02-11-2026, 11:32 PM
Update 43
Bengaluru ki subah apni raftaar pakad rahi thi.
Flat 303 mein alarm bajne se pehle hi Reyansh ki aankh khul gayi. Woh kuch der seedha chhat ko dekhta raha, phir side mein rakhe phone ko uthaya.
Screen par Jheel ka koi message nahi tha.
Reyansh ne waqt dekha.
7:18 AM.
Usne phone takiye par rakha, aankhein band ki aur dobara sone ki koshish ki.
Do second baad aankhein khol di.
Reyansh: "Kal raat khud keh rahi thi ki boyfriend ko kal ek important baat batayegi. Aur ab madam gayab."
Usne phone uthaya aur Jheel ki chat khol li.
Pichhli raat ka aakhri message ab bhi wahi tha.
Jheel: Kal bataungi ki tum 10/10 kyun nahi ho.
Reyansh ne message padhkar sar hilaya.
Reyansh: "Ek point ke liye insaan ki neend kharab karna koi inse seekhe."
Usne message type kiya.
Reyansh: Good morning, Miss Judge.
Message bhejkar woh bathroom ki taraf chala gaya.
Brush karte waqt phone ki notification sunai di.
Reyansh ne turant bathroom se jhaankkar phone dekha.
Jheel: Good morning, Mr. Nine Out Of Ten.
Reyansh ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Reyansh: Mujhe lagta hai tumne rating dene mein calculation mistake ki hai.
Jheel: Achha?
Reyansh: Obviously. Main minimum 9.8 deserve karta hoon.
Jheel: Kis baat ke?
Reyansh: Good looks, intelligence, humour, caring nature... list lambi hai.
Kuch seconds tak koi reply nahi aaya.
Phir Jheel ka message aaya.
Jheel: Aur modesty?
Reyansh ne brush karte-karte phone ki taraf dekha.
Reyansh: Woh premium feature hai. Subscription lena padta hai.
Jheel: Cancel kar do. Tumhare budget mein nahi hoga.
Reyansh zor se hans pada.
Reyansh: "Madam, ab toh personal ho rahi hain."
Usne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Theek hai. Aaj milo. Apni complaint register karwa dena.
Jheel: Aaj milna possible nahi hai.
Reyansh ki muskurahat halki si kam hui.
Reyansh: Kyun?
Jheel: Kaam hai. Aur waise bhi, har baat milkar hi thodi hoti hai.
Reyansh: Bilkul. Kuch baatein phone par bhi ho sakti hain.
Jheel: Jaise?
Reyansh: Jaise tum mujhe bata sakti ho ki main 10/10 kyun nahi hoon.
Jheel ne laughing emoji bhej diya.
Jheel: Office jao, Reyansh.
Reyansh: Tum mujhe avoid kar rahi ho.
Jheel: Main tumhe kaam par bhej rahi hoon.
Reyansh: Same thing.
Jheel: Bye!
Reyansh phone ko dekhta raha.
Phir muskurakar bola, "Yeh ladki ek din meri saari arguments jeet jayegi."
Usne phone pocket mein rakha aur taiyaar hone laga.
Usse kya pata tha ki aaj ki subah ka asli surprise abhi baaki tha.
Kuch der baad doorbell baji.
Reyansh ne darwaza khola.
Shalu saamne khadi thi, apna bag sambhalte hue.
Shalu: "Good morning, sir."
Reyansh: "Good morning, Shalu. Aaj jaldi aa gayi?"
Shalu: "Haan, sir. Aaj mujhe shaam ko thoda jaldi jaana hai."
Reyansh: "Koi problem?"
Shalu: "Nahi sir. Bas ek jagah jaana hai."
Reyansh ne raasta chhod diya.
Reyansh: "Theek hai. Aaj ka kaam time se nipta lena. Aur haan, nashta kar lena pehle."
Shalu: "Ji, sir."
Shalu kitchen ki taraf chali gayi.
Reyansh apni watch pehente hue bedroom se nikla, toh uski nazar dining table par padi.
Wahan uski diary khuli hui thi.
Kal raat Jheel ke saath board game khelte waqt usne kuch likhne ke liye diary nikali thi, lekin phir dono baaton mein lag gaye aur diary wahin reh gayi.
Shalu table saaf karne aayi toh uski nazar diary ke paas rakhe ek chhote se paper par padi.
Us par Reyansh ne kal raat mazaak mein likha tha:
BOYFRIEND PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Looks: 10/10
Humour: 10/10
Cooking: 6/10
Patience: Depends on the person
Overall: Under review
Neeche usne ek line aur likhi thi:
Final score pending.
Shalu use padhkar halki si muskura di.
Shalu: "Sir, aap apni bhi rating karte ho?"
Reyansh ne coffee ka cup uthaya.
Reyansh: "Haan. Har insaan ko apna performance review karna chahiye."
Shalu: "Phir cooking mein six kyun diye?"
Reyansh: "Kyunki mujhe cooking mein six se zyada milne ka koi haq nahi hai."
Shalu hans di.
Shalu: "Aap seekh lo toh ten bhi aa sakte hain."
Reyansh: "Main seekh sakta hoon. Lekin phir log mujhse khana banwane lagenge. Itni badi responsibility nahi chahiye."
