Posted:
10 years ago
Dr ashutosh entered his apartment with his duplicate key, closing the door v softly as it was way past midnight and he did not want to awaken nidhi..it had been a wonderful evening..with loads of drs congratulating him for having had the courage to turn down an attractive offer and stand by his convictions, dr watson had shaken hands and said.."your country is lucky to have you and ashutosh you are v lucky to have such a wife"!!dr ashutosh couldnt have disagreed...
As he entered he was surprised to find the tv still on and nidhi all curled up on the sofa, fast asleep..he smiled...and first went into the bedroom to keep his convocation gown n hat and then returned immiediately...as he looked at a sleeping nidhi..his gaze travelling over her...lovely and innocent...as ever..he indeed was blessed to have her...he bent and lifted her in his arms and brought her to bed..settling her , he went to check the kitchen...yes she had eaten ..he could see the plates n glasses in which mother and son had had milk...he switched off the tv and came into nishu's room..nishu was fast asleep holding his new teddy...ashutosh smiled...as he thought the love that both mother and son had for teddies...there were so many that baba often called it"a teddy super market"!! Ashuthosh dreamt on...now for their daughter..he d buy lots of pink teddies...soft n fluffy...as his fingers caressed nishu's hair...yes for nishu's sister ..there would be loads of toys...dolls and yes teddies..his houghts came back to nishu...n the joy he had brought into their world,...his each step opening new horizons of ecstacy to them...n yes his name was perfect...ni for nidhi and shu for ashu...well what d they call the daughter??and what if it was a son??ashutosh smiled as he shuddered to think of two young unruly boys fighting...he knew they d be overjoyed with whatever they got...bit yes they desired for a daughter...he could almost see her..plump n fair...pink and bald...like nishu...yes nishu's lil sis...that is what she d be...n he would croon for his beti...mere ghar aayi..."uuunhhh kya ker rahe hain..aap"!!dr ashutosh was drawn out of his thoughts by nidhi...as he returned to bed, having changed into his tracks n tees...as he brought nidhi to his chest...his hands grazed her abdomen...yes she was growing...nidhi moved...putting her leg on his...she slept...lost in her dreams...as dr ashutosh closed his eyes...trying to share her dreams...
"Sweater zuroor pehen na...aur shoes..oxford has long walks..."it was dr ashutosh telling nidhi as she was combing her wet hair, having wore a brown n yellow churidaar kurta, dr ashutosh n nishu were ready..in their similar blue jeans..nidhi served toast eggs and chips for breakfast as mrs hudson packed the aloo poori she had packed for lunch..dr ashutosh took the stuff and they started off...
"arre..oxford ke liye turn tha,.maine padha"!!it was nidhi...as ashutosh nodded"i know..thats the motor way...i d take you thru a scenic road..its lovely..very green...lo aa gaya mode"...and dr ashutosh turned...as nidhi looked back at nishu, sitting aline at the back..playing with his teddy..he was strapped though he had resisted it and ashutosh had to convince him saying"tum to big boy ho..ab..dekho gor jaaoge to baby sister hunsegi..aur tumhara teddy bhi"!!and nishu had agreed ..kissing his teddy ..calling him"mera baby" just as nidhi called him...
Dr ashutosh had slowed down..n his eyes seemed to be looking for some place...nidhi asked"kya dhoond rahe hain..."??"ek cafe hota tha yahaan..v picturesque..elm trees the sab taraf...mai aataa tha coffee peene..."and nidhi looked at him...their gaze met for a split second as dr ashutosh clapped the steering as he turned"here it is"and the car stopped in a grove...and dr ashutosh seemed mesmerised...old haunts...haunted him!!!As nishu came down..ashutosh said"teddy chod do.." nishu countered"ok...sone do usse"and as nidhi went to the washroom , wanting to take nishu, the boy remarked"nahi...miss kehti hain ...boys wash room mei jaana..."ashu laughed as he said"chalo..mr nishu..."!!
