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Chapter 107
bin bulaye mehmaan...
Dr Ashutosh was finishing his round and was in the kids ward..chatting with the kids as he gave them their medicines..while they were distracted. .something he had learnt from his intern..his nidhi..and there was a subtle smile on his lips..
Just then the nurse rushed in..almost crying.."sir..sir..plz dr nidhi...chaliye"!and Ashutosh stood up..his eyes had a question..."was she in labour"??the nurse caught his hand n cried"sir..ek phone aaya..and woh darr gayi hain..she is..having a fit..i think.."!Dr Ashutosh called the Dr and handed over the pill box of the kuds to him and rushed in ..almost running down the corridors as he entered Nidhi's room..
He almost froze for a second..she was clattering her teeth..and twisting...he knew it was her trauma related epilepsy. .he rushed in and held Nidhi as she twisted and clattered ..uncontrollably. .he thoughtfor a split second..and called for dr Gandhi n Dr Priy5..as the sister called them over the public address n they rushed in..Ashutosh asked for .05 mg calmpose and as dr Priyanka asked "but sir ..shes pregnant " Ashutosh nodded "i know..but this way she might have a haemorrhage. .b.p is v high..pulse is 206...cant risk her life"and he inserted the needle into her thin vein..as Priyanka took the BP.."210 by 120.."she said gravely as dr Gandhi nodded "vv high..expect epistaxis"!and Ashutosh nodded as he was holding nidhi v firmly pushing the pad in between her teeth...and slowly the clattering subsided..and Priyanka pulled out the pad..as Ashutosh signalled them to go..saying"i would remain here. ..let her open her eyes..."Priyanka nodded as Dr Gandhi questioned "but what triggered it??in the morning..when i came to check on her she was happily knitting something.."!Ashutosh gulped...yes she had been knitting dreams..beautiful lovely dreams..he looked away..as the drs walked out..and signalled the sister too...but Ashutosh spoke"yes sister..."!
"Kiska phone tha..kya kaha"??Sister didnt know much..but handed over nidhi's phone to dr Ashutosh and he checked the call records...he had a hunch..but how could mallika do it..she was a prisoner even in the hospital..she didnt have a phone...he looked at the cell..dialled the number but the message was "this cell is switched off..."his briw furrowed as he told the nurse to find out if any staff of kgh had this number...
The nurse went out..and Ashutosh looked at nidhi..lying helpless with her eyes closed..
Sunaina bai came in.."sir yeh mera number hai..kal shaam se mera cell kho gaya hai..report nahi kara payi bcoz duty thi..kya baat hai sir"??Dr Ashutosh looked at the old nurse scrutinising her expression and then asked"kya aap dr Mallika ke toom me gayi thi.."??the nurse nodded "jee sir ..meri duty thi wahaan per..."Ashutosh nodded n said"jaaiye apne cell ki report lodge kare deejiye aur sim lock karwa dejiye"!Ashutosh looked at the other nurse"you can go..i am here.."and now he loosened his tie took off his grey coat and sat close to nidhi ..his hand caressing her hair..as his eyes had angst in them...he knew it was Mallika..she had somehow taken the nurse's cell n hit nidhi with the arriws of her toxic words...Ashutosh seemed to quake with anger n emotion as nidhi flapped her eyelids...he held her close..brushing his lips to her forehead..and as she opened her eyes she had fear in them...Ashutosh kept her close to him..his one arm around her n the other on her bump...as she seemed a lil lost...n then looking into his eyes..she tried to speak..but two large tears fell out ..as in anticipation dr Ashutosh put his clean hankey to ger nose. ..and observed it go red...epistaxis!!
