Discovering Love (Part 5)

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

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

“Aapke bag mein laptop to nahin hai?”

“No Sir.”

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

“Okay Sir.”

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

Nidhi grinned foolishly.

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

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

“Yes Sir. Kyon?”

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

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

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

“Ji Sir.”

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

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

“Turbulence.”

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

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

The turbulence went down and Nidhi relaxed a bit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Ji.”

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

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

“Kya matlab?”

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

“Kaafi ziddi hain.”

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

“Aapke Baba kya karte hain?”

“Cashier hain ek private company mein.”

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

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

“To aapki Dadi akeli rahti hain.”

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

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

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

“Bahut kamaal ki hain aapki Dadi.”

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

“Sau rupye mein kitni dawai aayegi?”

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

“Wow!”

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

“Phone par ilaaj karti hain aap?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“No Sir. Not at all.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nidhi gulped and did not say anything

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

“Hello Dr. Dutta.”

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

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

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

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

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

“Yes. She is interning at our hospital.”

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

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

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

“Sure Sir.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Probably.”

“You must overcome it in professional settings then.”

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

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

“Ji? Nahin… nahin… main…”

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

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

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

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

“Lekin woh to hospital ka hoga, Sir.”

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

“Thank you. Sir.”

 

Discovering Love (Part 4)

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

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

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

“Dr. Nidhi?”

“Ji haan.”

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

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

“Y… Yes Sir.”

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

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

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

“Lekin…”

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

The woman was angry, but she did leave.

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

“M… May I come in, Sir?”

“Yes.”

“Sir. A… aapne mujhe bulaya?”

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

“Na… nahin to.”

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

“W… woh main ghabra gayi thi, Sir.”

“Aur aapko stuttering ki problem hai?”

“N… nahin. I mean no Sir.”

“To aap har waqt haklati kyon rahti hain?”

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

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

“Y… Yes Sir.”

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

“R… Right Sir.”

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

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

“All right. You can go.”

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

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

“Ji doctor bas abhi pahunch hi rahe hain…”

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

“Lekin…”

“Please…”

“Ji theek hai. Aaiye.”

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

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

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

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

“Dr. Nidhi?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ashutosh smiled sadly.

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

“Baba?”

“Mere father.”

“Aap bhi apne father ko Baba kahti hain.”

“Ji. Ajeeb coincidence hai na?”

“Yeah. Aap kaise aayi hain?”

“Maine ambulance bulwaya tha.”

“Phir main aapko drop karwa deta hoon.”

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

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

“Lekin Sir…”

“Come with me.”

Nidhi had no option but to take his offer.

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

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

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

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

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

“Sir,” Rangnath came to Ashutosh’ cabin.

“Yes Dr. Rangnath.”

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

“Nahin jaana chahti? Kyon?”

“Maine poochha nahin, Sir.”

“Woh abhi duty par hain?”

“Yes Sir.”

“Unhein yahan bhejiye.”

“Sure Sir.”

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

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

“Kyon?”

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

“Kya unki tabiyat kharaab hai?”

“Nahin to.”

“Phir?”

“Bas Sir. Aise hi.”

“Koi aur baat hai. What is it?”

“Ku… kuchh bhi nahin, Sir.”

“Dr. Nidhi! Tell me the truth.”

Nidhi looked exasperated.

“I am waiting,” he spoke again.

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Kya hua?”

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

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

“Ji Sir.”

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

“Cabin luggage?”

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

“Okay Sir.”

To be continued

Discovering Love (Part 3)

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

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

“Ab kya hua Dr. Rangnath?”

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

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

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

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

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

“Thank you.”

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

“Theek hai.”

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

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

“Kya hua?”

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

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

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

“I am sorry, Sir.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Y… Yes Sir.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Kyon aise hain ye?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Haan… Haan… wahi to, Sir.”

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

“Sir woh file galat…”

“Galat?”

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

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

“Na… nahin to Sir. Main aati hoon.”

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

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

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

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

“Yes Sir.”

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

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

“So?”

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

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

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

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

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

“Yes Dr. Ashutosh.”

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

“Ji.”

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

“Ji.”

“Good boy.”

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

“Thank you, Sir.”

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

“Seriously.” Ashutosh replied matter of factly.

“I don’t believe this.”

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

“Yeah. Right.”

Suddenly Ashutosh smirked.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“I see.”

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

“Kabhi to aaraam kar liya karo Ashutosh.”

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

To be continued

Discovering Love (Part 2)

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

5 years later…

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

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

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

“Y… Yes Sir,” she said nervously.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It took about five minutes to do the grading.

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

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

“17 anyone? 16? 15? 14? 13? 12?”

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

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

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

“Hi Priyanka.”

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

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

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

“Kise?”

“Dr. Ashutosh ko.”

“Oh! Nahin…”

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

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

“Dr. Nidhi Verma.”

“Ji Dr. Rangnath.”

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

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

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

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

“Ji?”

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

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

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

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

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

“Come on Dr. Rangnath…”

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

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

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

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

“May I come in, Sir?”

“Yes.”

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

“Yes. Please sit down Dr. Verma.”

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

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

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

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

“Ji Sir?”

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

“Thank you, Sir.”

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

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

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

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

To be continued

Discovering Love (Part 1)

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

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

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

“Tumhare ghar waalon ne diye honge.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Tum door raho is maamle se.”

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

“Tumne suna nahin maine kya kaha.”

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

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

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

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

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

“Babaaa… Baba jaldi aaiye…”

“Kya hua Nidhi?”

“Baba. Dekhiye to inhein kya hua hai?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Theek hai Baba. Chaliye.”

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

“Ji haan, ji haan…”

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

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

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

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

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

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

They rushed towards his room in the cardiology ward.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Paheliya mat bujhaiye please.”

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

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

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

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

Devraj nodded.

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

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

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

“Aur woh zevar…”

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

To be continued

Dhoop Kinare (Adaptation) – Part 45

Posted 5 CommentsPosted in Ashni (KTLK), Fan Fiction, Hinglish

Epilogue

4 years later (they are back in Lucknow and Kotnis General Hospital)

It was Ashutosh’ birthday and as was their ritual, they had gone to a orphanage to spend some time with the kids there and distribute sweets and clothes to them.

Nidhi looked thoughtful while coming back.

“Kya soch rahi ho Nidhi?”

“Main soch rahi thi ki… aap… shayad kissi bachche ko adopt karna chahenge, hai na?”

She knew! They had never talked about it, but she knew. Ashutosh replied, “Tum sab jaanti ho mere baare mein Nidhi. Lekin ye bas mere man ka ek khayal hai. Koi faisla nahin. Faisla woh hoga jo tum chahti ho.”

“Mere dimaag mein ek plan hai.”

