The World's Oldest Story!! #10

"Hi!.. How are you beta.. Ghar dhoondne mein takleef toh nahi hui na..", Padma mom greeted her guest for tonight with a warm welcoming hug at the door..

"Ma'am main bilkul theek hoon.. And ghar dhoondne ka question hi nahi hai.. Main Keerti Di aur Shubhankar key saath hi aa gayi.. They were so sweet to give me a lift..", Dr. Mehra said with a smile just as Dr. Shubhankar appeared behind her, "Arrey.. What is so sweet in that.. Jab destination same ho toh it just makes more sense to car pool.. Haina Keerti..", he looked at his wife sideways with a grin on his face only to receive a scowl in return, which completely wiped the grin off his face..

"I am so sorry ma'am.. Hume aane mein thoda late ho gaya.. As usual kucch logon ko apne kaam se time hi nahi milta..", Dr. Keerti ignored her husband and moved in ahead of him to hug Padma, leaving the other two women in a fit of giggles..

"Koi baat nahi Keerti.. It's okay.. Mujhe pata hai.. Shashank ki bhi same story hain.. But before I start with the complaints andar chalte hain.. Nahi toh yahin pe saari raat nikal jayegi and the list will still continue.." Padma joked with Dr. Keerti as she welcomed a very nervous Shubhankar in.. He had already been fired by his wife for getting late.. And the fact that he was in a surgery was not a good enough excuse.. He had to endure his wife's deadly glares and a very amused old friend, who couldn't control her giggles, all through the drive to the Guptas.. And he was sure he was in store for more tonight.. As he heard Dr. Shashank's beloved wife almost tease him in a welcome, he gave the giggling ladies a sheepish smile and followed them in..

"Ah.. Welcome doctors.. Good evening..", Dr. Shashank greeted the three of them as they walked in with Padma mom..

"Good evening Sir.. ", they greeted him back with a formal handshake..

"Hi Dr. Mehra.. Keerti ma'am.. Shubhankar sir!!", Atul greeted the three seniors, Anjali and Riddhima following suit..

"Kya baat hai Dr. Shubhankar.. Aap itne nervous kyun lag rahe hain..", Dr. Shashank asked his senior cardiologist when he found him stealing nervous glances at his wife..

"Jee.. Nahi kucch nahi Sir.. Main kahan nervous hoon.. I'm just.. you know..", he spluttered as he received another glare from his Hitler wife!

Dr. Mehra couldn't help her giggles at that, "Sir.. woh kya hain na, Shubhankar Keerti Di se thoda darte hain.. "

"Please.. Main kisi se darta nahi hoon.. Main senior doctor hoon..", the three junior residents burst into a fit of giggles along with Dr. Mehra and Padma while Dr. Keerti just glared at him.. And just that one glare brought him back on track, "Matlab.. darta hoon.. thoda thoda..", he chuckled sheepishly at everyone in the room..

"Accha hai Dr. Shubhankar.. Biwi se humesha thoda bachke rehna chahiye..", Dr. Shashank pitched in his joke while Padma nudged his shoulder hard, "Shashank!!"

"Well that's right Papa.. I completely agree..", Dr. Shashank's damaad number one didn't waste time in sucking up to his sasurjee.. But he had to pay the price of his chamchagiri which his wife didn't appreciate at all.. "Shut up Atul!!", came her standard reply to all his stupidities..

While everyone was busy laughing at that interaction Dr. Shashank commented.. "Waise Rahul yahan hain nahi.. Mujhe pata hain who bhi apni biwi se kaafi darta hain..", he teased Dr. Mehra..

"Sir.. kya aap bhi..", she blushed at the mention of her husband.. Of all the people in the world Dr. Shashank knew very well of their love story that had played out years ago in Sanjeevni itself.. Dr. Shashank was their senior doctor at that time and in charge of the interns.. They were pretty close to him.. Though he was strict, he was an awesome mentor to them.. But she had taken a transfer to Sanjeevni Delhi in the second year of her MD internship due to certain personal reasons.. After that she had pretty much settled in Delhi.. But she met Dr. Shashank and Anjali pretty often when they came over to the Delhi branch.. And now, after a long time, this case she was working with Atul and Riddhima had brought her to Mumbai.. It was amazing to come back to the place where she had first met the love of her life.. Her Rahul..

