Chapter 35

 

 

'Riddhima..! Riddhima..look here!'

 

She looked up...amidst such a large number of people, his voice made its way to her ears, n she smiled. Rahul clicked a little memory as Riddhima stood on the other side of the prettily-decorated table, with Arima on her arm n Armaan on the other side. A huge, creamy cake was right in front of them...it was a little pink princess, the Sleeping Beauty, Arima's favourite. Coloured in different shades of pink n white n the sides in brown, n made in different tastes of strawberry n vanilla n chocolate, the cake stood handsomely, grabbing everyone's attention. It looked even more beautiful when Riddhima put a set of uniquely-waxed candles in the center, on the Sleeping Beauty's nose. The tiny flame flickered n Arima was all ready to blow her first ever birthday candle.

 

Armaan took his beauty from Riddhima, n bending, leaning on to the table, he asked her to blow the candle. 'Phoo Phoo' he went...n with that Arima exhaled deeply n as she did so the candle was blown off, n Arima looked up to see everyone clap loudly. She smiled, her dimple emerging from her right cheek. As her tiny hands clapped for herself, she felt Armaan taking one of them n cutting the cake...then Riddhima took a little piece n put it into her mouth. They all clapped again, n Arima wanted more. Armaan gave her some, then kissed her cheek. He looked back to see her smile, n he knew at that moment that this memory would stay with him forever. Riddhima didnt miss it...she just had to look in his eyes, n it was only them who knew how much this angel actually meant to them. She kissed her temple, then gave Armaan a napkin to clean his hand.

 

What followed was everyone wanting to give Arima a little cream of the cake...n when it was Muskaan's turn, the birthday queen refused to have anymore. So she then went into her daddy's arms, n lay her head on his shoulder. Yawn...it was past her sleeping time n the celebrations had made her go fatigue..n now all she wanted was a good night's sleep with mummy giving her milk. But mummy was busy elsewhere...the dinner was laid out, n the perfect host that she had always been, Riddhima walked upto each one of her guests to hand them out the plates...

 

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'So gayi?'

 

Armaan turned around to find Riddhima standing right behind him, with a plate full of food on her hand n her eyes questioning.

 

'Umm..yeah..' he replied. She had the same effect on him even now, after so many years...

there was the same tiny blush n the innocence of a five year old in her eyes...exactly for what he had fallen for...looking at the colour of her sari, he was instantly reminded of their first dance, in Lonavla..so many years back..it had been a pleasant night, n to add to the beauty of it, there she came to him, clad in something ever so pretty...the memory was afresh in his mind...her emotions, expressions, words, actions...

 

'Lao...mujhe do...' she whispered, handing over the plate to him, n disentangling Arima from his arms, quietly, so she wouldnt wake up.

 

'Tumne khaya?' he asked, taking the plate from her n patting Arima's head as she cuddled in her mother's lap.

 

'Nahi...I'll just feed her n put her to bed...' she shushed Arima, kissing her head, n then giving him a small smile, went inside.

 

'Riddhima kahaan jaa rahi hai?' asked Anjali.

 

The party had been over long before...with everyone headed back to their homes. Shashank n Padma had just left along with Nani...Rahul was inside, as Muskaan had not been feeling too well, n insisted on resting for sometime. Armaan muttered something about putting off Arima to sleep, as he took a bite n sat down next to Anjali.

 

 

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'Bacchhh mano...sshhhhh...so jata taa..ohhlleee...baby ko kitniiii neeni aayi hai..bacchhh..'

she patted Arima's head as she spoke her usual pacifying words to put the little one off to sleep. As she slid her under her comforter, she smiled to see Arima yawn n her eyes drifting off to sleep. She looked into those eyes till they were absolutely closed, n then sighing a little, Riddhima's face broke into a smile. She could not explain to anyone what she was feeling..the joy her heart experienced when she saw Arima like this..perhaps it was the same with every mother..but still, still it arised THE most craziest feelings inside her...She smiled between her tears as she recalled how Armaan pretended to be so unhappy as to why of all the days in the year, it had to be this very one that Arima was born...As she smiled, n then cried about it all, her memory drifted to Valentine's, two years back...

 

It had been almost six months since they'd been married, n still, it seemed like it was just yesterday...for she still blushed like a new bride n he still came up with all possible naughty ideas...But tonight, though was Valentine's, there was no sign of Armaan, n Riddhima frowned as she looked at the clock. It was close to midnight now, n he was supposed to reach an hour before, according to his last sms to her..she waited anxiously, as she heated the dishes the third time, fumbling with her dupatta, n smiling at the surprise she had kept for him. His favourite milk chocolate from Lindt was wrapped up in a beautiful sheet with a medium-sized red n pink card within an envelope...Riddhima checked her phone for the umpteenth time when she heard his car honk.

 

Running towards the door, with the same delight in her eyes n smile on her face as that of a six year old, Riddhima was very excited. She opened the door before he could ring the bell, n when he looked up to see her smile fully at him, he gave a watery one to her too, n walked in. Riddhima scowled..something wasn't right here..as he walked straight into their room, carrying the enormous pile of files on one arm n his laptop n other papers on the other. A minute later, she followed him, n adjusting his papers neatly on his table, she walked upto him. Armaan felt her arms creeping around him from back, n looking down at her hands, he let her hug him. He smelled of antiseptic, n the usual hospital smells they both were accustomed to by now. He turned to look at her, n as her eyes went up, her smile faded.

 

'Armaan...kya hua?' his eyes were blurry, n his face seemed so tired...she hadnt noticed how exhausted he was, yes physically, but mentally too, something was eating him inside.

 

'Kuch..kuch nahi..' he let her lead him to the bed, n sitting down beside him, she took one of his hands in hers, while the other went up to caress his hair.

