Part 16
Ashutosh looked worried when he came back after meeting the director.
"What did you do in the faculty meeting today?" he asked.
"What did I do? And who told you?" Nidhi was taken by surprise.
"Tell me what had happened. Director had called me about that. Must be something big."
"It's not that big. You would be tired. Let's go home..."
"Tell me Nidhi. Everyone thinks you were very impertinent in the meeting."
"I am sorry," Nidhi genuinely appeared so, "I... I didn't realize it would become a problem for you."
"Don't test my patience. Speak now," Ashutosh spoke sternly.
"I didn't do anything wrong. I was just giving my suggestion on how to improve the research output and publication numbers from the institute..."
"And you insulted some senior faculty members?"
"I didn't insult anybody. I was the one who was insulted."
"Tell me what happened?"
Nidhi narrated the incident exactly as it had happened. By the end of it Ashutosh had an amused smile on his face.
"What is so funny?" she felt irritated.
"Nothing. But what were you thinking? Four papers in one year in top ten journals."
"One is down!"
"What?"
She turned her monitor towards Ashutosh. It was an acceptance e-mail from the Journal of Modern History.
"One of the papers I had sent during the winter vacations," she explained.
"Congratulations Dr. Verma," Ashutosh was genuinely happy, "I am very proud of you."
"Thank you. But..."
"Yeah But... You can speak for yourself. But you do understand that even if you managed to get ten of your papers published, it isn't going to get you much credibility with people here. They will still think it is the result of your NYU connections."
"I know... "
"You need to apologize to the director."
"But I didn't do anything wrong. I am not going to apologize for saying the right things."
"You left the meeting without asking for director's permission."
"That is their problem?" Nidhi looked incredulous.
"Yes. Listen to me, now. I am not asking you to apologize for anything else. I, personally, don't think leaving the meeting is a big deal. But people here do give importance to such things. Pick you battles wisely. There is no point in fighting over petty things. So, send an e-mail to the director apologizing for leaving the meeting. You can inform him of your paper getting accepted in the same e-mail. And if that is not enough, you can also say that you still stand by what you had said about research output. Will that keep you happy?"
"I will skip the last part. Let the results do the talking," Nidhi pouted while saying this, but she had seen Ashutosh' point.
"Good," he smiled, "You write the mail. I will be back from my office in five minutes."
--
"Mom. Look who is here," Nidhi went to Nandini's room with Ashutosh.
Nandini was awake. She smiled, "Ashutosh. Good you came back. Did Yograj call you? He wanted to meet you."
Ashutosh looked at Nidhi questioningly.
"She has been hallucinating about Dad since last couple of days," she whispered and then turned to Nandini, "Mom. How are you feeling?"
"I need to interpret for Yograj. He won't be able to talk to Ashutosh," she tried getting up.
"Mom. Please lie down. Dad is not here," Nidhi, herself, got agitated.
"Let me," Ashutosh said and sat beside Nandini. He held her hand spoke very softly, "Ma. He is not here. Do you remember? He has died long back."
"He was here... He called you..."
"Listen to me. He did not call me. You love him so much, you are imagining him. Don't stress yourself. Take rest. Okay?"
"But..."
"Hush. Not another word. Here... take the medicine that the nurse has for you. And sleep."
Soon Nandini had fallen asleep due to her weakness and the medicine.
--
"You really know how to manage her in sickness," Nidhi said somberly when they came to her room.
"Have done it earlier too," he smiled sadly. He was referring to the time when he had to care for Sarika.
"Can I meet her? I mean... your wife?"
"Ex-wife. The divorce has come through. You can see her. I don't know about meeting. She hasn't recognized even me for several months."
"Next Sunday?"
"Sure."
"I will just wash my face and then you can use the bathroom to take a bath. You must be so tired. We came here directly."
"Don't worry. I am not that tired. Take your time."
"In that case, I will take a quick shower myself."
"Okay," Ashutosh said and made himself comfortable on the bed.
--
Ashutosh was looking at a book lying on the table when Nidhi came out of the shower. She was still patting her face dry with a towel, when she told Ashutosh, "You can go, Sir."
"Yeah," he turned towards her and was stunned for a moment. Her fresh from shower look and wet, uncombed hair made his heart skip a beat. She didn't notice her effect on him. She hung the towel from a hook on the wall and went towards the dresser. She picked up a comb, but was startled by Ashutosh' hand grabbing hers and stopping her from using the comb.
She looked at him surprised.
"Don't!" he said softly.
"Sir?" she didn't understand him.
"Don't touch your hair. Don't do anything. Just stay as you are. I will be back."
Nidhi gulped hard as he picked up his clothes and went to the bathroom.
She had actually not done anything when he came out. She was sitting in front of the dresser just as he had left her. He stood behind her and caressed her shoulders. She fidgeted and got up. He came closer and smelled her wet hair. It seemed to drive both of them wild as she turned back and hid her face in his chest. He wrapped his arms tight around her and roughly ran his fingers through her wet, uncombed hair. She involuntarily kissed him on his chest and he lost his control. He broke the hug, cupped her face and attacked her lips fiercely. Both were panting heavily when they broke the kiss. He appeared slightly satiated and more in control after that.
"You drive me mad, do you know that?" he said holding her close.
"As if you leave me alone. I had started thinking you would never give in."
"Really? That was bothering you? Not that you tried to seduce me ever."
"How could I? I was so scared of you..."
