Discovering Love (Part 4)

Posted Leave a commentPosted in Ashni (KTLK), Fan Fiction, Hinglish

“Excuse me,” Ashutosh was surprised to see a woman in the children’s ward after visiting hours, “Visiting hours khatam ho gaye hain. Aapko ab ghar jaana chahiye.”

“Nahin ji. Meri Dr. Nidhi Verma se baat ho gayi hai. Main to apne bachche ke paas rukne waali hoon,” the woman was confident and almost quarrelous.

“Dr. Nidhi?”

“Ji haan.”

“What the hell…” Asuhtosh mumbled and turned towards to door to look for Nidhi, when he saw her entering the ward.She saw him and stopped in her tracks. A pen she was holding in her hands slipped through. Ashutosh looked at the pen in exasperation and she hastily picked it up.

“Dr. Nidhi. Aapko children’s ward ke rules pata hai na? Yahan parents ko raat mein rukna allowed nahin hai.”

“Y… Yes Sir.”

“Phir aapne inko kiske kahne par permission di hai?”

“Ma… Main… Maine nahin… nahin di, Sir. Woh… meri baat maan hi nahin… rahi thi. To main aapko hi dhonndhne ga… gayi thi.”

Ashutosh sighed and turned back towards the woman, “Dekhiye Ma’am. Ye is ward ka rule hai. Yahan parents raat mein nahin ruk sakte. Isse sabko disturbance hoti hai. Aapke bachche ki poori dekh bhaal yahan hogi. Please leave now and come back tomorrow. Please Ma’am.”

“Lekin…”

“Hum kissi ke liye rules nahin badal sakte,” Ashutosh was stern.

The woman was angry, but she did leave.

“Come to my cabin,” he told Nidhi and walked off.

“M… May I come in, Sir?”

“Yes.”

“Sir. A… aapne mujhe bulaya?”

“Dr. Nidhi. Aapke haathon ki ya ungliyon ki muscles kamzor hain?”

“Na… nahin to.”

“To phir aapke haathon se kabhi file, kabhi pen girte padte kyon rahte hain?”

“W… woh main ghabra gayi thi, Sir.”

“Aur aapko stuttering ki problem hai?”

“N… nahin. I mean no Sir.”

“To aap har waqt haklati kyon rahti hain?”

“Na… nahin to Sir. I… I mean har waqt nahin.”

“Look Dr. Nidhi. Is profession mein aapko din-raat logon se deal karna hoga. Log hamesha apna bhala-bura nahin samajhte. Kabhi pyaar se, kabhi sakhti se samjhaana padta hai. Jab bhi koi parent rule todne ki koshish karega, kya aap mere paas daudi aayengi? Aise to kaam nahin chal sakta.”

“Y… Yes Sir.”

“Make yourself a little more confident. You have to believe in yourself and appear confident. Warna patients ki himmat toot sakti hai.”

“R… Right Sir.”

“And for God’s sake stutter karna band kijiye.”

Nidhi did not say anything at all, just nodded in affirmative.

“All right. You can go.”

She turned back and left. She sighed in relief once she was outside his office. He smiled and shook his head after her. “Bilkul pagal hai,” he muttered.

“Mujhe nahin pata hai ki ye kaun hai? Lekin ye bachcha behosh pada hua tha sadak par,” Nidhi was explaining the staff of Jeevan Prabha, “Shayad kamzori ki wajah se…”

“Ji doctor bas abhi pahunch hi rahe hain…”

“Der karna sahi nahin hoga. Main khud bhi doctor hoon. Aap please mujhe stethoscope aur doosre instruments dijiye. Main check karti hoon.”

“Lekin…”

“Please…”

“Ji theek hai. Aaiye.”

Nidhi was examining the patient and asked the nurse to prepare saline water to be given to him, when Ashutosh entered the room.

“I am so sorry sister,” he addressed the nurse, “Main traffic jam mein phans gaya tha. Kahan hai bachcha?”

“Ji wahan. Jo madam use le kar aayi thi, unhone kaha ki woh bhi doctor hain to woh use treat kar rahi hain.”

Ashutosh ran towards the bed. Nidhi had already noticed him and had stood up when he reached there.

“Dr. Nidhi?”

“Y… Yes Sir,” she stuttered again, but Ashutosh ignored it and asked her about the patient. He was satisfied with the treatment she had given to him.

“Sir. Aap yahan bhi kaam karte hain?” she asked after the patient had been settled down. She wasn’t feeling nervous after getting a confirmation from him that she had treated the boy right.

“Ye mera hi hospital hai. I mean, mere Baba ne banwaya tha. Jeevan Prabha hospital and orphanage.”

“Oh!” Nidhi was surprised and that afternoon from five years back came back to her mind. “Aapke Baba kaise hain?” she asked.

