QSS thread # 3 part 149 posted on pg149on 6/1/11 - Page 89

Part 147

Anj: Riddhima what's with your sense of humour. I was just teasing you.

R: Di, by now you should know I don't have a sense of humour.

After feeding one morsel to Akshat she extended her hand with the next morsel towards Anshul's mouth. He smiled at her and opened his mouth. They were conversing in English so thankfully the children didn't understand much. But all the others were feeling embarrassed. Riddhima continued to feed the boys as if nothing had happened. Her last retort had thankfully silenced Anjali.

After she finished feeding the boys, she took them to their room and making them sit on the bed, told them a very funny story of Akbar and Birbal. Both of them were shortly roaring with laughter. Then looking at her watch she said "Ab mujhe jaana hoga, kal aoongi." Then kissing both the kids she bid them goodnight. Akshat clung to her for a few minutes before letting her go and then said "Mama main bahut khush hoon ke aap yahan aayi. Dad se bhi kaho na yahan kabhie aaye."

Riddhima smiled at him saying "zaroor kahoongi beta."

Ak: Aur Ani ko mere derr saare kisses dena.

R: Zaroor.

Padma had packed some food for both of them and taking Riddhima aside said "Tum Anjali ke baton ka bhura nahi manna beta, tum jaanti ho na usey." "Nahi maa maine bilkul bura nahi maana. I can understand di's insecurities. Right from our childhood she has always done as she pleased and always got what she wanted. And I was one who never even knew what I wanted, let alone get it. I used to be just happy for her. Today when I have a perfect life with a doting husband, adorable sons and happiness that I've never even dreamt of, she's not able to digest it. Anyways I'm used to her taunts from childhood maa, and it doesn't hurt me anymore."

Padma was stunned hearing Riddhima. She knew everything she said was absolutely true. What surprised her was her maturity. Suddenly Riddhima hugged her and with a sweet smile said "Aap tension mat lo maa. I'm fine." Then she went and hugged everyone and bid them goodbye, even Anjie. When Atul got ready to drop her she said "Jeeju don't bother. I'd asked the cab to comeback, and he's already here. He just gave me a call. Bye and goodnight." Before anyone could react, she was gone.

Padma was feeling restless after Riddhima's departure. As she lay on the bed that night, sleep was very far from her eyes. Her mind went to the time 33 years ago when she had handed over her first and only child to a very loving couple, hoping they would provide her everything in life, which she couldn't. They had promised to bring her up as their own daughter and they had kept their promise.

At these years Padma had thought that she was the one making all the sacrifices for the well being of her child. But today it made her wonder whether she had done it only to salve her conscience and to save herself from being labelled an unwed mother? Had her child been punished for her mistake of trusting the wrong person and crossing certain limits before marriage? And when her daughter had done the same mistake, she had just abandoned her. Any other girl might have pointed out her mistake, reminding her that she had been no different. But Riddhima had remained silent and suffered alone.

She had been so selfish, but Riddhima had forgiven her so easily, in just a few hours, when she had come to know about her adoption. Padma knew that Riddhima had been very deeply hurt, when she had asked "Kya main itni buri thi ke aapne mujhe apne paas nahi rakhna chaha?" But after that she had never questioned her about anything. Probably she didn't want to make her mother feel guilty. And hiding all her sorrow had given priority to her mother's health. Oh God! she was such a selfless person. Just her opposite.

She felt ashamed of herself. When she went to see her grandchild, she had been very disappointed that daughter had also had a premarital affair, like herself. But then, she should have been more supportive of her, understanding her condition. On the contrary, she had just blindly accepted her husband's decision and left her alone, not wanting to create a rift in their new-found relationship. (She had been married to Dr. Shashank only recently then.)

Padma was thankful to God for having blessed her child with such a wonderful life partner, in return for all her goodness. She was aware that now Armaan was Riddhima's world. All her love was only for him and their kids. She did care about her family, but Armaan was her life. Definitely he deserved all that Padma thought to herself. What she had failed to do as her mother, he had done.

He had stood by her selflessly, even when he knew she had wronged him by depriving him of his son's love. Even when he knew that she was someone else's wife. He never blamed her for anything, saying it was their destiny. And when fate had brought them back together, he showered his immeasureable love on her. Gave her every material comfort any woman would want. And above all his unfailing trust had made her overcome all her insecurities and blossom into a confident young woman. He literally worshipped the ground she walked on.

Padma decided from now on she was going to stand by her daughter, come what may. She's not going to let anyone hurt her any further. She had not opposed Anjali all this time because she didn't want her to feel that she was defending her own daughter. But here afterwards if she ever spoke rudely to Riddhima, she was going to reprimand her. Enough was enough.

Ani had woken up by the time Riddhima reached home. Armaan was trying to feed him mashed banana but the little one was asking for mama. "Abhi aa jayegi. Naha rahi hai." His dad tried to fool him. Then turning towards the bathroom door called out "Riddhima jaldi aajao. Ani betu ko bhook lagi hai" and slowly put some banana in his mouth. Riddhima stood at the door smiling at his tactics. Armaan had his back towards the door, so didn't notice her.

