CHAPTER 5
"Wow! Aap toh bohot hi khoobsurati se guitar bajaate hai... The performance was perfect, melodious and of course flawless..." She couldn't help saying as she sat beside him without being said or asked to. Ashu smiled at her gesture and words. He felt embarrassed suddenly to hear her praising him.
"Are nahi...vo toh main bas... aise hi..." he trailed off not knowing what to reply at her praises...
"Aap itne adorable bhi ho sakte hai maine socha nahi tha..." she said casually as she sipped her coffee.
Ashu was flabbergasted at Nidhi's words. He nearly spilt the coffee on his legs. Nidhi chuckled at that.
"What??? Nidhi are u drunk or what???" he said totally amused at her sudden compliment. He wondered if she... who is so against him flirting with her... even if it is a playful healthy act, if is she is trying to flirt with her.
"Drunk... excuse me... I don't t drink... Aur maine aapko compliment diya tha... I didn't criticise you... aap toh aise react kar rahe hai jaise maine abhi aapko propose kar diya ho" she replied casually in her cool tone.
"Huh!! Nidhi... are you ok. You are behaving weird today"
"Weird... maine kaunsa weird kaam kiya hai. I just couldn't help complimenting you on your embarrassed yet conscious expressions. Tareef karne par thanks to door... pehli baar kisiko aise react karte dekha maine." she said pouting.
A hearty laugh escaped Ashutosh's lips as he looked at her face. She was really cute... and absolutely unpredictable. She can get angry on one moment and then will smile the next. Seeing him laughing at her she gave him an irrritated look and got up to leave.
"You are laughing at me... I am leaving... you have fun and joke around, laugh... do whatever you like sitting alone over here."
Ashutosh sensing her irritation quickly caught hold of her left hand.
"Oh... I wasn't laughing at you...I swear... I was laughing at your comment of calling me adorable... I mean no one has ever complimented me like that" he replied sincerely.
"Sachhi" she asked cutely.
"Uh... muchhi" he said to lighten her mood.
She immediately smiled at that. He smiled too on seeing her smile. Her smile held something... something he isn't able to put his finger on. She has a captivating smile which drew him towards her.
"Achha ek baat bataiye...now that we are friends then why you keep addressing me with 'aap' You can use 'tum' instead." she said sweetly.
"Kyuki aap bhi mujhe 'aap' bolti hai. You start saying 'tum' and I will do the same."
"TUM bhi naa Ashutosh... ok done" she said intently stressing on the word 'TUM' as her lips stretched in a tongue in cheek smile. He couldn't help chuckling at her. She was a single piece in this world.
"Ok... TUM bhi kam nahi" he replied in an exact replica of her tone.
"Achha... ek baat batana... tumne guitar bajana seekha hai kya" she asked.
"Haa... Mere baba ne sikhaya hai... He was very fond of music just like you... Infact he even used to sing..." he miles at the beautiful memories.
"Wow... woh gaate bhi the... Phir toh meri aapke baba ke saath bohot banegi..." she said enthusiastically.
"Kaash tumse dosti karne ke liye vo bhi is duniya mein hote" he said with a pained expression. A lone tear slipped his left eye and he turned his face side wards to hide his eyes. Nidhi was at a loss of words. She hadn't even in her dreams thought or tried to hurt him. She remembered the pain in his eyes whenever he talked about his father but she hadn't thought that this would be the reason for his grief.
He was brought out of his thoughts when she uttered, "I am really sorry Ashutosh... I didn't mean to hurt you... vo bas mere mooh se nikal aaya... I am... so.. sor... sorry"
"Please don't be... tumhari koi galti nahi hai... Tumne jo bhi kaha saaf man se kaha... I am not upset at you" He said as he smiled a bit.
Nidhi felt relieved.
"Waise pata hai... even I call my father baba... what a coincidence naa" she said trying to divide his attention from his Baba's incident. Ashu smiled... A bright smile. He understood what she was trying to do. He went with the flow... wanting to be distracted from my the grief his heart was drowned in. Never in his life he had let his vulnerable side come in front of anyone... but he dosen't understand what was with this girl... She was one of the very few people in front of whom he would like to open up... She had some pull in her which attracted him towards her... attracted in the sense to talk to her, to make her smile, to see her sweet antics...
