- 155
- 78
- 29
Fantasy The Interval
- Thread starter Dudhwale_Bhaiya
- Start date
- 5,041
- 155
- 78
- 29
- 155
- 78
- 29
- 155
- 78
- 29
- 155
- 78
- 29
Update 1: Paanch Number Gali
Pichle saat din se mere dimaag mein bas ek hi baat ghoom rahi thi, aur kal raat usne mujhe do baje tak sone nahi diya. Main bistar par pada pankhe ki aawaz sunta raha aur ye sochta raha ki agar maine office ke baad usse coffee ke liye poocha, toh wo kya bolegi. Dus baje ke kareeb neend khuli, sar bhari tha, muh ka taste kharab tha. Bina nahaye shirt pehni, gate lock kiya aur nikal gaya. Sadak par aake jab pocket check ki toh pata chala phone table par hi chhoot gaya hai. Wapas upar gaya, chabi ghumayi, phone uthaya, aur is baar thoda deo maarke dobara nikla. In sab mein gyarah baj gaye.
Office mein ghuste hi AC ki wahi purani thandi hawa aayi jisme thodi si damp carpet ki smell rehti hai. Reception par Shalini baithi thi, screen dekhte hue usne bas itna kaha ki Sharma ji dhoond rahe the.
Main bag rakhne apni desk ki taraf gaya.
Hamari bay mein aath log baithte hain. Do rows hain. Meri seat window ke paas hai aur mere theek aage wali desk pichle ek saal se Ananya ki thi. Us desk par ek yellow post-it note laga rehta tha jisme kisi client ka phone number likha tha, aur keyboard ke bagal mein ek mitti ka kulhad tha jisme wo pen aur markers rakhti thi.
Aaj wo desk saaf thi.
Bilkul khali. Kulhad nahi tha, post-it note nahi tha, aur screen par ek patli si dhool thi jaise weekend ke baad aati hai.
Maine apna bag seat par rakha aur bagal mein baithe Karan se poocha.
"Ananya kahan hai? Client call par gayi kya?"
Karan ne headphones ka ek side kaan se hataya. "Kya bola?"
"Ananya. Aayi nahi kya aaj?"
Karan ne meri taraf dekha, phir us khali desk ko dekha, aur phir wapas monitor ki taraf ghoom gaya. "Kaun Ananya?"
"Kya kaun Ananya. Hamari team ki."
"Dhruv, kal raat kuch jyada pee li thi kya?" Usne code run karte hue bola. "Hamari team mein koi Ananya nahi hai."
Mujhe laga mazaak kar raha hai. Karan ka sense of humour thoda thanda rehta hai, aksar aisi baatein bolta hai jisme kisi ko hasi na aaye. Main muskura diya aur apni seat par baith gaya.
Slack khola. Search bar mein "Ananya" type kiya.
No results.
Main do second screen ko dekhta raha. Phir company ki email directory kholi, "ananya@" likha, par niche koi suggestion drop-down nahi aaya.
Main uthke pantry gaya. Fridge se bottle nikaal ke paani piya. Karan bhi peeche se cup leke coffee machine ke paas aaya.
"Karan, sun."
"Bol na bhai."
"Wo jo e-commerce app ka redesign tha, pichle hafte jiska wireframe final hua tha, wo kisne banaya tha?"
"Maine," usne cup mein coffee aate hue dekhte hue kaha. "Kyun, Sharma ji ne kuch changes bataye kya?"
"Tu toh backend pe tha na?"
Karan ne cup uthayi aur meri taraf ajeeb tareeke se dekha. "Dhruv, main pichle do saal se UI dekh raha hoon yahan. Tu theek hai na? Chehra ajeeb sa ho raha hai tera."
Main kuch nahi bola. Wapas apni desk par aa gaya.
Agla pura din maine kisi se baat nahi ki. Main bas system mein purani files check karta raha. Figma ke purane boards, JIRA ke tickets, shared folders. Sab kuch wahi tha jo hona chahiye. Par jahan jahan mujhe lagta tha ki Ananya ka naam hona chahiye, wahan Karan ka naam tha, ya phir Sharma ji ka, ya phir kisi ka bhi nahi.
Ek saal ka data. Ek saal ke project logs. Ek saal ke messages.
