TO DEAR FLORIDA..WHO MAKES ME SEE MY UPDATES
"Nidhi...come on have some tea n biscuits..lo"it was a very tense dr ashutosh who put his hand on nidhi's forehead..n then touched her throat..she was still blazing..the whole night had been restless for her n it was only in the wee hrs that she had fallen asleep..as she opened her eyes slowly n ashutosh helped her sit up..she tried to get up n wanted to go to the wash room.as ashutosh waited outside,she came out and looked drained..as she took the tea cup n ashutosh made her eat biscuits..n though she turned her face away..not wanting to eat..he forced her..n then took her fever..102.5!!he looked at her n said"laao i d talk to ur dean..u cant go today"!!and as he took his cell,nidhi spoke"aap rehne deejiye..let me talk plz.."and ashutosh nodded...as nidhi dialled dr Bhagat.."morning sir;this is dr nidhi..i just wanted to know..if ..."and she kept quiet and listened ..ending up with the words"yes sir..i d be there by 8.45."!and then looked at ger husband"jaana hoga..he has lectures n ward duries laid out for us..as today the jr drs are out for a conference...i have to go..duty first..aapne hi sikhaya hai"!!dr ashutosh sighed..as he gave her calpol n said.."i am organising a bath..aur break fast khao..i d go to drop u ..myself"!
As ashutosh himself packed a light lunch for nidhi..some hot coffee in a flask n then as he was coming back..baba confronted him"beta..jab nidhi ki tabiyat nahi theek hai..to kya chutti nahi mil sakti..after all she is entitled to leave..isnt she"??ashutosh paused for a second n then replied"baba..hum dono drs hain..aap jante hain..PG mein leave bahut mushkil hoti hai..aur dr bhagat ne bataya..ki aajjr drs ki conference hai PGI mein..so its nearly impossible. ."and then he entered the bedroom..where nidhi was getting dressed..her hair dishevelled..he held her by the shoulders n said"aaj tumhara test hai..and i know you d succeed. .ek dr ki zindagi bahut mushkil hoti hai..apni tabiyat ki parwah na ker ke ..hum doosron ki jaan bachaate hain..this is what medical profession is all about!!"nidhi nodded..n came out..as she sat for breakfast..eating a lil..n smiling at baba.."chinta nahi kariye baba..i d be fine..phir kal to week end hai..2 din ka rest..khoob aaram karoongi.."!!and she got up..as ashutosh said"baba main drop kerke aata hoon.."!
As he drove he patted her n said"sona hai thoda aur"??and nidhi replied"aap jaante hain..main car me kabhi so nahi sakti..plus i need to be alert..u know dr bhagat..dont u"!!
As dr ashutosh parked the car and walked nidhi in..he looked at her..n said"take care..shaam ko lene aaoonga..try karoonga lunch mei bhi.."and she nodded as she went in...and ashutosh was walkinh back..as he ran into dr bhagat..hurrying down the corridor.."morning sir..how r u here"??ashutosh shook hands n tried to explain"woh actually nidhi ko..."but dr bhagat was in a hurry..."sorry sir..today is v hectic.
Phir baat kartein hain.dr nidhi is doing well..aaj to wards ki incharge hain.."and before ashutosh could say anything..he was gone...
Ashutosh banged his clenched fist against the wall ..n returned..with a heavy heart...his nidhi was suffering in the line of duty..partly because it was he who had forced her to do PG and partly..being his wife..she could not have the luxury of a lil indiscipline. ..she was paying the price of being mrs ashutosh...ashutosh honked in anger...as he drove on...n entered KGh!!
"Hi ashutosh kya hua...looking tense.."??it was a smiling dr mallika who met him at the doorway...he did not answer n went straight into his cabin..asking his schedule...oh!!3 surgeries..he wouldnt be free before 4.30!!"dr ranganath..i want the three surgeries lined up..one after the other..no questions plz..its an order..n a request"he said and went into the canteen for his cystomary black coffee..before the OT!
"Jaante ho kaun assist kar raha hai tumhe??main...kitne dino baad humari jugalbandi..."it was a delighted dr mallika again..ashutosh tried hard to control his temper and said "mallika..hum musical concert me part nahi le rahe..surgery ker rahe hain..and now plz if..."and he kept silent as the coffee arrived...black coffee n green salad...n somwthing echoed in his heart"coffee doodh je bina..jaise zindagi muskurahaton ke bina..."and ge looked up.."plz add some milk n sugar..."and closed his eyes..secretly wishing that mallika would just vanish..its not that he hated her..infact the fact that he was unable to hate her..inspite of all she did..made him hate himself..
"Kya baat hai..itna to poochne ka huq hai..12 saal purani dost ko"!!and ashutosh looked up...his eyes displaying his vulnerability just for a moment"nidhi beemar hai..fever..but had to go on duty..."!!mallika laughed"oh come on ashutosh. .hum sab kaam karte hain beemari mein..aur drs ko careful rehna chahiye..kaise beemar ho gayi nidhi??achchi healthy to lagti hai..
"!!ashutosh could feel the contempt in her voice..but he did not wish to react..as the dr came to inform about the OT and they hot up..as ashutosh whasaaped
IN O.T.TAKE CARE..WILL COME TO PICK U UP AT 5..
