[Greenwood]

Update 51


Subah ke 7:12 baj rahe the.
Reyansh ke bedroom mein parde ke beech se aati dhoop bed ke ek kone tak pahunch chuki thi. Phone bedside table par pada tha aur alarm kab ka bajkar band ho chuka tha.
Reyansh ne karwat badli.
Phir aankhein kholkar phone dekha.
Jheel ka message tha.
Jheel: Good morning, sleepyhead. ?
Reyansh muskuraya.
Reyansh: Good morning, meri personal alarm clock.
Jheel: Alarm clock paise lekar kaam karti hai. Main free mein tumhari zindagi sudhaar rahi hoon.
Reyansh: Tum meri zindagi sudhaar rahi ho ya meri neend barbaad?
Jheel: Dono mein farq samajhne ke liye pehle uthna padega.
Reyansh hans pada.
Woh bed se utha, bathroom gaya aur kuch der baad kitchen mein pahunch gaya.
Shalu nashta taiyar kar rahi thi.
"Good morning, sir."
"Good morning."
Shalu ne use dekha.
"Aaj jaldi uth gaye."
Reyansh ne coffee machine chalu ki.
"Mujhe apni zindagi sudhaarni hai."
Shalu ne palatkar dekha.
"Yeh naya resolution hai?"
"Bilkul."
"Kal se?"
Reyansh hans diya.
"Tum dono milkar meri izzat ka nashta kyun karte rehte ho?"
Shalu bhi hans padi.
Reyansh ne coffee ka cup uthaya. Phone par Jheel ka naya message aaya.
Jheel: Aaj shaam free ho?
Usne jawab diya.
Reyansh: Tumhare liye toh calendar mein jagah banani hi padti hai.
Jheel: Toh bana lo. Aaj mujhe tumhare saath waqt bitana hai.
Reyansh ki muskurahat kuch pal ke liye shaant ho gayi.
Usne message dobara padha.
Jheel ne seedha kaha tha ki woh uske saath waqt bitana chahti hai.
Koi mazaak nahi.
Koi rating nahi.
Koi chhupa hua sawaal nahi.
Bas ek seedhi si baat.
Reyansh: Aaj shaam tumhari.
Jheel: Sirf shaam?
Reyansh: Madam, poora din office ko bhi zinda rehne ka haq hai.
Jheel: Theek hai. Shaam tumhari. Lekin plan mera hoga.
Reyansh ne coffee ka sip liya.
Reyansh: Ab darr lag raha hai.
Jheel: Lagna bhi chahiye. ?


Office mein Reyansh apni team ke saath meeting kar raha tha.
Presentation screen par thi aur team ek naye campaign ke final points discuss kar rahi thi.
"Is line ko simple rakho," Reyansh ne kaha. "Message clear hona chahiye. Agar audience ko samajhne ke liye do baar padhna pade, toh humne apna kaam mushkil bana diya."
Neha ne sar hilaya.
"Agreed. Main revised version bhej deti hoon."
Meeting khatam hui toh Reyansh apni desk par laut aaya.
Usne laptop khola hi tha ki phone vibrate hua.
Jheel: Lunch kiya?
Reyansh: Abhi nahi.
Jheel: Kyun?
Reyansh: Kaam.
Jheel: Tumhare office mein lunch break naam ki koi cheez nahi hai?
Reyansh: Hai. Main hi kabhi-kabhi uska istemaal nahi karta.
Jheel: Toh aaj istemaal karo.
Reyansh ne phone dekha aur hans diya.
Neha uske paas se guzri.
"Phir se smile?"
"Main generally khush rehta hoon."
"Bilkul. Aur main generally logon ke jhooth par bharosa kar leti hoon."
Reyansh ne laptop ki taraf ishara kiya.
"Kaam karo."
Neha apni desk par jaate hue boli, "Lunch kar lena, Mr. Generally Happy!"
Reyansh ne uski baat ko nazarandaaz karne ki acting ki.
Lekin agle hi minute usne lunch order kar diya.
Jheel ko message bheja.
Reyansh: Lunch order kar diya. Khush?
Jheel: Bahut.
Reyansh: Tum mujhe itna control karogi toh meri independent personality ka kya hoga?
Jheel: Woh safe rahegi. Bas bhookhi nahi rahegi.
Reyansh hans pada.
Usne phone rakh diya aur kaam mein lag gaya.
Lekin aaj uske din mein ek chhota sa farq tha.
Shaam ko uske paas kuch aisa tha jiska woh intezaar kar raha tha.


