Chapter 17

RECAP:

             Everyone comes to know amit's truth.AR have decided to tell the family their truth in the party after ridz performance.Entire mallik family is present in the green room to wish ridz luck.Armaan gets a call that amit ran away from jail.Everyone freaks out.

LAST PART:

Ra:  par woh bhaag kaise sakta hai????

Ar:  pataa nahi par humme sambhal kar rehna padhega…..woh kuch bhi kar sakta hai……

Mu:  hum mein se kissi ek ko ridz ka saath rehna padhega…..woh usse dobara milne ki koshish zaroor karega….

Ar:  main rahooga  uske saath…..

Everyone looks at him surprised because of his involuntary protective tone.Just then someone enters from back saying 'iski koi zaroorat nahi hai lover boy'.Everyone turns around & are shocked to see amit there with a wicked smile on his face.Armaan grabs his collar & starts shouting 'tumhaari yahaan aane ki himmat kaise hui???'Rahul-atul pull armaan back & look at amit with pure hatred & anger.

Am(smiling):  so lover boy…..kab tak riddhima ka khyaal rakh sakte ho???

Ar:  jeevan bhar mein uska khyaal rakhooga…hamesha uske saath rahooga aur tum jaise gire hue logon usse bachaakar rakhooga…

The entire mallik family looks at him shocked except rahul who was doubting their relationship since a long time.Ridz eyes had begun to moisten due to the tension created by amit.

Am:  tumhe lagta hai riddhima ki asliyat jaan ne ke baad tumhaara parivaar usse swikaarega???

Ridz fears were coming true & so did armaans.They didn't want armaans family to come to know the truth like this.

Ra:  kya matlab hai tumhaara????

Am:  kyu tumhaare lover boy bhai ne tumhe bataaya nahi ki jis ladki se woh pyaar karta hai woh aur koi nahi balki riddhima hai.(Everyone were shocked to hear this.)Itna hi nahi uska ek beta bhi hai jisse tum log jr.armaan ke naam se jaante ho.

             This was news even for rahul.Everyone looked at armaan half expecting him to slap amit & say it was all a lie.But armaan was looking down guiltily & so was ridz.Now everyone got cleared regarding the confusions as to why jr.armaan resembled so much to armaan.Keerti was looking at armaan with pure anger.She looked at armaan & asked him to say the truth.Armaan looked at her apologetically & explained her the night in which he & ridz met.He tried to reason out that what happened wasn't wrong as they fell in love & nearly got married at the same time as AA did.But keerti's next question left him speechless.

K:  then why did she leave you next morning?Y didn't you bring her home?

Armaan & ridz were both looking at each other & trying to talk through eyes.Now was the time they had to tell their family ridz truth.But before they could speak amit cleared his throat.

Am(smiling even more wickedly):  main bataata hu……actually yeh jo seedhi-saadhi masoom dikhne waali riddhima asal mein ek prostitute aur bar dancer hai……

Everyone couldn't believe their ears.This couldn't be the truth.Ridz teary eyes proved this point to be true.

Am:  aur itna hi nahi aapka beta bhi yeh sach jaant ta hai…..kya aap aisi ladki ko apni bahu banaayenge jiska khoon hi ashudh hai….aise ladki se shaadi karwaakar kya aap samaajh mein apni izzat gawaana chahti hai???log sochenge ki armaan mein hi koi kami hai jiski wajah se aapko aisi ladki se apne bete ki shaadi karwaani padhi…

Just then the police entered & pulled amit alongwith them.Amit was still shouting 'meri baat yaad rakhna….yeh gandha khoon aapke poore khaandan ko gandha kardega'.There was silence for 2 mins as amit's words were ringing in their ears.Armaan looked at her mom & he had never in his life seen her face so red with anger.Her eyes were looking at him & ridz with pure hatred.Never has she felt so humiliated & embarrassed.She didn't know what to say.Armaan looked at everyones face.No one tried to console him.No one was going to support his love.Ridz was still sobbing.Armaans heart broke looking at her dishelved condition.Naina was patting her back & trying to console her.Then muskaans voice broke the silence.

Mu:  iska matlab aaj tak job hi hua who sab ek dhongh tha????riddhima ne humaare vishwaas ke saath khela…..aur armaan tum???(her voice choked as even she started crying).

