I feel the same ur FF is so romantic pls put in some more of these lovely chapters before the grief comes on.
Thank you...hmn..😊
BALH Naya Season EDT Week #10: Aug 18 - Aug 22
Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai - 19 Aug 2025 EDT
GAADI CHOOTH GAYI 18.8
DAHII HANDI 19.8
Shradhanjali to Mr Anshuman Raizada
Disaster Monday: War 2 falls 75% to Rs. 6 cr, shows cancelled
Back to the pavilion when??
Did i heard right ???????
Faissal Khan's Shocking Revelations
KJO To Return In 2026 With Classic Hindi Cinema
Param Sundari ..Yay or Nay ?
I find it unprofessional
Rashmika Mandanna & Vijay Devarakonda India Day New York parade
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in a new advertisement for #Loreal
I feel the same ur FF is so romantic pls put in some more of these lovely chapters before the grief comes on.
Originally posted by: pansy123
sorry dearies my weekend begins at sat 4 pm. I work till 2 pm. please bear with me...I'll soon come with chap...max by tomoro night. Thank you all.
Chapter-13
"Baba what happened? Please open the door... Baba...Baba!!!" Ashutosh banged the door constantly pleading baba to open the door...after 10 minutes of fretfulness Ashutosh finally eases a bit when he hears Baba say, "Don't disturb me Ashu...I'm fine..Leave me alone for sometime"...Hiraman Kaka also gestures Ashutosh to let him be and he moves back to the place where Nidhi was standing still...dumbstruck at the turn of events...not knowing how to react...Ashutosh takes her hand in his hand patting her shoulder with the other and with long drawn blink assures her everything will be fine.
Next day Ashutosh had to leave early in the morning due to emergency in the hospital... he did send her a sms in hurry but that was not delivered when he checked his phone after three hours of surgery he saw delivery report on his phone that said message has not been delivered...why hasn't she called then?...she should've?...it was 9.30 in the morning when he tried to call her he found out that there was some problem in network... phones were not working...she must be worried...he had no option but to wait for mobile network to restore...he got busy with his daily routine but he tried to call her in between...at around noon when the network got restored he called her but she didn't answer...he gave another call after 15 minutes...but there wasn't any response...he sends a few sms' asking her to call him or to respond his messages...when he finally after half an hour of wait receives a sms from her "I'm fine...I'll call you later" he founds a bit of solace only to make him more worried "what is she busy with?...why she can't answer his call?...I hope everything is alright"...he suddenly finds everything going topsy turvy...it was afternoon when he was in the cabin pondering over how to tackle the situation...he didn't see Baba since last night when he shut himself in the room as if closing the doors for the whole world... he calls Hiraman Kaka with the intention to know if Baba has had his breakfast or not...and he comes to know Baba has left the house without letting Hiraman Kaka know where he was going. The moments were relaying before his eyes he was so happy to take her along to meet Baba...he had in a vain attempts tried to persuade Baba to open the door of the room even after she left but he was adamant...the only thing Baba responded with was... "Don't disturb me I want to be alone?"... What is the reason that he has preferred seclusion...what has Nidhi got to do with Baba's infuriation...he remembers Nidhi's gloomy face when she left the house forcing him to stay back with his Baba when he offered her to drop her home...it wasn't so late at that moment but he didn't wish to leave her alone...he felt caught between a rock and a hard place... where he wasn't knowing whom to choose...both were important...if one is his life...the other is the reason of his being. His heart torments when he saw her assuring him hiding her worries... "Don't worry everything will be fine...you trust our love...don't you?" he nodded in response he couldn't utter a word he felt his voice choked with emotions...the care she was showering on him..though she being younger and was equally disturbed... she consoled him with such calm that he was moved. He couldn't call her since last night...he didn't know what to say in response if she enquires about Baba... they exchanged a few sms' last night...but he was missing her like hell...a little grin forms on his face when he remembers how she bid him adieu last night when he accompanied her to the bus stop to help her get a taxi...she was walking with most heavy steps as if every step they moved took them far away from each other... he closes his eyes wincing at the thought of their separation...and he recollects how just a few paces away from bus stop she stopped and turned to him uttering... "Promise me you wont fret about anything"...he took her hand in his hands and assured her with a nod...her eyes were moist and she continued.. "I can't see you like this...please smile"... "I can't live without you...please don't go"... she smiled in response "I'm not going...not going anywhere...she placed her hand on his heart...I'm here!...right here!"... that makes him smile...he looks intently at her for sometime then blows a kiss that makes her to lower her eyes...his smile turns to a big grin and he gives her a side hug saying come let us move now you'll get late...it's dark already"... when he opened the cab door for her she was finding hard to get into the cab quite evident she was not willing to leave him... his mind contemplates...what if? what if he'll have to choose between Baba and Nidhi...the musings spin his head...he takes the phone and calls Dr. Ranganth to inform him and leaves for home.
