Okay, I have not even proofread..just posting...please forgive typos and all other errors..also for the delay...thank you all for the patience..!
DISCLAIMER - Okay, so this chapter does contain mature content. So please read at your own discretion or better still, skip it if you are not old or mature enough to handle it!
"Darling, we are getting married!"
He held the phone away from his ear, in an effort to guard his tympanic membrane from splitting.
"I can't tell you how pleased I am. But, can you cut down on the decibel level unless you want the rest of the world to know too!"
"Don't be a grouch, sweetie! Left to myself, I would love to shout it out from the rooftops. His divorce has come through. And the queen has said yes! Am just so happy, yaar!"
Ashutosh sensed a rare glimpse of true emotion in her voice. She was so impassive otherwise, reserving all show of feelings for the silver screen!
"Mallika, I am really, truly, truly, ecstatically happy for you! There, does that sound non-grouchy enough for you?"
The famous tinkling laugh that drove her male fans crazy followed.
"Accha, teekh hai, teekh hai, tell you what, take the next flight out of Lucknow and get here! We are having a small party with just friends. And I want you here! And before you start off on your spiel on busy schedules, let me tell you that you'll be looking for a surgeon to put you back together. I will personally come and tear you to bits if you don't land up!"
He could not hold back the shout of laughter that escaped him. Clearly, it was so loud that the medical personnel passing by stopped to stare for a moment. Dr Ashutosh Mathur rarely smiled let alone laughed!
"After such a polite invitation, how can I dare refuse? But you know what? I can't take a flight to Mumbai!"
"What do you mean you can't? I just threatened to kill you in case you've forgotten!"
"Even at the pain of death, I can't fly to Mumbai given that I am already here!"
"What?"
This time the shriek was so loud that his tympanic membrane would have had no chance if he had not had the foresight to hold the phone well away from his ear, even as he finished speaking.
"You are here and you didn't tell me! You didn't come to see me! I am not going to talk to you ever again!"
The phone went dead in his hand only to start ringing again.
"Yes Mallika!"
"This is the last time I am speaking to you! Just to tell you that you are not excused from attending the party! I wont talk to you, I will pretend that I don't know you but you still have to come. Otherwise, I will set goons after you. I will take a supari out on you. I am not marrying the Crown Prince for nothing!"
She did not let him get a word in before she hung up on him again.
What was new anyway? The prima donna crooked her little finger and men went running!
Even as he was lost in thought, the family of the patient he had just operated on walked up to him. She was the matriarch of one of the best known business families in the country. The man who headed a multi-billion dollar empire had broken down and wept when Ashutosh had emerged from the OT and assured them that their mother was going to be fine.
"Dr Mathur, thank you once again for everything. We have made the cheque out as you'd requested. Thank you Sir, thank you so much!"
The money was one of the biggest reasons that Ashutosh took on such cases. Apart from his professional commitment and the challenge of beating death even if temporarily! The money went into a trust that he had established in the name of his father - Shashank Mathur Memorial Trust- which was subsequently used for providing free surgical and medical care to impoverished patients who could never afford quality health care otherwise!
Ashutosh nodded his head in acknowledgment and shook hands with them all before leaving the hoispital.
He was In the car and being driven to the hotel before he remembered to switch his mobile on.
There was a message from Nidhi.
"If you don't mind, could you please text me as you are heading to the hotel!"
The polite words could not mask the uncertainty she must have felt before she gathered courage to do this!
Ashutosh could not help recalling all the times he had been downright nasty to her. He had made sure to misconstrue her every action and rebuff her every move! Sometimes, he wondered if she was a masochist to stick around even after all that!
He flexed his shoulders wearily. Forget her hanging around, what the hell was he doing hanging around with her? Why was he setting the girl up for more pain, more heartbreak! He knew fully well he was never going to be able to give her a lifetime commitment, which was probably what she wanted. And yet, he could not tear himself away from her either.
He had been mortified when it registered on him that he'd broken down in her arms. He hadn't been able to help it though. It felt like she was somehow a link between him and his mother. His mother had cared for very few things or people in her last years, and Nidhi had been one of them. He still couldn't forget his shock when he'd seen them laughing together. There had even been a strange resentment that she had been the one to make his mother laugh, something that he had been failing at for over a decade. Yet, with Prerna Mathur gone, Nidhi had seemed the one person who would understand most what he had lost and what he felt! So, he had let himself go to pieces in her arms. He had shared every physical intimacy possible with her and yet, this emotional intimacy had made him feel uncomfortable once he had regained his composure.
