~Angel in disguise~
"Mumma, does Santa really exist??"
"Of course he does. Who else gave you all the gifts?"
"Papa does."
The lady stopped in her track as she heard her little daughter Muskaan. She narrowed her eyes at her while she flashed her a cheeky grin. "Muskaan, you not supposed to know that. Papa is always so happy to see you all surprised in the morning…he'll feel bad."
"I am not going to tell him that. Don't worry but I really want to know if Santa exists."
"I don't know beta…maybe he does. Its all about faith."
"And angels? Do they exist?"
Her lips curved into a smile that reached her eyes and there was a dreamy expression on her face. "They do Muskaan…angels do exist. We all have one."
With that she sat down and slipped into her memory world.
"Riddhima, please have your meals."
"I told you I don't want to eat anything." She looked away, clutching her father's rocking chair. She had been sitting next to it from the last three days. Her father had met with an accident and had died on the spot. She hadn't cried yet but had been sitting with that rocking chair where her father always sat.
"Riddhima please. You are getting weak. You need to eat this." Her mother moved the plate in front of her.
"I SAID I DON'T WANT TO EAT ANYTHING. LEAVE ME ALONE." She yelled loudly and was about to throw the plate away when someone grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet harshly.
"Ouch!! What do you think you are doing?" She yelled looking into that person's eye.
"Why the hell are you such a pain?" He spoke angrily.
"Armaan beta please…. Her mother tried to intervene but stopped when Armaan raised his hand to stop her.
"Aunty you keep the plate here and leave." He spoke still looking at Riddhima, meeting her defiant gaze.
When her mother left he spoke again. "I know why you doing this. This is all a pretension. You not sad about your father…you are not missing him. You are doing all this just to attract attention. I know your kind. Always wanting to cause trouble for others…
"SHUT UP!!!" She yelled again. "How dare you talk to me like that? Why are you here? You were dad's student but he not here anymore. You can leave now."
"And leave aunty alone with a monster like you. You want to kill her as well. You think you are more affected than she is? She was his wife damn it. She is more in pain than you are but all you see is your own hurt. You should stand by her as her strength but here you are doing everything you can to accost her pain. To make this time even worst for her. Why Riddhima??" He held Riddhima's elbow and shook her hard. Riddhima stood stunned, looking into his angry eyes which were red and swollen. He had done her father's rites and had handled and organized everything. When the body had come home, he had been the shoulder her mother had cried her eyes out on. It was as if he was his son instead of just a student.
"Leave me." she spoke in a low voice but when he didn't let go of her she spoke in a chocked voice, "you hurting me."
"Exactly. All you feel is your own hurt and pain. What about your mother Riddhima? What about your father who is looking at you from wherever he is at this moment and he must be so hurt to see you like this? Can't you see his pain?"
Riddhima closed her eyes as the tears slipped. "I miss him so much." She whispered. Armaan just looked at her for a moment and than the next he made her sit down on the same rocking chair and moving a small table in front of her, he placed the plate of food there and walked out of the room.
Riddhima sat there with her hand in her hair and cried for a long time and when she could cry no more his words resounded in her head, she reached for the plate and ate the food.
She was sitting there staring blankly into space when Armaan walked back into the room and stood in front of her. "Go to sleep."
Riddhima looked at him. "I am not sleepy. I want to sit here for some more time."
"I am sure you do but its time you go to sleep. You have an exam tomorrow right?"
"I am not going to college. I am on leave."
"You were. You will go tomorrow and give your exam." At that she stood up and yelled, "Who the hell are you. I will do no such thing. I am not going and that's it."
"We'll see about that but for now go to sleep."
"I won't" She saw him smirk and didn't like the look in his eyes but even before she could react, she was lifted in air and was hanging on his back.
"Let me go you jerk….put me down you idiot….damn you Armaan…lemme go." she yelled curses but it all fell on deaf ear and she found herself being flung on her bed.
