~~~ Part 14 ~~~
As Riddhima walks out of the locker room, she bumps into someone. When she looks up to see who it is, she is surprised.
Riddhima: Tum yahaan kya kar rahe ho Armaan?
Armaan points to Kritikaa, whom he is carrying.
Kritikaa: Ouch..Ridz didi...mere pet mein dard hai...Ouch...bohot dard...
Riddhima: Oh. Yeh, achaanak?
Kritikaa: Achaanak??..aaj maine...bohot zyaada...Ouch...kheer khayi...
Knowing Kritikaa, and her cute but naughty nature, Riddhima smiles to herself. She leads Armaan to a room, and instructes him to put Kritikaa on the bed so she can examine her, properly, to see if there are any further problems. Thankfully, there are no problems, and, after giving Kritikaa the initial dose of medicines, Riddhima goes back to Armaan, to explain to him Kritikaa's "sickness", and the treatment.
She does so, and not long after, hears Kritikaa calling her and Armaan. Riddhima turns to go to Kritikaa, but instead, her foot trips, and she falls down. However, Armaan is able to catch her on time. As Riddhima, scared, closes her eyes, Armaan is busy looking at her, or rather, as you can say, staring with love and admiration. Riddhima, once she realizes she is safe, opens her eyes, and finds Armaan looking at her. Unknown to her, she also starts staring back, that is, until the moment Kritikaa calls them again.
Soon, Armaan and Kritikaa leave, and Riddhime is left to wonder - what exactly happened between her and Armaan just a few moments ago?
Riddhima (thinking to herself): Mere aur Armaan ke beech mein kya hua? Haan...shayad kyunki main Kannav ko itna miss kar rahi hoon, isliye Armaan ke kareeb aa rahi hoon...
Riddhima is interrupted in her thoughts by Nisha, who comes in the room. Later, as she and Nisha walk home together, she forgets about this incident that happened.
Next day...
Armaan seems to be in his own world, dreamland the whole of the next day. {dunno why...but as i say this, i am thinking of that part in kal ho naa ho...the one where saif says welcome to lala land...oh god...that movie na...i miss the kanta ben parts...hahaha...lolz.😆😆..anyways,....back to the ff}
The whole day, he thinks about Riddhima - the incident that happened with them in the hospital the day before, the day they first met, the first time he saw her when she was singing so beautifully in the aangann, basically everything...
Even during a friendly cricket match he, Atul, and a few other close friends are having, Armaan is not able to concentrate properly. When he is batting, he just happens to see Riddhima's face in the ball {lolzzz...dont ask me why...even i dunno😆😆😆} He doesnt hit the ball, but, the ball does end up hitting the wicket. And, when Armaan it is Armaan's turn to bowl, he ends up giving 2 wides and one no ball in the same over. Plus, the opponent scores two boundaries.
Atul, who has been observing Armaan for quite some time now, calls off the game, and they decide to continue tomorrow. He then decides to go to Armaan and have a heart-to-heart talk with his best friend.
Atul: Heyy buddy. Aaj tumhein kya hua? Theek tarah se khel bhi nahin rahe.
Armaan (in signs): Oh. Sorry.
Atul: Kya yaar, yeh sorry. Aaj hum match haar hi jaate, agar main use call-off nahin karta. Bole tujhe kya hua.
Armaan: Kuch nahin.
Atul: Kuch nahin ka kya matlab? Mujhe pata hai ki zaroor kuch na kuch baat hai. Kal raat, hospital se aane ke baad bhi tum kuch distracted lag rahe ho. Kya hospital mein kuch hua?
Armaan (blushing...and still talking in his sign language): Haan. 😳
Atul: Oye hoye, Armaan. Tum sharmaa rahe ho. Kya hua hospital mein, Riddhima ke saath?
Armaan: Kya matlab Riddhima ke saath? Tumhein yeh kaise pata?
Atul: Well...Jis tarah se tum aise laal-laal tamatar jaise (hehe...i know...i always say this very same to my dialogue to my bestest friend ever...i wont mention her name though...but, i will tell u tt...she and this guy have had a major crush on each other since like..forever...well, maybe not forever😆😆 but at least for the past 7+ years or so...and, whenever she talks abt him, i like to tease her saying she is so red...more red than a tomato...plus...Armaan seems to blush a lot na? well...dont worry, ridz will also soon be doing the same...soon enuf...though dont ask me how soon😆😆...oh, and one more thing...just to share with u, since ur all my friends...i also blush like this...whenever i think too much and hard abt this guy i really really really like...have been liking him for abt 13 out of 17 years of my life...u all know him... if anyone wants to guess, feel free😆😆😆 i'll be happy to give u guyys a clues if u need...well anyways...again back to my story...i seem to be getting distracted a lot na??)
Armaan explains the whole incident that happened between him and Riddhima at the hospital, to Atul. After he finishes, Atul is looking over at him, with a sort of jealousy. Armaan does happen to notice this, and he asks Atul what the matter is.
And, Armaan listens to Atul complaining about his boring love life. {well, if he ever had one in the first place😆😆} After Atul does so, Armaan tells him not to worry. He assures Atul, that like how Riddhima, his dream girl, came into his life, like a breeze, Atul's dream girl will also come soon. Atul then says he also hopes the same.
On the other hand...
As Armaan is thinking about Riddhima, she is, well, not thinking about him😆. Infact, she is so busy, she doesn't even get time to think about anyone else, but her patients. She does finish her duties quite late, later than usual. But, since Nisha is not yet done, Riddhima decides to walk it home by herself.
As she steps out of the hospital, she sees Armaan waiting there for her. She smiles as she goes up to him. Armaan, seeing her approaching, smiles in return.
Riddhima: Armaan.. Tum yahaan, hospital ke baahar kya kar rahe ho? Aur woh bhi akele? Atul kahaan hai?
Armaan, trying the best he can, tells Riddhima that he and Atul were passing by the hospital, when Armaan decided that he wanted to wait for Riddhima, but since Atul was feeling tired, he went ahead by himself.
Thankfully, Riddhima does manage to understand Armaan. She says so, and Armaan smiles in response, again, to indicate that he is glad for that.
Armaan and Riddhima walk home - in silence, as far as Armaan is concerned, partly because he can't talk, and also partly because he is too busy looking at Riddhima with such intensity and love, when she is not looking at him; and, friendly chatter where Riddhima is concerned, as she talks, and Armaan responds to her in sign language, and also laughter, when Riddhima sometimes does not get what Armaan is trying to say.
During that walk to their homes, they come to know a lot about each other, and find out, that they do have quite a lot in common. Their favourite food - maa ke haath ka khana. Their favourite actors and actresses - Shahrukh Khan and Rani Mukherji. Their favourite colour - black; but if told to chose a more light colour, then baby pink.
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
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