"Neend poori nahin hui tumhari?" Ashutosh asked when he saw Nidhi yawning.
"Kal wapas aane mein der ho gayi thi na gaon se. Aur subah jaldi uthna pada, ghar ke kaam ke liye."
"To mujhe bata deti. Aaj nahin aati duty ke pahle. Koi zabardasti thode hi na hai..."
"Zabardasti nahin, majboori hai..."
"Kaisi majboori?"
"Hum sirf aapki wajah se to nahin milte hain. Mera bhi man hota hai. To sirf aapke maan jaane se kya hota, mera man to majboor tha."
Ashutsh was overwhlemed. He got up and made her stand up too. He held her close.
"Let's end this Nidhi. Ab ye bardasht nahin hota. Aise door rahna. Sab log taiyaar hain. Agar tumhein koi aitraaz nahin hai to main jald-se-jald tumse shaadi karna chahta hoon. Karogi mujhese shaadi?"
Nidhi smiled. She wasn't surprised at his proposal, but instead of replying, she withdrew.
"Kya baat hai? Agar tum sure nahin ho to..."
"Nahin. Baat hamari nahin hai. Lekin Baba... Unke baare mein to maine socha hi nahin. Woh akele rah jayenge..."
"Baba akele kyon rah jayenge.Woh hamare saath rahenge."
"Ji?"
"Maine tumhari zimmedaariyan share karne ki baat ki thi Nidhi, tumhein unse door karne ki nahin."
Nidhi smiled gratefully, "Lekin Baba nahin maanenge."
"Woh tum mujh par chhod do."
"Aap to jaadugar hain, jaise!"
"In chhote-mote kaamon ko agar tum jaadu maanti ho, to haan. Main hoon jaadugar."
--
"Baba," Ashutosh was having tea at Nidhi's house one evening, "Ye bataiye. Aapko lagta hai ki bete-beti mein koi farq hota hai?"
"Nahin. Main to koi farq nahin maanta."
"Kya aisa kuchh bhi hai jo aapne Nidhi ke liye na kiya ho, lekin uski jagah aapka beta hota to karte?"
"Bilkul nahin. Kar thoda kam paaya hoon, lekin kabhi bhi kuchh is wajah se nahin chhoda ki woh beti hai, beta nahin."
"To aapko is baat se koi farq nahin padta ki aapki ek-matra aulaad beta thi ya beti?"
"Bilkul nahin. Lekin tum ye kyon poochh rahe ho Dr. Ashuosh?"
"Dekha Nidhi. Maine kaha tha na ki Baba koi farq nahin padta. Beta ho ya beti. Woh tumhare saath rahenge. Hamesha. Jaise bete ke saath rahte."
Nidhi stared at him wide-eyed.
"Kya matlab?" Baba did not understand him.
"Nidhi ko ye chinta ho rahi thi ki agar woh mujhse shaadi kar legi to aap hamare saath nahin rahna chahenge. Maine usse kaha tha ki Baba bete aur beti mein farq nahin karte. Aur main shart jeet gaya."
"Lekin..." Baba was baffled. Where did that come from?
"Lekin-wekin kya? Nidhi. Tumhari problem solve ho gayi?"
Nidhi looked at Baba expectantly.
"Main yahan theek hoon Dr. Ashutosh," Baba protested.
"Lekin Nidhi to wahan theek nahin rahegi aapke bina. Uska dhyaan hamesha aap par laga rahega. Aur agar aisa hua to mere saath bahut na-insaafi hogi. To please. apni nahin, Nidhi ki nahin to meri khaatir, aapko hamare saath rahna hi hoga."
"Tum baatein banane mein bahut zyada chatur ho Dr. Ashutosh. Lekin mujhe thoda samay do. Ye thoda to ajeeb hai hi na."
"Aap samay lijiye. Lekin faisla karte samay aap ye zaroor sochiyega ki sawaal aapse zyada Nidhi ki khushiyon aur man ki shaanti ka hai."
Baba smiled at his clever words.