"Go to sleep." She got up and ran after him but he was much faster than her as she found the door close on her face and next she heard the key turn in the lock. "You can't do this to me." She barked at him.
"I just did." He yelled back with laughter in his voice that had Riddhima boiling.
Riddhima stomped her foot. She would have used the window had they not been on the 7th floor. She sat down on her bed and cursed Armaan some more but than she remembered how much her dad loved him and that was why he was in the house at the moment acting like his son...she remembered how her dad pampered her always but now that he was gone she knew her life would change. "Dad why did you have to leave me?" a lump rose in her throat and her eyes filled up as she closed her eyes and cried, soon the exhaustion took over and she fell asleep.
"aaahhhhh!!!" she screamed as she felt cold water being splashed over her face.
And as she opened her eyes she flung herself on Armaan as she saw the jug of water in his hand. He was on the floor beneath her and she punched his face once…twice…thrice accompanied with dirty names but he lay there unperturbed and a smile on his face. Riddhima stopped and glared at him.
"If you done than go change."
Riddhima stood up and was about to walk out of the room when he grabbed her leg and spoke, "Another move and you'll be on the floor." He stood up and grabbing her hand moved her towards the washroom. "Go and freshen up. I am sitting here. You won't be allowed to leave till you take your bath and ready for college." He pushed her inside. Riddhima glanced at the watch and without any protest walked in. She went in and sat down on the floor smiling to herself.
Foolish Armaan, she thought, its already 8:30, the exam starts in an hour but when I won't be on time he won't force me to go to college. He'll loose.
She sat there and than took her own sweet time to take a bath and change. She walked out and stood in front of him, smirking to herself.
"You look good." He said. "Cummon, have your breakfast and than I'll drop you at your college."
"But I don't see why I should go to college?"
"I told you last night you have to give your exam."
"But its already 9:30." She ended with a victory grin but seeing the smirk crawling onto Armaan's lips she knew she was defeated yet again. "I told you I know your kind. Its 8:50 exactly. You know when I was a little kid my mom would always move my watch an hour ahead so that I would get ready fast for school…its an old trick. Anyways, cummon time for break fast."
He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the table and picking up a sandwich thrust her into her mouth muffling all protests from her. Without waiting another moment she was dragged towards his car and was thrown in on the passenger seat. He drove her to her college.
"Go to the examination hall now."
She got down from the car and her eyes were spitting fire. "I am not going anywhere."
"Why the hell are you like this? can't you for once behave your self. Fine!! if you won't move yourself than I'll do the honor." He moved threateningly towards her and an image flashed in front of her eyes about how he had carried her to her room and Armaan saw her running towards the examination hall.
"What are you doing here?" She asked Armaan when she saw him sitting in his car outside the college.
"I came to pick you up. How was your exam?"
"My exam was very good…thank you very much but you may get lost coz I am not coming with you."
"Than how will you go home? Somebody dropping you?" He asked calmly.
"No!! but am not going home." Armaan raised his brow waiting for her to go on. She hesitated for a moment. She was going home as a matter of fact but now she won't…why should she do what he wants her to. Than thinking for a moment, she spoke, "I am going for a movie with my friends."
"No you are not."
"Yes I will and this time you won't be able to stop me." Armaan saw her walk to her friends' car and drove away with her. He could have easily stopped her but he made no effort and why she realized a few days later.
This continued for several days. Her exams were over for that was her last exam and her last year in college as well. Armaan had stayed with them a few days more and she had done everything she possibly can to irk him. Sometimes he had his way and sometimes he made no effort to stop her just told her that he was against what she was doing and that fired her even more to do that particular thing. Than a day later she woke up without any water being splashed on her face. She walked out and searched for him everywhere but he was nowhere in the house. Her mother handed her a letter.
She opened it and saw that it was actually a diary entry from her father's diary.
