Nidhi came
rushing to him and laid her head against his collarbone and he kissed her
temples 'to her shock, she felt shudder roll through his body about the same
time she sensed his tears'.She started to turn around when she registered his
grip tightened around her shoulder crushing her in bear hug '..And he whispered
in choking voice "stay 'just let me hold you '.let me hold you for some more
time '." And she let him hold her, take her in his arms by wrapping her arms
pulling him closer ' After a while, he let go of her and looked at her furiously" Nidhi 'what made
you walk alone at this time '.couldn't you just called someone '?"
Nidhi: I
thought of calling someone...but then!
"Then what?"
he shouted at her '..She backed off and suddenly tears welled up in her eyes '"
Nidhi, I am sorry...I did not mean that way '.." and he took her hand '." Thank
god that I came on time'.. What if something happened to you! What I will do
then '."
She looked down
and mumbled ..." I am sorry Ashuthosh '.sorry for everything '."
He stared at
her '." I am sorry for not understanding
your situation '.I ..I just love you so much 'and when you asked me to leave
you '.I got scared 'I can't live ..without you '."
She wiped
her tears and looked at him '." Now , I will not ask anything from you 'I just
..Just want tell you ..that I want to be there for you in between all this ''I
will be there !"
He felt
strange mixture of happiness and sadness, when he heard her say "she is there
for him"'may be this is what he is been looking for 'someone who will hold on
to him and not let go irrespective of situation but same time it pricked him to
see her in this situation, he so much want to help her and help himself but
don't know how and from where he should start 'this girl , who seems to be his wife ,about whom he
don't have any memories ,who is more like a stranger yet he felt he know her
all through his life'they both stood in those crossroads of their life where
vast darkness enveloped them in its embrace '.he can see her struggle and so
his desperate attempt to build his broken life '.to pick up those pieces of his
memories to fill void of his heart '.He wished , it was only him who is lost
not her but strangely 'she is also lost just like him !
Ashu gazed
at her and came to her side "you don't have to be sorry for anything Nidhi, in
the end we both lost 'lost something beautiful'you lost the person who loved
you 'and I lost memories of those moments where I loved '.be loved '..All I am
asking is 'time...to restart my life 'I know I am asking too much from you 'but!"
Nidhi shook
her head '" I don't have any complaints with you Ashuthosh and I know 'I
understand , so that is fine with me '.."
After a while
he let go of her "are you fine 'Nidhi?"
Nidhi nodded
her head'.Ashu took her hand "you can't even lie properly '..Come, let me clean
this wound ..." and he led her towards car...He
took first aid box and started cleaning the wound, after putting antibiotic, he
started bandaging...
Nidhi, who
was looking at his face all through this jumped of her reverie when he spoke "So,
I believe raja titli story is our story 'the one you were telling to those kids"
Nidhi looked
at him in stunned disbelief ..." '.how
you know '?"
"I remember...The
story 'I remembered standing there listening to your story 'not so long back!"'
Nidhi: Did you remember... Anything about me '?
Ashu sensed there was edge of desperation in her tone '..He
looked down and shook his head '" I 'I just remembered myself ...I saw my face,
my memory '..And I remembered your name "
And then he gave her one of his devastatingly intoxicating
smile that did unreasonable things to her heart...'.In an impulse She reached out
to caresses his cheek , as reality dawned she pulled her hand back '.and looked
away trying her best to suppress her distress'.it occurred to her, life is
going to be totally different from now on and even though she told him, she
does not expect anything from him but somewhere it pricked her, pained her when
the person she loved so dearly 'who loved her so immensely changed into
complete stranger ...slowly she got down, looking away to hide her distress
and mumbled under her breath " I...I think we should go now 'baba must be waiting
for us" .In between all this he did not failed to notice sudden change in her
mood ,the smile vanished to replace with sorrow'he took her hand in his and
came to her side .." are you fine '.?", she looked up at him ..Her face pale
and her eyes lost in their darkly shadowed void...And he could see her throat
move in faint moon light and in her face, in her eyes...he saw something deep
and unhidden 'her heart ache!
