Chapter 4
Why don't you divorce Mallika, Ashu? God knows you have enough grounds!"
Ashutosh looked at his best friend cum brother-in-law in shock.
"What is wrong with you, Armaan? How can you even think like that?"
Armaan looked at him pityingly.
"It is the only way you will get away from my mother. More importantly, it is the only way you will get Riya away from her!"
Ashutosh closed his eyes and breathed hard.
"You are being too harsh on your mother, Armaan. It must be really tough on her to see Mallika like this. And we all know I am...!"
"Shut up, just shut up now!"
Armaan growled fiercely.before running a tired hand over his face,
"Anyway, this conversation is not about my mother. It is about Riya. You need to get her away from this, Ashutosh. You may think me cruel when I say this but that child needs to get away from this toxic atmosphere!"
"Mallika is her mother, Armaan!"
"She is her mother but she is no longer in any position to mother her. Nor is she ever going to be able to. Let us face it, Ashu. You have done all that can be done but we all know that Mallika's psychosis has no cure. Do you want the child to grow up in the presence of a violent, mentally deranged woman? How far does this need to go before the seriousness of the situation gets into your thick skull? Riya is growing increasingly disturbed, Ashu. She is no longer the child she was!"
Ashutosh looked at him nonplussed. Even if he spoke harshly, Armaan spoke the truth. In his love for his wife and his sense of guilt, was he ignoring the well being of his child?
"Take responsibility of your daughter, Ashu. Make her your priority. Mallika will remain ours for this lifetime! Don't try to make it up to my mother by giving her control of Riya! You don't need to. None of this is your goddamn fault!"
Ashutosh nodded his head.
"Maybe I am trying to overcompensate. Maybe I am wrong in palming off responsibility of Riya to your mother! Maybe I need to address all of that! But Mallika remains my responsibility, Armaan. Sane or otherwise, she is my wife. I cannot walk out on her!"
Armaan gave him a frustrated look.
"Did you know your daughter was taken to a psychologist yesterday?"
Ashutosh was shocked to hear that.
"I thought you might not know. My mother would hardly tell you and Riya has pretty much stopped communicating with any of us!"
"Whom did she go to? What happened?"
"Apparently, Dr Kapoor recommended to my mother that she take her to a psychologist in the light of the blacking out episodes. Since all her physical parameters are absolutely normal. My mother was greatly affronted by his advice but you know Dr Kapoor. He is hardly the one to take her nonsense. He went ahead and fixed up the appointment himself and left her with no choice!"
Ashutosh blinked as he recalled the missed call from Dr Kapoor. He had had an emergency surgery last evening and another one this morning. He had been meaning to call him back but it had slipped his mind.
"Whom did he refer her to?"
"Apparently, there is this lady at the Queen Mary hospital, Dr Verma. My mother came back complaining of her attitude and insolence. I concluded right away that she must be excellent!"
Ashutosh could not help the small chuckle that escaped his lips. Armaan knew how to make him laugh even under the most trying circumstances. Ashutosh wondered how he would have survived the last four years in this house if not for Armaan!
"Listen Ashu, go meet this doctor. Please follow her advice whatever it maybe so far as Riya is concerned. Mallika is beyond help but let us make sure that Riya is not!"
Armaan gave Ashutosh a comforting hug!
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"Here is your adrak wali chai, Nidhi!"
Anjie placed the cup in front her before slumping into the chair in front of her and sipping her own cup of coffee.
"So, how did your date with Dr Ranganath go last evening?"
Anjie shrugged her shoulders.
"Like always!"
"Has he told his parents yet?
"Who cares, Nidhi? Not like I am in any hurry!"
"Of course!"
Annie frowned at the twinkle in Nidhi's eye!
"Forget it, yaar. It will happen when it has to. So how did the movie date with Ashi go?"
Nidhi groaned.
"Don't remind me! My daughter has sworn never to talk to me ever in all her life!"
"Why? What did you do?"
"I couldn't get home on time. Had a last minute patient!"
"But you said you had no appointments for the afternoon when we met at lunch?"
Nidhi sighed.
" a last minute referral by Dr Kapoor. I thought I'd just meet them and ask them to take an appointment for a later time. I had no clue I would be up against the Snow Queen herself!"
Anjie gave a short laugh!
"What?"
Nidhi sighed.
"long story but the bottom line is her granddaughter is a sweet little child who badly needs help. Something that Snow Queen is not going to let me give. I am wondering if I should talk to Dr Kapoor about the case?"
Just then, Nidhi's mobile buzzed and she took the call.
"Yes?"
She listened to what was being said at the other end and then grimaced.
"Please have him sit in my cabin, I am just coming!"
As she ended the call, Anjie looked at her questioningly.
"Seems Snow Queen's son in law is here! Let's hope he is more reasonable than her"
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"Yes, Dr Kapoor, I am waiting for her in her cabin in fact. Yes, I understand. Will update you after I speak to her!"
As he heard the door open, Ashutosh ended the call and quickly stood up and turned.
The duo stared transfixed at each other.
They had never imagined they would meet again in this lifetime!
Edited by sharadrocks - 11 years ago
Anupamaa
Shiv Shakti
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
