FF- Destiny's Play Chap 4 Pg 127 June 16 - Page 92

Anji shook her head. "No. I won't do it. I won't manipulate her that way. She'll think I've conned her and she'll withdraw from me too. Her baba tried to do something that he thought was for her own good. Net result? She walked out of her own house and till today hasn't gone back."

Anji thought back to the days she had spent time at Yograj uncle's house. The fun, the masti. She and Nidhi had been inseparable. Then Nidhi went and fell in love and all that changed. Despite her mom, Shyama's concern, Anji had been supportive of her friend. Fat good that it did. The guy himself didn't support her. He had raised all her hopes and dreams but abandoned the ship midway through the journey. The pain and disillusionment had made Nidhi wary and cynical. She alone knew Nidhi's battles and how she had strived not to let the pain crush her to the ground. Now the past was repeating itself again and.. she glared at Ranaganath. And her husband decided to try his hand at matchmaking.

Ranganath could easily read the emotions chasing across his wife's face. With an arm around her shoulders, he guided her to the sofa and made her sit on it before taking a seat right beside her. "Anji, I know what you are saying and thinking. And to some extent I probably agree too. But tell me one thing honestly Anji. Are you happy with me? As your husband and partner?"

Anji nodded and gave a tremulous smile. "Very very happy. And lucky and privileged and honoured and.."

Ranganath couldn't hide his pleasure at those words. He hugged her tight before pulling back to look at her face. "Thank you and the same thing goes back to you multiplied. Now think. Don't you want your friend to be as happy as you are? Doesn't Nidhi deserve that?"

Anji sighed. "Yes, she does. Of course, she does. But.."

"And do you honestly think that left alone like this, she would find someone else one day?"

Anji knew the answer but took a few moments to bring the words out. "No. She wouldn't. We've been friends since we were three years old. I know her inside out. For her it's him or no one." And her face told him what she thought of him.

"Then why not give them another chance Anji? Maybe that's why God pushed them together once again now. Whatever it was that held them back the previous time, maybe they would overcome it."

Anji pounced on that. "They? What do you mean they? She didn't leave him. He told her to go."

"And she left." Ranganath calmly inserted. "He told her to go and she left. She didn't fight, did she?" For a man like Dr Ashutosh, with all his past baggage, it would have probably been another nail in what he saw as the coffin of their love.

Anji's eyes fluttered. "Why should she fight with her lover for her love Ranga? It's her right, isn't it? And if he was not willing to give it to her, what was she supposed to do? Beg? And don't even get me started on what she had to go through with that Dr Mallika!"

Ranganath raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Relax. I'm not blaming her. Anyone would've done the same thing given the same situation probably. And I'm not judging either. Just..think about it Anji. Please?"

Anji gave a grudging nod. "What do I have to do?"

"Remember I told you about a group of US doctors visiting India? They're going to be in Lucknow tomorrow and the day after. In their honour KGH has arranged a party tomorrow evening. Cocktails followed by dinner. As the dean, Dr Ashutosh has to make an appearance. He doesn't have a choice. I want you to convince Nidhi and bring her also to the same party."

Anji looked a little sceptical. "Where is the party going to be?"

"Piccadily." He named one of the top five star hotels of Lucknow.

Anji rolled her eyes. "Did you even see that banquet hall? If both of them stood in separate corners, they wouldn't even be able to see each other."

"Yes meri jaan. I know that. I was the one who took care of all the arrangements. It's not the party we are interested in. It's how Nidhi would get there and how she would get back home after the party."

Anji realized where her husband was going with this. She huffed out. "Fine. I'll do it. But remember one thing Ranga..if he messes it up again or hurts her more, I'm going to personally go and cut his heart out of his chest. And don't say I didn't warn you."

****

Nidhi and Anji got down from the car in front of Picadily the next day evening and waited for Ranganath while he went to park it. Anji ignored the twinge of guilt and smiled at Nidhi. "Thanks for agreeing to come yaar. Normally Ranganath goes to these parties alone but this time around he wanted me to come and I hardly know anyone there. And when they gather, all they talk about is surgeries and autopsies." She shuddered. Doctors really did have weird topics as a part of their dinner conversations. How they could actually discuss cutting up a dead human body with food in their mouth was beyond her. "At least with you beside me, I will have some company."

Nidhi nodded and shrugged with a faint smile on her face. "It's OK Anji. You don't need to go all formal on me. I do realize that I haven't been the best of the friends lately but.."

"Hey, don't say that. We're best friends forever and nothing can change that."

Nidhi nodded again. Ranganath walked up to them and all three of them made their way to the banquet hall. Whatever happened in the next couple of hours, Nidhi braced herself to endure it stoically. There would be a lot of people there. She could easily lose herself in the crowd. And if fates were kind to her, he would completely skip the event. He never liked to socialize much anyway. So maybe he wouldn't..

"Hi Ranganath! Hi Anji!" Armaan shook Ranganath's hand and nodded at Anji who nodded back with a smile. Then he turned to Nidhi and his lips stretched into a truly affectionate smile. "Good to see you here Nidhi."

