Relations

Posted Leave a commentPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

 

She hadn’t dwelt on it. It was just a moment, when she said, “Abhi Maa hoti to main unse poochh leti.” She was sifting through jewelry samples Dadi Ma had ordered and had asked her to choose from. For their wedding

But it struck him as he overheard her. Did she often have these moments, which she did not share with him? Because she did not want him to worry? He didn’t have any respect for her family members given the way they had treated her. And he knew that she was strong and believed in living her life, even when her dear ones betrayed her. She had moved on and lived without the protection of her family. But at the end of the day, she was still an eighteen year old. Wouldn’t it be too harsh to expect her not to crave for the company of her family, at least her parents, her mother? Especially on such an important occasion of her life, her wedding?

But all these were merely his speculations. He wasn’t sure what he should do. He could try and contact her parents. Possibly on hearing the news of her marriage, they would feel good for her and agree to come. But would that be the right thing to do? Would it bring back good memories for her or the bad ones? It was too risky a decision. He would never want to kill her happiness, definitely not due to something that he was trying to make her smile.

There was only one option. Talk to her. But not immediately. It was a sensitive issue and he wanted to think through his words. He wasn’t good with words. He should not hurt her even by mistake.

For now, he would just pull his usual tricks and make her smile.

“Geet.”

“Aap? Aap yahan kya kar rahe hain?” She startled as if caught in an act.

“Ek client se meeting karne ke liye aaya hoon,” he mocked her.

“Client se meeting? Yahan? Lekin neeche office mein to sab shaadi ka samaan pada hai. Aap mujhe pahle nahin bata sakte the? Ab itni jaldi main office kaise theek karoongi?”

His smile broadened as he heard her blabbering. She suddenly noticed him smile.

“Aap mujhe buddhu bana rahe hain?”

“Banane ki kya zaroorat hai Geet?”

“Kya?” Her eyes widened at the insult, “Aap apne aap ko samajhte kya hain? Vikram aur Betal ke Vikram? Yahan kya karne aaye hain aap?”

“To mujhe tumhein ye batane ki zaroorat padegi ki main apni hone waali biwi ke kamre mein kya kar raha hoon. Haan Geet? Ye bewkoofi nahin to aur kya hai?”

He started moving towards her with his seductive look in his eyes and she started moving backwards, until she hit the bed and ended up sitting on it. He leaned, bringing his face close to hers and placed his hands on her sides on the bed. He picked up the necklace lying on her left, while he continued to look into her eyes. She did not notice the necklace, until he started putting it on her over her head. She became confused, while his hands moved to the back of her neck. She closed her eyes as his touch affected her. He pulled the strings and the necklace fitted on her neck. He ran his hands around her neck to bring them in front and caressed the necklace, “Ye perfect lag raha hai.”

She opened her eyes. Confusion still reigned on her face and in her voice, “Aap…”

“… apni mishti ke liye gahne select karne aaya tha. Kaisi lagi meri pasand?”

He cupped her face and she stood up when he gestured her to.

“Bahut achchhi hai.”

“Tumne to dekha bhi nahin hai ki maine kya chuna hai. Tab se mujhe hi nihar rahi ho.”

“Aapne chuna hai to phir mujhe dekhne aur sochne ki kya zaroorat hai?”

He smiled and just as he was moving to kiss her, they heard footsteps outside and separated awkwardly. Dadi Ma had come.

She noticed the necklace Geet was wearing and remarked, “Are wah Geet! Ye necklace to aap par bahut janch raha hai. Badi achchhi pasand hai aapki.”

Maan and Geet exchanged a quick, stealth smile and they proceeded to discuss the mandap designs with Dadi Ma.

They had sneaked out on the terrace after dinner. Geet was sitting on the swing, blabbering away about something or the other, when Maan suddenly interrupted her, “Geet mujhe tumse kuchh baat karni thi.”

“To boliye na..”

“Geet – kuchh serious baat hai, aur…”

He appeared to be struggling to choose his words and Geet got worried. The last time she had seen him hesitate so much was when he was trying to ask her about Dev, whether he should look for her culprit and bring him to justice. What was it this time?

“Aap itna hichak kyon rahe hain? Aisi kya baat hai. Please mujhe jaldi bataiye.”

“Geet tum gussa mat hona, bas mere dimaag mein baat aayi, isliye poochh raha hoon.”

“Aap please paheliyan bujha kar mujhe pareshaan mat kijiye. Aisi koi baat nahin ho sakti jo aap mujhse nahin kah sakte Maan. Please bataiye.”

“Geet, kya tum apne parents ko miss kar rahi ho? Kya tum chahti ho ki woh hamari shaadi attend karein?”

Geet was too shocked to react for few moments.

Even after she recovered, she wasn’t sure why he asked that question.

“Aap ye kyon poochh rahe hain? Kya aapko lagta hai ki log mere ghar waalon ke baare mein sawaal poochhenge?”

“Nahin, nahin Geet. Tum achchhi tarah se jaanti ho ki logon ki mujhe koi parwah nahin hai. Main to bas tumhari khushi ke liye jaanna chahta tha Geet. Agar apni shaadi par tum apne parents ka saath chahti ho, to main kuchh bhi kar ke unhein launga. Lekin agar ismein tumhari khushi hogi, tabhi.”

Geet was overwhelmed once again at her man’s concern for her happiness. She knew how much he detested her family. And how unfair they had been not only to her, but to him as well. He was still willing to go after them for her happiness.

“Maan! Rishte khoon se nahin bante, nibhane se bante hain. Aapne ek pita ki tarah meri hamesha raksha ki hai. Jab bhi main pareshaan aur udaas hui, ek maa ke tarah aapne mujhe shaant karaya hai, mujhe bharosa diya hai. Bhai-bahnon ki tarah aap mere saath hanste-khelte hain, jhagadte hain, mujhe chhedte hain, mujhe hansate hain. Aur ek sachche jeevan-saathi ki tarah har kadam par mere saath rahte hain. Mere saare rishte aap par shuru hote hain, aur aap par hi khatam hote hain Maan. Mujhe kissi aur ki zaroorat nahin hai. Mujhe apni khushiyan kissi aur ke saath nahin baantni hain.”

It was Maan’s turn to be overwhelmed.

“Geet!” He could not say anything else.

Geet nodded her head slightly, as if to confirm all that she had said just now. Then she got up from the swing and Maan pulled her into a hug.

He decided to lighten the mood, “Waise Geet. Tum itni badi badi baatein karna kaise seekh gayi. Tum meri nakal kar ke practice to nahin karti rahti?”

Geet broke the embrace slightly, pretended to be angry and hit him on his shoulder. They started smiling and hugged again.

 

Note on the OS

I am aware that some people may not agree to the viewpoint presented in this story. The most common argument being that ‘parents are parents and how can she not wish to see her parents on her wedding day?’ But I have a strong opinion to the contrary.

To illustrate my idea, let me present an example from the serial itself. Do we think of Dev as the father of Geet’s child? Almost everyone in love with the serial does not. Most of us accept Maan as the father. Why? Dev is the one biologically responsible for the baby. But he did not carry out his responsibilities of protecting and loving the baby. Maan did. He protected the baby and loved it as his own. So, its Maan and not Dev who is the father of the baby.

To me, Geet’s parents and Dev are similar. Both have been spineless for their child. Both of them could not protect their child. The only difference is the Geet has lived with her parents for 18 years and of course, there have been moments of love and affection. But even during those years they had not been able to do anything to protect her from the ridicilous rules and punishments decided by Daarji. Those who have seen the initial episodes would know how torturous all of that was.

Given that they have royally failed in their basic duty as the parents, I have no sympathy for any affection between them and Geet. Check out Stockholm Syndrome. Even the captives end up developing positive feelings for their captors. It may sound harsh, but I treat this affection as closer to Stockhold Syndrome. She has been with them for 18 years, but that’s it. After that they left her to die and could do nothing for her. They might as well have killed her, when she was born.

So, I never accepted Geet’s family or parents returning to share her happiness in the wedding. (Especially not Daarju, who according to me is the biggest villain in the show.) They have no rights over Geet’s happiness. Only Maan has that right. He is the only family she has.

 

Making Up

Posted 2 CommentsPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

Note on the OS

In one of the episodes before their wedding, Maan was troubling Geet by holding her hands under the dining table, forcing her to eat with her left hand. Dadi Ma and Annie noticed it and it created an embarrassing situation for Geet. Maan was enjoying teasing her and added more to her discomfort by asking her to serve him rice. She warned him, but when he did not let go, she exposed him in front of Dadi Ma and Annie. When they realized that Maan had been holding her hands, they teased him a lot and this made Maan angry at Geet. He scolded her for exposing their private life in front of others. He thought she did not want him to touch her and hence decided that he would not touch her until the wedding.

I felt very bad for Geet after that episode and wrote this OS. In the show they hand handled it differently by turning it in to a funny challenge. My take is more emotional.

What had she done? She hurt him? His pride? His prestige?

Yes – it was not intentional, but she still ended up doing it. How could this happen, when she claims to know him so well; when he himself has this faith on her that she knows him more than he knows himself?

At that moment, it did not matter to her that the whole incident was triggered because of his prank. He was the one who was embarrassing her by holding her hand under the dining table. But when she exposed him, the situation went out of her hands. He could not take all the leg pulling. And then in the office. She was hurting badly when he was telling her all that. That she needs to keep their private moments private.

But right now, it wasn’t her self-respect or hurt that mattered. How could it? He was the person who taught her how to live with self-respect. He was the one who healed all her hurt. And she had hurt him. He had put up with so much for her. He had put up with all her naivety and mistakes and still loved her to death. How far she must have gone this time that he was hurt by her behaviour?

That was the only thing that mattered. He was hurt. How could she make amends? He was so angry, that she did not have the courage to go and say ‘Sorry’. What if a ‘Sorry’ was inadequate!

As he sat in his cabin alone for a while, his anger started to cool off. And that’s when he realized what he had done.

Why did he talk to her like that? Couldn’t he see the hurt in her eyes, when he told her that he would not even touch her. And when he told her that he would no longer listen to her. And when he shouted at her in the office.

This was the woman who had taught him how to smile, how to let go of worries. How could he rob her of her smile! The smile that she managed to keep even when she was going through the hell in her life, through the death threats by her own family, through the social stigma of becoming a single mother, through the days of financial insecurities, through all her loneliness. And he robbed her of that smile, which had sustained her all her life. And which now sustained him too.

This was the woman who trusted him blindly. She even waited for the snow in Delhi, because he asked her to. Why did he have to be so harsh with her? What had come upon him? If he wanted her to behave differently all he had to do was ask her. Yes, she blabbered non-stop in front of him, she fought with him in a way nobody dared to, she made fun of him, but none of it came in the way of her true feelings for him. The true feelings, with which she practically worshipped him. Did she ever really say “No” to anything he asked her for? She did not. She could not! What should he do? Go to her cabin and say ‘Sorry’? What if a ‘Sorry’ was inadequate?

He could not decide what to do. The day was filled with meetings, because he wanted to finish off as much work as possible before they took leave for their wedding. Meetings that she scheduled because he had asked her to. Even this simple thought made his heart ache. He only had to ask her. Why did he shout at her and utter those hurtful words!

The last meeting ran till 7 pm. He came back hurriedly from the conference room. He would take her home and talk to her. Do whatever he can to heal her wounds. But she was not in the cabin. Pinki was still there, packing her things up to leave for the day. He asked her. Geet had left at 6 pm. She looked unwell, but she did not say anything when Pinki asked her.

Unwell? Maan almost cried. What happened? Why did she not tell him?

She was facing away from the door, leaning on the rod of the bed. He could hear muffled sounds while standing at the door. What was she doing?

He tip-toed to go and face her. She did not realize he was there. What he saw there broke his heart. Her eyes were closed, as if she was trying to control her tears. But they were uncontrollable. They were flowing through her closed eyes. She was biting her lips to not let a sound escape. But he still had been able to hear them at the door itself.

His hands naturally moved to wipe her tears. But he suddenly remembered what he had said in the morning. He will not touch her till their wedding. Not that he cared about that any longer. But he wasn’t sure what she thought of it. How will she take it if he touched her? It took him all his self-control, but he decided to hold back for the time being.

Then he slowly called her, “Geet!”

He could see surprise on her crying face. She did not open her eyes immediately. She wiped her tears with her fingers. And then opened her eyes. She was still biting her lips.

He had to read her lips as she tried to say, “Aap?” She had such a heavy throat due to her crying that the voice did not come out.

