FF:Intehaa Pyaar Ki-Th 3:Ch-10-page114 - July 20th - Page 39

Originally posted by: sshirley

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<div>replied.

update? itni kya jaldi hai?

The voice at the other end, "Yaar chhod na, pakde gaye toh fokat me panga ho jaayega."

"Koi panga vanga nahi hoga. Tum dono bas wohi karo jo maine kaha"

"Ye achchha. Tu saala khud toh saamne aayega nahi, fasenge toh hum dono na?"

"Main saamne kaise aaoon? Woh mujhe pahchaan legi. Aur tum sirf apna kaam karke udhar se fut lena, baaki main sambhal loonga. Saale darpok, dost ke itna nahi kar sakte?"

"Oye darpok kisko bola. Chal phone patak, hum jaate hain uske paas. Woh hall se nikalne ko hai"

Ashutosh reached his room and was just taking off his coat and tie, when his cellphone ran. It was Armaan. They talked about the firm's work for 15-20 minutes, with Armaan bringing Ashutosh upto date with the cases and then discussing certain important issues with him. Finally Armaan asked, "Conference kaisi jaa rahi hai?"

"Theek hi jaa rahi hai"

"Arre haan, aaj tera presentation tha na? How did it go?"

"It went well, (thinking about Nidhi's questions, a smile forms on his lips) the Q and A session was the best"

"Really? Chalo, achchha hai. Aur Nidhi..?" he purposely asked an open ended question.

Ashutosh face radiated pride. "Yes, she participated actively in the Q & A, which made it all the more interesting. And her questions were really intriguing yaar. She is really made for the profession. Her ..", suddenly he stopped realizing that he was going on and on about Nidhi

"Her what, Ashu? Bolte bolte ruk kyun gaya?"

"Kya bolun? That's it. Bas baat khatam yaar. Achchha sun woh jo tu Sharma & Co. ke case me notice ki"

"Ashu, please yaar, don't divert again. You need to face this sometime or the other, Kab tak bhaagega khud se? You better face it now, Ashu. Frankly, ab toh tujhe koi advice dene me bhi darr lagta hai yaar. Ek baar galat advice de chuka hoon. Lekin itna zaroor kahoonga, ke tere mann me jo bhi hai, tu mere saath share karega toh you will also be able to analyse everything better."

"Share kya karoon Armaan, the situation is such. Haan it seems I have fallen hard for her. Jab woh mujhe chess me haraati hai toh I feel proud. Jab use thodi bhi taqleef ya inconvenience hoti hai, toh main bechain ho uthta hoon. I agree with all this. Lekin, the cold hard fact is that I m on the wrong side of 30's and she is still in her early 20's, for one thing. For another, well, she does not even look at me like that. For her, I am just her boss. Obviously I can't force my feelings.."

"Wait a second Ashu, no one is asking you to force your feelings on anyone. All I am saying is that just tell her your feelings. And regarding your age gap, it's not unheard of either yaar. Aisi kitni shaadiyaan hoti hain and they succeed too."

"But yaar, she is a really bright kid, beautiful, smart and stylish as well. She can do a lot better in terms of a life partner than me. Besides, humara koi mel nahi hai yaar. She likes to enjoy her life to the fullest, you the excitement, the fun and everything. Aur main, well you know.. how laid back I'm. Toh phir kaise hoga? I mean.. I can't even think about it.'

"Well, that's what you say. But from the way you are talking you HAVE BEEN thinking about it yaar. Aur.."

Just then, the intercom rang in Ashutosh's room and he said, "hold on Armaan." And picked up the intercom.

"Mr. Mathur?"

"Yes?"

"Is Ms. Nidhi Verma attending the conference with you?"

"Yes"

"Sir, I request you to kindly come over to the bar immediately."

"To the bar?" he asked astonished.

"Yes Sir, please"

"What is this all about? Ms. Verma?"

"Yes Sir, it's got to do with her. She is here and well.."

Ashutosh checked his watch. It was 11.40 pm. "What she is doing at the bar at this hour?"

"Please come Sir" and the line was disconnected.

Heart in his mouth, he hung up on Armaan, threw his phone carelessly on the bed, and went to the bar. As he entered, he slowed down a bit, so as not to draw attention to him. The bar was somewhat crowded, and he could not find her anywhere.

