Thanks for all the comments guys! Hope you like this chapter!
Happy Reading!
Anam
----------
Chapter 116
"I think you and my best friend are really going to hit it off" Anjali said as she sat down on the bed next to Rishab.
"Oh yeah?" Rishab asked pulling Anjali into his arms and holding her close. "And why is that?"
"Because the two of you are alike in many ways" Anjali grinned, snuggling closer to him.
"I have no doubt that we'll get along if he's a friend of yours" Rishab smiled kissing her gently on the cheek. "So, what's this friend's name anyway?"
"It's…"
"Knock, knock!" Anjali and Rishab pulled apart when they heard the nurse announce herself. "And how is our hero feeling this afternoon?"
Anjali glanced at Rishab, wondering what the nurse meant calling him a hero. "Ready to get out of here" Rishab said anxiously. "How about it?"
"I think that can be arranged" the nurse smiled. "I assume your girlfriend is going to take you home?"
"As soon as you say the word, we're out of here" Rishab grinned.
"Doctor Stevens will be in momentarily to examine you and then he'll sign your release papers" the nurse explained.
"Fantastic" Rishab said throwing back the covers revealing his muscular legs.
"Ooh, there's just something so sexy about a man in a hospital gown" Anjali teased.
"My clothes" Rishab said staring at the nurse as he pulled his covers back up. "I need my clothes."
"I'm sorry," the nurse said regretfully as she tried to hide her amusement at Rishab's embarrassment. "I think they threw your clothes away when you were in ICU. I really don't think you would have wanted them back."
Rishab flashed back to the morning of the earthquake. He remembered the smoke, falling debris shredding his suit and was sure the nurse was right. "I see your point" he said.
"Maybe your girlfriend can go back to your apartment and get you a change of clothes?" She suggested.
Rishab smiled wearily. "Thanks, but I don't think that will be possible either. My condo isn't there anymore."
"Rishab, I was only kidding" Anjali said. "I don't know for sure if your building is one of the ones severely damaged."
Rishab smiled at Anjali. "I know you were, sweetheart" he said. "But kidding or not, you were right. My place is gone."
"Would you like me to pick you up something from the store?" Anjali asked.
"That'd be great" Rishab smiled. "I can't exactly do my own shopping dressed like this." He tugged at the flimsy blue and white hospital gown with its opening in the back. "What would people think?"
Anjali returned Rishab's mischievous smirk. "Just write down your sizes for me and I'll find you something" she said handing him a notepad and pencil from her pocket.
Another knock was heard at the door and this time it was Dr. Stevens. "Well, Mr. Singhania" the young doctor said with a toothy grin. "It's a pleasure to finally be able to call you by your real name rather than John Doe number 6. And may I add you're looking much better."
"Thank you Doctor" Rishab replied with a small smile.
"Listen, I'll run to the store while the doctor is here" Anjali said, standing up from his bed. "I'll be back in no time."
"Anjali, I lost my wallet. I don't have any cash or a credit card to give you" Rishab said seriously.
"I'll take care of it" Anjali assured him. "We'll call the credit card people when you get out of here and tomorrow we'll get you a duplicate license and whatever else you need."
"Thanks" Rishab said, smiling affectionately. Anjali caught him mouth the words "I love you" as she was leaving and couldn't help but blow him a kiss.
Just as Anjali closed the door to Rishab's room she heard a very familiar voice.
"There you are" Jai grinned. She turned to see Jai and Bani standing there hand in hand. "I guess we did have the right floor after all. Did you know there are three second floors in this hospital?"
Anjali laughed. "Yes as a matter of fact I did," she said. "But one of them is Maternity and the other is Pediatrics. I didn't think there would be a problem."
"Very funny" Jai smirked. "There isn't a problem unless you happen to ask a pediatric nurse."
Anjali fought back the laughter.
"So, are we going to meet Rishab?" Jai asked.
"Oh don't worry, you're going to meet him" Anjali said, "but it's going to have to wait a bit. The doctor is with him right now and if everything checks out he'll be released."
"That's wonderful news Anjali" Bani said.
"Yeah it is isn't it?" Anjali grinned. "Anyway, Rishab's condo was destroyed by the earthquake and the clothes he wore in here have been ruined, so I'm going out to get him something to wear."
"You must be crazy about this guy if you're shopping for him" Jai said with a sly grin.
"Very funny Jai" Anjali smirked, "but you're right. I am crazy about him. And before I forget jaan, I'm not sure what arrangements you and Bani came up with for sleeping, but I'm going to have to renege on the couch offer. You'll have to muster up all your strength and self control and stay on the bed in Bani's room because I'm going to ask Rishab to be stay at my place. He lost all his cash and credit cards so the only place he'll have to stay is in his store and I don't want him to have to do that."
