Armaan Riddhima

One of the most difficult scenes to write. I enjoyed writing this - balancing the emotions and just hinting at the underlying depths, without being obvious or too descriptive. Tried to leave a lot to the readers' imaginations ...

Originally wrote two 'morning after' endings - only one was used.

ARMAAN RIDDHIMA in mandir and barn

Armaan looks around, panicking rapidly – clouds are gathering and there is going to be a storm – where has she disappeared???
Riddhima!!! … he calls out desperately, but there is no answer. How did she disappear so quickly? He curses himself for losing his temper and letting her out of his sight – just yesterday he had sworn never to do that and today …

He sets off at a run along the path they had come by, his eyes searching through the dim light – then he heaves a sigh of relief. She is sitting under a tree not far off, her legs curled up under her, her head on her arms, one sandal off her feet. He reaches her as fast as he can and quietly kneels down next to her without saying a word. She looks at him and gives a sniff and turns her face away.
Ar (gently): gir gayi kya? … (she nods slightly and he takes her foot in his hands and examines it. She gasps slightly with pain as he moves her ankle and he frowns.)
Ar: I’m sorry …
She makes a small face, but still doesn’t speak. He sighs.
Ar: I’m sorry, baba. Main bahut gussa ho gaya na … (as she nods) … kya karun, basket … jab mujhe worry ho jaati hai to main aisa hi ho jaata hun … tumhe to pata hai na …
She nods slightly, still not looking at him and he puts his hand under her chin and turns her to face him.
Ar: bola na … sorry … ab to maan jao …
Ri: maine yeh hum dono ke liye liya, Armaan … tum …
Ar: I know, main samajhta hun … lekin … I don’t know … tumhe vahan nahin dekha to main ekdum ghabra gaya … tumhe phir kuch ho gaya to … I can’t live without you, Riddhima …

He looks into her eyes intensely and she sees how worried he had been … she feels guilty … especially after yesterday, the whole Vicky episode, he was still as upset about it as she was and this was his way of expressing it … she puts her hand to his face.
Ri (as intensely as he had spoken): main bhi nahin … main bhi tumhare bina nahin reh sakti, Armaan.
Ar (softly): to phir mujhse vaada karo … yeh aakhiri baar tumne aise manmaani ki hai … tum aise dobara kabhi nahin karogi … mujhe bina bataye kabhi nahin jaogi …
She takes his hand in hers and smiles slightly.
Ri: Vaada …
He pulls her to her feet and kisses her hand.
Ar: I love you …
Ri: I love you …

Thunder rumbles distantly in the sky and a few drops of rain start falling. They both look up at the sky.
Armaan (says urgently): we’d better get back fast, bahut baarish aane vaali hai.
Even as he speaks, thick storm clouds roll in and then, without warning, the rain starts pelting down in a fast heavy downpour, catching them completely unawares. Within seconds, they are wet – there is no question of them making it back to the resort in this rain. The rain is so strong, the wind so fierce that they can hardly see through the downpour.

Armaan looks around desperately for some shelter as he pulls Riddhima under a tree – he spots a dark shadow a little distance away. It looks like an empty shed – he points it out to Riddima and indicates through gestures that they should make a run for it. The rain and wind are so strong by now that they can barely hear themselves speak.

Holding her hand, Armaan runs to the barn as fast as he can, pulling her along. But the rain is already pouring down in buckets and by the time they enter, they are both soaked to the skin, clothes dripping, hair wet. Armaan shakes his head and runs his hands through his hair to shake off the water – he turns to look at Riddhima. She is doing the same thing – head on one side, her hair over one shoulder as she tries to shake off the water from it. He looks at her and his heart contracts in his chest – she is looking so beautiful, her hair wet, droplets of water running down her face …

I love her … the words said so many times before, have never meant as much as they do at this moment. I love her, he thinks dazedly, as though he has just discovered it, she is my life, my world, my everything … she is part of me and I am part of her …
She looks at him enquiringly and he looks away quickly … before his eyes give away too much. They are alone here, stuck for the night, by the sounds of the storm raging outside … he tries to control his feelings before they overwhelm him …
Riddhima shivers with the cold and the wet.
Ri: Armaan …
He looks back at her and sees her shivering. To mask his concern, he starts scolding her …
Ar: Aur niklo aadhi raat ko baarish mein … thand to lagni hi thi … ab hum dono yahan phas gaye hain! Aaram se kamre mein coffee pi rahe hote, razai mein ghus kar …
Ri (miserably, still shivering): Armaan, … I’m sorry, meri vajah se tum bhi …
He comes back to her, unable to hide his concern and love any more.
Ar: Bahut thand lag rahi hai?
She nods.
Ar: Lo, meri jacket le lo … (he starts taking it off. She stops him.)
Ri: Tumhe thand lagegi …
Ar (touched to the heart at her concern for him): Aadat ho rahi hai … (he smiles teasingly at her and lifts her chin with a finger) … tumhare saath reh kar …
Ri (so relieved that he is teasing again that she can tease him back, just a little): Aadat ho rahi hai to do jacket le aate …
Ar: haan, haan … poori wardrobe na le aata … ek to itna pareshan tha ki tum aadhi raat ko kahan chali gayi ho … akeli …
Ri (softly): akeli nahin … (as he continues to look at her, she blushes, looks down and confesses) … maine socha … agar tum payal ki awaaz sunoge, to tum shayad mere peeche aaoge … main akele nahin aana chahati thi, Armaan. Lekin mujhe darr tha ki tum mujhe rok loge … issliye … main jaldi jaldi … aage nikal gayi …

He shakes his head at her, now realizing why he had woken up – in his sleep, he had the sound of her payal as she tiptoed outside his door – and she had meant for that to happen!!! He doesn’t know whether to be annoyed or relieved – he settles for the latter – after the trauma of what they went through just the night before, he can only be thankful that she did what she did.

