Part 50
The next morning the Mallik household was in a chaos. Armaan had to resume work that day. Ani had been very cranky the previous night, so Armaan had overslept and Riddhima was still asleep. Kaka was busy preparing breakfast and at the same time making coffee for each one, as the guests were waking up one by one. Thankfully Akshat didn't have school.
Riddhima woke up hearing the shower run. She saw it was past 7 already. She also noticed that Armaan had taken out his clothes and laid them on his side of the bed. She picked the shirt and pant he had laid out and put it back in the closet. She was choosing a fresh set, when Armaan came out.
A: Maine kapde nikaal liye the'.
R: Kyun nikale?
A: Matlab?
She took the shirt and pant which she had chosen and went towards him. He was standing with a towel around his waist and towelling his hair. She put the clothes on the bed and went and hugged him. Putting her arms around his waist, she said "Tumhare liye kapde nikaalna mera haq hai. You have to wear only what I choose. Ok?" she pulled his cheeks.
He stopped drying his hair and put his arm around her waist and said "Kya baat hai? Aaj bahut pyaar aa raha hai?" She put her cheeks on his chest and said "you smell so fresh I feel like eating you up." He pretended to be scared and moving back said "I didn't know I had married a cannibal." She hit him playfully. He lifted her face and was just about to kiss her when "Ridsi" Anjali came calling out to her. Seeing them like that, she immediately turned the other side and said "sorry, darwaza khula tha, so I just walked in". As she was about to walk away, Riddhima called out to her, "Kya baat hai di?" and went up to her. They both moved towards the hall.
When Anjie turned, Riddhima was blushing. Anjie just smiled but didn't tease her.
An: I wanted to do some shopping. I was wondering if Armaan could drop us at the mall, on the way too his hospital?
R: Di the shops won't be open so early. We can do one thing. We can call shafi and ask him to take you.
By then Armaan had dressed and he joined them saying "Yes, that's right. In case you finish your shopping early, you can visit some tourist spots too."
So it was decided that Atul, Anjie and Padma would go shopping leaving behind the kids and Shashank, as he was waiting for some international conference call.
Armaan had his breakfast and bid everyone bye. Just before leaving he went to see Riddima who was feeding Ani. He kissed both of them and said "sach mein aaj hospital jaane ka bilkul mann nahi hai" Riddhima laughed saying "Even Akshat doesn't crib so much about going to school after a vacation. Come on, be a good boy and go". She pushed him and he left half-heartedly.
All of them had breakfast and Shashank moved to the room on the upper floor with his laptop. Shafi arrived at 10.30. Just before leaving Padma asked Riddhima, "Will you be able to take care of the kids? Papa will be busy for sometime."
R: Don't worry maa, akka and kaka are there na.
After they left Anshul and Akshat were playing. Akka first finished Riddhima's massage and sent her to have bath. Then she bathed and dressed Ani, handed him to Riddhima to be fed and went to help kaka with the cooking. Just as Riddhima was putting the baby in the cradle, Anshul ran in screaming at the top of his voice and Akshat following him. The baby woke up hearing the scream and started crying loudly.
Riddhima lost her head and shouted at her son. "Akshat yeh kya udham macha rakha hai. Ani ko bhi utha diya."
Ak: Anshul mera video game nahi de raha'
R: To tumhare paas aur koyi khilona nahi hai khelne ke liye?
Hearing her shout Anshul ran out of the room and Akshat also followed him with a sad face as his mama normally never shouted at him like that. So, he was even more pissed off with his cousin. When he glared at Anshul in anger, Anshul threw the video game at him and ran upstairs to his nanu. Akshat was heartbroken to see his favoutite toy in pieces. He couldn't go back to his mama because the baby was still crying. So he just went into his room.
