Ashutosh stared at the mail from Dr. Mathew, whom he had known for several years. He had recently joined the pediatrics department of AIIMS and had invited him for giving a guest lecture there. Ashutosh was unable to make up his mind. Typically such requests were honoured in the profession. But this was for AIIMS. And it meant...
He re-read the e-mail. It was for the first year students. Nidhi would be in her second year now. He would be able to avoid her, he decided and sent his acceptance.
--
"Ashutosh. That was a great lecture. You should be in an insittute like this. Achchhe teachers ki bahut zaroorat hai is profession mein. Being a good teacher, along with being a good doctor is so rare. Students tumhein sach mein sun rahe the yaar. It was too good," Ashutosh was in Mathew's office after delivering the lecture.
"Tum overboard ja rahe ho Mathew. Maine koi aisa aasmaas se taare todne waala kaam nahin kiya hai."
"Ashutosh. Main din-raat students se deal karta hoon. Trust me I know their reactions. Stop being so humble yaar. Lucknow mein kya kar rahe ho tum? Come to Delhi. AIIMS will more than welcome you."
"Sab log Delhi hi aa gaye to Lucknow ka kya hoga Mathew. Main wahin theek hoon." Lucknow was so connected with Baba that Ashutosh could not imagine settling down anywhere other than Lucknow.
"Achchha suno. About the lunch..."
"May I come in, Sir?" someone knocked at the office door and asked.
Ashutosh heard the voice and stiffened. It couldn't be anyone else.
"Please come on. Who is this... Oh. Dr. Nidhi Verma. Please come. Are... Main aapko batana kaise bhool gaya Dr. Nidhi ki Dr. Ashutosh yahan hain? Aap logon ko to introduce karwane ki zaroorat nahin hai."
Ashutosh and Nidhi stared at each other. Nidhi's surprise was obviously greater because she had no clue about him being there in Delhi. Ashutosh was embarrassed. He didn't know why though. Was it for coming there or was it for not informing her?
Mathew seemed completely unaware of the storm lurking under their controlled demeanours, "Ashutosh. Ye bhi ek reason hai ki mujhe lagta hai tumhein teaching mein aana chahiye. Ye Dr. Nidhi Verma. Kamaal ki training di hai tumne inhein. Waise to khud bhi PG student hi hain, lekin ward mein MBBS interns inse itna darte hain jitna ki mujhse bhi nahin darte. Mazaal hai ki koi paanch minute bhi der se aaye. Ya zara bhi apni duty shirk kare. Aur khud to ye hamesha samay ke pahle hi taiyaar rahti hain. Aur haan - apni in saari aadaton ka credit tumhein deti hain. Kyon Dr. Nidhi?"
Nidhi smiled nervously, "Sir aap bhi... Hello Dr. Ashutosh. Aap kaise hain?" she asked him formally.
"Main theek hoon. Aur aap?"
She gulped slightly before replying, "I am fine."
"Dr. Nidhi. Aapse ek favour chahiye tha," Mathew said.
"Yes Sir?"
"Dr. Ashutosh yahan ek guest lecture dene ke liye aaye hain. Aur mujhe abhi unhein lunch par le jaana tha. Lekin meri ek urgent lunch meeting schedule ho gayi hai. To main ja nahin sakta. Taste of Delhi restaurant mein do logon ke liye table booked hai. Agar aap lunch time par free ho to kya aap Dr. Ashutosh ko host kar sakti hain?"
"Ji?" Nidhi looked at Ashutosh unsurely. He didn't give any indication of whether he liked the idea or not. "Main free hoon," she said hesitatingly, "In fact post-lunch bhi meri duty nahin hai. To koi problem nahin hogi."
"That's great then. Ashutosh. You have a taxi, right? Aap log use use kar sakte hain."
"Okay Dr. Mathew. Waise main aapko ye project reports dene aayi thi," Nidhi handed him a file.
