[Greenwood]

Update 58


Subah ke aath bajkar pandrah minute ho chuke the.
Reyansh ki aankhein khul gayi thi, lekin woh abhi bhi bed par leta hua tha. Parde se chhankar aati dhoop kamre ke ek hisse ko roshan kar rahi thi. Phone bedside table par rakha tha aur alarm kab ka band ho chuka tha.
Usne karwat badli.
Phir phone uthaya.
Screen par kuch notifications the. Office ke emails, ek promotional message aur Arshad ka WhatsApp message.
Arshad: Zinda ho toh reply kar. Warna main teri property ka legal heir banne ki planning shuru kar doon?
Reyansh ke chehre par halki si muskurahat aayi.
Usne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Meri property mein ek sofa, do chairs aur aadha khaali fridge hai. Soch le.
Arshad: Fridge mein kya hai?
Reyansh: Ice cream.
Arshad: Bas. Dosti apni jagah, lekin ice cream ke liye main kuch bhi kar sakta hoon.
Reyansh ne phone neeche rakh diya.
Kuch pal ke liye uska dhyaan letter ki taraf gaya, jo ab bhi dining table par pada tha. Kal raat usne use kai baar padhne ke baad wahi chhod diya tha.
Woh bed se utha, bathroom mein gaya aur taiyaar hone laga.
Aaj usne khud se koi bada vaada nahi kiya. Na khush rehne ka, na Jheel ko bhoolne ka.
Bas office jaana tha.
Kaam karna tha.
Din guzaarna tha.
Kabhi-kabhi insaan ke paas aage badhne ka koi bada plan nahi hota. Woh bas agla kadam utha leta hai, phir uske baad wala.
Reyansh ke liye aaj ka din bhi kuch aisa hi tha.


Reyansh kitchen se paani lekar nikla hi tha ki doorbell baj uthi.
Usne darwaaza khola.
Shalu saamne khadi thi, kandhe par apna bag latkaaye.
"Good morning, sir."
"Good morning. Aaj tum time se pehle aa gayi."
"Roz ke time par hi aayi hoon. Aap late taiyaar hue ho."
Reyansh ne ghadi dekhi.
"Subah-subah personal attack?"
"Main toh sirf observation kar rahi hoon."
"Achha. Tumhari observations ki fees kitni hai?"
Shalu ne sochne ka natak kiya.
"Abhi trial period chal raha hai."
Reyansh hans pada.
"Very good. Tumhari consultancy grow kar rahi hai."
Shalu andar aayi aur seedha kitchen ki taraf chali gayi.
"Sir, chai bana doon?"
"Nahi, aaj rehne do."
Shalu ruk gayi.
"Breakfast?"
"Nahi chahiye."
"Kal bhi aapne theek se nahi khaya tha."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Shalu, tum ghar saaf karne aati ho ya meri food habits ki report banane?"
"Dono mein se jo zyada zaroori ho."
"Achha! Yeh toh service package mein nahi tha."
Shalu ne halka sa smile kiya, lekin is baar usne mazaak aage nahi badhaya.
"Sir, aapko bhookh nahi hai toh alag baat hai. Lekin bina kuch khaaye mat jaiye."
Reyansh kuch pal chup raha.
Phir usne kitchen counter par rakhe bread packet ki taraf ishara kiya.
"Ek toast bana do. Bas."
"Do bana doon?"
"Negotiation skills bhi seekh li tumne?"
"Thodi-thodi."
"Fine. Two."
Shalu ne toast banana shuru kar diya.
Reyansh kitchen ke darwaaze ke paas khada use dekh raha tha.
"Waise, tumhara course kaisa chal raha hai?"
Shalu ne palatkar dekha.
"Abhi admission final nahi kiya. Fees aur timings compare kar rahi hoon."
"Achha. Koi help chahiye ho toh bata dena."
"Ji."
Toast taiyaar hua toh Shalu ne plate uske saamne rakh di.
Reyansh ne pehla bite liya.
"Perfect."
Shalu ne bhauhein uthayi.
"Toast hai, sir. Five-star review dene ki zaroorat nahi."
"Customer satisfaction naam ki bhi koi cheez hoti hai."
"Toh phir breakfast poora karna bhi customer responsibility hai."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Main tumhari salary badhaane ke baare mein soch raha tha. Ab reconsider karna padega."
Shalu hans padi.
"Salary ki baat aayi hi kahan se? Aap toh sirf toast kha rahe ho."
Reyansh bhi hans diya.
Kuch seconds ke liye ghar ka mahaul halka ho gaya.
Lekin jab uski nazar dining table ki taraf gayi, uski muskurahat dheere-dheere kam ho gayi.
Shalu ne bhi uska badalta chehra dekh liya.
Usne kuch nahi poochha.
Bas khaali plate utha li.


