"Nidhi. Tu to bilkul theek hai..." Anji came to see Nidhi after dinner at night.
"To? Mujhe kya hoga?"
"Nahin. Kuchh hoga kyon? Bas mujhe laga ki subah Baba ki baat sunne ke baad..."
"Anji. Tu mujhe ye bata ki ye nose ring kaisi lag rahi hai mere oopar," Nidhi had worn a small, but beautiful nose ring.
"Achchhi lag rahi hai. Lekin tujhe nose ring pahanne ka shauk kab se ho gaya? Oh my God! Diamond!" Anji exclaimed, "Ye kahan se aaya? Nidhi teri salary badh gayi hai kya?"
"Diamond? Nahin Anji. Stone hoga..."
"Dikha zara. No way! Ye definitely diamond hai. In sab maamlon mein meri nazarein dhokha nahin kha sakti."
"Tu jauhari hai kya?"
"Jauhari ko dikha lena. Agar usne confirm nahin kiya to mera naam badal dena."
"Seriously Anji?"
"Seriously! Kahan se aaya?"
"Dr. Ashutosh ne diya," Nidhi said in a weak and confused voice, "Mujhe to realize hi nahin hua ki..."
Anji's eyes widened in surprise, "Dr. Ashutosh ne? Diamond? Wow Nidhi! Ye to... He really loves you, doesn't he? Aur woh serious bhi hain," Anji's voice softened towards the end.
"Haan Anji. Aur ye abhi nahin, unhone kaafi pahle hi khareeda tha," Nidhi told Anji, both of them unaware that Baba was passing by and had overheard their conversation. It was the same gift that Nidhi had seen in the glovebox of Ashutosh' car during the Roy family's wedding. The situation then had been too awkward. They never talked about the gift until that evening when they returned from the flower show. She was about to get down from the car to come back home, when he had asked her to wait. He had opened the glovebox and had taken out the packet. Nidhi had recognized it instantaneously.
"Ye to..."
"Kaafee pahle khareeda tha maine, lekin uske baad hamari zindagi jaise kuchh kadam peechhe chali gayi thi. Ab ja kar himmat ho rahi hai ise tumhein dene ki. I hope tumhein pasand aayegi."
Nidhi had smiled widely, "Pasand to definitely aayegi. Main ise khol loon?"
"Of course."
Nose ring was an unexpected gift. She hardly ever wore one, "Bahut khoobsoorat hai. Lekin ye nose ring khareedne ka khayaal aapko kaise aaya?"
"Maine notice kiya tha ki tumhari naak chhidi hui hai, lekin tum kabhi kuchh pahanti nahin ho. I thought ki tum par achchhi lagegi."
"Yeah. Dadi Bua ne zidd kar ke chhidwa di thi. Main itna royi thi dard ki wajah se, lekin unhone ek nahin suni thi."
"Are. To kahin ye buri yaadon se associated gift to nahin ho gaya?"
"Nahin. Naak chhidwane ke saath jo buri yaadein thi, is gift se unka association khatam ho gaya," Nidhi had said lovingly, "Main ye zaroor pahnoongi."
Nidhi came out of her thoughts and looked for the box to keep the nose ring back in. She noticed that base of the box could be opened. Beneath it she found a piece of paper, which turned out to be the diamond quality certificate. It was indeed diamond!!
--
Yograj Varma had spent the night sleeplessly. Dr. Ashutosh was a nice man, but never even in his wildest dream, he could have thought of him being a match for Nidhi. They were almost a generation apart. And then there was a shared past, which could make things bitter, which both of them were unaware of.
--
"Good morning Nidhi," Ashutosh spoke happily on the phone.
"Aapko itna mahnga gift khareedne ki kya zaroorat thi?"
"Haan?" Why did she suddenly remember the cost of the gift. She was so happy yesterday, "Achanak kya hua tumhein?"
"Mujhe kya pata tha ki ye diamond hai."