Nidhi's night and morning passed in the same dilemma as Ashutosh's...she early morning tried to call him but on seeing network was not responding she at 9.00 am calls the hospital and asks for Ashutosh's cabin number...knowing he must have reached hospital and must be worrying as the cell phone connectivity was not possible...but the call was answered by Dr. Malika. She discloses her identity and says that she needs his opinion on some patient with neurological disorder...when she comes to know that he was busy with some surgery...she only hopes that Dr.Malika informs him about her call so that he comes to know and doesn't worry much...as she knew the hope was contrary to her expectations she thought to visit hospital personally after sometime.
She was sitting in drawing room reading newspaper and her Baba was ready to leave for work when the door bell rings...she heard Chote Sarkar talking to a stranger...who was asking for Colonel Verma...Colonel verma asked him to bring in the guest...she turns towards the door to see who has arrived and she froze to see the guest coming in... "Dr. Ashutosh's Baba!!!"...she got up in surprise...and then gives a look to his Baba when his befuddled state surprises her more... "Does Baba know him?"...she watches them giving intermittent glances...to grasp the expression their faces were presenting...the expression of desolation and delight...anger and remorse...her surprise takes another leap when Dadi Bua exclaims: Dr. Mathur!...both the men come out of their daze when colonel verma after evident hesitation speaks:
"Dr. Mathur...you here?"
Mathur: "Yes Colonel...I've come here long after losing everything...long after losing my daughter...I'm here after spending years in remorse. Can I...Can I ask for your forgiveness...Can you forgive me?...Please?..my daughter might have waited for this day in whatever little life she had...she was my entire world and when she eloped the way she did...she broke me into pieces...she trampled my honour...I was angry..I was disheartened...yet I loved her...when her mother died...I spent my entire life with only one aim that was her upbringing...you are a father of a daughter ...and that time you may not have realised and felt my pain...but today you can understand what I must have gone through...I wasn't against your marriage...I only wished her to complete her course first...I may have gave in even that wish of mine for her if you would have asked...I don't know what made you to take the decision without even informing me...without even asking me...at least for once you could have tried...you could have tried...I won't have lost my daughter...I would have seen her the time...the time she left the world...and with that he broke down sitting on the floor...sobbing terribly...Nidhi comes forward to hold him...when he calms a bit...he repeats his words... I would have seen her the moment she left the world... Nidhi's words... "Nanu...get up...please get up"...makes him realise his grand daughter was holding him. He cups her face in his hands...and looks tenderly at her...as if trying to find his daughter in her...not able to hold himself more...he takes her into a hug...and cries bitterly...murmuring one word repeatedly...Nandini!
Nidhi was also crying she felt the pain of his grand father...the pain her mother must have gone through... she didn't know much about her mother...she never asked his father about her mom...whenever his father talked about her mother she felt him going through a lot of pain...she then avoided asking him any question about her..whatever little she knew about her mom was through Dadi bua and Mrs. Solanki.
