Part 84
Riddhima and Juhi settled into Riddhima's bedroom. Riddhima was arranging something in her cupboard when Juhi started work on her plan.
Juhi: Ab jab tum Siddhant se mili ho ...
Riddhima immediately became alert but decided to go with the flow of the conversation: hmmm
Juhi: kaisa lagta hai woh tumhe
Riddhima irritated with the question replied 'As in' She could not understand why Juhi was so interested in Sid
Juhi: As in how is he as a human being?
Riddhima: I think I already told you that he is a very nice person
Juhi: Haan ...but you know ...
Ifs and buts about Sid always bothered Riddhima Today was no different
Riddhima: But what ? ...now visibly agitated
Juhi: As in ...you know he is divorced and ...he is so different ... But yet ...
Riddhima: even I am divorced ...
Juhi: exactly ...I know the reason for your divorce but Siddhant
Riddhima: I think he has been open about it ... His wife did not want to ne married to him he has told you ...
Juhi: Exactly ...
Riddhima: what exactly ...what are you trying to get at
Juhi: See ...from what we know of him he is such a sweet heart and yet his wife could not accept him ...
Riddhima: She was a fool of the first order plus uski bhi koi majboori hogi ...usme Siddhant ki kya galati hai ...Riddhima had cursed herself many times for not making it work but that evening confessing it to Juhi it was breaking her even more
While Juhi was happy to see Riddhima accept her mistake partly ...She did not understand the helplessness for having to part ways but she let it go. Understanding that was not her agenda
Juhi: Yes he did and somewhere I feel he is still not over it ...and that is why he has not re married
Riddhima was even more hurt hearing this. The guilt had killed her slow death since she got to know more about Sid and now she felt as if someone had jabbed a dagger into her heart. She winced at the thought of the loneliness Sid had subjected himself to. It was nothing compare to what she had experienced.
Juhi: I wonder what kind of life he has lead ...ten years and now after ten years ...
Riddhima: why are you bothered about his last ten years and what do you mean by now
Juhi: you know how cold and agonized he was when he first came
Riddhima: that was maybe because he is here for someone's eventuality and maybe because he never wanted to come here
Juhi: as in he did not want to come to help his friend
Riddhima: i meant he did not want to come to a place where his bad memories are
Juhi: How do you know?
Riddhima: I am assuming ...said while gritting her teeth She was hating Juhi doubting Sid like this
Juhi: Ohh ok ...ya but you know how we both met and things have gone very fast ...you know I am surprised how he has evolved ...how we have evolved?
Riddhima: what do you mean? By now Riddhima who was tidings the cupboard trying to avoid eye contact with Juhi went and stood at her next favourite place the window The scenes of the various instances when she had found Sid and Juhi together were flashing through her mind.
Juhi: what I mean was ...he was so cold and harsh at times but now is so warm sweet and gentle You know he is one person with whom I have gotten comfortable so quickly ...you know what I mean ...
Riddhima unknowingly tighten her grip on the window sill Her nails seemed to make a mark on the wood A sudden click sound brought her back She looked down and started fidgeting with her finger to break off the remnant of the nail which had broken
'No' she retorted
Juhi: I have not exactly but he has ... ...What she wanted to leave unsaid she was forced to say It was hurting her hurt cause she was going to hurt her memories with Rishab She was hurting her friend and also tarnishing her friendship with Sid which was so pure but she saw no other way Riddhima would need to confront her feelings and she saw this the only way Push Riddhima to the edge till she break down with jealousy
Juhi took in a sharp breath to ease herself and continued 'Not once but a couple of times when we were together when we interacted when Sid was near he made it feel so right ... Which I did not feel with anyone else except Rishab'
She never felt so much pain as she was feeling now. Riddhima stood there oblivious of Juhi's state of mind. Her mind was only trying to block out what Juhi was talking as that was the only way to stop the pain she was experiencing.
Juhi closed her eyes and saw a face smile back at her ' Rishab!!! A faint smile appeared on her face She felt at peace and she continue to narrate what once had happened between the two of them. Coincidently what Juhi started narrating was similar to what Riddhima had witnessed. Rishab was also a skilled surgeon and he would help Juhi when she practiced for her operations. Not only because she needed his help but to steal brief moments with her from their busy schedules.
The pain was too excruciating. The images of that evening refused to fade away even as she shut her eyes tight making the tears spilled away that had welled up. To restrain herself as she clenched her fist the broken nail pricked her tender skin. She could handle it no longer. She wanted to shout out Shut up Just Shut up I don't want to hear any more of it. But she could not. To stand there listening to Juhi talk about Sid be it her escapade in the library or when he consoled her about Rishab's death or his habit's was just getting more and more unbearable. Finally she could not take it any longer She rushed towards the bathroom.
Juhi: what happened?
Riddhima: aankh mein kuch chala gaya
Juhi: come let me help Juhi got up walked towards her
Riddhima: nahi its ok and shut the door and collapsed on the floor. She wanted to cry out loud but instinctively cupped her mouth to stiffle her sobs She could not let Juhi hear her Tears flowed freely It was too much for her to take. The images of Sid and Juhi together were just not ready to let her be in peace
It was quite some time now Juhi let her be Riddhima needed that time alone but not so much It worried Juhi Had she overdone it Maybe
She knocked on the door 'Riddhima tum theek ho'
Riddhima: Haan main theek hoon answered through her sobs
She got up and splashed some water on her face She looked into the mirror and for the first time she saw herself Dr Riddhima Gupta talking back to her 'kyu saachai se bhaag rahi hoo Aaj bhi tum usse kisi aur ke saath nahi dekh sakti Aaj bhi tum Sid pe sirf apna haq manti ho Aaj bhi tum manti ho ki Sid sirf tumhara hai Uske woh teen shabd sirf tumhare liye ho sakte hai ''' Yaha saach hai ki aaj bhi tum sirf ussi se ''''..'
Link to the next part
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/43062957
Edited by DJ.. - 14 years ago
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