“Ashutosh!” Armaan was waiting for him, when Ashutosh came back.

“Armaan. Tum abhi tak jage hue ho?”

“Nidhi se baat ho gayi?”

“Haan. Thanks Armaan. Samay par mere hosh thikaane laane ke liye,” Ashutosh smiled.

“Ashutosh. Main Grace se baat kar raha tha. I think tumhein usse apni situation discuss karni chahiye.”

“Situation?”

“Mallika ke saath jo halat ho rahi hai tumhari, woh bahut healthy to nahin hai?”

“Main kya karoon Armaan? Nidhi ko main dukh nahin pahuncha sakta. Lekin Mallika ki ye halat dekh kar use bhi to apne haal par nahin chhod sakta. Woh meri itni purani dost hai Armaan.”

“Grace has some ideas Ashutosh. Ek baar usse baat karo.”

“Abhi? Woh jagi hui hai.”

Armaan laughed slightly, “Pahli baar aise duniya ke doosri or aaye hai na. Buri tarah jetlagged hai. Abhi ekdum awake and fresh feel kar rahi hai.”

—

“Mallika went to a pub and then took the sleeping pills?” Grace interrupted Ashutosh to confirm while he was narrating the story.

“Yes.”

“Doesn’t that sound odd? Why would she go to a public place and to commit suicide.”

“She said she was feeling anxious alone at home and hence had gone to a pub. And then…”

“carrying all those pills?”

“I don’t know what do you mean?”

“I can’t say for sure, but she might be trying to get your attention Ashutosh.”

“But I wasn’t there. She knows I don’t go to pubs. Why would she…”

“Right. But, she did reach you. What would have happened if Nidhi wasn’t there?”

“I don’t know. Someone would have…”

“tried to find out who she is, who are her friends and family and they would have informed them.”

“Yes.”

“So, was she carrying any identification with her?”

“No… I mean I don’t know. She was carrying a purse, but… Wait! Nidhi would know. She had checked her purse. Let me call her.”

—

“Nidhi. So gayi thi kya?”

“Neend aayi nahin thi abhi? Kya baat hai? Aap theek to hain?”

“Haan. Main bilkul theek hoon Nidhi. Lekin mujhe tumhari help chahiye.”

“Kaisi help?”

“Nidhi. Tum bhadakna mat. Main bas cheezon ko samajhne ki koshish kar raha hoon.”

“Itna bhadakti hoon kya main?”

“Nahin Nidhi.”

Nidhi chuckled, “Aapko pareshaan karna bahut aasaan hai. Khair, I guess Dr. Mallika ke baare mein hai. Bataiye.”

“Haan. Nidhi. Us din jab tumne Mallika ka purse khola tha aur usmein sleeping pills dekhi thi, to purse mein kuchh aur bhi mila tha?”

“Kya matlab?”

“Koi identification? Koi address? Koi contact?”

“Ohh!!”

“Kya baat hai Nidhi?”

“Aap abhi kyon poochh rahe hain?”

“Main tumhein phir batata hoon Nidhi. Abhi bas batao. Kuchh tha kya?”

“Ji. Usmein ek paper tha jispar emergency contact kah ke aapke naam aur number tha.”

“Tumne kabhi ye baat batayi kyon nahin?”

“Us samay main unki halat dekh kar ghabrai hui thi aur phir kabhi baat hui nahin us baare mein. Mere dhyaan se utar gaya.”

“Theek hai. Main tumse baad mein baat karta hoon.”

Ashutosh looked thoughtful after disconnecting the call.

“What happened Ashutosh?” Grace asked.

“Yeah,” he wa startled as if he had forgotten that he had been talking to Grace before that, “Grace. She was carrying a paper in her purse where she had given my name and number as emergency contact.”

“I guess it makes sense to you now, doesn’t it? Nidhi being there was a mere coincidence. Mallika would have reached you in any case.”

“And she had taken the pills in the exact quantity to make her pass out, but not cause death. She is a doctor. She knows the exact effect. Oh God! She needs psychiatric help,” Ashutosh said more to himself than to Grace.

“I think she does.”

—

“Aap yahan?” Nidhi was surprised to find Ashutosh waiting in his car when she came out of her house to leave for the hospital the next day.

“Baitho.”

Nidhi took the passenger’s seat and looked at Ashutosh questioningly. He smiled and picked something up from his lap. Nidhi was surprised to see that it was a red rose. It made her blush.

“Aap ye mere liye laye hain?” she couldn’t help asking.