Then, on close scrutiny of the room, he saw her on a corner table all alone. As he walked towards her table, Ashutosh was shocked to see her condition. Though she was still waering the same evening dress which she had worn to the dinner, her jacket was off, lying near her feet. She was wearing a shoulderless gown and her head was slumped on the table. Her stretched out hand was near her head on the table and it held a glass.

He reached the table and said softly, "Ms. Nidhi?" No reaction.

He tried again, a bit louder this time, "Nidhi?" Still no other reaction, except that she just stirred a bit. He was about to touch the back of her shoulder, but seeing the bare skin, he diverted his hand to her head and patted it softly, calling her tenderly but urgently, "Nidhi get up"

She raised her head, hiccupped loudly and looked at him with confused, groggy eyes, then as if unable to recognize him, turn her attention to the glass in her hand and unsteadily gulped it in one go. Then she extended the glass to him, "YO..more..more..more shame ishe tea..ABHI KE ABHI!" She said in an inebricated voice.

Iced Tea? How can she get drunk on an Iced tea? Unless.. Anxiously, he took the glass from her and smelled it. It smelled very strongly of alcohol. By now, she had again slumped on the table. He raised her head by holding it in his hands and slowly his palms cup her cheeks with her jaw providing him a firm hold. He shook her a bit, "Nidhi, hosh me aaiye. Please."

She looked at him and her blurry eyes light up and she grins, "Shir, aap aa gaye? Kitni der lagaadi.. I wash waiting and waiting and waiting..(She turns towards the bar) ABE OYE..mera ISHE TEA LAO!", she took her glass after making a lot of efforts to focus, and tried to get up, but fell on the edge of her chair. He adjusts her so that she does not fall down and then he stood there helplessly, wondering what to do and whom to call for help. Before he could decide what to do, Nidhi shouted looking ostensibly in the direction of the bartender, ", "SHAB BEHRE HO KYA?"

Ashutosh was mortified. If this continued, she would undoubtedly create a huge scene in the bar and would invite negative publicity. "Nidhi please, let's go your room first, then you can have whatever you want. Please", and he picked up her jacket and put it around her shoulders. She violently shook her head and shrugged off her jacket, and stomped her feet "I am tirsty' I want I want my ished tea. (She starts an off key song) yummy yummy ished tea..mera wala ished tea..aaja aaja aaja issshhheee tea..."

Ashutosh looked at her helplessly, then looked around the bar wondering how to take her out without attracting too much notice. Though not crowded, the bar was not empty either. Thankfully they were near the door, so with some luck they might just manage to sneak out. And the elevator was quite near too. But Nidhi was in no state to walk, it seemed. Nidhi again shouted aimlessly, "KOI MERA SHUNTA KYON NAHI HAIN!"

With a grunt, he said, "Nidhi, abhi laata hoon. Please chup ho jaaiye." She nodded and gave the sweetest smile he had ever seen on her face. And he walked towards the counter, and since there was no one, he asked the bartender, "Excuse me. Did you just call me on the intercom."

The bartender looked at him narrowly, trying to ascertain if he was drunk or sober. His experienced eyes having assured him that Ashutosh was not drunk, he said, "No Sir, when? Why?"

"Didn't you call room number 257?"

He shook his head, "no sir"

Unsurely, Ashutosh pointed to Nidhi, "That lady.. when did she come here and what did she ask for?"

Wondering whether he was supposed to tell him or not, he said, "I .. I don't know Sir. Is she with you?"

Ashutosh nodded solemnly and then asked, "Look, did she ask for some cocktail with iced tea?"

"No Sir, on the contrary she ordered not to add any kind of alcohol to her drink."

Ashutosh was fuming now, "HOW DID SHE GET DRUNK then?"

"I don't know Sir, I did not mix any alcohol in any of her drink"

"Then who did?"

"How do I know Sir?" he asked reasonably.

Ashutosh calmed down a bit, "Look, yaad karke bataiye, koi tha unke saath?"

"Yes Sir, 2 aadmi the, aur kisi ka wait kar rahe the, aur haan, woh madam baar baar pooch rahi thi ke Sir mujhe bulake khud kahan chale gaye?"

