“Dr. Ashutosh.”

“Yes Siddhi?”

“Aap poora Europe ghoome hue hain na?”

“Main tumhein koi wandering gypsy dikhta hoon? Poora Europe nahin ghooma hua hoon. Lekin haan – kaafi saare popular tourist places dekhe hue hain and some more – for conferences and all.”

“Aapne apni medicine ki padhai bhi to London mein ki thi na?”

“Haan.”

“Aur phir US mein bhi?”

“Haan.”

“Dr. Ashutosh. US better hai ya Europe?”

“Umm… Depend karta hai ki tumhein karna kya hai?”

“Matlab?”

“Science, engineering in sab ke liye US relatively better hai. Arts wagerah ke liye Europe bhi achchha hai. Zyada kaam karna hai to US jao. Aur…”

“Main padhai ki baat nahin kar rahi thi Dr. Ashutosh?”

“Phir?”

“Masti ki…”

“Siddhi. Ye kya Dr. Ashutosh… Dr. Ashutosh laga rakha hai? Thake hue honge Dr. Ashutosh,” Nidhi entered with the tea-tray. Ashutosh had dropped Rahul at one of his friend’s place for a birthday party and had come to Nidhi’s house. They were planning to leave for a dinner at night from there and would pick Rahul up on their way. Armaan would meet them at the restaurant after his work.

“Sahi kah rahi ho. Main aapko Dr. Ashutosh kyon bulati hoon?” Siddhi said.

“To aur kya bulayegi?” Nidhi asked slightly confused.

“Jijaji? Nahin?”

Nidhi’s face colored while Ashutosh laughed.

“Aapko bahut mazaa aata hai Dr. Ashutosh iski aisi harquaton par?” Nidhi addressed Ashutosh with fake irritation.

“Aur tum bhi kab tak inhein Dr. Ashutosh bulaogi?” Siddhi was brazen.

“Are! To ab main kya bulaungi inhein?”

“Woh to tumhare aapas mein decide karne ki baat hai. Lekin Dr. Ashutosh? Ye boss ko address karne ke liye theek hai, husband ko nahin.”

“Shut up Siddhi.”

“Lo. Achchi advice ki to koi kadra hi nahin hai. Khair mera kya…”

Just then the doorbell rang.

“Ja kar dekh kaun hai.”

“Haan. Haan. Bhaga do mujhe!”

“Waise Nidhi,” Ashutosh pretended to be serious when Siddhi left to check the door, “Tumne Siddhi ko daant to diya. Lekin baat to woh sahi kah rahi thi.”

“Kya?”

“Tum mujhe kab tak Dr. Ashutosh bulaogi?”

“To main aapko aur kya bulaungi?”

“Ashutosh? Ashu?”

“Impossible.”

“Kyon?”

“Main… Main aapki bahut respect karti hoon Dr. Ashutosh.”

“Ditto.”

“Ji?”

“Main bhi tumhari bahut respect karta hoon. Tumhein shayad idea nahin hai, itna. Tumse pyaar karne se pahle se tumhari respect karta hoon. Lekin that is a completely tangential discussion. It has nothing to do with what you call me.”

“Aap… Main aapko Dr. Ashutosh ke alaawa kuchh nahin bula sakti.”

“Ye nahin chalega.”

“Achchha. To mujhse kuchh aur bulwa kar dikhaiye,” Nidhi grinned naughtily.

“Challenge kar rahi ho?”

Nidhi nodded, still grinning.

“Di!” they were interrupted by Siddhi, “Preeti aayi hai. Aur uski Mom.”

Ashutosh and Nidhi turned back in surprise.

“Preeti? Kaisi ho tum?” They had been worried about her earlier. Since the day Nidhi had given her the medicines and later the drama had unfolded at the hospital, she hadn’t been coming to the school. Siddhi had tried calling her up , but they always declared it to be the wrong number when she asked for Preeti. Thinkgin that they recognized her and were snubbing her, she had even gotten couple of other girls from the school to call. But the result was the same.

“Main theek hoon Dr. Nidhi. Mom aapse milna chahti thi.”

“I’m sorry…” Priya Singhal, Preeti’s mother, started speaking, when Ashutosh interrupted, “Aap log please baithiye na.”