He looked around and found a jug of water on the side-table. He poured her a glass of water. She took the glass from him, but did not drink. She kept looking at him with eyes whose expressions killed him. Why was she looking so guilty? He was the one who should be guilty?

“Geet! Pinki ne kaha ki tumhari tabiyat theek nahin hai. Kya hua Geet?”

She drank the water now to find her voice back.

“Nahin. Maine to aisa kuchh nahin kaha tha use. Main bilkul theek hoon. Koi ghabrane ki baat nahin hai.”

‘Woh itna gussa hain. Phir bhi meri tabiyat kharab hone ke dar se bhagte chale aaye,’ she thought and felt even worse.

“Kya aap mujhe maaf kar sakte hain?”

“Geet…” Maan grew emotional.

“Mujhe pata hai, mujhse bahut badee galti ho gayi hai. Lekin mera yakeen maaniye, main aapki insult karne ki soch bhi nahin sakti. Ek baar maine aapko galat samajha tha Maan, aur uske liye main itna pachhtayi hoon ki galti se bhi aapki baaton ko mana nahin kar sakti. Please mujhe maaf kar dijiye. Maine anjaane mein aapka dil dukha diya.”

Maan’s guilt increased a thousand folds as he heard her repeating what he already knew. She would always do what he asked her to.

“Chup Geet. Bilkul chup,” he had said this so many times earlier. But this time he did not put his hands on her lips with authority. His own words, uttered that morning, had come back to bite him.

“Geet. Tum please apne aap ko zimmedar thahrana band karo. Galti meri thi Geet. Mujhe tumhare oopar gussa nahin karna chahiye tha. Main bhi to jaanta hoon ki tum meri har baat maanti ho, mujhe tum par chillane ki koi zaroorat nahin hai. Main gusse mein apna aapa kho baitha Geet. Subah bhi meri hi galti thi. Mujhe tumhein sab ke saamne pareshaan nahin karna chahiye tha. Main sirf tumhein lekar hi possessive nahin hoon Geet. Main apni is chhoti si duniya ko lekar bhi bahut possessive hoon, jo sirf hum dono ki hai. Ye main kissi ke saath share nahin kar sakta. Lekin in sabke beech maine tumhein bahut pareshaan kiya Geet, aur woh bhi bewajah. I am sorry. Please mujhe maaf kar do.”

That was it. Everything was resolved between them. This was how it was meant to be. She moved towards him, but suddenly stopped. His words in the morning… Did he still mean them? He saw her hesitation and spread his arms inviting her. She came to him immediately. As they stood there in each other’s arms, where they really belonged, a calmness descended upon them. The calmness that was theirs, but had eluded them the entire day, thanks to a silly fight.

Bachelor Party

Posted 5 CommentsPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

 

“Sab logon ne itne pyaar se aapke liye party arrange ki hai to aap itne nakhre kyon dikha rahe hain?”

“Geet! Mujhe nahin jaana hai – mujhe ye sab pasand nahin hai.”

“Haan, haan – Pata hai. Aapko hansi-khushi waali koi cheez kabhi pasand kahan aati hai? Lekin doosron ki khushi ke liye bhi kuchh kar liya kijiye.”

“Geet tumhein pata bhi hai ki Bachelor party mein kya hoga?”

“Kya hoga? Aasmaan sar par to nahin gir padega na? Bataiye kya hoga?”

Maan hesitated and Geet started again, “Dekha. Koi jawaab nahin hai. Bekaar mein bahane banaye ja rahe hain. Dekhiye – Adi Sir ne mujhse request ki hai aur maine unhein promise kiya hai ki aap party mein jayenge. Ab agar aab nahin gaye to main aapse baat nahin karoongi.”

“Geet!”

“Maan!” she imitated him.

“To tum nahin maanogi?”

“Nahin.”

“Theek hai. Marzi to tumhari hi chalegi. Lekin baad mein kuchh gadbad ho to mujhe mat kahna.”

“Aap wahan ja kar logon par cheekhne-chillane nahin lagenge to koi gadbad nahin hogi.”

Maan gave her an angry stare and walked out of the room.

“Babaji. Ab bas party mein inka mood theek rahe.”

Annie walked in to Geet’s room, “Geet. Tumhein pata hai Bhai kahan hai?”

“Haan. Woh Arjun ne bachelor party plan ki thi. To Adi Sir aur office ke baaki logon ke saath wahi attend kar rahe hain.”

“Kya? Bhai aur bachelor party? I can’t believe it.”

“Kyon?”

“Kyon? Tumhein pata bhi hai bachelor party mein kya hota hai?”

“Tum dono bhai-bahan ek jaisi baatein karte ho. Aisa kya hota hai bachelor party mein?”

Annie saw her cluelessness and decided to take advantage of the situation by giving her a rather exaggerated description of the dancing girls who would definitely be invited to the party and what all they will do including a special private dance for the groom.

Geet was flabbergasted and Annie left with a mischievous smile on her face.

Maan was disinterestedly walking around in the party, mechanically replying to the wishes and jokes coming his way. The host appointed by Arjun announced the special surprise, which to nobody’s surprise was going to be a dance by some half-clad girls. Most of the attendees forgot about him as they gathered around the dance floor to make the most of the opportunity. At this stage of life, it was not possible for Maan to feel excited about this teen-age entertainment. But if Geet came to know about the dance, she would go bonkers. He smiled as he recalled the moments when even the simplest hint of the attention towards him from women had made her go green. She is as possessive as he is. Suddenly he felt a strong urge to be with her, to hold her in his arms, to kiss her. And then pushed more by this urge of his  than the wish of avoiding the party, he sneaked out.

“Geet kar di na tune phir wahi baat. Aa bail mujhe maar,” Geet was blabbering as she paced up and down in her room.

“Woh to mana kar rahe the jaane ko. Tujhe hi samaj seva karne ki padi thi. To ab bhugato.  Pata nahin woh ladkiyan party mein kya kar rahi hongi. Aur Maan? Nahin – mujhe un par to bharosa hai, par ladkiyon par nahin. Waise bhi ye Delhi ki ladkiya kaise chipakti rahti hain unse. Babaji – ab main kya karoon? Aap hi kuchh raasta dikhaiye na.”

“Haan – ye theek hai. Main phone kar ke unhein bol deti hoon ki woh wapas aa jayen. Koi party attend karne ki zaroorat nahin hai.”

“Nahin. Ye achchha nahin lagega. Aur phir woh mera bahut mazaak udayenge.”

She stopped pacing, held the rod of the bed and stood facing away from the door, “Babaji. Ab aap hi kuchh kijiye aur unhein party se wapas bhejiye.”

Maan walked up to her from behind and covered her eyes with his hands. Without even touching his hands, she recognized him, “Maan.”

She knew his touch so well and was so comfortable with it. She wasn’t even startled. He smiled, once again recalling the old days, when even an accidental pull on her dupatta or a touch on  her hand would push her to the edge of nervousness. They had come a long way.

He left her eyes and she turned around to face him.

“Aap yahan kaise?”

“Kyon? Abhi to tum apne Babaji se kah rahi thi ki main party se wapas aa jaun. Aur woh to tumhari har baat maante hain, hai na?” Maan teased her.

“Aap chhup-chhup kar meri baatein sun rahe the,” Geet pretended to be irritated to hide her embarrasment.

“Ye lo. Main kahan chhipa tha? Main to saamne darwaze par khada tha. Tum hi apne Babaji se baat karne mein itni busy thi ki meri or dekha tak nahin.”

“Aap meri taang mat khinchiye. Aap party se wapas kyon aa gaye?”

“Kyon? Tumhein achcha nahin laga? Theek hai main wapas chala jaata hoon,” he pretended to be offended and turned to leave.

She held his hand, “Maine ye to nahin kaha.”

“Lekin tumhari baaton se to yahi lag raha hai ki tum chahti ho ki main party mein jaun. Pahle bhi tumne hi mujhe wahan bheja tha. Main to nahin jaana chahta tha.”

“Par ye party to ladke bandhnon mein bandhne se pahle apni aazaadi ki khushi manane ke liye karte hain na? Phir aap kyon nahin karna chahte ye party?”

Maan turned around, held her at the shoulder and spoke emotionally, “Geet. Ye shaadi sirf duniya waalon ke liye aur tumhare liye hai. Taki log kabhi hamare rishte par ungli utha kar tumhein pareshaan na kar sakein. Jahan tak mera sawaal hai Geet, maine apne aap ko is bandhan mein bahut pahle baandh liya hai. Tumhari maang bharne se bhi pahle. Mujhe to pata bhi nahin chala tha Geet ki kab maine apni zindagi, apni taqdir, apni khushiyan sab tumse jod di thi. Aur jab pata chala, tab ehsaas hua ki is bandhan ke pahle meri zindagi mein khushiyan thi hi kahan, jo main unhein celebrate karne liye party karoon? Aur azaadi? Is bandhan ne mujhe jitni azaadi di hai, woh meri zindagi mein pahle kabhi nahin thi Geet? Hansne ki azaadi, khush rahne ki azaadi, zindagi jeene ki azaadi! Geet – meri zindagi mein jo kuchh bhi achchha hai, jo bhi hansi hai, jo bhi khushi hai, woh sab tumse hai Geet. Is bandhan ke alawa mere paas celebrate karne ki liye aur kuchh nahin hai. Lekin duniya meri in khushiyon ko nahin samajh sakti Geet. Unke paas tum jo nahin ho. To ye to sirf hum dono hi celebrate karenge.”

Geet was overwhelmed with emotions as she heard his monologue. Their bodies naturally moved for a hug. In the process Maan moved her hair away from her shoulder and planted a kiss there. She shivered, but made no attempt to free herself. Maan felt her shivering and smiled as he embraced her into a bone-crushing hug. His intensity was limited only by the concern for their baby.

 

Her Saviour

Posted 5 CommentsPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

 

Note on the OS

In the show Dadi and Annie had decided to have some fun at Maan and Geet’s expense. Dadi faked anger at how they were coming so close to each other before their wedding and made the rule that they won’t meet each other for more than half and hour a day until the wedding. This incident is supposed to happen in that context.

“Geet, kya hua? Tum ro kyon rahi ho?” asked Anvesha.

Anvesha and Dadi Ma had just sent Maan away from the hall in the outhouse reminding him of the “half-an-hour-a-day” rule. Anvesha had accompanied Geet to her room, while Dadi Ma was supervising the servants bringing Geet’s clothes and jewelry to the outhouse. Geet had tried her best to control herself, but she just could not help it any longer. Her tears were unstoppable. Anvesha tried to distract her for a while by joking and teasing, but Geet appeared lost. That got her worried and she called Dadi Ma in.

By the time Dadi Ma came in, Geet had made an excuse and had gone to the bathroom. She was hoping to control herself, but in the solitude her tears became even more stubborn. Anvesha told Dadi Ma about Geet crying. They waited for her to come out, but there was no sign of her. Dadi Ma called Geet and knocked at the bathroom door. But she did not reply. So, she decided to call Maan.

Maan ran to the outhouse.

“Geet kahan hai?”

“Bathroom mein, magar bahar aa hi nahin rahin Maan beta. Kuchh baat hui hai kya?”

“Aap log jaiye, main dekhta hoon.”

They were too worried to remember the half-an-hour rule and did what Maan asked them to.

“Geet,” he knocked softly at the door after they had left.

She heard him and as much as she wanted to jump into his arms, she thought others were still there and hence hesitated in coming out.

Maan tried the knob of the bathroom door. It was unlocked. He went in immediately. His worry increased a hundred times on seeing her tear stained face. He cursed himself for not having listened to his instinct when Dadi Ma was ordering him away from the outhouse. He had felt something was matter with Geet given the way she had clung to him. Before he could ask her, Dadi Ma and Anvesha had barged in and he had to leave.

But he was there now.

“Geet,” he ran to her, cupped her face in his hands and wiped her tears with his thumbs. Geet looked towards the room apprehensively. Maan understood what was on her mind, “Wahan koi nahin hai Geet. Chalo, kamre mein chal kar baat karte hain.”

He made her sit on the bed and poured her a glass of water.

“I am sorry Geet. Mujhe us samay jaana nahin chahiye tha. Tum tabhi pareshaan dikh rahi thi. Kya ho gaya Geet?”

“Nahin,” Geet was embarrassed, “Aap sorry kyon bol rahe hain. Sorry to mujhe bolna chahiye. Itna tamasha ho gaya meri wajah se…”

Maan tried to cheer her up by making light of the situaiton, “Haan. woh to hai. Ab dekho, sab ko pata chal gaya ki tum mere bina ek pal bhi nahin rah sakti. Nahin rah sakti na Geet?”

