[Greenwood]

Update 47



Subah ke 8:17 baj rahe the.
Bengaluru ki sadkon par roz ki tarah gaadiyon ka shor tha. Kahin office jaane ki jaldi, kahin college bus ke peeche bhaagte bachche, toh kahin footpath par khade log apni chai ke saath din ki shuruaat kar rahe the.
Flat 303 mein, lekin, duniya kaafi alag chal rahi thi.
Reyansh apne bed par leta hua chhat ko dekh raha tha.
Uska phone takiye ke paas pada tha. Screen par Jheel ka message chamak raha tha.
Jheel: Good morning.
Reyansh: Bas? Itni si greeting?
Jheel: Good morning, Mr. Complaints Department.
Reyansh: Better. Lekin girlfriend hone ke kuch toh benefits hone chahiye.
Jheel: Haan. Tumhe roz subah tang karne ka haq.
Reyansh: Woh toh tum bina girlfriend bane bhi kar sakti thi.
Jheel: Toh phir relationship mein aane ka fayda?
Reyansh ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Reyansh: Tum mujhe miss karti ho.
Jheel: Subah-subah apni imagination ko control karo.
Reyansh: Matlab raat ko karun?
Kuch seconds tak koi reply nahi aaya.
Reyansh ne phone ko dekha, phir muskurate hue khud se kaha, "Ab phansi."
Phone vibrate hua.
Jheel: Tum na, kabhi-kabhi bahut irritating ho jaate ho.
Reyansh: Aur phir bhi tum mujhe message karti ho.
Jheel: Galti ho gayi.
Reyansh: Milkar maafi maang lena.
Jheel: Kis baat ki?
Reyansh: Yeh toh milne ke baad decide karenge.
Jheel ne message padhkar aankhein ghumayi.
Woh apne flat mein breakfast ki taiyari kar rahi thi. Ek haath mein bread ka packet tha aur doosre mein phone. Usne kuch type kiya, phir delete kar diya.
Phir dobara type kiya.
Jheel: Aaj tumhara office nahi hai?
Reyansh: Hai. Lekin mera dil nahi hai.
Jheel: Tumhare dil ka HR department kaun hai?
Reyansh: Tum.
Jheel: Resignation bhej rahi hoon.
Reyansh: Notice period toh serve karna padega.
Jheel hans padi.
Usne phone kitchen counter par rakha aur apna breakfast banane lagi. Uske chehre par woh halki si khushi thi jo kisi bade surprise se nahi, balki kisi ke rozmarra ka hissa ban jaane se aati hai.
Kabhi-kabhi use khud bhi hairani hoti thi ki ek insaan ke kuch messages uske poore din ka mood badal sakte hain.
Aur phir usne apne aap ko samjhaya ki har khushi ka analysis karna zaroori nahi hota.
Kuch cheezon ko bas jeena chahiye.


Darwaze ki bell baji.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakha aur bed se uthkar darwaza khola.
Shalu saamne khadi thi, kandhe par apna bag latkaye.
"Good morning, sir."
Reyansh ne ghadi dekhi.
"Good morning? Shalu, tumne time dekha hai?"
"Ji. Aath bajkar pachis minute."
"Toh phir itni khushi se good morning kyun bol rahi ho?"
Shalu ne use dekha.
"Sir, aapko good morning bolne ke liye time bhi appointment lekar aayega?"
Reyansh ek pal use dekhta raha.
Phir hans diya.
"Waah. Aajkal jawab bhi dene lagi ho."
"Aapke yahan kaam karte-karte training ho gayi hai."
"Achha? Toh aaj se tumhari salary mein sarcasm allowance bhi add karna padega."
Shalu kitchen ki taraf badh gayi.
"Salary mein add kar dena, sir. Lekin pehle aap brush kar lijiye."
Reyansh ne hairani se use dekha.
"Excuse me?"
"Breakfast banane ke liye kitchen saaf chahiye. Aur aap coffee peene se pehle brush kar lijiye."
"Main ghar ka malik hoon ya college ka bachcha?"
Shalu ne peeche mudkar jawab diya, "Ghar ke malik ko bhi brush karna padta hai."
Reyansh ne dono haath utha diye.
"Theek hai. Is ghar mein meri koi izzat nahi hai."
"Ji, brush kar lijiye."
Woh bathroom ki taraf chala gaya.
Shalu apni hansi rok nahi paayi.
Kuch der baad Reyansh fresh hokar kitchen mein aaya. Shalu ne uske saamne toast aur omelette rakh diya.
Reyansh ne plate dekhi.
"Yeh kya hai?"
"Breakfast."
"Yeh toh mujhe bhi dikh raha hai. Main pooch raha hoon ki itna simple kyun hai?"
"Sir, aapko royal breakfast chahiye toh pehle royal timing par utha kijiye."
Reyansh ne ek bite liya.
"Waise taste achha hai."
"Thank you."
"Bas namak thoda kam hai."


