Chapter 35

Rahul and Muskaan's parents finally met and decided on a date for the wedding. So, now it had become a routine for the gang to gather around at Sid and Riddhima's for their own planning of the wedding. Atul and Anjali planned to fly back to India in a few days.

The sangeet was in a couple of days. And everybody was busy preparing for the function. The entire sangeet function was being handled by Sid and Riddhima. Shilpa and Armaan were helping Muskaan and Rahul out with the other details in the function.

Due to this they were spending a lot of time together. Shilpa noticed a subtle shift in their friendship. The comfort of friends was always there, but now she was very sure, it wasn't only friendship they were dealing with. She knew she had to analyze what was going on, but what with Muskaan and Rahul's wedding preparations and Armaan with her every other moment, she could do that.

Armaan also tried everything he could to get her to remember stuff from their past. The more time they spent together, he fell more and more in love with her. He looked at her when she wasn't looking, walked back with her from her shifts just so he could be with her. He was fast realizing how lucky he was to have her, and what he had almost lost.

Armaan, Shilpa, Rahul and Muskaan were out looking for an appropriate place for the wedding celebrations. They decided to check out a resort, two hours from the city. Muskaan and Rahul decided to use this opportunity to spend time with each other and went ahead, leaving Shilpa and Armaan alone to come along.

"Ye dono bhi na! Pagal hai! Why do they have to go outside so far from the city for the wedding celebrations! It's going to be so cold this time of the year!" Armaan said.

Shilpa smiled. "Shut up Armaan… it's so romantic! They just want to celebrate their relationship with their loved ones… what's wrong with that?"

Armaan sighed. At least he was with Shilpa, and the thought made him smile.

"Hey! It's drizzling!" Shilpa exclaimed, taking her hand out to the feel the drops on her skin.

Armaan looked at her and smiled at her child-like pleasure. She looked so cute as she looked at the rain in wonder. "It's strange that we should have rains at this time of the year."

She looked at him and smiled. "That's true! But you never really know with Mumbai… Armaan please stop the car! Please…"

"Are you crazy no! Bimar pad jaogi shona…"

"Armaan please…. Pretty please?" Shilpa pouted and Armaan couldn't resist.

They stopped the car at the ghat (road along a low hill). Shilpa rushed out of the car, closely followed by Armaan. She spread her arms in an attempt to feel the raindrops on her and squealed in delight. Armaan looked at her and suddenly remembered the night in Panchgani, when he first realized that Shilpa meant a lot more to him than a friend.

Tu Hi Tu Mere Paas Hai, Phir Ye Kaisi Pyaas Hai

He looked at her and smiled, lost in her gleeful dance, full of delight and laughter, as she twirled around in the rain.

Ye Kaisaa Ehsaas Hai, Koi Bataa De Mujhe, Mujhe

Aaj Main HooN, Aur Tum Ho, Aur Mohabbat Hai

She looked at him and called him to her, to dance along.

Aur Mohabbat Hai, Aur Mohabbat Hai

He smiled and came towards her, holding her waist he pulled her towards him and twirled her around. They were dancing in the rain, when she saw a couple of children, hiding under a small roof just waiting for the rain to stop.

Main Bhi Gum HooN, Tum Bhi Gum Ho, HaaN Ye Chaahat Hai

Haan Ye Chaahat Hai, Aur Mohabbat Hai

She gave a very naughty look and went to them, pulling each of them out and playing with them. She got them ice-cream from a nearby joint, as always spreading joy wherever she went. She looked up at him and smiled.