But Geet was too embarrassed to notice that he was joking, “I am sorry. Aap chale jaiye. Dadi Ma pata nahin kya soch rahi hongi.”

“Geet. Main mazak kar raha tha. Aur tum Dadi Ma ki chinta mat karo. Main unhein achchhi tarah se jaanta hoon. Wo Annie ke saath mil kar mazaak kar rahi hain. Hamari khushi se zyada kuchh important nahin hai unke liye. Woh kuchh nahin sochengi. Aur Geet, agar tum nahin rah sakti mere bina to ismein bura mahsoos kyon kar rahi ho? Main bhi to nahin rah sakta na tumhare bina. Warna us waqt choron ki tarah aata kyon tumhare paas?”

“Aapko to to jaise koi phone kar ke bata deta hai main jab bhi pareshaan hoti hoon. Kaise aa jate hain aap har samay meri madad karne.”

Maan smiled, “Taqdir ko bhi pata hai Geet ki tumhein ab kissi bhi cheez ke liye pareshaan hone ki koi zaroorat nahin hai. Isliye woh mujhe tumhare paas bhej deti hai. Waise Geet, tumhein agar koi pareshaani ho to tum Dadi Ma se bhi kah sakti ho. Tumhein pata hai na ki woh tumhein bahut pasand karti hain.”

“Haan, lekin main ye baat unhein nahin bata sakti thi. Unhein meri pregnancy ke baare mein pata nahin hai na.”

This scared Maan, “Kya hua Geet? Tumhari tabiyat kharaab hai? Aur tum itni der se baith kar ro rahi thi? Mujhe usi waqt batana chahiye tha na. Chalo hum abhi doctor ke paas chalte hain.”

“Aap please shaant ho jaiye. Aise ghabrane se kaise kaam chalega. Kuchh badee problem nahin hai. Bas mujhe thodee kamzori lag rahi thi aur chakkar aa rahe the. Aur Dadi Ma mujhe kapde aur gahne chunne ke liye bula rahi thi. Ye sab mujhe waise bhi samajh mein nahin aata hai to main thoda ghabra gai thi,” she paused and then felt that she was getting worried for trivial reasons, “I am sorry. Main ekdum chhoti-chhoti baaton par ghabra jati hoon. Pata nahin, aap saamne nahin hote hain to mere saath aisa kyon ho jaata hai?”

“Nahin Geet. Ye chhoti baat nahin hai. Is halat mein tumhein itna stress nahin lena chahiye. Meri hi galti hai, mujhe Dadi Ma ko bata dena chahiye tha.”

Geet looked at Maan with fear in her eyes. She was scared of Dadi Ma’s reaction towards her pregnancy. While she knew about Dev’s fraud, she was still not aware of the baby. Would there be another obstacle for their wedding now?

Maan quickly assured her, “Ghabrao mat Geet. Main jaanta hoon ye sahi samay nahin hai unhein batane ka. Aur tareeke hain hamari problem ko solve karne ke. Taki tum stressed na ho. Main abhi dadi ma se baat karta hoon.”

Maan started leaving, but Geet clutched on to his hands, “Kya bolenge aap Dadi Ma ko?” She was still scared.

Maan smiled, “Main unhein yahin bula leta hoon. Tumhare saamne hi baat ho jayegi.”

Maan called Dadi Ma up. She was worried about Geet and he assured her that Geet was all right and if she was free, she could come to meet Geet right away.

Dadi Ma reached there in five minutes, “Geet beta, aap theek to hain na? Maan, kya hua tha inhein?”

Geet was not sure what to tell her; Maan replied instead, “Dadi Ma. Geet shaadi ki taiyariyon se thoda pareshaan ho gai thi aur ghabra gai thi. Aap to jaanti hain na ki Geet ek seedhi-saadi ladki hai. In gahnon-kapdon mein na to iski bahut dilchaspi hai aur na hi inki samajh. Isliye pareshaan ho gai thi. Aap aisa kyon nahin karti, aap aur Annie mil kar Geet ke liye kapde select kar dijiye. Mujhe yakeen hai Geet ko woh bahut pasand aayenge. Hai na Geet?”

Geet smiled with relief and nodded affirmatively.

“Bas itni si baat. Geet beta, hum to aapse select karne ko isliye kah rahe the ki hamein laga aap apni shaadi ke decisions khud lena chahengi. Lekin ismein itna pareshaan hone ki kya zaroorat hai. Chaliye, koi baat nahin. Aap ye sab hum par chhod dijiye. Hum ek achchhe stylist ko bulwa kar aapke liye sab kuchh select karwa lenge. Theek hai?”

“Jee Dadi Ma,” Geet replied.

“Aur Dadi Ma, mujhe lagta hai ki Geet shopping wagerah se thak bhi ja rahi hai. To jahan uski zaroorat na ho, wahan use shopping par mat le jaiye. Aap chahein to main aapke saath aa jaunga.”

Dadi Ma found his request odd and it showed on her face for a moment, but she decided not to make an issue out of it, “Theek hai baba. Aisa hi karenge. Jismein aap logon ki khushi ho. Ab sab theek hai?”

“Thank you Dadi Ma,” Maan and Geet said together and all of them laughed at this.

“Achchha, abhi hamein thoda kaam hai, hum aapse thodi der baad milte hain Geet. Tab tak aap aaraam kar lijiye,” Dadi left the room with this.

Maan sat beside Geet on the bed, “Ab to koi parehsaani nahin hai na Geet?”

“Jab aap aa jayen to mere paas koi pareshaani kaise rah sakti hai?”

“Ab samjhi Tum Maan Singh Khurana ke jaadu ko,” Maan teased her.

“Haan, haan. Bade aaye jadugar. Abhi thodee der mein Dadi Ma aur Anvesha ko aadhe ghante waala farmaan yaad aa jayega. Phir dekhti hoon kaun sa jaadu chalate hain aap unke oopar?”

“Badi dikaat ho rahi hai tumhein mere saath na rah kar?” Maan continued in her playful mood.

“Aapko nahin ho rahi hai?” Geet became emotional.

Maan reciprocated her feelings, “Bahut ho rahi hai Geet. Isliye to ye laaya tha,” he took out a cell phone from his pocket and kept it in her hand.

“Ye kyon?” Geet blurted without thinking.

“Geet! Ab mujhe tumhein ye bhi batana padega ki mobile phone kis liye rakhte hain?”

“Nahin. Woh…” she realized that her question had been stupid.

Maan smiled again looking lovingly at his goofy, confused sweetheart, “Geet. Jab bhi meri yaad sataye aur mauka mile, mujhe phone kar lena. Kam se kam tumhari aawaaz to sun sakoonga. Aur agar mauka na mile to ek message hi bhej dena. To pata chal jayega ki tum theek ho.”

Geet smiled and kept the phone on the side-table.

“Ab aap jaiye. Kahin Dadi Ma ya Anvesha ko bura na lag jaye.”

“Geet. Jab unhein bura lagega woh mujhe jaane ko khud hi kah dengi. Tab tak main kahin nahin ja raha, samjhi tum?”

Geet looked at him with adoration. He had been her saviour yet again! She came forward and hugged him to express her love, gratitude and respect. He hugged her back feeling content and happy to have her.

 

Sazaa

Posted 10 CommentsPosted in Fan Fiction, Hinglish, Maneet (GHSP)

 

Note on the OS

This was written after Indian Paints incident, when Geet realizes that Maan was never at fault and he had never bailed Dev or Naintara out. In the show she tells him that she knows how he never supported Dev and Naintara, accepts her mistake and tells him that it was so huge that she can not be forgiven. He should punish her for her mistake. This scene happens after that.

She waited for everyone to leave his cabin after the meeting. She was aware of Shasha’s envious and taunting eyes on her. She knew the reason. Maan had declared the meeting to be over, but Geet wasn’t moving. Everyone else had to. But she had long back learned to give a damn to Shasha.

She turned to him once they were alone. He was still sitting on his chair, pretending to be looking in to some file.

“Aapne mujhe bataya nahin.”

He turned to look at her, “Maine tumhein kya nahin bataya, Geet?”

“Ki aapne mujhe maaf kiya ya nahin?”

He did not reply; instead kept staring at her until she could take it no more and turned away. She waited for a few seconds; but disappointment clouded her eyes and she began to leave.

Only to feel the now so familiar pull on her arms. He had come behind her while she was waiting with her face away from him.

“Kahan ja rahi ho Geet. Tumne hi to kaha tha na ki tumhein maafi nahin mil sakti hai,”

She was on the verge of crying, “Pata hai. Aapka jawaab mil gaya – isliye to ja rahi hoon.”

“Apni sazaa liye bina maidaan chood kar bhaag rahi ho,” he had come right behind her and was holding her at her shoulders while speaking in his heavy, seductive voice.

“Kya sazaa dena chahte hain aap?”

He turned her around so that they were facing each other. He now had a mischievous smile on his face, which she did not notice because her eyes were downcast.

“Himmat hai sazaa lene ki, Geet?”

“Main kissie bhi saza ke liye taiyaar …” her voice drowned as she looked up at him and noticed his mischievous mood.

She realized which direction this conversation was going in and lowered her eyes again.

He ran his finger along the loose strand of her hair and tucked it behind her ear.

“Mujhse kissi aasaan sazaa ki ummed mat rakhna Geet. Tumhein pata hai na ki main kitna strict hoon.”

He started untying her hair and with the loosening of each strand he gave her some details of her punishement.

“Poori zindagi bhugatni padegi ye sazaa. Maut bhi chhutkara nahin dila sakegi is sazaa se.”

“Roz ek dusht danav ke tewar sahne padenge.”

“Dus sar waale Ravan ki zyadatiyan sahni padengi.”

“Mere dil mein umra-quaid milegi Geet.”

“Tumhari himmat ka test bhi dena padega.”

“Meri dulhan ban kar mere ghar aana padega.”

He had finished untying her hair. He went behind her and moved her hair to one side. He kissed her neck. She gasped and closed her eyes.

“Mujhse shaadi karni padegi. Manzoor hai sazaa?”

He turned her around as she opened her eyes and looked at him.

“Bolo Geet. Dar to nahin gayi?”

She lowered her eyes again as a shy smile formed on her lips. She hid her face in his chest and whispered, “Is sazaa ke liye to main baar-baar jaan boojh kar galtiyan karoongi.”

“Achchha – tumhein to bilkul bhi dar nahin lag raha hai Geet. Lagta hai tumhein sazaa ki jhalak dikhani padegi.”

She felt his hands roam up on her back and she realized that he was untying the dori of her kurti. Both of them seemed to have forgotten that they were in the office.

But they came out of their trance when they heard a knock. They quickly disengaged themselves as Maan asked the ‘intruder’ to come-in, putting up as straight a face as possible.

Shasha walked in and got disoriented with jealousy for a moment as Geet’s open hair gave away a hint of the intimate moment she had just shared with Maan.

She recovered and addressed Maan, “MK. Ms. Pindi Queen ke project ke baare mein discuss karna tha. Hum apna final proposal unhein bhejne waale hain, to agar aap ek baar sab check kar lete. Ye hai file…”

“Shasha – fifteen minutes mein hum conference room mein milte hain. Jin bhi logon ne proposal par kaam kiya hai, un sab ko bula lo. Main sabke saath hi dekh loonga.”

“Lekin MK, maine sab ke inputs le liye hain, sabki zaroorat nahin hai. Main abhi aapko…”

“Shasha! Jaisa maine kaha hai waisa karo. Mujhe sab log fifteen minutes mein conference room mein chaaahiye.”

Shasha reluctantly had to leave them alone again.

Geet had somehow managed to keep her composure till then. Now, she got all shy and nervous and said, “Main jati hoon,” only to be stopped again by the pull on her arms.

Maan came close to her, planted a kiss on her bare back, forcing her to close her eyes again as she struggled to keep her reaction to his kiss in check.

Then he retied her dori and covered her back with her hair, “Geet, tum sirf meri ho. Ye tumhari sazaa ka hi hissa hai. Bhoolna mat.”

Geet ran out to go to her cabin to catch her breath. She also had to be in the conference room in fifteen minutes as she was looking after the arrangements of the launch party for Pindi Queen.

Maan did not bother her for the rest of the day. Both of them were busy at work and it was 8 pm when Maan realized how late it was. He instinctively looked at Geet’s cabin and got surprised to see her working this late.

He barged in, “Geet, ab kaam karna band karo aur chalo mere saath. Main tumhein ghar drop kar doonga.”

