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Raat mein sote hue mujhe pata tha ki kal subah gyarah baje mujhe kahin jaana hai. Aisa lag raha tha jaise kisi ne appointment mere calendar mein daali ho aur main use dekh raha hoon, par usne mujhe consult nahi kiya.
Neend achhi nahi aayi. Do teen baar utha, pankha dekha, phir let gaya. Doosra phone side table par pada tha, mera apna phone takiye ke neeche.
Subah paanch baje maine haar maan li. Utha. Chai banayi.
Pichhle Sunday ka message mila. Kabir ne ek location pin bheji thi. Neeche address tha: Kurla West, LBS Marg ke paas, ek chhoti si gali mein "Bharat Motors" naam ki dukan.
Doosre phone se apne phone par kuch bhejne ka mann nahi hua. Maine notebook nikaal ke address haath se likh liya.
Kitchen mein baithke chai peete hue, khidki se baahar dhoop aa rahi thi. Sunday ki subah thi. Baahar bacche cricket khel rahe honge kisi society mein, koi maa apne bete ko doodh peene ke liye chilla rahi hogi.
Main ek aisi jagah jaane ki taiyaari kar raha tha jahan kabhi maine jaane ka faisla nahi liya tha.
Nahaya. Kapde badle. Simple jeans, ek grey T-shirt. Wo T-shirt jo pichle saal Kabir ne mera birthday par diya tha.
Dono phones jeb mein daale.
Nikla.
Kurla tak local train se pahoncha. Weekend tha, isliye bheed roz se kam thi. LBS Marg ke paas utra aur notebook mein likha address dekh kar chalna shuru kiya. Bharat Motors dhundhne mein pandrah minute lage. Wo ek gali ke andar thi jahan sirf second-hand bike aur car ke garages hain, tel aur grease ki mehak hawa mein jami hui hoti hai.
Gyarah bajkar saat minute ho chuke the jab main pahoncha.
Kabir already wahan tha. Wo ek purani neeli Yamaha ke bagal mein khada tha, uske saath ek Bengali buzurg the jo dhoti aur ek loose shirt mein the. Kabir bike ka handle pakde tha, thoda upar-neeche kar raha tha.
Koi salaam nahi, koi surprise nahi. Bilkul aise jaise pichle das saal se hum har Sunday gyarah baje Kurla mein milte the.
Bengali buzurg ne mujhe haath jodkar namaste kiya. Kabir ne unhe introduce karaya, "Ye Ganguly da, seller. Aur ye Dhruv, mera dost."
"Engine start karke suna," Kabir ne mujhe kaha.
Ganguly da ne key di. Maine key li. Bike start ki. Engine ki aawaz aayi.
"Kya lagta hai?" Kabir ne poocha.
"Mujhe kya pata," maine kehna chaha. Par kehne ke bajaye maine ek pal suna aur bola, "Aawaz toh theek lag rahi hai."
Kabir ne sar hilaya. "Tune pichhle hafte kaha tha ki tu Ganguly da ko mechanic ka number bhej dega. Bhej diya?"
"Nahi, aaj shaam tak bhej dunga."
"Kar dena bhai. Service karvani hai delivery ke baad."
Mera koi mechanic nahi tha. Andheri mein ya kahin aur. Par maine sar hilaya jaise ye sab meri zimmedari ho.
Kabir ne bike ki ride li. Main pillion baitha. Hum LBS Marg par gaye, ek U-turn maara, wapas aaye. Bike ki condition achhi thi, kam se kam chalne mein. Wapas aakar Kabir ne Ganguly da ke saath price ki baat shuru ki. Wo dono Hindi mein baatchit karte, phir kabhi Ganguly da Bengali mein kuch bolte. Main thoda side mein khada raha.
Beech mein Kabir ne mud kar mujhe dekha.
"Waise Priya ko tune kuch bola toh nahi?"
"Nahi."
"Good. Pichhli baar ki tarah lecture mat dena. Mujhe pata hai ye stupid idea hai, par karna hai."
Maine kuch nahi kaha.
Pichhli baar. Kaunsi baar. Main toh aksar bolta hi nahi tha.
Shayad doosra Dhruv bolta tha.
Baatchit mein aur pandrah minute lage. Price tay hui, Ganguly da ne kuch papers dikhaye, Kabir ne token amount ke liye UPI kiya.
Hum dono gali se nikle. Kabir ka mood achha tha.
"Chal, lunch. Wo kone wala parathe wala hai na, wahan."
Hum paidal chale. Dhoop tez ho gayi thi ab.
Parathe wale dukan par hum baith gaye. Ek plastic ki table, do plastic ki kursi. Kabir ne aloo ka paratha order kiya, maine gobi ka. Do lassi.
Khaate hue Kabir apne phone par kuch dekh raha tha.
"Waise," usne kaha, "pichhle Sunday toh bada bol raha tha number bhej."
Chapati ka tukda mere hoth tak aaya, phir wahin ruk gaya.
"Kiska?"
"Priya ki cousin ka. Bhool gaya?"
Maine paratha plate mein rakh diya.
"Haan," maine kaha. "Bhool gaya."
"Tune khud kaha tha ki tujhe number chahiye, ek baar milna hai. Ab Priya teen din se puchh rahi hai mujhse."
