[Greenwood]

Update 27



Alarm bajne se pehle hi Reyansh ki aankh khul gayi.
Usne kuch seconds tak chhat ko dekha, phir side mein rakhe phone ki screen check ki.
9:12 AM.
Phone par Aarohi ka message tha.
Aarohi:
Good morning! Aaj ke architectural expedition ke liye taiyaar ho?
Reyansh ne aankhein malte hue reply kiya.
Reyansh:
Good morning. Expedition? Main old market dekhne aa raha hoon ya kisi khoi hui sabhyata ki khudai karne?
Aarohi:
Tumhe dekhkar lagta hai tum history ke naam par sirf purane bills sambhalte hoge.
Reyansh:
Main bills nahi sambhalta. Main unhe financial trauma kehte hue delete kar deta hoon.
Aarohi:
Very responsible citizen.
Reyansh:
Thank you. Main desh ki economy ko personally support karta hoon.
Aarohi:
Bas 11 baje late mat hona.
Reyansh:
Main punctual hoon.
Aarohi:
Tum apne baare mein keh rahe ho ya kisi imaginary Reyansh ke baare mein?
Reyansh hans pada.
Phone side mein rakhkar woh bed se utha. Aaj office nahi jaana tha, koi client presentation nahi thi, aur kisi ko Monday tak campaign report bhi nahi chahiye thi.
Uske paas ek poora Saturday tha.
Aur filhaal usne decide kiya ki woh is Saturday ko emails se barbaad nahi karega.
Bathroom se nikalne ke baad usne ek navy-blue casual shirt aur beige chinos pehne. Ghadi baandhi, perfume lagaya aur wallet uthaya.
Tabhi doorbell baj gayi.
Ding-dong!
Reyansh ne darwaza khola.
Saamne Shalu thi, apna bag kandhe par latkaye.
"Good morning, sir."
"Good morning. Aaj tumne doorbell bajane se pehle announcement kyun nahi ki?"
Shalu ne hairani se dekha. "Kaunsi announcement?"
"Ki Flat 303 mein ek aadmi abhi-abhi naha-dhokar insaan bana hai. Thoda waqt do, personality bhi aa jayegi."
Shalu hans di.
"Sir, personality toh aapki pehle se hai. Bas kabhi-kabhi use bhi neend aa jaati hai."
Reyansh ne ek pal use dekha.
"Shalu, tumhari English improve ho rahi hai ya tum mere khilaaf naye-naye sentences seekh rahi ho?"
"Dono, sir."
"Excellent. Multitasking."
Shalu andar aayi aur apna kaam shuru karne lagi.
Kitchen mein jaate hue usne poochha, "Aaj office nahi jaana?"
"Nahi. Aaj old market jaa raha hoon."
"Kisi dost ke saath?"
"Haan."
"Ladki dost?"
Reyansh ruk gaya.
"Yeh sawaal tumne English course mein seekha hai?"
"Nahi. Yeh toh bina course ke samajh aa jaata hai."
"Shalu, tumhari padhai ka direction bahut khatarnak hota ja raha hai."
Woh hans padi.
Reyansh ne coffee banane ke liye machine chala di. Shalu ne uske liye breakfast tayyar karna shuru kar diya.
Kuch der baad uski nazar dining table par rakhe ek pamphlet par padi. Shalu ne computer skills aur communication ke do courses ki details print karwayi thi.
"Yeh dono courses dekh rahi ho?" Reyansh ne poochha.
"Haan. Ek jagah fees kam hai, lekin timing mere liye difficult hai. Doosri jagah thodi mehengi hai, par classes convenient hain."
"Course mein kya sikhayenge, woh compare kiya?"
"Ji. Basic computer, email, documents aur thoda spoken English. Doosre mein computer ke saath office work bhi hai."
"Good. Ab bas yeh dekhna ki jo seekho, uski practice bhi kar sako."
Shalu ne pamphlet fold kiya.
"Sir, aapko kabhi lagta hai ki insaan apni life mein bahut late shuru kar raha hai?"
Reyansh ne coffee ka cup uthaya.
"Kis cheez ke liye?"
"Apne liye kuch karne ke liye."
Woh kuch pal chup raha.
"Late tab hota hai jab insaan decide kar leta hai ki ab shuru hi nahi karna. Baaki har age mein kuch naya seekha ja sakta hai."
Shalu ne uski taraf dekha.
