Part 7
~ Next morning Armaan wakes up Muskaan for the appointment that is scheduled for 9:30. She gets up from her bed looking tired and weak, as she had stayed up late last night thinking about what is scheduled to happen this morning. She was scared and unsure of herself and the decision that was made for her. She couldn't imagine herself doing what Armaan wanted her to do. Her weakness was him and her biggest strength was him also. The moment she gave her heart to Armaan, she had given up all her controls to him. It was something she wanted to do willingly as she was tired of being the righteous one at all time, tired of being in so much pressure at all times. All her life she had lived with a strong determination and courage while facing the society and pressures. She was an orphan and she had a lot of responsibilities from a very young age, it was hard enough to deal with all that through her adolescent years and childhood, she didn't want to do that anymore. The hardships in her life had taken away the best in her, the only thing she had left in her was a broken and confused character that had gotten used to of believing and following everything that her husband wanted her to believe or follow. She splashed her face with cold water to look a little alive, got dress simply, made her way down the stairs and out the door where Armaan was waiting in the car.~
Armaan: (while driving holds her hand and squeezes it gently) It's Okay…iss sub kay liye abhi puri zindagi pari hain humarey pass…
Muskaan: (nods her head)
Armaan: You know I care a lot about you…(he kisses her hand gently) I promise jub meray goals porey hojaye gay main tumhara har sapna pura karoonga…
Muskaan: Hospital kitni dur hain…
Armaan: bus after 2 more signals…
Muskaan: Armaan you are sure about this?
Armaan: (nods his head confidently) Yes Muskaan I am completely sure.
Armaan-Muskaan at the Clinic
Armaan: Hi...
Doc: Hi..how are you doing...?
Armaan: Good… app se baat ki thi? (he comes straight to the point)
Doc: maine phele bhi kaha tha aur ab bhi keh rahi hun..Complications hain....and if things went bad..you won't be able to become a father ever…
Armaan: waise kuch hona toh nahin chahiye...if it did...then mujhe bache waise hi passand nahin hai..
Doc: aur apki wife ko...? (looks at Muskaan who was looking at Armaan in bewilderment)
Armaan: usse wohi passand hai jo mujhe... (he said glencing at her then looking back at the doctor)
Doc: Fine…aggar yeh app ka aur apki wife a final decision hain toh, I'll go and get the OT prepared…just give me ten minutes…
Armaan: Okay Doctor…
10 Minutes Later
~Muskaan is taken to Operation Theater while Armaan waits outside in the waiting room. Doctors are getting ready for the surgery in their green gowns and surgical masks. Everything is being checked, from the monitors to surgical instruments. Muskaan is lying down on the surgical table looking up at the bright lights in the Operation Theater and all she can think of is how much she wanted this kid and how lonely she gets when Armaan isn't around. How much she loves kids in general and how long she had waited for something like this to come in her bland life. She also thinks about what the doctor said about future complications if she aborts her pregnancy.~
Doctor: Hi Muskaan…I am doctor Parineeta…you can call me Pari…
Muskaan: (smiles faintly as she looks at the friendly doctor)
Dr. Pari: We are almost ready for your Operation…(she holds her hand) don't be scared now…I am here to take good care of you…
Muskaan: (Nods her head)
Dr. Pari: Now just to make sure about the right location of the baby we are going to do an unltrasound…Nurse Monitor ko turn on kardo please…tum wahaan dekh sakti ho… (she pointed towards it)
Muskaan: (looked at the monitor as Dr. Pari carried on the procedure on her bare belly)
Dr.Pari: there we are…(she looks at the monitor and smiled faintly) we have an healthy heartbeat…
Muskaan: (looks at the monitor closely and remembers from her clinical days what the different colors represented on a sonograph, it was a hearbeat) mmy…my…ba…baby…( she looked at the monitor which displayed the living thing breathing inside her at the moment, it showed a beating heart that was a part of her own, her eyes blurred and she instantly sat up, she realized what she was doing is wrong.) I can't do this…Mujhse yeh nahi hoga…
Dr.Pari: Musk…(before she could stop her Muskaan runs out the OT to find Armaan)
~Running out the door she notices Armaan waiting for her and he gets up as he sees her come out in her patient gown. Muskaan and Armaan both look at eachother for a while then Muskaan runs to Armaan and hugs him tightly, completely wrapping herself in his arms.~
Muskaan: Mujh se yeh nahin hoga Armaan...I am sorry.