Shalu ne plate ki taraf dekha.

"Mujhe toh theek lag raha hai."
"Har chef apne khane ko achha hi bolta hai."
"Har aadmi apni galti ka blame doosron par hi daalta hai."
Reyansh ka haath hawa mein ruk gaya.
"Shalu!"
"Ji, sir?"
"Tumhari personality develop ho rahi hai."
"Achhi baat hai na?"
"Bilkul. Bas mere saamne zyada mat karna."
Shalu muskura di.
Reyansh ne coffee ka mug uthaya aur phone check karne laga.
Office ke kuch emails the. Ek client ne presentation par comments bheje the aur Neha ka message bhi tha.
Neha: Aaj office time par aa rahe ho ya phir kisi ko tumhari attendance lagani padegi?
Reyansh: Main apni marzi ka malik hoon.
Neha: Client bhi apni marzi ka malik hai. Woh tumhara wait nahi karega.
Reyansh: Tum subah-subah itni practical kyun ho?
Neha: Kyunki tumhari tarah charming hone ke chakkar mein time waste nahi karti.
Reyansh hans diya.
Usne coffee khatam ki aur apna bag uthaya.
Darwaze ke paas pahunchkar use kuch yaad aaya.
"Shalu, tumhara computer course kaisa chal raha hai?"
Shalu ne apna bag theek kiya.
"Abhi toh main fees aur timings compare kar rahi hoon. Ek jagah weekend batch hai."
"Achha hai. Jaldi mein admission mat lena. Pehle dekh lena ki wahan sach mein seekhne ko milega."
"Ji, sir."
"Jab decide kar lo toh mujhe bata dena. Agar course ka schedule tumhare kaam ke time se takraya, toh hum timing adjust karne ki koshish karenge."
Shalu ke chehre par sachchi khushi aa gayi.
"Thank you, sir."
Reyansh ne haath se halka sa gesture kiya.
"Bas padhai karke meri English ki galtiyan mat nikaalne lagna."
Shalu hans padi.
"Uske liye toh mujhe course ki zaroorat hi nahi hai, sir."
Reyansh darwaze par ruk gaya.
"Yeh ghar mere khilaaf saazish kar raha hai."
"Sir, aap late ho rahe hain."
"Ja raha hoon!"
Aur woh nikal gaya.


Office pahunchte-pahunchte nau bajkar bees minute ho gaye.
Reyansh apni desk par baitha hi tha ki Neha coffee ka mug lekar uske paas aa gayi.
"Good morning, superstar."
"Good morning, office ki alarm clock."
"Kal raat der tak jaage the?"
Reyansh ne laptop khola.
"Kyuki?"
"Bas pooch rahi hoon. Aaj tumhare chehre par wohi smile hai jo pichhle kuch dino se gayab nahi ho rahi."
"Ab main smile bhi permission lekar karun?"
"Nahi. Lekin agar iska reason achha hai toh congratulations."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Tumhe har cheez ka reason chahiye?"
"Professional habit."
"Brand manager main hoon."
"Office mein. Meri observations par tumhara designation nahi chalta."
Reyansh hans pada.
Neha ne apni coffee ka sip liya.
"Waise presentation ke updated numbers aa gaye hain. Client ne bas do changes maange hain. Tum dekh lena."
"Send kar do."
"Kar diye."
"Thanks."
Neha jaane lagi, phir ruk gayi.
"Ek baat poochun?"
"Poochho."
"Jab tum kisi ke saath hote ho, toh kya tum waise hi baat karte ho jaise office mein karte ho?"
Reyansh ne bhaunhein sikodi.
"Matlab?"
"Yahan har problem ka solution nikaal lete ho. Har situation mein joke maar dete ho. Lekin kabhi-kabhi lagta hai tum apni baat poori karne se pehle hi uska punchline bana dete ho."
Reyansh kuch pal chup raha.
Use Jheel ki woh baat yaad aayi jo kuch din pehle usne kahi thi. Ki woh kabhi-kabhi serious conversation ko mazaak mein badal deta hai.
"Ho sakta hai," usne aakhir kaha.
Neha ne kandhe uchkaye.
"Bas observation thi. Tumhe badalne ka project nahi le rahi."
"Shukr hai. Meri zindagi mein pehle hi ek review committee hai."
Neha hans padi.
"All the best, Mr. Under Review."
Woh chali gayi.
Reyansh ne screen par nazar jama di, lekin kuch der tak uska dhyaan kaam mein nahi laga.
Usne pehli baar mehsoos kiya ki alag-alag log uski zindagi ke alag-alag hisse dekhte hain.
Office mein woh confident tha.
Arshad ke saamne uska mazaak aur shararat wala roop tha.
Jheel ke saath woh in dono ke beech kahin tha. Kabhi bilkul aasan, kabhi apne hi jazbaat ko samajhne mein uljha hua.


