[Greenwood]

Update 46




Bengaluru | Tuesday | 8:12 AM
Alarm teesri baar baja.
Reyansh ne takiye ke neeche haath daalkar phone dhoondha aur bina aankhein khole alarm band kar diya.
Do second ki khamoshi.
Phir usne ek aankh kholi.
Screen par waqt dekhte hi woh seedha uth baitha.
Reyansh:
"Shit! Aaj phir late."
Woh bed se utra, bathroom ki taraf badha, phir achanak ruk gaya.
Kal raat ka dinner yaad aa gaya.
Jheel ka hansna. Kitchen mein uska mazaak udaana. Darwaze par woh chhota sa kiss.
Reyansh ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Phir uski nazar ghadi par padi.
Reyansh:
"Romance ke liye poori raat padi thi. Subah toh office jaana tha!"
Woh jaldi se tayyar hone laga.
Kitchen mein pahunchkar usne coffee machine chala di. Tabhi doorbell baji.
Darwaza khola toh Shalu saamne thi.
Usne Reyansh ko dekha. Phir uske haath mein coffee ka mug dekha.
Shalu:
"Sir, aaj toh aap jaldi mein lag rahe ho."
Reyansh:
"Aaj nahi, Shalu. Aaj toh main apni hi zindagi mein late guest hoon."
Shalu ko uski baat poori tarah samajh nahi aayi, lekin woh muskura di.
Shalu:
"Breakfast bana doon?"
Reyansh:
"Bas toast bana do. Aur coffee ready hai."
Shalu kitchen mein chali gayi.
Reyansh apna laptop bag lene bedroom mein gaya. Wapas aaya toh Shalu table par toast rakh chuki thi.
Usne ek bite liya aur phone check kiya.
Jheel ka message tha.
Jheel ❤️:
Good morning, sleepyhead.
Reyansh:
Good morning, Miss Food Inspector.
Jheel:
Aaj time par office jaana.
Reyansh:
Tum girlfriend ho ya meri attendance monitor?
Jheel:
Dono roles achhe se nibha sakti hoon.
Reyansh hans pada.
Reyansh:
Kal ke dinner ke baad tumhara confidence kaafi badh gaya hai.
Jheel:
Tumhari cooking ke baad mera confidence badhna hi tha. Kisi ko toh is relationship ko sambhalna padega.
Reyansh ne message padhkar sir hilaya.
Reyansh:
Shaam ko milte hain. Aur haan, aaj dinner order karunga.
Jheel:
Better decision.
Phone pocket mein rakhkar woh darwaze ki taraf badha.
Shalu ne peeche se awaaz lagayi.
Shalu:
"Sir, aapka wallet!"
Reyansh ruk gaya.
Phir palatkar wallet liya.
Reyansh:
"Thank you. Aaj tumne meri naukri bachayi hai."
Shalu:
"Sir, wallet bhoolne se naukri kaise jaati?"
Reyansh:
"Meri company ke clients ko payment kaun karta phirta?"
Shalu hans padi.
Reyansh bhi muskurate hue flat se nikal gaya.
Shalu ne darwaza band kiya aur table saaf karne lagi.
Uski nazar ek pal ke liye us notebook par padi jismein woh kabhi-kabhi naye English words likha karti thi.
Usne notebook uthayi, ek naya page khola aur likha:
"Confidence: Khud par bharosa."
Phir usne neeche ek chhota sa sentence likha.
I can learn new things.
Woh sentence use poori tarah yaad nahi tha, lekin usne do baar padhkar apne dimaag mein bithane ki koshish ki.
Uske liye abhi itna hi kaafi tha.