Shalu ne diary aur paper ek taraf rakh diya.
Uski nazar paper par ek baar phir gayi.
Shalu: "Sir, aap log apne kaam ki bhi aise rating karte ho?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: "Kabhi-kabhi. Kyun?"
Shalu kuch sochne lagi.
Shalu: "Aise hi pooch rahi thi."
Reyansh ne uske chehre par aayi halki si jhijhak notice ki, lekin zyada sawaal nahi kiya.
Reyansh: "Achha, ek baat batao. Agar tumhe kisi cheez mein achha banna ho, toh tum kaise pata karogi ki tum achha kar rahi ho ya nahi?"
Shalu ne sochkar jawab diya.
Shalu: "Shayad kisi se poochungi. Ya dekhungi ki main pehle se behtar kar rahi hoon ya nahi."
Reyansh ne coffee ka sip liya.
Reyansh: "Bas. Wahi toh. Har cheez pehle din perfect nahi hoti."
Shalu ne sir hila diya.
Woh dobara kitchen mein chali gayi, lekin is baar uske chehre par ek chhoti si soch thi.
Kuch banne ka khayal abhi bhi uske liye dhundhla tha.
Magar pehli baar usne yeh socha tha ki shayad uska raasta bhi kisi din saaf ho sakta hai.
Office pahunchte hi Reyansh ne apna laptop khola.
Inbox mein kuch routine emails the. Ek client update, ek campaign review aur do meetings ke reminders.
Usne pehle zaroori emails niptaaye aur phir apni team ke saath chhoti si meeting ki.
Meeting ke baad Neha uske desk ke paas aayi.
Neha: "Aaj bade khush lag rahe ho."
Reyansh: "Main roz khush rehta hoon."
Neha: "Haan, aur main roz tumhari baat sach maan leti hoon."
Reyansh hans diya.
Reyansh: "Tumhe mujh par bharosa karna chahiye."
Neha: "Professional matters mein karti hoon."
Reyansh: "Personal matters mein?"
Neha: "Wahan tumhare against evidence collect kar rahi hoon."
Reyansh: "Kis baat ka?"
Neha: "Ki tumhare phone par message aate hi tumhari smile kyun badh jaati hai."
Reyansh ne laptop ki screen ki taraf dekhne ka natak kiya.
Reyansh: "Tumhe apne kaam par focus karna chahiye."
Neha: "Aur tumhe apni smile par control."
Reyansh: "Meri smile se company ko koi nuksaan nahi ho raha."
Neha: "Abhi tak."
Neha apni file uthakar chali gayi.
Reyansh ne sir hilaya.
Reyansh: "Office mein bhi privacy naam ki koi cheez nahi hai."
Usi waqt phone vibrate hua.
Jheel ka message tha.
Jheel: Lunch kiya?
Reyansh ne turant reply kiya.
Reyansh: Abhi nahi.
Jheel: Kyun?
Reyansh: Tumhari rating ke baare mein soch raha tha.
Jheel: Mere paas tumhare liye ek suggestion hai.
Reyansh: Finally! Bolo.
Jheel: Lunch time par lunch karna seekho.
Reyansh ne message padhkar aankhein band kar li.
Reyansh: "Yeh girlfriend hai ya meri college principal?"
Usne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Tumhe pata hai na, main tumse bada hoon?
Jheel: Haan. Isliye toh samjha rahi hoon.
Reyansh hans pada.
Is baar Neha ne door se hi use dekh liya.
Neha: "Evidence number two!"
Reyansh: "Neha!"
Neha: "Main kuch nahi boli."
Woh apni desk par laut gayi.
Reyansh ne phone pocket mein rakha aur lunch order kar diya.
Kisi aur ke kehne par apni aadat badalna uski fitrat nahi thi.
Lekin Jheel ke kehne par woh kam se kam ek baar soch toh leta tha.
Aur shayad uske liye filhaal itna hi kaafi tha.
Dopehar ke baad Arshad apne ghar ke chhote se work corner mein baitha laptop ki screen ghoor raha tha.
Uske saamne ek advertising campaign ka proposal khula tha.
Client ko agle din tak initial concept chahiye tha.
Arshad ne ek line type ki.
Phir delete kar di.
Doosri line likhi.
Woh bhi delete.
Usne chair par peeth tika di.
Arshad: "Creative industry mein creativity se zyada creativity ki deadline hoti hai."
Phone vibrate hua.
Sakshi ka message tha.
Sakshi: Proposal kaisa chal raha hai?
Arshad ne reply kiya.
Arshad: Excellent. Client ko abhi tak pata nahi ki main genius hoon.
Sakshi: Client ko kab pata chalega?
Arshad: Jab main proposal bhej dunga.
Sakshi: Aur proposal kab bhejoge?
Arshad screen ko dekhta raha.
Arshad: Tum relationship mein ho ya project management mein?
Sakshi: Dono mein deadlines hoti hain.
Arshad ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Usne laptop ki taraf dekha aur phir phone par message type kiya.
Arshad: Aaj shaam free ho?
Sakshi: Kyun?
Arshad: Tumhe yaad hai na, humne walk ka plan banaya tha?
Sakshi: Yaad hai. Tumhe bhi yaad aa gaya?