"Please maan jaiye, Baba," Nidhi said after Ashutosh left, "Dadi hamare saath rahne ke liye nahin maanti hain to hamein unki kitni chinta rahti hai. Unke paas to phir bhi gaon ke sab log hain. Aapke liye to mujhe hamesha chinta lagi rahegi. Balki agar mujhe aapko chhod kar jaana pada to main shaadi nahin kar paungi Baba."
"Kuchh to achcha kiya hoga maine apni zindagi mein beta, jo mujhe tum mili beti ki tarah. Aur tumahre jeevan-saathi ke roop mein bhi Dr. Ashutosh jaisa insaan mila," Baba grew emotional, patted her head affectionately and then went away from there.
--
"Hum aaj shaam ko kahin chal sakte hain," Nidhi told Ashutosh enthusiastically.
"Kyon? Baba ko baasi khaana khilane ka iraada hai?" Ashutosh joked.
"Dr. Ashutosh. Aap bhool gaye? Aapne doosri car apne driver ke saath bheji hui hai. Baba ko gaon le jaane ke liye. Woh parson wapas aayenge."
"Oh! Right."
"Neki kar dariya mein daal ko kaafi literally le liya hai aapne!"
"Baba nahin hain, to tumhein manmaani karne ki chhoot mili hui hai," Ashutosh teased her to change the topic.
"Aap mujhe aise chidhayenge to main kahin nahin jaungi, aur aapse baat bhi nahin karoongi," she pouted.
"Aisa gajab mat karna Dr. Nidhi Verma. Cardiology ward waise bhi thoda bhara hi rahta hai hamare hospital mein."
"Aapko ho kya gaya hai?"
"Kuchh nahin. Bas tumhein chidhane mein mazaa aata hai. Khair. Main shaam ke liye kuchh plan karta hoon."
"Ji."
--
"Hum kahan ja rahe hain?"
"Kyon? Tumhein dar lag raha hai?"
"Kaisi baatein kar rahe hain aap? Mujhe aapke saath kyon dar lagega?"
"Ye?" Nidhi looked at Ashutosh questioningly when he parked the car in front of a house.
"Ye mera ghar hai Dr. Nidhi Verma. Aur bahut jald hamara hone waala hai," Ashutosh smiled.
Nidhi blushed at first, then looked thoughtful and embarrassed.
"Kya hua?" he asked.
"Nahin... Bas yun hi... Soch rahi thi ki maine aaj tak aapka ghar bhi nahin dekha tha. Main aapko time nahin de paati hoon na bilkul bhi? Shaam ko Baba ke liye, weekends par Dadi ke liye..."
"Hospital duties ke liye, padhai ke liye, WHO waale project ke liye," Ashutosh interrupted
"Mujhe lagta tha ki main aapka akelapan door karoongi. Lekin maine to kabhi aapke liye..."
"Aur in sabke baad bhi, neend poori ho ya na ho, tum subah-subah uth kar, ghar ke kaam nibta kar, bhagti hui mujhse milne chali aati ho. Pagal ladki. Stop being so hard on yourself."
"Aapko mujhse koi shikayat nahin hai?"
"Nahin hai, Jaanti ho kyon?"
"Kyon?"
"Kyonki bahut jald main tumhein apna bana kar, haq se, is ghar mein laane waala hoon. Phir tumhari saaree zimmedaariyan meri hongi, aur tumhari first priority main. Zindagi ke itne saal maine bitaye hain intezaar mein, jab mujhe pata bhi nahin tha ki mujhe kiska intezaar tha. Thoda sa aur intezaar kar sakta hoon. Kyonki ab to mujhe pata hai ki is intezaar ka phal bahut meetha hai."
Nidhi blushed hard and did not say anything as she felt she would choke on her words.
"Ab andar chalein, ya yahin poori Ramayan khatam karni hai?" Ashutosh joked.
"Chaliye."
--
Nidhi took a look at the house, as she entered it.
"Bahut bada hai," she said suddenly feeling very nervous, "Aur khoobsoorat bhi."
"Bada to hai. Pata nahin Baba ne kya soch kar hum do logon ke liye banwaya tha. Lekin khoobsoorat ye us din hoga jab tum yahan aaogi."
