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Andhera kam hone ke baad hum ek lambe corridor mein pahonche jahan do raaste alag ho rahe the.
Ek taraf se halki si roshni aa rahi thi, peeli, jaise kisi bulb ki. Doosri taraf bilkul andhera tha, par hawa us taraf se thodi behtar beh rahi thi.
"Roshni wali taraf," maine kaha.
"Hawa wali taraf," Anwesha ne ek saath kaha.
Hum dono ruk gaye.
"Roshni ka matlab exit nahi hota," usne kaha. "Roshni ka matlab sirf itna hota hai ki kahin koi bulb jal raha hai."
"Aur hawa ka matlab?"
"Hawa bahar se aati hai. Agar hawa aa rahi hai, toh kahin na kahin ek khula hissa hai."
"Ya phir koi aur corridor hai jahan hawa phansi hui hai, bilkul yahan jaisi."
Anwesha ne mujhe dekha, thoda irritated.
"Tum hamesha aisa karte ho?"
"Kaisa?"
"Har idea ka ek doosra explanation dhoondh lete ho."
"Tum hamesha wahi karti ho jo pehla idea ho?"
Usne kuch nahi kaha, bas aankhein sikod kar dekha.
Hum kuch der khade rahe, dono options ke beech.
"Theek hai," maine kaha. "Tum jo bologi."
"Nahi, tumhe decide karna chahiye. Mujhe pata hai tum roshni wali taraf jaana chahte ho."
"Maine toh sirf suggestion diya tha."
"Suggestion nahi, tumhari body language bata rahi thi. Tum us taraf thoda jhuke hue ho."
Maine apne aap ko seedha kiya. "Ab nahi jhuka."
"Ab jaan boojh kar seedhe khade ho."
Hum dono ke beech thodi der khamoshi rahi, phir mujhe hasi aa gayi, halki si.
"Kya?" usne poocha.
"Kuch nahi. Bas... hum ek ajeeb jagah mein phase hain aur tum mere khade hone ke tareeke par comment kar rahi ho."
Anwesha ke hothon par bhi halki si muskaan aayi, jaldi se gayab ho gayi.
"Chalo," usne kaha. "Hawa wali taraf."
"Kyun tumhari baat maan loon?"
"Kyunki mere paas isse behtar koi aur tareeka nahi hai decide karne ka."
Hum hawa wali taraf chalne lage.
Kuch der tak koi nahi bola. Corridor sankra hota gaya, itna ki hum ek doosre ke bagal mein nahi chal sakte the, ek ke peeche ek chalna pada. Anwesha aage thi.
"Tumhe bhookh lagi hai?" usne achanak poocha, bina peeche mude.
"Kya?"
"Bhookh. Lagi hai ya nahi?"
"Abhi iske baare mein sochne ka time hai?"
"Sochne ka koi specific time nahi hota bhookh ke liye. Wo bas lagti hai."
Maine socha. "Haan, thodi lagi hai."
"Mujhe bhi. Maine aaj lunch nahi kiya tha properly."
"Kyun?"
"Riya se abhi bhi theek se baat nahi ho rahi."
"Kya hua?"
"Lambi kahani hai."
"Tumne bhi yahi bola tha mujhe do phones ke baare mein."
Usne peeche mudkar dekha, ek bhaunh uthaate hue. "Toh?"
"Toh kuch nahi. Bas noted."
Hum chalte rahe. Corridor ek jagah thoda chauda ho gaya, aur hum phir se saath saath chal sake.
"Tum kya khaate ho jab stressed ho?" usne poocha.
"Kuch bhi nahi khaata. Appetite chala jaata hai."
"Main zyada khaati hoon. Riya kehti hai main stress mein biscuit ka poora packet khatam kar deti hoon."
"Kaunsa biscuit?"
"Parle-G. Hamesha Parle-G."
"Ye kaafi specific rule hai."
"Chai ke saath Parle-G ka taste alag hota hai. Koi aur biscuit dip karke dekho, galega bhi uss tarah nahi, taste bhi match nahi karega."
Hum ek jagah pahonche jahan corridor ek chhoti si khuli jagah mein khulta tha, jahan do purani lakdi ki kursiyaan padi thi, jaise kisi ne bahut time pehle yahan rakhi ho aur bhool gaya ho.
Anwesha ek kursi par baith gayi. Kuch der mujhe dekha jab tak main bhi doosri par nahi baitha.
"Tumhe darr nahi lag raha?" maine poocha.