In a bid to cover up, he had even texted her an apology later that night. And then, unable to handle the sheer loneliness and despair that suddenly enveloped him, he had called out to her. And she had responded!
He knew he was taking advantage of her goodness, of her feelings and yet he had not been able to stop himself from doing it. He had spent the next evening with her and here they were now, together in Mumbai.
He had a bad feeling about this! He knew it was going to end badly, he was going to break her heart and yet, he did not seem to be able to stop himself. After all the years of caution and restraint, he was now selfishly taking without a thought to the other. He knew this was all wrong and yet, he was not able to hold himself back. It was like something had given way within him, and suddenly he was no longer in control! It was a scary and yet an exhilarating feeling! One he did not seem to have any power over! He was just flowing along with the tide!
Ashutosh stared idly out of the car window when something caught his attention.
"Bhai, zara gaadi rokna!"
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He felt strangely nervous as he waited for the door to open. Had he done the right thing? How was she going to take it? Should he just shove all of it down the nearest trash can before she opened the door?
She opened the door before he could act on his thoughts!
"Hi..!"
She began uncertainly before looking at what he held in his hand.
It was a bouquet of roses!
He watched the riot of emotions that crossed her face before she schooled them into a certain impassivity.
"How did your surgery go? All good?"
She was not even acknowledging the flowers.
"Yeah...all good..thank you!"
He walked into the room, the bouquet in one hand and a shopping bag in the other.
He looked at her and she looked back.
Okay, so she was not going to make this easy for him!
Why should she?
He handed over the flowers to her.
"These are for you, Nidhi!"
There, yet another glimpse of emotion that was quickly masked again.
"Thank you, they are beautiful!"
An awkward silence followed. He felt like a gauche teenager, not like an experienced, sophisticated man!
"This is for you as well!"
He held out the shopping bag.
She looked at him in surprise.
"For me?"
"Yeah...but please don't misunderstand me!"
She looked confused as she opened the bag.
It was a peach coloured Grecian designer gown, at least that is what the shop attendant had told him. She claimed that it was simple and yet stunning and would be perfect for an evening out.
He could not quite make out what she thought though. She was not even looking up at him, just staring down at the gown in her hands.
"Mallika is throwing a party tonight. I don't have a choice but to go! I thought you may not have anything suitable to wear. I mean since you had no clue we would have to attend a party. I was driving past this designer boutique and...!"
She still did not say anything.
"Please don't mind! I am not implying anything else, really! Just that you may not have carried an evening gown! It is certainly not a pay off!"
The last words were out before he could stop himself.
She looked up sharply at that.
"That was never meant to be a pay off either, Nidhi! I just wanted to make a gesture to compensate for having pulled you up for no fault of yours! Wanted everybody at the hospital to know how highly I thought of your professional capabilities. It was never meant to be anything else! I did not even imagine that you would take it any other way until Maa told me..!"
She swallowed visibly before nodding her head,
"Thank you!"
"So, do you like it?"
"It is quite lovely!"
"I thought the colour would offset your complexion!"
She looked up at him in surprise.
"thank you!"
"So, did you have your lunch?"
She looked a little guilty as she shook her head,
"Actually, I fell asleep while trying to study!"
She looked horrified now. She had actually told her senior that her medical texts put her to sleep!
He pulled her into his arms.
"I don't blame you!"
He bent his head down to hers. The kiss was meant to be just a light, affectionate peck but before he knew, the embers were turning into a conflagration.
He pushed her away before he lost all control.
"You must be hungry!"
She nodded as she plastered herself to him all over again.
"Yes I am hungry...very!"
The words pushed him beyond the point of no return.
"I did ask, lady. Now, you can't accuse me of starving you while I feed myself.!"
He crushed her lips with the weight of his before picking her up and taking her into the restroom.
"Where are we going?"
"I normally relax after surgery with a long soak in the tub! Fancy sharing it with me?"
Her eyes opened wide.
"In the bathtub?"
"This is the presidential suite. So, there is a jacuzzi even! Get ready for some water games, lady!"
