~A RAY~
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"God,why these many heartbreaks.I can't bear them anylonger".he cried.standing on the railing facing the water body,with gushing water wiping away everything in it's way.it could easily wipe him away.He looked thin,bearily any weight. But has a beautiful face which was some what distorted with skin dropping down under his eyes. It was like he was stressed,under somekind of serious pressure. Standing on the rail he didn't want to think of any other thing,the only thing he wanted to was to just get washed away by the force of the water,but how would he do that. He feared for the pain that he wuld experience. He stood their gazing at the water not bothered of any other thing around him,the vehicles on the road.people really didn't care of any person standing there all alone,they didn't bother to stop by and ask him what he was doing there,lest alone asking abt his problems.He really despised this world now,it has shown him nothing but pain,rejection n deception.
"Hey, what are u doing here?"she asked getting up the rail beside him."I know it's a nice view to watch from here but not good to watch from here,better get down"she said holding his shoulders. She had an angelic face n looked vibrant in her pink suit that hugged her. She had sparkling eyes,innocent face n has a petite figure. She gently pulled him down getting down herself.Her face hold so much of truthfulness that he followed her not asking anything. She took him to her car that stood by the side n opening the door to the passenger seat in the front she asked him to get inside with her beautiful expressive eyes. getting into the driver seat,she turned the ignition on while he just looked at her amazed.without giving him a glance she turned on the radio which was playing the song "Maskali,maskali..."enjoying the song n moving to the rhythm.After few moments of silence she turned to him to find him still looking at her.smiling at him she said "don't worry i am not kidnapping u.""Take it this will relieve u of ur tension"she added offering him chewing gum to which he gave a quizzial look."Yes,this will surely ease ur tension,trust me.i am doctor.Dr.Riddhima Mallik"she said smiling at him.he took the gum not able to reluct her after her confession as a doctor. "Were u trying to commit suicide?"she asked after a few moments of silence.lowering his head not able to look at her,how wuld she think of him? he replied "ya"in a voice she culd barely hear."Can i ask u why?"she asked understanding from his way that the answer for her question was yes.he sat silence not replying to her.All this time he struggled in his mind whether he can confess to her or not,she was a new lady he has just met. "Don't worry?no compulsion to answer it"she replied noticing his state of mind. "but i would say u are definitely brave to have come to this idea. because it needs a lot of courage to do it,to give pain to ur own body. But don't u think u should be a little brave in solving ur problem rather than commiting a suicide."she said stopping suddenly.he looked confused at her,why has she stopped,was she going to advice him be brave and all the stuff,he has already heard a lot of it n it was really not required."Don't worry i have stopped because,we have reached our destination"she announced getting down the car.He was shocked,was she able to read his mind?.She was there assessing him,she behaved as if she knows him.He too got down as he looked at her waiting for him.
He saw a big building before him named "KHUSHI SADAN". It was like some sort of missionary with ambulances out there,n few vans with the name of the organisation on them. Handing over the keys to the watchman she moved towards the main door of the building.He observed that it was four storeyed building but was very huge,built in a lot of area.Entering the building he saw her waiting for him in the lift. There was another person too in the lift. he got into the lift not wanting to keep her waiting. The other person in the lift was a lady,tall n thin.She was wearing jeans n tshirt,n had some sort of coat over it,it was a little bit colored with white saffron n green n had a logo on it's side,the Khushi sadan. It was the uniform of the organisation. He saw her looking at riddhima,it was like their eyes were talking,he culd understand that the other lady was asking abt him.he shuffled uncomfortably. noticing him she said "Anjali,this is......"she looked at him asking for name "Rahul Garewal"he helped her. "Hi,Mr.Rahul.Nice to meet you"she said shaking his hand. "So,anjali when is atul coming back?"she asked trying to change the topic."Atul,u know him na riddhima.He said last monday,that he will come today but again he postponed it to the next monday.It's like he is liking it there,doesn't want to come back too"she said sounding distressed. "Oh,anjali,don't say that,he loves u so will definitely come back,it's just his work,u know na."she said patting her shoulders gently."i know,it's just sometimes these words come out unknowingly,don't worry"she added wiping her moist eyes."ok,see u need to check if all are in bed,bye n good night."she said all in one go rushing out of the lift,after kissing riddhima on her cheek. Riddhima smiled at her act shaking her head"she is so kiddo sometimes".Looking at rahul who was fully confused she said"atul is her husband,he is at present in US on his work.He works in a software company.n she works here."
