PART 8:
Har baat ka wakt mukarar hai
wakt gaya to baat gayi
wakt ki kimat hoti hai
der na ho jaye kahin der na ho jaye
Armaan and Riddhima rushed to Padma's side. She lay unconscious on Shashank's lap.
"Koi doctor ko bulao!" Billy yelled.
"Main phone karta hoon Dr Sharma ko," Rahul ran inside to call the doctor.
Riddhima sat beside her mother and tried to massage her feet and hands, "mummyji…utho….kya hua mummy ji?" she was shaking fearfully.
"Aap sab jaaiye….hum sambhaal lenge Padma kaaki ko!" Armaan looked at the anxious onlookers. He lifted Padma in his arms and said, "chalo…inhe ghar ke andar le chalte hain."
Naina gnashed her teeth and fumed as her son lifted Padma in his arms, "is ladke ki mat maari gayi hai…..doctor dekh lega Padma ko…yeh apni taang kyun ghusa raha hai?"
Billy, Muskaan, Rahul, Shashank and Riddhima all followed Armaan to the Gupta's house. Naina could not stand it anymore; she stomped back to her house.
Padma regained consciousness once inside, but was too weak to move from the bed.
Dr Sharma came and checked Padma; his serious expression was not too promising, he came out of her room and looked at Shashank "Shashank….yeh test karvaalena….lagta hai kuch heart ki problem hai…..aaj raat Padma ko full bed rest par rakhna….aur zyaada tabiyat kharaab ho jaaye tho hospital le jaana…..haalat kaafi serious hai….aaj se yeh dawa shuru kar dena….," he wrote a prescription, patted Shashank's shoulder and walked out.
Shashank was crestfallen, "hey Vaahe Guru…aaj Lohri ke din tuney kaisi saza di hai meri Padma ko?"
Billy helped Shashank sit down on a chair, "Shashank…tu fikr na kar….hum sab Padma bhabhi ka ilaaj karvaaenge….kuch nahin hoga bhabhi ko."
Riddhima sat next to her mother and held her hand. Padma had not heard the doctor's conversation, "mujhey kuch nahin hua hai jee….main theek hoon….thoda naach te naach te chakkar aa gaya tha….yeh doctor log tho hamesha hi har baat ka battangadh banaa dete hain…..main uth ti hoon…..bahut kaam hai….arre Armaan beta tuney sarson ka saag khaaya kya?"
Armaan sat down beside Padma, "kaaki…sab khaaya," he lied, "ab aap aaraam karo…..main aapki dawaa laata hoon."
Padma was adamant; she tried to get up, but Armaan forced her to lie down, "KAAKI…YAHIN LETI RAHO AAP! AAPKO MERI QASAM!"
Riddhima was surprised to see the genuine concern Armaan had for her mother. Even more surprising to her was that her stubborn mother obeyed Armaan's commands when just a few moments ago she was not ready to listen to anyone else.
Armaan came back with the medicines, "yeh lo unclejee….aaj raat main aap logon ke saath hi rahoonga…..yadi raat ko hospital le jaana padhe iss liye mera yahin rahna zaroori hai"
Billy and Rahul were surprised, but agreed with Armaan. "Theek hai puttar…tu aaj yahin reh jaa," Billy reassured and got ready to leave.
"Nahin beta…..tu jaa…main bula loonga tujhey…paas hi mein tho ghar hai," Shashank insisted.
Riddhima remained silent; she knew Armaan's presence would be a big comfort for all of them that night. She looked at him tearfully and thanked him silently; of all the people, Riddhima probably understood Armaan the best. She knew that even though Armaan could appear brusque and rude on the outside, he was a very sensitive and caring person on the inside. She remembered how he had insisted on taking care of her when she had sprained her ankle. The events of the evening around the Lohri bonfire and then in her bedroom had made her completely fall in love with her childhood friend. As far as she could remember, she had always been in love with him and could never imagine her life without Armaan, but tonight she felt that even Armaan felt the same about her and her family. She said to herself, "Armaan….aaj tumney mujhey hamesha hamesha ke liye apna banaa liya hai…..ab mujhey samajh aa gaya hai ki main sach much hi tumhari amaanat hoon…..aur hamesha rahoongi."
