OS: Shadows from the Past (Chap 12, Pg. 117, Note, Pg. 130, VM Pg 131) - Page 78

Originally posted by: aardhan

Good memory!! Was there any doubt about that! 😲 😉 😆

Have you started?

CHAPTER 11

Three weeks later...

It was yet another Saturday! Ashutosh and Nidhi had decided to leave the hospital a tad bit earlier as it had been a rare day of less work and patients for both of them. They had just returned home, to a house that was engulfed in some flavorful aromas. As it turned out HK was cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Both BB and he had decided to surprise their friends at JS with a special dinner, a sort of early Holi celebration. Though Holi itself was a few days away this was the last Saturday before that, hence this plan by the two old young' men! After packing the food they left saying they were going to stay at JS itself and come back sometime in the afternoon the next day, which was a Sunday. Thus Ashutosh and Nidhi found they had the house to themselves and all the time to spare!

Nidhi: "It amazes me sometimes to see BB and HK have so much energy to do these things."

Dr. Ashutosh: "Yeah! So what do you want to do? Even dinner is ready now!"

Nidhi: "Why don't we eat dinner and then go out and have an ice-cream? Or go to a movie? Its been so long!"

Dr. Ashutosh: "Nidhi, do you ever miss a chance to eat ice-cream? Sometimes I wonder if you are really 25!"

And that got the expected reaction from her! Seeing her pout he burst into laughter. And softly, almost under his breath he uttered,

Dr. Ashutosh: "Kiddo!"

But her sensitive ears picked that too, just as he knew they would! That exasperated her no end. She pouted even more and turned away from him, so she did not see him approach.

Nidhi: "Don't call me that! Don't say..."

And just like that she was up against a 6 foot tall human wall who also happened to be her husband who had just hugged her from the back.

Dr. Ashutosh: "Hey Doc, I was just teasing you! See, you have become as red as a tomato! Hmmm, I think you look more beautiful when you get angry... bet no one has told you that before! On second thoughts, how could anyone? Who would dare!"

Nidhi was completely charged up by now...

Nidhi: "Really? Is that so? Is that all or is there anything more? Now I know why you like to rile me up like this? What do you get out of that?"

Dr. Ashutosh: "Hmmm, that's a leading question my dear wife... What do I get out of it? Well, for starters, a chance to do this..." And he pulled her even closer... "Then this..." He nuzzled her neck, turned her and pecked on her nose. "As for anything more, I think your nose flares up at a funny angle too and those eyes..."

By now she had caught on to his act...

Nidhi: "Ok. Ok. I got it! Now move and let me set the table, so we can eat!"

And with that she playfully pushed him back and ran into the kitchen. With a regretful shake of his head he slowly walked towards the table, sat down and patiently waited for her to finish. Just as she put the last dish on the table he caught her wrist, pulled her towards him and made her sit on his lap...

Nidhi: "Is all the special treatment now and earlier because BB and HK are not here? I wonder, do they even know how naughty you can be!"

Dr. Ashutosh: "What do you think? And anyway why waste such golden opportunities! Now let's eat...."

Saying that he started feeding her from their' plate, a single one today as he insisted they share. As they finish Nidhi quickly cleared the dishes and,

Nidhi: "Ok, now lets go!"

Dr. Ashutosh: "Go? Where?"

Nidhi: "To eat some ice-cream! Forgot already?"

Dr. Ashutosh: "Nidhi, are you really serious? Do you honestly want to go?"

Nidhi: "Yes, I..."

And that's when it started raining, an early spring shower before Holi and totally unexpected...

"Wasn't that almost 6 weeks ago, almost to the day!" That was where Nidhi's thoughts were leading her today, on this Sunday afternoon and yesterday (Saturday) had been an extremely hectic day for their family as they had celebrated Anji's God-Bharai'. Even though it was a little early and even if Anji was restricted to sitting on a wheel-chair, since her seventh month had officially started and considering her delicate condition they had decided to do it sooner rather than later. As it was a last minute decision a lot of the arrangements fell on Nidhi. And as she had been helping with every small detail she was hoping that her turn would come soon... After the hullabaloo yesterday she was relaxing today. She now smiled to herself. "This coming week was going to be a week of celebrations. First was this God-Bharai', and later in the week our first wedding anniversary was coming up." Upon Dr. Ashutosh's insistence, they had both taken a three day vacation and made it a long weekend to spend with each other and their family. As Nidhi was sitting in her front verandah occupied with these thoughts, the rain started. It seemed like pre-monsoon showers had arrived slightly earlier this year! Seeing the rain she was reminded of the last time it had rained on that Saturday evening 6 weeks back, just as she was about to drag Dr. Ashutosh out to have ice-cream. But it had turned out to be a weekend that had become unforgettable in many ways...

