KTLK- 2nd Ver. Chap 9 Final Chap page 55 - Page 23

Baba was stunned, he couldn't believe that Ashutosh could be so foolish, as to have any further contact with Mallika. There had to be some sort of a rational explanation for this, he had seen Ashutosh's devastation last night, and specially after their conversation it was not possible to believe that Ashutosh would ever hurt Nidhi again. Bade Baba wanted to say as much to Nidhi, but kept quiet. Things were so delicate between the three of them, that even the slightest thing could lead to more misunderstandings, he did not want her to interpret anything he said, as him taking Ashutosh's side against hers. Between, Ashutosh and himself, they had both been responsible for causing Nidhi a lot of pain. But, she now, needed them both to take care of her. And both he and Ashutosh were determined to do everything in their power to make sure that she never got hurt again, and trusted them once again with not only her well being but also with her feelings. Bade Baba looked at Nidhi, her eyes reflected her pain, although she was doing her best to put on a 'it's alright expression'. He hugged his precious granddaughter to his heart and kissed her on her head,

"Beta, you don't have to worry about anything. I will see to it that Mallika will never be a threat to your happiness ever again. Please leave that worry to me, and relax, I will not let you down ever again. Please trust me Beta, your happiness and well being is the number one priority in my life now, I will never let anything bad happen to you.

Now come on cheer up and give me that beautiful smile of yours, the one that lights up the whole house."

Nidhi, looked up at him and smiled, with tears in her eyes, her grandfather had never talked to her like this, or treated her with so much love before. For the first time she truly felt that this was her grandfather, not her father-in-law. Nidhi also hugged him back and gave him a kiss on his cheek.

"Thank you Baba, I feel a lot better now."

"I am so glad to see you smile. Now I want you to stay this way, ok?

Ab chalo, pooja ke liye der hojayegi, jaldi se jaakar tayyar ho jao. Nahin toh you know your Dadi Bua."

Nidhi, laughed on hearing that, and went to her room to get ready.

Bade Baba was glad to see the smile back in her eyes again. Now he needed to talk to Ashutosh, and give him a piece of his mind. How could he have any contact with Mallika again. Hadn't that relation caused enough damage in his life. Well, this had to stop right here. Mallika, was no longer a part of their lives, and Ashutosh needed to be told that in no uncertain terms. And he was the only one who could do this, but now was not the time. They had a house full of guests, and it was almost time for the pooja to start. He would talk to Ashutosh after everyone had gone, and Nidhi was asleep, Bade Baba decided.

Nidhi, opened the door to their room, to find Ashutosh standing in front of the mirror, trying to close the top button on his kurta. He was apparently having some trouble. Nidhi walked up to him and pushed his hands aside and closed the button for him, she was about to move away, when Ashutosh put his arms around her and pulled her closer, and looked into her eyes,

"Mere bahut naraz ho"

"Nahin, aap aisa kyon sochte hain. Main bilkul theek hoon. And by the way you are looking very handsome.."

"Nidhi, will you stop it. Stop pretending, and stop trying to change the subject. If you are angry, mujhe daanto, mere saath jhagda karo, jo bhi chahe mujhe bolo, mujhse bolo, but please aise, chup mat raho. Please don't hide yourself from me. Don't bottle up your feelings. Nidhi you came back to me and forgave me, why? There had to be a reason, na? Because you wanted us to have a other chance, you wanted us to be together so we could raise our daughter together, and most of all because you still love me. If you can't believe in me, then at least believe in that love. Nidhi I would die, I mean that literally, I would rather die than do anything to cause you any more pain. You are my life, my heart, my reason for existing. And to cause you pain, means hurting my self also. Nidhi ..."

Just then Dadi Bua knocked on their door and asked them to come out as the panditji was ready to begin the pooja.

Nidhi looked at Ashutosh, with panic,

"Oh My God, ab main kya karoongi, Mai to tayyar bhi nahin hui, Dadi Bua is gonna kill me."

"Mere rehte meri biwi ka koi Baal bhi banka, nahin kar sakta. Calm down sweetheart, you go get ready, and take your time. I will go take care of your Dadi Bua. And please don't stress yourself out, ok?"

Nidhi smiled and nodded, and started to move away to get her clothes out of the armoire, but Ashutosh pulled her close once again and gave her a kiss, then he left her to get ready, and to try and hold off Dadi Bua, from barging into their room and hassling Nidhi.

Just as he stepped out and closed the door, Dadi Bua hurried over,

"Arre doctor, tum tayyar ho gaye, chlo achcha hua. Nidhi kitni der lagayegi, woh abhi tak tayyar kyon nahin hui? Main dekhte hoon.."

