OS: The Past Connection (All 3 parts - pg 1)

"Ho sakta hai ki main aapke liye lucky hoon. Ho sakta hai ki aapke sapnon ka ghar aapko wapas mil jaye."

He looked at her surprised. What did that confident procalmation mean? Not much, he guessed. It was just her ever optimisitc nature. He didn't mind some of it rubbing on himself though. It did make him feel alive. So, he smiled.

"Aap shaam mein hospital se kab tak wapas aa jayenge?"

"Aath baje tak. Kyon?"

"Nahin. Aise hi... I mean - agar mujhe phone karna ho to uske baad karoongi. Taki voicemail chhodne ki zaroorat na pade."

Ashutosh smiled with embarrassment.

Her car was parked at the hospital. So, they drove back there. Ashutosh was struggling through out their drive back about whether to ask her to meet him in the evening. Finally he could not resist when she was getting out of the car, "Nidhi!"

"Ji."

"Aaj shaam mein, hospital ke baad, tumse... tumse mil sakta hoon?"

"Sorry!" she made a baby face of disappointment, "Kal bhi ghar par bahana banaya tha. Utni shaam mein aur kya bahana bana kar nikloongi?"

"Yeah. Right," Ashutosh mentally chided himself for not thinking of her situation, "Sorry. Phone... Phone karna."

"Waise," Nidhi put up a serious face, "Aapko koi manahi nahin hai. Aap bhi mujhe phone kar sakte hain."

Ashutosh felt like a fool, "Yes. Of course..."

Nidhi laughed out loud just then and took him by surprise, "Aapko pareshaan karna kitna aasaan hai Dr. Ashutosh. Main chalti hoon ab. Phone karoongi. Bye."

Ashutosh was completely befuddled for a moment. Then he had to smile, "Bye Nidhi."

--

Ashutosh was surprised to see Sanjivini waiting for him, when he entered his home in the evening.

"Sanjivini ji. Aap?"

"Good evening Ashutosh."

"Good evening. Koi khaas baat?"

"Bilkul khas baat hai Ashutosh. Ye rahe Dr. Mathur ke us ghar ke papers. Owner ke sign kiye hue."

"Kya?" Ashutosh was confused and excited at the same time, "Sign kiye hue?"

"Khud dekh lo, mujh par bharosa na ho to," she handed him the papers.

"Nahin. Woh baat nahin hai. Achanak se... Mujhe to sach mein bharosa hi nahin ho raha. Woh sirfiri ladki aise kaise maan gayi. Thank you so much Sanjivini Ji. Aapko andaaza nahin hai ki main kitna khush hoon."

"Woh to tumhare chehre par dikh raha hai."

"Kaka. Meri chquebook la dijiye," Ashutosh called Hiraman Kaka, "Kitne mein baat tay hui hai? Main immediately payment..."

"Ek Rupya."

"K... Kya?"

"Ek Rupye mein baat tay hui hai Ashutosh. Jo na usne mujhse liye aur na mujhe tumse lene ki zaroorat hai."

"Aap mere saath mazaak kar rahi hain? Of all the things, is ghar ko lekar."

"Main to koi mazaak nahin kar rahi. Woh ladki kya mazaak kar rahi hai, uska mujhe nahin pata. Waise maine ensure kar liya tha ki she was not drunk. Woh aaj mere paas aayi aur boli ki woh tumhara ghar tumhein lautana chahti hai. Maine paison ke liye poochha to kahne lagi ki use paise nahin chahhiye. Uski ek hi shart thi ki main aaj shaam mein hi tumhein papers de doon. Papers to mere paas taiyaar hi the. Lekin usmein koi rakam daalni thi. To usne kaha ki Ek Rupya daal dijiye. To maine daal diya aur papers tumhare paas hain. Legally valid hain, koi tumse ab ye ghar chheen nahin sakta, unless ki woh ladki sach mein pagal ho gayi hai ab tak aur court mein ye prove ho jaye. Registration ke liye main tumhein phone kar doongi. Bye Ashutosh."

