A: yeh loh aa gaya tumhara ghar..
He stopped his bike rather abruptly, probably because so that she would literally fall on him and have to hold on tighter just as she had. She chuckled and remembered his words from this morning, "mein chala ke pyaar karta hoon". He really was just something else. Smiling she pulled her hands from under his arms and started to get off the bike. What a day, the difference between the bike ride from the morning and this one was unbelievably huge. Like two whole new people. She wanted to thank him for handling all of it so well and so fast. But she didn't quite know how to. Just let him know one final time that she was so very happy and so very comfortable that she was finding it hard to stop herself from smiling. But how? When she finally got off the bike, he turned to look at her and winked. She shook her head, chuckled and there it was again, the lip biting!
S: good night Armaan
A: Shilpa...
[There was just something he had to say. The moment called for it.]
S: bolo... [boy this seemed serious]
A: I love you
As she looked at him, looking so passionately at her her body was literally begging her heart to stay firm. And as she let his words sink in, she knew what she needed to do, what she wanted to do. She took one step forward, so that now she was quite literally inches away from him and because he was still on his bike he had to look up at her. She smiled, she lifted her hands and placed them so that his face was cupped in her hands, knelt down and when she was no more than a millimeter away from his ears she whispered, "I love you too" and slowly moved from the ear to his cheeks and kissed him.
For Armaan this was nothing short of bliss. How had he reached this place? How did get to this point when the most wonderful girl in this world would show him so much affection? Such amazing affection that he was far too overwhelmed for words. He just let his heart and his entire being enjoy her presence and take in all the love that she was showering on him. When she whispered in his ears, every single last hair on his body was on end, he could feel his body reciprocate to her closeness and when she actually kissed him, there were no words or even thoughts to describe what that felt like. Well, there were two words, two of the words that were uttered when his heart was pleased to the utmost. "Oyye Hoyye", he whispered. When she chuckled at his words, he could feel her breath on his neck and it was just maddening. This sense of total belonging and utter comfort with each other was a feeling that he had been longing for. It wasn't that it was too good to be true, it was actually too great and too real for there to ever be a doubt in his mind.
A few moments later when she finally pulled away from him and stood up straight again, she knew that whatever it was that she wanted to convey to him, he understood. She smiled at him and he at her. He looked at her and she gazed towards him with equal intensity. Neither wanted the other to leave but both knew that leaving didn't mean anything because this was just the beginning. While he continued to stare at her, she took a step back and then another and finally waved goodbye before making her way towards the door. He stayed there, eyes glued on her until she had disappeared behind her door and when she was no longer in sight, he moved his eyes to the sky, ran his hands through his hair, smiled endlessly before finally making his own way home.
There was romance in every single corner of the house, in every single breath he took and in every thought he had. This was that kind of happiness that can make one go insane. At this hour of the night, he was literally pacing from here to there in his room to try and make his heart calm down and his mind be at rest. But it was of no use, she was every where. Shilpa's situation was no different, the giddiness of it all was literally driving her mad. While she lay in bed she twisted and turned while her mind kept on tossing around her moments with Armaan. She thought of calling him but then each time decided against it, this waiting and thinking was far more scintillating. The anxiousness she felt right now was just too beautiful to be ruined by a phone call. He, however had no such thoughts, he just wanted to talk to her some more. He looked here and there for his phone and found it in the pocket of the jeans that he had changed out of. As soon as he pulled it out he was shocked to see what was on it. 7 missed calls from Riddhima? What on earth? Instantly, there was panic. Riddhima's calls? At this hour?
He quickly dialed her number and while waiting for her to pick he ran to see his home phone and there too were missed called from Riddhima and about 9 from Dr. Keerti. There was no reply. Obviously this did little to ease his nerves and calm his mind. He was pretty certain that this was a hospital emergency and so even though he was still waiting for a response, he was pretty much almost out the door. Still in his shorts and t-shirt he ran outside and before he knew it, he was on his bike ready to leave. Only then finally, she picked up.
R: Armaan! kahaan ho tum? Itne phone kiye tumhe aur tum...
[He could sense the stress and the desperation in her voice.]
A: Riddhima...sab dheek hai na?
She told him that there was a serious emergency at the hospital and that because of a major accident the volume of patients was just out of control. She and Dr. Keerti had been trying to get in tough with him for a while but there was just no reply. When she asked where he was again, Armaan had a bit of a predicament. He couldn't get past the usual "actually mein...". What was he supposed to say? That he was busy being so madly in love with Shilpa? That he was pacing his room lost in her thoughts and hadn't even realized that someone was calling him? In the past few days he had almost forgotten about this part of his life. The part in which he would have to tell her. The part where he would once and for all completely and fully move beyond the past. The part where if he did not tread carefully things could get bad. But before he could even finish his thoughts and come up with something to say, she had hung up the phone and told him to hurry.
