[Greenwood]

Update 50



Subah 7:18.
Reyansh ke phone par alarm baj raha tha.
Ek baar.
Do baar.
Teesri baar.
Phir alarm band ho gaya.
Lekin Reyansh nahi utha.
Saat minute baad uska phone vibrate hua.
Jheel: Good morning.
Reyansh ne aadhi band aankhon se message padha aur reply kar diya.
Reyansh: Good morning, beautiful.
Jheel apne flat mein chai ka cup lekar baithi thi. Message padhte hi uske chehre par muskurahat aa gayi.
Phir usne doosra message bheja.
Jheel: Uth gaye?
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Bilkul.
Jheel: Toh aaj subah ki photo bhejo.
Reyansh ki aankhein khul gayin.
Usne bed, bikhre hue baal aur saamne pade takiye ko dekha.
Phir phone par type kiya.
Reyansh: Photo ki kya zaroorat hai? Meri personality imagine kar lo.
Jheel: Mujhe tumhari personality nahi, tumhari aankhon mein neend dekhni hai.
Reyansh: Tumhe meri aankhon se itna pyaar hai?
Jheel: Abhi toh sirf aankhon ka sawaal hai. Zyada khush mat ho.
Reyansh hans pada.
Usne jaldi se ek selfie li. Baal bikhre hue, chehra neend se bhara aur aankhon mein halki si shikayat.
Photo bhej di.
Jheel ne dekha aur zor se hans padi.
Jheel: Yeh insaan raat ko date plan karta hai aur subah khud ko sambhaal nahi paata.
Reyansh: Main natural beauty ko promote karta hoon.
Jheel: Tum natural laziness ko promote karte ho.
Reyansh: Tumhari zubaan din-ba-din tez hoti ja rahi hai.
Jheel: Tumhari neend din-ba-din lambi hoti ja rahi hai.
Reyansh bed se uth gaya.
"Is ladki ko subah-subah mujhe kaam par lagane mein bahut maza aata hai."
Usne phone par aakhri message bheja.
Reyansh: Shaam ko milna. Tumhe ek baat batani hai.
Jheel ka reply turant aaya.
Jheel: Kya baat?
Reyansh: Surprise.
Jheel: Reyansh!
Reyansh: Good morning, meri favourite neighbour. Ab mujhe nahane do.
Jheel ne phone rakh diya.
Uske chehre par muskurahat abhi bhi thi.
Lekin uske dimaag mein ek sawaal ghoom raha tha.
Shaam ko aisi kya baat batani hai?


Reyansh bathroom se nikla toh darwaze ki bell baj chuki thi.
Shalu kitchen mein jaakar nashta taiyar karne lagi.
Reyansh shirt ke button lagata hua bahar aaya.
"Shalu, aaj nashta jaldi mil sakta hai?"
"Mil jayega, sir. Lekin aaj itni jaldi kyun?"
"Office mein kaam hai."
Shalu ne use dekha.
"Office mein toh roz kaam hota hai."
Reyansh ruk gaya.
"Shalu, tum har baat ka cross-question kyun karti ho?"
"Main toh bas poochh rahi hoon."
"Achha, toh aaj se tumhara naam Shalu nahi, Interview Board hai."
Shalu hans padi.
Reyansh ne table par baithkar toast uthaya.
Shalu ne poochha, "Kal ki date kaisi rahi?"
Reyansh ne toast par butter lagate hue kaha, "Achhi thi."
"Bas?"
"Bahut achhi thi."
"Madam khush thi?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Tumhe Jheel ki chinta mujhse zyada hai."
Shalu ne bina ruke jawab diya, "Aapki nahi hogi toh kiski hogi? Aap toh bas apni tareef karte rehte ho."
Reyansh hans diya.
"Jheel khush thi."
"Achha hai."
Shalu ke chehre par sachchi khushi thi. Usne koi aur sawaal nahi poochha.
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekhkar kaha, "Waise, tumhare diye hue idea ne kaam kiya."
Shalu ne haath kamar par rakh liye.
"Maine kaha tha na, meri fees banti hai."
"Kitni?"
"Abhi decide nahi ki."
"Jaldi decide karna. Company ka budget limited hai."
Shalu ne muskurakar kaha, "Aap apni company ka budget sambhalo. Main apni fees khud decide kar lungi."
Reyansh ne coffee ka cup uthaya.
"Confidence aa raha hai tummein."
Shalu ki muskurahat halki si badal gayi.
"Thoda-thoda."
"Achhi baat hai."
Reyansh ne apna bag uthaya aur darwaze ki taraf badh gaya.
Aaj usne Shalu ke computer course ke baare mein dobara sawaal nahi kiya. Use yaad tha ki usne pehle hi kaha tha ki woh apne liye options dekh rahi hai.
Har baat ko roz dohrana zaroori nahi hota.
Kabhi-kabhi kisi ko apni raftaar se aage badhne dena bhi madad hoti hai.


