Continued from Part 12
Part 13
"Really? That's great Ashutosh. Lekin achanak kya ho gaya?" Mathew was surprised.
"Kya ho gaya?"
"Abhi hafte bhar pahle maine tumse kaha tha ki tumhein AIIMS join karna chahiye to tumne mana kar diya tha ki tum Lucknow nahin chhod sakte. Ab achanak..."
"Well. Mujhe laga ki it will be a good change. Personally and professionally. To isliye ab main join karna chahta hoon."
"Okay," Mathew said clearly not convinced. But he tried not to appear too intruding, "Main reference de kar process shuru karwata hoon. Apna resume e-mail kar do mujhe. Except for administrative things, zyada time to nahin lagega."
"Thanks Mathew. Main abhi mail karwata hoon."
"Karwata hoon? Kotnis General hospital mein ward in-charges ko assistants milte hain kya?" Mathew teased him.
Ashutosh was going to call Nidhi, who was sitting on the hospital bed with her laptop all the time to mail the resume. So, without realizing it, he had ended up saying "karwata hoon", instead of "karta hoon". And Mathew also didn't leave the opportunity to tease him.
"Mathew. Tum doctor ho ya linguist? Baal ki khaal kyon nikaal rahe ho..."
"Sorry Baba," he laughed, "Main mazaak kar raha hai. Itna work up kyon ho rahe ho? Yahan aaoge to mujhe aur bhi jhelna padega. Aadat daal lo."
--
Mathew had come to see Nidhi in her room.
"How are you feeling Dr. Nidhi?"
"Much better, Sir."
"Waise Ashutosh ne to bataya hi hoga ki woh AIIMS shift ho raha hai."
"Yes Sir." Was she supposed to tell him that she was the one who had logged into Ashutosh' e-mail account and sent him the resume.
"Are! Maine thoda zyada enthusiasm expect kiya tha bhai. Aapke role model yahan aa rahe hain..."
Nidhi laughed nervously, "Sir. Taang kheenchna to koi aapse seekhe."
"Main bahut serious tha Dr. Nidhi. Balki main kya soch raha hoon ki ek baar Ashutosh yahan aa jaye to phir main aapko uske under hi shift kar doonga. I'm sure you would be happy to have your old boss back."
"No!" Ashutosh and Nidhi cried in chorus, leaving Mathew surprised.
"Okay," he shrugged in a gesture of stepping back, "Aisa kya ho gaya..."
Nidhi looked at Ashutosh nervously.
"Well. I think alag-alag logon ke saath kaam karna achchha rahta hai," Ashutosh replied, "Professional growth ke liye. So, its better ki Dr. Nidhi tumhare under hi kaam karein Mathew. Mere saath to ek saal kiya hi hai. What do you say Dr. Nidhi?"
"Y... Yes Sir. Main bhi... yahi soch rahi thi." Nidhi would have agreed to anything he said at that moment. This was still a very reasonable explanation.
"Okay," Mathew shrugged again, but he looked at them curiously. Then he changed the topic, "Waise tum join kab tak kar rahe ho?"
"Do mahine to lagenge. Kotnis ke arrangements karne mein sab wrap up karne mein."
"Okay."
--
"Haan Bua. Achchha hi to hai na. Nidhi ka khayaal rakhne ke liye Dr. Ashutosh aas paas honge... Ab Bua... ye kaisi zidd hai? Abhi itni jaldbaazi mein shaadi kaise ho sakti hai? Aur Nidhi ke liye bhi sahi nahin hai. Abhi abhi operation... Nahin Bua... Logon ko jo kahna hai kahne dijiye. Mujhe bas Nidhi ki chinta hai..."
"Kya hua Bhai Sahab?" Shayama asked after Yograj had disconnected the call.
"Bua thi. Ab unhein is baat ki chinta khaye ja rahi hai ki Dr. Ashutosh Delhi aayenge, ye dono aas paas rahenge to log kya kahenge. Unki shaadi ho jaani chahiye. Ab aap bataiye, ye koi samay hai shaadi ka? Abhi operation ke baad theek bhi nahin hui hai Nidhi, uski padhai ka itna nuksaan pahle hi hua hai. Dr. Ashutosh ke paas bhi time hoga ya nahin..."
