[Greenwood]

Update 26



Subah ke 7:42 baj rahe the.
Reyansh ke bedroom mein parde ke beech se dhoop ki ek patli si lakeer andar aa rahi thi. Bed ke ek taraf takiya zameen par pada tha, doosri taraf blanket aadha latak raha tha.
Alarm band ho chuka tha.
Reyansh ab bhi so raha tha.
Uske phone ki screen par teen notifications thi. Ek office email, ek promotional message aur Aarohi ka WhatsApp.
Aarohi: Saturday ko old market chalne ka plan abhi bhi zinda hai ya exhibition ke baad tumhari cultural quota poori ho gayi?
Reyansh ne aadhi band aankhon se message padha. Uske hothon par halki si muskurahat aayi.
Reyansh: Main toh ready hoon. Bas tumhe purani buildings dekhte dekhte kisi 200 saal purane darwaze se pyaar na ho jaaye.
Aarohi: Tum tension mat lo. Darwazon mein tumse zyada personality ho sakti hai, lekin conversation tumse behtar nahi hogi.
Reyansh ne message padhkar sar hila diya.
Reyansh: Personal attack subah-subah?
Aarohi: Good morning to you too.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakha aur uthkar baith gaya.
"Ek din," usne khud se kaha, "main bhi subah alarm se pehle uthunga."
Tabhi darwaze par bell baji.
Ting-tong!
Reyansh ne ghadi dekhi.
"Shalu!"
Darwaze ke bahar se awaaz aayi.
"Ji, mujhe bhi pata hai mera naam Shalu hai. Darwaza kholenge?"
Reyansh ne baal theek karne ki koshish ki, jo kisi bhi koshish se theek hone ke mood mein nahi the. Phir darwaza khola.
Shalu saamne khadi thi. Ek haath mein sabzi ka bag aur doosre mein apna chhota sa purse.
Usne Reyansh ko dekha.
Phir ghadi dekhi.
Phir dobara Reyansh ko.
"Sir, aapka office Monday ko band hota hai kya?"
"Nahi."
"Toh phir aapka chehra Sunday jaisa kyun hai?"
Reyansh ne darwaze se hatkar use andar aane diya.
"Shalu, tumhare andar ek chhoti si news reporter chhupi hui hai."
"Achha hai sir. Kam se kam koi toh sach bolta hai is ghar mein."
"Main bhi sach bolta hoon."
"Ji. Aapke alarm ke baare mein toh sach poori building jaanti hai."
Shalu kitchen mein chali gayi.
Reyansh bathroom ki taraf badha, lekin raste mein ruk gaya.
"Shalu!"
"Ji?"
"Aaj breakfast mein kya hai?"
"Poha."
"Nice."
"Saath mein aapka attitude bhi serve kar doon?"
"Uski zaroorat nahi. Woh complimentary hai."
Shalu hansi rok nahi paayi.
Kuch der baad kitchen se poha ki khushboo aane lagi. Reyansh naha kar nikla, shirt pehni aur dining table par baith gaya.
Shalu ne plate rakhte hue kaha, "Sir, ek baat poochun?"
"Poochho."
"Woh course ke baare mein jo aapne bataya tha, maine uske baare mein aur information dekhi."
Reyansh ne plate se nazar uthayi.
"Haan? Kya pata chala?"
"Ek jagah computer aur office work ka course hai. Lekin timing thodi problem wali hai. Doosri jagah fees kam hai, par class ghar se door hai."
"Toh?"
"Toh samajh nahi aa raha kaunsa choose karun."
Reyansh ne paani ka glass uthaya.
"Shalu, sirf fees kam hone se course achha nahi ho jaata. Aur sirf certificate milne se job bhi nahi milti."
"Matlab?"
"Matlab pehle dekho ki wahan actually sikhate kya hain. Computer par kaam karna, emails likhna, documents banana, ye sab practical cheezein seekhne ko milengi ya sirf certificate pakda denge?"
Shalu ne socha.
"Main ek din jaakar dekh sakti hoon?"
