CHAPTER 6: GOSSIP KI GALIYAAN Time waits for nobody. However much you want to keep it in your grasp. The tighter you hold on the more it slips out of your grasp, and no matter how many times you try, time always slips away. Even if time slips away it strengthens your grip with each try. Like how a relationship strengthens over time. Such was the state of our interns. It's been two weeks since they started their internship; there relationships were growing stronger by every passing minute. More like family then friends. Sapna found the naughty little brother she never had in Ray. Aaliyah became good friends with all the interns, except for Ray. The 2 were always playing pranks and making the others life hell…luckily we had our peace maker Sapna to keep things under control.
Atul and Anjie were like Aaliyah and Ray, except they preferred to use words rather than actions. Atul and Anjie could always be heard before they were seen, due to their loud constant bickering. It was a ritual for them 2 to fight; otherwise their day wouldn't feel complete.
Armaan and Riddhima the only 2 sane people from all the interns were never seen bickering with each other, well atleast in the hospital they weren't. But when they were in the Basktball court…well that was a whole different story. Armaan and Riddhima had become very good friends over the past few weeks, and very good rivals in the basketball court. "Hey guys" Ray said walking into the locker room. Atul, Armaan, Riddhima and Anjie all greeted him. After greeting him they all went back to their conversations. Sapna hadn't arrived yet, and Aaliyah just ignored him.
"OI hello
Bandit Queen maine Hi bola" Ray said snapping his fingers infront of Aaliyah.
"Tau mein kya karu
Lallu?" Aaliyah said annoyed.
"Tumhe koi tameez hai ke nahin" Ray said pretending to be outraged "Jab koi aadmi hi bole tau return mein hello bolna chahiye" He said shutting his locker.
"Tum aadmi kab bane? I thought u were an alien whose mission was to destroy everyone on earth with your rubbish faltu jokes" Aaliyah said.
"So atleast im unique" Ray said "I bet there are thousands of you"
"There's only one
Aaliyah Hasan…and that's me" Aaliyah said brushing her shoulders.
"You know that's a good thing that there's only one you…otherwise I would have to tolerate more Aaliyah's…ek shayr yaad aya..sirf tumhare liye" Ray said pinching Aaliyahs's cheeks.
Everybody wanted to hear his shayr. Ray cleared his throat and said to the room...
"Arz kiya hai"
"Irshaad irshaad" Everybody said
"
Tum sa koi dusra zameen par hua
tau rab se shikayat hogi...." He said looking at Aaliyah
"Wah wah"
Everybody said whilst Aaliyah folded her hands in disapproval.
"
Tum sa koi dusra zameen par hua
tau rab se shikayat hogi....
Ek to jhella nahi jata
dusra aa gaya to kya halat hogi!!!"
"Wah wah" Everybody said whilst Armaan slapped his back laughing.
"Wow Ray! What a shayr!" Armaan said.
"Wow Rehaan, I agree what a shayr…ab mera suno... Dedicated to my Lallu" Aaliyah said pinching his cheek
Every body listened to Ali's shayr.
"
Chaand ko garoor hai ki uske paas noor hai,
to kya hua....
Mujhe bhi garoor hai ki mera Dost Langoor hai!"
She finished off pointing towards Ray.
"Wah wah!" Armaan said "ek aur shayr, lagta hain yeh hospital nahin koi
mushayra ban gaya"
"I love shayris. Ray yours was soo good and funny" Riddhima said leaning on Ray's shoulder.
Armaan looked at her leaning on Rays shoulder,
Basket likes poetry? "Ray, Aaliyah…can you stop arguing!" Sapna said leaning on the doorway.
Before she could say anything Ray hugged her
"Sapna di! Kaha thee tum main intezaar kar ru che" Ray said attempting gujarati "Did I say it right?" He asked looking at her.
"No…just by adding
'che' on at the end of the sentence does not make it Gujarati" she said pulling his nose. She put her bag in the locker.
"Challau
Hitler time" Atul said to everybody.
"Yes we know how to read the time Dr Joshi" Anjali said rudely.
"Oh no, Superman lets get out of here before they start aswell" Riddhima said grabbing Armaan's arm.
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PEADIATRIC WARD "There have been some improvements in his health; even the report shows that his red blood cell count is higher than the previous tests. We'll have to talk to Dr Padma about what next step to take" Armaan discussed with Riddhima whilst she looked at Harsh's case history.