“Aap mere Baba ke baare mein kyon poochh rahi hain?” Ashutosh was confused.

“Actually ek baar, kareeb paanch saal pahle, main aur mere Baba unhein yahan laaye the. Unhein heart attack aaya tha aur woh hamare ghar ke paas the us waqt.”

Ashutosh looked at her surprised, “Unhein aap yahan laayi thi?”

“Ji. Main agle din aayi thi unhein dekhne. Lekin in logon ne bataya ki unke bete ne, I guess they meant you, unhein shift karwa diya hai. Woh theek to ho gaye the na?”

Ashutosh nodded in negative and said sadly, “Nahin Dr. Nidhi. Woh theek nahin ho paaye. He didn’t survive the cardiac arrest and passed away.”

“Oh!” Nidhi felt extreme sadness envelop her, “I am sorry.”

“But thanks a lot Dr. Nidhi,” for the first time since she had met him Nidhi noticed a hint of emotion in his voice as he talked, “Unki madad karne ke liye. At least unhein saari care to mili. Otherwise…”

“Thanks ki koi zaroorat nahin hai Dr. Ashutosh. Woh to mera farz tha. Meri jagah koi bhi hota to yahi karta. Lekin obviously aapke Baba bahut achchhe insaan the. Bahut logon ka bhala hua hai unki charity se. Unhein bahut logon ki duaen mili hongi. Unki aatma ko zaroor shanti milegi.”

Ashutosh smiled sadly.

“Main chalti hoon, Sir. Baba ghar aa gaye honge aur akele bore ho rahe honge.”

“Baba?”

“Mere father.”

“Aap bhi apne father ko Baba kahti hain.”

“Ji. Ajeeb coincidence hai na?”

“Yeah. Aap kaise aayi hain?”

“Maine ambulance bulwaya tha.”

“Phir main aapko drop karwa deta hoon.”

“Nahin Sir. Main bus le kar chali jaungi.”

“Takalluf ki zaroorat nahin hai Dr. Nidhi. Mera driver aapko drop kar dega.”

“Lekin Sir…”

“Come with me.”

Nidhi had no option but to take his offer.

“Sir. Indian Academy of Pediatrics ke annual convention ke passes aa gaye hain. Hum typically inmein se ek kissi intern ko dete hain. Who should we select this time?” Rangnath asked Ashutosh during the departmental administrative meeting.

“Dr. Nidhi Verma,” Ashutosh replied without even thinking over it once.

“Dr. Nidhi?” Mallika interrupted, “Don’t you think hamein kissi KMC ke student ko bhejna chahiye Ashutosh?”

“Mallika. Ye selection KMC ke liye nahin hospital ke liye ho raha hai. When we have taken her as an intern, she is an equal and she is the best intern we have here this year. So, she will get the pass.” Ashutosh said in a final tone leaving no room for any further discussion.

“Theek hai, Sir,” Rangnath noted it down as a to-do for himself and moved on to other matters.

“Sir,” Rangnath came to Ashutosh’ cabin.

“Yes Dr. Rangnath.”

“Dr. Nidhi Verma convention ke liye Mumbai nahin jaana chahti. To who is the next choice?”

“Nahin jaana chahti? Kyon?”

“Maine poochha nahin, Sir.”

“Woh abhi duty par hain?”

“Yes Sir.”

“Unhein yahan bhejiye.”

“Sure Sir.”

“You do know that this convention is a great opportunity. Aap kyon nahin jaana chahti Dr. Nidhi?”

“Woh… Sir… Baba nahin chahte,” Nidhi tried to cook up an excuse.

“Kyon?”

“I mean, unhein akela chhod kar jaana theek nahin hoga, Sir.”

“Kya unki tabiyat kharaab hai?”

“Nahin to.”

“Phir?”

“Bas Sir. Aise hi.”

“Koi aur baat hai. What is it?”

“Ku… kuchh bhi nahin, Sir.”

“Dr. Nidhi! Tell me the truth.”

Nidhi looked exasperated.

“I am waiting,” he spoke again.

“Sir. Mumbai jaana, aur wahan chaar din rahna mere liye affordable nahin hai… Gaon mein meri Dadi beemaar hain. Baba ki salary unke ilaaj mein chali jaati hai. Aur mere stipend se ghar chalta hai.”

“To kya hua? Convention mein jaane ka expense to hospital bear karega,” Ashutosh himself did not know that he was such a quick and smooth liar.

“Letter mein to likha tha ki sirf convention ke pass ka expense hospital dega…”

“Woh letter purana daal diya hoga Dr. Rangnath ne,” Ashutosh lied again, “Policies update hui hain. Aap chinta mat kijiye. Aapke travel aur stay ka arrangement ho jayega. I will let you know.”