"Kya?" Ashutosh laughed out loud, "Tum... tum pagal ho Nidhi. Ye batao ki ab kaise pata chal gaya tumhein ki ye diamond hai?"
"Anji ne bataya."
"Achchha. To tum maan lo ki diamond nahin hai."
"Ye kaisi baat hui? Hamein ye wapas kar dena chahiye. Koi simple nose ring le lete hain. Mujhe to waise bhi ye nag hi lag raha tha. Kya fayda hai itna kharcha karne se."
"Ji Nahin. Kuchh wapas nahin hoga. Gift maine diya hai, to mera decision hai ki gift kya hoga. Samjhi aap?"
"Lekin..."
"Mera naasta ban gaya hai. Main rakhta hoon. Hospital mein milte hain."
"Okay..."
"Bye Nidhi."
Ashutosh had just finished the call when the doorbell rung and Hiraman Kaka opened the door.
"Aap?" Ashutosh was surprised to find that the visitor was Nidhi's father, "Please aaiye. Baithiye na. Kaka chai to laiye."
"Nahin. Chai nahin piyunga main. Ashutosh," he addressed him directly by his first name instead of 'Dr. Ashutosh', "Bas apni ek problem tumse share karne aaya hoon."
"Ji?"
"Baat mujhe shayad Nidhi se karni chahiye thi. Lekin woh... woh chhoti hai, impulsive hai. Tum to mature ho. Aur ek achchhe insaan ho. Kya tumhein kabhi nahin laga ki tum dono ka ye rishta sahi nahin hai?"
Ashutosh was caught off-guard. He wasn't prepared to deal with Baba yet, "Aapko kaise... Nidhi ne bataya?"
"Nahin. Lekin baap hoon. Bin Maa ki bachchi ka dhyaan to rakhna hi padta hai. Of all the people, maine ye nahin socha tha ki kabhi tum meri problem ban jaoge."
Ashutosh was a bit more in control of his thoughts by now, "Baba. Mera yakeen kijiye. Jitne sawaal aapke man mein abhi uth rahe hain, un sabke saath maine struggle kiya hai. Nidhi ko khud se door rakhne ki saaree koshishein ki maine. Use daant kar, samjha kar... Lekin... Jitni baar use khud se door kiya, uske hothon ki hansi hi gayab ho gayi. Uski khushi ke liye usse door rahna chahta tha, lekin uski khushiyan hi gayab ho gayi."
"Bachchon ko unke maangne par har waqt chocolates na do to woh rote hain. Lekin har waqt dene se unki sehat par bura asar padta hai. Ye baat bachchon ko samajh mein nahin aati hai Ashutosh. Iska dhyaan badon ko rakhna padta hai."
"Ma-Baap ke liye unke bachche hamesha chhote hi rahte hain. Lekin Baba, Nidhi itni immature nahin hai. Finally mujhe ye accept karna pada."
"Agar tum bura na maano to ye poochh sakta hoon ki tumne abhi tak shaadi kyon nahin ki? Handsome ho, renowned doctor ho, paison ki koi kami nahin hai... Koi wajah nahin..."
"Rishton par se mera bharosa uth gaya tha," Ashutosh replied sadly, but truthfully.
"Tumhari parvarish ek aise insaan ne ki thi, jisne khud kabhi rishte nahin nibhaye. Apne ghar waalon ko chhod kar aa gaye. Isliye I am not surprised. Lekin tumhein dekh kar to ye lagta hai ki unhone tumhari parvarish mein koi kami nahin chhodi. Phir aisa kyon hua tumhare saath?"
"Aap mere Baba ko jaante hain?"
"Haan. Ek tarah se jaanta hoon. Lekin pahle mere sawaal ka jawaab do."
"Anaath tha main. Par aapne sahi kaha. Baba ne meri parvarish bahut achchhe se ki, bahut pyaar diya. Lekin jaate-jaate mujhe ye ehsaas dila hi gaye ki main unka beta nahin tha. Unka woh ghar, jismein meri jaan basti thi, jo unki aakhiri nishani thi merre liye, woh apni naatin ke naam kar gaye. Jisse shayad woh kabhi mile bhi nahin the. Shayad aapko bachkaana lage, lekin is wajah se mere andar bahut kadwahat bhar gayi thi."