She left and Ashutosh was too stunned to ask her for even tea. His attention turned to the papers then, and he immediately looked for the name of the owner. That gave him the shock of his life. How could it be... Nidhi Verma. Nidhi? Dr. Nidhi? His Nidhi?

He hadn't had the chance to think through his confusion, when Nidhi appeared in front of him, smiling and happy, "Ab to aap khush hain na Dr. Ashutosh? Aapke Baba ka ghar aapko mil gaya? Chaliye, mera ek rupya dijiye mujhe." She extended her hand towards him as if expecting the coin.

Her happiness was not reciprocated on his face. He was not sure how he was feeling. A girl he had hated so much for coming in between him and his Baba's house. And a girl he loved so much that his lack of belief in relationships could not come in between them. How was he to feel about Nidhi now? What was he feeling? He didn't know.

"This can't happen. This is not true," he murmured.

"Aap..."

Ashutosh took her extended hand and thrusted the paper into it, "Chali jao yahan se. Chali jao yahan se Nidhi."

The hurt was as obvious on her face, as was the happiness just a few seconds back.

"Dr. Ashutosh..."

But he turned away, walked into his bedroom and slammed the door shut.

Nidhi was devastated. He hated her. He hated her because she had the house all these days. Oh God! How could she have been so foolish, so naive to not think about it. He had hated the owner of the house all these days. She was the person he had hated. For several minutes she stood rooted to her place. Looking blankly at the closed door of his bedroom. Everything that had gone right in the last few days, had come undone now. He had locked himself up again. And he hated her. Nidhi was not conscious of the tears falling from her eyes, until Kaka found her there.

"Nidhi beti. Kya hua? Ashutosh kahan hai?" his concerned voice brought her out of her thoughts. But she could not reply to him. She wiped her tears and ran out without saying a word.

He looked around and found Ashutosh' bed room locked. He knocked, but invain. What could have gone wrong, he wondered. Sanjivini had told him that she had come with a good news, but would wait for Ashutosh to come before breaking it. Nidhi had come even before her and had hidden in one of the rooms, saying that she wanted to see Ashutosh getting the best news of his life today. He had gone out to get some grocery for the dinner. But when he came back, instead of the effect of the good news, all he could was devastation. What was wrong?

--

Ashutosh paced up and down in his room trying to get his feelings in control. It was a while before his frustration subsided and he was able to think clearly. He had hated the girl who owned the house. He had thought of her to be insensitive, proud and stubborn. But Nidhi wasn't that girl. She was nothing like what he had imagined her to be. She was the most caring, most sensitive person he had met in his life. She was the one who had seen through the facade of Dr. Hardstone, had managed to break the wall he had created around himself and had lighted up his dark world. And he had been hating her all this while. He had called her names even in front of her. And she had accepted his problems and his enmity. She had ended up naming herself the 'chudail' in the story. And when the truth came out... She didn't hate him back for the hatred she knew had been directed towards her all this while. All she had thought about was his happiness. It wasn't just her optimistic nature, when she had said that he will get his house back. She had made up her mind already. To do this! To give the house to him without wanting anything in return. Had she even consulted her Baba? Oh God! She was so naive! A child indeed! She didn't even think of what it meant financially for her or her family. She was too nice, too sweet, too good and too simple.

And what had he done? He had been hating her all these days. How could he try to take away anything from her? He had been ready to get it from her, by hook or by crook? Suddenly he was scared. What exactly was Sanjivini ji planning that would have forced her to sell the house. Oh God! He had to find out. And of course, he coudln't let Nidhi write away the house to him like that. Good that he had given the papers back to her. But how had he done that?

It was then, that he realized that he must have left Nidhi hurt and confused. He ran out of his room. "Nidhi!" he cried out loud.

Hiraman Kaka came there, "Ashutosh! Kya ho raha hai?"

"Kaka! Nidhi kahan hai?"

"Woh to chali gayi. Bahut pahle. Kaafii..." Kaka hesitated.

"Kaafii kya Kaka?"

"Kuchh nahin. Tumhara khaana laga doon."

"Kaafii kya Kaka? Bataiye mujhe."

"Pareshaan thi. Ro rahi thi. Maine poochha to kuchh jawaab nahin diya. Chali gayi yahan se."

