Few days passed. After school Shehnaaz used to come to the ghat every day where Sidharth used to give her tutions in all subjects. He was trying very hard to make her learn everything but Shehnaaz used to be interested in useless talks with her teacher rather than studies. But Sidharth never gave up hope, neither he demotivated Shehnaaz like other teachers used to do. He knew that she had brain, it was just she was not using it in her studies. Sidharth tried to make her learn things in different ways. And that was why Shehnaaz also started being interested in his class as he started being a friend of her, more than being a teacher.

One day they were returning from the ghat and Shehnaaz suddenly stopped near a Dhaba.

"Sir bohut bhuk lagi hai." Said Shehnaaz making a crying face and holding her tummy.

"Haan toh ghar hi jaa rahe hai hum log." Said Sidharth.

"Khali pet ek kadam bhi nahi chal sakti. Yaaha se khaa lete hai." She said pointing towards the Dhaba.

"Bahar ka khana nahi." Said Sidharth sternly.

"Ek din khane se kuch nahi hoga. Aaj khila do na. Please please please!"

Shehnaaz made puppy eyes and our Shuklaji melted immediately.

"Accha chalo." He said sighing.

Shehnaaz happily went to the Dhaba and Sidharth followed her. They sat at a table.

The waiter came to take orders.

Before Sidharth could say anything, Shehnaaz said, "Do chai, masala maar ke."

"Tumhe toh khana kha na tha?" Said Sidharth frowning.

"Haan lekin pehle chai peeungi. Parathe ka order baad mein deti hoon."

"As you wish."

"Aap khade khade kya dekh rahe hai? Jaiye." She said to the waiter and he left.

She then turned to Sidharth and said, "Dhabe ke khane ka alag hi maza hai. Yeh bade log paata nahi kyu 5 star hotels mein jaake faltu ka kharcha karte hai. Paise dete hai inna saara, khana milta hai ittu sa. Huh! Iss se acche toh hum middle-class log hai. Zyada show-off nahi aata, jo hai muh pe hai."

"Tumhe rich log pasand nahi hai?" Asked Sidharth little bit seriously.

"Oo Ji aisi gal nahi si. Kuch log acche bhi hote hai. Lekin dil se dil ka connection hum middle-class logo mein zyada banta hai. Aap maante ho ki nahi?"

"Haan woh toh hai."

"Iss hi baat pe de taali."

Shehnaaz showed her palm. Sidharth chuckled and high-fived with her.

After sometime their tea arrived. Sidharth was going to drink but stopped seeing Shehnaaz.

She poured little tea in the plate and drank from the plate.

"Shehnaaz kya kar rahi ho?" He asked.

"Chai pee rahi hoon. Badhiya hai waise." Said Shehnaaz casually.

"Aise plate mein daal ke kaun chai peeta hai?"

"Main peeti hoon. Bauji ne sikhaya hai. Iss se Chai ka taste double... Nahi nahi triple ho jaata hai. Aap bhi try ki jiye."

"Main?"

"Haan haan ki jiye. Maza aayega."

Sidharth hesitantly poured tea in his plate.

"Bas bas zyada nahi." Said Shehnaaz.

Sidharth stopped.

"Hun pee jiye."

Sidharth slowly took the plate near his mouth and then took a sip.

"Aa raha hai swad?" Asked Shehnaaz to which Sidharth smiled and nodded in yes.

They both finished their tea like this.

After that their paratha and dal makhani came. Another two plates were given to them which were not washed properly.

Shehnaaz started serving in her plate but Sidharth couldn't.

"Shehnaaz yeh gande hai. Humein iss mein nahi khana chahiye." Said Sidharth making faces.

"Offo Sir! Aap na bade hygiene ho." Said Shehnaaz being disappointed.

"Hygienic?"

"Haan woh hi. Di jiye main saaf kar deti hoon."

Sidharth gave her his plate. Shehnaaz washed it with some water and then wiped using her dupatta.

"Ab khayenge yaa mera dupatta bhi ganda lag raha hai aap ko?"

Sidharth didn't complain and took the plate. They started eating.

"Khana sach mein tasty hai. You were right. 5 star hotels mein aisa khana nahi milta." Said Sidharth while eating.

Shehnaaz suddenly stopped eating and asked, "Aap 5 star hotel mein gaye ho?"

