Muhabbat Ki Raahon Me - Parts 271 - 290

DISCLAIMER: The characters, events, places and procedures of law and/or medical treatments depicted in this series are purely fictitious. Readers’ discretion advised

**************************
** TITLE SONG **
**************************


Dost ban jaate hain dill ki aawaazon me,
Dost ban jaate hain dillon ke armaanon me,
Dost ban jaate hain muhabbat ki muskaanon me,
Dost ban jaate hain muhabbaton ke jazbaaton me,
Dost ban jaate hain Muhabbat Ki Raahon Me!

Rishta jud jaata hai ek pal ki saugaaton me,
Rishta jud jaata hai kuch palon ke ikraaron me,
Rishta jud jaata hai ek gam ki parchhaiyon me,
Rishta jud jaata hai kuch gamon ke lamhaaton me,
Rishta jud jaata hai Muhabbat Ki Raahon Me!

Dill mill jaate hain dushman ki nigaahon me,
Dill mill jaate hain dushmani ki sadaaon me,
Dill mill jaate hain dost ki duaon me,
Dill mill jaate hain dosti ki fizaaon me,
Dill mill jaate hain Muhabbat Ki Raahon Me!

Muhabbat ho jaati hai doston ki ruswaiyon me,
Muhabbat ho jaati hai rishton ke afsaanon me,
Muhabbat ho jaati hai dill milne ki sard raaton me,
Muhabbat ho jaati hai aise ishq ke parvaanon me,
Muhabbat ho hi jaati hai Muhabbat Ki Raahon Me!


PART 271:

All looked at Armaan who was looking utterly shocked.
Armaan: Award! Kisliye? Maine kuch nahi kiya... mujhe koi award nahi chahiye...
Tiwari: (incredulously) Aapne kuch nahi kiya? Aapne itne bade terrorist gang ke right-hand man ko pakadwaaya hai... apne Dr.Ridhimaa ki jaan bachaayi hai...
Armaan: Maine kisi ki jaan nahi bachaayi. Agar Ridhimaa mere saamne nahi aati to uski zaroorat hi nahi padti. Aur agar aap kehna chaah rahe hain ki maine Ridhimaa ke haath ki surgery karke uski jaan bachaayi hai to main aapko yaad dila doon ki main ek doctor hoon aur ye meri duty hai.
Tiwari: Dr.Armaan... agar us waqt aap wahaan nahi hote to I am sure... Dr.Ridhimaa nahi bach paati. Unke liye itne bade bade terrorists se ladna possible nahi hai... teen din ki training se koi champion nahi ban jaata...
Armaan: I know... lekin agar main wahaan nahi hota to wo terrorists bhi wahaan nahi hote... na wo Ridhimaa ke peeche jaate aur na hi use goli lagti... ye sab meri wajah se hua hai... wo terrorists mere peeche hain...
Tiwari: Aap shayad meri baat samajh nahi rahe hain... agar aap wahaan nahi hote to bhi wo Dr.Ridhimaa ke peeche jaate... wo aapko thoroughly study kar chuke the... wo jaante the ki aap aur Dr.Ridhimaa bahut close friends the... unhe lagta ki Dr.Ridhimaa ke peechhe jaane se aap khud unke jaal me fans jaayenge aur unke paas aayenge...
Armaan: To iska matlab... nobody's safe around me... in sabki jaan khatre me hai... kyunki ye sab mujhe jaante hain...
Tiwari: Well... we are lucky there. Aapke baare me jo bhi information us terrorist group ke pass thi wo yahaan... mere pass hai... in chaaron ke alaawa us terrorist group me aapke baare me koi bhi kuch nahi jaanta...
Armaan: How can you be so sure about that?
Tiwari: We are... investigation se hume ye baat pata chali hai... aur waise bhi kya aapko lagta hai ki itne bade terrorist group ke pass aapki research se zyada aur koi zaroori kaam nahi hai?
Armaan: Lekin...
Tiwari: Feel assured Dr.Armaan... ab unke pass aapke baare me koi information nahi hai... bas ye file thi... jo main aapko waapas kar raha hoon...
Tiwari passed a file to Armaan. Armaan took it gingerly. They all peeped into it. Following details were there along with some of Armaan’s photographs.
~*~*~*~*~*
NAME-: Dr.Armaan Salmaan Mallik
DATE OF BIRTH-: 2/11/1985
AGE-: 22+ years
SEX-: Male
COMPLEXION-: Fair
BIRTHPLACE-: Kassauli
MARITAL STATUS-: Single (once engaged)
FATHER'S NAME-: Dr.Salmaan Mallik (from Peshawar)
FATHER'S OCCUPATION-: Anesthetic
FATHER'S DATE OF DEATH-: 27/09/2008
MOTHER'S NAME-: Mrs.Nivedita Salmaan Mallik
MOTHER'S OCCUPATION-: Housewife
MOTHER'S DATE OF DEATH-: 29/10/1995
OCCUPATION-: Intern at Sanjeevani (Mumbai, Central Branch)
DAILY ROUTINE-: 5:00 a.m. (wake up), 5:30 a.m. (basketball court), 6:15 a.m. (bath), no breakfast, 8:00a.m. (Sanjeevani), 5:00 p.m. (home), 5:30 p.m. (workout), after 8:00 p.m. (no specific routine), sleeps when wants.
LIKES-: Coffee, basketball, mobile, reading comics, singing songs, bikes, helping others
DISLIKES-: Milk, watching movies, the song 'Do Dil... Mil rahe hain'
LOVES-: Dr.Ridhimaa Shashank Gupta
HATES: His father
CHARACTER-: Brave, impressive, caring, unselfish, sensitive, good looking, frank, impulsive, emotional, helpful
ACHIEVEMENTS-: Intern of the Month thrice at Sanjeevani, participated in International Interns Conference and declared as the best intern there, recieved the Gallantry Award by the CM of Maharashtra.
CLOSE FRIENDS-: Dr.Ridhimaa Shashank Gupta (ex-fiancee)
FRIEND CIRCLE-: Dr.Ridhimaa Gupta, Dr.Atul Joshi, Dr.Rahul Garewaal, Dr.Tamanna White, Dr.Anjali Gupta, Dr.Muskaan Chaddha, Dr.Matthew White, all doctors, staff and patients at Sanjeevani, especially Gupta family (has stayed with them before), some eminent personalities from Bollywood
WEAKNESS: Seeing others in distress, can do anything for friends and would not think twice before helping someone in need, even if the person is not related to him at all
~*~*~*~*~*
All looked up after reading the file. Armaan snapped it shut.
Atul: Wow! Ye log to sab kuch jaante hain... even ye to wo bhi jaante hain jo humme se kisi ko nahi pata...
Tiwari: Ye log jaante hain nahi jaante the... Dr.Armaan...
Armaan: Ji?
Tiwari: Meri maaniye to ye file aap destroy kar dijiyega.
Armaan: Ji... kya aapko poora yakeen hai ki ye information ab unke pass nahi hai.
Tiwari: Yes... I'm pretty confident about it.
Armaan: To fir theek hai... lekin... mujhe ek baat samajh me nahi aayi...
Tiwari: Wo kya?
Armaan: Wo ye ki un logon ko ye saari information mili kahaan se?
Tiwari: Dekhiye... humaare pass theories to hain lekin iska asli reason to hum bhi nahi jaante. Ek baat ye ho sakti hai ki kisi ne aapko trace kiya ho... lekin iski possibilities bahut kam hain... kyunki aapko pata chal jaata... ho sakta hai ki unhone kisi se ye information nikalwaayi ho... koi aisa insaan jo aapko bahut kareeb se jaanta ho...
Armaan: What do you mean?
Tiwari: Kya aap kisi aise insaan ko jaante hain jo aapke baare me ye saari baatein jaanta ho? Koi jo aapke bahut close ho... jisse aap saari baatein share karte ho...
Armaan started thinking. It could not be Tamanna or Matthew or any of his co-interns. They did not know each and every thing about him. But there was one person who knew him thoroughly. The person's name was Ridhimaa. But Armaan could not take her name. It was impossible for her to do anything of such sort.
Armaan: (lying) Pata nahi...
Ridhimaa stared at him.
Tiwari: (to others) Aapme se koi aise insaan ko jaanta hai?
All shook their heads exept Ridhimaa.
Ridhimaa: Haan... main jaanti hoon.
All heads turned towards her.
Tiwari: Kaun hai wo? Uska naam batao beta... main abhi usko custody me le lunga... bolo beta...
Ridhimaa: Us insaan ka naam hai Dr.Ridhimaa Gupta...
Shashank,Atul,Anjali,Rahul,Muskaan: Ridhimaa!
Tiwari: (confused) Kya ye confession hai? Boliye Dr.Ridhimaa Gupta... kya aapne ye information un terrorists ko di?
Ridhimaa could not speak. How could they even think about it? Her voice was constricted.
Tiwari: Boliye... kya aap kubool karti hain ki...
Armaan: (thundering) Stop it!
All looked at him.
Tiwari: Dr.Armaan... mujhe mera kaam karne dijiye...
Armaan: I said stop it... aapne aisa socha bhi kaise?
Tiwari: Aap nahi jaante Dr.Armaan... kabhi kabhi jo aapke sabse zyada close hota hai... wahi aapko dhokha de deta hai...
Armaan: Main jaanta hoon... mujhse behtar aur ye baat kaun jaanta hoga? Par main aapko Ridhimaa par ye ghatiya ilzaam nahi lagaane dunga...
Tiwari: Dr.Armaan... please... shaant ho jaiye...
Armaan: Aap Ridhimaa ko kuch bhi kehte rahein aur main shaant ho jaun? No ways... pehle aap Ridhimaa se maafi maangiye...
Ridhimaa: Armaan...
Armaan: Tum chup raho... tumse to main baad me baat karunga...
Then he rounded on the others.
Armaan: Aap sabme se bhi kisi ko lagta hai ki Ridhimaa ye sab kar sakti hai?
Others: Nahi...
Armaan: (to DGP Tiwari) Kya aapko sach me lagta hai ki jo ilzaam aap Ridhimaa par laga rahe hain wo sahi hai?
Tiwari: (honestly) Nahi... lekin... shak...
Armaan: Shak! Ye shak bahut khatarnaak bimaari hai Tiwari ji... iske kaaran na jaane aaj tak kitne rishte toote hain... lekin main ek baat saaf kar doon... ki main khud par is baat ke liye shak kar sakta hoon lekin Ridhimaa par nahi... is it clear?

PART 272:

Ridhimaa had started crying.
Armaan: (to Ridhimaa) Aur tum... tum kuch bolti kyun nahi? Agar tum kuch bologi nahi to sab tumhe hi galat samjhenge... har baar main hi kyun tumhare favour me bolun? Tumhare pass khud ki zabaan nahi hai kya?
Ridhimaa: (sobbing) To... maine kab tumse kaha ki tum mere favour me bolo?
Armaan: Haan... tum kuch mat kaho aur main ye sab kuch baith kar sunta rahun? Mujhse ye sab nahi hota... I am not like you ki koi mujh par ya tum par aise ilzaam lagaata rahe aur main chupchaap sunta rahun... ab bhi kuch bologi ya nahi?
Ridhimaa: (nervously) Main kya bolun?
Armaan: Ridhimaa... mujhe aur gussa mat dilao... ab kya mujhe likhkar dena padega ki tumhe kya bolna hai?
Ridhimaa: Nahi... main bolti hoon...
Tiwari: Ridhimaa beta... aapko kuch bhi kehne ki zaroorat nahi hai... mujhe pata hai aapne kuch nahi kiya...
Ridhimaa: Fir... fir aapne kyun kaha...
Tiwari: Wo humaara kaam hai beta... bus ek formality thi... waise mujhe ye pehle se hi pata tha ki ye sab baatein aapke alaawa aur koi nahi jaanta hoga...
Ridhimaa was embarrassed.
Armaan: To fir... ye sab...
Tiwari: Wo to maine suna tha ki Dr.Ridhimaa kitni simple hain... aaj dekh bhi liya... jab khud shak ke ghere me aa rahi thi tab bhi unse jhooth nahi bola gaya...
Armaan: Simple nahi... bewkoof hai...
Tiwari: Chaliye wahi sahi... achha to Saturday ko milte hain... shaam ko... Taj Hotel me...
Armaan: Lekin maine award accept nahi kiya... I know I don't deserve it...
Tiwari: Ab main aapko samjhaane me apna time waste nahi karunga... ye baaki sab ka kaam hai... bye...
Tiwari left. Armaan turned to look at Ridhimaa, who was wiping her eyes. For a moment he wanted to go and comfort her but the next moment, his anger came back.
Armaan: Main kahin nahi jaunga...
Shashank: Kyun?
Atul: Tumhe jaana padega...
Rahul: Aur nahi to kya...
Armaan: Maine kaha na... jab main ye award deserve hi nahi karta...
Muskaan: Aisa tum sochte ho aur tumhari soch galat hai...
Armaan: Tum log kuch bh kar lo... maine ek baar keh diya nahi to nahi...
Anjali: (whispering to Ridhimaa) Ridz...
Ridhimaa: Kya hua Di?
Anjali: Shhh... tum Armaan se kaho ki wo Award function me jaayega to tumhe achha lagega...
Anjali was lowering her voice but Armaan had heard her. He wanted to see what Ridhimaa would do.
Ridhimaa: Main kyun kahoon? Aap kaho...
Anjali: Ridz... Armaan tumhari baat maan lega...
Ridhimaa: Agar main kahungi Di to wo kabhi nahi jaayega...
Armaan smiled.
Armaan: Kaun kaun chaahta hai ki main award function me jaun... haath uthao...
All raised their hands except Ridhimaa.
Armaan: Oh... to aap nahi chaati ki main award function me jaun?
Ridhimaa: Mere chaahne na chaahne se kya hota hai?
Armaan: Right... kuch nahi hoga aake chaahne na chaahne se... well... maine decide kar liya hai... main award function me jaunga aur unhe jaakar samjhaunga ki main wo award deserve nahi karta isliye wo ise kisi aur ko de dein.
Ridhimaa: Kya?
Armaan ignored her.
Armaan: Maine aapse to kuch nahi kaha...
Atul: Armaan...
Armaan: Bas... bahut ho chuka... ab main kisi ki nahi sununga...
He stood up to leave.
Shashank: Armaan... tum baithe raho... koi tumhe force nahi karega...
Armaan sat down. Shashank left. One by one, the others also left except Ridhimaa. She found herself alone with Armaan and started to get up when her mobile started ringing.
Ridhimaa: Hello... Tamanna! Hye!
Armaan looked up.
Armaan: Phone speaker par karo.
Ridhimaa pushed the loudspeaker button.
Ridhimaa: Tum kaisi ho? Matthew kaisa hai? Tum dono khush to ho na?
Tamanna: Hum dono bilkul theek hain... tum kaisi ho? Aur tum apna mobile kyun nahi utha rahi thi itne dino se?
Ridhimaa: Wo... main... mera operation hua tha... to uske baad se...
Tamanna: Operation! Lekin...
Ridhimaa: Ab main bilkul theek hoon...
Tamanna: Thank God... yahaan hum dono tumhare liye roz pray karte the...
Ridhimaa: Shayad tum logon ki hi duaayen kaam aayi...
Tamanna: Mujhe tumhari bahut yaad aati hai Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa: (in a watery voice) Mujhe bhi...
Tamanna: Dekho... rona mat warna... warna... main Ammy ko bulaungi...
Armaan: Mujhe bulane ki zaroorat nahi hai...
Tamanna: Ammy!
Armaan: Haan... yaad aa gayi apne Ammy ki? Chaar dino se to ek phone bhi nahi kiya... aur Ridhimaa ke mobile par roz call karti thi...
Tamanna: Ammy... meri baat to suno...
Armaan: Kya baat sunun?
Tamanna: Ammy... maine roz tumhare mobile par call karne ki koshish ki lekin humesha switched off aata tha...
Armaan: Wo to us samay main duty par hota tha... isliye...
Tamanna: Tum raat ke aath baje tak duty par hote the?
Armaan: Haan... double duties thi...
Tamanna: Aur uske baad mera duty ka time hota tha... batao main kya karti?
Armaan: Oh...
Ridhimaa put the mobile off the speaker and handed it to Armaan.
Armaan: Tammy... tum kaisi ho? ...main theek hoon... tum khush to ho na? Matt kaisa hai? Tum dono ladte to nahi ho na? Kya? Main kisi dargaah-wargaah par nahi jaunga... to usse kya hota hai? Fine... chala jaunga... haan-haan use lekar jaunga... Theek hai... aur... tum... tumhe meri yaad aati hai? Nahi... mujhe bilkul bhi tumhari yaad nahi aati... nahi... main ro nahi raha hoon... tum ro rahi ho... I... I love you Tammy... I miss you too... kabhi bhi zaroorat pade to phone kar lena… OK? Haan... main Matt ko phone kar lunga... please... rona nahi... main nahi ro raha hoon... achha main... main rakhta hoon... bye...
Armaan gave the mobile back to Ridhimaa. She was watching him closely. Armaan put his head on the table in his hands. Ridhimaa came near him and put a hand on his shoulder.
Ridhimaa: Armaan...
Armaan did not raise his head.
Ridhimaa: Armaan... Tamanna khush hai... wo isliye khush hai kyunki use pata hai ki tum khush ho... tumhe bhi uski khushi me khush hona chahiye...
Armaan: (raising his head and betraying his tears) Main... main bhi khush hoon... but... but I miss her... mujhe uski bahut yaad aati hai...
Ridhimaa: I know Armaan... lekin tumhe sachchai face karni padegi... agar Tamanna wahaan khush hai... to tum aise rokar uski khushi kam mat karo... tum aise roge to wo parehsaan ho jaayegi... uski shaadi ho gayi hai... wo ab wahin rahegi... tumhe uski yaadon ke saath jeena hoga... be strong Armaan... Tamanna akeli nahi hai... uske pass Matthew hai... aur... aur tum bhi akele nahi ho... yahaan par bahut se log hain jinhe tumhari fikr hai... tum khud ko sambhaalo...
Armaan: Ridhimaa... main... Tammy...
Ridhimaa: (her voice quivering) Armaan... please rona band karo... please... I beg of you...
She turned her face away. She couldn't see Armaan crying like that. Armaan wiped off his tears and stood up. Then he turned to face Ridhimaa, who herself was crying. He cupped her face in his hands and swiped off her tears too.
Ridhimaa: (puzzled) Armaan... I'm sorry... mujhe... mujhe tumhe turant bata dena chahiye tha ki meri yaaddasht waapas aa gayi hai... par... par main confused thi Armaan... mujhe kuch samajh nahi aa raha tha... aur uske baad wo accident ho gaya...
Armaan: Main ja raha hoon...
Ridhimaa: (holding Armaan's hand to stop him) Nahi... tum meri baat sune bina nahi ja sakte...
Armaan: Kaun rokega mujhe?
Ridhimaa: Main! Armaan... us din... tum operation se pehle mere pass aaye the... tumne mujhse kaha tha ki tumne mujhe maaf kar diya... mujhe lag raha tha ki tum wo sab sirf isliye keh rahe ho kyunki main marne waali thi... lekin operation ke baad... uske baad bhi tumne mujhe itna support kiya... mujhe sab kuch samjhaaya... mujhe sab yaad hai... aur galti par mujhe daanta... us samay jo cheezein mujhe nahi karni chahiye thi... wo maine ki... tumne mujhe roka... kabhi mera faayda nahi uthaaya... kal bhi jab mujhe kapde change karne the... mujhe sab yaad aa chuka tha Armaan... mujhe tum par poora bharosa tha... isiliye maine tumse kaha tha ki tum mujhe kapde change karwao... tumhe nahi pata tha ki meri yaaddasht waapas aa chuki hai... tum kuch bhi kar sakte the... lekin tumne kuch nahi kiya... tum mere saath kuch galat karne ka soch bhi nahi sakte mujhe pata hai Armaan... fir bhi... fir bhi mujhe abhi tak vishwaas nahi hua ki tumne mere gunaah ke liye mujhe sach me maaf kiya hai ya nahi... please ek baar mujhe bata do... meri pareshaani door kar do... fir main tumse kuch nahi kahungi... kabhi tumhaare saamne tak nahi aaungi... sirf ek baar...
Armaan: Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa had bowed her face. She did not want to show Armaan her tears.
Armaan: (lifting Ridhimaa's face with his finger) Ridhimaa... idhar dekho... meri taraf... tumhe meri aankhon me sachchai nahi dikhti?
Ridhimaa glanced into Armaan's blue eyes.


