|ColorsofLove|OS#9|AR&Abhiya|Pg.88| - Page 7

Armaan was in the General Ward, checking Gappu. About a week had passed since they all, except for Riddhima, had returned to Sanjeevni.

After reading Riddhima's letter, Armaan had finally understood why she wasn't sure about their relationship. The main problem was their differences. He somewhere knew that their differences would end up separating them, but always over looked that fact. Now after they had finally broken up, Armaan had decided to let go of Riddhima and to move on, if possible. He was pulled out of his trail of thoughts as he heard Gappu's voice.

"Armaan Bhaiya. Kya hua? Aap itne khoye, khoye kyun lag rahe ho?"

"Kuch nahin."

"Riddhima Didi ke baare mein soch rahe ho na?" He asked teasingly.

"Haan." He said with a weak smile.

"Bhaiya? Kya hua? Aap itne dukhi, dukhi kyun lag rahe ho?"

"Kuch nahin."

"Jhooth matt boliye. Aapke aur Riddhima Didi ke beech kuch hua hain na?" Armaan stopped what he was doing, and closed his eyes for a second.

"Haan."

"Kya?" Armaan opened his eyes and sat down beside him.

"We broke up."

"Kya?! Kyun?"

"Kyunki tumhari Riddhima Didi ko lagta hain ki hum dono ek doosre ke liye nahin banne hain."

"Matlab?" Armaan smiled.

"Tu bohat chhota hain. Abhi kuch samajh mein nahin aayega."

"Oye. Aap na, meri umar par matt jaaye. Main sirf umar mein chhota hoon, dimaag bohat tez hain mera."

"Woh toh dikh raha hain." Armaan chuckled and stood up.

"Phir kabhi bataaunga." Armaan suddenly felt a gush of wind pass through him and he knew that Riddhima had arrived. He closed his eyes and sighed.

He felt her gaze on him and he opened his eyes. He turned around and looked at her. He looked into her eyes and saw nervousness, a tinge of fear, and questions in her eyes. His bluish eyes stared into her green ones and she lowered her gaze. She went and started to check the patients. Armaan looked away and started to check on other patients.

While checking the patients, Armaan and Riddhima often stared at each other while the other wasn't looking and when they got caught, they would end up having an eye lock.

Before they knew, their shifts were over, and they all met in the locker room.

"Yaar aaj toh meri jaan jaane waali hain. Yeh hitler toh maar daalegi." Muskaan complained.

"I know yaar. Mera toh ser itna dard kar raha hain na. Lagta hain jaise phat jaayega." Anjali agreed with her. They all took their things and left, except for Armaan and Riddhima.

Since they were the only ones in the locker room, they were feeling really awkward. Riddhima gave Armaan a sideway glance and closed her locker. She started to go out of the locker room when Armaan's voice stopped her.

"Riddhima." She threw him a nervous glance over her shoulder.

"Woh... maine tumhara letter padha tha." Riddhima slowly turned around and looked him in the eye.

"I'm sorry." Riddhima was confused on why he was saying sorry.

"Woh... maine ab tak tumhe kitna tang kiya hain. Usske liye." Armaan could see the confusion on her face, and he clarified himself.

"You know Riddhima, maine bohat socha. Aur... ab mujhe lagta hain ki tum sahi ho. Hum dono sach mein ek doosre se bohat alag hain. Humme sach mein ek doosre se alag rehna chahiye." He turned around. Listening to his words, Riddhima felt slightly bad. True, she always said it herself, but hearing those same words from Armaan's mouth was like piercing her heart into a million pieces. She gulped the lump that formed inside her throat.

"Lekin hum dost bann kar toh reh sakte hain na?" He turned around and asked her. Riddhima smiled and nodded.

"Great!"

"Lekin sirf dost. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Sirf dost." Riddhima smiled. Armaan moved forward to hug her and her body tensed up.

"Only as a friend." Riddhima nodded once, and Armaan embraced her. Riddhima could tell that the hug wasn't the one that Armaan always gave her. It wasn't the tight, protective hug, but a gentle and hesitant one. She felt a bit sad realizing that. Armaan broke apart from her.