Ar: At least itna to khayal aaya tumhe … meri haalat ka … varna agar tum raat ko yahan akele phans jaati … aur main subah uthta aur tum nahin hoti … especially kal raat ke baad … main to paagal ho jaata! Really, basket … tum mujhe shaadi ke baad bhi itne heart attack dogi?
Ri (she puts up her hand as though she wants to stop him from saying such things): Armaan … I’m sorry …
He smiles and comes close to her.
Ar (softly): main mazaak kar raha tha, baba … tum mere paas raho, bas – baaki sab manzoor … (she smiles, then shivers again) … dekha, thand lag gayi na?
Riddhima nods, still shivering, and tries to wrap her dripping dupatta more closely around her. He strips off his jacket and puts it around her shoulders.

Ar (he looks around at the bare shed, but it is empty except for a rickety table and a pile of straw at one end): Yahan to kuch bhi nahin hai … shayad aag jala sakein … (goes and pokes around, takes a better look all over) … nahin … kuch hai hi nahin …
She shivers again, not saying anything, shivering in spite of the jacket. He frowns as he sees her – her clothes are soaked through. He shakes his head and holds out his hand.
Ar (softly): Mujhe do …
She looks at him questioningly. Very slowly, he reaches out his hands and very gently, slowly, holding her gaze, he pulls her sodden dupatta from around her neck …
Ri: Armaan …?

She is trembling again … not only from the cold now … unable to look at him, her gaze drops, her skin heating, face flushing.
He takes the dupatta, wrings it out completely and shakes it to dry it as much as he can. He turns back to her and holds out his hand with the damp cloth. She takes it – he holds out his hand still. For a moment, she doesn’t understand, then she blushes bright red and shakes her head …
Ar (patiently): Riddhima, thand lag jayegi, jaldi do. Agar geele kapde pehne rahogi, jacket bhi geeli ho jayegi. Phir kya fayda? Aur koi raasta nahin hai!
She looks at him and slowly slips off the jacket from her shoulders, handing it back to him. She reaches down to the hem of her kurta – then she hesitates. He looks at her and smiles very slightly.

Ar: mujhpe bharosa nahin hai kya? (very softly)

She murmurs to herself: … aaj khud par bharosa nahin hai, … then she looks at him, her eyes very dark : … Armaan … please …

His eyes hold hers for a second … she lowers her eyes at the expression in them … then he gives a small smile, and turns his back to her. She pulls off her soaked kurta, struggling with the wet cloth, and quickly wraps the damp dupatta around herself. She reaches out to put the kurta in his hand, outstretched behind his back.

Their hands touch … stilling for a long moment …

Ishq mein deevaangi ki … had se … guzar jaun …Tere pyar mein aaj main … jikar … mar jaun …
ishq mein jalte hain hum … raat din … ha, yeh mera dil na mane … tere bin … tere bin …

Without looking back, he hands over his jacket and she removes the dupatta and snuggles into the jacket quickly, gratefully … still warm from his body heat, the dry material envelops her in his warmth, his scent ... and she starts trembling again … this time not from the cold.

He goes to the rickety old table in one corner and wringing out her kurta, spreads it to dry on it.
Ar (without turning around, his voice is not very steady): Kal subah tak sookh jayega …
He strips off his damp shirt as well, and spreads it out to dry next to her kurta. He stands at the table, his back to her, his hands clenched on the edge of the table.
Ar (still not looking around): Ab tum so jao …

She looks at him, his back straight and stiff with tension, the same tension that is gripping her – she has never loved him more than at this moment … she has never felt so close to him, as though they were two parts of a whole … she knows what he is thinking, what he is feeling, because she is feeling the same …
Her heart clenches painfully inside her chest. Slowly, almost without volition, she walks to the table and spreads her damp dupatta over both their clothes on the table, her hands shaking as she smooths the cloth unnecessarily. He looks down at her hands without speaking. His hand comes over hers to stop the nervous movements and she draws in a breath sharply.
He turns then, to face her, and looks deep into her eyes. His other hand comes up to her face to gently push back the damp locks of hair from her cheek, behind her ear … she bites her lip, her eyes closing as his lips follow his hand …

Ar (so softly it’s little more than a whisper): Riddhima …
Ri (whispering back, her voice lost in her throat, heart beating so fast she can barely breathe): Armaan …
She feels his kiss like a soft brush of warmth against her skin … then he bends and lifts her into his arms. She opens her eyes to find him looking intensely at her. She wraps her arms tighter around his neck, her head falling back against his shoulder.
He takes her to the pile of straw in the corner and lets her down on it gently. He kneels next to her … eyes burning into her in the dim light … she can’t look away.

She raises herself to put out a hand and cover his eyes …
Ri (her voice is shaking, little more than a whisper): aise mat dekho …
His hand covers hers and brings it down to his lips … his hand is shaking too … he turns away with an effort …

Ar (speaking in a muffled voise): tum bhi …

The dim barn is lit by a brilliant blue flash of lightening as a deafening crack of thunder splits the sky … for a moment, they stare into each others’ eyes in the diamond sharp blaze … then, outside, very near, a giant tree crashes to the forest floor, and the fragile walls of the barn shake with the impact so close by.