In a flash, Ashutosh realized that someone had misled her to the bar and spiked her drink, but why? With what intent? Oh Goodness, had someone molested her or something? Oh Jeez! Why was her jacket off? How do I find out? But no, it would be impossible for anyone to do something like that in a not so empty 5-star bar. Besides, she did not look as if something like that has happened with her. And..

His thoughts were interrupted when he saw Nidhi again trying to get up and he hurriedly ordered an orange juice for her and rushed to her. "Nidhi, just two minutes, okay."

"Two minutes? arre shir..shee (she opens her mouth and brings her tongue out) shee..my thangue is cho dhry..mujhe peena hai shir..."

Just then, the bartender arrived and placed the juice on the table, when Ashutosh asked him, "The guys who were with her, when did they leave?"

"Ji Sir, abhi 5-7 minute pahle hi suddenly uthe, pay kiya aur chale gaye."

Ashutosh nodded and he went away. Ashutosh shook Nidhi again, and handed her the glass.

She took a sip and spit it out before stomping her feet angrily, "shaala..yeh mera ished tea nahi hai. mera wala ished tea chahiye mere ko" and tried to get up.

Ashutosh held her by her shoulders and said in his strictest voice, "Ms. NIdhi Verma. You are drinking this and going to your room after that. And that is your boss's order. YOU GET THAT. DRINK THIS NOW"

She got really scared and emptied the glad in one go. "Come lets go. Let me drop you to your room. Come on. Get up." He again draped her jacket around her and made her stand. "Careful Nidhi" he said picking up her small clutch from the table. He tried to guide her towards the door, with his one arm around her and the other hand holding her forearm over the jacket. They somehow managed to get out of the bar and to the elevators, since the distance was not much.

Ashutosh experienced an embarrassing moment when the elevator operator looked up at them with a knowing smirk. He said, "she is.. uh.. not feeling well" and the fellow nodded, as if in understanding but actually his expression meant something else.

In the corridor of the second floor, it was getting difficult for him to hold her, since she kept falling all over and kept singing in her slurred voice "ek baar aaja diklaja meri ished tea" or something like that all the way and he was mortified thinking what if she speaks loud enough to awaken the guests in the rooms along the corridor. For the sake of her reputation, he wanted to keep this as quiet as possible. Since her jacket kept slipping off, she got irritated and flung it off. He picked it up yet again, and this time he tried to make her put it on properly, but she was not cooperating.

As she started falling again, she caught his collar for support, and her hands trailed down roughly, and ripped open the buttons of his shirt as well as tearing most of his vest with her sharp nails. She giggled, "arre shir..yeh kya hogaya..you are exposhed..hehehe.."and again collapsed on his bare chest. His breathing got rough and his senses heightened as he felt her against his bare chest for the first time. It was as if he did not want this moment to end!

After a few seconds of sheer ecstasy, he came to his senses. Chiding himself for thinking about his own pleasure when she was in such a helpless state, he forced his brain to focus his attention to get out of this mess with minimum possible attention from anyone. Seeing no option, he supported her with both his arms and almost carried her to the room, while holding her jacket and clutch in his hands.

When the reached her room, he made her stand with the support of the wall, while he opened her clutch for her keycard. He put it in the slot and opened the door. The he led her into the room with his arms around her and tried to gently lay her on the bed. But seeing the bed, she collapsed into it with a sudden movement, taking him along. They both fell on the bed, with his arms still around her, and his face on her bare shoulder.

She was totally knocked out and fast asleep now. With great difficulty, he extricated himself from over her and got up from the bed. Then he realized that both the jacket and her clutch were underneath her. The jacket was okay, but the clutch was quite hard. If she slept like that over it, she would get a sore on her back or wherever it was.

He again bent over her. He gently put his hand on her head, "Nidhi, would you please move a bit, tumhara purse tumhare neeche hai. Please thoda sa turn karo"

But instead of turning, she mumbled something inarticulate and pulled him closer with her arms around him. Once again his heart tried to rule over his brain. But he shook off his thoughts and gently loosened her grip on him. Then, with one hand on her shoulder and the other on her thigh, he rolled her towards the middle of the bed. She now lay on her stomach. But, unfortunately the clutch had struck to her dress on her lower back.

