DMG FF - Part 8 Updated *2/21 - Page 2

Part 7

"… And now he thinks I'm like, the devil reincarnated or something. Won't even talk to me. Thinks I'm like the bane of his existence. Shanky needs to chill."

Abhi chuckled as Armaan finished his and Riddhima's love story.

Abhi shook his head. "Well, maybe I can help you there."

Armaan gaped at Abhi. "Seriously? You'd help me?"

Abhi smiled.

"Well, you're a good doctor, and as far as I can tell, you love Riddhima a lot. Maybe Shanky- woah. I did not just call Dr. Shashank Shanky. Holy fudge. Anyways, maybe Dr. Shashank just feels intimidated by you?"

"Because of what? My tattoos?! Not fair man, you've got em too!"

"Nooo. Maybe because you have a motorcycle, used to flirt a lot, and the tattoos don't help much either."

"Dang man. Ab kya?"

"Don't worry Armaan, we'll figure out a way."

*************************************************************************************

Shubhankar, Anjali, and Navneeta were talking about boys.

Anjali turned to Navneeta. "So… Any cute boys in your class yet?" as Shubhankar glared at her.

Navneeta shook her head sadly. "No. I don't even know if they know I exist."

Shubhankar had had enough. "Navneeta! They don't need to know you exist! You do not need to be looking for guys! You're only 6!"

"Papa, chill. It's not like I'm putting on makeup and flirting."

Anjali turned to Shubhankar. "Just wait until those days come, sir."

Shubhankar groaned and turned away.

*************************************************************************************

Atul and Aman were arguing with Ayan and Rahul about which basketball team was best.

"Heat."

"Lakers."

"Bulls."

"Kobe."

"Magic."

"Jordan!"

"LeBron!"

And so it continued.

*************************************************************************************

Two days later, Dr. Shashank walked in the corridors of Sanjeevani, faced with a personal dilemma. His wife had informed him of a proposal for his daughter just last night. But how could he let his princess go like that?

Without thinking of where he was going, his feet led him straight to the doors of Abhi's cabin. Abhi was just walking out when he saw Dr. Shashank in front of his door.

"Dr. Shashank? Can I help you?"

Shashank looked up. "Oh no, Dr. Modi… I've just been very preoccupied these days."

"Sir, you know you can talk about it. Let's go in."

Once they were seated, Abhi asked, "What's the problem sir?"

Shashank smiled. "Abhimanyu, children are the most precious things in life, are they not?"

Abhi smiled, thinking of his own. "Of course sir."

Shashank went on. "But you know how it is when you have a daughter… It's different than having a son."

Abhi completed his thought. "The minute you hold her, you realize that you will never be good enough for the angel in your hands. The first time I held Nisha when she was born was just magical. She opened her big brown eyes and looked at me, and for the first time in my life I felt like I had to protect this tiny little thing from the whole world."

Shashank nodded. Abhi understood him.

"I have a proposal for Riddhima. Padma told me about it last night. What do I do? I don't want my little girl going away from me! Tell me, what would you do if this happened to Nisha?"

Abhi thought of Armaan, and how he had promised to help him win Shashank's heart.

"Well sir, I would think about her happiness first. If she was happy with this relationship, and if I felt like he was good enough to take care of her, I would have no objections. But then again, no one's good enough for our little girls, are they?"

Shashank smiled. "Of course not. But thank you Abhi beta. You've said the right thing."

"Anytime sir," Abhi smiled back.

Shashank stopped in the doorway and turned. "Oh, and Abhi?"

"Yes?"

"Padma has asked me to call you to dinner at our house tomorrow night. The interns and Keerti are invited as well. And please bring Nikki and the kids too."

"Will do sir."

*************************************************************************************

Abhi stood in the doorway of his daughter's room, watching her chat animatedly with her stuffed animals. His thoughts from his talk with Shashank came into his mind. They take your breath away and steal your heart, from the moment they open their eyes and grasp your hand in their tiny little fingers.

How true it was. He was going to crazy one day, trying to protect his gorgeous daughter from the crazy boys that would come running after her. Good thing she'll have four brothers to help me, he grinned.

Nikki came up behind him. He put his arm around her shoulders as they both watched their little girl get lost in the fantasy world she was in.

This FF I dont know why reminds me of my current favorite song , "Runaways" by Killers . It has a similar theme , teenage love , young marriage and then well a whole bunch of difficulties in that marriage and that's a great thing because I love how in just 5 minutes the song manages to capture such a gamut of emotions much like your FF.