"I think hume ab chalna chahiye. Bohat raat ho gayi hain." Riddhima suggested. Armaan nodded and then they left.

The gang gathered up at the Nurse Station, and waited to Dr. Kirti to assign their duties.

"Good morning Dr. Kirti."

"Good morning interns. So briefing shuru karein? Dr. Rahul and Dr. Muskaan, Children's Ward. Dr. Atul, Path Lab. Dr. Anjali, ICU." Kirti was interrupted by Atul's comment.

"Yaar, phirse hum dono ko juda kar diya." Atul whined.

"Kuch kaha aapne Dr. Atul?" Kirti asked dangerously. Atul stared at her for a second and then shook his head. Kirti gave him a glare, and resumed the briefing.

"Dr. Armaan aur Dr. Riddhima, General Ward. Aur haan, General Ward mein ek naya case aaya hain, Ms. Ritvika Singhaniya. Unka do din pehle accident hua tha, aur aap dono ko unka khayal rakhna hain. Dispersed." Dr. Kirti assigned them their duties, and then they left for their duties.

"Hey Basket." Armaan said cheerfully.

"Hey Armaan."

"So, everything good?"

"Yea." They entered the General Ward, and went to check the patients.

"Sister zara Ritvika Singhaniya ki file dena." Armaan asked for her file and the nurse gave it to him. He went to her bed, and was shocked to see the person there. Ritvika Singhaniya was his ex-girlfriend during college times, and after she found out that Armaan was using her as a time pass, she had been really mad, but then they had turned into very good friends.

"Ritvika?!" Ritvika turned at the mention of her name, and smiled widely seeing Armaan there.

"Oh my God! Armaan!" Ritvika got off of her bed, and hugged Armaan tightly and Armaan did the same. Riddhima looked at the two, completely confused of the situation.

"Oh my God Ritvika! Tum yahaan kaise?"

"Mera accident hua tha yaar."

"Kaise?"

"I was texting while driving. So you can imagine how it's going to be."

"Tum nahin sudhrogi. You should be resting right now. Jao bed par jaake aaraam karo."

"Never. Aur main chal sakti hoon alright. I'm not handicap." Armaan and Ritvika's eyes fell on Riddhima who was looking at them with only confusion.

"Oh, Basket. Yeh hain Ritvika, meri sabse achhi dost. And Ritvika, yeh hain Basket, I mean Riddhima. Meri dost aur colleague."

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Pata hain Riddhima, college ke time mein main aur Ritvika humesha saath the. We even dated each other."

"Ya, but you were using me as time pass alright. So forget about that." Armaan rolled his eyes at her comment.

"Whatever!" Ritvika smiled, and kissed him on the cheek, making Riddhima's eyes widen up.

Isski himmat kaise hui Armaan ko kiss karne ki? Isska toh accident hua hain na? Toh bed par kyun nahin padhi rehti. Chhipkali kahin ki.

Armaan kissed her back, which made Riddhima's jaws fall down to her knees, but she recovered quickly, and crossed her arms across her chest, shifting her gaze somewhere else.

"Um... main patients ko check karna shuru karti hoon." Armaan nodded and Riddhima started to check the patients.

While checking the patients, Riddhima eyes constantly kept going towards Armaan and Ritvika. She saw how Armaan and Ritvika would keep clinging onto each other for some reason, or sometimes for no reason at all. This was really paining her heart for a reason that she knew very well, but refused to accept- her love for Armaan. She closed her eyes for a second and then resumed her work. The rest of the time in General Ward went by like that. Soon it was time for their lunch break.

"So Armaan. Tumhara woh Ritvika wala case kaisa chal raha hain?" asked Anjali.

"It's going good. Actually, the good part is, ki Ritvika Singhaniya meri actually sabse achhi dost hain."

"Yeh Ritvika teri woh ex hain na?"

"Yup."

"How's she?"

"She's fine now. Bohat jald discharge ho jaayegi."

"That's good."

"Yea. Anyways, you all want something? Main apne liye sandwich lene jaa raha hoon." They all ordered something for themselves, except Riddhima.

"Basket, you want something?" Riddhima looked up, and then shook her head. Armaan looked at her, and then went to get everyone's lunch. He placed the order and then waited.

