Chapter 101
"Sach bata… bilkul miss nahi karegi?" An emotional Rahul asked Muskaan as the two said their goodbyes at the airport.
Armaan and Muskaan were the only ones who had managed to wrangle up permission from Dr. Keerti to report to duty a half an hour late so that they could see their partners off. She had very strictly forbidden the others from being late to work, and so the gang had said their goodbyes over breakfast hosted by the Guptas earlier in the morning.
They all had a million different things to tell the duo, a thousand pieces of advice, and about a billion hugs to share. It felt as if Riddhima & Rahul were going away for 5 years and not 5 days. In any other situation, it would have been comical, but everyone knew how sensitive they all were about the distance, and how separation anxiety was a very real thing when it came to the gang, but especially Armaan & Riddhima.
Armaan and Riddhima who had been through hell to be together, who had spent the worst months of their lives when they were apart, who didn't do well if they didn't see each other often. It might have been a little too codependent, but it was their life. And while no one said it out loud, they were worried about the couple.
The same could also be said for Rahul & Muskaan who were having some trouble with the distance, being apart for the first time since they'd gotten together. Rahul going away had never ended well for the couple, and those old anxieties and fears had found their way back into Muskaan's head and heart, making it difficult for her to let him go. But she knew that she had to.
"Bilkul nahi," she replied haughtily. "Tere andar miss karne jaisa hai hi kya."
Though both of them knew she was lying through her teeth, Rahul didn't say anything, letting her have this. Instead, he pulled her into a tight hug, breaking Muskaan's resolve. She started to cry, cursing herself for being so overly emotional over a five day separation.
"Muskaan, it's okay," Rahul soothed. "Mujhe pata hai ki pichli har baar jab main gaya hoon toh cheezein kharab hi huyi hai, but I promise, iss baar kuch galat nahi hoga. I love you, Muskaan. Aur main tujhe chodke waapas kabhi nahi jaunga."
She smiled at his words, finding solace in them in the midst of her emotional upheaval, knowing that he meant them, and that he wouldn't leave her again. Ever. They'd done it and now they knew it sucked big time. Nothing was worth losing each other over.
She nodded against his shoulder, hugging him tighter and Rahul could practically feel her lips fall into a smile at his words, which made him grin and drop a quick kiss to her curls.
"Tu apna dhyaan rakhiyo, samjhi?" He instructed. "Zyada late tak movies dekhne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Time pe so jaana. Warna raat mein 4-4 baje tak picturein hi dekhti rahegi SRK wali."
"Woh toh tu kuch bol bhi mat! I can't believe RK ne Armaan aur Riddhima ko SRK se milwaya lekin mujhe nahi!" She thundered.
As expected, Armaan hadn't been able to control himself and had spilled the beans at breakfast earlier, laughing over how Riddhima had literally proposed to the man. But the joke had been on him when every single girl at the table, even Padma Mumma, had said they'd have done the same thing. Atul had agreed too, adding insult to the injury, and they'd all spent the rest of breakfast laughing over the fact that Armaan didn't think proposing to SRK the second you saw him was an acceptable way to acknowledge his presence.
Rahul laughed at Muskaan's indignation and hugged her yet again, making all thoughts of SRK fly out of her brain in a jiffy.
"I hate you," Armaan murmured into Riddhima's shoulder as he hugged her tight. "Hamesha mere saath aise hi karti ho."
"I know," Riddhima agreed. "I hate me too."
"Oyye!" He rebuffed immediately, making her laugh.
"I'm really gonna miss you, Armaan," Riddhima declared, hiding her face in his neck.
"I know," he replied. "I'll miss you, too, Basket. But yeh important haina."
"Jaanti hoon. Isliye toh keh rahi hoon. Tum bhi chalo mere saath," she said.
"I wish," he answered. "Kaash itna easy hota."
"Easy hi toh hai!" She cried. "Bas abhi ticket lete hain aur tum chalo!"
Armaan laughed. "Gabbar mujhe job se nikaal degi. Fir kya karogi? 5 din ke badle hamesha alag rehna padega."
Riddhima pouted at his words. "Tum kabse itne responsible ho gaye?" She whined. "Aise toh tumhe hamesha kuch khurafat soojhti hai. Ab jab main bol rahi hoon, toh tumhe ekdum perfect Armaan Mallik ban'na hai."
