Ego and Heart

Episode 3: Let the Game Begin

Aarav apne lavish bedroom mein ek relaxing posture mein baitha tha. Room kisi five-star suite se kam nahi tha, Diwaron par gehra charcoal grey rang tha, jo sunahri borders ke saath sajta tha, jo purani aur timeless elegance ka izhar karte the. King-size bed kamre ka sabse bada hissa tha, jo soft aur high-thread-count linens se dhaka hua tha, jo halki si sheen ke saath velvet mein mehsoos hota tha—na sirf comfort ka izhar karta, balke refined bhi lagta tha. Bed ke dono taraf sleek, marble nightstands the, har ek par ek crystal lamp tha jo soft aur ambient roshni chhodti thi.

Bed ke saamne floor-to-ceiling glass windows thi, jo Mumbai ke skyline ka khoobsurat view dikhati thi—unke upar ke skyscrapers shab mein chamakte hue, aur puri kamre ko ek serene aur sophisticated vibe mil rahi thi. Kamra bohot spacious tha, minimalist modern décor ke saath—kuch strategically placed sculptures aur vases jo space ko overcrowd nahi kar rahe the, lekin character de rahe the.

Ek plush, deep-set armchair window ke paas rakha tha, jo relax hone ka perfect spot tha aur jo city ki roshni se ghira hua tha. Kamre ke doosre kone mein ek polished black wood bar area tha, jahan par finest spirits ki bottles rakh thi thi, jo chandeliers ki soft golden light mein chamak rahe the.

Bed ke upar ek lambi abstract painting thi, jisme midnight blue aur silver ke gehre shades the, jo room ko contemporary aur classic dono feel de rahe the. Polished wooden floors ke upar ek luxury silk rug tha, jisme rich patterns the jo kamre ko thodi warmth de rahe the.

Kamre ka har ek hissa Aarav ki personality ko reflect karta tha—bada refined, effortlessly chic, aur subtly powerful. Har detail is baat ka saboot thi ke usne apni zindagi mein jo kuch bhi haasil kiya, wo bohot hi sophisticated aur stylish tareeqe se kiya tha.

Tabhi uska phone vibrate hota hai. Screen par ek naam flash hota hai—“Raghav – Special Guard”

Aarav foran phone uthata hai.

Aarav (calm yet sharp tone mein): “Bol Raghav, kya pata chala?”

Raghav (professional tone mein): “Sir, tasveer wali ladki ka naam Anaya hai. Wo ek choti si company mein junior graphic designer ki job karti hai, abhi abhi naukri lagi hai. Wo apne chacha-chachi ke sath rehti hai. Uske maa-baap ka intiqal ho chuka hai. Chacha-chachi use pasand nahi karte, bas ek zimmedari ki tarah rakha hua hai.”

Aarav ek gehri saans leta hai, jaise is naye information ko process kar raha ho. Phir ek pal ke liye chup rehta hai aur dheere se kehta hai—

Aarav: “Uska address mujhe forward karo.”

Raghav: “Ji sir, abhi bhej raha hoon.”

Phone par notification aati hai—“New Message Received: Anaya’s Address”

Aarav phone ko slow swipe karta hai, address ko dekhta hai, aur phir ek gehri soch mein chala jata hai. Uski fingers side table pe rakhe crystal glass se halki si knock karti hain, jaise kisi deep thought mein ho. Phir dheere se ek halka sa smirk uske hoton pe ubhar aata hai—ek shaitani muskurahat.

Aarav (self-talk mein, slow yet intense tone): “Hmmm… toh tumhara naam Anaya hai… Chalo, let the game begin.”

Uske aankhon mein ek ajeeb si chamak thi—jaise kisi naye shikar ki khushi ho.

Scene 2: Aarav’s Planned Encounter

Aarav apne plan k mutabiq apni car ko ek crowded street ke paas parking lot mein park karta hai. Uska har move carefully planned tha, jaise koi shikari apne shikaar par nazar rakhta hai. Aarav ko achi tarah se pata tha ke Anaya ka ghar iss raaste ke aas-paas hai. Woh apni car se nikalta hai, apne expensive sunglasses pehenta hai, aur casually bus stop ki taraf chal padta hai, jaise bas waise hi idhar aa nikla ho. Magar andar hi andar, uske har qadam ka ek maqsad tha.

Doosri taraf, Anaya apne office se ghar jaane ke liye bus ka intezaar kar rahi thi. Uske chehre pe thodri thakaawat thi, lekin ye sab uski daily routine ka ek hissa ban chuka tha. Har din ki tarah aaj bhi woh apne chhote se budget mein bus ka ticket kharidne ke liye tayar thi. Woh apne phone par kisi app mein busy thi jab achanak uski nazar ek lamhe ke liye apne aas-paas ke mahaul par padi.