As nidhi returned, finger chips, n tea had arrived ..while nishu sipped in juice..nidhi took a sip of tea ..and looked at ashutosh.."to mil gayaa aapka cafe...its really beautiful..."dr ashutosh nodded and said..summers me bahut si daffodills khilii rehti hain..."and he looked at nishu n nidhi"chalo..lets drive on.." and off they began...
As they reached oxford, dr ashutosh parked the car and took the bag with food and nishu's coat...and they took tickets for oxford city tour...nidhi seemed excited as a kid when the open deck bus came...and pleaded"upstairs..i want to sit on the deck..plz" dr ashutosh simply did not have the heart to refuse as nishu went up and he took nidhi up, holding her by the waist protectively...as the guided tour began...nidhi pointed the famous college of oxford and the trinity college and said"nishu ..bade hoker yahi aana padhne..." n nishu looked up..."my god!!sooo big"!!and they saw the scholars'corner, the church...as ashutosh explained"dekho..so many church n college spires...peaks..thus oxford is called city of yhe dreaming spires"and nidhi listened carefully...and smiled gleefully as dr ashutosh clicked moments...
They stepped into memento shop and as nidhi rummaged thru, dr ashutosh brought a hoodie with OXFORD inscribed.."loose hai"exclaimed nidhi...n ashutosh exclaimed"i think you d grow in the next few weeks..." n nidhi blushed as ashutosh asked nishu.."nishu choose a ball..aur yeh dekho..hoodie pehno.."as dr ashutosh went to pay, nidhi added"suniye..ek hoodie armaanji ke liye le leejiye..he d love it..yeh black waali"!!ashitosh smiled and bought one for his best friend..and they walked one shaded walk..leading to the rivulet n lawns by its banks...as nishu held his ball...and threw it into the air..trying to hold ot...n as his father caught the big ball...he clapped..n jumped as ashutosh troed balancing the ball on his index finger...n nishu looked on absolutely zapped!!!
As nidhi sat on a bench, dr ashutosh took nishu to the river to show him the lovely ducks quacking away..and when they returned, nidhi seemed to be reflecting...as nishu began to play in the lawns and ashutosh settled beside nidhi.."lovely...hai na..."??nidhi nodded"yes ..vv beautiful..aapki favourite jagah hai..hai na"??ashutosh nodded"yes nidhi...i simply love oxford...bahut aata tha yahaan mai...mallik..."ashutosh trailed off ...as nidhi looked at him and completed "dr mallika ke saath..hai na"??ashutosh took a deep breath"yes ..nidhi..bahut akela tha mai...bitter...withdrawn...aur woh bhi ..shaayad uska bhi koi dost nahi tha...per mujhe ehsaas nahi tha tab...ki woh meri zindagi mei ...dawaa kum..beemaari zyaada thi...really i didnt seem to realise..ki woh itni..."nidhi put a hand to his lips" chodiye na..jaane deejiye...jo beet gayee so baat gayee..." but ashutosh held her fingers...to his lips and added"jaanti ho mai tumhe yahaan kyun laaya"?? Nidhi looked at him..awaiting the answer"jaanti ho..oxford ..london..yahaan ki yaadein main apne zehan me nahi aane deta..tha..kyunki jab bhi yaad karta hoon..yaad aata hai..akela ..ekaaki veeran ashutosh..ek aisa insaan jiska apna koi nahi tha...aur jab bhi yaad aati thi yeh jagah..saath me ubharti thi mallika..mallika..jis se dosti meri zindagiki sabse badi galti thi...galti kya infact gunaah...usne to humaari duniya hi tabaah ker di thi...nearly so..buss...mai in sab guzre lamhon se door bhaagta raha..." nidhi spoke"aur mujhe laaye hain..nayee yaadein banane ke liye..taaki jab bhi aap aankhein band karke oxford ke baare me sochein..london ki baat karein..to mai aaoon aapke khayaalon mei..hai na..."