"Hello Armaanji." Then her eyes fell on him. Ashuji! NO! Stupid, just shut up. Get it into your head once and for all. He is no longer your Ashuji. He is Dr Ashutosh Mathur. Steel grey suit with palest of the pale blue shirt and a grey, blue and black striped tie. Neatly trimmed beard and gently simmering eyes behind the thin eyeglasses. Fates were being exceptionally cruel to her, she decided. "Hello sir. Good evening," she said in a voice as bland as she could make it.

"Hello..Dr Nidhi..Verma." He nodded at the other two. After a slight hesitation, he took a step back and raised his hand that was holding a glass filled with some kind of soft drink. "Please excuse me." He turned and walked away, his mind and heart imprinted with the vision that was Nidhi. Pale blue soft silk sari with its wide silver border, silver coloured blouse, a single strand pearl necklace with a small locket and pearl ear rings.

Nidhi ignored the whiplash to her heart and turned towards Anji. "I'll be back in a moment. OK?" and walked in the opposite direction.

Armaan looked in both directions. "Well..that didn't take long! One look and both of them have scurried away."

"Did you expect more Dr Armaan?" Anji couldn't resist asking.

"Honestly, no. That's why I have the backup plan ready. Ready Ranganath?"

Ranganath cleared his throat. "Sir, I think we should wait at least until the dinner actually begins. I mean food poisoning without actually eating anything..and with a hall full of doctors.."

Armaan looked around and grabbed a plate of starters from the nearby table and shoved it at Ranganath. "Now eat fast. If anyone asks, I'll tell them you were ready with faint with hunger so started ahead. What are you waiting for? Eat! I'm betting that our dear dean is ready to walk out of the party."

A few minutes later, Nidhi's phone buzzed just as she was making conversation with one of her colleagues at KGH. She frowned at the caller id and took the call. "Yes Anji?"

Anji tried to sound suitably worried. "Nidhi, Ranga ate something here and is puking like crazy."

"Oh my God! Food poisoning? Where are you? I'm coming."

"No no no no..uh..he..he is allergic to corn and I think that starter had corn in it. So I'm taking him home right now."

Nidhi blinked. "Uh OK. Do you need help?"

"No. I'll manage. Have the meds at home. So I'm off right away. But..you.."

"Don't worry about me Anji. I'll..I'll manage. I'll book a cab. You take care and call me if you need anything."

"Sure sure." She glared at the two smirking men as she cut the call. "The things you guys make me do!"

Armaan nudged Ranganath. "Your turn now. Call Ashu and please try to sound a little weak. And don't give him a chance to refuse or slide. Just tell him and cut the call. Tell him and cut the call." Ranganath hesitated. "Just do it. If I talk, he will smell the fish. Look, forget that he is your boss.."

"And that could fire me any time.."

Armaan waved it away. "I'll get you another job if that happens. Just. Make. The. Damn. Call."

Nidhi came out through one of the doors that led to the hotel pool area and sat on one of the chaise lounges. She had come there under durance and now she was stuck. A quick glance at her watch told her that it was almost forty five minutes since she came. Long enough. And it's not as if anyone would notice and comment on her absence. She was not even a permanent member of KGH doctor team. She was someone who was just..passing through. Once again. She took out the phone from her handbag to dial for a cab when some sixth sense alerted her of his presence.

"Nidhi," Ashutosh's rough baritone voice made her jerk and turn. He stood at the door that separated the pool from the banquet hall. His eyes were impassive as he said, "Ranganath called. He is not well and has left. He asked if I could drop you home."

Seriously? Ranganath couldn't find anyone else? Or did all that puking addle his brain cells? "Thank you sir but I'll manage."

"Nidhi, I promised Ranganath that I would drop you and drop you I will. My duty here is done and I can see you are ready to leave too." He gestured to her handbag and the phone in her hand. "So, let's go." He turned and walked away without giving her a chance to reply.

Cursing Ranganath's lousy timing, she silently followed him. It was a fifteen minute drive to her apartment. Surely, she can do that without falling apart and screaming at him like a fishwife as to why he pushed her out of his life, can't she? Of course, she can. With that firm resolve, she nodded her thanks to the doorman of the hotel who held the car door open for her and got into the passenger side. Ashutosh waited until her seatbelt was fastened before releasing the handbrake. Within moments, his silver Etios merged into the traffic. Both were silent. An uncomfortable silence filled with their silent agony .

"Nidhi..I..I miss you. I pushed you away but..I miss you. So much."

"Do you ever think of me Ashuji? It still hurts. Hurts so much Ashuji. I miss you."

As the car stopped at one of the traffic signal, Ashutosh switched on the radio in an effort to get away from his thoughts. But luck was just not with them that day. The song that was being played seemed to be a mere reflection of their cogitations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HooA8xUUEE

E ajnabi tu bhi kabhi aawaaz de kahin se
E ajnabi tu bhi kabhi aawaaz de kahin se
Main yahan tukdon mein ji raha hoon
Main yahan tukdon mein ji raha hoon
Tu kahin tukdon mein ji rahi hai

Nidhi looked out at the ebb and flow of the traffic, refusing to face him knowing that he would be able to read her thoughts if she did. And she felt his gaze on her profile more than once. Being in this car brought back so many memories. Their trips together to the orphanage, darga, the first rain, tea stall, the first time he had taken her to his house..so many recollections that brought a smile on her face and tears in her eyes. That filled her heart and tore it up to pieces.