He looked back and saw the gang chatting merrily, but Riddhima was an exception. It looked as if she was in a deep thought about something. He had been noticing Riddhima since the morning. She was looking normal and happy before they entered the General Ward, but after they did, something had definitely happened in there which made her so lost. But what? He noticed that it all started after she met Ritvika. Was she jealous of Ritvika? Did she still love Armaan? Did she-

He was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard his name being called out. He took the food to the table and then sat down. While having lunch, Armaan's eyes were only on Riddhima, who raised her eyes up feeling his gaze on her, only to get lost into the deep ocean of emotions. His eyes bore into her emerald green ones, trying to discover what was going on in her heart. Neither of them blinked and just stared deeply into each others eyes, unaware of Rahul's gaze on them.

Dono ek doosre se kitna pyaar karte hain. Inka pyaar ek doosre ki aankhon mein saaf, saaf dikhta hain. Phir yeh dono kyun ek doosre se door bhaagte rehte hain? I just hope ki yeh dono jaldi ek ho jaaye.

Rahul thought to himself and smiled. He decided to break their little eye lock. When anyone wasn't looking, he went forward and snapped his fingers in front of their eyes, bringing them back from their dream world.

"Kya hua?" Armaan asked confused.

"Kuch nahin. Bas tum dono ka attention gain karni ki koshish kar raha tha." Armaan and Riddhima shifted their gaze somewhere else.

"M... main chalti hoon. Mujhe rounds par bhi jaana hain." Riddhima said shyly, and then left the canteen with Armaan's gaze following her.

"Abhi bhi kehte ho ki Riddhima tumhe pyaar nahin karti?" Rahul asked him quietly. Armaan just looked at him.

"You're right. Nahin karti." Rahul smirked and Armaan left the canteen.

The rest of the day went by really quickly and they all soon went to their houses.

Riddhima stood beside the window with her eyes closed, feeling the light breeze caress her beautiful face. Her mind kept going towards the day's events. Armaan and Ritvika's talk, her kissing him on the cheek, Armaan kissing her back, them always clinging onto each other, all these things made her blood boil.

Kya hua Riddhima? Kya soch rahi ho?

Riddhima opened her eyes and looked to her side. She saw her reflection leaning against the wall with a smirk on her face and her arms crossed.

"Tum?" She asked confused.

Haan, main. Kya soch rahi ho?

"Kuch nahin."

Jhoothi. Armaan ke baare mein soch rahi ho na?

Riddhima looked at her reflection for a moment. She shifted her gaze and then nodded slowly.

Kyun?

"Mtch. Tumhe nahin pata?"

Mujhe kyun pata hoga? Main koi antaryaami thodi na hoon?

"Pata nahin. Na chahte hue bhi main baar, baar sirf ussi ke baare mein sochti rehti hoon. Woh mere dimaag se jaata hi nahin!"

Tum kyun chahti ho ki woh tumhare dimaag se chala jaaye?

"Kyunki main baar, baar usse uss... uss... uss Ritvika ke saath dekhti rehti hoon." Riddhima said angrily and held onto the window ceil in frustration and her reflection smiled.

Oh. Toh tumhe jalan ho rahi hain.

Riddhima looked up.

"Nahin. Aisa kuch nahin hain."

Kyun khud se jhooth bolti ho Riddhima? Hum dono achhe se jaante hain ki tum Armaan se kitna pyaar karti ho. Ussko Ritvika ke saath dekh kar tumhara khoon khol uthta hain. Ussko takleef mein dekh kar tum kaap uthti ho. Usske liye kuch bhi kar sakti ho. Kya yeh pyaar nahin hain? Kyun ussko aur khud ko itni takleef de rahi ho?

"Agar woh mere saath rahega toh ussko takleef ke alaava kuch nahin milega. Hum dono ek doosre se bilkul alag hain. Humari aadatein, lifestyle, soch, sab kuch alag hain. Humare beech mein koi similarity nahin hain. Aise mein main kaise usse khush rakh sakti hoon?" Riddhima opened her heart up and said everything that she had inside, and then closed her eyes, trying to fight the tears back.

