Part 10
YAY! I updated earlier than usual😊…Hope you all like the part…I'll try to update the next part as soon as I can, but I'm going to be really busy next week…So I'll have to see…but thanks to everyone for leaving such sweet comments!
RECAP: Armaan rushed out in panic and stood there shocked at the sight in front of him. A swarm of nurses and wardboys stood huddled around a person's body on the floor. As he stepped closer, he was stunned to see his mom lying unconscious on the floor on Riddhima's lap.
"MOM," he yelled out loud.
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He stood glued to the floor as he felt the world crash beneath him, his heart beating fast every second. Shaking his head while he closed his eyes, he hoped that he would open them to find another sight in front of him. As he opened them again slowly, he trembled seeing that the sight in front of him was real and not a dream.
"MOM," he yelled out loud as he ran towards the reception area, where Keerti layed unconscious.
Riddhima, who was trying her best to bring Keerti back to conciousness as she ordered a wardboy to bring the stretcher, looked up at a running Armaan with shock. She registered the words he had just spoken out loud. 'Did he call Dr. Keerti MOM…Is Dr.Keerti Armaan's mother,' she said to herself while trying to digest her words.
"MOM," he said with a look of worry spreading across his face as he knealt down and touched her forehead. "Kya hua Mom," he said with tears welling up on the corner of his eyes. Armaan was so worried about his mother that he ignored Riddhima's prescence. Riddhima slowly moved her hand and placed it on top of Armaan's in hope of reassuring him that everything would be OK as she looked at him freaking out. He pulled his hand away from her's on an impulse, and yelled at the wardboy to bring the stretcher fast. Armaan's mind was way too occupied with fear looking at his mother's state.
"WARDBOY, stretcher…FAST!" he screamed at the top of his lungs, "God Dammit, how long does it take for you all to bring ONE stretcher!"
Riddhima carefully observed Armaan's behavior, coming to the conclusion that he was very caring person. His anger at the wardboy and the worry which casted a shadow on his face clearly reflected the love he held for his mother. Riddhima wasn't mad or surprised at the fact that Armaan had pulled his hand out from her's. Anyone would do that if they were placed in the same situation and plus that just showed the concern he had for his mother. 'Armaan really loves his mom,' she thought in her mind, smiling within.
Armaan picked his mother up from Riddhima's lap and layed her down on the stretcher as the wardboy placed it infront of him. Riddhima quickly got up and pushed the stretcher along with Armaan to the ICU.
"Aapko kuch nahi hoga Mom," said Armaan as he tried to suppress his fear with hope, "Mein kuch hone nahi doonga."
As the wardboys pushed the stretcher in the ICU, Riddhima blocked the door with her body upon seeing Armaan making his way in.
"Armaan, you can't go in," she said firmly.
"Riddhima, yeh kaisi baatein kar li ho tum," he said with anger rising on his face, "Move and let me go in."
"NO," she replied back.
"WHO ARE YOU TO TELL ME THAT I CANNOT TREAT MY MOTHER," Armaan said furiously, his tone giving away pure anger. Armaan looked at her and changed his expressions seeing that she was completely taken aback.
"Armaan, I understand what you must be going through," she said symphatheticly as she put her hand on his shoulder, "But you have to realize that you cannot break the rules…if the patient is your relative or friend, then you cannot treat the person….remember," she said, as Armaan registered the words with a lump in his throat. "Don't worry, I'm going to be treating her…everything is going to be fine," she said as she put her hand on his face and then left inside.
Armaan stood outside the ICU, with tears on the verge of running down his face as he saw his mother amongst all the machines through the window. He couldn't control his emotions anymore and he burst out with tears flowing out of his eyes. He had always seen his mother with all the hospital machines, but only as a doctor. However, today he was seeing his mother as a patient with the machines surrounding her. He couldn't take it anymore… it was getting difficult for him just to stand outside the ICU doing nothing, but he had faith in Riddhima. He folded his hands and silently prayed for his mother to be fine.
Muskaan and Rahul heard about the news and came to meet Armaan to offer him support.