Aisa lag raha tha jaise kisi ne document khol ke find and replace chala diya ho, aur bas ek naam ko poori tarah mita diya ho.
Shaam ke saat baje jab main office se nikla, toh sar mein ek ajeeb sa sunn-pan tha. Dar nahi lag raha tha, bas aisi feeling thi jaise aapko lagta hai ki aapne koi cheez pocket mein rakhi thi, par haath daalne par pocket khali nikalti hai. Aap baar baar pocket mein haath daalte rehte ho ye jaante hue bhi ki wahan kuch nahi hai.
Sadak par traffic hamesha jaisa tha. Auto walon ke horn, bus stop par khade logon ki bheed, samose ki dukan se aati hui tel ki mehak. Main building ke peeche wali gali se pedal nikal gaya.
Ye gali residential colony ki taraf jaati hai. Dono taraf chaar-chaar manzila purani buildings hain jinki deewaron par AC ke pipes aur drainage ke jaal lage hain. Ek jagah par do buildings ke beech mein ek chhota sa gap hai jahan log aamtaur par building ka kachra ya purani lakdiyan phek dete hain. Main pichle teen saal se is gali se nikal raha hoon.
Aaj us gap ke aage jo kachre ka dibba rehta tha, wo thoda side mein hata hua tha.
Aur do deewaron ke beech ka wo andhera hissa, jahan bas paanch-chhe feet baad deewar honi chahiye thi, wahan se thandi hawa aa rahi thi.
Main ruka.
Chashma theek kiya. Gali mein street light ka bulb thoda peela sa jal raha tha. Us andhere cut ke andar dekha toh aisa laga ki aage raasta khula hai. Ek patla sa passage, jisme zameen par cement nahi tha, bas purani eentein thi.
Maine phone ki flashlight on ki aur do kadam andar rakhe.
Mera irada bas dekhne ka tha ki ye kahan jaata hai. Shayad peeche wali building ka koi purana service lane hoga jo pehle band tha aur ab khol diya gaya ho.
Par jab main das-barah kadam andar gaya aur peeche mud ke dekha, toh gali ka wo peela bulb kahin nahi dikha.
Dono taraf ki deewarein itni paas thi ki mere dono kandhe lagbhag unhe chhu rahe the. Hawa bilkul shaant thi, aur bahar ki sadak ka koi horn, koi aawaz, kuch bhi sunai nahi de raha tha. Aisa sannata tha jaise kisi ne kaan par haath rakh diye hon.
Maine flashlight ghumayi.
Aage ek chhota sa open area tha, shayad kisi purane chhat jaisa ya koi aangan jaisa, par aas paas koi building ki khidki nahi thi. Zameen par kuch tooti hui lakdiyan padi thi.
Aur wahan, ek purane lakdi ke crate par, ek ladki baithi thi.
Usne grey colour ka loose kurta pehna tha, baal peeche bandhe the, aur uske haath mein ek phone tha jiski screen wo baar baar tap kar rahi thi.
Mere aane ki aawaz se usne sar uthaya. Uske chehre par koi khauf ya jhatka nahi tha, bas wahi chidh thi jo tab hoti hai jab train late ho jaaye aur platform par koi batane wala na ho.
Usne phone pocket mein daala aur khadi ho gayi.
"Network aa raha hai tumhare phone mein?" usne seedhe poocha.
Maine pocket se apna phone nikala. Screen par dekha. No Service.
"Nahi," maine kaha.
Usne ek lambi saans li aur baal theek kiye. "Kamaal hai. Main paanch baje se yahan baithi hoon. Main Dadar station ke sub-way se nikli thi, ek side ka exit liya, aur yahan aa gayi. Tum kahan se aaye?"
"Lower Parel," maine kaha. "Office ke peeche se."
Usne ajeeb tarah se meri taraf dekha. "Lower Parel? Yahan se paidal?"
"Mujhe laga ye meri colony ke peeche ka lane hai."
Hum dono kuch der chup khade rahe. Hawa mein purani deewaron aur geeli mitti ki mehak thi, par Mumbai ki barish wali mehak nahi. Thodi alag. Thandi aur sukhi.