Armaan chuckled. "Ab kya haina… main Dr. Shashank Gupta ka son - in - law hoon. Toh mere adarniya sasur jee ki qualities bhi mere andar aane lagi hain."
"Armaan!" She scolded, swatting his arm.
"Fine! Papa ko kuch nahi bolunga," he promised. "But tum wahaan apna dhyaam rakhna. Aur uss idiot Rahul ka bhi."
Riddhima nodded mutely.
"Basket, tumhaare koi excuses nahi chalenge. Main poochunga Mom se. Iss maamle mein woh tumhaari side bilkul nahi lengi," Armaan warned. "Tum aur Daddu poora time kaam mat karna. Thoda normal logon ki tarah enjoy bhi kar lena."
"Haan, baba. Poora time kaam nahi karungi. Achche se khaungi, time pe soungi. Promise," Riddhima told him. "Tum apna khayal rakhna. Aajkal bohot kaam karte ho, Armaan. I know it's exciting aur Dr. Shubhankar tumhe push bhi kar rahe hain, but time to time rest le liya karna. Ab main thode din nahi hoon toh yeh matlab nahi ki tum 20 ghante kaam hi karte raho."
"Aye, aye, cap'n!" He said, adding a salute for effect.
"Aur please… look after Muskaan. Woh bolegi nahi lekin kaafi tensed hai. Aur Nikki… uss ladki pe nazar rakhna tum. Pregnancy ka 7th month aa gaya hai. She needs to take it easy," Riddhima lectured.
"Haan, Dr. Basket. Main sabka dhyaan rakhunga," Armaan answered.
"Mumma keh rahi thi… Tum please ghar chale jaaya karna. Aajkal waise hi unhe bhi bohot tension hoti hai. Papa tumhaare baare mein bata rahe the toh Nani toh keh rahi thi ki tumhe waapas ghar hi shift karwa dete hain kyuki wahaan akele tumhaara dhyaan kaun rakhega. Isliye… Humour them for a while, okay?" She explained.
"Hmmm… Ghar jamaai is a very good option, Basket. Jab tum waapas aaogi, we should discuss it," he said, making Riddhima laugh and slap his chest.
“But, really, Armaan. Tum please apna khayal rakhna. Meri tension mat lena. Wahaan Rahul, Mom, Dad sab honge. You look after yourself,” she reiterated.
“Haan, baba. Pakka!” Armaan assured her. Saying so, he pulled her into a hug.
“Uhm! Aur kitna chipkoge, yaar?” Rahul teased, as him and Muskaan walked up to them, hand in hand.
Riddhima pulled back and whacked Rahul. “Shut up!” She whined.
“Ridzy, yaar. Tu itni tension mat le. Tere Hero ka achche se dhyaan rakhenge hum,” Muskaan said, garnering a smile from Riddhima.
The two women shared a tight hug. “Aur tu bhi relax kar. Main Rahul ko koi ulti seedhi harkat nahi karne dungi.”
“Good! Iska toh special dhyaan rakhna. Kuch bhi karta rehta hai,” Muskaan replied.
Rahul gave her the stink eye. Armaan chuckled. “It’s okay, Daddu! Inko hamesha yehi lagta hai ki boys toh useless hi hote hain,” he said, pulling Rahul into a hug.
“Passengers on the Mumbai to Delhi, Flight 1045A, please proceed to Gate 7 for departure,” the announcement was made. The four of them looked up at that.
“That’s us,” Rahul said.
“Yeah,” Armaan replied. “It’s time.”
They shared a few last minute tight hugs and then Rahul took Riddhima’s hand and pulled her away. Armaan & Muskaan waved to them and waited till the duo was out of sight before turning away.
Armaan threw an arm around Muskaan’s shoulder and pulled her into his side. “Bas thode dino ki hi baat hai, Muskaan,” he told her. She sighed but nodded.
“Ab chalte hain warna Gabbar double duty de degi,” he added, pulling her towards the exit.
Rahul & Riddhima took their seats on the flight, getting ready for take off. “It’ll be good, right?” Riddhima asked. “I’m really nervous.”
“This is just an induction, Riddhu. Tu itna tension kyu le rahi hai?” Rahul questioned.
Riddhima shrugged. “It’s sort of daunting, you know. I mean… we’re finally stepping into this new beginning with our career. I don’t know Rahul… it feels very weird to leave the old stuff behind. Ab sab change ho jaayega.”
