Hi friends. Sorry for the delay. My little nephew monkeyed around with my lappy and what I had typed had been lost. Retyping took time, hence the delay
Part-5
keeping her reservations aside Nidhi walked into KGH. Meeting her co-workers would be embarrassing but then she couldn't stay at home forever. She hadn't done anything wrong and Jagan's arrest vindicated her stand.
"Just a few days Nidhi and then all will forget about the scandal...your real test would to get over your feelings for Ashu. He is now Mallika's, she'll return in a week from her pilgrimage and then the elders would fix a wedding date. Shayad abhi woh bhagwan se Ashu aur apni sukhi shadishuda jeevan ke liye prarthana kar rahi hogi" Nidhi sighed and got down from her car.
The receptionist gave an uneasy smile as she entered the hospital building. Nidhi felt as if some people were staring at her ..but then she dismissed the idea and thought that it was because she was too self conscious today.
Dr.Ranganath gave her a genuine welcoming smile and assigned her duties. Anjiie had told him everything and he left no stone unturned in making Nidhi feel at ease. She met her fellow interns and had a little chit chat about the inclement weather and the tasteless tea served in the canteen. After the banter, she resumed her duties. The kids were happy to see her "How pure their hearts are, wish even adults had their such a clean and non-judgemental mind".
Nidhi felt that the nurses and ward boys seemed to pay some kind of unwanted attention to her. It was as if they were staring at a television screen. "Don't they understand how difficult it is for me? I am a victim of a man's malicious deeds...and yet all of them seem to be trying to judge me..as if staring at me will give them some extra information."
The mental battle wore out Nidhi and she headed for the ladies restroom to splash some water on her face. She heard two vaguely familiar voices discussing something in a hushed tone. It took her some time to digest what they were speaking.
Intern Ruchi and Prithi were gossiping about Ashu and Nidhi's "liaison".
Ruchi- "Maine toh hamesha yehi socha tha ki Ashu aur mallu ek item hai, par yeh Nidhi toh chuppi rustam nikli, usne toh Mallu ke naak ke neeche se hi Ashu ke saath duet gaana shuru kar diya"
Prithi- "Mujhe kisi ne kaha tha ki woh photo aur clips asli hai, Nidhi aur Ashu ke relatives ne police ko bribe dekar kisi bechare ko frame kar diya. "
Ruchi- "Aur kya, Ashu and Nidhi were in no-strings attached physical relationship. For all her beauty, Mallika seems a bit too "intellectual" and"frigid".that's why Nidhi and Ashu started a "co-operation movement"..who knew there was so much libido hidden under Nidhi's behenji style exterior..ha ha."
Prithi-"Ashu is a pragmatist. He knows that marrying Mallika is more profitable than tying the knot with Nidhi...Mallika is a skilled surgeon and will rake in additional moolah ...aur phir Mallika frigid ho toh bhi kya hua, nidhi toh hai hi na Dr.Ashu ki pyaas bujhane ke liye"
Ruchi- "
so this is why Nidhi used to frequent Ashu's cabin?"//the girls exchanged a high five//
May toh udti chidiya ke pankh gin lethi hoon..."
Prithi- You know, if Nidhi were to place a matrimonial ad, she can include "trained by Dr.Ashutosh" in bold letters.
The girls were oblivious to Nidhi's presence and continued their shameful talk. They were jealous of Nidhi's academic achievements and the appreciation she had garnered from her seniors. This was their way of letting out the venom.
"Character assassination is at once easier and surer than physical assault; and it involves far less risk for the assassin. It leaves him free to commit the same deed over and over again, and may, indeed, win him the honors of a hero in the country of his victims."
Alan Barth
Nidhi couldn't take it any more. She burst into tears and left the hospital. There was nobody at home and she used the spare key in her purse to get in.
