“Dr. Nidhi. Aapne ye mangwaya tha,” Radhika came to hand over a report to Nidhi.

“Haan. Thanks Radhika.”

“Dr. Nidhi…”

“Yes?”

“Aapko dhanyawaad dena tha. Hamein pata chala ki aapki wajah se hi hamein ye naukri mili hai… Aapne hi Dr. Ashutosh…”

“Iski koi zaroorat nahin hai Radhika. Unhein kissi na kissi ko to kaam par rakhna hi tha. Tumhein rakh liya. Ismein kaun si badee baat hai…”

“Aapke liye nahin hai. Lekin mere liye…”

Suddenly Radhika covered her mouth and looked like she was about to puke. She ran away from there. Worried, Nidhi also went after her.

“Tum theek ho?” Nidhi asked after she had relieved herself.

“Ji.”

“Tabiyat kharaab ho to chhutti le lo.”

“Nahin. Nahin. Ye to bas aise hi…”

“Radhika. Tum jab se aayi ho, tabhi se mujhe lag raha hai ki tumhari tabiyat theek nahin hai. Mujhe check up karne do. Tum yahan kaam karti ho. Paison ki chinta karne ki zaroorat nahin hai.”

“Nahin Dr. Nidhi. Hamein pata hai na…”

“Tum check up kyon nahin karwana chahti?”

“Hum bilkul theek hain,” Radhika tried to evade her and made to go.

“Ek minute,” Nidhi stopped her and held her wrist without waiting for her permission. She looked at her watch and made a rough estimate of her pulse rate. “Tum pregnant ho kya?” The wide-eyed, expressionless stare from Radhika made Nidhi think that she did not understand her question. “Tum pet se ho?” she repeated in Hindi.

“Hum jaante hain aap kya kah rahi hain? Lekin Dr. Nidhi. Bhagwaan ke liye aap kissi ko batayen nahin. Hamare liye bahut mushkil ho jayegi…”

“Ye kya bewkoofi hai?” Nidhi didn’t have patience to put up with her careless behaviour now, “Kissi ko bataogi nahin to… Apne bachche ko maarne ka iraada hai kya? Tum x-ray unit mein kaam kar rahi ho. Ye khatarnaak hai…”

“Nahin. Nahin. Dr. Nidhi. Aisa kaise ho sakta hai? X-Ray to karte hain na bachchon ka. Hamare gaon mein woh pata laga lete the ki ladka hai ya ladki.”

“Oh God! Woh ultrasound hota hai Radhika. Illegal hai, lekin x-ray nahin. Tumne hamein bataya kyon nahin pahle? Aur tumhare ghar waale? Woh tumhein is haalat mein at all kaam karne hi kyon de rahe hain? Kissi ko is bachche ki parwaah nahin hai kya?” Nidhi’s bitterness about irresponsible parents was at the fore again.

Radhika got tears in her eyes, “Aisa mat kahiye Dr. Nidhi. Apne bachche ke liye hi to hum zinda hain… ye sab kar rahe hain… Lekin kissi ko pata lag gaya to…”

“Tum logon ko batane mein itna kyon ghabra rahi ho? Ismein sharm mahsoos karne ki kya baat hai?” Nidhi calmed down a bit seeing her tears. But Radhika did not reply and started cyring openly.

“Kya hua Radhika? Bataogi nahin to koi solution kaise milega? Tumhein ghar mein koi support nahin kar sakta tumhein?”

“Ghar waalon se hi bacha kar to ise yahan laaye hain hum.”

“Kya matlab?”

“Unki izzat jaati hai is bachche ko duniya mein laane mein.”

“Lekin kyon? Aur tum bhi aise behave kar rahi ho jaise… Radhika… Kya kissi ne tumhare saath zabardasti ki thi? Rape hua tha kya tumhara.”

She shook her head.

“Phir is bachche ka baap kaun hai?”

“Mar gaya woh ise aur hamein bachane ke liye,” Radhika sobbed.

Nidhi supported her and found a place to make her sit.

“Shaant ho jao. Tum is bachche ke liye sab kar rahi ho na. Agar aise pareshaan rahogi to bachche par bura asar padega.”

That immediately had the desired effect on Radhika. She wiped her tears.