But, Ashu stopped her, saying that she was almost ready and would be out in a minute. Satisfied, she hurried of in the other direction to see if all the preparations for the pooja had been completed. Ashu, smiled and shook his head affectionately in her direction. He turned to see if he could find Chote Baba, and Bade Baba, but just he started to move forward, he collided with somebody. Immediately, instinctively his hands reach out to steady whoever it was that he had almost crashed into, it was Anji, and she did not look to happy to see who it was she had bumped into, by mistake. She did not even give him a second glance, as she shrugged off his hands and turned to move away, when Ashu stopped her,

"Anji, wait a minute please, I..."

He did not get the chance to say any more, when she whirled around and fixed him with an angry glare, that stopped him from saying anything further.

"Please, don't say anything, Dr. Ashutosh. I know you don't want me here, and believe me when I say I don't want to be here either. But I had no choice. I did it for Nidhi. God knows she has been through enough, without having the added stress of seeing her best friend and husband, fighting with each other. She wanted me to be here, and if that's what she wants, I will give it to her, after all, she doesn't ask for much, does she? And someone has to keep her feelings and desires on their priority list. So if my being here makes her happy, I'm willing to put aside my feelings and tolerate being here for her sake. I promise I,will leave as soon as I can, after the pooja is over."

Saying that she hurried away.

Ashutosh looked at her retreating back and sighed, another relationship that needed mending, he thought. My God, how much damage I have caused, and all because of my misguided sense of right and wrong. All because of Mallika, and my refusal to give up a friendship that has brought nothing but pain and misery to my life. Anji, was absolutely justified in her feelings of contempt towards him. He had gotten angry at her, when he had found out that she had paid a visit to Mallika, and had warned her to keep away from his and Nidhi's life, and it was that incident that had been the cause of Mallika being brought to the hospital, and almost loosing her baby. He had shouted and said inexcusable things, to her in a fit of temper. She had tried to explain why she had gone, but at that time, he had been too blinded by his own feelings of righteousness to even listen to her side of things. From that day on she had not spoken to him at all, and ignored him or turned the other way, whenever they accidently come across each other at the hospital. He remembered a time when she had called him 'Jeejaji' with affection and respect. But he had managed to destroy both, her affection for him and her respect. It was only later when he had started realizing his mistakes that he acknowledged that if he had been acting in the best interests and well being of his friend and felt justified in his actions, then hadn't Anji been doing the same thing, acting in Nidhi's best interst. Wasn't she justified in her actions as well then. If he and mallika had been friends for 13 years, then, Anji and Nidhi had been friends since childhood. So, how did that make his friendship superior to theirs. He had been such a fool, Ashu berrated himself. He had so much to answer for, so much to make up for, and so many bridges to mend. And what better time to start, than now. He would talk to Anji after the pooja, he decided, and see if he could get her to at least think about forgiving him.

He turned as the door to the bedroom opened, and Nidhi came out. Even six months pregnant, she was stunning. Ashutosh could not take his eyes off of her, she wore a simple white and red saari, with red bangles and the only jewelry she wore was her mangalsutra, and a pair of earrings. The pregnancy had added an extra glow to her face, which enhanced her looks further. She came towards him with a smile, and he held out his hand to her. Just as she placed her hand in his the panditji called them to come and sit down, so that he could begin. Nidhi looked at the two cushions stacked on the floor where panditji asked her to sit and looked at it for a few seconds and then at Ashutosh, expectantly. He understood, at six months, even as small as she was, it would be difficult for her to get down there without assistance. Ashu, looked at her with a teasing grin, and reached out to hold her hands and helped her ease down onto the cushions. This was what he had been waiting for, and as small as the task was, to him it was a momentous, after all these months, his wife actually needed him to help her with something. Then he sat down next to her, and grinned. When, the pandit began his incantations, Nidhi leaned towards him and whispered," Show off!". Ashutosh looked at her and raised his eyebrow and grinned. He looked so cute, in that instant, that all her insides just melted, and She scooted a little and leaned into him, taking support, and comfort. And even with this tiny little gesture she made him feel ten feet tall.

Nidhi looked at her husband, and the smile on his face. She had also noticed this same smile, and the same look in his eyes while he had been helping her to sit. It was then Nidhi understood, he wanted her to need him. He wanted to do things for her, no matter how little. Yet in the past 2-3 weeks since they had gotten back together he had never said a word, she, too, had not understood. Like yesterday, when she was lying on the bed, he had stared at her feet , and she had not been able understand why, now it was clear, it was not her feet but the pillow she had put underneath her feet, that he had been staring at. Ashutosh needed her to depend on him, to take care of her and all her needs big and small, just like he used to, before.

