Our KTLK - Kashmakash Chap 17 (pg 136) Updated - Page 14

Chapter 4:

Nidhi is in the orthopaedic ward doing her morning rounds when a case is brought in and she runs to the emergency entrance of KGH. a construction site worker is being brought in and Nidhi is told that he fell down from the first floor of a building nearby that's under construction. As he tried to stop his fall by placing his weight on his right hand, the shoulder is dislocated and there is a fracture on the arm plus a head injury. Nidhi does a quick assessment and places an ice pack on his forehead and calls Dr Rao, the orthopaedic surgeon / HOD and tells the staff to get the patient to the radiology dept pronto. She gives her preliminary report to Dr Rao who tells her to bring in the x ray reports as soon as they are done. The morning shift passes swiftly for Nidhi as Dr Rao sets right the dislocated shoulder and arm is bandaged, surgery scheduled for the next day. The patient had also sustained a minor concussion so was put under observation. Since today is the day of Priyanka's wedding, she wanted to ask Dr Rao's permission and leave a bit early, get ready and go to the marriage. No chance of that now and its almost 4 by the time she reaches home and 5 by the time she is finally ready to go to the wedding. The muhurat is at night 8 so there is still plenty of time but Priyanka had specifically asked her to come early. Anji helps Nidhi in getting ready and the result is fabulous. She has worn the dark blue and gold sari with a gold colour short sleeved blouse, left her hair loose, and matching bangles for both the hands and a sapphire, ruby gold necklace with matching hanging ear rings. DB is super happy to see Nidhi all decked up.

DB – "arre meri bachchi! Kitni sundar lagrahi hain tu! Kisi ki nazar na lage! Roz roz woh dactar wale kapdon mein dekhke mein toh thak gayi hoon. Haath mein choodiyan bhi nahi pehenti and baalon ki baat toh chodo. Hameesh wahi ponytail ya knot lagati ho. Pata hi nahin chalta tum 24 ki ho ya 54 ki.

Nidhi – DB, hospital ko aise jaaongi na, mujhe ussi din wapas ghar bheja jaayega. Waise har hospital ke yahi rules hote hain. ab buss, mujhe der horahi hain, mein jaarahi hoon. Raat ko der se lautoongi. Apni phone leke jaarahi hoon. Aap chinta mat keejiye. Saari points cover hogayi?

CV laughs – haan beta. Saari points cover hogayi. Go and enjoy yourself. And your DB is right. Meri beti sari mein bahut achchi lagrahi ho.

Nidhi hugs Anji once again and leaves for Priyanka's wedding. The wedding hall is already decorated with all kinds of flowers and lights. Entrance has a red carpet with flowers strewn over and lanterns on either side and the color theme of the hall is maroon and gold giving the whole thing a very grand look. The mandap is situated at one end of the hall and chairs were placed strategically all over. Nidhi meets all her friends and the general prewedding masti starts and the girls start planning on how to steal the groom's shoes and where to hide them. Nidhi and Jyothika are assigned to that task and the rest all for stopping the groom at the entrance for their "toll tax". The baraat is yet to come and nach gaana by all these friends has started as a way of entertaining themselves and all the guests. Most of the HODs and assistants from KGH have started coming and the staff had decided to take turns. Some would attend the varmala, some the muhurat and some the dinner. That way, KGH wouldn't be left without any staff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TozicmQuQs

Rihaan, Ranganath and a few of Nidhi's other classmates from MBBS start dancing along with Jyothika and other girls and Jyothika pulls Nidhi also into the dance. Everyone is in full form and in the middle of the song when Dr Ashutosh, looking absolutely smashing in his black suit minus the tie walks in. he glances around at everyone, clearly uncomfortable in the setting.

"God why did I even come! Silly and ridiculous and juvenile of me to let Nidhi provoke me with her challenge. And she knew what she was doing too. I should have just ignored the whole thing. But did I do that? no! now here I am! And where is the person who issued that stupid challenge in the first place? He tries to look around the dancers and guests but doesn't find her. just then he sees Dr Sanjay and some others from KGH and joins them. everyone has various looks of surprise at seeing him.

