Indian love story – Page 33

Forbidden Fruit (Part 5)

Posted October 28, 2012October 25, 2018 Mish9 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Rupali-Paritosh

When Rupali came back to the hall, the doorbell rang. Paritosh opened the door and ushered in a man in his late 30s dressed smartly in a black suit.

“Guys,” Paritosh addressed his students, “This is Mr. Milind Mohan. An old friend of mine. Very busy man. Working for Horizon Group of companies. But he agreed to come here today to meet you all. He is going to head the incubation centre that the Horizon group is setting up in our institute.” The warmth in Paritosh’ voice indicated that Milind must be a good friend of his.

“Ah!” The acknowledgment of recognition was very audible from the students. A stylish building was being built in the campus for the incubation centre and there had been much speculation about what exactly was going to happen there.

“The idea, as you can guess, is to promote entrepreneurship in the campus. I thought it would be a good opportunity to interact informally with the students. My work is yet to start formally,” Milind said.

“I must confess, MM,” Paritosh said, “That it is a very small, and perhaps not a representative group. But there is at least one person who is already excited. What do you say Suhas? Good time to drop the boring Ph. D. and do something more exciting like running your own business.”

Suhas grinned and shook his head, while everyone else laughed. Rupali, in particular, laughed out so loud that she drew everyone’s attention towards herself.

“Actually, Paritosh, we all could drop our Ph. D. Rupali can work more than all of us combined. Don’t you think so?” somebody in the group joked.

Rupali flushed, but Paritosh laughed. “That she surely can,” he said, “But I have to take pity on my old friend here too. I have known what it is like to make you all work. I can’t saddle MM with the responsibility of turning all of you into something useful in one go.”

More laughter followed. Paritosh didn’t notice Rupali fidgeting when he acknowledged the joke on her doing more work than all others combined. Milind did though.

“So, you are Rupali Banerjee?” he turned towards Rupali, “Paritosh’ co-author in all his recent papers?”

“You are reading my papers?” Paritosh asked, surprised, before Rupali could answer.

“You should know better, Paritosh. Since I was coming here, I looked you and your students up on Internet. And you academicians are very helpful. You always keep your resumes fully updated on your websites.”

“CVs. We call them CVs.”

“Snobs. We call you snobs.” Milind also replied in jest making everyone laugh again.

—

“I don’t agree with you, Dr. Khanna. You can’t give 5 marks to somebody for doing just that,” Rupali was arguing with Paritosh over the marking scheme for the exam of an undergraduate course he was teaching.

“Rupali. They are kids. Second year students. You have to be a bit considerate.”

“It is a course prescribed for them. They should know how to solve these problems.”

“Everyone is not like you, Rupali.”

“Well, your decision is final. But I still disagree.”

“Hello. Looks like I am disturbing,” Milind was at Paritosh’ office door.

“No. You are rescuing me from this Rani of Jhansi. She is preparing to kill me if I gave five extra marks to some poor undergraduate students.”

“Stop making fun of me, Dr. Khanna,” Rupali felt embarrassed on realizing that Paritosh’ friend might have heard their exchange and could not bear to be thought of as a brat by yet another person.

She greeted Milind, “Hello Sir.”

“Sir? Please, Rupali. I am not your professor here. MM. That’s what everyone calls me.”

“Sure,” Rupali smiled and made to leave, “I will come back later, Dr. Khanna.”

“No. Why don’t you stay back?” Milind stopped her, “I have to talk to him. But you should also stay. You guys look as good as married.”

Both Rupali and Paritosh frowned and Milind hastily clarified, “At work I mean. With the fights and all. It’s perfect.”

Paritosh relaxed and even played along with the joke, “I agree to the fight part.” Rupali just fidgeted and smiled weakly.

Milind noticed her reaction, but did not remark on that. He started discussing business, “So, we need some faculty members on-board as advisors in the incubation centre and of course, I want you before anyone else, Paritosh”

“Nepotism much, MM?”

“Do you want me to sing paeans for you? Don’t you have enough people around you doing that already?” he stole a glance at Rupali, but her eyes were glued to Paritosh.

“What do you think, Rupali?” Paritosh asked.

“I think you should go for it,” she replied.

Milind had to suppress a grin as he wondered how spousal that conversation sounded. His earlier joke sounded more true than any of them had realized. Outwardly he said, “And you have an able help in her for your research. So, no harm in trying other things, right?”

Paritosh looked at Rupali who was nodding in agreement. “All right. Sounds good,” he said with a smile, “Do let me know what I am supposed to do there.”

“Let me find some entrepreneurs. Then you can advise them on technology,” Milind grinned.

“It’s time for my class. I will see you later,” Rupali informed them and left.

Paritosh smiled fondly after her.

“What was the fight about?” Milind asked.

