Riddhima stared at him as tears flowed out of her green eyes. He moved towards her trying to hold her when she raised her hand between them stopping him and spoke angrily, "Don't come near me armaan. How dare you kiss me? You don't have the right to touch me. You.." "I have the right to touch you riddhima. I have every right on you" "Just because you married me does not give you the right to do whatever you want to do with me" "I have the right to touch you because you love me. And you being married to me give me Every Single Right On You. I wouldn't have dared to touch you if you were my wife just for namesake. I accepted you as My Wife Mrs. Riddhima Armaan Mallik. Even if you say you have not accepted me as your husband and you are still Ms.Riddhima Gupta in your heart, we both know it is a lie. You wouldn't have responded to me if you don't love me. You wouldn't have responded to me if you have not accepted that I am your husband. Tumhari dil aaj bhi sirf mere liye dhadak raha hai riddhima. Mujhe samajh mein nahi aa raha hai tum kyoon apne aap ko mere paas aane se rok rahi ho. Wajah chahe kuch bhi ho, hum dono jaante hai ki you can't never stop loving me. Pehle tumhari dil ki baat tumhare honth tak nahi aayi thi. Aur ab tumhare honth mujhse jhoot bol rahein hai. I didn't understand your unspoken words before. But I do now. Even now when you are talking to me, I can see your eyes mirroring your heart to me, which is saying the exact opposite of the words your mouth is saying" he said calmly, yet in a painful helpless angry voice.
She stared at him with moist blank eyes, her heart going through a hundreds of emotions. Her legs, instead of listening to her brain, listened to her heart and she slowly started walking towards him, smiling at him with tear filled eyes. He came forward towards her smiling with moist eyes. He opened his arms for her and she hugged him immediately, crying hard in his arms wetting his shirt. Tears escaped his eyes as he caressed her hair and back, soothing her. They let their pain out in the form of tears. After few moments, he parted a little from her and wiped her tears, kissing her eyes. She closed her eyes with a smile as he did it. She cupped his face in her palms and kissed his forehead, making him smile wide with his dimples. She looked into his eyes and slowly released herself from his hold whispering "we are not meant to be armaan" and ran from there, leaving him shocked. She ran down to her room and fell on the floor crying hard.
Armaan stood rooted to the spot. "We are not meant to be armaan" her words echoed in his ear again and again ripping his heart. "Why she said that? I saw my riddhima when she walked towards me and hugged me few moments before. She still love me. Then why she is pushing me away? What is she hiding from me?" he thought as he ran down and stopped in the middle of the stairs hearing her singing.
R: Jaane kis mode pe le aayi yeh zindagi main jaanoon na
He sang back to her
A: Dhadkanon ki yeh bechainiyaan hai humsafar pehchaanoon na
She sat in the floor in her room and he sat in the stairs singing and crying helplessly.
R: teheri zameen tehera hai pal
A: mann mein machi kyun hulchul
Chubthi hai mujhko kyun dooriyan
Riddhima cried her heart out hearing him sing. What he sang tore her already broken heart. She knew he didn't do anything intentionally and he never meant to hurt her. But he had not understood her well then and he didn't understand she will be hurt. She is an emotional sensitive girl, who listens to her heart and does what her heart feels is right. She had learnt to forgive and forget from her childhood. But it was different with him. She knows it is not his mistake. But the fact that He hurt her is what hurting her the most. She had not expected him to hurt her feelings of all the people. She knows she is hurting him by being harsh and rude with him. But she has to do it. She thinks they cannot live a life together. She thinks they are not meant to be. The reason why she thinks so and is going away from him is something which only she knows.