Arshad: Main bhoolta nahi. Bas kabhi-kabhi meri priorities laptop ke peeche chhup jaati hain.
Sakshi ka reply aane mein thoda waqt laga.
Sakshi: Theek hai. Kaam khatam karke bata dena.
Arshad ne message padha.
Usne kuch aur likhne ke liye keyboard par haath rakha, phir ruk gaya.
Woh jaanta tha ki Sakshi uske kaam ko samajhti hai.
Lekin samajhne aur hamesha intezaar karne mein farq hota hai.
Usne laptop ki screen dobara apni taraf kheench li.
Is baar usne line delete nahi ki.
Usne likhna shuru kar diya.
Shaam ke kareeb saat baje Reyansh ghar laut aaya.
Din zyada thaka dene wala nahi tha, lekin office se nikalte waqt uske dimaag mein ab bhi Jheel ki rating ghoom rahi thi.
Usne shoes utaare, paani piya aur sofa par baith gaya.
Phone uthaya.
Reyansh: Madam, aaj ka din khatam hone wala hai.
Jheel: Toh?
Reyansh: Mere 10/10 hone ka faisla kab hoga?
Jheel: Tumhe sach mein itni fikr hai?
Reyansh kuch pal screen dekhta raha.
Phir usne jawab diya.
Reyansh: Sach bolun? Haan.
Jheel ne message padh liya.
Is baar usne turant koi mazaak nahi kiya.
Kuch seconds baad uska reply aaya.
Jheel: Achha. Toh ek sawaal ka sach-sach jawab dena.
Reyansh: Poochho.
Jheel: Jab main tumse koi baat share karti hoon, toh tum chahte ho ki tum uska solution do ya bas meri baat suno?
Reyansh ne message dobara padha.
Sawaal ajeeb nahi tha.
Lekin uska jawab dene se pehle use sochna pada.
Reyansh: Depends. Agar tumhe solution chahiye toh main help karunga. Agar bas baat karni hai toh sununga.
Jheel: Aur tumhe kaise pata chalega ki mujhe kya chahiye?
Reyansh ne phone haath mein ghumaya.
Reyansh: Pooch lunga.
Jheel ka reply aaya.
Jheel: Good answer.
Reyansh ne muskurakar likha.
Reyansh: Toh ab 10/10?
Jheel: Nahi.
Reyansh ne sar peeche tika diya.
Reyansh: "Maine aakhir kiya kya hai?"
Jheel: Tum kabhi-kabhi baat ko mazaak mein uda dete ho.
Reyansh ki muskurahat dheemi pad gayi.
Usne message ko dhyan se padha.
Reyansh: Kab?
Jheel: Jab tumhe samajh nahi aata ki saamne wala kya kehna chahta hai. Ya jab tumhe lagta hai ki baat serious ho jayegi.
Reyansh ne turant jawab nahi diya.
Use apne andar kisi baat ka inkaar karne ki aadat thi. Khaaskar tab, jab koi uski kisi kamzori ko uske saamne rakh deta.
Lekin Jheel us par ilzaam nahi laga rahi thi.
Woh bas use bata rahi thi ki usne kya mehsoos kiya.
Reyansh ne dheere se type kiya.
Reyansh: Ho sakta hai. Main kabhi-kabhi uncomfortable ho jaata hoon toh joke kar deta hoon.
Jheel ne jawab diya.
Jheel: Mujhe pata hai.
Reyansh: Tumhe mere baare mein bahut kuch pata chal raha hai.
Jheel: Abhi toh shuruaat hai.
Reyansh ke chehre par phir muskurahat aa gayi.
Reyansh: Aur mere 10/10 hone ki shuruaat kab hogi?
Jheel: Jab tum apni rating khud dena band kar doge.
Reyansh: Impossible. Main apna favourite person hoon.
Jheel: Mujhe pata hai.
Reyansh: Tum jealous ho?
Jheel: Bilkul nahi. Tumhare favourite person ko meri taraf se sympathy.
Reyansh hans pada.
Lekin is baar us hansi ke beech ek baat uske dimaag mein reh gayi.
Kabhi-kabhi mazaak karne se pehle sunna bhi zaroori hota hai.
Yeh koi badi seekh nahi thi.
Na hi koi dramatic realization.
Bas ek chhoti si baat thi, jo usne Jheel se seekhi thi.
Aur Reyansh ko dheere-dheere samajh aa raha tha ki kisi ke saath rehna sirf uske saath achha waqt guzaarna nahi hota.
Kabhi-kabhi us waqt ko samajhna bhi hota hai, jab saamne wala hans nahi raha hota.
Raat ke kareeb aath baje doorbell baji.
Reyansh ne darwaza khola.
Jheel saamne khadi thi.
Haath mein ek chhota sa paper bag tha aur chehre par wohi shaant si muskurahat.
Reyansh: "Madam! Aapne toh kaha tha aaj milna possible nahi hai."
Jheel: "Maine kaha tha aaj milna possible nahi hai. Yeh nahi kaha tha ki bilkul nahi ho sakta."
Reyansh: "Matlab tumne jaan-bujhkar mujhe tadpaya?"
Jheel ne aankhein ghumayi.
Jheel: "Tum har baat ka galat matlab kyun nikaalte ho?"
Reyansh: "Talent hai."