PART 273:

There was something much more than truth there, something divine, something pure, something so enchanting that she could not look away from those eyes.
Armaan: Bolo... tumhe kya dikha? Maine tumhe maaf kiya ya nahi?
Ridhimaa: Tum... tumne sach me mujhe maaf kar diya?
Armaan: Maine ek baar pehle bhi tumse kaha tha... aaj fir kehta hoon... jo kuch hua usme main tumhari galti nahi maanta isliye tumhe maaf karne, na karne ka sawaal hi nahi hota... lekin agar tumhe isime sukoon milta hai to haan... main ab us baat ke liye tumse gussa nahi hoon... maine tumhe maaf kar diya...
Ridhimaa: Tum abhi bhi kal ki baat ke liye mujhse gussa ho na?
Armaan: I... I don't know... shaayad haan... jab main tumse pehle hi keh chuka tha... to tumhe kam se kam ek baar to mujh par aitbaar karke dekhna chahiye tha. Main tumhe itni muhabbat deta ki tumhara daaman chhota pad jaata. Lekin aisa bhi to ho sakta tha ki jis tarah tumhaare zehen me beyakeeni aur beaitbaari ka jo gehra rang chhaa gaya tha wo rang mere betahaasha pyar aur muhabbat ke baawjood bhi kabhi-kabhaar tumhare zehen me chhaane lagta aur tumhari bahut si khushiyon aur chaahat ke phoolon ke saath ek kaanta bhi rehta. Ab jab main sochta hoon to mujhe lagta hai ki achha hi hua jo tumne mujhe khud hi test kar liya. Main jaanta hoon ki tum ab mujh par poora vishwas karogi aur ye Armaan Mallik ka tumse waada hai ki wo khud toot jaayega lekin tumhaare vishwaas ko kabhi tootne nahi dega. I promise you...
Ridhimaa: Mujhe pata hai Armaan...
Armaan: Ridhimaa... ab to tumhe mujhpar aitbaar hai na? Tum mujhe dhokhebaaz to nahi samajhti? Ridhimaa! Tum humesha mujh par yoon hi yakeen karna... karogi na?
As soon as Armaan completed his sentence, Ridhimaa started crying. Armaan could not see her crying.
Armaan: Ridhimaa please...
Ridhimaa looked up to see him wearing a pained expression on his face.
Ridhimaa: (crying) I love you Armaan... I really love you...
Saying so, she pulled Armaan into a hug. But there was something odd. Armaan did not reciprocate her feelings. He did not hug her back. She left him and looked up at his face.
Ridhimaa: Kya hua Armaan?
Armaan: Ridhimaa... main kuch kahunga to tum bura to nahi maanogi?
Ridhimaa: Nahi... tum bolo...
Armaan: (hesitating) Ridhimaa... mujhe... mujhe... I need some time... humaare rishte ke baare me sochne ke liye...
Ridhimaa did not understand anything.
Armaan: Ridhimaa... don't get me wrong... wo... maine itni baar humaare rishte ko tootte dekha hai ki mujhe... mujhe lagta hai ki shaayad... shaayad hum dono ek doosre ke liye bane hi nahi hain... shaayad tum sahi thi... hum ek doosre ke sabse achhe dost to ho sakte hain... lekin isse zyada kuch nahi... I need to be sure about my feelings... shaayad main tumse pyar nahi karta... shaayad tum mujhse pyar nahi karti... humaare pyar me hi koi kami hai jo hum baar baar juda ho jaate hain... please Ridhimaa... try to understand... mujhe bhi ye sab kehte hue achha to nahi lag raha hai... lekin hume practical hona padega... ho sakta hai tumhara Mr.Right kahin tumhaara intzaar kar raha ho... maine tumhe bahut pehle apne har rishte, har yaad, har muhabbat se azaad kar diya tha... you're free... you're free to choose the path you want to take... main tumhe nahi rokunga... main khud bhi... khud bhi tumse door rehne ki koshish karunga... please Ridhimaa... I think... humaara muhabbat ka rishta bas yahin tak tha... lekin hum humesha dost rahenge... I'll always be there for you...
Ridhimaa could not speak. She kept staring at him.
Armaan: (turning his face away from Ridhimaa) Ridhimaa please... rona nahi...
Ridhimaa: (sobbing) Main ro nahi rahi hoon... I'm not crying...
Armaan: (chancing a glance at her face) Tumhe bura to nahi laga na jo maine kaha?
Ridhimaa: Na... nahi... tumne bilkul theek kaha...
Armaan: I'm sorry Ridhimaa... if I've hurt you... lekin... lekin mujhe nahi lagta ki jo rishta hum dono ke beech hai... wo pyar hai... we're... we're just friends and we shall remain so forever...
Ridhimaa: (crying) Yes we will...
Armaan: M... m... mujhe kahin jaana hai... bye...
Ridhimaa: Bye...
Armaan turned and went away. He did not look back. Ridhimaa kept watching him untill he was out of sight. Then she broke down completely.
Next day, in the interns' locker room. All were there, busy in their lockers except Armaan. He came there at last, and went straight to his locker.
Anjali: Hey Armaan...
Armaan: Hye Anjy...
Armaan was searching his locker but could not find something.
Armaan: Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa: (without looking at him) Hmm?
Armaan: Tumne mera pager dekha hai kahin?
Ridhimaa: Haan... ye raha... kal canteen me chhoot gaya tha...
Armaan: (taking the pager) Thanks...
Ridhimaa: You're welcome.
Atul: Ye tum dono ko ab kya hua?
Armaan: Kyun kya hua?
Rahul: Tum dono ek doosre se kaise baat kar rahe ho?
Armaan: Kyun? Hume baat nahi karni chahiye kya? After all... we're friends...
Anjali: Friends! Tum dono!
Armaan: Of course we are! Tum logon ko aaj kya ho gaya hai?
Muskaan: Oye hero! Teri aur Ridhimaa ki ladaayi khatm ho gayi kya?
Armaan: Hum dono me ladaayi kab hui thi? Hum dono ladte hi kab hain? Kyun Ridhimaa?
Ridhimaa: (without looking up from her locker) Haan? Haan...
Just then, they were summoned at the nurse station. All left except Armaan and Ridhimaa.
Armaan: (to Ridhimaa) Are you OK?
Ridhimaa: Yes... I'm fine... chalein?
Armaan: Haan... chalo...
They both reach the nurse station together. Kirti was surprised to find them together.
Interns: Good morning mam.
Kirti: Good morning. Dr.Ridhimaa... are you alright?
They all looked at Ridhimaa, who ws staring at the ground.
Ridhimaa: (without looking up) Yes... yes mam...
Kirti: (sternly) Look up when you're talking to me...
Ridhimaa looked up. Her red, swollen eyes didn't go unnoticed by anyone.
Anjali: Ridzi... ye tumhari aankhein...
Atul: Raat ko soyi nahi thi kya?
Ridhimaa: Haan... bahut der me neend aayi thi... shaayad isiliye...
Armaan did not look as if he was much interested in the conversation.
Kirti: Dr.Armaan ICU. Dr.Ridhimaa Path Lab. Dr.Anjali General Ward. Dr.Atul aap bhi General Ward. Dr.Rahul, Dr.Muskaan OPD.
Kirti left.
Atul: Ridz... sach sach bata... Armaan ne tujhe daanta kya?
Armaan: Arrey... ye tum log har baat ghuma fira kar mere upar hi kyun le aate ho? Maine kuch nahi kiya... batao na Ridhimaa sabko...
Ridhimaa: Kuch nahi hua Atul... I'm fine... Armaan ne kuch nahi kaha...
Armaan left for ICU. Ridhimaa too left.
Anjali: Ye Ridzi ko ho kya gaya hai?
Rahul: Ridhimaa ki ye haalat dekhkar bhi Armaan andekha kar raha hai... strange! Zaroor kuch na kuch hua hai dono ke beech jo ye log hum sabse chhupa rahe hain... don't worry... we'll find out.
They all went to their respective duties. After their duties got over, all the interns were sitting in the canteen. Ridhimaa was looking forlorn; Armaan was trying to look casual.
Rahul: Ab batao... ye sab ho kya raha hai Armaan? Ridhimaa itni chup-chup si kyun ho gayi hai? Teri usse ladaayi kaise khatm ho gayi?
Armaan: Oh... kal jab tum log chale gaye the to Ridhimaa ne mujhse poochha ki kya maine use sach me maaf kar diya hai... maine kaha haan... bas ladaayi khatm.
Atul: Bas... itna hi?
Armaan: Haan...
Anjali: You mean... ab... tum dono... you're together right?
Armaan: Together in the sense?
Anjali: You know what I mean... I mean...
Muskaan: Iska matlab ki ab to tum dono ki pyar ki gaadi me koi break nahi hai na?
Armaan: Pyar ki gaadi? We both are just friends. That's it!
Rahul: Just friends?
Armaan: Haan... we're just good friends. Hai na Ridhimaa?
Ridhimaa nodded.
Armaan: Dekha?
Atul: Aur wo jo tum log ek doosre se pyar karte the...
Armaan: I don't think ki hum log ek doosre se pyar karte the...
Rahul: Oh really? Well… that's news to me...
Anjali: Armaan... what are you trying to say?
Atul: Tu kehna chaahta hai ki tum dono ek doosre se pyar nahi karte?
Muskaan: Bol na... ab chup kyun hai? Tu Ridhimaa se pyar karta hai ya nahi?
Armaan: Of course main Ridhimaa se pyar karta hoon...
Ridhimaa raised her head, hopeful.


PART 274:

Armaan: Main Ridhimaa se bahut pyar karta hoon... theek usi tarah jaise main tum logon se pyar karta hoon... usse zyada nahi...
Anjali: Armaan... are you serious?
Armaan: Of course I am Anjy!
Atul: Mujhe kuch samajh me nahi aa raha.
Muskaan: Mujhe bhi.
Armaan: Itni simple si to baat hai...
Rahul: Please explain...
Armaan: Suno... mujhe lagta tha ki main Ridhimaa se pyar karta hoon lekin ab mujhe pata chal chuka hai ki wo asal me wo pyar tha hi nahi jis par hum ek rishte ki neenv rakh sakein. Tum logon ko pata hai hum log baar-baar alag kyun ho jaate the? That was because we simply didn't love each other. It was just good, close friendship, mere intimacy… jise hum log pyar samajh baithe. Ab hume sach pata chal chuka hai and now we are just good friends, not lovers. Waise bhi dosti ka rishta zyada lamba hota hai... now is it clear?
The others were stunned.
Rahul: Aur... aur Ridhimaa... usey bhi yahi lagta hai ki tum dono ek doosre se pyar nahi karte?
Armaan: Haan...
Anjali: We're not asking you... Ridz bolo...
Ridhimaa: (clearing her throat) Armaan ne jo kaha... I stand by it...
Muskaan: Tum dono hi kuch chhupa rahe ho...
Atul: Kyunki jitna hum jaante hain... hume pata hai ki tum dono ek doosre se kitna pyar karte ho... aur ye koi friendship waala pyar nahi hai... it's love... pure love...
Armaan: (standing up) Tum logon ko to smajhaana hi bekaar hai... chalo Ridhimaa... ye log kuch nahi samjhenge...
Ridhimaa got up. They both left. Outside the canteen, Ridhimaa started walking in the direction opposite Armaan's.
Armaan: Kahaan ja rahi ho?
Ridhimaa: Ghar...
Armaan: Abhi se?
Ridhimaa: Haan... I'm not feeling well...
Armaan: Kya hua?
Ridhimaa: Pata nahi... ghar jaakar rest karungi to theek ho jaungi... bye...
And without waiting for an answer, Ridhimaa went away. Armaan knew she didn't want to be there with him alone. He could not blame her. He made his way back to the canteen. The others were surprised to find him there, alone.
Anjali: Ridzi kahan hai?
Armaan: (sadly) Wo ghar chali gayi.
Rahul: Armaan... idhar aa...
Armaan came there and sat between Rahul and Atul.
Atul: Ab bata... kya problem hai?
Armaan: Koi problem nahi hai...
Rahul: Tu hum sabse kya chhupa raha hai? Tu Ridhimaa se pyar karta hai… jab bhi use dekhta hai…wahin ruk jaata hai… aaj bhi uski aankhone me aansun dekhta hai to seh nahi paata
Armaan: (interrupting) Nahi… hum dono sirf dost hain… bas uske aansun mujhse bardaasht nahi hote…
Atul: Ye pyar hai Armaan… tu hume sab kuch sach-sach bata. Bol... hum sab Ridhimaa ko kuch nahi batayenge... we promise... bol na...
Armaan: Maine kaha na kuch nahi hua...
Atul: Armaan... tujhe apne is bhai ki kasam... bata mujhe...
Armaan: (looking at Atul) Champ!
He started speaking his heart out.
Armaan: Champ... wo main...
Atul: Bol Armaan...
Armaan: Champ tumhe yaad hai... kal Tiwariji ne kaha tha ki terrorists meri har activity watch kar rahe hain... tumne file bhi padhi thi na... unhe pata hai ki main sabse zyada Ridhimaa ke close hoon... agar maine usse koi bhi rishta rakha to wo mere liye use nuksaan pahunchaane ki koshish karenge... aur main ye nahi hone de sakta. Main nahi chaahta ki meri wajah se Ridhimaa ko koi khatra ho... abhi parson hi use meri wajah se goli lagi...
Armaan stopped speaking. The others looked at each other.
Muskaan: Lekin Armaan... ab terrorists ke pass teri koi information nahi hai...
Armaan: Aisa Tiwariji ko lagta hai... lekin main risk nahi le sakta. Mujhe apni parwaah nahi hai... lekin... lekin main Ridhimaa ko kuch nahi hone dunga...
Anjali: Tumhe ye baat Ridzi ko bata deni chahiye... tumne dekha nahi... uski kya haalat ho gayi hai...
Armaan: Maine dekha hai... main ye bhi jaanta hoon ki wo kal raat isliye nahi so paayi hogi kyunki wo poori raat meri baat ko yaad kar karke roti rahi hogi... fir bhi... main use kuch nahi bata sakta. Warna... warna wo kabhi mujhse alag hone ki koshish nahi karegi... use apni bilkul bhi fikr nahi hai...
Rahul: I knew it... mujhe pata tha ki tum ab bhi Ridhimaa se bahut pyar karte ho... wo akeli aisi ladki hai jiske liye tum serious hue ho... lekin... mujhe ye samajh me nahi aaya ki Ridhimaa ne tumhari ye baat ki tum dono ek doosre se pyar nahi karte... maan kaise li...
Armaan: Jaise bhi maani ho... mujhe to laga tha ki wo protest karegi... lekin usne kuch nahi kaha... achha hai...
He too stood up to leave.
Atul: Armaan...
Armaan: Tum log Ridhimaa ko is baare me kuch nahi bataoge...
He left.
Next day, Ridhimaa was given duty in the Path Lab with Armaan. Both were not talking to each other.
Armaan: Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa: (without looking up from her work) Hmm?
Armaan: Tumhe hua kya hai Ridhimaa? Tum kisi se baat kyun nahi karti?
Ridhimaa: Mujhe kuch nahi hua... bas tum logon ki galat fehmi hai...
Armaan: Tum abhi bhi meri taraf dekhkar baat nahi kar rahi... tum mujhse gussa ho kya?
Ridhimaa: (looking up at him) Nahi... nahi to...
She could not look for more than a second in his eyes without betraying her tears. She shook her face and then rushed out of the Lab. Armaan had seen tears swimming in her eyes.
That afternoon, all were there in the canteen except Armaan. Ridhimaa was sipping her coffee. Armaan entered and made his way towards them. As Ridhimaa saw him approach the table, she stood up.
Anjali: Kya hua Ridzi? Tum kahaan ja rahi ho?
Ridhimaa: Wo Di... main apna mobile locker me hi chod aayi... mujhe ek phone karna hai...
Armaan: (passing her his mobile) Ye lo... mere mobile se kar lo...
Ridhimaa: (without looking at him) Nahi... wo number mere mobile me feed hai na... isiliye...
She ran from there. Armaan started feeling guilty.
Anjali: Arrey... Ridzi to apna purse yahin bhool gayi...
Armaan: (standing up and taking the purse) Main de aata hoon.
He too rushed away from there.
When Armaan entered the locker room, Ridhimaa was sitting on the bench, looking heart broken. As soon as she heard Armaan entering, she picked up her mobile and started dialling any number.
Armaan: Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa did not raise her head.
Armaan: Wo... tum apna purse wahaan canteen me bhool aayi thi...
Ridhimaa: Rakh do...
Armaan kept the purse beside her on the bench and then he made his way towards his own locker. Ridhimaa felt that he had left. She flung her mobile back on the bench and held her head in her hands.
Armaan was searching something in her locker. He heard a sniff, which had evidently come from Ridhimaa. He was sure that Ridhimaa did not know that he was still there. To make his presence known, he started singing.
Armaan: (singing) Everynight in my dreams... I see you... I feel you... That's how I know you... Go on...
As he could have predicted, Ridhimaa jumped on hearing his voice. She quickly dried her eyes and turned back to see him busy in his locker.
Ridhimaa: Tum!
Armaan: (looking towards her) Haan main... abhi abhi to aaya tha... tum bhool gayi?
Ridhimaa: Nahi wo main...
Armaan: Tum to koi phone karne ja rahi thi na....
Ridhimaa: Wo... number nahi lag raha...
Armaan caught her lie.
Armaan: Tumhe abhi tak jhooth bolna nahi aaya na? Don't worry seekh jaogi dheere dheere... main sikha dunga...
He laughed alone. Ridhimaa did not even smile. Armaan then came towards her. Ridhimaa took a step back.
Armaan: Ridhimaa... tum... tumhe ho kya gaya hai?
Ridhimaa: (pasting a fake smile on her lips) Mujhe... mujhe kya hua hai? Main to bilkul theek hoon...
Armaan: Are you sure?
Ridhimaa: (in a watery voice) Of course... I am fine... main bahut khush hoon.
Armaan: Maine to tumse poochha hi nahi ki tum khush ho ya nahi...
Ridhimaa: (nervously) Koi baat nahi... ab to tumhe pata chal gaya na... ab mat poochhna...
She turned to leave. Armaan held her hand.
Armaan: Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa: Armaan... mera haath chodo...
Armaan: Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa: (in a constricted voice due to her tears) Armaan please... leave my hand...
Armaan left her. Ridhimaa literally ran from there. Armaan was about to follow her when his mobile rung up.
Armaan: Hello... ji Tiwari ji... yes main kal aa jaunga... saath me... pata nahi... koi bhi aa sakta hai? Theek hai... main sabse poochh lunga... ji... kal milte hain...
Armaan kept the mobile in his pocket, banged the locker shut and went to the canteen. Ridhimaa was sitting there alone, crying. Armaan approached her quietly from behind and tapped the table with his fist.


PART 275:

Ridhimaa looked up and saw Armaan.
Armaan: Main yahaan baith jaun?
Ridhimaa: (turning her face away and wiping her tears) Haan... baith jao... main bas ja hi rahi thi...
She stood up.
Armaan: Ridhimaa... mujhe tumse baat karni hai...
Ridhimaa: Abhi nahi Armaan... please... baad me baat karenge... OK? Bye...
Ridhimaa went away. Armaan did not know what to do. How should he pacify Ridhimaa? If he would not do something then Ridhimaa would surely break down completely. Just then Anjali came there and tapped him on the shoulder.
Anjali: Armaan...
Armaan: Haan?
Anjali: Armaan... aaj humaare ghar par shaam ko dinner hai. Tumhe bhi aana hai… OK? No excuses.
Armaan: Dinner... kis baat ke liye?
Anjali: Abhi 24th October ko Diwali thi... lekin humme se kisine bhi Ridhimaa ki haalat dekhte hue Diwali nahi manaayi... isiliye... aaj chhota sa dinner hai... tum aa jaana...
Armaan: OK... main try karunga...
Anjali: Try nahi... tumhe aana hi hai... warna fir mom aur nani ki daant sunna...
She went away. Armaan too followed her out. In the evening, Armaan handsomely dressed in a white coloured sherwaani with a black muffler for the occassion, reached the Gupta house. He knew he was quite late. But at least he had come. He had been duelling with the thoughts of whether to go there or not but in the end, he decided that he should, lest everybody got suspicious. Armaan put up his hand and knocked at the door. Before someone could open the door, Armaan's mobile started ringing.
Armaan: Hello... hye Sir... I mean... hye Shahrukh... sir is waqt... main Gupta house ke baahar hoon... koi kaam tha? Sir please... main pehle bhi keh chuka hoon ki...
Just then the door opened and Ridhimaa emerged, looking gorgeous in a pink saree, with a halter neck, sleeveless blouse. Armaan froze. Ridhimaa saw Armaan standing there and rushed inside, leaving the door open. When Ridhimaa was gone, Armaan came back to his senses.
Armaan: Hello... nahi kuch nahi... wo main... aapse baad me baat karta hoon...
Armaan switched off his mobile and entered through the door. The house was decorated beautifully. Armaan's eyes were searching for Ridhimaa only. He was moving towards the living room, from where he could hear voices when someone tapped him from behind. He revolved around to find a number of people beaming at him.
Shahrukh: (hugging Armaan) Hye...
Armaan: Hye...
Then he looked at the others. Shahid, Karan, DGP Tiwari, Gauri, Suhaana and Aryan were infront of him.
Armaan: (exclaiming) Aap sab!
Karan: Kyun? Hum log nahi aa sakte kya?
Armaan: Nahi... I mean haan... chaliye...
They all entered the living room together.
Everybody present in the living room gaped at the grand entry.
Shahrukh: Hye all...
Shashank, Shubhankar, Kirti, Rahul, Atul, Muskaan, Anjali, Padma, Nani and Ridhimaa were present there. Shashank came there and brought them all inside. They all seated themselves comfortably. Armaan was hailed by Atul. He went and sat beside him.
Suhaana: Ammy bhaiya... humaare pass baitho na...
Armaan smiled.
Aryan: Ridhimaa didi... aap kyun khadi ho? Aap bhi baitho...
Ridhimaa too smiled. She came and sat between Aryan and Suhaana and hugged them.
Ridhimaa: (to the kids) Aap dono kaise ho? Aapki padhai kaisi chal rahi hai?
Kids: Bahut achhi... aap kabhi humse milne nahi aati...
Shahrukh: Ridhimaa... congratulations for your recovery...
Ridhimaa: Thanks...
Shahrukh: Thanks kis baat ka? Main to tumhaara birthday gift hoon...
Ridhimaa smiled.
Gauri: Haan Ridhimaa... mujhe to laga tha ki ab meri jaan chhootegi... lekin tumne apna gift waapas bhej diya...
Karan: Bechari Gauri... use Shahrukh ko waapas aate dekh bahut bada shock laga tha...
All laughed.
Shahid: (to Ridhimaa) Ab aap kaisi hain?
Ridhimaa: (calmly) I'm fine...
Shahid: (smiling) Good...
Ridhimaa did not return his smile. She did not want to get too friendly with him. Shahid understood.
Tiwari: To... kal kaun kaun aa raha hai Award function me? Dr.Armaan... aapne sabse poochh liya?
Armaan: Nahi... meri kisi se baat hi nahi hui...
Muskaan: Oh haan... kal to tujhe award milega... main bhi chalungi...
Atul, Rahul, Anjali, Shubhankar: (together) Main bhi...
Armaan looked towards Shashank, Nani, Padma and Kirti.
Armaan: Aap log nahi chalenge?
Shashank: Of course... hum sab aayenge...
Kirti: Bilkul...
Shahrukh: That's not fair Armaan... apne puraane doston ke saamne tum apne naye doston ko bhool gaye?
Armaan: Mere liye dost puraane aur naye nahi hote Shahrukh... dost kewal dost hote hain... kuch zyada close hote hain... kuch nahi... aap log aana chaahte to aa sakte hain... doston ko invite karne ki zaroorat nahi padti... hai na?
Shahid: Bilkul... but we won't be able to come...
Karan: To Armaan... tumhari dosti ki list me hum kis number par aate hain?
Armaan: (smiling) Meri dosti ki list! Abhi tak maine banaayi to nahi hai... soch raha hoon bana loon...
Gauri: Good for you...
Shahrukh: To shubh kaam me deri kaisi? Fataafat list banao... aur batao sabse upar kaun hai tumhari list me...
Armaan: Jab list bana lunga to sabse pehle aap hi ko bataunga...
Anjali: Waise mujhe pata hai ki Armaan ki dosti ki list me kaun kis number par hoga...
Armaan: Achha?
Rahul: Aur kya... hum sab jaante hain... ki pehle number par Ridhimaa... second par Atul... third par Tamanna... fourth par... fourth par...
Rahul got stuck.
Shahrukh: First three positions to occupy ho gayi... Armaan iske aagey...
Armaan: Jab first three positions hi galat hain... to main aagey kya bataun...
Padma: Kya matlab?
Armaan: Matlab ye ki Rahul ki calculation galat hai. Meri list issey thodi si alag hogi...
Shubhankar, Kirti, Atul: (together) Achha?
Armaan: Haan... first number par... Atul... second par... Rahul... third par... Anjali and Muskaan... fourth par... Sapna... fifth par... shaayad Tamanna... well... aagey mere baaki friends
All present gasped. Armaan too paused to breathe.
Atul: Main... main first number par?
Rahul: Armaan are you sure ki main second number par hoon... tumhari Tammy se bhi pehle?
Armaan: Haan haan...
Ridhimaa left the place on the excuse of setting the dining table.
Karan: Armaan... tumne sab friends ko gin liya?
Armaan: Haan... kyun? Koi bach gaya?
Atul: Armaan... tune Ridz ka naam nahi liya...
Armaan: Main uska naam kyun lunga?
Rahul: Kyun? Wo bhi to teri friend hai...
Armaan: Maine kab kaha ki Ridhimaa meri friend hai?
Anjali: Armaan... kal hi to tum keh rahe the ki tum aur Ridhimaa bahut achhe friends ho... aur kuch nahi...
Armaan: Haan to?
Muskaan: Armaan...
Armaan: Maine kaha tha ki Ridhimaa meri bahut achhi friend hai... lekin ye to sirf friends waali list hai na...
Shashank: Kya matlab?
Armaan: Matlab ye ki Ridhimaa ka naam to bahut achhe friends waali list me hona chahiye... is list me Ridhimaa ka naam kahaan se aayega?
Shahrukh: Oooh!!
Armaan: (warningly) Aur aap log mere peechhe kyun pade rehte hain? Main chaahe Ridhimaa ko list me rakhun ya na rakhun... why are you all so interested?
Shubhankar: Wo kya hai na Dr.Armaan... aapki aur Dr.Ridhimaa ki relationship hi itni interesting hai ki...
Armaan: (sternly) Kaisi relationship?
Shahrukh: Yahi... close friendship waali... aur kya?
Armaan: Oh! Tab theek hai...
Anjali: Armaan... kam se kam tum khud ko dhokha to mat do...
Armaan: Main kisi ko koi dhokha nahi de raha hoon...
Rahul: Armaan... tum Ridhimaa ko nahi bataana chaahte na sahi... lekin atleast sachchai ko khud to accept kar lo ki tum... ki tum Ridhimaa se pyar karte ho.
Shashank, Shahrukh, Shubhankar, Kirti, Shahid, Gauri, Tiwari and the kids looked at Armaan but Armaan had seen Ridhimaa entering through the door. He stood up.