20th February
Rida told me she had a wonderful exam. She works so hard, I am sure she'll top the medical college this year and that would be a dream come true for me. I want her to take my place in Sanjivani along with Armaan. He'll be her mentor for I fully plan to retire in a couple years and there's no one better than Armaan for her training and I know one day Rida will handle Sanjivani a lot better than I did. She'll be one of the best doctor someday.
A tear fell from on the page, slipping from her eye but a small smile played on her lips. Now she knew why Armaan had forced her to give her exam. It was for her father's dream…so that she would be able to complete her father's dream….in fact he had done everything for her sake. He had been rude to her…brutal almost to get her head off her father's death. Her father left her responsibility to Armaan and he brought her back to her chirpy self. The page was a photocopy of the actual page…the diary was with Armaan. Her father had wanted him alone to read it. She had heard a lot about him from her father who had loved him like a son. Her eyes fell on a little note at the end of the page scribbled in a different handwriting…
Riddhima forgive me if I ever hurt you but that was the only way I had to get you back to your real self. Your father loved you a lot and would want you to be happy always. Please be happy for his sake…I know you miss him but I don't coz for me he is still alive…in you…in Sanjivani…I leave you this bit of his diary entry hoping it would give you strength to fight and fulfill his dream…hoping it would give you an aim in your life…
Riddhima fell to her knees as a loud cry escaped her lips. She cried sitting there for a long time and fell asleep on the floor itself. But the next morning when she got up she was a different person. She was the Riddhima her father always wanted her to be…she would always miss her father butshe knew than that instead of crying for him, she would live for him bring him alive in the form of his dreams…she would do everything he wanted her to.
She didn't meet Armaan for a long time…he had gone for a seminar and when later she tried contacting him, he never took her calls nor allowed her to come see him. He had been her angel in disguise who had disappeared after doing his job.
A few days later her result came out and just as her father had wanted, she had topped the exams. She had gone to Sanjivani to meet Armaan but as usual he was busy in a surgery but she decided to wait for him. She fell asleep waiting for him and when woke up he was gone. She was angry on his for doing that to her…she decided she would not bother herself with him now…she can live without him…she didn't need him she decided.
A moths later…
Riddhim was to start her internship in Sanjivani. She was ecstatic and was celebrating with her 5 friends. They were all drunk when they were going home. Loud music was playing in the car and the girl who was driving was drunk like all other and the night that was supposed to be the best night of their life changed into a nightmare when their car was run down by a truck. The girl driving had been so intoxicated that she hadn't noticed the truck approaching and the car had collided into it. The girls didn't survive the accident except one who was rushed to hospital with a sinking pulse. She was given immediate attention by the best doctor in the hospital and life was restored back in her body but she slipped into a comma. Her father's dream shattered and her mother died of a stroke on receiving the news of her daughter's accident and Riddhima laid on the hospital bed, the doctors predicted her to be in comma for at least next 5 months but Riddhima opened her eyes right after a month but the doctors still weren't surprised…in fact expected it somewhere inside for her care was taken by the best doctor in their team who was extra devoted to this patient and that day when she opened her eyes he was the first one she met.
"Armaan." A painful whisper escaped her lips as she saw him standing there right in front of her…the man she had almost craved for. He was sitting right there in front of her.
"How do you feel now? You have been in comma for a whole month. Your injuries have all recovered. You are fit enough to move about. Tell me, how do you feel?"
"I am good." She spoke, still in a daze to be finally seeing him.
"Good. I'll come back in an hour. I have some work to do. Take your medicines." He signaled the nurse standing there to take care of her.
When he left the nurse moved towards Riddhima with a smile and handed her the medicines.
"You know you are very lucky. All your friends died on the spot but you are the only one who survived." Riddhima winced on hearing that. She didn't know whether to be happy or sad.
"Who brought me here?" She spoke in a chocking voice.
"Dr. Armaan. He was passing by and stopped when he saw your car and brought you to the hospital and he was the one who operated on you. The other doctors had declared you dead but he brought back life in you as if by miracle and ever since than he hasn't left your side and its because of him that you got conscious in just one month. Its amazing…though he is the best doctor here but I still wonder how he did it? But you should be grateful…he brought you back to life."