"This is Khushi Sadan. A charitable trust."she said as they got down the lift."Aunty,u stop running after her,look u r so tired running after her.u better get into bed.it's too late now."she said helping the lady panting before her."No child,first i need to get her into the bed then only i can rest."she smiled at her"u don't worry abt me,i will be fine"she added assuring her."Granny,what happened?"the child she was running after came to her hugging her legs as she culd reach only there.The girl waited for granny to follow but when she didn't she got worried n came to check her."Ayesha,nothing happened dear,just granny is little tired.U get into the bed then granny will also.Let her take some rest baby"riddhima said taking the girl into her arms."Now be a good girl ok.Goodnight."she kissed the girl n placed her gently down. Looking at them getting into the room she said,"This is an orphanage cum Old age home.U see many old people are joined here,they want to play with their grandchildren,love them n take care of them but can't.N then they are little children who have no one to love them,they seek love,care n attention.So these old people share the love they have for their children to the orphans.See how happy they are together. However it is their choice,their wish,if they want to rest they are more than welcome. We have a regular staff to care of them. The members we select here have to be dedicated, we select only those people who seriously want to do it, who mean to care for them, it's really important, we don't want the residents here to face any problem. "
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"Honey,i am home"she shouted placing the spare keys on the table eyeing rahul to sit showing the couch. "Riddhima,i told i would come to take u.It's very late.Something might happen to you"he shouted coming out of the kitchen with an apron on,n stirring something in the mixing bowl. "Armaan,see i am safe.don't worry so much dear."she said kissing him on his cheek."Waoh! melting technique once again"he teased her raising his eyebrows."Not now armaan.we have a guest"she said shaking her head unbelievable n pointing to rahul. "oh!'" "Hi,am armaan mallik.husband of this beautiful lady"he said extending his hand,with bowl still in his other hand.
"hi,i am Rahul Garewal.""Please sit down while i get something for u"he said leaving for the kitchen."Honey,where is Shilpa?"she asked. "I have put her in bed."he said coming out of kitchen smiling victoriously at her. "Are you sure?"she asked looking shocked. "Don't doubt my credibilities dear. I said i have put her in bed"he said placing the tray on the table."Momma"the 3yr old girl jumped at her mom from inside."Shilpa,my baby."she said hugging her n looking with raised eyebrows at armaan."You said u put her to bed"she asked giggling."i thought so"he said confused. "Momma,dady tried to but i can't sleep without u.so just pretended as he was boring me with those superman stories,n when i heard u i just came down"she said smiling in her mother's arms."What u pretended,see what i do to you?"he looked at her pounting his lips.Riddhima was laughing all the while,listening to him threatening her baby she said"hey,don't threaten her,poor girl what can she do when u bore her with ur superman stories."she said giving him a threatening look."come dear let us go inside"she said taking her in.
Rahul witnessed all these happy family moments.He witnessed the bickering btn husband wife,the defending mother n loving daughter. He smiled at their bonding. He always wanted such a family but never got it. Seeing them tears made their way down his cheek."Oops,sorry forgot u in our family session.Hope u forgive us."armaan said sitting beside him."Don't worry."he said wiping his tears. Armaan understood that he really missed such family attachments n didn't probe further abt his tears as he felt it would again open the wounds.Riddhima has messaged him of the guy n it was their duty to know abt him n his family but there was time for it,n until then he wanted rahul to feel comfortable with them,so changing the topic he said."U see i am only guy in this house,n they take advantage of it.poor me"he said making a puppy face.Rahul laughed."Don't believe him Rahul,"she said as she came with shilpa in her arms,sitting down on to the couch.
