I had given myself the deadline of 4 pm to finish this update Sorry I could not write faster and hence Juhi's realization will be in the next part
Veena Jas Tanni and everyone I am really really sorry I could not update last night I plonked off to sleep while typing on my laptop itself
Part 70
It was way past 6 and Riddhima wondered if Juhi had left for the play as she had not heard from her. She worried her that Juhi may be upset with her for declining her offer hence had not met her before leaving as they would do everyday. Riddhima walked towards Juhi office hoping to apologize to her and bid her goodbye. Throughout the day she hoped not running into Sid. Once again to lie to Sid would not be possible for her nor would be telling him the truth. She approached the Juhi's office and peaked in through the glass door only to notice Sid sitting there already reading some files. She did not want to run into him but that visual was so captivating that she stood rooted to the spot. It pulled her back into her past 10 years back. Days when Sid had just become the disciplinary, he used to bring files back home trying to make sense of how the job is done. Many of the times she had seen him talking to himself trying to decode the puzzle. The amusement she experienced then never failed to bring a smile on her face. As she saw him working through the files she noticed that this was not the same Sid whom she loved to watch work with those files at home. He was one of the most sort after neurosurgeon in the US, Dr Siddhant Modi. He worked swiftly yet meticulously through the files making notes where required.
Sid kept working through the files trying to ignore the feeling of being watched by someone. For a moment he turned around to check if anyone watching him but found no one there at the door. Not wanting to waste any more time on his weird feelings he promptly returned back to the files. He kept going through the file and the feeling of being watched returned. Frustrated he once again turned and to catch Riddhima staring at him.
Seeing him looking at her Riddhima flustered, a lump formed in her throat thinking what reason was she going to give him for sneaking up on him liking this.
It felt like the dust that lay thick on the memories of his past was being blown away slowly and steady. His defences had crashed long time back and as the days passed he found himself being slowly drawn into some of the fond memories of yesteryears.
Seeing Riddhima standing there he involuntarily walked towards her. Many times before also, he had caught her gazing at him while he worked at the hospital or at home. Every time she had an affectionate smile playing on her lips and when caught she flustered just the way she did now.
He opened the door not to usher her in or tell her off. It felt more like removing the barricades that separated them.
He kept looking at the shy lady standing at the door with a faint smile playing on his lips.
'I didn't mean to disturb you I just wanted to meet Juhi.'
Reality hit Sid. Those words rudely brought him back to the present. He felt completely unsettled with his actions. He wondered how he could let his feeling dominate his actions so much.
Sid: Nahi nahi main toh bas aise hi files dekh raha aur Juhi ke liye notes bana raha tha Maybe she can use them..... Please come in.
He walked up back and settled down in his chair and started shuffling the pages Riddhima walked in wondering what to say or do next.
Sid: By the way kuch kaam tha uske saath ''.
Riddhima: Nahi bas dekh ne ke liye aayi thi ki woh gayi ya nahi or else she will get tied down with something or the other
Sid: Main bhi ussi ka wait kar raha hoon
Riddhima: Woh chali toh nahi gayi na ''. actually who aaj play dekhne jaane wali thi '
Sid: nahi '' woh abhi bhi hospital mein hi hai '''
Sid's confident reply bothered her compelling her to probe to know the reason behind this confidence.
Riddhima: How do you know?
Sid: Woh mere saath hi jaane wali thi isliye ''. par abhi tak emergency se wapis nahi aayi
It hurt her that Juhi did not try persuading her for the play that morning and to add to it, it was Sid who was going to accompany her. She felt as if she no longer mattered much in both their lives. 'Oh! Ok ! Usse der na ho jaye main dekh ke atti hoon' she offered plainly
Sid: Nahi theek hai work comes first
Riddhima: I know but she really wanted to go for the play ''.. aaj kal bahoot kaam rehta hai use ''. It was a welcome break for her '''. A good way to unwind from this busy routine '''.. and she was so happy this morning thinking of going for the play
Sid: phir mana kyu kar diya jaane ke liye uske saath
Riddhima: mujhe kuch kaam tha isliye
Sid: Well what you said applies to you also
Riddhima: As in
Sid: you seem to be overworking yourself I mean you could also use a break
Riddhima: tum bhi bahoot jyaada kaam karte ho
Sid: I enjoy my work so it does not stress me out
Riddhima: phir dono baar tum Itne tired kaise feel kar rahe the ....Itna ki tumhara sir dard karne lag gaya
Sid: actually it was just jet lag and you know how long neuro surgeries can go on for
Riddhima: Par phir sab kuch khud supervise karne ke liye kyu ruke''. Wrap ups can always be done by juniors ''''
Sid: That's not my style of working '''. Kisiko bheech raste chod ke jaana meri aadat nahi hai ..
