The next day both of them took the flight back to Lucknow and as soon as they come out of the airport, see CV waiting for them. Nidhi goes and hugs her baba and Ashu touches his feet and says, "Col.verma why did you go to all this trouble? We could have come in a taxi na." CV ' "I know Dr Ashutosh but I wanted to see Nidhi for myself once and couldn't wait anymore. Nidhi, how are you beta?" Nidhi smiles and says, "I am fine Baba. We had a great time. I think this trip was a good idea. We got a chance to spend some time with each other." All 3 of them leave and CV drives them both to their home, drops them and has a cup of tea and leaves. Nidhi goes into the room to freshen up and get ready to go to work. Ashu walks into their room, closes the door and says, "Nidhi, I know you need some time to think this through and all that but Baba is getting hurt when you avoid talking to him like this. You allowed me back into your life. Can't you do the same to Baba too?" Nidhi is silent for a while and replies, "I am trying Dr Ashutosh. I really am. But somethings are not easy. You were blinded by your old friendship and humanitarian deeds. But I had more trust in baba. Especially after he told you not to have any more relationship with Dr Mallika. I trusted him to understand my fears and insecurities, trusted him to support me in my career as it was my mom's last wish too. That let down was very hard for me to take. That my Nana could not understand me. Please give me some time. Now, I have to get ready and go to the hospital. Dr Suraj took my place for these 3 days and I need to give him a break." Ashu accepts her point and changes the topic. "who is Dr Suraj?" Nidhi ' "oh I didn't tell you about him, did i? he is also doing MD Paediatrics along with me. Nice guy. If there is anyone who is as crazy about kids as me, that's him." After that both of them get ready and leave for work to their respective hospitals. Nidhi insists and drives herself and Ashu reluctantly agrees. The day passes quickly for both of them and Ashu arrives home early and is waiting for Nidhi and when the door bell rings, he almost sprints and goes to open the door to come face to face with Mallika. For a second Ashu is at a loss as to what to say and a second is all that's needed for her to come inside the house. Ashu ' Mallika tum? Mallika ' yes Ashutosh me. You were not taking my calls so I had no choice but to come and talk to you. Ashu ' Mallika, I already told you that I can't afford your friendship anymore. What started as a single act of rescue from my side created a disaster. Every act of mine since I came to know of your pregnancy has been based on the fact that I couldn't leave a helpless woman to her own fate. And nothing else. I didn't for a single moment forget about the fact that you tried your best to separate me from my wife and when that didn't work out, tried to kill her. in my quest to be a better human than you, I failed to see what it was doing to Nidhi. Every step I made towards becoming a better man was a step that turned me into a failed monster of a husband. I, who once accused Jagan of abusing you, have dished out a far worse verbal abuse on my own wife. and the worst part is that I didn't even realize I was doing it. All I could see was Nidhi getting more and more involved in her career and spending less and less time at home. I didn't realize that I was reason behind it. Woh kehti rahi mujh se..baar baar kehti rahi.."Dr Ashutosh hume Dr Mallika ke zindagi se dur rehna chahiye. Unhe apni zindagi jeene deejiye." Did I listen? NO! All I could hear was my own conscience telling me that Mallika needs help. Now enough! Good or bad, you are reasonably settled in your life. I have mine back and trying for semblance of normalcy. I don't want you in my life or in my house any more Mallika." Mallika ' par Ashutosh, aise kaise? You are the only one I trust at the end of the day. I am able to stay with Jagan without fear because I feel reassured that if required you will come to my rescue, like that night when Jagan drank and came and threatened me. You are my safety net. You can't go out of life again Ashutosh. agar baat Nidhi ki hain toh I will talk to her. I will reassure her that all I want from you is friendship. Nothing else." Ashu ' "you will reassure Mallika? You? you, who threatened Nidhi not 4 days back right in front of me? YOU will reassure her?" Mallika ' "Ashutosh, that was just a knee jerk reaction. Mein darr gayi thi ki kahi tum phir se mujhe chod toh nahin doge! I honestly didn't mean any of it. All these months I saw how you have been suffering without Nidhi. It has finally sunk into me that Nidhi is not just someone you have fallen in love with. Woh tumhaari zindagi hain. I will not do anything to harm that relationship again. Wada karti hoon Ashutosh." Ashu ' "its too late for anything Mallika. And Nidhi never, not even today, has ever asked me not to talk to you. that is my own personal decision. I absolutely refuse to hurt her any more." Mallika ' "lekin Ashutosh'Baba! Baba aap hi boliye na Baba Ashutosh ko. Only you can make him