[Greenwood]

Update 25

Monday ki subah Reyansh ke liye kisi motivational quote se nahi, balki phone ki lagataar bajti alarm tone se shuru hui.
Usne takiye ke neeche haath maara.
Phone nahi mila.
Doosri taraf haath badhaya.
Wahan bhi nahi.
Aakhirkaar usne aankh kholkar dekha. Phone bistar ke paas zameen par pada tha aur alarm poori imaandari se apna kaam kar raha tha.
Reyansh ne alarm band kiya.
"Monday ko banane wale insaan se mujhe personal problem hai."
Woh uthkar bathroom ki taraf gaya.
Kuch der baad, shirt pehne aur baal set karte hue, woh living room mein aaya. Doorbell baj chuki thi.
Shalu bahar khadi thi.
Darwaza khulte hi usne Reyansh ko dekha aur muskurakar boli, "Good morning, sir."
Reyansh ne ghadi dekhi.
"Good morning. Aaj main late nahi hoon."
Shalu ne bhi ghadi dekhi.
"Abhi toh aapko office ke liye nikalna hai."
"Yahi toh keh raha hoon. Main late nahi hoon, bas waqt mujhse aage chal raha hai."
Shalu hans padi.
Woh kitchen mein chali gayi, jabki Reyansh apna laptop bag check karne laga.
Kuch minute baad breakfast table par tha.
Reyansh ne phone dekha. Aarohi ka message aaya hua tha.
Aarohi: Kal ki exhibition ki photos bhej rahi hoon. Ek photo mein tum aise dekh rahe ho jaise artwork ne tumse udhaar maanga ho.
Reyansh hans diya.
Reyansh: Main bas artwork ki depth samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha.
Aarohi: Sure. Tumhari aankhon mein toh poori philosophy thi.
Reyansh: Tum design consultancy mein kaam karti ho ya logon ke expressions ka audit?
Aarohi: Dono mein career opportunities hain.
Reyansh ne phone rakh diya.
Shalu ne use muskurate dekha.
"Kya hua, sir?"
"Kuch nahi."
"Achhi news hai?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Shalu, tumhara course shuru hone se pehle hi tum interview lena seekh gayi?"
Shalu hans padi.
"Nahi, sir. Bas aapko muskuraate dekhkar poochh liya."
Reyansh ne coffee ka cup uthaya.
"Achhi baat hai. Insaan ko kabhi-kabhi bina wajah bhi muskuraana chahiye."
Shalu ne uski baat par sir hilaya aur apne kaam mein lag gayi.
Reyansh office ke liye nikal gaya.
Lekin lift mein khade hue usne ek baar phir Aarohi ki bheji hui photo dekh li.
Usne photo save karne ka socha, phir phone lock kar diya.
"Bas photo hai, bhai... photo hai."
Lift ground floor par ruk gayi.
Woh bahar nikal gaya.


Office mein Monday ki usual bhaag-daud thi.
Kisi team ko presentation chahiye thi, kisi ko revised copy, aur kisi ko aisa answer jo client ko bhi pasand aaye aur budget ko bhi.
Reyansh conference room mein Neha ke saath baitha tha.
Neha ne presentation ke kuch slides khole.
"Yeh wala section thoda aur simple kar sakte hain. Client ko message samajhne mein time nahi lagna chahiye."
Reyansh ne screen dekhi.
"Agreed. Headline short karte hain aur details next slide par shift kar dete hain."
Dono kaam mein lag gaye.
Kuch der baad Neha ne coffee ka cup table par rakha.
"Waise weekend kaisa raha?"
Reyansh ne laptop se nazar nahi hatayi.
"Achha tha."
"Exhibition?"
"Haan."
"Aarohi ke saath?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Tumhare paas koi secret camera hai kya?"
Neha hans padi.
"Nahi. Tumne khud bataya tha ki Saturday ko exhibition jaa rahe ho."
"Achha. Main bhool gaya tha."
"Yeh bhi tumhari speciality hai."
Reyansh ne screen ki taraf ishara kiya.
"Kaam karein?"
Neha ne haath utha diye.
"Kar rahe hain, boss."
Kuch der dono chupchaap slides check karte rahe.