Riddhima screams and clutches Armaan tightly, hiding her face in his chest, and feels his arms come around her and hold her in a grip of steel. The thunder outside quietens … she can feel his heart thudding deafeningly against her … he doesn’t release her, and she makes no attempt to move away from his arms … to release her hold … she tightens her grip and looks up into his face. He is looking down at her, his emotions stark in his eyes, even in the dim light … He bends his head to her and she closes her eyes, unable to stop him … and herself …

The thunder rumbles again outside, lightening flashes, the wind whips up its fury and the rain pelts down steadily as the storm rages outside unabated.

Inside, oblivious to the fury of the elements, another kind of storm gathers strength … and bursts …


Next morning

Riddhima wakes up very early – the cold grey light of dawn is just stealing into the barn through the small window. She looks at it, trying to remember where she is … and then memories flood back … her birthday, the temple, the barn …
Armaan is still sleeping peacefully … she looks at him, her heart full, and wraps his jacket more closely around herself. He stirs a little, and she waits … then he rolls over and goes back to sleep.
Riddhima goes to the table and checks her clothes – they are dry. Quickly, stealing glances at Armaan, she struggles into her kurta and pulls her dupatta around her. Armaan’s jacket … she looks again at him … as quietly and gently as she can, she covers him with the jacket and he stirs again. For a moment she kneels next to him … her hand goes out to touch his face … then she stops herself … she whispers … I love you.

She goes to the door of the barn and opening it slightly, she looks out. The storm has passed … she stares outside, not seeing a thing, hugging her arms around her.
Armaan wakes up and for a minute he lies there, looking at her. He remembers the events of the night, and a burst of protectiveness surges through him.
He gets up and goes quietly to her. She looks around suddently as she feels him approach … as he comes to her, she blushes and looks down, unable to meet his eyes.
He lifts her chin with his hand to make her look at him … she still doesn’t meet his eyes.
Ar (very softly): mujhe dekhogi nahin?
She shakes her head.
Ar: kya main dekhne mein itna bura hun?
A small smile comes on her face, but she still doesn’t look up.
He pulls her to himself and holds her tightly in his arms.
Ar (softly): I love you …
She looks up at him, her eyes moist, her heart too full for words. He sees the sheen of tears and frowns.
Ar: Riddhima …? Kya hua?
Ri: Armaan … hum kabhi alag nahin honge na?
Ar: Riddhima …? Tum yeh soch bhi kyun rahi ho …?
Ri (tears welling over): Pata nahin Armaan … jab bhi meri zindagi mein khushi aati hai … mujhe dar lagta hai … ki yeh mujhse chhin na jaaye … aur hamare rishte mein itne utaar chadhaav aa chuke hain … lekin ab … agar tum mujhse se door ho gaye, to main seh nahin paaungi, Armaan …
Ar (he lifts her chin to make her face him, and looks very seriously into her eyes as he speaks, as though to convince her of the truth of his words): Aisa kabhi nahin hoga, Riddhima … bas, ab kuch dinon ki to baat hai … phir shaadi bhi ho jayegi … aur phir hum kabhi bhi … ek pal ke liye bhi alag nahin honge (he holds her tightly again, trying to reassure her without words, and she relaxes a little, her fears receding as she lets his love surround her.
They stand for a few moments like this, together, feeling a closeness of the hearts and minds, a oneness, a togetherness …
… then he looks at her again.
Ar (a little urgently): Riddhima … humein vapas jaana chahiye … jaldi … sab ke uthne se pehle …
She nods, understanding. They leave for the resort, reaching before anyone wakes up and stealing quietly back into their rooms.





Next morning (the one we didn't use)

Riddhima wakes up very early – the cold grey light of dawn is just stealing into the barn through the small window. She looks at it, trying to remember where she is … and then memories flood back … her birthday, the temple, the barn …
Armaan is still sleeping peacefully … she looks at him, her heart full, and wraps his jacket more closely around herself. He stirs a little, and she waits … then he rolls over and goes back to sleep.
Riddhima goes to the table and checks her clothes – they are dry. Quickly, stealing glances at Armaan, she struggles into her kurta and pulls her dupatta around her. Armaan’s jacket … she looks again at him … as quietly and gently as she can, she covers him with the jacket and he stirs again. For a moment she kneels next to him … her hand goes out to touch his face … then she stops herself … she whispers … I love you.
She sits down next to him, and draws up her knees to her chin, resting her head on her knees. One hand picks up a blade of straw and she twirls it in her fingers, her eyes unseeing, her brow furrowed.
Armaan wakes up … for a moment, he is also confused as to where he is … then he sees her sitting next to him and remembers. He sees that she has covered him with his jacket, and his eyes soften. He sits up next to her. She gives him a quick look, then looks away. With a gentle finger, he tucks a lock of hair behind her ear.

“Kab uthi?”

“bas, abhi ….”

“Mujhe jagaya nahin …?”

She shakes her head wordlessly. He takes the straw from her hand, and lifts her hand to his lips.
“I love you, Riddhima,” he says, softly, intensely. She looks at him then and he is startled to see a sheen of tears in her eyes.
“Riddhima … I’m sorry … I’m really sor…”

Before he can complete what he’s saying, she puts her hand to his mouth to stop the words. She shakes her head, still unable to speak. Armaan gets even more worried at her continued silence.

“Riddhima, … kuch bolo to … please …”
She whispers then … “Armaan …. Hum kabhi alag to nahin honge na?”
He is shocked at her words. “Riddhima … tum aise kaise bol sakti ho … ab??? Tum aise soch bhi kaise sakti ho?”

