The 3 year old girl who was brought in by police was badly bruised and had a limp in her left leg. Nidhi was trying to calm the crying girl down so that she could administer her a pain killer and then start a diagnosis.
"Kya hua?" Ashutosh came in along with the nurse who had gone to call him."
"Buri tarah se injured hai Sir. Pain killer legi tabhi kuchh shaant hogi aur tabhi diagnosis ho payegi. Lekin injection dene hi nahin de rahi hai."
"Sister. Aap please patient ko tightly hold kijiye. Zabardasti injection dena hoga."
"Zabardasti karni zaroori hai kya?" Nidhi looked like she herself was on the verge of crying.
"Dr. Nidhi. Bachchi bahut chhoti hai. Ise samjhaana mushkil hai ki iske liye kya achchha hai aur kya bura. Zabardasti nahin ki to aise hi pain mein rahegi. Sister, please hold her. Here. Dr. Nidhi. Injection dijiye please."
Nidhi obeyed him and administered injection to the howling girl, who started crying even more. But soon the strong pain killer showed its effect and she was calmer.
"Ab kya karna hai?" Ashutosh wanted Nidhi to take control.
"Bruises par dawaa lagani hai. Pairon mein fracture hai clearly. X-ray karwana padega. Par jaisi condition hai, aur bhi injuries ho sakti hain. To baaki body parts ka bhi check up..."
"Right. Ye sab karwaiye aur accordingly treat kijiye."
"Orthopedics ki zaroorat hogi..."
"Main phone kar deta hoon. Dr. Dutta honge. Aap unki help le lijiye. Koi complication ho to mujhe bula lijiye. Otherwise jab sab control mein aa jaye to mujhe report dijiye. Main apne office mein hoon."
"Yes Sir."
--
Nidhi had again reverted to not knocking before entering his office.
"Baitho Nidhi."
"Pairon mein fracture tha Sir aur shoulders mein bhi minor injury thi."
"Everything in control?"
"Theek ho jayegi. Lekin Dr. Dutta kah rahe the ki agar follow up physiotherapy nahin hui, to life long limp rah jayega pairon mein. Abhi to police layi ise hospital. I doubt ki aage kuchh aur uski family karwa payegi."
"Ye hua kaise?"
"Ye police ki report hai," Nidhi handed him a paper, "Uske father ne nashe ki halat mein pahle uski Ma ko peet peet kar behosh kar diya. Ye bachchi neend se uth kar dar ke maare rone lagi to use bistar se utha kar neeche patak diya."
"Itni baar dekha hai aise wahshi logon ko Nidhi. Lekin ab bhi mushkil hota hai ye manna ki aise log duniya mein ho sakte hain."
"Pata hai Dr. Ashutosh. Bachpan mein Baba ko is baat ki bahut chinta hoti thi ki main darpok na rah jaun. To woh mujhe bahut pareshaan karte the. Ek baar swimming pool mein phenk diya to ek baar almirah par chadha kar chhod diya. Main chillati rahi, lekin woh meri ek nahin sun rahe the. Ulta Hans rahe the. Ki main Itni darpok kyon hoon. Lekin mujhe koi injection lagna hota to khud rone lagte the, injection lagne ke pahle hi. Ek baar to woh behosh hi ho gaye the..." Nidhi laughed slightly recalling the incident and Ashutosh also joined her.
"Ek taraf aise experiences hain Nidhi aur doosri taraf aise cases," he pointed towards the police report, "Aise maukon par mahsoos hota hai na ki tum aur main kitne lucky hain ki hamein apne Baba se itna pyaar mila."
Nidhi nodded.
"Jo log kissi ko itna dard dete hain, mera wash chale to main unka khoon kar doon. Is duniya mein rahne ke layak nahin hain woh."
"Maanta hoon ki jo kaam is insaan ne kiya hai woh bahut ghinona hai. Lekin Kissi ki galti ko khud galti kar ke theek to nahin kiya ja sakta na. Zulm ko khatm karne ke liye khud zulm karna to theek nahin hai."
"To phir zulm khatm kaise ho?"
"Pata nahin," Ashutosh laughed slightly, "Maine to kabhi zulm kiye nahin."
"Un sab logon ki aatmaayen, jinhone aapke under kaam kiya hai, aapko jhootha kah kar chidha rahi hongi abhi."
Ashutosh laughed, "Lagta hai jo tumhein shuruaat mein thoda bahut daant diya tha maine, uske liye mujhe kabhi maaf nahin karogi."
"Kabhi bhi nahin,"Nidhi said playfully.
