Tired ,dejected and hurt Armaan had taken a decision that he would go away from Sanjeevani.
He had come here for his 'basket' but the truth of her marriage had left him heartbroken ,and more than that seeing Riddhima with anyone else wasn't easy too .He was alone ,had no one to talk to, nobody with whom he could share his feelings....... the loneliness killed him from within.
His duty hours were done and he walked into the locker room ,emptied his locker and went into the changing room to get his belongings from there too.When he came out he saw Riddhima holding their DMG photoframe and looking at it with a dry smile on her face ,realising his presence she looked up and immediately wiped the lone tear that had escaped her eyes.Armaan couldn't move his gaze of her face ,but an announcement broke their eyelock. Armaan walked upto his bag and packing his stuff, he looked up at Riddhima who was looking at him with curiuosity,he forwarded his hand for the frame ,Riddhima hesitantly gave it back to him after a last glance at it.
Armaan held the bag on his shoulder looked intently at Riddhima for a second and then moved out to leave...a sudden voice stopped him in his track the one voice which was like music to his ears, but pierced his heart with what it said "Har baar ki tarah halaaton se bhaag kar ja rahe ho Dr Armaan, pehli baar toh aisa nahi kar rahe if I remember aisa kahi baar pehle bhi kar chuke ho." These words pierced Armaans heart he looked back at Riddhima who was looking at him with a stern expression ,he walked back to her and in a low ,but yet confident tone said "Aaj tak tumse door sirf TUMHARE liye hi gaya hun Riddhima pehle bhi aur AAJ bhi".He looked back at her with the same expression and was about to go when she again taunted him "Haalaton se darr kar bhagne ka acha bahana hai"
Armaan couldn't control his anger and pain on hearing those words anymore "Dar nahi halaat Riddhima har baar tumse door tumhare liye hi gaya hun, pehli baar gaya tha taki mere yaha hone se tumhe takleef na ho ,dusri baar isliye gaya kyunki pyaar karte hue bhi tumhe mujhse dosti ka natak na karna pade,taaki tumhe na chahte hue mujhse shaadi na karni pade ....
Riddima interrupted him 'Aur jab mujhe marta hue sirf ek khat ka saath chod gaye the tab ,tab kiske liye gaye the Armaan?"Armaan looked at her intently with hurt eyes, did she really think he could leave her to die.He could give up his life so that she can live ,why did she think he could leave her to die "Tab mai bhi mar raha tha Riddhima ,mujhe nahi pata tha ke mai aur kitne din jee paunga ,sahi galat samajhne ki haalat mai nahi tha."
Riddhima looked at him with tears brimming in her eyes "Toh ek baar mujhse mil toh lete Armaan ,ek baar mujhe mauka to dete,faisle liya aur chale gay ek baar bhi nahi socha kee mai tumhare bina kaise rahungi?"
Armaan couldn't control his emotions too so he burst out "Mai tumse door itni der apni khushi se nahi gaya tha,I wasn't partying there Riddhima, even I was dying ,mujhe kya pata tha ki tumhe dekh kar zindagi mujhe fir ek mauka de degi ,when I wrote that letter for you I thought that MY Riddhima would read in between the words and understand what I couldn't not express in words too .I believed that the letter left behind a part of me for you that would tell you that Armaan is NO ONE and NOTHING without you"
He looked at her with pain and Riddhima for the first time in so many days looked back at him with understanding too ,he wanted to hug her but he hesitated and kept his both hands on her shoulders softly and said "I don't blame you for going ahead and marrying Riddhima ,I did not expect ki tum mera zindagi bhar intezaar karo ,mai jaanta hun ki us din tumhe chod kar jaana meri galthi thi.and I am sorry for it really very sorry,it wasn't easy for me too .Lekin ek galti ke liye aaj tum humara pyaar bhul jao aur apne Armaan par se vishwaas kho do ,don't punish me this bad Riddhima.Aaj shayad tum meri nahi rahi lekin mai zinda sirf tumhare liye aur tumhari wajah se hun.Mujhe nahi pata aage kya hoga mai kaha jaunga ,kya karunga bass itna pata hai ki mai tumse humeshe pyaar karta rahunga you are a part of my entity and my existence relies on you"..tears were flowing out of his eyes he wiped them and wanted to leave when on an impulse Riddhima hugged him tightly ,she clinged onto him and cried,cried like she has never before pouring all her pain out in front of the man who had always been the reason of her smile and happiness,Armaan held her securely in his arms and caressed her hair,trying to calm her down crying himself ,after crying for a while she separated herself from him held his hand tighty in her palms and said "Armaan mai tumhare bina kaise rahi hun ye sirf mai jaanti hun ,life has never been the same without you,I know today the situation has changed but believe me Armaan maine jo bhi kiya apni khushi aur marzi se nahi kiya tha muje wo sab karna pada ,I HAD to Armaan ...varna tumhare bina zindagi se behtar toh maut thi ,I did not want to live either but maybe God did not want me to die without meeting you once before,Mai jaanti hun its not going to be easy for you ,yaha rehna tumhare lye aasan nahi hoga.Armaan har bar tum meri liye mujhse dur gaye ho lekin iss baar meri kehne par aur APNE liye yaha se mat jao"....she left his hands wiped his tear strained face caressing his cheek ...looked at him one last time and left the locker room .