A tear trickles down one cheek. “Pata nahin, Armaan …. Jab bhi main bahut khush hoti hun … mujhse meri khushi hamesha chheen jaati hai. Ab to … bahut khush hone se bhi dar lagta hai … hamare rishte mein itne utaar chadhaav aa chuke hain, lekin ab … agar tum mujhse door hue, to … main sehen nahin kar paaungi, Armaan …”
He pulls her into his arms and holds her close to him as though trying to reassure her without words.

“Aisa kuch nahin hoga, Riddhima. Hum saath hain … aur hamesha rahenge. Aur … ab to kuch hi dinon mein hamari shaadi bhi ho jayegi … (he smiles at her) … phir chah kar bhi tum mujhe apne se alag nahin kar paogi!
He holds her tight again and whispers, “Tum meri ho, basket … sirf meri …”

He presses a kiss against her temple. She relaxes against him, feeling surrounded by, reassured by the warmth of his love, her fears receding.
Then he looks at her again.
Ar (a little urgently): Riddhima … humein vapas jaana chahiye … jaldi … sab ke uthne se pehle …
She nods, understanding. They leave for the resort, reaching before anyone wakes up and stealing quietly back into their rooms

one of my favourites

Riddhima’s break down in Armaan’s house

Few days later. Dr. Shashank has been discharged and is now home. He still cannot move very much, but is getting better every day. He has been forbidden to talk very much.
Riddhima goes to Armaan’s house late at night

He is sitting at his laptop and Tam is sitting with a book. He looks up in surprise at Riddhima’s entry.
Ar: Tum? Yahan? Itni raat ko? (then, worried) sab theek hai? Dr. Shashank …?
Ri: mujhe tumse baat karni hai. Akele.

Tam looks at her, she looks at Tam, then Tam gets up and leaves the room quietly.
Ar: Kya baat hai? papa theek hain?

Ri: Papa theek hain. Main theek nahin hun.

Ar (worried immediately): Kya hua, Riddhima? Tum thak gayi hogi. Bahut strain ho gaya hai na, unki care karne mein? Main tumhe tonic deta hun …

Ri: Doctor to main bhi hun, Armaan. Mujhe pata hai mujhe kya takleef hai aur mujhe kya tonic chahiye.

Armaan stops and looks at her. He realizes she is near breaking point.

Ar: Riddhima. Tumhe itni raat ko yahan nahin aana tha. Ghar jao aur so jao. Kal baat karenge.

Riddhima comes to him and holds his hand.
Ri (crying): So jaun? Kaise so jaun? Kal baat karenge? Hospital mein tum ek minute mujhse akele baat nahin karte! Tumhi ne kaha tha ki hum shaadi nahin kar sakte to kya, hum ek doosre se pyar karte hain aur voh kabhi nahin badlega. Phir ab tum mujhse itni door kyun jaa rahe ho? Kabhi mujhse akele mein baat nahin karte! Mujhe baahon mein nahin lete! Mujhe haath tak nahin lagate! Main aise nahin reh sakti, Armaan, main tumhare bina nahin reh sakti! I can’t stand it anymore!!! Please, Armaan, mujhe apne se door mat karo! Papa dheere dheere theek ho rahe hain, aur main … main dheere dheere mar rahi hun …!

She breaks down completely, sobbing her heart out.

He puts his hand over her mouth. There are tears in his eyes too.

Ar: Riddhima … tum mujhe kamzor mat karo. Tum jaanti ho main tumse pyaar karta hun aur hamesha karta rahunga. Please tum …

Ri (stops crying and looks at him desperately): Armaan … ek raasta hai. Hum dono chup chap shaadi kar lete hai. Ek baar humne shaadi kar li, papa kuch nahin bolenge. Mai jaanti hun unhe.

Ar: Riddhima, unhone pehle bhi kuch nahin bola tha. Lekin main aisa nahin kar sakta. Main unhe koi dukh nahin dena chahta, khaskar unki iss haalat mein.

Ri: Aur hamari khushi? Main tumhare bina nahin reh sakti, Armaan! Tumhe papa ki khushi ki worry hai aur meri … hamari … khushi ki nahin!

Armaan puts his hands on her shoulders.

Ar (gently): Riddhima. Please, mujhe samajhne ki koshish karo. Meri poori life mein mujhe baap ki kami ka ehsaas raha hai. Aur pichle do-teen saalon mein, jab se hum saath hain, tab se tumhare papa se jo mujhe mila hai, uska andaaza tum nahin laga sakte.

Baap voh nahin hota jo sirf janam deta hai, baap voh hota hai jo apne bête ka haath pakad ke, use chalna sikhata hai, jab voh girta hai to use sambhalta hai, uthata hai, use phir se aage badhne ki himmat deta hai. Jo himmat, jo hausla mujhe saarI umur nahin mili, voh tumhare papa se pichle kuch saaalon mein mili hai. Unki mere liye izzat, mere liye ek baap jaisa pyaar – yeh bahut mushkil se mujhe mila hai. Ek aur galti karke main ise khona nahin chahta. Mere baap ki ek galti ne – unki patni unse chheen li. Ab main … ek aur galti karke … unse unki beti chheen lun … Riddhima, yeh main kaise karun?


He moves away from her and looks up, fighting for control, fighting himself.
Ar (without looking at her): Chalo. It’s very late. Main tumhe ghar chhod deta hun.

Riddhima comes up behind him. She puts up a hand to his shoulder and he turns around. Her hand goes to his face – the way he always pushes her hair away from her face, she does the same gesture, her hand sweeping over the side of his face.

