Pg Ke Corridor Mein Jo Baat Reh Gayi

Chandigarh ke Sector 15 ke ek PG mein Jasmeet Singh ki life almost machine jaisi chalti thi. Subah uthna, ek cutting chai, college ya internship ke liye nikalna, shaam ko assignment aur raat ko laptop ki blue light ke saath khud ko convince karna ki “bas ab career pe focus hai.” PG ka corridor uske liye bas ek passage nahi tha; woh ek aisi jagah thi jahan se Simran ki voice kabhi kabhi halki si hawa ki tarah guzarti thi.

Simran uski neighbour thi, room number 204 mein. Smart thi, cheerful thi, aur sabke saath casually baat kar leti thi, but uski smile ke peeche ek guarded sa touch hota tha, jaise woh har kisi ko apni life ka extra access dene se pehle do baar sochti ho. Jasmeet aur Simran ke beech koi “love at first sight” type scene nahi tha. Bas chhoti-chhoti cheezein thi—kabhi charger maang lena, kabhi hall mein same time khade ho jana, kabhi balcony se “hi” bol dena, aur kabhi uska late-night fridge se water bottle uthana jab woh samajh jati ki Jasmeet ne extra bottle rakhi hui hai.

Jasmeet ka roommate, Arjun, is sab ka live commentator tha. Woh same PG mein rehta tha aur har cheez pe roast maarne ka talent rakhta tha.

“Bhai, tu chai zyada bana raha hai ya kisi ka dhyaan rakh raha hai?” Arjun ne ek din bol hi diya, jab Jasmeet ne Simran ke liye extra chai PG wali didi se quietly rakhwai.

Jasmeet ne bina uski taraf dekhe kaha, “Bas extra bani thi.”

Arjun hansa. “Haan haan, extra bani thi. Aur extra mein charger bhi extra yaad aa gaya tha kal?”

Jasmeet ne jawab nahi diya. Usko aadat thi. Woh introvert tha, thoda quiet, thoda observant. Bahar se lagta tha ki bas apni padhai, internship aur future ke baare mein serious hai. Aur sach bhi partly yahi tha. Lekin jo baat koi nahi jaanta tha, woh ye thi ki Jasmeet Simran ke saath ek aisa future imagine karta rehta tha jisme unki balcony ki distance bhi normal ho jaaye, aur unki silences awkward na lagें.

Simran ko bhi sab kuch notice hota tha. Woh dumb nahi thi. Usne dekh liya tha ki jab uska phone low battery pe hota tha, toh Jasmeet bina bole apna charger de deta tha. Jab PG ke bahar cycle stand pe raat ko thoda late hota tha, toh woh casually stand ke paas khada rehta tha, jaise bas hawa kha raha ho. Aur jab uske face pe stress hota tha, Jasmeet koi heavy advice nahi deta tha—bas ek glass paani aur ek “sab theek ho jayega” ka soft sa tone.

Woh usko “friendly neighbour” samajhti thi. Bas. At least khud ko yahi bolti thi. Lekin sach yeh tha ki Jasmeet ke paas ek strange kind of safety thi. Uske saath loud attention nahi hota tha, pressure nahi hota tha, bas ek steady presence hoti thi. Aur kabhi kabhi, safety bhi attraction ka pehla form hoti hai.

Phir ek Friday ko scene change ho gaya.

Simran ka tau, Harbhajan Singh, Chandigarh aaya. Strict, practical, old-school type aadmi tha. Aankhon mein suspicion aur tone mein authority. PG ka naam sunte hi uske expression se lag raha tha ki usko already environment pe trust nahi hai.

“PG mein reh rahi ho, theek hai,” usne Simran se kaha, “par main dekh lunga yahan ka scene kaisa hai.”

PG wali didi, jo har nayi entry pe waise bhi full alert mode mein hoti thi, ne corridor mein hi sabko inform kar diya tha. “Simran ke tau aaye hain. Thode tight hain. Aaj sab log seedhe seedhe rehna.”

Arjun ne whisper kiya, “Aaj tera extra chai ka scene mat karna, bhai. Pakde jaayega.”

“Chup kar,” Jasmeet ne kaha, but uska stomach already tight ho gaya tha.

Us din shaam ko Simran ko apni internship ke kaam ke liye printouts chahiye the. Woh corridor mein fast walk kar rahi thi, files haath mein thi, aur usi time printer glitch kar gaya. Jasmeet ne dekh liya. Woh bina kuch bole apne room se extension cable aur USB le aaya, Simran ke printout ko save kar diya, aur phir printer ko restart karke kaam complete karwa diya.

Bas yeh ek chhoti si help thi. Lekin tau, jo thodi door se scene dekh raha tha, usne sab notice kar liya.

Uski nazar Jasmeet ke face pe gayi—polite, calm, time pe khada hua ladka. Fir Simran ki taraf—comfortable, unguarded for a second, jaise uski tension thodi kam ho gayi ho.

Tau ne seedha puchha, “Beta, tum kaun ho?”

