“Aap doctor kyon bane Dr. Ashutosh?”

“Tumhein maaloon hai. Kyonki Baba chahte the.”

“Bani to main bhi isliye hi thi. Kyonki Baba chahte the. Lekin aapko is profession mein achchha kyon lagta hai?”

“Tumne Dr. Kotnis ki kahani suni hai Nidhi?”

“Nahin. Kya kahani hai?”

“Second world war ke time ki baat hai…”

“Second world war?” Nidhi was surprised, “Ye hospital itna purana hai?

“Nahin. Iska hospital se kya matlab hai?”

“Dr. Kotnis is hospital ke founder nahin hain?”

“Kya?” Ashutosh was taken aback, then burst out laughing, “Tumhein lagta hai ki Dr. Kotnis… He bhgwaan. Nidhi! Tumhein is hospital mein internship kisne de di? Kisne interview liya tha tumhara?”

“Dr. Mallika aur Dr. Gupta ne.”

“Tabhi accept ho gayin tum. Maine liya hota to kabhi nahin accept karta tumhara application. Doctor Kotnis is hospital ke founder hain?! Oh God! Nidhi. You are too much.”

“Aap mera mazaak udaana band kijiye. I’m sure kissi bhi intern ko pata nahin hoga. Is criterian se aapko ek bhi intern nahin milta. Ab humne medicine ki padhai ki hai. History ki nahin. Second world war!”

“That’s a bad excuse Dr. Nidhi Verma. Aapko ye nahin pata hai ki aap jis hospital mein kaam karti hain uska naam kiske naam par pada hai?”

“Mujhe pata hai ki woh Dr. Kotnis ke naam par pada hai. Bas kahani nahin pata.”

“Achchha? Poora naam to bataiye Dr. Kotnis ka? Kotnis unka first name tha ya surname?”

Nidhi stomped her foot, “Main ja rahi hoon. Mujhe aapse koi baat nahin karni.”

Ashutosh held her hands, “Kahan jaogi? Bahut der ho gayi hai mujhse door jaane ke liye.”

Nidhi was still pouting.

“Ab kahani janni hai? Ya zindagi bhar bewkoof bane rahne ka irada hai?”

“Janni hai!” she said in a childlike, resigned voice.

“To suno. Dr. Dwarkanath Kotnis Pt. Nehru ki appeal par China gaye the, 1937 ke Japanese invasion ke waqt. And despite difficult circumstances, woh paanch saalon tak,apni death tak wahan rahe. Unke saath gaye kuchh log wapas aa gaye, lekin woh apne patients ko chhod kar wapas nahin aa paye. Aur war ki conditions aur stress mein kaam karte karte hardly 32 saal ki age mein hi unki wahin death ho gayi.”

“Oh!”

“Tab se ab tak, of course, India-China ke relations bahut change ho gaye hai, bahut bure ho gaye hain in fact. Lekin Dr. Kotnis ki kahani dono nations ke possible friendship ki nishani hai. Abhi bhi China ke log, aur politicians bhi, Dr. Kotnis ko bahut respect dete hain.”

“Wow!”

“Ye profession insaanon ki zindagi bachane ka kaam karta hai Nidhi. Aur insaan ki zindagi ko importance dena civilization ki, peaceful existence ki neev hai. Isse zyada satisfying aur kaun sa profession ho sakta hai.”

Nidhi smiled and nodded.

“Waise Dr. Kotnis ki life par ek book bhi hai, aur us book par ek movie bhi bani hai. Book to pata nahin kahan milegi, lekin movie ki CD shayad hai mere paas. Hum dekh sakte hain is weekend par.”

“Weekend par baith kar hum Dr. Kotnis ki life par bani movie dekhnege?” Nidhi asked.

“Haan. Kyon?”

“Sir! Main internet par padh loongi unke baare mein. Weekend par better movies hain dekhne ke liye.”

“Oh! Yeah… Right…” Ashutosh was a little embarrassed and laughed at himself as he realized that he was being too unromantic about weekend plans, “Chalo batao phir. Kya karna hai weekend par?”

Nidhi smiled sweetly, “Is saturday hum dono log free hai na? Aisa karte hain Dr. Ashutosh ki us ghar mein jaate hain aur picnic karte hain. Ab tak to safai bhi ho chuki hogi na uski.”

“Picnic?”

“Yes.”

“Nidhi. Safai to ho chuki hai ghar ki, lekin wahan funitures wagerah nahin lage hain.”