"Lag raha hai." Usne apni sketchbook godh mein rakh li. "Pehli baar jab yahan aayi thi, socha tha sapna hai. Thodi der baad socha pagal ho rahi hoon. Ab bhi pata nahi kya soch rahi hoon."
"Aur ab?"
"Ab main bas bhookhi hoon aur ek ajnabi ke saath baithi hoon jo apne khade hone ke tareeke ke baare mein defensive hai."
Maine hasi rok nahi payi.
"Main ajnabi nahi hoon," maine kaha.
"Thoda toh ho."
"Tumne mera haath pakda tha abhi."
"Haath pakadna aur kisi ko jaanna alag cheezein hain."
Ye baat thodi chubh gayi, halanki usne shayad aise kaha nahi tha.
"Theek hai," maine kaha. "Toh batao mujhe kuch, jisse tum mujhe kam ajnabi lago."
Usne sochne ka natak kiya. "Main raat ko so nahi paati agar kamre mein koi cheez seedhi nahi hoti. Frame tedha ho, ya kitaab ka dher asymmetric rakha ho, mujhe neend nahi aati jab tak theek nahi kar doon. Riya isse mera 'disease' bolti hai."
"Aur?"
"Aur maine kabhi kisi ko apni family se nahi milwaya. Teen saal se Mumbai mein hoon. Mere parents ko nahi pata Riya kaun hai."
"Mujhe trust kiya?"
"Nahi," usne kaha, bina jhijhak. "Par tumhare saath hoon kyunki akele hone se better hai."
Ye sunke thoda bura laga.
"Theek hai," maine kaha. "Mera baari... meri baari."
"Batao."
"Mummy teen baar pooch chuki hai Diwali par Pune aa raha hoon ya nahi. Har baar 'dekhunga' bol raha hoon."
"Toh jaana hai?"
"Pata nahi."
"Jaana nahi hai?"
"Wo bhi pata nahi."
Anwesha ne mujhe kuch der dekha.
"Tum 'na' nahi bol paate, hai na?" usne kaha.
"Bol leta hoon."
"Kab aakhri baar bola?"
Main kuch der jawab nahi soch paaya.
"Exactly," usne kaha.
Hum dono kuch der chup baithe rahe, un purani kursiyon par, khaali jagah ke beech.
Andhera kam hone ke baad hum ek lambe corridor mein pahonche jahan do raaste alag ho rahe the.
Ek taraf se halki si roshni aa rahi thi, peeli, jaise kisi bulb ki. Doosri taraf bilkul andhera tha, par hawa us taraf se thodi behtar beh rahi thi.
"Roshni wali taraf," maine kaha.
"Hawa wali taraf," Anwesha ne ek saath kaha.
Hum dono ruk gaye.
"Roshni ka matlab exit nahi hota," usne kaha. "Roshni ka matlab sirf itna hota hai ki kahin koi bulb jal raha hai."
"Aur hawa ka matlab?"
"Hawa bahar se aati hai. Agar hawa aa rahi hai, toh kahin na kahin ek khula hissa hai."
"Ya phir koi aur corridor hai jahan hawa phansi hui hai, bilkul yahan jaisi."
Anwesha ne mujhe dekha, thoda irritated.
"Tum hamesha aisa karte ho?"
"Kaisa?"
"Har idea ka ek doosra explanation dhoondh lete ho."
"Tum hamesha wahi karti ho jo pehla idea ho?"
Usne kuch nahi kaha, bas aankhein sikod kar dekha.
Hum kuch der khade rahe, dono options ke beech.
"Theek hai," maine kaha. "Tum jo bologi."
"Nahi, tumhe decide karna chahiye. Mujhe pata hai tum roshni wali taraf jaana chahte ho."
"Maine toh sirf suggestion diya tha."
"Suggestion nahi, tumhari body language bata rahi thi. Tum us taraf thoda jhuke hue ho."
Maine apne aap ko seedha kiya. "Ab nahi jhuka."
"Ab jaan boojh kar seedhe khade ho."
Hum dono ke beech thodi der khamoshi rahi, phir mujhe hasi aa gayi, halki si.
"Kya?" usne poocha.
"Kuch nahi. Bas... hum ek ajeeb jagah mein phase hain aur tum mere khade hone ke tareeke par comment kar rahi ho."
Anwesha ke hothon par bhi halki si muskaan aayi, jaldi se gayab ho gayi.
"Chalo," usne kaha. "Hawa wali taraf."
