Dhoop Kinare (Adaptation) – Part 34
“Doctor banne mein ye bahut problem hai Dr. Ashutosh ki itni saari padhai karni padti hai.”
“Woh to hai.”
“Ye gadbad hai na. Main aise to zindagi bhar padhai hi karti rah jaungi.”
“Nahin. Mujhe nahin lagta ki tum fail hoti rahogi. Ek-aadh papers mein problem ho bhi gayi to supplementary exams se kaam chal jayega.”
“Aapko mazaak soojh raha hai.”
“Maine kuchh galat kaha?”
“Main fail nahin houngi.”
“Phir kya problem hai?”
“Problem ye hai ki phir bhi itne saalon tak padhai karni padegi.”
“To kaun sa tumhari zindagi nikalti ja rahi hai. Ye to samay hi hai padhai karne ka.”
“Aur hamari zindagi ka kya?”
“Hamari zindagi? Hamari zindagi mein kya problem hai?” Ashutosh smiled.
“Aap… aapko… offo… Rahne dijiye. Aap kuchh nahin samjhenge,” Nidhi was irritated and she got up from her chair to go away.
“Baitho. Bhadak kyon rahi ho? Shaadi karne ki bahut jaldbaazi hai tumhein?” Ashutosh said as if talking about weather!
“Kya… nahin… main…”
“Baith jao Nidhi.”
“Aapko honi chahiye thi jaldbaazi. Lekin aapko to jaise koi matlab hi nahin hai.”
“Tumhein pata hai ki that’s not true Nidhi. Lekin main ye nahin chahta hoon ki tumhare liye koi galat faisla ho jaye.”
“I know,” Nidhi pouted, “Lekin itni uncertainties bhi to hain. Agar mera PG mein admission yahan nahin hua to?”
“Hona bhi nahin chahiye. You must do well in the exams and go to AIIMS for PG.”
“Delhi?”
“Haan.”
“Aur aapko usse koi problem nahin hai?”
“Dr. Nidhi Verma. Aisa hai ki thodi bahut reputation to apne professional career mein maine bana li hai. To kissi bhi shahar ke ek achchhe hospital mein mujhe job mil sakti hai. Aur yahan se sabbatical milne mein bhi koi problem nahin hai.”
“Ji? Matlab aap chalenge mere saath agar main…”
“Yes Ma’am. Bharosa nahin hai?”
“Sach mein nahin ho raha.”
“Okay then, Dr. Nidhi Verma! Apni internship aur PG entrance exam khatam hone ke baad, will you marry me? Taki aapko jahan bhi jaana pade, main aapke saath ja sakoon?”
Nidhi stared at him blankly for a few seconds, as if unable to comprehend what he said. Then, she replied with a blushing smile, “Yes.”
“Lekin sach sach batao. Tumhein jaldbaazi hai na shaadi karne ki?” Ashutosh teased her.
“Aapko khushiyan der se mili hain Dr. Ashutosh. Aur main nahin chahti ki meri speed se chalne ki koshish mein aap unhein jee na sakein. I want to catch up with you, to be beside you.”
“Bahut cleverly tumne sab kuchh mere sar par daal diya Nidhi. Lekin thank you!”
“Thanks kyon?”
“Mere dilemma se mujhe nikaalne ke liye aur decision lene mein madad karne ke liye.”
“Baba se baat karni hogi.”
“Haan. Aur mujhe pata hai ki mujhe hi karni hogi. Aap to hamesha ki tarah wahan se bhaag jayengi.”
“Dr. Ashutosh!”
“Nahin. Nahin – ab yahan se mat bhaagna! Please.” Ashutosh laughed.
—
“Men, I say Nidhi. They are useless.”
“Kya hua Anji?”
“They seriously have a single track mind. Mauka milte hi they would drag you to the bed.”
“Dr. Rangnath ne aisa kya kar diya? Kya hua hai?” Nidhi asked naughtily.
“Ab… maine kab kaha ki kuchh hua hai?” Anji suddenly became defensive.
