Evening Stroll
“Chalo, thodi der bahar chalte hain?” Jai ne kaha, remote ko dheere se table par rakhte hue. Ramya ne uski taraf dekha, aankhon mein ek halka sa sawaal. “Abhi, is waqt?”
“Bas, thodi sair. Ice cream bhi le aayenge. Pet bhi hilega, aur mann bhi thoda halka hoga,” Jai ne muskurate hue kaha, uski awaaz mein vahi purani si dosti thi.
Ramya ne fridge ka darwaza band kiya, aur ek pal soch kar boli, “Theek hai, par meri wali orange stick hi honi chahiye.”
Ice cream wale ke thele se Jai ne ek choco-bar aur Ramya ke liye orange stick li. Dono colony ke park ki taraf chal diye. Raat ka waqt tha, thodi si thandak aur roshni ke saath. Shor kam tha, bas thodi si chhoti-moti awaazein. Dono saath-saath chal rahe the, kuch bole bina, jaise baaton ki zarurat hi na ho.
“Bathroom ka light phir chhod diya tha tumne,” Ramya ne kaha, awaaz mein na koi gussa, na koi shikayat, bas ek aadat si thi.
Jai ne apne ice cream ka wrapper thoda sa mod kar jeb mein rakh liya. “Aur tumne kal geyser on chhod diya tha, yaad hai?”
Ramya ne halka sa mukh moda, “Main toh saara din kitchen mein thi. Tum toh bas AC ke neeche baith kar kaam karte ho.” Uski awaaz mein thakawat thi, par usme bhi ek pyaar chhupa tha.
“Main bhi toh kaam hi kar raha tha,” Jai ne dheere se kaha, jaise baat ko aur na badhana chahta ho.
Do chakkar ho chuke the park ke. Ice cream khatam, haathon mein bas lakdi ki chhoti si dandi bachi thi. “Tumhe toh pehle orange bilkul pasand nahi thi,” Jai ne kaha, uski awaaz mein thodi si chhed.
Ramya ne uski taraf dekha, aur ek halki si muskaan ke saath boli, “Ab thoda halka sa lagta hai, acha lagta hai.” Dono bench par nahi baithe, seedha teesra chakkar lagaane lage.
“Main kuch bolti hoon, toh lagta hai jaise lad rahi hoon,” Ramya ne dheere se kaha, jaise dil ki baat chhupate-chhupate nikal gayi.
Jai ne sar jhukaya, aur ek chhoti si saans ke saath bola, “Aur main chup rahu, toh lagta hai main tumhe sun nahi raha.”
Thodi door ek uncle-aunty chal rahe the, dheemi chal mein. Unke haathon mein haath nahi the, par unke saath mein ek laay thi, ek sukoon.
“Kabhi-kabhi lagta hai hum dono roommates jaise ho gaye hain,” Ramya ne kaha, awaaz mein ek chhoti si udaasi.
“Haan,” Jai ne kaha, “Par ache roommates.” Uski awaaz mein ek chhota sa mazak tha, par uske neeche ek sachchai bhi.
Gate ke paas wale thele se dono ne ek Frooti li, ek hi straw se dono ke liye. Lift ke saamne khade the, jab Ramya ne poocha, “Kal bhi chalenge?”
“Haan,” Jai ne muskurate hue kaha, “Kal ki ladai ke baad.”
Ramya thodi si hansi, uski aankhon mein thodi si chamak aayi. “Chalo, aaj ke liye itna hi kaafi hai.”
Ghar ke andar ja kar dono apne-apne joote utaar rahe the, chup-chaap. Kabhi-kabhi sair sirf pet ke liye nahi hoti. Thoda sa rishta bhi halka kar deti hai, thodi si yaadein taaza kar deti hai.