Chapter 38

Hey guys! I know long overdue! but here's the first part!

Part 35A-

Recap –

Holi Celebrations

Now-

"Shilpa ka mood kuch jyada hi achha hai aaj Armaan?" sid said, observing Shilpa having fun with the rest of the gang.

Armaan was standing away from the crowd, with Sid. He looked back at Shilpa and smiled. "Yes.."

Sid looked at Armaan. "Okay.. What's wrong?"

"Kya?"

"Why that smile? You should be excited and happy that Shilpa had started to remember stuff and is finally getting back to her older self."

"I am happy… why would you think that I am not?"

"Don't even try that trick with me. I can see you are nervous about something. What is it?"

Armaan sighed and looked back at her.

"Tell me Armaan… tell me what's bothering you… or do you want me to force it out of you! Jeez! I am not your girlfriend!"

"Sid!"

"Then what?"

"Its just I know she is coming around! God knows I have missed Shilpa tremendously, but I can't help but worry… worry if she'll be the same once she remembers everything. I am always afraid that she'll reject me once she recalls that we…"

"yes…"

Armaan kept quiet. He had already said too much.

"We what Armaan?" Sid probed.

"that we broke up…" Armaan finished.

Sid just stared back at him. "You mean that you guys almost broke up… right?" Sid said.

Armaan looked back at him, not saying anything.

"Armaan… Did you guys… you guys actually break up?" Sid yelled.

Armaan shushed him. "Why don't you yell louder and let everyone one know about my break up?" he sneered.

"You guys broke up?" Riddhima said from behind them.

Armaan closed his eyes in exasperation. "I am never hearing the end of this." He said to himself.

"Did you guys break up?" she repeated.

"Would everybody stop repeating that!" Armaan said and walked back towards the house. Riddhima and Sid followed him.

"Armaan! Don't you walk away from us!" Sid said.

Once they reached the house. "You jerk! That's why she was leaving us!" Riddhima took a pillow and started hitting Armaan.

"Hey! What's the matter with you! Ridz!" Armaan said running away from her.

"You idiot! I can't believe this!" Riddhima kept hitting him.

"Sid! Why the hell are you doing? Stading there doing nothing! Stop your wife!! Now!" Armaan scolded.

"Too bad dude! I am on her side."

"Riddhima! Stop it!" Armaan said, forcing the pillow out of her hands.

"You fix it! Fix it now! I am not letting you guys lose each other again! I am not losing her again Armaan!" Riddhima yelled scared of even the thought.

"You think I am happy at the prospect? I am dreading everyday of this. Every second is like a test! Everytime I look at her smiling face, I can't help but wonder if I will see her smile at me again after she remembers everything."

Riddhima's shoulders sagged and she sat down on the couch.

"Why would you not tell us about it Armaan?" she said, totally drained. Sid and Armaan went to the couch and sat on either side of her.

"He didn't actually plan on telling us! I made him!" Sid said, still mad.

"Sid… Look guys you have to understand I was really upset then and I just reacted! I never actually meant to do that!"

"Why the hell did you break up with my sister!!! I will kill, actually kill you!!" Riddhima sniffed. "I can just imagine the hurt she must be experiencing! What with me not talking to her, you guys breaking up! How can I be so inconsiderate!"

"Riddhima!" Rahul shouted from outside. "Where are you people?"

Rahul, Muskaan and Shilpa and the rest of the gang entered the room, and Riddhima quickly wiped her tears.

"We looked for you guys everywhere!" Shilpa said. "What are you guys doing here anyways? Hiding kya?" Shilpa teased.

"Arre… You guys hum thak gaye the toh we came inside… Sab log baitho, main coffe le aati hu" Riddhima answered.

"We'll come too" Shilpa said and pulled Muskaan along.

The girls came out with coffees and all of them sat discussing the the day and it was so good to spend the entire day celebrating and not working for once!

"Oye! We completely forgot about their bet!" she pointed to Armaan and Shilpa.

Armaan shook his head. He was waiting for someone to remember it. Damn! He should not have let her win. He looked at her… Who am I kidding? I couldn't let her lose!

Shilpa looked at him and grinned. She had talked to Riddhima and Muskaan about Armaan in the kitchen.

