PART 7
Recap : Siddhant recollects, sitting in his hotel room, how Riddhima blurted out his name inspite of having lost all her memory. He decides he has to go back to the US as soon as possible. He goes to inform Shashank that he was leaving but Riddhima's medical reports come in and Dr. Shashank and Sid find out that Riddhima was pregnant. Dr. Shashank has a heart attack.
Hours later, Sid was in Riddhima's room with Dr. Dhruv. Once, he knew he could not run away from all this, he'd called his lawyers and cancelled his appointment and he'd called the travel agency to cancel his tickets as well. Then he had gone to meet Dr. Shashank. Dr. Shashank was broken ' that was the only way to describe him. When Sid had sat next him, Dr. Shashank had held his hand and cried, sobs raking his defeated frame. Sid had covered his hands with his own in a gesture of reassurance. For a split second, Dr. Shashank's eyes had looked at him with hope before they'd been replaced by sorrow. Sid knew that he could not disappoint that flicker of hope in Dr. Shashank's eyes or that would be the end of the man, Shashank Gupta, as he knew him. So now he had ventured into Riddhima's room with Dr. Dhruv trying hard to mask the hatred, anger and resentment he felt for her.
How could she? Our divorce hasn't even come through and she.. She.. She slept with Armaan? Sid's mind had completed that thought with great difficulty. How could she? Couldn't she have at least waited for their divorce to come through? Each question had felt like salt on the open wounds of his shattered heart. He couldn't ever look at her face again. He felt.. Disgusted. This was not the Riddhima he knew. "Why would she wait for your divorce to come through? It was Armaan she'd always loved and you already know how they can't keep their hands off each other, why would they wait for anything in the world?" His brain countered his mind. "Maine shaadi ke pavitra bandhan ka apmaan kiya hai.. Riddhima ko lagtha hai, Armaan sirf uska hai.. " Riddhima's words echoed in his head. "But didn't their relationship, didn't their marriage mean anything to her at all that she moved on that easily?" his mind queried. "Tum mano ya na mano, mere liye iss rishthe ki ehmiyath bahut hai.. Ab yeh rishtha hi meri sachchayi hai.. Tum hi meri sachchayi ho.." Again, Riddhima's words had echoed in his head. He'd raked trembling hands through his hair. He did not know anything any more. He wished the accident hadn't happened. He wished he hadn't heard that voice mail and he wished he hadn't decided to come here. He wished he hadn't gotten to know any of this. But the accident had happened; he had heard the voicemail; he had decided to come here and he had gotten to know all of this. Now, he couldn't turn back and run away. He simply couldn't. So he was standing here doing the one thing he never wanted to do again ' Looking at Riddhima.
Riddhima, however, was unaware of all the mayhem around her. Dr. Dhruv had asked her to look at the person with him and just say all the random things that came to her mind looking at him. He was the same guy with soft, brown eyes from yesterday, only his eyes were no longer soft; there was something hard, ruthless and cold about them today. She wondered what had brought about that change in him. She had called him Sid yesterday but she did not know whether that was his name or not. But somehow she knew that name was connected to this person. So she said Sid again. The way those eyes were looking at her, she'd seen that look before. Again, images started to flash in front of her eyes as she closed her eyes and tried hard to remember.
Dhruv : Riddhima, don't pressurize yourself. Let the images and voices come. Even if they are all mixed up and indistinguishable. It's ok. But do not pressurize yourself.
Riddhima willed herself to relax. They were the same images.
Riddhima : Shaadi..
Dhruv : What did you say?
Riddhima : Shaadi.. She is falling.. He catches her.. Its raining.. He is carrying her.. They are marrying under an umbrella..
The side of her head starts to throb again and she presses her hand to it.
Dhruv : Ok stop.. Don't think anymore.. I just want you to listen to me very carefully..
Riddhima opens her eyes gently and immediately they lock with the stranger's. He looks away.
Dhurv : Riddhima.. This is your husband.. Dr. Siddhant Modi.. Also known as Sid..
Very few people knew the dynamics and the background of the whole situation and Sid had made sure no one else got to know for the fear of Riddhima's health and Dr. Shashank's reputation. He had quietly signed all of Riddhima's documentation as her husband because legally, he still was.
Riddhima stared at the stranger. My husband? Why hadn't anyone told me before that I was married? Why did he not come to visit me before? But oddly, it felt right hearing that this stranger was her husband. Then she remembered, "I am sorry Sid please mujhe maaf kar do" Something had happened between them.. But what?
Dhruv : There is something else you ought to know..
Dr. Dhruv looked at Sid and Sid looked away.
Dhruv : Riddhima.. You are pregnant..
Riddhima felt her heart swell up with some unknown emotion, as if this was something she had been waiting for. Without thought, she gently placed her hand on her belly and her eyes filled with tears. Sid saw this and his hands clenched into fists. She was happy about this; she'd wanted this subconsciously. She wanted to be carrying Armaan's child.. Why.. Why did he have to witness this? For a few seconds, he wished he were the one who'd died in an accident if it was necessary that one of them had to die. Things would have been so much easier then. At least he wouldn't have to go through so much pain and neither would she. He pushed the thought away and when he looked at Riddhima, she was looking up at him and smiling, a tender smile. That's when it struck him. She thought it was his child she was carrying!! Obviously, she'd just been told he was her husband so that's what she would presume. This was way more than he could take. Just then, Dr. Aastha walked in.
