**TALAASH**{AR FF} [Link of 2nd Thread - Pg 155] - Page 76

**** PART - 23 ****

* Tum Jo Nahi Toh Kuch Bhi Nahi *

""ar…ar…ar..maannn" she mumbled in low voice………….the pain was increasing yet the death was far away coz which looked more far was Armaan……….

"riddhimaaa" he screamed with tears in his eyes .he ran for her …for his life………her fingers touched his fingers but it was late ………..her fingers slipped out of his hand just like sand………..which he tried to hold but failed miserably……….

"ar…armaan"………he released the breath he was holding back from the time her fingers had slipped out of his hand…………he heard her whisper

"pls don't lose hope Riddhima……..ju…just hold my hand strongly …….I'll save you…………" said Armaan in low whisper to her………to Riddhima

who was hanging on 5^th floor's edge on Armaan's hand…but he himself wasn't sure how he will save her…pull her up when her whole weight was towards downside

Yes he nearly saved her by holding her left hand quickly before she falls down………..just one second lightened the hope again………

At that moment He realized HE CAN'T LOOSE HER…..that's what matters to him now….he have to save her any how…..

but still she was hanging with a little grip on his hand…..Armaan knew he have to take her up fast before she loose her senses coz of bullet's effect…yes she was the one shoot by last fire…he saw the blood oozing out of her right hand…hand by which she was holding his hand………..he tried to pull her up but failed as she winced in pain

"Try…try to come up Riddhima………thodi koshish aur karo Riddhima please" pleaded Armaan

"Main nhi kar sakti armaan……..plz mera haath chod do……..muj..muhse dard bardhash nhi ho raha………….pls let …let me go…………" she cried silently as the pain was increasing slowly and asked him to let her go……….. Let her die

"You want me let you go??????? Kaise riddhima??? Kya itna aasaan hai khud ko marte hue dekhna????? Ho sakata hai Riddhima tumhare liye yeh bahut aasan ho…par mere liye nhi hai………..apni zindagi ko apne saamne khtaam hote dekhna mujhe manzoor nhi Riddhima…….……tumhe koshish karni hogi……for Krish for ME……….for US " said Armaan meaningfully ..Tried to convey her how much he need her …….want her

He looked in her eyes and knew she will give up soon………taking a deep breath…….

He pulled her up giving little jerk to her hand and caught her left hand hurriedly so dat she don't have to stress her right hand which was injured…………..

He pulled her up by pulling her arm towards him and in a swift move he took hold of her waist and made her stood up at the edge……….

He inhaled deeply………..happy that she is safe now……….. in his arms…….now he will make sure no one ..no one dare to harm her……….he reminded himself…………

"We did it Riddhima….we did it…..you are safe…. Nothing gonna happen to you…….see "said Armaan in one breath but stopped when he didn't got any response from her……….he moved back slightly and looked at her face ……….her eyes were closed and she was looking pale…….really pale and then it hit him……..she is unconscious…………

He felt his breath again stuck in his throat……….his heart beating with a mad speed…….

He picked her up and ran towards the exit…………..

"Armaan rukk" Rahul stopped him when he was just about to exit from the building

Armaan looked at Rahul…but Rahul stood their baffled when he saw his eyes moist…….and he wondered was Armaan really crying or it was just his illusion????

He ignored it for the while "Riddhima ko kya hua??? Aur wo gunde kaha hai???" asked Rahul patiently

"Rahul….Ri…Riddhima…ko goli lagi hai……..i need to take her to the hospital…..i can't let anything happen to her……she would be ok…ya she would be" mumbled Armaan last bit to himself…….

Rahul gulped to see his best friend in such a vulnerable state. He gathered himself and patted armaan's shoulder

"ofcourse..riddhima ko kuch nhi hoga…tu aur Krish ho na uska khayal rakhne ke liye…tu jaldi Riddhima ko hospital lekar ja………I'll be there after you…..main pehle yaha dekhta hu………we need proofs this time Armaan ………we can't let them go so easily when we very well know who is behind all this cheap act and not to forget Riddhima's condition…" said Rahul angrily and lost Armaan just nodded and went to his car making her lay on back seat he drove towards Sanjeevani hospital in full speed

He entered in hospital with unconscious Riddhima in his arms….he shouted for doctors like a manic……whole staff looked at him as if he had lost his brain…..everyone knew him very well Armaan Mallik……business tycoon………but in such wretched condition???