An:  aap sab kuch decision le uske pehle main aap so kuch bataani chahti hoon.

Everyone looked at anjie.She took a deep breath & continued.

An:  riddhima prostitute nahi hai…..woh sirf ek bar dancer hai…..woh jis jagah rehti hai woh zaroor badnaam hai par riddhima mein koi gandha khoon nahi hai…..armaan ke ilaawa usne aaj tak kissi aadmi ko apne paas nahi aane diya….

Mu:  tum pehle se yeh sab kuch jaanti ho????

An:  haan maine armaan aur naina ke beech ki saari baatein sun li thi….naina ki madad se hi maine armaan aur riddhima ko kareeb laane ki koshish ki……riddhima ek bahut achchi ladki hai aur armaan ke liye bahut sahi bhi…..please usse sweekaar kar lo…..

Mu(crying):  anjali main tumhe apni choti behen maanti thi…par tumne mujhe pehle kuch bataana zaroori nahi samajha…..aaj pehli baar tumne mujhse koi baat chupaayi hai….aur woh bhi is riddhima ki wajah se… main riddhima ko kabhi bardaasht nahi kar sakti….main usse armaan se shaadi karne nahi doongi….

An:  par muskaan woh armaan se pyaar karti hai…

Mu:  aisi ladki kabhi kissi se pyaar nahi kar sakti…woh sirf armaan ka paisa chahti hai….bolo tumhe kitne paise chahiye armaan ka peecha choodane ko???

Ridz couldn't take it anymore.She cried & cried & ran away from the room.Naina was quiet upset & angry at the whole mallik family.

N:  aap logon ne uske saath achchaa nahi kiya….riddhima ka pyaar bikaaw nahi hai….armaan mujhe tumpe taras aa raha hai ki tum apne pariwaar ko apne pyaar ka matlab nahi samjha paaye…..tumne saabit kar diya tumhaara pyaar kitna khokhla hai….riddhima toh poori tarah se toot gayi hai par tum bhi kabhi khush nahi reh paaoge….

Saying this she left from there.Armaan looked at his family.He tried saying something but his mom cut him & replied him.

Ke:  riddhima hamaare ghar ki bahu kabhi nahi ban sakti.armaan tum usse bhool jaao.mujhe tumse aur anjie se yeh umeed nahi thi.Kamse kum hamaare ghar ki izzat ka toh khyaal rakha hota.

Ar:  par mom mein usse pyaar karta hoon…..

Ke:  par woh tumse pyaar nahi karti hai….tum aisi ladkiyon ko nahi jaante…yeh log paison ke liye kuch bhi karti hai…

Ar(angry):  that's enough now….aap riddhima ke baare mein kuch nahi bolenge….aap nahi chahte main usse shaadi karoon to theek hai main nahi karooga kyunki maine riddhima se waada kiya tha agar aap nahi maane toh main aap ko force nahi karooga….lekin mujhe us hi riddhima ki kasam hai mom ki main aur kissi bhi ladki se kabhi shaadi nahi karooga….kissi aur ladki ko apne paas aane nahi doonga….aap mujhe kabhi khush nahi dekh paayegi…

Saying this he left from there in anger to see riddhima's dance.May be this is the last time he'll be seeing her.He wants to capture each & every moment of his love before bidding her farewell.The malliks were no longer interested in watching her performance but the main gate had been closed & being the great known doctors they were not allowed by the manager to leave the premises.Moreover they are the ones who are going to inaugurate the hotel & hence they compulsorily had to attend the dance & the party kept after that.Here naina had called bi & explained her all that happened.

           The curtains opened & riddhima sat in the centre with a ghoonghat over her head.Slowly the music started & she removed her ghooghat.Her eyes were still red but she looked mesmerizing in her get up of a newly wed dulhan.

(This song is from the movie jaanam samjha karo & goes perfectly with ridz condition.Do read the lyrics as it has a beautiful meaning).

               "Sabki baraatein aayi doli tu bhi laana,

                 sabki baaratein aayi doli tu bhi laana,

                 dulhan banaake humko rajaaji le jaana, (looking at armaan).

                 sabki baaratein aayi…..

