Chapter 10
Note: In the last part, i guess it had been rather confusing when they fell of the cliff!! Well just to clrify, it was Armaan who had pulled them of the cliff!!
Recap:"Noo" Riddhima heard a growl escape from Armaan's lips and before she knew she found herself being yanked off the cliff, as Armaan pulled her off beyond the cliff, both falling deep down onto the treacherous rocks below. She could feel them seleves being sucked deep down, the gravity pulling them both………deep down……
**~Part13~**
Riddhima knew she was going to die, yes she just knew it. The fierce rush of wind blowing on her face, she was falling; yes she was going to die now. Had she ever anticipated her death this way??? But hang on……..ofcourse she hadn't anticipated her death this way but it was Armaan who had yanked them both and he was going to die with her. Closing her eyes Riddhima stopped all her thoughts, if she was going to die, then might as well stop reasoning and thinking. The end wasn't very far now………
"OUCH"
Riddhima yelled feeling a terrifying jerk feeling a stab of pain in her wrist, she suddenly felt herself stopping in midway, the rush of air stopping suddenly as though suddenly someone had pressed a pause button on a remote.
She felt a firm hand along her waist and felt Armaan molding her into him. They were swaying in mid air now, Riddhima could feel her dangling legs swaying as she automatically felt her hands clutch his shoulders, her eyes still closed; she had never been so scared her life. No this was a dream she thought but the pain in her wrist was real, she was sure she could feel blood oozing out on her skin, but Armaan held her hand firmly along her waist so tightly that she could barely move it.
Wait why was he holding her? And how come they weren't falling? How were they dangling like a freely floating objects in air?
"Riddhima open your eyes" Riddhima felt him whisper gently and she slowly lifted her eye lids blinking as the light blinded her initially. Adjusting her vision she saw her one hand clutching him tightly, gripping his T-shirt; her other arm being in his grip. She gazed up to see him looking down at her.
It was then she noticed. They were hanging from a cliff hanger. Her eyes traced up along the rope, the pointed hook resting against the rough uneven rocky surface. Due to the uneven surface the hook fit in perfectly into the crevices, the thick rope coming out from the loop, extended fully as it stretched between the hook on the rock and the waist band around Armaan's waist.
It was then she realized the vulnerability of her position. Armaan was the one who was securely hanging, not her. If she dare left him, she would go down, deep. She suddenly felt giddy and realized the reason why Armaan held her so firmly.
She gazed into his eyes finally. They were unreadable as those grey eyes pierced through her. She could barely recognize her Armaan. There weren't any of those tender emotions brimming in them. His eyes were stern, dark, forbidding and yet she could feel, she could see fear filled in them.
"Armaan……" she began.
"Riddhima……" he paused. "Please save the questions for later sweetheart. Right now listen to me carefully. In my left pocket, yes that's your right for you, there's a talkie. Remove that with your free hand. Don't move more then necessary Riddhima and ………I have caught you firmly, don't worry" he added softly.
He looked at her still lost and not responding.
"Riddhima this is urgent please do as I say honey, trust me"
Riddhima fumbled and dropped her gaze. She looked down at their position. One wrong move, one mistake on Armaan's part and it would cost them her life or perhaps them both? Her only support was Armaan holding her from her waist. She had clutched him involuntarily and she just couldn't let go of him.
"Riddhima please, trust me, I wont allow anything to you baby, just remove that talkie and hold it near my mouth, do as I say, Riddhima I don't know for how long this rope will hold us both" he urged her in a gentle appealing tone.
Fumbling Riddhima let go of his shirt slowly. Feeling her hands shaking slightly she thrust it gently in his pocket .Holding the talkie firmly she brought it up, her hands shaking again. As she brought it closer to his mouth she couldn't help but feel herself tremble all the more.
"Relax sweetheart, where's my brave girl? Ridz nothing will happen to you ok……." He tilted his head slightly and kissed her little finger, the nearest to his lips.
