Ayaan ki aankhen screen dekhte hi phati ki phati reh jaati hain, aur woh lagbhag chillata hai, "YEH?? YEH LADKI??!"
Rajveer aur Sunaina dono hairani se uski taraf palatte hain.
Kamre mein sannata chha jaata hai.
Sunaina hairani se poochti hain, "Ayaan… kya tum isse pehle se jaante ho?"
Ayaan ghabra kar Veer ki taraf nazar ghumata hai. Veer usse aankhon se sakht ishara kar raha hai — naa bol.
Ayaan hadbada kar sambhalta hai.
"Nahi nahi! Main kyun jaanunga? Woh… woh toh main bas isliye chillaya kyunki… itni khoobsurat ladki aap logon ko kahan se mil gayi!"
Sunaina apni aankhen chhoti karke usse ghoorti hain. Woh kuch bolne waali hoti hain, par phir ruk jaati hain.
Woh wapas Veer ki taraf mudti hain.
"Veer beta kya kehte ho, tum ready ho naa milne ke liye?"
Ayaan bina awaaz kiye honth hilata hai — Say No!
Veer ke chehre par ek shaant, par jhoothi muskaan aa jaati hai.
"Okay Mom, main ready hoon milne ke liye."
Rajveer ke chehre par sukoon aa jaata hai. Sunaina turant apna phone uthati hain.
"Main bas abhi Naira ke parents se baat karke kal milne ka time fix karti hoon."
Woh excitement mein dial karte hue tezi se apne kamre ki taraf badh jaati hain.
Ayaan abhi bhi Veer ko gusse se ghoor raha hai.
Rajveer aage badh kar Veer ke kandhe par haath rakhte hain.
"Thank you beta, hamari baat samajhne ke liye."
Rajveer bhi apne room ki taraf jaane lagte hain.
Veer ke chehre se woh jhoothi smile turant gaayab ho jaati hai. Woh bina ek shabd kahe apne room ki taraf chal deta hai, aur Ayaan chupchaap uske peeche aata hai.
Veer apne room mein aata hai aur apne bed par baithne wala hi hota hai tabhi Ayaan bhi uske room mein ghusta hai aur darwaza zor se band karta hai.
"Tera dimaag kharab ho gaya hai kya? Tune milne ke liye haan kyun bola?"
Veer shaanti se apna jacket utaarte hue bas halka sa muskurata hai.
Ayaan aur chid jaata hai.
"Tune dekha nahi road pe kaise baat kar rahi thi? Kis tareeke ka uska tone tha?"
Veer abhi bhi ussi irritating calmness ke saath khada hai. Woh peeche deewar se tik jaata hai.
Ayaan chidh kar paas rakha takiya Veer ke muh par maarta hai.
"Pagalon ke jaise hasna band kar aur bata tere dimaag mein kya chal raha hai."
Veer takiya pakad leta hai.
"Tension mat le. Kuch bhi nahi chal raha hai. Hum log bas kal jayenge, usse dekhenge aur mana karke wapas aa jayenge. Ho gaya. Bas. That's it."
Woh thoda rukta hai.
"Isse Mom-Dad bhi khush aur humein bhi koi tension nahi."
Ayaan haath baandh kar khada ho jaata hai.
"Ho gaya tera bol ke? Beta mujhe mat sikha. Bachpan se jaanta hoon tujhe. Sach-sach bata kya chal raha hai tere dimaag mein. Dekh Veer, main tujhe bol raha hoon yeh uss type ki ladki nahi jahan tu game khele."
"Chill yaar, main aisa kuch bhi nahi kar raha hoon…" Veer halke se hansta hai. "Sach mein, teri kasam."
"Rehne de bhai meri kasam mat kha. Mujhe zinda rehna hai abhi."
Tabhi Veer ke phone mein ring bajti hai. Room mein dono ki nazar turant phone par jaati hai.
Veer aage badh kar phone ki screen dekhta hai — Unknown Number.
Woh phone pick karta hai.
"Who is this?"
Dusri taraf se ek ladki ki awaaz aati hai,
"Veer Khurana?"
"Haan, boliye."
"Main Naira Malhotra bol rahi hoon."
Veer ek pal ke liye ruk jaata hai. Woh aankhon se Ayaan ko ishara karta hai — Wohi hai.
Ayaan honth hilata hai — No fucking way.
Veer chupchaap phone speaker par daalta hai.
"Sorry? Awaaz cut gayi thi. Kaun bol raha hai?"
"Naira Malhotra. Ab sunayi diya dhang se?"
"Naira… maine expect nahi kiya tha itni jaldi tumhara call aa jayega."
"Tum aur tumhare parents kal mere ghar mujhe dekhne aane wale ho naa?"
"Haan, plan toh yehi hai."
"Dekho, main tumhe bade pyaar se warning de rahi hoon… plan cancel kar do."
Woh rukti hai.
"Mujhe shaadi-vagairah mein koi interest nahi hai. Main tumhare parents ki kaafi respect karti hoon. Unhe directly mana nahi kar sakti. Iss liye tumhe bol rahi hoon."
Veer kuch nahi bolta. Woh bas phone ko thoda aur kas ke pakad leta hai.
