[Greenwood]

Update 48




Subah ke 7:42 baj rahe the.
Reyansh ke bedroom mein alarm teesri baar baj chuka tha.
Pehli baar usne aankhein khole bina band kar diya tha.
Doosri baar usne takiye ke neeche haath daalkar phone dhoondha tha, lekin haath phone ki jagah bed ke doosre kone mein pade cushion par pada.
Teesri baar alarm bajte hi usne aankhein kholi aur seedha chhat ko dekhne laga.
"Monday ko itni jaldi kyun aana hota hai?"
Phone uthakar alarm band kiya. Phir screen par nazar padi.
Jheel ka koi message nahi tha.
Kal raat dono ne goodnight kaha tha. Uske baad baat khatam ho gayi thi.
Reyansh ne phone wapas rakh diya.
Paanch second baad phir utha liya.
Usne khud ko pakad liya.
"Yeh kya ho raha hai?"
Woh bed par baith gaya.
"Main kisi ka message check nahi kar raha. Main bas time dekh raha hoon."
Usne ghadi dekhi.
7:43.
"Time toh dekh liya."
Phir bhi phone haath mein hi tha.
Aakhir usne Jheel ki chat kholi.
Pichhli raat ka aakhri message saamne tha.
Jheel: Bas itna kaafi hai.
Reyansh ne use padhkar halki si muskurahat di aur phone rakh diya.
Aaj usne pehle message nahi kiya.
Koi khaas wajah nahi thi. Bas uske mann mein aaya ki dekha jaaye, kya Jheel bhi kabhi khud usse baat shuru karti hai.
Doosri taraf Jheel pehle se jaag rahi thi.
Woh apne flat mein chai bana rahi thi aur phone kitchen counter par rakha tha. Usne screen do baar check ki, phir khud ko samjhaya ki subah-subah har insaan phone lekar nahi baitha rehta.
Phir usne socha ki Reyansh ko message karne mein kya burai hai.
Usne chat kholi.
Type kiya.
Jheel: Good morning.
Phir message bhejne se pehle ruk gayi.
Kal raat usne hi aakhri message kiya tha.
Aaj bhi woh hi kare?
Usne text delete kar diya.
"Rehne do," woh khud se boli.
Phir chai ka cup uthakar living room mein chali gayi.
Un dono ke beech kisi ne koi rule nahi banaya tha.
Lekin kabhi-kabhi chhoti si baat bhi mann mein ek ajeeb sa hisaab khol deti hai.
Kaun pehle message karta hai?
Kaun zyada yaad karta hai?
Kaun pehle milne ki baat karta hai?
Aur kaun in sab baaton ko lekar sochta hi nahi?
Reyansh aur Jheel abhi apne-apne jawab dhoondh rahe the.


Reyansh taiyar hokar kitchen mein aaya toh Shalu breakfast bana rahi thi.
"Good morning, sir."
"Good morning."
Shalu ne uske saamne plate rakhi.
"Sir, aaj aap jaldi uth gaye."
Reyansh ne toast uthaya.
"Main roz jaldi uthta hoon."
Shalu ne uski taraf dekha.
"Achha?"
"Haan."
"Kal bhi?"
Reyansh ne toast ka bite lete hue kaha, "Kal ka record confidential hai."
Shalu hans padi.
Reyansh ne coffee banne ka intezaar karte hue phone check kiya.
Koi message nahi.
Usne phone pocket mein rakh liya.
Shalu ne coffee uske saamne rakhte hue poochha, "Sir, aap kisi ka wait kar rahe ho?"
Reyansh ne turant jawab diya, "Nahi."
"Achha."
"Achha matlab?"
"Kuch nahi."
"Shalu, tumhare yeh do shabdon wale jawab bahut dangerous hain."
Shalu muskurayi.
"Aapne hi toh kaha tha ki kam bolo, kaam zyada karo."
"Yeh kab kaha maine?"
"Jab main kaam karte hue zyada baat kar rahi thi."
Reyansh kuch pal use dekhta raha.
"Main apne hi ghar mein apne khilaaf gawahi sun raha hoon."
Shalu ne breakfast ki plate uski taraf sarka di.
"Aap nashta kar lijiye, sir."
Reyansh hans diya.
Lekin ghar se nikalte waqt usne ek baar phir phone check kiya.
Ab bhi kuch nahi tha.
Is baar usne khud ko samjhaya ki Jheel busy hogi.
Woh bhi toh aksar apne kaam mein lag jaata tha.
Har waqt message ki umeed karna zaroori nahi tha.
Usne phone pocket mein rakha aur lift ki taraf badh gaya.


