Chapter 12
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*~Part 15~*
Armaan stared at the empty room and rushed out. No she couldnt have possibly run away. She was far too sensible for that. Als not with her purse still in he room. And it was next to impossible that she had ben kidnapped. Taking into account the security system he had set up, no one could whisk her away without him being aware of. So where was she??
"John?" he called out rushing down the staircase, two steps at a time.
"Yes Sir?" Armaan composed himself a little as he saw the housekeeper poisd patiently near the dinning table.
"Have you seen Riddhima Madam?"
"Sir I believe madam just made her way to the garden, from the back door of the kitchen. I believe she went in the directions of the stable."
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Riddhima blinked her eyes adjusting to the crimson-orangish glow coming from the western side, the sinking sun casting a golden glow over the still waters.
The entire atmosphere looked so serene, so peaceful, and unaware of the storm raging inside her. Riddhima didn't feel tears swelling up in her eyes, it would have normal given her situation, but no she couldn't cry. She just couldn't. She was far to numb with the shock, the revelations in the events that took place in the afternoon to react normally.
Armaan had virtually kidnapped her, whisked her away to an entire different country to keep her safe. Unknown to her alone ;she had been held as a captive and the whole world knew this except her? What had they thought? She was some tyrant who would have run away if she had been told the facts? What did they take her to be? Some idiot to not realize the gravity of the situation? Riddhima snorted with sarcasm.
Well though she would have objected to being watched 24*7 ;she was definitely no fool to risk her life if it was so important? Atleast till she got the custody of that bank vault and handed those blueprints to them she would have kept herself safe, allowed them to guard her.
The thought of a burly fellow standing outside her home, watching her without a blink surely did give her creeps. She had been a free-bird, a vibrant, full of life and fearless. Maybe that's what made Armaan feel she wouldn't have security guarding her.
But this? Kidnapping her, making her believe in a world which didn't exist was far worse. She didn't mind being chained in a room now compared to the pain that she now felt thinking how he had fooled her. Ok so she had never been a part of the FBI??? She had been allowed to enter the forces, or rather cleverly manipulated into joining them for her own good.
God she had been such a fool. Her fearless nature, no-nonsense attitude and ready for challenge nature had been tapped so that she would remain safe. And then she was supposedly assigned Armaan's case and before she could make enquires she had been ushered out of the country and held here where she was fooling herself by guarding Armaan?
He had been so smart, so clever in building up this situation to suit himself. With her believing she was protecting him, she would stay with him all the time, regardless of the situation, take all precautionary measures, and he would just be watching over her. He knew under the guise of protecting him she would never stray away from him even for a second and he could keep her safe till needed.
But why did he do this to her? Why did he create a fantasy around her, telling her he loved her? Where was the need to do that? She would have been with him regardless of any such feelings. Why did he make her fall in love with him, why did he evoke those feelings in her when it was just a guise to protect?
Maybe it wasn't a part of the game. A bubble of hope swelled in her heart. Perhaps he did mean all of that? But how could she trust him now that seeing how cleverly he had manipulated her, made a fool out of her? No she could never trust him, it might have been a lie. He would just be playing along with her, amusing himself since he had been stranded with her.
The thought made her feel sick. To think he actually proposed her? And she had been on the verge of saying yes? But why would he propose if he was just playing along? If she was a mere plaything, he would not propose!!
Massaging her temple gently Riddhima looked over the clear still waters. They were so calm, so still, so serene….
"Riddhima?" she turned around to see him standing a few feet away, looking hassled and disheveled. Running his hand through his hair he took a step towards her.
"Why did you come here without informing me? You have any idea how worried I was? You should have atleast left a note that you are at the lake, do you have any idea what I went through these last couple of minutes? I thought you……." His voice trailed off.
"Run away Armaan?" Riddhima filled in.
"Tell me Armaan do I look such a big fool to you that now after explaining me how precious my life is, I will run away? Play a tyrant? Give you a hard time? Much as I would love too, I am not a rash girl in my teens….." she continued her pitch rising.
"Riddhima no I didn't mean too….."
"Its ok Armaan, you are doing your job…..I wont give you any more trouble. I just had a request……"
"Request?" Armaan frowned.
"Take me home Armaan. I am ready to cope with all the security measures you want to thrust on me. I have no issues at all. You don't need to bother protecting me leaving aside all your work. Watching over me 24*7,you don't need to do this Armaan. I am ready to be under the surveillance of all your forces." Riddhima lowered her eyes as he kept staring at her, the intensity in his eyes making her squirm.
"Why Riddhima? Why are you doing this? I know whatever happened has hurt you but……."
"Armaan you didn't hurt me…..you were just doing your job" she replied coldly looking away.
Coming closer he gently tipped her chin to face him. Tenderly resting his palm on her cheek he continued.
'Riddhima, believe me. I never intended to hurt you. I just thought it was the best way to keep you safe. And out of the country was even better. I know you would have never agreed by yourself if you had known the truth, you would have insisted to stay on there, fight them…….and my job was to…."
