Part 98
It was quite late by the time the party broke up. Riddhima tried to use Armaan's shoulder as an excuse to make an early exit but none of them would hear of it, including Armaan. He kept assuring everyone that he was fine. Priya's uncle had come to pick her up. There was a touching goodbye session at the gate. Seeing the girls no one would have believed that they had met just a month ago. They promised to keep in touch and to visit each other. After Priya left, Armaan insisted on dropping Lakshmi and Geeta at the hostel. Once again there was a teary goodbye with lot of huggings. After that, Armaan moved to the back seat of the cab and sat with his shoulder pressed against Riddhima.
R: Thakh gaye na? Dard ho raha hai?
He didn't reply at once and then said "a little". She knew that meant 'quite a lot'. "Armaan main isliye jaldi nikalna chahthi thi. Lekin tum to'', aur kal flight bhi hain. Armaan, doctor has advised not to strain na?" He just nodded. She knew he loved partying and in that mood he didn't realize the pain but he was bearing the brunt of it now. She knew the usual analgesics might not work. So she requested the driver to take them to a day and night chemist before dropping them off.
A: What do you want to buy at the chemist? Let's go home na.
R: You keep mum and rest.
At the chemist, she brought a few of injection vials and some disposible syringes and needles. When she returned to the car, he tried to look into the packet to see what she had bought. "Tumhare matlab ki koi cheez nahi" she said and kept it away from him. It was past 11 when they reached home. Akka had managed to put both the boys to bed. Riddhima went into the kitchen first to put some water to boil. Then she went into their room and saw Armaan slumped on the pillows. "I'll change and come, then I'll help you change. Rest till then" she said as she went into the washroom.
When Armaan went into the restroom after changing his clothes with Riddhim's help, she got the injection ready and hid it behind the table lamp. The she went and got the hot water bottle from the kitchen. He was glad to see the hotwater bottle, as the fomentation was very soothing. As she was doing the fomentation she asked him to turn a bit and without informing him, gave him the injection before he could realize what she was doing.
A: Aaah, what was that?
R: just a mild dose of morphine. I know you are in pain. You need good sleep to be able to fly tomorrow.
He slowly turned towards her and pulling her close kissed her and said "I really needed the injection, but I needed this more." When she smiled and shook her head he said "put the hot water bag behind my back, the water has become luke warm. Come and lie down near me. You must also be tired. Cuddled with you I'll get better sleep than with the morphine." "Armaan, you are just impossible. Itne dard mein bhi tumhe romance sooj raha hai?" Armaan yawned as he said "Romance ki kaun baat kar raha hai? I was only saying about cuddling up." And the next minute he was asleep.
She lay down beside him as he had wanted and hugging his head to her bosom, kissed his forehead. Then she too fell asleep with him in the same position.
She woke up early the next morning to do the final bit of packing before her three demanding babies woke up. Akka was also up and both of them had almost everything done, when the youngest male woke up and made it known to the ladies with his loud wails. Riddhima picked him up and took hom out of the room so that Armaan wouldn't wake up. As she was feeding him, she asked akka to wake up Akshat and get him ready.
Only when both the boys were bathed and ready, she woke up Armaan. He was surprised to see everyone ready except him. Even the breakfast of steaming hot idlis and medu vadas with sambhar and chutney for accompaniment, had arrived from Archana's place as she had promised to send the breakfast. At first Armaan had been angry that Riddhima had done all the work herself and hadn't woken him. But by the time she helped him freshen up and change both were tired. He touched his stubble and grumbled "That kuppan hasn't turned up to do my shaving today."
R: Don't worry these days all the TV serials have their heros sporting a stubble. So it's an 'in' thing and anyways, you look better than all those heros.
So saying she winked at him while he looked wide eyed at her. Finally having had their breakfast, bidding goodbye to Archana, they piled into a sumo van with all their luggage. Armaan sat comfortably in the front seat with some cushions. The rest adjusted in the middle seat and the luggage at the back. This time Ani sat quietly in his mama's lap, not calling out to his dad, as he had realized in the last few days that his charm wasn't working on his dad. He just wasn't picking him up, though he sometimes allowed him to clamber on to his body and play.
