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Bhavit Kapoor

@bawaswift

Stunner

Posted: 9 years ago

#61

Chapter Fifty seven...

Passion v/s obsession

Dedicated to my patient friends..love u so much..thanks for being there always.

I know all of u are pained at the loss of AshNi..well i share your pain..but no journey can be without tears..in each life some rain must fall..some days must be dark n dreary..so its with Ashu n nidhi..

Yes i promise one thing..Ashu nidhi will have their baby...in season 2 ..for sure.

Now the update...

DR ASHUTOSH HELD ON TO A SEMI CONSCIOUS NIDHI AS SHE SEEMED SO WILTED ..dr ashutosh felt numb to the loss..to the grief but yes one emotion that seemed to be overriding emotion of anger..anger at how nidhi could have been poisoned..anger at his failure to identify the symptoms ..and yes anger that he could do little else to comfort nidhi..and he had to slap her...Ashutosh's eyes seemed to turn to stone as he saw the marks of his finger across her soft cheeks..he got up silently putting her head on the pillow...

He returned with an ice pack ..and sat by her ..applying the pack on the cheek..nidhi stirred...and moaned..he touched her cheek..and she seemed to open her eyes weakly..but then closed them again...two big tears fell out from the corners of her eyes..and Ashutosh sighed..as he caressed her hair n then got up and came to his cabin..

He recalled what baba had told him...he had to inform his father in law..it was one of the most difficult phone calls..He picked up his cell n just as he was about to dial..his cell rang..it was dr Ranganath. ."sir..i have just landed..am coming to kgh straight away...hows dr nidhi now"??Ashutosh mumbled a thanx and sighed..adding"dr Ranganath plz uske baba ko nahi bataaiyega..i am going to ring him.."Dr Ranganath replied"sir..shaayad aapko nahi pata..col verma aur dadi bua Haridwar gaye hain teen din ko..so i feel let them return. ."Dr Ashutosh felt the grip on his throat loosen a bit..He added"come Dr Ranganath. .i have to discuss the issue with you..."!

*********

Baba stood in front of the photo of Ashutosh n himself ..an old picture..when he had just begun to smile..though his eyes still had a deep sadness in them...the loneliness of his childhood had never left him..till he got to know nidhi..it was she who came like spring breeze into the household n his life..Ashutosh had begun to thaw..learnt to smile n relax after nidhi became a part n parcel of his life..

Baba had jis eyes brimming with tears as he recalled the morning his son had said he wanted to have a reception for his bride...n then the baby..how the news had warmed the whole family..how each of them had been waiting...for the young one to brighten the sunshine of love in their home...

Baba recalled how Ashu's eyes had begun to soften ..in the light of the pending joy..but the tragedy had driven away that warmth...today baba had seen his lonely son again...his face seemed to have turned to stone..will he ever smile again??Baba sighed and said to himself" yaa khuda ..yeh kya se kya ho gayaa"???

*********

"Ashutosh thoda rest ker lo plz"!it was dr Mallika looking at him...she was feeling restless within..she had expected Ashutosh to be disturbed..n nidhi to cry n howl...but ashutosh's withdrawl had shocked her..he was almost completely into his shell...and it was difficult to reach him..there seemed to have sprung up an iron wall around him..he seemed completely out of bounds..for her..for everybody..except Nidhi...

Ashutosh raised his eyebrow..n said in a cold voice..."mallika..you can go..kal surgery ke time pe aa jana..i have to be here..now plz.."and he looked towards the door..indicating he wanted to be alone..and mallika withdrew...with a silent prayer..a prayer not for nidhi..but for herself..mallika had always thought of herself..she could not think of anyone else ever!!

*************

"Sir...how did all this happen.."??it was a visibly shaken dr Ranganath who entered the cabin of dr Ashutosh...got up and drew in a deep breath..."dr Ranganath. .nidhi has been poisoned..her injections ..vit D ones were toxic..the lab report has confirmed that..now what we need to find is who did it...who poisoned the ampuoles and why...Ranganath yeh ampuoles kab deliver hue the..kab order kiye"??Ranganath nodded"sir i d get all the details..just give me half an hour..."dr Ashutosh raised his finger to his lips ..n said"Dr Ranganath. .one thing more...this investigation should not be leaked out ...complete secrecy...if we have to find the wrong doer.."!and dr Ranganath nodded...as he withdrew...and dr Ashutosh walked to nidhi's room...

************

She lay..her pulse was stable but the spots had not disappeared completely..she was still bleeding ..she seemed so frail...Ashutosh sat by her...wondering how she would react when she came back to senses...he put a hand on her forehead...trying to assess her condition..she moaned ..and opened her eyes weakly ...trying to focuss at his face...but her eyes were blurred with tears...she hicupped ..and turned her face away...Just as ashutosh tried to hold her face in his hands..but she just whispered..."why ..??why did it happen...to us..humne kisi ka kya bigaada tha..."??Ashutosh got up...he couldn't answer..he couldn't explain..he couldn't speak...he just felt a deep stab in his heart...a dagger seemed to be tearing him apart..but he could not comprehend the pain...

He looked at nidhi..sobbing softly...he put his hand softly on her quaking frame...trying to share ger agony..her pain...but the fact was he was hardly able to fathom his own...

Suddenly the door opened...dr Ranganath stood there..in his hand was a print out...and in his eyes..a deep angst...

"Dekhiye sir..this is the requisition mail i had sent..n this is the order confirmation from new medicals...i was told we d get the consignment on Wednesday but it came on friday...". Ashutosh stood up..putting his hands in his pocket. ."any other strange feature...yaad kariye.."dr Ranganath shook his head..as Ashutosh added"one thing is certain that these ampuoles were poisoned..deliberately. .the question is why??on whose orders...??yaad kariye anyone who went to the store...kuch out of the ordinary..."??and dr Ranganath seemed to be at his wits end...just when his eyes had a flash of lightening in them..."sir...on the day...i think dr nidhi got her first injection...i had bumped into dr Mallika...she was in the store...which was quite strange...she has never been..."Ashutosh stood straight..his voice suddenly quaking in anger.."Dr Ranganath call NEW MEDICAL NOW...RIGHT NOW..."!

**********

"Yes mr mehra...i know you have supplied kgh toxic injections...i want to know on whose orders...why..."?as the partner of the company quivered,Ashutosh dialled the police..n spoke"one last chance..bata deejiye sach kya hai...contract to gaya hi...aap jail bhi jaayenge ab...come on ..now"!mr mehra fell on his knees"sir sab batata hoon...humei majboor kiya gaya tha..."

**************

"Sir ..dr nidhi...plz aaiye"it was a panick sticken dr priyanka who dashed into Ashutosh's cabin without a permission. .Ashutosh signalled to Ranganath n rushed out.."kya hua..."??before Priyanka could answer..he was there by nidhi's side..her breathing was hard..as she seemed in visibly deep pain..and twisted..Ashutosh caught her..n shouted"nidhi kya hua hai...whats hurting...bolo "??his voice loathed in worry...nidhi panted as she put a hand on her abdomen..n somehow screamed"helllppp"!Ashutosh caught ger n shouted at Priyanka "call dr Sneha n update Sudhir...nidhi is not stable..."

As the bout seemed to have passed..nidhi had beads of sweat on her brow..in this december cold..Ashutosh wiped her forehead...as he finally seemed to have found her voice and spoke..."nidhi..i am here..dekho main yehi hoon..tumhare paas..."and nidhi's eyes drooped as she opened ger lips n seemed to call his name...but dr Sneha walked in...looking worried..as she examined nidhi...n then looked at ashutosh "i feel dr Sudhir should be called...nidhi has suffered some uterine damage...we might have to do hysterectomy. ..remove her uterus..."Ashutosh looked up...his eyes deep pools of anger ...n sorrow...

As nidhi seemed to slip into sleep...he got up..and brought his face clise to hers...looking at her face..that had been so vibrant till yesterday..but was now a barren desert...he knew he had to accept the fact that mr mehra had divulged...he had failed nidhi..yes he had failed her by not having suspiciousn at the right time...he had failed his child..his unborn child by failing to protect him..and it was all due to his unjustifiable faith in that one person..

One person who had ruined his world..his home...his dreams..his nidhi...

Ashutosh clenched his fists n closed hus eyes as he turned away...and whispered"mallika...yeh tumne theek nahi kiya...this was not done...no"!

It was at 2 in the night that dr Ashutosh's car screecjed at dr Mallika's home n he rung the door bell..impatiently...

Mallika had been trying to assesss if joy was finally round the cirner..when sleep had conquered her...she heard the bell as if in a dream ..n it was after repeated rings that she opened the door...Shock..was so apparen on her face as she saw her one time best friend stand in front of her...he almost pushed her inside..as she tried to ask what was up..though one lookin his eyes told her that he had found out..

"Mallika...i want to know why ...just why did you do this...ek vulnerable patient pe back stab...ek pregnant patient pe...why??main jaanta tha tumhe nidhi achchi nahi lagti thi...per kya tum iss hudd tak gir sakti ho..."??

Mallika pleaded..."ashutosh maine jo bhi kiya..tumhare luye kiya..you deserve better..."

"Oh shut up mallika...mere liye decide karne ka huq tum bahut pehle kho chuki ho..."

"Per ashutosh main tumse pyaar karti hoon..aur teh tum jaante ho...jaante ho na"??

"Haan haanta tha..aur tumhe hazaar baar bata chuka tha..samjha chuka tha..that i dont reciprocate your love...tum meri sirf dost ho..aur kuch nahi..."and ashutosh gulped...as the anger seemed to tear him apart"tum mujhe pyaar karti ho??oh come on mallika..u dont know what love is...u are a selfish brute...agar tum mujhse pyaar karti to kya mere baby ko..."and he could not complete the sentence...mallika spoke up"tum mujhe jo chahe sazaa de sakte ho...per sach to yeh hai ki maine tumhari khatir hi...yeh sab kiya"

Ashutosh wS flaring "not a word more...meri khatir??meri khatir you killed my baby??you poisond my wife..yeh kya hai mallika??isse pyaar kehti ho tum??arre tum to jaanwar se bhi baddtar ho..tumhe kisi se pyaar nahi

.you only love yourself...n mallika ..humaare bachcha marr gaya...agar nidhi ko bhi kych ho jaye...tab bhi yeh taad rakhna...main usi ka rahoonga..main nidhi ka ha...usika hoon..aur apni aakhri saans tak usi kaa rahoonga...aur ab tum mere liye ek criminal se zyada kuch nahi ho...aur criminal bhi aisi...jisne dr hoke jaan dene ke bajaaye jaan li...u are a murderer mallika...and you will have to face the consequences. ..you do not exist for me ...you are nothing to me..."and dr ashutosh turned away...as mallika fell at his feet " ashutosh plz..meri baat to suno...main tumhe nahi khona chati thi..main tumhara pyar chahti thi..."ashutosh looked at ger with a deep hatred in her eyes n said"afsos mallika...tum mera pyaar paane ke liye uss hudd taq gir gayi..ki tumne meri dosti bhi kho di...humesha humesha ke liye..."and he stormed out...as mallika lay on the floor ...a broken n bitter woman...trapped in her own web...

While Ashutosh drove back to reclaim his life...his nidhi..his eyes reflecting his agony.. .as in kgh nidhi turned i pain n moaned"ashutosh...

Quote

Bhavit Kapoor

@bawaswift

Stunner

Posted: 9 years ago

#62

Chapter Fifty eight...

dukh toh apna saathi hai...

TO FLORIDADOC FOR HER CONSISTENTLY BRILLIANT PICS...

THIS TIME U MOVED ME TO TEARS...

It was in the wee hours of the morning that dr Sudhir's flight landed in Lucknow n he drove straight to KGH..Ashutosh was with nidhi who ws continuously moaning even though the toxins were receding in the blood n the blue patches had been receding..As Sudhir entered..Ashutosh explained things in as controlled a maner as he could ..and Dr Sudhir's eyes flashed with anger.."let me check her up..maybe the D&C has not been done properly..i d do it again..otherwise if that too fails..we d have to proceed with..."dr Ashutosh nodded n whispered"i know ..hysterectomy is then the only option...Sudhir it d be v tough for her ..."dr Sudhir nodded..but reminded Ashutosh "yd hai..jo tum surgeons ko baar baar medical school me sikhaya jata hai..PATIENT'S LIFE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HER EMOTIONS "!Ashutosh nodded as he walked out...and Dr Sudhir began his examination.

Ashutosh called Dr Ranganath to his room n said"dr Ranganath. .we need to inform the police..be ready with the injection chemical analysis report..and the New Medical fellow's statement..now"!dr Ranganath spoke "but..sir ..dr Mallika would get arrested...hospital ki badnaami..."??Ashutosh looked up .his eyes flaring in the infamous temper of dr hardstone..."Dr Ranganath. ..thus could have killed patients...and secondly it ws done by a dr...mallika cannot be forgiven ...no never evee..."and he sank into the chair as Dr Ranganath walked out with the orders...

Ashutosh was constantly in turmoil as the red light of the OT was on...what if nidhi lost the hope of concieving ever again...as it is this miscarriage would be a very big blow...but if hope died...she could hardly live...Dr Ashutosh was pulled of his thoughts as a familiar hand touched his shoulder "sir..."it was Rohan..nidhi's best friend...Ashutosh just sighed...but Rohan held his shoulders and said"sirjee..aap nahi haar sakte..aapse hi to nidhiji zinda rahengi...plz...plz..aapki aankhon me itni maayoosi dekhengi to unki yo zinda rehne ki..."Ashutosh cut him short midway n spoke"kuch nahi hone doonga nidhi ko...jab tak mere saans mei saans hai..."!

