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Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Armaan-Abhimanyu part 17
The evening turns into a celebration of sorts … Dr. Shashank has been reinstated and Dr. Keerti is back as well. Abhimanyu will stay on for some time, to help resolve the financial issues, as all the funds have not been recovered. So all’s well that ends well. (dia’s note – and the strike is over as well – as is this story!) Everybody stays on for dinner at Shashank and Padma’s invitation, and it becomes a party atmosphere. All are in a very good mood and it is late by the time they all leave.
As soon as they all go, including Anjali for night duty (dia’s note – had to get rid of her), Riddhima waits for her parents to retire to their room, and almost runs to Armaan’s room, heart beating fast. She had not talked to him all evening … had not known what to say, and she didn’t want to say it in front of so many people.
She enters his room very quietly … he is standing with his back to the door, a letter in his hand. She closes the door and leans against it, looking at him …
Then he turns … and sees her ….
There is no need for words.
The letter falls to the floor as he opens his arms … and she runs into them. They close around her tightly, they hold each other close, her tears finally flowing, tears of sheer relief.
He lifts his head. She looks at him, smiling through her tears. He holds her face in his hands, wiping the tears with his thumbs.
Rid: Armaan … I’m sorry …
He shushes her, a finger on her lips, shaking his head slightly.
Ar: “voh … kab …?” gesturing to the letter.
Rid: “kal raat … tumhare phone ke baad … tum night duty par the …”
He smiles softly.
Ar (in explanation): Main tab se kamre mein aaya nahin … aaj subah jab se ghar aaya, tumhare papa ke saath tha, phir Abhimanyu … abhi dekhi …
She nods ... it doesn’t matter. He knows now that she trusted him even before she knew the truth … that was all that mattered to her … to them. She looks at his face so close to hers, his eyes smiling and sends a silent prayer of thanks to whatever diety had prompted her to write … She recalls what she wrote in the letter …
“Armaan,
Tumne mujhse aaj ek sawaal poocha … kya main tum par bharosa karti hun?
Tumhe papa aur Abhimanyu Modi ke saath dekh kar mujhe bahut bura laga … laga ki tum Modi ke saath papa ke khilaaf ja rahe ho …
Magar phir maine socha … main itna zaroor jaanti hun ki tum kabhi aisa kadam nahin uthaoge jo tumhe galat lage … aur tum sirf apne liye Modi ka saath nahin doge … tum tabhi uska saath doge agar tumhe lage ki voh sahi hai …
Iss liye … mera jawab hai … haan, Armaan, mujhe tum par bharosa hai … ki jo tum kar rahe ho, use peeche koi vajah zaroor hai … jise tum sahi samajhte ho.
Lekin, Armaan, tum hi kaha tha ki Riddhima Armaan alag nahin hain … main tumhare saath khushiyan hi nahin, tumhari pareshani aur dukh bhi baantna chahti hun. Jab tumhe sahi lage, mere saath apni yeh pareshani bhi baant lena … sab kuch seh sakti hun, lekin tumse doori ab nahin seh sakti.”
He holds her close again.
Ar (softly, apologetically): main tumhe batana chahta tha … lekin tumhare papa ne mana kiya … aur voh theek bhi the … kaise bolta ki unhe fraud ke maamle mein suspect kiya ja raha hai? Tumhara dil toot jaata … aur unka bhi. Ek aadmi apni beizzati saari duniya ke saamne bardaasht kar sakta hai, lekin apne bachchon ki nazaron mein girna, uske liye bahut mushkil baat hoti hai …
He stops and looks at her, as though searching for her understanding.
Rid (she looks at him questioningly): Armaan … ek baat bataoge? (he nods) … agar papa tumhe chup rehne ko nahin kehte … kya tum mujhe yeh baat bata dete?
He thinks for a bit … then slowly shakes his head.
Ar: Shayad … nahin. Yeh ek aisi baat thi, jo shayad unke bina kahe bhi … main tumhe nahin bata sakta … (he starts to say more, but she stops him with a finger on his lips.)
Rid (softly): Tum mujhe sachmuch bahut achchi tarah se jaante ho, Armaan. Aur kuch chupane ke liye main shayad tumhe maaf nahin kar paati … lekin … yeh baat … main sachmuch seh nahin paati. (she looks up at him, lifts a hand to his face and says simply) … thank you …
She reaches up to kiss his forehead. He holds her close again, his cheek close to hers.
Ishq leta hai, kaise imtihan ….
After some time, she looks up at him, a very small smile on her face.
Rid (mock-scolding him): lekin abhi maaf kar diya, iska yeh matlab nahin ki tum mujhse aur kuch chupao … kuch bhi … Dr. Armaan Mallik … samjhe? Kuch nahin … aur kabhi nahin! Agli baar maafi nahi milegi! Mujhe sab kuch batana hoga! Chahe papa kahen ya koi aur … chahe usse mujhe kitna bhi dukh ho …!!!
Ar (teasing her back): chahe kitna bhi dukh ho? Oh, to apni pehle ki teen biwiyon ke baare mein abhi bata dun … unke baare mein bhi sun kar tumhe dukh to hoga … lekin mujhe sab sach bata dena chahiye … hai na?
She punches him with her fists.
Rid: Armaan!!!!
They both laugh, then he links his arms around her waist, and looks at her lovingly.
Ar: I love you, Riddhima (kisses her very gently).
Rid (smiles back at him tearfully): I love you …
Now it’s really … The END!!!!
As soon as they all go, including Anjali for night duty (dia’s note – had to get rid of her), Riddhima waits for her parents to retire to their room, and almost runs to Armaan’s room, heart beating fast. She had not talked to him all evening … had not known what to say, and she didn’t want to say it in front of so many people.
She enters his room very quietly … he is standing with his back to the door, a letter in his hand. She closes the door and leans against it, looking at him …
Then he turns … and sees her ….
There is no need for words.
The letter falls to the floor as he opens his arms … and she runs into them. They close around her tightly, they hold each other close, her tears finally flowing, tears of sheer relief.
He lifts his head. She looks at him, smiling through her tears. He holds her face in his hands, wiping the tears with his thumbs.
Rid: Armaan … I’m sorry …
He shushes her, a finger on her lips, shaking his head slightly.
Ar: “voh … kab …?” gesturing to the letter.
Rid: “kal raat … tumhare phone ke baad … tum night duty par the …”
He smiles softly.
Ar (in explanation): Main tab se kamre mein aaya nahin … aaj subah jab se ghar aaya, tumhare papa ke saath tha, phir Abhimanyu … abhi dekhi …
She nods ... it doesn’t matter. He knows now that she trusted him even before she knew the truth … that was all that mattered to her … to them. She looks at his face so close to hers, his eyes smiling and sends a silent prayer of thanks to whatever diety had prompted her to write … She recalls what she wrote in the letter …
“Armaan,
Tumne mujhse aaj ek sawaal poocha … kya main tum par bharosa karti hun?
Tumhe papa aur Abhimanyu Modi ke saath dekh kar mujhe bahut bura laga … laga ki tum Modi ke saath papa ke khilaaf ja rahe ho …
Magar phir maine socha … main itna zaroor jaanti hun ki tum kabhi aisa kadam nahin uthaoge jo tumhe galat lage … aur tum sirf apne liye Modi ka saath nahin doge … tum tabhi uska saath doge agar tumhe lage ki voh sahi hai …
Iss liye … mera jawab hai … haan, Armaan, mujhe tum par bharosa hai … ki jo tum kar rahe ho, use peeche koi vajah zaroor hai … jise tum sahi samajhte ho.
Lekin, Armaan, tum hi kaha tha ki Riddhima Armaan alag nahin hain … main tumhare saath khushiyan hi nahin, tumhari pareshani aur dukh bhi baantna chahti hun. Jab tumhe sahi lage, mere saath apni yeh pareshani bhi baant lena … sab kuch seh sakti hun, lekin tumse doori ab nahin seh sakti.”
He holds her close again.
Ar (softly, apologetically): main tumhe batana chahta tha … lekin tumhare papa ne mana kiya … aur voh theek bhi the … kaise bolta ki unhe fraud ke maamle mein suspect kiya ja raha hai? Tumhara dil toot jaata … aur unka bhi. Ek aadmi apni beizzati saari duniya ke saamne bardaasht kar sakta hai, lekin apne bachchon ki nazaron mein girna, uske liye bahut mushkil baat hoti hai …
He stops and looks at her, as though searching for her understanding.
Rid (she looks at him questioningly): Armaan … ek baat bataoge? (he nods) … agar papa tumhe chup rehne ko nahin kehte … kya tum mujhe yeh baat bata dete?
He thinks for a bit … then slowly shakes his head.
Ar: Shayad … nahin. Yeh ek aisi baat thi, jo shayad unke bina kahe bhi … main tumhe nahin bata sakta … (he starts to say more, but she stops him with a finger on his lips.)
Rid (softly): Tum mujhe sachmuch bahut achchi tarah se jaante ho, Armaan. Aur kuch chupane ke liye main shayad tumhe maaf nahin kar paati … lekin … yeh baat … main sachmuch seh nahin paati. (she looks up at him, lifts a hand to his face and says simply) … thank you …
She reaches up to kiss his forehead. He holds her close again, his cheek close to hers.
Ishq leta hai, kaise imtihan ….
After some time, she looks up at him, a very small smile on her face.
Rid (mock-scolding him): lekin abhi maaf kar diya, iska yeh matlab nahin ki tum mujhse aur kuch chupao … kuch bhi … Dr. Armaan Mallik … samjhe? Kuch nahin … aur kabhi nahin! Agli baar maafi nahi milegi! Mujhe sab kuch batana hoga! Chahe papa kahen ya koi aur … chahe usse mujhe kitna bhi dukh ho …!!!
Ar (teasing her back): chahe kitna bhi dukh ho? Oh, to apni pehle ki teen biwiyon ke baare mein abhi bata dun … unke baare mein bhi sun kar tumhe dukh to hoga … lekin mujhe sab sach bata dena chahiye … hai na?
