It had been three days since nidhi became mrs nidhi ashutosh, each day she seemed more at home ..more relaxed...n probably more happy..Rohan would ring her n dr ashutosh separately each day...with her he d simply chatter n talk of mid nite maggi but when he dialled dr ashutosh..whatever they discussed..it always ended with"nidhiji ka khayaal rakhiyega plz"to which ashutosh would smile n Rohan would understand his silence..the silence of commitment. ..
Nidhi"s hand was nearly fine..the bandages had come off and due to the wonderful treatment there were hardly any burn marks..but the stiches on the shoulder were yet to heal..the dr had extended the injections for 4 more days n though she could wear normal clothes ..yet she needed ashutosh's help in dressing up...The mathur household was having a lady after long and everything seemed to have come back to life..she had accompanied baba to buy a newcarpet ...cushio covers ..curtains for the drawing room.. (pale grey n pink) because she knew dr ashutosh would hate gaudy colours..and as they returned baba asked her gently.."beta khysh to hai na tu..mere ashu ke saath"?? And nidhi had only smiled n nodded...as baba seemed to heave a sigh of relief..for he had always felt..ashutosh with his withdrawn reserved nature...mercurial temperament ...n fixated middle age ways would take long to adjust in a marriage...he still doubted if the relationship had crossed the hurdle of consumation...but he was hopeful...
"Jaa aaj tu ashu ka lunch le ja hospital...sath khana dono..."nidhi pouted..."main cook karoon"?? But a strict baba shook his head"bilkul nahi..jab tak shoulder 100% theek nahi hota...no work...main heeraman ko keh deta hoon...hure chane aur bhindi masala..."and nidhi held baba's hand...with no words to express what she felt...
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Nidhi dressed in a green n pale churidar kurta entered kgh...n knocked at dr ashutosh's cabin..there seemed no answer...as surekha bai smiled n said"sir to OT mein hain...abhi thoda time lagega..."nidhi smiled n entered...trying to breathe in all the happy memories that the cabin had witnessed...there was a knock...she got up...
In walked dr mallika...nidhi pushed her hair back...to her shock..rather disbelief mallika smiled..."ashutosh ka wait kar rahi ho"?? And nidhi nodded...mallika looked at her as they sat..in an uncomfortable silence...there seemed no bridge between them after the last convo...but it was dr mallika who spoke..."dekho nidhi...yeh sach hai...ki maine ashutosh ka 12 baras intezaar kiya...per yeh bhi sach hai ki tumhare 12 second mujh pe bhari pad gaye...maine apna poora zor laga liya tum dono ko juda karne mei...lekin taqdeer ka khel dekho...tum ho hi gayin..mrs nidhi ashutosh mathur..."nidhi tried to interrupt"dr mallika. .."but mallika stopped her n went on"na...aaj mujhe keh lene do...jab mujhe pata chala tumhari shadi ka...mera to jaise sab kuch khatm ho gaya...per phir shayad mere aansoon ke saath mere dil ki kadwaahat..mere man ka maiil...meri negativty ..sab beh gayi...mushkil se hi sahi...maine accept ker liya tum dono ko...so now indeed u have my best wishes...ashutosh ko woh sab khushiyaan do jo woh deserve kartein hain...and count on me as a friend...ok"??? Nidhi looked at her foe...now turned friend...half in faith..half in doubt...but then the innate goodness in her told her...mallika had changed...their love had made her realise her folly...nidhi knew she had been the constant ..the only constant in ashutosh's life...n she respected that...in regard for her long n fruitless wait...in reverence to het friendship. ..nidhi opened her arms n hugged dr mallika...differences seemed to dissipate...
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It was a good one hr later that dr aahutosh entered the cabin...n as nidhi stood up...he smiled n frowned at the same time...but before he could say anything...she held his arm n said...almost like a child"i am dying..bhook se...khana khate hain..."!! And ashutosh shook his head as they settled for a meal...nidhi served two plates and as he took a piece..she asked"achcha hai na...jab mai theek ho jaaoongi then main cook karoongi roz..we d have lunch together..."!! Ashutosh smiled n replied"i think tum bhool rahi ho..ki mera kaam kitna hota hai..aur phir tum bhi to jaaya karogi jeevan sandhya...lunch to nahi kha sakenge sath..."nidhi pouted...but conceeded "but kisi din..jab aapka load kum hoga..tab "?? And ashutosh just smiled..as he looked at his watch...nidhi asked"kaam hai important"?? He nodded..."meeting..."nidhi got up a lil disappointed..but she did add"dr mallika mili thi...she was vvv warm n nice..."ashutosh listened but had a strange look in his eyes...he called the boy n told him to take the tiffin to the car..n the driver to drop nidhi home...and then added..just as nidhi reached the door...looking at him..."mere kuch parcels aaye honge..plz dont open...i like to open my own stuff...ok"?? Nidhi kept silent...n walked out...there had been so much she had wanted to say...so much she had wanted to ask...to try and bring greater comfort into this relationship. ..but probably ..it would take some more time...maybe more than she had imagined...