"Kyun tumhari baat maan loon?"
"Kyunki mere paas isse behtar koi aur tareeka nahi hai decide karne ka."
Hum hawa wali taraf chalne lage.
Kuch der tak koi nahi bola. Corridor sankra hota gaya, itna ki hum ek doosre ke bagal mein nahi chal sakte the, ek ke peeche ek chalna pada. Anwesha aage thi.
"Tumhe bhookh lagi hai?" usne achanak poocha, bina peeche mude.
"Kya?"
"Bhookh. Lagi hai ya nahi?"
"Abhi iske baare mein sochne ka time hai?"
"Sochne ka koi specific time nahi hota bhookh ke liye. Wo bas lagti hai."
Maine socha. "Haan, thodi lagi hai."
"Mujhe bhi. Maine aaj lunch nahi kiya tha properly."
"Kyun?"
"Riya se abhi bhi theek se baat nahi ho rahi."
"Kya hua?"
"Lambi kahani hai."
"Tumne bhi yahi bola tha mujhe do phones ke baare mein."
Usne peeche mudkar dekha, ek bhaunh uthaate hue. "Toh?"
"Toh kuch nahi. Bas noted."
Hum chalte rahe. Corridor ek jagah thoda chauda ho gaya, aur hum phir se saath saath chal sake.
"Tum kya khaate ho jab stressed ho?" usne poocha.
"Kuch bhi nahi khaata. Appetite chala jaata hai."
"Main zyada khaati hoon. Riya kehti hai main stress mein biscuit ka poora packet khatam kar deti hoon."
"Kaunsa biscuit?"
"Parle-G. Hamesha Parle-G."
"Ye kaafi specific rule hai."
"Chai ke saath Parle-G ka taste alag hota hai. Koi aur biscuit dip karke dekho, galega bhi uss tarah nahi, taste bhi match nahi karega."
Hum ek jagah pahonche jahan corridor ek chhoti si khuli jagah mein khulta tha, jahan do purani lakdi ki kursiyaan padi thi, jaise kisi ne bahut time pehle yahan rakhi ho aur bhool gaya ho.
Anwesha ek kursi par baith gayi. Kuch der mujhe dekha jab tak main bhi doosri par nahi baitha.
"Tumhe darr nahi lag raha?" maine poocha.
"Lag raha hai." Usne apni sketchbook godh mein rakh li. "Pehli baar jab yahan aayi thi, socha tha sapna hai. Thodi der baad socha pagal ho rahi hoon. Ab bhi pata nahi kya soch rahi hoon."
"Aur ab?"
"Ab main bas bhookhi hoon aur ek ajnabi ke saath baithi hoon jo apne khade hone ke tareeke ke baare mein defensive hai."
Maine hasi rok nahi payi.
"Main ajnabi nahi hoon," maine kaha.
"Thoda toh ho."
"Tumne mera haath pakda tha abhi."
"Haath pakadna aur kisi ko jaanna alag cheezein hain."
Ye baat thodi chubh gayi, halanki usne shayad aise kaha nahi tha.
"Theek hai," maine kaha. "Toh batao mujhe kuch, jisse tum mujhe kam ajnabi lago."
Usne sochne ka natak kiya. "Main raat ko so nahi paati agar kamre mein koi cheez seedhi nahi hoti. Frame tedha ho, ya kitaab ka dher asymmetric rakha ho, mujhe neend nahi aati jab tak theek nahi kar doon. Riya isse mera 'disease' bolti hai."
"Aur?"
"Aur maine kabhi kisi ko apni family se nahi milwaya. Teen saal se Mumbai mein hoon. Mere parents ko nahi pata Riya kaun hai."
"Mujhe trust kiya?"
"Nahi," usne kaha, bina jhijhak. "Par tumhare saath hoon kyunki akele hone se better hai."
Ye sunke thoda bura laga.
"Theek hai," maine kaha. "Mera baari... meri baari."
"Batao."
"Mummy teen baar pooch chuki hai Diwali par Pune aa raha hoon ya nahi. Har baar 'dekhunga' bol raha hoon."
"Toh jaana hai?"
"Pata nahi."
"Jaana nahi hai?"
"Wo bhi pata nahi."
Anwesha ne mujhe kuch der dekha.
"Tum 'na' nahi bol paate, hai na?" usne kaha.
"Bol leta hoon."
"Kab aakhri baar bola?"
Main kuch der jawab nahi soch paaya.
"Exactly," usne kaha.