Shashank's pleas fell on deaf ears, as Armaan settled himself on the living room sofa, "unclejee….raat ko koi bhi problem ho tho main yahin hoon…..aap kaaki ke saath raho, main yahin raat guzaar doonga."
Billy, Rahul and Muskaan left once Padma was stable and resting in her bed.
Riddhima heated up some milk for her mother, "mummyji….aap thoda doodh le leejiye….kamzori kam ho jaayegi."
Padma was too exhausted, "nahin beta…..tu Armaan ko kuch de de…..usney shaam se kuch nahin khaaya hai…..wo jhooth keh raha tha mujhsey…..main jaanti hoon usey…..meri fikr na kar…kal subah tak theek ho jaaoongi….ja puttar….uska khayal rakh."
Riddhima nodded and tucked her mother, "aap aaraam kariye….raat ko kuch chaahiye ho tho mujhey bataa dena."
Riddhima walked out and saw Armaan talking to someone on the phone, "mama…..ek raat ki tho baat hai…..nahin main ghar nahin aaoonga…..mera yahan rehna zaroori hai! Aapko theek lage na lage…..main aaj yahin rahoonga! Meri marzi!" he slammed the phone down, upset with his mother for being so possessive about her son and inconsiderate about the Guptas. Armaan held Padma and Shashank in high regard; Padma was practically his second mother, he could not even imagine abandoning her at this hour of need.
Naina yelled and screamed at Billy, "aap bhi uski baaton mein aa gaye? Yeh Gupta khaandan bahut chalaak hai jee….dekha tha aaj shaam ko wo Riddhima kaise zor shor se hamare puttar ke saath naach rahi thi? Aur ab Padma ne behosh hone ka naatak kar liya hai……yeh sab mere puttar ko apne jaal mein phansaa na chaahte hain……par sun lo jee…..uss Riddhima jaisi ladki ko main apni bahu hargiz nahin banaaoongi!"
Billy shook his head, "arri bhagwaan…..bahu banaane ki baat kisne kahi abhi? Abhi tho wo 12 th class mein hai…..Shashank ne tho kabhie uski shadi ki baat bhi nahin ki!"
Naina's keen eye had observed how her son had reacted to Riddhima all evening. She had sensed that there was more than just friendship between Armaan and Riddhima; she would rather crush this infatuation at any early stage, before things got out of hand. She had even observed Shashank and Padma whispering something amongst themselves when Armaan had picked Riddhima on his shoulders. Naina was convinced that Padma was feigning her illness, just to get sympathy from Armaan and trap him in their 'jaal.'
Riddhima retraced her steps after overhearing Armaan's conversation with Naina. Armaan heard her footsteps and looked behind, "kya hua? Sab theek hai?" he got up and walked towards her.
A guilty Riddhima nodded and lowered her head, "tum ghar jao Armaan…..yadi zaroorat padhi tho main bulaa loongi…..yahan mat raho aaj raat……theek nahin lagta."
Armaan, being a little hot-headed, was already upset with his mom, but did not like the fact that Riddhima wanted him to leave, "KYUN? MUJH SE DARR LAGTA HAI? KYA TUJHEY LAGTA HAI MAIN TERE SAATH KUCH KAR NA BAITHOON? SHAAM KO TERE KAMRE MEIN JO HUA THA….BHOOL JA USEY…..WO THO BAS MAAHAUL HI KUCH AISA THA!" he said angrily, "main behek gaya tha…..befikr reh, main kuch nahin karoonga tujhey," he added softly and looked away. His heart ached to hold Riddhima in his arms, but he did not want her to misconstrue his actions; he wanted her to trust him and have faith in him. She was only 17 and still naive, at least that is what he thought. He wanted to be her support rather than make her feel conscious of his presence.
Riddhima was stunned; tears flowed from her eyes, "nahin maine aisa kahan kaha? Tum se main kyun darrne lagi? Aakhir tumhein bachpan se jaanti hoon," she started sobbing.
Armaan's words had hurt her once again, "tho kya aaj shaam jo hua, wo Armaan ke liye kuch maayne nahin rakhta? Wo sirf behek gaya tha? Kya usey yeh ehsaas nahin ki usney anjaane mein mere saath saat phere le liye? Aur mere saath jo kamre mein hua tha…kya wo sirf behekna tha?" she said to herself and turned around to leave.