"Yeh baat main notebook mein likh loon?"
"Bilkul. Lekin neeche mera naam likhna. Kal ko famous ho gayi toh royalty lunga."
"Sir, pehle aapki advice ka result toh aa jaane do."
Reyansh hans diya.
Usne breakfast kiya, phone uthaya aur nikalne laga.
Darwaze tak pahunchkar Shalu ne awaaz lagayi.
"Sir!"
"Haan?"
"Eleven bajne mein abhi pachpan minute hain. Aaram se jaana. Aaj late hone ka bahana mat banana."
Reyansh ne darwaze se hi jawab diya.
"Tum maid ho ya meri personal scheduling manager?"
"Filhaal unpaid manager."
"Salary increment ki application likh dena."
"English mein?"
Reyansh ne ungli uthakar kaha, "Ab tum mujhe blackmail kar rahi ho."
Shalu ki hansi uske peeche tak aayi.


Saturday, 10:58 AM | Bengaluru Old Market
Aarohi pehle se wahan khadi thi.
Usne off-white cotton top ke saath blue jeans pehni thi. Kandhe par ek medium-sized sling bag tha aur baal aadhe peeche clip se bandhe hue the. Haath mein phone tha, jis par woh kisi purani building ki photograph dekh rahi thi.
Reyansh uske paas aaya.
"Good morning, punctual citizen."
Aarohi ne phone lock kiya.
"Do minute late."
"Traffic."
"Tum paidal aaye ho?"
"Traffic mere dimaag mein tha."
Aarohi ne usse upar se neeche tak dekha.
"Achha outfit hai."
Reyansh ne collar theek kiya. "Thank you. Main chahta tha ki aaj purani buildings ke beech ek modern monument bhi hona chahiye."
"Confidence ka koi course hota hai?"
"Hota hoga. Lekin meri fees bahut zyada hai."
"Main afford nahi kar sakti."
"Discount de dunga."
Aarohi muskurayi.
"Chalo, monument. Pehle yeh gali dekhte hain."
Dono market ke andar chal diye.
Wahan dukaanon ki purani nameplates, rang utre hue wooden shutters, chhoti balconies aur tang galiyon mein apni alag hi duniya basi thi. Kahin chai ban rahi thi, kahin kapdon ki dukaan par customers bargain kar rahe the, aur kahin ek buzurg aadmi apni chhoti si dukaan ke bahar kursi par baitha akhbaar padh raha tha.
Aarohi har kuch kadam par ruk jaati.
Kabhi kisi balcony ki photograph leti, kabhi purane darwaze ke design ko dekhne lagti.
Reyansh ne teesri baar usse ek hi building ki taraf dekhta paaya toh poochha, "Ismein aisa kya hai?"
"Yeh balcony dekho. Wooden railing, chhote columns aur upar ka overhang. Nayi buildings mein aksar sab kuch straight lines mein hota hai. Yahan decoration bhi hai, functionality bhi."
Reyansh ne building ko dekha.
"Mujhe toh lag raha hai balcony ko paint ki zaroorat hai."
Aarohi ne uski taraf dekha.
"Tumhe architecture se koi personal problem hai?"
"Nahi. Main bas building ke practical needs identify kar raha hoon."
"Great. Tum building contractor ban jao. Main apna career badal leti hoon."
"Partnership karenge. Tum design banana, main paint ka budget kaat dunga."
Aarohi zor se hans padi.
Kuch der baad dono ek purane courtyard ke paas pahunche. Andar ek chhota sa bookstore tha, jiske entrance par wooden sign latak raha tha.
Aarohi ki aankhon mein chamak aa gayi.
"Yeh toh mujhe dekhna hi hai."
Reyansh ne sign padha.
"Kitabein, purani buildings aur coffee. Tumhara ideal Saturday toh yahin mil gaya."
"Coffee kahan hai?"
"Abhi missing hai. Kahani mein ek problem toh honi chahiye."
Bookstore ke andar halki si purane kagaz ki khushboo thi. Shelves par architecture, travel, literature aur photography ki kitabein rakhi thi.
Aarohi seedha architecture section mein chali gayi.
Reyansh doosri shelf dekhne laga. Wahan use Bengaluru ke purane neighbourhoods par ek illustrated book mili. Usne kitab kholkar kuch pages dekhe.
Aarohi uske paas aayi.
"Tumhe pasand aayi?"
