FF : Eternal love (part 6 updated) page 5 - Page 2

Thanks for your kind support friends. Posting part 4 here, hope you like it. Please let me know your reviews as am a new writer and this will help me take my story further.

She was bracing herself for the fall, but to her surprise, she found herself gazing into the most precious pair of eyes,

looking deep into her with some moistness in them. " Sir...r , You??, How in the world did u get ...", said Nidhi as

soon as she gained some composure and set herself back on the ground. Ashutosh was still holding her, then realised and

released her reluctantly. " I was here to check on a boy with brain malaria,

as I was passing by the children's ward, heard a familiar noise , and...", said Ashutosh. " So you're back to work?" Ashutosh

asked with a pensive look? " Yes sir, have to gather my life together, and what better way than to forget myself in my work".

She couldn't dare to look up while talking to Ashutosh. She did not have the courage to face his sad eyes. Just then Sarita came

, " Dr Nidhi, Jiya has to go out of town for a family emergency, could you assist Dr. Ashutosh, with his patient till then?

He is a visiting doctor here for 2 days a week. I think Dr. Lata is fine in the Gynaec ward now, if there are any deliveries

I will let you know." Ashutosh's eyes brightened up a bit with hope, as he looked longingly at Nidhi. Her eyes met his for

a moment, and she felt so weak. How will she abide by her promise , when one look from her beloved, tore her apart. Both of them stood there in a trance.

"Dr. Ashutosh, Sunil is in pain, please come quickly", called the nurse. Ashutosh rushed soon, and Nidhi followed suit,

not having a choice. After a while, when the boy was calm, Dr. Ashutosh took his case file and updated some things. Then when

he went out of the room, he found Nidhi waiting there. "Sir, Saritaji told me to understand the case from you, so I

can administer the medication in your absence". " Ok Nidhi, shall we go to the cafeteria, my head is aching, maybe

some ginger tea would help", he said casually, then realised, as he saw Nidhi's eyes getting misty. "How is the cafeteria

here? Are you getting your favorite burger?" he tried changing the topic lightly. Nidhi nodded weakly. After ordering

some tea, Ashutosh explained the boy's case to Nidhi, while she listened intently, with her eyes on the reports.

Ashutosh observed, Nidhi was all pale, her eyes did not have the twinkle which he saw in the earlier days when she had joined

kotnis. Her bright rosy complexion seemed dull. It was evident she wasn't taking care of herself.Ashutosh was lost

in his thoughts when Nidhi's words brought him back to the discussion. " Should there be a time gap between these 2 medicines

Sir?", "Err... yeah, half hour", he said. " Nidhi, look at yourself, what have you turned yourself to?Aren't you eating well?"

" I don't have much of an appetite these days" said Nidhi looking away from him. "Ok I should get going, have a meeting today

, call me if Sunil seems agitated, I will see him on Wednesday." and Ashutosh got up to go, his mind pulling but his heart going reluctantly, as Nidhi looked on.

She felt like running upto him, and holding him with all her strength, whatever was left. Seeing him go, felt like

some energy going out of her, making her weak. Ashutosh turned back one time before exiting the building and found Nidhi

looking at him. He stood rooted for a moment, felt like gathering her in his arms and taking away all her fatigue,

her pain, melancholy along with his. Life makes you so helpless. He was always lonely, secluded, in his fort of despair

till she entered his life with her magic wand and changed him completely. But now, she needed a wand herself, to get

her back to herself. Why did the most beautiful feeling of this world have to be so difficult and trying? He couldn't

think anymore, and rushed out.

After going home, Anji asked Nidhi about her day and she told her everything, but skipped the part about meeting Ashutosh.

Not that she did not want to tell Anji, but she just wanted to avoid any more discussions on him. She did not have as much

strength now to go on . As it is, her mind was always filled with him, and now seeing him today at the hospital

, her resolve seemed to go weak. How was she to keep strong in his presence? It was difficult for her to be just professional

to him forgetting her heartache. Why was god testing her like this? She came away from Kotnis, away from him to another

hospital, but fate put them together again. If only one could understand destiny, what it meant.

"Nidhi beta, come

see I have made your favorite snacks today", called out Dadi bua, "Wow, dadibua alu wadas, these are my fav too said"

Anji as she grabbed a couple. " Anji, take them in a plate with some chutney, and be careful, they're hot". " I am

not hungry Dadibua" said Nidhi. "Nidhi, you have to try this, it really is awesome. Will make you hungry", and Anji stuffed

one in Nidhi's mouth, she ate that one calmly, then went inside her room. "Anji did Nidhi tell you how was her day at the

hospital, she doesn't talk much to me, I am really worried about this girl" ,said Dadibua with some creases on her forehead.

"Don't worry Dadibua, its a big thing that Nidhi has started working now, she will be fine."

The next day Nidhi remained quite busy in the hospital shuttling between Dr. lata and Sunil for his medicines and vitals.

She barely had time to grab a salad for lunch. "Are you on a diet Nidhi?", asked Ritu, eyeing her plate." though you

don't need to, rather you look like you need some food, those cheeks need some color girl, said the slightly chubby

intern smiling. " I have to rush Ritu, don't have much time today, Dr. Lata had 1 delivery which was unexpectedly

early, am helping her other patients", and she dashed away after gobbling her salad.

The day breezed by leaving her less time for any thinking, brooding. The next day, she found herself

in front of the mirror staring at herself. Everyone was right about her, her complexion certainly has gone down.