“Batao.”

“Achchha ye bataiye ki aapko ek bachcha chahiye ya do?”

Ashutosh laughed. He had expected the discussion about kids to be slightly awkward, but Nidhi was in some other world. She was excited about the idea and was discussing it as if they were making a plan for the movie at night.

“Hans kyon rahe hain?”

“Mujhe poori cricket team banane mein bhi aitraaz nahin hai. Lekin hum log doctors hain. You know – women and child health ko le kar aware hain. To woh thoda zyada ho jayega.”

“Aapko mazaak soojh raha hai?”

“Okay, okay. Sorry. Tum apna plan batao.”

“Okay,” Nidhi was excited again, “Then we will have one baby and then we will adopt another.”

“Do you think that is a good idea Nidhi?” Ashutosh was also serious now.

“Why not? In fact ye to perfect idea hai, ek balanced family ke liye. Mere hisaab se ghar mein ek ladka aur ek ladki hone chahiye. So, have a baby first. Aur phir agar woh ladka hai to ek ladki ko adopt kar lo, aur ladki hai to ladke ko adopt kar lo. Ekdum balanced and happy family. Nahin?”

“Lekin Nidhi. Ismein complications hain. Our relationship with the adopted child, the relationship between the two children.”

“I know,” Nidhi also spoke seriously, “Lekin mujhe lagta hai ki agar rishton mein pyaar ho, aur honesty ho, to complications nahin aate hain. Waise abhi decide karna zaroori nahin hai. Aap soch lijiye. Aur agar aapko ye idea comfortable na lage, then I will go with adoption.”

“Nope,” Ashutosh replied immediately, “This is a great idea. And this is precisely what we will do.”

“Sach?”

“Bilkul.”

Another five years later

Ashutosh and Nidhi were proud parents of a four-year old daughter and a one-year old son, named Riddhi and Paritosh respectively. A complete, balanced, perfect and happy family.

– The End –

Dhoop Kinare (Adaptation) – Part 44

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

“Night duty? Lekin PG students ki to night duty nahin lagti normally?” Ashutosh found it strange when Nidhi informed him that she would have to stay at the hospital for the night.

“Yeah. But Dr. Mallika ne kaha ki ye ek important case hai aur mujhe ye surgery attend karni chahiye.”

“Main Mallika se baat kar sakta hoon…”

“Nahin. Nahin. Ye theek nahin hoga. Waise bhi aaj friday hai. Kal meri chhutti hai. Isliye shayad unhone bhi bol diya hoga. Aap fikr mat kijiye.”

“Okay. Theek hai. Jaisa tum theek samjho,” Ashutosh disconnected the call. He didn’t have a night duty today and he was really looking forward to spending the friday evening with Nidhi. But it wasn’t meant to be. He sighed and then got up to leave for the day.

But for some reason, he felt uneasy.

“Dr. Mallika. Yahan to koi bhi nahin hai?” Nidhi reached the operation theatre to find it empty.

“Yes Dr. Nidhi. Thodee der ho jayegi surgeon ko aane mein. Isliye abhi patient ko laye nahin hain. Nurse patient ke saath hain. To aap anaesthesia la sakti hain store room se, please? Baaki sab aa gaya hai. Bas ye rah gaya.”

“Sure. Aap sign kar dijiye form par.”

“Yeah.”

The store clerk was about to get the anasthesia for Nidhi, when the phone in the store-room rang. She picked it up and after talking addressed Nidhi, “Dr. Nidhi. Aap please yahan par 10 minute ke liye ruk sakti hain. Mujhe emergency ward mein bulaya hai.”

“Sure. Aap aa jaiye,” Nidhi said. The surgeon was anyway going to take time. So, Nidhi was in no hurry.

After nurse left, Nidhi walked to the shelves to take out the anasthesia herself so that she could leave as soon as the nurse came back. Suddenly she heard a click, as if someone locked the door. The shelves were obscuring her view of the door. Surprised and scared, she walked away from the shelves so that she could see the door. She saw Mallika coming in.

“Oh! Dr. Mallika. Aapne mujhe dara diya. Main bas le kar aa hi rahi thi… Woh nurse…”

“Uski koi zaroorat nahin hai Dr. Nidhi,” Mallika said.

“Ji?”

Nidhi paled at what Mallika did next. She took out a pistol and pointed it at Nidhi.

“Ye… Ye… aap kya kar rahi hain…”

“Wahi jo mujhe bahut pahle kar dena chahiye tha. Jab tum pahli baar mere aur Ashutosh ke beech mein aayi thi.”

Oh God! It had all been a sham. Mallika had never really accepted the reality. Nidhi tried to keep her cool. The only thing she could do right now was to buy time and hope that someone comes to her rescue.

“Lekin… Aap to…”

“Accept kar chuki thi tumhare aur Ashutosh ke rishte ko? Yahi poochhna chahti ho tum?”

“J… Ji.”

“Come on Nidhi. Tum itni bholi kaise ho sakti ho? Kya tumhare aur Ashtuosh ke beech koi aur aata to tum use itni aasaani se accept kar leti? Kabhi nahin, Nidhi. Koi aurat aisa nahin kar sakti hai.”

Mallika was approaching her and Nidhi was too scared to think of anything else now. Just then they heard a click. Someone was unlocking the door from outside.

“Mallika!” Ashutosh screamed. He had come with a security guard and the store clerk.

“Ashutosh. Achcha hua tum bhi aa gaye. Tumhare saamne hi kissa khatam kar deti hoon. Phir hamare beech mein koi nahin aa payega.”

Ashutosh looked at a terrified Nidhi and felt scared to the core himself. Was he going to lose her?

“Don’t be a fool Mallika. Let’s talk please.”

“Nahin Ashutosh. Tumne ye pahle bhi kaha tha. Lekin jab tak ye ladki zinda rahegi, hamein ek doosre ke paas nahin aane degi. Tum samajhte kyon nahin ho? Iska marna zaroori hai.”

“Nahin Mallika.”

“Haan Ashutosh, Haan. Maine bahut mehnat ki hai. Maine bahut mehnat ki hai is din ke liye. Main Delhi wapas aayi. Sirf tumhare liye Ashutosh.”

Ashutosh was inching towards Mallika slowly. He had to keep her talking.

“Tumne pata kaise lagaya Mallika ki hum yahan aane waale hain?”

“Is bewkoof ladki ne meri bahut madad ki. Iske facebook updates. Sab kuchh batati rahti thi. Aur isne apni shaadi aur honeymoon ke photos bhi daale the. Can you imagine it Ashutosh? Kitni daring hai ye?”

Nidhi was feeling less scared with Ashutosh’ and others’ presence in the room. She could see what Ashutosh was trying to do. The security guard was also focussed on Mallika and was ready to act at the first chance. So, Nidhi also pitched in the conversation.