She giggled at that.
"I don't know how to swim!"
"The idea is for both of us to drown in each other!"
What followed was pure hedonism.
He got out the champagne from the bar and poured it into thin flutes that he then brought into the bathroom.
In the meantime, she had quickly filled the tub and was undressing herself.
"You won't deny me the pleasure, will you?"
he placed the flutes carefully by the side of the tub before proceeding to undress her.
He pulled off the tunic top that she wore. The sight of her bountiful chest had his eyes glazing in desire. He could not help himself from bending down to them, even before he had gotten her lingerie off. The sight of the damp circles on them, when he decided to come up for air, proved even more of a turn on.
He traced her lips with his thumb, gently thrusting his way through when she nipped him playfully even as she gazed into his eyes. The hunger in them was plain for all to see. For the first time, he felt almost overwhelmed by the depth of what she felt! Now was not the time to think of all that though!
He quickly got rid of the rest of her clothes and his own too. They gently slid into the tub and sat at opposite ends, devouring each other with their eyes. Tactile sensation was put on hold for the moment as he raised his glass to her. As he sipped his champagne, he noticed her taking small, careful sips and trying hard not to make a face every time!
"It's okay! You don't have to drink it if you don't like it! The champagne won't take offence!"
She smiled at that before hurriedly putting the glass away.
What she did next blew his mind.
She got hold of his foot, raised it to her lips and sucked hard on his toe.
The champagne and indeed the rest of the world was forgotten after that!
What could be more intoxicating than what a man and woman could generate between them!
He pulled her into his arms, uncaring that the water was splashing all over! She came over him and positioned herself perfectly so he could take his fill of her breasts. She gasped and sighed in turn as he relentlessly engaged himself in paying homage to them! When she could not handle it anymore, she pulled his head up to hers and kissed him hungrily, even as she positioned herself perfectly for the entry that they both so desperately craved now.
He swallowed her gasp even as he let her swallow him within her depths. He let her set the pace, adapted himself to her rhythm and followed wherever she led.
If it was possible to set water on fire, then they did just that. They duelled with each other, moulded each other to the shape of their desire before racing each other uphill. They were joint winners as they reached the summit together before achieving free fall!
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"Darling, I am still not talking to you!"
Mallika kissed him smack on the lips.
Ashutosh could feel Nidhi stiffening at his side.
"Mallika. I'd like you to meet Dr Nidhi Verma!"
Mallika's eyes rounded in wonder!
"Lucknow ki chori!"
Ashutosh glared at her.
"Mallika..behave!"
"Darling, I am not your pet poodle...and I do know my manners...hello Nidhi...I am tickled pink to meet you!"
She enveloped Nidhi in a warm embrace before kissing her on both cheeks.
Mallika was looking extra resplendent today, Ashutosh noted idly.
Although he was no expert, the dress she wore was certainly top of the line haute couture. The glow on her face rivalled the glow of the rock that adorned her finger!
Ashutosh sensed that Nidhi felt just a little out of depth. It was nothing obvious, nobody else would have known, but somehow he felt attuned to her feelings. The cocoon of warmth and joy that had seemed to envelop her till then seemed to have been displaced somewhat. He could sense it in thea twitch of her fingers and the way her eyes seemed to dart between him and Mallika. Of course, Mallika was not helping. She had an arm around his waist as she gaily chattered on about how pleased she was that he was with her.
Ashutosh gently disengaged himself from her and moved closer to Nidhi. He put his arm around her waist and dropped a kiss on her hair.
"You look so ravishing that I want to go back to ravishing you!"
Her colour heightened and her eyes shone in delight!
"If you lovebirds are done coochie-cooing, then maybe you can come over and meet Rahul?"
Mallika's eyes conveyed to Ashtuosh that she had not missed anything. His eyes told her that she was misreading signals as always! She smiled like a cat at that before dragging them off to meet Rahul!
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Rohan was a little worried now!
Her phone had been switched off since morning!
Where was she just when he wanted her most?
His phone pinged an alert!
There was a message from an unknown number.
"call me please!"
Who was this?
Rohan dialled the number out of sheer curiosity.
"Hello...!"
"Hi Rohan!"
"Anjie...what number is this,,,and why is your phone switched off?"
"I am hiding!"