Nidhi prodded her to get more information out of her. Radhika had fallen in love with a boy in her village. He was college-educated and had a good job in the nearby town. But he belonged to a lower caste and her family could never accept it. As soon as she turned eighteen, they tried to get her married to someone from their caste. She was left with no option, but to run away with her lover. They escaped to the town he worked in, where his family had also migrated to, got married and had started settling into their new lives, when Radhika’s family contacted them. The told her that they had accepted their marriage and begged her to come back once. They were dying to meet her and their son-in-law. She was missing her childhood home and family and agreed readily. Neither she, nor her husband realized that it was a trap. The family was planning to kill them even before they reached the village. And they succeeded in killing her husband. But before dying, he managed to keep them at bay for long enough to allow her to escape. He made her promise that she would save their unborn child. She had known some of their attackers and had tried to plead with them for her unborn baby’s life hoping to save them all. But that did not arouse any sympathy in them. In fact, they became even more blood-thirsty for the “dogla”, she was carrying. So, she had to leave her dead husband behind and escape. She came to Lucknow. She remembered Dr. Ashutosh and Kotnis and came there for help.

“Tum apne sasural wapas kyon nahin gayi?”

“Unke bete ko hamare ghar waalon ne maar daala tha. Kya munh lekar jaate hum wahan? Aur hum wapas jaate to shayad unki jaan par bhi aafat ban aati.”

“Phir tumne Dr. Ashutosh ko apni pregnancy ke baare mein kyon nahin bataya? Kam-se-kam hum tumhare liye koi safe job dhoondhte.”

“Woh hamare baare mein kya sochte Dr. Nidhi? Ek akeli, garbhvati ladki ke charitra par kaun vishwaas karta hai? Hum ye khatra nahin utha sakte the. Unki madad hi hamara ek-matra raasta tha. Agar unhone hamein…”

“Dr. Ashutosh aise nahin hai Radhika. Lekin khair… Abhi mujhe nahin lagta ki tum kaam karne ki halat mein ho… Hum Gyneacology mein chalte hain. Tumhara checkup karwate hain. Kabhi check-up karwyaa hai tumne? Koi dawai wagerah le rahi ho?”

She shook her head. Nidhi sighed. She was doing all this for her child. And she was too naive and young to know how to protect her child.

“Mujhe bas das-pandrah minute lagenege wapas aane mein. Main ward ka kaam khatm kar loon. Aur x-ray mein bhi inform kar doon ki tum baaki ke din kaam nahin kar sakti. Phir tumhare saath chalti hoon. Tab tak yahin rahna. Theek hai?”

“Ji.”

—

Nidhi came back home late that day. There was a lot of work followed by an interns get-together. Ashutosh had come back earlier. When Nidhi entered the house, she saw him sitting with Siddhi and Rahul. He was teaching them some chess moves. The scene before her made her smile and she felt better despite her exhaustion. Ashutosh felt her gaze on him after a few moments. He looked up from the chess board and raised his eyebrows in a silent question asking what happened. Nidhi shook her head smiling and sat down beside him on the sofa. Siddhi and Rahul were engrossed in understanding the chess position and did not say anything.

“Khane mein kya bana hai?” Nidhi asked after Ashutosh had finished explaining the position to Siddhi and Rahul and asked them to play a game on their own.

“Tum kha kar nahin aayi?”

“Nahin. Maine socha ghar par hi kha loon.”

“Hiraman Kaka ki tabiyat kharaab thi. To maine unhein cook karne se mana kar diya. Khaana order kar diya hai. Aata hoga thodee der mein.”

“Hmm…”

“Bahut thak gayi ho?”

“Haan.”

“Haath-munh dho lo.”

“Ji,” Nidhi said and got up.

When she came back, Siddhi and Rahul were still engrossed with chess. She saw Ashutosh bringing two cups of tea and putting them on the dining table. The dining table was slightly far from where Rahul and Siddhi were sitting. Ashutosh indicated to her to come there.

“Aapne banayi chai?” she asked sounding a little surprised.

“Aata hai mujhe,” Ashutosh replied with fake coldness.

“I know. Aapko sab kuchh aata hai. Thanks for the tea.”

“You are welcome,” he smiled.

“Dr. Ashutosh!” Nidhi said while sipping the tea.

“Hmm?”

“I think Hiraman Kaka ki ab umar ho gayi hai. Hamein kitchen ke kaam ke liye kissi aur ko rakh lena chahiye.”

