QSS thread #2, part 99 posted on pg 149 on 8/9/10 - Page 9

Originally posted by: naureen_aly

sorry 4 the late comment

first of all congrates 4 the 50th part

akshat insecurities is similar to every sibling

even today me and my bro tell my mom that u love him more then me lol

heya!

Part 51

Just when the Joshi family was about to leave, Padma and Shashank decided that they would like to go to Kochi to do some shopping for Karva Chauth, as well as Diwali, which would follow soon.

A: aap fikar mar karo maa, main is weekend par aap logonko Kochi le jaaoonga, shopping karane.

P: Nahi beta, hum sab jayenge to Riddhima ko problem hogi.

S: Yes, its better we go today and I'm sure Shafi will take care of us.

After thinking over for sometime, Armaan decided to let them go. He instructed Shafi about which mall to take them to etc. After their departure, the Malliks decided to have a peaceful nap. In the evening the whole house seemed empty. It was like old times, the whole Mallik family huddled together in one place. But now instead of the sofa, it was their bed. Akshat made a sad face when Riddhima reminded him that his holidays were over and he had to go to school from the next day. Riddhima helped him set his books, uniform etc. ready for the next day.

It was quite late when Shafi dropped the Guptas home. After having dinner they showed them their purchases. It was mostly clothes for all of them for Diwali and somethings needed for the Karva Chauth fast. Armaan insisted that Riddhima shouldn't observe it, as she was nursing. Riddhima sought Padma's support to prove that nursing mothers also fast, but taking some milk, fruits etc., unlike the others who do not drink even water.

In the days that followed, the Mallik household settled into some sort of a routine. Padma and Shashank would watch Ani while Riddhima helped Armaan get ready for the hospital. Then all of them would have breakfast. Next she would pack off Akshat to school. This would be followed by Ani's feed, her massage and bath and finally Ani's bath.

By the time his wailing and crying subsided and he was put to sleep after another feed, Armaan would be home for lunch. All of them lunched together and Armaan would leave for the hospital while the others would nap or watch TV. The evenings passed with Akshat's homework, phone calls, some chatting, dinner, TV news and finally bed.

On Saturday evening Mathew and Nancy dropped in with their kids to see Ani. Akshat was very happy when Tania said that his brother looked very cute. Adrian would not let his mama pick Ani and when she did he started crying and beating her. Everyone started laughing seeing his jealousy. They didn't stay long and left after Kaka offered them some snacks and tea.

Monday Armaan was due to visit the Kochi clinic. As usual he left very early and returned by 8 pm. That day Riddhima spent a lot of time chatting with Padma and Shashank. They were all praises for their dear son-in-law. They way he doted on his wife and kids, the way he respected all elders including the servants, his kind ways with his patients and his generosity to the needy. Riddhima felt so proud hearing them talk so highly of him. Then it was Akshat's turn. They were astounded that he did not cry or throw tantrums even when his favourite toy was broken. More than that when Armaan said he couldn't get it in Munnar and would get it for him later he understood without any drama. Of course, Shafi had managed to get while they were shopping in Kochi.

On Thursday night when they went to bed, again the argument about the fast started between Armaan and Riddhima. Akshat had by now got used to his nanu's curt tones and was not scared of him. He had started sleeping with him since a week, as Ani's cries during the night disturbed him.

A: Please Riddhima, zid mat karo. You are a doctor, you how important it is for a nursing mother to eat properly to be able to feed her baby well.

R: Armaan even if I'm a doctor, I have faith in all these rituals and traditions. Maybe if I had kept this fast during our internship, we wouldn't have got seperated.

A: That's a foolish thought. I had kept the fast, then why didn't I get you?

R: Armaan why don't you understand? Yeh hamari shaadi ke baad pehla Karva Chauth hai. Do you know the importance of the first Karva Chauth? I'll feel very guilty if I don't keep it. You know something, even when I was married to Abhi, I always fasted for you only.

Armaan looked at her surprised. She had a guilty look and tears in her eyes.

A: Then how did you break the fast?

Most of the time Abhi was away. Even when he was there I escaped to my room when the moon came, did pooja to your photo and took a sip of water. Then I did the pooja of the moon again and took water from Abhi. I know what I did was immoral, but then, everything I had done was wrong only. Right from marrying Abhi and giving your child his name. Her head was bent down in shame.

Armaan lifted her face and she could see tears in his eyes too.

A: I'm sure it's your prayers and fast that pushed me in the right direction and made me the person I am today. I also observed Karva Chauth fast every year, only to re-live that day of our internship. How you had come running to me, when you heard that I was fasting for you. And how I had pretended to faint just to make you break my fast. You know that day, I imagined that I broke my fast by kissing away your tears. I also imagined confessing my love to you and you also doing the same. But by that time, Atul came there with Sr. Lovely, and my dream was shattered.

That brought smiles to both their faces and they decided that they both would fast the following day.