?? Dr ashutosh looked at nidhi...a girl nearly half his age but who understood his intricasies so well...he spoke in a quivering voice,.."yes nidhi...ab jab bhi mai yeh lawns..yeh vaadiyaan yad karoonga..mujhe humesha ek poora ashutosh dikhega...hunsta muskurata...apni nidhinke saath..."he observed nidhi to be looking away..."naaraaz ho..."?? and nidhi pouted"aur kya..."as ashutosh turned pale...nidhi continued"naaraaz hoon ki aapko parwaah nahi..ki biwi pregnant hai...hungry hogi..socha hai"??and ashutosh broke into a sunny smile..as he asked"pizza..."??nidhi sighed ,patting her belly ,she said"aapke bachche aap pe gaye hain...indian food...yaad hai nishu ke time kitna sick feel karti thi pizza se"??and ashutosh remembered when she had almost fainted in pizza hut..probably in her third month..."to kya logi bolo"??his eyes softening..."hai aaloo poori..but chaai peene ka bahut mann hai..plz laaiye na..."dr ashutosh got up..and nishu came running"papa..where are you going..i also come"!!ashutosh laughed and corrected nishu"i will also come..." and as nishu repeated ,he took his tiny hand n said" bus abhi aaya..." n lil nishu imitated his father"bus abhi aaya mamma" and nidhi's face glowed...she kept seeing the two walk away...father and son..hand in hand..nishu seemed to say something and ashutosh laughed...it seemed dr ashutosh was walking with his own childhood...as he must have wanted it to be...secure loved..blissful...Nidhi tried to imagine the lonely forlorn dr ashutosh...bitter and quiet..carrying the burden of his bitter past and looking into a future that had no glimmer of love..of hope ...no wonder he had befriended another bitter n lonely person...dr mallika...nidhi looked up..as she saw dr ashutosh come back with nishu...in his hands he was carrying steaming tea in paper cups...his face relaxed..his heart light ...a spring in his step..and a deep love in his eyes..as they seemed to behold their future..together with their children..."lo chaai " and nidhi quickly held the cup as nishu ate his chocolate..and as ashutosh called him to wipe his face...the lil dearie placed a chocolatie kiss on his father's cheek!! 😛 as nidhi laughed and saod "laaiye mai clean kerti hoon"!!and she proceeded to clean both the father n son 😊 nidhi made rolls of aloo poori and handed them over to both..as she herself put some pickle into hers...ashutosh frowned"achaar kyun...so much salt is not good" nidhi bit her lip"plz khaane dejiye..bahut mann karta hai.." and ashutosh kept quiet...realising her pregnancy cravings...he just hoped all went well...
Afternoon was drawing as ashutosh got up and said.."chalo lets drive to BLENHIEM PALACE,the place where churchill is buried...aur haan jahaan aapki great pictures ki shooting hui hai...chalo"and he took nishu as nidhi seemed to struggle to her feet..."kya hua jaan..." asked ashutosh, his arm around her..."kuch nahi..bus thoda discomfort hota hai...back mei..." ashu said"want to visit dr smith..."?? Nidhi said"na..aap to jaante hain..meri back weak ho gayee hai...ghar jaake dr sudhir se milenge..." ashutosh nodded...he knew the most important thing was keeping her stress low...