"Bachkana nahin hai. Itni badi property..."
"Nahin Baba. Baat property ki nahin hai. Uski value se kahin zyada paise woh mere liye chhod gaye hain. Baaki sab kuchh mere naam kar gaye hain. Lekin unse mujhe koi khushi nahin milti. Agar woh ye sab kuchh uske naam kar gaye hote aur sirf woh ghar mujhe de diya hota to main bahut khush rahta. Nidhi ke aane se pahle ye kadwahat meri zindagi mein sabse zyada aham cheez ban gayi thi. Lekin ab sab kuchh badal gaya hai. Woh kadwahat meri zindagi mein back seat le chuki hai aur main aapse waada kar sakta hoon ki Nidhi ke oopar uska koi asar nahin hoga."
"I will not be so sure Ashutosh."
"Why not?"
"Mathur Sahab mere sasur the. Nidhi ke Nana."
Ashutosh got the shcok of his life. He could not say anything for a few seconds. Then he asked weakly, "Nidhi ko pata hai?"
"Nahin."
"Aapne kabhi bataya kyon nahin?"
"Jab tumse mila to Nidhi ke boss ki tarah. Maine selfish ho gaya apni beti ke liye. Mujhe laga ki agar tumhare man mein us ghar ko lekar koi shikayat hui to kahin uska asar Nidhi ke career par na pade. Lekin ab career bachane ke liye main uski zindagi nahin barbaad kar sakta. Ghar se Nidhi ko ya mujhe koi matlab nahin hai. Woh hum tumhein wapas kar denge Ashutosh. Bas main ye kadwahat Nidhi ki zindagi mein nahin ghulne dena chahta."
Baba left and Ashutosh stood like a statue at his place. What had he just heard?
"Ashutosh," he was brought out of his shocked state by Armaan calling him, "Kya hua?"
Ashutosh looked at him with blank eyes, "Armaan. Baba ka ghar... Nidhi ke paas hai."
"Kya?" Armaan was also shocked at the coincidence.
Ashutosh got up, picked up his car keys and started going out of the house.
"Kahan ja raha hai Ashu?" Armaan asked.
"Pata nahin," he said and stormed out before Armaan could say anything.
--
"Dr. Armaan," it was Dr. Rangnath on the line, "Dr. Asthusoh hospital nahin aaye. Aapko pata hai woh kahan hain?"
"Nahin Dr. Rangnath. I think kissi zaroori kaam se use achanak jaana pada. Shayad woh aaj nahin aaye hospital. Aap uske hisaab se planning kar lijiye," Armaan replied not letting Rangnath know of his worry about Ashutosh. Ashutosh' cell phone was also not working. That's why Rangnath had called Armaan and that's why Armaan had been even more worried.
"Armaan. Kahan hai Ashutosh? Mujhe dar lag raha hai. Kahin koi problem to nahin ho gayi?" Kaka was also worried.
"Let's hope for the best Kaka. Agar raat tak wapas nahin aata to shayad police ke paas jaana chahiye hamein..."
And then Armaan received the call he was dreading, "Hello Dr. Nidhi."
"Dr. Armaan. Dr. Ashutosh hain wahan par? Unka phone unreachable hai aur woh hospital bhi nahin pahunche."
"Ashu to yahan nahin hai Nidhi. Aur... mujhe pata nahin kahan gaya hai? Subah car le kar nikal gaya aur phone off kar rakha hai."
"Koi problem hui kya?" Nidhi sounded scared.
"Pata nahin," he lied. He didn't know what exactly was going through Ashutosh' mind. So, there was no point in telling Nidhi half the story and make her feel guilty when she shouldn't be.
"Agar unse koi bhi contact ho to please mujhe phone kariyega. Mujhe bahut chinta ho rahi hai."