And the OT opened ..n Sudhir walked out..signalling Ashutosh to follow him..

As Dr Sudhir sat infront of an apprehensive Ashutosh ..he explained"well...i did not need to do hysterectomy. .but the uterus is in a pretty bad shape.it would be difficult for her to conceive...for probably an year...maybe more..we d have to wait n watch..."Ashutosh nodded..his eyes not reflecting the agony of broken dreams..he thrust his hands into his trouser pockets as he spoke"the first phase would be to pull her out of this depression...i dunno how would sge react on knowing that it was Mallika who did it..it was deliberate ..venomous ...dastardly act..."and Ashutosh's gaze froze into a distant horizon..looking at the long and difficult road ahead..

***************

Next morning at about 11,after the S.Phad acted in accordance with law n available evidence and arrested dr Mallika n the new medical owner..the SP arrived to take the statement from dr Ranganath; who testified all he had seen..dr Mallika coming out of the store..the requisition slips ...and now as Ashutosh stood outside Nidhi's room,The officer spoke"its a tight case..though most of the evidence is circumstantial...but the fact that dr Mallika dialled new medical 27 times last week..also dr Ranganath 's statement..it all d get them more than 7 years in jail..but dr i d have to record dr Nidhi's statement. ."Ashutosh nodded.."aap pehle dr Gandhi aur dr priyanka ka statement leejiye..i d have a look at my wife's condition"!and the officer nodded..

Ashutosh entered nidhi's room..she lay facing the wall..not wanting the light from the window to enter her eyes...in the blue hospital gown..she looked so frail...Ashutosh sat by her and put a hand on her waist...his touch seemed to make her quake with emotion...he could hear her silent ..helpless sobs..her misery so overpowering. .n that was when she did not know the full truth...

"Nidhi...your statement needs to be recorded.."Ashutosh said to her...n she turned..her sad eyes having shock in them"kyun???maine kya kiya..."??Ashutosh held her gand ..gulping hard..he said"tumne kuch nahi kiya..but tumhare saath ...jurm hua..nidhi the injections were toxic..ferrocyanide. .someone had deliberately been trying to kill ...our baby.."said Ashutosh. .finding it almost impossible to contain his emotions..Nidhi looked at him...and her lips trembled..."kisne..."??and as she looked at a miserable n angry Ashutosh. .she knew..."dr Mallika...unhone aakhir apna badla le hi liya...aapki baarah baras ki dosti..humaare pyaar pe bhaari pad hi gayi..."and she broke off...unable to speak more..but her entire frame quaking in misery n pain..as Ashutosh held her face..in his hands n said "nidhi..meri aankhon mei dekho...dekho idhar...koi bhi humaare pyaar pe bhaari nahi pad salta..no one...just no one..yaad rakhna yeh.."and he held nidhi to him..her face wet with tears...and his taut with angst...angst of a friend who betrayed friendship. .at a woman who betrayed humanity..at a doctor who betrayed her oath to save lives...

It was a pale nidhi who sipped milk as Dr Ashutosh was in surgery..dr mallika had been arrested n was in police custody ..the IMA had suspended her ..n the trial was to begin in a week..RRohan had been coming to meet nidhi everyday..for the last two days..n today as the door opened...it wasn't him...it was Anji...yes nidhi's childhood friend..her bestie..Anji..Anji who had not visited her for 3 days ..anji who had been with her always..anji with whom she had fought n loved...Anji who was 5 months pregnant...Anji walked towards nidhi...n then hugged her tight..

"Yaad hai nidhi..jab tujhe rank aayi thi..aur mai fail ho gayi thi maths mei...std .3 mei...tu ghar nahi aayi thi kitte din..because u felt ki mujhe bura lagega...main bhi bus ..."nidhi looked up..her swollen eyes reflecting a smile of a childhood memory mingled with a cirrent loss as she said"iss baar main fail ho gayi anji...i failed motherhood..i failed"!and she turned away..sobbing in silence..not turning to face Anji...till Anji said"theek hai jaati hoon..kal aaoongi phir..aur nidhi plz..jijaji ka bhi soch...itna toot jaayegi to unka kya hoga...dukh to unko bhi hai.."and anji walked out...with her words echoing in nidhi's mind"dukh to unko bhi hai..."

It was about an hr later that col verma n dadi bua who had just returned from their pilgrimage entered...while col verma stood caressing nidhi's forehead...it was dadi bua who flared up..."dekh lita anjaam...uss dr mallika ki dosti jaa...teri gode sooni ho gayi..pata nahi ab bhi daaktar ko akl aayegi ya nahi..."!for the first time in so many days..an emotion other than grief touched nidhi...n it was anger..yes a strong sense of anger...as she almost shouted "dadi bua..isme dr Ashutosh ki koi galti nahi hai..plz stop blaming him...plz..nahi to main..."and col verma severely reprimanded bua...and took her away...as nidhi closed ger eyes in agony..grief ..n anger..anger against herself...why had she not felt the intention of dr mallika??had she lacked the sixth sense that a mother should gave??did she even deserve to be a mother? ?she had failed her baby...she had failed her husband...she had failed herself...

"Nidhi...look..dr Bhagat has come to see you..."it was dr Ashutosh bringing dr Bhagat along..after having had a long talk with him in the cabin..Ashutosh felt n dr Bhagat agreed that probably returning to the college d help nidhi cope up...

"Morning sir..."said Nidhi..as dr Bhagat looked at her reports...n then frowned at her.."dr nidhi..now you are much better...i feel you should join college by next monday..i cannot be so kax with my students ...even if ine of them.happens to be the dean's wife..."and he walked away...as ashutosh looked at nidhi..searching for an answer...but her eyes were closed...as tears flowed out from the corner...

*********

It was on Thursday that nidhi was relieved from hospital..dr Sudhir had shared her condition with her honestly..as Ashutosh had stood by..his hand on her shoulder..helping her absorb the pain n the shock...nidhi had closed her eyes as he squeezed her shoulder when Sudhir said"so..you do have chances of concieving again...but yess its rather difficult..due to the condition of your uterus"!

As they drove..lucknow seemed to be in festive mood..it was 30 december..tomorrow was new years eve...a new year that was to bring them joy..joy of a home filled with squeals of a baby..joy of their dreams coming true..but ...nidhi cried "oucchhh"as the car manoeuvred a speed braker...and Ashutosh bit his lip...As they took the turn..nidhi looked at PGI..her college..she had missed 8 days of her MD..could she pick up threads again??she looked at dr Ashutosh..he was wearing sunglasses..he wore them quite often these days...she knew why..as anji's words echoed again.."dukh to unhe bhi bahut hoga..."!

As the car stopped..nidhi got down and walked...with Ashutosh walking beside her..his eyes vigilant..his arms ready to hold her if she faltered...As col verma stood with baba n armaan..n watched them..baba's words said a long time back seemed to ring true"zindagi ke khatarnaak modon pe..jab usse sahaare ki zuroorat hogi..to Ashutosh use dega woh sahara..woh protection jiski hur aurat ko ummeed hoti hai.."and col verma felt his eyes cloud ...

********

It was at night as dr Ashutosh got her coffee n sat by her..his eyes trying to fathom her pain..his own lay buried within the layers of silence work..n anger..she looked at him..her finger tips touched his features..his side byrns..their grey hair..his lips..that had kissed her..but today were silent..his eyes..deeper than the ocean...n she could see his pain that he kept buried..it was not only the pain of a baby list..of a dream shattered...but of a crushing feel of failure. .failure to protect her..nidhi removed his specs..n held his face in her hands..Ashutosh did not want to let his flood gates open..no..never..but nidhi looked at him..as she came closer..resting her head on his broad strong chest..."maine kitna kuch kho diya...ganwaa diya...per..aapka pyaar ..aapka dukh baantne ka huq nahi kho sakti...main marr jaaoongi..aapke bina..plz apne aapko itti sazaa mat deejiye..plz Ashutosh..yeh dukh..yeh loss humara hai..hum dono ka...plz zindagi ne itta kuch cheen liya mujhse ...aap apne gum pe..apne pyaar pe jo mera adhikaar hai..usse to mut cheeniye"!and dr Ashutosh looked into her eyes..her grief stricken eyes which even in such fog of pain had managed to tear through the camouflage of anger n silence that covered his pain...Ashutosh knew he could not segregate his inner self from her..no never..because she was a part..an inseparable part of him..and he hugged her back..his eyes clouded with tears..flowing out silently..as nidhi quaked with emotional pain..of his agony of the shared loss...n the words of marriage vows..that had never been recited for them echoed..

"Sukh mei ..dukh mei..hur haal mein..

Ek doosre ka saath denge..ek doosre ka sahaara banenge"

Nidhi looked at his face ...as he wiped his tears...she asked.."monday se mujhe college drop ker diya karenge...i want to complete my MD"and Ashutosh just gazed at her...n then took her face in his hands n kissed her forehead...

Quote

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Bhavit Kapoor

@bawaswift

Stunner

Posted: 9 years ago

#63

Chapter Fifty nine...

bikharna... tootna.. sambhalna...

It was the next morning..31 of december...the whole of lucknow seemed to be dressed up in joy n mirth to invite the new year...but mathur niwas seemed enveloped in anguish..much as Baba ..armaan...n Ashutosh tried,nidhi could not realy remove the shadow of gloom from her face..

It was finally at about 9 in the night that Rohan arrived and dr Ashutosh sighed in relief.."arre Rohan..no partying"?Rohan smiled back.."sirjee meri bestie smile kar de to ho gai party"!!and as Ashutosh signalled that nidhi was inside..he went in..

Nidhi was looking out of the window...into nowhere..Rohan said"kya nidhiji..kuch kaam na karna pade to depression kar liya!!is bechare ke liye ek cake to bana diya hota..."and as nidhi looked around at him..he looked at her..n spoke seriously"nidhiji..sirjee ki to sochiye..aap aise chupp ho jaayengi to unka kya hoga..iss ghar ka...yaad hai ..pehle aap kaise sab ka khayal rakhti thi ...woh role to aaj bhhi play karna hoga apko...sun rahi hain meri baat"??

Nidhi didn't reply...but came out with Rohan ...her eyes met dr Ashutosh's. .and she asked"coffee peeyenge aap"??and he nodded ...making a hurculean effort not to let his tears flow out...

As the family sat sipping their coffee...Nidhi asked Rohan"Rohan yaad hai...new year pe tu main aur Anji kitna shor machate the...lagta hai kisi doosri sadi ki baat ho..."and then getting up...she went inside...Dr Ashutosh stood up..but did not follow her.."let her cry...it d help.."and as Rohan stood up and said"sirji ..mujhe kabhi bhi bula sakte hain..any time means ANYTIME"!and Ashutosh smiled n shook hands...

Baba put a hand on his son's shoulder "aasaan nahi hai..uske liye ..tum dono ke liye"!Ashutosh nodded as he said"yes...ek to loss...aur then to gulp down that it was all mallika's doing.."!he tried to look away as baba stood silently...

Armaan queried"Ashu...tu gawaahi dega na dr mallika ke khilaaf "??Ashutosh nodded n said in a steely voice "zuroor doonga...she has failed every dr..eveey friend...every human being...she deserves death penalty..n i am going to press for that.."and Ashutosh walked into the bedroom...

Nidhi had gone to sleep...Ashutosh sat n looked around...the sharpnels of their dreams seemed to be omnipresent. .the plan of the nursery..the baby pics..the print out of the first scan that he had pasted...he did not remove it...even if he did..nidhi would not forget the baby..it had been a part of her body..her heart...n his soul!

Ashutosh was unable to sleep...he finally picked up the FAIRY TALES and turned on his lamp...he began to read "snow white n the seven dwarfs..."it had been the last story that he had read to nidhi n the baby...n as nidhi had yawned gone off to sleep ..saying "baki kal"!he hadn't completed it..and tonight there was no one to listen...Ashutosh sighed...as he was about to close the book...but nidhi turned around...n spoke"padhiye..main sun rahi hoon..."!and as she put her hand on his chest..he took ger in his arms and continued with an effort...

*******************

"Nidhi..I have to go..aaj Mallika ke case ki hearing hai..its being fast tracked..n my evidence is vital...do you understand"??Nidhi nodded asxshe applied butter to his toast ..but then as he got up..she came till the door n putting a calming hand on his cgest..she said"jo apki aatma gawaahi de..wahi kariyega..revenge will never help...will it"??Dr Ashutosh stood for a moment...looking straight into nidhi's eyes..n then walked away without a word...

Asarmaan called nidhi back "nidhi..dekh tera sandwich ro raha hai...ab bata kal se mere saath jaya karegi college ya uss buddhe Ashu ke"??and nidhi worked a smile..she knew everyone was making a humungous effort to make her smile!

********************

"Tamaam gawaahon aur waaqayon ke maddenazar ..yeh adaalat iss faisle pe pahunchi hai..ki dr mallika jo ki ek samajhdaar suljhi hui..dr hain..unhone apne poore hosh o hawaas mei..dr nidhi ko jo ki 3 maah pregnant thi..unhe nuksaan pahunchane ki saazish ki..dr mallika ne zehreele injection mangwaaye..aur do baar dr nidhi ko lagwaaye..

Dr Ranganath ki gawaahi..dr Ashutosh ka bayaan aur sarkari gawaah bane New Medical ke malik ka statement is gunaah ko sabit karta hai..

Dr Mallika ne na jewal apne peshe ko per apne aurat hone ko bhi sharmsaar kiya hai..unhone na kewal dr Nidhi ki jaan lene ki koshish ki per unke hone wale bachche ko bhi maar daala...yeh adaalat dr mallika ko 7 saal quaid ka hukm sunati hai..aur IMA ke faisle ka istakbaal karti hai ki mulzim ki sabhi medical degree radd ki jayein...