"Bilkul. Admission lene se pehle centre dekhna. Kisi student se baat karna. Aur ghar aakar araam se decide karna."
Shalu ne sir hilaya.
"Main is hafte dekhungi."
Reyansh ne poha ka ek niwala liya.
"Good."
Shalu kitchen ki taraf mudne lagi, phir palti.
"Waise sir, aap bhi kabhi koi naya course karoge?"
"Kyun?"
"Bas. Aap doosron ko bahut advice dete ho."
Reyansh kuch pal use dekhta raha.
"Main apni job mein itna busy rehta hoon ki kabhi-kabhi lagta hai kuch naya seekhna chahiye. Lekin phir wahi routine."
Shalu ne pehli baar uski baat par mazaak nahi kiya.
"Toh phir seekh lijiye."
"Achha? Tum mujhe motivate kar rahi ho?"
"Ji. Aapki fees main nahi bharungi, bas itna clear kar doon."

Reyansh hans pada.
"Jao, apna kaam karo."
"Kar hi rahi hoon, sir. Aapki tarah motivation ke naam par sirf baatein nahi."
Woh kitchen mein chali gayi.
Reyansh ne apni plate dekhi, phir phone uthaya.
Aarohi ka ek aur message aaya tha.
Aarohi: Saturday, 11 baje. Aur please late mat hona.
Reyansh: Main late nahi hota. Main bas waqt ko apne hisaab se chalne deta hoon.
Aarohi: Great. Main bhi tumhare hisaab se nahi chalungi. 11 baje milte hain.
Reyansh ne phone lock kar diya.
Uske chehre par abhi bhi muskurahat thi.
Lekin uski nazar kuch pal ke liye khidki se bahar tik gayi.
Zindagi mein kuch cheezein aisi hoti hain jo bina kisi badi wajah ke achhi lagne lagti hain. Ek conversation. Kisi ka mazaak. Kisi ka dobara milne ka plan.
Aur kabhi-kabhi insaan unhe bas achha lagne deta hai.
Har cheez ka naam rakhna zaroori nahi hota.


Dopahar se pehle office ka conference room khaali ho chuka tha.
Reyansh apne laptop par presentation ke final slides dekh raha tha. Client meeting agle din thi, aur uski team ko ek naya campaign present karna tha.
Neha apni chair kheenchkar uske paas baith gayi.
"Slide seven mein problem hai."
Reyansh ne screen se nazar nahi hatayi.
"Good morning, Neha. Tum bhi kaisi ho?"
"Main bahut achhi hoon. Tumhari slide seven kharab hai."
"Kitni emotional opening hai."
"Presentation dekh lo, poet."
Reyansh ne slide kholi.
Neha ne screen par ek graph ki taraf ishara kiya.
"Yahan humne jo data rakha hai, uska comparison previous quarter se hai. Lekin neeche caption mein annual growth likha hai."
Reyansh seedha baith gaya.
"Seriously?"
"Haan. Agar client ne notice kar liya toh hamari poori presentation ka confidence ek slide mein khatam."
Reyansh ne file check ki.
Neha sahi thi.
"Good catch."
"Thank you. Compliment ko email mein bhej do. Main appraisal ke time dikhaungi."
"Main tumhe ek chocolate de sakta hoon."
"Chocolate tum khao. Credit slide par mera naam daalna."
Reyansh ne caption theek kiya aur doosri slides bhi dobara check karne laga.
Kuch minute baad Neha ne poochha, "Saturday ka kya plan hai?"
"Old market."
Neha ne use dekha.
"Kaunsa old market?"
"Bengaluru mein ek hi thodi hai."
"Achha. Aur saath mein kaun ja raha hai?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Tum office mein kaam karti ho ya CID mein?"
"Main sirf pooch rahi hoon. Tumne khud bataya tha ki Aarohi ke saath exhibition gaye the."
"Toh?"
"Toh ab market bhi ja rahe ho. Progress report maangne ka mann kar raha hai."
Reyansh hans diya.
