“Siddhi!”

“Kya hai?” she was clearly upset.

“Tujhe kya hua hai?”

“Kuchh nahin!”

“Siddhi. Tu itni judgemental kyon ho rahi hai? I am an adult.”

“Tum Dr. Ashutosh se shaadi kar rahi ho?”

“Some day, I guess… Par ismein gussa hone waali kya baat hai?”

“To ab Rahul tumhari first priority ho jayega.”

“Pagal,” Nidhi smiled, “Teri jagah meri zindagi mein koi aur nahin le sakta. Abhi bhi to main Rahul ka khayaal rakhti hoon. Kya tujhe koi shikayat hai?”

“Di, Dr. Ashutosh tumse bahut bade hain. He has an eight-year old son son.”

“And I have a thirteen-year old to take care of. Hisaab baraabar,” Nidhi joked and then added seriously, “Aur Siddhi. Mujhe bhi help ki zaroorat hai, support ki zaroorat hai. Apne liye. Tere liye. Teri achchhi parvarish ke liye.”

“Yahi to problem hai,” Siddhi mumbled.

“Kya?” Nidhi asked anxiously.

“Tum meri wajah se ye kar rahi ho na? Tumhari umra ka koi ladka to meri responsibility nahin uthayega. Isliye ye compromise…”

“Nahin Siddhi…”

“Di. Maine tumse pahle bhi promise kiya tha na? Main tumhein pareshaan nahin karoongi. Bilkul nahin karoongi. Tumhein mere liye ek guardian dhoondhne ki zaroorat nahin hai. Tum apne liye ek sahi husband dhoondho…”

“Shut up Siddhi,” Nidhi said very softly, “Meri baat sun. Bahut dhyaan se sunna. Mummy-Papa ne jo kiya, uski wajah se main hamesha ke liye badal gayi. Ek to samay se pahle bada hona pada mujhe. Aur nahin – iski wajah tu nahin thi. Iski wajah woh the. Main apni umra ke aur logon ki tarah nahin hoon. Ye baat koi badal nahin sakta. Na tu, na main, na hi koi aur. Meri umra ke log mujhe itne immature lagte hain ki shayad main kabhi kissi ki izzat na kar paun, kabhi kissi se pyaar na kar paun. Lekin ye wajah nahin hai ki Dr. Ashutosh meri zindagi mein hain. Main koi faisla kar ke nahin baithi thi ki mujhe khud se bade insaan se shaadi karni hai. Lekin Mummy-Papa ke baad jo doosri bahut badi cheez mere andar badal gayi thi, woh ye ki main kissi par bharosa nahin kar pati thi. Mujhe hamesha aisa lagta the ki jab apne ma-baap par hi bharosa nahin kar sakte, jab woh hi hamein akela chhod kar chale gaye, to phir kissi aur par kaise bharosa kar sakti hoon main. Maine kissi relative ko apni to chhod, teri responsibility bhi nahin uthane di. Jabki mujhe kuchh nahin pata tha ki main tujhe kaise paaloongi. Aur koi bhi mera ye trust jeet nahin paaya aaj tak, siway Dr. Ashutosh ke. Pata nahin kab aur kaise hua, lekin woh meri zindagi ka hissa bante gaye, main unki bahut respect karne lagi, unpar trust karne lagi, aur unhein bahut pyaar karne lagi…”

“Lekin jab bhi mujhe koi shaq hua, ya maine kuchh poochha, to tumne mujhe hamesha chup karwa diya. Kyon? Tum mujhe kyon nahin batana chahti thi.”

“Kyonki woh is rishte ko accept karne ko taiyaar nahin the.”

“Matlab?”

“Jo baat tujhe pareshaan kar rahi hai Siddhi, hamara age-gap, wahi unhein bhi pareshaan karti thi. Unhein lagta tha ki woh mere liye sahi nahin hain. Bahut dinon ki kash-ma-kash ke baad unhone aaj finally accept kiya…”

“To kya unhone tumhein abhi-abhi propose kiya hai?” Siddhi’s eyes widened in surprise and excitement.