And the mention of her husband had not only distracted her but also caught Atul's attention as he remarked.. "Waise Rahul uncle ko aana chahiye tha.. I haven't met him in the longest time.. Humari shaadi mein bhi nahi aaye..", Dr. Rahul Mehra was Dr. Omi Joshi's best pal when they were interning at Sanjeevni back in their time.. And that's how Atul knew him since he was five or something.. He had heard a lot about him from his dad.. In fact, when his dad was alive, they used to make it a point to meet up at least every six months.. And that's when he had bonded with his Rahul uncle.. He had been a great support and mentor to him after his father's death.. They had been really close.. So he was pretty disappointed when he had given his wedding a miss.. He had obviously made an apology call to him.. But that was just not enough..

"I'm so sorry Atul.. But hum dono Lodon gaye hue the conference attend karne..", Dr. Mehra started to apologize on her husband's behalf.. She knew what kind of a bond they shared.. But Anjali cut her in before she could continue.. "Please.. yeh bahana main already hazaar baar sun chuki hoon.. Last time Delhi gayi thi toh Rahul bhaiya ne gift pakdane ki koshish ki thi.. Rishwat.. ", she frowned at her as she remembered the incident when she was last on tour to Delhi..

"Anjali.. ", she tried to explain, but was cut in by Dr. Shashank.. "Anjali sahi keh rahi hai.. you should have come.. At least Dr. Rahul ko toh aana chahiye tha.. Khair chodo.. Dr. Mehra aur Smriti ji aa gaye, yahi bohot badi baat thi.. Ab tabiyat kaisi hai dono ki..", Dr. Mehra, i.e, Dr. Rahul's dad was one of the main founders of Sanjeevni along with his own dad.. Dr. Mehra was obviously junior to the senior Dr. Gupta, but he had been very helpful to him in handling the hospital after Dr. Gupta Sr. passed away.. He had retired from practice now, but Dr. Shashank always turned to him for guidance regarding the working of the hospital.. He was an integral part of the core board committee of Sanjeevni..

Dr. Mehra's beautiful smile returned at the mention of her parents-in-law.. "They are absolutely fine Sir.. And dono Anjali ki shaadi ke liye bohot hi excited the.. Keh rahe the unki beti jaisi hain.. And Rahul has promised ki who Riddhima ki shaadi toh bilkul miss nahi karega..", she assured him only to make Riddhima blush with that comment..

"Haan bhai.. He better not.. 24th May.. Date aaj hi tey hui hai..", Padma informed her hugging her daughter sideways as she was busy blushing..

Dr. Mehra however wasn't too happy with what she heard.. she was surprised, but a little annoyed.. "Kya.. Riddhima ki shaadi tey ho gayi aur mujhe pata bhi nahi.. Riddhima.. saara din main tumhare saath thi.. ek baar bhi nahi bataya tumne..", she complained to her..

"Sorry ma'am.. who case ke bare mein soch rahi thi toh yaad nahi raha..", Riddhima coyly apologized while everyone sniggered at her discomfort..

"Bilkul Shashank sir ke kadmo pe chal rahi hai.. ", Dr. Mehra remarked under her breath as she heard her.. Dr. Shashank was known to be a martinet when it came to work.. And that made him the butt of quite a few jokes when she was interning..

"Hey!.. I heard that..", Dr. Shashank frowned at his ex-intern and brilliant colleague.. She bit her tongue at that and apologized at once.. "Sorry sir.. But seriously.. Who's the lucky guy! ", quickly diverted the topic to Riddhima and her to-be-husband.. It seemed just like yesterday when she was in Sanjeevni and a nine year old Riddhima would come to meet her Shashank sir after school.. She used to take her out for ice-cream many a times with Rahul.. Actually it was more like a bahana for them to spend time together in duty hours.. But it was fun all the same.. It was simply hard to believe that the same rolly polly nine year old with two pony tails was now going to get married and settle down.. She frowned at that thought, realizing that she had certainly turned old.. She should start accepting the fact.. But she was happy for Riddhima.. She was sure her husband was going to be one lucky man..

