[Greenwood]

Update 33


Sunday ki subah thi. Bengaluru ki sadkon par abhi bheed poori tarah nahi utri thi, lekin Reyansh ke phone par notifications ki bheed lag chuki thi.
Woh bed par aadha leta, aadha baitha apna phone dekh raha tha. Ek haath mein coffee ka mug tha, doosre mein phone.
Screen par Jheel ka message aaya.
Jheel: Good morning.
Reyansh: Good morning, neighbour ji.
Jheel: Aaj neighbour nahi. Aaj aapko mere saath chalna hai.
Reyansh: Hukm ki tameel hogi. Lekin pehle destination toh bata do, madam.
Jheel: Surprise.
Reyansh: Mujhe surprises se problem nahi hai. Bas unmein subah-subah running ya trekking nahi honi chahiye.
Jheel: Aapko dekhkar lagta nahi ki aap itne aalsi honge.
Reyansh: Main apni personality ke kai raaz chhupakar rakhta hoon.
Jheel: Theek hai. Ek ghante mein ready ho jaiye.
Reyansh: Dress code?
Jheel: Normal.
Reyansh: Mere normal ke alag-alag versions hain. Thoda specific ho sakta hai?
Jheel: Reyansh!
Reyansh: Ji, Jheel ji. Ek ghante mein hazir.
Usne phone side mein rakha aur coffee ka aakhri sip liya.
Pichhle kuch hafton mein Jheel uski zindagi ka ek aisa hissa ban gayi thi jiske liye use koi khaas wajah nahi chahiye hoti thi. Na koi kaam, na koi zaroorat. Kabhi lift mein do minute ki baat, kabhi messages, kabhi saath mein bahar jaana.
Aur ab Sunday ki subah uske paas ek plan tha jiske baare mein woh khud bhi nahi jaanta tha.
Reyansh muskuraya.
Phir almari kholkar kapde nikaalne laga.


Saat-aath minute baad Reyansh Flat 304 ke saamne khada tha.
Usne bell bajayi.
Darwaza khula toh saamne Jheel thi. Aaj usne halka pista-green kurta, off-white palazzo aur chhote silver jhumke pehne the. Baal khule the, jinmein se kuch lattein chehre ke paas aa rahi thi. Makeup bahut halka tha, bas aankhon mein kajal.
Reyansh ki nazar ek pal ke liye us par ruki.
Jheel ne uske chehre ko dekh liya.
Jheel: Kya hua?
Reyansh: Kuch nahi.
Jheel: Toh dekh kya rahe hain?
Reyansh: Main bas check kar raha tha ki surprise ke saath aapka mood bhi aaya hai ya woh ghar par reh gaya.
Jheel hansi.
Jheel: Aap na, seedha compliment de hi nahi sakte.
Reyansh: Compliment dene ki zaroorat hai?
Jheel: Nahi.
Reyansh: Toh phir problem kya hai?
Jheel ne nazrein jhuka kar darwaza band kiya.
Jheel: Chaliye.
Reyansh: Ek minute. Aapne bataya nahi ki jaana kahan hai.
Jheel: Aapko bhookh lagi hai?
Reyansh: Yeh sawaal meri zindagi ke sabse aasaan sawaalon mein se ek hai. Jawab hamesha haan hota hai.
Jheel: Toh bas.
Woh parking ki taraf badh gayi.
Kuch der baad Reyansh ki car Bengaluru ki ek busy street par pahunchi. Wahan weekend food festival laga hua tha. Chhote-chhote stalls, rang-birange banners, live music aur har taraf khaane ki khushboo.
Reyansh ne car park karte hue uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: Madam, aap mujhe khilane laayi hain ya meri diet barbaad karne?
Jheel: Aapki diet hai?
Reyansh: Dil par mat lijiye. Sawal meri izzat ka hai.
Jheel: Aapki izzat ko pehle ek plate momos ki zaroorat hai.
Woh hans pada.
Reyansh: Aaj toh aap kaafi dangerous mood mein hain.
Jheel: Aapke saath rehkar thoda seekh gayi hoon.
Yeh sunkar Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: Achha? Toh meri sangat ka asar hone laga hai?
Jheel: Abhi itna khush mat hoiye. Bura asar bhi ho sakta hai.
Dono hanste hue festival ke andar chale gaye.
Jheel ne pehle ek Gujarati food stall ki taraf ishara kiya. Wahan dhokla, khandvi, fafda aur jalebi rakhi thi.
Reyansh: Gujarat ki yaad aa gayi?
Jheel ek pal ke liye ruki, phir muskurayi.
Jheel: Haan. Kabhi-kabhi kuch khaane ki khushboo se purani jagah yaad aa jaati hai.
Reyansh: Aur kabhi kisi jagah se koi insaan yaad aa jaata hai.
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
Jheel: Aap har baat mein aisi line kyun maarte hain?
Reyansh: Kyunki har baat mein aap sun rahi hoti hain.
Jheel ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi. Usne turant stall wale se do plates order kar di.
Jheel: Aapko pata hai, jab main chhoti thi na, toh mujhe lagta tha ki bade hone ke baad life bahut simple ho jaayegi.


