"Unki yeh mazaal? Kya sochtay hai apne aapko? Ladki waley hain kuch samaj hai unko? Mere bte ka Upanayan karvayengay? Bina mujhey poochey? Aaj tak maine unn logon ke tewar ko saha hai. Abb jo main chahti hoon wahin hogi. Dikhati hoon yeh Naina kya cheez hai. I teach them a lesson." Naina kept fuming till she was busted her anger on Dilip in the night.
Dilip rubbed his forehead with his finger tips. "Naina! Pehle wahan kya horaha hai pata lagao. Phir baad mein jo marzi chahey tum karlo. Upanayan karvana koyi buri baat toh nahin hai. Shayad Surya maanta hoga ki apna damaad ek Brahman ka vidhi ka paalan karey. Let me talk to him first."
Naina angrily looked at him while decided in her mind. "Tum baat karo ya nahin, main toh yeh nischit karliya hai ki abb inn donon khandanon ke beech koyi rista nahin judega."
****
"Papa!" Ridhima ran into Shashank's arms as soon as she entered his room. Shashank caressed her back with tears in his eyes. "Kyon aasoon baha rahi hai, Ridhi! Do you really care about me?"
Ridhima wiped his tears and lately hers, "aisa mut kahiye, papa! I do care about you. Aap hi mera pyar ko nahin samajh pa rahey hai."
Anjali interfered, "Ridhi! Abb papa ke kilaf kuch mut kaho. Phir se unkey health bigad jayegi."
Ridhima nodded her head and blankly looked at Shashank. He faintly smiled after closing his eyes to settle his inside turmoil.
At the same time Naina and Dilip entered with bouquets. "How are you Doctor? Yeh kya haal kardiya apney aapko? Kyon itna pareshan dil pe le rahey hai?" Both enquired affectionately in unison.
Shashank smiled and took the opportunity for his advantage. He put Ridhima's hand in Naina's hand without delaying. "Naina ji! Aaj se meri beti ka jimmedari aapke hai. Main rahoon ya nahin aaj se meri beti aapke ghar ki bahu hai."
Ridhima was shocked and as well Anjali and Atul. Atul pressed Anjali's hand and Anjali consoled him with her eyes. Dilip was annoyed in mind as he knew his both sons were already made up their minds. Naina was overwhelmed at her dream proposal and touched Ridhima's hand to her heart. "Aap abb bilkul chinta mut keejiye, Shashank bhai! Ridhima aaj se nahin abhi se meri ghar ki bahu hai. Main vachan deti hoon." Ridhima was shivered at the sudden developments and ran out of the room with tears filled eyes. She sobbed as collapsed in the chair outside the room. Rahul followed her and caressed her back to sooth her pain. Ridhima burst into tears as hugged him by her hands around his neck. "Ridhima! I can understand your pain. Abhi tum kuch nahin kaho. Jab shadi ki baari aayegi ,tab dekhlengey. Pehle Papa ko theek honey do." Ridhima sobbed until her pain lessened with tears.
Dilip and Naina thought she was completely shaken by her father's condition. Naina took Ridhima into her arms while leaving the place. "Ridhima! Papa jaldi se theek hojayengey. Be a strong girl. Tum bhi doctor ho. Aise toot jaogi toh papa ko kaun sambhalega? Didi ki madat karo bechari akeli sab responsibility liya hai. Main baad mein phir milti hoon. Mujhey bhi Aaliyah ki mangni ki taiyyariya karni hai. Ofcourse, Aaj se tumhara bhi. Mera matlab hai mere bte ka bhi." She unnecessarily smiled as cupped her cheek. Ridhima dropped tears helplessly at the new proposal which Naina took as reason for Shashank's condition.
*******
"Arman! Main bahut mushkil mein phas gayi hoon. Tum jaldi aakar mujhey sambhalo. I'm so confused to take any decision. Please, kuch karo." Ridhima pleaded in tears while she went home for lunch.
Arman seriously asked her, "What do you mean phas gayi hoon? Kya hua hai? Tumhara papa ne phir se rista lekey aye hain kya? Why don't you tell him about us? And now you are saying you are confused? How can you be confused? I'm really surprised to hear from your mouth, Ridhima! Ek hoshiyaar honehaar ladki jo kuch din pehley mere saat ek naye riste mein judgayi thi, kya wahi ladki aaj ye keh rahi hai ki 'confused hoon'?"
