Dr Ashutosh drove faster than he could...and reached jeevan sandhya in no time..he parked the car n almost ran in..looking for nidhi..as he entered;he shouted"nidhi...nidhi.."the manager emerged..a lil worried as he saw dr ashutosh ..."manager sahib..where is nidhi...dr nidhi"??the manager shrugged his shoulders helplessly n said"sir..she left about half an hour back...today was her last day..so she was a lil late...abhi tak pahunchi nahi kya "???dr ashutosh shook his head ..as the manager exclaimed"ohho...aaj to public transport strike hai..no bus taxi or auto...kaise gayi hongi..."!!ashutosh looked at the manager.."strike??what strike??matlab no auto or cab would ply"???the manager nodded..."yes sir local paper me tha...tax issues.."ashutosh wasn't even listening...as he was trying to visualise how could nidhi have gone!!strike...that means she was walking...alone ..in this dark n stormy weather...dr ashutosh raced out ...not bothering about the rain...the drizzle that had turned into a heavy down pour...*********
Nidhi walked fast on the increasingly deserted shahnawaz road...it was nearly 9. .n the weather was stormy...she looked back...two men...rather college boys were they??following her..spreading out their tentacle like arms in the rain...n singing loudly...as nidhi looked around n walked faster...almost running towards the crossing of nishat ganj...she knew she was still far from home...were the boys really dangerous...could she deal with them...nidhi looked over her shoulder...the boys had halted under a tree...n were whistling... nidhi quickened her steps...
*******dr ashutosh reached the crossing...both roads xould lead to home..which one had nidhi taken..he wondered..n then by his gut feeling..took the road that went to the left..Shahnawaz road...
He drove..with the rain beating on the windscreen..and he was barely able to see anything..he passed a couple of road side romeos dancing in the rain...when he turned left...n bit his lip...
The strains of the sufi quawaali fell in his eara...yes the dargaah was right there...maybe nidhi...had sought shelter...
He left the car n dashed in...
The mazaar was desolate...but a few lanterns glowing..and two holy men singing an old quawalli of amir khusrau..dr ashutosh looked around ...a silent prayer escaping his lips...as there was a lightening in the sky...n there as it seemed the light of the lord illuminated the universe
..ashutosh saw his nidhi...huddled up in a corner..her purse n apron thrown near her...yes it was she...
He ran towards her...n held her.."nidhi...kahaan thi tum"???ashutosh froze as he felt her shivering n shuddering in the thunder...he held her...as he helped her stand..taking her purse n apron..n as he looked at her...the holy men sang..
CHAAP TILAK SAB CHEENI
MOH SE NAINA MILAI KE..
BAANH PAKAD HARR LEENI RE
MOH SE NAINA MILAI KE...
and as there seemed to be a huge cloud burst ashutosh hugged nidhi tight...in front of the mazaar...that had always been a mute witness to their love...
******
As dr ashutosh drove tje car..he kept a sharp gaze at nidhi..she was not speaking at all...she was drenched to the bone...was she scared??or angry...ashutosh held her hand ...n could feel it tremble...
*******
Baba n kaka were pacing the hall in anxiety as armaan was trying the numbers...but nothing seemed to be getting connected...and just as he banged the phone down...ashutosh's car drove in...as all rushed out...baba asking"ashu...nidhi mili"??dr ashutosh got down...n as he saw nidhi still sitting...he opened the door...n nidhi almost stumbled out...as he just caught her in his arms...her legs trembling..."kya hua ashu...whats wrong"??asked armaan..as baba looked on..."kuch nahi..she s dazed..n probably scared...i d take her in..."and he carried nidhi into the bedroom...and just as he kept her onto the bed...she caught his shirt...n held to him...her teeth clattering crazily...n fingers trembling...Oh!!!it was a panic attack...
Dr ashutosh realised it in a moment..he had feared it...n his fears were coming true...
He held her...they were both dripping wet...she needed to change...he tried to get up to get fresh clothes but she was holding on to him...as if to life...he tried to soothe her..caressing her wet tangled hair..."hey nidhi..lets change...
