“Tujhe dikhta nahin hai ki woh apna kaam nikalwane ke liye har ladki ke saath flirt kar sakte hain. Malvika ho ya koi socialite jise woh interview karna chahte hain. Yahan tak ki mere aur Trisha ke saath bhi. Jab tak saamne waala samajhta hai ki kya chal raha hai, tab tak it is harmless fun. Lekin… Tujhe pata hai ki unka divorce kyon hua tha?”
“Mujhe nahin pata, aur mujhe pata karna bhi nahin hai. Chup kar ab tu.”
“Nahin. Main teri dost hoon, aur tujhe meri baat sunni padega. Unka divorce isliye hua tha ki unke extramarital affairs the. Poori duniya ko pata hai ki apni ek junior ke saath… Tarini naam hai uska. Ab bhi unke saath hai. Jo sting operation kiya tha unhone Nidhi Kapoor ki story ke liye, usmein wahi thi video mein. Kya pata? Shayad aaj bhi uska use hi kar rahe hon? Kyonki shaadi to ki nahin usse! Lekin shayad ek bachcha bhi hai unka.”
“Mujhe nahin pata ki main ye sab at all kyon sun rahi hoon. Richa. Main apni life se hi bahut pareshaan hoon. Mujhe doosron ki pareshaani apne sar par nahin leni hai.”
“Mera irada tujhe pareshaan karne ka nahin tha, Ananya. But I just hope for your sake ki tu sahi decision le. Main chalti hoon.”
Ananya still had an hour to go before she had to leave for her next assignment. So she stayed put. Ronnie joined her there after a while. He didn’t bring up the topic. She wondered if she should stay silent too. But that would have meant keeping a cruel hope alive for him.
“Ronnie!”
He smiled nervously, reading in her voice what she meant to discuss.
“Ronnie. Hum best friends hain, aur ye rishta mere liye bahut maayne rakhta hai. Kya hum ise aise hi nahin rakh sakte. Main ise complicate nahin karna chahti.”
The crestfallen look on his face brought tears to her eyes.
“Ronnie please!”
“Wajah jaan sakta hoon, Ananya? Is rejection ki?”
“Rejection? Ronnie – ye rejection to nahin hai. Hamari dosti to hamesha ke liye affirmed hai na…”
“Kabir ki wajah se?”
“Ronnie, please! Koi aur ho na ho meri zindagi mein, jo teri jagah hai woh koi aur nahin le sakta…”
“Thanks, Ananya! Mujhe zyada din suspense mein na rakhne ke liye.”
“Ronnie, please, mujhse baat kar–”
But he left without glancing back at her.
Dejected and tired, she buried her face on the table.
“Ananya!” She looked up on hearing Kabir’s voice, “Kya baat hai? Are you okay?”
“Ji.”
“Do baj chuke hain—”
“Yes Sir. I’m sorry, Sir. Main nikal hi rahi hoon.”
“Are you unwell?”
“No Sir.”
Kabir looked on, concerned, as she left.
On the way to her desk, she saw Richa with Ronnie. The hostility in her eyes made her feel all alone. For the first time in her life!
—
“Office ka mahaul kaafi rangeen bana hua hai aaj kal,” Malvika walked into his cabin.
“Kya matlab?” he had just noticed Ananya trying to talk to Ronnie, while he seemed angry and rebuffed her.
“Vinod aur Shirin ka kuchh chakkar chal raha hai. Ananya aur Ronnie mein lovers’ tiff chal rahi hai.”
Kabir controlled his expressions with difficulty.
“Tum mujhe office ki gossip sunane ke liye yahan aayi ho?”
“Sab tumhari tarah professional nahin hote na, Kabir. Khair. Khalid wants to meet both of us. To discuss the recruitment progress.”
“Chalo.”
—
People from all departments had gathered to discuss the coverage of a controversial breaking news related to the rape of a minor.