“Aap chale jaiye Sir. Main bas 15-20 minutes mein nikal jaungi.”

“Geet. Tumhein khud ko over-exert nahin karna chahiye. Baaki ka kaam kal ho jayega. Abhi chalo yahan se.”

“Nahin, main abhi saari details finalize kar ke bhej doongi, warna event management waale kahenge ki unhein sufficient notice nahin mili taiyaariyon ke liye.”

“Theek hai. Main tumhari madad karta hoon.”

“Nahin. Main kar loongi.”

Her reply saddened Maan. He assumed that she refused his help because of their challenge.

“Geet. Kya hum us bekaar ke challenge ko bhool nahin sakte? Mujhe pata hai Geet ki tum sab kuchh khud kar sakti ho. Lekin tumhara apni sehat ka khayal rakhna bhi to zaroori hai. Agar tumhein challenge karne ki meri ek bachkani harqat ki wajah se tumhein koi bhi parehsaani hui to main apne aap ko maaf nahin kar sakoonga.”

Geet’s refusal to take his help had come from her habit of last few days of saying “no” to every offer of help from him. She was no longer really thinking about the challenge. So, she felt bad as she realized that she had ended up hurting him with her careless response.

“Aap please shaant ho jaiye. Main kissi challenge ke baare mein nahin soch rahi thi. Maine bas yun hi kah diya kyonki mujhe laga ki aap apna kaam kar ke thak gaye honge. Abhi bas decor aur khane ka menu final karna bacha hai. Aap decor ka proposal dekh lijiye. Agar kuchh change karna ho to kar dijiye. Main tab tak menu dekh leti hoon.”

Maan could not help but feel amused and smile at the deft way in which she was ordering him around. Was she the same clumsy girl, who used to falter at every step just couple of months back? He wondered.

Together they finished the work in ten minutes and sent the details by e-mail to their contact person at the event management firm.

Maan desperately tried to think of a way to spend more time with her, when Geet was getting out of the car at Meera’s place. Suddenly he said, “Ruko Geet. Main bhi tumhare saath aata hoon. Meera se mil loonga.”

Geet was suprised – since when did Maan become so sociable! His face gave away that meeting Meera is only an alibi, but Geet decided not to embarrass him. She wanted it as much as he did.

Upstairs, they found the apartment door locked. Meera wasn’t home. Geet opened the door with her keys and invited Maan in. She found a note on the table that said that Meera had to go out of the city for a couple of days. She had tried calling Geet up at the office number, but nobody picked it up. Geet figured that it must have been while she was in the meeting for Pindi Queen’s project.

Maan was smiling mischievously as Geet was telling him all this. She was facing away from him. As soon as she turned back he put up a serious face, “Geet! Mujhe coffee peene ka man ho raha hai.”

Geet smiled innocently and went to the kitchen, “Main abhi bana kar laati hoon.”

She felt Maan standing behind her while she was stirring the coffee with sugar. She froze, as Maan touched her at shoulders.

“Geet – tumhein pata hai coffee thode sugar ke saath achchhi kyon lagti hai. Woh thodi kadwi hoti hai aur thodi meethi. Bilkul tumhari tarah.”

Geet suddenly broke free from his hold, turned back to face him and made a cutely irritated face, “Main kadwi hoon?”

“Mujhe to lagta hai. Ruko taste kar ke confirm karta hoon,” Maan moved towards her with a slight mischievous smile on his lips.

Geet fumbled, “Aapki coffee ban gai hai, le lijiye,” and she tried to go away from there, but Maan stopped her and pulled her close to him. He enveloped her in one arm while with the other tucked her hair behind her ear, “Geet. Tum mujhse door nahin ja sakti – chaho tab bhi nahin. Ye bhi tumhari sazaa ka hisaa hai. Yaad rakhna.”

He took out her ear-ring with his free hand and then moved behind her, not letting his other hand off her. As he moved behind, his hand moved to her front, caressing her body between the shoulders.

He moved her hair to one side. He first licked her earlobe and then bit it lightly. If there was even a shred of resistance left in Geet, it went away at that instant. His hand caressed her soft hair and then wandered through it to find her other ear. He took off her other ear ring as well, putting both of them on the kitchen top.

He untied the dori of her kurti and unzipped the kurti slightly. It was enough to allow him to slide the kurti off her shoulder and he planted a kiss on her bare shoulder. He stole a quick glance at her face to see her reaction. Her eyes were closed and what he saw on her face encouraged him to continue. He started kissing her shoulder, moving up towards her neck as she tilted her head on the other side to give him access. His hands moved about on her bare neck, nape, shoulder and front, while his kisses became more passionate and urgent.

Geet’s breathing became shallow and heavy. She kept her eyes closed throughout as if she was afraid that it was a dream that would break if she opened her eyes. She, then, felt him lifting her. There was no question of resisting; instead she held him tight around his neck and hid her face in his shoulder.

He took her to her room and placed her gently on her bed. He lied down beside her and caressed her face, as her hand moved towards him to loosen his tie.

She managed to loosen his tie, but her hands were a bit too unsteady for his shirt buttons. Maan stopped her by taking her hands in his. He caressed her fingers hard with his hand, kissed them and then started nibbling at her index finger. He gave attention to her other fingers as well practically chewing on them. As soon as he left her hand, she turned away from him, lying on her side – all shy, embarrassed and at the same time excited.

As he looked at her half naked, vulnerable form, he realized that he been desiring her for so long and he lost the last iota of control he had. He quickly helped himself out of his clothes and pounced on her. Practically tearing her clothes off her body, he started exploring her entire body with his hands and mouth. He did not realize how rough he was being. While on the one hand Geet’s body was enjoying his attention, his intensity was also bewildering her. She was confused about how to react; so she decided to trust him with her well-being.

However, when he entered her, despite being aroused, she could not deal with his roughness and let out a slight cry. She immediately bit her lips and hoped that he had not noticed, but he had. It suddenly brought him back to his senses.

“Geet – tumhein dard ho raha hai?”

She became too embarrassed, “Nahin. Main theek hoon.”

“Geet – tum…,” he started saying and then stopped. He wanted to tell her that she should be vocal about her discomfort. However, he realized that his lady love might be a lioness outside, but she was inexperienced. It wouldn’t be easy for her to speak her mind out in bed. He mentally rebuked himself for being so insensitive. She was too young at 18 and her body would be especially tender with her pregnancy.

He withdrew and planted a passionate kiss on her lips to help her forget her embarrassment and confusion, before he proceeded with a tender and caring love-making session to mark their union.

Regaining Trust (Part 34)

Posted 31 CommentsPosted in Ashni (KTLK), Fan Fiction, Hinglish

“Dr. Nidhi. Aapne ye mangwaya tha,” Radhika came to hand over a report to Nidhi.

“Haan. Thanks Radhika.”

“Dr. Nidhi…”

“Yes?”

“Aapko dhanyawaad dena tha. Hamein pata chala ki aapki wajah se hi hamein ye naukri mili hai… Aapne hi Dr. Ashutosh…”

“Iski koi zaroorat nahin hai Radhika. Unhein kissi na kissi ko to kaam par rakhna hi tha. Tumhein rakh liya. Ismein kaun si badee baat hai…”

“Aapke liye nahin hai. Lekin mere liye…”

Suddenly Radhika covered her mouth and looked like she was about to puke. She ran away from there. Worried, Nidhi also went after her.

“Tum theek ho?” Nidhi asked after she had relieved herself.

“Ji.”

“Tabiyat kharaab ho to chhutti le lo.”

“Nahin. Nahin. Ye to bas aise hi…”

“Radhika. Tum jab se aayi ho, tabhi se mujhe lag raha hai ki tumhari tabiyat theek nahin hai. Mujhe check up karne do. Tum yahan kaam karti ho. Paison ki chinta karne ki zaroorat nahin hai.”

“Nahin Dr. Nidhi. Hamein pata hai na…”

“Tum check up kyon nahin karwana chahti?”

“Hum bilkul theek hain,” Radhika tried to evade her and made to go.

“Ek minute,” Nidhi stopped her and held her wrist without waiting for her permission. She looked at her watch and made a rough estimate of her pulse rate. “Tum pregnant ho kya?” The wide-eyed, expressionless stare from Radhika made Nidhi think that she did not understand her question. “Tum pet se ho?” she repeated in Hindi.

“Hum jaante hain aap kya kah rahi hain? Lekin Dr. Nidhi. Bhagwaan ke liye aap kissi ko batayen nahin. Hamare liye bahut mushkil ho jayegi…”

“Ye kya bewkoofi hai?” Nidhi didn’t have patience to put up with her careless behaviour now, “Kissi ko bataogi nahin to… Apne bachche ko maarne ka iraada hai kya? Tum x-ray unit mein kaam kar rahi ho. Ye khatarnaak hai…”

“Nahin. Nahin. Dr. Nidhi. Aisa kaise ho sakta hai? X-Ray to karte hain na bachchon ka. Hamare gaon mein woh pata laga lete the ki ladka hai ya ladki.”

“Oh God! Woh ultrasound hota hai Radhika. Illegal hai, lekin x-ray nahin. Tumne hamein bataya kyon nahin pahle? Aur tumhare ghar waale? Woh tumhein is haalat mein at all kaam karne hi kyon de rahe hain? Kissi ko is bachche ki parwaah nahin hai kya?” Nidhi’s bitterness about irresponsible parents was at the fore again.

Radhika got tears in her eyes, “Aisa mat kahiye Dr. Nidhi. Apne bachche ke liye hi to hum zinda hain… ye sab kar rahe hain… Lekin kissi ko pata lag gaya to…”

“Tum logon ko batane mein itna kyon ghabra rahi ho? Ismein sharm mahsoos karne ki kya baat hai?” Nidhi calmed down a bit seeing her tears. But Radhika did not reply and started cyring openly.

“Kya hua Radhika? Bataogi nahin to koi solution kaise milega? Tumhein ghar mein koi support nahin kar sakta tumhein?”

“Ghar waalon se hi bacha kar to ise yahan laaye hain hum.”

“Kya matlab?”

“Unki izzat jaati hai is bachche ko duniya mein laane mein.”

“Lekin kyon? Aur tum bhi aise behave kar rahi ho jaise… Radhika… Kya kissi ne tumhare saath zabardasti ki thi? Rape hua tha kya tumhara.”

She shook her head.

“Phir is bachche ka baap kaun hai?”

“Mar gaya woh ise aur hamein bachane ke liye,” Radhika sobbed.

Nidhi supported her and found a place to make her sit.

“Shaant ho jao. Tum is bachche ke liye sab kar rahi ho na. Agar aise pareshaan rahogi to bachche par bura asar padega.”

That immediately had the desired effect on Radhika. She wiped her tears.

Nidhi prodded her to get more information out of her. Radhika had fallen in love with a boy in her village. He was college-educated and had a good job in the nearby town. But he belonged to a lower caste and her family could never accept it. As soon as she turned eighteen, they tried to get her married to someone from their caste. She was left with no option, but to run away with her lover. They escaped to the town he worked in, where his family had also migrated to, got married and had started settling into their new lives, when Radhika’s family contacted them. The told her that they had accepted their marriage and begged her to come back once. They were dying to meet her and their son-in-law. She was missing her childhood home and family and agreed readily. Neither she, nor her husband realized that it was a trap. The family was planning to kill them even before they reached the village. And they succeeded in killing her husband. But before dying, he managed to keep them at bay for long enough to allow her to escape. He made her promise that she would save their unborn child. She had known some of their attackers and had tried to plead with them for her unborn baby’s life hoping to save them all. But that did not arouse any sympathy in them. In fact, they became even more blood-thirsty for the “dogla”, she was carrying. So, she had to leave her dead husband behind and escape. She came to Lucknow. She remembered Dr. Ashutosh and Kotnis and came there for help.

“Tum apne sasural wapas kyon nahin gayi?”

“Unke bete ko hamare ghar waalon ne maar daala tha. Kya munh lekar jaate hum wahan? Aur hum wapas jaate to shayad unki jaan par bhi aafat ban aati.”

“Phir tumne Dr. Ashutosh ko apni pregnancy ke baare mein kyon nahin bataya? Kam-se-kam hum tumhare liye koi safe job dhoondhte.”