By the time akka came out hearing the commotion, there was no one around. Riddhima also had somehow managed to silence Ani and was trying to get him back to sleep. In the midst of all this, Armaan came home for an early lunch as his mind was not in his work today. Akka just opened the door and went back to the kitchen,
Armaan was surprised to see the house so silent. When he walked into their room, calling out to Riddhima, she silenced him by putting her finger on her lips and pointing to Ani. So he slipped out from there and went searching for the boys. When he entered Akshat's room, he saw him sitting on the bed. When he called out to him, he saw him quickly wipe away his tears.
Armaan went in and sat next to him. Akshat was facing the other side. When he turned him around, his head was bent down. He put his arms around him and asked "Kya hua mere Raja bete ko?" That broke Akshat's control. He crashed into Armaan's chest and started weeping bitterly. Armaan held him tight and showered kisses on him saying "Chupp ho jao beta, bus. Dad ko batao, kya hua?" In between his sobs Akshat told him all that had happened, how his mama had shouted at him for no fault of his and how Anshul had broken his favourite video game.
Armaan first consoled him saying he would get a new and better game for him. Then he explained how his mama was stressed out because of the baby and moreover she couldn't shout at Anshul because he was their guest.
A: Tumhe pata hai, hum hamesha unse hi naraaz hote hai, jinne hum sabse jyaada pyaar karte hai.
Ak: Matlab mujhe mama mujhe bahut pyaar karti hai?
A: Haan.
Ak: Ani se bhi zyaada?
Armaan didn't expect this question. But he could sense the child's insecurity so he quickly said "Of course. Tum to mama ka favourite bete ho. Ani to usey din raat ro ro kar pareshan karta hai."
Ak: Phir aap Ani ko wapas hospital kyon nahi chod aate?
A: Jab tum chote the to tum bhi bahut roye hoge. Agar tumhari mama tumhe wapas hospital chod deti to?
That set Akshat thinking. To distract him Armaan said, "Achcha, kaka se jaakar poocho, khana tayyar hogaya kya?"
He went to see what Riddhima was up to. She was putting Ani into the cradle and turned arround wiping her eyes. He hid himself and was observing her. She went into Akshat's room and he followed her. She turned around and asked him "Akshat kahan hai?" He saw tears flowing down her cheeks and took her into a hug. But she moved away and kept moving backwards as she said "Armaan, main bahut buri hoon. Maine bina wajah Akshat ko daant diya. Maine kisi aur ka gussa us bachche par nikaal diya, main bahut buri hoon." She turned round and saw Akshat at the door. He had heard his mama blaming herself and crying bitterly.
He ran and hugged her legs saying "Mama please aap mat ro. Aap bahut achchi ho. Aap buri nahi ho." She knelt down, pulled him into her arms and showered kisses all over his face. Then she moved a little away from him, held her ears and said "I'm sorry beta." He pulled her hand away and kissed her on both her cheeks. Armaan who stood watching the duo, then knelt down and hugged both of them.
A: Agar tum maa bete ka ho gaya ho, to hum kuch kha le. Mujhe hospital bhi jaana hai.
When both of them smiled and nodded, he said "Riddhima, tumhari punishment yeh hai ki tum hum teenon ke liye khana laogi, aur humey khilaogi bhi."
R: Lekin papa aur Anshul?
A: Theek hai unhe bhi bulalo. Hum table par wait karte hai.
Riddhima asked kaka to call them but he came back to inform that they would eat later. So Riddhima got the food, and fed Akshat the first morsel. The second morsel she fed Armaan. When she brought the next morsel towards Akshat's mouth he held her hand and put it in her mouth saying, "Mama aap bhi khayiye na." Armaan was sitting in the middle, with one arm on Akshat's shoulder and the other around Riddhima's waist. They finished their lunch. Armaan kissed both of them and said "Ab mama aur beta theek ho to main nikloon?" Both of them kissed his on either cheek and hugged him.
This was how Shashank and Anshul found them, when they came to inform them that the others would be home soon and would be joining them for lunch. Seeing Shashank, they came out of the hug. Soon Armaan left for the hospital.