"Haan. Ismein city ke purane aur naye areas ka comparison hai."
"Tumhe architecture mein interest hai?"
"Interest hai, knowledge kam hai. Dono mein farq hota hai."
Aarohi ne kitab uske haath se li aur ek page khola.
"Yeh dekho. Kabhi-kabhi ek building ko samajhne ke liye uske andar rehne wale logon ko samajhna padta hai."
Reyansh ne page par bani photograph dekhi.
"Matlab building ki story uske residents likhte hain?"
"Partly. Baaki uska waqt, uska design aur uske aas-paas badalta shehar."
Reyansh ne sir hilaya.
"Interesting."
Aarohi ne use dekha.
"Yeh tum sach mein keh rahe ho ya bas polite ban rahe ho?"
"Main polite banne ke liye itni der bookstore mein khada nahi rehta."
"Fair point."
Aarohi ne ek photography book khareedne ke liye select ki. Reyansh ne apni illustrated city book counter par rakh di.
Bahar nikalte waqt Aarohi ne poochha, "Tumne yeh book kyun li?"
"Taaki agli baar tum kisi building ko dekhkar das minute ruk jao, toh main kam se kam uski history ka ek fact bata sakun."


Aarohi kuch pal use dekhti rahi.
"That's actually thoughtful."
Reyansh ne turant jawab diya, "Please, is baat ko market mein announce mat karna. Meri image kharab ho jayegi."
"Kaunsi image? Tumhari toh koi fixed image hi nahi hai."
"Exactly. Mystery maintain rehni chahiye."
Dono phir hans pade.
Ek Chhota Sa Break
Market ki ek gali ke kone par unhe chhota sa café mila. Bahar do wooden tables thi aur andar vintage photographs lagi hui thi.
Aarohi ne menu dekha.
"Coffee?"
"Finally. Kahani mein missing element mil gaya."
Dono ek table par baith gaye.
Coffee aane tak unki baat purane market se office life par aa gayi.
Aarohi ne bataya ki uski consultancy ek purani commercial building ke renovation project par kaam kar rahi thi. Project interesting tha, lekin client baar-baar design badal raha tha.
Reyansh ne kaha, "Client ko final result chahiye hota hai, lekin final decision lene ka mann nahi hota."
Aarohi hans di.
"Tumhare clients bhi aise hain?"
"Mere clients toh kabhi-kabhi ek line approve karne ke liye chaar meetings kar lete hain."
"Phir tum karte kya ho?"
"Meeting ke baad meeting ka summary bhejta hoon. Uske baad summary par meeting hoti hai."
Aarohi ne coffee ka cup table par rakh diya.
"Yeh toh tragic hai."
"Corporate life mein tragedy ko calendar invite bhejkar manage karte hain."
Aarohi hans padi, phir uski nazar Reyansh ki kitab par gayi.
"Tumne apne liye kuch karne ka waqt nikaala. Achha laga dekhkar."
Reyansh ne use dekha.
"Matlab?"
"Matlab tumhare paas kaam toh hamesha rahega. Lekin tum apne liye kya karte ho, woh bhi important hai."
Usne baat bahut casually kahi thi. Na koi lecture, na koi personal sawal.
Reyansh ne coffee ka ek sip liya.
"Isliye toh aaj office se door hoon."
"Good."
Kuch pal dono chup rahe. Café ke bahar ek bachcha apne father ka haath pakadkar dukaan ki taraf bhaag raha tha. Do college students ek hi phone par kuch dekhkar hans rahe the.
Aarohi ne cup uthaya.
"Mujhe aaj achha laga."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Market?"
"Market bhi. Company bhi."
Uske chehre par halki si smile thi.
Reyansh ne jawab dene se pehle ek pal liya.
"Mujhe bhi."
Koi dramatic silence nahi hua. Koi achanak badalti hui duniya nahi thi.
Bas do log the jinhone ek Saturday ko saath bitaya tha aur jinhe ek-doosre ki company pasand aayi thi.
Filhaal itna kaafi tha.


Saturday, 1:36 PM | Market Se Wapsi
Café se nikalne ke baad dono thodi der aur ghoome. Aarohi ne ek chhoti stationery shop se postcards khareede, aur Reyansh ne uska mazaak udaya ki woh 2026 mein bhi postcards likhne ka iraada rakhti hai.