Jheel hans di aur andar aa gayi.
Usne paper bag table par rakha.
Reyansh: "Yeh kya hai?"
Jheel: "Tumhare liye."
Reyansh ne bag khola.
Andar ek chhota sa chocolate box tha.
Usne Jheel ki taraf dekha.
Reyansh: "Mujhe chocolate dekar meri rating badhwana chahti ho?"
Jheel: "Nahi. Tumhari rating badhane ke liye chocolate kaafi nahi hai."
Reyansh: "Tumhari baatein kabhi-kabhi bahut hurt karti hain."
Jheel: "Tum survive kar loge."
Dono hans pade.
Reyansh ne chocolate box table par rakha aur Jheel ke paas aa gaya.
Reyansh: "Waise, aaj jo tumne kaha... uske baare mein socha."
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
Jheel: "Kis baare mein?"
Reyansh: "Ki main kabhi-kabhi serious baat ko mazaak mein uda deta hoon."
Jheel ka chehra naram pad gaya.
Reyansh: "Main promise nahi karunga ki ab kabhi aisa nahi hoga. Kyunki ho sakta hai main phir kar doon. Lekin agar tum mujhe bataogi, toh main koshish karunga ki tumhari baat ko samjhun."
Jheel kuch pal use dekhti rahi.
Uske chehre par ek aisi muskurahat aayi, jo kisi joke ka jawab nahi thi.
Jheel: "Bas, mujhe itna hi chahiye."
Reyansh ne apna haath uski taraf badhaya.
Jheel ne uska haath pakad liya.
Phir Reyansh ne use apni taraf kheenchkar ek pyaar bhara hug diya.
Jheel uske seene se lag gayi.
Kuch pal dono chup rahe.
Koi romantic dialogue nahi.
Koi badi kasam nahi.
Bas ek aisa pal, jahan dono ko kuch saabit karne ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Thodi der baad Jheel ne usse alag hote hue kaha:
Jheel: "Achha, ek baat bataun?"
Reyansh: "Agar rating ke baare mein hai toh main mentally prepare hoon."
Jheel: "Tum 9/10 isliye ho kyunki tumhare saath mujhe achha lagta hai."
Reyansh ki muskurahat halki si gehri ho gayi.
Jheel: "Aur ek point isliye kam hai kyunki tum abhi seekh rahe ho."
Reyansh: "Kya?"
Jheel: "Kisi ke saath hona aur kisi ko samajhna. Dono alag cheezein hain."
Reyansh ne kuch pal uski aankhon mein dekha.
Reyansh: "Toh jab seekh jaunga, 10/10?"
Jheel ne sochne ka natak kiya.
Jheel: "Dekhenge."
Reyansh: "Yeh relationship hai ya government exam?"
Jheel: "Dono mein patience chahiye."
Reyansh hans pada.
Reyansh: "Tum mujhe barbaad kar dogi."
Jheel: "Nahi. Bas thoda better bana dungi."
Jheel ki baat sunkar Reyansh kuch pal chup raha.
Phir usne uske maathe par ek halka sa kiss kiya.
Jheel sharma kar muskurayi.
Jheel: "Ab zyada khush mat ho. Rating abhi bhi 9 hi hai."
Reyansh: "Koi baat nahi. Agle review mein appeal karunga."
Jheel: "Rejected."
Reyansh: "Tumne suna bhi nahi!"
Jheel: "Mujhe apne decision par bharosa hai."
Dono ki hansi flat ke shaant kamre mein goonj gayi.
Aur Reyansh ne mehsoos kiya ki use Jheel ke saath har pal ko special banane ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Kabhi-kabhi ek chhota sa chocolate box, thodi si nok-jhok aur ek sachchi baat bhi kaafi hoti hai.
Kuch der baad Jheel apne flat mein laut gayi.
Reyansh ne darwaza band kiya, chocolate box khola aur ek piece nikaal liya.
Phir usne phone uthaya.
Reyansh: Ek baat poochun?
Jheel: Poochho.
Reyansh: Tumne mujhe 9/10 diya. Lekin tum khud apne aap ko kitni rating dogi?
Jheel ne message padhkar muskuraya.
Jheel: Main apni rating nahi deti.
Reyansh: Kyun?
Jheel: Kyunki main abhi khud ko samajh rahi hoon.
Reyansh ne message ko kuch der dekha.
Phir likha:
Reyansh: Fair enough.
Jheel ka aakhri message aaya.
Jheel: Good night, Mr. Nine Out Of Ten.
Reyansh: Good night, Miss Under Review.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakha.
Uske din mein aaj kuch extraordinary nahi hua tha.
Na koi grand date.
Na koi expensive surprise.
Na koi aisa pal, jise woh duniya ko dikhana chahta.
Lekin ek chhoti si baat uske andar reh gayi thi.
Kisi ko pasand karna aasaan ho sakta hai. Lekin uske saath khud ko behtar banana, shayad wahi asli kaam hai.
Usne light band ki aur aankhein moond li.
Us raat uske chehre par ek sukoon bhari muskurahat thi.
Aur filhaal, Reyansh ko kisi perfect score ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Use bas yeh achha lag raha tha ki uski zindagi mein koi aisa tha, jiske saamne woh dheere-dheere apna asli roop rakh sakta tha.