Part 8

Abhi dropped Nikki and Nisha off at Shashank's house the next morning, where Padma warmly hugged them in. He then headed to drop his boys off at school before starting on his way to the hospital. The day flew by quickly at the Gupta house, with Nani, Padma, and Nikki cooking for the dinner that night and playing with Nisha. The Gupta family had bonded with the Modi's very well since they moved to Mumbai, with the exception of Anjali and Riddhima since they had stayed at med school.

*************************************************************************************

The interns were on their lunch break, sitting on a table with cups of coffee and chatting when Armaan saw Abhi enter the cafeteria.

"Dr. Modi! Over here!" he waved.

Abhi smiled and nodded.

The rest of the interns were dumbfounded. "ARMAAN?!?!"

He looked at them. "Kya?"

"Oyye! You're being nice to Modi!"

"Yeh kabse tera dost bangaya?"

"Tu aur Modi?!"

"Guys, chill. Jab hum resaurant pe the naa, toh we got to talking, and I realized he's not that bad. Aur toh aur, apparently he saved Dr. Keerti from losing her job! And, he's helping me with Shanky papa's problem! And you know, he's not as old as we thought."

"Then how old is he?"

"28!"

"Baapre yaar! Aur mujhe laga usne surgery wurgery karai koi. Koi 40 hoke itna hot kaise lag sakta hai?"

"MUSKAAN?!" a shocked Rahul exclaimed.

She shrugged it off. "He is hot, you gotta admit that."

"Thanks Dr. Muskaan. I'm sure my wife agrees with you," an amused Abhi as he came from behind her and sat down, putting his coffee down on the table.

Muskaan turned bright red. "Main washroom jaake aati hoon." She squeaked.

Everyone laughed once she was out of earshot.

Armaan turned to Abhi. "You said you had to talk to me?"

Abhi turned serious. "Um yeah. Actually it's about Riddhima." He looked at her. "Don't tell your dad I told you, but you have a proposal that came in day before yesterday."

"KYA?!" she jumped up.

"KYA?!" Armaan jumped up.

"Chill guys, I think I managed to convince him to ask Riddhima first. But we'll need to do something fast."

"Haila Dr. Modi, aapne to chamatkar kardiya!" Atul hugged Abhi, squeezing him tightly.

"D..Do- Doctor Atul.. Atul' ATUL CANT BREATHE!"

A sheepish Atul let go of Abhi. "Sorry sir."

Abhi straightened himself and caught his breath. "It's all right. Let's just focus on Armaan and Riddhima now."

*************************************************************************************

In the evening, as Abhi was leaving the hospital to pick up his kids, he encountered Armaan and Rahul waiting in the parking lot.

"Doctors, is there a problem?"

"No sir, we were just waiting for an auto. Our car broke down."

"You can come with me, we're all going to Dr. Shashank's house right?"

"Yeah, thank you!"

"No problem. I just need to pick up my kids from school first."

"Sure sir."

*************************************************************************************

They reached the Gupta house before anyone else did and climbed out of the car after a tiring day.

Padma opened the door.

"Abhi beta!" she hugged him warmly.

"Padma aunty! Someone looks sexier than ever!" Abhi teased.

Padma slapped him gently on the cheek. "Besharam! You know your wife is inside right?"

He grinned and winked. "Isiliye toh yahan keh raha hoon. Let's run away!"

Padma shook her head. "Shaitan kahin ka. Rahul beta, Armaan beta, andar ao!"

She led them into the living room where a tiny thing zoomed by Rahul and Armaan and accosted Abhi.

"DWADDDYYY!!!"

Abhi grinned and picked her up. "Hi princess." She hugged his neck tightly. "I missh you dwaddy!And pwony!" She held up the stuffed pony she had in her hands.

"I missed you too princess."

"What about pwony dwaddy? You mwiss pwony too?"

"Yes sweetheart, I missed pony too," he sighed.

He put her down. "Where's mommy?"

"Right here," Nikki replied, coming out of the kitchen.

"Hi baby," Abhi gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Hi guys!" She greeted Armaan and Rahul. They smiled back.

Nisha suddenly hugged Armaan's leg. "You'we twall. Wike my dwaddy."

Armaan chuckled and lifted her into the air so they were the same height. "Now you're tall too!"

She squealed. "Lookie dwaddy! I twall! Spin! Spin!" She pleaded with Armaan. Armaan spun her a couple of times, until she laughingly yelled out "STOP STOP pweaseee."

