QSS thread # 3 part 149 posted on pg149on 6/1/11 - Page 10

Part 104

Armaan hesitated for a few seconds and then said "An old patient". Then pulling her by the hand said "Chalo nashta karne, bahut bhook lagi hai." As Riddhima walked in with him she knew there was something Armaan was hiding from her but thought it better not to question him about it, as of now. As soon as they entered the dining room, Ani came crawling, caught her legs and started his "mamamamama". She picked him up, holding him tight and crushing him, showered him with kisses. He crooned with joy. When Kaka served the breakfast she made him sit on her lap but he wanted to pull everything. So she put him on the floor and gave him a piece of dosa.

He quickly finished that and stood up holding on to the legs of the chair. But in his eagerness to get another piece of dosa, he let go of the chair, and fell on butt with a 'thud'. He sat still for a moment, but when his dad rushed to him and started fussing around, he started howling. "If you had ignored him he wouldn't have cried. He's making you dance on his little finger and you are doing exactly that," she grumbled.

A: But Riddhima, he fell so hard.

R: Armaan that's a part of growing up. He fell on his butt, he wasn't hurt. Children are great at taking advantage of elder's weaknesses. Don't make it so obvious to him. You'll regret it later.

Suddenly she heard Akshat coughing. Immediately she got up, washed her hands leaving her breakfast unfinished and ran inside. "She's advising me and she herself can't see the kids even in a little pain," Armaan mumbled to himself. He heard her call out, "akka thoda sa garam paani aur honey laana Akshat ke liye." When akka went into the kitchen Armaan picked Ani up with his good arm. The little fellow had learnt that his dad's arm was not ok. So he clutched his dad's shirt so tightly, as if his life depended on it.

When they entered Akshat's room and saw Riddhima cradling Akshat in her arms, the little fellow started "mamamama". Riddhima turned towards him and said "Dekho bhai ki tabiyat theek nahi hai. Aao usey pa karo." At once he got down from Armaan's arms onto the cot and started biting and licking his bhai's face. Akshat gave him a weak smile and started coughing again. By then akka brought the water with honey.

Seeing Riddhima feed it to Akshat, Ani also went near and opened his mouth. "Davaiye hai. Peeoge?" Riddhima asked him. He shook his head from side to side so fast that he was about to fall off the cot. Armaan caught him and joined them on the bed. "Kuch khaoge Akshu?" he asked and the little one was nodding his head like a nandibail. All three of them burst laughing and the little one also joined in, without understanding anything. Whereas Akshat broke into a coughing bout. Riddhima adjusted his pillows and asked Armaan to keep him company, while she picked up Ani and left saying, "I'll get him some soup."

Riddhima opened her eyes hearing some noise. Akshat had his arms around her waist and his head on her stomach. Ani was asleep in his cot. She looked up and saw the time 3.40. After spending the whole morning nursing Akshat and helping Armaan with his bath, she was tired. So after lunch when Ani fell asleep, she had asked Akshat to lie beside her and both had gone off to sleep. Armaan said he would join them after talking to Abhi. (He had called him in the morning, but he had said he was busy and would be free by lunchtime.)

She saw Armaan standing in front of the mirror, trying to get his arms into a T-shirt.

R: Kya kar rahe ho?

Hearing her voice he turned around and said, "Trying to get into this shirt" with a smile on his face.

R: That I can see, but why are you changing?

A: I have to go to meet the house----, I mean that patient.

R: What are you saying?

A: Remember an old patient spoke to me this morning, he wants to meet me.

R: you should have told him na that you are on leave and asked him to go to the hospital.

A: It's ok. I'll be back in an hour. Haan by the way Abhi agreed and maine un logonka, Wednesday ka ticket book kar diya hai. I've informed them about it. Abhi and Nikki will be here for a week and Rahul Muskaan will be here for about12 days.

R: You love such work na? You must have sat on your laptop without taking a nap and done all the booking. Armaan, can't you understand that you need to rest.

