Mish' Fiction

“Sir. Aapne mujhe bulaya?”

“Yes. Dr. Nidhi. Please come in. Meet Dr. Armaan Malhotra. He works with WHO. Kal hi India aaye hain, ek project ke liye.”

“Hello Dr. Malhotra,” Nidhi shook hands with him, “Nice to meet you.”

“Same here Dr. Nidhi. Waise Ashutosh aapko ye batana bhool gaya ki main iska bachpan ka dost bhi hoon.”

“I am not surprised. Dr. Ashutosh apni personal life ko hospital se bilkul door rakhte hain. I think isliye he is so admired professionally.”

“All right. I am sorry,” Ashutosh said, “Dr. Nidhi. Armaan mere bachpan ka dost bhi hai.”

Armaan and Nidhi laughed.

“To ab kaam ki baat shuru karein?” Ashutosh said.

“Yes Boss,” Armaan said. Nidhi noticed that he was clearly a very jovial person, unlike the serious, even if caring, Dr. Ashutosh.

“Jaisa ki maine tumhein bataya tha Armaan ki Dr. Nidhi to experience hai gaon mein kaam karne ka…”

“Mujhe Sir?” Nidhi was surprised, “Mujhe kahan experience hai? Abhi dedh mahine pahle to maine internship shuru ki hai. Aur poore time yahin kaam kiya hai.”

Armaan looked at Ashutosh and Nidhi.

“Don’t worry Armaan. Confidence is not her strong point and she is humble to a fault. Dr. Nidhi – aap already phone par apne gaon ke logon ki beemariyan diagnose kar rahi hain, right? Chhota sa tele-medicine center to aapne khol hi rakha hai. The other day, Armaan, she had shown me pictures that were sent to her mobile by someone in her village. Those were of a child, who could be suffering from small pox. We diagnosed from the photos that it was indeed small pox and asked the parents to take him to the hospital. Otherwise gaon mein woh kuchh jhaad-phoonk karwate rahte aur bachche ki jaan chali jaati.”

“That’s great,” Armaan looked impressed.

“Dr. Nidhi,” Ashutosh addressed an embarrassed and baffled Nidhi, “Dr. Armaan is hoping to implement a tele-medicine project here as an effort from WHO to make medical services accessible to all.”

“Really? That’s a great idea!” Nidhi was clearly excited.

“Of course, shuruat feasibility study se hogi. But we are working to make Kotnis General Hospital a part of the initiaitve where the diagnosis will be done remotely and medical care suggested accordingly. We will form a team of doctors for that. Mujhe laga ki main pahle aap se poochh loon kyonki shayad aap interested hongi.”

“Yes Sir. Sure Sir. I mean… Yes Sir.”

Armaan smiled seeing her flustered like that. He also did not miss how Ashutosh was looking at her in adoration.

“Okay Ashutosh,” he said, “Main abhi chalta hoon. Dr. Nidhi – aapka phone number main Ashutosh se le loonga aur jab is project par kaam shuru hoga – I will get in touch with you.”

“Sure Dr. Armaan. Thank you very much.”

“See you.”

Nidhi also got up to leave after Armaan.

“Dr. Nidhi,” she stopped when Ashutosh addressed her, “Aapki Dadi ke paas sugar monitor pahunch gaya tha?”

“Yes Sir. As expected unka sugar level bahut high hai. Lekin khaane mein kuchh bhi parhej karwana bahut mushkil hai unse.”

“Aisa kyon?”

“Bina cheeni ke chai nahin piyengi. Aur din mein kam-se-kam paanch baar chai ki zaroorat padti hai unhein. Apne ghar mein mithai na bhi layen, lekin kabhi kissi ki shaadi, kabhi kissi ke bachche ka janm, wahan munh kaise nahin meetha karengi. Bahane hain actually. She has got a sweet tooth – mujhe pata hai. I think chai ke liye to main unhein sugar-free bhijwa doongi. Lekin ye mithaiyan, doodh-dahi… Bolti hoon cream nikaal kar doodh piyen, unka BP bhi high rahta hai. To kahengi ki ghar mein koi akaal pada hai kya ki doodh bina malai ke loon.”

Ashutosh laughed, “Ab mujhe samajh mein aaya aap bachchon ki zidd kaise handle kar leti hain itni aasaani se. Aapko bahut ziddi patient ko handle karne ki aadat pahle se padi hui hai.”

“Bilkul. Badmash se badmash bachche bhi unke saamne to mujhe angel hi lagte hain.”

“Good. Carry on. Aur haan – agar aap WHO ke project par kaam karti hain, to aap uski jagah ek trimester hospital ki duties se off le sakti hain. You will get the credit.”

“Agar zaroorat padegi to le loongi, Sir. Waise bhi abhi ise shuru hone mein to time lagega.”

“Haan. Abhi to kuchh mahine lagenge. Armaan is working on some feasibility studies right now. But he may contact you once in a while for some work.”

“Sure Sir. No problem. Main chalti hoon.”

“All right.”

—

“Good afternoon, Dr. Mallika,” Nidhi was in the common room during her break, when Mallika walked in.

“Hello Dr. Nidhi. Kaisi hain aap?”

“Main theek hoon. Aur aap?”

“Main to theek hoon Dr. Nidhi. Lekin mujhe Ashutosh ki bahut fikr ho rahi hai in dinon.”

“Kyon kya hua unhein?” Nidhi got anxious.

“Lagta hai ki aapko bhi bahut chinta hai unki.”

“Agar chinta ki koi baat hai to honi hi chahiye. Hamein apne aas paas ke logon ki chinta nahin hogi to kiski hogi?”

“Mujhe lagta hai ki unke past ke zakhm phir se ubhar rahe hain, ya ubharne waale hain.”

