[Greenwood]

Update 34


Monday ki shaam thi.
Reyansh office se ghar laut chuka tha. Laptop par ek presentation khuli thi, lekin uska dhyaan baar-baar phone ki taraf ja raha tha. Aaj poore din Jheel se baat nahi hui thi. Subah sirf ek chhota sa message aaya tha, jismein usne bataya tha ki woh apni class ke assignment mein busy rahegi.
Reyansh ne presentation band ki.
Reyansh (khud se): Assignment uska hai, bechain main kyun ho raha hoon?
Phone uthaya aur message type kiya.
Reyansh: Madam student, assignment ne aapko kidnap toh nahi kar liya?
Kuch der tak reply nahi aaya.
Woh phone table par rakhkar paani lene gaya. Wapas aaya toh screen par notification chamak raha tha.
Jheel: Nahi. Lekin aapka message aane se concentration zaroor kharab ho gaya.
Reyansh: Matlab meri importance badh rahi hai.
Jheel: Matlab aap disturb kar rahe hain.
Reyansh: Achha, main chala jaata hoon.
Jheel: Maine aisa kab kaha?
Reyansh muskuraya.
Reyansh: Toh phir kal shaam mere saath dinner par chaliye.
Is baar Jheel ne turant jawab nahi diya.
Usne phone haath mein liya aur message dobara padha.
Dinner.
Sirf woh dono.
Pichhli baar ki tarah koi food festival nahi, koi game nahi, koi aisi activity nahi jiske peeche baat chhup jaaye.
Yeh ek proper date jaisa lag raha tha.
Usne reply type kiya.
Jheel: Kahan?
Reyansh: Yeh sawaal poochkar aapne haan bol di hai ya abhi interview chal raha hai?
Jheel: Pehle jagah bataiye.
Reyansh: Ek achhi jagah hai. Quiet, achha food, aur saamne ek aisi ladki jiske sawaal khatam hi nahi hote.
Jheel: Toh aap kisi aur ko le jaiye.
Reyansh: Koshish ki thi. Woh ladki aap hi nikli.
Jheel apni hansi nahi rok paayi.
Jheel: Theek hai. Kal milte hain.
Reyansh: Seven?
Jheel: Seven.
Phone rakhne ke baad Jheel kuch der chup baithi rahi.
Uske saamne assignment ki notebook khuli thi, lekin ab uske dimaag mein English ke sentences nahi, kal shaam ke khayal ghoom rahe the.
Usne almari kholi.
Do kurtiyan nikaali.
Phir ek teesri.
Aur khud hi apni harkat par hans padi.
Jheel (khud se): Bas dinner hai, Jheel. Shaadi nahi ho rahi.
Woh ruk gayi.
Phir dheere se muskurayi.
Jheel: Lekin achha lag raha hai.


Agli shaam office se nikalne se pehle Reyansh ne Arshad ko phone kiya.
Arshad apne agency office mein ek client ke liye copy likh raha tha. Screen par teen headlines khuli thi aur chauthi likhne ka uska bilkul mann nahi tha.
Arshad: Bol, zindagi mein kya naya kaand kiya?
Reyansh: Kal nahi, aaj ka kaand hai. Dinner par ja raha hoon.
Arshad: Akela?
Reyansh: Nahi.
Do second ki khamoshi.
Arshad: Oho! Toh apne janab ab dinner bhi calendar mein block karne lage hain.
Reyansh: Bas dinner hai.
Arshad: Haan, aur main advertising copywriter nahi, shayar hoon.
Reyansh: Arshad, please.
Arshad: Achha bata, pehen kya raha hai?
Reyansh: Shirt aur trousers.
Arshad: Kamaal hai. Main itne saalon se tujhe jaanta hoon aur tu aaj bhi kapdon ke naam par government form bhar raha hai.
Reyansh hans pada.
Reyansh: Dark blue shirt, beige trousers. Happy?
Arshad: Bahut. Ab ek baat yaad rakh.
Reyansh: Kya?
Arshad: Uske saamne apni poori personality ek hi shaam mein mat khol dena. Thoda suspense bhi zaroori hota hai.
Reyansh: Teri personality mein suspense nahi, pending updates hain.
Arshad zor se hans pada.
Arshad: Ja, ja. Aur haan, agar ladki achhi lage toh usse bata dena. Har cheez ka trailer nahi chalate rehna chahiye.
Reyansh ki muskurahat halki pad gayi.
Reyansh: Haan. Soch raha hoon.
Arshad: Bas. Ab phone rakh aur jaakar ready ho. Client ka kaam mujhe karne de, romance ka kaam tu kar.
Call cut ho gaya.
Reyansh kuch pal phone dekhta raha.
Arshad ki baat seedhi thi.
Lekin kisi ko pasand karna aur uske saamne yeh maan lena ki woh tumhare liye khaas hai, dono alag baatein hoti hain.
Reyansh ko ab doosri baat karni thi.