Subah kareeb nau bajkar chaalis minute par Reyansh office pahunch gaya.


Lift se nikalte hi uski nazar Neha par padi. Woh apni desk par laptop khole baithi thi aur ek document padh rahi thi.
Reyansh ne paas aakar kaha, "Good morning, hard-working citizen."
Neha ne screen se nazar uthayi.
"Good morning. Aaj aap time par aa gaye?"
"Main hamesha time par aata hoon."
Neha ne ghadi dekhi.
"Office ka clock alag time zone mein chalta hai kya?"
Reyansh ne apna laptop bag desk par rakha.
"Tum logon ko meri punctuality se itni problem kyun hai?"
"Problem nahi hai. Bas aapki punctuality ek rare species hai. Research kar rahi hoon."
"Toh paper publish kar dena. Title rakhna: The Myth of Reyansh's Late Arrival."
Neha hans padi.
"Done. Author ka naam mera."
"Royalty ka kya?"
"Uske liye pehle aap time par aana seekh lo."
Reyansh ne chair kheenchkar baithte hue kaha, "Mujhe lagta hai tumhari salary mein sarcasm allowance add karna padega."
Neha ne document uski taraf badha diya.
"Salary department se baat kar lijiye. Filhaal yeh report review kar dijiye."
Reyansh ne file le li.
"Yes, ma'am."
Neha apni desk par wapas chali gayi.
Kuch der tak Reyansh report padhta raha. Usne corrections kiye, ek email bheja aur upcoming campaign ke points note kiye.
Kaam mein dhyaan lag raha tha.
Lekin beech-beech mein phone ki taraf nazar chali jaati.
Jab bhi screen jalti, uska dil ek pal ke liye tez hota.
Phir pata chalta ki message kisi aur ka hai.
Dopahar se pehle usne phone drawer mein rakh diya.
Kam se kam kaam ke waqt use baar-baar screen nahi dekhni chahiye thi.
Neha ek baar phir uski desk par aayi.
"Reyansh, client ne revised timeline bheji hai."
"Okay. Share kar do."
"Already email kar diya."
"Great."
Neha kuch seconds wahin ruki.
"Ek baat poochhun?"
Reyansh ne nazar uthayi.
"Poochho."
"Aap aajkal thode quiet ho. Sab theek hai?"
Reyansh ne pen table par rakh diya.
"Main quiet hoon?"
"Compared to your usual version? Definitely."
"Ho sakta hai main mature ho raha hoon."
Neha ne turant jawaab diya, "Agar yeh maturity hai toh mujhe apni purani personality hi pasand hai."
Reyansh hans diya.
"Fair enough."
Neha ne uske chehre ko ek pal aur dekha.
"Anyway, agar kuch kaam mein help chahiye ho toh bata dena."
"Sure. Thanks."
Neha chali gayi.
Woh personal sawaalon par zor dene wali insaan nahi thi. Usne poochha, Reyansh ne jitna batana chaha, utna suna. Filhaal uske liye itna kaafi tha.
Reyansh ne laptop ki taraf dekha aur kaam jaari rakha.
Aaj woh khud ko busy rakhna chahta tha.
Kyunki jaise hi kaam rukta, uske dimaag mein Jheel ke jaane ka sawaal phir khada ho jaata.