“Kaise zakhm?”

“Apne khaandaan ka pata na hone ka zakhm. Uski wajah se apne pyaar ko kho dene ka zakhm.”

“Khaandaan ka pata na hone ka zakhm?” Nidhi laughed slighly assuming that Mallika was joking, “Ye kaisi baat hui? Unke Baba to…”

“Oh! Aapko nahin pata? Unhone kabhi bataya nahin? Woh Ashutosh ke real father nahin the. Unhone Ashutosh ko adopt kiya tha.”

“Kya?”

“Haan. Aur yahi baat jab Niharika ke ghar waalon ko pata chali to woh unke rishte ke liye raazi hi nahin hue.”

“Kya? Lekin aaj-kal in baaton ko kaun maanta hai?”

“Pyaar kane waale maane na maane, unke ghar waale to maante hi hain. Aap apne ghar waalon se poochh kar dekh lijiye. I’m sure unka bhi aisa hi nazariya hoga.”

“Aapne naam kya bataya? Niharika? Dr. Niharika Asthana?”

“Aap jaanti hain unhein?”

“Main Mumbai mein convention mein mili thi unse.”

“Achchha. Waise aapki Mumbai trip kaisi rahi?”

“Achchhi thi. Bahut achchhi thi, in fact. Kai famous aur senior doctors se milne ka mauka mila.”

“Achchha hai. Interns to mostly ghoomne-phirne ke liye jaana chahte hain. Lekin aapne Ashutosh ke paise barbaad nahin kiye.”

“Matlab?”

“Jo unhone aapki business class ki flight aur five star hotel ka kharcha sponsor kiya tha. Are… Main bhi kahan baaton mein lag gayi. Mujhe ward jaana hai…”

With this Mallika walked out hoping that she had sown enough seeds of confusion and questions in Nidhi’s mind to make her stay away from Ashutosh or confront him about his intentions behind sponsoring her trip. Even if she had stayed, Nidhi would not have known what to tell her. Her head was buzzing with the piece of information she had just obtained. Ashutosh sponsored her trip. He lied about hospital sponsoring it. How could she be so naive about it? Of course, hospital did not sponsor it. If it had, she should have gotten her tickets from Dr. Rangnath or someone in the admin. Not from Dr. Ashutosh himself. The letter Dr. Rangnath had given was right. The trip had to sponsored by… Oh my God! What should she do now? Confront him? Return him the money? But how? She didn’t have that money. And why on earth did he do something like that? She would have to talk to Baba.

“Hmm,” Baba thought for a moment, when Nidhi told him what had happened. Then he broke into a smile, “Unhone tumhare saath wahi kar diya, jo hum tumhari Dadi ke saath karte hain.”

“Woh to hai Baba. Lekin Dadi hamare parivaar ka hissa hain…”

“Haan beta. Lekin unhein confront kar ke koi fayda nahin hai. Kya bologi tum unhein? Unhone tumse jhooth bola kyonki woh tumhari khuddari ko thes nahin pahunchana chahte the. To tum bhi ab unhein confront kar ke unki bhavnaon ko thes mat pahunchao. Haan – ye pata zaroor karo ki unhone kitna kharcha kiya hoga. Aaj nahin bhi to jab bhi possible ho, hamein unhein lauta dene honge. Aur aage se dhyaan rakhna. Kissi ka ehsaan jaante-boojhte baar-baar lena theek nahin hai.”

“Theek hai Baba. Jaise aap kahein. Main ticket aur hotel ke prices dekh loongi. Waise pata hai Baba, Dr. Ashutosh ki life bhi bahut complicated hai.”

“Kyon?”

Nidhi told him about him being adopted and what Mallika had told him about his broken relationship with Niharika.

“Lagta hai isi wajah se unhone phir shaadi nahin ki. Aur abhi bhi akele hain,” she concluded.

“Zindagi bahut ajeeb hoti hai Nidhi. Lekin woh bahut achchhe insaan hain. Jitne unhone tumhare liye kiya hai… Mujhe vishwaas hai ki unki zindagi mein bhi khushiyan jaldi hi aayengi.”

“I hope so Baba. Main khana laga doon?”

“Haan. Chalo. Kha kar so jaate hain.”

—

To be continued

Ashutosh had been restless the entire day thinking about Nidhi. She would be alone again. What if the fever got bad again? Her Baba’s employers appeared the most inconsiderate kind. They wouldn’t hear of him taking a leave even when his daughter was ill.He was itching to go to her home. But going there everyday would be awkward. He had spent the entire day staring at his phone. Should he call? Would she call? But why would she call?

He jumped out of his chair, when the phone finally rang in the evening and it showed Nidhi’s name.

“Hello. Dr. Nidhi? Aapki tabiyat…”

“Dr. Ashutosh. Main Nidhi ka father bol raha hoon. Disturb karne ke liye maafi chahta hoon. Lekin meri samajh mein nahin aa raha kya karoon?”

“Kya hua?”

“Nidhi ka bukhaar bahut tej ho gaya hai aur woh bilkul hosh mein nahin hai. Badbada rahi hai cheezein behoshi mein. Kabhi apni Ma ke liye, kabhi Dadi ke liye, kabhi mere liye. Maine thandhe paani ki patti daali hai, lekin…”

“Aap rukiye. Main abhi wahan pahunchta hoon.”

—

He brought Nidhi to the hospital with him. He found a room for her and gave her injections to bring her fever down. But she was still sleeping. He asked her Baba to go back home as people were there to take care of him. He left teary eyed feeling frustrated at his helplessness. If only it were possible for him to leave that job! His daughter would not have to suffer in loneliness.

“Sir. Aap ghar nahin ja rahe?” Ashutosh was brought out of his thoughts by a nurse asking. He was still sitting in Nidhi’s room.

