part 7
***********
It's almost a week after the night of the dinner, that Anjy is on night duty and Armaan and Riddhima can go home together. And because they haven't got any time together after the night of the dinner, the first half of their journey home goes in making up for lost time, as they drive home in Armaan's car holding hands and smiling goofily at each other – until the car gives a shudder, a couple of jerks and comes to a stop. Armaan curses.
Ar: Kya yaar … iss ko abhi kharab hona tha …?
Riddhima smiles. He looks at her quizzically.
Ar: Kya baat hai, basket … tumko bahut hansi aa rahi hai?
Ri: Kuch nahin … main to soch rahi thi, ki … tum pehle kitne romantic hote the … aur ab …
Ar: Kyun? Meri gaadi ka kharab hona aur romance mein kya connection hai?
Rid: Ab dekho, Armaan … gaadi mein hum dus minute mein ghar pahunch jaate … aur ghar mein aaj shayad naani bhi hai … lekin ab … humein chal ke jaana padega … zyaada time lagega … mausam bhi itna achcha hai. Lekin tumhe to ghar pahunchne ki itni jaldi hai … (she pretends to sulk).
Armaan grins at her.
Ar: ohhh … yeh baat hai … kya baat hai, Dr. Riddhima … aajkal aapko romance zyaada hi pasand aa raha hai …
She blushes a little, but says shyly,
Rid: kya Armaan, romance to kya … itne dinon se theek se baat bhi nahin hui …
He grins as he gets out of the car and comes to her side to help her out.
Ar (wickedly): ab tumhe baatein karni hain … ki romance karna hai … pehle mujhe bata do. Jo tum chaho, vahi karenge …
She blushes red as he holds her hand again and lifts it to his lips.
Rid: Armaan!!!
He pulls her to him and drops a kiss on her temple. Their arms around each others' waists, they start walking home and Armaan remembers what he's been wanting to talk to her about.
Ar: Riddhima … tumhe yeh Abhimanyu Modi kaisa lagta hai?
She looks at him puzzled.
Rid: Abhimanyu … uski yaad kyun aa gayi?
Ar: bolo … seriously …
Rid: I don't know … pehle mujhe laga ki achcha insaan hai … jab voh bachche ko bachaya … (he nods, she had told him about that) … lekin phir … Dr. Keerti ko nikal diya … and so rudely … Papa se bhi – I don't like the way he talks … but voh mere saath to kaafi friendly hone ki koshish karta hai …
Ar: Aur voh hospital mein jo sab changes kar raha hai … voh?
Riddhima thinks carefully about what he's asking.
Rid: I don't know … Papa ke saare systems ko change kar raha hai … but agar usse crisis manage ho jayega aur Sanjeevani band nahin hoga … then …
Ar: aur agar …
He stops. A group of four-five young guys are strolling on the other side of the road, leering at them. He pulls Riddhima a little closer and imperceptibly increases his speed. She looks at him enquiringly, one of the young men whistles admiringly and she sees them. Feeling slightly nervous, she also gets a little closer to Armaan.
"Hey beautiful!"
Armaan's brow furrows, Riddhima tugs on his arm.
"Forget it, Armaan, voh aise hi …"
He sets his jaw and they walk faster.
"Darr gaya kya? Oye, hero!!!"
He stops. Riddhima pulls at him again, scared.
"Armaan, voh paanch hain … goonde lagte hain … please, chodo … let's go …"
But the men have crossed over to their side of the road now and come very close to them.
"Hey, sweetheart … usko chhodo … hamare paas aao …!"
"Come on, baby, we'll give you a good time …"
Armaan shakes off her hand and turns to face the guys menacingly. Riddhima tries to pull at him again, now really scared. The men look like goons and they're all well-built – Armaan can't match up to five of them.
"Forget it, please," she whispers, but the men are already too close. One of them comes up to Armaan.
"What're you staring like that for, huh?" he asks rudely. "I don't like it. Guys, do you like the way he's staring?"
A chorus of 'no, no' comes from the rest and the first guy chuckles and shoves Armaan, pushing her away from Riddhima. She staggers, and Armaan swings his fist into the guy's face. He stumbles, then regains his balance and looks at Armaan, furious. He swings back, Armaan blocks him, another of the guys comes from the back, Armaan blocks him as well, then the rest join in …
Riddhima looks desperately at the fight now in full swing – Armaan in a rage is like a bull let loose, but these guys are all fighters as well … she runs to the side of the road and picks up a thick stick … rushing back, she tries to hit one guy … he grunts as she gets him hard across his shoulders, then he turns back on her and makes a grab for her, almost snarling with rage. She twists out of his way, but he grabs her dupatta … she lifts the stick, trying to hit him again … Armaan gets a blow from one of the other guys and he staggers back … then the leader pulls out a knife and Riddhima screams out a warning … just as an open jeep with blazing headlights rounds the corner …
All the men pause in the glare, temporarily blinded by the bright light and Riddhima runs to the jeep, shouting "help, help, please ...!!!"