"I will. And don't worry. I am sure sab theek thaak hoga. Shaam tak aa jayega woh."
"Thank you Dr. Armaan."
--
Ashutosh drove aimlessly on the outskirts of the city for several hours. He was confused, agitated, angry and didn't know which of those emotions was the strongest. And as if they were not enough, there was love!! What was he to do with that conflict? He had thought his bitterness had taken the back seat in his life, because now there was Nidhi and her love there. But... Did the fate really have to do this to him? The bitterness was also directed at no one, but Nidhi all these years!
Why did Baba do that to him? He stopped the car in front of the house. He got out and took out the now pale envelop from his pocket. It was the letter Baba had left for him with the lawyer. He had never read it. Deep down he was scared of reading it. As if in the letter Baba would tell him that he never really loved him. That he meant nothing to him, which was why he took the house away from him. That even after all those years of togetherness, he could not be to him what a girl, related to him by blood, could be. Even though he had never met her. And if the letter said all that, Ashutosh would break down. So, he had not read it till now.
But today he had picked up the letter while leaving home. Probably he could not run away from the truth forever. He had to face it. And if it didn't kill him, he might just emerge stronger.
"Ashutosh bete,
Mujhe maaf kar dena. Maine zindagi bhar tumse ek baat chhipai. Isliye nahin ki tumse chhipaana chahta tha. Balki isliye ki main khud is baat ko bhool jaana chahta tha. Aur isliye apne man ke kissi itne gahre kone mein ise dhakel diya tha ki woh phir wapas na aaye. Lekin dil ke zakhm cancer ki tarah hote hain. Failte failte saamne aa hi jaate hain. Doosri wajah tumhein na batane ki ye thi ki main tumse bahut pyaar karta hoon. Aur kabhi kabhi hum isliye bhi baat chhipate hain, taki jinse hum pyaar karte hain, unhein dukh na pahunche.
Maine apni beti ko baap ka ghar nahin diya. Woh bahut chhoti thi jab main use, apne ghar aur parivaar ko chhod kar chala aaya tha. Aur ab aisa lagta hai jaise woh saaree umra bahar dhoop aur barish mein khadi rahi ho. Jabse uski maut hui hai, ye guilt mujhe khaye ja raha hai ki maine uske saath na-insaafi ki. Maine socha hai ki woh to baap ke hote hue bhi anaath rahi aur anaath hi chali gayi. Lekin uski beti ko to main ek chhat de sakta hoon. Aisi chhat jo pyaar se bani ho. Isliye apna aur tumhara ye ghar main uske hawale kar raha hoon, is yakeen ke saath ki tum bura nahin maanoge. Kyonki main tumhein jaanta hoon. Phir bhi, mujhe maaf kar dena.
Aur ye yaad rakhna ki maine tumse hamesha bahut pyaar kiya hai. Aur pyaar baantne se badhta hai, ghatata nahin.
Tumhara Baba"
Ashutosh had tears in his eyes after reading the letter and he did not try to control them. At one point of time he sobbed openly. It took him a while to clam down. Then he found a water bottle in the car, washed his face and started driving back.
--
"Dr. Ashutosh?" Nidhi was shocked as well as happy as she opened the door of her house to see Ashutosh standing there, "Aap theek to hain? Aur ye kaisi harquat ki aapne? Aapko pata hai sab log kitne pareshaan the? Kahin jaana tha to kissi ko to bata kar jaate. Main aur Dr. Armaan to police ke paas jaane ki soch rahe the."
"Main andar aa sakta hoon?"
"Yeah. I am sorry. Aaiye na. Main Dr. Armaan ko phone kar ke bata deti hoon."
"Baba ghar par hain?"
"Ji."
"Mujhe unse milna hai. Aur tumse bhi."
"Kya baat hai?"
"Kaun hai Nidhi?" Baba had come to the hall by then.
"Ji Baba. Dr. Ashutosh hain," Nidhi replied to Baba while still looking at Ashutosh questioningly.