Bengaluru ki subah apni raftaar pakad rahi thi.
Flat 303 mein alarm bajne se pehle hi Reyansh ki aankh khul gayi. Woh kuch der seedha chhat ko dekhta raha, phir side mein rakhe phone ko uthaya.
Screen par Jheel ka koi message nahi tha.
Reyansh ne waqt dekha.
7:18 AM.
Usne phone takiye par rakha, aankhein band ki aur dobara sone ki koshish ki.
Do second baad aankhein khol di.
Reyansh: "Kal raat khud keh rahi thi ki boyfriend ko kal ek important baat batayegi. Aur ab madam gayab."
Usne phone uthaya aur Jheel ki chat khol li.
Pichhli raat ka aakhri message ab bhi wahi tha.
Jheel: Kal bataungi ki tum 10/10 kyun nahi ho.
Reyansh ne message padhkar sar hilaya.
Reyansh: "Ek point ke liye insaan ki neend kharab karna koi inse seekhe."
Usne message type kiya.
Reyansh: Good morning, Miss Judge.
Message bhejkar woh bathroom ki taraf chala gaya.
Brush karte waqt phone ki notification sunai di.
Reyansh ne turant bathroom se jhaankkar phone dekha.
Jheel: Good morning, Mr. Nine Out Of Ten.
Reyansh ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Reyansh: Mujhe lagta hai tumne rating dene mein calculation mistake ki hai.
Jheel: Achha?
Reyansh: Obviously. Main minimum 9.8 deserve karta hoon.
Jheel: Kis baat ke?
Reyansh: Good looks, intelligence, humour, caring nature... list lambi hai.
Kuch seconds tak koi reply nahi aaya.
Phir Jheel ka message aaya.
Jheel: Aur modesty?
Reyansh ne brush karte-karte phone ki taraf dekha.
Reyansh: Woh premium feature hai. Subscription lena padta hai.
Jheel: Cancel kar do. Tumhare budget mein nahi hoga.
Reyansh zor se hans pada.
Reyansh: "Madam, ab toh personal ho rahi hain."
Usne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Theek hai. Aaj milo. Apni complaint register karwa dena.
Jheel: Aaj milna possible nahi hai.
Reyansh ki muskurahat halki si kam hui.
Reyansh: Kyun?
Jheel: Kaam hai. Aur waise bhi, har baat milkar hi thodi hoti hai.
Reyansh: Bilkul. Kuch baatein phone par bhi ho sakti hain.
Jheel: Jaise?
Reyansh: Jaise tum mujhe bata sakti ho ki main 10/10 kyun nahi hoon.
Jheel ne laughing emoji bhej diya.
Jheel: Office jao, Reyansh.
Reyansh: Tum mujhe avoid kar rahi ho.
Jheel: Main tumhe kaam par bhej rahi hoon.
Reyansh: Same thing.
Jheel: Bye!
Reyansh phone ko dekhta raha.
Phir muskurakar bola, "Yeh ladki ek din meri saari arguments jeet jayegi."
Usne phone pocket mein rakha aur taiyaar hone laga.
Usse kya pata tha ki aaj ki subah ka asli surprise abhi baaki tha.
Kuch der baad doorbell baji.
Reyansh ne darwaza khola.
Shalu saamne khadi thi, apna bag sambhalte hue.
Shalu: "Good morning, sir."
Reyansh: "Good morning, Shalu. Aaj jaldi aa gayi?"
Shalu: "Haan, sir. Aaj mujhe shaam ko thoda jaldi jaana hai."
Reyansh: "Koi problem?"
Shalu: "Nahi sir. Bas ek jagah jaana hai."
Reyansh ne raasta chhod diya.
Reyansh: "Theek hai. Aaj ka kaam time se nipta lena. Aur haan, nashta kar lena pehle."
Shalu: "Ji, sir."
Shalu kitchen ki taraf chali gayi.
Reyansh apni watch pehente hue bedroom se nikla, toh uski nazar dining table par padi.
Wahan uski diary khuli hui thi.
Kal raat Jheel ke saath board game khelte waqt usne kuch likhne ke liye diary nikali thi, lekin phir dono baaton mein lag gaye aur diary wahin reh gayi.
Shalu table saaf karne aayi toh uski nazar diary ke paas rakhe ek chhote se paper par padi.
Us par Reyansh ne kal raat mazaak mein likha tha:
BOYFRIEND PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Looks: 10/10
Humour: 10/10
Cooking: 6/10
Patience: Depends on the person
Overall: Under review
Neeche usne ek line aur likhi thi:
Final score pending.
Shalu use padhkar halki si muskura di.
Shalu: "Sir, aap apni bhi rating karte ho?"
Reyansh ne coffee ka cup uthaya.
Reyansh: "Haan. Har insaan ko apna performance review karna chahiye."
Shalu: "Phir cooking mein six kyun diye?"
Reyansh: "Kyunki mujhe cooking mein six se zyada milne ka koi haq nahi hai."
Shalu hans di.
Shalu: "Aap seekh lo toh ten bhi aa sakte hain."
Reyansh: "Main seekh sakta hoon. Lekin phir log mujhse khana banwane lagenge. Itni badi responsibility nahi chahiye."
