Chapter 26

Recap

Armaan and Shilpa make up

Riddhima and Sid back from their honeymoon

Part 26:

"Hey Shilpa!"

"Hi Sid! I mean jiju…" Shilpa grinned as Sid entered the gupta mansion. "Di kaha hai?"

"Di? Jiju se milne ki khushi nahi hai? Sirf di se matlab ahi na tumhe?" Sid pouted.

"Arre baba.. Aisa nahi.. for me you will always be my cutest, best friend, jisne mujhe tab sambhaka jab main khud hosh mein nahi thi…" Shilpa finished and hugged him.

Sid smiled. "Tumhari di ghar par hi hai… main toh aise hi milne chala aaya. She'll join us in some time."

"Aur batao… How was your honeymoon?" Shilpa teased.

"Wish it never ended… how do you think it was?" he winked and Shilpa chuckled.

"Where is everybody else? Ghar par koi nahi hai kya?" he asked.

"Nahi… papa toh Sanjeevani mein hi hai. And ma and nani kisi function mein bahar gayi hai."

"Oh.. okay.. aur what's new?"

"Kuch nahi, apart from rahul and muskaan's news… abhi toh unki shaadi ki preparations chalu ho jayengi…"

"And Armaan kaisa hai?" Sid ribbed.

Shilpa's smile faltered. "Achha hai… in fact bahut achha hai"

Sid looked at her closely. "Kya hua Shilpa? Koi problem?"

She looked at him. "Nahi yaar… kuch nahi…"

"Shilpa… batao kya hua? Uss idiot ne phir kuch kaha kya? Mujhe rahul ne sab bata diya hai… about your misunderstanding…"

"Nahi nahi… all that is sorted out now. Its just… the other day… Armaan mentioned how much he trusts me and how I can trust him too.. but i have kept him in dark about the biggest truth of my life. I am scared Sid. What if decides he does not love me after I tell him who I really am? I don't know if I can lose him now that he's finally mine…"

"Shilpa… don't worry… he patted her on the back. Who you really are is a really sweet, smart, beautiful and caring person. What you are is the best buddy a guy can ask for, the best sister a girl can ask for… so don't ever doubt yourself okay? But you know, I think you should tell him about it yourself before he finds it out from someone else. He'll understand if you tell him on your own. If he hears it from someone else he'll think you're trying to hide this from him. "

Shilpa nodded. "Thanks Sid! I don't know what I would do without you…" she winked.

"Anytime Sali saheba" Sid grinned.

They were soon joined by Padma and nani. Shashank and Riddhima arrived too and they all sat down for dinner.

"Aur Riddhima beta… how was your first day at the hospital today?" Shashank asked.

"The best dad! It didn't feel like I was away…"

"that reminds me, Shilpa we need to discuss some important issues about the children's ward that you have shortlisted. Lets schedule a meeting for that tomorrow. And-"

"That's enough! No more work-related talk on the dinner table!" Padma interrupted. "atleast ghar par toh give the girls a break."

"But-"

"Shashank aapka bas chalet oh ghar par bhi hospital khol de…"

And they started arguing. Shilpa and Riddhima exchanged glances and they along with Sid and nani shook their heads and giggled.

"Achha okay… Kyat um log bachon ke jaise lad rahe ho?" nani interrupted.

Shashank and Padma flushed. "Kya ma aap bhi?"

"Achha by the way Riddhima beta, kal karwachauth hai…tumhara aur Sid ka pehla karwachauth…"

Riddhima looked at Sid and smiled.

"Karwachauth kya hota hai ma?" Shilpa asked.

Padma and nani exchanged glances. Riddhima also looked shocked.

"Tumhe karwachauth nahi pata beta??" Padma asked.

Shilpa looked up to see four faces staring at her. "Nahi? Kyun?"

"Tumhare ghar kisine--"

"Nahi.. nahi kuch nahi… aise hi… Padma tumhe samjhagi ke karwachauth kyun rakhte hai…" Shashank cut in before she could mention Shilpa's family or someone.

"Haan…" Padma took the hint and smiled. She started explaining the significance of the vrath.

"Beta, karwachauth is a fast that a girl keeps for her soul mate. Through this fast she prays for a long and healthy life of her mate. She cannot have food or water for the entire day, until her husband feeds food to her and offers her water with his own hands."

"That is so cool… so di is going to keep the fast for Sid? Di sochlo, iske liye fast rakhoge?" Shilpa teased.

"Oye! Kya kaha?" Sid said and started chasing her around.

"Di! Save me!! Di!" she screamed and hid behind Riddhima.

"Ise toh main chodunga nahi!!" Sid around Riddhima behind Shilpa, and everybody laughed at their tom and jerry chase!

-----

The next morning, Shilpa entered the locker room to be greeted by a very sweet sight. Rahul and muskaan were lost in their la-la land, gazing into each other's eyes, and wearing their lab coats at the same time.

"Uh-Uh" Shilpa coughed and broke the spell. "Sorry guys… abhi kuch der mein sab log aa jayenge. Waise hi aaj kal tease karne ke liye tum log hot topic ho… aise hi chala toh baki log chodenge nahi… aura b toh Riddhima and Sid bhi yaha hai.." she teased.

"Shilpa! " Muskaan warned.

"Achha baba..sorry" Shilpa grinned and turned around to find Armaan and Riddhima entering the locker room. They were whispering something. Shilpa looked at them curiously. When they realized there were other people in the room, they stopped their discussion and Armaan walked towards Shilpa.

"Hey bracelet…" he greeted her. She smiled and replied back "Hey…".

Everybody started to leave as the announcement for their duties was done. Armaan called out to Shilpa and signaled her to stay back.

"Kal tumse baat hi nahi hui? Kaha thi?"

"Woh, di and Sid aaye the… they left pretty late… tum batao, kaise ho?"

"Tumse itni der se baat nahi hui? Kaisa honga?" he pouted.

"Hmm… naraz ho?"

Armaan nodded. "Bahut…"

"Well… hmm… kuch toh karna padega…waise tumhare liye surprise hai… aaj sham ko milo toh bataungi…"

"Kya surprise?"

"Bataungi toh surprise rahega kya Armaan??"

"huh… okay… magar ek shart par…"

"Kya?"

"Punishment milegi…"

Shilpa pretended to think for a minute. "shilpa!!" somebody called from behind.

"Sochungi…" she grinned and walked towards JP and the gang was waiting for them leaving Armaan fuming yet again.

So, that was it!!! tell me how it was :)

Cheers,

Vanshika