Part 4:
The sun peeped through the blinds shining towards the bed.
Sleeping quietly was a girl on the bed in a sweet land of her own; she turned her face trying to escape the morning rays.
Opening one eye at a time, she got up sitting on the bed yawning, unfamiliar to her surrounding she looked right and left trying to figure out where she was.
She got out of bed finally figuring out she was at Armaan's house, she hadn't been in here for many years.
She remembered back to her childhood when she would come and stay over here during the summer holidays, it would always be a hassle trying to get to each others house, so they would stay a couple of weeks at each others houses.
Their parents would get tired of all the pranks they played on each other, which always resulted in one getting upset and the other trying to pacify.
These were the days to remember.
She glanced over at the clock and her mouth hung wide open, going to the bathroom she quickly freshened up and made her way down the stairs fuming with anger at Armaan for not waking her up.
"Armaan tumne time dekha? Why didn't you wake me up?"
He sat up and smiled, walking towards her
For the first time Ridz noticed how handsome he had become, he would be the perfect husband for anyone. He was caring, loving smart and trustworthy. Any girl would be lucky, to have a guy like Armaan.
She remembered her college day's girl would always be after Armaan, she found it funny because Armaan was never interested and to admit the truth she was happy that he wasn't interested, she didn't know why but she felt that maybe if he had been interested then maybe Armaan and her wouldn't be so close and tight and have the friendship they have today.
"You got a day of" said Armaan
"kisne kiya?"
"maine…aaj tum mere saath din bitaogi…I mean I have come back to India after one year don't you feel that you should spend at least some quality time with me?" putting an over dramatic act for her he tried persuading ridz
"theek hain par only for you…" she pinched his cheek giving him a quick peck, it was good to have him back.
Armaan drove Ridz over to her house so she could get a change of clothes, as she opened the door and they stepped in Armaan could feel the difference.
He could remember when they were young when ever they entered the house Smriti would come to welcome the kids, he remembered the many times Smriti would get angry with Armaan for getting dirty and ruining his clothes, just like his mother would.
He grew up in this house, he grew up amongst the people of this house. He became a doctor because of Shashank, Shashank was like a father figure to him when ever he was in need of anything Shashank was there, his father would have been proud of him. Those were the first words that Shashank said to him when he graduated. He had never felt the loss of not having a father, Shashank was always there for him. Seeing the people that had influenced his life not there anymore brought tears to his eyes.
Looking around the room, he remembered all the bitter sweet moments and cherished every single memory he had. He knew that whatever Ridz went through wasn't easy but he knew one thing that God only takes the people surrounding us because he knows that we are strong we are able to stand up against this world, he does it because he loves us.
He walked over to the old cabinet where many of the photos were kept, looking at each photo frame he recalled each memory, each moment. When Padma told him about Shashank's death it came as a blow in the head to him, he dropped everything and came to Riddhima.
He remembered one promise he had made to Smriti before she died…
Looking at the walls surrounding the bed, Armaan stepped in red eyed and exhausted seeing the state of Smriti on the bed hooked up to monitors, wires going in every direction. He took a deep breath and walked towards the bed, sitting on the chair beside the bed he touched the soft hand.
Opening her eyes Smriti gave a faint smile to Armaan, she knew that these were her last moments and she was prepared for everything but she knew there still was one person who wouldn't cope with it all.
She tried to speak but struggles, Armaan stopped her form saying anything but she continued,
"beta…hum sab ko pata hain ke mere paas bahut waqt nahin hain par…" Armaan interrupted holding on tight to Smriti's hand, "nahin aunty, kuch nahin hoga aap ko…" "Armaan, mujhe pata hain ke mere paas waqt nahin hain, aur main tayyar hoon" taking a deep breath she continued " , "tum mere liye ek kaam karoge?" " jo aap chaiye aunty…" "beta mujhe pata hain ke Riddhima yeh sab handle nahin kar payngi, she seems strong on the outside par main apne beti ko janti ho…" Armaan listened on with all ears, taking in each word carefully, " please beta look after her, no one knows her better than you do, she'll listen to you…be with her beta…." She had tears coming down her eyes slowly one by one, "of course aunty, main humesha Riddhima ka dhyan rakhoonga…" "thanks beta…apna dhyan rakho, and what ever you want God will always give it to you…"
Armaan turned to see Riddhima coming in with her father she sat down beside her mother and cried her heart out, surrounded by family and friends Smriti passed away knowing her daughter will always have the love and care she needs.