Shalu ne diary aur paper ek taraf rakh diya.
Uski nazar paper par ek baar phir gayi.
Shalu: "Sir, aap log apne kaam ki bhi aise rating karte ho?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: "Kabhi-kabhi. Kyun?"
Shalu kuch sochne lagi.
Shalu: "Aise hi pooch rahi thi."
Reyansh ne uske chehre par aayi halki si jhijhak notice ki, lekin zyada sawaal nahi kiya.
Reyansh: "Achha, ek baat batao. Agar tumhe kisi cheez mein achha banna ho, toh tum kaise pata karogi ki tum achha kar rahi ho ya nahi?"
Shalu ne sochkar jawab diya.
Shalu: "Shayad kisi se poochungi. Ya dekhungi ki main pehle se behtar kar rahi hoon ya nahi."
Reyansh ne coffee ka sip liya.
Reyansh: "Bas. Wahi toh. Har cheez pehle din perfect nahi hoti."
Shalu ne sir hila diya.
Woh dobara kitchen mein chali gayi, lekin is baar uske chehre par ek chhoti si soch thi.
Kuch banne ka khayal abhi bhi uske liye dhundhla tha.
Magar pehli baar usne yeh socha tha ki shayad uska raasta bhi kisi din saaf ho sakta hai.
Office pahunchte hi Reyansh ne apna laptop khola.
Inbox mein kuch routine emails the. Ek client update, ek campaign review aur do meetings ke reminders.
Usne pehle zaroori emails niptaaye aur phir apni team ke saath chhoti si meeting ki.
Meeting ke baad Neha uske desk ke paas aayi.
Neha: "Aaj bade khush lag rahe ho."
Reyansh: "Main roz khush rehta hoon."
Neha: "Haan, aur main roz tumhari baat sach maan leti hoon."
Reyansh hans diya.
Reyansh: "Tumhe mujh par bharosa karna chahiye."
Neha: "Professional matters mein karti hoon."
Reyansh: "Personal matters mein?"
Neha: "Wahan tumhare against evidence collect kar rahi hoon."
Reyansh: "Kis baat ka?"
Neha: "Ki tumhare phone par message aate hi tumhari smile kyun badh jaati hai."
Reyansh ne laptop ki screen ki taraf dekhne ka natak kiya.
Reyansh: "Tumhe apne kaam par focus karna chahiye."
Neha: "Aur tumhe apni smile par control."
Reyansh: "Meri smile se company ko koi nuksaan nahi ho raha."
Neha: "Abhi tak."
Neha apni file uthakar chali gayi.
Reyansh ne sir hilaya.
Reyansh: "Office mein bhi privacy naam ki koi cheez nahi hai."
Usi waqt phone vibrate hua.
Jheel ka message tha.
Jheel: Lunch kiya?
Reyansh ne turant reply kiya.
Reyansh: Abhi nahi.
Jheel: Kyun?
Reyansh: Tumhari rating ke baare mein soch raha tha.
Jheel: Mere paas tumhare liye ek suggestion hai.
Reyansh: Finally! Bolo.
Jheel: Lunch time par lunch karna seekho.
Reyansh ne message padhkar aankhein band kar li.
Reyansh: "Yeh girlfriend hai ya meri college principal?"
Usne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Tumhe pata hai na, main tumse bada hoon?
Jheel: Haan. Isliye toh samjha rahi hoon.
Reyansh hans pada.
Is baar Neha ne door se hi use dekh liya.
Neha: "Evidence number two!"
Reyansh: "Neha!"
Neha: "Main kuch nahi boli."
Woh apni desk par laut gayi.
Reyansh ne phone pocket mein rakha aur lunch order kar diya.
Kisi aur ke kehne par apni aadat badalna uski fitrat nahi thi.
Lekin Jheel ke kehne par woh kam se kam ek baar soch toh leta tha.
Aur shayad uske liye filhaal itna hi kaafi tha.
Dopehar ke baad Arshad apne ghar ke chhote se work corner mein baitha laptop ki screen ghoor raha tha.
Uske saamne ek advertising campaign ka proposal khula tha.
Client ko agle din tak initial concept chahiye tha.
Arshad ne ek line type ki.
Phir delete kar di.
Doosri line likhi.
Woh bhi delete.
Usne chair par peeth tika di.
Arshad: "Creative industry mein creativity se zyada creativity ki deadline hoti hai."
Phone vibrate hua.
Sakshi ka message tha.
Sakshi: Proposal kaisa chal raha hai?
Arshad ne reply kiya.
Arshad: Excellent. Client ko abhi tak pata nahi ki main genius hoon.
Sakshi: Client ko kab pata chalega?
Arshad: Jab main proposal bhej dunga.
Sakshi: Aur proposal kab bhejoge?
Arshad screen ko dekhta raha.
Arshad: Tum relationship mein ho ya project management mein?
Sakshi: Dono mein deadlines hoti hain.
Arshad ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Usne laptop ki taraf dekha aur phir phone par message type kiya.
Arshad: Aaj shaam free ho?
Sakshi: Kyun?
Arshad: Tumhe yaad hai na, humne walk ka plan banaya tha?
Sakshi: Yaad hai. Tumhe bhi yaad aa gaya?