Next day morning,
Ashuthosh spent most of the day reviewing his patient's file, going through
history of treatment 'suddenly he heard faint knock on his door, he turned
around to see Dr Yadav standing with cup of coffee '" Hello Dr Ashuthosh , I
hope I am not disturbing you "
Ashuthosh
got up from his seat and came to greet him '" No, no please come in '"
"So how are
you ..?"
Ashu gave
faint smile "well, fine 'just trying to get my life back on track"
Dr Yadav looked
at him thoughtfully "Good to see that...I know it's not easy for you...all this
but I am glad to see you are trying to cope '"
"Yes, its
not easy '.. I forgotten major part of my life '.Hmm'I mean 'the moments I
spent with Nidhi! "
He nodded his head and got up and moved towards door, before
leaving he turned around "not as a doctor but as good old friend wanted to tell
you this '.You still have her, to create those moments''Everything is not lost"
And he left'!Ashuthosh sat in his chair, pondering on what Dr
yadav just said, He closed his eyes and saw the dark brown eyes... ...Deep and
flaming with intense love for him flashed in his mind...he felt her in his mind,
in his heart and he felt her face shaping up in his memory 'making him feel wonderful,
when everything else in life seems to be obstacle to overcome'.without
realizing he felt a new hope shaping up 'a new dream, a new memory of new life
'!
And then he got up from his seat, to move towards his home,
to Nidhi!
When he came
home , he felt strange silence 'he looked around to get a glimpse of her,
looking at his lost face HK smiled and told him that Nidhi is in kitchen
preparing dinner 'Ashu looked away to hide his flushed face and went inside to
change. ..When he came outside to find her still struggling in kitchen to
prepare dinner'..He went and stood next to her "Any help you need". She turned
suddenly as she heard his voice and shook her head..." I can help you '. "
This time
she looked at him in disbelief '" what? No...I mean...I will prepare '..You
please rest "
Not sure
what to do, he went outside making sad face... Bb and Hk looked at him with amused expression '.just then he heard
nidhi 's voice from kitchen 'kaka , aap plate lagwayiye 'khana tayyar hai "
Ashu signaled Hk to stay
there and he went inside kitchen and start taking plates out of racks'.
Nidhi who was busy preparing
roti for dinner, did not notice Ashuthosh coming to kitchen '
" Kaka , wo fridge main dahi
hai ..wo bhi nikaliye ..ashuthosh ko dinner ke baad dahi kaane ki aadat hai
na'!"
Ashu smiled and silently took
curd out fridge '.." aur kaka , wo Achar bhi ..baba ko pasand hai '"
Suddenly she turned to find
ashu standing behind grinning at her '"
and what about you ? mere liye dahi , baba ke liye Achar 'tume ?"
Not sure what to reply...she
looked down " baba is waiting outside 'shall we go for dinner ?"
Before he could stop her ,
she went out and not once looked at his direction all through dinner '..Sitting
in his chair , he stared at her 'She confused him, he wondered what made her
behave like this? Why she is ignoring him 'and it made him restless and he felt
strange kind of irritation '
On other hand Nidhi , who is going
through same 'it made her restless to be
so indifferent and cold towards him but he confused her '..she wondered why he
is behaving like that? And how she should react to it ? it's strange situation where
life thrown both of them '. She is stranger to his eyes but for her he is
someone more than familiar , her husband , the person she fell in love and got
married'someone who know her more than she know herself!
After dinner, she helped HK
to clean everything and retired back to her room ''
Ashuthosh wandered in his
room , thousands of thoughts ran through his head '.from evening he is trying
to talk to her but she is not giving him
single chance 'after a while he thought he cant take it any more , slowly he
went up to her room and knocked '
She opened the door and
looked at him "Ashuthosh '.you needed anything?"
Ashuthosh blabbered " yes
..No ..I mean '"
Nidhi looked at him with
amused expression '." I just came to say good night 'sorry , I think I
disturbed you '.."
Nidhi stopped him '" no 'I
was just going through one of my patients case file !"
Ashu mumbled " Ok " ''Nidhi
looked at him strangely as she is not sure what to do next '" are you sure ,
you don't need anything Ashuthosh ?"