"Mera naam Anwesha hai," usne kaha, thoda ruk ke. "Waise toh sab Anu bolte hain, par abhi jo theek lage."
"Dhruv."
"Dhruv, ek baat batao," usne aas paas dekhte hue kaha, "ye deewarein upar kahan khatam ho rahi hain, tumhe dikh raha hai kya?"
Maine upar dekha.
Andhera tha. Koi taare nahi the, koi sky nahi tha, bas do deewaron ki lambi kaali line jo upar jaate jaate andhere mein gayab ho rahi thi.
"Nahi," maine aawaz neeche karke kaha.
Anwesha ne crate par wapas baithte hue apna bag god mein rakha. "Mujhe bhi nahi dikh raha. Aur sabse ajeeb baat ye hai ki pichle do ghante mein yahan ek bhi machhar nahi aaya."
Maine uski taraf dekha. Wo bilkul normal lag rahi thi, par uski ungliyan uske bag ki strap ko itni zor se pakde hue thi ki uske knuckles safed pad gaye the.
Us waqt mujhe samajh aaya ki wo darr nahi rahi thi aisa nahi tha. Wo bas koshish kar rahi thi ki aawaz mein darr na dikhe.
Aur achanak, din bhar ke baad, mujhe laga ki kam se kam ek cheez toh hai jo dimaag ka weham nahi hai. Ek doosra insaan, jo usi tarah fasa hua hai jaise main.
Maine apna bag zameen par rakha aur crate ke thode faasle par deewar se tek lagakar baith gaya.
- 155
- 78
- 29
Update 2: Sannata
Hum dono lagbhag das minute tak kuch nahi bole.
Pehle mujhe apni saans bahut tez sunai de rahi thi. Phir Anwesha ki. Thodi der baad dono ki aawaz normal lagne lagi, jaise is jagah mein chup rehna hi yahan ka niyam tha.
Maine apna bag zameen par khiska diya aur apni watch dekhi. Saade saat baj rahe the. Phone ki battery baasath percent par thi.
"Main wapas jaakar dekhta hoon," maine kaha aur khada ho gaya.
Anwesha ne sar upar nahi uthaya, bas apne phone ki screen ko lock aur unlock karti rahi. "Try kar lo. Teen baar ja chuki hoon main."
"Kahan tak gayi?"
"Gali jahan se shuru hoti hai. Das kadam chalti hoon, phir deewar ghoom jaati hai, aur main wapas isi lakdi ke dabbe ke saamne hoti hoon." Usne crate par thap-thap kiya. "Jao, check kar lo."
Maine flashlight on ki aur usi taraf badha jahan se aaya tha.
Dono deewaron ke beech ka rasta utna hi patla tha. Ek taraf laal eenton ki deewar thi, doosri taraf grey plaster wali. Maine chalte waqt plaster par apna dahina haath lagaye rakha taaki rasta seedha rahe.
Das kadam.
Pandrah kadam.
Plaster wali deewar achanak baayein taraf mud gayi. Maine rukh mod liya. Paanch kadam aur chala. Saamne roshni dikhi.
Jab main bahar nikla, toh saamne wahi aangan tha. Wahi lakdi ka crate tha. Aur Anwesha wahi baithi thi, ghutnon par kohniyan tikaye meri taraf dekh rahi thi.
Main wahi khada raha.
"Kitne kadam hue?" usne poocha.
"Bees."
"Mere unnees hue the pichli baar," usne bagal mein padi ek sukhi lakdi uthakar zameen par ghasita. "Baith jao. Ghutne dukhenge."
Main wapas aaya aur deewar ke sahare baith gaya. Eentein peeth par thandi lag rahi thi. October mein itni thandak nahi honi chahiye thi.
"Tum Dadar se aayi thi?" maine poocha.
"Haan. Tilak bridge ke paas jo purana ticket counter hai, uske bagal se ek staircase niche jaata hai. Maine socha platform number ek par nikal jayega. Par main yahan aa gayi." Usne lakdi ko zameen par chhod diya. "Tum Lower Parel se the?"
"Haan. Sun Mill compound ke peeche wali gali."
Usne thoda sar hilaya jaise dimaag mein map bana rahi ho. "Dadar aur Lower Parel ke beech do railway station ka gap hai. Aur hum dono ek hi kone mein baithe hain."