"Yeah. Thanks. Main ise padh loonga."
"Chalein Dr. Ashutosh? Ek baj rahe hain, lunch ka time to ho hi gaya hai."
"Yeah. Sure," Ashutosh spoke for the first time during the entire lunch planning.
--
They were quiet during the short drive to the restaurant. It was awkward anyway. They were face to face after more than a year. And the presence of the driver made it impossible to talk.
"I am sorry," were the first words he said after they were seated.
"Kis liye?" she tried hard to controlled, but her voice quivered.
"Yeah," he spoke, his guilt looking obvious, "Bahut saari cheezon ke liye, jo maine kiya, aur jo main kar raha hoon. Sirf isliye ki mujhe nahin pata hai ki what can I do better."
They were interrupted by the waiter who served them the water and asked them if they wanted to go a-la-carte or for the buffet. Ashutosh looked at Nidhi.
"Buffet," she told the waiter. That would give them more time to themselves without any interruptions. They picked up soup and salad and came back to their table.
"Aapne mujhe bataya bhi nahin ki aap yahan aa rahe hain," Nidhi questioned him.
Ashutosh nodded and did not say anything.
"Agar main abhi Dr. Mathew ke office mein nahin aati to mujhe pata bhi nahin chalta..."
"Nidhi please!" Ashutosh pleaded with her. He had no answers to her questions.
She stopped talking and started sipping her soup. They went through the motion of having their lunch without talking further.
"Aapke paas abhi time hai?" she finally asked when they came out of the restaurant.
"Haan. Meri flight raat mein hai."
"Ghar chalenge aap?"
"Ghar?"
"Well - ek bedroom ka chhota sa flat hai..."
"Lagta hai PG students ke pay badh gayi hai," Ashutosh joked, "Akele flat le kar rah rahi ho?" It was unsual for PG students to stay on their own. Typically they would share accommoation with other students.
"Baba pay par rahe hain iske liye."
"Hmm.. Chalo phir."
Although they were silent in the driver's presence as they drove towards her house, but the little joke about the pay had broken the ice. Both could feel that.
"Mujhse bahut naaraaz ho Nidhi?" Ashutosh asked her after they reached her home.
"Aapse naraaz ho kar kissi ka kya kar loongi main," Nidhi replied sadly.
"I want you to move on Nidhi. I want you to be happy."
Tears came to Nidhi's eyes when he said that.
"Nidhi..."
"Dr. Ashutosh. Duniya mein do log hain jinse main bahut pyaar karti hoon. Aur itni khushkismat hoon ki won do log bhi mujhse bahut pyaar karte hain. Hamesha meri bhalai ki sochte hain. Lekin phir bhi - woh dono jo karte hain, usse main khush rahne ke jagah hurt hi ho jati hoon. Unke intention mein to koi burai nahin hai. Main unse shikayat nahin kar sakti. To mujhme hi kuchh galat hoga na? Mujhme hi koi kami hogi ki mere aas paas itna pyaar hote hue bhi main khush nahin hoon. Bataiye na Dr. Ashutosh? Kya galat hai mujhme? Baba bhi meri bhalai chahte hain, aap bhi. Lekin phir bhi main khush kyon nahin hoon?" Tears were flowing out of her eyes staining her cheeks.
"Oh God!" Ashutosh shut his eyes in pain when he saw her crying and baring her heart. Then he went to her and pulled her in his arms, "I had no idea... I am ashamed to admit Nidhi ki main apne dard mein, apni pareshaaniyon mein itna kho gaya ki kabhi socha nahin ki maine tumhein akele chhod diya hai. I am so sorry. I am really sorry Nidhi. Aur main bahut sharminda hoon. Main bilkul andha ho gaya tha..."
"Aapne apna phone kyon disconnect karwaya?" Nidhi asked angrily after they broke the hug.
"Main... Mujhe laga... Ab main kya explain karoon Nidhi? Obviously main galat tha. Jaise main soch raha tha, woh galat tha..."
