[Sriya2]

Chapter 2: Kya Hua Tera Vaada

Sahil ek gehri saans bharte hue apne cabin mein daakhil hua. Chehre par paseene ki ek halki si parat chadh gayi thi. Woh turant apni kursi par baitha aur bina padhe hi laptop par mails scroll karne laga. Use pata bhi nahi tha woh kya dekh raha hai. Bas ek cheez pakki thi, woh cabin ke kaanch ke paar nahi dekhna chahta tha.

Log has rahe honge. Shit!

Dimaag mein ek sawaal baar baar kachot raha tha - use yeh sab pehle kyun nahi dikha? Boss ko ache se pata tha woh kitna stretched tha, 50 crore ke maal ka distribution woh apne kandhon par liye kisi tarah kheench raha tha. Unhone kaha tha ki uske workload ko halka karne ke liye yeh senior hire karna zaroori tha. Sahil khud bhi toh interview panel ka hissa tha. Par ab socho toh... shayad woh khud apna replacement hire kar raha tha. Kitna bewakoof tha woh!

Tabhi door par halki si knock hui aur bina jawab ka intezaar kiye hi teen log andar aa gaye – Rohan, Neha aur Yogesh. Unke chehron ki bechaini ne Sahil ki chhatpatahat ko aur badha diya.

Sabse pehle Yogesh ki aawaz nikli. "Sir… ye kya announcement thi…"

Rohan bhi fauran naraazgi jatate hue bola, "Bilkul unexpected... sab kafi shocked hain…"

Woh dono bol hi rahe they ki tabhi Neha apne mann ka sawal pooche bina nahi reh paayi. "Sir… agar aap dono co-head honge toh team ki reporting kaise work karegi… hum to Saloni ma'am ko jaante bhi nahi... hum sab to aapko hi report karna chahenge na…"

Neha ki is baat par Rohan ne us par ek teekha kataksh kiya. "Kyun? Subah toh badi has ke baat kar rahi thi usse."

Palat-vaar karne mein Neha ne bhi der nahi lagayi. "Oh hello! Main toh sabse tameez se hi baat karti hoon… par tu toh full check out maar raha tha unhe."

Unki awaazein ek doosre par chadhne lagi. Sahil ke sar mein dard sa hone laga tha.

Hawa mein haath uthate hue Sahil ne sabko rok diya. "Guys… please… not now… kal baat karte hai… I am sure sab sort out ho jayega…"

Yogesh ne hichakte hue kaha, "Par Sir… team toh already split feel kar rahi hai... aise mein sab sort out kaise hoga..."

Sahil ne khud ko sambhalte hue aawaz mein professionalism laane ki koshish kari, "Nahi... aisa kuch nahi hai. We are all together… Saloni aur main… hum log mil kar lead karenge… it's one single team."

Yogesh aur Neha ke jaane ke baad Rohan wahin ruka raha. Uske chehre se saaf zahir tha ki woh Sahil ki baat se agree nahi tha. "Sir… aap bhi jaante ho... itni aasani se kuch theek nahi hoga. Aap maano ya na maano..."

Sahil laparwahi se apne kandhe uchkate hue apne chehre par ek feeki si smile laaya. "Mere haath mein kya hai? Dekhte hain… kya hota hai…"
Rohan floor ke doosri taraf ek meeting room ki taraf dekh raha tha, jahan abhi abhi Boss aur Saloni andar gaye they. Rohan ki aawaz aur bhi dheemi ho gayi thi.

"Dekh lena Sir... politics hone wali hai..."

Sahil bilkul chup raha. Uski nazar bhi us meeting room par atki hui thi.

Par use kya pata tha ki us meeting room ke andar, mahaul bilkul alag tha.

Mr. Dixit Saloni ko samjha rahe they. "Look Saloni… hamne tumhare potential ko dekh kar hi tumhe hire kiya hai. But try to also see this from Sahil's perspective. Woh pichle ek dedh saal se ye role sambhal raha hai. Uske liye bhi ye decision kaafi disappointing hoga."

Haath mein liye ek sleek se pen par Saloni ki pakad aur bhi sakht ho gayi. "But Sir... I didn't join as co-head. Interview mein aisa kuch mention nahi tha… this feels like bait and switch…"

Boss thoda stiff ho gaye. "That's strong language..."

Boss aaram se bole, par unke lehze mein ek calculated sakhti thi. "That assumption was the problem. Management ne hamesha leadership role bola tha, Marketing Operations Head nahi."