9:34 AM | Reyansh Ka Office
Reyansh lift se nikla toh Neha apne desk ki taraf ja rahi thi.
Usne Reyansh ko dekha aur muskura di.
Neha:
"Good morning, Mr. Late Entry."
Reyansh:
"Good morning, Ms. Unnecessary Commentary."
Neha:
"Meeting das baje hai. Presentation ready hai?"
Reyansh:
"Bilkul."
Neha ne uske haath mein coffee dekhi.
Neha:
"Breakfast kiya?"
Reyansh:
"Ji, mummy."
Neha ruk gayi.
Neha:
"Mummy?"
Reyansh:
"Office mein koi toh meri health ki fikr karega."
Neha:
"Main tumhari health ki nahi, presentation ki fikr kar rahi hoon. Bhookhe pet tum aur zyada ajeeb ideas dete ho."
Reyansh:
"Toh tum maan rahi ho ki mere ideas interesting hote hain."
Neha:
"Main maan rahi hoon ki tumhe har baat mein apni tareef sunni hoti hai."
Reyansh hans diya aur apne cabin mein chala gaya.
Meeting theek rahi.
Presentation mein kuch changes suggest hue, do points par discussion hua aur agle hafte ke liye action items decide kar liye gaye.
Koi badi problem nahi thi.
Koi dramatic announcement bhi nahi.
Bas kaam ka ek aam din.
Meeting ke baad Reyansh apne desk par baitha tha ki uska phone vibrate hua.


Screen par naam dekhkar usne call utha li.

Reyansh:
"Madam Architect! Aaj Bengaluru ki kaunsi purani building ko nayi zindagi dene ka plan hai?"
Doosri taraf Aarohi ki hansi sunai di.
Aarohi:
"Good morning to you too, Mr. Corporate Hero."
Reyansh kursi par peeche ho gaya.
Reyansh:
"Finally kisi ne meri position ki izzat ki."
Aarohi:
"Position ki izzat hai. Tumhari nahi."
Reyansh:
"Dosti mein itna disrespect?"
Aarohi:
"Dosti mein hi toh asli feedback milta hai."
Reyansh muskura diya.
Aarohi se baat karna hamesha aasaan raha tha. Unke beech ab woh formal sa gap nahi tha jo naye logon ke saath hota hai. Dono ek-doosre ki baat kaat sakte the, mazaak uda sakte the aur phir agle hi pal normal conversation par aa sakte the.
Reyansh:
"Achha, batao. Phone kyun kiya? Koi kaam hai ya meri awaaz sunne ka mann kar raha tha?"
Aarohi:
"Apni khushfahmi ka ilaaj karwao."
Reyansh:
"Appointment tum book karwa dogi?"
Aarohi:
"Bilkul. Lekin fees tum bharna."
Dono hans pade.
Phir Aarohi ne apni baat batayi.
Uski design consultancy ek purani commercial building ke renovation proposal par kaam kar rahi thi. Building ka original structure kaafi dilchasp tha, lekin aas-paas ke naye construction ki wajah se uski pehchaan dheere-dheere khatam ho rahi thi.
Aarohi ko us jagah ki kuch photographs leni thi aur ek chhoti presentation ke liye visual references arrange karne the.
Aarohi:
"Main office ke baad udhar jaane wali hoon. Socha tumhe bhi poochh loon. Tumhe purani jagahon ki photographs lena pasand hai na?"
Reyansh:
"Mujhe pasand hai, lekin tumhe yaad kaise hai?"
Aarohi:
"Kyuki pichhli baar tumne ek coffee shop ke saamne khade hokar bees minute uski khidkiyon ki photographs li thi."
Reyansh:
"Architecture appreciate kar raha tha."
Aarohi:
"Tum coffee ka wait kar rahe the."
Reyansh:
"Architecture aur coffee ek doosre ke virodhi nahi hain."
Aarohi phir hans padi.
Aarohi:
"Chalo, shaam ko milte hain. Saat baje ke aas-paas?"
Reyansh:
"Done. Location bhej dena."
Aarohi:
"Aur haan, time par aana."
Reyansh ne aankhein band kar li.
Reyansh:
"Aaj meri zindagi ki har aurat meri attendance kyun check kar rahi hai?"
Aarohi kuch pal chup rahi.
Phir uski awaaz mein hansi ghul gayi.
Aarohi:
"Har aurat?"
Reyansh ko apni galti ka ehsaas hua.
Reyansh:
"Mera matlab... office mein Neha bhi subah se lecture de rahi hai."
Aarohi:
"Achha. Neha bhi."
Usne jaan-boojhkar bhi par zor diya.
Reyansh samajh gaya ki ab uski khair nahi.
Reyansh:
"Aarohi, koi zaroori kaam hai toh batao."
Aarohi:
"Haan. Saat baje. Late hue toh coffee tumhari taraf se."
Reyansh:
"Coffee toh waise bhi meri taraf se hoti."
Aarohi:
"Toh phir late hone ka koi faayda nahi."
Call kat gayi.
Reyansh ne phone table par rakha.
Uske chehre par ek purani, jaani-pehchaani muskurahat thi.
Aarohi uski zindagi mein kisi naye chapter ki tarah nahi aayi thi. Woh un logon mein se thi jinke saath kahani ke har page par kuch bada hona zaroori nahi hota.
Kabhi ek phone call hi kaafi hoti hai.