Office pahunchkar Reyansh ne laptop khola.
Neha pehle se apni desk par thi.
Usne Reyansh ko dekha aur kaha, "Aaj toh time par aa gaye."
"Main hamesha time par aata hoon."
"Bilkul. Aur main office ki CEO hoon."
Reyansh ne bag chair ke paas rakha.
"Promotion kab mila?"
"Jab tumne apni punctuality ka certificate khud banaya."
Dono hans pade.
Neha ne uske desk par ek file rakh di.


"Client ne revised draft approve kar diya. Bas final presentation dekh lena."

"Thanks."
Reyansh kaam mein lag gaya.
Kuch der tak sab theek chala. Usne presentation check ki, do corrections kiye aur team ko updated file bhej di.
Phir phone screen par nazar gayi.
Koi notification nahi.
Usne phone ulta rakh diya.
Do minute baad ek email aaya. Usne email khola, padha aur reply kar diya.
Phir nazar phone par gayi.
Ab bhi kuch nahi.
"Reyansh?"
Neha ki awaaz se uska dhyaan toota.
"Haan?"
"Main tumse ek question pooch rahi thi."
"Kya?"
"Client meeting ke liye tum aa rahe ho ya tumhara phone tumhari jagah attend karega?"
Reyansh ne phone uthakar drawer mein rakh diya.
"Main bilkul focused hoon."
Neha ne uski taraf dekha.
"Good. Toh batao, campaign ke final slide mein kya change karna hai?"
Reyansh ne sahi jawab diya.
Neha ne haath utha diya.
"Theek hai. Tum abhi bhi kaam ke laayak ho."
"Thank you for your confidence."
"Welcome. Personal life ka audit baad mein kar lena."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Main koi audit nahi kar raha."
"Achha hai. Kyunki tumhare chehre par wohi expression hai jo kisi ka message aane ka wait karte waqt hota hai."
Reyansh ne turant jawab nahi diya.
Neha muskurayi.
"Don't worry. Main kuch nahi poochhungi."
"Thank you."
"Waise, agar message nahi aa raha toh tum kar sakte ho."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Main kisi ke message ka wait nahi kar raha."
Neha ne dono haath utha diye.
"Of course, Mr. Not Waiting."
Woh apni desk par laut gayi.
Reyansh ne kuch pal screen ko dekha.
Phir drawer khola.
Phone nikala.
Aur aakhirkaar Jheel ko message kar diya.
Reyansh: Good morning, neighbour.
Message bhejne ke baad usne phone table par rakh diya.
Is baar usne khud ko baar-baar screen dekhne se rokne ki koshish ki.
Kaam par dhyaan diya.
Meeting attend ki.
Team ke saath discussion kiya.
Aur lagbhag bees minute baad phone vibrate hua.
Jheel: Good morning, sir.
Reyansh ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Reyansh: Sir?
Jheel: Ji, sir.
Reyansh: Yeh nayi promotion kab mili?
Jheel: Jab aapne mujhe kal se message nahi kiya.
Reyansh ka expression badla.
Usne message dobara padha.
Reyansh: Maine toh abhi message kiya hai.
Jheel: Exactly.
Reyansh chair par peeche ho gaya.
Ab baat samajh aane lagi thi.
Reyansh: Tum subah se wait kar rahi thi?
Jheel: Maine aisa kab kaha?
Reyansh: Toh phir yeh sir wali narazgi kyun?
Jheel: Koi narazgi nahi hai.
Reyansh: Jheel.
Jheel: Reyansh.
Woh hans pada.
Phir usne message kiya.
Reyansh: Shaam ko mil sakte hain?
Kuch der baad reply aaya.
Jheel: Dekhenge.
Reyansh ne phone ko dekha.
"Bas. Ab toh pakka naraaz hai."
3. Arshad Ki Adalat
Dopahar ko Reyansh lunch ke liye neeche cafeteria mein gaya.
Arshad bhi wahin mil gaya. Woh apne laptop par kisi advertisement ki line likh raha tha.
Reyansh uske saamne baith gaya.
"Ek problem hai."
Arshad ne screen se nazar nahi hatayi.
"Paise chahiye?"
"Nahi."
"Job chahiye?"
"Nahi."
"Toh phir problem chhoti hogi."
Reyansh ne tray table par rakhi.
"Meri girlfriend naraaz hai."
Arshad ne pehli baar uski taraf dekha.
Phir laptop band kar diya.
"Baith. Paani piyega? Court ki karwai lambi chalegi."
Reyansh ne aankhein ghumayi.
"Tu serious ho sakta hai?"
"Bilkul. Bata, kiya kya tune?"
"Kuch nahi."
Arshad ne turant jawab diya, "Yahi kiya hoga."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Matlab?"
"Jab koi kehta hai ki usne kuch nahi kiya, toh aam taur par usne kuch toh kiya hota hai. Ya phir kuch nahi kiya hota, jo karna chahiye tha."
Reyansh kuch pal chup raha.
"Subah maine pehle message nahi kiya."
Arshad ne table par haath maara.
"Case solved!"
"Chup kar."
"Reyansh, tune girlfriend ko good morning nahi bola?"
"Maine baad mein bola."
"Kitne baje?"
Reyansh ne time bataya.
Arshad ne sar hila diya.
"Late good morning. Yeh toh serious offence hai."
"Tu meri help karega ya nahi?"
"Kar raha hoon. Sun. Har relationship mein log kabhi-kabhi chhoti cheezon ko lekar sensitive ho jaate hain. Iska matlab yeh nahi ki koi badi problem hai."