Dadi bua and CS were shocked by the sight that awaited them when they entered the house. Nidhi was lying on the sofa with blood oozing from her wrists. A small note beside her read "Nobody is responsible for my death. It is purely my decision"
Nidhi was hospitalized and the entire family was devastated. DB cursed herself- "Na jaane woh kaun si manhoos gadhi thi jab maine socha ki Nidhi ki shaadi Ashu se karvathe hai. Bajrang bali,meri bacchi ki raksha karna. Nandini usko meri godh mein daalkar chal basi aur maine jaane-anjane mein usse mauth ke mooh mein dakhel diya. CV was sobbing silently.
BB took Ashutosh aside and said- "There is only one solution to this problem and I order you to carry it out. I have never enforced my will on you but if you have an iota of affection on me then please marry my child. There is stigma attached to her name and only you can clear it"
"She is still a child Baba, I am elder to her by more than 10 years. Marrying her will be unfair..and you know very well that I love Mallika."
"Nothing is unfair Ashu, I made a mistake by requesting you to salvage her reputation. Our society is so hypocritical and cruel that it will feast on Nidhi's misery. Loose talk will always follow her. You and only you can redeem the situation"
"She is young and educated, I am sure that she'll get a good man in time"
"This isn't England" Baba thundered."Finding a good match in our community is difficult. People will continue to make insinuations on Nidhi"
"Nothing of that sort will happen Baba, My marrying her will destroy three lives- Nidhi,Mallika and me"
"No beta, you live a long life with your lady love. I will leave Nidhi's fate in God's hands. We have managed to save her today but it might be a different story tomorrow. I have lived after losing my daughter but I won't survive the loss of my grandchild."
Ashu felt a pang of guilt.He asked for some time and left the room. He tried calling Mallika but couldn't contact her.
Nidhi regained conscious the next morning. Ashu wondered how to face her now, he stood where he was and was shaken from his thoughts by a sudden uproar- Nidhi had slashed her wrists with a fruit knife when her Dad was out to buy medicines and db had gone to bathroom...
"So she has no will to live" wondered Ashu. Nidhi was saved yet again. Ashu wanted to have a word with Baba..he found that he was in Nidhi's house. Ashutosh went there and saw Baba cry in front of Nidhi's picture, a lot of diaries were strewn around."
Ashu waited for a few minutes and then said "Baba".
"Don't call me Baba, it will bring bad luck to you. One person who called me baba is no more and the other is desiring death"
Ashu was at a loss for words. "Aisa mat kahiye baba". Baba lost his composure and went away. Ashutosh bent down and picked up a dairy, they were Nidhi's. He put manners aside and opened them. What he read shocked him to the core. Nidhi had bared her heart out in those pages.
"Ashu smiled at me and I felt butterflies in my stomach"
"Why is Ashu late today? Hiraman Kaka told that he hasn't come back...is he out for a date with Mallika?..No no, my heart refuses to believe that"
Some of her books had 'Ashutosh ' written on most pages. Mrs.Nidhi.A.Mathur...
Ashu was moved to tears. So it wasn't just social stigma that made Nidhi attempt to kill herself. Oh God, didn't that little lamb find a better person to love. Why me?? Why do I feel like a murderer..I am doctor not a killer.
His entire childhood flashed before him...his parent's funeral, Baba taking him home and safeguarding his property. His encouraging words...and isn't Nidhi Baba's only surviving blood-relative?
Ashutosh searched for Baba and on an impulse said-"Baba I will marry Nidhi"
The news reached DB and CV. They had a discussion and it was finally decided that Ashu would put Sindoor in Nidhi's maang now( as a binding token of marriage). A full fledged ceremony would take place after Nidhi got discharged.
Nidhi was in a daze. Blood loss and the upheaval in her life made her senses numb. She failed to consider all aspects of things to come...she couldn't use mental faculties to realise the implications of their marriage...she loved Ashutosh and hence didn't raise any objection.
Things went as the elders wanted. Ashutosh filled the parting of Nidhi's hair with vermillion. Even though the marriage was on a shaky ground legally, it was morally binding- and that was what mattered to the elders.
Ashu tried to come to grips with the fast paced events in his life. He grappled with sadness,guilt and angst. He had no time for listening to the news. Had he done that, he would have known '...
Edited by Vidishaa - 12 years ago
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