Milta hain na.

Riddhima opened her eyes and looked at her confused.

Tum dono ke dill milte hain ek doosre se. Kya yeh kaafi nahin hain? Aur rahi baat Armaan ko khush rakhne ki, toh usse Ritvika, Tanya, unn mein se koi bhi ladki nahin chahiye. Usse agar koi chahiye, toh woh hain koi aisa, jo usski zindagi mein ek nayi roshni ki tarah aaye. Jo usski zindagi ko roshan kar de. Koi aisa, that loves him for his heart, not for his looks. Koi aisa, jo zindagi bhar usska saath nibha sake. Aur usski zindagi mein, woh roshini tum bann kar aayi ho. Tumhe kya lagta hain? Agar tum usski zindagi se chali jaogi, toh woh zyaada khush rahega? You're wrong Riddhima. You're very wrong. Armaan tumhare bina nahin, tumhare saath zyaada khush rahega. Ussko khud se door rakh kar, tum sirf usse dukh pohancha rahi ho Riddhima. Aur kuch nahin. Please khud ko aur Armaan ko itni takleef matt do. Jaa kar keh do usse, that you love him. Go Riddhima, go.

Riddhima just stared at her reflection with tears in her eyes. Her reflection smiled at her and then slowly disappeared into the night light. Riddhima turned and looked at the moon, who was shining brightly in the dark night. She no longer held the tears back, and let them flow freely.

"I'm sorry Armaan. Jaane anjaane mein maine tumhe bohat hurt kiya hain. I'm very sorry." She looked at the moon and recalled all of her moments with Armaan.

Armaan, on the other hand, was at a bike track, getting ready for the race to start. He was to race against someone named Rocky. He was racing to divert his mind off of Riddhima. Yes, Riddhima. If there was someone that was highly occupying his mind, then that was Riddhima, and he just wanted to take her out of his mind.

"So, Amy. Ready to lose?"

"You wish." Armaan and Rocky put their helmets back on, and then they started to race.

It went on for a long time and Armaan was leading it when suddenly, he saw Riddhima slowly emerging out of the crowd and he almost stopped breathing.

She wore the same dress that he had gifted to her few days back. She stopped and slowly raised her beautiful eyes, to meet his gaze.

"Riddhima." Armaan whispered.

She smiled softly at him and started walking amongst the crowd. The sound of the bells of her anklet fell on his ears. He looked at her feet, and saw the same payal he had given her. Her eyes were completely locked with his. She brought her hand towards her lips, and brought the kada on her hand towards her wrist. She placed a deep kiss on the kada and then blushed. Armaan smiled seeing this.

"Armaan!" Armaan heard people taking his name, and he looked to see what was happening. He saw people yelling, but didn't pay any attention. Armaan looked back to where he saw Riddhima and was surprised when he didn't see her there and started to look around.

"Armaan! Watch out!" Armaan looked in front of him and he in a matter of no time he crashed into a hard drum and he fell on the ground, with blood oozing out of his body.

On the other hand, Riddhima's pager rang, and she wiped her tears. She answered the pager, and the next second it fell out of her hands.

"Armaan." She said in shock. She quickly got dressed, and ran to the hospital.

She saw Armaan laying on the stretcher, unconscious, with blood oozing out of his body. She quickly ran to him, and held his hand.

"Armaan! Tumhe kuch nahin hoga. Ok? Sab theek ho jaayega." Riddhima said with tears in her eyes. Armaan was taken to the ICU where Shubhankar and Kirti were already present. They started to treat him, and Riddhima was told to stand outside.

The rest of the gang soon joined her. Though they all were very worried about Armaan, they all were even more worried about Riddhima. She had been crying bitterly ever since Armaan had been taken inside the ICU.

"Ridzi, Ridzi kya hua? Tum itna kyun ro rahi ho? Dekho, Armaan bohat jaldi theek ho jaayega. Tum chinta matt karo." Anjali tried to console her.

"Kaise chinta na karoon Di? Armaan ko kitni chott lagi hain. I just hope ki woh theek ho jaaye."

