Part 145
They walked hand in hand to the OPD hoping it wasn't crowded as usual. But luckily for them, because of the inaugration ceremony, OPD was closed. So the room was empty. When they entered it, they felt as if they were entering the sanctum sanctorum of a temple. This was the place where their life had taken the most important turn.The whole scene of Riddhima's confession played before their eyes.
She recollected how he had winced in pain when Muskaan pushed his hand away. And seeing the blood stain on his shirt, she had been in even greater pain. She had followed him and offered to help him. He had been harsh with his words, but when she broke down, he couldn't bear to see her cry.
Just as she had dressed his wound, he had also dressed the wound on her arm, right here, when she had been hurt, having fallen off his bike, during the bike race. Even though they had not been on friendly terms then. He could never ever bear to see her in pain. She wondered why she hadn't realized this nine years ago. If she had she could have saved both of them a lot of pain.
Armaan however only recalled her confession in here. How confused she had been about her feelings for him. He had purposely lashed out at her to make her pour out her heart. And how her "I hate you Armaan" had changed to "I love you" when he kept reiterating "but I love you."
They turned towards each simultaneously, as if some unknown power was pulling them, and hugged each other. After what seemed like an eternity, he pulled back a little saying "That day you were crying bitterly as you confessed your love for me. Today let me hear it with your angelic smile and joy in your eyes, instead of tears. She held his face in her palms and looking deep into his eyes said "I love you Armaan, I love you very much.And One thing I didn't tell you that day was that, my world begins and ends with you." Then she stood on her toes to seal it with a passionate kiss.
When they came out of the kiss, his eyes were literally brimming with tears. Before she could question him, he said, "I too love you very much sweetheart. Nau saal pehle maine jo chaha tha, woh aaj mujhe soot samet mil gaya. All my wishes were fulfilled the day you came back into my life, as my wife. Lekin aaj tumne Armaan ke baaki saare armaan bhi poore kar diye.When you confessed your love the first time, you were not confident of our love. Hence you didn't want anyone else to know about it. I've always felt very miserable, that I wasn't able to convince you of my undying love. But today, the love in your eyes and the joy reflected on your face has erased those memories and replaced them with this happiest moment of my life. It's as if you've turned back the clock and set things right. You've made me the happiest man today Riddhima and I can't thank you enough for it. I don't want anything else in life now.
R: You know I wasn't very keen on wearing this saree today because it brought bitter memories of our breakup on that dandiya day. I wore it only to please you. But now I'll associate this saree with one of the happiest days in my life. Thank you for making my life so beautiful Armaan, after all that I put you through.
Now it was his turn to close her mouth. "Sshh! No more talk of the past. We've driven away all the ghosts today. Here afterwards we are going to treasure only the beautiful memories of the past. Cherish the past, dream the future and live today, is going to be our mantra."
They stood there hugging each other, till her phone buzzed. It was her maa calling to say that Ani was crying a lot, not willing to eat anything. "Hum bas nikal rahein hai maa, paanch minut mein pahunchte hain." Then turning to Aarmaan she said with a smile, "we can't turn back the clock Dr. Mallik, as we have made two wonderful babies in these nine years and who are at present demanding our immediate attention. To chalein?" Putting his arm around her waist he said "jo aapka hukm sarkar." That sentence once again made them laugh as they remembered how she had acted like his slave for a few days, during their internship.
They were home in exactly 7 minutes, but by then the little fellow had brought the whole house down. His cries could be heard from the road. As Armaan stopped the car, Riddhima just jumped out and ran into the house. The minute she took him in her arms he clammed up. Everybody around also stood looking with open mouths. So there was pindrop silence when Armaan entered. "Kya hua?" he asked and the little began to complain "dad wooo" pointing to his mouth. When Armaan looked to see what he was pointing he saw his mouth very red.
A: Riddhima dekho looks like he's got some sort of a rash.
Riddhima carried him near the window and asked him to open his mouth. She could clearly see some spots. When she asked him if it was burning in his baby language, he nodded with tears in his eyes. She at once checked his hand and foot and found some rashes on them too.
R: Armaan I think he's got the hand, mouth, foot infection. We need to take him to a pediatrician immediately.
Dr. S: Riddhima I've already called Sanjeevani's pediatrician Dr. Mrs. Kelkar. She'll be here shortly.
Ani started "mama mama" pulling at her pallu. Riddhima was surprised that he was asking for her feed because she had weaned him since more than a month now. But he wouldn't stop. When she looked questioningly at Armaan, not knowing what to do, Padma understood her predicament and said "Riddhima mere saath chalo" She took her to her room and said "Maybe since he's in pain he wants the comfort of your breast, let him suck if he wants to." "But maa, I haven't fed him for more than a month now. I won't have any milk." But there was no time for further talk as the baby was crying again, so to satisfy him, she put him to her breast.
The doctor arrived a few minutes later. But till then he was sucking as if he was really getting his feed. He wouldn't let the doctor check his mouth. But seeing the rash on his hand and foot itself the doctor concluded that Riddhima's guess was right. And as it was a viral infection, quarantining from other kids was essential. She gave some medicine for local application and something to relieve the pain. Besides that she couldn't do much, as the infection would take it's own course. She said the baby may find it his mother's warm nipple soothing, rather than the bottle or spoon feed. Hence she should breast feed him as and when he wanted. She assured Riddhima that she would automatically start lactating again.
