|AN Writing Challenge~Closed*UPDATE pg 150* - Page 82

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jsha thumbnail
16th Anniversary Thumbnail Rocker Thumbnail
Posted: 14 years ago

hi guys 😛yahan koi update kyun nahi kr raha kal to last day of exention ha please guys updste krdo now we cant wait more plea😭seeeeeeeeeeeee

hapinezz13 thumbnail
16th Anniversary Thumbnail Sparkler Thumbnail + 5
Posted: 14 years ago
khusssssssssshhhhhhh 11th oct nahi....make it NOV yaa!!
ANfan_1810 thumbnail
15th Anniversary Thumbnail Voyager Thumbnail
Posted: 14 years ago
Honu....

So happy to see u here. Missed u so much. Hope allz well and the wedding went well too.

All,

I am sorry not updated for so long. Have been stuck with a problem. Was planning to update with 2 parts , but now will give the final update by tomorrow. Sorry for delay.
Edited by ANfan_1810 - 14 years ago
Khushboo_AN thumbnail
15th Anniversary Thumbnail Sparkler Thumbnail Networker 2 Thumbnail
Posted: 14 years ago

Originally posted by: hapinezz13

khusssssssssshhhhhhh 11th oct nahi....make it NOV yaa!!

Honu you don't worry...your FF is a special case since I know you're really busy, so tumhe aaf kar diya maine! 😉
You'll be in the run for the awards LOL...but we all know that's not what you're writing for!
Anyway, the thing is that all the unfinished FFs can be wrapped up even after the challenge ends...no need to worry about that. Since we're doing this for AN and the fun of reading these beautiful stories, everyone can continue long after the awards are done even...I'm sure no one will mind! 😃
Tum likho...shaanti se. Par extending till Nov would be a bit too much...can't do that sorry Honu
malluangel thumbnail
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Posted: 14 years ago
reserved for our update, we swear itll be here asap!!!
spln thumbnail
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Posted: 14 years ago
UPDATE ALERT

i wont make u read clumsy long apology notes - u really deserve better!

so please check out the LONGGGGGGG chunk i've posted up here -

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/34521662

you might think you've read it, cause the initial part of it i had posted some days ago. however, scroll down, and you will see the new addition...

and after you're done reading it [AFTER is highlighted here] please watch this vm 😳😳

Ecoute et Moi, Love! VM

i want to take this chance to say, i loved writing for all your wonderful people out here! it started out as an entry for a competition, but i ended up appreciating this couple much more than i ever had - cause i'd never actually watched DMG in their time... now i feel close to them, cause they've occupied my thoughts so intensively for the time i've spent writing this short story! =) i feel happy, and connected to them, and that will be the best thing i take away from this thread and competition - thanks a bunch to all you lovely people! 🤗

PS: THIS PART WAS FOR THE ONE PERSON WHO INDIRECTLY MADE IT HAPPEN - Sheena!!! 🤗

cheers,
nj

ps: if anyone knows how to embed a youtube VM here, please let me know 😊
Edited by spln - 14 years ago
spln thumbnail
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Posted: 14 years ago
And when your fears subside
and shadows still remain -
I know that you can love me,
...when there's no one left to blame
(G 'n' R)

The Mystery of Armaan Malik; & A New Beginning!

"Nikki!"

She pulled the phone away, and rubbed groggily upon her ear, before replacing it, and opening one drooping eye lid only, she glanced at the wall clock. 6:45.

"Mmm...yeh...tell me Ridzi..." she muttered, her eyes falling shut again.

"Duh you sleepyhead, wake the hell up. HE'S HERE!"

"Hm-mm."

"NIKITA MALHOTRA!"

"Huh?! Uh.. what?!" Nikki stuttered, her eyes stinging as she tried to open them consciously this time.

"I said he's here!"

"Oh. OH! HE IS?! But I thought...wait...Its not evening yet is it?" Hurriedly, she bent forward towards the window and tugged at the blinds to pull them open. The overcast sky made it hard to tell...

"Of course not!" Ridhima replied, "He lied about reaching by evening so he could surprise me!" For the first time, Nikki became aware of the evident excitement in her friend's voice. Inevitably, it made her smile.

"Wow..." she meant for it to sound more than just that, but she was significantly unrested, and partially...discovering the rise of some ineffable emotion in the pit of her stomach. But she realized her folly in sounding so lackluster. Ridhima was her friend. "I mean, WOW! This is...you must be..."

"Nikki you imbecile! Now you can't come up with one proper sentence! Well you've got 20 minutes to gear up and try again. I'm waiting for him to dump his bags and then we're coming over."

"But...I'm...hospital...shift..."

"Really Nikki, where are you lost! I know you're at the hospital. We're coming to the lounge in 20 and that's time enough before your shift. Silly girl!"

"Okay. I'll... I'll wait for you guys. Yeh." Then just before either could hang up, she added, "Ridzi..."

"Yeh?"

"You know I'm happy for you, right?"

"Love you too, Chikki!...Oh he's here, we're on our way. Bye bye bye!" she rushed, and cut the call.

Nikki groaned, although the smile on her lips curled up in grudging amusement. She hated that moniker. She couldn't even tell where and how it had been coined, but it had just come into existence one not so fine day, and everyone among her peers, and few other who knew her a little more personally than 'Dr.Malhotra' would tease her with it. For many, most annoyingly, it had stuck for good!

Reminding herself that she had 20 minutes, she got up from her seat, and stretched. It relaxed some of the knots in her neck and back, that had formed from lack of sleep and the uncomfortable position of the work chair. Then she walked to the doctors' washroom to freshen up. She had heard so much about this guy. No point scaring him the first time they were to meet.

Him was Ridhima 'good girl' Gupta's first ever boyfriend! They'd met at a conference that they had both been attending in LA two months ago. And the Ridhima she had known in the 6 months from when the former had transferred to this med school, had become a relic of the past. Cause this new Ridhima had seemed to grow these brand new leaves to her person overnight. The transformation was unmistakable - because it screamed of 'first love' in every way. Nikki would know...she'd been there, done that.

At this thought, a sigh escaped her, but determinedly, she pushed away her own saddening thoughts.

No. Ridhima was her friend, she reminded herself again, and she would be happy for her. She was happy for her, she corrected herself. Very happy. As if to prove, she pulled up a bright smile upon her lips facing the mirror over the basin. It seemed somewhat forced, but she smiled even wider in defiance to that thought, such that her eyes were thin lines. And suddenly that made her chuckle. Her crinkle eye smile had made her the butt of quite a few jokes all her life.

Even he'd teased her about it, sometimes.

She sobered slightly, admonishing herself for the way she let him barge his way into all her thoughts. Then, meeting her own eye in the mirror, she perked up that smile again. It would do. Quickly, she touched up her make up, recoating the pale gloss, refreshing the kohl, liner and light mascara, then she fixed her hair, dabbed some lotion to her hands, arms and neck and finally ran a hand over her uniform. There. Now she looked as presentable as one ought to, at their work place, she decided, making her way back to the lounge. Ridhima would be pleased. Inattentively, she fixed the blinds which were stuck midway and unevenly from when she had tugged at them earlier, drawing them up to look out at the sky and find it brighter than minutes ago.

