Wedded Bliss
Part~21
Dutta returned to the waiting room and sat next to Naku on the same chair at an angle. His thigh pressed against her sari his arm around her shoulders.. he looked down at her.. a feeble "Saab" escaped her lips . He noticed her lips began to turn pale.. impatiently he got up and got hold of a passing white coat doctor," what kind of emergency do you people attend to ? jab koi mar jaye!" he challenged. The doctor looked up at him, "dekho, aap ke barre aye ge.. it's turn system here.. Dutta yelled , "to hell with your turn system! you need to attend to my wife right now"! and Baji turned up and tapped the doctor on his shoulder, " areee dekho safeed coat! pata bhi hai ye Dutta Bhau hai, or woh wahan pe Dutta Bhau ke patni hai, samhaje mein aya ? ya phir dosera tareeka se samjhoon? Dutta raised his palm , and gave Baji the look, "I am dealing with it, that's enough.. The doctor turned and called for a nurse who came toward's Naku , but Dutta offered his hand to Naku and she clasped it tightly and squeezed his palm as she struggled up on her feet.. tacitly, Dutta blocked all looks around him, he put his arm around her shoulders and walked her to the examining room..
Dutta, entered regardless of the exasperated looks of the nurse and doctor and Naku suddenly doubled her belly and produced near choking sounds. The nurse ran and offered her a kidney container to retch.. and Dutta , folded his arms against his chest and begun, "see doctor I told my wife clearly to abstain from having these savoury treats, but I guess I wasn't forceful enough! and she just tucked into a plate one too many"
The doctor looked at Naku and then nodded at Dutta, as he turned to Naku and questioned, "when did the vomiting start ?Dutta replied, "less then four hours!.The doctor further more asked her, "at what intervals did the vomiting happen? Dutta narrowed his eyes and glowered, eeeye! doctor what kind of a question is this? abhi vomit jab aaye tu aaye! she didn't go checking the time! forget your ridiculous question? and jhanch chalo kar! check her properly, waise I can tell you just by looking at her it's a case of food poisoning, and I am not even a doctor! he declared, as he yanked his head. The doctor looked nervously at Dutta and then looked at Naku from far. Dutta stood with his legs slightly apart, arms held loosely behind his back. It was evident to the doctor this husband won't move. Instead the doctor was asked authoritatively by Dutta , "will you carry out the check up? if so I would prefer that a lady doctor dealt with her ,you see my wife would be less under duress , can't you see how vacant and unwell she looks" Dutta pointed to Naku.The doctor explained, "woh kya haina, lady doctor I'll see if one is available.." said the fed up doctor. Meanwhile Dutta came out of the examining room as Baji sped to his side, "what did they say is wrong with her Bhau? Dutta screwed his eyes and turned to look at Baji, and carped"bloody nothing so far! mera shakal dekh rehe thein dono doctor or nurse! I told them what was wrong but no! they thought main koi gadha hoon! he roared and Baji, protested ,"us doctor ka tu main band baja doon! use tu main bhi bata doon, chaat kha ke Naku ka ye hal hai! koi dawa dein aur discharge karien use! he yelled.. and Dutta glared at him and ordered, "oyee tu edhur kya kar raha hai? go to the car! Anay he's is on his own in the car koi masti na kar dale and don't bring him in here germs hain hospital mein don't want him to catch anything".. and Baji toddled off.
Dutta peeked into the room and found her alone on the bed.. he went in and sat by her bedside, and looked into her eyes as he brushed back her hair off her clammy brow,"humm? tu thek tu haina? woh doctor aaye ge , tu tell her bloody straight what's wrong with you, ask for the medicine so we can go, they just like to faff around her , trying to show they are busy! like main adhur faltu beitha hoon! Dutta moaned. Naku giggled and he glared at her and she pressed her smiling mouth with both her palms.. Dutta looked at her , with mischief and said , "you're pulling my leg aren't you Naku? thujhe kuch nehi hoya bas sirf drama kerti hai tu , so I can look long and hard at you"..and she started to double up and Dutta got up and made a beeline for the door and almost collided with the incoming white coated lady doctor. Dutta informed the nurse, "my wife's about to throw up, so ummmh, attend to her.."
They squeezed past him but turned to him.. "it's ok , ummh I presume you are the husband.. Dutta most offended squared up his shoulders and looked the other way and grumbled " ji haan doctor, ap ko koi sahaq hai kya?. The doctor nodded ,"no there's no need for that.. but I do need you to leave the room so that I can attend to your wife", she said firmly. But Dutta dug his heels in and replied, "actually I prefer to stay, you'll need me to describeher symptoms".The doctor smiled at him "look I understand your concern , but let the patient describe her symptoms herself.. humm, you wait outside and I'll let you know shortly what's wrong with her along with a prescription if required.."Dutta bowed his head, and felt a bit vexed as he was literally forced to leave.. he didn't think that was fair..