As they arrived at the palace, nidhi seemed wonderstruck by its huge size and its beauty..as dr ashutosh parked the car, and wore his overcoat,he raised his eyebrow..trying to assess nidhi..."chal sakogi.." nidhi nodded and slowly they walked in...nishu running on the gravel paths..while dr ashutosh froze moments in his camera..memories forever..the sun was setting and the palace seemed to be gilded in liquid gold...as a tired but excited nidhi exclaimed"its sooo beautiful..."and ashutosh remembered how she had expressed her joyvin a similar way..when he had shown her the engagement ring he had bought for her...he smiled as he saw couples expressing their love ..in a way which was too blatant for a shy dr ashutosh...no he could not kiss nidhi in public...he looked at nidhi..seeing the couples around them..indulging in open display of affection...and then as nishu went to collect pine cones that lay on the grass...ashutosh..came close to nidhi..and opened her mangalsutra...that still had her engagement ring...he took it out and put the mangalsutra again...as nidhi adjusted it..she was almost swept off her feet...AS DR ASHUTOSH..WENT DOWN ON HIS KNEE AND TOOK HER LEFT HAND...WITHOUT ASKING HER..FOR HE KNEW HE DID NOT NEED TO, HE SLIPPED THE RING ON HER FINGER..AND AS IT FITTED PERFECTLY...ASHUTOSH RAISED THE FINGERS TO HIS LIPS...AS NIDHI BLUSHED AND PULLED HER HANDAWAY...AND HE GOT UP...AS LIL NISHU CAME LOOKING CONFUSED AS TO WHAT HIS FATHER WAS DOING...N AS NIDHI SMILED AND OPENED HER ARMS, NISHU RAN INTO THEM...AND DR ASHUTOSH WALKED HIS WIFE...WITH A HAND AROUND HER WAIST...THE MELTING GOLD OF DREAMS IN HIS EYES...AND JUST AS THEY WALKED, IT BEGAN TO DRIZZLE...TYPICALLY UNPREDICTABLE ENGLISH WEATHER...NISHU PULLED UP THE HOOD OF HIS JACKET,..AS NIDHI SEEMED TO COVER HERSELF WITH HER ARMS...HER COAT WAS IN THE CAR...DR ASHUTOSH SHOOK HIS HEAD AND THEN..TOOK OFF HIS OVERCOAT..AND DREW NIDHI INTO IT..PUTTING THE COAT OVER HIS SHOULDERAND THE OTHER END AROUND NIDHI'S ...AS THEY WALKED ,HE PULLED NIDHI CLOSER TO HIMSELF..AS SHE HUGGED HIM..AND HE ENVELOPED HER IN HIS HUG...HIS RIGHT HAND AROUND HER WAIST ..FEELING HER BABY BUMP..AS SHE PUT HER HEAD ON HIS CHEST...AND CLOSED HER EYES...SAVOURING THE MOMENT..N LETTING HERSELF BE GUIDED BY HER HUSBAND...TO WHEREVER HE MAY CHOOSE TO TAKE HER...AND ASHUTOSH TOOK A DEEP BREATH AS HE HELD ON TO HIS EVERYTHING..HIS NIDHI..AND AS THE DRIZZLE BECAME LIGHT..ASHUTOSH LOOKED INTO NIDHI'S EYES THAT HELD HIS BLISSFUL FUTURE...AND FINALLY AS HE MADE HER SIT, SETTLED NISHU AT THE BACK, WITH HIS TEDDY, N STARTED THE CAR...HE LOOKED AT NIDHI ONCE AGAIN...AS IF HE WAS NOT ABLE TO HAVE ENOUGH OF HER...AND AS HE DROVE..HE HUMMED
TUM AA GAYE HO
NOOR AA GAYA HAI
NAHI TO CHIRAAGON SE
LAU JAA RAHI THI
JEENE KI TUMSE
WAJAH MIL GAYEE HAI
BADI BEWAJAH
ZINDAGI JAA RAHI THI...
AND AS HIS SON PLAYED ON THE BACK SEAT, N HIS WIFE SEEMED LOST IN DREAMS OF THEIR BABY...DR ASHUTOSH DROVE ON...AWAY FROM LONELINESS..AWAY FROM MEMORIES OF A SELFISH FRIEND...AWAY FROM ALL BITTERNESS...INTO THE STARLIT SKY OF LOVE N TOGETHERNESS...
SAINYAAN...