Shaam 6:42 PM | Bengaluru
Aarohi building ke bahar khadi photographs le rahi thi.
Purani imarat ke entrance par ab bhi kuch original design elements bache hue the. Darwaze ke upar bani hui patli geometric detailing aur side walls par purane stone panels, naye glass-fronted buildings ke beech alag hi nazar aa rahe the.
Aarohi ne camera neeche kiya aur apni notebook mein kuch points likhe.
Uske liye purani buildings sirf construction nahi thi. Unmein kisi waqt ke logon ki zarooratein, unki choices aur unki soch ka nishaan hota tha.
Woh apne kaam ko lekar serious thi, lekin har cheez ko office presentation ki tarah dekhna use pasand nahi tha.
Kabhi-kabhi woh bas kisi jagah ko dekhna chahti thi.
Usne phone nikala.
Aarohi:
Kahan ho?
Reyansh ka reply aaya.
Reyansh:
Parking.
Aarohi:
Tum sach mein time par aa gaye?
Reyansh:
Screenshot le lo. Aisa din baar-baar nahi aayega.


Aarohi hans di.

Kuch minute baad Reyansh uske paas aa gaya.
Aaj usne office ke kapde badal liye the. Simple shirt, dark jeans aur kandhe par bag.
Reyansh:
"Toh madam, dikhao apni historical property."
Aarohi ne uski taraf dekha.
Aarohi:
"Historical property nahi. Heritage value wali building."
Reyansh:
"Difference?"
Aarohi:
"Kaafi hai."
Reyansh:
"Achha. Aaj meri class bhi lagegi."
Aarohi:
"Free mein."
Reyansh:
"Tab toh main seriously nahi lunga."
Aarohi ne uske kandhe par halka sa dhakka diya.
Dono building ke andar ki taraf badh gaye.
Aarohi use original structure ke baare mein batati rahi. Reyansh kabhi dhyan se sunta, kabhi kisi chhoti detail par sawaal poochhta.
Uski khaasiyat thi ki woh har field ka expert banne ki koshish nahi karta tha. Agar use kuch nahi pata hota, toh poochh leta.
Aarohi ko yeh baat pasand thi.
Reyansh:
"Ek baat batao. Jab renovation hoga toh purani cheezein bachengi kaise? Naya design banate waqt sab kuch change karne ka mann nahi karta?"
Aarohi:
"Karta hai. Lekin har purani cheez hata dena solution nahi hota. Kabhi-kabhi jo pehle se achha hai, use samajhna padta hai."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh:
"Yeh baat building ke liye boli ya zindagi ke liye?"
Aarohi ne camera bag band kiya.
Aarohi:
"Main building ki baat kar rahi thi. Tum apni taraf se meaning nikaal rahe ho."
Reyansh:
"Meri creativity ka kya kasoor?"
Aarohi:
"Uski toh poori file bani hui hai."
Dono hans pade.
Kaam khatam karte-karte saat bajkar bees minute ho gaye.
Aarohi ne camera bag uthaya.
Aarohi:
"Coffee?"
Reyansh:
"Of course. Tumne mujhe bulaya hi coffee ke liye tha."
Aarohi:
"Main tumhe kaam ke liye laayi thi."
Reyansh:
"Aur main tumhari madad karne aaya tha."
Aarohi:
"Bilkul. Tumne teen photographs li aur baaki waqt sawaal poochhte rahe."
Reyansh:
"Intellectual contribution."
Aarohi ne hanskar sar hila diya.