"Tumhara ilzaam galat hai Nidhi. Zulm to mere oopar hue hain."
"Aap par kaun se zulm hue hain?"
"Hue hain kai tareeke ke."
"Main nahin maanti. Aap par zulm karne ki himmat kiski hai. Aisa koi himmat waala insaan hai to main usse ab tak mili kaise nahin?"
"Roz hi milti ho."
"Kaun? Main to nahin mili aise kissi insaan se."
"Kyon? Aaina nahin dekhti tum roz?"
"Ji?"
"Ji."
"Achchha mazaak hai. Maine kya zulm kiye hain aapke oopar?"
"Yahi kya kam zulm hai ki zulm kiye itni berahmi se aur aur ab itni innocently poochh rahi ho ki kya kiya."
"Aapne to ghazalein sunni chhod di thi. Ye shayar kaise ban gaye?"
"Ye bhi aapke hi zulmon ka nateeza hai."
"Dr. Ashutosh." Nidhi turned red.
"Can I let myself go Nidhi? Bas jo thode din hamare paas bache hain unmein? Kya main tumhein apne man ki sab baatein bata sakta hoon. Jo ki shayad mujhe nahin batani chahiye kyonki is rishte ka, hamari feelings ka future mujhe maaloom hai. Lekin phir bhi..."
"Ek baar zindagi jeene ka haq to sabko hai. Mujhe bhi hai. Aapko bhi. To phir hum ye haq kyon na claim karein?"
Ashutosh smiled at her. A smile mixed with fondness, longing, love, desire and pain. Nidhi could not meet his eyes and lowered hers. A shy smile was playing on her lips.
Just then they heard a knock. And the door opened without waiting for Ashutosh' permission.
"Ashutosh," Mallika came in and stopped in her tracks when she saw Nidhi and Ashutosh. The effect of their conversation had not been wiped off their faces yet. Nidhi was still smiling shyly and Ashutosh still had the lovelorn look in his eyes.
"Did I disturb?" Mallika asked awkwardly, "Kya baatein kar rahe the aap log?" The awkwardness in her voice had changed to bitterness in her second question.
"Kuchh nahin Mallika," Ashutosh replied calmly, "Jo case abhi abhi police le kar aayi hai, Dr. Nidhi usi ki report de rahi thi mujhe. Tum dekhna chahogi?"
"Nahin. Iski koi zaroorat nahin hai. The case is in capable hands."
"Right."
Nidhi had looked at Ashutosh meanwhile and they had silently conversed that Nidhi should leave.
"Main chalti hoon," she said, picked up the case files and left.
"So, Mallika. What's up?"
"What's up? Iska jawaab to tumhein dena chahiye Ashutosh."
"Baitho Mallika."
"Baith kar kya karoongi. Mujhe lagta nahin ki hamare beech kuchh baat karne ko raha hai ab."
"Kyon?"
"Woh jagah Dr. Nidhi ne jo le li hai."
"Mallika. Maine tumse kabhi jhooth nahin bola hai is maamle mein. Aaj bhi nahin bolunga. Jo baatein hum pahle kar sakte the, woh aaj bhi kar sakte hain. Aur jo pahle nahin kar sakte the, woh Nidhi meri zindagi mein ho ya nahin, hum nahin kar sakte hain."
"Matlab Nidhi tumhari zindagi mein hai?"
"Jhooth nahin bolunga Mallika. Mere dil mein woh hai. Lekin meri zindagi mein nahin hai, nahin rahegi."
"Kya matlab?"
"Let it be Mallika. It's not easy for me to let her go. But I have to. Ye tumhari wajah se nahin ho raha hai. Lekin agar isse tumhein khushi hoti hai, to achchha hai. Kam-se-kam koi to khush hai."
"Ho kya raha hai?"
"Nidhi ki internship khatam ho rahi hai. Ek mahina bacha hai. Uske baad woh yahan nahin rahegi. Tumhein use nahin jhelna padega. Bas ek request hai tumse, is ek mahine mein uske saath koi dushmani mat rakhna. Usne tumhara kuchh nahin bigaada hai. Agar kissi ne tumhara dil toda hai, to woh main hoon. Unfotunately, main uske liye kuchh kar nahin sakta. Jo feelings mere andar nahin hai, woh nahin hain aur kabhi future mein bhi nahin aayengi. Lekin tum yun samajh lo ki tumhara dil todne ki sazaa mujhe mil rahi hai kyonki apna dil mujhe apne haathon se todna pad raha hai. Ho sake to mujhe aur sazaa mat dena."
