[Greenwood]

Update 24


Monday Morning: Ek Message Ka Intezaar?
Monday ki subah Reyansh ki aankh khuli toh sabse pehle usne phone uthaya.
Koi naya message nahi tha.
Usne screen ko do second dekha, phir khud par hi hans diya.
"Waah, Reyansh sahab. Ab unknown numbers ke message ka intezaar hone laga?"
Phone table par rakhkar woh bathroom ki taraf badh gaya.
Lekin kuch der baad, jab woh shirt ke buttons laga raha tha, usne phir phone check kiya.
Is baar bhi kuch nahi.
"Jo bhi hai, badi busy personality hai."
Usne phone pocket mein rakha aur office ke liye nikal gaya.
Lift mein Jheel mil gayi.
Uske haath mein notebook aur ek chhota sa bag tha.
"Good morning," Jheel ne kaha.
"Good morning, student sahiba. Aaj ka English lesson kya hai?"
Jheel muskuraayi.
"Aaj mujhe apne baare mein ek minute tak bolna hai."
"Sirf ek minute? Itni saari baatein hain tumhare paas."
Jheel ne use dekha.
"Aapko kaise pata?"
Reyansh ne seedha chehra banaya.
"Main padosi hoon. Building mein information network chalta hai."
"Achha? Toh building ke information network ko yeh bhi pata hoga ki aap apni ghadi aksar kahan rakhte hain?"
Reyansh hans pada.
"Personal attack subah-subah?"
Lift ground floor par ruk gayi.
Jheel bahar nikalte hue boli, "Practice karungi. Shaam ko bataungi kaisa gaya."
Reyansh ne sir hilaya.
"Done. Lekin ek condition."
"Kya?"
"Galti ho toh usse galti samajhna, apni personality ka review nahi."
Jheel kuch pal use dekhti rahi.
Phir muskurakar boli, "Theek hai."
Dono alag-alag raaston par nikal gaye.
Reyansh parking ki taraf badha, lekin gaadi tak pahunchne se pehle usne phone nikala.
Screen khaali thi.
Usne khud ko yaad dilaya ki use farq nahi padta.
Phir phone wapas rakh diya.
Kam se kam usne khud se yahi kaha.


Office mein Reyansh apni desk par baitha client presentation check kar raha tha.
Neha ek file lekar aayi.
"Yeh final draft hai. Ek baar dekh lo."
Reyansh ne file li.
"Thanks."
Neha wahin khadi rahi.
Reyansh ne kuch seconds baad nazar uthayi.
"Kuch aur?"
Neha ne aankhein sikodi.
"Nahi. Bas dekh rahi hoon."
"Kya?"
"Ki tum phone ko kitni baar dekhte ho."
Reyansh ka haath turant phone se hat gaya.
"Main phone nahi dekh raha."
Neha ne uski desk par rakhe phone ki taraf ishara kiya.
"Achha? Toh yeh tumhara phone khud hi baar-baar tumhari taraf dekh raha hai?"
Reyansh hans diya.
"Madam, aapko apne kaam se kaam rakhna chahiye."
"Main apne kaam se hi kaam rakh rahi hoon. Tumhari productivity ka observation kar rahi hoon."
"Bahut achha. Report mein likh dena ki employee excellent hai."
"Employee distracted hai."
"Employee coffee ke bina underperform kar raha hai."
Neha ne coffee cup uski taraf badha diya.
"Lo. Ab koi excuse nahi."
Reyansh ne cup le liya.
"Thank you."
Neha chair par baith gayi.
"Waise, koi naya scene hai kya?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Kaisa scene?"
"Jo bhi tumhare phone ko itna important bana raha hai."
Reyansh kuch pal chup raha, phir bola, "Ek unknown number se message aaya tha."
Neha ki aankhon mein dilchaspi chamki.
"Oh!"
Reyansh ne ungli uthayi.
"Bas ek 'oh'. Iske aage koi investigation nahi."
Neha hans padi.
"Achha, kya likha tha?"
"Bas kuch random baatein. Lagta hai koi mujhe jaanta hai."
"Aur tumhe nahi pata kaun hai?"
"Nahi."
Neha ne coffee ka sip liya.
"Interesting."
"Yeh word tum log har cheez ke liye kyun use karte ho?"
"Kyuki interesting cheezein interesting hoti hain."
Reyansh ne sar pakad liya.
"Main yeh conversation record karwaunga."
Neha uthkar khadi ho gayi.
"Karwa dena. Lekin agar uska message aaye toh mujhe batana."
"Bilkul nahi."
"Toh phir mujhe khud guess karna padega."
Woh hansi ke saath chali gayi.
Reyansh ne laptop ki taraf dekha.
Presentation abhi bhi khuli thi.
Usne phone ko drawer mein rakh diya aur kaam mein lag gaya.
Lekin uske chehre par aayi muskurahat kuch der tak gayab nahi hui.

