Part 25
The conversation with Abhi kept Armaan and Rahul thinking until the last day of their internship. As promised, Abhi called all of the interns on the last day for a meeting.
"Welcome everyone," he greeted, cheerfully. "Congratulations on successfully completely your internship in Sanjeevani. Your exam results will come out next week, but I think at this point it really doesn't matter."
When everyone have him confused looks, Abhi said with a smile, "I have decided to keep all the interns as resident doctors."
There were cries of joy as everyone clapped loudly at the news.
"In the last six months," Abhi continued, once everyone settled back down. "I have been working on improving Sanjeevani's finances. Finally, after months of hardwork, Dr. Shahshank, Dr. Keerti, Dr. Shubhankar and myself have decided to open some new facilites at Sanjeevani. This mainly includes extending the hospital, which means that we will be able to accomadate more patients. This obviously calls for more doctors, which is why we have decided to keep all of you."
Abhi continued to explain in detail the rest of the new facilites being added to Sanjeevani.
"Thank you for your patience everyone," Abhi said, after two hours of discussion. "Before we leave, I would like to announce the two people, who will be managing the two wings of Sanjeevani. Everyone left the decision upto me and after seeing all your hardwork, I felt that Dr. Malik and Dr. Grewal deserve this position."
Everyone clapped as Muskaan gave Rahul a hug and Ridhima held Armaan's hand.
"They have truly held Sanjeevani's reputation as they worked diligently in the past two years. Congratulations Dr. Malik and Dr. Grewal. And with that, I would like to end this meeting. I hear there is party waiting for you guys."
The interns cheered as Abhi said, "Don't forget, the ceremony is tomorrow at 9 o'clock sharp."
And with that everyone stood up to leave.
"Armaan and Rahul," Abhi called. "Can I have a word?"
Nikki looked suspiciously at Abhi, who assured her with a nod of his head. She, however, was not assured and merely stood at the door.
"Don't worry Nikki," Abhi said, loudly. "I will keep your bodyguards safe."
A smile spread across Nikki's face as Armaan and Rahul looked on in confusion.
"So," Abhi said, turning to the two guys. "I would like to know your decision."
"What decision?" they said together.
"Whether or not I should pack my bags and move back to Delhi."
Armaan and Rahul looked at each other, not having an answer.
"I see," Abhi said after a few moments. "Well doctors," he said. "You have until tomorrow to decide. After which I have to give an answer to Dr. Shahshank, who fortunetly doesn't work at your pace."
Armaan and Rahul ignored the jibe and left the room. Having no interest to join the party, they walked through the empty halls of Sanjeevani. Everyone was in the cafteria, enjoying the last day.
Having nothing to say to each other, both of them kept walking until, finally they reached the terrace of the hospital. They sat down on the bench, looking at the city infront of them, both lost in the thoughts of their best friend.
Soon their eyes started to droop and Armaan and Rahul dozed off. The next thing both of them remembered was of being violently shaken awake by Sister Lovely.
"Haaye," the nurse said. "Aap dono yahan hai? Arre saab aapko doond rahe hai."
Rahul blinked, trying to the clear the sleep from his eyes. When he finally absored the information, he stood up with a jerk. "What?" he said.
"Haan ji," Lovely said. "Woh ceremony shuru honewali hai, ek gaante mein."
"EK GAANTE MEIN?" Rahul yelled. He turned around, to see Armaan still sleep. "Oye Ammy," he said, shaking his best friend. "uto. Jaana hai."
Armaan woke up. "What the hell Rahul?" he said, grouchy at being woken up.
"Get up man," Rahul said. "We have an hour before the ceremony starts."
At this Armaan stood at once and rushed out with Rahul to the locker room, where Muskaan and Ridhima were waiting anxiously.
"Where the hell were you two?" Ridhima fumed.
"You know how many times we tried to call you?" Muskaan asked, equally angry. "You both were missing from last night."
"What happened to your phones?" Ridhima added. "Do you now how worried we were?"
Before Armaan and Rahul could answer their questions, Muskaan gave both of them bags and said, "Go change. You have an hour. You better not be late."
And with that they left. Armaan and Rahul both hurriedly took a shower in the attached bathrooms and changed into dress shirts and a tie – all in silence.
"Ammy," Rahul said, while both of them stood infront of the mirror, combing their hair. "Modi ko kya kahenge?"
Armaan turned to look at Rahul with a blank expression. "Pata nahi yaar," he said.
Both the friends looked at the floor, not being able to voice the turmoil they were going through inside. Should Nikki be forgiven or not? Ever since their first day in Sanjeevani, they were told to keep their professional life separate from their personal life. And yet, they were standing at the very same crossroads, where they have to choose either both or none.
"Yeh Modi bhi na," Armaan muttered. "he gave us such a difficult choice."
"Then, what should we do?" Rahul asked.
"Let them move back," Armaan replied. "Waise bhi, Sanjeevani unke begair hi teek hai."