The next day, Riddhima was up much before sunrise. She was supposed to bathe early and wear new clothes gifted by her in-laws. Since she had no in-laws, she knew Armaan would have got her something new, if he knew the custom. But since he was still sleeping, it was obvious he didn't know about it. So Riddhima decided to wear the saree he had bought for her, for the naamkaran ceremony. When she came out from her bath, she saw Armaan sitting with a tray on his lap. On it was a red bridal saree, a complete set of jewellery, including maang tikka and payal too. Riddhima looked at him and widened her eyes.

R: Armaan itna sab laney ki kya zarurat thi. Tumne shaadi ke baad ab tak itni jewellery di hai mujhe, pata nahi kab pehanoongi. Aur beti bhi to nahi hai, pehenane ke liye. Actually main itni jewellery ki shaukeen bhi nahi hoon.

A: Nahi ho to banjao, kyonki aap ke pati ko aapke liye jewellery kareedna bahut bahut achcha lagta hai.

R: Armaan itne sare sarees bhi. Please don't waste money like this.

A: Ab baaten hi karti rahogi kya? Lagta hai tumhara aaj vrat rakhne ka man nahi hai.

Riddhima just shook her head and accepted the tray from Armaan. She draped the saree with great difficulty. By then Armaan had his bath. She was sitting in front of the mirror when he came out of the bath. He came up to her and started putting on the jewellery, one by one. When he was done, he just stood looking at her.

She stood up asking "Armaan aise kya dekh rahe ho jaise ke mujhe pehli baar dekh rahe ho? Jaldi karo, Ani uthne se pehle pooja karni hai."

When both of them reached the pooja room, Padma was already there. Before starting the pooja she asked Armaan to put sindoor in Riddhima's maang and then both of them offered prayers. By then Shashank also joined them and the men offered sargi to the ladies. Riddhima said she would go to her room and eat, as Ani might wake up. When they were in their room she offered the eatables to Armaan also. (The others were not aware that Armaan was also going to fast.)

Even before they finished eating, Ani was up. So as Riddhima fed Ani, Armaan fed her and himself. After putting Ani to sleep, they both also changed and got into bed as it was still quite early.

Just before he left for the hospital, Armaan made her eat a banana and an apple, followed by two glasses of milk. He made her take all her supplements also. He had told akka to see that she takes some fruit juice in between. Though he didn't have to eat lunch, he came home just to prepare milkshake, with lot of dry fruits, for her. He didn't listen to any of her objections and forced her to drink it.

When Shashank asked him to join him for lunch, he lied that he already had lunch at the hospital. Kaka smiled to himself because he knew that his beta observed Karva Chauth fast every year and now he also knew for whom.

In the evening when Riddhima dressed once again in the same saree and jewellery,he came near her, took her face in his palms and looking into her eyes said "Aaj tum bahut khoobsurat lag rahi ho." She smiled, blushed and dropped her eyes down. He pulled her into a hug. He thought about the days when they were so far away from each other and was thankful that they were together now.

Kabhi Raat Din Hum Door The, Din Raat Kaa Ab Saath Hain
Wo Bhi Ittefaak Ki Baat Thee, Ye Bhi Ittefaak Ki Baat Hain

She moved slightly away from him, put her arms around his neck and looking into his blue ones said, "Armaan main tumse bahut pyaar karti hoon. Tumhare bagair jee nahi askti Armaan, I love you." He was extremely happy to hear the very same words from her lips, which she had uttered under the influence of bhaang. He smiled and teased her saying "I hope you won't deny this statement tomorrow."

Teri Aankh Mein Hain Khumaar Sa, Meri Chaal Mein Hain Surur Sa
Ye Bahaar Kuchh Hain Piye Huye, Ye Sama Nashen Mein Hain Choor Sa
Kabhi In Fijaaon Mein Pyaas Thee, Abhi Mausama-ye-barasaat Hain

She pretended to be angry but all the cute ways he had adopted to make her fall in love with him flashed before her eyes. Finally he had succeeded in changing her and making her respond to his love.

Mujhe Tum Ne Kaise Badal Diya, Hairaan Hoo Main Is Baat Par
Mera Dil Dhadakataa Hain Aajakal Tere Shaukh Najaron Se Poochhakar
Mere Jaan Kabhi Mere Bas Mein Thee, Ab Jindagee Tere Haath Hain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0P1Mf4cGRI

As usual it was Akshat's entry which pulled them apart. Seeing his mama looking so beautiful he couldn't stop showering compliments on her. Finally they all gathered on the terrace, when it was time for the moon to come out. Ani was left with akka as he might catch cold on the terrace. Akshat was fascinated seeing his mama and nani do the pooja rituals.

Tears welled up in Riddhima's eyes because this was the first time her fast would be broken by the person for whom she was fasting. As Armaan poured the water in her mouth, the water collected in her eyes, flowed down. When she was about to take the glass from him and give him water, to break his fast, he just bent his head and sucked the tears from her cheek saying, 'let me fulfill my dream today."

Then all of them went down and enjoyed the wonderful food prepared by kaka and akka.