OS - Tit for tat! - complete

This one is for Deepa,,,,even if she won't read it 😆

"Nurse, aadhe ghante baad yeh injection dena hai...aur phir har ek ghante mei temperature aur BP please check kijiye...aur koyi problem hai toh bas mujhe bulalijiye please!"

Nidhi gave Amar her most reassuring smile and turned to leave when he caught hold of her hand.

He pulled out a hidden rose from underneath his pillow and handed it to her with a bright smile.

"For you, Dr Nidhi...aap ki gaalon jitna khubsoorat rang nahi hai isme...phir bhi...meri taraf se..."

Nidhi could not help blushing. The boy was rather cute and which woman was not susceptible to flattery.

"Amar...yeh kya hai...kahaan se laya yeh gulaab!"

"Arre Nidhiji...aapke liye aasman se taare aur chand bhi thod lana chahta ta...par afsos...garden se bas yeh ek gulab hi thod la paya!"

Oh my, this guy was quite a charmer.

She smiled at him and took the rose.

"Tume nahi pata ki apne doctor ke saath flirt karna mana hai?"

"Kya Karen doctor, yeh kambaqt dil hai ki manta nahin...ab mere dil ko sambhalna bhi aap hi ki duty hai na..?"

"Tum bhi na...!"

She shook her head and turned around to go only to freeze on the spot.

Standing at the entrance to the ward was the senior neuro surgeon Dr Ashutosh!

She greeted him politely and made to move past him.

"Dr Nidhi?"

"Yes Sir?"

"I must say I am impressed with your bedside manners. Isiliye toh ek hafte mei discharge hoke jaane waale patients bhi ek ded mahina yahaan rehke aapse acchhe se khatirdari karwana chahte hain...the hospital management is delighted...board meeting mei yeh bhi discuss hua ki aap ko iske liye ek special khatirdari allowance kyun nahi diya jaye?"

"Really Sir...I am so thankful...zaroor aap hi ne recommend kiya hoga board ko...very kind of you, Sir...!"

"Not at all...yeh to mera farz hain...patients ke upar itna pyar barasne wale interns kahaan milte hain aaj kal?"

"Aap hi se seekhe hain, Sir...aap hi ke shagird hain...toh zaahir si baat hai...!"

"Thank you, Dr Nidhi...aur achcha hua aapne mujhe apna duty yaad dila di..mera bhi ek patient meri khatirdari ki intezar mei hain...chalta hoon...and you have fun!"

He turned on his heel and walked off leaving Nidhi glaring daggers at him.

Ashutosh was standing by Mallika's bedside. The gynaec Dr Shah was giving her all last minute instructions before she was due to leave.

"Mallika, maine already tumhare case history ke baare mei Dr Tripathi se baat karli...phikar karne ki koi zaroorat nahi...I think you are out of the woods now...you can carry on leading a normal life hereon...bas pregnancy ke waqt jo jo normal cheezein ek aurat ke dhyan mei hona chahiye bas tum uspe dhyaan do...I don't think I have to tell you what they are...!"

"Of course Deepa...I know...and main dhyan rakhoongi...and thank you so much for everything!"

"Shut up, Mallika...what is wrong with you...hum donon itne saalon se colleagues rahe hain!"

"I know, Deepa...aur achche dost bhi...tumhe toh sab kuch pata bhi hai...main jo...!"

"Mallika, come on now...ab bus tumhe aage badna hai...peeche mud kar dekne ki zaroorat nahi...zindagi humein bohot kuch sikhati hai...bas humein woh cheezein yaad rakhni chahiye aur nibhana chahiye..hain na Ashutosh?"

Ashutosh broke out of his thoughts.

"Yeah...yeah...sure..Dr .Deepa!"

Dr Shah gave Mallika the discharge papers and turned to walk away. Something struck her and she came back to give Mallika a warm hug and then gave one to AShutosh too!

"Mere liye kyun, Deepa...?""

"Bas aise hi...bas zindagi mei har ek ke liye tum jaise ek dost zaroor hona chahiye!"

She walked away leaving an awkward silence behind.

Maxi had packed up all Mallika's belongings in the meantime.

"Sir...hum log taiyyar hain...!"

"Haan...!"

There was again a silence which Mallika broke this time.

"Ashutosh...mujhe pata nahi ki mujhe kya kehna chahiye...par itna kahoongi ki kisi ke zindagi mei mujh jaisa ek dost nahi hona chahiye!"