That woman was so in love. Once in a while, Nikki couldn't help but compare her own memories and respond in a rather non-committal fashion to her friend's soaring enthusiasm. For the most though, she was genuinely happy for Ridhima and it came out like that. She wished today would remain so. Then she decided, today would be so. Socializing had not been big on her agenda for a while now. For once, she was actually looking forward to meeting up with someone, and she would let nothing ruin that. Besides, Ridhima had been just as excited about getting Nikita to meet this lover guy of hers, as she had been to see him in person the first time since they had committed a month ago. It had all happened so fast for them...Nikki's initial thoughts had been forced back to her own case, especially when she had learned he was a resident in that same Midwaestern hospital... where her own love story was buried. It led her to be skeptical, warning Ridhima repeatedly, and looking out for her out of her own wariness. Eventually, because it was evident how hard she was making things for Ridhima, with her doting doctor at one end, and Nikita at the other, she had backed off.

Not everyone could be doomed to a fate like hers.

And for the last one week, since that guy had confirmed he'd be coming over this weekend, Ridhima had behaved like a pregnant woman, literally! Whims, moods, impulses - all of it! It had been amusing, endearing, and occasionally irritating, but Nikita was in her heart truly happy for...

"Here we are!" The door to the lounge was thrown open, and in walked an unbelievably chirpy, red in the cheeks, and smitten in love looking Ridhima. Followed behind by...yes, Nikki thought in that very first glimpse, Ridhima had not exaggerated. He was a neo-age Greek God alright.

"Alright guys!" Ridhima exclaimed sounding like she'd gotten high early in the morning, "Intro time... So this is ..."

"Dr. Nikita Malhotra," he completed for Ridhima, in his deep set baritone, and when his smile curved up to complement the voice, Nikki thought she realized what Ridhima's fuss had been about all of those two months. He was charming, and his charm was instantly, highly infectitious - if it had the potential of rubbing on to her own otherwise garish mood.

"Nikki," she corrected him, giving her hand into his extended one for a warm friendly shake. Yes, she definitely liked this guy. Ridhima was a lucky girl, and for the third time she thought, she was happy for her friend.

"And this is..." Ridhima begun with a hint of a frown to have been cut in her grand round of introduction, only to be cut a second time, this once by Nikki.

"Superman!" It earned Nikita two new reactions - a shocked and somewhat hushing look from Ridhima, and a highly amused cock eyed look her boyfriend.

"Superman...?" He asked her, hiding his smile as Ridhima shot him daggers, although the laughter was audible in his voice. "That's...very humbling." he told her with a mischievious little bow. And it was obvious how they were both fighting their grins.

"Didn't you tell him Ridzi?" Nikki asked, adding to the fun.

"Tell me what?"

"She refused to tell me your real name. Apparently, the oracle told her that her darling would try and elope with a friend of hers, if the friend heard the boyfriend's name before seeing him in person."

"WHAT?!" The question was a unanimous echo from both Ridhima and him.

"What is an oracle?"

"What the hell are you aying! I just..." Ridhima defended herself instantly, flustered, blushing, her ears and neck warming up. Nikita laughed. Then shook her head.

"Just kidding!" she said with an amiable wave of her hand, "She just refused to tell me your name. Which according to her was some twisted way of surprising me - by letting you floor me with a first impression or something. Now personally, I think its because she couldn't get enough of giving you new names."

"New names...?" he asked, with a quirky glint in his eye as caught sight of a deeply blushing Ridhima by his side, before turning back to her. These were very interesting revelations indeed. And that's why one was advised to be on excellent terms with one's girl's best friends... well they seemed to have started off well!

"Nikkiiii!" Ridhima hissed in warning, to no avail. Nikita Malhotra was on the roll.

"You don't know?! Okay, so first you were the 'OMG mystery guy!', then you were this 'effing greek god!', then you were 'dang those dimples!', then you were...err, what was that Ridz ..."

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Ridhima bellowed, as her boyfriend, with no more control, doubled up with laughter, bending and holding his sides and within seconds Nikita had joined him too. Ridhima looked from one to the other and back, trying to decide if she wanted to go run and hide in a place they would never find her, or kill them both first - especially Nikki - and then pull off the disappearing act.

"You... did...not..." He gasped, pointing a finger at her, and then breaking into fresh peels of laughter. Ridhima turned a beetroot red and decided to go along with the first option. But just then, he raised a hand, which was matched perfectly by Nikki in a hi-five and Ridhima changed her mind. They had to be killed first, on priority basis. So when they finally caught her eye, it spelled murder, and they both straightened their faces - with effort. The guy had some gall, for he even dared to try and pull Ridhima into a half hug but she pushed off his hand with such agitation that he bit his tongue hiding the cheeky grin, and winked secretly at Nikki. Who spoke up in a solemn voice.

"So anyways, now you're Superman." He snorted, then tried in vain to cover up with a cough. Ridhima gave her famous frosty eyed look to Nikita.

"Aww, come on sweetheart, I can't believe you said all those wonderful things about me! Why don't you ever say them to my face?" He teased and wooed Ridhima at the same time, pulling her into the hug she had prevented earlier, and still mildly struggled against, but when he dropped a kiss on top of her head, she just blushed and quit wriggling. Nikki caught every bit of the interaction, felt deeply happy, and deeply melancholic. But then he looked her way too soon to allow her to follow her train of nostalgia, or self pity.

"So Nikki, I...uh... really like that Superman tag...but just so you know my parents had a dull taste with names..."

"I can't imagine anything about you being dull, Superman!" Nikki shot back, batting her eyes gamely. It forced a grin out of Ridhima, even if grudgingly, and once again, the other two hi-fived. This time, it warmed Ridhima to watch them so much at ease, already. She couldn't have asked for more, and she knew it. Although it was true that she hadn't known Nikki that long, the two of them had gotten to be very close. Some things were just meant to be. They were.

"Really now!" he said grinning, "You know what I think? I think you, and I... are going to be such a riot!"

"God save me." Ridhima muttered, posing to frown, when her smile was hard to conceal. Instinctively, she slipped her arm around his waist, as he had continued to hold her in the lose hug. And again, Nikki having noticed the subtle little gesture, tried to avert her eyes and divert her attention from thoughts that came flooding back at the slightest of insinuations...

"The name is Armaan Malik," he said, bringing her attention back to him, and for a second she just looked at him. The realization was momentarily belated, but its impact was immense. It wiped off the smile from her face, and as she continued to stare at him, her eyes were now too obscure to read.

Armaan's own humor faltered slightly, at her unexpected reaction. He looked sideways to Ridhima as if to know if he had said something misplaced, but it appeared she too shared his confusion. So he returned his eyes to Nikita. Who continued to stare at him, unblinking. It was a tad bit creepy, and a little more worrisome now.

"Nikita..." he said gently tuching upon her shoulder and the touch broke her gaze. An instant and evident nervousness took over her, as she hastily pulled away, her eyes and feet both becoming shifty, before biting her lower lip as she mumbled a partially audible 'excuse me' and almost sprinted out of the lounge.