Tabhi uski aankhon ne ek shehzade ki tarah walking Aarav ko dekha, jo apne expensive suit mein bus stop ke paas hi araha tha. Uske chehre pe ek calm aur composed expression tha, lekin uski aankhon mein ek ajeeb si fire thi. Anaya ne thoda surprise feel kiya. “Yeh banda kis duniya ka hai? Kya kaam karta hoga?” Yeh soch uske zehan mein aayi, lekin phir usne apni attention wapas phone par lagane ki koshish ki.

Aarav ne apne plan ke mutabiq Anaya ki taraf approach kiya.

Aarav (ek halka si smile karte hue):
“Aap bhi yahaan, bus ka intezaar kar rahi hain?”

Anaya, jo poore din ki thaki hui thi, ekdum irritate ho gayi. Usne bina kisi hesitation ke tanzia jawab diya:
“Aapko kya lagta hai hum yahaan sab aapke intezaar mein khade hain?”

Aarav ka dimagh gusse se garam ho gaya, lekin usne apne emotions control kiye aur ek halki si muskurahat ke saath bola:
“Nahi, wo meri gaadi raste mein kharab ho gayi hai aur mujhe bohat zaroori meeting mein pohchna hai. Toh kya aap meri help karein gi bus pakadne mein?”

Anaya ek aur ulta jawab dene wali thi, lekin phir usne apne aap ko roka aur bezari se boli:
“Acha theek hai, kahan jaana hai aapko?”

Aarav ne address bataya, toh Anaya ko dekh kar halki si hansi aayi.
“Arre, ye toh wohi bus hai jo mujhe bhi leni hai. Abhi aati hi hogi, mein guide kar doon gi.”

Aarav ne uski masoomiyat dekhi, aur uske dil mein ek ajeeb sa ehsaas jaaga. Magar phir usne apne aap ko wapas control kiya.

Bus Mein Jhagda Aur Unexpected Help

Bus k aate hi, jaise hi sare log usmein charhne ke liye dhakka-mukki shuru karte hain, Aarav ekdum confuse ho jata hai.

Woh sirf “Excuse me… excuse me…” keh raha hota hai, jabke aas paas ke log bina kisi sharmaahat ke bus mein dhakel ho rahe hote hain.

Ye dekh kar Anaya ekdum casual tareeke se uska haath pakadti hai aur zor se kheench kar usko bus ke andar le aati hai.

Aarav ne yeh bilkul expect nahi kiya tha. Woh surprise hone ke bawajood uska shukriya ada karta hai.
“Thank you.”

Anaya uska mazak urane wale andaz mein kehti hai:
“Janab, yahaan ‘excuse me’ se kaam nahi chalta. Apna haaq cheenna parta hai!”

Aur phir ek dilfareb hasi hasti hai.

Aarav uski hasi dekh kar ek pal ke liye usi mein kho jata hai. Magar phir wapas apne mission par focus karta hai.

Aarav Ki Nai Chaal

Jab bus mein conductor ticket ke liye aata hai, Aarav jaan boojh kar apni pocket pe haath marta hai aur ek “Oops…” ke saath thoda bechain hota hai.

Aarav (thoda sharminda hone ka natak karte hue):
“Yaar, mein apna wallet toh gaadi mein hi bhool aaya.”

Ye sunkar Anaya ke chehre ka rang halka sa udd gaya. Uske paas hamesha limited paise hote the. Uski sari salary uski chachi le leti thi aur bas thoda bohat hath kharch deti thi.

Agar usne Aarav ka ticket liya, toh ho sakta hai ke kal uska khud ka bus ka kiraya na bache. Lekin phir bhi, ek ajeeb si sharam ki wajah se, usne apni saving se uska ticket le liya.

Anaya (pheeki si smile karte hue):
“Koi baat nahi, mein le leti hoon.”

Woh apni chhoti si saving me se Aarav ka ticket le leti hai.

Aarav ne dekha ke usne bina kisi show off ke, sirf ek majboori mehsoos karte hue paise diye. Yeh baat Aarav ke zehan mein baith gayi. Woh thoda curious ho gaya.

Aarav (thoda gentle hokar):
“Mein yeh paise wapas kar doonga.”

Anaya bas ek halki si smile dekar kehne lagi:
“Theek hai, kar dena.”

Aarav Ki Soch Aur Uska Secret Plan

Aarav bas chup chaap uski har harqat observe kar raha tha.

Anaya casually kehti hai:
“Mera stop next hai, lekin aap ka stop 2 ya 3 stops baad aayega. Ok?”