Just as he was about to pull into Sanjeevani, apart from the intense tension of the emergency ahead of him, a thought struck him. A thought that he hadn't confronted up until now. This was the first time since he had told Shilpa how he felt that he would see Riddhima. Actually, this was the first time since he and Riddhima would see each other after their goodbyes from a while ago. Oh lord this moment would be far more stressful than he had imagined it. He had known that this moment and this confrontation would come but he had been so on top of the world that he had not once thought about how to handle it. When finally he did arrive and jumped off his bike to rush inside, he knew that no matter how hard the prospect may be, this was something that he would just have to do.
Oh lord, she was right. There were patients everywhere, every single room and every single last staff member in the hospital seemed to be occupied. Even though he had imagined walking in here and trying to talk to Riddhima but he was literally pulled in by Dr. Keerti and put straight to work. All he got was a look across the room from her and that was it. Even Sid was in and out of the room, so much so that there was not even time to exchange basic hellos. This level of work and this intensity lasted for about two hours and finally he had a bit of breather. His patients had stabilized, the crowds had calmed. He needed to just sit and relax for a moment before he would head home again. He walked over to the locker room and was glad that it was empty. He walked over to the bench and took a seat and let out a deep breath.
"Aaj bahut dinon baad deekhe ho"
Instantly, he straightened up. He knew that voice. He took a deep breath again and turned around. He was right. The moment that he had been thinking seemed to be finally here.
A: Riddhima...
[Standing at the doors of the locker room, she looked at him and smiled.]
R: bahut dinon ke baad mile ho...
[She didn't know what else to say, but it was a pleasure see him again. It had seriously had been quite a while since she talked or even saw him. It was as if he had disappeared in his own world.]
A: haan bas woh...
It was now or never for Armaan. This was the perfect moment to tell her what he wanted to say. The opportune moment to let her know. But wait...is that what Shilpa wants? What if Shilpa wants to hide this? What if she isn't ready to tell anyone? But then what is supposed to do? Should he just pretend that nothing was happening? Wouldn't that be unfair to both Riddhima and Shilpa? Amidst his own thoughts and confusion he hadn't quite realized when Riddhima had walked in and was standing in front of her locker and directly in front of him. He looked up at and she looked at him, and there it was again, the smile. At that exact moment something hit him, something that was so significant yet so subtle that he nearly missed it. It was this strange yet totally appropriate understanding between the two of them. There was this odd calm and an inexplicable feeling of content. And maybe that's why he wanted to tell her, maybe that is why he didn't want to hide his happiness and the reason behind it from her. He just had to believe that if he could just begin to talk, eventually he would find the words to say what he wanted. As long as he was conversing he knew that somehow the conversation would end up where it had to.
A: Uhh...sorry mera phone mere paas nahin tha...
[She smiled at him again, she was still touched by his concern for everyone and everything.]
R: koi baat nahin...bas woh emergency aa gayi thi aur Doctors kam the isi liye tumhe dhoond rahe the...
[For a moment she stopped talking and realized something, they were talking like two normal people. Just your average friends. It felt a bit odd for a moment, to see Armaan just sit there and talk to her like he would with any one of his friends. She smiled, rather awkwardly though. This was good, right?]
A: yeah...itne patients bahut der baad dekhen hain...beech mein bhool hi gaya tha ki doctor hoon...
At this they both shared a light chuckle and all seemed to be as it should be. There were no bad feelings, or any depressing thoughts, no qualms, and no complaints. And as for finally feeling like a doctor it was true, Sanjeevani somehow always managed to the center of his personal life and not so much his professional life. And it would be the same tonight. He had been called here to work as a doctor but this seemed to be the most perfect moment to get some other things out in the open. But he had no clue how to proceed, fortunately or maybe unfortunately he didn't need to think for much longer.
