part 9
That evening when Armaan was sitting on the bench in the park, Aruhi came to him.
Aru: Hi Buddy!!
Armaan: Arey…aap kab aayi Basket…
Aru: Main to kabse aapko us swing se bula rahi thi…aapne suna hi nahi…
Ar: Acha…shayad mera dhyan kahin aur tha…I am not feeling too well….
Aru: Kya hua sir dard?
Ar: Nahi beta…(Taking her in her lap) Aaj to dil mein dard hai…(Riddhima's photograph with her daughter was flashing in his thoughts)
Aru: Oho…aapko bhi dil mein dard hota hai??
Ar: Aapko bhi? Aur kisko hota hai?
Aru: Mumma ko…Meri mumma ne mujhe bataya ki dil mein dard sirf bado ko hota hai…
Ar: Acha??
Aru: Haan aur mumma ne ye bhi kaha ki jab main badi hongi na toh wo kabhi mere dil mein dard nahi hone dengi…
Ar: Arey waah…Aapki mumma to bohat achi hai…
Aru: Haan…
Ar: Aur aapke papa?
Aruhi's face fell down…She never knew who here father was…For her, her world was just Riddhima..
Aru: (very sadly) Mere papa nahi hai…Mumma hi meri mumma aur papa dono hain….
Armaan was taken aback by her statement…He felt so bad for her….She looked so sad….
Ar: Koi baat nahi beta…aapko pata hai koi koi baby ke to ek bhi parent nahi hota…aur aapke paas to mumma hai na…aur wo aapse kitna pyaar karti hain…aise sad nahi hote…mumma ko pata chalega to unhe bura lagega na…
Aru: Haan…(but she still looked very sad)
Armaan wanted to cheer her up, so he took her to the other playground that she liked…She was happy now…And with her Armaan was also a little relaxed. For some time, he also forgot all his pain….
Next day hospital
Riddhima was in Ananya's room. She was looking at her recent reports and taking care of her. Armaan had gone home in the night. He was not back yet.
Ri: Aunty…progress achi hai…I am sure aap jaldi theek ho jayengi…
An: Thanks beta…Tum aur Armaan itna khayal rakhoge to theek to hongi na
Ri: Aunty..aapko breakfast karna chahiye…medicines aapki body ko weak banayegi…uske liye aapko high protein diet leni chahiye….aap please apne meals skip mat karna aur har 2 hrs mein kuch na kuch khate rehna…
Just then Armaan eneterd the room…He was very happy to see Riddhima in the room…This was the best sight to his eyes in the morning…She standing there in a white churidar, taking care of his mother…He still loved her so much…
An: Lo Armaan aa gaya
Ri: Good Morning Armaan..
Ar: Good morning (Riddhima's picture with the baby suddenly flashed in front of him..His smile vanished and he lowered his gaze)
Ar: Mom aap kaisa feel kar rahi hain aaj?
An: Main theek hun beta..
Ri: Armaan, main aunty se keh rahi thi ki unhe high protein diet leni chahiye…Main ye protein powder layi hun…jitna ho sake ise unke diet mein mila ke unhe dete rehna…
Ar: Okay…Haan main dhyan rakhunga..Thanks
An: Armaan…tumne breakfast kiya?
Ar: Nahi ma…Main ready hoke aa gaya…abhi kar lunga…
An: Abhi matlab?? Nahi nahi…main apna breakfast kar rahi hun aur tum jake apna kar lo..Riddhima please mera ek kaam karogi beta…Armaan ko bhi breakfast kara do…mujhe pata hai wo khud se kuch nahi khayega…
Ri: (she did not want to spend much time with him alone) Ji main?
Ar: Rehne do na mom…wo busy hogi…main khud kar lunga…
An: Ohh…Riddhima tum busy ho?
Ri: (did not want to disappoint Ananya) Nahi aunty…main le jati hun Armaan ko…
Riddhima and Armaan in Caf
Ri: Tum apne liye kuch order kar lo…main wahan table pe wait karti hun
Ar: Tum kuch nahi logi?
Ri: Nahi maine subah breakfast kiya tha
Ar: Coffee?? Tumhari fav espresso??
Ri: (looked at him with utter shock…he still remembers everything about her…He did not even get married…does he still love her?) Hmm okay…
Armaan brought his breakfast and Riddhima's coffee and they both made themselves comfortable at the breakfast table.
Ar: Sid kaisa hai Riddhima?
Ri: (she did not have answer to his question…she did not know what to say): Umm…wo…wo…ach…acha hai
Ar: Wo bhi yahan hai kya?