She punches him with her fists.
Rid: Armaan!!!!
They both laugh, then he links his arms around her waist, and looks at her lovingly.
Ar: I love you, Riddhima (kisses her very gently).
Rid (smiles back at him tearfully): I love you …
Now it’s really … The END!!!!
Armaan-Abhimanyu part 16
Shash: Aap sab log jaante ho ki Sanjeevani mein financial crisis hua … lekin aap yeh nahin jaante ki yeh crisis ek fraud ki vajah se hua tha … koi trust funds ke saath speculate kar raha tha. Abhimanyu Modi yehi investigate kar rahe the … aur unka shaq mujh par tha … kyunki … (he holds up a hand as there is an angry buzz and everyone looks at Abhimanyu resentfully) … main is trust ka signatory hun. Lekin …
Flashback to the morning of Dr. Shashank’s suspension:
Armaan sees the announcement on the notice board and is as speechless as the rest. This was not supposed to happen … Abhimanyu had promised him …
He strides to Abhimanyu’s office, anger making him walk faster. He knocks perfunctorily and enters …
Abhimanyu looks up.
Abhi (pleasantly): I thought I would have the pleasure of your company sooner or later this morning …
Ar (not listening, angrily): what the hell is going on??? You said you would give me some more time to look …
Abhi: what you found already … and what I have found … abhi ke liye kaafi hai …
Ar: Mujhe aisa kuch nahin mila … jiski vajah se tumne yeh step uthaya hai … there’s still nothing concrete! Aur unhone apne personal funds Sanjeevani mein transfer kare hain … not the other way around …
Abhi: And why would he do that? Pakde jaane ke darr se … to replace what he had taken out … it’s very clear, Armaan! Aur mujhe jo bank se documents mile hain … well, both put together are enough …
Ar: They are not!!! I’m telling you … documents jaise bhi hon … tumhare conclusions galat hain …
He stops … Dr. Shashank has entered quietly. Both the men stare at each other, then Armaan’s gaze falls. He makes to leave.
Abhi: Ruko, Armaan. Kahiye, sir.
Dr. Shash (ironically): ab to mujhe aapko Sir kehna chahiye …
Abhi: Aisi koi baat nahin hai … aap abhi bhi mujhse senior hain … please, baithiye …
Dr. Shashank sits down – he looks at Armaan and gestures at the other chair. A little surprised, Armaan also sits.
Dr. Shashank looks back at Abhimanyu.
Sh: So … aapne kar hi diya. Now what?
Abhi: Now you tell me …
Sh: Maine aapse pehle bhi kaha hai … jabse mujhe pata chala hai, main bhi pata lagane ki koshish kar raha hun. Aur rahi paison ki baat … main vapas daalne ki koshish kar raha tha … that’s all.
Ar (starts): I told you …!!! (he stops at Dr. Shashank’s look)
Abhi: That’s not good enough. Papers par aapke signatures hain. Ya to aap mujhe proof dikhayiye ki yeh sab aapne nahin kiya … otherwise …
Sha: I don’t have proof, Abhimanyu … if I did, to tumhe mujhse yeh kehne ki zaroorat nahin hoti.
Ar: Abhimanyu … tumne kaha that tum muhe vaqt doge … give me some more time, man … main proof dhoond dunga … there must be something … I’m telling you … this is a mistake …
He pushes his hands through his hair in agitation. Abhimanyu looks at him consideringly, and then back at Dr. Shashank.
Abhi: theek hai … I’ll give you the benefit of doubt … lekin main bahut zyaada vaqt nahin de sakta. I have to meet the trustees next week … tab tak tum (looking at Armaan) koshish kar sakte ho.
Sh: Thanks, Abhimanyu … mujhe pata nahin ki iska kuch fayda hoga par …
Ar: Sir, don’t give up hope! Hum koshish to kar sakte hain …
Sh (shrugs his shoulders, but it’s obvious he is not optimistic): … theek hai … tum koshish kar lo , lekin one request - Yeh baat … ki yahan fraud ka maamla hai, yeh baat is kamre se bahar nahin jaani chahiye. Main nahin chahta ki meri betiyon ko pata chale ki mujhe … I am being suspected of dishonesty … voh sambhal nahin payengi. Agar Armaan kaamyab nahin hua – I will resign.
For the first time, he looks seriously upset. Armaan swallows. Now he knows exactly what Riddhima went through … hiding this from her is not going to be easy … for both of them … He nods briefly.
Ar: Ji, Sir. I understand
Abhi : Agreed … is kamre ke bahar, kisi ko bhi iss baat ki bhanak tak bhi nahin pade ki asli mamla kya hai. Dr. Shashank remains suspended …
Armaan and Dr. Shashank both nod.
Ar: it’s better that way, Sir … jisne bhi kiya hai, use lagega ki aapko pakad liya hai … shayad voh relax karke kuch galti kar de …
Dr. Shashank looks at him.
Sh: Armaan … tum bahut sure ho ki kasoorvar main nahi hun … (he ends with a question in his voice. Armaan looks directly back at him.)
Ar (simply, firmly): Yes, Sir.
All three get up … Armaan makes for the door, followed by Dr. Shashank. As he opens the door, he freezes.
Anjali and Riddhima stare at him accusingly.
Back to present :
Sh (looks at them all): So … Armaan yeh koshish kar raha tha … yeh dhoondne ki kaun yeh sab kar raha hai …
Abhi: I’m sorry, Dr. Shashank … agar main aapko aur achchi tarah se jaanta, to main yeh kabhi nahin sochta …
Sh: It’s all right, Dr. Abhimanyu …you were doing your job … aur saare signs meri hi taraf point kar rahe the … so I don’t blame you. And I’m grateful to both of you … tumne mujhe sab ke saamne accuse nahin kiya … aur Armaan ko vaqt diya … aur Armaan … he had complete trust in me … aur akhir usne proof nikal hi diya, asli gunehgaar ko pakadne ke liye …
Anj: But who was it, dad? And hua kya?
Sh: Anjali beta … it was my broker … jise main tees saal se jaanta hun. Tees saal se voh sab personal investments kar raha hai. Mujhe uss par itna bharosa tha ki main use blank forms sign karke de deta tha – issi ka usne fayda uthaya, aur Sanjeevani ke funds ko invest karke, profit nikalkar, funds vapas replace kar deta tha. Phir economic crisis hua aur paise banne ki jagah, losses hone lage, voh darr gaya aur bhi zyaada speculate karne lag gaya taaki paise replace kar sake … which never happened … The problem was that I had signed blank forms which he had used, the signatures were mine, so the finger pointed at me … I could not prove ki maine yeh nahin kiya hai … although shaq to broker par tha, as he was the only other person apart from me, who could have done this.
Rid (impatiently): phir … kaise …?
Dr. Shashank looks at Armaan smilingly.
Sh: Armaan … he went through all the documents … each and every one … aur ek bahut hi simple mistake saamne aa gayi … Broker thoda greedy ho gaya tha aur mere signatures forge karne lag gaya tha … aur kuch investments usne forged signatures ke saath uss time par kare, jab Padma aur main Paris mein honeymoon par gaye hue the. So I could not have been responsible … voh forgery samne aayi, to humne baaki forms bhi handwriting expert ko dikhaye … and bas, we got the proof we needed!!! Broker ko confront kiya … aur usne sab confess kar diya.
He breaks into a broad smile, and the others all crowd around him and Armaan, congratulating them. Rahul, Anjali, Muskaan, Atul and Nikita come up to Armaan and very shame-facedly apologise … they make up, but Riddhima stays on the periphery … looking at Arman, willing him to look back at her … how she wishes she had managed to tell him before all this that she did trust him! Now will he believe her? Will he forgive her for not trusting him …?) ….
The END
Dia’s note - Hey … end kaise … no AR???!!!!
Ok – last pre-cap … next part - will Armaan forgive Riddhima? (Is that really a question??!!)
Flashback to the morning of Dr. Shashank’s suspension:
Armaan sees the announcement on the notice board and is as speechless as the rest. This was not supposed to happen … Abhimanyu had promised him …
He strides to Abhimanyu’s office, anger making him walk faster. He knocks perfunctorily and enters …
Abhimanyu looks up.
Abhi (pleasantly): I thought I would have the pleasure of your company sooner or later this morning …
Ar (not listening, angrily): what the hell is going on??? You said you would give me some more time to look …
Abhi: what you found already … and what I have found … abhi ke liye kaafi hai …
Ar: Mujhe aisa kuch nahin mila … jiski vajah se tumne yeh step uthaya hai … there’s still nothing concrete! Aur unhone apne personal funds Sanjeevani mein transfer kare hain … not the other way around …
Abhi: And why would he do that? Pakde jaane ke darr se … to replace what he had taken out … it’s very clear, Armaan! Aur mujhe jo bank se documents mile hain … well, both put together are enough …
Ar: They are not!!! I’m telling you … documents jaise bhi hon … tumhare conclusions galat hain …
He stops … Dr. Shashank has entered quietly. Both the men stare at each other, then Armaan’s gaze falls. He makes to leave.
Abhi: Ruko, Armaan. Kahiye, sir.
Dr. Shash (ironically): ab to mujhe aapko Sir kehna chahiye …
Abhi: Aisi koi baat nahin hai … aap abhi bhi mujhse senior hain … please, baithiye …
Dr. Shashank sits down – he looks at Armaan and gestures at the other chair. A little surprised, Armaan also sits.
Dr. Shashank looks back at Abhimanyu.
Sh: So … aapne kar hi diya. Now what?
Abhi: Now you tell me …
Sh: Maine aapse pehle bhi kaha hai … jabse mujhe pata chala hai, main bhi pata lagane ki koshish kar raha hun. Aur rahi paison ki baat … main vapas daalne ki koshish kar raha tha … that’s all.