She raised his grand father from the floor and made him to sit at the near by settee and uttered, "Nanu please don't cry...please...mom wherever she is...must be feeling very bad...her father visited her home first time and he is weeping so badly...please???...she wipes his tears and he looks fondly at her that his heart moves and he caresses her grand daughter...he controlled himself as if Nidhi's smile told him that she is his Nandini...the blood of his daughter...his Nidhi. They were looking at each other contently when Nidhi heard his father bursting into sobs...all the time Baba talked col. Verma was listening with his back towards his father in law...nobody knew he too was shedding the tears of remorse...when Nidhi placed her hand on his shoulder and made him to turn to face her...she saw him in flood of tears...her heart wrenches.. "Baba! Why are you crying so badly..no please"... she makes him to wipe his tears and gestures him to talk to her grand pa...col verma nods and moves near Baba sitting in a squatting position facing his father-in-law with his hands folded... "Please forgive me...I'm the reason for all your pain Dr. Mathur...I never gave a thought about what I was doing at that time...I got carried away in the emotions and acted in haste...I never thought I should come and talk to you before doing the ultimate...I admit that was the last resort...I should have thought...but the youth...I think is a untamed whirlwind...someone has rightly said 'Youth is a blunder' and I did one...Baba looks at him in a little frown...No... No...I don't mean loving her was a blunder...I loved her...I love her now when no one can see her but for me she is around...she is always with me...and I'll love her always...it always pained me when ever thought came to my mind...I made both of you to suffer..she was happy but that happiness missed something...she always missed you...he broke down again saying... she did...after a long pause...Can you forgive me?...with hands folded he pleaded..please?...Dr. Mathur holds him by his shoulders and makes him to sit by his side and said, "I think whatever happened in the past has happened we can't change that but we can make our present and future better and merrier..he extends his hand towards Nidhi and makes her to sit on his side holding both father and daughter in his arms...I can shower my love to my grand daughter...Nandini's daughter...I can see Nandini in her..and she has right to her share of love too...I missed her childhood... I don't want to miss single moment of her life now...I want to be with her and enjoy being his grand father...the proud grand father of a sweet little young woman."
Nidhi pouts at that, "sweet little young woman!...Nanoo!!!"... "Oh! How can I forget... the press conference...my daring sweet little young woman"...Col. verma laughs at that and all laugh out loud. Dadi Bua hurries to get the breakfast and the sweets to celebrate the tying of loose ends of his nephew's life...after having breakfast Col. Verma makes his father-in-law to stay and have lunch with them...he decides to take off from the work...soon the house was full with hustle and bustle presenting a view of festivity...solanki's were also invited and Nidhi called Anji also for lunch to introduce her to his Nanu. All were chatting sharing some light and gloomy moments from the past with Baba...when Baba noticed gloomy look on Nidhi's face... he saw her checking her phone...Baba steals a moment and asks her
"Nidhi won't you show your house to Nanu"... she jumps in a joy and says... "Yes Nanu...please come" Showing around and on reaching her parents room..he gets emotional...Nandini's pictures were in every room...but col. Verma's room was overflowing...he goes near the picture that displayed her as a bride and caresses that with his fingers...he gets lost...he moves to touch the another picture...that was taken during her pregnancy with her hand on her baby bump...Nidhi mumbles from behind... "I always feel her blessing me in this picture Nanu..Isn't that sweet" both had tears in their eyes...Nidhi places her head on Baba's shoulder and both look fondly at the picture...after some time they move to her room when Nidhi shows her childhood pics...shared her childhood moments with Nanu...the first painting of hers...the first award she won in a debate...she showed him the painting of her family which she draw in her childhood...that had the sketch of his Nanu as well but the face was not drawn fully...She still in that childlike antics begins to complete her picture and Baba watches her mesmerizingly..when the picture was done...Baba hugs her in praise...visualising the little Nidhi in her...he turns emotional.. "I missed your childhood..I wasn't around...I'm a bad grand pa beta"... "No Nanu...never say that again...I'm still a kid you can still see me grow"... he laughs at that "yes now I'll see you to grow as my daughter in law"...Nidhi blushes at that and lowered her eyes...Baba places a soft hand on her head... "I'm sorry beta about last night...I know what Ashu and you must have gone through...I'm sorry"... "Please Nanu..no more Sorries...yeah I got scared...I thought...she couldn't complete the sentence...but he was more upset...her cheeks blush while talking about him and lowering her eyes she asked ...you talked to him?... "No beta I didn't see him since last night...I was busy fighting my lone battle...I never thought about you...No problem we'll give him a surprise...you'll come with me"...nidhi's eyes glistened her eyes brimming with happiness... Baba and Nidhi exchange a high five when Col. Verma comes and exclaims at door... "Vow! The grand daughter and grand father duo forgot everyone"...both give a sheepish look and Col. Verma laughs at that...you know Baba I've heard people say that grand children return you ...your childhood and I can see that...what is this Nidhi...you have brought all your old toys...Oh God! This girl is only one piece and that has been gifted to me"...Baba laugh at that and gives side hug to Nidhi...suddenly life gave him in abundance...he felt overflowing with happiness and his son-in-law calling him Baba makes him more overjoyed.