"Nahi matlab... Ek baar mere ek dost ne treat diyi thi. Warna main.... Kaise jaata?.... I'm just a school teacher.... Itne paise.... Nahi hai mere paas...." Sais Sidharth nervously but Shehnaaz was totally convinced.

"Khana toh accha hai lekin mirchi thoda zyada hai." Said Shehnaaz.

"Uss hi wajah se itna tasty lag raha hai I think."

"Hmm lekin kya hai na Sir, har khane mein namak, mirchi, aur baki masalon ka balance sahi hona chahiye. Ek bhi chiz thodi zyada ho gayi toh suru suru mein tasty lagta hai, lekin baad mein pet kharab hota hai. Masala utna hi do, jitna zaroorat hai. Na uss se zyada, na uss se kam."

"Tumhe cooking ka bada knowledge hai?"

"Ek woh hi toh hai jo main dhang se karti hoon..... Haan drama karna, bakwas karna aur reels bana ne ke alawa."

Sidharth laughed. Suddenly he thought something and said, "Jaise tumne cooking ke baare mein kaha, mere khayal se life mein bhi har chiz ka balance hona zaroori hai. Khana peena, sona, padhai karna, entertainment aur baki chize ek limit mein karni chahiye.... Na uss se zyada, na uss se kam. Warna suru mein accha lagega, baad mein future kharab ho jayega."

Shehnaaz started thinking deeply.

"Sir aap ko lagta hai meri life mein entertainment kuch zyada hi ho raha hai?" Asked Shehnaaz.

"Bohut zyada ho raha hai. Isliye thoda padhai pe dhyan do."

Shehnaaz made a sad face.

Seeing it, Sidharth said, "Waise tum de hi rahi ho. Pehle se improvement ho rahi hai. Thoda aur mehnat karna, phir number bhi acche aayenge."

Shehnaaz smiled and nodded cutely. Sidharth chuckled at her cuteness.

After finishing their meal, they again started walking. They were passing by the river. Shehnaaz suddenly picked up a stone and threw in on the river.

"Ab yeh kya kar rahi ho?" Asked Sidharth.

"Patthar phenk rahi hoon nadi mein. Accha lagta hai. Aap nahi karte?"

"Nahi."

Shehnaaz became surprised and said, "Kya baat kar rahe hai? Aap ne kabhi nadi mein patthar nahi phenka?"

Sidharth nodded in no.

"Toh phir aaj phenkenge. Chaliye."

Saying that Shehnaaz handed him a stone. Sidharth threw it with all his force.

"Mere wale se bhi dur jaa ke gira hai." Said Shehnaaz making Sidharth smile.

They continued walking.

"Mujhe aap pe kabhi kabhi shak hota hai. Aap sacchi mein insaan hai na? Kyu ki insaano wale koi gun nahi hai aap mein." Said Shehnaaz.

"Acchi Ji? Pura din bandaron wali harkatein tum karo, aur main insaan nahi hoon? Sahi hai!" Said Sidharth.

"Main bandar nahi hoon."

"Right. Bandariya ho."

Shehnaaz glared him and Sidharth looked down being scared.

"Main aap ko isliye bol rahi hoon, kyu ki maine aisa insaan nahi dekha jisne bachpan mein bhi kabhi nadi mein patthar nahi phenka. Accha ek baat baataiye, aap ne jhula jhula hai kabhi?"

Sidharth nodded in no to which Shehnaaz widened her eyes.

"Cricket khelte waqt kisi ke khidki ka seesha toda hai?"

Sidharth again nodded in no.

"School bunk kar ke movie dekha hai?"

He again nodded in no.

"Apne teacher ke saath prank kiya hai?"

"Kisi anjaan insaan ke baarat mein naagin dance kiya hai?"

"Doston ke saath chor police khela hai?"

"Mummy yaa Bauji ke purse se 10, 20 rupaye chori kiye hai?"

All the time Sidharth was nodding his head negatively.

At last, Shehnaaz face-palmed herself and said, "Haaye rabba! Aap ne bachpan se le kar aaj tak kiya kya hai exactly baatayenge?"

"Padhai." Replied Sidharth.

"Padhai ke alawa kuch nahi kiya?"

"Nahi. Bas padhai hi karta tha. Woh hi accha lagta tha."