Nidhi blushed and nodded.

“To tum mujhse chhipa nahin rahi thi?”

“Nahin pagli. Main tujhse kyon aur kaise chhipaungi? Haan – ye nahin socha tha ki aise pata chalega tujhe.”

“Tum khush ho Di?”

“Main bahut khush hoon. Lekin agar tu khush nahin hogi to…”

“Di,” Siddhi’s eyes became moist, “Mere sar par tumhare alawa kissi ka haath nahin hai. Tum jo bhi faisla logi, woh mere hisaab se kabhi galat nahin ho sakta.”

“Kitni badi-badi baatein kar rahi hai,” Nidhi also got emotional, “Kitni badi ho gayi hai tu? Lekin ab ghabra mat. Tere oopar Dr. Ashutosh ka bhi haath hai. Agar mujhe kuchh ho gaya to bhi…”

“Shut up,” Siddhi started crying and hugged her.

“Siddhi,” Nidhi broke the hug and spoke, “Dr. Ashutosh pareshaan ho rahe honge bahar. Chal kar unhein bhi bol de ki tu gussa nahin hai.”

She nodded and they went out together.

Ashutosh looked at them nervously.

“I am sorry, Dr. Ashutosh,” Siddhi spoke relieving him of the tension, “I over-reacted.”

“Siddhi,” Ashutosh came to her smiling and caressed her head, “Tumhari zindagi se tumhari Di kahin nahin jayegi. Balki aur log tumhari zindagi mein aa jayenge. Thodee tumhari boriyat bhi kam hogi. Har samay apni Di ke saath rah-rah kar bore nahin ho jati tum?”

Siddhi grinned and Ashutosh hugged her. Nidhi watched on happily.

“Aaj to celebration hona chahiye?” Siddhi spoke suddenly.

“Kyon?”

“Are… Kya kahte hain woh – haan. Aaj meri Di ka rishta pakka hua hai.”

Nidhi laughed nervously, “Pagal hai tu Siddhi.”

“Aap bataiye Dr. Ashutosh. Main kuchh galat kah rahi hoon?” Siddhi said.

“Well… Kah to tum sahi rahi ho. Lekin Nidhi ki tabiyat kharaab hai. To aisa karte hain. Aaj uske liye sick food banate hain. Aur hum log pizza kha kar celebrate karte hain.”

“That’s not fair,” Nidhi mock complained.

“Fair to nahin hi hai. Pizza is not enough. But tumhari tabiyat ka khayaal karte hue aaj hum isse hi kaam chala lenge,” Sidhhi teased her, “Main Dr. Armaan aur Rahul ko phone kar ke bula loon?”

“Ruk ja Siddhi,” Nidhi stopped her, “Rahul ko carefully batana hoga…”

“Don’t worry, Nidhi,” Ashutosh assured her, “Use pata chalega ki tum uske saath rahogi, to woh khushi ke maare pagal ho jayega.”

“Phir bhi…”

“Main Armaan ko phone karta hoon.”

—

“Armaan. Tu ghar par hi hai na aaj?”

“Haan. Kyon?”

“Tujhe Nidhi ka ghar pata hai?”

“Nahin. Kyon? Pata hona chahiye tha kya?”

Ashutosh ignored his teasing remark, “Main tujhe address SMS karta hoon. Rahul ko le kar yahan aa ja.”

“Bade hukum chalaye ja rahe hain janaab. Baat kya hai?”

“Abhi tu aayega ki baaraat bhejni padegi tujhe laane ke liye?”

“Bhej hi de baaraat yaar. Aisa mauka phir kahan milega?”

“Armaan!”

“Nahin bhejega? Chal koi nahin. Aa jaata hoon. Bas address bhej de.”

“Rahul ko le aana.”

“Jo hukum mere aaka.”

—

“Nidhi Auntie,” Rahul ran excitedly towards Nidhi and she hugged him.

