The next morning,dr ashutosh took nidhi to dr sudhir's clinic.,his wife nanda was also there..ashutosh told almost complained to sudhir that nidhi was hell bent about the karwa chauth fast n he was her gynaec n thus should dissuade her.sudhir gave a serious thought n then looked at nidhi,he questioned her"are you serious about it...do you know it couldcause pain.."?nidhi looked back n stated "sir..plz plz plz allow me..i am sure there must be some way..after all so many pregnant women observe this fast..dont they"?nanda smiled n said"hey sudhir,dont you remember,i too had kept itwhen i was expecting ahana..i think i was 5 months pregnant...""to aap kokuch problem hui thi kya..mam"?asked a wide eyed nidhi.but before nanda could reply dr sudhir said"nanda dont forget,nidhi has a difficult pregnancy..."ashutosh thumped the table"exactly,she has already suffered so much..pain bouts n high b.p..had to be admitted once n then this tension when my plane went missing...how can i allow her to take another risk...""ashutosh,let me finish.."spoke sudhir.."i was saying that..i agree the patient is in fragile condition..but her emotional aspect is also v important..so if she takes lots of fluids today,n eats a meal before sumrise tomorrow...as nanda does,i feel she can sail throgh...but yes nidhi,dont start running about in excitement..take it easy,.if anything happens..hardstone is gonna kill me"!!!!said sudhir looking at a stern faced ashutosh.Nidhi spoke in excitement.."sure sir..no exertion..bus evening me terrace se chand dekhoongi.."ashutosh interrupted"koi terrace verrace nahi..lawn se chaand nahi dikhega kya..n today the diet that the dr prescribes n tomorrow morning as well..samjhi"?n nidhi smiled n hugged ashu..as he seemed a little embarassed in frontof sudhir n nanda..who could not take their eyes off this extraorfinary couple...separated by age but united by love.As ashu n nidhi began to leave,nanda said"take care nidhi..n do ring sudhir if there is any problem..ok"?nidhi nodded n thanked her
On their way back,nidhi was quiet..apprehensive of ashu's anger..finally ashutosh could notcontrol himself when he saw herbiting her nails nervously.."nutritious diet matlab nails nahi hota nidhi.."n then smiled and added,"mujhe list bana do,mmai shaam ko saamaan leta aaoonga..but you are not coming to the market..bahut rush hoga..kahi dhakka na lag jaaye...i just cant see you in pain.."nidhi smiled n said"thanks dr ashutosh..par mai saamaan anji sa mangva loongi,you dont have to worry."ashu spoke,his hand leaving the gear to hold hers"karva chauth tum mere liye kar rahi ho ya anji ke liye"??!!!nidhi laughed"obviously aap ke liye""to phir mujhe bhi thodi taqleef uthaane do" đ đ
As the car stopped at mathur niwas,nidhi again had trouble getting up..inspite of the cushion ,the seat was low,ashu tried to haul her up in his arms..but she had grown heavier n as he finally did lift her with an effort,nidhi's head struck the metal edge of the car roof bang!!!! she cried "ooouuuccchhh"!!!!n ashutosh seemed to have lost his nerve..he got her in and screamed"kaka ice laaiye,nidhi ko chot lagi hai..jaldi"both baba n armaan also rushed out"kahaan,kaise..kya hua..."ashutosh pressed the ice folded in his hankey to nidhi's head..nidhi had her eyes closed..as he held her,she opened them slowly..armaan asked"nidhi..kaisi hai ab..."??baba spoke '"ashu kya hua tha"?n as nidhi relaxed,ashu explained the happening..n then examined nidhi's head..separating her hair"thank hod koi cut nahi hai..par i feel scan kara lete hain"nidhi smiled"haan ..haan kyu nahi,scan hi kyu,m.r.i.bhi..infact brain surgery hi kar deejiye.."n then looking at ashutosh she said"chinta nahi kariye..mai theek hoon..aur you know better than me..pregnancy mei minimum exposure to radiations"ashutosh sighed..she was right
At breakfast,ashu told baba about what n how much nidhi had to eat n drink in the day n said"baba,plz be strict..nahi to no karwa chauth tomorrow"baba smiled n spoke"tu chinta na kar ashu,mai kaan pakdoonga..iske agar badmaashi karegi..."armaan added"haan,mai to naak bhi pakdoonga..badmaashh bachchi hai..."n nidhi pouted "bachchi nahi hu main..."as ashutosh left for the hospital,nidhi gave him the list of the kc stuff n he took armaan also along"chall armaan,kuch kaam hai tujhse"
During the day ,baba made nidhi eat n have juice..he was like a strict principal..n inthe evening nidhi just hugged him..sooo much love..he had for her.."baba,aap mujhe itna pyaar kyu karte hain..."?baba patted her head n saod"nidhi..yeh pyaar meri bahu..ashu ki patni ke liye hai..aur meri naatin ke liye bhi..aur beta..kuch pyaar woh hai..jo mujhe apni beti...yane teri maa ko dena chaahiye tha...par de nahi paaya.."n baba seemed lost in thoughts...long long thoughts...just then kaka came "bitiya,dinner to ready hai..par subah sargi me kya banega..bata do to tayyari..."""heeraman,is ghar me saalo baad koi sargee kar rahi hai..kachori,mithai..rabri..aaloo matar...aur haan nidhi ke liye juice zurroor.."kaka smiled ..seeing his master's eyes light up with joy..