Dopahar ke kareeb ek baje Arshad ka message aaya.
Arshad: Lunch?
Reyansh: Office mein hoon.
Arshad: Mujhe bhi pata hai. Teri location share nahi maangi. Pooch raha hoon lunch kiya ya nahi.
Reyansh ne apni desk par rakhe paani ke glass ko dekha.
Reyansh: Abhi nahi.
Arshad: Excellent. Main bhi nahi. Chal milte hain.
Reyansh: Tu yahan aa raha hai?
Arshad: Nahi, tu mere ghar aa. Main telepathy se khana bhej dunga.
Reyansh hans pada.
Reyansh: Pagal hai kya?
Arshad: Haan. Lekin tera dost hoon. Isliye lunch ke liye nikal.
Reyansh ne kuch pal socha.
Phir apni desk se uth gaya.
Neha ne use bag uthate dekha.
"Lunch break?"
"Haan."
"Good. Aaj toh aap time par ek kaam kar rahe ho."
Reyansh ne uski taraf ungli dikhayi.
"Ek din tumhari saari observations ka audit karunga."
"Main ready hoon. Bas appointment le lena."
Reyansh muskurate hue office se nikal gaya.
Arshad ne paas ke ek casual restaurant mein table book nahi ki thi. Usne bas message bheja tha ki woh wahan pahunch raha hai.
Jab Reyansh restaurant mein aaya, Arshad pehle se baitha menu dekh raha tha.
"Welcome, welcome! Hamare corporate celebrity aa gaye."
Reyansh saamne baith gaya.
"Tu mujhe lunch par bula raha tha ya award dene?"
"Dono. Award ghar par reh gaya."
"Achha hua. Teri acting ke liye jagah kam pad jaati."
Arshad hans pada.
Waiter aaya toh dono ne order diya. Arshad ne apne liye kuch spicy manga, jabki Reyansh ne simple meal choose kiya.
Arshad ne menu band karke use dekha.
"Toh, Mr. Reyansh. Kaisa chal raha hai?"
"Office chal raha hai."
"Main office ka nahi poochh raha."
Reyansh ne paani ka glass uthaya.
"Pata hai."
"Phir?"
Reyansh kuch der chup raha.
"Kal raat bhi neend theek se nahi aayi."
Arshad ne mazaak nahi kiya.
"Jheel ki wajah se?"
"Haan."
Reyansh ne glass table par rakh diya.
"Main baar-baar uska letter padh raha hoon. Samajhne ki koshish kar raha hoon ki use aisa kyun laga. Maine use bataya tha ki meri pehle shaadi ho chuki hai. Maine usse yeh bhi nahi kaha tha ki woh kisi ki jagah le."
Arshad dhyaan se sun raha tha.
"Usne apne letter mein likha hai ki main apni pehli zindagi ko bhula nahi sakta. Ki woh meri zindagi mein doosri aurat bankar nahi reh sakti."
Reyansh ne ek thaki hui saans li.
"Main samajh nahi paa raha ki usne mere baare mein aisa kaise soch liya."
Arshad ne apni ungliyon ko table par jod liya.
"Rey, main ek baat bolun?"
"Bol."
"Ho sakta hai usne apni feelings ke hisaab se decision liya ho. Ho sakta hai uske paas koi aisi baat ho jo tujhe nahi pata. Lekin jo bhi hai, tu abhi uske letter ki har line ko apni personality ka certificate mat samajh."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
Arshad aage bola, "Usne jo likha, woh uska kehna hai. Iska matlab yeh nahi ki tu waise hi insaan hai."
Reyansh ne nazar neeche kar li.
"Par agar use mere saath rehna hi nahi tha, toh woh mujhe bata sakti thi."
"Haan. Yeh baat main samajh sakta hoon."
"Main usse kuch maang bhi nahi raha tha. Bas itna chahta tha ki woh mere saath rahe."
Arshad ne dheere se sir hilaya.
"Tu usse pyaar karta tha."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Karta tha?"
Arshad kuch pal chup raha.
"Sorry. Karta hai. Feelings koi switch nahi hoti ki ek insaan chala gaya aur tu unhe off kar de."
Reyansh ki aankhon mein dard ubhar aaya, lekin usne nazar hata li.
Waiter khana lekar aa gaya.
Arshad ne jaanbujhkar conversation ko kuch der ke liye rok diya.
Dono khaane lage.
Kuch minute baad Arshad ne apni plate se ek piece uthakar Reyansh ki taraf badhaya.
"Yeh try kar."
Reyansh ne use dekha.
"Apni plate se kyun de raha hai? Alag order kar le."
"Friendship mein sharing hoti hai."
"Friendship mein hygiene bhi hoti hai."
Arshad ne haath wapas kheench liya.
"Achha, madam! Main toh pyaar se de raha tha."
Reyansh hans diya.
"Tu pyaar se nahi, apna khana khatam karne ke liye de raha tha."
Arshad ne ungli se uski taraf ishara kiya.