"Namaste," Ashutosh greeted Baba.
"Aao Dr. Ashutosh," Baba invited him in, "Nidhi. Zara Chhote Sarkar se chai ke liye to kaho."
"Ji Baba."
"Nahin Nidhi. Chai ki zaroorat nahin hai. Please baitho hamare saath," Ashutosh stopped her. Baba looked at him curiously and Nidhi was confused.
"Nidhi. Mujhe kuchh confess karna hai tumhare saamne," Ashutosh addressed Nidhi again.
"Ji?"
"Jaane anjaane, maine pichhle kai saalon se, mere Baba ke jaane ke baad se, tumse bahut nafrat ki hai."
"Ji?" Nidhi was unable to make any sense of what he was saying. Baba was watching them silently.
"Haan Nidhi. Maine tumhein bataya tha na ki mere Baba ki aakhiri nishani mujhse chhin gayi thi. Aur mujhse chheen kar woh jise di gai thi, usse main shiddat se nafrat karta tha. Woh nishani kuchh aur nahin, balki Baba ka aur mera ghar tha, jo woh apni naatin ke naam kar gaye the."
"Kya?" Nidhi couldn't believe what she had just heard. Did that mean...
"Haan. Nidhi. Woh ghar jo tumhare Nana ne tumhare naam kiya tha. Ab tumhein ek faisla karna hai Nidhi. Ye jaante hue bhi ki maine apni zindagi ke itne saal tumse nafrat karte hue guzaare hain, tumhein lekar itni kadwahat mahsoos karte hue guzaare hain, kya tum mere pyaar par bharosa karogi? Main khush hoon ki woh ladki jiske liye maine nafrat paal rakhi thi, tum nikli. Kyonki agar koi aur hota to main shayad apni nafrat se kabhi aazaad nahin ho paata. Lekin tumhari wajah se ho gaya hoon. Kya tum meri is baat ka vishwaas karogi? Aur kya apne Baba ko is baat ke liye convince kar paogi ki jo kadwahat mere man mein thi, already back seat le chuki thi, lekin phir bhi thi, woh aaj mere Baba ka ye letter padhne ke baad mere aansuon mein ghul kar meri zindagi se, mere man se bah chuki hai, nikal chuki hai?"
Ashutosh handed the letter to Baba and he started reading it silently. Meanwhile Ashutosh and Nidhi stared at each other with Nidhi's tears flowing freely. Ashutosh nodded his head asking her not to cry. She wiped her tears and smiled faintly. The smile gave Ashutosh answers to his questions to Nidhi. Baba had finished reading the letter and handed it to Nidhi to read.
Ashutosh addressed Baba, "Main jaanta hoon ki meri parvarish ek aise insaan ne ki hai jisne apne parivar se, apni beti se munh mod liya tha. Koi wajah zaroor rahi hogi unke aisa karne ki. Kyonki maine to unke andar bahut saara pyaar hi dekha tha. Phir bhi ye inexcusable tha. Lekin Baba, woh past tha. Aaj ke liye zaroori baat ye hai ki unhein apnon ke dard ka ehsaas hua tha, bhale hi der se hua ho. Aur jaate jaate woh is letter ke zariye, meri bhi aankhein khol gaye. Main aapse waada karta hoon Baba ki Nidhi ko kabhi pyaar ki kami nahin hogi mere saath. Umra ke faasle ko main kabhi dilon ka faasla nahin banne doonga. Aur ye bhi waada karta hoon ki hamare rishte ke liye hum dono mein se koi purane rishte nahin todega. Nidhi kabhi aapke khilaaf ja kar kuchh nahin karegi aur karna bhi chahe to main use karne nahin doonga."
Baba looked at Nidhi, who had finished reading the letter. She came to him, hugged him and started crying. Baba patted her back, "Bas Nidhi. Rone ki zaroorat nahin hai meri bachchi." He broke the hug and asked her, "Apne man ki baat mujhe bata do."
