pehle se maujood thi.
Aaj usne muted green top ke saath straight-fit blue jeans pehni thi. Baal khule the aur kaan mein chhote silver earrings the. Woh menu dekh rahi thi, lekin waiter se kuch poochhne ke liye nazar uthate hi uski nazar Reyansh par pad gayi.
"Finally," usne kaha.
Reyansh saamne wali chair par baith gaya.
"Main sirf do minute late hoon."
"Main toh bas dekh rahi thi ki corporate punctuality asal mein hoti kya hai."
"Corporate punctuality ka matlab hai ki meeting mein late ho, toh pehle se ek achha excuse ready ho."
Jheel hans padi.
Waiter aaya. Dono ne coffee order ki. Jheel ne ek sandwich bhi mangwaya.
Reyansh ne menu band karte hue poochha, "Toh aaj English homework check hoga?"
Jheel ne bag se notebook nikaali.
"Bilkul."
Reyansh ne haath jod liye.
"Coffee pe bula kar exam lena? Aapka teaching method kaafi strict hai."
"Abhi toh sirf homework hai. Test baad mein hoga."
"Main apna lawyer bula sakta hoon?"
"Bilkul. Lekin fees aapko hi deni padegi."
Dono hans pade.
Jheel ne notebook kholi aur kuch sentences dikhaye. Reyansh ne ek-do corrections kiye. Phir usne notebook band kar di.
"Achha, ab aap bataiye," Jheel ne kaha, "aapko apna kaam pasand hai?"
Reyansh ne coffee ka cup uthaya.
"Haan. Interesting hai. Har din kuch naya hota hai."
"Lekin kabhi bore nahi hote?"
"Hota hoon. Har kaam mein hota hai."
"Phir aap kya karte hain?"
"Thoda break leta hoon. Doston se milta hoon. Kabhi akele kahin baith jaata hoon."
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
"Akele rehna aapko pasand hai?"
Reyansh ne kuch pal socha.
"Pasand hai. Har waqt nahi, lekin haan. Kabhi-kabhi apne saath rehna achha lagta hai."
Jheel ne dheere se sir hilaya.
"Mujhe bhi. Lekin kabhi-kabhi lagta hai ki poora din kisi se baat hi nahi hui."
"Phir phone kar leti hain apne ghar par?"
"Haan. Maa se baat ho jaati hai. Lekin har baat phone par nahi hoti."
Reyansh ne uski baat samajhte hue kaha, "Sahi hai."
Jheel ne coffee ka ghoont liya.
"Aapko kabhi aisa lagta hai ki aap apni life mein busy toh hain, lekin kuch cheezein bas chal rahi hain? Jaise unke baare mein sochne ka waqt hi nahi milta?"
Sawaal sun kar Reyansh kuch der chup raha.
"Shayad," usne kaha. "Kabhi-kabhi busy rehna aasaan hota hai."
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha, lekin uske chehre ko padhne ki koshish nahi ki.
"Ho sakta hai," usne bas itna kaha.
Phir usne sandwich ka ek tukda uthaya aur baat badal di.


