[Greenwood]

Update 45



Shaam ke saat baj chuke the.
Bengaluru ki sadkon par office se lautne walon ki bheed thi. Kisi ko ghar pahunchne ki jaldi thi, kisi ko traffic se ladne ki, aur kuch log aise bhi the jo gaadi chalate hue bas apne favourite gaane ke saath din bhar ki thakaan utaar rahe the.
Flat 303 mein Reyansh apni balcony mein khada tha.
Ek haath mein coffee ka mug, doosre mein phone.
Screen par ek message tha.
Jheel ❤️:
Ghar pahunch gaye?
Reyansh ne coffee ki chuski li aur reply kiya.
Reyansh:
Nahi. Bengaluru ke traffic mein meri gaadi ke saath meri aatma bhi phansi hui hai.
Kuch seconds baad reply aaya.
Jheel:
Tum ghar par ho. Maine tumhari balcony dekhi hai.
Reyansh ne saamne Flat 304 ki taraf dekha.
Jheel apni balcony mein khadi thi. Uske chehre par wohi chhoti si muskurahat thi jo Reyansh ko aksar apni baat ka jawab milne se pehle hi mil jaati thi.
Reyansh ne mug uthakar uski taraf dikhaya.
Jheel ne aankhon se poochha, Kya?
Reyansh ne mug ki taraf ishara kiya.
Jheel ne apne haath jodkar maafi maangne ka natak kiya, phir andar chali gayi.
Reyansh ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Reyansh (khud se):
"Madam ko lagta hai saamne wale ki balcony mein CCTV laga hua hai."
Phone vibrate hua.
Jheel:
Aaj dinner mein kya kha rahe ho?
Reyansh:
"Jo mil jaaye."
Jheel:
"Matlab order karoge?"
Reyansh:
"Matlab jo delivery wala le aaye."
Jheel:
"Very talented chef."
Reyansh:
"Thank you. Mere talent ki kadar karne wale bahut kam log hain."
Jheel:
"Talent aur tum? Dono ek sentence mein thode ajeeb lag rahe hain."
Reyansh hans diya.
Phir usne message type kiya.
Reyansh:
"Ek kaam karo. Aaj dinner mere saath kar lo."
Jheel ka reply turant nahi aaya.
Reyansh ne screen dekhi, phir coffee ka mug.
Kuch der baad message aaya.
Jheel:
"Kahan?"
Reyansh:
"Yahin. Flat 303. Main kuch banaunga."
Jheel:
"Tum?"
Reyansh:
"Ek minute. Tum girlfriend ho ya food inspector?"
Jheel:
"Dono ban sakti hoon."
Reyansh:
"Toh aa jao. Inspection ke liye sample bhi mil jayega."
Jheel:
"Thik hai. Dus minute mein."
Reyansh ne phone rakh diya.
Phir use ek zaroori baat yaad aayi.
Woh seedha kitchen mein gaya aur fridge khola.
Andar doodh, aadha packet bread, do ande, kuch sabziyan, ek sauce ki bottle aur paani ki bottles thi.
Reyansh kuch seconds tak fridge ko dekhta raha.
Phir usne fridge band kar diya.
Dobara khola.
Jaise shayad doosri baar kholne se samaan badh jayega.
Nahi badha.
Reyansh:
"Shit."
Usne phone uthaya aur Arshad ko call kar diya.
SCENE 1: Ek Dost, Ek Emergency Aur Do Ande
7:27 PM | Phone Call
Arshad:
"Hello, mere bhai. Zinda ho?"
Reyansh:
"Ek important sawaal hai."
Arshad:
"Paise nahi hain."
Reyansh:
"Maine paise maange bhi nahi."
Arshad:
"Experience se bol raha hoon. Tumhari awaaz mein ya toh udhaar hota hai ya udhaar ki wajah."
Reyansh:
"Chup kar. Dinner banana hai."
Do second ki khamoshi.
Phir Arshad zor se hansa.
Arshad:
"Khud?"
Reyansh:
"Haan, khud."
Arshad:
"Kiske liye? Desh ke liye?"
Reyansh:
"Arshad."
Arshad:
"Achha, achha. Samajh gaya. Jheel aa rahi hai?"
Reyansh ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Reyansh:
"Haan."
Arshad:
"Toh bhai, aaj toh tumhare flat mein itihaas likha jayega. Ek taraf FMCG ka Senior Brand Manager, doosri taraf kitchen mein do ande."
Reyansh:
"Recipe bata."
Arshad:
"Order kar le."
Reyansh:
"Woh bhi kar sakta hoon. Lekin socha kuch bana loon."
Arshad ki awaaz is baar thodi normal ho gayi.
Arshad:
"Achhi baat hai. Kya-kya pada hai?"
Reyansh ne fridge ka haal bataya.
Arshad:
"Anda bhurji bana le. Pyaaz hai?"
Reyansh:
"Hai."
Arshad:
"Tamatar?"
Reyansh:
"Shayad."
Arshad:
"Shayad matlab?"
Reyansh:
"Ek laal cheez padi hai."
Arshad:
"Ufff teri domestic life. Woh tamatar hai, bhai. Koi chemical sample nahi."
Reyansh hans pada.
Arshad ne use seedhe-seedhe samjhaya ki pyaaz kaise kaatna hai, ande kab daalne hain aur namak kitna rakhna hai.
Phir achanak Arshad ruk gaya.


