"May I come in, Sir?"
"Yes. Dr. Nidhi? Aap theek hain?"
"Yes Sir. Main ghar ja rahi hoon. Ab mujhe yahan rukne ki zaroorat nahin hai."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes Sir. Ab fever nahin aa raha. Bas thodi kamzori hai."
"Okay. Take rest for a day or two..."
"Yes Sir. Aur Sir agar aapke paas aaj shaam mein thoda time ho to... dar asal Baba zidd kar rahe the ki aap chai par hamare ghar aate."
"Dr. Nidhi. In formalities ki koi zaroorat nahin hai. Main koi aisa kaam nahin kiya hai..."
"No Sir. Formality ki baat nahin hai. Hamein - mujhe aur Baba ko sach much bahut achchha lagega agar aap ghar aayenge to. But of course, only if you have time... Agar aapka schedule disturb ho to..."
"Nahin. Aisi koi baat nahin hai. Main aaj shaam mein aata hoon."
"Thank you very much, Sir."
Ashutosh could not help getting affected by her genuine happiness at his acceptance. He also smiled after she left.
--
"Bahut mehnat karti hai ye Dr. Ashutosh," Baba told Ashutosh while Nidhi was in the kitchen preparing tea, "Yakeen nahin hota kabhi kabhi ki ye meri wahi beti hai jise khilane ke baad daant-daant kar munh pochhne ki zaroorat padti thi. Iske 12th ke exam tak maine ise sirf padhai par focussed rakha. Lekin uske baad se zid kar-kar ke saare kaam apne oopar le liye hain isne. Pahle medical ke padhai aur ghar ka kaam. Ab itni thakaane wali duties aur phir bhi agar saamne hoti hai to mujhe chai tak nahin banane deti hai."
Ashutosh smiled, "She is very hard-working and sincere. Kaam par bhi. I am not surprised."
"Bahut bura lagta hai mujhe Dr. Ashutosh. Kuchh kar nahin paata iske liye. Beemaar padi thi, phir bhi ghar par akele chhod kar jaana padta tha..."
"Aisi baatein kyon kar rahe hain aap? Aapne hi to paal-pos kar bada kiya hai unhein. Apne pairon par khada karwaya hai. You should be very proud."
Baba smiled, "Main bekaar mein apni baaton se aapko bore kar raha hoon.Bas kabhi kabhi nikal jaati hai man ki baat..."
"Aap mujhe bilkul bhi bore nahin kar rahe. Mujhe bahut hi achchha lagta hai aapki family bonding dekh kar. Dr. Nidhi aapki Ma, apni Dadi ke baare mein bhi bata rahi thi."
"Are haan. Ye dadi-poti ke beech mein pata nahin kya chalta rahta hai. Ab woh sugar monitor utha layi hai aur mujhe zidd kar rahi hai ki gaon ja kar de aaun. Khud to beemaar pad gayi thi. Abhi uska jaana theek nahin hoga. Ab main de to aaun Dr. Ashutosh lekin use istemaal karna kaise sikhaun?"
"Kyon meri shikayat kar rahe hain Baba?" Nidhi entered with tea and snacks in a tray and spoke as she kept it on a table, "Maine kaha to tha ki aapko main sikha deti hoon, phir aap unhein sikha dijiyega. Ab agar aap nahin seekh payenge to Dadi se seekhne ki ummeed kaise hogi?"
"Bhai mujhse nahin hona ye sab..."
"Ye sab inke bahane hain, Sir," Nidhi addressed Ashutosh, "Sach ye hai ki inhein mujh par bharosa nahin hota. Inhein lagta hai ki main sui zyada chubho doongi testing ke waqt. Aapse zyada brave to Dadi hain Baba."
Baba grinned, "Pakad li isne meri chori. Baat to sach hai Dr. Ashutosh. Dimaag jaanta hai ki ye doctor ban chuki hai, kaabil hai. Lekin jab woh sui le kar aati hai na to mujhe to wahi chhoti se bachchi yaad aati hai, jiske chhote-chhote komal haath pair chalne ki koshish mein idhar-udhar girte padte rahte the..."
"Baba!" Nidhi chided him for getting emotional.
"Chaliye koi baat nahin. Main sikha deta hoon aapko," Ashutosh said.
"Aap Dr. Ashutosh? Nahin, nahin, taqleef ki zaroorat nahin hai..."
"Ismein koi taqleef nahin hai Baba," Nidhi spoke before Ashutosh could, "Aapne achchha idea diya, Sir. Main abhi le kar aati hoon Machine. Aur Baba ab aap is Sunday ko ye gaon le jayenge. Bas. Final."
"Waise aap kya doctor apni Dadi ki wajah se bani?" Ashutosh asked Nidhi, when she brought out the machine.
"Nahin. Doctor to main apni Mummy ki wajah se bani?"
"Woh kaise?"