Shaam ko Jheel apne flat mein baithi thi.
Usne laptop band kar diya tha. Notebook saamne khuli thi aur uske introduction ke neeche kuch naye words likhe the.
Woh subah se practice kar rahi thi.
Kabhi sentence bhool jaati, kabhi pronunciation mein atak jaati, aur kabhi apni hi awaaz sunkar hansne lagti.
Lekin aaj usne decide kiya tha ki practice chhodni nahi hai.
Usne phone ka camera on kiya aur recording shuru ki.
"My name is Jheel. I live in Bengaluru. I want to improve my communication skills because I want to become more confident..."
Woh ek pal ruki.
Phir usne sentence poora kiya.
"I want to learn new things and become independent."
Recording khatam hui.
Jheel ne video dekha.
Use apni awaaz ab bhi thodi ajeeb lag rahi thi. Lekin is baar usne video delete nahi kiya.
Usne phone par message likha.
Jheel: Aaj practice achhi gayi.
Reyansh ka reply aaya.
Reyansh: Kitni achhi? Five-star rating ya customer complaint?
Jheel hans padi.
Jheel: Aaj ek minute tak bina ruke boli.
Reyansh: That's genuinely good. Congratulations.
Jheel ne kuch der message dekha.
Phir likha:
Jheel: Mujhe pehle lagta tha ki English achhi bolne wale log hi confident hote hain.
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Confidence aur English alag cheezein hain. English ek skill hai. Confidence apni baat kehne ki himmat.
Jheel ne message padha.
Usne notebook mein dono words likhe:
Skill. Confidence.
Phir neeche likha:
I can learn a skill. I can build confidence.
Usne notebook band kar di.
Aaj usne apne aap ko koi bada vaada nahi diya tha.
Bas itna ki kal bhi practice karegi.
Aur kabhi-kabhi chhote vaade hi sabse zyada kaam aate hain.