“Nahin? Kuchh bhi nahin hua? How sad!”
“Nidhi. Tu mujhe provoke mat kar. Ya phir main bhi poochhoon ki Dr. Ashutosh ke saath kya haal chaal hain? Ab to Baba ka bhi ashirwaad hai tumhare sar par?”
“Dr. Ashutosh?” Nidhi laughed slightly, “He is on the other extreme Anji. Always a gentleman.”
“Really?”
“Haan. Aur mujhe to bachchon ki tarah treat karte hain. Jaise ki main naabaalig hoon or something like that. Haath pakadne ke liye bhi poochhenge ki main comfortable hoon ya nahin.”
“Kya?”
“Fine. That was an exaggeration. But you get the point.”
“Waise Nidhi. Ye problem aani to natural hai tumhare beech.”
“Kya matlab?”
“Ab umra ka faasla to hai na?”
“To kya hua? Main koi bachchi thode hi na hoon.”
“Behave to tu unke saamne bachchon ki tarah hi karti hai. To woh bhi tujhe waise hi treat karte hain.”
“Main unke saamne waise behave karti hoon, jaisi main hoon.”
“Well – in that case, learn to behave a little mature. May be even look a little mature. Ye college girl waali dresses unke saath kaam nahin karengi.”
“To main roz saree pahnoon?”
“Roz nahin. Kabhi kabhi pahan. You know seduction bhi relationship mein important hota hai.”
“No wonder tu abhi thodi der pahle itna badbadaa rahi thi. Pahle tu Dr. Rangnath ko seduce karegi aur phir jab woh aage aayenge to gussa karegi. That’s unfair Ms. Anjalika Solanki.”
“Tujhe to main abhi batati hoon. Main teri help karne ki koshish kar rahi thi aur tu ulta mujhe hi…”
“Ouch!” Nidhi screamed as Anji threw a pillow on her.
—
Though Nidhi had made a joke out of Anji’s suggestion at that time, the idea was stuck in her mind. She did feel at times that they had become great friends and companions. He clearly cared a lot about her and was also very protective. But did he ever desire her? The way she did! Or did her childish behaviour get in the way of that.
There were a couple of times when she had seen a glimpse of that desire in him. The first was when she had surprised him at his home with a dinner and cake made by her. He had told her how much he wanted to bring her to his home. Their hug that day turned passionate. But darn! He had said sorry about that. It was sweet, but… And then the day Mallika had her breakdown. He had kissed her. But that too after asking for her permission, Nidhi recalled and shook her head smiling. And then he had been really broken that day. He needed support. After that… Nothing.
So, should she think about the art of seduction after all? To let him know that she was the woman of his life and was mature enough to play that part?
—
“Nidhi. Ye sab kya ho raha hai?” Ashutosh entered his room to find stack of candles and flowers. Nidhi was perched on a aluminium ladder trying to place something on the wall, or the roof, he couldn’t tell.
Nidhi was so startled that she stumbled the ladder, but was prevented from falling because Ashutosh held the ladder in time.
“Aap… Aap itni jaldi kaise aa gaye. Aap to surgery attend karne waale the na?”
“Haan. Lekin bachche ka blood pressure control mein nahin aa raha tha to surgery postpone karni padi. Lekin ye sab… Kya haal bana rakha hai tumne apna?” Nidhi was sweating even with the AC on. She had clearly been working hard. She had decorations and flowers stuck to her hair and was looking very hassled.
“Aapko abhi nahin aana tha. Aise nahin dekhna tha mujhe… Main aapke liye…”
“surprise plan kar rahi thi? Lekin ye candles, phool – tum karne kya ja rahi thi Nidhi? Kya Anji se koi interior decoration ki training le kar aayi ho?” Ashutosh laughed.
Nidhi was irritated, “Aap nahin samjhenge…” She ran out of the room.
“Are… Nidhi…” Ashutosh called her, but she did not stop.
