Chapter 25

Recap:

Armaan tries to make up to shilpa fo doubting her…

Part 25:

That evening Armaan planned to do something about Shilpa's challenge. He went to the gupta house, that's where Shilpa was staying sonce Riddhima and Sid's wedding. Padma opened the door.

"Arey Armaan beta! What a pleasant surprise? Come on in…"

"Hello aunty!"

"Aur batao.. kaise ho?"

"Bas thik.. aap log kaise hai? Nani dikhai nahi de rahi?"

"Woh main aur nani actually market jaa rahe hai."

"Oh-"

"Nahi nahi… Shilpa hai ghar par.. apne kamre mein hogi… and I am assuming ke you are here to meet her." pad said teasingly.

"Jee?" Armaan blushed. Little did he know Padma knew all about Shilpa and Armaan.

"Koi nahi.. tum jao. Shilpa apne room mein hai." Padma smiled.

Excellent… Armaan thought.

Shilpa was walking along the corridor the next day. She entered the locker room and opened the locker to find a bouquet of lilies and roses, pink and white in color, just the way she liked them. And right next to it was her secretly favourite box of rum-chocolates. Her mouth left hanging, she reached for the chocolates. She knew who it was from. What she didn't know was how he knew about her secret chocolate fetish!

She turned around to see if anybody was watching. Satisfied that nobody was around; she looked at the chocolates and gave a sweet smile. Her smile nearly brought Armaan to his knee, who was watching her from behind the curtains. He decided to tease her about it later. He cleared his throat and walked in to see Shilpa quickly put the box inside and turn to leave. She looked at him warily, as if expecting him to say something. He secretly smiled and headed straight for his locker. They were soon joined by Muskaan and Rahul.

All the interns and senior doctors were then called for their duties. Shilpa was in the children's ward with some other doctors. She finished checking the children in one row and turned to proceed to the other row when she saw a big banner attached to the cupboard such that it was easily visible to anyone looking in that direction. Thankfully it was only Shilpa looking at it now. She gasped.

"I love you Bracelet. Maan jao?" in red bold letters stared back at her. She rushed back to remove it. Just as she was about to take it down, a hand grabbed hers, and twisting it around, Armaan smoothly pulled her to him such that her back was pressed against his front with their hands trapped between them.

"Hi…" he whispered into her ears.

They were hidden by the cupboard door, so no one could see them.

"Hi.." Shilpa replied, blushing. "Armaan.. chodo.. yeh kya kar rahe ho? I am mad at you remember? And waise bhi koi dekhlega!"

"Angry huh? Not doing a very good job sweetie…" Armaan grinned, pulling her closer. "And If people are looking, let them. I don't care. Tum batao… Did you like the flowers?"

"No! Giving flowers is a clichd idea. I don't know why you guys think flowers will make everything right!" she said knowing it was partly true.

Armaan frowned. Didn't she like the flowers? He had thought that she would love them.

"And the chocolates?"

Shilpa's eyes widened and Armaan had his answer. "Who, you know I am not a very big fan of Rum chocolates. I don't know what gave you that idea."

"Really?" Armaan said lazily. "So, that photograph of yours, all covered with chocolates at the panchgani chocolate fest is what a display of your photoshoping abilities?"

Shilpa gasped indignantly. "How did you find that photo?"

Armaan grinned. "Tum mujhe apne bare mein kuch bataogi nahi toh kya mujhe pata nahi chalega?"

"Armaan! You went through my journal!"

"Yes."

"How could you Armaan! You're the devil!" she twisted her arm to free herself. But Armaan didn't let go. Instead he turned her around so that she was now facing him.

"Where did you find it anyway? It's in my de--- I mean how did you even know I had one?" she said.

Armaan grinned. "Okay, don't flip out… I was in your room yesterday. I actually came to meet you but I couldn't find you, and found your jurnal instead." He winked.

"What? Don't you know it's bad manners to go through a girl's personal items without her permission??" she mocked him.

"None of that holds true when the girl in question is my girlfiend, more so when she's trying to hide herself behind all those clichd ideas…" he whispered.