“Woh hamare baare mein kya sochte Dr. Nidhi? Ek akeli, garbhvati ladki ke charitra par kaun vishwaas karta hai? Hum ye khatra nahin utha sakte the. Unki madad hi hamara ek-matra raasta tha. Agar unhone hamein…”

“Dr. Ashutosh aise nahin hai Radhika. Lekin khair… Abhi mujhe nahin lagta ki tum kaam karne ki halat mein ho… Hum Gyneacology mein chalte hain. Tumhara checkup karwate hain. Kabhi check-up karwyaa hai tumne? Koi dawai wagerah le rahi ho?”

She shook her head. Nidhi sighed. She was doing all this for her child. And she was too naive and young to know how to protect her child.

“Mujhe bas das-pandrah minute lagenege wapas aane mein. Main ward ka kaam khatm kar loon. Aur x-ray mein bhi inform kar doon ki tum baaki ke din kaam nahin kar sakti. Phir tumhare saath chalti hoon. Tab tak yahin rahna. Theek hai?”

“Ji.”

Nidhi came back home late that day. There was a lot of work followed by an interns get-together. Ashutosh had come back earlier. When Nidhi entered the house, she saw him sitting with Siddhi and Rahul. He was teaching them some chess moves. The scene before her made her smile and she felt better despite her exhaustion. Ashutosh felt her gaze on him after a few moments. He looked up from the chess board and raised his eyebrows in a silent question asking what happened. Nidhi shook her head smiling and sat down beside him on the sofa. Siddhi and Rahul were engrossed in understanding the chess position and did not say anything.

“Khane mein kya bana hai?” Nidhi asked after Ashutosh had finished explaining the position to Siddhi and Rahul and asked them to play a game on their own.

“Tum kha kar nahin aayi?”

“Nahin. Maine socha ghar par hi kha loon.”

“Hiraman Kaka ki tabiyat kharaab thi. To maine unhein cook karne se mana kar diya. Khaana order kar diya hai. Aata hoga thodee der mein.”

“Hmm…”

“Bahut thak gayi ho?”

“Haan.”

“Haath-munh dho lo.”

“Ji,” Nidhi said and got up.

When she came back, Siddhi and Rahul were still engrossed with chess. She saw Ashutosh bringing two cups of tea and putting them on the dining table. The dining table was slightly far from where Rahul and Siddhi were sitting. Ashutosh indicated to her to come there.

“Aapne banayi chai?” she asked sounding a little surprised.

“Aata hai mujhe,” Ashutosh replied with fake coldness.

“I know. Aapko sab kuchh aata hai. Thanks for the tea.”

“You are welcome,” he smiled.

“Dr. Ashutosh!” Nidhi said while sipping the tea.

“Hmm?”

“I think Hiraman Kaka ki ab umar ho gayi hai. Hamein kitchen ke kaam ke liye kissi aur ko rakh lena chahiye.”

“Nidhi. Ab main unhein aise nikaal to nahin sakta? Itne saalon se…”

“Nikaalne ki baat kaun kar raha hai. Hum unke saath kissi aur ko rakh sakte hain. Unhein bhi thoda aaraam mil jayega.”

“Ah! Okay. Good idea! Dhoondhna padega koi…”

“Mujhe pata hai kise rakhna hai…”

“Okay. Baat kar lo phir tum…”

“Dr. Ashutosh…” Nidhi suddenly interrupted.

“Yes?”

“I think… I want a baby…” she spoke hesitatingly.

Ashutosh looked around sheepishly as if he was likely to be caught doing something inappropriate. “Now?” he asked looking genuinely embarrassed.

“Dr. Ashutosh,” she hit him in mock anger and he chuckled.

“Hansna band kijiye,” she whined.

“Okay. Okay Baba. Lekin ye nek khayaal suddenly tumhein kaise aaya?”

“Aap mera mazaak udaana band karenge, to main kuchh bataungi.”

“Nidhi,” he pressed her hand, “Tum achchhi tarah se jaanti ho ki agar tum serious ho to mujhse zyada khush aur koi nahin hoga. Lekin mere liye ye ensure karna zaroori hai ki tum itna bada faisla kissi frivolous reason se nahin badal rahi ho.”

“Dr. Ashutosh. Mujhe mahsoos hua ki main irresponsible aur incompetent parents ko kuchh zyada hi ahmiyat de rahi thi apni life ke faislon mein. Aur un parents ki or nahin dekh rahi thi jo ki apne bachchon ko bahut pyaar se paalte hain, unke liye kissi bhi had tak ja sakte hain.”

“Jaise?”

“Aap.”

“Nidhi!”

“Rahul itna chhota tha, jab aapne akele uski responsibility uthayi. Itne chhote bachche ko bina Ma ke paalna aasaan to nahin ho sakta. Lekin… Look at him…” she looked at Rahul fondly, “Uske saath paanch minute baith kar hi kissi ko bhi pata chal jaayega ki uski parvarish kitne achchhe se hui hai. Preeti ki Mom bhi kah rahi thi…”

“Nidhi. Apni taareef sunna mujhe bahut achchha lag raha hai. Lekin tum mujhse aur Rahul se aaj hi pahli baar to nahin mili ho? Kuchh aur hua hai, right? Batao mujhe.”

She sighed, “Aaj Radhika aayi thi ward mein.”

“Okay?”

“Dr. Ashutosh. Uske parivaar waale gaon se bhaag kar nahin aaye hain. Woh unse bhaag kar aayi hai. Akeli. Apne bachche ko bachane ke liye.”

“Bachcha?” Ashutosh was surprised.

“She is pregnant.” Then she went on to tell Ashutosh her entire story.

“Oh my God!” Ashutosh exclaimed when she finished, “Nidhi. Use x-ray unit mein kaam nahin karna chahiye. Oh! I see… Tum use hi ghar par rakhna chahti ho, right? Kitchen ke kaam ke liye.”

Nidhi grinned foolishly.

“Nidhi. Mujhe bahut khushi hogi tumhare is faisle se. Lekin main abhi ise final nahin maan raha. Ek to main chahta hoon ki tum thandhe dimaag se soch-samajh lo. Doosra this is too early for you. Abhi tumhari internship khatam hogi. Tumhein PG karna hai. Specialize karna hai…”

“Lekin woh sab karne mein to bahut der ho jayegi…” Nidhi looked agitated.

“Are. Abhi kal tak to tumhein bachche chahiye hi nahin the. Aur ab itni jaldbaazi…”

“Jaldbaazi mujhe nahin hai…” she retorted, but stopped and bit her lips.

“To mujhe hai?”

“Nahin hai?” she asked innocently.

Ashutosh laughed out so loud that it drew the attention of Rahul and Siddhi too. “Kya hua?” they asked in chorus.

“Kuchh nahin. Tum log continue karo.”

Rahul was still distracted and wanted to know more, but Siddhi shrugged and pulled him back to the game.

“Dr. Nidhi Verma,” Ashutosh addressed her a low, amused voice, “And I am emphasizing on the ‘doctor’ here. Biologically men have a little more leeway in terms of time. So, don’t worry. We have a few years to do this. Agle five year plan mein bhi chalega.”

Nidhi rolled her eyes faking anger at his joke, but finally smiled.

6 years later…

Dr. Nidhi Verma, now a pediatric surgeon, opened her eyes on the hospital bed to see her husband, Dr. Ashutosh Mathur, gently swiinging a baby’s crib near her bed.

“Dr. Ashutosh…” she called him in a weak voice. His eyes shone as he looked at her. He sat down beside her, the crib still within the reach of his other hand, and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Congratulations Nidhi,” he smiled.

“Baby?”

“Baby ko tumhein doonga to mujhe kya milega?” he said with a playful smile on his lips.

“Ab aap abhi bhi mujhe chidhayenge?”

“Hamare ek darzan bachche bhi ho jayen, to bhi main tumhein chidhaunga.”

“Please!”

“Chalo. Is baar tum sasti chhoti. Kyonki my little girl was really, really waiting for her Mommy to wake up.” Ashutosh picked the baby up from the crib and handed it carefully to Nidhi. Nidhi held the baby apprehensively. It was sleeping peacefully.

Nidhi smiled nervously, “Mujhe bahut dar lag raha hai.”

“Pagal ladki. Darne ka time to chala gaya. Ab to sirf maze karne ka time hai,” he patted her head assuringly, and sat down beside her. “You will be a great mother Nidhi. Trust me.”

Nidhi rested her head on Ashutosh shoulder, while pulling the baby close to her heart.

“Di!” Siddhi barged into the room just then, Rahul following her closely, “Tumhein hosh aa gaya. Tum theek ho?”

“Itna parehsaan kyon ho rahi hai? Operation hona tha ye to pahle se hi pata hi tha.”

“Haan. Lekin…”

“Siddhi bahut dari hui thi,” Ashutosh told Nidhi.

“Pagal. Main bilkul theek hoon.”

“Can I hold her, Di?” Siddhi asked about the baby.

“Pahle main,” Rahul interrupted.

“Bilkul nahin. Tum chhote ho,” Siddhi wasn’t letting him have his way that easily.

“Agar tum ise pahle logi to iska naam main rakhoonga,” Rahul was ready with the bargain.

“Are. Naam kab soch liye aapne Rahul?” Ashutosh asked, “Nidhi se to poochh lo ki pasand hai ya nahin.”

“Rahul ki aur meri baat ho chuki hai Dr. Ashutosh. Iska naam Rahul hi rakhega,” Nidhi interrupted, then handed the baby to Siddhi, “Le Siddhi. Aur sambhaal kar.”

“Thank you, Nidhi Auntie,” Rahul pretended to pull up his collar in pride, while Siddhi picked up the baby carefully.

“Di. Kitni khoobsoorat hai. Ye bhi actress banegi.”

“‘Ye bhi’ ka kya matlab hai? Tu kab ban gayi actress? Pahle padhai khatam kar apni.”

“Tum bahut boring ho Di. Tumhara wash chale to ise bhi apni hi tarah night-duties mein laga do har roz.”

“Nidhi Auntie boring nahin hai,” fourteen year old Rahul was still childishly protective towards Nidhi.

“Nahin Rahul. Tumhari Nidhi Auntie mein kuchh bhi gadbad kaise ho sakta hai?” Siddhi teased him. While Rahul glared at her, everyone laughed.

“Are Di. Main bhool gayi. Radhika ne tumhare liye ye kuchh ghee ka halwa bheja hai. Aur koi totka bhi hai. Supposedly buri nazar se bachane ke liye.”

“Radhika aur uske totke!” Nidhi shook her head with a smile, “Lekin chal. Baby ko chhua de, warna use bura lag jayega. Ab Rahul naam to bata do iska. Kab tak baby kah ke bulate rahenge?”

“Anushree!” Rahul said excitedly, “Ismein A, N, S aur R sab aate hain. Ashutosh, Nidhi, Siddhi aur Rahul.”

“Wow!” Siddhi exclaimed.

“Anushree,” Nidhi and Ashutosh repeated with a smile.

– The End –

P. S. Everyone who has read the story, even if you have not commented till now, please do so on this update and let me know that you have been reading 🙂 I know from the traffic numbers that far more people are reading than are commenting. That is fine! But would be nice to know once in a while 🙂 And what better time than the conclusion of a long story?

Regaining Trust (Part 33)

Posted 2 CommentsPosted in Ashni (KTLK), Fan Fiction, Hinglish

“Ab batao,” he said after they settled down with their juice glasses. While he had gone to fetch the juice, Nidhi had been thinking hard about what to tell him. But she could not make up her mind.

“Aap to mujhe interrogate karne lage,” she said.

“Aur main bahut achchha interrogator hoon. You can’t distract me!”

“Baat kuchh bhi nahin hai Dr. Ashutosh… well… aap challenge jeet gaye… Lekin main aapko aapke naam se nahin bula sakti…”

“Koi baat nahin. Main dubara challenge le sakta hoon. Aur zindagi bhar leta rah sakta hoon. I loved winning the challenge the way I did it,” he smiled meaninfully.

“You did?”

“Ummhmm. You didn’t?”

Nidhi gulped.

“We are talking like friends Nidhi. Please talk to me.”

“I… I just am not sure of how I behaved.”

“How did you behave?”

He only got a harder gulp and downcast eyes in reply. A small frown appeared on his forehead as he tried to think what was bothering her. And then it dawned upon him.

“Hmm… So, you are worried that you lost the challenge…”

“Nooo…”

“That you could not resist me and were tempted to the point of desperation…”

“Desperation…” she repeated the word in a small voice.

Ashutosh grinned, “You surprise me Dr. Nidhi Verma. You are a doctor and such a competent one. And you really think there is something wrong about being sexual?”

Nidhi gulped hard again. When he put it that way and spoke so rationally, her worries did seem ridiculous. Till now she was worried, even ashamed, about having behaved rather ungracefully and desperately under the influence of her hormones.