Arshad:

"Ek baat bataun?"
Reyansh:
"Bata."
Arshad:
"Jheel ko khush karne ke liye master chef banne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Bas jo bana raha hai, dhang se bana. Aur agar kharab ho gaya toh honestly bol dena."
Reyansh:
"Tu apni girlfriend ke saamne bhi itna hi samajhdaar banta hai?"
Arshad kuch pal chup raha.
Arshad:
"Koshish kar raha hoon."
Reyansh ne uske lehje mein chhota sa badlaav mehsoos kiya.
Reyansh:
"Sakshi ke saath sab thik hai?"
Arshad:
"Haan. Sab thik hai."
Jawab mil gaya, lekin usmein woh purani befikri nahi thi.
Reyansh ne baat ko kheenchna zaroori nahi samjha.
Reyansh:
"Achha. Kal milte hain."
Arshad:
"Haan. Aur sun."
Reyansh:
"Ab kya?"
Arshad:
"Anda jal gaya toh smoke alarm band mat karna. Building ke secretary ko waise bhi tumse personal problem hai."
Reyansh:
"Good night, Arshad."
Arshad:
"Best of luck, Chef Sahab!"
Call kat gayi.
Reyansh ne phone counter par rakha, sleeves chadhayi aur kaam shuru kar diya.
Aaj uski kitchen mein koi khaas cheez nahi banne wali thi.
Lekin use achha lag raha tha ki woh kisi ke aane ka intezaar kar raha tha.

