Ashutosh went back to the hospital after dropping Nidhi and reached home after 10 at night. He was surprised to find a flower pot lying on the table in the hall.
"Kaka. Ye paudha..."
"Ek ladki de gayi thi shaam mein... Maine poochha to bola ki Dr. Ashutosh ke liye hai aur unhein pata hoga. Naam tak nahin bataya. Kaun thi tumhein kuchh pata hai kya?"
Surprised Ashutosh went closer to the table and looked that plant. It was a rose plant. It took him a moment to realize it's significance and then he started laughing. Kaka was surprised to see him laugh.
"Kya hua Ashutosh?"
"Kuchh nahin Kaka. Sach much pagal hai ye ladki."
"Hai kaun?"
"Nidhi. Dr. Nidhi Verma. Is paudhe ki dekh-bhaal achchhe se honi chahiye Kaka. Murjhaye nahin."
"Theek hai. Woh to ho jayega. Khana laga doon?"
"Haan Kaka."
After Ashutosh retired to his room post-dinner, he had no control over his happiness. He was smiling broadly and almost felt like jumping with joy. He controlled his urge to call Nidhi up given that it was so late at night. And was the night long for him!!
--
Ashutosh reached hospital even earlier than usual the next day. He checked his watch after parking the car. It was still quarter to eight. Nidhi won't be in before nine. Why had he come running this early? But he couldn't hold himself back at home.
He didn't know that Nidhi was already there and was watching him walk to his office through the corridor. She was excited and nervous. She was dying to meet him and yet was not sure how to face him. What will she tell him? What will they talk about? How would he behave now that he knew...
She went up to his office door, stood there for couple of minutes wondering what to do, then came back. She went there again, hesitated, leaned forward to knock, made to withdraw, but had already knocked. Startled by herself, she stumbled and held the door to stop herself from falling, making some more noise in the process.
Ashutosh walked to the door on hearing the noise wondering who could be there this early in the morning. "Kaun hai?" he asked as he opened the door and found Nidhi there still disoriented due to her little accident.
"Dr. Nidhi? Aap?"
"Yes Sir... Sorry Sir..." she mumbled while smoothening her dress nervously, "Main phisal gayi..."
"Come in. Aapko chot to nahin lagi?"
"N... No Sir," she came inside his office.
"Koi kaam tha?" he asked casually, but it made her fluster. She suddenly became conscious that she was there for no reason.
"No Sir. Koi kaan nahin tha. Main to ain-wain hi aa gayi thi... Main jaati hoon."
"Ruko. Nidhi," Ashutosh stopped her, "Ab tum ain-wain aa gayi ho to ain-wain ruk bhi sakti ho. Duty shuru hone mein to abhi time hai."
Nidhi smiled nervously and nodded. Him shifting from Dr. Nidhi to Nidhi told her that this was their personal time now. On his indication she sat down on a chair and noticed that he did not sit on his chair on the other side of the table, but took another visitor chair for himself.
"Thanks for the flower-pot by the way," he said.
"Aapko pata chal gaya tha ki maine..." she started asking and then stopped feeling foolish.
"Log kabhi 'Get well soon' ka bouquet to bhijwa dete hain, lekin poora plant bhijwane waale log thode kam hi hain meri zindagi mein. Aur phir..."
"Aur phir?"
"Kaka ne bataya ki koi pagal-si ladki de gayi thi. To..."
"Main aapko pagal lagti hoon?" Nidhi forgot her nervousness and pouted.
"Pagal hi ho. Warna duty se ghante bhar pahle yahan kya kar rahi ho?"
"Phir to aap bhi pagal hue. Kyonki aap bhi wahi..." she bit her lips wondering if he would get angry at that, but was pleasantly surprised to find him laughing.
"Right. Company ka asar to hota hi hai Dr. Nidhi Verma. Main bhi ho gaya hoon pagal. Lekin ye batao," he turned serious, "Tumhein kya lagta hai, woh gulaab khilenge mere garden mein?"
"Aapka kya khayaal hai?"
"Mujhe to dar lagta hai. I may not be a great gardener."
"Koshish karne mein kya harz hai?"
"Gulab ko chot pahunchi to? Woh murjha gaya to?"
"Ek na ek din to murjhana hi hai. Lekin jis garden mein kismat ne use bheja hai, use enjoy karne ki koshish na karna to bewkoofi hogi."
Ashutosh smiled, "Theek hai phir. Koshish karte hain."
