“Aaiye Dr. Nidhi. Bahut achchhe samay par aayi hain aap. Main aur Ashutosh kuchh kaam ki baatein discuss kar rahe the. Aap bhi join kijiye,” Dr. Armaan said when Nidhi joined them in the evening.

“To aapne bilkul galat kaha tha ki aap apne dost ki tarah workohalic nahin hain. Aap to unse bhi zyada bure hain. Apne beemaar dost se kaam ki baatein karte sharm nahin aati aapko?” Nidhi chided him pleasantly.

“Ashutosh. Ye tumhari intern hai ya body guard?” Armaan also quipped and they all laughed.

“Baithiye Dr. Nidhi,” Ashutosh said, “Abhi ke kissi kaam ki baat nahin ho rahi. Do hafte baad hai.”

“Achchha. Kya kaam hai?”

“Armaan ko aas paas ke gaon mein ek survey karna hai exisitng health facilities ka aur saath mein ek mini health camp bhi lagana hai jahan gaon waalon ka check up ho sake.”

“Interesting.”

“To hamein kuchh 7-8 logon ke team ki zaroorat hogi. Aap bhi join karna chahengi?”

“Zaroor. Ye to bahut achchha mauka hai.”

“Nahin Nidhi. It will be very tiring for you. Yahan ke villages ka infrastructure is nothing to be proud about. Pata nahin har jagah gaadi bhi jayegi ya nahin. Aur…”

“Dr. Ashutosh,” Nidhi interrupted, “Main aise bhi chhui mui nahin hoon. Utna kar sakti hoon.”

“Sure?”

“Ji!”

Ashutosh smiled appreciatively.

“Theek hai Ashutosh. Tum log baatein karo. Main planning poori karta hoon. Doosre hospitals se bhi dekhta hoon kaun kaun join karega. Bye Dr. Nidhi.”

“Bye Dr. Armaan.”

—

“So, tumhara din kaisa raha?”

“Th… Theek tha. Koi bhi critical case nahin tha.”

After she was left alone with Ashutosh, her nervousness had returned, her heart was racing and she was feeling clueless about what to do and how to behave. It reflected on her countenance and Ashutosh saw her fidgeting. He laughed slightly.

“Kya hua?” Nidhi asked.

“Tumhari halat dekh kar hansi aa rahi hai.”

“Meri halat ko kya hua hai?”

“Armaan ke saamne, ya Kaka ke saamne to ekdum confident chatterbox bani hui thi. Ab kya hua?”

“Kya matlab? K… Kuchh nahin hua. Haan. Aap apna laptop dijiye.”

“Kyon?”

“Photographs transfer karni hain. Maine flower vase ki li thi subah. Lekin aap kamre mein nahin the aur aapka password nahin pata tha. To transfer nahin kar payi.”

“Achchha. Ye lo.”

“Password to daaliye.”

“baba_ki_nishani”

“Ji?”

“Password.”

“Ye aapka password hai?”

“Haan Dr. Nidhi. Meri duniya uske chaaron or ghoomti hai. Jab tak woh mujhe mil nahin jayegi, tab tak mujhe lagta hai jaise ki meri zindagi usi pal mein atki rahegi jab Baba ki death hui thi aur main toot gaya tha. Bewkoofi hai na?”

“Mujhe to bewkoofi nahin lagti.”

“Kyon? Kya aapne kabhi aisi harqat khud bhi ki hai?”

“Nahin. Main to past par dwell nahin karti. Ya shayad mere past mein kuchh itna significant hai hi nahin. Mummy ka kuchh yaad hi nahin hai. Lekin aap different hain.”

“Aur usse tumhein koi problem nahin hai.”

“Problem? Problem kyon hogi. Agar duniya mein sab log mere jaise ho jaate to kissi patient ki jaan nahin bachti. Achchha hi hai ki aap mere jaise nahin hain.”

That made Ashutosh laugh. Nidhi also joined him. Her nervousness had subsided. She transferred the photographs and showed those to him.

“Bahut achchhi aayi hain.”

“Aap to aise hi appreciate kar rahe hain. Abhi kissi photography community par online upload karoongi to log iski dhajjiyan uda denge.”

“Isse mujhe kya farq padta hai Nidhi, ki auron ko kaisa lagta hai. Tumhein bhi to farq nahin padta ki log meri zidd ko ridiculous samajhte hain. Jab tak hum ek doosre ko samajhte aur appreciate karte hain, tab tak kissi aur se kya matlab hai?”

Nidhi smiled shyly.

“Main chalti hoon. Ghar par sab log wait kar rahe honge.”

Ashutosh nodded, “Bye Nidhi.”

“Aur haan. Main batana bhool gayi. Baba aapke baare mein poochh rahe the. Aur kah rahe the ki jab aap theek ho jayen to ghar zaroor aayen. Unhein aapse meri shikayatein karni hain.”

