7 घंटे का Time Zone

Ankita — Bangalore mein. Software engineer. IST. Sahil — London mein. Data scientist. GMT. Fark — 5.5 ghante. Winter mein — 5.5. Summer mein British Summer Time — 4.5. Confusing? Bahut. Jab Ankita ki subah hoti hai — Sahil abhi soya nahi. Jab Sahil ka lunch hota hai — Ankita ki shaam. Jab dono free hote hain — koi na koi so raha hota hai. "Hum kab baat karein?" — yeh sawaal har hafte aata. Solution — "The Window." Roz raat 10:30 IST = Shaam 5 PM GMT. 45 minute. Non-negotiable. Meeting ho, party ho, kuch bhi ho — 10:30 par dono phone par. "Aaj kya hua?" — Ankita. "Usual. London mein baarish. Tujhe surprise karega kya — daily same weather." — Sahil. "Bangalore mein traffic. Tujhe surprise karega kya — daily same traffic." "Hum boring log hain." "Boring nahi — consistent. Boring aur consistent mein fark hai." --- Mushkil tab aati jab festivals hote. Diwali — Ankita ghar par, family ke saath. Sahil — London mein, akela. Video call — background mein patakhe, Maa ki awaaz, "beta mithai kha," Papa ka "camera idhar kar." Sahil screen se dekhta — aur muskuraata. "Meri Diwali tum ho. Screen par sahi — par ho." "Aise mat bol. Rona aa jayega." "Toh ro le. Main bhi ro raha hoon. Dono saath mein royen — long distance crying session." Dono hanse. Rote hue. --- Sabse bura din — jab Ankita beemar hui. Bukhar. 102. Akeli flat mein. Sahil — London se — kuch nahi kar sakta tha. Literally. "Dawai li?" — message. "Haan." "Khaana?" "Nahi." Sahil ne Swiggy se soup order kiya — Bangalore mein, London se. Delivery boy ko instruction diya — "Doorbell bajao, dawa bhi de dena — Crocin. Pharmacy se le lena. Paisa main online de dunga." Delivery boy confused tha. Par kiya. Ankita ke darwaze par — soup aur Crocin. Note — "From: London. With love." Ankita royi. Bukhar mein. Phone uthaya — "Tune London se Swiggy order kiya?" "Haan. Aur agar zarurat pade toh ambulance bhi order karunga — Uber se." "Tu pagal hai." "Tere liye — definitely." --- 2 saal. 730 "Windows." 1,460 good morning/good night messages. 4 visits — 2 London, 2 Bangalore. Phir — Sahil ka email aaya. Office ka. "Transfer approved. Bangalore office. Starting next month." Ankita ko bataya — phone par. Silence. 10 seconds. "SAU BAAR BOLA THA TRANSFER LE — AB LIYA?! 2 SAAL WASTE KIYE!" "Tujhse sun ke achha lagega — in person. Ek mahine mein." "Ek mahina? ABHI AA!" "Flight 14 ghante ki hai." "Toh book kar." --- Airport — Bangalore. Arrivals. Ankita ne board pakad rakha tha — "7 GHANTE KA TIME ZONE — AB 0." Sahil bahar aaya. Board dekha. Hansa. Gale mile. Airport par. Logon ke beech. "Ab koi Window nahi," Sahil ne kaha. "Ab poora din Window hai," Ankita ne kaha. 5.5 ghante ka time zone — ab same second mein dhadakta hai.