“Ab picnic ke liye kaun se furnitures ki zaroorat hoti hai?”

“All right. Picnic then. Hiraman Kaka ko bolna padega khana…”

“Aap uski chinta mat kijiye. Main karwa loongi. Between Hiraman Kaka and Chhote Sarkar, hamein khane ki kami nahin padegi.”

—

“Namaste Baba,” Ashutosh greeted Yograj Verma.

“Dr. Ashutosh. Aao aao. Bade dinon baad mulaquaat hui. Tum to bade busy rahte ho. Aur Nidhi ko bhi busy rakhte ho.”

“Kya karein? Hamara kaam hi aisa hai.”

“Baat to sahi hai. Waise Nidhi to abhi ghar aayi nahin?”

“Pata hai. Uski abhi duty hai. Main to aapse milne aaya hoon.”

“Kya baat hai. Dil khush kar diya tumne. Baitho phir. Coffee-woffee peete hain aur gappein ladate hain.”

“Ji bilkul. Isiliye to aaya tha.”

Ashutosh had lied. He had a different motive in coming there. After Nidhi had proposed picnic, Ashutosh had wanted to buy a gift for her. But he just could not figure out what could he buy to make her happy. He had ended up calling Armaan for advice. But that guy had been useless. He just kept laughing on phone over Ashutosh’ predicament. There was no one else he could have talked to. Kaka had asked him couple of time about what was bothering him. But what help would Kaka have been? Taking a leaf from her lifestyle, he had even searched Internet for it. But the suggestions there seemed too ordinary for her. He could buy her a truck load of jewelry. But that wouldn’t express what he wanted to express by his gift. That he cared for her and thought about her.

“Waise aapki shikayat bhi sahi hai. Nidhi aaj kal kuchh zyada hi kaam kar rahi hai. Oopar se padhai,” Ashutosh concentrated on his conversation with Baba.

“Haan. Ek samay par night duties ka silsila tha. To aaj kal din ki duties bhi badi extend hoti rahti hain uski.”

Ashutosh gulped. That meant she had been making the alibi of “extended” duties too often!

“Ji. I think kai doctors aaj kal chhutti par hain. To Dr. Rangnath ke paas koi option nahin hai. Jo log hain, unko zyada mehnat karni padti hai.”

“Chalo koi baat nahin. Yahi to umra hai jab insaan jitna chahe kaam kar sakta hai. Ek baar haath pair dheele pad jayen meri tarah to phir kahan kuchh ho pata hai.”

“Aapke haath pair kyon dheele padne lage? Bilkul tandurust hain aap.”

“Haan. Tum doctors ko abhi jaldi phir se apni karigari dikhane ka mauka nahin dene waala. Lekin sach kahun Dr. Ashutosh, to is umra mein taqleefein ya khushiyan apni nahin rah jaati. Bachche badi ajeeb cheez hote hain Ashutosh. Unke saath jaise koi adrishya, invisible connection hota hai. Jab use itni mehnat karte dekhta hoon, night duties ke baad thaka hue dekhta hoon, to kuchh kahin chubhta hai. Lekin phir samjhata hoon khud ko. Ki chhoti si to rahi nahin ki poori duniya se bacha kar rakhoon. Apni zindagi to jeeni hi hai use. Bas khush rahe, itna hi chahta hoon main.”

“Khush to mere khayaal se hai woh apni zindagi se. Lekin haan – aapki taqleef kam karne ke liye main usse itna zaroor kahunga ki har samay kaam na kare. Kabhi relax bhi kare. Apni hobbies par time bitaye,” Ashutosh said with a slight laughter, “Waise uski hobbies hain kya?”

“Hobbies to bas photography hai. Aur gaane sunti hai. Kabhi apni Maa ke collection ke aur kabhi woh… kya kahte hain… rock – haan rock sunti hai.”

“Rock pasand hai use?” Ashutosh was surprised.

“Haan. Itne ashcharya ki kya baat hai?”

“Nahin kuchh nahin.” Somehow they had never talked about it. But he hadn’t expected her to be fond of rock. That felt like something people of his generation did. Youngsters these days were into things like hip-hop and he didn’t like those. He had the right idea for a gift now.

—

“Dr. Ashutosh!” Nidhi was very excited as she entered Ashutosh’ house on Saturday. But she found Hiraman Kaka first.

“Ashutosh to taiyaar ho raha hai beti. Lekin ye lo. Jo jo tumne pakane ko kaha tha woh sab taiyaar hai.”