Reyansh: Aur ab?
Jheel: Ab lagta hai ki bade hone ke baad bas problems ke naam badal jaate hain.
Reyansh ne uski baat ko mazaak mein udaane ke bajaye dhyaan se suna.
Reyansh: Yeh baat toh sahi hai.
Jheel: Lekin ek cheez achhi hai.
Reyansh: Kya?
Jheel ne plate uski taraf badhai.
Jheel: Ab main apni problems ke beech bhi aise din plan kar sakti hoon.
Reyansh ne plate le li.
Reyansh: Aur mujhe bula sakti ho.
Jheel ne uski aankhon mein dekha.
Jheel: Haan. Aapko bhi.
Bas do lafz the. Lekin is baar Jheel ne nazrein nahi churayi.


Khaane ke baad dono festival ke doosre hisse mein ghoomne lage.
Wahan ek chhota sa carnival zone tha. Ring toss, shooting games aur kuch stalls par ajeeb se prizes latak rahe the.
Jheel ek stall ke saamne ruk gayi. Wahan ek soft, cream-coloured teddy bear rakha tha, jiski gardan mein neela ribbon tha.
Jheel: Yeh kitna cute hai.
Reyansh ne teddy ko dekha, phir Jheel ko.
Reyansh: Aapko teddy bear pasand hain?
Jheel: Pasand toh hain. Lekin iska matlab yeh nahi ki main khareedne wali hoon.
Reyansh: Maine khareedne ki baat kab ki?
Jheel: Aapke chehre par likha hai ki abhi koi joke aane wala hai.
Reyansh: Aap mujhe bahut achhe se samajhne lagi hain.
Woh stall wale ke paas gaya.
Reyansh: Bhaiya, yeh game kaise khelna hai?
Stall wale ne rules samjha diye. Kuch bottles par rings daalni thi. Jeetne par prize milta.
Reyansh ne paise diye aur pehli ring uthayi.
Pehli ring seedha bottle ke paas se nikal gayi.
Jheel ne hansi rokne ki koshish ki.
Doosri bhi miss.
Teesri bhi.
Jheel: Brand manager sahab, aapka aim itna kharab hai?
Reyansh: Main brands manage karta hoon, bottles nahi.
Jheel: Bahut achha excuse hai.
Chauthi ring bhi miss hui toh Jheel zor se hans padi.
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: Aapko bahut maza aa raha hai?
Jheel: Bahut.
Reyansh: Toh ab aap try kijiye.
Jheel: Main? Mujhse nahi hoga.
Reyansh: Aapne try kiye bina decide kar liya?
Jheel ne ring le li.
Usne pehli baar nishana lagaya aur ring bottle ke gale mein atak gayi.
Dono kuch pal chup rahe.
Phir Reyansh ne taali bajayi.
Reyansh: Wah! Yeh toh unfair hai. Main paise dekar bhi nahi jeeta aur aap free mein jeet gayi.
Jheel: Maine kab kaha ki main aapse kam hoon?
Usne doosri ring uthayi. Woh bhi lag gayi.
Stall wala muskura kar teddy bear le aaya.
Jheel ne use haath mein liya. Uski aankhon mein ek bachchon jaisi khushi thi.
Reyansh: Toh yeh aapka hua.
