Nidhi sat on the bridal bed, fully decked as she was, in her bridal attire. The bed was tastefully made with red roses and white lillies with green leaves here and there.
She couldnt believe her fortune...ultimately she was married to the man she loved...and waiting to unite with him. At the thought of a physical union with Ashutosh, a wave of hyperanxiety and apprehension washed over her. What was going to happen now? She had casually asked Shyama Aunty but all she got was a pinch on a cheek and an equally cheeky answer: you'll know when it happens!! Huh, as if she didnt know!!! She was a doctor anyway...But again that apprehension crept in...What did Ashutosh expect out of her as a wife? and what was she supposed to expect from him as a husband? Were they physically compatible?
Lost in these thoughts, her heart skipped a beat when she heard Ashutosh's footfall. He was speaking to Armaan outside the room and sounded equally nervous. Armaan was pulling his leg pretty mercilessly "Ashu meri Jaan, aaj to tere zindagi ka sabse bada din...oops sorry...raat hai...aaj ki raat teri pancho ungaliya ghee mein aur sar kadhai mein...aish kar mere yaar" and finally pushed him in the room with a loud "all the best, enjoy yaar...
Ashutosh stumbled in the room and stood quite still, trying to take in what he saw, the prettiest sight in the world. A huge poster bed, with flowers here and there, chains of flowers from the ceiling, soft candles burning with desire and the flames fluttering with anticipation. And there she sat with folded knees and downcast eyes, his Nidhi, in her wedding finery, looking like a lotus in a pond! He was sure, that she was as nervous as he was, as was evident by her fidgetting and heavy breathing. He slowly went and sat next to her, not sure as to where to begin the conversation.
Nidhi...he began, with enough apprehension as he could hear his heart beat wildly in his ears. He was sure she could hear it too. Nidhi, Kaisi Ho? Aaj ka din bahut lamba raha na...thhak gayi hogi na?
Nidhi replied, with a shaky voice, "Nahi, mein itna nahi thhaki, bas thodi tired huon, do raato se soyi nahi...aap to bahut thak gaye honge na? Ashutosh replied, "nahin mein bhi itna nahi thaka huon, are you comfortable here? Yeh bhari Jewellery aur jode mein theek se so nahi paogi..change karna chahogi? tumhara kuchh samaan yahan Anji rakhke gayi hai".
Nidhi was grateful to him "Mein bathroom mein change kar leti huon, aap bhi change kar lijiye...iss bhari sherwani main aap bhi so nahi payenge" AShutosh stood up and offered his hand to Nidhi to help her stand. Nidhi placed her hand into his, and there was the first physical contact after marriage..his touch sent a jolt of electricity through her. She swayed slightly, feeling lightheaded and he immediately caught her arm to steady her...Nidhi, what happened, are you alright? Nidhi felt as if her knees were made of jelly and had to lean against AShutosh to steady herself. Ashutosh also suddenly realized that Nidhi was closer to him than earlier realized, he could feel her breath on him, her eyes were wide and he could see himself mirrored in her brown eyes...Ashu was fast losing himself in her eyes...her quivering full lips..oh god...what was happening to him!!! He felt an irresistible urge to kiss her...
Suddenly there was a loud knock on the door. Both were jolted out of their reverie...Ashutosh was irritated..yeh ab koun aaya? and opened the door: it was Armaan. Thoroughly apologetic, he began, "Ashu, sorry yaar, Kotnis se phone aaya hai, emergency ka case aaya hai...Dr Ranganath ne tujhe bulaya hai" Ashu replied " theek hai, Armaan, a dr's duty first..
Ashutosh sheepishly told Nidhi about the emergency in Kotnis and asked her if it was OK for him to go? Nidhi said, I have an idea...Can I also come with you? give me a second and I will change into something professional" Armaan looked teasingly at Ashu, saying wah yaar, ghar mein na sahi teri first night Kotnis mein hi sahi... and gestured to Nidhi to go and change.
Ashu gave instructions on the phone while Nidhi changed into a salwar Kameez, then drove to Kotnis. Dr Ranganath was waiting in the lobby for them, and came forward to appraise AShutosh of the situation. Nidhi asked him, Dr Ranganath, can I Help in any manner? see waiting for Dr Ashutosh at home alone would have been very painful!! Ranganth, grinning from ear to ear, replied, sure Madam...you can even assist in the surgery..the only danger is that our capable neurosurgeon is not having his heart in its correct position right now...so please dont complicate matters for him...Ashutosh glared at Dr Ranganath.