At 8 p.m dr ashutosh arrived,carrying the fruit basket,sweets,karwa chauth vrat katha bookn handed them over..soon armaan entered n ashu have him questioning looks,he said"kal shaam..8 baje"nidhi couldnt understand but before she could question,armaan asked baba"bataiye baba..ye bachchi kaisi thi din bhar..isne baat maani aapki ya nahi.."?n nidhi tried throwing a cushion at him..n ashu looked mesmerised at the beauty of human relationships that nidhi could carve...
Nidhi phoned dadibua n shyaama aunty n told them of her fast..both were delighted .shyama saidif nidhi could come ,all d celebrate together..but nidhi insisted she d do it at mathur niwas..her home đ ...ashutosh looked at her..with love n pride...sainyaan
At 4.30 in the morning ashutosh awoke nidhi..helped her bathe n change into a new orange salwar kurta..which he had got for her.."arre surprise"!!said nidhi..ashu held her hand as he slipped in the kangans..n said"abhi,gekhti jaao..surprise hee surprise hain"dining table was ready with all dishes..nidhi was aghast"ye sab..kisne..."!!!kaka spoke "arre bitiya,ashu armaan aur daktar sahib to 3 baje se lage hue hain..."nidhi put the pallu on her head n tried to touch the feet of baba ,kaka , n armaan ..they all held her midway..n as she sat to eat ,ashu fed her the first bite...nidhi couldnt control her tears..as she looked at her love,her life,her middle aged husband..with greying sideburns...but with a love n understanding that had bridged all chasms...nidhi gulped..as dr ashutosh said"chalo juice..n then water..."nidhi obeyed..and at the end ,he wiped her lips with his hankey...his child woman...his world..
Dr ashutosh n armaan had their breakfast n left for work..nidhi phoned anji.she was at solanki house,preparing for the fast..khushi could be heard in the background "mamma...mamma"n anji narrated how she too had worn tiny bangles ..n was excited at the celebrations,.."nidhi..tu samajh nahi sakti..khushi hume kitni khushi de rahi hao...din raat ka pata hi nahi chalta..lamhe bas khushi me beet jaate hain...all thanks to jeejaji..such nidhi..unhone bahut kiya..humaare liye"just then nidhi could hear "mamma..duddu..."n anji said,khushi had to have milk so she will chat later..baba had his lunch n as nidhi helped kaka to fix the lavish dinner with all dishes that dr ashutosh liked,baba spoke"beta,aaj to apni pasand ka khana bana.."nidhi shook her head n said"baba..ab unki aur meri pasand alag thode hi hai..."nidhi changed..into her read sari..applied sindoor n wore her kundan earrings that baba had gifted her when she had cooked the first time as a bahu...nidhi was looking for the necklace when dr ashutosh hugged her from the back...turning her around he said"kaisi ho...aur ye kaisi hai"?he spoke touching her entire baby bump..feeling for the baby's heart beat"dono theek hain..bas main pooja ki thaali taiyyar kar rahi hoon..katha padhoongi..tab tak chaand nikal aayega..ready ho jaaiye"
Just as nidhi was arranging the thali her cell rang"bol anji..kya hua"?anji was all excited.."pata hai dr ranganath ne mujhe naya i phone diya hai..as kc gift...tujhe kya diya jeejaji ne..bata na"!!nidhi spoke in a whisper"anji,i dont think..unhe yaad raha gift ka,.he must have been busy..aur woh to khud hi sabse bade gift hain mere liye..aur kya denge mujhe...unhone to sab de diya...khud ko saunp diya mujhe...aur..ye..."nidhi tenderly touched her baby bump...