"Waise, aapko pata hai? Main ek online course dekh rahi hoon."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Kis cheez ka?"
"Abhi options compare kar rahi hoon. Ek communication ka hai aur ek digital skills ka. Soch rahi hoon pehle kaunsa karun."
"Achha hai. Dono ke baare mein thoda aur jaan lo. Jo tumhare kaam aur interest se match kare, woh choose karna."
Jheel ne muskurakar kaha, "Aap phir se advice dene lage."
"Sorry. Professional hazard."
"Iska treatment nahi hai?"
"Hai. Ek aur coffee."
Jheel hans padi.
"Phir toh aap kabhi theek nahi honge."
Reyansh bhi hans diya.
Coffee khatam hote-hote unki baat course se movies, phir Bengaluru ke traffic aur aakhir mein building ke ajeeb residents tak pahunch gayi.
Jheel ne Gungun ka zikr kiya.
"Kal lift mein mili thi. Kisi se phone par baat kar rahi thi aur itni gusse mein thi ki mujhe laga lift ke button bhi daant degi."
Reyansh zor se hans pada.
"Uska mood dekhkar toh button khud hi floor change kar dete honge."
Jheel hansi rok nahi paayi.
"Please, uske saamne ye mat bol dena."
"Main itna bhi bewakoof nahi hoon."
Jheel ne use dekha.
"Is baat par abhi final verdict nahi diya ja sakta."
Reyansh ne apna cup table par rakha.
"Madam, aapki company mein rehkar meri izzat roz kam ho rahi hai."
"Achha hai. Thodi zameen par rahiye."
Dono ek baar phir hans pade.
Cafe se nikalte waqt hawa mein halki thandak thi. Dono building ki taraf paidal chalne lage.
Raaste mein ek jagah footpath thoda uneven tha. Jheel ka pair halka sa atka, toh Reyansh ne instinctively uski kohni sambhal li.
"Careful."
Jheel ne khud ko sambhal liya.
"Thank you."
Reyansh ne haath hata liya.
"Footpath bhi aajkal surprises deta hai."
Jheel muskurayi.
"Har cheez ko joke mein badalna zaroori hai?"
"Bilkul nahi."
Usne ek pal rukkar kaha, "Kabhi-kabhi thank you bhi bol deta hoon."
Jheel hans padi.
Building ke entrance par dono ruk gaye.
"Aaj achha laga," Jheel ne kaha.
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Mujhe bhi."
"Phir kabhi?"
"Jab aap homework complete kar lengi."
Jheel ne aankhein ghumayi.
"Main aapko kabhi coffee nahi pilaungi."
"Main yaad rakhunga."
"Good night, Reyansh."
"Good night, Jheel."
Woh dono lift ki taraf badhe.
Ek hi building, do alag flats.
Lekin ab unke beech ki doori sirf teen-chaar kadmon ki nahi reh gayi thi. Unke paas ek-doosre se judi hui chhoti-chhoti baatein bhi thi.
Aur kuch baatein, jo pehle sirf padosiyon ke beech hoti thi, ab din ka achha hissa banne lagi thi.

Usi raat Arshad ne Sakshi ko call kiya.
Is baar usne pehle se koi joke taiyar nahi kiya tha.
Sakshi ne phone uthaya.
"Hello?"
"Hi. Free ho?"
"Haan. Kya hua?"
Arshad ne gehri saans li.
"Kal humne jo baat ki thi na... main uske baare mein soch raha tha."
Sakshi ki awaaz naram ho gayi.
"Achha."
"Main abhi har sawaal ka jawab nahi de sakta. Lekin main ye nahi chahta ki tumhe lage main tumhare saath future ke baare mein sochna hi nahi chahta."
Sakshi kuch pal chup rahi.
"Phir tum kya chahte ho, Arshad?"
"Main chahta hoon ki hum is baare mein honestly baat karein. Family, expectations, sab kuch. Ho sakta hai humein kuch cheezon par waqt lage. Lekin main har baar baat ko taalna nahi chahta."
Sakshi ne dheere se saans chhodi.
"Ye sunna mere liye important tha."
Arshad ne poochha, "Kal mil sakte hain?"
"Haan."
"Is baar main late nahi honga."
Sakshi hans padi.
"Ye promise main record kar rahi hoon."
Arshad ki hansi bhi nikal gayi.
"Achha, ab thoda toh mazaak kar sakta hoon na?"
"Kar sakte ho. Bas har baat ka jawaab mazaak mein mat dena."
"Deal."
Call khatam hone ke baad Arshad kuch der chup baitha raha.
Usne apni notebook kholi. Jo points usne likhe the, unmein se kuch kaat diye aur neeche ek nayi line likhi:
Pehle sunna hai. Phir bolna hai.
Woh khud par hans diya.
"Copywriter se life writer ban gaya hoon."
Lekin is baar usne notebook band nahi ki.
Usne use table par khula rehne diya.
Raat ke kareeb gyarah baje Reyansh apne bedroom ki light band karne se pehle phone dekh raha tha.
Jheel ka message aaya.
Jheel: Aaj ki coffee ke liye thank you.
Reyansh: Aapne coffee ke paise diye the. Thank you mujhe bolna chahiye.
Jheel: Coffee ke liye nahi. Company ke liye.
Reyansh ne message padha aur kuch pal screen dekhta raha.
Phir reply kiya.
Reyansh: Same here. Good night, Jheel.
Jheel: Good night ?
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakh diya.
Uski zindagi mein abhi bhi kaam tha, dost the, family thi aur woh saari cheezein bhi jo kabhi-kabhi use apne hi khayalon mein uljha deti thi.
Lekin aaj ka din achha tha.
Arshad ne apne rishte se bhaagne ke bajaye uski taraf ek kadam badhaya tha.
Jheel ne apne liye kuch naya karne ka socha tha.
Aur Reyansh ne ek shaam kisi ke saath bitayi thi, bina ye soche ki us mulaqat ka koi naam hona chahiye

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