Chapter 6

CHAPTER 5:

Ridhima was so busy that evening. "wo kabhi bhi aa saktha hai.. ETF me first din hai na.. kaafi tired hoga.. unke aane se pehle sab ready hona chahiye'" 

The table was ready with his favorite food. She was waiting for his surprised looks. She was in kitchen when she heard him coming. "Ridhi'."

She was coming with a glass of water, but the way he looked made her stop in the half way. He was so tired, or maybe disturbed. He was sitting in the sofa with his face in his hands. "kya hua inhe'?" she was worried. 

She came and kept her hands on his shoulder. He looked up. She gave him water. After taking the glass back she sat on the floor on her knees opposite to him, cupping his face. "kya hua bhaiya'?"

"kuch nahi beta.. bas thode tired hu.." he smiled weakly. She hugged him lovingly. She knew he was lying. Something he never did before. "muche patha hai ki kuch tho baath hai jo aap mujhse nahi keh rahe ho... its ok take your time.. me yahi hu'"  she said to herself.

She broke the hug. "its ok bhaiya.. first day the na.. isliye tired ho.. its ok.. aap fresh hoke aayiye.. khana ready hai.." he smiled and went to his room. 

"sorry Ridhi.. pehli baar thumse jhut bola.. sorry.. me bas tumhe tension nahi dena chahthe.. jab thak Arjun se theek se baath nahi hoge.. thab thak mein kuch nahi kah sakthe.. sorry.." 

 He came back after changing. She had some of his favorite food on the table. "you know what Ridhi.. tum duniya ke best behen ho'" he tried to keep a happy face infront of her.

"patha hai.. patha hai.. mein ye pehle bhi kayi baar sunchuki hu'" she smiled. He saw a small sadness in her eyes. It was not the first time he had noticed this. She knew he would catch her mood.

"acha batao bhaiya.. team me koi ladki hai kya?" she looked so naughty.

"kyu?"

"nahi.. bas ye jaan na tha ki ab mujhe mereliye bhabhi dhundna hogi ya fir aap khud le ayege.."

She gave her trademark smile.

"Ridhi.. tum bhi na.." they laughed and had their food.   

Next day:

"bhaiya breakfast ready'"

"ha coming.."

They had their breakfast  together. "aao mein tumhe college chod dethe hai'"

They talked all the way upto the college. All the silly jokes and gossips at college. They were having a great time. He dropped her at Summerdale College. "bye.. bhaiya.. take care.."

"bye.."

He reached back at office. "good morning everybody.." he was feeling at peace inside. Arjun was happy to see him calm.

"kya hua sir.. bohot khush dikh rahe ho?" Shree enquired.

"kuch nahi Shree. Just had a nice time with my sis." Arjun and Rathod looked at him.

"aapke ek behen hai..?" Riya asked him. "kya naam hai unka? Kya karthe hai wo?" Raj raised his eyebrows. "ek saath ithne sare sawal?"

"sorry sir.. bas aise hi.."

"its ok Riya.. just kidding. Uske naam Ridhima hai..Ridhi bulathe hai.." he looked slightly at Arjun and Sameer. Riya noticed it. "Summerdale College mein padthe hai.." 

" Ridhima' how could I forget her'" Arjun was thinking.

Flash back:

Ridhi was a bit upset. "sab apne apne bhaiyonko rakhi band chuke hoge.. sirf me hi reh gayi hai.." she was not angry. She knew that her 3 brothers were on duty. After all duty comes first. But still.. it was rakshabandhen.. she missed them. 

She heard their car coming up. She was so happy and ran to the door. Then she stopped. "agar mein wait kar sakthi hu.. tho wo log kyu nahi..?" she went back to her room and acted that she was angry.

"Ridhi'. Kaha ho tum?" Raj called her out. Someone knocked at her door. She smiled and didn't open. Someone knocked again.

"please Ridhi..sorry yaar.. door kholna.." this time it was Arjun. Still no response.

"aah'." Someone cried at the other side of the door. She was startled. "Sameer bhaiya..?" she ran to open the door. Rathod was near the door with a bandage on his head. He was catching onto it. "aah.."

"are bhaiya.. kya hua?"

"kuch nahi beta.. ek  encounter tha.. thab chot laga.. isiliya late hua. Sorry"

"chup kariye.. baitiye.. let me see." She had water in her eyes. All 3 of them saw it. The one thing that they never wished to see is her tears."please Ridhi.. don't cry.." she still was weeping looking at the bandage. 

Rathod couldn't take it anymore. " please Ridhi.. me teekh hu.. look..koi chot nahi hai.. bas  mazak kar rahe the.." he removed the bandage. She couldn't believe it. She was fuming. "mazak' or ye kiske idea the?"  Arjun and Raj pointed at Sameer. He just smiled. Next moment Arjun and Raj were laughing their hearts out seeing Ridhi running behind Rathod hitting him with whatever she got in her hand. At last they were tired and sat down together and started to laugh again.

She brought rakhi to them. Did aarathi and tied rakhi to each of her brother. "sorry Ridhi.. kaam me ithne busy the ki hum theeno ne kuch nahi le aya tunhare liye.. sorry" Arjun caught his ears.

"its ok bhaiya.. mujhe kuch nahi chahiye.. bus ek promise kariye ke aap 3 hamesha ek saath hoge.." 

"promise.." all three told her and hugged her. 

Flashback ends:

Ridhima.. always smiling.. giving out her happiness to whom ever she finds' with a simple smile.. who loved her brothers more than anyone else in the whole world..

"kaise hai wo?" all looked at Arjun. "Raj.. Ridhi kaise hai..?"

"kyu tumhe yaad hai use? Great'"

"don't say that Raj.. mein use kabhi nahi bhool saktha.."

"agar ithne yaad hai tho pichle ek saal kaha the tum? Wo tumse bohot pyaar karthe hai.. and you knew that.." Riya was a bit shocked.  "fir bhi tum use'" he looked disgusted. "or Rathod tum tho Mumbai me the na..? " he was not happy. Rathod didn't have any answer. Rathod's  phone rang. "team a new case" the seniors went out followed by the trio.

"tho ye problem hai.. maybe Arjun sir cheated on Ridhi.." Chotu was calculating.

"Chotu'" she stopped him. "no this can't be true. But if it is so, sir still likes that Ridhi.." she was worried.

PRECAP:

Past.. young Raj, Arjun and Sameer.. friends for ever!!

HOPE YOU LIKED MY RIDHIMA...

COMMENTS PLEASE..

CHAPTER 6: PAGE 20