Ri (whispering, crying): Armaan … please …
Ar: Riddh …
He looks at her and as though her soft touch has finally broken his control, he pulls her roughly into his arms and holds her tightly, as though he will never let her go. She holds onto him as they both break down and cry openly, their shoulders shaking with their sobs, as though they have both lost all hope, have lost everything that was precious to them.

Ishq leta hai … kaise imtihan …

After a very long time, they pull apart and look at each other. Armaan wipes Riddhima’s tears, she wipes his.
Ri: yeh sab meri galti hai. Agar mai pichle saal shaadi ke liye maan jaati, to …
Ar (bitterly): Tumhari koi galti nahin hai. Shayad meri kismat hi aisi hai. Jiska aisa baap ho, uski life mein khushi kabhi aa hi nahin sakti.

my first EDK post

EDK –
(at some time after armaan and riddhima have talked about tammy and his previous life)

They are sitting out in the lawn of his house, late at night, on the ground. He’s leaning back, she’s leaning against his legs, both are relaxed and just feeling at peace with each other and with life, now that all the secrets and misunderstandings and tension is over. Yes, Tammy is still in Armaan’s life, but now that Riddhima knows about her, Armaan feels he can handle anything.
Ri: Armaan?
Ar: mmm?
Ri: ek baat poochun?
Ar: poocho.
Ri: Armaan, tumhe Priti se kabhi pyar nahin hua?
Armaan frowns and gets tense again. Riddhima turns over onto her stomach, so that she is lying next to him, her face very close to his.
Ri (very lovingly): Nahin, Armaan. Main tum par shak nahin kar rahi hun. Aur agar tum kuch nahin bolna chahte, to mujhe koi farak nahin padta. Lekin main sirf yah soch rahi thi … ki tum itne saal … itne achche dost the … pyar kaise nahin hua? Sunne mein voh bahut achchi lagti hai.
Armaan thinks deeply before replying.
Ar: Tumhe Rahul ne Priti ke bare mein kya bataya?
Ri (trying to think): Usne kaha ki Priti voh pehli ladki thi, jsse Rahul sachcha pyar karta tha. Yeh bhi kaha ki voh bahut sundar thi, aur bahut pyari bhi thi. Sab ladke uspe marte the, lekin tum aur voh sirf dost the. Aur tum dono second year se dost the.
Ar: Usne kaafi theek kaha. Voh bahut sundar thi, aur bahut pyari bhi thi. Lekin uske bare mein ek baat thi, jo sivaye mere shayad koi nahin jaanta.

Flashback
Armaan in basket ball court late at night, in second year of medical college, still fighting with his own demons, the hatred he felt for his father, the pain at being torn from his mother and the love-hate feelings for his younger sister, remembering his family, feeling so alone, so far from them and now added to all that, the loss of his beloved grandfather, the only person who understood him and loved him unconditionally. He’s walking alone in the basketball court, when he notices Priti sitting on one of the spectator stand seats, her head buried in her arms and her shoulders shaking with tears. Very awkwardly, he goes to her – he doesn’t know her so well – and touches her gently on her shoulder.
Ar: Priti?
Priti looks up : Please, leave me alone.
Ar (awkwardly) : Sorry. Just thought … if you need any … help …
He turns and starts walking away.
Priti: tum yahan itni raat ko …?
Ar: Main yahan aksar aata hun. Raat ko koi yahan nahin hota.
Pri: to tumhe bhi akela rehna achcha lagta hai.
Ar: Kabhi kabhi akele rehna bahut zaroori hai.
Pr: true. Bahut log yeh samajhte nahin hain.

Present
Ar: That was how it started. We used to meet very often after that, and just sit together silently. Bahut dino tak koi baat nahin hui. Phir ek din …

Flashback – again in basketball court.
Armaan and Priti sitting together in spectator seats.
Pr: Armaan, tumhe pata hai, jis din hum yahan pehli baar mile the, us din main ek hafte baad college vapas aayi thi.
Ar (surprised): really? I hadn’t noticed ki tum absent thi. Kya hua tha? Ghar gayi thi?
Pr: haan.
Ar: Kyun?
Pr (very flatly and expressionlessly): my mother had tried to commit suicide. Teesri baar.

Present

Riddhima gasps in shock.

Armaan looks at her.

Ar: Uski kahani aur meri kahani bahut milti thi. Alcoholic father, voh neurosurgeon the, unka bhi license cancel ho gaya tha. Voh bhi Priti ki ma ko marte the, but Priti ki ma ke paas koi paise nahin the, koi ghar nahin tha. Voh majboori mein unke paas rehti thi, not out of choice, like my mother. Jab Priti ne medical college join kiya, to usne apni maa se vaada kiya ki paanch saal mein, jaise hi voh doctor ban jayegi, job haasil kar legi, to voh apni ma ko apne baap se dur le jayegi. Priti bahut strong thi – itne saal vo hi apni ma ka sahara thi. Jab voh medical college ke hostel gayi, to uski ma bahut akeli padh gayi aur baap ki maar aur badh gayi, jo voh nahin seh sakti thi. Isliye suicide ke attempts. Har bari Priti would rush home, try to look after her, get some neighbours to help, then come back to college. She was determined ki voh college khatam kare, taaki voh jaldi se jaldi independent ho. Lekin use bahut bura lagta tha, ki uski ma, who was her only living relative who loved her, could think of trying to leave her – she felt so betrayed by that, as much as by her father’s lack of love.

He sighs.