“Given the sensitivity of the issue,” Kabir addressed them, “Main ye chahta tha ki hum sab log kuchh basic guidelines par clear ho, is news par kaise report karna hai uspar–”
His phone vibrated and when he looked at it his face softened. “I am sorry, but I must take this,” he said apologetically and picked up the phone. He moved away from the group, but did not leave the room.
“Anurag beta. Kya baat hai?” he was audible as he talked.
Despite herself, Anaya looked at Richa and found her staring back with an accusing look in her eyes.
“Okay, okay. Let me find out. Agar abhi kahin se deliver ho sakta hai to mai karwa doonga. Otherwise shaam mein. Abhi ke liye pizza bhijwa doonga. Fine? Please apna homework kar lena. Bye. Be a good boy.”
“Guys!” Kabir turned towards the people assembled for the meeting, “I know this is ridiculous, but aap mein se koi jaanta hai koi aisa restaurant jo baingan ka bharta delivery karta ho. South Delhi mein?”
A few people chuckled, while others stared at Kabir, expecting him to explain that he was joking.
“Ananya!” Trisha spoke, “Tu layi thi na kal baingan ka bharta.”
Anaya flustered and replied angrily, “Meri Ma ne banaya tha. Mujhe nahin pata ki koi restaurant deliver karta hai ya nahin.”
“Okay. Sorry everyone. Let’s get back to work,” Kabir ended the discussion.
—
“Ronnie. Please mujhse baat kar, ek baar…” Kabir stopped short at the canteen door on hearing her voice.
“Ananya. Mujhe akela chhod de, please. Feelings ka koi switch nahin hota ki jab man ho on kar diya, jab man ho off kar diya.”
“Ronnie main jaanti hoon ki maine tera dil dukhaya hai, lekin kya aaj tak jo bhi tha hamare beech–”
“Ananya. Don’t!”
Kabir hastily stepped behind the door on hearing Ronnie approach. He left and a distraught Ananya ran to the washroom. Perhaps to let her anguish take form of tears in privacy.
‘Lover’s tiff,’ he recalled. If only he could take Ronnie’s place! He would never leave her to cry.
—
“Tum?” He was surprised to find her at his doorsteps.
“Ye. Baingan ka bharta hai. Agar chahiye ho to–”
“Andar aao, please.”
“Kaun hai?” Anurag asked from inside.
“Tumhare liye to fairy hi hain,” Kabir told him, smiling, “Ananya. Baingan ka bharta layi hain.”
“Aap hain Ananya Didi? Maine aapke baare mein bahut suna hai.”
Ananya smiled, uncomfortably.
“Achchhi flattery kar lete ho, Anurag. Ananya, tumhein itni taqleef uthane ki zaroorat nahin thi–”
“Maine bas Ma se poochha to unhone jhat se bana diya. Unhein aadat hai, dikkat nahin hoti.”
“Aapki Mummy ko aur bhi cheezein banani aati hain?” Anurag asked, excited.
“Haan,” Ananya gave him a more relaxed smile this time, “Tumhein aur kya-kya pasand hai?”
“Ananya, rahne do. Iski farmaishein shuru ho gayi to–”
Ananya’s smile disappeared and she looked embarrassed, as if she had been adminished for overstepping a limit.
“Main chalti hoon.”
“Nahin—”
“Aap meri banayi coffee nahi piyengi?” Anurag interrupted the awkward conversation.
“Tum banaoge coffee?” she could not help a warm smile at his innocent question.
“Haan.”
“Iska matlab hai,” Kabir said sheepishly, “Ki iske kahne par main banaunga. Tum please baitho.”
“Nahin, kaafi raat ho chuki hai–”
“Please, Ananya Didi.”
“Ruk jao, thodi der, Ananya.”
She sat down and he brought two cups of coffee, which they sipped in silence.
“Maine sapne mein bhi nahin socha tha ki tum meri is request to itni seriously logi,” Kabir spoke after a long pause, “Warna main–”
“Lagta hai mere yahan aane se aap bahut uncomfortable ho gaye hai. I am sorry.” She ran out and Kabir could only look on, helplessly.
—
To be continued