Ridhima was silent at his semi teasing tone. She was confused to inform about the alliance from Khanna house. Arman continued as irritated by her silence. "Ridhima! You remembered we are married right? Society ke samney na sahi magar hum donon suchey dil se ek hogaye they, right? Aur hum donon ek dooserey ke saat bahut aagey bud chukey bhi hain. Phir tum kiss baat se confused hogayi ho? Why don't you tell this to your people? I think you are getting carried away by your father's emotions. Main yahan kitney sapney lekar tumhare wapas aane ke khwaab dekh raha hoon. Maine humare liye ek ghar bhi dekh liya. Tumhare aatey hi wahan move hojayengey. For God sake, Ridhima! Come back. Hum donon ki Zindagi museebut mein mut daalo. Agar tum kuch aise kadam uthayi toh main kabhi tumhey maaf nahin karpaoonga. Tum samajh rahi ho na mere baaton ko?"
Ridhima pleaded him. "Arman! Meri majboori ko samjho. Main papa ki halaat ko nahin dekh pa rahi hoon. Tumhari madat ki jaroorat hai. Please ek baar yahan ajao. Mera hosla badega tumhey dekh kar."
Arman was annoyed when Ridhima was persistent on his presence in Mumbai. He felt the whole Gupta family was blackmailing him. "I cannot promise, Ridhima! Tumhey abb tak ghar mein sab kuch batana chahiye tha. Jo insaan apne damaad ke pariwar ka kuch bhi respect nahin kartey hai, unka respect karna mere liye mushkil hoga. Rahi baat tumhara papa ki. Unke dekhbaal karney ke liye apne ghar jamai toh hai na? Meri kya jaroorat wahan kuch bhi nahin hoga. I don't see any necessity of my presence there. I wish you come back soon." He hung up the phone with irritation.
*******
"Atta! Can I take Kripa out, please?" Angad requested Gayatri with pleasing tone. Gayatri always melted at his addressing, "atta'. She hesitated for a moment and agreed. Kripa took him to Tank bund and necklace road. They walked around hand in hand, had boiled corn with spiced masala; hot and spicy mirchi bujji; ginger mixed sugar cane juice before they settled at a cozy corner in eatery place. Angad ordered Hyderabad Biryani and chicken tikka masala with rumaali roti while Kripa preferred butter masala dosa.
"Baava! Tum ghar jamai ban-ney ke baad yeh sab chodna padega. Atleast in our house." Kripa warned about his food preferences. Angad frowned, "Arey, baavi! Do din se ghaas phoos kha kha kar mera apetite mar gaya hai. Aaj aram se enjoy karney do. Waise bhi aaj kal hur koyi non-veg kha raha hai." He raised objection for turning into vegetarian.
She smiled, "hur koyi nahin kuch log. I agree. Magar hum nahin badlay. Khaas kar mera pariwar. Tumhey jab bhi non-veg khanay ko mann lagega tub bahar hi milega. I'm not going to cook for you. Atleast not in my maayka."
He sighed aloud and enjoyed his food. "Chalo, Iss tarah main bhi aaj ki itihaas mein apna naam likhwaoonga. Amar premi Angad Khanna'pyar ke liye kya kya sacrifice karna padta hai."
Kripa giggled as finished her food. He pulled her and kissed her cheeks, "abb ek dessert bhi hojaye?" Kripa rolled her eyes as shook her head like a small child. "I would prefer butter scotch." Angad laughed softly and cupped her chin, "oh baby! I'm not talking about that dessert." He stroked her lips with his thumb. He tempted too much to touch her lips with his when Kripa blushed into red. She pushed him away immediately, "no way, baava! Yahan public place mein nahin. No way." He frowned, "oh meri pyari baavi! Yahan toh koyi nahin hai. We are in a secluded place."
Kripa giggled, "acha? Ek baar peechey dekho, pata chal jaayega." Angad turned his eyes to notice half a dozen teen girls giggling and chuckling as gave side glances on Angad and Kripa.