Ar (starts): I told you …!!! (he stops at Dr. Shashank’s look)
Abhi: That’s not good enough. Papers par aapke signatures hain. Ya to aap mujhe proof dikhayiye ki yeh sab aapne nahin kiya … otherwise …
Sha: I don’t have proof, Abhimanyu … if I did, to tumhe mujhse yeh kehne ki zaroorat nahin hoti.
Ar: Abhimanyu … tumne kaha that tum muhe vaqt doge … give me some more time, man … main proof dhoond dunga … there must be something … I’m telling you … this is a mistake …
He pushes his hands through his hair in agitation. Abhimanyu looks at him consideringly, and then back at Dr. Shashank.
Abhi: theek hai … I’ll give you the benefit of doubt … lekin main bahut zyaada vaqt nahin de sakta. I have to meet the trustees next week … tab tak tum (looking at Armaan) koshish kar sakte ho.
Sh: Thanks, Abhimanyu … mujhe pata nahin ki iska kuch fayda hoga par …
Ar: Sir, don’t give up hope! Hum koshish to kar sakte hain …
Sh (shrugs his shoulders, but it’s obvious he is not optimistic): … theek hai … tum koshish kar lo , lekin one request - Yeh baat … ki yahan fraud ka maamla hai, yeh baat is kamre se bahar nahin jaani chahiye. Main nahin chahta ki meri betiyon ko pata chale ki mujhe … I am being suspected of dishonesty … voh sambhal nahin payengi. Agar Armaan kaamyab nahin hua – I will resign.
For the first time, he looks seriously upset. Armaan swallows. Now he knows exactly what Riddhima went through … hiding this from her is not going to be easy … for both of them … He nods briefly.
Ar: Ji, Sir. I understand
Abhi : Agreed … is kamre ke bahar, kisi ko bhi iss baat ki bhanak tak bhi nahin pade ki asli mamla kya hai. Dr. Shashank remains suspended …
Armaan and Dr. Shashank both nod.
Ar: it’s better that way, Sir … jisne bhi kiya hai, use lagega ki aapko pakad liya hai … shayad voh relax karke kuch galti kar de …
Dr. Shashank looks at him.
Sh: Armaan … tum bahut sure ho ki kasoorvar main nahi hun … (he ends with a question in his voice. Armaan looks directly back at him.)
Ar (simply, firmly): Yes, Sir.
All three get up … Armaan makes for the door, followed by Dr. Shashank. As he opens the door, he freezes.
Anjali and Riddhima stare at him accusingly.
Back to present :
Sh (looks at them all): So … Armaan yeh koshish kar raha tha … yeh dhoondne ki kaun yeh sab kar raha hai …
Abhi: I’m sorry, Dr. Shashank … agar main aapko aur achchi tarah se jaanta, to main yeh kabhi nahin sochta …
Sh: It’s all right, Dr. Abhimanyu …you were doing your job … aur saare signs meri hi taraf point kar rahe the … so I don’t blame you. And I’m grateful to both of you … tumne mujhe sab ke saamne accuse nahin kiya … aur Armaan ko vaqt diya … aur Armaan … he had complete trust in me … aur akhir usne proof nikal hi diya, asli gunehgaar ko pakadne ke liye …
Anj: But who was it, dad? And hua kya?
Sh: Anjali beta … it was my broker … jise main tees saal se jaanta hun. Tees saal se voh sab personal investments kar raha hai. Mujhe uss par itna bharosa tha ki main use blank forms sign karke de deta tha – issi ka usne fayda uthaya, aur Sanjeevani ke funds ko invest karke, profit nikalkar, funds vapas replace kar deta tha. Phir economic crisis hua aur paise banne ki jagah, losses hone lage, voh darr gaya aur bhi zyaada speculate karne lag gaya taaki paise replace kar sake … which never happened … The problem was that I had signed blank forms which he had used, the signatures were mine, so the finger pointed at me … I could not prove ki maine yeh nahin kiya hai … although shaq to broker par tha, as he was the only other person apart from me, who could have done this.
Rid (impatiently): phir … kaise …?
Dr. Shashank looks at Armaan smilingly.
Sh: Armaan … he went through all the documents … each and every one … aur ek bahut hi simple mistake saamne aa gayi … Broker thoda greedy ho gaya tha aur mere signatures forge karne lag gaya tha … aur kuch investments usne forged signatures ke saath uss time par kare, jab Padma aur main Paris mein honeymoon par gaye hue the. So I could not have been responsible … voh forgery samne aayi, to humne baaki forms bhi handwriting expert ko dikhaye … and bas, we got the proof we needed!!! Broker ko confront kiya … aur usne sab confess kar diya.
He breaks into a broad smile, and the others all crowd around him and Armaan, congratulating them. Rahul, Anjali, Muskaan, Atul and Nikita come up to Armaan and very shame-facedly apologise … they make up, but Riddhima stays on the periphery … looking at Arman, willing him to look back at her … how she wishes she had managed to tell him before all this that she did trust him! Now will he believe her? Will he forgive her for not trusting him …?) ….
The END
Dia’s note - Hey … end kaise … no AR???!!!!
Ok – last pre-cap … next part - will Armaan forgive Riddhima? (Is that really a question??!!)
Armaan-Abhimanyu Part 15
Riddhima stares at Armaan, dumbstruck … and she feels her anger rising again. So after all that talk about her trusting him, he’s spying on her father … thinking that nobody will be home at this time, he’s going through all Dr. Shashank’s papers … and here she was thinking she would talk to him, tell him that no, she did trust him …
She makes a move forward, ready to confront him … and then stops again.
Dr. Shashank appears from one side – he had been behind a bookshelf … he brings some more papers and hands them to Armaan … Armaan looks up and takes them, frowning. Both men look at the papers and shake their heads …
There is a murmured conversation … she can’t hear anything, then Armaan picks up some papers and files and holds out his hand. Dr. Shashank gives him his phone and they talk softly again.
Armaan looks up suddenly, as though sensing another presence, and Riddhima ducks back behind the curtain … her brain is whirling … what is going on?
Armaan starts to leave and Riddhima quickly moves away so that he can’t see her ... both men now come out of the study and go to the front door, Armaan leaves and Dr. Shashank stands at the door for a few seconds and then comes back, looking depressed and worried.
Riddhima stares at her father … then she decides against talking to him just then … she is too confused as to what is going on, she will talk to Armaan first, she thinks … she goes to her room, her headache now in full force as she sits on her bed and tries to understand what is going on.
In Sanjeevani …
Armaan … in Abhimanyu’s room … door shut, both deep in conversation with a very serious looking man, dressed in a dark suit and tie … all three are going through papers and files …
A few hours later … Armaan and Abhimanyu are still there … now in conversation with another stranger …
A police officer and another plain clothes man join the group.
Some time later … Abhimanyu’s room is empty.
Gupta house :
Ridhima has dozed off … her headache and the tension got too much for her … she is awakened by Anjali shaking her shoulder. She springs awake. For the first time in days, Anjali is looking cheerful … very cheerful … !!!
Anj: Ridzi, get up … jaldi aa jaa … it’s all sorted out … Dad’s back!!! … and Dr. Keerti bhi vapas aa gayi hain …
Riddhima jumps up.
Rid: Dr. Keerti? Papa …?
Anj (impatiently): Haan … jaldi kar … sab log yahan hain … Dad sabse baat karna chahte hain.
Both girls go into the hall, where as Anjali said, everyone is gathered … Dr. Shashank, looking relieved and relaxed, Padma, Shubhankar, Rahul Muskaan, Atul, Nikita, Abhimanyu, Keerti and Armaan. Padma is smiling, Abhimanyu is sitting on the sofa, looking completely at home and Keerti and Shubhankar are looking very happy. Dr. Shashank looks up and sees Riddhima and Anjali …
Sh: Riddhima … kahan thi … come, come …
Riddhima looks wonderingly at everyone and then she looks at Armaan.
He looks back at her, a closed expression on his face … and for a few seconds, all the people around her fade and she can see only him … as though they are the only two people in the room … she tries to convey through her eyes …
Then Dr. Shashank claps him on the shoulder …
Sh: well done, Armaan! Maine to yeh socha bhi nahin tha …
Abhi: Good thinking!
Shub: Lekin yeh sab …
Keerti: Thank god .. sab saamne aa gaya …
Riddhima looks around at everyone … the other interns are also looking foxed. Dr. Shashank says …
Sh: Well, now that it seems to be all over, main aap sab ko explanation de sakta hun … Abhimanyu ..?
Abhimanyu nods.
Abhi: Aapne kaha tha ki aap sab ek family jaise hain … so I agree … they all deserve to know … lekin pehle main yeh announce kar dun … Dr. Shashank is back to his former position … and jo yeh sab problem ke liye zimmedar tha … usse pakda gaya hai … thanks to Armaan …
Rid (looking at Armaan, but he avoids her gaze): papa … yeh sab … kaise?
She makes a move forward, ready to confront him … and then stops again.
Dr. Shashank appears from one side – he had been behind a bookshelf … he brings some more papers and hands them to Armaan … Armaan looks up and takes them, frowning. Both men look at the papers and shake their heads …
There is a murmured conversation … she can’t hear anything, then Armaan picks up some papers and files and holds out his hand. Dr. Shashank gives him his phone and they talk softly again.
Armaan looks up suddenly, as though sensing another presence, and Riddhima ducks back behind the curtain … her brain is whirling … what is going on?
Armaan starts to leave and Riddhima quickly moves away so that he can’t see her ... both men now come out of the study and go to the front door, Armaan leaves and Dr. Shashank stands at the door for a few seconds and then comes back, looking depressed and worried.
Riddhima stares at her father … then she decides against talking to him just then … she is too confused as to what is going on, she will talk to Armaan first, she thinks … she goes to her room, her headache now in full force as she sits on her bed and tries to understand what is going on.