Groaning inwardly, he climbed on the bed and tried to remove it from there. It was an awkward moment for him, to touch her lower back while he was bent over her. Anyways the clutch got separated from her dress in no time and he got down from the bed. He looked at her as he straightened his hair and felt that she would be moe comfortable in she slept on her back. He went round to the other side of her bed and rolled her once again. Satisfied that she was comfortable now, he covered her with the quilt and adjusted the AC to a comfortable temperature.

It was then that he felt someone's presence and looked at the door. He realized uncomfortably that he had forgotten to close it. Though there was no one at the door, he rushed out as he was sure there had been someone at the door. But by the time he looked out in the corridor, there was no one. Probably the person had gone into some room on the same floor. What was that person doing at Nidhi's door?

Anyways, Ashutosh closed the door and dropped onto the sofa, wondering what to do. Who spiked her drink? Woh chahta kya tha? How do I find out who were the two guys who took her to the bar? Aur abhi darwaaze pe kaun tha? Obviously it is the same person, who spiked her drink. It has to be the same person. But in that case, I can't leave her alone. I need to stay here.

Gosh how I wish I could lay my hands on that scoundrel. I want to just squeeze his life out of him for doing this to Nidhi!

With these and other thoughts swirling through his mind, he never realized when he fell asleep on the sofa itself. He was awakened by Nidhi's coughing. As he opened his eyes, has saw her rushing to the restroom to throw up. Before he could think whether to sneek out of the door silently, so as not to to cause her embarrassment, she came out of the restroom and ploped on the bed again with her hand holding her head, completely ignorant of her resense. Then, she coughed again. He immediately sprang to attention. He offered her some water, which she drank without any protest. While handing him the glass back, she suddenly jolted awake. She looks around and realized that they were in her room. "Sir aap yahan? (covering her bare shoulders with the duvet in a hurried gesture of modesty) When did we come here? I was waiting for you in the bar. You ..(then, horrified seeing his open shirt and torn vest which he tries to cover by bringing the sides of his shirt together and folding his arms around himself, she assumes something and looks at him with a shocked expression, and after a while, bursts out crying and shouts accusingly) What.. what happened between us?"

He was shocked and pained to see her accusing eyes, "Relax Nidhi, aisa kuch nahi hua. Someone tricked you. I will explain everything. But first I think, we should both freshen up a bit. Look I am also going to my room. (He looks at his watch) It is 6.20 now. Let's meet at 7. Do you want tea or something?"

By now, she is looking at him with suspicious and confused eyes. She shook her head.

"Okay, so if you don't feel too uncomfortable, we will meet here only. I need to talk to you before we meet anyone else. So, would you mind, if I come here at 7?"

Though unsure, she shook her head again, "No Sir, I don't mind"

He nods, and goes to the fridge. Luckily there was orange juice there. He took it and kept on the bedside table near her, "Ms. Verma, I suggest that you please have this. It would make you feel better."

She simply nodded.

He said, "I am leaving. Please close the door properly, and do not open, I repeat, DO NOT OPEN it to anyone, no matter what. I will give you a call, and you open the door to me only. Understood? Please Ms. Nidhi, I am saying for your safety."

She nodded again. And he went out and closed the door. He waited until she had bolted the door from inside. He again felt that someone was nearby. He hoped she would not open the door. There was no way he could stand there with his torn clothes and wait for someone to notice him. Praying for her safety, he rushed to the elevators, gathering the edges of his shirt.

It was 6:55 and Nidhi was on tenterhooks. Her head was still groggy and she had thrown up a number of times. How did I get drunk last night? Why don't I remember anything. What was Sir doing here? I can't remember clearly what happened last night. My memory of last night's events is blurred at best. Lekin mujhe nahi lagta, ke kisi ne mera fayda uthaya hai.. I.. I mean, agar aisa kuch hua hota toh mujhe kuch toh yaad hota na? Good Lord, ye sab kya hai?"

Just then, her phone rang, "Yes Sir?"

"I am outside, please open the door."