"Kuch nahi hoga Dr.Keerti ko…don't worry yaar," said Rahul, patting his back.
"Rahul bilkul theek keh raha hai…tu fikr na kaar," said Muskaan reassuringly by holding his hand.
Armaan just needed some time alone. He left somewhere, leaving Rahul and Muskaan standing there. Rahul and Muskaan completely understood the situation he was undergoing. They knew that Armaan loved Keerti a lot and vice versa. He just needed to be alone at that time, isolated from everything and everyone.
It was 3:00 in the afternoon now. Keerti had been in the ICU for an hour now and yet no news came to Armaan as of yet.
Riddhima stepped out of the ICU, taking a sigh of relief. She looked around for Armaan, but she couldn't seem to spot him outside the ICU. 'Yeh Armaan kahan chala gaya,' she said to herself. She walked around the hospital looking endlessly for him and even asked the nurses about his whereabouts, but to no avail. She passed along the corridor, when her eyesight seemed to catch Armaan sitting on the stairs in the fire escape area, with his elbows rested on his knees whilst his hands covered his face.
She slowly opened the door, avoiding to startle him by the screech of the door, and walked down the stairs, making as little noise as possible. She slowly took a seat on the stairs beside him and hesitantly put her hand on his shoulder. Upon feeling a touch on his shoulder, Armaan pulled his hands off his face and turned his tear-stained face to the other direction to see Riddhima sitting beside him. His face was completely soaked with tears; it seemed as if he hadn't stopped crying at all. Riddhima's heart melted upon seeing him in that state—she couldn't stand it; it was hurting her. 'His mother means a lot to him,' she thought in her mind. "AAArmaan," she finally mustered up the courage to talk as she saw him in that state. Armaan quickly grabbed her and hugged her as tight as he could while he sobbed, his head resting on her shoulder. Riddhima was taken aback by this sudden move, but then she slowly encircled his body with her arms and patted his back to comfort him. 'He really needs someone at this time…He's completely broken down,' she thought to herself. "Riddhima…Riddhima," he said in between sobs while still clutching on to her tightly, "Mom kaisi hain?...She's alright right? Nothing's wrong with her…Tell me Riddhima." Riddhima ran her hand up and down his back, in attempt to calm him down. "Dr. Keerti is fine…nothing happened to her," she said trying to comfort him and make him feel better, "It was just fatigue…nothing more…she'll wake up pretty soon…everything is under control."
Armaaan slowly registed the words she said as he sighed with relief. He realized the proximity both were sharing and pulled back from the hug. 'What must she be thinking about me…I just grabbed her and hugged her,' he thought in his mind. "Listen Riddhima, I' m sorry for behaving the way I did," he said as he wiped the tears off his face, "I was tensed about Mom and I guess I just needed---." He was interrupted by her sweet voice, "You don't need to apologize Armaan…I can understand what you went through and I know you just needed support," she said with a caring smile on her face, "Now cheer up, Dr. Keerti will gain conciousness pretty soon."
Armaan returned the smile back to her when her pager buzzed. "Armaan, Dr. Keerti gained conciousness…Let's go," she said getting up. Armaan literally ran to the ICU and opened the door quickly to see Keerti trying to sit up on the bed.
"Mom…lay down," he said firmly as he put his hands on Keerti's shoulders and made her lay down forcibly, "Koi zaroorat nahi hai uth ne ki."
"Arre Armaan," said Keerti, "Main theek hoon…Mujhe kuch nahi hua…bas thori si thaakan thi."
Tears started welling up in Armaan's eyes again. "Mom main bohot darr gaya tha…maine aapko kitni baar kaha hai keh apna dyaan rakha karein…lekin aap hai keh meri sunti nahi hai…bas aapni marzi se chalti haan…agar aapko kuch ho jata tho mera kya hota Mom," he said while tears ran down his face.
"Armaan," she said as she brought her hand to his face and wiped his tears, "Mujhe kuch nahi hua hai…main bilkul theek hoon."
