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

Part 97

They were so engrossed in each other, they didn't realize that it was late and that akka hadn't returned as yet. They were awakened from their reverie when the door-bell rang. Only then Riddhima looked at the watch and saw it was past dinner-time. She quickly went and opened the door. Seeing Ani asleep in Akka's arms she immediately took him from her.

Akka: I know it's very late and you must be worried, but Archana wouldn't let us go. She said if you were worried you would call. I told her you wouldn't be able to call as I had left the cell phone at home. And you wouldn't guess we were at her house. But she din't let me call either. She kept saying in a couple of days we'll return to Munnar and then she wouldn't get to see the kids. Did you go in search of us?

Riddhima guiltily replied, "No giving Armaan a bath itself took long and then he was in pain, so I gave him fomentation and massage. I'll put him in his cot," she said indicating to Ani. "What about his khana?"

Akka: Archana specially made khichdi for him and fed him. How much she loves kids. She wanted to feed Akshat also but he firmly said "I want to have dinner with dad and mama." Hope God blesses her also with motherhood.

Akshat went into the washroom to wash and akka went into the other washroom. Riddhima remembered that she hadn't fed Ani that evening and felt very guilty about it. She carried him to his cot and gently laid him in. As she tucked him tears gathered in her eyes. She flicked them away but it didn't go unnoticed by Armaan. When she stood up, she found him next to her. Hugging her he asked, "kya hua? Aankh kyon chalak rahe hain?" Then she couldn't control. She hugged him, forgetting his wound, and cried, "I'm such a useless mother Armaan, I didn't feed Ani even once this evening. Poor baby. What they say about a mother not feeding her baby till it cries for milk, is true.

A: Exactly.

She looked up surprised, as she expected him to refute her arguments.

A: I mean if he was hungry, he would surely have cried. Akka had given him his bottle just when you came and then he has had his dinner. Feed him when he wakes up after a while. There's no need to feel guilty.

Then realising she may be in pain he enquired if she was. She shook her head. Her feeds had become so irregular that she didn't get much milk these days. She decided once in Munnar she had to remedy that. She was sure the longer a child was breastfed, the healthier he would be. Akshat rushed out of the washroom saying "mama bahut bhook lagi hai. Main soch raha tha aap dad aur mujhe khilayiye aur main aapko. Hum teeno ek hi plate se khayenge." Seeing his pleading look she aceded to his request.

She went and brought the food and all of them shared it. She kept feeding Akshat and Armaan alternately and Akshat fed her. A little of the vegetable was dripping from her mouth as Akshat had just fed her. She had the plate in one hand and a morsel to feed Armaan in the other, she was thinking how to stop it falling on her dress, when she suddenly felt Armaan's tongue lick it off her chin. She was too shocked and looked first at Akshat, he was busy fidgeting with his video game. Then she looked up and glared at Armaan, who naughtily winked at her and said "That was too tasty. I want to be fed that way only."

"Really? Then you'll had better stay hungry." She retorted angrily.

Ak: Aap ne dad ko kya tasty khilaya? Mujhe bhi woh chahiye.

Armaan burst laughing. Riddhima again glared at him and said "Tumhare dad pagal ho gaye hai. Lagta hai unke shoulder ke saath unke sar par bhi chot lagi thi. Kuch bhi kehte rehte hain. Tum khana khao."

After their dinner, Riddhima gave Armaan hot water fomentation as advised by the doctor. As she was doing so the little hero woke up stretching his muscles and crying. Armaan took the hot water bag from her hand saying, "I'll manage, you pick him." When Riddhima went near the cot and bent over, Ani started his typical cry for his feed. She picked him and showering kisses on him said, "aaj mama aapko bilkul bhool gayi na? mama bahut gandi hi. Aap to vely good boy ho na?" As she laid him on her lap, he was getting restless till she could unhook her bra and latched on to her breast at once. Armaan smiled to himself seeing their bond. All said and done, babes share a special bond with their mom, he thought.

The next few days went off hectically for Riddhima, betweeen completing the course work and taking care of Armaan. On Thursday evening Riddhima took Armaan to the hospital for checkup. The doctor was pleased with the healing. He okayed their flight for Saturday and asked him to see an orthopaedic surgeon at Munnar. On their way back home Riddhima told Armaan, "Kal hamare liye college ne ek farewell party arrange ki hai, but I don't want to go."

A: Why because I'm injured?

R: Nahi, mera mood nahi hai. Aur Saturday morning flight hai, to packing bhi to karni hai.

A: Riddhima your friends have been so helpful in time of our need. I think you should go at least for their sake. If it's ok I would also like to attend and thank them personally. We don't know when we'll meet them next. And as regards packing I have done most of it last week. Thoda bahut jo baaki hai I'll get akka to do it don't worry. Haan, by the way I got a call from the airline office this morning. They have upgraded our tickets as a gratitude for my help. So we can even check in by phone or online and go to the airport a little late.

Riddhima thought over for a while and said "Yes, I think you are right. Anyway it's from 7pm to 10pm. I'll find out if you could join. That would be fun." He smiled seeing her excitement because next minute she was talking on what to wear.

When Riddhima approached the organisers for permission for Armaan to attend, they said they would be honored to have him. Though Armaan could only wear a sleeveless vest with a jacket thrown across his shoulders, he looked as handsome as ever. His sweet smile and dimples compensating for the lack of smart clothing. All the girls were throwing envious glances at Riddhima. Basically it was a thankyou speech by the outgoing batch and the professors wishing them luck with their course and also informing them that they would have one more such contact program the following year too. There were a lot of 'oohs' and 'aahs' in response to that announcement. It was quite an informal affair. Each and every faculty of the college, as well as the students, came to congratulate Armaan on his great feat and sacrifice.

Armaan then felt Riddhima's friends who went out of their way to help them, needed to be acknowleged. So, taking the mike from the host he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Lakshmi, Geeta, Priya and Rakesh for being a pillar of strength to Riddhima and his family at the time of their utmost need. And added that Riddhima and he could never forget this contact program ever. Just before letting go of the mike he said "I see a wonderful band all set to rock the evening. Unfortunately Riddhima and me may not be able to exhibit our dancing skills tonight. But next year, I promise we'll burn the dance floor with our salsa. What say Riddhima?" "Why not?" she echoed his mood.

Soon the band started playing and everyone got on to the dance floor. Even with the bandaged arm he managed a slow number with Riddhima and all eyes were drawn to that spectacular pair.

Originally posted by: topsyturvy23

seriously darling ab to joote chapal utha hi lo mujhe marne ke liye............kya karun kabhi guest to kabhi bimar .............i have been ill for past 1 month there is some bacteria n it takes 5-6 weeks to go out of system ........have taken 3 anti-biotics course till now n cant think of having anymore......
so it gets really busy if u r married n working also n to be here also right.............
so plz plz excuse me for commenting again for so long ........
the story so far is gng is fantastic way
loved every bit of it
thanks for pm
plz update soon