He came close seeing her angry and kneeling beside her kissed her lightly and said "Itna rest to zindagi mein kabhi nahi kiya. Aur phir bhi tum keh rahi ho rest karo, rest karo. Aur kitna rest karoon?

"Baad mein dard hoga na to mujhe mat kehna," she warned, turning to the other side. Putting his palm on her cheek, her turned her face towards him and said very cutely "Please don't be cross, jaana zaroori hai. Main wapas aakar bilkul rest karoonga. Promise." When she didn't reply he kept kneeling and said "jab tak tum permission nahi dogi main yahan se nahi hiloonga." She ignored him. After a few minutes his cell rang. "I'll be there in a few minutes sir, I'm on my way" he lied. But didn't move. Then she turned around smiling and said, "tum mujhe ziddi kehte ho. Ab kaun zid kar raha hai? Ok chalo main tumhe le chalti hoon, you won't be able to drive."

A: Riddhima my left hand is fine, I can manage. He wanted to meet me alone, please.

Seing her angry again he continued "Please sweetheart try to understand na, pleeeaaaase."

It was impossible to ignore such a persistent person. So she said "Theek hai par jaldi wapas aana. Bye."

He gave her a quick kiss, picked the car keys and ran out before she could change her mind. But she knew for sure, he was upto something. Armaan drove like a maniac, but since it was afternoon time, there was not much traffic. When he reached MSHC he saw a man walking back and forth near the gate. Seeing Armaan's car he approached and asked Mr. Mallik?

A: Yes, Dr. Armaan Mallik.

O: I'm Mohammed Bashir. There's a park nearby, lets sit there and talk.

A: ok fine come.

They sat down finding a shady spot. Bashir began, "I need to dispose the house as soon as possible."

A: All this time time you weren't willing , now why the hurry?

Bashir looked down at his hand but Armaan had spotted the sorrow in his eyes. "My wife is having cervical cancer. I've admitted her in a very good hospital in Kochi. I need the money for her treatment. These days hospitals charge heavily."

A: You know I'm a doctor. To me nothing is more important than a patient's well being. Do you have relatives here to take care of her?

B: No, none. You see I was an orphan and she married me against her parents' wishes. So they abandoned her. That's why we moved to Dubai, as we found it very difficult to see them everyday and yet remain away from them. We haven't been to India for so many years now. But we had planned to spend our retired life here. Hence we didn't sell this house.

A: What about your children?

O: We don't have any. I think Allah cursed us for breaking her parents' hearts.

A: Don't say that. Where are her parents?

O: With her sister in Mumbai.

A: If I can arrange for her treatment in Mumbai, are you willing to go there? My father-in-law has a wonderful hospital with latest eqyuipments, there. I can arrange for everything. I'll talk to the doctor treating her now, and get everything sorted out. Put the selling of the house on hold as of now.

The man was dumbstruck, he didn't know what to say. "But why are you doing all this for me?"

A: You rented out your wonderful house to me where my family has settled happily. If we're so attached to it in just over a year, I can understand how much it must mean to you. You shouldn't let go of your dreams easily. Moreover as I said, I'm a doctor first and foremost. It's my duty to help anyone who is ill, in all possible ways I can.

O: I don't know how to thank you. I came to meet you with a heavy heart, but in a few minutes you lifted a burden off my shoulder.

A: Come home with me. My wife will be very pleased to meet you.

O: Now I've to get back to Kochi. I came to meet some friends and take some money.

A: Come over for just a few minutes, then I'll drop you to the bus-stop.

Riddhima was sitting on her laptop, sipping coffee, when Armaan walked in with Bashir.

Originally posted by: -Destiny-

Hey shradha di

sorry have not been able to comment. But I have been following
Awesome jii

ssoorrruyy again dii have been busy with college et all



Lekha

hey...

nice part...

so armaan solved problems of all ....

cont. soon...

thnx for the pm....

hey