Naira dheere se kehti hai,
"Aur phir bhi agar tum aaye toh yaad rakhna… main tumhari taange tod dungi."
Beep.
Bas itna bol kar woh turant call cut kar deti hai.
Ayaan hairani se badbadata hai,
"Kya ladki hai yeh yaar."
Veer smirk karta hai.
"Kya ladki hai yaar yeh."
Woh nazar ek pal ke liye phone par tikaye rakhta hai.
Ayaan turant bolta hai,
"Nahi nahi, yeh naatak mat kar. Yeh koi cute behaviour nahi hai. Chalta-phirta red flag hai. Hum bas kal nahi jaa rahe. Yeh final hai."
"Aise kaise naa jaaun? Itne pyaar se invite kiya hai. Jaana toh banta hai."
Ayaan apna maatha peetta hai.
"Tu nahi sunne wala naa?"
Veer smile karte hue apna sar naa mein hila deta hai.
"Hadd hai yaar… kand tu karta hai saala, bhugatna mujhe padta hai."
Veer ke chehre ki woh ziddi muskaan aur choudi ho jaati hai.
Ayaan chidh kar ek aakhri baar use ghoorta hai aur thak haar kar room se nikal jaata hai.
***
Agli subah, Naira apne room mein pait ke bal leti hai. Kambal pairon mein uljha hai aur takiya zameen par gira hai. Baal bikhre hain, chehre par gir rahe hain.
Bed ke paas zameen par ek khula hua laptop aur kuch crumpled sketches bikhre pade hain. Screen abhi bhi on hai. Saamne waali chair par kapdon ka dher laga hai.
Tabhi bartanon ke takrane ki awaaz ke saath neeche kitchen se uski mummy ki awaaz aati hai,
"Naira, Naira beta uth jaa. Time ho raha hai."
Naira apna kambal wapas kheench kar odhti hai aur takiye se kaan daba leti hai.
Kuch hi der mein uske kamre mein uski chhoti behen Ira aati hai. Uske baal halke bheege hain, mathe par chhota sa tika hai, aur kandhe par dupatta hai.
Woh aakar fan off kar deti hai, khidki kholti hai, aur phir Naira ka kambal jhatke se kheench leti hai.
Subah ki tez dhoop seedhe Naira ke chehre par padti hai.
Naira chidh kar muh takiye mein chhupa leti hai aur neend mein kehti hai,
"Thoda der aur sone de naa…"
"Dii uth jaao. Aaj mehmaan aane wale hain. Late ho jayega. Warna Papa phir se gussa kar waenge."
Naira uska haath pakadti hai.
"Aa ek kaam kar, tu bhi so ja. Waise bhi aaj koi nahi aane wala."
"Kya matlab koi nahi aane wala? Aapne phir se kuch kiya kya?"
Naira ek shararat bhari muskaan ke saath haan mein sar hilati hai.
Ira gale ko saaf karke bhaari awaaz mein mimic karti hai,
"Yeh ladki Malhotra khandan ka naam dubayegi."
Naira aur Ira dono ek saath haste hain.
"Dii, aapne iss baar kya kiya?"
"Kuch nahi. Bas usse call karke pyaar se samjha diya."
Ira Naira ko shaq ki nazron se taakti hai.
"Waise aapne kya samjhaya?"
"Bas itna hi… ki agar yahan aaye toh taangein tod dungi."
"Kya dii aap bhi naa. Kuch na kuch karti rehti ho. Bahut ho gaya, chalo utho. Warna aaj ka sach mein pura din kharab ho jaayega."
Naira aalas mein angdaai leti hui uthti hai aur bina mann ke room se nikal kar living room ki taraf chal deti hai.
Living room mein Ramesh Malhotra news channel dekhte hue chai ki chuski le rahe hain.
TV par news anchor ki tez awaaz gunj rahi hai. Kisi political debate ka shor chal raha hai.
Naira ko dekhte hi woh chai ka cup neeche karte hain.
"Raajkumari ji uth gayin? Koi medal laao inke liye."
Naira bina unhe dekhe ek thaki hui saans chhodti hai aur seedha kitchen ki taraf badh jaati hai.
***
Kuch waqt baad, Naira apne living room mein ek loose T-shirt aur purane pajama mein sofe par pair phaila kar baithi hai. TV full volume par hai. Uske baal bikhre hue hain. Baar-baar woh unhe peeche kar rahi hai.
Tabhi Sarojini aati hain.
"Naira, tu abhi tak taiyaar kyun nahi hui? Dekhne wale kisi bhi waqt aa sakte hain."
Naira ki nazar TV par hi hai.
"Unhe aane do. Phir uske baad dekhte hain taiyaar hona hai ki nahi."
"Naira jaa ke taiyaar ho. Unke aane ka time ho gaya hai. Aur tum jaanti ho tumhare Papa ko. Woh tumhe aise dekh ke aur gussa karenge."
Naira chid jaati hai.
"Karne do. Gussa waise bhi unhone aaj tak iss ke alawa kiya hi kya hai."