Just as she was about to answer Dr. Ashutosh, it had started raining, a trickle at first but soon it became a downpour.

Nidhi: "Wow, awesome! Its raining!"

Saying this she had run out into the rain through the open back door, instantly forgetting all about the ice-cream. With her arms out-stretched she had turned around a few times when her gaze fell on a bemused looking Dr. Ashutosh, who it seemed was rooted to his spot and quietly watching her from the confines of the room. He was seeing her but she sensed that he was lost in another world. So she had run back to him and holding his arm...

Nidhi: "Come on Dr. Ashutosh. What are you waiting for?"

And she had pulled him with her in the rain, just like she had done the very first time on that rainy night all those months ago. But this time he had not protested. In fact he had seemed more than willing to join her. They had walked into the rain holding each other's hand, taking slow, measured steps, but the entire time they were there getting wet neither had let go of the other's hand. Both had closed their eyes and raised their faces towards the heavens and stood till they were soaking wet. Then they had looked at each other, grinned and as if by mutual consent, had raced back into the house laughing like two naughty kids. Even today Nidhi could not believe that the rain that evening had once more turned Dr. Ashutosh into his childhood self! Some time later Nidhi had come out of the bathroom drying her hair with the towel to see Dr. Ashutosh all changed and lounging on the bed playing with the stereo remote.

Nidhi: "Shall I make your favorite tea? With Adrak'?"

She saw him smile and nod at that while he turned the FM on the stereo on. She knew, he could never say no to her tea! A moment later they both heard the soft old, classical number playing on the radio...

"Woh shaam kuch ajeeb thi...

Yeh sham bhi ajeeb hai...

Woh kal bhi paas paas thi...

Woh aaj bhi kareeb hai..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvblBQbmd9k

With a return smile she had put her Sindoor' and started brushing her hair and suddenly she had yelped when he had hugged her from behind, the second time that evening. It seemed like he was mesmerized by the song, transported into a different zone. Holding her tight and resting his face on her shoulder he had softly started singing along just for her ears. Then just as slowly he had pushed her hair to one side and gently kissed her on her shoulder which seemed to have unleashed all that suppressed desire that had built up ever since BB and HK had left. Soon they were both immersed and everything else around them ceased to matter. The moment she felt his kiss she had closed her eyes and let her sensations take over. He had slowly turned her and kissed her forehead first, then her closed eyelids before moving to her lips and in response her arms had snaked around his neck of their own free will. He had stopped singing long back and neither had noticed nor cared when the song reached its finale! Finally, both had surfaced out of the trance for a moment and she had opened her eyes to see him open his as well. Without breaking eye contact he had lifted her and carried her to bed. All thoughts of ice-cream or tea were drowned in the tempest of their desire that night...

Now as she sat in the verandah watching the rain and thinking about that special evening, she could feel its magic wrapping all around her once more. But it had not ended there...

And then the next day (Sunday):

After a long night passionate night they had woken up late, in each other's arms. She had cooked a leisurely lunch that was oft interrupted by him and after that they had driven over to JS to pick up BB and HK. They had chatted with the inmates and manager for a little while and then they all had left from there. Half way back they were hit by the strains of a Qawalli wafting towards them from a nearby Dargah.

BB: "Ashu..."

Dr. Ashutosh: "I know Baba... I will take you to the Dargah! Nidhi, Kaka, is it ok?"

Upon seeing their nods in unison he had turned the car in the direction of the song. It was an hour later when they all had arrived home, tired yet sated, each lost in their own world after listening to all that soulful Sufi music.

BB: "Ashu... beta, let's play some music. It's been a while now and you have been so busy lately. But after listening to those songs I feel inspired."

