Part 11
As riddhima went in he just closed his eyes and leaned back on the seat. The whole episode at the waterfall came in front of his eyes like a film. The yearning in her eyes. God it was a torture holding her so close and yet not being able to bridge the small gap between them.
He thought
Door Ho Kar Bhi Door Tum Nahin HoPaas Ho Lekin Paas Kyon Nahin Ho
Door Ho Kar Bhi Door Tum Nahin Ho
Paas Ho Lekin Paas Kyon Nahin Ho
Tanha Tanha Sama Mehki Mehki Hawa
Keh Raha Hai Jahan Jo Suno Na
Dil Ne Tum Ko Chun Liya Hai
Tum Bhi Usko Chuno Na
Khwaab Koi Dekhta Hai
Tum Bhi Sapne Buno Na
Dil Yeh Mera Tumse Kuch Keh Raha HaiSuno Na
Dil Yeh Mera Tumse Kuch Keh Raha Hai Suno Na
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6QffTuPaBk
Riddhima returned in a salwar suit, her hair combed though wet and her face with light make up and lipstick. He couldn't take his eyes off her as his feelings for her had been rekindled after their intimate moment under the waterfall. She walked to the car, opened the door, sat next to him and fastened her seat belt. Seeing that he was just staring at her and made no move to start the car, she smiled shyly and asked "Chale?" (It brought to her mind the time he had given her a lift to the camp, in the early days of their internship and insisted on her saying "PLEEEAAAAASE CHALE?")
When she mentioned about it to him both of them started laughing, easing the tension which had built between them that afternoon.
When they reached his house, she opened the rear door of the car to pick up Akshat. But he said "I'll take him". He picked up the sleeping child taking care not to wake him up. Kaka had already opened the door and was standing just next to it. He was surprised to see the beautidul lady with Armaan. Though Kaka had been tactful not to question Armaan about Akshat when he had introduced him as his patient's son, he hadn't missed the resemblence between the two. Seeing Riddhima he could garner that she was the little one's mother even before Armaan said "Kaka, yeh Riddhima hai, Akshat ki maa." The informal use of his patient's wife's name also did not go unnoticed by Kaka.
"Aao beti" he invited her.
R: Namaste
K:"Tumhara beta bahut pyaara hai."
R: Aapko pareshaan to nahi kiya?
K: Nahi, bilkul nahi.
She followed Armaan as he carried Akshat inside and put him on the bed. She bent down to remove his shoes. Armaan also went to do the same and they banged their heads. Both rubbed their heads muttering "sorry". Armaan left Riddhima to tuck him in. She looked round and thought this must be Armaan's room seeing the things on the table. But everything was very well kept. "Kaka takes good care of him and his house", she thought.
She was wondering whether she should stay there with Akshat when Kaka came and asked her to come to the drawing room to have coffee. When she went she saw 2 mugs of coffee and a plate of some snacks on the centre table. Armaan was munching something sitting on the sofa. Seeing her he moved over to make place for her. She sat down as far away from him as possible on the same sofa and picked up the coffee. There was an awkward silence between them.
Kaka stood at the doorway and called out "achcha beta main walk karke aata hoon." Loking at Riddhima he said "Doctor saheb ka hukum hai", motioning towards Armaan. "Diabetes hai na mujhe, is liye roz ek ganta walking karna hai. Maine raat ke khane ke liye sab tayyari kar li hai. Lautkar jaldi bana doonga. Chalta hoon." He closed the door behind him and went. There was an eerie silence in the room. When both had finished their coffee Armaan turned towards her and said "Tell me about Akshat's birth."
Though Riddhima was surprised by his question she was quite pleased. She had never had the pleasure of talking about it to anyone. Her eyes got a dreamy far-away look as her mind went back to that day almost six years ago. "He was born by a C-section", she started. When Armaan looked at her questioningly she continued "due foetal distress, as he had three rounds of the cord around his neck. I got admitted on 2nd. Jan night as my water burst. But even after 12 hours labour and my efforts to push, the child didn't come down. Then the FH (feotal heartbeat) started falling, so the gynac decided to go in for an emergency ceasarean."
"How did it feel to hold him in your arms for the first time?" he questioned. "Actually the doctor was pleased that he had cried immediately after birth and had shown him to me even before cutting the umbilical cord. But at that time I was only glad to know that my child was OK.
But when they brought him to me after I came out of sedation, and laid him beside me I was speechless. I thought he was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. When I touched him and kissed him it was the happiest moment of my life. It was worth all the difficulties I had faced during my pregnancy and more. He was wide awake. He was actually 3 days overdue. Honestly when I looked at his face for the first time it was as if I was looking at you. The same blue eyes, the dimples and to top it a thick cap of silky hair on his head. Even the visiting pediatrcian complimented me on such a handsome bonny boy. The nurses couldn't take their eyes off him. I was exuberant." A mother's pride echoed in her voice.