Saloni ne seedha Dixit ki aankhon mein dekha, uski awaaz mein zara bhi jhijhak nahi thi, jaise woh apne haq ke liye ladna jaanti ho. “Par Sir, final round mein Piyush Sir ne explicitly mujhse brand transformation aur operations head ki baat ki thi. Kal subah meri unse one-on-one meeting scheduled hai... should I clarify with him?”

Saloni ke muh se Piyush ka naam sunte hi Dixit ke chehre par ek pal ke liye shikan ubhar aayi, jise unhone turant ek professional muskaan ke peeche chhupa diya.

“Piyush Sir operates at 30,000 feet Saloni,” Dixit ne apna lehza thoda sa narm kiya, “Unka vision hai is company ko ek national brand banane ka. Par ground execution, reporting structure aur yeh saare operational matters decide karna mera kaam hai. Main Piyush Sir ko explain kar chuka hoon, and he is completely aligned with me.”

Saloni ke chehre par ek pal ke liye sannata chha gaya. Offer letter mein kahin uski post ka jiqr nahi tha, bas use ek opportunity dikhayi gayi thi – Kuch bada karne ki, kuch meaningful karne ki. Shayad usne kahin kuch misunderstand kiya tha, aur ab uski yeh misunderstanding kafi bhaari padne wali thi.

Boss Saloni ko pareshaan dekh kar table par thoda sa aage ki taraf jhuke, "Look Saloni... the practical reality is, team aur business partners, dono Sahil par kafi trust karte hain. Agar hum tumhe seedhe Head bana dete, toh kafi resistance hota. Sab kuch suffer karta."

Saloni ne ekdam se apni thoughts par lagam lagayi aur unki baat ko dhyaan se sunne lagi.

"All I will say is... learn from him... Processes, people, customers. Six months… one year. You're smart... tum figure out kar logi..."

Saloni halke se nod karte hue boss ko dekh rahi thi, shayad use samajh aane laga tha woh kya keh rahe they.

Unki dabi aawaz mein kuch aur bhi nikla. "Last thing I will say is… you're being paid more than double of what he is making… it shows our vote of confidence in you. Please keep this last part to yourself... strictly confidential."

Saloni ne ek halki si smile dene ki koshish kari. "Sure Sir... I understand."

"Thoda thande dimaag se sochna... and we can chat again tomorrow... chaho toh main bhi join kar lunga Piyush Sir wali meeting."
“Sure... I will let you know tomorrow.”

Boss meeting room se bahar nikle aur seedha Sahil ke cabin ki taraf badh chale. Door se hi Boss ko aate dekh kar Sahil ne turant apna muh laptop mein ghusa liya. Woh tayyar nahi tha kisi bhi discussion ke liye. Par Boss seedhe andar aa gaye.

Boss Sahil ke saamne baithte hue bole. "Sahil ji…"

Sahil ne laptop ki screen se nazrein hatayi. "Ji Sir…?"

Boss ne uske desk se ek paperweight uthate hue kaha, "Kaise ho aap?"
"Badiya Sir…"

Sahil jaisa bhi feel kar raha ho, use badiya ke elawa kuch bolna aata hi nahi tha.

Boss bhi shayad ache se jaante they ki ye sach nahi tha. "Dekho, I am sure... thoda surprise hua hoga... I know you think you were managing it all, but it was not sustainable. Tumhare paas is business ko grow karne ka experience bhi nahi hai."

Sahil ko ye baat achi nahi lagi aur uska muh latak gaya. Pichle 15 mahino se jab woh ye sab akele manage kar raha tha tab toh kisi ne uska experience nahi pucha tha. Tab toh growth fast nahi lag rahi thi?

Boss ne uska chehra padhte hue kaha. "Believe me... it was not just my decision... but it was done with the best of intentions. Tumhara workload unmanageable ho gaya tha…. tumhari personal life... Kajal toh mujhe gaaliyan hi deti hogi..."

Kajal ka naam sunte hi Sahil ke kaan laal ho gaye. "Nahi Sir... aisa kuch nahi. Kajal toh hamesha supportive hi rehti hai."

Boss shayad isi reaction ka intezaar kar rahe they. "Exactly! We are supportive of you as well. Nothing will change immediately… woh abhi new hai. She'll lean on you. Authority tumhare paas hi rahegi."