Unknown to both Armaan and Riddhima, this was the precise moment that Shilpa had rushed into Sanjeevani. But was stopped dead in her tracks when she saw them talking to one another like this after so long. Her first and immediate reaction to this sight was, "Oh my Gosh he told her". But then going by the looks on their faces it didn't seem like that was the case. But then, just as that thought passed her mind so did another rather difficult realization. Oh lord, they would have to tell her. How on earth would she able to do that? Riddhima didn't like her much as it was, but now if she found out about all this would she ever talk to her? Plus, how could she do this to her? To her...to her sister. Shilpa quickly took a step to the side so that she could not be seen and before she knew her eyes were moist. How would Riddhima react? Would she able to handle the reaction? Did she just lose the chance to ever be a part of that family, her family? And then another stinging thought, what if the only reason that Armaan hadn't told Riddhima about Shilpa, was because he didn't want to tell Riddhima about Shilpa? Once again, she cursed herself for always finding a way to land up on the sidelines, on the fringes, neither here nor there. As much as she wanted to stay and listen she knew that if she didn't leave, things could go bad. Also, she knew that there were some things that were best left between Armaan and Riddhima and if he wanted her to know, she would know. She had to trust that he would let her know. But before she could take one step away Riddhima spoke again and this time Shilpa heard her name.
R: haan kaafi paients hai...isi liye sab ko bula liya hai ... [She paused, looked at him inquisitively and with focus, as if she was preparing herself to read his reaction.] ... aur Dr. Shilpa ko bhi phone kiya hai...woh bhi aa rahin hain..
[This time he didn't actually look up at her he actually spung up.]
A: KYA? Shilpa?
Oh lord, was Shilpa really going to be coming to Sanjeevani on her own at 1 am in the morning? What if something happened? What if she needed him but he was busy? What if she didn't make it here safely? Why wouldn't she call him right away and let him know that she had been called to the hospital? Amidst all these worries, Armaan blurted out something without quite realizing that Riddhima was right there.
A: main usse din me nahin akele aane deta...aur tumne usse raat ke ek baje akele aane ko kaha hai?
Riddhima was literally stunned to hear him what he did and see react the way he had. He literally suffered a panic attack the moment she had said Shilpa's name. She had seen him like this only a few times before, this panicked, this worried, and no matter how much it hurt her to admit it...this much in love. No matter how hard she tried to fight it, see him react the way he had gave her all the confirmation she needed. Since that day she had talked to Shilpa in the recreation room, she had known. The way they looked at one another when in the hospital, she had known. But to actually see Armaan this way, could it not be hard? She took her gaze away from him and her eyes began to shift from here to there. This really was it. This really was Shilpa's Armaan.
Shilpa heart dropped to the very pit of her stomach and her eyes filled up again. To hear him say that, with such passion, with such concern and with such love, it literally melted her on the inside. Nobody had ever shown that much concern for her, and the way he was looking at Riddhima at this very moment showed her that there was nothing that he wanted to hide. He wanted her to know that she was his. Her heart rate increased and the affection she felt for this man quadrupled. There was such a strong sense of possession, and of right in his words that Shilpa was left shivering outside the locker room.
As soon as he had said what he did, he knew that it was the right thing to do. But he wished he could have toned it down. He shouldn't have yelled the way that he had. It was unfair for Riddhima to find out this way. He could tell from the look on her face and from her shifting eyes that this was a bit too much. And why wouldn't it be? After all seeing her with Sid or even talk about Sid was quite painful for him. Though he knew this, he also knew that there was just no way that he could hide it all also. And maybe this was for the better, now she knew and he didn't have to say much. Despite that, he wished that he could say something to ease the intensity, say something to let her know that she didn't need to look this way and that when he was there, she could still talk to him. She could still be in the same room as him. But what would he say? What could he say?
For two minutes Riddhima just took it all in. Took in the fact that this slight pinch that she could feel at the corner of her heart would stay forever, but that wasn't enough for her to be able to ruin this for him and it certainly wasn't her place to do anything of that sort. She had no idea what to do next. She never thought that she would have to but now that the moment had arrived, though there was an initial shock. She quickly managed to realize what she really needed to do, and what she should have done a long, long time ago.
R: bahut pyaar karte ho na uss se?
[At this question, Shilpa closed her eyes and let the tears roll down. There was no point in holding it back, it would do no good.]
Armaan and Riddhima were now looking directly at one another, and she didn't need any words, the conviction that he had in his eyes at this moment was enough for her to know that he was madly in love with her. She smiled and he smiled back at her. It was a strange feeling for Riddhima at this moment. On the one hand she was so happy to see him genuinely smile like this but at the same time she still had to accept the fact that the genuine smile was a result of somebody else's love. But then he did something, something so monumental that even that little bit of awkwardness and that feeling of forcing herself to accept the truth vanished.
