"Dr nidhi, aapse koi milne aaya hai..." it was luxmi bai talking to nidhi..nidhi seemed a lil surprised as she got up from her consultation table and came into the foyer..a middle aged lady of about 50..52 was waiting for her..as nidhi moved she observed the lady's long hair..tied in a bun..she had strands of grey hair...and a face that oozed of kindness...nidhi movedand said"yes..mam..i am dr nidhi" the lady extended her hand and said in a voice that had an accent " hi nidhi, i am kusum..kusum tripathi..i am dr shiv dubey's sister..remember u had mailed me..." nidhi realised ..she had mailed her a fortnight back...finding her address n id from dr dubey's diary..." oh v nice you came...dr dubey bahut khush honge..." .."kaise hain dada...can we meet him"?? Nidhi smiled" off course you can meet him..he has nearly made a 100%recovery..ab aap aa gayee hain to he d be fully fit..."kusum smiled..her kind eyes shining with moisture.."thanx nidhi for having contacted me...thanx" nidhi bit her lip" actually, dr dubey was not ready to come to our home..aur servant ke bharose unko unke ghar pe nahi chod sakti thi...hence i had to contact you..." kusum patted nidhi's hand"thats fine...tell me can i take him to his home..and more importantly when i meet him..can i be emotional...or do i have to hold back..."??Nidhi laughed and saod"aap aone bade bhai se mil rahi hain...dil khol ke miliye baatein kariye...aaj dr nagpal .i mean the neurosurgeon d come for the check up..if he allows , you can take him home...maine ghar ready karwa diya hai...ek nurse bhi jaayegi saath mei..aapko koi problem nahi hogi...madam.." kusum smiled ..n said" madam ..nahi..kusum aunty kaho...tumse bahut badi hoon mai...aur dekh liya hai maine ghar...thank you...nidhi thank you vv much... chalo ab dada ke paas..."
As they entered..dr dubey who had just finished his morning hand excercise ...looked up..his gaze met kusum' s...and nidhi saw a strange feel descend into the old man's eyes...kusum could not hold herself back..she rushed n throwing her arms around him cried" dada..mai aa gayee..." dr dubey patted her head...n said" meri baby aa gayee...dekhoon to tujhe main...aa to baith mere paas..." as kusum sat close to dr dubey..the two lost in their past..their common bondd...nidhiwalked out...quietly closing the door behind her..suddenly feeling very lonely..very left out...her feet took her to her favourite refuge..dr ashutosh's cabin...and as she entered ..n looked around at the cabin overflowing with memories...with moments of life..their life..she could see herself rushing in to reort about her alzhimers patient..that actually turned out to be baba...her meeting dr ashutosh agter their engagement..then when they brought their tiny nishu ..into the cabin...and finally when after she had lost their baby..how dr ashutosh brought her in here...nidhi could nnever forget it..tears dwelled into her eyes..tears of their loss that still clawed at her..tears of loneliness..tears of not being able to give enough time to nishu...and tears ...just idle tears...she wanted to see dr ashutosh..wanted to be with him..to feel his strong arms...she looked at her cell..it was 9.30.in london it would be 4 a.m. she did not have the heart to disturb dr ashutosh...she just sighed and wiped her tears herself...and came out...to attend to her duties..she had learnt from her boss...her dr ashutosh that for a dr..duty always came first..
