Originally posted by: Ashni1234
you will find it surprising but my name is Ashni
Chapter 2:
Ashutosh and Nidhi were at the mall when she suddenly squealed, "oh! That's so cutieee!" and ran inside the toy shop, much to his surprise. By the time he followed her there, she had already requested the salesgirl to hand over a pretty little pink teddy bear that had been in the display window!
Seeing her hug it dearly, he said in amazement "And the way you screeched over there, I thought you had spotted the Kohinoor!"
She laughed, "Ha! Very funny! Who cares about a Kohinoor when I have such a cute teddy in my arms!"
The sales girl, sensing a well-heeled and easy-to-please customer, dazzled her charming smile at her, "Ma'm, there are a lot of soft toys in the back section, if you would take a look. May I know how old is your kid?"
Nidhi realizing the impression she created said sheepishly, "I will come back when he enters this beautiful world"
The girl didn't look too surprised. "Oh Ma'm! You will be an absolutely fabulous mother"
Nidhi smiled broadly, "Thank you!"
Ashutosh looking on at this exchange indulgently, wondered what had gotten into her. It seemed that their future child had already taken away her heart. Had he not known better, he would have thought she was already expecting. While buying the teddy, she beamed at him happily.
Just as they were coming out of that shop, she suddenly held on to his arm tight. "Hey what happened?" he was alarmed. But she continued to clutch him silently, eyes closed. He realized that something was wrong with her left leg as she had lifted it and was trying to move it. In a flash, all his medical knowledge came rushing to the fore, as he walked her to the nearest bench and sat her there. Taking out his cellphone, he realized she was totally fatigued, as he dialed Dr. Ranganath and told him to make necessary arrangements. By then, a crowd had gathered around them seeing the condition she was in. She could barely speak, "Ashutoshji...wat.er.. I.. nn..need.. wat..er".
Promptly someone bought a bottle from one of the counters and handed it to him. Mumbling a distracted "thanks" to the lady, he made Nidhi sip the water. After that, he half-walked and half-carried her to the car.
As he edgily sped the car to KGH, she started recovering. He was somewhat relieved, but still worried sick. A while later, having calmed himself to an extent, he asked tenderly, "how you feeling now?"
"I'm okay now. I dunno why.. I mean.. what was happening.. I just couldn't stand!"
"What exactly you felt like?" he wanted to know.
"I felt my leg go numb.. the left one..and.."
"Spasms?" he asked anxiously.
She nodded, "just a bit.."
"And any numbness in right leg?"
"Not much.. I am really okay now. Why you fussing so much over a small thing?" she was getting irritated now. Sometimes, he just drove her crazy by being so damn 'parent-like' with her.
Now he too almost lost his patience, "A SMALL THING? YOU CALL IT A SMALL THING? You almost fell there and you looked utterly drained out! And YOU CALL THAT A SMALL THING!! Now just shut up and answer what I.."
"FOR THE Nth TIME, I TOLD YOU, I M OKAY! Why do you have to interrogate me like ACP Pradyuman?" she huffed out angrily.
He felt like banging his head on the steering wheel, "Now, who the heck is this ACP ..Prad.. whatever?"
She chuckled in spite of her anger, "Gee! You don't know? He is the main cop in CID and ..."
He realized, "oh you mean that TV show?"
Barely had she nodded, when he growled, "Don't divert the topic Nidhi! Tell me what made you feel so low?"
She was still very irritated, "I am also human, in case you dint know! Probably, it was just coz of the hectic day at the hospital. You are just.. hey where are we going? That way doesn't lead to our home!" she had suddenly realized the diverted route.
He took a deep breathe to calm himself, as he knew her reaction. "We are going to KGH to get your check-up done and that's final"
"CHECK-UP! WHAT CHECK-UP?" she shouted. "I just got it done yesterday!"
"Nidhi.. no more arguments! Do you even realize.." he began.
But she huffed out angrily, "Fine! Whatever! I don't want to talk to you!" and she turned her head to the side and looked out of the window.
He stared at her in exasperation. These days she often got on his nerves. Why was she so stubborn and tiresome about everything these days? As he saw her from the corner of his eyes, she reached over to the back seat and picked up the teddy which someone had kindly put in their car along with the other shopping bags, which he had dropped next to himself at the mall, while he was busy trying to get her to the car. She started playing with it and talking to it in baby language, mumbling complaints about him, all the while ignoring his presence.
He shook his head helplessly. This is what happened every day! One moment, he was irritated with her, and the very next, amused by her antics. But then, he still fell in love with her, a little more, every day.
He did not even realize when they reached KGH and he parked. She stubbornly stayed put in her seat, cuddling the toy, and made no move to get down. He shook his head, got out from the car and walked to the passenger side before opening the door.
"Please Nidhi. I just need to assure myself that you are okay. Please." He almost pleaded. She could not refuse the way he asked, nor could she stay angry with him anymore. She nodded with a smile and got down. He took the toy from her and tossed it on to her seat.
As they walked inside, the cute teddy bear sat abandoned on the passenger seat! Was it an indication of the future in some way?
As Ashutosh led Nidhi to get her x-ray done, Mallika joined them in the corridors alongwith Ranganath. "Ashutosh, I need to talk to you urgently!" she said.
He was surprised, "Mallika, you still here?" It was almost 9:30 pm.
"Hmm.. I really need to talk to you," she insisted again.
"But.. I .. I mean we are here to get Nidhi's tests done, cant you.."