“Haan. Please,” Nidhi also hastily supported him, thankful to have Ashutosh around. He remembered social protocols. She hadn’t had much chance to practice those for several years now and was prone to making mistakes.

“Thanks.”

Nidhi took a good look at the elderly, but smart-looking woman before her. When she spoke, she came across as an educated, aware woman. This wasn’t the picture of a meek woman and helpless mother that Nidhi had in mind.

“I am sorry, Dr. Nidhi. Main bina bataye aa gayi. Lekin mujhe laga ki jo mere husband ne kiya, uske baad agar main aapse baat karne ki koshish karoongi to shayad aap mujhse milne ke liye kabhi nahin maanengi.”

“Aisa kuchh nahin hai,” the situation was awkward, “Actually hum sab log Preeti ke liye worried the. Tumhare ghao theek hain ab?”

“Ab better hai,” Priya replied instead of Preeti, “Hum doctor ke paas gaye the. Unhone bataya ki agar aapne samay rahte use dawai nahin di hoti, to infection ka khatra tha. Thanks a lot.”

“That’s all right. Woh mera farz tha… Waise Siddhi ne kai baar Preeti ko call karne ki koshish ki thi…”

“Preeti aur main ghar par nahin the.”

“Ji?”

“We have left that horrible house and family behind Dr. Nidhi.”

“Aap log kahan rah rahe hain?” Ashutosh asked.

“Mere bhai ke saath. He has been incredibly supportive.”

“That’s great.”

“Main aapko thanks kahne aayi thi. For several things…”

“Mujhe?”

“Haan. Pahle to Preeti ki treatment ke liye. Main itna dari hui thi ki use doctor ke paas bhi le kar nahin gayi… Jab woh dawaiyan le kar ghar aayi tab mujhe mahsoos hua ki how I was failing her as a mother. Aur phir later in the day Ramesh ne word-by-word mujhe bataya ki hospital mein kya hua tha. Aur mujhe bahut intensely ye mahsoos hua ki main kitne ghatiya aur self-centered, narcissist insaan ke saath rah rahi thi. Itna sab kuchh hone ke baad bhi unhein nahin lagta ki unhone kuchh galat kiya. Phir maine ye bhi socha ki aap itni young ho kar apno ke liye itni fiercely protective hain. Aur main aaj tak na to apne beton ko sahi raasta dikha paayi, na hi apni beti ko protect kar payi. Pata nahin main itne saalon se kya hope kar rahi thi, ki kya badal jaayega. Kuchh nahin badalne waala hai us ghar mein. Beton ke liye bahut der ho chuki thi. Isliye beti ko le kar nikal aayi.”

“Aapne sahi decision liya Mrs. Singhal,” Ashutosh said, “Preeti ke future ke liye yahi sahi hai. I don’t know aapke aage ke kya plan hain, but if you need any help… A lawyer…”

“Thanks Dr. Ashutosh. Lekin nahin. Maine itne saal barbaad kar diye, us insaan ke saath rahne ki koshish mein. Ab us par aur samay barbaad nahin karoongi.”

“Lekin Preeti aur aapka financial right hai…” Nidhi spoke suddenly, but did not complete it. It might be too intrusive.

But Priya smiled. “Yahi cheez to mujhe aur bhi guilty feel karwa rahi hai, Nidhi. Money was not a problem. Meri family khud hi financially bahut strong hai. Warna tumhein lagta hai meri shaadi us pariwaar mein hui hoti,” she laughed slightly at this and continued, “Aur mere father sufficient property aur shares mere naam kar ke gaye hain. Main paison ki kami se nahin, us social aur moral pressure se bandhi hui thi, which was taking me nowhere. Your mother was different.”

“Aap Mummy ko jaanti thi?” Siddhi asked expectantly.

“Of course,” Priya smiled sadly, “Aur jab tum hamare ghar aayi thi, tab tumhein dekhte hi mujhe shaq hua tha ki tum… Dekhne mein Nandu bilkul tumhare jaisi thi aur rebel karne mein bilkul tumhari sister ke jaisi thi. Ramesh ko itne saalon pahle usne jawaab diya tha, aur ab itne saalon ke baad Nidhi ne.”

