[Greenwood]

Update 23



Monday ki subah Reyansh ke alarm ne apni duty poori imaandari se nibhayi.
Alarm bajta raha.
Reyansh sota raha.
Alarm band hua.
Reyansh ne aankh kholi, phone dekha aur turant bistar par seedha baith gaya.
8:12 AM.
"Shit!"
Woh uthkar bathroom ki taraf bhaaga.
Kuch hi der baad, aadhe geele baalon aur safed shirt ke saath living room mein aaya. Tie sofa ke handle par padi thi, laptop bag dining table ke paas aur uski ghadi jaane kahan gayab thi.
Tabhi doorbell baji.
Reyansh ne darwaza khola.
Shalu saamne khadi thi.
Usne Reyansh ko dekha, phir deewar par lagi ghadi ko.
"Sir, aaj office nahi jaana?"
Reyansh ne use aise dekha jaise usne koi bahut personal sawaal poochh liya ho.
"Nahi, aaj office walon ko meri bahut yaad aayegi. Main ghar par baithkar unki yaadon ka samman karunga."
Shalu hans padi.
"Achha, toh main nashta wapas le jaati hoon."
"Ruk! Itni bhi buri haalat nahi hai."
Shalu kitchen ki taraf chali gayi.
Reyansh apni ghadi dhoondhne laga.
"Shalu, meri watch dekhi hai?"
"Kal aapne sofa par rakhi thi."
"Wahan nahi hai."
"Toh dining table par dekhiye."
Reyansh ne table par dekha.
Ghadi wahin padi thi.
Usne ghadi uthakar pehni aur Shalu ki taraf dekha.
"Tu mere ghar mein kaam karti hai ya meri memory ka backup hai?"
Shalu ne plate mein nashta rakhte hue jawab diya, "Dono kaam ka alag paisa lagega."
Reyansh ruk gaya.
Phir usne haath jod diye.
"Madam, salary revision ke liye HR se baat karni padegi."
"HR kaun hai?"
"Main hi hoon."
"Toh baat kar lijiye."
Shalu ki hansi chhoot gayi.
Reyansh bhi hans pada.
Nashta karte hue usne phone check kiya. Office ke do messages aur Neha ka ek text tha.
Neha: Good morning, Mr. Weekend Lover. Aaj time par aa rahe ho ya client ko bhi tumhari tarah wait karna pasand hai?
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Main time par aata hoon. Bas ghadi kabhi-kabhi mere khilaaf saazish kar leti hai.
Neha: Ghadi ko blame karne se pehle use pehenna seekho.
Reyansh ne message padhkar muskura diya.
Reyansh: Tum office aati ho ya meri personal investigation karti ho?
Neha: Dono. Multitasking meri speciality hai.
Reyansh ne phone pocket mein rakha.
"Shalu, nashta pack kar de. Main nikal raha hoon."
Shalu ne plate ki taraf dekha.
"Sir, nashta toh aapne abhi aadha hi khaya hai."
Reyansh ne ek pal socha.
Phir bachi hui toast uthakar kha li.
"Ab poora. Happy?"
Shalu ne sir hilaya.
"Bahut."
Reyansh bag lekar nikal gaya.
Shalu ne darwaza band kiya aur apni notebook nikaali.
Aaj usne ek naya sentence likhna tha.
I am learning something new every day.
Usne sentence ko do baar padha.
Phir notebook band karke kaam mein lag gayi.


Office pahunchte-pahunchte Reyansh ki chaal mein phir se wahi confidence aa gaya tha.
Usne apni desk par bag rakha, laptop khola aur emails check karne laga.
Kuch der baad Neha coffee lekar uski desk ke paas aayi.
"Lo."
Reyansh ne cup dekha.
"Mere liye?"
"Nahi, apne liye laayi thi. Tumhari desk par rakhkar peene ka plan hai."
Reyansh hans diya.
"Subah-subah itni aggression?"
"Main toh pyaar se baat kar rahi hoon."
"Achha hai. Tumhara gussa dekhne ka time nahi hai mere paas."