“Lekin aap meri friends list mein nahin hain. Aapko kaise…”

“Oh, dear sweet Nidhi didi! Aap bhool gayin, aapki little sister. Lucknow ke paas ke ek chhote shahar ki ek ladki jo doctor banna chahti hai aur aapki guidance chahti hai.”

God! She had been planning it for that long. The fake profile to keep a tab on her activities! No wonder the girl never told her how her entrance examination went.

While Mallika was distracted by Nidhi, Ashutosh had reached her and held the hand in which she was holding the pistol. The guard jumped in just then and snatched the pistol from her hands. Ashutosh and the guard tried to control her. But Mallika was furious and was struggling too hard even for two fairly strong men.

Nidhi found a syringe in the store room, used the anaethesia bottle she had picked up earlier and injected Mallika with it. It was pretty strong. Mallika stopped struggling soon and slumped on the floor. The guard took over from there and made calls to get others in.

Ashutosh turned towards Nidhi and hugged her tight, “Tum theek to ho Nidhi?” Once she was in his arms, Nidhi let herself go and started crying.

“Bas… Bas… Sab theek ho gaya hai. Ab ro mat. Shaant ho jao Nidhi,” Ashutosh comforted her.

Couple of doctors on night duty walked into the store room. They were called by the guard. Ashutosh briefly explained to them what had happened. Then said, “Dr. Mallika needs psychiatric care. She has a history. Can you please ensure that someone from psychiatric ward attends to her soon and she is kept in the ward safely.”

“Sure. Dr. Ashutosh.”

“Main Dr. Nidhi ko lekar ghar ja raha hoon. Administrators se subah baat karoonga. Aap log please raat mein sambhaal lijiye.”

The doctors assured him that they would take care of things.

Ashutosh put his arms around Nidhi and led her out. He saw that she was trembling. He took off his coat and wrapped it around her.

“Nidhi. Ghar jaane se pahle chai ya coffee piyogi?” he asked.

“Nahin. Mujhe ghar jaana hai,” she said in a small voice. She had shown presence of mind in the crisis, but she was really scared out of her wits. Ashutosh tightened his arms around her protectively.

“Aap kaise pahunche?” Nidhi asked on the way to home. Finally she seemed to be recovering.

Ashutosh sighed, “Pata nahin Nidhi. Shayad mujhe premonition ho raha tha ki kuchh gadbad hogi. Maine socha ki main bhi ruk jaata hoon aur operation ke baad tumhein lekar hi jaunga. Phir main bore ho raha tha to socha ek baar tumse mil loon. OT mein gaya to pata chala ki koi operation planned hi nahin tha. Main ghabra gaya. Aur tum phone bhi nahin utha rahi thi. Operation ki wajah se saath nahin rakha hoga tumne. Tab main poochhta poochhta store room mein aaya. Kuchh logon ne tumhein wahan jaate dekha tha.”

“Thank you. Agar aap nahin aate to…”

“Bas Nidhi. Us baare mein ab mat socho.”

“I am really sorry. Meri galti thi. Mere facebook updates ki wajah se…”

“Sorry? Sorry to mujhe kahna chahiye Nidhi. Pata nahin main kyon phir se Mallika par andha vishwaas kar baitha? Mujhe nahin karna chahiye tha. Tumhara dar sahi tha.”

“Aapki galti nahin hai. Pahle main skeptical thi. Lekin pichhle teen mahinon mein she behaved so nicely that even I had let my guards down. I thought she was genuine.”

“Bas Nidhi. Ab hum ye galti dubara nahin karenge. Shayad main kahin ye manne ko taiyaar nahin tha ki jiske saath maine barah saalon tak dosti rakhi, woh ab bharose ke kaabil nahin hai. Lekin ab nahin.”

“Main bahut dar gayi thi. Mera dimaag kaam nahin kar raha tha,” Nidhi seemed to be in a need to talk. Ashutosh let her do that.

“Tumne to bahut achchha presence of mind dikhaya. Agar tum anaesthesia nahin deti use to… She was being unusually strong while resisting.”

“Crisis mein I managed to stretch myself. Lekin… itna dar. Maine kabhi soch nahin tha ki meri jaan mujhe itni pyaari hai.” She even laughed slightly as she said that. Her self-deprecating humour was already back. She was recovering even before they reached home.

“Bahut keemti hai tumhari jaan. Mujhe bhi bahut pyaari hai. Iske liye dar to lagna hi chahiye,” Ashutosh smiled.

“Aap kya baat karenge administrators se Ashutosh?” Nidhi asked him the next morning.

“Actually Nidhi. Maine raat ko Aditya se baat ki thi, Mumbai mein. Woh aata hoga kissi bhi samay. Obviously Mallika can not stay here any longer. Lekin ise kaise persue karna hai, iske liye administrators tumhari opinion hi janna chahenge.”

“Matlab?”

“Matlab…” Ashutosh spoke hesitantly, “Police complaint karni hai ya nahin…”

“Nahin. Agar woh yahan se ja rahi hain to mujhe koi complain nahin karni. I mean we can’t do that to her. We are not talking about a stranger. Aur phir case wagerah ke chakkar mein hamara bhi time waste hoga. Aur usse koi fayda bhi nahin hoga. She is not a criminal. She is just mentally disturbed.”

“Yeah. Main bhi yahi soch raha tha. To phir main unse yahi kah doon?”

“Ji,” Nidhi smiled, “Aur…”

“Aur?”

“Aap aaj chhutti le sakte hain? Please.”

“Yes Nidhi. Maine woh already plan kar liya hai. Administrators se baat kar ke aur Aditya se mil kar main wapas aa jaunga. Tum aaraam karo.”

Nidhi nodded.

To be continued

Dhoop Kinare (Adaptation) – Part 43

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

It was the last class for the first day of her PG programme. Nidhi was feeling tired. Settling in a new city hadn’t been easy for her. She had had no experience of running a household before. Although Kaka had shifted with them, but he also felt unsettled in the new city and didn’t know his way around.

Ashutosh had been there of course, but then it was just the two of them. Not Baba, Chhote Sarkar or Dadi Bua – who almost always seemed to know how to do things at home. God knows why the institute had decided to start the semester on a Friday. If they had started on the Monday, she could have relaxed over the weekend.

Anyway, right now she was just looking forward for the class to get over, so that she could go back home. She was yawning when the instructor walked in and she got the shock of her life. she rubbed her eyes to make sure she was right. Dr. Mallika?? How could it be? What was the name of the instructor for this course, she consulted her notebook. Dr. M. Shergil. Mallika Shergil? Oh God! Everyone always referred to her by her first name in KGH. Nidhi hadn’t thought of her surname till now. And even if she had, how on earth could she have expected her to be here? She was in Mumbai, wasn’t she?