Shaam ko Reyansh building ke neeche pahuncha toh Jheel pehle se khadi thi.
Usne halka pastel rang ka kurta pehna tha, baal khule the aur chehre par wohi shaant si muskurahat thi jo Reyansh ko ab pehchaani hui lagne lagi thi.
Reyansh uske paas aaya.
"Hello, madam."
"Hello, sir."
"Aaj kahan jaana hai?"
Jheel ne haath aage badhaya.
"Phone do."
"Kyun?"
"Map dekhna hai."
Reyansh ne phone de diya.
Jheel ne uska haath pakadkar use apni taraf kheench liya.
"Phone mein map dekhne ki zaroorat nahi. Main jaanti hoon."


Reyansh ne hairani se poochha, "Toh phone kyun maanga?"
Jheel ne uska haath aur mazbooti se pakad liya.
"Bas tumhara haath pakadna tha."
Reyansh kuch pal use dekhta raha.
Phir uske chehre par dheemi si muskurahat aa gayi.
"Jheel, tum aaj bahut dangerous ho."
"Kyun?"
"Seedha attack kar rahi ho."
Jheel hans padi.
"Chalo ab."
Woh use ek shaant se garden café ke paas le gayi. Wahan khuli jagah mein tables lagi thi, pedon ke beech chhoti lights thi aur ek taraf music bahut halki awaaz mein chal raha tha.
Reyansh ne aas-paas dekha.
"Achhi jagah hai."
Jheel ne garv se kaha, "Maine choose ki hai."
"Impressive."
"Bas impressive?"
"Bahut impressive."
Dono ek table par baith gaye.
Jheel ne menu uthaya aur kuch der dekhne ke baad order diya.
Reyansh ne use dekha.
"Tumne mere liye bhi order kar diya?"
"Haan."
"Aur agar mujhe kuch aur chahiye hota?"
"Toh tum bata dete."
"Matlab tumne meri choice ka bhi dhyaan rakha?"
Jheel ne menu band kiya.
"Reyansh, tum har chhoti baat ko itna bada kyun bana dete ho?"
Woh muskuraya.
"Kyunki tumhari chhoti baatein bhi mujhe achhi lagti hain."
Jheel kuch pal chup ho gayi.
Phir usne nazar jhuka li.
"Achha, ab zyada romantic mat bano. Coffee aane do."
Reyansh hans diya.
"Lekin compliment toh maine diya."
"Compliment accept kar liya. Ab chup."
Dono hans pade.


Coffee aur snacks ke baad dono garden mein walk karne lage.
Hawa halki thi. Kuch log apne doston ke saath baat kar rahe the, kuch couples bench par baithe the aur ek chhota bachcha apni cycle chalane ki koshish kar raha tha.
Jheel us bachche ko dekhkar muskurayi.
"Kitna khush hai."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Tum bhi toh khush ho."
Jheel ne uski taraf nazar ghumayi.
"Haan."
"Kyun?"
Jheel kuch der chup rahi.
Phir boli, "Pata nahi. Tumhare saath mujhe har waqt kuch interesting karna zaroori nahi lagta."
Reyansh ne uska haath pakda.
"Matlab main boring nahi hoon?"
Jheel ne hansi dabayi.
"Thoda boring ho."
"Jheel!"
"Lekin achhe wale boring."
"Yeh kaunsi category hoti hai?"
Jheel hans padi.
"Jahan insaan ke saath chup rehna bhi achha lage."
Reyansh ki muskurahat dheemi ho gayi.
Usne Jheel ki taraf dekha.
"Yeh baat mujhe yaad rahegi."
Jheel ne uska haath pakde rakha.
"Reyansh, tumhe pata hai mujhe tumhari kaunsi baat sabse achhi lagti hai?"
"Ab toh sunna hi padega."
"Tum mere saamne hamesha confident bante ho. Har baat ka jawab, har situation mein koi joke. Lekin jab tum sach mein kisi baat ko samajhne ki koshish karte ho na, tab tum bahut achhe lagte ho."
Reyansh ne uski baat dhyaan se suni.
Jheel ne aage kaha, "Mujhe yeh nahi chahiye ki tum har waqt perfect raho. Mujhe bas yeh achha lagta hai ki tum meri baat sunte ho."
Reyansh ne kuch pal uska haath apne dono haathon mein liya.
"Main tumhari har baat ka sahi jawab shayad na de paun."
"Mujhe har baar jawab nahi chahiye."
"Phir?"
"Kabhi-kabhi bas itna ki tum mere saath raho."
Reyansh ne uski aankhon mein dekha.
"Main koshish karunga."
Jheel ne sar hilaya.
"Mujhe pata hai."
Woh kuch kadam aur chale.
Phir Reyansh ruk gaya.
"Ab meri baari."
Jheel ne use dekha.
"Kya?"
"Tumhe pata hai mujhe tumhari kaunsi baat sabse achhi lagti hai?"
Jheel ke honton par muskurahat aa gayi.
"Batao."
"Tum mere saath hoti ho toh mujhe har waqt kuch saabit karne ki zaroorat nahi lagti."
Jheel ki muskurahat dheemi ho gayi.
Reyansh ne kaha, "Main tumhe impress karne ki koshish karta hoon, tumhe hansane ki koshish karta hoon. Lekin jab tum mere saath hoti ho, toh kabhi-kabhi bas Reyansh hona kaafi lagta hai."
Jheel ne uska haath aur mazbooti se pakad liya.
Uski aankhon mein ek narmi thi.
"Toh bas Reyansh hi rehna."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Jheel ne muskurakar kaha, "Mujhe wahi pasand hai."