"Riddhima, Armaan theek ho jaayega. Lekin mujhe yeh baat samajh nahin aa rahi. Armaan ko chott lagi hain, lekin tum itna kyun ro rahi ho?"

"Kyunki main Armaan se pyaar karti hoon." Riddhima finally confessed.

"Kya?" They all said together.

"Haan. Main Armaan se bohat pyaar karti hoon. Aaj se nahin, balki humesha se. Hum dono ek doosre se bohat pyaar karte hain."

"Lekin tum dono ne kabhi hume kuch kyun nahin bataaya?"

"Meri vajah se. Maine hi Armaan ko mana kiya tha, ki hum kissi ko kuch na bataaye."

"Lekin kyun?"

"Kyunki main humaare rishte ko le kar sure nahin thi. Woh Sanjeevni bhi meri vajah se chhod kar gaya tha. Kyunki maine usse bohat bhala bura kaha tha. It's all my fault. Sab meri galti hain." Riddhima cried even more. The gang couldn't digest the fact that Armaan and Riddhima loved each other. This was a shock for them all, but they were very happy.

"Riddhima, koi baat nahin. Sab theek ho jaayega. Armaan ko kuch nahin hoga. Ussko tumhara pyaar baccha lega." Muskaan assured her.

"Pakka?" Riddhima looked at her.

"Pakka." Riddhima hugged her and cried.

About an hour passed and Dr. Shubhankar and Kirti finally came out of the OT. The interns went up to them.

"Dr. Kirti. Armaan kaisa hain? Is he alright now?" Riddhima asked impatiently.

"He's out of danger now. Aur unko hosh bhi aa gaya hain. Zyaada injuries nahin thi. Just some wounds, jo bohat jald bhar jaayenge." They soon went away and the gang gave each other a hug. Kirti and Shubhankar soon came back.

"Dr. Riddhima." She called out. The gang broke apart, and stood in a line.

"Dr. Riddhima aap Dr. Armaan ka case sambhaalengi."

"Yes Dr. Kirti." Riddhima said, hiding her smile.

"You may go now." Riddhima was about to enter the room when Kirti called out for her again.

"Dr. Riddhima." She turned around and faced her.

"Yes Dr. Kirti?"

"Best of luck." Riddhima smiled widely as she understood what she meant to say.

"Thanks!" She gave her a nod and smiled and Riddhima entered the room.

"Dr. Kirti?"

"Yes Dr. Muskaan?"

"Aapko kaise pata ki Armaan aur Riddhima... I mean..."

"Dr. Muskaan pyaar ek aisi cheez hain, jo chhupaaye bhi nahin chhupta."

"Haan, yeh baat toh sahi hain." Said Rahul. Kirti and Shubhankar blushed as they realized that they were talking about them.

Riddhima entered the ICU and saw him sitting up on the bed. He did look weak, but didn't want to show it. He did have bandages here and there, but she was glad that nothing was major.

"Riddhima?"

"Tumhara accident kaise hua?" Riddhima asked angrily.

"Woh... woh... main..."

"Tum bike race ke liye gaye the na?" Armaan couldn't say anything else, so he just looked down. Riddhima walked to him, and sat down on the bed.

"Tumhara dimaag kharab ho gaya hain kya? Aisi uth patang harkatein kyun karte rehte ho?"

"Woh... main toh bas... aise hi..."

"Aisi hi? Tum aise hi bike race ke liye chale gaye? Agar tumhe kuch ho jaata toh?" Tears started to form in her eyes. She somewhere knew the reason for him to go for bike racing, but she wanted to hear it from his mouth.

"Toh? Isse tumhe kya faraq padta hain? Hum toh sirf... 'dost'... hain na?" Armaan asked trying to see through her soul. His words completely pierced her heart into a million pieces. The tears finally rolled down her rosy cheeks. Both stared into each others eyes. Words weren't needed as their eyes were doing all the talking.

"Kya tumhe javaab nahin pata?"

"Pata hain, lekin darr lagta hain. Ki kahin tum phirse mujhe galat na sabit kar do." A long moment of silence prevailed the room. There was pin-drop silence in the room.

Kya soch rahi ho Riddhima? Keh do usse. Tell him.