Nidhi had entered the class a little late and thanks to the excitement of the first day amongst the students, she hadn’t gotten a seat in the first few rows. She was thankful for that now. Nidhi could hardly concentrate on the class. The only good thing was that Dr. Mallika didn’t seem to have noticed her.

Nidhi sighed in relief after the class was over and rushed home. True to his reputation, Ashutosh had started his work full-fledged from the very first day and he didn’t come back until 8 in the evening.

He found Nidhi pacing up and down in the hall.

“Nidhi. I thought ki tum aaraam karna chahti thi. Ye evening exercise kyon kar rahi ho?”

“Achchha hua aap aa gaye. Aaj…” she was about to tell him, when she realized that he must be tired. “Aap haat-munh dho lijiye, phir baat karte hain.”

“Koi problem hai kya?”

“Main Kaka se chai laane ko kahti hoon. Aap fresh ho jaiye,” she ignored his question.

Ashutosh sensed her unease, but decided to do what she asked him to.

“Kaisa raha classes ka pahla din,” Ashutosh asked her as they sat down to have tea.

“Theek tha.”

“Kuchh hua hai kya?”

“Dr. Mallika yahan hain.”

“Tumne dekha?”

Nidhi nodded, “You don’t look surprised.”

Ashutosh also nodded in reply, “Maine aaj kissi ko dekha tha hospital mein jo door se Mallika jaisi lag rahi thi. Lekin tab maine socha ki mera waham tha. Lekin ab tumne bhi confirm kar diya. Lekin woh yahan kaise?”

“Hamari Neonatology ki class le rahi hain.”

“You… you mean she is posted here,” Ashutosh was surprised.

“I guess so. Tabhi to class le rahi hain.”

“Usne tumse kuchh kaha?”

“Unhone shayad mujhe notice nahin kiya class mein. Thankfully main thoda peechhe baithi thi.”

Ashutosh looked thoughtful and also a little disturbed. That unsettled Nidhi.

“Ab kya hoga?” she asked fearfully.

“Kuchh nahin hoga Nidhi. Hona kya hai? She must be all right. Tabhi usne yahan join kiya hai. This is all just a coincidence.”

Nidhi nodded. But she still looked unsure and scared.

“Hey. Nidhi,” Ashutosh pressed her hand, “Don’t worry. Agar koi problem hui bhi to, main hoon na? Bharosa hai na mujh par?”

“Of course,” Nidhi smiled and looked visibly relaxed.

“May I come in Dr. Mallika?” Ashutosh said warmly standing at Mallika’s office’s open door.

“Ashutosh? Dr. Nidhi?” Mallika looked genuinely surprised, “Aap log yahan?”

“Precisely yahi sawaal to main tumse poochhne aaya tha Mallika. Mujhe to pata chala tha ki tum Mumbai mein ho.”

Mallika smiled sadly, “Yeah. I took a break. Aditya and his family were supportive for a change. Phir zindagi to aage badhani hi thi. Aur ye offer aaya to I thought – why not?”

“Of course, Mallika.”

“Khair. Congratulations to you two. I am guessing that you are married.”

“Yes Mallika,” Ashutosh smiled somberly, “Thanks.”

“And… I know ki main maafi ke layak nahin hoon. Lekin shayad hamari itne saalon ki dosti ki khatir tum mujhe maaf kar doge Ashutosh, jo maine kiya uske liye. Lekin Dr. Nidhi…”

“Mere man mein gile shikve nahin hain Dr. Mallika. Trust me.”

“Thank you Dr. Nidhi. Waise aap log yahan kaise?”

“Nidhi ne PG mein admission liya hai. Aur mujhe bhi yahan offer mil gaya to…”

“PG mein. Is saal? You mean…”

“… main aapki class mein hoon. Aapne shayad notice nahin kiya kal.”

“Oh! I am so sorry. I guess itne saare naye chehre aur maine aapko expect nahin kiya tha…”

“Ismein sorry kahne ki kya baat hai,” Nidhi smiled, “Aap log baatein kijiye. Meri classes ka time ho raha hai. Bye.” Nidhi left them alone.

“Bye Dr. Nidhi. And all the best.”

“Thanks.”

Mallika turned to Ashutosh after Nidhi left, “Baitho na Ashutosh.”

“Yep.”

“Aur batao Ashutosh. Kaise ho tum? Khush lag rahe ho?”

“Haan Mallika. Khush hoon. Aur meri khushi aur bhi badh gayi tumhein yahan dekh kar. Safe and healthy.”

“I am also so happy Ashutosh. Lekin ek dar hai. Kahin mere yahan hone se Nidhi ko to problem nahin hogi. Kahin tumhare rishte par…”

“No. No Mallika. Nidhi bahut mature ladki hai. Uski umra par mat jao. Don’t worry about that.”

Mallika smiled.

“And Mallika…”

“Yes Ashutosh?”

“I really am very happy to see you. Sirf tumhare liye nahin. Khud apne liye bhi. Main aaj bhi tumhari dosti ko bahut importance deta hoon aur aage bhi deta rahoonga.”

“Thank you Ashutosh. You know that it means a lot to me.”

“Chalo phir. Baad mein milte hain. Abhi ward mein jaane ka time ho gaya hai.”

“Yeah.”

“Ashutosh. Aapse ek baat poochhon? Dr. Mallika ke baare mein,” Nidhi asked Ashutosh that night when they went to the bed.

“Poochho.”

“Aap mujhe galat mat samajhiyega. Bas curiosity ke liye poochh rahi hoon.”

“Spill it out Nidhi. Tumhein mujhe itne explanations dene ki zaroorat nahin hai.”

“Yeah. Aap aur Dr. Mallika itne purane friends hain. Aur obviously aap unki dosti ki kadra bhi karte hain. To kabhi aapne unhein apne life partner ki tarah kyon nahin dekha? Kya aapko nahin lagta ki achchhe dost achchhe life partners bhi ban sakte hain?”

“Hmmm,” Ashutosh sighed, “Tumne to kaha tha ki sawaal Mallika ke baare mein hai. Tumne to mere baare mein poochh diya Nidhi.” He laughed slightly.

“Maine aise hi poochha. Agar aap nahin batana chahte hain to koi zabardasti nahin hai,” she smiled not wanting him to feel uncomfortable.