Both Armaan and Ridhima were much too shocked to react immediately, forget following her out to check on her. Tens of seconds later, they both turned to look at each other, at the same time, with the same obvious question in their eyes.

"What was that about?" he worded the obvious.

"I don't...know."

"Ridhima...is your friend...is she...I mean...like normal?" Ridhima looked grim for a moment, before suddenly looking up and giving him a whack on his arm.

"You think this is funny?" She asked him angrily.

"Ouch! No! Ridhima! I'm serious. Did you see that? She was here - laughing, jesting and all...then suddenly it all just...I don't know, died in her and she rushed out like she couldn't stay in here another second."

"She heard your name...and rushed out." Ridhima observed, after some quiet seconds. "Armaan Malik." and said it out loud, like it my have some hidden answers to reveal.

"Right. And that doesn't seem normal, so don't blame me to ask. She's the first girl I know who heard my name and ran away." Ridhima scowled at him, but he genuinely frowned back himself, "No seriously. I swear." To which she just shook her head.

"I can't for the life of me imagine what happened." They both remained quiet. Thinking. For several moments.

"Did you ever say she was going out with someone a year ago or something?"

"Yeh..."

"You think he was called Armaan?"

"L.O.L." Ridhima said sarcastically. "Can't think beyond yourself, can you Malik?" Armaan flashed her a saccharine smile.

"Neither can you. Admit it." Then solemnly again he said, "But its possible, trust me, I'm the brain doc here remember? Why else would she react like that? She has to have made some connection that...just...sort of threw her off..."

"Okay halt your horses right there! Hey guy was not called Armaan Malik, or just Armaan, or anything like it. And I know that for a fact. Cause his name is Abhimanyu Modi."

"Oh...WHAT?!" He turned to face her at an unbelievable speed. Nearly shocking her.

"What..?" she asked him back, puzzled, and suspicious.

"Abhimanyu...Modi?" Armaan asked in disbelief, "Not The Abhimanyu Modi?"

"Who's The Ahimanyu Modi?"

"He is!" Armaan said with a wave of his hand like that explained the obvious. Ridhima rolled eyes at him. "Him Ridhima. My boss."

"But your boss is Sadu..." she begun, then stopped.

"Yeh. And obviously that is not his real name. Although, come to think of it, I kinda like the sound of Sadu Modi. Suits him just fine."

"Armaan! Tch!" and clicking her tongue irritated, she whacked him second time. Then returned to her somber thinking. "Abhimanyu Modi is your boss. Nikki...and your boss...were together? Wow." She said, not impressed, in the ideal way.

"Yeh. Wow. I'm telling you she's not normal!"

"Shut up Armaan!"

"No sweetheart, you have no idea! If your friend was seeing Modi, ever, that's enough reason she has incurred mental damage." Ridhima didn't whack his arm this time, simply because she was too occupied by the new revelation. Not like it would have cured his insufferable jesting anyways. "Damn!" Armaan continued, shaking head at himself, "Modi and her. I mean, did you see her? She seems like such an awesome person."

"She is awesome." Ridhima stated flatly. Then suddenly she pointed out, "I still don't understand why she backed off at your name."

"Oh he probably just bad mouthed me or something." Armaan replied nonchalantly. "I never believed he liked me much anyways. The question is why was she ever in love with him."

"She still is," Ridhima said quietly. "Its like this forbidden topic of discussion between us, because she never wants to talk about it, and I don't want to...you know, intrude or hurt her...but I don't think she ever quite got over Dr. Abhimanyu Modi." Armaan saw the concern on her face, and instinctively pulled her close. Rubbed her shoulder lightly, and pressed his lips briefly over her temple.

"Should we go look for her?"

"I don't know...maybe she needs time." He pressed another kiss same place, and rubbed her back in assuring strokes. "I wonder what's it with your name Armaan..." she started again, but this time he pecked her lips lightly and silenced her.

***
Abhimanyu pulled off the scrubs piece by piece with an evident cheer in his manner. When the face mask came off, it revealed a smile on his lips, that hadn't been seen by many in a while.

"Congratulations, Dr. Modi," the resident who had been insisting him ventured, somewhat hesitantly. Abhimanyu turned to him and flashed a smile. A shock flickered fleetingly through the younger doctor's eyes and it made Modi break into an actual grin. He felt lighter than he had in a while - and although it was a silly condition he had put out for himself before going into the OT, his success tasted sweeter than it had for as long as he could remember.

When he walked outside, the wife of his patient rushed to him, with questions brimming in her eyes. He took her hand and squeezed it with his own in assurance, his smile, giving her good news. The relief her face reflected in response was like an elixir of immortality to him. Faintly he wondered if he'd been this thrilled about his first ever successful surgery. As of this moment, he believed not.

Walking back to his cabin, there was a gleeful spring in his steps, he preferred the stairs over the elevator, and in the isolation of the fire escape, he climbed three steps at a time feeling many years younger. Once inside his cabin, he tossed the lab coat and the ID's aside making way to his desk and throwing open the top drawer promptly. From which he withdrew the gild frame. Falling into the revolving leather seat, he went round and round in slow thoughtful circles, while gazing at her photograph without batting an eyelid. Eventually, the circling made him somewhat dizzy, but it also transported him to this other place, where he felt high, even happy...

Until he finally brought his revolutions to a slow halt and bent over his desk, rubbing a thumb preciously over her form, with a content, partly breathless sigh. It was a strange feeling, that everything would be alright. The surgery had been complicated, and the odds against it had been many. Although he was quite known for his work in this particular field, every surgery at the end of the day was an independent case - which had nothing to do with your past or current credentials. Every new operation was like starting all over again and proving your worth as a doctor. And today's success gave him an intuitive satisfaction. When he looked over the junior doctors stitching up the slit at the end, he'd thought of her, and them, believed things could be restitched - no matter how impossible it seemed. It left behind some scars, but nothing was flawless. One learned to live with them, and love despite them.

Several minutes of silence ticked away, and it was a while before a consistent buzz that was trying to get his attention, managed to. With a start he realized it was phone and hastily he searched for it in the scatter of papers and files on his desk. When he finally caught sight of the flashing ID on the LCD, he caught his breath in his throat. And stared.

After its full ringing cycle, the phone stopped buzzing, and the screen read '1 missed call'. Abhimanyu continued to stare at it, not daring to blink lest his eyes were deceiving him right now. Had...had she...had she been calling? Him?

When he had unknowingly held onto his breath some seconds too long, his throat threatened to choke and he cleared it reluctantly. There was only one way to know, he thought, feeling deep apprehension as he, with one last look at the screen which said '1 missed call' pressed the tabs to unlock the key pad. When the moonlit white screen came to life, and the message still remained, Abhimanyu couldn't help being shocked. He wasn't imagining. She had called!

And then, when his heart was already feeling faint from a burst of emotions and fears, the set begun vibrating in his hand again, showing her ID. Although it took him some seconds, this time he acted before it was too late and his hand shaking, he pressed the answer tab and lifted the phone to his ear.

"I met him."