Nidhi thought back to the days before their separation, she had been able to read him, and understand, what he wanted and needed, just by the look on his face. She had also needed him desperately back then, and when they had separated it had nearly broken her. If not for the baby, she didn't even know if she would have survived without him. But over time, she had learnt to adapt. Learnt to take care of herself, and her needs. So much so, that now, it was almost second nature to her, this new independence of hers. She had grown up, during the past months, when they had been apart, andshe did to know if she could go back to being the same naive flighty young girl, that Ashutosh had known, back then, and had fallen in love with. She'd had to grow up in a hurry, and instead of the girl, there was now a woman. A woman, who understood life, and curves that it threw at you, an independent woman who was confident and whole within herself. Oh, she still needed Ashutosh as much as ever, just in a different way. She would never stop needing him, he was as essential to her being as the air she breathed. But, what she needed now was a man, a husband, who was her equal, and who would treat and respect her as such. She had worked very hard to establish her own identity, and create a place for herself amongst her peers and colleagues. She was Dr. Nidhi Mathur, not just Dr. Nidhi , Dr. Ashutosh's wife. Ashutosh had fallen in love with the girl she had been, and she only hoped that he would love the woman she had become, just as much. She couldn't go back to being just Dr. Nidhi again, not even for him, moreover she didn't even know if it was possible. She just didn't know how she would bear it if he couldn't.

After the pooja and dinner were done, all of the guests began departing one by one. When Dr. Rangnath came to him to take leave, Ashutosh asked him to wait, but didn't specify any further. After everyone had departed, including Nidhi's father and Dadi Bua, Anji and Rangnath were the only ones left.

"Sir, you wanted to talk to me about something?"

"No, Rangnath, not you. But if you wouldn't mind I'd like to have word with your wife, my sister-in-law."

Anji, was startled when she heard this, and tossing an angry, 'Go to hell' glance his way, walked out the front door.

Rangnath, made to get up and follow, when Ashutosh held him back and with a nod went after her himself.

"Anji, please wait! Anji... Anji, I really need to speak to you, please, if not for anything else then, at least for Nidhi's sake, please wait, and hear me out."

On hearing Nidhi's name, Anji stopped, and turned to face him.

"That was low Dr. Ashutosh, using Nidhi's name. But then what else can I expect from someone like you. You'll do anything and use anyone just as long as the end justifies the means, yeah ?"

Ashutosh winced, at the harsh words.

"Anji, you can say whatever you want. I deserve all that and more. I know that you don't want to listen to me, or even look at my face, but please, just hear me out. And then whatever you decide after that, I will respect your decision?"

"Respect, Dr. Ashutosh. Do you even know the meaning of that word? Fine, for Nidhi's sake I'll listen to you. But I am warning you, don't read too much into that. I will never forgive you, ever. Not for my sake, but for my friend, and what you did to her. She still loves you like crazy, you see. She cant see anything beyond you, even now. You will never know what she went through, or how much she suffered. But you never even tried to see things from her angle, you never paid any attention to her suffering did you? All you ever saw was your friend, and your friendship, what she was going through. You never saw past Mallika, and her needs, because she was your friend. Yet when I tried to look out for my friend and her needs, you crucified me. You really are something aren't you, expecting consideration from me, when you had none."

Every word she spoke, was like another nail on his conscience.

"Anji, I have no excuse, for my behavior. The only thing I have to say in my defense, is that I bitterly regret all of my actions and words. I know that simply saying I am sorry is not enough, but that's all I can offer you, are my sincerest apologies. Anji, Life has taught me a bitter lesson too. I nearly lost my wife, due to my false sense of pride and my ego. I believed I was right, and for me, nothing else mattered after that. Somewhere along the line I had started taking Nidhi for granted. I never thought that she would ever leave me, because I thought she loved me too much to do that. And in my arrogance I pushed her away. Mallika and her friendship had for so long been my only anchors, that somehow I just could not make myself get past that fact.

Shaadi se pehle ek hi armaan tha man mein, ek hi chah thi zindagi ki. NIDHI. Bahut tadapta tha uske liye, uske saath ke liye. Kitni baar kismet se kehta tha, ke aur kuch toh kabhi nahin mila, par iss baar rehem karke Nidhi ko mujhe dedo, phir kabhi bhi kuch nahin maangunga bhagwan se, usske baad. Then the fates or God, whomever, took pity on me and gave me my hearts desire, and granted my wish. But, I abused that gift, I started taking her for granted, I stopped appreciating my miracle. I hurt the one person in this world, that I always wanted to protect and keep happy, and once again I found myself alone. Nidhi's leaving had forced me to look at things from a different angle. And I was ashamed. Ashamed of my self, my thinking, my behavior. But the fates have once again taken pity on me. They have given me a second chance to prove my worthiness. My love has given me another chance. Please can you not you give another chance too.