"Dr. Armaan bhi aapke saath hi rahte hain na?"
"Haan. Lekin aaj woh shahar se bahar hai. Hiraman Kaka bhi rahte hain. Ghar ki dekh-bhaal karte hain. Lekin woh khana bana kar so gaye honge."
Nidhi smiled and shivered a bit realizing that she was practically alone with him in that huge house.
Ashutosh led her to the dining table, where Kaka had kept the food before retiring to his room. They had dinner mostly in silence or amidst some general chit-chat.
"Aapka kamra kaun sa hai?" Nidhi asked curiously after they were done with dinner.
"Chalo. Dikhata hoon," he led her to his bedroom. Nidhi smiled and blushed thinking of the days to come which she would spend in this room.
Suddenly she saw Ashutosh taking something out from a drawer in the table. He came to her and gave the red colored, velvet box to her, the kind used to keep jewelry.
"Ye kya hai?"
He opened it for her, "Tumhare liye. Hamari engagement to aise achanak ho gayi ki main tumhein kuchh de hi nahin saka."
Nidhi looked at the necklace and ear-rings set in the box and said, "Bahut achchhe hain, lekin..."
"Ye mat kahna ki inki zaroorat nahin thi. Har cheez zaroorat ke liye nahin li jaati Nidhi."
Nidhi blushed at how accurately he predicted what she was going to say. "Mujhe aadat nahin hai in sab cheezon ki..." she said in embarrassment.
"To aadat daal lo kyonki main tumhein bahut pamper karne waala hoon," Ashutosh said while picking up an ear-ring from the box, "May I?" He asked. Nidhi gulped hard, but nodded.
He tucked her hair behind her left ear and took out the ring she was wearing. It took him some time to unhook it and in the process he could see her goose-bumps, coloring cheeks and hear her laboured breath. After putting the new ear-ring on her ear, he repeated the act with her other ear. Nidhi was going weak in her knees and had to clutch the box hard to keep it from falling off her hand. After putting both the ear-rings, he picked up the necklace with one hand and with the other hand moved her hair over one of her shoulders leaving her neck exposed. Nidhi looked like she would faint. He saw her hold on the box weakening, took it from her and kept it on a nearby table. Then he went back to her, asked her to hold her hair as he put the necklace on her and hooked it at her nape. As his hands brushed against her skin, her breathing was audible. He had not planned it, but seeing her so affected drove Ashutosh mad. He held her shoulders, bent down planted a kiss just below where her necklace was hooked. Nidhi twitched and shivered, and clenched her fist in an unsuccessful attempt to hide what effect his proximity was having on her physically. He turned her around and kissed her forehead. Then as if losing control over himself, he kissed her all over her face like a mad man, finally finding peace in her lips. As he thrust his tongue deep into her mouth, he found her also letting go and respond furiously.She put her hands around him and caressed his back, sometimes digging her nails into his skin. He went a step further and undid the zip at the back of her top, getting access to her bare back.
They were suddenly interrupted by his mobile ringing. They separated hastily and looked embarrassed. Ashutosh went out in the balcony with his mobile. Nidhi went to the dresser and tried to smoothen her dress and hair. When Ashutosh came back after attending the call, he saw her struggling with the zip at the back of her top. He walked to her and zipped it up, making her gasp and blush.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Hospital se phone tha. Emergency hai, mujhe jaana padega."
"Main bhi chalti hoon aapke saath."
"Nahin. Tum bahut thaki hui ho. Abhi yahin aaraam kar lo. Main wapas aa kar baat karta hoon."
She nodded again.
It was 2 am by the time Ashutosh came back. Nidhi had fallen asleep on his bed. He looked at her sleeping peacefully and smiled dreamily. He pulled the bedcover over her, adjusted the temperature of the AC and went to sleep in the other room.
--
Nidhi woke up early in the morning as was her habit. She was confused for a moment about her surroudings. Then she remembered the last night's events and smiled. Then she felt confused again as she did not know how to start her day. Finally she went to the attached bathroom and washed her face. She smoothened her crumpled clothes, walked out of the room and went towards the ktichen. She found tea and milk and decided to make tea. Just as she was pouring the tea in cups, she heard someone from behind, "Aap kaun hai?"