The jeep comes to a halt, tires screeching … Abhimanyu vaults out.
"What the …?"
Riddhima grabs his arm.
"Please, help … voh goonde Armaan ko … "
"Abhimanyu, get her out of here!" Armaan shouts and shoves Riddhima forcefully into the jeep.
Abhimanyu takes in the scene … jumping back into the jeep, he guns it and takes off with tires screaming in protest. Riddhima grabs the dashboard in front of her for balance, then turns on him …
"NO!!! stop … go back …!!!!"
He gives her a quick glance as he maneuvers the jeep, she tries to grab the steering wheel from him, almost crying with rage and fear.
"Abhimanyu!!! You can't leave him … stop …!!!"
He brakes hard … he looks at her.
"Tum mujhe kis tarah ka kameena samajhti ho?" he asks softly. She stares at him incomprehendingly, her entire attention on Armaan fighting alone with five men. Abhimanyu says briefly …
"Hold tight …" and pulls the jeep around in a tight circle, he accelerates with a roar back towards the circle of fighting men. Without reducing his speed, he directs the jeep straight towards them … they all jump out of the way and scatter … he brakes hard right next to Armaan.
"Jump in! Fast!"
Armaan half climbs, half falls into the jeep and Abhimanyu roars off again, scattering the men as they re-group and try to come back.
Riddhima pulls Armaan onto the seat, sobbing in panic.
"You're hurt! Tumhe lag gayi hai … dikhao … oh god, Armaan …"
He leans back against the seat … he has a swollen eye, his lip is bleeding from a cut, and his arm has a deep gash from the knife. She tries to stop the bleeding by tying her dupatta around his arm, and then dabs at his lip gently while he protests faintly.
Abhimanyu glances at them as he drives … within ten minutes he pulls up at a strange house and Riddhima looks up for the first time from Armaan, wondering where they are. He looks at her.
Abhi: yeh mera ghar hai. Andar aa jao … let me take a look …
Riddhima says worriedly: he'll need stitches …
Ar: I'm okay, Riddhima …
She turns on him fiercely.
Rid: you're not okay … ab chup raho aur mujhe dekhne do …
Abhimanyu and Riddhima help Armaan into the house … Abhimanyu brings a first aid kit and Riddhima cleans Armaan's cuts and gashes and bandages them, then she looks at the cut on his arm, and then back at Abhimanyu …
Rid: Stitches chahiyen … it's very deep …
Abhimanyu takes a look and agrees. They go back to Sanjeevani, Armaan gets his stitches and then Abhimanyu drops them home. On the way, Riddhima cradles Armaan's arm to prevent it from getting any jerks.
Abhi (his eyes on the road): Aap dono kaafi achche dost lagte hain …
Ar (brusquely): Sanjeevani mein hum sab ek doosre ke bahut kareeb hain …
Abhi: haan, mujhe yaad hai … aapne kaha tha … you're like one big family, right?
Armaan doesn't answer. He leans back against the seat, his eyes closed, lips pursed. Abhimanyu pulls up at Riddhima's house, then looks at Armaan.
Abh: aur tumhe kahan drop karun …? I'll take you home. Tum theek nahin lag rahe. Take a day off tomorrow, if you want to.
Ar (reluctantly): I'll be okay, thanks. Aur main yahin rehta hun …
Abhimanyu raises his eyebrows.
Abhi: Really are a big happy family … ok, then …
Armaan and Riddhima get out, then Armaan comes around to Abhimanyu's side of the jeep and holds out his hand.
Ar: Thanks …
Abhimanyu (shakes his hand): no problem … glad I could be of help. Aur Riddhima … (looks at her standing a little further away) … main sach much Armaan ko chhod ke jaane vala nahin tha , you know …
Riddhima looks at him as though not sure whether to believe him or not. He sighs.
Abhi: I'm really not that bad … (smiling) … don't paint me so black …
Armaan looks at him sharply at his choice of words, Abhimanyu looks blandly back.
Riddhima (reluctantly): I … main darr gayi thi … thank you …
He raises a hand to both of them and drives off. Armaan and Riddhima watch him leave, then they look at each other.
Ar (questioningly) … not that bad …?
Rid (consideringly): … paint him black … ?
Armaan kisses her temple … because he wants to.
Ar: Clever girl … tumhe kaise pata main kya soch raha tha?
Rid: he's smart … Armaan … humein dhyan rakhna hoga …
Armaan grimaces, partly in pain.
Ar: he hasn't left us much choice … tumne notice nahin kiya … smart to voh hai …
They turn towards the house, Riddhima's arm around his waist as he leans on her.
