Part 3:
Standing quietly she read some reports, a small smile played on her lips, her eyes had a sparkle in them, a sparkle that many hadn't seen for a while.
She put the report down turning to a group of interns; waiting patiently for their orders, some thought why she was so calm today, what had happened to the Dr. Riddhima they knew? Where was she?
"Good Morning…" you could still see through her eyes the sorrow, but some where there was hope, and happiness, which showed through her actions,
The interns replied back to her wishing her a good morning, as she gave out their duties, one of the interns saw the Dr Riddhima he knew, the one he had grown up with, the one that had made him come to where he was, and he was happy to see that glint of happiness in her, even if it wasn't much, he was glad to see the faint smile he hadn't seen since Dr Shashank had died.
She gave out the orders, and was making her way to her rounds, when a call made her turn around to face nurse Lovely, "woh dr. Riddhima jee, umm…aapke liye phone…." She picked up the phone, mouthing thanks to nurse lovely.
"hello…" their was silence on the other side "hello…." Once again no reply came, she tried again saying 'hello' into the phone, this time she got a reply, "hello…riddhima beta…" "Padma aunty… sab kuch theek hain na…" with worry in her voice she asked into the speaker "beta…main bilkul theek hoon…umm…woh maine phone kiya, isliye ke… tum aaj raat humare ghar khaane ke liye aaogi….ok…" "umm aunty woh main aaj thodi busy hoon…." "nahin… tum aaj aaogi, sare che baje (6:30)… theek hain…." She knew their wasn't any point in arguing, so she agreed saying she would be at Padma's house at 6:30, she put the phone down and made her way to the I.C.U to do her rounds.
In the children ward, she stood their with her hands on her hips, Staring at a little boy.
"dhoni…please…" "nahin didi, I'm not going to eat it…" "dhoni…" the boy nodded negatively, "arre…please khao na, why are you eating my head?" "main aapke sar nahin kha raha hoon…" she let out a laugh, walking towards dhoni, she put her hands in her pocket, pretending to take something out, "if you have it, then I might give you something?" "kya?..." "surprise… first eat it…" dhoni made a face and swallowed the bitter medicine. "see, I had it, ab mera chocolate?" Riddhima put a confused face on, "maine kab kaha ke main tumhein chocolate doongi?" "par…aap…ne…woh…." He was shocked, he pouted folding his arms across his chest, as he sat down on the bed, she kneeled down to his level, "mere paas chocolate nahin hain, par kuch aur hain…" "kya?' he said turning around facing his back to her, she moved around so she could see his face and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, "I promise that I will bring chocolate tomorrow ok…." "fine…" she got up and started walking out of the ward, she hadn't spent quality time with the kids for a while, today seeing them play and enjoy them selves made a smile come on her face. She knew what the children were going through and seeing them laugh through such times was always the best bit of her job.
She took her coat and stethoscope off, placing it on the table in front of her; she picked up her belongings and made her way to Padma's house.
She knocked on the door and stood patiently for the door to open, she heard the turning of the door knob, as she looked up she was shocked to see who was at the door. Her eyes grew wide open and so did her mouth, was it true? Or was she just imagining? She closed her mouth and took a few steps towards the door, to make sure she wasn't imagining.
She finally opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out, their in front of her stood a young, handsome man with a smile to die for. "Armaan!" finally the word came out, she looked at him waiting for a response, "Hi!" she looked at him strangely as she entered the house, "Hi! Bas…kuch aur nahin kahogi?" "kyun? Mujhe kya kehna hain?" he stood their with his arms crossed and a smile playing on his lips, "very funny… when did you come? Hows America? How are you? Sab kuch theek toh hain na? you coming back without saying anything…." At once she asked all these questions, not taking breath in between, "Riddhima beta, are you going to ask all the questions now or will you come in and sit first" Padma came in with a smile on her face, all Riddhima did was smile and came in towards the living room.
Armaan and Riddhima, sat down on the couch, with awkwardness between them, as if they were meeting for the first time, Riddhima turned to say something, but was cut of by Armaan's voice, " firstly, I came last night, America is fine, same old, I'm fine and yes everything is fine, but are you okay?" that was the only thing Riddhima didn't want him to ask her, 'are you okay?
Being away in America, Riddhima had told everyone not to tell him about what had happened in the last year, she didn't want him to worry, she knew he would be hurt but the last thing she wanted was for him to come back to India, leaving all his dreams and ambitions behind.
She looked into his eyes, and didn't know how to reply. Was she ok? She could see that in the last day she had been more happier, but that was due to the award, without the award would she have been happy today? Would she have cried last night? Questions played on her mind asking her if really was she ok? Not wanting him to worry, she replied saying she was fine and made her way to the kitchen to help Padma.
She should have been happy, Armaan was her best friend not ever had she kept a secret from him, but she knew keeping this secret was for the better of him, when she looked into his eyes she saw anger, sadness but she could also the disappointment, she knew he could read her eyes, her eyes told everything but when she saw disappointment in his eyes, she knew she couldn't stand him being upset with her, he was the reason she was even alive right now, she wasn't only living for the sake of the hospital but she was living for the sake of their friendship, the special bond that they shared.
On the table, it was quiet with only the sound of the cutlery clinking on the plates; there was some polite conversation, but nothing normal. These two people who have known each other their whole lives, the two who grew up together, went through their teenage years together, were they the same two people Padma cared and loved for? she knew calling Armaan back would bring a shock to Riddhima, but she knew that Armaan was Riddhima's last chance of getting back to normal, being her old bubbly self, she did it for the best and she knew that her son shouldn't always be kept in the dark about what happened. Yes, she had told him about everything that had happened in the past year, of course he was angry and upset at first. Shashank was like a father figure for him, Armaan's dad had died when he was a young child and he knew what it felt like loosing a parent, but everything came at the wrong time for Riddhima. He wasn't exactly angry with Ridz for not telling him, but he was angry at himself, when she needed him the most he wasn't there, he was to busy with life in the states, how come he never realised something was wrong when he spoke to her on the phone? He was supposed to realise these kinds of things, he was her best friend.
After dinner Riddhima and Armaan sat in the lounge room, talking. Not like old times but they sat and talked, Riddhima couldn't keep it in her self any more she wanted to explain everything.
She turned to face him, it seemed that Armaan wanted to say something as well; they both called out each others names at the same time.
"please let me say…" "hmm…" her replied. Giving her the go to say whatever she needed to.
She took a deep breath, but she couldn't stop herself, a lone tear came rolling down her cheek, "I'm so sorry…" she swallowed her tears back, but it wouldn't stop. "I miss them so much Armaan…" "first mum, then dad… mere saath kyun?" "ridz, wherever they are they are always looking over you, each day they are walking right beside you, always with you…." He moved closer to her, putting his hand around her shoulder "but why does he always take the good people? I never wish bad for anyone but…" she choked on her tears, " is their shortage of good people up there? I've seen so many good people be taken…" "He needed friends, that's why he brought them up there…" she hadn't opened up to anyone for so long, she felt so secure and safe, she rested her head on Armaan's chest and let everything out. He comforted her, hugging her, all he did was be there for her, that's all she wanted. In Armaan's arms she felt secure and safe, a feeling she hadn't felt for a while.
Hey Everyone!! thanks for all your patience and encouragement, finally the person you all wanted is here, i hope you enjoyed the part i tried my best, please comment and thanks again!!
❤️ Sonia
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