"Aisa kaise ho sakta hai? Koi ek chiz toh hogi padhai ke alawa, jo aap ko acchi lagti thi."

Sidharth thought for a while and said, "Ek chiz thi. I loved playing guitar. Jab bhi waqt milta tha main apna guitar play karta tha."

"Ab nahi karte?"

"Yeh meri bachpan ki hobby thi. Bachpan chala gaya, saath saath hobby bhi chali gayi."

"Toh phir bachpan ko wapas bula li jiye. Hobby bhi wapas aa jaayegi."

"Lekin woh toh chala gaya hai."

"Sir bachpan kabhi nahi jaata. Bade hone ke saath saath woh aap ke andar hi kahi chhup jaata hai. Aap ik vaari bula ke toh dekho. Woh yun wapas aa jaayega."

Sidharth smiled looking at her. He didn't know that she could say such meaningful words.

"Main na samajh gayi. Aap ke life mein na entertainment ki bohut kami hai Sir. Yeh lesson toh aap ko mujhse hi lena hoga." Said Shehnaaz.

"Kya matlab?" Asked Sidharth.

"Matlab simple. Aap mujhe Math, English, Physical Science, Life Science, History, Geography wagera wagera sikhaiye. Badle mein main aap ko fun karna sikhaungi. Full entertainment se bhar dungi aap ki life."

"Aise thodi na hota hai?"

"Aise hi hota hai. Ab baatao, deal pakki?"

Shehnaaz forwarded her hand. Sidharth thought for a while and then shook hands with her.

"Chaliye abhi se suruwaad karte hai. Reels banaiye mere saath." She said.

"Reels aur main? Kabhi nahi." He said.

"Ahhhaaannn! Sir aap ko karna hoga."

"Shehnaaz nahi."

"Please na."

"I said no."

They both stopped talking when they both heard a music. They turned and saw some people on the road. They were dancing.

Shehnaaz smiled and said, "Kisi ki baarat nikli hai."

"Lag raha hai." Said Sidharth.

Shehnaaz looked at him and said, "Reels nahi bana ni. Yeh karte hai."

"Kya?" Asked Sidharth and understood everything seeing Shehnaaz's look.

Before he could react, Shehnaaz held his hand and dragged him with her. Sidharth felt good when she touched his hand and smiled.

Reaching near the groom's horse, Shehnaaz started dancing with the unknown people while Sidharth was feeling embarassed.

"Shehnaaz mat karo aise kisi ki shaadi mein. Yaaha hum kisi ko jaante bhi nahi." Said Sidharth.

"Yeh hi toh baat hai. Yaaha hum kisi ko nahi jaante aur naa hi koi humein jaanta hai. So let's nacho."

Shehnaaz was dancing freely and Sidharth tried to follow her steps. After sometime she sat on the ground and started doing nagin dance. Sidharth didn't follow it but laughed like a maniac seeing Shehnaaz. Like this they both enjoyed the evening.

At Night....

Sidharth was having dinner with his family when suddenly he started laughing remembering Shehnaaz's crazy dance. His family members looked at him as if they had seen some ghost. The guy who never used to utter a single word while eating, was now laughing for no reason.

"Kya hua Beta?" Asked Rita Ji being worried.

Sidharth realised where he was and stopped laughing.

"Kuch nahi. Ek joke yaad aa gaya tha." Said Sidharth and continued eating.

"Are you fine?" Asked Ashok Ji.

"Yeah Dad." He replied.

Everyone became silent again. But Sidharth couldn't stop thinking about Shehnaaz and kept smiling which his parents noticed.

After dinner, he went to his room. He remembered Shehnaaz's words and took out his old guitar.

He wiped the dust and smiled looking at it. He remembered the days when he used to play it whenever he got free time.

He just touched the strings, suddenly he heard Rita Ji's voice, "Bohut dino baad guitar baja raha hai."

Sidharth immediately kept it at its place and said, "Main bas check kar raha tha, iske strings abhi bhi thik hai yaa nahi."

"Kabhi kabhi baja liya kar. Accha lagta hai."

Sidharth ignored the topic and asked, "Aap ko kuch kaam tha?"

"Arrey haan. Kuch puchna tha tujhse."

"Puchiye."

"Kaun hai woh ladki?"

Sidharth gave her a shocking look.

"Ladki matlab...."

"Woh hi jiski wajah se tune 10 saal baad apne guitar ko phir se haath lagaya hai." Said Rita Ji coming near him.