Aur shayad kisi ke kareeb aane ka matlab yahi tha ki woh tumhare woh hisse bhi dekhne lage jinhe tum khud se bachakar rakhte ho.

Usne laptop ki taraf dhyaan lautaya.
Aaj ka din abhi lamba tha.
3. Ek Chhota Sa Plan
Dopahar ke kareeb Jheel ka message aaya.
Jheel: Aaj shaam free ho?
Reyansh: Depends.
Jheel: Kis baat par?
Reyansh: Tum kya plan kar rahi ho?
Jheel: Kuch khaas nahi.
Reyansh: Toh main bhi free nahi hoon.
Jheel: Achha. Theek hai.
Reyansh ne message dekha.
Do minute beet gaye.
Koi naya message nahi.
Paanch minute beet gaye.
Ab bhi nahi.
Usne phone uthaya.
Reyansh: Tumne plan bataya hi nahi.
Jheel: Tum free nahi ho na.
Reyansh: Main busy hoon, unavailable nahi.
Jheel: Dono mein difference?
Reyansh: Busy aadmi kaam khatam karke mil sakta hai. Unavailable aadmi ko girlfriend ki yaad nahi aati.
Jheel: Tumhe meri yaad aa rahi hai?
Reyansh ki ungliyan screen par ruk gayin.
Woh seedha jawab de sakta tha.
Lekin uski aadat abhi poori tarah badli nahi thi.
Reyansh: Tum sawaal bahut karti ho.
Jheel: Aur tum jawab bahut ghumate ho.
Reyansh muskuraya.
Is baar usne koi mazaak nahi kiya.
Reyansh: Haan. Yaad aa rahi hai.
Jheel apne flat mein sofa par baithi thi.
Message padhkar uske chehre par ek naram si muskurahat aa gayi.
Usne phone ko seene ke paas nahi rakha, na kisi film ki heroine ki tarah aankhein band ki. Bas kuch pal screen ko dekhti rahi, jaise us chhote se jawab ko apne din ka hissa bana rahi ho.
Jheel: Mujhe bhi.
Reyansh ne message padha.
Phir usne type kiya.
Reyansh: Shaam ko milte hain?
Jheel: Kahan?
Reyansh: Tum decide karo.
Jheel: Mere ghar par chai?
Reyansh: Sirf chai?
Jheel: Reyansh!
Reyansh: Achha baba. Chai hi sahi.
Jheel: Aur kuch khaane ko bhi banaungi.
Reyansh: Tum banaogi ya hum order karenge?
Jheel: Tumhe mujh par bharosa nahi?
Reyansh: Khane par hai. Apni jaan par nahi.
Jheel ne zor se hansi chhodi.
Jheel: Shaam ko aana. Phir pata chalega.
Reyansh: Ji, chef sahiba.
Phone side mein rakhkar Jheel uth khadi hui.
Usne apne flat ko dekha. Sofa par ek cushion tedha pada tha. Coffee table par uski notebook khuli thi. Kitchen mein bartan rakhe the.
Aaj koi badi taiyari nahi karni thi.
Phir bhi usne socha ki shaam ko thoda sa achha lagna chahiye.
Woh almari ke paas gayi, kuch kapde nikale, phir wapas rakh diye.
Aakhir mein usne apna roz ka ek simple, comfortable outfit chun liya.
Kapde badalne se zyada use is baat ki khushi thi ki shaam ko Reyansh aane wala tha.
Aur is baar plan usne banaya tha.



