Part 16
Rushing into the hospital, Ridhhima ran across the corridor towards the reception, followed by an equally worried, but sobered up Armaan....Shashank Gupta...the receptionist looked up to see where the voice was coming up from and traced Ridhhima up and down in utter shock; the mascara was smeared across Ridhhima's cheeks because of her continuous crying....her hair that she was looking after immensely all evening were now total mess as though somebody had pulled them out and her dress was covered with smudges of mud that she almost fell in while making her way out of the car once they'd reached the hospital...I'm sorry maam, are you ok?...do you need any kind of help....the frustration and anxiety inside Ridhhima was building up; she wanted to see her dad immediately....CAN'T YOU HEAT ME OUT YOU STUPID WOMAN!!!!...I WANT TO SEE MY DAD...SHASHANK GUPTA NOW!!!....the nurse almost fell off her chair in fright, seeing the anger arise inside the woman in front of her
Armaan was standing behind Ridhhima and he almost had a heart attack hearing the volume she was speaking in ...she used the same tone with him too in the car, but that was in mere desperation....but now she was literally angry; her face had turned into a bright shade of red, as her eyes read murder...realising that he must take over, he held Ridhhima from the shoulders to calm her down...Ridhhima..Calm down...it's ok; I'll talk...Mmm?...pushing Ridhhima gently aside he looked up at the terrified nurse and gave her an assuring smile...em...sorry about that...we're looking for someone called..Not remembering the name of her father, he turned around to ask Ridhhima, only to see her much calmer and composed...walking past him; she cleared the tears of her cheeks and repeated the name...Shashank Gupta...the nurse immediately began typing on the keypad to search the name as she felt Ridhhima's eyes gazing at her fingers...maam Mr Gupta is kept in the emergency ward, room no. 25...nodding at the nurse, Ridhhima held her heels before running to the room; looking back at the nurse, she gave a smile and whispered a simple...sorry...leaving an amused Armaan to once again follow her; he was amazed at how quickly she took over, realising her mistake...if it was him, he would have definitely done something he'd regret, but then again...its Ridhhima he is talking about...
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Walking into the room, Ridhhima felt her heartbreak seeing the man she loved, lying unconscious on the hospital bed; he looked lifeless with all those wires attached to him, as he gained oxygen through the oxygen mask placed on his mouth...Ridhhima was still standing at the door, as she couldn't bear to move any further...she just wanted to the nightmare to end...she felt as though her dad will wake up any minute, laughing at her saying 'you've been pranked'...but no...He was still in the same position, unaware of the world around him....feeling someone hold her from the back, she came back to reality...raising her eyes she found Armaan looking down at her with a serious yet comforting face...pushing her lightly from the pit of her back, he gestured her to go in...Feeling grateful for him being there for her, she felt her eyes moist as she nodded at him before taking a deep breath...
Watching her walk towards the bed, Armaan felt a tug on his hand and saw Ridhhima holding onto him...she was not looking at him but he realised she wanted him to be here with her; smiling a little, he followed her in only to be in for another surprise....Shashank Gupta?...as in The Shashank Gupta?...Armaan silently looked up at the motionless man who he idolised after his father....one of the top business man in the industry and one of the best personalities he had met...he was the man who inspired Armaan to work up to what he was today...the dedication and effort this man has put in all his life, bought him to the position of being one of the most successful men in the country...but what was more shocking for Armaan was to find out that Ridhhima, Ridhhima Gupta, his secretary was Shashank Gupta's daughter...recovering from his astonishment, he made a mental note to talk to Ridhhima about this, as this was not the right time....
Ridhhima sat on the stool next to the bed, trying not to make any noise, as she wanted to draw in her dad's presence completely...it was what she would do all the time...since she was a little girl, she would watch her dad in silence and would follow his movements and gestures; he would bring in some sort of unusual peace inside her, just by being there for her...even now, he was unknowingly bringing in sweet memories from the past, that they both cherish...holding his weak hand, Ridhhima looked at it before leaving a long kiss on it, as she felt her tears arise once again...the hands that had once held her, taught her to walk, and were always there to support her, were now seeking support for themselves...it was only last week when he was flipping pancakes in the air whilst she sat in kitchen cheering him on and now...bursting into tears, Ridhhima knelt her head onto the bedside next to him, whilst still holding his hands...papa...please...please wake up...I need you papa...
Armaan had been watching all this as he stood behind Ridhhima and could feel his own eyes fill up...he remembered being in the same situation when his dad was on his deathbed...how hopeless he was feeling as he couldn't do anything to save his dad...noticing Ridhhima's tears subside a little, Armaan raised his hand unknowingly towards her shoulder and squeezed....lifting her head up, Ridhhima tilted her head backwards to see an equally upset and teary eyed Armaan...Armaan...Armaan tell papa to wake up, please tell him to wake up...please....holding onto his hand on her shoulder, she leaned her head on it and cried her heart out...before Armaan could do anything, they both felt their heads turn in a matter of a flash, when they heard Shashank's uneven breathing...Ridhhima felt the earth being pulled out of her as she widened her eyes, not knowing what to do...Armaan also felt very worried and seeing he had to do something, he ran out of the room bringing in the doctor in charge to see what's happening....please both of you move out of the room...NURSE!!...both of them were shoved out of the room, whilst they saw a nurse barge in with many medical utensils...
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Miss Gupta, please hear me out very carefully, what I am about to say is very necessary for you to know and you must take in the information with a strong heart...
