[Greenwood]

Update 44


Sunday ki subah thi.
Bengaluru ki sadkon par traffic roz ke muqable kam tha. Kahin log morning walk par nikle the, kahin chai ki dukaanon par din ki pehli charcha shuru ho chuki thi.
Flat 303 mein Reyansh apne bistar par aaram se pada tha.
Uska phone vibrate hua.
Ek baar.
Do baar.
Teesri baar vibration hui toh usne takiye ke neeche haath daalkar phone nikaala.
Shivani Calling...
Reyansh ne screen dekhi aur phone wapas rakh diya.
Do second baad phir phone baja.
Reyansh: "Sunday ko insaan ko jeene bhi nahi dete."
Usne call receive ki.
Reyansh: "Good morning, Didi."
Shivani: "Good morning? Janab, tumhari subah ho gayi?"
Reyansh: "Nahi. Main toh raat se hi jaag raha hoon."
Shivani: "Bahut funny. Aaj ghar aa rahe ho na?"
Reyansh ne aankhein band kar li.
Use yaad aaya ki Shivani ne pichhle hafte Sunday lunch ke liye bulaya tha.
Aur usne haan bhi kaha tha.
Reyansh: "Aa raha hoon."
Shivani: "Kitne baje?"
Reyansh: "Lunch ke time."
Shivani: "Reyansh!"
Reyansh: "Achha baba, batao kitne baje aana hai?"
Shivani: "Ek baje. Aur please, is baar last minute par mat pahunchna."
Reyansh: "Main hamesha time par pahunchta hoon."
Shivani: "Tumhare time par ya duniya ke time par?"
Reyansh hans pada.
Reyansh: "Theek hai, ek baje."
Shivani: "Aur haan, Mumma-Papa bhi honge."
Reyansh: "Didi, tum mujhe lunch par bula rahi ho ya family court mein pesh hone?"
Shivani: "Tum aa jao, phir pata chal jayega."
Call kat gayi.
Reyansh kuch pal phone dekhta raha.
Phir usne chhat ki taraf dekhte hue kaha:
"Ek taraf girlfriend ki rating, doosri taraf family ki attendance. Meri zindagi mein appraisal season chal raha hai kya?"
Usne phone uthaya aur Jheel ko message kiya.
Reyansh: Good morning, Miss Under Review.
Kuch der baad reply aaya.
Jheel: Good morning. Aaj kya plan hai?
Reyansh: Family lunch. Didi ne bulaya hai.
Jheel: Achha! Enjoy karna.
Reyansh ne message padha.
Woh kuch seconds tak screen ko dekhta raha, phir type kiya.
Reyansh: Tum kya karogi aaj?
Jheel: Abhi kuch khaas nahi socha.
Reyansh: Toh mere saath chalogi?
Message bhejne ke baad usne phone side mein rakh diya.
Do minute baad reply aaya.
Jheel: Tumhare family lunch par?
Reyansh seedha baith gaya.
Use ehsaas hua ki usne bina soche message kar diya tha.
Reyansh: Nahi, mera matlab lunch ke baad kahin coffee peene chal sakte hain.
Jheel ne laughing emoji bheja.
Jheel: Main samajh gayi thi.
Reyansh: Toh phir poochha kyun?
Jheel: Tumhe thoda nervous dekhna tha.
Reyansh muskuraya.
Reyansh: Tumhari himmat kaise hui apne boyfriend ko nervous karne ki?
Jheel: 9/10 boyfriend ko thodi practice chahiye.
Reyansh: Tum meri rating kabhi nahi bhoologi, hai na?
Jheel: Kabhi nahi.
Reyansh ne phone rakha aur bistar se uth gaya.
Sunday ab itna boring nahi lag raha tha.