Armaan is shocked but he doesn't breakaway from the embrace as Muskaan clings on to him.
Muskaan: Ghar chaley?
Armaan: Hmmm..theek hain…
~The drive back home from the clinic was a quiet one. Armaan didn't bother saying a word to Muskaan and every time Muskaan tried saying something Armaan just looked right ahead on the road ignoring her. Both were silent and somewhere in the depths of her heart Muskaan felt a storm approaching soon.~
********
Same night Armaan-Muskaan at home
Muskaan: Hum kub tak aik dosrey se baat nahi karay gay?
Armaan: Baat karnay kay liye kuch baaqi nahi raha…
Muskaan: Armaan...its our baby...i just can't... main sooch bhi nahi sakti… and its also your child how can you even think about that...kaise baap ho tum...?
Armaan: Yeh sab dialogues mujhe nahin maroo...be practical yaar...I am so busy with my work...and I want your support...aur tum yeh ek nayi zamedaari...mere gaale dalana chahti hoo...
Muskaan: Trust me...tumhari life mein koi change nahin ayega...the baby would be lucky for us...(she knelt to his level and cupped his face in her hands)
Armaan: jis ki wajah se already humare beech mein ladai horahi hai...woh lucky kaise hosakta hai... (he pushed her hand away and got up)
Muskaan: come on Armaan....I can't live with this guilt for rest of my lives...I Just cant...
Armaan: Tumne jub decide karlia hain toh theek hai...you are either going to have that baby or me... (he goes to his closet and takes out a bag and puts his necessities in it)
Muskaan(shocked she gets up and looks at him): What...? Apne hi bache se comparsion kar rahe hoo..
Armaan: Tum jo bhi samjhoo...mein ghar chor ke jaa raha hun...agar tum apna mind change karlo toh you know where to call me... Shilpa ka number toh tumhay pata he hoga…?
Muskaan: Armaan...please...( she follows him as he quickly going down the stairs) Please Armaan aik minute kay liye baat toh suno… (they were now in their driveway and Armaan was putting his bag in the trunk, while Muskaan stood there barefoot trying to get him to listen to her) Armaan please mujhay yun chor kar na jao…please…! (she grabbed his shoulder before he got in the drivers seat)
Armaan: Dekho Muskaan tumharey options tumharey saamney hain…faisla tumhara hain…ya toh main ya phir voh jo abb tak iss duniya mein aya bhi nahi hain….now please apna haath hatao…
Muskaan: (tears in her eyes she slowly moves her hand from his shoulder and he gets in the car and fiercely starts the engine and backs out the drive way, leaving only dust and dirt behind. Muskaan stands there crying as she watches his car dissappear in the dark and scary night.)
~She stood at the gate crying and remembering all the good times she had shared with her husband. She remembered how they had finally come to good terms with each other and how complete she had felt in her relationship of five years after such a long time. But then the memories of the past few weeks started to flash in her eyes and she felt her head spinning as the bitterness took over the short lived happiness in her life yet again. She didn't know when but as she was making her way back into her empty house she started to feel very weak and found herself struggling while walking. She had not eaten anything all day today, with such faitugue and stress her body was rejecting all her actions and she was fainting slowly. Rahul's car had just pulled into the driveway as he was coming back from work when the open gates at the Malik residence caught his attention and he soon noticed a struggling Muskaan who was barely able to walk. He rushed out from his car and ran across the street towards Muskaan whose dupatta was lying on the floor and she was trying very hard to make it to the front door of the house. Just when Muskaan was about to fall rahul catches her so that he is supporting her through a firm grip around her shoulder.~
Muskaan: (barely whispering) Arm..a…
Rahul:Musk… Muskaan… (having a closer look at her, he notices that her lips have turned purple and she is cold as ice. Her pale face has weakness and fatigue written all over it) Can you hear me Muskaan…? Musk…Muskaa…
Muskaan: Armm..maa..mujh…mujhay chod…kar…na..na..(gasps and just like that she faints as Rahul holds her by her shoulder)
~Giving her support rahul somehow manages to take her inside her house and makes her comfortable on her bed. As a doctor he knows exactly what to do in a case of fatigue and weakness but just so that he doesn't mess up anything in making the right judgement in a situation like this which involves Muskaan he calls up Suku who gets there in time as she was on her way to her house from Sanjeevani as well. Suku checks Muskaan's vital signs and puts her on a glucose IV for nourishment. Rahul is by her side the entire time as she is not fully conscious and is mumbling random jargon while sleeping.~
Suku: (looks at rahul and whispers) Aik minute bahir aaogay?
