FF - Destiny's Play (4) Chapter 13 Pg 104 SIGGY pg 130 - Page 75

In this chapter I just loved Arman. He is Ashutosh's friend, philosopher and guide in the true sense. He makes Ashu understand that Nidhi was fighting this battle alone ever since she joined as an intern and she doesn't care any more and if at all Ashu wants to do any thing for her is only to make her feel that he is there by her side.

This lady! The last he checked, the birth rate in India was 29 babies per minute. Why don't some of them come to KGH? It sure would make her too busy to butt into anyone's business. "

Loved these musings of Arman.

This ashu has a willingness to fight for his and Nidhi's happiness and dares them to ask him about their relationship. with his address to the staff and doctors he won the trust of Nidhi. Armaan's was so apt"pyar kiya to darna kya'

Nidhi calls and informs Ashu that she topped her batch and gets disappointed as he cuts the call without even congratulating her. but the call from the security that he is at the gate changes her mood from disappointment to confusion to overwhelming happiness. The song from Zakhm'Tum aaye to aye mujhe yaad gali me aaj chand nikla''. Even her looking at her dress adjusting the hair arranging the cushions all reminded me of PUJA BHATT.

Ashutosh's standing at her threshold is like the personification of all her dreams and their moments togather are so very well described. Being a responsible person and elder of the two Ashu shows restraint which is not so easy under those circumstances.

His understanding of her unfinished sentence as to why she left the house and her baba brings him to the threshold of her Baba's house.

Col.Verma is not only a disciplined officer of the armed forces but an astute businessman too. By now he might have understood the reason for his daughter's leaving his home even if he could not attach a face and name to it.

The siggy for the next chapter shows a happy Col.Verma looking at ashutosh so I hope and wish that he welcomes and approves his would be son in law.

The Sun has start shining and the lovers are happy with it. It's awesome to see CV happy with them. Good sign. 👏👏😃

And the song is so nice, wordings are so beautiful - Suvi di, Loved it! Waiting for the chapter. 😳

soon😃

Chapter Thirteen

Ashutosh joined his palms. "Namaste Colonel Verma."

CV blinked in confusion but soon his manners took over. He stepped back with a warm smile of welcome. "Hello. Please, come. Come. Have a seat Dr Ashutosh." He waited until Ashutosh took a seat before sitting across from him. Both men remained silent as neither knew how to start.

Finally Ashutosh adjusted his eyeglasses and smiled wryly. "You must be thinking why I'm here today out of the blue."

"Yes. Uh I mean..Nidhi.. She is fine, right? Is this about her?"

"Yeah, yeah. She is absolutely fine." Ashutosh took a deep breath. "And yes, this is about her. And..me."

CV frowned. "I..don't understand."

"Col. Verma, I'm in love with your daughter. And she loves me too."

Silence. Complete and absolute silence reigned in the room. CV's thoughts raced as he saw everything that happened in the last three years in a new light. Nidhi's joy while she was in KGH during her internship, her abrupt resignation which he had felt at that time had been forced upon her, her tears, her pain, her refusal to marry Rohan or name the guy in her heart, her tense face when he had met her a couple of weeks back and finally her sparkling voice this morning. He got up and walked towards the window. He knew..he had suspected it had to be something like this. His daughter was in love with a man fifteen years older than her.

"You. It was you!"

Ashutosh also got up and turned towards CV. "Yes."

"I want to know everything Dr Ashutosh."

Ashutosh nodded and told him. Everything. From their first meeting till the night he had dropped Nidhi at her apartment and she had told him about living away from her family. Finally sighed and said, "I never wanted Nidhi to go through any of that sir. I never wanted to deprive Nidhi of her family. I know what it is like to not have one."

"Nevertheless, that is what my daughter did. She isolated herself from us all and what more; she refused to tell the name of the person she loved." CV turned and looked at Ashutosh squarely in the eye. "I didn't understand at first. But later on I began to suspect. She refused to give the name because the person she loved had already broken her heart."