“That’s… that’s great, Sir. Thank you very much,” Nidhi was excited and decided to brush aside her skepticism.

“Flight tickets?” Nidhi was surprised,when Ashutosh handed her the ticket.

“Kya hua?”

“Main kabhi flight par gayi nahin hoon,” she said sheepishly.

Ashutosh smiled looking amused, “Koi baat nahin. Main bhi isi flight se ja raha hoon. Main aapko pick kar loonga jaate hue aapke ghar se. Driver ko pata hai na aapka ghar?”

“Ji Sir.”

“Aur haan. Packing karte waqt dhyaan rakhiyega. Cabin luggage mein koi liquid na ho, na hi koi nukili cheez.”

“Cabin luggage?”

“Jo samaan aapke haath mein rahega flight par chahdte hue. Baaki ka samaan check-in ho jaata hai. Aapko use carry karne ki zaroorat nahin hoti.”

“Okay Sir.”

To be continued

Discovering Love (Part 3)

Posted Leave a commentPosted in Ashni (KTLK), Fan Fiction, Hinglish

“Chadh ja beta sooli par,” Ranghnath approached Nidhi as she was trying to see the duty chart.

“Ab kya hua Dr. Rangnath?”

“Kal to aap bach gayin. Aab aaj nahin bach sakti. Aapki duty Dr. Hardstone ke saath lagi hai.”

“Sach? Dr. Ashutosh ke saath? Wow!” Nidhi was genuinely excited.

“Kya baat hai? Kissi bakre ko halaal hone se pahle itna khush maine kabhi nahin dekha?”

“Dr. Rangnath. Aap bhi na. Do din pahle tak maine Dr. Asutosh ka sirf naam suna tha. Aur aaj main unke saath kaam karne ja rahi hoon. Do you know what that means?”

“Aap to khush hain. To phir main bhi aapke liye khush hoon. Lekin zaraa sambhal ke.”

“Thank you.”

“Aur haan. Namrata ji ko bata dijiyega ki woh bhi zara namra hi rahein. Unki bhi duty wahin hai.”

“Theek hai.”

Nidhi, Namrata and Kabir took a round of the ward with Ashutosh and then he assigned each of them some patients whom they were supposed to attend for the rest of the day.

“Namrata. Kya kar rahi hai tu?” Nidhi stopped Namrata from giving some medicine to a patient.

“Kya hua?”

“Label to padh le dawai dene se pahle. Ye 50 mg hai. Child patient ke liye zyada hai. 25 mg waala tablet chahiye hoga.”

“Offo! Ye nurses bhi na. Dekh kar dawai nahin rakh sakti.”

“Agar sahi dawai dena nurses ki hi responsibility hai,” they were suddenly startled by Ashutosh’ voice, “to phir aapko doctor banne ki kya zaroorat thi?”

“I am sorry, Sir.”

“How can you be so careless?” Ashutosh thundered at her, “Ye bachche hamari responsibility hain. Koi exam ke questions nahin ki agar galat bhi ho gaya to bas thode marks kate. This will not be tolerated. You need more supervision than I can give. Wait for me in Dr. Ranghnath’s office for reassignment of duty.”

“Yes Sir,” Namrata was almost breaking into tears as she ran away.

Suddenly he noticed Nidhi’s expressions. “Aapko kya hua hai?” he sounded irritated, “Main aapko to nahin daant raha tha.”

“Main… main nahin Sir,” Nidhi mumbled as his anger had indeed scared her, “Bachche dar rahe hain.” Nidhi pointed out. Ashutosh noticed the patient on the bed and realized that he was indeed scared by Ashutosh’ raised voice. Ashutosh smiled at the kid and sat beside him to try and comfort him. But he cringed.

“Sir,” Nidhi interrupted hesitatingly, “Can I?”

Ashutosh nodded and said, “Please take over Dr. Namrata’s patients for the time being.”

“Y… Yes Sir.”

Ashutosh looked back from the door and saw Nidhi sitting with the child drawing him into a conversation and finally making him laugh. Nobody saw the faint smile on Dr. Hardstone’s face though.

“Ashutosh. You are too harsh on the interns. Tum pahle din unhein unsupervised kaise chhod sakte ho?”

“Mallika, maine koi emergency duty par nahin chhoda tha unhein. Bas time par medicines deni thi.”

“Kuchh cheezein practice se hi samajh mein aati hain. Abhi bachche hain woh…”

“Bachche nahin hain, doctors hain. Aur KMC mein MBBS ke dauraan bhi ward duties hoti hain. Phir jab woh Lucknow ke infamous government college se aayi hui ladki itni si baat samajh sakti hai, to hamare KMC ke graduates kyon nahin samajh sakte?”