The court is adjourned."!

As the police women too k Mallika...Dr Ashutosh looked straight at her...his eyes two burning coals..his heart throbbing with pain...n a deep shame that this lady had been his friend for 12 long years...Ashutosh got up and left the court..without looking back...as mallika shouted "ashutosh. .."but she was dead for him..finally...for ever...

"Aapki chai thermos mei hai.."it was nidhi telling Ashutosh as he took the thermos n gave her the bitamin pills ..and she gulped them down ..as she got up n took her bag n apron n stetho.."chaliye..."she said..her first day at college after the loss..5 of january..it was freezing cold outside as Ashutosh switched on the heater..and nidhi played with ger ring ...Ashutosh's ring on her finger..Ashutosh had talked to dr Bhagat to let him know immiediately if nidhi was not able to cope up in any way...n dr Bhagat had promised him..yet Ashutosh seemed edgy..at having her let go...will she be able to digress from the pain..or will wprk just make her numb...as it made him??..

The car stopped at PGI and ashutosh held her hand..for a second...a silent moment in which no words were spoken...Nidhi got down..n waved...pyshing her hair back..she walked ..as Ashutosh drove to KGH..to new challenges..

"Drs ..today we d be operating upon a child with severe TB ..his lung has been damaged..."it was dr Swarna giving the details to the group of 5 MD students as dr Bhagat stood by..And as they went into change..he asked "dr Nidhi..are you ready.."??nidhi nodded..she knew she had to keep all thoughts at bay..n concentrate on the job at hand...she did ..and after a 4 hr long surgery ..dr Bhagat n dr Swarna patted her "good work dr nidhi..."and nidhi tried to smile ...but couldn't. ..she just hung her head n walked out..to find a few moments with herself...

She sat under the sun ..on a bench..opposite the canteen..the old goldmohar trees behind her..they were flowerless...leafless ...while just a few months ago they had been full of red blossoms...but today they stood barren..just like her..spring would soon usher in new leaves n then scarlet flowers on their bare branches ..but would her life change...she wondered..just when her cell buzzed..a whassaap from dr Ashutosh "lunch??"and she message back "kar liya..."pat came the message"jhoot aur mujhse"??and as she sighed..she got up to drag herself to the canteen ..how did he know??offcourse he would..he had not only claimed her body...he had got to know her heart..her soul...if he didn't who would!!and even in the winter of pain...a weak spring time smile seemed to play on her dry lips...as she ordered "a tea n a samosa"!

"Dr Nidhi...err ..i am sorry..."nidhi looked up.It was akshat...oh God!!she thought..as he sat n spoke what he clearly was determined to.."yes dr..go on"said Nidhi.."i came to know of the malicious dr mallika...it was a shame that she was dr Ashutosh 's friend...don't you feel..that dr Ashutosh should have been a lil more prudent..."?Nidhi got up...n spoke..for the first time after the loss...with a steely resolve"dr Akshat..just remember one thing...Dr Ashutosh is the man i love ..the only one i love..so do not dare to speak ill of him..and now plz leave me in peace..thank you."!

Dr Bhagat was observing all this from the corner of the canteen. ..as a strange pathos came into his eyes...

*****************

"Thank God kal saturday hai...aapki koi surgery to nahi"??it was nidhi who said this while tidying up Ashu's wardrobe...she did it every second day..he knew it was her way of coping up with grief..he found it even more difficult. ..simply because at home he did not have much to do..he let her be normal...at least act to be..while he played being relaxed...the fact was both had their hearts wrenching with pain..with loss..with hopes dashed...n for Ashutosh it was also guilt..guilt of not having doubted Mallika ..at not having read the symptoms after the first injection. ..at not having been able to protect their baby..."dr Ashutosh...boliye na plz"it was nidhi touching his shoulder...he held her hand n replied"kal chalo..lets eat out...bahut din ho gaye...Rohan ko bula loon..."??nidhi nodded..and dr Ashutosh dialled Rohan..hoping that the outing would help them..both of them...

*****************

"Wow ...thanks sirjee...i hope bill aaphi pay karoge.."said Rohan as they sat in Pizza hut..and Rohan ordered ..as nidhi interrupted "inke liye salad aur coffeee"but Ashutosh smiled"na..let me also share your pizza tonight..kyun"??and nidhi kept quiet...

Ashutosh took a bite of the veggie extravaganza ...he chewed it...the taste hardly mattered..nothing mattered except nidhi..n if he could do anything to reduce her agony...

Rohan chatted..talking about Ranganath n anji ..their fights..n make ups..and dr Ashutosh suddenly coughed...nidhi was immediately up..rubbing his back..n giving him water.."oregano lag gaya hoga..kyun kha rahe hain jab u dont like it...take a long breath..."ashutosh smiled n patted her hand.."dont worry..i am fine..theek hoon main.."and nidhi just clutched his hand..in silence...as Rohan looked at them..united as always...in joy or in grief..AshNi..always!!

As they came down...Nidhi found herself standing right in front if the Mother n baby store...the french window still had the same baby quilt...Ashutosh stood behind her...both recalling in silence the conversation of that night...

"Abhi waqt hai isme...

Gowns khareed sakte hain..."he had said...

And she had caressed her bump n added"abhi nahi let me grow big..."and Ashutosh had agreed"ok..when you grow big..."

Nidhi could not stop her tears...as Dr Ashutosh quietly put his hand on her waist..his hand covering her stomach..n she hid her face in his coat...as he kissed her hair...

The passers by looked at them intruigued..not knowing the bond of love..the bond if understanding..the bond of pain that the two shared...

*********(****

"Suniye...kuch maangna tha aapse..."it was nidhi lying in her cotswool nightie as Ashutosh looked up from his laptop..n raised his eyebrow...she seemed to shiver...post the miscarriage she had begun to feel cold..he understood that..he came to her..n sat"bolo..."

Nidhi looked at him..into his eyes...n spoke with an effort..."kya main ek baar..sirf ek akhri baar..dr Mallika se mil sakti hoon...please..."???

Dr Ashutosh seemed stirred...as he saw the cloud of angst in her innocent eyes...his own almost being monsoon skies...he put his arm around her n drew her to him...

Quote

Bhavit Kapoor

@bawaswift

Stunner

Posted: 9 years ago

#64

Chapter Sixty...

nafrat.. ya mohabbat ??

"Kya baat hai Ashu beta..kyun itna pareshaan hai tu"??it was baba putting his hand on his son's shoulder as he sat on the rocking chair ..his eyes closed..the next morning after nidhi had already left for her college..but dr Ashutosh had still not left for his hospital!He sat thinking..about what nidhi had asked him the last night..her desire to meet mallika once..only once!but couldn't that one meeting destroy her life further??hadnt nidhi suffered enough already??Baba's touch made him open his eyes n he loosened his tie..n got up..as baba kept looking at Ashutosh as he sighed n said"baba..bus kya bataaoon.."!baba looked at him n said"beta bataayega nahi to pareshani hul kaise hogi..aakhir hua kya hai"??Ashutosh looked away n opened his dilemma with an effort.."baba nidhi ...nidhi.."!baba raised his eyebrow quite like his son n asked"kya nidhi..nidhi kya chahti hai..."??Ashutosh smiled a sad smile with a distant look in his eyes...n spoke "baba..nidhi milna chahti hai..mallika se..ek baar.."!

Baba stood stunned...n then coughed..the cough seemed an expression of his shock..n confusion.."per kyun ..kyun beta"??Ashutosh spoke "bataya nahi...but i feel face karna chati hai..poochna chahti hai ki mallika ne aisa kyun kiya..."!and he seemed to break of..as baba nodded ..seeming to understand nidhi's feelings.He patted Ashutosh and said"shayad samajhta hoon ...shayad..nidhi ke dil pe jo beet rahi higi..woh shayad samajh sakta hoon..mehsoos to nahi kar sakta per samajh sakta hoon...kya khoya hai usne..tum dono ne...per beta milne de usse..mallika se..shayad uss pe chillaye..gussa kare ..to nidhi ke mann ka dard kuch kum ho..nahi to dikhati to hai ki kaam me involved hai..per yeh to tu bhi janta hoga ki andar se kitna toot gayi hai humari nidhi...shayad usse kuch aaraam mile..tu kya feel karta hai.."??

"Baba..shayad kisi hud taq agree karta hoon aapse..per darta hoon..kahi nidhi ko aur chot na lage..uski taqleef dekhi nahi jaati mujhse..."!

Baba patted as Ashu picked up his coat n left for office...while baba sat contemplating in the rocking chair...the future of his Ashu n nidhi..his home..

"Dr nidhi..i have read ur diagnosis reprt of the TB cases in kids..i must appreciate that your diagnosis has that sixth sense which is rare these days..coupled with expert knowledge..u d be an excellent paediatrician"!it was dr Bhagat appreciating nidhi as she stood in the lab where he came at the end ifcthe day."thanks sir..i try my best"!Dr Bhagat nodded and then asked"dr nidhi..are you able to cope up with the pressures..of PG..anything that i can do to help you"??nidhi shook her head"no sir..i am ...fine quite fine..thankyou"!and as dr Bhagat left..Akshat came in..with two hot cups of coffee..nidhi sighed as she respected dr Bhagat for he always respected her privacy..n never attempted to get close..even though she still felt ..inspite of dr Ashutosh 's assurances that dr Bhagat wanted to say something to her..but he never did...while dr Akshat was becoming an irritant..someone who was always trying to fill her solitary moments..n she hated him for that!

"Coffee...garnma garam"!said Akshat ..as nidhi stood up n said"thanks but no thanks..its time to go home..."Akshat got up and held the cup to her"ek cup coffee ka saath to ho hi sakta hai humara...yah dean sir ko usse bhi pareshani hogi .."??nidhi worked to control her temper n got up..as Akshat said"dost bana ke to dekhiye...aapki muskurahatein waapas le aaoonga "nidhi flared and shot back"dr Akshat..muskurahat hon ya aansoo..mujhe aapse kuch nahi chahiye.Thanx n good night"!

AS she walked away..Akshat sipped the coffee from both the cups..."aap nahi ..per aapka khayal to sath de hi sakta hai mera...kyun dr nidhi:!!!!!

**********

"Woh aaye nahi abhi tak..baba"??she asked as she emerged after freshening up..as baba called her for tea.."bus aata hoga..tu bata din kaisa tha tera...wards??"and nidhi nodded as she seemed to slump into the sofa...as baba offered her tea"na baba..unke bina nahi..unhone bhi to nahi pee hogi "!

Baba smiled n said"beta...aaj subah pareshan lag raha tha Ashu kuch...bola to nahi..per beta hai mera..khoon na sahi jigar aur dil ka rishta hai humara...beta tujhe apne aapko sambhalna hoga...apne liye..uske liye..iss ghar ke liye.."and nidhi got up...standing facing the bring french windows of the drawing room..as she kept listening to baba...but unable to face him...or show ger tears.."baba..koshish to ker rahi hoon...college bhi jati hoon...unka sapna poora karna chahti hoon..."!baba interrupted her"beta..uska sapna sirf tujhe MD karte hue delhna nahi..balki tujhe khush dekhna bhi hai..jab tak teri aankhein itti udaas rahengi..tab tak uske chehre pe muskurahat kahaan se aayegi"??nidhi had no answer..she just bowed her head n said"pata nahi baba..kya ho gaya..kyun ho gaya..sawaal itne hain..aur jawaab koi nahi.shayad"!

Baba got up as he saw Ashutosh drive in...n added "beta kuch sawaalon ke jawaab sirf zindagi ke paas hote hain..aur ek baat...yeh mushkil waqt ..yeh dard ka ehsaas..yeh soonapan..yeh sab guzar jaayega..jaise toofan guzar jata hai..aur shayad phir se phool khilein..phor se bahaar aayein..."!!

"Kaun aa raha haii baba"??asked Ashutosh as he entered..and nidhi wiped ger tears n took his bag as baba smiled n said"koi nahi aa raha...ab to buss"as Armaan came in.."ab to buss Armaan ek biwi le aaye:!!and all laughed...

**********

"Aap so jaaiye..mujhe thodi padhai karni hai..."said nidhi as she settled on the study chair..opening her books with a sigh...as dr Ashutosh added "kuch help karoon kya..."!and she shook her head :na ..id manage..buss backlog manage karna hai..kaafi kuch choot gaya gai"!!

As nidhi studied..Ashutosh contemplated..he did not nidhi to tell him that she was doing MD bcoz he wanted her to...he knew she was trying her kevel best to dogress..to control her emotions...n yet..the pain..the agony the emptiness it was all so fresh...

Even after 3 weeks..nidhi seemed list when he d stand behind ger n watch her...looking into the lost horizon..she knew her condition...she had not even tried to get intimate with him...nor had he..he wanted to wait..but yes he knew when she held him at night..she held him as if he was all he had..she seemed to have lost everything else...

And now her desire to meet mallika??what would she say??how would she react??won't her wounds be ripped open on seeing the heartless woman who fid it all??and what would she ask mallika??what if mallika tried to agonise her further??Ashutosh sighed...as he recalled an old story that baba used to tell him as a child..."jab woh jwala mykhi phata..to uska lava beh gaya...aur ab wahaan ek meethi jheel hai..jiske kinare khoobsoorat phool khilte hain..."!

Maybe if nidhi took out her angst ..shed be at peace..maybe it d help her heal better...maybe if she healed..she could conceive...sometime in the distant future...Ashutosh closed jhis eyes for a second...but then sat n wrote an e mail..requesting the jail authorities to arrange a meeting with mallika..