Anji, your friend has forgiven me. Doesn't that say anything? Can you also try and find it in your heart to try and forgive me and let me try and make amends. Please help me to build back the bridge between us. I really miss our relationship. You see, I never had any, family I mean. And when I did get one, I didn't value it. I guess the saying that, you never realize the true worth of things until you lose them, or in my case almost loose. I was lucky enough to get my love, my life back.

Can you not, also give me my little sister back. I miss her, you see. I miss seeing the affection in her eyes, and miss hearing it in her voice. It hurts me to see her ignore me and turn away from the sight of me. Anji, I miss you. I never realized just how much you had come to mean in my life.

Please can you forgive your Jeejaji, and take me back into your heart again. Or at least give a chance to try and mend the fences between us. Not for Nidhi's sake, but for mine."

Anji, stood still as a statue. She couldn't believe her ears."Was the same Ashutosh, who, just a few months ago, had said those unforgivable things to her?" She was stunned. He had thrown her for a loop. Anji did not know what to say, or how to respond. She looked up at him, "he was telling the truth", she thought. His face was so earnest, and he looked so contrite and full of remorse. And she would have to be a moron, and an insensitive jerk, to not see that he had genuine regret in his eyes. When Nidhi had told her that she had forgiven Dr. Ashutosh, and they were back together again, Anji had chided her. She had warned Nidhi that she was setting herself up for another hurt to trust him again. And when Nidhi had refused to listen, Anji had vowed that come what may, she would never forgive him, even for Nidhi's sake. But now,... Well, she thought with a resigned sigh, if God could forgive people who truly regretted their mistakes, then who was she. And, if she was completely truthful to herself, she had to admit that she had missed him too. Oh well, she never could keep a decent grudge going for too long anyway.

So, putting on a really stern face, she couldn't let him off the hook that

easily, thoda toh pareshan karna banta tha, na. Saali ka haq, hai, afterall.

"bahut mushkil hai, aap jante hain aap kitni badi cheez mang rahein hain?"

His face, that lit up with hope when he heard her speak up, suddenly fell flat, like a deflated balloon. Ok she couldn't do this, she thought, his expression would have melted even the hardest of hearts. So she smiled and said,

"Par theek hai, agar aap kehte ho, I mean since aap itna insist kar rahein ho, toh , ok, chalo maaf kiya. But ek shart par. Poori karenge toh boliye, warna bye bye. No maafi."

"Batao, Anji, kya shart hai tumhari? Mujhe sab manzoor hai. Jo bhi kahogi karoonga, Jo bhi mangogi doonga. Just name it. I'll do anything, anything."

"Apne poocha bhi nahi kya hai, aur Haan bhi kar di. Aren't you scared of what I might ask of you?"

"Anji, jab mujhe darna chahiye tha, main nahin dara, rishta todete waqt.

Toh ab kyon darunga, jab wapas jodne ki koshish kar raha hoon. Tum bolo to sahi."

"Theek hai. Toh phir, JEEJAJI, promise keejiye ke kal, mujhe aur Nidhi ko chaat aur ice cream khilane leke chalenge."

Ashutosh looked at her, and his throat clogged with emotion. He went up to her and put his arms around her.

"No wonder Nidhi loves you so much. You're just like her. I have never seen two women with bigger hearts, or such generous natures. You are amazing. The both of you just go ahead and forgive. It's so simple, no hesitations. Both of you are Amazing, and I am fortunate to have both of you in my life. Thank you, saaliji.

And it's a date, tomorrow, I will take the both of you out, for anything you want. Although, are you sure Nidhi wants chaat, and not fries and strawberry shake?"

Just then, from behind them," Maybe, I'll want both. Why don't you guys ask me yourself."

Both Anji and Ashutosh turned to see Nidhi, come out of the shadows. Apparently she had been listening to their conversation, long enough, because she had tears flowing down her cheeks. She walked up to them and put her arms around both of them together, and said,"I love you both"

"Achcha , Achcha ab bas bahut ho gaya, yeh sara senti talk. Stop it both of you. Otherwise I'll start crying too, and then you both will have to deal with my husband."

"No they won't." Rangnath's voice, made them all look at where he was standing. They hadn't even noticed when he had come.

"This time your husband won't say anything, because he is too happy"

Rangnath came up to the little group, and hugged Anji, to his side and held out his hand to Ashutosh, for a handshake.