“Nahin. Main apne office mein hoon. Aap please Dr. Nidhi par constantly nazar rakhiye aur jaise hi inki neend khule mujhe inform kijiye.”

“Sure Sir.”

Ashutosh left the room realizing that if he stayed there the entire night, it would look odd to the staff. At the same time he could not leave her in the hospital and go back home. He would have to call up Kaka in the morning and ask him to send fresh clothes for the next day.

—

“Better feel kar rahi hain aap?” Ashutosh came to her when the nurse informed him that she was awake.

“Ji Sir. Baba?”

“Raat ka samay hai. Woh ghar par hain.”

“Mujhe unhein phone kar dena chahiye. Woh pareshaan honge.”

“Itni raat mein? Woh so rahe honge…”

“Unhein neend nahin aayegi, Sir.”

“Okay. Main thodi der mein aata hoon,” Ashutosh left her to talk to her father alone.

“Ji Baba… Aap pareshaan mat hoiye… Good night Baba,” she was finishing her call when he came back.

“Thank you, Sir,” she said as soon as she saw him.

“Kis liye?”

“Baba ne mujhe bataya ki aapne kitni madad ki…”

“Come on Dr. Nidhi. This is a hospital. It’s routine.”

“Aapko khud jaane ki zaroorat nahin thi. That was not routine.”

“Aap dopahar se behosh padi thi. Aapko kuchh khane ki zaroorat hogi. Aapke dinner to thandha ho gaya hai. Ye biscuits kha lijiye,” Ashutosh did not reply to her and changed the subject.

Nidhi took the biscuit packet from his hand.

“Sir. Main ab theek hoon. Aur night duty par log hain hi. Aap ghar chale jaiye.”

“Hmm,” he resisted the urge to tell her that he was not leaving and walked out. He gave instructions to the nurse about her care and left for home.

Nidhi lied down on her bed after finishing the biscuits. She vaguely remembered him feeling her forehead time and again for temperature while she lied unconscious in the hospital. She felt a warmth in her heart as she recalled what Baba had told her about Ashutosh’ help and care for her. He definitely wasn’t a hardstone at heart. On the contrary he was very soft, very caring. He just wore a mask of detachment and sternness. Why? She wondered.

—

“May I come in, Sir?”

“Yes. Dr. Nidhi? Aap theek hain?”

“Yes Sir. Main ghar ja rahi hoon. Ab mujhe yahan rukne ki zaroorat nahin hai.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes Sir. Ab fever nahin aa raha. Bas thodi kamzori hai.”

“Okay. Take rest for a day or two…”

“Yes Sir. Aur Sir agar aapke paas aaj shaam mein thoda time ho to… dar asal Baba zidd kar rahe the ki aap chai par hamare ghar aate.”

“Dr. Nidhi. In formalities ki koi zaroorat nahin hai. Main koi aisa kaam nahin kiya hai…”

“No Sir. Formality ki baat nahin hai. Hamein – mujhe aur Baba ko sach much bahut achchha lagega agar aap ghar aayenge to. But of course, only if you have time… Agar aapka schedule disturb ho to…”

“Nahin. Aisi koi baat nahin hai. Main aaj shaam mein aata hoon.”

“Thank you very much, Sir.”

Ashutosh could not help getting affected by her genuine happiness at his acceptance. He also smiled after she left.

—

“Bahut mehnat karti hai ye Dr. Ashutosh,” Baba told Ashutosh while Nidhi was in the kitchen preparing tea, “Yakeen nahin hota kabhi kabhi ki ye meri wahi beti hai jise khilane ke baad daant-daant kar munh pochhne ki zaroorat padti thi. Iske 12th ke exam tak maine ise sirf padhai par focussed rakha. Lekin uske baad se zid kar-kar ke saare kaam apne oopar le liye hain isne. Pahle medical ke padhai aur ghar ka kaam. Ab itni thakaane wali duties aur phir bhi agar saamne hoti hai to mujhe chai tak nahin banane deti hai.”

Ashutosh smiled, “She is very hard-working and sincere. Kaam par bhi. I am not surprised.”

“Bahut bura lagta hai mujhe Dr. Ashutosh. Kuchh kar nahin paata iske liye. Beemaar padi thi, phir bhi ghar par akele chhod kar jaana padta tha…”

“Aisi baatein kyon kar rahe hain aap? Aapne hi to paal-pos kar bada kiya hai unhein. Apne pairon par khada karwaya hai. You should be very proud.”

Baba smiled, “Main bekaar mein apni baaton se aapko bore kar raha hoon.Bas kabhi kabhi nikal jaati hai man ki baat…”

“Aap mujhe bilkul bhi bore nahin kar rahe. Mujhe bahut hi achchha lagta hai aapki family bonding dekh kar. Dr. Nidhi aapki Ma, apni Dadi ke baare mein bhi bata rahi thi.”

“Are haan. Ye dadi-poti ke beech mein pata nahin kya chalta rahta hai. Ab woh sugar monitor utha layi hai aur mujhe zidd kar rahi hai ki gaon ja kar de aaun. Khud to beemaar pad gayi thi. Abhi uska jaana theek nahin hoga. Ab main de to aaun Dr. Ashutosh lekin use istemaal karna kaise sikhaun?”

“Kyon meri shikayat kar rahe hain Baba?” Nidhi entered with tea and snacks in a tray and spoke as she kept it on a table, “Maine kaha to tha ki aapko main sikha deti hoon, phir aap unhein sikha dijiyega. Ab agar aap nahin seekh payenge to Dadi se seekhne ki ummeed kaise hogi?”

“Bhai mujhse nahin hona ye sab…”

“Ye sab inke bahane hain, Sir,” Nidhi addressed Ashutosh, “Sach ye hai ki inhein mujh par bharosa nahin hota. Inhein lagta hai ki main sui zyada chubho doongi testing ke waqt. Aapse zyada brave to Dadi hain Baba.”