“You just know how to put things the right way.”

“Nidhi. You better start seeing things the right way. Because you have no idea how desperate I am to push all the boundaries with you.”

She blushed hard. Ashutosh took her juice glass from her and kept both their glasses on the side table. Then he turned back towards her, put his arms around and pulled her close to him. “Pagal ladki,” he mumbled, “But I love even your madness.”

She rested her head on his chest. “I love you.” There was some moisture in her eyes. But she blinked them back. They were the tears of happiness, but she did not want to worry him any further.

“Nidhi,” he spoke after a while.

“Hmm?”

“Shaadi kar lete hain?”

“Abhi?” That was sudden and Nidhi was surprised.

“Nahin,” he laughed, “Ek-aadh hafte mein.”

“Aise achanak?”

“Hospital mein sabko pata hi hai. Main to uski wajah se hi tumhari internship khatam hone tak rukna chahta tha. Lekin ab koi wajah nahin hai. Agar tumhein aitraaz na ho to…”

“Mujhe kyon aitraaz hoga? Aapko lagta hai ki main English movies waali dating kar rahi hoon itne dinon se?” she quipped drawing a laughter from him.

2 months later (Nidhi and Ashutosh are happily married)

“Suniye,” Nidhi was interrupted just after she had signed in the register at the reception and was making her way into the ward. Ashutosh had come to the hospital early in the morning to attend a complicated surgery.

“Yes?” she turned around to see a young girl, barely eighteen or nineteen, standing there. She looked pale, tired and almost sick.

“Dr. Ashutosh Mathur yahan kaam karte hain?” the girl asked in a strong Avadhi accent.

“Ji. Aap kaun?”

“Hamein unse milna hai. Bahut zaroori hai.”

“Woh to abhi surgery mein honge. Aapka naam?”

“Radhika.”

“Radhika Ji. Aap… Are… Kya hua?” Nidhi held her as she stumbled. She did not faint, but it was clear that she was unwell, “Aapki tabiyat kharaab hai? Main…”

“Nahin. Hum theek hain. Hamein bas Dr. Ashutosh se milna hai.”

“Dekhiye. Unhein der ho jayegi aane mein. Tab tak koi aur aapka check-up kar dega…”

“Madam. Hum bilkul theek hain. Bas thoda paani mil sakta hai kya?”

“Ek minute. Aap baithiye yahan,” Nidhi escorted her to a nearby bench and made her sit down. Then she asked a wardboy to get a glass of glucose water. She offered it to Radhika and it made her look visibly better.

“Bahut bahut dhanyawaad.”

“Aap kahan se aayi hai?”

“Hamara gaon yahan se thoda door hai…”

“Dr. Ashutosh ko kaise jaanti hain aap?”

“Ji. Ek chikitsa-shivir laga tha hamare gaon mein, koi teen saal pahle. Logon ka muft mein ilaaj ho raha tha.”

It took Nidhi a moment to realize that she was using the Hindi word for medical camp.

“Radhika Ji. Yahan par kai achchhe doctors hain. Aapko Dr. Ashutosh ka intezaar karne ki zaroorat nahin, apna check up karwane ke liye. Agar paison ki chinta hai to…”

“Nahin. Nahin. Hum apna ilaaj karwane nahin aaye hain. Hamein kuchh aur kaam hai.”

Nidhi was getting impatient and thought of letting the girl know that she was his wife and she could tell her whatever she wanted to tell Ashuotsh. But she controlled her impatience. That was one thing she had been trying to do these days to keep Ashutosh happy. Not that he ever said anything to her, but it definitely bothered him if she didn’t treat people with some patience.

“Theek hai. Main Dr. Ashutosh ke liye message chhod deti hoon. Woh jaise hi free honge, aapse mil lenge. Tab tak agar aapko koi problem ho to reception par kissi se bhi kahiyega ki Dr. Nidhi Verma ko bula dein. Ye mera naam hai. Theek hai?”

“Ji. Bahut-bahut dhanyawaad. Hum yahan intezaar karenge.”

Nidhi walked into Ashutosh’ cabin during a break and saw Radhika there. He had a frown on his face, as if trying to think very hard.

“Main baad mein aaun?” Nidhi asked.

“No. Come in Nidhi. Ye Radhika hain…”

“Main mil chuki hoon. Aapke alaawa kissi se checkup karwane ke liye taiyyar hi nahin ho rahi thi,” Nidhi gave a teasing smile to Ashutosh. But he remained serious.

“Radhika. Aap kahan ruki hain?” Ashutosh asked the girl.

“Ji. Ek dharmshaala hai…”

“Wahan koi phone hoga?”

“Phone to nahin hai Doctor sahab. Lekin aap hamein bata dijiye kab aana hai. Hum wapas aa kar aapse baat kar lenge.”

“Radhika. Main yahan ek doctor ki haisiyat se kaam karta hoon. Yahan aur logon ko kaam par rakhna mere haath mein nahin hai. Main aapko koi waada nahin kar sakta.”

Radhika looked disappointed, but didn’t give up.

“Hum ek-do din mein phir aayenge Doctor sahab,” she said and greeted him with folded hands before leaving.

“Kya hua?” she asked.

“Main iske gaon gaya tha kuchh saalon pahle. Hamare hospital ne free medical camps lagaye the kuchh gaon mein. Iske father mukhiya the gaon ke. Unke ghar par hi ruke the hum log. I remember her as a very lively and healthy child. Abhi bata rahi thi ki gaon mein kuchh problem hui hai aur iski family ko bhaagna pada. Yahan aa kar kuchh kaam dhoondh rahi hai. Strange turn of fate. Her family was very rich and strong in the village.”

“X-Ray unit mein kuchh vaccancies hain, I think. Abhi-abhi main wahan se aayi hoon. Woh log baat kar rahe the.”

“Par woh trained thode hi na hai?”

“Nahin. As far as I know technicians nahin chahiye unhein. More like helpers – bhaag-daud ka kaam karne waale log. Utna to kar legi.”

“Haan. Bata rahi thi ki Inter tak ki padhai bhi ki hai usne. Lekin… aise kissi ki sifarish…”

“It’s not a big deal Dr. Ashutosh. Koi aisi badee post thode hi na dilwa rahe hain usko, jo woh deserve nahin karti ho. Inter tak padhi hui hai, shayad over-qualified hi ho.”

“Hmm… Achchha. Suno. Dekho agar woh chali na gayi ho to rok lo. Abhi hi baat kar lete hain.”

“Main dekhti hoon.”

Nidhi found her on the bench, where she had made her sit earlier. Radhika hadn’t left and looked extremely dejected. As if this was her last hope. She brought her back. Ashutosh spoke to the hiring manager and she got the job.

To be continued

(P. S. Next part is really going to be the last part :D)

Regaining Trust (Part 32)

Posted 7 CommentsPosted in Ashni (KTLK), Fan Fiction, Hinglish

“Nidhi. Sabke saamne to hansi-mazaak zyada ho jaata hai. Isliye main tumse akele mein baat karna chahti thi.”

“Ji?”

“Bas ye kahna chahti thi ki main samajhti hoon ki in saari complications ka, Nandu ke decisions – bold, but immature – chahe shaadi ka ho, chahe suicide ka – in sabki wajah se jisne sabse zyada problems face kiye hain, woh tum ho. Siddhi ko tumne sambhaal liya, lekin tumhein khud ko sambhaalne waala koi nahin tha… Aur ye sab nahin hua hota agar Nandu ki family, meaning hum log – mere husband aur father-in-law – supportive hote. Unfortunately she was stuck with her decisions. Ek baar – bas ek baar- baat ki thi usne mujhse… Woh wapas nahin aa sakti thi… I had told her ki bachche hone ke baad cheezein better ho jayengi… Obviously that was a wrong advice. I just wish ki uske paas wapas aane ka mauka hota… Aaj main tumse maafi maangne ke alaawa kuchh kar nahin sakti…”

“Mrs. Singhal,” Nidhi had figured out that she liked the woman, despite her past failings and weaknesses, “Mujhe nahin lagta ki aapko doosron ki galtiyon ke liye khud ko zimmedaar samajhna chahiye. Mummy-Papa ke suicide ko lekar mere man mein bahut bitterness thi. Lekin uske liye kissi aur ko blame kar ke, kissi aur ke liye bhi bitterness paalne ka kya fayda hai? Aur waise bhi,” she added with some humour, “Agar Mummy mere paida hone ke pahle wapas chali jaati to bhale hi unke aur bachche hote, biologically speaking main to paida nahin ho sakti thi.”

Priya chuckled at that. Then Nidhi added seriously, “Aur past jo bhi tha – tab maine socha kai baar ki kyon hamein paida kiya unhone, lekin aaj main khush hoon apni life se. Siddhi ko kuchh samay ke liye mujhe sambhaalna pada tha, lekin aaj woh mera sabse bada support hai. Dr. Ashutosh aur Rahul – well main kya bataun… Unke pyaar ki wajah se meri zindagi mein past problems ke liye jagah hi nahin bachi hai.”

“Bahut chhoti ho tum mujhse, but I am proud to say Nidhi that you are an inspiration. You are independent like your mother, but also mature, which she wasn’t. You are the inspiration that Nandu could not become.”

“Thanks Mrs. Singhal…”

“Auntie? Mami? Something like that?”

Nidhi smiled warmly, “All right. Mami?”

“God bless you,” she tip-toed and kissed Nidhi on her forehead.

“Ye kya hai?” something had fallen off from Priya’s clutch and Nidhi bent down to pick it up.

“Oh! Ye mujhe de do,” Priya hastily took it back from her.

Nidhi looked at her curiously, though did not ask anything. Priya noticed it and decided to answer the question Nidhi did not ask, “Nandu ki ek purani photo thi mere paas.”

Nidhi took it and had a look, “Ye to ekdum Siddhi ki photo lag rahi hai.”

“Haan. Tab woh Siddhi ki umra ki hi rahi hogi, ya shayad thodi badi. Main laayi thi tumhein dene ke liye. Lekin phir mujhe laga ki…”

Nidhi thought for a moment, then said with a smile, “Aap Siddhi ko de dijiye. She would like it.” And she felt happy after that. She could now tell Ashutosh that she had moved on from the past – truly. And it did not bother her!

“Tum Siddhi ko kitna bhi daantne ka natak kar lo, use farq padta nahin hai. Tumhari taang kheenchne se baaz nahin aati hai woh?” Ashutosh and Nidhi were in Ashutosh’ room at night, relaxing on the bed.

“Aapki tarah woh bhi jaanti hai ki woh meri kamzori hai. Main use kuchh kah nahin sakti aur woh mujhse kuchh bhi karwa leti hai.”

“Meri tarah? To main bhi tumhari kamzori hoon?”

“As if aapko pata nahin hai.”

“To iska matlab hai ki… tum mujhe kuchh kah nahin sakti aur main tumse kuchh bhi karwa sakta hoon?” he snuggled up closer to her.

The meaningful smirk on his face was impossible to miss. “Aap kya karwana chahte hain mujhse?”

“Tum mujhe rok thode hi na sakti ho?”

“Dr. Ashutosh…”

“Shh… Ek minute,” he opened the drawer on the side-table and took out a silk scarf. “Aankhein band karo, and no cheating…”

“Aap kya kar rahe hain?”

“Aankhein band Nidhi…”

She sighed and closed her eyes. Ashutosh tied the scarf around her eyes. She waited for his next move, but nothing happened for several seconds. She became restless.

“Dr. Ashutosh…” she called his name and tried to reach him with her hands. Ashutosh smirked again, sitting on the bed just outside her reach. But she could not see him smirking this time.

Next she felt his hands on her nape. She was startled at first, but welcomed the familiar touch in soon after. He had some game in mind. It was little unnerving to not know what it was, but she was sure she would enjoy it. She expected him to take out her hairband as he usually did, but he let it be, enjoying the access to her nape and shoulders instead. The top of her night dress had buttons in front. He undid couple of them and slid the top slightly off one of her shoulders. It was bare beneath the top. He bent over her shoulder licking and biting it to his heart’s content, while driving her heartbeats up to dangerous rates. He knew by now what her most sensitive parts were and how best to use them to drive her to the edge.