Jasmeet ne thoda sa seedha hokar jawab diya, “Jasmeet Singh. Yahin PG mein rehta hoon. Final year hoon aur internship bhi kar raha hoon.”

Tau ne usko upar se neeche tak dekha. “Hmm. Serious lagte ho.”

Simran ki aankh ek second ke liye badi hui. Arjun jo thoda door khada tha, usne apni hasi dabayi.

Tau ne fir woh line boli jo poore corridor ka temperature ekdum drop kar gayi.

“Aisa ladka theek hai. Pehle padhai complete kare, phir shaadi ki baat soche. Serious boy lagta hai.”

Bas. Silence.

Jasmeet ko laga jaise kisi ne uske andar ek soft hidden drawer khol diya ho jahan uski feelings chup kar bethi thi. Usne kabhi Simran ko propose nahi kiya tha. Kabhi direct line nahi maari thi. Phir bhi usko aisa feel hua jaise uski private duniya public ho gayi ho. Simran ki cheeks pe bhi ek awkward pinkish shade aa gayi.

Woh bas itna boli, “Tau, aap bhi na…”

Tau ne haath uthaya. “Main kya? Main bas dekh raha hoon. Ladka theek lagta hai. Par time apna hai. Jaldi-khaali emotional scene nahi chahiye.”

Uske baad to corridor mein ek ajeeb sa silence reh gaya. Jasmeet ne bas nod kiya aur room ki taraf chala gaya. Simran bhi apne room mein ghus gayi. Arjun ne Jasmeet ke kandhe pe haath maara.

“Bhai, congratulations. Tune bina propose kiye bhi shaadi ka approval phase cross kar liya.”

Jasmeet ne irritation mein kaha, “Mazaak mat kar.”

“Main serious hoon,” Arjun ne surprisingly soft tone mein bola. “Par lag raha hai tu andar se hil gaya hai.”

Jasmeet ne kuch nahi bola. Kyunki sach mein woh hil gaya tha.

Us raat usne laptop khol ke code likhne ki koshish ki, assignments open kiye, resume update kiya—par mind baar baar usi line pe atak raha tha: “Pehle padhai complete kare, phir shaadi ki baat soche.” Kya really yahi maturity thi? Kya pyaar ka matlab sirf timeline set karna tha? Ya phir responsibility ka matlab yeh tha ki feelings ko tab tak side mein rakho jab tak sab kuch perfect na ho jaaye?

Dusri taraf, Simran bhi restless thi. Usko tau ka overprotective hona samajh aata tha. Lekin usko yeh awkward bhi laga ki jis ladke ne uski help bina expectation ke ki, usko ek tarah se future ke lens se judge kiya ja raha tha. Aur fir ek aur uncomfortable thought aayi—kya Jasmeet sach mein serious hai, ya bas achha ladka banne ka act kar raha hai?

Agli do-teen din unke beech normal baat toh hoti rahi, but woh old warmth gayab thi. Corridor mein milte toh “hi” ho jata, par eye contact thoda zyada kaam ka aur thoda kam personal ho gaya. Jasmeet ne extra chai rakhna kam kar diya. Simran ne bhi charger maangna band kar diya. PG ka atmosphere waise hi chhota tha, par un dono ke beech distance aur bhi visible ho gaya.

PG wali didi ko yeh sab dikh raha tha. Woh kitchen mein sabki baatein sun leti thi, aur jab zarurat ho tab quietly support bhi kar deti thi. Ek din Jasmeet jab mess se khana le raha tha, didi ne casually bola, “Beta, kabhi kabhi log jo bolte hain, uska matlab woh nahi hota jo hum samajh lete hain.”

Jasmeet ne spoon rok liya. “Matlab?”

Didi ne sabzi stir karte hue kaha, “Tau log thode hard hote hain. Par hard hone ka matlab heartless nahi hota. Aur Simran bhi strong dikhati hai, par usko bhi safety chahiye. Samjhe?”

Jasmeet ne bas haan mein sar hila diya. Arjun, jo paas hi chai le raha tha, ne turant bola, “Didi aapne aaj toh emotional truth drop kar diya.”

Didi ne aankh dikhayi. “Tu apni chai pe dhyaan de.”

Usi shaam Jasmeet ko ek aur reality hit hui. Woh Simran ko pasand karta tha, yes. Lekin kya woh usko confusion mein rakhne ke liye enough stable tha? Nahi. Uske paas feelings thi, lekin career abhi half-baked tha. Internship chal rahi thi, final year ka pressure tha, ghar pe bhi expectations thi. Agar woh aaj hi kisi emotional promise mein kood jaata, toh kya yeh fair hota? Simran ke liye? Ya khud ke liye?

Dusri taraf, Simran ko bhi ek candid thought aaya. Woh apne aap ko independent bolti thi, aur thi bhi. Par deep down woh bhi aise insaan ko value karti thi jo bas fancy baatein na kare, balki life ko handle karne ki himmat rakhe. Usko Jasmeet ka care karna pasand tha, but usko pressure nahi chahiye tha. Usko aisa partner nahi chahiye tha jo abhi emotional ho aur baad mein disappear ho jaaye.