Taiyaar hote waqt Reyansh ko almari mein ek purani shirt mili, jo usne kaafi waqt se nahi pehni thi.
Usne shirt nikaali, pehenkar mirror mein dekha aur collar theek kiya.
Phir phone uthaya.
Reyansh: Ek sawaal.
Jheel: Tumhare sawaal kab khatam honge?
Reyansh: Jab tum mere saath coffee pe chalogi.
Jheel: Main toh pehle hi haan bol chuki hoon.
Reyansh ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Reyansh: Sach mein?
Jheel: Nahi. Main tumhari tarah har baat ka double meaning nikaal rahi hoon.
Reyansh hans pada.
Usne message type kiya.
Reyansh: Shaam ko six?
Jheel: Theek hai.
Reyansh: Aur dress code?
Jheel: Normal kapde.
Reyansh: Tum itni difficult kyun ho?
Jheel: Tum itne simple kyun nahi ho?
Reyansh ne phone pocket mein rakha.
Uski muskurahat kuch der tak bani rahi.
Kabhi-kabhi kisi ka ek chhota sa message bhi poore din ke liye kaafi hota hai.
Aur Reyansh ko yeh baat ab samajh aane lagi thi.


Dopahar ke kareeb ek baje Reyansh apni behen Shivani ke ghar pahunch gaya.
Darwaza khula toh Shivani saamne thi.
Usne Reyansh ko upar se neeche tak dekha.
Shivani: "Wah! Aaj toh time par aa gaye."

Lunch ke baad papa aur maa apne kamre mein chale gaye.
Reyansh living room mein sofa par baitha tha, jab Shivani do cups coffee lekar aayi.
Ek cup uske saamne rakhkar woh doosre sofa par baith gayi.
Shivani: "Lo, tumhari favourite."
Reyansh ne cup uthaya.
Reyansh: "Aaj itni service kyun mil rahi hai? Kuch kaam hai kya?"
Shivani: "Har cheez ke peeche koi kaam nahi hota."
Reyansh: "Tum meri behen ho. Main tumhe jaanta hoon."
Shivani hans di.
Kuch der dono coffee peete rahe.
Phir Shivani ne kaha:
Shivani: "Reyansh, ek baat bolun?"
Reyansh: "Bolo."
Shivani: "Mujhe achha lagta hai jab tum yahan aate ho. Lekin main chahti hoon ki tum sirf isliye na aao kyunki maine bulaya hai."
Reyansh ne cup neeche rakha.
Reyansh: "Matlab?"
Shivani: "Matlab jab mann kare, tab bhi aa jaya karo. Bina kisi occasion ke. Bina kisi reason ke."
Reyansh chup raha.
Shivani ne baat aage badhayi.
Shivani: "Har baar family ke paas aane ke liye koi special din zaroori nahi hota."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: "Tumhe lagta hai main tum logon se door ho gaya hoon?"
Shivani: "Mujhe lagta hai tum apni life mein busy ho. Aur busy rehna galat nahi hai."
Woh halki si muskurayi.
Shivani: "Bas kabhi-kabhi yaad rakhna ki tumhare paas kuch aise log bhi hain, jinhe tumhara sirf ghar aa jaana achha lagta hai."
Reyansh ne dheere se saans chhodi.
Reyansh: "Theek hai, Didi. Agli baar bina invitation ke aaunga."
Shivani: "Pehle message kar dena. Main ghar par hui toh tumhare liye khana bana dungi."
Reyansh: "Aur nahi hui toh?"
Shivani: "Fridge mein kuch na kuch mil jayega."
Reyansh hans pada.
Reyansh: "Wah. Kitna emotional invitation tha!"
Shivani ne cushion uski taraf phenka.
Shivani: "Chup karo!"
Dono phir hansne lage.
Lekin Reyansh ke dil mein uski behen ki baat reh gayi.
Zindagi mein kuch rishte aise hote hain jo har roz baat nahi maangte.
Bas itna chahte hain ki jab zaroorat ho, toh insaan unke paas laut sake.