“Nahin Nidhi. Aisa kuchh nahin hai. Baat to ye hai ki maine kabhi is baare mein socha hi nahin. But ab tumne poochha hai to let me think… Mallika meri dost thi kyonki hum log ek doosre ka dard samajhte the. Lekin meri aur Mallika ki dosti do registanon ki dosti thi. Ek registan doosre se paani to nahin maang sakta. Hum ek doosre ki tanhaiyan share karte the, lekin un tanhaiyan door nahin kar paye kabhi. Kabhi ek doosre ko andheron se roshni ki taraf nahin le ja paye. Life partners ki dosti registaan aur badal ki dosti honi chahiye. Sookhe registan ko badal paani de sakta hai. Aur jab badal ke liye paani ka bojh zyada ho jaye to registan use apne mein sokh sakta hai. Life partners ke beech dosti to zaroori hai Nidhi, lekin ye bhi zaroori hai ki woh ek doosre ko complement karein, ek doosre ki strength banein. Mere liye to ye tumhi kar payi Nidhi. Tumhare liye main kar paya ya nahin, ye to…”

“Of course. Kar paye aap. Meri zindagi kitni aimless thi. Abhi to hanste, khelte, shaitaaniyan karte beet jaati. Lekin kuchh saalon baad to mahsoos hota na ki kuchh useful nahin kiya life mein. Aapne mujhe is profession ke liye serious bana kar, sirf mera career hi nahin bachaya. Balki meri life ko meaningful bhi banaya. Now I am sure ki life mein kabhi peechhe mud kar dekhne par mujhe koi afsos nahin hoga. Mujhe bharosa hoga ki maine apni life ka sahi istemaal kiya hai.”

Ashutosh smiled, “Ek baat aur bhi hai Nidhi.”

“Kya?”

“I think life-partners mein ek doosre ke liye respect hona bahut zaroori hai. I mean, aisa nahin hai ki main Mallika ki disrespect karta tha. I mean I always thought she was a very good doctor. But as a person, I never really looked up to her.”

Nidhi sat up on hearing that, “Aapka matlab hai ki you…” Nidhi stopped. Ashutosh knew what had surprised her.

“Yes. Dr. Nidhi. I look up to you,” Ashutosh had also sat up, “Jaanna chati ho kyon?”

Nidhi nodded.

“Kyonki you are a good person Nidhi. Tumhein shayad idea bhi nahin hai ki how rare that is.”

“Aur aapko andaazaa nahin hai ki aapne kitni badi baat kah di hai. Mujhe nahin pata whether or not I am a good person. Lekin agar aapko lagta hai to I will definitely try to be.”

“Just be yourself. Tumhein phir try karne ki zaroorat nahin hai.”

Nidhi felt overwhelmed. She leaned towards him for a hug and he happily obliged.

“Aur mujhe aapko ye batane ki zaroorat to nahin hai ki how much I look up to you? I always have.”

Ashutosh patted her back in the hug to convey his assurance that he knew!

To be continued

Dhoop Kinare (Adaptation) – Part 42

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

“Ab aap to wapas hospital jayenge aur main ghar par bore ho jaungi. Internship khatam hone ke baad hospital mein kaam nahin kar sakte kya?”

“Well… Kar to sakte hain Nidhi. Lekin mera suggestion ye hai ki tum abhi kuchh din aaraam kar lo. Phir PG ki padhai aur ward-duties shuru ho jayengi. Bahut hectic hota hai. Uske baad tumhein koi aaraam nahin milne waala.”

“Ye bhi theek hai. Waise aapne AIIMS mein director se baat kar li hai?”

“Haan Nidhi. Maine baat kar li hai. Main tumhare year ki koi class nahin loonga. No conflict of interest, okay?”

“Thank you,” Nidhi smiled. They had discussed this earlier. Nidhi had been worried about the possibility that Ashutosh may be assigned on of her classes there and that might be awkward. Especially if her class-mates got to know about their relationship.

“Achcha ye batao ki honeymoon par kahan jaana hai?” Ashutsoh’ sabbatical was starting one month before Nidhi’s classes began at AIIMS. They had decided to use first half of that month for the honeymoon and the second half for settling down in Delhi. And they still had two months in hand before their honeymoon began. So, they were planning for it only now.

“Umm… Mussourie.”

“Mussourie?” Ashutosh laughed slightly, “Woh to bagal mein hai Nidhi. Kabhi bhi ja sakte hain. I was thinking ki kahin India ke bahar jaate hain. Europe ya at least Mauritius.”

“Okay. Aap travel agent se baat kar lijiye.” Nidhi said, but Ashutosh sensed that she was not really happy.

“Kya hua? Koi problem hai?”

“Nahin to.”

“Lekin tumhein ye idea pasand nahin hai. Mussourie kyon jaana hai, batao mujhe?”

“Aap hasenge to nahin?”

“Hansne waali baat hogi to hansoonga hi.”

“Phir main nahin bataungi.”

“Are. To hansne mein kya burai hai? Nidhi. Isiliye to tum mujhe itni achchhi lagti ho. Kyonki tumhare saath main hansta hoon. Khush rahta hoon. Ab batao mujhe.”

“Theek hai. Main batati hoon. Lekin main apni aankhein band kar rahi hoon. Agar aapko hansna hoga to yahan se chale jaiyega.”

“Nidhi,” Ashutosh laughed out loud, “Okay. Okay. Aankhein band kar ke batao. Lekin ab jaldi batao. Main sach mein bahut curious ho gaya hoon.”

Nidhi actually closed her eyes before speaking, “Pahla reason to ye hai ki Mummy aur Baba bhi apne honeymoon par wahin gaye the. To uska mujhe fascination hai. Aur doosra…”

“Doosra?”

“Doosra ye ki agar kahin bahar jayenge to ghoomne phirne ki bahut zyada jagahein hongi. To poora time ghoomne mein hi nikla jayenge.”

“To?”

“Main… main thoda samay shanti se… aapke saath bitana chahti hoon,” Nidhi blushed hard.

Ashutosh smiled lovingly. He bent forward and planted kissed on her closed eyes. She opened them, looking anxious. But his smile drove her anxiety away.

“Mussourie it is then. Main travel agent se baat kar leta haoon.”

“Nahin,” she said hastily.

“Kyon?”

“Maine sab… pata kar rakha hai… Main bookings karwa loon?”

Ashutosh was floored. It took him a few moments to reply, “Of course. To tum mujhe kuchh bataogi ya sab surprise hone waala hai?”

“Surprise, of course,” Nidhi’s happiness was oozing out.

Ashutosh smiled appreciatively when they got down at the luxurious, secluded holiday cottage.

“It’s beautiful Nidhi,” he complemeted.

“Thank you. Lekin andar to chaliye.”

“Yeah. Chalo.”

The place was spacious with a huge garden, a private swimming pool and lots of greenery apart from the spacious rooms. The staff offered them the welcome drinks and carried their luggage inside. Then they were left alone.

“Nidhi. Taiyaar ho jao. Hamein dinner ke liye jaana hai.”