"Ashutosh!"
"I am sorry Mallika. Main thodi der akela rahna chahta hoon."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. But I need to be alone."
"Okay."
--
Mallika was extremely confused after meeting Ashutosh. She had resented Nidhi all these days because Nidhi was able to make a place in Ashutosh' life in such a short time which she had been trying to make for all these years.
Today Ashutosh had confirmed his and Nidhi's relationship. It made her bitter. But surprise soon overtook the sense of bitterness when he said that they were not going to be together. Ashutosh was clearly heart-broken by this. Yet he claimed that he had himself made that decision. Why? He had definitely not cared about what people would say. That was something she had tried to tell him so many times, but he had never really listened. Once in a while she thought that they were drifting apart, but they always came back togther. Then why this separation now? Was it Nidhi's wish then?
--
"Dr. Nidhi!" Mallika found her in the common room.
"Ji?" Nidhi braced herself for some jabbing from Mallika about her being in Ashutosh' office.
"Mujhe aapse kuchh baat karni thi."
"Boliye," Nidhi's attitude was defiant already.
"Yahan nahin. Let's go on the terrace."
"Kyon?"
"Please Dr. Nidhi. Important hai," Mallika surprised Nidhi by genuinely requesting her to come with her, instead of playing her seniority card as usual.
Nidhi nodded and followed Mallika to the terrace.
"Ab aapko kya shikayat hai mujhse Dr. Mallika?" Nidhi just wanted to get over with it instead of beating around the bush.
"Tum aakhir chahti kya ho Nidhi? Pahle to tumne na kissi ka khayaal kiya, na hi meri suni aur Ashutosh ke kareeb aa gayi. Aur aaj... aaj jab woh clearly tumse itna pyaar karne lage hain to phir tum unhein chhod kar kyon jaana chahti ho?"
Nidhi shook her head in confusion, "Aapko kisne kya bataya hai jo aap ye sawaal poochh rahi hain. Kya hua hai, ye aapko maloon bhi hai?"
"Agar tum Ashutosh ki zindagi se ja rahi ho to iska matlab aur kya ho sakta hai?"
"Dr. Mallika. Pata hai aapki problem kya hai? Aap Dr. Ashutosh ko jaanti ho hain, lekin kabhi samajh nahin payi. Theek usi tarah jaise ki main aapko jaanti to hoon, lekin samajh nahin pati. Jo bhi wajah ho, agar main Dr. Ashutosh ki zindagi se ja rahi hoon to aapko to khushi honi chahiye thi na. Aap yahi to chahti thi. Phir aap mujhse ye sawaal-jawaab kyon kar rahi hain?"
"Jab maine Ashutosh ko itna samjhaya tha, tab to usne meri ek nahin suni. Na hi tumne suni. To ab aisa kya ho gaya?"
Nidhi sighed, "Agar jaanne se aapko shanti milti hai to jaan lijiye Dr. Mallika. Aapki jo warning thi, who sahi thi. Log is rishte ko accept nahin karenge. Aur unmein se kuchh log aise hain jo matter karte hain."
"Kaun?"
"Mere Baba."
"Oh!" Mallika remarked bitterly, "To is naa-manzoori ke baad Ahustosh ne tumhara saath nahin diya, ya tumne uska saath chhod diya."
"Phir galti kar di na aapne samajhne mein Dr. Mallika. Mujhe bhi aur Dr. Ashutosh ko bhi. Hum dono ek-doosre ka saath de rahe hain. Isliye to ye faisla kiya hai. Khair. Main chalti hoon. Kuchh dinon ki baat hai Dr. Mallika. Phir main yahan nahin rahungi. Agar aapko lagta hai ki meri wajah se aapki zindagi mein aapse kuchh chhin raha tha to woh shikayat ab aapko nahin rahegi. Aur mera yakeen maaniye Dr. Mallika, ki agar aap Dr. Ashutosh ki zindagi mein woh khushiyan la sakti hain, jinke woh haqdaar hain, to mujhse zyada khush aur koi nahin hoga. Lekin... uske liye aapko unhein samajhna padega."
Nidhi left a thoughtful Mallika behind.
--
Mallika was sitting alone in the common room, sipping cup of tea when Rangnath walked in.
"Ye kaise ho gaya Dr. Mallika? Aap akeli baithi hain. Aapke admirers ki queue kahan gayi?" he teased.
"Aapko dekh kar bhaag gayi."
