OS: Shadows from the Past (Chap 12, Pg. 117, Note, Pg. 130, VM Pg 131) - Page 42

Originally posted by: aardhan

Ok, but let me get this chapter out first! 😳

CHAPTER 7

And just like that a few days passed. By now January was out and February had rolled in and brought along with it Dr. Ranganath, who had just walked in for his meeting with Dr. Ashutosh...

Dr. Ashutosh: Upon hearing a quick rap on his cabin door, "Come in. Ah! Good afternoon Dr. Ranganath. Are you ready to discuss staffing for this month?"

Dr. Ranganath: "Yes Sir! Good afternoon to you" After pushing the staff chart towards him, "Please take a look. As usual if there are any last minute changes due to emergency staff problems, we will make appropriate changes. Staff back-up has also been mapped out."

Dr. Ashutosh: After reviewing it, "Hmmm, yes looks alright to me. Where is the intern chart? Lets take a look at that next."

After briefly looking at that chart, something catches his eye making him think, "Nidhi is due for a change of department already? I need to check her personal file to find out how many more departments are left in her rotation schedule before she completes her internship requirements. Time really flies so fast. Seems like it was yesterday since she rejoined KGH!" He made a mental note that Nidhi's next allotment was in Emergency and Trauma care from the 15^th as one of the two interns who will be on duty there. Of course Dr. Ashutosh's so-called casual' observation of Nidhi's schedule never went un-noticed by Dr. Ranganath. It always brought a smirk and a glint of satisfaction on his face to see his senior showing so much interest in his wife's education, but he quickly schooled his features. It secretly amused him that Dr. Ashutosh did this every month but never once came out and directly asked him about Nidhi's progress.

Dr. Ashutosh: "Very good Dr. Ranganath. Everything looks in order. By the way, how is Anji? She was looking good when she came the other day."

Dr. Ranganath: "Thank you Sir. Anji is doing well now. For a few weeks she suffered from morning sickness. Now the first trimester is over and she has settled down. But that was a grand idea by Dr. Nidhi, trust her to create new ways of celebrating life."

Dr. Ashutosh simply smiled in acknowledgement.

Dr. Ranganath: "Thank you Sir. May I leave now."

Dr. Ranganath: "Yes Dr. Ranganath, thank you."

But his thoughts went back to Nidhi. "15^th was after 14^th, Valentine's Day! What should he do that will make her feel special?" He recalled how last year just a day before Valentine's Day he had patched up after a huge misunderstanding with Nidhi that almost ended in a permanent break-up. He now thought of her chirpy face and twinkling eyes when she had uttered, "I love anything heart shaped!" Just the mere thought of that conversation almost a year ago brought a smile to his face even now. And then the next day he had surprised her by inviting her out on a last-minute date, but in turn he was completely blown away by her choice of location. She had done that, behaved in a very un-Nidhi' like manner a few times and he had started realizing then that when it came to Nidhi there was a lot more beneath her childish, jovial faade. The subsequent events in this one year only seemed to reiterate that. But he acknowledged that Nidhi was still very innocent, very simple in many ways. This mix of childish with serious was part of the charm that made her unique. "Please God, let her stay that way."

A few corridors away, in the KGH common room Dr. Ranganath's better half was meeting Dr. Ashutosh's better half...

Anji: "Hi Nidhi, how are you?"

Nidhi: "Hi Anji. What a pleasant surprise? What brings you here this afternoon?"

Anji: "Had a routine check-up and some blood tests too. How are you? I have not spoken to you since the party. Did Jeejaji like it? Hope he was not angry!"

Nidhi: "Oh, no, no! Everything is fine. And Dr. Ashutosh enjoyed it a lot. Thanks God! I was so anxious when he stepped inside the house. So when is your next ultra-sound? And how are you feeling? Are you able to eat nicely now?"

Anji: "It feels great Nidhi. I never expected motherhood to be so fascinating. Each day brings a new experience with it. And I think I also felt some flutters two days back, though Dr. Ranganath does not believe me. He thinks I was simply imagining it and it probably was something else..."

Suddenly Anji noticed that Nidhi had become very quiet, infact she was hardly listening to her.

Anji: Giving Nidhi a nudge, "Nidhi, what happened? Why are you looking so lost?"

Nidhi: "Don't know Anji, I am very confused. I am sorry, what were you saying?"

Anji: "Why Nidhi, what's the matter? Maybe I can help..."

Nidhi: "I mean, everything is going fine and there are no problems as such with my marriage or even in the hospital but still, lately I started wondering if I am doing the right thing, then feel I am, then sometimes I feel very guilty. And the more times I think about these things I only end up getting more confused..."

Anji: "Ok, ok! Stop right there! What are you saying? You are right, you are wrong, you are guilty, not guilty...what's going on? Are you having any trouble in your internship? Why don't you take Jeejaji's help?"