Arshad: Main bhoolta nahi. Bas kabhi-kabhi meri priorities laptop ke peeche chhup jaati hain.
Sakshi ka reply aane mein thoda waqt laga.
Sakshi: Theek hai. Kaam khatam karke bata dena.
Arshad ne message padha.
Usne kuch aur likhne ke liye keyboard par haath rakha, phir ruk gaya.
Woh jaanta tha ki Sakshi uske kaam ko samajhti hai.
Lekin samajhne aur hamesha intezaar karne mein farq hota hai.
Usne laptop ki screen dobara apni taraf kheench li.
Is baar usne line delete nahi ki.
Usne likhna shuru kar diya.
Shaam ke kareeb saat baje Reyansh ghar laut aaya.
Din zyada thaka dene wala nahi tha, lekin office se nikalte waqt uske dimaag mein ab bhi Jheel ki rating ghoom rahi thi.
Usne shoes utaare, paani piya aur sofa par baith gaya.
Phone uthaya.
Reyansh: Madam, aaj ka din khatam hone wala hai.
Jheel: Toh?
Reyansh: Mere 10/10 hone ka faisla kab hoga?
Jheel: Tumhe sach mein itni fikr hai?
Reyansh kuch pal screen dekhta raha.
Phir usne jawab diya.
Reyansh: Sach bolun? Haan.
Jheel ne message padh liya.
Is baar usne turant koi mazaak nahi kiya.
Kuch seconds baad uska reply aaya.
Jheel: Achha. Toh ek sawaal ka sach-sach jawab dena.
Reyansh: Poochho.
Jheel: Jab main tumse koi baat share karti hoon, toh tum chahte ho ki tum uska solution do ya bas meri baat suno?
Reyansh ne message dobara padha.
Sawaal ajeeb nahi tha.
Lekin uska jawab dene se pehle use sochna pada.
Reyansh: Depends. Agar tumhe solution chahiye toh main help karunga. Agar bas baat karni hai toh sununga.
Jheel: Aur tumhe kaise pata chalega ki mujhe kya chahiye?
Reyansh ne phone haath mein ghumaya.
Reyansh: Pooch lunga.
Jheel ka reply aaya.
Jheel: Good answer.
Reyansh ne muskurakar likha.
Reyansh: Toh ab 10/10?
Jheel: Nahi.
Reyansh ne sar peeche tika diya.
Reyansh: "Maine aakhir kiya kya hai?"
Jheel: Tum kabhi-kabhi baat ko mazaak mein uda dete ho.
Reyansh ki muskurahat dheemi pad gayi.
Usne message ko dhyan se padha.
Reyansh: Kab?
Jheel: Jab tumhe samajh nahi aata ki saamne wala kya kehna chahta hai. Ya jab tumhe lagta hai ki baat serious ho jayegi.
Reyansh ne turant jawab nahi diya.
Use apne andar kisi baat ka inkaar karne ki aadat thi. Khaaskar tab, jab koi uski kisi kamzori ko uske saamne rakh deta.
Lekin Jheel us par ilzaam nahi laga rahi thi.
Woh bas use bata rahi thi ki usne kya mehsoos kiya.
Reyansh ne dheere se type kiya.
Reyansh: Ho sakta hai. Main kabhi-kabhi uncomfortable ho jaata hoon toh joke kar deta hoon.
Jheel ne jawab diya.
Jheel: Mujhe pata hai.
Reyansh: Tumhe mere baare mein bahut kuch pata chal raha hai.
Jheel: Abhi toh shuruaat hai.
Reyansh ke chehre par phir muskurahat aa gayi.
Reyansh: Aur mere 10/10 hone ki shuruaat kab hogi?
Jheel: Jab tum apni rating khud dena band kar doge.
Reyansh: Impossible. Main apna favourite person hoon.
Jheel: Mujhe pata hai.
Reyansh: Tum jealous ho?
Jheel: Bilkul nahi. Tumhare favourite person ko meri taraf se sympathy.
Reyansh hans pada.
Lekin is baar us hansi ke beech ek baat uske dimaag mein reh gayi.
Kabhi-kabhi mazaak karne se pehle sunna bhi zaroori hota hai.
Yeh koi badi seekh nahi thi.
Na hi koi dramatic realization.
Bas ek chhoti si baat thi, jo usne Jheel se seekhi thi.
Aur Reyansh ko dheere-dheere samajh aa raha tha ki kisi ke saath rehna sirf uske saath achha waqt guzaarna nahi hota.
Kabhi-kabhi us waqt ko samajhna bhi hota hai, jab saamne wala hans nahi raha hota.
Raat ke kareeb aath baje doorbell baji.
Reyansh ne darwaza khola.
Jheel saamne khadi thi.
Haath mein ek chhota sa paper bag tha aur chehre par wohi shaant si muskurahat.
Reyansh: "Madam! Aapne toh kaha tha aaj milna possible nahi hai."
Jheel: "Maine kaha tha aaj milna possible nahi hai. Yeh nahi kaha tha ki bilkul nahi ho sakta."
Reyansh: "Matlab tumne jaan-bujhkar mujhe tadpaya?"
Jheel ne aankhein ghumayi.
Jheel: "Tum har baat ka galat matlab kyun nikaalte ho?"
Reyansh: "Talent hai."