Dr Sanjay raises his voice to be heard over the music and dance going on – "Hello Dr Ashutosh, great to see that you have decided to grace this occasion. Good good. You were a recluse to begin with and every year you just get worse."

He is elder to Ashu and also his senior and is known to speak him mind. Ashu gives an awkward smile and both settle down at the table and Ashu's gaze once again falls on the dancers and what meets his eye holds him spell bound. Is that really Nidhi? in that sari? With all that glorious hair left out? with expressions changing on her face and eyes to suit the song? Dancing like magic? A part of him realizes that he is staring. But he just can't seem to be helping himself. no wonder he couldn't find her the first time he looked around. Just then in the middle of her step, Nidhi spots Ashu in the middle of whirling and comes to a sudden halt. She looks at him with raised eyebrows, gives him a broad smile and he responds with a lopsided smile of his own and a light shrug as if to say, "here I am." The dance is coming towards an end and all the dancers start dragging the wedding guests also into dancing along with them. Dr Ranganath comes and pulls Dr Sanjay along, Jyothika takes the hand of Dr Kothari, the Gynac at KGH and Nidhi catches Ashu's hand and takes him along. He tries to protest but its as if she has suddenly gone deaf. She leaves his hand and starts her dancing around him. He claps along with others but otherwise doesn't move from his place except his gaze follows Nidhi twirling around him according to the music and the song comes to an end.

A person comes running inside and announces that the baraat has arrived and everyone including Nidhi rush towards the entrance. Ashu and a few other guests and KGH staff stay back. Nidhi and the rest of the gang tease the groom mercilessly before collecting their toll tax and allowing him entry. Jai Mala happens with a lot of fun and frolick from both the bride's and the groom's friends and everyone make their way towards the mandap. Nidhi, with some of her mischief making friends steal the groom's shoes and gossip among themselves as to where to hide them. Nidhi gets a brilliant idea and hides the shoes in the folds of her sari and comes towards Ashu and sits beside him and makes a pretense of watching the proceedings of the wedding.

Nidhi – "sir, talk something to me."

Ashu – "what? Why?"

Nidhi – "so that I can pretend to be listening to you and hide the shoes under your chair."

Ashu – "why would you want to hide your shoes under MY chair Nidhi?"

Nidhi slaps her hand on her forehead. "arre sir, mere shoes nahin. Dulhe ke hain. inhe waapas denepar nek milta hain hume." And she looks around casually and nods his head as if he is saying something and she is listening. "and don't look at me like that sir. Shukr keejiye I am not asking you to wear these shoes. Just hiding them under your chair. Aap buss normally kuch baat keejiye."

Saying that, she bends as little as possible and starts putting the shoes under his chair that's covered with some kind of decorative cloth on the four sides like all the rest of the chairs in the hall.

Ashu – "normally kya baat karoo?"

Nidhi straightens and grins. "ab hogaya! Kuch baat karneki zaroorat hi nahin padi. Chalti hoon sir. Thank you." and she walks away fast towards the rest of the gang and they give secret high fives to each other.

Wedding going on without any hitch and later everyone makes their way towards the buffet. As it goes with all the buffet dinners, all the friends and collegues have formed various groups and are chatting and eating. Nidhi is circulating from group to group with her dinner plate but as soon as she gets near Ashu, someone behind him jolts him and his juice glass slips from his hand and spills on her sari.

Ashu – oh no. I am so sorry Nidhi..i..someone..

Nidhi – its ok sir. Don't worry. I will just wipe it off. Shopwala bolraha tha ki yeh stain guard fabric hain. lets see if its true or not.

Saying that she puts her plate at a nearby table and goes towards the handwash section. Ashu puts his plate aside and follows her.