Neha ne saamne wali chair kheenchkar baithte hue kaha, "Client ne kal wale campaign par feedback bheja hai. Do changes chahiye."
Reyansh ne screen uski taraf ghumayi.
"Dikhao."
Dono kuch der revisions dekhte rahe. Kaam zyada complicated nahi tha, lekin client ko wording aur visual presentation mein thoda badlav chahiye tha.
Neha ne ek line par ungli rakhi.
"Yeh headline mujhe pehle se weak lag rahi thi."
Reyansh ne kaha, "Tumne kal approve ki thi."
"Kal mujhe bhi weak nahi lagi thi."
"Matlab tumhara opinion weather forecast se bhi zyada unpredictable hai."
Neha ne coffee ka sip liya.
"Difference yeh hai ki weather forecast galat ho toh baarish hoti hai. Main galat hoon toh tumhe kaam karna padta hai."
"Bahut khoob. Corporate philosophy."
Neha muskura di.
Kuch der baad usne poochha, "Weekend kaisa tha?"
Reyansh ne laptop se nazar nahi hatayi.
"Achha tha."
"Kuch interesting kiya?"
"Arshad ke saath ek creative studio gaya tha."
Neha ki dilchaspi badhi.
"Seriously? Tum aur creative studio?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Main itna boring lagta hoon?"
Neha ne sochne ka natak kiya.
"Main diplomatic answer doon ya honest?"
"Coffee wapas le lo."
Neha hans padi.
"Achha, batao kya tha wahan?"
Reyansh ne use project ke baare mein bataya. Log apni zindagi ke experiences share kar rahe the aur team unmein se kuch ko audio-visual stories mein badalne wali thi.
Neha ne dhyaan se suna.
"Interesting hai. Real people, real experiences. Kabhi-kabhi logon ki ordinary stories bhi kaafi powerful hoti hain."
Reyansh ne sir hilaya.
"Haan, idea achha tha."
"Toh tumne apni story di?"
"Nahi."
"Kyunnn?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Har jagah apni personal life ka form bharna zaroori nahi hota."
Neha ne dono haath upar kar diye.
"Fair enough. Main bas poochh rahi thi."
Reyansh ne coffee uthayi.
"Waise tum deti apni story?"
Neha kuch pal sochti rahi.
"Depends. Agar mujhe lage ki usse kisi ko kuch samajhne mein madad milegi, toh shayad. Lekin sirf attention ke liye nahi."
Reyansh ne sir hilaya.
"Valid answer."
Neha uthkar jaane lagi, phir palti.
"Aur haan, aaj lunch skip mat karna."
Reyansh ne use dekha.
"Yeh office ka instruction hai?"
"Nahi. Tumhara mood lunch ke baad zyada manageable hota hai."
Woh chali gayi.
Reyansh kuch pal uski taraf dekhta raha.
Phir apne laptop ki taraf mud gaya.
Neha ki baat use achhi lagi thi, lekin creative studio ka khayal ab bhi uske dimaag mein kahin pada tha.
Usne apne aap se kaha, "Interesting idea tha. Bas."
Aur kaam mein lag gaya.


Usi dopahar Jheel apne laptop ke saamne baithi thi.
Screen par online class ka link khula tha. Notebook uske saamne thi aur usne ek glass paani bhi paas mein rakh liya tha.
Class shuru hone mein paanch minute the.
Jheel ne apni introduction dobara padhni shuru ki.
"My name is Jheel. I live in Bengaluru. I want to improve my communication skills..."
Woh ruk gayi.
Phir dheere se boli, "I want to become more independent."
Is baar sentence bolte hue uski awaaz pehle se zyada saaf thi.
Laptop par notification aaya.
Your session is about to begin.
Jheel ne seedha baithkar headphones lagaye.
Class shuru hui.
Trainer ne sabhi students ka welcome kiya aur bataya ki course mein sirf English bolna nahi, balki apne thoughts ko clear tarah se express karna bhi seekhenge.
Phir unhone ek simple activity di.
Introduce yourself and share one thing you want to improve.