“Kahan?”

“Jab tak hum yahan hain, dinner mera surprise hai.”

“Wow!” Nidhi was excited.

Ashutosh had planned dinner at different places in the city, offering different cuisines and their own unique experiences. The only common thing was that it was always private, the two love birds left to themselves.

“Aapne itni saari jagahon ke baare mein pata kaise lagaya?” Nidhi asked feeling surprised after coming back from an exquisite Chinese dinner.

“Well. I have to keep up with you. Thodi bahut Internet search mujhe bhi aa gayi hai Nidhi,” he laughed at his joke and Nidhi joined him.

“Lekin ye saari jagahein restaurant nahin thi,” Nidhi’s curiosity was not satiated.

Ashutosh sighed, “Apna trade secret batana padega?”

“Of course.”

“Maine kuchh chefs se baat ki, hired them for an evening and rented a suitable place.”

“And staff to serve?”

“Yes!”

“Aapne ye sab kab kar liya? Aap to poore time hospital bhi ja rahe the.”

“Nidhi,” Ashutosh tunred to face her and held her hands, “Ye jo experience hai na. Hum-tum, ek saath, without a care in the world, without any interruptions, ye ek timeless experience hai. Jab tumne kaha tha ki honeymoon par tum mere saath waqt bitana chahti ho, zyada ghoomne phirne ki jagah, tab mujhe mahsoos hua ki hamare paas ye ek bahut achchha mauka hai. Mauka aise experiences banane ka ki aage zindagi mein agar hamare saamne koi bhi pareshaani aaye, kabhi hamara vishwaas tootne lage to we can look back at this time and know that things can be beautiful for us. We only have to work towards it. Tumne poori koshish ki is samay ko khoobsoorat banane ki. To maine bhi bas thodee si koshish apni taraf se kar li.”

“Wow! Maine to itna nahin socha tha,” Nidhi said innocently.

Ashutosh laughed again and hugged her affectionately.

On their first night of honeymoon, Nidhi finally wore the pink silk night dress Anji had gifted her. It was a three-piece night dress with a noodle-strap top, knee-length skirt and a full-length gown over it. Since she had not been able to wear it on their wedding night, she had decided to keep it for the honeymoon.

Ashutosh had gone to the reception to discuss some housekeeping issues. He was surprised to see Nidhi in the night dress when he came back, but he did not let it on. He did not say anything to her and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

Nidhi was anxious for his reaction and felt disappointed when he didn’t say anything.

Ashutosh saw her standing near the window, looking outisde. Her disappointment was written all over her face. He could figure that out even from the profile view he had of her. He smirked. He always found her seduction attempts rather cute.

He walked up to her and surprised her by hugging her from behind. Before she knew it, he had pulled open the belt of her gown and slipped it off her shoulders. Nidhi trembled visibly.

“Ye gown, kamre ke ander pahanne ke liye nahin hai Nidhi,” he said in a way that made her gulp hard. He had very much noticed the dress. But he knew how to manipulate his reactions to catch her off guard.

He planted kisses on her exposed shoulder and neck before turning her around to face him and asking, “Kab khareedi ye dress?”

“Khareedi nahin thi… Anji ne gift ki thi… Shaadi mein…”

“To itne dinon se chhipa kar rakhi thi?”

“Nahin… Woh…” What was she going to explain?

“Aur aisi dresses khareedni padengi.”

“Kyon?” she asked without thinking.

Ashutosh smiled meaningfully and it told her the answer. She lowered her eyes as she felt too shy to meet his.

“Janna chahti ho?”

“Nahin,” she bit her lips.

“Lekin tumne poochha tha to batana to padega hi,” he bent and kissed her on her lips, “Bahut different lagti ho. Bahut zyada khoobsoorat. Very… womanly. And…” he paused for a while, kissed her all over her face before concluding, “very sexy!”

Nidhi hid her face in his chest, as he led her to the bed.

“Come on Nidhi. The swimming pool is nice and well maintained. Swimming karte hain,” Ashutosh told Nidhi.

“Aap kijiye. Mujhe swimming nahin aati hai.”

“To chalo. Main sikhata hoon. Swimming is a very good exercise. Aur bahut achchhi skill hai. Sabko aani chahiye.”

“Lekin mere paas costume bhi nahin hai.”

“Mere khayaal se there is a reason ki hamare paas ye private pool hai.”

“Ji?”

“Ji. Come on.” Ashutosh pulled Nidhi towards himself and started undressing her.

“Ye aap kya kar rahe hain? Koi aa jayega.” Nidhi was nervous.

“Tum bhi jaanti ho ki koi nahin aayega.”

“Lekin…”

“Shh… Nidhi. Main hoon na? Ghabrao mat.”

Ashutosh undressed himself too and led a very anxious Nidhi to the pool. She was scared initially as he made her stand at the edge of the pool. Then he started teaching her how to kick with her legs. Soon, she was completely enjoying her lesson, learning things rather quickly. She became so excited that after a while Ashutosh had to admonish her, “Bas Nidhi. Ek din ke liye kaafi hai. Thak jaogi.”

“Main nahin thaki abhi. Kitna mazaa aa raha hai,” she resisted.

“Abhi pata nahin chal raha hai tumhein. Baad mein poore shareer mein dard hoga. Swimming bahut tiring hoti hai.”

“Nahin hoga,” she was persistent.

Nidhi regretted later not listening to Ashutosh.

“Main yahan se hil bhi nahin sakti Ashutosh,” she cribbed lying on the bed.

“Baat to maanti nahin ho. Abh bhugto.”

“Mujhe swimming sikhane ka idea aapka tha.”

“Lekin pahle hi din professionals ki tarah ghanto swimming karne ka idea mera nahin tha.”

“Whatever!”

“Achchha. Suno.”

“Aur lecture nahin, please.”

“Lecture nahin de raha Nidhi. Tumne parson ke liye hamara massage book karwa rakha hai na?”

“Haan.”

“Main unse poochhta hoon, agar hum use aaj ke liye prepone kar sakte hain.”

“Thank you,” Nidhi said with a childish pout.

But Ashutosh came back after a few minutes and announced that their massage slots were all booked for the day, and there was no way they could accommodate her.

“So, Dr. Nidhi. You will have to do with an amateur’s massage today.”

“Matlab?”

“Matlab here is the magical oil these guys use in their spa for massage. And here,” he pointed towards himself, “is your pediatrician turned physiotherapist cum masseur.”

Nidhi was embarrassed, “Aap? Nahin, nahin. Iski zaroorat nahin hai. Main thodee der aaraam karoongi to theek ho jaungi.”

“Sorry Nidhi. But I can’t wait,” Ashutosh said meaningfully, “I need my wife to be up and about, healthy and ready for me.”