Nidhi lay as he instructed her to..but he let ger clutch his hand..he knew she was scared...as her epustaxis subsided..he took her close n his eyes had a question in them...she knew it...and answered"she called...she cursed ..."and she hicupped in tears...Ashutosh hugged her tight..."bus nidhi..kuch nahi hoga..i am here...and now i am not going to leave you..if i have to..then baba will stay with you..aur mallika koi khuda nahi hai jo humare babies ko curse kar sakti hai..."!Nidhi was sobbing silently as Ashutosh seemed to seethe with anger and then just held her close crushing ger in his powerful embrace..while his eyes had a hot angry iron melting in them..he was viwing...that come what may ..he d never see mallika again..not even as a patient...and then nidhi cried...and ge loosened his embrace n the anger was replaced by feather softness in his deep eyes.."kya hua.."and nidhi moaned "they moved..they are moving..i think..its time.."Ashutosh looked petrified..but then the dr in him steadied him..as he said"no jaan..see your water hasn't burst. .you are scared thats all...let me see"!and he felt her abdomen as she seemed to moan loudly but there was no pulse pain..it was not labour..he caressed her tummy..his hand in her gown..feeling her stretched skin...as she seemed to relax...and he kept his hand on her ...as she held it..dreams playing in her eyes..as he said softly "kych kehna chahti ho"??and she shook her head n smiled...As ashutosh patted her.."try to sleep...you need rest..you need to be awake during labour..pata nahi kitne hours lagein..."and nidhi replied"ek baat kehni thi..mere paas zuroor laaiyega dono ko...even if i am..."and Ashutosh blinked back hus tears ..as nidhi cleared her throat..n said"bus laaiyega zuroor...promise kariye..."!and Ashutosh nodded..
Anji was editing her designs as Adwit played on the bed...Dr Ranganath had just got back from hospital n had gone to bathe..wanting to discuss all about nidhi when he emerged..Anji was lost in her world..though she did feed n care for the baby..but was it live or duty??Ranganath wondered as he dressed..n emerged...and almost at the same time there was a loud thud as Advit fell from the bed..head down..and Anji threw the lap top and ran for him...The baby yelled as Ranganath tried to hold him to see yhe injuries..but Anji clutched him...caressing his head..and her hand had blood...as she held out ger hand in a daze...yes Adwit had a cut on his head..and was bleeding...
Dr Ranganath raced his car eith Anji holdinfg Advit...to hwr breast and cuddling him..."my baby..mera baccha..."as they ran into kgh..dr Ashutosh came out...n as a fretful Anji cried ..Dr Ranganath tried to calm her..Ashutosh took Advit and instructed Priyanka to remain eith nidhi...as he took the baby to his table and examined him...
The baby held on to his watch..finding it attractive and Ashutosh smiled as he let him play as he examined him ..n put a bandaid..n then smiled"you were lucky..kuch nahi hua..this scratch is of no consequence..bus ab careful rehna ..naughty hai yeh zara..."!and dr Ranganath held the baby and a moved Anji as she wiped her tears n said"thanks jeejaji..."Ashutosh nodded n added "tumse bahut bada hoon..so advice de raha hoon..iski childhood enjoy karo...kaam aur career ruk sakte gain..iska bachpan nahi"!and Anji lowered her eyes..and asked"can we see nidhi..."??and they walked towards the room...feelinf like a family for the first time..
"Arre Anji..kya hua Advit ko..band aid kyun hai"??it was a delighted but then worried Nidhi who looked at Anji with Advit in her arms..as she struggled to get up..
Dr Ashutosh stalled her n then turned the lever to prop her up..as she wanted to hold Advit..but Ashutosh took him in his arms and held him carefully for nidhi to touch n caress...Anji sat close to ger n holding her hand. .she said"aaj finally feel hua ..maa hona kya hota hai..."and Nidhi patted her hand n then with a twinkle added"tu hai hi dull..bachpan me maths tujhe kitti der me samajh aata tha"!!and as Ranganath n Ashutosh laughed ..Anji complained genially"aur tujhe to fever ho jaata tha dar ke maare"!!and they laughed...as nidhi winced in pain...and Ashutosh was immediately by her side holding her n his eyes with that ocean of concern n comfort...as nidhi seemed to be lost in his ...and Anji coughed...and Ashutosh smiled..turning purple ...
It was a stormy night..with lightening n thunder...and as Nidhi quivered..Ashutosh got up and sat close to her..his hand on her bump..making sure she felt his presence and did not quiver or get scared...Slowly she drifted back into slumber n dreams..a smile on her lips told him..she was dreaming of their future..their kids..their life together...
