What next? FF with the Doc: epilogue page 55 - Page 8

Chapter 5

"Woh Dr Mallika hi thi na? Wohi, jisne hamare Nidhi ko jaan se maarne ki koshish ki thi?" Col Verma and DB were just round the corner in the corrider when Ashutosh's cabin door opened and Mallika had come out. There were plenty of people around and Mallika, obviously hadn't seen them. DB hadn't liked Mallika at all, right from the day Ashutosh had brought her home in a sick condition. "Chalo under, Dr Ashutosh se mil kar phir ghar jayenge...Col Verma had propelled DB into Ashutosh's cabin.

"Arre, Aap log? Aaiye, mein aap hi ki wait kar raha tha...baithiye na..."Ashutosh stood up from behind his desk, ushered them towards the sofa and sat on his toes facing them, "Nidhi se milke aa rahe hai na aap log? Woh kaisi hai?"

"Woh sab to theek hai daktar, pehle yeh batao ki yeh Mallika yahan kya kar rahi thi?" DB snorted. She has just not liked the influence of Mallika on Nidhi's grihasti. " Woh kya hai na DB, apne discharge papers lekar aayi thi, yahan admit thee na, aaj usko chhutti mil gayi thi isiliye..." Ashutosh had justified, "khair woh chhodiye, mujhe Nidhi ke bare mein bataiye, please..woh kaisi hai?" "Theek hi hai, beta, bas kamjori bahut hai", Col Verma had started, only to be interrupted by DB, "Arre kya khakh theek hai, meri phool si bachchi murjha gayi, na theek se khati hai na soti hai...yeh meri Nidhi ko kya ho gaya..." Ashutosh couldn't stand it anymore, "iska matlab, abhi bhi udaas hai...mein kya karu DB...mujhse naaraz hai...meri baat hi sunana nahi chahti..."

"Dont worry, beta, kamjori bahut hai na, ek baar yeh kamjori chali jaye phir apne aap theek ho jayegi...Col Verma had reassured him, "Aur kissi cheez ki zaroorat ho to kehna Daktar...aur apna khayal rakhana..." DB had wiped her eyes with her pallu, "Bas ab chalate hai...Nidhi ke liye kal soup banake le aaongi.."

There was a small knock on the door, and Nidhi's nurse had come in "Yeh shawl inka hai kya?" DB shook her head, "Mera to nahi hai, kahan mila? It suddenly dawn on the nurse, "Han, yaad aaya, kal raat ko Dr Nidhi ko neend nahi aa rahi thi to mein unhe thoda terrace par lekar gayi thi. Wahan Dr Mallika bhi aayi thi, shayad unhi ka hoga..." DB's expression was murderous. "Woh aurat, jisne meri Bachchi ko itna sataya, uski shadishuda zindagi mein zeher gholane ki koshish ji, uski jaan lene ki koshish ki, woh aurat yahan par meri Nidhi se milne aayi thi, woh bhi terrace par, meri bachchi ke saath akeli thi?" DB had thundered on, "Kya pata, agar terrace se neeche dhakka de deti to?"

The silence in the room after DB's outburst was deafening, as neither of the numbed brains present in the room could even comprehend this situation. DB had continued her tirade, "Nahi mein abhi apni Nidhi ko yahan nahi rehne doongi, yahan woh surakshit nahin hai, mein abhi Dr Bharati se baat karti houn..." and walked off in a huff, to see Dr Bharati.

"Theek, Hai, kal subah le jaiye Nidhi ko," Dr Bharati had agreed, much to Ashutosh's disappointment. "waise bhi, usko sirf rest aur achchi khurak ki hi zaroorat hai, waqt rehte theek ho jayegi...ha, please get her for a checkup after 15 days..."

Ashutosh stared at the closed door for a long time after they left. He inwardly felt a tremendous longing for Nidhi, at least a glimpse of her from a distance...and now she was going off to her mayka. As long as she was here at the hospital, he could peep in anytime to see her, enquire about her. What was she doing at this moment? Did he, her lover turned husband turned deewana, figure out anywhere in her thoughts?

Nidhi was indeed thinking about Ashutosh, staring in space at that moment. Dr Bharati had just left after her evening round and categorically told her, that if she did not eat a single proper meal, things would not be getting any better. Nidhi smiled sadly as she remembered when, just after marriage, she had not felt like eating, and Ashutosh had fed her after tricking her to open her mouth. Life was so uncomplicated then...just after their marriage...she was learning the tricks of running the household, of getting up early in the morning, making breakfast for everyone...caring for everyone.

Nidhi's eyes grew heavy as the sedative tablet started taking its effect and she slowly drifted off to sleep. The night was quiet, without even the basic rudimentary sounds of nature. Nidhi opened her eyes with a start, something was bothering her...two people were conferring in the corridor outside...talking about her. She slowly crept to the door and listened.

