Sorry friends for having kept you waiting for so many days. Please do forgive me. I'll try to be regular here afterwards.
Friends, it's exactly 2 years today since I started writing on this forum. i want to thank each and everyone of you readers for all the encouragement you've given me through your comments, which has been the motivation for me to continue thus far. Thanks to all the silent readers too. it would make me happier to have your comments here though. Thanks a million gals.
Love ssh57
Part 36
Days went by and the bond between Armaan and Riddhima, as husband and wife, continued to blossom.
R: Aah, it's paining, athaan.
A: Just bear for a few minutes more. I believe in doing whatever I do, thoroughly.
R: Athaan, please leave me.
A: Alright go into the bathroom. I'll be there with your clothes.
R: No. No need for you to come, I can manage.
A: No, you shouldn't strain much. I'll help.
R: Please athaan, I can manage.
A: If you don't listen to me, I promise I'll literally carry you in.
As he tried to pick her up, she moved back saying "No, no athaan. You've also had a surgery. You should also take care of your health. You offered to oil my hair and I accepted. Believe me, washing it with shampoo is very easy. I'll do it myself. If I had to use shikakai powder, as I usually do, it would have been difficult." He smiled at her downcast eyes and putting his arm around her shoulder said "Accept that you are feeling shy. Then I won't insist."
R: Yes, I'm feeling shy.
A: That's because you forget that I'm your husband.
R: No, no it's not that. I just need some time to get used to that fact.
A: You've had over 29 years. Isn't that enough?
"Athaaan" Riddhima screamt frustrated with his teasing. That made him laugh out loudly. Then turning her towards him and holding her face in his palms, he kissed her forehead. Then said "Don't take too much time, I'm already 50. Can't wait much longer." She raised her eyes towards him, and saw the earnest love in his eyes. She nodded and stood on her toes, but still couldn't reach his forehead. Seeing her effort he turned his cheek towards her lips. She giggled at his antics and obliged him, letting her lips linger a few seconds longer on his cheeks.
As he had his arms around her waist, with his palms locked behind her, she couldn't move. "Let me go, please." She pleaded. But he simply shook his head.
R: It's already 10, I need to wash my hair. It'll take at least half an hour.
When he still shook his head, she suggested, "Ok, after I wash my hair, I'll let you dry it." Seeing at her looking expectantly towards him, he nodded with a smile and gently released her.
She quickly went to the closet and picking her clothes rushed into the bathroom, before he could change his mind. Seeing her action, he laughed out aloud, remembering the other day when she had rushed into the bathroom, in a similar fashion and had come out wading in his bathrobe.
As he picked up his laptop and went to the hall, he recollected what the doctor had said the previous day, when they had gone to Apollo hospital for check-up.
Dr: Riddhima, your stitches are healing very satisfactorily. The main reason for this is your sugar being well in control. That means you are not only taking your medicines regularly but also strictly adhering to the diet. Good going.
R: The credit for all that only goes to my husband. He makes sure I follow all your instructions to the dot.
Dr: That's very good. No wonder you are making progress by leaps and bounds. If this continues, you could go back to the village after a couple of more check-ups.
Saturday morning Prakash came to drop Priyam and Suja. The little one was thrilled to see her amamma up and about. As she ran in her amamma's arms she was taken into a rib-crashing hug and then both were showering each other with kisses. "Hey you both, we're also here." Suja reminded them. Keeping one arm around her granddaughter Riddhima beckoned her daughter to join them and hugged her with the other arm."
P: I think we men have no place here. Anyways I need to get back, so uncle you're going to be left to yourself.
When Riddhima looked up disappointed, Armaan said "Please Prakash it would be very nice if you could stay back. We've been eagerly waiting for all of you. It'll give us great pleasure if you at least spend this weekend with us."
P: Mama, today the assistant manager is also on leave. Otherwise I'd have surely stayed back.
R: Mapillai it's been so long since we all sat together, had food together. I've missed you all so much. It's only now I've realized the joy of being alive and wish to celebrate it in a small way. Please do stay.
S: Prakash, when amma and appa are requesting so much, stay back na? I'm sure your staff can manage for one day. After all it's a half day only today.
P: Ok, ok as you all insist so much I'll stay, but first let me call my branch and inform them.
As Prakash made the call. Armaan went and joined the other three. And all four of them got into a hug.
Breaking apart a few minutes later, Suja asked "So the doctor was very impressed with your progress was it?"
A: Yes, very much so.
R: And all because your appa is so strict in following the doctor's instruction.
A: As a doctor I know how important that is.
R: Had I been like that from the beginning, I wouldn't have landed up with such a condition.
A: No use digging up the past. Let bygones be bygones.
The pulling Priyam on his lap he asked "How about we all go on a shopping spree this afternoon?" Hearing the last part as he joined them, Prakash asked "What's the occasion?"
A: Do women need an occasion or reason to shop? Let's do it just for some fun. Then we'll go to a restaurant too. The doctor has relaxed Riddhima's diet restrictions a bit. So she can also have something.