"Aapki baat to sahi hai. Abhi shaadi ke liye jaldbaazi theek nahin hai."
"Wahi to. Lekin Bua ko kaun samjhaye..."
Just then Shayama's mobile rang. She looked at the number and informed Yograj, "Aapke ghar se hai. Bua hongi..."
Yograj hit his forehead in frustration.
"Namaste Bua," Shayama greeted her and prepared for the barrage that was to come from the other side, "Lekin Bua... Suniye to. Delhi bahut bada shahar hai. Kissi ko kissi se koi matlab nahin hota. Koi kuchh nahin kahega... Haan. Haan. Main aapki baat samajh rahi hoon... Achchha theek hai... Theek hai. Main dekhti hoon. Aap aise pareshaan mat hoiye..."
"Phir se wahi baat?" Yograj asked Shayama impatiently. She nodded.
"Baba. Inki engagement karwa dete hain na. Compromise ka raasta. Dadi Bua ki baat bhi rah jayega," Anji offered a solution at which both Shyama and Yograj jumped.
"Ye achchha idea hai. Thoda to Bua ko bhi peechhe hatna hi padega," Yograj said.
"Chaliye. Hospital chal kar Nidhi se bhi baat kar lete hain. Aur phir Dr. Ashutosh ko phone kar denge," Shyama suggested Ashutosh had gone back to Lucknow to wrap up his work at Kotnis, find a replacement and ensure that his leaving won't cause any disruptions.
--
Nidhi and Ashutosh agreed to the idea of engagement. It was decided that it will be done in Delhi the weekend before Ashutosh was to join AIIMS. Six weeks were still to go before that. Anji had to go back to Lucknow as she had taken too many leaves already. Shayam also convinced Yograj to go back to look after the business while she stayed back to be with Nidhi, who was still recovering. Ashutosh had said that he would come to Delhi on one of the weekends and make arrangements for a small engagement ceremony. Only close family and friends were supposed to be there.
--
"Waise to hamein Delhi mein kissi ko invite karne ki zaroorat nahin hai. Lekin Dr. Mathew ko to karna hi chahiye. Who mere boss hain aur hum teenon log saath mein kaam karenge. To unhein pata hona chahiye." Nidhi told Ashutosh when he came to Delhi to make arrangements for the enagagement.
"Haan. And its going to be odd..." Ashutosh replied.
"Odd? Kyon?"
"Kyonki Dr. Nidhi Verma. Aapki harquaton se unhein aisa laga tha ki you have a huge crush on me aur..."
Nidhi giggled, "Crush? Khair theek hai. Phir to it won't be a surprise to him."
"What won't be a surprise? Jab main pichhli baar yahan aaya tha to usne mujhse ye kaha tha and then I had, of course, rubbished it."
"Hmm..."
"To Dr. Mathew ko invite to karna hi hai. Aur who aap karengi."
"Kya? Main? Nahin. Ye kya baat hui... Woh aapke dost hain," Nidhi tried to shirk it off with reasoning.
"Woh aapke boss hain. Ye zyada important hai," Ashutosh was not giving in.
"Not fair Dr. Ashutosh," Nidhi pouted.
"Abhi meri unfairness ke baare mein tumhein kuchh pata hi kahan hai," Ashutosh joked suggestively and Nidhi blushed.
--
Nidhi knocked at Mathew's door and went in after his permission.
"Good Morning, Sir," she greeted him.
"Good Morning Dr. Nidhi. So, you are fit and fine now. Back to work?"
"Yes Sir."
"Lekin try to take it easy. Abhi poori tarah se theek hone mein aapko time lagega. Main administrator se kah doonga aapki night duties wagerah na lagayen. But you should also take care and not over exert yourself."
"Thank you, Sir. Main dhyaan rakhoongi. Aur..."
"Yes?"
"Mujhe aapko invite karna tha..."
"Kis cheez ke liye?"
"Meri engagement..."
Mathew was visibly surprised, "Engagement? Aapki? Abhi? You mean engagement for marriage?"
"Yes Sir. Aur kaun si engagement hogi?"
