Posted:
Originally posted by: Ankita.M
Waiting for an update
Sorry for the delay dear, had some guests over. Promise to update in a day or two.
Originally posted by: Ankita.M
Waiting for an update
Originally posted by: Oo_SuKaSh_oO
aww very nice ff :D
love it soo much :))
Sorry for the delay dear, had some guests over. Promise to update in a day or two.
Part 163
Seating the children who had to be dropped off home in Shafi's van, Armaan also got in. He didn't want to send them off alone. While Kaka, Varun and Dia, escorted the colony children, home. Akshat was standing and waving out to his friends. The first thing he asked as soon as he entered back into the house was, "where's Nanacy aunty's cake?" His Athai told him that she had kept it inside, and he could have it the next day. When he insisted that he just wanted to have a look, she said her leg was aching very badly, did he really want her to go and fetch it right then? He immediately said it was ok, he would take a look at it in the morning. He didn't have a heart to inconvenience his athai.
Akka spoke to Padma, when Riddhima went to put Ani to sleep, and narrated the cake incident. She knew Akshat would be very disappointed seeing its state, so she requested Padma to do something about it. She didn't want the others to know that chotu had laid his hands on it. Padma assured her that she would take care of it first thing in the morning.
Both Armaan and Riddhima were dead tired after the party. While Armaan had gone to drop the kids, Riddhima had cleaned the house sending the elders to bed as it was very late. She did not listen to their pleadings to leave things for them to clear up the next day, though they pointed out that she had to go to the hospital in the morning. Finally, they made her promise that she would clean up only as much as she could, till Armaan returned. Rest would be taken care of by them, the next day. She had to accept their condition or else they were not prepared to retire for the night.
Neither of them felt like waking up when the alarm went off. Armaan leaned over and put off the alarm and dozed off pulling his sweetheart closer to himself. Riddhima didn't even open her eyes as she didn't hear the alarm at all. Finally it was around 7.30 when Padma came and knocked on the door asking if they would be going late to the hospital. That's when Riddhima and Armaan jumped up from their bed. Hearing all the commotion, chotu also woke up, angry at being disturbed from his beauty sleep.
Then pandemonium broke loose. Armaan rushed to get Akshat ready for school, asking Riddhima to shower first. But Ani wasn't prepared to let go of his mama. Having slept late the previous night, he had woken up in a foul mood. Then he wanted his mama to do everything for him, right from brushing his teeth to feeding him breakfast. Riddhima had half a mind to dump him in akka's arms and get ready for the hospital, but then the whole morning she would keep feeling guilty and wouldn't be able to concentrate on her work.
When Armaan came back after getting Akshat ready for school, he saw Riddhima still struggling with Ani's breakfast. So he came and told Ani a cock and bull story, that there was a cute doggie on the street which was calling out to him (Ani). So if he quickly finished his breakfast with Athai, she would take him to play with that doggie. Ani's ears stood up hearing the word doggie. Armaan called out to akka and told her about the same story with a wink. At once the chotu was in his athai's arms, all excited.
Armaan asked Riddhima to use their washroom, while he used Akshat's. Seeing them in such a mad rush, kaka knew both of them would skip breakfast. So he quickly rolled the paratha like a Frankie in a foil wrap, which they could eat while they drove to the hospital. Then he poured some coffee in the flask and placed it in the car.
Akshat was amazed to see the beautiful cake. (Padma had woken up early and salvaged the cake, adding some trimmings of her own.) He was waiting for his parents at the breakfast table, to cut it ceremoniously, but they rushed past just giving him a quick kiss and calling out that they were late and that they would see him in the evening. Seeing Akshat's disappointed face his nani suggested that they cut the cake and he take a piece in his tiffin box, but he said "Nahi nani main shaam ko mama aur dad aane ke baad katoonga." His nani reminded him that Tania might ask him how it was, then what would he say? So finally he cut and gave all of them a piece before he ate. It was really yummy. So finally he left for school with a smile on his face.
Dia called Riddhima to ask whether they were coming to the hospital or not, as they had been waiting for them at the gate, since quite sometime. Riddhima assured her that they would be there shortly. All four of them shared the breakfast as they drove, with Riddhima taking a bite and then offering it to Armaan. There was no time for the coffee though. They literally rushed into the hospital as otherwise all four of them would be late. Before Armaan could even halt the car, the three interns jumped out and ran in. He burst out laughing seeing their state.
When he walked to the nurse station he noticed that they had been just in time for the briefing. He winked at them and held up the coffee flask and headed to the interns' room. He poured himself a small dose and after finishing it made his way to Dr. Mohan's cabin. He needed to talk to him regarding Kartik's case.
Dr. Mohan agreed to Riddhima being Armaan's intern for this particular case. He was never against them working together, in the first place. He knew both of them were excellent professionals and would never let their personal relationship interfere with their profession. But it had been Armaan's idea that they should work individually.
When Armaan went on his morning rounds to Kartik's ward, Riddhima accompanied him. Kartik seemed to be rather quiet this morning. Though he didn't complain, Armaan understood that he was in grave pain. Armaan sat beside him and started conversing with him, while Riddhima checked his BP, temperature, tongue, eyes etc.