PART 276:

Armaan: (loudly) Mujhe tum logon ko kitni baar samjhaana padega ki main Ridhimaa se pyar nahi karta? Ek baar me tumhe koi baat samajh nahi aati... I don't love Ridhimaa nor does she love me. It is just close friendship... that's all... aur ab main is baare me koi baat nahi karna chaahta...
Shahid: Armaan... are you sure it's not love?
Armaan: Yes... I'm pretty sure...
Just then Shahrukh's gaze fell on Ridhimaa who was standing at the living room's door.
Shahrukh: Arrey Ridhimaa... wahaan kyun khadi ho? Andar aao na...
She came inside. Her pale face was noticed by everyone. She came steadily and sat beside Muskaan, near Shahid.
Shahid: Ridhimaa... kya aap bhi Armaan se pyar nahi karti? Kya jo Armaan keh raha hai wo sach hai?
Ridhimaa did not know what to say. She looked up at Armaan but he was not looking at her, and was eating the snacks.
Karan: Ridhimaa... Shahid ne tumse kuch poochha hai...
Ridhimaa: Haan wo main... I stand by what Armaan says.
Shahrukh: Really?
Ridhimaa: Ji... mujhe bhi yahi lagta hai... ab please aap log is baare me baat mat kijiye... let the matter rest...
Gauri: Of course... ab koi is baare me baat nahi karega... kyun Shahrukh?
Shahrukh: Haan bilkul... Armaan... to tum parson Award function me aa rahe ho na?
Armaan: Nahi to...
Karan: But why? Ye National Award milna kitne sammaan ki baat hoti hai... wo bhi president ke haathon... main to aaj tak tarasta hoon... aur tum use thukra rahe ho...
Armaan: Main pehle hi keh chuka hoon... mujhe koi award nahi chahiye...
Tiwari: Main jaata hoon warna aap kal bhi aane se mana kar denge... I'll take your leave... bye...
He left.
Shahrukh: Armaan please... ye tumhare liye bahut badi opportunity hai...
Then he turned to the others.
Shahrukh: Aap log Armaan ko samjhaiye na...
Padma: Hum log kya samjhaayein... ye humaari baat sunta hi kahaan hai?
Shahrukh: Armaan award to lene tumhe jaana hi padega aur hum log kisi na kisi tarah tumhe mana ke rahenge...
Armaan: Leave it... please...
Gauri: Shahid... tumhe koi baat karni thi na?
Shahid: Haan... I nearly forgot... achha kiya jo yaad dila di...
He turned to face Ridhimaa.
Shahid: Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa: Ji...
Shahid: Ridhimaa... tum ye jaanti ho ki main tumhe pasand karta hoon. Aaj tumhari baat sunke mere dil ko sukoon pahuncha hai ki tum Armaan se pyar nahi karti aur na hi Armaan tumse pyar karta hai... isliye... main... main tumhe propose karna chaahta hoon... will you... will you marry me? Kya tum... kya tum mujhse shaadi karogi?
Ridhimaa was dumbstruck while Armaan exclaimed.
Armaan: (shocked) What?
Shahid looked from Armaan to Ridhimaa.
Shahid: Kya maine kuch galat kiya? Tum dono... tum dono to ek doosre se pyar nahi karte na?
Shashank: Shahid... aap ye...
Shahid: Uncle... main aapki beti se shaadi karna chaahta hoon... aur sabse pehle main Ridhimaa ki opinion jaanna chaahta hoon... Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa could not speak.
Ridhimaa: Aap... aap...
Armaan could not imagine what was happening.
Armaan: Shahid... are you serious?
Shahid: Of course I am... main Ridhimaa se dosti bhi use aur zyaada jaanne ke liye karna chaahta tha... Ridhimaa... answer me... ab to tumhe koi problem nahi hogi na...
Armaan: Lekin...
Shahrukh: Armaan... tum chup raho. Ye Shahid aur Ridhimaa ke beech ki baat hai.
Shahid: Haan... don't try to interfere in between. It's our personal matter. Pehle hi tumhari wajah se Ridhimaa mujhse dosti karne se mana kar chuki hai... ab tum please is maamle se door raho... tum dost ho... dost hi raho... isse zyaada Ridhimaa ke pass aane ki koshish mat karo... be in your limits.
Armaan was thunderstruck at Shahid's words.
Shahid: (to Ridhimaa) Bolo Ridhimaa... tum mujhse shaadi karogi na?
Ridhimaa: Nahi... aapne soch bhi kaise liya ki main... it's outrageous! Aur… ye aap Armaan se kis tarah se baat kar rahe the?
Shahid: Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa: Bas... ab aagey kuch mat kahiyega please... us din jab maine aapse saaf-saaf keh diya tha tab bhi...
Shahid: Ridhimaa... main...
Ridhimaa: I don't want to hear... mujhe laga tha aap achhe insaan honge... main us din aapse milne sirf isliye gayi thi kyunki Armaan ne mujhe kaha tha... aur aap... aap Armaan se hi keh rahe hain ki wo apni limit me rahe... uski limit bataane waale aap hote kaun hain?
Armaan: Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa: Tum to chup hi raho Armaan... ye sab tumhari wajah se ho raha hai...
Armaan shook his head.
Shahid: Ridhimaa... meri baat to suno... tum to Armaan se pyar nahi karti na...
Ridhimaa: Shut up! Ye mera aur Armaan ka personal matter hai... aur haan... aapne sahi kaha... Armaan ki hi wajah se maine aapse dosti nahi ki... Armaan chaahta tha ki aap meri zindagi me uski jagah lein... and it's impossible... main ye baat Armaan se pehle hi keh chuki hoon aur aaj aap sab ke saamne kehti hoon ki Armaan ki jagah meri zindagi me koi nahi le sakta...
Shahid: Tum mujhse shadi kyun nahi karna chaahti?
Ridhimaa: Kyunki main aapse pyar nahi karti...
Shahid: To kya Armaan se karti ho?
Ridhimaa: (without thinking) Haan... karti hoon...
The others stared at her, while Armaan was very uncomfortable and embarrassed. He opened his mouth to speak, but was unable.
Ridhimaa too realised what she had said. Tears again welled up in her eyes.
Shahid: (smiling) Tum Armaan se pyar karti ho?
Shahrukh, Karan, Gauri and the interns also started smiling.
Ridhimaa: Aap sab... aap sab hans kyun rahe hain?
Shahrukh: Tumne jawaab nahi diya Ridhimaa... kya tum Armaan se pyar karti ho?
Ridhimaa: (half-crying) Nahi...
Armaan was trying not to look towards Ridhimaa but her tears were wrenching him apart. He shut his eyes tightly to endure it.
Shahid: Ridhimaa I am sorry... ye naatak zaroori tha... tumse sach nikalwane ka humaare pass ek yahi raasta tha...
Shashank: To ye sab... aapka proposal... sab ek naatak tha?
Karan: Yes, of course... aur Rahul, Muskaan, Atul aur Anjali bhi is naatak me humaare saath the... hume jaanna tha ki Ridhimaa Armaan se pyar karti hai ya nahi...
Ridhimaa: (shrieking) Main Armaan se pyar nahi karti... nahi karti main usse pyar... I don't love him at all...
Her sobs had heightened.
Anjali: Par abhi to tumne kaha ki tum Armaan se pyar...
Armaan: (not able to control more) Bas kijiye aap sab... bahut ho chuka... jab wo keh rahi hai ki wo mujhse pyar nahi karti to aap sab use kyun force kar rahe hain?
Rahul: Kyunki Armaan... hum jaante hain ki Ridhimaa jhooth bol rahi hai... uske chehre, uski aankhein, uske aansun is baat ki gawaahi de rahe hain ki wo tumse pyar karti hai... aur wo tumhari baat se kitni hurt hui hai... ab to Armaan tumhe use bata dena chaahiye ki sach kya hai...
Atul: Bolo Armaan... batao use... batao ki tumne aisa kyun kaha ki tum usse pyar nahi karte...
Muskaan: Armaan agar tum nahi bataoge to tum dekh hi rahe ho Ridhimaa ki haalat kya ho gayi hai... Armaan... abhi bhi waqt hai tumhare pass...
Armaan: Lekin...
Karan: Armaan bolo...
Armaan: (giving up) Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa: (still crying) Armaan... tumhe kuch bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai... mujhe sab pata hai...
Armaan: Kya pata hai tumhe?
Ridhimaa: (in a voice muffled due to he tears) Yahi ki tum ye sab kyun kar rahe ho... kyun khud ko aur mujhko ye yakeen dilaane ki koshish kar rahe ho ki hum dono ek doosre se pyar nahi karte... kyun tum mujhe khud se door karne ki koshish kar rahe ho... mujhe sab pata hai...
Anjali: Tum sab jaanti ho?
Ridhimaa: Haan Di... jab Armaan ne mujhse kaha tha ki hum dono ke beech jo rishta hai... wo pyar nahi hai... main usi din samajh gayi thi ki wo ye kyun kar raha hai...
Armaan: Tumhe lagta hai ki jo main kar raha hoon wo theek hai?
Ridhimaa: Haan... ek tarah se wo theek hi hai...
Armaan could not believe that Ridhimaa was agreeing with his decision. Somewhere, in his heart, he was disappointed that she loved her life more than him, but the very next moment, he was immensely relieved.
Armaan: Chalo achha hai...
Ridhimaa's cries had increased.


PART 277:

Armaan: Ab kyun ro rahi ho Ridhimaa? Tumhe bhi to lagta hai ki jo main kar raha hoon wo theek hai... waise bhi hume risk nahi lena chahiye...
Ridhimaa: Haan...
Armaan felt that something was odd.
Ridhimaa: (crying) Tumhe mujhse baat bhi nahi karni chahiye...
Armaan: Kyun?
Ridhimaa: Isme bhi to bahut bada risk hai...
Armaan: Kya matlab?
Ridhimaa: Agar galti se tumne mujhe kuch bata diya... aur wo information leak ho gayi to?
Armaan: What?
Ridhimaa: (sobbing) Haan... please... ab mujhse baat mat karna...
The others were not able to understand anything.
Armaan: (suspiciously) Tum ye kaisi baatein kar rahi ho? Tum... tum kya soch rahi ho? Tumhe pata hai na ki main kis wajah se tumse door ho raha hoon?
Ridhimaa: Haan... us din jo Tiwari uncle ne kaha... uski wajah se...
Armaann: Haan...
Ridhimaa: (continuing) Uski wajah se tumhe lagta hai ki... ki main...
She could not speak further, but she had to speak.
Ridhimaa: Tum... tum mujhe arrest kyun nahi karwa dete?
All were stunned. What was Ridhimaa talking about? Was she out of her mind?
Armaan: Kya?
Ridhimaa: (crying hysterically) Haan... jab tumhe lagta hai ki main tumhare baare me information terrorists ko leak kar rahi hoon... to tumhe... Tiwari uncle se keh kar mujhe arrest karwa dena chahiye tha... us din meri side kyun li thi tumne?
Armaan: (angrily) Kya bakwaas kar rahi ho tum? Tum... tum... paagal ho gayi ho kya?
Ridhimaa: (shrieking) Haan... paagal ho gayi hoon... mujhe laga tha... mujhe laga tha ki at least tum to mujh par vishwaas karoge... lekin tumne kitni asaani se maan liya ki wo backstabber main hi hoon... to theek hai na... jao yahaan se... tum... tum itna bada risk kyun le rahe ho?
Armaan: (shocked) Ridhimaa!
Ridhimaa: Maine kaha na jao yahan se... infact tumhe nahi... mujhe jaana chahiye...
Atul: Ridz... tum...
Ridhimaa: Tum logon ko bhi mere pass nahi aana chahiye... kya pata main kab kisse gaddaari kar baithun? Jab main Armaan ke saath ye sab kar sakti hoon to...
She was getting hysterical with each passing second. She believed that Armaan was keeping a distance with her because he thought that she was mixed with the terrorist group.
Ridhimaa: Main... main tum logon ke saamne khadi rehne ke laayak nahi hoon... main to jeene ke laayak bhi nahi hoon... mujhe chale jaana chahiye...
She tried to move towards the door but two strong hands held her by her shoulders and pulled her. She came face-to-face with Armaan.
Armaan: (trying to infuse sense in her) Ridhimaa!
Ridhimaa was crushed by superior strength. Still she tried hard to free herself.
Ridhimaa: Chodo mujhe...
Armaan: (thundering) Ridhimaa... meri baat suno...
Ridhimaa got scared. She stopped trying to free herself and looked up at Armaan's face. The black eyes caught the blue ones. She could not find blames and accusations in there. There was only a vast ocean of love, passion and emotions.
Ridhimaa: Armaan!
Armaan: (keeping a finger on her lips) Shhh! Tum... tumne socha bhi kaise Ridhimaa ki main isliye tumse door jaunga? Tum... tum isiliye din bhar roti rehti thi kyunki tumhe lagta tha ki main tumhe aisa samajhta hoon? How could you even think about it? Kya tum mujhe nahi jaanti? Aur kya main tumhe nahi jaanta? Maine Tiwari ji se bhi kaha tha ki main khud par shak kar sakta hoon lekin tum par nahi... main kabhi sapne me bhi tumhare upar shak karne ke baare me soch tak nahi sakta Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa: Fir tum... tumne kyun kaha ki...
Armaan: Kyunki main... main darr gaya tha Ridhimaa... Tiwari ji ne kaha tha ki wo terrorists mujhe lure karne ke liye tumhe bait ki tarah istemaal karenge... main nahi chaahta tha ki tumhe... tumhe koi nuksaan pahunche... pehle hi us din... tumhe meri wajah se goli lagi... main tumhaare saath hote hue bhi tumhe usse bacha nahi paaya... socho... agar kal ko meri wajah se... mere tumhare saath connection ki wajah se tumhe koi chot pahunchti hai to main khud ko kaise maaf kar paunga? I'd never ever be able to forgive myself... isiliye main tumse door hone ki koshish kar raha tha... main tumhe sab kuch bata deta lekin mujhe darr tha ki tum meri baat nahi maaogi... lekin mujhe to kuch kehne ki zaroorat hi nahi thi... tumhara dimaag to pehle hi chalna shuru ho gaya aur tumne pata nahi kya kya soch liya...
Ridhimaa shook her head. Tears were falling fast from her eyes out of embarrassment.
Ridhimaa: Mujhe laga tha ki... ki tum... tumhe lagta hai ki main...
Armaan: Haan... very good... tumhe siwaaye khud ko blame karne ke aur kuch aata hai? Apne aap ko police custody me dene chali thi... ye jaante hue bhi ki tumne kuch nahi kiya…
Ridhimaa: Agar tumhe lagta ki main...
Armaan: To tum... tum sach bol nahi sakti thi? Main jo kahun wo sahi hai? Main kahunga ki tum wo backstabber ho to tum maan logi? Tumhare pass khud ki akal nahi hai?
Ridhimaa: (again crying) Agar tumne kabhi ye kaha to main sach me maan lungi ki mujhse hi koi galti hui hai...
Armaan: Haan... meri saari galat baatein zaroor maan lena... kyunki meri koi sahi baat to tumko kabhi sach lagti hi nahi hai... hai na?
Ridhimaa: Kaun si sahi baat?
She really didn't know what Armaan was talking about.
Armaan: (wiping off Ridhimaa's tears with his fingertips) Wo ye Dr.Ridhimaa Shashank Gupta ki main aapse pyar karta hoon... muhabbat karta hoon... kal bhi karta tha... aaj bhi karta hoon... aur humesha karta rahunga... lekin...
Ridhimaa: Lekin?
Armaan: Lekin ab kyunki aapko meri majboori pata chal chuki hai to aap jaan gayi hongi ki hum dono ko kyun alag hona padega...
Ridhimaa: Ji nahi... jab maine aapse yahi baat Karan ki us dhamki ke baad kahi thi to aapne to meri baat nahi maani thi... aur ab main bhi aapki baat nahi maanungi... aapki zidd hi galat hai...
Armaan: Dekha... main isiliye tumhe kuch nahi bata raha tha... please Ridhimaa... samajhne ki koshish karo...
Ridhimaa: Nahi Armaan... mujhe kuch nahi samajhna... mujhe apni jaan ki chinta nahi hai... aur agar tumne mujhe zyada force kiya to jis tarah us din tum terrace se kood gaye the... usi tarah main bhi...
Armaan: (shaking her) Ridhimaa... hosh me aao... wo Karan ki baat thi... main usse tumhe aur khud ko... dono ko bacha sakta hoon... ye is desh ke sabse bade terrorist group ki baat hai... tumhe meri baat maanni hi hogi...
Ridhimaa: Armaan... mujhe kuch nahi hoga... jab tak tum mere saath ho mujhe kuch nahi ho sakta...
Armaan: Lekin...
Ridhimaa: Armaan... mujhe tum par poora vishwaas hai... tumhe khud par vishwaas karke mere vishwaas ko jitnaana hoga...
Armaan: Mere hi dialogues mujh hi par maarna band karo... aur samajhne ki koshish karo...
Ridhimaa: (determined) Aur Tiwari uncle ne kaha tha ki un terrorists ke pass tumhare se bhi zyada important kaam hain... tum koi VVIP nahi ho jo wo kewal tumhare hi peechhe lage rahein... aur unke pass ab tumhare baare me koi information bhi nahi hai...
Armaan: Ridhimaa please...
Kirti: Mujhe lagta hai Dr.Ridhimaa theek keh rahi hain...
Padma: Haan Armaan...
Nani: Beta... uski baat maan jao...
Gauri, Karan, Shahid: (together) Maan jao na Armaan...
Anjali, Rahul, Muskaan, Atul, Shubhankar: (together) Armaan...
Aryan, Suhaana: (together) Ammy bhaiyya maan jaiye na...
Shahrukh: (singing) Aisa jo koi kahin hai... bas wo hi sabse haseen hai... Us haath ko... tum thaam lo... Wo meherbaan... Kal Ho Na Ho...
Shashank: Armaan... tumhare pyar ko fir se ek mauka mila hai... use apne wehem ki wajah se mat khona... ye kewal tumari hi nahi... Ridhimaa ki zindagi ka bhi sawaal hai...
Armaan turned to face Ridhimaa, who was looking at him with imploring eyes.
Ridhimaa: (repeating Armaan's once-said words) Armaan... agar tum bhi mujhse pyar karte ho to aaj mera haath thaam kar humare pyar ko aur mazboot kar do. Aur agar mujhse pyar nahi karte to meri aankhon me dekhkar, mere dil par haath rakhkar keh do. Fir main tumhe kabhi pareshaan nahi karungi.
Armaan: Shut up!
Ridhimaa took Armaan's hand in hers.
Ridhimaa: Bolo Armaan...
Armaan: I love you Ridhimaa... I love you a lot!
He took one look at Ridhimaa's face. Her eyes were wet. He could not control his emotions and engulfed her into a deep, passionate hug.
Armaan: Tum bahut buri ho... bahut... I hate you...
Ridhimaa: (crying) I love you Armaan...
Armaan: (crying himself) I... I love you too Ridhimaa... main... main tumhe kuch nahi hone dunga... mujhe chod ke mat jaana... humesha mujh par vishwaas karna...
Ridhimaa: Agar main koi bewkoofi karun to tum mujhe daant lena... maar lena... lekin... lekin mujhe chod ke mat jaana... main tumare bina nahi ji sakti...
Armaan: (hugging her more tightly) Main bhi...
Each eye present in that room was moistened.
Armaan, Ridhimaa: (together to each other) I love you...