Ri: Nahi…
Ar: Toh wo kaunse hospital mein hai?? Main usse milna chahunga
Ri: (did not know how to lie to him) Wo..wo…thode dino ke liye bahar gaya hai…Jab aayega main mila dungi…
Ar: Ohh….
Ri: Armaan…ek baat puchun?
Ar: Haan pucho
Ri: Armaan tumne shaadi kyun nahi ki abhi tak?
It was Armaan's turn now…He could not tell her the truth and he did not want to lie to her…
Ar: Umm…koi mili nahi abhi tak
Ri: Aisa kaise ho sakta hai….Tumhare peeche to kitni ladkiyan fida thi…tumhe koi kaise nahi mili…
Ar: (without realizing, with lots of emotions and love) Lekin jiske peeche mein fida tha wo nahi mili…
Ri: (shocked at his confession) Armaan??
Ar: (now realizing) Wo…wo..mera matlab….main jispe fida ho sakun…aisi koi nahi mili…
Ri: Ohh…
Ar: Ghar par sab kaise hain? Nani…Padma aunty…Dr Shashank?
Ri: (with so much pain in her voice) Nani nahi rahi Armaan…
Armaan was really taken hurt on hearing this. He knew Riddhima was so attached to her Nani…and her nani was very sweet…She always took good care of him too…
Ar: I am sorry Riddhima…lekin…ye kaise??kab??
Ri: Jab tum Sanjeevani chod ke gaye the…Uske kuch months baad Nani ko attack aaya tha…bas tabhi…
Ar: I am sorry Riddhima…jab mujhe ye sun ke itna dukh ho raha hai…to na jane tumhe kaisa lag raha hoga…Tumne kaise ye sab…I mean how did you handle?
Ri: Life teaches everything Armaan…Aur halke halke logo ke bina jeene ki aadat pad jati hai…
Ar: Hmm…sahi keh rahi ho…lekin phir wo zindagi sirf kaati jati hai…hum use jeete nahi…
There was a long pause after that…Both of them did not know how to start the talk again
Ar: Atul aur Anji kaise hain?
Ri: Wo theek hain…Tumhare jaane ke ek saal baad unki shaadi ho gayi…
Ar: Haan…mujhe Champ ne bulaya tha lekin…main aa nahi saka
Ri: Aa nahi sake ya aana nahi chahte the?
Ar (she knows me so well…pata nahi hum saath kyun nahi hain aaj): Tumhe jawab pata hai…
Ri: Kyun armaan?? Tumne meri wajah se sabse dosti khatam kar di?? Pata hai atul kitna udaas tha ki tum nahi aaye uski shaadi ke liye…Tum uske bhai the…uske sabse ache dost…unki shaadi tumhare bina kitni adhuri thi…
Ar: Aisa nahi hai ki main tumhari wajah se nahi aaya….Chodo na Riddhima…Tumhe late nahi ho raha duty ke liye??
Ri: Haan…theek hai main jaati hun…Tum Ananya aunty ka khayal rakhna…
Ar: Don't worry…Thanks..
Ri: Bye Armaan
Ar: Bye
part 10
Few days had passed. Ananya was doing well now…She used to come to the hospital for chemo sessions every week. Her days in the hospital, were the best days of the week for both Armaan and Riddhima..The rest of the week was just waiting time for both of them….
Armaan had started going to the park daily, Aruhi really liked him…Armaan spent a lot of time teaching her basketball now…
Aruhi and Soni had told Riddhima about a guy teaching Aruhi basketball and playing with her daily. She did not know that the guy was Armaan. Riddhima used to be a little worried because Aruhi was getting very close to him, but, she also knew that Aruhi really liked him and was happy with him…She was happy as long as Aruhi was.
Armaan and Riddhima talked about everything else except for their relationship and love. Armaan had asked her so many times about Sid, but, everytime she gave him some lame excuse.
It was a Sunday and Armaan had come to a supermarket for buying some stuff.
Suddenly he saw Aruhi in the store…She was a little far from where he was…So he shouted out loud
Ar: Hey Basket!!
Aruhi turned to look at Armaan and she ran towards him…but before she reached him…somebody pulled Armaan by his arm
Ri: Armaan tum yahan?? Aur itni zor se kyun chila rahe ho…mujhe bulana tha toh main yahin khadi thi na…
Ar: Wo main Riddhima
Ri: Aur tumne Basket kyun bulaya…Riddhima nahi keh sakte the?
Ar: Riddhima tum mujhe galat samaj rahi ho….