"Bata dena thoda kaam hai, baad mein karunga."
Kabir ne mujhe dekha, jaise wo kuch aur kehne wala tha. Phir usne shrug kiya aur wapas paratha khaane laga.
Maine Ananya ko coffee ke liye poochhne mein chhe mahine laga diye the.
Main lassi ke glass ko dono haath se pakde hue baitha raha.
Kabir ne khaana khatam kiya. Usne apna phone nikala.
"Ek second, tujhe wo bike ki photo bhej deta hoon. Ye jo maine abhi engine ki li thi, kaam aa sakti hai baad mein."
Usne apne phone mein gallery kholi. Photo select ki. Phir WhatsApp khola. Search bar mein "Dhruv" type kiya.
Do results aaye.
"Dhruv"
"Dhruv M"
Kabir ne bina rukhe upar wala select kiya. Photo bheji.
Meri jeb mein doosra phone vibrate hua.
Kabir ne apna phone rakh diya aur lassi ka aakhri ghoont piya. "Chal, bill de. Main bike ke paperwork mein busy ho jaunga poora din."
Maine paisa nikala. Bill diya.
Doosra phone meri jeb mein tha. Kabir ki bheji hui bike ki photo uske andar hogi.
Ghar pahoncha toh raat ke saade nau baj chuke the.
Dono phones jeb se nikaal ke dining table par rakhe. Doosra phone left mein, mera apna right mein. Fridge se pani ki bottle nikaali. Do ghoont piye. Bottle wapas rakhi.
Kamre mein aaya. Batti jalayi. Baithe baithe kuch der pankha dekha.
Aur is beech kuch nahi hua.
Kabir wali baat, do Dhruv wali baat, bike wale seller ki baat, Priya ki cousin wali baat, ye sab mere andar utna nahi lag rahi thi jitni ek doosri baat lag rahi thi jo maine chaar din se andar hi rakhi hui thi.
Anwesha.
Maine apna phone uthaya. Contacts app kholi. Search bar mein A type kiya.
Anwesha. 9954 2323 8875.
Call button dabaya.
Phone ek pal ke liye laga jaise connect kar raha hai. Phir ek automated aawaz aayi. Ek aurat ki aawaz, thodi metallic.
"The number you have dialed is not valid. Please check the number and try again."
Phone kaan se hataya. Screen dekhi. Call disconnect ho gayi thi.
Aisi cheezein hoti hain. Kabhi kabhi number galat save ho jaata hai, koi extra digit lag jaata hai, ya koi digit chhoot jaata hai. Ye Mumbai mein kisi bhi din kisi ke saath ho sakta hai.
Maine dobara dial kiya.
"The number you have dialed is not valid."
Phone table par rakh diya.
Ab maine number screen par khola. Contact ki entry mein jaake.
9954 2323 8875.
Maine ungli se digits ko chhua, ek ek karke, jaise mujhe khud bhi confirm karna ho ki main sach mein padh raha hoon.
Ruk gaya. Phir se count kiya. Ungli screen par thi.
Baarah.
Indian mobile number das digit ka hota hai.
Ye baarah tha.
Kuch der main us screen ko dekhta raha. Number wahi tha jo Anwesha ne diya tha. Jo maine repeat karke bola tha. Jo maine chaar din pehle phone mein save kiya tha.
Us pal shayad mera dhyan nahi gaya hoga. Wo Anwesha ki aakhri jhalak thi mujhe. Wo peela bulb tha. Wo mod tha jahan se wo ojhal ho gayi thi. Un sab ke beech maine bas ek insaan ka number yaad rakhna tha, aur usne jo bola main dohrata gaya.
Par uske baad? Save karte waqt? Aur jab pichhle kuch dinon mein maine contacts kholkar dekha tha, bas ye check karne ke liye ki naam wahin hai?
Har baar maine yahi number dekha. Baarah digit. Aur har baar main sochta tha ki naam wahin hai. Number galat lag hi nahi raha tha.
Kuch der maine phone ko bas dekha. Phir screen band kar di.
Uth gaya.
Chabi uthayi. Chappal pehni. Baahar nikla.
Gali khaali thi. Peela street light jal raha tha. Do jagah kutte bhonk rahe the door. Ek autorickshaw main road se guzra.
Main us gali mein chala jahan pehli baar hua tha. Chai wali tapri band ho chuki thi is waqt. Printing press ka shutter bhi neeche tha.
Do buildingon ke beech ki jagah wahin thi. Kachre ka dibba bhi wahin, thoda side mein hata hua, jaise us raat tha.
Par do buildingon ke beech mein ab wo cut nahi tha.
Bas ek saadi, khaali deewar thi. Ek taraf laal eenton ki satah, doosri taraf grey plaster wali. Dono taraf ki satah waisi hi thi jaisi mujhe us raat yaad thi. Par ab wo ek doosre se milti thi. Beech mein koi jagah nahi thi.
Main wahin khada raha.
Phone nikala. Flashlight on ki. Deewar par maari. Kuch nahi. Bas deewar. Uspar do jagah paint ke chhote se daag the, kisi ne poster chipkaya hoga kabhi, phir hata diya hoga.
Flashlight band ki.