R: koi na jaane majbooriyan..majbooriyan
kabhi na sukoon aaya
kabhi na qaraar aaya
jabse hai tumpe mujhko pyaar aaya
kabhi na sukoon aaya
kabhi na qaraar aaya
jabse hai tumpe mujhko pyaar aaya
The last three lines she sang increased his guiltiness more. She was right. Knowingly and unknowingly he only gave her pain. But he didn't do what he did intentionally. He didn't mean to hurt her. But what he did had hurt her more than he could ever imagine. It hurt her to such extent which made her go away from him, the Only man she ever loved with all her heart and soul. Only he knows how much he is earning to be with her. How much he wants to take her in his arms and take out all the pain in her and sooth her. He ran his fingers through his hair and cried silently.
*******
Early morning,
Armaan opened his eyes hearing the alarm. He took his phone and stopped the alarm. He checked the time in his phone, which showed 5:00 AM. He got ready after taking a relaxing hot shower. He took his phone, wallet and car key and rushed out of his room. He stopped seeing riddhima coming out of her room ready for work. He looked at her questioningly seeing her ready so early. They stared into each other's eyes which clearly showed they had a sleepless night again. "Early morning duty" she said and went out not looking at him. It was raining heavily when she came out to take her car. Armaan locked the door and turned to see her waiting for him. "Get in armaan" she said in a low voice. "No i.." "We both are getting late for our duties. Our patients are more important for us now. Its raining heavily and we will reach sanjeevani very late if you keep standing like this. Please get in" she said looking at him. He quietly opened the passenger seat door and sat in.
Armaan looked intensely at her. It was not surprising for him when she asked him to get in the car. Because he knows no matter what happens, whatever the fights and arguments they had, she never failed to take care of him. That was something which she cannot stop herself from doing. She had always taken care of him. No doubt she is a strong person emotionally, infact she has grown more stronger emotionally than she was before. She is someone who knows well how to handle life's problems and situations. But all her defences and strength cannot stand infront of him. She already had used all her strength to keep herself away from him in the two months they met again now. He knows his one heartfelt loving word and gesture will melt her. He knows what happened between them last night has made a big crack on the invisible wall she has built around herself not allowing him near her. And he is determined to break that wall fully and get His Riddhima back.
"Who taught you driving?" he asked her breaking the silence. "Anjali di" she answered keeping her eyes on the road. "I don't think I met her before. She didn't come to our wedding?" The words "our wedding" made her turn and look at him for a moment. She just answered him "No. She didn't come". Her phone rang when they were nearing sanjeeveni. She stopped the car in a side of the road and answered the call. "Hello" "Dr.Mallik we need you here. Its an emergency" the nurse on the other side spoke urgently. "I am on my way. I will be there in few minutes" she said and cut the call. She started driving again and they reached in few minutes. They saw the parking area was almost full and she searched for a space to park. "You go riddhima. I will park the car and come" armaan said looking at her who is getting tensed. She looked at him for a moment and nodded. "Thank you" she said and got out of the car. Armaan moved to the driver seat and he saw something in the back seat when he turned. He parked the car and took it from there.
*******
In the afternoon,
Armaan knocked her cabin door. "Come in" she said engrossed in reading a case file. He placed a tray of food and a coffee cup infront of her and sat opposite her. She looked at him with questioning eyes. "Eat the sandwich riddhima. You have not eaten anything from morning" "I.." "I didn't finish wanted I to say riddhima" he said stopping her from speaking. "I know you will say you are not hungry. But you need energy riddhima. You cried all night and you have not slept a wink. You are a doctor yourself and I don't need to tell you what lack of sleep can do to a person. We are doctors and we cannot afford to lose our concentration even for a microsecond. If not for me, not for yourself, please eat atleast for your patients. You need strength to take care of them" he said looking into her green eyes. She stared at him for a couple of minutes and took the sandwich from the plate. "Did you eat?" she asked him in low voice. He smiled hearing her and said "No. I will eat now" and took a sandwich. They ate and drank the coffee in silence. Armaan had a smile on his lips all the while. He thought of what must have happened if he had come to her cabin like this yesterday and asked her to eat. Her obeying to him silently, clearly showed her defences are weakening more and more. Nothing and no one can bring her back except him and his heartfelt words. And this was just the beginning of her coming back.