“Haan Nidhi. Maine socha ki sorry kahne ka isse behtar tareeka nahin ho sakta.” He handed the rose to her, “I am sorry. Jo kal raat hua aur jo itne dinon se hota aa raha tha, un sabke liye.”

“Mere paas rose nahin hai. Lekin I am also sorry. Mujhe aapse aisi badtamizi nahin karni chahiye thi.”

“Nahin Nidhi. Tumne achchha hi kiya. Meri aankhein bhi khol di. Jo ho raha tha woh kissi ke liye sahi nahin tha. Na to hamare liye. Na hi Mallika ke liye.”

“Ji. Lekin aap karenge kya? Dr. Mallika is not ready to come to terms with the reality. She blames everyone except herself.”

“Usne tumse bhi kuchh kaha?”

“Haan. Lekin aap woh mujhse mat poochhiye. Main nahin bol paungi.”

“Tumne mujhe bataya kyon nahin?”

“Jaisi ghatiya baatein unhone kahi thi, aap unse woh expect nahin karte hain. Aapko bekaar mein dukh hota. Aur…” she suddenly stopped.

“Kya hua Nidhi?”

“Main aap dono ke beech mein to nahin aayi hoon Dr. Ashutosh?” Nidhi asked. Even though she knew that it was not the case, self doubt did trouble her once in a while.

“No. No Nidhi. Oh God! What gave you the idea?”

“Dr. Mallika ko hamesha se yahi lagta hai.”

“Nidhi. I need you to know this…”

“Nahin,” she interrupted, “I am sorry I asked. Aapko kuchh explain karne ki zaroorat nahin hai.”

“Ek baar bol lene do Nidhi. Uske baad na to tumhein dubara is baare mein sochne ki zaroorat hai, na hi mujhe kuchh kahne ki. Mallika se meri dosti bahut purani hai. Aur main uski kadra karta tha. Usse zyada mere man mein kabhi kuchh nahin tha. Aur maine Mallika ko bhi kabhi andhere mein nahin rakha. Usne apni zindagi ke saath jo kiya woh uski choice thi. Usmein mera ya tumhara koi role nahin hai. Samajh rahi ho na tum?”

“Ji.”

“To ab mujhe tumhari pyaari si smile wapas mil sakti hai?”

Nidhi didn’t have to try to smile when he said that. It automatically came to her.

—

On the way to the hospital, Ashutosh’ mobile rang. Nidhi saw it, but the number was not stored in the phone.

“Main pick kar loon?”

“Haan. Kar lo.”

“Hello.”

“Hello. Dr. Ashutosh se baat ho sakti hai?”

“Woh drive kar rahe hain, isliye phone nahin uthaya. Aap kaun?”

“Main Sandeep Bagchi bol raha hoon. Aap please unse meri baat karwaiye. Urgently.”

“Sandeep Bagchi? Dr. Mallike ke…”

“Haan. Dekhiye mera Dr. Ashutosh se baat karna bahut zaroori hai.”

Ashutosh had stopped the car by then on hearing Sandeep Bagchi’s name.

“Kya baat hai Nidhi?”

“Aapse baat karna chahte hain?”

“Hello,” Ashutosh took the phone and spoke in a curt tone.

“Dr. Ashutosh. Kya Mallika Lucknow mein hai?”

“Ye main aapko kyon bataun?”

“What do you mean kyon bataun… she is my wife. I have been worried to death…”

“Wife? Mr. Bagchi, Hindu and Civil marriage acts ke hisaab se ek spouse ke rahte doosri shaadi invalid hoti hai. She is not your wife.”

“No!” Sandeep sounded incredulous, “She has told you the same story.”

“Story?”

“Dr. Ashutosh. Main pahle se shaadi shuda nahin hoon. Pata nahin ye shaq ka keeda uske dimaag mein kahan se ghus gaya hai. I tried to get her psychiatric help. Lekin woh ghar chhod kar pata nahin kahan chali gayi… Look Dr. Ashutosh. I really need to meet her. Please. Woh Lucknow mein hai.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“Dr. Ashutosh. Okay. Main next available flight se Lucknow aa raha hoon. It is clear ki Mallika wahin hai. Why did I not think of it earlier? Aap usse bas ye poochhiye ki usne meri so called first wife ko dekha hai? Aur kahan rahti hai woh?”

Ashutosh was completely confused when he disconnected the call.

“Kya hua Dr. Ashutosh.”

Ashutosh explained to her what Sandeep had told him.

