“Nidhi. Ab kahan ho tum?” Ashutosh called her after coming out of the bathroom. She was nowhere to be seen.

“Nidhi. Shararatein bahut ho gayin. Mujhe bhookh lagi aur der bhi ho rahi hai. Jaldi aao. Khana khate hain.”

His phone rang and it was Nidhi. Had she left already?

“Hello. Nidhi. Kahan ho tum?”

“Aap mujhe promise kijiye ki aap mujhse badla nahin lenge,” she whispered, “tabhi main aapke saamne aaungi?”

“Kaisa badla? Aur tum aise… aise kyon bol rahi ho?” Ashutosh was exasperated. She had that effect on him often. Though the exasperation changed into amusement all the time. This time it was no exception.

“Aap mere face par cake nahin lagayenge, promise?”

Ashutosh had to smile, “Nahin lagaunga baba. Ab saamne aao. Aise whisper karte hue tumhari baat samajh mein aana bahut mushkil hai.”

Hardly had he finished his sentence that he saw Nidhi emerging from nowhere other than his own bedroom. His heart skipped a beat. It felt so natural to see her coming out of there that it was strange. Nobody had invaded his private space with such authority as Nidhi did. And to top that he liked it!

But he pulled himself together and got back into the playful mood. He approached her and surprised her by holding her hand and turning her around pinning her hand at her back. He was standing behind her so she could not see the smirk on his face.

“Ye aap kya kar rahe hain?”

“Ensure kar raha hoon ki tum bhaag na jao jab tak main ye sochoon ki tumhari shararat ki sazaa tumhein kaise di jaye?”

“Ye kya baat hui Dr. Ashutosh. Aapne mujhse waada kiya tha ki aap mujhse badla nahin lenge. Apni baat se peechhe hatna aapko suit nahin karta.”

“Dr. Nidhi, maine sirf itna waada kiya tha ki main aapke chehre par cake nahin lagaunga.”

“This is not fair Dr. Ashutosh. Chhodiye mujhe. Dard ho raha hai,” she complained.

“Achcha!” Ashutosh knew very well that the way he was holding her it couldn’t be hurting her, “Theek hai. Chhod doonga. Lekin tab jab tum mujhe mere naam se bulaogi.”

“Kya?”

“Mera naam.”

“Main ye nahin kar sakti.”

“To mujhe kuchh aur sochna padega. Soch lo. Woh zyada mushkil ho sakta hai,” his voice was suggestive and naughty.

Nidhi felt nervous for the first time during the evening. She gulped so hard that Ashutosh could hear it. His own heart started beating faster.

“Theek hai.” Nidhi said in a small, shaking voice, “Ashutosh. Please mera haath chhodiye.”

His grip had loosened just by hearing his name from her. She didn’t even need to complete her sentence.

As she turned around to face him, they felt how close they were standing to each other. Ashutosh held her by her shoulders as if in a trance and suddenly pulled her in a bone crushing hug. Nidhi responded with a fervour as if this was the moment she had been waiting for all her life. Their grip tightened around each other and soon they were caressing each other’s back passionately.

Ashutosh was the one to come to his senses first. He suddenly broke the hug and stepped back. The silence prevailed as they looked around at everything except each other for few awkward moments.

“I… I am sorry,” Ashutosh broke the silence and looked at Nidhi guiltily.

Nidhi looked at him a little surprised, “Aap sorry kyon bol rahe hain?”

“Nahin… Nahin Nidhi. Don’t get me wrong,” he hastened to clarify as he realized that his sorry could be misinterpreted, “Mera ye matlab nahin hai ki kuchh galat hua hai. Just that… we should be careful. Jaldbaazi mein kabhi kuchh aisa nahin hona chahiye jiska aage ja kar pachhtava ho. I hope tum samajh rahi ho,” he laughed nervously, “Shayad main thode purane khayalon ka aadmi hoon…”

“Nahin,” Nidhi was back to her assured self, “Aap bahut hi nek khayalon ke aadmi hain. Aur isliye main aapki itni izzat karti hoon. Aur aap par itna bharosa karti hoon.”

Ashutosh looked at her in admiration. How simply and easily could she express herself. He didn’t have that ability. He always fumbled for the right words, always worried that he would do it wrong. But thankfully despite all that Nidhi did not misunderstand him.

