Zoya theek 8 baje A.S. Enterprises pohnch gayi thi. Usne apna sab se saaf magar purana suit pehna tha. Receptionist ne usey dekhte hi ek card pakra diya. "Ariz sir aapka intezar kar rahe hain."
Zoya jab office dakhil hui to Ariz wahan nahi tha, magar uski mez par ek coffee ka mug aur kuch files rakhi thin. Zoya ne apna bag kursi par rakha aur wo register nikaal kar mez par rakh diya, jaisa ke Ariz ne kaha tha.
"Waqt ki paband ho, acha laga dekh kar."
Ariz ki awaaz ne Zoya ko jhatka diya. Wo abhi dakhil hua tha, uski ankhon ke niche halkay halkay saaye thay, jaise wo saari raat soya na ho. Usne aate hi sab se pehle Zoya ke register ki taraf dekha, phir Zoya ki ankhon mein.
"Aaj tumhara pehla kaam ye hai ke tum mere saath ek meeting mein chalogi. Tumhe sirf baith kar notes lene hain aur khamosh rehna hai," Ariz ne kursi par baithte hue kaha.
"Theek hai sir," Zoya ne dabi awaaz mein kaha.
Meeting room mein shehar ke bade bade businessmen bethe thay. Ariz wahan sab se kam umar tha, magar uska roab sab se zyada tha. Zoya khamoshi se likh rahi hi thi ke achanak ek shakhs ne Zoya ki taraf ishara kiya.
"Ariz, ye tumhari nayi assistant hai? Kafi masoom lagti hai, kya ye tumhare sakht rules bardasht kar payegi?" Wo shakhs hansa.
Ariz ne apni pencil mez par rakhi aur us shakhs ko thandi nazar se dekha. "Meri assistant kya bardasht kar sakti hai aur kya nahi, ye mera masla hai. Aap sirf deal par tawajjo dein."
Meeting ke baad, jab wo dono wapas office aaye, to Zoya ne himmat karke pucha, "Aap sab se itne rukhay (rude) kyun hain?"
Ariz ruka, wo Zoya ke itne kareeb tha ke Zoya ko uske perfurme ki mehak saaf aa rahi thi. "Dunya unhein hi khati hai jo narm hote hain, Zoya. Masoomiyat sirf kitabon mein achi lagti hai, is register ki tarah."
Usne apna hath barha kar register uthana chaha, magar Zoya ne foran apna hath us par rakh diya. Dono ke hath ek baar phir takraye. Ek pal ke liye waqt ruk gaya.
"Abhi nahi sir... abhi aap ne mere dukhon ko parhne ka haq nahi kamaya," Zoya ne hoslay se kaha.
Ariz ki ankhon mein ek pal ke liye hairat aayi, phir wo peeche hat gaya. "Haq? Dekhte hain tum ye garoor kab tak barqarar rakhti ho."
Usi waqt office ka darwaza khula aur ek khubsurat larki andar dakhil hui. "Ariz baby! Main ne kab se tumhara intezar kiya!"
Zoya ne dekha ke Ariz ke chehre ke taveer badal gaye thay. Zoya ko apne dil mein ek ajeeb si chubhan mehsoos hui.