Jheel: Maine jeeta hai.
Reyansh: Bilkul. Main toh bas moral support dene aaya tha.
Jheel teddy ko pakde hue chalne lagi.
Kuch door jaakar usne teddy Reyansh ki taraf badha diya.
Jheel: Pakdenge?
Reyansh: Main?
Jheel: Nahi, peeche khade uncle se keh rahi hoon.
Reyansh ne teddy le liya.
Reyansh: Aapko pata hai, kisi ne mujhe itna cute gift aaj tak nahi diya.
Jheel: Yeh maine aapko diya hi nahi.
Reyansh: Lekin ab mere paas hai.
Jheel: Temporary custody mein hai.
Reyansh: Main isse sambhal kar rakhunga.
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha. Woh teddy ko aise pakde hue tha jaise sach mein koi keemti cheez ho.
Uske chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Dono ek bench par baith gaye. Aas-paas music baj raha tha, log hans rahe the, aur bachche apne prizes lekar bhaag rahe the.
Jheel ne teddy apni god mein rakha.
Jheel: Reyansh, aapko kabhi aisa lagta hai ki aapne apni life mein bahut kuch miss kar diya?
Sawaal achanak tha.
Reyansh kuch der saamne dekhte raha.
Reyansh: Kabhi-kabhi.
Jheel: Kis tarah ka?
Reyansh: Pata nahi. Kabhi lagta hai ki main kaam mein busy raha. Kabhi lagta hai ki jo waqt kisi ke saath bitana chahiye tha, woh kahin aur nikal gaya. Aur kabhi lagta hai ki abhi bhi waqt hai, bas samajh nahi aata ki uska karna kya hai.
Jheel chupchaap sunti rahi.
Jheel: Mujhe bhi kabhi-kabhi lagta hai ki main bahut si cheezein baad ke liye chhod deti hoon.
Reyansh: Jaise?
Jheel: Jaise khulkar hasna. Bina soche kuch karna. Kabhi kisi ko khud se milne ke liye kehna.
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: Aakhri wali cheez toh aapne kar li.
Jheel: Haan.
Reyansh: Aur kaisa laga?
Jheel ne teddy ke ribbon ko seedha kiya.
Jheel: Achha laga.
Ek chhota sa pause aaya.
Jheel: Shayad isliye kyunki aapne mana nahi kiya.
Reyansh: Mujhe mana karne ki wajah hi nahi mili.
Jheel: Har cheez ke liye wajah zaroori hoti hai?
Reyansh ne halka sa sar hilaaya.
Reyansh: Nahi. Kabhi-kabhi kisi ke saath waqt achha guzarta hai, toh bas utna hi kaafi hota hai.
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.

Jheel: Aur agar waqt achha guzarna band na ho toh?
Is baar Reyansh ke paas turant koi funny jawab nahi tha.
Woh uski aankhon mein dekhta raha.
Reyansh: Toh shayad us insaan ko apni zindagi mein thodi aur jagah deni chahiye.
Jheel ki ungliyan teddy ke ribbon par ruk gayin.
Usne dheere se kaha.
Jheel: Mujhe bhi aisa hi lagta hai.


