"W ho speaking...is it..dr..."??? Spoke an apprehensive col verma from miles away in lucknow. ..dr ashutosh did not bat an eyelid as he said"yes col verma..its me ..ashutosh.nidhi has fainted in a fit of epilepsy. .her room mate dr pooja called us ..all of us.."col verma seemed to have been gripped by panic.."kaisi hai woh...she never had any fits...everr"!! Dr ashutosh smiled a sad smile as he explained to nidhi's father that she seemed to be suffering from acute tension triggered epilepsy and her bp was quite high.."further investigation to lucknow mei hi ho sakengi...aap chinta nahi kariye..she s my patient...and as it is the conference has ended n we are all coming back tomorrow. .."as col verma was at a loss of words..dr ashutosh added with a deep bitterness "dont worry col verma...meri nidhi laute na laute..aapki beti kal raat tak aapke ghar pahunch jaayegi..sahi salaamat..I hope itna to vishwas hai aapko mujhpe...thanx n good night..."!
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"Kya hua meri bachchi ko...zuroor us mue daaktar...usi ka kaam hai yeh sab...meri bachchi ka jeena mushkil kar diya usne..."col verma seemed to loose his cool as he threw a glass off the table n snarled"bua..nidhi ka jeena dr ashutosh ne nahi...balki...aapne aur maine mushkil kiya hai...aur kyun yeh bhi hum jaante hain...woh to wahaan..itne sab ke baad bhi uska ilaaj ker rahe hain.."dadi bua snarled"to humne kya ghalat kiya yog...baap ki umr ke aadmi se kaun shaadi karne dega apni beti ki...samaj ke bhi kuch kaayde kaanoon hote hain..jo maane padte hain.."!! Col verma did not reply...he just got up n retreated into his room..looking at the picture of his dead wife nandini...had he been just to their daughter...????
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It was at about 12 in the night that dr sudhir n nanda entered nidhi's room and saw dr ashutosh sitting in the chair by the bed...his tie hanging...n eyes closed.."ashutosh..."dr ashutosh looked up...sudhir had heard about his friend's crush for an intern..but like all his friends he too had thought it to be a passing fad...but the intense look in ashutosh's eyes told a different story...he asked"kya yeh wahi intern..."and ashutosh just nodded faintly...sudhir patted him...n said"its the tension thats killing the poor child...talk to her ashutosh"!!
Dr ashutosh kwpt quiet n nodded...sudhir n nanda walked back...as dr ashutosh sat by nidhi...opening her eyes to look at her pupils...
It was at about 3 in the morning that nidhi stirred..n opened her eyes...dr ashutosh immediately sat up"kaisi ho ab"??
"I am fine...aap yahaan kyun...mai theek hoon..."!!
Dr ashutosh hardly heard her...but walked out only to re enter with a glass of milk n a pastry..he held the glass to her lips.."chalo ..plz piyo..n eat this..."nidhi felt sick...n shook her head..dr ashutosh held the glass to her lips and almost forced it down her throat..and then gave her the pastry..."tumhe to achchi lagti thi..."nidhi lowered her eyes...as she bit a small piece...her eyes unable to control her tears n helplessness...dr ashutosh gulped...and sat...with a sigh..putting a pillow behind her ..and making her comfortable. .."aaraam karo..subah waapas jaana hai...I d send dr pooja .."and he left..keeping a glass of water by the bed side...as nidhi broke into uncontrolled sobs...oh why was she not able to tell him she loved him more than life...more than her own existence...
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It was 6.30 in the morning when dr sudhir ushered the drs into various cars and deliberately left a car for ashutosh n nidhi..."I think tu usse le ke aa ..chandigarh tak...she needs rest ..n u should rather must talk to her ...I m sorry ashutosh ..we did not know the depth of ur emotions. ..."dr ashutosh shook sudhir's hand ...as he waved to nanda..and waited for nidhi...
It was at 7 that nidhi emerged ..in a blue churidaar kurta n a dark sweater ..ashutosh's heart almost stopped...seeing her so beautiful n yet so gloomy...
"Kahaan hain sab"??
"They have gone..main intezaar kar raha tha tumhara...chalo...its a 6 hr long drive.."nidhi felt just a lil conscious ..as she sat into the back seat of a comfortable toyota camary ..with dr ashutosh by her side...she observed..he seemed tired...or was he worried...about her..."aapne breakfast kiya...aap to early lete hain..."ashutosh did not reply...as the car drove down the winding road to mashobhra n then to simla...the road covered with fresh snow...as nidhi looked at the tall huge elm trees covered with snow...n her eyes lingered at the old yellow church...she did not seem to pray..she knew her prayers were not answered...dr ashutosh looked ahead...his eyes n brow furrowed...
"Sahib...chai peeyenge..."?? It was the driver who stopped the cab at a quaint lil restaurant at kalka ..n nidhi got down...as dr ashutosh gave money to the driver to eat..n ordered tea n sandwiches for them...
the waiter soon got hot tea n cucumber sandwiches...nidhi looked at him"tomato wale...aap to kheera nahi khaate..." ashutosh smiled"chalo tumhe meri pasand napasand to yaad hai...bhooli nahi ho mujhe...ek ajnabi ko..."nidhi bit her lip..feeling the anger in dr ashutosh's voice...
As they sat in the cab again rapidly descending into the plains...nidhi called her father...n as she disconnected the cell she looked at dr ashutosh.."aapki baat hui thi baba se"??
"Kyun tumse permission leni hogi kya"?? Drawled dr hardstone ...and nidhi realised he was hurt...or probably angry...nidhi lowered her head she knew she herself had to be blamed...for her inability to stand up to his love...stand up against her own family...
nidhi's thoughts were all cofused n her head throbbed once again as she saw dr ashutosh working on his black berry...probably reading his mails...as she wiped her tears n her eyes drooped ...while her head throbbed ...
as dr ashutosh completed replying to the important mails n chose not to take dr mallika's phone...irritated almost agitated with her over possessive nagging...armaan ws so much different...he was their as his support...but he never tried to control his life...
ashutosh sighed and looked towards nidhi...fast asleep...her head banging against the door ...n her cheeks wet with tears...
dr ashutosh's heart missed a beat...as he saw nidhi..his nidhi ..her garb of strength fallen...and her vulnerability so apparent...she needed him more than ever...whether she accepted it or not...and now he had to take a stand...for her suffering was vrossing all dykes...
as the car bumped over a speed braker..and nidhi's head hit the door again...but she did not wake up...probably the effect of ativan...ashutosh sighed as he moved towards ger n put his arm around her shoulders ...and drew her head to his shoulders...wiping her cheeks dry...his arm kept her comfortable ...but he was shocked as he felt her...after about 8 months...her shoulders were bony...her arms hardly with any flesh...ufff she had suffered...but now he wouldnt let her...he would stand by her..even if it were against her own wishes...
the cab drove on...leaving the lovely green hills of simla behind...will they ever be able to come back here n fill those elm forests with songs of their love...could it happen????
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