Things said unintentionally at times freshen old memories and wounds. armaan had abandoned Riddhima when she needed him the most. While Sid stuck to his resolve of marrying her and he did. He always stood by her whenever she needed a friend and companion to walk the difficult path of life. He had indeed held her hand to walk her through the darkest phase of her life and brought her to life and light again. If not for him, she would have perished long back.
Sid: aur waise bhi both the cases were critical ones not something I could give in the hands of the juniors.
She brushed away the tears that formed in her eyes quickly fearing that Sid would notice them if he looked her way. 'Waise mujhe laga tha ki tum cardiology mein interested the '''. I mean kaafi baar assist kar chuke the heart surgeries ke liye then how come you suddenly shifted to neurology
Sid: main toh kissi ke dil ko samaj hi nahi paaya ...... He always regretted not being able to read the Riddhima's heart - her love for armaan. There was a not a single day when he did not curse himself for having come inbetween the two. Had he not been there lives and relationships of many individuals would have been different
Her heart ached. Another would have considered it to be a taunt but not Riddhima. She knew Sid too well to even go that way. He was a pure soul who would blame himself for the miseries of the world when he was not responsible for it. She so wanted to earase those feelings of regret of not having understood her cause he was the only person who truly understood her.
Sid continued not realizing the effect of his words on Riddhima: I mean cardiology did not seem to be my piece of cake ..... Neurology just seemed a better option '''' Forget it .............. I think I better finish this file so once Juhi comes we can leave asap
Her presence her questions had freshened the heartbreaking memories for Sid causing him more pain Riddhima. Not wanting to deepen it she decided to leave: I am sorry for disturbing you ''. Main chalti hoon
Sid: No No it is perfectly fine ..... waise kuch message dena hai Juhi ko
Riddhima: Nahi main toh sirf usse bye bolne aayi thi
Sid: So should I tell her you have left for the day?
Riddhima: Nahi I will here for some time kuch kaam hai
Sid: late shift?
Riddhima: Haan todha late ho jayega
Sid: You already sound very tired ''.. aapki tabyat toh theek hai na
Riddhima: haan I am fine '''.
'But I am not fine' ''''. Whined Juhi as she entered her office.
The puppy face expression instantaneously brought a smile to Sid's face. 'Aree kya hua '''..?'
Juhi: All is a damn waste '''
Seeing Juhi still upset worried both Sid and Riddhima. 'Is the patient fine?' both questioned her together.
Juhi: Dono ko sirf patient ki padi hai '''the patient is fine '''
Juhi already seemed disappointed and Sid and Riddhima's reaction to the patient being fine irritated her even more.
Juhi: Mere bare mein koi sochega kya ''..
Sid: aree ''.. but Juhi we are doctors '''
Juhi: I know '''' we are doctors our patients are our first responsibility but I wanted to go for the play '''' It's been so many days since I wanted to go ''..
Sid: You can go some other day ''''
Juhi: But I wanted a break '''
Sid: aree yaar ''.. chalo let's do one work '''..lets go for a movie ''''
Juhi:Sad movies hai ''''
Riddhima was quite amused how Sid was trying to pacify Juhi.
Sid: Then what do you want to do '''
Juhi: I don't know '''''
Sid: See after the play we would have gone out for dinner ''.right ?
Juhi: Obviously '''.
Sid: So let's stick to that atleast ''..
Riddhima: That seems like a good idea
Juhi: Theek hai that seems like a decent idea ''.
Sid: Chalo toh settle ho gaya ''.. ab chalen ''.
Juhi: Kaha
Sid: Dinner ke liye ''..
Juhi: Itne jaldi '''.. dinner karna hai ''' restaurant mein jaake pakana nahi hai '''.
Sid: I know ''.
Juhi: aur yeh file kaun khatam karega ''' pointing at the file in front of Sid.
Sid: Yeh tumhari file hai '''.. I was just helping ''''
Juhi: Toh poori help karo na ''''..aise aadhi adhoori nahi '''..chalo finish this I also have to monitor the patient for some time '''
Riddhima and Sid were both amused at how Juhi was bossing Sid around with her work. It would have seemed like shirking of work but both knew Juhi well. She was just pulling a fast one on Sid. The minute he pulled up the file again to start work. She yanked the file out of his hand. 'You don't have to be working so hard in front of my boss to make me look like bad.'