"Exactly! Tujhe samajh aana shuru ho gaya hai."
Dono hans pade.
Kuch der tak baat office, advertising campaigns aur Arshad ke ek client ke baare mein hoti rahi, jisne ek simple product ke liye itne complicated slogans maange the ki Arshad khud unka matlab bhool gaya tha.
Reyansh ko kuch pal ke liye apna dard yaad nahi raha.
Lekin lunch khatam hone ke baad jab dono restaurant se bahar nikle, uske andar ka khaali-pan phir mehsoos hone laga.
Arshad ne uske kandhe par haath rakha.
"Sun. Main tujhe har roz lunch par nahi bula sakta. Meri apni bhi zindagi hai."
Reyansh ne uski taraf dekha.
"Thank you. Bahut emotional tha."
"Isliye bol raha hoon ki jab mann kare, khud bhi call kar liya kar. Har baar main hi tera customer care nahi ban sakta."
Reyansh ne halki si muskurahat ke saath kaha, "Theek hai."
Arshad ne uski aankhon mein dekha.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Achha. Ab office ja. Aur haan, aaj dinner skip mat karna."
Reyansh ne haath hila diya.
"Ji, mummy."
Arshad ne turant kaha, "Mummy nahi, premium friendship package."
Reyansh hans pada aur apni gaadi ki taraf badh gaya.
Us din use ek baat mehsoos hui.
Kabhi-kabhi dost dard ka solution nahi dete.
Bas itni jagah de dete hain ki insaan apna dard lekar kuch der saans le sake.


Shaam ke kareeb saat baje Arshad apne apartment mein pahunch gaya.
Sakshi living room mein baithi laptop par kaam kar rahi thi. Table par kuch documents aur ek notebook rakhi thi.
Arshad ne shoes utaare aur sofa par baith gaya.
"Madam, main aa gaya."
Sakshi ne screen se nazar uthayi.
"Hmm."
Arshad ne use dekha.
"Bas hmm? Itni mehnat karke ghar aaya hoon."
Sakshi ne laptop band kiya.
"Arshad, mujhe kal subah ek important presentation deni hai. Main usi ki taiyaari kar rahi hoon."
"Achha, toh main chup ho jaata hoon."
Woh do seconds chup raha.
Phir bola, "Ab bol sakta hoon?"
Sakshi ne aankhein band karke ek saans li.
"Arshad, please."
"Okay, okay."
Arshad ne phone nikaal liya.
Kuch der baad usne poochha, "Waise kal shaam free ho?"
Sakshi ne apni notebook kholi.
"Kal nahi. Mujhe presentation ke baad bhi kuch kaam complete karna hai."
"Achha. Toh parson?"
"Parson bhi shayad nahi."
Arshad ne phone neeche kar diya.
"Hum kaafi din se saath mein kahin gaye nahi hain."
Sakshi ne uski taraf dekha.
"Mujhe pata hai."
"Toh phir koi plan bana lete hain na."
"Arshad, har baar plan banane se pehle yeh bhi dekhna chahiye ki saamne wale ke paas time hai ya nahi."
Arshad ne bhauhein sikodi.
"Main toh poochh hi raha hoon."
"Haan, lekin jab main mana karti hoon toh tum aise react karte ho jaise main tumhare saath waqt bitana hi nahi chahti."
Arshad kuch pal chup raha.
"Main aisa react karta hoon?"
Sakshi ne uski taraf dekha.
"Kabhi-kabhi."
Arshad ne apna phone table par rakh diya.
"Okay. Mujhe laga tha hum bas koi plan discuss kar rahe hain."
"Hum discuss hi kar rahe hain. Lekin main har baar apna kaam side mein nahi rakh sakti."
"Main tumse kaam chhodne ko nahi keh raha."
"Phir tumhe samajhna chahiye ki har baar haan kehna possible nahi hota."
Arshad ne gehri saans li.
"Theek hai, Sakshi. Main samajh gaya."
Sakshi ne uski taraf dekha.
"Really?"
"Haan."
Arshad ne apna phone uthaya aur doosri taraf dekhne laga.
Sakshi kuch pal use dekhti rahi.
Woh chahti thi ki Arshad samjhe ki uska kaam uske liye important hai. Woh apni career growth ko lekar serious thi. Uske liye relationship ka matlab apne plans aur ambitions ko chhod dena nahi tha.
Lekin Arshad ko us pal yeh laga ki usne bas ek simple plan suggest kiya tha aur baat zaroorat se zyada badh gayi.
Dono ne kuch aur nahi kaha.
Kuch der baad Sakshi apna laptop lekar bedroom mein chali gayi.
Arshad sofa par baitha raha.
Usne phone khola aur Reyansh ka chat dekha.
Woh use message karne wala tha, lekin phir socha ki Reyansh ko aaj thoda aaram karne de.
Usne phone lock kar diya.
Uske liye yeh bas ek chhota sa disagreement tha.