Ar: Ab tumhe shayad samajh aayega ki hum ek doosre se pyaar kyun nahin karte the. Hum dono bahut karib the. Lekin … how do I explain it to you … voh aisa time tha … hum dono ke liye … ki hum andar se khokhle ho chuke the. We had lost faith in all relationships. Hamare apnon ne itne dhokhe diye the, ki kisi par vishwas karna hamare liye bahut mushkil tha – balki namumkn hi tha. Hum ek doosre ke liye sahara the, we knew what the other had gone through, we could understand the pain, so we knew what we wanted from each other. I think issi liye, humne aur doosre karibi dost nahin banaye – neither of us was ready to handle it. Agar main chup rehta, Priti could understand, she would give me some space and not get upset – koi bhi doosri ladki aisa karti kya? And the same for me with her. Jab voh bahut depressed ho jati, she would lash out at me – no other guy would have taken it, lekin main samajh sakta tha.
Ri: so you were good for each other …
Ar: As friends – we were very good for each other. Lekin agar hum kuch aur hote, we would have been a disaster.
Riddhima looks questioningly at him. Armaans sighs and holds her hand.

Ar: humein rishton mein vishwas nahin raha tha. Aur agar hum saath hote, at the first sign of trouble, or maybe a fight, we would have come apart. Kyunki humein vishwas hi nahin tha ki rishte tik sakte hain, is liya hum rishta nibha hi nahin pate. Ab jisse uski shaadi hui hai, uske do bhai aur ek behen hai, aur sab paas rehte hain, sab ladte jhagadte hain, aur sab bahut karib hain. Voh unke saath bahut khush hai – family kya hoti hai, rishte kya hote hain - usse shaadi ke baad hi pata chala.
Aur mujhe – tum mil gayi …

He kisses her on her forehead gently, lovingly, tenderly and smiles.

Ar (softly): meri Riddhima … meri basket … kabhi sharmilee … kabhi spitfire … jiske liye sabse zyaada zaroori use parivar tha … uske papa uski nani, uski di … jo sirf rishton ke sahare jeeti thi … jise ek rishte ke jhooth se itna dard hua, ki voh toot ke meri bahon mein ro padhi … phir apni ma ko bejhijhak apnaa liya … jo rishton ko nibhane ke liye apne aap par jhoota ilzam le sakti thi …
Ri (equally softly): aur aaj jo is rishte ke liye, apne Armaan ke liye - kuch bhi kar sakti hai …
Ar: kuch bhi?
Ri: Kuch bhi.
Ar: to shaadi karo na. Kab karogi? I want you with me now, always.
Ri (simply): yes.

Armaan looks at her in surprise. She has always been putting off the wedding date, and he has been waiting patiently for her – partly because the courtship has been so loving. She looks back at him and laughs.

Ri: what? Nahin karni kya?

Armaan laughs back.
Ar: No chance of that! Aaj haan bol di, to kal hi main Dr. Shashank se baat karta hoon.

Riddhima hides her face against him and mumbles something.
Ar: Kya?

She looks up at him.
Ri: Aaj nahin kar sakte? Ghar jaane ka man nahin kar raha.

He groans and kisses her again, then gets up and pulls her to her feet.
Ar: Come on, ma’am. Stop putting wicked thoughts into my head. Isse pehele ki main tumhari baat maan jaaun, I’m taking you home.

Laughing, holding hands, they go to his car.