Ashutosh laughed, then asked, “Unhein pata hai ki tum yahan aati ho?”

“Haan. Kyon?”

“Nahin. Aise hi. Theek hone par main unse definitely miloonga.”

“Good night Sir.”

“Good night Nidhi.”

—

“Dr. Ashutosh.”

“Hmm?”

“Mujhse ab intezaar nahin hota?”

“Kis cheez ka?”

“Ye jaanne ka ki aapke Baba ki nishani kya hai?”

“Dikha doonga tumhein. Thodee door jaana padega isliye abhi beemaari se uth kar turat nahin jaana chahta.”

“Mujhe bataiye to ki woh cheez hai kya?”

Ashutosh smiled, “Tumhein itni bechaini kyon ho rahi hai?”

“Jis cheez mein aapki zindagi basti hai, saari khushiyan basti hain, mujhe pata tak nahin hai ki woh kya hai. To bechaini to hogi hi na.”

“Mujhse zyada tumhein us cheez ki parwaah hai, lagta hai?” Ashutosh teased.

“Kya karoon? Woh cheez aapko jo khushi de sakti hai, woh main nahin de sakti.”

Ashutosh’ smile disappared, “Aisa nahin hai Nidhi.”

“Aapko ise defend karne ko zaroorat nahin hai. Main shikayat nahin kar rahi. Lekin, please please please,” suddenly she pleaded like a child, “mujhe bas bata dijiye ki woh kya hai?”

“Achcha Ruko,” Ashutosh went to his writing desk and took out an album. He brought it to Nidhi, “Ye dekho.”

Nidhi was surprise to see the photo he was pointing towards, “Ye…”

“Baba ka ghar. Baba ka aur mera ghar. Apni will mein Baba apna sab kuchh mere naam kar gaye the. Lekin ye ghar… is ghar ke liye unhein meri yaad nahin rahi… Main aaj tak nahin samajh paya hoon ki Baba ne aisa kyon kiya. Jinke naam unhone ye ghar kiya, unse shayad woh kabhi mile tak nahin the. Aur us ghar ki jo halat ho rakhi hai, mujhe nahin lagta ki jinhein mila unke liye bhi is ghar ki koi kadra hai. Agar woh apni baaki daulat unke naam kar ke, bas ye ghar mujhe chhod jaate to main bahut khush rahta. Aur shayad woh log bhi.”

Nidhi was almost sure, but she wanted to confirm, “Kahan hai ye ghar?”

“Shahar se thoda door hai. Raibareli waali road par. Yahan se kuchh 14 kilometer hoga.”

“Ye is plate par kuchh to likha hai, samajh mein nahin aa raha is photo mein…”

“Address likha hai. Plot No. 21… Ye photograph achchi nahin hai. Purani hai na. Jab ye ghar mujhe wapas mil jayega Nidhi to tum iski achchhi si photo kheenchna.”

Nidhi didn’t immediately know how to react. She smiled nervously.

“Achchha. Ab main chalti hoon. Hospital ka time ho raha hai.”

“Theek hai. Kal se tumhein ye daily duty nahin karni padegi. Main bhi hospital jaunga.”

“Kal se? Lekin aapki tabiyat?”

“Itna bhi naazuk nahin hoon Nidhi. Main theek ho chuka hoon. Aaj tak ka aaraam kaafi hai.”

“Theek hai. Main shaam mein aapki situation dekhoongi. Phir decide karenge.”

—

“Baba.”

“Yes Nidhi.”

“Aapse ek baat poochhni thi.”

“Permission maang rahi ho? Agar mana kar doonga to nahin poochhogi?”

“Offo Baba. Mazaak nahin. Serious hoon.”

“Serious ho? Phir to badi baat hai. Poochho.”

“Baba. Hum log kabhi Nana se mile kyon nahin jab woh zinda the? Aur agar koi jhagda tha to jaate jaate woh apna makaan mere naam kyon kar gaye?”

Baba sighed, “Aaj achanak kyon poochh rahi ho?”

“Aise hi Baba. Family ke baare mein jaanne ki curiosity to hoti hai na?”

Baba looked at her intently for a second. Then smiled, “Ye bhi theek hai. Beta jhagda to koi nahin tha. Kyonki jhagda karne ka mauka hi nahin mila. Main ya tum to unse kabhi mile nahin. Tumhari Mummy bhi aakhiri baar unse tab mili thi, jab woh aath saal ki thi.”

“Kyon?”

“Andaaza hi laga sakta hoon Nidhi. Ki shayad gharelu zindagi unhein raas nahin aati thi. Explorer they woh. Duniya dekhna chahte the. Ghar-parivaar bandhan lagte the unhein. To woh ghar chhod kar chale gaye.”

“Ghar chhod kar chale gaye? Bas aise hi?”

“Haan.”

