Ego and Heart

Scene 1: Pehli Salary Ka Jashn

Garmiyon ki shaam thi. Suraj dhal chuka tha, aur aasman orange aur purple rangon se saaj raha tha. Aanya apne dupatte ka kona pakde, sheher ke chhoti si galiyon se guzarti hui café ke darwaze par ruki. Anaya ke liye aaj ka din khaas tha. Aaj usko apni pehli salary mili thi—aik chhoti si company mein junior graphic designer ki naukri karte hue uska yeh pehla achievement tha.

Anaya ka dil khushi se bhar gaya tha. Yeh sirf ek salary nahi thi, yeh uski mehnat ka saboot tha, uski self-respect ka symbol. Aur isi khushi ko celebrate karne ke liye usne decide kiya tha ki aaj woh apne favorite café jaayegi aur cappuccino piye gi—woh cappuccino jo uske liye ek luxury thi.

Anaya ek simple ladki thi. Uska chehra innocent tha, lekin uski aankhon mein duniya dekhne ka jazba tha. Uske baal lambe aur kali-ghani laton mein badhe hue the, jo uske shoulders ke saath halki si lehar lete the. Uske masoom chehre par ek subtle sa confidence tha, jo uski personality ko aur bhi charming banata tha. Uska brown dupatta, jo hamesha uske plain kapdon ke saath hota tha, uski simplicity ko aur bhi nikharta tha.

Anaya ka bachpan itna aasaan nahi tha. Jab woh sirf 10 saal ki thi, tab uske parents ek accident mein guzargaye the. Tab se woh apne chacha aur chachi ke ghar pal rahi thi. Lekin woh palna bhi ek tarah ki ladaai thi. Chacha-chachi ke liye Anaya sirf ek bojh thi, ek unwanted zimmedari. Uska bachpan chhup-chhup ke apne aansu pochhne aur har baat par daat sunne mein guzar gaya.

Lekin Anaya ek ladne wali thi. Usne decide kiya tha ki woh kabhi apni self-respect compromise nahi karegi, chahe uska jeevan kitna bhi mushkil ho. Isiliye, usne apni padhai khud ki mehnat se poori ki aur aaj ek chhoti si job hasil kar li thi.

Café ek cozy aur warm jagah thi, jahan log aksar apne sukoon ke lamhe guzaarte the. Anaya ne apne purane bag ka strap apne kandhe par theek kiya aur café ke darwaze ko dhaka diya aur andar aayi, Andar ke sukoon bhare maahol ne uska swagat kiya, light jazz music backgroud mein chal raha tha, aur chand log apne laptops aur books mein mashgool the.

Anaya ne apni favorite table pick ki, jo ek window ke paas thi. Usne ek gentle smile ke saath counter par apna order diya, “Ek cappuccino, please.” Uska tone polite tha, lekin andar se woh excitement ko sambhal rahi thi.

Dramatic Entry of Aarav Kapoor:
Jab woh apni cappuccino ka wait kar rahi thi, Usi waqt, café ke darwaze ke bells baji. Ek tez aur thandi hawa ka jhonka andar aaya, aur uske saath ek shaks. Uski entry ek hurricane ki tarah thi—poora café uski presence ko feel kar sakta tha. Uski height, perfectly tailored suit, dark black baal neat tarah se comb kiye hue, aur uski tez nazar aur intense expressions uski akad ko dikhati thi. Wo Aarav Kapoor tha —sheher ke sabse successful business tycoon ka beta. Kapoor Enterprises ka malik. Har koi uske paison aur success ke baare mein baat karta tha, lekin uske rude aur arrogant nature ke baare mein bhi sabko pata tha. Woh apni gadi se utar kar café ke andar aaya, jaise yeh uska koi meeting room ho. Uski aankhein serious aur kadam confident the. Aarav ke haathon mein ek luxury phone tha, aur uski har ada yeh bata rahi thi ki woh duniya ka king hai.

Abhi Aanya apni cappuccino lekar nikal hi rahi thi jab Aarav ne bina dekhe apne phone par kuch type karte hue counter ki taraf chalte howe usse dhakka diya.

“Excuse me,” Aarav ne bina ek nazar us par daale kaha, jaise woh kisi aur duniya mein ho.

Aanya ke haath se cappuccino ka halka sa drop gir gaya. Usne thoda ghabra kar dekha, phir apne chehre par ek irritated expression le kar kaha, “Excuse you.”

