||Just One Breath Away-AN FF~VM pg 122|| - Page 87

PART 27

"So did he fall for Nikki right back then or…" Akash questioned carefully, wondering if he should be asking this.

"No Akash, it was me. I just…I was way too possessive about him", Shehnaz hiccupped. "As it was our relationship was pretty unstable towards the end of college and I ruined it further by throwing a tantrum when he got an offer to work abroad. I hated him being away from me…I suffocated him till he couldn't take it anymore and he called it quits. I still remember how angry he sounded when he told me he had had enough of my constant nagging…I know I went way over the line."

"You still love him, don't you?" he placed an understanding hand on hers and she looked up at him.

"No…" she shook her head. "I've gotten over him in the past few weeks…it took me years to get to this point. But I still care way more for him than I should", she concluded with a sigh.

And he didn't know what to reply to that.

*****

"Well, interns…" Abhi rubbed his hands together as Dr. Keerti entered the room with Atul and Muskaan in tow. "As you know, you have just a few more weeks of your internship left and then 4 of you will be retained in Sanjeevani as resident doctors. You're exams are in a week's time and I expect you're all preparing well, because all of you are assets to this hospital and we don't want to lose either of you. This meeting, actually…" he glanced at Dr. Shashank who gave him an encouraging nod, and swept his eyes over the nervous interns, lingering for the slightest moment on Nikki, who fidgeted under his poring gaze. "is to tell you that we have a surprise for you."

"Quiet!" Dr. Keerti barked from the side as the interns started whispering excitedly, and Abhi waited with a stern gaze for them to obey.

"Yes. So if you're done talking amongst yourselves…"

"He sounds like a primary schoolteacher, the sadu!" Armaan snickered into Muskaan's ear and they both hid their smiles in vain.

"Well Dr. Armaan, I assure you that people like you are no more mature than a fourth grader", he glared at them from atop his glasses, which shut Armaan up immediately.

"Yes. As I was saying…we held a meeting with the board of directors, and we have concluded that if…and only if all of you do exceptionally well in these exams, then all of you will be retained in Sanjeevani. Perhaps not in the same building, but you will certainly be eligible to work for the same hospital since we have the New Sanjeevani project starting in another part of this city", he finished.

"Which is why", Dr. Keerti continued. "you have all been called here. We want all of you to ace your exams so you can stay here. This was a special initiative taken by Dr. Modi as he believes that every one of you interns are very dedicated, so I hope you live up to his expectations."

Abhi could see the instant smiles of excitement on the faces of those standing before him, and his eyes lit up at the sight of utter joy on Nikki's face. He knew she hated the idea of being separated from all her friends, even though she hadn't mentioned it even once to him. And after putting in much thought, he had come to the conclusion that the interns weren't that bad after all, which was why he had taken this step. And the grin on her face made it all worthwhile. A small smile graced his features as he looked at her.

*****

"Abhi I'm sure I'll fail…" she wailed miserably over the phone, and he sighed again.

"Nikki I know you've studied well, don't worry. You're prepared enough…you'll do very well!" he tried to assure her once again but she was adamant.

"Ufff…Nikki it's 11 pm. You need to sleep. Or else you'll fall asleep in the exam…" he started and immediately regretted his words as she started wailing again.

"Okay, okay. Cut the phone, I'm coming over", he ran his fingers through his hair and cut the call before she could say anything more.

About half an hour later he was standing at her doorstep in his pyjamas, his shirt completely unbuttoned over his chest.

He walked in immediately as she opened the door, and shut it himself. Leaning on the doorframe, he crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her.

She was an absolute mess. If she didn't know her, he'd be sure she was a runaway patient from a mental asylum. Or perhaps she had trekked over the Himalayas for weeks on end and had finally ended up here, tired and worn out.

Her hair looked like it hadn't been combed for years, and she had nearly bitten off all her nails...her eyebrows were furrowed, she had dark circles under her eyes...in short, she needed sleep.

Tutting in disapproval, he took her hand and led her to the bed. She jabbered non-stop about how she would fail in tomorrow's exam and how he would start hating her because of that and how she would have to shift to Alaska to avoid the shame...

Abhi had to bite his lips to stop himself from laughing aloud at her wild thoughts. He comfortably seated himself on the bed, resting his back on the headrest before pulling her down upon him.

"A-bhi!" she screamed in surprise, not bothering him the least.

He made sure she was comfortable and scrunched his nose when she started to mumble once more.

"Shut. Up. Will you?" he grit his teeth and glared at her.

She looked at him like a little girl who wanted her favourite plaything back, turned sideways and cuddled into him, resting her head on his thigh.

"You have a pillow, you know", he informed her but she paid no heed and instead cuddled even more into him.

"Nikki..." he scolded her lovingly and she pouted at him.