"Aap apni phikar bilkul nahi karti hain…main aaj hi dad ko phone karke pataoon ga." Armaan said teasingly as he knew she would stop him from calling his dad.
"Arre Shubhankar ko patane ki kya zaroorat hai…main bilkul theek hoon…aur wo khamekah pareshaan ho jayenge…Tumhe pata hai na keh vo London mein hai medical conference ke liye…"
"Sorry…Mein to Dad ko bataoonga," he said.
"Armaan….maine mana kiya hai na," she said looking at him seriously.
Riddhima stood nearby amused with the mother-son conversation. Keerti happened to glance at her while she was talking to Armaan.
"Dr. Riddhima…thank you for taking charge of me," she said with a smile on her face as Armaan too looked over at Riddhima.
"Dr. Keerti…yeh to mera farz tha…you don't have to thank me for that," she replied back with her wide smile, making Armaan melt on the inside. 'Hai,' he thought to himself in his mind, 'Iski muskhurahat meri jaan legi.'
"Agar Armaan ka bas chalta tho yeh meri treatment karta," Keerti chuckled.
"Haan agar mera bas chalta to mein meri Mom ka treatment zaroor karta…but you know, Dr.Riddhima reminded me of the rules and took charge instead," Armaan said, praising Riddhima's dedication.
"Really?" said Keerti surprised, "I'm glad to see Dr. Riddhima's dedication to her job on her very first day here."
"Thanks Dr. Keerti," responded Riddhima smiling as she went over to check Dr. Keerti's blood pressure.
"So mom, I'm still going to tell Dad…I'm calling him tonight!" said Armaan as he decided to start his teasing session again.
"Khabardaar…Armaan, you know your dad is going to get worried unnecessarily and I know he would leave the conference and fly down back here," Keerti said.
"Ok Mom…whatever you say…," said Armaan cutting her some slack. 'But now you need to listen to whatever I say and take care of yourself."
"Yes I will…don't worry ," replied Keerti assuringly, "Hmmm…you know what I need?"
"Kya," said Armaan with a puzzled look on his face, "Tell me and I'll bring it for you."
"Are you sure about that," she said raising her eyebrows as Riddhima took off the blood pressure pad of her arm, "I can ask for anything."
"Just tell me Mom…even if you ask me to steal the stars in the sky, I'll do that too," Armaan replied back confidently.
"My son is too filmy," she said as she chuckled lightly. "Hmm…why don't you bring me a bahu instead?"
Armaan opened his mouth in shock. He was surprised upon hearing his mother's request and glanced up at Riddhima who seemed to be going red with embarrassment as the blood pressure monitor fell from her hands and landed on the floor with a big thud. Riddhima was just as surprised as Armaan was at Keerti's request.
"Mom…How many times have we discussed this?" Armaan said, trying to avoid the subject as Riddhima was in the room. 'Mom ko bhi aabhi yeh baat kehna tha kya' he thought in his mind. He cursed himself silently as he was the one who provoked his mom to tell him what she needed. ' I should have known better,' he thought as he sighed.
Riddhima quickly picked up the blood pressure monitor and placed it on the side table. 'I think I should leave…I should let the family discuss their private matters…' she said to herself as she made her way out the door.
"Mom, sabke saamne shaadi ki baat cherna zaroori hai," he said annoyingly once seeing that Riddhima left the room.
"Sabke samne kaha baat ki hai mene…sirf Riddhima to thi kamre mein…" she said calmly.
"Sirf Riddhima to thi kamre mein," he mocked his mother. "To kya, Riddhima insaan nahi hai kya?"
"Armaaaaan…acha tumhi ne to kaha tha keh tum meri icha (wish) poori karoge…ab kya hua…" said Keerti, waiting for an answer.
Armaan looked at his mother and smirked. She always knew where to catch him. "Mujhe kya pata tha keh aap yeh EK hi wish mange gi…" he said while shaking his head in irritation.
"Tumhe to pata hai keh yeh meri sab se baari khwaaish hai," she said placing her hand on his.
