Chapter 5: Everyone has skeletons in their closet
She was never a fan of graveyard shift. Riddhima preferred people buzzing around her with corridors lit with light and energy of people. Night shifts brought a lull to the place and it truly felt like a graveyard for her. Armaan was also working that shift, officially and was currently checking on ICU patients. She idly wondered if he was up for a walk after he finished his rounds. She had finished most part of the duty and paperwork was certainly not welcoming at dead of the night. She was lost in her own world when she felt a tap on her head.
"Hello sleepyhead", Armaan's teasing voice broke her out of reverie. She smiled.
"Are you finished with your rounds?"
"I am. Is there something you want me to do?"
"Care for a walk?" She asked him.
"Sure and I think it's my turn to buy you a drink, yes?" She nodded and smiled even wider. She was glad for his company.
As they started their walk as ghosts of the graveyard shift, name given by Nikki, they had fallen into a companionable silence. He had observed that Riddhima was rarely alone on a graveyard shift. Of the seven of them, at least one was on night shift and Riddhima was always with someone else. He wondered if it was a coincidental pattern or a designed one. He didn't want to pry but it was really odd. Moments later they were sitting on the floor on the deserted corridor and sipping cola.
"Is taking a walk during night shift part of your MO?" Armaan asked Riddhima.
"It's a practice I follow only with you." She replied honestly. He was surprised.
"Why is that?"
"I don't know. I get a sense of comfort with you I guess. The others and I have been friends for a very long time. We came to this hospital when we were twenty one, almost seven years ago. Muskaan, Anjali and I were classmates at college so there isn't much to share and the same goes to Atul and Rahul. With Nikki I would be acting as a mediator for some argument she had to settle where Abhi would skin her alive if he were to know."
"Wait. Your sister and you were classmates? Are you Irish twins?"
"No. Dad is not my biological father and mom is not Anjali's biological mother. My father died while he was undergoing a surgery when I was ten years old. Dad married mom when I was eleven. We have been a happy family since then."
"I am sorry Riddhima. I wasn't aware."
"It's alright. It was a long time ago. I am glad that my mom remarried to man like my dad. My earlier childhood had its moments, but we were never this happy. I am not ashamed of this fact and I don't see any point in hiding either. Besides, I think it's time you should know." Armaan didn't respond. He waited till Riddhima collected her thoughts and continued further.
"Anjali and I may not be related by blood but she is truly elder sister to me. She looks after me as a mother would and sometimes even highly over protective."
"She asked me to look out for you during night shifts." Armaan told her.
"I am not surprised. There was this one time during college, a guy who looked as if he had gotten into a fight and apologized to me profusely. The thing was I didn't even know the guy or what he did to me. Then Muskaan told me what had happened. Apparently the guy had liked me so he told couple of his friends that he would give me a love letter and ask me out on a date during college festival. My dear sister heard about it through her wide network of spy-friends. She and few of her friends had cornered him and had beaten him up and had asked him to stay out of my away. The guy had also followed me home couple of times because there were some disturbances in the city and it wasn't that safe on streets even in evenings. But Anjali didn't believe him or his reasons and warned him severely to stay at least ten feet away at any given point of time. She is pretty scary like that."
"So she didn't know about your last boyfriend?"
"She did. She even met him few times. Actually the whole group has met him. Like me even she was fooled by the impression he gave. Everyone liked him; he was charming, sweet and extremely smart. May be that's why we are all conned by him. Once I broke up, I had to practically beg her not to drag the matters any further. She finally agreed after much of cajoling from everyone."
Armaan was silent for some time. It was natural that an elder sibling would be protective of their younger ones and it was even justified in some cases. But Anjali's over protective nature was much severe and seemed like there were many other reasons which drove her to be the mother hen for Riddhima. Also Anjali didn't, on surface, seem like an emotional person. When it came to Riddhima, her whole demeanor changed. It didn't make sense to him.
"She is a scary person when it comes to your matters. She actually asked me if I was okay to work the night shift tonight with you." Armaan asked her.
"I know it had to do something with her. She is scared that bogeyman will get me sometime during the night", she chuckled. Armaan didn't find it funny. He merely stared at her. Her smile waned when she saw his expression.
"It isn't that way is it?" He asked her slowly. She took a large gulp from her cola. She suddenly seemed nervous and he knew it. He didn't press the matter further. It didn't help anyone to unnecessarily dig matters that one want to bury deep within themselves. When the time comes, they always surface.
"I am afraid of the dark", she answered him. He was surprised that she trusted him enough to tell him the truth.
"So am I", he replied. She looked at him with wide eyes.
"You seem surprised." He noted.
"With the experience that you have, I thought you would be one of those who would have conquered the dark."
"You make me sound like a superhero Riddhima. With the things I have seen and things I have been through, darkness has taken an all new meaning in my life. I am scared of the dark like any other human Riddhima. I think deep down everyone is on some or the other level. Not many accept it though. What's your reason?"
"I finished my drink. Shall we walk back now?" Armaan didn't miss out the plea in her eyes to drop the subject. He understood how she felt and changed topic.