Office pahunchte hi Reyansh ko pata chala ki client ne presentation ke ek section par changes maange hain.


Neha uske paas aayi.
"Client ko headline pasand nahi aayi."
Reyansh ne laptop khola.
"Kaunsi headline?"
Neha ne screen par point kiya.
Reyansh ne use dekha, kuch der socha aur phir bola, "Headline buri nahi hai. Bas message clear nahi hai."
"Toh?"
"Toh ise simple karte hain."
Dono ne milkar kuch alternatives banaye. Reyansh ne team se feedback liya aur final option select kar liya.
Kaam khatam hone ke baad Neha ne kaha, "Aaj tum unusually patient ho."
Reyansh ne laptop band kiya.
"Main hamesha patient hota hoon."
Neha ne use aisi nazar se dekha jaise usne koi bahut bada joke suna ho.
"Reyansh, main tumhare saath kaam karti hoon. Mujhe sach pata hai."
Woh hans diya.
Neha jaane lagi, phir rukkar boli, "Waise, kal ki date kaisi thi?"
Reyansh ne use dekha.
"Office mein tum logon ka koi secret group hai kya?"
"Kaunsa group?"
"Jahan meri personal life par discussion hota hai."
Neha hans padi.
"Nahi. Tumhari shakal hi kaafi information de deti hai."
Reyansh ne sir hilaya.
"Ek din main tumhari bhi shakal padhunga."
"Try kar lena. Lekin lunch break mein, working hours mein nahi."
Woh chali gayi.
Reyansh ke phone par Jheel ka message aaya.
Jheel: Lunch kiya?
Usne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Abhi karunga. Tumne?
Jheel: Haan.
Reyansh: Kya khaya?
Jheel: Yeh sawaal tum roz poochhoge?
Reyansh ne kuch pal socha.
Reyansh: Nahi. Aaj se tum mujhse sawaal poochhna.
Jheel: Theek hai. Tum khush ho?
Reyansh ka angutha screen par ruk gaya.
Sawaal chhota tha.
Jawab dena mushkil nahi hona chahiye tha.
Woh kuch pal sochta raha, phir likha.
Reyansh: Haan. Aajkal zyada khush rehta hoon.
Jheel ne message padha.
Usne turant reply nahi kiya.
Kuch der baad uska message aaya.
Jheel: Achha laga yeh padhkar.
Reyansh ne screen dekhi aur phone rakh diya.
Uske paas kehne ke liye aur bhi bahut kuch tha.
Lekin filhaal, itna kehna kaafi tha.