As nidhi entered home...she saw two parcels ..."dr ashutosh mathur"she had the impulse to tear them open n see what was inside...just as she would always open her's n anji's bday presents..but then she recalled the warning...n her face paled..."kya baat beta..ashu mila nahi..ya busy tha..preoccupied sa rehta hai hospital mei"!! Nidhi nodded as kaka got her juice...and baba patted her.."tu to janti gai uska swabhaav...thoda alag hai...mera ashu...tera dr ashutosh.."!! And nidhi smiled...though baba could sense a loneliness in those eyes...
nidhi spent the evening making a list of groceries needed...then hiring a maid to help kaka with the cleaning..and as she got up...to give the list to baba...he smiled n held her hand"beta...teri saas to hai nahi...na hi iss ghar mei koi chabhi hai jo main tujhe doon...per yeh pad aur pen tu hi rakh...aaj se iss ghar ki..iski zarrooraton ki zimmedari teri...per beta isse bandhan na samajhna...tu jitne helpers chahe rakh..jaise chahe iss ghar ko chala...yeh ghar aaj se tera hai...ashu ko bhi sambhal aur isse bhi..."!! And nidhi ran in wiping the tears that flowed ...
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It was at about 10 that she ran out as she heard the sound of dr ashutosh's car...and as she felt a lil shy..seeing armaan smile at her...she stood at the threshold...ready to take his bag..a tired ashutosh entered n smiled at nidhi...a tired smile...and as he cried"kaka..."she said"mujhe deejiye na..."and tried to take the brief case...ashutosh was v cautious...in the right hand..left pe no strain ...stiches abhi bhi hain...nidhi nodded as she ran in...and took out his tees n tracks..but ashutosh didnt come in...she peeped out..he was talking to armaan...but as he saw nidhi..he stood up..n said"i d have a bath..chai banwaaogi plz"?? Nidhi nodded..she knew he d have tea before dinner...everything had been laid out...as ashutosh entered the bedroom...
He saw his night clothes put on the bed...
For the first time...someone had done something so intimate for him...he smiled...n caressed the clothes..for he knew nidhi had touched them...n then hung his coat in the ironing section of the wardrobe..
As he stepped out for tea...nidhi had a warm smile...feeling elated that he had respected her choice..n not thought of it as an intrusion. ..n yet the unopened parcels hurt her...
As they ate..baba talked of how he n nidhi had shopped..n how she was taking the responsibilty of things...patting her shoulder..as aahutosh winced..almost holding his gand"baba..wahaan chot hai usse..."and baba withdrew his hand...as a softness came into his eyes...softness at the warmth of love that was touching his son...who had always been cold n aloof...
Just as nidhi got up for coffee...the land line rang...n she picked it up...almost in a flash...repeating"hullo...hullo..."but it seemed to be a blank call...as she put it back..with a face that had lost its colour...n just as ashutosh wanted to ask her...it rang again...n grabbing it...nidhi gave tongue to her hopes..unreasonable as they were..."hullo..baba..."she almost cried into the phone..
Dr ashutosh froze..
As he saw nidhi's face..drained...n sad..her eyes red..he got up..
But she had put back the reciever...saying apologetically"pata nahi mujhe kyun laga..ki shaayad ...mere ..baba ka call..."and moved into the kitchen...with her husband's warm gaze following her...his heart making a silent prayer for her...he knew ..how much her baba mattered to her...he had been thru this pain..n he realised what she must be undergoing...there is hardly any greater pain ..than being rejected by your parent...
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It was at 11.15 that they entered the bedroom...ashutosh carrying the parcels...as nidhi took her nightie...ashutosh looked up n said..."aataa hoon..."in a very husband like way..an intimacy of words n simple acts that nidhi was learning...
