Bhabhi Ka Badalta Andaz

"Main Delhi se hoon, aur pichle 2 saal se bhaiya aur bhabhi ke saath hi reh raha tha. Shuru me sab normal tha… bhabhi ek typical ghar sambhalne wali, simple si lady thi. Na zyada baat, na zyada hasi-mazaak.
Par dheere dheere maine ek cheez notice karni shuru ki…
Unka behavior mere saath alag hone laga.
Pehle wo mujhe “tum” bolti thi, phir “tumhari pasand ka khana bana diya”, phir “tumhe kaunsi chai pasand hai?” — choti choti baatein, par noticeable.
Ek din bhaiya office trip pe gaye hue the 3 din ke liye. Ghar me sirf main aur bhabhi the.
Shaam ka time tha. Main apne room me phone chala raha tha jab bhabhi ne awaaz lagayi —
“Sun na, zara help kar de kitchen me…”
Main gaya. Normal hi laga. Par jab main unke paas khada hua… to ek ajeeb si silence thi.
Unhone seedha aankhon me dekha… aur bola —
“Tu badal gaya hai…”
Main confuse ho gaya. “Kya matlab?”
Wo thodi muskuraayi — “Bas… pehle jaisa nahi raha.”
Us din ke baad sab kuch thoda awkward sa ho gaya.
Next day, raat ko light chali gayi. Ghar andhera. Generator bhi kaam nahi kar raha tha. Bhabhi thodi dar gayi thi… ya shayad pretend kar rahi thi — pata nahi.
“Tu yahan baith ja na thodi der…” unhone bola.
Hum dono drawing room me ek hi sofa pe baith gaye. Bahar se thodi street light aa rahi thi.
Unhone apna phone side me rakha… aur sirf baat karne lagi. Pehli baar itni openly.
“Tu kabhi kisi ko pasand karta hai?”
Main shock ho gaya. Maine bola — “Nahi…”
Wo hasi… “Jhooth bol raha hai.”
Us raat humne kaafi der tak random baatein ki. Par baaton ke beech me ek ajeeb sa connection feel ho raha tha… jo pehle kabhi nahi tha.
Agli subah sab normal.
Jaise kuch hua hi nahi.
Par ek cheez change ho gayi thi —
Ab hum sirf bhabhi-devar nahi the… ek unsaid understanding ban chuki thi.
Aur aaj bhi… jab bhaiya ghar pe nahi hote… to woh silence wapas aa jata hai…"