Hum dono kuch der chup baithe rahe, un purani kursiyon par, khaali jagah ke beech.
Bhai bahut hi badhiya likh rahe ho. 20 updates ke baad bhi suspense waise ka waisa hai. Dekhte hain iss baar dono kis tarah se Exit dhundhte hain aur kya ek hee taraf se bahar jayenge.
Bhai bahut hi badhiya likh rahe ho. 20 updates ke baad bhi suspense waise ka waisa hai. Dekhte hain iss baar dono kis tarah se Exit dhundhte hain aur kya ek hee taraf se bahar jayenge.
Hawa wali taraf chalte chalte corridor achanak khatam hua, aur hum ek jagah pahonche jahan do darwaze the, dono lakdi ke, ek doosre ke bilkul bagal mein.
Dono par kuch nahi likha tha. Koi number nahi, koi naam nahi.
"Dono ek jaise hain," maine kaha.
Anwesha ne dono ko dhyan se dekha, phir ek ke handle ko chhua.
"Nahi hain," usne kaha. "Is wale ka wood grain horizontal hai. Doosre ka vertical."
Maine dekha. Wo sahi thi, halanki farak itna chhota tha ki maine khud se kabhi notice nahi kiya hota.
"Toh?"
"Toh inka banne ka tareeka alag hai. Matlab inke peeche kya hai, wo bhi alag ho sakta hai."
Hum dono darwazon ke saamne khade rahe.
"Mujhe lagta hai humein saath wale se jaana chahiye," maine kaha, baayein taraf ishara karte hue.
"Kyun?"
"Bas... feeling hai."
"Feeling kaafi nahi hoti, Dhruv."
"Tumhare paas kya hai feeling se behtar?"
Anwesha ne kuch der soch kar kaha, "Hawa. Is darwaze ke neeche se thodi hawa aa rahi hai. Doosre ke neeche nahi."
Maine jhuk kar dekha. Sach mein, ek halki si hawa daayein wale darwaze ke neeche se aa rahi thi.
"Toh daayein," maine kaha.
"Haan."
Par main hila nahi.
"Kya hua?" usne poocha.
"Kuch nahi. Bas... agar galat hua toh?"
"Toh hum wapas aa jayenge."
"Agar wapas aana mumkin na hua toh?"
Anwesha ne mujhe dekha, uske chehre par thodi chidh thi.
"Dhruv, hum yahan hamesha khade nahi reh sakte do darwazon ke beech, sochte hue ki kaunsa sahi hoga. Kabhi na kabhi chunna padega."
"Mujhe pata hai. Bas mujhe lagta hai humein pehle thoda aur soch lena chahiye."
"Kitna aur? Ek ghante? Do ghante? Jab tak battery khatam na ho jaaye?"
Uski baat mein sachchai thi, par uska tone thoda tez tha.
"Tum hamesha itni jaldi decide kaise kar leti ho?" maine poocha, thoda defensive ho kar.
"Kyunki main jaanti hoon ki perfect information kabhi nahi milegi. Tum uska intezaar karte raho toh kabhi kuch nahi hoga."
"Aur tum kabhi kabhi galat bhi ho sakti ho, jaldi decide karne mein."
Ye baat nikalte hi mujhe laga shayad zyada keh diya.
Anwesha chup ho gayi ek pal ke liye.
"Haan," usne kaha, aawaz mein thoda hurt tha. "Ho sakti hoon. Par kam se kam main kuch karti hoon."
"Matlab main kuch nahi karta?"
"Maine ye nahi kaha."
"Par tumhara matlab yahi tha."
Hum dono kuch der chup khade rahe.
"Jab tum decide nahi karte," Anwesha ne aakhir mein kaha, aawaz thodi narm par seedhi, "sab mere upar aa jaata hai. Mujhe wo bojh pasand nahi."
Maine kuch nahi kaha. Baat seedhi lagi, aur mujhe uska jawab nahi pata tha.
"Main ja rahi hoon," usne kaha, aur daayein wale darwaze ki taraf kadam badhaya.
"Ruko," maine kaha.
Wo ruk gayi, par mudi nahi.
"Main nahi keh raha tum galat ho," maine kaha. "Bas mujhe waqt chahiye."
"Waqt yahan mil bhi raha hai ya nahi, ye bhi toh nahi pata."
Usne mudkar nahi dekha. Haath handle par rakh diya.
"Theek hai," maine kaha. "Daayein chalte hain."