Ri: Nahi Armaan…main tumhe galat nahi samaj rahi…tumhe kuch toh dhyan rakhna chahiye tha yaha itne log hain…aur jabse tum wapas aaye ho tumne mujhe kabhi Basket nahi bulaya to aaj public mein itni zor se chilane ki kya zarurat thi…
Ar: Nahi Riddhima…suno…
But before he could complete his sentence…Aruhi pulled his hand…
Aru: Hi Buddy!!
Ar: Hi Basket!! (Armaan picked her up and took her in his arms)
Riddhima was totally confused now..She looked at Aruhi and asked her pointing towards Armaan
Ri: Buddy?
To which Aruhi very happily nodded yes…
And then she looked at Armaan and pointed towards Aruhi…
Ri: Basket??
To which Armaan also happily nodded yes…He was as cute as Aruhi at that moment…
Ar: Wohi toh main tumhe keh raha tha ki…Main tumhe nahi bula raha tha….lekin tum meri kahan sunti ho kabhi…
Ri: Lekin tum Aruhi ko kaise jante ho?
Aru: Arey mumma…ye hi toh buddy hain jo mujhe basketball sikhate hain…
Now, Armaan looked at Aruhi and pointed towards Riddhima
Ar: Mumma?
Aru: Haan Buddy….yahi meri mumma hai…
Ar: Riddhima ye tumhari beti hai?
Ri: Haan Armaan…Ye hi Aruhi hai…meri beti….tumne us din iski hi picture dekhi thi mere saath….
Armaan now remembered that day…For a while he was happy to meet both his Baskets together, but, as soon as that photo graph flashed in front of him, he was disturbed. He put down Aruhi and without saying anything , went away…
Riddhima and Aruhi were confused at his behavior. They did not know that why did he go away so suddenly.
That evening Armaan was restless, his talks with Aruhi were flashing in front of him…
Ar (thinking): Main usse kitna pasand karne laga tha…aur hona hi tha shayad kyunki wo Riddhima ki beti hai…lekin aaj jab mujhe pata chala ki wo Riddhima ki beti hai toh mujhe itna dukh kyun ho raha hai….Mujhe to usse aur pyaar karna chahiye kyunki wo meri Riddhima ka ansh hai…meri Basket ka…meri choti si Basket…shayad isiliye usse dekhte hi mere dimaag mein sirf uske liye Basket naam hi aaya….Jab wo meri choti Basket hai to mujhe kyun bura lag raha hai…shayad isliye kyunki wo Riddhima aur Sid ki beti hai….
Lekin…Wait a minute…Aruhi ne mujhe kaha tha ki uske papa nahi hain…aur jabse main yaha aaya hun Riddhima ne mujhe ek baar bhi Sid se nahi milwaya…milwana to dur….usne mujhe aaj tak Sid ke bare mein kabhi theek se jawab bhi nahi diya…..
Kuch toh gadbad hai…Mujhe Riddhima se poochna hi padega….Wo mujhse jhooth kyun bol rahi thi itne time…Aisa kya hai Sid ke baare mein jo wo mujhe nahi batana chahti….
And now Armaan was reluctant to ask her about Sid tomorrow. He decided that he would goto the hospital to talk to her the next day itself.
part 11
RECAP: Armaan comes to know that Aruhi (his lil basket) is Riddhima's daughter and he is hurt. When he returns home and thinks about it, he remembers that Aruhi had told him that she had never met her father...Armaan is now adamant to confront Riddhima and ask her about Sid.
Next day Armaan reached the hospital quite early, he wanted to talk to Riddhima..
Ar (while entering his mother's room): Aaj toh main ussey baat karke rahunga..
An: Kissey baat karni hai??
Ar: Who kuch nahi…kisise nahi…
An: Acha?? Tujhe nahi karni kisise baat toh mat kar…par mujhe toh tujhse baat karni hai??
Ar: Mujhse kya?
An: Armaan…beta..ab bohat time ho gaya…ek baar toh shaadi ke baare mein soch…
Ar: What?? Mom…maine aapse kitni baar kaha hai??
An: Haan..lekin beta…Suhaana is a nice girl…ek baar milke toh dekh…I am sure you would like her…And we will get you married only once you like her…
Riddhima heard the last statement as she entered the room…She was taken aback and was sad too…But, she chose to remain quiet…
Ri: Good Morning…
An: Good Morning Riddhima…
Ri: Ab aap kaisi hain?
An: Main toh bilkul theek hun…lekin kaisi hun ye toh tum dono hi bata sakte ho meri report dekh ke..
