Five Minutes to Confess

Ek single TUBE LIGHT buzz kar rahi hai. Reception desk lamp ka soft glow. Frosted window par baarish ki halki tapping.

Plastic chairs. Wall clock. Appointment slip. Ek guitar case.

KABIR (34), faded kurta, stubble, thaka hua musician, ek chair par jhukkar baitha hai. Uske side mein guitar case tikka hua.

NAINA (30), simple cotton salwar suit, baal tied back, ek paper envelope clutch kiye saamne wali chair par baithi hai.

Dono chup.

Kabir appointment slip ko dekhta hai.

Doctor bhi late hai.

Hum dono ki tarah.

Naina bina dekhe.

Kuch aadatein purani ho jaati hain.

Kuch log nahi.

Silence.

Kabir uski taraf dekhta hai.

Naina...

Nahi. Pehle tum bol do.

Is baar tumhara turn hai.

Kabir halka sa smile karta hai, phir toot jaata hai.

Main bas wait kar raha tha.

Haan. Yeh tumhara best skill raha hai.

Wait karna.

Kabir aankhen neeche kar leta hai.

Tum ab bhi gussa ho?

Gussa?

Kabir, gussa toh time pe khatam ho gaya tha.

Ab bas thakaan hai.

Kabir swallow karta hai.

Maine kabhi jaan-boojh ke...

Chhoda nahi?

Haan. Tumhara favourite line.

Naina envelope ko aur tightly pakadti hai.

Main samjha nahi tha.

Tumne samajhna chaha hi nahi.

Beat.

Kabir guitar case ko ek second dekhta hai.

Tum yahan kyun aayi ho?

Naina finally uski taraf dekhti hai.

Goodbye bolne.

Kabir freeze.

Kya?

Naina envelope table par rakh deti hai.

Transfer ho gaya hai.

School bhi. Ghar bhi.

Main next week city chhod rahi hoon.

Naina...

Doctor ka appointment tha.

Par main pehle aa gayi.

Socha... agar tum mil gaye,

toh ek baar sach bol doon.

Kabir envelope ko dekhta hai.

Yeh kya hai?

Kholo.

Kabir envelope kholta hai. Andar ek purana APPOINTMENT SLIP aur ek chhoti note.

"Aaj shaam 6 baje. Agar aao, toh sach bolna."

Kabir ka chehra safed pad jaata hai.

Tumne mujhe bulaya tha?

Haan.

Five minutes ke liye.

Bas itna hi time tha mere paas.

Kabir note ko dekhta rehta hai.

Main aaya kyun nahi...

Kyunki tum late the?

Kyunki main dar gaya tha.

Naina ka expression change hota hai.

Kis baat se?

Kabir saans leta hai. Guitar case par haath rakhta hai.

Is baat se ki main tumse pyaar karta tha.

Aur main us layak nahi tha.

Naina hil jaati hai.

Main broke tha.

Paisa bhi nahi tha, himmat bhi nahi thi.

Main sochta tha tum mere saath...

aur neeche gir jaogi.

Toh maine tumhe...

khud se bacha liya.

Naina ki aankhon mein gussa, dard, disbelief.

Tumne mujhe bachaya?

Tumne mujhe poocha tak nahi.

Kabir ko chot lagti hai.

Main jaanta hoon.

Main galat tha.

Galat?

Kabir, tumne breakup ko noble bana diya.

Jaise main koi burden thi.

Beat.

Baarish tez ho jaati hai.

Wall clock ki tick-tick.

Tube light buzz.

Kabir aankhen band karta hai.

Main aaj bhi gaata hoon.

Haan.

Door se suna hai kabhi kabhi.

Kabir usse dekhta hai, surprised.

Tumne suna?

Main teacher hoon, Kabir.

Bachche jhooth pakadna sikhate hain.

Aur tumhara gaana bhi.

Kabir ek chhoti, sad smile deta hai.

Doctor late hai.

Haan.

Par hum nahi.

Kabir guitar case kholta hai. Guitar nikalta hai.

Naina kuch nahi kehti.

Kabir softly ek aadha, raw sa melody bajaata hai. Koi performance nahi. Bas confession jaisa.

Naina ki aankhon mein aansu aa jaate hain, par woh roti nahi.

Kabir gaana khatam karta hai.

Silence.

Naina khadi hoti hai. Envelope dobara uthati hai aur Kabir ke saamne rakh deti hai.

Ismein mera address nahi hai.

Forwarding number hai.

Kabir usko dekhta hai.

Agar kabhi tum sach bolna seekh jao...

toh call karna.

Kabir kuch bolna chahta hai, par ruk jaata hai.

Goodbye, Kabir.

Naina exits.

Door khulte hi thandi rain air room mein aati hai.

Kabir chair par baitha reh jaata hai. Guitar god mein. Envelope haath mein.

Wall clock ki needle ek minute aage badh jaati hai.