understand. Aap mujhe iss ghar ki bahu mante the na Baba. Hain na baba. Toh ab achanak saare rishte kaise tod sakthe hain?" she turns and comes face to face with Nidhi and CV who are at the door. Ashu and BB also turn and see them. it is obvious from their faces that they only heard Mallika's last sentence and not what was said by Ashutosh before that. Mallika is unable to meet the gaze of either Nidhi or CV. She bows her head and leaves the house. There is a pin drop silence after that. as if no one knows what to say and how to say it. Finally CV breaks the silence. "Nidhi, come, lets go. Jo samaan tumhara yahaan hain woh chote sarkar baad mein aake lelega." Nidhi ' "Baba no.." CV ' "Buss Nidhi..i don't want to listen to this any more. and I won't listen to what you have to say any more either. Just come and we'll go to our house. I sent you here because I felt your child should be with both the parents. but that does NOT mean MY child will suffer again and I will be a silent spectator again." Nidhi ' "Baba, please meri baat suniye.." Ashu ' Col. Verma, please.." CV ' "No Dr Ashutosh! not another word. what was Nidhi's crime Dr Ashutosh? that she asked you to wait for a couple of years before having a kid? Wouldn't YOU have wanted the same thing if YOU were doing your internship? Aur iss ek baat aap ko itna bura laga ki aap ne kisi aur ke bachche ko apna maanliya? Aur woh bhi uski jisne meri beti ki jaan lene ki koshish ki? Who even gave YOU the right to forgive her for what she did Dr Ashutosh? You know why I sent her with you this time Dr Ashutosh? do you? because I could not see my daughter crying herself to sleep every night hugging her pillow and stifling her tears in case I heard and worried. Do you have any idea how it is for a father to watch that Dr Ashutosh? I sent her with you because I couldn't see her parking somewhere near KGH and sitting hours on end to get a glimpse of you. don't look at me like that Nidhi. You think I don't know about those visits? But today, after seeing and hearing your "friend" talk, i have lost all hope! You don't deserve her blind love and blind faith. And you Dr Mathur..you call yourself Nidhi's nana, don't you? do you remember what you told me on the first day after Nidhi's wedding? "Col, yeh mat bhoolo ki Nidhi ka nana bhi yahi rehta hain. I won't let her be sad for any reason." Do you remember saying that? and yet, you allowed all this? I was quiet all these days..Mallika made an attempt on my daughter's life and yet you wiped off the whole incident and pushed it under the carpet. I was quiet then too. But not any more. you are not Nidhi's Nana in my eyes. You are her father in law and that's it." Nidhi finally interrupts in a firm voice. "Baba buss keejiye. Please. Itna tension lena aap ke liye bhi achchi baat nahin hain. Aur yeh ghar Baba and Ashutosh ka hain. They can invite whomever they want." Ashutosh ' "Nidhi, I didn't invite'" CV ' "aur tumhara? Yeh ghar tumhara nahin hain Nidhi? Have you no say in this at all? That one sentence of yours tells me a lot Nidhi. You never felt that this house belongs to you. now, no more discussions. Lets leave." Nidhi puts a hand on his arm and stops him. "Baba, please listen to me. I can't keep running away every time something upsets me. I promised Dr Ashutosh that I would not leave him. And I won't. not again. Not in this life time. No matter what, I will face my future with him beside me. Aap toh army mein the Baba..would leave the battle field because the enemy is stronger than you or has more weapons than you? nahin na." CV ' "but Nidhi, I never wanted your life to become a battle field beta.." Nidhi ' Baba, everything will be fine. Things will settle down sooner or later. None of this happened in one day. So it can't be solved in one day either. Thoda sabr rakhiye baba. Please. Ab buss! Gussa chodiye aur mere saath bait ke chai peejiye." CV ' "ok Nidhi. I will wait and be patient then. But I will come here everyday from now on. To make sure you are doing ok. and I will make a move now. I don't want tea. You go eat something and take rest." He just nods at Ashu and BB and leaves. Nidhi goes inside silently and closes the bedroom door. Ashu collapses on the chair and holds his head with his hands and gives a sarcastic laugh, "one of the country's best Nuerosurgeon, a total failure as a husband and son in law! may be Col Verma is right Baba. I don't deserve Nidhi. i just don't know what to do any more." Baba puts a consoling hand on his shoulder. "Ashu, neither of us can change the past no matter how badly we want to. All we can do is move forward. And now is not the time to think about ourselves and feel sorry either. Jaa beta, ja ke Nidhi ko dekh. Col Verma was saying she should eat na. may be she skipped her lunch or something. Jaa beta..tu pehle usse dekhle." At that Ashu gets up in a hurry and leaves the room. He gives a soft knock on the bedroom door and enters to find Nidhi collapsed near the bathroom door. "NIDHI! nidhi'get up'Baba! Hiraman Kaka jaldi aayiye..Nidhi..come on sweetheart! Wake up! Open your eyes'Nidhi.." he slaps her cheeks a