Update 6:
Door bell baji. Richa ne aaj ek halka gulabi suit pehna tha, baal abhi bhi geele, ek patla cotton ka dupatta loose pada hua.
Darwaaza khola toh Rajesh cycle se bottle utar raha tha. Uski banyan pasine se chipki thi, collar ke paas se halki smell aayi kachi mardangi ki.
“Namaste madam ji,” usne smile ke saath kaha. “Aaj lagta hai subah aur bhi roshan hai.”
Richa ne aankh jhuka kar bottle li, “Roz tumhe taane maarne ki aadat hai na…”
Richa bottle rakhne gayi toh Rajesh seedha peeche aa gaya, bina pooche.
“Arre madam, aaj thoda pani milega? Cycle se bohot garmi ho gayi hai.”
Richa palat gayi thoda gussa, par uski aankhon mein hichkichahat bhi thi. “Tum… bina pooche andar…”
Rajesh seedhe aankhon mein dekh kar bola, “Aap mana karti ho kya kabhi?”
Uske lafzon mein nasha tha.
Kitchen chhota tha, dono ek dusre ke paas khade. Richa glass lene ke liye jhuki toh dupatta side ho gaya. Rajesh ki aankhen uske chuchon par tik gayi.
“Pani to de rahi ho, par asli pyas to kuch aur hai…” usne dheere se kaha.
Richa ne sunn lia aur turant seedhi ho gayi, glass uske haath mein diya. Par Rajesh ne glass lene ke bajaye uska haath pakad liya.
Ungliyan pakad ke bola, “Kitne narm hai… roz doodh baant-ta hoon, par aise doodh kabhi nahi dekha.”
Richa ka dil zor se dhadak gaya. Usne hath kheenchna chaha, par Rajesh ki pakad mazboot tha.
Glass rakhte waqt Richa jhuki, uska dupatta phisal kar zameen pe gir gaya. Rajesh ne turant uthaya, lekin usne pallu ko uske seene pe rakhne ke bajaye thoda neeche laa kar thamaaya.
“Madam ji, itna sambhaalne ki zarurat hi kya hai… jo khubsurti hai use chhupana gunaah hai.”
Richa ek pal ko bas uski aankhon mein dekhte reh gayi. Phir turant palat kar gas ke flame on karne lagi jaise busy dikhana chah rahi ho.
Rajesh peeche se aakar uske bilkul kareeb khada ho gaya. Uski gardan ke paas se uske garam saans tak Richa mehsoos kar rahi thi.
“Main chalun, madam?” – usne halka sa kaam ke pass aakar bola.
Richa ne bas haan mein sir hila diya, par uska sharir abhi bhi uske kareeb hone ka asar mehsoos kar raha tha.
Darwaza band karte hi Richa ne dekha ki uske haath abhi bhi kanp rahe the. Usne apna dupatta seene pe daba liya aur palang pe baith gayi. Uske dimaag mein sirf Rajesh ka ek hi lafz ghoom raha tha “Jo khubsurti hai use chhupana gunaah hai…”
Din ke 11 baje gym bilkul khaali tha. Richa aaj white sports bra ke upar loose T-shirt aur black tights mein thi. Baal tight ponytail, chehre pe halki si gloss.
Arjun ne usse dekhte hi smile ki, “Aaj lagta hai aap serious mode mein ho.”
Richa ne muskaan diye bina bas bola, “Bas routine ka part samajh lo.”
Arjun ne consciously uske chuchon ko avoid karte hue kaha, “Good. Discipline maintain karna padta hai.”
Aaj Arjun ne floor exercises karayi.
Plank position mein Richa neeche thi, Arjun uske samne squats karke time count kar raha tha.
“5… 6… 7… hold it…”
Richa ke hothon se halki si siskari nikal gayi. Arjun ne turant kaha,
“Yeh pain nahi hai… yeh strength hai. Aapke andar jitna sochti ho usse zyada dam hai.”
Richa ne aankh uthayi aur ek pal ke liye uski aankhon mein ghoora. Dialogue ek training line thi, par usmein double meaning ki garmi chipki thi.
Workout khatam hua toh Richa towel lekar shower room ki taraf gayi. Gym khaali tha, toh usne socha ki aaj thoda free feel karegi.
Jab wo mirror ke samne apni T-shirt utaar rahi thi, tabhi piche se Arjun ki awaaz aayi, “Richa ji, ek second.”
Wo chauk gayi, par Arjun door ke paas hi khada tha.
“Bas aapko posture aur shoulder stretch dikhana tha… tension mat lijiye.”
Arjun andar aaya, usne towel Richa ke kandhe pe daal diya aur bola,
“Main chahta hoon aap apna confidence kabhi na chhupao. Ye body sirf aapke liye hi nahi, ek strength ka sign hai.”
Richa chup rahi. Uska reflection mirror mein tha ek biwi jo gym trainer ke towel touch se behaal ho rahi thi.
Arjun uske bilkul kareeb aa gaya. Na haath seene pe, na kamar pe — bas shoulders pe halki grip.
“Ab imagine kijiye, aap yeh strength har din le kar chalti ho… phir duniya kaun rokega?”
Richa ne aankh band kar li. Uske honth khud hi halki muskaan mein khul gaye. Ek pal ko laga jaise wo chhod degi sab, par Arjun turant door ho gaya.
“Shower enjoy kijiye. Aaj ke liye bas itna kaafi hai.”
Richa ne paani chalaya, towel apne seene pe kas ke pakda, aur andar se khud ko sambhala. Uske dimag mein ek hi baat ghoom rahi thi –
“Arjun mujhe seedha haath nahi lagata… par jo keh deta hai, usse hi mera sharir hil jaata hai.”