Posted:
Dedicated to all my friends who have savoured the love of AshNi..
EPILOGUE
Dr Ashutosh parked his car ,and loosened his tie as he ran his fingers in his hair..now peppered with grey strands and walked to his home carrying a Cadbury silk milk chocolate for his wife..yes his Nidhi..who had been Dr Nidhi Verma till two years back but then became Dr Nidhi Ashutosh in a registry office...and three months back she changed to a super mom..of his two chubby fiesty n adorable babies..
He hummed as he entered "yaad kiya dil ne kahaan ho tum..jhoomti bahaar hai kahaan ho tum"!
Nidhi looked up from the chair in which she sat breast feeding Maggi..their curly haired impish daughter..who had been named "Aastha"and the plump but comparitively quiet son.."Vishwas"or Vishy gurgled in the bouncer..Nidhi pouted"der se aate hain..kum se kum gaana to koi achcha ga liya kariye"!!and dr Ashutosh smiled as he washed his gands ..took off his coat ..and rushed through a bath to come n hold his maggi while nidhi fed Vishy as Ashutosh sat by her and while he baby talked maggi ..he gave nidhi her gift..her chocolate. .and opened it with her help..as she took a big bite..n he a tiny one!!
"Kaisa tha din"??he asked and nidhi smiled as she got up and held Vishy in her arms..."aaj in dono ne dono helpers ko rulaya..khoob roye when they tried to hold them..aur jaise his baba aaye ..unke aur kaka ke paas maze se chale gaye..doodh piya..aur of course mera khoon to roz hi peete hain"!!Ashutosh laughed..as he extended his arm to hold Vishy and rubbed his nose on nidhi's cheek..and said "lagta hai in dono ko bhi baba aur kaka ko hi oaalna hoga"!!and then turning serious he said"jaao..have a shower..ek dum tired lag rahi ho..phir khaate hain"!and nidhi yawned as she took her nightie n gown that Ashutosh had kept for her on the bed..
Nidhi emerged feeling refreshed n clean as she saw her husband rubbing his nose to the infants..who now recognised him and smiled when he put a finger under their chin...
Nidhi stood smiling as she closed her eyes to recall dr Hardstone. .the lonely bitter neurosurgeon. ..he looked up..n asked "kya soch rahi ho..chalo..dinner ke liye"!and as the family sat for soup n Paneer rolls made by Teesta who had been employed to look after maggi ..but the brat refused to even look at her!!
Nidhi ate with relish as baba n armaan held the babies ..maggi laughing loudly and Vishy rubbing his eyes..
Ashutosh finished his meal n said "main sulata hoon isse..yeh madam to abhi khelegi shayad"!!and as nidhi talked to baba..armaan looked softly at his friend holding his daughter to his heart n humming a melody...and as nidhi caught the moisture in his eyes..he joked"soch raha tha..ki bachche is gadhe ke paas kyun so jaate hain!!!arre itte boring gaane jo sunata hai"!!and baba laughed as kaka came n served kheer..taking one for his Ashu..n took Vishy in his arms..pride..joy n fulfilment so clear in his eyes..
"Finally so gayi yeh balaa"said nidhi as Ashu took maggi n put her in the crib..a lovely woodden one with pink nets..both the cribs in one nursery..while in the other were their boyncers..toys
He came to the bed as nidhi cuddled to him...and he held her by the waist..she pouted "mera weight kaise kum hoga"??he quipped"diet to kar hi rahi ho..buss chocolates khati ho"!!and she tried to turn away..but he held her..and kissed her nose.."gussa to buss naak pe rakhha rehta hai.."!!
And nidhi put her head on his chest..and he played with her long hair..and then he asked her..."kal pata hai na kya hai"??nidhi mumbled..half sleepy.."kya..koi vaccination hai kya"??and he laughed "no buddhu..kal woh tumhara valentine's day hai..bhool gayin"??nidhi opened her eyes wide and sat up.."aapko yaad tha"??and Ashutosh smiled as he said"pehle shehzadi salooba ki baaradari..phir dinner..aur phir ek looong drive..bus main aur tum"!!and nidhi batted her eyelids n added"aur jab waapas aayenge tab tak baba kaka armaanji aur poori neighbourhood valentines day manaa rahi hogi in do badmaashon ke saath"!!
Ashutosh sighed n held her.."dont worry..baba sambhaal lenge..thoda trouble honge but...dada hain to..itta to karna padega..kyun"!!and nidhi hugged him...
*****
Next evening..Ashutosh dressed in his dark grey suit and Nidhi in ger pale pink churidaar kurta lit a lantern at the baradari..their fingers interlinked...as they recalled the years gone by...n then as they drove..the years to come...and nidhi hummed
"Kuch to hai zuroor...dil mera kitna majboor..jaanje bhi tu jaane na...sainyaan naino ki bhasha samjhe na.."!and Dr Ashutosh entwined his fingers with hers...
THE END.
Cricket