"Oh God! Kaka. Mujhse bahut badi galti ho gayi. Mujhe abhi usse baat karni hogi. Mera phone..." he looked around for his phone.

"Aadhi raat ho chuki hai Ashutosh. Is samay phone..."

"Kya?" Ashutosh looked at the clock. Kaka was right. It won't do to call up this late at night. What if someone else woke up at home?

Ashutosh picked up his phone anyway and started going towards his room.

"Khana laga doon beta?" Kaka asked.

"Nahin Kaka. Mujhe bhookh nahin hai."

Kaka knew him well enough to know that he won't change his mind. He also went to his room feeling sad for Ashutosh. He felt helpless. No happiness seemed to stay in Ashutosh' life. And there was nothing he could do about it.

--

(To be continued)

"Dekhiye Anji ji. Aise react mat kijiye jaise ki main duniya ka sabse bewkoof insaan hoon. I agree ki thoda idiotic tha, lekin us samay mujhe aur kuchh soojh nahin raha tha. Nidhi ki Dadi Bua mujhe hospital ka naam nahin bata payi thi aur Nidhi ka phone uske paas nahin tha," Ashutosh laughed slightly.

"I know," Anji spoke more calmly, "Lekin aap mujhe phone kar sakte the. Mera number Dr. Rangnath ke paas tha."

"Ab to ye mujhe bhi samajh mein aa raha hai," Ashutosh replied with mock seriousness which made everyone laugh.

"On a serious note, jitna maine Colonel Verma ko dekha hai, he is a healthy man. The heart attack comes as a surprise to me, unless unhein koi recurring probem rahi ho."

"Nahin," Nidhi said, "Baba ko health ki koi problem nahin thi. Retire hone ke itne din baad bhi woh apne fauzi discipline se exercise karte hain aur khana bhi hamehsa healthy khate hain. Regular check-up bhi karwate hain."

"Phir kya hua?"

"Kuchh baat to zaroor hui hogi... Anji..." Nidhi noticed Anji's fallen face and realized that she knew something, "Anji tujhe pata hai. Kya hua tha?"

"Nidhi... Ghar chal kar baat karte hain." Anji was hesitant in discussing it in front of Ashutosh.

"Nahin... Nahin Anji. Tu mujhe abhi bata sakti hai. Please. Bata na kya hua tha?"

"Nidhi. Uncle tujhe nahin batana chahte the. Lekin unki ye halat ho gai hai to kissi ko to sambhaalna hi padega..."

"Paheliya mat bujha Anji please."

"Nidhi woh export waala order tha na, jiske liye hum ek baar material dekhne gaye the..."

"Haan. To?"

"Us order mein kissi ne gadbad kar di hai. Final product mein woh material nahin lagaya jo humne approve kiya tha. Uski quality sahi nahin hai. To... woh poora consignment reject ho gaya."

"Lekin aisa kaise ho sakta hai. Mansukhani Uncle to khud..."

"Poori baat to pata nahin hai Nidhi abhi, lekin Papa ko lagta hai ki Mansukhani Uncle ne hi kuchh kiya hai."

"Par woh aisa kyon karenge? Business mein unki bhi to partnership hai? Ghaata unka bhi to hoga?"

"Uncle ne shayad un par aankhein band kar ke bharosa kar liya tha. Partnership agreement kissi se check bhi nahin karwaya tha. Aaj Papa ne dekha to pata chala ki usmein ek clause hai, jiski wajah se ye saara zimma Uncle ke oopar hai."

Nidhi as well as Ashutosh were horrified. They exchanged a glance and then looked at Anji again. She was saying something more, "Ye baat bank tak bhi pahunch gayi hai kissi tarah se. To bank se call aaya tha. Unhone loan cancel kar diya hai aur jitne paise disburse ho gaye hain, woh ek mahine ke andar lautaane ko kaha hai. Branch Manager ka phone aane ke baad hi... Uncle bahut zyada pareshaan ho gaye aur unki ye halat..."

