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Chapter Ninety seven...
Dr. Hardstone returns...
Dr Ashutosh drove to the central Jail hospital and his mind n his heart were in constant conflict..almost tearing him apart..his heart seemed to hold him back..not attend to the evil woman who had robbed his nidhi's joys...had decieved his friendship of 12 years...but his mind reminded him of the Hippocratic oath they had taken at the medical college..that they would treat all patients..without fear or favour...n he sighed as he walked briskly into the hospital after the guard escorted him..seeing his i card!
The jailer almost rushed him into the ward where Mallika lay..she had certaily lost weight..there were dark circles around her eyes..Ashutosh chose not to see the flicker of joy in those eyes.he sat by her on a chair n examined her vitals..
Her pulse was high n there was heavy lung congestion..he looked at her n asked sternly "tum apni medicines nahi le rahi ho regularly.."?Mallika looked at him..n then at the jailer n said"can i plz talk to my dr alone"?the jailer stepped back n Ashutosh had a distinct frown..as he sighed n said"mallika..there is nothing to talk..i have come to see u only as a doctor..its my duty n court's order..that is all..and yes if you donot cooperate in taking medicines..then i d report to the court.."and he began to write new drugs..as mallika asked "nidhi.."and Ashutosh raised his eyebrow..cleared his throat n spoke severely "mallika..behtar hoga agar tum nidhi ka naam bhi na lo..tum usse quaafi nuksaan pahuncha chuki ho...and i will not tolerate even your shadow on nidhi..is that clear"??and he called the jailer..gave him the prescription n said"ab bhi dawa nahi lein to court mein report ker deejiyega..i can do nothing more.."!and he walked off ..even as mallika stretched her hand to him..n said"Ashutosh..ek baar ..plz"!Ashutosh looked back..n spoke "mallika..mera tumse koi vasta nahi..tum meri dost nahi ho ab..na hi colleague...ho to bus meri sharmindagi..ki tum jaisi aurat ko kabhi maine apna sabse achcha dost maana tha...it was a shame..but now i have learnt my lesson mallika..i really have..n at what cost..."!and he strode off..even as Mallika clenched her fists..n cried "Ashutosh. .tumhe aana padega..ek dost nahi to ek dr ki tarah..per main tumhe ..."and rest traied off as tears flowed out of the weak eyes...once so beautiful. ...
Dr Ashutosh stopped his car in KGH parking..sat for a moment trying to calm himself..as he did not want to see his insecurities n eorries being reflected in Nidhi's eyes..he recalled what Sudhir had said"keep nidhi happy n relaxed"!..Ashutosh walked in...his stetho around his neck..he called dr Ranganath. .only to be told that he was on leave..He frowned as he entered his cabin n called for his routine..he had a surgery at 1 p.m...he sat and rang for a coffee..and just as he thought coffee had come in..and said"come in"..in waddled nidhi..n said"Arth is unwell..thats why..."!ashutosh nodded n then asked"kya hua"??Nidhi answered"fever hai..viral but hes very irritable..aunty ke paas hai..but dr Ranganath ko nahi chod raha..Anji to abhi teen din baad hi aayegi..."and Ashutosh saw lines of worry on her forehead..n he worked a smile"dont worry..i d tell Ranga..he can take another day off..i d manage with the other drs..aur tum ab wind up kerna..today is your last day..i mean now u proceed on maternity..."!nidhi looked a lil lost..but then nodded"hmm...ab i do feel bahut thak jaati hoon..per kaise manage hoga yahaan"??Ashutosh replied"ho jaayega ..sab ho jaayega...ab jaao..let me go on a round..tum bhi kids ward ki report ready karo"!nidhi looked at him...trying to assess what was wrong..what was he trying to hide. ..there surely was something. ..but what was it...
She chewed her lip as she moved to the kids ward...as she tenderly looked at the sick children..but had a smile as they were seeming better...she had done her job well...now she had to focus on the joy that was going to arrive...their babies..their dreams...their new home...