The buzzing of his phone gained his attention and he after seeing the caller ID received the call with a grin...
"Hey Riya... how are you?... How is your life going on there.. everything fine in your hostel ... Hmn... even I miss you a lot... miss India... miss the chowpaty and wada pav" he said smiling.
"Oh... I will soon come dear... Just a few months and I will be with my sweetie... You take care of your studies and yourself too till then... Bye" he said and cut the call.
Nidhi felt something... something she had never felt. She somewhere in her heart didn't like him talking so sweetly to a girl... She felt irritated. His endearment to the girl Riya on other side were not liked by her...though the reason was unknown to her even.
"Ek baat poochu... agar tum bura na mano toh" she said softly.
On his nod she continued "Tumhari girlfriend ka phone tha naa... tum use bohot miss karte ho na... tumhari baato se lag raha tha..."
"What??? OMG... meri baato se tumhe laga ki main apni girlfriend se baat kar raha hoon... hold on... Abhi mujhe meri choti behen ka phone aaya tha... She is in India...completing her HSC...Meri jaan hai voh...Infact I only have my mom her with me in the name of a family" he completed.
"Oh... I am sorry... main na ekdum jhalli hoon...kuch bhi bolti aur sochti rehti hoon" she sod feeling embarrassed at herself for behaving so dumb.
"Jhalli toh tum ho... par jo bhi bolti ho dil se bolti ho... tumhare zubaan aur tumhare mooh mein ek hi baat hoti hai... I really appreciate this quality of yours" he said with a sincerity in his eyes that Nidhi was lost in them for a moment before she composed herself and lowered her eyes. His praises flushed her face and she didn't know what to say.
Her unease was not missed by Ashutosh's eyes and to end that he asked, "Tumhari family mein kaun kaun hai..."
"Meri family... vo toh bohot badi hai... usme mere sare cousins aur dost bhi shaamil hai.. par merr sabse kareeb jo hai vo mere baba hai, DB hai, chote sarkar... I mean hamare care taker aur meri Shyama chachiji hai... meri maa toh hai nahi. vo mere paida hote hi guzar gayi... par chachiji mujhe apni beti ki tarah pyaar karti hai"
"Wow... you have a huge family... lucky girl"
"That I am... vaise kya tum Mumbai se ho... I mean... u know chowpaty and wada pav"
"Haan kind of... my mom is a retired IAS officer...we were posted to Mumbai when I was 18... Uske baad we haven't moved in from there... Main yaha aa gaya and Riya and mom are staying there... but I had made it a point to visit them once a year... but now I will settle with them in a span of few months." he said. They talked a lot that day... about almost everything under the sun. He laughed at some of her joke as he took the lastsip from his mug. He saw his mug was empty... and he hadn't even realised while talking to her. He saw the time on his wrist watch...
"Oh god... it's c lose to midnight. Let's go..." he exclaimed. Nidhi was dumbstruck when she heard that. They talked till midnight. and she has not even realised the thing... They were so engrossed in their conversation that they lost all track of time.
They immediately came down and moved in their respective rooms after wishing each other a polite 'good night'.
Nidhi slipped to slumber as soon as her head hit the pillow thinking about her convo with Ashutosh. They both shared so much with each other today. About their families, native places, education etc. She felt as if they know each other since ages.
~~~~
Nidhi was standing on the main road. She has come there about 30 minutes earlier than yesterday so that she can easily catch a cab and reach her college on time. A car came to a screeching halt in front of her when she raised her hand and tried to stop a cab. The glass lowered the next moment and she was surprised to see Sammy in there.
"Hi Sammy... you here? What a pleasant surprise" she said and smiled. He immediately got down the car and took her in a bear hug. That surprised Nidhi but then she smiled and responded to his friendly hug knowing that hugging a male friend is not a taboo but quite common here.
"Hey Nidhi... you stay here... I mean I daily take this route to the college and I never saw you so... anyways come on... We can go together..." he offered her. Nidhi pondered over that for a few moments before she agreed and went with him.They both got inside and he started the car, "Infact we can go together daily... I mean mine is the same route and I can drop you helping you save some pennies" he said in his sweet tone.
"If you don't have any problem... thats okay with me... It would be better for me to get some more minutes of my beauty sleep."
