Chapter-9
The next morning, Nidhi stretched out her arm towards Ashu's side, before opening her eyes... N she had always found that familiar figure lying right beside her, which made her mornings the best... But, today,before,she could smile,her lips curved into a frown, 'He's not here...' and she opened her eyes to see the other side of the bed, where Ashutosh lay, empty... She looked at her table clock, that was on her side table to see the time, and what met her eyes, made her bolt right on the bed- "OMG!!! Its already quarter to 10!!! And I'm still sleeping... How??? Why didn't my alarm ring? Or was I that deep in sleep, that I didn't hear it...?" Numerous Questions came hitting her in her head... N she immediately almost rushingly got out of the bed, only to stumble in her steps... Although, it has reduced, but, dizziness hit her, real hard this time... But before she could loose her balance, or hurt herself in any manner, Ashutosh was in the nick of time, to hold her firmly in his arms,a nd sure enough, quickly making her sit on the bed...
A: Kya karti ho Nidhi... Tumko kitni baar kaha hai, take it easy... Specially when you get out of the bed after a sleep... Why the hell don't u understand, You are not a superwoman! DID. YOU. GET. THAT!
Ashutosh was really worried... These days, right from the day, Ranga's wedding preparations had begun, all she was, OVER DOING herself...
N: Ok! I'm sorry Ashuji... But, just look at the clock, its already quarter to 10... God knows, when I slept like a monster like this... Ranga- Anji bhi chale gaye honge... Ghar mei sab uth bhi gaye honge... sabne naasta bhi kar liya hoga... Sab hospital ke liye bhi nakal gaye honge... And main abhi tak so rahi thi... Sab kya kahenge... Ghar ki badi bahu aur abhi tak so rahi hai...
Ashutosh just sat on the bed beside her, held her in his arms, and put a finger on her lips, to stop the flow of words: Shhh... Bas Nidhi... Khaamosh ho jaao ab... Koi kuch nahi soch raha hai... Infact Maa-baba are really happy, that you were taking rest... After all, that was what, they too wanted from you... Yes! Anji-Ranga nikal chuke hain... I saw them off on the airport, on both our behalves... And who's there to go the hospital? Baba has reduced his work a lot, and has just gone to look at all the official works... Maa had an opd, that is going to finish by early after noon, N me, I'm at your service madam... (Then grins)Just have to have a look on the post-operative patients today... Pehle tum fresh ho jaao... Have breakfast, then hum dono saath chalte hain, I'll have with my patients, and you with yours... Its a light schedule for all of us, specially planned by Maa and Baba for your birthday, so that, all can have time together...
N: How sweet of them... But, first tell, me, mai itna kaise so gayi? Mere alarms baje bhi ke nahi? Infact mujhe toh mera cell phone dikh hi nahi raha...(Ashutosh dug his hand in one of his pants pockets, and brought out the phone...
A: Ye lijiye... Switch on kar lena...
N: Oh my god! Ye kal raat se switched off hai? Ashuji aap bhi na... Kisi ko call karna hua hoga toh? (And she swithes it on... Sure enough, it starts buzzing with incoming messages... Birthday wishes) And before she could see them all, her phone rang, its Anji...
N: Hi!
A: Happy Birthday Di... (Yelled Anji on the other end)
N: Thank you yaar... Kahan ho tum log?
A: Our connecting flight will board in sometime, till then we both are here at the shopping centre at the airport... Thought to call you... But, it was switched off... So, I got it, you are sleeping... Jeej told me...
N: (Almost secretively) Arrey ye tumhare Jeej hain na... Kisi kaam ke nahi hain... Mera phone switch off kar diya, aur mai so gayi...
A: Toh achha hai na Di, aapka rest bhi ho gaya... You had really exerted yourself already...
Chalo, you have fun, I'll join Ranga...Arrey ye lo Di, Ranga bhi aapko wish kar rahe hain...
After Nidhi had concluded the call, Ashutosh, almost mischeviously started leaning towards her, putting either of his hands near her thighs...