Ek delivery wala scooter par se guzra, mere bagal se. Uska hazard light peela peela blink kar raha tha. Usne meri taraf dekha, phir aage badh gaya. Dobara nahi dekha. Ek aadmi raat ko deewar ghoor raha hai, wo Mumbai mein itni ajeeb baat nahi hai.
Kuch der aur khada raha. Phir kadam badhaya. Deewar par haath rakh diya.
Thandi thi. Bilkul normal deewar jaisi.
Haath hata liya.
Chowkidaar ne kuch kaha tha us din. Yaad hone se raasta nahi khulta. Kuch chahiye jo khud yahan aana chahe. Us waqt maine wo baat sun li thi, aur uske baare mein baad mein zyada nahi socha tha. Ab wo baat wapas aayi.
Yaad hona aur raasta khulna, shayad ye ek hi baat nahi thi.
Main wapas chal diya.
Ghar aaya.
Kamre mein baithke maine notebook nikaali. Wo notebook jo maine kal Kurla ke address ke liye use ki thi.
Ek naya page khola. Pen uthaya.
Ek line likhi:
Anwesha. Anu.
Neeche:
Architecture. Master's second year.
Neeche:
Rizvi.
Neeche:
Agastya sir.
Neeche:
Dadar. Tilak bridge.
Neeche:
Bandra. Flat share.
Neeche:
Roommate: Riya.
Neeche:
9954 2323 8875.
Baaki page khaali chhoda.
Pen ko ek baar kagaz par tap kiya. Phir ek chhota sa circle banaya.
Rizvi ke aas paas.
Notebook band ki. Table par rakh di. Pen uske upar.
Sharma ji ko message kiya ki tabiyat theek nahi hai. Unhone reply kiya "Get well soon." Maine phone silent mode par rakh diya.
Nahaya. Kapde badle. Notebook jeb mein rakhi. Dono phones bhi.
Nikla.
Rizvi College Bandra mein hai. Lower Parel se local train se pahonchne mein lagbhag bees minute lagte hain. Main Bandra station utra aur auto liya. Driver ko address bataya, wo seedha college gate tak le gaya.
Campus purana tha par maintained tha. Gate par security guard tha. Maine use bataya, "Agastya sir se milna hai, architecture department." Usne andar ki taraf haath uthaya aur kaha, "B-Wing. Seedha jaake left."
Main andar ghusa.
Ek bada lawn tha, uske ek taraf canteen thi jahan students baithe hue chai pe rahe the. Doosri taraf notice boards the jinpar posters aur department announcements lage the. Main notice board ke paas gaya.
Architecture department ka board alag tha. Uspar faculty list, semester schedule, aur kuch ongoing projects ki details thi.
Faculty list mein naam tha: Prof. Agastya Deshmukh. Urban Design & Restoration.
Studio location: B-Wing, 3rd Floor.
B-Wing ek purani building thi jisme lift nahi thi, sirf seedhi. Teen floor chadha. Third floor par corridor tha jiske ek taraf classrooms the, doosri taraf kuch studios.
Ek studio ka darwaza khula tha. Andar deewaron par architectural drawings lagi hui thi, ek bade se table par models rakhe the, aur kone mein ek desk thi jahan ek aadmi baitha hua laptop par kuch dekh raha tha.
Darwaze par knock kiya, Halanki wo already khula tha.
Aadmi ne sar uthaya. Wo chaalees ke aas paas ka tha, chhote baal, steel frame ke chashme. Uske saamne chai ka mug tha aur table par kagaz bikhre hue the.
"Ji?" usne kaha.
"Prof. Agastya Deshmukh?"
"Haan. Aap?"
"Mera naam Dhruv hai. Main... main ek student ko dhoondh raha hoon."
Usne chashma theek kiya. "Kis batch mein?"
Ek second ke liye ruka. "Second year. Master's."
"Current batch?"
"Haan."
"Naam?"
"Anwesha."
Usne kuch second meri taraf dekha. Phir bola, "Last name?"
Kuch nahi bola. Mujhe last name pata nahi tha.
"Kaunsa project?" usne poocha.
"Ek purani mill ka redevelopment. Wo... wo aapko dikhane wali thi. Dadar TT ke paas aapka studio hai na?"
Agastya ruk gaya. Laptop se nazar hatakar meri taraf dekha.. "Tumhe studio ka address kisne diya?"
"Anwesha ne."
Usne kuch der mujhe dekha. Phir apni kursi peeche khiski aur ek shelf ki taraf gaya. Usme se ek folder nikaala. Table par rakha. Khola.
Kuch submission sheets the. Usne ek nikali.
"Ye wala?" usne meri taraf sheet ghuma di.
Sheet par project ka naam likha tha: "Adaptive Reuse: Parel Mill Redevelopment." Neeche student ka naam: Ishita Kapoor. Submission date: 18 October 2023.
"Shayad," maine kaha. "Usne bas purani mill ka redevelopment kaha tha."
"Yahi ek second-year project hai is category mein.," Agastya ne kaha.
Usne folder se ek aur kagaz nikaala. Ek photo thi, color print. Presentation ki photo lag rahi thi. Ek board ke saamne ek ladki khadi thi, haath mein kuch papers the.
Usne wo photo meri taraf badhayi.
Photo uthayi.