"Woh aise ki mere Nana doctor banna chahte the. Lekin unke ghar waalon ne unhein support nahin kiya. Unhein lagta tha ki ye chaadar se bahar paon phailane waali baat hai. To unki wajah se meri Mummy doctor banna chahti thi. Lekin unhein support karne ke liye Nana the nahin. To finally ye sapna meri jholi mein aa gaya. Aur Baba ne mujhe bahut support kiya. Unhone meri padhai ke liye mujhse zyada mehnat ki hai."
"Interesting!" Ashutosh was genuinely impressed.
He had tea and snacks, taught Baba how to use the sugar monitor and the left feeling very refreshed and happy.
--
"Tum kal shaam mein kya kar rahe the Ashutosh?" Mallika asked him the next morning.
"Kuchh khaas nahin."
"Hospital mein to nahin the."
"Hospital mein nahin tha to..."
"Apne ghar par ya Jeevan Prabha mein bhi nahin the Ashutosh."
"Tumne kya jaasoosi ka side business shuru kar diya hai Mallika? Itni kam salary to nahin dete hum Kotnis mein apne senior doctors ko?" Ashutosh joked, still not taking her seriously.
"Karni padti hai Ashutosh agar aapka itna purana dost, jiski aapko bahut parwaah hai, apni zindagi ki sabse badi galti duhraane ja raha ho."
"Kya matlab hai tumhara?" Ashutosh asked sharply.
"Tum kal Dr. Nidhi ke saath the, ye mujhe pata hai. Lagta hai ki tum Niharika ke saath apna experience bhool gaye ho..."
"Main kuchh nahin bhoola hoon. Lekin Niharika ke experience ka Nidhi se kya talluk hai? Waise bhi main uski family ke saath tha."
Mallika smiled condescendingly, "Achchha! Apne kitne colleagues aur juniors ki family ke saath tum chai peete ho. Unmein se kitno ki tabiyat kharaab hone par khud car le kar unke ghar bhaagte ho aur kiske liye..."
"Enough Mallika. Tum hadein paar kar rahi ho. Woh ghar par akeli thi. Use help ki zaroorat thi. That's it. Aur zarooratmandon ki madad se main kabhi peechhe nahin hatta - ye tum achchhi tarah se jaanti ho."
"To ek baar ye bhi soch lena ki apne aas-paas ke kitne logon ke baare mein tumhein pata bhi hota hai ki woh kitne akele hain. Ashutosh. Tumhari bhalai ke liye hi bol rahi hoon. Aur kuchh na bhi socho to ye dhyaan rakhna ki woh ek intern hai, abhi-abhi graduate hui hai. Aadhi umra ki hai shayad tumse!" She stormed out of his room with this leaving Ashutosh baffled and disturbed. Was it so obvious? And if it was, what did Nidhi think of all this?
--
"Sir. Aapne mujhe bulaya?"
"Yes. Dr. Nidhi. Please come in. Meet Dr. Armaan Malhotra. He works with WHO. Kal hi India aaye hain, ek project ke liye."
"Hello Dr. Malhotra," Nidhi shook hands with him, "Nice to meet you."
"Same here Dr. Nidhi. Waise Ashutosh aapko ye batana bhool gaya ki main iska bachpan ka dost bhi hoon."
"I am not surprised. Dr. Ashutosh apni personal life ko hospital se bilkul door rakhte hain. I think isliye he is so admired professionally."
"All right. I am sorry," Ashutosh said, "Dr. Nidhi. Armaan mere bachpan ka dost bhi hai."
Armaan and Nidhi laughed.
"To ab kaam ki baat shuru karein?" Ashutosh said.
"Yes Boss," Armaan said. Nidhi noticed that he was clearly a very jovial person, unlike the serious, even if caring, Dr. Ashutosh.
"Jaisa ki maine tumhein bataya tha Armaan ki Dr. Nidhi to experience hai gaon mein kaam karne ka..."
"Mujhe Sir?" Nidhi was surprised, "Mujhe kahan experience hai? Abhi dedh mahine pahle to maine internship shuru ki hai. Aur poore time yahin kaam kiya hai."
Armaan looked at Ashutosh and Nidhi.
"Don't worry Armaan. Confidence is not her strong point and she is humble to a fault. Dr. Nidhi - aap already phone par apne gaon ke logon ki beemariyan diagnose kar rahi hain, right? Chhota sa tele-medicine center to aapne khol hi rakha hai. The other day, Armaan, she had shown me pictures that were sent to her mobile by someone in her village. Those were of a child, who could be suffering from small pox. We diagnosed from the photos that it was indeed small pox and asked the parents to take him to the hospital. Otherwise gaon mein woh kuchh jhaad-phoonk karwate rahte aur bachche ki jaan chali jaati."
"That's great," Armaan looked impressed.
"Dr. Nidhi," Ashutosh addressed an embarrassed and baffled Nidhi, "Dr. Armaan is hoping to implement a tele-medicine project here as an effort from WHO to make medical services accessible to all."
"Really? That's a great idea!" Nidhi was clearly excited.
