A week passed by,nidhi was now well into the fifth month,dr ashutosh had taken her for her fortnightly check up n dr sudhir seemed satisfied.Her wounds had nearly healed,but the skin was still quite tender n so dr ashtosh still restrained himself from making love to her..though the desire was palpable but..again care took precedence..as always.
It was friday night ,when hiraman got an urgent call that his nephew was unwell n so he had to leave,though v unwillingly.,but ashu n armaan assured him that they d manage n he said he d be back in two days..
Nidhi also did the cooking.,it was just that she couldnt bend..n needed help which usually was baba!!
Dinner was cooked the next day by nidhi n armaan,bhindi,aaloo dum n parathe..the four some enjoyed n ashu cleard the table.
When he entered the bedroom,nidhi was in her gown n ready to retire..suddenly she said"oh mai doodh peena to bhool hi gayee...""par mai nahi bhoola.."armaan said from the door..standing with a glass of milk.."arre thank you armaanji..aap bhi sochte honge ki kahaan phas gaya"said nidhi...armaan caught her nose n said"mai kahaan phasaa..phasaa to bechaara ashu hai..."!!!!n all three laughed..
Ashu settled nidhi n then got his violin..it had become a daily routine that he d play a beautiful tune to put the baby n nidhi tosleep..today he played his favourite number..yeh kahaan aa gaye hum yuhi saath saath chalte...the words rang so true as he looked back at his long desolate years in this very room..where now his loving young wife shared his bed,his joys n sorrows..n very soon a baby cot would also be required..ashu couldnt help smiling at his good fortune as he got up to keep the violin n then slid beside nidhi..putting his right hand on the baby bump..he
looked at nidhi..lovelier than ever in her blue gown..ashu so much wanted to slide his hand inside n feel her..unleash his
passion..but then it d be prudent to wait for a day or two more..the skin was tender...he d check again tomorrow..thought
dr ashutosh..
Nidhi's "uhuun.."awakened ashu..putting on his specs he saw the time.2.45 inthe night..he looked at
nidhi..opening her eyes.."dr ashutosh..""kya hua..dard hai?"asked a paranoid ashu...putting his hand inside the gown to
feel for the baby's movements..but baby seemed still."kya hua nidhi..bolo"asked ashu lovingly..
Nidhi spoke.."dr
ashutosh..."as ashu drew her close trying to share her pain.."mujhe dard nahi ho raha..bahot bhook lag rahi hai...hunger
pangs.."dr ashutosh burst into a laugh.."to boliye madam,kya khaayengi aap"?nidhi pouted n said.."mai to kuch bhi kha
leti ..par aapke baby ko pulao khana hai..with kissmiss n veggies..abhi ke abhi.."
Ashu scratched his head..he did not know how to make pulao...it was too late to ring up db,kaka was away..n he understood that these were pregnancy cravings for food..
Ashu onned his tab..the tab that nidhi had given him long time back..n went into the kitchen.."chaliye na mai help kar doongi.."said nidhi..but ashu said"nahi,aaj baby ko pata to chale ki papa kaisa khana banate hain"
Ashu looked for the frying pan n cooker..soaked the rice,cut the veggies n while chopping onions,he made a small cut on his finger but as it was minor he just washed it,..he was careful about the salt..n while the pulao was cooking..ashu seemed to be restless with excitement n joy..
He got the hot pulao with curd into the bed room..n helped nidhi to sit up..nidhi didnt seem to need any encouragement..she was clearly famished..infact ashu had to tell her.."slow nidhi..plz slow"
Suddenly nidhi saw ashus finger bleeding.."yeh kaise kata"?said she keeping the plate away.."woh kuch nahi abhi kat gayaa thoda sa.."but nidhi took his finger n sucked it..trying to soothen with her saliva..ashu asked.."yaad hai honeymoon pe..jab phool todne me chot lagi thi ,tab bhi tumne aise hi..."n nidhi blushed..remembering those early days of physical intimacy.
Ashu put a band aid at her insistence..n as nidhi gave him a thanku kiss..he came n slept..lost in the dreams of their bundle of joy...
Next morning,ashu was going to the market when nidhi said.."plz mujhe bhi le chaliye..plz,gadi se nahi nikloongi.."ashu smiled n helped her into the car..