couple of times and HK rushes in with a glass of water and ashu sprinkles the water on her face and wets his hanky and wipes Nidhi's face with the wet cloth. Baba grabs the phone and calls Dr Ranganath and tells him to bring the Gynec from KGH asap. Meanwhile Nidhi blinks a little and slowly opens her eyes. "Dr Ashutosh..what happened?" Ashu pulls her into a hug and closes his eyes tight. "you fainted Nidhi. now do you think you can get up a bit? I want you on the bed. It will be comfortable. Don't make any fast movements. Slowly. Ok? Baba called Ranganath. He is on his way with Dr Kothari." After a couple of minutes, Nidhi moves into a sitting position and Ashu carefully shifts her on to the bed and while covering her with a blanket, he observes that her feet and ankles are pretty swollen. She must have spent most of the day on her feet! Where was the doctor? Why is it taking so long? Just as he was about to call Ranga again, the door bell rings and HK rushes out to answer it. Shortly, Dr Kothari followed by Ranganath enter the room. Dr K shoes everyone out to conduct her examination and closes the door. Ranganath leans against the wall in the main room and observes Ashu pacing around. "Dr Ashutosh, aap tension mat leejiye. I am sure Dr Nidhi is fine." Ashu hardly hears him, all his attention on the closed door. After a few minutes, Dr K opens the door and comes out and closes it behind her. Ashu ' "how is she Doctor?" Dr K ' "she is fine. She told me that she didn't have proper lunch as she was not hungry so it's a case of mild hypoglycaemia. You need to make sure she eats nutritious food at regular intervals. You know, small frequent meals, rather than the usual heavy 3 meals a day. I am not worried about that Dr Ashutosh. but my current concern is her blood pressure. Dr Nidhi's BP is high. And she needs to gain more weight. I don't want her to go into the stage of preeclampsia. Make sure she is as stress free as possible. Absolutely NO tension or upset of any kind. Give me a call if there is any change." Saying that she takes leave and Ranganath also nods his head towards BB and Ashu and leave. Ashu goes till the door to see them off and meets a stranger at the door. Ashu ' "Yes?" "Hello sir. I am Dr Suraj. I am Dr Nidhi's colleague at City Centre Holy Hospital." Saying that he extends his hand to Ashu. Ashu shakes his hand. "Hello Suraj. I am.." Suraj ' "Dr Ashutosh. I know sir. I attended one of your guest lectures in our college while doing my MBBS. Nice meeting you sir. Nidhi..??" Ashu ' "Suraj, actually Nidhi is not well." Suraj ' "I know sir. I overheard the doctor's words. I won't stay long. And I won't upset her I swear." Ashu smiles a little at the way he says it and gestures him to come inside. Both go into the bedroom to find Nidhi reclining on some pillows and eating some snack and HK is standing like a drill sergeant to make sure she eats every bite of it and grumbling under his breath, "yeh doctor log bhi na..poori duniya ka ilaaj karthe hain par jab khud ki baari aati hain toh yeh haal!!" Nidhi is smiling at his mutterings and eating obediently. Ashu ' "Nidhi, Suraj is here to meet you." Nidhi rises her startled eyes and looks at Suraj and makes a move to get up. "arre aap.." Suraj interrupts. "no no. please don't get up. Its ok. I just came to give you this book and say hi. I went off duty as soon as you signed in this morning and we didn't get a chance to meet na toh.." Nidhi ' "please aap waha kyon khade hain? Come on in and pull up that chair and sit. Yeah, I was in a hurry this morning. What book is this?" and she opens the cover. "oh my God! I was searching for this for so long! Didn't find it even in flipkart. Oh my God!!" Suraj ' "I have my connections you know!! Actually na, i met one of my seniors recently and he had this one. I borrowed it from him. You can keep it for as long as you want and return it later. Not an issue." HK gets some tea and snacks for Suraj and Ashu also and they both take it. Nidhi ' "thank you so much and thanks for taking up my slack when I was on leave. I saw today. Even the patient files were updated." Suraj ' "that's ok Nidhi. I didn't have much to do so finished that part." Ashu excuses himself and leaves the room. Suraj relaxes a bit in the chair and continues, "you know, the funniest thing happened yesterday morning during the rounds.." and he started narrating about an over anxious couple who went into panic mode over their kid's scraped knee. By the end of it Nidhi is almost doubling up with laughter and Suraj seeing that gives a relieved kind of look. When he heard the doctor saying about Nidhi having high BP, he got worried. She is usually not very talkative unless she is with the kids. its as if she had a lot of pain bottled up inside and trying to act normal from the outside. He had guessed in the beginning that it had something to do with her marriage. But whenever he tried to probe, he was only met with silence. Over the last few months he had started considering her as a friend and to be frank with himself, he went lattoo over her before realizing that she is married.