"Thank for that Dr. Ashutosh. I know that it's been tearing Anji up from inside, for many months now, yours and Nidhi's separation and her estrangement from you, and I could not ease her pain. But you just did, and I really appreciate that. You and I have worked together for many years now, so I had no doubts about your nature, and your ability to admit to your faults, and try and make amends for them. But no one else, but you could have cleared these doubts from Anji's mind. If I had said anything, she would have accused me of taking your side, because, you are my senior and also a man I admire very much. But I just have one complaint of you sir."

Ashu was puzzled,"and what is that Dr. Rangnath?"

"Ab, Anji ka mood toh theek ho Gaya hai, and now she will revert back to her old self, and while that is really good, I love to see her happy and smiling. I am sorry to say sir, my credit card wont be able to say the same thing.

Itne mahino se isska shopping ka bhi dil nahin karta tha. Now, my brief respite will be over. I hope that you will me do over time?"

Everyone started laughing. And Anji went up to Nidhi and hugged her and said,"You were right, there's no one like Dr. Ashutosh. He's one in a million. I am so glad you both are together again. And I know that he will never let you get hurt ever again."

Whether she had intended to or not, Ashutosh heard that, and saw Nidhi's face beam with pride, at her friends praise of him.

Then Anji drew away, and came to him and hugged him also.

"Jeejaji, thank you. I am glad we have put the past behind us. Now there is no need to bring to up ever again. We are a family. And families forgive and forget, and go on. There is no room for any grudges or ill feelings. All I ask of you is to take care of Nidhi always, and love her. Promise?"

"Gladly Anji, it'll be my pleasure. And you have my word, I will do everything in my power to make sure that she is happy, and I will not allow anything to hurt her ever again."

"OK, then. Everything's cool. Chaliye, ab bahut der ho gayi hai, and Nidhi is looking very tired. Isse andar le jayiye, and let her rest, and please have her eat also, she has hardly eaten anything all evening. We'll see you tomorrow evening. Good night."

They went back into the house, hand in hand. Once inside, Nidhi sat down, and put her head back and closed her eyes. Ashutosh came down next to her, and took a hold of one of her hands.

"tired?"

"hmmm, very. It's been a long day."

"Ok, first eat something, then you can go ahead and get some sleep. I'll go to the kitchen, and get something for you."

As he made to get up, Nidhi grabbed is hand and made him sit. Then she took his arm and lifted it up and snuggled into him, and put his arm around her.

"khaana, nahin chahiye. Bas aap aise hi mere saath baithiye thodi der, yeh kaafi hai. This is heaven."

"it's heaven for me too sweetheart, but a the same time I need to take care of my daughter too, and she is saying that her mommy is keeping her hungry. So let me get something, and then you and I can go to,our bedroom and I will hold you close like this all night. Hmmm?"

"theek hai, I'll eat, but just stay here for a few minutes please."

He was a bout to protest, when he saw BB come out of the kitchen carrying a plate.

"beta, Nidhi utho beta. Pehle Kuch khaa loo, phir aaram karlena. Dekho, main saari tumhari pasand ki cheezein Hiraman se garam karva ke laya hoon. Chal beta, baith ja..

Nidhi smiled tiredly, and sat up, and took the plate and started eating.

Ashu saw that she was so tired that just lifting each spoon was seeming to be a chore.

"Nidhi, here give me the plate, sweetheart, you just sit back and relax. I'll feed you."

BB looked at the two of them, and smiled. No, Nidhi was definitely wrong, she had misunderstood, Ashutosh could not hurt her again. The look on his sons face, and his feelings that were reflected there, were hard to miss. It was a misunderstanding, and as soon as Nidhi was asleep, he would have a talk to Ashu and find out exactly what had happened, and what Mallika had been doing at the hospital during the day. He was sure that there was a reasonable explanation for all of this.

Nidhi had barely finished eating, when the door bell rang. All three looked at each other in surprise.

"Ab, yeh itni raat ko kaun ho sakta hai? Ashutosh, beta zara dekh to sahi, darwaze par kaun hai."

Ashutosh was about to get up, when HK came out of the kitchen, and gestured for him to sit, and went to open the door.

"Kaun hai kaka.?.

"Ashutosh beta, Mallika beti aayi hai, aur apne munna ko bhi saath le kar aayi hai."

