Shalini bhabhi abhi-abhi metro se ghar laut rahi thi. Shaam ka time tha, aur shehar ki hawa mein woh halka sa romance tha jo dino ko yaadgar bana deta hai.
Jab woh apartment ke gate par pahunchi, Raj ne door khola.
“Tum aa gayi? Din kaisa tha?” usne pyaar se poocha.
Shalini muskurayi, dupatta thoda sa sambhalte hue.
“Thoda hectic… par tumhaari smile dekh ke sab thakawat gayi,” woh halki si shararat se boli.
Raj ne uska bag le liya.
“Chalo, rooftop par chai peete hain. Aaj mausam bhi tumhaari tarah khoobsurat lag raha hai.”
Rooftop par halki hawa chal rahi thi. Shehar ki lights neeche chamak rahi thi, jaise chaand ke saath milkar koi nayi kahani likh rahi ho.
Shalini railing ke paas jaakar khadi ho gayi.
“Yeh shehar na… badi ajeeb si feeling deta hai,” usne dheere se kaha. “Din bhar bhaag-daud, aur shaam ko… tumhara saath.”
Raj uske kareeb aaya, par bina chhuye—sirf itna ki uski presence feel ho.
“Bas, yahi toh meri favourite cheez hai… tumhari awaaz, tumhari shanti.”
Shalini ne halka sa sar jhukaya, gaal par laali aa gayi.
“Tum bhi na… bilkul filmy.”
Raj hansa, “Filmy hoon… par sirf tumhare liye.”
Hawa meethi ho gayi. Chai garam thi. Aur shehar ki raat… bilkul un dono ke mood jaisi—soft, romantic, aur thodi si magical.