“Okay. I give up. Suno, aaj raat kahin dinner par chalte hain. You need a change…”

“Sorry Mallika. Mujhe kuchh kaam hai. Main nahin aa sakta.”

“Okay,” she smiled sadly and left. He never agreed to her proposals of going out.

“Namrata,” Nidhi rushed by her side in common room, “Tum theek to ho? I am really sorry, yaar. Mujhe nahin pata tha ki Dr. Ashutosh wahan the…”

“Tum kyon sorry bol rahi ho? Ye to achchha hi hua na ki bachche ko strong medicine nahin di. Aur Dr. Ashutosh… Well… Unki baaton ka koi kya kar sakta hai. Tum KMC mein nahin thi na. Isliye jaanti nahin ho unhein. He loses his temper for much smaller things.”

“Kyon aise hain ye?”

“Pata nahin, yaar. Main to bas ye teen mahine khatam hone ka intezaar kar rahi hoon.”

“Mere oopar kabhi aise chillaye to mujhe to heart attack hi aa jayega. Dr. Rangnath theek hi dara rahe the unse.”

Nidhi wondered what was in store for her. Unlike her fellow interns, she didn’t even know the people around here. She had come with a lot of hopes and excitement for her internship. Will her excitement survive? Or will a small mistake make her also fall by the side?

“He bhagwaan. Main ye galat patient file kaise le aayi. Dr. Ashutosh ke aane se pahle…” Nidhi turned around and saw Ashutosh in the ward. The file slipped from her hand.”Sir? Aap? Aap… aap jaldi aa gaye?”

“To? Mere jaldi aane par koi pabandi hai?”

“Na… nahin, Sir. Of course not. Main woh… I am sorry, Sir. Main abhi theek karti hoon.”

“Kya theek karna hai aapko? Aur ye file uthaiye zameen par se.”

“Haan… Haan… wahi to, Sir.”

“To iske liye aap itna ghabra kyon rahi hain? Utha lijiye file…”

“Sir woh file galat…”

“Galat?”

“Galat patient ki aa gayi hai, Sir…. Lekin main abhi… abhi.. le kar…”

“To sahi file le aaiye. Aap theek to hain? Aise kyon behave kar rahi hain jaise koi ghost dekh liya ho?”

“Na… nahin to Sir. Main aati hoon.”

Nidhi ran out of the ward and took a deep breath to calm herself down. He was not angry, he won’t blast you, she told herself, got the right file and went back to the ward.

“Dr. Mallika ne ye case refer kiya hai. Lower back mein pain ki problem hai, walk karne par ya zyada der khade rahne par,” Ashutosh explained to Nidhi and two other interns posted in the ward, “X-ray aur ultrasound karwa chuke hain. Spinal chord mein koi problem nahin hai. Muscle relaxants are not helping. Phir bhi physiotherapy karwai thi. But no improvement. Any suggestions?”

Everyone started thinking. Nidhi made to say something, but stopped. If it was something so simple, surely Dr. Mallika would have known it. Ashutosh saw her gulping and fidgeting.

“Aapko kuchh kahna hai Dr. Nidhi?” he asked.

“Yes Sir.”

“Then speak,” he said irritated, “Chup kyon khadi hain?”

“Sir… woh maine file dekhi thi… Bachche ne recently kaafi weight gain kiya hai.”

“So?”

“Ek possibility ye hai ki abdominal muscles utni strong nahin hain aur suddenly gained weight ko support nahin kar pa rahi hain, isliye back par zor pad raha hai… Hum abdominal muscles ki exercise karwa kar dekh sakte hain. Two weeks…”

She looked at him with expectation and fear as he thought over it for a few seconds.

“Possibility to hai. I think koi aur medicine dene se pahle we should try it.Why don’t you take up this case, Dr. Nidhi?”

“Yes Sir. Thank you, Sir,” she was extremely excited.

“To aap theek ho gaye?” Ashutosh was talking to the kid after a week.

“Yes Dr. Ashutosh.”

“Ye to bahut achchhi baat hai. Ab aap wapas se bhaag daud kar sakte hain.”

“Ji.”

“To yaad rakhiye ki padhna-likhna achchhi baat hoti hai lekin body ko healthy rakhna bhi zaroori hota hai aur uske liye thodi exercise hoti rahni chahiye, right? Aur jo exercises Dr. Nidhi ne aapko batayi thi, unhein continue rakhiyega. Theek hai?”

“Ji.”

“Good boy.”

“Good job Dr. Nidhi,” Ashutosh said after the patient had left with his parents.

“Thank you, Sir.”

“Seriously Ashutosh? Abdominal muscle ki exercise for a week? That was it?” Mallika was unable to believe what had happened.

“Seriously.” Ashutosh replied matter of factly.

“I don’t believe this.”

