Part 79
Riddhima watched him as he just sat there quietly looking at the night sky. He always sort the others happiness over his. Other's pain pained him more than his own. His friends were always special for him, for whom he could move mountains. Somewhere, she felt happy that her betrayal had not killed those innocent emotions in him. His soul was so pure!!!
Selfish motives never touched him and she had exploited those to the fullest but not anymore. He did not want to talk about his life then she would not probe about the same. For the time he was there, she would try to make it less painful.
For her the time she was spending with him was adequate. Adequate for her lifetime
Though time never runs in the reverse but they both seemed to only go back in time. Remembering the days gone by. For Riddhima it was her days with Sid. For Sid it was his time spent with Vishal, Rohan and Shilpa.
He turned to look at Riddhima and found her lost in her thoughts. That faraway look told the story of the loneliness she had suffered over the years. His heart went out for her.
They sat there quietly for a long time when Riddhima realized that Sid was not going to be visiting Sanjeevani any longer. What did he plan to do? Did he intend to leave Mumbai as he had mentioned to Juhi?
Riddhima: Tum kal Mumbai se bahar jaane wale ho?
'hmmm '.. Panchgani' Sid replied plainly. He wanted to meet Rohan and be with him for some time. Since he had come weekends was the only time he could meet him. He did not want to let go of this opportunity.
Riddhima: Tumhe Shilpa yaad hai woh ab wahi rehti hai Panchgani mein.
She remembered Shilpa out of the blue as the topic of Panchgani came up. Unknowingly Riddhima was taking the conversation where Sid did not want to go. His temper started flaring. He did not bother responding.
Riddhima: Zindagi mein mujhe hamesha gyairo se apnapan mila hai jo mere apne mere sagho ne nahi diya. Papa jo mere pita na hote hua bhi unhone mujhe pala posa mujhe ek ghar diya apna naam diya aur Shilpa ''' main kabhi usse saath theek tarah se pesh bhi nahi aayi lekin phir bhi usne mera uss waqt saath diya mere khayaal rakha jab mujhe sahare ki sab se jyaada zaroorat thi
Sid: Gyair !!!
Riddhima: Apne na ho kar bhi hamesha mera liye bina kuch kahe bahoot kuch woh kar gaye '.. Papa ne ek pita ki aur Shilpa ne ek behen ki kami mehsoos hi hone nahi di ''.
Sid: Behen !!! He was trying hard to hide the disgust he felt for Riddhima at that moment. He wanted to know the reason behind Riddhima's sudden compassion for Shilpa. What did she plan to achieve with this new drama of hers? Why was she referring to her as her sister when she never accepted her as one? And so he probed 'Behen !!!'
Riddhima: hmmm... Shilpa ne hamesha mujhe respect di mera khayaal rakha'' bilkil ek choti behen ki tarah '' woh ek bahoot hi special ladki thi ''.. bahoot bura laga tha uske jaane ke samay ''. Uske liye bhi kuch nahi kar paayi main ''.. lekin jaate jaate usne ek baar phir mere bina kuch kahe mere liye bahoot kuch kar gayi ''' jab gayi toh laga ki mere zindagi ka ek ahem hissa mujhse choot raha hai '''' Laga tha ki ab kabhi nahi miloongi usse'..
Sid: 'Toh milna kaise hua phir '.?'
Riddhima: Sahi kaha tha Shilpa ne ''. 'Kabhi nahi' nahi kehna chahiye '''.. aur shayaad isliye ek baar hum phir mile '''' panchgani orphanage mein kuch emergency ayi thi Kaafi dino ke liye panchgani mein hi thi ''. Tab ek din market mein usse mulakat ho gayi '''. Bahoot khushi hui usse milke ''. Sab kuch badal gaya tha tab tak par woh bilkul nahi badli thi '''' woh ek bahoot special ladki hai ''..
'usse bhi nahi maloom tha aise hame laga tha jab hum usse mile'
kya usse saach mein maloom nahi? Kya armaan ne nahi bataya ... Sid thought out loud ''''
Riddhima: Kya?
'Agar usse maloom nahi tha aur ab usse pata diya toh woh seh nahi payegi Yeh baat ... Nahi kuch nahi ...
Riddhima: Kya nahi bataya '''..Sid tum mujhse kuch chupa rahe ho
Sid: Nahi kuch nahi ''..aise hi ''..
Riddhima: Sid !!!
Sid: Nahi aise hi kuch khayaal aaya'''.. ki armaan '''..
Riddhima: Kya ... Ki woh armaan se pyaar karti thi
'Hmmm' Sid just decided to agree with that It was the only option available to divert the topic away from the truth.
Riddhima: armaan ke liye uske aankhon mein maine pyaar dekha tha ''.. lekin uss waqt darti thi ki woh armaan ko apne purani adato ki taraf le jayegi '''.uske zindagi tehrav jo hona chahiye tha woh nahi laa pati ''.lekin armaan woh tehrav chahata hi nahi tha ''. Jo hota hai woh ache ke liye hota hai ''... woh khush lag rahi thi apni zindagi mein '''.. Tumhe Pata hai uska ek beta bhi hai''' Tum uske ache dost ban gaye the Kya tum usse bhi milne ki koshish nahi ki
Sid: Nahi ... Nahi mil paya usse akhir mein ''''. He was still trying to absorb the facts that were revealed right now.
Riddhima: Huhh ''' Sid answer disturbed Riddhima a little. It somehow seemed to pain her but why she could not understand. 'kyu ''..???'
Sid: Yaha se jaane ke baad mein pehle internship phir specialization khatam ki Phir ek baad ek opportunity milti gayi aur main masroof hota gaya
Riddhima: Bahoot ache doctor ban gaye ho Your parents will be proud of you We all are proud of you
Sid: Aur koi khushi de nahi paya toh yeh hi sahi. And actually bas try karta to do my best for the patients
Riddhima: Itne saalo ...
Sid: Jaane do beete bate pe dhyaan dene se koi fayada nahi
'Hmmm ...' Riddhima wanted to know more but restrained. She knew her selfish intention were getting better of her but not at the cost of his pain. What she did with him was wrong but why did cut himself off from his friends She had never heard of him being in touch with JP and Jiggy as well. Maybe he wanted to cut himself away from all memories
The silence descended as they pondered on the facts that were being disclosed.
'Yeh kya kar diya maine. Aise kaise main usse galat samajta raha ''' Maine bahoot galat kiya ''. Maine usse call karna chahiye tha '''' agar aaj usse pata chala toh koh khud ko kabhi maaf nahi kar payegi''''. Damn it !!!
Riddhima: Kya hua
Sid: Machaar ''' just to avoid further conversation on the issue he was pondering on
Riddhima: Andar Chale
Sid: Hmmm
They shifted inside and settled down. The tension slowly was easing out. Work had been their saviors. They spoke passionately about their work Sanjeevani its progress Each sharing their views. Though Riddhima had lost out on many opportunities she still was a good doctor a good administrator who could give any top notch doctor a run for their money Sid was happy to see that all was still not lost for her.
Those uneasy glances were replaced by admiration, warmth and compassion. They talked into the night till sleep overcame Riddhima Soon Riddhima dozed off in her seat peacefully while absorbing the angelic features of the man who was always her savior
Sid kept gazing at her as she slept and a faint smiled crept up on his face. It was none other than Riddhima's beauty which was illuminating the room. She still looked as beautiful as ever. If someone asked him she was an ageless beauty for him then and now.
He kept gazing at her and soon he too feel prey to his tired body's demand and dozed off in his place.
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