In Sanjeevani …
Armaan … in Abhimanyu’s room … door shut, both deep in conversation with a very serious looking man, dressed in a dark suit and tie … all three are going through papers and files …
A few hours later … Armaan and Abhimanyu are still there … now in conversation with another stranger …
A police officer and another plain clothes man join the group.
Some time later … Abhimanyu’s room is empty.
Gupta house :
Ridhima has dozed off … her headache and the tension got too much for her … she is awakened by Anjali shaking her shoulder. She springs awake. For the first time in days, Anjali is looking cheerful … very cheerful … !!!
Anj: Ridzi, get up … jaldi aa jaa … it’s all sorted out … Dad’s back!!! … and Dr. Keerti bhi vapas aa gayi hain …
Riddhima jumps up.
Rid: Dr. Keerti? Papa …?
Anj (impatiently): Haan … jaldi kar … sab log yahan hain … Dad sabse baat karna chahte hain.
Both girls go into the hall, where as Anjali said, everyone is gathered … Dr. Shashank, looking relieved and relaxed, Padma, Shubhankar, Rahul Muskaan, Atul, Nikita, Abhimanyu, Keerti and Armaan. Padma is smiling, Abhimanyu is sitting on the sofa, looking completely at home and Keerti and Shubhankar are looking very happy. Dr. Shashank looks up and sees Riddhima and Anjali …
Sh: Riddhima … kahan thi … come, come …
Riddhima looks wonderingly at everyone and then she looks at Armaan.
He looks back at her, a closed expression on his face … and for a few seconds, all the people around her fade and she can see only him … as though they are the only two people in the room … she tries to convey through her eyes …
Then Dr. Shashank claps him on the shoulder …
Sh: well done, Armaan! Maine to yeh socha bhi nahin tha …
Abhi: Good thinking!
Shub: Lekin yeh sab …
Keerti: Thank god .. sab saamne aa gaya …
Riddhima looks around at everyone … the other interns are also looking foxed. Dr. Shashank says …
Sh: Well, now that it seems to be all over, main aap sab ko explanation de sakta hun … Abhimanyu ..?
Abhimanyu nods.
Abhi: Aapne kaha tha ki aap sab ek family jaise hain … so I agree … they all deserve to know … lekin pehle main yeh announce kar dun … Dr. Shashank is back to his former position … and jo yeh sab problem ke liye zimmedar tha … usse pakda gaya hai … thanks to Armaan …
Rid (looking at Armaan, but he avoids her gaze): papa … yeh sab … kaise?
Friday, December 19, 2008
Armaan-Abhimanyu part 14
The next few days are not pleasant for anyone. The interns go about their work silently, completely ostracizing Armaan … Armaan tends to disappear for hours on end, no one knowing where he is. Surprisingly … or maybe not surprisingly, the interns discuss scornfully … Abhimanyu does not seem to be concerned at Armaan's frequent absences. And he seems to be perpetually on night duty, so he is never around during the day.
A few nights later,
At home - As Riddhima is getting ready for bed, her phone flashes … she looks at it … Armaan.
Pursing her lips, she ignores it. It rings again … and again.
Frowning, she looks at the bathroom door … Anjy will be out in a minute … she takes the phone and goes out onto the terrace. She presses the answer button, but doesn't speak.
Ar (in a somber tone): Baat bhi nahin karogi?
Rid (coldly): kuch baat karne ko raha nahin …
Ar: Riddhima … kam se kam yeh filmy dialogue to mat bolo … teen din se tumne mujhse ek shabd bhi nahin kaha …
Rid (still cold … doesn't he realize she is hurting so much at what she can only see as his betrayal): kya kahun, Armaan?
Ar (quietly): sirf itna keh do … ki tum mujh par vishwas karti ho … jo kuch bhi maine kiya, ya kar raha hun - tum jaanti ho ki kisi vajah se kar raha hun … Ya itna bhi bharosa nahin hai mujhpe … ?
She is stricken silent … his words stab her, suddenly and acutely painful. For the first time, the pain in his voice reaches her – he is hurting too … as much as she is, maybe even more. Déjà vu, she thinks slowly … when this whole thing had started, and her father had been disturbed, she hadn't told Armaan for ages … had expected his instant understanding – and he hadn't. And now he is expecting the same from her … and she finds herself equally unable to give him that … Had she been wrong then? Or is she wrong now … ?
She holds the phone close to her ear, her fingers tighten on the instrument … she wants to get angry, berate him … but at the same time she wants to listen, to hear something that will lessen the distance between them … that will explain …
Rid: to phir bolo, Armaan … kuch batao …
Armaan is silent. Her anger rises again.
Rid: Main sab samjhun … tum kuch nahin bologe … yehi expect kar rahe ho ki … tum par andha vishwas karun …
He is still quiet.
Rid (twisting the kada on her wrist … she makes a sudden move as though to take it off …)
Rid (annoyed and disappointed beyond measure at his continued silence): Kuch bolna hi nahin hai … to phone kyun kiya?
There is a long pause, then he says …
Ar: tumhari awaaz sunne …
There is silence again … the line is disconnected. She brings the phone down and stares at it. She sinks down onto the terrace floor, tears flowing silently, as she shoves the kada back onto her wrist, and clutches onto it tightly.
Next day -
Armaan is missing at work. And again, Abhimanyu doesn't seem concerned – he has been giving the interns duties himself since Dr. Shashank was suspended, and he matter-of-factly announces the duties for the rest. However Muskaan had seen Armaan and she confirms to the others that Armaan had come for his night duty the night before, so he was entitled to an off day.
Anj (resentfully): Acchcha hi hai ki voh night duty kare … at least humein uska munh nahin dekhna padega …
Riddhima is quiet, Armaan's phone call from the night before is preying constantly on her mind. She keeps hearing his voice again and again … itna bhi bharosa nahin hai mujhpe …? The tone of his voice haunts her with its utter loneliness …
By afternoon, she has a splitting headache from sheer tension. She requests Dr. Shubhankar and leaves early … maybe Armaan will be at home, and she can try to speak to him …
She reaches home and enters quietly … oh no, she thinks as she hears sounds from the study, papa is also home. She peeps into the study to check …
Armaan is sitting at Dr. Shashank's desk, a heap of papers and files next to him as he scribbles notes on a piece of paper. Riddhima stares at him in complete shock!
luv
dia
A few nights later,
At home - As Riddhima is getting ready for bed, her phone flashes … she looks at it … Armaan.
Pursing her lips, she ignores it. It rings again … and again.
Frowning, she looks at the bathroom door … Anjy will be out in a minute … she takes the phone and goes out onto the terrace. She presses the answer button, but doesn't speak.
Ar (in a somber tone): Baat bhi nahin karogi?
Rid (coldly): kuch baat karne ko raha nahin …
Ar: Riddhima … kam se kam yeh filmy dialogue to mat bolo … teen din se tumne mujhse ek shabd bhi nahin kaha …
Rid (still cold … doesn't he realize she is hurting so much at what she can only see as his betrayal): kya kahun, Armaan?
Ar (quietly): sirf itna keh do … ki tum mujh par vishwas karti ho … jo kuch bhi maine kiya, ya kar raha hun - tum jaanti ho ki kisi vajah se kar raha hun … Ya itna bhi bharosa nahin hai mujhpe … ?
She is stricken silent … his words stab her, suddenly and acutely painful. For the first time, the pain in his voice reaches her – he is hurting too … as much as she is, maybe even more. Déjà vu, she thinks slowly … when this whole thing had started, and her father had been disturbed, she hadn't told Armaan for ages … had expected his instant understanding – and he hadn't. And now he is expecting the same from her … and she finds herself equally unable to give him that … Had she been wrong then? Or is she wrong now … ?
She holds the phone close to her ear, her fingers tighten on the instrument … she wants to get angry, berate him … but at the same time she wants to listen, to hear something that will lessen the distance between them … that will explain …
Rid: to phir bolo, Armaan … kuch batao …
Armaan is silent. Her anger rises again.
Rid: Main sab samjhun … tum kuch nahin bologe … yehi expect kar rahe ho ki … tum par andha vishwas karun …
He is still quiet.
Rid (twisting the kada on her wrist … she makes a sudden move as though to take it off …)
Rid (annoyed and disappointed beyond measure at his continued silence): Kuch bolna hi nahin hai … to phone kyun kiya?
There is a long pause, then he says …
Ar: tumhari awaaz sunne …
There is silence again … the line is disconnected. She brings the phone down and stares at it. She sinks down onto the terrace floor, tears flowing silently, as she shoves the kada back onto her wrist, and clutches onto it tightly.
Next day -
Armaan is missing at work. And again, Abhimanyu doesn't seem concerned – he has been giving the interns duties himself since Dr. Shashank was suspended, and he matter-of-factly announces the duties for the rest. However Muskaan had seen Armaan and she confirms to the others that Armaan had come for his night duty the night before, so he was entitled to an off day.
Anj (resentfully): Acchcha hi hai ki voh night duty kare … at least humein uska munh nahin dekhna padega …
Riddhima is quiet, Armaan's phone call from the night before is preying constantly on her mind. She keeps hearing his voice again and again … itna bhi bharosa nahin hai mujhpe …? The tone of his voice haunts her with its utter loneliness …
By afternoon, she has a splitting headache from sheer tension. She requests Dr. Shubhankar and leaves early … maybe Armaan will be at home, and she can try to speak to him …
She reaches home and enters quietly … oh no, she thinks as she hears sounds from the study, papa is also home. She peeps into the study to check …
Armaan is sitting at Dr. Shashank's desk, a heap of papers and files next to him as he scribbles notes on a piece of paper. Riddhima stares at him in complete shock!
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dia
Armaan-Abhimanyu part 13
Back in the locker room
Armaan stands on one side, alone. The other six face him, their faces bearing identical expressions of anger and disgust. Riddhima stands slightly apart from the rest, twisting the kada on her wrist.