Restaurant Bengaluru ke ek shaant hisse mein tha. Warm lights, badi khidkiyan aur background mein halki instrumental music.
Reyansh saat bajne se kuch minute pehle pahunch gaya.
Usne corner table choose ki, jahan se khidki ke bahar sadak ki lights dikh rahi thi.
Saat bajkar do minute par uska phone vibrate hua.
Jheel: Main aa gayi hoon. Entrance par hoon.
Reyansh uthkar entrance ki taraf gaya.
Jheel wahan khadi thi.
Aaj usne deep blue kurti ke saath ivory trousers pehne the. Baal aadhe pin kiye hue the aur baaki kandhon par khule the. Chhote silver earrings, aankhon mein kajal aur chehre par halki si nervous smile.
Reyansh kuch pal use dekhta raha.
Jheel: Kya hua?
Reyansh: Aapko ek baat bataun?
Jheel: Kya?
Reyansh: Aaj main apne outfit ko lekar bahut confident tha. Ab lag raha hai ki mujhe thodi aur mehnat karni chahiye thi.
Jheel ke gaal halki si laali se bhar gaye.
Jheel: Aap na, kabhi seedha bol diya kijiye.
Reyansh: Seedha bolunga toh aap sharma jaayengi.
Jheel: Main nahi sharmati.
Reyansh: Achha?
Jheel: Bilkul nahi.
Reyansh: Theek hai. Aap bahut khoobsurat lag rahi hain.
Jheel chup ho gayi.
Reyansh ki muskurahat gehri ho gayi.
Reyansh: Kya hua? Network chala gaya?
Jheel: Aap baithiye.
Woh aage badh gayi aur Reyansh uske peeche.
Dono table par baith gaye.
Shuruaat khaane aur rozmarra ki baaton se hui. Jheel ne apne assignment ke baare mein bataya. Reyansh ne office mein ek client presentation ke dauraan hui chhoti si funny situation sunayi.
Jheel hans rahi thi, lekin aaj woh pehle se zyada chup bhi thi.
Reyansh ne notice kiya.
Reyansh: Aaj kuch soch rahi hain?
Jheel: Haan.
Reyansh: Bata sakti hain.
Jheel ne glass se paani piya.
Jheel: Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha ki aapke saath cheezein itni aasaan kyun lagti hain.
Reyansh ne apna fork table par rakh diya.
Reyansh: Aasaan lagna buri baat hai?
Jheel: Nahi. Bas... main har kisi ke saath itni comfortable nahi hoti.
Reyansh: Mujhe pata hai.
Jheel: Aur jab aap mere saath hote hain na, toh mujhe baar-baar yeh sochna nahi padta ki mujhe kya kehna chahiye, kaise baithna chahiye, ya saamne wala mere baare mein kya sochega.
Woh thoda ruki.
Jheel: Main bas apne jaisi reh sakti hoon.
Reyansh use dekhta raha.
Reyansh: Toh phir mere saath apne jaisi hi rahiye.
Jheel: Itna simple hai?
Reyansh: Mere liye toh hai.
Jheel ne muskurakar nazrein jhuka li.
Khaana aa gaya, lekin ab table par ek alag hi khamoshi thi. Aisi khamoshi jismein dono ko pata tha ki kuch kehna baaki hai.
Aur dono mein se koi bhi use phir se mazaak mein badalna nahi chahta tha.


Dinner ke baad restaurant se bahar nikle toh hawa thandi thi. Baarish nahi ho rahi thi, lekin sadak par din ki nami ab bhi thi.
Reyansh ne car ki taraf jaane ke bajaye footpath par chalne ka ishara kiya.
Reyansh: Thoda walk karenge?
Jheel: Haan.
Dono saath chalne lage.
Kuch door tak baat nahi hui. Phir Jheel ne khud hi khamoshi tod di.
Jheel: Reyansh, aapne kabhi socha hai ki do logon ke beech relationship shuru kaise hota hai?
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: Bahut baar.
Jheel: Aur aapke hisaab se?
Reyansh: Mujhe lagta hai, jab do log ek-doosre ke saath rehna chahte hain aur dono ko pata hota hai ki woh sirf waqt nahi guzaar rahe, tab shayad relationship shuru hota hai.
Jheel ne dheere se sar hilaaya.
Jheel: Aur agar unmein se ek ko darr lagta ho?
Reyansh: Toh doosre ko uska darr samajhne ki koshish karni chahiye.
Jheel: Aur agar dono ko darr lagta ho?
Reyansh halki si hansi hansa.
Reyansh: Toh dono milkar thoda darr sakte hain.
Jheel hans padi, phir uski hansi dheere-dheere shaant ho gayi.
Jheel: Main aapse kuch kehna chahti hoon.
Reyansh ruk gaya.
Reyansh: Kahiye.
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha. Aaj woh nazrein chhupana nahi chahti thi.
Jheel: Mujhe aapka intezaar rehne laga hai.
Reyansh ka chehra shaant raha, lekin uski aankhon mein ek pal ke liye kuch badla.