“It wasn’t really a fight. She was just being herself. Extreme is usual for her.”

“I see. You are being poetic about it.”

“Arr… Okay. She is the TA – teaching assistant – in one of the courses I am teaching the undergraduates. She wouldn’t agree to a lenient marking scheme.”

“And how do you put up with her if she is always so hyper?”

“She challenges me, but if I disagree she accepts my decisions. I quite enjoy arguing with her. It’s… I don’t know what word I should use.”

“Intellectually stimulating?”

“Yes. And fulfilling.”

“Good for you, Paritosh. I will get going now. Need to meet more faculty members. And not everyone will be as pliant as you.”

“Good luck, MM.”

—

“Dr. Khanna?”

“Yes, Rupali.”

“My Mom is visiting. I had informed you earlier, right? She wants to meet you. Do you have time now?”

“Definitely. Bring her in. Hello, Mrs. Banerjee.”

“Hello, Dr. Khanna. I have heard so much about you. I just had to meet you.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

“This is my Kaku – I mean paternal Uncle,” Rupali introduced the man accompanying her mother, “Rahul Banerjee. He stays in Delhi. Takes care of the our business operations here.”

“Great to meet you, Mr. Banerjee. Please sit down.”

“Mom. You were thirsty. Shall I get you some water?”

“If you are going to the common room, Rupali, perhaps some tea or coffee as well for our guests?” Paritosh requested.

“Sure, Dr. Khanna.”

“So, you came to Delhi to visit Rupali?” Paritosh started talking to Mouli Banerjee, Rupali’s mother.

“To attend a wedding, actually. In the family. Our relatives stay in Noida. Rupali refused to come for the wedding. She said she was swamped with work. So, I had to come down to meet her.”

“Are you here to complain about that? I never stopped her from going anywhere. In fact, she did not even ask me,” Paritosh pretended to be defensive making his guests laugh.

“I am not here to complain. I am here to thank you. For taming this wild daughter of mine.”

“Taming who? Rupali?”

“Who else?”

“Who can tame her, Mrs. Banerjee? She is the terror of the entire department. The best of our Professors shy away from her questions,” Paritosh replied, smiling indulgently.

“See, Boudi,” Rupali’s uncle spoke this time, “The entire department can’t handle her. And you wanted me to keep her in control in Delhi. I gave up on day one, Dr. Khanna.”

“You are an intelligent man! But on a serious note, she is a fine girl. Why do you worry?”

“I told you, you have tamed her. Has she ever told you that she wanted to leave everything behind to go to Himalayas?”

“No!”

“Once, she had cycled down to the other end of Kolkata. She was very young. She had just been gifted her first bicycle. And Kolkata is a big city, Dr. Khanna. We had all gone berserk, until an acquaintance who recognized her informed us. Another time, we had to bring her back from a group of traveling Sanyasis.” Mouli told him of Rupali’s exploits.

“Wow! Anything else I should know?” Paritosh grinned.

“What are you doing?” Rupali re-entered the room and slammed the tray with water and tea on the table, “Why are you telling these stories to Dr. Khanna, Mom?”

“I am just preparing him–”

“What for? I was a kid, for God’s sake. Do I have to carry the burden of what I did then all my life?”

“It’s okay, Rupali,” Paritosh tried to reassure her, “I’m not taking it seriously.”

“Why are you encouraging them?” Rupali didn’t spare even Paritosh in the heat of the moment, “So that you can prove yet again that I am a brat?”

Mouli and Rahul flushed in embarrassment, but Paritosh just laughed, “Told you, she can not be tamed.”

Finally, Mouli found her voice and reprimanded her, “Rupali. He is your advisor. Is that how you talk to him?”

“Stop preaching. Otherwise, I will actually take off to Himalayas.” Rupali stormed out and Mouli pressed her palm to her forehead in frustration. Paritosh was calm though.

“Mrs. Banerjee. Your daughter is a genius. She needs challenges to keep her hyperactive brain busy. Perhaps there have been times when this genius mind of hers has not been sufficiently occupied with anything constructive. Devil’s workshop and all. Hence, all these absurd incidents. But she is fully occupied now and is perfectly fine. So, don’t worry.”

“I’m sorry for the way she behaved. I didn’t realize she would react like this. At any other time, she would herself have proudly told everyone how crazy she used to be.”

Paritosh smiled, “It’s okay. She was just being herself. You can’t blame her for that.”

—

To be continued

Forbidden Fruit (Part 4)

Posted October 27, 2012October 25, 2018 Mish11 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Rupali-Paritosh

Paritosh had been restless over the weekend. He had scolded Rupali for being unreasonable, but the hurt and disappointment in her eyes haunted him now. ‘It’s not a big deal,’ he kept telling himself, ‘She was indeed being a brat. Besides, she wouldn’t hold a grudge against me. That’s not what she is like.’ But he continued to feel miserable. Several times, he almost dialed her number, but checked himself in time. Calling her made no sense and it would be inappropriate.