Nidhi was finding it difficult to digest all the news at once, "Achanak se itna kuchh ho gaya... Anji tujhe pata hai ki kitne paise wapas karne hain?"

"50 lakh."

"50 lakh?" Nidhi's eyes widened. How will she arrange for that much money within a month. Even if she were to start working, her intern's salary will not be anything more than 25,000 per month. 50 lakhs!

Ashutosh realized that she was on the verge of breaking down again. He hastily tried to take control of the situation, "Anji ji. Aap Nidhi ki car le kar ghar jaiye. Main Nidhi ko thodi der mein drop kar doonga." Anji hesitated, but realized that Ashutosh will be able to handle Nidhi better. So, she nodded and left. Ashutosh paid the bill and led a dazed Nidhi out of the cafe.

--

"Nidhi. Aise pareshaan mat ho. Kuchh na kuchh solution nikal aayega."

"Haan. Woh.." Nidhi came out of her shocked silence, "I am sorry. Aap in sab mein bekaar mein pareshaan ho rahe hain. Aapko hospital bhi jaana hoga. Aap mujhe ghar drop kar dijiye."

Ashutosh smiled, "Selfish to ho tum Nidhi."

She looked up at him surprised, "Kya matlab?"

"Meri sab parshaaniyon ko to apna bana leti ho. Chahe woh mera akelapan ho ya mere Baba ka ghar. Aur apni parehsaaniyon ka mujhe hissa nahin banne dena chahti ho?"

Nidhi was overwhelmed. She needed no more convincing. She knew he was there for her, to support her. And she let go. She was scared and lost. She needed someone to take care of her. And when he offered, she just had to let go. She went forward and leaned on him. Tears start flowing freely from her eyes. Ashutosh was, at first, startled by her proximity. But soon he put his arms protectively around her silently telling that everything will be all right.

He let her cry for a while, before starting the conversation, "Nidhi. Dekho. Immediate problem 50 lakh rupyon ki hai na. Rakam badi hai, lekin itni bhi nahin. Utne ka intezaam main kar sakta hoon."

She jerked back on hearing that, "Nahin. Baba iske liye hargiz nahin maanenge. Woh bahut khudgarz insaan hai. Maine aisa kuchh kiya to unhein bahut dukh hoga."

"Ok. Theek hai. Lekin ab tumhein woh ghar to mujh bechne mein koi aitraaz nahin hai na? Tum woh mujhe de do 50 lakh rupyon mein."

"Woh ghar aapka hai. Bekaar ki baatein mat kijiye," Nidhi looked irritated.

"Woh ghar Baba ka tha, aur woh unhone tumhare naam kiya tha. Main to uske liye waise bhi itne paise dene hi waala tha."

"To kya hua?"

"Zidd mat karo Nidhi. Agar tumhein pata nahin hota ki woh ghar mera hai, to kya aisi halat mein tum use nahin bechti?"

"Bechti. Agar nahin pata hota to. Lekin ab mujhe pata hai."

Ashutosh sighed. He will have to think of some other way.

"Theek hai Nidhi. Kuchh aur solution nikaal lenge. Lekin abhi main tumhein wapas chhod deta hoon. Please thoda aaraam kar lo. Baba ke saamne shaam mein aisi roni shakal ke saath mat jaana. Okay?"

Nidhi nodded and even smiled slightly.

"Waise ye loan unhone kis bank se liya tha?" Ashutosh asked while dropping her home.

"Woh to hamehsa se Union Bank ke customer rahe hain, Hazratganj branch. Wahin se liya hoga."

"Theek hai. Shaam mein Baba se milne ke baad mujhe phone zaroor karna aur bata dena ki unki tabiyat kaisi hai."

"Ji. Aur..."

"Kya baat hai Nidhi?"

"Kya ye bahut odd lagega agar main phir se hospital join karoon?"

"Odd? Kise odd lagega? Tumhein join karna hai?"

"Ji. Mujhe ehsaas ho gaya hai ki main zindagi ko bahut zyada taken as granted leti thi. Lekin zindagi bitane ke liye paise ped par nahin ugte. Main job wapas se join karna chahti hoon. Agar aapko aitraaz na ho to."