Phir Neha ne kaha, "Waise, tum log dobara miloge?"
Reyansh ne jawab dene se pehle socha.
"Shayad. Usne ek purane market area mein chalne ka kaha tha."
Neha ne sir hilaya.
"Achha hai."
Reyansh ne use dekha.
"Bas?"
"Ab kya chahiye? Main tumhare liye phoolon ka bouquet order karun?"
Reyansh hans pada.
"Bilkul nahi. Office mein bouquet aaya toh log samajhenge client ne complaint bheji hai."
Neha ki hansi nikal gayi.
Meeting khatam hone ke baad dono apni desks ki taraf chale gaye.
Reyansh ke liye Aarohi ke saath dobara milna ek simple plan tha.
Lekin Neha ki ek baat uske dimaag mein reh gayi.
Tum log dobara miloge?
Usne khud se poochha ki kya woh Aarohi se milne ke liye genuinely excited tha.
Jawab tha, haan.
Lekin woh excitement abhi kisi bade label ki mohtaaj nahi thi.


Jheel ke course ka agla session dopahar mein tha.
Is baar trainer ne students ko chhote groups mein baant diya tha. Har student ko apne baare mein bolne ke baad doosre student se ek sawaal poochhna tha.
Jheel ka turn aaya toh usne apni notebook ek taraf rakh di.
"My name is Jheel. I live in Bengaluru. I want to improve my communication skills because I want to become more confident and independent."
Is baar usne sentence ke beech mein rukkar notebook nahi dekhi.
Trainer ne muskurakar kaha, "Good improvement, Jheel."
Phir uske group mein ek ladki, Ritu, ne apna introduction diya.
Jheel ko usse ek sawaal poochhna tha.
Woh kuch pal sochti rahi.
Phir boli, "What do you like to learn?"
Ritu ne jawab diya ki use computer skills aur graphic design seekhna pasand hai.
Dono ki baat aage badhi. Jheel ne kuch aur sawaal poochhe aur Ritu ne bhi usse uske goals ke baare mein jaana.
Session ke end tak Jheel pehle se zyada comfortable mehsoos kar rahi thi.
Class khatam hui toh usne apni notebook kholi.
Aaj usne galtiyon ki list ke saath ek aur cheez likhi:
I asked questions without being afraid.
Woh kuch der us line ko dekhti rahi.
Phir usne Reyansh ko message kiya.
Jheel: Aaj class mein maine ek naye student se baat ki.
Reyansh: Aur student bhaag gaya ya abhi tak dost hai?
Jheel hans padi.
Jheel: Aap na...
Reyansh: Achha, seriously. Kaisa laga?
Jheel ne jawab diya.
Jheel: Achha laga. Pehle main soch rahi thi ki sawaal sahi hoga ya nahi. Phir maine poochh hi liya.
Reyansh: See? Practice kaam kar rahi hai.
Jheel: Haan. Lekin abhi bahut kuch seekhna hai.
Reyansh: Bilkul. Aur ab tumhe pata hai ki tum seekh sakti ho.
Jheel ne phone rakh diya.
Usne khidki se bahar dekha.
Bengaluru ki sadak par log apne-apne kaam mein lage hue the.
Jheel ko pehle lagta tha ki independent banne ke liye koi bahut bada mauka chahiye hoga.
Ab use samajh aane laga tha ki shuruaat chhote kadmon se bhi ho sakti hai.
Ek sawaal poochhne se.
Ek nayi class attend karne se.
Ya apni awaaz ko bina delete kiye sun lene se.
Usne notebook band ki aur chai banane ke liye kitchen mein chali gayi.
Aaj ki chai usne khud ke liye banayi thi.
Aur aaj woh chai peete hue apne agle session ke baare mein soch rahi thi.


Wednesday ko Arshad apne ghar par laptop lekar baitha tha.
Uske saamne teen documents khule the. Ek client ki copy, ek pending proposal aur ek personal note jismein usne agle mahine ke kaam ki planning likhi thi.
Phone par Sakshi ka message aaya.
Sakshi: Portfolio ka first draft ready hai. Dekhoge?
Arshad: Of course. Send it.
Kuch hi der mein file aa gayi.
Arshad ne document khola.
