Armaan and Shilpa walked back to the locker room. Armaan didn't know why, but with Shilpa, he felt better than with the rest of the group. As they walked in the room, Shilpa saw Ridhima sitting on the bench. The moment she saw Shilpa enter, she walked upto her and said, 'Thanks for today Shilpa. I mean, you know, for letting me off. I really wasn't feeling upto it'
Shilpa stared at Ridhima for a moment and then walked past her. Armaan glanced from Ridhima to shilpa, and then walked to his locker too. Ridhima turned around and looked at Shilpa nonchalantly stuffing things into her locker. She took a deep breath and said, 'Shilpa, I really want to apolo-'
'It's okay, Dr. Ridhima. It's okay', shilpa cut in and said, 'I do not wish to speak to you any more'
Ridhima was quiet for a while before she nodded. She couldn't completely understand why Shilpa was so cold, but she understood that she was the way she was, and getting offended by it wasn't going to change things. Sid noticed Ridhima's fallen face but didn't say anything. Instead, he said, 'Ridhima, c'mon, we have to go. It's getting late'
She nodded and walked towards her locker to keep her lab coat in it. Meanwhile, Sid walked closer to Armaan and kept a hand on his shoulder, 'Armaan, I'm happy that you and Shilpa are becoming friends. It's nice to see you smile'
Armaan looked at him and sighed, 'It's not going where you think it is Sid'
Sid made a 'What-are-you-talking-about' face, 'I didn't imply anything'
Armaan smiled, 'I know what you implied. Just stop looking out for me, okay? This lonely time, it's given me a chance to think. Just let me be. Please', he patted his shoulder, closed his locker and walked towards the door.
___________________________
'Oh damn', Armaan spat out and kicked his car, 'Amazing'
Shilpa was about to drive past Armaan when she noticed him angrily muttering something under his breath. She stopped next to him and said, 'Kya hua He-man?'
He stopped muttering and turned around to see Shilpa sitting in a sexy, blue sports car. Why am I not surprised?
'Um, actually my car's not starting. I think it's overheated or somethi-'
'C'mon, I'll drop you', Shilpa said, gesturing with her hand. Armaan was confused. He didn't know Shilpa was capable of offering help to anyone.
'No, uh, I'll mana-'
'I like you doctor, come on in. Or are you ashamed of being driven home by a lady?'
Armaan sighed. There was no winning from this gal. He locked his car, I'll fix this tomorrow, and walked to the other side of Shilpa's car, opened the door and sat on the passenger seat, 'Actually, I'm rather proud'
Shilpa grinned, 'Superb then'. He told her his address. The moment she pressed down on the accelerator, Armaan fell back into his seat. Her speed seemed to be increasing with each passing moment. Armaan usually loved speed, but only when he was driving himself. Now he understood what it was like to be above 80 km/hr and be sitting on the passenger seat.
He was about to ask Shilpa to slow down, but his male ego got the better of him. Instead, he pulled out the seat belt and fixed it in it's holder. Few moments passed, and his mind wandered off to Ridhima, and then consequently to Sid. He wished he'd stop trying to find a girlfriend for him. He was enjoying this silence in his life. Perhaps all he needed right now was a friend.
'Why are you so sad today?', Shilpa's voice brought him out of his trance. He missed what she said the first time, 'Huh? Did you say something?'
'Why do you look so sad today?', she repeated and looked at him.
He sighed and leaned his head back in the seat. Closing his eyes, he said, 'I don't know..It's alot of things...'
He trailed off. Shilpa didn't ask him any further. She just nodded and looked ahead. A comfortable silence settled in the car. Armaan was about to look outside the window when his eyes caught something. He picked up the familiar looking box.
'You smoke?', he asked with surprise and curosity.
Shilpa nodded, 'Used to', she replied matter-of-factly. When Armaan continued to stare at her, she sighed and said, 'I quit a while ago...apparently doctors aren't allowed to smoke'
Armaan wondered whether he had just had a glimpse of the vulnerable side of Shilpa. It was gone the moment it came, but he was sure he had seen something in her eyes. Something he couldn't pinpoint. He kept the empty box back in it's place while she continued to look ahead.
'Oh damn I love this song!', Shilpa exclaimed suddenly. Armaan jumped a little in his seat and said, 'Can you be a little more predictable please? It'll spare me from getting a heart attack!'
She increased the volume of the song and started singing, 'Chor bazari do nainon ki, pehli ki aadat jo hat gayi...oh c'mon, don't you like this song?'
Armaan smiled inspite of himself. He really did like this song, 'Actually, I do'
She continued to sing like a maniac, and Armaan didn't realize when he joined her in the singing spree. After a while, they both seemed like two drunkards who had been let loose on the streets of Mumbai. Every time a song that either of them loved came on the radio, they jumped like small kids.
For a moment, just for a moment, Armaan had forgotten about his sorrow. He felt light headed. And that moment told him that his road to recovery had started, and maybe he had found the friend he really needed.
Bigg Boss 19
Anupamaa
Jhanak