Ashutosh flinched but nodded. "Yes sir."

"Yet, she followed your footsteps. Chose the same speciality and now is going to get a gold medal."

Unmistakeable pride and undeniable pain blended in Ashutosh's eyes. "Yes."

Both the emotions touched a chord in the older man. "So what do you want from me now? Why are you here?"

"I want Nidhi to have her family back."

Something in CV's eyes eased at that but he persisted. "And you? I presume you want her back too."

"Yes."

"What changed now Dr Ashutosh? You are still 15 years older than her."

"I tried living without her sir." Ashutosh shook his head. "I couldn't do it. I can't do it anymore."

"And the society? Its snide derogatory comments?"

"I would face anything and everything if I had her beside me. And I would try my level best to protect her from them."

"And if you changed your mind again? You got scared before, didn't you? What's to say it won't happen again? That you won't get cold feet again?"

A sad smile flinted across his face but he refused to look away from CV. "Then I might as well stop living sir. I can't comprehend my life..my today or my tomorrow without her."

"You want to marry her."

Ashutosh swallowed and nodded once. "Yes Col Verma. I want to marry your daughter."

"Did you ask her?"

"No sir. I wanted to..I had to talk to you first."

CV's face relaxed enough to let a small smile filter through. "And when do you plan to ask her? I don't imagine she would say no but.."

Ashutosh stumbled at that. "J-Ji?"

CV sighed and gestured Ashutosh to take the seat. Both men once again resumed their places. Ashutosh could see the tiredness etched on the older man's face. "Dr Ashutosh..I want my Nidhi back. I..miss her. I'm not entirely comfortable with her marrying a man 15 years older to her. But the last almost three years have shown me a few things. One, Nidhi is sure of her feelings and is not going to change her mind no matter what I say or do. She could've come to me and told me all this. I would've understood." He shook his head. "But she didn't do that. She probably thought I would push her to move on which she was not ready to do."

"I know. I should've come to you.."

CV continued as if Ashutosh hadn't spoken. "Two, I have brought up my daughter to be a confident woman able to take independent decisions of her own. Now, if she has taken this decision, I have to learn to respect it. You and I both know that she is strong enough to face the consequences whatever they might be. She has proved it to us in the last couple of years. Three, I like the way you came here today." His thoughts went back to his own past. "Reminds me of myself when I stood almost in the same way and faced my wife's father."

To say that Ashutosh was floored was putting it mildly. "Sir, I.."

CV halted him by raising his hand. "But my bua. It's not going to be easy convincing her. It will take time and there is no guarantee that she would one day accept your relationship."

"I understand."

"Let's see. I'll talk to her once she gets back home. Want to have some tea Ashutosh?" Ashutosh nodded. "CS! CS! Dr Ashutosh aur mereliye do cup chai."

CS came out of the kitchen wiping his hands and with a broad grin on his face. "Ji abhi laya. Dactar saab, aapkeliye adrak chai lau? Humaari Nidhi bibiji ko bahut pasand hain." Ashutosh smiled and nodded. CS went back doing a jaunty two-step that made both men laugh a little.

Ashutosh adjusted his glasses and said, "Sir, there is something else I want to talk about."

"Sure. Go ahead."

****

Nidhi closed the file and looked at the assembled interns. "Today we have a case of muscular dystrophy. What do you know about it?"

One girl raised her hand. "It is a group of muscle diseases that weaken the musculoskeletal system and hamper locomotion."

Nidhi nodded. "It is characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness, defects in muscle proteins and the death of muscle cells and tissue."

Another boy raised his hand. "It is genetic, right Dr Nidhi?"