PART 278:

Armaan and Ridhimaa were hugging each other tightly, they were not separating. All smiled. Shashank faked a cough.
Shashank: Hem... hem...
Armaan jumped and pushed Ridhimaa away and accidentally hurt her wounded arm.
Ridhimaa: Ouch!
Armaan, who had been wiping his tears, while turning his back on the others, turned back quickly to find Ridhimaa holding her injured arm. Anjali came upto her.
Anjali: Kya hua Ridzi? Is it... is it hurting?
Ridhimaa: (knowing that Armaan was listening) No Di... it's... it's fine...
Armaan: Dard ho raha hai?
Ridhimaa: (not meeting his eyes) Nahi... nahi to...
Shashank: Ridhimaa... koi painkiller le lo... dard kam ho jaayega... waise bhi tumne is ghaav ke liye koi dawaayi to li nahi hai...
Ridhimaa: (hiding her tears) Ji...
Armaan kept looking at her face which was showing vestiges of pain.
Shahrukh: Armaan...
Armaan: (not averting his eyes from Ridhimaa) Ji?
Shahrukh: Armaan... I'm confused. Chot Ridhimaa ko lagi hai aur dard tumhe ho raha hai...
Armaan: Ji? Nahi... nahi to... wo to...
Atul: To fir... teri aankhon me aansun kyun hain?
Armaan: (wiping his eyes and smiling) Aansun... kahaan? Wo to bas aankh me kuch chala gaya tha...
Ridhimaa looked up at him with tearful eyes. Armaan's heart went out to her.
Rahul: Armaan... agar tujhe Ridhimaa ke aansun achhe nahi lag rahe to uske pass ja na... itni door se kya karega?
Armaan was hesitating. Anjali gave Ridhimaa a little push and sent her towards Armaan. She was jammed onto his chest. Armaan prised her gently away from him, cupped her face in his hand and tenderly swiped off the tears from Ridhimaa's face.
Armaan: Aankhen band karogi to mujhe hi paogi, Aankhen khologi to mujhe hi paogi. Zindagi me kabhi rona mat warna, Aansuon me tum mujhe hi ganwaogi.
Ridhimaa looked up into his eyes and hugged him. Armaan hugged her back. They were both oblivious to the outside world while hugging each other. They were savouring the pleasure of this moment which had came into their fortune after so many days... months... years... ages...
Ridhimaa: (softly) Pata hai Armaan... aaj aisa lag raha hai jaise hum dono ke alaawa is duniya me aur koi nahi hai...
Armaan: Achha... to chalo aaj se hi teesre ki planning karna shuru kar dete hain...
Ridhimaa: (pushing him away) Armaan!
But hers was not the only voice. Nearly everyone in the room present had called 'Armaan!' at his joke. He, as well as Ridhimaa was hugely embarrassed. Both faces were flushed with embarrassment as they had forgotten that they were in clear view of so many people.
Padma: (to Armaan) Ye kya baatein ho rahi thi? Hmm?
Shashank: Dr.Armaan! Aap Ridhimaa se kya keh rahe the?
Armaan: (trying to speak) Wo sir... main... actually main...
Nani: (demanding) Tumhe sharm nahi aayi aisi baat karte hue?
Armaan was dead scared.
Armaan: Nani... I'm... I'm really...
Atul: Waise tera to hum sab jaante hain...
Rahul: Tu to hai hi besharm...
Muskaan: Lekin Ridz!
Anjali: Ridzi tum bhi Armaan ki baaton me....
Armaan: (protesting) Nahi... Ridhimaa ne to kuch bhi nahi kaha tha... wo to main hi mazaak kar raha tha... agar aap logon ko bura laga to I'm... I'm extremely sorry for that. Aaj ke baad kabhi mazaak nahi karunga... promise. Aap log Ridhimaa ko kuch mat kahiye... galti meri hai... sirf meri...
All were surprised. Armaan had taken them all seriously. Infact, he was moving away, leaving.
Armaan: Main... main ja raha hoon... I'm really sorry...
Saying so, he turned around.
Shubhankar: Armaan... hum log to sirf...
Atul: Sirf mazaak kar rahe the...
Armaan: (turning around and grinning) Main bhi mazaak hi kar raha tha...
Ridhimaa: (scowling) Very smart!
Armaan: Ab tumhe kya ho gaya?
Ridhimaa: Tum to mujhse baat hi mat karo...
Armaan: (worried) Ab maine kya keh diya?
Ridhimaa: Nahi... tum kahaan kabhi kuch kehte ho? Aur main to tumhari dost nahi hoon na... na main first number pe, na second... na third aur na hi last... hai na?
Armaan: (simply) Haan...
Ridhimaa: Huh!
Armaan: Ridhimaa... suno to... tum itni chhoti si baat ke liye mujhse gussa ho kyunki maine apni dosti ki list me tumhara naam nahi liya? Basket... wo to sirf mere doston ki list thi... lekin tum meri dost thode hi ho...
Ridhimaa: Achha... ab main tumhari dost bhi nahi hoon?
Armaan: Mera matlab tum to meri bestest friend ho na... to main tumhe apne baaki doston ke saath us list me kaise rakhta? Special logon ke liye to special jagah hoti hai na... aur tum mere liye bahut special ho... isliye tumhare liye maine ek hi jagah khaali rakhi hai...
Ridhimaa: (blushing) Kaun si?
Armaan: (indicating his heart) Ye...
Then he looked at his tattoo.
Armaan: Arrey nahi... ye jagah bhi booked hai... shayad kisi Dr.Ridhimaa Gupta ke naam se... not fair basket! Har jagah mere kehne se pehle hi pahunch jaati ho...
Ridhimaa smiled.
Armaan: Ye hui na baat...
They were all enjoying the party. The kids, Karan and Shaahid had left. After the dinner.
Atul: Bore ho rahe hain... hai na Anjali?
Anjali: (agreeing) Yes Atul... kyun na ek game ho jaaye?
Rahul: Right... lekin kaun sa?
Shahrukh: May I suggest something.
Gauri: No please...
Kirti: Please do...
Shahrukh: (smiling at the look of Gauri's face) Come on now! Haan well... there are so many couples here... me and Gauri, Shashank ji and Padma ji, Rahul and Muskaan...
Both of whom looked at each other.
Shahrukh: (continuing) To main soch raha tha kyun na ek couple's game ho jaaye?
Anjali: But then... what will we do?
Shahrukh: Well... you can join us. Shubhankar with Kirti, Armaan with Ridhimaa of course... and you can pair up with Atul. Well... you can play as friends.
Atul: Yipppee!
Anjali: Shut up Atul! OK...
Rahul: Par pehle koi in love birds ko to uthao...
He was pointing towards Armaan and Ridhimaa, who were holding each others hands and were looking at each other sideways.
Atul: Oye Armaan... Armaan....
Muskaan: (shouting in Armaan and Ridhimaa's ears) Armaan... Ridhimaa...
Both jumped.
Armaan: Kya hai? Kaan me kyun cheekh rahi ho? Hum behre ho gaye hain kya?
Gauri: Lag to yahi raha tha...
Shahrukh: Armaan... Ridhimaa... hum log ek game khelne ja rahe hain...
Armaan, Ridhimaa: (together) Game?
Atul: Haan...
Shahrukh: So game is like this... hum sabko ek ek paper diya jaayega... sabko apni-apni sheets par apne partner ka naam likhna hoga... uske baad usme partner ka favourite colour, favourite song, favourite movie, favourite food, favourite dress, favourite actor, favourite singer etc. likhna hoga. Iski judge hongi...
Nani: Main... aur wo lists bhi main hi tayyar karungi jisse koi cheating na ho...
All: Ji...
Ridhimaa: Lekin mera partner kaun hai?
Armaan: Tumhara partner aur kaun ho sakta hai?
Ridhimaa: Kaun?
Rahul: Please Ridhimaa... ab tum dono ladaayi mat karna...
Meanwhile, Nani had prepared the questions.
Armaan: Lekin... jo couple jeetega use kya milega?
Shahrukh: Hum sab six couples hain. Third ko... Armaan ki Film ki original CDs, second ko Armaan ki songs collection ki original CD aur first ko parson ke Award function me Armaan ke saath jaane ka mauka.
Armaan: Ye... ye sab mujhse kyun related hai?


PART 279:

All smiled except Ridhimaa.
Shahrukh: Because... it's your day!
Armaan: Lekin...
Ridhimaa: Armaan... chup raho. Hume second prize jeetna hai...
Armaan: What?
Ridhimaa: Haan... mujhe wo songs collection chahiye...
Armaan: Lekin... us collection ka main kya karunga?
Ridhimaa: Armaan... tum mere liye itna nahi kar sakte?
Armaan: OK... fine. Blackmail karne ki zaroorat nahi hai... chaliye game start karein...
Rahul: Haan... jab hum bol rahe the tab kuch nahi... jab Ridhimaa ne bola to game start karein...
Armaan: Rahul agar tujhe pitna hai to seedhe seedhe bata de... aur agar nahi to apne ye smart sidey comments apne pass rakh...
Rahul went red at the ears.
Nani: Achha... bachhon... ye lo... sabki sheets.
She distributed the sheets around.
Nani: Sabko paanch minute milenge... isme paanch questions hain... koi cheating nahi karega... jisne cheating ki... wo game se out. Your time starts now.
The game started. Ridhimaa glanced down her sheet. She smiled and then started filling it. Armaan too was filling the sheet quickly, wanting to secure the second position for Ridhimaa. Shahrukh and Gauri were at a loss. Shahrukh tried to talk to Gauri but Nani caught them.
Nani: Shahrukh... Gauri out!
Both were defeated but now they could enjoy even more, seeing how the others were trying to think the answers. Armaan had kept down the pen and was relaxing.
Shahrukh: Armaan... what happened? Tum game kyun nahi khel rahe?
Armaan: Maine likh liya...
Gauri: Are you sure?
Armaan: Yes... I am pretty confident... at least utna to bhar liya jitna mujhe aata tha...
Ridhimaa: Armaan... confidence achhi baat hai... lekin over-confidence...
Armaan: Aap apna kaam kariye nahi to hume bhi game se out kar diya jaayega...
Ridhimaa: (bending back over her paper) Oh haan! Sorry...
After the time was up, Nani collected back the sheets. All heaved a sigh of relief.
Nani: Ab main ek-ek se uske answers poochungi aur paper par likhe hue answers match karungi. Sabse pehle... Kirti.
Kirti... tumhara favourite colour?
Kirti: White.
Nani: Tumhari zindagi ka sabse yaadgaar pal?
Kirti: Jab main Sanjeevani aayi thi.
Nani: Is duniya me aisi kaun si cheez hai jisse tumhe darr lagta hai?
Kirti: Sanjeevani chodne se...
Shubhankar had got that wrong.
Nani: Kirti... tumhe apne partner me sabse buri kaun si baat lagti hai?
Kirti: Shubhankar ka khud ko akela samajhna.
Nani: Ab last... tumhe apne partner me sabse achhi kya baat lagti hai?
Kirti: (nearly blushing) His caring nature.
Nani: Shubhankar ne 5 me se 3 sahi jawaab diye hain. Ab usiki baari. Shubhankar... tum saare answers batao.
Shubhankar: My favourite colour is yellow. Mera sabse yaadgaar pal jab Navneeta paida hui thi. Mujhe darr lagta hai ye sochne se ki agar mujhe kabhi kuch ho gaya to mere baad Navneeta ka kya hoga. Mujhe Kirti ki sabse buri baat ye lagti hai ki wo kabhi apni problems kisi se share nahi karti aur uski sabse achhi baat ye lagti hai ki wo chaahe kisi ko jitna bhi daant le... lekin sabki bahut care karti hai...
Nani: Kirti ne achhi baat aur buri baat waala jawaab galat diya... baaki sab sahi the. Tum logon ke total points hue 6/10.
Muskaan: Ab nani hum dono...
Nani: Haan bilkul... bolo Muskaan...
Muskaan: Mera favourite colour green.
Rahul: Green? Kab se?
Muskaan: Wo kal mujhe ek green suit bahut achha laga tha... tabhi se... haan aur meri zindagi ka sabse yaadgaar pal... jab main apne mummyji-papaji ki zidd se chhutkaara paa gayi thi... mujhe unki zidd se bahut darr lagta hai... Rahul ki sabse buri baat ye lagti hai ki wo mujhse itna ladta hai... aur uski sabse achhi baat... jab wo ladne ke baad bolta hai... main itna bura bhi nahi hoon...
Nani: Rahul... tumhe nahi pata tha ki Muskaan ko tumhare baare me kya achha lagta hai? Tumne wo column khaali chod diya...
Rahul: Mujhe ab bhi believe nahi hota ki Muskaan ko meri koi baat achhi lag sakti hai... waise mera favourite colour hai green jo pakka Muskaan ko nahi pata hoga... mera sabse yadgaar pal... jab... jab main aur Muskaan pehli baar bina lade baahar dinner par gaye the...
Muskaan blushed. She had got that one wrong. She wasn't looking at Rahul.
Rahul: Mujhe darr lagta hai ki Muskaan apni bewkoofi ki wajah se koi problem na khadi kar le... mujhe uski sabse buri baat ye lagti hai ki wo kuch bhi bina soche samjhe bol deti hai...
Muskaan was relieved. At least she had got two of the questions right.
Rahul: Aur uski sabse achhi baat ye lagti hai ki usse kisi ka dard nahi dekha jaata.
Muskaan was shocked. She had never thought that Rahul would think like that about her.
Nani: Tum dono ke scores hue 5/10. Shashank... Padma...
Shashank: My favourite colour black, mera yaadgaar pal humari shaadi, mujhe mere parivaar ke dukh se darr lagta hai... mujhe Padma ki sabse buri baat ye lagti hai ki wo Anjali ko Ridhimaa se zyada pyar karti hai aur sabse achhi baat ye lagti hai ki wo apne ma hone, bahu hone aur patni hone... teeno ka farz bahut achhi tarah se nibhaati hai.
Nani: Padma...
Padma: Mera favourite colour... pink. Mera yaadgaar pal... humari shaadi. Mujhe... mujhe... is baat se darr lagta hai ki mere bachchon ko kuch na ho jaaye. Mujhe Shashank ki sabse buri baat ye lagti hai ki ye kabhi kabhi bina sachchai jaaney apna faisla suna dete hain aur sabse achhi baat ye lagti hai ki jo pyar main Ridhimaa ko nahi de paati... wo Shashank de dete hain.
Nani: Very good tum logon ka score hai 8/10. Anjali...
Anjali: Mera favourite colour white. Mera sabse yaadgaar pal jab main Sanjeevani ke liye select hui thi. Mujhe andhere se sabse zyada darr lagta hai. Mujhe Atul jo irritate karta hai wo achha nahi lagta aur Atul ki wo baat jo mujhe sabse achhi lagti hai... wo ye ki wo khud chaahe jaisa bhi feel kar raha ho... lekin doosron ko humesha hansaata rehta hai... unhe khush karta hai...
Atul: Really Anjali? Tumhe meri ye baat achhi lagti hai?
Anjali: Of course... tumhe nahi pata?
Atul: (shaking his head in refusal) Mera favourite colour hai blue, mera sabse yaadgaar pal jab main Sanjeevani me apne saare doston se mila... mujhe darr lagta hai jab Armaan rota hai... mujhe Anjali ki sabse buri baat ye lagti hai ki wo theek se khaana nahi khaati... aur mujhe uski sabse achhi baat ye lagti hai ki wo har kaam me perfect hai.
Anjali smiled, meanwhile Armaan was confused.
Nani: Anjali ko isme se do jawaab nahi aate the... tum logon ka score hai 7/10. Ab aakhir me...
Armaan: Ek minute... Champ... tujhe darr lagta hai jab main...
Atul: (nodding) Jab tu rota hai...
Ridhimaa: Kyun?
Atul: Kyunki Ridz... mujhe aisa lagta hai ki Armaan har kaam kar sakta hai... saari problems ka uske pass solution hota hai... lekin jab wo rota hai... to mujhe lagta hai ki shaayad koi kaam hai jo wo bhi nahi kar sakta... koi problem hai jo Armaan se bhi solve nahi ho rahi... to shaayad wo hum sabke liye darne ki baat ho sakti hai...
Armaan: Champ... hum log kewal tabhi nahi rote jab humse koi problem solve na ho rahi ho...
Atul: Mujhe pata hai... mere answer me exceptions bhi hain na...
Shahrukh: Achha ab Armaan... tum apne answers do... Ridhimaa... tum bhi saath me deti jao answers. First question... favourite colour...
Armaan, Ridhimaa: (together in unison) Red.
Nani: Correct. Armaan tumhaara sabse yaadgaar pal...
Armaan: Jab pehli baar mujhe ehsaas hua tha ki main Ridhimaa se pyar karne laga hoon... jab usne pehli baar mujhe I love you kaha tha...
Nani: Ye bhi correct aur Ridhimaa tumhara...
Ridhimaa: Same...
Nani: Good... Armaan ne bilkul sahi predict kiya... teesra sawaal... tum dono ko kab ya kis cheez se darr lagta hai?
Armaan: Mujhe... mujhe... chhipkali se... Ridhimaa ko kuch ho jaane se... aur... aur humari judai se...
Ridhimaa: Mujhe... papa ki daant se... Armaan ko kuch ho jaane se... aur... hum dono ke alag hone se...
Nani: Sahi...
Rahul: Tum dono ke answers ek jaise kyun hain?
Armaan: (seriously) Kyunki Rahul... humne ye pal saath me jiye hain... hume pata hai ki jab ye pal aate hain to hume kaisa lagta hai...
Muskaan: Tu to serious ho gaya...
Nani: Achha Ridhimaa... tumhe Armaan ki sabse buri baat kya lagti hai
Ridhimaa: Jab wo mujhe bachaane ke liye apni jaan khatre me daalta hai to mujhe bahut bura lagta hai...
Nani: Armaan... tumhe?
Armaan: Mujhe Ridhimaa ki koi bhi baat buri nahi lagti...
Ridhimaa beamed.
Ridhimaa: Mujhe Armaan ki yahi baat sabse achhi lagti hai... ki wo mujhe meri saari achhaiyon, buraaiyon ke saath accept karta hai... aur mere saath mere friends, meri family ki bhi izzat karta hai.
Armaan: Aur mujhe Ridhimaa ki har baat achhi lagti hai...
Ridhimaa first glared at him and then smiled.
Nani: Hmmm... lekin Ridhimaa ne to kuch aur hi likha hai...
Armaan: Achha? I don't think so... Ridhimaa ko pata hai ki...
Ridhimaa: Armaan… nani aise hi keh rahi hain... maine yahi likha hai...
Armaan smiled too.


PART 280:

Gauri: So aunty... who's the winner?
Anjali: Armaan aur Ridhimaa ke kya scores hue?
Nani: Third place par Atul aur Anjali... tum logon ko Armaan ki film ki DVD milegi... second... Shashank aur Padma... wo songs collection ki original CD tum dono ko milegi...
Ridhimaa looked accusingly at Armaan.
Armaan: Kya? Aise mujhe kyun dekh rahi ho? Maine saare answers sahi diye the... tumne khud sab galat answers diye... aur dekho... hum second nahi aaye.
Ridhimaa: Lekin maine to sab sahi answers likhe the... fir...
She first looked at Armaan who had gone still and then looked at Nani who was smiling.
Ridhimaa: Hum log... hum log first aaye?
Nani: Haan bilkul...
Muskaan snatched the paper from Nani's hands.
Muskaan: Tum dono ke to saare answers word to word match karte hain... congratulations...
Ridhimaa: Lekin...
Armaan: Ridhimaa akeli award function par kaise jaayegi?
Shahrukh: Ridhimaa akeli kyun jaayegi? Tum jaoge na uske saath...
Armaan: Main? No way! Maine pehle hi kaha tha...
Padma: Armaan... agar tum Ridhimaa ko nahi le jaana chaahte to use mat leke jao... but at least tum to jao...
Armaan: Nahi... ye baat nahi hai... aap samajh nahi rahi...
Anjali: To hume samjhao na Armaan....
Shubhankar: Dr.Armaan... problem kya hai?
Armaan: Wo main... Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa: (angrily) Kya kaha? Main problem hoon?
Armaan: Nahi... dekha maine kaha tha... koi nahi samjhega... main ab kaise samjhaun?
Ridhimaa: (taking Armaan's hand in hers) Armaan... tumhe kuch samjhaane ki zaroorat nahi hai... tum isliye nahi jaana chaahte na ki jo kuch Premier par hua tha wo dubaara ho na jaaye...
Armaan stared at her and then nodded slightly.
Ridhimaa: Armaan... mujhe isse koi fark nahi padta ki koi mere baare me kya kehta hai... lekin agar tumhe padta hai to tum mujhe mat lekar jao... lekin... lekin please... tum zaroor jao... mere liye... Armaan...
When Ridhimaa pleaded before him, he had to accept it.
Armaan: Theek hai... lekin tumhe bhi chalna padega...
Ridhimaa: To fir agar koi mujhe kuch bhi kahega... tum us din ki tarah nahi karoge.
Armaan: Agar tum rogi nahi to main kuch nahi karunga... lekin agar tumhari aankhon me ek bhi aansun aaya to...
Ridhimaa: Main nahi roungi... main kahaan roti hoon?
Shashank: Achha?
Ridhimaa: Wo to kabhi kabhi bas aise hi...
Anjali: Waise tum ro liya karo... Tamanna kehti hai na ki rone ke baad tum aur bhi khoobsurat lagti ho...
Armaan: Nahi... tum aise hi achhi lagti ho... ye rona koi therapy thode hi hai jo...
Shahrukh: Achha to fir final... parson milte hain... shaam ko... bye...
He and Gauri left.
Atul: Hume bhi chalna chahiye...
Shubhankar: Dr.Atul... aap mere saath chaliye... main aapko lift de dunga... saath me Kirti, Dr.Muskaan aur Dr.Rahul bhi chalenge...
They all bid goodbye and left.
Armaan: Achha nani... main bhi jaata hoon... haan ek minute... main abhi aaya...
Armaan went out and then came back with a package.
Armaan: (taking out three CDs and giving one each to Padma, Shashank and Anjali) Ye aap logon ke prizes... Atul ko main kal de dunga...
Ridhimaa was eyeing the CDs in Shashank and Padma's hands.
Armaan: Aur haan... agar mujhe pata chala ki ye CDs aap logon ki jagah koi aur use kar raha hai to main inhe waapas le jaunga... understood?
Padma smiled while Ridhimaa scowled.
Ridhimaa: Koi aur kyun keh rahe ho? Mera naam hi le lo...
Armaan: Ok... to aap log ye CDs Ridhimaa ko use nahi karne denge... OK?
Ridhimaa: Mujhe bhi koi shauk nahi hai ye sade hue gaane sunne ka.
Armaan: Achha? Maine to socha tha ki aaj ladaayi khatm hui hai... to tumhe apne original songs collection ki ye CD de doon...
He took out one CD from the package and waved it in front of Ridhimaa but then put it back in the package.
Armaan: Par tumhe to nahi chahiye na? Theek hai... bye...
As soon as Armaan turned to leave, Ridhimaa snatched the package from his hands.
Armaan: Hey! Kya kar rahi ho? Waapas do mujhe!
Ridhimaa: Nahi... main nahi dungi...
Armaan: Ridhimaa please... ye wo CD nahi hai... please waapas kar do...
Ridhimaa: Achha... to ye kaun si CD hai?
Armaan: Wo main... main tumhe nahi bata sakta... please Ridhimaa waapas kar do...
Ridhimaa: Ab to main ye CD dekhkar hi waapas karungi...
She goes off towards the television set and put it on. She inserted the CD in the player and came and sat back on the sofa.
Ridhimaa: Aap log kyun khade hain? Baith jaiye...
Shashank, Padma and Anjali sat down beside her.
Armaan: Ridhimaa please...
Nani: Chalo beta... wo nahi maanegi... ziddi hai bilkul… tumhari tarah... chalo tum bhi baith jao...
She made Armaan sit beside Ridhimaa and she herself sat down beside Anjali.
Ridhimaa: Shh.... start ho gayi...
Nani put off the lights and then sat down as before. First, the room was plunged into darkness. Then small words started appearing on the screen which kept zooming. Armaan's voice floated through the room from the speaker, narrating the words.
Armaan's voice: "This is Armaan Mallik; going down the memory lane... it's my diary... my life..."
The screen again went blank.
Ridhimaa: Diary... oh no! Main abhi band karti hoon...
She took the remote and started to put it off when Armaan snatched the remote and paused the film.
Ridhimaa: I'm sorry Armaan... mujhe nahi pata tha...
Armaan: Nahi Ridhimaa... tumhe mujhse sorry nahi bolna chahiye... humari friendship ke rules yaad hain na tumhe?
Ridhimaa: Haan...
Armaan: Aur mujhe lagta hai... kyunki tum mujhse connected ho... tumhe ye CD zaroor dekhni chahiye...
Ridhimaa: Armaan... lekin...
Armaan: Main jaanta hoon... ye meri diary hai... isme meri life ki saari important baatein hain...
Anjali: Lekin ye diary kaise...
Armaan: Anjali... tum jaanti ho... main kuch bhi normal tareeke se nahi karta... waise bhi ye diary maine college me aakar banaani shuru ki... mere pass itna time nahi hota tha ki roz baithkar diary likhun isiliye is CD ko time-to-time update karta rehta tha...
Padma: Lekin Armaan... hum log ye kaise dekh sakte hain?
Nani: Ye tumhari private, personal...
Armaan: Nani... main ab apni galtiyon se seekhta hoon... ek baar aap logon se kuch chhupaane ki galti kar chuka hoon... aur uska nateeja bhi dekh chuka hoon... ab dubara wo galti nahi karunga...
Shashank: Dr.Armaan...
Armaan: Sir main kisi ko blame nahi kar raha... lekin aap logon ko poora haq hai ki aap mere baare me saari baatein jaanein... agar aapko saari baatein abhi se pata chal jaayengi... then it would be better. Aap apna decision achhe se aur soch samajhkar le paayenge ki aap apni beti ko ek aise insaan ke bharose chod sakte hain ya nahi...
Shashank could not speak.
Ridhimaa: Mujhe nahi dekhni ye CD. Mujhe tum par poora bharosa hai... mujhe tumhare baare me aur kuch nahi jaanna...
Armaan: Ridhimaa... agar hum me se kisiko bhi ye CD dekhne ka haq hai to sabse pehle wo tumhara hai... I know ki tumhe mujhpar yakeen hai. Lekin ho sakta hai ki is CD me kuch aisi baatein ho jisse... jisse shayad tum mujhe aur behtar jaan pao... us Armaan Mallik ko jaan pao jo Sanjeevani me aane se pehle tha...
Ridhimaa: Lekin...
Armaan: Aur Ridhimaa... tumhe kya lagta hai ki main ye CD roz aise hi apne saath lekar ghoomta hoon? Nahi Ridhimaa... ye CD maine us shakhs ke liye banayi hai jise main apne baare me sab kuch banaana chaahta hoon... ye tumhare liye hi bani hai... haan lekin maine ye socha hua tha ki jab meri shaadi ho jaayegi... mere bachche ho jayenge... unke bhi bachche ho jaayenge... tab ek din fursat me main apni muhabbat ke saath baithunga aur ye CD use dikhaunga...
Ridhimaa was embarrassed.
Ridhimaa: Armaan!
Armaan: Ridhimaa... I'm serious... lekin ab mujhe lagta hai ki ye sahi time hai... ab tumhe mere baare me sab kuch jaan lena chahiye... hai na?
Ridhimaa did not give her assent. Armaan took Ridhimaa's right hand into his left one and then pressed the play button of the remote.
Armaan: Lijiye... miliye asli Armaan Mallik se...
The screen was not blank anymore.
Voice: Year 1985, Mallik house, Peshawar.
On the screen, below these words were flashing several photos. Each picturising a kind-faced dignified looking woman, a suited gentleman and a small baby, hardly one month old, with dimples and bright blue dazzling eyes.