Sidharth gave a nervous smile and said, "Kuch bhi bolte ho aap. There is nothing like that."

"Ok then.... Ek baat baata. School khatam hone ke baad, tu kaha jaata hai? Aur aaj koi bahana nahi sunungi."

Sidharth sighed and said, "Ok main sach baata ta hoon. Main padhane jaata hoon humare school ki ek student ko."

"Tu tution deta hai?" Asked Rita Ji to which he nodded in yes. "Humein kyu nahi baataya?"

"Actually Dad ne uss school mein mujhe kuch aur reasons ke liye bheja hai. Agar unhe paata chala ki main kisi student ko alag se tution de raha hoon, unhe sayad accha nahi lagega. Isliye maine socha, pehle uss school mein mera kaam khatam ho jaaye, phir baataunga."

"Thik hai toh main bhi unhe kuch nahi baata rahi." She paused for a while and asked, "Waise iss student ka naam kya hai?"

"Shehnaaz."

A smile appeared on his face while taking her name which Rita Ji noticed.

"I told you about her." Said Sidharth.

"Ohho Shehnaaz! Ab main samjhi tere muskurane ki wajah."

Rita Ji gave him a teasing look.

"Kya? Aise kyu dekh rahe ho? She is my student."

"Sirf student?"

Sidharth sighed and said, "Ok fine. Now she is my friend. Happy?"

"Convinced nahi hoon. Friend yaa uss se bhi zyada?"

"Friend! Friend! Friend! Uss se zyada kuch nahi." Said Sidharth loudly.

"Awaz badhane se jhut sach nahi ho jaata. Samjha? Good night."

Saying that Rita Ji left from there.

Sidharth caressed his own hair and blushed a little.

After Somedays...

As usual Shehnaaz and Sidharth were sitting at the the ghat. Sidharth had given Shehnaaz a math problem which she was trying to solve.

"Sir nahi ho raha." Said Shehnaaz giving up.

"Arrey kyu nahi hoga? Try karo ho jayega." Said Sidharth.

"Sir yeh iss lesson ka sabse difficult problem hai. Yeh main kabhi kar hi nahi sakti. Koi easy wala do na."

"Shehnaaz koi problem difficult nahi hota. Yeh bas thoda tricky hai, dimaag lagaogi toh ho jayega. Abhi maine baata diya na, toh tumhe lagega arrey kitna easy tha. Try it."

Shehnaaz read the problem once again and said, "Nahi Sir yeh possible hi nahi hai. Aap koi dusra do."

"Shehnaaz tum koshish hi nahi kar rahi. At least ek baar....."

"Mainu paata hai yeh mujhse nahi hoga. Yeh question agar exam mein aaya toh main chhor dungi. Aap please dusra wala do."

"ENOUGH!" Yelled Sidharth angrily making Shehnaaz shiver. He was angry not because she couldn't solve it but she was not even trying.

"Kya laga rakha hai nahi hoga nahi hoga? Saaf saaf bolo karna nahi hai. Har waqt bas easy questions chahiye aur jo difficult hai unhe chhor do. Shehnaaz main aise nahi padhata. Main easy, difficult har tarah ke questions dunga aur woh tumhe solve karna hoga." He said angrily.

"Sir maine koshish kiya tha....." Said Shehnaaz looking down.

"Nahi kiya tha. Agar dhang se karti toh abhi tak iss lesson ke saare questions solve ho jaate. Sahi kehte hai baki teachers, tum kisi kaam ki nahi ho."

Shehnaaz's eyes became teary as Sidharth was saying this.

"Socha tha main sayad tumhe sudhar paaunga but no. Tumhe toh sudharna hi nahi hai. Phir se ek baar fail hona hai. Then go for it. Bas yaaha aa ke mera time waste karna band kar do."

Shehnaaz couldn't hear anymore. She started keeping her books inside her bag making Sidharth confused.

"Kya hogaya?" He asked.

She didn't reply. She wiped her tears and started leaving taking her bag.

"Shehnaaz! Shehnaaz!" Shouted Sidharth.

She stopped and said looking at him, "Agar kaal tak iss lesson ke saare problems solve nahi hue toh phir se yaaha aa ke aap ka time waste nahi karungi."

Saying that she left sadly.
______________________________________

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