"Armaan I am not scared, I am worried, about us, about you……." She whispered softly gazing into his searching for answers.
"Nothing will happen to anyone of us I promise Riddhima, now just press the green button on the talkie and hold it steadily near my lips.
Doing as he instructed Riddhima soon heard the faint beeping as the line picked up and the call was activated.
"Hello, Armaan?" Riddhima could make out an unknown horse voice from the other end over the disturbance in the line.
"Chief this is Armaan Mallik reporting here, mission R0R has almost been successful, but we are stuck here, on the Derek cliff. Send a helicopter immediately chief, I don't know for how long I'll be able to hold on."
"Is she with you?" Riddhima's ears cocked up hearing the reaction from the other end.
"Yes she is with me chief, send over a heli immediately over"
"Ok Sir. Over"
Riddhima's lips parted as she gasped in surprise. "Sir??" that person whoever so was at the other end other addressed Armaan as "Sir?"
Who was Armaan? She suddenly looked up fearfully but found traces of her own Armaan in his eyes. His lips curved up into a smile as she lowered the talkie and squeezed it back in to his pocket.
"Riddhima I promise to answer all your questions" he whispered holding her tight to himself as she looked down.
"Don't be so scared" he added lightly blowing away the loose tendrils on her face.
"I am not scared, I just want to know why the hell did you pull me off that cliff……..and…….." she looked up defiantly and gave him a glare. She didn't even know this guy, she though she did ruefully. The guy holding her currently seemed far away from her Armaan and to think she fell in love with………
"Ok……fine Riddhima, I know you are pretty brave and as I said I swear to answer you truthfully and put all your queries at ease later……" he smiled.
"Enough Ar……omg" she let out a small scream as she felt a sudden jerk and frantically looked up to see the hook sliding a few inches below, swaying them dangerously.
She thrust her arms around him involuntarily holding on to her dear life.
"Ridz relax…….." she felt his arm tighten around her but yet she couldn't miss the grimness in his voice.
Looking up she saw his jaws clinched together and a frantic, fearful look in his eyes.
"This won't hold us on for long" he muttered tensely.
"I hope the helicop comes soon"
A few seconds lapsed into silence as Riddhima fixed her gaze rigidly on the treacherous rocks below, imagining what if……………….no sounds could be heard from atop the cliff. She wondered for a minute what was going on, Anjali, Rahul…………. maybe they were so far below, they couldn't really make out any other sounds besides the rush of the breeze.
"Yes……." She heard him sigh in relief and gazed up. The distant roar of the wings of the helicopter could be heard. Soon it came into view and Riddhima felt it halt right over head even though it was way above. She felt Armaan fix the hook lowered from the helicopter to his waist and suddenly she felt herself being hauled up.
Her hair played havoc as they reached; the gust of winds sent out by the rotating fans sent her hair into frenzy. She found herself cuddled up on his lap, as he firmly held her waist and she could feel his body vibrating in rhythm of her own as the helicopter zoomed ahead.
It just seemed about a few minutes later that they were getting off. Riddhima jumped out to see a number of cars parked. She gazed around at the number of men and a few women waiting silently. Some she knew, they were fellow agents with her. Atul was there, so was frank, Anjali stood a few feet away and Riddhima saw to her amazement, she was unguarded.
She glanced around now aware of the grimness of the situation. To her amazement Rahul was standing a few feet away, looking flushed. He seemed to standing with a crowd, and now as she stared closely, it seemed her was being guarded. The men closer to him held guns aiming him.
Furiously and yet confused she turned to see Armaan getting down and stepping forward, standing close to her. Before she could utter a word she saw frank come forward.
"Sir……" he started and paused as Armaan stopped him holding up his hand.
"Listen chief, there is no time for discussions, we will do this later, as of now everything is under control. I need to take her away from here, she has been through a lot" Armaan added indicating Riddhima.