"Yes - of course..." Mathew said feeling like a fool. But an engagement right after a uterus removal operation was too unexpected. And then he didn't know of anyone in her life. Did her parents manage to find someone...
"Congratulations," he said gathering his thoughts, "Though I must admit I am very surprised. It's so sudden. Kaam ke beech mein aapko kissi se milne ka mauka kaise mil gaya? Ya aapke parents ne..."
"Nahin... Parents nahin... Milne ka mauka mil gaya. Thanks to you..." Nidhi practically mumbled her answer.
Now Mathew was even more puzzled, "Thanks to me... I don't see ki aap aisa mazaak kyon karengi, lekin aap mazaak kar rahi hain, right? There is no engagement..."
"No. No... Oh my God!" Nidhi cried, "Main koi mazaak nahin kar rahi. But ab main aapko aur kuchh explain nahin kar sakti. Engagement hai. Hotel Continental mein. Chhoti se party hai. Humne zyada logon ko invite nahin kiya hai. Isliye koi printed invitation card nahin hai. Aap please apni wife ke saath zaroor aaiyega. 12 baje din mein. Next Sunday. Main aapko details e-mail bhi kar doongi. Aur baaki sab aap Dr. Ashutosh se poochh lijiye." She said everything in one breath as if she won't be able to speak again if she stopped.
"Dr. Ashutosh?"Mathew appeared not just surprised, but shocked now, "What does Dr. Ashutosh have to do with this?"
Nidhi realized that he hadn't told him that her engagement was with Dr. Ashutosh. She hit her forehead and said quicly, "Matlab... meri aur Dr. Ashutosh ki engagement hai. Ab... main chalti hoon Sir. Aap zaroor aaiyega." Nidhi dashed off not listening to Dr. Mathew asking her to stop.
She sighed after she had come out of Mathew's office as if she had finished a dangerous mission and sent an SMS to Ashutosh, "Maine invite karne ka kaam kar diya hai. Baaki aap sambhaaliye."
--
Ashutosh saw her message and immediately received a call from Mathew.
"Hello Ashutosh," Mathew's voice was very uncertain, "Ye... Dr. Nidhi Verma abhi aayi thi mere office mein..."
"Yeah. I know," Ashutosh chuckled realizing how perplexed Mathew was.
"So, she wasn't joking? Ya phir tum bhi is joke ka part ho?"
Ashutosh laughed out loud, "Koi joke nahin hai Mathew. Hum kyon mazaak karenge tumhare saath? Tumhein to thanks bolna chahiye ki tumne mujhe guest lecture ke liye invite kiya. Just make sure you keep you Sunday free."
"Maine tumhein invite kiya. Tum Dr. Nidhi se mile. Ek hafte yahan rahe. Aur bas? Aise achanak?"
"Achanak kyon hoga? Tumhein pata hai ki hum ek-doosre ko pahle se jaante hain..."
"Haan... To pichhle dedh saalon mein tum kahan the? Aur Dr. Nidhi bhi hardly Lucknow jaati thi... It has to be a joke. Doesn't make sense. Kya kar rahe ho tum?"
Ashutosh laughed again, "Koi joke nahin hai Mathew. Main tumse Delhi aa kar baat karta hoon."
"Okay... Lekin... Iska matlab tum isi wajah se AIIMS join karne ko taiyaar ho gaye the?"
"Yes, Dr. Mathew," Ashutosh mimicked formality.
"Cool. Achchha hai. See you soon then."
--
"Nidhi," Armaan beamed on seeing Nidhi on the engagement day and gave her a slight side hug, "Thank you so much. Aakhir tumne sab theek kar hi diya."
"Aap mujhe thank you kyon bol rahe hain Dr. Armaan? This is so absurd," Nidhi smiled sweetly.
"Thank you mere dost ko wapas zinda karne ke liye Nidhi."
"Kya baatein chal rahi hain tum dono ke beech?" Ashutosh came there just then. His happiness was showing through his broad smile. There was no way anyone could miss that.
"Main Nidhi se poochh raha tha ki mere saath bhaagne ka kya legi?" Armaan joked.