A: Maine Suna... (Comes little closer)
N: Kya suna... (Tilting her head backwards to maintain the space between them)
A: Wahi jo tumne Anji se kaha... (More closer)
N: Maine kya kaha? (Again tilting more backward, this time leaning against the palms that laid on the bed )
A: Ke uske jeej kisi kaam ke nahin hain... (This time leaning quite towards her, landing his palms, just beside hers..)
N: Haan toh... (This time, leaning back made her lie completely on the bed, on her back, and hands resting on her sides) Maine kya ghalat kaha...
A: (This time lying almost on top of hers, with his elbows resting near her head, putting all the weight on them so that she doesn't gets crushed under him) I can prove... Main bohot kaam ka hoon...( A Lingering kiss on the crook of her neck) Kal raat ko bhi kiya tha na... (This time, on the other side of the neck, was the kiss)
Nidhi was feeling all drowned in his intoxicating manly cologne... He was indeed playing havoc on her senses... But then, she realised, she was feeling hungry, and they have to leave for the hospital too... But, he was unrelentling anyways... So she thought of a mischief...
N: (Showing him, that she's going with the flow) Ashuji... Mujhe aapse kuch kehna hai...
A: Haan toh kaho na...
N: Toh idhar aaeeye na... (Bringing his ear as close as possible to her lips, by pulling his head towards herself... And then yelled in his ear...) MUJHE BHOOK LAG RAHI HAI!!!
Ashutosh was taken aback, with such a loud sound in his ear, n Nidhi took it as an advantage to push him from over her to the other side of the bed... And then, got up the bed... Rather carefully this time, not to exert herself...
A: (With disappointed looks in his eyes) This is cheating Nidhi...
N: Kya cheating? Aap bhi toh maan nahi rahe they... And see, (Putting her hand on her baby bump) Aapke baby ko bohot bhook lagi hai... Sirf meri baat hoti toh koi baat hi nahi thi... (And she made an innocent face, along with making flutters with her eye lashes... Ashutosh couldn't help, but smile at her looks) aur humko hospital bhi toh jaana hai na...
A: Achha theek hai... Tum fresh ho jaao... Lekin aaraam se huh!
N: (Blinking eyes in response)Ji...
Soon Both Ashutosh and Nidhi went down stairs to have their breakfast together, although, the fact was, Nidhi couldn't give a single minute to Ashutosh then, and was having incoming calls one by one... All through the way to the hospital, she was kept on the phone, and Ashu giving him smiling glances... 'She is always loved so much by all... Arrey, meri Nidhi hai hi aisi...', Ashu's heart was smiling at the love that she had always been blessed with... 'Bas Bhagwaan, ye aise hi muskuraati rahe... Main har haal mei isko khush rakh sakoon... Abhi bhi, aur aagey bhi...', Ashutosh wished with all his heart... Changing the gear, he concentrated on the road... On reaching the hospital, both went to their respective works...
It was evening time, and the Mathur Mansion was abuzz with both the families and close friends getting on together,for the birthday bash... Nidhi was dressed in that pretty White saree that Ashu gifted, along with the jewellery he chose... All have been complementing her, and she had looked at him with all the pride in her eyes...
Neeti came along with the Vermas... But, she chose to be with someone or the other rather than being alone, to have any conversation with Mallika... Giving a perfunctionary smile to all in the Mathur Mansion, Ashutosh's parents had understood her situation, n just placed a hand on her head, as in, they understand...
Neeti chose to leave early, saying that,she needed to go back, as her exams are near... And after hugging her Di and Jeeju, and seeking blessings from the elder Mathur couple, she went off with the driver, whilst the rest of the Verma's stayed back, who left too after sometime... All the other relatives and friends left too... All were sitting, relaxing, and talking, when, what caught everybody's attention, was Ashutosh's voice- "Ye kya badtameezi hai Mallika..."