Hearing that, Nidhi sat up. And, Ashutosh saw the sad, beaten, resigned expression back in her eyes. No, he thought, not this time, not again. He would not let his Nidhi, be beaten down by anything, let alone Mallika. Ashutosh looked over to BB, he saw that baba also had an angry look on his face. Ashutosh was glad that they were on the same page. He had mistakenly believed that Mallika had changed, but it had become more and ore clear, over the past weeks since Nidhi had come back, that she had not changed a bit. The only that had changed were her tactics. Now she was pretending concern, about his life, pretending that she wanted him to be happy with Nidhi. But he had seen through her. Today at the canteen, she had called out to him deliberately while he had been on the phone with his wife, he had seen her sly smile, when nidhi had hung up on him. Ashutosh had been hoping that today's warning about staying out of his life and leaving him in peace would work. Apparently not. But enough was enough, she had crossed lines today, bringing her child with her. It saddened him to think how much he had misjudged her, that she was not above using her own child to bring him over to her side, was pathetic. And although, he had a place in his heart for the little boy, there was nothing he could do, for him. Everyone had to bear their own crosses, and unfortunately for this child, he had a mother like Mallika. He wished that he could somehow help this tiny little being, but...

Sadly, he could to,solve the troubles of this world, he was only human after all. He had tried to be a good friend, then he had tried to be a good person. But Mallika was one of those that would never learn. And she had caused enough damage and turmoil n his life. Oh, that didn't mean that he was absolved of,all guilt. Of course not. She would not have been able to anything unless he had allowed it. And he had. He had turned a blind eye to all her faults, and devious machinations, all in the name of friendship. He had hurt his wife,over and over again, for this pathetic excuse for a human being, a sorry excuse as a doctor.

Ashutosh looked at Mallika, and felt nothing but disgust, and pity.

There were no feelings anymore, none, no humaneness, and certainly no friendship. Before BB could say a word, Ashutosh spoke up.

"Mallika, what are you doing here this time of night, and that too with the baby. Isn't it too late for him to be awake at this hour?"

"I came to visit Ashutosh. Ab apne dost ke ghar aane ke liye bhi mujhe samay dekhna padega kya. Aur, tinku theek hai. He likes staying up late. I hadn't seen BB and HK for a while, and I thought that they would also want to see the baby. So I came. Plus, I know that you have been annoyed with me for past few weeks, so I wanted to come and apologize and clear the air between us. I know that you cannot stay angry with me for too long, but I wanted to say sorry anyway. I see you had a party in the house today. Mujhe kyon nahin bulaya?"

The last sentence was said as an accusation, while looking at Nidhi.

Ashu, went over and took the baby from Mallika, and hugged him and kissed his forehead, then he gestured to HK to come and take the baby.

"But Ashutosh, don't you want to hold the baby?"

"

"I already did Mallika. But I don't think that he needs to be here right now. And though he may not understand what's happening, because he is so small, babies are very sensitive to their environment. And I don't want to be responsible for traumatizing an infant, just because his mother, can stoop low enough to use her own child."

Mallika, paled when she heard the contempt and loathing in Ashutosh's accusation.

"Ashutosh yeh tum kya keh rahe ho? Main aisa kuch nahin kar rahi hoon. I just thought..."

"What did you think Mallika? Huh? You thought that I would melt if you brought the baby here, and forget everything again. You're pathetic you know that. We could have parted on good terms if you had just listened and left well enough alone. But no, you couldn't do that could you", when she opened her mouth to respond, "No! Don't say a word I want you to listen to me today. You forget, I heard what you said to Nidhi that night. If I hadn't, I still would be under the belief that you had changed. But, I did, and I know now, that you will never change. And I am sorry that I helped you, and I am ashamed that I hurt my wife beyond measure, once again, because of my misguided feelings of friendship and humanity for you. Today, at the hospital, I had asked you that if you had any value for our past friendship, and that if you truly thought of me as your friend, you would go away from my life, forever. But your being here, right now, once again proves to me that you have no value for me, my friendship, or anything I have done for you. But this time, unlike previous times, I HAVE learnt my lesson. So once and for all, Mallika, I want to tell you that, I don't not want to see you ever again, I want to have nothing to do with you. I want you to get out of my life. You mean nothing to me. And, please do not depend on me, for anything in the future. I can promise you that any and all attempts from your side will be in vain. And I will not tolerate any disrespect towards my wife. And, if there are any attempts to harm her or her career, by you, then all I can say Mallika is that so far you have seen my friendship and humanity, but if you do anything and I find out about it, you will regret it. I make a formidable enemy, never doubt that. Now get out! Kaka, can you bring the baby here now, Mallika is leaving.."

Mallika was stunned, Ashutosh had never spoken to her like this. And he had never before called himself her enemy. Her plan had backfired. She thought that if she went with the baby to his house, then he would relent.

