Happy Sankrant to all readers and Happy PONGAL!!!
Part 22
It was late evening when they landed at Delhi. They had some sandwich on the flight and decided to go home straight. Akshat was fast asleep in the taxi itself. Armaan picked him up while Riddhima took his suitcase. The apartment watchman greeted her and came to help her. After he dropped the suitcase at her door, she asked him to fetch some milk. He obliged and got a nice tip for it too.
Riddhima opened the door with her keys. The house was in quite a good condition as she had asked the servant to come once a week and clean it. She rushed to her bedroom and put on fresh sheets on the bed. Armaan put Akshat on the bed. She then led him to the guest room which was the second room from hers and made his bed too. The watchman returned with the milk. When Armaan tried to get naughty she pushed him saying "I need to boil the milk" She made some hot chocolate for all of them. Somehow she coaxed Akshat to drink some though he was so sleepy. After they both had finished, Armaan bid her goodnight with a tight kiss and picked up the cups to rinse. She changed and got in beside Akshat. It was nice to be back in her own bed after so many weeks. But she couldn't get sleep immediately. As she was tossing and turning she felt a soft kiss and opened her eyes. He was kneeling beside her bed and looking at her. Seeing her eyes open he said "I'm not able to sleep. Can I sleep beside you here?" Riddhim said a firm "no" but started smiling seeing his expression.
A: Hanslo. Meri haalat dekhkar tumhe hasi aa rahi hai na?
R: no, Akshat has exactly the same expression on his face when I refuse him something. I was smiling about that.
Then she got up, placed Akshat's favourite soft toy in his arms, placed some pillows around him and pulled Armaan to the guest room. He didn't understand what she meant to do. She pushed him down on the bed and fell on top of him. He was thrilled that she understood his needs so well.
Bahut Shukriya Badi Meherbaani,Meri Zindagi Mein Huzur Aap Aaye,
Kadam Chumlun Yaa, Ke Aankhen Bichadun,
Karun Kya Yeh Meri, Samaj Mein Na Aaye,
Bahut Shukriya...
Karun Pesh Tum Ko, Nazarana Dil Kaa,Nazarana Dil Kaa.
.Ke Ban Jaaye Koyi.. Afasana Dil Kaa,
Khuda Jaane Aisi Suhani Ghadi phir,
Khuda Jaane Aisi Suhani Ghadi Phir,
Meri Zindagi Mein Palat Ke Na Aaye,
Bahut Shukriya...
Mujeh Dar Hai Mujh Mein, Gurur Aana Jaaye,
Lagun Jhoomne Mein,
Surur Aa Na Jaaye,
Surur Aa Na Jaaye,
Kahin Dil Na Mera, Yeh Taarif Sun Kar,
Kahin Dil Na Mera, Yeh Taarif Sun Kar,
Tumhare Bane Aur Mujeh Bhool Jaaye,
Bahut Shukriya..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obMpiVW9_7k
She had decided to give in to all his whims and fancies. That's the least she could do after making him wait for seven years. His passion for her seemed insatiable. At last they fell asleep. She woke up suddenly in the middle of the night worried about Akshat. He didn't allow her to get up but went himself to check and found the boy fast asleep hugging his favourite teddy.
When Armaan opened his eyes the next morning she was missing. He saw her in her room cuddling and talking to Akshat. She had already bathed and was looking so fresh. He went in hugged both of them together and kissed each one. After ordering both of them to have bath she went to the kitchen to prepare some breakfast. The younger obediently followed his mother's order but the older one followed her and started romancing in the kitchen. Holding her from the back and kissing her neck and cheeks'
R: Armaan kya kar rahe ho? Akshat aa jayega.
A: to? Usey ab aadat ho jaani chahiye apne mama aur dad ko aisey dekne ki. He has to learn to share his mama you know. All these years he has had her all to himself, now its my turn.
She had to literally push him into the bathroom and latch the door from outside before she could do any work. She found a packet of sooji in the fridge and set about making some upma. After breakfast, they went to meet the lawyer with whom Abhi had already set up a meeting. He was quite polite and assured them that he would get everything settled soon. Then she had to go to her hospital and hand in her resignation. All were curious about Armaan as they knew that he wasn't her husband, but they got no answers. Next on the list were Akshat's school tor the leaving certificate, telephone and electricity offices etc. In between Armaan had said he had some work to attend to and disappeared with Akshat while she got the formalities completed at the bank to transfer her account to their Munnar branch.
The next two days went in packing up things they needed to take with them to Munnar and discarding the other things. Abhi had asked them to discard all his things as he wanted no reminder of his past. He had asked his lawyer to put up the house also for sale.
They had almost finished all the packing and were all set to leave the next morning. Riddhima was surprised that they had managed to do everything in just three days.
At the airport Armaan asked Riddhima to be seated with Akshat while he went to check in their luggage. Most of the things had been sent by truck. They only had a couple of suitcases with their clothes with them. After the security check they were waiting for the flight. An announcement was made for passengers travelling to Mumbai to board the flight. Armaan got up and asked them to come along.
R: Armaan yeh to Mumbai flight ki announcement hai.
A: Tum chalo na
He pulled her along. Only then Riddhima realised they were going to Mumbai and not Coimbatore. She couldn't question Armaan before the flight took off. Then he explained that Rahul and Muskaan wanted to meet them before they went to Munnar. But Riddhima felt he was hiding something foom her. Through out the flight they were busy chatting about what they plan to do at Munnar. Then Armaan asked Riddhima "Do you think we need to look for a bigger house?