“Hum doctors aise hi badnaam nahin hote Mallika patients ko ghumane-phirane ke liye. Intentionally nahin bhi, par hum kai baar simple options ki taraf dhyaan hi nahin dete. Back pain – and we started thinking like orthpedic surgeons. As pediatricians, we are supposed to keep all the possibilities in mind and start the diagnosis with the simplest one.”

“Yeah. Right.”

Suddenly Ashutosh smirked.

“What is so funny?” Mallika was flustered and irritated.

“Main tumhein achchhi tarah jaanta hoon Mallika. Tum is baat se hairaan nahin ho ki uski problem simple thi. Tum isliye pareshaan ho ki jo tumne nahin socha woh ek itni junior intern ne soch liya.”

“Come on Ashutosh. Tum ye kahna chahte ho ki main ek intern ko lekar insecure hoon.”

“Maine to nahin kaha Mallika. Tumne infer kiya. Khair, you have to give it to her. She is good.”

“Wow! Aaj suraj kidhar se nikla tha Ashutosh. Tum kissi ki taareef kar rahe ho? Woh bhi ek hardly do hafton se kaam kar rahi intern ki.”

“I can identify a good doctor when I see one.”

“To tumhein poore Kotnis General Hospital mein ya Kotnis Medical College mein koi aur achchha doctor nahin mila aaj tak?”

“Let me rephrase. I can identify a brilliant doctor when I see one. There are many good doctors. Lekin kuchh logon ke andar ek natural talent hota hai. She is one of them.”

“I see.”

“Khair. Tumhari duty to khatam ho gayi hai. Tum nikal jao. Main thodee der aur yahan rukoonga. Phir Jeevan Prabha jaunga.”

“Kabhi to aaraam kar liya karo Ashutosh.”

“Aaraam hi to kar raha hoon. Mujhe hospital mein hi aaraam milta hai Mallika.”

To be continued

Discovering Love (Part 2)

Posted Leave a commentPosted in Ashni (KTLK), Fan Fiction, Hinglish

5 years later…

Nidhi – now Dr. Nidhi Verma – entered Kotnish General Hospital to report for the first day of her internship. At the reception she was given a temporary badge and shown the way to a conference room. She went in and sat down on a seat in the front row, but in a corner. More people came in and she could identify those who were likely to be interns like her. Others must be the hospital staff and doctors, she reckoned.

All the murmuring stopped and there was a pin-drop silence as Dr. Ashutosh Mathur entered the room. He mumbled a good morning in response to the people who recognized and greeted him and then surveyed the room with cold eyes.

“You,” he suddenly pointed to Nidhi startling her, “Are you an intern?”

“Y… Yes Sir,” she said nervously.

“Why are you sitting separately then and not with other interns?”

“I am sorry, Sir. I didn’t know who else was an intern.”

“You don’t know your batchmates?” he asked sharply.

“Sir,” a doctor, whom she would later recognize as Dr. Rangnath, intervened, “She is not from Kotnis Medical College.”

“What do you mean? Why is she here for the internship then?”

“We have made an exception this time, Sir.”

“Why? Have we started succumbing to influence and pressure now? Which minister’s daughter is she?”

“Not influence, Sir. She had very good performance and recommendations.”

“Really?” Dr. Ashutosh was skpetcial, “We will see. Come now. Sit here with others.”

“Y… Yes Sir,” Nidhi said and came to the the seat he had indicated to.

“All right. So, doctors! As you all probably know that this internship is a requirement for your MBBS course. It is a rotating internship, which means you will work in four different departments, for a trimester each. For this group, the first trimester will be in the pediatrics department and I am the in-charge of this department. With this internship, your real life test starts. And to see how prepared you all are for this, we will have a quick test of 20 questions. Dr. Rangnath…”

“Yes Sir,” Rangnath distributed papers to all the interns.

“You have thirty minutes. Real life allows no cheating. So, better not try to do that.”

Everyone watched on as the new interns struggled with the questions for the next thirty minutes.

“All right! Time is up. Ye koi research questions nahin hain. Agar aapne ab tak answer nahin kiye hain to ye sure hai ki aap aage bhi nahin kar payenge. Now pass your answers to the fourth person on your right. If you are the right most in your row, then start counting the fourth person from the next row and so on. Let’s do it quickly. Now I am going to write the answers on the board and you have to grade the paper you have in your hands and total the marks. One for each right answer.”

It took about five minutes to do the grading.

“Anybody has a paper with 20 marks. 19? 18?”

“Sir!” someone got up and handed him the paper, “Whose is this? Nidhi Verma… Dr. Nidhi Verma.” He looked at the interns. Nidhi got up gingerly. Ashutosh looked visibly surprised, but he didn’t say anything. Just nodded and indicated with his hands asking her to sit down.

