Riddhima's eyes shot open as soon as she hears her name, and she looks around in disbelief as everyone starts clapping. She feels Armaan pulling her into a tight bear hug and whispering 'congratulations' to her. As soon as he releases her, Rahul, Atul, Muskaan and Aditi hug her one by one, overcome by their affetion and love for her. Rahul puts a hand on her head and shakes it affectionately, saying 'well done, Riddhima'. She is still so dazed and shocked that she just smiles through all this, as the clapping goes on.
Keerti: Dr. Riddhima, please stage per aiye...
She looks around, a bit confused, yet is brought back to the world when Armaan nudges her slightly and pushes her towards the stage. She walks up there, smiling consiously, and takes the award (shield and a certificate) from Dr. Shubhankar. She sees Armaan and Rahul put their fingers in their mouths and whistle loudly. She grins widely, the reality of the whole situation finally setting in. She looks at th shield in her hand and her eyes first go to Armaan, standing in the crowd. He has a huge grin on his face, and as she looked into his eyes, she saw a glint of pride for herself. He showed her a 'thumbs up' sign and she smiled back.
Then she saw Padma standing next to Armaan now. Armaan whispers something to her and Padma grins, then patting his cheek, she looks at Riddhima and gives her a flying kiss. Riddhima then looks at Anjali but her smile falters a little. Though Anjali was not talking to her, she was still smiling up at her. Riddhima sighed, just because of Dev she had gotten into a fight with her sister. She thought of resuming their old behavior soon by talking out things with Anjali.
Keerti handed her the mic, after hugging her and congratulating her.
Keerti: Dr. Riddhima, would you like to say something??
Riddhima looks at her uncertainly, then takes the mic and takes a deep breath. Her eyes wander over to Anjali, who, despite everything, nodded at her comfortingly and closed her eyes for a second, reassuring her that everyhting will be okay. Anjali was the only person aware of Riddhima's stage-fright at giving speeches. Riddhima smiled back at her, thankfully.
Riddhima: ummm...mujhe nahi pata ke aissay occassion per mujhe kia kehna chahiye....main sirf kuch logon ko thanks kehna chahti hun...beshak yeh award mujhe top kerne ke liye milla hai, lekin it wouldn't have been possible without some people...(she looks at the crowd)
Riddhima: first of all....Mom....(looks at Padma and smiles, who is surprised at being mentioned. Armaan lightly holds Padma from her shoulder and squeezes it, winking at her)....thanks a lot, mujhe hosla dene ke liye...for being with me at every step...and for just being my Mom...i love you....
Padma whispers a 'i love you too' to her.
Riddhima: i also want to thank....Di...(Anjali looks up in surprise)....who knows when and how to get rid of my phobias....and from whom i draw my greatest strength...thanks...
Anjali is genuinely pleased, and smiles back at her. Maybe it was time to forgive her younger sister.
Riddhima: and most importantly...i want to thank the one person who made me believe that i can do this...jiss ne muje yeh confidence dia tha ke main jo kuch bhi keroon, woh Riddhima Gupta bann ker keroon, khud ki pehchaan bananay kay liye karoon....who trusted my instincts and capabilties, and made me trust them too....who is my biggest strength and my best friend whenever i need him....thanks Armaan...(looks at him for the first time during the whole speech)
Armaan is touched by each and every word she had said. Knowing Riddhima, he knew how difficult it could have been for her to say all that on stage. Even so, she had gone ahead with it. He would have been okay with it even if she wouldn't have said anythign....he looks at her with an ocean of love in his eyes and whispers an inaudible 'love you' to her. Riddhima gets what is he is trying to say and she blushes a little.
Riddhima: and last but not the least, i want to thank all my friends...thanks a lot guys...!!!!
She gets down from the stage amidst all the clappig and hooting. Padma hurries forward and hugs her tightly.
Padma: well done beta....you did it..!! (holding her face)
Riddhima: thanks a lot Mom...
Padma: main abhi tumhare papa ko phone ker ke batati hun...(kisses her forehead and leaves)
Armaan is about to go ahead and hug her again but stops when he sees Anjali approaching Riddhima. Maybe it wasnt the right time now.
....................................
Riddhima is saying thanks to a fellow doctor when she feels Anjali say her name. She turns to see Anjali standing there, with a few tears in her eyes.
Anjali: Ridzi...??
Riddhima: Di...!! (smiles)
Anjali envelopes her into a hug and lightly pats her head. Tears come to Riddhima's eyes too. Anjali parts from the hug, and cups her face into her hands.