"No problem" Jai smiled and then looked at Bani longingly. "How many days is it?"
"I think its twenty four days and eighteen hours" Bani replied with a playful smile. She glanced momentarily at her watch. "No, wait, make that twenty four days, seventeen hours and fifty five minutes."
Jai stared at Bani in disbelief. "And here I am thinking I was the only one counting down the minutes." Jai leaned in to kiss his fiance when his cell phone rang.
"Trust me when I say no cell phone, regular phone or doorbell is going to interrupt us the minute we are married" he told Bani in a sexy tone. He could barely take his eyes off her to even answer his phone. Bani blushed at the suggestiveness in Jais' voice, but truthfully she was as anxious to consummate their relationship as he was.
"Alright you two, you guys are making me sick. Stop all this lovey dovey talk" Anjali said hitting Jai on the shoulder playfully.
"Look who's talking. Wait till I meet this Rishab guy jaan. Then we'll see who's all this lovey dovey" Jai said grinning.
Bani regained her composure while Jai was on the phone. He was in an extremely excitable state when he put his phone away.
"Who was that?" Bani asked curiously.
"That was the television station, KNBC" he announced. "It seems they found the tape of the fire, the one with Ronit rescuing people and they've made a few still photos from the footage. They said we can come by and pick up the photos any time."
"Fantastic!" Anjali said enthusiastically.
"I'll call you and we'll hook up after we get the pictures, is that okay?" Jai asked.
"Of course. Now go!" Anjali laughed.
"See you later" They both called as they almost ran towards the elevator. This was the best break Jai had had yet. With the photos from the studio, he'd now have a picture to show people. The roller coaster ride was again on an upward turn.
--------------
Anjali opened the door to Rishab's room with her free hand and quietly entered. She smiled when she saw Rishab dozing in a sitting position in his bed. Despite the urgency in his plea to depart the hospital, Anjali knew Rishab was still recovering from his traumatic ordeal and wondered if leaving so soon was the best thing? Her thoughts were answered when she walked silently over towards his bed and his eyes shot open and his lips turned upward into a most dazzling grin.
"There you are beautiful" he smiled sitting completely upright in bed. "I've been waiting for you."
"Oh really?" Anjali said with a playful smirk.
"Yeah, really" Rishab replied motioning for her to join him. He eyed the packages Anjali had in her hands.
Anjali placed the shopping bags she had with her on the floor and sat carefully on the edge of Rishab's bed. "So, did the doctor give you the all clear sign?"
"He did" Rishab responded. "He wasn't crazy about the idea when I told him I'd be staying in the office at my store but I assured him it would only be for one night and I knew how to use a phone if I needed to."
"Well he doesn't need to worry about that," Anjali said. "Because you're not staying in your office. I don't like that idea much myself. You can stay with me until you get another place."
"Anjali, really you don't have to…"
"Rishab, it's no trouble at all. My best friend and his fiance will be staying in the spare bedroom and I have a couch that's more comfortable than most beds just calling your name."
"Are you sure you don't mind?" Rishab asked just to make sure. The last thing he wanted to do was impose on Anjali when she had company.
"I don't mind at all" Anjali smiled. "If I minded I wouldn't have insisted that you come stay with me. Besides, it'll give my two favorite guys a chance to get to know each other."
Rishab leaned in and gave Anjali a gentle kiss on the lips. "Thank you" he whispered.
"You're welcome" Anjali smiled in return. "Now, why don't you put on that sweater and jeans I just bought for you so we can get out of here. I thought we could run to the store and pick up some groceries and then the four of us can have a nice relaxing dinner."
"You're not working tonight?" Rishab asked, pleasantly surprised.
Anjali chuckled. "Nope. Ryan called to tell me that we were off top alert status and Team "A" was to go home and get some rest. I'm team "A"."
"He didn't say anything else?" Rishab asked curiously. He knew Ryan was going to be filled with numerous questions since it was obvious Anjali and Rishab were more than casual acquaintances.
"He didn't" Anjali smirked. "But I could tell he was dying to ask me something. I didn't give him the chance though."
Rishab chuckled, moving towards the edge of the bed to get up. "All right then. I'll get dressed and then we can get the heck out of here. I hate hospitals."
Anjali smiled as she helped Rishab to a standing position. She then gathered what few belongings he had along with all of the needed paperwork for discharge, while Rishab hurriedly got dressed. Fifteen minutes later the two walked out of the front doors of St. John's.
To be continued…
Shiv Shakti
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