Jheel ne baat jaari rakhi.
Jheel: Jab aapka message aata hai toh achha lagta hai. Jab aap saamne hote hain toh main chahti hoon ki baat jaldi khatam na ho. Aur jab hum alag hote hain toh main kabhi-kabhi sochti hoon ki agli baar kab milenge.
Usne halki si saans li.
Jheel: Mujhe nahi pata ki is sab ko kya naam dena chahiye. Lekin main yeh nahi keh sakti ki aap mere liye bas ek dost hain.
Reyansh kuch pal chup raha.
Jheel ki aankhon mein ab nervousness thi.
Jheel: Aap kuch bolenge?
Reyansh ne ek kadam uski taraf badhaya.
Reyansh: Main soch raha hoon ki aapne meri baat keh di.
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
Jheel: Matlab?
Reyansh: Matlab, main bhi aapke message ka intezaar karta hoon. Aapke saath waqt guzarta hai toh mujhe achha lagta hai. Aur jab koi plan nahi hota, toh kabhi-kabhi main khud hi sochne lagta hoon ki aapse milne ka koi bahana dhoondhun.
Jheel ki aankhon mein muskurahat aa gayi.
Reyansh: Aur ek baat.
Jheel: Kya?
Reyansh: Main aapko pasand karta hoon, Jheel.
Woh lafz aakhirkaar keh diye gaye.
Na kisi bade speech ke saath, na kisi dramatic andaaz mein.
Bas seedhe, saaf aur bina kisi bahane ke.
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
Jheel: Kitna?
Reyansh hans pada.
Reyansh: Abhi se measurement?
Jheel: Important sawaal hai.
Reyansh: Itna ki aapke saath agli baar milne ka plan banane ke liye mujhe kisi festival, market ya assignment ki zaroorat nahi hai.
Jheel ne muskurakar nazrein jhuka li.
Jheel: Mujhe bhi aap pasand hain.
Reyansh ne dheere se uska haath thaam liya.
Is baar Jheel ne uski taraf dekha aur apni ungliyan uski ungliyon mein phansa di.
Kuch pal dono bas wahin khade rahe.
Phir Jheel ne dheere se kaha.
Jheel: Toh ab kya?
Reyansh: Ab?
Usne ek pal socha.
Reyansh: Ab hum yeh decide kar sakte hain ki hum is rishte ko ek mauka dena chahte hain ya nahi.
Jheel ne uska haath thoda aur mazbooti se thaam liya.
Jheel: Main dena chahti hoon.
Reyansh ki muskurahat badh gayi.
Reyansh: Main bhi.