Ashutosh took off his coat and made to go after her, when he noticed a packet lying on the bed. He opened it to find a saree in it. Of the color he had said looks good on her. He hit his forehead. Why was he being so thickheaded? She was trying to…
—
He found her sitting in the garden looking sad and frustrated. He sat beside her.
“Nidhi. Gussa mat ho please. Main chaunk gaya tha.” She didn’t reply. So, he spoke again, “Achchha suno. Main wapas jaata hoon. Aur ek ghante mein lautta hoon. Tum jo bhi kar rahi thi, poora kar lo. Main phir aaunga. Okay?”
“Koi fayda nahin hai. Aap use bhi mera bachpana samajh kar hansenge hi.”
“Main nahin hansoonga. Bachpana to hai lekin. Kyonki jo tum chahti ho uske liye ye sab karne ki zaroorat nahin hai.”
“Aapko kya pata ki main kya chahti hoon?”
“Agar tumhari mujhse ye shikayat hai ki main tumhein bachcha samajhta hoon, to tum bhi kam nahin ho. Bilkul bewkoof samajhti ho mujhe?”
“Ye kaisi baat hai?” Nidhi got worried if he thought she was insulting him.
“Andar chalo. Phir batata hoon.”
—
Nidhi looked at him with apprehension and curiosity when they went back to his room.
Ashutosh went to his cupboard and took out a packet, “Change kar lo. Lekin ye pahno.”
“Ye kya hai?”
Ashutosh handed her the packet. She opened it to find a Saree in it. A white chiffon Saree. She looked at him surprised.
“Last week meri nazar padi ek store ke showcase mein. And the only thing I thought of ki ye tum par kitni achchhi lagegi. Aur jab se khareedi hai, tab se pata nahin kitni baar tumhein ismein imagine kiya hai. Pahan ke to dikhao ki meri imagination kitni sahi thi?”
Nidhi smiled and blushed. He did know what she wanted. And he was telling her that he also wanted the same.
“Main aata hoon thodi der mein.” He went out to let her change. Nidhi sat on the bed for a minute to try and control her increasing heart beats. Then she went to the bathroom to freshen up. She decided to take a quick shower instead, dressed up and waited for him to come back.
She was sitting in front of the dresser, combing her wet hair when Ashutosh entered. She gulped hard as she saw him locking the door from inside. She kept the comb back on the dresser and sat still at her place.
Ashutosh came to her and made her stand up.
“Nidhi,” his voice was husky, “Mujhe seduce karne ke liye tum khud hi kaafi ho. In sab cheezon ki zaroorat nahin hai,” he indicated towards the stack of candles and flowers.
Nidhi went red on hearing him say that word – ‘seduce’!
“Aur ye jo tumhara bachpana hai na Nidhi, ye tumhein aur bhi attractive banata hai.”
He seemed to be answering all her unasked questions.
“Aur jab tum zidd karti ho, gussa karti ho to pata hai mera kya karne ka ji chahta hai? Mera ji chahta hai ki tumhein apni baahon mein kas loon aur tab tak tumse pyaar karta rahun jab tak tum mujhse haar na maan lo.”
Nidhi felt her heart pounding. Just his voice was enough to send her to seventh heaven. She bit her lips hard to bring herself back to the real world and to keep herself from swooning.
Ashutosh saw her shivering and held her to provide support.
“Main khud ko rok leta hoon Nidhi kyonki mujhe dar lagta hai ki kahin jaldbaazi mein tumhein chot na pahuncha doon. Lekin…”
“Main koi bachchi nahin hoon,” Nidhi felt she had to say it lest he went back to his ways of treating her like a child again.
“Yes,” Ashutosh smiled, “Tum bachchi nahin ho. And I feel sorry for myself ki itne dinon tak maine iska fayda nahin uthaya.” He was being naugty.
That was so atypical of him! Even in her current state of mind, it surprised Nidhi so much that she looked up at him wide-eyed.
Ashutosh noticed her reaction and laughed slightly, “Make no mistakes Nidhi. Jis din main apne man ki karne par aa jaunga, tumhein bahut sataaunga. Lekin iski shuruat us special din hongi jab tum mujhe mere naam se bulaogi.”