"Tumhe convince hone ki zaroorat nahi, Dhruv. Bas saath chalna hai."
"Main convince hoon."
"Sach mein?"
"Nahi," maine kaha, imaandari se. "Par main tumhare saath chal raha hoon phir bhi."
Anwesha ne kuch nahi kaha. Bas handle ghumaya aur darwaza khol diya.
Uske peeche seedhiyan thi, upar ki taraf jaati hui, aur unke sabse upar ek halki si roshni thi, badalti hui, jaise bahar ki asli roshni ho sakti thi, ya na ho.
Hum dono seedhiyon ke paas khade rahe, ek pal ke liye.
"Agar ye galat nikla," maine kaha, "toh main tumhe yaad dilaunga ki maine bola tha."
"Agar ye sahi nikla," usne kaha, bina muskuraye, "toh main kuch nahi kahungi. Bas chalungi."
Hawa wali taraf chalte chalte corridor achanak khatam hua, aur hum ek jagah pahonche jahan do darwaze the, dono lakdi ke, ek doosre ke bilkul bagal mein.
Dono par kuch nahi likha tha. Koi number nahi, koi naam nahi.
"Dono ek jaise hain," maine kaha.
Anwesha ne dono ko dhyan se dekha, phir ek ke handle ko chhua.
"Nahi hain," usne kaha. "Is wale ka wood grain horizontal hai. Doosre ka vertical."
Maine dekha. Wo sahi thi, halanki farak itna chhota tha ki maine khud se kabhi notice nahi kiya hota.
"Toh?"
"Toh inka banne ka tareeka alag hai. Matlab inke peeche kya hai, wo bhi alag ho sakta hai."
Hum dono darwazon ke saamne khade rahe.
"Mujhe lagta hai humein saath wale se jaana chahiye," maine kaha, baayein taraf ishara karte hue.
"Kyun?"
"Bas... feeling hai."
"Feeling kaafi nahi hoti, Dhruv."
"Tumhare paas kya hai feeling se behtar?"
Anwesha ne kuch der soch kar kaha, "Hawa. Is darwaze ke neeche se thodi hawa aa rahi hai. Doosre ke neeche nahi."
Maine jhuk kar dekha. Sach mein, ek halki si hawa daayein wale darwaze ke neeche se aa rahi thi.
"Toh daayein," maine kaha.
"Haan."
Par main hila nahi.
"Kya hua?" usne poocha.
"Kuch nahi. Bas... agar galat hua toh?"
"Toh hum wapas aa jayenge."
"Agar wapas aana mumkin na hua toh?"
Anwesha ne mujhe dekha, uske chehre par thodi chidh thi.
"Dhruv, hum yahan hamesha khade nahi reh sakte do darwazon ke beech, sochte hue ki kaunsa sahi hoga. Kabhi na kabhi chunna padega."
"Mujhe pata hai. Bas mujhe lagta hai humein pehle thoda aur soch lena chahiye."
"Kitna aur? Ek ghante? Do ghante? Jab tak battery khatam na ho jaaye?"
Uski baat mein sachchai thi, par uska tone thoda tez tha.
"Tum hamesha itni jaldi decide kaise kar leti ho?" maine poocha, thoda defensive ho kar.
"Kyunki main jaanti hoon ki perfect information kabhi nahi milegi. Tum uska intezaar karte raho toh kabhi kuch nahi hoga."
"Aur tum kabhi kabhi galat bhi ho sakti ho, jaldi decide karne mein."
Ye baat nikalte hi mujhe laga shayad zyada keh diya.
Anwesha chup ho gayi ek pal ke liye.
"Haan," usne kaha, aawaz mein thoda hurt tha. "Ho sakti hoon. Par kam se kam main kuch karti hoon."
"Matlab main kuch nahi karta?"
"Maine ye nahi kaha."
"Par tumhara matlab yahi tha."
Hum dono kuch der chup khade rahe.
"Jab tum decide nahi karte," Anwesha ne aakhir mein kaha, aawaz thodi narm par seedhi, "sab mere upar aa jaata hai. Mujhe wo bojh pasand nahi."
Maine kuch nahi kaha. Baat seedhi lagi, aur mujhe uska jawab nahi pata tha.
"Main ja rahi hoon," usne kaha, aur daayein wale darwaze ki taraf kadam badhaya.
"Ruko," maine kaha.
Wo ruk gayi, par mudi nahi.
"Main nahi keh raha tum galat ho," maine kaha. "Bas mujhe waqt chahiye."