Ek-ek karke students bolne lage.
Kisi ki English fluent thi. Koi atak raha tha. Ek ladka apna introduction bhool gaya aur hanskar dobara shuru karne laga.
Jheel ka number aaya.
Usne ek gehri saans li.
"My name is Jheel. I live in Bengaluru."
Woh ruki.
Screen par trainer muskura rahe the.
Jheel ne apni notebook dekhi aur phir bolna shuru kiya.
"I want to improve my communication skills. Sometimes, I feel nervous when I speak to new people. I want to become more confident and independent."
Sentence poora hote hi usne saans chhodi.
Trainer ne kaha, "Good, Jheel. You explained your goal clearly. Keep practising. You don't need perfect English to express a meaningful thought."
Jheel ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Class aage badh gayi.
Session ke baad usne notebook mein apni galtiyan likhin. Kuch words ka pronunciation dobara check kiya aur introduction ek baar phir bola.
Phir usne Reyansh ko message kiya.
Jheel: Aaj pehla session ho gaya.
Reyansh ka reply aaya.
Reyansh: Aur madam ne class mein sabko impress kar diya hoga.
Jheel muskura di.
Jheel: Impress nahi kiya. Bas apna introduction diya.
Reyansh: Wahi toh. Pehle introduction, phir impression, phir duniya par raaj.
Jheel: Aap har baat ko film kyun bana dete hain?
Reyansh: Kyunki meri zindagi mein background music ki kami hai.
Jheel hans padi.
Phir usne ek voice note record kiya.
"My name is Jheel. I live in Bengaluru. I want to improve my communication skills because I want to become more confident and independent."
Usne voice note bhej diya.
Reyansh us waqt meeting mein jaane wala tha. Usne earphones lagakar voice note suna.
Awaaz mein ab bhi halki jhijhak thi, lekin har sentence ke beech ka darr thoda kam tha.
Usne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Good improvement. Bas “communication” ki pronunciation ek baar aur practise karna. Baaki confidence achha tha.
Jheel ne turant reply kiya.
Jheel: Aapne sach mein suna?
Reyansh: Nahi, maine voice note ke saath aankh band karke meditation ki.
Jheel: Reyansh!
Reyansh: Haan, suna. Achha bola tumne.
Jheel ne phone se nazar hatayi.
Woh khush thi.
Isliye nahi ki Reyansh ne uski tareef ki thi.
Balki isliye ki usne jo kaam darr ke bawajood shuru kiya tha, usmein pehla kadam utha liya tha.
Aur is baar, woh apni progress ko kisi aur ki nazar se nahi, khud apni nazar se bhi dekh paa rahi thi.


Tuesday ko office se nikalte waqt Reyansh ke phone par Aarohi ka message aaya.
Aarohi: Hey! Kal tumne old buildings ke baare mein jo baat kahi thi, uske baad ek jagah yaad aayi. Is week coffee ke liye free ho?
Reyansh ne message padha.
Unki pehli coffee achhi rahi thi. Conversation easy thi, bina kisi pressure ke. Aarohi apni baat achhe se rakhti thi aur saamne wale ko bolne ka space bhi deti thi.
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Thursday evening?
Aarohi: Works for me. Ek café hai jo mujhe pasand hai. Wahan milte hain?
Reyansh: Done. Location bhej dena.
Aarohi: Sending it now.
Reyansh ne phone pocket mein rakh diya.
Usne is meeting ko lekar koi khaas expectation nahi banayi.
Bas ek coffee thi.
Ek aur conversation.
Aur kisi naye insaan ko thoda aur jaanne ka mauka.
Thursday ki shaam woh café pahunch gaya.
Aarohi pehle se wahan thi. Usne light blue shirt ke saath beige trousers pehne the, baal khule the aur table par ek chhoti notebook rakhi thi.
Reyansh ko dekhkar woh muskuraayi.
"You're on time."
Reyansh chair kheenchkar baitha.
"Yeh surprise hai ya complaint?"
"Observation."
"Achha. Tum observations bahut karti ho."
Aarohi ne menu uthaya.