"Will go out for a cup of coffee this weekend?" Armaan asked her before she took the elevator to her work area.
"Sure. Have you notified everyone?" She asked him.
"I am asking you on a date Riddhima", he replied plainly. She looked at him in surprise when elevator doors' opening 'bing' sound made her to blink her eyes. He was still looking at her expectantly. She got into elevator and simply gave him a thumbs-up. When elevator doors closed, Riddhima caught a glimpse of smiling Armaan, hands on his hips and looking like any other happy young man.
Their first date was nothing grand. They had met at a coffee shop early Sunday morning and had had a good English breakfast along with a pot of coffee. They talked about things they usually did; nothing more or nothing less. They had taken a walk in the park and visited a bookstore to replenish their bookcase needs. He had driven her home by lunch and they had decided to do it again next week. Riddhima had looked quite serene and out of her personal shell and had even made him laugh a few times. All in all, he decided that the date was a success.
When Anjali came to know that Armaan had asked out Riddhima on a date, she had asked him for lunch at a nearby restaurant. He knew that it was coming. He was however surprised to see Rahul and Nikki accompanying Anjali.
"Armaan, how serious are you about Riddhima?" Anjali dived right into the topic and her food. She didn't beat around the bush nor did she casual talk when they met.
"I have had girlfriends before when I was in college Anjali. After that, Riddhima is the first one with whom I have an inclination to spend my time. Coming to seriousness, you can say that I am serious about pursuing a relationship with her." He had learned very early in his career that it was always best to be honest right from the start. Irrespective of the matter of embarrassment on pride was on the line. It didn't matter to him much if his friends laughed at him or not at his declaration. Nikki merely hummed and Rahul nodded.
"You have known her for three months now Armaan and in last three months she did most of her night shifts with you. She told me that she has a good rapport with you and is comfortable too. I do not see any problem with you dating her. However knowing how your professional and private lives are going to coincide, there are some things you should know about beforehand."
"Tell me Anjali." Armaan responded.
"If it gets late, then make sure that you drop her home personally. As in you watch her till she gets inside the house and then you leave. If you have some constraints, then give one of us a call and someone will come and pick her up wherever you guys are." Armaan looked at Anjali and she stared right back at him. He nodded his approval.
"Is it because she is afraid of the dark?" He delved right into core of the matter. The three of them looked at each other in surprise.
"How do you know that?" Nikki knitted her eyebrows.
"She told me." Armaan replied. Anjali smiled for the first time since she spoke to him about meeting him personally.
"Then there is nothing more to discuss. If Riddhima trusts you enough to tell you that, then one day she might even tell you why. Till then, don't press her, okay?" Anjali said.
And that was the end of his interrogation.
Armaan waved his hand when he saw Riddhima entering coffee shop. She smiled, weaved her way amidst waitresses and other patrons. They were meeting for a cup of coffee and supper before Armaan began his night shift. As Anjali had had a double shift, she was at home sleeping so Muskaan promised to drop by the caf and drop Riddhima home.
"Did you wait for long Armaan?" Riddhima asked him as soon as she made herself comfortable and motioned waitress to take their order.
"I came here only few minutes ago, so you are fine Riddhima." Armaan smiled at her. Their relationship was nothing different from how they started before. They were both content with whatever they had between the two of them. There was a sudden crash from few tables near theirs which had attracted attention of all the customers. The woman was apologizing to hotel staff for her child's misconduct. The kid was about eight years old and had food stuck all over the face. The girl was laughing at her mother's distress. Armaan and Riddhima were out of their seats in moments and walked towards the table. It didn't take them too long to assess the situation. Armaan went straight for the kid whose fingers were bleeding and Riddhima spoke to the staff and the lady customer. After thirty minutes, using the first aid kit, Armaan had managed to clean the wound and apply bandage for little girl. It didn't take the two doctors long to figure out the little girl was mentally handicapped. Riddhima and the mother had stared at the way Armaan had interacted with the little girl. The lady thanked Armaan and Riddhima profusely for helping them out and even offered to buy them a meal to which they politely declined.
"Thank you for tonight Armaan", Riddhima said as they waited in the parking lot of the coffee shop for Muskaan to arrive.
"It was cut short today Riddhima hope we can repeat it again tomorrow?" Armaan asked.
"Sure."
"What are you thinking?" Armaan asked her. Riddhima had a faraway look and it seemed like thoughts lay on her mind.
"I am thinking about the way you were interacting with the little girl. It just stuck a chord with me", she replied with a smile.
"The little girl reminded me of the sister I had." Riddhima looked at him sharply.
"Had?"
"Yes. She was mentally challenged too. She died when I was twelve. It's been eighteen years since she is gone and today I remembered her as if it was only yesterday I was teaching her how to hold a spoon just how that mother was teaching that little girl." Riddhima opened her mouth to ask something when Armaan cut her off.
"Look, Muskaan is here." Armaan said looking into her eyes. She understood that look very well. It wasn't the time to discuss nor was the place.
"See you tomorrow Armaan." She said.
He bid her good night and walked away towards his car.
To be continued.
Edited by Ling - 15 years ago
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