"Dr. Armaan..." Nidhi blushed heavily at the joke.
"Usse tum mujhe nahin dara sakte Armaan. She is quite a handful. Ghante bhar mein wapas kar jaoge tum," Ashutosh laughed out loud surprising both Armaan and Nidhi with his unrestrained laughter as well as good humour.
Just then they saw Mathew coming with his wife Roselyn and their six year old son George. His wife was also a doctor in orthopedics. Ashutosh went forward to welcome them while Nidhi stayed back with Anji.
"Hi Mathew, Roselyn. Thanks so much for coming," Ashutosh welcomed him warmly.
"Honestly Ashutosh. Main yahan aate hue bhi Roselyn se kah raha tha ki it is some big, elaborate joke. Mujhe abhi bhi bharosa nahin ho raha hai..."
"Isliye to tumhein sab witness karne ko bulaya hai. Aao."
Baba also came forward and welcomed Mathew. Mathew and Roselyn met Nidhi and congratualated her. Roselyn stayed with Nidhi, while Mathew, Armaan and Ashutosh went out in the balcony with drinks.
Armaan volunteered to tell Ashutosh and Nidhi's story to Mathew, "Aur Ashutosh. Jo gap rah jaye, woh tu fill kar dena."
Ashutosh laughed, "Nahin. Jitna tujhe pata hai Armaan, woh kissi ko bhi batane ke liye kaafee hai."
"Yes. Dr. Mathew. Baaki ki baatein private hain na," Armaan teased Ashutosh and they all laughed.
Mathew listened in silence and fascination as Armaan narrated the entire story as much as he knew.
--
"Are Anji. Ye itna saara kya dho kar le ja rahi hai?" Nidhi noticed Anji struggling with two huge baskets.
"Woh sab Dadi Bua se poochh Nidhi. Kuchh rasmon ka saamaan hai. Aur Ye Dr. Armaan ko dena hai. Supposedly un logon ko le kar aana hai."
"Achchha. Chal main teri madad karti hoon le jaane mein."
"Tu rahne de na Nidhi."
"Come on Anji. Chal."
Nidhi picked up the ligher basket and they walked towards the balcony where the men were sitting. But they stopped in their tracks as they heard Mathew's voice.
--
"So, as far as I read the situation, operation ke baad Nidhi ke father maan gaye. I can see where he is coming from. And it is probably an odd question to ask on this day Ashutosh. Lekin mujhe pahle kabhi mauka hi nahin diya tumne. Tumne faisla jaldbaazi mein to nahin le liya?"
"No. No. Dr. Mathew," Armaan spoke before Ashutosh could, "Aapne is dono ko dekha nahin hai saath mein. Aur phir alag alag - kitne dukhi rahe hain. These things don't even figure in the world they live in."
"Armaan is right Mathew," Ashutosh spoke slowly, but in a certain voice, "Pyaar koi len-den to nahin hota. Main itna jaanta hoon ki Nidhi ke saath main khush hoon. Baaki cheezein matter nahin karti."
"That's great Ashutosh," Mathew conceded.
"Ek baat aur hai. Maine kabhi khud socha nahin is baare mein. It was obvious to me ki agar Baba maan jaate hain to mere aur Nidhi ke raaste mein koi nahin aa sakta hai. Lekin logon ne itni baar mujhse mere decision ke baare mein poochha to main ek baat sochne par majboor ho gaya..."
Anji saw Nidhi gulping hard and anxiouly turned her attention back to what Ashutosh was saying.
"... ki aakhir log is cheez ko itna importance kyon dete hain ki whether a woman can get pregnant or not. Mujhe realize hua ki aisa isliye hota hai ki log pregnancy aur motherhood ko ek hi cheez maan lete hain. Lekin ye sahi nahin hai. Pregnancy is a biological phenomenon and for the life of mine, I can't understand ki nature ne repoduction ke liye itna complicated aur painful tareeka kyon chuna hai. But motherhood is not pregnancy. Motherhood is about nurturing, caring, loving, educating... It is about helping a helpless and skill-less baby become capable and mature adult over time. Kitni auratein pregnant ho kar apne bachchon ko marne ke liye chhod deti hain. Chahe jo bhi wajah ho, ignorance, poverty, health. But do we like that? Do we want that? No. Pregnancy is not the most important thing. Motherhood is what is important. That is the quality we want to see in the women. I think same goes for fatherhood too. Just because Nidhi pregnant nahin ho sakti, iska ye matlab nahin hai ki woh Maa nahin ban sakti, motherhood experience nahin kar sakti. In fact, I know that she will make an excellent mother. Tumne use bachchon ko handle karte to dekha hi hoga Mathew..."