"What?"
"Long story! Anyway, why were you trying to reach me?"
"I have the greatest piece of news for you!"
"They said yes?"
"How did you know?"
"Arre baba...I could read it in your tone...Rohan...I am so happy for you!"
"what do you mean you are so happy! Is this anyway to celebrate the acceptance of my first book? Where are you? Let me pick you up! I want to celebrate with you!"
There was a silence before Anjie asked,
"Have you told Nidhi?"
"No, I haven't...because I wanted you to be the first to know...I would never have sent it to the publishers if it weren't for you...remember, it was supposed to be my wedding surprise for Nidhi...?"
There was an awkward silence that he broke.
"Chalo...forget all that...I want to celebrate...and I want to do it with you...?"
"Rohan...I want to be there too...I want to celebrate,..but I can't!"
"What do you mean you can't...are you on duty?"
"No...actually I am not in town!"
"You never told me you were going out of town?"
"Rohan..I didn't know myself till yesterday!"
"So...where are you...?"
"In a lodge on the outskirts of town"
"What are you doing in some lodge...and all by yourself?"
A thought suddenly struck him and for some reason, it was not pleasant!
"Wait...are you out with someone?"
"I wish..,!"
"Anjie...enough now...what is the deal here?"
"Nidhi wanted me to cover for her. Our families think we are on a trekking trip. So, I am hiding here!"
Rohan suddenly felt inexplicably angry towards Nidhi.
"what does she mean by putting you in a spot like this? Rubbish, I say. Anjie, tell me where exactly you are? I am coming there now!"
"Rohan, it is not her fault. I had planned to stay over with another friend. Suddenly she had to go out of town. So, I just had to figure out something in the last minute!"
"And you did not think to tell me?"
She did not answer. She did not have to!
She did not tell him because she did not want him to get hurt.
Rohan felt like screaming.
"Anjie, I am not a kid and I am not made of glass. I am not going to be hurt by the thought of Nidhi and her doctor! I have been there already. I have cried my heart and my frustrations out. All that is left now is concern and a desire for her happiness!"
"I am sorry!"
"So, where are you? I will come and pick you up!"
"But where will I go? I can't return until Nidhi gets back to Lucknow!"
Rohan drew in a rough breath. It was a good thing Nidhi was not around. He might have been tempted to give her a piece of his mind.
"Anjie, would you like to go trekking with me? We can come back whenever you want to?"
A few hours later, Rohan and Anjie sat atop a hillock in peace as they watched the sunrise together
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It had been a beautiful experience. The sheer peace and sense of awe one felt as one was touched by the first rays of the sun, after a dark night. A sense that all would be right witht he world.
They had stood at his favourite spot on Marine Drive as they watched the sun rise. He had told her of the times when he had done this with his parents. He told her how he wished his mother had died along with his father, just so she'd have been spared the soul wrenching pain that she had endured since! He told her how much he missed her presence now, how much he wished she were there, even if just a zombie. She told him stories from her childhood, of her army colonel father's stoic acceptance of her mother's passing! They spoke about many things, but both of them carefully avoided talking about where they would go from there!
They had returned to Lucknow and gone their own ways!
He had not seen her since. It had been two days. She had not been at the hospital. He had wondered if he should call her, then stopped himself saying that she would get in touch if he wanted. He did not want any misapprehensions!
But now, he was getting restless.
He saw Dr Anjie walk past with her colleagues just then.
"Dr Anjie!"
She excused herself from her friends and walked towards him!
"Good morning Sir!"
"Good morning...is Nidhi alright?"
She looked at him with a mixture of anger and surprise.
"So you know then?"
"What?"
"That her family got to know she was in Mumbai!"
He drew in a sharp breath.
"Is there a problem!"
"What do you think, Sir?"
She gave him what could only be described as a contemptuous look before walking away.
Ashutosh felt a surge of self derision! What had he gone and done here?
He took a deep breath before informing his office that he was stepping out for a while.
He got her address from the admin guys and drove straight to her home!
The door was opened by a man of about fifty five. He had a clear military bearing about him. A portly, older woman stood behind him.
"yes?"
"Sir, I am Dr Ashtuosh Mathur and I would like to marry your daughter Nidhi!"
Cricket
Kundali Bhagya
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
Anupamaa
