I Belong With You part 30 updated (Arsh ff) - Page 29

part 29

Holding tightly Nana's leash, Armaan tried to keep up with his pace while they headed back to the house. On the porch, Armaan had to jump back when the dog started shaking the water off his big fur. Armaan glared down at his water stained clothes. He sighed and opened the door, grabbing the dog's collar before they walked into the house.

From the first walk they had with Nana, Armaan and Shilpa learned how much he loved the water; therefore, there was always a towel by the door to dry the dog before letting him run inside. Armaan stripped off his jacket and kicked off his shoes. As he walked by the stairway, he heard Shona's crying and Shilpa's soothing words. His first instinct was to go upstairs and check on them, but then he heard someone in the kitchen.

Armaan found Sapna starting to prepare the breakfast while Nana was licking clean his bowl already.

"Good morning, Sapna," he greeted her with a smile.

"Hello, Armaan," she smiled back and then worryingly asked, "She still hasn't calmed down?"

Armaan sighed heavily and shook his head as he sat down at the table. "She's teething and she cried all night because of the pain."

Sapna nodded sympathetically. "It will pass…" she wanted to encourage him and Armaan smiled questioningly at her. "Soon," she answered and chuckled. "Unfortunately there isn't much we can do; just be patient."

Armaan nodded in agreement. "I am so tired," he let out a groan as he rubbed both hands against his face. "When Shona cries, Nana barks. Soon enough we'll have the neighbors ringing to our door."

He stood up and walked over to the counter to fill a mug with coffee. He needed something strong to kick in fast and help him focus during the day. "The last consult of the conjoint twins is today and I can hardly keep my eyes open," he sighed and took a long sip from the hot coffee; it burned his throat, but it felt refreshing too.

"Can't you go there later and get more sleep?" Sapna asked. Armaan sighed and shook his head. "There's something I should tell you, Armaan," she stated and by the tone of her voice, Armaan knew she was worried about something. Sapna took a deep breath like looking for the strength to say it. "Maybe it's just in my imagination and… maybe that's why Shilpa doesn't give any importance to it…" she paused, hesitating.

Armaan was seriously worried now. He took his mug and walked over to the counter, leaning against it as he waited to hear more.

"I think it was two weeks ago when a man rang at the door and asked to talk to Shilpa. I said to him she wasn't home and he just thanked me and left. I told Shilpa about his visit, but I had forgotten to ask his name so none of us gave too much importance."

"Then I am sure it wasn't something important. Maybe he contacted her by phone," Armaan answered.

Sapna shook her head. "The next day I wanted to take Shona out for a walk, but while I was preparing her stroller, something caught my attention. There was a car parked across the street and the same man that had come the day before was sitting inside and watching the house."

Armaan froze. He could not believe he was finding out about this just now. "And you didn't say anything?" he snapped.

"I did," Sapna answered fast in her defense. "I told Shilpa about it and she agreed with me. Maybe it was just in my imagination."

"Are you sure it was only in your imagination?" Armaan demanded. "I think we need a new rule. You're not allowed to take Shona out of the house unless you're bringing her to the hospital."

"Just listen," Sapna asked. "I am not finished. I didn't go out with her that day," she wanted to mention before she went on with the story. "A few days later… it was late in the afternoon when the same man rang at the door. He asked for Shilpa and I gave him the same answer, just that this time I asked him to tell me his name. He said his name was Thatcher gupta. I told Shilpa about him and she froze at his name. She just said ok and didn't ask for more details. Is he related to Shilpa?"

Armaan knew who Thatcher gupta was. "That's her father," he nodded, thoughtful. Shilpa hadn't told him anything about this. "But I don't understand why you're worried?" he asked, confused.

"Shilpa doesn't seem to want to talk to him, but he came again the other day and I think I have seen him a couple of times watching the house from his car. Are you sure he's her father? I didn't know she had a father."

"He's her father," Armaan answered with a nod. "They're not in the best terms at the moment and she doesn't talk about him."

"And you're sure it's safe having him watching the house all the time?" Sapna asked him, still a little worried. "He freaks me out just thinking about him."

Armaan couldn't guarantee about Thatcher's gupta sanity. "I'll talk to Shilpa about this. You did good by telling."

In that moment, Shilpa walked in, carrying a very whiney Shona in her arms. Shona nervously slapped her head and pulled off the hat she was wearing while Shilpa caught it in time before it could fall down.