Reyansh uski baat sunta raha.

Arshad ne aage kaha, "Lekin agar Jheel ko achha lagta hai ki tum subah usse baat karo, toh kabhi-kabhi pehle message kar dene mein kya jaata hai?"
"Main har roz report karun?"
"Report nahi. Bas yaad karna dikha."
Reyansh ne paani ka glass uthaya.
"Tu toh bahut relationship expert ban raha hai."
Arshad hans diya.
"Main copywriter hoon. Har audience ke liye sahi line dhoondhta hoon."
"Apni girlfriend ke liye bhi?"
Arshad ki muskurahat thodi kam hui.
"Haan. Aur kabhi-kabhi sahi line mil jaaye, tab bhi waqt par bolna zaroori hota hai."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Arshad ne apna laptop dobara khol liya.
"Chal, ab khaana kha. Aur haan, sorry bolne se pehle samajh lena ki saamne wala kis baat par upset hai. Warna sorry bhi advertisement lagta hai."
Reyansh hans pada.
"Tu kabhi-kabhi kaam ki baat bhi kar leta hai."
"Main talented hoon. Tum log meri talent ko jokes mein waste kar dete ho."


Shaam ko Reyansh ghar lauta toh usne lift mein hi Jheel ko message kiya.

Reyansh: Ghar aa gaya.
Jheel: Congratulations.
Reyansh: Thank you. Tum ghar par ho?
Jheel: Haan.
Reyansh: Milne aa jaun?
Jheel: Kis liye?
Reyansh ne message padha.
Phir usne ek seedha sa jawab diya.
Reyansh: Tumse milne ke liye.
Is baar reply jaldi aaya.
Jheel: Aao.
Reyansh lift se nikla aur 304 ke saamne pahunch gaya.
Bell bajayi.
Darwaza khula.
Jheel ne simple blue kurta pehna hua tha. Baal ek loose clip mein bandhe the. Uske chehre par narazgi se zyada ek dabayi hui muskurahat thi.
Reyansh ne use dekha.
"Hello."
"Hello."
"Main andar aa sakta hoon?"
"Darwaza isi liye khola hai."
Reyansh andar aaya.
Jheel wapas living room ki taraf chali gayi.
Woh sofa par baith gayi aur saamne rakhi notebook utha li, jaise woh bahut zaroori kaam kar rahi ho.
Reyansh uske paas aakar khada ho gaya.
"Kya kar rahi ho?"
"Kaam."
"Kaisa kaam?"
"Zaroori kaam."
"Notebook khaali hai."
Jheel ne notebook dekhi.
Phir use band kar diya.
"Ab khaali nahi hai."
Reyansh hans pada.
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha, lekin apni muskurahat chhupa li.
Reyansh sofa par uske paas baith gaya.
Kuch pal dono chup rahe.
Phir usne kaha, "Achha, batao. Subah se kya problem hai?"
"Koi problem nahi hai."
"Jheel."
"Reyansh."
Woh muskura diya.
"Theek hai. Main guess karta hoon."
Jheel ne notebook apni god mein rakhi.
"Good luck."
"Main subah message nahi kar paya."
"Kar sakte the."
"Haan."