AShutosh shook his head.

"Forget it, Mallika...purani baton ko baar baar daurane se na tumhe sukoon milne wala hain na mujhe chain...ab bas hum donon ko zindagi mei aage badna hain...!"

"Aur Nidhi...kya main aakhri baar mil sakti hoon usse?"

"Uski koi zaroorat nahi, Mallika...Nidhi apni zindagi mei aage bad gayi hai...bas ab hum donon hi wahi mukaam pe khade hain...so forget it...!"

Maxi led the way and Mallika followed.

Suddenly, Mallika came back and hugged Ashutosh and started sobbing

"Mallika...chup ho jao...bacche ke bare mei khayal karo...stop it now...enough!"

He patted her awkwardly on the back.

And this was exactly how the intern Dr Nidhi found them.

Nidhi was at the canteen with Priyanka, sipping a cup of coffee when Janki bhai came looking for her.

"Dr Nidhi, aap ko kahaan kahaan nahi doonda?"

"Kyun kya hua...?"

"Dr Ashutosh ne aap ko bulane ke liye bola...jaldi!"

"Kyun...ab maine kya galti kardi...aur waise woh toh Dr Mallika ke dekhbaal mei busy te na?"

"Dr Mallika ka discharge hogaya na...woh airport ke liye nikal gayi...unko Delhi mei ek hospital mei naukri mil gayi...ab woh wahin rahegi...aur shayad unki bhabhi bhi Delhi pohonch rahi hai unke dekhbal karne?"

"Oh...toh Dr AShutosh ko chutti mil gayi Dr Mallika ki duty se...isiliye mujhe bula rahe hain?"

Priyanka looked at her strangely. Only then did Nidhi realize that she had spoken the words loudly. She was discomfited at the thought but pushed it aside.

"Teekh hain, Janki bhai...main jaati hoon...!"

She excused herself from Priyanka and was headed to Dr Ashutosh's cabin. Just then, the attendant Shyam came looking for her.

"Dr Nidhi...woh aapka patient Amar physiotherapy ke liye co-operate nahi kar rahe hain...aap please aayiye...hum unhe nahi sambhal paa rahe hain!"

She rushed after him to Amar's ward.

"Yeh kya horaha hai, Amar? Aisa kyun kar rahe ho? Physiotherapy nahi karoge toh teekh kaise hoge?"

"Dr Nidhi...abhi main phir se chalna shuru karne wala hoon...maine socha ki pehla kadam aap ke haath pakad ke loon...aap ka saath chahiye mujhe...phir toh koi mushkil nahi hogi!"

Nidhi was just a bit taken aback. Was he getting a little too familiar? She always indulged him because she found him rather sweet. It had been a balm to her ego, his attention and flattery. But was he misreading her signals?

"Nahi Amar...am sorry...mujhe bohot kaam hai...physiotherapist hain na...woh acche se tumhara khayal rakhenege...!"

"Please Dr Nidhi...aap hi ne bola ki aap mere dost ho...jab mujhe lag raha ta ki main duniya mei akela hoon...aur mera koi nahi hai...toh aap hi ne mera hosla badaya...ab dosti karli toh nibhana bhi padega na...?"

He put out his hand and she had no choice but to accept.

She supported him as he started taking his first steps. His joy was infectious and soon she was laughing happily and cheering him as he struggled to walk. Suddenly he lost his balance and was about to keel over when she caught him in her arms. She held on to him tight and this was how Dr Nidhi's husband found them!

👏👏 Iliked Dr Deepa.next?

The silence in the car was so thick that you could have sliced through it with a knife. Dr Ashutosh had such a set expression on his face as he drove the car that Nidhi did not dare speak to him. Suddenly the surroundings started appearing familiar and she realized where they were going.

"Yeh JS Hospitals ka raasta nahi hain...aap shayad galat raste pe aagaye?"

"Please do me a favour?"

"Haan boliye?"

"Just shut up!"

Nidhi was taken aback by the vehemence in his voice.

Soon, they were drawing up outside their house.

"Aap mujhe kyun laaye yahaan?"

"Bola na,...shut up...?"

"Aap mujhse aise bartaav nahi kar sakte...toh kya hua agar aap mere senior ho!"

"Senior toh hoon...par ab ke liye sirf tera pati hoon!"

