Our KTLK-Version - 1 CH 35(pg 144)Ashu's Legacy (Page 9)

Mallika doesn't move from her place at the door. She just keeps staring at Ashu's hands holding Nidhi and Nidhi's head on his shoulders. Nidhi started feeling awkward with the way Mallika was looking at her and moved away from Ashu and got up from the bed. As she made to move towards the bathroom to take a shower, Ashu held her hand and said, "Why don't you wear the blue dress today? I like seeing my fav colour on my fav person." Nidhi gets a silly grin on her face and nods her head and walks off. Ashu stares after the closed bathroom door with a smile on his face. Mallika comes in and holds his hand and says "Ashutosh i am feeling scared and lonely. I need you to talk with me." Ashutosh takes her back to her room.

Nidhi finishes her dinner preparations and asks BB if he wants to have his dinner. BB says "today I will have dinner only if both of you have it with me. I have been eating alone for the last few days and I don't like it." Nidhi goes to Mallika's room and tells Ashu the same thing. Ashu says "ok lets do that. I am also feeling hungry." But when he makes a move to go, Mallika says, "No you said you'll stay and talk with me." Ashu – "yes Mallika but I have to eat too. I'll finish my dinner and come back." She still keeps clinging to him. Seeing this Nidhi says, "Why don't you ask Mallikaji also to come and have dinner with us?" Ashu – "yes Mallika, come..you also have to eat. So lets all eat together. After marriage Nidhi has become a nice cook." Mallika just looks at Ashutosh and takes his hand in hers and follows him into the dining room with Nidhi pushing his wheel chair. BB sees this and tenses up and little and looks at Nidhi. But Nidhi returns his look with a soft smile as if to say "relax, its ok Baba." BB is stumped at Nidhi's love and trust in her husband. He thinks to himself, "Wah Colnel, you are a great father and I applaud you for the way you have brought up Nidhi. I am amazed at her inner strength."

Everyone starts their dinner with Mallika sitting beside Ashu and Nidhi sitting opposite to him and beside BB. Nidhi looks at the watch and seeing the time tries to gulp down her food as its getting late for JS night duty. Ashu scolds her saying, "Nidhi stop! Don't do that. Relax and eat properly. Its ok. There are no emergencies at JS and they'll understand if you are a bit late." Nidhi's eyes are wide with surprise – "you are telling me this? You? Dr Kotnis General Hospital's Dean, Dr Heart Stone?" Ashu puts on a serious face and says, "Yes its me saying that. But not as Dean but husband to Dr Nidhi Verma." Nidhi says, "Correction correction…my name is now Dr Nidhi Ashutosh Mathur." Ashu suddenly realizes that its true..his Dr Nidhi Verma has become Dr Nidhi Ashutosh Mathur. He repeats the name to himself as if savouring it and smiles. Mallika starts getting agitated and says she doesn't want dinner and wants to go inside. HK makes a move to help her but she says , "Ashutosh!"

Ashu looks at her smiles and says, "Mallika I am hungry and am having my dinner. HK will take you to your room or you wait here until I finish eating. You want your friend to stay hungry?" Mallika sits back and keeps watching him. Nidhi finishes her dinner and gets ready to go. Ashu says "Drive carefully Nidhi..i don't like it when you drive alone at night. And call or sms me as soon as you reach JS." Nidhi smiles and nods her head in the "typical Nidhi style" and leaves. Ashu finishes his dinner and chats for a while with Mallika until she falls asleep and returns to his room.

Early morning brings Nidhi home. Ashu is up and reading the newspaper. He sees Nidhi and asks HK to make coffee..Nidhi is back home. She sits beside his wheel chair and says "aap ki chai ho gayi?" he says "no I thought we'll have it together." Hearing that she rushes in and stops HK in making the tea and does it herself with adrak and brings both the cups. Ashu tastes his tea and smiles and says "every time I drink this adrak tea, it brings me back so many memories." Nidhi – "who chodiye, I have a surprise for you. I don't need to do night shifts anymore. The current resident doc will take over and I will just need to go their for a couple of hrs in the mornings to do the rounds and take care of their meds." Ashu smiles and holds out his hand to her. They finish their tea/coffee and Nidhi goes in to fresh up and get the b'fast ready.

After b'fast, Nidhi pushes Ashu's wheelchair into Mallika's room and moves to leave. Ashu – "wait Nidhi..why don't you also sit for some time with us. Lets do one thing..Mallika has missed out on our marriage, right? Go and get our wedding album and we'll show her and you can boast about choosing my shervani."

Thats it for now.