"Sir..just a second"it was a very tense dr Joshi who cornered dr Ashutosh and told"sir Dr mallika has vomitted blood ..her condition is slowly turning critical..."Ashutosh sighed but remained terse"so..what can i do..dr.we are doing the best aren't we"??dr Joshi cleared his throat n said"sir..i just want to say...she is ..probably not going to last..n all she wants is to ..is to.."Ashutosh completed the sentence "all she wants is to see me!!!well doctor..give her the very best treatment..thats our duty..but she will not get to meet me..i dont owe her that..not at all..."and walked out his jaw set firmly...
Dr Priyanka sat with Nidhi..as dr Ashutosh had gone home for a while..Priyanka asked "tujhe yaad hai meri shaadi..jab tu ne dr Ashutosh ko dance ke liye kheencha tha...darr nahi laga tha"??and nidhi laughed...adding "uske baad..hum bheege they..saath..pehli baar..."and she was lost in that october memory..."42 ya 24 ..kya farq padta hai..."!!
*******
"Baba..aap theek to hain na"??it was Ashutosh asking baba ..who was rather surprised to see him"main to theek hoon..per tu yahaan kyun...bahu akeli hai meri"??Ashutosh smiled"nahi dr Priyanka hai yske saath..buss aapse milne ka bahut mann hua..."!Baba called Kaka for tea n sandwiches..and said.."jaa tu nha..main baahar baithta hoon..aur baat karenge..bachpan ki tarah..yaad hai..tu jo saamne nahi keh paata tha..woh toilet jke peeche se bolta tha.."!!Ashutosh sighed as he went in...and baba sat outside ..on AshNi bed..waiting to listen to the outpouring of his son's soul..like a bishop in the confession box..
Ashu was trimming his beard as he tried to analyse his thoughts...n then spoke.."baba..nidhi ko kal phir epiletic attack hua tha..mallika had phoned her...she was really scared.."baba took a deep breath..as he waited ...n when Ashu did not say anything..he nudged"sun raha hoon main Ashu..bol beta"!
Ashu was drying his body after the bath..and he looked across the door"baba..i have vowed never to see Mallika...lekin woh..she is on her death bed...but i dont wish to meet her...i cannot forgive her..medically my drs are foing everything but..i won't meet her baba..."!!Baba sighed as he rubbed his beard...n replied"beta...mallika teri dost shaayad kabhi nahi thi..tum dono ek doosre pe emotional parasites they...teri zindagi badal gayi..nidhi ke aane se..per mallika yeh kabhi bardasht nahi ker saki...and when a sharp mind stoops to folly ..it can be very dangerous. ..beware of Mallika...have no confusion..you have to protect Nidhi...she has suffered for no fault of hers..."!Ashutosh buttoned up his shirt and emerged...with clarity n peace...baba was his ultimate anchor...
They shared a sandwich and sipped tea as he got up...with hardly any furrow on his brow..and drove to kgh...that october morning..as it suddenly began to rain..and dr Ashutosh pressed the accelerator!
"Aa gaye aap..."??asked nidhi..as dr Priyanka walked out with a smile and Ashutosh nodded in thanks.."bolo kya hua..kaisi ho "??nidhi opened her arms..and he frowned as she pouted "doc..this is hospital not our bedroom..."nidhi reacted"tab i want yo go home..i miss you..."!!and Ashutosh smiled moving closer"miss me??yehi to hoon..main tumhare paas"!!And gave her a squeeze..as nidhi said"achcha parde hataaiye..i want to see outside"!!Ashutosh removed the curtains...and nidhi saw the steady drizzle...as her husband held her hand...and said"october ki baarish..."and nidhi looked at him..both recalling that evening after Priyanka's marriage...nidhi gulped as their past ..their separation. .their agony flashed past the eyes...Ashutosh wiped her tears...and kissed her lightly..as she asked "yaad hai..october ki baarish..."and Ashutosh completed "hmmm...jaise bin bulaya mehmaan"!and nidhi smiled..at the memory..As her hubby in suit n blue tie..with sideburns that were grey..held her..a young exuberant girl..eighteen years his junior..as their hearts echoed "42 ho ta 24..kya farq padta hai..:"and suddenly nidhi yelled in pain...and gasped "Ashutosh...help..."and Ashutossh smiled "lagta hai...do bin bulaye mehmaan aa rahe hain"!!and he dialled dr Sudhir. .as nidhi yelled louder n he knew it was labour...
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