Anjali: congrats Ridzi...i am SO proud of you...
Riddhima: thanks...Di...(sniffs a little)
Anjali: arey...yeh kia...come on Ridzi...ab to tu barri ho gai ha, ab to choti choti baaton per rona band ker....(smiles a little)
Riddhima: Di....hum aaj se pehle kabhi nahi laray, yeh choti baat nahi hai...(a sad gloom overcomes her face)
Anjali: haan...par ab sab theek ho jayega...i am sorry Ridzie...mujeh tujh per...
Riddhima puts a hand on her mouth.
Riddhima: Nahi Di...ap sorry matt bolo please....mujeh ap per cheekhna nahi chahiye tha...i am sorry!!! (holds her ears very cutely)
Anjali: its okay...(smiles, pats her cheek)
Riddhima: par Di woh...Dev...(stops at the look on Anjali's face)
Anjali: Ridzie...dkeh....maine bohat socha iss baray main...and i dont think we should interefere in each other's lives...i mean...tu apni life main agar Armaan ke saath khush hai, to i am happy for you....i wont say anything from now on...but then, neither should you about Dev...are we clear about this??
Riddhima thinks about it and nods, though a little sadly.
Anjali: great then...(smiles) acha sun, main tujhe ghar per milti hun, abhi tu enjoy ker...okay?? Congrats again!!
She hugs her one last time and leaves.
.........................................
Riddhima comes out of the tent-like setting where the stage had been set and looks around. There are not a lot of people left, as almost everyone had left after the announcement. She looks around and sees the whole group sitting down, near the beach. She walks over to them. As soon as she comes near, Rahul shouts 'and here she comes....." and everyone starts hooting and clapping again. Blushing lightly and smiling to herself, Riddhima sits down between Muskaan and Rahul. To her wonderment, Armaan is missing.
Muskaan: (hugs Riddhima from aside) Riddhima...we all are sooooo proud of you...well done...
Riddhima: thanks guys...!!
Aditi: hmmm...to tu treat kab de rahi hai, huh??
Riddhima: kese dun, tum log to subah subah ja rahay ho na...??
Priya: hmmmm...chalo next time jab bhi milenge, treat due hai, okay??
Riddhima: done...!! (smiles)
Then she looks around but cant find Armaan anywhere.
Riddhima: (whispers to Rahul) ummm...Rahul...woh Armaan kahan hai??
Rahul: woh to Padma Auntie ko garri takk chorne gaya hai...wh ghar jana chahti thi...dont worry, tumahin Armaan drop ker dega...
Riddhima: Mom chali gain...?? (thinks a little) hmmm, waisi bhi thori thaki thaki lag rahi thi...anyways....
Rahul: kyun Riddhima, tum Armaan ko miss ker rahi ho?? (whispers to her, gleefully)
Riddhima looks at him, rather glares as Rahul raises his eyebrows at her and laughs.
Riddhima: shut up Rahul...hans kyun rahay ho??
Rahul: ik minute ki doori bardasht nahi hoti kia...?? (winks at her)
Riddhima: Rahulll....(points at him) main marungi acha...???
Rahul: hmmm....abhi to tumhari shadi bhi nahi hui, bhabhion walay kaam pehle se hi shuru...??
Riddhima hits him on his arm, rather smacks him...
Rahul: owww...!! (rubs his arm) ab main samjha Armaan tumhari maar ke barray main jo kehta tha, sahee kehta tha...
Riddhima: (sarcastically smiles) well, i warned you didn't i??
Rahul is about to retort when they are interrupted by Anjali and Dev. (till now, all the interns were aware of Anjali-Dev's relationship and also about AR)
Anjali: hey...can we join you guys...??
Muskaan: sure Anjie...puch kyun rahi hai...??
Anjali and Dev sit down, and Riddhima smiles at Anjali. She was happy that everything was okay with her and Anjali now.
Anjali, who is sitting next to Riddhima, whispers to her.
Anjali: ummm...Ridzi...mujhe Armaan ko bhi sorry kehna tha...
Riddhima: Armaan ko??? Kyun...??? (frowns)
Anjali: woh...uss din...maine ussay kafi kuch sunna dia tha...iss liye...
Riddhima: ap ne...ussay?? Kab...??
Anjali: tujhe Armaan ne bataya nahi...uss din humari terrace per...(realizing Riddhima doesn't know anything) anyways, forget it...