"Profession ki aadat hai. Design mein details miss kar do toh poora project bigad sakta hai."
Reyansh ne coffee order ki.
"Waise, tumhari notebook mein kya hai?"
Aarohi ne notebook kholi.
"Ek old building ka sketch. Abhi complete nahi hua."
Reyansh ne dekha. Notebook par ek purani building ka rough outline tha, jismein khidkiyon aur balconies ki details bani hui thi.
"Yeh achha hai."
"Abhi toh rough hai."
"Main bhi rough feedback hi de raha hoon."
Aarohi hans padi.
Unki baat architecture se shuru hui, phir Bengaluru ke purane areas aur naye developments tak pahunch gayi.
Aarohi ne bataya ki use purani buildings pasand hain kyunki unmein waqt ke alag-alag daur ke nishaan dikhte hain.
Reyansh ne kaha, "Mujhe buildings se zyada unmein rehne wale log interesting lagte hain."
Aarohi ne cup table par rakha.
"Matlab tum har building ko dekhkar sochte ho ki andar kaun rehta hoga?"
"Nahi. Itna free time nahi hai mere paas."
"Achha hai. Mujhe laga tum secretly writer ho."
Reyansh hans diya.
"Writer hota toh abhi tak apni autobiography likh raha hota."
"Title kya hota?"
Reyansh ne bina soche jawab diya.
How to Survive Mondays.
Aarohi hans padi.
"Iski toh bestseller banne ki poori possibility hai."
"Bas tum endorsement de dena."
Coffee ke beech Aarohi ne apne kaam ke baare mein bhi bataya. Uski company ek naye project par kaam kar rahi thi, jismein ek purani commercial building ko renovate karke naye use ke liye tayyar karna tha.
Reyansh ne dilchaspi se sawaal poochhe.
Aarohi ko achha laga ki woh sirf haan mein haan nahi mila raha tha, balki sach mein samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha.
Kuch der baad baat personal life ki taraf mud gayi.
Aarohi ne apna cup uthaya.
"Ek baat poochhun?"
"Depends. Tax ka sawaal hai toh main accountant nahi hoon."
"Har serious baat se pehle joke zaroori hai?"
Reyansh muskura diya.
"Ab poochho."
Aarohi ne kaha, "Tum generally logon se jaldi comfortable ho jaate ho ya time lagta hai?"
Reyansh ne kuch pal socha.
"Depends on the person. Kuch logon ke saath baat aasaan hoti hai. Kuch ke saath waqt lagta hai."
Aarohi ne sir hilaya.
"Fair enough."
Usne aage koi sawaal nahi poochha.
Reyansh ne bhi uski personal life ke baare mein zabardasti kuch nahi jaana chaha.
Coffee khatam hone ke baad dono bahar nikle.
Aarohi ne kaha, "I had a good time."
Reyansh ne muskurakar jawab diya, "Me too."
"Next time, maybe we can explore that old market area I was telling you about."
"Sure. Tum guide ban jaana. Main bas commentary karunga."
Aarohi hans padi.
"That sounds dangerous."
Dono apne-apne raaste chale gaye.
Reyansh gaadi tak aate hue soch raha tha ki Aarohi ke saath waqt achha guzarta hai.
Na koi pressure.
Na kisi ko impress karne ki zaroorat.
Bas ek aasaan si conversation.
Lekin achhi conversation aur kisi ke liye khaas mehsoos karna, dono alag cheezein hoti hain.
Filhaal, woh sirf pehli cheez thi.
Aur Reyansh ko use waise hi rehne dena theek laga.


Friday evening ko Arshad aur Sakshi ek chhote se restaurant mein mile.
Sakshi apne course ke baad seedha aayi thi. Usne bag chair ke paas rakha aur paani ka glass uthaya.
Arshad ne poochha, "Workshop kaisi thi?"
Sakshi ka chehra khil gaya.
"Achhi thi. Kaafi useful. Kuch log industry mein pehle se kaam kar rahe the, kuch meri tarah learning stage mein hain."
"Toh?"