Baba grinned, “Pakad li isne meri chori. Baat to sach hai Dr. Ashutosh. Dimaag jaanta hai ki ye doctor ban chuki hai, kaabil hai. Lekin jab woh sui le kar aati hai na to mujhe to wahi chhoti se bachchi yaad aati hai, jiske chhote-chhote komal haath pair chalne ki koshish mein idhar-udhar girte padte rahte the…”

“Baba!” Nidhi chided him for getting emotional.

“Chaliye koi baat nahin. Main sikha deta hoon aapko,” Ashutosh said.

“Aap Dr. Ashutosh? Nahin, nahin, taqleef ki zaroorat nahin hai…”

“Ismein koi taqleef nahin hai Baba,” Nidhi spoke before Ashutosh could, “Aapne achchha idea diya, Sir. Main abhi le kar aati hoon Machine. Aur Baba ab aap is Sunday ko ye gaon le jayenge. Bas. Final.”

“Waise aap kya doctor apni Dadi ki wajah se bani?” Ashutosh asked Nidhi, when she brought out the machine.

“Nahin. Doctor to main apni Mummy ki wajah se bani?”

“Woh kaise?”

“Woh aise ki mere Nana doctor banna chahte the. Lekin unke ghar waalon ne unhein support nahin kiya. Unhein lagta tha ki ye chaadar se bahar paon phailane waali baat hai. To unki wajah se meri Mummy doctor banna chahti thi. Lekin unhein support karne ke liye Nana the nahin. To finally ye sapna meri jholi mein aa gaya. Aur Baba ne mujhe bahut support kiya. Unhone meri padhai ke liye mujhse zyada mehnat ki hai.”

“Interesting!” Ashutosh was genuinely impressed.

He had tea and snacks, taught Baba how to use the sugar monitor and the left feeling very refreshed and happy.

—

“Tum kal shaam mein kya kar rahe the Ashutosh?” Mallika asked him the next morning.

“Kuchh khaas nahin.”

“Hospital mein to nahin the.”

“Hospital mein nahin tha to…”

“Apne ghar par ya Jeevan Prabha mein bhi nahin the Ashutosh.”

“Tumne kya jaasoosi ka side business shuru kar diya hai Mallika? Itni kam salary to nahin dete hum Kotnis mein apne senior doctors ko?” Ashutosh joked, still not taking her seriously.

“Karni padti hai Ashutosh agar aapka itna purana dost, jiski aapko bahut parwaah hai, apni zindagi ki sabse badi galti duhraane ja raha ho.”

“Kya matlab hai tumhara?” Ashutosh asked sharply.

“Tum kal Dr. Nidhi ke saath the, ye mujhe pata hai. Lagta hai ki tum Niharika ke saath apna experience bhool gaye ho…”

“Main kuchh nahin bhoola hoon. Lekin Niharika ke experience ka Nidhi se kya talluk hai? Waise bhi main uski family ke saath tha.”

Mallika smiled condescendingly, “Achchha! Apne kitne colleagues aur juniors ki family ke saath tum chai peete ho. Unmein se kitno ki tabiyat kharaab hone par khud car le kar unke ghar bhaagte ho aur kiske liye…”

“Enough Mallika. Tum hadein paar kar rahi ho. Woh ghar par akeli thi. Use help ki zaroorat thi. That’s it. Aur zarooratmandon ki madad se main kabhi peechhe nahin hatta – ye tum achchhi tarah se jaanti ho.”

“To ek baar ye bhi soch lena ki apne aas-paas ke kitne logon ke baare mein tumhein pata bhi hota hai ki woh kitne akele hain. Ashutosh. Tumhari bhalai ke liye hi bol rahi hoon. Aur kuchh na bhi socho to ye dhyaan rakhna ki woh ek intern hai, abhi-abhi graduate hui hai. Aadhi umra ki hai shayad tumse!” She stormed out of his room with this leaving Ashutosh baffled and disturbed. Was it so obvious? And if it was, what did Nidhi think of all this?

—

To be continued

“Achchha. Aap apne kamre mein jaiye. Mujhe bahar thoda kaam hai. Mujhe der ho jaye to aap dinner kamre mein order kar lijiyega,” Ashutosh told her in the evening after the conference, when they reached their hotel.

“Ji Sir.”

Ashutosh decided to buy the machine right away so that he could produce it from his office as soon as they got back to Lucknow. He had lied again. Even if some MR had given him a machine at some point of time, it was no longer with him. And she had said it wasn’t available in Lucknow. So, he had to get it in Mumbai only.

Why am I doing this, telling so many lies, he wondered. But what option did he have? She wouldn’t accept help from him otherwise. She had too much of self respect for that. Just like her queer Dadi. He thought about her Dadi’s tales and smiled in amusement.

And he wanted to help her. Why?

He asked her whether she had dinner when he came back.

“No Sir. Ye to… bahut zyada mehanga hai…”

“Kya?”

“Sir ye prices… Mujhe to lagta hai ek-do zeroes zyada laga diye hain.”

“Dr. Nidhi! Kya farq padta hai? Hospital pay kar raha hai na…”

“Sir. Itna mehanga khaana mujhse to hajam nahin hoga, koi bhi pay kare.”

“Oh God! Don’t be an idiot. Achchha – kal hum bahar ja kar sasta khaana kha lenge. Abhi please order karein? Mujhe bhi khaana hai. Bhookh lagi hai.”

“Okay… Sir. Aap hi order kar dijiye.”

“Aapko kya khana hai?”

“Ji… Roti… Sabzi… I guess.”