When he moved away this time, she called him more desperately, “Dr. Ashutosh.” He came back after only a few seconds, but it felt like hours to Nidhi. This time his hands came up from behind and undid the remaining buttons of her top, slipping it completely off her body. He then let his hands roam all over her upper body, paying special attention to her breasts. She wanted to touch him back, but was unsure of exactly where he was. Groping around in the air would have been embarrassing. She clenched her fists hard to suppress her urge. And then he disappeared again, leaving her even more frustrated than earlier. She forgot about the embarrassment it would cause and groped around, hoping to find him. “Dr. Ashutosh!” She failed. Not knowing what else to do, she lied down to calm herself. But before her breath could return to normal, she felt him again, this time on top of her completely pinning her down under her weight. If his game was to completely disorient and frustrate her, he was surely winning. But to what purpose? She expressed her protest when he let her lips go after a furiously passionate kiss, “Kya kar rahe hain aap?”

“Intezaar kar raha hoon ki tum mujhe kissi aise naam se bulao ki phir main wapas ja na sakoon.”

“Kya?” her mind was foggy with desire and arousal and whatever he said made no sense.

“Apna challenge yaad hai na?” he whispered in her ear and the busied himself with her neck, while his hands caressed her around her waist – another sensitive part of her body.

“Oh God!” The arousal and realization of what he wanted made her almost cry out.

“God is unlikely to help you,” he whispered again. And then left.

Nidhi hardly had any resistance left in her, but she tried, “This is unfair.”

No reply. He had her! Not only had this man charmed his way into her heart, he had her at practically his mercy in the bed. Outside of it, she could outwit him, but here… Her hormones dumbed her down. And he knew it!! He just had more control than she did. He was exploiting it. She hated it… But then she loved it… What was she thinking when she challenged him? Not this…

Ashutosh was preparing for another round of sweet assult on her, when he heard it. In a low desperate voice. “Ashutosh… Please….”

He had planned to tease her more. Make her say it again and again. But hearing his name from her drove him unexpectedly over the edge. He could not wait and jumped back on the bed. If she said anything after that, he wasn’t in a position to hear or understand.

Ashutosh propped up on his elbows to take a good look at her. She was fidgeting as she lied beside him and he wondered if she was uncomfortable about something. When she did not meet his eyes, his suspicions were confirmed.

“Nidhi,” he used his free hand to hold her chin and make her look at him, “Kya baat hai?”

“Ku… Kuchh bhi to nahin.”

He sat up and helped her sit up as well. Then he held her hands, “Nidhi. Somehow hamara rishte ki dynamics aisi hai ki… mujhe tumhein pareshaan karne mein, challenge karne mein mazaa aata hai… Lekin of course, main ye sab usee extent tak karna chahta hoon jahan tak tum bhi ise enjoy karo. Aur agar main kabhi galti se koi limit cross karoon, to tum mujhe bata sakti ho. Aaj zyada ho gaya kya?”

“Aap… Aap bekaar mein pareshaan ho rahe hain…” Nidhi tried to avoid his question.

But Ashutosh was not giving up, “Nidhi. Tumhein yaad mere birthday ka din… Jab maine tumse kaha tha ki tum friends kyon nahin banati, to tumne kaha tha ki hum dost hain.”

She nodded. There wasn’t a single moment in their journey that she didn’t remember.

“To tumhara lover, fiancee ya husband banne se zyada important mere liye tumhara dost bane rahna hai Nidhi. Main nahin chahta ki ye koi bhi aur rishta, hamari dosti ko khatam kar de.”

“Aap aisa kyon kah rahe hain?”

“Shayad tumhare man mein abhi koi aisi baat chal rahi hai jo tum us insaan ke saath share nahin kar sakti jiske saath… you have just had sex. Main chahta hoon ki tum use apne dost ke saath share karo. Let’s compartmentalize, okay?”

“Aap…” Nidhi was surprised at first, then smiled helplessly. She had a magician in her life. There was no other way, he could have understood so much, just from her silence.

“Let us get dressed up and talk,” he said and started gathering the discarded pieces of his clothing. “In a minute,” he said and went to the bathroom to get cleaned and dressed dup.

“Juice piyogi?” he asked after he came out.

She nodded. She could definitely use a glass after the exhausting, even if fulfilling, physical exercise they had been through a few minutes back.

To be continued

P. S. Do not expect grand wedding in the next update. That isn’t my specialty. In fact, I am going to completely escape that part and move on to another small track, which will mark the end of the story 🙂

Regaining Trust (Part 31)

Posted 6 CommentsPosted in Ashni (KTLK), Fan Fiction, Hinglish

“Dr. Ashutosh.”

“Yes Siddhi?”

“Aap poora Europe ghoome hue hain na?”

“Main tumhein koi wandering gypsy dikhta hoon? Poora Europe nahin ghooma hua hoon. Lekin haan – kaafi saare popular tourist places dekhe hue hain and some more – for conferences and all.”

“Aapne apni medicine ki padhai bhi to London mein ki thi na?”

“Haan.”

“Aur phir US mein bhi?”

“Haan.”

“Dr. Ashutosh. US better hai ya Europe?”

“Umm… Depend karta hai ki tumhein karna kya hai?”

“Matlab?”

“Science, engineering in sab ke liye US relatively better hai. Arts wagerah ke liye Europe bhi achchha hai. Zyada kaam karna hai to US jao. Aur…”

“Main padhai ki baat nahin kar rahi thi Dr. Ashutosh?”

“Phir?”

“Masti ki…”

“Siddhi. Ye kya Dr. Ashutosh… Dr. Ashutosh laga rakha hai? Thake hue honge Dr. Ashutosh,” Nidhi entered with the tea-tray. Ashutosh had dropped Rahul at one of his friend’s place for a birthday party and had come to Nidhi’s house. They were planning to leave for a dinner at night from there and would pick Rahul up on their way. Armaan would meet them at the restaurant after his work.

“Sahi kah rahi ho. Main aapko Dr. Ashutosh kyon bulati hoon?” Siddhi said.

“To aur kya bulayegi?” Nidhi asked slightly confused.

“Jijaji? Nahin?”

Nidhi’s face colored while Ashutosh laughed.

“Aapko bahut mazaa aata hai Dr. Ashutosh iski aisi harquaton par?” Nidhi addressed Ashutosh with fake irritation.

“Aur tum bhi kab tak inhein Dr. Ashutosh bulaogi?” Siddhi was brazen.

“Are! To ab main kya bulaungi inhein?”

“Woh to tumhare aapas mein decide karne ki baat hai. Lekin Dr. Ashutosh? Ye boss ko address karne ke liye theek hai, husband ko nahin.”

“Shut up Siddhi.”

“Lo. Achchi advice ki to koi kadra hi nahin hai. Khair mera kya…”

Just then the doorbell rang.

“Ja kar dekh kaun hai.”

“Haan. Haan. Bhaga do mujhe!”

“Waise Nidhi,” Ashutosh pretended to be serious when Siddhi left to check the door, “Tumne Siddhi ko daant to diya. Lekin baat to woh sahi kah rahi thi.”

“Kya?”

“Tum mujhe kab tak Dr. Ashutosh bulaogi?”

“To main aapko aur kya bulaungi?”

“Ashutosh? Ashu?”

“Impossible.”

“Kyon?”

“Main… Main aapki bahut respect karti hoon Dr. Ashutosh.”

“Ditto.”

“Ji?”

“Main bhi tumhari bahut respect karta hoon. Tumhein shayad idea nahin hai, itna. Tumse pyaar karne se pahle se tumhari respect karta hoon. Lekin that is a completely tangential discussion. It has nothing to do with what you call me.”

“Aap… Main aapko Dr. Ashutosh ke alaawa kuchh nahin bula sakti.”

“Ye nahin chalega.”

“Achchha. To mujhse kuchh aur bulwa kar dikhaiye,” Nidhi grinned naughtily.

“Challenge kar rahi ho?”

Nidhi nodded, still grinning.

“Di!” they were interrupted by Siddhi, “Preeti aayi hai. Aur uski Mom.”

Ashutosh and Nidhi turned back in surprise.

“Preeti? Kaisi ho tum?” They had been worried about her earlier. Since the day Nidhi had given her the medicines and later the drama had unfolded at the hospital, she hadn’t been coming to the school. Siddhi had tried calling her up , but they always declared it to be the wrong number when she asked for Preeti. Thinkgin that they recognized her and were snubbing her, she had even gotten couple of other girls from the school to call. But the result was the same.

“Main theek hoon Dr. Nidhi. Mom aapse milna chahti thi.”

“I’m sorry…” Priya Singhal, Preeti’s mother, started speaking, when Ashutosh interrupted, “Aap log please baithiye na.”

“Haan. Please,” Nidhi also hastily supported him, thankful to have Ashutosh around. He remembered social protocols. She hadn’t had much chance to practice those for several years now and was prone to making mistakes.

“Thanks.”

Nidhi took a good look at the elderly, but smart-looking woman before her. When she spoke, she came across as an educated, aware woman. This wasn’t the picture of a meek woman and helpless mother that Nidhi had in mind.

“I am sorry, Dr. Nidhi. Main bina bataye aa gayi. Lekin mujhe laga ki jo mere husband ne kiya, uske baad agar main aapse baat karne ki koshish karoongi to shayad aap mujhse milne ke liye kabhi nahin maanengi.”

“Aisa kuchh nahin hai,” the situation was awkward, “Actually hum sab log Preeti ke liye worried the. Tumhare ghao theek hain ab?”

“Ab better hai,” Priya replied instead of Preeti, “Hum doctor ke paas gaye the. Unhone bataya ki agar aapne samay rahte use dawai nahin di hoti, to infection ka khatra tha. Thanks a lot.”

“That’s all right. Woh mera farz tha… Waise Siddhi ne kai baar Preeti ko call karne ki koshish ki thi…”

“Preeti aur main ghar par nahin the.”

“Ji?”

“We have left that horrible house and family behind Dr. Nidhi.”

“Aap log kahan rah rahe hain?” Ashutosh asked.

“Mere bhai ke saath. He has been incredibly supportive.”

“That’s great.”

“Main aapko thanks kahne aayi thi. For several things…”

“Mujhe?”

“Haan. Pahle to Preeti ki treatment ke liye. Main itna dari hui thi ki use doctor ke paas bhi le kar nahin gayi… Jab woh dawaiyan le kar ghar aayi tab mujhe mahsoos hua ki how I was failing her as a mother. Aur phir later in the day Ramesh ne word-by-word mujhe bataya ki hospital mein kya hua tha. Aur mujhe bahut intensely ye mahsoos hua ki main kitne ghatiya aur self-centered, narcissist insaan ke saath rah rahi thi. Itna sab kuchh hone ke baad bhi unhein nahin lagta ki unhone kuchh galat kiya. Phir maine ye bhi socha ki aap itni young ho kar apno ke liye itni fiercely protective hain. Aur main aaj tak na to apne beton ko sahi raasta dikha paayi, na hi apni beti ko protect kar payi. Pata nahin main itne saalon se kya hope kar rahi thi, ki kya badal jaayega. Kuchh nahin badalne waala hai us ghar mein. Beton ke liye bahut der ho chuki thi. Isliye beti ko le kar nikal aayi.”

“Aapne sahi decision liya Mrs. Singhal,” Ashutosh said, “Preeti ke future ke liye yahi sahi hai. I don’t know aapke aage ke kya plan hain, but if you need any help… A lawyer…”

“Thanks Dr. Ashutosh. Lekin nahin. Maine itne saal barbaad kar diye, us insaan ke saath rahne ki koshish mein. Ab us par aur samay barbaad nahin karoongi.”

“Lekin Preeti aur aapka financial right hai…” Nidhi spoke suddenly, but did not complete it. It might be too intrusive.

But Priya smiled. “Yahi cheez to mujhe aur bhi guilty feel karwa rahi hai, Nidhi. Money was not a problem. Meri family khud hi financially bahut strong hai. Warna tumhein lagta hai meri shaadi us pariwaar mein hui hoti,” she laughed slightly at this and continued, “Aur mere father sufficient property aur shares mere naam kar ke gaye hain. Main paison ki kami se nahin, us social aur moral pressure se bandhi hui thi, which was taking me nowhere. Your mother was different.”

“Aap Mummy ko jaanti thi?” Siddhi asked expectantly.

“Of course,” Priya smiled sadly, “Aur jab tum hamare ghar aayi thi, tab tumhein dekhte hi mujhe shaq hua tha ki tum… Dekhne mein Nandu bilkul tumhare jaisi thi aur rebel karne mein bilkul tumhari sister ke jaisi thi. Ramesh ko itne saalon pahle usne jawaab diya tha, aur ab itne saalon ke baad Nidhi ne.”

Nidhi looked on, not knowing how to feel.

“Tum log Nandu ko bahut miss karte hoge, right?”