Ra: Humein bata kyun nahin sakte … kya baat hai … tum Abhimanyu Modi ke saath kya kar rahe the?
Ar (trying to appease their anger): Main sirf uske saath baat karne gaya tha …
Anj (angrily): Aur humein nahin bata sakte … aisi kya baat hai … jo tum hamare saath share nahin kar sakte? Voh Modi tumhara itna dost kab se ban gaya hai kya? Ya apne job ki fikar thi … Dr. Keerti, dad … uske baad tumhari baari na ho …?
Armaan looks at her helplessly – how to explain that he knows his job was never at stake?
Ar: Anjy, aisi baat nahin hai … mera hi job nahin, hum sab ke jobs, humara future … Sanjeevani ka future …
Rid (angrily): Sanjeevani ka future … Sanjeevani ko dad ne itne saalon se run kiya hai … unse zyaada tumhe Sanjeevani ki chinta hai kya?
Ar: Riddhima …
He looks at her pleadingly – looking for some understanding … but he had known this would happen … Riddhima's blind spot was her father, her family … and now she felt he was with Abhimanyu, and Abhimanyu was against her father …
She turns and walks out of the room.
The others look at him, and turn their backs on him. He looks at them, then shakes his head and leaves. There's no point … not till he manages to succeed in what he has to do.
Wanting some time alone, he goes up to the terrace. He stands at the edge, looking out … feeling completely alone … he had never wanted this, he thinks bitterly, all he wanted was his girl, and she was the one thing whom he never seemed to get. There was always one obstacle after another …
"Ab kisko dhokha dene ki soch rahe ho?"
Slowly he turns and looks around.
Riddhima is standing behind him.
Riddhima looks at Armaan steadily, her eyes clear. His gaze falls. Then he lifts his eyes and looks back at her, running his hands through his hair.
Ar: tum bhi mujhe samajhne ki koshish nahin karogi?
Rid (fiercely): kya samjhun? Bolo Armaan, main kya samjhun?
Ar: Riddhima …
Taking no notice, she continues,
Rid: Tumhe pata hai, Armaan, pichle hafte se … tum roz der se aa rahe ho … aur roz main chinta kare jaa rahi hun, ki koi baat hai, jo tum mujhe nahin bata rahe … lekin tum jaante ho main kya soch rahi thi …?
He is silent … he knows what she had been thinking, and he had kept her in the dark … had let her think that …
Riddhima (she comes up to him and speaks even more fiercely): Main soch rahi thi, ki problem tumhe hai … Modi tumhare peeche pada hai … tumhe yahan se bhejne ki baat kar raha hai … iss liye tum mujhse chupa rahe ho … roz raat main tumhare liye ro rahi thi … I cried myself to sleep every damn night, Armaan!!! (tears coming to her eyes again. He looks at her, his own eyes red and suspiciously moist … he puts out a hand to her and she shrugs it off angrily.)
Rid: Don't touch me! Muhe chuo mat! Main … main … Armaan, how could you do this?!!!
Ar: Riddhima, maine kuch nahin kiya, believe me! Abhimanyu …
She looks at him accusingly through her tears.
Rid: Tum jaante the ki voh Papa ko suspend karne vaala hai … voh papa ko yahan se nikalna chahta hai …?
Ar: Riddhima, voh Dr. Shashank ko nikalna nahin chahta … voh to sirf … (he stops … what the hell can he say?!! he thinks savagely! He's been sworn to silence, not just by Abhimanyu, but by her own father … He looks at Riddhima pleadingly.)
Ar: Riddhima, … please … trust me … sab theek ho jayega … (he stops again, furious at himself … how inane his words sound! Riddhima looks at him, her expression suddenly changing from anger to resignation.)
Rid: Pata nahin, Armaan … ab kabhi kuch theek hoga ki nahin …
She turns and leaves the terrace in tears. He looks after her, then smashes his fist into the wall. He sinks down against the wall, head in his hands.
luv
dia
Armaan stands on one side, alone. The other six face him, their faces bearing identical expressions of anger and disgust. Riddhima stands slightly apart from the rest, twisting the kada on her wrist.
Ra: Humein bata kyun nahin sakte … kya baat hai … tum Abhimanyu Modi ke saath kya kar rahe the?
Ar (trying to appease their anger): Main sirf uske saath baat karne gaya tha …
Anj (angrily): Aur humein nahin bata sakte … aisi kya baat hai … jo tum hamare saath share nahin kar sakte? Voh Modi tumhara itna dost kab se ban gaya hai kya? Ya apne job ki fikar thi … Dr. Keerti, dad … uske baad tumhari baari na ho …?
Armaan looks at her helplessly – how to explain that he knows his job was never at stake?
Ar: Anjy, aisi baat nahin hai … mera hi job nahin, hum sab ke jobs, humara future … Sanjeevani ka future …
Rid (angrily): Sanjeevani ka future … Sanjeevani ko dad ne itne saalon se run kiya hai … unse zyaada tumhe Sanjeevani ki chinta hai kya?
Ar: Riddhima …
He looks at her pleadingly – looking for some understanding … but he had known this would happen … Riddhima's blind spot was her father, her family … and now she felt he was with Abhimanyu, and Abhimanyu was against her father …
She turns and walks out of the room.
The others look at him, and turn their backs on him. He looks at them, then shakes his head and leaves. There's no point … not till he manages to succeed in what he has to do.
Wanting some time alone, he goes up to the terrace. He stands at the edge, looking out … feeling completely alone … he had never wanted this, he thinks bitterly, all he wanted was his girl, and she was the one thing whom he never seemed to get. There was always one obstacle after another …
"Ab kisko dhokha dene ki soch rahe ho?"
Slowly he turns and looks around.
Riddhima is standing behind him.
Riddhima looks at Armaan steadily, her eyes clear. His gaze falls. Then he lifts his eyes and looks back at her, running his hands through his hair.
Ar: tum bhi mujhe samajhne ki koshish nahin karogi?
Rid (fiercely): kya samjhun? Bolo Armaan, main kya samjhun?
Ar: Riddhima …
Taking no notice, she continues,
Rid: Tumhe pata hai, Armaan, pichle hafte se … tum roz der se aa rahe ho … aur roz main chinta kare jaa rahi hun, ki koi baat hai, jo tum mujhe nahin bata rahe … lekin tum jaante ho main kya soch rahi thi …?
He is silent … he knows what she had been thinking, and he had kept her in the dark … had let her think that …
Riddhima (she comes up to him and speaks even more fiercely): Main soch rahi thi, ki problem tumhe hai … Modi tumhare peeche pada hai … tumhe yahan se bhejne ki baat kar raha hai … iss liye tum mujhse chupa rahe ho … roz raat main tumhare liye ro rahi thi … I cried myself to sleep every damn night, Armaan!!! (tears coming to her eyes again. He looks at her, his own eyes red and suspiciously moist … he puts out a hand to her and she shrugs it off angrily.)
Rid: Don't touch me! Muhe chuo mat! Main … main … Armaan, how could you do this?!!!
Ar: Riddhima, maine kuch nahin kiya, believe me! Abhimanyu …
She looks at him accusingly through her tears.
Rid: Tum jaante the ki voh Papa ko suspend karne vaala hai … voh papa ko yahan se nikalna chahta hai …?
Ar: Riddhima, voh Dr. Shashank ko nikalna nahin chahta … voh to sirf … (he stops … what the hell can he say?!! he thinks savagely! He's been sworn to silence, not just by Abhimanyu, but by her own father … He looks at Riddhima pleadingly.)
Ar: Riddhima, … please … trust me … sab theek ho jayega … (he stops again, furious at himself … how inane his words sound! Riddhima looks at him, her expression suddenly changing from anger to resignation.)
Rid: Pata nahin, Armaan … ab kabhi kuch theek hoga ki nahin …
She turns and leaves the terrace in tears. He looks after her, then smashes his fist into the wall. He sinks down against the wall, head in his hands.
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dia
Armaan-Abhimanyu part 12
"Dr. Shashank Gupta is on indefinite leave from his duties in Sanjeevani until further notice."
Rahul, Muskaan, Nikita and Atul read the notice slowly over the heads of the other staff. They turn to look at each other, their expressions mirroring their shock. For once, they are completely speechless.
Anjali, Riddhima and Armaan reach Sanjeevani – as they enter, the crowd of nurses, staff and doctors makes way for them, the buzz of conversation dying away as they walk, and resuming with redoubled intensity behind them. They look around, a little surprised, then walk towards the nurses station. Rahul comes up to them.
Ra: Armaan … dude … problem … big problem …
Anjali and Riddhima look at the crowd around the notice board, then walk ahead. The crowd makes way for them … they look at the nurses, who avert their eyes … then they look at the board.
Anjali gives an exclamation … Riddhima gasps.
Armaan pushes forward … he reads the notice … he is shell shocked.
Anjali and Riddhima clutch each others' hands tightly.
Rahul, Muskaan, Nikita, Atul form a group around Anjali and Riddhima and quietly take them away. The girls go unresisting … almost in shock.
Armaan stands staring at the notice board for a few moments, his lips compressed, his eyes red.
The others go to the locker room and Muskaan and Nikita put their arms around Anjali and Riddhima. They sit on the bench, still speechless.
Rahul finds his voice first.
Ra: there must be some mistake … kuch galti hai …
Mus: Aise kaise yaar … yeh kya ho raha hai Sanjeevani mein ..?
Nik (fiercely): yeh Modi na … I hate that guy … yeh sab uski karni hai …
Anjali shakes her head, almost in a daze. Nikita holds Riddhima's hands comfortingly – they are shaking.
Nobody quite knows what to say. They look at Anjali and Riddhima and then at each other … Dr. Shubhankar enters, his face grim for once.