In the afternoon , dr nagpal arrived...and as he was lead into dr dubey's cabin, nidhi followed him..he looked at nidhi n then at dr dubey.."so sir ...are you now ready for the physiotherapist..i am seeing you after 12 days..i feel now you should be more reasonable..." nidhi bit her lip...as dr dubey looked at dr nagpal...cold and hard..and then at an apprehensive nidhi...as kusum stood by his side..holding his shoulder..."nagpal...apni advice se pehle yeh to dekho..ki do i need a physiotherapist at all..." and as dr dubey stood up from his bed...straightand walked towards dr nidhi...dr nagpal's expressions changed from irritation to anger...and then to utter bewilderment..he looked at dr dubey standing next to nidhi..."how did this happen.??i dont believe it..this is impossible..that too without a physio...or is she your physio"?? He said pointing towards kusum...dr dubey laughed and patted drnagpal..." she is my younger sister...new zealand se aayeehai aaj ..mere paas...aur let me introduce you to my general physician..my nurse, my physiotherapist...my support...dr nidhi...yeh kamaal sirf isi ki mehnat lagan..aur hausle ka hai...dr nidhi ke commitment ne mujhe waapas apne pairon per khada ker diya... " dr nagpal seemed to have lost his speech..he was dumbfounded ,.as he looked at dr dubey n then nidhi ...dr dubey continued"jaante ho nagpal...qualifications bahut important hain..per for a dr to be truly great...ek commitment..ek lagan ..ek tapasya ki zuroorat..hoti hai...jo dr nidhi me hai...you know nagpal , jahaan humari medical science fail ker jaati hai..wahaan ek sachche dil ki lagan kaam ker jaati hai...dr nidhi ne ek baar phir yeh saabit ker diya...ab bataao mujhe relieve kab karoge...i want to join work...ab koi apaahij thode hi hoon main..."?? Dr nagpal's frown finally disappeared and a faint smile appeared on his lips..as he turned to dr nidhi..." dr nidhi..i have to admit..that you have done wonders..you have achieved the impossible...tumne dr dubey ko stroke se bahar nikal ke..rehabilitate ker ke..mera point of view badal diya...you know i always believed on techniques..on qualifications...on thherapy...but tumne sab galat saabit kar diya...you have proven ..degrees se bada..bahut bada hota hai ek dr ka apne patient ke liye dedication..."and then he looked at dr dubey"sir...you are relieved today...i recommend a rest for three days and then you can join work..i am sure kgh is missing you..." dr nagpal patted nidhi and smiled..almost affectionately.." i d commend you to ashutosh...n yes he is indeed very lucky to have you..god bless you dr nidhi"!! Nidhi lowered her eyes...as dr nagpal walked out...
Nidhi handed over all the papers , medicines to kusum n introduced her to kiran n aasha the two nurses that thad been deputed for dr dubey's home..for a week..when dr dubey asked er ranganath for the bill, dr ranganath smiled and replied"sir..your bill has been cleared..you dont need to pay anything..bus aap jaldi se aa jaaiye aur hume daantna shuru kariye...specially dr nidhi ko..." and all laughed...as dr dubey got up to leave..heput his hand on nidhi 'head n said"ashutosh ne apni guru dakshina di..samajh me aata hai...per tumhara to mai guru bhi nahi raha..phir bhi itna kiya tumne mere liye...raaton jaagi...ghar ..apne parivasr..yahaan tak ki apne bachche se bhi door rahi mere liye...kaise chukaaoonga..ye karz..dr nidhi..."?? Nidhi pushe back her tears...as she felt a sudden surge of emotions...but then said"sir..aap waapas aaiye..iss hospital ko sambhaaliye..aur rahi baat karz ki...to kya jo bachche apne parents ke liye karte hain..woh unpe karz hota hai??maine wahi kiya jo mai baba ke liye karti...bus " and dr dubey looked away..wiping his tears...as he then asked kusum" sharda ki photo le li.."?? N kusum nodded as nidhi n dr ranganath accompanied them to the car...