Armaan didn't say anything, he just gave a nod when she asked him that question. Then he smiled, but then when he thought about how he felt he couldn't help but exhale deeply, look up at the ceiling and run his hands through his hair. Right there, right in front of Riddhima. Riddhima not only chuckled but she actually took a step back to let him react the way he needed to. How could she be upset at all when he was this happy? So happy that he was nearing insanity.
Shilpa too had peeked in again and saw Armaan the way he was and she really, honestly, did not even imagine that it could be possible for someone to be as happy as she was at this very moment. Not because Armaan loved her as much as he did, and not because clearly he was happier than she had ever seen him like this before, but because she was so very proud of him. This was the same Armaan that she had seen break down and not even have the capacity to talk about Riddhima and now here he was, standing face to face, eye to eye. Her heart filled up with a sense of pride, a sense of achievement and heck she had to admit it, a sense possession. This was, in very way possible, her Armaan.
R: Armaan...
[This time when Armaan looked over at Riddhima, he knew that she wasn't hurt or awkward or anything. It was obvious that she was just amused to no extent.]
A: bahut...bahut pyaar karta hoon...
God might as well have ended it all here, because she didn't think anything would ever feel this good. The conviction in his eyes and the confidence in his voice was perhaps the most attractive and most inspiring thing she had ever seen. She let out a breath, in the hopes of calming her nerves and avoiding a heart attack, which given the speed of her pulse was a very real possibility. But then within a millisecond her gaze shifted immediatley to Riddhima and what she saw here was perhaps more heart warming and heart wrenching at the same than Armaan. There was a smile on her face. The smile you get on your face when you know something good has finally and totally come to an end. Heart warming to see that her sister wasn't upset, heart wrenching because she knew how painful this was for Riddhima. It could be no other way.
Riddhima, though she knew this was coming, still felt a bit of push when he said this. Not one of jealously or even sadness more like a blunt reminder of all that had changed. To actually hear him say what she knew was the truth, was came both as a relief and a shock. Relief, because now she wouldn't have the guilt of making him unhappy, shock at the fact that his happiness had nothing to do with her. As hard as she tried to avoid it, she could feel that her eyes were moist. But what kept her from letting it all go right there in front of him was the smile on his face and that sparkle in his eyes that spoke volumes. He really was happy, more perhaps than she could have imagined. He had cried all the tears he needed to and was hurt beyond the edge of tolerance, but now here he was in front of her, acting like a twelve year old boy who was just so excited that he couldn't even stand still. All she wanted to do was to hug him one last time and let him know how happy and truly glad she was to see him like this. But she knew she couldn't, not anymore. But there was something that she just had to say to him, something that she realized the moment she saw him smile.
Her watery eyes told him that this was probably difficult for her, but he didn't say anything or do anything because he knew that now it was up to her. Any future relationship of friendship, acquaintance or anything would depend solely on how she would handle this delicate moment. But somewhere he just wanted to grab a hold of her hand and let her know that he would always be here. He would always be the one person she could call whenever she needed to, the one person she could always beat in a game of basketball. But all of this was entirely up to her, he looked at her trying her best to stop the tears from escaping her eyes, come on Riddhima, for both our sakes say something, he said to himself. And finally when she did speak both Armaan and a well hidden Shilpa were literally stunned to their very core.
R: tumhe pata hai...itna khush toh main bhi tumhe nahin kar payi
Instantly Armaan's heart rate picked up and his eyes became entirely circular as he gazed at her, with her watery eyes and her smile. This was it, she did it, she pulled through for him. The sincerity and the geniune compassion with which she spoke touched his heart and he couldn't help but smile. He just had to look at her for another moment and appreciate this moment before he could even begin to think about what he would say.
This was it, this was her blessing. Her blessing not only for Armaan but more so for Shilpa. This was her saying plain blank that she was okay and maybe even happy with Shilpa and Armaan. By saying what she did, she made Shilpa believe that there would never be hard feelings between the two. She made Shilpa believe that this really was meant to be. More than anything else she made Shilpa want to scream from the rooftops that this wonderful and strong woman was her sister and that the man that stood there like a rock was the love of her life. For the first time in her entire life, she saw not one but two people who cared for her. Two people who were the two most important people in her life.
After she said what she did, she knew that she had no more strength left inside of her. There was no more that she could take. Despite all the good feelings and the genuine appreciation between them this was all that she could handle. This was all that she had the capacity to bear. She let Armaan be to his thoughts and without saying another word, she smiled at him and turned only to come to a standstill as soon as she took one step.