A: So how are you Mr. Kartik?
K: Ok I think.
A: I know how painful the withdrawal symptoms can be even if it is done
gradually. Were you able to sleep?
K: I slept well for a few hours, then woke up suddenly, sweating. It felt so strange sweating on such a cold night.
A: I know, but these are all reactions of the drugs we are administering. You could have called the nurse, she would have given you a cold sponge.
K: No, I didn't call anyone as I wasn't very perturbed. Dr. Riddhima had explained about the possible reactions yesterday itself. By the way how was your son's birthday party yesterday?
A: Oh! It was great fun.
K: With a father like you, who took the day off, only to make the arrangements, it ought to have been fabulous only. Your child is really very lucky to have such doting parents.
Both of them saw tears in his eyes.
A: Should I give you some medication to ease of the pain?
K: Physical pain can be eased with medication doctor, not the mental one. I did someone very wrong many years ago. One woman's wrong-doing made me look at all women with suspicion. I didn't recognize true love when I had it. And my whole life I've been yearning for just that.
A: it's never too late to correct our earlier mistakes. If you sincerely repent for your mistakes, I'm sure you'll be forgiven.
K: No doctor, no one in this world has such a big heart. The crime I committed was unpardonable. That woman was carrying my baby when I walked out of her. I wanted to escape from the responsibility.
Armaan and Riddhima were shocked hearing him and looked at each other.
K: She denied it saying it was a lie only to get me to marry her, but if she thought I believed her, she doesn't know me. She would never lie and such a sordid one, never. I would like to know about that child, but I lost all those rights when I disowned it. I punished her for someone else's mistake. I thought I was escaping by running away, but it has haunted me ever since. It was too late by the time I realized my mistake, to rectify it. Life never gives you a second chance.
A: You are very wrong sir; we both are a standing proof of life giving a second chance.
Much to Riddhima's irritation, he went on to tell in short about how they had been separated and how they came to be together.
"What is need to reveal all our life secrets to this stranger?" she thought to herself. "Armaan really goes overboard at times." On the other hand Armaan was thinking, "maybe telling him about our past, will encourage him to talk about his past."
K: you may be the lucky few to have got a second chance. When I tried to put things right, they only got more hopelessly entangled. People only throw your faults to your face and make you hate yourself for it. Then you end up making more mistakes.
A: Why do you say that?
K: I thought I don't have any family, so I treated Prema as my own daughter. The child understood it, but not my sister-in-law, Valli. Anyways why blame her. As they say, though an elephant comes by slowly, the tinkle of the bell around his neck is heard much before. My reputation preceeded me to the village so she obviously didn't trust me. And I only proved her right by getting drunk and creating a scene at her only daughter's wedding.
Actually I was feeling very depressed that the girl will be going away to her in-law's place at Kochi and I wouldn't be able to see her. So I had some drink to forget my sorrow and ended up crying that I wouldn't be able to face life without Prema. Her in-laws didn't find that too absurd, because any father or uncle would miss their daughter. But Kannan and Valli misunderstood me. They thought I was out to deliberately ruin their daughter's married life. So you see I blew away the second chance life gave me too.
He stopped suddenly, as if realizing he had spoken a bit too much and said, "I'm sure you have better things to do doctors, than listening to an old bachelor's sob story."
A: You are wrong Mr. Kartik. Listening to the patients, is a part of our duty. It enables us understand them better. Then we in turn can help them better in de-addicting themselves. Please go on, if you want to.
When he still hesitated Armaan said "It's ok Mr. Kartik, take you own time. If ever you feel like talking to either of us, just send for us."
Then turning to Riddhima he discussed about some dosage and when they were about to leave Kartik said, "I'd like talk to you both in the afternoon when you are a little free. It will take sometime for me to collect my thoughts too.
"Sure sir," both of them chorused as they left from there. Seeing Riddhima bursting to talk Armaan said "Let's go to my cabin I've another 15 minutes before the OPD." As soon as they entered Riddhima burst out, "Do you think he's guessed that I'm his daughter? "If he hasn't, the hospital grapevine will make sure he does, if you don't close the door," Armaan said with a smile. As she slammed the door shut, she angrily questioned him, "Armaan tumhe mazaak sooj raha hai? Of course what's it to you? It's my identity which is at stake, na?"
A: Don't be ridiculous Riddhima. Why is your identity at stake? You are Mrs. Riddhima Armaan Mallik, daughter of Dr. Shashank Gupta and Mrs. Padma Gupta. Even if he claims to be your biological father, you'll still be Dr. Shashank's daughter because he has legally adopted you.
R: lekin Armaan this gentleman (he couldn't call him by name knowing that he was her father, though she hated him with all her heart. That was her upbringing.) wasn't around when papa adopted me. His signatures wouldn't be there on any of the papers. What if he says he didn't agree to give me up for adoption?
A: Riddhima he abandoned maa when she was carrying you. So he relinquished all his rights over you. Why do rack your head unnecessarily. Let's cross the bridge when we come to it.
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