7:51 PM
Doorbell baji.
Reyansh ne apron pehna hua tha.
Darwaza khola toh saamne Jheel khadi thi.
Simple kurti, khule baal aur chehre par halki si muskurahat.
Usne pehle Reyansh ko dekha, phir uske apron ko.
Phir dobara Reyansh ko.
Jheel:
"Tumne sach mein khana banaya hai?"
Reyansh:
"Nahi. Apron pehen kar cooking ka photoshoot kar raha hoon."
Jheel hans padi.
Jheel:
"Main andar aa sakti hoon?"
Reyansh:
"Madam, invitation aapko hi diya tha."
Woh andar aa gayi.
Flat mein halki si pyaaz aur masalon ki khushboo thi. Dining table par do plates rakhi thi. Ek taraf paani ke glasses aur doosri taraf sauce ki bottle.
Jheel ne table dekha.
Jheel:
"Tumne table bhi set kiya?"
Reyansh:
"Haan. Main sirf handsome nahi hoon."
Jheel:
"Yeh toh mujhe pehle se pata tha ki tum sirf handsome nahi ho."
Reyansh ne aankhen sikodi.
Reyansh:
"Matlab?"
Jheel:
"Matlab tumhare andar aur bhi bahut saari qualities hain."
Reyansh:
"Jaise?"
Jheel:
"Overconfidence."
Reyansh ne seene par haath rakh liya.
Reyansh:
"Ek din tum meri tareef karte hue pakdi jaogi."
Jheel:
"Us din ki date bata dena. Main calendar mein mark kar lungi."
Woh kitchen ki taraf badhi.
Counter par bhurji, toast aur ek chhota sa bowl salad ka rakha tha.
Jheel ne bhurji ko dekha.
Phir Reyansh ko.
Jheel:
"Yeh tumne banayi?"
Reyansh:
"Haan."
Jheel:
"Recipe?"
Reyansh:
"Secret family recipe."
Jheel:
"Reyansh!"
Reyansh:
"Achha, Arshad ne phone par batayi."
Jheel hansne lagi.
Jheel:
"Tumne apne dost se recipe poochhi?"
Reyansh:
"Main apni girlfriend ko bhookha nahi rakh sakta."
Jheel ki hansi dheere se tham gayi.
Usne Reyansh ki taraf dekha.
Yeh koi bahut badi baat nahi thi. Na hi koi dramatic confession.
Bas ek seedha sa sentence tha.
Lekin kabhi-kabhi rozmarra ki chhoti baatein hi kisi rishte ko apnapan deti hain.
Jheel:
"Thank you."
Reyansh ne uski aankhon mein dekha.
Reyansh:
"Kis liye?"
Jheel:
"Kuch nahi. Bas aise hi."
Usne nazar hata li.
Reyansh ne muskurakar plates uthayi.
Reyansh:
"Chalo, taste karke batao ki chef ko promotion milna chahiye ya termination."
Dono table par baith gaye.
Jheel ne pehla niwala liya.
Chehre par koi khaas expression nahi aaya.
Reyansh use dhyan se dekh raha tha.
Reyansh:
"Kaisa hai?"
Jheel:
"Achha hai."
Reyansh:
"Sach?"
Jheel:
"Haan."
Reyansh:
"Thoda aur soch kar batao. Tumhare ek answer par mera poora culinary future depend karta hai."
Jheel ne dobara khaya.
Jheel:
"Thoda namak kam hai."
Reyansh ne plate ki taraf dekha.
Reyansh:
"Bas?"
Jheel:
"Aur pyaaz thodi zyada hai."
Reyansh:
"Bas?"
Jheel:
"Toast thoda jal gaya hai."
Reyansh ne apni plate dekhi.
Reyansh:
"Tum dinner karne aayi ho ya meri annual performance review lene?"
Jheel itna hansi ki use paani peena pada.
Jheel:
"Sorry!"
Reyansh:
"Nahi, ab tumhe hi banana padega agli baar."

Jheel:

"Done."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh:
"Agli baar?"
Jheel ek pal ke liye ruk gayi.
Phir use samajh aaya ki usne kya keh diya.
Jheel:
"Haan, agli baar. Kya?"
Reyansh ke chehre par dheemi si muskurahat aayi.
Reyansh:
"Kuch nahi. Bas achha laga sun kar."
Jheel ne plate ki taraf dekhte hue apni muskurahat chhupane ki koshish ki.
Woh nakaam rahi.