"Zimmedaariyon ka ehsaas hona to bahut achchhi baat hai. Tumhare hospital join karne se sabse zyada khushi mujhe hogi, ye tum jaanti ho. Aur ek galti jo main ki thi, tumhein nikaal kar, use sudhaarne ka mauka bhi mil jayega."

"Thank you," Nidhi smiled. 

--

After dropping her, Ashutosh drove directly to Hazratganj. As far as he could recall, Aditya was the manager in the branch Nidhi had mentioned. He was sure, he could get some relief for Colonel Verma from there.

He didn't have difficulty in locating Aditya's cabin. He was about to knock, when he overheard him talking to Mallika on phone.

"Didi. Aapka kaam to mere bina kuchh kiye hi ho gaya."

"Haan Didi. Colonel Verma ne jis export order ke against loan liya tha, woh cancel ho gaya hai."

"Unke partner ne hi hamein phone kar ke bataya. To phir to loan cancel karne ka mujhe turat hi bahana mil gaya."

"Disbursed amount bhi unhein ek mahine mein lautana hai. Ab aap Dr. Nidhi to apni ungliyon par nacha sakti hain." 

Ashutosh was stunned. Aditya already knew about Nidhi and Col. Verma. And he was actively adding to their probems. Apparently on Mallika's behest. He knew that Mallika disliked Nidhi. But she was his friend. He hadn't thought that she could stoop so low. He had always thought her to be a nice person. But what was this?

Ashutosh went away without meeting Aditya. There was no point. There was too much of ill-will there to expect any help. And he felt guilty. Mallika was doing all this, because... because Nidhi and he were in a relationship. Nidhi, who had come as a bundle of joy in his life, was being punished from all quarters for doing that.

What could he do to help? Approach a lawyer and see if they could bring his partner, Mansukhani to justice. Who better than Sanjivini for this. He didn't have patience to get an appointment. He decided to drive to her office directly.

Sanjivini had just parked her car, when Ashutosh reached there. She was on the phone and while getting down from the car, Ashutosh overheard her.

"Its too late Mr. Masukhani. Mere client ko woh ghar already mil gaya hai."

"Jab paise exchange hi nahin hue to aapka cut kahan se doon. I'm sorry lekin aapko ye pahle karna chahiye tha."

"Inspection delay ho gaya to main kya kar sakti hoon Mr. Mansukhani."

Ashutosh was surprised on hearing the name. "Sanjvini ji," he called her. 

Sanjivini was taken aback to see Ashutosh. She hastily disconnected the call and came to him, "Ashutosh? Kya baat hai? Achanak..."

"Aapse kuchh madad chahiye thi."

"Sure. Chalo, andar chal kar baat karte hain."

"Sanjivini ji. Dar-asal mujhe Colonel Verma ke liye aapki madad chahiye thi."

"Colonel Verma? You mean jinke paas... jinki beti ke paas tumhara ghar tha?"

"Ji."

Sanjivini was surprised, "Tum unki help kyon karna chahte ho Ashutosh?"

"Ye main abhi explain nahin kar sakta. Lekin abhi kuchh karna bahut zaroori hai. Unke partner ne business mein unke saath dhokha kiya hai aur woh uski wajah se bahut problem mein hain."

"Oh!" Sanjivini said, but she didn't appear as surprised. It strengthened Ashutosh' suspicion.

"Aap ghar waale issue ko lekar unke partner ke saath touch mein thi na?" he asked directly.

Sanjivini sighed, "Haan Ashutosh. Look. I don't know how you will react to it. Lekin unke partner se ye sab mere hi kahne par kiya tha. Taki woh ghar bechne ko majboor ho jayen."

Ashutosh felt devastated. All of it had happened because of him. Because of his obsession with the house. He had given free reins to Sanjivini to do anything and get the house at any cost. He could not blame her now. He was responsible for his obsession. For Coloner Verma's situation. For Nidhi's misery! And that girl refused to take money for the house, because it belonged to him.

Why Nidhi, why? Why were you so... so nice!

-- 

"Hello Nidhi! Baba kaise hain?" She had called him in the evening as promised.