PART 281:

Ridhimaa looked at Armaan.
Ridhimaa: Kitna cute baby hai...
Armaan: Really? Tumhe chahiye ye cute baby?
Ridhimaa blushed.
Voice: "My father Mr.Salmaan Mallik, my mother Mrs.Nivedita Salmaan Mallik and myself Armaan Mallik."
Shashank: Dr.Armaan... in photos me to aap ek mahine se zyada ke nahi lag rahe...
Voice: "Ye photos tabki hain... jab main paida hua tha... mera bhi ek parivaar tha... mere ma-papa the... jo mujhse bahut pyar karte the... hum khush the... apni duniya me khoye hue the... aane waali kaali raaton ka kisi ko andesha tak na tha..."
The scene changed. The next photos were of Armaan's schooling, receiving numerous awards for sports and academics, playing basketball, singing and playing guitar, etc. But these photos were devoid of his father.
Voice: "Ab mere liye Salmaan Mallik ka koi astitva nahi hai... unka mujhse koi rishta nahi... meri ma ko itne zakhm dekar wo insaan chala gaya... aur... aur usne mujhse meri ma ko chheen liya... I hate that man.
There was one photograph of young Armaan burying his mother's dead body. In the background, a sad music was playing. The scene was so touching that not only Armaan, but Ridhimaa, Padma and Nani... all were crying. Ridhimaa pressed Armaan's hand slightly. He looked at her. She wiped off his tears, Armaan smiled.
Voice: "Mere college ka pehla din. Maine darna to kabhi seekha hi nahi. Aaj pehle hi din... mujhe laga ki sab log mujhse kaafi impressed hain. Kisine meri ragging nahi ki. Haan... ek ajeeb si baat hui... saari ladkiyan mujhe bahut ghoor ghoor kar dekh rahi thi... well... I am handsome...
Ridhimaa smiled. There were some pictures of Armaan in his college, taking part in various activities.
Voice: "Aaj maine nayi girlfriend banaayi... ab tak total 16 ho chuki hain... waise ye waali un sab me se best hai...
Ridhimaa was listening attentively.
Voice: "Aaj maine chupke se uske saath bitaaye pal record kar liye"
Ridhimaa's curiosity increased. The girl to her surprise was none other than Tanya Joshi. Both were sitting under a tree. Tanya had kept her head in Armaan's lap. Armaan had one hand in her hair. But he was multi-tasking. Not only was he listening to Tanya, but he was also waving and sending flying kisses to the girls standing near a classroom.

[Here, I’m using the name “Ammy” to distinguish between the real-life Armaan and the on-screen, college Armaan]

"Tanya: Ammy...
Ammy: Hmm?
Tanya: Ammy... ye Champu mujhe bahut pareshaan karta hai... mere peechhe pada rehta hai... Ammy... tum use samjhao na...
Ammy: To galti to tumhari hai na...
Tanya: What?
Ammy: (now focussing on her) Haan... kisne kaha tha tumse ki tum itni beautiful lago? You're really looking very hot today Tanz..."
Padma: Achha? Kyun Armaan?
Armaan: Haan bilkul... she was looking very hot... hai na Ridhimaa?
Ridhimaa glared at him. The Armaan and Tanya on screen continued talking.
"Tanya: Ammy... kab tak hum aise hi baatein karte rahenge? Baaton se kuch aagey bhi badhenge ya nahi?
Ammy: (fully understanding what she was trying to say) Matlab?
Tanya: Matlab... humari first hug ho chuki... first date ho chuki... ab first kiss ki baari hai na?
All seated in the living room looked towards Armaan who had his gaze fixed on the screen.
Ammy: Really?
Tanya: (sitting up and holding Armaan's face) Yes Ammy... Ammy...
She was getting mesmerised. Tanya pulled Armaan closer and parted her lips. The Armaan on the screen was looking uncomfortable. Tanya had closed her eyes. Armaan pushed her back.
Tanya: (opening her eyes) What happened Ammy?
Ammy: Wo... wo mujhe Champu dikh raha hai... main abhi use bata ke aata hoon tumhe pareshaan karne ka nateeja...
They all could see Champu, who was none other than Rahul, wearing specs at a distance and Armaan had made his way towards him. Tanya was left muttering to herself.
Tanya: (muttering) Ammy... tum humesha aise kyun karte ho? Humare zyada pass aane se pehle hi bhaag jaate ho..."
Armaan paused the CD and looked at the others. Ridhimaa was siting back relaxed but the others were looking a little confused.
Armaan: Jaldi se poochhiye jo poochhna hai... fir aagey ki CD dekhiyega...
Padma: Armaan... wo ladki...
Armaan: Ji...
Anjali: Mom poochhna chaahti hain... ki did you love Tanya?
Armaan: No I didn't... as you very well know Anjy... us din jo mere ghar par hua... tumne wo suna tha na...
Anjali: Haan... waise Armaan... ye tum... I mean... tumne usey kiss kyun nahi kiya?
Armaan raised his eyebrows.
Armaan: Kyun? Tum chaahti ho ki main usey kiss karta?
Shashank: Nahi... uska matlab hai... jab tum dono itne kareeb the...
Armaan: Yes Sir... we were close... but I wasn't serious. Main to apne college me kisi bhi ladki ke liye serious nahi hua... aur fir usey dhokha dene se kya fayda hota? Mujhe pata tha ki main usse pyar nahi karta... isliye jab bhi aisa kuch hota tha... main kisi na kisi bahaane se wahaan se chala jaata... I was just flirting...
Anjali: Flirting nahi... multi-tasking... un baaki ladkiyon ko bhi to tum...
Armaan: (grinning) Haan wo to bas aise hi... just for fun...
Then he looked towards Ridhimaa, who was looking calm.
Armaan: Tumhe mujhse kuch nahi poochhna, in videos aur potos ke baare me?
Ridhimaa: Oh... wo... that was very cute...
Armaan: (stunned) Cute?
Ridhimaa: Haan... Armaan wo tumhara past tha... tumne chaahe jitni bhi ladkiyon ke saath flirt kiya ho... mujhe usse kya karna? Mere chaahe jitne bhi boyfriends rahe ho... tumhe to issey koi fark nahi padega na?
Armaan: (without thinking) Haan... kya? What? Tumhare boyfriends?
Ridhimaa: (smiling) Haan... lekin wo to mera past tha na... chaahe humne kitne bhi close photos kyun na khichaayi ho... that's OK.
Armaan: Yes... no... that's not OK. Kahaan hain wo photos? Tumne meri photos dekh li... ab mujhe apne photos dikhao... chalo... quick...
Armaan was a little annoyed. The others laughed.
Ridhimaa: (once again holding Armaan's hand) Armaan... I love you... and only you... aur agar tum mujhse pyar karte ho to tumhe mujh par bharosa hona chahiye... jaise mujhe tum par hai... main jaanti hoon ki chaahe tumhari kitni bhi girlfriends rahi hoon... lekin ab... tum sirf mujhse pyar karte ho...
Armaan: (smiling) Ye to main bhi jaanta hoon ki tumhara koi boyfriend nahi tha... I was just checking... ki tumhe ye photos aur videos dekhkar jalan hoti hai ya nahi...
Ridhimaa: Huh! Baat mat karo mujhse...
Armaan again pressed the PLAY button.
Voice: "Aaj humare college me ek nayi ladki aayi... bahut sweet si... bahut bolti hai... bahut apni si lagti hai... mujhe uski taraf ek ajeeb sa attraction mehsoos hota hai... shaayad main ussey pyar karta hoon...
Ridhimaa glanced, surprised at Armaan.
Voice: "Lekin ye pyar bhi kuch ajeeb sa hai... isiliye maine aaj usse khul kar baat ki..."
There was a video clipping. The girl was Tamanna. She was sitting in a classroom alone.
All: Tamanna!
Armaan: Shh... listen...
"Ammy: Hye... main yahaan baith jaun?
Tamanna: Of course... waise yahaan jissey bhi baat karo... sab Ammy... Ammy karte rehte hain...
Ammy: Haan well... tum bhi kuch kam nahi ho... aate hi sabko apna dost bana le rahi ho...
Tamanna: Abhi tak tumse to dosti hui nahi...
Ammy: Wo... Tamanna... main... main tumse dosti ke alaawa kuch rishta banaana chaahta hoon... wo rishta jo dosti se bhi bada hota hai...
Tamanna's eyes narrowed.
Ammy: Mujhe please galat mat samajhna... jab maine pehli baar tumhe college gate se andar aate dekha... to mujhe tum bahut apni si lagi... I think I like you a lot... tumhe jab bhi koi pareshaani ho... mere pass aana... Tamanna... meri koi behen nahi hai... tum mujhe apna bhai banaogi? Pata nahi kyun mujhe aisa lagta hai ki agar meri koi behen hoti to wo bilkul tumhare jaisi hoti...
Tamanna: Armaan... mujhe... mujhe tumhe ek baat bataani hai...
Ammy: Bolo...
Tamanna: Pata hai maine isi college me admission kyun liya? Wo isliye kyunki tum yahaan the... tum jaante ho main kaun hoon?
Ammy: Nahi...
Tamanna: Maine socha tha ki pehle main tumse dosti karungi... uske baad tumhe apne jaal me fansaungi... tumse badla lungi... tumhara vishwaas todungi... jis tarah meri ma ka toota tha... tumhe bahut tadpaungi... apni ma ki maut ka badla lungi tumse...
Ammy: Mujhse? Mera tumhari mom ki death ke saath kya connection hai?
Tamanna: Connection hai Armaan... bahut bada connection hai... meri ma tumhare pita ki doosri biwi thi... mera naam hai Tamanna Salmaan Mallik."
The Armaan on screen looked horrified. Both Tamanna and Armaan were looking daggers at each other. Both could see hatred in each other's eyes very clearly. Ridhimaa shudderred.


PART 282:

"Ammy: (angrily) Tum... tum us aurat ki beti ho jisne meri ma se uska shauhar chheen liya? Jiski wajah se wo aadmi meri ma ko roz maarta tha? Jisne meri ma ki jaan li? Tum meri ma ki kaatil ho... main tumhe chodunga nahi...
Tamanna: (shouting) Ruk jao Mr.Armaan Salmaan Mallik...
Ammy: Mera naam Armaan Mallik hai... sirf Armaan Mallik... us aadmi ko main nahi jaanta jiski wajah se meri ma ne itne dukh sahe... jisne meri ma ko itni takleefein di jiski wajah se use ek din ye duniya hi chodni padi... jiski wajah se main bachpan me hi anaath ho gaya...
Tamanna: Mr.Mallik... aap jaante hain aapke papa ne mere saath aur meri ma ke saath kya kiya? Jis din main paida hui thi... usi din unhone meri ma ko mujhe maar daalne ke liye kaha tha... us aadmi ko beti nahi chaahiye thi... usne aaj tak mera muh nahi dekha...
Ammy: Jhooth! Wo tumari ma se bahut pyar karte the. Unki wajah se meri ma ko tadpaate the isiliye maine unse ghar se chale jaane ko kaha tha... us din to wo chale gaye... lekin fir kuch dino baad wo zabardasti waapas aa gaye... sharaab peekar meri ma ko bahut maara... aur kuch saalon tak yahi silsila chalta raha... jab main dus saal ka tha... tab maine unhe keh diya tha ki ab se wo waapas na aayein... us din ke baad se maine aaj tak unhe nahi dekha. Meri ma mar gayi... pita ke hote hue main anaath ho gaya... khud jagah jagah chhote chhote kaam karke apni studies poori ki... scholarship bacha kar rakhi jisse mujhe kisi achhe college me admission mile... ab bhi main part-time naukri karta hoon... main to khush tha... lekin ab tum pata nahi kyun meri khushiyan barbaad karne ke liye mere saamne aa gayi? Kyun? Bolo... maine to aaj tak tumhari ma ko dekha tak nahi... main unka kaatil nahi hoon...
Tamanna seemed shattered at hearing Armaan's story.
Tmmy: Armaan... tum aur main... ek hi jaise haalaaton ki shikaar hain... hum dono ka ek hi mujrim hai... humare pita...
Ammy: He's not my father... koi nahi hain wo mere... main unhe nahi jaanta...
Tamanna: I understand Armaan... Armaan... I am sorry... main tumse badla lene ke liye is college me aayi thi... lekin ab mujhe sachchayi pata chal chuki hai... main chali jaungi Armaan... koi tumhari khushiyaan barbaad nahi karega... main chali jaungi...
Ammy: (stunned) Tum chali jaogi? Lekin... lekin tum jaogi kahan? How will you manage?
Tamanna: Main bhi kahin job kar lungi...
Ammy: Apne bhai ke hote hue tumhe koi job karne ki zaroorat nahi hai...
Tamanna: (unbelievingly) Mera bhai...
Ammy: Haan... main tumhara bada bhai hoon... chaahe tum is rishte ko maano ya na maano... aaj se tum meri zimmedaari ho... I am sorry maine kuch jaane-samjhe bagair tumse itna kuch keh diya... ab kuch nahi kahunga... tumhari jo tamannaein aaj tak poori nahi hui... unhe main poora karunga... agar tum chaaho to...
Tamanna: Tum sach me mere bhai banoge?
Ammy: Mujhe banne ki zaroorat nahi hai... humare beech yahi rishta hai... isiliye tumhe dekhte hi mujhe hum dono ke beech kewal ye rishta soojha... aur shaayad isi rishte ke kaaran... aaj tumne mujhe sab kuch bata diya...
Tamanna: Wo... pehli baar mujhe koi aisa insaan mila tha... jisne mujhe behen banaane ka offer kiya tha... warna baaki sab to...
Ammy: Kaun baaki sab? Mujhe batao... main sabko seedha kar dunga...
Tamanna: Bataungi... bataungi... tumhe nahi bataungi to kisey bataungi?
Ammy: Good...
They both looked at each other for a second and then hugged each other.
Tamanna: Ammy... tum bahut achhe ho... I love you...
Ammy: I love you too Tammy...
Tamanna: Tammy?
Ammy: Haan... meri chhoti si, pyari si Tammy... chalo chalkar kahin lunch karte hain... aur haan... aaj ke baad khud ko kabhi akela mat smajhna... ye tumhara bhai humesha tumhare saath hai...
Tamanna: (tears sparkling in her eyes) Haan...
Ammy: (wiping her tears and bestowing her a one-armed hug) Aur ye aansun kabhi mat bahaana... mujhe takleef hogi... theek hai?
Tamanna: OK Ammy... main ek baat kahun?
Ammy: Nahi... tum bahut bolti ho...
Tamanna: What? Main kahaan bolti hoon? Ammy... aaj tum mujhe shopping par le chaloge na?
The scene changed. There were more pictures of Armaan's college days, his music concerts and his farewell party. After that, Armaan appeared on the screen alone.
Voice: Kal mujhe Sanjeevani se call letter aaya tha... aaj main Mumbai aa gaya hoon... Tammy bhi US padhne ke liye chali gayi... ab main fir se akela hoon... I hope yahaan meri talaash khatm ho... talaash ek parivaar ki... talaash kuch doston ki... talaash pyar ki...
The screen was blank and then Ridhimaa's photo appeared on the screen, wearing her sports clothes and holding a basketball in her hand. Armaan again appeared on the screen.
Voice: Aaj mera Sanjeevani me pehla din tha... lekin usse pehle main kuch bachchon ko basketball sikhaane court gaya tha... wahaan galti se meri ball ek ladki ke sir par lag gayi... jab maine usse ball waapas maangi to wo meri taraf aayi... mujhe basketball match ke liye challenge kiya aur jeet bhi gayi. I was amazed. Wo ladki to chali gayi lekin meri pareshaani badh gayi. Main soch raha tha ki main us Dr.Basket ko kahaan dhoondhunga lekin Sanjeevani me wo meri co-intern, Dr.Shashank ki beti bankar aayi. Humari ladaayi ho gayi. Uske saath ladne me bahut maza aaya. Pehli baar koi ladki mili jo mujhse... Dr.Armaan Mallik se impress nahi hui. I know... aagey chalke humaari kahaani me zaroor koi interesting mod aayega...
The real Armaan looked at Ridhimaa. She was also looking at him.
Voice: Aaj mujhe kuch friends bhi mile... Dr.Atul Joshi... he's very good... usne aaj hi mujhe apna bhai bana liya... Dr.Sapna... bahut pyari si, cute si ladki hai... Dr.Anjali Gupta, daughter of Dr.Shashank Gupta... whew... and Dr.Ridhimaa Gupta... my basket!
Then there were some photos of all of them together, some of only Armaan and Ridhimaa, some of Lonavla.
Voice: Hum log ek din truth aur dare khel rahe the... Ridhimaa ne Sapna ko indicate kiya aur usne sawaal poochha... mujhe bura laga isliye maine theek se jawaab nahi diya... fir Ridhimaa, Dare karne par jungle me chali gayi... main use dhoondhne gaya... hum log ek shanty me ruke... wo mere haath par apna sir rakh ke so gayi aur main poori raat use dekhta raha... tab mujhe laga ki shaayad... shaayad main use pyar karne laga hoon... shaayad main usi din se use pyar karta hoon jab maine pehli baar use dekha tha..."
Then there were some more photos of Mini in the hospital, navratri, Diwali and then came the photos after when Ridhimaa had told him that she also loved him. Then of the Valentine's day, the day when Ridhimaa came to know that he had went to Chandigarh, Shashank and Padma's marriage, the scene where he was having his chest tattooed, the descriptions of Ridhimaa's nervous breakdown, his own brain haemorrhage and many more. In the end, there came the day when all had thought that Armaan had betrayed their trust and Ridhimaa had returned his ring, paayal, bracelet, etc. Armaan appeared on the screen wearing the very clothes in which he was kidnapped. His eyes were red and he was looking crestfallen.
"Voice: Aaj mujhe ehsaas ho raha hai ki main chaahe jitna bhi change ho jaun... koi mujh par vishwaas nahi karega... maine aaj Ridhimaa se apne saare rishte tod liye... mujhe pata hai ab hum kabhi ek nahi ho sakenge... isliye... isliye... ab is diary ka koi matlab nahi... mujhe ab na kisi se pyar hoga aur na koi meri zindagi me aayega... aaj ke baad... main kabhi waapas nahi aaunga... Ridhimaa ki kasam mujhe marne to nahi degi... lekin mujhe nahi pata main kaise jiyunga... goodbye Ridhimaa... main tumhari zindagi se ja raha hoon... humesha ke liye... humesha-humesha ke liye...
The Armaan on the screen seemed to have succumbed to tears. He had put his face in his hands. A few minutes later, he realised that the camera was still on. His hand came up and everything went blank."
Nobody spoke for a few moments. Armaan had closed his eyes. He was trying to put this all out of his mind. Unwantedly, his eyes had filled with tears. All turned to look towards him. Ridhimaa, who had expertly controlled the tears which had came into her eyes at Armaan's good-bye, put off the CD. She shook Armaan's hand.
Ridhimaa: (in a soft voice) Armaan...
Armaan did not know how to open his eyes without letting his condition known. He was at least relieved that they were all plunged into darkness that nobody knew his real condition, when Anjali put on the lights. One glance at Armaan's face and Ridhimaa understood his condition. She took Armaan's hand in hers.
Ridhimaa: (in a quivering voice) Armaan...
Nani got up and indicated Ridhimaa to get up. She did so and stood up. Nani came and sat beside Armaan.
Nani: Armaan beta...
She lifted Armaan's face, who opened his eyes on hearing nani's voice. Tears broke all the barriers and came rolling down his cheeks.
Nani: Armaan...
Armaan could not control himself anymore. He put his head in nani's lap and broke down completely. Others were stunned. They had rarely seen Armaan loose control like this. For Ridhimaa, it was very painful. Nani kept stroking Armaan's hair. She did not know how to pacify him.
Armaan: (crying like a baby) Nani... main... main aap sabko chod ke nahi jaana chaahta tha... mera to aap sabke alaawa koi aur is duniya me hai bhi nahi... jab main... jab main un terrorists se chhootkar nikla tha to mujhe raaste me Tammy mili thi... wo mujhe Bangalore le gayi... apne ghar... meri tabiyat bahut kharaab thi nani... lekin... lekin... wahaan koi nahi tha... na aap... na Padma aunty... na Bi... koi nahi tha meri dekhbhaal ke liye... akele Tammy ne... akele usne mujhe theek kiya... main apne dukh baantna chaahta tha... apna dil halka karna chaahta tha... cheekh cheekh kar kehna chaahta tha ki main... maine kuch nahi kiya... main dhokhebaaz nahi hoon... maine kisi ko dhokha nahi diya... lekin mujhe koi aisa kandha nahi mila jispar main sir rakhke ro sakun... koi dost nahi tha jisse main apni problem share kar sakun... na Atul tha... jo mujhe advice de... usne mujhe dhokhebaaz kaha tha... na Anjali thi... na Muskaan... na Rahul jo sachchai jaanta tha... koi nahi tha... Tamanna mujhse poochhti rehti thi... maine use kuch nahi bataya... kisi ke naam nahi bataaye... main kisi ko yaad nahi karna chaahta tha... khaaskar ki... khaaskar ki Ridhimaa ko... main baar baar... baar baar khud se kehta tha ki main usse nafrat karta hoon... din me hazaar baar kehta tha... jisse main use sach me bhula sakun...
Ridhimaa stared at the weeping Armaan.


