Golgappe Waali Mohabbat

Kanika ki zindagi mein do cheezein fix thi — 9 baje office aur 6 baje golgappe. Baaki sab negotiable tha — lunch kabhi bhi, meeting kabhi bhi, weekend kabhi nahi hoti sahi, lekin golgappe 6 baje Connaught Place ke bahar waale stall pe — yeh toh schedule mein pen se likha tha. Kaka ka stall tha — teen saal se wahi tha, kaafi ek reliable spot tha jab poori duniya unreliable thi. Kanika ek working girl thi — Noida mein flat, parent Lucknow mein, dost sab shadi ho gayi thi ya apni apni duniya mein thi. Ek cheez jo consistent thi woh kaafi thi. Toh jab us din ek mard ne cycle pe se seedha uske golgappe tray mein dhakka diya aur poora pani wala plate sadak pe nikal gayi — Kanika ka gussa bahut natural tha. 'KYA KAR DIYA TUMNE?!' Woh banda cycle rok ke seedha hairan khara tha.

Rishabh ne cycle rokke bola, 'Yaar, maafi maango... main...sorry! Sadak pe hole tha!' 'Hole tha toh ankhein kholi ke chalaate!' 'Haan galti meri hai lekin main compensate—' 'Golgappe compensate hote hain? Yeh event hai mera! Rooz ka!' Kaka ne dono ko dekha aur quietly naya plate banaana shuru kar diya — woh iss drama mein neutral tha. Rishabh ne wallet nikala. 'Main deta hoon — double plate, main bhi lunga. Sorry seriously.' Kanika ne dekha uss banda ko — cycle ka helmet, slightly ruffled hair, woh embarrassed-lekin-genuinely-apologetic expression. Usne sigh kiya. '5 extra golgappe, extra imli ka paani, aur ek sorry baar.' Rishabh ne haan bola. Dono khade ho ke khaye — Kanika iss situation mein bhi khaayi kyunki golgappe mood se nahi khaye jaate, khaane ke time pe khaye jaate hain.

Rishabh dusre din phir aaya. 'Tumhe pata hai main insaan hu, stalker nahi. Kal ki kshamaagni poori nahi aayi thi mujhe.' Kanika ne haath uthaya. 'Kaka, inhe ek plate dena. Yeh kal waale hain.' Kaka ne samjha — roz ke regular customers ki apni duniya hoti hai. Rishabh ne saath khaya. Baat ki — woh graphic designer tha, CP ke paas kaam karta tha. Kanika finance mein. Dono ne agree kiya ki golgappe kisi bhi conversation ke liye better setting hai than any restaurant. Us din ke baad Rishabh kuch baar aur dikh gaya — kabhi saath kabhi thoda aage theek, kabhi woh Kanika ko pehle hi stall pe khada milta tha. Kaka ne ek din comment kiya: 'Beta, iska orders ab bhi ek plate hi hai, tum khud extra khate ho.' Rishabh ne sharam se order badhaaya aur Kanika hasi — golgappe ke saath sab funny hota hai.

Ek mahine mein woh routine ban gayi: Kanika ka 6 baje wala golgappe, aur Rishabh ka zyaadatar wahan hona. Dono ne kabhi officially nahi bola ki yeh meet up tha — woh bas hota tha. Baatein hoti thi — ajeeb ajeeb, golgappe ke darmiyan — client problems, family drama, city ke naye restaurant jo flop ho gaye, movies jo dekhni chahiye. Ek din baarish aayi toh Kaka ne stall band kiya aur dono ek chai ki dukan mein aakar baithe. Baarish mein chat ke neeche, chai ke saath, Rishabh ne kaha: 'Yaar, main actually plan karke aata hoon. Pehle ek baar toh coincidence tha, uske baad planning.' Kanika ne sip liya. 'Mujhe pata tha.' 'Toh?' 'Toh kuch nahi. Planning good hai. Golgappe ke liye bhi, life ke liye bhi.'

Baarish ruki toh Kaka ka stall waapas khul gaya. Dono baahar aaye. 'Ek kaam karo Kanika — ek baar proper dinner plan karte hain. Golgappe nahi, proper table, proper menu.' Kanika ne soch ke kaha: 'Ek condition hai.' 'Kya?' 'Dessert mein golgappe.' Rishabh hasa. 'Theek hai. Deal.' Woh us sham ke liye — alag alag direction mein gaye, lekin dono ke chehron pe ek cheez common thi jo Kaka ne dekha tha aur jis pe usne chai ki dukan wale bhai se shareek kiya tha: woh muskaan jo zyada kuch nahi chahti thi — bas ek promise tha ki kal bhi yahan hoga. Kanika ke liye 6 baje wala time abhi bhi fix tha — lekin routine mein pehli baar ek doosra naam bhi tha.