Nidhi blushed. He had read through her desires. She felt extremely shy as well as embarrassed at that realization. She found it difficult to stand so close to him or to meet his eyes. She ran away from him. But the door was locked. With nowhere to go, she just stood near the bed facing away from him.
Ashutosh understood and smiled. He decided to tease her a little more. He approached her, removed her wet hair from one of the shoulders, bent down and planted a kiss on her neck. Nidhi breathed so hard that it made noise.
“Kya hua Nidhi?” Ashutosh asked innocently while caressing her shoulder and neck with his hand. Nidhi turned around to face him and replied, “Kuchh nahin. Mujhe chalna chahiye.”
“Nidhi,” Ashutosh stopped her, “Dinner par chalte hain kahin.”
She nodded.
“Aur tumhari is Saree par kaisi jewelry achchhi lagegi?”
“Pearl,” she replied without thinking and then felt embarrassed, “Uski koi zaroorat nahin hai.”
“Pearl it is then,” Ashutosh did not listen to her, “Chalo.”
—
“Real pearls ki zaroorat nahin hai Dr. Asthuosh,” Nidhi protested when Asuhtosh stopped the car in front of a famous jeweler, “Kissi mall mein ja kar khareed lete hain. Aritficial…”
“Nidhi. Pahli baar tumhare liye jewelry khareed raha hoon. Kuchh to aisa hona chahiye jise tum sambhaal kar rakh sako.”
Nidhi smiled and gave in. She selected a set with ear-rings, necklace and bangles.
“Ek minute Nidhi,” Ashutosh stopped Nidhi from getting into the car after they came out of the shop.
“Kya hua?”
“Tumne koi jewelry pahan bhi to nahin rakhi hai. Ise abhi kyon nahin pahan leti?”
“Okay.”
“Pata hai Nidhi. Aur cheezon ka to nahin pata, lekin tumhare kaanon mein ear-rings dekhne ki aisi aadat ho gayi hai, ki na rahein to kuchh missing lagta hai. Hamesha pahanti ho na tum? Apni dress se match karte hue?”
He notices! Dr. Ashutosh notices what she wears! Even a small accessory like an ear-ring. He had noticed that that was one accessory she always wore. She liked ear-rings. She had one matching with every dress she owned. She remembered the time when he had returned her ear-rings left on the patient’s bed to her.
Nidhi opened the box and took out the ear-rings. She was about to put them on when Ashutosh took the box from her. He started putting the jewelry on her himself. First he put the ear-rings one by one, followed by the necklace and the bangles.
Even as his touches sent shivers own her body, Nidhi could not help but feel emotinoally overwhelmed. He was playing the role of a lover to the T today. She hadn’t expected that from him. She had never been unhappy that he did not behave like a young boy in love with her. She loved him for how he was and how he cared for her. But today, when he did behave like that, she felt extremely elated and happy.
“Thank you,” she said genuinely.
“Nidhi,” Asuhtosh held her hands, “Hum dono ke beech jo ye umra ka faasla hai, use main jaanta hoon. Lekin samajhne mein shayad bhool kar baithta hoon. Mujhe kai baar nahin pata chalta ki tumhein kya achchha lagega, kya nahin. Lekin I want you to know ki main koshish kar raha hoon, aur karta rahunga ki tumhein woh sab kuchh mile jiski tum haqdaar ho aur jisse tumhein khushi milti ho. Aur agar main tumhein woh sab nahin de paya to tum meri class le sakti ho,” he laughed slightly towards the end.
Nidhi also smiled, “And I want you to know ki aap jaise hain, waise hi mujhe bahut achchhe lagte hain. Mujhe khush rakhne ke liye aapko itni mehnat karne ki zaroorat nahin hai. Main bahut khush hoon aapke saath.”
“Chalo phir. Baaton se pet nahin bharta. Dinner karte hain,” Ashutosh said and made his way towards the driver’s seat.
—
To be continued