Again Nidhi nodded. "Sadly, yes. While I was an intern we had a case in KGH." Her eyes darkened with remembered pain and helplessness. Of the doctors. Of her Ashuji. "The boy was all of 19-20 years old. He got worse and worse until he was brain dead." She looked at the assembled interns. "And you know what the mother did?" They shook their heads. "She donated her son's two kidneys, two eyes and his heart. Heart had to be transplanted within 40 minutes. Whole of Lucknow traffic was held to a standstill while the team raced again the time so that the heart could reach the other hospital where the transplant was to take place. The surgery was a huge success. That was probably the only time Dr Ashutosh touched the feet of someone in his professional career. The mother blessed him and said, Dr Ashutosh, my son is now alive in five people."

Eyes misted for everyone assembled over there. Even the two male interns looked away and swallowed. Nidhi shook her head. "The strength of a woman! A mother."

"Dr Nidhi? We heard you got your result and that you topped your batch? Uh, Dr Ranganath was mentioning." Nidhi nodded and got her smile back.

"Congratulations Dr Nidhi."

Nidhi shook the hands of all the five interns. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

"This is great news Dr Nidhi. We want a party." One girl inserted still a little hesitant but encouraged by the naturally friendly smile and relaxed demeanour of Nidhi.

"Sure. Lunch is on me today."

"Yuppie!" they chorused.

"If you all are done gossiping, can we go to the rounds and see a few patients?" Ashutosh's deep baritone gave everyone a guilty start. Nidhi bit her tongue but held her silence while the interns scrambled to fetch their notebooks and pens. His impassive gaze passed from one intern to another as he asked, "Can you name one neurological disorder that is passed on genetically?"

All five chorused, "Muscular dystrophy," and exchanged sheepish looks.

His eyebrow rose as he met Nidhi's twinkling eyes. "Leaking the cases I see. Come on, let's start the rounds."

"Should I come along sir?" Nidhi asked.

"Are you an intern Dr Nidhi Verma?"

The interns snickered and elbowed each other. Ashutosh left with the team without a backward glance but Nidhi couldn't resist making a face at his back before turning and walking towards the OPD. A naughty thought struck her and she quickly pulled out her phone.

****

Armaan entered Ashutosh's cabin. He didn't bother knocking since the door was wide open. Ranganath, Mallika and Nidhi were already there along with Ashutosh. Armaan frowned. "I was called?"

Ashutosh nodded and gestured him to sit. "Not official Armaan. Sit."

"You two are getting married?" Armaan's eyes lit up.

Ashutosh glowered and Nidhi coughed to cover her embarrassment. "Shut up Armaan."

"It was not funny Armaan!" Mallika glared, fuming.

"Arre what did I say? You said it's not official so I assumed.."

Ranganath cleared his throat. "Sir, the AIMC sanctioned the grant. I just got the email."

"Woohoo! Awesome!" Armaan clapped and everyone grinned and agreed.

Ashutosh took up from there. "So, I was thinking..why not have a get together? Just us. At my house. Tonight dinner?"

"Great idea Ashutosh." Mallika looked delighted.

Armaan shrugged. "Sure. But my younger one is down with mild fever so I'll be coming alone."

Ashutosh frowned. "That OK? We can have it another day if.." Armaan waved it away. Ashutosh looked at Ranganath. "You and Anji are also invited Ranganath."

Ranganath smiled and nodded. "Sure sir. Thank you."

Ashutosh got up. The rest followed suit. "So, see you all at around..6.30- 7?"

They nodded and left. All except Nidhi, who hovered at the door biting her lip. "Am..Am I invited too?"

Ashutosh shook his head. "No." He paused at her crestfallen expression before continuing mildly, "You don't need an invitation to walk into your own house Nidhi."

And just like that her entire face buoyed up. She took a step closer as if wanting to leap into his arms, stopped herself, nodded, blinked the mist away from her eyes and nodded again. Ashutosh stuffed his hands in his trouser pockets in an effort to stop them from misbehaving. But he could do nothing about his eyes that seared her with their passion. "We'll go together?"