“Roti, Sabzi? All right. I guess sabzi main hi choose kar loon to fast hoga, right?”

“Yes Sir!” she was visibly relieved. Ashutosh felt amused, but did not show it.

—

The next day Ashutosh pushed Nidhi to interact with speakers and other doctors on her own. He watched her from afar when Dr. Niharika Asthana interrupted him.

“Kahan khoye hue ho Ashutosh?”

“Tum?” Ashutosh’ face stiffened, “I didn’t expect you here.”

“Well there are overlaps. You know… between gynacology and pediatrics. I am presenting a paper on neonatology.”

“Great. Now, if you will excuse me…”

“Aaj tak naaraaz ho Ashutosh…”

“Naaraaz?” Ashutosh laughed bitterly, “Naaraaz apno se hua jaata hai Dr. Asthana, strangers se nahin.”

“Ashutosh. Tumne kabhi mujhe samajhne ki koshish nahin ki…”

“Kya farq padta hai? Samajhne ya na samajhne se kuchh badal to nahin jayega…”

“Dr. Ashutosh,” Nidhi came towards him just then, “Aap lunch…” She stopped as she watched their flushed faces, “I… I am sorry. Main shayad disturb kar rahi hoon…”

“No Dr. Nidhi,” Ashutosh said promptly and matter of factly, “I am done here. Let’s go for lunch, but let me introduce you to Dr. Niharika Asthana. Gynaecologist at…”

“Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai.”

Ashutosh laughed, “Don’t tell me aapne inse bhi e-mail par contact kiya hua hai.”

“No Sir. Lekin neonatology mein India specific issues par maine inki book padhi hain. Very nice to meet you Ma’am.”

Niharika shook hands with Nidhi, but looked curiously at Ashutosh. His laughing had surprised her.

“Dr. Nidhi Verma works at Kotnis General Hospital,” Ashutosh formally introduced Nidhi.

“Which deparment?”

“I’m an interna Ma’am. Is trimester main pediatrics mein posted hoon.”

“Intern. Oh!” Nidhi discerned a hint of insult in Niharika’s tone, but she ignored it.

“Let’s go Dr. Nidhi,” Ashutosh said and left quickly with her.

—

Ashutosh was unusually quiet during the lunch.

“Sir?”

“Hmm?”

“Aap theek to hain?”

“Mujhe kya hoga?”

“Aap disturbed lag rahe hain. Aur logon ke saath lunch karne bhi nahin baithe…”

“Dr. Nidhi,” Ashutosh was suddenly back to his stern, almost rude self, which he had shedded recently in front of her, “Agar aapko aur logon ke saath baithna hai to aap ja sakti hain. You are not bound to sit with me.”

“Maine aisa to nahin kaha, Sir,” Nidhi replied firmly, but calmly. Surprisingly, his admonition did not scare her as it used to do earlier.

“Phir kya kahna chahti hain aap?”

“Main wahi kahna chahti hoon jo maine kaha. Aap disturbed lag rahe hain. Aap nahin share karna chahte hain to its fine. Lekin share karna achchha rahta hai.”

Ashutosh looked at her in surprise. Where did that confident reply come from? Had he trained her too well?

“Aap apni problems kiske saath share karti hain?” he asked curiously.

“Baba ke saath. Ya phir doston ke saath. Khaas kar Anji ke saath…”

“Anji?”

“Meri best friend. Hum bachpan se dost hain.”

“Apni Dadi ke saath nahin karti?”

“Dadi bahut sweet hain Sir. Lekin hum ek-doosre ke saath identify nahin kar sakte. Unke saath main problems share nahin kar sakti.”

“Right Dr. Nidhi. Hum problems unhi ke saath share kar sakte hain, jinke saath hum identify karte hain.”

“To kya aapki zindagi mein koi aisa nahin hai?”

“Nahin,” he said and got up from the table indicating that he was done with the lunch.

—

“Dr. Nidhi. Please meet me in my cabin before leaving for the day,” it was their first day back in Kotnis General Hospital.

“Ji Sir.”

As instructed, she knocked at his door in the evening and went in after his permission.

“Sir. Aapne mujhe jaane se pahle milne ko kaha tha.”

“Yes. Ye Blood Sugar Monitor. Aapko chahiye tha,” he handed the box to her, “Ismein 50 strips bhi hain. Khatam ho jayen to bata dijiyega. I will order more.”

“Oh! Thank you so much, Sir. This is really helpful.”

“No problems.”

“Aur Sir…”

“Yes?”

“Sir – shayad jaane-anjaane I might have overstepped my limits in Mumbai. I am really sorry for that. It won’t happen again.”

Ashutosh appeared surprised with her apology. He hadn’t expected her to remember the incident; at least not be bothered about it. He did not say anything in reply though, just nodded his head. Nidhi left after that.

—

After finishing his work at Jeevan Prabha, Ashutosh did not return home immediately. He sat there in his office leaning back on his chair. He was thinking about the last few days of his life. And he remembered welcoming yet another group of interns to the hospital. The nervous girl sitting in a corner, she turning out to be Dr. Nidhi Verma, scoring highest any intern had ever scored in his test, Nidhi stopping her colleague from giving wrong medicine to a patient, stuttering and dropping things around him, turning pale due to turbulence during the flight, furiously taking notes during the talks in the convention, discussing animatedly with the speakers, asking him why he looked disturbed and… He shook his head to get out of the chain of thoughts filling up his head. Something had changed in his life. He couldn’t put his finger on it. Or he didn’t want to. It was tempting, but it also scared him. It was unexpected. It couldn’t be good, he decided. He had to control himself. But will he be able to?

—

“Dr. Rangnath,” Ashutosh stopped him when he was leaving after discussing some administrative matters with him, “Dr. Nidhi Verma ki aaj duty nahin hai?”

