MPbGD thread # 2, part 70 on pg62 on 18/4/12 - Page 17

hey dear

lovely update ... loved this new bonding between riddhima and arun...

looking for the next update

love

sania

Originally posted by: shonagudia

Lovely Part. Arun is nice at least to Ridhima. I really like how ridhima manage in such a new country and life style and new people. Really her school experience helping a lot. she is truly loving and know how to deliver the msg with love n care..

Continue soon..

Part 56

In the evening when they were relaxing and having coffee, Armaan said "Arun, while you are here, have a look at the things in your room. Take whatever you want, so that I can discard the remaining things, before putting this house for sale." Then turning to Riddhima he said "I'll have to empty all the other closets also. I was thinking I'll donate all the unwanted things to some charity like 'Salvation Army' or something. You take rest. We both will go upstairs and sort out things."

R: I've already had a nap. I'll also come and help you both.

They all proceeded upstairs. Arun to his room and Armaan and Riddhima to Armaan's room. Armaan took her to the other part of the bedroom which had the closets. There was one door marked HERS and other HIS. Armaan opened the HIS door first. It was a room with clothes hanging in rows like in a showroom. On one side were all suits and below it were jackets. On the other side were a line of pants. On the opposite wall were shelves with neatly stacked shirts and undergarments.

Stunned at the amount of clothes in there, she asked him "Are these all your clothes?" Armaan nodded, smiling at her expression and said "But most of them have to be discarded." She went ahead and touched each suit and exclaimed "They are all as good as new."

A: But where am I going to wear them in India?

R: Why? Once the hospital is ready, you can wear suits daily.

A: Don't be ridiculous. I'll be baked alive in the heat there. Moreover if I take all this, the amount I'll be paying for excess baggage will be more than the cost of these clothes. It'll be foolishness to do so.

Taking some hangars he walked to the bed and placing the clothes told her "You sit on the bed comfortably and fold them. I'll fetch the clothes." When she looked at the bed, her mind said "this where her athaan and Karuna would have spent many a nights, and possibly in each other's arms too. That really put her off. But since she had herself volunteered to come and help him, she couldn't leave.

When he came back with the next lot, she was standing next to the bed and started folding the clothes on seeing him come back. "What happened? I suppose it's too high for you to climb." He smiled unaware of her tensions and literally picking her up making her sit on the bed. When she protested saying "Athaan" and tried to get off, he pushed her back and adjusted the pillows behind, to make her more comfortable.

Having come so close to her, as if mesmerized by her scent, he bent to hug her and sealed her lips with his. Both of them separated suddenly when they heard Arun say "Dad I need a carton" he stopped midway and instead said "I'm sorry" and turned around. Riddhima was almost in tears of embarrassment but Armaan coolly walked towards his son and said "Yes, we'll go to Walmart and get some tomorrow. Just segregate what you want and what you don't. Packing can be done tomorrow."

Then coming over to Riddhima he put his arm around her and when she pushed it away he said "Come on Riddhima, it's ok. Don't be so upset. He won't think anything wrong because it's very common here for couples to even kiss in public. We were after all on our bedroom." "Not ours, yours, she corrected him." Only then it struck him the reason for her being upset was more than being seen by Arun.

He sat down beside her and lifted her chin to make her look up at him. The tears which were standing at the tip of the lashes, now poured down. Shaking his head, he wiped them away and hugged her to his chest. "Riddhima there's no point crying over the past. We can't change that, but we shouldn't let it mar our present. You know how much I love you, don't you?" She nodded at his question. Pushing her a little away from him and holding her by the chin again, he said "Then let's see that sunshine smile." How could she help smiling up at him then? And the next minute she was again glued to his chest.

A: If this is how we are going to discard things, I think we'll need over a month.

She pushed him saying "Go and get the remaining clothes, these will get folded in no time." They were done after 2 hours with clothes piled all over the bed.

A: That's enough for today, let's go and see what Arun is up to.

When they went to his room, they saw him lying on the bed with everything strewn around him and talking to someone on the phone. Seeing them he immediately cut the call saying "Bye I'll call you later." When Riddhima raised her eyes questioningly he flustered saying "My co-singer." Riddhima smiled shaking her head and started putting everything away saying "You've got to sleep on this bed tonight, so we'll take care of all this tomorrow. Now let's go downstairs and prepare something for dinner."

Arun: Perima, if you are game, I'll cook something for you.

"You can cook?" Armaan and Riddhima chorused together. "Of course I can" came Arun's reply immediately. "What would you like to eat?" he asked.

A: Your perima doesn't eat pasta or noodles. She has a lot of diet restrictions too.

Arun: That's ok. She can have soup and salad can't she?

Armaan nodded. Arun opened the fridge and picked up all the vegetables he could find there. Then started peeling and chopping them. When Riddhima tried to find out what he was up to, he led her to the breakfast table, making her sit on the chair asked her to just watch him. Then opening another shelf took out an onion and a potato. After peeling and chopping them he put all the vegetables together in the cooker and put it on the stove.