Shaam ko Reyansh ne Jheel ko message kiya.
Reyansh: Neeche aa jao.
Jheel: Kahan ja rahe hain?
Reyansh: Tum aa toh jao.
Jheel: Tumhare surprises se mujhe thoda darr lagne laga hai.
Reyansh: Pichhli baar tumne 9.3 diye the.
Jheel: Isi liye toh tumhe dobara mauka mil raha hai.
Kuch der baad Jheel neeche aa gayi.
Usne simple blue kurta pehna tha aur baal khule the. Reyansh ne use dekhkar muskuraya.
"Good evening."
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
"Good evening. Ab batao, kahan jaana hai?"
"Chalo."
Dono gaadi ki taraf badhe.
Reyansh use ek chhote se lakeside walking area mein le gaya. Shaam dhal rahi thi. Paani par roshni ki halki lakeerein ban rahi thi aur aas-paas log dheere-dheere walk kar rahe the.
Jheel kuch pal wahin khadi rahi.
"Yeh jagah bahut achhi hai."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Review pending?"
Jheel hans padi.
"Nahi. Is baar sach mein achhi hai."
Dono paani ke kinaare bani walkway par chalne lage.
Kuch der tak unhone aam baatein ki. Office, khane, Bengaluru ke mausam aur ek restaurant ke baare mein jahan Reyansh ka kehna tha ki uski coffee duniya ki sabse achhi coffee hai.
Jheel ne turant challenge kar diya.
"Kal mujhe wahan le chalo."
Reyansh ne use dekha.
"Tumhe meri baat par bharosa nahi?"
"Bilkul nahi."
"Yeh toh relationship mein trust ki kami hai."
Jheel hans padi.
"Relationship mein trust hai. Tumhari coffee recommendations mein nahi."
Reyansh bhi hansne laga.
Woh dono ek bench par baith gaye.
Jheel ne apne haath god mein rakhe aur paani ki taraf dekha.
"Reyansh?"
"Hmm?"
"Tumne aaj subah kaha tha ki shaam ko ek baat batani hai."
Reyansh ko yaad aaya.
"Haan."
"Toh batao."
Woh kuch pal chup raha.
Phir usne kaha, "Main tumhare saath waqt bitane ke liye plans banata hoon. Lekin aajkal mujhe lagta hai ki main plans se zyada tumhare saath hone ka intezaar karta hoon."
Jheel ne dheere se uski taraf dekha.
Reyansh ne nazar nahi hatayi.
"Pehle main sochta tha ki achha waqt tab hota hai jab kuch special ho. Koi outing, koi achhi jagah, koi interesting activity. Lekin tumhare saath kabhi-kabhi sirf baithna bhi achha lagta hai."
Jheel kuch nahi boli.
Uske chehre par ek narm si muskurahat thi.
Reyansh ne halka sa hanskar kaha, "Bas. Yehi baat batani thi. Ab tum chaho toh is par bhi marks de sakti ho."
Jheel ne uske haath par apna haath rakh diya.
"Is baar marks ki zaroorat nahi."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Kyun?"
"Kyunki mujhe samajh aa gaya."
"Achha?"
"Haan. Tum kabhi-kabhi bahut achhi baat kar lete ho."
Reyansh ne seene par haath rakha.
"Yeh meri zindagi ka sabse bada compliment hai."
Jheel hans padi.
Phir usne apna sir Reyansh ke kandhe par rakh diya.
Reyansh kuch pal shaant baitha raha.
Usne Jheel ka haath apne haath mein le liya.
Shaam ki hawa chal rahi thi.
Dono ke paas kehne ke liye baatein thi, lekin kisi ko jaldi nahi thi.


Kuch der baad Jheel seedhi baith gayi.
"Ek baat poochhun?"
"Poochho."
"Agar main kabhi tumhare saath kahin jaana chahoon aur tum busy ho, toh tum mujhe seedha bataoge?"
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Haan."
"Sirf haan mat bolo. Mera matlab hai, tum mujhe baad mein time dene ka wada karke phir kaam mein busy toh nahi ho jaoge?"
Reyansh ne kuch pal socha.
Usne mehsoos kiya ki Jheel sirf aaj ki shaam ki baat nahi kar rahi thi. Woh usse apne waqt ke baare mein ek seedhi si baat keh rahi thi.
"Main koshish karunga ki aisa na ho. Aur agar kabhi kaam ki wajah se plan badalna pada, toh tumhe pehle bataunga. Tumhe wait nahi karwaunga."
Jheel ne sar hilaya.
"Bas. Mujhe perfect boyfriend nahi chahiye."
Reyansh ne muskurakar poochha, "Toh phir kya chahiye?"
"Ek aisa insaan jo jo keh raha hai, uski koshish bhi kare."
Reyansh ne uska haath daba diya.
"Fair enough."
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
"Aur tumhe mujhse kuch chahiye?"
Reyansh ne mazaak karne ke liye munh khola, lekin phir ruk gaya.
"Jab koi baat pareshaan kare, toh mujhe batana. Yeh mat sochna ki main khud samajh jaunga."


Jheel ki muskurahat dheemi ho gayi.
"Theek hai."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
Reyansh ne uski taraf haath badhaya.
Jheel ne uski ungliyon mein apni ungliyan phansa di.
Dono kuch der yun hi baithe rahe.
Yeh koi bada faisla nahi tha.
Bas do log the jo dheere-dheere seekh rahe the ki ek-doosre ke saath rehna sirf achhe lamhe baantna nahi, balki chhoti-chhoti baatein samajhna bhi hai.