Usi shaam Arshad apne office se nikalne ki taiyaari kar raha tha, jab Sakshi ka call aaya.
"Free ho?"
"Abhi ho jaunga. Bata."
"Weekend par mere course ka ek aur session hai. Uske baad main apni friend ke saath ek project discuss karungi."
Arshad ne bag kandhe par daala.
"Okay. Enjoy."
Sakshi kuch pal chup rahi.
"Bas itna?"
Arshad ruk gaya.
"Kya matlab?"
"Mujhe laga tum poochhoge ki project kya hai."
Arshad ko apni galti samajh aayi.
"Achha, sorry. Bata, kya project hai?"
Sakshi ne samjhaya ki uski friend ek chhota sa professional portfolio banana chahti hai aur use bhi usmein contribute karne ka mauka mil sakta hai.
Arshad ne dhyaan se suna.
"Yeh toh achha opportunity hai."
"Haan. Lekin mujhe thoda darr lag raha hai. Abhi experience zyada nahi hai."
Arshad ne kaha, "Darr lagna normal hai. Lekin agar tujhe lagta hai ki tu seekh sakti hai, toh try kar."
Sakshi muskuraayi.
"Tum aajkal kaafi sensible baatein karne lage ho."
Arshad ne turant jawab diya, "Main pehle bhi sensible tha. Bas duniya meri intelligence ke liye ready nahi thi."
Sakshi hans padi.
"Lo, wapas aa gaye."
"Main apni asli personality zyada der chhupa nahi sakta."
Dono kuch der baat karte rahe.
Call khatam hone se pehle Sakshi ne kaha, "Arshad, Sunday ko milte hain? Main tumhe project dikhaungi."
"Bilkul."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Sakshi ne call band kar diya.
Arshad kuch der phone dekhta raha.
Use khushi thi ki Sakshi apne liye naye opportunities dhoondh rahi thi. Aur woh bhi pehli baar sirf uski khushi mein shaamil hone ke bajaye, uske goals ko samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha.
Usne Reyansh ko message kiya.
Arshad: Sunday ko free hai?
Reyansh: Depends. Koi kaam hai?
Arshad: Sakshi ka project dekhna hai. Tu bhi chal.
Reyansh: Teri girlfriend ka project dekhne main kyun aaun?
Arshad: Kyuki tu mera dost hai.
Reyansh: Yeh friendship hai ya unpaid consultancy?
Arshad: Dono.
Reyansh ne hanskar phone rakh diya.
Reyansh: Theek hai. Time bata dena.
Arshad muskura diya.
Kuch rishton mein badlav bahut dheere aata hai.
Lekin jab aata hai, toh woh chhoti baaton mein dikhne lagta hai.


Raat kareeb nau baje Reyansh ghar lautkar sofa par baitha tha.
Usne dinner kar liya tha aur ab ek series dekh raha tha.
Phone table par pada tha.
Tabhi message aaya.
Unknown Number: Aaj kisi ko yaad kiya?
Reyansh ne screen dekhi.
Uske chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Reyansh: Haan. Apni grocery list ko. Doodh lana bhool gaya.
Reply aaya.
Unknown Number: Tumse serious baat karna hi bekaar hai.
Reyansh: Tumne kab serious baat ki? Tum toh naam bhi nahi batati.
Unknown Number: Naam jaan kar kya karoge?
Reyansh: Kam se kam phone mein save toh kar sakta hoon.
Unknown Number: Kis naam se?
Reyansh ne kuch seconds socha.
Reyansh: Unknown Madam.
Reply turant aaya.
Unknown Number: Bahut creative ho.
Reyansh: Advertising copywriter mera dost hai. Uska asar hai.
Unknown Number: Apne dost ko blame karna bhi nahi chhoda.
Reyansh hans diya.
Usne type kiya:
Reyansh: Achha, ek sawaal. Hum college mein mile the?
Is baar reply aane mein waqt laga.
Phir message aaya.
Unknown Number: Tumhe kya lagta hai?
Reyansh ne aankhein sikodi.
Reyansh: Mujhe lagta hai tum jaan-boojhkar mujhe confuse kar rahi ho.
Unknown Number: Finally, ek sahi jawab.
Reyansh kuch der screen dekhta raha.
College ke doston ke chehre dimaag mein aaye. Kuch yaad the, kuch bas naam ke taur par. Kuch logon se saalon se baat nahi hui thi.
Lekin is number ke peeche kaun tha, uska andaaza abhi bhi nahi tha.
Usne likha:
Reyansh: Ek hint aur de do. Koi common friend?
Message read ho gaya.
Reply nahi aaya.
Reyansh ne phone sofa par rakh diya.
Kuch minute baad usne dobara dekha.
Koi naya message nahi.
"Madam ko suspense ka paisa milta hoga."
Usne phone side mein rakh diya aur series dekhne laga.
Is baar usne message ka intezaar nahi kiya.
Lekin uske dimaag mein ek baat reh gayi.
Saamne wala use purane waqt se jaanta tha.
Aur kisi wajah se, woh chahta tha ki Reyansh khud yaad kare.