After 2 Hour outside ICU

Armaan paced back and forth outside the ICU...

Doctor Shubhankar came out of the ICU and looked at Armaan who was looking at him expectedly and eager to know howz Riddhima

"Riddhima kaisi hai doctor…??? Wo theek toh hai na??? I mean the bullet didn't harm her right?? "Asked Armaan in one go

Doctor looked at him with raised brows…..wondering why Armaan Mallik is so tensed for the lady

Dr – she is your????

"WIFE….she is my wife….Riddhima Armaan Mallik" said Armaan confidently

"oh…..she is ok…her right hand is injured by the bullet toh it will take some time in healing but don't worry….she will be perfectly fine in 2weeks till then you have to take care of her…..she needs rest…..and she might feel weakness coz of bullet……she has lost a lot of blood…." Explained the doctor…

"Ca…can I see her???" asked Armaan while biting his lower lip…..as he felt his eyes becoming moist again…only he knew how much pain he had felt seeing her almost dying

"Ya sure Mr. Mallik….Mrs. Mallik ko hosh ane wala hai you can go and meet her…….." replied doctor and patting Armaan's shoulder in assurance he left for his cabin

Armaan carefully yet slowly entered in ICU and looked at Riddhima who was lying on the bed in light purple hospital gown

He observed her face while sitting on chair near her bed……she was in hospital gown still looking as beautiful and innocent as ever……….but her ever glowing face looked so pale……..a tear slipped from the corner of his eye…….

He looked at the Vermillion spread on her forehead…..making her face glow..,….Armaan sighed and slowly went up to her siting on the chair near her bed

Armaan leisurely lifted his hand and caressed her cheek but saw her flinch ……….he hastily pulled his hand back……….scared of hurting her………..and lowered his eyes……….somewhere disappointed with himself that he didn't reached to her on time…..failed in saving her

"Ar..Armaan…"he heard her voice and lifted his eyes to look at her face …..her eyes asking him so many questions……. feeling her palm on his hand he gave her watery smile…

"ma..main theek hu…." Said Riddhima in a very week voice……to assure him she is safe……..

Riddhima looked in his eyes….she felt bad seeing him so sacred and guilty ………he was looking so terrified and she knew he must be blaming himself for all this……….she felt more pain in her heart than the hand…………

Armaan nodded quietly………

"Armaan" Armaan looked at Riddhima

"hu…hum yaha kya kar rahe hai??? Chaliye na ghar chalte hai" Riddhima requested at which Armaan shook his head

"Riddhima tumhe aaj discharge nhi kia ja rha hai…..abhi kuch aur tests baki hai…." Armaan explained to her

He smiled seeing her pouting at the news….

"krish kaha hai???" she asked him and tried to divert his mind again

Armaan smiled slightly more

"Maine ghar par phone kia tha ………Muskan ko bola hai….she will bring him here..ata hi hoga……he missed you a lot…….he was. " said Armaan smiling at her with moist eyes…… very well knowing what she was trying to do by asking so many questions ………

"aur aapne???" he stopped in midway hearing her question and looked in her eyes………..

There was something …something in her eyes which he wanted to read which he had seen before but wasn't sure if he is right or not………..

"Main kya????" asked Armaan hesitantly in low voice

Riddhima shook her head in no…..

Feeling suddenly shy again…..it's not at all easy….how can she ask him if he had missed her too or not…

Though she knew the answer very well but still hearing from his mouth the same answer which her heart desire cannot be compared to anything

"aap kaise hai????" questioned Riddhima to Armaan who was looking at their hands……at that time she realized that her hand was still on his hand…..

She lifted her hand to take it back but her eyes went wider……She looked at him and saw him holding her hand to place it back in his hand…… now holding it firmly in his palm

A shy smile made its way on her lips…..her heart raced feeling his touch on her skin

"I …I missed you too……I have no idea about the …past but ….today I realized me and Krish are nothing without you……." He whispered in barely audible voice

She bit her lower lip to stop the tears which were ready to spill out of her eyes….did he have any slightest idea how much his simple yet heart touching words affects her???