R: This house is enough for the time being. Armaan is there any hospital where I can get a job?
A: Riddhima you've always wanted to do post graduation. Why don't you take up something now? There are a lot of courses available online too.
"Ya that will be nice." Riddhima replied excitedly. This was Armaan's way of distracting her from the melancholy of returning to Mumbai after so many years.
Soon they landed in Mumbai. Surprisingly the luggage arrived quite quickly and in no time they were moving towards the exit. Riddhima spotted Muskaan and was waving out to her excitedly but stood stock still seeing the other people with her ' Dr. Shashank, Padma, Di and Atul carrying a small boy in his arms. Akshat and Armaan who were pushing the trolley also stopped beside her. She turned towards Armaan and gave him a puzzled look. He put one arm around her and nodded as if to assure her 'Aall is well'. Akshat came and held her hand on the other side. They mechanically moved forward not taking their eyes off the group.
When they were out of the gate, Rahul took the trolley from Armaan and Armaan bent forward to touch Dr. Shashank's feet. But he was taken into an embrace by his father-in-law to be. Riddhima stood staring, seeing how much her father had aged in the last seven years. Just then Padma came and embraced her. Riddhima couldn't believe her eyes. She hugged her mother so tightly as if to never let her go and tears flowing non-stop from the both the women's eyes. Then her papa came and hugged her followed by Anjie and finally Atul - her jeeju. In the meantime Armaan introduced Akshat to his new-found relatives and they were in turnintroduced to little Anshul. They were embracing each other, crying, laughing, talking all at the same time. After a few minutes some order was restored and they piled up in two cars and went to the Gupta residence. The same thing continued there also. Riddhima came to know that the Grewal couple were the ones to sort out things at Mumbai too.
Armaan had expressed his desire, to unite Riddhima with her parents, to Rahul. So Muskaan had suggested that they would first meet the Guptas and explain everything before Riddhima meets them.That was their purpose in coming here. Riddhima couldn't thank them enough. Akshat was excited to have so many relatives gathered around him.
Shashank informed them that the Mahurat for their marriage was fixed 2 days later. Riddhima insisted on a very simple ceremony with only the people present there attending it. Armaan just fell in with her plans but was heart-broken on hearing that the dulha was in to move in with Atul-Anjie for the next two days, while the dulhan was to be with her parents. The little one had a choice but Armaan chose to take him along with himself on the pretext that he could gel better with his uncle, aunt and cousin. Rahul-Muskaan were also staying with Atul-Anjie.
After lunch all of them planned to go on a shopping spree as they had a lot of shopping to be done for the upcoming wedding. Armaan wouldn't let any of them spend a rupee. According to him it was the happiest moment of his life and he didn't want any expense spared.
Riddhima insisted on a saree (as she felt she was too old to be wearing a lehenga), and that too not a very grand one. But Armaan chose only the best for his bride. A delicately designed maroon saree of the softest silk for the wedding ceremony and several other sarees and dresses of the best quality. Her complaint that she would never have the oppurtunity to wear so many things, fell on deaf ears. After they had purchased clothes for all others including the dulha they had their dinner in one of the best restaurants and started for their home. As Riddhima bid all of them goodbye and moved towards her parents car, Armaan came to her and whispered in her ears, "khidki khula rakhkar sona, bahut garmi hai." Riddhima was surprised because the weather was quite cool. Akshat hugged and kissed her and promised to be a good boy at his maasi's place.
When they reached home Riddhima sat chatting with her parents for sometime. Muskaan had already conveyed whatever she knew about Riddhima's life and convinced them that Riddhima had not done anything on purpose. The Guptas told her about their life. Anjie had completed her course in Hospital management in the US and returned to take charge of Sanjeevani where Atul was working as a senior doctor. They had got married three years ago. Shashank had retired from surgery but was still a board member. After an hour they retired to their rooms.
At Atul-Anjie's house too the friends were catching up with what had been happening in their lives. The children had been put to bed.
Riddhima entered her room. Everything was as it was when she left. She lay down on the bed and tried to sleep. It was just one hour since they had parted but she was already missing him. She called him on his mobile. Armaan's face lit up as he saw her call. He excused himself and moved out into the balcony among a lot of hooting and cat-calls from his friends.
R: Hi. Itna shor kyoon hai.
A: Tum to in shaitanon se bach gayi, sab meri taang keech rahe hai.
R: Kya kar rahe the?
A: tumhe yaad kar raha tha.
R: jhoot. Phir call kyon nahi kiya?
A: Mujhe miss kar rahi ho?
R: Bahut.
Riddhima answered boldly as he was not there in front of her. They talked sweet nothings for some time but then their friends barged in and Muskaan pulled the phone from his hand and put it to her ears. Just in time to hear Riddhima's kiss.
M: Thank you Ridzi, itni sweet kiss to Rahul ne bhi mujhe kabhi nahi dia.
Riddhima put off her phone as she was too embarrassed. So when Armaan pulled back the phone from Muskaan and put it to his ears the line was cut. All his friends laughed aloud seeing the disappointment on his face.
Atul: Chalo lets go to bed.
A: This is not fair ya tum log sab apne apne darling ke saath aur humey juda kar diya.
All of them together " cho saaaad'. tch, tch'''" and made their way to their rooms.
Anupamaa
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