She was startled and spilled some hot tea on her hands. "Ouch!" she cried out loud.
"Are. Kya hua?" Hiraman Kaka ran to her and open the tap in the sink beside her, "Paani ke neeche haath daaliye. Aap Dr. Nidhi hain?"
"Ji," she said, still flustered as she put her hands under running water.
"Maaf kijiyega. Mujhe pata nahin tha... Maine aapko dara diya."
"Main theek hoon," she smiled, "Aap Hiraman Kaka hain?"
"Haan. Waise aapko kitchen mein aane ki kya zaroorat thi. Main bana deta chai."
"Bas aise hi," her hand felt fine by now. She took it away from the tap, closed the tap and dried her hand with the hand-towel, "Main uth gayi thi to socha bana loon."
"Kya ho raha hai subah-subah?" Ashutosh had heard the commotion as he was sleeping in a nearby room and had come there.
"Dr. Nidhi ne apne haath jala liye," Hiraman Kaka informed him.
"Kya?" his sleepiness disappeared in a moment and he rushed to her, "Kya hua? Kahan..."
"Calm down, Dr. Ashutosh," Nidhi was a little embarrased at the commotion created, "Main theek hoon. Zara si chai gir gayi thi. Kuchh hua nahin hai."
"Tumhein kitchen mein aane ki kya zaroorat thi?"
"Wahi to main bhi kah raha tha," Kaka added.
"He bhagwaan. Aap log please shaant ho jaiye. Meri roz ki aadat hai kitchen mein jaane ki. Kuchh nahin hua hai. Ab koi bachi hui chai peene mein interested hai? Warna thandhi ho jayegi."
They all smiled.
"Tum log jao dining hall mein. Main chai le kar aata hoon," Hiraman Kaka said.
Ashutosh gestured to Nidhi and she walked out of the kitchen with him.
"Main munh dho kar aata hoon. Tum baitho."
"Ji."
"Muhje ghar jaana hoga," Nidhi said while they were having tea.
"Thodee der ruko. Main taiyaar ho jaata hoon. Phir saath chalenge."
"Aap raat mein der se aaye the. Aaraam kar lijiye. Main chali jaungi."
"Nidhi!" Ashutosh sounded irritated and bored at her repeated insistence of doing things on her own.
"Okay. Sorry. Main wait karti hoon," Nidhi smiled and gave up.
--
Ashutosh waited as Nidhi took bath and got ready for the hospital in her home.
"Aaj samay se pahle hospital jaane ki zaroorat nahin hai," Ashutosh told her as she came back to the living room.
"Haan. Hamare pas abhi ek ghanta hai."
"Nidhi," Ashutosh said and then fell silent.
"Kya hua?" Nidhi was surprised seeing his hesitant.
"Nahin. Kuchh khaas nahin. Bas... Nidhi. I don't want you to hurry into anything you are not comfortable with. Kal raat jo hua bedroom mein... I... Maine kuchh pahle se nahin socha tha... I don't know how you felt..."
"Dr. Ashutosh. Please!" Nidhi interrupted, "Aapko haq hai." She said confidently, although her cheeks colored.
Ashutosh looked at her looking obviously relieved and happy, "Thank you."
"Kuchh nashta banaun?" she asked.
"Nahin. Chalo kahin bahar karte hain."
"Aap to mujhe sach-much spoil kar denge."
"No regrets. Come now..."
They were about to leave, when there was a knock on the door.
"Abhi kaun hoga?" Nidhi wondered. Her eyes widened in surprise as she opened the door, "Dadi? Aap?"
Baba had returned from the village a day earlier and Dadi had accompanied him.
"Ye to miracle ho gaya Baba. Aapne Dadi ko yahan aane ke liye kaise mana liya?"
"Ab poti ki shaadi to karwani hi padegi na. Aur Yograj kah raha tha ki hamare daamaad ji ko badi jaldbaazi hai."
Ashutosh and Nidhi blushed at that. They took blessings from Baba as well as Dadi.
