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EPISODE THIRTY-THREE
"Arey yaar aise kaise khelenge... Cricket ke liye to 2 teams chahiye... aur agar tum sab meri team mein hoge to phir doosari team kahan se ayegi?" he said scratching his forehead.
"Umar Chacha ko bula lete hain..." Tina suggested.
"Good Idea..." Armaan turned towards the the corner where Umar was working and called him "Umar bhai... zara yaha ana to..."
Umar came running "Ji saab..."
"Pahle to aapko kitni baar bola hai... ye saab-waab kam kijiye..." he scolded him.
"Sorry saab... mera matlab Armaan bhaiya..." Umar nodded. Though Umar was atleast 12 years elder than Armaan, but he still preferred calling him Bhaiya.
"Good... Ab ye lo aur apni wahan jaake khade ho jao... hum teams divide karte hain..." he gave him glove and signaled him to stand aside.
"Teams?" Umar asked.
"Haan teams' Cricket khel rahe hain na'"
"Lekin Bhaiya' humein to bahut kaam hai'"
"Arey cricket se jaroori kya kaam ho sakta hai' is waqt humein khelna hai aur aap doosari team ke captain ho' Kaam baad mein kar lena'"
"Theek hai'" Umar sighed and took the glove, but then turned and said "Agar Girija Tayee ne kuch kaha to?"
"Girija Tayee ko hum sambhal lenge' kyun bachchon?"
"Haan'" the kids shouted.
"Achcha bhai, chalo phir'" Umar stood aside waiting for kids to join him in his team, but none of the kids was ready to be in his team. Everyone wanted to be a part of Armaan's team.
Riddhima watched them arguing who will be in Umar bhai's team. After a lot of discussion when no solution came out, she stood up and walked towards them.
"Kya hua?" she asked.
"Didi humein Armaan bhaiya ki team mein khelna hai'" the kids replied one by one.
"Lekin agar Cricket khel rahe ho to 2 teams chahiye aur agar tum sab iski'" she glanced towards Armaan oddly "I mean inki team mein ho jaoge to phir kheloge kaise?
"Par didi, humein Bhaiya ki team mein hi khelna hai."
Armaan watched her trying to convince the kids to join Umar bhai's team as well. He looked at her curiously thinking how is she gonna be doing so.
"Hmm'" she looked at Umar bhai who stood there with a sorry face. "Theek hai, Umar bhai ki team meri team hai'" she said, then turned towards the kids "Ab batao meri team mein kaun-kaun hai?" she asked.
"Main'" To Armaan's amazement most of the kids raised their hands. Wow, the kids seem to be her fan. Good Miss. Gupta.
"Good' ab jo-jo meri team mein hai wo is taraf aa jao'" she asked.
Half of the kids come and stood on her side. She gave Armaan a victorious look and went back to her seat. Armaan watched her leaving and made a wind-you-up face.
So the teams were '
Armaan's Team ' Armaan, Chaya, Tina, Tarun, Deepak, Peter, Farhan, Roshni, Kathy, Seema, Charu.
Umar Bhai's Team ' Umar Bhai, Bhanu, Raghu, Shashi, Reena, Ayaaz, Najeeb, Meenu, Freddy, Vivan, Vineet.
Within minutes they started their game. Umar bhai's team won the toss and decided to bat first. Armaan gave the ball to Tarun who balled to Reena batting at the other end. She pushed her bat and hit the ball and took a run. After few minutes the score was '
Umar Bhai's team ' 30 runs for 2 wickets in 8 overs.
Vineet from Umar Bhai's team made a shot and the ball flew towards his leg side on left.
"Bhaiya ball'" Reena shouted.
Armaan who was standing at the Mid-Wicket position, a liitle far away, saw the ball flying towards his right side and ran to catch it. Riddhima was sitting busy reading newspaper at the Deep Square end on the Leg side. She didnt notice Armaan rushing towards her. Armaan's eyes were set on his target up in the air.