Dr. Ashutosh: "Ok Baba, as you wish..."

Nidhi: "Wait here, I will bring your instruments out."

HK: "And I will go make tea and pakodas' for everyone."

Fifteen minutes later the scene was set for an inspired' musical evening. While HK had arranged the plates and tea-cups Nidhi had even lit a few candles. And BB and Dr. Ashutosh had started playing their usual Jugal-bandi'. After the first few songs she had started getting tired of all the classical music and was trying hard to stifle her yawn. As hard as she had tried to hide that, Dr. Ashutosh had still somehow noticed it or maybe he had just sensed it...

Nidhi: "Both of you continue. I am going to help HK..."

Saying that she had got up to go to the kitchen when,

Ashutosh: "Baba, can I ask you something? I... I mean, I hope you will not feel bad!"

BB: "Ashu, why this doubt? Till date you have never had such doubts!"

Ashutosh: "Well Baba, till now I have not asked you such a question. So I was wondering if I should...."

BB: "Go ahead beta, ask! You can ask me anything."

Ashutosh: "Baba, was Nidhi's mother interested in classical music?"

Both BB and Nidhi had been stunned by this unexpected query, BB because he had compelled these thoughts to the inner recesses of his mind never to explore them again and Nidhi because till date she had not known too much about her mother's childhood. Knowing this topic would upset him, she was unable to approach BB with questions about her mother till now, so she had always stifled her curiosity, but now...

Dr. Ashutosh: "Sorry Baba, I was simply curious. Please, don't be angry. Tell me Baba..."

As if those words had shaken him out of his stupor, BB gulped a few times and...

BB: "No Ashutosh! Nandini was not interested in classical music. Neither was she inclined to learn violin or harmonium though I tried to teach her... But she loved Sufi ghazals and Qawallis..."

Nidhi: "She loved Sufi ghazals and Qawallis..."

The last words were uttered at the same time by both BB and Nidhi and they had looked at each other in astonishment, as if recollecting their presence for the first time, as if recalling their blood connection for the first time...

Nidhi: "Baba told me she used to love them... Guess that's why even I do!"

Dr. Ashutosh: "And I guess that's why even you are not so interested in classical music... but I can teach you, if you want to learn!"

Seeing she was getting overwhelmed, he had given her a quiet nod of understanding...

Nidhi: "I... I... the kitchen!" And she had quickly retreated! But she had heard Dr. Ashutosh say,

Ashutosh: "Baba, sorry... But I just feel sometimes Nidhi wants to talk about her mother but she does not!" Upon BB's silent nod... "Do you know Baba, the first time we confessed our love it was in a Dargah! We met there unexpectedly as we both were drawn to the Qawalli and thought it was strange at that time... Now we know whom we have to thank for that!"

And father and son had smiled at each other, the tension had been diffused just like that! That had taken her back to the day they had seemingly confessed their love and she had started helping HK in a happier frame of mind. An old pleasant memory had won over an older painful memory. BB and Dr. Ashutosh had continued their musical retreat till they had been forced to abandon for dinner sometime later. That night she had emotionally thanked Dr. Ashutosh for his efforts, one thing had led to another and for the second consecutive morning they had woken up in each other's arms, their desires sated and replete.

Even now Nidhi could not believe how that small conversation had broken the ice. After that BB had regaled her with many anecdotes from her mother's childhood. He had even shown her a few photos. And she had promised him that the next time she visited her father she would bring her mother's photo that hung in her room and hang it in BBs room. She was happier than she had been, satisfied with where her life was going, even Dr. Ashutosh seemed to be reflecting the same vibes, but still something nagged her today, something she was still unable to put her finger on...

Meanwhile Ashutosh was in their room looking at some of the pictures he had clicked of Anji's God-Bharai' yesterday. There was one picture where Anji was sitting and Nidhi was hugging her from over the shoulder and both were smiling into the camera. "This one is the best. Maybe we should frame this?"

Dr. Ashutosh: "Nidhi, where are you? Come here, I want to show you something."