"Yes..uh no. I need to go to my apartment and change." She gestured to her work clothes and made a face. "I'll come on my own."

"You sure? I can.."

"No. You go home and relax. I'll come."

He grinned and nodded. With a small wave she floated away.

****

HK opened the door and a broad grin split his face. "Arre Nidhi beti! Aao, aao. Andar aao. Kaisi ho?"

Nidhi smiled and after a loving glance at the threshold, she stepped inside. And looked around. Nothing had changed. "Kaise hain kaka?"

"Mein toh teek hoon beta. Tum batao, tum kaisi ho?"

"Mein teek hoon. Uh..umm..Dr Ashutosh?"

"Woh aaya aur phirse kahi chalagaya. Tum baito. Aata hi hoga. Bhaagta hua gaya tha."

Nidhi frowned. "KGH?"

HK shook his head. "Nahi. Sirf itna kaha ki baahar jaraha hoon. Aadhe ghante mein waapas aajaunga."

Nidhi nodded. "Mein kuch madad karu kitchen mein aapki?"

HK smiled. "Abhi nahi. Thodi der baito, jab madad chahiye toh bulalunga."

"Pakka?"

HK laughed. "Haan, pakka."

Nidhi grinned and went to explore the house. She had been right. Nothing much had changed. She went into the study. Her fingers lovingly ran over the writing desk, his books, chair and the photographs hanging on the wall. Ashutosh and his baba. She traced the laughter on his lips with the tip of his finger. And her eyes fell on the dark grey shirt thrown over the back of the chair.

You don't need an invitation to walk into your own house Nidhi.

She hugged the shirt and those words to her heart. My house! He said this is my house now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9mM1lX8UCc

She hugged the shirt tighter and twirled around the room before holding it in front of her like it was a person..her Ashutosh and started waltzing.

Ghunji Si Hai Sari Fiza Jaise Bajti Ho Shehnaiyaan
Leherati Hai Mehki Hawa Gungunati Hain Tanhaiyaan
Sab Gaate Hain Sab Hi Madhosh Hain
Hum Tum Kyun Khamosh Hain
Saaz - E- Dil Chedo Na
Chup Ho Kyun Gaavon Na

With a quick look around to make sure no one was watching, she wore his shirt over her sari. Without buttoning it up, she hugged it to her once again and continued her dance.

Aao Na.. Ao Na... Aao Na... Aao Na...

Ashutosh walked into the house in his rust coloured t-shirt and tan trousers wondering why the main door had been left wide open. Before he could call out to HK, HK came out of the kitchen and gestured him to go to his study; his eyes giving away the identity of the person in the study. Ashutosh's entire face lit up as his quick strides took him in that direction. The scene that met him stopped him dead in his tracks. Nidhi..his Nidhi draped in a beautiful rose wine silk sari with thin silver border. But the upper half of her was covered with his shirt. The shirt that was almost touching the top of her knees. He made sure she couldn't spot him and watched her joy spill out in her dance.

Tan Man Mein Kyun Aise Behti Huyi
Thandi Si Ik Aag Hai
Saason Mein Hai Kaisi Yeh Ragini
Dhadkan Mein Kya Raag Hai
Yeh Hua Kya Humein Hum Ko Samjhaoo Na..
Sab gate hain, sab hee madhosh hain

Aao na, aao na, aao na, aao na

After drinking in her radiance and rapture for a few more moments, he took out his phone and clicked the call button for her number. A moment later he heard the music as the call got connected. But he must have made some noise or she sensed his presence like she usually did. She stopped her dance, saw him and leapt towards her handbag. Next second the music stopped. Her cheeks turned pink and then red as she hastily started to remove his shirt. Ashutosh walked into the room, perched against his writing desk, caught hold of her hand and gently pulled her into his arms, shirt and all. She bit her tongue in apparent embarrassment and with a giggle, hid her face in his chest.