Suddenly Armaan jumped to catch the ball and landed almost on the bucket lying there near Riddhima's feet. She jumped from her chair as the water spilled over her salwar from the bucket. Armaan fell on his right arm catching the ball. Then turning around still lying on the ground, he held the ball up in the air and shouted. "CATCH'"
Kids from his team ran towards him yelling victoriously. "YAAYYYYYYYYYYY'"
Riddhima stood there looking down at her salwar with her mouth a little open. She glared towards Armaan. He was lying on the ground on his back while the kids came and jumped on him hugging him.
"What a catch Bhaiya'" Farhan praised.
"Haan' yayyyyy, Vineet out ho gaya'" Roshni added.
"Aoooooo' arey yaar theek hai ab tum sab utho to sahi mere upar se'" Armaan who was dumped under all the kids, groaned.
As the kids get off him he stood up and wiped his jeans to get off the sand. The kids went back to their positions. Riddhima was fuming at him by now. She spranged towards him,
"Tumne ye sab jaan bujh ke kiya na?" she spoke angrily.
Armaan turned with a jerk "Kya?"
"Tumne ye sab jaan bujh ke kiya' hai na?" she repeated.
"Kya? kya kiya maine?" he asked confusingly.
"Ye sab'" she pointed towards her mud covered salwar.
Armaan looked down "O' ye? Ye kaise hua? Tum kya itni badi hoke bhi mitti mein khelti ho?"
"Don't act smart' ye sab tumne kiya hai'"
"Maine? Maine kaise?"
"Achcha ab tumhe ye bhi nahi pata' abhi jo tum meri upar kude the ye usi se hua hai'"
"Ooooo' but I was catching the ball'" he said casually.
"Ball catch kar rahe the ya jaan bujh ke mujhe pareshaan kar rahe the' main sab jaanti hu'"
"Arey' tum to peeche hi pad gayi' maine kaha na maine ye sab intentionally nahi kiya. I was playing and jumped to catch the ball' ab tum beech mein aa gayi to main kya karu?"
"Bahut smart samajhte ho na tum apne aapko' ball ko tum thoda dur se bhi catch kar sakte the'" she scoffed again.
"Oye listen, main kya pahle ye dekhta ki mujhe kitne feet tumse dur rahne hai baal catch karne ke liye? Tab tak to ball gir jaati. Aur by the way, you are the one sitting carelessly at the wrong place' to ye to hona hi tha'"
"Achcha main galat position pe baithi thi' ab to main yahin bathungi' aur dekhti hut um kya karte ho?" she replied stubbornly and went back to her chair. "Aur agar is baar meri taraf ball aayi na' to'" she pointed her finger towards him.
"To kya? Mummy ko bulaogi?" he smirked.
"Ji nahi' bas dekhte jao main kya karti hu'"
Before he could reply further Seema called him "Bhaiya aao na'" he ran back to his position.
Now it was Armaan's turn to ball. He threw the ball and by chance the ball went towards Riddhima. She picked up the ball and looked at him, but before she could say something Peter came and took away the ball from her hand. So she sat back.
From the balling end, Armaan observed her heated expressions. He shook his head and went to ball again, but then smiled mischievously. This time he threw the ball in such a way that Raghu who was batting hit the ball and once again it landed on the table in front of Riddhima.
Riddhima picked the ball and looked up. Armaan winked at her. She knew it immediately that he was doing it intentionally to rag her. Getting up from her place she darted towards him fumingly. Armaan stood at his place and saw her marching towards him.
"Tumne phir se wohi kiya'" she said.
"Kya maine kya kiya?" he asked.
"Ye ball meri taraf phenki'"
"Ball? Nahi to' ye ball maine nahi phenki' main to balling kar raha hu' ise to Raghu ne hit kiya tha'" he spoke making an innocent face.
"Main sab jaanti hu, tumne ball is tarah phenki ke shot meri taraf hi aaye'"
"Arey, tum bhi na, har bat pe mujhpe shaq karti ho' maine kya kiya?"
The kids saw them arguing and came there.
"Kya hua bhaiya' didi?" Tina asked.
"Ye'" Riddhima showed her the ball.
"Ye to ball hai' iska kya?" she got puzzled.
"Ye ball isne meri taraf jaan bujh ke phenki'" Riddhima said.
"Nahi Riddhima didi' ise to maine hit kiya tha' bhaiya to balling kar rahe the' aapko lagi kya? I am sorry'" Raghu replied.