“Waise tum ghar par bata kar to aayi ho ki tum yahan ho?”

“Nahin. Maine kaha hai ki hospital mein duty extend ho gayi hai.”

“Kyon?”

“Baar baar Baba ko bolna ajeeb lagta hai ki main aapke ghar par hoon.”

“Nidhi. Ye sahi nahin hai. Meri wajah se tumhein ghar par jhooth bolna padta hai…”

“Sahi to nahin hai. Lekin abhi koi chaara bhi to nahin hai. Jab tak Baba se baat na kar lein… Ya uske baad bhi…”

“Tum sahi kah rahi ho Nidhi. Lekin ek kaam to hum kar hi sakte hain na. Ki aise samay mein milein jab tumhein koi bahana na banana pade.”

“To phir hum dinner saath nahin kar sakte hain?” she pouted again.

“Lunch to kar sakte hain?” Ashutosh smiled patronizingly.

“Lunch ke liye chhip kar alag alag nikalna padega. Aur phir bhi log notice kar sakte hain. Too risky! And too much tension.”

“Tumhein satisfy karna mushkil hai. Theek hai. Hum dinner kar sakte hain saath mein. Lekin early dinner karenge, jab bhi karenge. 7 baje tak shuru kar denge, taki tum 9 baje tak ghar ja sako. Okay?”

“Okay!” Nidhi made a face, but accepted.

Ashutosh smiled. They did manage to work it out every time.

“Lekin…” Nidhi started saying, but stopped.

“Kya hua?”

“Aapne ye kyon kaha ki mujhe satisfy karna mushkil hai. Aapka man nahin hota…”

Ashutosh sighed. “Mera man, Nidhi?” he said in a dreamy voice, “Mere man ki sunne se to main darta hoon. Main to kissi ke saath ke liye, pyaar ke liye, dosti ke liye itna tarsa hua hoon ki man karta hai ki tumhein aaj hi apne saath apne ghar le aaun.” He paused for a moment before continuing, “Lekin ye practically sahi nahin hai. Isliye main koshish karta hoon sab kuchh tumhari speed se aage badhe.”

Nidhi’s heart was pounding as she heard him bare his heart. Their companionship had grown strong, but this was the first time he had given words to his need and desire for her. It had an affect on her that she didn’t know what name to give. She didn’t realize that her cheeks had gone red. Not did she notice how hard she was breathing and how she had goosebumps all over. But Ashutosh did.

He smiled, “Tum ghabra rahi ho?”

“Nahin… nahin…” Nidhi flushed and spoke hastily.

“Chalo bhai,” he suddenly changed his tone to bring the comfort back in their conversation,”Ab khana khate hain. Mujhe bahut bhookh lag rahi hai. Dekhoon to kya kya order kiya hai tumne? Waise Kaka kahan hain?”

“Woh kha kar so chuke hain.”

“Achcha hai. Unhein bhi aaraam mil gaya.”

—

“11 baj gaye. Chalo main tumhein ghar chhod aata hoon,” Ashutosh said after they had finished dinner.

“Nahin. Mere paas car hai na. Woh wapas le jani hogi.”

“Theek hai. To main tumhein tumhari hi car mein chhod doonga. Wapas aate hue auto le loonga.”

“Bilkul nahin. Itni raat mein aapko auto kahan milega?”

“Aur itni raat mein main tumhein akele kaise jaane doon?”

“Ye kya baat hui? Main koi bachchi nahin hoon.”

“Nidhi! Har baat par zidd karna zaroori hai?”

“Nahin. Lekin ye bilkul genuine baat hai.”

Ashutosh sighed, “Theek hai. Tum apni car mein jao. Main apni car mein tumhare peechhe rahunga.”

“Aage se aapko mujhe ziddi bulane ka koi haq nahin hai. Aap khud kuchh kam nahin hain.”

“Tumahre saath ki wajah se ho gaya hoon. Chalo ab!”

Nidhi had to give in.

She didn’t know that Baba was still awake when she reached home and he had seen Ashutosh’ car following hers. She was too absorbed in Ashutosh’ declaration of love and desire. Everytime she recalled his words, she blushed and smiled. She was sure she would have sweet dreams that night.

—

To be continued