"Why don't you just get rid of her, Ashutosh? You have just admitted that you were smitten by her youth and chirpiness, and you are further regretting your marriage...these days divorce is so easy!!! For her finding someone of her age won't be difficult..." Somewhere in the ward a baby was crying inconsolably...unseen by both of them, Nidhi crept to the pediatric ward and tried to pacify the baby. Suddenly she saw the baby's face and was startled: it was her own!!! Her's and Ashutosh's creation!!! She was about to pick up the baby and hold it to her bosom, when she heard Mallika's voice behind her, "so you found your baby ultimately!!!! Give it to me, otherwise Ashutosh won't ever be mine...come on...give..."

NO!!!! Never!! Nidhi tried to pick up the baby and tried to run away, but her legs turned into lead...Mallika gave a devilish grin and started to close in to her...in her helplessness, Nidhi screamed, voiceless...Ashutosh!!!

"Madam, Kya hua? The light flicked on and the nurse was bending over her, her arm around Nidhi's shoulders, shaking her awake. "Aapne koi bura sapna dekha kya? Paani pijiye..." Nidhi was hyperventilating and thoroughly disoriented, bathed in perspiration. Something about her didn't seem right and the nurse alerted the resident doctor on duty at once.

The doctor examined her thoroughly and shook his head to the senior doctor standing near the door, "nothing to worry, Sir, probably had a nightmare...if you feel so, I will give a diazepam right away..." Ashutosh had stayed back in the hospital, unable to bear the thought that Nidhi will be gone the next day to her maayaka and he won't be able to see her again so easily. "Can I speak to her? Will it help? On hearing his voice, Nidhi had jerked awake, and tried to bolt away, "nahin, mujhe mat maariye, mein apki zindagi se bahut door chali jaoongi, please mere bachche ko mujhse alag mat kijiye, mein use lekar door chali jaoongi...bahut door..." and sobbed her heart out while being restrained by the nurse. The resident had gently nudged Ashutosh, "Sir, if you don't mind, can you avoid coming to this room? Once she recovers fully, maybe you can explain things to her, but right now...please Sir..."

Ashutosh had silently left the room feeling dejected, while the resident sedated her and coaxed her to sleep. In the heart of his hearts, he knew that Nidhi needed him and only him at this moment. He could feel and hear Nidhi's tormented soul calling out to his, urging him to reach out to her, to hold her in his arms, to love her...

The morning brought on a new day, as dawn manifested itself over the city's rooftops. Ashutosh awoke with a shudder as the attendant brought him his morning tea. "Dr Bharati aa gayi kya? Nidhi ka discharge ho gaya kya? He asked the attendant, "Pata nahin, maine to unhe nahin dekha Saab...Aap reception mein poochh lijiye..." the attendant clearly didn't know. But then Ashutosh heard Dr Bharati's booming voice through the corridor and a few minutes later she was in his cabin, seated on the facing chair.

"Dr Ashutosh, maine Nidhi ko discharge de diya hai, use ab hospital mein rehne ki koi zarurat nahin hai...Sirf aaram aur manasik shanti ki zarurat hai...waise I would have preferred another week in the hospital but after yesterday's panic episode..."the resident doctor had clearly updated her," I thought she would be better away from you". Dr Bharati was not the one to mince any words, even when addressing the Chief Surgeon of the hospital, "Once she gets better, maybe she will be in a position to listen to you, then you can see her and explain things...these are her medicines, she should take them regularly...and should not get agitated at any cost..."

"I understand that Dr Bharati, I will fully comply with your instructions. For some time, she will be staying in her maayaka, with her father and grandmother, and I will pass on these things to them. When would you like to see her again? For the next followup?" Ashutosh was eager to know the future course of action, of when he would get a glimpse of Nidhi again. Otherwise the chances looked pretty bleak with DB's discovery of Mallika's midnight interaction with Nidhi on the terrace.

There was a knock on his door, and Col Verma had breezed in, "Ashutosh, beta, the taxi is here, can we take Nidhi home"? "Of course, baba, take care of her, these are her medicines and this is the hospital file, please get her after 15 days for a followup..."Ashutosh stood up from his chair. Dr Bharati shook hands with Col Verma and left after murmuring thanks.

"Baba..."Col Verma turned, "please take care of my Nidhi...she will at least listen to you...tell her that I love her...and she means the world to me...let me know in case you need anything...anything at all..." there were tears in Ashutosh's eyes as Col Verma gripped his shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry beta...she will be soon alright...DB will take good care of her diet...you take care of yourself...both of you have gone through the worst in the past few days...drop in sometime... in the meanwhile, I will try to convince Nidhi to atleast hear you out..." Col Verma picked up Nidhi's file and moved out.

Soon Ashutosh heard the sound of DB huffing and puffing, obviously helping Nidhi and CS trailing along, he rushed to his cabin window overlooking the car park, to get a glimpse of her. And there she was, frail, all skin and bones, standing with her back towards him, leaning on Col Verma for support...before getting in, she paused for a moment, turned back slowly as if searching for him, her gaze halting on his window for a split second, as he backed off further...then Col Verma helped her settle in, turned and gave a small wave to nobody in particular. Ashutosh saw the gesture and understood completely: he was being called on to fight another battle for wining his love...and he didn't even know where to begin...