 

'Tum itne pareshaan kyun lag rahe ho..? Kuch hua kyaa..?" she whispered, her fingers tracing his cheek..he hadnt had lunch..or tea..or dinner..or anything since that morning for that matter, she could make out.

 

'I-I couldnt operate on that patient..' his voice was filled with hurt. 'Mrs Sharma..?' she asked him tentatively..he nodded, 'aur unke husband..they were so miserable Riddhima..n poor..they couldnt even manage all this, n when Dr Shashank suggested phir bhi woh nahi maane..aur hum iss sab ke bavjood bhi kuch nahi kar paaye..' he sobbed now, as she hugged him, taking his face close to her shoulder, n whispered in his ears-

 

'Armaan tum..hamesha aise hi kyun sochte ho..? Am sure whatever little you did through all those tests n reports you have been working on since so long..all that wud surely have helped improve her condition...'

 

'...lekin Riddhima', he lifted his head to look at her, 'unhone hum par itna bharosa kiya..they had full faith in us, n still we couldnt operate properly..' his voice cracked as she looked into his red eyes, her thumb wiping off the tears from his cheek.

 

'Armaan hum doctors hain...' she took his face in her hands as he looked down, 'hamara kaam hai poori koshish karna..koi bhi kammi nahin chodni..lekin iska yeh matlab toh nahi ki humein hamesha kamyaabi milegi..' he looked at her as she caressed her cheek, 'jahaan takk main jaanti hun tumne woh sab kiya jo koi bhi aur dovctor karta..in fact usse kayi zyaada..thats what we can do, uske baad jo bhi hota hai, thats not in our hands...u knw that..'

 

There is always a little baby inside us all...that refuses to grow up, who still fears for the worst, who still needs to be encouraged n calmed down...He was one of the senior most doctors of the most well known hospitals of Mumbai, but that did not mean that he would never lose hope, or fall short of confidence, or just simply feel afraid. For such times, to boost him up, she was there...for however much strong n bold he may appear, inside there lived a young man who still wished for his dreams to come true.

 

Looking at her, feeling her touch his face, n listening to her words made a world of a difference. Their profession was certainly not a piece of cake, n they could not just work on one body after another..each day, treating various patients with all types of diseases...however much they loved it, n felt proud of securing such valued lives, it was a hectic job above all..He simply put his head on her shoulder as she tightly held his hand, kissing his head till she felt him relax in his arms. He drew back a few minutes later, n bringing her hand to his lips, he warmly kissed it. She smiled and staring into his eyes, she said, 'Main khaana laati hun..tum kapde badal lo...hmm..?' n squeezing his hand, she walked out of the room.

 

It had not been a perfect valentines, if anyone else would have seen it, but for Riddhima n Armaan, nothing could have beaten this. As they were seated on a one-seater, outside in their balcony, later that night, with Riddhima snuggled in his lap n the two pair of eyes focussed on one of Danielle Steel's best, they felt happy from within. Life was not a bed of roses...n a perfect married life could not have been complete without a set of problems..but the trust that they shared in each other had played the trick, perhaps. As she took another bite of the chocolate n flipped the page, Riddhima leaned back on his chest, not knowing when her eyes closed on their own n when he kept the book aside to kiss the top of her head, n looking at her till his eyes could no longer remain open. THIS was what defined 'love' to them as...to be there for each other, to do the smallest of things just to see that smile on their face, n to just make the other person feel that they meant the world to them...

 

 

Riddhima's reverie was abruptly broken when she heard the creak of the door, n turning around, she saw Armaan walking upto her. She smiled up at him as she settled Arima carefully in the cot.

'Rahul n Muskaan are leaving..they wanted to say bye to you..' he announced softly, taking her hand in his, n then, 'Tumaari tabiyat kaisi hai aaj..?' He had momentary forgotten all about the lil one inside n catching the blush that crept upto her cheek, he smiled.

'Theek hai...aur tumhain itni fikar karne ki zaroorat ni hai..agar tum pichli baari ki tarah hi behave karoge, toh main toh marr hi jaungi..' she narrowed her eyes at him, n then giving her a side smile n a fake frown, he asked, 'Acha..? n what exactly happened the last time?' Riddhima brushed her fingers off his cheek to remove the grain of rice he had next to his lips, 'Mere third month se hi mujhe maternity leave ke liye force karne lag gaye the...maine poore 6 mahine maggi nahi khayi...how cruel of you to do that! aur haan, mujhe jhukna bilkul allowed nahi tha, I couldnt wear my shoes properly, neither tie my laces, nor bend to pick up YOUR socks that lay scattered across the room.. khaana banana toh kya u didnt even let me step into the kitchen...n just because Dr Kirti recommended that I should be having herbal tea, u made me had it twice each day..ughhhh' she made a face to which he laughed. 'Haso matt Armaan..iss baar main tumhaari koi baat nahi sunne waali hun..n u cant force me..' folding her arms.

 

She looked so cute as she rambled about, frowning n pouting n making wierd faces about the protein milkshakes, n the soya sticks, n the yoghurt n all types of veggies that existed in the world...  that he couldnt help but move closer to put his arms around her, as she was caught unaware, n burrying his head in her hair, he smiled deeply. Now THIS was his Riddhima. The always bickering with him for no rhyme or reason.

 

'Armaan..yeh kya ho raha hai..?' he heard her speak in his chest as he kissed her neck for a while before planting another big one on the side of her head. She placed her hands on his chest then to stable herself, n drawing back, she whispered, 'I love you Armaan..' He touched his forehead with hers before muttering, 'Me too..'

 

 

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Hope yu like it!

 

Love n kisses