"Ensure that I am safe right?" Riddhima whispered looking straight into his eyes, the pain so clearly visible that it made Armaan hold his breath.
"I am safe Armaan, I'll be safe….I'll make sure I don't try fooling about. I'll do everything I am asked to…..it's afterall all about those blueprints……just take me back home. With all your forces watching me, I doubt anything would happen till those blueprints are recovered."
"I wont allow anything to ever happen to you Riddhima" Armaan looked at her helplessly.
"You don't need to give me those sweet little nothings Armaan. I am not a child. Just do your job and keep in your limits. Stop playing with my feelings atleast now."
"Riddhima…." He fiercely whispered unable to control his anger.
"Look sweetheart, I wasn't playing with your feelings. I really did fall in love with you. You are the only woman who has affected me this way. You really think I am so stupid to mix my professional life with personal. You really feel I would jeopardize my job and get involved with you when I am supposed to protect you just to play with you for some time? You think I am so low?"
"It might be to amuse yourself Armaan. Afterall you were stuck here with me, any man….."
"Shutup" he glared. He felt like shaking her, holding tight and making her see sense. But yet he couldn't bring up his arms to use force on her.
"Riddhima do even know what you are talking? Tell me if in reality you had been protecting me and everything was just the way it had been, would you have confessed and told me the truth? You were asked to make me believe that you were an assistant joining my company and you made me believe that. You were on job, you were made to swear that your true identity should never be revealed, you remained faithful to your job Riddhima. Yet you did get involved with me. You did fall in love with me……..and even when I proposed you, you couldn't tell me the truth. No I am not blaming you, I admire your loyalty, but the same holds true for me."
"Armaan you are comparing my case with yours?" Riddhima looked at him in disbelief.
"Armaan you built a false world around me, made me see things only you wanted me to see and yet you have the nerve to compare my loyalty with yours. And I would have told you the truth, yes I would, not caring for anything else, I was going to tell you everything before I said yes to your ……your proposalll….." Riddhima felt a lump rise in her throat, she swallowed it quickly determined not to look weak in front of him.
"Riddhima….honey nothing has changed as yet….Riddhima I still love you and…."
"Don't you dare Armaan, I cannot trust you any more, ever again…..just take me home Armaan, please….I promise to keep safe till you get the blueprints but after that set me free. You don't need to babysit me anymore. Your officers can do that, you might be having important jobs to take care of…….." She whimpered looking away fighting her sudden tears.
"Riddhima…"
"Armaan please, don't test my patience or tolerance, I might be irresponsible and run away……..and then you might not get your precious documents….."
Looking at her determined face Armaan felt his world crumbling. He knew she wont listen to him nor see what he was trying to make her believe. She could be as stubborn as she wished and she had all the rights to not believe him now…..he had torn her world into pieces…..
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Unlocking the iron door Armaan stepped in only to be greeted by a faint stale smell lingering in the air, as though the room hadn't seen sunlight for quite a few days. They were going back that evening. Nothing he did had made Riddhima melt…….in the end he decided to just take her back and give her chance…..Stepping in he closed the door behind him and gazed around.
"Armaan?" a faint voice called out.
Armaan strained his eyes adjusting to the dim light in the room and saw Rahul walking towards him, looking totally forlorn and shabby.
"Hey buddy, sit down……" Armaan tried to talk in a cheery, hopeful tone trying to ease him, assuring him and hoping he would be hopeful.
"Finally you are here Armaan, I must firstly thankyou for stepping in between and covering up my case. I thought they would have sentenced to me to death penalty straightaway." Rahul muttered giving him a faint smile.
"I had to step in Rahul, I knew you much before you joined the FBI, we took training for CIA together and there after I had been following your progress closely. There is no way you would have been involved in betraying FBI or passing on the information." Armaan grimly spoke sitting down.
"Except I was Armaan, you know I was, I had passed on the information. You know that don't you…." Rahul glumly muttered.
"Yes sadly, much to my shocking surprise, all the proofs pointed towards you until that Muskaan jumped in giving you sometime before you were caught."
"Yes she did that, I told her not to, but she decided to go ahead, foolish stubborn girl. She told me she would buy time for me, by diverting your attention from me to her, in the meantime I could clean up and perhaps get away….. women…."
"Yea women tend to be stubborn and headstrong, specially if they believe they are doing it for someone they love" Armaan added dryly.
"Well yea…." Rahul gave a soft chuckle.
"So tell me Rahul, what made you do this. I still choose not to believe that you betrayed my trust……just like that. What was it?? For money? Or…….be careful in what you say Rahul, it will testify against you" Armaan warned.
"For my daughter" Rahul answered quietly lowering his eyes.
"Daughter?" Armaan asked him sharply.
"Yes my daughter, she is five years old right now. I was called by them a few months ago when the got the wind that you were personally going to protect Riddhima. They threatened to kill her if I didn't co-operate. I had n choice; I can't possibly allow them to bring her in this……."
