Yes..its been long since I updated this story..infact it was never meant to be a story..butvyour love specially anjani's has made me try...
So this one is for u anjani...I take off from almost where I left the last update...n yes as I am daring to retell the story ..there r bound to be differences...though not really major ones...one thing..in this thread ROHAN continues to be just a friend of nidhi...there is no love from any side...he understands n respects the live that aahu n nidhi have for each other...so here we go?? Ready??
**********&************
"Ashutosh..iss monday se simla mei conference hai..IMA ki...tum jaaoge na.."?? Asked dr mallika as dr ashutosh sipped his black capuchino after a long day...he kept quiet ...but the question was repeated..and an irritated ashutosh replied"let me decide...plz mallika..and ab tum ghar jaao..let me have some..."mallika had a wry smile as she completed"alone to brood about dr nidhi...?? Ashutosh why cant you just learn to move on...and realise woh tumhari zindagi barbaad kerke aage badh chuki hai...yahaan tum uski yaadon mei khoye rehte ho...aur wahaan shaayad tumhara khayaal bhi nahi aata usse...why ashutosh why...us kal ki ladki ke so called pyaar ne tumhe...ek world famous surgeon ko itna kamzor ker diya..."??? Dr ashutosh got up..wraring his coat..he spoke cryptic n dry"good night mallika...shaayad ghar me hi mujhe apne saath rehne ka mauqa mile..."! And before mallika could say anything..dr ashutosh was gone...his honda city racing away...and dr mallika took a long deep breath ..as she walked to her new car...a maroon altis..and drove off ...with the fm playing
MERA SUNDAR SAPNA BEET GAYA
MAI PREM ME SABKUCH HAAR GAYI
BEDARD ZAMAANA JEET GAYA...n mallika's face hardened as she said almost in a whisper..."ashutosh...tum mere ho ke rahoge...aaj nahi to kal..."
******************
"Morning dr nidhi...there is a conference in simla...n I want you to accompany me n dr pooja "it was dr nagpal of the IMA core committee who spoke to nidhi..as he was walking out of jeevan sandhya where ge came on call once in a while...as nidhi looked at the manager...n then at dr nagpal..the second best neuro in lucknow..she nodded"yes sir...do I need to prepare..."nagpal smiled"yes dr nidhi..I d like you to share ur experiences at jeevan sandhya with us...I think a young girl like you is doing a tremendous job here...I respect you...my child"! As he patted nidhi...she smiled n said"thank u sir...I d come..."
*************
"Nidhiii...naye sweater to lele..simla me baraf pad rahi hogi..bura ho in daktaron ka..aosi jagah jaa rahe hain jahaan khud mareez ho jaayein...main to kabhi na bhejti apni bachchi ko..."it was dadi bua rambling off as nidhi packed her suit case...as col verma n rohan came in and cv controlled dadi bua "bua..kabhi to nidhi ko bada hone deejiye...apne faisle khud lene ..."dadi bua hit back"khud liya to tha faisla...woh teri umr ke daaktar se byaah ka...buss maine bacha liya nahi to kahin ke nahi rehte ...hum sab..."and nidhi sighed...and went out..leaving a sad cv looking at her...and rohan ..her friend thru the lonely nights trailing her...
"Nidhi ji...thodi shopping ker lijeeye..simla ..
"Nidhi looked at him icily. ..n then turned to the sunset ...her favourite moment of the day...how she wished she could explode n disappear like the sun...n her thoughts travelled to that one man she had loved..the only man she could love...dr ashutosh...was he watching the same sunset...alone with his black coffeee...how nidhi had almost brougjt hues of spring into his life...only to leave it more dreary than it ever had been...nidhi felt a strong lump in her throat...as rohan asked"kya dr ashutosh bhi honge simla mei...
"Nidhi pushed nack her tears n said"mujhe nahi pata...honge bhi to...main nahi miloongi...waada kiya hai maine baba se...kum se kum ek vaada to nibhaa doon..."n nidhi turned her face away...