“Aap bahut shararati ho gaye hain.”

“Koi problem hai?” Ashutosh asked, as he undressed her for the massage.

“Nahin,” she said with a blushing smile.

Ashutosh massaged expertly and Nidhi drifted off to sleep under its effect. When she woke up late in the evening, she was feeling well enough to go for their daily surprise dinner ritual.

It was raining when they came back from their dinner on the last night of their honeymoon. Nidhi was wearing a white chiffon saree Ashutosh had bought for her when they had gone for shopping to buy gifts for everyone back home.

Nidhi was about to go to change, when she noticed Ashutosh looking out of the window.

“Kya dekh rahe hain?”

“Bas achaanak Baba ki yaad aa gayi. Bachpan mein mujhe baarish mein bheegne ka bahut shauk tha. Aur mujhe sardi bahut jaldi lag jaati thi. To Baba bahut gussa karte the. Lekin mujhe unhein chidhane mein bhi bada mazaa aata tha. In fact bade hone ke baad bhi, jab tak Baba the to main kai baar bas unhein chidhane ke liye barrish mein bheegne lagta tha. Badaa mazaa aata tha.”

“To chaliye abhi bheegte hain.”

“Abhi? Are nahin Nidhi.”

“Mazaa aayega. Chaliye na? Aur ab aapko sardi ki chinta karne ki bhi zaroorat nahin hai. You have a doctor for a wife!”

“Nidhi. Suno to…”

But she wasn’t to be stopped now that she had the idea planted in her mischievous head. She dragged him out on to the terrace. He saw her closing her eyes and extending her hands to play with the drops. He smiled and did the same himself. He enjoyed it, just like he used to, when Baba was alive. When he opened his eyes, he saw Nidhi looking at him with a loving smile. Both of them were drenched. Nidhi’s saree clung to her body revealing more than hiding. The wet hair on her foreheard seemed to scream out to Ashutosh to touch them and move them away from her lovely face. He moved towards her almost in a trance, slipped her hands around her waist and pulled her close for a kiss. The water, her lips, the night – everything was intoxicating. He didn’t care for her weak protest as she reminded him that they were out on the terrace.

The next day as they left Mussourie, both of them were sneezing continuously and they kept laughing recalling their last night’s adventure.

To be continued

Dhoop Kinare (Adaptation) – Part 41

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

It was four in the morning, when Ashutosh and Nidhi were woken up by Ashutosh’ mobile ringing.

“Kaun hai is samay?” Nidhi was alarmed.

Ashutosh looked at the number, “Hospital se?”

“Hello… Yes… What happened… Oh… Dr. Sinha ne… Unreachable hain… Okay… Main abhi aata hoon… Tab tak agar pain zyada hai to injection de dijiye pain killer ka…”

“Kya hua?”

“Nidhi. Mujhe abhi hospital jaana padega. Ek patient ka case Dr. Sinha ko hand over kar ke aaya tha, lekin usmein kuchh complications ho gayi hain aur woh unreachable hain.”

“Main bhi chalti hoon aapke saath.”

“Tum? Theek hai. Chalo. Jaldi.”

Ashutosh was extremely anxious as he drove the car. Once they barely managed to avoid a minor accident.

“Car rokiya, main chalati hoon,” Nidhi offered. Ashutosh did not resist and gave her the driver’s seat.

They rushed to the ward on reaching the hospital and Ashutosh looked at the patient’s chart.

“Sister. Jin medicines par maine ise rakha tha woh band kyon kar di gayi?”

“Ji Dr. Sinha ne kaha tha ki uski zaroorat nahin hai.”

“Aisi misdiagnosis…” Ashutosh picked up an injection from the table to administer it to the patient. Nidhi hastily stopped him.

“Rukiye. Dr. Ashutosh.”

“Kya hai Nidhi?” he was irritated.

“Aap galat injection de rahe hain. Naam to dekhiye…”

Ashutosh was stunned and felt embarrassed. Nidhi scribbled the name of the correct injection on a paper and got Ashutosh to sign it.

“Sister. Aap please ye store se le kar aaiye,” she handed over the paper to the nurse. She turned to Ashutosh after the nurse had left, “Main injection de doongi. Aap apne office mein jaiye. Aur kuchh karna hai?”

“Haan… Woh.. half an hour mein…”

“BP normal nahin hua to ek aur injection dena hoga.”

“Yes,” Ashutosh said blankly. He was not at all like himself.

“Theek hai. Aap jaiye. Main half an hour mein aapko report karti hoon.”

Ashutosh did not say anything and walked to his office. Nidhi looked thoughtful behind him. Why was Ashutosh being so nervous and so unlike himself?

“Stable hai. Doosre injection ki zaroorat nahin padi,” Nidhi walked into his office and informed him.

“Good,” Ashutosh said, the usual punch in his voice still missing.

“Kya baat hai? Aap itne… itne…” Nidhi searched for the right word for a second, “anxious kyon hain? Aise nervous?”

“Bas… patient ki halat dekh kar ghabra gaya tha.”

“You want me to believe that?” Nidhi smiled, “Maine aapko itni badi badi crisis handle karte dekha hai without blinking an eye. Ye to… Ye to main bhi handle kar sakti thi.”

Ashutosh sighed.

“Kya baat hai?”

“Nidhi. Tum ghar jao. Sab log uth jayenge to ghabrayenge. Main ek-do ghante mein aata hoon patient ko observe karne ke baad.”

“Lekin…”

“I am fine Nidhi. Jao tum.”

Nidhi wasn’t sure about leaving him, but he was right about everyone at home getting worried.

“Theek hai. I’ll wait for you.”

Ashutosh smiled. But it was sad smile, Nidhi thought.

Baba had just gotten up when Nidhi reached home. He was surprised to see her coming from outside.

“Nidhi. Beta subah subah kahan gayi thi? Ashutosh kahan hai?”

“Baba. Hospital mein kuchh emergency ho gayi thi. Isliye hamein jaana pada. Dr. Ashutosh abhi wahin hain. Nashte ke time tak aa jayenge.”

“Ye kya baat hui?” Nidhi hadn’t noticed Dadi Bua hearing their conversation, “Shaadi ke time par bhi chain nahin de sakte ye aspataal waale? Aur doctors nahin hain kya? Rasmein tak poori nahin karne di aur murdaghar mein chale gaye? Shagun-apshagun ka koi khayaal hai ki nahin?”

“Dadi Bua,” Nidhi got irritated, “Hamari shaadi ke liye kissi ki jaan chali jati to ye bahut bada shagun hota kya? Thank God ki patient safe hai. Baba. Main thaki hui hoon. Thodee der aur aaraam karoongi.”

“Of course. Tum jao kamre mein,” Baba sent her off and braced himself for his Bua’s tantrums.