Riddhima is about to say something when suddenly, the whole lighting of the place goes off, and the place is plunged into darkness. Riddhima holds Rahul's hand in fright.
Rahul: Riddhima, kia hua, are you okay?? (in genuine concern)
Riddhima: Rahul...mujhe andhere se darr lagta hai...
Rahul holds her hand tightly and puts on the flash light of his mobile.
Rahul: ab theek hai...?? (riddhima nods) acha let me go check, kia hua...(gets up, then calls) Muskaan, you okay??
Muskaan: haan haan, mujeh kia hona hai...jao ja ker dekho lights kyun....
She is cut off in between as a spotlight switches on in the center of the beach, a few meters away from where they all were sitting. They all get up and get closer to the spotlight, wondering who it was. Rahul was lightly holding onto Riddhima's hand, so that she doesn't get afraid.
Suddenly, someone starts speaking into a mic.
Voice: This song goes out to the most beautiful woman i have ever known....Riddhima...
Riddhima is jottled out of her senses when she hears her name, but then she instantly recognizes the voice and smiles. Leaving Rahul's hand, she slowly walks closer to the spotight.
Armaan sees her approaching and smiles to himself.
Armaan: you make everyday of my life more beautiful, just by being in it......every second spent with you makes me want to live a new life all over again....tum ho, to zindagi hai...tum nahi, to kuch bhi nahi hai....i love you....
Riddhima is astounded by his words and stands a distance away from him, mesmerized by is words. She keeps looking at him in amazement as he puts down the mic, picks up the guitar lying next to him and starts playing it.
Armaan walks closer to Riddhima, and starts singing....
Na hai yeh pana....
Na khona he hai.....(he slowly starts walking around her)
Tera na hona, jaane
Kuyn hona he hai
Tum Se Hi din hota hai.....(he puts down the guitar)
Surmayi shaam aati hai....(he puts away a lock of her hair)
Tum Se Hi Tum Se Hi
Har ghadi saans aati hai
Zindagi kehlati hai
Tum Se Hi Tum Se Hi......(he stares into her beautiful eyes)
Na hai yeh pana
Na khona hi hai
Tera na hona, jaane
Kuyn hona hi hai.......(he lightly picks her hand and kisses it)
Aa aa..aa aa…aa aa..aa aa.. aa..(everyone sitting around is surprised yet happy to see them both together)
Aankho mein aankhe teri
Bahoo mein Bahe teri......(he lightly puts an arm around Riddhima)
Mera na mujh mein kuch raha
Hua kya.....(grazes her cheek lightly)
Bathon mein bathein teri
Rathe saogathe meri
Kuyn tera sab yeh ho gaya
Hua kya.......(Riddhima blushes and looks down)
Mein kahin bhi jaata hun
Tum Se Hi mil jatha hun
Tum Se Hi Tum Se Hi
Shor mein khamoshi hai.......
Thodi si behoshi hai
Tum Se Hi Tum Se Hi.....(Armaan encircles Riddhima and hugs her lightly,and Riddhima hides her face in his chest)
Aa aa aa aa aa aa…(Muskaan and Aditi playfully come and drag Riddhima aside, while Armaan is left standing there, his hands in his pockets, looking at her. They say something to her, and she laughs heartily, while Armaan smiles to himself)
Aadha sa vaada kabhi
Aadhe se zyada kabhi........(he walks over to her, and taking hold of her hand, drags her to the spotlight)
Jee chahe karlu is tarah
Wafa ka......(he puts his hand on her waist and pulling her closer, starts moving a little, doing waltz steps)...
Chode na chute kabhi
Tode na toote kabhi
Jo daaga tum se jud gaya.....(twirls her around)
Wafa ka
Mein tera sarmaya hun
Jo bhi mein ban paya hun......(as Riddhima dips back, Armaan bends and looks deep into her eyes)
Tum Se Hi Tum Se Hi
Raaste mil jate hai.......(they come back to the normal position, and forgetting the world around them, gaze into each other's eyes)
Manzile mil jati hai.......
Tum Se Hi Tum Se Hi
Na hai yeh pana
Na khona he hai
Tera na hona, jaane
Kuyn hona he hai.......(Riddhima hugs him tightly, and Armaan kisses her forehead)
Aa aa aa aa aa aa …(everyone around stands up and starts clapping, while Armaan Riddhima suddenly become conscious of the people around them).....
After a while, everyone starts leaving. Everyone meets the temporary interns for the last time, and then they take their leave. Armaan and Riddhima are slowly walking along the beach.