“Change toh ho jaayega,” Rahul agreed. “But we knew this was coming, didn’t we? It was inevitable. We have to move forward. And, it’s a good thing. It’s exciting.”
“It is,” Riddhima answered. “But nervousness toh hoti haina.”
“Haan, woh toh hoti hai,” Rahul told her. “But tujhe pata hai ki hum sab apna best denge. Aur just because ab hum sab ek saath nahi hai pehle ki tarah… uska yeh matlab nahi hai ki hum badal jaayenge, right? I mean, we’re gonna be best friends, no matter what.”
“Yeah,” she agreed. “Always. I just think… I’m gonna miss working with the others so closely. Ab toh hum hamesha ki tarah same cases pe kaam bhi nahi kar payenge.”
“But that means it will give us so much more to talk about. Ab tak toh hum saath kaam karte the toh itna kuch baat karne ke liye hi nahi tha. But ab toh itna kuch hoga humaare paas discuss karne, ek doosre ke saath share karne,” he replied. “Tu itna stress mat le. Just because you’re not working with Armaan every second of every day iska yeh matlab nahi hai ki ab woh tujhse kam pyaar karna lagega.”
“Obviously,” she answered immediately, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, which it was.
“Don’t play with me, Riddhu. Mujhe pata hai ki duniya mein sabse zyada tension tujhe iss cheez ki hi hai,” he told her. “Jabse hum sab Sanjeevani aaye hain, tune apne almost 90% cases pe Armaan ke saath hi kaam kiya hai. Working together has been a very big part of your relationship. Aur ab jab aisa nahi hoga, when you’re in the maternity ward and he’s in the ICCU, it’s obvious that things will change. Your relationship will change.
And, hum sabko toh aadat hai, kyuki hum mein se kisine kabhi ek saath itna kaam nahi kiya jitna tune aur Armaan ne kiya hai. Hum sabko adjust karne mein itna issue nahi aayega jitna tum dono ko hoga. But, it’ll be fine. I mean, come on! It’s you and Armaan. Tum dono ne isse bhi badi problems face ki hai aur itne saalon baad, you’re still tight as ever. This is a silly little hiccup.
I mean sure, starting mein bohot difficult hogs because you two are used to spending literally every moment together, but dheere dheere aadat pad jaayegi. And your relationship will get even more solid. I mean, finally you’ll have a reason to get off work, that anticipation of seeing each other after a long day, the need to tell each other a million things, to talk, to share. Aur phir tum dono ek saath spend kiya hua time aur bhi zyada value karne lagoge, right?”
“You’re right, as usual,” Riddhima replied, resting her head on his shoulder. “Tu itna smart kaise hai, Rahul? And how do you always know what’s troubling me so easily?”
“Perks of being your best friend, I guess,” he answered. “Comes in the job description. But seriously. Tu tension mat le. It’ll all work out well in the end.”
Riddhima nodded, mulling over his words. What Rahul was saying was right. She was worried about what this new chapter would mean for her and Armaan, but it couldn’t be that bad. Sure, it might be a little difficult in the beginning, but they’d adjust. They were going to get married soon. This was nothing. They’d be just fine. But still, she resolved to talk to Armaan once they got back.
Armaan smiled as he read Riddhima’s text while walking into the hospital. She’d told him to take care of himself again and sent a string of heart emojis just before her flight had taken off. It was really liberating for him to have Riddhima be so openly affectionate with him, even via text. She’d always shied away from him so much earlier, and this outspoken Riddhima who was confident in herself and their relationship, was someone who he’d fallen for even harder than his shy, soft Basket.
Inside, he ran into Anjali in the corridor. “Hi, Armaan!” She greeted him.
“Hey, Anjy!” He exclaimed, pulling her into a hug. “Iss time pe free kaise?” He asked. Mornings were extremely hectic for Anjali these days with a ton of reports to go through before she took her rounds.
“Aaj reports thoda late aayengi,” she said. “Toh free hoon. Coffee?”
“Absolutely,” he agreed enthusiastically, pulling her into the cafe.
“So, how was the airport?” She asked him as the two of them sat down at a table.
“Airport toh jaisa tha waisa hi rahega na,” Armaan replied cheekily.
“Armaan!” Anjali reprimanded. “Tu har sawaal ke aise ulte jawaab kyu deta hai?”