Both Ashutosh and Nidhi changed into the operation theatre scrubs and entered the OT. The patient was a 50 yr old man with diabetes and recently suffered a complicated brain aneurysm. AShutosh was initially apprehensive about his survival given the severity of diabetes but Nidhi assured him of constantly monitoring his blood glucose throughout the surgery and giving insulin if needed.
Ashutosh started the surgery and quickly located the aneurysm and repaired it while Nidhi drew blood at regular intervals for glucose assessment. The other intern helped AShutosh with the suturing and scrubbing. It was almost early morning when Ashutosh and Nidhi finished the surgery and came out of the OT, dead tired. Dr Rangnath promptly took over in shifting the patient to the ICU and further formalities and ordered coffee for everyone. Ashutosh waited for the shifting, ensured that the patient was stable and was about to call out to Nidhi when he noticed that the door of his room was slightly ajar. He went inside and found Nidhi fast asleep on the sofa, a stray lock of hair caressing her cheek. He suddenly realized that Ranganath's prediction about his heart shifting places had come true...on seeing the love of his life fast asleep in front of him, his heart just went out of control.
Ashu gingerly touched Nidhi's cheek and removed the offending strand of hair and tucked it behind her ear. Nidhi smiled in her sleep at this, as if having received a divine cue...on seeing that smile, Ashu's heart turned a couple of sommersaults...he let his fingers linger on her cheek, her nose, her lips...Nidhi opened her eyes and shyly said: yeh to trailer tha, poori picture ghar jaakar dekhenge kya? Ashu blushed: Ok, lets go home...
They drove back in silence, each stealing covert side-wise glances at each other. His hawk like nose was so endearing...and the locks of greying hair, the only give away sign of his age...his strong arms effortlessly driving the car, with those slender surgeon's fingers tapping out a rhythm on the steering wheel...suddenly he sounded the horn for the traffic and Nidhi broke her trance. She blushed to the roots of the hair on realizing that he had also been watching her with a half smile on his face. And then, they were there, at their home, as the car took a gracious turn and swept in the driveway.
The house seemed vacant as they entered, hand in hand...Ashutosh spotted a letter lying on the dining table addressed to him. Baba had written: Hum sab log bahar ja rahe hai, kafi der tak nahin lautenge, Tum logon ka Nashta Hiraman ne table par rakha hai, Kha lena...Armaan had also left an envelope marked "Surprise" in it were two tickets for their honeymoon.
Nidhi yawned and Ashu suddenly realized that he was equally tired and sleepy. Nidhi went inside their room and settled in a chair and dozed off, the bed being full of roses and other flowers didnt seem inviting. Suddenly she felt being lifted in a pair of two strong arms and carried to the bed..boy, he was so close, as she put out her arms around his neck.
Ashutosh tenderly put her on the bed on her side, and she turned away from him shyly...he called gently, Nidhi...please dont turn away from me, if you dont feel comfortable, I wont...at this Nidhi turned to him and placed her finger on his lips. "Woh baat nahi, yeh sab din dahade... Ashutosh gathered her fingers in his hand and kissed them, and asked coffee piyogi? its almost nine O'clock now...have some breakfast and then we can relax for the day, see, Armaan has left something for our honeymoon.
Ashutosh was holding the envelope in his hand, and Nidhi took it from him and her eyes widened and then brimmed over. Kerala!! God's own country!! and the same resort, the same room...this was the same resort where they had stayed when she had broken up with Ashutosh. The room was probably still afresh with memories of the silent tears that flowed unabated, of the helplessness within, of the shattered dreams and what not. Nidhi had consciously avoided revisiting those memories when alone with Ashutosh, something like pushing them into the farthest corners of her being...and now seeing these honeymoon plans was like pricking of a pin while sifting through junk in one's attic...a painful reminder.
She was still crying when Ashutosh dropped to his knees, cupped her face in his hands and gently wiped her tears, I specifically asked for it...Nidhi...this is the place wherein we need to revisit and heal the festering wounds in our souls.. Please don't cry...or else I will cancel these plans and we will go somewhere else, OK? But, breakfast first, I am famished!!
Nidhi wiped her tears, stood up and smiled, I agree...let's go to kerala...there has to be a closure of some kind to this...and I am equally famished!!