***********
It's almost a week after the night of the dinner, that Anjy is on night duty and Armaan and Riddhima can go home together. And because they haven't got any time together after the night of the dinner, the first half of their journey home goes in making up for lost time, as they drive home in Armaan's car holding hands and smiling goofily at each other – until the car gives a shudder, a couple of jerks and comes to a stop. Armaan curses.
Ar: Kya yaar … iss ko abhi kharab hona tha …?
Riddhima smiles. He looks at her quizzically.
Ar: Kya baat hai, basket … tumko bahut hansi aa rahi hai?
Ri: Kuch nahin … main to soch rahi thi, ki … tum pehle kitne romantic hote the … aur ab …
Ar: Kyun? Meri gaadi ka kharab hona aur romance mein kya connection hai?
Rid: Ab dekho, Armaan … gaadi mein hum dus minute mein ghar pahunch jaate … aur ghar mein aaj shayad naani bhi hai … lekin ab … humein chal ke jaana padega … zyaada time lagega … mausam bhi itna achcha hai. Lekin tumhe to ghar pahunchne ki itni jaldi hai … (she pretends to sulk).
Armaan grins at her.
Ar: ohhh … yeh baat hai … kya baat hai, Dr. Riddhima … aajkal aapko romance zyaada hi pasand aa raha hai …
She blushes a little, but says shyly,
Rid: kya Armaan, romance to kya … itne dinon se theek se baat bhi nahin hui …
He grins as he gets out of the car and comes to her side to help her out.
Ar (wickedly): ab tumhe baatein karni hain … ki romance karna hai … pehle mujhe bata do. Jo tum chaho, vahi karenge …
She blushes red as he holds her hand again and lifts it to his lips.
Rid: Armaan!!!
He pulls her to him and drops a kiss on her temple. Their arms around each others' waists, they start walking home and Armaan remembers what he's been wanting to talk to her about.
Ar: Riddhima … tumhe yeh Abhimanyu Modi kaisa lagta hai?
She looks at him puzzled.
Rid: Abhimanyu … uski yaad kyun aa gayi?
Ar: bolo … seriously …
Rid: I don't know … pehle mujhe laga ki achcha insaan hai … jab voh bachche ko bachaya … (he nods, she had told him about that) … lekin phir … Dr. Keerti ko nikal diya … and so rudely … Papa se bhi – I don't like the way he talks … but voh mere saath to kaafi friendly hone ki koshish karta hai …
Ar: Aur voh hospital mein jo sab changes kar raha hai … voh?
Riddhima thinks carefully about what he's asking.
Rid: I don't know … Papa ke saare systems ko change kar raha hai … but agar usse crisis manage ho jayega aur Sanjeevani band nahin hoga … then …
Ar: aur agar …
He stops. A group of four-five young guys are strolling on the other side of the road, leering at them. He pulls Riddhima a little closer and imperceptibly increases his speed. She looks at him enquiringly, one of the young men whistles admiringly and she sees them. Feeling slightly nervous, she also gets a little closer to Armaan.
"Hey beautiful!"
Armaan's brow furrows, Riddhima tugs on his arm.
"Forget it, Armaan, voh aise hi …"
He sets his jaw and they walk faster.
"Darr gaya kya? Oye, hero!!!"
He stops. Riddhima pulls at him again, scared.
"Armaan, voh paanch hain … goonde lagte hain … please, chodo … let's go …"
But the men have crossed over to their side of the road now and come very close to them.
"Hey, sweetheart … usko chhodo … hamare paas aao …!"
"Come on, baby, we'll give you a good time …"
Armaan shakes off her hand and turns to face the guys menacingly. Riddhima tries to pull at him again, now really scared. The men look like goons and they're all well-built – Armaan can't match up to five of them.
"Forget it, please," she whispers, but the men are already too close. One of them comes up to Armaan.
"What're you staring like that for, huh?" he asks rudely. "I don't like it. Guys, do you like the way he's staring?"
A chorus of 'no, no' comes from the rest and the first guy chuckles and shoves Armaan, pushing her away from Riddhima. She staggers, and Armaan swings his fist into the guy's face. He stumbles, then regains his balance and looks at Armaan, furious. He swings back, Armaan blocks him, another of the guys comes from the back, Armaan blocks him as well, then the rest join in …
Riddhima looks desperately at the fight now in full swing – Armaan in a rage is like a bull let loose, but these guys are all fighters as well … she runs to the side of the road and picks up a thick stick … rushing back, she tries to hit one guy … he grunts as she gets him hard across his shoulders, then he turns back on her and makes a grab for her, almost snarling with rage. She twists out of his way, but he grabs her dupatta … she lifts the stick, trying to hit him again … Armaan gets a blow from one of the other guys and he staggers back … then the leader pulls out a knife and Riddhima screams out a warning … just as an open jeep with blazing headlights rounds the corner …
All the men pause in the glare, temporarily blinded by the bright light and Riddhima runs to the jeep, shouting "help, help, please ...!!!"