Aarav ruk gaya, uski awaz sun kar. Dheere se mud kar dekha aur uski teekhi nazrein Aanya ke chehre par tik gayi. Woh ladki usual logon se alag lag rahi thi.
“Yeh kaun hai?” Aarav ke mann mein pehla sawaal aya. Woh aadmi tha jo chhoti si smile se logon ka din bana deta tha, aur ek ghusse bhari nazar se logon ka confidence tod deta tha. Uske aas paas ki ladkiyan uski ek jhalak dekhne ko tarasti thi, uska naam lene mein sharma jati thi. Aur yeh ladki? Yeh toh ek dam alag thi. Na woh dari, na woh impressed hui, aur na hi usne ek second socha ki woh kis se baat kar rahi hai.

“Kya kaha tumne?” Aarav ki awaz thandi thi, lekin uske shabdon mein ek dhamki si thi.

Aanya ne apni cappuccino ko check karte hue kaha, “Kaha ki aap thoda dheere bhi chal sakte the. Sabki coffee girana zaroori tha kya?”

Aarav ke chehre par ek halka sa sarcastic smile aaya. “Main sambhal kar chaloon? Shayad tumhe sambhal kar chalna seekhna chahiye.”

Aanya ne uski baat par bina ghabraaye jawab diya, “Aur shayad aapko manners seekhne chahiye. Bade log manners ke bina ache nahi lagte.”

Aarav ka chehra serious ho gaya, lekin uske honthon par ek chhoti si muskaan phir bhi ruki. “Tum jaanti ho main kaun hoon?”

Aanya ne bina soch-samajh ke kaha, “Haan, ek arrogant aadmi jo samajhta hai duniya uske hisaab se chalegi.”

Aarav ka jawab dene ka mann tha, lekin Aanya apni coffee le kar chal chuki thi, jaise kuch hua hi na ho.

Aarav ab bhi wahi khada tha, us ladki ki himmat aur bebaki ko samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha.

Aanya corner table par baith kar apni cappuccino ka maza le rahi thi. Uski nazar khidki ke bahar lagataar girti shaam par thi. Uska dimaag abhi bhi Aarav ke rude behavior par atka hua tha, lekin usne apne aap ko samjhaya ki uski energy aise logon ke liye waste karna bekaar hai. Usne apni diary nikali aur usmein kuch likhna shuru kiya. Woh diary uski sabse achi dost thi, jis mein woh apne jazbaat likha karti thi. Aaj usne ek line likhi:

“Zindagi chahe jitni mushkil ho, agar himmat ho toh apni pehli jeet ka taste sabse meetha hota hai.”

Dusri taraf, Aarav counter par khada tha, apne order ka wait karte hue. Lekin uski aankhein baar-baar Aanya ki taraf ja rahi thi, jo apni coffee mein itni lost thi jaise koi farq hi nahi pada ho. Aarav ke andar ek ajeeb si halchal thi—woh pehli baar kisi ladki ke jawab ko ignore nahi kar pa raha tha.

Dramatic Twist:
Jab Aarav ka order aaya, toh usne counter se apni coffee li aur wapas jaane ke bajaye ek moment ke liye ruk gaya. Anaya ab bhi apni diary mein kuch likhne mein busy thi, jaise uske aas paas kya ho raha hai, usse koi farq hi nahi padta.

Aarav’s Thoughts:
“Yeh ladki kaun hai? Mujhe completely ignore kar rahi hai? Aisa toh kabhi nahi hua,” Aarav ne dil hi dil mein socha. Uska ego usse keh raha tha ki aage badh jaaye, lekin uska dil… woh pehli baar kisi ladki ki taraf itna intrigued tha.

Usne table ke paas ek glance maara, aur dekha ki Anaya ka focus uski diary par tha. “Itna confidence kahaan se aata hai in logon mein?” Aarav ke dimag mein ek ajeeb si curiosity jag rahi thi.

Scene 3: Aarav Tries Again

Aarav apne usual confidence ke saath wapas Anaya ki table ki taraf aaya. Coffee ka cup haath mein tha, aur uski walk mein wahi arrogance tha jo uski personality ka hissa tha.

Aarav: (soft sarcasm ke saath) “Tumhari diary mein itna interesting kya hai jo real world se zyada important hai?”
Anaya: (bina nazar uthaye) “Aapko yeh duniya kaafi boring lag rahi hai jo aap yahan khade ho kar mujhse baat kar rahe ho?”
Aarav: (slightly amused) “Mujhe sirf yeh samajhna tha ki jo ladki mujhe jawab de sakti hai, uska mindset kya hai.”
Anaya: (finally nazar utha kar) “Aap yeh samajhne ki koshish mein time waste na karein. Mujhe impress karne ke tricks mujh par kaam nahi karti.”