He stood up from the chair and went to her side. She stood up seeing him come near her. He pulled her by her waist close to him making her gasp. "Thanks for eating riddhima. And one more thing, you can get your peaceful sleep back. But it is you who is not allowing yourself to get it back. Live your life riddhima. Just embrace me riddhima, embrace your life not thinking about anything, you will get your peaceful sleep and life back. You will get everything you Desire back, which you think you have lost. And I will get My Riddhima back" he said looking into her eyes and kissed her forehead. He placed a soft kiss on her cheek and pecked her lips. "See you in the evening" he said and went out leaving her stunned with his words and actions.
********
Riddhima was walking past the locker room when she saw one of her intern Sunita, sitting in the bench there with her hand on her forehead. She looked tensed. Riddhima walked in and sunita stood up seeing her. "Dr.Riddhima aap yahaan?" "Why? I am not allowed to come here?" "No. I don't meant like that?" sunita says worried. "I was just kidding sunita. What happened to you? I am seeing you from the morning. You are not your cheerful self today. Kya hua?" "Dr.riddhima woh.." "I am not you senior now. Think of me as your friend or sister" riddhima said giving sunita a side hug. Sunita smiled nodding and said "Woh actually.." she hesitated. "You fought with sunil?" riddhima asked and she nodded. Riddhima knows her interns sunil and sunita are in a relationship for few months now. And they seemed serious about each other. "When did you fought?" "Last night. When we were talking in the phone" "You said sorry to him?" "No. We both are wrong in what we spoke last night. He is not saying sorry to me. Then why should i? He is wrong and he should apologize to me first. But his ego will not let him" sunita said angrily. "Can I tell you something?" riddhima asked her calmly and sunita nodded.
"Sunita, it doesn't matter who is wrong here. All that matters is you both love each other. If he is not saying sorry, you say it to him" "But why me first? He is also wrong" "You said his ego will not let him apologise to you. Than what are you doing? Your ego is not allowing you to say sorry to him na?" riddhima said and sunita sat quiet. She understood riddhima was right. "Ego will break a relationship sunita. Never let ego come between you two. So what if he is at fault? You are at fault too na? You say sorry to him first. This "Sorry" may be a little word. But it has the power to make and break relationships. The sorry which was not said in the right time might lead to we losing something very precious in our life. You both have just entered in the serious relationship phase of your life. You both will have lots of little and big fights like this along with your lovely moments. Enjoy this phase of your life sunita. You won't get it again and again. He will be also upset like you not talking to you. So just go and say sorry to him. Say it from your heart. And see, he will apologise to you too. Never ever back down from accepting your fault sunita. Talk with him. Tell him what is in your heart. Talking always helps. Telling your heart out to your loved one makes your relationship stronger" riddhima said smiling at her. Sunita hugged her with big smile and said "Thank you riddhima di. Thank you for making me understand. I will go immediately and apologize to him" "Thats like a good girl. Now go. Your break time is ending in fifteen minutes. Both of you don't forget your duties in your romance" riddhima said with a playful smile and sunita almost ran away from there blushing. Riddhima looked around the locker room caressing the lockers with a smile. Her pager rang disturbing her and she went from there taking a last look at a particular locker.
*******
In the evening After finishing their duty, they went back home in their individual cars. They reached at the same time and he opened the door. They went to their respective rooms. She didn't look at him at all. He went down after freshening up and saw she was not in the kitchen. He went back upstairs and knocked her room door. She opened it after a minute. He saw a book in her hand. "What do you want?" she asked him in plain voice. "Woh.. you are not coming down?" "No" "okay" he said and went down. She left the door as it is and went back to the bed. She continued reading the book, but her mind was not registering even a single word from it. His words in the hospital before few hours kept echoing in her heart again and again. She closed her eyes and was lost in her thoughts.