Dinner khatam hote-hote aath bajkar tees minute ho gaye.
Jheel plates uthane lagi toh Reyansh ne uska haath rok diya.
Reyansh:
"Chhod do. Main kar lunga."
Jheel:
"Tumne khana banaya. Main plates le ja sakti hoon."
Reyansh:
"Hum dono kar lenge."
Jheel ne use dekha.
Jheel:
"Har cheez mein partnership?"
Reyansh:
"Relationship hai. Tender process nahi ki aadha kaam tumhara aur aadha mera."
Jheel hans padi.
Dono milkar kitchen saaf karne lage.
Reyansh bartan dho raha tha aur Jheel unhe sukha kar rack mein rakh rahi thi. Beech-beech mein unke haath takra jaate. Har baar koi na koi chhoti si baat keh deta.
Ek baar Jheel ne paani ke chheente se bachne ke liye haath peeche kiya.
Jheel:
"Reyansh! Kapdon par paani gir raha hai."
Reyansh:
"Toh paani se door raho."
Jheel:
"Main kitchen mein khadi hoon!"
Reyansh:
"Toh kitchen se door raho."
Jheel ne use ghoora.
Reyansh hansne laga.
Aakhir mein kaam khatam hua toh dono living room mein aa gaye.
Jheel sofa ke ek kone par baith gayi. Reyansh ne music chala diya. Kamre mein dheemi awaaz mein ek purana romantic gaana bajne laga.
Jheel:
"Tumhe purane gaane pasand hain?"
Reyansh:
"Kuch gaane purane hote hain, unki feeling nahi."
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
Jheel:
"Yeh line tumne kahin se churayi hai?"
Reyansh:
"Nahi. Main naturally itna achha hoon."
Jheel:
"Phir se overconfidence."
Reyansh uske paas baith gaya.
Dono kuch der gaana sunte rahe.
Bahar sadak ka shor tha, kabhi kisi gaadi ka horn, kabhi kisi bachche ki awaaz. Lekin flat ke andar waqt dheema lag raha tha.
Jheel ne apna sir sofa ke backrest par tika diya.
Jheel:
"Aaj ka din achha tha."
Reyansh:
"Office mein?"
Jheel:
"Nahi. Tumhare saath."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Jheel ne baat jaari rakhi.
Jheel:
"Matlab, kuch special nahi kiya humne. Bas dinner banaya, khaya, baatein ki. Phir bhi achha laga."
Reyansh:
"Har achhi shaam ka restaurant mein hona zaroori nahi hai."
Jheel:
"Haan."
Kuch pal dono chup rahe.
Phir Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
Jheel:
"Tum pehle bhi aise hi the?"
Reyansh:
"Kaise?"
Jheel:
"Matlab, aise hi. Kabhi serious, kabhi funny. Kabhi bahut baatein karte ho aur kabhi achanak chup ho jaate ho."
Reyansh ne socha.
Reyansh:
"Shayad. Har waqt ek jaisa rehna thoda boring nahi hai?"
Jheel:
"Main personality ki baat kar rahi hoon, mood swings ki nahi."
Reyansh:
"Achha. Toh tum mujhe samajhne ki koshish kar rahi ho?"
Jheel:
"Main tumhe samajhna chahti hoon."
Uski awaaz mein is baar mazaak nahi tha.
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh:
"Toh samjho. Kabhi-kabhi mujhe khud nahi pata hota ki main kya soch raha hoon. Lekin iska matlab yeh nahi ki main tumse baat nahi karna chahta."
Jheel ne dheere se sir hilaya.
Jheel:
"Thik hai."
Reyansh:
"Aur tum?"
Jheel:
"Main kya?"
Reyansh:
"Tumhe samajhna aasaan hai?"
Jheel ne halki si hansi ke saath kaha.
Jheel:
"Bilkul nahi."
Reyansh:
"Good. Matlab sirf main hi complicated nahi hoon."
Jheel:
"Tum complicated nahi ho. Tum bas kabhi-kabhi apne dimaag mein zyada rehte ho."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Woh baat usne pehle bhi suni thi, lekin Jheel ke munh se sunne par usne use thoda aur dhyan se liya.
Reyansh:
"Ho sakta hai."
Jheel ne apna haath uske haath par rakh diya.
Jheel:
"Jab bhi tumhara mann ho, mujhe bata sakte ho. Har baat ka solution dena zaroori nahi. Kabhi-kabhi main bas sun bhi sakti hoon."
Reyansh ne uski ungliyon ko apni ungliyon mein le liya.
Reyansh:
"Yeh offer permanent hai?"
Jheel:
"Terms and conditions apply."
Reyansh:
"Kya conditions hain?"



Jheel:

"Jab main bolun, tab tumhe bhi sunna padega."
Reyansh:
"Yeh toh kaafi expensive deal hai."
Jheel:
"Cancel kar doon?"
Reyansh:
"Nahi. Sign kar do."
Jheel hans padi.
Usne apna sir Reyansh ke kandhe par tika diya.
Reyansh ne apna haath uske kandhon ke gird rakh liya.
Koi jaldi nahi thi.
Kisi ko yeh prove nahi karna tha ki woh kitna pyaar karta hai. Na koi bada promise, na koi filmi dialogue.
Bas dono ek hi sofa par baithe the.
Aur is waqt, itna kaafi tha.