"Guys please tell me you have your break now" Aaliyah said frustratedly approaching Riddhima and Armaan. Ridzi looked up from the case file and said
"Lemme guess…another fight with Ray"
"Don't take that stupid lallu's name infront of me" Aaliyah said looking annoyed.
"He's not soo bad" Armaan said defending him.
"Armaan bhaiya" a voice interrupted them.
"Oh mere Harsh, kya hua?" Armaan said ruffling Harsh's hair.
"Bhaiya India's playing today…I want to watch cricket. Tell that
Pink Outfit to change the channel" Harsh said excitedly.
"
Pink Outfit??? Oh you mean the nurse…" He said as he saw a nurse in a pink outfit walk by.
"Oh yea… India are playing Australia today, it's the final… i completely forgot" Aaliyah said sounding as excited as Harsh as she sat down next to him.
She looked at the scores and inhaled loudly "Oh God… this is such an interesting match… India made 350/7 in 50 overs and Australia are on 275/6 with 70 balls remaining… Haai… aur
mera Irfan is bowling" She said biting her nails.
"Haa haa… we only need three more wickets…look Dhoni's talking to Irfan… Dhoni zaroor kuch karega!! Harsh said idolising Dhoni.
"Mera Irfan wicket lega, come on Irfu…" Ali said with her eyes glued to the screen.
Just then Ray walked behind her and said "Who's Irfu?? Ye
naya bandar kaun hai???"
She turned around and said "Tu yaha kya kar raha hai?? And don't say anything about my Irfan"
"
Eurgh!!! Why do you girls go gaga over Irfan?? Jab mere jaisa handsome larka saamne khara hau!!" He said flexing his muscles.
"
Ssssshhhh…Irfaan's bowling now" she said making him sit down as well.
"Superman…looks like these 2 are spending their break watching cricket, we should just go" Ridzie said linking her arm around Armaan's.
"Chalo Basket!" Armaan said grinning without realising "You know I can't believe Aaliyah likes Irfan Pathan"
"There's nothing wrong with Irfan Pathan!" Ridz said looking a bit shocked at Armaan.
"Oh please don't tell me you like him too!" Armaan said as they walked down the corridor.
"Nah! He's good looking but I like
John Abraham…he's just soo hot, like hot hot chocolate, everygirl wants some
hot chocolate, with such cute dimples, I could just die!
haiiiiii" Ridz said staring into space, imagining John Abraham, she sighed.
"Ermmm….Basket, snap back to earth…stop drooling over
Johnny boy, wait wait…you said you like his dimples, don't you like
mines" Armaan said pointing to his dimple as they walked into the canteen, still arm in arm.
"Haaa haa yours is
cute too" Ridzie said poking his dimple, like she was pacifying a child.
"Although I have to admit
Johnny boy is one lucky guy to have a lady like
Bips! Now that's one girl that is hot!! Like hot hot chocolate!
Rarrrrrrrr" Armaan purred like a cat.
"Superman control! We're in a public place!" she said looking around the canteen as they found an empty table.
"Public place my foot! Basket you're still holding my arm…ab kaha gaya tumhaara public place?" Armaan said as Riddhima removed her arm from his.
"It doesn't matter, everybody knows we are just
Best Friends!"
Armaan smiled and said "Lemme go get some hot choco- no no, no hot chocolate, i'll get coffee!"
Riddhima chuckled as he walked off to the counter
Armaan ordered 2 coffees and some biscuits. Whilst he was waiting for the coffee to be made, a familiar voice greeted him.
"Hello Armaan"
Armaan turned around to see Dr Padma behind him.
"Oh hello ma'am"
"Erm…sorry I know you're on your break, but I need to talk to you about a new case, that has arrived. I have already told Dr Kirti that you will be assisting me in this case. I was very impressed by the way you handled Harsh's case. This girl's is 9 years old her name is Minnie, she has leukaemia"
At first Armaan had been excited to have been given a new case, but when he heard that the child had leukaemia he felt saddened. Padma saw the look on his face
"Kya hua Armaan?" she asked him
"Main…woh, yeh sab hamesha bachau ke saath kyun hota hai?" he asked soflty "and they're soo young that they don't even know what's going on" Armaan looked up and realised he was talking to Dr Padma. "Oh er sorry ma'am I just got a bit carried away with my emotions"
Padma patted his shoulder and said "Koi baat nahin Armaan, you have to learn to control your emotions as a Dr." Just then her pager rang and she left.