Ashu, who is sitting at the dining table hears Nidhi's loud laughter from inside the room and since the door is opens, peeks inside to see his wife totally relaxed and that Suraj engaged her in the conversation and made her empty her plate of food too. He feels relieved but a thought pokes him that HE was not the one to bring that smile on her face. He gives a rueful shake of his head and moves away. Shortly later, Suraj takes his leave from him and promises him that he'll make sure Nidhi doesn't over exert herself in the hospital. "and don't worry sir. But you really are lucky to have her as your partner. See you later." Once Suraj leaves, Ashu closes the door and goes into their room to find Nidhi out of the bed standing up. Ashu ' "what do you think you are doing? Why are you out of the bed?" Nidhi ' "I am going to take a shower Dr Ashutosh. I didn't even get a chance to change after coming from hospital." She over rides his objections and assures him that she is fine and goes for her shower. Ashu feels that the ground he had gained in the last 3 days during their trip is lost in a blink of an eye. Her eyes have lost their glow and her smile didn't come from her heart and he was back to square one. for the first time he realizes that things don't end just because you want them to end. That he can't move on as if the past has never happened. The fact is that it happened and it changed both of them in a fundamental way. This was not the Nidhi who nagged him to take her out and buy her an ice cream. This was not the Nidhi who never allowed him to read a book but preferred to sit in his lap and whisper sweet nothings in his ear. The one before him is someone who has built her self confidence all by herself with no help from him. She is independent and very determined to have her way. Sure, he always used to tell her that he was proud of her and of what she did. but those words were never backed by his actions. And today he realized that without the actions to support, words didn't mean anything. Now he has to win her trust through his actions and not just his words. And the battle is an uphill one as his past is also working against him. But losing is not an option for him anymore. Dinner turns into an awkward affair where all 3 try their best to make normal conversation as if nothing has happened that evening. Nidhi finishes first and goes inside and Ashu follows her soon afterwards. She has changed into a loose fitting nightwear and leaning against the pillows and going through the book that Suraj had got her earlier. There is a pillow under the feet in order to reduce their swelling. She never asked him to do any of these things for her. just silently took care of herself as if she is used to it. He takes out a bottle of Vaseline from the cupboard and sits near her feet, spreads the gel on his hands and starts applying it to her feet. Nidhi is startled and is about to pull her feet back but he restrains and starts massaging her foot and ankles. Nidhi ' "arre chodiye Dr Ashutosh..yeh aap kya kar rahe hain? Woh apne aap teek hojayega. They swell sometimes. Today I was in OT for some time so I was standing more than usual. Subah tak they will be back to normal. Please..yeh aap.." Ashu ' "I know they will be fine by morning Nidhi. but you need to sleep now right? Trust me, this will definitely make you feel better. And remember, I once painted your toe nails? How is this different? Now be a good girl and relax and enjoy." Nidhi smiles a little remembering that day and the snap she had taken of her husband painting her toe nails. She was so happy with that gesture that she had immediately called Anji to share the titbit. With those thoughts running through her head and the relaxing massage of her feet, it was heaven for her. her feet were really aching and her husband did have magical hands. Soon sleep beckons her and she succumbs to its embrace. Ashu sees her eyes drifting close and a little smile on her lips still playing on her lips and continues his massage until he is sure that she is fully asleep. He then covers her with a blanket and leaves the room closing the door behind him. He goes outside and sits in the front lawn in a chair, leans his head back and closes his eyes. Thoughts keep running in his head and after a few minutes..or is it few hours?? He feels a hand on his forehead and opens his eyes to see his Baba standing beside him. Baba ' "Ashu beta, what are you doing here at this time of the night? Soye nahin ab tak?" Ashu ' "nahin Baba. I was not feeling sleepy. Too many thoughts. Too many what ifs. Too many if only scenarios." BB ' "I understand beta. Mera bhi wahi haal hain. I was the one who compared Mallika to a scorpion and told you not to trust her. and I was the one who supported you when you decided to help her out. The thought that Mallika is pregnant and alone made the decision for me. I just assumed Nidhi would understand why you were doing what you were doing. And I felt let down when she refused to do that. and I think my failure is much larger when compared to yours. i was a failure as a father to my daughter, a failure as a father to you and now a failure as a father in law and grandfather. Ashutosh, the word "trust" na beta, ek bahut hi chota sa shabd hain. But we don't realize the value of it until we lose it." Ashu ' "aap ko pata hain Baba, during the initial stages of our relationship, I remember so well, one day Nidhi called me her hero. 