Aao "and he made her stand...as they entered yhe washroom...and ashutosh peeled the wet clothes away ...n both stood under a hot shower...nidhi still holding him...her clattering of teeth seemed to have reduced...but just as ashutosh offed the shower...he observed streak of blood...oh god!!terrible nose bleeding..ashutosh quickly wrapped her in her gown ..n wore his tracks ...n got her to the bed...throwing a fresh sheet..."nidhi lie...its a panic attack..ur b.p has shot up...just lie down..."nidhi lay but her trembling hands held on to his...as he caressed her softly...repeating comforting words till he could feel the shivers passing away...
He held on...her eyes were closed...but she wasn't asleep...n he could feel her heart thudding across...he ran his hands in her hair...n finally asked"darr gayi thi..toofaan mei...akele"??and nidhi looked up...her eyes a deluge of anger...n fear..."aapko..kitta phone kiya...aapne liya hi nahi..."she hicupped"ku..kuch bhi nahi tha...no cab..no auto..rickshaw bhi nahi...road ekdum sunsaan thi..."ashutosh wanted her to speak out her fears...he knew it will help the bp to come down...he put his finger under her chin n said"i am sorry...nidhi..i really am...i was on the rounds of icu..."!!and nidhi 's teeth clattered again...as ashutosh hugged her..."there were two boys ..mujhe laga they ...they were following me...i ran...pata nahi kaise...mazaar aa gaya..n i entered...buss...aapke intezaar main..i knew aap aayenge..."ashutosh held her tight...feeling angry at himself...n deeply sorry for the unnecessary ordeal that his wife had to undertake...
There was a knock at the door...ashutosh gently distangled himself n went ...it was kaka with coffee n sandwiched...his eyes admonishing ashu"le khila de bechari ko...thand lagi hogi..october aa gaya..."ashu kept quiet...but replied..."baba..kaka..she s ok..panic attack tha..it has passed off..."baba did not reply..but just sat tapping the woodden arm of his rocking chair...something he always did when he was agitated. ...
Nidhi bit into the sandwich...suddenly realising she was famished...she took a big bite n tried to hold the coffee mug..but her husband smiled..holding on to the mug n making her sip..."shhh...gira logi..u d get burnt..."n finally nidhi smiled...as ashutosh breathed a sigh of relief...
"Ashu...kabhi kabhi tere hospital se mai pareshaan ho jata hoon...aaj kuch ho jata to..bata..."??it was baba admonishing dr ashutosh ...as the family sat on the dining table n ashutosh fed nidhi...aloo tamatar n parathe...that she loved...armaan seemed to understand the guilt writ large over his friend's face...n he tried to dispel the clouds by saying"baba..kahin aisa to nahi..ki padhaai se bachne ke liye yeh sab natak kar rahi ho nidhi...i mean ho sakta hai..its possible"!!
And nidhi n ashutosh both broke into a smile...n ashu finally spoke.."i d try to set things right tomorrow...neglect kiya hai maine...kaafi...cheezon ko..."and arman gaped"abe!!cheezon ko..ya nidhi ko"??ashutosh remained silent as he took nidhi into the bedroom..holding her secure by her waist...
As nidhi took her book of surgery..ashutosh looked up..n took it away"so jaao aaj..u r very tired...epistaxis bhi hui hai...ab kal se to ghar pe ho..u can put in more hrs"!!and nidhi pouted ..as she lay...suddenly shuddering again...as her husband enveloped her immiediately again...
**********
"Baba kahaan hain yeh..subah se nahi dikhe"??it was a worried nidhi asking baba...about the where abouts of her missing hubby...just as he entered...carrying ram asrey's kachauri jalebi..."hmmm...naashta "!!and nidhi almost squealed with delight...as baba also smiled "arre waah..yeh to mazaa aa gaya ashu...chal beta"and the family sat for what dr ashutosh announced was BRUNCH..."now no lunch...aur aap do ghante padhaai kariye...main zara kuch kaanm kar ke aata hoon...but get ready by 1..samjhi...aur lao ek jalebi do"!!and nidhi wrinkled her nose...