"Sab kuch message par hi kyun bhejna hai?" Aarohi ne kaha. "Kabhi kisi ko kuch likhkar bhejne mein bhi maza aata hai."
"Achha. Toh mere liye postcard likhogi?"
Aarohi ne seedha jawab diya, "Abhi decide nahi kiya."
"Matlab interview process chal raha hai?"
"Probation period samjho."
"Terms and conditions kya hain?"
"Time par aana. Har baat ka joke mat banana. Aur kabhi-kabhi saamne wale ki baat bhi sun lena."
Reyansh ne haath jod liye.
"Teen conditions? Yeh toh permanent employment se bhi difficult hai."
Aarohi muskurayi.
"Toh resign kar do."
"Abhi toh joining hui hai."
Dono market ke entrance tak saath aaye.
Aarohi ki cab kuch minute mein aane wali thi.
"Next time tum jagah suggest karna," usne kaha.
"Main?"
"Haan. Har baar meri choice nahi chalegi."
Reyansh ne sochne ka natak kiya.
"Ek jagah hai. Wahan purani buildings bhi hain, greenery bhi aur walking ke liye achha route bhi."
Aarohi ki aankhon mein curiosity aayi.
"Kahan?"
"Abhi bata diya toh surprise khatam."
"Tumhe khud location pata bhi hai?"
"Personal attack."
Aarohi hans di.
Uski cab aa gayi. Jaane se pehle usne haath hilaaya.
"Take care, Reyansh."
"You too, Aarohi."
Cab nikal gayi.
Reyansh kuch pal wahin khada raha, phir apni gaadi ki taraf chal diya.
Usne phone check kiya.
Arshad ke chaar missed messages the.
Arshad:
Zinda ho?
Arshad:
Ya kisi heritage building ne tumhe adopt kar liya?
Arshad:
Reply kar de. Main emotional ho raha hoon.
Arshad:
Aur haan, agar date thi toh bata dena. Main apne aap ko maturely behave karne ke liye mentally prepare kar lunga.
Reyansh ne call laga diya.
Arshad ne pehli ring par phone utha liya.
"HAAN BHAI, KAHAN HAI TU?"
"Market mein tha. Phone silent tha."
"Kaisa raha?"
"Achha tha."
"Achha tha matlab?"
"Market achha tha. Coffee achhi thi. Company achhi thi."
Doosri taraf kuch seconds ki khamoshi rahi.
Phir Arshad ki awaaz aayi.
"Company achhi thi."
"Haan."
"Coffee achhi thi."
"Haan."
"Market achha tha."
"Haan."
Arshad ne gehri saans li.
"Ek minute. Main notebook nikaalta hoon. Aaj ki historical development record karni padegi."
Reyansh hans pada.
"Tu kya kar raha hai?"
"Main ghar par hoon. Thoda kaam karna hai. Ek potential freelance client ne brief bheja hai."
"Achha. Kaam kaisa lag raha hai?"
"Interesting hai. Lekin brief dekhkar lag raha hai client ko copywriter nahi, magician chahiye."
"Scope clear kar lena. Revisions, deadlines aur payment sab."
"Ji, Senior Brand Manager sahab."
"Joke mat kar. Freelance mein apna time bhi protect karna padta hai."
Arshad ki awaaz thodi serious hui.
"Haan. Is baar main pehle hi terms clear karunga."
"Good."
"Waise ek baat bata."
"Ab kya?"
"Aarohi ke saath next plan kya hai?"
Reyansh ne gaadi start ki.
"Abhi kuch decide nahi kiya. Bas next time main jagah choose karunga."
Arshad kuch pal chup raha.
"Achha hai. Enjoy kar. Har achhi conversation ko turant relationship ka naam dena zaroori nahi."
Reyansh ne halka sa smile kiya.
"Yeh baat tune kab seekhi?"
"Main intelligent hoon. Bas logon ko doubt mein rakhne ke liye kabhi-kabhi chhupata hoon."
"Tu intelligent hai, is baat ka evidence abhi tak nahi mila."
"Call kaat raha hoon."
"Kaatt."
Arshad hansne laga.
"Shaam ko mil raha hai?"
"Dekhta hoon."
"Matlab mil raha hai. Main location bhej raha hoon."
Call kat gaya.
Reyansh ne phone passenger seat par rakha aur gaadi aage badha di.
Aaj ka din abhi khatam nahi hua tha.