She combed her hair, and put her kajal and lipgloss after so long, and then looked again, she looked better. As she

parked her car and was walking into the hospital, she thought to herself, why did she feel like looking at herself

today, how she looked. It was Wednesday.

Part 5

ASHU

Though I had listened to Nidhi and promised her not to meet again, fate still put us together twice. And now with her

working in SV, we are bound to keep meeting again. Why does my heart still go leaps at the thought of seeing her?

Even when I know, there would be nothing beyond that. She has promises to keep, promises that stifle our dreams,

our future that could have been. With a sigh, I realise I am already at the hospital. After checking in with Sarita

I went to see an old lady with severe head injury. Luckily, she was brought in at the nick of time. I told them to get

the OT ready and changed into my gown. It was not a very complicated surgery and thankfully, not much damage done.

In 2 weeks, the lady should be able to go home. I went to the doctor's lounge after changing and was updating the

lady's file when " Sir, would you like some tea?", said the voice most dear to me. As I looked up,

saw Nidhi, dressed in a Pink and white Kurti and leggings, her face seemed to have some glow today, she looked pretty

and close to the old Nidhi. Was it the new job or ??? I brushed away any hopeful thoughts and motioned her to sit.

She placed the two teacups on the table."Ginger tea" she said, as our eyes met briefly. I kept looking for a while

, remembering our tea dates, then looked away, lest I turn weak. " Thanks for the tea,How is Ketan, Dr. Nidhi?" " Better,

I have given him the morning dose and he was sleeping when I came, you can check him in half hour". " So, how is everyone

at home?" " Just the same", said Nidhi with a faraway look, perhaps remembering our last confrontation in Kerala. I had done everything I could, to persuade Colonel Verma, but he was unrelenting. And for the first time I saw Nidhi so weak against her family.

I noticed Nidhi looking at my head bandage intently, " Do you have pain still? How is the wound? Do you remember

to change the dressing frequently? You should or the wound will not heal well. " Her Barrage of questions brought a smile as it reminded me of our interlude,

when I had a sprain on my leg and she had come barging in with a similar interrogation. Her animated concerned face,

her drinking my glass of water, all flashed before my eyes. Though we had not confessed

our love to each other then,it was a feeling of closeness that had crept up within me, as well as her. The way she

commanded over me seemed as if we had known each other since ages.My world seemed colored with her,

like a bountiful rain on a parched land, I felt so so complete. All that seemed like a dream now,and inspite of telling

myself again and again not to get emotional, I found tears betraying me. Nidhi, as if sensing what was going on within

me, said softly, " This world and its people have a lot to do with two people's happiness, put everything into it

to keep them from being happy. But they are blind to the tears, no one can see those, or the feelings behind those",

and she came beside my chair delicately wiped the tears her fingers. I caught both her hands between mine and rested my head on them.

It felt as if I was resting after ages. " Dr. Ashutosh, we have to ...", she tried saying, but my strong arms engulfed

her fiercely, " Nidhi, I have not lived all these days without you, just survived, I have tried each and every day

to be the same Ashutosh before I met you. But I am failing, and failing badly. All I see is you, all I think is you,

its as if my whole world has stopped in place, waiting for you. Please, please come back into my life Nidhi, I won't

be able to sustain without you ." Nidhi looked at me, taken aback at this outburst after long. I myself realized I hadn't broken up like this after a long while. It felt good, my aching heart seemed

somewhat lighter. She could not stop her tears

either, "Dr. Ashutosh, I have not been living either, just dragging myself, pushing to live. We could not be together

in happiness, but we are together in our sorrow, no one can take that from us at least." And she looked at me with

tear stricken but loving eyes." Sir, Ketan is awake now", said a nurse, which jolted us back from our emotional episode.

I went into the washroom to clean up and when I returned saw Nidhi with a determined look in her eyes. She smiled

weakly and came towards me and we walked together to check on Ketan.

Nidhi's house

Nidhi

It just tore me apart to see Ashutosh break down like this, had never seen him so before, not even in Kerala when we parted. I had turned him from Mr. hardstone, confident to this weak, emotional person. I was the one always confident in our relation, coaxed him to come out of his shell and start loving life. And now that he learnt to look at life with rosy eyes, I shied away, leaving him alone to face his solace. How helpless I felt, hated myself !! Inspite of Anji and Shyama aunty warning me, I went ahead with this relation, very well knowing that the age gap between us, will not be easy to overcome. And now, my faith is faltering, wavering? How did I become so weak? Not able to support the man I love? For whom I wandered all over the place clutching to the belief that he was safe and sound, and brought him back from being believed dead.

No, I cannot torture him like this. I cannot bear to give him any more sorrow, he has HAD ENOUGH. I have to find a way to get him in my life again. After getting him back from that accident, I cannot lose him again. I have to win dadibua and Baba for him. Its not going to be easy, but I have to do it. When fate made me fall in love with him, and made us work together, it shall help me get us together again. Dadibua and Baba will have to see beyond the 18 yrs between us. They will have to see this wonderful person I love, and who loves me deeply, and grant us our happiness. In this life that god has given me, I cannot waste any more time being without him, away from him.He does not deserve this. Thinking all this, I didn't realize when I slept and when I woke up, felt a new day waiting for me. After what seemed like ages, it seemed like I was the same Nidhi when I had joined Kotnis.