Ashuthosh '" No No 'I will go
to sleep 'good night "
Nidhi stopped him once again
'" wait one second '.I just prepared file for you 'which contain history of all
your patients, all reports, their prescription details '.Hmm'Dr ranagnath told
me you were struggling today...so '."
Ashu smiled and took the file
from her '" Thank you Nidhi 'very much 'it was very much needed 'Ok'I think I
should go now '.."And he turned around '..
He took few steps and stopped
in middle 'he know she will be standing there 'he can feel her eyes fixed on
his back'slowly he turned around and looked straight into her eyes '.." Nidhi
..I was just wondering '.will you be free tomorrow '.I mean, I want to take you
out '.No ..I mean 'yes 'I mean 'Can we go somewhere outside if you don't mind
'."
Nidhi looked at him in disbelief;
she suppressed her giggle after looking at his funny expression '.sensing her silence,
he turned around to go just then nidhi took his hand and stopped him '.." Ashuthosh,'I
'love to go out with you ..I will wait for you '"
All the distress,
restlessness which he was feeling till that time just vanished after hearing
her response '..When he saw her smile it occurred to him '.yes he lost his
memory, but not what he once felt for her '.it occurred to him, it's still
there..His love for her, lurking deep down, but it's there '.!
____________________________________________________________
Next day early morning, Nidhi
called anjie out of excitement, whole night she barely slept thinking about spending
time with Ashuthosh'it felt strange to go out with him on a date after all this
'but she pushed the thought aside and tried to concentrate on brighter side
that at least, he is trying to start his life again 'that at least thinking of
their relationship '!
Anjie picked her call '.." Nidhi...is
everything alright'why you called so early ?"
Nidhi smiled ..." I was not getting sleep '.so called you!"
Anjie groned ..." this is not done, Nidhi '..You are not
getting sleep, so you decided to disturb me 'hmm"
Nidhi pouted ..." I wanted to tell you that I am going out
with Ashuthosh today '.fine , you sleep ..I won't disturb you "
Anjie jumped out of her bed '"
you are going where ?..With whom ..?"
Nidhi smiled " why should I tell
you '.you are least interested !"
Anjie groaned ..." ohh Nidhi...Please now you can't hang up
like this '.Tell me exactly ..."
Nidhi " I am going out for a
date with Ashuthosh 'he asked me yesterday night .."
Anjie squealed in joy " I
knew this will happen '.I know , jijaji loves you lot 'I knew he cant stay away
from you for long 'Ohh finally , I am so happy for both of you '.."
Nidhi giggled hearing anjie's
excitement '." So where are you going? '."
Nidhi beamed "I have special
place in mind '.."
"Ok call me, tomorrow and believe
me, its going to be fine ...Everything!
Just like it's used to be before '."
Nidhi felt so elated after
talking to anjie that she snuggled deep in her bed and drifted to undisturbed sleep
'!
After finishing his work, he
rushed to parking lot where Nidhi said, she will meet him 'his heart made a
stupid jump when he saw her coming towards him and he waved at her with his dazzling
smile plastered all over his face...
He sensed , he see a spark in her eyes whenever he come in front of her ,
his presence affect her same way it is doing to him '." So where you want to go
'" he asked her.
Nidhi got inside his car and
looked at him " I will tell you ..go straight from here 'an then right , you
will come to know '"
He nodded his head and started
the car and drived where she asked him to go '
They reached the place and
ashu helped her to get down '.instantly she took his hand in hers, intertwining
her fingers with his and led him to a small tea shop!
This time he did not tried to
take his hand back like he always did from past few days '.instead he tightened
his grip and looked at her smilingly " you wanted to come here ?..."
She barely nodded as her eyes
lost, remembering some fond memories of this place .she looked at tea wala "
Bhaiyaa 'do chai'"
Chai wala smiled'" haan pata
hai 'Adrak wali.."
Nidhi nodded her head as ashu
let go of her hand and wandered a bit...Looking around , suddenly he turned to
her .." is this where we first met ?"
She shook her head and
replied to him smilingly ..." this where
you took me after admitting that you love me '."
He turned away to hide his
blush "come here "and she patted a seat next to her ...Instantly he went up to her and sat next
to her '." So tell me how we met first?' ..This put a bright smile on her face "Ohh...Better
if you don't ask that '"
Ashu grinned '" I dint knew
that it was so bad '."