"Woh theek hain. Doctor ne kaha hai ki chinta ki koi baad nahin hai. Do-teen dinon mein discharge bhi kar denge."

"Achchha hai. Aur Nidhi... mujhe tumse kuchh baat karni thi. Paison ke intezaam ke baare mein," Ashutosh had no clue what was he going to tell her and how! But he knew that he had to. He was responsible for the mess and he would have to make sure that she allows him to clean it up.

"Actually... Uska intezaam ho gaya hai."

"Kaise?"

"Woh. Dadi Bua ne bataya ki locker mein zevar pade hain. Dadi Ma ke. Unhone Mummy ko diye the. Ab to saalon se koi zaroorat nahi padi. 50 lakh ke liye kaafi honge."

"Tum... Tum pushtaini zevar bechne waali ho?"

"Ab theek hai na. Zevar to phir aa jayenge."

"Lekin... Lekin Nidhi. Achcha suno. Tum market mein unka price pata karwa lo. Lekin abhi bechna nahin. Main... Main jaanta hoon kissi ko. To unse shayad behtar price bhi mil jaye."

"Theek hai. Main aapko bata doongi."

--

Things had fallen back in place. The jewelry had fetched them 60 lakhs, enough to return the money to the bank and also to restart the business at a smaller scale. Nidhi was back in the hospital and back to her happy and bubbly self. Ashutosh had indirectly told Dr. Rangnath to ensure that Nidhi's and Mallika's duties were never there in the same ward. Rangnath was happy to take care of that. Ashutosh had accepted the house from Nidhi and he was renovating it.

But he was restless. He tried hard to hide it, but Nidhi could see it. She had asked him several times and he had managed to distract her everytime. But how long was he going to carry the guilt. He had to come out clean to her sometime or the other. How? When?

"Dr. Ashutosh. Aap ye ghar ka renovation itni secretly kyon karwa rahe hain? Aap mujhe dikhate kyon nahin?" Nidhi asked him when they were having lunch in his cabin.

"Are. Kuchh secret nahin hai Nidhi. Bas mauka hi nahin mila. Main khud bhi kam hi ja paata hoon wahan."

"To phir mujhe dekhna hai."

"Okay. Aisa karte hain ki is Saturday ko chalte hain. Contractor ne kaha hai ki tab tak kaam almost poora ho jayega. Aur garden bhi thoda theek thaak ho gaya hoga."

"Arre wah! Phir hum garden mein picnic mana sakte hain."

Why did she feel that his smile on seeing her excitement was sad, not jubiliant. But there was no point in hassling him about it then. She decided that Saturday, at the house, would be the right time to get him to talk his heart out. 

--

"Wow!" Nidhi was as excited to see the house as she had been when they had reached there the first time, "Iski to kaya palat ho gayi hai. Kitna grand lag raha hai. Chaliye na, jaldi chalte hain andar."

"Ek minute Nidhi," Ashutosh was taking something out from the back seat of the car.

"Kya nikaal rahe hain aap? Khana mere haath mein hai. Chaliye na," Nidhi was going berserk in her excitement to enter the house.

"Chalo," Ashutosh finally said.

"Ye kya hai? Gift?" she saw a gift-wrapped paper in his hands.

"Gift to nahin kah sakta, lekin tumhare liye hi hai. Chalo andar chalte hain."

"Chaliye. Waise aaj kal aap bahut mysteriously behave kar rahe hain."

Ashutosh did not say anything to that. He was trying to gather his courage for what he had to do next.

After Nidhi was done prancing around the house, reveling in the beauty of freshly painted rooms, Ashutosh decided to talk to her.

The house was not furnished yet, but there was a dining table with chairs lying in the hall.

"Nidhi. Please baitho yahan. Mujhe tumse kuchh baat karni hai."

She sat down at once and said, "Chaliye achcha hai. Lagta hai aap aaj mujhe khud hi bata denge ki kya baat hai jo in dinon aapko itna pareshaan kiye hue hai. Warna mujhe uske liye bhi aapse zidd karni padti."

Ashutosh was taken aback, "Tumhein kaise pata ki main..."