***********FLASHBACK in kitchen*********************

"Sab coffee lenge right?" Riddhima asked.

"Haan… Rahul ko toh coffee bahut pasand hai… oh ridz uski coffee mein kum sugar plz…" Muskaan said.

Riddhima raised her eyebrows. "Abhi se pati dev ki itni fikar huh? " she teased and Muskaan smiled.

"Woh--" Muskaan blushed.

"Arre koi nahi… mujhe mat samjha… kyun Shilpa…" she turned to Shilpa, and found that she was lost.

Riddhima looked at Muskaan and jerked her head towards Shilpa.

Muskaan grinned and coughed, bringing Shilpa out of her thoughts.

"Gum hai kisike pyaar mein… dil subah sham…" Muskaan sang teasing Shilpa.

"What?" Shilpa asked pretending to know what they are talking about.

"Kya hua Shilpa? Usually I wouldn't ask you, but looks like you are confused about something." Riddhima asked.

"Woh--- Kuch nahi di…"

"Bata na… kya bhav kha rahi hai!" Muskaan said.

"Woh--- Main… I…"

Riddhima and Muskaan raised their eyebrows at her.

Shilpa closed her eyes and blurte it out. "I think I am in love…"

Riddhima and Muskaan looked at each other. "Finally!" they both shouted in unison.

"Armaan would be so happy!"

Shilpa opened her eyes in shock! "How… How did you guys know?"

"Please! Give us some credit! Yay! I am so happy…" Riddhima screamed and hugged Shilpa.

"Hey me too… me too" Muskaan said and they shared a heart felt hug.

***********FLASHBACK ENDS*********************

Today I am gonna find out what you think about me Armaan… Shilpa thought

"Oh yess… Shilpa won right?" sid said.

"Yes… come on Shilpa… jo chaho who karwa sakti ho…"

Armaan turned to face Shilpa and asked. "Kya karna hai batao? Hara hu punishment toh leni padegi…" he said. He then went closer to her and whispered. "Waise this should be your punishment…"

Shilpa grinned and cleared her throat. "Well… I… ugh… I…" she looked at Riddhima for help.

Riddhima looked at Muskaan… all three trying to find a way for Shilpa profess her love for Armaan through this bet.

"She wants you to…" Riddhima said, and Armaan creased his brows in confusion. Riddhima looked at Muskaan for help and all three shared a look. Sid, Rahul and Armaan were staring at all three in open curiosity.

"What?" Sid said. "Tumhe Armaan ko propose karne ke liye nahi bola hai Shilpa…"

Shilpa looked at him in surprise and suddenly scared. "Kya? Main…"

Riddhima looked at Shilpa's scared face and knew she was going to chicken out of this. But she couldn't let her do that!

"She wants you to sing a song for her!" Riddhima blurted the first thing that came to her mind.

"What?" Sid asked and Muskaan stared. Shilpa turned to her with eyes as wide as saucers. Then after thinking about it for a minute…

"Brilliant! Armaan… I… ugh…I want you to sing me a song. If you had to dedicate one song to me, what would that be?" she asked.

Armaan looked at her, staring into her challenging eyes. But he was surprised about what else he saw there. Vulnerability. The bet was nothing to be vulnareable or nervous about. Unless… unless this was not just a bet… but something more… much more…

He looked at Riddhima and Muskaan, exchanging smiles and nervous too. And suddenly he realized what this was…

"A song for you…hmm… interesting…" Armaan said and pretended to be in deep thought.

Sid and Rahul exchanged a glance. "Iska favourite ramontic gaana kaunsa hai?" sid whispered to Rahul.

Rahul chuckled.

"Please do not screw this up Armaan…" Riddhima whispered.

Shilpa looked at him expectantly. She was nervous, but she was also very excited about what he had to say.

"Ahem Ahem…" Sid mock-coughed.

"Hmmm…." Armaan started.

Aaja Mein Hawaon Pe Bithake Le Chalun
Tu Hi To,Tu Hi To Meri Dost Hain

He looked at Shilpa, smiling at her. Shilpa smiled back at him, still looking expectant.