And then went in to save a life..n push everything behind...
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Nidhi had been diagnosing kids ..discussing cases with dr bhagat..when she suddenly felt completely drained out n looked at her watch...4!!another hour to go..it seemed dr bhagat observed as he said"dr nidhi..u are the material that should work from the heart..not the clock"!!and nidhi bit her lip.."sorry sir...excuse me"as she came out to gulp down one more calpol..she could feel her head throbbing..her temples seem to be bursting..but she had work at hand..n she knew for a dr..it had to be service before self..dr bhagat observed as she walked to the ward...he smiled as he saw iron become steel in the test by fire...
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"Chalo...tough grind..now lets eat..tumhe bhi to bhook lagi hogi.
"It was a tired mallika looking at ashutosh as they came out of familiar territory of OT.
ashutosh looked at the watch..4.50.he changed n said curtly"i am off..got to pick nidhi..dr ranganath if there is an emergency call me...otherwise i d come for a round tomorrow. ."and he drove off..leaving mallika looking angrily at the tray of sandwiches she had ordered..
She slumped on her chaor..fatigued n frustrated..she had given this friendship her best years..hoping against hipe that it d blossom into something more ...but...and then all hopes were dashed by that inexplicable infatuation of a mature ashutosh for that intern...who could ever gave told..the turn of fate..
Initially mallika had tried to accept nidhi...afterall ashutosh had never been hers...but the more she saw them together..the more she hated her...each smile of ashutosh..each disappearing frown..each colourful tie..n one saturday..he even came in a tee..it was all the influence of that nidhi...n she couldn't take it any more..the way ashutosh bothered for her
Took care of her. ..mallika couldnt take it anymore...hadn't she deserved this care n concern??why could he never reciprocate her love???oh nidhi!!!!!but mallika smoothened her self..she couldnt let her emotions get out of control...if she wanted to be a part of ashutosh even at work..she had to tolerate nidhi...unless...and mallika looked towards the heaven!!
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"Excuse me..where is dr nidhi..."??it was a worried ashutosh asking a nurse on duty...when nidhi appeared with dr Bhagat.."oh sir..hi sorry couldnt talk much in the morning..."said dr bhagat..but dr ashutosh wasnt even listening as he held nidhi's hand and touched her throat...she was still blazing..and flinched a lil embarrassed of his rightful touch in public!!"whats wrong sir"??asked dr bhagat..."actually nidhi has been running high fever...viral i presume.."!!and dr bhagat looked a lil shocked"oh god..i could make out she was a bit unwell...but...i am sorry..you had a strenuous day..."nidhi smiled"its fine sir...yeh pareshaan ho jate hain..i d be fine"and as ashutosh shook hands..he took nidhi n walked to the car...the way she slumped into the seat told him all...
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"Chalo..cold bath lo...the fever will go down..aur soup..ya coffee kya logi..."?nidhi didnt reply..as she went into bathe..n suddenly shivered at the touch of cold water...but seemed to relax after a while..as ashutosh came in and lifted her..drying her n putting her favourite white cotton nightie on.."chalo.."she turned away.."nahi khana..bus sona hai..."and ashutosh looked worried..as he pushed a few bites of her favourite poha but she was just not ready..n slumped on to the bed...and her 42 year old husband sat by her putting ice bandages on her blazing forehead..and wiping her face..looking so weak...ashutosh must have fallen asleep on her side...as he felt her fingers in his hair..."uthiye..."and he opened his worried eyes...n nidhi propped herself up..."bread butter khayenge..."??she asked weakly..and he touched her throat..felt her pulseyes the fever was waning...he got up"tum ruko main laata hoon..."!!
The noise in the kitchen got baba n armaan "kya hua ashu..nidhi kaisi hai ab"??and ashutosh said sheepishly"better hai..bread butter khayegi...but mujhe to..."arman smiled"ywh rahi bread aur butter...ab laga ..kuch to seekh pyaar mein"!!and ashutosh smiled weakly...
"Lo...khao"!!he handed over her a bread n tea ...and she ate...with appetite.."dont worry..mera fever aise hi hota hai..jab chadhta hai to v high..but then it goes..dheere dheere jaan jaayenge aap..."and ashutosh syddenly gulped and turned away..not wanting to show his weakness to nidhi...but nidhi got up n held him..."idhar dekhiye...koi vishwas karega..world ka best neurosurgeon ..apni biwi ke viral me ghabra gaya"!!and he just held her..looking into those eyes...n his jaw firm...as he said"tumhe taqleef mein nahi dekh sakta...tum tak pahunchne ke liye hur taqleef ko mujhse ho ke guzarnaa hoga..."!!and nidhi saw the vulnerability of the man who seemed dr hardstone to everyone...she smiled trying to push her tears back..n holding his face in her hands she whispered"jee...ab to hum donno sab jeet chuke..ab koi taqleef nahi hogiHumara pyaar jeet gaya..."."and put her head on his chest...
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At almost the same hour...dr mallika laughed after her 3rd scotch...laughed like a maniac..."nidhi...mujhe harnaa nahi pasand...main nahi har sakti...nahi kabhi nahi"...
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