Meeting was in progress and Kabir's cellphone trilled.
He looked at the display with concern. Anuraag! Ab kya hua?
"Anuraag beta...kya hua? Main meeting main houn!"
"Mujhe pata hain. Mujhe aap se baat nahi karni. Ananya didi ko phone do!"
Kabir rolled his eyes and looked at Ananya with a pitiable expression.
"Ms Kashyap, please take this call..." She took his cell and he was grateful; for once Ananya didnt quote her job responsibilities.
Hello, Anuraag...how are you?
I am fine, Didi..Ek baat bataiye. Yeh Kabir uncle aapko Ms Kashyap kyoun kehte hain? Kya yeh office ka rule hain?
Pata nahi...Ananya was taken aback. And then she realized it. He used that formality only for her!
Was that formality an indicative of anything?
Wo chhodo Anuraag. Aapko mujhse baat karni thi?
"Aaj ki raat aap mere liye Aloo ke paranthe bana ke laoge? Please?
"Aloo ke paranthe? Aaj?" Ananya exclaimed out aloud, unaware of the fact that she was in a meeting.
Kabir wished that the earth would part and swallow him. This kid was impossible! The quote of Child is the father of man' was so apt for kids like him. He looked helplessly at Ananya.
"Ananya, please help me out. Just talk to him and take the call outside...We are almost done here!" -----
Ananya closed the door gently and walked towards her desk, the call on hold.
"Haan Anuraag, aap kya keh rahe they?"
"I was saying: mujhe aaj aloo ke paranthe khane ka bada mann hain. To please Didi..."
Anuraag, main meeting main thi. Aapko jo chahiye, wo aap Kabir Sir se baad main maang lijiye..."
"Ok...Sorry" Ananya could visualize Anuraag pinching his earlobes, "Ek baat bataoun? Aloo paranthe to ek bahana hain. Mujhe aapse baat karni thi, bahut urgent...aur akele main!"
"Magar Anuraag..."
"Nahi, mujhe aaj kissiki nahi sunani. Mujhe sab chhota bachha samajhate hain. Sochte hain mujhe kuchh nahi aata..main budhhu houn kya?"
"Achha baba, bolo!" Ananya gave in. For directly in her line of vision was the conference room and the meeting was over, people were trooping out for coffee break.
"Achha to suno. Aapko Kabir Sir acche lagte hain?"
Kya matlab?"
"Main samajhata houn. Wo kal kya hua, mujhe sulate sulate khud so gaye aur neend main aapka naam le rahe they. Isiliye poochha. Nahi batana hain to mat batao. Main mummy ko bol dunga!"
"Aapki Mummy?"
"Meri Mummy ka naam Tarini Pal hain. Aur wo Kabir uncle ki bahut achhi dost hain!"
Ananya felt an undecipherable tinge of sadnesss. She braced herself for the next question.
"Aur aapke Pappa?"
"Wo ek secret hain. Baad main bataunga. Magar abhi mere question ka answer kijiye. Aapko Kabir Sir ache lagte haina?"
"Wo to sabko acche lagte hain. Yahan office main aur bhi log hain, sab unhe pasand karte hain!"
"Haan, wo mere neighbour ka kutta bhi unko dekhkar pooonchh hila deta hain. Main uss pasand ki baat nahi kar raha. Main ek special like ki baat kar raha houn. Samajh gayi aap?"
"Usse kya hota hain Anuraag. Maine bola na, office main sabhi unko pasand karte hain. Aur woh bhi sabko...yahan par Richa, Trisha, Malvika...sabhiko pasand karte hain..."
"Wo to sab ek natak hain Didi!"
"Naatak? Matlab?"
"Maine uss din Kabir Sir ki baatein suni. Phone pe kissi Malvika se keh rahe they ki he is not interested in any relationship and yeh roz roz ka dinner unse nahi hota..."
"Anuraag!"
"Aur phir Mummy se keh rahe they ki unhe koi kuchh samajhe ya na samajhe, koi farq nahi padta, except for Ananya!"
"Aur aap chori chhupe kissi ki baatein sun rahe they? Bad manners!"
"Pyaar aur Jung main sab allowed hain. Aur yeh koi Jung thode hi hain?" Anuraag whispered conspiratorially from the other side, "Yeh to love hain...ishq wala love! Jo Kabir Sir ko aapse hogaya hain...aur aapko unse!"
"Chup, Anuraag...ekdum chup!"
Ananya hoped that her voice wouldn't quiver and disclose her turmoil.
"To phir...Aaj sham ka programme pakka?"
A voice intruded in their conversation. A voice which she ached to hear everytime.
"Ms Kashyap, agar aapki baat cheet hogayi ho to can I have my phone back?"
There was a small knowing smile on her lips as she handed his phone back.
"Kabir Sir!"
"What now?"
"I am getting Anuraag's favourite aloo ke paranthe today evening. And this time I expect a proper hospitality from you. Just coffee won't do!"
Jane se pehle: I feel like singing today. My sister feels it to be a disaster. Still I can try.
Bade acche lagte hain...Ek Baingan, Ek Parantha, Ek Anuraag, Aur tum!
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