Part 42
Sid reached Shilpa's house to find that Rohan was still at the hostel. Rohan had been living in the hostel since Shilpa discovered about her illness. She did not want him to see her go through the pain. Also age was catching up with Maasi, it was getting increasingly difficult for her to handle all the responsibilities, Shilpa, Rohan and the orphanage. It was tough decision but there seemed no choice.
Maasi informed Sid that Rohan would be back in the evening after school is over. Next day they were to complete the final rituals for Shilpa.
Sid: Kal ke liye kuch karna hai kya ........ Sid still could not come to term with Shilpa's death. Moresoever with the fact Rohan at this age had to do perform the rites himself. He was not there then. But not anymore, he shall never leave Rohan alone.
Maasi: Sab tayari ho chuki hai ........
Sid: Maasi meri Papa se baat hui thi............ hum soch rahe the ..........agar aap theek samjhe toh ki Rohan ko apne saath leke javu.
Maasi: Theek soch rahe ho ......waise bhi yaha rehega toh Shilpa ki yaadein satayegi usse........... meri bhi umar ho chuki .......pata nahi aur kitne din rahongi ...........aur abhi toh uske samne poori zindagi hai .......uske future hai......
Sid: Aisa kyu soch rahe hoo.......... aap bhi hamare saath chaliye ...........
Maasi: Nahi ......... iss umar mein apni mitti chod ke kahi aur jaane ka maan nahi hai .........
Sid: Theek hai Maasi aur Thank you............ aap ne jo kiya hai .....woh toh unke apne bhi nahi kar paaye.............
Maasi: Agar khud ko dosh de rahe ho toh mat dena ............ tumhari koi galati nahi hai............ aur agar Riddhima ke baare mein soch rahe ho toh usse bhi nahi maloom tha aise hame laga tha jab hum usse mile ........ agar usse maloom nahi tha toh usse dosh dene sahi nahi hoga na ............
Sid: Mujhe nahi lagta ki usse maloom nahi hai .......... dus saal mein ek baar bhi armaan ne usse nahi batayi hogi yeh baat ..........mein nahi manta........kyu sochta rehata hoon iss bare mein ......... pata nahi ........ completely frustrated with himself that he could not emotions when he thought about this.
Maasi noticed the change in Sid to divert his mind she asked him to freshen up after which they could do the additional preparations.
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Riddhima could not believe her ears or she did not want to believe what she had heard. 'Tumhare kehne ka matlab'
Juhi: Aree his work is done so he left........ why what happened ?
Riddhima took a moment to absorb the information. Not wanting to make things obvious to Juhi; Riddhima quickly excused herself on pretext of some work.
As she walked through the corridors of Sanjeevani her mind was trying to digest the peice of information - Sid left!!! 'It can't be possible; how can Sid leave? Mein sirf ek aur baar dekhna chahati thi........... sirf ek baar uski awaaz sunna chahati thi......... Woh yaha aya lekin mere baare mein poocha tak nahi, ek baar bhi milne nahi aya ..........kya uska bilkul maan nahi kiya............. ' She looked around her. The place was buzzing with the sound of patients and doctors. In midst of this crowd she felt so alone. She quickly rushed to the terrace and cried her heart out sitting in a remote corner.
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Sid stepped out of the shower and stood in front of the mirror combing his hair. His mind was thinking what Maasi had said this morning. His eyes fell on the scar on his chest. Automatically his fingers ran over it. 'Riddhima' The memories which he had kept at bay with so much difficulty come rushing to him. That one night changed the entire course of everyone's life. 'Riddhima................ was she there at Sanjeevani ?............ I should have checked on her........... maybe I could have told her about Shilpa........... it's not possible she does not know ............she may have kept away cause she felt guilty ........... but she would want to be there tomorrow.............. at least once be there for her sister.............. May be I should call her? He closed his eyes for a moment and Rohan face flashed in front of his eyes. How bitterly he had cried? He snapped out of his thoughts. 'Koi zaroorat nahi hai ..... apna samajhti toh bahoot pehle aa gayi hoti ........... ab aayi toh sirf apna 'farz' samaj ke ayegi ........... koi zaroorat nahi hai ............... Na Rohan ko na mujhe !!!
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She did not know for how long she sat. She could not understand. What hurt her more? Sid leaving or Sid not even trying to meet her. Somewhere deep down she wished to meet him, talk to him, if possible comfort him, ease the pain. The pain that she had given him. Stand with him extend her support in that moment of grief. She never deserved him she knew so she always wanted to keep away from him; then and now. But Sid always appreciated her regardless all her flaws and failures. But why did he not do that today? He left without glancing back to see if someone wanted to be with him for just a moment. As if she never existed for him. Mere hone na hone se usse koi farak nahi padta ........... He hates me .............nahi toh aisa nahi ho sakta ki woh aaye aur mujhe ek baar bhi naa mile................Riddhima's thoughts kept trailing trying to reason these turn of events.
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Sid and Maasi finished all the work and then went to Rohan's house to bring him back home and also to check with the principal about the formalities for leaving the school. One thing Sid was sure of is that he was not going to return without Rohan. He discussed his plans with Maasi and Rohan's principal. Finally they came to a conclusion that it would be best that Rohan completes his term in India and then can start fresh in US. This seemed like a good idea as the visa process and admission to the term in US would also take some time. Initially Sid was quite insistant about bringing Rohan back home. He did not want Rohan to feel deprived of parent's love and now that he was now there he could take care of him. But he had to agree with the others that bringing home would mean Rohan re-living those moments everyday. Instead they felt that if he stayed in the hostel his mind would not stray towards those memories. He would be with kids of his age, most of his time occupied with studies and interacting with his batch mates. The principal assured Sid and Maasi that special care would be taken in Rohan's case. In addition Sid could take him home on the weekends. This way his studies would also not be affected. For Sid, Rohan's interests were top most priority hence finally agreed to the arrangement.
After meeting the principal Sid went to pick up Rohan who was at the playground. Rohan was so happy to see that he ran into his arm the minute he saw him.
Rohan introduced his friends to Sid and then sat around talking for sometime. Rohan seemed a little relaxed. Seeing this Sid was please with their decision to let Rohan stay at the hostel. It indeed make sense.
That night before heading off to sleep Sid spoke to his father to inform him about his plans. His father knew that this would mean a couple of months away from work for Sid. But he knew that Rohan needed Sid and Sid could also use a break from everything. They both agreed that it would be in best interests for all that Sid stays back in India to complete all the visa formalities and take care of Rohan. It would also give Sid some time to understand what he wants from life and how to take it forward. Especially now because he was no more alone. He had Rohan's responsibility to shoulder.
Link to the next update
Jaane Anjaane Hum Mile
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon
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