Rupali found him doodling on a paper, when she came to his office on Monday morning. “What are you worried about?” she asked, knowing well what the doodling meant.

“Nothing,” he replied with a sigh, “The submission deadline for MT journal is coming close. We need to finish things quickly–”

“I have already run the results through Meteor and have forwarded you the results.”

“You have?”

“Yes. I sent you a mail last night.”

“Looks like I missed it. Let me check.”

“The improvements are quite good. It should get us an acceptance.”

“So it seems,” Paritosh mumbled as he peered at his screen after downloading the file she had sent, “Good. Good work, Rupali.”

“Thanks. Shall I start finalizing the paper?”

“Yes. By when do you think you can finish writing it?”

“Tomorrow afternoon? You will have enough time to review it, I hope.”

“Yes. Ample time.” With any other student, Paritosh would have added at least three to four days to the time they estimated to do the work. But with Rupali he didn’t need to do that. If she said so, she would send the paper the next day. Then he would have until the weekend to review and correct it for the submission.

“Okay then,” she got up to leave.

“Rupali,” he stopped her.

“Yes, Dr. Khanna?”

“Umm… If you see Suhas, can you please ask him to meet me?” Paritosh referred to another Ph. D. student of his.

“Sure. If I see him that is!” Rupali grinned drawing a smile from Paritosh. Rupali and Suhas were two extremes. If Rupali was one step ahead of Paritosh is doing her work, Suhas would often not even see him for weeks.

She made to leave again and was stopped by him again, “Rupali.”

This time, she just looked at him questioningly.

“I am sorry,” he finally spoke, “I was very rude to you the other day.”

“But I thought I had to say sorry,” surprise and confusion were evident on face, “Why are you apologizing?”

“You were just being yourself. I know that very well. So, I shouldn’t have reacted that way.”

“Being myself? You mean I act like a brat all the time? That isn’t much of a compliment,” Rupali smiled sadly.

“You don’t ‘act’ like a brat. You are a brat,” Paritosh chuckled as he said that, “And that isn’t a bad thing with you. Being every thing else that you are, it actually makes you very special.”

“I see. Not that I understand.”

“It’s okay. You are not upset, are you?”

“No. But if you think all that you just told me, why did you get annoyed in the first place?”

“I was not in a great mood. I told you I had come back for some work. I was with one of my Uncles yesterday. He is alone. None of his kids are in India. He is facing some issues related to the land records. You know how messed up those are in our country.”

“Can I help?”

“Excuse me?”

“I mean my family is in real-estate business as well. They would have the right contacts.”

“Oh! Thanks, Rupali. But we don’t need to pull that string right now.”

“Fine. But let me know if you need–”

“Sure. If required, I will ask you.”

—

Rupali saw Suhas in the lab later in the day.

“Dr. Khanna wants to meet you, Suhas,” she told him.

“Why? You aren’t writing enough papers for him?”

“I can write papers for him, all right. But he is not the one who needs his Ph. D. You are. And you have to write your own papers.”

“You will make one difficult Ph. D. guide, Rupali. You are more difficult than Paritosh.”

“And how exactly is pulling my leg going to help you?”

“Yaar Rupali. Listen to me. Do you know why I am doing a Ph. D.?” Suhas sat down next to her and spoke in a conspiratorial tone.

“No,” she whispered mimicking his tone, “I don’t know. But I have been wondering about it. Why are you inflicting this pain on yourself, Dr. Khanna, the department and the mankind in general?”

“Because,” he whispered back, “My parents think that Ph. D. is another degree that can help me get a better job and a higher dowry.”

“I see.”

“Rupali. You are my friend, right? Please help me.”

“By writing papers for you?” she raised her eyebrows.

“No. Just ask Paritosh to give me a Ph. D. I promise not to enter academics and inflict any pain on future generation of students. I won’t even take dowry, I promise.”

“Of course, it is that easy. I ask Dr. Khanna and you will get your Ph. D. Why not?”

“If he finds a way to do it without creating any issues, he would be happy to let go of all his Ph. D. students,” another lab mate of theirs chipped in.

“Huh?” Rupali did not understand him.

“Except you, obviously.”

“And he will make do with one student?”

“He hasn’t taken anyone in since you came.”

“You guys are crazy. I don’t think I can work here. I am going to my room.”

“Arr… Rupali… Listen…”

But she picked up her bag and left. Her labmates laughed in amusement.

“What are the names of Sujeet Saxena’s two children?” someone shouted.

“LC Saxena and RC Saxena,” everyone else replied in chorus.

“Why does Rupali Banerjee call her advisor Dr. Khanna?”