“Ye kahani itni ulajhti kyon ja rahi hai? Kaun sach bol raha hai kaun jhooth – ye kaise pata lagayega koi?”

“Pata nahin Nidhi. Ye to sach hai ki Mallika kabhi uski first wife se mili nahin hai. Uske hisaab se woh US mein rahti hain. Khair. Main pahle tumhein hospital pahuncha doon. Tumhari duty ka time ho raha hai. Phir dekhta hoon.”

“Waise aap apne boss hone ka poora fayda uthate hain, nahin Dr. Ashutosh? Aapki koi duty timings to hoti nahin hain?”

“Behave yourself Dr. Verma. Insubordination ke liye aapko suspend kiya ja sakta hai,” Ashutosh continued her joke and they broke in to a laughter.

—

“Ashutosh! Kahan the tum?” Mallika stormed into Asuhtosh’ office without paying any attnention to Rangnath sitting in the outer office or Anji who was visiting him.

“Mallika?”

“Subah tum aaye kyon nahin mujhse milne?” Mallika was furious.

“Aisi to koi baat nahin hui thi Mallika. Main busy tha.”

“Mujhe pata hai tum kahan busy the. Nidhi ke saath busy the na tum? Tumhari samajh mein nahin aata Ashuotsh ki woh ladki tumhein phansa rahi hai. Tum uske liye mujhe chhod kar kaise aa sakte ho? Kaise aisa kar sakte ho tum?”

“Tamasha mat karo Mallika. Please shaant ho jao.”

Rangnath heard some noises, which sounded like Mallika was throwing things around in Ashutosh’ office. He rushed and opened the office door. Ashutosh looked relieved to see some help.

“Dr. Rangnath. Please help me. She seems to have a psychotic fit,” Dr. Ashutosh whispered trying to not let Mallika hear it.

“Yes Sir,” Rangnath understood the situation and made calls from his office.

Immediately two nurses came there and tried to control Mallika who was getting more and more violent. A doctor from the psychiatric ward also walked in. They tried to calm her down. But to no avail. Finally the doctor injected a sedative and the nurses carried her out of Ashutosh’ office.

Meanwhile, Anji had gone to look for Nidhi to inform her of what had happened. Ashutosh sank in his chair after Mallika was taken out. Rangnath was standing there and did not know what to say, when Anji and Nidhi walked in. Nidhi saw Ashutosh who had buried his face in his hands. He was clearly very disturbed at what had happened. Nidhi silently indicated to Anji and Rangnath to leave them alone and they complied.

Nidhi walked to Ashutosh and kept a hand on his shoulder. Ashutosh looked up and on seeing her got up from his chair to face her. He took her hands in his.

“Mujhe pahle hi samajhna chahiye tha Nidhi. Agar main tumhari baat pahle samajh jaata to ye naubat nahin aati. I am sorry.”

“Aap khud ko kyon blame kar rahe hain? Jo sab mujhe pata tha, ya jo kuchh unhone mujhse kaha tha woh aapko pata nahin tha. Main aapko bata deti to aapko bhi andaaza lag jaata.”

“Lekin tum mujhe isliye nahin batana chahti thi ki mujhe bura lagta.”

Nidhi nodded, “Aise hi aap logon par bharosa nahin karte. Main nahin chahti thi ki aapka ek aur bharosa toote. But I didn’t see it coming to this.”

Ashutosh felt overwhelmed at her love. He brought her hands up, bowed a little and kissed her hands one by one. Nidhi froze to her spot and gulped hard. But Ashutosh did not stop there and pulled her in a hug. Nidhi reciprocated. He needed support.

But she pulled away after a few seconds, “Hum… office mein hain,” she said gingerly.

Ashutosh smiled in embarrassment, “Yes. Dr. Nidhi. Hum office mein hain.”

“Lekin hamara office mein rahna zaroori nahin hai,” he suddenly spoke again after a pause.

“Ji?”

“Ghar chalte hain Nidhi. Mujhe thoda sukoon chahiye, jo abhi yahan nahin mil sakta.”

Nidhi’s heart melted when he said that. For the first time since she had known him, he looked tired. At that moment she felt like making him lie down with his head in her lap and caress his hair until he fell asleep.

But there were realities of life, “Meri duty…”

“Koi emergency nahin hai to main Dr. Rangnath se baat karta hoon. Woh kissi ko depute kar denge.”

“Main… main baat karti hoon.” She could never forget her concern about his reputation.

“Okay,” Ashutosh nodded, “Main car mein tumhara wait kar raha hoon.”

—

To be continued