Part XXIX
~Art is a lie that tells the truth~
Two days later.
She didn't realize that she had been holding her breath until she breathed a sigh of relief that is - once a familiar recognition flickered in his eyes. Those grey orbs were soon drowned in an uncharacteristic teary haziness as she strode across the room to him and helped him sit up before kissing his forehead. Once within the familiar embrace, he let his guard down for the first time in the longest while and became a kid again comforted by his mother.
After a quiet few moments, she sat next to him and took his hands in hers and asked for forgiveness, "I am sorry Armaan...I am sooo sorry for everything. It's is all my fault, I should have never insisted you come back to India...I felt it was the right thing..."
He shushed her ... gently wiped off her tears before leaning back on her.
"How did you find out?" he asked looking around the room, adjusting to the ambience lights, he could sense the morning light filter through the curtains.
"Your father called. I took the first plane out"
"Oh..." there was a brief pause at the sound of the familiar yet distant pain that bonded them both, "You must be tired, it's a long flight" He turned to look at her, "you can't sleep on a flight. Have you slept at all?" he asked taking her appearance in, she looked tired and drowsy, and he had seen that look before. But there was also a third that he recognized that came across through her body language, she was relieved, and he could easily guess why. Whatever, he was glad she was here, it was a pleasant surprise indeed, and one of the rare moments, he felt like thanking his father.
She couldn't help but smile at this endearing man, the eternal kid she had as her son; he knew right away what she was thinking about. And brushed it off, "I know...I know..."
"How am I?" he asked a little later once both of them felt a little settled.
"Handsome as ever...probably need a shave though"
"Ma!?" with an incredulous expression, "That's not what I meant"
"You're getting better Armaan. In fact much better after you were shifted to this room last night..."
He was still processing all the information, "wait...! How long was I out?"
"Four days"
"Woah..." he raised his un-bandaged left arm to feel the bandage on his head. "Hurt my head pretty bad it seems!?"
"Just a small wound"
"Yeah, small enough to knock me out for four days...oh wait" and then it hit him like a sudden flash that he wasn't alone in that car, "Where's Riddhima?"
"Riddhima?" she pretended to not know, she was his mom after all.
"Yeah, she was in the car with me...we were..." then he checked himself before he blurted out anything else. "umm...when the lights...and the accident..." she could sense his guilt.
"She's fine Armaan and is sleeping soundly in the next room"
"Oh!" There was a momentary pause before he spoke, "How is she?"
"She's doing really good Armaan, stop worrying"
"How can I not?...It's my fault you know, she was in my car... it was my responsibility ..."
"Sheesh...stop blaming yourself, both of you are fine. The worse has passed, that's what matters! Everything will get better from here on"
That he felt guilty was given, and wasn't really sure how he'd make up for this, except may be just take her in his arms and kiss the pain away? He blinked the tears, never knew he could cry ... there was just an overwhelming sense of relief to know that all was well with Riddhima. He wanted to focus on something else to rein in his emotions that threatened to come-forth; turning towards the burning silhouette of the morning sun visible through the curtains "I want to see her" there was no running away, there was no escape, there was no other place he'd wanted to be.
"I'm sorry Armaan, but you are under strict ... I can't let you..." she paused and noticed the tears in his eyes, "I can't let you hurt yourself, you need to rest"
"Even last night, Dad kept saying she's fine...but I know she'd be here if she was..." She could sense a growing restlessness in him, "Armaan..." when he didn't listen, she forced him look at her by clasping both his hands, "Look at me...do you trust me?"
He nodded albeit reluctantly.
"Then hear me out, there is nothing to worry about alright. Your friend is fine"
He understood, "Can you?" He paused, was in two minds.
"What do you want me to do?"
He paused again, she could easily read the hesitation in his eyes, "Can you move the curtains, I want to see the sunrise"
She walked over and opened his view to the beautiful sight outside. By now the tears had stopped, and he could finally notice the beauty of this new day "she's okay then?" he asked her again, "No one told me anything last night" her words soothed his frayed nerves, "yes, she is fine. Just a few bruises here and there but should be up and running pretty soon"
He smiled to himself at the visual images those words painted in his head, he definitely didn't want her to be running anywhere anytime soon.
She didn't miss the relief awash in his face, "Riddhima huh?" she gently nudged him out of his reverie.
"What?" he turned towards her sheepishly.