Sakshi ne apne course se judi skills, kuch practice projects aur apne goals ko simple layout mein arrange kiya tha.
Arshad ne dhyaan se dekha.
Usne ek-do jagah suggestions likhe aur reply bheja.
Arshad: Structure achha hai. Do projects ke descriptions thode aur clear kar sakti ho. Baaki, first draft ke liye solid hai.
Sakshi ka reply aaya.
Sakshi: Thank you. Main kal changes karungi.
Arshad ne phir likha:
Arshad: Aur ek baat. Apne goals wale section ko hataana mat. Woh tumhari direction dikhata hai.
Sakshi ne jawab diya.
Sakshi: Main hata nahi rahi. Bas wording improve karungi.
Arshad muskura diya.
Usne phone uthakar call kar li.
Sakshi ne kuch rings ke baad call receive ki.
"Haan, Mr. Copywriter?"
Arshad hans pada.
"Madam, aapke portfolio par professional feedback dena tha."
"Email kar dete."
"Email mein meri personality kaise dikhti?"
"Waise hi jaise tumhari har tagline mein tumhari personality zabardasti ghus jaati hai."
Arshad ne seene par haath rakha.
"Yeh ilzaam hai."
"Evidence ke saath."
Dono hans pade.
Phir Sakshi ne poochha, "Waise, tumne apna pending proposal complete kar liya?"
Arshad ne laptop ki taraf dekha.
"Almost."
"Almost ka matlab?"
"Bas last section."
Sakshi ne kaha, "Aaj complete kar lena. Phir kal client ke saamne last-minute panic nahi hoga."
Arshad ne fake salute kiya.
"Yes, ma'am."
Call khatam hone ke baad woh dobara laptop par jhuk gaya.
Sakshi ne uske kaam mein help nahi ki thi, na hi uske liye proposal likha tha.
Bas usse yaad dilaya tha ki apne kaam ko bhi utni hi importance de jitni woh doosron ke kaam ko deta hai.
Arshad ne document complete kiya, file save ki aur laptop band kar diya.
Phir usne Reyansh ko message kiya.
Arshad: Kal mil sakta hai?
Reyansh: Kyun?
Arshad: Ek kaam hai.
Reyansh: Paise chahiye toh seedha bol.
Arshad: Teri personality mein koi software update nahi aaya kya?
Reyansh ka reply aaya.
Reyansh: Nahi. Main original version hoon.
Arshad hans pada.
Arshad: Kal shaam chai. Important baat karni hai.
Reyansh ne message padha.
Reyansh: Theek hai. Time bhej dena.
Arshad ne phone rakh diya.
Uske chehre par ab bhi muskurahat thi.
Lekin is baar uske dimaag mein sirf mazaak nahi tha.
Usse Reyansh se ek practical baat discuss karni thi.
Aur woh chahta tha ki is baar woh baat adhoori na chhode.


Thursday shaam Reyansh aur Arshad apni purani chai ki tapri par mile.
Bengaluru ki traffic apni poori taaqat se chal rahi thi. Road ke paas log chai ke cups lekar khade the aur tapri wala ek saath teen orders sambhaal raha tha.
Reyansh ne chai ka cup uthaya.
"Ab bata. Kya important baat hai?"
Arshad ne pehle chai pi.
"Main soch raha tha ki apne kaam ko thoda expand karun."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Matlab?"
"Agency ke saath kaam toh chal raha hai. Lekin main kuch independent clients bhi lena chahta hoon. Apna portfolio update kar raha hoon aur do jagah baat bhi ki hai."
Reyansh ne sir hilaya.
"Good idea. Lekin agency ke kaam aur independent clients ke beech time manage kar paayega?"
"Yahi toh dekhna hai."
Reyansh ne cup neeche rakha.
"Sabse pehle apni capacity dekh. Kitne hours de sakta hai? Phir decide kar ki kitna extra kaam lena hai. Sirf zyada clients hone ka matlab zyada success nahi hota."
Arshad ne uski baat suni.
"Tu sahi keh raha hai. Main soch raha tha ki shuru mein ek ya do clients hi loon."
"Better. Aur contract clear rakhna. Payment, deadlines, revisions, sab."