Photo mein khadi ladki ko maine pehle kabhi nahi dekha tha.
Uske baal chhote the.
Dobara dekha. Ek baar aur.
Nahi. Bilkul alag insaan.
Par uske haath mein jo notebook thi, wo... wo aisi hi thi jaisi Anwesha ki thi. Brown cover wali, spiral binding. Ek bahut aam notebook. Stationery ki dukaan mein hazaaron milti hain.
Photo wapas table par rakh di.
"Ye Ishita hai," Agastya ne kaha. "Tumhe usse milna hai?"
"Nahi," maine kaha. "Galat student ho gaya shayad."
Agastya ne mujhe thoda ajeeb tareeke se dekha. "Anwesha naam ki koi student mere paas nahi hai is batch mein. Pichli batch mein bhi nahi thi."
Sar hilaya. "Theek hai. Thank you."
Studio se bahar aaya. Corridor mein kuch students the jo kisi drawing ke baare mein baat kar rahe the. Unke paas se guzar kar seedhi ki taraf gaya.
Neeche aaya. B-Wing se bahar nikla. Lawn cross kiya. Gate tak pahoncha.
Wow kya badhiya twist aya hai kahani mein. Dhruv ke liye mystery suljhane ki bajay aur ulajathi ja rahi hai. Badi besabri se intzaar rahega agle update ka.
Maine bistar par palatkar takiya kaan par daba liya par alarm ki awaaz ab bhi aa rahi thi. Riya ka kamra mere kamre se ek patli deewar ke us paar tha, aur wo apna alarm kabhi pehli baar mein band nahi karti.
"Riya," maine awaaz di. "Band kar."
Koi jawab nahi aaya. Alarm band hua. Do minute ki khamoshi. Phir bathroom ke darwaze ke khulne ki aawaz aayi, phir paani chalne ki, phir Riya ke gaane gungunane ki.
Maine aankhein kholi. Ceiling ko dekha. Kal raat plaster ka jo tukda neeche gir raha tha uski jagah ek chhota sa daag tha. Ye flat purana tha aur Riya kehti thi ki hamein landlord ko bolna chahiye, par maine kabhi seriously nahi liya.
Bistar se uthi. Kurta theek kiya jo raat ko pehen kar soyi thi. Bathroom tak gayi, darwaza khula tha. Riya andar brush kar rahi thi.
"Mera toothpaste tu use kar rahi hai?" maine poocha.
Usne brush mooh mein rakh kar bola, "Tera? Wo toh mere wala hai."
"Nahi hai. Maine kal nayi tube kharidi thi."
"Toh?" Riya ne paani se mooh dhote hue kaha. "Main bhi toh same wala use karti hoon. Colgate hi hai na?"
"Par wo meri thi."
Riya ne towel se mooh poncha aur muskuraayi. "Anu, tu subah subah isiliye ladhti hai? Chal ek kaam kar, teri nayi tube main apne paas rakh leti hoon, tu meri purani wali use kar le."
Maine kuch nahi kaha. Bathroom ke andar gayi aur darwaza band kar diya.
Brush karte hue maine aayine mein apna chehra dekha. Aankhon ke neeche halke kaale ghere the. Neend poori nahi ho rahi thi kuch dinon se. Sapne aate the jinhe uthne ke baad yaad nahi rehta tha, sirf ek ehsaas reh jaata tha ki koi baat adhoori chhoot gayi thi.
Bahar aayi toh Riya kitchen mein chai bana rahi thi.
"Chai?" usne poocha.
"Haan."
Main dining table par baith gayi. Table par mera sketchbook khula pada tha jisme kal raat tak main kuch sections draw kar rahi thi. Agastya sir ne revision bheja tha project mein. Unhone kaha tha ki façade ki detailing weak lag rahi hai aur terrace ka spatial planning dobara sochna padega.
Unse argue karna mushkil tha kyunki wo hamesha deliberately aisi baat karte the jo half-complete hoti thi. Kabhi seedhe nahi kehte the ki exactly kya galat hai. Bas kehte the "sochna padega," phir khud khade hokar dekhte rehte the ki tum kya sochte ho.
Riya chai lekar aayi. Mera cup table par rakha aur apna cup lekar saamne baith gayi.
"Tera submission kab hai?" usne poocha.
"Agle hafte."
"Agastya sir ka feedback aaya?"
"Haan. Unhone bola façade weak hai."
Riya hasi. "Wo hamesha yahi bolte hain. Pichhli baar tune jo school ka design banaya tha usme bhi unhone yahi bola tha. Phir final presentation mein sabse zyada unhe hi pasand aayi thi."
"Wo test kar rahe the us baar."
"Wo hamesha test kar rahe hote hain." Riya ne chai pi. "Waise, kal ka plan cancel ho gaya. Neeraj ne message kiya subah ki uski tabiyat theek nahi hai."
"Kaunsa plan?"
Riya ne mujhe dekha, thoda ruk kar. "Movie wala. Tuesday ko jaana tha na hum log?"
Main ek pal ke liye kuch nahi bol payi. Kuch tha jo dimaag mein halka sa hila, jaise koi baat kahin peeche padi thi, par seedhe pakad mein nahi aa rahi thi.
"Haan," maine dheere se kaha. "Shayad. Group mein hua tha na baat?"