7:38 PM | Café

Café zyada bheed wala nahi tha.
Khidki ke paas ek table khaali thi. Aarohi ne coffee order ki aur Reyansh ne cold coffee.
Dono baith gaye.
Aarohi apni photographs check kar rahi thi. Reyansh phone par Jheel ka message padh raha tha.
Jheel ❤️:
Aaj dinner ka kya plan hai?
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh:
Aarohi ke saath hoon. Coffee ke baad kuch kha lunga.
Jheel ka message aaya.
Jheel:
Achha. Enjoy your evening.
Reyansh ne phone rakh diya.
Aarohi ne screen ki taraf jaan-boojhkar nahi dekha, lekin usne Reyansh ke chehre par aayi muskurahat zaroor notice ki.
Aarohi:
"Koi khaas baat hai?"
Reyansh:
"Kyun?"
Aarohi:
"Tum phone dekhkar muskura rahe the."
Reyansh:
"Main bina wajah bhi muskura sakta hoon."
Aarohi:
"Bilkul. Lekin tumhari bina wajah wali smile aur message wali smile alag hai."
Reyansh ne cold coffee ka glass uthaya.
Reyansh:
"Tum logon ko doosron ke expressions par research karne ka shauk kyun hota hai?"
Aarohi:
"Hum log?"
Reyansh:
"Matlab... tum."
Aarohi ne apni coffee table par rakhi.
Aarohi:
"Reyansh, tum kisi ko date kar rahe ho?"
Sawaal seedha tha.
Reyansh ne kuch pal use dekha.
Phir usne socha ki baat chhupane ka koi matlab nahi.
Reyansh:
"Haan."
Aarohi ke chehre par hairani aayi, lekin woh sirf ek pal ke liye thi.
Phir woh muskura di.
Aarohi:
"Achha!"
Reyansh:
"Bas achha?"
Aarohi:
"Toh kya main table par chadhkar announcement karun?"
Reyansh:
"Main toh thoda emotional reaction expect kar raha tha."
Aarohi:
"Naam?"
Reyansh:
"Jheel."
Aarohi ne naam dohraya.
Aarohi:
"Jheel. Achha naam hai."
Reyansh:
"Haan."
Aarohi:
"Kab se?"
Reyansh:
"Kuch waqt ho gaya."
Aarohi ne uski taraf dekha.
Aarohi:
"Aur tumne mujhe bataya nahi?"
Reyansh ne thoda sa kandha uchkaya.
Reyansh:
"Har baat turant announce karna zaroori nahi laga. Dheere-dheere chal raha hai."
Aarohi ne sir hilaya.
Aarohi:
"Fair enough."
Uske lehje mein koi naraazgi nahi thi. Na hi koi aisi curiosity jo Reyansh ko uncomfortable kare.
Woh bas uske dost ki zindagi mein aayi ek nayi baat ko samajh rahi thi.
Aarohi:
"Khush ho?"
Reyansh ka jawab is baar bina kisi mazaak ke aaya.
Reyansh:
"Haan. Uske saath achha lagta hai."
Aarohi ne uske chehre ko dekha.
Aarohi:
"Good."
Reyansh:
"Tumne toh interview khatam kar diya."
Aarohi:
"Abhi toh shuru bhi nahi kiya."
Reyansh:
"Aarohi!"
Woh hans padi.
Aarohi:
"Relax. Main bas itna poochh rahi hoon ki tum dono ek-doosre ko samajhne ki koshish kar rahe ho na?"
Reyansh:
"Haan. Hum baat karte hain. Kabhi mazaak, kabhi serious baatein. Abhi toh ek-doosre ko jaan hi rahe hain."
Aarohi:
"Bas phir. Kisi bhi rishte mein sab kuch pehle din samajh aa jaana zaroori nahi."
Reyansh ne coffee ka sip liya.
Reyansh:
"Yeh advice free hai ya iska bill aayega?"
Aarohi:
"Bill toh aayega. Tumhari cold coffee ka."
Reyansh:
"Main tumhe kabhi coffee nahi pilaunga."
Aarohi:
"Kal bhi yahi kaha tha."
Dono hans pade.
Phir Aarohi ne apni photographs uske saamne kar di.
Aarohi:
"Achha, ab kaam ki baat. Inmein se kaunsi photograph presentation ke cover ke liye achhi lagegi?"
Reyansh ne phone ki taraf dekha.
Usne ek photograph select ki jismein purane entrance ka ek hissa aur uske peeche nayi building ka glass façade dono dikh rahe the.
Reyansh:
"Yeh wali."
Aarohi:
"Kyun?"
Reyansh:
"Ismein purana bhi dikh raha hai aur naya bhi. Dono ek hi frame mein hain, lekin ek-doosre ko chhupa nahi rahe."
Aarohi kuch pal photograph dekhti rahi.
Phir usne Reyansh ki taraf dekha.
Aarohi:
"Not bad, Mr. Corporate Hero."
Reyansh:
"Thank you. Mere andar talent ki koi kami nahi."
Aarohi:
"Compliment wapas leti hoon."
Reyansh hans pada.
Usne phone table par rakha.
Dono ki coffee khatam ho chuki thi, lekin baatein abhi baaki thi.
Aarohi ne apne office ke ek funny incident ke baare mein bataya. Reyansh ne meeting mein hui ek chhoti si gadbad sunayi. Dono ne ek-doosre ki taang kheechi.
Unki dosti ko kisi naye naam ki zaroorat nahi thi.
Woh pehle se hi apni jagah par thi.
Aur Reyansh ko achha lag raha tha ki uski zindagi mein aise log bhi hain jinke saamne use har waqt apne mood ka explanation nahi dena padta.