As nidhi yawned n got up...she was surprised with dr Ashutosh bring her a hot cup of coffee...and she sipped ...as he quaffed it off ..n took her into his arms..toying with her nightie...but not going beyond..she rested on his chest..in silence..not saying ..not asking anything..in the peace n silence of that moment they seemed to be regecting what life could gave been..n what it didn't turn out to be!

Finally Ashutosh whispered"maine mail ker diya hai..mallika se meeting ko...per main bhi chaloonga sath..i simply dont trust mallika..."nidhi sighed..as she closed her eyes...trying to read her own myarid thoughts...she was going to confront the killer of their baby..destroyer of their dreams...what d nidhi feel when she confronted msllika??anger ..hatred...violence..or...

"Main waheen rahoonga ..per mallika dekh nahi ppayegi mujhe..jaisa tum chahti thi..ok"??said Dr Ashutosh as they got down from the car and walked towards the lucknow central jail.

The jailer shook hands n spoke "mallika ji ko bataya hai koi milne aa raha hai..waise hi jaise aap chahte the..thodi door pe police women rahengi...dr nidhi yaad rahe aap prisoner ko koi physical injury pahunchane ki koshish nahi karengi.."!nidhi nodded n spoke firmly.."bilkul nahi..mai unse sirf baat karoongi.."the jailer nodded"you have 15 minutes"!

As the couple descended the dark corridors of the jail..the stone walls..the strange smell...the lack of fresh air n sun light..nidhi felt a strange feel in her belly...a knot of emotions...she had been feeling hatred..anger..revulsion against mallika...but with each step into the dark alleys..away from sunshine..the only emotion that remained with her was pity...pity for mallika..who probably was the biggest sufferer in all this...

Nidhi looked at dr Ashutosh as he pressed her hand n she nodded...as the lady constable took her outside mallika's cell..Nidhi saw ...a 4by 8 cell with stone walls n cold bare floor...a cement bed with a blanket n no pillow...in a corner was an aluminium plate with some roti n vegetable..cooked in a way that nidhi could not make out what it was...and yes...in a corner on the floor sat mallika...in the prisoner's uniform..a white sari with a blue border..her ears n neck bare..no jewellery..her once carefully manicured fingers seemed rough ...her hair open..n dry...her face ...nidhi could not see it...n she realised why...her own eyes were full of tears...tears at the misery of mallika..the mallika who had perpetrated the worst kind of crime against her...nidhi spoke out softly...

"Dr Mallika..."Mallika opened her eyes...two flaming coals..that stood out in the dark cell...she looked up..."ohhh tum !!dr nidhi!!shayad bhool gayi tum..ki ab main dr mallika nahi sirf Mallika hoon...no longer a dr..you see!!ha ha!!once a neurosurgeon n now not even a doctor..."and then as she came close to the bars..she looked into nidhi's eyes n spoke in a chilling tone "kaho..kyun aayi ho yahaan??yeh dekhne ki kaise zinda hoon main??kya haalat hai meri??"

Nidhi moved towards her n spoke ..."aapne kyun kiya aisa ...dr mallika..why did you do this to me...to us...??aap to dr Ashutosh se pyaar karti thi..dost thi unki..to phir unki khushi kyun cheen li..kyun maar diya unke ansh ko..

"??

Mallika paused for a moment..n then laughed an acidic laughter..."kyun kiya aisa??kyunki tumne mujhse cheen liya mera dost..mera pyaar..meri duniya...tumhare barah pal bhaari pad gaye mere baraah baras pe...tumne tumne meri zindagi barbaad ker di dr nidhi

.meri duniya ujaad di..mera Ashutosh mujh se cheen ke...aur tum ne kya socha...main sab kuch seh loongi..chup chaap..aise hi"?? Nidhi looked into her eyes..hiw haggard she looked...nidhi felt a lump in her throat as she said"dr mallika...aapne her rishte mei sirf lena jaana..dena nahi.."!mallika seemed to flare"tum..tum samjhaogi rishte mujhe??kya diya maine??ashutosh ko 12 barason ki dosti..baarah baras ka intezaar...apne dil ke khoon se seencha tha maine apne aur ashutosh ke rishte ko...jabki main janti thi ...pur tum aa gayi beech mein...aur tumne uske ghar ke parde badal diye..ties badal di..zindagi badal di...to ..main kya karti...bolo..bolo dr nidhi..tumhare bachche khilati..."??

Nidhi felt a stab of pain...at the mention...dr Ashutosh standing in the darkness a lil away found it difficult to control himself...as nidhi spoke "dr mallika..mujhe apna dushman aapne banaya...maine nahi...sab kych ke baawjood...mai sochti thi..ki woh bachcha..shayad aapko humse bandhe..shayad uski hansi me aapka soonapan kuch kum ho...maine socha tha..ki shayad maine aapse aapka sabse achcha dost cheen liya...to badle mei aapko ..humare bachche ka pyaar doon..uska naam rakhne ka adhikaar doon...per dr mallika aapne to sab kuch khatm ker diya...apni zindagi aur bhi veeraan ker li..."mallika seemed stirred...by nidhi's words...but then her eyes flared again...as she snarled"dr nidhi...mujhe tumhare pyaar..tumhari dosti

.tumhare uss bachche ki hansi ki koi tamanna nahi...i have no regrets...agar regret hai to sirf itni ki kaash main itna poison inject ker pati ki tum kabhi maa nahi ban pati...tumhari zindagi se ummeed ka nam o nishan mitana chahti hoon main..do u understand i have no regrets..stop this sermon..mujhe tumse kuch nahi chahiye...tum hansti ho mujhpe..mujhe jail me dekh ke khushi hoti hai...ashutosh ko lcheen je jeet ka ehsaas hai??bolo nidhi..u bloody intern..speak up..

Nidhi sighed as she said"dr mallika..jab main yahaan aayi thi to bahut se jazbaat the mere dil mei...per ab sirf daya hai aapke liye...only sympathy...nothing else"!

Mallika threw the plate at her n spoke in that familiar chiling tone..."i dont want ur bloody sympathy..mujhe hate karo...i have killed ur baby...n i hope tum kabhi Ashutosh ko pita bane ki khushi na de sako...may u always yearn n weep for a baby...always..always..."and nidhi felt herself being cocooned in a bear hiug...strong hands covering ger ears so that the harsh words didnt reach her...she knew it was her husband..her live..her pillar of support..her rock of Gibraltar. ..

Ashutosh looked at mallika ..still holding nidhi in his arms ...his voice did not quiver but his eyes had intense anger as he spoke words that pierced mallika"mallika...aaj tumne saabit ker diya ..ki tum ..pyaar to bahut door ki baat rahi..meri dosti..mere taaruff ke layak bhi nahi thi..

Humare bachche hon ya na hon..koi farq nahi padta..kyunki mallika...main ta zindagi nidhi se..utni hi shiddat se mohabbat karta rahoonga..tum sochna in andheri akeli deewaron mei sar maar maar ke...ki tum tanha kyun ho...aur main ..aur nidhi..apne ashiyaane ko tinqua tinqua ker ke phir se banayenge...phir se khushiyon ke phool khilaayenge...Goodbye mallika...you do not exist for us"!

And as mallika looked at them in stunned silence...ashutosh brought nidhi out ..from the darkness of thise stone walls to the brightness of their live..the sunshine of their life together...to face the storms ..pick flowers n comfort each other when the thorns of life hurt them...but yes one thing was certain that they would always be together...through the vicissitudes of life..through the ups n downs..

Quote

Bhavit Kapoor

@bawaswift

Stunner

Posted: 9 years ago

#65

Chapter Sixty one...

Kashmkash...

"Baba..aapne bulaya mujhe.."??it was Ashutosh who entered baba's room ..his coat in his hand for he had just got back from KGH..nidhi was at her college ,he knew she d come v lare tonite..it qas a long duty..the last leg of PG was always very tough..Baba coughed n Ashutosh was brought out of his thoughts"aapki tabiyat to theek hai na baba..chai pee aapne"??Baba looked up at Heeraman n said"Heeraman tum jao..aur thodi der mujhe Ashu se akele me kuch baat karni hai"!Heeraman..the trusted man that he was withdrew..clising the door behind him..

Ashu looked up worried.."jee baba.."Baba seemed a lil tense n worried but decided to talk straight to his son..something that had been on his mind for long..almost 6 weeks..yes it had now been 2 months since nidhi lost the baby..and though life n home had indeed limped to normalcy but there was a pall if loneliness in the eyes of both nidhi n ashutosh..something that they could not hide..neither behind the busy schedule..of ashu..nor behind nidhi's efforts at housekeeping n cooking...

"Ashu..ek baat bata mujhe..saaf saaf...yeh chal kya raha hai ghar mei..tum dono ke beech...things dont seem normal.."Dr Ashutosh got up..n looked away..at an old pic of baba n himself..he sitting on baba's rocking chair's arm..as baba geld the violin...yes even in those days baba could read his thoughts..so was it today...nothing could be hidden from him..

"Baba..dono koshish kar rahe hain..sadme se nikalne ki...kuch hudd rak nikal bhi aaye hain...but its not easy...agar natural miscarriage hota to bhi hurt karta..but the fact ki mallika ne...aur main yeh preempt nahi ker paya..nidhi ko..apne bachche ko bacha nahi paya...it hurts me..i feel i failed..baba..aur nidhi...i can imagine uspe kya beeti hai..abhi bhi kitni raatein aise hi stare jarti rehti hai andhere mein...mallika ki nafrat itni bhayanak hogi ..yeh kisne socha tha..."

Baba sighed..."Ashu ..yeh jo Mallika hai na..isse teri zindagi se bahut pehle chale jaana chahiye tha...jab tu usse pyaar to karta nahi tha..to.phir...kyun saath tha..."??Ashutosh turned around..his eyes flaring with anger for a minute but his voice controlled..."baba..mallika ko maine hazaar baar kaha tha ki woh sirf dost hai meri..aur usse aage kuch bhi nahi...woh yeh jaanti thi..."baba interrupted with the authority of a father"Ashu jaanti to thi..per maanti thi kya"??Ashutosh lowered his eyes..."baba..i had made it clear to her...haan buss woh meri colleague thi..dost thi..aur jahaan tak main jaanta ya samajhta tha..achchi insaan thi..hum dono tanha the ..ajele the..woh chahti thi myjhe..per woh janti thi ki yeh kabhi ho nahi paayega...n not bcoz of nidhi..nidhi to meri zindagi me bahut baad me aayi.."baba was impatient.."to phir jab tu janta tha mallika ke irade..to kyun nahi alag ker liya khud ko usse"??Ashu tirned away...nit wanting to pain baba...but as baba almost shook him..he said in a vouce quaking with sadness "baba...aapke jane ke baad..meri zindagi me sirf mallika thi..

Ek dost..ek sahaara...per buss..usse aagey kuch nahi...she was the only constant in my lonely life."!

Baba bowed his head in guilt as he said..."Ashu...kya tujhe kabhi ehsaas nahi hua ki mallika nidhi ko nuksaan kar sakti hai..."??Dr Ashutosh sighed ...n put his hands in his pockets...thought a while n said"waaquif tha main mallika ki nafrat se..nidhi ke liye...per main yeh kabhi khwaab mein bhi nahi soch sakta tha...that she ..a dr could fall so low..."!

Baba kept quiet..he could feel the silent invisible tears ..of his son...Baba knew he had to help him..not punish him...he patted Ashutosh n said"khair..i am happy ab tu ne finally Mallika ke khilaaf gawaahi di..uske kiye ki sazaa usse mil rahi hai...per beta tu aur nidhi..tum dono kab tak apne aap ko..ek doosre ko sazaa dete rahoge..bolo "??Ashutosh frowned ..a lil surprised. ..as baba looked at him..with a lil hesitation ..n then asked"Ashu ..sach batana beta..have you n nidhi started a normal life again...i mean..are you ...are you..intimate with her...as a husband "??Ashutosh took a deep breath n shook his head...he knew baba had never pryed in their life..n this was just to help them...find a way back to normalcy..He cleared his throat...n said"no baba...if you mean..sex..we have not had it..not for the last 2 months..not since she lost..."baba cut him short..his fears seemed to be coming true..He raised that infamous Mathur eyebrow and asked"why..Ashu..is this normal...woh nahi chahti..ya tera mann bhar..."Ashutosh stopped baba midway.."baba aap jante hain nidhi kya hai mere liye...per woh depressed hai shayad andar hi andar..aur mai..mai darta hoon baba...kyunki...agar she does get pregnant again...i know it d not be advisable so soon..medically i mean..n if she doesn't. .her desire for a baby will only magnify..and so will her depression..."Baba ..a dr suggested"but beta surely you can use a ..."Ashu smiled sadly"yes baba..you think i havenot thought about it...but a birth control method would only make her feel..i dont want a baby..again..uff baba..sab kuch kitna ulajh gaya..meri aur Mallika ki dosti ..so called dosti ki wajah se..."Baba stood up from his rocking chair...n spoke"Ashu...beeti baat bisariye..aage ki sudh lei..jo hua so hua..now look n plan ahead..poori zindagi padi hai abhi..aur nidhi ki to umr hi kya hai..aur agar koi gynaecological issue hoga to we d take her to the best in the world...aur beta..yeh na samajhna ki mai lalchi ho gaya hoon pote poti ke liye...naa ...mai sirf apne Ashu nidhi ki khushi chahta hoon...aur jahaan tak meri boodhi aankhe dekh paati hain..tum dono ko chaah hai..ek nanhi si jaan ka..so ...go for it Ashu...yaad rakhna ..waqt humare haath pe nahi..humaare haath mei hota hai..maine pehle bhi kaha tha tujhe..."the convo was interrupted by the call bell...as Ashu exclaimed"nidhi...hogi baba.."!n baba nodded..