Ashutosh came back in time as he had promised. After that Dadi Bua had a slew of rituals lined up for them and they did not get any time to talk alone. Ashutosh was looking happy enough to everyone and no one doubted that something was disturbing him. But Nidhi noticed that he had to try hard to look that way. He was still bothered.

“Patient theek hai na?” Nidhi managed to ask him in the afternoon.

“Haan. Woh theek hai.” Ashutosh assured her. He felt her penetrating eyes on him, but ignored its questions.

Nidhi had to endure some teasing from Anji about the wedding night, before she could retire for the night. She came in and saw Ashutosh lying on the bed, his eyes were closed. She walked around without making any sound. After changing, she climbed on the bed beside him. She lightly caressed his forehead. Ashutosh opened his eyes. He wasn’t asleep.

“Thak gaye hain na aap?” she asked softly.

Ashutosh smiled and sat up, “Ab thakaan chali gayi.”

Nidhi smiled, “Romantic baatein bhi aap theek-thaak hi kar lete hain Dr. Ashutosh!”

Ashutosh raised his eyebrows and Nidhi realized her folly, “I mean… Ashutosh.” She blushed hard as she said that. Ashutosh put his arms around her as they sat on the bed with their back resting against the headboard.

“Nidhi. Is bhaag-daud mein tumhein batane ka mauka nahin mila. Maine shaadi se ek din pahle Mallika se baat karne ki koshish ki thi.”

“Kaisi hain woh?”

“Usse to baat nahin hui. Uske number nahin hai mere paas. Maine Sandeep ko phone kiya tha.”

“Kya kaha unhone?”

“Mallika stable thi, after few months of treatment. Lekin ab woh Delhi mein nahin hai. She and Sandeep have separated. Woh Mumbai chali gayi hai.”

“I am sorry to hear that. Lekin ye to hona hi tha. I guess Dr. Mallika ne us rishte ko kabhi apnaya hi nahin tha. So, it was not fair on Mr. Bagchi.”

“Yeah. You are right,” Ashutosh sighed.

“Maine bhi Rohan se baat ki thi.”

“Aur?”

“Baba ne use invite kiya tha to usne bola tha ki woh Lucknow mein nahin rahega shaadi ke samay. But I knew ki woh bahana bana raha tha. Maine phone kiya use. Usne aane se mana kar diya.”

“Aur kuchh kaha?”

“Kuchh naya nahin. Use ab bhi yakeen nahin hai ki maine sahi faisla liya hai. Usne kaha ki woh isi wajah se nahin aana chahta.”

Ashutosh gave half a smile.

“Kya baat hai?” Nidhi asked feeling concerned, “Aap phir se in baaton se…”

“Nahin Nidhi. Kissi aur ki baaton se nahin. Main… Main khud bahut dar gaya tha aaj.”

“Achchha hua apane khud hi baat shuru ki. Bataiye – kya hua tha subah? Itne pareshaan kyon the aap?”

“Nidhi. Shayad ye baat tumse karni nahin chahiye. Lekin tumhare alaawa kissi aur se main kar bhi nahin paunga.”

“Agar aap meri permission maang rahe hain to aap mujhse koi bhi baat kar sakte hain. Main aapki baaton ka kabhi bura nahin maanoongi. Zyada se zyada gussa ho sakti hoon thodi der ke liye. Lekin usmein to aap mujhe mana lenge.”

“Yeah. I know,” Ashutosh smiled.

“To bataiye.”

“Nidhi. Kitne saalon se maine apne aap ko apne kaam mein poori tarah duba liya tha. Meri koi personal life nahin thi, koi personal commitment nahin thi.”

Nidhi seemed to make out where this was going and she grew thoughtful. Ashutosh continued, “Hamari shaadi ke liye, itne saalon mein pahli baar main apne kaam se, personal cheezon ke liye, itne din door raha hoon. To jab subah mujhe pata chala ki meri absence mein ek patient critical ho gaya hai to main bahut dar gaya. Mujhe laga ki kahin ye kismat ka ishaara to nahin hai ki main dono cheezein sambhaal nahin paunga. Tumhare saath meri nayi zindagi aur apne kaam ke liye meri committment. Mujhe laga ki maine ek aisi zimmedaari utha li hai jise maine pahle kabhi jaana nahin, samjha nahin. Baba ne mujhe paala-posa, lekin unhone bhi to apne parivaar ki zimmedaariyon se munh mod liya tha. To kya main ye sab sahi kar paunga?”

Nidhi felt scared to the core. Her eyes moistened. He was scared of their day old marriage? She held his hands and said in a trembling voice, “Nahin. Aapko meri wajah se pareshaan hone ki zaroorat nahin hai. Main waada karti hoon ki aapke aur aapke kaam ke beech mein kabhi nahin aaungi.”

Ashutosh smiled fondly, “Mujhe pata hai Nidhi. Mujhe tumhari wajah se pareshaan hone ki koi zaroorat nahin hai. Ye dar mujhe subah pareshaan kar raha tha. Kuchh had tak din mein bhi. Lekin abhi jab main thodi der is kamre mein akela baitha tha, aur tumhare na hote hue bhi tumhein apne chaaro or mahsoon kar raha tha, tab mujhe sab cheezein saaf saaf dikhayi dene lagi Nidhi. Jab subah-subah phone aaya to tumne mujhe roka nahin, balki mere saath chal padi. Jab mere haath kaampe, tab tumne mera haath thaam liya. Jab mera dimaag kaam nahin kar raha tha, tab tumne mujhe us patient ko galat injection dene se bacha liya. So, now I know Nidhi ki tumhare aane se meri life koi conflict nahin aayi hai. Balki ek bahut majboot sahara aaya hai.”

The tears that had moistened her eyes in fear, now started running out of them because she was overwhelmed. She leaned on him and soaked his t-shirt in her tears.

“Bas… Bas Nidhi. Ro kyon rahi ho? Bura lag gaya meri baat ka?” he caressed her hair.

“Nahin. Lekin aap pagal hain Dr. Ashutosh… I mean Ashutosh” she said through her tears without breaking her half hug.

Ashutosh laughed slightly, “Haan. Tumhare saath rah kar ho gaya hoon. Waise maine tumhein apna naam Dr. Ashutosh se chhota kar ke Ashutosh karne ko kaha tha. Tumne use aur bhi bada kar diya hai – Dr. Ashutosh. I mean Ashutosh.”

They laughed slightly. He shifted on the bed to lie down, still keeping his arms around her and pulled up the bed-cover over them. Exhausted, emotionally and physically, they drifted off to sleep in the same position. If the last night was about passion and desire, this was a night of comfort, love and companionship. It completed their relationship.

To be continued