Aarav sirf ek halka sa smile karta hai aur sochta hai,
“Anaya. Tumhe pata bhi nahi chalega ke tum kis ke saath deal kar rahi ho.”

Scene 3: The Next Day – Another Encounter

Aarav agle din bhi usi waqt, usi jagah bus stop par aata hai. Jaise hi uski aankhein Anaya ko dhoondti hain, usko wahi apni usual jagah par khari milti hai. Uska thoda tired, magar composed expression waisa hi tha jaise kal tha.

Anaya ne bhi Aarav ko dekha, lekin jaise ignore kar diya ho. Magar andar hi andar, usko yeh thoda ajeeb laga. “Yeh banda phir yahan kya kar raha hai?” Lekin phir bhi, apni usual casual attitude maintain rakhte hue, usne apne phone par dhyaan dene ki koshish ki.

Aarav sidha uske paas aaya. Jaise hi wo pass aaya, Anaya ne hiran hone ki acting ki jaise abhi abhi usko dekha ho.

Anaya (tanziya andaaz mein):
“Arre, aap aaj phir yahaan? Kya phir se aapki gaadi ne aapko dhakka de diya?”

Aarav halka sa muskuraya. Usko Anaya ka ye sarcastic tone achha laga.

Aarav (casually):
“Nahi nahi, wo aapke paise lautane the na… aur koi jagah nahi pata thi jahan aap mil sakein, is liye yahin chala aaya.”

Usne apni pocket se kuch cash nikala aur Anaya ki taraf barhaya.

Anaya Ki Dilemma

Anaya pehle toh asoolan mana karne wali thi. Lekin usko in paiso ki zaroorat thi. Har din ka ek ek paisa uske liye important tha. Thoda hesitate karne ke baad, usne paise le liye.

Anaya (thoda formally):
“Okay, thank you.”

Aur phir bina aur koi baat kiye wapas apne phone mein busy ho gayi, jaise yeh sab koi bara scene nahi tha.

Aarav ab wahi khada tha. Thodi awkward situation ho gayi thi. Yeh soch raha tha ke ab aur kya bole.

Aarav Ki Himmat Aur Coffee Ka Invitation

Thodi der tak chup rehne ke baad, Aarav ne finally himmat ki aur casually bola:

Aarav:
“Kya aap mere saath coffee peene chalengi?”

Anaya ne ekdum apna phone neeche kiya aur ek ajeeeeeeb si nazar se usko dekha. Jaise abhi kha jayegi!

Aarav ko mehsoos ho gaya ke yeh bohot risky sawaal tha.

Is se pehle ke Anaya kuch ulta-seedha bole, Aarav ne jaldi se bola:

Aarav:
“Woh… aapne mujhe kal bus mein guide kiya tha na. Main meeting mein time par pohonch gaya, aur phir ek acha project bhi close kar liya. Toh socha aapko properly thank you karoon.”

Anaya Ka Soft Hone Wala Reaction

Anaya ka mind ye sun kar thora relax hua. Yeh koi flirting nahi thi, sirf ek normal thank you gesture lag raha tha.

Anaya (halke se muskurate hue):
“Nahi nahi, iski koi zaroorat nahi hai.”

Lekin Aarav ne bahut insist kiya.

Aarav:
“Ek coffee toh banti hai!”

Anaya:
“Aaj toh bilkul possible nahi hai. Mujhe jaldi ghar jaana hai.”

Aarav (thoda smile karte hue):
“Toh phir kabhi sahi?”

Anaya casually boli:
“Haan, kabhi sahi.”

Aarav Ki Zid Aur Anaya Ka Smart Answer

Aarav (thoda teasingly):
“Toh phir kal?”

Anaya:
“Nahi.”

Aarav:
“Toh phir Saturday?”

Anaya:
“Nahi, Saturday bhi nahi.”

Aarav (aur thoda ziddi hote hue):
“Sunday toh aapki office ki chhutti hoti hai, phir us din?”

Anaya:
“Nahi, Sunday bhi nahi.”

Aarav (muskurate hue):
“Toh phir next Monday toh chalega na?”

Isi beech bus aagayi.

Anaya jaldi se bus ke andar chadh gayi. Aarav ko apna plan fail hota nazar aaya. Usko laga ke Anaya ne straight-up ignore kar diya.

Lekin phir achanak…

Anaya bus ki khidki se sir bahar nikalti hai, Aarav ki taraf dekhti hai, ek chhoti si mischievous smile deti hai aur haste hue kehti hai:

“Woh… mein next Monday bataoongi!”

Aur phir bus aage nikal gayi.

Aarav ek pal ke liye wahin khada muskurata raha.

Usne apni pocket mein haath daala, thoda socha, aur phir dheere se bola:

“Interesting…”