"Of course he did….he is my angel in disguise."
Armaan entered her ward and was reading her chart when she yelped in pain. He immediately dropped the charts and rushed to her side. "You okay Riddhima??"
She gestured him to come closer and when he did, she grabbed his collar and pushed him down placing a kiss on his cheek. "Thanks a lot for everything you did for me."
"You are back to your tricks. I can see you are very well now and good enough to go home."
She smiled at him with a twinkle in her eyes but than getting a little sober she spoke, "I heard mom died of a stroke."
Armaan nodded. "I am sorry Riddhima."
"But I am not. She finally got peace and is a lot happier. She and dad are together now."
Armaan nodded again and looked at Riddhima thoughtfully, she had matured he realized…she had grown up now.
"Armaan why did you ignore me all this time?"
"You are fine. We will discharge you today evening." He left the ward and Riddhima sighed. She would get all the answers soon.
Armaan went back home after finishing all his duties and was sitting in his living room when he heard the door bell ring. He opened the door and his jaw dropped to his knees when he saw Riddhima standing there with 3 suitcases with her.
"What's going on here?"
"I am moving in." She walked in as if she owned the place.
"What?? You are absolutely not. What is this supposed to mean??"
"Armaan that place reminds me of mom-dad. I can't live there and there is no place for me to go."
"But you can't stay here."
"Why not?"
"Because….you…errmm…you just can't"
"throw me out than." she dropped the suitcases and crossed her arms on her chest, tapping her foot.
Armaan moved towards her and than rolling her eyes walked into the house and yelled a moment later, "Your room is upstairs, first one to right." Riddhima looked around and when she didn't see him anywhere she jumped and punched the air.
"Armaan am sleepy. I want to go home." Riddhima whined. She had joined Sanjivani internship team with Armaan's help who had taught her everything she had missed out in that one month.
"Look Riddhima, I have a surgery to attend. It will take sometime but you just have to wait an hour. Shubhankar will drop you."
"No I won't. I want to go home now and I am no kid. Anyways this Vivek guy here…giving me the creeps. He is so weird. Why don't we throw him out of here?"
"Because he is our patient and he'll be discharged tomorrow anyways. Now be a good girl and wait for Shubhankar. He'll take you home."
"I said I won't Armaan. I am no kid. I can take care of myself."
"Shut up. You will not leave without Shubhankar. Its not safe okay."
She was about to protest when Armaan raised his finger warningly. "No arguments. You are not going without him and that's it."
With that he left while Riddhima fumed to himself.
I am not going to wait here. I'll go home and will show him that am no kid…I can take care of myself. Fine he been with me always…helped me out of every problem but that doesn't mean he starts ruling my life. I am going home and that's it.
Riddhima left Sanjivani hoping she would find an auto. She walked a little but couldn't find any. She kept walking and when she was tired she decided to call Shubhankar and tell him to pick her up.
"Ahhh!!!" She yelled as she was pushed to the side of the road. She turned around and her eyes widened and she soundlessly mouthed, "Vivek"
The dirty smile plastered on his lips, the gleam in his eyes told Riddhima he wasn't there for any good reason and when he grabbed her arm pulling her close Riddhima knew what was to come. She was pushed onto a tree and she could feel his breath on her skin as he moved closer. His hand moved towards her waist and was sliding into her shirt. She wanted to scream but no sound came out of her mouth, as she felt his cold hand on her bare skin and the next moment she realized she could no longer feel the hand moving and than opening her eyes she saw Vivek frowning and she looked in the direction his look was directed and a smile broke on her lips when she saw Armaan standing there who the very next moment pulled Vivek back and with just one swift punch he knocked Vivek down and than turned towards her. Riddhima hugged him and cried but his hands remained still on his side. He grabbed her arm and made her sit in the car and drove towards his place. She heard his cell ring.