Arshad ne muskurakar kaha, "Kabhi-kabhi bhool jaata hoon ki tu marketing ke saath business ki bhi baatein kar sakta hai."
Reyansh ne bhaun uthayi.
"Main sirf coffee peene aur presentation banane ke liye salary nahi leta."
"Achha? Mujhe laga corporate duniya mein sab log bas meetings mein baithkar serious faces banate hain."
Reyansh hans pada.
"Yeh skill bhi hai. Tu seekh le."
Dono kuch der kaam aur future plans ke baare mein baat karte rahe.
Phir Arshad ne kaha, "Ek aur baat hai."
Reyansh ne use dekha.
"Bol."
"Main aur Sakshi agle mahine ek din baithkar apne practical plans discuss karne wale hain. Career, family, future. Sab kuch ek saath decide nahi karenge, lekin ek proper conversation karenge."
Reyansh ne sir hilaya.
"Achha hai."
Arshad ne chai ka cup ghumaya.
"Thoda darr bhi lag raha hai."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Is baar darr ko pehle se jawab mat banne dena."
Arshad kuch pal chup raha.
Phir usne halka sa sir hilaya.
"Haan. Koshish karunga."
Reyansh ne mahaul halka karne ke liye kaha, "Aur agar conversation mein kuch samajh na aaye toh mujhe call kar lena. Main background mein baithkar PowerPoint bana dunga."
Arshad hans pada.
"Tu mere relationship ka project manager banega?"
"Extra charge lagega."
"Tu mera dost hai!"
"Friendship discount alag hota hai."
Dono hansne lage.
Chai khatam hone ke baad woh alag-alag raaston par nikal gaye.
Arshad ke paas ab ek plan tha, lekin us plan ko zindagi mein utarne ke liye use abhi bhi himmat chahiye thi.
Reyansh ne usse koi guarantee nahi di thi.
Bas ek dost ki tarah uski baat suni thi.
Kabhi-kabhi itna hi kaafi hota hai


Friday ko Jheel apni online class ke baad course ke discussion group mein messages dekh rahi thi.
Ritu ne group mein ek resource share kiya tha, jismein basic computer skills aur communication practice ke free videos the.
Jheel ne use open kiya aur kuch der dekha.
Phir usne Ritu ko personal message bheja.
Jheel: Thank you for sharing these resources. I will check them.
Ritu ka reply aaya.
Ritu: You're welcome! I found them useful. We can practise together sometime if you want.
Jheel kuch pal message dekhti rahi.
Phir usne reply kiya.
Jheel: Yes, that would be helpful.
Ritu ne poochha ki kya woh agle session se pehle online practice kar sakti hain.
Jheel ne haan kar di.
Usne phone rakhkar apni notebook kholi aur agle hafte ke liye ek chhota sa schedule banaya.
Daily 10 minutes English practice.
Course videos.
Basic computer lessons.
Weekly revision.
Usne schedule ko dekha.
Phir neeche likha:
Don't try to learn everything in one day.
Yeh line usne khud ke liye likhi thi.
Shaam ko woh corridor mein Reyansh se takra gayi.
Reyansh office se lauta tha aur haath mein grocery bag tha.
Jheel ne bag ki taraf dekha.
"Aaj khud shopping?"
Reyansh ne bag upar uthaya.
"Main bhi kabhi-kabhi responsible citizen ban jaata hoon."
Jheel hans padi.
"Aaj kya liya?"
"Doodh."
Jheel ne use dekha.
"Bas?"
"Is baar yaad raha. Achievement celebrate karo."
Jheel ki hansi nikal gayi.
"Congratulations, Reyansh."
Reyansh ne fake bow kiya.
"Thank you. Main apne fans ka shukriya ada karta hoon."
Jheel ne apna notebook bag adjust kiya.
"Waise, aaj meri class mein ek nayi friend bani."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Achha? Naam?"
"Ritu. Hum next week saath practice karenge."
"That's good. Saath mein practice karne se confidence badh sakta hai."
Jheel ne sir hilaya.
"Haan. Mujhe lagta hai ab main sirf videos dekhne ke bajaye kisi se baat bhi kar sakungi."
Reyansh muskura diya.
"Perfect. Seekhne ka maza tabhi hai jab tum use real life mein try karo."