Nidhi smiled happily, but they both fell silent after that. She felt that Ashutosh's eyes were fixed on her, while she kept hers downcast. But after the while, silence made her awkward. She also wondered if Ashutosh would have some work.
"Main... chaloon?" she asked.
"Kyon chuppi se dar lagta hai?"
"Nahin," she laughed slighlty, "Lekin aapka time barbaad ho raha hoga, mujhe laga. Aapko kaam hoga..."
"Breakfast kiya hai tumne?"
Nidhi nodded negatively.
"Maine bhi nahin kiya. Hospital ka time shuru hone se pahle kar lein?"
"Ji..."
They went to the canteen and ordered breakfast.
"Nidhi," Ashutosh spoke after a while.
"Ji?"
"Kya ho gaya hai? Ji aur Nahin ke alaawa kuchh bol hi nahin rahi ho?"
"Ji?"
Ashutosh smirked and Nidhi hit her forehead smiling, "Aisa nahin hai. Bas... Kuchh samajh hi nahin aa raha..."
"Aakhir aisi kya baat hai jo Dr. Nidhi Verma ko samajh mein nahin aa rahi hai," Mallika surprised them by suddently coming near their table.
Nidhi was taken aback. She hadn't thought of Mallika and her warning since yesterday. But Ashutosh was calm. He ignored her question.
"Baitho Mallika. Tumne breakfast kiya?"
"Maine to kar liya hai Ashutosh, lekin Dr. Nidhi bhool gayi hain lagta hai. Kyon Dr. Nidhi? Cheezein bhoolne ki aapki purani aadat hai, nahin?"
"Ji?"
"Don't worry Mallika," Ashutosh said calmly, "Apna stethoscope nahin bhoolti hain ye aaj kal. Kyon Dr. Nidhi?"
Nidhi smiled, "Yes Sir. Sir, I am done. Main chalti hoon."
"Yeah," he said and nodded.
"Mallika. Chai ya coffee logi?" Ashutosh asked her after Nidhi left.
"Kuchh loongi nahin Ashutosh. Lekin ek advice doongi zaroor."
"Kya?"
"Tumhein Dr. Nidhi ko aise sar par nahin chadhana chahiye."
"Kya ho gaya Mallika?"
"I think she is getting wrong signals."
"Wrong signals?"
"Yes. Ab main aur tum koi bachche nahin hai Ashutosh. Tum samajh sakte ho. Lekin Dr. Nidhi bahut young hain. Ye age bahut vulnerable hoti hai. Log aasmaan se taare todne ke sapne dekhte hain. I think she almost hero-worships you. She has a crush on you. Agar tum unke saath zyada dosti badha rahe ho to unki galti nahin hai ki she is getting the wrong signal."
"Mallika," Ashutosh said politely, but impatiently, "Don't worry. She is not getting any wrong signals. Chalo. Ward mein jaane ka time ho gaya hai. Main chalta hoon."
--
Although Ashutosh had rubbished Mallika's concern before her, what she had said about hero-worshipping had stuck to his mind and refused to let him feel comfortable. Thankfully Nidhi's duty was not with him that day, else he would have found it difficult to even work properly.
He was pacing up and down in his office when Nidhi came in the evening.
"Dr. Ashutosh?"
"Nidhi... Hi!"
"Kya hua? Koi problem hai kya?"
"Nahin to. Kyon?"
"Aap aise chahalkadmi kyon kar rahe hain?"
"Tum kab se ho yahan?"
"Zyada der se nahin, lekin aapne darwaza khulne ki bhi aawaaz nahin suni."
"Tumhari duty khatm ho gayi?"
"Ji."
"Tumse kuchh baat karni thi."
"Ji. Boliye."
"Woh..." Ashutosh started saying, then felt foolish and stopped. What would he tell her? That she should not hero-worship him? That was odd. He changed the subject and smiled, "Main ye poochh raha tha ki abhi agar free ho to kahin chalna chahogi?"
"Kahan?"
"Pata nahin. Maine socha nahin..."
"Itni chahalkadmi karne ke baad bhi socha nahin?"
"Kya?"
"Aap mujhse yahi poochhne ke liye itne pareshaan ho rahe the na?"
"Nahin to... well... Haan... Actually yahi tha. Main samajh nahin pa raha tha ki... tumhein... kahan le jaun..." Ashutosh lied.
"To mujhse poochh lete. Itna pareshaan hone ki kya zaroorat thi?"