"Waqt yahan mil bhi raha hai ya nahi, ye bhi toh nahi pata."
Usne mudkar nahi dekha. Haath handle par rakh diya.
"Theek hai," maine kaha. "Daayein chalte hain."
"Tumhe convince hone ki zaroorat nahi, Dhruv. Bas saath chalna hai."
"Main convince hoon."
"Sach mein?"
"Nahi," maine kaha, imaandari se. "Par main tumhare saath chal raha hoon phir bhi."
Anwesha ne kuch nahi kaha. Bas handle ghumaya aur darwaza khol diya.
Uske peeche seedhiyan thi, upar ki taraf jaati hui, aur unke sabse upar ek halki si roshni thi, badalti hui, jaise bahar ki asli roshni ho sakti thi, ya na ho.
Hum dono seedhiyon ke paas khade rahe, ek pal ke liye.
"Agar ye galat nikla," maine kaha, "toh main tumhe yaad dilaunga ki maine bola tha."
"Agar ye sahi nikla," usne kaha, bina muskuraye, "toh main kuch nahi kahungi. Bas chalungi."
Ab dekhte hain wo seedhiyan unhe kahan le jaati hain. Par kam se kam iss baar dono saath hain. Anwesha bahut hee logically cheezon ko dekhti aur analyze karti hai. Umeed karta hun ke abhi uske baare mein aur bhi bahut si baten padhne ko milengi.
Seedhiyan zyada lambi nahi thi, par chadhte chadhte mujhe lagne laga ki ginti galat ho rahi hai. Anwesha ne ek jagah ruk kar kaha, "Tum bhi gin rahe ho?"
"Haan."
"Kitni?"
"Baais."
"Mere chaubees."
Humne aur kuch nahi kaha. Seedhiyon ke aakhir mein ek chhota sa landing tha, aur uske aage ek khula darwaza, jiske paar se wahi halki roshni aa rahi thi.
Darwaze ke paar ek chhoti si chhat thi. Ya chhat jaisa kuch. Upar aasman nahi tha, bas ek geruwa sa dhundhlapan, jaise shaam ki roshni kisi kaanch ke peeche se aa rahi ho. Zameen par purani tiles thi, aur ek kone mein ek chai ki tapri.
Lakdi ka chhota counter, uske upar steel ki kettle, do kaanch ke glass ulte rakhe hue, aur neeche ek stove jo band tha. Koi nahi tha wahan.
Anwesha ne meri taraf dekha. Maine kaha, "Mat chhuo."
"Chhuti nahi hoon." Wo kettle ke paas gayi aur uspar apni hatheli rakh di. "Garam hai."
"Anwesha."
"Dhruv, ye garam hai. Kisi ne abhi banayi hai."
"Kisne?"
"Mujhe nahi pata." Usne ek glass seedha kiya. "Par main do ghante se bhookhi hoon aur ye chai hai."
Main kuch kehne wala tha, phir ruk gaya. Do darwazon ke saamne wali baat abhi bhi hum dono ke beech kahin padi thi. Aur wo pehle hi glass seedha kar chuki thi.
"Theek hai," maine kaha. "Par pehle main soonghta hoon."
"Soongh ke kya pata chalega?"
"Pata nahi. Par ye mera tareeka hai."
Usne kettle meri taraf badha di. Maine dhakkan hataya. Adrak ki khushboo aayi, aur thodi si elaichi. Bilkul normal chai.
"Ab?" usne poocha.
"Ab kuch nahi."
Usne dono glass mein chai daali. Ek glass ke kinaare par chhota sa chip tha, wahi glass usne mujhe diya.
"Mera wala kyun chipka hua hai?"
"Kyunki tum shikayat nahi karoge."
Main hasne se pehle hi ruk gaya, par wo dekh chuki thi.
Chhat ke kinare ek low deewar thi, jis par hum dono baith gaye. Neeche kuch nahi tha, bas wahi geruwa roshni. Maine uss taraf zyada dekha nahi.
Anwesha ne bag se Parle-G ka ek packet nikala. Aadha khatam tha.
"Tumhare paas ab bhi hai?"
"Mere paas hamesha hota hai." Usne ek biscuit mujhe diya, ek apne liye. "Ab tum dekho, ye wahi hai jo main keh rahi thi."
"Kya?"
"Dip karo."
Maine biscuit chai mein daala. Ginti ki. Ek, do, teen.
"Bahut der ho gayi," usne kaha.