“17 anyone? 16? 15? 14? 13? 12?”

Several people stood up at 12 and handed him the paper. Between 11 and 10, rest of the papers were also finished. There was no surprise there. This was usual statistics, whenever he tested interns on their first day. 18 was definitely an abberation. He told the interns that the first day would mostly go in the administrative work and introduction with rest of the staff. The duties will be assigned from the next day. He wished them luck and left the room leaving Rangnath and other doctors and staff to handle the rest of the formalities with the interns.

They were done by 4 ‘o clock in the afternoon and were free to go home.Nidhi was about to leave when a group of female interns came to her.

“Hi,” one of them came forward, “Nidhi? Right? I am Priyanka.”

“Hi Priyanka.”

“Yaar tumne to kamaal kar diya. Dr. Hardstone ke test mein 18…”

“Kamaal ki koi baat nahin hai. I guess main lucky thi. Lekin Dr. Hardstone?”

“Tum KMC se nahin ho na. Isliye tumhein nahin pata. Lekin pata chal jayega. Tumne unhein ek baar bhi hanste hue ya smile karte hue dekha?”

“Kise?”

“Dr. Ashutosh ko.”

“Oh! Nahin…”

“Aur dekhogi bhi nahin. Isliye Dr. Hardstone. Unhein bas kaam se matlab hai. Hamari to kismat kharaab hai, jo pahle hi trimester mein unke saath kaam karna pad raha hai.”

Nidhi smiled nervously, she did not know what to say. Other interns, Sonali and Namrata also made acquaintance with her. They were about to leave, when Dr. Rangnath came running.

“Dr. Nidhi Verma.”

“Ji Dr. Rangnath.”

“Aapse thoda kaam tha. Aap please mere saath aaiye.”

“Tum log jao. Main chali jaungi,” Nidhi told other interns and came with him.

“Kya hua? Koi extra formality hai kya?” Nidhi asked wondering if her not being from KMC was going to be an administrative issue.

“Nahin nahin. Formality nahin, Aapke oopar bahut bada informal bam girne waala hai.”

“Ji?”

“Ji. Dr. Hardstone… I mean Dr. Ashutosh Mathur aapse milna chahte hain.”

“Unka nickname to mujhe pata hai, lekin woh mujhse kyon milna chahte hain?”

“Main unka koi jigari yaar to hoon nahin ki apne man ki baat mujhe batayenge. Waise bhi unke man ki baat kissi ko nahin pata hoti.”

“Dr. Mathur ka bada terror hai yahan lagta hai.”

“Unka terror nahin hai, woh khud terror hain.”

“Come on Dr. Rangnath…”

“Lijiye… Morgue… I mean Dr. Ashutosh ka office aa gaya. Ab aage aap jaaniye aur aapke ghar waale. Unhein inform karne ki zaroorat padegi to main kar doonga. Aapne contacts to sahi se bhare the na?”

“You are too much Dr. Rangnath,” Nidhi could not help feeling amused.

“Apni muskurahat dho-pochh lijiye, andar jaane se pahle. Behtar hoga. Main apne office mein aapke liye dua karoonga.”

Although Nidhi had rubbished Rangnath’s concern before him, but when he left and she knocked on the door, she did feel terrorized remembering Ashutosh’ strict demeanour from the morning.

“May I come in, Sir?”

“Yes.”

“Good evening, Sir. Dr. Rangnath kah rahe the ki aapne mujhe…”

“Yes. Please sit down Dr. Verma.”

“Thank you, Sir. Sir, mujhse… koi galti… ho gayi kya? Woh darasal main KMC se nahin hoon to mujhe bahut kuchh pata nahin hai, lekin main jaldi hi sab seekh jaungi…So, Sir…”

“Maine ye kab kaha ki aapse koi galti hui hai…”

“Oh! Phir aapne mujhe kyon bulaya, Sir?”

Ashutosh sighed in exasperation. “This is ridiculous,” he mumbled.

“Ji Sir?”

“Kuchh nahin. Maine…” he rubbed his forehead trying to remember what he wanted to say, “Yeah. Maine aapko ye kahne ke liye bulaya tha ki you did a good job in the test this morning. Main abhi aapka paper dekh raha tha. Aapne sahi answers diye hain, aur explanations bhi.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

“Lekin ek baat meri samajh mein nahin aayi. Jin do questions mein aapko marks nahin mile, unka aapne andaaze se bhi koi jawaab nahin likha. Kyon? Negative marking nahin ho rahi thi yahan. Log attempt to karte hi hain…”

“Yes Sir,” she said with a nervous smile, “Medical ke entrance exams mein, aur board exams mein to maine bhi kiya tha. Lekin doctor banne ke baad mahsoos hua ki patients ka ilaaj hum tukka maar kar to nahin kar sakte. Agar mujhe surity nahin hogi to I will prefer taking help of seniors or books, rather than putting a life to risk. Isliye maine test mein bhi andaaza lagane ki koshish nahin ki.”