As nidhi prepared a detailed report of the kids ward..she examined each one of them..n kissed them..saying shed keep coming to meet them whenever she can..and then she got up..holding her tummy and then went to her cabin..looked around and collected her bag n her stetho..n slowly emerged to go to the canteen for a cup of tea..as she sat in the canteen..she recalled the numerous cups of tea that she n dr Ashutosh had shared...how time had gone by...it had been more than three years and each monent was etched on her heart...
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Dr Ashutosh had just returned from the surgery and was reading the final reports ..when his cell buzzed..it was the jailer again..an agitated Ashutosh picked it up and spoke"yes..what can i do"??the jailer spoke "sir..dr Mallika is refusing to take the medicine..what should i do"??Dr Ashutosh was agitated as he put his specs down and kept quiet for a moment before answering "jailer sahib..u can tell the jail dr to inject the antibiotics prescribed..i cannot do anything else..nothing.."and he disconnected..n sat with his head in his hands..agitated n irritated ..knowing Mallika's game plan..trying to get him again n again to meet her...but he would not fall in her trap..not this time...
Nidhi entered the cabin..softly ..as Ashutosh did not respond to the knock..she saw her husband ..dejected ..his head in his hands..she knew he had something on his mind..but what was it??
She asked him"kya chupa rahe hain..aap..kya baat hai"!As5seemed to have been torn out of a trance..his thought process disrupted n in front stood his nidhi..his strength..but right now his vulnerability. .How could he save her from Mallika...
Nidhi repeated her query...and Ashutosh tried to chide her.."let me work..."and she pouted..in child like resistance n defiance "myjhse kya chupa rahe hain..aur kyun..bataiye naa"??and somehow her persistence broke the dam of his patience n self control...n he just got up pulling his hand away..n shouting at her "can you stop it...i am not answerable to you..am i??i am sick of your WHY..HOW..just let me be in peace..do not try to take liberties with me..n just go..go away..i want some peace.."and nidhi withdrew...too shocked to respond..as she came out..wiping her tears..n looking apologetically at the head nurse who seemed to have heard a lot...she walked away..smiling awkwardly...n then hailing an auto...waddling her way...
Inside Dr Ashutosh collapsed in his chair..closing his eyes..trying to shut his eyes off everything!
It was about an hour later that a some what calmed Dr Ashutosh stepped out of his cabin...n walked to nidhi's. ..The cabin was locked..he looked around n asked the staff nurse"dr nidhi"??she replied "sir woh to ghar gayi..shaayad..i mean i saw her hailing an auto"!Ashutosh's jaw dropped "auto..."??and as the nurse nodded..he realised the temper ..the snakish temper that he had..how he had shouted at her..when she had only been trying to soothe him...he almost ran to the car...how must nidhi have gone by auto..the jerks..the pain..and what if she was not at home??afterall ge had shouted at her to :"just go away"!what if she really went away..n never returned...Ashutosh gulped hard as he drove ..n drove fast..bringing the car to a screeching halt at the mathur niwas..
Baba was walking a lil tense..he raised an eyebrow at ashu ..as he asked"baba..nidhi aayi ghar"??and baba reacted"hmmm.aayi..auto se..ashu tujhe kuch andaaza hai uski haalat ka..aise mein auto se??shehr mein taxi milni band ho gayi hain kya..."??but Ashutosh wasn't listening to baba..for once..he entered his bedroom..and just stopped..as he saw nidhi lying on the bed...her eyes covered with her right hand...obviously she was crying...n yet Ashutosh closed his eyes in relief...n went up to her..removing her hand n holding her face in his large hands...he said"sorry jaan..really sorry"and kissed her red eyes..as she tried to get up..but couldn't. .and as he helped her..she cried.."aaah"!and then looking at Ashutosh said"Distuebed hain hum teeno...chod deejiye humein..jaaiye apni chinta kariye.."Ashutosh held her n whispered"itta gussa...kaha na..i swoh main..pareshan tha.. i m sorry.."nidhi wiped her tears n said"main jaanti hoon shayad..bus aapki pareshani baantna chahti thi..."and as she suddenly turned white..he held her"lie down..the babies are kicking...just calm down...aur abse no auto..no running away..."nidhi held on to him and said"ab kahaan jaaoongi..jaahan jaaoongi aapke saath jaaoongi..."and Ashutosh kissed her...n closed his eyes...
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