At the airport Armaan was wheeled in by an assisstant in a wheelchair. No one heeded to his protests that he could walk. As they had checked in by phone they didn't have to wait long. Moreover Armaan was wheeled in before the rest of the passengers and his family accompanied him. Riddhima was adjusting the cushions behind his back, and Ani was creating a racquet from akka's lap across the aisle. Seeing that, an airhostess came to ask Riddhima if she could help. Riddhima accepted her help and went to take Ani. When the airhostess bent over to set the cushion at Armaan's back in a proper position, he immediately said "It's fine, I'm comfortable. Thankyou." She wished him a comfortable journey and left.
Seeing Riddhima giggle at his discomfiture he started grumbling, "Hanslo, hanslo. Mujhe takleef mein dekhkar tumhe to hasi aati hai na?" "Is mein takleef ki kya baat hai? She was helping you na?" she retorted.
A: I didn't like her falling all over me. Mujhe ajeeb lag raha tha.
"Ha ha ha. Armaan feeling uncomfortable with a female, is a little unbelievable," she whispered in his ears. When he pouted and turned his head towards the window, she apologised, "Sorry baba, mazaak kar rahi thi." "Theekh hai abhi se kisiko tumhare paas batakne bhi nahi doongi," she declared and sat on the opposite seat with Ani on her lap.
A: Isliye main economy class mein hi jaana chahta tha. I would have been more comfortable with you beside me, rather than these pillows.
R: Come on Armaan don't be a baby. See the other passengers have started boarding. Try to rest and get some sleep. Otherwise I'll give you one more injection.
After that he positioned himself comfortably and lay back, but didn't sleep. Akshat was excited with the goody bag the airhostess aunty had given him and had started coloring in the book which was there in the bag. Ani also got a set of teething rings to play with. They had quite a pleasant journey and Armaan just refused to let Riddhima help him with the snacks. He ate a few biscuits and a cake and had some coffee.
As usual Shafi was waiting for them at the airport. Seeing Armaan being wheeled out he expressed his sympathy and concern. When Riddhima said that they should halt at an restaurant for lunch, Shafi informed that kaka had sent some parathas as he felt Armaan find it difficult and embarassing going to a restaurant. So they halted at a shady spot, parked and had their lunch, with Riddhima once again feeding Armaan.
Though akka had seated Ani on the opposite side, away from her plate, he was trying to climb over her and snatch the paratha. She fed him teeny weeny bits, but he was not satisfied. He wanted to tear a big piece and eat by himself. So when she offered him another small piece he shook his head from side to side and indicated the big piece on her plate saying "the the the" But his athai clearly told him how much ever he butters her up, he won't get the big piece. And the nauntankbaaz immediately pouted just like his dad. Seeing his face all the others started laughing. That was so mean of them, so the little one burst into tears.
How could his dad bear to see that? He immediately told akka to pass him to the back seat and held him in his lap kissing him every now and then. That made the tinytot very happy and he giggled with glee, forgetting about the paratha. Having finished their meal and drinking the cool lassi, that kaka had so thoughtfully sent in a cool-keg, all of them dozed through the rest of the journey.
When they reached home, kaka rushed out to greet them. He wouldn't let any of them carry anything. He first hugged his beta with tears in his eyes saying "kiski nazar lag gayi mere bete ko? Doosron ki madad karne gaya aur khud hi ghayal ho gaya." Armaan was very much touched. "Kaka ab main bilkul theekh hoon dekhiye. Aap hi hamesha kehte the na, "beta kabhie to aaram karlo." To ab do hafte ke liye aaram hi aaram hai." After making him sit on the sofa, he went to help Shafi with the luggage. Then he offered water to all of them. When Riddhima bent to touch his feet, he blessed her and said "Bahu tumhare begair yeh ghar bahut soona lagta tha. Main bahut khush hoon ke ab sab log wapas aa gaye ho." Then turning towards Muniamma he enquired, "aap kaisi ho muniamma?"
All of them heaved a sigh of relief saying that there's no place like home. 'Home sweet home.' Kaka had coffee and snacks ready for them. All of them said there were too full to have snacks but he wouldn't listen. He made Shafi also have coffee and snacks before he left. Though everyone was tired, there was the joy of being together and back home, radiating from their faces.
Belated TEACHER'S DAY greetings to all my fellow teachers here. God bless you and your noble service.
Kumkum Bhagya
Debate Mansion
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