"Mere man ki baat wahi hai Baba jo Dr. Ashutosh ke man ki baat hai. Trust me Baba hum dono ek doosre ke saath khush rahenge. Aur Baba. Dr. Ashutosh is like a rock in my life. Doctor banane ka jo sapne aapne aur Mummy ne mere liye dekha tha, use main isliye apna payi kyonki woh mere role model bane. Unki wajah se meri zindagi mein ek purpose aaya hai Baba. Unke saath main confident feel karti hoon, safe feel karti hoon. Khush rahti hoon Baba. Agar aap hamare rishte ko apna aashirwaad denge to aapko kabhi afsos nahin hoga. Ye mera waada hai aapse."
Baba smiled, "Jab miya-biwi raazi to main kya kar sakta hoon aur kaazi kya kar sakta hai. Meri to sahmati aur objection - sab tumhari khushiyon ke liye hi hai Nidhi. To jis faisle mein tum khush ho, main usmein tumhare saath hoon."
Nidhi blushed, but could not contain her happiness and smiled broadly. She bent down and touched Baba's feet. Ashutosh also followed the suit.
"Aur Ashutosh," Baba addressed him, "Jo kuchh maine aaj subah tumse kaha, agar gair-waazib bhi tha to mujhe maaf kar dena. Un baaton ko man mein mat rakhna. Bas Nidhi ki chinta thi mujhe..."
"Aap kyon sharminda kar rahe hain mujhe? Agar aapko kuchh galat lage to us baare mein mujhe tokna aapka haq hai, in fact farz hai."
"To aap Baba ke dar kar bhaage hue the din bhar?" Nidhi said making everyone laugh. Ashutosh looked at her lovingly. Wasn't she a doll? She had managed to lighten up the environment once again.
"Main Dr. Armaan ko phone kar ke bata doon. Woh bahut pareshaan hain," she said.
"Main khud karta hoon," Ashutosh replied and called Armaan up.
--
"Lekin Dr. Ashutosh, diamonds are too much!" Ashutosh and Nidhi were at his house and having this conversation in his room.
"Come on Nidhi. Let it be. Achchhe lag rahe hain na tumhare oopar."
"Haan lekin kitne mehange hote hain."
"Tum to duniya ke saare stereotypes ulte kar de rahi ho Nidhi. "
"Kya matlab?"
"Matlab hona ye chahiye tha ki tum mujhse diamonds ki zidd karti aur main tumhein taalta. Yahan ulta hi ho raha hai."
"Main aapse kabhi aisi cheezon ke liye zidd nahin karoongi."
"Kyon nahin?"
"I don't know. Just doesn't feel right."
"Ismein right aur wrong ki kya baat hai. Aisi zidd to natural hai."
"Pata nahin. Mujhe lagta hai ki ladkiyan aisi zidd ye dekhne ke liye karti hain ki unke boyfriends ya husbands unke liye kis hadd tak ja sakte hain. Mujhe already pata hai."
"Kya pata hai?" Ashutosh laughed slightly, "Ki main tumhare liye ye chhota sa diamond nose ring la sakta hoon, jise dekh kar tumhein samajh mein bhi na aaye ki ye diamond hai."
"Mera mazaak mat udaiye. Ab mujhe kya pata ki ye kya hai? Main koi grocery mein diamonds thode hi na khareedti hoon."
Ashutosh was amused seeing her pout, "Achcha gussa mat karo. Batao tumhein kya pata hai?"
"Ye ki mere liye aap apne comfort zone se bahar jakar bhi kuchh bhi kar sakte hain, mere liye aap apni barson ki nafrat bhula sakte hain, logon ki parwaah karna chhod sakte hain aur khud apni set ki hui boundaries bhi tod sakte hain. Diamonds khareedna inke saamne matter nahin karta."
"Achchha hua maine tumhare college se padhai nahin ki Nidhi," Ashutosh said somberly.
"Kya matlab?"