"Aap log fresh ho jaiye. Main abhi nashta hi banane ja rahi thi," Nidhi looked at Ashutosh, silently asking him not to talk about their intention of going out. Ashutosh nodded slightly assuring her.
Nidhi made breakfast and tea for everyone and then they left for the hospital.
--
"Dr. Ashutosh. Baba ka phone aaya tha. Woh kah rahe the ki aaj dinner aap hamare saath karein."
"Nidhi... Iski kya zaroorat hai?"
"Matlab? Kya hua? Aapko kaam hai kuchh?"
"Nahin. Bas... Phir saari cooking tum khud hi karogi. Aur aise formal invitation hai to kuchh elaborate hoga."
"To kya hua?"
"Bura mat mannna Nidhi. Main tumhari family ke against kuchh nahin kah raha. Lekin mujhe nahin achchha lagta hai tum din-raat, ghar ke andar-bahar itna kaam karti rahti ho. Kam se kam meri wajah se tumhara kaam aur badh jaye, ye main nahin chahta."
Nidhi was overwhelmed and could not speak for few moments.
"Achchha. Ye aakhiri baar hai. Mujhe lagta hai Dadi ka idea hoga, formally shaadi ki date fix karne ka."
"To hum aisa karte hain. Agar formally milna hi hai, to main unhein invite kar leta hoon apne yahan. Wahin baat ho jayegi."
"Lekin..."
"Don't worry. Main Baba ko phone karta hoon."
"Jaadugar again," Nidhi laughed.
"So be it!"
"Waise aapki baaton se to lagta hai ki shaadi ke baad aap mujhe kitchen mein ghusne bhi nahin denge."
"Of course, nahin ghusne doonga. Kitchen hi nahin, ghar ke kissi bhi kaam ko haath lagane ki koi zaroorat nahin hai tumhein."
"Zindagi bhi ajeeb hoti hai Dr. Ashutosh. Ladkiyan shaadi ke baad ki zimmedaariyon se darti hain. Mujhe to lagta hai ki shaadi ke baad meri rahi-sahi zimmedaariyan bhi khatam ho jayegi."
"Tumse milne ke baad maine mahsoos kiya Nidhi ki zindagi har kissi ko apne apne hisse ke khushiyan aur gham, akelapan aur company deti hai. Kis order mein deti hai, woh vary kar sakta hai. Shayad tumhare liye responsibilties aur freedom ka order baaki logon se ulta hai."
"Waise agar main kabhi aapke liye kuchh banana chahun to?" Nidhi asked teasingly to make the mood lighter.
"Hmm," Ashutosh pretended as if he was thinking hard, "Uske liye once a month tumhein kitchen mein jaana allowed hoga. Lekin only after a thorough review of your proposal."
Nidhi laughed out loud and Ashutosh looked on fondly.
"Waise aapse kuchh baat karni thi," she suddenly grew serious.
"Bolo."
"Aapko zyada elaborate shaadiyan to pasand nahin hain na?"
"Mujhe to tumhein sirf apne ghar laana hai, jaldi-se-jaldi. Mujhe koi farq nahin padta ki shaadi kaisi ho. Lekin agar tum chahti ho ki shaadi elaborate ho, to sab kuchh waise hi hoga jaise tumhein chahiye."
"Nahin. Darasal..."
"Bolo na Nidhi. Hichkicha kyon rahi ho?"
"Dr. Ashutosh. Main soch rahi thi ki kya hum court-marriage kar sakte hain."
"Kar sakte hain. Lekin koi khaas baat?"
"Otherwise Baba aur Dadi apne means se bahar ja kar kharcha karenge. Aur meri baat nahin maanenge woh log. Aap bhi kharche ki baat karenge to unhein bura lagega. Lekin agar aap court marriage ke liye insist karein to baaki problem apne aap hi solve ho jayegi. Aapko woh mana nahin karenge."