“Because ‘unka naam nahin lete’.”

Another round of laughter followed before everyone went back to their work.

—

Rupali, Suhas and other graduate and undergraduate students working with Paritosh were gathered at his house. It was an yearly ritual for Paritosh to invite all his students to his home for dinner. Two of the female undergraduate students had not been able to make it. So, Rupali was the only female student in the group.

After spending some time with her fellow students, she slipped into the kitchen as a courtesy.

“Can I help, Ma’am?” she asked Amrit, who was busy giving instructions to a cook and a maid.

“Don’t bother. You are Rupali?”

“Yes. I was here last year too.”

“Is it? I am sorry. I know your name, of course. But I didn’t remember your face.”

“No issues. You can’t be expected to remember so many names and faces when you meet them only once a year.”

“That’s very sweet of you.”

“Looks like the cook can take care of the stuff here. Why don’t you come out and join us for a bit?”

“No. No. What will I do there? You will be talking about computers and work. You should go back. The food will be ready shortly.”

“Amrit. Can you send some more pakoras–” Paritosh came to the kitchen and stopped in his tracks on seeing Rupali there. “Rupali. What are you doing in the kitchen?”

“She came to help me,” Amrit said appreciatively.

“And you let her do that, Amrit?” Paritosh frowned.

“No, she didn’t,” Rupali hastily intervened, “I am not doing anything here. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t have. I don’t know how to cook all this.”

“You would be used to cooking Bengali food, right?” Amrit smiled encouragingly. She had assumed that Rupali was embarrassed at her inability to cook. This was her way of coming to Rupali’s rescue.

“She is not used to cooking anything, Amrit,” Paritosh sounded curt to Rupali, “Come out now. You are sweating.”

“All right.” Sometimes Rupali did not understand Paritosh at all. It was within reason if he did not want a guest in the kitchen. But he wasn’t politely while asking her to come out, like he should do to a guest. He was ordering her around. Rupali stole a quick glance at Amrit. She was not affected by this exchange at all. Didn’t she feel bad, Rupali wondered. They exchanged a smile and Rupali followed Paritosh out of the kitchen.

“Why on earth would you go into the kitchen?” he asked her on their way back to the hall, still sounding irritated.

“Why on earth would you make such a big deal out of it? I had come to get water. I though I’d say hello to Mrs. Khanna. Is that a crime?”

“No.”

“And rest assured. I was not made to do anything.”

“I’m sorry,” Paritosh was now mollified and his gentle, dignified manner was back, “I over-reacted. It’s just that… That’s not your place.”

“Now you are being hypocritical. It can be your wife’s place. That is fine by you? But not mine.”

Paritosh sighed, “I didn’t mean it in a derogatory sense.”

“Really?”

“Are you interrogating me?” Paritosh tried to make light of it in an effort to wriggle out of an uncomfortable conversation that he himself was responsible for.

“And you are very successfully evading me.”

“Okay, lady. Ask me directly. What do you want to know?”

“I… I don’t know.” Rupali was suddenly clueless, “I forgot.”

“So, we were fighting just like that?”

“Yes. I guess!”

Paritosh was amused now, “Next time I call you a brat, don’t get mad. You are one. You proved that just now.”

“Right,” she mumbled, feeling slightly disoriented.

“Shall we?” Paritosh pointed towards the door of the hall, where all the other guests were busy with starters and drinks.

“Umm. You go ahead. I didn’t get the water I came in for.”

“Okay. Just don’t start cooking fish,” Paritosh joked and Rupali smiled in reply.

—

To be continued

Forbidden Fruit (Part 3)

Posted October 26, 2012October 25, 2018 Mish13 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Rupali-Paritosh

“I am so, so tired of these trees and graphs in Sujeet Saxena’s class. Does he never tire of parent nodes, left child, right child?” Rupali and his friends were gathered together for the hostel day celebration.

“Oye, haven’t you heard of this? Sujeet Saxena has two children. What are their names?”

“Huh?”

“Think logically.”

“There is a logical way of naming children?”

“With Sujeet Saxena, there is. His children are called LC Saxena and RC Saxena.”

“What are you talking about?” Rupali had been reticent, but this drew her into the conversation.

“Rupali – the genius! It’s Left Child Saxena and Right Child Saxena.”

Everyone burst out laughing. Rupali also smiled, but she wasn’t exactly feeling jovial. She quietly slipped away after a while.

—

“Hi!” Ajay Bhardwaj came and sat beside her on the bench. He was also a Ph. D. student in the department. He worked with Dr. Sujeet Saxena.

“Hi. What’s up?”

“Nothing. Why did you come away? Are you unwell?”

“No.I am fine. I just sometimes feel out of place is large gatherings and noisy places.”