Riddhima burst out laughing looking at Juhi's antics. Riddhima: Nahi main aise kuch nahi sochungi '' you continue ''.. main chalti hoon
This was the first time in years that Sid had heard Riddhima laugh. She seemed so relaxed and at ease. Sid turned to look at Riddhima but she was already walking out of the room. He so wanted to see that twinkle in her eyes which was always there when she was happy.
Dissapointed with himself he shifted his focus back to the file and started making his notes.
Juhi: So bakra '''.. how was that?
It irritated Sid to be called a bakra but it infuriated him that Juhi managed to make him one. 'So that was just to emotionally blackmail me into this '''''
Juhi proudly nodded 'Yes!!! ''' and I was successful '''.. and anyways agar main yeh nahi karti toh tum aate '''.. inn filo mein sar khapate ya phir ''.. apne ghar pe sad se songs sunte baite''..
Sid: I don't listen to sad songs''''.
Juhi: Oh please '''.. tum aur Riddhima dono ek jaise specimen ho '''agar aap ko emotionally blackmail na kare toh dono akele dukhele kahi baite rahenge ''''wait kahi nahi sirf office main ''.. comeon yaar get a life ''' tum yaha pe kaam karte ho '..nahi na '''..toh phir inn files pe kyu kaam kar rahe the ''
Sid: Main toh sirf tumhari madat ''..
Juhi: Hello '''. Tum apni madat kar rahe the ''. Kyu ki tumhe kaam ke alava kuch karna hi nahi aata ''. Aur woh madam bhi '''. Wapis aaj subah se hai ''.. lekin ghar nahi jayegi ''''.
Sid: Toh phir usse kyu nahi blackmail nahi kiya aane ko '''' usse bhi bula leti ''..
Juhi: Phir dono uncomfortable ho jaate ''.. isiliye ''..
Sid: Main nahi hoonga ''''. I don't know about her ''''
Juhi: Sure '''' bulvu usse
Sid: Hmmm '''. I think that would be a good idea '''' waise you were telling na that she does not go out at all '''' She can also use a break '''.
Juhi: Cool ''''chalo main abhi usse pooch leti hoon '''.
She quickly walked out of her office and caught up with Riddhima.
Juhi: Riddhima ''..sunoh ''.
Riddhima: Kya hua ''..?
Juhi: Waise I should not be saying this but you are responsible for this fiasco
Riddhima shocked at Juhi's allegations questioned her 'what do you mean by that how can I be responsible?'
Juhi: Agar tumne haan ki hoti then we would have left earlier and I would not have gotten stuck here .. So now you need to make up for it ''
Riddhima: How is that possible ''' ? you would anyways would have gotten delayed ''' how can I be responsible for you missing the play?
Juhi: Woh main nahi jaanti '''' you have to do something to make up for it ''..
Riddhima understood there would be no point in arguing with Juhi and relented quickly 'Tell me'
Juhi: You come with me for dinner now
Riddhima: But Sid''.I mean Siddhant is going na ''''then why me?
Juhi: You have to ''..or else we both are also not going''..
Riddhima: yeh kya bachpana hai '''
Juhi: Tum aa rahi hoo bas''..
Riddhima: Woh wapis uncomfortable ho jayega ''
Juhi: Nahi hoga ''' ussi ne kaha ''.
Riddhima knew that even if Sid did say that he would not be uncomfortable he was doing so just to make her feel good. But ultimately the situation would again become such that both would land up messing it for Juhi So she promptly declined. 'Woh sirf tumhari khushi ke liye bol raha hoga ''' but its best that I do not go and waise bhi mujhe kaam hai ''. Rehne do Juhi''''
Riddhima had made up her mind and all the arguments from Juhi were falling on deaf ears. Juhi finally gave up and was going to walk away when she saw Sid standing there listening to the conversation. Seeing Juhi disappointed Sid walked up to Juhi. 'It would be great if you could accompany us'
Riddhima immediately stopped in her track hearing that voice. She slowly turned back to meet Sid eyes. His innocent request was so difficult to decline. The thought of getting to spend some time with him was music to her ears. She slowly nodded.
Seeing her agree Juhi was thrilled 'Yay so see in at 8.30 my office we shall go for dinner together'
Link to the next part (please note it is in too parts)
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/40959428
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