~~~~
Ashutosh was pondering over what he saw that morning sitting in the common room. He was shocked when he saw Nidhi going with some boy in his car. He had readied himself a bit early so that he can drop her before going to the hospital. He genuinely wanted to help her as his friend but then the sight of her hugging that boy and smiling at him unconsciously enraged him. He felt frustrated even at work. He never mingled his professional and personal life but the case today was different.
Although he was composed during checking and serving his patients but still his mind was continuously drifting to Nidhi and that boy's encounter he witnessed that morning. Although he tried to waver those thoughts telling himself that it was just his concern for her so that she can be be careful with people in a completely new place. His heart felt a bit at ease and resumed his duties.
Nidhi moved out of her class when her last lecture was over and moved towards the gate. She had some work in a cyber cafe and also wanted to fetch some books from the nearby library. She had almost completed her work when she looked at her watch only to find she had lost the track of time and it was close to evening. She finished her work immediately and left for the library. She was browsing through the books when she heard a familiar voice talking to the librarian. She in a curiosity to know if she has heard and recognised him correctly looked through the gap between the nooks she had removed from the shelf. She was surprisedly happy to see him there.
" Ashutosh... hii" she whispered nearing him when she saw him moving towards a shelf.
"Nidhi... you here" he exclaimed.
"Shhh... this is a library"
He was suddenly reminded of his miff towards her and he avoiding her moved on the other side. He felt as if she gave away his place in her friend list to someone else... as of she snatched his right and provided someone else with that. He so wanted to drop her... He had found her so different... so sensitive and sensible... He had felt that they have developed a lovely bond within them but today, after seeing what he saw he felt as if he was a fool to think such things...He is just as ordinary friend to her as her other friends.
"Ashutosh... I heard you talking to librarian that you wanted 'The Tempest' by shakespeare... right" she asked moving towards him again.
"Yeah... why are you bothered? They are not having it... I will fetch it some other time" he said averting her eyes.
Nidhi was amused at the way he was talking to her. Last night he was so jovial... and now he is behaving as if he is meeting her for the first time.
"Yeah... I know... thats why I am asking whether you want it now... I love to read shakespeare and I have a copy of it with me... tum chaho toh mujhse le sakte ho... maine vaise bhi vo book padh rakhi hai"
"Nahi chahiye... I mean jab library mein aayegi tab le loonga... I read only when I am free and my profession dosen't allow me to be free so often so I do t know when I will be able to return it to you. From here I can reissue it many times." He said still miffed.
"Are toh... am I giving you any deadline to return it to me. You can take your own time... I wanted to do something for my friend who helped so courteously yesterday but it's fine if you don't want... you are behaving weird... talking to me as if I am some stranger to you" She said and left the library after signing for the books she had borrowed.
Ashutosh felt bad... and somewhat guilty to hurt her. He had not meant to but then what he uttered was an after effect of what he was feeling. He quickly kept the book in the shelf and almost ran out to see her. He looked around but didn't find her. Where has she vanished in a few minutes, he thought when he caught a glimpse of a girl with loose hair and a few books in her hand standing on the nearby bus stop. He knew who it was walked towards her.
It was nearing to dusk so the atmosphere was a bit dark. Nidhi was desperately wanting the bus to arrive so that she can go home. She was feeling a bit scared standing alone on a deserted road. She saw a figure... A male figure coming towards her... She averted her eyes somewhat afraid to be on the stop with a stranger.
"Nidhi" she heard her name being called. She realised it was Ashutosh but she didn't look at him.
"Tum ghar ja rahi ho na..." he tried to start a conversation not knowing what to say.
"Kya main aapko jaanti hoon" a he asked looking on the other side. He moved to her side and said "Hey... I am sorry... I was in a bad mood so I...but I am really sorry for my rude behaviour"
Nidhi's anger smothered a bit but she still didn't soften her expressions. He had been very rude while talking to her. She had sweetly tried to talk to him. She thought by giving the book she can thank him for his kind gesture of helping her in the time of her need. She never makes a lot of friends but whenever she chooses anyone as her friend... She does it from her heart. Choosing Ashutosh as her friend was also a wholehearted deed she had genuinely done. She always believed that a friend in need is a friend in deed...and he had exactly done the same for her as soon he became her friend after their terrace encounter . In fact on their second meet in the cafe... He had genuinely dropped her home as a token of apology. She had always found him to be a very genuine person and last night after talking to him she had also realised that the impression she has of him is very true. He is a wonderful guy who loves and admires his family. She had thought that they had formed a special and sweet friendly bond between them. The fact that he was an Indian and loved music was a cherry on top.