"Accha...itne din baad yaad aagaya aapko apna pati dharm...kyunki Dr Mallika ko aap ki zaroorat nahi hain...?"

He had the grace to flinch.

"Nidhi...aisi baat nahi hai...I had my reasons...par humein bait ke baat karni chahiye...?"

"Kyun...sab aap hi ke marzi se hona chahiye kya...jab aap chaahein mujhe ghar se chale jaana chahiye...aur jab aap ko lage ki humein baat karni chahiye toh phir mujhe chup chap aapki baat sunni chahiye...!"

"Nidhi please...mera sabr toot raha hai...main bas itna chahta hoon ki hum log shanti se bait ke baatein karein.!"

"Mera sabr toh bohot pehle hi toot chukka ta, Dr Ashutosh...ab mujhe aap ki koi baat nahi sun ni hai...!"

"Haan...aaj kal tumhe kisi aur ki baat sunne mei hi mazaa aata hai na...!"

She looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"Haan...kuch aisa hi samjiye...!"

"Achcha toh yeh baat hai?"

"Haan...yehi baat hai!"

"Phir toh teek hai!"

He was out of the car in a trice and had opened her door!

"Yeh aap kya kar rahe hain...mujhe aapke ghar nahin aana hain..main hospital waapis jaa rahi hoon...!"

"Dektha hoon mujhe chod ke kaise jaati ho?"

"Toh dekhiye...!"

She had hardly got out of the car and taken a couple of steps when he lifted her straight into his arms...

"aap aise nahi kar sakte...main aapke khilaf police mei abduction case likhvadoongi...!"

"Beshaq...!"

"Aur Solanki uncle se kehkar aap ko court notice bhijvaoongi!"

"Acchi baat hai...isi bahane tere Solanki uncle ko ek case toh milegi!"

By then, they had entered the house and Baba was shocked by the sight before him.

"Ashutosh,...yeh tum kar kya rahe ho?"

"Apni hi biwi ko god mei liye apne bi bedroom mei jaa raha hoon, Baba...kuch galat toh nahi kar raha hoon na...?"

The bedroom door was closed on Baba's face!

very nice sujatha, please continue

"Aap ko pata bhi hai ki aap kaise behave kar rahe hain?"

"Haan pata hain...jaise ek gunda, mawali, sadak chaap aadmi pesh aata hai...waise hi!"

Nidhi did not know how to respond to that one.

AShutosh started taking off his coat. Nidhi flinched as she sat up on the bed.

"Daro mat...main itna bhi gira nahin hoon...rapist shabd maine include nahi kiya us list mei!"

"Kya chahte hain aap mujhse...?"

"Bohot kuch...aur bohot kuch tumhe dena bhi chahta hoon...but to start with...jo mujhe kehna hai...tum bas open mind se suno!"

She leaned back against the backrest.

He realized that she was willing to listen.

"Sorry...mujhe shayad ek caveman ki tarah behave nahin karna chahiye ta...mujh jaisa ek pada likha, shareef insaan ko toh apni bhavnaon ko humesha control mei rakna chahiye...but is shareef insaan ke andar bhi ek pati ka dil hai jo chukna choor hota hai jab apni patni ko kisi aur ke baahon mei dektha hain!"

"Jaise ek patni ka dil toot tha hain apne pati ke baahon mein kisi aur ko dekh ke!"

"So are we even then?"

"No...we are not...kyunki maine Amar ko jaan bhooj kar encourage nahi kiya...main bas ek doctor ki haisiyat se uska ilaaj kar rahi ti...aur bas thodi si hamdardi dikhayi...!"

"Kya tumhe nahi lagta ki dosti ki naam pe maine bhi wohi kiya...haan yeh sacch hai ki tab tumhara reactions ajeeb laga...immature aur childish...par afsos mujhe der se samaj aaya ki aisi insecurities ka maturity se koi samband hi nahi hai...yeh pyaar ko izraar karne ka ek tareeka bhi hota hai..I am sorry...mujhe yeh sab thoda late samaj aaya...kya karoon...chaalees saal tak anadi jo tehra pyar ke maamle me!"

"Dr Ashutosh...main aap ko sabak sikhane ki koshish nahi kar rahi ti...main sach main bas Amar ki madad karna chahti ti...par kabhi kabhi jisko hum madad samajte hain, usi baat ko koi aur kuch aur bhi samaj sakta hai...yeh baat mujhe bhi ab samaj aarahi hai...!"