Armaan picked up both the coffes and went to were Riddhima was waiting for him.
************************************************
LOCKER ROOM At the end of the day Atul walked into the locker room bickering with Anjali as usual.
"Aarrrgghh!! Di and Atul can you 2 please stop fighting! mere kaan pak gaye" Ridz said sitting down on the bench rubbing her neck.
"Yeah I agree with basket, as it is Aaliyah was all excited today, she was very hyper" Armaan said sitting down next to Ridz.
"Why is she hyper?" Anji asked
"Because India
WON today!!!
WOHOOOO!!" Aaliyah said doing a little jiggy, jumping up and down. Anjali rolled her eyes and went back to her locker, whilst Atul joined in with Aaliyah
"Arrey yaar I couldn't watch the match today, who took the last wicket and who won Man of the match!" Atul asked her
"
My Irfu, took the last wicket and won Man of the match!" she said jumping up and down again
"Irfu? Who's Irfu?" Atul asked bobbing his eyebrows up and down
Before Aaliyah could say anything Ray said
"
Irfan Pathan!" he snorted rolling his eyes.
And much to Armaan and Riddhima's horror they started arguing.
Atul moaned, his ears were already tired from Anjali shouting at him.
"How come Sapna's not peace making?" Anjali said looking at Sapna who was staring into space.
"What's wrong Sapna?" Atul asked. By this point even Ali and Ray had stopped arguing.
"Uff…It's that time of the year again, for the
Annual Gujju Dandiya Festival" Sapna moaned.
Everybody laughed.
"Oh I know about that, Sameer's mum used to persuade him to come, but he always came running to us in Delhi" Ridz said giggling.
"This year he has to attend and now he's dragging us as well" Anjie said
"Haiii, good thing you 3 will be there…hey I have an idea why don't all of us go" Sapna suggested eagerly.
"Yeah sure we'll all come, but one problem…I don't know how to play dandiya!" Aaliyah said.
"Don't worry mein sikhaalunga tumhe" Ray said winking at her flirtaciously.
Aaliyah rolled her eyes as Sapna said
"Guys its tomorrow evening, at
Sukhiji community centre…oh no wait they renamed it
Sukhinaji community centre"
"We'll be there" Atul said.
******************************************
SUKHINAJI COMMUNITY CENTRE Note: Armaan, Ridz, Sapna and Anjie were wearing what they wore in the dandiya epi. Atul was wearing a cream sherwaani. Ray was wearing a black pathani shalwaar Aaliyah was wearing Green patiala and Sameer was wearing Grey sherwaani. "Hey Sapna" Sameer said approaching her. Sapna blushed, Sameer was wearing a grey sherwaani.
"Hey Sameer, where's Ridz and Anjie?" She asked
"They haven't arrived yet, why are you standing in a corner here?" he asked her looking at the dark area she chose to stand.
"Oh..erm, I'm trying to hide from my mum…she's trying to get me to meet this guy named
Himesh Thakker" Sapna said blushing out of embarrassment.
"Finally, someone that can relate to my problem… my mum's trying to get me to meet some girl named Jigisha!" Sameer said also a bit red from embarrasement.
This got Sapna and Sameer talking, and for once they had a conversation where they weren't blushing. Their mums noticed this. Sapna narrated to him how she once got rid of Jignesh and Sameer told her how he had gotten rid of a girl named Amita.
"Hey Sapna di! I was looking everywhere for you." Ray said coming towards her, he hadn't noticed Sameer was there aswell. "Oh hey Sameer" Ray said as he noticed him, he looked between Sapna and Sameer and grinned.
"Abhi tak aur koi nahin aaya?" Ray said looking around when he paused, there was a girl walking towards him…he blinked again, as he realised that girl was Aaliyah.
"
My dil goes mmmhhhh..." Rehan muttered "Wait!! What are you thinking Ray…that's Aaliyah your rival!!"
Aaliyah was busy talking on the phone…
"Haa… Mujhe pata hain, tum agle hafte aa rahee hau. And Hafeezah aunty's told me you're coming to stay with me ab phone rakh
meri bandarya…KhudaHafiz Zuz!"