Nidhi looked on, not knowing how to feel.

“Tum log Nandu ko bahut miss karte hoge, right?”

“Nahin,” Nidhi said sharply,”Nahin miss karte hain hum unhein. Kyon miss karein? Abne bhai se, apne father se rebel karne ki himmat thi unmein. Hamare liye zinda rahne ki himmat nahin thi…”

“Nidhi!” Ashutosh pressed her hand silently asking her to not get agitated.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

“No. I am sorry,” Priya said, “I am sorry Nidhi ki tumhari Mummy ko immaturely rebel karne ki zaroorat padi. She did it for the heck of it, you know. Kyonki ghar ka mahaul itna repressive tha. She didn’t take the right decision. But really – she never had any chance. She was an independent spirit. Us ghar mein woh sahi direction mein develop nahin ho sakti thi.”

“I know… Itna to ab mujhe samajh mein aa gaya hai… Preeti ki halat dekhi to… Khair rahne dijiye. Main purani baaton ko yaad nahin karna chahti. Abhi hamein is baat se khush rahne chahiye ki Preeti won’t become another Nandini. Right Preeti? You are out of that hell. Now you can live your life with independence, but also with maturity.”

“Yes Dr. Nidhi.”

“You know something Preeti. Dr. Nidhi is your cousin. Fine – we are related through a man who none of us is proud of. But does that need to affect our relationship?”

“I… guess… not…” Nidhi replied slowly looking at Ashutosh for confirmation. He nodded slightly giving her a go-ahead.

Everyone smiled and Preeti said, “Pata hai. Mujhe Siddhi se bahut jealousy hoti hai. Uske paas aapke jaisi sister hai. Kahti hai ki meri Di mere liye kissi ki jaan bhi le sakti hain.”

“Really Siddhi?” Nidhi pretended to chide Siddhi, “Tu sabko ye kahti rahti hai kya? Agar maine sach-much kabhi kuchh kar diya, to mujhe nahin lagta ki tera koi bhi dost mere favour mein testimony dega. Sabko bharosa hoga ki main jaan to le hi sakti hoon.”

Everyone laughed and Siddhi retorted, “Main galat kah rahi hoon kya Dr. Ashutosh? Jaan to le sakti hai na ye?”

“I agree!” Ashutosh was totally by Siddhi’s side.

“Ramesh will agree too,” Priya also joined in, “Nidhi ne bilkul yahi dhamki di thi unhein. Right Nidhi?”

“Aapko kaise pata?”

“Main kaha na. Ramesh ne verbatim mujhe bataya. He is an egoistic man. Apni insult ka ek lafz nahin bhoolte. You said something like ki agar Siddhi ya Dr. Ashutosh ke saath unhone kuchh kiya to tum apne haathon se unhein maar daalogi.”

“Oh God!” Nidhi hit her forehead in embarrassment, while everybody else laughed.

“To mera point ye tha ki kya main bhi aapko Di bula sakti hoon?” Preeti asked earnestly.

“Uske liye to tumhein Nidhi ki nahin, Siddhi ki permission leni padegi. Ye to uska haq hai,” Ashutosh said jovially.

“Oh. Don’t worry about me Preeti. Mujhe koi problem nahin hai. Meri Di ekdum Mother India types hain. Bahut bada dil hai inka. Sabke liye jagah hai,” Siddhi grinned.

“Aap sab log mere peechhe kyon pade hue hain?” Nidhi was flustered with everyone’s leg pulling.

“Aur koi mujhe meri baat poori karne kyon nahin de raha?” Preeti also had a complaint, “Mere sawaal ka jawaab kya hai?”

“Of course. Bula sakti ho Preeti,” Nidhi answered with a smile.

“Thanks!” Preeti also smiled.

“Chalo. Ab hamein nikalna chahiye. Bina inform kiye hum aa gaye aur kaafee time barbaad kar diya sabka…”

“Nahin Mrs. Singhal. Chai to pee kar jaiye,” Nidhi objected.

“Nahin Nidhi. Takalluf ki zaroorat nahin hai…”

“Please. Main bas do minute mein laati hoon.”

“Achchha. Chalo, main tumhari help karti hoon.”

“Lekin…”

“Chalo to…”

—

To be continued