Dopahar tak festival mein bheed badhne lagi thi. Dono ne wapas jaane ka faisla kiya.
Parking tak pahunchte-pahunchte aasman par baadal ghane ho gaye. Pehli boondein girne lagi.
Reyansh ne car unlock ki, lekin Jheel ne use rok diya.
Jheel: Ek minute.
Reyansh: Kya hua?
Jheel: Baarish.
Reyansh: Ji, woh toh dikh rahi hai.
Jheel: Aapko kabhi baarish mein chalna achha lagta hai?
Reyansh: Jab ghar paas ho aur kapde expensive na hon.
Jheel hans padi.
Jheel: Aap har romantic moment ka insurance kyun karwa dete hain?
Reyansh: Experience hai.
Jheel: Toh aaj experience badaliye.
Usne apna haath aage kar diya.
Reyansh ne pehle uske haath ko dekha, phir uske chehre ko.
Reyansh: Aap sure hain?
Jheel: Haan.
Usne Jheel ka haath thaam liya.
Dono parking ke paas bani covered walkway se aage badhe. Baarish tez nahi thi, bas halki boondein thi jo hawa ke saath chehre ko chhoo rahi thi.
Jheel ka haath uske haath mein tha.
Na koi dramatic music tha, na duniya ruk gayi thi. Paas se gaadiyan guzar rahi thi, koi apni chhatri sambhal raha tha, aur ek bachcha baarish mein apni maa ko kheenchkar le ja raha tha.
Lekin Jheel ke liye us waqt sabse khaas cheez Reyansh ka haath tha.
Usne apni ungliyan uski ungliyon mein thodi aur mazbooti se phansa di.
Reyansh ne mehsoos kiya, lekin kuch kaha nahi.
Kuch kadam baad Jheel khud hi ruk gayi.
Jheel: Reyansh?
Reyansh: Hmm?
Jheel: Main aapse ek baat poochun?
Reyansh: Aaj aap jitne sawaal poochna chahein pooch sakti hain.
Jheel ne ek gehri saans li.
Jheel: Kya aap mere saath aise hi milte rahenge?
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: Aise hi matlab?
Jheel: Bina kisi expectation ke. Bina yeh soche ki mujhe jaldi kisi decision par pahunchna hai. Bina mujhe badalne ki koshish kiye.
Uske chehre par ab mazaak nahi tha.
Reyansh ne uska haath chhoda nahi.
Reyansh: Jheel, main aapse koi jaldi nahi karwana chahta. Main khud bhi kisi race mein nahi hoon.
Jheel: Aur agar kabhi mujhe lage ki main aapse zyada waqt maang rahi hoon?
Reyansh: Toh maang lena.
Jheel: Aur agar aap busy hue?
Reyansh: Toh bata dunga. Lekin iska matlab yeh nahi ki aap poochna band kar do.
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
Jheel: Aap har baat ko itna simple kaise bana dete hain?
Reyansh: Main simple nahi banata. Bas aapko har sawaal ka jawab akele dhoondhne ki zaroorat nahi hai.
Jheel ki aankhon mein ek narmi aa gayi.
Woh uske thoda kareeb aayi.
Jheel: Thank you.
Reyansh: Kis baat ke liye?
Jheel: Mere saath itna achha hone ke liye.
Reyansh ne halki muskurahat ke saath kaha.
Reyansh: Aapke saath achha rehne ke liye mujhe koi extra effort nahi karna padta.
Jheel ki nazar uske chehre par tik gayi.
Kuch pal dono ke beech khamoshi rahi.
Phir Jheel ne uska haath dobara thaam liya.
Jheel: Chaliye. Warna aapke expensive kapde kharab ho jaayenge.
Reyansh hans pada.
Reyansh: Romance ka postmortem karna zaroori tha?
Jheel: Bilkul.
Woh dono car ki taraf badh gaye, haath ab bhi ek-doosre mein tha