PART 283:

Armaan: (still crying) Lekin... lekin main kisiko nahi bhula paaya... kisiko nahi... main bahut akela tha nani... mujhe sabki bahut yaad aati thi... Champ ki... Anjali ki... Muskaan aur Rahul ki ladaayi ki... Bi aur aapke pyar ki... Padma aunty ke khaane ki... sir, Kirti mam ki daant ki... Sanjeevani ki... Shubhankar sir ki... sabki...
Ridhimaa: Aur... aur meri?
Armaan lifted his head a little and saw Ridhimaa, who was standing; looking at him, stunned.
Armaan: (wiping his tears) Nahi... tumhari yaad nahi aati thi... kabhi nahi aati thi... main humesha ek hi cheez sochta rehta tha...
Ridhimaa: Kya?
Armaan: (singing in a watery voice)
Har waqt jiski yaad sataati rahe mujhe, aye waqt aisa pyar nahi chaahiye mujhe.
Andaaz-e-berukhi pe jo parda pada raha, pehchaanne me der lagi tujhe mujhe.
Aye kaash dil ki dhadkane use sunaayi de, khwahish na uske saamne rakhni pade mujhe.
Wo meri zindagi ka haseen ittifaaq tha, ai waqt uski yaad ke tohfe na de mujhe.
Afsos to yahi hai ki jiske pass, khushiyan thi beshumaar magar gam diye mujhe.
[This poem is not written by me, it was actually written by my aunt; but I wanted to put it here.
Ridhimaa stared at him.
Ridhimaa: Tumhe sach me kuch yaad nahi aata tha... kuch bhi nahi?
Armaan: (singing)
Jo bhi dukh yaad na tha yaad aaya,
Aaj kya jaanogi kya yaad aaya.
Fir koi haath hai dil par jaise,
Fir tera ahad-e-wafa yaad aaya.
Jis tarah dhundh me lipte hue phool,
Ek ek naksh tera yaad aaya.
Aisi majboori ke aalam me koi,
Yaad aaya bhi to kya yaad aaya.
Yaad aaya tha bichhadna tera,
Fir nahi yaad ki kya yaad aaya.
Jab koi zakhm bhara daag bana,
Jab koi bhool gaya yaad aaya.
Yeh muhabbat bhi ajeeb rog hai,
Jisko bhoola wo sada yaad aaya.
Ridhimaa was puzzled.
Armaan: Ridhimaa yaad to wo log aate hain jinhe hum bhula dein... lekin tumhe bhulaana mere bas ki baat nahi hai... maine tumse kaha tha na ki aaj tak koi aisi cheez invent nahi hui hai jisse dil par likhe naam aur chehre mitaaye ja sakein... jis din mujhe aisi cheez mil jaayegi to sabse pehle tumhara hi naam mitaunga...
Ridhimaa: Jis din tum mujhe bhool jaoge... us din main saans lena bhi bhool jaungi...
Armaan, Shashank: (both terrified) Ridhimaa!
Armaan: Tum bahut gandi-gandi baatein karna seekh gayi ho... tumhari class leni padegi.
Padma: Ye baatein bhi tumhari sangat me rehkar seekhi hain meri beti ne...
Armaan: To... ab aap log kya chaahte hain? Ab to aap sabne ye CD dekh li... aap logon ka kya faisla hai? Mujh jaise bure insaan se aap apni beti ko dosti karne denge?
Anjali: Hmm... interesting question!
Shashank: Dr.Armaan... aap kyun khud ko bura keh rahe hain? Wo aapke haalaat the... jo hume ab se bahut pehle pata chal chuke the... hum sabne apni galtiyon se sabak seekha hai... haan aapki girlfriends... itni saari ladkiyon ko kaise aap...
Padma: Kyun? Aapko bhi yahi sab karna hai kya?
Shashank: (smiling) Try karne me kya buraayi hai?
Anjali: Of course Dad... lekin fir mom se aapko kaun bachaayega?
Armaan: Aisa karne ka aap sochiyega bhi mat... warna jaisa mere saath hua tha... kahin wo aapke saath bhi na ho jaaye. In Gupta ladies ka to sach me koi bharosa nahi...
Nani: Tumhare saath kya hua tha?
Armaan: Jab maine basket ko apne saath dinner par chalne ke liye kaha tha to wo khud to nahi aayi... lekin meri saari ex-girlfriends ko wahaan usi time par bula liya... fir meri jo haalat hui wo to...
Ridhimaa suppresed a giggle.
Armaan: Aur uske next din bechaari Ridhimaa sochti rahi ki main usse badla kyun nahi le raha hoon us baat ka...
This put breaks to Ridhimaa's giggles.
Padma: Armaan... tum Ridhimaa ke dost reh sakte ho... hume isse koi problem nahi hai...
Shashank: Bilkul... achhe dost bahut mushkil se milte hain... main nahi chaahunga ki meri betiyon ko aisa dost khona pade.
Armaan smiled.
Nani: Aur tum rote hue bilkul bhi achhe nahi lagte...
Anjali: Haan Armaan... jaise Muskaan ki hansi infectious hai... usi tarah tumhare aansun bhi infectious hain. Atul is right... tum roya mat karo...
Armaan's smile deepened.
Armaan: To main kab rota hoon? Wo to kabhi kabhi... bas aise hi rona aa jaata hai... hai na Ridhimaa?
Ridhimaa: Nahi Armaan... mujhse tumhare aansun nahi dekhe jaate... agar tum aise karoge to mujhe kaun chup karaayega?
Shashank: Aur aap to jaante hain ki ye duty maine aapko de rakhi hai...
Armaan: Yes sir...
Anjali: Armaan ki fir se double duties...
Padma: Waise Armaan... ek baat batao...
Armaan: Ji...
Padma: Tum Ridhimaa se sirf friendship karna chaahte ho ya...
Armaan: Ya?
Anjali: You know... ya fir Ridz ko dekhkar tumhare dil me kuch kuch hota hai?
Armaan: (in pure Shahrukh's style) Kuch kuch hota hai Anjali... tum nahi samjhogi...
Ridhimaa blushed.
Shashank: Haan Anjali... hum log kahaan samjhenge? Wo to sirf Ridhimaa samjhegi...
Ridhimaa: Papa... aap bhi...
Armaan: (looking at his watch) Well ab mujhe chalna chahiye... raat ke ek baj rahe hain...
Ridhimaa: Tumhe wo CD nahi chahiye?
Armaan: Nahi... tumhe rakhni ho to rakh lo... ab main uska kya karunga?
Anjali: Kyun? Tum apni diary poori nahi karoge?
Armaan: Nahi Anjy... meri aadat hai... ki jab bhi main kuch Ridhimaa ko dikha ya suna deta hoon to mere liye wo wahin complete ho jaati hai...
Anjali: Ooooh!
Armaan: Achha... main chalta hoon... (to Anjali and Ridhimaa) See you!
He turned to leave.
Ridhimaa: (calling him) Armaan...
Armaan: Ab kya hai?
Ridhimaa: Wo main... main...
Armaan: Ab bolo bhi...
Ridhimaa: Tum aaj yahaan ruk jao...
Armaan: Kyun?
The others too looked at Ridhimaa.
Ridhimaa: Kal subah mujhe tumhare saath kahin jaana hai...
Armaan: (suspiciously) Kahaan?
Nani: Chalo... kuch to akal ki baat ki Ridhimaa ne. Armaan tum yahin rukoge... jao ab jaakar so jao...
Armaan: Lekin...
Ridhimaa: Main coffee laati hoon...
She goes to the kitchen.
Armaan: (to Padma) Kahaan jaana hai isey kal subah?
Padma: Pata nahi...
Armaan: Wo bhi mere saath... use ho kya gaya hai?
Shashank: Use kuch nahi hua Armaan... aur shaayad main jaanta hoon wo kahaan jaana chaahti hai... well... I think tumhe use le jaana chahiye... Good night.
Shashank left.
Armaan: Le jaana chahiye... lekin kahaan?
Padma: Tum apne kamre me jao...
Armaan left for the guest room.
Anjali: Mom aap Dad se poochhiye na jaakar...
Padma: Haan main jaati hoon...
They all left. A few minutes later, Ridhimaa was knocking at the guest room's door.
Armaan: Aa jao...
Ridhimaa entered. Armaan had just came back from the washroom, after washing his face, which was still wet. Ridhimaa put the coffee mug on the bedside table and then sat down on the bed. Armaan dried his face with the towel and came and sat beside her, looking expectantly at her but she remained quiet.


PART 284:

Armaan: Bolo Ridhimaa... tum kya kehna chaahti thi?
Ridhimaa: Tumhe kaise pata chala ki main kuch kehna chaahti thi...
Armaan: Common sense basket! Itni raat ko tum mere liye coffee banakar laayi ho... aur ab mere bed par baiti hui ho... bolo kya baat hai?
Ridhimaa: Armaan... main agar tumse kahungi to tum mere saath chaloge?
Armaan: Kahaan? Ghar se bhaagne?
Ridhimaa: Armaan please... wo kal 29th October hai na...
Armaan: Haan to...
Ridhimaa: Kal tumhari ma ki barsi hai na?
Armaan: Hmmm...
Ridhimaa: To tum kal kya karoge?
Armaan: Ab main kya karunga?
Ridhimaa: Armaan wo tumhari ma thi... tumhe kuch to karna chahiye...
Armaan: Mere kuch bhi karne se agar meri ma waapas aa jayegi to main wo zaroor karunga...
Ridhimaa: Armaan... wo waapas to nahi aayengi lekin... lekin unhe sukoon zaroor aayega...
Armaan: Kis baat ka sukoon?
Ridhimaa: Is baat ka ki unka beta unhe bhoola nahi hai... unhe abhi bhi yaad karta hai... Armaan... unki... unko tumne kahaan bury kiya tha?
Armaan: Yahaan... jo pass me dargaah hai... wahin...
Ridhimaa: Yahaan Mumbai me?
Armaan: Haan... unki death yahaan Mumbai me hi hui thi... unka treatment chal raha tha... lekin...
Ridhimaa: Armaan... tum mujhe kal wahaan le chaloge?
Armaan: Le chalunga... main waise bhi tumhe Sunday ko wahaan leke jaaney waala tha... Tammy ne kaha tha ki tumhe wahaan lekar jaun...
Ridhimaa: Fir kal subah chalenge na?
Armaan: (sipping the coffee) Kal subah to nahi... haan shaam ko zaroor chalenge...
Ridhimaa stood up.
Ridhimaa: Thank you Armaan...
Armaan: Ab to tum thanks bolna chod do...
Ridhimaa: OK... to fir kya bolun? I love you Armaan?
Armaan: Nahi... tum bolo... I hate you Armaan... wo bolne me to tum expert ho...
Ridhimaa: OK...
She came towards him.
Ridhimaa: (kissing his forehead) I... I hate... I love you Armaan...
And she ran away from there, leaving Armaan smiling to himself.
Armaan: I love you too Ridhimaa... I love you a lot...
He finished the coffee and went to sleep.
In the locker room. Armaan and Ridhimaa entered together. The others were already present there.
Anjali: Ridzi... tum Armaan ke saath aayi ho?
Ridhimaa: (going to her locker) Yes Di...
She opened her locker and took out the “FRIENDS” locket and gazed at it.
Ridhimaa: Armaan!
Armaan: (looking towards her) Hmm?
His eyes caught he locket in her hands. He knew what was in her mind. Ridhimaa was hesitating. He came towards her and snatched the locket from her hands.
Armaan: Ye to mera hai na... why's it with you? Basket... doosron ki cheezein mat churaaya karo...
He wore it around his neck and it came to rest near his heart. Armaan kissed it. The others were watching the pair.
Ridhimaa: Tum ab mujhse gussa to nahi ho na?
Armaan: Basket! Agar tumne fir se ye sawaal mujhse poochha to main zaroor gussa ho jaunga... is it clear?
Ridhimaa: (hastily) Haan...
They both looked at each other and then smiled. The others were relieved. All reached the Nurse station.
All: Good morning Dr.Kirti.
Kirti: Good morning interns.
Armaan: Yes... it's a very nice morning.
Kirti: Kuch kaha aapne Dr.Armaan?
Armaan: No mam... nothing...
Kirti: Dr.Armaan, Dr.Ridhimaa OPD. Dr.Rahul Path Lab. Dr.Muskaan ICU. Dr.Anjali General Ward with Dr.Atul. Now get back to work.
Kirti left.
Rahul: Kya baat hai Armaan? Aaj tu bada khush lag raha hai?
Armaan: Of course...
Atul: Ye khushi Ridz ki wajah se hai ya fir tujhe award milne ki wajah se?
Armaan: The answer is obvious Champ!
Anjali: Oh yes!
Armaan: Of course ye khushi award milne ki wajah se hai...
Ridhimaa: What?
Armaan: Haan... tumhe kya laga? Main tumhari wajah se khush ho raha hoon?
Ridhimaa: You... tum to mujhse baat bhi mat karo... OK?
Armaan: OK...
Ridhimaa left in a huff.
Armaan: (calling after her) Basket! Basket! Suno to...
He too ran after her.
Armaan: Basket!
Ridhimaa: (running ahead and glancing back) Mere peechhe mat aao...
Armaan: Jaate-jaate ye to bataati jao ki main tumse baat na karun to kisse baat karun?
Ridhimaa: (looking back at him scornfully) I don't know and I don't care.
She was not looking ahead and she collided with a lone wheelchair. Armaan came to prevent her from falling but they both fell down, Ridhimaa on top of Armaan. Both were very close to each other and looked into each other's eyes. Ridhimaa was feeling nervous and she got up. Till then Rahul had reached the pair and he saw Armaan on the ground.
Rahul: Oye tu wahaan neeche kya kar raha hai?
Armaan: Basketball khel raha hoon...
Rahul gave him a hand and pulled Armaan up to his feet. Armaan massaged his back.
Rahul: Kya hua? Lag gayi kya?
Armaan: Jab itni bhaari bharkam basket mere upar giregi to chot to lagegi hi...
Ridhimaa: What? Main bhaari hoon?
Armaan: Nahi... tum to bahut halki ho... as light as a feather...
Rahul: Ridhimaa... Armaan to bas mazaak kar raha hai...
Ridhimaa: (going towards OPD) Huh!
Rahul: Kya kar raha hai tu? Kal hi to saari problems khatam hui aur aaj tu fir se...
Armaan: Kya karun yaar? Mujhe usse ladne me bahut maza aata hai.
He also made his way towards OPD. Ridhimaa looked up and saw Armaan entering and then got back to her work. She seemed to be angry with him.
Armaan: Basket! Basket!
Ridhimaa: Maine kaha na... mujhse baat mat karo...
Armaan: Ridhimaa... tumse baat na karun to kissey karun?
Ridhimaa: I don't know...
Armaan came towards her. In a second, he was nose to nose with her. Ridhimaa again got nervous and stepped back. Armaan picked her up in his arms.
Ridhimaa: (clutching him tightly in the fear of falling) Armaan... ye kya kar rahe ho?
Armaan: Dharti ka bojh kam kar raha hoon...
Ridhimaa: (angry again) Achha? Main itni hi bhaari hoon to mujhe kyun uthaaya hua hai? Neeche utaaro mujhe...
Armaan: Ridhimaa... main to bas mazaak kar raha tha... tumhe uthakar to main poore din ghoom sakta hoon...
Ridhimaa blushed but then realised that they were in the hospital.
Ridhimaa: Armaan... mujhe neeche utaaro... koi aa jaayega...
Armaan put her down gently. She was still holding him. This nearness was enchanting. Ridhimaa was about to hug Armaan when he himself stepped back.
Armaan: Achha... ab kuch kaam kar lete hain...
He got busy in his work. Ridhimaa stared at him then bent over her work herself.


PART 285:

That day, after her duty was over, Ridhimaa went to the canteen and sat down on a table. Armaan too entered and made his way towards her and sat in the chair near her. Ridhimaa did not know how to talk to him, how to get her question answered. She was afraid lest Armaan should get her wrong. Till then, Armaan had ordered for a coffee for her and him. The coffee arrived. Armaan started sipping. Ridhimaa did not touch her mug.
Armaan: Ridhimaa... kya hua? Coffee kyun nahi pi rahi ho?
Ridhimaa: Haan? Wo main...
She quickly picked up the mug and a little coffee spilt over her hand which burnt.
Ridhimaa: Ouch!
Armaan took her hand quickly.
Armaan: Kahaan khoi hui ho tum? Dekho... jala liya na...
He blew air on her hand and Ridhimaa felt a little relieved.
Armaan: (seeing Ridhimaa relieved) Ab theek hai?
Ridhimaa: Haan...
Armaan quickly left her hand.
Ridhimaa: Armaan...
Armaan: Hmm?
Ridhimaa: Armaan... main tumse ek baat poochhun?
Armaan: Poochho... permission kyun maang rahi ho?
Ridhimaa: Armaan... tum bura to nahi maanoge na?
Armaan: Baat kya hai Ridhimaa?
Ridhimaa: Armaan... main bahut dino se ek baat notice kar rahi hoon... tum change ho gaye ho...
Armaan: Main change ho gaya hoon?
Ridhimaa: Haan... pehle... pehle tum mujhse khul ke baat karte the... mere aur kareeb aane ki koshish karte rehte the... lekin... lekin ab tum pata nahi kyun mere kareeb aane se hichkichaate ho... kabhi mera haath galti se pakad bhi lete ho to turant chod dete ho... na pehle ki tarah mujhse khul kar baatein karte ho aur na hi mere pass baithte ho... kal se pehle to mujhe lagta tha ki wo sab isliye hai kyunki hum dono ke beech misunderstandings thi... lekin ab to sab kuch theek hai na Armaan... fir tum kyun mujhse door bhaag rahe ho? Mujhse koi galti hui hai kya?
Armaan: Nahi to Ridhimaa... aisi to koi baat nahi hai... dekho... is waqt bhi main tumhare saath, tumhare pass baitha hoon... tumhe shaayad koi galatfehmi...
Ridhimaa: Mujhe koi galatfehmi nahi hui hai Armaan aur ye baat tum bhi jaante ho... agar yahi sach hai to mujhse nazrein mila kar jawaab do... kya tum mujhse door nahi bhaag rahe? Hum log jis tarah pehle saath me baithte the, ek doosre ko hug karte the... ab kyun nahi karte? Tum yahaan sirf isliye baithe ho kyunki tum abhi free ho... I bet ki agar yahaan humare saath humare baaki friends baithe hote to tum mujhse door baithte... tum kya karne ki koshish kar rahe ho Armaan? Mujhse kya chhupa rahe ho? Bolo Armaan... kya ye sirf meri ek galatfehmi hai? Meri is galatfehmi ko tum door kyun nahi karte Armaan? Bolo... jawaab do...
At that very moment, the other interns entered along with the senior doctors and Dr.Shashank. Armaan was not looking at Ridhimaa. She lost her poise.
Ridhimaa: (turning Armaan's face towards her with her hand) Armaan... idhar dekho... main tumse kuch pooch rahi hoon... answer me...
Armaan: (removing Ridhimaa's hand from his face and holding it in his hands) Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa: Bolo Armaan...
Armaan: Ridhimaa... tumhe koi galatfehmi nahi hui hai... ye sach hai ki main koshish kar raha tha ki tumhare zyada pass na aaun... tumse door hi rahoon...
Ridhima: Kyun? Kyunki tumhe lagta hai ki wo main hi hoon jo un terrorists ko tumhari saari information de rahi hoon...
Armaan: (sternly) Ek thappad khaogi agar ye behuda baat fir ki to...
Ridhimaa: To fir... fir tum kyun aisa kar rahe ho?
Armaan: (giving up) Humare liye...
Ridhimaa: (not expecting this answer) Humare liye?
Armaan: Haan... tumhare liye aur mere liye... Ridhimaa... hum dono jaante hain ki hum kitni mushkil se fir se ek hue hain... main nahi chaahta ki ab hum kabhi bhi... kabhi bhi alag ho... kisi bhi baat par... tumse door jaaney ke khayaal se bhi mujhe darr lagta hai...
Ridhimaa: Armaan...
Armaan: Shh... meri baat suno... main tumse door nahi bhaag raha hoon... bas tumhe, mujhe aur humare rishte ko thoda sa time de raha hoon jisse ye aur mazboot ho jaaye... ab main tumhe khona nahi chaahta Ridhimaa... agar hum dono dheere dheere ek doosre ke kareeb aayenge to hum dono ko sochne ka time milega ki hum dono kya galtiyaan kar rahe the aur hume ab kya nahi karna chahiye... hai na?
Ridhimaa nodded.
Armaan: Ridhimaa... tum kabhi ye mat sochna ki main tumse pyar nahi karta... ya fir tumse door hone ki koshish kar raha hoon... main tumse kabhi door nahi ja sakta... tum to humesha mere pass rehti ho... mere dil me...
He pointed at the tattoo. Ridhimaa blushed. Armaan pressed her hand.
Armaan: Aur waise basket... mujhe nahi pata tha ki jo pehle main tumhe hug, etc karta tha... wo tumhe itna pasand hai...
Ridhimaa: Armaan... ab zyada free hone ki koshish mat karo... hum apne rishte ko time de rahe hain na...
Armaan: To kya hua... time to ek second ka bhi ho sakta hai... ek minute ka bhi... ek saal ka bhi...
Ridhimaa: Armaan...
Then her gaze fell on the others who were standing. She quickly pulled her hand out of Armaan's grasp.
Armaan: Kya hua? Haath pakdo to problem, na pakdo to problem...
Ridhimaa: Di... aap log aaiye na... khade kyun hain?
Armaan turned his head and saw who all were there.
Armaan: Aao Champ... sir... baithiye na...
Atul: Nahi nahi... pehle tum log apna rishta mazboot kar lo... hum log tab tak khade rehte hain...
Armaan was very embarassed. Ridhimaa smiled.
Rahul: Waise Armaan... tu ye theek nahi kar raha...
Armaan: Main kya theek nahi kar raha?
Rahul: Yahi... jo tu abhi abhi Ridhimaa ko samjha raha tha...
Anjali: Yes Armaan... ye tum bhi jaante ho aur Ridz bhi ki tum dono ke beech jo misunderstandings thi wo kis wajah se thi... usme na tumhari galti thi aur na hi Ridz ki...
Muskaan: Aur kya... galti to humari thi... Ridhimaa to tere papa ki baat par vishwaas hi nahi kar rahi thi... hum logon ne hi use force kiya tha...
Kirti: Yes Dr.Armaan... Dr.Ridhimaa ne khud mujhse kaha tha ki aap waise nahi hain... aur Dr.Shashank se bhi kaha tha...
Shashank: Lekin maine use apni kasam di thi... isiliye...
Rahul: Aur jab use tera note mila tha tab sabse zyada wo royi thi... usne tujhe call bhi kiya tha lekin tune receive hi nahi kiya...
Armaan: Haan... wo maine mobile car se baahar fenk diya tha...
Shubhankar: Dr.Rahul ne bhi humse yahi kaha tha ki aapne yahi kiya hoga... aap nahi jaante ki jab aapki death ki news mili thi to Dr.Ridhimaa...
Armaan: Main jaanta hoon sir... main sab jaanta hoon... mujhe pata hai ki Ridhimaa mere liye kitna royi hai... infact jis din main interview dekar waaapas nikla tha aur Ridhimaa se takraaya tha... us din jitna tum log mujhe dekhkar shock hue the... Ridhimaa ki haalat dekhkar main bhi utna hi shocked tha... kitni kamzor aur bejaan si lag rahi thi...
He looked at Ridhimaa, who was now looking fresh and gorgeous as ever.
Armaan: Aapme se kisi ne uska khayaal nahi rakha... aur sir ne to mujhse waada kiya tha ki... tum logon ko laga ki Armaan chala gaya hai to Ridhimaa ko uske haal par chod dena chahiye?
Anjali: Nahi Armaan... aisi baat nahi hai... hum log Ridz ka khayaal rakhte bhi kaise? Wo to kisi se bhi baat nahi karti thi... hospital me usne tumhari duties sambhaal li thi... hum logon ke saath bhi bahut kam baithti thi... kuch bhi nahi bolti thi... jab ghar jaati to khud ko kamre me band kar leti... jab bhi tumhare baare me koi discussion hota wo wahaan se chali jaati...
Atul: Hum log soch rahe the ki kuch din baad wo apne aap normal ho jaayegi...
Muskaan: Isiliye humne uske saame tumhare baare me baat karni chod di thi...
Shubhankar: Dr.Armaan... hum Dr.Ridhimaa ko thoda time dena chaahte the...
Rahul: Tum hi batao Armaan... agar tum hum logon ki jagah hote to kya karte?
Armaan first stared at Rahul. Then he looked at Ridhimaa, who was sitting guiltily. She was feeling bad that they had all been so concerned about her. Armaan took her hand in his. Ridhimaa looked up and found him gazing at her.