Nidhi read the katha to herself...when armaan came shouting"arre chal nidhi ,chaand nikal aaya.."nidhi got up n came..placed the chowki for dr ashutosh..kaka got her the channi n diya..nidhi was going to call ashutosh..when he emerged,,stunning in white kurta pyjama..nidhi kept looking at him..soaking in his love..ashutosh came n stood..nidhi signalled him to stand at the chowki.as ashitosh stood,nidhi placed her diya in her chalni n looked at the moon...but seeing her husband..all the while..her chaand..the light of her world...nidhi poured the water to the moon..n ashu held her...taking a glass of water from baba n making her sip...n then he wiped her mouth..nidhi knew he d not allow her to touch his feet..even as a ritual...so she just stood..looking at him..both frozen in time...lost in each other..when arman ssaid.."ashu bhool gaya kya..."ashutosh smiled a naughty smile,took nidhi..his hands covering her eyes..."kahan..kahaan jaa rahe hain hum.."ashu spoke,"chup chaap chalo..mere saath"nidhi could feel..he was taking her to the gate of the lawn..leading to the road..n there he removed his hand...
In front of nidhi stood a sparkling,silver Honda cRV..ashu handed her the keys"tumhara karwa chauth gift...'"nidhi was speechless"arre par kyun..woh car to..."ashu put an arm around her n spoke"haan woh bhi hai..par ab ussme baithna tumhaare liye mushkil hota tha...mujhse nahi dekha jaata tha tumhe pain me...this is higher n see the seats can be raised..hydraulically..pasand aayee"?nidhi spoke"bahut...bahut zyaada..par itna money...""arre money tumse bada hai kya...tumhare liye kuch bhi.."ashu just kept looking at nidhi...sainyaan...nidhi sat n saw the car..it was lovely..she could get up without an effort..n walked into the open arms of ashutosh..."chalo,you must be hungry"
At the dining table..ashutosh was surprised to see his favourite dishes..he said.."arre..vrat to tumhara tha.."nidhi smiled n said"par tha to aapke liye,..."and ashu fed her the first bite..as the family sat down to dinner..armaan narrated how ashu had told him to see to it that the new car was delivered today itself...armaan added"ab ye perfect joru ka ghulam ho gaya hai"n baba laughed..n then both he n armaan kept looking at ashni..lost in each others eyes...
In the bedroom..nidhi came close to ashu..running her fingers thru his hair..she bent down to kiss him on the lips..n ashutosh responded but then putting her down ...he said.."jaan..chalo..let me rub your feet..you seem dead tired..."n ashurubbed her soles..pressed her ankles..n then kissed her toes...each finger...n then looked at nidhi's face...looking dreamily..."kya soch rahi ho.."?"yehi ..ki kahaan..kahaan se guzar ke hum kahaan aa gaye...dr ashutosh..aapne meri har khwaaish poori ki hai..mere bina kuch maange hue,..i m the luckiest girl..in the world..."ashutosh kissed her on the forehead..n said"tumne to mer zindagi hi badal di..jo tumne mujhe diya hai..aur jo dene waali ho..usse bada gift..kuch nahi ho sakta..."nidhi put her armr around his neck...as ashutosh..just held her...the moon peeping through their window...completing the picture,..
the moon that had been a mute witness to their..love..separation n union...
TUM AAYE TO AAYA MUJHE YAAD GALI MEI AAJ CHAAND NIKLA...AAJ KITNE DINO KE BAAD..GALI ME AAJ CHAAND NIKLA...
Mahadev And Sons