"Nothing..." a slight pause, " I like the name" She smiled back as she walked towards the door, "l'll be right back Armaan. Do you want me to get you anything?"
He loved this woman that was his mom, "Thank you" which was followed by yet another hesitant pause; she waited there patiently for she knew her son wasn't done yet, "Anything else Armaan?"
He shook his head. And watched her walk up to the door, the slow movements of the door knob and then that abrupt halt he had seen a million times before ... she turned around just as quickly, and looked at him with a certain look he wasn't quite able to decipher, "What?"
She smiled mischievously, "You know...I just realized"
He looked at her intently.
"That may be it wasn't such a bad idea after all"
"What was?" he waited curiously.
And then she decided to prolong his agony by simply shrugging it off, "You have no idea how good it feels to see you like this. Welcome back son" She was about to go out when he stopped her, "Wait...! Can you?"
"Yea?"
"Umm.." he appeared to be in two minds, "nah...it's okay never mind"
She just stood there for a few seconds without saying anything, an indulgent smile playing on her lips, and finally replied with amazing foresight, "I'll check up on her too" and left him surprised to ponder on her words.
"Love you too"
The moment he set his eyes on the rising sun, his mind floated back to Sophie, and her gentle voice that had pulled him out of his deep slumber. He wanted to hold on to every little nuance of her smile, her movements and her magical words - every little detail lest the new day made him forget. He had things to share. And this was on top of the list.
"Good morning Riddhima" he whispered to the rising sun. He was distracted almost immediately by the sound of the door opening; it was Sumit who greeted him with a genuine million dollar smile.
"Morning sleepy head"
"Hey...morning!" he thought about it for a split second, "Will you do me a favor Sumit?"
~~~~~
Next door.
A little later Anjali walked into Riddhima's cabin with a spring in her steps, a fresh bouquet of flowers ... and the biggest smile plastered on her face. "Good morning Ridz"
"Good morning di...someone's in a happy place this morning"
"Yes!" she exclaimed excitedly, "and I have some good news"
"Good news?" Riddhima looked at her expectantly; it had been two days since she had told Anjali everything. Unfortunately, since Armaan was in the ICU ... they had been unable to go and see him. Those two days had most certainly felt like the longest two days of her life.
"Where do you want these flowers?"
"Flowers?"
"Yes, these" showing her the bouquet, "They are for you silly!"
"Awww they're beautiful...Thank you Di, but seriously you didn't have to..."
Anjali stared at her curiously, "Not from me Ridz, I found them outside your door- but not quite sure who it's from"
"Oh!...Does it have a note or something?"
"Well, it's kind of cryptic"
"What does it say?"
"Art is a lie that tells the truth"
How could she not know, "Give me the note Di, I think I know who it's from"
"You do? Who?"
"Umm..." running her fingers across the hand-written note, "Armaan is up isn't he?" Riddhima gave Anjali a loopy smile.
"Well...yes, that was the bit about the good news I was going to tell you but how...oh!! and oh!!" and it finally dawned on her, " Give me that note" and she re-read it, "Art is a lie that tells the truth"
"That cheeky bugger!?" she stopped for some reason, "So are you ready?"
"Ready for what?"
"To go and see him?"
"NOW? Aren't there people in there, Are you sure Di?"
"Riddhima, do you want to go and see him or not?"
"Yes" she admitted sheepishly.
"So what's with this drama???"
"I don't know ... how is he?"
"I have a better idea Ridz. Why don't you ask him yourself"
And then she wheeled her out, "You don't have a lot of time Ridz. There may be people there, and I don't want things to get ugly...you understand what I'm trying to tell you right?"
Riddhima could sense the concern in Anjali's voice, "Yes Di, I do"
"Good because if things get ugly..."
"It won't..."
"I just don't want you to get hurt that's it..."
"Let's do this Di...we'll face the music together" Then just as they approached the door, Riddhima asked Anjali to stop, "Di...can you do me a favor?"
"Now?"
"There is something in my locker that I want to take with me...will you bring it to me, pleaseee"
"Can't it wait?...we have to do this before Dad gets here Ridz..."
"Actually...no Di...please pretty please"
"Alright fine" she agreed reluctantly, "Let's go there first. You could use some fresh air too" and wheeled her out of the room into the familiar corridors of the hospital, "What's that we're getting again?"
"A sketchbook...his sketchbook"
~~~~~
A small update as I had promised. Better a small update than none for months right? 😆
Book Talk
Cricket
44