Chapter 4

Part 3 – A bitter heartache

The words summed down slowly onto Armaan and Anjali's face. "Riddhima has blood cancer, Riddhima has blood cancer" a small tear fell down Anjali's eyes but Armaan was unmovable. He just stared at the leaves on the ground and remembered all his times with Riddhima in the past whether it was Holi or the Basketball date or whenever they were together but he also remember the valentine day when Riddhima told him that if she went away someplace, would he miss her? Armaan stared at the ground and a large tear fell down his eyes as he remembered everything. Anjali on the other hand was numb with tears following. For her, it was not memories with Riddhima that brought it back, but the fact that it was her little sister, and she flashbacked into a moment of the past.

"Di, Sapna's wedding was so much fun nah"

"Of course Ridzi, I am so happy Sapna. She truly deserves Amit."

"Yeah I know, Di"

"Di" replied Riddhima.

"Haan Bol Na,"

"When you get married, can I dress you up?" smiled Riddhima.

Anjali turned around and gave her sister a big hug.

"Of course stupid, who else is gonna dress me up?"

"But what if I am not here anymore? "Replied Riddhima with a sad voice.

"What the heck is that supposed to mean Stupid? You not there? Listen Ridzi, during my wedding, if you disappear, I'll never speak to you again"

"Okay di, I'll def be here for your wedding cause I can't live without not talking to you"

"Come here jaan"

And they hugged while Riddhima had tears down her eyes.

Flashback over

Anjali just remained on the bench numb with tears falling down her eyes. Armaan finally spoke silencing the whole thing.

"Sir, How long has Riddhima known that She has cancer?"

"7 months ago. She was feeling weak and weird so we went to the doctor and in 2 weeks, she found that she had blood cancer. Since it was at an early stage, we not worried so much but then…."

"Then?" replied Anjali.

"But then, we realized that Riddhima felt worse and took her to higher doctor and we realized that her cancer was not curable. And it hit me in the hardest point. Here I am doctor, a world known doctor and I cannot even save my own daughter"

"But Dad, 90% blood cancers are curable, how can this one not be? Did you do multiple reports?"

"We did Anjali and we tried to make sure that Riddhima led a normal life but even Riddhima realized that she could not lead a normal life. Every time her moods would change and she felt that her moods and in hiding her disease was forcing her to move away from Armaan and you."

Armaan and Anjali remember the time Riddhima was rude or angry with them. They both had tears down their eyes.

"Therefore Riddhima decided that she would go to London. I sent her to a great doctor and told her to do her entire treatment there. But then 5 months was a long time. I wanted her back and I knew that she had to come back for the two most important people in the world that she loves. You and Armaan" replied Shashank after a pause.

"Why didn't you tell us this before?" replied Anjali.

"Riddhima told me not to tell you. You are the first two I am opening my heart to. Padma, Nani and the rest of the gang does not know about this but I don't want Riddhima to know anything. I want you to be normal around her."

"Sir" replied Shubankar.

All straightened themselves up.

"Yes Dr. Shubankar."

"Sir, everyone is waiting for you guys. Time to cut the cake"

"Yes, we are coming" replied Shashank.

"Come let's go guys"

As Shashank moved forward, Armaan slowly got off his seat in the bench and followed him just to be stopped. They both turned around to see Anjali there.

"Anjali" replied Armaan.

"I can't face her. I can't look at her in the eyes and not tell her that I don't know anything. I can't stop crying, how am I supposed to face her?"

"Anjali, you at least get to be with her. I don't have that chance yet I am gonna be strong about it and we have to face this together. Nothing will happen to Riddhima"

Anjali got up from her seat and gave her hand to Armaan and they walked towards the party.

Riddhima was happily chatting along with everyone when she felt a breeze. She looked up to see him. Standing there in "Oh my god white t-shirt" She was amazed. She loved that t-shirt so much. And he looked good. Tears welled down her eyes as she realized how much she loved him and how much it had hurt to be away from him. She wiped her tears off.  Shashank reached for in between and made everyone come around the cake table.

"Di, where is Di?"

Armaan turned around and nudged Anjali to come forward. Everyone noticed the sad tone in Anjali's voice and in her eyes. Though Anjali could hide anything from everyone, but from her sister, she knew she couldn't. But fortunate for her Riddhima was not looking at her directly. The cake was decorated with pink flowers and white lilies. Atul told her to cut the cake and she did and feed the cake to everyone. She finally came around to Armaan and smiled and fed him a cake.

Eventually it started to rain and everyone rushed to grab a shelter. Armaan stared at Riddhima dancing in the rain like a little kid. Armaan couldn't help but smile and remember those golden memories that he had spent with Riddhima. The rain poured and poured. Riddhima danced to her glee and stopped when she saw Armaan there. Embarrassed as she was, she tried to walk away when he grabbed her arm.

"Basketball match?"