“Right. How about a really small gathering? Tomorrow is Saturday. Would you like to go out of the campus with me, perhaps for a coffee?”

Rupali looked surprised at his proposal. Then asked, “Coffee as in coffee? Or coffee as in a date?”

Her direct question made Ajay laugh despite his nervousness, “I meant the latter. But…”

“I like good coffee. I am sorry about the date.”

Ajay handled his disappointment gracefully, “Can I ask why?”

“I will try to answer, but I am not very good at these things. So, try not to get me wrong. It’s not about you. It’s just not on my priority. Or even in my comfort zone.”

“It’s okay, Rupali.”

“Thanks for understanding, Ajay.”

“I don’t understand, to be honest. But I respect you.”

“That deserves a thanks too.”

“Can we go for a coffee as in coffee though? No trick. Seriously.”

Rupali hesitated, but then smiled, “Sure.”

—

He was seated slightly far from Rupali and Ajay’s table in the coffee shop. But Rupali would have recognized Paritosh’ voice from miles away. “An Espresso, please,” he requested the waiter in his usual gentle manner. She was taken aback. He wasn’t expected to be back until Monday. She resisted the urge to confront him immediately, because he was sitting with an elderly gentleman and they seemed to be discussing something important.

Ajay hadn’t noticed Paritosh, but he could see that Rupali was distracted.

“Everything all right?” he asked.

“Yes. Of course.”

After few minutes the elderly man left while Paritosh waited behind to pay the bill. By shifting her chair slighly, Rupali could keep Paritosh in her peripheral vision.

“I will be back in a minute,” she told Ajay when Paritosh left the shop after paying the bill. She went out hoping to catch him before he disappeared. But Paritosh had long strides and she had to run to catch him in the parking lot.

“Dr. Khanna!”

He didn’t need to even turn back to know who it was. Only she called him “Dr. Khanna” like that. It had felt strange in the beginning. The undergraduate students called him “Sir”, but he always insisted that his graduate students called him by name. Everyone else complied, but Rupali continued calling him Dr. Khanna as she used to do before she had joined Ph. D.

“Rupali. What’s up?”

“I thought you were coming back on Monday.”

“Yes. But one of my Uncles had some work to get done in the city and he wanted my help. So, I came back earlier with him.”

“When did you come back?”

“Yesterday.”

“You didn’t tell me?”

Paritosh replied with a smile, “I thought I would let you have a break. You weren’t expecting to be bothered about work till Monday. So–”

“You could have attended the hostel day celebration.”

“Oh!”

“You didn’t even remember? That’s so unfair,” Rupali was agitated and she didn’t realize how loud she was.

“Rupali!”

“I will never talk to you.”

“Stop it, Rupali,” Paritosh was finding the exchange embarrassing in the parking lot. Others had started staring at them, “I am sorry. All right? But don’t behave like a brat. Not here in public, at least.”

His admonishment brought her back to her senses, “I… I am sorry. Just that I saw you in the coffee shop. And–”

“I saw you too,” Paritosh was still curt, “But you had company. So, I didn’t–”

“Company? You mean… No… He is not my boyfriend.”

“Nor am I. I must leave now. I will see you on Monday, at work.” Paritosh turned away and climbed into his car. Rupali walked back listlessly and ran into Ajay.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, trying to hide how dejected she was.

“You left like it was a question of life and death. I got worried.”

“I am all right. We can go back.”

“I paid the bill. I think you want to go back to the campus.”

She did and she was thankful to him for understanding that, “How much was the bill? We should split.”

“I know it was not a date. But paying for your coffee is not going to make me bankrupt. You can pay some other time. Let’s go now.” Ajay was not curt or rude, but he didn’t sound happy either.

—

“Dr. Khanna is a happily married man,” Ajay said on their way back.

“I know very well that he is married. Whether or not happily is something neither me, nor you would know. But either way, why are we talking about it?”

“I’m not the only one you have refused, Rupali, right? Ever wondered why you do that? You are not a traditional, obedient India girl saving yourself for your the guy your parents find for you, are you?”

“I have told you that relationships are not on my priority right now.”

“I’m afraid, it’s more an alibi than a reason.”

“What do you want to say?”

“I think, after today, I just agree to what everyone already says.”

“And what is that?”

“That you are hopelessly stuck on Dr. Khanna.”

“So I have heard too. He is my role-model, Ajay. It isn’t the same thing as–”

“For your sake, I hope you are right.”

—

To be Continued

Forbidden Fruit (Part 2)

Posted October 25, 2012October 22, 2018 Mish8 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Rupali-Paritosh

Paritosh came out of his reminiscence when his phone rang. It was Amrit, his wife.