"Nidhi...tumhari koi galti nahi hai...tumhara dil bohot saaf hai...tum baakiyon ko bhi apne jaise samajti ho...nahi to tum Mallika ko kabhi aasra nahi deti...par shayad maine tumhare is bolepan ka, tumhare bade dil ka bohot zyada faida uta liya hai...tumhare upar bhoj par bhoj daalta raha!"

"Aap ko pata hai na , Dr Ashutosh...the last straw on the camel's back...jab Dr Mallika is bar hamare zindagi mei phir se waapis aayi toh mujhe kuch aisa hi laga!"

"Nidhi...I understand...maine tumhe pehle kabhi nahi kaha...but mujhe apne aap pe kabhi kabhi gin aati ti ki main tumhare bhavnaon ko itna tez pahunchaara aata...par jab main us bacche ke bare mei sochta hoon toh phir mujhe koi aur raasta nazar nahi aata ta...madad ko aadhi adhoori nahi chod sakte hain na , Nidhi...us din jab Mallika ki maid ka phone aaya ki woh behosh hai aur bleeding horahi hai...toh mera mann jaise blank hogaya...mujhe bas yeh khayal ta ki kisi bhi tara donon ke zindagi bachane hain...main apne aap ko kahi na kahin unke liye morally responsible samajne laga...bas...main unko KGH leke aagaya,,,,main unhe kahin aur kaise le jaata, Nidhi..maine socha ki agar main unhe KGH hi le aata toh tumhe koi galat faimi ya shaq ki gunjaish nahi doonga...tum meri majboori ko samjoge...Mallika ne bohot galat ki hai tumhare saath, Nidhi...but this is not the time to hold grudges against her...uske saath saath ek bacche ki zindagi ka bhi sawal hai...ab hum uski gunahon ko dil mei rakthe toh Mallika ke saath saath us bacche ko bhi sazaa milta na, Nidhi...in sab mei us bacche ka kya kasoor hai...mere mann mei bas yehi ek khayal ta...aur maine wohi kiya jo mere zameer ne mujhe karne ke liye kaha...mujhe pata ta ki main tumhe takleef pohonchaaraha hoon...par mere paas koi aur chaara nahin ta...!"

Nidhi was listening to him intently without saying a word.

"Mujhe us raat tumse aise baat nahi karna chahiye ta...par kya karta...jab tum mere integrity par sawal utane lagi toh mujhse raha nahi gaya...mere usoolon, mere insaniyat yehi mera wajood hai, Nidhi...aur yehi mera zameer...main iske khilaf nahi jaa sakta hoon...chahe iski wajah se mujhe khud ko bhi takleef dena pade...aur kyunki tum mera khud ka ek hissa ho, yeh takleef tumhe bhi utana pad raha hai...par main kya karoon, Nidhi...I don't know how else to be!"

His voice broke and he gulped down the lump in his throat. Just then he saw a glass of water before him. He looked up and realized that Nidhi had moved to his side from the bed. She sat on the floor beside him and lay her head on his knees. He got off the chair and sat next to her on the floor and asked her gently,

"Nidhi, kya main thodi der ke liye tere god mei sar rakh sakta hoon?"

She could not stop the tears that sprang to her eyes and just nodded!

He lay down on her lap and promptly hugged her around her waist and buried his head in her stomach.

"Nidhi...maine kabhi mamta ko mehsoos nahi kiya hai...haan tum mujhse 18 saal choti ho...par kabhi kabhi tumhare andar apni maa ko pehchan ta hoon...jab tum mujhe khilati ho, meri dekhbal karti ho, meri zakhmon ke liye malham ban jati ho,mujhe daant ti ho...shayad meri parvarsih main ek aurat ki haat hoti toh main tumhe aur tere takleefon ko aur behtar samajta...mujhe maaf karoge please...tumhe diye hue har ek talkleef mere dil pe bhi lagi hai, Nidhi...yeh mat samjo ki us dard ko tumne akele mehsoos kiya hai...in kuch maheenon ki doori ne shayad meri zindagi ke kuch saalon ko kaatli...!"

She shushed him.

