Chapter 4

1 years ago

Adi

@ZA_Ray

Chapter 4

After Abhimanyu left, all the interns decided to go for dinner together and get to know Nikki better. She already seemed really nice and interesting and they wanted to know more about her, not only she is Armaan's best friend but will also be joining Sanjeevani next week, so they all were very excited to have her on the team, especially after how she made Armaan apologize to Dr. Modi. Hence they all went to a Chinese restaurant near Sanjeevani.

After they settled themselves and placed their orders everyone turned towards Nikki, curious to know what made her shift and join Sanjeevani. She briefly told them about meeting Abhi at the conference and what followed after. 

"Wow, you must have really impressed Dr. Modi Nikki that he went this far to get you here. Even Papa was speaking very highly of you, we just didn't know it was you. He also mentioned your former hospital was reluctant to let you go so Dr. Modi had to pull a few stings to make it happen." Riddhima supplied. 

Nikki blushed at the compliment "Thanks Ridzi." she smiled brightly at her friend's fiancé. She knew Abhimanyu talked with her supervisor Dr. Agarwal and even though he agreed, some of the other senior doctors at the hospital opposed the transfer. Not to get into a bad relationship with anyone from Appolo Hospital she kept quiet and let Abhimanyu handle it, and he did because a few days later she was notified about her transfer. She didn't know how or what he did but hearing this from Riddhima made her happy. Meanwhile, the food was served and they started eating.

"But I think he is up to something," Armaan said as he dug into his food.

Nikki raised her eyebrows "Why Armaan? Don't you think I have the capability that a hospital would want me?"

Seeing their friend in a tight spot everyone was suppressing a laugh, wanting to see how he gets out of it. 

Gulping a few times Amraan finally replied "Aheemm... Nikki of course not... I mean of course yes a hospital would want you. They will be crazy not to. I didn't mean that. I meant apart from that Dr. Sadu must have some ulterior motive.."

"Apart from the new project? No, I don't think so." Nikki countered

"Areeee Nikki you are too innocent to understand. He is actually a total Kamina." Nikki saw Atul, Anjali, and Muskaan nodding their heads, whereas Ridzi and Rahul rolled their eyes.

"What is going on between him and you? There was so much tension between you two, if I didn't know better I would have thought you guys liked each other or something but refused to admit it." Nikki teased knowing it will irk him to the core.

"Ewww what?" Armaan looked disbelievingly at her while the rest choked on their food with laughter. "Nikki only you can get away after saying this."

"No but seriously what is it? You were being so disrespectful at the hospital." Nikki looked around the table hoping someone will answer.

"Areee who Macchar hain na..." Muskaan started and then everyone joined to tell her the story of the great Abhimanyu Modi, how he came to Sanjeevani and replaced Dr. Shashank as the Head of the hospital, how he had to let go of Dr. Keerti to cut costs and even some patients because they didn't clear their bills, and constantly changing this and that around the hospital according to the boards and shareholders' demands.

"Aur tabhi seh Dr. Modi or Armaan ki fight chalrahi hain." Atul finished.

"Par aaj tune isse who Macchar ko sorry bulvaya..heh heh heh..." Muskaan couldn't control her laugh remembering the incident.

"Even though I don't like Dr. Modi but seeing Armaan cave was fun." Anjali joined as well.

"Very refreshing actually." Ridhhima too agreed, grinning, while Armaan made faces at all of them.

"I thought my Bhai was not afraid of anyone but he is afraid of you Nikki." came from Atul.

"Oyyeee I am not afraid of Nikki okay?" Armaan got defensive.

"Hain... you are only afraid of her anger. Don't forget I was at the same college."  Rahul laughed while he high-fived Nikki.

"Guys, what's the story?" Riddhima was dying to know why her stubborn and strong-headed fiancé listened to his best friend without arguing.

"The story is that your stupid lover boy learned the hard way that if he doesn't listen to me he will face consequences for that."

"In detail please." Anjie pushed to know more. 

Seeing everyone was interested to know Nikki didn't have a choice "So, back in college our cool dude here got a lot of attention, sometimes unwanted ones. One such instance was from one of our seniors, who thought of Armaan as a rival even though he tried to act nice. I could sense something was off and warned Armaan multiple times not to be too friendly with him. But Mr. Smart Pants didn't listen to me and by the end of our first year, he somehow got himself into a bet with that senior for bike racing. After I got to know about that I tried to stop him, told him I will stop talking to him if he didn't listen to me and I will not share my notes and he would need those if he wanted to pass the final exam. But he didn't listen and thought I was bluffing and tried to explain to me that it was a 'friendly' match."