"Do baar bol chuki hoon tujhe." Riya ne apna phone nikala aur screen mujhe dikhayi. Group chat tha, Neeraj, Riya aur main. Messages pichhle hafte ke. Maine padha. Haan, plan bana tha, aur maine hi ek jagah "theek hai" likha tha.
Apna khud ka reply dekhna, aur phir bhi na yaad aana ki kab likha tha, ek asahaj si feeling thi.. Jaise apni hi likhi hui cheez ko kisi anjaan kaagaz par padh rahi ho.
"Yaad aa gaya," maine kaha, halanki poora yaad nahi aaya tha. Bas itna yaad aaya ki maine ye message dekha tha kahin, kabhi.
Riya ne phone rakh diya. "Tu itna kaam kar rahi hai ki normal cheezein bhi bhool rahi hai. Chal achha hai kal movie cancel ho gayi, tu façade wala kaam kar lena."
Main chai peeti rahi. Sketchbook ki taraf dekha. Kal raat tak jo lines maine kheenchi thi wo aaj subah dekhne par bilkul sahi nahi lag rahi thi.
"Waise Dhruv ka kya hua?" Riya ne achanak poocha.
Cup mere haath mein ruk gaya.
"Kaun?"
Riya ne mujhe dekha, jaise sawaal hi ajeeb ho. "Dhruv. Wahi Dhruv. Tu hi toh milwayi thi."
"Maine tujhe kisi Dhruv se kab milwaya?"
"Kya matlab kab? Do hafte pehle. Wo jo tera friend hai. Software engineer. Tumne yahan chai pi thi beech mein jab main bahar se aayi thi."
"Tu sure hai?"
"Haan sure hoon, Anu. Maine hi toh poocha tha tumse kahan mile the. Tune kaha kisi event mein."
"Anu." Riya ki aawaz mein ab thodi chidh thi. "Aadha ghanta, pauna ghanta, mujhe exactly nahi pata. Tu itna cross-question kyun kar rahi hai jaise main jhooth bol rahi hoon?"
Main ruk gayi.
"Usne mera naam kaise liya tha?" ek aakhri sawaal, phir maine khud ko roka.
Riya ne mujhe der tak dekha. Uske chehre par ab genuine confusion tha, jaise wo samajhne ki koshish kar rahi ho ki main kya sabit karna chahti hoon.
"Bas," maine kaha. "Chhod. Kuch nahi."
"Anu, tu theek hai?"
"Haan. Bas kaam zyada chal raha hai."
Riya ne apni chai khatam ki aur uthi. "Chal main college jaa rahi hoon. Tujhe bhi jaana hai kya? Library mein baithegi toh better focus hoga."
"Nahi, main yahan se hi kar lungi."
"Theek hai. Shaam ko aati hoon." Riya apna bag uthake nikal gayi.
Darwaza band hone ke baad main table par baithi rahi. Chai ab thandi ho chuki thi.
Sketchbook ko apni taraf khiskaya. Wo section jo maine us raat ke baad banaya tha, wo peeche ke pannon mein tha, kabhi finish nahi kiya. Do deewaron ka rough plan, unke beech ek patla corridor, aur uske end mein ek chhota sa square jise maine "aangan" likh kar label kiya tha.
Corridor ke entry point ke paas, ek kone mein, meri hi handwriting mein likha tha:
"D. - 7:15."
Kuch aur nahi. Bas itna.
Maine us kone ko der tak dekha. Phir pencil uthayi, façade ki adhuri line par wapas le gayi.
Pencil kaagaz par tiki rahi. Line nahi bani.
Main sketchbook ke us purane page ko hi dekhti rah gayi.
Riya shaam ko saat baje ke aas paas laut kar aayi.
Main tab tak sofa par baithi thi, laptop khula tha, par screen par kuch der se scroll nahi hua tha. Sketchbook bhi wahin padi thi, khuli hui, usi page par jahan subah maine chhodi thi.
"Kya hua?" Riya ne bag rakhte hue poocha. "Din bhar yahin baithi rahi kya?"
"Kaam kar rahi thi."
"Façade wala?"
"Haan," maine jhooth bola. Façade ka kaam maine ek baar bhi nahi khola tha poore din.
Riya kitchen mein gayi, paani piya, aur wapas aakar mere saamne wale sofa par baith gayi. Usne jooti nikaali aur paav upar mod liye.
"Subah wali baat," maine kaha.
"Kaunsi?"
"Dhruv wali."
Riya ne ek pal ke liye mujhe dekha. "Anu, sach mein, kya baat hai? Tune poora din isi cheez ke baare mein socha hai kya?"
"Matlab jo tu keh rahi hai ki Dhruv yahan aaya tha, chai pi thi, aadha ghanta baitha tha, ye sab mere paas kahin nahi hai. Na koi image, na koi feeling, kuch nahi. Jaise ek khaali jagah hai."
Riya ne kuch der kuch nahi kaha.
"Sabko kabhi kabhi cheezein bhool jaati hain," usne dheere se kaha, jaise apne aap ko bhi convince kar rahi ho.
"Ye alag hai. Mujhe kal lunch mein kya khaya tha, wo tak yaad hai. Par ye ek poori shaam, ek poora insaan, mere ghar mein, aur kuch nahi."