'Dr Ashutosh, aaj se aap mere hero bangaye!' I was so happy that day. What man doesn't like to see himself as a hero in the eyes of the woman he loves! And that's what I was to her Baba. She gave many names to the same word. Hero, her knight with the shining armour, her prince charming. And every time she said that I felt so proud of myself. But somewhere along the way her knight with the shining armour went to slay the dragons for someone else and trampled all over her feelings on his way to go there. I know that I started helping out Mallika out of humanity. I thought if I don't help her and something happens to her, her death would be on my conscience. That's was genuinely my only thought initially. But somewhere along the way, I lost the distinction between humanity and friendship. I guess old habits die hard. Even the night she called telling that Jagan was at her home, drunk, that was my only thought. To help another fellow being. But once I saw her helpless and trying to manage being pregnant, ill and alone, I couldn't stay away. I couldn't stay away knowing a child's life is also at stake now. and once she got admitted in KGH, and her pregnancy advanced, something came over me Baba. Koi pagalpan sawar tha mujhepe. I could see Nidhi getting busier and busier with her internship and avoiding me. And to get back at her I got more and more attached to the baby that was yet to be born. Baba, mein ne ek baar bhi yeh nahin socha ki Nidhi aisa kyon kar rahi hain. Why is she drowning herself in her career and avoiding talking to me. I thought she didn't trust me with Mallika. I thought what is wrong with her? why can't she see Mallika is helpless and in need. Because bottom line is baba, that I had already forgiven Mallika for her crimes against Nidhi. they were wiped out of my head with thoughts of her child. I lashed out at Nidhi and snubbed her for being narrow minded and insecure little child. 'tum bachchi ho Nidhi aur bachchi hi rahogi aur bachche ki tarah hi behave karogi'..thats what I told her that last day. The day she left. Baba, she wanted to tell me that I was going to be a father soon. She wanted to share the news with me and see my joy mingling with hers. And I told her that. all she asked me during the few months of our marriage were 2 things baba. One ' to give 2 years for her career before having kids and two ' to keep Mallika out of our lives. The first one nature over ruled. And the second one I decided to over rule. That's it. Just overrule. No explanation or compromise. Just overrule. And what right did I have to forgive Mallika? and why SHOULD I forgive her? just because she is pregnant? Saddest thing is Baba, if I had just gone and said to Nidhi, 'Nidhi, tum mere liye ek kaam karo. Tum Mallika ko maaf kardo. Mere liye. Please!' mein yeh kehta aur woh maan leti. She really was that crazy about me." BB ' "and she is still crazy about you Ashu'" Ashu ' "nahin Baba, she may be still in love with me. But I am no longer her hero in her eyes. Ab toh mein buss uska pati hoon." BB ' "Ashu I don't think either of us can think about it now. and I promise you that from now on Nidhi is my first priority in everything. From this moment on we have to make sure she is not upset or stressed in any way. Yaad hain na doctor ne kya kaha tha?" Ashu exhales and rubs a tired hand over his face ' "ji baba, yaad hain. Ab aap jaa ke sojaayiye. Its quite late and I am also going to turn in." both father and son walk inside. Ashu goes into the bedroom and looks at Nidhi sleeping on her side, turned towards him and hugging a pillow. Was that how she slept all the days when she was away from him? Was that the only way she COULD sleep? he slowly slides in beside her, removes the pillow she is hugging and puts her hand on his chest. Even in sleep, Nidhi instinctively clutches his shirt tightly in her fist, moves and burrows her face in his neck. Her leg pushes itself between both of his and he moves his hand to accommodate her. this was how they used to sleep. with her head on his shoulder and his arm around her. he drifts off to sleep on the thought that at least this has not changed.
Sunlight fliters through the curtains and wakes Ashu up from his deep slumber. He stretches and his eyes fly open as soon as his hand encounters the empty space beside him. "Nidhi?" Nidhi ' "ji..aap ut gaye?'Good Morning!" she is standing near the mirror brushing her hair. He breathes a sigh of relief. For a second when he didn't find her he thought'God knows what he thought! He gets up and comes and stands behind her and puts his arms around her waist and rests his chin on her shoulder. Nidhi drops her hair brush in favour of caressing his beard roughened cheek. "kya baat hainji? Aaj subah subah bade romantic ban rahe hain?" Ashu ' "subah subah romantic hona mana hain kya?" Nidhi ' "nahin. Mana toh nahin hain parr.." Ashu is gliding his hand on her tummy and feels a solid kick on his palm. Nidhi giggles ' "loji..aap ki beti bhi good morning bol rahi hain..ab tak toh bilkul chup thi..aap aaye aur sharaarat shuru.." Ashu smiles and turns Nidhi around and bends towards where his daughter is resting. "good morning my angel! How are you doing today? Aap ki mama ne aap ko kuch khane ko diya ya nahin?" Nidhi ' "haan angel ke Baba'aap ki beti ka breakfast ho gaya aur meine doodh bhi peeli. HK military mode mein hain kal se. he is force feeding me every couple of hours." Ashu smiles at that and hugs his wife. she pulls back a little and gives him his towel and pushes him towards the bathroom with a laugh. Ashu gets ready and comes out of the room to find Nidhi in the kitchen having an argument with HK. Apparently, Nidhi wanted to pack her lunch and take it along with her but HK wanted to cook garma garam and bring it to her hospital himself during the lunch time. Neither is willing to bend and Ashu is also helpless in this situation as he has back to back surgeries scheduled that day and won't have time to do it himself. BB walks in and listens to the on going argument and Ashu attempting to reason with both of them and intervenes. "Hiraman, Nidhi, dono shaanth hojao. I have the perfect solution. Nidhi, tum abhi hospital jao aur Hiraman, tum lunch