Shaam hone se pehle Reyansh ne car building ke parking area mein laga di.
Jheel ke haath mein teddy bear tha. Usne car se nikalte waqt use apne seene se laga liya.
Reyansh: Iska naam rakha?
Jheel: Nahi.
Reyansh: Itni der se saath hai, abhi tak introduction bhi nahi hua?
Jheel: Aap rakh dijiye.
Reyansh ne kuch socha.
Reyansh: Professor.
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
Jheel: Professor?
Reyansh: Haan. Iska kaam hai aapko yaad dilana ki kabhi-kabhi life mein serious hone ki zaroorat nahi hoti.
Jheel: Aapko lagta hai teddy bear mujhe yeh samjhayega?
Reyansh: Mere samjhane se toh aap samajhti nahi hain.
Jheel hans padi.
Lift se nikal kar dono apne flats ki taraf badhe. Flat 304 ke saamne pahunchkar Jheel ne chaabi nikali, lekin darwaza kholne se pehle ruk gayi.
Jheel: Reyansh?
Reyansh: Ji?
Jheel: Aaj ka din achha tha.
Reyansh: Sirf achha?
Jheel ne sar halka sa tedha kiya.
Jheel: Bahut achha.
Reyansh: Better.
Woh darwaza kholne lagi, phir palatkar uski taraf dekha.
Jheel: Aur ek baat.
Reyansh: Aaj aapke paas baaton ka stock khatam nahi hoga?
Jheel: Nahi.
Usne teddy ko ek haath mein sambhala aur doosre haath se Reyansh ki ungliyon ko halka sa chhoo liya.
Jheel: Agli baar outing aap plan karenge.
Reyansh: Done.
Jheel: Aur is baar main surprise nahi poochungi.
Reyansh: Main bhi nahi bataunga.
Jheel: Dekhte hain.
Woh muskurayi aur andar chali gayi.
Darwaza band hone se pehle Reyansh ne kaha.
Reyansh: Jheel!
Woh palti.
Jheel: Haan?
Reyansh: Aaj aap bahut khush lag rahi thi.
Jheel ne use dekha. Is baar usne apni muskurahat chhupane ki koshish nahi ki.
Jheel: Kyunki main thi.
Darwaza dheere se band ho gaya.
Reyansh kuch pal wahin khada raha.
Phir apne flat ki taraf mud gaya.
Uske chehre par ek aisi muskurahat thi jise kisi message, kisi joke ya kisi khaas wajah ki zaroorat nahi thi.


Raat ko Jheel apne bed par baithi thi. Professor naam ka teddy uske takiye ke paas rakha tha.
Usne phone uthaya.
Jheel: Ghar pahunchkar kya kar rahe hain?
Reyansh ka reply turant aaya.
Reyansh: Ghar pahunchkar? Main toh ghar par hi tha.
Jheel: Matlab apne flat mein jaakar.
Reyansh: Abhi dinner ka intezaar kar raha hoon. Shalu ne khana rakha hai. Aapne khaya?
Jheel: Haan. Aur aaj ka din yaad kar rahi hoon.
Reyansh ne message padha aur kuch pal screen dekhta raha.
Reyansh: Kya yaad aa raha hai?
Jheel ne type kiya, phir delete kar diya.
Dobara type kiya.
Jheel: Baarish.
Reyansh ne jawab diya.
Reyansh: Mujhe bhi.
Jheel ne phone apne seene par rakh liya aur takiye se tek laga li.
Uske dil mein ab ek naya sawaal tha. Woh Reyansh ke saath waqt bitana chahti thi, usse aur jaan-na chahti thi, uske saamne apni khushi aur pareshani dono rakhna chahti thi.
Lekin ab sirf uski company achhi lagne ki baat nahi thi.
Woh uske kareeb aana chahti thi.
Aur pehli baar, is khayal se use darr se zyada khushi ho rahi thi.
Doosri taraf Reyansh dinner ke baad balcony mein khada tha. Bengaluru ki sadkon par lights chamak rahi thi. Usne Jheel ka message dobara padha.
Baarish.
Woh halki si muskurahat ke saath phone lock karne laga, phir ruk gaya.
Usne khud message type kiya.
Reyansh: Jheel?
Jheel: Ji?
Reyansh: Aaj haath pakadna achha laga.
Jheel ne message dekha toh uske gaal par muskurahat phail gayi. Usne kuch pal socha, phir jawab diya.
Jheel: Mujhe bhi.
Kuch seconds baad uska ek aur message aaya.
Jheel: Isliye toh haath chhoda nahi tha.
Reyansh screen dekhkar hans diya.
Reyansh: Good night, Jheel.
Jheel: Good night, Reyansh.
Dono ne phone rakh diya.
Us raat kisi ne apne dil ki poori baat nahi kahi.
Lekin ab dono ko yeh samajhne ke liye kisi aur ishare ki zaroorat nahi thi ki unke beech kuch badal raha tha.
Dosti ab bhi thi.
Bas uske saath ek naya ehsaas bhi jud gaya tha.