He sighed, "They are admiring your handsome boyfriend." Kripa moved her lips sideways, "yuh, right, bahut ghamand hai apne personality pur."
He chuckled and pressed her closer to him, "tum bhi bahut khoobsoorat ho. Mera ghamand tumhare saamney sar jhooka dega." She laughed and kissed his cheek, "aaj itna hi milega."
Angad frowned and quickly kissed her lips after checked the clear view from surroundings.
The group of teens shyly giggled and ran away from the place as the love couple could not escape their observation.
Angad proudly heaved sigh out as caressed kripa's cheeks and shoulders. "Tumhare hydrabad ke log itne innocent nahin hai." She rolled her eyes, "kisney kaha yahan ke log innocent hai? They know everything bus thoda hesitate kartey hai kyon ki tumhara Mumbai waley jaisa parents open minded nahin hain."
Angad groaned and leaned back in his seat. "wo toh pata hai. Tumhare parents ko dekhkar sab pata chal jata hai." She giggled, "tum ne bataya nahin gaon mein kya hua tha? How did you like there?"
Angad put fearful looks, "baaprey wo gaon hai? Mujhey laga jail. Aur tumhara baap!! Ooh," he sighed aloud. Kripa warned him with her eyes but he continued ignoring her warns. "Tumhare papa mera upanayan karvana chahtey hai. I don't think mom would agree for this."
Kripa smiled, "Naina Aunty ki marzi ho na ho, tumhara upanayan toh hokey hi rahega. Agar tum ghar jamai ki faisla liya hai toh papa ki yaani tumhara honeywale sasur ji ka aazna paalan karna padega."
Angad frowned for a moment and burst into laughter. He cuddled her with two hands, "don't you think ghar jamai is more responsible job than 'bahu'?"
Kripa giggled adorably and played with his hair. "Phir badi badi batey kar rahey they'"pyar ke liye itna toh kar sakta hoon; itihaas mein apna naam likhwaoonga'" she cupped his chin and played her eyebrows. "Abb samajh mein aaya kitna mushkil kaam hai ghar jamai ban-na?"
Angad nodded his head and pouted his mouth. Kripa held his chin, "phir ek baar sochlo. By the way you have to convince your parents too." He kissed her fingers and clasped with his, "sochliya hai, baavi! Tere bina jeena mushkil hai mere liye." She leaned on his chest and closed her eyes with satisfaction. He cuddled her closely and sighed as visualized the upcoming 'commotion' in his family. He could not help noticing Surya's tactics to bend Naina's ego too.
**********
"Hello! Dr.Arman! How are you?" Sheetal greeted him in the basement of their apartments. She smiled in friendly way as held out her hand to him and continued after noticed Arman's confused looks "I'm Sheetal, Ridhima's new friend' We haven't met before." She pointed fingers on both of them while explained. Arman recollected Ridhima's praises about Sheetal few days ago. He shook her hand with his "I'm sorry. I couldn't recognize before." Sheetal nodded as accompanied him to the elevator. "No problem, Dr. Arman! How is Ridhima? How is her father doing now?"
Arman explained about Shashank's illness, "She might stay back for some more time." Sheetal shook her head as understood the situation. "Aap jarahey hai?" She enquired while Arman was in his thoughts. He startled for her lenience and tied lips with confusion. She repeated her question as noticed his absence of mind through the twists of his eyebrows.
Sheetal smiled, "don't get me wrong, Dr. I know the differences of opinion between you and Dr.Gupta. Ridhima told me. I apologise if I'm intruding into your private life. But I suggest you should support Ridhima by going there; being with her there at this moment; for sake of your love. "
Arman was irritated at her interference but kept silent. He thanked her before he disappeared into his apartment. Sheetal reciprocated with a friendly smile, "I'm your friend, Dr. No need of saying thanks."
Sheetal's words echoed in Arman's ears while he freshened up and cooked food for him. By bed time he decided to go to Mumbai. He wanted to surprise Ridhima and dropped the idea of informing her. He was relieved and hit bed after thanked Sheetal in mind for making him realize to think about Ridhima.
Thanks to Editor-Yamini😊
Next Part: Will Arman able to convince Shashank? How the young couples react to the upcoming events?
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