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Kala's cab turned into the hospital car park.. hurriedly she got out, handed the fare to the cabbie and her high heels pierced the gravel as she moved toward's the emergency entrance. Mammaaa! yelled Anay and grabbed his mum from the behind, his arms around her waist and chest pressed around his mother's bottom .She reeled around and caught his face in her palms, "Anay baaaby! love you but not now! mamaa in a hurry to see Bhau.. Baji speeded up and stood before her, "Tai tum? yahan? Kala glared at him, "why what's the big deal ? bhau hai mera !", Baji interrupted churlishly, "Tai Bhau nehi bemaar ! uske baiko hai! Kala, clasped her son's hand, turned and walked off taking long sari swishing strides. Baji jumped before her and intervened, "tai ruko! hospital's are not a nice place for children to be in, too many germs flying around, I'll keep Anay outside.. ap jao". Anay turned to Baji, and protested, "but I want to be with mamma! ,Baji grabbed his arm and warned him, finger in his face,"Anay don't back chat! and then turned to Kala helplessly; who in turn confirmed, "no Anay you stay with Baji, and be a good boy, Baji get him some snacks to keep him quiet" and she resumed her walk..
Dutta stood outside the consultation room ,one arm folded, his palm felt his stubble chin gently. His head moved and rather surprised , turned to Kala and looked down into her eyes keenly, "Tai you here? how did you get here? look I am sorry got caught up in this rigmarole! Kala bedazzled him with a smile and teased ,"well you attempted to being the world's best caring husband, nearly..Kala laughed, "but Bhau ,Naku hai he itni delicate, I am not surprised she possibly has an upset tummy, but carefully she moved on, let it be ! you tell me have the identified her mysterious illness? hope it's not catchy, like infectious!" Dutta shook his head, "not yet, they are checking her as we speak". Kala studied his furrowed brow, and remarked, "aree Dutta Bhau! people's wives do fall ill, your's is no exception you know! it's not the end of the world! be a man!.Dutta snapped," they do Tai! but mine I know! what caused the illness , uske zed to eat that blasted aloo chaat! Kala felt his shoulder, "koi nehi baache hai, young girls are known to be impulsive.. and then she was on holiday with you.. so she must have felt like it.. it 's ok to be free and frolicsome!. Dutta, doubled his chin , and defended his wife,"well I guess I am equally guilty of going along with her whim! why did I buy it for her".. Kala smiled, and accepted silently, "no point in saying anything against his wife, as somehow he turned everything around upon himself to protect her.. so much so, that's it's annoying at times, and she suggested, "why don't you go out and give Aye Sahib the update on her.. she's anxious , you know how her BP, hikes up". Dutta bowed his head in consent, and strode down the long blue corridor of the fairly new hospital.. suddenly Naku's long drawn cry, Saaab! sounded in his ears, he pressed his lips and mused, probably his imagination played games.. har jaga! Naku dekhie aur suniye dete hai.. but soon enough followed another near shriek! Saaabbb!..His body that faced northwards slowly gave a right angled turn to his black shoes, and gradually he faced southwards.. and thereafter as if in a dream he retraced his strides back to the consulting room that held her..
Naku called out Saaab! as he entered the room and held her tiny fair hand up to him. He gazed at her raised palm gingerly, the present doctor and nurse briefly stopped him in his tracks... but Naku's anticipating doe eyes pressured him and he slowly went to her and stood by her bed side awkwardly. Her green eyes shifted up and imprisoned his hooded contracted eyes in a brief encounter.. and slowly she extended her arm and her fingers, possessed his wide palm. Dutta relished the gesture as their palms pressed together. But with his head held high he looked across Naku and addressed the doctor,"I was right wasn't I?.The doctor smiled, and confirmed ,"not really Dutta Bhau, you misdiagnosed your wife's condition..".Naku pressed his hand gently with hers, as she noted his face going grave, and he questioned concerned, "you mean to say mamala serious hai doctor? will need a serious regime of treatment?.The doctor cast her eyes down at Naku and then raised them up at him and replied,"haan treatment tu she will need lots of tender loving care.. Dutta eyes, widened like an innocent school boy, and he asked, "matalab ??.. the doctor shook her head and smiled,"matalab ye ke your wife is expecting.. so many congrats! Dutta looked down at Naku utterly baffled! and his fingers closed possessively around her soft palm.. he sighed and held his breath, as briefly he turned his face the other way.. well holy smokes!.. he turned his face and lowered his twinkling eyes on her glowing face.. and spotted some tears escaped from her eyes in the soft dip of ear.. she squeezed his hand tightly.. congratulations Dutta Bhau your wife is expecting repeated the doctor to a dazed Dutta , and more tears , trickled from Naku's eyes, as she bent his hand tightly with gusto.. he hungs on to her palm and with over come welled up eyes he gazed down into her green sided eyes. Slowly he noticed the doctor and nurse left silently granting privacy to the couple. Dutta stared down besotted into her eyes and said tenderly .. "well you kept it quiet Naku".. and more tears followed from her, and she whispered, "Saab main kya bole ge" Dutta held her hand and replied, "bolne ko kuch baacha hi nehi Naku.. tune sab kar ke dekha diya hai! so stop crying! I am the one who should be crying! just lost my limited edition status! there is competition in the market for me now! he said as he turned his face the other way as he puffed his wide chest with male pride..