They were having lunch...laughing at the pranks of Anji and Nidhi...when Baba's mind drifts towards Ashutosh and he asks Col. Verma... "Beta if you don't mind Can I take Nidhi along...I'll send her back by night"... "Of course...why do you ask for my permission Baba...she is your grand daughter...you have every right" he smiles in response and both leave after having their lunch...it was 3.30 when they reach Mathur mansion...Baba gives fresh introduction of Nidhi to Hiraman Kaka who in response says.. "Yes Dr. Sahab...I knew last night when she said her mother's name is Nandini...I got at that time that she is our Gudi's daughter"...Nidhi exclaims Gudi!...yes that was your mother's nickname name... Nanu I want to see my mom's childhood pics...please...please...let me see"... "Okay!" He pats her cheek and moves towards his room when Hiraman Kaka stops him saying: "Dr. Sahib talk to Ashutosh first he is very upset"... "What? both Baba and Nidhi were surprised...where is he? Is he back home?"... "yes he came a half an hour before... he is in his room"...Baba gestures Nidhi and moves towards his room...when he open's the door he saw Ashutosh sitting on the couch with his head lying on its back...his eyes closed...his coat, tie and watch scattered on the bed...Baba moves close and runs a tender hand on his head...making him to open his eyes...when he saw Baba he straightens himself saying, "Baba How are you? Are you Okay? Where were you?"... Baba looks fondly at the tense and gloomy face of his son... "I'm sorry Beta...I hurt you...didn't I?"... "No Baba...but what is the matter?"... "Nothing Beta...I was fighting my old demons or should I say my bad deeds...I never told you...I had a daughter...who married an army personnel without my consent...and I cut my ties with her...after two years of her marriage I came to know about her death...that tormented me and after years lamenting on her death...you came into my life..but that guilt was weighing me down...I buried that deep inside my heart...last night when Nidhi gave her introduction...the stark and harsh reality of my past was facing me...Ashutosh had a frown and questioning look on his face...yes Nidhi is my grand daughter."
Ash: what??? Shaking his head constantly...Are you sure?
Baba: yes that is true...that was the moment of truth for me...I couldn't decide...I shut myself off...fighting my lone battle...when finally I resolved to stand up and take it and accept whatever the future holds...I lost my daughter and was not ready to lose my grand daughter now...I went to meet them..I had only one thing in my mind and couldn't see you were suffering...I'm sorry beta.
It was equally harsh reality for the Ashutosh...he wasn't able to comprehend...he was expecting the worst... fearing consequences of this outcome on their relation...he very timorously asks, "Baba...I hope everything is Okay now...What did they say?
Baba sensing his apprehensions quickly replied taking in a deep breath... "Everything is fine now...forgiven and forgotten...I'm happy and I feel so much better like a heavy burden has been lifted off me...I hope my daughter up in the heavens forgive me too."
Ash: Baba...how is...Ni..dhi...you saw her.
Baba: Yes beta...she was fine...she must be a little unhappy at the turn of events...but I'm sure both of you'll move on...now the way things have turned...you'll have to forget each other.