"Toh kiya kyun nahi?"
Reyansh ne ek pal socha.
"Main dekhna chahta tha ki tum pehle message karti ho ya nahi."
Jheel ne use dekha.
"Seriously?"
"Haan."
"Tumne mujhe test kiya?"
Reyansh ko apni galti ka ehsaas hua.
"Test nahi. Bas..."
"Bas kya?"
"Bas dekhna chahta tha."
Jheel ne nazar hata li.
"Relationship koi competition nahi hai, Reyansh."
Uski awaaz mein ab mazaak nahi tha.
Reyansh seedha baith gaya.
"I know."
"Nahi, shayad tumhe pata hai. Lekin kabhi-kabhi tum chhoti baaton ko game bana dete ho."
Reyansh chup raha.
Jheel ne aage kaha, "Mujhe har subah tumhara message chahiye, aisa nahi hai. Tum busy ho sakte ho. Main bhi busy ho sakti hoon. Lekin agar tum jaanbujhkar message nahi karte, sirf yeh dekhne ke liye ki main karti hoon ya nahi, toh mujhe achha nahi lagta."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Is baar usne beech mein koi joke nahi kiya.
"You're right."
Jheel ko shayad umeed nahi thi ki woh itni jaldi maan lega.
Woh uski taraf mud gayi.
"Bas?"
"Bas kya?"
"Tum argue nahi karoge?"
Reyansh hans diya.
"Karun?"
"Nahi."
"Toh phir tumne poochha kyun?"
Jheel ne uske kandhe par halki si thapki maari.
"Reyansh!"
Woh hans pada, phir uska expression sanjeeda ho gaya.
"Sorry, Jheel. Sach mein. Mujhe aisa nahi karna chahiye tha."
Jheel ne kuch pal use dekha.
Phir dheere se boli, "Theek hai."
Reyansh ne haath aage badhaya.
"Friends?"
Jheel ne uska haath dekha.
"Hum girlfriend-boyfriend hain. Friends kab bane?"
"Promotion ke liye application de sakta hoon?"
Jheel hansi rok nahi paayi.
"Bilkul nahi."
"Achha, toh phir ek hug mil sakta hai?"
Jheel ne kuch pal uski taraf dekha, phir apni baahen uske gird rakh di.
Reyansh ne bhi use gale laga liya.
Koi dramatic apology nahi thi.
Koi lambi speech nahi.
Bas ek hug, jisme dono ki narazgi dheere-dheere pighal gayi.


Kuch der baad Jheel ne use chhod diya.
Reyansh ne poochha, "Ab sab theek?"
"Almost."
"Almost kyun?"
"Saza baaki hai."
Reyansh ne hairani dikhayi.
"Yeh toh court se bhi khatarnak nikla."
Jheel ne sofa ke paas rakha cushion uthaya aur uski god mein rakh diya.
"Aaj tum chai banaoge."
Reyansh ne cushion ko dekha.
"Bas?"
"Aur kitchen tum saaf karoge."
"Jheel, main tumhara boyfriend hoon ya domestic staff?"
Jheel ne use dekha.
"Subah se mujhe test kar rahe the. Ab practical exam do."
Reyansh hans pada.
"Theek hai. Chai main banaunga."
Jheel ne turant kaha, "Aur achhi honi chahiye."
"Abhi toh tumne mujhe maaf kiya tha."