“Arre! Kya bolu main? Bas, Riddhima aur Rahul ko see off karke aa gaye main aur Muskaan. Phir Muskaan ko raaste mein page aa gaya toh hum jaise hi hospital pohonche woh bhaag gayi. Mera gaadi park karne tak wait bhi nahi kiya,” he complained. Anjali laughed.
“Ridzy theek thi na?” She probed.
Armaan shrugged. “You know how she gets. Thodi worried thi, but Rahul usse sambhaal lega. Aur wahaan Mom Dad bhi haina. Plus, main shaam ko phone kar lunga. Tum bhi baat kar lena.”
Anjali nodded. “Aajkal woh bohot tension lene lag gayi hai,” she said.
“I know,” Armaan agreed. “But achanak itne saare changes ke saath adjust karne mein bhi toh time lagta haina. She’s never been good with change. Usse toh aur bhi zyada time lagta hai.”
“Isliye toh mujhe aur zyada tension hoti hai,” she told him.
“Hmmmm,” he hummed in response. “Waise, Anjy…” he started.
“Yes, Armaan?” She asked.
“Now that Riddhima isn’t here… Mujhe tumhaari kisi cheez mein help chahiye,” he replied.
“Meri help? Kis cheez mein?” She questioned.
“Riddhima ke liye ek surprise plan karna hai,” he said.
Anjali started laughing at that. “Mr. Romeo! Yeh toh tujhse expect hi karna chahiye tha mujhe. Ridzy ko gaye 2 ghante hue hain aur abhi se planning shuru ho gayi teri.”
“I have a reputation to uphold,” he joked.
“Oyye, Mr. Reputation… karna kya hai?” Anjali asked.
“Woh toh main tujhe bata dunga, but shayad thoda time lage. Tu manage kar paayegi kya? Aajkal bohot kaam hota haina,” Armaan said, concerned.
“I’m sure I’ll manage, lekin agar nahi hua toh tujhe bata dungi. But karna kya hai yeh toh bata!” She pressed.
“Pehle mujhe thoda groundwork kar lene do. Phir tumhe batata hoon,” he told her.
“Fine! Keep your secrets,” she said, defeated.
Armaan laughed. “Tum Gupta Sisters ki na, yehi problem hai. Hamesha sab kuch jaan’na hota hai.”
“That’s a bad thing because?” Anjali asked.
“Because nothing! Whatever… yeh chodo. How are things with Champ?” He changed the topic.
Anjali blushed, causing Armaan to go wide eyed in shock. “OH MY GOD! Are you actually blushing right now?” He cried.
“Shut up, Armaan!” She shouted, hitting his arm. “Don’t tease.”
“Fine! I won’t!” He replied, raising his hands in surrender. “But obviously… ab blush kar rahi ho toh things are good?”
Anjali nodded. “They’re really good. Thank you, by the way, for that push. Uss din agar tumne mujhe uske saath date pe jaane ke liye convince nahi kiya hota toh I would have never agreed to be in a relationship with him.”
“This is one thing I want to take credit for!” Armaan laughed. “I’m glad. So happy for you!”
Anjali smiled and gave him a hug. Just then, her pager rang. “Ah! Reports are here,” she said, checking it. “I’ll see you later. Fill me in about the surprise when you’re ready, okay?”
Armaan nodded, and Anjali hurried outside the cafe, mug still in her hand. Armaan sat there and finished his coffee leisurely. He still had a few minutes before he had to see Dr. Shubhankar. The idea of the surprise slowly took shape. He was so excited. Riddhima would be extremely happy when she came back home, and he couldn’t think of anything better to brighten his day.
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So, new chapter! Hope y'all like it. Some heavy stuff with Riddhima, but I think this conversation was very important with everything that's happening now. I hope you're satisfied with it.
Any guesses as to what Armaan is planning now? I don't think any of you will actually be able to figure it out, but give it your best shot! If any of you actually guess correctly, I'll include a chapter of whatever you want in this FF. :p
Also, a PSA to let you know that yes, I am working on TDBU. The next chapter is halfway through, but I need sometime to finish it, because boyo, it's long af. It's already around 3k words, and that's only half! But as we near the reveal, I need to show some important conversations. Please bear with me for a few days. I'll have it up soon!
And, back to this. Please tell me how you like it! ❤
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