Hearing her voice, reminded him how long it had been. Not that he'd forgotten for a single moment. But it suddenly hit him like a larger than life feeling. He had missed her more than he'd realized, and he had already thought he'd missed her more than was humanly possible.

"Are you listening?"

And this time her voice put his heart in to a frenzy that was beyond his understanding and control.

"I...am...Hey...!"

"Why didn't you ever tell me he was a real guy?"

"I...didn't...who...?"

"Him."

"But..."

"No! Don't give me any more 'buts' for heavens sake! Why have you done this to me? What have you done to me? What have you done to us?!" Her volley of questions snapped him out of his shock and incapability to construct coherent sentences.

"Nikita! Are you...were you trying to call me?"

He was a fool to ask, but he couldn't help it. This call was beyond the last thing he could expect. And her vague references and lack of connectors was helping no more than his own being overwhelmed. A whimsical part of him went all 'I told you so' inside, reminding him the surgery had been a success. But he smacked his head mentally and told the whimsical part to shut the hell up. And realized, she had not answered him.

"Nikki...?" he tried again. "Were you..."

"Yes! Yes I was! The bloody fool that I am, I was, Dr. Abhimanyu Modi. Now if your question is answered, can we move back to mine?"

"Yes." He said quietly, fearing she was going to blow up on the other end of the phone if he aggravated her, although he didn't know how he was - right now that is.

"Why didn't you tell me Armaan Malik was real - flesh and blood and all." Abhimanyu reeled back at her words. For one, her question didn't make sense, for another, if it did, then what was she even saying. Of course he'd... "Are you going to answer me?"

"I...I don't know what you mean."

"Really? I'm asking you that Armaan Malik, the real one, happens to be a real person - you didn't think it was necessary I know that? Either fate is mocking me with coincidences of fictional names coming to life, or you didn't think I had to be detailed about it, cause hello, it was all fake anyways! So one fine morning I wake up and run into the real Armaan Malik, and guess what, he turns out to be my current best friend's current boyfriend and they go all get all cute and coochie-coo around me before I'm told he is called ARMAAN-Effing-MALIK!"

"Nikki..."

"NO! That's not the end! All this time, I keep thinking what it was that compelled this man I loved so much to weave an entire story about who he is and what he does and get close with me, and only today I learn that even his alter ego wasn't a fantasy character after all... he'd only been temporarily borrowing someone elses identity, GOD KNOWS WHY!"

"NIKITA!" he finally silenced her. "I thought you were asking questions to get some answers. Well it might surprise you, but you've gotta listen to people to get those answers, okay?" She didn't say anything back, but he heard a mild 'hmph' at her end, and could only imagine the range of expressions on her face. He sighed. "I don't understand why you're saying all this, cause I told you everything...that night."

"That you're not Armaan Malik but Abhimanyu Modi? That you're not a third year student but a Neural surgeon? That you'd lied to me about your identity from the day we got together? That you'd never had the courage to own up? Those are not the answers..."

"That Armaan Malik was a student finishing off his clinical year. That he, was my student. That when I first met you I'd been seeking revenge. That when I did meet with you for a while, I was seeking you. That the first time I was formally going to introduce myself, you had every reason to turn down my offer for friendship and in the impulse of a moment I lied about who I was. That Armaan Malik just happened to be the first name which crossed my mind - I don't know why. That the second I uttered that lie, a string of many more lies came tumbling out to keep up with the first one. That grudgingly though, but when you finally accepted the flowers and called me in for breakfast, I thought the lie had been worth it. That the next few days spent with you were the best days of my life until then. That I discovered in a very short time that I wasn't looking to be friends at all...that it was more, and beyond...I asked you out and miraculously you said yes. It was...it was so precious to me, that although I'd meant to tell you the entire truth that day...I couldn't. I feared you'd back out. I told myself I'd win your trust and tell you all about it. It was such a trivial whim that..."

"Trivial?! You think hiding your identity from me was trivial? You made my love look lke some cheap clandestine affair that we wanted to hide...from people...out of guilt...or shame...Wait a second! Was it that? Were you ashamed of dating me? You never let me come over to your place and meet up with your friends...was I an embarrassment to you? Were you ashamed of us being a couple in public?"

"NO! No Nikki...why would you think..."

"Then why did you lie to me in the first place?"

"It just happened! I mean...when I stood there at your door step that morning...I didn't know I would fall in love. I didn't know I'd begun falling in love. All I cared about was getting you to accept my friendship. And...even that was such a...just his thought that I was stuck with. I saw you standing there and I saw this, this lovely child looking back at me in you...and I don't know. It all happened so fast. It was like I was uncertain, I didn't think you would... I mean, I thought you'd be awkward, or intimidated - you know? You, a term into a med school and I, a fellow recommended for promotion to a surgeon's post at the first vacancy. It was...I know this sounds ridiculous now but we had a difference. It was like I just expected you to recede, and reject me, knowing who I really was... and then, Armaan Malik just...just surfaced."

"Are you...serious?" Abhimanyu sighed heavily at the evident disbelief in her whisper.

"Do I sound any other way to you?" She didn't disagree, and he continued, "I thought so. I'm not saying it was stupid. I don't know what overcame me. But we all have our blunders to look back at, don't we? I...I kept thinking I'd tell you and then it would all be alright. I kept meaning to tell you. But the more I hesitated and delayed, the greater became my apprehension. It became this fear that underlay my waking thoughts and disturbed nights. The first time that we...at your place I mean...that night, I just wanted to tell you all of it. But...you looked so content, and glowing lying by my side, the fear gripped me again. And for the first time I asked myself the question - what if you did not understand. Just imagining us to not be...I shrunk far back back into the comfort of the lie I'd built around us. And no matter how hard and how many times I tried, my words and courage failed me...Nikki I..."

"Shut up!" she cut him short, and he heard a mixture of anguish and relief in her voice. Followed by soft crying. Abhimanyu sat up in his chair.

"Nikki please...I don't...not again please. I've not gone through a single night without being haunted by what I put you through that night. Don't...even if I deserve it...don't do it again. Please...don't cry."

"You jerk!" she gasped, crying anyways, and Abhimanyu swallowed at the hint of an endearment in those words. Was she...angry now, or what? "You couldn't tell me this before?"

"But..."

"I told you no buts! And I told you to shut up!"

"Okay."

"How could you not tell me. All this time...all these months...its been so long..."

"A year and twenty three days," he informed her dryly.

"I know! You think I didn't keep count! You think you were the only one..." he heard her sniff and cry a little more, and he wished to tell her not to, but he just sighed. "You have any idea what it was like when that real Armaan Malik used the name and called it his own? It was like he wanted to separate me from my...my dearest possession or something...I was going to hit him if I hadn't run out and told him to stop lying...you know how mad it made me? NO! You don't know! You don't know a thing! I hate you!" There was so much he wanted to say - that he had told her all this - but it struck him for the first time ever, that she had not heard a word of his complete confession that night. He was reminded of her persistent silence, which had disheartened him repeatedly, and he now knew why. And now, it was really her turn. He sighed again, and kept quiet.

"And now you don't have anything to say for yourself?" she reproached him, sounding teary and somewhat hoarse.