*****************
"Dr ashutosh was arranging his suits ties n sweaters in the wardrobe of his suite of the most picturesque wild flower hall..as he hung his suites n put his shirts ..he smiled a lil bitterly as he recalled kaka..his caretaker from baba's days saying"kabhi koi aayegi yeh sab kerne waali ki nahi..."!! And ashutosh sighed as he stood looking out of his window at the tall deodars covered with light snow flakes...as his mind n heart remembered the one n only time when his heart had that improbable desire of loving...a woman 18 years his junior...he had desired of having a home...a home with someone to come back to...a home full of laughter...a home where his wife would wait for him...and where he would prpbably hold his children...ashutosh could not ..rather did not wish to remember those dreams...the broken pieces of which still hurt his eyes...he loosened his tie..and just as he was about to turn away he saw her..it couldnt be her...he was sure his mind was playing games with him ...as it often had in these 10 months after kerala...when nidhi had turned away...forever...he had met her only twice since then...in kgh n jeevan sandhya...n yet she haunted his days n nights...he would stop by the tea shop ...n imagine both of them sipping adrak wali chaai...he saw her in the warmth of sunshine...experienced her in the rustle of autumnal leaves n almost felt her in the silvery raindrops. ...but was she actually here...ashutosh seemed to realise that it was indeed nidhi..accompanied by another young dr...in a green churidar kurta...her haor open...she looked v thin...n pale...ashutosh turned away n closed his eyes...his mind trying to drive away thoughts of dr nidhi..his heart trying to absorb each molecule of her...
***************
"Hi ashutosh .."it was dr nagpal n dr sudhir mishra old friends saying hi ..ashutosh shook hands as he said"sudhir...nice to see you...gynaecs hardly get time..."sudhir laughed as his wife dr nanda came close...n putting an arm around her he said"bhai..gynaec to baad me hoon..first I am a husband..air itni attractive conference nanda miss nahi karne deti mujhe...khair tu nahi samjhega...bata kya paper hai iss baar..."?? As ashutosh smiled nagpal stepped in..."yaar this is an ima meet...so I thought ket the youngsters speak...kal fore noon me do talks hain..ek to dr pooja ki city central se...aur ek aur ladki hai...v intelligent..."the sentence remained incomplete as dinner was announced and the group moved on...
"Nidhi tu to kuch bhi nahi le rahi...wine legi"?? It was dr pooja asking nidhi as she kept ger plate..n said"na..I dont drink..."and got up to leave ...walking down the lively corridor. ..she turned to go to the terrace ...it was a beautiful night as the moon shone over the snow covered deodars...n nidhi looked at the lovely sight...pulling her sweater tightly around herself...and thinking what it would have been in happier times...she had often thought she would travel with dr ashutosh after...but marriage was not to ve...social norms mattered more than two hearts...nidhi shuddered as she recalled that bleak morning in kerala when she had broken all bridges with dr ashutosh...
nidhi suddenly felt someone behind her...n something told her...it was him...yes for her heart beat faster n her pulse thumped...as she closed her eyes...her temples throbbing..
dr ashutosh had come to the terrace after dinner ...n had sensed rather than seen nidhi...he wanted to talk to her...to ask her how she had been...but he valued his promise...he just stood there ...in the luxury of her proximity...as nidhi too stood...both knowing n feeling each others presence...being just a foot away...n yet separated by miles of distances created by her family...was it really insurmountable. ..???
nidhi found it difficult to control her tears as she stood gazing at so much of beauty juxtaposed with such abject loneliness...
she suddenly felt that familiar hand putting that clean white hankey on the railing...nidhi turned and ran ...away from him..from memories of what could have been but never was ...she shut the door of her room ...n closed her eyes...
****************
The next morning was bright ...as nidhi wore her blue salwar kurta n black sweater for breakfast...and as she chose to sat alone ...she could see dr ashutosh talk to a couple of his age...she was told dr sudhir mushra n his wife dr nanda..college friends of ashutosh...nidhi worked on her tab...revising the points of her talk...as she suddenly felt him come n put a plate of her fav allo paratha ...nidhi mumbled "thanks"...n added "sir"but she could hardly eat...her head throbbed as it often did these days...n she walked off...n dr ashutosh observed clinically ...nidhi had lost a lot of weight...