Armaan felt bad that he had made her cry again; he followed her and grabbed her by the elbow, "Riddhima…..ab ro mat….theek hai main subah hote hi chala jaaoonga…..lekin abhi bhookh lagi hai….shaam se kuch nahin khaaya na."
Riddhima wiped her tears, "kitchen me aa jao….paros deti hoon khaana," she said softly.
As she heated up his food, she kept on mumbling to herself, "meri yaad sirf khaane ke waqt aati hai…..kya main aur kuch nahin Armaan ke liye? Kehta hai ki behek gaya tha!"
Armaan sat on a stool and watched her, "Riddhima…kya badh badh kar rahi hai?"
Riddhima looked up, "kuch nahin…mummyji ke baare mein soch rahi thi….wo theek tho ho jaayengi na Armaan?"
"Kyun nahin hongi…..unka ilaaj acche se acche doctor se karvaaenge," Armaan reassured her
"Lekin doctor tho keh rahe the ki unke dil ki halat bahut naazuk hai," she said
"Kuch nahin hoga kaaki ko….yeh mera vaada hai….yadi Chandigarh bhi le jaana padhe na tho main le jaaoonga….tu fikr mat kar…..main hoon na," he said firmly.
Riddhima finally smiled and served him his dinner, "jaanti hoon….tum hamara kitna dhyaan rakhte ho Armaan."
"Yeh hamara tumhara kya lagaa rakha hai? Aisi baat phir na karna…samjhi? Aur yaad rakh….tu sirf muskuraate huye achhi lagti hai….rote huye bilkul bandariya lagti hai….tho aaj se mere saamne rona dhona bandh," he said as he polished off the saag and rotis.
Riddhima smiled through her tears, "ab chidiya se bandariya ho gayi?"
Armaan grinned, "pyaari si bandariya," he said softly, his voice drowning in the noise of the running water as Riddhima washed the dishes.
NEXT DAY:
A number of tests were run on Padma and the doctors in Patiala concluded, "Padma ji ki haalat bahut naazuk hai….her heart is barely functioning at 20 % of its capacity…..she has a serious heart ailment called cardiomyopathy…..basically the only treatment for this condition is a heart transplant! And make sure unhey kisi tarah ka stress na mile…..her weak heart would not be able to tolerate it."
Armaan, Riddhima and Shashank sat in the doctor's consultation room, stunned and too numb to respond.
Shashank felt dizzy and was almost about to pass out from the shock. Riddhima held her father's hand, "daddyji….aap himmat rakho…..sab theek ho jaayega….mummyji ko kuch nahin hoga."
Armaan got up and said, "hum kaaki ko Chandigarh le jaayenge….wahan PGI hospital mein door door se log ilaaj karvaane aate hain….wahan zaroor kaaki ka ilaaj ho jaayega."
Shashank looked at Armaan, "beta…lekin in sab ke liye paise?"
"Unclejee mere hote aapko paison ki fikr nahin honi chaahiye…..main sab intezaam kar loonga," Armaan reassured them as they drove back home with Padma.
AT HOME:
Padma knew by everyone's expressions that there was something seriously wrong with her health. She sensed that she had very limited time on hand, "suno….aap se ek baat karni hai," she called Shashank to her bedside. She had sent Riddhima to study for her boards.
A sullen looking Shashank sat down beside her, "haan bol Kashmiran….kya baat hai?" Shashank addressed her by that name affectionately as she was from Kashmir.
"Suno…..aafne, Billy bhai sahib se baat ki?" Padma said. (Padma says aaf for aap)
"Kaun si baat?" Shashank asked.
"Armaan aur Riddhima ki?" she said
"Nahin abhi nahin ki…tu pehle theek tho hoja," Shashank smiled, "abhi tho Riddhima ke board exam bhi aa rahe hain 2 mahine mein…abhi se shaadi ki baat kya karni?"
"Suno….2 mahine bahut lambe hote hain…mere paas shayad itna waqt na ho," Padma said tearfully
"Kaisi bhaiki bhaiki si baatein karti hai? Tujhey tho Riddhima ke bachhon ki naani bhi ban na hai….ulti seedhi baatein mat kar," Shashank looked away as his eyes filled with tears.