He received Kala's pat on his stubble and Baji's tearfully emotive hug along with Anay's loud cheer yeah! another playmate! .. Dutta rang his mother.. who was over the moon and praised Jagdammba!.. and rejoiced, as she dabbed her moist eye with the corner of her pallu.."hum bahut khush hain Dutta! holiday pe tum do gaye thein, pun laut ke tein ah rehe ho.."
Dutta returned to the consultation room and she stood their looking as innocent and pure as an angel.. he came closer to her, cupped her face in his palms, looked down into her eyes warmly and pressed his lips lightly on her forehead and whispered , "thank you for loving me Naku"... she smiled and closed her eyes.. this then was Wedded Bliss.. complete and sealed with the gift of love that belonged to both of them...
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Epilogue
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Of course goes without saying that Dutta and Naku's family were delighted at the prospect of family numbers being swelled. Within themselves, they were proud parents to begin with, of a boy Veer first.Then subsequently a girl Lakshmi.. but in a short spate of time, due to family pressures, they adhered to their Aye Sahib's wishes that Lakshmi needed a sister and henceforth arrived, Durga.. and alsothe notion that having two sons wouldn't be such a bad idea either, as they could fall back on each other's strengths and so followed Arjun!
Aye Sahib remained the most blessed mother in law of the neighbourhood! whose house hold rang with the peals of children's laughter.They were exceptional children who were born , bred and educated under the matriarchal figure of their babaa's mother.. Aye Sahib.. and their own mother Nakusha Dutta Patil and father Dutta ShriRam Patil were content with this arrangement. It meant they could have time to themselves.. to their parents life was one extended honeymoon!
As the main point to be noted was that Dutta's fervour for his Naku never diminished and her devotion to him was perpetual.
She remained his Naku, the devoted daughter in law whose goal remained familial unison.. and he her Saab the ideal family man.. their wedlock was quoted as a success story of an arranged marriage between two people who hailed from varied back grounds.. but destiny brought them together to bear the motto "and they happily lived ever after"..
They both turned into a middle aged couple gracefully.. and never moved away from their joint family unit..all fingers held together as a fist! was their secret to a fulfilling, tranquil and above all a normal family life..
Patil Nivas remained their home.. however he would once a while stare at her beautiful face and remind her of his once outrageous desires of living independently away from all the interference of his family humdrum.. today he approached the subject again, as he peered at her over his mug of hot Ovaltine.. "Naku, shall we take retirement at the dak bungalow? he questioned her. Naku looked at him and said.. "nehin Saab, main apne baachon ko chorr ke khaien nehin jaye ge! he glared at her "tere baache? woh mere baache bhi hain.. besides tera Saab tera saath hoga! who comes first tere baache ya tera pati? .. she reversed the question to him.. ap ke liya who comes first ?and without an inkling ofa doubt he replied with narrowed eyes.. "hamre baache Naku..~ Hamlet53 16.3.14
The end
So my dear readers, it's curtains time for this piece of writing. Thanks very much for reading, appreciating and commenting on this thread. Without your support, motivation and inspiration, I wouldn't have made it this far.. your comments always provided me with loads of joy and smiles, which is a rich reward for a writer like me.. remember this is not goodbye, for it cannot be so! as LTL1 still maintains its sparkle after so many years and till that remains.. stories will continue to be written about , Tasha's eternal love story...by some great writers on this forum; Rose,Daya, Bookworm,Sunset, Tamanna, to name but a few..
Thank you for your love.. hammie.
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Edited by Hamlet53 - 11 years ago
Shiv Shakti
