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Chapter Eighty seven...
do raaste...
Nidhi looked dazed as if in a dream..as dr Pooja's words echoed in her mind n heart..n she looked at dr Ashutosh holding her face in his large hands..she trembled and tried to find words.."am i ...really..."Dr Ashutosh had a lump in his throat as he nodded and brought her to him...as he dropped a kiss on her forehead and held her to his chest...as nidhi seemed beyond smiles and tears..and just held on to him!
Dr Ashutosh brought her out aand as he announced what dr Pooja had just told baba before leaving...there was a yell of joy from Armaan n baba opened his arms to nidhi..and hugged her saying"meri bachchi...sab khwaab poore honge tere...khuda bhi meri bahu ko na nahi keh sakta.."and nidhi wiped her tears as kaka came n said"sab baitho..aaj khana meri pasand ka..bus halwa aur poori.."and nidhi blushed as she said"kaka..thoda achaar bhi plz"!!
As the family sat for dinner ,Dr Ashutosh reminded nidhi"ab to dadi bua ko bataane do plz"!but she held his hand n said"dinner ke baad chalein thodi si der ko plzzz"??Ashutosh ofcourse conceded ..n served her..as she ate halwa n aam ka achaar with relish..n nibbled at the poori n her husband reminded her"achaar zara kum nahi to acidity ho jaayegi"!
SAs they ate ;baba said"Ashu..agle hufte ek badi si party karte hain..bhai sabko pata to chale...ki.."nidhi stopped him midway..something that she rarely did n said a lil apologetically "nahi baba..plz nahi.."her eyes had a strange fear in them as she looked from baba to dr Ashutosh. .n they understood as Ashutosh nodded n put an arm around her..seeming to say "i understand "and baba pushed back his tears n said"beta darr mat ..tu..bilkul..iss baar kuch galat nahi hoga..aur agar tu nahi chahti to nahi karenge party..seedhe gode bharaai karenge apni nidhi ki..Colonel ko abhi bataa doonga ki Gode bharai mathur niwas mei hogi..usse aur teri dadi bua ko aana padega..hum ligon ke liye gift leker"and armaan added"bilkul..
Dher saar gifts"and nidhi laughed as Ashutosh looked at her face..suddenly luminous!
As the dinner was being cleared his cell buzzed..it was dr Pooja confirming that the blood tests were positive and nidhi was 7 weeks pregnant!Nidhi smiled a lil more confidently and said.."chaliye ab baba ke yahaan thodi der ko"!
Dr Ashutosh smiled and asked "party nahi lekin thoda meetha le sakte hain na"??and nidhi blushed.
Ashutosh drove very carefully as he avoided the road with speed brakers and stopped at Ram aasrey to but the fabled laddoos and as he returned..he found nidhi fast asleep..he smiled as he touched her hair and put an arm around her and drove..touching her cheek and saying "utho nidhi..tumhara ghar aa gaya"and she opened her eyes as she pushed her hair away n pouted"correction..yeh mera nahi..baba ka ghar hai"!and Ashu smiled n as his gaze travelled to where the tiny life lay..he said softly"yeh iske nana ka ghar hai"!!and got nidhi to the door..
They rang the doorbell and a sleepy Chotey sarkaar opened the door grumbling but the moment he saw nidhi n Ashutosh he was in an overdrive and within minutes CV..dadi bua ..n Rohan were in the drawing room..dadi bua very worried.."kya hua daktar..nidhi se jhagda hua kya"??and Ashutosh smiled n kept the laddoos on the table and as nidhi smiled...all understood n there were cheers n claps..with Rohan shouting"hey nidhi ji..ab maggi party hoke rahegi..chahe aapke dr Hardstone kuch ker lein.."and Ashutosh smiled his most endearing smile..
CS got coffee as Ashutosh took the cup and sipped n gave to nidhi"zyada nahi.."n she just took a sip n said"i d have milk"!dadi bua getting a big glass..n to Ashutosh's utter disbelief she drank it...
Ashutosh explained about the check ups and all and as nidhi tawned he got up ..while Rohan held nidhi's hand n said"ek minute nidhiji aapko kuch dikhana hai"!and she was taken in..as Ashutosh tried to calm dadi bua"koi baat nahi dadi bua..un dono ki koi secret hogi"and Col verma held Ashutosh as he said"sach dr Ashutosh aapne bahut mushkil daur mein sambhala nidhi ko..usse tootne bikharne nahi diya"Dr Ashutosh patted his father in law n said"dont worry col verma...sab theek ho jaayega.."!as Ashutosh explained that nidhi d continue to work for the coming months taking days off as and when required..