"Aarohi ko architecture pasand hai. Mujhe bhi purani jagahon par ghoomna achha lagta hai. Bas."
"Fine."
Neha wapas apni screen ki taraf mud gayi.
Phir boli, "Waise old market mein achhi filter coffee milti hai. Agar tum dono architecture dekhte-dekhte bhookhe ho jao toh."
Reyansh ne eyebrow uthayi.
"Yeh information tumne pehle kyun nahi di?"
"Kyuki tumne pehle poochha nahi."
"Location bhejna."
"Please bolo."
"Neha, tum meri colleague ho ya Bengaluru tourism department?"
"Main woh insaan hoon jo tumhari galtiyan pakadta hai aur tumhe coffee shops bhi batata hai. Respect do."
"Ji, ma'am."
Usne location bhej di.
Kaam aage badh gaya.
Meeting ke baad Reyansh apni desk par lauta toh ek aur email tha. Client ko presentation ke saath ek chhota sa sample concept bhi chahiye tha, jo pehle discussion mein nahi aaya tha.
Reyansh ne calendar dekha.
Deadline tight thi.
Usne team ko message kiya, tasks divide kiye aur khud concept ke first draft par kaam shuru kar diya.
Shaam hone tak woh thak chuka tha, lekin presentation ab pehle se behtar thi.
Laptop band karte waqt usne Neha se kaha, "Slide seven bachane ke liye thanks."
Neha ne bag uthaya.
"Welcome. Chocolate pending hai."
"Main kal launga."
"Screenshot le liya hai. Tumhari har commitment ka record rakhti hoon."
"Office mein kisi ko meri personal life se zyada meri chocolate ki fikr hai."
Neha hans padi.
"Personal life ki fikr karne ke liye pehle tumhe personal life mein entry toh deni padegi."
Reyansh ne jawab mein bas apna bag uthaya.
"Good night, Neha."
"Good night, Mr. Complicated Calendar

Usi shaam Jheel apne laptop ke saamne baithi thi.
Table par course workbook, ek notebook aur paani ki bottle rakhi thi. Notebook ke pehle panne par usne apne haath se likha tha:
"I want to speak without fear."
Usne line ko ek baar padha.
Phir dheere se bola, "I want to speak without fear."
Is baar awaaz pehle se zyada saaf thi.
Uske phone par Ritu ka message aaya.
Ritu: Kal class mein pair activity hai. Teacher ne bola hai ki kisi unknown person se ek chhoti conversation start karne ki practice karni hai.
Jheel ne message padha.
Jheel: Unknown person matlab kisi aise insaan se baat karni hai jise hum jaante nahi?
Ritu: Haan. Real life mein. Sirf class ke andar nahi.
Jheel ne phone table par rakh diya.
Class ke andar kisi se baat karna alag tha. Bahar kisi anjaan insaan se khud baat shuru karna alag.
Usne apni notebook kholi aur kuch sentences likhne lagi.
Excuse me, could you help me?
Is this seat available?
Could you please tell me the way?
Woh har sentence ko dheere-dheere bolti rahi.
Phir uski nazar khidki ke bahar gayi.
Neeche building ke entrance par ek delivery person kisi buzurg aadmi ko kuch samjha raha tha. Aadmi ke haath mein ek parcel tha, aur woh baar-baar phone ki screen dekh rahe the.
Jheel ne pehle socha ki shayad unka apna kaam hoga.
Phir usne dekha ki buzurg aadmi parcel par likha address samajhne ki koshish kar rahe the. Delivery person jaldi mein tha aur unki baat dhang se sun nahi raha tha.
Jheel ne notebook band ki.
Woh neeche aayi.
"Excuse me," usne delivery person se kaha.
Dono ne uski taraf dekha.
Jheel ke dil ki dhadkan achanak tez ho gayi.
Usne ek pal ke liye apni ungliyan aapas mein phansayi, phir buzurg aadmi se poochha, "Uncle, can I help you?"
Aadmi ne rahat ki saans li.
"Beta, main is address par parcel dhoondh raha hoon. Lekin delivery wale keh rahe hain ki flat number galat hai."