Oh no...she had been spotted. Riddhima's eyes now locked on to Shilpa's. And Armaan too looked at Shilpa. Standing there at the door, in utter disbelief of what had just happened and terrified of what was to come, Shilpa stared at the both of them, hoping that this would not hurt the sense of content and satisfaction that was in the atmosphere. Riddhima looked to Armaan once again, smiled and then began to walk towards Shilpa. With each she took, Shilpa's heart rate tripled. No matter how strong and truly inspiring Riddhima had just been Shilpa knew that complexity of the current dynamic could cause serious harm with the slightest wrong move. And she also knew that no matter how far ahead somebody moves, their first love, the point at which they started is always a prized possession. Despite this, Shilpa looked into Riddhima's eyes and saw no jealously, no negativity and absolutely no hatred. How was this even possible?
With each step that Riddhima took towards Shilpa, she realized how little she had actually appreciated her before. How on earth could Riddhima be angry or upset with someone who had made Armaan this happy. How could she hold anything against the person who stood by Armaan when he needed someone the most, how could she say something to the person who seemed to love the man who was in the deepest corner of her heart more than she ever could. And when finally Riddhima did approach Shilpa, there was just nothing that could be said. So Riddhima took a hold of Shilpa's hand and felt that it was trembling. She smiled, hoping that it would help her calm her nerves and as if what she had said earlier wasn't enough, tonight Riddhima outdid herself.
R: tumhara Armaan tumse bahut pyaar karta hai...
[Shilpa's heart, her mind, her soul, her whole entire being was now literally ablaze. How on earth was she supposed to handle this? How on earth was she supposed to keep breathing? How on earth was she supposed to not collapse from sheer joy.]
What? Riddhima, why? How? When? Where? Riddhima, where were you finding the courage and strength to do all this? Armaan could barely muster the strength to hear it all, how was she doing this? Armaan just looked at her in complete awe. The smile on her face and her now sparkling eyes. Wow, they really had reached the very peak of happiness for the other. They truly were genuinely and truly content in world's apart. And all the agony that he had gone through getting to this point was all worth the sheer joy that he felt right now. But little did he know that she was about to throw the real shocker yet.
R: aur Armaan... [She turned and saw that he was equally flabbergasted] ... tumhe Shilpa ka haath kuch khaali nahin lag raha?
At this Armaan could do nothing more than chuckle at the sheer magnitude of this moment. Though Shilpa had no idea what was going on, he knew what she was talking about, it was the kangan. The kangan that he had once given to her. The kangan that was the rightful property of the one who had the right over his heart. She remembered it. She knew what it meant. She understands the intensity. She...she...
A: basket...
[Hearing him say that was like the final push she needed to know that everything would be alright. Hearing him call her that gave her this satisfaction of knowing that one can happily hang on to the best of past and move ahead with equal joy.]
A: ...Sid is really really lucky...tum...tum... [He didn't even know what to say.]
But for her this was it, this was the very last bit of energy that she had left. She smiled, gave him a nod, looked at Shilpa and did the same, let go of her and was off. Leaving Armaan and Shilpa standing there, speechless and awed at what had just occurred. Shilpa turned her full attention to Armaan and was overcome with the most pride that one could ever feel. He did it, he did it. He did it for her. And while Armaan looked at her, he felt the exact opposite. She did it, she made him this capable. She did it, she made this confidence and this happy. She did it, she made him fall so deeply and madly in love with her that every task was possible. It was only a matter before one of them lost control, so to avoid that Shilpa ran up to Armaan and CRASH...in his arms. Such was the force of her embrace that he was literally pushed against the lockers. Of course he reciprocated and wrapped his arms around her as tightly as she had done around him.
When Shilpa finally pulled out and looked at him in the eyes she smiled, and he did the same. He took a hold of both her hands and pulled them up to his lips. And just then he realized something, Riddhima was right, her hands were empty, too empty. He needed to give it to her, now. At this very moment.
A: mere ghar chalo gi?
[What? Is that really what he had to say after such an intense moment?]
S: kya?
[He quickly realized how silly his words might have sounded, but he just had to know.]
A: chalo gi?
S: Armaan...
[The smile on her face and that slight mischief in her eyes let him know what she was thinking and boy did this shy and nervous yet slightly naughty Shilpa look adorable. Armaan smiled.]
A: toh iss hassi ka matlab haan?
She couldn't say anything to him. How could she say yes or no, or anything for that matter to the most handsome, and most loving man on earth. And after all that he had said tonight, how could she refuse, this thinking was just too much on an already overwhelmed mind. But it seemed like he wasn't ready to let her think.
A: jaldi kaho...warna utha kar le jaoonga.
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