"Ashutosh how could you do this. Is Nidhi so important now, that you will cut yourself off from the people you love and who matter in your life just because she has insecurities, which she cannot get around. I was in your life long before she came, how can you just throw away everything and all we shared, just like that, at the drop of a hat. And you forgot about the baby. Does he also not mean anything to you anymore."

"Mallika, Nidhi has never asked me to give up anything. And you are not some who matters in my life and certainly not someone I love. She has done a lot and sacrificed a lot for me and my principals, in fact, she went as far as to even sacrifice her self respect and pride, for my sake. And it does not matter how long or when you came into my life. You were always only a friend. Nidhi, is my wife, and my life. And I plan to spend the rest of my life with her and every minute of that life I want to show her how much I love her, and what she means to me. And that life has no place for your friendship. As for the baby, yes I am fond of him. But that is it. To me he has always been and always will be the child of my friend. Nothing more. Now all the explanations that I had to give I gave. I don't owe you any more. Please leave."

"Ashutosh, friendships and relations don't end that easily. I have too much of my life invested in you. I'll leave for now. It's plain that once again she has managed to brainwash you. I'll wait till you come to your senses, and then we will meet again. And we will meet I promise. I will not allow you to dismiss me out of your life this easily."

And with that threat, she gathered up her son and walked out.

Baba came and put a hand on Ashutosh's shoulder, and smiled at him proudly.

"Ashu, beta I am so proud of you. You handled that beautifully. I am happy that you told her clearly to get out of our life, she would not have understood otherwise. Chalo Achcha hua, Nidhi, beta Teri Dadi Bua ki pooja aaj safal ho gayi. Hamare ghar se balaa tal gayi. Ab koi problem ki baat nahin hai. Sab Achcha hoga. Ab chalo tum dono jaake aaram karo, kal kaam par bhi jaana hai na."

"Nahin, baba, I dont have to go to work for the next 2-3days. Woh hua aise ki, woh mera friend hai na Suraj, Jo uss din ghar aya tha, aap mile the na usse. So, kya hua na ke, aaj hospital mein meri tabiyat thodi kharab ho gayi thi, halka as BP high ho Gaya tha, par koi ghabrane waali baat nahin thi," Nidhi said quickly, when she saw both of them start to panic, "usne kaha ke woh mujhe kal cover karlega, and that I should rest for a couple of days. Maine, mana karne ki koshish bhi ki par woh nahin maana. So I had to give in. Kal friday hai, and he is covering for me, then I am off saturday and sunday . So I have the next three days to relax."

"Chalo, yeh toh bahut Achcha hua. Main usse dekh kar hi samajh gaya tha ke bhala Ladakh hai. Theek hai beta, ab chalo bahut der ho gayi hai, jao aaram karo, thak Gaye hoge dono. Main bhi thak gaya hoon, main bhi sone ja raha hoon. Good night mere bachchon, Bhagwan tum dono ko issi tarha sada khush rakkhe"

Inside their room, Nidhi went to Ashutosh and put her arms around him.

Ashu, hugged her to himself, "kya baat hai. Aaj, pati par bahut pyar aa raha hai, hmmm"

"Pati par pyar toh hamesha aata hai, par aaj Kuch zyada hi aa raha hai."

"why, aaj aisi, kya baat, ho gayi? Maine Mallika ko finally hamari zindagi se nikal diya is liye ?"

"That is one of the reasons, but only a small, part of a whole. The other part, also a small one, is how you patched up with Anji. But the biggest part, is for showing me, and reminding once again how much you love me. Ashutosh, I need to apologize to you, I have been so unfair to you. Even today, when I heard Mallika's voice on the phone, I immediately jumped to all the wrong conclusions, and overreacted. I should have given you a chance to explain. No, actually, I should have trusted you. I should have known that you could never do anything that would hurt me again. These past 3 weeks you have shown me in every way possible how much I mean to you, and you have done everything in your power to prove your love to me. And yet, I have done nothing but doubt you. I am sorry. I have been very selfish ."

"Nidhi, please, you have anything to apologize for. Your reactions are justified. It's because of me and my obstinacy, to see the reality, that caused you to doubt me. I don't blame you at all. And as long as I have you back again, nothing matters. I can handle whatever comes my way. What I can't bear is your distance from me. Although, I do deserve it, it is very hard to bear. Somewhere along the line, during our separation you have grown away from me. You have stopped needing me. Your independence, both terrifies me and also makes me proud of you. I have seen your confidence, at the hospital, the way you deal with emergencies and your patients, is awesome. The doctor you have become, makes me so proud, I feel ten feet tall, I feel like shouting from the rooftops, that, that wonderful doctor over there, that everyone loves and admires and respects so much is mine, my wife. But that independence also scares me, that you don't need me anymore, and if you don't need me what good am I. I am afraid that you'll wake up one day, and see that you didn't get such a good deal for a husband, and get bored with me. You used to look up to me Nidhi, I was your hero, your knight in shining armor. I proved to be a failure as a hero and knight. And now it appears, that you don't need me as a husband either, you can handle everything on your own, without me, and do a better job than I ever did. I am sorry Nidhi, I don't want to make you feel bad, and worry about that. That is my problem, my issue, and I promise that I will learn to deal with it. As long as you don't ever leave me, nothing matters. Nothing matters to me more than you, not even my hang ups.