Jheel ne parcel par likha address dekha. Us par building ka naam sahi tha, lekin flat number ke aakhri do digits dhundhle ho gaye the.
"Uncle, aap recipient ko call kar sakte hain?"
"Woh phone nahi utha raha."
Delivery person ne bechaini se kaha, "Madam, mere paas aur deliveries hain. Address clear nahi hai toh main kya karun?"
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
"Ek minute. Aap parcel ki booking details check kar lijiye. Ho sakta hai phone number se flat number confirm ho jaaye."
Delivery person ne app kholi. Kuch seconds baad usne address dobara check kiya.
"Achha, haan. Flat 206 hai. Maine 208 padh liya."
Buzurg aadmi ne muskurakar kaha, "Thank you, beta."
Jheel ne sir hilaya.
"No problem, uncle."
Delivery person parcel lekar aage badh gaya.
Jheel kuch pal wahi khadi rahi.
Kisi ne taali nahi bajayi thi.
Koi badi baat nahi hui thi.
Lekin usne ek anjaan situation mein khud aage badhkar baat shuru ki thi. English ke do sentences bole the. Apni awaaz kaanpte hue bhi baat poori ki thi.
Woh upar lautne lagi toh saamne se Reyansh aa raha tha.
Uske haath mein office bag aur ek chhota sa grocery packet tha.
"Kya hua?" usne poochha. "Tum aise kyun muskura rahi ho?"
Jheel ne apni muskurahat chhupane ki koshish ki.
"Kuch nahi."
"Achha. Toh phir tumhare chehre par jo victory celebration chal raha hai, woh building maintenance ka hai?"
Jheel hans di.
"Maine aaj ek anjaan aadmi se English mein baat ki."
Reyansh ne apna bag doosre haath mein liya.
"Achha? Kya keh diya usse? Bengaluru chhodkar jao?"
"Reyansh!"
"Sorry, sorry. Batao."
Jheel ne use poori baat batayi. Parcel, buzurg aadmi, delivery person aur apni ghabrahat.
Reyansh dhyaan se sunta raha.
Jab woh khatam hui, usne kaha, "Dekha? Tumhe perfect English aane ka wait nahi karna pada. Tumne situation samjhi, baat ki aur problem solve karne mein help ki."
Jheel ne dheere se sir hilaya.
"Par main nervous thi."
"Nervous hona aur ruk jaana, dono alag cheezein hain."
Woh kuch pal use dekhti rahi.




"Yeh line aapne kahin padhi hai?"
Reyansh ne sochne ka natak kiya.
"Nahi. Abhi banayi. Royalty lagegi."
Jheel ne aankhein ghumayi.
"Kitni?"
"Ek cup chai."
"Bas?"
"Abhi introductory offer chal raha hai."
Dono hans pade.
Jheel ne apne haath mein pakdi notebook dikhayi.
"Main practice kar rahi thi. Kal class mein bhi batana hai ki humne real life mein kya kiya."
"Toh kal bata dena. Tumne jo kiya, wahi bataana. English ko itna decorate mat karna ki asli baat hi chhup jaaye."
Jheel ne notebook apne seene ke paas kar li.
"Main try karungi."
"Try nahi. Practice."
Usne muskurakar kaha, "Ji, sir."
Reyansh lift ki taraf badha.
Jheel ne use roka.
"Ek minute."
Woh palta.
"Thank you."
Reyansh ne kandhe uchkaye.
"Maine kya kiya?"
"Bas... aap baat ko itna difficult nahi banate."
Is baar Reyansh ne mazaak nahi kiya.
"Achha hai. Zindagi mein difficult cheezein waise hi kaafi hain."
Lift aa gayi.
Jheel apne flat ki taraf mud gayi aur Reyansh lift mein chala gaya.
Flat 304 mein wapas aakar Jheel ne notebook kholi.
Usne apne likhe hue sentences ke neeche ek nayi line jodi:
"Today, I started a conversation with a stranger."
Usne line ko do baar padha.
Phir uske neeche chhota sa tick bana diya.

