Chapter 101...Family time...
To my dearest Jayasree..i hope my update makes you feel better..Jayasree Age is a case of mind over matter..if you don't mind ..it doesn't matter..
Part 1
Ashutosh drove very carefully ..stopping at Ramasrey to buy laddoos samose n dhokla..and as they entered col verma's campus..nidhi smiled"Harini is here..dekhiye uski woh special Camry"and Ashutosh smiled "lovely girl..bahut achchi choice hai Rohan ki"! Nidhi agreed n added"i really respect her..pata nahi Anji kyun chidti hai usse"!
Dr Ashutosh smiled n said"Anji envies Harini..Harini has that clarity n maturity that is expected of Anji..but Anji abhi confused hai..she complains what life wants from her...actual issue is what she wants from life.."nidhi nodded n said"hope she is happy ..after all she has had so much time to herself n her profession. .."Ashutosh did not reply as he helped nidhi on to the stairs and rung the bell.
COl verma himself opened the door and hugged Ashutosh "Dr Ashutosh always on time..aapne is late lateef ko bhi time ki ahmiyat samjha di"Ashu laughed n touched his n dadi bua's feet asnd then asked for Rohan n Harini..bua replied "woh dono kya kehte hain..lap top pe ghar hunt ker rahe hain"and cv explained that they were unable to grt the kind of house they were looking for..adding "maine aur infact bua ne to kaha ki yahin raho..but i understand. ..but ladki bahut achchi hai..harini"amd surprisingly Dadi bua agreed" bilkul ..bahut achchi..dekh aaj yeh halwa bana ke laayi hai..uska special chulha hai..height adjust ho jaati hai"explained bua as she narrated how Harini had called them home one evening.
And just then the subject of discussion arrived..with Rohan hugging Nidhi..gingerly "by God nidhiji..ek dium bulldozer lag rahi ho"!and nidhi gave him a mock glare...and before anything could be said. .a cru of a baby was heard...all looked at the door..Anji n Ranganath stood with Arth..now 14 months old ..in Anji's as..trying to free himself
Dadi bua n Rohan ran up to welcome Anji as Arth wriggled out of her arms and jumped into dadi bua's. .playfully vying for her chain!!As Rohan extended his arms and took him ..n both began to play as long lost buddies..Ranganath looked at Anji as she seemed irritated. .but came in quietly..pleasentries were exchanged..and Anji looked at Harini "oh hi Harini..didn't know you too would be here.."dadi bua retorted "bhai Harini to sabse zuroori hai..bahu to wahi banegi tum dono to apne apne ghar gayi ..ab main beemar hongi to kaun dekhega mujhe??yeh chote sarkaar"??CS smiled n said"thanku hai dadi bua..humein manhoos manhoos nahi kaha aapne"!!and dadi bua spanked him"chal manhoos"!!
Anji looked at dadi bua n then at Harini...before she could pass a snide remark..dadi bua explained"humari Harini sab kaam kar keti hai..dekha hai maine iske ghar jjake..tu fiqr na quar Anji..aur nidhi bhi na kare..tum apna ghar dekho"!!Harini sat laughing..as Rohan handed Arth to ger n three played ..with Harini calling him AVVI...AVVI DARLING!!
Anji looked at Ranga..."Avvi kaafi mix up ho gaya hai strangers se bhi..."!
"Strangers nahi family se..."it was Shyama aunty in a pale green saree with Solanki uncle who came in ..n Avvi gurgled to be taken by her..n happily kissed her ..as Solanki saab clapped"beta jab tu nahi thi..to family ne hi to paala Avvi ko..dekh kitta khush rehta hai..rota nahi ekdum.."!!Anji looked at Avvi...n then glanced away...
Snacks were served..and dadi bua got laddoos for nidhi..and dhokla n pakode ..sandwiches ..as nidhi laughed "dadi bua..mujhe twins hain..quadruplets nahi.."!!
Ashutosh kept a vigilant eye on nidhi as he discussed the problems Harini n he were facing in house hunting..Rohan explained..Harini had a personal maid n cook..and needed space for them..plus she was keen to have a house with a lawn..Ashu seemed thoughtful..and looked at nidhi..
Avvi was playing with Solankiji while Shyama aunty fed him..and he enjoyed..Anji was observing the threesome..