The whole day passed on relaxing. BB, Armaan, HM and Saroj Aunty came back during lunch time and the whole house wore a festive and noisy look. Armaan once again chided Ashutosh of not letting Nidhi rest "enough" (by this time she had dark circles under her eyes). This time BB also joined in, Arre neend kiski poori nahin hui? Ashu ki ya Nidhi ki? Dono thake lag rahe hai...bahut exertion to nahin hua na? Aur surgery kaisi rahi? Bechara patient theek hai na? Ashu blushed...Baba aap bhi shuru ho gaye? Nidhi chalo, flight ka time ho raha hai...and walked to his room to finish packing, conveniently ignoring the guffaws and banter that followed.
The flight was uneventful...Ashutosh and Nidhi, both dead tired, slept throughout the flight and the road journey that followed. The mountainous road to the resort was enticing...climbing endlessly, with deep ravines and waterfalls, sometimes with a hairpin bend so deep that they could look back the way they came. Sometime early morning they reached the resort and Nidhi was so disoriented that she couldn't tell which direction she was heading to...she just entered the room and walked around to steady herself and clear her head...Yes, this was the same room!!
Ashu tipped the porter carrying their baggage and came in and quietly closed the door. The receptionist had coyly enquired whether he wanted a "DO NOT DISTURB" board displayed outside his room. Nidhi was leaning against the window, looking into space as she had done throughout that eventful night... Yes, this was the room wherein she had taken that tough decision, as to sever all ties with Ashutosh, only because her baba and DB wouldn't approve of it.
Ashutosh stealthily crept behind her and her trance broke...she was backing from the window when she bumped into him. He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her around, kya soch rahi thi? Ab purani baatein bhool bhi jao...Nidhi...bahut kuchh khokar humne ek doosre ko paya hai...lets start our life together, once again? Nidhi nodded, theek kehte hai aap...kabhi to purani baatein bhulani padegi...tabhi to nayi shuruat hogi na...Ashutosh prodded, gently, "to us shuruat ki shuruat ki jaaye? Nidhi looked at him with a question mark on her face: Matlab? Ashutosh cupped her face in his fingers, "and may I...?"
Nidhi suddenly realized what he had implied, blushed heavily and hid her face in her fingers. He gently pried open her fingers, raised her chin to meet his gaze, "Aaj to mat sharmao, Nidhi...please...I have been waiting for this day ever since eternity..." and lowered his mouth to hers. Nidhi was stumped at first but recovered soon as the waves of passion broke over her, she clutched his collar to steady herself and opened up to his quering lips. Her hair flew from the breeze, covered both their faces as his hands started on an independent caressing journey from her face to shoulders to back and beyond...he broke the kiss, buried his face in her neck, picked her in his arms, and carried her to the bed.
Ab hum dono ke beech yeh kapde kyoun chahiye? He murmured in her ears. She felt too shy even to understand the meaning of his words..."and do I undress you or you will remove them yourself?" he continued. She hid her face in the pillow as he tugged at the zipper of her dress and pulled it down to reveal a slender back. She shuddered further as his fingers caressed her bare back as he lowered the dress further and it was finally free from her shoulders and hands. She broke away from him, stood up on her side of the bed, facing away from him with hands crossed to cover her dignity, and he approached her with a back hug, his fingers reaching to undress her further.
She turned and buried her face in his chest, her hands still crossed on her bossom...when she realized that he had removed his T shirt. His hands cupped her face once again as he muttered: Don't worry Nidhi, I won't hurt you, just relax...and don't feel shy...I am not your "Dr Hardstone" now...and he picked her up once again and put her gently on the bed and covered her with a duvet. "Comfortable now? He pinned her arms about her head with a hand, cupped her chin with the other, looked in her eyes and asked, Nidhi...yeh kuchh galat to nahi ho raha hai na? Mujhe apna pati sweekar karti ho na? Nidhi shyly lowered her eyes and nodded and Ashutosh reclaimed her lips once again.
They slowly embarked on a journey to the stars and galaxies beyond, mutually discovering and pleasing each other, tormenting and yet fulfilling, till they reached the final pinnacle and started to fall as the stars exploded...and suddenly it was over. As they lay together, panting, in each other's arms, bodies covered with sweat, with a satisfied smile, Ashutosh whispered ... Nidhi...did I hurt you? Maine apna sab kuchh tumhe de diya...to this Nidhi raised her head, quietened him with a finger on his lips and said, "Maine bhi apna sab kuchh aapko de diya...bas ab so jaiye...abhi baatein karne ko poori zindagi padi hai...
Book Talk
Anupamaa