Riya ne apna phone uthaya.
"Chal dekhte hain," usne kaha. "Main us din ki Instagram story dekhti hoon. Main toh sab kuch post karti hoon, tujhe pata hai."
Ye sach tha. Riya har chhoti baat post karti thi. Chai ka cup, khidki se dikhta sunset, kabhi kabhi bina wajah apni hi selfie.
Usne apni profile ke archive mein jaakar date scroll karni shuru ki. Do hafte pehle wala hafta dhoondhne mein usse thoda waqt laga.
"Yahan," usne kaha, phone meri taraf ghumate hue.
Ek photo thi. Living room ka wahi sofa jispar hum abhi baithe the. Foreground mein chai ke do cup the, ek meri jagah wali table par, doosra thoda door. Background mein main baithi thi, phone mein kuch dekh rahi thi, muskura rahi thi.
Frame mein koi teesra insaan nahi tha.
"Ye toh sirf hum dono hain," maine kaha.
"Nahi, dekh." Riya ne caption ki taraf ishara kiya. "Maine likha hai, 'chai time with this one aur ek mehmaan jo camera se bhaag gaya.' Matlab wo tha, bas frame mein nahi aaya. Balcony mein gaya hoga call lene."
Maine caption padha. Sach mein likha tha.
"Comments dekh," Riya ne kaha, screen scroll karte hue.
Ek comment tha, kisi Priyanka naam ki ladki ka. "Ye tea date kaun hai? "
Riya ne reply kiya tha us par. "Koi date nahi, Anu ka friend hai bas."
Main der tak us screen ko dekhti rahi.
"Ye saboot toh hai," maine kaha, "par ye sabit nahi karta ki wo yahan tha. Ye sabit karta hai ki tum sabko yahi lagta hai ki wo tha."
Riya ne bhonwe sikodi. "Anu, ye same baat hai."
"Nahi hai. Agar main bhi bhool jaati aur sirf tumhari baat par bharosa karti, toh main bhi wahi maan leti jo tum log maan rahe ho. Par mera dimaag kisi aur cheez ki taraf jaata hai."
"Kis taraf?"
Maine kuch der jawab nahi diya. Phir uthi aur sketchbook uthayi. Wo page khola jahan corridor ka rough plan bana tha, aur uske kone mein likha tha, "D. - 7:15."
Riya ne dekha, phir mujhe.
"Ye kya hai?"
"Ek jagah. Jahan main pehle mili thi... shayad Dhruv se."
"Shayad?"
"Mujhe pakka yaad hai ki main kisi Dhruv se kahin mili thi. Par wo jagah ye flat nahi thi."
Riya ne sketchbook apne haath mein li, dhyan se dekha. "Ye corridor jaisa kuch hai? Aur ye square?"
Riya ne sketchbook wapas rakh di. Kuch der chup rahi, phir boli, "Toh do cheezein ho sakti hain. Ya toh tune sach mein kahin aisi ek jagah dekhi thi aur wahan koi Dhruv naam ka aadmi mila, aur baad mein wahi Dhruv yahan bhi aaya. Ya phir..."
"Ya phir?"
"Ya phir tu sapna dekh rahi thi kisi din, aur wo sapna itna real laga ki tune usse sach maan liya."
Maine kuch nahi kaha. Ye option mujhe khud bhi aaya tha, kai baar. Par mujhe wo sapna nahi lagta tha. 7:15 mujhe ab bhi yaad tha.
"Uska number hai tere paas?" Riya ne poocha.
"Nahi."
"Kya matlab nahi? Tune mujhe usse milwaya, aur tere paas uska number nahi hai?"
"Nahi hai. Maine dhoondha, contacts mein. Kuch nahi mila."
Riya ne apna phone uthaya. "Mere paas bhi nahi hai. Maine socha tha shayad tune diya hoga."
"Tune kabhi maanga nahi?"
"Kyun maangti? Wo tera friend tha, mera thodi na."
Hum dono kuch der chup rahe.
"Ek kaam karte hain," Riya ne aakhir mein kaha, uthkar khadi hote hue. "Neeche watchman se poochte hain. Building mein register hota hai na, jo bhi aata hai wo apna naam likhta hai, flat number, time. Agar wo do hafte pehle sach mein yahan aaya tha, toh register mein hoga."
"Abhi?" maine poocha.
"Abhi nahi toh kab. Chal."
Usne apni chappal wapas pehni. Main bhi uthi, sketchbook band ki, aur uske peeche darwaze ki taraf badhi.
Neeche lobby mein visitor register table par pada tha. Usme pichhle kai mahino ki entries thi, kai jagah syahi phel gayi thi, kai jagah handwriting itni kharab thi ki padhna mushkil tha.
Riya ne date batayi. Watchman ne panne palatkar wahi date dhoondh nikaali.
Us din ki entries mein teen naam the. Ek courier, ek plumber jo teesri manzil gaya tha, aur ek delivery boy.
Riya shaam ko saat baje ke aas paas laut kar aayi.
Main tab tak sofa par baithi thi, laptop khula tha, par screen par kuch der se scroll nahi hua tha. Sketchbook bhi wahin padi thi, khuli hui, usi page par jahan subah maine chhodi thi.