Maine nikala. Aadha biscuit glass mein reh gaya.
Anwesha ek second tak mujhe dekhti rahi, phir uska chehra badal gaya. Wo hasi. Pehli baar jaise bina rok ke, bas hasi, aur biscuit ka tukda uske haath se chai mein gir gaya.
"Ruk," usne kaha, hasi ke beech. "Meri baari hai kya?"
"Tumhara bhi gir gaya."
"Tumne mujhe hasaaya, isliye."
"Maine kuch nahi kiya."
"Tumhari shakal."
"Meri shakal?"
"Jab tumhara biscuit toota na. Aisa lag raha tha jaise tumhe kisi ne dhokha diya ho."
Main bhi hasne laga. Itni der baad pehli baar mere seene ka kuch dheela hua.
Humne chai ke saath bacha hua packet khatam kiya. Do biscuit aakhir mein bache. Anwesha ne ek mujhe diya aur doosra khud rakha.
"Dekh kar khana," usne kaha. "Is baar nahi todna."
"Dip nahi karunga."
"Haan, tum saaf khao. Tum waise bhi dip nahi karne wale type ke ho."
"Kaise type ke?"
"Jo chai pehle thandi hone dete hain."
Maine kuch nahi kaha, kyunki wo sach tha.
Chhat ke ek kone mein ek purana radio tha, band. Maine pehle dhyan nahi diya tha. Anwesha ne use dekha aur boli, "Isme kuch chalta hoga?"
"Mat chhedo."
"Ek baar."
Usne radio ka knob ghumaya. Ek halki si khadkhad aayi, phir koi purana gaana, bahut dheemi awaaz mein, itni dheemi ki shabd samajh nahi aa rahe the. Bas dhun.
Hum dono chup ho gaye.
"Ye mujhe pata hai," Anwesha ne kaha.
"Mujhe bhi."
"Kaunsa hai?"
"Pata nahi. Par suna hua hai."
Usne radio dheere se band kar diya, jaise koi cheez uthne se pehle rakhi jaati hai.
Hum kuch der wahin baithe rahe. Chai khatam ho gayi thi. Anwesha ne apne bag se ek das ka note nikala aur counter par, ek glass ke neeche daba diya.
"Ye kisliye?"
"Chai thi."
"Yahan koi nahi hai."
"Hai kisi ka," usne kaha. "Kettle garam thi."
Maine aur kuch nahi poocha. Anwesha ne bag kandhe par daala aur khadi hui. Chhat ke doosre kinare par ek aur darwaza tha, is baar band, par uske neeche se roshni nahi aa rahi thi.
"Wo," usne kaha.
"Haan."
Hum dono ek pal wahin khade rahe, glass ke neeche daba hua das ka note dekhte hue. Hawa se uska ek kona halka sa hil raha tha, par note udaa nahi.
Seedhiyan zyada lambi nahi thi, par chadhte chadhte mujhe lagne laga ki ginti galat ho rahi hai. Anwesha ne ek jagah ruk kar kaha, "Tum bhi gin rahe ho?"
"Haan."
"Kitni?"
"Baais."
"Mere chaubees."
Humne aur kuch nahi kaha. Seedhiyon ke aakhir mein ek chhota sa landing tha, aur uske aage ek khula darwaza, jiske paar se wahi halki roshni aa rahi thi.
Darwaze ke paar ek chhoti si chhat thi. Ya chhat jaisa kuch. Upar aasman nahi tha, bas ek geruwa sa dhundhlapan, jaise shaam ki roshni kisi kaanch ke peeche se aa rahi ho. Zameen par purani tiles thi, aur ek kone mein ek chai ki tapri.
Lakdi ka chhota counter, uske upar steel ki kettle, do kaanch ke glass ulte rakhe hue, aur neeche ek stove jo band tha. Koi nahi tha wahan.
Anwesha ne meri taraf dekha. Maine kaha, "Mat chhuo."
"Chhuti nahi hoon." Wo kettle ke paas gayi aur uspar apni hatheli rakh di. "Garam hai."
"Anwesha."
"Dhruv, ye garam hai. Kisi ne abhi banayi hai."
"Kisne?"
"Mujhe nahi pata." Usne ek glass seedha kiya. "Par main do ghante se bhookhi hoon aur ye chai hai."
Main kuch kehne wala tha, phir ruk gaya. Do darwazon ke saamne wali baat abhi bhi hum dono ke beech kahin padi thi. Aur wo pehle hi glass seedha kar chuki thi.