"Yeah Mom, I know," he responded back, placing his other hand on top of hers. "Acha aab aap aaram kariye, mujhe duty pe bhi jaana hai…aap se daant nahi khani hai…aap khana kha lena aur agar koi problem ho tho mujhe bula le na…main raat ko aaonga aur aapko ghar le jaonga…" he said getting up to leave, "Take care mom…I love you."
"I love you too beta," she said as he made his way out the door.
Riddhima and Armaan got busy with their duties in the general ward. Riddhima finally got the discharge papers ready for that patient of her's while Armaan was checking an elderly man with his stesthescope. Right when duty ended, Rahul and Muskaan inquired about Dr. Keerti's health from Riddhima and were glad to know that she was alright now. Rahul and Muskaan along with Dr. Shashank went to meet Dr. Keerti and were glad to see that she was feeling much better.
********
SANJEEVANI LOCKER ROOM
Armaan entered the isolated locker room heaving a sigh of relief. The day had been long for him especially since his mother fainted due to exhaustion. He went towards his locker, removing his labcoat from his broad body, and threw it inside the locker. Armaan closed his eyes and leaned against the locker for a minute or two. He stretched his aching neck muscles by moving his head from side to side, with his eyes still closed. He was making his way in towards the changing area dazzily when he bumped into a sudden force, taking him by surprise, and he lost his balance and succumbed to the force.
"Ahhh," yelled Riddhima as Armaan fell on top of her.
"Ouch," screamed Armaan lifting his gaze up too see Riddhima underneath his weight. There was a distance of only a few inches between their faces. A few strands of her hair were scattered along her beautiful face. Armaan took his hand and slowly moved the strands away from her face and put it behind her ear as Riddhima stared at him intensely as his fingers trailing on her smooth skin were doing wonders to her. She closed her eyes immediately---she couldn't take it anymore. She felt like screaming right then and there that she loved him and that she always went crazy with his touch. Armaan too couldn't suppress his feelings anymore as he looked at her with her eyes closed nervously, while she took slow deep breaths in and out.
"RRiddhimaa," said Armaan trying to get her to open her eyes.
"Armaaaann," she said dreamily with her eyes closed still.
"Mujhe tumse kuch kehna hai," he said as he stared at her rosy lips.
"Kaho," she said with her eyes closed, waiting for him to say what he had to.
"Wo…main…How do I say this….Um…Main," he fumbled for words to express his feelings.
"Tum Kya Armaan," she said expectantly waiting for him to state what he wished to.
Armaan leaned closer to her ear, which made Riddhima restless to hear what she had wanted to hear. "Actually...main…Main yeh kehna chahta hoon—" 'Armaan what are you about to do…You can't just express your feelings in front of her and expect her to say the same thing back…You need to wait for the right time to tell her…maybe she's just giving into the moment…You need to do something extra-special for her to make her believe that you really do love her…' he thought in his mind.
"Armaaaan," Riddhima said trying to bring him back from his thoughts.
The door to the locker room flung open as Rahul and Muskaan made their way in bickering. Obviously Armaan and Riddhima were both not in the right place, at the right time, or in the right position. Armaan quickly got up hearing the door open and gave Riddhima his hand and pulled her up from the floor.
They waited for Rahul and Muskaan to leave the locker room and when they thought the coast was clear they came out of the changing area.
"Riddhima actually I wanted to say thanks for all that you did for me today," Armaan said, changing what he was actually going to say.
Riddhima smiled back at him. "Armaan, you don't have to thank me for that…and plus you've done so much for me already since we've first met…So I guess, this was just a chance for me to do something for you in return."
Armaan flashed his killer smile to her in return of saying thank you once again. "Ok, so I'll get going now…Got to get Mom discharged…," he said making his way towards the door with her.
"Yeah, I'm going too…It's been a long day," she said as she yawned.
"Bye," they both said to one another and went their opposite ways.
'Thank God Riddhima you didn't burst your feelings out in front of him…It so would have been embarrassing if you did since he just wanted to thank you…Now reminder for next time—you cannot give into temptation…' she muttered to herself as she called for a taxi outside.
Hope you all liked it!
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