Garden ke ek kone mein music thoda tez hua.
Jheel ne us taraf dekha.
Reyansh ne uska haath apni taraf kheenchkar poochha, "Dance?"
Jheel hairan hui.
"Yahan?"
"Haan."
"Log dekh rahe hain."
"Log apni zindagi mein busy hain."
"Reyansh, mujhe dance nahi karna."
"Theek hai."
Usne turant haath chhod diya.
Jheel kuch pal use dekhti rahi.
Phir usne khud uska haath pakad liya.
"Ek minute."
Reyansh muskuraya.
"Ji, madam?"
"Bas thoda sa."
Woh dono garden ke ek khaali hisse mein khade ho gaye. Koi dance floor nahi tha, koi special arrangement nahi tha.
Reyansh ne ek haath Jheel ki kamar ke paas rakha aur doosre haath se uska haath thaam liya. Jheel uske kareeb aayi.
Dono dheere-dheere music ki rhythm par hilne lage.
Jheel ne uske kandhe par haath rakha.
"Main achha dance nahi karti."
Reyansh ne kaha, "Main bhi nahi."
"Tum toh bade confident lag rahe ho."
"Confidence aur talent ka alag-alag department hai."
Jheel hans padi.
"Pagal."
Reyansh ne muskurakar kaha, "Tumhara."
Jheel ne uski taraf dekha.
Is baar usne koi mazaak nahi kiya.
Bas apna sir uske kandhe par rakh diya.
Reyansh ne use apne kareeb kar liya.
Music chalta raha.
Dono kuch pal tak yun hi rahe.
Jheel ko laga ki duniya mein bahut si cheezein aisi hain jinhe samajhne ke liye shabdon ki zaroorat nahi hoti.
Aur Reyansh ko laga ki kabhi-kabhi kisi ko apne kareeb mehsoos karna hi poore din ki sabse khoobsurat baat ban sakta hai.


Garden se nikalte waqt Jheel thodi shaant thi.