Bolne ko toh bohot kuch tha, par dimaag chalna band sa ho gaya tha. Sahil kuch nahi keh paaya.

Boss paperweight ko table par sahi jagah par wapis rakhte hue bole, "So all good then?"

Haan mein sar hilane ke alawa raasta bhi kya tha.

Boss bahar nikalne ke liye khade hi hue they ki Sahil instinctively operational mode mein aa gaya. "Sir... Team was asking... kaam kaise split karenge?"

Boss turant muskurate hue bole jaise pehle se hi sab soch rakha ho. "Regionally split kar lo… East-West tum… aur North-South woh…"

Sahil ko ye split fair nahi laga. Usne hichkichate hue, dabi awaaz mein kaha. "Par growth toh North-South mein hai... East toh waise hi poora dead pada hai..."

Boss ne badi safai se baat ghumai. "West mein hamare core accounts hain… unko bhi toh manage karna hai na. Wahan tumhare experience ki zaroorat padegi, main kisi naye par risk nahi le sakta. Can I count on you for that?"

"Hmmm… Yes Sir..."

Boss "Great" kehte hue cabin se bahar nikal gaye, shayad unhe Sahil se jo chahiye tha woh mil gaya tha.

Unke jaane ke baad, Sahil wahin baitha raha. Boss ke liye shayad ye bas ek structural change tha par uske liye toh pichle pandrah mahino ki mehnat ko achanak se “unmanageable” keh kar usse cheen liya gaya tha. Sahi se apni baat bhi unhe samjha nahi paaya tha, ya shayad woh use samjhane ka mauka bhi nahi dena chahte they.

Kuch der baad usne fir se apne aap ko kaam mein ghusa liya, jaise kuch hua hi na ho. Jab nazar ghadi par padi, toh use ehsaas hua ki kaafi der ho chuki thi. Bahar abhi bhi kuch log baithe hue they, jinmein Saloni bhi thi. Sahil ne uski taraf dekhe bina bahar nikal jaana behtar samjha. Use darr tha kahin use Saloni ki nazron mein jeet ki chamak na dikh jaye... ya fir uske liye koi hamdardi.

Tez kadmon se nikal kar woh seedhe apni car mein ja baitha aur ghar ki taraf chal pada. Raaste bhar woh frustrated feel karta hua badbada sa raha tha, kuch halki gaaliyan uske muh se nikal rahi thi, jo woh sirf akele mein hi nikaala karta tha – Fuckkk…. behenchod... saala kutta!

Apne ghar ki building tak pahunch kar jaise-taise woh second floor tak chadha. Jo din excitement se bhara hona chahiye tha, woh uske liye poori tarah se bikhar chuka tha.

Ghar ke andar ghusa toh uski wife Kajal shayad kisi se phone par baat kar rahi thi. Sahil ko dekhte hi usne turant phone kaat diya aur khushi se Sahil ko gale laga liya. "Congraaaaatsssss Mister!"

Kajal ki baahon mein wahi pehchaani si khushboo thi, kisi mehnge perfume ki nahi, bas ek aisi khushboo jise Sahil achi tarah jaan kar bhi lafzon mein bayan nahi kar sakta tha. Uska jism Sahil ke seene se bilkul naturally fit ho gaya, jaise saalon se isi shape mein dhal gaya ho. Ye koi magazine-cover wali perfect body nahi thi, par usme ek aisi narmahat thi jahan woh ghanto theher sakta tha.

Uska kurta soft cotton ka tha, jis par halki si silvaten thi, use college ke dino ki yaad dilata hua. Baal aadhe khule aur aadhe ek clip ke sahare upar tike hue they, jaise din bhar ke kaamon ke beech bas kisi tarah sambhaal liye gaye ho. Na koi dikhaavati make-up, na koi banavat, sirf woh, hamesha ki tarah ekdam natural.

Sar kandhe par hi tika raha, jaise use uthane ki bhi himmat na ho. Aaj use sirf yehi chahiye tha.

"Kuch khaaya toh hoga nahi poore din... hai na? Subah jaldi mein lunch bhool gaye they..."

Sahil ka koi jawab nahi aaya, bilkul chup. Kajal kuch hi palon mein samajh gayi ki kuch toh gadbad thi aur usne Sahil ki aur dekha. "Hey… kya hua? Itne thake hue kyu lag rahe ho? Aaj toh mujhe laga tha poore energized wapis aayoge..."