"Mujhe lagta hai ki wahan poetry ka bhi course hota hoga. Main to kabhi pass nahin ho paata," Ashutosh broke out in laughter at his own joke.
"Aap bahut bure hain. Main aapko kabhi kuchh nahin bataungi," Nidhi grumbled and started moving away.
"Nidhi," he held her hands and stopped her, "Tumhare liye hi maine tumhari tarah jokes maarna bhi seekha hai. Kyonki agar main seriously jawaab deta aur tumhein batata ki tumhare liye main apni jaan bhi de sakta hoon, to tum rone lagti na? Ye mujhe bardasht nahin hota."
"Aap sach much bahut bure hain," Nidhi said obviously not meaning it and leaned on him for a hug.
"Waise Nidhi, ek aur sawaal hai jo tum par kaafee dinon se pending pada hua hai?"
"Aap to aise baat kar rahe hain jaise maine hospital ke expense par koi conference attend ki aur phir uski report share nahin ki."
"Hospital to nahin, lekin mere expense par tumne bahut kuchh kiya hai jiski report share nahin ki."
"Kya kiya hai?"
"Mujhse pyaar kiya hai aur aaj tak mujhe nahin bataya ki kyon? Ab to tumhari shart bhi poori ho chuki hai. Maine apni khushi ke liye faisla liya hai."
"Bataya to tha?"
"Kab?"
"Baba ke saamne."
"That doesn't count."
"Aapko apni taareef sunni hai?"
"Ye joke purana ho gaya."
"Achchha! Joke se zyada purani to main ho gayi hoon."
"Haan. Lekin main is joke se pyaar to nahin karta. Tumse karta hoon."
"Kyon?"
"Very clever Dr. Nidhi Verma. Lekin main bhi aapka boss hoon. Aap itni aasaani se mujhse bewkoof nahin bana sakti hain. Ye sawaal pahle maine poochha tha aur jawaab pahle aap dengi."
Nidhi blushed, but continued her banter, "Mere boss ko mujhse aise personal sawaal nahin poochhne chahiye."
"Woh line cross karne ka shrey tumhein jaata hai Nidhi. Mere ghar par aa kar mujhse sawaal-jawaab tumne kiye the? Chalo. Ab baat idhar-udhar mat karo aur mere sawaal ka jawaab do."
"Ab... ye kya baat hui... Ye koi interview ka sawaal hai kya... jo bas chalu ho gaye jaise hi poochha gaya..." Now that she could not think of any way of escaping the question, she was nervous and stammered.
"Nahin? Ye bhi theek hai. Iske liye to mood banana padega."
"K... Kya?" The way Ashutosh had spoken the last sentence sent shivers down her spine.
Ashutosh did not reply. He stood up and made her stand up as well. He cupped her face, leaned towards her and kissed her on her forehead. Nidhi closed her eyes and gulped hard. Ashutosh then kissed her closed eyes one by one. He gently kissed the tip of her nose and then she felt his breath close to her lips. She got nervous and suddenly took a step back from him.
"Main batati hoon," she said hastily. Ashutosh smirked, but she did not see that, as her eyes were downcast.
"I am all ears," Ashutosh said smiling when she stood silent for a few moments.