Saturday aane mein abhi kuch din baaki the, lekin Reyansh ne Aarohi ke saath plan ko lekar pehle hi thodi research kar li thi.
Use Bengaluru ke purane bazaaron mein ghoomna achha lagta tha. Wahan ki bheed, dukaanon ke purane board, chhoti si chai ki tapri, kisi kone mein baitha mochi, aur saalon purani buildings ke beech se nikalti rozmarra ki zindagi.
Aarohi ko architecture pasand tha, isliye usne ek aisi jagah choose ki thi jahan purani buildings aur local market dono dekhne ko mil sakein.
Thursday ki shaam uska message aaya.
Aarohi: Ek important question.
Reyansh: Agar question ka answer haan hua toh kya prize milega?
Aarohi: Depends. Question hai, tum comfortable shoes pehenoge ya woh shoes jo sirf photos mein achhe lagte hain?
Reyansh: Mere saare shoes photogenic hain.
Aarohi: Tumhare confidence ko dekhkar lagta hai tum shoes se zyada apni tareef karte ho.
Reyansh: Main balanced personality ka aadmi hoon.
Aarohi: Saturday ko pata chal jayega. Mujhe aadhe raste mein kisi ke blisters ka drama nahi chahiye.
Reyansh hans diya.
Reyansh: Comfortable shoes. Happy?
Aarohi: Very. 11 baje milte hain.
Reyansh: Done.
Usne phone table par rakh diya.
Kuch hi der baad Shalu kitchen se nikli.
"Sir, aap aajkal phone dekhkar zyada muskura rahe hain."
Reyansh ne use dekha.
"Shalu, tum apna kaam karti ho ya ghar ke andar CCTV lagi hui hai?"
"Main toh bas observe karti hoon."
"Kya observe kiya?"
"Ki aapke phone mein ab sirf office ke messages nahi aate."
Reyansh ne apna phone uthakar pocket mein rakha.
"Office ke messages kaun muskura kar padhta hai?"
Shalu ne turant jawab diya, "Aap. Jab client approval de deta hai."
"Very funny."
"Thank you, sir."
Shalu kitchen mein laut gayi.
Reyansh sofa par baithkar TV chalaane laga, lekin kuch der baad remote side mein rakh diya.
Saturday ka plan simple tha.
Kisi ko impress karne ka pressure nahi.
Kisi ko kuch prove karne ki zaroorat nahi.
Bas ek jagah ghoomna, baat karna aur dekhna ki do log ek doosre ki company mein kitne comfortable ho sakte hain.
Usne khud se kaha, "Bas normal outing hai."
Phir ek pal baad khud hi muskuraya.
"Normal outing ke liye itna soch kaun raha hai?"
Usne TV ki awaaz badha di.
Jawab dene wala koi nahi tha.


Friday ki shaam Reyansh office se laut raha tha jab uska phone baja.
Unknown number nahi tha.
Is baar call building ke security desk se thi.
"Sir, aap ghar aa gaye hain?"
"Bas paanch minute mein. Kya hua?"
"Sir, aapke naam se ek courier aaya hai. Lekin delivery wale ne parcel reception par chhodne se mana kar diya hai. Signature chahiye."
"Toh main aakar le lunga."
"Sir, ek aur baat hai. Parcel ka outer cover thoda damage hai. Delivery person bol raha hai ki aapke saamne hi handover karega."
Reyansh ne traffic signal par gaadi roki.
"Thik hai. Main aa raha hoon."
Building pahunchkar usne reception par courier liya. Box ka ek kona dab gaya tha, lekin andar se koi awaaz nahi aa rahi thi.
Delivery person ne kaha, "Sir, aap ek baar check kar lijiye. Agar andar ka item damaged hua toh app par complaint kar sakte hain."
Reyansh ne box ko dekha.
Naam uska tha.
Address bhi sahi tha.
Lekin sender ka naam kisi aisi company ka tha jise woh pehchaan nahi pa raha tha.
Usne parcel ki photo li aur apne phone mein order details check ki.