She opened and he came in. The sat on the perpendicularly placed sofas. He cleared his throat and began rather uncomfortably, "Ms. Nidhi, uh.. apparently someone spiked your drink last night. But we both need to pool our information to get to the bottom of this. I urge you to calmly think over last night's events. When I left after the dinner, you were still in the hall.."

She picked up, "Yes Sir, I was just about to leave when, a guy told me that you were waiting for me in the bar, that you wanted to introduce me to someone."

Ashutosh was taken aback, "I? I called you? Why would I call you to the bar, Ms. Nidhi. Besides, I would have called you on the phone, why would I send strangers to fetch you?"

She said unsurely, "Ji Sir, even I thought so. I asked him that only and was about to call you on your phone, but he said bar me network nahi hai, so you didn't give me a call."

"How I wish you had called me once Nidhi! All this mess could have been avoided. (Seeing her pained expression, he continues softly) Khair ab jo ho gaya so ho gaya. Uske baad kya hua?"

"Well, I went to the bar with him, and there was another guy there. He said you had gone out and will be back in 5 minutes. Then, they ordered drinks and asked me what I wanted. I said I did not want anything and I will just meet whoever you wanted me to meet and then go to my room since I was already sleepy. But they insisted so I ordered iced tea. The bartender asked me if I wanted iced tea cocktail. I refused and strictly said that my drink should not contain any alcohol. I remember I had two glasses, uske baad kuch yaad nahi hai."

"Nidhi, aap achchhi tarah se yaad karke batao, did they try to touch you or anything like that."

She shook her head, "No sir, on the contrary they behaved very decently. All the time, they were talking about you. About your cases and how you handled even the trickiest cases with ease."

He was getting all the more puzzled now. He didn't know how to ask her the one question that had been nagging him, since last night. "Ms. Verma, if you don't mind, can I ask you a question, an uh.. uncomfortable question that is? (As she nods slightly and confortably,) Well, actually, I was just wondering how come your.. (he trails off) okay let's leave that."

She was intrigued, "Sir, I think, I.. I trust you. So, please ask whatever you want. I think there is a valid reason for your question."

He nodded, "Yes there is a reason. When I found you.. I will reveal shortly how and why I came to the bar, but right now, as I said, when I found you, your jacket was off.." he left it at that.

"Oh woh toh Sir, (she averted her eyes) one of the guys accidently knocked my hand and my drink spilled on my shoulders. Since my jacket became wet, he suggested that I take it off for a while till it dried, and he gave me his coat to drape around myself.. oh no..(she said as if comprehending suddenly) do you mean, of couse, he did it purposely. And by the time, I was so knocked off that I didn't realize what was happening anymore"

He gave her an understanding look and said, "Okay now my side. I got a call on the intercom at about 11.40 last night.." and then he revealed everything. With each passing moment through his narration, she grew more and more embarrassed. When he finished, she had her eyes lower and her entire face red with embarrassment.

The picture she presented made him skip a heartbeat or two. But, then, he said, "Ms. Verma, whatever happened was not your fault. Someone tricked you. Oh I forgot to ask you the most important thing. Did you know any of those two guys?"

"No Sir, never saw them before."

"Not even in the conference?"

She shook her head.

He looked at her incredulously, "and yet you believed them and went along with them?"

She understood his point and said, "I know Sir, I have been plain stupid. But Sir, I.. I don't know.. they acted with such credibility and talked in such a way about you, that it did not even occur to me to suspect them. When I asked them, they said they were here with their boss. Some Mr. Chatterji, who was with you! And they knew so much about you."

"But I don't know anyone by this name! Did they tell you their own names?"

She nodded again, and tried to recollect, "Rajesh.. , no Rakesh and Pankaj."

"I am sure they were phony names though"

She nodded in agreement, "But Sir, I don't understand. What did they want, I mean.. why?"

"That's precisely what I have been wondering. I think, I have an idea.. I can't be 100% sure, but last night, I strongly felt there was someone outside your room. But, by the time I went to the door, the person was gone. So, I can only presume that whatever was planned, it did not materialize because some well-wisher called me on the intercom. Though I wonder who called."

They were both silent for a while. Then he said, "Look Nidhi, if you really want, we can get to the bottom of this. But.." he stopped uncertainly.