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"So Rahul,why don't u tell us abt ur self."armaan asked him.They have been talking now for more than an hour.Rahul was relaxed now,n has become comfortable with them. Armaan n Riddhima felt that it was time for them to know abt him n relieve him of all his problems. Rahul looked at both of them, Armaan with a pleasant smile waiting for his reply,riddhima too eagerly waiting for him to speak n shilpa snuggling into her mother sleeping peacefully. He was still not sure if he culd tell them or not. Armaan put his hand on her shoulder n spoke "Rahul,don't worry u can tell to us,we are here to help u."He looked at rahul expectantly. But still rahul didn't respond. Disappointed armaan looked at Riddhima who encouragingly gave him a nod to proceed further. "Rahul, I am a pschyciatrist. I work in Sanjeevani.I see many people who are distressed n take some serious steps like ending their life,but don't u think that the troubles are not worth their lives. The problems can be solved."they looked at him expectantly if he would spill the beans now,but to their disappointment he still sat numb speaking nothing. "Rahul,see u might think that it is easy to say such things n total different when u experience them,but trust us we can help u. It might seem easy to say things like these but once u think on these lines u will surely find a solution. When we do something and we don't get a result it surely lets us down resulting in depression but there is way to overcome it instead of succumbing to it. Don't u think so. well don't u think it is foolish to give up the precious life booned to us by god only for some problem that we created ourselves. U need not tell us everything abt urselves or ur problems but do think on what we have said. Goodnight now" he said moving to their rooms leaving rahul in the dim lighted room to sleep over the matter. " u sure he will understand or shall we try someother way" riddhima asked with shilpa in her arms as they moved to their room. "no, I think he will surely think over the matter. He surely seems to want his life back to normal. I am sure he will come to a solution, don't worry" he assured her.
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Rahul thought of what they said, he surely wanted his life back, now thinking back it really seemed foolish to him to take away his life, he was running away from his problems more than facing. He thought of his problems, the way he has been cheated by people he believed in, his business partner, but he can't do anything except to start afresh with new confidence in this matter, need to put his academic excellence to the full use, then his marriage with his love, muskaan who was there for him but he has pushed her away with his own griefing, mourning to himself, consumed in his own pity and self loathing. She was all there to help him but he pulled all the wrong cards at her, accusing her screaming at her, blaming her in a way to free himself from my own misery and self balming. In short he had done every wrong thing to drive the lady who loved him unconditionally away from him. He just wanted her back, making sure this time he won't repeat his mistakes, he needed to learn the art of living. The art of survival, survival of the fittest it was in this world. He needed to learn it, move on to the better from the worst instead of getting stuck in the worst. And that's what he was going to do. He has no plan as of now but he was determined to straighten his life, it wuld be for the good this time. Success always comes out after failure, u never learn things without a failure.
Only few people get a chance to renew their lives and he got it, he wasn't going it pass on, he was going to grab his chance and make the best out of it this time though he failed the first time, maybe it wasn't his time then but now he can try again.
He had made his mind, it was past midnight, and he thought it was time for him to try once again, this time with a hope of success'.
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Thankyou armaan and riddhima. U have been quiet helpful to me, clearing my thoughts and filling in a new hope into me. I am very thankful for that. I have decided to renew my life for good with minimal mistakes this time. I will surely meet u too once I am good. Thankyou for the help last night. I owe a lot to u guys, riddhima thankyou for picking me up at the bridge instead of leaving me to my own fate like all other passerby's.
Thanks a lot. I hope I wuld be able to pay back for this change.
Riddhima and armaan had a smile playing on their lips as they read the note left by rahul from previous night.
They were happy that he has decided to start over. It was a great sign.
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So here I am after a struggle of five years with my life fully straightened. Enough pleasure in my life my love that I have regained with as much struggle, the struggle to win her belief in me, to take me back. The first step though was to get my professional life back to track for which I through my credentials got a job in a company followed by my thoughtful investment into shares that shined brightly leading me to further invest in small scale industry, which right now is functioning like a brightest star. I am here to thank the people who has helped see me the light, fill me with hope for this new life I am enjoying. Also I am here to be a part in their work at this khushi sadan which I learned abt later as the one established by armaan and riddhima with a lot of thoughtfulness and planning.
THE END.
Without darkness ,light cannot be appreciated.
Without cold, warmth is not appreciated.
Without failure, success cannot be valued.
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happy new year, i am a bit late but still enjoy ur new year. have fun!!
please do comment. point out any mistakes.
thankyou.😊
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Anupamaa