Jheel hans di aur andar aa gayi.
Usne paper bag table par rakha.
Reyansh: "Yeh kya hai?"
Jheel: "Tumhare liye."
Reyansh ne bag khola.
Andar ek chhota sa chocolate box tha.
Usne Jheel ki taraf dekha.
Reyansh: "Mujhe chocolate dekar meri rating badhwana chahti ho?"
Jheel: "Nahi. Tumhari rating badhane ke liye chocolate kaafi nahi hai."
Reyansh: "Tumhari baatein kabhi-kabhi bahut hurt karti hain."
Jheel: "Tum survive kar loge."
Dono hans pade.
Reyansh ne chocolate box table par rakha aur Jheel ke paas aa gaya.
Reyansh: "Waise, aaj jo tumne kaha... uske baare mein socha."
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
Jheel: "Kis baare mein?"
Reyansh: "Ki main kabhi-kabhi serious baat ko mazaak mein uda deta hoon."
Jheel ka chehra naram pad gaya.
Reyansh: "Main promise nahi karunga ki ab kabhi aisa nahi hoga. Kyunki ho sakta hai main phir kar doon. Lekin agar tum mujhe bataogi, toh main koshish karunga ki tumhari baat ko samjhun."
Jheel kuch pal use dekhti rahi.
Uske chehre par ek aisi muskurahat aayi, jo kisi joke ka jawab nahi thi.
Jheel: "Bas, mujhe itna hi chahiye."
Reyansh ne apna haath uski taraf badhaya.
Jheel ne uska haath pakad liya.
Phir Reyansh ne use apni taraf kheenchkar ek pyaar bhara hug diya.
Jheel uske seene se lag gayi.
Kuch pal dono chup rahe.
Koi romantic dialogue nahi.
Koi badi kasam nahi.
Bas ek aisa pal, jahan dono ko kuch saabit karne ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Thodi der baad Jheel ne usse alag hote hue kaha:
Jheel: "Achha, ek baat bataun?"
Reyansh: "Agar rating ke baare mein hai toh main mentally prepare hoon."
Jheel: "Tum 9/10 isliye ho kyunki tumhare saath mujhe achha lagta hai."
Reyansh ki muskurahat halki si gehri ho gayi.
Jheel: "Aur ek point isliye kam hai kyunki tum abhi seekh rahe ho."
Reyansh: "Kya?"
Jheel: "Kisi ke saath hona aur kisi ko samajhna. Dono alag cheezein hain."
Reyansh ne kuch pal uski aankhon mein dekha.
Reyansh: "Toh jab seekh jaunga, 10/10?"
Jheel ne sochne ka natak kiya.
Jheel: "Dekhenge."
Reyansh: "Yeh relationship hai ya government exam?"
Jheel: "Dono mein patience chahiye."
Reyansh hans pada.
Reyansh: "Tum mujhe barbaad kar dogi."
Jheel: "Nahi. Bas thoda better bana dungi."
Jheel ki baat sunkar Reyansh kuch pal chup raha.
Phir usne uske maathe par ek halka sa kiss kiya.
Jheel sharma kar muskurayi.
Jheel: "Ab zyada khush mat ho. Rating abhi bhi 9 hi hai."
Reyansh: "Koi baat nahi. Agle review mein appeal karunga."
Jheel: "Rejected."
Reyansh: "Tumne suna bhi nahi!"
Jheel: "Mujhe apne decision par bharosa hai."
Dono ki hansi flat ke shaant kamre mein goonj gayi.
Aur Reyansh ne mehsoos kiya ki use Jheel ke saath har pal ko special banane ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Kabhi-kabhi ek chhota sa chocolate box, thodi si nok-jhok aur ek sachchi baat bhi kaafi hoti hai.
Kuch der baad Jheel apne flat mein laut gayi.
Reyansh ne darwaza band kiya, chocolate box khola aur ek piece nikaal liya.
Phir usne phone uthaya.
Reyansh: Ek baat poochun?
Jheel: Poochho.
Reyansh: Tumne mujhe 9/10 diya. Lekin tum khud apne aap ko kitni rating dogi?
Jheel ne message padhkar muskuraya.
Jheel: Main apni rating nahi deti.
Reyansh: Kyun?
Jheel: Kyunki main abhi khud ko samajh rahi hoon.
Reyansh ne message ko kuch der dekha.
Phir likha:
Reyansh: Fair enough.
Jheel ka aakhri message aaya.
Jheel: Good night, Mr. Nine Out Of Ten.
Reyansh: Good night, Miss Under Review.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakha.
Uske din mein aaj kuch extraordinary nahi hua tha.
Na koi grand date.
Na koi expensive surprise.
Na koi aisa pal, jise woh duniya ko dikhana chahta.
Lekin ek chhoti si baat uske andar reh gayi thi.
Kisi ko pasand karna aasaan ho sakta hai. Lekin uske saath khud ko behtar banana, shayad wahi asli kaam hai.
Usne light band ki aur aankhein moond li.
Us raat uske chehre par ek sukoon bhari muskurahat thi.
Aur filhaal, Reyansh ko kisi perfect score ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Use bas yeh achha lag raha tha ki uski zindagi mein koi aisa tha, jiske saamne woh dheere-dheere apna asli roop rakh sakta tha.