Nidhi emerged with Rohan..both giggling with Rohan putting a finger on her lips and saying "no nidhiji..plz"!!and she giggled like a school kid!!as Ashutosh collected his treasure and said bye...
"Toh kaun hai Rohan ki Girl friend"??Dr Ashutosh stumped nidhi as they sat in bed ..Nidhi narrowed ger eyes and said"aap RAW agent hain kya..how did you know"??and he laughed as he massaged her shoulders "dont ever doubt my intelligence dr nidhi"!!and nidhi narrated how he had met this girl from Delhi in USA ..And the most exciting part was that she was going to head her office in Lucknow very soon..she was with nestle ..the company that manufacturers maggi!Ashutosh laughed"poor girl...she d have to give up her salary in lieu of you people's maggi"!!
Nidhi suddenly turned serious as she held Ashutosh n asked"aapko bura to nahi laga..eoh mujhe aise ..andar le gaya"!Dr Ashutosh caressed her hair n said"itna kum jaanti ho mujhe"??and nidhi hid her face in his chest..as he played with her hair and whispered "kaisa feel kar rahi ho..can you feel her inside"??Nidhi blushed n asked"her...or him:??"and Ashutosh caressed her n said"jo bhi hoga..hoga tumhara aks..hu ba hu.."and nidhi crooned "no..aapke jaisa..hum dono jaisa..thoda mera..thoda aapka.."!and Ashutosh hugged her tenderly and held on to her ..as he asked"comfortable ho na"??and she just kissed his chest..as she had the first time...when they had been intimate..
As nidhi opened her eyes..and yawned she saw dr Ashutosh looking at her clinically "no morning sickness"??and nidhi pouted "nope..bus yeh demand kar raha hai..ki Papa mama ko..milk chocolate khilaayein"!!and Ashutosh shook his head as he got up to get a chocolate!
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As dr Ashutosh n nidhi emerged from dr Sudhir's clinic after the first meeting with the dates for the first check up ..nidhi smiled as she held the file snugly with a deep look in her eyes..Ashutosh looked at her as he promised himself ..hed protect their dream this time for sure...His cell buzzed..it was col Verma and a conversation ensued"Ashutosh..kal saturday hai..aap sab ghar aaiye dinner pe..Dr Ranganath Anji sab honge..aur Dr Mathur se baat kar li hai maine..unhone bataya nidhi nahi chati celebration abhi..this is just a routine dinner..khana ..and solanki hai to peena laazmi hai"!and dr Ashutosh smiled as he looked at nidhi n asked"col verma dinner pe bula rahe hain kal..sabko..chalogi na"??and as she nodded after initial hesitation ..he broke into a super sunny smile and said"jee col verma hum sab aayenge..dadi bua ke haath ka khaana khane"!
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"Haan Ashu kya kaha Sudhir ne..how s nidhi"?it was baba asking his son as nidhi moved to the kitchen for a much needed snack..and Ashutosh shared all with baba..after all he was a doctor and the father figure..he had every right to know!
As they sat for dinner Ashutosh asked "nidhi..you must have milk products...calcium levels high rahenge"and the naughty nidhi smiled impishly n said"yes..milk chocolates"!!and baba laughed at Ashutosh's exasperated look!
As Nidhi lay in bed doing something on her phone..Ashutosh asked "kya kar rahi ho.."?ans she said"kuch nahi..apni case files..i mean kids ward ki case files dekh rahi thi..dekhiye i have linked my cell to the camera of the ward..i can see n read all thats happening there...dekhiye sab so gaye hain..bus aditya..bed no.13 ko fever hai.."and dr Ashutosh was quite impressed with her involvement as he asked"thak to nahi gayi??monday aaogi na hospital"??and nidhi nodded.."zuroor..per abhi aapke paas aana chahti hoon.."and Ashutosh opened his arms to her..to their dreams..to their life together!
"Nidhi..will col verma like a silver or a black merc"?asked Dr Ashutosh as nidhi lazed in bed ..and looked up seemingly shocked!"baba ...cant afford a merc..hes planning a dezire"!Ashutosh smiled as he sat close to her and said softly "unki beti afford ker sakti hai..apne baba ke liye"!and as nidhi said wide eyed"but..i too cant afford it..aap afford ker sakte hain.."Ashutosh looked at her intently and said"maine kaha tha..jo bhi mera hai..woh tumhara bhi hai..bhool gayi"??and before nidhi could say anything ..he took out his cheque book and said "sign karo..i want you to sign this cheque plz"and nidhi knew he was decided n determined ..n signed as Ashutosh smiled and said.."blue ya silver"??and nidhi replied"blue..dark blue"!and Ashutosh said"i thought so"!