PART 286:

Armaan: (not averting his eyes from Ridhimaa's face) Main kuch bhi karta lekin Ridhimaa ko tootne nahi deta... usse baat karne ki koshish karta... chaahe wo baat karna chaahe na chaahe... uske saath rehta jisse use akelapan feel na ho... use us samay apne doston ki zaroorat thi aur tum logon ne use uske haal par chod diya... main use apna kandha deta rone ke liye... uske gam ko apne seene me daba leta... uske aansun apne poron se chun leta... pyar se, daant kar... kisi bhi tarah use uska gam bhoolne me madad karta... use ye ehsaas dilaata ki jo kuch hua usme uski koi galti nahi hai... use zindagi ki taraf waapas laata... use yaad dilaata ki Armaan jahaan bhi hai... use uske aansuon se, uski ye haalat dekhkar uske Armaan ko takleef hogi... uska Armaan uski aisi haalat nahi dekh sakta...
The others stared at Armaan.
Shashank: Ab aapko samajh me aaya ki hum ye sab kyun nahi kar paaye?
Armaan: Nahi...
Atul: Kyunki Armaan... hum Armaan nahi hain...
Armaan was not convinced.
Armaan: Armaan nahi to kya... Ridhimaa ke dost to the na...
Ridhimaa: Armaan... isme in logon ki koi galti nahi hai... main khud hi kisi se baat nahi karna chaahti thi...
Armaan: Haan... tum to yahi chaahogi... ki koi tumse baat na kare... tumhe tumhare haal par aise hi chod de... aur tum ro-rokar apni haalat bimaaron jaisi kar lo... lekin Ridhimaa... ab main waapas aa gaya hoon... aur tum kuch bhi kar lo... agar tum mujhse baat nahi bhi karna chaahogi to bhi main tumhe us haalat me nahi jaaney dunga... tum mujh se peechha nahi chuda sakti...
Ridhimaa: (without thinking) Mujhe tumse peechha chudaana bhi nahi hai...
Armaan: (smiling) Oye hoye... tumhari is baat par to main umr bhar tumhaara peechha karne ko tayyar hoon...
He raised Ridhimaa's hand which was in his grasp and was about to kiss it when Ridhimaa pulled her hand back.
Ridhimaa: Abhi abhi to tum keh rahe the ki hume ek doosre ko thoda aur time dena chahiye...
Armaan: Tumhe nahi lagta ki itna time kaafi hai? Kitne mahino se hum ek doosre ko time hi to de rahe hain...
Ridhimaa realised that there had been a very vast gap.
Ridhimaa: Hmmm...
Armaan: Kya kaha?
Ridhimaa: (softly) Haan...
Armaan: Kya? Mujhe sunaayi nahi diya...
Ridhimaa: (bellowing in his ear) Haan... haan... haan...
She made to get up, Armaan grabbed her hand.
Ridhimaa: Armaan... aaah...
Armaan quickly got up. Ridhimaa was holding her wound which had pained due to Armaan's pull.
Armaan: Ridhimaa... tum theek ho?
Ridhimaa: Haan main wo...
Armaan: Tumne... tumne apna bandage change nahi karwaaya?
Ridhimaa: Wo main... bhool gayi thi... I'll just go...
Armaan: Main bhi chalta hoon... (turning towards the others) guys... tum log jaana mat... mujhe tum logon se kuch baat karni hai... hum abhi aate hain...
Ridhimaa and Armaan went away.
In the ward, Armaan started to bandage Ridhimaa's hand. He first opened the previous bandage and examined the wound. It had healed a lot but still, the wound was deep and precaution was must.
Armaan: Tumhe apne haath par itna stress nahi lena chahiye... agar tum kaam nahi karti to ab tak ye theek ho chuka hota. Chalo... is haath me thodi si movement karne ki koshish karo aur bataana kahaan dard ho raha hai...
Armaan held her arm and moved it up and down. Ridhimaa kept goggling at his worried face. She was not listening to what he was saying.
Armaan: Dard hua? Ridhimaa... Ridhimaa...
He looked up to find Ridhimaa gazing at him.
Armaan: (faking a cough) Hem... hem... mujhe baad me dekh lena... pehle batao dard ho raha hai?
Ridhimaa: (shaking herself) Haan? Nahi... ab nahi ho raha...
Armaan: Good...
He bandaged her hand.
Armaan: Ho gaya... ab tum mujhe dekh sakti ho aaraam se... main tumhe nahi rokunga...
Ridhimaa: Armaan!
Armaan stood up and kissed Ridhimaa's forehead and hugged her. She too wrapped her arms around him and hid her face in his chest.
Armaan: Waah... waah... waah... aaj mujh par bahut pyar aa raha hai...
Ridhimaa separated from him, her face flushed.
Armaan: Oye hoye! Pata hai Ridhimaa... aaj kitne dino baad main pursukoon mehsoos kar raha hoon... you know... this feeling is so pure, so magical... ab hum kabhi alag nahi honge... agar tum kahogi to bhi... tum kuch bhi keh lo... main tumhe chodkar nahi jaunga... kabhi nahi jaunga... I promise...
Ridhimaa: I love you Armaan...
Armaan: (kissing her hand) I love you too Ridhimaa.
They once again indulged into a deep embrace. A few minutes later, both were again entering the canteen and went and sat down at their respective places.
Shubhankar: Dr.Armaan... aapne Dr.Ridhimaa ko koi tonic diya hai kya?
Armaan: Nahi to... kyun?
Anjali: Wo Ridz ka face itna glow kar raha hai na... isliye poochh rahe the...
Armaan: Oh... wo to uski dose ka time ho gaya tha...
Atul: Dose... kaun si dose?
Armaan: Jaadu ki jhappi waali dose...
Kirti: Oh!
Rahul: Itne dino ki dose ek saath de di kya?
Muskaan: Kahin over-react na kar jaaye...
Shashank laughed heartily, while Armaan and Ridhimaa both turned red.
Shashank: Tum dono sharmaate hue bahut cute lagte ho...
Atul: Yes really... Armaan dekho... tumhare ears bilkul red ho gaye hain... ekdum Ridz ke gaalon ki tarah...
Armaan: Achha guys... mujhe tum logon se ek baat karni thi... tum log sach me aaj ke function me aana chaahte ho?
All: Haan...
Rahul: Lekin tu ye kyun pooch raha hai?
Armaan: Tum log pakka aana chaahte ho? Risk factor jaante hue?
Shashank: Risk factor! Kaun sa risk factor?
Armaan: Agar un terrorists ke paas ab bhi mujh se related koi information hui to... to aap sab...
Muskaan: Ridhimaa ne kal jo tujhe itna sunaaya wo kaafi nahi tha kya Armaan?
Shubhankar: Relax Dr.Armaan... hum sab chalenge aapke saath...
Armaan: Lekin... lekin agar aap me se kisi ko bhi wahaan kuch ho gaya to...
Kirti: Kisi ko kuch nahi hoga...
Shashank: Be positive Dr.Armaan...
Atul: Aur waise bhi tu to hum sabke saath hoga hi na. Fir hume darr kis baat ka?
Armaan: But... but main to kewal ek insaan hoon... aur aap sab...
Ridhimaa: Kisiko kuch nahi hoga Armaan... aur tum humme se kisiko bhi wahaan jaaney se nahi rok sakte...
Armaan: Main tumhe nahi rok raha hoon...
Rahul: Kyun? Ridhimaa ko kyun nahi rok raha?
Armaan: Because... because main Ridhimaa ko kabhi bhi kuch nahi hone dunga... aur agar wo mere saath rahegi to mujhe atleast itna to sukoon rahega ki wo safe hai...
Anjali: Ridzi jaayegi to hum bhi jaayenge... hai na guys?
All: Of course...
Armaan: OK... main to aise hi poochh raha tha... ab mujhe tum sabki security dekhni padegi...
Kirti: Dr.Armaan aap kyun hum sabki responsibility khud par le rahe hain?
Shubhankar: Hum sab apne aap ko sambhaal sakte hain...
Armaan: Haan theek hai... achha to bye... Ridhimaa chalein?
Ridhimaa: Kahaan?
Armaan: Tum bhool gayi? Kal tum hi to keh rahi thi ki tumhe...
Ridhimaa: Oh haan... chalo...
Armaan: Aap log shaam ko theek time par pahunch jaaiyega... Atul... tujhe main pick kar lunga tere ghar se...
Atul: Thanks yaar Armaan...
Armaan and Ridhimaa left.
Rahul: Ye log kahaan ja rahe hain?
Shashank: Aaj Armaan ki ma ki barsi hai... Ridhimaa unki grave dekhna chaahti thi...
Anjali: Oh...
Armaan and Ridhimaa reached the dargaah. They both stepped down from the car. Armaan wrapped his handkerchief around his head. Then he looked at Ridhimaa.
Armaan: (wrapping her dupatta over her head) Yahaan par khule sir nahi jaate...
Ridhimaa: Achha... tum to bahut baar yahaan aaye hoge...
Armaan: Nahi... aaj lagbhag terah saal baad kisi aisi jagah aaya hoon...
Ridhimaa stared at him.


PART 287:

Armaan: Aise kya dekh rahi ho? Tum to jaanti ho main God, allah, bhagwaan me believe nahi karta.
Ridhimaa: Haan... lekin yahaan to tumhari ma ki grave hai...
Armaan: (sadly) Ridhimaa... bachpan me mere pass itne paise hi nahi the ki main Mumbai aa paata... isiliye...
Ridhimaa: I'm so...
Armaan: No... Ridhimaa... tumhe mujhse sorry bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai... na mujhe is baat par koi sharm aati hai ki bachpan me main itna gareeb tha... wo meri zindagi ka ek phase tha... ye ek aur phase hai jo shaayad meri zindagi ka sabse khoobsurat phase hai… jisme tum mere saath ho...
Ridhimaa smiled.
Ridhimaa: Yahaan sandals kahaan utaarte hain?
Armaan: Andar...
Ridhimaa: Andar? Lekin andar main kaise sandals pehen ke ja sakti hoon? Main to yahin utaar kar car me rakh deti hoon.
Armaan: Ridhimaa...
But Ridhimaa had already put her sandals in the car.
Ridhimaa: Mandir me bhi to joote pehen ke nahi jaate na...
Armaan: Ridhimaa... tum bahut achhi ho...
Ridhimaa: I know!
They both entered the dargaah. It was scorching in the sun. Ridhimaa winced. Armaan could not bear Ridhimaa walking barefeet. He too removed his shoes and kept them in a corner.
Ridhimaa: Tumne kyun joote utaar diye?
Armaan: Aise hi...
They both wre walking in the sun. The others were staring at them and at there bare feet. A bearded person met them in the way.
Maulvi: Aap dono ne apne joote kyun utaar diye?
Armaan: (indicating Ridhimaa) Ji wo... ye kehti hain ki jab ye mandir me joote pehen ke nahi jaati to yahaan kaise joote pehen ke aa sakti hain? Isiliye...
Maulvi: (to Ridhimaa) Aap... aap hindu ho?
Ridhimaa: (timidly) Ji...
Maulvi: Allah aapko khushiyon se nawaaze... lekin beta... tum to muslim ho na?
Armaan: Well... ji...
Maulvi: To tumne inhe nahi bataaya ki yahaan inhe sholon ke durg se guzarna padega... wo ye kaise bina jooton ke ja paayengi?
Armaan: Sholon ka durg? Wo kya hota hai?
Maulvi: Aapko nahi pata? Jalte koylon ke upar se guzarna hota hai...
Armaan: Main to yahaan doosri baar aaya hoon... to theek hai... hum wahaan nahi jaayenge...
Ridhimaa: Armaan... ye kaisi baat kar rahe ho? Wahaan kaise nahi jaayenge?
Maulvi: (to Armaan) Beta... aap...
Armaan: Main bhagwaan, allah me vishwaas nahi karta...
Maulvi: (a little sternly) To fir aap yahaan kyun aaye hain?
Armaan: Kyunki inhe unpar vishwaas hai... aur mujhe in par... isiliye...
Maulvi: (smiling) Aap khuda ko nahi maante... aur inke kehne par yahaan nange pair chale aaye. Aap log ja sakte hain... khuda aap dono par rehem kare...
They both walked on further and reached the graveyard.
Ridhimaa: Kahaan hai ma ki...
Armaan: (surprised) Ma ki?
Ridhimaa: Wo tumhari ma hain to maine socha ki main bhi unhe ma keh kar bulaun... agar tumhe achha nahi laga to...
Armaan: (beaming at her) Mujhe achha laga... tum to unse mili bhi nahi aur...
Ridhimaa: Mujhe photo me wo bahut decent aur pyar karne waali lady lagi...
Armaan: Wo aisi hi thi... sabse bahut pyar karti thi... tumse milti to tumhe mujhse bhi zyada pyar karti...
Ridhimaa: (happily) Sach?
Armaan: Haan... wo kehti thi ki jab meri shaadi hogi to wo apni bahu ko mujhse zyada pyar karengi... isi baat par main unse ladta tha...
Ridhimaa: (sadly) Kaash main bhi unse mil paati...
Armaan: Chalo... tumhe unse milaun...
Arman took Ridhimaa's hand and wandered ahead among the graves. He reached a grave of white marble. It was covered in dust. Armaan brushed the headstone with his hand.
Headstone: (in Urdu and Hindi) Mrs.Nivedita Salmaan Mallik (1954-1999)
Armaan's hand stopped at his mother's name. He caressed it several times. After a few minutes on controlling himself, he looked around to see what Ridhimaa was doing. She had swiped off all the dust from the grave with her dupatta. She was sitting beside the feet of the grave and touched it with her head to take the blessings. Armaan too came towards her and did what she was doing. He wanted to lie in the selfsame grave with his mother. He wanted to call out to her but he knew she would not come back. Ridhimaa raised her head and saw Armaan bent over his mother’s grave. She put a consoling hand on his back. Armaan sat up straight and then looked at Ridhimaa with sadness enclosed in his eyes. Ridhimaa hugged him. He hugged her back.
Ridhimaa: Tumhe unki bahut yaad aati hai na Armaan?
Armaan: (seriously) Haan... ma mujhe akela kyun chod gayi Ridhimaa? Mujhe apne saath kyun nahi le gayi?
Ridhimaa: Mere liye... ma tumhe mere liye chod gayi Armaan... tum chale jaate to main kaise jeeti? Hai na?
Armaan nodded.
Ridhimaa: Tum akele nahi ho Armaan... main hoon na. Har pal, har kadam par main tumhara saath dungi...
Armaan: Tum mujhe kabhi chodkar nahi jaaogi na?
Ridhimaa: Maut ke haath kaun rok sakta hai Armaan?
Armaan: Main tumhe kahin nahi jaaney dunga... maut bhi aayegi to main use tumhare saath gale lagaunga...
Ridhimaa: Ab... ab hum log dargaah par chalein?
Armaan: Jaisi tumhari marzi. Banda to aapke hukm ka gulaam hai.
To reached the dargaah, they had to cross the barrier of burning coals. People were walking ahead easily, wearing shoes.
Armaan: Jaana zaroori hai?
Ridhimaa: Tum yahin ruko... main ho ke aati hoon...
Armaan: Nahi... dono saath me chalenge...
He took picked up Ridhimaa in his arms to her surprise.
Ridhimaa: Armaan... main khud chalungi...
Armaan: Tum chup raho...
Ridhimaa: Armaan... mujhe neeche utaaro...
But Armaan had started walking ahead.
Ridhimaa: (half-crying) Armaan... Armaan...
Armaan walked on the burning coal but did not reveal even a gasp of pain.
Ridhimaa: (sobbing) Armaan please... mujhe neeche utaar do... please...
Armaan had reahced the other side. He put Ridhimaa down on her feet. She was shaking and crying.
Armaan: (perplexed) Kya hua Ridhimaa? Tum... tum ro kyun rahi ho?
The other visitors too were watching them. A maulvi got up from his place and came towards them.
Armaan: Ridhimaa... please... ro mat...
Ridhimaa: (crying) Tumne meri baat suni thi jo main tumhari baat sunun?
Armaan: Ridhimaa...
Maulvi: (to Ridhimaa) Kya hua beta? Aap ro kyun rahi hain?
Ridhimaa looked up. Maulvi looked at Armaan enquiringly.
Armaan: Ye jalte koylon par chalna chaahti thi... maine chalne nahi diya isliye...
Maulvi looked down at Armaan and Ridhimaa's feet.
Maulvi: Aap dono ne joote kyun nahi pehne?
Armaan told him everything in short.
Maulvi: (to Armaan) Achha kiya aapne. Yahaan ladkiyon ke nange pair chalkar aane ki manaahi hai...
Ridhimaa: Kyun?
Maulvi: Jinki ye dargah hai… wo aauraton ki bahut izzat karte the... inko takleef me nahi dekh sakte the... isliye... aur beta... yahaan par jo do log ek saath is tarah se chalkar aate hain... un dono ke dil kabr tak jud jaate hain...
Armaan: Lo... humaare dil to pehle hi jude hue hain... humaara aana bekaar hua...
Ridhimaa: Armaan!
They both started walking ahead and entered the dargaah. They both purchased one string each and wound it on the window, wishing each other's happiness in their mannat. Then they went and knelt before the mazaar. Armaan raised both his hands and put them infront of his chest for dua. Ridhimaa also copied him. Armaan smiled and put her hands in the right position and closed her eyes. He too closed his eyes. Both got up after the dua and left the dargaah together.