Saturday, 2:18 PM | Flat 304
Jheel apni study table par baithi thi.
Laptop khula tha. Screen par course ka assignment tha, jisme use apna introduction aur ek chhota sa paragraph type karna tha.
Usne pehle notebook mein likha, phir screen par type karne lagi.
My name is Jheel. I am learning communication and basic digital skills. I want to become more confident when I speak with people.
Woh ruk gayi.
Sentence ko dobara padha.
Phir ek word delete karke doosra likha.
Uske phone par Ritu ka message aaya.
Ritu:
Assignment complete?
Jheel:
Almost. Ek paragraph mein atki hoon.
Ritu:
Send kar. Saath mein dekhte hain.
Jheel ne paragraph bhej diya.
Kuch hi der mein reply aa gaya.
Ritu:
Yeh toh sahi hai. Bas last line mein tense change karna.
Jheel ne correction ki aur document save kar diya.
Uske chehre par satisfaction tha.
Chhota sa assignment tha. Koi badi achievement nahi thi.
Lekin kuch mahine pehle agar kisi ne use laptop par English paragraph likhne ko kaha hota, toh woh shayad shuru karne se pehle hi ghabra jaati.
Ab woh galti karti thi, use theek karti thi aur phir aage badh jaati thi.
Doorbell baji.
Jheel ne laptop save kiya aur darwaza khola.
Saamne Reyansh tha.
Uske haath mein ek paper bag tha.
"Hello, neighbour."
Jheel muskurayi.
"Hello. Market se wapas aa gaye?"
"Haan. Aur main ek important cheez lekar aaya hoon."
Jheel ne bag ki taraf dekha.
"Kya?"
Reyansh ne bag uski taraf badhaya.
"Yeh dekho."
Andar ek chhota sa packet tha, jisme local bookstore ka bookmark aur ek postcard tha. Reyansh ne galti se nahi, jaan-boojhkar liya tha. Bookstore ke counter par complimentary postcards rakhe the aur usne ek utha liya tha.
Jheel ne postcard dekha.
"Yeh mere liye?"
"Nahi, building ke secretary ke liye. Lekin unke paas pehle hi bahut complaints hain, toh socha tumhe de doon."
Jheel hans padi.
"Reyansh!"
"Achha, haan. Tumhare liye."
Jheel ne postcard haath mein liya. Us par Bengaluru ki ek purani street ki photograph thi.
"Bahut achha hai."
"Bookstore mein mila. Tumhe old places pasand hain na?"
Jheel ne postcard ko dobara dekha.
"Haan. Thank you."
Reyansh ne uske chehre par aayi khushi dekhi. Woh chhoti si cheez thi, lekin usne sahi yaad rakha tha ki Jheel ko aisi photographs pasand aati hain.
"Waise assignment chal raha tha?" usne poochha.
Jheel ne darwaza thoda aur khola.
"Haan. English paragraph likhna tha."
"Complete hua?"
"Almost."
"Almost ka matlab aadha ya complete?"
"Complete. Bas mujhe lag raha tha ki ek sentence galat hai."
Reyansh ne muskurakar kaha, "Toh tumne check kiya?"
"Ji."
"Correct kiya?"
"Ji."
"Submit kar diya?"
Jheel ne fakhr se kaha, "Ji."
"Toh phir problem kya hai?"
Jheel ek pal ruki, phir hans di.
"Ab koi problem nahi hai."
"Excellent. Tumhari problem-solving speed improve ho rahi hai."
Jheel ne postcard apni notebook ke paas rakh diya.
"Aapka din kaisa raha?"
Reyansh ne kuch pal socha.
"Achha tha. Old market gaya tha. Kaafi purani buildings dekhi."
"Aarohi ke saath?"
"Haan."
Jheel ne normal si smile ke saath kaha, "Achha. Aapko pasand aaya?"
"Haan. Usse architecture kaafi achhe se samajh aata hai. Mujhe bhi kuch naya seekhne ko mila."
"Phir toh achha hua."
Uske lehje mein sachchi dilchaspi thi. Na koi banaawati excitement, na koi anjaani udaasi. Jheel apni zindagi mein busy thi aur Reyansh ki zindagi ko bhi apni jagah de rahi thi.
Reyansh ne uske laptop ki taraf dekha.
"Waise agar tumhe assignment mein kabhi help chahiye toh bata dena. Lekin pehle khud try karna."