"Armaan! Whatever gave you that idea? I-"

"I am not going to let you hide yourself from me. You are my other half in everything. Nothing about you will make me let you go! Never…" he spoke with such conviction that t broke shilpa's heart. I wouldn't be so sure Armaan…. she thought as she rested her head on his shoulder. Armaan was just about to wrap his arms around her. Finally!! He thought, I will have her in my arms.

"Shilpa!! Where are you?" a voice called out.

Shilpa quickly disengaged from his arms and he immediately missed her wamth. What the hell? He turned to the owner of the voice abd grinned when he saw Sid looking around from shilpa and him.

"Sid! My man!!" Armaan walked towards him as Shilpa walked towards Riddhima and hugged her.

"Riddhima di! Kaise ho? When did you reach? How was your honeymoon? " Shilpa winked and Riddhima blushed.

Sid grinned and hugged both Armaan and Shilpa. "Awesome dude!" he mouthed to Armaan and Armaan chuckled.

"Tum sab kaise ho? Ma-papa kaise hai?" she asked them. "And Rahul aur Muskaan kaha hai? Sabse pehke toh unhe milna chahiye? Yeh sab hua kaise? Rahul ko kisne manaya?"

"Arre ridz! Hame kuch bolne bhi dogi y sawal hi karti rahogi. Hum sab toh as u can see… first class! Rahul aur Muskaan thode extended vacation ke liye gaye hai! Abhi abhi engage jo hue hai…" Armaan said.

Riddhima and Armaan shared an amused look. Shilpa and Sid looked at each other questionly. "Why are they smiling like that?" Shilpa mouthed to Sid.

"No idea!" he mouthed back.

"Hey! Why are you guys smiling?"

"Shilpa, you have no idea what big task you have achieved. The entire gang has been trying to convince Rahul for the marriage."

"Shilpa tunne? Oh my God! I am so proud of you and thankful to you…" Riddhima choked her tears back and hugged shilpa. Shilpa was lost for words. Her sister was proud of her. he held back tears of happiness. She looked and Sid and smiled a very sweet smile, which unfortunately did not go unnoticed by Armaan.

---------

"How come Sid gets a sweet smile from you and I have to sweat my pants off to get you to even look at me??" Armaan entered the locker room behind Shilpa as they were both done for the day.

"What?" Shilpa turned around, her face scrammed up in confusion. "What are you talking about? "

"I am talking about you being biased against me. Sid gets a smile from you just for coming back from the honeymoon!!!"

Shilpa grinned in adoration for her Armaan. "So, whats the harm in that?" Shilpa teased.

Armaan narrowed his eyes and started towards his locker. He gathered his things from the locker and walked towards the parking area.

Shilpa exited Sanjeevani looking around for Armaan but didn't see him. She shook her head in exasperation. She would have to talk to him tomorrow. They had just sorted things out, she didn't want them messed up again. As she walked, Armaan stopped his bike before her and glared at her.

"Ab mera tumhe ghar drop karne bhi tumhe pasand nahi hai kya?" he mocked.

Shilpa gasped and started to explain that she was teasing.

"Armaan! tum-"

"Dekho Shilpa… I don't want to create a scene here. Bike par baitho and kahi aur jakar baat karte hai."

Shilpa was stunned by Armaan's behavior. What the hell is wrong with him?? She wondered as she sat behind him. She was wearing high heeled sandals and when she shifted to sit more comfortably, she was about to slip but Armaan caught hold of her hand and wrapped it around his waist and started the bike.

They reached Armaan's place as it was early evening and had decided to have dinner together the previous day. Shilpa got off the bike and started towards the door, ringing the bell while Armaan parked his bike.

"Ghar par koi nahi hai. Ramu kaka apne gaon gaye hai. Unki kisi relative ki shaadi hai."

Shilpa looked at him, trying to gauge his mood. They entered the house.

"Tumhe fresh hona hai toh bedroom waha hai. I'll go and fix us dinner."