my first Dmg prediction

A and R are walking down the corridor discussing what their next step should be when Dr K passes them, walking very fast. She calls out to them ‘Dr A, Dr R, come with me quickly, emergency.” They go with her to emergency where five patients have been brought in from a road traffic accident and for the next few hours, they are all three busy with the patients and have no time to talk. Finally the patients stabilize to some extent, and Dr K relaxes. ‘Get the scan done for this patient and the Xray reports for this one,’ she tells A and R, ‘and show me as soon as they are ready. We can decide further treatment then.’
‘Yes ma’am,” A and R say and they go very wearily to the locker room. All the other interns are waiting impatiently for them there.
‘Where were you both? What happened? We’ve been waiting – we have to decide what to do,’ Anjali says. A tells them where they were. ‘You guys better go home, it’s too late to think now,’ he says. ‘we’ll think again tomorrow.’ They all look disappointed but agree to leave.
‘Aren’t you going, Armaan?’ Atul asks when he sees Armaan sitting down on the bench. Armaan shakes his head. “no, I have to wait for a couple of reports and show Dr K. You go, Riddhima, it’s late. I’ll show the reports and then go.” Anjali also says “yes, R, it’s late, let’s go.”
R hesitates and looks at A. He’s looking very tired. “No, it’s my patient too,’ she says. “I have to get the reports and show them.’ Anjali look worried. “how will you come home then. No, you’d better come now.” R looks at A again. ‘Armaan will drop me, won’t you, Armaan?’ A nods without looking at her. “Of course I will.”
The others leave and A and R sit together and wait. They don’t talk but there’s no awkwardness. They glance at each other, half smiling. Asmani rang plays softly in the background. Then the nurse comes in.
‘Dr Armaan, you asked for the reports as soon as they were ready. Here they are.’
‘Thank you, sister.’ A takes the reports and both he and R go through them and look at each other worriedly. ‘Let’s go,’ says A and they go to find Dr K. Again the next two hours go by looking after the patients’ complications. One has a head injury and is having convulsions and the scan shows some bleeding. The other has some chest injuries so they have to put a chest tube which takes a long time. It is almost 12 by the time they finish and Dr K tells them they can go. ‘Good job, both of you,’ she adds.
A and R get into his car and A drives off towards R’s house. For a while they are quiet then R asks, “A do you really think papa and ma can get married?’
“Why not? They are adults, if they like each other, what’s the problem?” he says, looking ahead at the road.
“yes, but Atul was right in a way, they are quite different.’
Armaan looks at her as though wondering who she is referring to – her father and Padma or themselves. ‘Riddhima, it’s not important to be completely the same to like somebody, is it? Agar aisa hota to bahut boring hota. Aur do log kabhi bhi bilkul ek jaise to ho hi nahin sakte. Sab ki apni apni soch hoti hai, backgrounds hote hain. But agar pyar ho to baki sab adjust ho sakta hai. Aud agar pyar nahin ho to sab kuch ek jaisa hote hue bhi koi farak nahin padta. Log ek dusre ko pyar karte hai, tabhi to ek doosre ko samjhne ki and unke saath adjust hone ki koshish karte hain.’
Riddhima is quiet for quite some time.
“Aur Dr Shubhankar aur Dr Keerti? Kya tumko lagta hai ki voh dono ..”
“why not?”
“Nahin, main soch rahi thi ki agar voh ek doosre ke liye theek nahin hain, to hum log unko saath karne mein galti to nahin kar rahe?”
“Hum kaun hote hain yeh decide karne vale?” Armaan says. “agar voh ek doosre se pyar karte hain, to hamare kuch karne na karne se bahut farak to nahin padega. Haan, the only difference is that we might speed things up a bit, but only if their feelings are there in the first place.’
They arrive at R’s house and he stops the car. R makes no move to get out.
“aur main aur tum?’ she asks very softly, looking straight ahead. A looks at her, stunned.
She looks at him then. ‘Kya tum sochte ho ki hamare beech jo sab kuch hua, uske baad hum sirf dost reh sakte hain?’
A looks at her steadily. ‘Agar tum chaho, to.’
She looks down at her hands and twists them together, but doesn’t say anything. Armaan seems to fighting with himself what to say.
‘Dekho, Riddhima, jab maine tumhari letter padhi, pehle to mujhe baht bura laga. Mujhe laga ki itna sab hone ke baad … I decided that I will not speak to you other than work, not have any relation with you at all. When I told you that in your house, you assumed I was saying let’s be friends. So I thought, ok, let’s try it, but I don’t think it will work.’
He looks at her then.
“you know what? I think we started off wrong. We started with fighting each other, got attracted to each other but never tried to know and understand each other, so things didn’t work out. When you said, let’s be friends, I thought it wouldn’t work, but …’ He looks ahead and rubs his hands over his face and hair.
Then he looks at her again very steadily. ‘mujhe achcha lagat hai to be with you, to talk to you, spend time with you. Yeh dosti hi sahi, lekin it’s important to me and I don’t want to spoil it.’
She looks at him and one tear spills slowly down her cheek. She nods slowly. He smiles and then says more briskly ‘achcha, you’d better go now – pichle dus minute se main yahan parked hoon, tumhare papa aa jayenge ki kya ho raha hai.’
He gets out of the car and comes to open her door. She gets out, stumbles and falls against him and his arms come around her to hold her. She looks up at him and in that moment she knows it’s not dosti at all. (asmani rang in background in female voice). His arms tighten around her, then he releases her as she steadies.
‘Goodnght,’ he says softly, and for the first time, he does his trademark pushing her hair away from her face.
‘Goodnight,’ she replies equally softly and backs away from him towards the house. He watches her till she turns and goes in, then he gets back into the car.
He ruffles his hair and then laughs ruefully. ‘Dosti! Tum kab samjhogi, Ridhima?’

part 2 -
Next morning all the interns are at the cafeteria – all except for Armaan. They are all looking at their watches impatiently, waiting for him.
Anjali: kya ho gaya Armaan ko? Kahan reh gaya? Hum kuch decide hi nahin kar payenge. Atul, tumhe pata hai who itna late kyun hai?
Atul: Nahin, Anjali, mujhe nahin pata. Maine kal raat se baat nahin kari.
Rahul: Maine subeh do teen bar phone try kiya tha, par he’s not picking up. Riddhima, tumhe kuch pata hai?
Riddhima: Nahin, Rahul, humein yahan bahut der ho gayi thi, he dropped me home, then he left to go home.
Rahul: Mujhe lagta nahin ki woh raat ki ghar gaya. Maine to bahut subah try kiya tha.
Riddhima starts looking very nervous and worried. All the interns are now getting a little concerned. Anjali looks at Riddhima.
Anjali: Ridz, tumhari koi ladai ya kuch to nahin hui, na?
Riddhima: (indignantly) No, di, not at all. Bilkul nahin, aisi koi baat hi nahin thi. Der to ho gayi thi, he was tired, but hum mein bahut dino se koi jhagda nahin hua hai.
Rahul: He was tired? Neend to nahin aa rahi thi? Kahin gadi chalate chalate …?
He trails off and Riddhima looks petrified. She clutches the back of a chair.
Atul: You mean … koi accident? No, Rahul, agar aisa kuch hua hota toh humein pata lag jata. Woh sanjeevani hi aata, na? Nurse humein ekdum bata deti.
Muskaan: (who’s also looking very scared) : Tumne check kiya?
Atul: Nahin, par …
They are all getting very nervous. An announcement comes over the PA system “all interns report to the nurses’ station.
Rahul: (trying to make Riddhima less nervous) Maybe he just overslept. Late ho gaya tha na?
Riddhima: Par phone to phir bhi utha leta, Rahul. Aisa kabhi nahin hota ki voh phone nahin uthata. Mujhe bahut dar lag raha hai. (she’s on the verge of tears).
They reach the nurses’ station where a very annoyed Dr. Keerti is waiting for them.
Dr K: Aap logon ke liye time par aana itna mushkil kyon hai? Phir se late … aur voh bhi, sab ke sab. Yeh hospital hai, koi amusement park nahin, ki jab man chaha, aa gaye. Agar aap log time se nahin aa sakte, to aap do ghante late kaam kar ke jayiye. Shayad tab aap logon ko wakt ka importance samajh aayega.
Rahul: Ma’am, hum log actually Dr Armaan ki …
Dr K: Doctor Rahul! Aap apna time sambhaliye, doosron ka bahana mat use kijiye. Aaj aap sab apni kal ki duties par rahenge. Dr Riddhima, aap mere saath trauma ward aayiye.