“Nidhi. Ab main unhein aise nikaal to nahin sakta? Itne saalon se…”

“Nikaalne ki baat kaun kar raha hai. Hum unke saath kissi aur ko rakh sakte hain. Unhein bhi thoda aaraam mil jayega.”

“Ah! Okay. Good idea! Dhoondhna padega koi…”

“Mujhe pata hai kise rakhna hai…”

“Okay. Baat kar lo phir tum…”

“Dr. Ashutosh…” Nidhi suddenly interrupted.

“Yes?”

“I think… I want a baby…” she spoke hesitatingly.

Ashutosh looked around sheepishly as if he was likely to be caught doing something inappropriate. “Now?” he asked looking genuinely embarrassed.

“Dr. Ashutosh,” she hit him in mock anger and he chuckled.

“Hansna band kijiye,” she whined.

“Okay. Okay Baba. Lekin ye nek khayaal suddenly tumhein kaise aaya?”

“Aap mera mazaak udaana band karenge, to main kuchh bataungi.”

“Nidhi,” he pressed her hand, “Tum achchhi tarah se jaanti ho ki agar tum serious ho to mujhse zyada khush aur koi nahin hoga. Lekin mere liye ye ensure karna zaroori hai ki tum itna bada faisla kissi frivolous reason se nahin badal rahi ho.”

“Dr. Ashutosh. Mujhe mahsoos hua ki main irresponsible aur incompetent parents ko kuchh zyada hi ahmiyat de rahi thi apni life ke faislon mein. Aur un parents ki or nahin dekh rahi thi jo ki apne bachchon ko bahut pyaar se paalte hain, unke liye kissi bhi had tak ja sakte hain.”

“Jaise?”

“Aap.”

“Nidhi!”

“Rahul itna chhota tha, jab aapne akele uski responsibility uthayi. Itne chhote bachche ko bina Ma ke paalna aasaan to nahin ho sakta. Lekin… Look at him…” she looked at Rahul fondly, “Uske saath paanch minute baith kar hi kissi ko bhi pata chal jaayega ki uski parvarish kitne achchhe se hui hai. Preeti ki Mom bhi kah rahi thi…”

“Nidhi. Apni taareef sunna mujhe bahut achchha lag raha hai. Lekin tum mujhse aur Rahul se aaj hi pahli baar to nahin mili ho? Kuchh aur hua hai, right? Batao mujhe.”

She sighed, “Aaj Radhika aayi thi ward mein.”

“Okay?”

“Dr. Ashutosh. Uske parivaar waale gaon se bhaag kar nahin aaye hain. Woh unse bhaag kar aayi hai. Akeli. Apne bachche ko bachane ke liye.”

“Bachcha?” Ashutosh was surprised.

“She is pregnant.” Then she went on to tell Ashutosh her entire story.

“Oh my God!” Ashutosh exclaimed when she finished, “Nidhi. Use x-ray unit mein kaam nahin karna chahiye. Oh! I see… Tum use hi ghar par rakhna chahti ho, right? Kitchen ke kaam ke liye.”

Nidhi grinned foolishly.

“Nidhi. Mujhe bahut khushi hogi tumhare is faisle se. Lekin main abhi ise final nahin maan raha. Ek to main chahta hoon ki tum thandhe dimaag se soch-samajh lo. Doosra this is too early for you. Abhi tumhari internship khatam hogi. Tumhein PG karna hai. Specialize karna hai…”

“Lekin woh sab karne mein to bahut der ho jayegi…” Nidhi looked agitated.

“Are. Abhi kal tak to tumhein bachche chahiye hi nahin the. Aur ab itni jaldbaazi…”

“Jaldbaazi mujhe nahin hai…” she retorted, but stopped and bit her lips.

“To mujhe hai?”

“Nahin hai?” she asked innocently.

Ashutosh laughed out so loud that it drew the attention of Rahul and Siddhi too. “Kya hua?” they asked in chorus.

“Kuchh nahin. Tum log continue karo.”

Rahul was still distracted and wanted to know more, but Siddhi shrugged and pulled him back to the game.

“Dr. Nidhi Verma,” Ashutosh addressed her a low, amused voice, “And I am emphasizing on the ‘doctor’ here. Biologically men have a little more leeway in terms of time. So, don’t worry. We have a few years to do this. Agle five year plan mein bhi chalega.”