Bengaluru | 8:56 PM

Doosri taraf Arshad apne laptop ke saamne baitha tha.
Screen par ek advertising campaign ka draft khula hua tha. Client ne shaam ko kuch changes bheje the aur unka jawab dena zaroori tha.
Uska phone table par vibrate hua.
Sakshi ❤️:
Aaj walk par ja rahe hain?
Arshad ne screen ke kone mein waqt dekha.
Phir laptop par khule draft ko.
Usne type kiya.
Bas yeh kaam khatam kar loon, phir chalte hain.
Message bhejne ke baad woh dobara kaam mein lag gaya.
Paanch minute baad ek aur message aaya.
Sakshi:
Kitni der lagegi?
Arshad ne deadline dekhi.
Phir apne calendar mein agle din ka schedule.
Uske paas kaam khatam karne ke liye do raaste the. Ek, Sakshi ko phir intezaar karne ke liye keh de. Doosra, client ko message karke draft bhejne ka samay thoda aage karne ki baat kare.
Usne kuch der socha.
Phir Sakshi ko call kiya.
Sakshi:
"Hello?"
Arshad:
"Sun, aaj walk ke liye nikalne mein late ho sakta hai. Client ne changes bheje hain."
Doosri taraf kuch pal khamoshi rahi.
Sakshi:
"Kitna late?"
Arshad ne sach bataya.
Sakshi ne ek halki si saans chhodi.
Sakshi:
"Arshad, agar aaj nahi ho sakta toh seedha bol do. Main wait karte hue apna poora evening plan nahi rakhna chahti."
Arshad ne aankhen band karke sir peeche tika diya.
Woh uski baat samajh raha tha.
Arshad:
"You're right. Mujhe pehle hi bata dena chahiye tha."
Sakshi:
"Main tumhare kaam ko samajhti hoon. Lekin jab hum koi plan banate hain, toh mujhe bhi us plan par bharosa hota hai."
Arshad:
"I know."
Sakshi:
"Thik hai. Aaj rehne do. Main ghar par hi hoon."
Arshad:
"Kal dinner? Main time block kar deta hoon. Kaam ke liye nahi, tumhare liye."
Sakshi ki awaaz thodi naram hui.
Sakshi:
"Kal dekhte hain. Pehle apna kaam khatam karo."
Arshad:
"Okay. Aur Sakshi?"
Sakshi:
"Hmm?"
Arshad:
"Sorry. Sirf bolne ke liye nahi. Main try karunga ki tumhe baar-baar wait na karna pade."
Sakshi:
"Bas try karna. Mujhe perfect boyfriend nahi chahiye."
Arshad muskuraya.
Arshad:
"Achha hua. Us position ke liye applications bahut kam aayi hain."
Sakshi hans padi.
Sakshi:
"Good night, Arshad."
Arshad:
"Good night."
Call kat gayi.
Arshad ne laptop ki taraf dekha aur phir calendar khola.
Agli shaam ke liye usne ek ghanta block kar diya.
Usne koi bada vaada nahi kiya tha.
Bas ek chhota sa faisla liya tha ki is baar woh apne vaade ko schedule mein bhi jagah dega.


Jheel abhi bhi Reyansh ke saath sofa par baithi thi.
Music khatam ho chuka tha. Ab TV par koi random travel show chal raha tha, lekin dono mein se kisi ka dhyan usmein nahi tha.
Jheel ne ghadi dekhi.
Jheel:
"Mujhe chalna chahiye."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh:
"Abhi?"
Jheel:
"Haan. Kal kaam bhi hai."
Reyansh:
"Main tumhe rok nahi raha."
Jheel:
"Tumhara chehra kuch aur bol raha hai."
Reyansh ne jaan-boojhkar serious expression bana liya.
Reyansh:
"Mera chehra naturally expressive hai. Main kya karun?"
Jheel hans padi.
Woh uthkar darwaze ki taraf badhi. Reyansh uske saath aaya.
Darwaza khulne se pehle Jheel uski taraf mud gayi.
Jheel:
"Ek baat bolun?"
Reyansh:
"Permission granted."
Jheel:
"Aaj tumhare saath rehkar mujhe achha laga."
Reyansh ki muskurahat dheemi ho gayi.
Reyansh:
"Mujhe bhi."
Jheel ne uska haath pakda.
Jheel:
"Agli baar main kuch banaungi."
Reyansh:
"Thik hai. Lekin ek condition hai."
Jheel:
"Kya?"
Reyansh:
"Agar khana kharab hua toh main complain nahi karunga."
Jheel ne hairani se use dekha.
Jheel:
"Sach?"
Reyansh:
"Haan. Lekin order karne ka option open rahega."
Jheel ne uske haath par halki si thapki maari.
Jheel:
"Tum bahut bure ho."
Reyansh:
"Phir bhi boyfriend main hi hoon."
Jheel ke gaal halka sa laal ho gaye.
Usne aas-paas dekha, phir dheere se Reyansh ke paas aayi aur uske gaal par ek kiss kar di.
Reyansh ek pal ke liye chup ho gaya.
Jheel peeche hati.
Jheel:
"Good night."
Reyansh ne uski ungliyan pakad li.
Reyansh:
"Bas?"