 

                 Chaha tha maine,socha tha maine,

                 Kya kya the armaan dil-e-naadan ke;(looking at mallik family but keerti turned her face in disgust)

                 Aankhon mein aansoon aayeeee…..hooooo (ridz tears started falling down)

                 Aankhon mein aansoon aaye par koi na aaya,

                 Ab toh kissi ko bhi apna ke hai bhulaana,(again looking at armaan)

                 sabki baaratein aayi…….

 

                 In aankhon mein thi,ek raat saji,(remembering her dream of wedding to someone someday)

                 Haathon mein kabhi,chudi si baji,

                 Par aankh khuli toh aaya nazar,

                 Na raat saji na chudi bajiiiiiii;

                 Mera toota tha dil,uski chankaar thi,

                 Saara woh rang tha mere khooni dil ka, (armaans heart broke hearing this)

                 Yeh toh hai rona dil ka……aaaaaaaaaaa….

                 Yeh toh hai rona dil ka, Kaahe ka taraanaaaa…… (anjie was crying on atuls shoulder while muskaan was trying to control her tears)

                 Ab toh kissi ko bhi apna ke hai bhulaana……

                 Sabki baraatein aayi doli tu bhi laana,

                 dulhan banaake humko rajaaji le jaana,

                 sabki baaratein aayi…..

      aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…………….aaaaaaaaaa  aaaaa……..aaaaaaaaaaa…… (entire audience was stunned & was in tears since in this 2 minutes music ridz went round & round trying to show all her pain but the audience didn't know this pain was real…..even keerti could no longer act strong & started crying.)

 

                 Chalo job hi hua,woh khoob hua,

                 Ab har koi,mehboob hua,

                 Hai sab ke liye yeh raat meri,

                 Ab toh hai yahi aukaad meri, (armaan could no longer take this.He wanted to capture her dance in his eyes but his eyes were so moist that he couldn't see her clearly & his heart was beating with each step she took in the dance)

                 Haske bheege palakh chamkaana hai,

                 Suni aahein adaa se lehraana hai…

                 Ghum kha ke, aansoo pee ke……hooooo….. (muskaan gave up & cried on rahuls shoulder)

                 Ghum kha ke, aansoo pee ke mehfil mein gaana

                 Ab toh kissi ko bhi apna ke hai bhulaana……

                 Sabki baraatein aayi doli tu bhi laana,

                 dulhan banaake humko rajaaji le jaana,

                 Sabki baraatein aayi doli tu bhi laana,

                 dulhan banaake humko rajaaji le jaana,

                 sabki baaratein aayi….."

The song ended with riddhima on her knees crying & begging for her love.She got a big round of applause & even a standing ovation for her heart wrenching performance(even from the malliks).Little did she know that she had to some extent changed mallik's mind again as now they were in 2 minds & were thinking of reconsidering their decision.They had seen true love in ridz eyes for armaan.Muskaan was the last person who kept on crying & crying with rahul trying to console her.She requested rahul that she wanted to go back to hotel room & didn't want to stay here.She needed some rest for her child.Rahul agreed to take her but she refused saying that she wanted to be alone for sometime.Rahul reluctantly let her go alone knowing that there was no point arguing with her.However he asked her to be in touch knowing that mentally she was not well.

Hotel's inaguaration took place by shubh-keerti & they were all in the party as the manager would not let them skip it.Keerti had seen armaans state after ridz dance & her heart ached looking at him like this.Armaan was even more determined after ridz performance that he'll once again talk to his family.Finally as the party begun the mallik's got a chance in a corner to discuss regarding AR since other guests were busy dancing.

An:  mom kya aapko abhi yeh lagta hai ki riddhima naatak kar rahi hai??mom woh armaan se sachaa pyaar karti hai.

Ar:  haan mom mein uske bina nahi jee sakta……please mom dubaara sochiye…

Ra:  mujhe lagta hai mom humme ek baar fir sochna chahiye.riddhima sach mein ek achchi ladki hai.agar uske mann mein koi kharaabi hoti toh woh itni aasaani se armaan ko nahi chod deti…

Ke:  par hum uska yakeen kaise kar le….agar woh galat nikli toh kya hum apne aap ko maaf kar paayenge???agar uska pyaar jhootha nikla toh…

WM:  uska pyaar jhootha nahi hai…

Someone entered from behind interrupting their conversation.It was bi & naina.Keerti turned around & both were shocked to see each other.

