Next morning when Armaan trudges back to the hospital, there is no spring in his step. He seems to have lost hope of regaining his Jassi.
Ashmit, being his usual annoying self, is sitting by her bedside. Armaan completely ignores him and sits down, trying to catch Jassi's attention. She smiles rather vaguely, as one might at a casual acquaintance.
Then Armu casts a glance at what Ashmit is showing her. These are a stack of photographs of Ashmit and Jassi dancing together at his party the other day. But Ashmit is trying to give it an entirely different colour.
Ashmit: Yeh dekho Jassi….tum iss sari mein kitni khoobsurat lag rahi thi……sab log hume hi dekh rahe the, aur keh rahe the ki…… (stops suddenly)
Jassi looks inquiringly at him. "Aap kuch kehte-kehte ruk gaye..?"
Ashmit: Rehne do…..iss waqt tumhe sab kuch yaad dilaane ki zaroorat nahin hai.
Armu: (seething) Nahin nahin…bolo na….ab kaun sa naya jhoot laye ho Jassi ko sunaane ke liye?
Ashmit: Tumse kaun pooch raha hai…..Jassi ko mujh par yakeen hai….hai na Jassi?
Jassi: Aap pehle bataiye toh sahi….yakeen ki baat toh uske baad hogi na.
Ashmit: Well Jassi…..sab log keh rahe the ki…..ki…..hamari jodi bilkul perfect lagti hai!
Jassi looks at a loss. Armaan loses his temper and yells, "Shut up! Meri wife ke baare mein aisa kehte hue tumhe sharm nahi aayi?"
Ashmit: Mr. Suri….na yeh tumhari wife hai aur na maine koi sharmnaak baat kahi hai….Jassi, main yeh baat abhi tumhe yaad dilaana nahin chahta tha, lekin tumhare accident se pehle, maine tumhe shaadi ke liye propose kiya tha…aur tumne "haan" bhi kar di thi…in fact, yeh party humne issi khushi mein rakhi thi…kuch yaad aaya?
Armaan nearly springs on him, but a glance at Jassi's doubtful face makes him simmer down. He turns pleadingly to her.
Armaan: Please Jassi…tum bhale hi meri baaton par yakeen na laro, par iski baat bhi toh mat suno…..ye jhoot bol raha hai Jassi…..tum dono ne saath dance kar liye toh kya isse tumhara isse koi rishta ban gaya? Agar mere paas bho photos hote toh…..
He jumps; his hand goes to his cellphone. "Main bhi kitna stupid hoon….tumhari photo hain toh sahi mere cellphone mein….isse dekh kar tumhe shaayd yaad aa jaye…."
He shows her the photo. But, it happens to be one from Jassi's pre-makeover days! She stares at it in bemusement. Ashmit takes one look and starts chortling. "Toh yeh hai tumhara saboot! Yeh badsoorat chehra, Jassi ka! Kise bewatoof bana rahe ho Armaan Suri?"
Armaan: Jassi, yeh tumhi ho…..pehle tum aise hi dikhti thi….yaad karne ki koshish karo….
The doctor comes in and hears his last sentence. He says disapprovingly, "Maine aapse kaha tha na….inn par strain mat daliye….iss tarah zabardasti inhe yaad dilaane ki koshish se ulta asar bhi ho sakta hai….ab please jayiye aur inhe rest karne dijiye."
They shuffle out reluctantly. They give each other one last glare before setting out in opposite directions.
In the dead of the night, someone in an attendant' uniform, with a surgical mask over his face, sneaks quietly into Jassi's room. She is soundly asleep. The mysterious figure carefully places her on a stretcher and wheels her out, unnoticed by any of the staff. From the corridor, he takes a detour that takes him to the emergency exit. He manages to open this with an assorted set of tools, then wheels out the stretcher. Quickly he places Jassi inside and drives her to a secluded cottage.
Carefully placing her on the bed, he removes his mask……
Tomorrow: More trouble for Armaan
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