Ashutosh got ready and left for the showroom as baba patted him n said"beta main bahut khush hoon..proud of you my son"and Dr Ashutosh left...as nidhi sat with baba..n he smiled seeing her so happy..as she said"baba..ab lagta hai.. woh apna bachpan jee sakenge phir se..."!and baba touched her head...and blessed her..as she got up and meandered throufh the house that she and Ashutosh had made their home!
As nidhi opened her wardrobe to select clothes for the night..she chose a pink n green lehariya silk while she tenderly touched the blue silk that had some dreams connected to it..yes she would wear it on her gode bharaai...and then suddenly she thought of something and looked for somethings around in her shelf...and as she took a box out..Dr Ashutosh called "nidhi aao to baahar "and she hurried out..to gaze at the beautiful Mercedez benz ..deep oxford blue in colour..Nidhi was almost speechless as dr Ashutosh showed her all the features including the sun roof!"shaam ko drive kar ke chalenge..kyun"??asked baba n nidhi looked at Dr Ashutosh. .her eyes brimming with thanks!
"Jaa beta thoda rest ker le ab..shaam ko phir strain hoga.."and nidhi came into the bedroom ...as her eyes fell on the box..and she sat withit..as Ashutosh glanced at her..opening the box and spreading out those pretty pics of babies..as her husband looked at her looking at them..nidhi looked into his eyes..n then as he put his hand on to her tummy..she asked "dekhiye..kitti cute pics hain..aapko kya lagta hai..kaisa hoga..woh:"??and Ashutosh controlled his voice and saidfrom the depths of his heart...n said"in sabse zyaada pyaara hoga...ya hogi.."and as nidhi looked at the pics..he looked at her..his eyes brimming with joy!!
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"Nidhi..Ashutosh. .arre aaiye na..dr mathur armaan kahaan hain..aur yeh ek aur nayi car..bhai waah"!!it was col verma admiring the new merc as Dr Ashutosh parked it..and the Solankis..dr Ranganath n Anji with the lil Arth now 8 months old in her arms emerged...
As Dr Ashutosh said "Col Verma ..yeh car aapke liye gift hai..aapki beti ki taraf se..plz refuse nahi kariyega ..plz"and Col verma oscillated from denial to acceptance but as Dr Ashutosh folded his hands ..he hugged him ..n nidhi..as Ashutosh handed him the keys..n CS took them away"col saab ab to drive pe hum bhi chalenge..."!
As baba n Armaan arrived in Ashu's BMW ..col verma said.."dono cars ki shade ek hai.."!and anji added to everybody's surprise"aapki aur jeeju ki age group bhi to ek hai uncle"!Nidhi seemed shocked but didnt say anything and took Arth in her arms...n cuddled him!!saying 'ab tujh se advice loongi Anji..tu senior mom jo hai..kyun"!!and dr Ranganath nodded "oh yes dr nidhi..."!and Rohan winked "main to sochta hoon..creche khol loon..aap dono ke bachchon ko paalne ko.."!!and all roared in laughter..
As nidhi helped dadi bua organise dinner Anji talked to Ashutosh if nidhi d continue to work to which he said"of course..she will till she can..and it has to be her take.."!and Anji looked at Ranganath giving him chilled looks!
CV sat with baba who seemed delighted as he said"Colonel..ek baat..nidhi ki Gode bharaai humaare yahaan hogi..plz"and cv laughed as he said"dr mathur..aap jo hukum karein..sar aankhon pe"!
Anji interrupted "abhi toh bahut maheene hain..baba .but yes uski party to mujhse bahut badi hogi..hai na"??and Ashutosh smiled..n added"Anji..its not about the party..but the joy..all babies are the same..equally welcome.."anji smiled but added"jeeju..nidhi is so lycky..she is pampered by you all...main to bus duty nibha rahi hoon..."and she got up as Dr Ranganath took Arth..who seemed irritable..as Ashutosh tried to play with him..and get a word with Solanki saab...but dinner was laid as nidhi announced "khaana..."and all took plates..
As nidhi took her plate but didnt take much food..Ashutosh made her sit n asked"kuch khaane ka mann nahi??sandwich logi jaan"??and nidhi yawned"naah..bus sight if food is a lil discerning...thodi der mein.."and then suddenly rushed to the toilet..as Ashutosh held her..and washed her face n brought her back ..making her relax n said"dont worry..its sll fine"!!as Ashutosh made Nidhi sip into lemonade...a jealous Anji looked at Ranganath in anger...and Rohan observed both his friends...both evolving so differently..!
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