Nidhi saw something of a desparation in Mallika's eyes and said to him, "You go on. I am sure Dr. Ranganath can take care of the tests, (looking up at Dr. Ranganath) right?"
"A pleasure Dr. Nidhi, after you!" he said in his usual way before assuring him, "Sir, I will get everything done"
Ashutosh nodded his thanks and followed Mallika to her cabin.
"What happened to her?" Mallika asked him as soon as they entered.
"She got numbness and spasms, in her leg.. probably a stress fracture or a shin splint. Anyways tell me?"
She hesitated and dilly-dallied, "Uh.. you see.. you told me to collect the reports.." she handed him the reports.
"Everything okay?" he asked. Something about her demeanor told him otherwise. He was always worried if he had some hereditary disease, since he had no idea of his parents or whose DNA he was carrying. That was a major reason why he had wanted to get the tests done before they started a family. Now, looking at Mallika, he was really worried - were his worst fears going to be confirmed?
"Yeah, everything okay with your reports, and I certainly pray, with Nidhi's as well," she said gingerly.
Ashutosh's countenance went from relief to mild shock in the matter of a split second. "Don't talk in riddles, Mallika."
She opened the relevant pages of the report and said, "As you can see, Dr, Chatterjee ordered some tests including CAT Scan and MRI.. I spoke to her and she said.."
He looked up at her, "MRI and CAT?!! That's ridiculous Mallika!"
She kept silent, not knowing how to reveal. She hoped all her fears would not materialized. She saw him dialing a number, "who you calling?" she asked.
He looked at her as if she did not see the obvious. "I need to know what's it all about. I'm calling her."
"Look at the time! Besides I already spoke to her!"
Ashutosh disconnected the call before it started ringing as he realized she was right. Dr. Chatterjee, though a competent doctor, did not appreciate being disturbed at home, unless it literally was a life-or-death matter for a patient and especially she hated late-night calls.
He asked, "what did she say?"
"Uh.. well.. she suspects.." she still hesitated.
He growled, "DON'T TEST MY PATIENCE!!"
"Neurological issues," she said, still unable to name the exact disease.
He studied her for a full minute, before saying somewhat sarcastically, "like.. say, Astrocytoma?"
The sarcasm was however lost on her, as she nodded sadly. "That or Lymphomna..but you understand, it's just what she suspects.. i think we should get the MRI done right away. I am sure nothing.. "
He said in a deceptively calm voice, "Oh yeah? What would you prefer Mallika? Astrocytoma, Lymphomna or maybe.."
Totally shocked, she interrupted him, "What the hell are you talking about Ashutosh!"
He shouted angrily, "DROP THAT ACT NOW MALLIKA! You can't fool me this time. I see through you clearly! You can never change. I should have know.. all your goody goody act.."
Mallika was utterly shaken, "STOP! THIS IS THE LIMIT! Fine. You can go through the entire report and call Dr. Chatterjee or whoever! Just get the hell out of my cabin!"
He stormed out without a word, and Mallika broke down. Why did her past deeds have to come biting every time she wanted to try to be a better human being? Everyone deserved a chance to backtrack and go on the right path, didn't they? She wasn't proud of what she did with Nidhi, earlier. In fact, every time, she thought of some of her deeds, she cringed in self-disgust. After she returned in a fragile state from the US, she had been bowled over by Nidhi's concern, in spite of everything she had done to separate her and Ashutosh. Genuine and loving concern (which went a long way in healing and ushering Mallika's new, and happier life) from Nidhi's side and her own emotional dependence on the young vivacious girl, had created a unique bonding between them. She really cared for Nidhi, almost in a younger-sister kind of way. Yes, the young girl who she once considered her arch rival, had wormed her way into Mallika's heart.
Ashutosh had angrily rushed to his cabin and started reading the reports thoroughly. He had taken the liberty to call Dr. Chatterjee and the talk had been a revelation! Apparently, this numbness and spasms was not a one-off incident. It had happened a few times, according to what Nidhi had told Dr. Chatterjee during her clinical examination.
Suddenly, with startling clarity, he began connecting the dots in his mind - fatigue, nausea, headaches, occasional forgetfulness, mood swings. He kicked himself mentally. The signs had been there, how could he have ignored them? But such things generally happened to other people, didn't they?
He called up the radiology head and asked him to come pronto along with the required staff. It was probably the first time he had blatantly used or rather abused his authority as the Dean. He did not care! He wanted to know what was wrong with his Nidhi, right away.. He certainly could not and would not wait until morning.
By the time, he rejoined Nidhi and Dr. Ranganath, Mallika was already there! She had decided she wanted to stay with Nidhi as she went through her tests, no matter what her friend or Nidhi's husband thought. It was a difficult job to convince Nidhi and get her to the radiology department. Nidhi was just too annoyed and flabbergasted at the sudden turn of events. But Mallika helped convince her.
Ashutosh and Mallika both looked at the screens silently while the MRI and CAT scan were being done. Mallika made no attempt to talk to him, and he was too stressed anxious to try to talk or think of what he had said earlier to her.
Both their eyes were on the screen when Mallika gasped, "Oh no!"
Ashutosh sent Nidhi home with Dr Ranganath, despite her protests while he and Mallika awaited the radiologist's confirmation on what they already knew. In half an hour, the radiologist told them what they feared.
Nidhi was suffering from Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma (SGCA), a type of brain tumor. The only positive aspect, if it could be called that, was that it was a low grade tumor.
But still, she would need a brain surgery.
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