Ashutosh came to nidhi ..n began to talk something serious...his eyes kind n considerate...and finally nidhi gave a big smile..n held his hand..as Col Verma observed!
Anji got up with a sandwich and tried to feed Avvi..but he threw her hand away n hid in Solanki sahib's lap..Anji seemed distraught..as nidhi tried callng her n explained"dont worry..un logon ke saath raha hai..to hil mil gaya hai...tujhse thoda time lagega"Anji bit her lip n darted a reply"main Milan kya gayi..sab ne mere bete ko apni property bana liya..i dont like it.."!Shyama aunty walked up and said in a hushed tone..."Anji..usse hum sab ne isliye paal kyunki tum apne fashion show ke liye gayi thi..aur bachcha hai..hil gaya gai humse..pyaar karo..tumse bhi hil jaayega..isme itta tense hone ki kya baat hai..."!Anji seemed to be ready with an angry repartee when Ashu5took matters into his hands and wisely digressed saying"Arre Rohan..Harini..i n nidhi have a suggestion..kyun na tum humare iss ghar mein shift ker jao..ground floor bhi hai..garden bhi hai..infact humari family ke liye it was v comfortable. .bus in bachchon ke chakkar mein..."!!Harini smiled n replied "sir..uss area mein rents are sky ricketing..its out of our budget..."!!Dr Ashutosh looked at Rohan n said"Hmmm...so lets do one thing..dont pay any rent..no agreement nothing..just stay there..make it your home..bus maintain karna...aur humare kuch photos hain..woh lage rehne dena..."!!And Ashutosh went up n patted Rohan..and Rohan hugged him..saying "how can i ever repay you..."!Ashutosh immediately responded "mere bachchon ko maggi nahi khilana buss"!!and all laughed as Rohan clapped "sorry sirjee..yeh vaada nahi karoonga..infact ..beti hui to uska to pet name bhi maggi rakhoonga...maggi mathur..nice na"??and Ashutosh looked at nidhi ..who was laughing but seemed just a lil jaded!!!
Ashutosh looked at nidhi and asked.."why don't you just lie down..sleep a little..main thoda baithta hoon Col Verma ke saath..jaao..Rohan..."and Rohan came up "jee sirjee.."Ashutosh smiled as he helped Nidhi get up.."just take nidhi into her room..i think she should lie down..tum aur Harini wahin chaho to gup karo.."!and Harini waved"sure sir..cum nidhi.."and Rohan took nidhi into the room with Harini following in her wheel chair..what Rohan had named "chariot of fire"!!
Ranganath wanted to leave and as Anji took Avvi he yelled and pulled at her hair...as Shyama aunty admonished. ."rehne de abhi..tum log jaao..woh shaam ko jaayega..abhi uske khelne ka time hai..hai na Arth..no no..no arth..mera Avvi baba..my sona.."!and Arth laughed..as Ranganath took Anji..n she turned again to say bye but Avvi was busy playing with nana nani ...
"Col Verma..nidhi kal ya parson ..hospital me admit hogi..nothing to worry but now shes about a week away and needs constant care..so we thought...i would also stay with her..aap worry nahi kariyega..its going to be fine.."CV smiled n puffed his pipe.."Ashutosh. .nidhi ki jitni dekh rekh aap ker rahe hain..karte hain..utni koi nahi jer sakta...so mujhe koi tension nahi..i reapect your decisions. .haan if you need any kind of help..just let me know..."Ashutosh smiled and called out "chote sarkaar..ek chai aur bana deejiye plz"!and cs bowed ...as he looked at dadi bua n said"dadi bua..thode se manners seekh leejiye daaktar saab se.."!
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It was at about 12 that Ashutosh n nidhi bade bye to dadi bua cv n Rohan Harini..as Harini held Nidhi's hand n said"All the very best nidhi..n yes Maggi is indeed a lovely name"!!and nidhi giggled as they drove back..and Ashutosh said.."tumhe settle karke..id just go to the hospital for a quick round..
"!nidhi nodded..they both understood but neither wanted to tske the name of the shadow that had threatened their dreams...
Ashutosh settled nidhi on the bed ..put the quilt n kissed her..."buss abhi aaya..so jaao ab..samjhi "!and then drove to kgh...where lay his one time friend..now his biggest threat...