“Right… Yes… Yes… I remember…” he lied. He had forgotten about the wedding they had to attend that evening. He was supposed to buy a gift before going home to pick Amrit up. Amrit perhaps knew that he would have forgotten. So, she called. He was thankful for that. But he wondered sometimes. Instead of putting in so much effort in making him remember, why couldn’t she step out and buy something from the neighborhood shop herself? It wasn’t like she didn’t have time. But she seemed to have an aversion to taking any decision related to money, even minor expenses! His mother always said that he was fortunate to have a wife like that, who always deferred to him. He wasn’t so sure.

—

“This is quite late even for you!” Rupali was surprised to see Paritosh in the department’s common room at two in the morning. Having a night-out in the department was not uncommon for the students or young faculty. But not for others with family. Paritosh was known to stay till late, but usually even he left by midnight.

“I had to finish reviewing Smith’s paper.”

“When is the deadline?”

“Next week. But I am going on a break the day after.”

“Break?”

“Diwali. I have to go to my native place.”

“You had gone last year too.”

“I go every year.”

“For how long will you be gone?”

“One week.”

“Not fair.”

“What is unfair about it, Rupali?” this girl never ceased to amuse him with her antics, “You want to go home? You can go. I will approve your leave.”

“No. No. Who wants to go home? Mom is mad at me for not going there for Pujo. But your going away means that you will not come for our hostel day celebrations again.”

Every hostel in the college had a day earmarked as hostel day. They would host a party and entertain with stage performances on that day. Students living in the hostels invited their friends and faculty members they worked with to the celebrations. The hostel day for Rupali’s hostel fell in the same week as Diwali this time. Last year Paritosh had missed it because he had been away for some conference on that day.

“I am sorry about that, Rupali.”

“Do you really have to go?”

“I told you, I go every year for Diwali.”

“That is not a reason to go. Do you enjoy going there?”

Paritosh sighed. Did he enjoy going there? He didn’t think so. He had never understood the fascination of poets and dreamers with village-life. Why were the villagers portrayed as nice, simple people? From what Paritosh had seen of his relatives in the village, they could eat an average city-dweller for their breakfast any day. And the family gatherings in his village, even around festivals, hardly felt festive. It invariably became a time to fight and bitch about what is being done with the farms and other properties of the family, who is stealing whose share and so on. Amrit, who wouldn’t step out even to buy some grocery on her own here, would fight it out like a lioness protecting her cubs. Paritosh preferred staying out of it. “Let it be, Amrit,” he would advise his wife too. But on that front, she did not defer to him. “How can I let it be? Ancestral rights must be protected, and not thrown away,” she was very clear about that.

“Dr. Khanna?” Rupali spoke again when Paritosh did not reply and got lost in his thoughts.

“Huh?”

“I asked if you enjoy going to your native place?”

“No. I don’t. But we are social animals, Rupali. We don’t do things just for ourselves.”

“Do your relatives want you to come there?”

“No. I don’t think that they would miss me terribly.”

“For whom do you want to go then?”

“My wife! Amrit enjoys it. Very much. And my son too, I think. He would until he is still a child,” he smiled, “That may change in next few years.”

“Right,” Rupali’s face flushed. She suddenly felt stupid, then fished for an opportunity to change the subject, “You were trying to get some coffee?”

“Yes. But this machine doesn’t seem to be working.”

“It won’t work the Computer Science way. We need mechanical engineering at work here,” she replied and tapped the machine hard a couple of times. Sure enough! Coffee started flowing.

“Thanks!” Paritosh picked the cup up and smiled.

“By the way, I think for someone talking about universal grammar in languages, Smith’s modeling is very weak. Prepositions, for example. The model would explain its usages in English, but definitely not in any Indian or middle-eastern languages.”

“Good point,” Paritosh nodded in agreement, “I am going to mention it in my review. Anything else?”

“No. As you had warned, the Maths did become too much for me after a while. It will take me some more time to go through the entire thing.”

“That’s fine. Whatever you managed to understand was beyond expectation. You have more course-work to do.”

“By the way, Dr. Khanna. I think you will enjoy the hostel day celebration more than Diwali at your native place. May be that should matter – at least for one year. Good night,” she said and walked out before he could process the sudden switch in the conversation. He looked confused for a moment. Then he smiled and shook his head.

—

“Rupali. What happened?” Garima interrupted Rupali while walking down the corridor in her hostel.

“Nothing,” Rupali replied hastily, “Why do you ask?”

“Why? You look like you failed a subject in your last semester and would have to wait another year for your degree.”

“What?”

“You look like you are on the verge of crying. Something is the matter.”

“Nothing major.”

“That’s fine. Who said you can’t share minor troubles. Come. Let’s sit in the canteen.”

“It’s not a trouble, yaar,” Rupali tried to appear nonchalant, “Just that Dr. Khanna is not coming for the Hostel Day this year either.”

“Aaaah!” Garima gave a meaningful smile.

“What?”