"Kya hua?" Riya ne bag rakhte hue poocha. "Din bhar yahin baithi rahi kya?"
"Kaam kar rahi thi."
"Façade wala?"
"Haan," maine jhooth bola. Façade ka kaam maine ek baar bhi nahi khola tha poore din.
Riya kitchen mein gayi, paani piya, aur wapas aakar mere saamne wale sofa par baith gayi. Usne jooti nikaali aur paav upar mod liye.
"Subah wali baat," maine kaha.
"Kaunsi?"
"Dhruv wali."
Riya ne ek pal ke liye mujhe dekha. "Anu, sach mein, kya baat hai? Tune poora din isi cheez ke baare mein socha hai kya?"
"Matlab jo tu keh rahi hai ki Dhruv yahan aaya tha, chai pi thi, aadha ghanta baitha tha, ye sab mere paas kahin nahi hai. Na koi image, na koi feeling, kuch nahi. Jaise ek khaali jagah hai."
Riya ne kuch der kuch nahi kaha.
"Sabko kabhi kabhi cheezein bhool jaati hain," usne dheere se kaha, jaise apne aap ko bhi convince kar rahi ho.
"Ye alag hai. Mujhe kal lunch mein kya khaya tha, wo tak yaad hai. Par ye ek poori shaam, ek poora insaan, mere ghar mein, aur kuch nahi."
Riya ne apna phone uthaya.
"Chal dekhte hain," usne kaha. "Main us din ki Instagram story dekhti hoon. Main toh sab kuch post karti hoon, tujhe pata hai."
Ye sach tha. Riya har chhoti baat post karti thi. Chai ka cup, khidki se dikhta sunset, kabhi kabhi bina wajah apni hi selfie.
Usne apni profile ke archive mein jaakar date scroll karni shuru ki. Do hafte pehle wala hafta dhoondhne mein usse thoda waqt laga.
"Yahan," usne kaha, phone meri taraf ghumate hue.
Ek photo thi. Living room ka wahi sofa jispar hum abhi baithe the. Foreground mein chai ke do cup the, ek meri jagah wali table par, doosra thoda door. Background mein main baithi thi, phone mein kuch dekh rahi thi, muskura rahi thi.
Frame mein koi teesra insaan nahi tha.
"Ye toh sirf hum dono hain," maine kaha.
"Nahi, dekh." Riya ne caption ki taraf ishara kiya. "Maine likha hai, 'chai time with this one aur ek mehmaan jo camera se bhaag gaya.' Matlab wo tha, bas frame mein nahi aaya. Balcony mein gaya hoga call lene."
Maine caption padha. Sach mein likha tha.
"Comments dekh," Riya ne kaha, screen scroll karte hue.
Ek comment tha, kisi Priyanka naam ki ladki ka. "Ye tea date kaun hai? "
Riya ne reply kiya tha us par. "Koi date nahi, Anu ka friend hai bas."
Main der tak us screen ko dekhti rahi.
"Ye saboot toh hai," maine kaha, "par ye sabit nahi karta ki wo yahan tha. Ye sabit karta hai ki tum sabko yahi lagta hai ki wo tha."
Riya ne bhonwe sikodi. "Anu, ye same baat hai."
"Nahi hai. Agar main bhi bhool jaati aur sirf tumhari baat par bharosa karti, toh main bhi wahi maan leti jo tum log maan rahe ho. Par mera dimaag kisi aur cheez ki taraf jaata hai."
"Kis taraf?"
Maine kuch der jawab nahi diya. Phir uthi aur sketchbook uthayi. Wo page khola jahan corridor ka rough plan bana tha, aur uske kone mein likha tha, "D. - 7:15."
Riya ne dekha, phir mujhe.
"Ye kya hai?"
"Ek jagah. Jahan main pehle mili thi... shayad Dhruv se."
"Shayad?"
"Mujhe pakka yaad hai ki main kisi Dhruv se kahin mili thi. Par wo jagah ye flat nahi thi."
Riya ne sketchbook apne haath mein li, dhyan se dekha. "Ye corridor jaisa kuch hai? Aur ye square?"
Riya ne sketchbook wapas rakh di. Kuch der chup rahi, phir boli, "Toh do cheezein ho sakti hain. Ya toh tune sach mein kahin aisi ek jagah dekhi thi aur wahan koi Dhruv naam ka aadmi mila, aur baad mein wahi Dhruv yahan bhi aaya. Ya phir..."
"Ya phir?"
"Ya phir tu sapna dekh rahi thi kisi din, aur wo sapna itna real laga ki tune usse sach maan liya."
Maine kuch nahi kaha. Ye option mujhe khud bhi aaya tha, kai baar. Par mujhe wo sapna nahi lagta tha. 7:15 mujhe ab bhi yaad tha.
"Uska number hai tere paas?" Riya ne poocha.
"Nahi."
"Kya matlab nahi? Tune mujhe usse milwaya, aur tere paas uska number nahi hai?"
"Nahi hai. Maine dhoondha, contacts mein. Kuch nahi mila."
Riya ne apna phone uthaya. "Mere paas bhi nahi hai. Maine socha tha shayad tune diya hoga."
"Tune kabhi maanga nahi?"
"Kyun maangti? Wo tera friend tha, mera thodi na."