All rushed towards the sound... And what they saw was Mallika's wrists in Ashutosh's, close enough to his shoulders... Everybody's mouths went agape... It was very difficult to understand actually,who has actually initiated all this... Mallika? Or Ashutosh?
Rohan's voice, broke everybody's trance...
R: Ye kya ho raha hai???
Both Ashutosh and Mallika's face turned towards the Mathurs, along with Ashutosh shrugging off Mallika's hands...
Ashutosh (Sarcastically, although his eyes were spitting fire): Ye tum apni MALLIKA JI se kyu nahi poochte Rohan??? Ke aakhir ye saare ghar ko chod, meri study mein akele kyu aayi hain...???
Rohan looked accusingly towards Mallika... "Ye... Ye Ashu bhaiya kya keh rahe hain Mallika ji??? Aap unki study mein kya kar rahi hain???
Mallika (Bringing tears in her eyes, and looking as innocent as possible): Rohan... Ye jhoot bol rahe hain... Main bhala kyu apne aap inki study mein jaaungi??? Inhone hi mujhe bulaya tha yahan... Mujhe laga, ke inko kuch kaam hai par ye toh... (And she starts crying bitterly) Ye mujhe phasaane ki koshish kar rahe hain...
Rohan along with the whole family was shocked at her words... And more than that, was Ashutosh...
A: Kya bakwaas karti ho tum? Ab apni asliyat kyu nahi bataati? Jo tum kuch deir pehle karne ki koshish kar rahi thi...
M: Kyu meri izzat neelaam karne ki koshish kar rahe hain aap Ashutosh... Aap hi toh mere saath...
And she was cut short by a very-very stern voice... It was Rohan... "BAS!!! BAS MALLIKA JI... BAS!!!" Mallika was stunned...
Rohan continued- "Mere bhaiya, ghusse ke ho sakte hain... Wo mere relation ko accept nahi kar rahe honge... Strict hain, PAR!!! Par characterless nahi hain... You heard me Mallika ji... MERE. ASHU BHAIYA. CHARACTERLESS.NAHI.HAIN!!! Nidhi bhabhi ke alaawa kisi bhi ladki khyaal unke dil mei aa hi nahi sakta..." Rohan didn't realise but he was actually shouting at her... Now Mallika thought she fell in her own trap... 'What to do... What to do... Kuch toh socho Mallika... Warna yahan se toh tera patta saaf ho jaayega', thought Mallika, so, to deviate the topic, and look as realistic, she said- "Rohan... Hum ek dusre se pyaar karte hain... Shaadi karna chaahte hain... Aur ye vishwaas hai tumhe mujh par...?" Saying this Mallika ran from there crying bitterly... And closed in the door of the room she stayed and started crying out loud, for all to hear her crying, and make people feel, that either she was speaking the truth, or, there has been some misunderstanding...
Rohan after standing there for sometime, resigned to Mallika's cries and went to her door and banged it... "Darwaaza kholiye Mallika ji..."
Mallika replied from behind the door still with hiccupping cries"Nahin Rohan... Tumko meri baat par vishwaas nahi hai na..."
"Mallika Ji... Ye namumkin hai... Bhaiya aisa kar hi nahin sakte..."
"Matlab main jhoot bol rahi hoon?"
"Nahin Mallika ji... Ho sakta hai, aapko kuch ghalat fehmi hui ho..."
"Ghalat fehmi... Tumhare bhaiya mere saath zyaadti karne ki koshish kar rahe thhey, aur mujhe ghalat fehmi hui hai?"
"Mallika ji, aapko unki study mein jaana hi nahi chahiye tha..."
"Unhone mujhe bulaaya tha... Dekho Rohan... Abhi mujhe akele chodd do... Mujhe abhi tumse kuch nahi kehna hai..."
Defeated, he came back to the hall, where Ashutosh with his parents putting a hand on his shoulder were standing... Ashutosh spoke nothing... Only his eyes had turned into two fireballs, that were real angry...