"Shayad ye koi underground tunnel ho," maine kaha, halanki mujhe khud pata tha ki Mumbai mein aisi koi tunnel nahi hai.
"Tunnel mein hawa chalti hai," Anwesha ne upar ki taraf ishara kiya. "Yahan hawa bilkul ruki hui hai. Aur ye deewarein neeche se jitni dikhti hain, usse kaafi zyada unchi hain."
Maine uski baat par dhyan diya.
Sach mein, hawa mein koi harkat nahi thi. Bahar kitni bhi garmi ho ya thand, Mumbai ki hawa mein hamesha ek nami rehti hai, ek dabav rehta hai. Yahan ki hawa aisi thi jaise kisi band kamre mein saalon se band padi ho.
Maine bag ki zip kholi aur paani ki bottle nikali. Aadhi bhari hui thi.
"Paani piyogi?"
Usne bottle ki taraf dekha, phir meri taraf. Ek pal ke liye uske chehre par aam public transport wali jhijhak aayi, jab kisi anjaan se cheez lene se pehle log sochte hain. Phir usne haath aage badha diya.
"Thanks."
Usne do ghoont piye aur bottle wapas pakda di.
"Tum kya karte ho?" usne poocha.
"Software. Chhota startup hai, backend dekhta hoon."
"Designers ke saath kaam karte ho?"
Mera haath bottle ka dhakkan band karte waqt thoda ruka. Ananya ki desk ka khayal dimaag mein aaya, par maine use dabane ki koshish ki.
"Haan," maine dhakkan tight kiya. "Product design aur UI ke saath coordination rehta hai. Tum?"
"Architecture. Master ka second year hai, Rizvi mein." Usne apne kurte ki jeb se ek chhota sa sketch pen nikala aur uske cap ko ungliyon mein ghumane lagi. "Isliye mujhe ye jagah aur ajeeb lag rahi hai."
"Kyun?"
"Ye eentein dekho," usne peeth ke peeche wali deewar ki taraf ishara kiya. "Inke beech mein mortar nahi hai. Bas ek ke upar ek rakhi hain. Aur ye deewarein jitni unchi hain, ab tak apne wazan se gir chuki hoti."
Maine flashlight deewar ke lower hisse par maari.
Eenton ke beech ki lines poori tarah dry thi. Kahin koi cement, koi bharav nahi tha. Eenton ke kone itne sharp the jaise kal hi saanchon se nikali gayi hon, par unka rang itna purana aur gehra laal tha jaise sau saal purani hon.
"Aur ek aur cheez hai," Anwesha ne aage jhukte hue kaha. Uski aawaz thodi dheemi ho gayi thi. "Apne phone ka time dekho."
Maine pocket se phone nikala.
Screen par 7:34 likha tha.
"Ab do minute ruko aur screen dekhte raho," usne kaha.
Hum dono ne screen ko dekha. Chhota sa digital clock. Seconds toh nahi dikh rahe the, par minute ka number wahi tha.
Maine man mein ginti shuru ki. Ek, do, teen... saanth tak gaya. Phir doosra minute shuru kiya. Ek, do, teen... saanth.
Screen par ab bhi 7:34 tha.
Maine power button daba kar screen band ki, phir dobara kholi. 7:34.
"Mera phone saat bajke pandrah minute par ruka hua hai," Anwesha ne apna phone dikhaya. Uski screen par 7:15 tha. "Pehle mujhe laga battery ka issue hai. Par battery kam ho rahi hai, bas ghadi aage nahi badh rahi."
"Aisa kaise ho sakta hai?"
"Mujhe kya pata," usne pen ka cap band kiya, ek halki si click ki aawaz aayi. "Main architect hoon, physicist nahi."
Uski aawaz mein ek ajeeb sa rukha-pan tha, par wo gusse wala rukha-pan nahi tha. Wo aisi ladki lag rahi thi jise jab koi cheez samajh nahi aati, toh wo pareshan hone ke bajaye uspe gussa hone lagti hai.
Maine apna bag theek se deewar ke paas lagaya aur pairo ko aage phaila diya.
"Ghar par koi wait kar raha hoga?" maine poocha.