Wapas building pahunchkar dono lift ka intezaar karne lage.
Jheel ne Reyansh ki taraf dekha.
"Aaj ki shaam achhi thi."
"Kitne marks?"
"Reyansh!"
"Achha, nahi poochhta."
Lift aa gayi.
Dono bahar nikle aur apne flats ke saamne ruk gaye.
Jheel ne kaha, "Goodnight."
Reyansh ne muskurakar jawab diya, "Goodnight."
Woh mudne hi wala tha ki Jheel ne uska haath pakad liya.
"Ek minute."
Reyansh palta.
"Kya hua?"
Jheel uske kareeb aayi aur uske gaal par ek chhota sa kiss diya.
Reyansh kuch pal use dekhta raha.
Jheel ne hansi dabate hue poochha, "Kya hua? System hang ho gaya?"
Reyansh ne uska haath pakad liya.
"Nahi. Main bas soch raha hoon ki aaj ki rating kitni badh gayi."
Jheel hans padi.
"Ab tumne phir marks ki baat kar di. Ek point kam."
"Yeh kaisa insaaf hai?"
"Review board ka faisla hai."
Reyansh ne uske kareeb jhukkar dheere se kaha, "Toh appeal file kar sakta hoon?"
Jheel ne muskurate hue uske honton par ek chhota sa kiss diya.
Phir woh peeche hati.
"Appeal accepted. Ab goodnight."
Reyansh ki muskurahat aur gehri ho gayi.
"Goodnight, Jheel."
Jheel apne flat mein chali gayi.
Reyansh apne darwaze ke saamne kuch pal khada raha.
Phir usne apne aap se kaha, "Meri zindagi mein pehli baar koi rating system itna complicated hai."
Lekin uske chehre se muskurahat nahi gayi.


Apne flat mein aakar Reyansh ne lights on ki aur kitchen se paani lekar living room mein baith gaya.
Phone par Arshad ka message aaya.
Arshad: Zinda ho?
Reyansh: Haan.
Arshad: Aajkal replies bahut short ho gaye hain. Girlfriend ke saath saari vocabulary khatam kar dete ho kya?
Reyansh hans pada.
Reyansh: Tumhe kaam nahi hai?
Arshad: Hai. Lekin dost ki barbaadi dekhna bhi ek social responsibility hai.
Reyansh: Meri barbaadi nahi ho rahi.
Arshad: Abhi tum yahi kahoge. Phir ek din mujhe phone karke poochhoge ki flowers ke saath kya likhna chahiye.
Reyansh: Tum copywriter ho. Tumhara kaam hi yahi hai.
Arshad: Wah! Dosti ka istemaal.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakh diya.
Usne living room mein nazar daudayi.
Flat wahi tha.
Furniture wahi.
Khidki ke bahar Bengaluru ki raat bhi wahi thi.
Lekin kuch waqt se ghar lautne ka ehsaas badal raha tha.
Ab uske paas kisi ko goodnight kehne ki wajah thi.
Kisi ke message ka intezaar tha.
Kisi ke saath agle din ki chhoti si planning thi.
Usne phone uthaya aur Jheel ko message bheja.
Reyansh: Ghar pahunchkar ek baat bhool gaya.
Jheel: Kya?
Reyansh: Thank you.
Jheel: Kis liye?
Reyansh: Aaj ki shaam ke liye. Aur meri baaton ko samajhne ki koshish karne ke liye.
Jheel ne message padha.
Usne kuch pal baad reply kiya.
Jheel: Thank you tumhe bhi. Mujhe waqt dene ke liye.
Reyansh ne screen dekhi.
Phir type kiya.
Reyansh: Goodnight, Jheel.
Jheel: Goodnight. Kal subah alarm se pehle uthna.
Reyansh ne phone dekha aur hans diya.
Reyansh: Romance ke beech alarm kyun aa jaata hai?
Jheel: Kyunki tumhara romance snooze button ke neeche daba hua hai.
Reyansh ne phone rakh diya.
Aaj raat use neend ka intezaar nahi karna pada.
Woh aaraam se bistar par leta aur kuch der baad so gaya.
Usne kal ke liye koi bada plan nahi banaya tha.
Bas ek subah thi, ek message tha, aur ek aisi ladki thi jiske saath woh dheere-dheere apne din baantna seekh raha tha.
Aur filhaal, uske liye itna kaafi tha.