PART 288:

Back in the car, both were putting on their footwear. Ridhimaa saw Armaan's raw, red feet. She touched them lightly to check if any blisters were there.
Armaan: Ridhimaa! Mere pair chodo.
Ridhimaa: Main to bas dekh rahi thi ki kahin zyada to nahi jal gaya...
Armaan: (shoving off her hand) Nahi jala... ab to haath hatao...
Ridhimaa: Tum har samay daantte kyun rehte ho?
Armaan: (pleading) Maine tumse kitni baar kaha hai mere pair mat chua karo... mujhe achha nahi lagta... tum meri ek baat nahi maan sakti?
Ridhimaa: OK... OK... ab mujhe ghar drop kar do. Shaam ko Di aur Papa ke saath aa jaungi...
Armaan: Padma aunty aur nani nahi aayengi?
Ridhimaa: Nahi... wo dono to Lonavla gayi hui hain...
Armaan: Oh!
He dropped Ridhimaa at her house and then went away.
In the evening, three cars drove into the parking lot of the Taj Hotel. Rahul, Muskaan, Kirti and Shubhankar stepped out from one car, Ridhimaa, Anjali and Shashank from another and Armaan and Atul stepped out from the third. They saw each other and went towards the entry.
Muskaan: Waah hero... aaj to tu bada handsome lag raha hai...
Armaan smiled. He really was looking smashing in a two piece party suit. Ridhimaa too was glittering in a fashionable frock suit of red colour, matching Armaan's shirt. Armaan appreciated her in his eyes. Ridhimaa understood and her cheeks too turned red, matching her dress.
Shashank: Andar chalein?
Shubhankar: Haan... yahaan bahut bheed hai...
Armaan led the way inside. They were quite early and thus could enter freely. The hotel lounge had been converted into an auditorium with a stage in the center. Some sofas were placed in the foremost row.
Anjali: Where should we sit?
Muskaan: Wahaan... sabse aagey...
Armaan: Nahi... hum yahaan baithte hain... wahaan sab log nahi aa paayenge aur shaayad wo kisi chief-guest ke liye reserved hogi.
They all sat in the third row from the front. Armaan sat near Ridhimaa. Shashank sat on Ridhimaa's other side. Atul with Anjali, Rahul with Muskaan and Shubhankar sat with Kirti. All were chattering away when the other seats started to fill. In half-an-hour, all the seats were filled. But the front row remained empty. The Prime Minister too arrived surrounded by bodyguards and occupied the front row. The manager of the hotel spotted Armaan.
Manager: Dr.Armaan... aap yahaan baithe hain... aapki seat to wahaan... sabse aagey hai...
Armaan: No thanks... main yahin theek hoon...
Manager: Par wahaan PM ke saath...
Armaan: I feel more comfortable when I am with my friends.
Manager knew that Armaan would not deter. He went away.
Rahul: Tu wahaan kyun nahi gaya? PM ke saath baithne ka mauka mila tha tujhe...
Armaan: Meri PM to yahin baithi hai...
Ridhimaa: Armaan!
Just then, the host started speaking.
Host: Good evening friends. Aap sab jaante hain ki hum sab yahaan kyun ikattha hue hain... hum sab yahaan Dr.Armaan Mallik ko felicitate kar rahe hain jinhone kuch dino pehle desh ke sabse bade aatankwaadi sangathan AlKaida ke right hand ke saath saath uske teen saathiyon ko giraftaar karwaaya. Ab hum Prime Minister Mr.Manmohan Singh se request karenge ki wo please stage par aayein aur Dr.Armaan ko felicitate karein. Uske baad Dr.Armaan ka ek press interview hoga.
Manmohan Singh came on the stage. He requested Armaan to come on the stage too. Armaan went upto the stage amidst loud applause. But he did not go to the PM to receive the award, infact, he went upto the host.
Armaan: Mujhe kuch kehna hai. May I?
Host: (baffled) Sure!
Armaan took hold of the mind.
Armaan: I am sorry ki main aapko beech me interrupt kar raha hoon... lekin main apni baat saaf saaf kehne ka aadi hoon. I don't think that I deserve the award.
Many people shouted that why he thought so.
Armaan: Kyunki... kyunki un terrorists ko maine sirf isliye maara tha kyunki wo ek ladki ke saath badtamizi kar rahe the. Mera unhe koi jail bhijwaane ka iraada nahi tha.
Host: Lekin jail to unhe aapne hi bhjwaaya tha... police ko to aapne hi phone kiya tha... aap chaahte to aap wahaan se ja sakte the... lekin aapne turant police ko inform kiya...
Armaan: This was my fundamental duty as a citizen.
PM: Ye award aapko wahi fundamental duty nibhaane ke liye mil raha hai... please accept this.
Armaan was speechless.
Armaan: To fir ye award mujhe akele ko nahi milna chahiye. Us waqt koi aur bhi mere saath tha jisne un terrorists se fight ki... aur unme se ek ko behosh kiya tha...
PM: Aap hume uska naam bataiye...
Armaan: Uska naam hai Dr.Ridhimaa Gupta...
PM: Dr.Ridhimaa Gupta... aap please stage par aaiye...
Ridhimaa came onto the stage taking small steps. Many people clapped on seeing her with Armaan. Some whistled. PM gave the award and gift cheque to both of them and left with his cabinet ministers as his flight was scheduled in fifteen minutes.
Host: (seing Armaan and Ridhimaa leaving the stage) Aap log kahaan ja rahe hain? Abhi to aap dono ka interview baaki hai... Miss Preeti Saahni please...
Priti came there and went towards Armaan and Ridhimaa.
Armaan: Arrey... aap har jagah pahunch jaati hain...
Ridhimaa: (reproachfully) Armaan!
Priti: (smiling) Hum reporters ka kaam hi ye hota hai... aap dono please baith jaiye...
They all sat down.
Priti: Welcome all to national news. Aaj hum fir se interview le rahe hain Dr.Armaan Mallik ka aur aaj unke saath hain Dr.Ridhimaa Gupta.
Priti: Hum aapse shuru karte hain Dr.Ridhimaa Gupta... aapko ye award receive karke kaisa lag raha hai?
Ridhimaa: (very nervous and uncomfortable) Fine...
Then she looked at Armaan, who understood her condition in an instant.
Armaan: Hum log chalte hain...
Priti: Ek minute Dr.Armaan... Dr.Ridhimaa ko agar problem ho rahi hai to wo ja sakti hain...
Ridhimaa did not need telling twice. She ran down the stage and stopped only when she had sat beside her father. Armaan was left calling behind her back.
Priti: Kya hua Dr.Armaan? Aapko bhi darr lag raha hai? Dr.Ridhimaa ka to main samajh sakti hoon lekin aap... aap kis baat se darr rahe hain?
Armaan: Main... main kahaan darr raha hoon? Aap poochiye jo poochna hai aapko.
Priti: Aapne ye to bata diya ki ye award aap deserve nahi karte... lekin abhi award receive karke aapko kaisa lag raha hai?
Armaan: I think... ye waste of time and money hai. Ab agar main kuch bhi karun... to please... main sabse request karta hoon ki mujhe koi award nahi diya jaaye...
Priti: Interesting! Pehli baar kisi se mil rahi hoon jise khud ke appreciation bure lagte hain...
Armaan: Ji nahi... mujhe bhi har normal insaan ki tarah achha lagta hai apna appreciation... mujhe achha lagta hai jab mujhe Sanjeevani ka intern of the month chuna jaata hai... lekin is kaam ke liye... I don't think ki aap logon ko mujhe award dena chahiye. Main ye sirf apni duty samajh ke karta hoon... iske appreciation se mujhe bura lagta hai... mujhe lagta hai jaise maine apni duty nahi ki... balki koi kaam kiya hai jiske liye mujhe payment milti hai...
Priti: Oh! Achha Dr.Armaan... kuch personal questions ho jaayein?
Armaan: Personal questions... kyun?
Priti: Aise hi... humari TRP badhaane ke liye... aakhir kuch faayda hume bhi to hona chahiye...
Armaan: Aapko mujhse, mere baare me jo poochna hai poochiye lekin... please... usme kisi aur ke baare me koi comment shaamil mat kijiyega...
Priti: Ji bilkul... first question... aap Hindu hain ya Muslim?
Armaan: Ji?
Priti: Aaj dophar ko aapko ek dargaah se nikalte dekha gaya tha Dr.Ridhimaa ke saath... isiliye... just for our knowledge...
Armaan was silent. Priti repeated the question.


PART 289:

Armaan: I am an Indian...
Priti: (smiling) Wo to hum sab jaante hain Dr.Armaan... lekin main aapke religion ke baare me pooch rahi thi...
Armaan: Hum secular country me rehte hain... main religions ko nahi maanta... waise for your information... aapki tasalli ke liye aap bol sakti hain ki main Muslim hoon...
Priti: Oh... tabhi aap wahaan gaye the... lekin Dr.Ridhimaa to Hindu hain... wo wahaan kyun gayi thi?
Armaan: Kyun? Hindu log wahaan nahi ja sakte kya?
Priti: Ja sakte hain... kyun nahi ja sakte? Lekin wo wahaan aapke saath kyun gayi thi? Aap wahaan namaaz padhne gaye aur wo...
Armaan: Main wahaan namaaz padhne nahi gaya tha... I don't believe in God...
Priti: (surprised) Fir aap...
Armaan: Wahaan meri ma ki grave hai... aaj unki barsi hai... isiliye...
Priti: Oh... I'm sorry...
Armaan: Please... don't say sorry...
Priti: Lekin mujhe abhi tak samajh nahi aaya ki Dr.Ridhimaa wahaan kyun gayi thi?
Armaan: Infact main Dr.Ridhimaa ki wajah se wahaan gaya tha... unhone zidd ki thi ki aaj mujhe kam se kam apni ma ki kabr par phool to chadhaane chahiye... unhi ki wajah se main wahaan gaya tha... otherwise main aisi jagahon par kabhi nahi jaata... main itne dino se Mumbai me hoon... aaj tak wahaan nahi gaya... jabki meri ma wahaan dafn hain...
Priti: Kya main pooch sakti hoon ki aap aaj tak wahaan kyun nahi gaye? Aapki mother...
Armaan: Main sochta tha ki mera wahaan jaaney se faayda kya hoga? Main kuch bhi kar loon... kuch bhi keh loon... meri ma to waapas nahi aa jaayegi...
Priti: Fir... ab kyun gaye?
Armaan: (in a quivering voice) Becuase Dr.Ridhimaa ne kaha ki agar main wahaan jaunga to shaayad meri ma ko itna sukoon aa jaaye ki koi hai jo abhi bhi unko yaad karta hai... unka beta unhe bhoola nahi hai... aaj bhi unhe yaad karta hai...
Saying so, Armaan was overwhelmed with emotions, but he was an expert at controlling them. Not one tear dropped from his eyes only his voice beacame a little watery. He smiled fakely.
Priti: (changing the topic) Dr.Armaan... humne suna hai ki aapne Sanjeevani waapas join kar liya hai... jabki aapne kaha tha ki ab aap kabhi wahaan waapas nahi jaayenge.
Armaan: True... maine kaha tha... main wahaan kabhi jaana nahi chaahta tha... lekin fir Tamanna ki shaadi ho gayi... wo mujhe akela chodkar nahi jaana chaahti thi... to uska dil rakhne ke liye maine Sanjeevani waapas join kar liya...
Priti: Tamanna... wahi... jo us din aapke saath interview par aayi thi? Jinke baare me aapne kaha tha ki wahi hain jinhone aapko singer banne me bahut madad ki... jinse aap bahut pyar karte the?
Armaan: Well... main abhi bhi usse bahut pyar karta hoon...
Priti: Fir... fir Dr.Ridhimaa... wo aaj aapke saath kya kar rahi hain? Kahin aapne Tamanna ka gam bhoolne ke liye unke saath...
Armaan: Tamanna ka gam bhoolne ke liye? Wo bahut khush hai apni shaadi ke baad...
Priti: I mean... jab aap unse bahut pyar karte the... to... to unki shaadi hone ke baad aapka dil to zaroor toota hoga...
Armaan first stared at Priti and then understood what she was trying to say and had to suppress a laugh.
Armaan: Aap... galat samajh rahi hain... main aur Tamanna...
Priti: (supplying) Sirf achhe dost the?
Armaan: Nahi... dost to hum abhi bhi hain... lekin Tamanna meri chhoti behen hai...
Priti: (emabrrassed) Behen? We didn't know about it... lekin Mr.Salmaan Mallik to... I mean aapke father...
Armaan: Don't call him my father. I don't know him...
Priti: Aap... I mean...
Armaan: (angrily) I don't want to talk about that... agar aapko us aadmi ke baare me baat karni hai to fir interview khatm.
He started to get up.
Priti: (quickly) Nahi... unke alaawa bhi bahut se sawaal hain humare pass.
Armaan kept to his seat but he had lost interest in the interview. He chanced a glance at Ridhimaa who was trying to make him feel calm. Armaan nodded at her, reassuring her. Priti followed his gaze.
Priti: Aap Sanjeevani waapas aa gaye hain... to iska matlab aapka singing carrer...
Armaan: (finishing for her) Ji... mera singing career finish.
There was a loud groan from the audience.
Priti: Shaayad janta aapke is faisle se khush nahi hai...
Armaan: Well... mere friends bhi is faisle se khush nahi hain...
Priti: Aapke friends... lekin jab aapne pichhli baar apna interview diya tha... to aapne bataaya tha ki aap bahut akele hain... aapko bahut gam mile hain...
Armaan: (sadly) Kyunki us waqt mere pass mere dost nahi the... main khud unse door chala gaya tha... lekin ab main waapas aa gaya hoon... mere doston ne bhi mujhe maaf kar diya hai...
Priti: Aapko maaf kar diya hai? To kya galti aapki thi?
Armaan: Haan... shaayad meri hi thi... agar kisiko mere baare me kuch galatfehmi thi to mujhe wahin rehkar sabkuch sort out karna chahiye tha... jo maine nahi kiya...
Priti: To Dr.Ridhimaa bhi aapki dost hain?
Armaan: Of course... wo to meri sabse achhi dost hai... she's my bestest friend!
Armaan looked at Ridhimaa, she beamed.
Priti: Bestest friend! Unhone jo kuch aapke saath kiya... uske baad bhi?
Armaan: Kya kiya unhone mere saath?
Priti: Wo... aap dono ki engagement toot gayi thi... shaayad wo kisi aur se pyar karti thi...
Armaan: Achha?
Priti: Ji... aapko nahi pata?
Armaan: (smiling) Nahi... mujhe to Ridhimaa ne is baare me kuch nahi bataaya...
Priti: Why are you smiling?
Armaan: Kuch nahi... bas aise hi...
Priti: Dr.Ridhimaa ko brain tumour hai?
Armaan: Hai nahi tha... ab wo theek hain...
Priti: Oh... kahin isiliye to aapne unse fir se friendship nahi kar li... kyunki aapko laga ki wo marne waali hain...
Armaan: (sternly) Ji nahi... mujhe aisa kabhi nahi laga... tab bhi nahi jab wo ICU ke bed par maut se lad rahi thi... mujhe pata tha... ki wo bilkul theek ho jaayegi... mere rehte use kuch nahi ho sakta...
Priti: Really? Aap unke baare me itna sochte hain lekin wo to kisi aur se pyar karti hain...
Armaan: (interestedly) Kissey?
Priti: Wo to hume pata nahi...
Armaan: To jaakar pata karke aaiye... aadhe adhure facts lekar aap kisi ke baare me kuch bhi kaise bol sakti hain?
Priti: Chaliye... hum Dr.Ridhimaa se hi pooch lete hain ki wo kisse pyar karti hain...
Armaan: Aapko jo poochna hai... mujhse poochiye... Ridhimaa ko beech me laane ki koshish mat kariye...
Priti: (calmly) To aap jaante hain ki wo kisse pyar karti hain?
Armaan: Ji haan main jaanta hoon... aur ye kaafi hai...
Priti: OK... aap bataiye... aapko kis tarah ki ladki chahiye... aap to bahut si ladkiyon ke armaan ban chuke hain... aapka armaan... I mean aapki dream girl kaisi hogi?
Armaan: (looking at Ridhimaa, who nodded in agreement) Bilkul... bilkul Dr.Ridhimaa jaisi...
Priti: Dr.Ridhimaa jaisi... lekin aap to unse pyar nahi karte... aapne Premier par kaha tha...
Armaan: Ji main unse pyar nahi balki unse ishq karta hoon... muhabbat karta hoon... pyar bilkul nahi karta...
Priti: (stunned) Lekin wo to kisi aur se pyar karti hain...
Armaan: To karti rahe... mujhe isse kya karna hai? Main jaanta hoon ki main usse pyar karta hoon... main ye bhi jaanta hoon ki wo kissey pyar karti hai... and I think that's enough. I hope ki Ridhimaa jisse pyar karti hai, use wo mil jaaye...
Ridhimaa smiled at Armaan's wit.
Priti: Aap uske liye dua kar rahe hain jo aapse aapki muhabbat chheen raha hai...
Armaan: I think... ab aapko sach jaan lena chahiye... wo bhi khud Ridhimaa ke muh se...
Priti: (excitedly) Yes... of course... Dr.Ridhimaa... can you come to the stage please?
But Ridhimaa kept sitting.
Armaan: (calling her) Basket!
Priti: Basket?
Armaan: I mean Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa came up, glowering at Armaan.
Armaan: Ab inhe bata bhi do ki tum kisse pyar karti ho...
Ridhimaa: Lekin agar main bata dungi to tum... tumhe bahut bura lagega na... tumhara dil toot jaayega...


PART 290:

Armaan: Nahi Ridhimaa... tum bolo... maine apne dil par patthar rakh liya hai... batao wo kaun hai jo tumhare dil me basa hai... jo tumhe mujhse cheen raha hai... aaj saari duniya ke saamne uske naam ka ailaan kar do...
Ridhimaa: Armaan!
Priti: Jaldi se naam bataiye Dr.Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa: (repeating) Armaan!
Priti: Hum sab wait kar rahe hain... bas wo naam bata dijiye... fir chali jaaiyega...
Ridhimaa: Itni der se bata to rahi hoon...
Priti was puzzeld. She looked from Ridhimaa to Armaan who was grinning. Ridhimaa gave the mike back to Priti and hid her face in Armaan's chest.
Armaan: Oye Hoye! Basket! Mujhe bilkul bura nahi laga...
The audience clapped and cheered. Priti smiled. Armaan and Ridhimaa walked down the stage, holding hands. When they reached the row where their friends were sitting, they left each other's hands.
Armaan: Bhookh lagi hai to mere saath chaliye... yahaan par ek bahut achha restaurant hai... Shaamiyaana...
They all got up, but then a gun fired in the air and they all heard a sound of bomb blast coming from somewhere above. Few women shrieked. Ridhimaa grasped Armaan's hand more tightly. Few men wearing black uniform were there on the stage. A dead body was lying there on their feet, which was evidently of Priti. Armaan was horrified. Ridhimaa stifled a gasp. They were all ordered to sit down with their hands on there back. The terrorists placed themselves near the audience. They were initially ten but one by one, all went away from there to their various tasks and only four remained.
Terrorist 1: Koi hilna mat... warna isi tarah goliyon se bhoon ke rakh dunga...
Terrorist 2: Sab apne mobile humaare hawaale karo...
One by one, he came to all the people and snatched their mobiles. They heard two more bomb blasts in that very building. The ground shook under their feet. Ridhimaa was terrified.
Ridhimaa: (crying) Armaan!
Armaan: (afraid himself) Shhh...
Terrorist: Kisi ke muh se awaaz aayi to wo gaya kaam se...
Just then police sirens could be heard. The terrorists stationed themselve at the windows. The battle begun. Armaan looked at the others. All was his fault. They were here because of him. All lives were in danger. The smell of gunpowder was filling their nostrils. One terrorist was standing over their heads with an AK-56 in ihis hand. Muskaan was glued to Rahul. He had kept his hand on her back. Kirti was terrified and so was Shubhankar. The security guards of the hotel lay dead before their eyes. Anjali and Atul were looking at each other. Shashank was sitting beside Ridhimaa, holding her hand. More blasts. More people dead. It was nearing midnight. Police and ATS could not get the better off the terrorists. The terrorists did not even provide food. Anjali could not sustain the hunger, she fainted. The people around her were shocked.
Atul: Anjali!
The third terrorist turned towards Atul and put him at gunpoint.
Terrorist 3: Tu bola kaise?
Armaan: Atul ko chodiye... Anjali behosh ho gayi hai...
The terrorist put the gun at Armaan's head and left Atul.
Terrorist 3: Ab tu mujhe sikhaayega ki kise chodna hai... kise nahi...
Then his gaze fell on Anjali.
Terrorist 3: Isey kya hua?
Armaan: Main... main doctor hoon... main dekhun?
Terrorist 3: Dekh...
Armaan bent over Anjali at gunpoint. He slapped Anjali's face gently. Anjali opened her eyes. Just then the terrorist was diverted at a call on his walkie. Armaan whispered into Anjali's ear.
Armaan: Anjali... aankhein mat kholna... aise hi leti raho... main tumhe baahar niklawaane ja raha hoon... OK...
The terrorist could not hear what Armaan was saying.
Armaan: (to the terrorist) Iski haalat baut kharaab hai... agar jald hi ise hospital nahi le jaaya gaya to... to iski jaan ko khatra ho sakta hai...
Ridhimaa looked at Armaan. He squeezed her hand gently. The terrorist held Armaan by the collar of his shirt and flung him away from Anjali. Armaan did not resist. He crawled towards Ridhimaa.
Terrorist 3: Hume order mila hai ki hum kinhi chaar logon ko rihaa karein...
He selected four young men to free them.
Armaan: Pehle auraton aur bachhon ko nikaalo...
He was again at gun point.
Terrorist 4: Hum soch rahe hain ki pehle tujhe hi maar daalein...
Armaan: Maar daalo...
Terrorist 1: Tujhe maut ka darr nahi hai?
Armaan: Nahi... tum jise kaayaron se mujhe darrne ki koi zaroorat nahi... jab tum log apna mazhab nahi bacha paaoge to apne kaam me kaise kaamyaab hoge? Islaam kehta hai ki pehle auraton aur bachhon ki hifaazat karo...
A terrorist put the muzzle of the gun in Armaan's mouth. Ridhimaa was stunned.
Terrorist 2: Ab tu kuch bhi bola to teri khair nahi... (to the other terrorists) Pehle auraton aur bachhon ko nikaalo...
The terrorist selected two kids, Anjali and Kirti.
Terrorist 1: (to Kirti) Tu isey sambhaal...
But Kirti could not hold Anjali erect. The terrorist then made Shashank get up.
Terrorist 1: Tu bhi inke saath ja... us ladki ko sambhaal... aur baahar jaakar kisine muh khola... to mujhse bura koi nahi hoga...
They all were left. The battle resumed. It was dawn. Nobody rested. Through the conversations between the terrorists, they came to know that they had not only captured the Taj Hotel but also the Trident and the Oberoi hotel. Ridhimaa kept her head on Armaan's lap and closed her eyes. Armaan knew she wasn't sleeping. Nobody was able to sleep.
The next day also, there was no change. No one came to their rescue. Armaan could not do anything. There were numerous people who could be affected if he did anything. People were feeling very hungry. Some were crying. The terrorists were annoyed. They brought some food and distributed it among the hostages. Armaan did not touch his packet. He stroked Ridhimaa's hair.
Armaan: (softly) Ridhimaa... Ridhimaa...
Ridhimaa raised her head.
Armaan: Ridhimaa... kuch kha lo...
Ridhimaa first gazed at his face and then looked at the food packet. She shoved it aside.
Ridhimaa: Armaan... mujhe bahut darr lag raha hai...
Armaan hugged her.
Armaan: Tumhe kuch nahi hoga... I promise...
The terrorists saw him speaking. The dragged him away from Ridhimaa. Ridhimaa was left crying on her own.
Terrorist 4: (to others) Ye log aise nahi samjhenge... hume inhe maarna padega...
It was nearing evening.
Terrorist 2: Nariman House aur Trident ke humaare saathi giraftaar ho gaye hain...
Terrorist 1: Ab hum dikhaate hain hum kya kar sakte hain...
They picked up ten Hindu people amongst whom, Ridhimaa and Rahul were also there.
Terrorist 3: Bhoon daalo in logon ko.
Armaan was dead scared. The ten people were lined against the wall.
Armaan: Ye tum log kya kar rahe ho? Ye gunaah hai...
Terrorist 1: Tu beech me mat bol... warna agla number tera hi hoga...
But Armaan could not let this happen. He looked at the innocent people and then at Rahul and then at Ridhimaa.
Armaan: Chod do inhe...
Terrorist 1: Kyun? Tujhe kya karna hai?
Armaan: Tumhe jo karna hai... mere saath karo... inhe chod do...
Terrorist 3: Naam kya hai tera?
Armaan: Dr.Armaan Mallik...
Terrorist 1: Tu wahi hai na jo logon ka maseeha bana firta hai... musalmaan hote hue hinduon se dosti karta hai...
Armaan: Main hindustaani hoon... apna farz nibhaata hoon... lekin tum log... tum log musalmaan to kya insaan kehlaane ke laayak bhi nahi ho... tum to jaanwar se bhi badtar ho... jaanwar ki bhookh shaant ho jaaye to wo shikaar karna band kar deta hai... lekin tum to unse bhi gaye guzre ho... tumhara khuda tumhe kabhi maaf nahi karega...
Rahul,Ridhimaa: (together) Armaan... nahi...
The terrorist looked at Rahul and Ridhimaa and then at Armaan. An evil grin spread on his face.
Terrorist 1: To tum log iske dost ho... hindu hote hue... iske dost ho... main dikhaata hoon iska nateeja tum logon ko...
The terrorist pinned Rahul against a wall and put a grenade against his head.
Armaan: Nahi!


Love you Karan Armaan Mallik Singh Grover,
Love you Sukirti Ridhimaa Khandpal,
Please vote for Karan,
[sms: KARAN to 52525]
[Call 5052525 and select 21]
[BSNL/MTNL dial: 1861 888 2525 21]
Love,
Lovy

Click Here to Read More..