"See' I didn't do anything and you are blaming me'" Armaan made a dramatically sad face.
Riddhima looked at Armaan and then at Raghu. She still suspected that it was all Armaan's doing, but didn't had proof, so couldn't say anything to the kids. She gave the ball to Kathy and went back. Armaan jumped in joy inwardly. I won. Miss. Gupta, you don't know who are you messing up with. He went back to his position taking the ball from Kathy.
Charu was balling. Another shot and the ball went towards Riddhima once again. But this time it skimmed slower. Armaan went to pick the ball again. He stopped in his path as he heard Girija Tayee's voice
"Arey Armaan bete?" Girija Tayee came towards him. "Tum kab aaye?" Armaan went to her and touched her feet "Jeete raho aur jaldi se pyari si dulhan le aao humare liye" she blessed him.
"Tayeeeeeeeeee'" he whined making her laugh "Bas thodi der hui Tayee' aap kaisi ho?"
"Main to theek hu' tumne aate hi laga diya na bachcho ko khelne mein'"
"Kya Tayee main kabhi-kabhi to aa pata hu' aur tab bhi agar unhe padhne mein laga dunga to phir bachche enjoy kaise karenge?"
"Haan' tumne hi in sabki aadatein bigaad ke rakhi hain' abhi to tum ho isliye sab baat manenge aur tumhaare jaate hi phir se shaitaniyan shuru ho jayengi inki"
"Layiye Tayee ye mujhe dijiye" he took the bag she was holding in her hand.
"Tayee' kitni der laga di'" Riddhima came there too.
"Arey aaj bazaar mein bahut bheed thi'" Tayee said.
"Achcha' Tayee maine cook ko saari tayyari karne ko kah diya tha aur Dana logon ke liye dhoodh bhi bhijwa diya tha' wo sab peeche wale garden mein honge abhi'"
"Dana log?" Armaan asked. "Wo kya hai?"
"Arey Old Age Home ke log'" Tayee replied.
Riddhima took the bag wands walked away towards the Kitchen.
"Lekin Dana log matlab?" he asked again.
"Dana matlab short form of Dada-Dadi aur Nana-Nani' Riddhima unhe yehi kahke bulati hai" Girija Tayee explained.
"Oh' like that'"
"Hmm' Umar'" she called Umar bhai.
"Ji Tayee?" he came huffing-puffing.
"Tu yahan kya khel raha hai' tera sara kaam ho gaya kya?" She scolded him.
"Ji' wo'" Umar glanced towards Armaan, who looked away.
Tayee followed his gaze and held Armaan's ear "Achcha to ye teri hi karaamat hogi' tune hi lagaya na ise khelne mein?" she asked.
"Aaaoooooo' Tayee chodo to'" she left his ear. "Tayee hum log Cricket khel rahe the, aur do teams chahiye thi isliye'"
"Achcha' lekin ye bachche tujhe chodke iski team mein khelne ko raazi kaise ho gaye?" she asked confusingly.
"Riddhima didi ki wajah se" Umar replied. "Didi ne kaha ki meri team unki team hai' aur bas aadhe bachche meri team mein ho gaye" he added excitedly.
"Hmm' to ye baat hai' achcha ab chal Lunch ka intezaam karna hai'" he told Umar. "Armaan tum yahi ho na' Lunch yahin karke jaana' bachchon aur baaki sab badon ko achcha lagega." She asked Armaan.
"Ismein bhi kya puchne wali baat hai Tayee' zaroor khaonga'" Armaan smiled widely.
Tayee went away followed by Umar.
The kids came there "Bhaiya chalo na khelte hain'"
"Haan chalo'" he replied.
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Inside the Kitchen, Riddhima was busy instructing the 2 cooks for food preparations.
"Arey Riddhima tu ye sab kya karne lagi beta?" Girija Tayee asked.
"Tayee wo bahut time ho raha tha, to maine socha ki lunch ki tayyari karwa du" she replied.
"Tu ye sab chod aur jaa jaake bahar bachcho ke saath khel' ye sab main dekh lungi."