The jeep comes to a halt, tires screeching … Abhimanyu vaults out.
"What the …?"
Riddhima grabs his arm.
"Please, help … voh goonde Armaan ko … "
"Abhimanyu, get her out of here!" Armaan shouts and shoves Riddhima forcefully into the jeep.
Abhimanyu takes in the scene … jumping back into the jeep, he guns it and takes off with tires screaming in protest. Riddhima grabs the dashboard in front of her for balance, then turns on him …
"NO!!! stop … go back …!!!!"
He gives her a quick glance as he maneuvers the jeep, she tries to grab the steering wheel from him, almost crying with rage and fear.
"Abhimanyu!!! You can't leave him … stop …!!!"
He brakes hard … he looks at her.
"Tum mujhe kis tarah ka kameena samajhti ho?" he asks softly. She stares at him incomprehendingly, her entire attention on Armaan fighting alone with five men. Abhimanyu says briefly …
"Hold tight …" and pulls the jeep around in a tight circle, he accelerates with a roar back towards the circle of fighting men. Without reducing his speed, he directs the jeep straight towards them … they all jump out of the way and scatter … he brakes hard right next to Armaan.
"Jump in! Fast!"
Armaan half climbs, half falls into the jeep and Abhimanyu roars off again, scattering the men as they re-group and try to come back.
Riddhima pulls Armaan onto the seat, sobbing in panic.
"You're hurt! Tumhe lag gayi hai … dikhao … oh god, Armaan …"
He leans back against the seat … he has a swollen eye, his lip is bleeding from a cut, and his arm has a deep gash from the knife. She tries to stop the bleeding by tying her dupatta around his arm, and then dabs at his lip gently while he protests faintly.
Abhimanyu glances at them as he drives … within ten minutes he pulls up at a strange house and Riddhima looks up for the first time from Armaan, wondering where they are. He looks at her.
Abhi: yeh mera ghar hai. Andar aa jao … let me take a look …
Riddhima says worriedly: he'll need stitches …
Ar: I'm okay, Riddhima …
She turns on him fiercely.
Rid: you're not okay … ab chup raho aur mujhe dekhne do …
Abhimanyu and Riddhima help Armaan into the house … Abhimanyu brings a first aid kit and Riddhima cleans Armaan's cuts and gashes and bandages them, then she looks at the cut on his arm, and then back at Abhimanyu …
Rid: Stitches chahiyen … it's very deep …
Abhimanyu takes a look and agrees. They go back to Sanjeevani, Armaan gets his stitches and then Abhimanyu drops them home. On the way, Riddhima cradles Armaan's arm to prevent it from getting any jerks.
Abhi (his eyes on the road): Aap dono kaafi achche dost lagte hain …
Ar (brusquely): Sanjeevani mein hum sab ek doosre ke bahut kareeb hain …
Abhi: haan, mujhe yaad hai … aapne kaha tha … you're like one big family, right?
Armaan doesn't answer. He leans back against the seat, his eyes closed, lips pursed. Abhimanyu pulls up at Riddhima's house, then looks at Armaan.
Abh: aur tumhe kahan drop karun …? I'll take you home. Tum theek nahin lag rahe. Take a day off tomorrow, if you want to.
Ar (reluctantly): I'll be okay, thanks. Aur main yahin rehta hun …
Abhimanyu raises his eyebrows.
Abhi: Really are a big happy family … ok, then …
Armaan and Riddhima get out, then Armaan comes around to Abhimanyu's side of the jeep and holds out his hand.
Ar: Thanks …
Abhimanyu (shakes his hand): no problem … glad I could be of help. Aur Riddhima … (looks at her standing a little further away) … main sach much Armaan ko chhod ke jaane vala nahin tha , you know …
Riddhima looks at him as though not sure whether to believe him or not. He sighs.
Abhi: I'm really not that bad … (smiling) … don't paint me so black …
Armaan looks at him sharply at his choice of words, Abhimanyu looks blandly back.
Riddhima (reluctantly): I … main darr gayi thi … thank you …
He raises a hand to both of them and drives off. Armaan and Riddhima watch him leave, then they look at each other.
Ar (questioningly) … not that bad …?
Rid (consideringly): … paint him black … ?
Armaan kisses her temple … because he wants to.
Ar: Clever girl … tumhe kaise pata main kya soch raha tha?
Rid: he's smart … Armaan … humein dhyan rakhna hoga …
Armaan grimaces, partly in pain.
Ar: he hasn't left us much choice … tumne notice nahin kiya … smart to voh hai …
They turn towards the house, Riddhima's arm around his waist as he leans on her.
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