"Toh main agle session ke liye register kar rahi hoon."
Arshad ne muskurakar kaha, "Good. Mujhe pata tha tujhe pasand aayega."
Sakshi ne uski taraf dekha.
"Tumne pehle hi maan liya tha ki mujhe pasand aayega?"
"Main optimistic insaan hoon."
"Kal tak tum apni hi life ke baare mein optimistic nahi the."
Arshad ki muskurahat halki si kam hui, lekin usne baat se nazar nahi churayi.
"Kal tak main bahut saari cheezon ko ek saath sochkar confuse ho jaata tha."
Sakshi ne cup rakh diya.
"Aur ab?"
"Ab bhi confuse hota hoon. Bas ab har baar usse bhaagne ki koshish nahi karta."
Sakshi kuch pal use dekhti rahi.
"That's progress."
Arshad ne sir hilaya.
Phir usne kaha, "Maine ghar par ek baat sochi thi."
Sakshi ne uski taraf dhyaan diya.
"Kaunsi baat?"
"Main chahta hoon ki hum apne future ke baare mein practical cheezein discuss karein. Ek hi din mein sab decide karne ke liye nahi. Bas dheere-dheere."
Sakshi ne turant jawab nahi diya.
Arshad ne baat jaari rakhi.
"Jaise career, rehne ki jagah, family se kab aur kaise baat karni hai. Aur agar kisi cheez mein disagreement hua toh usse kaise handle karenge."
Sakshi ki aankhon mein sanjeedgi thi.
"Main bhi yahi chahti hoon. Lekin ek baat clear hai, Arshad. Main apne career ko beech mein chhodkar kisi ke decision ka intezaar nahi karungi. Mujhe apni life bhi build karni hai."
Arshad ne bina der kiye kaha, "Aur tujhe karni bhi chahiye."
Sakshi ne use gaur se dekha.
"Pakka?"
Arshad hans diya.
"Madam, tumhara career mere relationship ke against nahi hai. Main bas chahta hoon ki hum dono ki life mein ek-doosre ke liye jagah ho."
Sakshi ka expression naram hua.
"Phir humein wahi karna chahiye. Ek-doosre ki life mein jagah banana. Ek-doosre ki poori life banne ki koshish nahi."
Arshad kuch pal chup raha.
Phir usne muskurakar kaha, "Yeh line main apne agle campaign mein use kar sakta hoon?"
Sakshi ne uske haath par halka sa tap kiya.
"Bilkul nahi. Copyright mera hai."
Dono hans pade.
Dinner ke baad Arshad ne use ghar tak chhodne ki peshkash ki. Sakshi maan gayi.
Gaadi mein music chal raha tha.
Signal par gaadi ruki toh Sakshi ne uska haath pakad liya.
Arshad ne uski taraf dekha.
"Kya hua?"
"Kuch nahi."
"Phir haath kyun pakda?"
Sakshi ne muskurakar kaha, "Har cheez ka reason zaroori hota hai kya?"
Arshad ne uska haath halka sa daba diya.
"Nahi."
Signal green hua.
Gaadi aage badh gayi.
Unke saamne abhi bhi sawaal the. Family, future aur woh saari practical baatein jinhe sirf pyaar ke bharose chhoda nahi ja sakta.
Lekin is baar woh dono un sawaalon se bhaag nahi rahe the.
Aur filhaal, itna kaafi tha.


Saturday ki raat Reyansh apne living room mein baitha tha.
TV par ek purani comedy film chal rahi thi, lekin uska dhyaan baar-baar phone par ja raha tha.
Arshad ka message aaya.
Arshad: Aaj ka plan?
Reyansh: Ghar. Film. Aaram.
Arshad: Teri life ka trailer bhi itna slow hai toh film kitni lambi hogi?
Reyansh: Kam se kam meri film mein unnecessary background music nahi hota.
Arshad: Teri film mein toh heroine bhi nahi hai.
Reyansh ne hanskar phone side mein rakh diya.
Kuch minute baad phone dobara vibrate hua.
Is baar ek unknown number se message tha.