"Lekin Tayee abhi-abhi to aap bahar se aayi ho' aap thaki hogi na' thoda araam kar lo, tab tak main dhekhti hu'" she said.
"Koi zaroorat nahi hai' main to gaadi mein gayi thi aur gaadi mein aayi hu' mujhe kausi paidal parade karni padi, sabkuch to mandiwale tayyar rakhte hain, mujhe to bas check karna hota hai' mujhe araam ki zaroorat nahi' lekin main jaanti hu, in sab shaitaano ne tujhe kitna tang kiya hoga' aur phir aaj to aur bhi badmaashi kar rahe honge' Armaan jo aaya hai' tu jaa jaake bahar baith'"
"Lekin Tayee'"
"Ja na'" Tayee pushed her out.
"Ok'" she gave up and went out.
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She came back and went to her chair. Taking the newpaper she started reading it again.
At some distance Armaan was sitting on the ground with his legs folded in Yoga style while 7 year old Freddy sat on his lap. Najeeb was hanging on his back. They seems to be discussing something. Riddhima glanced towards them. She smiled seeing the position he was sitting in surrounded by all the kids. He looked so involved and the kids looked his aficionados.
After a while he got up and walked towards her. She immediately looked back in her newspaper. He came there followed by some kids who were talking while walking "Bataiye na bhaiya ab kya karenge?" Ayaaz asked him.
"Haan' ab humaari team ka to koi captain nahi hai'" Vivan added.
"Hmm' dekhte hain'" Armaan replied and bent to pick the ball which was still lying near the chair where Riddhima sat.
Riddhima gave him a side glance. As he got up picking the ball, he got an idea. He walked back to the kids who were standing in group at some distance and threw the ball in air catching it again. He looked at Riddhima who was busy with her newspaper.
"Waise bachchon tumhe kya lagta hai, yahan aur koi hai kya jo doosari team ko lead kar sake?" he spoke aloud to be heard by everyone in the ground while smiling mischievously looking towards her.
The kids looked at him confused. Why was he repeating the thing they were discussing for last few minutes? And why was he speaking so loud?
But then Tina followed his gaze "Riddhima didi..." she exclaimed suddenly. "Haan Riddhima didi khelengi..."
"Haan Didi bhi khelengi" others agreed and ran towards her.
Riddhima looked with muddled expression at the horde of kids fliting towards her. What are they upto? She gasped while thinking.
"Didi..." Shashi said as they reached her "Chalo na... humare saath Cricket khelo na..."
"Kya? Cricket?" she looked at them "Lekin mujhe..."
"Please didi chalo na... humein khelne ke liye 2 teams chahiye... ek team to Armaan bhaiya ki hai aur doosari apki ho jayegi... Umar chacha bhi chale gaye'"
"Kya? par..." she didnt know what to say.
"Didi humari team mein ek member bhi kam ho gaya hai'" Meenu said.
"Please didi... please..." she could say no as the kids pleaded making cute faces.
"Ok baba... chalo..." though she wasnt sure, but still agreed.
"Yayyyyyyyy..." the kids cried joyfully.
The game started once again. The socre was '
Riddhima's team ' 54 runs for 5 wickets in 15 overs.
Shashi, Najeeb, Meenu, Freddy, Vineet were already out and it was now Bhanu and Raghu who were now batting. Raghu was a very good batsman. He took several runs with the help of Bhanu within minutes and the score rolled to 81 runs for 5 wickets in 20 overs.
Riddhima kept encouraging them from her place.
A few more overs passed and now the score was 102 runs for 9 wickets in 24 overs.
Vivan walked towards the table where Riddhima was sitting while other kids and Armaan got busy drinking water. Riddhima gave a water bottle to Vivan.
Taking the water from her he spoke "Didi! Aapne abhi tak gloves nahi pahne?"
"huh? gloves? Lekin kyun?" she asked.
"Arey main out ho gaya' ab aapko jana hai'"
"Mujhe?" she gasped. She has seen cricket on the TV when Rahul and Shashank watched it but had never played it.
"Haan aapko'"
"Meri jagah koi aur nahi jaa sakta?" she asked innocently.