"Magar kya hum Nikki ke beena reh sakthe hai?"
Armaan looked at the floor. "Aab tak toh rehre the," he said quietly.
"Magar caf mein Modi ne kaha…" Rahul reminded.
Both of them quietly pondered on Abhi's words.
"Rahul," Armaan said after a few minutes. "Kya main kuch poochu?"
Rahul nodded.
"Hum Nikki se kyun gussa hai?"
"Kyunki ussne humse joot bola hai," Rahul said, struggling to come up with the reasons he had a month ago. But they all seemed stupid and silly to him now. "Magar uske paas ek wajah tha… she didn't mean to lie to us," he added, remembering Nikki's words in front of the general ward and Muskaan's words on the terrace.
"She never meant any harm…" Armaan whispered, remembering Ridhima's words.
"Magar Modi?" Rahul asked. "She is married to him."
Then Abhi's words played in their minds. And if your problem is with me, then think about what you would do if Nikki asked you guys to leave Muskaan or Ridhima for her.
"No," both of them said together. The thought of leaving Muskaan or Ridhima was impossible for them.
And for that matter, the thought of leaving their best friend was also unthinkable. Both Armaan and Rahul looked at each other.
"Woh kush hai," Rahul said.
"Haan," Armaan said, with a smile. "And we have been total idiots. Lets go man. Lets go get our friend."
* * *
"Crap," Rahul muttered. "We are late."
Their little discussion in the locker room caused the boys to be ten minutes late. As a result they were forced to duck down, hoping the darkness in the room will cover them, and quickly walk to their seats in the first row beside an irritated Muskaan and Ridhima.
"Kahe teh tum?" asked a cross Muskaan.
"Sorry Jaan," Rahul said quickly. "I lost track of time."
"Armaan," Ridhima asked, annoyed. "Where were the hell were you?"
"Kyun Basket," Armaan replied mockingly. "Aaj ke din bhi tumhe romance chahiye?"
Ridhima slapped him on the arm. "Khawaab maat dekho. Papa tumhe pooch rahe the."
"Kyun?"
"Hamari baare mein baat karne ke liye," she whispered.
"WHAT?" Armaan said, shocked.
"Shhh…" she said. "I didn't tell him yet. But I think today is the best day to break the news."
Armaan let out a sigh of relief. "Thank god. He doesn't know about us!"
Before Ridhima could reply, Dr. Shahshank came on stage.
"And the topper of this year," he announced. "Is Dr. Nikita Malhotra."
Nikki came on stage to accept her award as remorse hit Armaan and Rahul. They realized how miserable they made life for her.
The rest of the ceremony passed by quickly and soon, the crowd started clearing as everyone started filing out of the audotorium. Armaan and Rahul searched the crowd for Nikki and found her on the stage, taking to Abhi.
"Abhi," Nikki said, holding up her certificate. "Dekha," she said proudly. "I make a better doctor than you."
"And definetly a better person," Rahul said quietly.
Nikki turned around to come in face to face with her two best friends. Armaan and Rahul both went on their knees as the rest of the crowd cleared away and only the interns and Abhi remained.
"Nikki," Rahul said. "We are really sorry for what we did."
"We were the world's biggest idiots to be mad at a person like you," Armaan said.
"Magar saach toh sirf yeh hai, ki hamari yeh dosti tumhare bina adura hai," Rahul said.
"Issi liye please accept our sorry," Armaan said. And it kept going back and forth between the two guys, as if it was rehearsed.
"We sorry for everything we did. But ek baat saach hai, dukh toh koi bhi deh saktha hai,"
"Magar uss dukh ka dawa, sirf dost deh saktha hai."
"We know sorry isn't enough for what we put you through. Magar, no one can go back in time and make a brand new start,"
"But, we can start from now and make a brand new ending."
"Hum itne bhi bure nahi hai Nikki, kyunki no matter what we look on the outside, we will always love you on the inside."
"Waise, kissi ne woh kaha na Nikki, A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked!"
Rahul turned to look at Armaan. "Who is the egg in this case?" he whispered, confused.
"Mujhe kya pata hai," Armaan replied. "Quote toh acha tha."
"Armaan," Rahul sighed. "That had nothing to do with this."
"Abbe yaar," Armaan replied. "Main koshish kar raha hoon na."
"Then try harder!"
Before Armaan could reply, Nikki said with tears in her eyes "You guys are so stupid!"
Everyone laughed as Armaan and Rahul stood up and hugged Nikki.
"Wow Nikki," Rahul said, his solemn tone forgotton. "Tum kushi mein bhi rone lagi ho! Itna senti hona acha nahi hai?"
"I know man," Armaan added, playfully punching Nikki on the arm.
"Hey careful," Rahul said, putting an arm protectively around Nikki. "We are going to be UNCLES!!"
"Ewww," Armaan said. "Meri shaadi bhi nahi hui hai."