Kal sab normal ho jaayega, usne socha.
Sakshi bhi bedroom mein baithi apni presentation par kaam kar rahi thi. Usne Arshad se naraz rehne ka koi plan nahi banaya tha.
Lekin uske dimaag mein ek baat atki hui thi.
Kya Arshad sach mein uski baat samajhna chahta tha, ya bas tab tak sunta tha jab tak uski apni baat se disagreement na ho?
Woh abhi is sawaal ka jawaab nahi jaanti thi.
Aur usne us raat Arshad se dobara baat bhi nahi ki.

Reyansh raat kareeb aath baje apne flat mein lauta.
Darwaaza khola, lights on ki aur bag sofa par rakh diya.
Aaj ghar aate hi usne dining table ki taraf dekha.
Letter ab bhi wahin tha.
Woh uske paas gaya, lekin is baar use uthaya nahi.
Bas kuch seconds khada raha.
Phir kitchen mein gaya aur fridge khola.
Kal ki ice cream ab bhi rakhi thi.
Usne packet bahar nikala, ek bowl mein thodi si ice cream daali aur sofa par baith gaya.
TV on kiya.
Is baar usne channel badalte rehne ke bajaye ek comedy show laga diya.
Kuch jokes par woh halka sa hansa.
Kuch par nahi.
Lekin kam se kam usne screen band nahi ki.
Khaana order karne ke liye phone uthaya. Menu dekhte hue uski nazar Jheel ke chat par padi.
Usne chat kholne ke liye ungli badhayi.
Phir rok li.
Phone lock kar diya.
Aaj woh uske purane messages nahi padhna chahta tha.
Woh nahi jaanta tha ki kal kya hoga. Na yeh ki Jheel ke jaane ka dard kitne din rahega.
Lekin aaj usne apne liye ek chhota sa kaam kiya.
Dinner order kiya.
Khaana khaya.
Aur sone se pehle office ka alarm set kar diya.
Zindagi kaafi badal gayi thi.
Lekin Reyansh ne abhi usse poori tarah chhod nahi diya tha.


Raat ke gyarah bajkar das minute par Reyansh bed par leta hua tha.
Usne phone uthaya aur ek baar notifications check kiye.
Office ka ek email tha.
Arshad ka message tha.
Arshad: Dinner kiya?
Reyansh ne reply kiya.
Reyansh: Haan, sir.
Arshad: Good. Ab so ja. Kal phir duniya ko apni brand management skills se bachana hai.
Reyansh: Aur tu apne clients ko confusing slogans se bachana.
Arshad: Main artist hoon. Meri creativity ko samajhna har kisi ke bas ki baat nahi.
Reyansh muskuraya.
Phir usne phone side mein rakh diya.
Jheel ki chat kholne ka mann ab bhi ho raha tha.
Uska number dobara try karne ka mann bhi.
Lekin usne khud ko rok liya.
Aankhein band karte hue usne dheere se kaha, "Kal dekhenge."
Uske paas abhi koi jawaab nahi tha.
Koi explanation nahi.
Koi closure nahi.
Bas ek letter tha, kuch yaadein thi aur ek aisa rishta jo khatam ho chuka tha, lekin jiska asar abhi uske andar zinda tha.
Aur shayad filhaal, use bas itna hi accept karna tha.