Dr. Shashank however, was frowning at the thought of that very 'lucky man'.. Coz as soon as that question was asked he blurted sarcastically.. "Don't even ask!!", before anyone else could answer..

Riddhima who was blushing at the thought of her wedding, scowled at her dad's comment!.. "Papa!!..", she glared at him only to see him cringe in embarrassment.. "Matlab.. Don't even ask.. heera hai heera.. Kya kahun uske bare mein..", he chuckled sheepishly, trying to cover up his blunder..

Dr. Mehra found this interaction extremely hilarious.. Yes! Her Shashank sir was being the typical father of the bride.. She laughed along with the others at that as she asked Riddhima teasingly.. "Accha.. toh main kab mil sakti hoon tumhare heere se.. "

"Ma'am..", the bride to be couldn't help but blush in embarrassment at being teased by her senior..

"Oh ho.. badi sharam aa rahi hai.. And.. Pehli baat stop calling me ma'am yaar.. Yeh Ma'am ma'am kya laga rakha hai tum logon ne.. I feel so old.. Just call me.. "

"Juhi!!!???", she turned around in surprise as her rant was cut in by a deep male voice which sounded nothing short of shocked.."I don't believe this.. Dr. Juhi Singh!!", but this time his voice was barely above a whisper as he stared at her in shock and awe.. He couldn't believe he was seeing her.. He was cursing sasurjee and his dear daughter thinking of a bahana to escape dinner coz he knew they were bound to take his case.. But when he entered the living room he found a full house.. He spotted his senior Dr. Shubhankar and the Hitler Dr. Keerti.. He guessed the third lady would be the famous Dr. Mehra who had kept his Basket occupied the entire day today.. He was about to start cursing her when he heard her voice and tinkling laughter.. Curious to know why she sounded familiar, he stepped forward into the room to have a look at her.. And the moment he saw her he froze.. This was too good to be true.. The time that he had spent with her ran like a filmstrip of still frames in his mind and a feeling of extreme joy mixed with a tinge of depression took over him.. But more than anything, he was just shocked to see her here, after so many many years.. He really didn't think he would meet her.. And absolutely not in this phase and scene of life.. This world was surely a small place to be..

Dr. Mehra looked at the well built good looking chap in front of her who was looking at her with such expectant eyes.. "I'm sorry.. Do I know you?" she asked him with an unsure smile on his face.. Being a doctor, she was used to patients, or their relatives showing recognition to her a lot of times. But sometimes, she would be embarrassed, like she was today, when she didn't remember who they were. It was practically impossible to remember all of them. Plus she was more intrigued by the fact that this guy had used her maiden surname..

Armaan's face broke into a grin as he realized that she had not recognized him. Of course she wouldn't have. Unlike her, he certainly didn't look like what he did when he had last met her. But he had to admit, that she looked just as beautiful as she did seventeen years ago. And she was just a year or two younger to what he is now at that time. Now she must be in her early forties. She certainly didn't look like it. But then it was a long time ago. Maybe, she didn't even remember him now. She must have met hundreds like him in all these years. But for him, she was someone unforgettable. A permanent fixture of his memories.. Though he hadn't thought of her in a while now, only he knew, what she really meant to him. And he knew he was close to her too. Only they had completely lost touch with each other. "Itni jaldi bhool gayi apne first boyfriend ko?.. I'm actually hurt..", he reminded her of their time together as he grinned at her naughtily..

And those words had the desired effect as they left her stunned for a moment.. "Armaan!.. Armaan Mallik??.. ", she whispered tentatively, unable to grasp that it was him who was standing in front of her..

While Riddhima and the others tried to figure out what the deal was between these two, Armaan tried to act all cool by suppressing his feelings with another witty remark.. "Really?.. Maine toh realize hi nahi kiya.. "

And this time Dr. Juhi gave in to her giggles as she went over to him though her eyes were still wide, trying to take in his entire self.. This was so different from what it was seventeen years ago.. "Wow!.. Tum toh sach mein Superhero ban gaye..", she remarked, wiping the small trickle of a tear that had escaped her eye.. She recollected how she had asked him what he wants to become when he grows up and he had said he'll become a superhero like superman. But she had argued that superheroes don't exist and that he'll have to think of something else.. Now she had to admit, he looked nothing short of one..