Friday afternoon ko Reyansh apne desk par kaam kar raha tha, jab Aarohi ka message aaya.
Aarohi: Hey, Saturday ko ek small design exhibition hai. Main soch rahi thi dekhne jaaun. Interested?
Reyansh ne message padha.
Usne calendar check kiya. Saturday ka din khaali tha.
Reyansh: Sure. What time?
Aarohi: Around 5 PM? Main venue bhej deti hoon.
Reyansh: Done.
Aarohi ka message aaya.
Aarohi: Great. See you there.
Reyansh ne phone rakh diya.
Usse Aarohi ke saath waqt guzarna achha lag raha tha. Lekin usne abhi tak is connection ko kisi khaas naam mein fit karne ki koshish nahi ki thi.
Woh use jaan raha tha.
Aur shayad Aarohi bhi use jaan rahi thi.
Filhaal, dono ke beech itna hi tha.
Office se nikalte waqt Neha uske paas aayi.
"Weekend plans?"
"Saturday ko ek exhibition hai."
"With?"
Reyansh ne use dekha.
"Tum HR mein ho ya gossip department mein?"
Neha hans padi.
"Main bas poochh rahi hoon."
"Aarohi ke saath."
Neha ne sir hilaya.
"Achha. Enjoy."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Bas? Koi teasing nahi?"
Neha ne muskurakar kaha, "Har cheez par joke maarna zaroori nahi hota, Reyansh."
Woh apni desk ki taraf chali gayi.
Reyansh kuch pal use dekhta raha.
Phir apna bag uthakar office se nikal gaya.


Exhibition ek art gallery mein thi.
Andar paintings, photographs aur design installations lage hue the. Kuch log artwork ko dekh rahe the, kuch artists se baat kar rahe the.
Aarohi entrance ke paas khadi thi.
Usne Reyansh ko dekhkar haath hilaya.
"Hey!"
Reyansh uske paas aaya.
"Sorry, traffic."
Aarohi ne ghadi dekhi.
"You're two minutes late."
Reyansh hans diya.
"Ab toh mujhe punctuality ka certificate lena padega."
Dono gallery ke andar chale gaye.
Pehli wall par photographs lagi thi, jo shehar ke purane aur naye hisson ko dikhati thi.
Aarohi ek photograph ke saamne ruk gayi.
Usmein ek purani building ke saamne nayi glass buildings dikh rahi thi.
"Look at this," usne kaha. "Ek hi frame mein do alag time periods."
Reyansh ne photograph dekhi.
"Ek taraf purana shehar, doosri taraf naya."
Aarohi ne sir hilaya.
"Exactly. Mujhe yeh contrast pasand hai. Purani cheezein hamesha bekaar nahi hoti aur nayi cheezein hamesha better nahi hoti."
Reyansh ne muskurakar kaha, "Tum buildings ki baat kar rahi ho ya logon ki?"
Aarohi uski taraf mudi.
"Dono ki ho sakti hai."
Kuch pal dono ek-doosre ko dekhte rahe.
Phir Aarohi hans padi.
"Sorry, professional habit."
Reyansh ne kaha, "Koi baat nahi. Main bhi har baat mein marketing ghusa deta hoon."
Dono aage badh gaye.
Ek corner mein young artists ke sketches rakhe the. Aarohi har artwork ko dhyaan se dekh rahi thi, jabki Reyansh kabhi-kabhi uske expressions dekhkar muskura deta.
Aarohi ne use pakad liya.
"Kya?"
"Kuch nahi."
"Tum mujhe dekhkar kyun muskura rahe ho?"
Reyansh ne seedha jawab diya.
"Kyuki tum apne kaam ki baat karte waqt kaafi excited ho jaati ho."
Aarohi ka expression naram ho gaya.
"Mujhe apna kaam pasand hai."
"Achhi baat hai."
"Tumhe apna kaam pasand hai?"
Reyansh ne socha.
"Haan. Har din nahi. Lekin overall, haan."
Aarohi ne sir hilaya.
"Honest answer."
"Marketing mein kaam karta hoon. Har waqt brand statement dena zaroori nahi."
Dono hans pade.
Exhibition khatam hone ke baad woh paas ke café mein baith gaye.
Aarohi ne coffee order ki aur kaha, "Aaj achha laga."
Reyansh ne sir hilaya.
"Mujhe bhi."
"Next time tum koi jagah suggest karna."
"Done. Lekin warning hai, meri recommendations mein chai ki tapri bhi aa sakti hai."
Aarohi hans padi.
"That's fine. Main judge nahi karungi."
Reyansh ne cup uthaya.
"Good. Kyunki meri personality ka aadha hissa chai par dependent hai."
Aarohi ne muskurakar kaha, "Yeh baat mujhe pehle bhi bata chuke ho."
"Achha? Matlab tum meri baatein yaad rakhti ho."
Aarohi ne uski taraf dekha.
"Main interesting baatein yaad rakhti hoon."
Reyansh kuch pal use dekhta raha.
Phir muskura diya.
"Fair enough."
Us shaam dono alag hue toh unke beech pehle se thodi zyada familiarity thi.
Lekin koi jaldi nahi thi.
Kisi ko kisi ko impress karne ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Aur dono ke liye, shayad yahi baat is connection ko achha bana rahi thi.