Doosri taraf Arshad apne laptop ke saamne baitha tha.
Proposal ki deadline paas aa rahi thi.
Usne kaafi kaam kar liya tha, lekin presentation ka final section abhi bhi baaki tha.
Phone par Sakshi ka message aaya.
Sakshi: Walk ka plan yaad hai?
Arshad ne screen dekhi.
Arshad: Bilkul yaad hai.
Sakshi: Kitne baje?
Arshad ne laptop par nazar daali.
Uske dimaag mein turant calculation shuru ho gayi.
Agar abhi kaam karta raha toh ek ghante mein proposal complete ho sakta tha. Lekin agar kuch aur changes aaye toh waqt badh bhi sakta tha.
Usne message type kiya.
Arshad: Seven thirty?
Sakshi: Theek hai. Main ready rahungi.
Arshad ne phone rakha aur kaam mein lag gaya.
Saat baje tak proposal lagbhag complete tha.
Tabhi client ka email aa gaya.
Subject: One Small Change
Arshad ne email khola.
Uske chehre ka expression badal gaya.
Arshad: "One small change. Duniya ki sabse khatarnak line."
Usne changes dekhe.
Kaam karna zaroori tha.
Lekin usne Sakshi ko time bhi diya tha.
Usne phone uthaya.
Arshad: Sakshi, client ka last-minute change aa gaya hai. Mujhe thoda aur time lagega.
Kuch der baad reply aaya.
Sakshi: Kitna?
Arshad ne likha:
Arshad: Forty minutes, max.
Sakshi ne message padh liya.
Sakshi: Okay.
Bas ek shabd.
Na gussa, na lambi shikayat.
Arshad ko phir bhi samajh aa gaya ki woh use wait karwa raha tha.
Usne jaldi-jaldi changes kiye, presentation check ki aur file bhej di.
Saat bajkar pachaas minute par usne laptop band kiya.
Arshad: "Done!"
Usne turant Sakshi ko call kiya.
Sakshi ne call receive ki.
Sakshi: "Hello?"
Arshad: "Madam, aapka intezaar khatam hua. Main free ho gaya."
Sakshi: "Congratulations."
Arshad ko uske lehje mein halki si thakaan mehsoos hui.
Arshad: "Tum nikal gayi?"
Sakshi: "Nahi. Abhi ghar par hoon."
Arshad: "Toh main aata hoon. Das minute."
Sakshi kuch pal chup rahi.
Sakshi: "Arshad, aaj rehne do. Mujhe ab bahar jaane ka mann nahi hai."
Arshad ka chehra utar gaya.


Arshad: "Tum naraz ho?"
Sakshi: "Naraz nahi hoon. Bas ab thak gayi hoon."
Arshad: "I am sorry."
Sakshi: "I know."
Phir usne narmi se kaha:
Sakshi: "Kal baat karte hain, okay?"
Arshad: "Okay."
Call kat gayi.
Arshad kuch der phone haath mein liye baitha raha.
Uske paas kaam karne ki wajah thi.
Lekin Sakshi ke paas bhi apna waqt tha.
Aur use pehli baar mehsoos hua ki har baar sorry keh dena, kisi ke intezaar ki bharpai nahi hota.
Usne laptop band hi rehne diya.
Aaj ka kaam khatam ho gaya tha.
Lekin dimaag mein ek naya sawaal shuru ho gaya tha.
Woh apni zindagi mein sab kuch achieve karna chahta tha, lekin kya woh un logon ke liye bhi waqt nikaal paa raha tha jo uski zindagi ka hissa the