Padma held his arm, "aafke aansoo bataa rahe hain….ki mere paas zyaada waqt sach much nahin hai….jaane se pehle main Riddhima ka haath Armaan ke haath mein dena chaahti hoon…..main jaanti hoon wo dono ek doosre ko bahut chaahte hain….beshaq shaadi baad mein ho jaaye, par baat pakki kar do mere saamne….aafko meri qasam," she insisted.
Shashank wiped his tears, "theek hai Kashmiran….main aaj hi Billy aur Naina se baat karta hoon….tu ab aaraam kar."
MALLIK HOUSE:
Armaan had gone back to his college after dropping the Gupta's home.
"Kya main andar aa sakta hoon Billy?" Shashank knocked on the door.
"Haan haan aao…aao….ab kaisi hain Padma bhabhi?" Billy asked
Shashank looked down, "theek nahin hai Billy….lagta hai ilaaj ke liye Chandigarh le jaana padhega."
"Haan…haan…le jao….Chandigarh bahut achhi jagah hai," Naina butted in, pleased to hear that the Guptas might disappear from their neighborhood at least for some time.
"Haan bhabhi….wo hi soch rahe hain hum…bas aap sab ki meherbaani hai," Shashank folded his hands, "ek baat karni thi aapse."
Naina shuddered, "haan..haan kahiye bhaisahib?" she pretended to be friendly
"Wo aisa hai…ki…ki Padma aur main chaahte hain ki….chaahte hain ki hamari beti aapke ghar ki bahu ban sake tho…kya hai ki Armaan aur Riddhima ek doosre ko bahut chaahte hain…aur yeh bachpan ki dosti yadi rishtey mein badal sakein tho….bahut meherbaani hogi aapki….Padma ke paas na jaane kitna waqt ho….iss liye yeh baat aaj hi kar raha hoon," Shashank requested.
Naina turned red with anger; Billy's color fell as he did not expect that proposal for his son. He liked Riddhima, but his eyes were also set at someone from a richer household- his greed for money had always superseded any other considerations in his life.
"SHASHANK BHAISAHIB!" Naina got up and yelled, "hum aapko bahut saalon se jaante hain…aap hamare kiraaydaar hain…..mere pati ke dost hain….lekin aap hadh se zyaada aage nikal rahe hain!"
Shashank was stunned, "yeh kya keh rahi hain bhabhi? Main tho bas bachhon ki marzi aapko bataa raha tha….Armaan se behtar damaad humein kahan milega? Aur meri beti jis ghar mein bhi jaayegi, wo ghar sach much bahut khush naseeb hoga."
Billy tried to say something, but Naina held her hand, "SHASHANK BHAI SAHIB….YEH BAAT YAHIN TAK REHNE DEE JIYE….ARMAAN KA RISHTA PAKKA HO CHUKA HAI…..WO MEHRA SAHIB KI LADKI SUHAANI SE HI SHAADI KAREGA….yeh aapki aur aapki beti ki galat fehmi hai ki Armaan Riddhima ko chaahta hai….wo sirf uski bachpan ki dost hai….aur kuch nahin! Aaj ke baad aapne Armaan aur Riddhima ke rishtey ki baat bhi kit ho aapka aur aapki beti ka is ghar se aana jaana bilkul bandh kar denge….ab aap jaa sakte hain!" she pointed to the door.
Billy was a little embarrassed, but he knew Naina was in full form and he did not have the spine to face her. In a way, he would rather Naina be the bad cop, as he was too embarrassed to say anything to his childhood friend.
A humiliated Shashank just folded his hands, 'galti ho gayi bhabhi ji…lekin yaad rakhna Armaan aur Riddhima ko alag karna aapko kahin mehnga na padh jaaye….chalta hoon main."
"Humein aapki badh dua nahin chaahiye Shashank bhaisahib!" Naina yelled, "aapki patni bimaar hai…warna badh dua main bhi de sakti hoon!"
Shashank was enraged and humiliated; he kept silent and walked away from the Mallik house.
BACK AT THE GUPTA HOUSE:
"Kya kaha Billy bhai sahib ne?" Padma asked expectantly.
Shashank did not have the heart to tell her the truth; the doctor had already warned them to not give any stress to Padma.
Shashank pretended to be happy, "maan gaye Kashmiran…..bahut achhe log hain wo," he smiled through his tears.
Padma closed her eyes, "Jai mata di! Main jaanti thi mata meri ichha hamesha poori karegi….ab main chain se jaa sakti hoon."
Updated😛
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