Ashutosh looked at her curiously, “Interesting. Theek hai. Aap ja sakti hain. I hope aapka performance aage bhi test ki tarah hi achchha rahe.”

“I will try my best, Sir. Thank you, Sir.”

To be continued

Discovering Love (Part 1)

Posted Leave a commentPosted in Ashni (KTLK), Fan Fiction, Hinglish

“Tumhare ye zevar asli hain?” Aloknath Mathur was incredulous, when his wife took out her jewelry for wearing on the occasion of her god-bharai. She was pregnant with their first child.

“To main nakli zevar kyon pahanti apni shaadi par? Aap aise baatein kyon kar rahe hain?”

“Tumhare ghar waalon ne diye honge.”

“Mere ghar waalon ke paas itne paise kahan hain? Ma-Baba ne bhijwaye the,” she said talking about her in-laws, Aloknath’s parents.

“Mujhe medicine ki padhai karwane ke liye aapke paas paise nahin the,” Aloknath was furious at his parents, “Na hi apna business shuru karwane ke liye paise the. Lekin meri shaadi karwane ke liye aur ye zevar banwane ke liye the paise aapke paas.”

“Ma-Baap se baat karne ki tameez bhool gaye ho tum Alok,” his father chided him.

“Agar Ma-Baap apna farz bhool jayen to…”

“Farz nahin bhoole hum. Isliye tumhein chaadar ke bahar paon failane se roka hai. Zevar investment hote hain. Bure waqt par kaam aate hain. Tumahre bhi aayenge. Kya kami hai tumhein? Achchi bhali naukri hai. Sukhi ho apni shaadi-shuda zindagi mein…”

“Dum ghutata hai mera is naukri mein. Aur is sukhi zindagi mein…” he rushed out and did not come back for god-bharai. When he came back late at night, his wife was still waiting for him.

“Aapko Ma-Baba se aise baat nahin karni chahiye thi.”

“Tum door raho is maamle se.”

“Meri baat suniye. Apno se gussa hona achchhi baat nahin hai.”

“Tumne suna nahin maine kya kaha.”

She did not say anything after that. When he woke up the next morning, she was not on the bed. but her jewelry box was. There was a note lying there.

“Ye gahne mere hain aur main apni marzi se aapko de rahi hoon. Ab ye aapke hue. Jo bhi aap karna chahte hain, kar sakte hain.”

He got up and left without saying a word to anybody.

Life had been kind to him since the day he had arrived in Lucknow with the box of jewelry in his hand. He had put up with a friend for a few days, then had mortgaged the jewelry and had started off a modest business of trading clothes. Since then there had been no turning back. The jewelry was back in his custody within eight months and forty eight years since then, he had a huge business business of apparel design, manufacturing and reatailing. Ashutosh had been with him since last thirty years and he had built a small and complete family with him.

But in these last few days, something had bothered him. He was feeling guilty. About the people he had left behind. He had left an eight months pregnant wife behind him!! Whatever happened to his family!

“Babaaa… Baba jaldi aaiye…”

“Kya hua Nidhi?”

“Baba. Dekhiye to inhein kya hua hai?”

“He Bhagwaan,” Yograj Verma was shocked to see the state of the old man lying on the road in front of his house, “Inhein hospital le jaana padega beta. Kaun hain ye?”

“Pata nahin Baba. Main to bas tution padhane ke liye nikal rahi thi jo inhein dekha.”

“Chalo. Jaldi karo. Ruko main kissi ko bulata hoon aas paas se. Madad ki zaroorat padegi. Tum zara rickshaw roko.”

“Rickshaw se kaise jayenge Baba. Aap ambulance bulaiye. Woh Jeevan Prabha hospital hai na – charity hospital hai. Wahan le ja sakte hain.”

“Haan… Haan. Sahi kah rahi ho tum.Main bhi na kabhi kabhi…”

“Are – ye to Mathur Sahab hai,” the hospital staff who had rushed to take the old man out of the ambulance exclaimed!

“Aap log inhein jaante hain?” Nidhi was surprised.

“Ji Ma’am. Ye hospital inka hi to banwaya hua hai. Inki charity se hi chalta hai.”

“Oh! Phir to achchha hai hum inhein yahan la aaye. Aap inke ghar waalon ko bulwa lenge na?”

“Ji. Aap uski chinta mat kijiye. Aap chahein to ja sakte hain. Yahan inki poori dekh-bhaal hogi.”

“Nidhi beta. Ye to apne hi logon ke saath hain phir. Hum chalte hain. Tumhare students bhi tumhara intezaar kar rahe honge.”