Shaam ko Bengaluru ka aasman halka narangi ho gaya tha.

Office se nikalte waqt Reyansh ne Arshad ko call kiya.
"Zinda ho?"
Arshad ki awaaz aayi, "Nahi. Mera bhoot tumse baat kar raha hai."
"Achha, toh ek kaam kar. Bhoot bankar bata, dinner mein kya khaun?"
"Apni girlfriend ke ghar ja raha hai na?"
Reyansh ruk gaya.
"Tujhe kaise pata?"
"Kal se teri typing speed aur smile dono badh gayi hain. Main copywriter hoon. Patterns samajhta hoon."
"Tu apne clients ke patterns samajh. Meri life ka campaign mat bana."
"Campaign toh already chal raha hai. Title hai: Ek Ladka, Ek Ladki Aur Iski Overconfidence."
Reyansh hans pada.
"Chal, baad mein baat karta hoon."
"Ek minute."
"Kya?"
Arshad ki awaaz is baar thodi sanjeeda thi.
"Achha lag raha hai tujhe aise dekhkar. Bas uske saath rehna toh phone se zyada saamne rehna."
Reyansh kuch pal chup raha.
"Samajh gaya."
"Waise dinner mein kya hai?"
"Pata nahi. Jheel bana rahi hai."
"Toh phir dua karna ki—"
Arshad beech mein hi ruk gaya.
"Matlab, umeed karna ki achha bana ho."
Reyansh ne hanskar kaha, "Tu apni zubaan sambhal. Main baad mein call karta hoon."
Call khatam karke woh Jheel ke flat ki taraf badh gaya.
Lift mein khade hokar usne apni shirt theek ki, baal ungliyon se set kiye aur phone check kiya.
Jheel ka message aaya tha.
Jheel: Door unlocked nahi hai. Bell bajana.
Reyansh: Mujhe laga boyfriend ko special entry milti hai.
Jheel: Boyfriend ko bhi bell bajani padti hai.
Reyansh: Relationship mein itne rules?
Jheel: Aur bhi hain. Aana toh bataungi.
Reyansh ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Usne lift se bahar nikalte hi 304 ke saamne khade hokar bell bajayi.
Andar se halki si awaaz aayi.
"Ek minute!"
Kuch pal baad darwaza khula.
Jheel saamne thi.
Usne simple kurta pehna hua tha, baal khule the aur chehre par ghar ki shaanti wali ek alag hi softness thi.
Reyansh ne use dekha.
"Hello, chef sahiba."
Jheel ne uske haath dekhe.
"Khaali haath aaye ho?"
Reyansh ne apne haathon ko dekha, jaise use pehli baar pata chala ho ki woh sach mein kuch lekar nahi aaya.
"Main khud aaya hoon."
"Khud ko dessert samajh rakha hai?"
"Depends. Taste karke bata dena."
Jheel ne uske kandhe par halki si thapki maari.
"Chupchaap andar aao."
Reyansh hansta hua andar aa gaya.


