As the cab reached chandigarh aorport, dr ashutosh helped nidhi out and took charge of her luggage ..just as she shivered ..n pulled her sweater closer; he observed n asked" tumhari shawl"?? Nidhi kept quiet as he sighed n took off his coat n put it around her...the large grey coat almost engulfing her...his smell...it made nidhi gulp hard as he pulled the coat closer...much as she wanted to give it away!!"apna ticket do..."the authority in his voice didnt give her any chance to refuse...
He returned with the boarding passes that he kept in his shirt pocket n two coffees ...as nidhi sipped ..ashutosh sat n looked at her for a fleeting second...as her eyes again seemed unable to control her tears..n she looked away..
The other drs looked at them..most with a disapproval which was so natural after all they were nealy a generation apart...n also because many felt it was nothing but a design of a young intern on a successful n rich surgeon ...n for him nothing more than his desire for a young n beautiful girl...nidhi sighed...wish the people understood...
Her thoughts were interrupted by a friendly voice "hi hardstone..hows this lil girl now"?? It was dr sudhir n his wife as nidhi stood up courteous ly ...n sudhir patted her ...as they talked; nidhi felt a strange affection n concern in sudhir's voice ..it somehow reminded her of armaan...
As they boarded; nidhi was surprised to find herself beingbguided to business class; before she could resist; dr ashutosh was nudging her..touchingbher arm v lightly "nidhi..no scenes ..please sit"and he almost pushed her into the seat...
It was about 10 mins later that nidhi looked up..and found him...his eyes closed...the lines on his forehead almost faint...she was looking at him after a long time...those eyes...were shut ..n yet she could feel their intensity..his side burns had greyed further...n his beard too had specks of grey..the agony of life without her had been silently wrecking him...n she could see it..as she so wanted to ruffle those hair..n massage those tired shoulders...nidhi sighed...as she rued the fact that she did not have the courage to stand up against her family...her father...oh why did col verma not understand...that her life was a painless journey without dr ashutosh...why could he not feel their yearning..their love that was strong enough to bridge all chasms...why could someone not explain him...why why???
************
"Guddi...gudddi...kahaan hai guddi"!! It was the restless old patient at jeevan sandhya whom everyone called baba...he was looking for nidhi..his dr whom he insisted on calling "guddi"why?? He did not know it himself..but yes she was guddi...had to be...
The dr on duty n the kind manager tried to assuage him ; explainig that dr nidhi will be back tomorrow but baba was restless"kahaan hai?? Usne mujhse vaada kiya tha..mujhe mere ghar leke jaayegi...guddi "!! And dr aarti sighed as she gave him a calmpose injection n baba closed his eyes...as myriad forms emerged...a huge house..his home...and a man of about 35..calling him baba...who was he?? He had a stetho around his neck...baba cried out "aash..."and the rest was lost in a sandstorm of confusion...that buried his past n future...could he unravel it????
the manager dialled dr nidhi's home.
***********
As the plane landed n the drs deplaned; dr ashutosh insisted on carrying nidhi's bag in his trolley as they saw col verma ...before nidhi could say anything...she was right in front of her father...with dr ashutosh who took charge"col verma, I need to conduct mri n other tests on nidhi...as you can see she is not well...
"Col verma could not help feel the concern in dr ashutosh's voice neyes as he looked at his daughter...nidhi ..who mumbled "I m fine baba...buss "but col verma patted n said"jee dr ashutosh ..I d get her tomorrow...but can she go to jeevan sandhya...wahaan koi patient hai jo...
"N nidhi immediately knew it was baba...n she looked pleadingly at dr ashutosh...he yielded"fine...she can go..but kal kgh...n in case u dont have faith in me...tab dr nagpal at..."col verma smiled a sad smile ...tired of the contest that was going on within him...he said"no dr ashutosh..I d get her to u..."ashutosh nodded n left...as nidhi suddenly realised she was still wearing his coat...she almost ran n stopped him..."aapko yeh waapas karna tha..."as she took off the coat...dr ashutosh took it in his arm n smiled as he said"nidhi...kya kya waapas karogi mujhe...sainyaan...
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It was a tired nidhi who listened to the unending gibbersish of her dadi bua"bus beta tu uss daktar ka dhyaan nikal de...theek ho jaayegi..kuch beemari nahi...woh to uski kali chaya..meri bachchi pe..."n nidhi got up n said:"baba..mai jeevan sandhya ja rahi hoon"n left before cv could reply...and as he gave a frosty look to bua..who retorted"to maine aisa kya galat keh diya bhala"????