Riddhima lightly holds on to Armaan's arm and leans her head on his shoulder.
Riddhima: Armaan....
Armaan: hmmm...
Riddhima: thanks a lot...!!!
Armaan: kiss liye...?? (looks at her a bit cnfused)
Riddhima: for making this evening so special...(blushes a little)
Armaan just smiles and puts an arm around her. They both are walking together in blissful silence.
Riddhima: Armaan...???
Armaan: haan Basket....(rubbing his hand up and down her back)
Riddhima: tumhain burra to nahi laga na...mein aur Di dubara se, i mean...(clenches her teeth together)
Armaan: Riddhima...pagal ho gai ho kia??? I am happy that you guys are normal now...mujhe kyun burra lagega...??
Riddhima: nai woh Di ne bataya ke tumhari aur unki larai..(stops in between)...Armaan....
Armaan: Riddhima...(cuts her in between) mai tumhan batana chhata tha par phir maine socha ke tum...
Riddhima: ke main pareshan ho jaungi, right??
Armaan nods back at her. Riddhima comes and stands in front of her, and puts a hand on his cheek.
Riddhima: Armaan, tum mujhse jab chahy, kuch bhi discuss ker ssaktey ho...tum khud hi kehte ho na, ke hum aik hain...phir humai aik dusre se kuch chupana nahi chahiye na....(holds his hand) promise kero ke ab sab kuch aa ker bataoge...??
Armaan: promise...(smiles) by the way...tumhain to khush hona chahiye....
Riddhima: (frowns) kyun??
Armaan: arey..kal wo Dev wapas jaa raha hai na...phir to sab problems khatam ho jayengi...
Riddhima: oh haan...yeh to maine socha hi nahi....(claps her hands enthusiatically) Armaan...thats so great..>!! YAYyyy....(dances like a little kid)
Armaan watches her kiddish acts and laughs. Riddhima, in a moment of glee and happiness, bends down and splashes water on Armaan. Armaan, being caught unaware, gets down to revenge and throws water back at her as she squeals.
What starts as a kiddish splashing ends in a drenching water fight by the end of which they both ar completely wet. Armaan runs after Riddhima, who is running out of thhe water towards the beach. Catching hold of her pallu, Armaan pulls her closer to himself. Riddhima squeals.
Armaan: ab bhaag ker kahan jaogi...?? (winks at her)
Riddhima: Armaan...choroo...
Armaan: bilkul nahi...aj to koi hai bhi nhai...
Riddhima looks at him and then instantly looks down, not taking more than a second to reognize the look of deep longing and desire in his eyes. He put his hands in her wet hair and makes her look up. Putting away her locks of hair away from her face and making her look up, he gazed into her eyes ffor a moment before kissing her passionately. Riddhima gives into the kiss and they both stand there, embraced, kissing each other and letting all their love flow through it.
As they separate from teh hug, Riddhima feels something heavy around her neck. She puts up a hand to it and looks down to see a beuatiful, heart-shaped, diamond studded pendant in a silver chain around her neck. She looks up in surprise at Armaan, and realizes he must have put it on her while he had held her neck while kissing.
Armaan: Happy anniversary, Basket!!! (he winks at her)...tumhain kia laga tha, main aj ka din bhul jaunga...??
Riddhima looks at him and shakes her head.
Riddhima: main janti thi, ke tum kuch bi bhul sakte ho, par aaj ka din nai....(looks at him with tears in her eyes) thank you Armaan....this really means a lot...(fingering the pendant)
Armaan nods a little in response to her thanks, kisses her forehead. Then noticing her shivering slightly, he puts an arm around ehr, and says : chalain??
..................................
Riddhima stands outside the house, jittery with nerves and cold. She had lost all track of time and had gotten home at 1.30 in the night. She had put her phone on silent, and seen 10 missed calls by Anjali. Now, she was really scared of being so late. Armaan had come with her, to explain to Padma that she had beenwith him.
Armaan: (ringing the door bell) dont worry...Auntie kuch nahi kahain gi...she loves me...
Riddhima:(makes a face) Armaan sach main bohat late ho gaya hai....sab pareshan honge...
Armaan: arey kuch nahi hoga na, trust me...(holds her hand)
As soon as he holds her hand and squeezes it reassuringly, the door opens. Riddhima gulps as she see sthe person on the door.
Riddhima: ppp....pappaa.....aa..aap???
..............
Okay guys...that's it for today.
PLEASE DO LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS.
Loads of love
Kiran
Pati Patni Aur Panga
29