The X factor( AR) -prt 3:pg4 (5/4/12) - Page 3

It was a common fact at Sanjeevani that Sid had a soft spot for me.. When in the morning, I went to him, and seemed completely lost, he tried to comfort me.. He cracked jokes, but his jokes just didn't seem funny anymore..

He tried to ask me to explain all the recent developments and the reason behind my "lost" nature, but I just couldn't describe it to him.. So when nothing worked out, He hugged me to try and comfort him..

When I came out of the hug, feeling much much better, I saw armaan standing right in front of me, with nothing but anger in his eyes. At first, I thought that I was imagining him, and stood rooted to the spot..

But when He came forward, and slapped sid, I was positively paralyzed. I didn't know what to say or what to do.. A part of me felt happy that Armaan seemed to be jealous, or concerned to ay the least, but the other half of me felt extremely bad for Sid.

When armaan left, and sid stood rooted at his spot with his hand on his cheek, I apologized to him and explained everything to him.. How I met Armaan at the entrance, tripped and fell onto him, Apologized to him, and how I was concerned about my lack of ability to think in his presence.. Sid's shocked face turned into a small smile then..

I asked him what happened and why he was smiling the way he was, and all he could say was "the test of time will tell".. He asked me to forgive Armaan for the slap and act like everything was perfectly normal.. As soon as he said that, he left the room, with the smile on his face..

I had forgiven armaan, Not because Sid has asked me to, but because My heart asked me to do so.. I saved him and his career, and everything seemed alright..

Things were supposed to be alright.. But they clearly weren't.. coming back to what I said at the beginning, I had changed.. I had turned into a complete introvert, not talking to Armaan Mallik at all..

And frankly, I don't know why, I didn't want to be like this.. Just that I could not think when I came in front of him.. And obviously, at Sanjeevani, Everybody is expected to have very serious conversations.. So i seemed to be quiet whenever I was around him.. and he seemed to know that..

But things changed a few days ago..

Being a new doctor at sanjeevani, Armaan needed induction training (training to understand the rules, people and culture of the organization). As a custom, New doctors were allowed to select their own seniors, to make them feel more at home. When asked who he would like as the senior to work under, for the 10 days of induction training, I secretly wished he would chose me.. I don't know why, but I desperately wanted him to select me..

It came like a surprise to me when he didn't take my name. instead, when asked who he'd like as his senior, he decided to remain diplomatic, and try to please Dr kirthi. "Any senior who you think could train me the best" he said. I could hear a lot of disappointed sighs around the room, among all the senior doctors, and my friends. It wasn't the fact that he didn't chose me, but instead that he smirked at all those sighs, that irked me to no extent.

"Dr. Kirthi, the general ward patient, Mr Sid needs my attention, I beg your pardon, but I need to go" I said, not willing to let anyone see the clear disappointment on my face. When Dr. Kirthi didn't reply, I looked up at her, only to see her smiling at me. "I like your dedication Dr. Riddhima" she said. "Sid needs your attention, and you may go attend to him now"

I smiled back at her, and left. I reached general ward, frustrated. I didn't know why it bothered me so much. Yes I knew that Armaan was popular, and liked by many senior doctors in the hospital, and technically, I should have expected this.. Not only expected this, but also have been perfectly alright about it.. But It was a perfect mood spoiler for me.

I reached Sid, and as usual, he smiled at me. I couldn't help but smile back at him, it was an involuntary action. I went to him, and sat beside him, with the same smile on my face. He got up, to sit up with me, on his patient bed. "Kya hua? You're not the usual self today?" he asked me at once. I sighed, knowing that he knew me too well to understand that something is wrong.

"Nothing yaar.. Just a little tired.. Had night duty last night" I lied to him. He didn't seem convinced, but To divert the topic, I spoke to him about the plan. Yes, the PLAN. Confused? Well let me clear everything. Sid was not sick, and certainly didn't have a reason to be admitted into the hospital. He wanted to be here, to be able to talk to two of the people closest to him – Me and tamanna, at all times. Tamanna – Sid's fianc.. And basically, all Sid's reports have been faked by me and tamanna over the weeks, but now that Dr. Keerthi could get suspicious, we needed a new plan.

I was silently thinking of plans, when I saw armaan at the door of the General ward. I rolled my eyes, and continued thinking of my plans for sid. I saw armaan come towards me. He stood right infront of the bed. "Oye. Kya naam hai tera? Sid.. haan sid, jaara hatega?" I couldn't help but giggle at the fact that he made space for himself, right in between me and sid. Could it get any cuter I thought!

"Dr. riddhima, you're my induction trainer" was the first thing he said, after he sat down, and my mouth ent wide open!