Ke & Bi:  TUM!!!

Bi:  keerti…tum….tum armaan ki maa ho????

Ke(smiling):  shehnaaz tu….itne saal ke baad….tu kahaan chali gayi thi????

Both hugged as long lost friends.Their eyes were moist with happiness for meeting after so many years.

Ke:  tu theek toh hai na…….kahaan chali gayi thi tu????kitna dhoondha tha humne tujhe…..

Na:  kya aap ek doosre ko jaante hai???

Ke:  haan hum bachpan se saath hai….iske maa-baap ke mar jaane ke baad mere pariwaar ne usse apnaaya….apni beti ki tarah rakha…hum best friends the….college bhi saath jaate the….wahi se to shubhankar aur mere pyaar ki shuruaat hui….fir hum sab ek saath internship kar rahe the….iske liye ek bahut achaa rishta aaya tha par shaadi waale din hi yeh gaayab ho gayi….koi nahi jaanta tha yeh kahaan gayi thi…..logon ko lagaa yeh shaadi se bhaag gayi par main jaanti hu yeh aisa kabhi nahi kar sakti thi….maine aur shubhankar ne milkar isse bahut dhoondha….par yeh nahi mili….kahaan chali gayi thi tu???

Bi:  mujhe aaj bhi woh din yaad hai…main parlour se waapas aa rahi thi par tabhi kuch logon ne mujhe raaste se agvaa kar liya…maine khud ko bachaane ki bahut koshish ki par bachaa na paayi….un logon ne mujhe bech diya…..mujhe ek kothe par bhej diya….maine bahut koshish ki wahaan se bhaag nikalne ki par meri duniya ujad chuki thi…(crying)….main jaanti thi main kabhi us shareef doctor ki zindagi mein waapas nahi pahunch paaogi….maine haar maan li aur isi ko apni taqdeer maan li…par maine socha tha ki main kissi bhi ladki se saath wahaan zabardasti nahi hone doongi…kotha toh bandh ho gaya par uski jagah dance bar khul gaya jahaan yeh saari ladkiyaan naach kar apna peth paalti hai…inmein se kuch aisi hai jinhe zyaada paisa kamaane ki jaldi hai aur isliye galat kaam kar ti hai….par maine is baat ka dhyaan rakhaa hai ki kissi ke saath bhi koi zabardasti na ho….khaas kar ke riddhima ka…

Ke:  riddhima???

Bi:  haan riddhima bhi meri beti jaisi hai…..saari buri nazar aakar us par ruki hai par usne kabhi koi galat kaam nahi kiya…(she tells her how she met riddhima when she was small & how riddhima has matured….Her true love for armaan & she even gave up dancing for armaan's sake.)Riddhima bahut achi aur sachi ladki hai keerti…usse achi ladki armaan ko kahin nahi milegi….

Ke(crying):  mujhe maaf kar de shehnaaz….tere saath itna sab kuch ho gaya aur main tujhe nahi bachaa paayi…..maine tujhe hamesha apni chotti behen maana par apni chotti behen ka dhyaan nahi rakh payi....

Bi:  nahi keerti ismein teri koi galti nahi hai…yeh toh meri taqdeer thi….aur mujhe is baat se koi shikwa ya shikaayat nahi hai…..

Ke:  par ab main tujhe kahin nahi jaane doongi…..hum kal hi Mumbai ke liye rawaana ho jaayenge….wahaan jaakar dhoom-dhaam se armaan-riddhima ki shaadi kar denge…

Armaan got a big million dollar smile hearing this.He hugged his mom & said a big thank you.Everyone was happy for them.Armaan started calling riddhima but her cell was switched off.

Bi:  array shashank tum bhi yahaan ho…padma kaisi hai????tumhaari baat aakhir bani ki nahi???

On hearing this shashank's face became upset & so did shubh-keerti's.Anjie noticed the change of expressions on their faces.Her mom's name was smriti not padma.She was bit confused.

An:  dad yeh padma kaun hai??

Bi:  dad???tum shashank ki beti ho???padma bhi humare group ki ladki thi….woh aur tumhaare dad ek dusre ko bahut pasand karte the…par shayad unki baat nahi bani…kyu shashank kya hua???

Shashank looked at anjie & then at bi signaling her that anjie knows nothing.Bi got the signal & tried changing the topic but anjie was not ready to give up.