R: Bhaiya, mujhe lagta hai, aapko Mallika ji ko Study mei nahi bulaana chahiye tha...
A: Are you out of your mind Rohan? Main kyu mallika ko bulaaunga? Maine use ek shabd nahi bola... jis din se tum usko ghar laaye ho, I didn't said a word to her infront of everyone, let alone alone...
R: Ho sakta hai bhaiya, ke unko koi misunderstanding ho gayi ho... You didn't mean it, and unhone kuch aur sense mei le liya hoga... Please bhaiya... Main aapse unki taraf se maafi maangta hoon...
A(Putting both his hands on Rohan's shoulders): Rohan, meri baat samajhne ki koshish karo... You don't even know, what she is upto... Usne abhi kya kiya tha... Buddy, She's just making you dance on her fingers... And unfortunately, you wish to keep your eyes closed...
R: Bhaiya, please... Mere pyar ko aise mat kahiye... Kya aap bhabhi ka kaha maante nahi hai...? Maante hain na? Main bhi toh wahi kar raha hoon... Phir mere pyaar par tohmat kyu?
A(Giving a rueful smile): Because Rohan... Tumne abhi pyaar ko jaana nahin hai... Khair... Jaane do... Tum nahi samjhoge abhi...
R: Yahi toh problem hai Bhaiya... Aap log mujhe kabhi bada hone dena hi nahin chahte hain... All you all think is, Rohan khud kuch nahi kar sakta... Kuch decide nahi kar sakta, kuch bhi sahi nahi kar sakta... Shayad isi liye, jab Mallika ji ne mujhe confidence diya, toh mujhe laga, ke nahin... Main bhi khud kuch decision le sakta hoon, and I'm telling you, Mallika ji itni buri bhi nahin hain... unko apni family ka hissa aap maan kyu nahi lete?
A: (Giving him the saddest of his smiles) Rohan, pata hai, jab tum paida hue they na, main 15 saal ka tha... Maa ko dekhne hospital gaya tha... Baba ne mujhko chair par bitha ke sabse pehle, tumko meri godh mein diya... And Rohan, mujhe usmein, tum mein, apne chote bhai ke saath-saath apna beta dikhta tha... Main aaj bhi Nidhi se kehta hoon, ke mere mann mein, mere bachhe ki chhavi Rohan ke bachpane ki bani hui hai... Rohan, maine apni samajh ke hisaab se, jo ban pada, jaisa bana, tumko sahi-sahi suggestions diye... Tumko sahi samjhaane ki koshish kari... Kabhi, pyaar se, kabhi dulaar se, kabhi ghusse se, kabhi maar se, lekin, ajeeb baat ye thi, ke tum har baar samajh jaate they... Main ye nahi kehta, ke tum meri har baat maano, lekin, kam se ka muss par ek baar ghaur toh karo...
How the irony is... Jab tum bachhe they, tab tum samajh jaate they... Aur ab jab tum bade ho gaye ho, toh tum mein naadaani chaayi hui hai...
Khair, its time now, You understand the meaning of getting mature... Its Time, tum samajhdaar ho jaao... And, iss baar tum kisi ke kehne se, ya samjhaane se samjhdaar nahi hoge, Waqt tumhe samjhdaari dega... Good luck brother... (Patting his shoulder her turned around)
Now, his eyes fell on Nidhi, and then he realised, she must have seen all this... A worry for her crept up in his eyes... But the look in Nidhi's eyes,were totally opposite of his... Calm... Totally calm... No worry... No tension...
All went back to their rooms... As soon As Ashni entered their room, While Ashu turned to lock the door, Nidhi wordlessly turned to go to the washroom... Ashutosh quickly grabbed her wrist,a nd turned her around... What met his eyes was a totally calm and normal look on her face and eyes...
N: Kya hua Ashuji? Kuch kehna hai aapko?
A: Neeche.. Jo hua... Mallika ne jo kaha... Tum... Tumko...