Nidhi rolled her eyes faking anger at his joke, but finally smiled.

—

6 years later…

Dr. Nidhi Verma, now a pediatric surgeon, opened her eyes on the hospital bed to see her husband, Dr. Ashutosh Mathur, gently swiinging a baby’s crib near her bed.

“Dr. Ashutosh…” she called him in a weak voice. His eyes shone as he looked at her. He sat down beside her, the crib still within the reach of his other hand, and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Congratulations Nidhi,” he smiled.

“Baby?”

“Baby ko tumhein doonga to mujhe kya milega?” he said with a playful smile on his lips.

“Ab aap abhi bhi mujhe chidhayenge?”

“Hamare ek darzan bachche bhi ho jayen, to bhi main tumhein chidhaunga.”

“Please!”

“Chalo. Is baar tum sasti chhoti. Kyonki my little girl was really, really waiting for her Mommy to wake up.” Ashutosh picked the baby up from the crib and handed it carefully to Nidhi. Nidhi held the baby apprehensively. It was sleeping peacefully.

Nidhi smiled nervously, “Mujhe bahut dar lag raha hai.”

“Pagal ladki. Darne ka time to chala gaya. Ab to sirf maze karne ka time hai,” he patted her head assuringly, and sat down beside her. “You will be a great mother Nidhi. Trust me.”

Nidhi rested her head on Ashutosh shoulder, while pulling the baby close to her heart.

“Di!” Siddhi barged into the room just then, Rahul following her closely, “Tumhein hosh aa gaya. Tum theek ho?”

“Itna parehsaan kyon ho rahi hai? Operation hona tha ye to pahle se hi pata hi tha.”

“Haan. Lekin…”

“Siddhi bahut dari hui thi,” Ashutosh told Nidhi.

“Pagal. Main bilkul theek hoon.”

“Can I hold her, Di?” Siddhi asked about the baby.

“Pahle main,” Rahul interrupted.

“Bilkul nahin. Tum chhote ho,” Siddhi wasn’t letting him have his way that easily.

“Agar tum ise pahle logi to iska naam main rakhoonga,” Rahul was ready with the bargain.

“Are. Naam kab soch liye aapne Rahul?” Ashutosh asked, “Nidhi se to poochh lo ki pasand hai ya nahin.”

“Rahul ki aur meri baat ho chuki hai Dr. Ashutosh. Iska naam Rahul hi rakhega,” Nidhi interrupted, then handed the baby to Siddhi, “Le Siddhi. Aur sambhaal kar.”

“Thank you, Nidhi Auntie,” Rahul pretended to pull up his collar in pride, while Siddhi picked up the baby carefully.

“Di. Kitni khoobsoorat hai. Ye bhi actress banegi.”

“‘Ye bhi’ ka kya matlab hai? Tu kab ban gayi actress? Pahle padhai khatam kar apni.”

“Tum bahut boring ho Di. Tumhara wash chale to ise bhi apni hi tarah night-duties mein laga do har roz.”

“Nidhi Auntie boring nahin hai,” fourteen year old Rahul was still childishly protective towards Nidhi.

“Nahin Rahul. Tumhari Nidhi Auntie mein kuchh bhi gadbad kaise ho sakta hai?” Siddhi teased him. While Rahul glared at her, everyone laughed.

“Are Di. Main bhool gayi. Radhika ne tumhare liye ye kuchh ghee ka halwa bheja hai. Aur koi totka bhi hai. Supposedly buri nazar se bachane ke liye.”

“Radhika aur uske totke!” Nidhi shook her head with a smile, “Lekin chal. Baby ko chhua de, warna use bura lag jayega. Ab Rahul naam to bata do iska. Kab tak baby kah ke bulate rahenge?”

“Anushree!” Rahul said excitedly, “Ismein A, N, S aur R sab aate hain. Ashutosh, Nidhi, Siddhi aur Rahul.”

“Wow!” Siddhi exclaimed.

“Anushree,” Nidhi and Ashutosh repeated with a smile.

– The End –

P. S. Everyone who has read the story, even if you have not commented till now, please do so on this update and let me know that you have been reading 🙂 I know from the traffic numbers that far more people are reading than are commenting. That is fine! But would be nice to know once in a while 🙂 And what better time than the conclusion of a long story?