Nikki smiled. "Magar ho jaygi. Before she comes anyway."
"She?" Rahul asked confused. "Why she? It could be a boy too."
Before Nikki could explain, Abhi walked forward and placed his hand around her waist. "Mujhe yakeen hai ladki hogi."
Armaan and Rahul smiled. "Aur agar ladka hua toh?" Armaan asked.
"Then I will make sure to keep him away from you two," Abhi answered casually.
Everyone burst out laughing and Armaan and Rahul pouted. "We are not that bad," Rahul said defensively.
"Yeah Rahul," Muskaan said from behind. "You are that bad."
"Haan haan," Armaan retorted. "Aab saab Modi ke side ho gaye. Doh saal ki dosti kissi ko bhi yaad nahi."
"Toh kya hua?" Nikki said. "Main toh hoon tumhare side pe."
"Nikki," Abhi said, happy to see her happy. "We are packaged deal."
"Issi liye toh keh rahi hoon," she replied. "Jahan main, wahan tum."
"Which means," Rahul said, hugging Nikki. "That were just a bit more important than you Modi."
"Yeah right," Abhi said. "Ghar pe toh Nikki kuch aur bolti hai. Kyun Nikki?"
"Ooo…" Anjali said, in a teasing tone. "Aur kya kehti hai hamari Nikki?"
Nikki blushed. "Shut up guys," she murmured.
And the discussion continued until they were forced to leave the auditorium to continue their duties.
* * *
"NIKKI!" Abhi yelled. "TUM STOOL PE KYA KAR RAHI HO?"
It was night time and Abhi just returned home after ensuring that the inaguration of the new facilites was good to go for the next day. He walked into his bedroom, making sure that Nikki took her medicines, to find her atop a stop, nailing something on the wall.
Upon hearing Abhi's voice, Nikki turned confused. "Kya hua?" she asked.
Abhi rushed to the stool and effortlessly picked her up in his arms.
"Abhi chodo mujhe," she said. But he ignored her and set her down on the bed. "What are you doing?"
"That's what I should be asking you madam," Abhi said. "What are you doing up so late? Its past your bedtime."
Nikki rolled her eyes. "Main bachi nahi hoon. Since when do I have a bedtime?"
"Ever since you started carrying my baby," he replied.
Nikki almost smiled. Abhi's concern for their baby made her so happy at times. "But I have work," she said.
"Kaunsa kaam?" Abhi said. "Waise bhi kal se tum Sanjeevani nahi jaa rahi ho!"
"WHAT?"
"Haan," he said, gently pushing her down on the bed. "Your internship is done, so now you should be home resting."
"Honestly Abhi," she answered, hotly. "I am not disabled. I am just pregnant. Waise bhi, I am allowed to work until 5 months of the pregnancy. You know this as well."
"Mujhe kuch pata nahi," he said, pulling the covers. "Tum nahi jaa rahi ho!"
"You are so mean," she complained. "I finally have my two best friends back, everything is perfect now, and you stop me from going to Sanjeevani."
"I didn't stop you from meeting them," he said. But Abhi thought for a moment and said, "Actually no. I don't trust your bodyguards. What if they do something crazy?"
"Yea right," Nikki said. "Did you see how concerned they were for me today. Nikki woh maat kaho, woh maat karo… they are not that far behind from you, when it comes to be annoying."
"Ha ha," he replied, sarcastically. "So funny. Jo bhi ho, tum Sanjeevani nahi jaa rahi ho. Now go to sleep."
"Let me let you know Dr. Modi," Nikki said. "That I am not a doctor, which means that you are not my boss anymore."
"I am still a senior honey,"
"Yea," she agreed. "But Dr. Shahshank is my boss, and only he has the right to tell me to stop working."
Abhi's eyes narrowed. "I will talk to him."
"No you won't," Nikki said. When Abhi was about to argue, she took is hand. "Please Abhi. Main ghar mein bore ho jaaungi. Waise bhi, hospital mein saab hai na. Please…"
Abhi sighed. He hated it when she begged like that. "Fine," he said finally. "Only two more months though."
Nikki nodded.
"Waise," Abhi said. "What the hell were you doing on the stool. What if you fell?"
"Oh come on Abhi," she said. "I am not a kid. Anyway, I was putting up my certificate."
Abhi shook his head. Sometimes, Nikki was so absurd. He mentally made a note to keep an eye on her twenty-four-seven. He knew it wouldn't be hard, since he had two more people to help him.
Nikki yawned. It was past midnight.
"Sleep well sweety," Abhi said, kissing her forehead and getting up from the bed.
But Nikki held on to his hand. "Don't leave me," she whispered.
"Don't worry," he said. "I will never ever leave you… as I promised."
Nikki smiled, knowing that Abhi will keep his promise. Everything was perfect – just as it was six months ago, before the bet. Only, now she had her two best friends with her and that was all she could ask for.
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