Sunday raat Reyansh apni balcony mein khada tha.
Bengaluru ki hawa halki thandi thi. Neeche road par traffic kam ho gaya tha.
Usne phone nikala.
Unknown Madam ka koi message nahi tha.
Aarohi ne exhibition ki ek photograph bheji thi, jismein woh dono ek artwork ke paas khade the. Photograph kisi doosre visitor ne li thi.
Aarohi: Aaj ki memory.
Reyansh ne photo dekhi aur reply kiya.
Reyansh: Photographer ne meri best side choose ki hai.
Aarohi: Tumhari best side kaunsi hai?
Reyansh: Jo camera ke peeche hoti hai.
Aarohi ne laughing emoji bheja.
Reyansh muskura diya.
Phir usne Jheel ka message dekha.
Jheel: Aaj maine apna introduction bina notebook dekhe record kiya.
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Ab toh celebration banta hai.
Jheel: Kal class mein phir bolna hai. Thoda nervous hoon.
Reyansh: Nervous rehna allowed hai. Bas nervousness ko decision mat lene dena.
Jheel ne jawab diya.
Jheel: Aap har baar aisi baat bol dete hain ki mujhe notebook mein likhni padti hai.
Reyansh hans diya.
Reyansh: Notebook ka copyright bhi mera hoga phir.
Jheel: Bilkul nahi.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakha.
Uski zindagi mein ab alag-alag logon ke saath alag-alag tarah ki baatein ho rahi thi.
Aarohi ke saath ek nayi pehchaan thi.
Jheel ke saath ek aaram bhara padosipan, jismein ab bharosa bhi thoda badh raha tha.
Arshad aur Sakshi apni zindagi ko saath lekar chalna seekh rahe the.
Neha office ki duniya mein uski dost aur colleague thi.
Aur ek unknown number tha, jo kabhi-kabhi uske phone par aakar uski curiosity ko jaga deta tha.
Reyansh ne balcony se aasman ki taraf dekha.
Uski zindagi abhi bhi poori tarah samajh mein nahi aayi thi.
Lekin har cheez ko ek hi din mein samajhna bhi zaroori nahi tha.
Woh andar aaya, light band ki aur sone chala gaya.
Phone table par pada raha.
Is baar bhi unknown number se koi message nahi aaya.
Aur Reyansh ne intezaar karne ke bajaye apni aankhein band kar li.