Rahul: Abhi? (rahul looks at Muskaan then back at her)
Suku: kuch baat kari hain… just 2 minutes…
Rahul: Okay…(he gets up from her side and they both make their way out of her bedroom)
Suku: Rahul…Muskaan is… (trying hard to find the words to explain)
Rahul: What? (he looks at her confused)
Suku: She is pregnant…
Rahul: Kya?...
Suku: uskay kamrey mein bedside per yeh report thi…(she hands him the envelope)
Rahul: Suku tum nay uski personal cheez ko kyun…
Suku: Rahul yehj envelope sanjeevani se that oh maine soocha…
Rahul: Suku jo cheezein humari nahi hoti unhay haath laga nay ka haq bhi nahi hota…iss waqt voh kya that's not important…we need to get her back in a good shape…mujhay nahi pata yahaan kya hua tha…Armaan kahan hain yeh bhi nahi janta…jub yahaan aaya toh yeh mujhay yunhi milli thi…just get her back to normal…please Suku…i…
Suku: It's Okay, she is okay…tum calm down hojao, theek hain… I want her to be better too… maine saari vohi meds de hain jo pregnancy kay time allowed hain…aur please uskay hosh mein aaney se pehlay she needs to be fully nourished…baby ki mal nourishment aur complications dal sakti hain…agar Muskaan well nourished hoge then baby will gain that nourishment automatically…IV start kardiye hain per dosage kam he dena hoga…
Rahul: Okay good…tumhay ajj kahein kaam se jana toh nahi tha na…
Suku: Nahi…I am fine and I am glad tum nay mujhay call kar liya…tum nay kuch kahya hain?
Rahul: Abhi bhook nahi hain… (Saying that he goes back inside the room to check on Muskaan as Suku stands there thinking something then goes back inside the room as well.)
Armaan at Shilpa's House
Shilpa: Tumhara Muskaan se jaghra hua hain? (she hands him a cup of coffee and takes a seat next to him)
Armaan: Haan…per yeh sub personal batoon mein nahi parna chata…kya main kuch din yahaan reh sakta hoon?
Shilpa: yeh bhi koi poachne ki baat hai… make yourself as comfortable as you like…(She smiled)
Armaan: (Smiled) Thanks…(he takes her hand in his and gently squeezes it)
Shilpa: (looks up at his gesture, she was on cloud nine)
Armaan: Tum hameesha meri madad karti hoon…thank you har uss baat kay liye jo tum nay meray liye ki…you are an amazing person Shilpa…never change… (he lets go of her hand)
Shilpa: Main tumhari dost kal bhi thi, ajj bhi hoon, aur hameesha rehna chahti hon…
Armaan: well in that case this couch is all mine…(he took a pillow and made himself comfortable)
Shilpa: whatever you want it's yours…bedroom chaho toh..
Armaan: Nahi yahi theek hoon…trust me…
Shilpa: Thanks Armaan…(she says getting up from the couch)
Armaan: (confusingly looks at her) Tum kyun mujhay thanks bol rahi hoon…
Shilpa: Tum nahi samjho gay…but thanks…(She leaves from there blushing a little)
Armaan: (to himself) Ajeeb hain...anyways I have to catch up with my sleep…gosh marriage is mind blowing but right now it's blowing my mind out…! (he turns and closes his eyes to get some sleep.)