Nidhi giggled ..." first time when we met, we both fought
standing in middle of road 'Ohh your car banged on my car '!"
Ashu smiled, just then chai
wala came with 2 cup of tea '.." tell me some more...I want know 'tell me some
good things we did together "
"Why you want to know '.."
Ashu " I want to know Nidhi'.not
just because I want to remember you or those moments but also because I want to
live those memories again 'you are my only way who can make me live those
moments '.Again"
She looked away to hide her
tears, she did not missed his desperate attempt to remember his past 'she heard
people sometime cribbing because memories don't let them live but this person
is so adamant, so desperate for his memoires 'After a while she spoke "there are
many 'but there is one which I fondly remember sometime 'you had been to Delhi
for medical convention and I was in lucknow and I was missing you so much '.so we
both agreed that next day early morning we both will drink adrak wali chai together
'you said you will call me sharp at 7 '.I never get up so early but that day , I
got up , prepared my tea and waited for your call'you called me with your adrak
wali chai and It's after our marriage you told me how much you struggled to get
adrak wali chai that morning '." And she fell silent '
He
took her hands and pulled her slowly to him, instantly she laid her head on his
shoulder and they sat there like that staring at breezy evening sky '.
After drinking chai and
spending sometime sitting there , they left towards home '" didn't your parents
objected when they came to know about our relationship'I mean considering our
age gap"
Nidhi turned to him and smiled ..." I was wondering, when you are going to ask
this question.. it never mattered to me that we have age gap of 18yr and you
felt the same way '..yes my baba objected and took me to kerala 'away from you
but you came running behind me '"
Ashu smiled " Did he agreed
then ..?"
Nidhi shook her head ..." No, he did not agreed, but when I left
everyone and decided to go to London...you came to me asking not to leave you '..And
my baba could not refuse, say no to our relationship...May be that day he saw immense
love for me in your eyes ..." ashu
smiled looking at her face '..
Suddenly it started raining
and Nidhi cried in joy ..." I love this
rain 'this rain which comes so unexpected..Ashuthosh, please stop the car '"
when he stopped , before he could stop her ,she got down and ran in heavy rain drenching
and stood in front of his car spreading
her hands both side ..Enjoying, just living the moment '
He smiled and cried out for
her to come inside but she ignored him completely as she so immersed enjoying
this moment..he sat there looking at her beautiful face , her eyes , her thick
black hair '.and her smile spreading all over her face ..And then suddenly as
if something flicked inside, it occurred to him 'a memory is coming back.. like flash in bit and pieces ..until finally he
got a clear picture ..he remember looking at her ,like this not so long back'.sitting
here in this car and then drenching in
rain along with her '.he remember falling in love with her the very moment 'he remember
that night , where he fell head over heels in love with his woman 'his Nidhi ! Memories
of those night came rushing to him..Linking him part
of his lost life , connecting him to place where Nidhi said he lived 'even though bits of it , he remember her ..Her
face !
Before he knows what is happening,
he found his feet taking him near her and slowly he pulled her to him through her
waist..her wet body drenched in rain clinging to his 'the raindrops falling
from his forehead on her crimson red cheeks 'looking deep into her eyes , he
heard himself murmuring .."I know you '.I remember you...a part of you, a part
of me '.I remembered falling in love with you!" She looked up at him and cupped
his face " the night when you led in
this rain and the moment I fell in love with you for first time 'I remember "
She kept her gaze on him... her
gaze unblinking and he stared right back into her eyes. He moved almost in daze and in the space
between a heartbeat his lips touched hers
'.drowning, crushing her deep in his arm, clinging to him..She moaned as his
lips took her lover lip biting accessing her mouth...he drew back to drag fresh
air and then a once again he searched for her lips and she pulled him by collar
and gave her lips back ' He kissed her
like he can kiss her forever, like he had to kiss her forever 'like he need her
to breath and when he opened her eyes and looked into her , he saw immense love
for him '.as there is no end , he pulled her back once again and kissed softly
on her forehead and murmured one last time 'I know you ..I know you nidhi!
Next chapter , I will give tomorrow if not Friday ..Please do comment 😃
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