Ashutosh felt a lump in his throat...he felt suffocated as if someone caught his heart...and it ceased to beat...he was feeling short of breath...he held his head down...hiding his face so that Baba is not able to read his pain...when tears came lashing down...he got up and stood still near the window...Baba couldn't bear the pain of his son and continued... "I seriously think you should get married now and I have called the daughter of my friend...she is here and I'll ask her to come in and I think you should meet her"...Ashutosh didn't respond he was numb...Baba moved to the door and called her over, "Beta..come in" when she came in...they waited for him to turn his head but he didn't...Baba called him again.. "Ashutosh look who has come in! He was still and motionless...Nidhi frowned at his behaviour...she gave a questioning look to Baba...who in return gestured to her and said, "Come beta I think he is tired..We'll wait for him outside"...Nidhi in response uttered "Nanu" in askance and that brought life in Ashutosh's numb form...he turned to look in wonder...and Baba grinned in response...Nidhi watched the expressions of both the men in bewilderment...Ashutosh came forward and placed his hands on Baba's shoulders saying "how can you do this to me Baba? and hugged him tightly...Baba patting his back in response asked, "how you thought Ashu that your Baba can do that or let anything like that to happen?" he comes out of the hug and gives a questioning look raising his eyebrows...Ashutosh lowered his eyes...and murmured... "Sorry Baba!"...he patted his cheek and said "Come have your lunch first...we are in my room...Come Nidhi!"...Nidhi turns to move following Baba and glancing at Ashutosh who was looking at her with his heart in his eyes...the look that made her feet to plod... she turns to look at moving form of Baba and turns her gaze back to Ashutosh...to make impossible for her to move...he narrowed his eyes as if saying "please don't go"...with their eyes locked she takes slow steps forward...Ashutosh grabs her hand and she rolls her eyes towards Baba...He releases her hand and follows Baba saying.. "I'm also coming I don't want to have lunch"...Baba turns and gives him a glaring look "I know you don't want to have lunch now...glancing at Nidhi...but go and have lunch first...you have skipped your dinner last night and breakfast in the morning...you think I don't know"... "I don't feel hungry"...but Nidhi's pleading look makes him to give up and say... "Okay! I'll have lunch first...Kaka please serve the lunch...Nidhi why don't you join me?"
"she had her lunch" Baba answered grabbing Nidhi's hand...and turning to Nidhi.. "Come Nidhi...I'll show you my room" Ashutosh takes a deep sigh looking at their backs and move towards the table to have his lunch...Baba was smiling at his son's impatience. He took a few morsels in such haste as if he was starving for ages...kaka was finding hard to control his smile. Ashutosh quickly gulps down some water and says, "I'm done Kaka! Thank you" and moves to Baba's room...Kaka was nodding his head and smiling.
When Baba and Nidhi enter his room he makes her to sit on his bed...he goes to the cupboard and gets a big wooden box...he opens the box and takes out a photo album... "This box carries all your mom's belongings...and here is the album...the treasure trove of my lost happiness...baba had tears in his eyes...he turns the leaves of the album...living his gone days with his grand daughter...the album had Nandini's photographs right from the day she was born...Nidhi turned equally emotional knowing and learning about her mom...the missing part of her life...she hardly knew anything about her mom...and every leaf Baba turned and every story he told about the pictures was acquainting her with her mom...at times she felt she is a shadow of her mom... "I'm like my mom Nanu...look this picture resembles me...Isn't that?"...he laughs in response... "yes you resemble her in every sense she was like you"... "No I'm like her"...he smiles and takes her in a side hug and their eyes caught Ashutosh who was watching them mesmerizingly...Baba giving him a smile, "what are you doing there? Why don't you come in?"...he comes in and sits at the other end facing Nidhi and Baba...as the Baba and Nidhi got busy looking at the pictures he watches her unblinkingly...it doesn't take her much time to feel his gaze and she gets uneasy with Baba's presence she was finding hard to stand his gaze...she tries to gesture him "Baba is here" but he was relentless...her heart misses a beat when he pursed his lips in a kiss to her glare...she lost her attention...her cheeks were blushing...and she wasn't able to answer Baba coherently when he asked something"...he was now trying to catch her eye but she was refusing to meet his gaze... and he was finding her more adorable..shy..blushing cheeks..and the way she was averting her eyes quite conscious of his looks. With a tongue in cheek smile...he takes a piece of paper from his pocket...rolls the paper and throws at her aiming at her hand...when the paper touches her...she looks at him in surprise...now her heart was thumping.. she slowly takes the paper and hides in her fist..giving him a pleading look avoiding Baba...He smiles and twirls and turns to her left side...to join them to look at the album... "can I see nidhi's lookalike" ... "yes Beta why not?"