Sapna could see how worn out both, Armaan and Shilpa were. Shilpa had bags under her eyes and her hair looked as messy as her daughter's.

"Hi," Shilpa just gave her a smile.

Armaan went and took Shona, handing Shilpa his mug of coffee. He gave a kiss on her cheek before he kissed Shona too and took her to the table. He put her down on his lap and ran his cold palm over her hot forehead. "Is she running a little fever?" he asked, worried.

Shilpa pulled a chair next to him and held Shona's hand. "Maybe she has just overheated because of the crying.

Shona leaned her back against Armaan's chest and stuck her thumb into her mouth, whimpering and glaring at everyone. In her good days, Shona loved having the three people she knew the best for breakfast; she loved staying in Armaan's arms and eat while having her puffy cheeks kissed by him –because Shona had been for almost a month on solids diet and Armaan absolutely adored her cheeks. Not today; she didn't seem to like the air she was breathing, the clothes she was wearing; she couldn't stand anything because of the ache caused by the teething.

"I'll make her a milk formula and try feed her with the bottle. Sucking the nipple will help ease the ache," Sapna suggested and dropped the pancakes dough to go and prepare Shona's breakfast.

Shilpa didn't care about the breakfast or about the big surgery that would take place to the hospital soon; she kept wondering if there wasn't anything more serious with Shona than the teeth growing. She constantly held a heavy rock on her heart, worrying about her baby.

Armaan let Shona go back to her Mommy as he went to help Sapna and finish their breakfast. Shilpa closely cradled Shona to her chest, slowly rocking her back and forth- almost in the same rhythm with her whimpers. Having his stomach full now, Nana came and jumped on Armaan's chair, sitting and looking at Shilpa and Shona. Though she was laid in her mother's arms, Shona recognized her dog's hot breath. She started fussing, wanting to sit upright. As Shilpa repositioned her onto her lap, Shona stuck her thumb back into her mouth and started staring at Nana. That seemed to help her calm down her whimpers and distracted her from the ache while Sapna prepared the bottle.

Shilpa took the bottle and gave it to Shona. Shona had started grabbing things with her hands already and whimpering asked to hold the bottle. As Shona starting sucking the bottle's nipple, a complete silence filled the room and the grown-ups just watched Shona eating.

"She didn't want a pacifier until now, but I am sure she would love having one to chew now," Sapna noticed.

"She'll have one after breakfast," Armaan agreed. "That might help her calm down the ache."

Shilpa didn't give much attention to the discussion that Armaan and Sapna were having. She had a lot of things on her mind; that was the day when she would see Rohan again and the biggest thing, when Shona would see her father for the first time. Since Nikki's visit a month ago, Shilpa couldn't stop from wondering how this day would go or if she should let Rohan see Shona. At this point, with Shona's situation, she couldn't make any scenario.

"Shilpa?" Armaan's soft breath against her temple made Shilpa start. Just then she noticed Armaan and Sapna's stares and they were waiting for an answer. Armaan smiled at her. "Maybe you should go to bed for a little longer. I will call the Chief and tell him you're not well."

"I am good," Shilpa grumbled.

"Then let Shona trade the empty bottle with a pacifier," he said and pulled the already empty bottle from her hands.

Shona started crying as Armaan did that and held her hands up to get it back.

"I'll take her upstairs and see how I can cheer her up," Sapna offered. "You need a peaceful breakfast."

"Don't you eat anything?" Armaan asked her. "The pancakes are almost ready."

Sapna just smiled. "You know you don't have to worry about me. I ate before I came here anyway." She took Shona from Shilpa, same as Armaan, running her hand over her hot forehead. "Let's change you from this clothes and calm down, ok?" she started talking Shona as she walked out of the kitchen. Just then Nana jumped off the chair and went after Sapna and Shona.

Armaan put a plate of pancakes in front of Shilpa and sat down next to her. "Eat something."

Shilpa just stared at the plate, showing no appetite.

"She'll be fine," Armaan comforted her and gave her a peck.

"I know," Shilpa sighed and lazily picked up the fork, slicing the pancakes.

Armaan wanted to bring the Thatcher topic into discussion and didn't know how to do it without ruining Shilpa's mood even more. "Have you heard anything from your father since your visit?" he tried to sound matter-of-factly.

Shilpa looked at him and rolled her eyes. "Sapna told you."

"You can't blame her. He's stalking you? Is it normal?"

Shilpa shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. My life isn't normal either," she muttered. "I am not sure what he has to say to me and I don't think I want to hear it. I'm so tired right now."