Ridhhima felt as though her heart would pounce out any minute and would land onto the doctor's desk...Armaan observed the worried expressions on Ridhhima's face, as he sat in the chair next to her....feeling it was needed, Armaan held onto her hand under the table, only to feel it being squeezed by Ridhhima, as her hand trembled in fear...he has brain tumour..last stage...Ridhhima felt the life inside her die, as she began to feel suffocated in the AC room...her body trembled in horror, but at the same time in sadness, as she presumed that her dad had already known about it, but didn't tell her...Armaan immediately let go of her hand and held her in his arms, as he saw her almost fall off her chair in fear...he has only 3 months, but we will try our best to find a cure...we're very sorry Miss Gupta...that was it, hearing the unpromising doctor, Ridhhima tears turned into loud howls as she collapsed out of Armaan's arms and fell onto the floor on her knees....NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, PLEEEEEEAAAAAAAASEEEEEEEE NOOOOOOOOOO.....Armaan was horrified, never in his entire life had he ever faced such difficult circumstances...the strong, brave and confident Ridhhima that he knew had simply vanished into thin air and here there is a woman sitting on the floor next to him, who needed support and shoulder to cry on....sitting next to her, Armaan once again engulfed her and watched her break into his arms...kissing her forehead, Armaan let his lips stay there for a while, as he felt Ridhhima calm down....Armaan...papa...Ridhhima felt incredibly thankful for the" friendly" support he was providing her with; she felt a trustworthy bond arise between them, due to which she with releasing herself with ease....holding onto his shirt, she heard him...Ridhhima..Ridhhima look at me....her eyes met his and at once he cupped her face into his palms, so that their eye contact doesn't break...Ridhhima we know that it's a difficult time, but you must accept it and look at the positive side...scrunching up her eyebrows, she looked like an innocent lost child, and Armaan couldn't help but give out a small comforting smile...3 months...3 months you have with your papa...give him the time of his life...let him live his life to the fullest...with his daughter...seeing Ridhhima sober up a bit, Armaan knew she was listening and carried on...and you never know...we might even find a cure by then...yeh?...Ridhhima continuously nodded her head in appreciation, to which Armaan bent down and once again kissed her forehead....closing her eyes, she took in the comforting gesture and felt at ease; it was as though he knew when to and how to react to her every emotion....she seriously thought she will break on her on, but with Armaan today...she felt as though she had won the battle, even though the battle is yet to come....maam...Mr Gupta has woken up...you can now meet him if you want...Ridhhima felt her lips form her biggest smile as she got on to her legs...holding Armaan's hand, she felt him go stiff, to which she looked at him in confusion....I think you need some time alone with your dad...realising that he is correct, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him close, only to be pulled in further more by Armaan who held her from the waist...thanks Armaan...smiling at him one last time, she held his cheeks for a moment and walked in....
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Walking in she heard the machines beeping as there no noise to cover them...the lights were dim and in between them she saw him lying, breathing heavily, looking far away....Papa...watching him turn his head slowly towards her, he saw a unsteady smile creep up his lips as he raised his both arms for her...within no time she ran towards him and crumpled into his arms and sobbed her heart out...ssh...don't cry sweetheart, papa is here...feeling his fingers brush her hair, she felt the same fatherly love he would shower on her whenever she would be upset...a few moments wet by and finally Ridhhima calmed down, as she realised there is some seriously talking needed to be done....papa...why..Why didn't you tell me papa!!...as another set of tears poured out, Ridhhima looked at her father hopelessly, to get an answer.....I was scared beta...I didn't know how to approach you...I...I knew you would break and I didn't want to see you like that...she held his hands as she noticed his eyes glistening....you could have tried papa...you could've tried...kissing his hands, she lied her head on his arm...I'm sorry beta...I'm sorry...feeling a tear fall onto her cheek, she looked up in shock, to see her dad crying out loud...papa, please don't cry...we are gonna fight this together...looking up, he couldn't believe that his Ridhhima, his won Ridhhima was saying this to him...the girl who always gave up on the first go was today encouraging hit to fight death; only he knew how proud he was feeling at this moment...Ridhhima, I want something from you, will you give it to me?...lifting her head up, she looked up to meet his eyes in confusion...yes papa..of course, anything you want...he fidgeted with his fingers, as though he was hesitated...placing her had on his she encouraged him to speak up...Ridhhima I..I want to see you married...Ridhhima was taken aback, as this was totally unexpected...Ridhhima please, I know your past has been upsetting, but promise you, you'll be happy this time...Ridhhima couldn't believe her ears, she immediately got up from the bed and cleared her tears; she was about to walk out of the room, when she heard something that wrenched her heart...please Ridhhima...I want to seek this happiness for once in my life...please...take it as my last wish...not being able to step out, she looked back to see him crying to himself, as he hid his face within his hands...this was to be the most horrible situation she'd ever been in...sitting back next to him, she held his hands and bought them down...not being able to stop herself she engulfed him into her arms and kept him there till his tears subsided...ok papa...I will get married...hearing him laugh in his tears, she couldn't help but smile back...if this was the only way to keep her father happy, she will do it...she will get married...
Hey guys, firstly thankyou for your replies...i realised i dont do this very often😆...but seriously thankyou...worked really hard on this part, as i didnt know how to get the emotions right, but here it is...enjoy😃
Luv Taj xxx
Edited by tajinder - 16 years ago
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