Just promise that you will always be here, with me. Because I don't think that I could ever survive, if you were to leave me, not again. I don't even know how I survived the first time."

Nidhi was overwhelmed. Her husband, her Ashutosh, reduced to tears, that he was eeduced to begging for something, was incomprehensible. Even if it was in front of her. No she could not have that. She much preferred her arrogant Dr. Ashutosh(hard stone) Mathur. He was her pillar, and to see him crumbling like this... no, no, she wouldn't let that happen ever.

She hugged him even tighter.

"Ashutosh, I have gown up, in the last few months, I can't deny that,"

When he stiffened and would have moved away, she hugged him even tighter,"No, no, please hear me out first. Ashutosh growing up doesn't mean that I have grown away from you, or don't need you. Oh, my darling, you really are blind. Can't you see, my love for you in my eyes.

You are my soul, Ashutosh, how does one survive without their soul, how does one grow away, or stop needing their soul. You are being silly. In fact we both are. Letting the past still come in between us.

I still need you as much as ever, I still depend you as much as ever, just in a different way. I grew up Ashutosh because I had to. I knew that if I couldn't have you near to take care of me, I didn't want anyone else. I preferred to do it for myself. And I got used to it, and even liked it. Ashutosh, the girl you fell in love with has grown up, and is a woman now, but that doesn't mean that the girl has disappeared, she is still here too, inside of me. My girlish love for you, was for a man who was my senior in every way, and who I admired and was in awe of, much as a student is in awe of a favorite teacher and guide, but that girlish love has blossomed into a woman's mature love for her man. I am ready to meet you on an equal footing, and face all of life's ups and downs with you, and match you step for step in all walks of life. I won't be so easily scared off this time either, I don't care how many Mallikas come my way. Now that I,know that she really not any kind of a threat, actually she never really was. But in my immaturity, I couldn't see that, and I ended up hurting the both of us. No more, I promise you. I will never doubt you or your love and commitment ever again. And I promise that you will like and love this Nidhi much more than the other one. You see what you had before was a caterpillar, who was in the process of transformation, and what you have now is a butterfly. And this butterfly will never leave her Raja, or his castle. And she will continue to flit around him all the days of her life. That's my vow to you. And by the way, you are still my hero, and my knight, only your shining armor has changed, its no longer just shining, it's been polished into brilliance. A brilliance that lights up my soul, my world."

Ashutosh, looked at his wife, his soul was filled with her brilliance and light. Once again she had managed to drive away his darkness. His little caterpillar had indeed metamorphosed into a beautiful butterfly. And he made a silent vow to himself that he would make sure that her wings never got clipped and that all her brilliant colors would remain this way, so long as there was breath in his body. He had no words for this incredible miracle. So he just wrapped her into his arms and held her close to his heart, and let his heart beats talk for him.

After a few minutes, nidhi drew back a little, and looked up at him with a naughty grin."So, I was thinking...". Oh my, he thought, she had that look on her face again, and smiled at her his heart full of happiness, he couldn't wait, to see what she had up her sleeve this time.

"what were you thinking, Nidhi, dare I even ask?."

Hearing this, Nidhi chuckled

"Well I was thinking of getting some icecream"

"At this time of night?"

"Haan toh. Is there some rule, that iss samay icecream nahin mil sakti?"

"nahin madam, koi rule nahin hai, but iss samay koi bhi store khulla nahin hoga, but if you really feel like eating some, I can go and see if I can find something."

"Pehli baat toh yeh hai, ke you don't have to go anywhere. I brought some icecream home today, it's in the freezer."

"Aur doosri baat...?"

"Aur doosri baat, yeh hai...ke, I never said I felt like eating it..."

Ashutosh looked at her with incredulously, and his jaw dropped open.

Nidhi came up to him, with the same naughty expression, and used a finger to close his mouth," Well... Kuch Kehena nahin hai, ya idea pasand nahin aaya?"

He was quiet for another few seconds and then burst out in laughter

"I adore you, Nidhi. But, sweetheart, YEH KUCH ZYADA NAHIN HO JAYEGA!"