Café se bahar nikalte waqt Aarohi ka phone baja.

Usne screen dekhi aur call utha li.
Aarohi:
"Hello, haan bolo."
Doosri taraf se kuch kaha gaya.
Aarohi ka chehra thoda serious ho gaya.
Aarohi:
"Abhi? Lekin maine toh file bhej di thi."
Woh kuch pal sunti rahi.
Aarohi:
"Achha, mujhe mail forward kar do. Main check karke batati hoon."
Call kat gayi.
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh:
"Sab thik?"
Aarohi:
"Office ka kaam hai. Client ko presentation mein ek change chahiye, lekin unhone jo reference diya hai woh original brief se match nahi karta."
Reyansh:
"Toh unse clarify kar lo."
Aarohi:
"Kar liya. Ab woh keh rahe hain ki kal subah tak revised version chahiye."
Reyansh ne sir hilaya.
Reyansh:
"Classic."
Aarohi hansne ki koshish karne lagi, lekin uske chehre par thakaan saaf thi.
Reyansh:
"Sun, main tumhe ghar tak chhod deta hoon. Raaste mein tum apna mail check kar lena."
Aarohi:
"Zaroorat nahi. Main cab le lungi."
Reyansh:
"Main tumhe chhod raha hoon, koi ehsaan nahi kar raha. Waise bhi mujhe usi taraf jaana hai."
Aarohi ne use dekha.
Aarohi:
"Tum sach mein usi taraf ja rahe ho?"
Reyansh ek pal ruka.
Reyansh:
"Thoda sa detour hai."
Aarohi:
"Matlab tum jhooth bol rahe ho."
Reyansh:
"Main ise friendship convenience kehta hoon."
Aarohi hans padi.
Aarohi:
"Chalo. Lekin petrol ka bill tumhara."
Reyansh:
"Coffee bhi meri, petrol bhi mera. Tum dost ho ya financial liability?"
Aarohi:
"Abhi toh tumne kaha tha dosti mein asli feedback milta hai."
Reyansh ne car unlock ki.
Reyansh:
"Baith jao, madam."
Aarohi passenger seat par baith gayi.
Raaste mein woh apne client ka mail check karti rahi. Reyansh gaadi chala raha tha aur beech-beech mein usse poochhta ki use kis jagah rukna hai.
Kuch der baad Aarohi ne phone neeche rakha.
Aarohi:
"Ek baat kahun?"
Reyansh:
"Bolo."
Aarohi:
"Achha lagta hai ki hum aise normal bhi reh sakte hain. Har baar milne par koi special plan ya badi baat zaroori nahi."
Reyansh ne sadak se nazar hataaye bina jawab diya.
Reyansh:
"Hum dost hain, Aarohi. Har mulaqat ko event banane ki zaroorat nahi."
Aarohi muskura di.
Aarohi:
"Exactly."
Gaadi uske apartment ke paas ruki.
Aarohi ne seat belt kholi.
Aarohi:
"Thanks for the ride."
Reyansh:
"Coffee aur petrol ka bill agle mahine bhej dunga."
Aarohi:
"Main payment kar dungi. Tum bas apni attendance improve karte rehna."
Reyansh:
"Good night, Aarohi."
Aarohi:
"Good night, Reyansh."
Woh gaadi se utar gayi.
Reyansh ne use building ke andar jaate dekha, phir gaadi aage badha di.
Uske phone par Jheel ka message aaya.
Jheel ❤️:
Dinner ho gaya?
Reyansh:
Abhi karne ja raha hoon.
Jheel:
Coffee peene gaye the ya dinner bhool gaye?
Reyansh:
Dono alag departments hain.
Jheel:
Tumhare departments kabhi time par kaam karte hain?
Reyansh hans diya.
Reyansh:
Kal milte hain. Dinner tumhare saath.
Jheel:
Dekhte hain, Mr. Busy.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakh diya.
Aaj ki shaam achhi rahi thi.
Aarohi ke saath dosti ka apna sukoon tha. Jheel ke saath rishte ka apna nayaapan.
Dono alag the.
Aur Reyansh ko abhi kisi ek ko doosre se compare karne ki zaroorat mehsoos nahi hoti thi.