Ashu – can i…I mean…mein kuch madad karoon? And wets a tissue and passes it on to her. she takes it with a smile and about to say "thank you si.." when she sees that her sari's pallu is tangled with Ashu's cufflink. Both of them look at each other and Nidhi bursts out laughing. "sir, this is the 2^nd time this has happened. These incidents keep happening to you or am I am exception?" she holds his wrist with one hand and removes her tangled pallu from his cuff link.

Ashu – you are an exception Nidhi.

Before Nidhi could comment further, Ashu's phone rings and he moves away to talk for a few seconds and comes back to her.

Ashu – Nidhi, you remember the ortho case that was brought in today?

Nidhi looks up from her cleaning of sari – woh construction sight wala?

Ashu – yes. there is a complication. We need to go. You are the one who knows the complete history. So..

Nidhi – sure sir. Just give me a minute. Aap jaake apna car start keejiye, I'll be right with you.

Both leave. Ashu to the parking lot and Nidhi to inform Jyothika and let her know where she hid the shoes and then a hurried apology to Priyanka. She collects her bag and meets Ashu as soon as he stops the car at the hall entrance and both leave for KGH.

Ashu – what about your car?

Nidhi – I came in a taxi. So, whats the complication sir?

Ashu - That guy has now become paraplegic. That's why Dr Rao didn't come to the wedding. In the evening he said he could not feel his legs and now from neck down he can't feel anything.

Nidhi – oh! Toh ab?

Ashu – ab? Ab you tell me. What should be done.

Nidhi – CT scan?

Ashu – correct. That's going on as we speak. My guess is he has a clot in the lumbar region of the spine. Dr Rao would be operating but he requested my presence. So..oh and you get to be the scrub since the rest are busy over there at the wedding.

Nidhi says thoughtfully – my first surgical assistance!

Ashu – sorry that I dragged you out of your friend's wedding.

Nidhi – no sir. Don't worry about it. Its part of who we are right? Aur aap ne toh mujhe bulaya hain. Priyanka ko nahin na. Priyanka phere lerahi hain and you go there and say, "excuse me, Dr Priyanka, there is an emergency and we need to leave right away!" then giggles at the image she has just pictured. Ashu huffs out a laugh. Both reach KGH and rush inside. Nidhi removes her jewellery at a rapid speed and dumps them in her hand band and after a little fishing, finds a hair band in the same bag to tie up her hair. Since its Nidhi's first experience in OT, the staff nurse helps her in donning the scrubs and gloves. She enters the OT just in time and the surgery begins. It's a time taking surgery where the clot couldn't be spotted immediately and Ashu has had to lend his hand but finally everything goes well and Dr Rao looks at Nidhi. "Dr Nidhi, I heard quite a bit about your suturing skills. Want to show us too?" Nidhi raises her smiling eyes at him and asks through her mask. "aap ko kaun sa design chahiye sir?" that breaks the tension in the OT and everyone relaxes and Nidhi sutures off the patient. Ashu comes to his cabin, has a couple of glasses of water and after sending an sms to Ranga and updating him on the news, makes his way home. When he reaches the reception, he remembers that Nidhi has no way to get back home and he retraces his steps back towards the Interns Resting Room. After knocking a couple of times and not getting any response, he slowly opens the door and peeks inside. "Nidhi?" silence meets him but seeing that the light is on, he goes inside to find Nidhi fast asleep on the sofa. She is in the middle of sofa, with her feet still on the ground but her upper body curled up on one half it with her head resting on her folded arm. Her even breathing signals her deep sleep. for a few seconds he doesn't know what to do. Should he wake her up and drop her home or let her sleep? she must be really exhausted to drop off like a light without even taking time to remove her shoes or getting comfortable. He slowly bends and lifts her feet onto the sofa, carefully removes her shoes and gets a blanket from the bed in the corner and puts it on her, backs off and switches off the main light and closes the door on his way out. then he informs at the reception about Nidhi being in the hospital for a surgery and tells them to call her residence and give the info so that they don't start worrying. Nidhi gets up in the morning feeling out of place and disoriented. She blinks a couple of times to clear her vision and looks around as if wondering where she is. Seeing that she is still in the interns room, she looks at the watch and gives a small squeal. 6am?? The last thing she remembered was coming to this room to freshen up a bit and drink some water. Then she sat here on the sofa to put up her feet and that's it. God knows her Baba and DB would be panicking by now. Oh God! She hunts for her phone in the bag and calls home. CV picks up.