An:  dad please mujhe bataaye sach kya hai???mom ki death ke waqt main bahut choti thi par mujhe itna yaad hai aap log bahut ladte the…..maine har raat aapko rote dekha hai…har baar dadi aap ko sambhaalti….please mujhe bataaye dad….kya aap ki shaadi majboori thi?????kyu ladte the aap aur mom itna??????maine kabhi aap se kuch nahi pooch par aaj main sach jaan na chahti hu.... 

Shashank wiped his tears.Everyone were silent on hearing this.Even anjie was crying.

Sh:  please beta mujhe maaf kar dena.Main nahi chahta tha tumhe in sab ke baare mein pata chale.Main sach keh raha hoon maine apne aur smriti ke rishte ko sambhaalne ki bahut koshish ki.Mere naseeb main naa hi smriti ka pyaar tha aur naa hi padma ka saath.

Anjie(hugging her dad):  nahi dad isme aap ki koi galti nahi hai.mujhe aap se koi shikaayat nahi hai.

Armaan came back.

Ar:  naina kya tum jaanti ho riddhima kahaan gayi hai???main usse kabse call karne ki koshish kar raha hoo par lag nahi rahaa.

Na(winking):  kyu jeeju…bahut jaldi hain apni dulhan ke paas jaane ki....          

Ar(restless):  please batao na woh kahaan gayi hai????

Na:  ab toh aap officially mere jeeju hone waale hai….to thoda rishwat ka toh haq banta hi hai….

Armaan quickly removed his wallet.

Ar:  jaldi bolo tumhe kitne paise chahiye aur batao riddhima kahaan gayi hai…

Na:  aapko kyu lagta hai ki main paison se maan jaaogi???

Ar:  please please please meri pyaari behna….bataa do riddhima kahaan hai?????

Na:  ooooooo itne bechain…..theek hai bataati hoon.woh jr.armaan ko neend aa rahi thi isliye usse hotel lekar gayi….aur usse bhi aaraam ki zaroorat thi…..

Armaan turned around in excitement & collided with atul.His wallet dropped & the chain which riddhima had given him years back fell down.

Ar:  atul kya kar raha hai tu….ek toh mujhe itni jaldi hai aur tu…

At:  maine kya kiya…tu hi takraaya.....

Sh:  armaan yeh chain tumhaari hai???

Ar:  nahi riddhima ki…..usne mujhe di thi….

Shashank took the chain & examined the locket in the chain.

Sh:  yeh toh padma ka locket hai.

Everyone looked at him surprised.

Bi:  yeh tum kya keh rahe ho???

Sh:  haan yeh locket padma ka hai.Shayad aap logon ne isse dhyaan se nahi dekha.Yeh ek adhura locket hai.Iska dusra tukda mere paas.

He removed a chain from his neck which had a locket just like this.On bringing the other half close the lockets fused together due to magnetic effect.

Sh:  yeh lockets maine aur padma ne exhibition mall se khareeda tha.Par yeh riddhima ke paas kaise aaya????

Bi:  iska matlab shashank tum riddhima ke pita ho……

This was too much to digest by everyone.One by one all sorts of shocked news were getting relieved.She explained to them how this locket was with riddhima when she had found her the rainy night.It was the only thing her mother could give her.

Bi:  yakeen nahi hota duniya kitni chotti hai……main itne saal se riddhima ko paal rahi thi par yeh nahi jaan ti thi ki woh meri saheli ki hi beti hai……itne saal mein hum sab ki zindagi ne kitne alag mode le liye.College mein kabhi socha nahi tha ki is tarah alag honge aur kuch saal ke baad dobaara milenge.

Armaan was confused as he was still oblivious to some facts regarding shashank-padma.

Sh:  aakhir mujhe apni beti mil hi gayi…..anjali riddhima tumhaari behen hai…..

An:  haan papa mujhe apni behen mil gayi….isliye mujhe riddhima ke saath hamesha se ek conncetion lagta tha…..woh connection aap hai papa….armaan main bhi riddhima se milne chaloogi…..apni chotti behen se bahut saari baatein karni hai….

Sh:  main bhi apni beti ke paas jaana chahta hoon…..

At:  par yeh pagal manager humme yahaan se nikalne dega kya???