Jheel ne turant kaha, "Ab toh main pehle khud hi karti hoon."
"Good."
Usne jaane ke liye kadam badhaya.
"Achha, main chalta hoon. Arshad bula raha hai."
Jheel ne haath hilaaya.
"Enjoy your evening."
"You too."
Darwaza band hone ke baad Jheel apni study table par lauti.
Usne postcard ko notebook ke andar rakhne ki jagah table ke paas ek chhote stand par laga diya.



Phir laptop khola aur assignment ka final version ek baar aur check kiya.
Screen par uska introduction tha.
I want to become more confident when I speak with people.
Jheel ne use padha aur dheere se muskura di.
Ab yeh sirf assignment ki line nahi thi.
Yeh uski apni zindagi ka ek chhota sa hissa ban rahi thi.



Saturday, 7:42 PM | Café Near Indiranagar
Arshad ek corner table par baitha laptop par kuch likh raha tha.
Uske saamne coffee thi, phone par Sakshi ka message aur laptop screen par freelance client ka brief.
Reyansh aakar uske saamne baith gaya.
Arshad ne screen se nazar nahi hatayi.
"Late."
Reyansh ne ghadi dekhi.
"Main time par hoon."
"Main emotional taur par pehle se intezaar kar raha tha."
"Tu therapist ke paas ja."
"Paise dega?"
"Nahi."
"Phir tu hi meri problem hai."
Reyansh hans pada aur waiter ko order de diya.
Arshad ne laptop uski taraf ghumaya.
"Yeh dekh. Client ko ek product ke liye campaign copy chahiye. Brief mein likha hai, 'Make it emotional, youthful, premium, relatable, bold, subtle and universally appealing.'"
Reyansh ne screen padhi.
"Matlab inhe sab kuch chahiye."
"Exactly! Aur budget aisa diya hai jaise main unke liye ek WhatsApp status likh raha hoon."
"Toh scope clear kar. Kitne concepts, kitne revisions aur delivery date."
"Kar liya. Kal unhe proposal bhejunga."
Reyansh ne sir hilaya.
"Good. Agency ke kaam ke saath manage ho jayega?"
"Shuru mein ek client hi loonga. Dekhta hoon workload kitna hota hai."
"Smart."
Arshad ne laptop band kiya.
"Ab tumhari baari."
"Kis baat ki?"
"Aaj ki outing ki."
Reyansh ne coffee ka cup uthaya.
"Kya bataun?"
"Start se. Outfit kya tha? Weather kaisa tha? Coffee ka temperature? Building ki height? Aarohi ne kitni baar tumhe intelligent samjha?"
"Tu kahani sunna chahta hai ya security officer report?"
"Details important hoti hain."
Reyansh ne use poora incident bataya. Old market, bookstore, architecture, café aur Aarohi ke saath hui baatein.
Arshad is baar beech-beech mein mazaak karta raha, lekin usne dhyan se suna bhi.
Jab Reyansh ne bataya ki dono ne next outing ka plan khula chhoda hai, Arshad ne kaha, "Achha hai. Dheere chal. Kisi ko impress karne ke chakkar mein apna asli version mat badalna."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Yeh baat tu apne liye bhi follow kar sakta hai."
Arshad ki smile thodi halki ho gayi.
"Sakshi ka message aaya tha."
Reyansh chup raha aur use bolne diya.
"Uska next week business trip hai. Do-teen din ke liye."
"Kahan?"
"Usne ek client meeting ka mention kiya tha. Details baad mein batayegi. Kaafi excited thi. Uske portfolio par bhi kaam chal raha hai."
"Achhi baat hai."
"Haan. Main bhi yahi chahta hoon ki woh apne career mein aage badhe."
Arshad ne coffee ka cup ghumaya.
"Bas kabhi-kabhi lagta hai ki hum dono apni-apni zindagi ko aage le ja rahe hain, lekin future ki baat abhi bhi poori tarah clear nahi hai."
Reyansh ne turant koi lecture nahi diya.
"Kya tumne usse baat karne ka time decide kiya?"
"Abhi nahi. Uska trip hone do. Wapas aane ke baad baithenge."
"Toh filhaal uska trip enjoy karne de. Aur tu apna kaam kar. Har cheez ko ek hi din mein solve karne ki zaroorat nahi."
Arshad ne use dekha.