"Right," Ashutosh smiled foolishly, "To batao. Kahan chalna hai?"
"Aapko icre cream pasand hai?"
"Well... I don't mind..."
"To phir hazratganj mein ek Naturals ki shop khuli hai recently. Maine bahut suna hai uske baare mein... Wahan chalein?"
"Okay. Chalo..."
The ice cream parlour was small and crowded by the school and college going youngsters.
"Wow... This is..." Ashutosh was about to say 'bad', but checked himself in time, "crowded..."
"Haan," Nidhi got the drift and said, "Rahne dijiye. Kahin aur chalte hain. Yahan aage ek coffee shop bhi hai."
But Ashutosh could see her disappointment, "Nahin. Rahne kyon dein? Aisa karte hain yahan se poora packet le lete hain aur ghar ja kar khate hain. Zyada time nahin lagega pahunchne mein..."
"Ghar?" Nidhi appeared unsure.
"Nahin... koi zaroori nahin hai. Agar tum comfortable nahin ho to hum yahin..."
"Nahin, nahin... Aisa kuchh nahin hai. Chalte hain..."
"Sure?"
"Ji."
"Achchha batao phir, kaun sa flavour lena hai?"
"Koi bhi... aap apni pasand se le aaiye. Maine kabhi koi khayi nahin yahan ki."
"Theek hai," Ashutosh said and got out of the car to get the ice cream.
--
Kaka almost took the hint when Ashutosh brought Nidhi home. After serving them the ice cream, he said that he had to buy some grocery and went out of the house.
"Bahut achchha hai ye. Litchi flavour tha?"
"Haan. Aur ye bhi taste karo. Chiku bhi pasand hai mujhe..."
"Achchha... Dekhoon to..."
She tasted ice-cream from the other bowl and made a face, "Nooo... ye achchha nahin hai." She looked so cute while making the face that Ashutosh just stared at her fondly.
"Kya hua?" she asked feeling conscious of his stare.
"Kuchh nahin," he shook his head, "To tumhein chiku pasand nahin aaya?"
"Nahin... Theek hi hai," Nidhi realized tha the had said he liked Chiku, "But litchi bahut hi achchi hai to uske aage shayad pasand nahin aaya. I'm sure dubara khaungi to achchha lagega." She took another spoolful of ice cream in her mouth. She unconsciously made a face again, but said, "Achchha hai."
Ashutosh could not control his laughter at that and he laughed out loud. Nidhi looked at him mesmerized.
"Pata hai," she said, "Jab maine Kotnis join kiya tha to sab log kahte the ki aap hanste nahin hain kabhi. It was a pity kyonki aap hanste hue bahut achchhe lagte hain."
"Aur jab tumhein koi aisi cheez khani pade jo tumhein napasand ho to, to jaise tum pout karti ho na, woh karte hue bahut achchhi lagti ho."
"Ji?"
"Ji. Jaise ki Chiku flavour ki ice cream."
Nidhi blushed with embarrassment.
"Lekin Nidhi," Ashutosh turned serious, "Tumhein mere liye kuchh aisa karne ki zaroorat bilkul nahin hai, jo tumhein pasand na ho. Ice cream ka flavour to chhoti si baat thi. Lekin kuchh aur ho tab bhi... Main is relationship se ye bilkul nahin chahta. Tum samajh rahi ho na?"
"Aap itna pareshaan mat hoiye. Aapne kah diya, to samajh lijiye main maan liya."
Ashutosh smiled uncomfortably, "Main koi hero nahin hoon Nidhi." He used the word that was clouding his mind the entire day.
"Mere liye to hain. Aur jo abhi aapne kaha usse to definitely ban gaye hain," Nidhi replied with a confident smile making Ashutosh fidget. Was it all a mistake? Then he looked at her smiling face and could not help smiling back at her.
--
"Dr. Ashutosh!"
"Hmm?"
"Aapne mujhe kabhi bataya nahin ki aapke Baba ki woh kaun si nishani hai jise aap wapas paana chahte hain."
"Jab mil jayegi tab bata doonga."
"Nahin. Mujhe abhi janana hai."
"Kyon?"
"Kyonki woh aapke liye itni important hai."
Ashutosh looked at her for a moment and then said, "Theek hai. Chalo. Dikha deta hoon tumhein."
"Lekin kaise dikhayenge? Woh to aapke paas nahin hai na..."