And our SupArmaan just had another smug reply ready at his disposal.. "I'm not going to say 'I told you so!'.. But thank you.. By the way.. its Dr. Armaan Mallik now.. Resident doctor, Sanjeevni Mumbai..", he proudly told her, straightening his collar..

"Wow!.. ", she exclaimed with a grin, her brows raised at his antics. Well at least those had not changed over time.. His trademark dimples and ready answers to all her arguments was his USP and she could more than recognize that naughty glint in his eye.. This was indeed her Armaan..

"Hello!! Yeh sab kya ho raha hai koi hume bhi batayega..", Anjali interrupted the conversation..While Armaan and his ex-girlfriend were reminiscing their time together, the others were just standing there and watching the duo and their cute flirting.. Riddhima was extremely curious to know how Armaan knew Dr. Mehra.. So much that he called her Juhi.. Nani and Dr. Shashank were scandalized that Armaan was calling her by her first name and openly flirting with her.. Though they knew it was all in good fun, it wasn't so much appreciated by them.. Atul, Anjali, Padma mom and Drs. Shaubhankar and Keerti Rai were just watching their interaction with an amused smile on their faces and a mild intrigue in their mind about this cute bond that these two shared.. They clearly had met after a really long time.. So they were just watching them catch up with each other patiently.. But both seemed too engrossed in each other to notice anyone around.. That's when Anjali had decided to intervene..

Dr. Juhi answered Anjali's question with a naughty grin.. "Anjali.. Yeh hai mera pehla pehla pyaar.. humari bohot purani love story hai.. Tab yeh dass saal ka tha.. Aur main.. uh.. let's not go there.. ", she pretended to be embarrassed by that as she chuckled.. But before she could continue with her story Armaan meddled in between again.. "But you know what Juhi.. I must say tum aaj bhi utni hi beautiful lagti ho.. just like you were seventeen years ago.. Dukh toh sirf iss baat ka hai ki ab tum meri Juhi nahi rahi.. Dr. Mehra bann gayi ho..", he teased her in mock hurt and distress as he clutched at his apparently broken heart..

"Toh aap kahan inke Armaan rahe hain Dr. Armaan.. Aap toh Dr. Riddhima ke dil ka Armaan ban gaye hain..", Dr. Shubhankar took his chance to tease his junior making everyone laugh..

Only Dr. Juhi wasn't laughing coz she was busy figuring something else out.. "What!.. Really!! Toh yeh hain heera!!", she exclaimed, realizing that Riddhima's lucky guy was none other than her so called first boyfriend..

"Kya!! ", Armaan frowned in confusion at her remark, while everyone just laughed their heads off at his expression..

"Haan Juhi beta.. yehi hai.. who heera!!", Naani confirmed it to Dr. Juhi as the others were busy laughing..

Armaan, who was still confused, turned to Riddhima for help.. But she was still thinking about him and Dr. Mehra, trying to figure them out.. He realized she was lost somewhere and raised his eyebrows at her in a question.. When she realized he was looking at her, she quickly shook her head in a no..

However they were oblivious to the fact that Anjali and Atul were now telling Dr. Juhi how much of a heera he was.. They were just on the point on what a romeo Armaan was, when they caught the two of them staring at each other.. "Dekha.. phir se shuru ho gaye dono.. I'm telling you ma'am.. I mean.. Juhi di..", Anjali corrected herself just as Dr. Juhi started to protest again at that addressal, "Dono ko ek dusre se fursat hi nahi milti.. Humesha chipke hue rehte hain..", she teased the two of them to make them scowl..

"Anjie.. Why don't you shut that big trap of yours.. Tum bore nahi hoti humara mazaak udakar.. ", Armaan retorted with a frown..

But his Juhi sided with the dushman party this time as she said, "I'm sure Anjali is bored.. But I haven't even started.. Mujhe toh bohot mazaa aayega..", she told Armaan with a smirk..

