Chapter 31

Recap:

Shilpa decides to leave Sanjeevani.

Part 31:

He raced to his car. He knew exactly where to find her.

He was furious. Much of that anger was actually fear. Armaan had known such fear only once in his life, when he believed that he won't be able to save Shilpa from the fire at the Panchgani orphanage…

How dare she put him such situation again? How could she even think of leaving him? That too without so much as a good bye! She was running away again, but Armaan had a feeling that if he lost her now, she isn't coming back.

He turned his car roughly into a small lane, not caring about anything except reaching on time and getting to her. He parked his car and turned to reach in time.

There she was. Just looking at her dissipated all of fear, this ultimately translated into anger. But at least he wasn't too late. He saw her trying to cross the street, struggling with her suitcase, trying to carry it as quickly as possible. Having had enough, she turned to pick it up entirely and glanced in his direction. She froze and looked back, her eyes widening in shock. Even before she moved, he knew Shilpa was going to run. He started to rush towards her, trying to get hold of her.

Shilpa couldn't stop the familiar tremor that ran through her body, every time she saw him. But she could see him rushing towards her and she turned towards the bus in haste. Spotting him, she darted into the crosswalk just as the light changed. Suddenly she heard Armaan call out her name from behind and there was a loud blare towards her right. But before she could see what it was she was hit by it and she fell. And that last thing she saw was the black and yellow blog and blacked out.

"Shilpa!! No!!"

He saw it coming before it happened. An car broke around a slow car, accelerating directly toward the signal. Clearly, the driver didn't realize Shilpa was there. Armaan thought he shouted a warning. He knew he broke into a run. The driver didn't spot her until the very last instant.

The car's bumper clipped her with just enough force to send her somersaulting into the air before connecting with the pavement. He reached her side and knelt down. She didn't move, didn't even seem to breathe. From what he'd seen of her fall, she'd been sent flying toward the opposite sidewalk and hit her head on the curb.

And then he saw it, the slow, steady rise and fall of her chest, and he almost lost it. He pulled her into a hug and checked her pulse and sagged in relief. He took a good look at her and checked all the essentials. He took out his phone and called the hospital's emergency contact and barked out information about the accident. Everything said and done, he finally allowed the incident to sink in. He looked at her pale face, rubbing her forehead, soothing her trying to get a reaction out of her.

"Shona… Don't do this to me… Kyun bhag rahi thi mujhse… Shilpa.." he shook her.

"I didn't see her." the driver of the car appeared, staring down at Shilpa and wringing his hands. "She came out of nowhere."

"I saw what happened. It wasn't your fault."

Armaan's mouth tightened. The blame was all his, not the driver's.

"Is she-" The guy broke off, swallowing hard. "Is she---?"

"No. I've called for an ambulance."

As though in response, sirens wailed in the distance. A small crowd gathered around them and Armaan kept them back with a single terse command, followed by a look so black that it sent most of the onlookers scurrying on their way. The police arrived minutes later, the ambulance shortly after that. Armaan bent down along with the nurse as the police secured the area while he tended to Shilpa. His hands shook for a moment, but he willed himself to calm down. He quickly cleaned her wounds and very carefully picked her up in his arms as if she was made of delicate porcelain, walking towards the ambulance..

--

"Where is she? Is she alright?" Sid and Riddhima entered the ICU.

"She did not sustain any external injuries, but had bruised her head. There's nothing to worry. We will look at her again once she gains consciousness." Shashank said.

Riddhima looked towards the bed. Armaan was sitting right next to her, clutching her hand as if his life depended on it. She walked towards then and looked at Shilpa.

"Shilpa… " She whispered. "You gave us a scare babe… you stupid, stupid girl…" she touched her forehead, where she was injured, and bent to kiss her forehead.

Sid looked at Shilpa and touched her hair. Please be okay Shilpa… Don't give up…

He walked towards Armaan, and squeezed his shoulder. "She's going to be okay mate. I just talked to Dad." Sid said.

"Of course she is." But they could hear the shakiness in his voice. He was scared to death. Riddhima looked up at Sid. He nodded.

"Armaan, kuch nahi hoga usse… If you are with her, nothing can happen to her."

Armaan looked at him and nodded, his eyes wet. "It's me sid… she was running away from me… that's why she did not see the car coming… I am the reason she is in the hospital today…"

"No… Armaan you absolutely cannot blame yourself for it."

"It was an accident Armaan… you weren't to know…"

"But-"

"No!" Riddhima said. "We cannot be weak right now. She needs us to be strong for her. And most of all she needs you Armaan… you have to be there for her now…" she told him. "We cannot lose her… not after all this time…" and she broke down.

Sid rushed to her side and wrapped her up in his arms, as she sobbed. Armaan looked back at Shilpa, willing her to open her eyes.

--

Tu jahaan main wahaan

Sang sang yu chalu tere

Jaise tera aasmaan - 2

Armaan holds her hand, trying not to cry for her. Feeling so guilty about the way he had reacted. He vowed to never let anything happen to her again. He was so close to losing her again, and just because of his stupid pride.

Jo dhup nikli chaya ban jaaunga

jo ho tu akeli saaya ban jaaunga

jo uljhan mein ho mann main behlaaunga

Tum aa gaye ho toh jeena aaya hain

khushiya ka tumne yeh jaal bichaya hain

khoya hain khudko yah sab kutch paaya hain

tu jahaan main wahaan

sang sang yu chalu tere

jaise tera aasmaan

Armaan took care of her day and night. He did not leave her side, holding on to every hope that when she does get up, he'll be the first one to see her, talk to her, see if she's okay. He regretted every word of poison that he said to her.

"I think we should take a break from all this…"

Shilpa gasped. "You mean us? But-"

Armaan could still remember how pale and withdrawn she looked in the days to follow. He cursed himself every day for putting her through that. He sobbed, hugging her to him, just wanting her to get up.

Ho gam ke badal mujhpe tham jaane de

Bechainiyo ko mujhse takrane de

Dukhti ho koi baat mujhpe aane de

Armaan looked up to see Shilpa walking towards him.

He got up to rush towards her only to stop short when he felt a pull on his hand. He turn to see shil on the bed, just to realize it was a dream.

Dil sochta tha ke koi apna ho

Koi raaz na ho jo uss se rakhna ho

Aankhein na kholu main shayad sapna ho

Tu jahaan main wahaan

sang sang yu chalu tere

jaise tera aasmaan…

So how was it? I know it was a little sad, but i promise next ne definitely has arsh moments... it was important to put in some emotion into this one... plz dont hate me for shilpa's accident... It will only make ridz and armaan realize their mistake!!

Again, do leave your comments! Thanks for reading it!

Ciao

Vanshika