Armaan wanted to shift him to Sanjeevani as quarantining him there would be easier, but the Guptas wouldn't hear of it. They didn't want the child to be unnecessarily hospitalized during the festive season. Anjali suggested the next best alternative, that the Joshis move to their house with the kids. But Armaan didn't want his parents-in-law taking a risk either. So only Armaan, Riddhima and Ani were to stay here. Padma tried her best to convince Armaan that since Riddhima would be tied up with Ani, someone should be in the house to cook and clean. But Armaan wouldn't hear of it. He assured her that he could manage. Finally they arrived at a compromise. Food would be sent over from the Joshi house.
So all of them packed up and were about to leave. Armaan was downstairs to see them off. Akshat was very worried as to why his brother was being kept away from everyone. Hugging his father's waist he began sobbing. Armaan was surprised because he least expected Akshat to make a fuss as he was always so understanding. But before he could say anything "Akshat looked up at him with tearful eyes and asked "Dad Ani ko bahut dard ho raha hai? Woh theek to ho jayega na? Mujhe mera bhai chahiye."
Armaan was baffled by his son's reaction. He knelt down and wiping his tears kissed him. "Ani ko mamuli sa infection hua hai. Woh do din mein theek ho jayega. Lekin yeh infection bahut contagious hai, especially bachchon ke liye. Isliye tum log maasi ke ghar ja rahe ho. Tum bilkul fikar mat karo. Ab doctor ne davai di hai na, ab uska dard bhi kum ho jayega. Main aur mama tumhe phone karte rahenge. Tum mera brave beta ho na? Rote nahi. Aur maasi ke yahan jaakar khoob enjoy karna. Ani ki bilkul fikar mat karna. Main phone par tumse uski baat karaoonga. Ok?" Akshat nodded. "Ab dad ko a sweet smile dedo" requested Armaan and the young one smiled through his tears.
The Guptas and Joshis just stood gaping at the duo. They'd never witnessed so much love in any family. As you sow so you reap, it's said. The Malliks showered unlimited love on each other, the kids and even the people who worked for them. Hence they reaped love in multiple amounts. Akshat's parting words to his dad were "dad ab main bilkul nahi rounga. Main maasi ke ghar par achche se rahoonga. Aap meri fikar mat kariye. Aap mama aur Ani ka khyal rakhiye. Bye, Love you." Then he kissed him and said "Love you dad, mama aur Ani ko bhi meri kisses dena. Tell them I love them very much." Armaan kissed him back and said "Main unhe keh doonga. You take care. Bye."
After all of them left, Armaan went into the kitchen to get something for Riddhima to drink, because if Ani was to sustain solely on her milk, she would require adequate fluids. He made a milkshake for her and took it upstairs. When she started refusing he reasoned it out with her and for the sake of the child, she drank it up. Before leaving Atul had got the medicines calling up the nearby medical stores.
Ani had just dropped to sleep and Armaan wanted to apply the medication. Riddhima was against waking him up, but she knew that unless the medicine was applied the infection wouldn't ease up. Armaan took Ani on his lap, put on a pair of gloves and slowly opened the baby's mouth. Gently with an applicator he applied the medicine on the blisters. At once Ani started screaming and crying loudly. He was uncontrollable. Armaan wanted to call the pediatrician but had forgotten to take her number. Riddhima also tried to pacify him but he kept yelling. Suddenly Armaan removed the information leaflet from the box and started to read the literature. It said the medicne may smart for a few minutes after application, but the burning would soon die down. Soon Ani's cries reduced and Riddhima cuddled him back to sleep, but couldn't control her tears. Noticing that Armaan consoled her saying "come on Riddhima, you've got to be brave. He's going to be fine in a day or two."
R: Armaan I can't see him in so much pain. Whenever I treat kids I tell the mothers who cry "You have to be strong for your baby. If you cry what will the child do?" But today I can understand their tears. Seeing you child helpless and in pain is truly unbearable.
Armaan took Ani from her arms, laid him on the bed and tucked him in. Then giving her a side hug, he said, "You also rest for sometime. If he wakes up he might keep clinging to you." When she lay down beside the baby he started patting her cheeks just as she did when she put the kids to sleep.
At the Joshis everybody was silent thinking about Ani. To cheer up the kids, Atul brought out the play station and coaxed the boys and Mini to play. Anjali got a phone call and moved to another room to take it. She was very busy with the administration of Sanjeevani. The others began chatting.
P: Riddhima jab bhi Mumbai aati hai koi na koi bimaar ho jata hai.
S: Arrey aisey kyon keh rahi ho. Bachche to bimaar padte rehte hai. Munnar mein bhi usey yeh infection ho sakta tha.
P: jo bhi ho woh hamesha akeli pad jaati hai.
S: Isliye to humne Armaan ko Sanjeevani mein offer di, par woh nahi mana.
Bua was listening to all this. She intervened saying "main soch rahi thi ke kuch din unke saath rehkar aaon. Aap kya kehte hain Dr. Shashank?"
P: yeh to bahut achcha socha aapne. Riddhima ko help bhi ho jaayega, aap ke liye change bhi ho jayega.
S: Yes, that's a good idea.
Atul: Haan main bua ka ticket usi flight mein book kara deta hoon.
S: Don't be in a hurry. Let's be sure if they can leave on Sunday, as per schedule. They can't leave till the little one is ok.
B: Woh to sahi hai.
Bua noticed that Akshat wasn't attentive towards the game. He seemed distracted. She called him to her and making him sit on her lap asked "Kya baat hai? Mama ki yaad aa rahi hai?" He shook his head but his face was glum. "Baat karoge mama se?" she coaxed him. To which he nodded. She asked him for Riddhima's number and dialed it on her cell. The call was picked only after quite a few rings and that too by Armaan.
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