"Khushkismati kaho ya badkismati, lekin mere paas nahin hote hue bhi main use dekh sakta hoon. Aur jinhein woh diya gaya hai unke haathon uski halat dekh kar apna khoon bhi jalata rahta hoon."
"I am sorry."
"Uski zaroorat nahin hai. Chalo, abhi chalogi?"
"Ji," Nidhi almost leapt out of the chair she was sitting on.
--
As the car left the city crowd behind and went forward on Rai Bareilly road, Nidhi felt uneasy. But Ashutosh did not notice it. He was excited at the prospect of showing it to Nidhi, of sharing what was closest to his heart with her.
Nidhi knew he wasn't going to tell her what this thing was. So, she asked something else.
"Baba woh nishani aapko na dekar, kisse de gaye the?"
"Apni naatin ko. Jisse woh zindagi mein kabhi mile bhi nahin the."
Nidhi felt like she would faint. She stayed silent. This time Ashutosh noticed her discomfort.
"Kya hua Nidhi?" he asked.
"Kuchh nahin," she replied forcing a smile on her face, desperately clinging to a hope that it wasn't what she was thinking about.
"Aapne kabhi us ladki se milne ki koshish ki? Ise wapas lene ke liye?"
"Main kyon milta usse?" Ashutosh was agitated, "Main usse nafrat karta hoon Nidhi. Itni nafrat kissi ne aaj tak kissi se nahin ki hogi. Woh mere aur Baba ke beech mein aa gayi."
Nidhi's heart sank. But she tried to make a case, "Lekin usmein uski kya galti thi? Aapke Baba apni marzi se..."
"Uska hona hi uski sabse badi galti hai. Mujhe gussa mat dialo ye ulte-seedhe sawaal kar ke..." Ashutosh was boiling in anger.
"I am sorry," Nidhi said meekly.
He realized his folly and smiled, "No. I am sorry. Main tum par kyon gussa ho raha hoon. Bas paanch minute aur hum pahunch jaayenge wahan..."
All her hopes went down the drain, when the car stopped in front of the house. Ashutosh undid his seat-belt excitedly and made to open the car door, when he noticed that Nidhi wasn't moving at all.
"Kya hua? Bahar to niklo," he said.
"Ye ghar aapke Baba ki nishani hai?" Nidhi asked somberly.
"Haan," Ashutosh replied with a softness in his voice that was quite unusual for him.
"Ye ghar... mere Nana apni will mein mere naam kar gaye the. Sanjivini ji shayad aapki lawyer hain," she said without looking at him.
Ashutosh was devastated. "Tum... Tum mazaak kar rahi ho?" he managed to ask.
She nodded his head in negative. He put his seatbelt back on and started driving back. His rash driving and angry countenance told Nidhi everything. There was no question of reconcilliation. His hatred was bigger than his love.
--
As Ashutosh walked back into his house, his eyes fell on the rose plant in the garden. It was flourishing in the same pot in which it had arrived. Kaka had been true to his promise of taking care of it. But that plant no longer evoked the feeling of love in Ashutosh' heart. It only evoked anger, sense of betrayal and hatred. He picked up the pot and threw it with force in anger. The mud pot broke and some of the flowers and the leaves were crushed. Ashutosh stepped on it to cause it even more harm and walked in.
Kaka was in his room and didn't notice him coming. He walked to the kitchen to get some water from the refrigerator. Something made him open the freezer compartment. Some leftover Naturals icecream was kept there in a box. He took it out and threw it is the dust-bin. He took out a water bottle next, but instead of drinking it, he poured it over his face and hair. His anger was burning him, almost literally.
He, then, walked to his room and locked it. He threw his coat on the floor in anger and broke down.
"Kyon? Kyon aisa hota hai mere saath," he cried out loud, "Kya koi rishta bina meri zindagi ka kaanta bane nahin rah sakta? Kya koi rishta mujhe dhokha diye bina, chot pahunchaye bina nahin mil sakta? Kyon? Nidhi hi kyon?"
--
Nidhi threw herself on the bed after reaching her room and cried piteously. She felt miserable. Then her sense of misery started changing into anger. What did it mean for him to be angry at her? To be hating her? What was her fault? Then even her anger subsided. And she felt the pain. Pain of a young boy crying in an orphanage, scared of his loneliness, hoping against hope for rescue, warmth... And her eyes filled with tears again. This time not for herself.