Aarav phir chonk gaya. Woh jis level ki flirt aur attention ka aadi tha, Anaya usse bilkul alag thi. Is baar, usne kuch kehne ke bajaye sirf ek lambi sip li apni coffee ka. Café ke andar ke log dheere-dheere un dono ki taraf dekhne lage. Aarav ke liye yeh unusual tha—woh kabhi public place mein itna involved nahi hota tha, lekin Aanya ka attitude uske liye ek unsolved mystery ban gaya tha. Aarav ne kabhi expect nahi kiya tha ki ek din woh kisiko justify karne ke mood mein hoga. Anaya ki calmness aur confidence ne uske dil mein ek ajeeb si kaashish chhodi thi.

Anaya ke liye, Aarav ek aur annoying customer se zyada kuch nahi tha. Usne apni diary band ki aur coffee ka last sip le kar table se uthne ka plan banaya aur aarav ko ignore karti hoyi cafe se nikal gayi.

Scene 4: Aarav’s Hurt Ego and Growing Obsession

Anaya ke café se nikalne ke baad Aarav wahi khada raha, jaise kisi ne use challenge kar diya ho. Uska gussa aur ego dono abhi bhi uske chehre par saaf dikh rahe the. Coffee ka cup ab tak uske haath mein tha, lekin jab usne ek sip liya toh pata chala ki coffee toh kab ki thandi ho chuki thi.

Uska mann kar raha tha ki table ko zor se thok de ya kuch tod de, lekin woh bas ek jagah khada raha, usi band darwaze ki taraf dekhta hua jahan Anaya ab gayab ho chuki thi. “Yeh kis tarah ki ladki thi jo mujhe ignore kar gayi? Aarav ke andar ghussa ubal raha tha, lekin kahin na kahin ek ajeeb si curiosity bhi thi.

Tabhi uske dimag mein ek thought aaya, “Mujhe ek important meeting ke liye jaana tha.” Lekin uska dil… woh baar-baar Anaya ke chehre aur uski baaton ki taraf ja raha tha. Aarav Kapoor, jo hamesha apni life ko apne rules ke according control karta tha, ab apne emotions ko samajhne ki koshish kar raha tha.

Aarav Tries to Find Anaya

Aarav ne apne gusse ko control karne ki koshish ki aur seedha counter ki taraf gaya. Salesperson ko dekhte hi usne directly poocha,
Aarav: “Jo ladki yahan baithi thi diary ke saath… uska naam kya tha?”
Salesperson ne confusion ke saath sir hila diya.
Salesperson: “Sir, mujhe nahi pata. Maine use pehli baar yahaan dekha tha.”

Aarav ke andar ka gussa aur barh gaya. “Yeh kaise ho sakta hai? Ek ordinary si ladki ne meri ego ko hurt kiya, aur main use find bhi nahi kar paa raha!” Woh apne dark black baalon mein haath pherta hai, jaise apne emotions ko settle karne ki koshish kar raha ho. Phir bina kuch bole woh café se nikal gaya, lekin uska mann abhi bhi restless tha.

Scene 5: Aarav Returns to the Café Daily

Agle kuch din, Aarav ussi café mein roz aaya. Har din ek nayi umeed ke saath ki shayad Anaya wapas aaye, lekin woh nahi aayi. Har bar woh counter ke logon se poochta, lekin unka jawab hamesha ek hi hota: “Humein nahi pata.”

Woh har sip ke saath apne aap se ek sawal karta: “Main yeh sab kyun kar raha hoon? Ek mamooli si ladki ke liye kyun itna time barbaad kar raha hoon?” Lekin uske andar kuch tha jo use wahan wapas le aata.

Aarav: (apne aap se) “Bas ho gaya. Ab aur nahi. Bahar mein jaye wo. Main Aarav Kapoor hoon, mujhe kisi ladki ke liye aise ghoomne ki zarurat nahi hai.”

Scene 6: The Unexpected Encounter

Ek shaam, jab Aarav café ke bahar khada tha, wo apne aap se bolta hai “Bas ho gaya. Ab aur nahi. Bahar mein jaye wo. Main Aarav Kapoor hoon, mujhe kisi ladki ke liye aise ghoomne ki zarurat nahi hai.” Abhi wo isi emotions mein hota hai k achanak uski nazar samne wali grocery shop par padhi. Wahan ek ladki andar ja rahi thi… aur woh Anaya thi. Aarav ke dil mein ek ajeeb si halchal mach gayi.

“Yeh wahi hai!” Uske andar ego aur ek strange sense of relief tha,

Aarav: (self-talk) “Ab main ise ignore karne nahi dunga. Is ladki ko toh sabak sikhana hi padega.”

Aarav ne kuch sochte hue grocery shop ke andar kadam rakha. Uska confidence wapas aa gaya tha, lekin uske chehre par ek determination thi jo pehle kabhi nahi dekhi gayi thi.