10:17PM
Reyansh ghar pahunchkar seedha kitchen mein gaya.
Fridge khola.
Andar kal ki bachi hui bhurji ka chhota sa container rakha tha.
Usne use bahar nikala, kuch der dekha aur phir microwave mein rakh diya.
Reyansh:
"Chef sahab ki legacy."
Dinner karte waqt usne Aarohi ki bheji hui photographs dobara dekhi. Usne ek message bheja.
Reyansh:
Presentation ke liye woh third photo use karna. Usmein story hai.
Aarohi ka reply aaya.
Aarohi:
Noted, Mr. Creative Consultant.
Reyansh ne phone rakh diya.
Kuch minute baad woh balcony mein aaya.
Saamne Flat 304 ki light jal rahi thi.
Usne Jheel ko message kiya.
Reyansh:
Good night, Jheel.
Jheel:
Good night. Aur kal time par uthna.
Reyansh:
Tumhe meri neend se personal problem hai?


Jheel:

Tumhare alarm se hai. Pichhli baar tumne itni baar snooze kiya tha ki mujhe bhi uthna pad gaya tha.
Reyansh ne aankhein band kar li.
Reyansh:
Okay. Kal se alarm silent.
Jheel:
Kal se tum khud time par uthoge.
Reyansh:
Impossible demands.
Jheel ne ❤️ react kiya.
Reyansh ne phone lock kar diya.
Woh kuch der balcony mein khada raha.
Aaj uska din kaafi normal tha. Office, dost, coffee, thoda sa kaam, thoda sa mazaak.
Lekin shayad zindagi ka ek achha hissa isi normalcy mein chhupa hota hai.
Har din koi naya mod nahi aata.
Kabhi bas purane doston se baat hoti hai, kisi ke saath coffee pi jaati hai, aur kisi ka message dekhkar chehre par muskurahat aa jaati hai.
Reyansh ne balcony ki light band ki aur andar chala gaya.
Usne phone bedside table par rakha.
Screen ek pal ke liye roshan hui.
Koi naya message nahi tha.
Is baar usne phone dobara check nahi kiya.
Woh let gaya aur aankhein band kar li.