"Theek hai," maine kaha. "Par pehle main soonghta hoon."
"Soongh ke kya pata chalega?"
"Pata nahi. Par ye mera tareeka hai."
Usne kettle meri taraf badha di. Maine dhakkan hataya. Adrak ki khushboo aayi, aur thodi si elaichi. Bilkul normal chai.
"Ab?" usne poocha.
"Ab kuch nahi."
Usne dono glass mein chai daali. Ek glass ke kinaare par chhota sa chip tha, wahi glass usne mujhe diya.
"Mera wala kyun chipka hua hai?"
"Kyunki tum shikayat nahi karoge."
Main hasne se pehle hi ruk gaya, par wo dekh chuki thi.
Chhat ke kinare ek low deewar thi, jis par hum dono baith gaye. Neeche kuch nahi tha, bas wahi geruwa roshni. Maine uss taraf zyada dekha nahi.
Anwesha ne bag se Parle-G ka ek packet nikala. Aadha khatam tha.
"Tumhare paas ab bhi hai?"
"Mere paas hamesha hota hai." Usne ek biscuit mujhe diya, ek apne liye. "Ab tum dekho, ye wahi hai jo main keh rahi thi."
"Kya?"
"Dip karo."
Maine biscuit chai mein daala. Ginti ki. Ek, do, teen.
"Bahut der ho gayi," usne kaha.
Maine nikala. Aadha biscuit glass mein reh gaya.
Anwesha ek second tak mujhe dekhti rahi, phir uska chehra badal gaya. Wo hasi. Pehli baar jaise bina rok ke, bas hasi, aur biscuit ka tukda uske haath se chai mein gir gaya.
"Ruk," usne kaha, hasi ke beech. "Meri baari hai kya?"
"Tumhara bhi gir gaya."
"Tumne mujhe hasaaya, isliye."
"Maine kuch nahi kiya."
"Tumhari shakal."
"Meri shakal?"
"Jab tumhara biscuit toota na. Aisa lag raha tha jaise tumhe kisi ne dhokha diya ho."
Main bhi hasne laga. Itni der baad pehli baar mere seene ka kuch dheela hua.
Humne chai ke saath bacha hua packet khatam kiya. Do biscuit aakhir mein bache. Anwesha ne ek mujhe diya aur doosra khud rakha.
"Dekh kar khana," usne kaha. "Is baar nahi todna."
"Dip nahi karunga."
"Haan, tum saaf khao. Tum waise bhi dip nahi karne wale type ke ho."
"Kaise type ke?"
"Jo chai pehle thandi hone dete hain."
Maine kuch nahi kaha, kyunki wo sach tha.
Chhat ke ek kone mein ek purana radio tha, band. Maine pehle dhyan nahi diya tha. Anwesha ne use dekha aur boli, "Isme kuch chalta hoga?"
"Mat chhedo."
"Ek baar."
Usne radio ka knob ghumaya. Ek halki si khadkhad aayi, phir koi purana gaana, bahut dheemi awaaz mein, itni dheemi ki shabd samajh nahi aa rahe the. Bas dhun.
Hum dono chup ho gaye.
"Ye mujhe pata hai," Anwesha ne kaha.
"Mujhe bhi."
"Kaunsa hai?"
"Pata nahi. Par suna hua hai."
Usne radio dheere se band kar diya, jaise koi cheez uthne se pehle rakhi jaati hai.
Hum kuch der wahin baithe rahe. Chai khatam ho gayi thi. Anwesha ne apne bag se ek das ka note nikala aur counter par, ek glass ke neeche daba diya.
"Ye kisliye?"
"Chai thi."
"Yahan koi nahi hai."
"Hai kisi ka," usne kaha. "Kettle garam thi."
Maine aur kuch nahi poocha. Anwesha ne bag kandhe par daala aur khadi hui. Chhat ke doosre kinare par ek aur darwaza tha, is baar band, par uske neeche se roshni nahi aa rahi thi.
"Wo," usne kaha.
"Haan."
Hum dono ek pal wahin khade rahe, glass ke neeche daba hua das ka note dekhte hue. Hawa se uska ek kona halka sa hil raha tha, par note udaa nahi.
Bahut hee suspensful kahani hai. Abhi tak dono ko koi clue nahi mila hai, lekin acchi baat yeh hai ke iss baar dono saath hain. Ab dekhte hain iss naye darwaze ke picche kya raaz chupa hai.