“Duty to thi, Sir. Lekin unka phone aaya tha. Unki tabiyat kharaab ho gayi hai.”

“Kya hua?” Ashutosh asked so eagerly that Rangnath was startled for a moment.

“Kuchh khaas nahin, Sir, Kah rahi thi viral hai. To teen-chaar din lagenge wapas aane mein. Koi kaam tha, Sir? Main phone kar sakta hoon unhein.”

“No. No – its okay. Jab woh wapas aayengi main baat kar loonga. I guess Mumai trip tiring ho gayi unke liye.”

“I think so, Sir.”

—

It took a while for the door to open.

“Sir? Aap?” Nidhi was surprised to find Ashutosh at the door, “Please andar aaiye, Sir.”

“Aap… akeli hain, ghar par?” Ashutosh had come there because he was feeling restless. But he grew conscious after reaching there.

“Ji. Baba ko job par jaana tha.”

“Aur aapki Ma?”

Nidhi smiled sadly, “Meri Mummy nahin hain Dr. Ashutosh. Woh… Unki death ho chuki hai kaafi pahle.”

“Oh! I am… I am really sorry.”

“It’s okay, Sir. Sir, aap do minute baithiye. Main aapke liye chai bana kar laati hoon.”

“No. No. What are you doing? You should be resting. I’m sorry, maine aapko disturb kiya…”

“Aise kaise, Sir. Aap pahli baar ghar aaye hain. Chai to peeni hi padegi.”

“No. Look Nidhi. This is absurd. Main chai peene ke liye phir aa jaunga, jab tum theek ho jaogi. Right now tell me where is your room? You should be your bed, not out here attending to the guests. Please.”

“Sir.”

“Don’t make me scold you Dr. Nidhi.”

She gave up with a sigh.

“Come. Let me see you to your bed,” Ashutosh said and followed her to her room. He saw couple of cold water strips on a stool beside her bed, “Ye kya hai? Aapko zyada fever hai kya? Aap khud hi thande paani ki patti kar rahi hain?”

Before Nidhi could say anything, he felt her forehead. She was running a very high temperature. “Oh my God! Aapne mujhe bataya kyon nahin. I am surprised you are not delirious already…”

“Sir. Main theek hoon. Aap please…”

“Lie down Dr. Nidhi. Right now!” his voice was so firm and stern that Nidhi could not disobey him. She lied down, as he put the wet strips on her forehead. Her fever came down and she drifted off to sleep. Ashutosh felt awkward sitting in her bedroom and came out in the hall. He would have to wait until either she woke up or someone came. He couldn’t leave her alone in that state.

The two things he was waiting for happened together. The doorbell rung and that made Nidhi wake up.

“Sir? Aap ab tak yahan hain? I think Baba aa gaye hain.”

“Aap baithiye. Main darwaza kholta hoon.”

Nidhi introduced Baba and Ashutosh to each other. After a while Ashutosh made to leave.

“Sir? Main to poochhna hi bhool gayi. Aap kissi kaam se aaye the?”

“Nahin. Main bas aapko dekhne aaya tha. Aapka bukhaar tej tha, isliye maine socha akele chhod kar jaana theek nahin hoga.”

“Bahut bahut shukriya Dr. Ashutosh,” Baba said as Nidhi stared at Ashutosh, “Main chah kar bhi ghr par ruk nahin sakta tha. Chhutti manzoor nahin karte office waale. Achchha hua jo aap yahan ruk gaye. Warna itne tez bukhaar mein…”

“Aap please takalluf na karein Mr. Verma. Take care Dr. Nidhi and get well soon.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“Nidhi. Dr. Ashutosh waise sakht insaan to nahin lage jaisa tumne bataya tha,” Baba asked Nidhi after Ashutosh had left.

“Haan Baba. First impression shayad hamesha sahi nahin hota.”

“Sahi kaha tumne.”

“Baba. Woh blood sugar monitor bhi to gaon le jaana tha.”

“Abhi tumhein aisi halat mein chhod kar main gaon kaise jaun beta? Theek ho jao. Phir dono log saath mein chalenge.”

“Ji Baba. Main chai banaun aapke liye?”

“Pagal mat bano. Abhi itni der tumhare boss tumhari pahredaari kar ke gaye hain. Aur main tumhein kitchen mein bhej doonga. Aaraam karo. Main chai bana loonga.”

“Baba. Main itni beemaar nahin hoon,”

“Woh to Dr. Ashutosh ne bataya hi abhi ki kya halat ho gayi thi tumhari. Jao. Andar jao aur let jao.”

—

To be continued

Nidhi followed Ashutosh nervously as they entered the airport, checked in their luggage and got their boarding passes. Since the security queue for men and women were separate, he explained to her the security process.

“Aapke bag mein laptop to nahin hai?”

“No Sir.”

“Theek hai. Phir queue mein aapka number aane ke baad apa pahle apna saamaan us x-ray machine ki belt par daalengi. Phir doosri queue mein apna security check up karwayengi. Just like they do in the malls. Phir doosri taraf ja kar apna saamaan le lengi. Okay?”

“Okay Sir.”

“This is just routine stuff Dr. Nidhi. Aapko itna hairaan-pareshaan hone ki zaroorat nahin hai.”

Nidhi grinned foolishly.

After they were seated Ashutosh was surprised to see Nidhi taking out the latest copy of a pediatrics journal to read.

“Ye aapne issue karwaya hua tha hospital library se?” he asked.

“Yes Sir. Kyon?”

“Pahli baar aisa hua ki main issue karwane gaya to ye already circulated tha. So, I wondered…”

“Umm… Sir aap padhna chahte hain to le lijiye… Main baad mein padh loongi…”

“No. No. Its okay. I was just surprised. Aap padhiye. Kuchh interesting ho to mujhe bhi bataiye.”