14 year old Vivan laughed seeing her nervous "Nahi' aap hi last player ho' aap dar kyun rahi ho didi' itna difficult bhi nahi hai'"
"Lekin maine pahle kabhi Cricket nahi khela'"
"Dekha to hai na?" he asked. She nodded "To bas' Bat ko aise pakdo'" he showed how to grip the Bat "aur apni nazar ball pe rakhna' aur jab bhi Raghu aapko awaaj lagaye, bhagna' aur haan wo jo line hai na'" he pointed towards the line drawn near the wickets "usse bahar mat nikalna'" he explained.
"Bas itna karne se ho jayega?" she asked.
"Haan ab ye glove pahno aur jao' ye lo Bat'" he handed her everything.
"Ok'" she wore the glove and walked nervously towards the Pitch holding the Bat.
As she reached the wicket and made a bating pose Raghu who was already standing there looked at her "Didi' yahan nahi wahan'" he point towards the other end from where Roshni was ready to ball. "Over up ho gaya hai' apko wahan jana hai'"
"Oh'" she slapped her head and then started walking towards the other end, but then turned back and spoke to Raghu in a low whisper so that nobody else could hear them "Raghu' mujhe khelna nahi aata' please mujhe batate rahna kya karna hai'"
Armaan saw them discussing something from a far end while giving instructions to Peter.
Raghu looked at her and blinked his eyes, but then he assured her in a confident tone "Don't worry didi' main hu na' main aapko batata rahunga kya karna hai' aap abhi wahan jao' aur us line se bahar mat nikalna' aur jaise hi main aapko awaaj du jaldi se bhagkar yahan is line ke andar aa jana' ok'" he explained.
"Ok'" she nodded happily and strolled towards the other side confidently giving a side glance to Armaan who just came and stood a little away from her at his usual spot on Mid-Wicket position on the leg side.
Roshni threw the ball and Raghu hit it towards the off side. He called Riddhima to run. She ran towards the batting end immediately. They took 2 runs so Raghu was back at the batting position. After that Raghu missed 2 balls, but they still managed to take 2 runs on the next ball and 1 on the 5th ball of the over. Now it was Riddhima's turn to face the ball. She stood there nervously holding the bat over her shoulder.
"Ready didi?" Roshni asked. Riddhima looked towards Raghu who showed her a thump up signaled her to put her Bat on the the ground. She looked back at Roshni and nodded.
Roshni threw the ball and it was caught by Tarun who stood behind Riddhima as a wicket-keeper. Riddhima kept standing there holding the bat on the ground. Raghu slapped his head and walked towards her. Armaan looked at her puzzled himself. Why didn't she hit the ball?
"Tum yahan kyun aa rahe ho? Wahan jao warna tum out ho jaoge." She said.
"Didi' ye kya kiya?" Raghu asked her.
"Kya? maine kya kiya?" She looked at him perplexed.
"Arey ball aayi to use hit kyun nahi kiya?"
"Use hit bhi karna tha?"
Raghu looked at her as if she-has-lost-it "Aur nahi to kya? warna runs kaise banenge?"
"Oh' I am sorry' lekin tumne mujhe ye nahi kaha tha'" she defended herself.
"Hey bhagwaan'" he slapped his head again "itna to self-understood hota hai didi'"
"Achcha baba sorry kaha na' abse galati nahi hogi'" she held one of her ear.
"Its ok' ab jayiye, us taraf jaake khade ho jayiye'" he told her.
"Kyun? Meri bating nahi hai?" she asked again.
"Arey' over khatam ho gaya'"
"Oops' Theek hai'" she bit her tongue and walked away.
After that they played a little comfortably taking singles or sometimes doubles as well. Raghu even managed to hit some fours and 2 sixes as well. The score went upto '
126 runs on 9 wickets in 27 overs.
It was the 28th Over and Armaan was going to ball. Armaan pitched the ball towards Raghu who hit to take a single. Riddhima ran fast to reach the other end. Now it was Riddhima facing Armaan. She took her position, but then seeing Armaan on the other end she got anxious.
Armaan smiled mysteriously at her which made her even more conscious. As he tossed the ball towards her she closed her eyes and somehow her bat hit it. Raghu shouted to ask her to run. She opened her eyes with a jerk and ran immediately.