Car tak pahunchne se pehle Jheel ruk gayi.
Jheel: Reyansh?
Reyansh: Ji?
Jheel: Aaj mujhe ghar jaane ka mann thoda der se hai.
Reyansh ne use dekha.
Reyansh: Toh thodi der aur chal lete hain.
Dono footpath ke paas ek chhote se garden area ki taraf badh gaye. Wahan ek bench khaali thi. Woh baith gaye, unke kandhe ek-doosre ke kareeb the.
Jheel ne apne haath god mein rakh liye.
Reyansh uski taraf dekh raha tha.
Jheel: Kya?
Reyansh: Kuch nahi.
Jheel: Aaj aap bahut dekh rahe hain.
Reyansh: Aaj kuch naya hua hai.
Jheel: Kya?
Reyansh: Aaj mujhe pata chala hai ki aap mere liye kya mehsoos karti hain.
Jheel muskurayi.
Jheel: Aur ab?
Reyansh: Ab main yeh soch raha hoon ki aapko gale laga sakta hoon?
Jheel ki muskurahat ek pal ko thami. Usne uski aankhon mein dekha, phir dheere se sar hila diya.
Jheel: Haan.
Reyansh ne apna haath uske kandhe ke gird rakha aur use apni taraf kheench liya.
Jheel uske kareeb aa gayi.
Usne apna sar Reyansh ke kandhe par rakh diya. Reyansh ki baahon mein use ek ajeeb si rahat mehsoos hui. Na use kuch kehna tha, na kuch saabit karna tha.
Bas kuch pal aise hi rehna tha.
Reyansh ne dheere se poochha.
Reyansh: Comfortable?
Jheel: Bahut.
Kuch der baad Jheel ne apna sar uthaya.
Dono ki nazrein mili.
Unke chehre ab pehle se kaafi kareeb the.
Reyansh ne uski aankhon mein dekhte hue dheere se poochha.
Reyansh: Kya main aapko kiss kar sakta hoon?
Jheel ke gaal surkh ho gaye.
Usne nazrein nahi churayi.
Jheel: Haan.
Reyansh dheere se uske kareeb aaya.
Unke hoth ek narm, chhote se kiss mein mile.
Koi jaldi nahi thi. Reyansh ne use waqt diya aur Jheel ne bhi uske kareeb rehna chuna.
Jab woh alag hue, Jheel ki aankhon mein sharmili si muskurahat thi.
Reyansh ne uske chehre se ek lat ko dheere se kaan ke peeche kiya.
Reyansh: Ab aap kuch nahi kahengi?
Jheel ne halki si hansi ke saath uske kandhe par ek chhoti si thapki di.
Jheel: Aapko har moment mein commentary karni zaroori hai?
Reyansh: Nahi. Lekin aapko sharmate hue dekhna achha lagta hai.
Jheel: Main sharma nahi rahi.
Reyansh: Bilkul nahi.
Jheel ne apna chehra uske kandhe mein chhupa liya.
Reyansh hans pada aur use phir se apni baahon mein le liya.
Is baar dono ko pata tha ki unke beech ki nazdeeki sirf ek pal ki baat nahi thi.
Woh ek nayi shuruaat thi.


Raat thodi aur gehri ho chuki thi jab Reyansh ne Jheel ko uske flat ke saamne chhoda.
Flat 304 ke darwaze ke paas dono kuch pal khade rahe.
Jheel: Aaj ka din main yaad rakhungi.
Reyansh: Sirf aaj ka?
Jheel: Aage ke din achhe rahe toh woh bhi.
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: Toh phir koshish karte hain ki aage ke din achhe rahein.
Jheel ne muskurakar haan mein sar hilaaya.
Darwaza kholne se pehle woh uski taraf palti.
Jheel: Good night, Reyansh.
Reyansh: Good night, Jheel.
Woh andar chali gayi.
Kuch minute baad Reyansh ke phone par message aaya.
Jheel: Ek baat poochun?
Reyansh: Aaj bhi?
Jheel: Last question.
Reyansh: Poochiye.
Jheel: Toh ab hum relationship mein hain?
Reyansh screen dekhkar muskuraya. Usne is baar mazaak mein baat taalne ki koshish nahi ki.
Reyansh: Agar aap chahti hain, toh haan. Main aapke saath relationship mein rehna chahta hoon.
Jheel ne message padha.
Uske chehre par ek gehri, sukoon bhari muskurahat aa gayi.
Jheel: Main bhi chahti hoon.
Reyansh: Toh officially, Miss Jheel, you are my girlfriend.
Jheel hansi.
Jheel: Aur aap mere boyfriend.
Reyansh: Yeh title mujhe suit karta hai?
Jheel: Abhi trial period hai.
Reyansh: Wah! Corporate duniya se relationship mein bhi appraisal aa gaya.
Jheel: Performance achhi rakhiye.
Reyansh: Ji, madam.
Phone rakhne ke baad Jheel ne apni notebook kholi.
Kuch pal sochne ke baad usne likha:
“Aaj maine kisi ko apne kareeb aane diya. Aur pehli baar mujhe laga ki shayad kisi ke kareeb aana apne aap se door jaana nahi hota.”
Usne notebook band ki aur Professor teddy ko apne paas kheench liya.


Doosri taraf Reyansh apne flat ki balcony mein khada tha. Bengaluru ki lights door tak phaili hui thi.
Usne phone par Jheel ka naam dekha.
Ab woh sirf ek padosi nahi thi.
Na hi bas woh ladki jiske saath uska waqt achha guzarta tha.
Ab unke beech ek rishta tha, ek vaada tha ki woh ek-doosre ko jaanne ki koshish karenge, aur ek naya safar tha jiska agla mod abhi kisi ko nahi pata tha.
Reyansh ne phone lock kiya aur halki si muskurahat ke saath andar chala gaya.
Uski zindagi mein ek naya rishta shuru ho chuka tha.