Only silence greeted him! With a sigh, he got up and walked out of their room when he heard the pitter-patter of rain and saw Nidhi sitting in the verandah enjoying the scene. The rain was picking up and so were his thoughts. His mind took him back to the last time it rained. "What an unexpected day, rather night and weekend that had turned out to be!" He grinned to himself as he remembered her child-like enthusiasm upon seeing the rain, as if that was the first time in her life! He remembered how much he was enjoying her play in the rain and think, "Will she never tire of this rain? On second thoughts, I hope not! Please let her remain like this always! Some of her child-like ways are so endearing... so innocent... so full of life! Her ability to enjoy these simple pleasures makes her so unique! As I think back, I feel this is what captivated me on that first rainy night so long ago, this rain yet again reminds me of all those things I had first found so attractive in her..." He had been lost, in her beauty, in the rainy moment, in his thoughts and had stood rooted to his spot by the door when she had suddenly jolted him out of his revere and had dragged him out into the rain. Not that he had protested! And once again he had enjoyed it in her company just as in the very first time when she had pulled him out of his car. Coming back to the present he decided to join her in the verandah. But first he would make some AKC for both of them and surprise her. Making the tea reminded him of what had followed after the rain and it also reminded him that they never quite got around to having tea that night! "Well, I can make up for it today! Though I do not mind that we missed the tea the last time!", he conceded to himself. As he finished making the tea he carried out one cup for both of them and parked himself next to Nidhi in the verandah. She smiled on seeing him but positively beamed when she saw the tea cup,

Nidhi: "Thank you so much Dr. Ashutosh! I was just thinking about it. How did you guess?"

Dr. Ashutosh: "I think I know you by now Nidhi. And anyway, since we missed having it the last time it rained, I wanted to oblige you this time!"

This statement was delivered with as straight a face as he could muster, though there was a glint in his eye that was saying a different story entirely. Hearing him refer to the last time it rained, made her blush and seeing his raised eye-brow, that naughty glint in his eye and lop-sided grin, she blushed even more making him laugh out aloud at her. Unable to help himself he hugged her with his free arm and placed a light kiss on her head! While once more it carried her back into her land of dreams, dreams about that weekend, "What a magical weekend that was? How long has it been now... Is it more than a month already?? So soon!!" A doubt crept in her mind, but aloud she responded, desperate to talk of something else...

Nidhi: "Yesterday's ceremony was very nice, isn't it? Anji seemed so happy! She was ecstatic!"

He looked at her a long second as if saying, "I know what you are doing Nidhi", but,

Dr. Ashutosh: "Yes... and I wanted to show you some pictures. I was thinking of getting one or two framed..."

Nidhi: "Perfect, let me see..."

As she watched him manipulate the pictures to display them to her she was amazed by the man he had become in this one year. "This smiling and content man had left the tense, forlorn man way behind. This man, who now thought about everyone around him was such a far cry to the once lonely man I had first set her eyes on." How he spoke about her mother to BB that evening still surprised her. She had even thanked him later that night and he had suggested that she should bring some old photos of her mother from CVs house. Her gaze rested on one photo of both of them that Dr. Ranganath had taken yesterday, where Dr. Ashutosh was holding her shoulder in a side hug and she had her arm around his back and they were gazing and smiling at each other in response to a joke someone had made.

Dr. Ashutosh: "Nidhi, lets print this one and frame it?"

Nidhi: Smiling into his eyes, "Ok. Even I was about to say the same thing."

Neither noticed BB who had come out of his room looking for some tea and was now looking indulgently at the pretty picture these two made sitting on the porch. "Please God, keep my children happy always. Let them be like this all their lives..."

TO BE CONTINUED...

Friends, once more thank you for your patience as this chapter has been long due. And like always, if you like what you read, please let me know through your comments. And also please do not forget to hit the 'LIKE' button. Thank you in advance. 😳 Happy Reading! 😃 🤗

Originally posted by: bublyta

waiting

Originally posted by: Diksha_1991

Gud Nite. Take care

Cya 2morrow.

Congrats for completing 100 pages !! 🥳

Originally posted by: bublyta

CONGRATS FOR 100 PAGES

Originally posted by: Aazeen02

Congo on completion of 100 pages Aarti di...
Btw, still waiting 4 u to update... When are u going 2 do?

Originally posted by: suku_07

Lolz drugs 🤣 Seems I need to do some pest control 😉🤣

Originally posted by: suku_07

Good so where is it ??😆