As she reached the other end, without realizing she banged into Armaan who was waitng for the fielder to pass him the ball. He turned frantically towards Riddhima, but could save the fall. Riddhima landed upon him while he fell on his back, his hands resting on her hips lightly. She closed her eyes in trepidation. The bat fell from her hand which now rested on the ground besides Armaan's head for support, while other hand rested on his chest.
Armaan looked at her tightly closed eyes. For a moment he was a little annoyed but as his eyes trailed on her face, his expressions smoothened. Her glasses slipped a little towards her nose tip, her face was flushed with a mix of purple and crimson coz of fear, while a few of her hair wisps which managed to escape her braid fell on her forehead. A few sweat beads evolved over her brow. He couldn't figure out the shape of her eyes and lips as they were tightly squeezed.
"Bhaiya'" Charu called making him look away from her face.
"Bhaiya kya hua?" Chaya asked worriedly who came shambled in their direction.
"Huh?" he finally managed to say.
"Kya hua?" she repeated.
"K-kuch nahi?" he replied and looked back at Riddhima who still had her eyes closed. "Excuse me'" he whispered on her face. Hearing no reply he spoke a little louder "So gayi kya?"
"Kya?" she opened her eyes. "Kya hua?"
"Abhi 2 overs baaki hain aur tumhara pata nahi lekin mujhe balling karni hai'"
"Huh?"
"Haan' lekin agar tum apni team ki inning abhi se declare karna chati ho to aise hi aankhen band karke leti raho' mujhe koi problem nahi hai'" he smiled purposely.
"What?" she got up with a jolt and "T-tumhara dimaag kharaab hai kya?"
"Mera dimaag? Ye lo' meine kya kiya? Tum mujhse takrayi aur phir uthne ka naam nahi le rahi thi' aur mera dimaag kharaab hai' ye kya baat hui'"
"Arghhhhhh'" Riddhima groaned and picked up her Bat ans went away.
Armaan smiled again.
Vivan who was sitting away after his batting also came there to help.
"Bhaiya ye kya tha?" Vivan asked him suspiciously. Vivan (going to be 15 in a month) was comparatively elder than other kids. He had seen the look on Armaan's face when Riddhima had fallen on him. There was something different which he had never seen on Armaan's face earlier.
"Kya? kya, kya tha?" Armaan asked him.
"Ye sab?" he pointed his fingers from Armaan to Riddhima then back at Armaan.
"Phhhhrrrrr' ye' kuch nahi' jaa jaake wahan baith' abhi tujhe fielding bhi karni'" Armaan tried to divert his mind. He himself didn't know why. Nothing has happened' or has it? He scratched his head confusingly and walked away.
After a few minutes, finally Riddhima's team was done, leaving Raghu and Riddhima not out by the end and now it was Armaan's team's turn to Bat.
Armaan's team had to chase the target of 135 in 30 overs.
Armaan's team managed to make first 60 runs on 2 wickets within 12 overs. Farhan and Peter were already out and after that as Tarun got out in 14th over Chaya came to bat. Deepak as pre-decided was her substitute runner. She played slowly, but well.
Armaan observed that Riddhima had made sure that her team is a little gentle with Chaya. He was pleased to know that she was taking care of needful in the right way. Its wasn't that she was trying to be biased towards Chaya, but she was being considerably considerate.
Soon Seema also got out. Armaan decided to bat himself so that he can support Chaya. He went to bat and gave as much chance to her as possible, but never did he let her face a ball which might hurt her. He made sure that he faced the ballers who were a little fast himself and made Chaya face only weak ones.
On the other side, Riddhima too noticed that Armaan never tired to dominte the kids by flaunting his power and Cricketing skills. It was quite clear that he was a wonderful player and if tried might have become a world-class professional in the sport. But he still opted to please the kids. She smiled seeing him holding his head as he missed a ball. He had done it purposely. The kids were shouting and enjoying to the fullest.
While playing as Chaya hit the ball and Deepak ran to take a run on her behalf, he tripped on his feet. Seeing the fielder throwing the ball towards the baller, Chaya forgot everything and ran herself in excitement. Suddenly she tripped on her feet and fell hard on the ground.