Shaam ke chhe baje Reyansh ghar pahunch gaya tha.
Usne shirt badli, fresh hua aur Jheel ko message bheja.
Reyansh: Madam, main ready hoon.
Jheel: Maine tumse poochha tha ready hone ko?
Reyansh ne phone ko dekha.
Reyansh: "Aaj phir shuru."
Reyansh: Tumne six baje coffee ke liye haan kaha tha.
Jheel: Haan toh?
Reyansh: Main punctual boyfriend hoon.
Jheel: Tum apni rating khud hi badha rahe ho.
Reyansh: Koi toh meri value samjhe.
Jheel ne location bhej di.
Ek chhota sa café, jahan dono pehle bhi ja chuke the.
Reyansh wahan pahunchkar ek corner table par baith gaya.
Kuch der baad Jheel aayi.
Aaj usne simple blue kurti aur white trousers pehne the. Baal khule hue the aur chehre par halki si muskurahat thi.
Reyansh use dekhkar khada ho gaya.
Reyansh: "Madam, aap aaj phir achhi lag rahi hain."
Jheel ne chair kheenchkar baithte hue kaha:
Jheel: "Phir?"
Reyansh: "Mera matlab, aap hamesha achhi lagti hain."
Jheel: "Recovery achhi thi."
Reyansh: "Thank you. Main practice kar raha hoon."
Dono hans pade.
Waiter aaya toh unhone coffee order ki.
Jheel ne table par apne haath rakhte hue poochha:
Jheel: "Family lunch kaisa tha?"
Reyansh: "Achha tha. Mumma ne bahut khana khilaya. Papa ne lecture diya. Didi ne meri insult ki."
Jheel: "Matlab normal family lunch."
Reyansh: "Exactly."
Jheel: "Tumhari family tumhe miss karti hai?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: "Haan. Shayad main unke paas utna nahi jaata jitna jaana chahiye."
Jheel ne sir hilaya.
Jheel: "Kabhi-kabhi hum sochte hain ki hum roz baat kar rahe hain, toh sab theek hai. Lekin saamne baithne ka apna alag hi sukoon hota hai."
Reyansh ne muskurakar kaha:
Reyansh: "Aaj meri behen ne bhi lagbhag yahi kaha."
Jheel: "Toh phir sun lena chahiye."
Reyansh: "Tum dono ne milkar mere khilaaf planning ki hai kya?"
Jheel hans padi.
Jheel: "Tumhe advice dene ke liye planning ki zaroorat nahi hai."
Coffee aa gayi.
Dono ne cups uthaye.
Kuch der tak woh apne-apne din ki chhoti-chhoti baatein share karte rahe.
Jheel ne bataya ki usne ghar par kuch pending kaam niptaaye. Reyansh ne office ki baatein sunayi. Beech-beech mein woh ek doosre ki baaton par hanste rahe.
Phir Jheel ne poochha:
Jheel: "Reyansh, tumhe kabhi aisa lagta hai ki din bahut achha guzra, lekin phir bhi kuch missing hai?"
Sawaal sunkar Reyansh ne coffee ka cup table par rakh diya.
Woh kuch pal sochta raha.
Reyansh: "Kabhi-kabhi."
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha, lekin koi agla sawaal nahi kiya.
Reyansh ne khud hi baat aage badhayi.
Reyansh: "Pehle mujhe lagta tha ki agar kaam achha chal raha ho, friends ke saath time mil jaaye aur weekend free ho, toh life set hai."
Jheel: "Aur ab?"
Reyansh muskuraya.
Reyansh: "Ab lagta hai ki kabhi-kabhi bas kisi ke saath baithkar coffee peena bhi kaafi hota hai."
Jheel ki aankhon mein muskurahat aa gayi.
Jheel: "Yeh line tumne kahin se copy ki hai?"
Reyansh: "Meri girlfriend meri sincerity par doubt kar rahi hai."
Jheel: "Main bas confirm kar rahi hoon."
Reyansh ne uska haath table par pakad liya.
Reyansh: "Nahi, madam. Original content hai."
Jheel hans di.
Usne apni ungliyan Reyansh ke haath mein aaraam se rehne di.
Unke beech kuch pal ki khamoshi rahi.
Lekin woh khamoshi awkward nahi thi.
Dono ko har waqt kuch bolne ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Kabhi-kabhi saath hona hi baat hoti hai.