It was an hr later..having checked her bp...n finding it normal..that dr ashutosh walked out to his car ...in his blue suit...without his stetho...so he was clearly not goung to kgh!!nidhi wondered...as he came back..tapped her shoulder n said"sherlock holmes nahi bano..padhai karo..."!!and he was gone...
Nidhi was explained some finer points by baba...as she finished the topics..n baba said strictly..."ashu is right...u are bright..v bright but padhai pe focus nahi karti"!!nidhi smiled as armaan quipped"ab bechari bachchi...ashu pe focus kare..ya padhai pe"!!
Nidhi's cell rang..it was dr ashutosh..."jee...kahiye..."
"Ready ho..to cab lo aur Hyundai showroom ke paas aa jao..hazrat ganj mei...i am waiting...and yes get ur driving license "nidhi was excited...was he buying her a car???oh she was happy...she always missed her santro...but had never been able to ask him...n obviously she had almost no income of her own..
Nidhi walked out in her yellow n green churidaar kurta..n hailed a cab...thankfully there was no strike today!!
"Bus bhaiya yehi..hyundai showroom ke samne"!!
Nidhi got down n before she could pay...she feltvthe warm hand of her husband on her waist...as he opened his wallet n paid.."chalo..."and he pulled her across the road.."suniye...hyundai is here..."but was he even bothered! !
Nidhi found herself standing in the MERCEDEZ show room..remembering how she n Rohan used to window shop right from the time it had opened...dr ashutosh shook her out of the stupor as he asked"do u like this model...red ya silver"??nidhi was speechless...as the manager suggested "sir go for the classic series. .."ashutosh raised his eyebrow..."no...thats overpowered..youngsters tend to drive fast...aur yeh convertible looks trendy..bolo nidhi..which colour"??n nidhi smiled shyly as she said 'red...'n ashutosh smiled..his eyes seeming to say"i knew that"!!
He took out his cheque book n wrote out32lacs cheque...as nidhi clutched at his arm ..n whuspered"lets buy a santro..
"But ashutosh's looks made her keep quiet...
"Plz send my car home...i d drive with my wife..."!! And he gave the keys to nidhi...n smiled"chalao..dont be nervous..comprehensive insurance cover hai"!!and nidhi pouted"i am never rash...aap chalate hain fast to...jab jab angry hote hain...
"and ashutosh sat...as nidhi started the car...trying to recall all the functions that the sales guy had taught..."dont worry..ek week chalaogi..u d understand all...its my fault..i should have got u a car..earliwr...kal raat...i got scared..."nidhi gulped at the transparency with which her world famous husband expressed his feelings...just as she drove down hazrat ganj..he signalled her to atop...n as shw did..he got down...and returned within five minutes..."yeh tumhari cell ki back up ..now always carry it...ur cell should never go off..."nidhi could barely smile...as she held his hand...and he exclaimed"oh!!i should not have bought an automatic one!!now u would always hold my hand"!!n nidhi wrinkled her nose n left his hand...as ashutosh took her's n caressed it tenderly!!
************
"Nidhi ...aaj raat ko..i d take a viva on neurology..prepared rehna...samjhi..."!!nidhi nodded"kab aayenge.."??"8 baje...surgery hai.."!!and before she could say ..he was gone..and nidhi banged the books as she sat to study...
"Nidhi beti...padh liya sab kuch...koi problems hai..to bataa..i can help..."nidhi sighed n replied"i hate it baba...i wish mera selection hi naa ho...i dont want to do MD"baba smiled n asked "to bata tera kya mann hai"??nidhi played with the corner of her chunni..a lul shyly n then ran off...as baba smiled...understanding the unsaid...n wondering what ashu desired...
**********
Dr ashutosh finished the light dinner he desired...n called out"chalo nidhi study time..."as nishi said'aai...aap chaliye..."and ashutosh got up..shaking his head...as armaan smiled..