Ye Kaise Mumkin Hai, Tumko Kisi Ne Ab Tak Pyaar Na Kiyaa

Ye Kaise Mumkin Hai, Tumko Kisi Ne Ab Tak Pyaar Na Kiyaa

Main Kaise Ye ManooN, Tumko Kisi Ne Ab Tak Dil Na Diyaa

Kaisi Hai Ye Uljanen, Dil Ye Lagaa Sochne

Tez Hai KyuN DhaDkane, Koi Bataa De Mujhe, Mujhe

Aaj Main HooN, Aur Tum Ho, Aur Mohabbat Hai

Aur Mohabbat Hai, Aur Mohabbat Hai

They reached the location. Shilpa went Rahul and Muskaan and the three of them started talking and discussing about the location and if it was okay. Armaan looked at her, her animated eyes, her calm face and they way she talked about the place with such enthusiasm.

Jo Tumse Kahnaa Thaa, Maine Kahaa Na, Lab Par Baat Hai Ruukii

Ho.A, Jo Tumase Kahanaa Thaa, Maine Kahaa Na, Lab Par Baat Hai Ruki

Lagtaa Hai Ye Aksar, Mere Liye Hi Shaayad Tu Hai Bani

Shilpa then went inside with Muskaan to check some things out. Armaan kept looking at the entrance, waiting for her to come out.

Kaisaa Aitbaar Hai, Kaisaa Intzaar Hai

KyuN Tumse Itana Pyaar Hai, Koi Bataa De Mujhe

Soon they finished all the discussion and finalized the place and headed back home.

Aaj Main HooN, Aur Tum Ho, Aur Mohabbat Hai

Aur Mohabbat Hai, Aur Mohabbat Hai

--

"Riddhima, tumne abhi tak atleast songs toh decide kar liye hai right?" Muskaan asked one day in Riddhima's cabin.

"Haan! That reminds me, I need to talk to everybody about the rehearsals." She pinged Sid and Rahul. She was about to call Armaan when an idea struck.

"Shilpa… Please can you go to Armaan's cabin and call him?" she said.

"Arre ridzi call karle na usko!" Muskaan said.

Riddhima pressed her lips together and looked pointedly at Muskaan to signal her that this was her plan.

"Muskaan…He… he wont come if we only call him! Shilpa should go to him!" Riddhima said, willing Muskaan to take the hint.

"What? Why? Are-"

"Muskaan, Shilpa ko jaana chahiye Armaan ke paas…" Riddhima said, stressing on the words in a low tone.

Muskaan raised her eyebrows in understanding. "Oh, Shilpa ko! Shilpa tum gayi nahi abhi tak! Go go Armaan ko bulao…"

Shilpa looked at the two, completely puzzled. "Okay, Okay, I didn't know you guys wanted me to go to Armaan so eagerly." Shilpa got up in a huff and left the room.

"Muskaan ki bacchi! Zara bhi ishara nahi samajhti!"

"Sorry yaar… chal Armaan ko kuch aur time milega ab… with Shilpa!" Muskaan chuckled and Riddhima smiled, satisfied that her plan had worked. Ever since Shilpa's return in Sanjeevani, everybody was thinking of ways to get Shilpa and Armaan to spend more and more time together.

--

Shilpa knocked on Armaan's door. When nobody answered, she just assumed he was out and turned the door knob to enter. "Armaan--"And she stopped dead.

In front of her, Armaan was standing there, holding his shirt in his hand, naked from waist up. Armaan looked up to see who had entered and froze. She stared at him, and he looked right back at her.

I should go…But instead, Shilpa's head seemed to go entirely blank. His chest was hard and chiseled and acres wide. Her gaze lowered to his wide, bare chest, all of those sleek muscles, his fascinating tattoos, and the whole of him like perfect, hammered steel. Her gaze returned to his face, only to discover that his gaze seemed hotter somehow, more intimate… more possessive.

Armaan looked at her, her face a intriguing mix of want, need and emotion. He smiled and started towards her, gauging her expressions all the while. He walked to her, until there was only foot of distance between them. He took another step, only for Shilpa to take a step back.