“Nahin,” Nidhi said sharply,”Nahin miss karte hain hum unhein. Kyon miss karein? Abne bhai se, apne father se rebel karne ki himmat thi unmein. Hamare liye zinda rahne ki himmat nahin thi…”

“Nidhi!” Ashutosh pressed her hand silently asking her to not get agitated.

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

“No. I am sorry,” Priya said, “I am sorry Nidhi ki tumhari Mummy ko immaturely rebel karne ki zaroorat padi. She did it for the heck of it, you know. Kyonki ghar ka mahaul itna repressive tha. She didn’t take the right decision. But really – she never had any chance. She was an independent spirit. Us ghar mein woh sahi direction mein develop nahin ho sakti thi.”

“I know… Itna to ab mujhe samajh mein aa gaya hai… Preeti ki halat dekhi to… Khair rahne dijiye. Main purani baaton ko yaad nahin karna chahti. Abhi hamein is baat se khush rahne chahiye ki Preeti won’t become another Nandini. Right Preeti? You are out of that hell. Now you can live your life with independence, but also with maturity.”

“Yes Dr. Nidhi.”

“You know something Preeti. Dr. Nidhi is your cousin. Fine – we are related through a man who none of us is proud of. But does that need to affect our relationship?”

“I… guess… not…” Nidhi replied slowly looking at Ashutosh for confirmation. He nodded slightly giving her a go-ahead.

Everyone smiled and Preeti said, “Pata hai. Mujhe Siddhi se bahut jealousy hoti hai. Uske paas aapke jaisi sister hai. Kahti hai ki meri Di mere liye kissi ki jaan bhi le sakti hain.”

“Really Siddhi?” Nidhi pretended to chide Siddhi, “Tu sabko ye kahti rahti hai kya? Agar maine sach-much kabhi kuchh kar diya, to mujhe nahin lagta ki tera koi bhi dost mere favour mein testimony dega. Sabko bharosa hoga ki main jaan to le hi sakti hoon.”

Everyone laughed and Siddhi retorted, “Main galat kah rahi hoon kya Dr. Ashutosh? Jaan to le sakti hai na ye?”

“I agree!” Ashutosh was totally by Siddhi’s side.

“Ramesh will agree too,” Priya also joined in, “Nidhi ne bilkul yahi dhamki di thi unhein. Right Nidhi?”

“Aapko kaise pata?”

“Main kaha na. Ramesh ne verbatim mujhe bataya. He is an egoistic man. Apni insult ka ek lafz nahin bhoolte. You said something like ki agar Siddhi ya Dr. Ashutosh ke saath unhone kuchh kiya to tum apne haathon se unhein maar daalogi.”

“Oh God!” Nidhi hit her forehead in embarrassment, while everybody else laughed.

“To mera point ye tha ki kya main bhi aapko Di bula sakti hoon?” Preeti asked earnestly.

“Uske liye to tumhein Nidhi ki nahin, Siddhi ki permission leni padegi. Ye to uska haq hai,” Ashutosh said jovially.

“Oh. Don’t worry about me Preeti. Mujhe koi problem nahin hai. Meri Di ekdum Mother India types hain. Bahut bada dil hai inka. Sabke liye jagah hai,” Siddhi grinned.

“Aap sab log mere peechhe kyon pade hue hain?” Nidhi was flustered with everyone’s leg pulling.

“Aur koi mujhe meri baat poori karne kyon nahin de raha?” Preeti also had a complaint, “Mere sawaal ka jawaab kya hai?”

“Of course. Bula sakti ho Preeti,” Nidhi answered with a smile.

“Thanks!” Preeti also smiled.

“Chalo. Ab hamein nikalna chahiye. Bina inform kiye hum aa gaye aur kaafee time barbaad kar diya sabka…”

“Nahin Mrs. Singhal. Chai to pee kar jaiye,” Nidhi objected.

“Nahin Nidhi. Takalluf ki zaroorat nahin hai…”

“Please. Main bas do minute mein laati hoon.”

“Achchha. Chalo, main tumhari help karti hoon.”

“Lekin…”

“Chalo to…”

To be continued

Regaining Trust (Part 30)

Posted 9 CommentsPosted in Ashni (KTLK), Fan Fiction, Hinglish

“Most people just used to leave me alone, jab main itna hostile behave karti thi. Lekin aapne… aapne mujhe samjha. Jab maine kuchh nahin bataya tha, tab bhi aapne samjha. You never meddled with my life, but you did not leave me alone either. And I was very grateful for that. I still am.”

“Stop Nidhi.”

“Nahin. Mujhe bolne dijiye. Maine kabhi aapko thanks nahin kaha uske liye. Aaj bolti hoon. Aur ek baat. Dr. Ashutosh – tab main grateful thi aur aapse usse zyada aur kuchh nahin expect karti thi. Tab aapke paas ye mauka tha ki aap mujhe apni zindagi mein nahin shaamil karte. Main aapka faisla accept kar leti. Lekin ab cheezein badal gayi hain. Ab main sirf grateful hi nahin feel karti. Ab main aapke oopar apna haq bhi maanti hoon. Aap ye haq mujhse kabhi cheenne ki koshish mat kijiyega. Main nahin cheenne doongi.”

“I won’t dare,” Ashutosh smiled lovingly, “And I don’t want to dare!”

Nidhi sighed and suddenly changed the topic, “I pity Peeti though. Poor girl. How is she going to survive in that family…”

“Nidhi. Unfortunately duniya mein bahut bachche bahut bure circumstances se guzarte hain. Tum sabki zindagi theek nahin kar paogi. Lekin hain kuchh lucky bachche jihein tumhari parvarish mil rahi hai. Rahul. Siddhi. Aur tumhare apne bachche to inse bhi zyada fortunate honge…”

“Main bachche paida nahin karna chahti Dr. Ashutosh,” Nidhi interrupted agitatedly, “Log jaise apne bachchon ko treat karte hain… Mere parents ne hamein chhod kar suicide kar liya. Ranjeeta ji Rahul ko do saal ki umra mein chhod kar chali gayin; aur Ritesh ke saath jo kiya – the less said the better. Aur phir ye Preeti ke parents hain. Uske Papa to poore jallad hain. Aur Mummy helpless. Kyon bachche paida karte hain log? Mujhe to nahin lagta ki karne chahiye.”

“Nidhi!”

“I… I am sorry,” she suddenly realized the implication of what she said, “Ye koi faisla nahin hai. Obviously, is baare mein koi faisla mera akele ka nahin hoga…”

“Nidhi. I would love to bring up a child with you. Lekin woh meri zindagi ka aim nahin hai.”

“Dr. Ashutosh…”

“Nidhi. Apni zindagi ki kuchh hisson ko maine khatam kar diya tha, maar diya tha. Ye sochna bhi chhod diya tha ki main unhein jee sakta hoon. Aaj jo main tumhare saath ye khushiyon ke pal bita raha hoon na, ye possible nahin hota agar tum itni loyal, patient aur persistent nahin hoti. Apne pyaar ko le kar. Ye jo meri zindagi hai na, sapno ke jaisi, woh tumhari di hui hai. Aur main ye tumhare tareeke se, tumhare pace par, tumhari khushiyon ke saath jeena chahta hoon. Isi mein meri khushi hai.”

Nidhi’s eyes moistened, but she smiled. Ashutosh pulled her in an embrace and she happily surrendered.

Siddhi could not speak for several moments, when Nidhi told her what had happened.There were too many things to be digested. She looked disturbed at the wickedness of it all.

“I’m sorry Siddhi,” Nidhi said at the end, “Ye sab bahut sickening hai. Tujhe na batana padta to behtar hota. Lekin this man – supposedly our uncle – is so manipulative, ki tumhein pata hona zaroori tha. Kal ko kuchh aur karne ki koshish karein to you should not fall in that trap.”

“Of course, Di. Tum mere liye itni chinta mat karo. Waise bhi – tumhare rahte mera kaun kya bigaad sakta hai. Tum pahle hi uski jaan nahin le logi?” Nidhi was surprised. She hadn’t told Siddhi about her angry threat to Mr. Singhal. How did she say exactly the same thing?

“Kya hua? Aise kyon dekh rahi ho?” Siddhi asked.

“Ye jaan lene waali baat tune kaise kahi?”

Siddhi giggled, “To tumne sach much unse ye kaha tha?”

“Shut up, Siddhi,” Nidhi pretended to be angry to hide her embarrassment at having been found out.

Siddhi laughed out loud, “Oh my God, Di! You can be so cute sometimes. I love you.”

Nidhi had to smile at that. She kissed Siddhi on forehead.

Ashutosh was surprised when he came out of his bathroom. Nidhi was asleep on his bed, comforter drawn all the way up to her chin. How did she fall asleep so quickly? They had been chatting till just a couple of minutes ago.

“Nidhi,” he called her softly, but she didn’t buzz. It was diasppointing for him. He was looking forward to spending the night with her after so many days. His plan was to not even let her go back to Siddhi’s room later. But he decided not to wake her up. It must have been an emotionally exhausting day for her. He would be content with her sleeping beside him. He could hold her. Close! Ashutosh tried to pull the comforter over himself and in the process it slipped off Nidhi’s shoulder. Her shoulder was bare except for a thin lacy strap. His heart skipped a beat and more. This bewitching woman. She was pretending to sleep. He could see a naughty smile forming on her lips, even though she kept her eyes closed. He threw away the comforter and was greeted by a breathtaking sight of Nidhi in the negligee he had bought for her.

Nidhi sat up, a shy smile playing on her lips.

“To tum mujhe pareshaan kar rahi thi?” His scorching gaze was lust-personified and Nidhi could feel herself burning under it.

That didn’t stop her from replying though, “Mere sone se aap pareshaan ho jaate hain?”

“Tumhein aise dekh kar ho jaata hoon.”

“Woh to aapki problem hai na?”

“Lekin meri pareshaani ki sazaa to tumhein hi milegi.”

“Woh kaise?”

“Sone nahin doonga tumhein aaj,” he hissed and jumped on her in a way that was as good as attacking her, “And I will eat you up, Dr. Nidhi Verma.”

She would definitely have had a befitting reply for him, but he didn’t allow her to speak as he attacked her lips furiously. It was a night like none before. Nidhi had never seen him so aggressive, rough and passionte. And she wasn’t complaining.

“Aap…” she started saying something while lying in his arms later and then stopped. How was she to ask him what made him that way?

“Kya?”

“Aap theek to hain?” she blurted not knowing what else to say.

“Main? Haan… Oh God! Did I hurt you?”

“Nahin, nahin. Main to bas…”

Ashutosh smiled. She was a bold seductress, but definitely terrible at pillow talk. He volunteered information, “Nidhi. Aaj main… bahut different feel kar raha hoon. Bahut achchha feel kar raha hoon.”

“Kyon?”

“Sabke saamne apne rishte ko accept kar lena… I think main kahin na kahin bahut anxious tha ki woh moment kaisa hoga? But now it’s done. Ab mere man mein koi complications nahin hain.”

“Aaj to hum aise hi aa gaye the hospital se. Logon ko to kal face karna padega.”

“Jo log matter karte hain, woh the wahan par…”

“Well…”

“Haan… Admittedly tumhare colleagues nahin the. Tumhari problem abhi khatam nahin hui hai.”

“Mera koi kya kar lega? Aapko pata hai na, aapke alawa people leave me alone,” she smiled and propped herself up on her elbows.

“I thought ki tum ab kaafi social ho gayi ho.”

“Hah! Tabhi tak jab tak log mujhe pareshaan na karein.”

Ashutosh laughed at that, “Right. Aur I think meri Jhansi ki Rani ko pareshaan karne ki zyada logon ki himmat nahin hai.”

“You have no idea.”

“I do. Mere to hosh hi ud gaye the jab aaj tum mere oopar chillayi thi.”

“You totally deserved it.”

“Main khud ko defend karne ki koshish bhi nahin kar raha. Lekin phir bhi. You can be scary.”

“Main scary lagti hoon aapko?” Nidhi pouted.

“‘Can be’ kaha maine, Nidhi.”

“Rahne dijiye. Aapko meri scary shakal dekhne ki zaroorat nahin hai. Main ja rahi hoon…”

“Uff… Nakhre dekho inke,” Ashutosh pulled her back as she made to get down from the bed, “Kahin nahin ja rahi ho tum aaj raat. Samajh gayin?”

Nidhi smiled and leaned towards him so that their foreheads touched.

“This is perfect, Nidhi.”

“Perfect!” she agreed as they eased back on the bed.

To be continued