As the family sat for dinner ..baba looked at Ashu n suggested"beta nidhi ja MD hone ko aaya..koi weekend usse bahar leja kahin...tere dr Bhagat to bachchi ki jaan le lenge..!!and nidhi smiled a weak smile...just as the phone rang..Nidhi took the cordless..."hi Anji..."and there was a long conversation at the end of which ..nidhi smiled n said"dont be stupid anji..hum log bahut khush hain tere aur Dr Ranganath ke liye..hum zaroor aayenge..pukka"and as Ashu looked up...she said"Anji ke inlaws insist jer eahe hain uski gode bharai ko...so she was asking ki hum...maine kaha..ki hum aayenge..theek kiya na...afterall...hum apne dukh ke karan doosron ki khushiyaan kyun roke..."and Ashutosh nodded...as he looked into her sad eyes...trying to fill them with hope n happiness...

Part 2.

"Chalo to..dekho sari select karta hoon tumhare liye..aaj raat ke function mein..bhai Anji tumhari best friend hai..u should look radiant"!it was an indulgent Ashutosh who dragged nidhi from the kitchen the next morning...in order to help her choose a sari..he knew she was not very interested...he scanned through the purples pinks n greens...till he stopped at a royal blue one ..a silk with a golden border..Nidhi's face seemed to lose colour as Ashutosh said"wow ..this is classy...aur tumne pehni bhi nahi hai kabhi..."nidhi looked at him..her eyes pleading..."yeh wali rehne deejiyena plz..koi aur.."Ashutosh caught her looks ..n understood in a second...this was the sari she had brought for her own baby shower...he relented with a smile and pulled out a grey n pink one.."yeh??mere suit se bhi match karegi...aur haan i have sent my steel grey suit for ironing..shaam tak aa jayega..bus tie nikal lena..jo bhi chaho.."nidhi smiled or atleast tried to...at his efforts.."kyun main iron ker deti"Dr Ashutosh spoke tenderly"tum iss ghar ki bahu ho...meri biwi ho..koi maid nahi...aur ab jao college..n be back by 7 ..we should leave at 7.45.."!!

Nidhi held him...as Ashutosh was a lil surprised. .he hugged her n caressing her back asked"kya baat hai...mann theek nahi hai.."??and nidhi just remained silent ...as the two felt the vacuumn of the loss even through all they did to cheer each other up!Nidhi finally separated n smiled"aapka poha pack ker diya hai..aur salad bhi.."and walked out..where baba looked at her n she asked"baba shaam ko chaliyega plz..Anji ne khaas kaha hai..chalenge na"??baba patted her n said"meri bahu koi huqum kare aur main na manoo??jis din Ashu tujhe byaah ke laya tha..maine usi din keh diya tha..ki ab to nidhi ka raj chalega"!!and nidhi smiled...as she waved n drove off!

*************

"Lunch dr nidhi...kum se kum aaj lunch to share ker sakti hain mere saath"!it was dr Akshat again...nidhi had begun to dread him...he was weighing on her mind..his insistence..her brushing clise to her..or was she imagining??she abhorred him...but did she have a reason??nidhi did not answer n took her coffee n sandwich to another table where a group of MD students were sitting..discussing the surgery schedule tomorrow...Dr Bhagat was to take two of them to assist him in an appendicitis surgery of a 6 months old baby.Nidhi talked ..of her experiences at KGH and one Prabhjyot said"sachchi Dr Ashutosh ki internship karna PG se kum nahi hai..."!and Dr Akshat spoke from behind.."dr nidhi..is he a slave driver at home too"??Nidhi gulped her coffee n got up..as the group dispersed n Akshat stood there smiling...a strange look in his eyes...

**************

"Arre aap ready ho bhi gaye"?it was nidhi surprised to find her husband all ready in his white shirt grey duit..but no tie...she spanked her head..n ran in ..touching his ties n pulling out a wine coloured one.."aaiye to..."and she gave him the tie...As he said"bandhogi nahi"??nidhi looked at him as she aqueiced n put it around his neck..making the knot...as Ashutosh's fingers came around her waist...holding her a lil possessively..she seemed to quiver...was it desire..or fear??he just let his fingers remain...n as she completed the knot..he held her face in his hands ...n bent down on her lips...his soft kiss on her parched lips...and then he withdrew "chalo get ready...baba wait kar rahe hain..."!

****************

"Swagat hai.."it was dr Ranganath 's parents who welcomed the Mathur family...as nidhi carried the pink n blue gifts..a superman n a barbie doll ..that they had bought on the way

.as she had told dr Ashutosh that she always thought of giving n getting both pink n blue...n then she had suddenly but her tongue ...as Ashu just smiled n took the gifts...but when he kept them in her lap in the car...he knew she was straining every nerve in her body..so as not to break down!

Anji was wearing a lovely pink n green kundan sari ..looking big n radiant..though she still cribbed about the assignments she was missing out on..There was gifting and a short pooja...with the whole family being very sensitive to nidhi's pain...till dadi bua found it difficult to bear n came to Ashutosh..."kya socha tha..kya kya socha tha...sab khatm ker diya uss dr mallika ne..."before Ashutosh could respond he found nidhi with himself saying "dadi bua..kyun quredti hain..beeti baatein..Anji ki khushi mei muskuraayie..buss"!and then came in Rohan with flowers...white lilies..n walked to Anji..giving her the bouquet n then to Nidhi ..pulling out a white rose.."ek khaas phhol..meri khaas dost ke liye..nidhiji..aap smile karengi to dekhiye yeh rang badlega...sachchi"and nidhi smiled...n then frownd as the rose obviously remained white n Rohan clapped"oh my god nidhiji..dr Ashutosh ke saath reh ke bhi aapka IQ nahi badha"!!and nidhi pulled his ears..as Ashutosh saw a glimpse of his teal nidhi ...after 2 months..and as she walked to Shyama aunty..Ashutosh shook hands with Rohan n said"thanks Rohan..jo main nahi ker paa raha tha woh tumne ker diya"and Rohan looked at him seriously n said"sir...sach to yeh hai..ki nidhiji aapki parchchaai hain..aap apna dukh bhoolenge to shaayad woh bhi iss sadme se nikal paayengi...jo aap hain unke liye woh aur koi nahi ho sakta"!

Nidhi sat with Anji..discussing her plans..as Anji complained about ger over bearing in laws...and said"sach nidhi tu utti lucky hai..i swear..main to phans gayi..."and Nidhi looked away...but then smiled n added"yes lucky to main hoon..baba to buss THE BEST hain..."!and Anji teased"aur jeeju..."??and winked..as nidhi felt a lil uneasy...and got up...only to be followed by Shyama aunty..

"Nidhi beta...kuch kehna chahti thi...yaad hai woh kachnar ke ped...hur saal sardiyon mein kaisa sookh jaata tha..per phir vasant me phoolon se ladd jata tha"??nidhi nodded ...as Shyama added"dr Ashutosh ko teri zarroorat hai..tere sath ki..itni chup na hona ki woh phir apne quile mein quaid ho jaayein"!nidhi nodded...standing alone in the merry din of the party...as someone touched her ..n she almost shrank...only to relax in the hug..."arre main hoon...meri biwi ko aur kaun choo sakta hai bhala"!!it was dr Ashutosh with a dinner plate in his hand...as she opened her mouth...

Quote

Bhavit Kapoor

@bawaswift

Stunner

Posted: 9 years ago

#66

Chapter Sixty two..

jo bhi hai... bas yahi ek pal hai...

It was at about 11 in the night when the party wound up n that too whenn Anji yawned n dr Ranganath said"time to sleep for my dear wife"n all clapped for the caring father to be ..as dr Ashutosh shared a word with col verma in private and the colonel patted him as they all emerged as nidhi was hugged by her dadi bua n shyama aunty.She saidbye as CV added"bus beta ab ek maheene me to tu ho jaayegi MBBS .MD..thank you nidhi ..apni maa..nana..aur mere sapne poore karne ke liye..beta"!nidhi just smiled as Rohan added"ab MD ke baad chaliye mai aur aap world tour pe chalte hain..bina dr Ashutosh ke..kuch paagalpan karenge..duniya badlenge..yaad hai naa ..mai kya kehta tha..yes YEH DUNIYA PAAGLON NE HI BADALI HAI"!!nidhi laughed as she hugged Rohan and Ashu shook hands n said "ghar aana..plz Rohan"!and Rohan nodded..understanding the pleading in his voice.

As dr Ashutosh opened the door..nidhi chose to sit at the back as she simply said"baba aage comfortable rahenge..its a half an hr drive.."dr Ashutosh did not say anything as ge made her sit n closed the door. Baba kept quiet as Ashutosh started the car..adjusting the rear view mirror...

Lucknow was nearly deserted ..it was end of January and still quite chilly..as he drove he kept an eye on nidhi ..through the rear view ..she seemed lost in memories...and then as they crossed the road they used to take often for a romantic drive...Nidhi's eyes welled up with tears...Ashu could see her silently wiping her own tears..as she seemed to search for someone in those dead streets...whi was she looking for??the child whom they had lost...Ashu could feel nidhi's tears were changing into silent help less sobs..he chose to keep quiet..n give her the solace of grief in her personal space..but he knew ge had to hold her..bring her to him..probably more than cuddle her ..maybe he had to take the initiative to get intimate with her...probably that would make her feel more alive...he knew ge would never ever like to force himself on her..but he was the senior n more mature partner..n he probably had to bring her back to life..yes he would bring her to himself...and talk to Sudhir...as to what precautions should they use...he knew nidhi could not conceive as of now..her uterus was much too weak...he d take care...

"Arre beta..kahaan jaa raha hai..apna ghar bhool gaya"??said baba..as Ashu seemed to have missed the turn..but he smiled and turned and then looked at baba.."baba ..aapke hote hue main koi rasta nahi bhool sakta..kahin bhatak nahi sakta.."baba smiled as they looked back at nidhi..who seemed to have gone off to sleep..her cheeks stained with tears...both men breathed in sharply as baba quietly went in and Ashutosh quietly touched nidhi's cheek..she woke up..with a start ..and he held her..giving her a clise look..wanting to carry her..but she said she could walk...as they walked in..leisurely. .having a lingering look at the green lawn...as Ashutosh said"chalo sunday ko aur plants laayenge.."and nidhi nodded...

As nidhi took her nightie and was waiting for him to emerge from the wash room...shyama Aunty's words echoing in her mind...and she inadvertently looked at herself...she should have been in the 7 month by now...she sighed..as dr ashutosh emerged in his tracks but without a tee shirt..she looked at him in surprise...and then at her nightie...and he quietly took it from hrr hands...as she seemed to lower her eyes..n he put an arm around her shoulders...bringing her to his chest ...tousling ger hair ..he said"kyun itta ro rahi thi...sapna tootne se zindagi to nahi khatm ho jati...bolo??main hoon tum ho..saath hain hum..kya itna kaafi nahi hai abhi ke liye??"nidhi looked into his eyes n asked"aur kal..aage ..aane wale barson mei"??Ashutosh took her hands n kissed them...n then his fingers removing her dupatta he said "kal kisne dekha hai..kal kisne jaana hai...

Iss pal se paaye ja jo tune paana hai..

Jo bhi hai ker le poori aarzoo"!and as he lowered his lips on to nidhi's. .and her fingers clutched his back...his cell buzzed ...he had to take it...

He looked at nidhi...n said in a voice loathed in guilt"nidhi..emergency hai..i have to go...so jaao tum.."!nidhi kept quiet...as they withdrew and Ashutosh pulled over a shirt n sweater n rushed out...while nidhi lay on the bed..the nightie still in her hands...like a dream waiting to be fulfilled...a bud waiting to bloom...a raindrop waiting to fall...but she knew they had to wait...n she closed her eyes..

As dr Ashutosh drove in anger n frustrating. .feeling torn as never before...

It was a long surgery and for once dr Ashutosh had to work hard to remain focusses...bn when he finally emerged from kgh at 5 a.m with another life saved.another operation success fully done..there was not a ghost of smile on his face..but a frown..he seemed worried as he drove home..to his nidhi..

"Dr nidhi..aapko mere saath coffee peeni hi padegi aaj..u can't always refuse me..chaliye to.."and Akshat caught her by her upper arm..n as she tried to wriggle free ..he touched rather caressed her cheek with the back of his hand n nidhi yelled"go..just go away..don't u touch me"!!and as she fought incoherently with the strong arms that held her..she finally heard the familiar voice"nidhi..nidhi open ur eyes..main hoon...main..Ashutosh "and as she weakened she was just pulled close to that familiar chest. ..the ultimate haven of refuge ..and he kept stroking her back..asking her softly"kya hua tha..kaun tha??who is troubling you...bolo"??and nidhi just looked dazed as she replied"buss darr gayi thi...i was do scared..aap they nahi raat mein.."and Ashutosh hugged her back..rueing the emergency..and the fact that their professional life would always take precedence..

Nidhi took the mug of tea n sipped as her husband lay down. ..n she just bent to touch his hair...n then got up to get ready...