Muskaan's House
~Suku had a call from the hospital in the middle of the night and so she had to leave but before going she called up Rahul from downstairs and told him to take over. Rahul was trying to keep away from Muskaan because she didn't want her to freak out once she got up but now with Suku gone he was the only one left to lookafter her. It was 2:30 in the morning and pitch black outside as rahul stood at Muskaan's bedroom window and looked out at the barren street. He was trying to find a justification for Muskaan's condition. He wanted to believe something other than the reality. He wanted to see some other reason for Armaan's departure but the more he tried to convince himself otherwise the more he was drawn to the reality. Sighing in stress he made his way back to the chair in the room and sat there. Sitting at a distance from Muskaan he could hear her breathe softly, he could clearly see her pale and weakened face, he could even hear her trembling lips says Armaan's name every now and then but what he couldn't do was help her. There was nothing he could do to make it all better again, to give her the life she deserves. He had accepted defeat as he had come to realize that he might never belong to that girl who came in his dreams; who he had worshiped all these years. The one who was prominent in his paintings and thoughts, the one who was visible in his ambitions and faith, but one thing he didn't want her to be in was this mess that was unfortunately her reality. Praying from the bottom of his heart that night he asked God to give Muskaan the happiness that she deserves, to endow her with that miracle that she in entitled to. Praying the same prayer for her over and over again he fell asleep on that same chair and even with his eyes closed his lips moved to say the same prayer for that one person who he knew deserved everything but what she is living in at the moment.~
~Next Morning~
Muskaan: (gaining consciousness) Arm…Armaaan…?
Rahul: (wakes up as this time muskaan's voice was more prominent than a whisper) Muskaan?
Muskaan: (looks over to Rahul) Rahul? (she tries to sit up)
Rahul: App please uthay mat…keep resting…Please don't get up…
Muskaan: Rahul tum yahaan kaisey? (She asked lying back down)
Rahul: Umm…voh kal raat shayad app ko weakness ki wajah se chakkar agaye thay issi liye…
Muskaan: (remembers the last night's events and closes her eyes in pain) Hmmm…chakkar…haan shayad voh chakkar he thay…
Rahul: Muskaan… app ka yun stress lena theek nahi hain…please don't stress yourself… (he takes a glass of water and gives it to her) here have some water…
Muskaan: (takes it from his hands and slowly sips it, then gives it back) Rahul, yeh mujhay IV kyun lagai hain? Kuch serious baat hain kya?
Rahul: Nahi aisi koi baat nahi hain…Suku ne glucose ka dosage diya tha nourishment kay liye…unconscious thi na app issi liye dena para…
Muskaan: Tum mujhay yeh app kar kay kyun baat kar rahey hoon?
Rahul: nahi…bus…main yunhi…
Muskaan: Come on Rahul hum toh dost hain na? (She smiles faintly)
Rahul: (smiles) I don't know how you do it…itni weakness main bhi app ki…I mean tumhari smile is glowing on your face…must be feeling a little better….
Muskaan: mmhmm…I am…
Rahul: okay then I have some medicine for you that Suku left so take them…they are by your bed side table…and i'll just take your IV off since you don't need that now…(he came closer to get the IV off of her hand. He takes her light and fragile hand in his hand as he carefully looked for the needle that was inserted in her vein, taking a hold of it he was making sure she doesn't feel any pain as he pulls it out, muskaan was watching him intently as he was being overly cautious.)
Muskaan: (laughs a little)
Rahul: Kya hua?
Muskaan: Rahul…mujhay dard se darr nahi lagta… tum toh aisey preshaan ho rahey ho jaisay main koi choti si bachi hoon…
Rahul: Dard se darr nahi lagta issi liye abb tak itna kuch bardaasht kar rahi hoon…(he mutters softly)
Muskaan:Kuch kaha tumne?
Rahul:Nahi Muskaan…I am just doing my job aik doctor ho na issi liye catious hoon….