Shub: Doctors … main aapke liye teen baar announcement kar chukka hun … aap yahin hain? Please report for your duties …
Ra: Dr. Shubhankar … sir, Dr. Shashank …
Shub (sternly): Dr. Rahul … this has nothing to do with you all. Aap log apni duties par jayiye …
Ra (angrily): Sir … aap yeh kaise keh rahe hain … yeh Sanjeevani mein kya ho raha hai …
Shub (in his normal tone): Main jaanta hun, Dr. Rahul … yahan bahut kuch ho raha hai … jo pehle kabhi nahin hua. Iss liye I'm telling you all … please, aap log duties ke liye jayiye. Aaj kal kuch nahin pata … deevaron ke bhi kaan hote hain … zyada mat boliye. Baad mein hum yeh sab discuss kar sakte hain. Dr Anjali, Dr. Riddhima …
The girls look at him, still in a daze.
Shub (in a very kind tone): Aap dono aaj Path lab mein duty kijiye.
Anjali looks at him gratefully – she knows why Shubhankar is giving them this duty. In the Path lab they don't interact with patients or nurses, and at the moment, neither of them is capable of doing so. She gets up and pulls Riddhima to her feet.
Anj: Thanks, Dr. Shubhankar …
Riddhima looks around, coming slightly out of her daze – where is Armaan?
They disperse for work, all in a very solemn frame of mind.
In the Path lab, Anjali and Riddhima have their minds only half on their work.
Anj: Aisa kya ho gaya, Ridzi … why has Dr. Modi done this …
Riddhima shakes her head.
Rid: Papa bahut worried the … unki Dr. Modi ke saath pichle do teen din se roz meetings ho rahi hain … remember … (she remembers the night Armaan had come home so late, and she had told him about the meetings … where is Armaan???)
Anjali looks at her.
Anj: Ridzi … hum jaakar Dr. Modi se baat Karen … poochein to sahi ki kya hua … he's our father, we have a right to know …
Rid: Di, humein Papa se pehle nahin poochna chahiye? … papa aur mom ne bhi humein kuch nahin bataya, ki yeh sab kya ho raha hai …
Anjali thinks.
Anj: Agar dad ne humein batana hota, then he would have told us …
Rid: maybe he didn't know ki yeh hone vala hai … nahin to voh humein aise pata lagne nahin dete …
Anjali nods.
Anj: lekin, Ridzi … dad to Poona gaye the … trustees se milne … pata nahin aaj aayenge ki nahin. Modi se ek baar baat to karte hain …
Riddhima nods, still too upset to think straight. Where is Armaan??? She needs him …
Anjali and Riddhima leave for Abhimanyu Modi's office.
They look through the glass door and for the second time that morning, they are bereft of words.
Abhimanyu, Armaan and Dr. Shashank are talking fiercely and animatedly inside the room.
Precap – Where was Armaan???
****************************************************
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dia
Rahul, Muskaan, Nikita and Atul read the notice slowly over the heads of the other staff. They turn to look at each other, their expressions mirroring their shock. For once, they are completely speechless.
Anjali, Riddhima and Armaan reach Sanjeevani – as they enter, the crowd of nurses, staff and doctors makes way for them, the buzz of conversation dying away as they walk, and resuming with redoubled intensity behind them. They look around, a little surprised, then walk towards the nurses station. Rahul comes up to them.
Ra: Armaan … dude … problem … big problem …
Anjali and Riddhima look at the crowd around the notice board, then walk ahead. The crowd makes way for them … they look at the nurses, who avert their eyes … then they look at the board.
Anjali gives an exclamation … Riddhima gasps.
Armaan pushes forward … he reads the notice … he is shell shocked.
Anjali and Riddhima clutch each others' hands tightly.
Rahul, Muskaan, Nikita, Atul form a group around Anjali and Riddhima and quietly take them away. The girls go unresisting … almost in shock.
Armaan stands staring at the notice board for a few moments, his lips compressed, his eyes red.
The others go to the locker room and Muskaan and Nikita put their arms around Anjali and Riddhima. They sit on the bench, still speechless.
Rahul finds his voice first.
Ra: there must be some mistake … kuch galti hai …
Mus: Aise kaise yaar … yeh kya ho raha hai Sanjeevani mein ..?
Nik (fiercely): yeh Modi na … I hate that guy … yeh sab uski karni hai …
Anjali shakes her head, almost in a daze. Nikita holds Riddhima's hands comfortingly – they are shaking.
Nobody quite knows what to say. They look at Anjali and Riddhima and then at each other … Dr. Shubhankar enters, his face grim for once.
Shub: Doctors … main aapke liye teen baar announcement kar chukka hun … aap yahin hain? Please report for your duties …
Ra: Dr. Shubhankar … sir, Dr. Shashank …
Shub (sternly): Dr. Rahul … this has nothing to do with you all. Aap log apni duties par jayiye …
Ra (angrily): Sir … aap yeh kaise keh rahe hain … yeh Sanjeevani mein kya ho raha hai …
Shub (in his normal tone): Main jaanta hun, Dr. Rahul … yahan bahut kuch ho raha hai … jo pehle kabhi nahin hua. Iss liye I'm telling you all … please, aap log duties ke liye jayiye. Aaj kal kuch nahin pata … deevaron ke bhi kaan hote hain … zyada mat boliye. Baad mein hum yeh sab discuss kar sakte hain. Dr Anjali, Dr. Riddhima …
The girls look at him, still in a daze.
Shub (in a very kind tone): Aap dono aaj Path lab mein duty kijiye.
Anjali looks at him gratefully – she knows why Shubhankar is giving them this duty. In the Path lab they don't interact with patients or nurses, and at the moment, neither of them is capable of doing so. She gets up and pulls Riddhima to her feet.
Anj: Thanks, Dr. Shubhankar …
Riddhima looks around, coming slightly out of her daze – where is Armaan?
They disperse for work, all in a very solemn frame of mind.
In the Path lab, Anjali and Riddhima have their minds only half on their work.
Anj: Aisa kya ho gaya, Ridzi … why has Dr. Modi done this …
Riddhima shakes her head.
Rid: Papa bahut worried the … unki Dr. Modi ke saath pichle do teen din se roz meetings ho rahi hain … remember … (she remembers the night Armaan had come home so late, and she had told him about the meetings … where is Armaan???)
Anjali looks at her.
Anj: Ridzi … hum jaakar Dr. Modi se baat Karen … poochein to sahi ki kya hua … he's our father, we have a right to know …
Rid: Di, humein Papa se pehle nahin poochna chahiye? … papa aur mom ne bhi humein kuch nahin bataya, ki yeh sab kya ho raha hai …
Anjali thinks.
Anj: Agar dad ne humein batana hota, then he would have told us …
Rid: maybe he didn't know ki yeh hone vala hai … nahin to voh humein aise pata lagne nahin dete …
Anjali nods.
Anj: lekin, Ridzi … dad to Poona gaye the … trustees se milne … pata nahin aaj aayenge ki nahin. Modi se ek baar baat to karte hain …
Riddhima nods, still too upset to think straight. Where is Armaan??? She needs him …
Anjali and Riddhima leave for Abhimanyu Modi's office.
They look through the glass door and for the second time that morning, they are bereft of words.
Abhimanyu, Armaan and Dr. Shashank are talking fiercely and animatedly inside the room.
Precap – Where was Armaan???
******************************
luv
dia
Armaan-Abhimanyu-part 12
"Dr. Shashank Gupta is on indefinite leave from his duties in Sanjeevani until further notice."
Rahul, Muskaan, Nikita and Atul read the notice slowly over the heads of the other staff. They turn to look at each other, their expressions mirroring their shock. For once, they are completely speechless.
Anjali, Riddhima and Armaan reach Sanjeevani – as they enter, the crowd of nurses, staff and doctors makes way for them, the buzz of conversation dying away as they walk, and resuming with redoubled intensity behind them. They look around, a little surprised, then walk towards the nurses station. Rahul comes up to them.
Ra: Armaan … dude … problem … big problem …
Anjali and Riddhima look at the crowd around the notice board, then walk ahead. The crowd makes way for them … they look at the nurses, who avert their eyes … then they look at the board.
Anjali gives an exclamation … Riddhima gasps.
Armaan pushes forward … he reads the notice … he is shell shocked.
Anjali and Riddhima clutch each others' hands tightly.
Rahul, Muskaan, Nikita, Atul form a group around Anjali and Riddhima and quietly take them away. The girls go unresisting … almost in shock.
Armaan stands staring at the notice board for a few moments, his lips compressed, his eyes red.
The others go to the locker room and Muskaan and Nikita put their arms around Anjali and Riddhima. They sit on the bench, still speechless.
Rahul finds his voice first.
Ra: there must be some mistake … kuch galti hai …
Mus: Aise kaise yaar … yeh kya ho raha hai Sanjeevani mein ..?
Nik (fiercely): yeh Modi na … I hate that guy … yeh sab uski karni hai …
Anjali shakes her head, almost in a daze. Nikita holds Riddhima's hands comfortingly – they are shaking.
Nobody quite knows what to say. They look at Anjali and Riddhima and then at each other … Dr. Shubhankar enters, his face grim for once.
Shub: Doctors … main aapke liye teen baar announcement kar chukka hun … aap yahin hain? Please report for your duties …
Ra: Dr. Shubhankar … sir, Dr. Shashank …
Shub (sternly): Dr. Rahul … this has nothing to do with you all. Aap log apni duties par jayiye …
Ra (angrily): Sir … aap yeh kaise keh rahe hain … yeh Sanjeevani mein kya ho raha hai …
Shub (in his normal tone): Main jaanta hun, Dr. Rahul … yahan bahut kuch ho raha hai … jo pehle kabhi nahin hua. Iss liye I'm telling you all … please, aap log duties ke liye jayiye. Aaj kal kuch nahin pata … deevaron ke bhi kaan hote hain … zyada mat boliye. Baad mein hum yeh sab discuss kar sakte hain. Dr Anjali, Dr. Riddhima …
The girls look at him, still in a daze.