"Lekin soch kya rahe the aap? Dr. Rangnath ko promise kar ke bhi aap wedding mein nahin aaye... Phir ghar se bhi gayab the... Aur uske baad..."
"Nidhi. Jis wajah se maine aane ka waada kiya tha, usi wajah se use tod bhi diya. Main taiyaar hua tha wedding mein aane ke liye. Kyonki main tumhein dekhna chahta tha, tumse milna chahta tha. Lekin aakhiri waqt par mujhe realize hua ki jo kuchh main kar raha hoon, usse tumhare Baba ko jo waada kiya tha woh tod raha hoon. Isliye shaadi mein nahin aaya. Phone disconnect karwa diya kyonki mujhe laga ki hamara phone par baatein karna bhi sahi nahin tha. Jab tak tum Lucknow mein thi, utna waqt maine khud ko, hum dono ko diya tha... Lekin uske baad... Main khud par to sakht ho hi raha tha. Lekin kabhi mujhe ye nahin realize hua ki tum par kitna sakht ho raha tha main."
"Phone katwa kar aapne mere saath bahut bura kiya Dr. Ashutosh," Nidhi also had to let it out, "Aapko pata hai main kitna tadpi hoon aapki awaaz ek baar sunne ke liye? Sirf who 'hello' jo aap bolte the. Kabhi kabhi woh bhi nahin bolte the. Bas phone utha kar apna kaam karte rahte the. Lekin usse mujhe kitna sukoon milta tha. Aap bahut bure hain. Bahut bure hain. Bahut galat kiya aapne mere saath," Nidhi complained and started crying again.
"Nidhi. Please, please rona band karo. Suno - main abhi tumhare saath chal kar naya connection leta hoon. Pre-paid immediately mil jayega na. Tumhare naam se le lenge. Tumhara to address proof bhi hoga. Abhi chalo..."
"Ye Delhi ka number hoga. Lucknow mein roaming par rahega."
"To kya hua? Chalega to hai na. Chalo abhi mere saath..."
Nidhi smiled finally, "Uski zaroorat nahin hai Dr. Ashutosh. Mujhe aap par bharosa hai. Aap Lucknow ja kar naya number le lijiyega. Abhi bas aap baithiye. Jo thoda samay hai, main aapke saath bitaana chahti hoon. Main aapke liye chai laun?"
"Button daba kar?" Ashutosh asked playfully.
"Nahin. Paani electric kettle mein garm kar ke usmein tea-bag daal kar."
Ashutosh laughed and nodded.
--
Ashutosh noticed Nidhi limping slightly as she brought back tea. He got up and took the tea tray from her hands.
"Kya hua? Tum aise limp kyon ka rahi ho?"
"Nahin to. Main bilkul theek hoon."
"Nidhi! Hum dono doctors hain. Cut that crap."
"Pichhle kuchh dinon se kabhi kabhi pet mein dard shuru ho jaata hai. Koi khaas nahin hai. Theek ho jayega abhi thodee der mein."
"Kitne dinon se?"
"Kuchh pandrah-bees dinon se."
"To tumne check up kyon nahin karwaya?"
"Hum doctors waise bhi paranoid hone ke liye badnaam hote hain."
"Better be paranoid than sorry! Batao kahan dard hota hai?"
"Dr. Ashutosh. It's not important. Seriously."
"Explain it then."
She was a doctor and it wasn't such a big deal for her to speak about menstural problems with her colleagues. But he was not just a doctor, but also a man she loved. The hesitations and shyness of of a man-woman relationship came naturally to her in this case. But he was adamant, "I am waiting."
"It's probably just the menstural troubles," she had to say.
Ashutosh was more seasoned than she was. He wasn't hesitant, "Pandrah-bees dinon se? Ye hamesha to nahin hota tha?"
"No."