Armaan rubbed circles onto her back and pulled her into his arms. "I know." He knew the reason.

"He's coming today?" she asked and nestled her face in the curve of his neck, breathing in his cologne.

"Yes. If he isn't here already."

Shilpa sighed heavily. "I am not sure I want him to see Shona. At least not now when she's in this condition."

"She's in a natural condition; there isn't anything shameful in this."

"I know, it's just… I don't think I can deal with him," Shilpa sighed and pulled away from Armaan. She picked her fork up and took a small bite from the pancake. "My father, Rohan, Shona's teething; so many things."

"Right now let's focus just on Rohan's visit and the surgery we have today. I told Sapna not to take Shona outside when she's alone."

"Do you think he will want to meet Shona?" Shilpa asked him. "What if he won't want?"

Armaan's answer came naturally, "Then I would be free to adopt Shona."

Those words brought a small smile on Shilpa's lips. "I can't wait to see him leaving."

Armaan squeezed her shoulder and agreed with her.

Shilpa managed to eat something and Armaan refreshed himself with more coffee. As the silence had fallen back over the house and Sapna seemed to have Shona under control, the breakfast was less tense. After breakfast, Shilpa and Armaan went upstairs to check on Shona and then to get ready for the day.

They weren't surprised to find Nana at his usual place, down beside Shona's crib, but they were surprised to see Sapna in the rocking chair and Shona sleeping in her arms. Sapna smiled at them and made them a sign to stay quiet.

Shilpa knelt in front of her and gently ran her hand over Shona's head. Even in her sleep, Shona was frowning and showing a bad mood, but at least she was finally getting some rest.

"I'll stay with her a little longer," Sapna whispered.

Shilpa smiled gratefully.

"We might call you later today to bring her to the hospital," Armaan told her. He could see Shilpa's glare at his words.

"Ok," Sapna nodded, whispering.

"Call me if anything goes wrong," Shilpa asked.

"Of course I will," Sapna nodded.

Shilpa leaned in and gently brushed her lips against Shona's forehead. She sighed as she pulled back and stood up.

Before they left to the hospital, they saw Shona still sleeping in Sapna's arms and both, especially Shilpa, felt an ease.

Shilpa and Armaan got off on the surgical floor together. Shilpa was about to head to the locker room and Armaan to his office when they saw Anjali, Ishikha and a few interns gathered at the nurses' station, giggling and watching something.

Curious, they looked at each other and went to see what was going on.

"Is she drooling?" Armaan chuckled as he saw an intern's jaw hanging wide open.

"Why is she drooling?" Shilpa asked them and in the same time she followed their gaze. They both did it and their smiles froze.

The Chief and a few other doctors were in a conference room… with Rohan Sloan.

"Dr. Rohan Sloan is here," Ishikha was the first one able to break the gawk and answer. "I've seen his photos in a few medical journals before, but he looks so much better in reality. Do you think he operates on himself too?" she asked Shilpa and by the expression she was showing, Shilpa could tell she meant that question.

Shilpa just shrugged.

"I would so get hot and steamy with Dr. McSteamy," Anjali laughed.

"I so need to get hot and steamy in the first place," Ishikha sighed. She looked at Shilpa as if she was waiting for a reply from her too, but then she saw Armaan and remembered. "Sorry," she smiled at Armaan.

"How did you call him?" Armaan asked, amused.

"Dr. McSteamy," Anjali answered.

"How can you call him like this? Are you sure he's that hot and steamy as you imagine?"

Anjali lifted a brow and looked at Armaan with an offending expression. She rolled her eyes and went back on gawking on Rohan. "By the way he looks he can't be another way but good."

"I agree," Ishikha nodded.

"I agree too," the intern cut in as well.

Everyone turned waiting for Shilpa's answer. "I need to go and change the clothes," she answered quickly. As she turned to leave, Shilpa saw her interns still gawking. "There isn't anything medical to learn from watching this doctor…"

"I think there's some anatomy I could learn if I meet him," Ishikha interrupted Shilpa's lecture with her giggle.

Shilpa glared at her and then towards her interns. "If you don't move in the next second, you will be doing scout for the rest of the month."

In less than a second, none of Shilpa's interns was in her sight. Shilpa glanced at Armaan and received one of his comforting smiles. She discreetly glanced towards the conference room too as she started heading to the elevators, but Rohan wasn't in sight in that brief glance. She would deal with him later, she told herself. She needed to bury in work and think less about Rohan Sloan.