This close to him, she could sense that roaring heat and power that was so uniquely his and worse, that terrifying, betraying response inside of her in response that threatened to make her simply sag against him. He walked towards her until she collided with the door behind her. She gasped. She looked at him again, staring into his eyes. She wished she didn't notice that he smelled fresh and clean, of soap and warm male. It was driving her crazy, igniting new emotions in her.

He bent towards her, roving his eyes over her flushed face. He blew air on her heated flesh, and she flinched, turning her head to the other side. What she did not realize was that this action exposed her neck to him, giving him complete access to it. He looked at her then, really looked at her, her face turned away, her eyes closed and felt the attraction and pull towards her increase ten-fold.

"Armaan…" she said.

He controlled his urges and smiled. "Kya hua Shilpa?" he whispered. "Tum toh sharmane lagi…I surely am not that hot?" he said in a playful tone.

Shilpa opened her eyes. She looked at him. Gone was the hot and possessive gaze. It was replaced with teasing glint and a certain playfulness. She released her breath. Complete change, as if the last few moments did not happen at all! She looked at him and blushed harder.

Armaan grinned. "Aisa kya soch rahi thi shona ki tum itni lal ho gayi?"

"Tum… tum… what are you doing without a shirt on?" she said, trying to concentrate on their conversation and the half-naked man in front of her!

Armaan chuckled, knowing exactly the effect he had on her. He'd had enough time with her in the last couple of days to know that she still had feelings for him. All was not lost. So he had turned up the flirting and the heat a notch. He wanted her to figure out on her own. And he definitely wanted her back soon, to their relationship where he could talk to her anytime he wanted, pull her into his arms anytime, share his deepest secrets with her, look at her without the fear that she would look back and most important of all get back to knowing that she loved him as he loved her.

"Mere shirt par coffee gir gayi thi! But don't you change the subject! Kya soch rahi thi shona?"

"Soch kya… kya rahi thi! Kuch bhi toh nahi" Shilpa deflected and turned to get away from him. But he planted a hand to stop her. She turned to the other side, and he caged her in, in the process getting even closer to her.

"Kya soch rahi thi batao na?" he whispered, and Shilpa closed her eyes.

"Armaan tang mat karo… lemme go… waise bhi puri gang hamara wait kar rahi hai… chalo hato…" Shilpa said.

"They can wait for a little longer…"

She placed her hands on his chest and pushed him away. "Kya masti chadhi hai Armaan…"

She went to get his shirt and handed it over to him. "Jaldi se shirt pehno aur chalo…"

Armaan laughed and took the shirt. "You should have seen your face. Red as a tomato…" Armaan teased.

"Please! Aisi harkatein karoge toh yah hona hai! Mr. Six-pack-show-off…" and realized what she blurted out.

"I should really stop talking about you in front of you!" Shilpa said to herself, chastised and Armaan grinned.

"You can say anything in front of your best friend. Plus it's more fun this way… lol" Armaan said and they walked towards Riddhima's cabin. And only then did she realize that both of them had reacted to the situation as a couple would, not two best friends. The comfort that a couple shares, the passion that they enjoy and the ease with which they get over it… If this wasn't a clue the she didn't know what was.

--

They entered the cabin, Shilpa all red-faced and Armaan with a all-encompassing smirk in place. Sid and Riddhima looked at each other and Muskaan gave Riddhima a thumbs up.

"Where have you guys been?" Rahul asked deliberately. "Kabse wait kar rahe hai hum. Yeh lo JP aur Jiggy bhi aa gaye"

Shilpa looked down and then glared at Armaan. Armaan quickly masked his smile. "Woh….woh… tum batao na.. wassup?" he said walking into the room.

Riddhima grinned and the boys shook their head. "Okay, anyways we need to start planning for the sangeet function. Not a lot of time left." Riddhima started.

"This place seems a little constricted for the rehearsals. Let's go to the recreation room?" Muskaan suggested.

So that's it! A little short i know, but i wanted to consolidate the next part as one, so bear wid me. Let me know how it was and please do leave your comments!

Vanshika