"Please Riddhima…promise me ki tum akele kahi nahi jaogi………chahe kitna bhi jaruri ho tab bhi nahi….i…I can't lose y….you or Krish….Tum Jo Nahi Toh Kuch Bhi Nahi Hai Riddhima...." Armaan asked her seriously …his eyes filled with tears making Riddhima gasp…..she stared at him….and realized how much he must have been frightened ……she herself was terrified than how can she aspect him to behave strongly……

Riddhima nodded in yes

"ab main theek hu Armaan…aap fikar mat kijiye" Riddhima again tried to assure him

Armaan ignored her lie...he knew she is not ok...but she need to know what he is feeling right now what he felt when he almost lost her...

"Main nhi janta ki mera beeta hua kal kya tha ya aane wala kal kya hoga Riddhima…….main bas itna janta hu kal jo bhi ho mujhe wo kal sirf tumhare aur Krish ke sath jeeni hai………..i had nearly died to see you like that………I will di." Said Armaan but cut off by Riddhima's hand ….. As she hurriedly stopped him by placing her hand on his lips……

Both stared in each other's eyes….

"Armaan Riddhima Krish Mallik…Bas…..aur kuch nahi" whispered Riddhima and pulled her hand back

He was about to say something more but again stopped when he heard voice of his……. correction THEIR son Krish who just entered with Muskan and Rahul

"mu..mumma..pash jana hai" Krish cried in muskan's arms but stopped …… seeing Riddhima infront of his eyes

Krish looked at Riddhima as if still trying to assure himself that she won't disappear

Krish tried to jump out of Muskan's arms to reach Riddhima as he was seeing her after many hours………….scared of losing his mother

"krishu…"smiled Riddhima with moist eyes as soon as she saw krish's face

"mumma pash….mu..mummaaa…….almaan mumma pash" yelped Krish while asking Armaan to help him to get out of Muskan's tight hold and tried to hit Muskan with his tiny fist on her face

"Riddhima tera beta kitna shaitan hai……kitne hath chalata hai……..pta hai itna roya aur mujhe bhi rulaya…….." pouted Muskan

"mumma pash jana hai…almaan pash" Krish tried his best to stop Muskan's complaining session

"krishu…maine kaha tha apne se bado ka naam nhi laite bachha" said Riddhima in low but scolding tone at which Krish winced and gave a mini glare to Armaan for not supporting him who was looking at him

Armaan smiled at Krish and whispering an "Its Ok" to Riddhima he got up

He took Krish in his arms who happily kissed him on cheek ….making him smile at his antics………..Armaan came to Riddhima who set on bed all ready to take Krish in her arms…….

Armaan shook his head to see both so ready……as if going in some international fair

"jyada hilna nahi mumma ko chot lagi hai…….." Armaan slowly mumbled to Krish and he actually nodded like a good kid as if he understood everything

He carefully settled Krish in Riddhima's lap who was looking at Krish with eyes full of love and care

Krish looked at Armaan and Riddhima and flashed his tiny teeth….

"kishu lub youuu" giggled Krish and kissed on Riddhima's cheek who kissed him back….

"Riddhima ab kaisi tabiyat hai????" asked Rahul looking at the perfect family…..

Krish glared at Rahul for disturbing his serious talk session…..Muskan sniggered with Armaan seeing the look Krish was giving to poor Rahul who smile sheepishly

"liddhima ab kaishi ta…tab..tabait hai" asked Krish but pouted seeing Muskan, Rahul and Riddhima breaking into pills of laughter

Ok this is not done……….specially with the Junior Armaan

"ALMAANNN" screamed Krish in anger seeing all laughing at him but somewhere Krish sighed in relief seeing his only true friend not laughing at him…….

Armaan pressed his lips together tightly to stop himself from laughing……

OH NOOO

But failed miserably when his tolerance gave up and he laughed joining Riddhima, Rahul and Muskan

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take care
lots of love
jannat...😳