Then he once again set about cutting vegetables and put them in a large glass bowl. In another bowl he squeezed some orange juice and added some seasoning and oil to it. After a few minutes of search he found a beater, to whip up the dressing. By then the cooker must have whistled at least 10 times. Riddhima sat quietly only observing him, as per his instructions.

He switched off the gas and once again rummaged through the cupboards. Not finding what he wanted, he asked Riddhima "do you have any sort of nuts?" When she shook her head he said "Wait a minute," and rushing to the other room picked up his backpack. Removing a couple of tiny packets from it went back to the kitchen and said to his perima, "they had served peanuts on the flight, I hadn't eaten them. Is peanut ok for your health?"

R: Yes, but in limited quantity.

He crushed the peanuts and added it to the vegetables in the bowl and also added the dressing to it. Then he removed the vegetables from the cooker and left them to cool. He took out a few slices of bread, cut them to small pieces and put it into the oven to roast. Riddhima admired the methodical way he was doing things. Finally he pureed the boiled vegetables and added some seasoning to it. He tasted it and was about to add some more salt, when Riddhima said "If the salt is less it be. It's better for me." He just made the thumbs up sign at her.

Next he put the salad and soup in 3-3 bowls and placed them on the dining table. Put the roasted bread cubes in a dish beside them. Placing the required cutlery next to the bowls, he called out "Perima, dad, dinner's ready. Come on let's attack."

When they came to the table Armaan asked "Is this all we are going to get?"

Arun: by the time you finish this, you'll be so full. But if you want I'll make some sandwiches.

R: No, no that won't be necessary. We usually have very light dinner only. He's just pulling your leg.

As Riddhima took the first sip of the soup, she looked at Arun and nodded in approval. After taking a few more sips she said "It's really very tasty." Armaan also smiled up at his and patting his back said "Superb, I never knew you could cook so well."

Then turning to Riddhima said "See, how well I knew my sons." Putting her hand on his shoulder she said "You yourself spoke in the past tense. It's never too late. Everyone makes mistakes in life. But realizing one's mistakes and rectifying is important. You are already on that path."

Arun: In fact dad, till I lived at home I never learnt anything as mummy and paati used to be there to take care of all our needs. It's only after I moved out, I learnt things merely out of necessity.

R: Whatever it is, this salad is so different from anything I've ever tasted. But I like it very much.

A: It's very healthy too. I usally add corn kernels and some cooked pasta too.

R: You better write down the recipe for me. I might not remember if you just tell me.

Arun: Come on perima, don't pull my leg. I know you are an excellent cook.

R: No kanna, I really mean it. I can only cook traditional tamilian food, not all this.

A: Remember as kids you used to love rasam while Karan liked only Sambhar. So your perima used to make both, to please both of you.

Arun: Actually I have very little memories of India. To tell you honestly, I didn't remember much about perima either.

By then all of them had finished eating and picking up all the bowls Arun loaded them in the dishwasher. He wouldn't Riddhima even clean up the kitchen. He sent her packing to the family room while he tidied up everything. When he joined them after finishing all the chores, he said "To continue what we were talking earlier, perima, I owe you an apology."

R: Kanna you don't need to apologize for not remembering something. You were too small when you left from India.

"No perima I'm not apologizing for that. When you started calling me from the village, initially, I used to speak to you very rudely. Actually, having heard my grandmom always talking ill of you, I had thought of you as a villain, who was responsible for the discord between my parents. When Karan called me one day and asked for my recent phototgraph to send to you, I lost my head. I poured out all the hatred I had piled up for you over all these years. Hearing all that Karan blasted me. He opened my eyes to the actual facts and only then I realized it was mummy who actually came between the two of you. And had it not been for you, mummy and dad would have never come together. So in a way you are responsible for our existence" he said with a laugh as if to cover up for the emotion he had displayed.

But Riddhima was not to be fooled. She got up and going to him hugged him saying "You are the very reason for my existence, the purpose of my existence." He too hugged her back and involuntarily tears flowed down his cheeks. Armaan came and joined them in the hug saying "I never thought I would ever see this day." When they broke from the hug, he hugged his son saying "Welcome back home my boy." Then turning to hug Riddhima he said "I'll be indebted to you my whole life, for bringing back my sons to me."

Moving back Armaan declared "this calls for a real celebration. Let's all go out for some desert." Riddhima was a bit hesitant, but Armaan assured her saying "we'll find some sugar free desert for you." Just then Arun's cell buzzed. He excused himself and went out of the room. Riddhima and Armaan sat on the sofa dejected by the interruption.

Armaan switched on the TV and watching the news as they waited for Arun. Coming back Arun said "dad can we postpone this celebration to tomorrow afternoon if you don't mind?" "Why" both of them chorused. His reply was "SURPRIZE"