Ri: Reports se toh lagta hai improvement hai…
Riddhima sat there for some time. All this while Armaan and Riddhima did not talk…While Riddhima was busy talking with Ananya…Armaan was waiting for her to go out of the room, so that he could talk to her..
After Riddhima went out, Armaan followed her to her cabin…
Ri: Aao na Armaan…bolo..kuch kaam tha?
Ar: Riddhima mujhe tumse baat karni hai…
Ri (she was scared of what will he talk about. He had never came especially to talk to her. She was confused) Kya..Kya baat karni hai?
Ar: Riddhima..actually main soch raha tha ki main aaj tumhare ghar aa jaun dinner ke liye…If you don't mind…
Ri (shocked): Kyun??(then realizing that she was unnecessarily being rude) Mera matlab…achanak?
Ar: Haan…Sid se milna hai…tum toh mila nahi rahi…toh maine socha khud hi aa jata hun…aur Basket se bhi mil lunga…
Ri: (now completely shocked…and started fumbling with her words) Sid se?? Sid se kyun milna hai?
Ar: Arey..Sid mera dost hai…toh usse milna hai…Kyun??Tum nahi chahti main usse milun??
Ri: Armaan…wo..mera matlab wo nahi tha…matlab..Sid out of town hai…
Ar: Acha?? Lekin kal toh mujhe basket ne bataya ki wo ghar pe hai?
Ri: Aruhi ne?? Usne tumse kaha ki Sid ghar pe hai??
Ar: Haan…matlab…maine ussey poocha ki papa kahan hai?Toh wo boli ghar pe hai…
Ri: Aruhi ne tumse aisa kaha?? Mujhe toh yakeen nahi ho raha??
Ar: Kyun?? Ussey kyun nahi kehna chahiye tha??
Ri (was about to say that how could Aruhi talk about her dad…She had never met him…but, before she went any further..she realized that she should not say it) : Tum mazak kar rahe ho na?? Aruhi ne tumse aisa kuch nahi kaha…
Ar: Kaha Riddhima
Ri: Main nahi manti…Woh aisa keh hi nahi sakti…
Ar: Acha?? Aur wo aisa kyun nahi keh sakti??
Ri: Matlab…wo… (Riddhima did not have answers to defend her statements)
Ar: Kya hua…bolo??Ab tumhare paas bolne ke liye kuch nahi hai?? Bologi bhi kaise Riddhima?? (with a little rudeness in his tone)
Ri: Kya matlab??
Ar: Koi hoga toh bologi na…Jab Sid hai hi nahi…toh bologi kaise??
Ri: Shutup Armaan…Tumhe meri personal life mein bolne ka koi haq nahi hai…
Now the argument started heating up…
Ar: Haan…mujhe haq nahi hai…hoga bhi kaise…ye haq khud tumne mujhse cheena tha 5 saal pehle…
Ri: Shutup Armaan…
Ar: Mujhe shutup bolne se main chup hoke yaha se chala nahi jaunga Riddhima…aaj mujhe apne sawaal ka jawab chahiye…Sid kahan hai??
Ri: Sid wahin hai jahan hona chahiye…mil gaya tumhe jawab….ab jao yahan se…
Ar: ye mera jawab nahi hai Riddhima…Aruhi mujhe ye kyun nahi keh sakti ki uske Dad ghar pe hain?? Isliye na kyunki uske dad hain hi nahi…
Ri: Ab tum had se aage bad rahe ho Armaan…
Armaan was very angry now…He held Riddhima by her hands and very furiously answered back…
Ar: Meri hadh kya hai ye mujhe tumse nahi seekhna…Mujhe bas ye batao…Sid kahan hai??
Ri: Mujhe chodo Armaan…You are hurting me…
Ar: And you are hurting me Riddhima…Mujhe jawab do..Aruhi ko kyun nahi pata uske Dad kahan hain??
Ri: Armaan mujhe chodo…
Ar: Riddhima..You do not have an escape today…Aur tumhe mujhe batane mein kya problem hai??
Ri: Armaan …let me go…
Ar (jerked Riddhima really hard this time) One last time Riddhima…Sid kahan hai??
Ri (now giving in to his charge, shouted): Sid meri zindagi mein nahi hai…Woh mere aur Aruhi ke saath nahi rehta…(And Riddhima started crying)
Armaan's grip loosened…
Ri: Bas…mil gaya tumhe tumhara jawab??
And Riddhima could not control her anger, pain and tears..She barged out of her room and left for home.
part 12
Riddhima was extremely sad that day…Armaan had evoked all the long lost memories again…memories, she did not want to think of again, memories which had given her a lot of pain…
She was silently sitting in her study with the lights off…
Flashback
Ri: Nahi Sid tum aisa mat karo…mujhe ek aur mauka do..