“Abhi mujhse door hi raho Rahul,” she suddenly remembered her cold, “Warna tumhein bhi zukaam ho jayega.”

“Aap ghar kyon nahin aayi?”

“Tabiyat kharaab thi na Rahul. Isliye to tumhein yahan bula liya.”

“Kya ho gaya aapko?” Armaan got concerned.

“Kuchh nahin Dr. Armaan. Bas zukaam ho gaya hai thoda.”

“To hum sab yahan Dr. Nidhi ke zukaam ko theek karne ke liye ikattha hue hain?” Armaan looked at Ashutosh.

“Nahin,” Ashutosh replied with a meaningful smile, “Hum ye pata karne ke liye ikattha hue hain ki agar Dr. Nidhi Rahul ke saath rahengi to Rahul ko kaisa lagega?”

“Sach?” Rahul was wide-eyed in surprise and excitement, “Nidhi Auntie hamare saath rahengi?”

“Tumhein achchha lagega?” Ashutosh kneeled to face Rahul and asked.

“Bahut mazaa aayega.”

Armaan looked from Ashutosh to Nidhi and back completely surprised by the turn of the events, while Nidhi just blushed and smiled and Siddhi grinned.

“Kya iska matlab wahi hai jo main samajh raha hoon?” he asked.

“Woh to is par depend karta hai Dr. Armaan,” Siddhi replied, “ki aap kya samajh rahe hain?”

Rahul’s question voiced Armaan’s too, “Nidhi Auntie meri Mummy ki tarah hamare saath rahengi?”

Everyone laughed and Nidhi blushed heavily.

“Haan Rahul,” Siddhi replied chirpily, “Aur tumhein mujhe Maasi bulana padega.”

“Main tumhein Maasi nahin bulaunga,” Rahul protested.

“Bulana padega,” Siddhi made a face to tease him and he ran after her to take revenge. Siddhi ran towards her room and Rahul followed her.

Armaan, Ashutosh and Nidhi looked after them and smiled.

“Nidhi,” Armaan turned towards her, “Pahle main tumhein congratulations aur thanks bol doon. For hanging in there. For waiting. And for winning your love.”

“Thank you Dr. Armaan. Lekin aisa nahin hai ki main kuchh aur kar sakti thi. Mujhe to intezaar karna hi tha.”

“God bless you,” Armaan patted her head affectionately, then turned towards Ashutosh, “Aur tu champu. Finally akal aa gayi tujhe.”

“Ab to maine woh kar diya jo tu chahta tha Armaan. Ab kyon taane maar raha hai?”

“Nahin. Ab to tujhe gale lagane ka time aa gaya hai. Aa ja!” They hugged. “Congratulations Ashu. Maine bahut khush hoon.”

“Chalo bhai. Pizza order karte hain,” Ashutosh said after their emotional exchange was over.

“Please poora menu mat order kijiyega Dr. Ashutosh,” Nidhi said, “Bachchon ko to Cheese pizza hi pasand aata hai. Aap aur Dr. Armaan uske alaawa apni pasand se order kar lijiye.”

“Theek hai. Aur tumhare liye khichdi bana lete hain.”

“Main bana loongi.”

“Main banaungi,” Siddhi came back to the hall and announced.

“Tu aakhiri baar paani lene bhi kab gayi thi kitchen mein Siddhi?” Nidhi laughed.

“To kya hua. Khichdi to main bana sakti hoon.”

“Achchha?”

“Bas ye bata do ki paani kitna daalna hai… Aur masala kaun sa aur kitna daalna hai…”

Everyone laughed and Ashutosh said, “Chalo. Hum dono mil kar banate hain Siddhi. Mujhe aata hai banana.”

“Rahne dijiye…”

“Sit down Nidhi. Tum beemaar ho. Beemaron ki tarah raho,” Ashutosh ordered good humouredly.

“Khaana to mujhe hi padega. Lekin theek hai…” Nidhi shrugged and sat down.

—