Aaja Mein Khalon Mein Uthake Le Chalun
Tu Hi To Meri Dost Hain

Awaaz Ka Dariya Hoon
Behta Hoon Mein Nili Raaton Mein
Main Jaagta Rehta Hoon
Neend Bhari Jheel Se Aankhon Mein
Awaaz Hoon Mein

Aaja Mein Hawaon Pe Bithake Le Chalun
Tu Hi To,Tu Hi To Meri Dost Hain
Aaja Mein Khalon Mein Uthake Le Chalun
Tu Hi To Meri Dost Hain

Everybody clapped for Armaan, although Sid was a little confused. Shilpa looked at Armaan then. He was smiling a satisfied smile and returned his smile. But she was kind of sad inside. This song was not what she expected. After holi she thought he loved her, but maybe, just maybe she was wrong…

Sid looked at Riddhima, and saw her observe Armaan and Shilpa, as if trying to figure something out. Apparently she had noticed something off too. He looked back at Shilpa then, and noticed her smile. But that smile did not reach her eyes. It was as if she was pretending to be happy.

"Thanks.. Thanks Armaan…" Shilpa said.

"Waah kya gaana gaya hai… itni achhi awaaz hai… toh gaata kyun nahi hai Armaan…" Muskaan said.

"Oye heroine, jyada badhawa mat de isse… warna baar baar apni sadi hui awaaz mein pakaye ga hame!!" Rahul teased.

"Nahi! Itna atyachar nahi God" Sid said, covering his ears dramatically.

Armaan shook his head, but in all the conversation he was just looking at Shilpa. Shilpa gave a forced smile and stood up.

"Ok guys… mujhe toh bahut neend aa rahi hai… So I'm gonna go now."

"Arre Shilpa… Come on yaar… abhi toh mehfil jami hai!" Rahul said.

"But-"

"Kuch buts nahi-"

"Rahul, Let her go… she .. umm… she looks really tired." Riddhima interrupted, knowing Shilpa will need some time to herself right now. Stupid clueless Armaan screwed everything up.

"I'll drop you…" Armaan said.

"Nahi… paas hi mein hai.. I'll walk…" Shilpa said. "Chalo gnite guys J" she said and left.

"You jerk!" Riddhima and Muskaan exclaimed as soon she left the room.

Armaan looked at them calmly, he was expecting this. But sid and Rahul were not, when the girls screamed, they jumped out of their skins.

"What?" Rahul asked.

"Aise toh bahut pyaar pyaar karta rehta hai… Shilpa ke liye baithe baithe poetry likhte ho Armaan, but jiss din kuch actually romantic ki opportunity hoti hai why do you aways screw it up!" Riddhima said and raised her hands in despair.

"I am going to repeat this again but – What?" Rahul said exasperated that he wasn't following any of it.

"Seriously guys can be so clueless at times!" Muskaan exclaimed.

"Armaan had the golden opportunity of telling Shilpa how he really feels about her. But when she asks him to dedicate a song to her, Armaan goes and sings a dosti wala song for her."

Armaan looked amused. "She just asked me to sing a song."

"No… dedicate a song…" Sid said.

"So… she is my friend too…" Armaan replied.

"But-"

"What did she tell you gyus in the kitchen?" Armaan asked suddenly.

Riddhima and Muskaan looked at him, confused at first. Then Riddhima widened her eyes and looked at Muskaan, who was still confused. Get there faster Muskaan!

And then Muskaan looked at Riddhima nervously. "Kitchen?" Muskaan played dumb.

Rahul and Sid looked at each other. "Ab Kitchecn kya?" he whispered.

Rahul shook his head in negative. Armaan looked at Riddhima and her silence told him all he needed to know.

"You planned this!" Riddhima exclaimed.

"Of course I planned it!" Armaan said his face lit up now with a new hope and happiness. "Did you think I will not notice the disappointment on her face! But that gave me my answer…."

Riddhima shook her head. "So what now?"

Armaan said nothing, just grinned mysteriously. He stood up to leave and just before exiting, he turned around and said

"And by the way, if you think I am talking to Shilpa about this in front of you all, especially in the presence of these two monkeys" he pointed at sid and Rahul, "you are highly mistaken… " Armaan finished and left.

Riddhima and Muskaan laughed at Sid and Rahul's outraged expressions. "All the best Armaan!" everybody cheered as he left.

Part 35B coming right up!