“No wonder you look heartbroken.”

“What heartbroken?”

“Do I have to tell you what heartbroken means?”

“Why should I be heartbroken? I am just annoyed. I had already purchased food coupons for him. It will be wasted.”

“I see. So, you are annoyed about wasted money? Since when did that start happening?”

“What do you mean since when? My family has money. I don’t. I do spend it wisely.”

“Sure. How many extra coupons do you have?”

“Three.”

“Dr. Khanna eats that much?”

“Silly. For his wife and son.”

“Ah! You were going to invite them too.”

“Of course. I was.”

“Okay. I can take one of the coupons from you. How much was it? Four hundred bucks?”

“Just take it.”

“Don’t care about the money, do you?” Garima winked at her and left, leaving Rupali flabbergasted.

—

To be Continued

Forbidden Fruit (Part 1)

Posted October 24, 2012October 25, 2018 Mish13 CommentsPosted in English, Original, Rupali-Paritosh

“Dr. Khanna?”

“Rupali! Come in.”

“I’m sorry. You look busy. Shall I come later? Oh! You are reading the same paper. By Smith and his group.”

Prof. Paritosh Khanna laughed, something he did often in the presence of Rupali Banerjee, usually triggered by her childlike enthusiasm to know and do everything immediately. She sought instant gratification just like children. Only her candies involved complex Computer Science research! What else could explain her trying to read that paper even before it was published? It had come to Paritosh for peer-review. And it was the kind of paper whose review could not be delegated to the graduate students, not even to someone as bright as Rupali. The authors had, however, put up the paper on their website, as was a common practice among Computer Science researchers. She must have downloaded it from there.

“Let me guess,” he said, barely suppressing an amused smile, “You are stuck here.” He pointed to an equation used in modeling the use of proposition in a family of natural languages.

“Yes. How did you know?” Rupali asked, with a mix of curiosity and embarrassment.

“Because you have not yet come to Lecture 20 in Prof. Sinha’s class in Advanced Statistics.”

Rupali flushed. Paritosh tracked her academic activities closely. Even if he was her Ph. D. Guide, this was him going out of his way. But if it was awkward, Rupali didn’t mind it. Because it also made her feel very special.

“Once you have attended that lecture, it will sound basic,” he assured her.

“Everything is basic for you,” she complained drawing another amused smile from him.

“And you are unwilling to wait for that lecture. Shouldn’t I have known? Sit down. I will explain the concept to you. But the second part of the paper may still be challenging,” he warned her.

“I get it. I am not to trouble you about this paper,” she pouted, her trademark innocent school-girl pout.

“Sit down, Rupali. You don’t have to emotionally blackmail me. I will explain it,” he said.

She grinned widely as she jumped into the visitor’s chair placed across the table from him.

After he was done explaining, and answering her myriad questions, she walked out with a visible sprint in her gait. She was excited! About understanding a statistical concept!

—

A year and a half ago, Paritosh had received an e-mail from Rupali and had replied with a single word. Her e-mail had her detailed curriculum vitae attached. She had written that she had applied to his institute for a Ph. D. and she wanted to do it under him. She had also asked him that if he liked her CV, could he check the possibility of accepting her in the Ph. D. programme without her having to write GATE. GATE was the exam most leading Indian engineering colleges forced any post-graduate or Ph. D. aspirants to write to be eligible for admissions. She thought the exam was rather stupid and a waste of time.

And all he had written in the reply was “Why?”

Rupali had jumped with joy on receiving an instant reply from him. Then she had realized that it was a one-word reply. “Why?” ‘What the hell,’ she had cursed. She was prepared for acceptance, rejection, questions or even being ignored. But “Why?” Why did someone apply for a Ph. D. program? To do a Ph. D. of course! Impulsive as she was, she had also replied in one word, but with two question marks. “Why??” And Paritosh had laughed out loud. His momentary impulsiveness had been matched fair and square. So, in the next e-mail he had patiently explained his question to her.

The only blemish on her record was that she had not made it into one of the IITs. But her projects and her undergraduate research had more than compensated for it. He himself had met her at a Machine Learning conference in Zurich once and had been impressed with her paper presentation. She had contributed to many open source projects in the field. She would have gotten admission into any university in the US. With full financial support. Not that finances were her problem. She came from a rich business family. Why would she want to do a Ph. D. in India? None of the bright undergraduates in Paritosh’ college ever stayed back in India for Ph. D. He himself hadn’t. Rupali was better than most of them. She had already defied all the stereotypes . Indians were not supposed to be good at research, and women were not supposed to be good at Computer Science. As an Indian woman she was good at both.

“You really don’t need a backup,” he had assured her over e-mail.

She had sent a belligerent reply. “Why are you acting as if you know what my plans are? Who told you this is a backup option for me? I have applied to Stanford and CMU as a backup. If you don’t accept me, I am, of course, not going to stay in India.”