Nidhi didn’t know why, but she wanted to stay back. She looked on for a moment, as they took the old man inside the hospital. Something tugged at her heart, but she couldn’t quite explain it. So, she agreed with her father.

“Theek hai Baba. Chaliye.”

“Ji. Kal main aur mere Baba yahan ek patient ko le kar aaye the,” Nidhi was enquiring at the reception of the hospital the next day, “Koi Mathur Sahab. Unhone ye hostpial banwaya hai…”

“Ji haan, ji haan…”

“Unki tabiyat kaisi hai? Kya hua the unhein?”

“Cardiac arrest… Matlab heart attack aaya tha. I’m sorry, lekin unki halat achchhi nahin thi. Unhein specialist ke care ki zaroorat thi. Unke bete bhi doctor hain to unhone unhein apne hospital mein shift karwa liya hai.”

“Thank you,” Nidhi wondered if she should ask about the hospital he had been shifted to, but hesitated in interfering too much and didn’t ask.

“Meri samajh mein nahin aa raha hai ki Baba akele aise bahar kyon gaye the? Car bhi nahin thi ghar par. Mujhe bula liya hota. Ya kam se kam car hi mangwa li hoti,” Ashutosh was pacing up and down in his office. Baba’s friend and lawyer Devraj Kapoor was visiting him. “Aapse koi baat hui thi unki?”

“Na… nahin to,” Devraj said. Ashutosh was so occupied with Baba’s health that he did not notice Devraj fidgeting. Just then his mobile rang.

“Yes. Dr. Singhania? Kya… Oh God!! Main… main aata hoon… Mr. Kapoor. Baba ki tabiyat kharaab ho rahi hai.”

They rushed towards his room in the cardiology ward.

“Baba,” Ashutosh rushed by his side and clasped his hands, “Aapko kuchh nahin hoga Baba.”

“Use… uska haq… dila dena,” Ashutosh barely caught what Baba was trying to say, “Dev… Ashu…”

The next moment Ashutosh knew that Baba had spoken his last words. He did not understand what those were. He didn’t care. He looked on. Helplessly. What was he to do? It was like his world had come to an end. It indeed had. After all it started and ended with Baba.

“Ashutosh,” Devraj’s hand on his shoulder brought him out of his thoughts. He was acutely aware of the lump in his throat.

“Main aata hoon,” he managed to say and rushed out to find a lonely corner, where he could cry his heart out. Like an eight year old, whom Baba had found crying in a lonely corner and had brought home with him. May be Baba will come back again, if he cried alone!

“Locker mein kuchh zevar the Mr. Kapoor. Aur uske saath mein ek chhota sa note – ‘Ashutosh. Agar main ise us tak nahin pahuncha saka to tum zaroor pahuncha dena.’ Mujhe kuchh samajh mein nahin aaya. Unki will mein bhi to koi zikr nahin hai… Mujhe laga ki shayad aapko pata ho…”

“Ashutosh. Mathur Sahab mere liye bahut mushkil kaam chhod gaye hain…”

“Paheliya mat bujhaiye please.”

“Dekho Ashutosh, jo main tumhein batane ja raha hoon, mujhe nahin pata tum uspar kaise react karoge. Lekin jaanna tumhare liye zaroori hai. Mathur sahab ka tumhare alawa bhi ek parivaar hai. Parivaar kya hai, naatin hai ek jo apne pita, yani Mathur sahab ke daamad ke saath rahti hai.”

“Ye… Ye aap kaisi baatein kar rahe hain? Agar aisa kuchh hota to Baba mujhe zaroor batate.”

“Zyada kuchh mujhe bhi pata nahin hai Ashutosh. Bas itna jaanta hoon ki woh apna ghar chhod kar bahut pahle chale aaye the. Unhone apni beti tak ki shakal nahin dekhi hai. Lekin kareeb ek mahine pahle unhone meri madad maangi apne parivaar ko dhoondhne mein. To maine hi pata karwa kar unhein bataya tha. Woh gahne unki wife ke the, jo woh apni naatin ko dena chahte the. Us din woh un logon se hi milne gaye the…”

“Us din? Matlab? Jab… unki tabiyat kharaab hui?”

Devraj nodded.

“To aakhir aisa kya kiya ya kaha un logon ne ki unki ye halat ho gayi?” Ashutosh was agitated.

“Ye to mujhe nahin pata Ashutosh. Unse mil kar hi pata chalega. Tum chaho to main tumhein unka pata…”

“Koi zaroorat nahin hai,” his anger was chilling, “Jin logon ki wajah se maine Baba ko kho diya unse main baat nahin karna chahta.”

“Aur woh zevar…”

“Jahan Baba rakh kar gaye the, wahin pade rahenge.”

To be continued