Nidhi: Huffs out a small laugh, "Anji, your Jeejaji is part if the problem and whether to talk to him or not is my main confusion!" Seeing that Anji was getting worried, "Its alright. I think I am not explaining myself properly..."

Anji: "Yes, Nidhi, what is this you are saying, nothing is making sense to me. Well, if you do not want to discuss with Jeejaji, or me, you can always talk to my mother, remember how you used to come to her whenever something troubled you..."

Nidhi: "Yeah, maybe that's a good idea... well, I have to go now, my break time is over. Bye, see you later."

Anji: "Ok, bye. Think about what I said..."

And after a quick hug the two friends parted.

Nidhi found her OPD shift was quite easy that day. There were not many patients and that gave her some extra time to sit and think. Her mind went back to the party and after that.

It was Sunday evening, a day after the party... One of the side effects of a late night weekend party was a late morning and a lazy day the next day. It seemed everyone had gotten into the Union' spirit, even HK was humming to himself while preparing lunch! Over snacks and tea in the afternoon Nidhi noticed that BB and Dr. Ashutosh were more talkative than usual and she had been roped into the conversation. To her utter surprise BB regaled her with tales of her husband's childhood, his antics, his achievements, et all. And just like that the topic drifted to music. And before she knew Dr. Ashutosh and BB were playing their favorite tunes on their favorite instruments.

BB: "Nidhi, you know how naughty Ashu was, he used run and hide when I told him to practice. And make me search the entire house for him. If I caught him he used to play the wrong tunes just to irritate me!."

Dr. Ashutosh: "Baba, that's not fair. I used to practice a lot..."

BB: "Ok, then show me! Why don't you play a piece by Mozart or Bach? Or even Vivaldi's Four Seasons? Yes, do that first!"

So it had gone on all evening. Dr. Ashutosh's did a rendition of Four Seasons and Baba serenaded all with a Bade Ghulam Ali ghazal. There would have been more had she not stopped them!

Coming back to the present she suddenly thought if she should disturb the hornet's nest, especially now when Dr. Ashutosh seemed to have finally made some peace with the events that happened 7 or 8 years back. But then just like that she decided a chat with Shyama Aunty was exactly what was needed now and after informing Dr. Ashutosh, she took off in the direction of her former home.

Ever since he saw the staffing chart this morning, Dr. Ashutosh's mind kept going back to Valentine's Day. He was determined to do something for Nidhi this year and surprise her and that included getting her some nice gifts, maybe some diamonds, even a gorgeous flowing dress in midnight blue. He had loved that color on her when he saw her wearing a saree in the same color in that blasted Mumbai conference, and he never forgot how she had taken his breath away from the moment she had made an appearance in the banquet hall. His mind went back to last Sunday evening. He had spent it like old times with Baba and him talking, teasing and playing music. But he knew when Nidhi had tried to divert the topic away from music. He smiled thinking one of these days he would get her interested in classical music. He recalled how Baba had announced his plans for a short trip. They had just finished Four Seasons and a Bade Ghulam Ali ghazal when...

BB: "Ashu, Nidhi...I wanted to tell you something. A group from JS is going to Kashi, Prayag and Allahabad for three days from 13^th to 16^th and I am planning to go with them."

Dr. Ashutosh: "But Baba, suddenly..."

BB: "Don't worry Ashu, its only for three days... Ok, now how about you play something else today like Mozart and then M.S. Subbulakshmi's Maitreem Bhajatha. Ah! That is such a divine song!"

Dr. Ashutosh: "I know Baba, she is your favorite artiste. Alright..."

Nidhi: "Mozart?! All these great composers lived in Europe, isn't it Dr. Ashutosh?"

BB: "Yes, beta and you know, when Ashu was in London he spent one summer in mainland Europe where he went to many concerts and visited a few places where these composers lived and worked."

Nidhi: "That's so wonderful! I always wanted to visit Europe but it never worked out."

At that point he had known that Nidhi had diverted the topic. He smiled now thinking maybe she feared she would fall asleep if Dr. Ashutosh played another classical piece. And they all sat down to dinner leaving this conversation incomplete. But not in Dr. Ashutosh's mind. Later that night, in their room...

Dr. Ashutosh: "Nidhi, you wanted to go to Europe, right? And I stopped you at the airport and the rest as they say is history." And he gave her a look that was only for her, which never failed to make her blush.

Nidhi: "Yes, and I tried to go not once but twice...and even that first time when I was going with Baba, I came back from the airport because I had to see you. You see, Dr. Ranganath had mentioned you had viral and I knew it was because I forced you to get wet...so..."