"But, what?"

"But it would entail making not-so-discrete inquiries. And unnecessarily bring negative publicity on us, especially you. Believe me, I am not scared about my own reputation. But your reputation. So, please think about it and let me know."

She nodded, and he said, "And how are you feeling now? (He looked at his watch: 7:29)Do you think, you can attend the 8 am session?"

"My head is feeling heavy and I am having nausea too."

"Okay, let's do this. You take rest and join me at lunch. You can attend the post lunch winding-up ceremony. I will make an excuse that you are not well."

She nodded, "Thank you Sir, and I am extremely sorry for the trouble last night"

"As I told you Ms. Verma, it was not your fault. Chalta hoon. See you at lunch. And be very careful about whom you open the door to. Wait, would you like to order breakfast? I'll stay here till the room service comes."

"No Sir, I don't want anything, I don't feel like. And don't worry Sir. I can take care of myself. Last night, I was caught unawares. But now, I will be very alert."

He went towards the door, but then turned back, "I know you need time, but since the conference is getting over by 5 pm today, and if you want me to make inquiries, I will need some time. So, I will appreciate if you could message me asap what you want to do."

"Frankly, Sir, I strongly feel ke jisne ye kiya hai, use sabak milna chahiye"

"I completely agree Nidhi. But still, I urge you to consult someone, your elders. If you say, I can also talk to your father."

"No need Sir, I will talk myself and let you know within an hour."

He nodded and again walked to the door, but stopped to say, "There is orange juice and limca too in the fridge. Please have them. They will make you feel better."

She nodded and he left.

Good Lord what a mess I'm in! Ab main kiski advice loon? Anji?

She immediately called up Anji and narrated everything to her. Anji listened carefully and told her that she agreed with Ashutosh. It was better to let the matter go, rather than risk her honour. Nidhi argued but in vain. Anji told her that Lucknow was still a conservative place and if the issue reaches Lucknow, matters could get complicated. Finally Nidhi agreed and hung up after repeatedly assuring Anji that she will be alert and take care of herself. Then, Nidhi SMSed Ashutosh to let go of the matter.

That night at Lucknow airport:

Armaan was waiting outside Arrivals in a melancholy mood. Apparently the flight was getting more and more delayed. He looked around idly and saw a known face. Is this the right time to talk? Given the present circumstances and the utterly disgraceful situation in which Ashu and Nidhi had to leave the conference? Let me see, let me just talk to her.

He walked over to her and said very softly, "Hi Anji"

She said with a forced smile, "Hello Mr. Chaturvedi"

There was an awkward silence between them. Then, he said uncomfortably, "You know na, uh.. woh.. I mean, what happened during the winding-up ceremony at the conference?"

"Of course I know"

Both were again silent. Then he said musingly, "Ashu ke toh din hi kharaab chal rahe hain aajkal. Pichle ekad mahine se. Aur ab ye. Uski barson ki kamayi izzat mitti me mil gayi"

Anji fumed, "Aapko sirf apne dost ki chinta hai! Nidhi ka kya? Abhi toh uski life ki beginning hai. Aur upar se she is a girl. Is kalank ke saath poori zindagi kaise kaategi woh?" and she turns around a bit to wipe her moist eyes.

"Anji, look, I completely understand your viewpoint. And I am really sorry for Nidhi too. Believe me I am", he said very sincerely.

She softened at that. After a while, she said, "actually galti toh meri hi thi. Aaj subah jab Nidhi ne mujhe sab kuch bataya aur meri advice maangi toh maine hi usse kahaa tha ki baat dabaa dene me hi uski bhalai hai. I just thought that koi Nidhi ka fayda uthana chahta tha aur Mr. Mathur wahan the toh he couldn't do anything. Agar maine Nidhi ko galat advice nahi di hoti toh shayad shaam tak, Mr. Mathur would have found the culprit and ye sab nahi hota."

"No Anji, don't blame yourself. You took a wise decision for your friend. Aise toh, I can even blame myself. It was on my insistence that Ashu took Nidhi to the conference with him. I just thought it would be good if they .. (suddenly realizing what he was about to say, he changed his track,) I mean, I thought it would be good for her career."