Muskaan: (looks up at him and faintly smiles)hmmm… Kitna garv hota hain na yeh kehnay mein kay tum aik doctor hoon…?
Rahul: Pata nahi…kabhi notice nahi kiya… (he says dryly as he applies bandage afer taking the IV out)
Muskaan: Rahul tum ghussa ho?
Rahul: Nahi aisa kuch nahi hain… (he ha anger arising inside him as he just couldn't take Muskaan being so oblivious to her pain and her suffering.)
Muskaan: Kya tumne kal raat voh sub dekh liya jo Armaan aur meray beech hua?
Rahul: (looks up at her then looks away) Nahi…I only saw you tripping over your own steps as you were fainting with weakness… Aur saach kaho toh main jaana bhi nahi chahta kal kya hua tha aur kya nahi…(he gets up from her bedside) You need to rest…maine apna cell number yahi likh kar rakh diya hain…kuch bhi chiyay ho toh call karlay na…and don't move from your bed, breakfast bhi yahi per rakha hain, just eat and take rest…I am just across the street aur Suku aayege toh I'll be back to check on you…
Muskaan: Okay…(she weakly nods her head)
Rahul:Abb main chalta hoon…(He starts to wlak out the room)
Muskaan: Rahul… (she calls him from behind as rahul's steps halt upon her soft voice)
Rahul: (turns around) Hmmm…?
Muskaan: Di aur Abhi jeeju kaisey hain?
Rahul: Achay hain…Di is due next month for the baby…
Muskaan: Saach?
Rahul: Haan…per unn say pehlay you need to take care of yourself…
Muskaan: Aggar Di se baat hoon toh unko keh dena kay unki dua puri hogaye hain…I am pregnant…
Rahul: (smiles) keh doonga…you take care…
Muskaan: Rahul agar Armaan ghar aaye toh mujhay utha dena please…
Rahul: Theek hain aur kuch…?
Muskaan: Nahi… Thanks…
Rahul: Your Welcome… (he leaves as she closes her eyes and tries to get some sleep.)
Later that Afternoon…
~Muskaan wakes up feeling much better. She goes up to the dresser looks at herself and notices the weak reflection in the mirror and looks away a bit sadly. She was alone in the quiet house as she turned on the tap and splashed her face with cold water to feel a little fresh. She changed in to a simple light yellow shalwar suit and came out the bathroom drying off her face. She stood in front of the mirror again and fixed her hair and eyes a bit, just so she looks alive. She was a little hungry and wanted to eat something hot and freshly cooked instead of bread and butter so she decided to go down to the kitchen to grab a bite. As she was walking down the stairs she glances at the Rocking Chair in the living room and her steps come to a sudden halt and she slowly starts to moves towards the empty chair. Standing at a distance her mind flashes back to a fond memory that the chair had, she stood staring at it from a distance while balancing herself on the stair banister. ~
*Flashback*
~Armaan is bringing Muskaan towards the chair with her eyes covered with his hands~
Muskaan: Armaan kya surprise hain…mujhay kuch nazar nahi araha hain…
Armaan: Araam se baba…main ho na tumharay saath peechay…just wait…
Muskaan: Jaldi karo na…
Armaan: Aik second…bus here we are…per abhi ankehin na kohl na…
Muskaan: acha baba per haath toh hatao….(armaan makes her sit in the rocking chair as she still has her eyes closed and he goes and stands behind the chair) Abb kohlo…?
Armaan: hmm…abb kohlo…
Muskaan: (opens her eyes and rests her arms on the chair smiling brightly as Armaan rocks it from behind while watching her admiring it) Yeh meray liye? (she asked looking up at Armaan with a smile glowing on her face.)
Armaan: Nahi paroos mein jo aunty rehti hain na unn kay liye…(he says sarcastically)
Muskaan: Thank yoouuuuuu…(She smiles)
Armaan: Bus itna rukha sa thank you?
Muskaan: Kya kaho?