Hum dono kuch der chup rahe.
"Ek kaam karte hain," Riya ne aakhir mein kaha, uthkar khadi hote hue. "Neeche watchman se poochte hain. Building mein register hota hai na, jo bhi aata hai wo apna naam likhta hai, flat number, time. Agar wo do hafte pehle sach mein yahan aaya tha, toh register mein hoga."
"Abhi?" maine poocha.
"Abhi nahi toh kab. Chal."
Usne apni chappal wapas pehni. Main bhi uthi, sketchbook band ki, aur uske peeche darwaze ki taraf badhi.
Neeche lobby mein visitor register table par pada tha. Usme pichhle kai mahino ki entries thi, kai jagah syahi phel gayi thi, kai jagah handwriting itni kharab thi ki padhna mushkil tha.
Riya ne date batayi. Watchman ne panne palatkar wahi date dhoondh nikaali.
Us din ki entries mein teen naam the. Ek courier, ek plumber jo teesri manzil gaya tha, aur ek delivery boy.
Bahut badhiya update. Ab kahani aur interesting ho gayi hai. Sirf Dhruv hi nahin, Anu bhi uljhi huyi hai apni zindgi mein. Dekhte hain ke dono fir se milenge kya.
Studio mein Agastya sir hamesha khud pehle pahonchte the.
Main sava das baje pahonchi, jabki appointment gyarah baje ki thi. Corridor khaali tha, kuch students doosre studios mein baithe drawings par jhuke the. Unka darwaza aadha khula tha.
Andar gayi toh wo apni usual jagah par baithe the, ek purani revolving chair par, saamne table par kayi drawings bikhri hui. Chai ka mug unke haath mein tha, doosra mug table ke kone par khaali pada tha.
"Baitho," unhone bina sar uthaye kaha.
Main saamne wali kursi par baithi. Bag se apna roll nikaala, table par phaila diya. Do sheets thi, façade elevation aur terrace plan, dono revised.
Agastya ne chai ka mug neeche rakha aur pehli sheet apni taraf khiskayi.
Kuch der tak unhone kuch nahi kaha. Bas dekha. Unki nazar upar se neeche gayi, phir left se right, phir wapas upar.
"Ye kya kiya tumne yahan?" unhone façade ke ek hisse par ungli rakhi.
"Grid ko regularize kiya. Aapne kaha tha rhythm honi chahiye."
"Haan, maine kaha tha." Unhone pen uthayi. "Par ab ye itna rigid ho gaya hai ki building saans nahi le rahi."
"Aapne khud bola tha inconsistency distracting lag rahi thi."
"Bola tha." Unhone ek line kheenchi, façade ke upar wale hisse par, ek jagah se doosri jagah tak, seedhi. "Ab regularity boring lag rahi hai."
Main kuch der chup rahi. Phir boli, "Sir, pichhli baar aapne bola grid loose hai. Maine tight kiya. Ab aap bol rahe hain tight zyada hai."
"Haan."
"Toh main kya karoon?"
Unhone jawab nahi diya. Doosri sheet apni taraf khinchi.
Terrace plan par unhone dhyan se dekha. Phir pen se ek arrow banaya, ek corner se doosre corner tak, jahan maine seating area rakhi thi.
"Ye area," unhone kaha, "abhi bhi resolve nahi hua."
"Maine wahan seating add ki hai. Pichhli baar aapne kaha tha wo jagah khaali reh gayi hai, unresolved lag rahi hai."
"Haan, kaha tha."
"Ab maine use resolve kar diya."
"Nahi kiya." Unhone doosra arrow banaya, pehle wale ke bilkul opposite direction mein, seating area ke doosre kone se. "Ab ye zyada resolve ho gaya hai. Har cheez ne apni jagah le li hai. Yahan kuch bhi discover karne ke liye nahi bacha."
Main table ke us paar se donon arrows ko dekhti rahi. Ek left se right, doosra right se left. Usi jagah, opposite pointing.
"Dono ek saath kaise galat ho sakte hain?" maine poocha, aur mera tone khud mujhe thoda tez laga.
Agastya ne pen table par rakh di. Chashma thoda neeche kar ke meri taraf dekha.
"Kisne kaha dono galat hain?"
"Sir, ek design mein grid loose bhi nahi ho sakti aur tight bhi. Ek area resolve bhi nahi ho sakta aur over-resolve bhi. Real life mein do contradictory cheezein ek saath sach nahi ho sakti."
Unhone kuch der mujhe dekha. Phir wapas drawing ki taraf mudkar apna pen ghumaya.
"Tumhara kaam ye nahi hai ki ek jeete aur doosra haare."
"Toh phir kya hai?"
"Tension ko jagah dena. Har load ka answer ek jaisa nahi hota."
"Aur agar do cheezein sach mein ek saath fit na ho paayein? Agar structure hi allow na kare?"
"Toh wo faisla design se pehle hota hai," Agastya ne kaha, "baad mein nahi."
Unhone façade sheet uthayi, dono opposite arrows ko ek saath dekha jo unhone khud banaye the.
"Do teer, ek jagah." Unhone sheet wapas meri taraf badha di. "Har tension ko turant solve karna zaroori nahi hota."
"Wednesday tak seating area redo karo. Baaki chhodo abhi."
"