"Ya I know about that but we had to postpone the surgery. The papers are incomplete and we can't do the surgery till they are complete so get them completed and when they done we'll have the surgery than."
He hung up and placed the cell on the dashboard of the car. Riddhima looked at his angry face and his hard grip on the steering wheel…
She closed her eyes and leaned back, resting her head on the headrest.
She could have been raped today, had Armaan not shown up…her angel indeed. But how did he always know when she needed him.
They reached home and without looking at her Armaan walked into the house. Riddhima followed him quietly. She went into her room and changed. She tried to sleep but kept tossing and turning in her bed. She finally gave up and went to the terrace upstairs. She looked towards the sky.
"Mom Dad I miss you guys." She whispered. "Dad do you tell Armaan when I need him. Do you like send some signals or what?? He is always helping me and I have always been so ungrateful but dad I know if am alive…I owe it to him and would you be happy if I told you that I love him…I know I do and its not coz of everything he is done for me but coz I know I cannot live without him. Its like his heat beats coordinated with mine. I love him…I need him. Do you approve dad?" She asked and as if an answer to her question it started to rain and she felt the drops on her face and was soon soaked head to toe. She smiled and whispered, "Thanks dad." She extended her hands feeling the rain, her face glowing and heart dancing with joy.
"What the hell??"
She turned around startled and saw Armaan looking at her angrily. "You want to catch your death. Move in." He grabbed her hand and took her downstairs to her room. "Now go to sleep." He was about to leave when Riddhima grabbed his hand. She moved closer and looked into his eyes, interlocking her finger with his, her free hand moved towards his face and caressed her cheek while he stood there stiff but Riddhima could feel his wildly beating heart. Her hand moved into his hair as she pulled his head down and joined her lips with his. Armaan didn't respond but as her lips rubbed against his while her body rubbed and molded into his, he found himself melting and his hands went around her waist, rubbing her back…the feel of her satin nighty rousing his desire. She moved backwards pulling him with herself as she fell on the bed, their lips still locked together. Armaan stiffened for a moment as he felt her hand slipping into his shirt, he groaned as she kissed his chest and the net moment his control snapped and he found himself showering her face with kisses….it rained harder and the windows flew open as the rain drops fell on the bodies tangled together in the web of love.
She ruffled his hair as he was still asleep with his face resting in the curve of her neck.
"Armaan!?" She felt him stir. "Armaan!??" She spoke louder this time.
"Hmm?"
"Why didn't you tell me Armaan? Why did you keep hiding it??"
His body stiffened a second time and he didn't say anything.
"I love you Armaan and I know you love me too. You always did but I failed to notice."
"Riddhima!!?"
"Sshhh!!" She placed a finger on his lips and kissing his forehead she spoke, "Last night, your every kiss, every touch told me how much you love me….why didn't you tell me Armaan? You were in love with me when you were there with me at dad's death, being rude and nasty to me…you loved me when I was fighting death in Sanjivani…you loved me always but never told me."
"I was afraid you would not feel the same."
"But I do Armaan. I do and would always. I love you. You my everything Armaan….everything. My life…my angel in disguise."
And that day she read her father's entire diary and read how he always knew that his student Armaan loved his daughter and he would give her hand in his when she would complete her internship. His dreams did come true…all of them.
"Mamma place this streamer next to the flag up there." Riddhima snapped out of her thoughts and smiling down at Muskaan she got onto the wooden staircase to place the streamer while Muskaan pointed the place.
"Move it to the left…no a little bit right…a little more to the right..
Riddhima kept moving left and right according to Muskaan's instructions but she froze when she suddenly felt the staircase wobble and the next moment it gave way under Riddhima's weight and broke. Riddhima closed her eyes tightly knowing she was gone now. She felt herself hanging mid air and hearing Muskaan's giggling she opened her eyes and broke into a smile.
"I would never let you fall."
"I know Armaan."
"Coz he your angel in disguise right?" Muskaan piped in as Armaan and Riddhima burst out laughing.
************
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Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
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