time pe apna garma garam khana pack karke mujhe dedena and I will take Nidhi her lunch. Simple. Problem solved. Kya khayal hain? Achcha idea hain na?" nidhi ' "par Baba aap ko kyon takleef'" BB ' "takleef? Beta..apne naatin ko lunch dene mein kya takleef? Hain na?" Nidhi slides her gaze away from BB and looks else where as if deep in thought for a moment, then looks back at him and gives a tentative smile and says, "ok baba. Aap jaisa chahe." BB's face lights up at that agreement and he pats her head affectionately. Nidhi smiles and turns towards the stove to get Ashu's tea and bfast ready only to have HK right behind her saying, "yeh lo phir se shuru. Ashutosh beta ab tumhi samjhao na. mein hoon nay eh kitchen sambhalne ke liye'meri baat manthi hi nahin." Ashu nods and puts his hand on her shoulder and deliberately steers her away from the kitchen and takes her along with him to the hall. Nidhi throws her hands up in a give up kind of expression and allows ashu to pull her away. He pushes her into the chair and BB gets her a glass of juice for her to drink before she leaves for the hospital. Ashu sees her drinking her juice and getting ready to go and goes inside their room. A few seconds later, Nidhi is all set to leave with her white coat draped over one arm and steth in the other when she hears Ashu calling.."Nidhi'ek minute suno..tum yeh hanky bhool gayi" nidhi gives a confused look towards BB and finds him hiding his smile behind his hand. Suddenly she remembers the long ago day when she called her husband inside saying the same thing. Her cheeks turn pink with a blush and she goes. Inside, Ashu has his back towards her and she walks close and says, "kya bhool gayi mein?" Ashu comes close and hugs her tight. "jaana zaroori hain kya?" Nidhi laughs aloud. So he has turned the tables now, has he? Ok! "abhi toh aap bahut khush the ki mein hospital jaarahi hoon. Phir kya hogaya?" Ashu ' "mein tumko bahut miss karoonga." Nidhi ' "Baba teek hi kehte hain. Aap mardon ko samajhna namumkin hain. Chalo chalti hoon. Haan? Ok?" and she turns to go. Ashu holds her arm and turns her back. "hospital mein meri yaad aayegi toh kya karogi?" Nidhi ' "yaad karrongi. Aur kya karoongi.." her laughter and joy in re-enacting the whole scene suddenly dies away. Nidhi ' "itne din, hafte, maheene, unn yaadon ke sahaare hi toh jeeti aayi hoon na Dr Ashutosh!" Ashu brings her close and cups her face in his hands. "Nidhi, I want to ask you something. Will you give me a truthful answer?" Nidhi ' "I have never lied to you Dr Ashutosh. what do you want to ask?" Ashu ' "Nidhi, would you have come back to me, to this house, if you were not pregnant?" Nidhi ' "Dr Ashutosh, you are not a part of my life. You ARE my life. Meri saansen aap se judi hui hain Dr Ashutosh. so not coming back to you was not a choice that I had. This pregnancy probably speeded up the process and saved me more heartache." Ashu ' "do you regret falling in love with me and marrying me? Meri taraf dekh ke jawaab do Nidhi..do you regret falling in love with me and marrying me?" Nidhi comes close and puts her arms around his waist and looks into his eyes. Eyes that hold a myriad of emotions. Love, pain, fear, desperation, helplessness'.and hope. "Dr Ashutosh, I never had a choice whether to love you or not. It just happened. But if I indeed had a choice of all the men in this whole world, I would still have chosen and married you. only you. because there is only one me and there is only one YOU for me." All the emotions that she had found in his eyes translate themselves into the kiss that he gives her on hearing that. only the need to breathe forces them to break it. Nidhi holds his face in her hands, makes him bend a little and gives a tender kiss on his forehead.
tere bina zindagi se koi shikwa toh nahin shikwa nahin...
tere bina zindagi bhi lekin zindagi toh nahin zindagi nahin...
"see you in the evening Dr Ashutosh!" and leaves. Soon after that Ashu also leaves for KGH and BB observes that Ashu has a new spring to his step.
Nidhi reaches CCHH and meets Dr Suraj as soon as she signs in. both discuss the duties and things to be done that day and decide to meet in the canteen during the lunch hour. The first half of the day passes quickly for Nidhi and at 1 sharp, the attendant comes to inform her that her nana is here to meet her. nidhi nods her head and starts wrapping up her work fast. But her thoughts are elsewhere. Baba is here with her lunch. Try as she might, but she is still unable to think of him as her nana. But with the life that's growing inside her, there is no place for grudges. May be its time to move on with him too. True that she was disappointed that her nana didn't understand her. but may be to a certain extent, she was at fault too. She never tried to communicate her point of view openly with him. Understanding comes through communication and that was what was lacking since the beginning. May be its time to correct both their mistakes. Nidhi squares her shoulders and goes towards the reception area. BB is sitting there and leafing through some magazine. Nidhi ' "Baba!" BB looks at her, smiles and gets up. He holds the lunch bag towards her and says, "Doctorni Sahiba, aap ka lunch haazir hain." Nidhi laughs at that. "Baba, you had your lunch?" BB ' "no beta. I asked Hiraman to pack for me also. I thought may be we could have lunch together..??" the last part is put fwd tentatively. Nidhi ' "achcha kiya Baba. That way I will have company too. Come, lets go to the canteen and sit there." BB puts his arm around her and both go to the canteen, sit at a table and Nidhi gets 2 plates and serves for both of them and they start eating. Its as if both want to start the conversation but neither knew how to do it. When Nidhi is almost done with her roti and sabzi, BB clears his throat and