"Roommate hai, Bandra mein flat share karti hoon uske saath. Riya naam hai uska." Anwesha ne aage dekhte hue kaha. "Abhi tak toh party mein hogi ya reels dekh rahi hogi. Use subah se pehle dhyan bhi nahi aayega ki main nahi aayi."
"Mere flat par toh koi bhi nahi hai," maine kaha.
"Mummy papa?"
"Pune mein hain."
"Call?"
"Mahine mein ek baar."
Anwesha ne meri taraf dekha. "Aur friends?"
Maine kandhe uchka diye. "Hain."
"Kisi ko pata chalega tum ghar nahi pahunche?"
Main kuch der chup raha.
"Pata nahi."
Ye kehne ke baad mujhe khud thoda ajeeb laga. Karan tha, office wale the, do teen college ke log the jinse mahine mein ek baar chat hoti thi. Par agar main aaj raat ghar nahi pahoncha, toh subah kisko dhyan aata, is baat ka mera jawab sach mein nahi tha.
Anwesha ne dobara nahi poocha. Bas uski flashlight ka kona meri jooti par thoda der tika raha, phir hat gaya.
Thodi der baad usne bag se ek chewing gum ka packet nikala. Ek strip nikaal ke meri taraf badhayi.
"Mint hai. Chalega?"
Maine le liya. "Thanks."
Gum chabate hue aangan mein halki si peppermint ki khushboo phail gayi. Wo khushboo is jagah ke hisab se itni out of place thi ki mujhe achanak thoda sa hasi aa gayi.
Anwesha ne meri taraf dekha. "Kya?"
"Kuch nahi. Bas... hum dono do ghante se ek aisi jagah baithe hain jo map par exist nahi karti, hamare phone bhi ajeeb ho gaye hain, aur hum mint chaba rahe hain."
Uske hothon ke kone thode se hile. Poori hasi nahi thi, bas ek halka sa reaction tha.
"Aur kya karein? Rona shuru kar doon?" Usne pair thode aage kiye. "Rone se deewar pighal toh jayegi nahi. Jab tak yahan hain, tab tak saans toh leni hi padegi na."
"Baat toh sahi hai."
Hum dono wapas shaant ho gaye.
Maine upar andhere ki taraf dekha. Eenton ki wo line ab bhi wahi khatam ho rahi thi jahan roshni khatam hoti thi. Anwesha ne apni notebook wapas nikaal li thi aur pencil ki nok se kagaz par kuch halke halke lines kheenchne lagi thi.
Mera phone ab bhi 7:34 dikha raha tha. Uska 7:15.
Un donon numbers ka koi matlab abhi mujhe nahi pata tha.
- 155
- 78
- 29
- 155
- 78
- 29
Update 3: Khali Jagah
Kuch der baad Anwesha ne apni notebook band kar di.
"Baithe rehne se kuch nahi hoga," usne kaha, khadi hote hue. "Ek baar aage dekhte hain."
Maine upar dekha. Aangan ke doosre kone mein, jahan tak humne abhi dhyan nahi diya tha, do eenton ke khambe khade the. Unke beech mein ek lakdi ka frame laga tha, bina kisi darwaze ke, jaise kisi ne bas deewar banate waqt beech mein ek khaali jagah chhod di ho.
"Wahan?" maine poocha.
"Aur kahan."
Hum dono khade hue aur us frame ki taraf badhe. Lakdi purani saagwan ki thi, uski polish kaafi jagah se ukhad chuki thi. Purane chawlon ke gate aise hote hain, jo saalon pehle kisi building ka hissa the. Par yahan ye akela khada tha, kisi cheez ko bas alag karne ke liye.
Frame ke us paar ek corridor tha. Floor par grey tiles lagi thi, wahi jaisi railway ke purane foot-overbridge par hoti hain, chhote chhote gaddhon ke saath. Deewarein plaster ki thi, unpar peela paint kayi jagah se ukhad raha tha.
"Dadar station jaisa lag raha hai," Anwesha ne kaha, aage kadam rakhte hue.
"Lower Parel ke bridge jaisa bhi," maine peeche chalte hue kaha.