"She needs something hot and steamy," Anjali stated with a thoughtful expression as she watched Shilpa leaving. She smirked at Armaan's glare.

"Is this how you practice medicine?" Out of nowhere Armaan snapped at them. "You'll all have a report because of this," he stated as he spun on his heels and started walking towards the conference room.

Anjali and Ishikha looked panicked at each other and sprint off after him immediately.

"Armaan, you know we didn't mean what we said. We're just joking," Ishikha tried to excuse them.

Armaan stopped suddenly and made them almost knock him down. "I am not your friend here. I am your boss. You don't work, I write a report. You know the rules."

"But we're working," Ishikha answered quickly and Anjali nodded.

Armaan folded his arms against his chest and glared at them.

"I think he wants us to work. Now," Anjali pointed out after a brief moment of thinking.

"It took you long enough to figure out," Armaan retorted. He shook his head with disapproving motion and turned around. Why was he bothering with Anjali and Ishikha when he had other things, more important to deal with.

As Armaan opened the door and walked inside, all the people in the room stopped from talking and greeted Armaan either with a short hello or with a smile only.

"Malik!" Chief Gupta beamed. "You're partner is here," he announced and , having a hand on Rohan's back, led their way to Armaan. "I am sure you have a lot to catch up and I am also counting on convincing him to move to Seattle and work for us." He patted Armaan on the shoulder, lowering the voice, "Praise Seattle Grace for me. We need him."

Rohan chuckled. "He will have to work hard to convince me. You know how much I hate the rain."

"But you'll love the people," the Chief replied.

"I naturally don't like people," Rohan answered with a smug smile.

"You need to give him a chance," the Chief asked Rohan and patted Armaan on the shoulder again. "I'll let you catch up with the news now," he told them. Having Rohan Sloan working even for a couple of days at his hospital was a reason of joy for Chief Gupta. Cheerfully he gestured to the other doctors, asking to let Rohan and Armaan alone.

Shaking a few more hands, Rohan was left alone in the conference room with Armaan. As the door closed and there was nobody else but them in the room, the inevitable awkwardness filled the air. They nervously smiled at each other until Rohan made the first step and held out his hand for shake.

That felt even worse than the awkwardness to Armaan. Probably this was the first time they were meeting and shaking hands. They were more close to each other than a hand shake.

"Long time no see," Rohan was also the first one to break the silence.

Armaan nodded. "I heard you were to Europe." That was all Armaan could think about telling in that moment.

"Germany and Austria," he nodded. "Great places, great doctors."

Armaan kept nodding his head at every answer Rohan was giving. "Something bigger than a conjoint twins separation? Adult conjoint twins?" he didn't want to let this topic end as he didn't know what else they could talk about without mentioning Shilpa and Shona.

"I have to admit; nothing competes to this," Rohan admitted.

Though Rohan looked more relaxed than Armaan, Armaan could tell he was nervous about this meeting too. "How have you been?" Rohan wanted to ask, but Armaan saw him regretting for asking that.

"Busy," Armaan answered simply. "The usual you know already." Like taking care of your beautiful daughter echoed in his head as addition to his answer.

Rohan nodded awkwardly. He put his hands into his pockets but then he quickly took them out and folded his arms against his chest. "Is everything alright then?" he asked.

Armaan answered with another nod. "Kind of. At the moment," he answered.

That seemed to have kicked up a little interest to Rohan. He would have liked to know what the less good thing was, but he didn't dare to ask.

"Shona's having her first teeth growing," Armaan couldn't help it and gave him the answer.

"Shona," Rohan looked questioningly like 'that Shona'.

"Shona," Armaan answered with 'that Shona'.

"Oh, ok," Rohan replied quickly and showed he didn't have the intention to hear and find out more about whatever was going on in Armaan's life with 'that Shona'.

Another moment of awkwardness was inevitable after that.

"You just got here," Rohan noticed, pointing to Armaan's street clothes.

"Yeah, well… as I said, I had a situation," Armaan answered. "You seem to have arrived a while ago," he said.

"Early this morning," Rohan nodded.

"Have you seen the patients yet?"

"Yes," Rohan answered and from there their talk drifted to the surgery they were about to perform and they could finally feel comfortable with each other's company.

nice part dear...

rohan is back...

hope he dont like shona...n dont come in b/w ArSh...

update soon..

thnx for the pm........