“Ji Sir.”

A little while after take-off, the pilot announced bad weather requesting the passengers to wear the seat belts.

“Ye… kya ho raha hai, Sir?” Nidhi was terrified as the turbulence started.

“Turbulence.”

And as if that was not enough to terrify her, they also passed through a mild air pocket. Nidhi gulped hard and on an impulse clutched Ashutosh’ arm. He was startled. He sighed as he looked at her pale face.

“Nidhi,” he addressed her by her first name and said softly, “Calm down. Sab theek hai. Air pocket tha. Ye sab usual baatein hain flight travel mein. Kuchh nahin hoga.”

The turbulence went down and Nidhi relaxed a bit.

“Sorry,” she was embarrassed, “Woh main pahli baar…”

“It’s okay,” he smiled again, “Unfortunately aapki pahli hi flight mein kuchh zyada adventure ho gaya.”

“Ye meri aakhiri flight hai. Ab main phir nahin chadhungi,” she said.

He laughed slightly, “Wapas to aana hai Mumbai se? Ya flight mein na chadhne ke liye wahin bas jaana hai.”

She smiled back at him, “Yeah. Unfortunately aana to hai.”

“Waise aap bata rahi thi Dr. Nidhi ki aapki Dadi gaon mein hain aur beemaar hain?” Ashutosh asked after a while.

“Ji.”

“To aapko nahin lagta ki aapko unhein yahan le aana chahiye. Behtar ilaaj hoga.”

“Sir. Ye baat mujhe aur aapko samajh mein aati hai. Meri Dadi ko samjhane ki koshish kar ke dekhiye.”

“Kya matlab?”

“Unse gaon chhudwaana namumkin hai. Maine aur Baba ne itni koshish ki hai, itni baar unse kaha hai, lekin unka to bas ek hi raag hai – ki meri arthi gaon ki mitti se hi uthegi.”

“Kaafi ziddi hain.”

“Ziddi chhota shabd hai unke liye. Basically bahut khuddar hain. Mere Dadaji ki death bahut pahle ho gayi thi. Baba tab chhote hi the. Unhone akele unhein bada kiya hai. Kissi ki madad nahin li. Bas gaon mein ek chhoti se dukaan chalati rahi.”

“Aapke Baba kya karte hain?”

“Cashier hain ek private company mein.”

“Achchha. To aap apni Dadi ko dekhne jaati hain?”

“Haan. Jab bhi off hota hai hospital mein, chali jaati hoon. Gaon Lucknow se bahut door nahin hai. Lekin bahut backward hai. Kahne ko to bijli hai, lekin din mein ghante bhar bhi nahin rahti.”

“To aapki Dadi akeli rahti hain.”

“Akeli? Poore gaon ki auraton aur ladkiyon ki leader hain. Hamesha chaar log rahte hain. Jab se tabiyat giri hai, koi na koi unke ghar par hi sota hai. Pata hai ek baar maine unhein emotionally blackmail kar ke Lucknow laane ki sochi. To maine kaha ki main apni MBBS ki padhai chhod doongi aur gaon aa jaungi. Kyonki aapko dekh bhaal ke zaroorat padegi. Aur aap Lucknow nahin aayengi to mere paas koi chaara nahin hai. Padhai chhodni hi padegi. To pata hai unhone mujhe kya kaha? Kahti hain ki ye sapne mat dekhna ki teri Dadi ko besahara ho kar tujhse seva karane ki zaroorat padegi. Tu sahar ki chhui-mui ladki hai. Apni doctori kar le wahi bahut hai. Meri sewa karne ke liye mujhe betiyon aur bahuon ki kami nahin hai.”

Ashutosh laughed at that, “To unke hisaab se doctori chhui mui ladkiyon ka kaam hai?”

“Mere saamne to hamesha yahi jatati hain. Kabhi taareef nahin karti hain. Lekin peechhe poore gaon mein apni doctorni poti ke naam ka danka peetti rahti hain. Gaon jaati hoon to log hamesha batate hain.”

“Bahut kamaal ki hain aapki Dadi.”

“Aur bahut zyada khuddar. Tabiyat kharaab hai. Lekin abhi bhi ghante-do ghante ke liye hi, dukaan zaroor kholengi. Log to unke liye respect ki wajah se hi kuchh na kuchh khareed le jaate hain. Lekin mostly wahan unse gappein maarne ke liye aate hain. Aur woh har mahine mujhe apni dawaiyon ke liye sau rupaye deti hain. Hamara bhi so called ehsaan nahin le sakti hain woh.”

“Sau rupye mein kitni dawai aayegi?”

“Haan to hamein badi mehnat karni padti hain unse dawaiyon ka bill chhupane ke liye. Phir bhi dar lagta hai ki kahin kabhi gaon ke chemist ke paas na chali jayen prescription le kar. Kayamat aa jayegi us din. Woh to humne unse kaha hai ki mere medical college mein ya hospital mein discount pa dawaiyan mil jaati hain, tabhi is baat ke liye bhi maani ki woh hamein dawaiyan laane dengi. Khud nahin khareedengi.”

“Wow!”

“Waise gaon mein kissi aur ki tabiyat kharaab hoti hai, to fauran mujhe phone karwati hain. Hospital door hai na wahan se.”

“Phone par ilaaj karti hain aap?”

“Jitna ho paata hai batati hoon. Jab nahin samajh mein aata to hospital jaane ke liye kahti hoon. Hardly do ghanton ka raasta hai Lucknow se – capital city se, Sir. Lekin facilities ki halat bahut kharaab hai. Doctors nahin, dawaiyan nahin, ho bhi to log afford nahin kar paate. Main kabhi-kabhi apne saath dawaiyan le jaati hoon. Lekin poore gaon ka usse kya hoga.”