Sahil ne ek gehri saans bhari aur use sab kuch bata diya, last mein boss se jo baat hui use chhod kar.

Kajal gusse mein kamre mein chalte hue bol rahi thi, "Ye kya nonsense hui… call lagao zara apne boss ko… main baat karti hoon usse…"

Boss sahi keh rahe they, Kajal toh sach mein unhe sunane ko tayyar thi. Uske chehre par halki si smile aayi. "Aur tum phone karogi toh boss sochenge main apni wife ko aage kar ke lad raha hoon..."

"Nahi par… how can he do this to you… aur upar se… sab kuch chhupa ke rakha, koi communication nahi…. tumne kuch kaha nahi?"
Sahil ne dheere se kaha, "Hui thi baat…"

Kajal boss ki nakal karte hue boli. "Let me guess…. Usne bola hoga… good for your personal life… and abhi toh woh ladki nayi hai… you should help her… aur tumne... tumne haan kar diya hoga.."

Sahil ne halke se Kajal ke kandho par haath rakh diye use shaant karne ke liye. "Haan… short mein hi toh yehi hua tha…par tumhe kaise pata?"
Kajal ne use gusse mein ghoora. "Hum kitne saalon se saath hai…"

Sahil apni ungliyon par ginne laga. "Ummmmmm… sab mila ke... ya shaadi ke baad se…"

Kajal aur frustrated ho gayi. "Oh god!! Rhetorical question tha…"

Sahil uska mood light karne ke liye has ke bola. "Ab ye kya hota hai… itni angrezi nahi aati yaar… har koi tumhari tarah angrezi ka professor nahi hota na…"

"Aree mere Assistant professor ke pati... rhetorical matlab ek aisa sawaal jiska jawaab dene ki zaroorat nahi hoti, kyunki jawaab sabko pehle se pata hota hai. Jaise jab main puchti hoon - Kya tum mujhse pyaar karte ho?... it's rhetorical! I already know the answer."

Sahil ne shararat bhari aawaz mein kaha. "Hain!! Aisa sawal hi kyu poocho jiska jawab na dena ho?"

Kajal ne haste hue uski peeth par haath maara. "Shut up! Tum bhi na…."

Sahil ne Kajal ko kamar se pakadte hue uska chehra apne theek saamne kar liya. "Lo main tumhare rhetorical question ka jawab deta hoon... main na… tumse… bohot pyaar karta hoon…"

Kajal ne muskurate hue apni baahen uske gale mein daal li. “Aur main… bilkul nahi karti…”

"Liar… iska matlab hai… ek insaan jo jhooth bolta hai… jaise abhi tum bol rahi ho..."

Kajal khilkhila kar has padi. Sahil ne dheere se apne honth uske honthon par rakh diye aur use choomne laga – ek dheema aur lamba kiss, jisme din bhar ki thakaan jaise dheere dheere pighal rahi thi. Itni stressful life ke bawajood Sahil ke paas Kajal naam ki stressbuster thi. Usne mann hi mann socha – Kya ho gaya agar ek post nahi mili toh… mere paas ye toh hai...

Poori shaam aur raat isi baare mein baar baar discussion chhidta raha, jyadatar Kajal hi Sahil ko alag alag advice de rahi thi. "You know… maine hazar baar kaha hai… you need to be more assertive... par tum sunte hi nahi ho..."

Sahil ne fir se majak kiya. "Ab aaj hi saari angrezi sikha dogi kya?"

"You know what I mean na… you need to be confident to ask for what you deserve..."

"Areee…. woh toh hamesha rehta hoon… tabhi toh tum mujhe mili."

Un dono ka pyaar bhara hasi majak khatam nahi ho raha tha, par raat tak sote sote Sahil ke mann mein kuch ghar karne laga tha. Shayad Kajal sahi keh rahi thi, use is baar apne haq ke liye ladna hi chahiye. Par Dixit se ladne ka matlab tha career suicide.
Uska haq Dixit ne nahi, us nayi ladki ne chheena tha.

Raat ke andhere mein chhat ko ghoorte hue Sahil ke honthon par ek halki si muskaan aayi.

Agar Saloni ko lagta hai ki woh Mumbai se aakar itni aasani se us par hukumat karegi, toh kal se use pata chalne wala hai ki ek nayi jagah pair jamana kitna mushkil hota hai. Kal se dekhte hain ki woh kaise co-lead karti hai – bina team ke, bina information ke, aur bina uske support ke.