As he examined her shoulder...she felt extremely conscious standing before him in a flimsy nightie..but he didnt seem to observe...this is what nidhi thought...and as they came into the bedroom n nidhi sat on her side ...he spoke..."oh yeh parcels...lets open"n nidhi seemed to boil with irritation. ..'aapke hain...kholiye aap.."and dr ashutosh gave a naughty smile...quite unlike him ...as he tore open the bigger one..and pulled out one after the other 8 saris..all superior chiffons..plain..hues ..a few shaded with borders...n blouses..two of brocade n rest of cotton...he didnt say a word ..just got them n put them in nidhi's lap...nidhi seemed sapped of words...as she touched each garment..."so so sooo beautiful. ..."n then looking at the blouses ..."aapko mera size...kaise pata chala"?? N ashutosh quietly put his arm aroynd her n said"ab biwi ho meri...itna to jaanoonga hi na..."and nidhi seemed to have goosebumps...as she stood in front of the mirror n tried them over her shoulder...as ashutosh warned"blouse abhi nahi...shoulder ka dhyaan rakho..."and nidhi pouted as he opened the other parcel ..n fished out two packets of 10 pairs of earrings...different coloyrs...the kind nidhi wore...and he took a blue pair...coming close he held her bare ear...n pierced it with the earring...nidhi closed her eyes...feeling his force..the sheer pleasure of pain for the first time...and it seemed ashutosh could sense her state of mind...as he held her..his fingers moving over her bare arms...as he said"week end mei..i have a surprise for you...wait karogi na"?? Nidhi was in no position to answer...as her hands trembled...and dr ashutosh held her face ..in his large hands...admiring the face that had changed his world...n then without a word...to nidhi's shock...his head descended...his lips touching hers...and then probing them open with the power of his tongue...nidhi shuddered...but he held her firmly caressing her waist...while his lips were leaving her breathless...and just as she tried to put her arms around his neck...her shoulder hurt...n hurt badly...as an "ouchhh"escaped her lips...ashutosh immiediately separated...guilt n worry writ large over his face..."i am sorry...i should have waited..."and then patting nidhi's cheeks...said"so jaao...kal 8.30 pe jaana hai mujhe...come ..i d make u comfortable. .."and as a dazed nidhi..still comprehending how close she had come to becoming his part...n yet...lay...he brought her tenderly to his chest...putting his hand around her waist..and kissed her hair...saying"so jaso..tumhe abhi bahut care ki zuroorat hai"...n closed his eyes...as nidhi's heart thudded..in the memory of the kiss...their first kiss...her lips..still tasted of him..as she felt him patting her...as if saying"i know what you desire...but we d have to wait..."and it was after long that nidhi's eyes finally drooped as his patting seemed to cocoon her in a world where no one could harm or hurt her...nidhi surrendered herself to sleep...with the earrings still dangling from her ears...as she lay across his broad hard chest...
"Nidhi. ..utho ..ther is a call for u..."a sleepy eyed nidhi ..took her cell...n almost squealed"anjiii tu kab aayi...how was the honeymoon"??? And dr ashutosh shook his head at the girlish giggles as he stood infront of the mirror...looking at one blue earring ..that had been in his wife's earlobe but now was dangling from his tee shirt. ..ashutosh smiled...a strange warm wave sweeping him over...as he carefully kept it on the dressing table...and as nidhi finished her call n wore the gown...he stepped out...and she almost jumped"dr ashutosh. .anji aa gayi waapas...can she come to meet me..."?? Ashutosh smiled as he said"mere kapde to do..."and nidhi blushed in excitement. ..taking out his grey suit..white shirt n maroon tie...and as he dressed ..she repeated her query...dr ashutosh came close...handing her the tie...she put it arond his collar and began to tie ...as his hands held her...softly..protectively...though they both ached for each other. ..n then dr ashutosh repeated"mera pyaar tumhe pankh dega..tumhare paaon ki zanjeer kabhi nahi banega...jo mann hai karo..enjoy with anji..
.bus be careful..your shoulder needs great care..."as nidhi smiled n tightened the knot...she tried to go up her toes ..to kiss him...he smiled ..held her face in his hands...n kissed her on the forehead...and nidhi felt as if they had taken the vows of marriage...n he had done the sindoordaan...she blushed..n hid her face in his chest...as he laughed n whispered"nidhi...hospital ke liye der ho rahi hai...plz let me go..."...sainyaan...
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