Entry #1
Ashni - Pyaar Ki Ek Kahani
It was raining heavily since afternoon, and Nidhi was trying to finish all the pending work as soon as possible so she did not have to miss her bus and stand in the rain for the next one. After all, it wasn't easy for her to manage the one hour travel from the office to her home in this weather, other than the bus. Being new in the city she did not know many alternative travel options either. She sent one last mail and was glad to shut down the system and head out. Gosh, it was 630 already. The bus leaves at 645, she had to rush. She gathered her bag, cleared off her desk quickly and dashed out. After leaving the office she remembered, she forgot her umbrella behind. Darn it, if she goes back to get it, will miss the bus. Better try to dodge the rain and try to make it to the bus instead. She held her bag on top of her head and tried to take long strides, the bag wasn't shielding much of her and by the time she reached the bus stop, she was half wet. Oh gosh, of all days, she had to wear this peach colored fine georgette suit today, which wasn't helping her from the rain at all. There were just a couple of people at the bus stop, compared to the crowd everyday. Maybe they decided to take the earlier bus. She waited for sometime, still no sign of the bus. Then one middle aged lady who was at the stop asked her, "are you waiting for the crossroads bus?", Nidhi nodded. "Well, that bus changed its route today as due to rains, the stop before crossroads is flooded. Nidhi was alarmed to hear that, "So what do I do now?, how can I go home?", "Maybe you can take a taxi, some of them are running, otherwise.." Her bus came and she had to hurry. "call the HR at your office, they might help", said she before dashing away. Nidhi did not know many people in her office being new. Only a director Ashutosh Mathur, whom she knew thru a family member when she joined this office but he was quite senior to ask for help, and besides what director has time to help a junior trainee officer.
It started getting dark. She couldn't see any taxi yet. Panic was starting to get her. She did not have anyone in this town to worry for her at home, as she lived in a hostel, but still she wanted to go back to the hostel and be dry and safe. A car's honk jolted her from her thoughts. "Ms Nidhi, please get in, you're soaking wet". To her surprise she saw Mr. Ashutosh Mathur. She didn't know what to do or say. He opened the door for her " Come on get in quick, the rain isn't slowing down", and she got in without thinking much. It felt good to be in the warm car, she did not realise she had got this wet, she felt a little conscious knowing that her dress was clinging to her body. " Where do you live Nidhi?" " At Anne's girls hostel , crossroads, sir". She told him how the bus changed its route , there was flooding and so she got stranded. " Well, hopefully we will find a way".
Soft music was playing in the car and the rains now seemed very soothing and beautiful, as she was protected from it.
Mr. Mathur was respected in their office for his impeccable track record, and successful career. However he was quite an introvert, not many knew about his personal life, so he had few friends. Nidhi's uncle knew Ashutosh from his college days, and when she got an offer from this company, he had contacted Ashutosh to just let him know that his niece is working there. Apart from that, they did not have much interaction. He had just asked if she needed any help, but fortunately she never had to ask for help except now and their work also did not put them together, so she had never got a chance to observe Ashutosh. She could see, he was very handsome with fine features, and a muscular lean body, and had an air of sophistication in him, which explains why he was respected. Ashutosh caught her glancing at him and asked, "So how do you like your job, everything fine?", She nodded sheepishly. After driving for a while, there were cones blocking the way, and some policemen who came to the car and said, there was flooding ahead, so the road was blocked. They would have to divert from there. "Now what?", Nidhi asked with a scared look. "Don't worry, we'll try this route", and he turned the car left. This road seemed better but crossroads was still far. The rain seemed to be unrelenting. Suddenly, the car made a noise and stopped. "Oh no, what happened?" Now Ashutosh also looked worried and took his umbrella and went out trying to look under the hood to make sense of what happened. But he was helpless, didn't know a thing about cars. He called his mechanic, and he said due to the rains, it will take him time to reach there. " Sorry Nidhi, due to rains, the mechanic will take some time, we have no other choice than waiting". Nidhi looked lost, but tried to be brave. "Here, have my jacket", said Ashutosh as he noticed Nidhi was shivering from being wet for long.. " Without any choice, she took it, as she really was cold. "The monsoons seem so beautiful from inside our office, house, but when we are facing it on the road, the whole romance is taken out of it, isn't it?", Nidhi was surprised to hear about romance from Ashutosh, but he was trying to calm her down she guessed as did get a little nervous. "Sir, you look good when you smile and are in a light mood", she said innocently. "Really? " his eyes brightened up. Nidhi's hair was wet and entangled, she was trying to straighten it with her fingers, and noticed Ashutosh looking at her. There was something in his eyes which she couldn't comprehend. She had never thought he would have noticed him much at work as he was always busy and her cube was at the far end from his cabin. "Sir, your wife must be waiting for you, isnt it?" Ashutosh's facial expressions changed and he said "I have no one waiting for me Nidhi, I am all alone, just a caretaker at home, whom I call Kaka, he is all the family I have". "Oh", said Nidhi. That explained why he seemed reserved and quiet at work. " Do you miss your family here Nidhi?", "Yes sir, a lot, I am waiting for my leave so I can go visit them, am not used to being away from them so long." "It must be so nice to have a family, isnt it? To go back to people you love", Ashutosh said with a faraway look in his eyes, and Nidhi felt a strange desire to get to know him more, to befriend him, which never occured to her earlier as he was such a loner." Sir, family isn't only blood, when you make friends, get close to them,they can be family too".Ashutosh looked at her intently, wanting to believe everything she said. Feeling his gaze on her, she became conscious and looked out. "I have my close friend Anji, and we have been together since nursery, she is like a sister to me, and our families are like one". "Not everyone is as lucky Nidhi", said Ashutosh, with moist eyes. Nidhi was taken aback. Was he crying? She had made him
sad. Maybe touched some painful nerve. "I am sorry sir, I didn't mean to hurt you", She didn't realise when her hands reached to wipe Ashutosh's tears. As soon as she realised she pulled her hands back. There was a silent moment between them, as both looked outside. Rains had slowed down.
Ashutosh noticed Nidhi's hair had dried a little and some were blowing away at her forehead, making her look prettier than usual. She was so beautiful even in this unruly,tired state. When he had first seen Nidhi when she came to his office, she came as a breath of fresh air, so different than many other young girls. He didn't know what it was, but he always longed to see her, even though she was far away from his cabin. He did not know what allure she had for him, when he was aware that she was much younger to him, he did not like
to think much about this, he just felt happy to see her, though he made sure he never let her know of his feelings. And today here she was, sitting next to him, and he was opening up to her.
"Sir, your jacket, I think I am fine now.", her words brought him back to reality. He looked out of the window, the rain had almost stopped. He felt the rains stopped earlier than expected.
"Nidhi, the rains are almost over", he looked a little reluctant. "Yes sir, I didn't realise how time flew away", she looked at him with a new look, as if found a new meaning. Both looked at each other's eyes and were lost for a minute, when there was a knock on the window. The mechanic was here. Both Ashutosh and Nidhi got out of the car. As they walked to the front of the car, their hands brushed and Nidhi's bracelet got entangled in Ashutosh's wristwatch. She tried to get it out, but couldn't. Ashutosh saw her struggling, and held her wrist gently, and removed his watch from the bracelet hook. "Thanks sir", said Nidhi, "You can call me Ashutosh" he smiled. Nidhi looked at him questioningly.
He nodded at her with a meaningful smile, and she blushed, lowering her eyes.
The beginning of a love story.