She turned her back towards him feeling too shy. Then she started speaking, "Sach to ye hai ki maine aapse jhooth bola tha. Main ye nahin bata sakti ki main aapse kyon pyaar karti hoon. Bas ye bata sakti hoon ki kaise pyaar kar baithi. Aap pahle insaan the jisse mujhe dar laga tha. Jab maine hospital join kiya tha, tab mujhe doctor banne mein koi interest nahin tha. Main to chahti thi ki aap mujhe nikaal dein. Isliye mujhe khud ko ashcharya hota tha ki mujhe aapke gusse se dar kyon lagta hai. Baad mein realize hua ki... ki aap un rare logon mein se hain, jo doosron ke liye jo standards set karte hain, us par pahle khud khare utarte hain. To jab aap galtiyon ke liye daantate the to usmein genuinity hoti thi, jise ignore kar paana mushkil tha. Aap for the heck of it, late aane ke liye nahin daantte the. Aap isliye daantte the ki aapko pata tha ki isse patients ko pareshaani hoti hai, jiska aap khud bahut khayaal rakhte the. Phir maine apne strict boss ke andar woh insaan dekha jo apni duty ke beyond ja kar logon ki fikr karta hai. Apne patients ki, apne subordinates ki. Pata hai, jab aapne mujhse kaha tha ki mujhe decide karna hai ki mujhe is profession mein rahna hai ya nahin, to woh pahli baar tha jab main apne career ke baare mein khud decide kar rahi thi. Baba ne mujhe har tarah ki azaadi di, lekin ye choice kabhi nahin di. You can't imagine what it meant to me. Aapne mujhe galti ke liye bahut daanta, lekin phir aapne meri choice ko respect karte hue mujhe doosra mauka bhi diya. Aapki jagah koi aur hota to ye kabhi nahin karta. Mujhe mauka de kar aapne apni professional reputation stake par daali thi. Agar main nahin sudharti to? Lekin aapne ye risk liya. Aapse milne waali inspiration wahin par khatm nahin hui. Aapne mujhe ek achcha doctor banne ke liye, ek serious career banane ke liye inspire kiya. PG ke baare mein to main otherwise soch bhi nahin rahi thi. Aur aapko dekh kar mera aapki tarah banne ka man hone laga. Main aapki itni respect karne lagi..." she paused and smiled, "...aapko shayad aaj bhi andaaza nahin hai ki main aapki kitni respect karti hoon. Khair. Shayad meri feelings respect aur idolization tak hi limited rahti agar..." she suddenly stopped.
Ashutosh was engrossed in what she was saying. He involuntarily and eagerly asked when she stopped, "Agar?"
Nidhi took a deep breath, "Agar maine Dr. Hardstone ke facade peechhe chhipe ek narm-dil insaan ka dard aur akelapan nahin dekha hota. It was presumptous on my part, lekin main aapke liye kuchh karna chahti thi, aapka dard door karna chahti thi. Pata nahin kyon aur kaise, lekin aap bhi mujhse khul kar baatein karne lage the. Jitna zyada aapko personally jaana, utna hi main aapki care karne lagi. Aur phir, unexpected tha, odd tha, lekin mujhe laga ki hum dost ban gaye hain kyonki aap apni marzi se, apni khushi se mere saath apne man ki baatein, apna dard, apna past sab share karte the. Usse zyada odd ye tha ki meri feelings ko confront karne ke liye mujhe Dr. Mallika ne majboor kiya. Anji bhi mujhe chidhati thi, lekin it was Dr. Mallika who cornered me. Then I realized ki respect, care, friendship - yahi sab saath mil kar to pyaar hoti hain na. Not that ki main tab aapse ye expect kar rahi thi ki aap bhi... Lekin apni feelings ko accept karna hi pada."
Nidhi felt his hand on her shoulder and turned around. His eyes were moist. He pulled her in a bone crushing hug. She was panting by the time they separated.
"Nidhi. Pata hai, mujhe dar lagta tha ki kahin tum mujhe itna zyada idolize to nahin karti ho ki meri kamzoriyon ko, meri insecurities ko accept nahin kar paogi. Lekin aaj main jaanta hoon ki aisi koi problem nahin hai. Tumne meri achchhaiyan, buraiyan, stregnth, insecurities sab samjhi hain. You are truly my life partner Nidhi. Aur agar aaj ke baad kissi ne mujhse ye kaha na ki tum mere liye bahut young ya immature ho, to main confidently use bata sakta hoon ki maturity aur understanding mein tum poori duniya ki naani ho," Ashutosh laughed slightly and Nidhi joined him.
"I love you Nidhi. I love you more than anything else in the world." Ashutosh suddenly said.
Nidhi blushed and smiled. She hid her face in his chest, as she said, "I love you too!"
- The End -
Cricket
Indian Mythology
