Na Jaane Kyon...

Dekh lena

Nanu was surprised to see Sameer coming down all dressed up when he was having tea next morning.

"Arre Sameer, aaj koi meeting hai kya? Mujhe bataya nahi tune? Kiske saath hai... Bhopal wale dealers ya woh nayi social media wali agency?" He enquired.

Sameer stopped in the middle of the stairs. He pondered for a moment, looked around, and skipped down the remaining few stairs to reach nanu.

"Actually nanu, meeting nahi hai. Thodi preparation karni hai. Rohan ke liye ek chota sa farewell plan kar raha hun. Aap batana mat, surprise dunga. Isliye jaldi jaa ke arrangements karni hongi." He explained in a hushed voice.

Nanu's eyes brightened, "Arre waah, yeh toh bada achha idea hai. Tu dus minute ruk, main taiyar hoke aata hun. Dono mil ke plan karenge."

Sameer pressed his shoulders to stop him from getting up, "Nahi, nahi nanu, ab iss umr mein aap itni bhag daud kyon karoge... main hun na. Maine Raju ko bol diya hai woh aapko office le aayega baad mein."

"Oye, buddha hoga tera baap. Main abhi bhi bade se bada function organise kar sakta hun, woh bhi tum sabse better. Samjha? Kyonki main dil se karunga sab kuch... aur tum log... tum kabhi dil ko importance dete hi nahi. Bas professional bane ghoomte ho. Kabhi dil se socho, dil ki suno, dil lagao... Rohan se phir bhi thodi umeed hai, tera case toh mujhe closed file lagta hai. Shayad aisi koi ladki bani hi nahi jo tere iss practical dil pe dastak de sake. Lekin tu bhi galat nahi hai. Aajkal aisi ladkiyaan mujhe bhi nahi dikhti... jinki aankhon mein woh gehraii ho jo aapko doobne pe majboor kar de. Aisi ladki ke liye ab tu zindagi bhar intezar thodi kar sakta hai. Sameer, beta tu aisa kar apni mummy ko bol hi de ki ab woh Rohan ki shaadi ke baare mein hi sochna shuru kar dein... tera toh koi interest hai nahi." Nanu nonchalantly picked up the newspaper and adjusted his spectacles.

Sameer gaped at him with open mouth.

As if remembering something, nanu looked up at him, "Arre haan, ek baat batana bhool gaya. Tere assistant ke liye maine ad daal di thi. Kuch applications hain, aaj din mein aa jaana, check kar lenge. Iss baar thok bajaa ke appoint karenge. Aisa na ho phir koi Vikas nikal jaaye. Naina jaisa koi ladka ho, sincere aur intelligent, usse hi rakhenge."

"Naina jaisa kyon, Naina hi..." Sameer almost blurted out what he wanted, but thankfully nanu interrupted him again.

"Naina jaisa isliye beta, ki tere saath kisi ladki ko toh rakh nahi sakta, tune hi kaha tha." He lowered his spectacles and narrowed his eyes, "Ya phir ab iraada badal gaya? Naina ko dekh ke?"

"Ky... kya matlab, nanu?" Sameer asked in a nervous voice.

"Mera matlab Naina itni efficient aur hard working hai isliye shayad tujhe laga hoga ki koi ladki agar teri assistant ho toh woh bhi achhe se sab handle kar legi. Kyon, kya kehta hai?" Nanu gave him a somber look.

"Oh! Mujhe laga..." Sameer muttered under his breath but nanu caught it.

"Kya laga?" He quirked up his brows.

"Ku... kuch nahi. Aap na subah subah pata nahi kin baaton mein uljha ke mujhe late karwa rahe ho. Baaki baatein office mein karenge, abhi mujhe jaldi hai." Sameer flushed, turning away to run before he could blurt something to make nanu suspicious.

"Haan, haan... tu jaa. Tujhe bohot kaam karna hai." Leaning back on the chair, nanu let out a smile as Sameer rushed out from the main door.

"Khoye khoye se aajkal barkhurdaar nazar aate hain...
kaam nahi humko toh kuch aur hi aasaar nazar aate hain." He looked at the picture of his late wife and winked.