"Aapka tiffin..der se jaayenge kya"??asked nidhi as she buttered his toasts..n took her poha ..he smiled"thoda tired hoon..will catch up on sleep..then...tum jao..dont be late"!and nidhi got up..but not before she looked at him intently and he relaxed "don't worry..kuch nahi hua hai mujhe.."!nidhi waved ...n dr Ashutosh kept gazing at his wife n the toast she had buttered for him...as baba asked"kya baat hai beta"??he sighed"kuch nahi baba..but i feel id have to meet Sudhir..nidhi is slowly slipping into depression...i can't let that happen..."and he dialled dr Sudhir...as a tense baba looked on...

*************

"Yes lets get on with the wards .."it was dr Bhagat who addressed the team as they started the rounds..reading each diagnosis n report...n just as nidhi was readig the treatment of bed no.13 she felt a gush of hot breath close to her..she seemed to cringe...she knew it was Dr Akshat..she pushed her hair back..mumbled excuse me n walked past...nearly palpitating...

With the rounds over..it was the lunch break with a surgery scheduled at 3 p.m.

Nidhi didn't want to go to the canteen...she just walked in the grounds..trying to feel herself in the winter sun..making an effort to bring vack to life her mind body n soul which seemed to have died woth the baby...but she had to be alive..fully alive..Shyama Aunty's words echoing in her heart..her dr Ashutosh needed her..their home needed her...she closed her eyes for a second..only to be taken aback with the vouce "coffee..to share kariye aaj..plz"it was dr Akshat...n nidhi pushed away...running indoors..

"Dr Akshat n dr nidhi with dr Sujata will assist me in this surgery..plz read the case in detail..."nidhi nodded ..she hated being with Akshat but she knew she had to be a professional...she entered the OT after changing ...n soon dr Bhagat extended his hand for the scalpel...

***********

"Sudhir..she is not well...there are many factors..yes the loss. ..heightened by the fact that her best friend is pregnant...then the yelling ..the curses of mallika...plus i feel she is scared of someone...i cant say whom.but something is troubling her for sure..."dr Sudhir was all attention to what dr Ashutosh was saying...n he added"you need to find out her fears...see post miscarriage depression is common...but normally it wanes in a week or two..nidhi seems to be going deeper into it ..."

Dr Ashutosh pressed his lips ..n asked"tell me..i want to get intimate with her..but i am scared...what if she gets pregnant...i mean we know hr uterus is weak..

She must not concieve ..not yet.."dr Sudhir smiled"use...a condom. .whats the issue.."!Ashutosh sighed.."the issue is she d feel i don't want a baby..initially i didn't. ..but then u know..things changed..and more importantly. .what if she starts ..or wants us to try again..n realises she can't conceive..she d just slip out of life..."

Dr Sudhir got up and patted Ashutosh n said"ek dr hain ..Australia mein..indian origin ki..i guess..she has done ..rather us doing tremendous work in uterus repair..healing. .go through her papers..i d mail them to u...Ashutosh nodded...as his cell buzzed...

***********

The surgery was over n as the drs changed n emerged ..nidhi was trying to wear ger mangalsutra that got entangled in her hair...n someone held it..trying to undo it...she pulled away ..it was Akshat..she knew ..and as he tried to hold her ..she yelled..n ran...only to crash into the lift n fall...

Dr Bhagat ran out ..hearing the commotion ..and he immediately understood the situation...

**********

"My god Sudhir..its Nidhi..she has kind of had a panic attack..i will rush "!

Dr Ashutosh entered PGI...nidhi was sitting in a chair with dr Bhagat n dr Sujata close to her..but it seemed she was not letting them near...as she clutched to something in her hand...

Dr Ashutosh entered...n dr Bhagat quickly explained"a colleague of hers tried to ..rather ut seems has been trying to be close...n she spiralled out of control..not ketting any one come close..."

Ashutosh nodded...as he came close n caressed her hair .."nidhi..kya hua...bolo jaan"??and nidhi stood up silently and slowly opened her fist..there in kay her mangalsutra. .the string that tied them forever...she sobbed"he...he ..Akshat tried to touch ...me...he tried to ..."and Ashutosh opened his arms as he hushed ger like a baby"bus jaan..main aa gaya na..kuch nahi hoga..no one can trouble you..no one..."as nidhi whimpered...and he caressed ger trying to control the panic attack...n as Nidhi's sobs subsided...he separated a lil n took the mangalsutra n put it in hus pocket close to his chest..n strode out holding nidhi close to her...telling Bhagat"hopefully monday she d join..but .."dr bhagat completed "don't worry sir..dr Akshat has been transferred. .."Ashutosh nodded..n drove off with nidhi...

********

As nidhi changed ...ashutosh stood behind her n put the mangalsutra around her neck..his fingers touching her neck deliberately. ..she needed his touch..almost as a medication ..he knew that...he had to claim her..to drive out all fears..all anxities..all insecurities. ..as he held her...she seemed to hold on to him as if to life itself...and very slowly he caressed the straps of her nightie...and took her arms to put around his neck...as she seemed to tremble...he held her..his warm hands around her stomach...yes where his baby had been...but now all he wished was to retrieve his nidhi...he caressed her as she quivered ...n as his lips descended ..she moaned "Ashutosh..."!

Quote

Bhavit Kapoor

@bawaswift

Stunner

Posted: 9 years ago

#67

Chapter Sixty three...

Zakhm ... aur marrham...

It was a trembling nidhi that Dr Ashutosh cuddled n cocooned in his arms...as he looked at her after having claimed her. ..he knew she had felt the shudder of his intimate caresses ..the gentleness of his kisses n the pressure of his manhood ..yes she had uttered his name ...as she had hit the pinnacle..and Ashutosh hoped it would shatter the glass fort that she had created around herself...he caressed her hair away and looked at her. .and raising his eyebrow seemed to ask her...she just lowered her eye lashes n clung to his bare torso...as he kept on patting her..till she finally spoke..coffee lenge..??and he smiled..as she got up pulling her nightie n gown n throwing his kurta pyjama at him..

As she made coffee she seemed to hum..after a long long time..what was the song??she herself could not guess...and as baba heard her from the doorway..he smiled n breathed in deeply..clising his door and uttering a silent prayer..fgor a new begining..

Nidhi entered with two cups of coffee and Dr Ashutosh smiled "jaanti ho..what does an offer of coffee means in france"??and as she seemed nonplussed..he laughed softly n said"it is a subtle offer for sex"!!and nidhi blushed..n replied"main kaise jaanoongi..msin to paris gayi nahi.."!!Ashutosh pulled her to him..n asked"chalogi Paris..its the city of lovers..lets go for a week"!nidhi shook her head "aap bhool rahe hain..mere MD exams bus aa gaye hain..ab to mujhe apke liye kya apne khud ke liye bhi waqt nahi hoga...waise ek tarah se achcha hi hai...khali waqt mei sirf aansoo aate hain..

Aur kuch nahi.."!

Ashutosh sipped his coffee and said"ach ha tell me...MD complete karke kahaan kaam karna chahogi..ya DM karogi..research.."??nidhi looked horrified...as she spoke pleadingly"plzzz ab aur nahi..this is THE END of my padhaai...no reasearch...i am a doctor...i d like to work..atleast tab tak...jab tak..."and she trailed off...her eyes clouding again with tears n emptiness...as Ashutosh clutched her by the waist..n spoke in a deep voice "nidhi..main jaanta hoon..tum kya chahti ho..but you know its not advisable as of now. .come on u are a doctor..and i am not saying its the end of hope..we shall try..but give yourself some time..time to heal...plz nidhi.."!and nidhi could feel the unshed tears ..the deepanguish in his voice. ..she nodded n said"kya KGH me job mil sakegi"??He smiled..the smile spreading across his face..bringing to life the lines that age n loneliness had left.."zuroor..ab to tum paediatrician ho...children's ward tumhara..socho..hum phir sath sath kam karenge..."and nidhi pouted"aur aap phir daantenge mujhe..punish karenge"!and Ashutosh caressed her n said"phir se...un corridors mei tumhari hansi goonjegi..phir se aspataal ke siyaah aasmaan mei tumhare chehre ka sooraj khilega...phir se ..."and nidhi completed"phir se Raja ka quila tootega..aur titli uska ghar banaayegi..basayegi...shayad..wahaan goonjegi ek..."and Ashutosh kissed her ...sealing the pain of unfulfilled dream...with his love n devotion...

As nidhi slept in his arms..his hand travelled to her abdomen..as he sighed...yes this would have been the 7 th month...he shrugged the thoughts as he looked at her child like face..holding his kurta in total submission..he caressed ger cheeks n then got up..he knew he could not sleep tonight..the splinters of her shattered dream were piercing his eyes...he seemed to say"nidhi..tumhare adhoore khwaab meri aankhon me chubhte hain..mujhe sone nahi dete...kaash mere bus me hota..tumhara her sapna poora karna..."and his cell buzzed...as he wore his specs and saw..a mail from DR Sudhir...Ashutosh opened it..a forwarded research paper on "Healing of damaged uterine walls:the hormonal n drug therapy"by dr Pooja .He clicked on the download ...and sat to read the research...which probably held the promise of balm to nidhi's troubled soul..the promise to fulfil her shattered dream...

Dr Bhagat stood at the doorway of the children's ward as dr nidhi sat by a young 2 year old admitted with acute meningitis. .she was studying his vitals but more than that she sat by him caressing his feverish self trying to bring comfort to him n to herself..she had volunteered for the night duty..he stood observing her...having a deep sense of respect for her ..nidhi as a lady..n as a doctor..

He walked away in silence...reminiscent of Pooja...Pooja who had loved him..loved him truly n deeply..n he too had felt her to be his universe..till she began to feel the bonds of love to be chains of matrimony..when the joys of impending motherhood became the cross of frustration..of anger..of frustration..strong enough to walk out of his marriage..his home...n probably his heart...Dr Bhagat walked away..slowly. .only to be stopped by a touch on his shoulder..."arre sir aap"??it was a tense Ashutosh who stood in front of him.."dr Bhagat..nidhi phoned ..i was in OT..she whasapped she s on night duty tonight...may i meet her"??Bhagat smiled ..a lil preoccupied "sure sir..infact you could have a look at the patient too..though he is recuperating ..but yes a dr is needed at night n dr nidhi volunteered...should i relieve her"??Ashutosh shook his head"heavens no..Bhagat..i will never interfere..and she needs to be a dutiful dr..i was just worried seeing her emotional state..so i thought i should look her up..thats all..n only with your permission"!

Dr Bhagat brought Dr Ashutosh to the ward n pointed to nidhi...n then withdrew...

Ashutosh stood ..watching nidhi caressing the lil baby..he could feel the child flushed with fever...his head did have a mild swelling...Ashutosh saw nidhi put the ice bandage on the child's forehead..n then wiped the drops with her blue dupatta...Ashutosh walked in...and stood behind her..his hand on her shoulder...she looked a lil startled to see him there..and stood up..Ashutosh spoke "may i..examine him"??Nidhi moved back n allowed him..getting the file..as Ashutosh looked at the vitals n as he tried to examine the eyes ..he yelled...and nidhi lulled him to sleep..as Ashutosh could feel the childless mother in nidhi..he drew her away..his hand lightly around her waist.."he is improving..but yes the night us crucial...maybe critical..keep watching his eyes..n yes if there is any restlessness ..contact the neurologist.."nidhi nodded n added"aap so jaaiyega..kha ke..kapde second shelf pe hain. ."Ashutosh smiled n said"tum kuch kha lo...i have got a tiffin..kaka ne pack kiya hai...subah i d come..lets hope he pulls through..be vigilant ..meningitis can be fatal..you know it.."nidhi nodded...as Ashutosh left. .n she sat by the child..tired n sore ..but neither hungry nor thirsty. ..her only concern ..was the child...she had adjusted the drip...and sat...her mind wandering off to what could have been...but could not be...

It was in the wee hours of the morning that the child mumbled...nidhi touched his forehead...fever had waned...n he opened his eyes..and cried..probably scared in alien surrounding.

Nidhi rushed out to check the parameters of the vitals..and then with a faint smile she ruushed out to call the mother...the young lady..almost of nidhi's age rushed in and then stopped short of hugging her baby..she stood next to his bed as nidhi explained that the infection had waned n the child was out of danger..the lady could not answer...she just clutched dr nidhi's hand ..n only her tears spoke. ..

It was at 7 a.m when dr Bhagat arrived and patted nidhi for her dedication n the child's grand mother blessed"beta..you are a perfect mother...perfect"!and nidhi turned away...unable to feel anything...

"Aa gayi beta...aaja kaisa hai tera patient"??nidhi nodded"jee baba..out of danger hai...fever utar gaya.."!dr Ashutosh came out..n smiled 'good...you handled the case very well...chalo have a bath..chai mangwata hoon.."!

It was an hour later that a bathed nidhi sipped a hot tea n bit into a cheela as Ashutosh dressed for his duty...but in the mirror he kept his eyes on nidhi..seeming lost..

Ashutosh did not say anything but as he sat ..he whasapped Sudhir.."read the paper..am e mailing nidhi's papers to dr pooja"!

Nidhi waved a bye ..as Ashutosh hugged her at the door...n she returned to sleep...atleast close her tired eyes..she lay silently..her hands feeling the side where dr ashutosh lay every night. .she remembered the child..those chubby cheeks..those lovely eyes...n the way he had cried "mamma"on seeing his mother...and tears silently flowed out of her eyes...tears of grief..tears of helplessness...

At the same time dr Ashutosh wrote a detailed mail to dr Pooja in sydney ..attaching nidhi's scans..her test reports and a personal note describing her emotional state...