Dr. Dhruv : Riddhima, this is your gynaecologist, Dr. Aastha.
Dr. Aastha : Good afternoon Riddhima.
Riddhima smiled at her.
Dr. Aastha : I just got to know you have some good news for everyone here. How about we do a quick scan and see if everything is all right?
Riddhima nodded.
Dr. Dhruv : Well I will leave you with Dr. Aastha for your check up ok?
Riddhima nodded again. As Dr. Dhruv started to walk out of the room and Sid was about to follow him, Riddhima's voice stopped him.
Riddhima (hesitantly) : Sid..
Sid stopped and turned towards her.
Riddhima : Don't you want to stay?
She asked the question softly.
Dr. Aastha : Oh you could if you want to..
Sid : No.. Its ok.. I'll wait outside..
He stepped out of the room without turning back and Riddhima's protest died on her lips as she saw the door being shut.
Riddhima : Why doesn't he want to stay?
She did not realize she'd spoken that out loud till she heard Dr. Aastha's reply.
Dr. Aastha : Well I guess some men are just not too comfortable with too much estrogen around them. (She smiled at Riddhima.) Now you don't worry, relax and lay back.
Sid was sitting in Dr. Dhruv's cabin and they were discussing Riddhima's case. That was all she was, Sid kept reminding himself, a case.
Dr. Dhruv : Thankfully, apart from the hairline fracture in her left tibia (leg), the rest of her injuries are superficial. The head injury was what had us seriously concerned. It could've been a lot worse. She is recovering well but we still have to be very careful, too much of stress or pressure can prove very dangerous.
Sid simply nodded his head.
Dr. Dhruv : We might be able to discharge her next week and then have her follow up every two weeks or so.
Sid nodded again.
Dr. Dhruv : You do realize that you are the only person she even remotely recognizes and is even slightly comfortable with, don't you?
Sid looked at Dr. Dhruv wondering what he was getting at.
Dr. Dhruv : It would do Riddhima good if you could take her home with you.
Sid felt as if he had been punched in the face. Of all the things, this was the last he had expected.
Dr. Dhruv : I understand that you and Riddhima have issues though I do not know what exactly they are. However, it appears that even when she has lost all her memories, she instinctively recognizes you and trusts you. It could be extremely disturbing to her if we put her in the midst of people she feels are absolute strangers. Also, considering the fact that you are the only person who has been able to trigger any kind of memories in her, it might even speed up her recovery process.
Dhruv paused before continuing, trying to gauge what was going in Sid's mind.
Dr. Dhruv : As it is, I do not think Dr. Shashank will be leaving the hospital anytime soon. He is scheduled for a bypass in two weeks' time. I'm not sure how he could look after Riddhima in such a situation. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to force you or anything. I am just concerned about my patient's welfare.
Sid dragged his hands down his face and laid his head back and looked at the ceiling. This couldn't be happening but even as the thought crossed his mind, he knew there was nothing he could do about it. Dr. Shashank's reports had just gotten back and he knew he was in bad shape. He couldn't possibly stress him further. If by taking Riddhima home with him, he could ease off even a little bit of Dr. Shashank's stress.. He knew that might make a huge difference to the man he respected not just as his mentor but as a father figure too. But the question was how would he deal with having Riddhima around? Knowing that she carried Armaan's child.. He did not have time to complete his thoughts because Dr. Aastha came in just then.
Dr. Aastha : Ah.. Dr. Siddhant Modi.. Here you are.. I've been looking for you all over. I thought you'd be waiting outside the room.
Sid : I.. I just had a couple of things I needed to discuss with Dr. Dhurv. Is.. Is everything all right?
Dr. Aastha : I must say it's a miracle but the baby seems to have survived without any problem. Normally, in such accident cases that too so early into the pregnancy, its almost close to impossible that the baby survives.. But I guess your love is really very powerful Dr. Sid.. It saved your wife and child.
Sid almost visibly flinched. It wasn't his love that had saved the baby. The baby was a symbol of Armaan's and Riddhima's love; a constant reminder to him of his wife's betrayal. But none of this was the baby's fault and he could not hold any resentment for the baby, he reasoned.
Dr. Aastha : This is your wife's report. Her scanning revealed a fetus 12 weeks old. She has just finished her first trimester. Her expected delivery date is around October end. She is going to have to come in for monthly check ups and I'd really appreciate it if you would accompany her too and please make sure that she does not move around without support too much because with her leg fracture, there are greater chances of her falling and we don't want that now, do we?
She smiled at Sid.
Dr. Aastha : I've prescribed a bunch of medicines for her ' just multi vitamins and stuff to help her regain her health quickly. Please make sure she takes her medicines on time. And of course, I need not tell you this since you yourself are a doctor but she needs to eat lots of green leafy vegetables, avoid Papaya and drink lots of water.
Sid nodded.
Dr. Aastha : Well, I have to go now so I guess I'll see you around.
She walked to the door and just at the door, she turned and added "Oh and you can collect the scanning image in CD form if you want from the reception."
12 weeks. Riddhima was 12 weeks pregnant, which meant she must've have.. they must've.. When she was still with him.. Or maybe as soon as he left.. Sid looked away. He did not want to think about anything. He wished he could just turn off his thinking power and let life guide him like a puppet. He was a puppet right now in destiny's hands but the problem was he was a puppet that could think and feel and that made he want to break free and run away but he couldn't.
~ PART 8 ~
Edited by neet06 - 14 years ago
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