Posted:
This OS was written in continuation to a post made by Alka Parmar...I decided to make it a separate post as well so it could go into the exclusive OS thread...
Alka had made a prediction post on what we may get to see tomorrow. According to her, Ashutosh will understand that Nidhi had sacrificed so much for him and that he needs to understand and respect her wishes. So, he will put an end to the baby talk and says that they should live their life to the fullest. Thereafter, he will be invited to a medical conference at Srinagar and will ask Nidhi to go along...what follows is Nidhi's pov...
Love is not sacrifice
It was to be a three day trip to Srinagar. He had complained as usual about how much I was packing. I had told him that we weren't going to a jungle this time. There would certainly be opportunities to dine out and malls to shop at. The poor man didn't have a response to that and quietly slipped away.
"Nidhi...kitni pyaari ho tum...pappi de mujhe.."
Did I just hear that? Was the man fantasizing in broad daylight? And in the presence of Baba? What was wrong with him?
I rushed out of the room only to stand still at the sight before me!
He held a beautiful six month old baby girl in his arms. He was cuddling her, nuzzling her tummy and making her gurgle.
The Sardarji and his wife beamed with pride as they watched him play with her.
"Sat Sri Akaal...kaise hain aap?"
All of them turned at the sound of my voice.
"Sat Sri Akaal, daktarni saheba...hum toh bade change hain ji...aapse milne aap ke ghar gaye te...toh pata chala aapne doctor saab se shaadi karli...badi khushi hui ji yeh sunkar... bas seedhe yahaan chale aaye aap donon se milne!"
They held out a box of sweets.
"In sab ki kya zaroorat hai?"
" Kyun nahi jhi...hamari bitiya pehli baar un farishtey se milne aayi hai jinki waje se woh aur unki Ma abhi bhi mere saath hai"
I was a little embarrassed by his words but I noticed that there was a gleam of pride in Ashutosh's eyes. When he saw me look at him, he smiled and then proceeded to hand the baby over to the mother.
He came towards me and threw his arm around my shoulder.
''Bilkul sahi kaha aapne, Bhaisaab...bohot hi honhaar doctor hai meri biwi...aur aapne apni bacchi ka naam Nidhi rakhe hain...yeh sunke mujhe aur bhi kushi hui"
I looked at them in surprise and then turned to Ashutosh.
It was the baby he had been talking to then!
"Nidhi, inko kuch offer nahi karoge?"
"Haan haan...kya lenge bhaisaab...lassi shassi?"
"Nahi nahi daktarni saheba...hum thodi jaldi mei hain...aaj raat ki gaadi se hum apne gaon jaa rahe hain...hamare parivaar wale bohot bechain hain bachchi ko dekhne ke liye"
As they took leave of us, the baby stretched its hands out to Ashutosh.
"Arre...yeh kya...lagta hai hamare Nidhi ko bhi aap bohot pasand aagaye.."
The mother held the baby out to Ashu.
Surprisingly, he did not take the baby although I could see the yearning in his eyes. He just took out his mobile and nodding his head to them, moved away to his study.
I was a little taken aback and did not want them to think of him as rude. I took her instead and kissed her on her little head. There was that unique baby smell emanating from her. Sweeter than any fragrance known to man! I held her close to my bosom before I returned her to her parents. They left after thanking me once more for the miracle that they believed that I had wrought.
Closing the door behind them, I walked towards his study. Did he suddenly remember that he had an important call to make?
I found him sitting at his desk, lost in thought., So lost was he that he did not sense my presence even.
There was a far away look in his eyes. As if he was looking into a distant past, into a place that was not particularly pleasant. There was a sad and forlorn expression on his face.
I walked up to him and ruffled his hair. He seemed to come out of his trance with a jolt.
He smiled at me but it did not reach his eyes.
"Hogayi packing...agar kuch aur bhi chahiye toh, I am sure we can shop there...mujhe tumhare saath shopping jaana hai...I want to get you a whole new wardrobe...jewellery...whatever you want...I hear there is a happening disc at the hotel where we will be staying...make sure you pack your dancing shoes...I want to give you the time of your life!"