"Oh please.. I know you're just jealous.. But miss ex-girlfriend.. If you can move on.. So can I.. ", he teased her back, winking at Riddhima, who just shook her head in defeat.. Whatever she does, she's going to have bear all the embarrassment..

"Waise Juhi Di.. How in the world did you fall for Armaan.. I mean.. Rahul bhaiya is way too cool..", Anjali continued with the tease..

"What can I say Anjali.. He was way too cute when he was ten.. Mere shoulder tak aata tha.. Aur baatein itni badi badi karta tha.. ", she had started it as a joke but ended up getting nostalgic as she remembered that..

Armaan looked at her and smiled a warm smile remembering those moments.. It felt just like yesterday.. But the next question from Dr. Keerti wiped that smile off his face, "Juhi.. Where did you guys actually meet.. Main nahi jaanti thi tum Dr. Armaan ko jaanti ho..", she was indeed curious about how her cousin sister-in-law knew her junior doctor.. They were pretty close that way, and he had never ever come up in their conversations ever.. That was weird considering the kind of obviously close bond the two of them shared.. But her straightforward question didn't seem to have that easy and answer..

Riddhima looked at Dr. Juhi and then at Armaan as suddenly both of them had nothing to say.. She had not known about Dr. Juhi's presence in Armaan's life either.. He had never spoken to her about her.. She was as intrigued as everyone else in the room to know.. But Armaan's expression told her that this wasn't to be discussed here.. Not now.. Not like this.. She had done some math in her head and figured what could be the deal here.. And she knew it wasn't Armaan's favorite topic of discussion.. It was better if she changed the topic before it depressed the atmosphere for the evening.. But she didn't need to do that this time as her mom came to their rescue.. "Accha.. Yeh sab baad mein discuss kar lena.. Main keh rahi thi ki kaafi late ho gaya hain.. main khana lagati hoon.. Lets catch up over dinner.. Kya khayal hai.. ", she suggested, diffusing the building tension.. She didn't really have an inkling to what it was.. But she could tell from Armaan's expression that he was uncomfortable with that topic.. So she made this suggestion which was readily accepted by Dr. Shashank.."Excellent idea Padma.. Lets eat.. ", he declared, leading everyone towards the food.. Dr. Juhi smiled at Armaan before following everyone to the dining area.. Armaan just smiled back at her and watched her go.. He shook his head at the games his fate played with him.. It brought him to a juncture where he couldn't enjoy the happiness completely, nor revel in his misery satisfactorily.. As much as he was happy to see his Juhi today, he knew that a pain was invariably going to accompany him in her presence.. He didn't want to face that again.. And just at that thought he felt someone slip their hand in his, holding it tight.. The quiet assurance in that grip told him it was his Riddhima.. He didn't need to turn and look to confirm.. He knew she had understood somehow as to what he was going through.. She always does.. He doesn't know how.. But she always does.. And he knew he could get through this when she was with him.. So he put all that pain that he feared in a far corner of his mind and decided to cherish the company of his current and ex-girlfriend together.. How often does that happen!! He chuckled siliently at that thought.. Oh there was so much they had to discuss.. He had to remind her of their bet and all.. He made all evil plans in his head to trouble her, as he smiled at the good ol memories with her.. "Armaan..", he turned to look at Riddhima as she whispered his name when she saw him smile..

She gave him a blank look at first, but then getting his point grinned back at him and his wink, "Tumhe toh main baad mein dekh lungi.. Don't you dare flirt with her in front of me..", she threatened him teasingly..

But before he could continue with this nautanki of his, his saali called out from the dining table, "You guys are the limit yaar.. Jaldi aa jao warna papa shaadi cancel karwa denge.."

They heard everyone laugh out loud at Anjali's juvenile attempt at teasing them for the millionth time and shook their head in defeat, "Iss saali ka kucch karna padega..", he muttered with a scowl as they headed for dinner hand in hand.. Riddhima just smiled at his cute frown but shot a reprimanding glare at him anyway, leaving him cursing the Gupta family under his breath..