Ke:  woh shayad yahaan nahi hai….yahi sahi mauka hai…..chalo yahaan se bhaag chale…….

They all ran towards the hotel.

SAME TIME WHEN ALL THIS HAPPENED AT HOTEL:

Muskaan was still thinking about riddhima.She was still confused that the dance which she did was from her heart or just an act.She was armaans best friend & didn't want anything wrong to happen with him.If they actually loved eachother then there was no harm in their relationship.But if ridz didn't love armaan & its all a fake then…..How can she just risk armaans life.Riddhima had hid the truth from them.How can they just trust her with it.Just then severe pain began in her stomach.She couldn't get up from bed & her mobile was on other side of table.After coming back she had called rahul & informed her safety & left the mobile on table.She was still 8 months pregnant.How can this pain start all of sudden & that too when no one is here.She started drawing deep breaths.She started crying as the pain was terrible & rahul was not there on her side.Why did she have to be so impulsive & didn't let rahul come.She couldn't take the pain.Her child wanted to come out.She felt damn helpless.She shuddered at the thought if something happened to her child.

Just then riddhima entered her room.She was walking in the passage when she heard muskaans moans & sobs.She got damn scared looking at her condition.At first she was too shocked to react.She realized muskaan is having a premature delivery & that too not normal.She thought of calling rahul at once but knowing that he was in party it would take time for him to reach here.She didn't even have time to call sanjeevani as that would also take time.Muskaan had started bleeding a lot & ridz knew there was no time to waste.She hold muskaans hand & tried calming her down.Her bleeding was increasing.Riddhima knew everything was in her hand.She had to operate muskaan without wasting time.But she had never operated anyone.She had seen all sorts of videos of operations while bi taught her all about MBBS.Now was the time to do something in action.Even a minute delay now could endanger both muskaan & the child's life.Ridz searched the drawers & found all equipments & injections in rahuls tool kit.She was too scared to do anything on her own.But her heart told this was the only right thing she could do for now.She had to make her bi proud today.She did a silent prayer & injected muskaan.Then nervously she did her operation & got the child safe & healthy.Next she did muskaans stitches & wrapped the child in a dupatta.Muskaan was still unconscious.The entire mallik family entered & got biggest possible shock of the evening 'RIDDHIMA HAD JUST SAVED MUSKAAN & THE CHILD'S LIFE'.Riddhima was too nervous to tell anything as she thought they all hated her.She tried explaining them that muskaans condition was worse & she didn't have time to call anyone as each minute was important.Keerti came in front of her & riddhima was expecting a slap from her but was shocked to see that keerti gave her blessings.It was now her time to get all the big news she had missed at the party.She couldn't believe she had finally found her father.Her family.Her dream was coming true.Her life was changing.She was getting armaan,her love back after losing all hopes.Rahul couldn't be less grateful to her for saving muskaan & his baby boy.Yes,this time muskaan won as they got a boy.Muskaan was still doing checkups for 2 days to make sure she is ok & the child has no problems(ofcourse on rahul's persistence).Muskaan's double mind regarding riddhima had cleared the minute riddhima entered to help her in the room when she had no one there.

1 WEEK LATER:

Everyone are back to Mumbai & today is AR's marriage.Everything happened in full swing.No one could be less happy.Bi & naina are also back to stay with malliks as keerti didn't want them to go back.Riddhima's dream has finally come true.She got her own family.She got to know her ancestors.She got many more relations on becoming mrs. Armaan malik.She couldn't have asked for anything more.Jr.armaan's happiness had no bounds too.He finally got his father.His siblings with whom he plays all sorts of pranks.Riddhima still couldn't believe that finally her hand has mehndi.She has finally become armaan's dulhan.She touched her sindoor & mangalsutra to be sure this all is just not a dream.She is doing internship at sanjeevani under armaan's assistance.After muskaan's case no one doubts her capability.Her life had completely changed & shaped up as she always wanted it to be.Her life no longer had the daag which she always carried.  

A VERY BIG THANKYOU to all of you for liking my ff so much.Even a big SORRY for such a delay in the last part.I hope i havent broken anyones expectations.I've tried my best to include everything in this part.

Also i'm starting a new ff on AR & this time its going to be a murder mystery.If you like my ff's then do read that too.