"Why sorry... who am I to you... you only asked that why am I bothered... Yes you are right... why should I be bothered... why should I even talk to you... you please go."
"Look Nidhi... I am apologising... I know that we have recently become friends and I shouldn't have talked to you so rudely. Main jaanta hoon ki tumhe bohot bura laga hoga... Please forgive your stupid friend." He said forgetting all about his miff. He just wanted her to smile. He dosen't have a lot of friends... and he didn't want to lose her precious friendship.
'Why am I reacting like this... it's her life. She can meet anyone she likes... can smile, hug and laugh with anyone she wants. She is an adult and has her own personal life. Why am I behaving like a hypocrite... god sometimes I am just so stupid...' he thought and apologised to her with his heart. Although the thought of her with some other man still pricked him somewhere like a thorn... he dosen't knows why though.
"Nidhi please... I am apologising sincerely..." he said when she still didn't look at him. Nidhi raised her lashes to look at him. His expressions were conveying that his apology was a lubish one. She smiled softly and then her smile stretched wide when she saw his face radiate at her small smile.
"Thank god... tum maan gayi...mujhe laga tumhe manane mein puri shaam yahi beet jaayegi. And yes please give me 'The Tempest' when we reach. Even I live to read Shakespeare and waise bhi tumse borrow karoonga toh kabhi bhi lauta sakta hoon. Tum thodi na deadline dene wali ho... hai na" he said playfully relieved that she was back to normal.
"Very funny... mujhe naaraz bhi tumhi ne kiya tha. Ab main nahi doongi. Jao library se hi le lo."
"Are par... achha chhodo yeh sab... we will decide that later okay... now it's getting late... Chalo I will drop you off." he offered.
"Hmn... ok"
They were on their way to home. Ashutosh was fiddling whether to ask her the question in his mind or not...He was lost in his thoughts. He was jolted out of his thoughts when he heard Nidhi scream "Ashutosh careful... look... there is a kid on the road..."
He quickly turned his bike to other side to prevent the horrible accident that could have taken place. They heaved a sigh of relief when the kid ran towards his mom and the inevitable was prevented.
"Ashutosh tum pagal ho gaye ho kya... Abhi kitna bada haadsa ho sakta tha... where were you lost that you didn't see the kid in front of you" she rebuked as she got off the bike. Ashutosh not knowing what to reply just looked down like a child at fault has been caught. Nidhi found that expression cute but she was too angry at him to soften up so soon.
"I am sorry..." He said
sheepishly running a hand through his hair. She just glared at him and he continued "I was thinking something and I... sorry yaar..." he trailed off not being able to explain.
"Let's go now" she said and again sat behind him. He smiled slightly and started the bike resolving to talk to her tonight over their coffee time on the terrace.
~~~~
Ashu looked at his watch for the umpteenth time. He had almost finished his coffee but still there was no sign of Nidhi. He can't even call her. He dosen't has her number... He decided to go down to his flat when the wait got on his nerves. He in anger lifted his mug and after switching the lights off went downstairs. He was moving in his house when he saw the lights of Nidhi's flat were still on... That means she must be awake he thought. Not being able to restraint he thought he would just knock once and if she answers the knock he would ask her why she didn't show up tonight. He slightly knocked at the door. It as answered by some other girl. She must be her roommate, he thought.
"Yes... may I know who you are?" she asked.
"Umm... I am Nidhi's friend, Ashutosh ... I stay in your neighbourhood. Where is Nidhi?" he asked.
"Oh... she has slept... she doesn't sleeps so early... but today..." the girl trailed off not knowing what is the reason of Nidhi sleeping so early.
"Nidhi hasn't had hwe r coffee today?" he asked.
"Yeah...she daily goes up on the terrace... Today she didn't come out of her room for long and when I went to see her in her room... she had dozed off. In fact she is hasn't even had her dinner"
"Oh... Thanks anyways... I will talk to her later... good night" and he moved in his flat, his mind filled with questions and concern for Nidhi...
Have a happy read...
Love
Amreen :)
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