She was just about to enter but then decided to wash up and then go in because once Ani sees her he wouldn't let her even go to the washroom. Riddhima went into the other washroom, washed and came in. She went and put her arms around Armaan's neck from the back and and kissed his cheek. But before Armaan could kiss her back the little one sat up calling out "mama mama" and his typical crying. She picked up the kid and sat in front of armaan, leaning back on him and started feeding the baby. He put the cup down and put his arms around her waist. Putting his face into her hair he asked "itni derr kahan lagadi, tumhara laadla aadhe gante se mama, mama kar raha hai."

R: Mera ladla mama mama kyon karega? Woh to Riddhima, Riddhima karega na?

Then turning sideways, she once again kissed his cheek and asked "Agar Ani ro raha tha, to mujhe phone karna chahiye na?

A: I knew you'd be back soon that's why I didn't. Par kya baat hai, aaj bahut pyaar aa raha hai mujpar?

R: haan, to?

A: Anjie ne kuch kaha?

She turned towards him with a shocked expression and asked "Why do you think so?"

A: Because whenever she taunts your Armaan, your love for me becomes very expressive.

She shook her head and said "Nahi, tumhare bare mein kuch nahi kaha." Then she went on to tell what her di had said and what her reply had been.

A: I'm really not able to understand Anjie. Last time she was apologizing for poisoning your mind about me and was blaming herself for keeping us apart for 7 years. Now she's back to her old self.

R: She's good at heart, but it melts only when she sees me at a disadvantage. I was ill the last time when I came here and when she came to Munnar after Ani's delivery, I was weak. So she spoke very sweetly then. Now seeing me a confident and strong person, she's back to her usual habit of taunting me. But now they don't affect me as they used to earlier. Let's forget all that. This chweety pie seems to be better na? In the morning he wasn't able to even suck properly, but now he's quite comfortable.

A: Yes, I'll apply the medicine again, after he sleeps.

R: poor thing, I think it burns a lot as soon as it is applied.

A: ya, but it's effective.

R: I wonder how he caught it. Could it have at Lonavala or in the flight?

By that time the little fellow had stopped feeding and started playing. "His stomach is full now but I'm starving. Chalo let's have our dinner."

R: Main kha chuki hoon. Chalo tumhare liye khana laga deti hoon.

A: Kya?

She saw his face fall and smiled to herself.

A: Rehne do, ab khane ka mood nahi hai.

R: arrey abhi to keh rahe the bhook lagi hai.

A: no, it's ok.

As he stood up, picking Ani she hugged him from behind. Then going in front of him and pulling his cheeks asked "you believe I would eat leaving you alone?"

A: I thought maybe they forced you and you couldn't avoid.

Putting his free arm around her waist, pulled her close asking "Tum kya meri test le rahi ho?" When he kissed her cheek, the little one also leaned over from his arm and kissed her other cheek. When the adults started laughing, he also clapped his hands and started laughing.

While Riddhima unpacked and heated the food the little one was banging the spoons sitting on his dad's lap. When she served the food she offered him a piece of roti but he shook his head saying "woo" and pointing to his mouth. They felt very bad eating in front of him, when he couldn't.

Ani was much better the next day. The rash on his hand and foot had disappeared but his mouth was still a bit red. That day Riddhima coaxed Armaan to go and meet the Bashirs. Actually she also wanted to meet them but because of Ani couldn't do so. She had spoken to Devi and apologized to her that she couldn't make it.

Just as Armaan opened the door he saw a taxi stop outside. Seeing Devi and Bashir getting out he ran out to greet them.

A: I was just coming to meet you people.

B: She wanted to meet Riddhima. So we thought it was better we came over.

A: But the problem is Ani's infection is contagious. Hence we didn't want you to take the risk.

D: I'm willing to take that risk for people who gave me a new life.

By then they had walked in and Armaan called out to Riddhima. When she came downstairs to see who it was, she saw Devi holding Armaan's hands and saying "I don't know how to thank you Armaan cheta (brother)," with tears brimming in her eyes. Armaan held her hands in his and said "Devi I haven't done anything for which you need to thank me. I'm a doctor and I only did my duty, recommending the right treatment to a patient."

Hearing Riddhima, Devi went and hugged her tight. The kissing Ani's cheeks as he twisted in his mama's arms, she said "He's grown so much in these few months." Then she asked Ani "do you want to come and meet Snoopy and Droopy?" The friends chatted for sometime, had coffee and snacks and then left. Riddhima was happy she got to meet them.

Then she sentArmaan to go to Joshi house to spend sometime with them and mainly with their son. When Armaan went over, Gappu and Mini were leaving for Lonavla. Atul and Anjie were at the hospital. He took the boys along and went to drop them at the bus stop. Then after playing with the boys for an hour or so, he returned home.

On Dr. Shashank's request, Dr. Kelkar stopped by to visit Ani on her way back home. She was impressed with his speedy recovery and gave them permission to travel on Sunday.

On Sunday morning all of them returned to the Gupta house to spend sometime together. As a surprise for all of them Riddhima had single handedly prepared a nice lunch of all the south Indian dishes she had learnt from akka. Armaan had helped by bringing all the things she had listed, the previous day and keeping Ani out of her way, that morning.

The Malliks and Bua left immediately after lunch. While bidding goodbye she invited everyone to come over to Munnar. It was late evening by the time they reached their home. And weren't they glad to be back. Home sweet home.

that was really amazing di.........

superb part...

loved it alot..........

thnx for the pm....