"I do. I love you. And please don't cry." She swore at his words. Ripped her phone from her ear and almost threw it at the wall ahead in the fire escape, before better sense prevailed. Forcefully, she put it back.

"I love you too!" she told him, like she was ordering him detention, "But I also hate you. You have no idea how much I hate you. Do you understand that?" Despite himself, Abhimanyu couldn't help but break into a small smile. He closed his eyes lightly, leaning his head back onto the leather chair's head rest. And the smile widened.

"I suppose so." he told her, and his note had a ring of the smile to it.

"You think this is funny?!"

"No."

"Yes you do."

"No Nikki I..."

"I know you do!"

"Okay fine."

"WHAT! YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?! THAT'S NOT EVEN FUNNY ARM..."she stopped short, and swore mentally this time, before softly completing, "Abhimanyu." His smile had faltered a little, but then he stretched it right back.

"You can still call me AM you know..."

"Yeh..." she agreed glumly, then realizing what he suggested she quipped, "That's right! But I'm going to call you Abhimanyu anyways."

"You can call me what you want sweetheart."

"But you can NOT call me sweetheart."

"Okay. I love you Nikita Malhotra. I always will. Even when I can't call you sweetheart. Will you forgive me?" She fought the smile that wanted to burst upon her face, but it surfaced anyway.

"I will think about it."

"Can you think about it over coffee?"

"Yeh. I think that's possible." She was smiling like a little girl now, even as she tried to keep her voice flat.

"Awesome! This evening? 6PM?"

"Hmm."

He hung up, and they both smiled at their ends.

Nikki hugged her phone tight to her chest. Things were going to be alright, she thought to herself, in a daze like state. Had all this really hapened...?

Abhimanyu gave his chair one powerful push and it went revolving round in fast circles, before slowing down tens of seconds later.

And here comes back my love, Abhimanyu told himself, punching the air.

***

ps: final note - this is the end. sorry for being sadistic and not clarifying at the end of the part i posted last night - i just thought it would be fun creating suspense! 😆

also, i know there was no intense AN head on romance to this story - which is undeniably a TRP winner for any story 😆 - but this was the theme i had in mind all along. as, befitting its title - Ecoute et Moi, Love!

In my personal experience it is little things in life - trivial unspoken words, or casually mis-communicated facts that tend to become mega hurdles in the long run, often in ways and circumstances we never anticipated! To me, such issues and misunderstandings are most real to any and all kinds of relationships... they make and mar bonds, and overcoming them eventually is what stands out in testifying the sanctity of relationships.

Just that. like i said before i had tremendous fun writing this one, even though i was a pain with all my delays, and in the end i realized i really adore this couple 😳
also, the surprise that i mentioned was the VM above - please watch it - and it happened from sheer chance. not only am i not a skilled vm maker, i never knew the know-how of the procedure, and it was only one late night last week when i needed some severe distraction from work to be able to get back to it that i chanced upon the vm making instruction thread on IF... and so happened the VM :D i was unduly excited about it, as one is on learning a new somethin 😆

that's that! good luck to all participants - khushiii please give us some time to read up and vote - because people like me have TONS to catch up on reading!

cheers,
nj


Edited by spln - 14 years ago
ANfan_1810 thumbnail
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Posted: 14 years ago
Hey nj,
I am confused .... is your FF over. Are AN together or not? Sorry for sounding dumb .... but is there an epilogue or something coming up ......😕
Khushboo_AN thumbnail
15th Anniversary Thumbnail Sparkler Thumbnail Networker 2 Thumbnail
Posted: 14 years ago
Don't worry Annie...even I was about to ask the same thing! I didn't read the whole of nj's FF, but I did take a peek at the ending and I'm so darn confused...
I sound dumb too!
ANfan_1810 thumbnail
15th Anniversary Thumbnail Voyager Thumbnail
Posted: 14 years ago

YOU'RE STILL THE ONE

Part 26

'When are you leaving, Nikki?' Tia asked pointedly, her eyes moving from Nikki to Abhi and back.

They all were at Ridhima's place for the Mehndi function. Today, after the late night due to the cocktail party, everyone had decided to take it easy and woken up pretty late. They had lazed around for the day, till it was time to get ready for the Mehndi function in the evening.

Nikki had given enough rest to her ankle so that she could atleast attend the evening function. But she felt sad that she will not be able to dance and participate in all the fun activities like she had imagined. Looking at her sad and sulking face, Ridhima had said,

'Nikki, look at the brighter side. Atleast you are able to attend the function. It could have been worse!' hearing that Nikki had hugged her tightly, and said,

'Ridhzi, what would I do without you? You always make me look at the brighter side of every situation. I love you so much. You are the best!'

So now during the late evening, Nikki had been standing on the sides, enjoying herself looking at everyone putting on the mehndi and dancing away gaily to bollywood songs.

'My flight is the day after tomorrow, at 6:00 in the morning' Nikki replied to Tia, steeling a glance at Abhi. She could see his jaw tightening, and give her a brooding look.

'You could have stayed for a few more days, Nikki, what's the big hurry?' Tia asked.

'I have to report back to the duty, Tia. I already took a week off. I can't take anymore days off.' Nikki replied with a trace of sadness.

'Oh, Nikki it was so nice to have you here. I am going to miss you a lot.' Tia said hugging Nikki tightly.

Nikki also returned her hug affectionately. But she was now looking at Abhi over Tia's shoulder as she said, 'Even I will miss you a lot. But don't worry I will be back soon' Nikki told her teasingly. Abhi gave her an accusing look, knowing completely well that she was lying. But Nikki looked away from him feeling guilty and pulling away from Tia, said jokingly, ' For your wedding!'

'Oh no Nikki ....... don't wait for that ..... I have no idea when that will happen. Sid and I both want to enjoy a long engagement. And that will give Bhai enough time to find his bride too' she told with a laugh, winking at Abhi.

Abhi was not amused by Tia's comment , but decided to play along with it .....

'Tia, you may be in for a surprise, maybe you won't have to wait too long.' Abhi said with a smirk.

Hearing this colour drained out of Nikki's cheeks and she looked up with a surprise at him as her heart dropped to the floor like a stone. She started fidgeting with her hands, clearly showing her nervousness and dilemma.

'Bhai .....' Tia screamed and hugged Abhi, 'this is great news! You never mentioned anything about this before! Tell me who is it, Bhai, right now!'

'Tiu, be patient, when the time is right you will know all about it. Now all you need to know is that you might not have to wait too long for your marriage!' he said with a smile. He was enjoying Nikki's uneasiness. 'Way to go Dr. Abhimanyu!' he thought to himself, with a smirk, 'She is rising to your bait! Now just wait and see the way she reacts!'

'You know Tia, I have been thinking .... for how long can I wait? I have to get married some day .... so why not now? Abhi continued.

'You know, Dr. Modi, you are right. After all there won't be many girls who would want to marry a 'buddha'. How old are you, anyways? 35?' Nikki said now with a mocking smile, knowing very well that he was not. Tia could hardly hold back her laugh, seeing both of them fight like this.