N: Ashuji... Kya... NO!!! Main aisa kuch nahi soch rahi hoon... (Then cupping his cheeks) Mujhe aap par pura yaqeen hai... Arrey Mallika ji kya, unke Bhagwaan bhi aakar mujhse ye keh dete na, toh bhi, main ye maan nahi sakti thi, ke mere Ashuji, kisi bhi dusri female ke saath aisa kuch kar sakte they... Aap mere hain... Aur sirf mere... Wo haq sirf mera hai, n, koi kitna bhi chaahe, wo mujhse le nahi sakta... Le kya sakta, aap de hi nahi sakte... don't worry... Main toh bas Dr. Mallika ka tamaasha dekh rahi thi... Wakai Rohan ko nacha rahi hain wo... Lekin ismein Rohan ki ghalti nahi hai Ashuji... Usko kuch waqt dijiye... Kayi baar, hum unko har cheez nahi samjha sakte...
A(Nodding, as in agreeing) Tum theek keh rahi ho Nidhi... And (Taking both her palms in his hands, and kissing her knuckles) Thank you... Mujh par itna vishwaas rakhne ke liye... Mujhe itna pyaar dene ke liye... I feel blessed...
Jab koi baat bigad jaaye,
Jab koi mushkil padd jaaye,
Tum dena saath mera,
O humnawaa...
Na koi hai, na koi tha,
Zindagi mein tumhaare siwa,
Tum dena saath mera,
O humnawaa...
Wafaa daari ki wo rasmein,
Nibhaayenge hum tum kasmein,
Ek saans zindagi ki jab tak ho apne bas mein...
Jab koi baat bigad jaaye...
Ho chaandni jab tak raat,
Deta hai har koi saath,
Tum magar andhero mein, na chodna mera haath...
Jab koi baat bigad jaaye...
2 DAYS LATER:
Nidhi was climbing down the steps For the breakfast, when her feet slipped on them... Ashutosh who was just down the steps, screamed her name- NIDHIII!!! Sambhaal ke...
And rushed to the steps... Yet he was 4-5 steps away from her, when she completely lost her balance to trip down... But, the fall being that much, she fell directly in Ashu's arms, who in time, balanced both... Then they heard the sound of the marble rolling down the steps...
Both unbelievingly said-MARBLE? HUMARE GHAR MEIN?
The entire family stood up from the table seeing the scene... They all were stunned seeing the scene...
Ashutosh snarled in his very-very angry voice- YE MARBLE HUMAARE GHAR MEIN KAISE AAYA???
Everyone looked at each other, coz all of them were equally clueless, when Hiraman Kaka interrupted-
HK: Dakhalandaazi ke liye maafi chaahta hoon Mathur Saahab, lekin Ashutosh beta, ye Kanche main kal laaya tha...
A(Confused): Aap? Hiraman Kaka, aap kanche kyu laaye?
Hk: Mallika Bitiya ne mangwaaye they...
Now, all the eyes turned towards Mallika, who showed not even an ounce of nervousness or hesitation...
M: Haan... maine hi magwaaye they... lekin my friend told me its a sign of good luck to keep some marbles in your... I don't know, how one of them fell on the stair case...
A(Seething with anger): Mallika, I suppose, your room is down stairs... And how come they came upstairs...
M: Unhh... woh! Wo main... Haan! Main Rohan ko dikhaane laayi thi, but wo mila nahi...
A: Jhoot...! ye kis liye laayi thi, mere samajh mein aa raha hai... Infact mujhe doubt ho bhi raha tha, ke kab tum mujhe apna ye rang dikhati ho...
Maa-baba... maine ab tak koi faisla nahi liya tha... jab tak baat mujh tak thi, it was ok! But, main, Nidhi ya baby ko kuch nahi hone doonga... Chaahe uske liye mujhe kuch bhi karna pade... And I have decided...
MAIN AUR NIDHI YE GHAR, YE SHEHER CHODKE JAA RAHE HAIN...
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