[[Smriti had cancer by the time they discovered it, it was to late the cancer had progressed too much and started deteriorating her body. It came as a shock to everyone how could such a healthy woman get so sick? In a matter of time she was having regular chemo sessions, radio therapy anything possible to widen the life expectancy, when things started to become a bit clearer Smriti became sick again and was brought into Hospital, she herself had accepted everything that was happening and so had Shashank, he was a doctor he understood these kind of things, but both of them were worried what it would do to Riddhima, she was only at the tender age of 10 but Smriti knew that Armaan would always be by her side and guide her through all the unexpected twists and turns of life.]]
Riddhima came downstairs and saw Armaan standing near the cabinet, she walked over to him, placing her hand on his shoulder making Armaan come out of his memories he turned to see Ridz and quickly wiped his tears away and placed the photo back down on the cabinet shelf.
"Armaan tum theek toh ho na?"
"hmm…."
"I'm really sorry that I didn't tell you…."
"nahin…."
"No Armaan, if you cry then what about me huh? Will I be able to stay strong?" she wiped away the last tears on his cheeks, giving him a sweet smile.
She knew that Armaan was close to her father, but she didn't know how to tell him, she was shocked when she got the phone call late at night, how would Armaan react?
She got a call late at night from the hospital saying to come to the hospital quickly it was an emergency, thinking it was one of her patients she quickly hurried out of the house.
Once she reached Sanjeevani she saw doctors running in and out of one of the rooms, she went over to see what was wrong, she saw her father laying unconscious on the bed covered in blood. Immediately her life came crashing down.
Tears started rolling down her eyes immediately; she lost balance and started shaking. She couldn't lose another parent she would break. Keerti saw Riddhima standing at the door distressed, she and the whole team were trying everything they could but he was injured badly, fracture to the skull and he was losing a lot of blood quickly.
Shashank was a loved and cared member of the Hospital team everyone looked up to him and saw a great man standing before them.
There last option was to operate and only Keerti could do that, she too was worried about Shashank and would be heartbroken if she lost another dear friend.
The red light was on for the operation theatre, sitting outside was Riddhima with Padma. She hadn't muttered a word since she saw what happened; all that showed her feelings were the tears coming out of her eyes uncontrollably.
Complication after complication kept happening in the OT, Shashank had lost to much blood and his body had given up. Trying everything possible she could physically do nothing worked. Keerti made the hard decision of stopping, coming out of the OT disappointed with her scarf in her hand, she made her way to Padma and Riddhima who were sitting there anxiously.
Riddhima's eyes lifted up to see Keerti, reading her face she knew that they couldn't do anything, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes and took in everything that just happened.
Keerti came to them both and explained what had happened and how they couldn't do anymore, she knew that Riddhima knew these kind of things, she to was a doctor.
Asking to see her father for the last time she went into the room, she swallowed and sat down beside her dad. She cried her heart out.
He was there when she took her first steps, to the first day of primary school; all the major steps in her life he was there. How was she going to survive? She had already lost her mum, who was there that she could call family?
Composing herself she made her way out of the room knowing what she had to do.
"ab tum ro kyun rahi ho?" said Armaan
"kuch nahin, bas kuch yaadien yaad ayi…" she smiled through the tears and saw a pair of eyes that was like a mirror to her heart.
Nagme Hain, Shikwe Hain
Kisse Hain, Baatein Hain
Baatein Bhool Jaati Hain
Yaadein Yaad Aati Hain
Yeh Yaadein Kisi Dil-o-jaanam Ke
Chal Jaane Ke Baad Aati Hain
Yaadein, Yaadein, Yaadein….
Hey everyone...
sorry for the late update it was ready last ngiht but then something happened to my net...
i hope you all enjoyed this part, some more information was given out....
please comment even silent readers....
❤️ Sonia
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