"Stop being a baby...and go to sleep", he placed his hand on her head and stroked her hair. "I really love your hair, Nikki. It's so soft", he said absentmindedly a while later, playing with some.

"Mmm..." she nodded sleepily.

He was satisfied to see that she was nearly asleep. Stifling a yawn, he removed his hand from her hair only to have her pull it back again subconsciously. He smiled tiredly and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. Nautanki...

*****

He woke up to a bad pain in his neck, and it grew even worse when he tried to move his head. He was still so tired that his eyes refused to open even though he knew it was bright outside. He tried to move but a warm something on his thigh refused to let him do so.

Tearing his eyes open and hating the light that welcomed him unceremoniously, he squinted down to see Nikki sleeping peacefully on his lap. Thank goodness...at least she's slept.

A lazy glance at his watch told him it was 8 am. Wait. 8 am? His sleepy eyes widened in a matter of seconds and he instantly stood up which woke Nikki.

"Mhmmm? What the?" she murmured in her morning voice and sleepily blinked up at him. "Wassamadder?"

"It's 8 am! Get up!" he pulled her up by the arm which she protested loudly.

"But why?"

"Because your exam starts in an hour! Now MOVE!" he yells at her and she flies into the bathroom.

*****

"Where did you get your jeans from? You were wearing pyjamas, weren't you?" Nikki asked him as he fixed her hair and Abhi fed her toast.

"I brought a pair with me in the car", he replied absentmindedly, holding up the toast for her to bite and checking the time simultaneously.

"Oh, so did you..."

"Nikki we can discuss this some other time, now will you HURRY UP?!" he glared at her and she obeyed meekly.

*****

"I told you you'd do well!" he smiled proudly at her and put his arm around her shoulder in a one-armed hug. "Now that you've come second in the exam, no one can stop you from staying right here with me."

"But what if I decide to run away?" she stuck out her tongue at him.

"Don't worry. I'll follow you wherever you go. I'll be worse than your shadow", he declared, winking at her and she giggled.

*****

"Marry me", Abhi whispered in her ear from behind and she gasped in surprise.

"I...er..." she stammered, much unprepared.

"See...I've even brought you a ring. And it's very expensive, I assure you", he spoke, his eyes twinkling.

Turning her head, she saw him holding a diamond solitare ring before her eyes, glittering on its platinum band.

"Abhi it's beautiful..." she said emotionally tears welling up in her eyes.

"Nikki..." he complained, and she looked at him in confusion.

"Don't start crying please...I've waited an entire year to ask you this!"

He smiled a teary smile and her fingers lightly closing both the ring and his hand.

"Hey! You don't get it if you don't answer my question!" he joked from behind and received a poke in the chest and an amused smile. Okay so the tears are gone.

"I know you want it", he said, making a face and rubbing the place she'd hit. "But I'd appreciate it if you'd be a bit more ladylike."

He could sense her smile even though his chin was on her shoulder and he couldn't see her face.

"Now say you'll marry me", he ordered.

"Is there a compulsion, Dr. Modi?" she raised her eyebrow at looked sideways at him.

"Of course there is. You think I'll let you go if you say no?" he looked appalled. She stifled a giggle.

"And I promise you, Mrs. Modi-to-be, I'll kidnap you and marry you if you say no...caveman style", he said seriously.

"Hmm...then I'm left with no choice", she grinned. "Yes, Dr. Abhimanyu, I will marry you. Now may I take the ring?" She didn't wait for an answer and took the ring from him.

"And?"

"And what?"

"Don't I get a kiss?" he looked aghast.

"Of course you do!" she gave him a sweet smile and pecked him on the cheek, before running away.

"Hey! That was an imitation kiss!" he glared at her as she stood ten feet away from him.

"You give me a proper one", he demanded.

"Then get it yourself", she grinned and ran off.

"Of course I will!" he yelled and ran after her.

*****

"You know Abhimanyu...just because you're getting married to Nikki doesn't mean I trust you with her", Armaan said thoughtfully, scratching his chin.

"I know that, Armaan. And believe me I'd never trust you with Nikki either. Who knows what a Casanova like you..." he said tongue-in-cheek and left the sentence incomplete.

Armaan was gearing up to snap back at him when Riddhima pulled him back from behind and flicked her hair, batting her eyelashes and distracting him entirely.

Abhi smirked and turned back to see Nikki glaring back at him.

"What was that?" she tapped her feet in disapproval.

"What?" he feigned innocence.

"Why can't you two just get along?" she rolled her eyes and repeated the same question for the umpteenth time.

"Well we do get along now", he shrugged.

"Then why are you always at each other's throats?"

"It's our style of getting along", he winked and pulled her close by the waist.

"HEY! No romancing before the shaadi!" the girls appeared from nowhere and Abhi sighed.

They pulled a giggling Nikki away from him and he darted a longing glance at her before turning his eyes to the others in a mock glare.