"Shubh shubh boliye...and I am sorry...galti sirf aapki nahi hai...meri bhi hai...main bhi aap ko sahi tarah se samaj nahi paayi...meri andar bhi bohot saare insecurities hain, Dr AShutosh...ek toh Dr Mallika ne jo bhi hamare saath kiya usse main bhool nahi paayi...main Dr Mallika ko dekthi rahi par unki andar jo nanhi jaan pal rahi hai usko nahi... shayad meri insaniyat mei kuch kami hai...!"

"Aisa kabhi mat sochna, Nidhi...you have a heart the size of the world...nahi toh mujhe mere ego aur insecurities ke saath uske andar kaise kaid kar paati?"

"Nahi Dr Ashutosh.. bacche ko lekar jo decision humne liya ta mujhe lagne laga uske wajah se shayad main aapko khoti jaarahi hoon...mujhe bohot guilt mehsoos hone laga...aur mujhe lagne laga ki aap pure mann se mere career mei mere saath nahi de rahe hain...balki Dr Mallika aur unke bacche ke zariye mujhe punish kar rahe hain kyunki maine aap ka khwash pura nahi kiya...!"

"That is a load of crap, Nidhi...haan maine tumhe bohot daanta hai...par tumhe yeh nahi pata tere peet peeche maine tumhari kitni tareef ki...you are a very good doctor,...and you have it in you to be a great doctor...the best of the best...way better than me...!"

"Sacchi?"

"Of course...main baccha chahta ta aur chahta hoon...but that has nothing to do with Mallika or her child...haan shayad mere andar ke pita ko thoda sukoon mila us bacche ko sahare dene mei...par Mallika ki madad mei tab bhi karta agar tum bacche ke liye raazi hote...mera usse madad karna had nothing to do with our decision to not have a baby now...mera yakeen karo!"

Tears were streaming down her cheeks by then.

"Yeh jo hum abhi kiye isse agar pehle hi karte toh shayad itne dinon ki takleef sehni nahi padti...hum ne ek doosre se baat kyun nahi ki...ek doosre ke fears, insecurities, dreams...in sab ko aur behtar kyun nahi samja...hamare pyar mei kahin khot hai kya?"

"Agar hoti toh hum ab bhi nahi samaj pate, Nidhi...yeh pyaar hi ab hamara wajood hai...yehi humein ab sahi aur galat ka farq dikayega...mujhe galti karne se rokhega!"

"Nahi Dr Ashutosh, insaniyat ke vaaste jo aapne kiya usse please galti mat kahiye...aapk ka pyar hi aapka zameer banke aap ko Dr Mallika ki madad karne par majboor kiya...kyunki aap ke pyaar saaf hai...usme koi khot nahi hain!

""Thank you, Nidhi...aur baat yeh nahi hai ki main isse pehle tum se baat karna nahi chahta ta,...bas main itna chahta ta ki Mallika ke liye kuch intezaam kardoon...taki usse meri madad ki zaroorat na pade...isliye maine usse Delhi mei ek naukri bhi dilvadi aur uski bhahbi bhi aarahi hai uski delkhbaal ke liye...I did not want to talk to you until I had sorted things out completely...main phir se koi problem nahi chahta!"

"Ashutosh got up and hugged her tight. Their lips met in a kiss of healing and peace.

"Toh kya ab humein hospital waapis jana hai!"

"Maine toh chutti leli...tum bhi apne boss ko phone kar ke bol do!"

"Mera boss toh bohot khadoos hain na...woh nahi manega!"

"Arre koi toh tareeka hoga unko manane ka?"

"aise tareeke aazmaana kya galat nahi hoga...matlab unethical and unprofessional...?"

"Ab ek din ke liye ehtics aur professionalism ko bhi chutti dedete hain!"

They both laughed and hugged each other again.

"Wiase aap ko pata hai?"

"Kya?"

"Aap na is Tarzaan ki roop mei aur bhi hot aur sexy lag rahe ho,,,,the caveman tactics were a real turn on...!"

"Tarzan itne kapde kahan pehenta hai, Nidhi?"

"Yeh bhi hai...toh phir...bane hum donon Tarzan and Jane?"

Dr Mathur was shocked to hear the war cry that emerged from behind the closed door of his son's bedroom. After that, there was silence for a very, very long time!

very good enjoyed it thoroughly me tarzan you jane😃please continue would really like to read more and i am sure deepaji must be freaking out on this ashu. ashman😛

Thank you Vidya, Sanya and Dr Babs...!