By the time Priyam's vacation was over, the doctor had declared Riddhima fit to go back to the village. She could get back to her routine but gradually. So the last few days of the vacation were spent in the village.
Riddhima was installed in her athaan's house with the welcoming aarti by Suja. Some clothes and immediate requirements were brought from upstairs and stocked in the closet below, where Armaan had made space, shifting some of his things.
On the first night home, as there wasn't enough place for all to sleep, Prakash and Suja decided to go upstairs and sleep. But Priyam insisted on sleeping with her amamma, as she always did. Armaan's bed was not big enough to accommodate all three of them. And no amount of dissuading or bribing by Suja, could make her change her mind. Finally Armaan decided to sleep in the hall. Very much embarrassed, Suja and Prakash went to Armaan and apologized for Priyam's behavior.
A: What are you both apologizing for? What's wrong in her wanting to sleep with her amamma as she always does?
S: Appa, you and amma have come together after so many years,
A: Suja, let me be frank with you. Love for our spouse need not be expressed only by physical contact. At this age, it's more of sharing and companionship that we need. Moreover, we've been apart for so many years. Years during which other relations, like you three and Balu uncle, have been prime in her life. You've been people who have brought so much happiness to her sad life. I don't wish to alienate her from all that. I just want to include myself too in that list. And Riddhima being the person she is, will need time to come out of her shell, and accept me without any inhibitions. Besides, both of us have undergone a major surgery recently. I'm willing to give her the space and time she needs. Just the fact that she's mine now, and always has been, bring me immense joy. Don't worry about such things, go get some sleep, you must be tired after the journey.
Impulsively, Suja hugged him saying "Thank you so much for being so understanding appa. Now, I know why amma loves you so deeply, even after being away from you for so long. You are a gem of a person."
Hugging her back Armaan said "No,Kanamma, she's the gem. And me the stone is glowing only in her proximity."
S: No appa, both of you are one of a kind. We can't make comparisons. As she always says, it was her bad luck that you were separated from her. But I'm glad you're back when she needed you most. Inspite of all of us, and her school, I could notice she was getting to be lonely. I hope at least now God blesses you both with all the happiness that you both deserve so much.
Then bidding each other goodnight, Suja and Prakash had walked upstairs and Armaan settled on the bed, Rajesh had made for him in the hall. After quite some time, Riddhima came out to see Armaan busy with his laptop, lying on a bed on the floor. She came up to him and said "Athaan please go in and sleep on the bed, with Priyam. I'll sleep here."
Surprised on seeing her there, he sat up and asked "you were already asleep na?"
R: Ya, I woke up to go to the restroom and saw the lights on here. I guessed you couldn't get sleep on the floor.
A: No, no, I'm fine here. I was just chatting with some friends in the US. You go and sleep.
R: But athaan, you find it difficult getting up from the floor tomorrow morning.
"Won't you come and help me then?" he asked with a teasing smile. When she blushed, he stood up holding her hand and said "See it's so simple. Then kissing her forehead said "Goodnight once again. Go and sleep. Don't take tension. I'm also going to sleep now." Then escorting her back to the room, tucked her in.
It was Sunday afternoon. All of them were sitting around sipping green tea. (Armaan felt Riddhima was having way too much of coffee and it wasn't good for her health. So they had switched to green tea.) Balu uncle had also made it a practice to have the afternoon tea with them, since the time they had returned from the hospital. Prakash and his family were to leave for their home in a few hours.
A: The house will seem so empty after you all leave.
R: It's going to be very boring.
A: You mean I'm a bore.
R: Athaan, you are purposely misinterpreting what I'm saying. I meant without the children it will be so quiet and I'll get bored with nothing to do.
A: Why nothing to do? I can think of so many things to do.
When Suja cleared her throat and said "Ahem, Ahem, appa we're still here," not only Riddhima but even Armaan blushed. But at once he defended himself saying "What can I do if you have a one tracked mind? I meant we could read, go for walks, watch television etc."
At that, all of them except Riddhima, burst laughing. Seeing her looking angry Armaan continued "Actually your amma is saying all this because she wants me to pack off Rajesh back to his village or offer him a job in the school. She wants to start cooking and doing all the other household chores."
S: If I could stay away from the kitchen I'd jump with joy. But not amma.
Then turning to her mother she said "Amma you've slogged for so many years. Now you are getting an opportunity to relax and do whatever you want. So why not do all those things which you always wanted to, but never had the time?"
"Perhaps athai believes firmly that the only way to a man's heart is through his stomach. That's why she wants to cook all of mama's favourite food for him." Prakash commented, not losing the opportunity to tease them. But his mama was no less. He retaliated "She's already in my heart, why is does she have to look for a way into it?"
S: Oh, oh. Then perhaps she doesn't want a third person in the house, intruding on your privacy.
R: Why can't you all understand that I just want to get back to my routine? I've accepted to stay away from school, at least let me do some work at home.
A: Riddhima, please understand that at least for a few weeks more, you need to rest. After that I'll let you do whatever you wish to. Ok?
Riddhima just nodded and accepted it. She was never good at opposing her athaan. That was her weakness.
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