Nidhi – Baba, mein Nidhi

CV – Nidhi, beta, kya hua? Surgery kaisa raha? Sab teek?

Nidhi – Baba, aap ko kisne?

CV – arre Nidhi, kal raat ko KGH se phone aaya tha na. they told us that you had to come for an emergency surgery and later were too tired to make the trip home so were taking rest there.

Nidhi – oh. Thank God! Pata nahi Baba kab aankh lag gayi. I just got up and I am on my way home. Ok?

Cv – ok beta. Be careful.

Nidhi – ji Baba. And she disconnects the call.

Then she puts her feet down and sees that her shoes were removed and put to a side and there is a blanket covering her. now, when did this happen? Was she so out of it that she doesn't remember removing her own shoes and getting a blanket or did someone come in here after she knocked off? She quickly makes a trip to the rest room, takes her bag, and makes her way out and goes to the reception to thank the staff for calling her home, only to be told that it was Dr Ashutosh who gave them the orders. Oh! He knew I was asleep. So he was the one who put the blanket over me? She blinks slowly in surprise, smiles and makes her way home.

A couple of days later, Nidhi is doing her morning shift and its almost 1.00 in the afternoon when she Dr Ranganath comes to meet her.

Nidhi – hi Ranganath! Aap aap ko hamaari yaad kaise aagayi? Anji ko koi message dena hain kya? (she playfully wriggles her eyebrows)

Ranga – message dene se kya fayda Nidhiji. Aap ki dost sune tab na! achcha woh chodiye. I am here for something else altogether. The patient Dr Rao and Dr Ashutosh operated on? His progress is good and he is ready to shifted from the ICU. But I need to know the change to medication and some signatures from Dr Ashutosh. since you already know the case history and were present during the surgery, could you get it done please?

Nidhi – kyon? Woh apne cabin mein nahin hain kya?

Ranga – no Dr Nidhi. he is actually on leave today and tomorrow. His father has got some kind of viral fever so…

Nidhi – oh! Ok. I will go. Not a problem. Par..address?

Ranga – here, I have written the address on this paper and there is Dr Ashutosh's cell number too in case you have difficulty finding his house. today is your nightshift right? (Nidhi nods her head) toh aap aisa keejiye..you get the signatures and take the file along with you and bring it back at 8 when you are coming. As for the medication, give me a call and I will note them down. Ok?

Nidhi – ok. I will ask Dr Rao's permission and leave right away then.

Ranga – I already did that. he gave his ok. so go ahead.

Nidhi takes the file and the address slip and leaves in her car. The address is clear enough but enroute Nidhi gets a sudden idea and makes a quick stop at a supermarket before reaching the residence of Dr Ashutosh. she gets down from the car and stands for a few moments to look at the house. so, this is where he lives! There is a lawn in front of the house and a few creepers and flowered plants which looked well cared for. Someone in the house does have a hobby of gardening. The house itself has ground floor and a floor above that and the windows in the ground floor are all glass paned with curtains adorning them and extend from floor to ceiling. And in the middle is the main door. She walks up to it and rings the bell. HK opens the door and gives her a questioning look.

HK – ji, kahiye?

Nidhi – Namaste, mera naam Nidhi hain. I am an intern at KGH and I have come to meet Dr Ashutosh.

HK – aao beti. Andar aao. Sit down and I will call Ashutosh.

Nidhi – ji..aap Hiraman Kaka hain na. Dr Ashutosh ne bataya aap ke baare mein. He said your cooking skills are amazing.

HK looks speechless in surprise for a few moments. Ashu talked about HIM to this girl?

Ashu – Kaka, who is it?

Nidhi – its me sir. Nidhi.