*******
After a couple of hours, armaan came upstairs and saw her room door was open. He knocked on the open door but she was too lost in her thoughts to hear it or feel his presence. He went in and kept the a tray on the little table there. He looked at her who was lying on the bed with the opened book on her chest and her one arm on her forehead with closed eyes. He sat beside her and removed her arm from her forehead softly. She opened her eyes feeling his touch and before she could do anything he bent down and kissed her forehead. She shivered with his touch and clutched his arm. He lingered his lips there and mumbled against her skin. "Get up basket. Eat your dinner and sleep" she opened her eyes hearing "basket" from his mouth. She pushed him and sat up straight. "What are you doing here? Get out" she said angrily. "I will go after you eat your dinner" "What? Dinner? Why are you telling me to eat again and again? I am not going to die if.." he kept his finger on her lips stopping her. "please don't say that word" he whispered softly with moist eyes. She pushed him back and continued shouting angrily "I..just get out from here armaan. I don't want to eat anything" he stood up and rushed out of her room. He came back in a few seconds and sat beside her again. He forwarded a medical report to her. "How did you get this?" she asked him shocked seeing it in his hands. "In your car" he said looking at her. She remembered she kept it in the back seat of her car yesterday and forgot to take it. She understood he must have seen it when he parked the car in the morning.
"I don't think you read the report. You know what is in it? It says you are very weak riddhima. You have suddenly lost weight in the last two months, the two months in which we have met again. Why are you doing this to yourself riddhima? You take care of me, you take care of your patients but you don't take care of yourself. Have my return in your life hurt you so much? You love me na riddhima? Are you not happy to see me again? Are you not happy at all that you are married to me? I was a fool to not understand your love in the past basket. But I do now. Not everyone get a second chance in their life. But we are lucky we got it. Why are you wasting it riddhima? What is it which is stopping you from accepting this second chance with your whole heart? I understand you are doing this for a reason? I want to know what is the reason. Please talk to me basket. Please" he said everything in a calm yet painful tone. She stared at him with blank eyes and looked down when he stopped. Tears rolled out of her eyes wetting her cheeks and she bit her lip trying to stop them. He lifted her chin making her look up at him. She pushed his hand away. He again came near her and made her face him. He leaned onto her and she understood what he is going to do. She pushed him back and silently took the food plate and started eating the rice and curry. She kept looking at the plate only and didn't look at him. He smiled seeing her eating so slowly like a kid. He kept his finger under her chin and made her look at him again. He opened his mouth slightly gesturing her to feed him. She stared at him. She couldn't say no to him and fed him with shivering hand. He smiled eating from her hand and wiped her tears with his thumb. He forwarded a spoon to her and she took it from him after a few moments of hesitance. They finished eating in silence, with a tearful smile on their lips.
*******
Riddhima went down to the kitchen with the plate and washed it. Armaan took it from her and kept it in the plate holder after wiping it with a dry cloth. She went to her room and took the book from the bed and started reading it. He sat opposite her looking intently at her making it difficult for her to concentrate. She kept her eyes on the book only. After a while, armaan took the book from her hand and said "Go to sleep basket. its 11 now". She just nodded and lied on the bed covering herself with the quilt. He moved to her other side and sat up leaning his back on the bed post. He pulled her making her keep her head on his lap. She looked up at him staring at him. He stared back at her. They shared a short eyelock. She broke their eyelock and sat up suddenly. He held her wrist and made her face him, when she moved to get off the bed. "Please don't do this armaan. I..i..cant..i..i..am scared. Please" she whispered in a painful voice which was audible to him. He pulled her more closer to him by her waist and said "You don't need to scared when I am with you basket" "You are with me Armaan. That is what is scaring me" she said looking down. He was stunned hearing her. Lots of thoughts clouded his mind and heart. He felt her tears wetting his finger which is on her chin. He immediately hugged her tight. She didn't respond to him for few seconds. But again her heart betrayed her and she hugged him as tight as she can and cried in his arms.
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