"Itni bhi naadaan nahin hoon ki aapki pareshaaniyan na dikhein mujhe. Pahle to mujhe laga tha ki Baba ke saath jo hua, us samay ki bhaag-daud ne aapko pareshaan kar diya hai. Lekin uske baad bhi... Khair. Bataiye mujhe, kya baat hai."

Ashutosh' heart sank at the thought that in few minutes, after he had confessed his sins, he could lose this girl forever. The one person who understood him so well, despite appearing so innocent and unaware of the world all the time.

The packet he had taken out earlier from the car was lying on the table. He pushed it towards her, "Ye tumhare liye hai."

Nidhi looked at him for a moment and then started unpacking the box. From under the gift wrap, came out an old jewelry box, which looked exactly like the one in which her grand-mother's jewelry was kept. She opened it to find the same jewelry inside. To Ashutosh' astonishment, she did not look surprised. Instead, she smiled, "To mera shaq sahi tha."

"Kya matlab?"

"Jab aapne mujhe zevar bechne se mana kiya tha, tabhi main samajh gayi thi ki aap ise bechne waale nahin hain. Koi kitna bhi achcha dost ho aapka, jis cheez ki market price 40 lakh ho, uske liye 60 lakh nahin dega. Paise aapne hi diye the."

"Ni... Nidhi. Main tumhein koi dukh nahin..." Ashutosh was lost for words.

"Nahin Dr. Ashutosh. Mujhe bura nahin laga. Sab pata hone ke bavjood maine aapki baat maan li thi. Bazaar mein bechne ki bajay, maine ye aapko de diye tha. Kyonki agar main nahin maanti to aap aur bhi pareshaan hote mere liye. Aur mujhe aapse madad lene mein koi hichkichahat nahin thi. Main bas... bas Baba ke swaabhimaan ko koi thes nahin pahunchaana chahti thi. Aur haan - is ghar ke badle main aapse paise nahin le sakti thi. Na hi aapki madad na le kar aapke care ki beizzati karna chahti thi. To bas, sab cheezon ko ek saath le kar chalne ka ye ek raasta tha."

Ashutosh' eyes moistened. He tried hard, but he could not hold his teard back. Nidhi got worried.

"Aap... aap ro kyon rahe hain? Maine kuchh galat kah diya kya. Please aap..."

"Nidhi! Tumne kuchh galat nahin kaha, kuchh galat nahin kiya, kabhi nahin kiya. Main tumhari nahin, apni galti se dukhi hoon. Aur is dar se ki tum shayad uske liye mujhe kabhi maaf nahin kar paogi."

"Aap aisa kyon bol rahe hain?" she stood up and came towards him.

Ashutosh also stood up to face her and then fell down on his knees, baffling her, "Aap kya kar rahe hain?"

"Nidhi. Baba ke saath jo kuchh hua woh meri wajah se hua tha."

"Kya matlab?"

"Main is ghar ko paane ke liye itna obsessed ho gaya tha ki maine apne lawyer ko bol diya tha ki kissi bhi tarah se woh mujhe ghar dilwayen. Mansukhani ne mere lawyer ke kahne par hi woh sab kiya taki tum log woh ghar bechne ke liye majboor ho jaye."

Nidhi was shocked, "Aapko sab pata tha?"

Ashutosh nodded in negative, "Mujhe nahin pata tha ki Sanjivini ji kya kar rahi hain? Lekin isse mera gunaah kam nahin ho jaata Nidhi. Main kahin na kahin ye jaanta tha ki jo ho raha hai woh galat hai. Isliye use pata na kar ke main us guilt se khud ko door rakhna chahta tha. Lekin woh sahi nahin tha. Aur uska jo nateeza hua, uske baad mujhe samajh mein nahin aa raha ki main tumse kis munh se maafi maangoon? Mera gunaah maafi ke kaabil nahin hai Nidhi. Lekin agar mujhe koi sazaa dekar tumhein shanti mile to main kissi bhi sazaa ke liye taiyaar hoon." He finally looked up at her. She was devstated by shock and was unable to speak a word. Before he could say anything else, she started moving away.