Unknown Number: Tum abhi bhi waise hi ho?
Reyansh ne screen dekhi.
Number save nahi tha.
Usne reply karne se pehle message dobara padha.
Reyansh: Sorry, who is this?
Kuch der tak koi reply nahi aaya.
Reyansh ne phone table par rakh diya aur film dekhne laga.
Do minute baad message aaya.
Unknown Number: Itni jaldi logon ko bhool jaate ho?
Reyansh ne bhauen sikodi.
Usne number dobara dekha. Koi naam ya profile photo nahi.
Reyansh: Agar aap apna naam bata dein toh meri memory ko thodi madad mil sakti hai.
Reply aaya.
Unknown Number: Naam bata diya toh tumhara dimaag chalana band ho jayega.
Reyansh ke chehre par muskurahat aayi.
Reyansh: Mera dimaag Saturday night ko off rehta hai. Monday ko try karna.
Is baar reply jaldi aaya.
Unknown Number: Excuses dena abhi bhi nahi chhoda.
Reyansh ne phone ko gaur se dekha.
Yeh koi random promotional message nahi tha.
Saamne wala use jaanta tha.
Ya kam se kam, aisa dikhana chahta tha.
Reyansh ne type kiya:
Reyansh: Achha, ek hint de do.
Kuch seconds baad jawab aaya.
Unknown Number: Hint dena meri responsibility nahi hai. Yaad karna tumhara kaam hai.
Reyansh hans diya.
Reyansh: Madam, yeh koi competitive exam hai kya?
Unknown Number: Tum hote toh shayad answer sheet bhi khaali chhod dete.
Reyansh ne sir peeche sofa par tika diya.
"Interesting..."
Usne message type kiya.
Reyansh: Theek hai. Main guess karta hoon. Arshad?
Reply turant aaya.
Unknown Number: Agar main Arshad hoti toh tumhe ab tak teen voice notes aur chaar gaaliyan mil chuki hoti.
Reyansh zor se hans pada.
Usne Arshad ko message karne ka socha, phir ruk gaya.
Pata nahi kyun, use laga ki is unknown number ke saath baat karna abhi zyada interesting hai.
Reyansh: Fair point. Toh tum mujhe kahan se jaanti ho?
Is baar jawab aane mein thoda waqt laga.
Unknown Number: Socho. Tumhare paas waqt hi waqt hai.
Reyansh ne message dekha.
Phir type kiya:
Reyansh: Mere paas waqt hai, lekin patience limited hai.
Unknown Number: Achha hai. Thoda exercise ho jayegi.
Reyansh muskura diya.
Woh abhi bhi nahi jaanta tha ki saamne kaun hai.
Aur uske paas koi pakka andaaza bhi nahi tha.
Usne aakhri message bheja.
Reyansh: Theek hai. Abhi ke liye tum Unknown Madam ho.
Reply aaya.
Unknown Number: Aur tum wahi purane Reyansh.
Reyansh ne message padhkar phone ko dekha.
Wahi purana Reyansh?
Kya matlab tha iska?
Koi college ka dost?
Koi purani jaan-pehchaan?
Ya bas koi jo use chidhane mein maza le raha tha?
Usne dobara type kiya.
Reyansh: Tumhara naam pata chal sakta hai ya mujhe poori raat CID khelna padega?
Message read ho gaya.
Reply nahi aaya.
Reyansh ne kuch der intezaar kiya, phir phone table par rakh diya.
TV par film khatam hone wali thi.
Usne remote uthaya, volume kam kiya aur sofa par aaram se baith gaya.
Uski zindagi mein koi naya rishta shuru nahi hua tha.
Koi naya vaada nahi tha.
Bas ek unknown number tha, ek ajeeb sa conversation, aur ek sawaal jiska jawab abhi uske paas nahi tha.
Lekin is baar, usne phone ko baar-baar uthakar message check nahi kiya.
Usne film poori dekhi.
Phir light band karke sone chala gaya.
Phone table par hi pada raha.
Screen par aakhri message chamak raha tha.
Unknown Number: Aur tum wahi purane Reyansh.