Table par do plates rakhi thi.
Jheel ne simple vegetable pulao banaya tha, saath mein raita aur salad.
Reyansh ne table dekha.
"Yeh sab tumne banaya?"
"Haan."
"Order nahi kiya?"
"Nahi."
"Seriously?"
Jheel ne aankhein chhoti ki.
"Tumhe itna shock kyun lag raha hai?"
"Main bas soch raha tha ki tumne mujhe apne ghar bula kar food experiment karne ka faisla kiya hai."
"Abhi bhi wapas ja sakte ho."
Reyansh ne kursi kheenchkar baithte hue kaha, "Itni achhi company chhodkar? Bilkul nahi."
Jheel ke gaal halki si laali se bhar gaye.
Usne nazar hata kar plates mein khana serve kiya.
Reyansh ne pehla bite liya.
Jheel uska chehra padhne ki koshish kar rahi thi.
"Kaisa hai?"
Reyansh ne kuch nahi kaha.
Ek aur bite liya.
Phir paani piya.
Jheel ki aankhon mein shak aa gaya.
"Reyansh, batao na."
Usne dheere se plate neeche rakhi.
"Ek problem hai."
Jheel ka chehra utar gaya.
"Kya?"
"Ab mujhe tumhare ghar dinner ke liye aane ki aadat lag sakti hai."
Jheel kuch pal use dekhti rahi.
Phir usne cushion uthakar uski taraf phenka.
"Pagal!"
Reyansh hansne laga.
"Achha hai! Matlab khana pass ho gaya."
"Main agli baar kuch nahi banaungi."
"Phir main banaunga."
Jheel ne use dekha.
"Tum?"
"Haan, main."
"Last time tumne egg bhurji banayi thi."
"Arshad ki guidance mein."
"Toh tumne nahi banayi thi."
"Main present tha."
"Kitchen mein?"
"Emotionally."
Jheel itna hansi ki use paani peena pada.
Dinner ke dauran unki baatein kabhi khane par, kabhi office par, kabhi bachpan ki chhoti yaadon par jaati rahin.
Jheel ne bataya ki bachpan mein woh cooking videos dekha karti thi, lekin kabhi-kabhi recipe ke beech hi uska mann kisi aur cheez mein lag jaata.


"Ek baar maine cake banane ki koshish ki thi," usne kaha.

Reyansh ne dilchaspi dikhayi.
"Phir?"
"Phir cake nahi bana."
"Kya bana?"
"Ek ajeeb si cheez."
"Naam rakha tha?"
Jheel ne sharmate hue kaha, "Nahi."
"Galti ki. Har invention ka naam hona chahiye."
"Achha, tum hi batao."
Reyansh ne sochne ka natak kiya.
"Jheel's Mystery Cake."
"Bahut bekaar naam hai."
"Toh phir Reyansh's Last Meal."
Jheel ne hansi ke saath uski taraf napkin phenki.
"Bas karo!"
Uski hansi dheere-dheere shaant hui.
Reyansh use dekh raha tha.
Jheel ne mehsoos kiya toh poochha, "Kya hua?"
"Kuch nahi."
"Phir aise kyun dekh rahe ho?"
Reyansh ne nazar nahi hatayi.
"Achha lag raha hai."
"Kya?"
"Yeh sab."
Jheel ka expression badal gaya. Masti ke beech uske chehre par ek narmi aa gayi.
"Khane ki tareef kar rahe ho?"
"Khane ki bhi."
"Baaki?"
Reyansh ne halka sa saans liya.
"Baaki ke liye shayad mujhe aur words seekhne padenge."
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
"Har baat ko explain karna zaroori nahi hota."
"Yeh tum keh rahi ho? Tum toh har baat poochti ho."
"Main poochti hoon. Lekin jab tum jawab dete ho, toh sunna bhi chahti hoon."
Reyansh ki muskurahat halki ho gayi.
Usne apna haath table par rakha.
Jheel ne kuch pal baad apna haath uske haath ke paas rakh diya. Dono ki ungliyan halki si chhoo gayin.
Na koi bada gesture.
Na koi dialogue.
Bas ek chhota sa lamha, jahan dono ko ek-doosre ki maujoodgi ka ehsaas tha.