Shub (in a very kind tone): Aap dono aaj Path lab mein duty kijiye.
Anjali looks at him gratefully – she knows why Shubhankar is giving them this duty. In the Path lab they don't interact with patients or nurses, and at the moment, neither of them is capable of doing so. She gets up and pulls Riddhima to her feet.
Anj: Thanks, Dr. Shubhankar …
Riddhima looks around, coming slightly out of her daze – where is Armaan?
They disperse for work, all in a very solemn frame of mind.
In the Path lab, Anjali and Riddhima have their minds only half on their work.
Anj: Aisa kya ho gaya, Ridzi … why has Dr. Modi done this …
Riddhima shakes her head.
Rid: Papa bahut worried the … unki Dr. Modi ke saath pichle do teen din se roz meetings ho rahi hain … remember … (she remembers the night Armaan had come home so late, and she had told him about the meetings … where is Armaan???)
Anjali looks at her.
Anj: Ridzi … hum jaakar Dr. Modi se baat Karen … poochein to sahi ki kya hua … he's our father, we have a right to know …
Rid: Di, humein Papa se pehle nahin poochna chahiye? … papa aur mom ne bhi humein kuch nahin bataya, ki yeh sab kya ho raha hai …
Anjali thinks.
Anj: Agar dad ne humein batana hota, then he would have told us …
Rid: maybe he didn't know ki yeh hone vala hai … nahin to voh humein aise pata lagne nahin dete …
Anjali nods.
Anj: lekin, Ridzi … dad to Poona gaye the … trustees se milne … pata nahin aaj aayenge ki nahin. Modi se ek baar baat to karte hain …
Riddhima nods, still too upset to think straight. Where is Armaan??? She needs him …
Anjali and Riddhima leave for Abhimanyu Modi's office.
They look through the glass door and for the second time that morning, they are bereft of words.
Abhimanyu, Armaan and Dr. Shashank are talking fiercely and animatedly inside the room.
Precap – Where was Armaan???
****************************************************
luv
dia
Rahul, Muskaan, Nikita and Atul read the notice slowly over the heads of the other staff. They turn to look at each other, their expressions mirroring their shock. For once, they are completely speechless.
Anjali, Riddhima and Armaan reach Sanjeevani – as they enter, the crowd of nurses, staff and doctors makes way for them, the buzz of conversation dying away as they walk, and resuming with redoubled intensity behind them. They look around, a little surprised, then walk towards the nurses station. Rahul comes up to them.
Ra: Armaan … dude … problem … big problem …
Anjali and Riddhima look at the crowd around the notice board, then walk ahead. The crowd makes way for them … they look at the nurses, who avert their eyes … then they look at the board.
Anjali gives an exclamation … Riddhima gasps.
Armaan pushes forward … he reads the notice … he is shell shocked.
Anjali and Riddhima clutch each others' hands tightly.
Rahul, Muskaan, Nikita, Atul form a group around Anjali and Riddhima and quietly take them away. The girls go unresisting … almost in shock.
Armaan stands staring at the notice board for a few moments, his lips compressed, his eyes red.
The others go to the locker room and Muskaan and Nikita put their arms around Anjali and Riddhima. They sit on the bench, still speechless.
Rahul finds his voice first.
Ra: there must be some mistake … kuch galti hai …
Mus: Aise kaise yaar … yeh kya ho raha hai Sanjeevani mein ..?
Nik (fiercely): yeh Modi na … I hate that guy … yeh sab uski karni hai …
Anjali shakes her head, almost in a daze. Nikita holds Riddhima's hands comfortingly – they are shaking.
Nobody quite knows what to say. They look at Anjali and Riddhima and then at each other … Dr. Shubhankar enters, his face grim for once.
Shub: Doctors … main aapke liye teen baar announcement kar chukka hun … aap yahin hain? Please report for your duties …
Ra: Dr. Shubhankar … sir, Dr. Shashank …
Shub (sternly): Dr. Rahul … this has nothing to do with you all. Aap log apni duties par jayiye …
Ra (angrily): Sir … aap yeh kaise keh rahe hain … yeh Sanjeevani mein kya ho raha hai …
Shub (in his normal tone): Main jaanta hun, Dr. Rahul … yahan bahut kuch ho raha hai … jo pehle kabhi nahin hua. Iss liye I'm telling you all … please, aap log duties ke liye jayiye. Aaj kal kuch nahin pata … deevaron ke bhi kaan hote hain … zyada mat boliye. Baad mein hum yeh sab discuss kar sakte hain. Dr Anjali, Dr. Riddhima …
The girls look at him, still in a daze.
Shub (in a very kind tone): Aap dono aaj Path lab mein duty kijiye.
Anjali looks at him gratefully – she knows why Shubhankar is giving them this duty. In the Path lab they don't interact with patients or nurses, and at the moment, neither of them is capable of doing so. She gets up and pulls Riddhima to her feet.
Anj: Thanks, Dr. Shubhankar …
Riddhima looks around, coming slightly out of her daze – where is Armaan?
They disperse for work, all in a very solemn frame of mind.
In the Path lab, Anjali and Riddhima have their minds only half on their work.
Anj: Aisa kya ho gaya, Ridzi … why has Dr. Modi done this …
Riddhima shakes her head.
Rid: Papa bahut worried the … unki Dr. Modi ke saath pichle do teen din se roz meetings ho rahi hain … remember … (she remembers the night Armaan had come home so late, and she had told him about the meetings … where is Armaan???)
Anjali looks at her.
Anj: Ridzi … hum jaakar Dr. Modi se baat Karen … poochein to sahi ki kya hua … he's our father, we have a right to know …
Rid: Di, humein Papa se pehle nahin poochna chahiye? … papa aur mom ne bhi humein kuch nahin bataya, ki yeh sab kya ho raha hai …
Anjali thinks.
Anj: Agar dad ne humein batana hota, then he would have told us …
Rid: maybe he didn't know ki yeh hone vala hai … nahin to voh humein aise pata lagne nahin dete …
Anjali nods.
Anj: lekin, Ridzi … dad to Poona gaye the … trustees se milne … pata nahin aaj aayenge ki nahin. Modi se ek baar baat to karte hain …
Riddhima nods, still too upset to think straight. Where is Armaan??? She needs him …
Anjali and Riddhima leave for Abhimanyu Modi's office.
They look through the glass door and for the second time that morning, they are bereft of words.
Abhimanyu, Armaan and Dr. Shashank are talking fiercely and animatedly inside the room.
Precap – Where was Armaan???
******************************
luv
dia
Armaan-Abhimanyu part 11
Later that night.
Armaan comes home late – purposely - hoping that Riddhima has gone to bed. Thankfully, the lights in the house are all off. He goes to the kitchen to get a drink of water, and stands looking out of the window, cursing Abhimanyu Modi, the global crisis, and the world in general. Frowning, he drains his glass and turns to put it on the counter.
Riddhima is looking straight at him.
The glass shakes in his hand – he puts it down with a clatter.
Ar: tum soyi nahin?
Rid: main tumhari wait kar rahi thi …
He crosses to her and takes her hand.
Ar (trying to make a joke out of it): you know, basket … tum din par din … meri girlfriend kum … aur biwi zyaada banti jaa rahi ho … agar kal main late aaunga, tum to belan lekar khadi hogi …
Rid (ignoring his feeble attempts at teasing): Armaan … baat kya hai …?
Ar (tries to laugh): baat …? Kya baat, basket? Koi baat nahin … oh – main late kyun aaya? Gussa ho? Sorry, baba … (tries to hold her hand to his cheek.)
Rid (she twists her hand out of his): Armaan … mujhe taalne ki koshish mat karo. Tumhari aaj shaam ko Abhimanyu Modi se kya baat ho rahi thi?
As he looks at her with a mixture of shock and guilt, she continues …
Rid: Ya yeh poochun … kya jhagda ho raha tha?
Ar (trying his best to act clueless): Riddhima … tum kya baat kar rahi ho? Jhagda? Abhimanyu …?
Rid: Armaan … maine tumhe aaj sham ko dekha … uske cabin mein … tum dono argue kar rahe the! Voh kya bol raha tha? Tum itne upset kyun the …?
Ar (caught completely unawares, trying hard to think of something to say … oh god, she had seen them talking, now what was he to say to her?): Riddhima …
She puts her hands on his shoulders, catching hold of his collar urgently and looks at him, tears suddenly springing to her eyes.
Rid: Voh tumhe jaane ko bol raha tha? Armaan … kya yeh baat hai? voh tumhe bhi nikal raha hai? Armaan, please mujhe batao … shaam se main worry kar rahi hun …
He covers her hands with his, feeling like a complete and utter heel, low down rotter, back-stabber, snake in the grass … all the names he can think of, he calls himself silently.
Ar: Riddhima … no, don't worry about me … main theek hun … really … I'll be okay …
She takes in a sharp breath.
Rid: "I'll be okay" … kya matlab … voh yehi kar raha hai … I was right … Armaan, no … tum yahan se nahin jaa sakte …
She throws her arms around him, her tears coming now, and he holds her in his arms, horrified that she has misunderstood so completely …
Ar: Riddhima, nahin … tum ro mat … voh yeh nahin …
He stops. What is he to tell her … why was he arguing with Abhimanyu … for the life of him, he can't think of something plausible to say. He holds her tight … when she finds out what he was actually talking about and what he is going to do, it might be a long time before he got the chance again, he thinks bitterly …
****************************************************
Pre-cap -
A few days later – in the morning - Sanjeevani
All the nurses, other staff and doctors are gathered around the nurses' station … there is a buzz of disbelief and shock at the new notice up on the announcement board.
"Dr. Shashank Gupta is on indefinite leave from his duties in Sanjeevani until further notice."
luv
- dia
Armaan comes home late – purposely - hoping that Riddhima has gone to bed. Thankfully, the lights in the house are all off. He goes to the kitchen to get a drink of water, and stands looking out of the window, cursing Abhimanyu Modi, the global crisis, and the world in general. Frowning, he drains his glass and turns to put it on the counter.
