MPbGD Part 46 posted on pg 150 on 16/1/12 - Page 74

amazing part di...

i guess the family is gonna be bonded back again soon...

waiting for the reunion...

awsum part...

thnx for the pm...

hey dear

awesome update... hope riddhima fill the gap between armaan and Karan...riddhima Armaan convo was lovely ... looking forward for the next part...

update next part soon

love

sania

Part 34

On Wednesday morning, Riddhima and Armaan were discharged from the hospital. But they couldn't go back to the village. The doctors had told them that Riddhima would have to come for check-ups every few days. And travelling to and fro, from the village to the city was not advisable, as her stitches had to still heal perfectly.

Prakash had suggested the same hotel suite that they had stayed in earlier, but Riddhima had to follow a strict diet also, which would be rather difficult in a hotel. So Armaan suggested they stay at his BIL's house where he had stayed when he was recuperating after his accident, before moving to the village. he still had the keys to that house. He had called Rajesh a couple of days back, asking him to come and get the place in order.

Suja had planned to come to take her amma and appa home and was quite disappointed when she learnt that they couldn't. Nevertheless, she came to help them move out of the hospital and settle in that house. Priyam's half yearly vacation was to begin the following week, so it was decided that they both would come and spend the holidays with Armaan and Riddhima.

They all went to the house, where Rajesh was waiting for them. Suja asked Armaan and Riddhima to wait at the door and ran in to get red coloured water for the aarti. (This is done when a newly-wed couple enters the house for the first time or even when someone comes back from the mouth of death). Suja's reason was for both, while Rajesh thought it was for the latter. After the aarti, Suja asked the couple to enter the house, putting their right foot forward. Both of them understood what she was trying to do, but followed her instructions without any protest.

It was a huge apartment with 4 bedrooms. 2 bedroom were locked up by the owners. Rajesh had got the bigger guest room ready for Armaan and smaller one for Riddhima. The rooms were spotlessly cleaned and the beds covered with freshly washed sheets.

P: Rajesh why did you take the trouble of setting up two bedrooms?

R: Why saar, aren't both amma and ayya going to stay here?

P: Of course they are, but,

Riddhima blushed at his insinuation while Suja giggled. Armaan just looked Prakash in the face as if daring him to say any further. But he just smiled and said to Rajesh "I mean why have 2 airconditioners running? Waste of electricity, you see." At that everyone including Riddhima started laughing. Rajesh was still looking lost, not understanding what they were all laughing about.

"Rajesh, keep all the luggage in the bigger room," Armaan instructed. "Next week Suja and Priyam are going to come here to spend the vacation. They'll use the smaller room." Rajesh just nodded and followed the instructions given to him. He then proceded to fetch them some coffee as they had already had their breakfast in the hospital canteen. Armaan explained to him the restrictions in Riddhima's diet. He said he would get a special meal ready for her in no time, though he had already finished cooking the lunch for everyone.

After lunch and a nap, Prakash and Suja prepared to go back. Armaan offered to call for a taxi, but Prakash said he had some work to attend to, before leaving the city. So they would manage on their own. They took blessings from the elders and promising to call them on reaching home, left.

Prakash stopped a rickshaw and as they got in he said "Main bus stand". "You said you had some work," Suja reminded him. "Oh that was just," he started but stopped midway saying "Taxi becomes far too expensive. Mama doesn't mind it because he calculates in dollars. Whereas we earn and spend in Indian rupees. When we can reach home in one tenth the cost why squander money? Moreover, we have to be less extravagant now, with one more member soon joining our family. Don't you agree?" Suja nodded.

Of course, though it seemed a bit harsh, what he said made sense. Suja never protested just for the sake of arguing. She always thought from the other person's perspective. That's what Prakash admired in her the most. One of the qualities she had imbibed from her amma proving that everything need not be necessarily inherited.

But the little one wasn't very happy. "The bus stinks and I feel like vomiting. That day when we went with kollu thatha (great grandpa) by taxi, it was so comfortable. I could even lie down with my head on mummy's lap and sleep." "I know kanamma," Prakash explained, "But it costs so much more. With the money that we save by going in a bus, we could buy a pretty dress or a nice toy for you." That brought a smile to her face and she said "then it's ok, let's go by bus."

They waited till they got a bus in which they could get seats. Priyam who wanted to sit at the window, was asleep in a few minutes, leaning on her mummy's shoulder. Noticing Suja thinking deeply about something Prakash asked "What are you thinking about?"

S: How much did the hospital bill come up to?

P: I didn't see it. I think mama paid a lumpsum in advance. This morning they only gave him the receipt and the balance. That amount also he distributed to all the nurses, ward boys and aayas. Seeing the smile on their faces as they accepted it, I think it must have been a generous tip.

S: that was really very kind of him. They really take a lot of care of the patients. He must have spent in lakhs na including the hotel, conveyance, hospital, medicines, etc.? Do you think the amount which was in amma's account would have been enough for it? Shouldn't we ask appa whether we should pay at least a part of it?