"You fool. Can't you see it is not normal, then? Not the regular menstural troubles. Mujhe bharosa nahin hota ki tum kabhi-kabhi illiterate, uninformed gaon ki auraton ke tarah khud ko treat karti ho. Chalo abhi hospital."
"Dr. Ashutosh. Please. Theek hai. Main check up karwa loongi. Lekin abhi nahin."
"Bilkul abhi. Kam se kam aas paas koi diagnostic centre to hoga. I want to see an x-ray."
"Aap thodee der mere saath baithna bhi nahin chate kya. Kabhi mobile lena hai, kabhi hospital chalna hai. Hardly kuchh ghante hain..." Nidhi was genuinely agitated.
Ashutosh sighed. Then he took out his ticket from the bag and dialed the customer service number, "Yes. Main apna ticket cancel karwana chahta hoon... Yes - I know ki sirf taxes refund honge... Please jaldi kijiye... No. I don't want to reschedule. I don't know when will I travel next. Please cancel it." He addressed her impatiently after canceling the ticket, "Happy? Ab chalein?"
"Ji," Nidhi had to give up, "Diagnostic centre hai paas mein."
--
They got the x-ray pretty quickly and Ashutosh appeared worried after looking at it.
"Kya hua?" Nidhi asked.
"I hate you for doing this Nidhi. Tumne mujhse waada kiya tha ki tum apni health ka khayaal rakhogi. Dekho ise - I am 99% sure there is a tumour. Chalo hospital abhi."
Nidhi was also shaken when she looked at the x-ray, "Ye... Ye kuchh aur bhi to ho sakta hai na..." she said more to herself than to him, "Mujhe realize nahin hua..."
Ashutosh could not remain angry when he saw her so scared, "Koi baat nahin Nidhi. Nothing that can not be treated. Aur sirf x-ray se confirm bhi nahin ho sakta. Chalo hospital."
Nidhi followed him silently.
--
Doctors in the gynacology decided to do angiogrpahy to rule out other possibilities with similar symptoms. It was an invasive procedure and she had to be given anaesthesia for that. She had still not become conscious when the report came to Ashutosh.
"Tumour hi hai Dr. Ashutosh," the gynacologist told him, "Immediately fatal nahin hai. But it will grow and ultimately uterus remove karna hi padega. Jitni jaldi kar diya jaye utna behtar hai. Warna pain badhta hi jayega."
Ashutosh nodded. He had also called Dr. Mathew who was Nidhi's boss in the hospital.
"I think we should inform her family," Mathew said.
"Yeah. Tum aisa karo Mathew, inke father ko seedhe call mat karo. Woh ghabra jayenge. Main tumhein inki friend ka number deta hoon. Unhein inform kijiye. Wahi inke father ko bhi bata dengi."
"Sure. As you suggest Ashutosh."
Anji was promptly informed and she rushed to talk to Baba. She called back saying that she, her mother Shyama and Nidhi's Baba were taking the next flight to Delhi.
"Doctor," a nurse came out of Nidhi's room, "Unhein hosh aaya tha lekin woh bahut pain mein thi. To maine unhein pain-killers aur sedatives de diye hain. She is sleeping again."
Ashutosh was disappointed. He was hoping to talk to her before her Baba came. But that chance was gone now.
"Aapne unhein diagnosis bata diya hai," he asked the nurse.
"Ji. Koi problem hai kya? Mujhe laga ki who khud doctor hain..."
"Nahin, nahin. Its okay," Ashutosh assured her.
"Tum mere office mein wait kyon nahin karte Ashutosh," Mathew offered, "Tumhari flight?"
"Cancel karwa li hai."
"Oh," Mathew appeared surprised, but he did not say anything, "That's nice of you."
"Mathew. Do you think you can extend my reservation at AIIMS guest house for a few days? I will pay for that, of course. Ya phir yahan aas-paas koi hote hai..."
"Don't worry Ashutosh. Guest house mein reservation ki problem nahin hogi. "
--
Continued in Part 10