Ashutosh stopped as he realized that Armaan and Mathew were staring at him almost in a daze. He laughed slightly in embarrassment, "Sorry. Lagta hai ki philosophy kuchh zyada ho gayi. Andar chal kar aur drinks le lein..."
"No. No. Ashutosh," Mathew objected, "Kuchh bhi zyada nahin hua hai. I can't think of a simpler thing that can be more enlightening than this. I will be honest. Maine kabhi aise sawaal face nahin kiye khud ke liye. So, I wasn't sure ki main tumhari jagah hota to kya faisla leta. Mujhe ye bhi shaq tha ki kahin tum aage ja kar regret na karo. Lekin tumne jo abhi kaha, it makes such perfect sense ki mujhe nahin lagta ki kissi ka bhi faisla tumse different hona chahiye."
"Yaar Ashu. Tu to sach mein gaya," Armaan said, "Philosopher, shayar, pata nahin kya-kya ban gaya hai ishq mein. Main sach bataun - mujhe bahut gussa aata tha tujh par. Kyonki mujhe lagta tha ki tune is rishte se peechhe hat kar, khud ki, aur Nidhi ki bhi, zindagi barbaad kar rakhi hai. Teri halat to din raat dekhta hi tha. Jab kabhi Nidhi se baat ki, ye dekhna mushkil nahin tha ki outwardly brave ban kar bhi who andar se kitni dukhi thi. Lekin jo bhi hua ho aaj tak, aaj tune khud ko meri nazaron mein to completely redeem kar liya hai. Seriously."
Ashutosh smiled and Armaan continued addressing Mathew, "Mujhe lagta hai ki jo abhi Ashu ne kaha hai uska pamphlet banwa kar hamein desh ke saare hospitals ke gynacology departments mein bhijwa dena chahiye. Jo sar peetate couples aate hain na ki body allow kare na kare, bachche paida karne hi hai, un sabko padhwa dena chahiye. Bahuton ka bhala hoga. Kyon Dr. Mathew?"
They all laughed and the mood became light again, when Armaan noticed Nidhi and Anji standing at the entrance of the balcony. Anji's eyes were also moist, but Nidhi's tears were uncontrollable. They were flowing down her cheeks.
"Offo," Armaan pretended to be annoyed, "Ye humne kise rula diya?" Ashutosh and Mathew also noticed Anji and Nidhi when Armaan said that.
Nidhi put down the basket on a table lying nearby and wiped her tears, but they were flowing continuously even as she smiled in embarrassment. Ashutosh looked at her fondly and helplessly. What was he to say or do in front of so many people? Armaan silently indicated to Anji and Mathew and they all walked back into the party hall leaving Ashutosh and Nidhi alone in the balcony.
Ashutosh went to Nidhi and held her by her upper arms, "Ro kyon rahi ho? Aisa kya sun liya tumne?"
Nidhi smiled through her tears, "Iske liye pareshaan hone ki zaroorat nahin hai. Khushi ke aansoon hain."
"Bahut mushkil hai Nidhi. Main to tumhein hanste hue dekhna chahta hoon. Lekin tumhein dard deta hoon phir bhi roti ho. Khushi deta hoon phir bhi roti ho. Main to aise confused ho jaunga na?"
Nidhi laughed slightly, "Kuchh confuse hone ki zaroorat nahin hai. Kuchh alag se karne ki bhi zaroorat nahin hai. Aap bas jaise hain, waise hi rahiye. Usse hi main bahut khush rahti hoon."
"Tum bhi Nidhi," Ashutosh replied and they hugged.
- The End -
Edited by sharmishtha02 - 13 years ago
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