As a bank manager Prakash knew the explanation that Armaan had given, regarding the amount he had sent, was not realistic. But he had refrained from questioning it, lest the whole monetary burden fell on him. Not understanding his silence, Suja continued "In the earlier years the dollar rate wouldn't have been so high. I think we should at least offer to pay something." It was only then she noticed Prakash's silence and asked "Why are so silent Prakash? Say something."

P: I don't know. If you feel you need to offer, it'd better you yourself talk to your appa.

Now Suja's temper flared. "If amma had fallen ill before appa came back, wouldn't we have spent for her? Even if we hadn't gone in for a transplant, we would definitely have spent for the dialysis."

Prakash didn't want to quarrel with her, so he said "let's discuss this when we get home." She also thought it wouldn't be good to argue in public, so remained silent. But her mind kept thinking what would they have done had this situation arisen before. First and foremost it struck her that they would have gone to the doctor nearer home and mightn't have gone all the way to Apollo Hospital. Of course they might have had to go to Chennai for dialysis. She had heard that was also an expensive treatment.

She knew amma didn't have any medical insurance and neither much savings. Whatever profit came from the school, she used for improving facilities in the school itself. She only took a fixed salary like an employee. It had been so foolish of them no to have thought of any such contingencies. Her amma never ever thought about herself. It had always been about others. So she blamed herself only for that. Had appa not come along, would she have had to watch her amma die? The thought itself was scary.

But the next moment she smiled to herself, thinking how as a teenager she had vowed to kill her amma's athaan if she ever set her eyes on him. And today she was prepared to pay homage to that very person. Seeing her smile, Prakash enquired with raised eyebrows. She just shook her head and smiled on. Whatever it was, he was thankful that it set her mood right. He was apprehensive of her gearing up for a full fledged argument on reaching home. But like his wife, he had also been thinking on the matter and pondering over the question she had asked, "What if her amma had had this illness earlier?" He had thought over it from all angles and had to agree that what Suja said was right. They should offer to pay at least a part of the expenses.

The bus journey was very tiring as the roads were quite bad. They were ready to drop dead the minute they reached home. Dropping them home he said "I'll be back soon with something to eat" and left taking his bike. He went to 'Woodlands' Suja's favourite restaurant and got her favourite, Pongal and vada. For Priyam it was dosa. By the time he returned home, Suja and Priyam had washed and changed and were eagerly waiting for the food.

P: Did you call athai and tell her that we've reached?

S: Yes.

P: Did you talk about the hospital expense or anything?

S: No, no I wanted to talk about it to you first.

P: I also thought about it. What you said was right. But it won't be nice talking over the phone. So we'll talk to mama when we go over there, next weekend.

Riddhima had her meal by 7 pm, as advised by the doctor. To give her company Armaan also ate early. After the others had left, they had taken a small walk in the garden, around the house. Though the doctor had advised regular walks for half an hour at least, they thought it better not to strain too much on the first day home. After dinner Armaan gave her her medicines and then they sat watching the news on TV. Later Armaan handed over the remote to her saying "Try to go to bed by 9. I've to catch up with some work on my laptop."

He had left her alone to relax and watch her usual teleserial and then get into bed. He knew she'd feel awkward with him there. Though she had said that she was willing to be his wife in the real sense, he knew it wouldn't be easy for her. But at the same time, they had to start somewhere and this was the right point, he felt. When he went to bed 2 hours later, he found her asleep at one end of the double facing outside. She had switched off the main light, but kept the table light on. Though neither the a/c nor the ceiling fan was switched on, he found her covered with a blanket from head to toe.

He changed into his night suit, got in on the other side of the bed and switched off the light, but couldn't get sleep. He was so used to the a/c that he couldn't manage to sleep without it. He switched it on and looked for the timer but couldn't find it. It's perhaps an old model he thought and decided that he would put if off once he felt drowsy. But the minute the room temperature fell, he could feel her shaking. He switched on the light again and found her trembling. He immediately switched off the a/c.

Try as he might, he couldn't sleep. So he went and opened the window. It was only then he realized that it was pouring heavily. The sound of rainfall was like a lullaby to his ears and he was soon fast asleep.

When his eyes suddenly opened, he found an arm snaking around his middle and something heavy nudging his back. He held the arm and smiled as he felt her bangle. When he gently lifted her arm and turned around, he saw her fast asleep. When he tried to make some distance between them she once again put her arm around him and moved closer. With a smile on his face, he also hugged her to himself and fell into a sound sleep. Her body warmth was so cozy in the rainy weather.

She opened her eyes when the sunlight hit her eyes. She was startled when she realized that her head was resting on his shoulder. Then came the realization that her arm was around his waist. She withdrew it immediately, as if she was scorched. Her next thought was that she should move away without waking him up. But when she tried to raise herself, his arm which held her waist wouldn't let her move. She tried to lift his hand but couldn't. God this was embarrassing. She had to somehow move away from him before he opened his eyes. And just as she was trying to wriggle out of his hold, he opened his eyes.