...he slowly places his hand on her left hand and Nidhi's breath gets caught...Baba was quite close and he was turning shameless... She was now in the centre holding the album and Baba and ashutosh were on her sides... with his hand still placed on her hand he asks a few question about some pictures...Nidhi was slowly gaining her calm...she adjusts her dupatta and places the end on their hands...he so wished to kiss her at the gesture but instead he squeezes her hand a bit that makes her to give him a quick look...She saw a photo and asked, "Nanu Isn't that cute?...he smiles and answers yes she was pouting asking for something when I clicked this photo" Ashutosh murmurs close to her ear.. "Now I know where from the sweet pouts came"...Baba hears him murmur and asks What?... "Yes Baba you don't know your grand daughter also pouts the same way and on everything" she gives a resigned look to him and Baba chuckles at that..he places an affectionate hand on her head and gets up saying... "You watch the album it's my time to visit Jeevan Sandhya now...Nidhi Beta you stay here...Ashu will drop you home after dinner"...bubbles of joy sprout out in Ashutosh's heart...he is spending whole evening with her...Baba notices the happy grin on Ashutosh's face and places a soft hand on their heads saying... "God bless you both" and leaves the room...they remained like that for sometime and Ahutosh who was very close to Nidhi watching her turn the leaves of album...moves a bit closer on hearing the main entrance door open and shut..he was so close his exhale was touching the side of Nidhi's neck...he blows out air aiming at Nidhi starting from her ear down to her neckline...that makes her to turn her head and close her eyes...her heart was thumping at the feel of his breath...he was now watching her breathlessly and that makes Nidhi to open her eyes and look at him...seeing his smouldering eyes she makes a slight move and before she could get up...he places his arm around her holding her tight to himself... "where were you since morning?"...when she didn't answer he takes the album from her hand put that on the side...twirls himself lying on the bed and rests his head on her lap and closes his eyes... "You know past twenty four hours took away ten years from my life...I have spent many sleepless nights...but last night was horrible...I want to erase that from my memory"...she was fondly looking at him...she raises her right hand and ruffles softly his hair... "I missed you too"...he opens his eyes takes her left hand in his hand and pecks her hand... "Mobile phone network made things worse"... "Hmn"... "But I called you in the morning...on your office number"... "Really! but I wasn't there"... "hmn..I know..Dr. Malika answered the call"...he frowns a bit.. "what was she doing there?...She asked many questions?"... "Um..I told her I needed your opinion on a case...she told you're busy...I'm sure she didn't tell you"... he was looking at her pecking her hand in between and her hand was also ruffling his hair... "No she didn't tell me otherwise why I would've felt so worried"... "I don't know...I'm not sure...I mean...I find her behaviour so weird...what is her problem?"...she waits for him to respond when he didn't she continues... "I think she doesn't like me...she doesn't talk to me nicely...I mean as compared to others...you know no one in the hospital said any thing about that press conference but she did...I mean she tried to warn me...you know...I feel she is always ready to tell off"...they hear kaka's footsteps outside and she makes him to get up.. "Kaka is here...we forgot...get up please"...he gets up closing in towards her lips...she pushes him away and runs towards window...by that time Kaka reaches at the door and asks, "would you like to have some tea or coffee"...Ashutosh answers "Yes Kaka a cup of tea would be great...Nidhi is that Okay?" She nods and Kaka leaves...Ashutosh walks upto the window and hugs her from the back and makes her rock back and forth with him... "Please Kaka is around...what are you doing?" his phone rings he holds her still for sometime...pecks at her shoulder and moves to her side to answer his phone... "Yes Malika!...No I'm fine...had a little headache that's why I left hospital early..I hope everything is Okay...okay fine... see you tomorrow" she gives him a sombre look and turns her eyes...Kaka comes with tea and leaves...he waits for her to take the sip and when she did...he exchanged their cups...she gives him a questioning look... "the tea wasn't so sugary" she lowers her eyes and smiles...after sometime she leans forward and places her elbow on windowsill with her face on her hand gazing out of the window...to avoid his look as she felt his unblinking gaze...a look she always found hard to hold to...they slowly sipped the tea...on seeing Ashutosh in deep thoughts smiling and looking at her she asks... "What are you pondering at so deeply?" He smiles looking deeply into her eyes...with slight blush...she asks.. "What???" and he take a deep sigh and with sweet smile on his face he answers in Shakespeare's words :
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.
See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O, that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!