She walked upto Ray who was still staring at her.
"Oii! What are you staring at?" Aaliyah said snapping her fingers infront of his face.
"Huh?? erm..nothing…wanna play Dandiya see Sapna and Sameer are playing, I got you sticks aswell" Ray said holding up the sticks. She looked unsure, as if he read her thoughts he said "Don't worry,
main hoon na"
------------------------------------------------
"Armaan are my eyes deceiving me…or is Aaliyah
hitting Ray with the dandiya sticks??" Atul asked as they entered the community centre, greeted by this sight. Armaan looked to where Atul was looking he laughed and said
"Erm…I think he's trying to teach her how to play dandiya" Armaan said laughing "He flirts with her and she hits him…he's doing something good for once and she's still hitting him"
They both laughed and walked off to join Sameer and Sapna who were standing at the refreshments table. After a few minutes of general chit chat. Ridz and Anji entered...
Armaan stared at her once again mesmerised by her striking beauty.
"Hey lets all go play Dandiya!" Arman said giving his hand to Riddhima she took his hand. They all moved towards the dancefloor.
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Anjali kept on stepping on Atuls feet…by accident or on purpose we'll never know. Aaliyah was actually starting to get the hang of the dandiya, but she was having more fun hitting Ray with the sticks. Sapna and Sameer were blushing too much whilst playing dandiya. Armaan and Ridz were lost in each others eyes, the whole world had seemed to pause for them.
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All the girls were tired from all the dancing so they were all sitting down in a corner chatting, whereas the guys were hungry so they all went to eat some food.
"You know, all the guys didn't look bad today" Anjie said.
"Yeah but in my opinion, Sameer looked the best" Sapna said before realising it.
"Oooooooohhhh Sapna kau Sameer pasand aaya!" Ridz said cheekily whislt Aaliyah and Anjie laughed
"I think Atul didn't look bad today…" Anjie said surprising herself.
"Ohhh dushman ki tareef, Anji don't you know, dushman ki tareef kabhi nahin karte" Aaliyah said jokily "Mujhe dekho, main Rehaan kee kabhi tareef nahin karungi…I think Armaan looked the best"
"What about you Ridzie?" Sapna asked.
Riddhima was confused as to who she should say, because if she said Armaan's name everybody would tease both of them.
"Bechara Rehaan ka naam kisi ne nahin liya…he didn't look bad, so I'll choose Ray" Ridz said giving a justification with her answer.
"
Oooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh" Aaliyah teased jokily…
Whilst the girls carried on talking they didn't know what a big commotion a little statement could make. They hadn't realised that Lovely was near them and had heard only the last part of Riddhima's statement. The poor souls hadn't yet discovered that Lovely ji was a person who could never keep secrets. ******************************************
ARMAAN'S BEDROOM Armaan was lying on his bed, playing with the basketball.
"Armaan, its 1:00am why aren't you asleep yet?" Atul said. Armaan didn't hear him, lost in his thoughts. A knock on his door brought him back. Armaan looked up to see Atul leaning against his doorway
"I was talking to you Armaan" Atul said
"Oh…sorry" Armaan said not really meaning it; he threw the ball up in the air. But Atul caught it before he could.
"Kya hua…itne khoye khoye kyun hau?" He asked, sitting on the edge of his bed
"Erm…kuch nahin
Bhai" Armaan said sitting up.
"Baap re, lagta hai kuch serious hai. Otherwise you never call me Bhai. What's wrong?" Atul asked, concern on his face.
"Bhai…I think I like this girl, but I don't know, if she likes me" Armaan said "I don't know if she just thinks of me as a friend and I don't want to ruin our friendship"
Atul looked at Armaan closely, he had a feeling that he knew which girl armaan was talking about.
"Armaan, I think your forgetting that I have very
less experience with women" Atul said smiling slightly.
"Bhai…she's not like other girls I've dated. It's different when I'm with her" Armaan sighed.
"Lagta hai tujhe
pyaar hogaya!" Atul teased, he gave Armaan the ball back.
"Bhai!!...me and love…never!" Armaan said shooing it off with a wave of his hand.
"Okay, okay…now go to sleep" Atul said switching the light off and closing his door as he left the room.