Coffee khatam hone ke baad dono café se bahar nikle.
Bengaluru ki shaam mein halki si thandak thi. Sadak ke kinaare lights jal chuki thi aur log apne-apne gharon ki taraf laut rahe the.
Reyansh aur Jheel dheere-dheere chalne lage.
Jheel: "Aaj tum apni family se milkar khush lag rahe ho."
Reyansh: "Haan. Achha lagta hai unke saath."
Jheel: "Toh phir unse milte raha karo."
Reyansh: "Ji, madam."
Jheel: "Aur apni girlfriend ko bhi time diya karo."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh: "Uske liye toh main hamesha available hoon."
Jheel: "Achha? Agar main kal subah tumhe phone karun toh?"
Reyansh: "Uth jaunga."
Jheel: "Sunday ko bhi?"
Reyansh: "Jheel, tum mujhse pyaar karti ho ya meri neend se dushmani?"
Jheel zor se hans padi.
Reyansh bhi hansne laga.
Kuch kadam chalne ke baad Jheel ne uska haath dabaaya.
Jheel: "Ek baat sach mein keh rahi hoon."
Reyansh: "Bolo."
Jheel: "Mujhe tumhare saath achha waqt chahiye. Lekin main nahi chahti ki tum apni baaki zindagi se door ho jao."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Jheel ne baat jaari rakhi.
Jheel: "Tumhari family, tumhare friends, tumhara kaam. Yeh sab bhi tumhara hissa hain. Main tumhari life ka hissa banna chahti hoon, tumhari poori life ki jagah nahi lena chahti."
Reyansh kuch pal chup raha.
Phir usne Jheel ka haath apne dono haathon mein le liya.
Reyansh: "Aur main chahta hoon ki tum bhi apni life mein jo karna chahti ho, woh karo. Mujhe har waqt saath rehne ka proof nahi chahiye."
Jheel ki muskurahat gehri ho gayi.
Jheel: "Good."
Reyansh: "Toh ab 9.5?"
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
Jheel: "9.1."
Reyansh ne hairaani se munh khol diya.
Reyansh: "Sirf point one?"
Jheel: "Progress toh hui."
Reyansh: "Tumhare standards bahut high hain."
Jheel: "Tum kar loge."
Reyansh ne uske maathe par ek halka sa kiss kiya.
Reyansh: "Tumhare liye koshish karunga."
Jheel ne uske kandhe par sar tika diya.
Jheel: "Mere liye nahi. Apne liye bhi."
Reyansh ne use apni taraf kheenchkar hug kar liya.
Kuch pal dono waise hi khade rahe.
Phir Jheel ne dheere se kaha:
Jheel: "Ab ghar chalein? Mujhe bhookh lag rahi hai."
Reyansh peeche hata.
Reyansh: "Itna emotional moment aur end khane par?"
Jheel: "Emotions se pet nahi bharta."
Reyansh: "Madam, aapki honesty ek din mujhe le doobegi."
Dono hanste hue aage badh gaye.


Raat ko Reyansh apne flat mein tha.
Usne dinner kiya, kuch der television dekha aur phir phone uthaya.
Jheel ka message aaya hua tha.
Jheel: Ghar pahunch gaye?
Reyansh: Haan. Tum?
Jheel: Main bhi.
Reyansh: Aaj achha laga.
Jheel: Mujhe bhi.
Reyansh ne kuch pal socha aur phir likha:
Reyansh: Thanks.
Jheel: Kis liye?
Reyansh: Aaj ki coffee ke liye. Aur meri baatein sunne ke liye.
Jheel ka reply aaya.
Jheel: Tum bhi meri baatein sunte ho.
Reyansh: Main try karta hoon.
Jheel: Mujhe pata hai.
Reyansh ne phone ko seene par rakhkar aankhein band kar li.
Kuch waqt baad ek aur message aaya.
Jheel: Good night, Reyansh.
Usne phone uthaya.
Reyansh: Good night, Jheel. Sweet dreams.
Jheel ne ek chhota sa heart bheja.
Reyansh ne screen dekhi aur muskurate hue phone side mein rakh diya.
Uski zindagi mein sab kuch perfect nahi tha.
Uske paas har sawaal ka jawab nahi tha.
Lekin ab woh har khaali pal ko bharne ki koshish bhi nahi karta tha.
Kuch pal bas jeene ke liye hote hain.
Aur kuch log, bina koi bada vaada kiye, un palon ko khaas bana dete hain.
Aaj ka din bhi kuch aisa hi tha.
9. Udhar, Arshad Ke Phone Par...
Raat ke kareeb gyarah baje Arshad apne bed par baitha tha.
Usne din bhar ke emails check kiye, phir Sakshi ki chat kholi.
Aakhri message ab bhi wahi tha:
Sakshi: Kal baat karte hain, okay?
Arshad ne type kiya:
I am sorry about today. I know I made you wait.
Usne message bhejne se pehle ek baar padha.
Phir send kar diya.
Sakshi ka reply kuch der baad aaya.
Sakshi: Thank you for understanding.
Arshad ne message padha.
Woh chahta tha ki bas ek sorry se baat khatam ho jaaye.

Lekin use pata tha ki asal badlaav message se nahi, aadat se aayega.
Usne calendar khola aur agle din ke kaam ke beech ek waqt block kar diya.
Sakshi.
Koi meeting nahi.
Koi client call nahi.
Bas uske liye waqt.
Arshad ne calendar band kiya aur phone side mein rakh diya.
Kal kya baat hogi, use nahi pata tha.
Lekin is baar woh sirf sorry kehne ke liye nahi, sunne ke liye bhi taiyaar rehna chahta tha.