Ashu – oh hello Nidhi. how come you? here? Everything ok?

Nidhi – ji sir. Dr Ranganath said you were on leave and wanted these papers signed by you and wanted me discuss the shifting of the ICU patient and his medication too. So here I am. Oh..how is your Baba doing now sir?

Ashu – he is ok. still has temperature and cold and cough. I have started the antibiotic. He will be fine once that starts kicking in.

Nidhi – weather change sir. Lots of cases in KGH with these virals.

HK – beti, chai peeyogi?

Nidhi gives him a broad smile – no thank you Kakaji. Normally I don't say no to chai but abhi toh lunch ka time hain na. I will go home and have my lunch. Sir, aap ke Baba ne lunch karli?

Ashu – no. not yet. He says nothing tastes good. But with the antibiotics, its not good to be on an empty stomach, right?

HK – haan beti. Meine kichdi bhi banaya. Par unhone toh haath tak nahi lagaaya.

Nidhi – Kakaji, mere paas ek idea hain. and I think it will work. If you don't mind, mein aap ke saath aap ke kitchen mein chaloo?

HK is taken aback at this initiative but quickly recovers and smiles. – haan haan beti. Kyon nahi. Aajao mere saath.

Ashu is left standing alone with a bemused look as both HK and Nidhi completely ignoring him, go into kitchen and soon he hears Nidhi's non stop chatter with HK.

Nidhi – aap ko pata hain Kakaji..

HK – beti, ab toh tum khaana pakaane mein meri madad karrahi ho na. sirf Kaka bulao mujhe. Achcha lagtha hain.

Nidhi – ok. toh Kaka, mere Baba jab army mein the na toh unki posting ek baar Chennai mein hui thi. Wahan meri maa ne jabardast south Indian Rasam banana seekh liya. Whenever any of us fell sick, that became our diet. And when my mom fell sick, I learnt how to do that. so we'll try it with Dr Mathur also. What do you say?

HK – idea toh achcha hain. par uske liye kuch masale ki zaroorat padti hain na?

Nidhi – haan. I got it from the supermarket on my way here. Ab aap mujhe buss kaun si cheez kahan par hain yeh bataiye. Baaki I will do it.

HK keeps handing over things that she needs and she starts her rasam preparation and in parallel cooks some plain rice to go with it.

Ashu keeps watching all this from his place at the dining table and he is looking over the papers Nidhi had brought along with her and does the signatures while whistling a tune. Nidhi hears it and stops her work at the stove and looks at him.

Nidhi – arre Dactar Saheb, na toh yeh raat hain na nadi ka kinara hain..toh yeh gaana kyon gaarahe hain?

Ashu looks up in surprise and closes the file and gets up from the chair. "Dactarni Sahiba, I am surprised! Aap toh Rockstar generation ke ho and you know what I was whistling?"

Nidhi – aap woh gaana toh gaayiye! Phir dekhiye mera kamaal!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4np5V2wTXwE

Ashu starts singing the first line in a melodious voice and Nidhi catches on the same song and takes it fwd in her own sweet tone. When Ashu is about to stop after the first couple of lines, Nidhi hops and gestures with her hands to continue and both end up singing the whole song in a typical duet fashion. BB is lying down in his bed all wrapped up under a blanket but opens his eyes as soon as he hears Ashu singing. He usually sang only when he was in a really really good mood and that too without any audience. Then frowns when soon a female voice also follows. "now, whose voice is that? some recorded song is being played out or is he hallucinating?" HK comes into the room at an almost run and BB gives him a questioning look to which HK gestures him to be quiet and to come out along with him. BB slowly gets up from the bed and makes it way out to the dining area and sees a scene that literally makes his jaw drop open. A girl is cooking in their kitchen and Ashu is leaning against the kitchen entrance wall and both of them are singing. Her cooking also draws to a close along with the song and she washes her hands at the sink and turns. Ashu silently hands over the napkin and she bows her head in silent thank you and laughs at the end of the song and Ashu gives her an almost tender kind of look.