"Na na Dr. Modi...no secret meetings!" They wagged their fingers at him. "Looks like you'll have to stay like a Majnu for a little longer!" they giggled and walked away.

"God knows what stupid rule this is", he sighed and immediately felt a hand on his shoulder.

Turning around he noticed Armaan grinning at him. "That's how it is, Abhimanyu...even I've had to stay away from my wife because of you!" he accused.

"Oh really? Then go and climb up the pipes to her room", he said sarcastically and walked off.

*****

He had a hard time concentrating on placing the garland on her neck, she was looking so beautiful. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and kiss her socks off.

"Uh oh...looks like Dr. Modi is going to stare at her all evening!" the girls giggled and he mentally cursed while putting the garland on Nikki and felt a deep blush creep up his cheek.

"Ooooh look! Someone's blushing!" they poked each other and broke into giggles all over again.

It was time for Nikki to put the garland on his neck, and just as she raised her arms to do the same, a few boys picked Abhi up by the waist and she made a face at them.

"Uff Dr. Modi you're so heavy!" Atul puffed, and Rahul laughed heartily.

"Oh come on guys...put him down...he doesn't need to be lifted. Nikki can't reach the top of his head even if he stands barefoot", Armaan piped up from behind and everyone broke into chuckles, as the couple blushed the same shade of red.

Abhi was instantly put back on his feet and she sighed in relief. But a little while later she realised Armaan was right. With the sehra on his head, she couldn't reach high enough to place the garland on him as he had drawn himself up to his full height in order to give her a hard time.

The stifled giggles of everyone surrounding them turned to hearty laughter, and after teasing her for a few more minutes, he bowed his head for her to reach.

"Oh hooo...!" the girls' catcalls followed by whistles from the boys.

"See everyone! Finally The Abhimanyu Modi bows down to someone! Another one bites the dust!" Armaan chuckled from behind. "Welcome the new Joru Ka Ghulam! Taaliyan!" Everyone clapped and Abhi and Nikki both grinned at each other, their faces deep red.

*****

Abhi winced as Nikki threw the worst of gaalis at him, cursing his entire family for daring to have a son. Her grip on his hand was so tight he had lost feeling.

"Come on, Nikki. Just a little more. Push, sweetheart", he encouraged weakly, and received another chain of curses in response.

"She's beautiful..." Abhi whispered, placing his finger between her palm and instantly her tiny fingers closed on it.

He grinned ecstatically at her, tears of pride in his eyes.

"Have you thought of a name?" Nikki asked him, holding her daughter in her arms as they both gazed in wonder at their creation.

"Ragini", he answered, still gazing mesmerised at his beautiful daughter.

"Ragini Modi. Perfect", she smiled, and they both kissed their daughter together, their foreheads touching.

*****

"She's still crying...Abhi I don't know what to do", Nikki moaned tiredly as Abhi entered their bedroom. He had had to attend to an emergency in Sanjeevani despite being on paternity leave because the case was too difficult for his substitute to handle.

"Nikki I'm sorry for having to leave..." he apologised and climbed onto the bed. Nikki hadn't had proper sleep the past few months as they had steadily realised their daughter had her father's temper, and when it came to throwing tantrums, she had a combination of both her parents' talents.

"It's okay...how was the case?" she asked him as he took Ragini into his arms.

"It was fine...the patient is in the recovery room now. I might have to pay him a visit tomorrow, but everything's fine", he answered, cooing at his daughter and stroking her hair.

"Oh that's good", she smiled weakly, stifling a yawn.

"Nikki...why don't you just go to sleep? I'll put her in her crib once she dozes off", he told her but she shook her head.

"No, it's okay. I'll stay awake till she's asleep", she replied, placing a kiss on her forehead.

He smiled at her mother's instinct which made her stay awake despite being so tired just to see her daughter sleep.

He lay down on the bed and pulled her down with him, carefully keeping his firm hold on Ragini who had calmed down by now.

Abhi put an arm around Nikki's shoulder, and she placed her head on his shoulder, looking tenderly at their daughter who lay quietly on her father's chest, nearly asleep. She smiled at how the little cutie had already started making her father putty in her hands.

"She's so beautiful na..." she whispered, touching her soft baby hair.

"She is. And she looks just like you", he smiled.

"She has your dimples", Nikki looked up at him and he kissed the top of her head.

"Thank you Nikki. She's perfect", he said emotionally, and Nikki cuddled into him some more.

In a while both Nikki and Ragini were fast asleep. Abhi smiled down at them...he loved them both more than life.

As they slept soundly on his chest, a happy smile graced his handsome features. They were everything to him...and right now, they were as close to his heart as possible. A comfortable quiet surrounded the happy family, and Abhi closed his eyes in contentment. Silence had never sounded so musical.

THE END

:O