*******
"So..now tell me why should blood thinners not be given before cranial surgery..."it was dr ashutosh asking his wife ..at the moment his student ..at 1 in the night..nidhi yawned n answered"obviously because..clotting will be v slow..."ashutosh added"n it will be tough for a dr to seal wounds with so much of blood spillage..."nidhi asked...arching her back"aapne kaha tha 2 hrs..its been 5"!!ashutosh looked up .."so..time dekh ke padhai karogi kya??aur kya karna hai abhi..anji se gup..ya armaan ke sath ludo...sorry snakes n ladder..."!!nidhi pouted n stood up...and came close to her hubby...caressing his broad shoulders...and dropping a kiss on his throat...as he laughed.."my dear...MD ki entrance sar pe hai..aur tumhe romance yaad aa raha hai??sorry..ab u need sleep..then morning studies...chalo..haan agar chai ya coffee ka mann hai to pila sakta hoon"!!nidhi seemed irritated as she asked"aati hai aapko coffee banani"??n ashutosh replied"jaise pyaar karna seekh gaya..coffee banana bhi seekh jaaoonga"!!but nidhi thumped her feet n slumped to the bed...as dr ashutosh switched off the light n said"goodnight...bus ab 9 days hain..put in 200%effort.."and nidhi put a pillow to cover her angry face...as dr ashutosh said"itta gussa"!!n pulled nidhi to his chest...n patted her to sleep...his fingers entangled in her long hair...
**********
"Hey nidhi...kya haal...hows life"??it was anji talking to nidhi...who yawned as she took the cell...as anji joked"kya kiya raat bhar ki ab bhi neend aa rahi hai"??nidhi reacted"very funny!!raat bhar padhaai ki...aur kya"!!
"Achcha bata..MD Entrance ke baad chalegi apni merc mei drive pe"??
"Hmmm.khatm to ho..yeh exam...i m sick of padhaai...mera mann nahi hai"!!
"Achcha..to kya mann hai tera..sunoo to"??
Nidhi deviated n asked"tu bata...tera kya haal hai"??
"Mera kya...dr ranga ki to ek hi rut hai...family shuru karo...i m sick yaar"!!
"But anji...it d be such fun..soch choti si anji..tere jaisi..main khoob khilaaoongi usse"!!
Anji was agitated 'itta bachche khilaane ka shauk hai..to keh de jijaji se...kitaabon ki jagah khilone le aayein..."
Nidhi sighed...she didn't want to share her deep desires..specially bcoz they were at collision course with her friend...
Nidhi knew anji's marriage was facing major issues...while dr ashutosh was dominating...n yet the strand of understanding was not lost...she knew that..for sure!!
************
"Nidhi...suno to...tumhe kuch bataana tha..."nidhi sat by her hubby..as she tidied his clothes...n he held her"dekho to...idhar...read this..."and he gave her a print out...n nidhi took it..thinking it to be a new study material...with exam just 3 days away...but her face seemed to glow n she jumped n hugged ashutosh..."mujhe le chalenge..boliye na"??and dr ashutosh hugged her"yesss...its our long awaited honeymoon...goa nahi ho saka..but u d love simla...i would like to give u happy memories...bahut dukh uthaya hai tumne...aur haan..i d take dr ranganath hope he d take anji...so while i am working u d have some fun..."!!
"Wahaan bhi work..honeymoon pe bhi"??
Ashu pulled her nose n said"conference is only for 3 hrs every day...baki samay..poora tumhare liye...poora din.."
Nidhi hugged n asked"aur poori raat"???ashutosh smiled..kissed nidhi lightly on the lips n then turned to his hardstone avatar..n ordered"ab cjalo baitho..aur padho...final lap is v crucial"!!and nidhi sighed ...as she sat with the book...but her eyes had dreams of their first trip together...how will they spend their days..n nights...she put her head on the book n closed her eyes...to dream of days under deodars...n nights ...on white sheets..with cool moonlight glistening over them...
Ashutosh sighed ...as he got up n tousled nidhi's hair...n spoke"nidhi...hey doc...time to study...not day dream...chalo padho..."and nidhi yawned...n pouted her lips...as ashutosh handed her a hot cup of strong coffee...