Dinner ke baad Jheel kitchen mein bartan rakhne lagi.
Reyansh ne plates uthayi.
"Main help karta hoon."
"Tum rehne do."
"Kyun?"
"Tum bartan dhote waqt bhi commentary karoge."
"Main constructive feedback deta hoon."
"Tum har cheez par review dete ho."
"Yeh meri personality ka important part hai."
Jheel ne uske haath se plate le li.
"Toh aaj personality ko sofa par baithne do."
Reyansh ne haath jodkar kaha, "Ji, madam."
Woh living room mein aa gaya.
Kuch minute baad Jheel bhi aa gayi. Usne lights dim kar di aur sofa ke doosre kone par baith gayi.
TV chala, lekin dono ka dhyaan us par zyada der nahi raha.
Jheel ne apne pair sofa par samet liye.
Reyansh ne poochha, "Thak gayi?"
"Thoda."
"Cooking se?"
"Nahi. Bas din lamba tha."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Sab theek hai?"
Jheel ne sar hilaya.
"Haan. Bas kabhi-kabhi din ke end mein aisa lagta hai ki mujhe kuch karna chahiye, lekin samajh nahi aata kya."
"Kis tarah ka kuch?"
"Pata nahi. Apne liye. Apni life ke liye. Kabhi lagta hai main bahut kuch kar sakti hoon, phir kabhi lagta hai main abhi bahut peeche hoon."
Reyansh ne turant koi solution nahi diya.
Usne bas suna.
Jheel uski taraf dekhne lagi, jaise use aadat thi ki saamne wala abhi kahega ki sab theek ho jayega ya use kya karna chahiye.
Lekin Reyansh chup raha.
Aakhir usne poochha, "Tum kuch bologe nahi?"
Reyansh ne halki muskurahat ke saath kaha, "Tum chahti ho main bolun, ya tum chahti ho main sunun?"
Jheel kuch pal chup rahi.
Phir usne kaha, "Aaj sun lo."
"Theek hai."
Aur woh sunta raha.
Jheel ne apni chhoti-chhoti chintaon ke baare mein bataya. Apne kaam, apne future, aur is baat ke baare mein ki kabhi-kabhi use apni hi capability par bharosa karne mein waqt lagta hai.
Reyansh ne beech mein apne experiences thopne ki koshish nahi ki.
Na usne har baat ko joke mein badla.
Na hi usne har problem ka turant solution diya.
Jab Jheel ki baat khatam hui, toh kamre mein kuch pal ki khamoshi thi.
Phir Jheel ne uske kandhe par apna sar tika diya.
"Thank you."
Reyansh ne dheere se poochha, "Kis liye?"
"Aaj meri baat sunne ke liye."
Usne Jheel ke haath ko apne haath mein le liya.
"Main koshish kar raha hoon."
Jheel ne sar uthakar use dekha.
"Kis cheez ki?"
"Tumhe samajhne ki. Har baar perfect nahi hoga. Lekin koshish karunga."
Jheel ki aankhon mein ek halki si chamak thi.
"Mujhe perfect nahi chahiye."
"Achha hai. Kyunki main hoon bhi nahi."
"Yeh toh mujhe pehle se pata hai."
Reyansh ne nakli hairani dikhayi.
"Abhi toh emotional moment tha!"
"Tha. Tumne khud kharab kar diya."
Dono hans pade.
Lekin is baar hansi ke baad Jheel ne uska haath nahi chhoda.


Raat kaafi ho chuki thi.

Reyansh uthkar darwaze ki taraf badha. Jheel use chhodne aayi.
Darwaze ke paas dono ruk gaye.
"Achha laga aaj?" Jheel ne poochha.
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Bahut."
"Food ke liye?"
"Food ke liye bhi."
Jheel muskura di.
"Good."
Reyansh ne dheere se kaha, "Aur next time main cooking karunga."
Jheel ne shak bhari nazar se dekha.
"Main fire extinguisher ready rakhungi."
"Bahut confidence hai mujh par."
"Experience bolta hai."
Reyansh hans pada.
Phir kuch pal ke liye dono chup ho gaye.
Jheel ne uska haath pakda.
"Kal miloge?"
Reyansh ne uski ungliyon ko apni ungliyon mein le liya.
"Kal bhi. Parson bhi. Jab tum chaho."
Jheel ne use dekha.
"Har baar itna achha jawab mat diya karo."
"Kyun?"
"Phir aadat lag jaati hai."
Reyansh ki muskurahat dheemi ho gayi.
"Shayad kuch aadatein achhi hoti hain."
Jheel ne apna sar halka sa jhuka diya.
Reyansh ne uske maathe par ek narm sa kiss diya.
Jheel ne aankhein band kar li.
Jab usne aankhein kholi, Reyansh ab bhi uske saamne tha.
"Goodnight," usne dheere se kaha.
"Goodnight, Jheel."
Reyansh corridor mein aa gaya.
Jheel darwaze par khadi rahi. Usne use lift ki taraf jaate dekha. Lift ke darwaze band hone se pehle Reyansh ne palatkar haath hilaya.
Jheel ne bhi haath hila diya.
Phir woh andar aayi aur darwaza band kar diya.
Uske flat mein ab phir wahi shaanti thi.
Lekin ab woh shaanti pehle jaisi nahi lag rahi thi.
Sofa par do cushions ab bhi tedhe the. Table par dinner ki ek chhoti si napkin reh gayi thi. Kitchen mein bartan sookhne ke liye rakhe the.
Sab kuch aam tha.
Bas us aam din ke andar ek aisa lamha jud gaya tha jise Jheel apne saath lekar sone wali thi.