"Then?" Riddhima, Anjali, Atul, and Muskaan all asked together.

"Then this gadhe got into an accident during the race and we had to rush him to the hospital. Later we got to know that the senior's friend had foul played with Armaan's bike's tires for which he lost control. So, I was RIGHT." 

All gasped, even though it happened a long time back still the thought of their friend getting into an accident unnerved them.

"What happened afterward?" Ridzi asked holding her breath.

"I was at the hospital till the doctor confirmed Armaan was out of danger and then I left."

"Left?"

"Yeah, and I kept my promise."

"She stopped talking with me!" Armaan cut in between "She didn't come to visit me in the hospital or at home when I got released, she wouldn't pick up my calls, and when I went back to college she didn't even look at me or talk to me. FOR THREE MONTHS! I followed her around college and in class but she behaved as if I wasn't even there. At one point I started to doubt my own existence." he exclaimed in frustration remembering those days.

"Yeah, it was a sight to watch," Rahul smirked 

"Good days!" Nikki laughed.

"You were a meanie." Armaan pouted.

"At first, it was funny" Rahul continued "But then we actually got worried seeing Nikki's stubbornness, even some of the teachers were concerned. I mean they were like siblings, even though they fought but they took care of each other but then this was unnerving. Well, it was a lesson for all of us, we never tested Nikki's patience again." 

Armaan shivered and others looked at Nikki in disbelief.

"I can't believe you didn't talk with him for that long, knowing how persuasive and adamant Armaan can be." Riddhima was slightly impressed with Nikki.

"Don't get ideas." Armaan looked daggers at her.

"I could never" Ridzi laughed "But now I know who can make you listen."

Armaan was horrified so tried to change the topic "That was different okay? But this time I am right about Dr. Moody."

"Clearly you are not." Nikki countered back

"What? Even after everything we told you?" 

"Yes, from what I heard he was just doing his duty. He didn't make those decisions, those came from board members and he had to comply or else he would have lost his job right?"

"Thanks, Nikki. I tried explaining but he is so stubborn, always going against Dr. Modi and getting in trouble." Riddhima looked sadly at Armaan while he looked angrily at her.

"Yeah," Rahul helped "And it's been so long, maybe we should let that go."

"You too?" Armaan couldn't believe what he was hearing " Did you both forget what we all went through then, those patients, Dr. Keerti? At least you guys are with me right?" Armaan looked hopefully at Anjali, Muskaan, and Atul.

"Yeah, those days were nightmares," Anjie said softly. Atul and Muskaan nodded.

"I am sure it was difficult for you all. Maybe that's why you all are thinking emotionally. From a third person's perspective, I can say that he had no other choice. I mean think about it, if Sanjeevani kept on doing badly financially sooner or later board would have shut it down completely. They wouldn't want to make a loss on the money they invested right? Then ALL the doctors and patients would have been kicked out. Abhimanyu was brought in to stop that from happening. He practically saved Sanjeevani and everyone else." a stunned silence followed Nikki's speech.

It was slowly drawing on everyone that Nikita was actually right. Even Rahul and Riddhima who wanted to let go of the enmity never thought like this, that Abhimanyu actually saved Sanjeevani and its future.

"Stop making sense Nikki. And you are my best friend, you should support me!" that is all Armaan could counter.

Nikki smiled at his childishness "I am your best friend and that is why I will counter all your stupidity. And I will definitely not be dragged into this baseless rivalry. It's like your hatred toward the guys in college who liked me." 

"Those guys were losers!"

"Those guys were your friends, but the moment someone said he liked me you would lose your shit. I wasn't even interested in anyone there but still, you were crazy protective. I went to college to get a degree but somehow got a father as well." Nikki said while rolling her eyes.

Everyone laughed knowingly at how protective Armaan can be regarding his friends.

"You come here already being friends with my enemy, and then make fun of me in front of my friends and to be wife. Tujhe to main wapas bhejdunga." Armaan said in mock anger 

"Nahi nahi... we want Nikki." Riddhima jumped in and everyone heartily agreed with her.

"Great! You turn the love of my life against me too." 

And with some more fun banters and leg pulling they finish their dinner and head to their respective homes.