Reyansh ne notice kiya.
"Kya hua?"
"Kuch nahi."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Jheel."
Woh ruk gayi.
"Hmm?"
"Tum mujhe bata sakti ho."
Jheel ne kuch pal uska chehra dekha.
Phir boli, "Main bas soch rahi thi ki hum kitne badal gaye hain."
Reyansh ne poochha, "Achhe ya bure?"
"Achhe."
Woh muskurayi.
"Pehle hum milte the toh har baat mein thoda sa hesitation hota tha. Ab main tumhare saamne bina soche bol deti hoon. Tumhare saath hasti hoon, naraaz hoti hoon, phir khud hi tumhe message kar deti hoon."
Reyansh ne mazaak kiya, "Haan, message karne mein tumhara contribution kaafi bada hai."
Jheel ne uske kandhe par halka sa maara.
"Sun toh lo!"
"Achha, sorry. Aage bolo."
Jheel phir muskurayi.
"Mujhe achha lagta hai ki main tumhare saath apni tarah reh sakti hoon."
Reyansh ne uska haath pakad liya.
"Tumhe mere saath badalne ki zaroorat nahi hai, Jheel."
Woh uski taraf dekhne lagi.
"Main tumhare saath hoon kyunki tum tum ho. Tumhe kisi aur jaisa banne ki zaroorat nahi."
Jheel ki aankhon mein nami si chamki, lekin uske honton par muskurahat bani rahi.
"Yeh baat tum kabhi mat bhoolna."
Reyansh ne uski ungliyon ko apni ungliyon mein phansa liya.
"Nahi bhoolunga."
Jheel ne uske kareeb aakar use gale laga liya.
Reyansh ne bhi use baahon mein bhar liya.
Us hug mein koi jaldi nahi thi.
Jheel kuch der uske seene se lagi rahi.
Phir dheere se boli, "I love you, Reyansh."
Reyansh ki baahon ka ghera halka sa mazboot hua.
Usne Jheel ke baalon par apna gaal tikaya.
"I love you too, Jheel."
Jheel ne aankhein band kar li.
Aur Reyansh ne use apne kareeb rehne diya.


Raat ho chuki thi.
Reyansh Jheel ko uske flat ke saamne chhodne aaya.
Jheel ne darwaza kholne se pehle uski taraf dekha.
"Aaj ka din yaad rahega."
Reyansh muskuraya.
"Achha hai. Main bhi chahta hoon ki tum mujhe yaad rakho."
Jheel ne uski aankhon mein dekha.
"Main tumhe bhoolne ke liye toh tumhare saath nahi hoon."
Reyansh kuch pal chup raha.
Phir usne Jheel ke gaal ko pyaar se chhua.
"Goodnight."
Jheel ne uske haath par apna haath rakh diya.
"Goodnight."
Woh andar jaane lagi, phir palatkar uske paas aayi aur use ek baar phir gale laga liya.
Reyansh hans pada.
"Abhi toh goodnight bola tha."
Jheel ne uske seene se lage-lage kaha, "Toh?"
"Toh mujhe lag raha hai tum mujhe jaane nahi dena chahti."
Jheel peeche hati aur uski aankhon mein dekhkar boli, "Aaj nahi."
Reyansh ki muskurahat kuch pal ke liye tham gayi.
Usne Jheel ke maathe par ek narm kiss diya.
"Main yahin hoon."
Jheel ne uska haath chhod diya.
Is baar woh andar chali gayi.
Reyansh kuch der darwaze ko dekhta raha, phir apne flat mein laut aaya.


Raat ko Reyansh bed par leta tha.
Phone par Jheel ka message aaya.
Jheel: So gaye?
Reyansh: Nahi.
Jheel: Aaj ki shaam achhi thi.
Reyansh: Mere liye bhi.
Jheel: Tumhe pata hai, mujhe tumhare saath sabse achha kya lagta hai?
Reyansh: Aaj toh tumne bata diya tha.
Jheel: Woh alag baat thi.
Reyansh: Achha, batao.
Kuch pal baad reply aaya.
Jheel: Tumhare saath mujhe future ke baare mein sochne se pehle present mein khush rehna achha lagta hai.
Reyansh ne message ko dobara padha.
Usne jawab diya.
Reyansh: Toh phir aaj ki khushi ko kal tak le chalte hain.
Jheel ne ek dil wala emoji bheja.
Reyansh ne phone side mein rakh diya.
Uske chehre par ek sukoon bhari muskurahat thi.
Woh nahi jaanta tha ki zindagi aage kya lekar aayegi.
Lekin us raat use har cheez ka jawab nahi chahiye tha.
Jheel uski zindagi mein thi.
Woh usse pyaar karti thi.
Aur woh bhi usse pyaar karta tha.
Filhaal, yahi sach uske liye kaafi tha.
Kuch log hamaari zindagi mein aakar hamaare din nahi badalte, hamaare din jeene ka tareeka badal dete hain.
Aur Reyansh ke liye, Jheel ab sirf ek khoobsurat rishta nahi thi.