Dr. Ashutosh: Slightly taken aback, "Nidhi, I...I don't know what to say! Is that true? Really? Even that time you backed out because of me?" Upon seeing she was shaking her head in acquiescence, "But why?"

Nidhi: "Well, I am not sure myself but something stopped me... maybe... maybe I was falling in love with you!" As she finished her sentence she was pulled close by Dr. Ashutosh who looked deeply into her eyes, which had seemed like ages, and after a long pause he had sighed and let her go.

Dr. Ashutosh: "Nidhi, do you even feel bad that you never went to Europe? Guess its another thing I need to make up for?"

Nidhi: "No Dr. Ashutosh, I can never regret not making it to Europe. If I regret that it would mean I regret falling in love with you, and that I will never do."

Dr. Ashutosh: "Why do you love me so much Nidhi?" It was more a statement than a question, so he did not expect a reply and he did not get one. Some questions were just that, and the answers never failed to surprise him. After another loud sigh,

Dr. Ashutosh: "Well, here's an idea... That is if you are willing to forego the trip back to the forest on our marriage anniversary. We can take a trip to Europe instead. Maybe a little later in May, you know, since Europe is best in summer..."

And an exuberant Nidhi had started jumping up and down and making plans, guess he had got his answer!

Coming to the present he thought that was a narrow escape that night. A moment longer and the tears would have flowed from his eyes putting both of them in an awkward position. He was overwhelmed to find out why she had not gone the first time, it was beyond his imagination that even in those dark days someone had cared enough. But he had to admit there was no guile in her face and she stated something with such conviction. Since that night he had found himself asking the same question, "Was it true? Did Nidhi fall in love with me so long back?" Then he thought, "I will make up for it. Planning for the Europe trip is next." But first he wanted to surprise her for Valentine's Day. "She has done so much for him, surprised him many times..." So the first thing he did was he applied for a day off on the 14^th for both of them. It seemed as if Baba's mind was made up for this trip and even HK expressed a wish to visit those places with BB. But now the impending absence of the two men on the 14^th gave Ashu a brilliant idea... And just as he finished that, he got a call from her informing him that she was done a little early, so she was visiting her old home and would come back a little later. "Well", thought Ashutosh, "that was just perfect!" Now he got an opportunity to do some shopping without Nidhi, suddenly his chances of surprising her first were shining bright! He was now looking forward to Valentine's Day! For the first time the prospect of celebrating Valentine's Day excited him...

One month later...

A pensive Nidhi was sitting in the very same spot where she was sitting with Anji almost a month back. It seemed like ages since she had got some moments for herself to put her feet up and relax, take a mini break. Life had suddenly become too hectic in the span of two weeks leaving her to grasp at straws to steady herself. She was still reeling from the events that happened within the last 10 days. Her biggest problem a month ago was her confusion. But suddenly, life it seemed had become too complicated. The events in the last 10 days had become real life lessons and she was forced to become a reluctant student. As someone who was debating the rightness of her decision to put motherhood on hold for a little time and pursue her career, was now on the verge of deciding that she should not wait anymore and now was the time to give life and motherhood a chance. Her gut instincts were telling, no, screaming at her that the time was right, infact never better than now.

When, a few days back, she had finally gathered enough courage to talk to Dr. Ashutosh, she had realized that having his own family had been a lifetime dream for him, one that he had suppressed deep within, before she came into his life. After meeting her and their subsequent marriage he had slowly allowed himself to let that dream take root. But then he had also been clear that he was willing to wait for her, had decided to wait, to achieve this dream. He had revealed that he had decided to wait for her to finish her internship before talking to her about this. And this considerate and thoughtful gesture of his had almost become a catalyst for her in her decision making process. Now she wondered if she should reveal her decision to him or... And anyway she was confident that her internship would soon be over, that was what he had also said he was waiting for, so she guessed he would not object... Just like that her mind raced back to Valentine's Day and the days that followed that would impact her life, her decisions forever. Just thinking about that day was enough to bring a smile to her face. "Has it already been two weeks?..."

TO BE CONTINUED...

Friends, hope you like this chapter. As usual your comments are most welcome. And please do not forget to hit the 'LIKE' button. Thank you. 😳🤗

Originally posted by: mudraswathi

"HAPPY UNION DAY" ...such a cute thing!!😳
Glad you liked that! 😃

Aarti! All emotions are well thought of. You should really make a nice show!!
OMG! Thank you for your vote of confidence. I am flattered. 😳

After reading your chapters everytime I get this feeling again and again...You are an architect and you know how to make a house to be a home.. with

the combination of these two characteristics of yours, I am really cant stop thinking.. how blessed are your clients!!👏👏

Awww, Mudra. This one is so special. 🤗 You made my day! Thank you very much. ❤️

Originally posted by: deepa17

So Aarti are you ready for the big day..