Armaan stopped, and put her down, only to have her fall because of the dizziness. "Whoopshies."

Everyone laughed. She got up and tugged on Armaan's hand. "Yew pway poniesh! You be purple pony, and I be pink!" She took Rahul's hand in her other hand. "And you be mommy pony!"

She dragged Armaan and Rahul to the corner of the room where she had spread out her toys and made them sit.

Abhi laughed and thought about how the very men that had defied and stood up to him were now submitting to a two year old girl who was less than 3 feet tall.

Nikki ushered Aryaan, Aman and Ayan into the kitchen to clean them up before everyone else came home. Meanwhile, the rest of the gang and Dr. Shashank had arrived, and they all sat down to eat.

Over dinner, Shashank discussed some cases with Abhi.

"So, how is Mr. Mehra's case coming? Any complications?"

Abhi nervously replied. "Sir, I actually gave that case to Dr. Armaan. He's solved it already." Everyone congratulated Armaan.

Shashank grimaced. He didn't even want the boy here! But Padma had insisted that he come as well. He didn't understand how everyone fell for that charming idiot. It was as if only he could truly see Armaan's true colors.

*************************************************************************************

The next day, Abhi and Nikki took the whole brood to the mall. Abhi needed paint for the nursery. This would be the third time it would change. The first time they had painted it was when they had moved in to the house, for Aryaan. Then they had changed it to pink when Nisha came, and now again (since Abhi thought it was a boy).

Nikki needed some new kitchen appliances. The boys needed new sports gear, and Nisha needed new clothes. And they had to somehow get Nisha's birthday gift for next week. They split up and soon Nikki and Nisha had all the clothes they needed.

They had just walked out of a store when they heard a lady call out, "Nikki!"

Nikki turned around to see a woman running towards her. As she came closer, she slowed down, and walked over to them. Nikki was shocked to see her.

"Anu Masi?"

The woman smiled brightly and hugged her. "Nikki beta, how are you? It's been so long!"

Nikki, still surprised, hugged her back. "I've been great Masi. How have you been?"

"Good good, but listen- I lost your number and I didn't have your address, but Sanjana's getting married this weekend-"

"Oh my god! That's great!" Sanjana had been Nikki's favorite cousin growing up as they were only a year apart and got along well. But sadly, she had also been a favorite niece of Nikki's mother, who after rejecting Nikki, had told Sanjana to stay away from Nikki. And so they had not talked in seven years.

"-and both Sanju and I want you to come."

Nikki was apprehensive. "Masi, but Sanju and I stopped talking seven years ago. I don't think she would want me there. Plus there would be some other people there that wouldn't want me there."

Anu sighed. "Beta, please. It would really mean a lot to us."

Nikki bit her lip. "I'll see."

Anu's face lit up and she smiled. She pulled out a card from her purse and handed it to Nikki. "Beta, give me your number so we can stay in touch now."

Anu's gaze fell on Nisha, who was looking at her with big eyes. "And who is this little angel?" she asked, picking her up.

Nikki smiled. "That's Nisha. Oh, and there come all the boys." She waved to the boys who were walking in the distance.

Anu turned around to see and her jaw dropped. "Nikki, three boys? How do you manage?"

Nikki chuckled. "This one," he put a hand on her stomach, "is apparently a boy too. So now four boys. But Abhi handles the boys. I just have to take care of this one here." She smoothed out Nisha's silky hair.

Anu's phone rang. "Achha beta, I have to leave now. So many preparations to do! I hope to see you later." She hugged Nikki and left.

The boys came running. "Mama! I got a new basketball!" "Mama I got a soccer ball AND a football. But I didn't want the football, so I don't know why Papa got it. It's too big for me."

Nikki glared at Abhi. "Well beta, maybe it's because someone wanted a new football and didn't want to tell me and so he decided to use you as an excuse."

Abhi looked down sheepishly and smiled. Nikki shook her head. "Ab chalo. I'm hungry."

*************************************************************************************

Nikki excused herself from the dinner table to go wash her hands. As she came out of the bathroom, her phone rang. She didn't recognize the number, but picked it up anyways.

"Hello?"

"Nikki?" the person spoke from the other end.

Nikki gasped. "Sanju?"

"Yeah. How have you been?"

"I' I've been great! Oh my god its been so long!"