Agli evening, jab PG ke rooftop pe thodi thandi hawa chal rahi thi, Simran wahan aayi. Jasmeet already wahan tha, apne phone pe kuch notes dekh raha tha. Arjun ne usko pehle hi hint de diya tha, “Bhai, ab ya toh baat kar le, ya phir lifetime regret mode mein reh.”

Simran ne door se hi kaha, “Busy ho?”

Jasmeet ne phone lock kiya. “Nahi. Bolo.”

Thodi der dono chup rahe. Phir Simran ne hi baat start ki. “Tau ne jo bhi bola… woh unka way tha. Thoda too much tha, but unka intention bas protect karna hai.”

Jasmeet ne halka sa smile kiya, but eyes serious rahi. “Main samajh gaya. Mujhe bas laga… maybe meri feelings ya intentions ko galat tarah se le liya gaya.”

Simran ne side glance diya. “Aur kya intentions the?”

Jasmeet ne ek saans li. “Sach bolun? Main tumhe pasand karta hoon. Par main tumhe kisi confusion mein nahi rakhna chahta. Mujhe pehle apni padhai, job aur life stable karni hai. Main aaj promise karke kal unstable nahi dikhna chahta.”

Simran ne usko dekha. Yeh line filmy nahi thi. Na dramatic. Bas honest thi. Aur isi honesty mein ek strange relief tha.

“Main bhi,” Simran ne dheere se bola, “main bhi bas emotional comfort ke chakkar mein kuch fast nahi karna chahti. Tau ko meri safety ki tension hai. Aur honestly… mujhe bhi clarity chahiye.”

Jasmeet ne thoda sa smile kiya. “Toh hum dono ka same scene hai?”

Simran hansi. “Shayad.”

Tabhi tau bhi rooftop pe aa gaya. Usne dono ko ek saath khade dekh liya. Kuch second tak kuch nahi bola. Fir Simran se puchha, “Theek ho?”

Simran ne nod kiya. “Haan, tau.”

Tau ki nazar Jasmeet pe gayi. “Aur tum?”

Jasmeet seedha khada hua. “Main padhai pe aur serious ho jaunga. Job aur internship ko priority dunga. Aur jo bhi bolunga, usko actions se prove karunga.”

Tau ne usko ek long second tak dekha. Fir uski strict face line thodi soft hui. “Bolna easy hota hai, beta. Karna mushkil. Main dekhunga.”

Arjun, jo pichhe se scene dekh raha tha, ne under breath bola, “Bhai, approval fully nahi mila, par temp pass ho gaya.”

Tau ne uski taraf ghur ke dekha. Arjun turant seedha ho gaya.

Us raat koi proposal nahi hua. Koi dramatic hug nahi. Koi background music nahi. Bas ek simple, grounded understanding bani—pyaar agar genuine hai toh usko time chahiye, clarity chahiye, aur sabse important, respect chahiye.

Jasmeet ne pehli baar samjha ki feelings ko chhupana maturity nahi hoti. Unhe sahi waqt pe, sahi tareeke se face karna maturity hoti hai. Simran ne samjha ki care ko romance samajh lena enough nahi hota; timing aur stability bhi equally important hote hain. Aur tau ne bhi dekh liya ki serious hona sirf bolne se nahi, roz ke actions se prove hota hai.

Kuch hafton baad PG ka corridor phir se normal ho gaya. Chai wahi thi, assignments wahi the, late-night hustle wahi thi. Par kuch change ho chuka tha. Jasmeet ab apni internship mein aur focused tha. Simran apne kaam aur studies ko aur confidently handle kar rahi thi. Kabhi kabhi balcony se “hi” hota, kabhi mess line mein ek smile exchange hoti, aur kabhi PG wali didi jaan-bujhkar extra adrak wali chai bana deti.

Arjun ne ek din Jasmeet se kaha, “Ab bhi future imagine karta hai?”

Jasmeet ne window se bahar dekhte hue bola, “Haan. Par ab bas imagine nahi karta. Build karna bhi seekh raha hoon.”

Arjun ne nod kiya. “Good. Kyunki love ka scene tabhi sahi hota hai jab banda khud ko bhi sambhalna seekh jaaye.”

Jasmeet ne uski taraf dekha aur pehli baar bina awkward hue muskura diya.

Aur Simran, jo corridor ke end pe apne room ki taraf ja rahi thi, usne woh smile dekh li. Usne bhi halki si smile return ki. Na promise tha, na pressure. Bas ek honest, grown-up kind of warmth thi.

Chandigarh ke us PG mein pyaar ab bhi tha. Bas ab woh loud nahi tha. Ab woh thoda mature tha, thoda patient tha, aur shayad isliye zyada real tha.

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Storydilse ke pyaare readers, itna sa time nikaal ke meri story padhne ke liye dil se thank you. Aapka support hi in kahaniyon ko zinda rakhta hai. Umeed hai Jasmeet aur Simran ki yeh soft, real si journey aapke dil tak pahunchi hogi. Aise hi pyaar, life aur emotions wali stories ke saath jude rahiye. Bahut saara pyaar aur gratitude!