says, "Nidhi beta, I know that you are angry and disappointed with me. Isme tumhaari galti nahin hain. I can understand. All I want to say is that if you give me one more chance, I will prove to you that I am your nana first and foremost. Koi jaldi nahin hain beta. Take your time and think. I will be waiting. I just wanted to say this to you. that's all." Before Nidhi could reply, Suraj walks in and wishes her and smiles at BB and extends his hand. "Hello sir. We didn't get a chance to introduce ourselves properly yesterday. I am Dr Suraj, Nidhi's colleague. And you are Dr Ashutosh's father, am I right? I saw you yesterday when I came to your house." BB shakes his hand and asks Suraj to sit along with them and share the meal. But he politely refuses and saying he had to attend a surgery so had an early lunch that day. Nidhi takes a deep breath and says, "actually Dr Suraj, its true that he is Dr Ashutosh's father. But he is my nana too." Suraj gets confused a bit at that news but nods his head but BB is stunned. He never expected such a quick acceptance of his role as her grandfather. His nathin really did have a big heart. he squeezes her hand in a silent thank you. and Nidhi smiles in return. The meal is done and all 3 get up. Suraj moves away to get himself some water and BB says to Nidhi ' "Nidhi, samdhanji has arranged a puja this evening at our house. She said since we are going to see a nanhi si jaan soon playing in the house, its good for the baby and you to do a small puja for Bal Gopal. I couldn't say no beta. She is already there making all the arrangements and she said she will talk to Ashu about this herself. It will be around 6 in the evening. Tumhaari duty tab tak hojayegi na beta?" Nidhi ' "wow Baba its so sudden. But I guess thats DB for you. ok Baba. I will be back home around 5. not a problem." She comes till the main gate to see him off and as soon as he takes a couple of steps away calls him.."Nanaji, sambhalkar jaayiyega!" BB's eyes fill with tears at hearing her call him that. he wipes the tears, nods his head, waves a little and goes away. Nidhi goes inside feeling as if a weight is off her chest.
Ashutosh is just out of the OT and having his lunch in the canteen when DB calls him about the puja. He assures her that he will be there on time and promises not to be late. Then on an impulse calls Nidhi. she picks up immediately. "surgery kaisa tha? Everything ok?" Ashu ' "yeah it was ok. but tumour ka case hain toh can't say anything until I see the biopsy report. Had your lunch?" Nidhi ' "yes. just now. baba and me had it together here." Ashu feels happy hearing that. "achcha? So you already got the news about the Bal Gopal puja this evening?" Nidhi ' "achcha! Toh aap ko bhi news aagayi? Mujhe Baba ne bataya. And I know DB would have called you. right? What did she say? Did she do the usual emotional blackmail of 'tumhe toh aanahi padega. Bachche ke liye yeh pehli puja hain etc etc?" Ashu laughs aloud at the way Nidhi imitates DB's talk. The interns who are in the canteen give startled looks. The past few months they got used to seeing him in the full Dr Heartstone mood and his laughter now brings out various looks of disbelief from them. "did we really hear Dr Ashutosh laugh out loud?" "nah, may be we misheard or something." Nidhi ' "toh aap shaam ko aarahe hain na? dekhiye time pe aajayiyega..nahin toh..you know DB!!" Ashu ' "your wish is my command Doc! So what else is happening?" before Nidhi could answer, Ashu hears his name being called. "Ashutosh! tum yahaan ho? And I was searching all over the hospital for you." his stunned gaze meets that of Mallika! He is just holding the phone so Nidhi also hears and recognizes the voice. He puts up a hand as if telling Mallika to stop right THERE and his gaze suddenly goes to the phone in his hand and he says, "Nidhi..woh.." Nidhi ' "its ok Dr Ashutosh. I am putting the phone down now. I have work to do. I will tell DB that you can't make it to the puja. Bye." Ashu ' "Nidhi listen, wait!" but the line is already dead. He gets up from his chair, glares at Mallika and in a very uncharacteristic act of violence pushes away his lunch table with so much force that it titles and crashes to the floor. Mallika jumps back in fright and some interns who are about to enter the canteen literally turn tail and run the other way. He then just walks past her, goes his cabin and bangs the door shut. "God what a timing she has got! How does she even time these things?" there is a tentative knock on his door and Mallika enters. "Ashutosh, I am sorry..i didn't know.." Ashu ' "kin kin baathon ke liye sorry bologi Mallika aur kitni baar bologi? Here I am trying to rebuild my wife's trust in me from a literal point zero and you just keep'!!! Ek baat ka jawab do Mallika. Do you really think I have been a good friend to you before Nidhi entered my life?" Mallika ' "how can you ask me that Ashutosh? you were and are my best friend." Ashu ' "toh phir mujh par ek meherbaani karo. Please leave me ALONE! I don't want anything else ever. Just leave me alone. Please just go!" Mallika - "par Ashutosh'" Ashu finally loses it and shouts, "I SAID LEAVE! RIGHT NOW!" Mallika for the first time gets really scared of Ashutosh and leaves without any further word. Immediately Ashu tries calling Nidhi back but she doesn't take the call. He sends her an sms saying that he will be there for the puja right on time and tells her not to worry. Soon after sending the sms, he remembers Nidhi's high BP episode the previous day and decides to go to CCHH right away. But before he could collect the keys and move, an intern knocks and in a very hesitant voice tells him that the next patient for the surgery has been shifted to the OT and the anaesthetist is also waiting for him. He sighs in resignation and goes towards the OT.