Jheel ne muskurakar kaha, "Aapki advice aaj free mein mil gayi."
"Kal se consultation fee lagegi."
"Main kisi aur se poochh lungi."
Reyansh ne seene par haath rakha.
"Yeh toh professional betrayal hai."
Jheel hans padi aur apne flat mein chali gayi.
Reyansh apne darwaze ki taraf badha.
Usne mehsoos kiya ki Jheel ab pehle se zyada khulkar baat karne lagi thi.
Lekin uska badlav sirf un dono ke beech ki conversations tak limited nahi tha.
Woh apni class mein naye logon se mil rahi thi, apne liye resources dhoondh rahi thi aur apne goals ko khud manage karna seekh rahi thi.
Reyansh ko yeh dekhkar achha laga.
Usne kabhi Jheel ke liye koi raasta chunne ki koshish nahi ki thi.
Woh bas kabhi-kabhi uske raaste par ek chhota sa signboard ban jaata tha.
Chalna Jheel ko khud hi tha.

Saturday ki shaam Reyansh ghar par tha.
Usne dinner ke baad balcony mein chai lekar baithne ka plan banaya tha.
Phone par Aarohi ka message aaya.
Aarohi: Hey, next week old market explore karne ka plan abhi bhi on hai?
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Of course. Saturday afternoon?
Aarohi: Works for me.
Reyansh: Done.
Usne phone side mein rakh diya.
Kuch der baad building ke corridor se awaaz aayi.
Prakash Bhatia kisi delivery person se baat kar rahe the. Is baar issue parking ka nahi, balki society ke common area mein rakhe kuch cartons ka tha.
"Yeh cartons yahan nahi reh sakte. Fire exit block hota hai!"
Delivery person ne kaha, "Sir, bas paanch minute ke liye rakhe hain. Flat mein koi nahi hai."
Prakash ne haath se corridor ki taraf ishara kiya.
"Paanch minute mein bhi problem ho sakti hai. Inhe side mein rakhiye."
Reyansh darwaze se bahar nikla.
"Kya hua, Mr. Bhatia? Aaj kiski class lag rahi hai?"
Prakash ne use dekha.
"Reyansh, yeh cartons common area mein rakhe hain. Maine kaha hai ki inhe hatao."
Reyansh ne cartons dekhe.
"Yeh toh sahi keh rahe hain. Fire exit clear rehna chahiye."
Prakash ne hairaani se use dekha.
"Thank you. Aakhir kisi ne toh meri baat samjhi."
Reyansh ne muskurakar kaha, "Main bas aaj aapki side par hoon. Kal phir opposition mein mil sakta hoon."
Prakash ne aankhein ghumayi.
Delivery person ne cartons side mein kar diye.
Jab sab theek ho gaya, Prakash apne flat ki taraf badhe.
Reyansh bhi ghar lautne laga.
Tabhi Jheel apne darwaze se bahar aayi.
Usne poochha, "Kya hua tha?"
Reyansh ne bataya.
Jheel ne sir hilaya.
"Achha hua aapne unki baat support ki. Common area clear rehna chahiye."
Reyansh ne use dekha.
"Madam, aaj toh tum aur Mr. Bhatia ek hi team mein ho."
Jheel hans padi.
"Har baat par unse disagree karna bhi zaroori nahi."
Reyansh ne fake serious expression banaya.
"Yeh baat agar Mr. Bhatia ne sun li toh kal se tumhe society committee mein recruit kar lenge."
Jheel hansne lagi.
"Main nahi aa rahi."
"Main bhi yahi keh raha hoon. Ek Bhatia kaafi hain."
Dono hans pade.
Phir Jheel apne flat mein chali gayi.
Reyansh balcony mein laut aaya.
Chai thandi ho chuki thi.
Usne cup uthaya aur ek sip liya.
"Perfect. Chai bhi ab society committee ki tarah thandi ho gayi."
Usne cup andar rakha aur TV on kar diya.
Zindagi mein har din koi bada twist nahi aata.
Kabhi-kabhi ek ordinary Saturday bhi apni chhoti-chhoti baaton ke saath yaad reh jaata hai.
Aur Reyansh ki zindagi mein ab aise din pehle se thode zyada ho rahe the.