Part 22
'Sid' that soft pain stricken voice tucked at his heart for a moment and repelled him the next.
He refused to look up shutting his eyes tight afraid of being pulled back any moment to face those eyes which always had the capability of melting him.
The warmth from that touch was telling him a different story that what had come to believe. No he was not precious to anybody and definitely not her. He shrugged his shoulder to shake off that hand. That slight movement had the capability of driving a sharp dagger through her heart. She winced in pain.
The bar tender gave her another warning look. She had never let the pain of Sid's rejection and protests dissuade her then this was just a warning look of bar tender.
She waited for a minute before calling out to Sid again nudging him lightly.
His head wobbled to one side leaving Riddhima gasping from fear.
'Sid .. Sid aankhen kholo Sid'
Sid having had his last drinks too fast had passed out.
'Ma'am Ma'am he has just fallen asleep.'
'Oh god.' Riddhima grabbed held on to Sid fearing him falling from the bar stool.
'Help me please.'
The manager and another attendant rushed to her help.
They took Sid and made him sit on the couch near the bar waited for Riddhima's instructions.
Riddhima's mind was working at full speed. 'What to do? Where to take him to? How to make Sid sober? How was she going to manage him when he comes around?'
She felt drained looking at Sid's sleeping figure. She tore her eyes away from him and braced herself. 'Get hold of yourself. You will have to do it even if it means bearing his wrath.'
She got up and requested the manager to help Sid to her car.
They were taking him away while she stood rooted looking at his drooping figure supported by the two men. Seeing her sorry state the bar tender called her 'Ma'am'. She turned to the bar tender. Thinking it was for the bill she pulled out her wallet and handed him her card.
The bar tender felt a little ashamed to have warned her off. He quietly charged the card and handed the slip for signing. While Riddhima completed the needful formalities the bar tender gathered the courage. 'Who is he? As in to you? I have never seen him with anybody. You are the first one.'
Riddhima looked up wondering what to answer him. Then looking in the direction that they had taken Sid she replied 'My saviour'
Bar tenders encounter many strange people with their strange stories. This was just another one he thought and got back to work after handing over the card and bill.
Riddhima still couldn't think up with where she could take him. Not to her house. She did not want Shashank or her mom having a bad impression. She did not know where he was staying. She did not to check into a hotel. She opened her bag to place the wallet in when her hand touched something. The keys to the penthouse. She had never got around to returning it to Sid and always remained in her bag.
The penthouse was in a mess. It was covered with dust. The watchman helped Sid up. Riddhima quickly changed the bed sheet in the room which was once hers and helped the watchman to settle Sid in bed.
Sid was sound asleep but she could not get herself leave him alone. After making a quick call to her mother to inform her she would be not returning as she was catching up with Rahul and Muskan she was decided to settle down.
She covered Sid with a blanket after carefully removing Sid's spectacles and his shoes.
The whole night she spent by Sid's side sitting on chair with her one hand resting on Sid. She wanted to be there if Sid needed anything.
As the effect wore off Sid's sleep was getting disturbed. He shifted in bed almost displacing the blanket.
Immediately Riddhima was up to check on Sid. He was sweating profusely. An after effect of alcohol.
She turned on the air conditioner, covered him with the blanket and settled down.
Sid slept quietly through the night only intermittently murmuring to himself which Riddhima could hardly make out just a few words here and there.
Morning came and Sid got up with a startle. He looked around surprised. 'How did I come here?' He never carried the keys to penthouse around then how come he was here.
His answer was standing right in front of him.
'Riddhima' He clenched his teeth in disgust and got up swiftly. The hangover caught up and he collapsed in bed again. Riddhima rushed to his side to help him sit up.
He held up her hand waning not to come any closer.
He had a right to be angry and she would endure it. She calmly held out a glass of water for him to help his dehydration. Sid turned his face the other side indicating his refusal.
'Pee lo better feel karoge' said Riddhima holding the glass out to him once again. Sid was not going to give in to this. She placed the glass on the side table 'Yaha rakh rahi hoon. Pee lena. Heater on hai aur kapde yaha rakh diye hai. Shower and get ready nahi toh hospital ke liye der ho jayegi.'
Riddhima had gotten up early and had set about arranging the necessities. To her luck there were still some of his and her clothes there. She had ironed his clothes and set them out for him.
He hated the sight of them. As she turned to leave he moved across the bed to throw them away.
Typical of Sid. She smiled and quickly reprimanded him. 'Neeche mat phekna farsh ganda hai.'
Her calm normal behavior got on his nerves. He crushed them and threw them aside on the bed as soon as she left.
She reckoned he needed time to get ready. He was not going to agree if she was to persist with him.
She silently set herself to making some breakfast. She had gotten the watchman to do some quick shopping for her.
When she was here this was her daily routine and life then seemed so settled. She missed this many months. Having set out the table she went in to check on Sid who was still grumpily sitting on the bed and all her effort lay crushed on the side.
Time was running out. Soon she needed to report to duty and going by the discipline issues faced she was sure get slaughtered even if she was late by a minute but this was more important. She went down to the kitchen to wait for Sid. Some more time passed by yet there was no sign of him coming down.
Sid was waiting for Riddhima to leave. He hated every moment of her presence in the house and she refused to budge.
Riddhima again went to check on him. Sid had not moved a bit. He sat there staring into blank space. 'Sid kya tum theek ho.' she asked moving in.
'Tum se matlab?' he barked back finally not being able take Riddhima's concern any more.
A very valid question coming from Sid. She cheated on him and she was the reason for the failed marriage then why would not Sid ask such a question. Yet she was there because his well being mattered. It mattered more than what it mattered to her when armaan was on his path to self destruction. But armaan was always self destructive. Not Sid and that was killing her cause she had pushed him towards this path consciously or unconsciously.
'Sid ..tumne kal raat ko itni sharaab pee li thi ki ..'
'Sharaab pee thi zeher nahi'
'Siddhant'
'Chillao mat. Aur tumhare boy friend ki tarah nahi hoon jisse sympathy aur sahare ki zaroorat hai. I can manage myself.'
'Sid tum kal uss halat mein nahi the ki ..'
'Pehle kaha hai aur aaj wapis keh raha hoon mar bhi jaonga toh bhi tumhari maddad ki zaroorat nahi padegi and now get lost.'
Sid was not going to accept her help. It was best that she left. But one last try.
'Tumhare liye breakfast rakha hai. Kha ..'
'I said leave ...Get out ..' he screamed.
Link to the next part
https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/46608785
Edited by DJ.. - 13 years ago
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