She called up Dr. Rangnath and took leave for the next day. She drove to the house early in the morning and spent time till late afternoon in cleaning it up to the extent she could.Exhausted she took a shower and then called Ashutosh. He did not pick up the call. Disapointed she left the house and drove to his house.
When Ashutosh entered the house in the evening, he saw a bunch of papers kept on the dining table. Kaka was not around. He picked them up out of curiosity. He knew the handwriting on the note kept on top of the papers.
"Ghar ke papers hain. Main Sanjivani ji se baat kar loongi taaki woh transfer ki formalities poori kar dein. Agar mujhe pata hota ki woh ghar kissi ke liye itna maayne rakhta hai to maine ye kaam bahut pahle kar diya hota. Kaash aapne ek baar baat karne ki koshish ki hoti. Shayad maafi maangne ka haq aap mujhe denge nahin, lekin phir bhi. I am sorry!"
Ashutosh slumped on one of the chairs! He had to admit to himself that he had missed her badly in the hospital. Rangnath could not tell him why she had taken the leave and he had been worried and restless. Was she all right? She had looked terrible yesterday when he had dropped her at home.
And amending the relationship was that simple... Could he try now? But he recalled their conversation from yesterday...
"Aapne kabhi us ladki se milne ki koshish ki? Ise wapas lene ke liye?"
"Main kyon milta usse? Main usse nafrat karta hoon Nidhi. Itni nafrat kissi ne aaj tak kissi se nahin ki hogi. Woh mere aur Baba ke beech mein aa gayi."
"Lekin usmein uski kya galti thi? Aapke Baba apni marzi se..."
"Uska hona hi uski sabse badi galti hai."
He had acted most immaturely. Her hero had fallen from the pedastal. Even if he went ahead and apologized, she won't be able to accept him again, ever! And this time, he could not blame the fate. It was his own doing.
He got up from the chair and picked up the papers. The house keys were also lying near the papers. He picked them up too and walked out. He got into the car and almost absentmindedly drove to the house. His reverie was broken after he stepped inside the house and looked around. The interiors had been cleaned and furniture placed properly. Is that what she was doing the entire day? Tears came to his eyes and he sunk down on the floor.
What had he done?
--
"Dr. Rangnath. Main ek saal ke sabbatical ke liye apply kar raha hoon. Jaldi hi approve ho jayega. Dr. Mallika will be the in-charge of the ward. But the ward will need one more doctor. So, you should start looking for that..."
"Sure Sir. Lekin aap sabbatical..."
"I will see you later," Ashutosh said sharply and turned to leave avoiding Rangnath's obvious question. But he ran into Nidhi who was standing at the door looking quite stunned. She had overheard their conversation.
Ashutosh looked unsettled for a moment on seeing Nidhi. But he immediately put his mask back and said, "Dr. Nidhi. Please see me in my office."
Nidhi and Rangnath stared at each other after Ashutosh left.
"Dr. Nidhi. Ye Dr. Ashutosh achanak sabbatical par kyon ja rahe hain. Koi problem hai?"
"Mu... mujhe kya pata," Nidhi lied unconvincingly, then handed the papers she had brought for Rangnath and left the office absentmindedly.
--
"Aapne mujhe bulaya tha Dr. Ashutosh?" she entered his room feeling uncomfortable and nervous.
"Yes. Ye aap rakh lijiye. Inki zaroorat nahin hai," he handed her the house papers back, "Sanjivini Ji ne mujhe phone kiya tha. Main unhein bhi bol diya hai..."
"Zaroorat to hai na Dr. Ashutosh. Is ghar ki wajah se aapne itne saal dard aur kadwahat mein guzaare hain. To ab jab ye aapko mil gaya hai to ise chhod kar kyon ja rahe hain aap? Sabbatical par kyon ja rahe hain?"
"Kuchh cheezein main deserve nahin karta Nidhi," Ashutosh said sadly, "Mera chale jaana hi achchha hai."
"Paheliyan kyon bujha rahe hain aap? Aise kaise sab kuchh chhod kar ja sakte hain aap? Aap itne irresponsible kaise ho sakte hain?"
"Nidhi. Ye ghar to tum mujhe de dogi. Lekin jo tanhaaiyan maine khud apne liye paida ki hain, unke saath main is ghar ka karoonga kya? Apne andhe gusse aur nafrat mein maine jo tumhare saath kiya, uske baad... main tumhara hero to nahin rah gaya na, Nidhi? Jis pedastal par tumne mujhe bitha rakha tha, wahan se to main gir gaya. Tumhein to maine kho diya... Phir..."