Riddhima raised her hand up to his face, and Armaan closed his eyes. He put his hand over hers and kissed her palm gently. Riddhima felt shivers running down her spine feeling his lips on her hand.

"I love you." Riddhima whispered softly. Armaan opened his eyes and looked into hers. He felt as if his life had returned back to him. He immediately pulled her into a tight hug and Riddhima hugged him back. Both of them let the tears flow from their eyes, as they felt immense peace in each other's arms. Armaan broke apart from her, and cupped her face, and wiped the tears by his thumb.

"Say it again."

"I love you."

"Again."

"I love you."

"One more time."

"I love you."

Without any further delay, Armaan locked his lips with her. He kissed her passionately and Riddhima reciprocated with equal fervor. The kiss conveyed their love, longing and desire. He sucked her lips, extracting all the juice and sweetness out of it. Riddhima ruffled his hair and opened her mouth up to him. He inserted his tongue and explored her mouth. He licked her tongue sensuously, setting her mouth on fire. The sensations were killing both of them. The feeling of being so close to each other was way beyond words. They lost all of their senses and the world seemed to disappear for them. The only thing they could remember was them, and only them.

"I love you Riddhima." He spoke moving his lips against her soft ones.

They soon broke apart for breath and leaned their foreheads against each other. They breathed heavily and closed their eyes. Armaan opened his eyes and looked at Riddhima. Her cheeks had turned crimson and her lips were trembling slightly.

"Riddhima?" He whispered in a hoarse tone and she opened her eyes. They only had one thing- Desire... for him.

"Promise me. Tum phir kabhi bhi mujhe khood se door nahin karogi."

"Tumhe khood se door karungi toh phir jeeungi kaise?" He pulled her into a hug again, and he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

Just then, the gang entered the room and they smiled seeing the sight in front of them. They admired the couple's reunion and clapped. Armaan and Riddhima broke apart on hearing the noise and looked at the gang.

"Congrats!" Armaan looked at them confused.

How did they find out?

"Tum logo ko kaise pata chala?"

"Riddhima ne bataaya." said Rahul. Armaan looked at Riddhima surprised and she just lowered her gaze.

"Tumne inhe kab bataaya?" Riddhima was about to answer, but Muskaan started to speak instead.

"Jab tu yahaan behosh tha. Tujhe pata hain tujhe aise dekh kar Riddhima kitna ro rahi thi? Tere se zyaada toh issko takleef ho rahi thi. Teri iss haalat ka zimmedaar woh khud ko thehra rahi thi." Armaan looked at Riddhima astonished of this.

"Tum khud ko meri haalat ka zimmedaar kyun thehra rahi thi?"

"Kyunki mujhe pata hain. Mujhe tumhare dimaag se nikaalne ke liye hi tum racing ke liye gaye the." Armaan was surprised to know that Riddhima knew this.

How does this girl know me so well?

"Main tumse bohat gussa hoon." Riddhima said crossing her hands across her chest.

"Kyun?"

"Kyunki tum aisi pagalon jaise harkatein karte rehte ho."

"Iss mein maine pagalon jaisa kya kiya?"

"Bike racing."

"Yeh pagal thodi hain?"

"Aur nahin toh kya hain? Khud ki jaan ko khatre mein daalna pagalon jaisi harkat karna hi hota hain."

"No it's not!"

"Yes it is!"

"No it's not!"

"Yes it is!"

"Riddhima!"

"Armaan!"

"Riddhima!"

"Armaan!" They started to fight again, and the gang chuckled seeing the scene in front of them.

"Yeh dono kabhi nahin sudhrenge." The gang said together, and then chuckled again.

This was a new beginning for everyone. It was a start of a beautiful journey for two lovers. Who had thought that the two people who always fought with each other for petty reasons, the people who despised the mere sight of each other, would end up getting tied together in such a beautiful relationship?

Hum toh chale,

The dost ban ke,

Jaane kahaan,

Dill Mill Gayye...

Wooh! This one turned out to be so long! Very sorry if I bored you all with it. It didn't quite turn out the way I was expecting it to, but it's very close. Please do leave your comments and tell me how I did. And yes, please do leave a comment if you want a PM.

-Medzi