"Scared? You? Of me?" Ashutosh laughed slightly, "Nidhi Verma! When exactly did that happen? And what were you scared for?"
"That you would be angry, if I tried to..."
"Tried to?" Ashutosh felt like teasing her.
"Nothing. Let me go..."
"No way. Never."
"You have come from a long journey. You would be hungry. Food is ready..."
"I am indeed very hungry. But I guess I shouldn't overeat in one go," he said meaningfully, gave her a quick peck on the lips and then let her go. Nidhi almost felt disappointed, but she still found it difficult to take matters in her hand. Too much respect? She wondered!
--
"It is like the romance of old Hindi movies, Anji. Slow, gradual, hesitating. Quite different," Nidhi told her best friend about her relationship with Ashutosh in a meeting over the coffee.
"And does it work for you?"
"It does. It's strange, but it does. May be precisely because it is so different from anything I have ever had earlier. After all, I don't want a repeat of the history."
"I am so happy for you, Nidhi."
"Thank you! How is Rangnath doing?"
"He is doing great. Very well, actually."
"No longer you mentee, I guess," Nidhi winked.
Anji laughed, "No. No longer a trainee, no longer a mentee. He is the Assistant Brand Manager now."
"And?"
"And I don't know anything else yet. Just happy with whatever I have right now."
"At least you are not anxious like you used to be and you are not over-drinking in the parties," Nidhi teased her.
"Oh God! Don't remind me of that Nidhi. I think I still need to apologize to Dr. Mathur."
"Don't worry about that. He didn't think much of it."
"Well - I at least have to thank him."
"Suit yourself. You have been so busy lately, I have hardly seen you. Else you could have done that long ago."
"I know. But the pressure has eased a lot now. And Rangnath is also doing fine."
"Let's all meet over dinner sometime, then."
"Sure. And Nidhi. How is auntie doing?"
Nidhi's face fell, "Don't ask. I wouldn't wish this helplessness even on an enemy."
"I am sorry," Anji pressed her hands.
"If someone were to point a pistol at her Anji, I could come in between and make sure that I take the hit. But this is... I am just so helpless... The pistol is inside her and killing her slowly, tortuously. And no one can take the bullet for her."
"Calm down Nidhi. Hold yourself together."
"I am sorry."
"No problem. Listen, let's go to your home. I would like to meet her."
"Okay."
--
When Nidhi and Anji entered Nandini's room, they were surprised to see Ashutosh there. He was gently rubbing Nandini's palm. She often felt cold there.
"Sir?"
"Hi Anji, Nidhi. Nidhi. I knew you were going out with Anji. So, I thought I will spend some time with Ma."
Nidhi smiled and Anji was impressed.
"Mom. Look who is here," Nidhi and Anji walked closer to her.
"Anji? How are you darling?" Nandini was surprisingly lucid.
"I am fine auntie," she didn't have heart to ask 'how are you' to Nandini, "I hadn't met you for a while. So, I thought of dropping by."
"That was very thoughtful of you. And Nidhi is going to need all her friends..."
"Mom. Please," Nidhi stopped her.
"Nidhi. Darling, do you have Mr. Mehta's phone number with you?" Nandini asked about her lawyer.
"Yes Mom. But why?"
"Call him. Ask him to come over as soon as possible with all relevant papers."
"What papers?"
"He would know. And I want to sleep for a while. Why don't you all go outside and have something to eat or drink."
Ashutosh, Nidhi and Anji walked out without saying a word. Nidhi called the lawyer.
"He will be here by eight," she informed no one in particular and then looked on blankly.
"Nidhi," Ashutosh spoke softly. She started crying. He went forward and put his arms around her. She leaned on him for support and her sobs became louder.
"Please save her. I can't live without her," she said between her sobs.
"Anji, can you please get some water for her from the kitchen."
"Yeah, sure," she replied and rushed to the kitchen.
Ashutosh held her tight and did not say anything. Slowly her sobs subsided. She took the water offered by Anji and drank a little from it.
"Go wash your face Nidhi. You will feel better," Ashutosh told her. She obliged and got up.
"How are you doing Anji?" Ashutosh asked her when Nidhi went away.
"I am fine. Sitting in this house, I don't have the heart to ask how you are doing. It must be so difficult."
Ashutosh smiled, "People don't stop living and being fine. This too shall pass. But I have a favor to ask of you."
"Yeah?"
"Her Mom was right when she said Nidhi will need all her friends. She will. On my own, I can do only so much. If you could be around a little more often..."
"Yes. Yes, of course. I already feel horrible. I had become so busy in my own life that... And I have to thank you for some things there. But later... Right now, I have neglected my duty towards my best friend and I will definitely do all I can to make up for it."
Nidhi came back by then and said, "I will get some coffee."
"I will help you," Anji said and accompanied her.
"I don't know what I would have done without him Anji," Nidhi said while making coffee in the kitchen, "Even Mom depends more on him than on me."
"You are lucky there, at least," Anji smiled, "But you must give me credit for having predicted it first."
"Predicted what?"
"You ungrateful girl," Anji mocked her, "I had told you right when you were doing your Medieval History project that you have a crush on Dr. Mathur."
"Shut up!"
"Why should I shut up now?"
"All right. You have been prophetic. Happy now?"
The two friends broke into a laughter, for a while forgetting about the depression otherwise prevalent in Nidhi's life.
Ashutosh heard the sound of her laughter from the hall and smiled.
--
Edited by sharmishtha02 - 13 years ago
Music Corner
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