Both of them get startled at the sound of applause and look around to see BB and HK clapping with a big big smiles on their faces. Nidhi immediately feels shy and bows her head and BB doesn't give a chance for Ashu to back off or leave the room.

BB – "that was a great performance. Ashu, kaun hain yeh?

Nidhi – Namaste Dr Mathur. I am Nidhi. mein KGH mein internship kar rahi hoon. I just..i..i came to get some papers signed by Dr Ashutosh and..

HK – and ended up cooking lunch and singing songs.

BB – Gaana toh meine suna par yeh khaana?? Hiraman, tum ghar aaye mehmaan ko khaana pakaneko kehdiya?

Nidhi – no sir. I actually didn't give a choice to Kaka. I..kind of..took over his kitchen..temporarily of course. Aap ki tabiyat ab kaisi hain sir?

BB – thoda better hain Beti. Par tand bahut lag rahi hain.

Nidhi – toh aap baitjaayiye aur jo meine banaya hain woh taste keejiye. I think you will like it.

BB is totally confused at the way this day is turning out to be but nevertheless obediently takes a seat at the dining table. Nidhi serves rice in a bowl and mixes the rasam with a tiny bit of ghee in it and gets a spoon and puts the bowl infront of BB on the table. BB after giving an odd look to HK and Ashu, tentatively tastes a small spoonful. Tastes bud explode with a delightful mixture of sour and spice. "Beti, yeh toh wakai kamaal hain. iss bukhaar ki haalat mein toh aur bhi kamaal hain." and those are the only words he says before applying himself to the bowl of rasam rice with obvious gusto. Ashu and HK are delighted that he is finally eating something and Nidhi looks on with a smile.

Nidhi – achcha sir. Toh mein chalti hoon. Aur kaka, meine ne raat ke liye bhi rasam banaake rakh diya hain. you can just heat it up before serving. Agar aap phir se banana chaahe toh instructions likhke mein ne aap ke fridge ke side pe chipka diya hain.

HK - arre Nidhi beta, tum bhi khaana khaake jao na. aise kaise??

BB – haan haan Nidhi, mujhe khilaake tum bina khaaye hi chali jaogi kya?

Nidhi – sir, phir kabhi. I didn't tell at home and DB will be waiting for me. Next time pakka. I promise. Ab chalti hoon. (then she turns to Ashu) sir, can I take the file with me? Aur medicines ki list banadi aap ne?

Ashu hands over the file and the prescription. "thank you for doing all this for Baba Nidhi."

Nidhi – the pleasure is mine sir. See you later.

Ashu walks with her till her car and when they reach the gate, he holds it with one hand and looks at her with his usual lopsided smile. "toh Dactarni Sahiba ko purane gaanon ka shauk hain! I didn't think you would even know who the singer would be, much less the lyrics of the song. Who is your favourite singer?

Nidhi looks at him with a naughty smile – Asha Bhonsle and Kishore Kumar. And as for me liking old songs, sir, woh kehte hain na..never judge a book by its cover.

Ashu chuckes a bit at that and nods his head as if in agreement. Then with a tiny wave Nidhi leaves and makes her way home.

She is again back at KGH by 8pm for her nightshift and she gives the file back to Dr Ranganath and does her usual rounds. Once assuring that all the patients are taken care of for the night, she informs the nurse that she would be on the terrace if she is needed and goes there and stands leaning against the wall and looks up at the moon and is lost in thought. But all she can think about is Dr Ashutosh! Her Boss! The way he smiles, the sometimes intense and sometimes tender looks of his. She sees his eyes sparkling in anger and then she sees him covering her with his coat on this same terrace and giving his hand to help her get up. Why does she keep thinking about him? Why does she keep reliving every small little moment that she spent with him? Why does she keep seeing his face whenever she closes her eyes? What is happening to her? and why?

Milo na tumko hum ghabraaye

Milo toh aankh churaaye

Hume kya hogaya hain…

Hume kya hogaya hain…