Armaan: Kaho nahi kuch karo…
Muskaan: Kya karo...(she is enjoying the rocking chair)
Arman: Coffe pilado, Sandwhiches banado, aur mera sar bhi dabado…Tumhay isse acha husband kaha millay ga?
Muskaan: (looks up and rolls her eyes while smiling) Haan..jo mujhay rocking chair la kay de…
Armaan: Aur kya..pata kitni expensive hain yeh…
Muskaan: Ussay kya farq parta hain Armaan…? (she closes her eyes relaxing herself on the chair)
Armaan: Mujhay farq parta hain…meri value bhar jati hain tumhari nazar mein… (he comes infront and says)
Muskaan: Tum mujhay choti si phool ki kali bhi la do na toh tumhari value bhar jaayegee meri nazar mein…(she lovingly says looking in to his eyes)
Armaan: Tum meri itni achi Rocking Chair ko apni sookhi si phool ki kali se compare kar rahi hoon…chalo utho…(he pulls her by her hand and makes her get up while sitting down and rocking in it just like she was a minute a go) main app ko phool ki kali la deta hoon aur yeh rocking chair main rakh leta hoon… theek hain…
Muskaan: Armaaaaaaaaan…! Chalo utho…(she pulls him up from the rocking chair)…yeh meri Rocking Chair hain…! Sirf meri…! (She sits back down as Armaan stands there smiling at her childish behavior.)
*Flashback Ends*
~Now sitting in that same chair she come back to reality and sadly rocks in it for a while thinking back to times when she was happy with Armaan and his cute surprises. She sighs deeply and looks down at her tummy then smiles again. "Koi baat nahi papa maan jaye gay." She says talking to the baby as if it's witnessing her sadness and then gets up to go back to the kitchen as she was quite hungry by now.~
~Armaan and Shilpa in Office~
Shilpa: Toh phir kya Muskaan ne kuch reply diya?
Armaan: (shakes his head) Nope…2 din ho chukay hain…not a word…
Shilpa: Umm..kya tumhay abhi bhi lagta hain kay voh maan jaye gee?
Armaan: Pata nahi…shayad nahi… mujhay laga kay maybe meray durr chalay jaaney se voh meri baat maan jaye…but obviously that didn't work…
Shilpa: Thoda time de kay dekho…
Armaan: (scoffs) time…usko time de dekay thak chukka hoon main…
Shilpa: She is just going through some tough time you know…aisa hota hain kabhi kabhi jub sensibility emotional reasons ki wajah se blury hojati hain…
Armaan: Shilpa you have no clue kitni baar usko samjha nay ki koshish ki hain…she just doesn't get me… (He stands up in frustration nd starts to look out the window)
Shilpa: (Walks over to him and places a hand on his shoulder) Armaan…agar tumhay yeh sub itna he galt lagta hain toh why are you hoping still?
Armaan: Matlab?
Shilpa: Dekho it's obivious kay usko baby rakhna hain aur it's not getting any easier…jaisey jaisey din ghuzhar rahay hain it will be impossible to abort the kid…jub ussay iss sub ki koi parwah nahi hain toh phir tum…
Armaan: Hmmm…I get it..you mean to say completely move out…?
Shilpa: (nods her head) I mean if you want to make it clear and all…you know let her know kay you have had enough… kyunki I am sure kay she is still waiting for you to come back aur jub tak voh is umeed mein hain she won't do what you want her to…
Armaan: (thinks about it a little as he plays with the paper wieght on the desk) I think tum theek keh rahi hoon…I mean what's the point…jub hum dono ne yeh shaadi se pehlay decide kar liya tha kay mujhay baachey nahi chiyay hai, then why is she the one backing out…isse pehlay koi aur emotional blackmail technique se voh kuch aur karey I need to make it clear that her option is either me or the baby…
Shilpa: Acha chodo yeh sub…Lets focus on the new deal and the quotations that we need to send back to them...(She smiles and hands him the file so that they can get back to work)
Armaan: Thnaks Shilpa…for everything…(he smiles)
Shilpa: (looks up from the papers she was working with) I am always here for you…
Precap: Gone?
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
Mangal Lakshmi
38