Almost at the same time dr bhagat sipped coffee thinking of the memory of the months ..3 months when he had been an expectant dad...before Pooja left to abort...n at the same time..as a sleepy dr Pooja's cell beeped..a 11 year old boy with brown eyes cuddled to her n mumbled"mom..your mail..your patients are always around"and dr pooja hugged him..n tousled his hair...as she sat up to read an e mail from dr Ashutosh 123@rediffmail.com...she looked up...n mumbled"ashutosh??it couldn't be dr Hardstone..could it be"???

Quote

Bhavit Kapoor

@bawaswift

Stunner

Posted: 9 years ago

#68

Chapter Sixty four...

imtihaan...

Dr Pooja caressed her son's hair ..covering him with a duvet she came to her study and down loaded the attachments to the mail..as she studied the scans ..she knew the toxins jad damaged the uterus walls pretty badly but as she ruminated..she felt that age was by the patient's side..maybe she had a ghost of a chance after an intensive course of therapy...it would be a challenge to her as a dr...and Dr Pooja had always loved challenges..she recalled the time she had won the scholarship to Washington medical research ...and her mind seemed to go into rewind mode...as she got up to make a black coffee...bitter n black..quite like the life she had chosen..as she sipped she looked at the mail...the pleading undertone of the husband seemed to suggest that his wife was in a great emotional trauma..could he be THE DR ASHUTOSH? ?HIGHLY UNLIKELY. .HE MUST BE AROUND 45 NOW..N AS FAR AS SHE KNEW HE HAD REMAINED A BACHELOR...AT LEAST TILL A FEW YEARS BACK...Dr Ashutosh. .the man she respected n reverred for it was he who had made her union with dr Bhagat..her love ..possible. .oh it was 15 years ago..in Lucknow..seemed another planet..another age..

How happy she n Arvind...had been..life was sheer bliss ..till one fine july morning she had found herself holding her scholarship letter in one hand and her pregnancy report in the other...

Pooja returned to the present...kept her coffee mug and got into bed..kissing her son's hair..ADVITYA..yes beyond compare..just like his father...Pooja closed her eyes as the face of Dr Bhagat wafted across ..n she seemed to whisper his name...

************

"Sorry dr Acharya..it would not be prudent of me to be on the board of MD viva this year..no my own wife is an examinee ..."and dr Ashutosh hung up..he had turned down the annual routine because he did not want Nidhi's hardwork to be branded as his clout...he knew she d excel

.n he wanted her to excel without him...

He rung for dr Ranganath. ..as dr Ranganath say..dr Ashutosh asked"dr Ranganath..what is your honest opinion about nidhi coming to KGH once again..amin after her MD"?? Dr Ranganath almost got up from his seat n smiled"sir...what an idea...we will be blessed..dr nidhi is THE BEST with children aur ab to woh paediatric surgeon bhi ho jaayengi...i d myself put up her case to the board..."Dr Ashutosh smiled..he knew it was just a formality..he himself was the chief trustee...n yet he did not want to force his opinion...he smiled as he e mailed for a board meeting after 15 days...his eyes lighting up at the memory of a naughty intern cajoling him to fire her...n how she had come to rule his life..heart n home...

"Suno nidhi...kuch kha lo...aise padhogi khali pet to acidity ho jaayegi..."it was a concerned dr Ashutosh who was nudging his wife to eat domething..as she shook her head n continued to rummage through the books..her 48 hrs final duty n the viva there after were starting next morning..finally he held her face with one hand and thrust a tomato sandwich into her mouth...nidhi took a big bite n then said"ab khila hi rahe hain to coffee bhi pila deejiye plz..."and her husband acquiesced...

It was an hr later at about 12.30 that she finally yawned n got up..amd arched her back...to moan..Ashutosh raised a sharp eyebrow..."whats wrong"??she didn't say anything but just moaned and lay...his nimble hands soon began to massage her back..n within no time she was fast asleep...Ashutosh kept looking at her...he knew she had not been really enjoying MD it was only because of him..that she had done it..but once having started ..she put in more than 100%..that was his nidhi..her fingers held on to his tee...as he tried to feel her..what was wrong..was it just fatigue..or something else???he knew she had to be fully fit for this final lap...but he sighed as he being a senior doctor...and her husband..who knew ger body better than she herself did...suspected this was pre menstrual tension...she hadn't been down after the miscarriage...6 weeks..the cycle was overdue..n Ashutosh knew the tension of exams was bringing it on...would nidhi be able to cope up???

He got up to get a warm back pad for her...wondering why did life remember his nidhi for all the tests..all the pains...

Quote

Bhavit Kapoor

@bawaswift

Stunner

Posted: 9 years ago

#69

Chapter Sixty five...

someone.. somewhere...

"Nidhi..."Said dr Ashutosh as Nidhi took her sari from the wardrobe..a pale blue light tussar with a dull black border and a black blouse..As she moved to take out dr Ashutosh's suit..he spoke"nidhi..go protected...i feel you are gonna be down.."she looked at him..not dazed or shocked because she knew her husband knew her better than she herself did!She nodded and pulled the drawer to pull out a pack..and went into the wash room..Ashutosh got tea and activated kaka for breakfast..sandwiches n cheela with coffee..she needed to have enough food..by the time he returned with the tea ..nidhi was combing her hair and tying them into a formal bun..!She looked pale and as Ashutosh raised a questioning eyebrow..and she nodded..yes she had started..n Ashutosh bit his lip n rummaged through his drawers...and came up with some pain killers.."lo yeh lo"!nidhi smiled"per aap to ..u have always been against pain killers.."Ashutosh did not reply..he just gulped..he wanted to say..for her sake ..he was ready to try anything...

Nidhi finally got up n said"jaante hain na..i d be off the phone..plz dr Bhagat ke cabin me nahi bulayiyega..waise hi sab feel karte hain ..ki i have a special status...i dont like it..ki aap pe koi ungli uthe.."!

Ashu just held her close..n then holding her face in his hands..looking into her eyes..he said"Tum meri taaqat ho..koi bhi..koi bhi tumhari wajah se mujh pe ungli nahi utha saqta nidhi"!and nidhi simply put her head to his chest ..as he caressed her n said"chalo..kha lo..n id drop you..drop karna to allowed hai na"??and nidhi smiled..as she said.."aap chaliye..buss mai aayee"Ashu nodded n walked away..but just cast a glance at what nidhi was doing..

She opened a box that she took out from somewhere in the wardrobe...

Kaka fed nidhi a spoon of dahi cheeni after breakfast and she touched his feet n kaka's ..asArmaan patted n said"jaa..aayegi to maggi fest karenge..Rohan ke saath.."and all turned around as Rohan stood on the doorway saying"yes ..armaanji..maggi fest with coke unlimited...aur dr Ashutosh ko neembu paani n salad...yehi aapki sazaa hai"!!and all laughed ..as Rohan hugged nidhi n said"jaiye nidhiji..agar viva difficult ho to faint ker jaaiyega...bus dr Ashutosh ko aana hi padega"!!and Ashutosh pulled Rohan's ears!!

As nidhi sat in dr Ashutosh's BMW he remarked.."tumhare liye ab ek BMW le doon.."??and nidhi looked aghast.."aur woh nayi merc"??and then added"mujhe to santro ki aadat thi..itna bigaadiye nahi..aur waise bhi..KGH me paediatrician ho jaaoon to badi cheez hai..main koi dean thode hi hoon.."n Ashu laughed..glad that he was able to keep nidhi happy n digressed..As they neared the college..he caressed her back n handed her two more tablets.."zyada bleed karogi to have this..it d help u tide over..n take milk during the snack break.."nidhi nodded..and as the car stopped..she got down ..just as dr ashutosh touched her fingers...n his eyes conveyed everything he wanted to say...

As nidhi walked off..Ashu drove..in silence...he did not on the fm...for he was completely absorbed with how nidhi's next two days would span out..he could only be her invisible silent support...but it was she who had to deal with fatigue..pain..weakness..a tough viva..n yes memory of a shattered dream...

It was another busy rather very busy day for dr Ashutosh..he could barely gave a sandwich for lunch as she shuttled between the OTs and finally emerged at 8.30..n rang for a hot coffee and anything to bite..yes he seemed so tired..

As dr Ranganath himself got him a hot coffee n some maggi ..Ashutosh smiled..as Ranga said"actually sir..there ws nothing else in the canteen n i thought..

Dr nidhi ke saath rehte rehte maggi ki aadat to pad hi gayi hogi..aapko bhi"!!Ashutosh smiled in thanx and added "dr Ranganath..you can go home..i d just go thru some files and then go..waise bhi nidhi ka to final viva hai..she wouldn't be home till day after..aap jaiye.."dr Ranga thanked his boss ..adding"sir..kal thoda late aaoonga..anji ki final check up hai..shes due in 4 days time..."!Ashu smiled n gave a nod..adding"all the best..n let me know if you require anything.."!

As Ranga retreated Ashutosh sipped the coffee and took bites of maggi..he still did not like it..n yet he smiled bcoz the steaming bowl reminded him of the joyous smile that the dish got on his wife's face...

How must she be...how hurtful must it be??was she handling the cases well...he was sure she would be..but he was vv keen to know of her welfare..he took up the cell n was going to dial Dr Bhagat when ..propriety n ethics held him back...he knew he mustn't call...not even to know her welfare..if there was an emergency..he d surely be informed...Ashutosh sighed and began to look into the files...till the clock ticked to 10...n he drove homewards...a home sans nidhi..the idea did not appeal to him..how he missed ger...after Goa.it was the first time they were not together...n he hated it...

**********

Dr Pooja had just returned from work when ger son ADY as he liked himself to be called came home looking a lil upset...n as she hugged him..he sulked..n said"mom...why don't we have relatives..no dad..no grand parents..no aunts..i feel lonely..n i hate your patients.."dr Pooja sighed..she had learnt to cope up with these periodic frustrations of her son...n she digressed him with the chicken kababs she had ordered..as the fuo ate..Advitya asked "mom..why can't i meet Dad..or atleast know who he is...plzz "Pooja sighed...and teplied"baby..i have promised you..id take you to him..rather let youeet him..once you are 16...and you know the reason..what if he claims you..takes you away from me..."Ady countered"but i wouldn't go mom..i promise..just let me meet him once..plz"Pooja shook her head firmly"no...advit..no..not yet..n now sit for your assignment. .."!Experience had taught the young boy ..this was the rnd of the argument ..atleast for the time being. .he sighed n took out his tab for submission..as dr Pooja began answering her e mails..

There was another one from Ashutosh..informing about the cycle of his wife and Dr Pooja wrote back that it was a good sign..of the uterus mending itself ..but asked for some blood reports ..also adding a query if the patient was from lucknow...but then remembering that she mustn't be personal over the mail...she deleted the query...though there was something which tugged at her memory..the years gone by...

Pooja sat by the window looking at her son..solve his h.w.and ger mind went back...

"I don't want this ..not now..i want both of us to study..to do research..kids can wait..career can't "and the heart breaking arguments..

Till that final walk out...pooja wiped her eyes...as she got up to fix some Daal chaawal that Advit loved...wuite like dr Bhagat...his dad..

Sitting continents away...not even knowing that he had a son..his own son...

*************

Nidhi arched her back as she got up after writing the synopsis n prognosis of the case of Kala azar ..a rare tropical infection almost rndemic to Bihar..but she was vonfident that the child on bed no.13 had it..his spleen felt enlarged n sore..she did not need tests..she was sure with the symptoms n the case history..her suggestions read HETRAZAN 150 mg for 15 days"!and she moved to the cafe for a quick coffee n sandwich..it was a long night indeed...she was due for viva the next afternoon..

As she gulped her coffee..she thought if dr Ashutosh. .what must he be doing without her??was he tired??would he have had dinner...??and then as she sighed ..

The ward boy came to inform..the next case had to be examined..nidhi smiled..was she grateful that dr Ashutosh had pushed her to study. ..would she have survived otherwise???

As she entered the ward..her case was an infant ..6 months old girl suffering from swollen lymphnodes behind the ear...Nidhi looked at the child..n then suddenly ..all medical observations took a back seat as she lifted her n hugged her to the chest...the tiny heart beating against her's..."dr nidhi..your diagnosis please..."!she gasped..as she looked around to find the two senior drs..the examiners..Dr Sharma n Dr Rai...nidhi recalled how dr Sharma had heaped insult n injury on her ...n through her on Ashutosh. .in her internship days..she d not be vulnerable. ..no..the chinks in her armour would not be visible to anyone...except the man she loved..n loved miserably...nidhi replied"yes sir..."!

Dr Ashutosh reached home...baba looked up..a lil tense "kya baat Ashu..aaj badi der lag gayi...surgeries thi bahut"??Ashu smiled n said"bus baba..kaam tha bahut..ab sone jata hoon..khane ka mann nahi hai khaas..had something in the hospital.."baba nodded..he knew there were moments when his son required to be left alone..he just ordered"Heeraman..Ashu ko ek glass doodh de do plz"and Ashutosh smiled..as baba smiled indulgently..bus parson subah to aa hi jaayegi nidhi..n Ashu shook his head nodding and adding :11 baje taq..36 ghante aur..."!and he went into his bedroom..seeming so large n tomb like without the life ..the presence of nidhi.

Ashu smiled..as he seemed to tell himself..his wife was taking the MD viva n he should not behave like a love lorn youngster..he was a mature neurosurgeon. .but in love no logic works...

So he finally bathed n changed..but sleep was miles away..as he sat on the bed..looking at nidhi's side..vacant today..he seemed to miss her even more..all phases ..all seasons of their relationship seemed to play out before his eyes...the months in kgh...the kerala heart break...the time she used to come tolook after baba...the fire at jeevan sandhya..their marriage...their first intimacy...the time when he had touched her tummy n felt that over whelming love for their baby n then the shattering of the dream...life seemed so much more laboured now...only if he could retrieve nidhi out of depression..will a job at Kgh help...how d she feel when she d hold Anji's baby...Ashutosh suddenly recalled something. ..he got up..to find what nidhi had been looking at that morning...He scanned the wardrobe ...n behind her bangle box ..he found a pink bag...with trembling hands...he opened it...As he slumped on to the bed...spreading the pictures of cute lil babies ..

