I WILL BE THERE(AR) part 13(inst.) pg 109 06/06 - Page 11

Part 2 (installment 1)

Padma almost runs to the door hearing impatient bells and as soon as she opens the door it feels like she is attacked by a storm as a girl almost pounces on her scaring the hell out of her. But then her thudding heart calms hearing the chirpy and exited voice," I love u Mom. . .I missed u sooo much. . ." and Padma's face breaks into a big and warm smile. Her little daughter has not changed much. And she hugs her daughter too "I miss u too beta. . ."She feels content having her daughter back after so many days, actually years. Her eyes give away the tears of happiness. 7years are not small. She knows how she had managed all these years without her princess. But now she is back for good and forever. And it's not the time to cry. She parts and cups Riddhima's face kissing her two eyes and forehead and then eyeing her from head to toe speaks in an impressed way "Arre wah!!! meri beti to in saat saloon main kitni badi ho gayee. . ." She can not believe that her daughter has grown so much and now can be called a lady, and to say a beautiful lady.

Riddhima smiles hearing her mom's complemet, " No way mom . . . I am still ur little Riddhu . ." and she again hugs her. Now it feels like she is back home. . .in actual sense.

Padma chuckles at her childish antics " Han . . wo to hain. ." she says approving her daughter's claim. Then she parts from the hug. " Ok . .ab bahaot gale millia. . chal andar chal . .kitni dur se ayee hai . .U must be tired... .main tere lia khana lagati hu. . .bhook lagi hain na ??. ." She asks holding her daughter's chin.

Riddhima pouts "Bohooottt mom. . "

Padma kisses her fore head again taking her in the house. " Ab u go and fresh up . .aaj maine tere sari favorite dishes banayee hai. ."

"Sacchi. ."Riddhima asks excitedly. It feels like eon having her mom made food. She just can't ignore the temptation " I will just come in a second" and almost runs to the stairs.

When she is already up some steps Padma seems to notice her wet cloths. Even she got wet due to her hugs. "Riddhu . . tere kapde gile kaise ho gaye??. ." She enquires.

"Looong story mom . khate hue bataungi " she does not even turn or stop for hearing Padma's reply.

Padma shakes her head at her crazy girl and went to kitchen to serve food for her. Her heart is now content and in peace having her daughter back to herself.

Riddhima almost flung opens the door of her room. Yes. .She is back, Finally. It seems like dream. She looks at her room intently. All are same. Everything is where it was 7 years back. And she is grateful to her mom to leave it like this. It's a heart warming feeling to think that nothing had actually changed. It was not really an easy task to live out of home leaving ur loved once for all these years. Though her dad and her Anjali Di had gone to meet her there time by time but that does not gave her the homely feel she is now having. It almost felt like she is back to her own life; own world and is free now. She started to swirl around the room touching its walls and each and every object that was her possession seven years back. The nostalgia is really overwhelming and she almost got lost in them but her journey down memory lane stops abruptly hearing her mom's call. She slapped her head amusedly and changing her clothes in hurry went down to have her food. When she comes to table she notices her mom talking to someone on phone and she looks quite apologetic. After a few minutes she put the phone down and comes to table. Riddhima's licked her lips seeing all those dishes served in front of her and without wasting any more time dugs into them. While eating she asks Padma, " Koun tha phone pe mom.. papa?"

" Nahi. . Wo Armaan ka phone aya tha. . he said he was not been able to find u . . he sounds very guilty and worried. .aur to aur usska phone bhi dead hogaya hai paani main bhigke. . " Padma utters sadly to which Rhiddhima mutters

" Bloody liar. ." under her breath but that goes unnoticed by Padma as she continues, " Airport ke kisi booth se phone kar raha tha. . . I said that u hav already reached. . U know it's my fault I should hav informed him before. . Bachara nay tujhe kitna dhunda hoga. .our kitna pareshan bhi sound kar raha tha. ." she said remorsefully.

Hearing her mom referring Armaan as' bechara' her anger rose. ."Oh pls Mom . . Wo aur "bechara." .Really now!!! bechari to main hu jo us idiot ke lia half an hour tak wait karti rahi ..bewakoofon ki tarah. .U know, there sab log mujhe aise ghur ghur ke dekh rahe the as if I am mad. . If he is upset then it's good for him. . why r u blaming urself? How could u hav informed him if his phone is " dead" ( she used her fingers to quote the word 'dead' ). . .He Should be the one guilty for his irresponsibility. . " her irritation is out of bound by now. If he thinks she is gonna buy his stupid lie then he would be the biggest fool in the whole earth.

"Nahi beta ..aisa nahi kahete. .he must be caught up with something. ." Padma tries to reason with her visibly angry daughter.

But Riddhima is by now had crossed all her patience edge seeing her mom's constant support for that guy. "Mom stop it. .Koi kam bam nahi tha. . I know very well today's boys. . just useless. .aur mom. .tum uski side kue lerahi ho . .R u my mom or his . .?? " She said with a complaining pout.

Padma smiles seeing her daughter's annoyed face, " Accha baba. .main uski side nahi loongi. . aab khus??. .and if he comes I will scold him for keeping my beautiful daughter waiting for so long. . " she said teasingly like she was consoling a five year old child.

But Riddhima doesn't found it funny. "Do what ever u want . .I. . I just don't want to see his face. . ever. . ."Riddhima declares and concentrates on her food.

Padma sighs at her stubborn daughter and just changed the topic. Surely some things never changes. "Chal chor yea sab . . ab baata why did u get late?? Aur wo accident ??" Padma asks her being curious.

Riddhima stops eating as the flashes of that unknown guy come back to her memory immediately. Those gray blue eyes. She shakes her head shrugging of the image and excitedly stated to tell her mom everything but to her very surprise her description was half covered by the description of that stranger.

After hearing everything Padma speaks. " I am really proud of u beta. .aur wo ladka bhi bahot accha hoga. . warne ajkal kon kiski madad karta hai. . Kya naam tha uss ladke ka??" She asks interested. She always appreciates people who help others. To her it is the greatest quality that anyone could posses.

Riddhima's face falls at that question. "Wohito mom . .sab itni hurriedly hua ke we didn't got chance to introduce ourselves. . I just know that he is a doctor . Aur. . ." and then it stuck her. He is a doctor too. So may be they can meet again. But what she doesn't know is that why she wants to meet him again. May be she wants to appreciate him for his work. But a certain part of her heart is not satisfied at her reasoning. But she chooses to ignore it. .

"Its Ok beta. . I am just happy that u two r present there to help them. . Bhwagbanji jo bhi karta hai acche ke lia hi karta hain. . I hope God bless that boy too. ." and she closes her eyes to chant a prayer to the almighty for everyone's safety.

Riddhima smile seeing her mom. She is a soft hearted yet strong lady and always been the binding string of their family. And she respects her mother like anything.

The rest of the breakfast went in chatting about anything and everything. . .