"I know Niks. Uhm, Ma told me she met you today, and I got your number from her. I just wanted to say' I'm really sorry. I know I was a fool for not talking to you all these years, but somehow I was too ashamed that I listened to your mother. I am so sorry for messing things up between us. Ma told me about your kids, and you have a great life Niks. I spent seven years of my life regretting what I said to you that day, and I'm not proud of it. But that's why I called you. I really want you, Abhi, and your kids, to be in my wedding. You're my sister, and I've always loved you like one, so you have this right."

Nikki was in tears by the end of this. "Sanju! I could never be mad at you! Oh my god! I'm sorry too, for not trying to make things right."

"Stop crying now Niks! Will you come to my wedding now?"

"Of course! My sister's getting married! How could I not?! But Sanjana, won't Mom and Dad be there?" she whispered the last part.

"Nikki, they're going to be late. They might not even come." Sanjana put Nikki's fears at bay.

"Alright then. Sanju- can you come over tomorrow?

***********************************************************************************************************

That night, the kids and their parents were watching a movie when all of a sudden Aman whispered to Ayan. They both looked back at Nikki and giggled. Nikki raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Mama, do you love the baby?"

"Of course! Just like I love all of you."

"Then why did you eat it?"

Nikki was puzzled. "What?"

"Mama, if you loved the baby, you wouldn't eat it! Sid chachu said that the baby's inside your tummy because you ate it!"

Abhi frowned. Curse you Sid.

Nikki was at a loss for words. Then Aryaan came to the rescue. "Mama I'll explain it!"

Nikki sighed in relief.

"Mama ate you two and Nisha too!

Her eyes popped. Aryaan continued. "But then she threw you up! That's how you came out!"

They all nodded as if they understood and turned back to the tv.

Abhi shoulders shook with laughter. Nikki glared at him. She leaned towards him and whispered through clenched teeth. "If you think this is funny, the next time they ask how babies get in here, you can explain it to them."

*************************************************************************************

Once the kids were all asleep, Nikki took the card from her purse and handed it to Abhi.

"What's this?"

"I met Anu Masi at the mall today."

"And?"

"Abhi, it's Sanju's wedding on Saturday, and she wants us to come." Abhi's face hardened. "Nikki, after what she did and said do you think you want to go?!" He was incredulous. Nikki sighed.

"Abhi, she also called today and apologized. She wants us ' all of us- to be in the wedding. I.. I told her we would. And she's coming over tomorrow."

Abhi sighed. "Niks, I just don't want that you get hurt again. You know how hard it was on you back then."

"I know," she whispered. She hugged him tightly. He put his arms around her and rested his chin on the top of her head.

"I love you," he whispered and kissed her head. She smiled up at him. He helped her get into bed, then got in and closed the light. A minute later, Nikki turned to him.

"Abhi?"

"Hmm?" He pulled her closer and buried his face in her hair.

"Is this what you imagined your life to be like?"

He opened his eyes, and propped himself up on an elbow.

"Well. let's just say that if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing." He looked into Nikki's eyes. "I know a lot of people think that having Aryaan in college was a mistake, but honestly I don't regret it at all. You know why? Because if we didn't have Aryaan, I don't know if we would have been together this long. If we didn't have Aryaan, your dad was going to make you get married to someone else. So this life isn't exactly what I planned out at the end of high school. I definitely didn't plan on falling in love in my first year of college, or being a father in my senior year, or getting married at 22, or having five kids by the time I was 29. But I'm glad my life is like this. Because I have you." He kissed Nikki softly. "And you are the best thing that ever happened to me. I love you." He wiped off the tears that were falling from her eyes, and hugged her.

Nikki rested her head on his chest. She was always comforted by listening to his heartbeat. She had been worried these past few days. She knew it was pointless, but her mind had been putting thoughts into her. What if he's not happy? He lost his family as well. She had always wondered how her life would have been different had she not had a baby in college. Maybe her parents would still be talking to her. But in the end, she was happy. She had the family she had always wanted, with perfect kids and a perfect husband.

She giggled as she heard her "perfect" husband snore and mumble incoherently. She had always loved listening to him talk in his sleep, because most of the time he talked about her.

His grip on her tightened subconsciously and his face dug deeper into her hair as she heard "Nikki' hair' shampoo' butterflies."

She giggled again and closed her eyes, remembering to tell her husband when he woke up that he talked about butterflies in his sleep. She could almost imagine his appalled face. She shook her head. Her husband, the typical male. The last thing she saw before she fell asleep was the picture of their perfect little family hanging on the wall.