At the hazrat ganj crossing as they stopped at the red light ,a sweet little girl of about 5 years came close n began to bang nidhi's door ..nidhi,lowered her glass to look at the child..so cute..but clearly uncared for..where were her parents..A troubled nidhi looked at ashu but just then a man,presumably the father came n lifted her up..n zatack..gave her a tight slap..ashu was shocked"are..maar kyun rahe hain is bachchi ko..?"the man replied.."to kya karoon iska..maa mar gayee jab ye hui..akele paal raha hoon,puncture ki dokan hai,wahaan se idhar udhar bhaag jaati hai..pata nahi kyun merre gale pad gayee.."the man dragged the crying child..the light turned green ..n ashu had no option but to drive on..nidhi tried to hold back her tears as ashu too was clearly distraught..
They returned with the veggies..n armaan n ashu cooked the lunch..aarhar daal,chaawal n aaloo parwal with boondi raita..
Armaan observed nidhi was a little lost .."kya hua nidhi!"he asked.."kuch nahi..bas sona chahti hu"replied nidhi.
When ashu came in ,nidhi was asleep..he too settled in for his siesta..a luxury after a week of hardwork..
Ashu was awakened by a low sound of sobbing..he got up..looked around..nidhi,her back towards him was crying..slow,heart breaking sobs..."hey,kya hua sweet heart..phir taqleef hai.."?ashu asked,feeling the baby,..nidhi shook her head to say no.."to kya hua bolo ..kya...'it suddenly struck ashu..."nidhi,kya tum us bachchi ke bare me soch ..." n nidhi seemed to break down,tears streaming down,she tried to speak between sobs..
"Jaante hain..meri aur aapki dono ki hi maa ..nahi thi...us bachchi ko dekh ke mujhe ..."n ashu held nidhi to his chest..the insecurities of a motherless child.."mujhe darr lagta hai dr ashutosh..."ashu looked into her eyes.."kis baat ka darr ,jaan..bolo?.mujhe"nidhi contd"darr lagta hai agar..agar mai mar gayee delivery me..to humara baby bhi..bina maa ke..palega..kaun paalega usse...kya hoga uska..dr ashutosh..bataaiye na..aap paal lenge na usse akele..ya ..gussa karenge.."ashu hushed her ,realising,.the image of the angry father was haunting nidhi.."nidhi,tumhe kuch nahi hoga..i promise..i will be with you in the labour room...mujh pe faith nahi hai.."comforted dr ashutosh..but nidhi,deeply troubled ,wanted assurances.."nahi oar agar..jaise meri pregnancy tough hai n i know delivery mei risk hai..to bataaiye..aap pyaar kareinge na..usse..maarenge to nahi?"
Ashu took a deep breath,held her n asked.,"nidhi..tumhare baba bhi to itta pyaar karte hain tumhe...kya unhone tumhe maa ki kumi feel hone di.."?nidhi,still sobbing ,clutched ashu.."jaante hain..jab ..jab kerala mei baba,dadibua ne mujhe aapse alag kiya tha...zabardasti...tab mai bahut royee thi apni maa ke liye..woh hoti to.."Ashu couldnt bear it anymore n kissed her on the lips...she kissed back..a kiss of emotional need ..of reassurance..of unflinching support ..in life n in death..
Nidhi contd.."plz..humari beti ko pyaar kariyega..aur jisse bhi woh pyaar kare..ek maa ki tarah reham se samajhiyega usko.."ashu held her close to his heart...realising the yearning ,the need that nidhi felt for the mother she had never seen..
Ashu realsed that he had been so busy fighting his own demons of loneliness that he had never seen the motherless child..in his nidhi..
Ashu kept rubbing nidhis back..as her sobs continued.."nidhi..mai apni beti ko bahut bahut pyaar karoonga..usse samjhoonga..aur nidhi..woh apni maa ke liye kabhi nahi dukhi hogi..kyunki mai tumhe kuch nahi hone doonga..bolo bharosa hai mujhpe.."?
Nidhi smiled thru her tears n said.."jee..apne se zyaada..."sainyaan...Edited by indu6789 - 11 years ago
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