Cut from magazines ...or printed out...babies with curly hair..babies..with a smile...some with their teddies...

These were nidhi's secret yearnings..her dreams that she had cherished when she was pregnant...the dream had been shattered by mallika...n yet the relics refused to die. ..

Ashutosh sat in front of the lovely pics...as his mind was in rewind mode...

It was a cold night..when a preggy nidhi had tried to cajole him to read out Goldilocks n the three bears to her n their baby...n he had postponed it for the next day...he had been reading for a surgery...nidhi had kissed his side burns n said"theek hai..jab time ho to sunaayiyega..hum dono kahi bhi ho..sun lenge..."

Ashutosh's heart strings seemed to tug...how had he forgotten this...why had nidhi never asked again...he got up...he knew he d find no peace until...

20 minutes later..having found Grimm's fairy tales below nidhi's petticoats..he opened the story of Goldilocks...n looking at those lovely kid pictures ...n the one of a pouting nidhi that he kept on hus bedside...he cleared his throat...n began to read...

"IN A COTTAGE LIVED A YOUNG GIRL OF 6 EITH HER PARENTS...SHE HAD HOLDEN HAIR N SO WAS CHRISTENED GOLDILOCKS...

ONE DAY..."

Dr Ashutosh continued to read...to the pictures of the children his wife had cherished...to the happy pregnant nidhi...to his own self..overburdened with pain n guilt...n to that unborn baby...for whom this book had been bought...he knew she was gone...she could not hear her dad..n yet he remembered what nidhi had said that night...

"Kahin bhi ho..hum sun lenge..."and so he continued...trying to bring relief to himself..to nidhi..to the memory of the child that they lost...

Yes their paradise had been lost..could it be regained??

He did not know...but his heart told him..their lost baby was listening to this story ..that her dad was telling...and telling a lil too late...where was she??who was she??he d never know...she was now shapeless...nameless...someone..somewhere...but she lived in their hearts..in their memories..in their tears...his n nidhi's...yes someone somewhere was listening and smiling ...probably saying"one more story...papa"!!

Dr Ashutosh could not read any further. .he removed his specs to wipe his eyes...but then put them back..n continued...he had to tell the story to their lost baby...

Quote

Bhavit Kapoor

@bawaswift

Stunner

Posted: 9 years ago

#70

Chapter Sixty six...

kuch sapne jeewan bhar saath saath...

Dedicated to Sakha Sakhi &my dear grand son SHUBH who begins a new chapter of life today!God bless him.

It was at 1.30 that nidhi was called for the viva...she had barely finished ger juice but she knew she had to rush in..

In the viva hall she found herself facing Dr Rai, Dr mathew n the head of the panel DR SHARMA..yes the one who had tried his best that she was not given the mbbs degree..Nidhi pushed a stray tendril of hair back..she knew a battle lay before her..n she was ready for it!

"Your case reports dr Nidhi Verma"

Nidhi looked at dr Mathew n said"sir the reports are here but i am dr nidhi Ashutosh not nidhi verma any longer.."!

"Oh yes how can we forget that..you are the dean's wife.."said dr Sharma n then continued "surprisingly Dr Ashutosh hasn't called up to help you out...he is always so protective about you"!

Nidhi took a deep breath n reparted"sir ..he is my husband so naturally he s protective..but let me put the record straight ..he jas never ever let me have any special privilege.."

Dr Sharma retorted "tell me dr Nidhi..what made you fall for a man your father's age"!

Nidhi stood up.."Drs i am sorry..but i thought this viva was for my MD.i did not know it was a personal score settler.i am sorry but i d like to leave..n would lodge a complaint with the IMA..also your behaviour n questions border on outraging my dignity..n you can be tried under the Vishakha guidelines ..sir"!

Dr Sharma looked at the other two..all rather shocked..they had expected dr nidhi to break down.like a lamb.instead she was fighting like a tigress!

Dr Sharma cleared his throat n signalled nidhi to sit.."dr nidhi..plz do not get agitated ...we d ask only about your cases ..if that is what you want ..

Tell me bed no.13.you are treating him for kalazar n have started Hetrazan even before the confirmatory blood report..is that prudent..is that safe"?

Dr nidhi braced up

..."yes sir..the blood count was low..spleen inflammed and breathing fast..which all indicated of kalazar.the blood report would have taken another 1 day..n the patient might have deteriorated irreversibly by then..and sir he has shown remarkable improvement..also sir i believe my instincts..

A dr should"!

Dr Rai spoke "dr nidhi..aap jaise drs to pathologists ki practise khatm ker denge...not fair"!

Nidhi looked up sharply n added"sir medical profession is not a money making business..we are drs not contractors"!

The viva meandered through the different cases till finally dr Sharma fired his last salvo."dr nidhi..just one last question..a personal one..n i hope you dont get whatever guidelines invoked on me...but its reglective of your professional incompetence...we saw you hugging that child...if you become so personally involved in each case..well i feel it d be difficult to treat them...after all a dr has to be guided by his head..not heart"?

Nidhi thought for a moment..n then looked up"yes sir ...a dr needs to think with his head..but he can also not be heartless...neither am i"!

Dr Sharma smiled maliciously n asked"is this love for children so..because you have not been able to have one..."nidhi looked straight..holding back her tears..for she knew it was a well though out plan to agitate n break her..to prove her incompetence..she replied"sir..i may not have any child of my own..but like every woman..i have a mother's heart..n the pain of children tugs at me..as it should..for me my patients can never be mere bed numbers..they are living beings..n i shall treat them that way"!

Dr Sharma pursed his lips n then looking at the board said"thanx dr nidhi..now proceed for your last 12 hr duty in the ward ..n submit the final report of bed no.13 n 34 by morning."!

Nidhi walked out into the watd..determined to save her patients ..n her reputation because she knew to her victory was linked the name of the man she d never like to be slighted...dr Ashutosh!

**************

Ashutosh had been replying to dr Pooja's mail.telling her that he d get nidhi's tests done in a few days time and mail the reports.He queried if they should fly to Sydney to meet her.He also sent his cell no.as he wrote "i feel i d be able to explain the situation better..if we could talk.

Regards

Dr Ashutosh "!

And then he looked at his watch..it was 12.30 in the night..sleep was miles away..he had got the room arranged..taken out nidhi's clothes himself..n ws now counting moments for 8 O click..when the process would get over..He just hoped nidhi would sail through..he was confident she would..but her vulnerable situation..seemed to make him gulp. ..he just wanted to pamper n care for her..and hoped he d not be called for an emergency!

He had met the kgh board informally and they were delighted at her returning to kgh..now it was just a matter of time..till she got her degree of MD!another week!

Could they take time off n go somewhere??Ashtosh sighed..he knew his schedule was very tight...uff!

He closed his eyes...as he saw nidhi in her convocation gown...carrying her degree ...n a cute chubby baby ..with a pink band in curly hair...

Ashutosh smiled in his sleep...as tears seemed unable to be held back...

*********

Dr Pooja had just got back from her rounds n sat on her desks ..when the convo with Advit resonated in her mind...yes the boy had been lonely...had she been fair to him..depriving him of all relationships..did he really not have a right to meet his dad...would Arvind snatch him away??will he fight a custody suit...?

She checked her mail ...n smiled as she read dr Ashutosh's desire to talk to her..why was this case so emotionally involving for her...what was it???she was unable to answer...but yes all situations seemed to be drawing her to india...india where in lay her past..her love..her hatred...dr bhagat...

No she needed to first sort out her own feelings before she let Advit meet his past...a past that his mom could not handle.

************

Nidhi filed her final report..the patho reports had reconfirmed her diagnosis ..the patients were much better...her stand had been vindicated...she felt happy..but vv tired..n her back splitting down to the hips..and abdominal muscles cramping...she stood with an effort as she presented her file to the board..n dr Sharma a lil red faced ..seeing all had turned in nidhi's favour ..signed and wrote his comments.

Nidhi emerged ...it was 8.45 and as she knocked at dr Bhagat's cabin ..she got no reply...she peeped in...dr Bhagat had dozed of...she went in..tried to cough to mark her presence...but it was a tired sleep...and in front on the table lay his open wallet ...with the picture of a very lovely lady...

Nidhi softly shut the door of dr Bhagat's cabin n emerged..thinking who that lady in the pic was??was it his girlfriend??wife??nidhi thought as she walked out ..acutely tired and her back splitting down the middle though surprisingly her abdomen hurt more...

As she came out..she saw the blue BMW and the senior neurosurgeon who had fallen for her leaning against it..She walked a lil faster ..but fatigue was over powering and as Dr Ashutosh saw her..he walked upto her with firm n quick steps ..putting his protective arm around her ..as he asked "kaisi ho.."?and nidhi just held onto his arm as he opened the door ..n she kind of stumbled in..As dr Ashutosh started the car..throwing her apron n stetho to the back seat and she just mumbled .."ghar chaliye plz"!

Ashutosh had thoughtof taking her to pizza hut..but she was clearly in no condition and he gently touched her forehead..."how was the viva.."??nidhi didn't reply...as he repeated the question..she moaned softly .."Dr Sharma was there..yaad hai na dr Sharma"??and Ashutosh nodded..ofcourse he remembered the creep..he seemed worried"so..did he trouble.."??nidhi shook her head "don't worry ..i managed..bus chaliye ab..i am not well..plz"!

Nidhi seldom said that..and as she moaned Ashu realised the pain must have been unbearable. .he drove fast...and as they entered the mathur niwas..nidhi got down..adjusting her pallu...n walked with dr Ashutosh running to support her..

Nidhi smiled at baba n said..."kych nahi baba...bus i am vv tired..thats all"Baba understood as ashu took nidhi in and she opened her wardrobe for more ST and the gown that ashu had kept for her..Ashutosh just warned"door latch nahi karna.."nidhi nodded as she undressed n stood under the shower..soaping ..cleaning..shampooing..Ashutosh peeped in twice and sighed as he could see her dressing up..and as she stumbled out..he just lifted her to bed...

Nidhi lay on the bed moaning ..drawing her knees to her abdomen..as Ashutosh realised the intensity of pain.He got up to get a hot water bottle and put it on her back...warming the abdomen with his hands..tender n soft..and he pulled her legs down..caressing her hair.."you d be fine..just try to relax..plz..easy raho..cramps will reduce.."he kept caressing her and it was after about 45 minutes that nidhi seemed to relax..n her eyelids drooped..the clenched hands relaxed..n she slowly drifted into sleep...

Dr Ashutosh knew she needed to be fed but sleep n relaxation was more important ...he slowly put pillows around her back ..and got up..he knew an hour or so of deep sleep d help her...

As he emerged ..kaka asked"beta..kuch khaayegi nahi beti"??Ashtosh smiled at the concern his kaka ..the man who had tended him wver since he came to this house..had such love for his wife...ashu knew how eager kaka was to cuddle his babies..he sighed ..and said"kaka so legi to better feel karegi..thaki hai bahut zyada..."and then added "kaka..daal chawal bana deejiye..bhindi ke saath.."kaka smiled'sab ready kar raha hoon..bus tu usse utha dena ..khila dena..pata nahi kyun peeche pada tha bachchi ke md ke liye..kab tak padhoge tum log"??

Ashu smiled as he returned to nidhi..just sitting by her..pressing her back ..till the lumbar region..and slowly he could feel she was relaxed n in deep sleep..

As Ashutosh sat by her..he knew her viva must have been tough..he knew the mentality of many of his colleagues and all they held against nidhi..but now she d be back in kgh..cocooned under his guidance..his mind went back to thise lovely moments when he had fallen for her...but then his eyes were clouded..will nidhi feel better working in children's ward..or will her personal loss hurt her even more??How could he share n lessen her grief..that was what troubled him the most..he knew he needed to share with ger that he was in touch with dr Pooja..but what if that gave her falso hope..and more heart break..Ashutosh bit his lip...n looked at his watch..she had been sleeping for an hour..probably he should wake her up...

Ashutosh sat by nidhi..clise to her..holding her face in his hands ..he asked .."nidhi..utho to...kuch khaogi ..le aaoon "??and nidhi opened her eyes with great difficulty..and Her husband ryshed to get a plate with steaming rice..spicy bhindi n dal..as he sat n mixed the dal..n said"chalo..muh kholo.."and nidhi opened her mouth..n ashutosh put the first bite..as nidhi smiled n rubbed her eyes..and opened her mouth.."aur..."and ashutosh fed more...

As he cleared the hair that covered her face...n it seemed the moon emerged from behind the clouds..

He gently nudged nidhi.."how was ur diagnosis. . n viva"??nidhi yawned "diagnosis was correct ..but viva was ..kind of a war zone..they were nasty. ..i didn't like it...dr Ashutosh sab humse itna kyun chidte hain..whats their problem in life"??

Ashutosh pushed her hair strands and said..."naasamajh hain..ya pyaar ko samajhte nahi...ab bus kgh aane ki taiyyari karo..."!nidhi giggled in delight and Ashutosh imagined her carrying that lil cuddly baby with pink band in her curly hair...n nidhi suddenly touched him n said"kya khwaab dekh rahe hain..."?and Ashutosh just cuddled her...

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ek tha raja.. ek thi titli ! Story so far.. ! NO COMMENTS PLEASE !!! - Page 7

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