'Achcha .... so I am old .... Dr. Nikita ..... haven't you heard that saying ..... 'Men are like wine, as they grow old, some turn to vinegar, while most improve with age.'

'No guesses for what you will turn into! Let me tell you there aren't many takers for vinegar!' she said mockingly, snubbing him.

'Oh ho.... so now you have become an expert on men and wine, hmmmmm?'

'Well no ..... Dr. Modi ..... but I am an expert on one thing ...... you ...... no one knows you better than me.'

'No Nikki, you couldn't me more wrong!' Abhi retorted, looking accusingly at her, with eyes full of pain, as Nikki continued to look defiantly at him.

Suddenly, there was tension in the air. Both Abhi and Nikki's kept on looking at each other, and their eyes had turned sad. Tia seeing that they both were now treading on dangerous grounds said,

'Nikki, Ma wanted to know if you can come home for breakfast tomorrow. Anyway, the wedding is only in the evening.'

'I am sorry, Tia. I don't think so .....' Nikki replied, looking sulkily at Abhi. 'Tell aunty that I will call her sometime tomorrow.' And then looking away from both of them said,

'Excuse me, I need to sit down. My leg is paining .... I have been standing for too long. I need to give it a rest.' She hobbled towards some empty chairs. Abhi immediately rushed next to her, giving her his hand, for her to take support. He could see the pain on her face as she tried to make it to the chairs.

'Nikki!' he said her name with frustration, 'you never listen, do you? I had told you to give enough rest to your ankle' Then his eyes turned soft as he saw her in pain and he asked her huskily, 'is it paining too much? Do you want me to carry you?'

Placing her small hand in his, she looked up at him. He looked so big to her now, since she was not wearing her high heels, their height difference even more pronounced. She just nodded her head negatively, 'I will be fine as soon as I sit down.'

Finally, they reached the chair, and she flopped on the chair. Abhi pulled another chair for her to put her leg on it, but she refused. She was already feeling odd, not able to participate in all the fun, she didn't want to make her injury obvious to everyone, drawing attention to her. So he sat down instead next to her.

'Your leg is better?' Abhi asked with concern.

'Hmmm' she replied without looking at him. She can't help going all mushy inside when he goes all soft on her. She cannot be angry with him for long when he is so caring.

After a pause, he asked finally,

'Why did you refuse Ma's invitation?' he asked her. He was also looking straight ahead when Nikki turned to him with a surprise.

'What is the use, Abhi?' she asked sadly. 'Anyway, it is very difficult for me to say bye to everyone'

'Then why do you have to?' he asked now looking at her straight into her eyes. His eyes were so piercing that she felt as if he could see into her soul.

Nikki did not reply to him right away. She kept on looking at him ......

'What do you want me to do, Nikki? How do I prove to you that I love you a lots, that I never meant all those nasty things I said to you, that I am really sorry for hurting you so much, that I don't want you to leave, ever?' he asked her very seriously.

But she wasn't able to reply to him. Her eyes started to water, but she pulled in all her strength, not to start crying here and spoil this beautiful function for Ridhima and Armaan.

'Please, Abhi .... ab yeh saab chodo! I don't want to spoil this evening by arguing with you! I am here for only 2 more days ...... lets not ruin them too!'

'Just one more day, Nikki!' he said sadly, making her realize how less time she had with him.

Just then one of the girls who had been applying mehndi for Ridhima came to her, and said that Ridhima wanted Nikki to applying mehndi too .....

Abhi watched quietly, as the girls, started applying the mehndi on both her hands. He was amazed at the finesse and speed at which they were making the intricate design on Nikki's hand. But Nikki was busy observing him instead. He was looking with full concentration, amazed as if never seen anything like this before. Within no time, the girl finished both the hands.

'Thanks. I love it. It is so beautiful .....' Nikki said to the girl with a smile. Abhi also smiled at the girls and complimented them. The girls flushed and smiled back in embarrassment. Abhi seems to have this effect on all girls, Nikki thought to herself, feeling a pang of jealousy. Just then she saw Sneha walk upto them,

'How are you, Nikita? Is your ankle better?' she asked cordially. She was being nice, but her question irritated Nikki. She continued,

' I am sorry you are missing all the fun. You danced so well in Sid's mehndi' and both Nikki and Abhi remembered that moment when they had seen each other ..... first time after more than one year. Nikki felt her heart squeeze with pain. She did not want to go thru that pain of separation once again!

'Why thanks Sneha, I am glad you liked my dance.' Nikki replied sweetly to her. ' And don't worry, I am enjoying this too ..... after all I have Dr. Modi's company.'

'That I cannot deny, no one can get bored, in Dr. Modi's fabulous company' she replied, now looking dreamily at Abhi.

Abhi getting embarrassed by Sneha's compliment, asked, 'Sneha, did you eat? Let me get you both something to snack' saying that he rushed away from there.

Within a few minutes he was back with 2 plates filled with starters ...... handed over one to Sneha and realized the problem as soon as he extended the other one to Nikki,

'Problem!' she exclaimed raising both her hands showing off her mehndi filled hands helplessly.

'Someone needs to feed me!'

Abhi knew immediately what her devilish mind was upto. He bent down, and whispered in her ears, 'Nakhrewali Nikki' and then sat next to her, taking a spoon from the plate and started feeding her.

Nikki was enjoying this .... she smiled to herself as Sneha was keenly observing both of them and Abhi was looking embarrassed as Sneha and a few more people who were passing by looked at them keenly.

'Ummmmm ..... this is so good, Abhi. Why don't you also taste it?' she said goading him. 'You can try it from here itself.'

'No, its fine! I am not hungry. I will eat later.' He told her off sharply, but she decided to ignore the sharpness in his tone.

'It's your loss, Abhi!' she said lifting her shoulders nonchalantly, as if not caring, and going back to eating her food.

As he put the next spoon in her mouth, taken in by her lips painted beautifully with pink lipstick, he remembered their kiss from yesterday. Suddenly his eyes became a shade darker, and Nikki eyes widened in response to his reaction. She read clearly the desire in his eyes and understood what he was thinking about. They both were re-living that kiss, lost in their own heaven, looking longingly at each other. Anyone looking at them, could make out how aware they both were of each other ...... and the intimacy they both shared. It did not go unnoticed by Sneha too. After sometime she excused herself from there, she got up and walked away, with a sad smile. And Nikki looking at her back, found it very hard to hide her impish grin.

And then when she turned, she saw Abhi looking are her frowningly, then he raised one eyebrow in question. But Nikki's face blushed at being caught red handed, and shaking his head, he asked in an irritated tone......

'Nikki, what is your problem?' not able to understand her, ' You are so confused! You do not know what you want! But I am warning you, you will have to make up your mind very soon!'

'I know very well what I want, Dr. Modi' she retorted angrily, 'And that certainly does not include you!' Now she was looking away from him, upset and angry with him. She did not like the fact that he had seen her drive away Sneha, nor did she understand her own confused reactions to anyone trying to come close to Abhi.

'Enough! I am not hungry anymore!' she told him, turning her head away from him, not wanting to eat anymore. Abhi just walked away from there with the plate, without saying anything to her. He did not want to argue with her. It will not get them anywhere. He realized that she was not ready to accept her own feelings .... and under those circumstances it was no use telling her anything.