Tiles par chalne ki aawaz ajeeb tarah se goonj rahi thi, jaise neeche kuch khokhla ho. Hum dono chalte gaye. Raste mein koi board nahi tha, koi poster nahi, deewaron par paan ke daag tak nahi, jo Mumbai ke kisi corridor mein na hona apne aap mein ajeeb tha.
Anwesha achanak ruki.
Main bhi ruk gaya.
Aage, corridor ke beech mein, ek chhota neela plastic stool rakha tha. Aur uske upar ek steel ka tiffin box, peetal ki clip se banda hua. Clip par halki zang thi. Tiffin ke upar ek safed kapda rakha tha, uske kone par laal dhage se kadhai ki hui thi, ek chhota sa phool.
Hum dono kuch der khade rahe.
"Ye pehle nahi tha," Anwesha ne dheeme se kaha.
Maine jawab nahi diya. Main us phool ko dekh raha tha. Wahi design, wahi laal dhaga, jaisa meri dadi apne rumaal par banaya karti thi. Ye baat maine usse nahi batayi.
Maine ek kadam aage badhaya.
"Dhruv."
Maine ruk kar uski taraf dekha.
"Kuch nahi," usne kaha. "Bas dekh lo, chhuo mat."
Main aage gaya. Stool se do feet door rukkar flashlight tiffin par maari. Kapde ka kona thoda mudha hua tha, jaise abhi kisi ne rakha ho.
Tabhi mujhe aawaz sunayi di.
Bahut dheemi. Kisi purane pankhe ki tarah, jiske blades har chakkar mein halki si 'kat' ki aawaz karte hain. Maine upar dekha. Corridor ki koi ceiling nahi thi, bas wahi andhera tha jo aangan mein bhi tha. Par aawaz theek upar se aa rahi thi.
Anwesha bhi ruk gayi thi. Uski nazar bhi upar thi.
Fan ki aawaz ke peeche ek aur aawaz aayi. Bartan ke halke se takrane ki. Phir kisi ke gala saaf karne ki, bahut door se, jaise teen deewaron ke peeche se.
Aisa lag raha tha jaise koi ghar humare bilkul upar maujood ho, bas humein wo dikh nahi raha tha.
Maine Anwesha ki taraf dekha. Usne kuch nahi kaha, bas apni gardan halki si hilayi, peeche ki taraf.
Hum dono peeche mudkar chalne lage. Is baar zyada tez, par bhaage nahi. Tiles par jooton ki aawaz waisi hi goonjti rahi jaisi aane waqt goonji thi.
Frame tak pahonchte pahonchte maine ek baar peeche dekha.
Stool wahi tha. Tiffin wahi tha. Kapde ka wo kona ab thoda aur mudha hua tha, jitna pehle nahi tha.
Hum dono frame ke andar se guzre aur wapas aangan mein aa gaye.
Anwesha crate tak jaakar ruki, ek haath uspe tika diya. Main deewar ke paas khada raha, saans thoda tez chal rahi thi, par darr se zyada wo ajeeb sa uljhan wala ehsaas tha jo tab hota hai jab dimaag kisi baat ko samajh nahi paata.
"Wahan koi tha," Anwesha ne kaha. Uski aawaz mein sawal nahi tha.
"Pata nahi," maine kaha.
"Maine khansi suni, Dhruv."
"Maine bhi suni."
Hum dono thodi der chup rahe.
"Toh ab?" maine poocha.
Anwesha ne apna bag utha kar kandhe par rakha. "Ab kuch nahi. Wahan wapas nahi jaate. Bas."
Usne itni seedhi baat itni aasani se keh di ki mujhe achanak lagi ki shayad yahi sabse samajhdaari wali baat thi jo abhi ki jaa sakti thi.
Main wapas deewar ke sahare baith gaya. Anwesha bhi thodi door baith gayi, apni notebook godh mein rakhkar, par is baar usne kuch likha nahi.
Aangan mein wahi sannata tha jo pehle tha. Na fan ki aawaz, na bartan ki, na khansi ki. Sirf hum dono ki saans, jo dheere dheere phir se normal ho rahi thi.
Maine apna phone nikala. 7:34.
"Tumhara?" maine poocha.
Anwesha ne apni screen dekhi. "7:15."
Humne ek doosre ki taraf dekha, aur phir kuch nahi kaha.