Roz roz resham si hawa aate jaate kahti hai bataa
Resham si hawa kahti hai bata
Woh jo doodh dhuli masoom kali
Woh hai kahan kahan hai woh roshni kahan hai
Woh jaan si kahan hai
Main adhoora tu adhoori ji rahi hai

Ashutosh was driving but his heart was miles away. Scenes from his past whizzed through his mind.

"Dr Ashutosh, see that kid? He is so cute na."

"Yeh kya hospital ke baahar bhi Dr Ashutosh Dr Ashutosh Nidhi? I mean..it was OK when you were just my intern but.."

"But?" Her impish smile and laughter filled eyes turned to look at him. "But what has changed?"

"Ashuji, Ashuji, arre..wait for me na. Why do you always have to walk so fast? Aise saath saath..haath pakadke chalte haina. It would be so romantic." Nidhi comically fluttered her eyelashes making him shake his head and laugh softly.

"Ashuji neend nahi aarahi..apna violin bajayiye na please?"

E ajnabi tu bhi kabhi aawaaz de kahin se
E ajnabi tu bhi kabhi aawaaz de kahin se
Main yahan tukdon mein ji raha hoon
Main yahan tukdon mein ji raha hoon
Tu kahin tukdon mein ji rahi hai

"Sir..Dr Ashutosh.." Her sudden insistent voice jerked him out of his thoughts and he looked at her. "You are going the wrong way. I don't live there anymore. You have to go back to the previous exit and then the third road on your right."

Ashutosh frowned and then appeared stunned. Nevertheless, he took a U turn at the next intersection and went in the direction that she had mentioned. She was not staying with her baba? Why? What happened? Why didn't Ranganath mention this to him? Another sudden thought occurred to him making him swerve the car roughly to the side of the road and pump on the brakes. The car shuddered to a halt with a faint screech. Nidhi swallowed and avoided looking at him directly. She knew what he was going to ask. And she didn't want to answer.

"Nidhi..w-why are you not staying with your baba? Have you.." He stopped to clear his throat and swallow the lump that seemed to have lodged there. "Are you married?"

"Is that what you think?"

"I don't know what to think. And that's why I'm asking you. Why are you not staying with your baba?"

"And if I don't answer?"

"Nidhi..please!"

The husky plea reached her as none of the demands would have. She looked out of the window. "After leaving KGH, I went and completed my internship at City Centre Holy Hospital. I thought I would continue there as a junior doctor. Then..my baba and dadi bua somehow got it into their head that Rohan and I liked each other. They assumed I loved him and he me. And without telling either of us or stating their intentions clearly, they arranged our engagement. Both of us came to know about it the morning of our engagement in front of all the guests. We refused. His parents had been there too. They took offense and so Rohan took them and left to go back to Delhi."

"Rohan..he is not here now?"

Nidhi shook her head. "No. He left that day and didn't come back. Now he has got a great job in Mumbai and is settling down. We thought it better to keep away from each other. Give our parents time to recover and stuff." She paused and sighed tiredly. "But dadi bua didn't get over it. Baba also was very angry. He wanted to know the reasons for my refusal." She shrugged her shoulders. "I finally told him I was in love with someone else but refused to say more. He got more angry. Mere ghar mein rehna hain toh mere hisaab se chalna hoga tumhe. Those were his words. And I couldn't do that. I had already taken Anji's suggestion by then and had applied for PG entrance. I got the seat and moved into an apartment." She took a deep breath and faced him squarely. "But please don't worry about all that sir. It is no longer your problem."

Ashutosh had a dazed look on his face. "And..and your baba? Is he OK with this?"

"I've not cut off my relations sir. I'm just not living in that house that's all. We keep talking over the phone." Her lips formed a wry smile. "He is an army guy. He won't budge or take back his words. And I'm an army man's daughter. I won't budge either."

Ashutosh shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. He had pushed her away so that she wouldn't get hurt or be kept in a position where she would end up having to choose. And truth be told, he didn't want to be left alone while she chose her family over him. But now..even after he had ended their relationship..she chose her broken relationship with him over the love of her whole family? Her baba?

"But Nidhi..why?" That one question had everything in it. Disbelief, bewilderment, pain. And despite his stern refusal to acknowledge, there was joy and hope. She still loved him. She loved him as much as ever, if not more. Nidhi was still madly, crazily, utterly in love with Ashutosh.

"Why do you care sir? They are probably just impulsive acts of an immature girl fifteen years your junior." On that note, she got down from the car and closed the door before bending to look at him through the window. "I can walk the rest of the way Dr Ashutosh. My apartment is just one street away. Thank you." And did just that. Walked away.

"Nidhi..I..I miss you. I pushed you away but..I miss you. So much."

"Do you ever think of me Ashuji? It still hurts. Hurts so much Ashuji. I miss you."