"So they threatened you and you just gave in?"
"No I objected, I tried to show I wasn't afraid, but they kept tabs on her every minute. Showed me how closely they were watching. If I didn't agree, any minute they would…." His voice trailed off.
"So you gave in? Did you realize the danger you put Riddhima and the rest of the force in?" Armaan looked at him sternly.
"Yes I did, I was torn apart Armaan. I did want to protect Ridz, she had been a sister to Muskaan, I couldn't harm her of all the people and yet I couldn't put my daughter's life at stake…..and I knew you would be capable enough to protect her, regardless of whatever I do…."
"So you confirm you actions of betraying the forces Rahul and justify it under the guise of your daughter being threatened which compelled you to do this?" Armaan looked at him expressionless.
"Yes I do…" Rahul whispered.
"But…..I can show you proofs of my child being endangered, they sent me so many video tapes, pictures…."
"Ok fine……you will be given the permission to plead you case Rahul, you can show your proofs then……till then I will give orders to transfer you back to head quarters. You will be kept in confinement……" Armaan stood up briskly.
"But but……what are the chances of me being given a lower sentence to pay…" Rahul asked in a quivering tone.
"You still have a chance Rahul, I will make sure you do….as I believe you…" Armaan muttered not looking at him.
"One last request Armaan….can I see Muskaan just once before the trial starts?"
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Riddhima stared out from her window gazing aimlessly at the bustling traffic below. It had been nearly two months since she returned back to her home. Atleast she could call it her own. Something which wasn't a part of the prejudiced world she had been living two months ago. She had agreed to all security norms setup and order to protect her, she lived a quite life, tried not attracting too much attention by keeping her head low……..she gave in to all the measures the forces setup to keep her safe, her demand being just one. There was noway she wanted Armaan being directly involved in this………he could stay away and keep an eye on her, but if he would try to invade her space, force himself she would run away. Two whole months she fought to keep her distance from him, just one more month and perhaps she would be free? She would collect those documents, hand them over and then she would be free……hopefully she thought.
"Riddz??? I'll leave now I guess…." She snapped back and turned around to see Atul standing up.
"You are going? So soon?" she frowned. He had somehow become close to her past few days. In him Riddhima had found a friend she needed to support her.
"Yes, it's getting late right? I should be going now, Riddhima yet again you didn't agree to me…..Riddhu…"
"No Atul, don't go there, we have discussed this a hundred times, I don't want to meet him or have anything to do with him…." Riddhima sighed sitting down.
"Fine I wont say anything, I just came along to give you some company till you're stuck up here. Take care, I'll see you tomorrow. Hopefully we might get news on Rahul's judgment too" he smiled.
"I really appreciate this Atul, you really have been a brick" Riddhima spoke, looking up giving him a faint smile.
"Well I am glad you think that way sister, just one advice, give people you love a chance to explain their actions whenever they hurt you, or maybe then afterwards you might be too late and the relationship might slip out of your hands forever" Atul smiled speaking soberly.
"Yes I will…" Riddhima answered automatically.
"Ok then bye……." She went along with him to see him off.
As the door closed behind him Atul sighed.
"I hope you realize it sooner than I have Riddhima"
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Armaan slammed the door and looked up along the length of the building to see the lights still on in her apartment. He strode in and pressed the lift button. As the clanking of the lift coming down drummed through his ears he grimly thought. Today she had to answer him. Two whole months he had kept away. She had refused to answer his calls. Refused to talk to him on anything besides her security issues. But not tonight. He hadn't done anything to hurt her on purpose. And he definitely hadn't fallen for her for his amusement. If she thought his love for her was amusement, he would show her tonight what his love was……and who was she to challenge his love? She hadn't ever even uttered those three words to him in their time together.
The sudden silence brought him out of his thoughts. Getting into the lift he pressed the button to her floor. Tonight she would have to answer him, what game was she playing??
Hearing the doorbell ring three times in a row Riddhima ran out. Glancing at the time she felt a sudden fear rushing in. who would it be at this time of the night? But then there were guards watching her anyways. It might be the neighbor in need.
Opening the door Riddhima recoiled back in surprise.
"Armaan?"
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Update up as promised!!! Um not very satisfied with the way its shaped up. Hope its not a total disappointment!! Wont say much now, pls do leave ur views, um so not very sure about this part or the entire fic that i tend to loose my nerve everytime it comes to updating it. I so regret not being able to respond to the comments, believe me each one means so much to me!! But i couldnt make it this time as each reply would take 20 mins to load. So i will surely make up once my net is in order.
Thanku so very much everyone for ur amazing respone. Forgive me for being unable to send pms, i so didnt want to update tilll net came back as i cannot even send so many pms with this poor connection, but oh well i cudnt keep u all waiting for that long. So my apologies once again! I better stop before u all start yawning. Love u all. Will be waiting for your views!!
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