He got up and hugged me tight.
For the first time, I pushed him away.
He looked at me with surprise.
"Kya hua?"
"Aap ko kya hua?"
"Mujhe kya hua...kuch bhi toh nahi!"
I looked deep into his eyes and asked,
"Aapne woh bacchi ko phir se god mei kyun nahi li?"
"Aisi koi baat nahi...mujhe ek important call karni ti!''
"Jhoot mat boliye"
"Main kyun jhoot boloonga?"
"Wohi main bhi jaanna chahti hoon!"
He moved away and tried to change the topic.
"Chalo...aaj dinner tumhare favourite Chinese restaurant mei karte hain...jaldi tayyar ho jao!"
"Aapne socha ki mujhe bura lagega, hain na?"
"Kya?"
"Agar main aapko us bacchi ko pyar karte hue, uske saath khelte hue dekhoon toh mujhe bura lagega..hain na?"
He was speechless and I knew I had nailed it.
"Aap aisa kyun karte hain...apne dil ke armaan, apne darr aur apne khwaishon ke baare mei mujhse khulke baat kyun nahi karte?"
He tried to shake his head, as if to deny what I was saying.
"Aapko ek pura parivaar chahiye na...jo aapko mila hi nahi...jiski kami aapko aaj tak kayi jaarahi hai...mujhe yaad hai...aapne kaha ta ki har insaan ke andar bohot saare khayiyaan hote hain jisse alag alag risthey bharte hain...pyaar ki kami ko maine poora kardi...ab aapko us rishte ki kami mehsoos horahi hai jiske zariye aap apna khoya hua bachpan phir se jeena chahte hain.."
He looked at me wonderingly. I could see the glimmer of tears in his eyes...
"Shayad samajne mei mujhe thodasa waqt lagta hain par samajti toh hoon na aapko...Kya aap ko abhi bhi mujhpe vishwaas nahi hai...kya Dr Mallika ke kaand ke baad bhi aapko yeh nahi lagta ki main har haal mei, har sthithi mei aap ka saath doongi...kyun ki aap aur aapki khushi ke aage mujhe aur kuch maine nahi raktha,,,"
"Haan pata hai...pata hai ki tum mere liye kuch bhi bardasht kar sakti ho...apni saari kushiyaan kurbaan kar sakti ho...par kya har baar kurbaani tumhe hi deni padegi...ek aat baar mujhe bhi toh mauka do...ki main bhi thoda achcha banoon tumhare liye?"
I hugged him tight, unable to stop my tears.
"Yeh kurbaani kahaan se aagayi beech main...pyaar mei kurbaani ke liye jagah hai hi nahi...apne pyaar ke liye kuch karpana bohot fakr ki baat hai...woh koi kurbaani nahi hai...pyaar ka doosra naam dena hai...kya aap yeh nahi samajte?"
"Maine pehle bhi bola na...main is maamle me anaadi hoon!"
I laughed through my tears.
"Abhi kitne mahine baaki hain mere internship khatam hone mei?"
"Bas teen chaar mahine...kyun?"
"Toh mujhe aapse ek tohfa maangni hai...bas teen chaar mahine ke baad"
I looked deep into his eyes.
There was confusion followed by great joy in them.
"Sacchi...par tumhe PG bhi karna chahiye?"
"Kya aapko yaad nahi...dus bacche paida karne mei time lagta hai...agar main apni MD aur specialization tak wait karoongi toh phir toh hogaya...aap toh mard hain...aapko koi problem nahi hogi...par hum auraton ki bacche paida karne ki umar guzarjaati hain...biology yaad hai na aapko...?"
He couldn't stop laughing.
"Sachch mei dus?"
"Kyun...aap se nahi hoga?"
"Abhi bhi shaq hai?"
He swept me off my feet and carried me towards our bedroom.
"Yeh kya kar rahe hain aap?"
"Bas apni zindagi jee raha hoon!"
Book Talk
Anupamaa