"Of course, I understand. Aap ki koi galati nahi."

"Galati toh aapki bhi nahi. Who could have suspected such a thing. That someone just wanted to click their pictures in a compromising position."

"Hadd ki baat toh ye hai, ke everyone believed the pictures. They just saw those pictures and assumed the worst."

"Ashu ka kehna hai ke un pictures ko bahut hi skillfully present kiya gaya tha. You only imagine the effect Anji. The conference was at an end, and they were showing pictures of the conference, the various lectures, the informal interactions, the lunches, etc. In sab pictures ke beech un dono ki aisi pictures ' it just magnified the effect. Especially the ones taken in her room. The last picture was the most damning as Ashu explained. It showed him coming out of her room with his clothes half torn, and it clearly showed the time."

She nodded in understanding. Soon the arrival of the flight was announced and Ashutosh and Nidhi emerged after a while with their heads bent, as if they were afraid to even look up. Armaan and Anji went forward and hugged their respective friends and took them home.

About a month later:

The car stopped and Mr. Anand Mathur got down from the passenger's seat. Armaan, who had been driving also got down before opening the back door. Ashutosh and Nidhi emerged in front of Mathur Nivas in their simple wedding attires. They had just got married simply in a temple and also had it registered in a court. Only their immediate families, the Solanki's and Armaan had attended the wedding. The reception was going to be held two days later.

As Ashutosh stood outside his house waiting to enter it for the first time with his bride, the past one month was running like some fast paced movie in his mind. How the past month had been a roller coaster ride for everyone, but mostly for both of them. How tongues had wagged. How it had become difficult for him to even enter courts and practice law. How their silence was taken as an admittance of their guilt. Yet when they tried to defend themselves, no one listened to them or believed a word they said.

Ashutosh recollected how 15 days back, the Solankis and Col. Verma had come to his house and requested him to marry Nidhi. He had been shocked at the idea. But his father and Armaan had forced him to atleast think about Nidhi. Ashutosh said he wanted to meet Nidhi once before taking a decision. He had not seen Nidhi since they had returned to Lucknow after that fateful conference. She had sent her resignation the very next day through Anji and he had immediately accepted it.

He remembered how Nidhi had called him and told him that she wanted to marry him. And when he asked her to meet him just once, she refused saying that her decision won't change even if they met - she wanted to marry him and he could refuse if he did not want to marry her. He tried to reason with her not to take this decision in haste or under pressure. He said that if she wanted to marry him due to societal pressure, it was not a wise decision. He assured her that the society would forget the whole incident sooner or later and they should not take this decision to please the society. But she remained adamant and so, he too agreed.

He had seen her only today at the temple. She seemed a totally different person. She was not the jovial, full-of-life girl he had known. She was very quiet and serious during the ceremony. She had just said, "hello" to him. She had not even looked at him or smiled even once during the entire ceremony.

Ashutosh was jolted out of his reverie when Armaan nudged him. Armaan had requested Solankis to come too since they already knew them well before Nidhi joined the firm. Since there was no woman in Mathur Nivas, Armaan had requested Shyama to take care of the gruh-pravesh.

So, when they reached the door Shyama was waiting. She did their aarti, and put the rice kalash and plate of vermillion mixed in water. Then she guided and helped Nidhi to perform the gruh-pravesh rituals.

Then, everyone had an early dinner and the Solankis as well as Armaan left. Ashutosh led Nidhi to his, now their, bedroom as his father and Hiraman retired for the night.

"Nidhi, this is our room. That wardrobe on the right is empty. Please make yourself comfortable. Do you need anything?"

"Thank you. No, I don't anything."

"Nidhi, I know, ab is baat ka koi matlab toh nahi hai, lekin phir bhi ek baat poochhoo?

"Ji Poochhiye?"

"Nidhi ye shaadi tumhari marzi se hui haina? Tum khush ho na is shaadi se?"

She sighed, "Aap sach sunna chahte hai ya jhooth?"

He braced himself before saying, "Bilkul sach."

"Toh suniye. Nahi! Main khush nahi hoon is shaadi se!"

Originally posted by: deepa17

Short review..

Nice progression .. Did not expect this.. End to the chapter..

You have really progressed very well.