"Of course, shuruat feasibility study se hogi. But we are working to make Kotnis General Hospital a part of the initiaitve where the diagnosis will be done remotely and medical care suggested accordingly. We will form a team of doctors for that. Mujhe laga ki main pahle aap se poochh loon kyonki shayad aap interested hongi."
"Yes Sir. Sure Sir. I mean... Yes Sir."
Armaan smiled seeing her flustered like that. He also did not miss how Ashutosh was looking at her in adoration.
"Okay Ashutosh," he said, "Main abhi chalta hoon. Dr. Nidhi - aapka phone number main Ashutosh se le loonga aur jab is project par kaam shuru hoga - I will get in touch with you."
"Sure Dr. Armaan. Thank you very much."
"See you."
Nidhi also got up to leave after Armaan.
"Dr. Nidhi," she stopped when Ashutosh addressed her, "Aapki Dadi ke paas sugar monitor pahunch gaya tha?"
"Yes Sir. As expected unka sugar level bahut high hai. Lekin khaane mein kuchh bhi parhej karwana bahut mushkil hai unse."
"Aisa kyon?"
"Bina cheeni ke chai nahin piyengi. Aur din mein kam-se-kam paanch baar chai ki zaroorat padti hai unhein. Apne ghar mein mithai na bhi layen, lekin kabhi kissi ki shaadi, kabhi kissi ke bachche ka janm, wahan munh kaise nahin meetha karengi. Bahane hain actually. She has got a sweet tooth - mujhe pata hai. I think chai ke liye to main unhein sugar-free bhijwa doongi. Lekin ye mithaiyan, doodh-dahi... Bolti hoon cream nikaal kar doodh piyen, unka BP bhi high rahta hai. To kahengi ki ghar mein koi akaal pada hai kya ki doodh bina malai ke loon."
Ashutosh laughed, "Ab mujhe samajh mein aaya aap bachchon ki zidd kaise handle kar leti hain itni aasaani se. Aapko bahut ziddi patient ko handle karne ki aadat pahle se padi hui hai."
"Bilkul. Badmash se badmash bachche bhi unke saamne to mujhe angel hi lagte hain."
"Good. Carry on. Aur haan - agar aap WHO ke project par kaam karti hain, to aap uski jagah ek trimester hospital ki duties se off le sakti hain. You will get the credit."
"Agar zaroorat padegi to le loongi, Sir. Waise bhi abhi ise shuru hone mein to time lagega."
"Haan. Abhi to kuchh mahine lagenge. Armaan is working on some feasibility studies right now. But he may contact you once in a while for some work."
"Sure Sir. No problem. Main chalti hoon."
"All right."
--
"Good afternoon, Dr. Mallika," Nidhi was in the common room during her break, when Mallika walked in.
"Hello Dr. Nidhi. Kaisi hain aap?"
"Main theek hoon. Aur aap?"
"Main to theek hoon Dr. Nidhi. Lekin mujhe Ashutosh ki bahut fikr ho rahi hai in dinon."
"Kyon kya hua unhein?" Nidhi got anxious.
"Lagta hai ki aapko bhi bahut chinta hai unki."
"Agar chinta ki koi baat hai to honi hi chahiye. Hamein apne aas paas ke logon ki chinta nahin hogi to kiski hogi?"
"Mujhe lagta hai ki unke past ke zakhm phir se ubhar rahe hain, ya ubharne waale hain."
"Kaise zakhm?"
"Apne khaandaan ka pata na hone ka zakhm. Uski wajah se apne pyaar ko kho dene ka zakhm."
"Khaandaan ka pata na hone ka zakhm?" Nidhi laughed slighly assuming that Mallika was joking, "Ye kaisi baat hui? Unke Baba to..."
"Oh! Aapko nahin pata? Unhone kabhi bataya nahin? Woh Ashutosh ke real father nahin the. Unhone Ashutosh ko adopt kiya tha."
"Kya?"
"Haan. Aur yahi baat jab Niharika ke ghar waalon ko pata chali to woh unke rishte ke liye raazi hi nahin hue."
"Kya? Lekin aaj-kal in baaton ko kaun maanta hai?"
"Pyaar kane waale maane na maane, unke ghar waale to maante hi hain. Aap apne ghar waalon se poochh kar dekh lijiye. I'm sure unka bhi aisa hi nazariya hoga."
"Aapne naam kya bataya? Niharika? Dr. Niharika Asthana?"
"Aap jaanti hain unhein?"
"Main Mumbai mein convention mein mili thi unse."
"Achchha. Waise aapki Mumbai trip kaisi rahi?"
"Achchhi thi. Bahut achchhi thi, in fact. Kai famous aur senior doctors se milne ka mauka mila."
"Achchha hai. Interns to mostly ghoomne-phirne ke liye jaana chahte hain. Lekin aapne Ashutosh ke paise barbaad nahin kiye."
"Matlab?"
"Jo unhone aapki business class ki flight aur five star hotel ka kharcha sponsor kiya tha. Are... Main bhi kahan baaton mein lag gayi. Mujhe ward jaana hai..."
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