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Nidhi sat in her bedroom as nishu played with his arms around her neck..n as she hugged him , she asked" nishu, birthday hai kal...dress pasand aayee tumhe"?? She had bought a jeans and a disney sweater with a hood...armaanwas shopping still..they had planned a small party with family ..and nidhi had made 40 goodie bags for his froends and teachers at school...and one for nitu...baba had also planned to take sweets to jeewan sandhya n the orphanage...nidhi smiled as nishu played ..putting his head in her lap..n then closing his eyes..only to open them again n kiss her on the cheeks...there was a knock at the door...it was armaan..nidhi got up..asnishu ran to his chacha..." chal nishu ..ye shoes try kar...aur yeh watch pasand hai"??nishu seemed fascinated with the lovely sports shoes and a watch with a mickey on the dial..as armaan lifted him and went dancing in a circle...the phone rang...nidhi picked it up...it was dr ashutosh.."taiyaari ho gayi birthday ki...kya plan gai"??as nishu somehow knew it was his papa, nidhi put the phone on loudspeaker...as nishu explained ..his words not as fast as his thoughts...n ashutosh laughed" dheere nishu..papa nahi samajh pa raha..." n nishu slapped his forehead..n said" oh papa..be smart"!!n baba n armaan laughed..as nidhi remembered how she had commented on ashutosh's slow progress"poore teen mahine laga diye thebataane me ki mujhe pyaar karte hain"!!! Ashutosh talked to armaan about nidhi's visa n also nishu's and then as nidhi took the phone, he said"jaan...now dr dubey has recovered..thand bhi kum hai kuch...mere lectures are going to be over tomorrow and i have been quicker with my dessertation...i want ki tum dono..12 feb tak aa jao...i have booked everything...bus a" as nidhi was talking, nishu playing beside..pressed the loudspeaker..."jaan ab bahut miss kar raha hoon tumhe .." the entire family including kaka n maxi heard dr ashutosh speaking his heart..as a shocked..bemused n embarassed nidhi switched off theloud speaker...n glared at naughty nishu as armaan n nishu laughed and baba smiled...nidhi turned beetroot red n kept the phone saying"thodi der me baat kerti hoon..." n ran inside her bedroom...
Late at night..infact almost in the wee hours at about 3 in the night she got a skype call from dr ashutosh...she sat up sleepily n answered...his face flashing on her computer screen..."kaise hain aap..."?? She asked lazily...ashutosh could see her in her purple gown..he gulped.as his fingers grazed the screen...nidhi smiled seeing the love n longing in his eyes...she sat up n asked" bataaiye ..kya karna hai..." ashutosh spoke"day after tomorrow..visa ke liye jaana hai ..and then just pack..i have booked tickets for 11 feb..bus 8 din bache hain..packing theek se karna..woolens rakhna..but not too many .yahaan shop ker lena,.."nidhi smiled ..wt limit kya hai...ashutosh smiled"40 kg each..you are flying business class...stop over hai dubai me ..for about 4 hrs..i hope manage ker logi akele..." nidhi pouted"off course ker loongi...aapko manage ker liya to sab kuch manage ker loongi..." ashitosh laughed..n added"medical insurance ke papers mail ker diye hain ..print out leke sign n give to armaan..aur mujhe bhi scanned copy bhej dena...ok"??nidhi nodded.."aapka kaam ho jaayega na..hum disturbance to nahi honge.."??ashutosh looked at her long ..and said"kaam ka to pata nahi...per haan neend zuroor disturb hogi..." and as nidhi blushed...he responded" hey doc..seriously..tumhare aur nishu ke bina ab kaam bhi nahi ho raha...i d be thru by 14feb...aur 16se ghoomenge..now start packing..." nidhi smiled.."kal ki party ke baad,..nishu bahut excited hai...per miss ker raha hai aapko..."ashutosh raised his eyebrow n asked"aur tum..."?? Nidhi smiled and replied..."apne aapko kaise miss kar sakti hoon...bataaiye...mai to aapka hissa hoon..." ashutosh heard the doorbell...must be zaffar,.he thought ..n looked at nidhi.." bye dear...ab kal baat karenge..bahut jaam khatam karna hai..."
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Dr ashutosh looked around for mrs hudson ..not seeing her around..he opened the door...expecting zafar...he was shocked to see..dr meera standing there...her eyes swollen with hours of crying...
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Nidhi could not sleep after skyping with dr ashutosh..the thought that they were just 11 days away..enthralked her...yes she was dying to see england n the continent...but much more than that..she wanted to be with dr ashutosh...it would be full 6 weeks since they met...n nidhi had begun to feel a strange emptiness without him...she would feel lost..at times not knowing what to do...specially now after dr dubey had joined work...routine was normal..but life wasnt..how could it be..when the light..the force in her life was away...nidhi looked at the bedroom...just as she had at his cabin ..remembering the uncounrable moments together...she put her hand on the empty bed ...searching for him..his feel...and as she gazed at their wedding picture...she seemed to sing the only one line of an old song that she could vaguely recall..."dinbhar mujhe youn sataaye..
Tum bin ab to raha nahi jaaye..."
N clutching dr ashutosh's pillow she slowly drifted into sleep...
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