Nidhi feels all her old insecurities and hurts crowding around her and suffocating her. her head starts aching and sweat starts forming on her forehead and that's how Suraj finds her. she is sitting on an empty bed in the ward gazing at nothing. Suraj ' "Dr Nidhi? Dr Nidhi? what are you doing here? Are you ok? why are you sweating?" Nidhi gives a start on hearing her name and tries to bring herself back to normal ' "nothing Suraj. I am ok. just taking a breather that's all. You go on." Suraj comes close and takes her hand and checks her pulse and Nidhi laughs a little ' "Dr Suraj, I am just sitting on an empty bed in the ward. I am not a patient for you to check my pulse." Suraj doesn't reply in his usual humorous way. He just pulls her up and marches her towards her cabin and forces her to sit, gets the BP machine and checks her BP. It's a little over normal. Suraj ' "now Dr Nidhi, what happened? You were fine until a few minutes ago. You even had you lunch. So what brought this on? Some one said something to you?" Nidhi immediately denies. "nahin. Aisa kuch nahin hain. I am just a bit tired that's all. Please don't fuss like this. You have to assist Dr Rao in his surgery now right? Go now. you know how he hates it if someone is late." Suraj ' "may be you should just go home. I will ask someone else to assist Dr Rao and take you home. I am sure Dr Rao will understand." Nidhi ' "don't be ridiculous Suraj. I told you I am fine. And I am anyway scheduled to go off duty in another hour. So I'll relax here until then and then go home. You go on please." Suraj thinks over it a little and finally nods his head. "on one condition. You will not drive yourself. Call someone. Promise me that. I am not moving until you promise." Nidhi rolls her eyes and laughs. "ok I promise. Now go." Suraj feels a bit relieved on hearing that laugh and goes away. Nidhi sends an sms asking Anji if she could come and pick her up in an hour's time. Anji immediately replies back says she is on her way. Anji comes and both friends hug. Anji ' "kya hua? You are ok? Ranganath said you fainted yesterday. Why did you call me to pick you up? Why did you come to the hospital in the first place?" she starts raining questions on Nidhi and finally Nidhi closes her friend's mouth with her hand and says, "Anji chup. I am fine. I was just feeling tired so asked you to pick me up. That's all. Now let me sign off and we'll leave. Here are the car keys and you drive. DB has some puja arranged at home and I can't afford to be late." Anji ' "Nidhi, what are you hiding from me? The only time you blabber like this is when you are trying to hide something from me. What happened? Kisi ne kuch kaha tumse?" Nidhi knew what her friend is asking. Ever since the incident where she went and confronted Mallika and accused her of using her baby to get back at Nidhi, things have gone down stream. Mallika upset and fell ill and got admitted in KGH and AShu in anger shouted at Anji. He didn't listen to what either of them had to tried to say that day. Not Nidhi not Anji. And since that day, Anji neither entered Ashu's house nor called him "jeejaji". Nidhi brings herself back to the present and replies, "arre nahin Anji. Nothing happened. You have become a woory wart ever since you learnt that you are going to be a maasi. Now lets leave." Both leave and reach Ashu's house to find it all decorated with flowers and lights. Anji ' "DB said it's a small puja yaar. But looks like our definition of "small" is different from hers." Both of them laugh and go inside. The furniture in the hall has been moved to the side and a small stage has been arranged which held the Bal Gopal murti in a beautiful silver cradle. DB and CV smile and hug Nidhi and DB pushes her to go and get ready so that they can start the puja. Nidhi hesitates a bit and says, "DB, I think Dr Ashutosh might not be able to make it. He is a little busy with the surgeries.." DB ' "arre Nidhi, yeh tu kya bol rahi hain? Doctor toh aachuka hain. Woh andar tayyar horaha hain. Tu bhi ja na beta. Jaldi ja. Der horahi hain na." Nidhi's face lights up on hearing the news. He has come?! She read his sms previously but didn't have much hopes on it. BB calls her and takes her into the kitchen. BB ' "Nidhi, kya hua beta? Baat kya hain?" Nidhi ' "kya baba? Kuch bhi toh nahin..aap aisa kyon pooch rahe hain?' BB ' "beta, I saw how you looked as soon as you came in. kuch toh hua hain. You didn't think ashu would come today. Why? What made you say that? sach sach batha beta. Baat kya hain." Nidhi bows her head, swallows and says, "when I called Dr Ashutosh this afternoon, Dr Mallika was also there. I heard her voice in the background." BB - "what?"
Comments welcome 😊
Cricket
Hindi TV Shows
CID
Kumkum Bhagya
Ishaani