“Thank you so much Kaka. Main yahin wait karti hoon.”

Nidhi saw Ashutosh coming out of the bedroom. She smiled. He was looking even handsomer than usual in his casual attire of t-shirt and jeans. But that was not enough for her. She had something else in mind.

“Ye kaisi boring t-shirt pahan rakhi hai aapne,” she went on an offensive immediately.

Ashutosh was startled. “Kyon? Kya problem hai. Achchhi nahin lag rahi?” he asked sheepishly.

“Aise buri nahin lag rahi. Lekin isse better lag sakti hai, agar aap uski jagah ye pahnein jo main layi hoon.”

“Tum… mere liye t-shirt layi ho?”

“Haan. Chaliye change kar ke aaiye,” she handed him a bag.

“Dekh to loon,” Ashutosh said and too the t-shirt out of the bag. It was bright red, way too bold for Ashutosh’ taste.

“Ye?” he asked incredulously.

Nidhi’s spirits were not dampened, “Haan. Ye. Aap pahaniye to sahi. Bahut smart lagegi. Maine Anji ki help li hai ise select karne mein. Use in sab cheezon ki bahut pahchaan hai. Aap ghabraiye mat.”

“Achchha!” Ashutosh was not enthusiastic. But seeing Nidhi’s excitement, he did not have heart to say ‘No’ to her.

He came out wearing it, feeling self-conscious.

“Nidhi. Ye thodi chhoti nahin hai?” he asked.

The t-shirt was a bit tight fitting, although it was only serving to make him look even more appealing given his well toned body. But Nidhi could not get herself to say that.

“Haan. Thodi to hai. Lekin maine to aapke size ki li tha.”

“Tumhein… mera size pata hai?” Ashutosh asked hesitantly.

“Maine dekha tha. Aapki ek t-shirt padi the bed par, us par.”

How much did she observe him, Ashutosh could not help wondering.

“Lekin. Thodi tight to hai hi. Size brand to brand vary karta hai. Agar aapko nahin sahi lag rahi ho to badal lijiye,” she said, but her face had fallen. Ashutosh did not like that. He was going through the entire exercise of picnic only to see her happy. If she wasn’t happy, what would be the point?

“Achcha ye batao ki tumhein theek lag raha hai?” he asked.

“Mujhe to bahut achchha lag raha hai,” she said trying not to get too hopeful.

“To phir theek hai. Aur kaun dekhne waala hai mujhe?” he smiled.

“Sach!” she literally jumped with joy. Ashutosh found her childlike excitement so lovely that he wanted to hug her right then. But Kaka could be around!!

“Achcha Nidhi. Main bhi tumhare liye kuchh laaya tha.”

“Kya?” the idea of getting a gift excited her even further.

She snatched the packet from him and started unpacking it immediately.

Ashutosh looked on fondly as she finished unpacking and jumped yet again, “iPod!!” she was bursting with happiness, “Oh God! Dr. Ashutosh. Aapko kaise pata ki mujhe i-pod chahiye tha. Main Baba se nahin maangna chahti thi, business problems ke baad. Main khud paise bacha rahi thi. Lekin aapne… You are the best Dr. Ashutosh. I love you!” Nidhi wasn’t conscious of what she was saying in her overjoyed state, until she said those three words! She stood still for a few moments after she realized what she had said.

Ashutosh himself was taken by surprise and could not react immediately. Then he smiled and saw a nervous, embarrassed smile forming on Nidhi’s lips too.

“Use kar ke to dekh lo,” he changed the topic to her relief. She browsed through the collection loaded and was pleasantly surprised again.

“Rock? Aapko pata tha? Maine to nahin bataya… Aur aapne kya itunes ka saara rock collection khareed liya hai?”

Ashutosh laughed, “Nahin. Saara browse kar ke khreedne ka mere paas patience nahin tha. Lekin jo mujhe achchhe lagte hain utne maine khareed liye hain.”

“Thank you,” she said and it looked like she really mean it.

“Aur agar tumhein kuchh chahiye ho to tum mujhe bata sakti ho. Har waqt mera guess karna zaroori nahin hai.”

Nidhi smiled and didn’t say anything.

“Chalo chalte hain,” Ashutosh said.

“Ek minute!” Nidhi stoped him, “Aapke paas speakers hain?”

“Haan. Honge shayad. Laptop ke saath khareede to the.”

“To le chalte hain na. Wahan gaane sunenge i-pod se.”

“Okay.”

—

To be continued