Riddhima is looking straight at him.
The glass shakes in his hand – he puts it down with a clatter.
Ar: tum soyi nahin?
Rid: main tumhari wait kar rahi thi …
He crosses to her and takes her hand.
Ar (trying to make a joke out of it): you know, basket … tum din par din … meri girlfriend kum … aur biwi zyaada banti jaa rahi ho … agar kal main late aaunga, tum to belan lekar khadi hogi …
Rid (ignoring his feeble attempts at teasing): Armaan … baat kya hai …?
Ar (tries to laugh): baat …? Kya baat, basket? Koi baat nahin … oh – main late kyun aaya? Gussa ho? Sorry, baba … (tries to hold her hand to his cheek.)
Rid (she twists her hand out of his): Armaan … mujhe taalne ki koshish mat karo. Tumhari aaj shaam ko Abhimanyu Modi se kya baat ho rahi thi?
As he looks at her with a mixture of shock and guilt, she continues …
Rid: Ya yeh poochun … kya jhagda ho raha tha?
Ar (trying his best to act clueless): Riddhima … tum kya baat kar rahi ho? Jhagda? Abhimanyu …?
Rid: Armaan … maine tumhe aaj sham ko dekha … uske cabin mein … tum dono argue kar rahe the! Voh kya bol raha tha? Tum itne upset kyun the …?
Ar (caught completely unawares, trying hard to think of something to say … oh god, she had seen them talking, now what was he to say to her?): Riddhima …
She puts her hands on his shoulders, catching hold of his collar urgently and looks at him, tears suddenly springing to her eyes.
Rid: Voh tumhe jaane ko bol raha tha? Armaan … kya yeh baat hai? voh tumhe bhi nikal raha hai? Armaan, please mujhe batao … shaam se main worry kar rahi hun …
He covers her hands with his, feeling like a complete and utter heel, low down rotter, back-stabber, snake in the grass … all the names he can think of, he calls himself silently.
Ar: Riddhima … no, don't worry about me … main theek hun … really … I'll be okay …
She takes in a sharp breath.
Rid: "I'll be okay" … kya matlab … voh yehi kar raha hai … I was right … Armaan, no … tum yahan se nahin jaa sakte …
She throws her arms around him, her tears coming now, and he holds her in his arms, horrified that she has misunderstood so completely …
Ar: Riddhima, nahin … tum ro mat … voh yeh nahin …
He stops. What is he to tell her … why was he arguing with Abhimanyu … for the life of him, he can't think of something plausible to say. He holds her tight … when she finds out what he was actually talking about and what he is going to do, it might be a long time before he got the chance again, he thinks bitterly …
******************************
Pre-cap -
A few days later – in the morning - Sanjeevani
All the nurses, other staff and doctors are gathered around the nurses' station … there is a buzz of disbelief and shock at the new notice up on the announcement board.
"Dr. Shashank Gupta is on indefinite leave from his duties in Sanjeevani until further notice."
luv
- dia
Armaan-Abhimanyu part 10
Pred 11
Next day – late evening
Armaan waits till late evening, when he's reasonably sure that everyone would have gone home, then he barges into Abhimanyu's office. Abhimanyu looks up in surprise at his entry.
Armaan comes right up to him.
Ar (angrily): Jo tumne mujhe kal kaha … sab par nazar rakho … all that was rubbish, right? Tum ek hi insaan ko suspect kar rahe ho … sirf ek …
Abhimanyu smiles faintly.
Abhi: mujhe laga tha ki you'll figure it out sooner or later …
Ar: And that's why you were trying to get close to Riddhima …
Abhimanyu doesn't say anything, but his face shows that Armaan is right.
Armaan says slowly: And that's also why … jab Riddhima ne kuch response nahin diya, tumne mujhe approach kiya. Tum soch rahe the … ki agar unki koi problem hogi, to Riddhima mujhe zaroor batayegi … iss liye tum baar baar pooch rahe the ki main aur Riddhima kitne kareeb hain …
Abhi shrugs faintly but doesn't reply.
Ar (forcefully): You are wrong! I told you earlier … and I'm saying it again … yeh galat hai! Tum galat aadmi par shak kar rahe ho …
Abhi: Armaan, logically socho … aur koi ho hi nahin sakta …
Ar (challenging): Kyun? Tum khud hi to bol rahe the ki sab ko financial problems hain …
Abhimanyu laughs: oh come on! Atul? Rahul Muskaan? Where and how will interns have access to hospital funds and accounts … tumhe lagta hai ki main unhe kabhi bhi seriously suspect kar raha tha? This was somebody very intelligent … and very senior … the only other person who was ever a possibility was Dr. Keerti … and she's out … now …
Riddhima, passing outside, looking for Armaan, is surprised to see Armaan in Abhimanyu's cabin, apparently having a roaring argument. She can't hear anything throught the closed door, but by Armaan's gestures, and Abhimanyu's closed expression, there is obviously something very serious being discussed.
Ar: Dr. Keerti nahin … aur Dr. Shashank bilkul nahin! Main Riddhima ko jaanta hun … usko apne principles, apne values apne baap se mile hain … how can a person like that …
Abhi (patiently): Desperation makes people do desperate things, Armaan …
Armaan throws his hands in the air in exasperation.
Ar: You're mad! I'm telling you … yeh ho hi nahin sakta!!! It's impossible … Dr. Shashank aisa bilkul nahin kar sakte!
Abhimanyu says nothing … just looks at him. Armaan stares back.
Ar: Tumne mujhe ek impossible situation mein daal diya hai … do you realize that? Why the hell did you tell me all this? I don't even want to know!!! Agar mujhe lage bhi ki tum sahi ho … do you think ki ismein main tumhari help karunga? I can't do this!
He runs his hands through his hair and over his face, and walks up and down the small cabin.
Riddhima watches from outside, growing more and more disturbed. What on earth is happening? Why is Armaan looking so distraught?
Abhi: Armaan, listen to me …
Ar: No!!! You listen! I can't! This is impossible.
Abhi: Armaan, listen … this is what you have to do … just once … (he lowers his voice and speaks, and Armaan gets even more agitated) … you live there … you can do it …
Ar: No way!!! I am not going to do this!
Abhi (firmly): Then I'll have to do it … officially … and you know how that will look …
Armaan stops pacing and looks at Abhimanyu. He curses.
Ar: s***!!! S****!!! S***!!!
Pre-cap – Riddhima confronts Armaan
Next day – late evening
Armaan waits till late evening, when he's reasonably sure that everyone would have gone home, then he barges into Abhimanyu's office. Abhimanyu looks up in surprise at his entry.
Armaan comes right up to him.
Ar (angrily): Jo tumne mujhe kal kaha … sab par nazar rakho … all that was rubbish, right? Tum ek hi insaan ko suspect kar rahe ho … sirf ek …
Abhimanyu smiles faintly.
Abhi: mujhe laga tha ki you'll figure it out sooner or later …
Ar: And that's why you were trying to get close to Riddhima …
Abhimanyu doesn't say anything, but his face shows that Armaan is right.
Armaan says slowly: And that's also why … jab Riddhima ne kuch response nahin diya, tumne mujhe approach kiya. Tum soch rahe the … ki agar unki koi problem hogi, to Riddhima mujhe zaroor batayegi … iss liye tum baar baar pooch rahe the ki main aur Riddhima kitne kareeb hain …
Abhi shrugs faintly but doesn't reply.
Ar (forcefully): You are wrong! I told you earlier … and I'm saying it again … yeh galat hai! Tum galat aadmi par shak kar rahe ho …
Abhi: Armaan, logically socho … aur koi ho hi nahin sakta …
Ar (challenging): Kyun? Tum khud hi to bol rahe the ki sab ko financial problems hain …
Abhimanyu laughs: oh come on! Atul? Rahul Muskaan? Where and how will interns have access to hospital funds and accounts … tumhe lagta hai ki main unhe kabhi bhi seriously suspect kar raha tha? This was somebody very intelligent … and very senior … the only other person who was ever a possibility was Dr. Keerti … and she's out … now …
Riddhima, passing outside, looking for Armaan, is surprised to see Armaan in Abhimanyu's cabin, apparently having a roaring argument. She can't hear anything throught the closed door, but by Armaan's gestures, and Abhimanyu's closed expression, there is obviously something very serious being discussed.
Ar: Dr. Keerti nahin … aur Dr. Shashank bilkul nahin! Main Riddhima ko jaanta hun … usko apne principles, apne values apne baap se mile hain … how can a person like that …
Abhi (patiently): Desperation makes people do desperate things, Armaan …
Armaan throws his hands in the air in exasperation.
Ar: You're mad! I'm telling you … yeh ho hi nahin sakta!!! It's impossible … Dr. Shashank aisa bilkul nahin kar sakte!
Abhimanyu says nothing … just looks at him. Armaan stares back.
Ar: Tumne mujhe ek impossible situation mein daal diya hai … do you realize that? Why the hell did you tell me all this? I don't even want to know!!! Agar mujhe lage bhi ki tum sahi ho … do you think ki ismein main tumhari help karunga? I can't do this!
He runs his hands through his hair and over his face, and walks up and down the small cabin.
Riddhima watches from outside, growing more and more disturbed. What on earth is happening? Why is Armaan looking so distraught?
Abhi: Armaan, listen to me …
Ar: No!!! You listen! I can't! This is impossible.
Abhi: Armaan, listen … this is what you have to do … just once … (he lowers his voice and speaks, and Armaan gets even more agitated) … you live there … you can do it …
Ar: No way!!! I am not going to do this!
Abhi (firmly): Then I'll have to do it … officially … and you know how that will look …
Armaan stops pacing and looks at Abhimanyu. He curses.
Ar: s***!!! S****!!! S***!!!
Pre-cap – Riddhima confronts Armaan