"CHAYA'" Riddhima shouted.
"Oh shit'" Armaan saw her falling and ran back towards her.
"Tum theek toho na'" Riddhima held her.
"Aaaaa'" Chaya cried as she felt pain in her leg.
"Chaya' hato zara'" Armaan came there and asked the kids to give him way so that he can see her. He saw some scratched on her knee and some blood flowing from her wounds. He picked her up in his arms immediately and walked hurriedly towards Anjali's office for first Aid.
Riddhima and other kids tagged along.
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He placed Chaya on the couch in the office.
"Maine kaha than a use lag jayegi'" Riddhima said seeing her injury
"Will you shut up for a moment'" he scolded her "Vivan jaake Tayee se Almaari ki chabi leke aao' first aid box nikalna hai'" he asked Vivan.
"Wait Vivan" Riddhima stopped him "Chabi mere paas hai'" she took opened the Almirah and took out the First Aid box.
Armaan cleaned Chaya's wound and did her bandage.
Riddhima turned towards Deepak who was standing there as well "Tum to theek ho na Deepak' tumhe lagi to nahi'" she asked him worriedly.
"Nahi didi main theek hu'"
Hearing Riddhima ask Deepak about his wellbeing Armaan felt a little guilty. He had totally forgotten that even Deepak tripped while playing. He called him, "Deepka yahan aa'" he then checked Deepak who had some scratches on his knees. "Lagi to hai tujhe bhi'"
"Bhaiya ye to thodi si hai' aur aap hi to kahte ho boys don't cry over small injuries'" he replied proudly making others chuckle.
"Theek hai-theek hai Mr. Boy' yahan aao ab'" Riddhima called him back. "Ab yahan pe theek se baitho'" she bend down to clean his scratches with Antiseptic. Deepak hissed a little, but then relaxed as she caressed him lovably.
Girija Tayee observed both Riddhima and Armaan nursing the kids so lovingly and admired the scene. Her eyes welled up in emotions. Little Kathy had gone to call her. She wiped her eyes.
"Chalo bachcho' khel khatam, ab chalke Lunch karlo." Tayee announced.
"Lekin Tayee abhi humaari game baaki hai'" Tarun whined.
"Aaj ke liye bahut ho gaya' baaki ki game phir kabhi' Armaan, Riddhima tum dono bhi aa jao jaldi se'" she said and went to the Dinning hall.
Armaan went to call Old Age Home folks. They all sat in the dining hall chatting and laughing with Armaan and kids. Riddhima helped Tayee, Umar bhai and cooks serve the food. After Lunch Armaan took his leave as he had to attend a meeting. Riddhima stayed there for a little more time and then left at around 5pm.
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That night something new happened with Riddhima. She had a dream. The scene of Armaan playing with kids kept floating in her dreams. She tossed and turned yet again.
Armaan on the other hand had a peaceful sleep. He felt so relaxed after such a long time. Playing with kids was one thing which made him forget all his tensions. He smiled at the thought of Riddhima being annoyed by his comments and fell asleep.
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Hi Friends 😊. So here is Episode 33 with lots of AR. No actually with ONLY AR. 😆. I hope you like this one.
Now i can see a lot of friends of mine got quite apprehensive about my comments over the PM stuff. Actually, i apologize in case i missed anyone there. The comment wasnt meant for those who are responding regularly, and by regularly i didnt mean ONLY those people who comment on every part but ALSO those who respond regularly, but cant do so for EVERY part. I mean i do understand that sometimes its now possible for one to comment everytime. All of us have our personal lives and other chores to do. We all are humans, so i am absolutely cool in case you cant reply immediately for every update. Missing 1-2 episodes is alright. No Problem. And if you are still getting my PMs, it means you are not the one i referred those comments to.😊
My comments were meant for those, who had asked me to keep PMing them, but they never responded back except 2-3 times even thought they are seeing the PMs. As i said i dont want to bother anyone uneccessarily and apart from that, i am a human being too, so naturally i would be a little greedy and selfish about some things.
I hope you all understand what i mean. And i am sorry again if i have hurt anyone. Love you all. ALWAYS
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