************************************
Riddhima walked through the corridor, feeling happy for no reason whatsoever. But her happiness was short-lived.
"Doctor Riddhima maine suna hain, ke aap doctor Ray se pyaar karti hain?" A ward boy asked interestedly.
"What nonsense!! Go do your work!" Riddhima said annoyed. The ward boy walked away afraid.
Riddhima carried on walking down the corridor muttering curses to the ward boy.
"Riddhi beta" She heard Neetu aunty (the nurse) from behind her "Yeh main kya sunrahi hoon tumhaare bare mein. Tum aur woh tumhara dost Rehaan. Tum dono ek doosre se pyaar karte hau?"
"Nahin aunty yeh bakwaas apne kaha se suna?" Ridz said, she was getting really angry now…first the ward boy then Neetu aunty.
Before Neetu aunty could answer a doctor approached her and she left. Riddhima was left confused in her own thoughts, as she walked in to the locker room.
-------------------------------------------------
Armaan walked into the hospital with a firm resolution in his mind…today he was going to ask
his basket out on a date. He muttered to himself as he headed towards the locker room...
"
Basket and Superman…it's got a ring to it" Just then he saw a congregation of nurses and ward boys talking profusely. He leaned into hear their gossip, and was shocked with what he heard.
LOCKER ROOM Armaan walked in angrily mumbling to himself, he went to his locker.
"Good morning Superman!" Ridz said walking upto him "I was waiting for you at the basketball court, you never came"
"Good morning" Armaan said rudely without looking at her.
"He didn't come because he overslept…as it is he went to sleep at 2:00am" Atul said putting on his labcoat.
"Guys its reporting time" Armaan said and walked out without waiting for Ridz
She was thinking
Isse kya huwa? CANTEEN (at break) Ray, Aaliyah and Riddhima were sitting drinking coffee. When they saw Armaan walking in.
"Hey dude! Come sit down" Ray said indicating to the chair next to him.
"I can find my own seat. Thank you very much
Dr Rehaan Khan." Armaan said as he stormed off to the counter.
"What's wrong with Armaan today, he's been acting like this with me the whole day. Did I do something wrong?" He asked Aaliyah.
By this point Aaliyah and Ridz had found out about the rumours that were circulating in the hospital. Aaliyah laughed and said
"I don't think its what
you did…it's more of what
Riddhima said" She gave Ridz a sarcastic look, whilst Ridz glared at her.
Aaliyah narrated yesterday's events and todays incidents to Ray
"Oho! Riddhima jee mujhe nahin pata tha aap mujhe itna pasand kar tee hain…Poore hospital kau hamare pyaar ke bare mein pata hai" Ray said looking towards Ridz grinning from ear to ear.
"Chupp! I wasn't going to say your name anyways. I had said it because nobody else did" Ridz said dismissively.
"Aaliyah tune mera naam nahin liya" Ray said grabbing Aaliyah's hand. She smacked his hand away. Riddhima was tired of hearing them 2 squabbling, she wanted to go and talk to Armaan.
"Hey Armaan" Riddima said sitting down next to him at the counter.
"Oohh so now you don't even want to call me Superman!" Armaan said violently stirring his coffee. "Jawau tumhaare Ray ke paas"
"Stupid!! Ray aur mere beech mein kuch nahin hai!" Riddhima said turning his face towards her. She explained everything to him including the Dandiya conversation and Lovely ji's gossping.
"As it is Armaan you and me spend so much time together, I didn't want people to misunderstand
our friendship" Ridz finished
"Oooohhh! That explains a lot, sorry" He said holding his ears.
"Dosti main no sorry, No thank you" she said
"Oh Basket! I missed you" Armaan said hugging her, she hugged him back and softly whispered in his ear
"Armaan, everybody is watching…they're gonna think i am having an affair with you. Ab mere Ray ka kya hauga?"
They let go of each other.
"Basket!" Armaan said warningly.
"Im kidding!" Ridz said smiling.
They headed towards the rest of the gang…Armaan was thinking to himself
You don't want people to misunderstand our friendship…but I don't want you to misunderstand…that's why I wont ask you out basket… Hey guys...this was chapter 6...It was a bit of a random chpater (i couldnt think coherently)
Please do comment...kya mein itna bura likhtee hoon??
Take care
LUV
Nainu
XXX
Edited by Naina123 - 17 years ago
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