The interns are rather stunned that she has not even noticed that Armaan is not there, even after Rahul mentioned his name. Rahul tries again
Rahul: Ma’am, Dr. Armaan …
Dr. K: Dr Rahul, aap apne kaam se matlab rakhiye. Dr. Armaan ki duties, Dr Armaan sambhal sakte hain.

Interns are even more stunned that she is not angry with Armaan and not upset that he is not there. They make signs to each other to meet later and disperse to their work. R follows Dr K very nervously, twisting her dupatta in her hands and looking over her shoulder every now and then as if to see if Armaan has come or not. Dr K looks back at her.
Dr. K: Dr Riddhima, aap thoda jaldi chal sakti hain? Aap duty par jaa rahi hain, tehelne ke liye nahin aayi hain. Dr Armaan sari raat yahan par hain, unko relieve karna hai, taki voh ghar jaa saken.
Riddhima is shocked. Then she feels such a feeling of relief that she can barely think. Armaan is here – he’s all right! She follows Dr K more quickly to the trauma ward, her face clearing of the tension. First thing she sees there is A, looking tired and unshaven, adjusting the chest tube of one patient from yesterday. He looks up when they come in.
A: I’m sorry, Dr Keerti, lagta hai chest tube phir se block ho gaya hai. I think change karna better hoga.
Dr K starts examining the tube and A signals ‘hi’ to R. He looks puzzled when she shakes her head at him.
A: (mouths silently) kya hua?
R: (very softly) Jaan nikal di meri!
They finish rounds with Dr K. She gives her instructions.
Dr. K : Tube change karna hoga, Dr Armaan, you’re right. Dr. Anand ko page kar dijiye, who aakar kar denge. Bed no. 4 ka xray dobara karva lijiye and bed no 6 ka scan. Baki naye orders likh lijiye. Aur Dr Riddhima, aap Dr Armaan se patients ka hand over le lijiye. Dr Armaan, aap abhi ghar jaayiye. Shaam ko 6 baje vapas aa jaayiye. I think ek din aur aapko night duty karni hogi, jab tak yeh teenon patients stabilize na ho jayen.
A & R : Yes, ma’am.
Dr K leaves. A and R look at each other. R puts her hands on her hips and tries to look angry but she is so relieved that Armaan is okay that she can’t be too annoyed.
A: Are, kiya kya maine?
R: Tumhe pata hain, subah main kitni dar gayi thi? Tum canteen mein nahin aaye, jahan hum sabne milna tha, kisi ko pata nahin tum kahan ho, and phir Rahul ne kaha ki tumne phone bhi nahin uthaya. Maine to socha kal ghar jaate jaate tumhe … (she tails off and shakes her head, remembering how scared she had been).
R: Meri to jaan hi nikal gayi.
A: (apologetically, but inside quite pleased at R’s concern) Are yaar, tumhare ghar se nikla hi tha ki sister ne page kar diya to main vapas aa gaya. Phir ek ke baad ek yeh teen patient ka kuch na kuch chalta raha, to Dr K ne bola ki yahin ruk jao. Phone mera locker mein tha – ward mein to allowed nahin hai. Aur maine socha tha ki subah 7 baje main neeche canteen mein aa jaoonga, par phir iski chest tube phir block ho gayi, to main nikal hi nahin saka. Mujhe kya pata ki tum log itna worry karoge.
R: haan, par kisi ko bata dete ki tum yahan ho.
A: kaise batata, Riddhima? Aur mujhe kya pata tum yeh ulti seedhi cheezein sochne lagoge? Maine socha ki tum yahan aaogi rounds par to tumhein bata doonga kya hua. Tum to seedhe mujhe upar (he makes a sign heavenwards) dispatch kar ….
R raises her hand instinctively to close his mouth to stop him saying such things. Her hand stops halfway and they look at each other (ishq plays in background).

Rahul enters the ward, sees A and R looking at each other, makes an “O” mouth and very quietly exits. He then comes in again more noisily, calling out Riddhima’s name.
Rahul: Riddhima … oh my god, Armaan, you’re here. Hum subah se pareshan ho gaye yaar. Where were you?
A: yaar, long story, Yahin tha. Now I’m off. I’m so tired, khada nahin hua jaa raha.
R: Tum jaa rahe ho?
Rahul: Are, but we have to plan aage.
A looks at R, who just cannot hide her disappointment that A is leaving so quickly. A devilish grin comes over his face.
A: idea. (he whispers to R and Rahul.)
A: Tum sab yeh din bhar organize karo. Main shaam ko paanch baje vapas aa jaoonga, cafeteria mein milenge.
(Sorry, I was borrowing somebody’s idea from the blog of keeping Shashank and Padma apart the whole day to make them miss each other, but today that love story is sorted out so this last part is a bit redundant)