That reply had made him laugh again. Even though he had met her in person only once, he remembered how animated she got when she talked. At this point, her innocent face would also have been flushed with her irritation at him. She would be an amusing sight to behold right now, he had thought.

If she wanted to stay back in India, it was no surprise that she wanted to do a Ph. D. under him. People around him had forever wondered why he came back to India. But then, it probably didn’t matter that he did. Unlike many others, his research productivity had not suffered after returning from the US. He was actively publishing in major journals in the field, getting invited to the conferences and was a well-respected researcher. He had worked as a guest faculty at several universities in the US and Europe for short-term, though he never accepted a long-term position outside India.

Despite all that, he had considered it his duty to impress upon her that staying in India was not the best option. But doing it over e-mail was difficult. He had asked her if they could talk on phone.

“Let’s talk in person. I am flying to Delhi next week. Would you be available?” she had replied.

He was happy to be available!

She had walked in wearing a jeans and a plain t-shirt. Her shoulder length hair was tied in a pony-tail. The only accessories she had on were a pair of small ear-rings and a watch. There was no visible make-up on her. She looked like any other youngster in an Indian metro. In fact more sober than most of them. Nothing in her appearance would give away even a hint of how rich a family she came from. At least not until you noticed that all the simple-looking stuff she was wearing came from expensive brands. They were not the fake ones bought off the streets in Delhi. Paritosh couldn’t fathom why he had noticed that. Perhaps because he knew her to be rich. Her face and features were feminine and innocent, and on them, her no-frills clothes, tomboyish behavior and demanding demeanor looked unnatural. As if she was putting on an act. But over last year and a half, Paritosh had dealt with her every day. She was like that only. There was no act! And now, to him, it no longer looked unnatural. She acted like a spoiled brat most of the time. But spoiled for higher things in life. Like her academic and research achievements.

“I don’t understand you, Dr. Khanna,” she was on the offensive from the very beginning in that meeting, “Just tell me this. Would you or would you not like to have me as your Ph. D. student?”

“I would like to. But I also don’t understand you, Rupali. Why would you not want to go to the US for a Ph. D.? You do understand that career-wise that will be the best thing for you.”

“And you, of all the people, are saying that? You have done most of your research from India?”

“Yes. But even I hadn’t stayed back for my Ph. D. Plus there were personal reasons.”

“I have personal reasons too,” she had retorted, rather than replied.

“Oh!” Paritosh had hesitated, “Do you mind sharing? Only if you are comfortable.”

“I don’t mind. I got inclined towards the field of Machine Learning and Computer Science research only because of you.”

“Excuse me?”

“You would not remember. You had come to our college for a tech-talk during our annual tech festival.”

“That was what? Four years ago?”

“Yes. I was in my first year. I had just joined the college.”

“I see,” This was an unexpected turn in the conversation and Paritosh was not prepared for it.

“I had gone to IIT Kharagpur next year only to hear your talk. Then, of course, the conference in Zurich–”

“I remember that. By the way, when people say ‘personal reasons’, most of the time they mean some problem, or obligation. Not this!”

“Well. If you need a personal reason of that kind, My Mom is terrified with the idea of my even stepping out of the house. Going out of the country will give her a heart-attack. Or at least she will behave like she is getting one. So, you see! Personal reasons!”

“But if I said no, you will go to Stanford or CMU, right?”

“Yes.”

“So, Rupali. It’s not a personal reason. What you are indulging in is hero-worshipping and–”

“Oh God! Doing a Ph. D. and more outside India has not changed you much, has it? You preach like Indian parents. But you know what! I can put up with that.”

Paritosh had sighed and shook his head. She was headstrong. Right or wrong, there was no changing her mind. He gave his consent. Even worked through the administrative hassles to get her exempted from writing GATE.

“What harm can writing GATE bring?” he had tried to persuade her to just go with the system, “You will easily get a record score there!”

“Is that your way of ensuring that I go to the US?” she had retorted and he had given up on trying to tame her.

—

To be continued

Regaining Trust (Part 34)

Posted October 9, 2012 Mish31 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 October 8, 2012 Mish2 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 October 7, 2012 Mish7 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 October 7, 2012 Mish6 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 October 7, 2012 Mish9 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

Mish' Fiction

Fan-fiction, Inspired and Original Fiction

Tag: Indian love story

Forbidden Fruit (Part 5)

Forbidden Fruit (Part 4)

Forbidden Fruit (Part 3)

Forbidden Fruit (Part 2)

Forbidden Fruit (Part 1)

Regaining Trust (Part 34)

Regaining Trust (Part 33)

Regaining Trust (Part 32)

Regaining Trust (Part 31)

Regaining Trust (Part 30)