////////////////////

It was the wedding day, wedding day of Armaan and Ridhima. Nikki was at Ridhima's place having her morning coffee. Dr. Shashank and Aunty were also with her, having their coffee and reading the news paper.

Nikki turned on the TV to see the morning news. This was her daily routine at home, when she caught up with the world as she watched the morning news on TV while having her coffee.

They all froze ..... as soon as they heard ......the reporter say,

"And for the headlines today .....

There has been a very unfortunate accident at the construction site of a new hospital by Sanjeevani-ACE group at Navi Mumbai has been going on. One person died and 3 more are trapped under the newly constructed slab that gave way today in the early morning hours. These 4 men are labourers at the hospital site"

Nikki's heart refused to slow down .... and her brain refused to think coherently. All that came to her mind was ....Abhi. Where was he? What was he doing? Did anyone tell him about this accident?

And then she heard,

'Dr. Modi ... CEO of Sangeevani-ACE chain of the hospitals, under whose preview this new hospital comes has just arrived at the sight.'

And then the camera was focused on to Abhi's face, as he was getting down from his car. Immedaitley he was surrounded by reporters, labourers and other onlookers. All they could see was strange faces ... and hear strange voices bombarding him with questions, accusations .....

'Dr. Modi, who is responsible for this? '

'How come the construction of such bad quality has been permitted that lives of labourers is comprised'

'What will be quality of the hospital that is coming up, if we go by this as the sample of construction?'

'Will you give in your resignation? Do you take this as your failure?'

Nikki gasped ..... she was shocked .... unable to believe that the reporters were such accusations at him .... they carried on and on .....

Now the camera was focused on some labourers who had turned violent and were holding Abhi by his collar ...... demanding answers ........ ready to hit him in their frustration . The police were having a tough time to keep the crowd away from Abhi.

Nikki eyes were frozen on the screen, as tears started to gather.

'I need to reach the sight immediately' Nikki heard Dr. Shashank say, 'but please don't mention anything to Ridhima about this' as Aunty nodded silently at him.

'Sir, I am coming with you.' Nikki said wiping away her tears before they both could see. She was already up, trying to get her mobile and wearing her shoes.

'Nikki, please ......' Aunty tried to stop her. But looking at Nikki's determined look Dr. Shanshank said,

'Its okay .... let Nikki accompany me .... we will call Armaan and others on the way and inform them too.'

Nikki threw a grateful glance at Dr. Shashank for his silent understanding, for she was sure he knew the reason she wanted to go with him. She murmured a thanks as they both rushed towards the car without wasting a single minute.

On the way, she first called Sid ....

'Sid .....' but before she could say anything ....

'Nikki, I know .... I am on my way with my dad and Tia to the sight.'

'Ok, I am coming there with Dr. Shashank ..... see u there' Nikki did not waste much time talking to him since he was driving.

Next she called Armaan. He had not heard about the news ..... but as soon as she narrated to him what had happened he said,

'Nikki, I will reach there as soon as I can. Tell Papa .... and Dr. Modi .....' but before he continued.

'Armaan, you are not going anywhere .... today is your wedding. We haven't informed even Ridz, so please do not mention anything to her. And both of you need to stay put .... at home ..... you are not going anywhere today ....except the wedding avenue ... understood!'

Dr. Shanshank gave her an approving node as he heard her talk to Armaan.

'And Dr. Shanshank also says the same thing ....'

Nikki and Armaan argued for some time .... for Armaan refused to stay back. He insisted that he had to come to the site. But Nikki also did not relent, and finally she gave him an ultimatum,

'Armaan, if you don't listen to me, I will not talk to you for the rest of my life ... do you understand?' she was now shouting at him in frustration, 'and you know I will do whatever I say. Listen, I have to cut the phone, we have reached the site' saying that she disconnected, without waiting for Armaan to say anything.

As soon as she reached the site, she found Sid, Tia, Dr. Shah, and some other members of the board there. As she joined them her eyes were searching for Abhi. She could not find him anywhere. She was so scared as she saw Tia, completely broken, in tears, crying incessantly. As soon as Tia saw Nikki approach them, she ran to her and hugged her tightly, and started to cry even more,

'Nikki ..... Bhai' but she could not continue. Nikki was now even more scared .... her heart was threatening to collapse, and all sort of bad thoughts flashed through her mind.

'Tia .... please .... calm down .... you are scaring me ..... Sid .... tell me what is happening, where is Abhi?' she asked Sid, as he approached her. There was immense fear in her eyes and Sid could see that she was trying hard to control her tears. He came close to them and took both of them in a hug, and said,

'Girls, you both need to stay calm. Everything will be fine. Nikki, Bhai decided to go up and help the 3 trapped men out. He did not want to wait for the fire brigade, because with each passing minute, they were loosing precious time. He did not want to take any more risk with their lives. But now the fire brigade is here, and they have sealed the building and are not letting anyone enter it till they get everyone out safe and sound.

'So where is Abhi? Why is he not out even now?' Nikki asked with fear. What if something had happened to him, trying to save these guys.

'Nikki, we do not know. We are also waiting for someone to come out and tell us.'

The next half an hour was the longest that Nikki would have lived in her entire life. She waited with baited breadth, praying to God, to take care of Abhi and the other 3 trapped men, talking to Abhi in her mind, telling him that she was with him, giving him strength to do whatever he was trying to do, and telling him that she loved him.

She saw Tia crying, and told her,

'Tiu, please don't cry! It will only make Abhi sad. He needs to know that we are all with him right now, pray that everything will turn out to be okay. I am sure everything will be fine. Nothing can happen to Abhi ..... ' but her voice also faded out as she said the last statement. But slowly Tia calmed down a bit, and Sid looked at Nikki gratefully, once again hugging both of them. Even Sid was feeling helpless ...not able to do anything but wait.

Finally, they saw a few fire brigade men bring out one person on a stretcher. But Nikki's eyes were searching only for Abhi. She could not see him anywhere. Sid ran to the ambulances waiting for the injured men to inquire what was happening.

There was too much of rush and crowd due to the reporters and other people who had gathered round, so others could not reach there. Sid came back with the news that, all the 3 trapped men were released, they were severely injured, will be rushed to the hospital, but there was no danger to their lives. Dr. Modi was also ok, though one of the firemen told him that he had got some bad injuries ......

Nikki's heart skipped a few beats as she heard him say this but she heaved a sigh of relief that he was atleast fine .... nothing serious had happened to him .... her eyes glued to where everyone was coming out. Then they brought out one more person on the stretcher, followed by the last one.

After a few seconds, which seemed like a life time, Nikki saw Abhi coming out. He was the last one to come out along with the Fire brigade chief ....... seeing him walking slowly, Nikki just collapse on her knees, her face hidden in her hands, as she cried uncontrollably. Tia sat besides her, hugged her, and said,

'Nikki, Bhai is fine, see he is walking out on his own, don't cry now. Please .... you don't want to make him unhappy, do you?' Tia asked her innocently in her soft voice. 'Let's go, he is looking for us' she said pulling Nikki up along with her.