"Right Sir, we caught the culprit too finally…….he is in for some serious trouble, Rahul Grewal, I can't believe…."
"Rahul?" Riddhima gasped seeing his terror stricken face.
"He couldn't be……" she turned to face Armaan shock written all over her face.
"Armaan…."
"Riddhima save the questions for later please?" he smiled faintly and squeezed her hand which she pulled back the next instant.
"Ok Sir, everything under control, we will take this scumbag now" frank interrupted grimly waving Rahul.
"No" Armaan shook his head firmly.
"But Sir, he is a b***** traitor, he tried to kill……he……"
"Chief, leave Rahul Grewal for me please….."
"You still feel he is innocent or……" Frank looked at him in curiously.
"I haven't said anything Frank, I just request to let me handle this my way, take Rahul away and lock him up, I mean merely lock him up, no harm should come on him, leave him alone till I come .I expect you to follow my orders as you already made a big blunder with agent Muskaan" Armaan spoke authoritatively and grimly leaving no space for any arguments.
"Ok Sir" mumbled frank.
"And yes, please leave Anjali Sharma alone, stop following her as though she were a criminal. These are my orders. Infact you need to give her protection too till we are out of here. I expect agent Muskaan to be let free as soon as possible. You made the poor girl go through a lot……and please pay heed to my warning about Rahul. No harm should come on him till I return……. I'll come and give other instructions later, right now…….." he paused stealing a glance at Riddhima who stood rock still.
"I need to leave and have a few hours of peace" he added taking hold of Riddhima's hand and making her sit in his car .As they drove off Riddhima stole a glance back. She could hear the hustle- bustle as Rahul was being marched to the police car.
She looked at Armaan holding the wheel firmly and looking straight ahead.
They were
alone now and it was time for some answers. Riddhima never felt so lost in her
life. It seemed the life she had been living seemed unreal with everyone so
fake and just behind masks. How come nobody informed her as to what exactly was
going on and Armaan…………..Armaan Mallik, the guy she trusted, adored
and loved above everything else was just wasn't the guy he seemed to
have been past so many days. Could she have been so blind?? She fought back her
tears and glanced at him from the corner of her eyes.
He looked at her right then and she could see those emotions yet again. He might not be the Armaan she knew but yet his eyes were the same .The same tenderness glowing in them. She could see traces of guilt and fear too.
"Riddhima?" he whispered gently.
She looked away feeling herself grow weaker with the moment. No she couldn't be crying in front of him. He was a complete stranger.
"Look at me sweetheart" he commanded which she defiantly disobeyed. She heard him sigh as she felt his fingers under her chin turning her face to him.
"Riddhima listen to me, I'll answer each and every question of yours, believe me, please hear me out once atleast honey" he gently whispered caressing her cheek with his fingers.
"Do I have a choice any which ways Armaan?? Seeing my life itself seems to fake and unreal, nothing is what it seems, I don't rule my life I guess. "Her voice quivered as she finally felt her tears rolling down her cheek.
"Riddhima please don't cry, I promise ………." He paused seeing her look away resting her head on the glass window. The drive was silent as Riddhima showed no interest in starting anymore conversations. She seemed too lost to notice even when they finally arrived back home.
Getting down she marched in, her head high up not waiting for him. Once inside she stood there, her hands folded across her chest. She gave him a blank look as he entered a few seconds later, closing the door behind him.
"Now spill Armaan Mallik, what is going on….no cock-hen stories mind you. I want the complete truth." She spoke, her voice trembling.
"Yes Riddhima, I am ready to answer all your question, all I request you is too listen to me" he replied stepping close to her.
Meeting his gaze she breathed in deeply and asked.
"So tell me who are you Armaan?"
*************************************
Ok
part 13 up finally!! Wont say much, looking forward to ur reactions n
this!!! Pls do leave ur views. I see the number of comments decreasing,
even on the oter one.........is it because the standard of my parts has
decreased???
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