"Tu kabhi-kabhi achhi advice de deta hai."
"Kabhi-kabhi?"
"Zyada tareef se tumhara dimaag kharab ho jayega."
"Late ho chuka hai."
Dono hans pade.
Thodi der baad Sakshi ka call aaya. Arshad ne phone uthaya.
"Hello, madam."
Sakshi ki awaaz phone se sunai di.
"Madam mat bolo. Aur haan, maine trip ki dates final kar di hain."
"Achha! Sab set hai?"
"Mostly. Bas ek presentation revise karni hai. Kal tum free ho toh mujhe ek baar dekhkar feedback de dena."
"Bilkul. Bhej dena."
"Thanks. Aur tumhara freelance project?"
Arshad ne Reyansh ki taraf dekha.
"Proposal bana raha hoon. Kal bhej dunga."
"Good. Bas agency ke kaam aur freelance ke chakkar mein khud ko overbook mat kar lena."
Arshad muskuraya.
"Main itna bhi irresponsible nahi hoon."
Sakshi hans di.
"Yeh statement evidence ke bina accept nahi karungi."
"Fine. Kal proof bhej dunga."
Dono ne kuch aur practical baatein ki aur call khatam ho gaya.
Arshad ne phone rakhkar kaha, "Dekha? Meri life mein bhi romance hai."
Reyansh ne poochha, "Yeh call tha ya project-management meeting?"


"Modern relationships mein dono ek hi package mein aate hain."
"Terms and conditions?"
"Unlimited affection, limited patience."
Reyansh hans pada.
"Achha hai. Bas renewal date miss mat kar dena."
"Tu apni Aarohi sambhaal."
"Main kisi ko sambhaal nahi raha. Hum bas mile the."
"Bilkul. Aur main bas coffee pee raha hoon. Mere saamne laptop kyun khula hai, yeh bhi ek alag mystery hai."
Dono ki hansi café ke shor mein ghul gayi.


Sunday ki subah Reyansh ko alarm ne nahi, balcony se aati awaaz ne jagaya.
Koi bachcha apne father se keh raha tha ki use breakfast mein dosa chahiye, lekin sirf woh wala jo restaurant mein milta hai.
Reyansh ne takiye mein chehra chhupaya.
"Hey malik, mujhe bhi aisi chhoti problems de do."
Phone screen par ek message chamka.
Aarohi:
Kal ki photos bhej rahi hoon. Tumhari ek photo bhi hai, unfortunately.
Reyansh ne aankhein kholi.
Reyansh:
Unfortunately? Main toh frame mein value add karta hoon.
Aarohi ne market ki ek photograph bheji. Uske baad café ke bahar ki ek candid picture thi, jisme Reyansh kitab pakde kisi purani building ko dekh raha tha.
Aarohi:
Yeh photo achhi hai. Tum sach mein interested lag rahe ho.
Reyansh ne photo ko kuch pal dekha.
Reyansh:
Main interested tha. Bas tumhari tarah har building ke saamne rukne ki training nahi mili.
Aarohi:
Practice se sab ho jaata hai.
Reyansh:
Phir agli baar tum mujhe training dena.
Aarohi:
Dekhte hain. Pehle tum apni location reveal karo.
Reyansh ne smile ki.
Reyansh:
Agli outing ka plan bana raha hoon. Is baar tum bas comfortable shoes pehenna.
Aarohi:
Yeh warning hai?
Reyansh:
Experience.
Aarohi:
Fine. Surprise me.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakh diya.
Usne apni zindagi ke baare mein koi bada faisla nahi kiya tha. Aarohi ke saath ek achha Saturday guzra tha, aur ab ek aur outing ka idea tha.
Bas.
Lekin kabhi-kabhi zindagi ko aage badhne ke liye bade announcements ki zaroorat nahi hoti.
Kabhi ek achhi conversation, ek nayi jagah aur agle weekend ka chhota sa plan bhi kaafi hota hai.
Kitchen se Shalu ki awaaz aayi.
"Sir, breakfast ready hai!"
Reyansh bed se uthte hue bola, "Aa raha hoon!"
"Jaldi aaiye. Thanda ho jayega!"
"Main aa raha hoon, tum announcement band karo!"
Shalu hans padi.
Reyansh ne phone uthaya, ek baar Aarohi ka message dekha aur phir kitchen ki taraf chal diya.
Uska Sunday shuru ho chuka tha.