Reyansh apne flat mein aaya, shoes utare aur sofa par baith gaya.

Usne phone nikala.
Jheel ka message pehle se aaya hua tha.
Jheel: Ghar pahunch gaye?
Reyansh ne aas-paas dekha, phir screen ki taraf.
Reyansh: Haan. Tumhare ghar se apne ghar tak bahut risky journey thi.
Jheel: Beech mein koi adventure hua?
Reyansh: Lift ne mujhe chhod diya tha. Main kisi tarah bachkar aa gaya.
Jheel: Tumhara dimaag kabhi theek nahi hoga.
Reyansh: Tum saath rahogi toh shayad ho bhi na.
Is baar Jheel ne turant reply nahi kiya.
Reyansh ne phone table par rakh diya aur paani peene chala gaya.
Jab wapas aaya, screen par naya message tha.
Jheel: Goodnight, Reyansh. Aaj achha laga.
Reyansh ne kuch der message dekha.
Phir type kiya.
Reyansh: Mujhe bhi. Aur Jheel?
Jheel: Haan?
Reyansh: Aaj tumne jo bhi share kiya, uske liye thanks. Main hamesha sahi words nahi dhoondh paunga, lekin tumhari baat sunna chahta hoon.
Jheel ne message padha.
Uski aankhon mein wohi naram si chamak aa gayi.
Jheel: Bas itna kaafi hai.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakha.
Aaj uske paas koi grand plan nahi tha.
Koi bada promise nahi.
Koi dramatic confession nahi.
Bas ek shaam thi, do plates mein bana hua simple dinner tha, kuch bekaar jokes the aur ek aisi baat thi jo usne pehle se behtar tareeke se ki thi.
Kabhi-kabhi badlaav isi tarah shuru hota hai.
Insaan ko pata bhi nahi chalta ki woh kab kisi ke liye apni aadat ka ek chhota sa kona badalne lagta hai.


Raat ke kareeb gyarah bajkar chaalis minute par Reyansh apna phone charge par lagane hi wala tha ki ek naya message aaya.
Unknown number.
Usne screen dekhi.
Unknown Number: Aajkal aapki khamoshi bhi badli hui lagti hai.
Reyansh ke chehre ki muskurahat dheere-dheere kam ho gayi.
Usne message dobara padha.
Na koi naam.
Na koi explanation.
Bas ek aur line, jo uske dimaag mein sawaal chhodne ke liye kaafi thi.
Reyansh ne reply type kiya.
Reyansh: Aapko meri khamoshi se bhi problem hai?
Message send ho gaya.
Kuch nahi aaya.
Reyansh ne phone table par rakh diya.
Woh jaanta tha ki is number ke peeche koi aisa insaan tha jo uski zindagi ko door se dekh raha tha. Kabhi-kabhi uski baaton mein koi aisi baat hoti thi jo seedha uske dimaag mein atak jaati.
Lekin aaj Reyansh ne us sawaal ko apni shaam par haavi nahi hone diya.
Usne phone ki screen band ki.
Khidki ke paas jaakar kuch pal bahar dekha.
Bengaluru ki raat apni raftaar mein chal rahi thi.
Aur uske andar, bahut waqt baad, ek chhota sa sukoon tha.
Abhi poora nahi.
Abhi sthir bhi nahi.
Lekin maujood tha.
Reyansh wapas bed par aaya, lights band ki aur aankhein moond li.
Uske dimaag mein Jheel ki hansi thi.
Uska kandhe par sar rakhna.
Uska kehna, “Mujhe perfect nahi chahiye.”
Reyansh ke hothon par halki si muskurahat aayi.
Us raat usne apne aap se koi sawaal nahi poochha.
Bas sone ki koshish ki.
Aur kaafi der baad, bina kisi wajah ko samjhe, uska mann halka mehsoos hua.