"Kya baat kar rahi hain? Hamari aisi kismat kahan? Waise akele akele soch kya rahi hain aap?"
"Agar main kuchh sochne layak soch rahi thi, to aapko lagta hai ki aapko batana achchha idea hai?"
"Yahi to problem hai na Dr. Mallika. Aap kissi aur ko mauka hi nahin deti."
"Koi kaise decide karta hai ki kisko mauka dena hai, kisko nahin?"
"Jahan tak muhje maaloon hai, iski koi prescribed diagnosis to nahin hoti. Bas dil ki aawaaz sunni padti hai."
"Aur agar jiske liye aapka dil aawaaz lagaye, uske dil mein aapke liye koi jagah na ho to?"
"To phir live-happily-every-after ki jagah aapko shaayar banna padta hai. Aapne suna hai -Viyogi hoga pahla kavi, aah se upja hoga gaan..."
"Suna to nahin tha ab tak, lekin samajh mein aata hai."
"Bas uski hi zaroorat hai. Lekin"tu nahin aur sahi" to suna hoga. Woh bhi achchha zumla hai."
Mallika laughed sadly. Just then Ashutosh and Nidhi walked into the room as well. Mallika noticed that they sitffened on seeing her there.
"Aao Ashutosh, Dr. Nidhi. Dr. Rangnath mujhe life ki philosophy samjha rahe the. Aap log bhi join kijiye," Mallika said almost pleasantly, surprising Nidhi and Ashutosh.
Ashutosh smiled and sat down across the sofa.
"Aap chai lenge ya coffee?" Nidhi asked him.
"Coffee. Thanks Nidhi," Ashutsoh replied and Nidhi went to the dispensing machine to get it.
"Dr. Rangnath ki philosophy to kaafee rangeen hogi Mallika. Hum log uska kya karenge?"
"Sir. Kya chauka maara aapne aate hi! Ek hi sentence mein mujhe duniya ka sabse useless insaan saabit kar diya."
Ashutosh laughed, "Useful aur useless context mein hote hain Dr. Rangnath. Ab aapka jo charm patients ki beemaari nahin theek kar sakta, woh aapko ek able administrator banne mein help to karta hi hai."
"Pata nahin aapne ek doctor ki burai ki ya ek administrator ki tareef ki. Lekin chaliye. Main taareef hi maan kar khush ho leta hoon."
Nidhi's mobile rang. She disconnected it and gave Ashutosh his coffee, "Main chalti hoon, Sir. Anji mujhe pickup karne aa gayi hai."
"All right."
"Good night, Sir. Good night Dr. Mallika, Dr. Rangnath."
"Main aapko darwaze tak pahuncha kar aata hoon," Rangnath said eagerly.
"Mujhe? Dr. Rangnath, aap theek to hain? Main is hospital mein almost ek saal se kaam kar rahi hoon."
"To kya hua? Chivalry naam ki koi cheez hoti hai ki nahin?"
Nidhi, Ashutosh and Mallika looked at each other with amusement. Then Nidhi burst out laughing.
"Main samajh gayi, aapki chivalry kiske liye chhalak rahi hai. Chaliye. Lekin kuchh aisa mat kijiyega ki use gussa aa jaye. Main apni evening kharaab nahin karna chahti."
"Kaise bahki bahki baatein kar rahi hain aap Dr. Nidhi. Chaliye to sahi."
Ashutosh and Mallika laughed out loud after they had left.
"Dr. Rangnath incorrigible hain," Mallika said.
"I know," Ashutosh replied and looked at Mallika curiously.
"Kya hua? Aise kya dekh rahe ho?"
"Pata nahin. Kuchh different behave kar rahi ho aaj."
"Change is the only constant, Ashutosh."
"Yeah. Aur mujhe ye feel ho raha hai ki it is for good."
"Shayad."
"Great. Chalo - main chalta hoon. Kal subah jaldi aana hai. Tum nikal rahi ho?"
"Nahin. Meri night duty hai."
"Okay. Bye Mallika."
"Bye Ashutosh."
--
Ashutosh smiled as he sat in his car. Nidhi had told him about her conversation with Mallika. They had been unable to figure out Mallika's intent behind questioning Nidhi. But her relxed behaviour in the common room felt like a good signal to Ashutosh. May be she was just happy that Nidhi was going to go away from Ashutosh' life. But there was a definite possibility that she was coming out of her own narrow view of things and looking at them as they were - for all of them! Hopefully it will save her from any further heartaches in coming days. Nidhi had finally managed to affect even Mallika positively, he thought fondly.
--Continued in Part 7