"Aap samajhte kya hain apne aap ko? Bhagwaan hain aap? Ki mere man ki baat khud-ba-khud jaan lenge?" Nidhi was furious, "Aur aapko lagta hai ki main aapko perfect insaan samajhti rahi hoon ab tak? Hero-worshipping karti rahi hoon? For God's sake Dr. Ashutosh. I know you too well to do that. Jab mujhe nahin bhi pata tha ki aapke Baba ki nishaani kya hai, tab bhi mujhe ye rational nahin lagta tha ki us ek cheez ke around aapki poori life ghoomne lage, aap logon par, rishton par bharosa karna chhod dein, apni professional life mein itne sakht ho jayen ki log aapse darne lagein... No. Dr. Ashutosh. You were never perfect. But what I do know is that nobody is perfect. Maine aapki achchhaiyan dekhi Dr. Ashutosh, aur kamiyon ko accept kiya, samajhne ki koshish ki. Jaisa ki, at least mujhe laga tha, aapne mere liye kiya tha. Lekin... Khair rahne dijiye. Aapko kuchh batane ka fayda kya hai? Aapke liye to bas aapka apna faisla sabse zaroori hota hai na. Kissi se baat karna, kissi ki rai jaanana to aapne seekha hi nahin hai. To theek hai. Lijiye apne faisle. Jee lijiye apni zindagi. Main aapko disturb karne ab nahin aaungi. And for God's sake, ye ghar, jismein itni nafrat bhari hai, mujhe nahin chahiye."
She walked out in anger.
Ashutosh was too stunned to react for a while. Then he came to his senses and ran out. She was in the ward taking rounds. He went in. She pretended not to notice him. He felt foolish and could not think of a way of interacting with her. So, he came out.
She did not realize that he had seen her going to the common room after her rounds. He followed.
"Nidhi. Tumse baat karni hai."
"Mujhe aapse koi baat nahin karni hai."
"Please ek baar..."
She looked at him in anger and ran away from there. He saw her going to the terrace and awkward as it was, he still followed her.
"Kya chahte hain aap? Aapne mujhe sufficiently hurt kar diya hai Dr. Ashutosh. Aur kuchh sunne ki himmat nahin hai mujh mein."
"Main... main... I have been an idiot Nidhi. Lekin please mujhe ek mauka do. Please. Jaise itni kamiyaan accept ki hain tumne meri, please ye ek galti bhi accept kar lo."
"Main itni resilient nahin hoon, Dr. Ashutosh. Baar-baar distrust aur..." She fell speechless as she saw what Ashutosh did next. He fell down on his knees in front of her.
She instinctively stepped back, "Ye aap kya kar rahe hain?"
"Tumhein mujhe jo sazaa deni hai do Nidhi, mujhe jaise test karna hai karo, lekin jin andheron se tumne mujhe nikala hai, please unmein wapas mat dhakelo. Mujhe ek mauka do Nidhi..." He started folding his hands in desperation.
Nidhi also dropped down in front of him and stopped him by holding his hands.
"Don't do this, please," she was in tears.
"Meri udaasi aur akelepan ke liye meri insecurities zimmedaar thi Nidhi. Meri kismat nahin. Aur ek baar phir apni insecurities ke wash mein aa kar, maine apni zindagi ka sabse khoobsoorat tohfa khone waala hoon. Use bacha lo, Nidhi. Please. Tumhare alaawa koi meri zindagi ke andhere ko roshni mein nahin badal sakta."
"Ab aap mujhe pedastal par chadha hain," Nidhi smiled through her tears.
"Main sirf sach bol raha hoon."
They got up and hugged each other.
"Ashutosh!" Mallika's voice brought them back to the reality and they hastily separated. Nidhi was embarrassed and uncomfortable. She looked at Ashutosh. He indicated silently for her to go away. She did that.
"Ye kya ho raha tha Ashutosh? Tum..."
"Tumhara andaaza sahi tha Mallika. Main aur Nidhi ek-doosre se pyaar karte hain. Despite all the odds, despite everything that may not look right to others. Lekin tumhara doosra assertion galat tha. She does not hero-worship me. In fact, she understands my problems, my weaknesses more than anyone else. You don't need to worry about me."
He walked past her to go back to his office and withdraw his sabbatical application.
- The End -
Current Affairs