As Tia ran towards Abhi, Nikki followed her slowly. She saw him walking slowly, towards them, his clothes gashed at a few places, his shirt completely wet and blood stained at various places, his left hand supporting his right upper arm, his right arm cut and bleeding at several places and his right hand fingers completely covered in blood. It looked as if he was have a hard time even to walk, his legs ready to give up any time. She could see even from this distance that he was in too much of pain, but only his will power was making him go on. He saw both of them coming towards him ...... and Nikki noticed the tell tale moisture in his eyes. And then Tia threw herself at him, hugging him, kissing him, tears rolling down her face,

'Bhai ...... .' but she could not say anything anymore.

'Tiu ...... princess..... I am fine.....everything is ok......those men are also going to be okay......now stop crying' he said and then slowly, 'you are killing me baby, my hand is hurting me ......' he said as colour drained out of his face as Tia's hug was giving him more pain than he could withstand.

'Oh Bhai ..... I am so sorry ...... I am so sorry .......' Tia said as she moved away releasing Abhi, feeling guilty for hurting Abhi, 'Nikki, told me that you will be fine, that you will make everything okay ......she was also so worried' she continued, wiping away her tears.

'Bhai .... you need to go to the hospital .... you don't look alright .....come please .... the ambulance is waiting' Sid said taking Abhi along with him. Nikki and Abhi did not even get a chance to say anything to each other. All they could do was exchange a pained look. Their eyes looking for all the signs to confirm that the other one was okay. But Nikki noticed that Abhi was in too much pain. His bruises were still bleeding, they needed to be attended immediately, and there seemed to be some problem with his right shoulder....

'Nikki, you get into the ambulance with Bhai, you are a doctor, and you can attend to him, in case of any emergency on the way. I will follow your ambulance with Tia. Dad will take care of other formalities with the police and reporters.' Sid told Nikki. There was a softness in his eyes which showed he understood that she had been dying to talk to Abhi, to find out if he was okay, and make sure for herself that he was not very badly injured.

Nikki thanked him with her eyes, than asked him to tell Dr. Shashank to call the hospital and brief them about each case, and also inform him that she had left with Dr. Modi and will come home straight and also call Armaan and Ridz and update them about her whereabouts, before she got into the ambulance along with Abhi.

The ward boys, told Abhi to lie down on the bed in the ambulance, but he refused, telling them that he was fine. Then Nikki looked at him, pleaded with her eyes, and he understood. For her he lied down, so that the ward boys could strap him in place properly, put his right hand up a bit, to stop the bleeding and to put the BP machine on his left arm. They noted the BP, which apparently was very low. He could see, Nikki's eyes filled with concern on hearing this. It meant that there had been too much of bleeding.

'Nikki, it's fine .... it is only because of the blood loss. As soon as we stop that, I will be fine.' Then with a lot of effort he said, 'Only this pain in my right arm is unbearable ......' he said softly. Nikki instructed the ward boys to start the IV with painkillers and antibiotics. Then she slowly took his left hand in both her hands, gently squeezed it, and said,

'Abhi, relax! They have started the drip with the painkillers and antibiotics, the pain will go away immediately'

As soon as the IV had started, Abhi's right arm properly strapped in place, the boys closed the doors and the ambulance started, finally leaving Abhi and Nikki alone .

Slowly Nikki, raised Abhi's hand to kiss his fingers, and murmured,

'I have never been more scared in my entire life ....... thank God you are okay. I would have died today if anything happened to you, Abhi!' she said with tears in her eyes. She was unable to put it into words .... what she had been thru ..... but her eyes reflected all the emotions that she had lived through these last few hours.

'Why? Why should you care? You are anyways going to leave me and go away tomorrow, aren't you?' he asked sadly, his heart as heavy as lead, his chocolaty brown eyes full of grief.

She just kept on looking at him, tears pouring out of eyes, without stopping.

'Abhi ..... please don't fight ..... I have no energy left to fight you anymore. My heart just refuses to listen to me ....it has a mind of its own ..... and you know very well ...... I can never stop loving you ......whether I am next to you or thousands of miles away from you ...... whether I accept it or not ..... I just love you too much ..... for my own good.' she said sadly.

And hearing this, he squeezed her small hands tightly, closing his eyes and sighing with relief .... all his pain forgotten .... thanking God for everything and telling him that he could have died right now gone to heaven for this second chance .... for he had been waiting for her to admit her feelings for more than a year now. Then slowly he opened his eyes once again,

'Sweetheart, finally! I had been dying to hear those words from your mouth and now I can't even kiss this sweet mouth of yours for saying them ..... and look at poor me, I had to nearly die before you .....' but she bent down and sealed her lips to his making him shut up. Immediately, his lips parted ....letting her tongue plunge deep into his mouth .... as he pulled her even closure by pushing her head towards him .... showing her how much he loved her . After what seemed like an eternity, unable to breathe anymore, she had to pull up, away from him, gasping for air. And when she found her breathe,.

'Don't say such words. Please .... I cannot take any more of it today .....' she said emotionally. Slowly Abhi took her small hand up to his lips, starring at her eyes which were now full of tears, concern and love for him, kissed each finger of hers, with lots of love, while she kept on looking into his dark brown loving eyes.

Between each kiss, he said, 'I love you' and finally 'I love you too too too much, Dr. Nikita.'

Finally, her tears stopped and she gave a feeble smile and asked with concern,

'Abhi, how is your hand? Is it still paining?'

'I think it is gone numb now. I don't feel anything.'

'That is not good, Abhi ..... I am worried.' Then she looked out of the window to figure out how far they were from the hospital. ' We are just a few minutes away. I am sure the emergency department will be ready for you. I think you will have to go in for the X-ray as soon as we reach to find out what is wrong.'

'Nikki, don't worry about me. I will be okay. Take care of Tia and Ma, okay. And take a special care of yourself .....for me, hmmm?' he said cupping her face in his palms lovingly. 'I don't want to see anymore tears in these beautiful eyes, do you understand? Else I will get very upset and angry!' he said in mock anger, really exhausted now, unable to keep his eyes open.

'Abhi .... Abhi ....' she said tapping his cheek. He was slipping into unconsciousness just as they entered Sanjeevani.

'Hmmm ......' he replied but not opening his eyes.

'We are here .... open your eyes ......' she said, shaking him. But he did not reply, nor was able to open his eyes.

As soon as the ambulance stopped ..... they opened the doors and rushed him into the emergency room.....There were all the senior doctors there ..... and they had been briefed by Dr. Shashank on Abhi's condition ..... and they took over from there.

As Abhi was wheeled away from them, Nikki, Tia and Sid looked at his unconscious face ......... and as soon as he disappeared behind the OT doors ...... Nikki sank down on the chair close by, unable to bear the pain in her ankle which she had forgotten all about, and her heart, any more ...... once again breaking down into tears.

//////// Sorry everyone, couldnot finish it on time ..... but most imp part is over .... only one more update to go .... maybe I will call it an epilogue .......😆 ..... will take a few more days to post it.
Epilogue updated at -
Edited by ANfan_1810 - 14 years ago

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