"Nidhi!" he called her, but she ran out of the door.

He went after her and from the door, saw her standing in the garden. Her back was facing him, but he knew that she was crying. He himself was feeling so broken that he had to take the support of the door to stand. He watched her for a while. Then, disappointed with himself, he leaned on the wall and closed his eyes.

After few minutes he worried about Nidhi. Was she still around or had she left? How will she reach home from this place, which was so far from the city. He immediately opened his eyes and looked at the spot where she had been standing. She wasn't there. He looked around and was relieved when he saw her coming towards him.

"Nidhi. Main tumhein ghar chhod deta hoon," he said when she came close enough, feeling sure that she would not want to have anything to do with him after this.

"Aur jo maine itni mehnat kar ke Chhote Sarkar se khana banwaya, uska kya?" she said.

Ashutosh' eyes widened in surprise, then moistened with happiness. A smile formed on his lips.

"Tum mujhse gussa nahin ho?"

"To be honest, gussa thi. Bahut zyada gussa thi. Jab mujhe ye yaad aaya tha ki Baba ki tabiyat kaise kharaab ho gayi thi." Ashutosh' face fell when she mentioned that.

"Lekin phir mujhe ye bhi yaad aaya Dr. Ashutosh ki aap kaise insaan hain, sabki kitni fikra karte hain. Apne patients ki, apne doston ki, meri aur mere parivaar ki. Aur mujhe ye bhi yaad aaya ki aapke Baba aapke liye kya maayne rakhte the aur ye ghar aapke liye unki aakhiri nishani hai. Mujhe ye bhi yaad aaya ki main bewajah is ghar ko lekar zidd kiye baithi thi. Jabki aapki zidd ki to bahut badi wajah thi. Aur ye bhi ki jo ho raha tha uske baare mein aapko pata nahin tha. Warna aap is ghar ke owner se kitni hi nafrat kyon nahin karte, aisa kabhi nahin hone dete. To phir mujhe laga ki jaisa aapne hi ek baar kaha tha ki galti kissi ki nahin thi. Shayad ye sab bhagwaan ka khel tha. Pata nahin woh kya achieve karna chahte the? Lekin kuchh to unhone socha hi hoga."

Ashutosh was overwhelmed, "Itni maturity kahan se aa gayi tumme is umra mein Nidhi?"

"Baba fauzi hain na. Hamehsa aas paas ka sab kuchh dekh samajh kar strategic decision lete hain. Mujhe bhi unhone wahi sikha diya hai," Nidhi joked.

Ashutosh had to smile at that, "Unhein pata nahin hai ki tumhein ye sikha kar unhone mujh par kitna bada ehsaan kiya hai."

"Sirf ye badi badi baaton se kaam nahin chalega Dr. Ashutosh. Aapne sazaa maangi thi aur woh aapko leni padegi."

Ashutosh shrugged and smiled as a gesture of surrender, "Anything you want."

"To aap mujhse waada kijiye ki Baba ka khayaal rakhne mein meri help karenege. Mujhe bahut dar lagta hai ki main apni duniya mein kabhi kabhi aisi kho jaati hoon ki mujhe dhyaan hi nahin rahta ki Baba ke saath kya ho raha hai. Hamesha Baba ko itna strong dekha hai ki bharosa hi nahin hota ki unhein bhi sahare ki zaroorat ho sakti hai. Lekin hoti to hai..."

"Waada karta hoon Nidhi. Ye koi sazaa nahin hai, meri khushkismati hai."

Nidhi smiled happily, the smile that always warmed his heart.

"Achchha chalo. Ab dekhte hain ki tumne itni mehnat kar ke Chhote Sarkar se kya banwaya hai."

"Chaliye." The food was also kept on the same dining table. When they approached it, Ashutosh saw the jewelry box lying there. He picked it up, "Ye rakh lo Nidhi. Ye tumhare hain."

"Nahin. Abhi nahin. Ye ghar aur ye zevar, main aapse ek saath hi loongi. Samay aane par."

He might not have understood what she meant, but her blushing, shy smile told him everything. He smiled affectionately and nodded in agreement.

- The End -