R: Papa hum logon ne kha liya kyonki Armaan ko wapas hospital jaana tha.
S: It's ok beta, Atul, Anjie aur maa ko bhi aanedo, hum saath kha lenge.
Anshul was hiding behind his nanu because he knew what he had done was wrong. Soon all the others arrived and straight away headed for lunch. After lunch they opened their shopping bags and showed Riddhima the kerala saree they had purchased, some show pieces of kathakali dancers' faces, some chocolates, spices etc.
Atul took out two bars of chocolate and gave it to Anshul saying "Tumhare liye ek aur Akshat ke liye ek." Hesitantly Anshul went and offered one to Akshat. Akshat said "nahi mujhe nahi chahiye," and went inside. Atul understood something was the matter and grilled Anshul about it. He told his papa all that had happened that morning. Atul felt very bad that his son had behaved so badly with such a sweet child. So he took him to Akshat and asked him to apologise, but Anshul wouldn't open his mouth.
Riddhima went to take her nap while the others decided that they would leave after half an hour, on a sightseeing tour. When Riddhima saw Atul forcing Anshul and the latter standing silently, she went to Anshul and patiently explained to him "Ani abhi bahut chota hai na, isliye shor se darr jata hai. Isliye woh subah rone laga tha aur main naraaz ho gayi. Sorry mujhe gussa nahi karna chahiye tha. Lekin tumne bhi to galat kiya. Agar koi tumhara khilona phekkar thod deta, kya tumhe bura nahi lagta?" Anshul nodded his head. "To tumhe Akshat se maafi mangni chahiye na?" Anshul again nodded and said "Sorry Akshat". Then Riddhima made them hug each other. Padma, Anjie and Shashank had also arrived there and were watching Riddhima deal so well without hurting either child's ego.
At: Now I understand why Akshat is so well mannered.
An: We need to change our way of dealing with Anshul, if we want him to be like Akshat.
Hearing the taxi horn Anjie said, "Taxi aa gayi. Aao Anshul main tumhe tayyar kar deti hoon. Akshu tum bhi tayyar ho jao, hum sab goomne chalenge."
Ak: Nahi maasi main nahi aaunga. Main mama ke saath rahunga.
Riddhima understood that his mood was still not ok, so she said "di, aap log jaaiye. Let him be here with me."
After all of them left, Akshat sat watching some cartoon while Riddhima went to feed Ani. After a few minutes Akshat came to her room as akka had started watching her serial. He saw Riddhima feeding the baby and started questioning her about it. She explained to him that till the baby was a few months old he couldn't take any outside food. He only drank mother's milk. He couldn't understand properly but left it at that. Then all three of them had a nap.
When Armaan came home in the evening, Akshat ran to him and asked him if he had bought his video game. Armaan explained to him that it was not available at Munnar. He said he would get it for him from Kochi, when he went to drop Anshul and his parents at the airport, on Wednesday. Akshat was satisfied with his assurance.
The next day also all of them went around Munnar, and this time Akshat also accompanied them. The cousins had got back to their friendly footing.
The following day was Dushera. They was a big pooja at the hospital for all the instruments and gadgets. It was called 'Aayuda pooja'. Armaan took them all to the hospital for the pooja and then to the nearby devi temple. They returned home and had the wonderful lunch cooked by kaka including akka's special 'ada pradaman.' (rice is soaked for a few hous, then ground to a fine paste and steamed on a plate. Then the dosa like thing is torn into small bits. These bits are boiled with milk and sugar) .
Soon it was time for Atul and his family to leave for Mumbai. Armaan was to accompany them to the airport, but Atul asked him not to make an unnecessary trip. Seeing Akshat's face drop, Armaan understood that he was worried about his video game. So he wrote something on a piece of paper and asked Shafi to pick it up on his way back.
Edited by ssh57 - 15 years ago
Bollywood
Anupamaa
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
40