“Right. Ye to well known hai ki health facilities ki halat hamare desh mein bahut kharaab hai.”

“Ab saare doctors ko to gaon mein immediately bheja nahin ja sakta. Lekin main soch rahi thi ki aaj kal to video chats itne aasaan ho gaye hain. Agar gaon mein ek common computer lagwa doon to uske through common beemariyon ke ilaaj to ho hi sakta hai. Telemedicine ke baare mein log itni baatein kar rahe hain.”

“Lekin Dr. Nidhi, jab tak patient saamne na ho, karte banta nahin hai diagnosis. Aapko aisa nahin lagta?”

“Sir. Yahan sawaal chhoti-chhoti beemariyon se logon ki jaan chale jaane ka hai. Obviously video chat ke oopar observation utni accurate aur comfortable nahin rahegi. Lekin un logon ke paas aur kuchh bhi available nahin hai.”

“Interesting,” Ashutosh seemed to mull over it and Nidhi returned to her journal.

“Sir. Do aur log aane waale the na department se is convention ke liye? Woh log kahan hain?”

Ashutosh was startled, but he managed to lie once again, “Haan. Un logon ne alag se booking karwai hai.I think unka schedule different tha. I am sorry, maine aapse confirm kiye bina aapki booking is flight mein karwa di. Koi problem to nahin thi na?”

“No Sir. Not at all.”

Ashutosh sighed, reclined his chair and closed his eyes hoping that he did not have to lie more. He couldn’t have told her that others were not traveling in business class like him… and her. They had booked on a low-cost airline. Everyone had to pay for their travel and stay from their own pockets.

—

“You were so excited about Dr. Dutta’s talk. Aap unse ja kar milti kyon nahin hain?” Ashutosh asked Nidhi during the conference after Dr. Dutta’s talk.

“Main, Sir? Main unse kaise mil sakti hoon?”

“Kyon? That is what these events are for? Taki professionals ek doosre se networking kar sakein.”

“Sir. Main unse e-mail par discuss kar loongi.”

“Come on Dr. Nidhi. Aap phir se nervous ho rahi hain, right?”

Nidhi gulped and did not say anything

“Aur maine aapse pahle bhi kaha tha ki professional confidence display karna utna hi zaroori, jitna ilaaj karna aana. Chaliye, main aapko introduce karwata hoon.”

“Hello Dr. Dutta.”

“Dr. Mathur! So nice to meet you. How are you doing?”

“I am fine. Let me introduce you to Dr. Nidhi Verma…”

“Dr. Nidhi Verma from Kotnis General Hospital in Lucknow. The ever curious young lady. I’m sorry Dr. Nidhi, I couldn’t reply to your last mail as I was hurriedly preparing for this talk. You didn’t tell me you were coming here.”

“Y… Yes Sir. Actually last moment mein decide hua.”

“No problem. Good to meet you here. So, Dr. Mathur. She works under you?”

“Yes. She is interning at our hospital.”

“Wonderful. For last few weeks I have been having a lively discussion with her on my last paper over e-mails.”

“Yes. She has been getting the journals issued from our library before I can find them myself. So, I am not surprised.”

“Hum aisa kyon nahin karte hain? This is lunch time. Let’s grab a table and catch up on things. And Dr. Nidhi I can also clarify the questions you had asked me in the last mail.”

“Sure Sir.”

They sat down on a table with their plates and once Nidhi was comfortable, Ashutosh watched with fascination and appreciation how animatedly she participated in the discussion, asked questions, objected to the answers and proposed alternative explanations.

“That was such an interesting discussion,” Ashutosh told Nidhi when they were alone, “Aap unse baat karne se itna hichkicha kyon rahi thi? Aisi opportunity lose ho jati. Aur Dr. Dutta se aap already acquainted thi.”

“Sir… Explain karna mushkil hai. Mujhe aise naye logon se baat karne mein ghabrahat hoti hai. E-mails are easy.”

“Lekin aaj ke incident ke baad to I am sure aapka confidence badh jayega.”

“Shayad. Pata nahin Sir. Shayad baat hamesha confidence hone ya na hone ki nahin hoti hai. Main aisi hi hoon.”

“So, basically you are shy. I mean psychologically… you have a shy personality.”

“Probably.”

“You must overcome it in professional settings then.”

“I will try, Sir. Aur Sir. Ek help chahiye thi. Aap to Mumbai city se familiar honge?”

“Haan. Hoon. Lekin agar aapko kissi film ki shooting dekhni hai to main help nahin kar sakta.”

“Ji? Nahin… nahin… main…”

“Main mazaak kar raha tha. Bataiye kya help chahiye.”

“Actually mujhe meri Dadi ke symptoms dekh kar lag raha hai ki unki blood sugar zyada hai. Gaon mein kahin monitoring machine hai nahin. Aur kahin bahar woh jayengi nahin. To main soch rahi thi ki ek portable machine khreed loon. Aapko pata hai kahan milegi? Lucknow mein nahin mili mujhe.”

Ashutosh thought through it quickly. The machine would cost at least a few thousad rupees. If her household was dependent on the meagre stipend she earned as an MBBS intern…

“Portable machine? Khareedne ki kya zaroorat hai. Aap mujhe pahle batati to… Medical Representatives de jaate hain hospital mein kai baar. Rakhi hai ek machine mere paas. Aap mujhse le lijiyega.”

“Lekin woh to hospital ka hoga, Sir.”

“Hospital ko portable machine ki kya zaroorat hai. Aap le lijiye. Aur I am sure aapke gaon mein pahunchegi to sirf aapki Dadi nahin, kaafi log use karenge. To ise hospital ka hi extension samajh lijiye.”

“Thank you. Sir.”

—