Ashutosh smiled, "Your Baba should be proud of you, Nidhi. Maine to achchhe-bhale prosperous gharon mein bhi shaadi ke samay ladkiyon ke kharche se maa-baap ko pareshaan hote dekha hai aur tum... Listen. Mujhe pata hai ki thoda mushkil hoga. Lekin sirf isliye ki Baba par financial pressure padega, main nahin chahta ki tumhara koi bhi shauk adhoora rah jaye Nidhi. Kharche ke liye main unhein mana loonga..."
"Aapko pa kar, mere saare sapne, saare shauk poore ho gaye hain.Aur waise bhi aapko pata hai na ki mujhse zyada kharcha nahin kiya hota. Mumbai ke hotel ka woh dinner mujhe aaj tak nahin pacha hai," she joked.
Ashutosh got up from his chair, went to her and hugged her tight, "I love you Nidhi and I am proud that I love you."
"Me too," she whispered.
"Bas ek problem hai," Ashutosh broke the hug and said.
"Kya?"
"Court marriage ke liye kam se kam ek mahina wait karna padega. Procedures!"
Nidhi blushed, "Aapne kaha tha ki aap intezaar kar sakte hain."
--
Ashutosh convince Baba and Dadi that neither he, nor Nidhi could take long break from the hospital and that he did not like elaborate rituals. So, they should opt for court-marriage. One and half months later, Nidhi and Ashutosh signed on their wedding papers in registrar's office in presence of Dadi, Baba, Anji and Armaan. Ashutosh had arranged a small reception in the evening at a hotel where their hospital colleagues, Nidhi's friends, Baba's colleagues, friends and relatives were invited.Since they were not allowed to spend on the wedding, Baba and Dadi spent all their savings on buying clothes and jewelry for the couple. Nidhi and Ashutosh had to let them indulge themselves that much for their happiness.
Baba was to shift to Ashutosh' house after Dadi had gone back to the village. So, he went back to his house with Dadi after the reception. While Ashutosh and Nidhi came back to his... their home along with Armaan and Hiraman Kaka.
Ashutosh looked shocked when he walked into his room with Nidhi. Nidhi was pleasantly surprised to see the entire room decorated with flowers for their wedding night.
"Aapne ye sab bhi plan kiya tha?" she asked blushing hard.
Ashutosh looked confused, "Actually... maine nahin kiya tha. I have no idea..."
He saw a bouquet on the table and looked at it. There was a note from Armaan telling them that it was a small gift from him and Hiraman Kaka and wishing them a happy married life. He showed the note to Nidhi and said, "Ab kissi ne itni mehnat ki hai to is gift ka use to karna hi hoga na."
"Achchha. Kaise karenge iska use?" Nidhi teased him as she walked to the dresser and made to take off some of her jewelry.
"Aaj ki raat," Ashutosh spoke in a heavy voice as he stopped her from proceeding, "tumhein kuchh bhi meri marzi ke khilaaf nahin karne de kar."
Nidhi smiled nervously and did not made an attempt to reply or resist him. He made her sit on the stool in front of the dresser and started by slipping her saree off her head. Then he took off her maang-teeka, followed by ear-rings and necklaces. He took his time with each piece of jewelry, caressing and rubbing her skin which was bared after the jewelry was taken off. After taking off all her bangles, he led her to the bed and made her lie down. He pushed up her lehanga to access her ankles. He kissed them near her payal and then slowly took the payals off as well. What followed after that was a sweet assault to all her senses as he kissed and caressed her entire body and drove her mad with desire.
"Dr. Ashutosh. Please," she hissed finally letting go of her shyness and inhibitions and pulled him close to her urging him to take that step forward and make her his own forever - in mind, soul and body!
--
"You drive me mad, do you know that?" he told her after they have caught their breath, "I was in not such a hurry. Maine socha tha ki tum thaki hogi. Hum dono thake hue hain. Lekin tumhein itna kareeb pa kar..."
"Achchha! Mujhe to laga ki aapne is decoration aur gift ki wajah se..." Nidhi was growing bolder.
"If you think so Dr. Nidhi, you are in for surprises in the nights to come," Ashutosh said meaningfully. She blushed and pretended to hit him in mock anger. He pulled her close and kissed her on forehead.
"Main bahut khush hoon Nidhi."
"Main bhi," she replied and snuggled up even closer to him.
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