“Ye to zyaadati thi. Nani aur Mummy ne kaam kaise chalaya unke jaane ke baad?”

“Paison ki kami nahin thi ghar mein. Ye ganeemat thi. Lekin tumhari Mummy unhein bahut miss karti thi. Jitna unhein yaad tha, woh unse bahut pyaar karte the.”

“Aur phir bhi chhod kar chale gaye?”

“Insaan ki fitrat ko samajhna mushkil hai beta? Hamein unki kahani nahin maaloon hai to shayad unhein judge karna sahi nahin hoga. Jab insaan ki do alag alag zarooratein saamne aati hain, to ye kahna mushkil hai ki unmein se kiska palda bhaari padega. Unki jo bhi zaroorat unhein ghar se bahar kheench rahi thi, shayad apne parivar, apni beti ke liye unke pyaar se zyada badi thi.”

“Mujhe to nahin lagta ki pyaar se zyada badi koi cheez ho sakti hai.”

“I am happy ki tumhein aisa lagta hai Nidhi. Lekin har kissi ke liye to aisa nahin kaha ja sakta.”

“Agar Nana ke dil mein pyaar nahin hota to unhone baad mein kissi anaath bachche ko god kyon liya?”

“Tumhein kaise pata ye baat?”

“Woh. Baba… Bas pata hai. Shayad kabhi kahin suna tha. Aapse ya Dadi Bua se…”

“Bua ko nahin pata hai aur maine tumhein kabhi nahin bataya. Nidhi?”

“Baba. Abhi mat poochhiye please.”

“Theek hai. Nahin poochhta. Phir ek baar. Andaaza hi laga sakta hoon. Shayad zindagi mein kabhi akelapan unhein khalne laga ho. Isliye ek anaath ko apna kar use bharne ki koshish ki ho unhone.”

“Phir ye ghar mere naam kyon?”

“Mera khayaal hai ki shayad unhein kissi samay apne kiye ka dukh hua ho. Shayad unhein laga ho ki apni beti ke liye woh sab nahin kar paye jo karna chahiye tha. Lekin tab tak der ho chuki thi. Tumhari Mummy duniya mein nahin rahi. To unhone tumhein ye ghar de kar bhaarpai karni chahi.”

“Mummy unhein yaad karti thi?”

“Tumhari Mummy ne unhein bahut miss kiya tha. Unhein idolize karti thi woh.”

“Baawzood iske ki woh unhein chhod kar chale gaye the?”

“Haan Nidhi. Shayad woh bhi tumhari tarah thi. Pyaar karti thi apne Baba se. To uske aage aur kissi cheez se farq nahin padta tha.”

“Main unki tarah hoon Baba, woh meri tarah nahin.”

“Ye bhi theek hai. Waise jab itna bata diya hai to ye bhi sun lo ki tumhare doctor banne ke zimmedaar bhi tumhare Nana hi hain. Jab tumhari Mummy chhoti thi, woh aksar kaha karte the ki unhein doctor banna chahiye. Woh baat uske dimaag mein bachpan se baithi thi. Khud to use ghar waalon ne padhai karne nahin di. To isliye tumhare janm se pahle se hi usne kaha tha ki beta ho ya beti, use doctor banaungi.”

Nidhi smiled.

“Chalo. Ab aaj ke liye bahut kahaniyan ho gayi. Ab neend aa rahi hai mujhe.”

“Good night Baba.”

“Good night.”

—

Nidhi was unable to sleep. Fate had funny ways of twisting people’s lives. Both herself and Dr. Ashutosh were doctors because of Nana’s fascination with the profession. A lot of it made sense now. Both Mummy and Dr. Ashutosh had inherited their love for gardening and music from Nana. And indirectly, she too.

Her, Dr. Ashutosh, His Baba, Her Nana, Mummy – how entangled they all were. Mummy didn’t get what Dr. Ashutosh got. Nana’s fatherly love. And now Dr. Ashutosh did not get, what she had. Nana’s house. She smiled. It was now in her hands to end this cycle of deprivation. By bringing it all together. By gifting the house to Dr. Ashutosh. And then it will be theirs.

She smiled. Just then a message came on her cellphone. It was from Ashutosh, “Awake?”

She called him, “Aap soye nahin ab tak?”

“Neend nahin aa rahi thi.”

“Kal hospital jaane ki excitement ho rahi hogi aapko? Wards aur patients ko miss kar rahe honge aap?”

“Ye unfair hai Nidhi.”

“Kyon?”

“Ye possibility to tumne consider hi nahin ki main tumhare saath zyada samay bitane ke liye bhi excited ho sakta hoon.”

Her heart skipped a beat. She said, “Maine bhi aapko bahut miss kiya hai hospital mein. Lekin ab aap so jaiye. Neend poori nahin hui to I don’t think ki aap hospital jaane ki halat mein rahenge.”

“As you wish! Good night.”

“Good night.”

—

To be continued