Kuch bhi yaad nahi aaya.
"Yeh maine order nahi kiya," usne kaha.
Delivery person ne screen dekhi.
"Sir, order aapke naam par hi hai."
"Naam mera hai, lekin order mujhe yaad nahi."
"Ho sakta hai kisi ne gift bheja ho."
Reyansh ne box dobara dekha.
"Gift bhejne wale ko mera address pata hai, lekin mujhe uska naam nahi pata. Bahut hi organised surprise hai."
Delivery person hans diya.
"Sir, main toh bas parcel deliver kar raha hoon."
"Bilkul. Tumhara kaam mujhse zyada straightforward hai."
Usne parcel receive kar liya, lekin turant kholne ke bajaye Flat 303 mein le gaya.
Shalu us waqt kitchen saaf kar rahi thi.
"Sir, kya aaya hai?"
"Yahi toh pata karna hai."
"Gift hai?"
"Ya phir kisi ne mujhe bina poochhe koi responsibility bhej di hai."
Shalu ne box ko dekha.
"Khola kyun nahi?"
Reyansh ne tape par ungli rakhi.
"Khola ja raha hai, madam."
Usne box khola.
Andar ek compact desk lamp tha, saath mein ek chhota sa handwritten note.
Reyansh ne note uthaya.
Hope this makes your late evenings a little easier.
Neeche ek naam tha.
Shivani.
Reyansh kuch pal note ko dekhta raha.
Phir usne apni behen ko call kiya.
Shivani ne doosri ring par phone uthaya.
"Haan, bol."
"Di, tumne mere liye lamp bheja?"
"Haan. Kyun?"
"Ek message bhi bhej sakti thi."
"Message bhejti toh tum kehte, zaroorat nahi hai. Isliye lamp bhej diya."
Reyansh ne lamp ko box se bahar nikala.
"Main late evenings mein kaam karta hoon, iska matlab yeh nahi ki mere paas light nahi hai."
"Purani wali light theek hai?"
"Haan."
"Phir yeh extra rakh lo."
Reyansh ne uski baat mein chhupa concern samajh liya.
"Di, main theek hoon."
Shivani ki awaaz naram hui.
"Maine kab kaha ki tum theek nahi ho?"
Reyansh chup raha.
Shivani ne baat ko halka kar diya.
"Waise lamp achha hai. Mujhe pasand aaya tha."
"Matlab tumhe pasand aaya toh mere ghar bhej diya?"
"Bilkul. Tumhare ghar mein meri pasand ki cheezein rakhne ka haq hai."
Reyansh hans pada.
"Achha, madam. Main rakh leta hoon."
"Good. Aur kabhi-kabhi apni taraf se bhi call kar liya karo."
"Ji."
"Sirf ji mat bolo."
"Main call karunga."
"Ab theek hai."
Call khatam ho gayi.
Reyansh ne lamp table par rakha aur plug laga diya. Kamre ke kone mein ek warm light phail gayi.
Shalu ne dekha.
"Achha lag raha hai."
"Haan."
"Di ne bheja hai, isliye?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Shalu, tumhe har cheez ka emotional angle kyun chahiye?"
Shalu ne kapda uthaya.
"Mujhe nahi chahiye. Aapke ghar mein cheezein toh bahut hain, sir. Bas kuch cheezein log bhejte hain toh unki value alag ho jaati hai."
Reyansh ne jawab nahi diya.
Usne lamp ki roshni mein apni desk ko dekha.
Kamra wahi tha.
Desk wahi.
Laptop wahi.
Lekin ek chhoti si cheez ne jagah ko thoda kam khaali kar diya tha.
Usne note ko sambhalkar drawer mein rakh diya.


Raat ke kareeb 10 baje Reyansh apne laptop par Saturday ke plan ke liye kuch jagahon ki photos dekh raha tha.
Phone vibrate hua.
Jheel: Aaj maine class mein apna experience share kiya.
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Aur phir class ne tumhe certificate de diya?
Jheel: Nahi!
Reyansh: Toh phir education system mein abhi bhi kami hai.