But quite suddenly her tone changed and a sad look came to her eyes as she continued."But immediately I realized that anyone who had seen you would notice the striking similarity. Maa and papa were to come that evening only, as papa was caught up in some emergency. I was really scared. There was no one to share either my joy or my fear. My mother-in-law had gone home after my delivery as she had stayed up all night with me.
Any woman would want to share this joyous moment with the father of her child. I really missed you very much at that time Armaan''. I was thinking you would have been over the moon if you had seen your son. I know you always longed for someone to call your own. I could imagine how you would have pampered me and taken care of me so lovingly during my pregnancy and both of us after the delivery. I hated myself for depriving you of that happiness and that right. I still do...." Her voice choked, rivulets of tears started running down her cheeks, she halted for a few seconds. Armaan was speechless. He kept watching her changing expressions and his emotions changing with them.
Then sniffing, she continued. "From the day I came to know of my pregnancy I have been regretting my decision to marry Abhi. That evening when maa and papa walked out of the hospital after seeing Akshat I knew I had fallen very badly in their eyes. I had agreed to this marriage to please them but ended up displeasing everyone. No one was happy. Neither my parents, nor Abhi nor myself. And the person I had wronged the most was you'.." She couldn't go on. She broke down completely.
Armaan came closer, put his arms around her and wiped her tears with his fingers. But once started, it seemed as if she wanted to make a clean breast of everything. "I called you names for telling lies, but for the last seven years this so called 'Sachendri Devi' has been living a life of deceit. I realise what a hippocrate I have been. How could I decide that we were not meant to be together without even giving you a chance to speak your side? Armaan I can never forgive myself ever for all the heartache I've caused you. And I don't expect you too either'. There have been many times in these seven years when I have thought of ending my life to get out of the whole mess. If I haven't, its only because of Akshat. He's the sole reason for my existence. I know Akshat deserves his father and you your son. But Armaan I cannot live without him even for a day. I can't see any solution to all this". He was also clueless as to where things were and what destiny had in store for them. So he just let her pour out her feelings without interruption.
Her words would melt the hardest of rocks and Armaan's heart for Riddhima was after all soft and mushy. How could it not melt? He had no words as he was also choked with emotions and had tears in his eyes. He pulled her closer to himself and held her in a close embrace. She banged herself against his chest and cried like she had never cried before holding on to his shirt front. All the pent up emotions of so many years flowed non-stop from her eyes, while his tears wet her hair. They stayed like that till they heard the key turn in the lock. They immediately moved apart wiping their eyes. The minute he entered, Kaka realised that he had intruded on an intimate moment. He wished he had rung the bell instead of using his keys as usual. He went in and Riddhima tried to get up as if to follow him.
A: Kahan ja rahi ho?
"Kaka ko madad karne." She replied and went to the kitchen. Seeing her Kaka asked "Kuch chahiye?"
R: Kuch madad kar sakti hoon?
K: Nahi, tum to hamari mehmaan ho. Tum bahar jakar baitho, ghante bhar mein khana tayyar ho jayega.
She thought she would go and wake up Akshat, as otherwise he wouldn't sleep at night. When she entered the bedroom, she saw Armaan lying on the bed beside Akshat. He was caressing his cheeks, kissing him, blowing his hair away from his forehead. She stood at the doorway looking at them. Then she said, "I thought of waking him up. Or else he won't sleep at night." Armaan patted his cheek and said " Akshat beta, utho" After a few calls Akshat replied "PLEEEAASe mujhe sone do na?"
A: Let him sleep. We can wake him up at dinner time.
They walked to the drawing room and once again settled on the sofa, but adjacent ones this time.
R: Tell me about yourself. What did you do after leaving Sanjeevani? Aachooo..
A: Are you feeling cold? Wait I'll switch on the room heater.
R: No I'm OK.
He didn't pay heed to her and went and switched on the heater.
They talked for sometime about his life till Kaka announced dinner was ready. Riddhima had been sneezing on and off. She somehow coaxed half-asleep Akshat to eat a little and soon after dinner requested Armaan to drop them back home. Armaan did not protest because she had been sneezing and Akshat also was sleepy. So they left after she thanked Kaka for the nice dinner and bid him bye.
When they reached her house Armaan asked her to go ahead and open the door while he picked up the sleeping Akshat from the back seat and carried him in. She led him to the only bedroom in her house and tucked Akshat in bed. As he was about to leave he looked at her and said "take something for your cold before you go to bed. Goodnight". She nodded and bid him goodnight.
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