OS Gallery : Sunsets. // Note-P14 - Page 4

She looked around her as her heart beat erratically. There was blood everywhere. People wounded and their relatives besides them consoling and taking care of them. She turned to her right as she noticed something green passing by her. She ran behind the army official trying to stop him. The army official stopped in his tracks as he heard a muffled voice calling out his name. He turned around and was astonished to see the person.

"Riddhima..?"

"Rahul.. Where's he ?"

"I've been trying to find him since morning but I couldn't. We got the information that he was admitted here." Rahul said with a heavy heart.

"I-I need to see him Rahul." Riddhima said as tears made way out of her eyes. She took support of the wall beside her as she felt herself go weak.

"Riddhima we'll find him. But how did you-"

"Aaru switched on the TV and.. And they- they were showing his name and-" Riddhima broke down as she remembered that moment she saw his name on the TV.

-

Her five year old daughter had just switched on the TV. Riddhima neared her with a glass of milk. She kept the milk on the table as she tried to reach the remote to lower the volume. She froze at her spot as she saw his name on the news.

'This young army official who was just returning home from war saved the lives of a hundred people by killing the bombers risking his own life in the process. I am quite impressed. He was all alone and still managed to do all this. But the sad news is that no one seems to know where he is now. I hope he is alive and-'

Everything went blank as she heard that. The words were ringing in her ears continuously like chants. She turned around as she felt someone's hand on her shoulder.

"Muski.. He-" She tried to say something but nothing came out of her mouth.

"Rahul told they got the information that he's in Navjeevan Hospital , Andheri."

"I-I need to-"

"You go.. I'll take care of Aaru." She grabbed her car keys and left the house running.

-

"Rahul please I need to see him."

"Riddhima just .. We're trying okay. This hospital's stuffed. We'll find him. You don't worry."

She looked into his eyes and sensed sincerity but she couldn't just sit there and wait for them to find her husband. She wiped the tears off her face as she advanced towards the general ward ignoring all of Rahul's pleas. She bent down near the general ward as she noticed some piece of metal shining on the ground.

'Armaan Malik' The name was written on the metal piece. Her vision blurred as she noticed dry blood over his name. Her head felt heavy. She got confused as she heard his cheerful voice coming from inside the ward. She lifted her head and saw him talking to an old lady and smiling. She picked herself up and rushed inside the general ward and hugged him immediately. Armaan was stunned a bit. He took support of the bed rest as he was about to fall down. He stroked her hair as he felt his uniform getting wet.

"Riddhima.. Baby. What happened.?" He asked her in a gentle tone. Getting no reply from her he lifted her face by her chin and noticed her starting to cry even more.

"Riddhima..?"

"I-You were.. Are you alright.?" She asked immediately as she remembered the news.

"I am completely fine baby. But why are you here..?"

"I saw the news and-and Muskaan .." She tried speaking but couldn't. Her heart was still scared. She remembered how devastated she was when she saw the news . She couldn't even think of losing him.

"Riddhima calm down. I am fine. This ma'am here was in the bus where the bomb was kept and she was a little hurt so I thought of bringing her here." Armaan said pointing out to the old lady he was previously talking to. Riddhima's eyes widened as she realized something. She separated herself from his hold and started checking him for any kind of bruises. Satisfied with her search she looked up at him and noticed him grinning.

"What.?" She asked irritated.

"You are one of a kind. And I love you." She blushed slightly as she heard him say that. Hearing him chuckle she straightened her face and hit him on his arm.

"I don't want you to be in the army anymore Armaan. I know I'm being selfish but I can't do it anymore.I feel scared everyday."

"Riddhima.. Baby I have to serve my country. And you should support me for what I do. Not because you're my wife but because you are my best friend and you need to understand me. I promise I'll take care of myself and won't come home dead." He ended with a chuckle. Riddhima hit him again.

"Don't you dare talk like that. You've got a daughter to look after you understand Malik.?" She warned glaring at him.

"Okay .. I won't ever talk like that. Now can we go home please ? I need to see my daughter." Riddhima smiled and nodded her head. They informed Rahul and walked out of the hospital with their hands intertwined and Riddhima's head resting on his shoulder.