Jheel ki aankhon mein shararat bhari muskurahat aa gayi.
Jheel:
"Kya matlab bas?"
Reyansh:
"Main toh soch raha tha ki dinner ke baad dessert bhi milega."
Jheel:
"Dessert khatam ho gaya."
Reyansh:
"Fridge mein ice cream hai."
Jheel hans padi.
Jheel:
"Tumhe sirf ice cream chahiye?"
Reyansh ne uski aankhon mein dekha.
Reyansh:
"Nahi."
Kuch pal dono ek-doosre ko dekhte rahe.
Is baar Jheel ne nazar nahi hatayi.
Woh dheere se uske kareeb aayi aur uske hothon par ek chhota sa kiss kiya.
Reyansh ne uski kamar par haath rakha, lekin use apni taraf kheenchne ki jaldi nahi ki. Jheel khud uske kareeb rahi.
Kiss khatam hua toh dono ke chehron par muskurahat thi.
Jheel:
"Ab dessert mil gaya?"
Reyansh:
"Quality achhi thi."
Jheel:
"Rating?"
Reyansh:
"Nine point nine."
Jheel ne aankhen sikodi.
Jheel:
"Point one kahan gaya?"
Reyansh:
"Agli baar ke liye motivation."
Jheel ne hanskar uske seene par halka sa haath maara.
Jheel:
"Good night, Reyansh."
Reyansh:
"Good night, Jheel."
Woh corridor mein nikal gayi.
Reyansh darwaze par khada use Flat 304 mein jaate hue dekhta raha.
Jheel ne apne darwaze se palatkar haath hilaya.
Reyansh ne bhi haath hila diya.
Phir usne darwaza band kar diya.
Flat mein wahi sofa tha, wahi TV, wahi kitchen aur wahi balcony.
Lekin shaam abhi bhi uske saath thi.
Woh kitchen mein gaya, bache hue bartan check kiye aur phir fridge se ice cream nikaal li.
Ek spoon liya.
Phir khud hi hans pada.
Reyansh (khud se):
"Chef sahab, tumhara future bright hai."
Usne ice cream wapas rakhi aur balcony mein aa gaya.
Saamne Flat 304 ki lights jal rahi thi.
Usne phone uthaya.
Reyansh:
Reached safely?
Jheel ka reply aaya.
Jheel:
Main saamne wale flat mein hoon, Reyansh.
Reyansh:
Safety confirmation is a professional habit.
Jheel:
Senior Brand Manager sahab, good night.
Reyansh:
Good night, girlfriend.
Jheel ne message par ❤️ react kiya.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakha.
Uske chehre par muskurahat thi.
Aur kaafi arse baad, ek aam si Monday ki raat ko usne mehsoos kiya ki zindagi ko khoobsurat banane ke liye har baar kuch bada hona zaroori nahi.
Kabhi-kabhi do plates, thodi si namak kam bhurji, ek gaal par kiss aur saamne wale flat mein jalti hui light bhi kaafi hoti hai.

10:03 PM

Reyansh bedroom mein jaane hi wala tha ki phone phir vibrate hua.
Is baar message Jheel ka nahi tha.
Unknown number.
Wahi number, jisse pehle bhi messages aaye the.
Screen par likha tha:
Unknown Number:
Kabhi-kabhi insaan ko woh mil jaata hai jiska intezaar hota hai. Phir bhi woh khud se ek sawaal poochhna nahi chhodta.
Reyansh ka chehra dheere-dheere serious ho gaya.
Usne message dobara padha.
Phir type kiya.
Reyansh:
Aapko aajkal meri zindagi mein bahut interest hai.
Message send ho gaya.
Woh kuch der screen dekhta raha.
Typing indicator nahi aaya.
Koi reply nahi.
Reyansh ne phone lock kar diya.
Reyansh (khud se):
"Jo bhi ho, madam ya sir, seedha bolne mein kya problem hai?"
Woh phone side mein rakhkar bed par let gaya.
Aaj ki shaam ki yaadein abhi bhi uske dimaag mein chal rahi thi. Jheel ki hansi, kitchen mein uski nok-jhonk, aur darwaze par woh chhota sa kiss.
Unknown number ka message kuch pal ke liye peeche chala gaya.
Lekin mita nahi.
Usne light band ki.
Kamre mein andhera ho gaya.
Aur Bengaluru ki raat apni raftaar se aage badhti rahi.