Chapter 18

armaan bit back a grin. She was so cute when she didn't know what to say or how to say it. armaan knew it was just a matter of time before ridz would burst. He began to count in his head.

Three...two...

"Okay, okay, I like you! So what? God, you don't have to look so smug about it!" ridz almost screeched, his silence grating on her nerves.

A wide grin broke out on armaan's handsome face. He beamed happily at ridz. Her heart fluttered at his smile, before realization dawned on her. He knew all along! She narrowed her eyes, and before armaan knew it, a pillow had smacked him on the face and his chair toppled over from the sheer force.

Who knew pregnant women were so strong?

"Hey! What was that for?" armaan whined from his position on the floor, rubbing his head.

ridz stuck out her tongue.

"For being such a stuck-up pig" she retorted, folding her arms over her chest.

armaan smirked.

"Then it's a good thing you like farm animals" he remarked, his eyes sparkling mischievous.

ridz gaped, her face flushing beet red. She opened her mouth to retort when armaan's soft lips found its way over hers. She let out a gasp as a rush of emotions flooded her. She felt lightheaded and dizzy, like she was floating on air.

And as far as she knew, she didn't want to come back down.

armaan felt his heart race as ridz kissed back. His arms slid around her waist as she ran a hand along his hair. He could feel her every touch, leaving his skin tingling. It felt like they fitted, like no one else could make him feel so complete. They broke apart when breathing became a necessity. ridz bit her lip, her face flushed and her eyes sparkling. armaan grinned, catching his breath. ridz played with the hem of the blanket, not knowing what to say.

"Um…that was n-nice" ridz stammered.

armaan raised an eyebrow, before bursting out in laughter.

"Nice? If I didn't know, I'd think that was your first kiss!" armaan spluttered through his laughter.

ridz turned beet red. armaan's jaw dropped.

"No way! Was that your first kiss?" he asked, suddenly curious.

"N-no!" ridz retorted unconvincingly.

armaan nodded, a smirk playing on his lips.ridz rolled her eyes and pouted.

All armaan could do was to kiss her again.

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"Aw, they're making out!"

"Ew, they're making out!"

"I thought you were supposed to recover in a hospital, not excite yourself all over again"

"You were thinking it! Don't deny it, muskaan"

"Yeah, but you said it!"

"Settle down, children"

"Oh, shut up, rahul"

"Yeah, raul!"

"Guys!"

armaan folded his arms over his chest as his friends stopped their bickering. atul and rahul sheepishly grinned as angie and muskaan rushed into ridz's room.

"Oh, my God! riddzy! Like, finally you two get it on! We were almost going to start betting if you two didn't get together soon" muskaan gushed.

ridz flushed as she glared at her two best friends.

"You make it sound like waiting for it to happen" she swatted at angie and muskaan

"Like, duh!" angie rolled her eyes playfully.

armaan chuckled, catching ridz's eyes. He smiled softly at her, mouthing 'We'll talk later', before cheekily winking. atul gagged.

"Aw man, does this mean you two are going to be making googly eyes and acting all lovey-dovey in front of us now?" he pretended to think.

"Whatever!" armaan poked out his tongue.

ridz giggled as her friends bicker and laugh. The room felt like it was filled with warmth and happiness. She sighed contentedly as her hand made circles on her swelling stomach. Suddenly, she gasped. armaan's eyes widened, before rushing by her side.

"ridz! Are you okay?" he asked worriedly, and he looked so cute when he was concerned that all ridz wanted to do was to pinch his cheeks.

Or kiss him, but that was beside the point.

"He was kicking, armaan! Our baby just kicked me!" she squealed.

muskaan and angie wailed in excitement, clutching each other animatedly. rahul and atul mockingly punched armaan, hollering their congratulations. ridz waited impatiently for armaan to react, who was standing stock-still with his mouth hanging open.

"armaan?" she timidly asked.

ridz nudged him. He looked blankly at her before-

"OH MY GOD, MY BABY'S GOING TO BE TOTALLY AWESOME!"

ridz just laughed.

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kirti and padma shook their heads as they listened to there raucous children. They shared a knowing look when armaan and ridz smiled at each other.armaan reached out to entwine his hand in ridz's, and kirti could see her future daughter-in-law blush. padmasighed.

"I always knew ridz had a thing for armaan. Even when she was bitching about him and his girlfriends" she remarked.

shashank grunted from his seat across the hallway.

"I still don't think he's good enough for my baby girl" he muttered darkly.

shubankar slapped him on the back.

"It's too late to say anything now. They're in love, she's having his baby, why, they might as well get married!" he laughed.

shashank did not look amused. kirti gasped.

"That's it! We'll have their wedding!"

"But they haven't even finished collge yet! I refuse to let my daughter get married at 21!" padma protested.

kirti waved her hand dismissively.

"That doesn't matter! ridz's having the first malik grandchild, and what would people say if our grandchild was born out of wedlock?"

"That your son is an irresponsible bas***d?" shashank quipped.

"That'd be our grandchild, if we don't marry those two!" kirti retorted haughtily.

shashank huffed. shubabkar nodded thoughtfully.

"Well, they ARE in love" he reasoned. "I don't see why not"

padma sighed. Her eyes softened as the sight of her daughter laughing happily, armaan by her side.

"It's not like we've ever seen ridz this happy before. If this boy makes her happy, then she has to tie him down before he can get away!"

kirti clapped happily. She turned to shashank.

"Well, shashank, it seems everyone is excited for this marriage to happen. But, of course, we won't go on if the father of bride objects" she sighed dramatically.

shashank looked at a hopeful padma, then at an expectant kirti and shubankar. He groaned inwardly.

"Fine" he replied, hanging his head in defeat.

All he could hear was the squeals of his wife and future in-laws.