**********
Nidhi entered jeevan sandhya n was almost immediately engulfed by the old patients who had been missing her...as she distributed the pastries she had bought for them..she made her way to baba..sulking in a corner...nidhi smiled n touched his shoulder"kya baat nahi karenge apni guddi se"?? N baba looked away..just like an angry child ..n nidhi had to hold her ears ...n it was only when she bent to touch his feet that he relented n said"na guddi na...betiyaan paaon nahi chooti...bahuein chooti hain..."n nidhi kaughed as she said"achcha...aisa hai"!! N baba exclaimed"beta agar mere buss mei hota to tera byaah apne bete se karwa deta...bahu banti tu meri"!! Nidhi looked up'baba...aapka beta?? Yaad kariye ..uska naam...kya karta hai..."!! Baba seemed strained as he recollected flashes of the man who used to appear in his thoughts..."pata nahi naam...per shaayad dr hai...yaad nahi..."n then temper got the better of him as he tugged at his hair n cried"kyun nahi yaad aata mujhe...kyun "!!! N nidhi had to calm him"baba...sab yaad aa jaayega...parson ghar dhoondne chalenge aapka..."baba questioned"kal kyun nahi"???nidhi combed his hair n said"kyunki kal mai patient banoongi..."n as she told him about her fit...he retorted"it seems tension related epilepsy...or could be cyst ...I recommend cerebral M.I.R."! Nidhi seemed shocked...was baba a doctor...??? Could she find out????
Both baba n nidhi sat together looking at the winter sun...not knowing that destiny had connected them ...entwined their luves in more ways than one...
**********
Dr ashutosh entered his cabin after completing his rounds and rung for dr ranganath...as he entered..dr ashutosh asked "am I free in the morning tomorrow"?? Dr ranganath looked at the schedule n replied"well sir..there is one surgery but not an emergency...we can have it inthe evening..."ashutosh sighed"yes plz do that ranganath...n tomorrow nidhi...dr nidhi will come with her father for a check up..so I want to be free..."ranganath got up as dr mallika entered unannounced as usual n he said"i completely understand sir.."n left...
Mallika sat n rang for two coffee as ashutosh said"mallika...I dont want any and it d be nice if u could have ur coffeee in ur cabin..plz" but dr mallika was not so easily undone..as she smiled n said"bhai..conference ke baare me batao..how was simla...piano pe gana gaya ya nahi...jaante ho iss sunday ms subbalaxmi ji ka recital hai..maine do tickete ..."ashutosh got up; thrusting his hands in to his trouser pockets he said"mallika...I am in no mood to attend any recital..whatsoever...if only you could leave me alone..."dr mallika stood up...smoothed her sari n said"aise kaise akela rehne doon...aur mujhe samajh nahi aata ki jab woh dr nidhi zindagi me move on ker chuki hain to tum kyun nahi ker sakte...when will u overcome this ...infatuation. ..ya jo bhi kuch tha...tum dono ke beech"!!
Dr ashutosh seemed to have flated up as mallika patted him on his shoulder...brushing her hand away ; he snarled"oh!! So u want me to move on...kyunki nidhi has moved on...let me ask u...how do u know ??"dr mallika was nonplussed for a moment as ashutosh spoke..his voice icy..."main milaa hoon nidhi se..simla conference mei...mere bina kaise zinda hai..dekha hai maine...kya haalat ho gayi uski...u know mallika...she is suffereing from hypertensive epilepsy...aur tum kehti ho she has moved on...
I really wish ..ki jis baraah saal ki dosti ka tum waasta dete nahi thakti...us dosti ku khatir hi sahi...lekin tum mujhe yeh vishwaas dilane ki koshish na karti ki nidhi ne mujhe bhula diya...kyunki nidhi aaj bhi mujhse utna hi pyaar karti hai..jitna pehle karti thi..ya shaayad usse bhi zyaada..."dr mallika faced ashutosh"per agar aisa hai bhi to kya faayda...usme himmat to hai nahi..."!! Dr ashutosh gave a piercing look to mallika...being able to see n feel her jealousy...he remarked with a heartless steel"himmat mera pyaar dega...iss baar yeh rishta jud ke rahega...chahe poori duniya isse todne ke koshish ker le"n then before mallika could answer; he walked out...n sat in his car...to drive to his house..that ge was determined to make a home ane day...
As he drove through the misty night ..the fm played the song that defined the moment..
LAAKH MANA LE DUNIYA
SAATH NA YEH CHOOTEGA
AAKE MERE HAATON ME HAATH NA YE CHOOTEGA..."
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