Jheel: Aap har baat ka mazaak kyun banate ho?
Reyansh: Main mazaak nahi banata. Main boring baaton ko interesting banata hoon.
Jheel: Achha. Toh meri baat interesting bana kar bataiye.
Reyansh ne phone ko dono haathon mein pakda.
Reyansh: Madam Jheel ne ek anjaan aadmi ki help ki, bina perfect English ka wait kiye. Phir class mein apna experience share kiya. Aur ab woh apni achievement ko chhota samajh rahi hain.
Kuch der tak Jheel ka reply nahi aaya.
Phir screen par message dikha.
Jheel: Maine pehle kabhi aisa nahi kiya tha.
Reyansh: Mujhe pata hai.
Jheel: Kaise?
Reyansh ne kuch seconds socha.
Reyansh: Kyunki agar tum pehle se aisa karti, toh aaj mujhe itni khushi ke saath nahi batati.
Jheel ne message padha.
Usne phone side mein rakha, phir dobara uthaya.
Jheel: Aapko sach mein lagta hai main improve kar rahi hoon?
Reyansh ne is baar bina mazaak kiye reply kiya.
Reyansh: Haan. Lekin sirf isliye nahi ki tumhari English better ho rahi hai. Tum ab woh kaam kar rahi ho jisse pehle ghabraati thi.
Jheel screen dekhti rahi.
Jheel: Thank you.
Reyansh: Ab thank you bolkar so jaana. Kal phir practice karna.
Jheel: Good night, Reyansh.
Reyansh: Good night, Jheel.
Jheel ne phone rakh diya.
Usne apni notebook kholi aur aaj ki date ke saamne likha:
I can speak even when I feel nervous.
Phir usne pen band kar diya.
Aaj usne koi bada faisla nahi liya tha.
Koi nayi zindagi shuru nahi ki thi.
Bas ek chhota sa darr paar kiya tha.
Kabhi-kabhi shuruaat itni hi hoti hai.


Reyansh ne laptop band kar diya.
Desk lamp ki warm light ab bhi jal rahi thi.
Usne Shivani ka note drawer se nikaala aur ek baar phir padha.
Hope this makes your late evenings a little easier.
Woh note ko kuch pal haath mein liye baitha raha.
Phir use wapas rakh diya.
Usne khidki kholi. Bahar Bengaluru ki raat apni raftaar se chal rahi thi. Door road par traffic ki halki awaaz, kisi flat se TV ki aawaaz aur corridor mein lift ke darwaze band hone ki dhun sunayi de rahi thi.
Phone par Aarohi ka message aaya.
Aarohi: Saturday ke liye ready?
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Ready. Tum bas mujhe kisi museum ke andar lock mat kar dena.
Aarohi: Promise nahi kar sakti.
Reyansh: Mujhe pehle hi apne ghar walon ko inform kar dena chahiye tha.
Aarohi: Ab late ho gaya. Saturday ko milte hain.
Reyansh hans diya.
Usne phone table par rakha aur lamp band kar diya.
Kamra phir andhere mein doob gaya.
Kuch seconds baad woh bed ki taraf badha.
Raat shaant thi.
Lekin sone se pehle uske dimaag mein din ki chhoti-chhoti baatein ghoom rahi thi. Office ki presentation, Neha ka mazaak, Shalu ka course, Jheel ka message aur Shivani ka bheja hua lamp.
Usne karwat badli.
Aankhein band ki.
Neend aane mein kuch waqt laga.
Aur jab neend aayi, toh uske saath ek dhundhli si tasveer bhi aayi.
Ek kamra.
Kisi ki awaaz.
Kuch aisa jo samajh mein aane se pehle hi bikhar gaya.
Reyansh ne neend mein apni ungliyan sikod li.
Phir tasveer gaayab ho gayi.
Subah uthne par use bas itna yaad rehna tha ki raat ki neend poori tarah aaraamdeh nahi thi.
Abhi ke liye, zindagi apni chhoti-chhoti raftaar se aage badh rahi thi.