"Maaf kiya hai. Certificate nahi diya."

Reyansh uthkar kitchen mein chala gaya.
Jheel uske peeche aayi aur counter ke paas khadi ho gayi.
Reyansh ne chai banane ke liye pan nikala.
"Kitni chai?"
"Do cup."
"Cheeni?"
"Thodi."
"Thodi matlab?"
"Jitni tumhe samajh aaye."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Yeh instruction hai ya puzzle?"
Jheel hans padi.
"Chai banao, Reyansh."
Usne chai banani shuru ki.
Paani, doodh, patti aur cheeni.
Sab kuch theek lag raha tha.
Phir usne Jheel ki taraf dekhkar poochha, "Adrak daalun?"
"Thodi."
Reyansh ne adrak uthaya.
"Jheel, tumhari life mein har cheez thodi hi kyun hoti hai?"
"Kyuki tum har cheez zyada kar dete ho."
Reyansh hans pada.
Chai ban gayi.
Dono cups lekar living room mein aaye.
Jheel ne pehla sip liya.
Reyansh uska chehra dekhne laga.
"Kaisi hai?"
Jheel ne kuch pal socha.
"Theek hai."
"Bas theek?"
"Haan."
Reyansh ne apna cup uthaya.
"Main apne talent ko pehchanta hoon. Tumhari taste buds kharab hain."
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
"Chai tumne banayi hai. Taste buds meri kharab kaise ho gayi?"
"Main scientific explanation de sakta hoon."
"Nahi chahiye."
Dono hans pade.
Jheel ne apna cup table par rakha aur Reyansh ke kandhe par sar tika diya.
"Waise, thank you."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Kis liye?"
"Sorry bolne ke liye. Aur meri baat sunne ke liye."
Reyansh ne uske baalon par halki si nazar daali.
"Main seekh raha hoon."
Jheel ne aankhein band kar li.
"Good."
Kuch pal dono bina bole baithe rahe.
TV par koi show chal raha tha, lekin awaaz halki thi. Bahar corridor mein kisi ke chalne ki awaaz aayi, phir sab shaant ho gaya.
Reyansh ko achha lag raha tha ki Jheel uske paas itni aaraam se baithi thi.
Uske liye har pal ko special banana zaroori nahi tha.
Kabhi-kabhi kisi ka paas baithna hi kaafi hota hai.


Raat hone lagi toh Reyansh uthkar jaane laga.
Jheel use darwaze tak chhodne aayi.
"Kal subah message karoge?" usne poochha.
Reyansh ne use dekha.
"Karunga."
"Sirf good morning?"
"Good morning, beautiful neighbour."
Jheel ke chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
"Thoda zyada ho gaya."
"Toh good morning, strict neighbour."
"Yeh bhi nahi."
"Good morning, meri favourite neighbour?"
Jheel kuch pal chup rahi.
Phir usne nazar jhuka kar kaha, "Yeh theek hai."
Reyansh ne muskurakar kaha, "Done."
Jheel ne uska haath pakda.
"Ek baat aur."
"Bolo."
"Har baat ko game mat banana. Kabhi-kabhi seedha bol diya karo ki tumhe kya chahiye."
Reyansh ne uski ungliyon ko halka sa dabaya.
"Jaise?"
"Jaise agar tum mujhe miss karte ho, toh keh sakte ho."
Reyansh ne uski aankhon mein dekha.
"Main tumhe miss karta hoon."
Jheel ki muskurahat dheemi ho gayi.
Is baar woh uske jawab ko mazaak mein nahi badalna chahti thi.
"Main bhi," usne dheere se kaha.
Reyansh ne uske maathe par kiss kiya.
"Goodnight, Jheel."
"Goodnight."
Woh apne flat ki taraf badha.
Jheel darwaze par khadi use jaate dekhti rahi.
Lift ke paas pahunchkar Reyansh ne palatkar dekha.
"Kal message ka wait mat karna!"
Jheel ne aankhein badi kar di.
"Reyansh!"
Woh hanskar lift mein ghus gaya.
Jheel ne darwaza band karte hue khud se kaha, "Ek din iski saari nautanki band karwaungi."
Lekin uske chehre par muskurahat thi.