**********
"I am here to share my experience s at an old ahe home...where I work as a dr..."nidhi started her talk as all drs sat n listened ...dr ashutosh very keenly..his gaze intense..n searching as a true surgeon's...nidhi felt she was under a scalpel...but went on ..sharing the depression of the old..n how a chirpy dr could make a difference. ..how medical acumen could often be coupled with sympathy n a patient ear...and as she wrapped up n got resounding applause ...she sat at her seat ..and was surprised to find dr ashutosh walk towards her...he extended his hand as she stood up nervously ..."well done doc...I am proud of u ..."nidhi had a strong urge to cry ...as she somehow stood her ground and said"sir...I learnt it all from you..."
"Lagta hai jeevan sandhya kaafi pasand aaya hai..."?
"Sir zindagi pasand napasand se bahut door nikal aayi hai.."
"To PG...kab ker rahi ho"??
"Sir ..main nahi sochti...kyunki jo socha tha..kabhi woh poora nahi ho paya...so ab sochna chod diya...zindagi ka dariya jahaan le jaye..."
"Dr nidhi...bus yeh yaad rakhna ..koi hai jo iss waqt ke dariya ke kinaare pe khada tumhara intezaar ker raha hai...
" and dr ashutosh walked off...
****************
"Nidhi ..kya hua hai...
"It was dr pooja who entered nidhi's room to find her almost pale ...as nidhi tried to smile she almost slumped...n dr pooja ran for help..
knocking at dr sudhir's room...as asudhir opened ..hos tie around his neck..."sir dr nidhi
...she s fainting..."the rest was a rush..as dr nagpal dr sudhor dr nanda rushed to find nidhi on the floor ...her jaw locked. .:call ashutosh..."and dr ashutosh who had been tying his violet tie...given by baba..a long time back..almost froze at the news n then rushed to nidhi's room...as dr nagpal was examining her. ..dr ashutosh whispered'its a fit...epilepsy..."and within seconds nidhi was clattering her teeth...and twisting as ashutosh injected an ativan into her vein..and dr nagpal sighed"how did u know...she was ..."ashutosh did not reply...but it was his sixth sense that had told him..nidhi was under deep stress ...n a neurological disater was underway...her pale looks..her thin frame...they were all omens...but he kept quiet...n added "I think u guys go for dinner..I d sit by her...as it is I wanted to give dinner a skip..."the drs left...though dr sudhir gave a deep look to ashutosh...as if trying to search. ..ashutosh looked away...
he sat in a chair by nidhi...examining her pulse n opening her eyes to see her pupils..still dialated...he sighed...as he wanted to caress those cheeks...bring roses back to them...clearly nidhi had not moved on...each day each hour of these 10 months had damagwd n wrecked her...she had been suffering ...the diktat of her family...she could not be his..only because he happened to be 18 years her senior...oh how the months had made her fade...she looked an autumnal leaf...yellow weak...lifeless...
nidhi suddenly quaked and rushed into the wash room getting sick...common in epileptic fits...dr ashutosh stood outside..wanting to enter..to hold ger to him...to clean her...but he had neither the licence nor the authority if a husband...he only had the awkwardness of a lover...as nidhi came out...she almost slumped...dr ashutosh forgot all n held her in his srrong arms...carrying her to bed...and as he put her down softly...he saw the dark circles of loneliness around those lovely eyes...n his own eyes blazed with anger...anger against her family..the society...n against her...for it was her oath that had bound both of them into suffering...ashutosh caressed her forehead...n whispered to her n himself..."nidhi...plz...ab main nahi bardaasht ker sakta...mere sabr ka imtihaan lena band karo..." and a frail n sedated nidhi half opened her eyes n whispered back..."dr ashutosh...shaayad zindagi ne humare naam sirf imtihaan hi likhe hain...sirf imtihaan"and her eyes closed again...as dr ashutosh looked outside ...at the snowfall n the clouds wafting across the moon...
will the clouds ever clear from their life..?? His thoughts froze as nidhi's cell rang n it showed"baba"...col verma was calling his daughter...ashutosh picked the cell...n spoke "hullo col verma...nidhi is unwell...".
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Sports
Current Affairs
Sadda Haq Season 2