Sid: Nahi Riddhima…mujhe jana hoga…Ab main is rishte ko aur nahi sambhal sakta
Flashback ends
Aruhi opened the door of the study and turned on the lights..
Aru: Mumma…aap kya kar rahe ho?
Ri (wiping off her tears): Kuch nahi beta…aap soye nahi abhi tak
And Aruhi went and sat on Riddhima's lap..
Aru (with sparkle in her eyes) Mumma parso kya hai??
Ri (acting): Ummm….let me think…let me think….haan….parso toh meri Aru ka birthday hai….
Aru: Haan…aur aap mujhe kya gift de rahi ho?
Ri: Woh toh surprise haina…Parso hi pata chalega…
Aru: Oho…lekin mujhe abhi batao…
Ri: Nahi baby…parso pata chalega…acha kal aap apne saare friends ko invite kar lena…parso humare ghar pe aapke birthday celebrations honge na…
Aru: Sach mein?? Wow…main apne saare friends ko bula sakti hun??
Ri: Haan beta…saare friends ko
Aru: Yeaaahhh…Mumma you are the best….
And Aruhi hugged her tightly…
Next day
Riddhima did not goto hospital the next day. She had called up at the hospital and taken two days leave. She had to make arrangements for Aruhi's birthday and moreover, she wanted to avoid meeting Armaan for few days…
In the evening, she went to the market to get stuff for the party. She wanted to take Aruhi along but, Aruhi insisted that she had to goto the park to play and invite her friends. So, Riddhima told Soni to take Aruhi to the park, while she went to the market alone.
Park
Armaan was sitting on the bench…He wanted to talk to Riddhima…He was very guilty of his behavior with her the day before…He was thinking that she must be very disturbed because of it….He searched for her in the hospital the whole day but he did not find her anywhere…He did not even have her number to call her and talk…He was feeling so restless…
Aru (running towards Armaan and shouting): Buddy…Buddy…
Ar: Arey…arey…Basket…kya hua?
Aru: Main kabse aapko dhundh rahi thi…
Ar: Kyun kya hua??
Aru: Mujhe aapko invite karna tha na…
Ar: Invite?? Kisliye??
Aru: Meri birthday party ke liye…
Ar: Acha!! Kab hai aapka birthday??
Aru: Kal
Ar: Kal?? Kal aapka bhi birthday hai??
Aru: Haan...Mera bhi matlab??
Ar: Nahi..nahi..kuch nahi…acha toh aapko kya gift chahiye??
Aru: Umm…kuch nahi…bas aap aana zaroor…
Ar: (thinking ye acha mauka hai…is bahane main Riddhima se baat bhi kar lunga) Okay…Done…main zarur aaunga…lekin aap apna address toh batao…
Aru: Ohoo…main toh bhul hi gayi… Wo white wali building haina…(Aruhi pointed to an apartment complex across the street) Usme C-502…hai mera ghar…
Ar: Ok done…main zarur aaunga…
Aru: Ok…main jaati hun…
Ar: Arey itni jaldi…
And Aruhi started running..
Aru: Mujhe bohat saare friends ko invite karna hai…kal aana…haan…Bye…
Ar: Bye…
Next day afternoon
Aruhi was super excited for her birthday party…And running around the whole home…She was also very happy that Riddhima was at home that day and Riddhima had cooked all her favorite dishes…The home was completely decorated with balloons and streamers….Riddhima had given her some gifts and she was busy unwrapping them…
Aru: Wow…mumma…ye meri favorite shorts hain aaj se (she did not like frocks or girly dresses) Main aaj please yahi pehen lun??
Ri: Ofcourse beta…aaj aap yahi pehenna…
Aru: Aur kya hai??? (and she opened another gift) Wow…Denis the Menace Collection!! (This was her favorite cartoon show)..The third gift she opened had a very smart bag…
Ri: Aur ye isliye ki jab aap park jao toh isme apni bottle, towel aur apne toys le ja sako…
Aru: Thanks Mumma…I love you
And she hugged Riddhima
Ri: I love you too beta…Happy Birthday!!
After 2 hours…
The kids had started arriving…Riddhima had also invited some close neighbors and Stephanie from Aruhi's school…
Ri: Aru baby…lets cut the cake now..
Aru: Mumma 5 mins…main wait kar rahi hun kisika…(Aruhi was constantly looking at the door)
Ri: Kiska wait kar rahi ho Aru??
Aru (excited to see him at the door): Unka!! (and pointed towards the door)