Reyansh apne flat mein aaya.

Phone table par rakha, shirt badli aur paani peene kitchen mein chala gaya.
Jab wapas aaya, phone vibrate kar raha tha.
Jheel: Ghar pahunch gaye?
Reyansh ne message padha aur hans diya.
Reyansh: Haan. Tumne toh mujhe apni aankhon se lift mein jaate dekha tha.
Jheel: Safety check.
Reyansh: Aajkal girlfriend bahut responsible ho gayi hai.
Jheel: Boyfriend ko sambhalna padta hai.
Reyansh ne kuch pal screen ko dekha.
Phir type kiya.
Reyansh: Goodnight, meri favourite neighbour.
Jheel ka reply aaya.
Jheel: Goodnight, Mr. Learning To Improve.
Reyansh ne phone rakh diya.
Aaj usne koi bada promise nahi kiya tha.
Bas ek chhoti si galti samjhi thi.
Aur us galti ko theek karne ki koshish ki thi.
Usne mehsoos kiya ki kisi ke kareeb aane ka matlab sirf uske saath khush rehna nahi hota. Kabhi-kabhi iska matlab apni aadaton ko dekhna bhi hota hai, khaaskar woh aadatein jo doosre ko chot pahucha sakti hain.
Jheel bhi seekh rahi thi.
Reyansh bhi.
Aur unka rishta kisi perfect couple ki tarah nahi, balki do aam logon ki tarah aage badh raha tha.
Thoda pyaar.
Thoda ego.
Thodi si narazgi.
Aur phir ek hug, ek cup chai, ek honest apology.
Shayad isi ka naam saath tha.



Raat ke kareeb gyarah baje Reyansh ka phone phir vibrate hua.
Wahi unknown number.
Unknown Number: Aaj kisi ki naraazgi door kar di?
Reyansh ka chehra sanjeeda ho gaya.
Usne message padha.
Phir chat kholi.
Usne type kiya:
Reyansh: Aapko kaise pata ki koi naraaz tha?
Message send ho gaya.
Is baar reply kuch der mein aa gaya.
Unknown Number: Kuch cheezein chehre par likhi hoti hain. Bas har koi padh nahi paata.
Reyansh ne screen ko dekha.
Yeh koi seedha jawab nahi tha.
Na hi koi aisi baat jo uski curiosity khatam kar sake.
Usne dobara type kiya.
Reyansh: Aap hamesha aadhi baat kyun karte hain?
Is baar koi jawab nahi aaya.
Reyansh ne phone neeche rakh diya.
Kuch der tak woh us number ke baare mein sochta raha.
Phir usne apne aap ko rok diya.
Aaj ki shaam Jheel ki thi.
Woh kisi anjaan insaan ke sawaalon ko apne dimaag mein jagah nahi dena chahta tha.
Usne lights band kar di.
Bed par letkar usne aankhein moond li.
Kuch der tak use Jheel ka chehra yaad aata raha, jab usne kaha tha ki relationship competition nahi hai.
Woh baat uske dimaag mein reh gayi.
Is baar usne use mazaak mein badalne ki koshish nahi ki.
Bas yaad rakha.
Aur dheere-dheere neend us par haavi hone lagi.
Lekin kuch raaton mein insaan sirf aaj ke baare mein nahi soota. Kabhi-kabhi guzre hue lamhon ki koi dhundhli si parchai bhi uske saath bistar tak aa jaati hai.
Us raat Reyansh ko koi sapna yaad nahi raha.
Subah uthne par bhi uske paas bas ek aam si raat ki yaad thi.