"Hold on." She said. "What is going on here? I am supposed to be mad at you remember?" she said

Armaan turned to look at her, such a vulnerability on his face that Shilpa was taken aback. "Do you not love me anymore? Is that it?" he asked softly.

Shilpa was shocked. "How did you get to that?" Shilpa walked to him and wrapped herself around him. Armaan stood still for a moment and then banded his arms around her as if he'll never let go.

"Armaan-"

"Sshh---Don't say anything. Just let me corroborate that its really you. I have been away from you for so long, I just need to reassure myself that you are here with me."

She didn't know how long they stayed like that, but she definitely didn't wanna move from there. She had missed him so much. She hugged him back and sniffed her tears back. But Armaan realized that she was crying and broke the hug.

"I am so sorry Armaan… I never meant to hurt you. But I swear I just - " she looked at him with wide eyes full of remorse and sadness.

Armaan smiled. "I have seen you and Sid exchange glances when you think nobody's looking. I don't know why, but I did not like it. I was so jealous! I cannot and will not share you with anybody! But-"

"Really? So all this because you were jealous? Good god Armaan!! There's nothing going on between Sid and me? Are you really that dense?"

"I know that! Okay! This sounds crazy! You are going to kill me for it but I don't want anyone looking at you like that!!" Armaan said outraged.

Shilpa narrowed her eyes. "Like what exactly?"

Armaan knew he had to do damage control and soon, or else they will be back where they started… her mad at him and him trying to make up to her. And while he did like pampering her and making up t her, he liked her happy and smiling the best.

"I wont kill you" Shilpa said finally. "This caveman attitude kinda appeals to me sweetie. So… So we're good?" Shilpa asked when she noticed him looking at her intensely.

"We're more than good…" Armaan whispered. He looked deep into her eyes, the green twin lights he had missed so much and felt all his good intentions vanish.

"Ab main hamare beech kisiko nahi aane dungi Armaan… Abse mere aur tumhare alawa is relationship mein aur koi nahi hoga! I have missed you so much… " She chuckled recalling the last few days. "In the last few days, all I kept thinking was how can I make it up to you? What should I do that we go back to normal? I have been distracted at work; I was scared I'll lose my internship! But my priorities have changed drastically. Now my priorities start and end with you." She looked away from him, afraid that her eyes would convey the depth of her feelings for him.

Armaan was touched by her words. He put a hand to her chin, bringing her round to face him. He cupped her face and looked intently into her eyes. She felt a shiver, was lost in the heart-felt emotion portrayed in his beautiful hazel eyes, now dark with emotion and passion. She could feel the answering need and heat in her body. She forgot everything except the feeling of him, holding her close to him. She knew he was going to kiss her, see it in his eyes. He had a fierce look on his face, an intense determination and passion etched across his face. All the reasons why this was wrong fled her. all she wanted was for this moment to never end. His head dipped closer to her, so close that they now shared the same air. Her lips trembled like excitement and anticipation personified. He stopped just amillimetre from her lips, as if giving her time to pull away.

And she did, blushing profusely. "Armaan…" she whispered. She turned her head away, a twinge of pink on her cheeks. She looked so adorable that Armaan smiled. She tried to turm away and go but Armaan took her hand and pulled her back into his arms. She now had her back pressed against his front.

"We are so not finished with this…" he whispered and kissed her cheek. Shilpa closed her eyes, an intense feeling of love flowing from him to her. When she turned, she had so much love and trust in her eyes, it humbled Armaan that she was ao affected by his touch. He smiled at her.

She unwound herself from his arms and ran towards the door. She grinned mischieviously and turned. "Mujhe bhook lagi hai Armaan!!"

For a moment Armaan was surprised at the change in her demeanour. But he soon realized she did not want to talk about her reaction to his kiss now. She was probably embarrassed although he didn't know why. But he promised himself he was going to tease her about it when she least expected it.

So that was it for now!! I know people are going to kill me for this part but i have something else in mind for shilpa and armaan... do let me know what you all think. I really do treasure all your comments and they will also tell me if you like the current track or should i change it... do hit the like button.

Thanks!

Vanshika