Tabhi Ramesh living room mein aate hain aur aate hi chidh jaate hain. Unki nazar seedha Naira ke bikhre hue baalon par atak jaati hai.
"Yeh kya haal bana rakha hai apna? Abhi turant jaao aur acche se taiyaar hoke aao."
"Main nahi jaaungi taiyaar hone."
Ramesh gusse se apni jawline tighten karte hain.
Sarojini uska haath pakadti hain.
"Chal main tujhe taiyaar karwati hoon."
Naira jhatke se haath chhudwati hai.
"Maine kaha naa, mujhe taiyaar nahi hona."
Ramesh gusse se dekhte hain.
"Naira, ek baar bol diya naa jaake taiyaar ho. Warna—"
Naira gusse se unki baat kaat deti hai. Uski aankhon mein halki si nami hai.
"Nahi toh kya? Phir se mujhe thappad maaroge?"
Woh ek kadam aage badhti hai.
"Nahi nahi, aaj kaha… aaj toh mujhe achha dikhna hai naa sabke saamne."
Ramesh ka haath hawa mein uthta hai.
Isse pehle ki woh Naira ke gaal par lagta… Ira beech mein aa jaati hai.
"Papa nahi! Rukiye… main Dii ko le jaati hoon."
Woh Naira ka haath pakad kar le jaane lagti hai.
Ramesh chidh kar kehte hain,
"Haan le jaao isse… jitna jaldi yeh mere ghar se nikle utna achha hai."
Ira Naira ko khinchte hue uske kamre ki taraf le jaati hai. Naira bina palkein jhapkaye Ramesh ki aankhon mein dekhti rehti hai jab tak woh hallway mein mud nahi jaati.
Kuch hi palon baad, dono Naira ke room mein dakhil hoti hain.
Naira apne bed par baith jaati hai. Uski aankhon mein aansu hain jo woh rok rahi hai.
Uski saansein tez chalne lagti hain. Woh nazar jhuka leti hai.
Ira usse hug karti hai.
"Dii shaant… aaraam se saans lo. Kuch nahi hua. Sab theek hai."
Naira ki aankhon se ek aansu chhalak kar girta hai. Woh tooti hui awaaz mein kehti hai,
"Main thak gayi hoon yaar in sab cheezon se… roz-roz ke naatak se… nahi saha jaa raha mujhse ab."
Ira usse aur tight se hug karti hai.
"Mujhe nahi karni shaadi Ira… mujhe nahi rehna aise."
"Haan dii, main jaanti hoon."
Naira thaki hui awaaz mein kehti hai,
"Kab tak aise hi rahega Ira… kab tak?"
Ira thoda rukti hai. Woh Naira ki taraf dekhti hai.
"Dii, kuch bhi ho jaaye main aapke saath hoon. Hum dono saath milkar sab sambhal lenge."
Ira Naira ki peeth sehlati hai aur mahaul halka karne ki koshish mein kehti hai,
"Aur waise bhi aapko lagta hai aapki dhamki dene ke baad bhi woh ladka aayega?"
Naira ke aansuon ke beech uske hothon par ek feeki si hansi aa jaati hai.
Ira uske aansu ponchti hai.
"Dii chalo, aapko taiyaar kar deti hoon. Aur phir uske baad hum dono photos click karenge. Kya hai naa, taiyaar hone ka kuch toh fayda hona chahiye."
Naira apni aankhen ponchti hai aur ek gehri saans leti hai.
"Theek hai. Kar de. Bana de mujhe sanskaari bahu."
Ira drawer se makeup aur jewellery nikalne lagti hai.
Room mein kuch der ke liye sirf drawer khulne-band hone ki awaaz rehti hai.
***
Dopahar ka waqt hai. Sooraj tez chamak raha hai. Malhotra parivaar ke living room mein kaafi bechaini hai.
Ramesh, kurta-pyjama aur Nehru jacket mein, room mein bechaini se tehal rahe hain. Baar-baar unki nazar ghadi ki taraf jaa rahi hai. Unki chappalon ki tap-tap awaaz sannate mein goonj rahi hai.
Sarojini pareshani se kehti hain,
"Ek baar phir se phone try karke dekhiye naa."
Ramesh chidte hain.
"Main 5 baar try kar chuka hoon. Call hi connect nahi ho raha hai."
Ira aur Naira sofe par ek-doosre ke bagal mein baithi hain. Naira sukoon se peeche tikti hai aur Ira ke kaan mein fusfusati hai,
"Dekha? Kaha tha naa ki koi nahi aayega aaj."
Tabhi bahar ek car ke rukne ki awaaz aati hai.
Ramesh achanak apne kadam rokte hain.
"Lagta hai aa gaye."
Woh Sarojini ke saath main gate ke paas jaane lagte hain.
Naira darwaze ki taraf nazar gadaaye baithi hai.
Kuch hi seconds baad, Veer main door se andar aata hai. Uski nazar seedha Naira par jaake rukti hai.
Dono ki nazrein seedha ek doosre se takraati hain.
Veer use aise dekh raha hai jaise usne koi shart jeet li ho… aur Naira use aise ghoor rahi hai jaise aaj woh usse nazron se hi maar degi.
To Be Continued