Ariya FF: It's not Easy to Forget You COMPLETED 01/01/2015 - Page 8

CHAPTER 10

The day started as just another day for them. But they had no idea about what was in stores for them. It all started in the evening. Sameer, Karan, Riya and Arjun had already decided to go to temple. As an urgent call came, Sameer and Karan had to stay back telling Arjun and Riya that they will join them later. Arjun and Riya immediately agreed to it hoping to get some quality time with each other...

Arjun and Riya were walking quietly, their hands occasionally touching each others'... they had reached the junction and was about to cross the road, suddenly a jeep sudden braked in front of them. Startled, Riya caught Arjun 's arm. They both froze to the spot as they saw the people came in that jeep. They realised, their worst fears are about to come true... there were 10 men, some with swords and some others with other weapons... Arjun and Riya looked at each other... They both knew who are they and for whom they had come for... Riya... That's they want... The thugs of Sikhander Khan... Alarmed, Arjun caught hold of Riya's hand and drew her closer. Riya clung to him like a little lamb... the thugs started attacking both of them. Arjun also started defending them with all the skills he has earned so far. Even though some natives went to help Arjun and Riya, they had to retrieve as they saw the weapons in the thugs' hand.

On the other hand, even though in the starting Arjun managed to defend all the moves, it was proving difficult for him to protect Riya from the deadly blows of sword in the each passing second. He slowly realised that he was a fighting a losing battle. But he has to fight... for his love... for his life... for his Riya... The mere thought of losing her brought a new energy in his nerve and he started defending more until a thug managed to cut through his flesh with the help of sword. Arjun moaned in pain. Riya looked at his bleeding hand crying uncontrollably... Even though it was Arjun who was bleeding, Riya felt it was she suffering the pain...

Soon, the reality sunk into Arjun that he cannot protect Riya like that... if he continues fighting, he will die at their hand... It is not that he was afraid of dying, but it was that he was afraid of what will happen to Riya after his death... To keep Riya safe, he had to be safe... he could think only one idea for that... RUN...

Using all his strength, he gave a heavy blow to the thugs who were surrounding them... dodging the enemies, he caught Riya's hand and started running. They ran faster and faster not leaving each other's hand... Arjun's left hand was soaked in blood. But strangely, he didn't felt any pain. He knew Riya can't cope up with this anymore. She was tired way too much to take any further step... he looked at the small canal bridge which was coming in their way. As a last measure, he prayed to God and started running towards the bridge. They ran fastly and went under the bridge. To their luck, the thugs failed to notice this.

Under the bridge, Arjun leaned to the wall hugging a terrified and tired Riya closely. Riya was breathing abnormally... she was shaking and panting heavily... he hugged her even more close... leaving way for only to the air to escape... slowly their breathing turned to normal... their chest started dancing in the same rhythm... their hearts started beating in one tone... they could hear some gun shots and noises above their head... But that didn't disturb their beautiful moment... Both hold onto each other as if it was their last moment... Arjun , not for even one second wanted to part her away from him in the fear of losing her... he pulled her closer silently praying to God to make everything alright...

"Arjun ..."

A sudden voice startled Arjun and he pulled Riya even more closely as if not letting any harm to touch her. After a few seconds he looked at the source of the voice. He couldn't believe his own eyes. There they were, Sameer and Karan, worry written all over their face... Arjun heaved a sigh of relief knowing that Riya will be safe now...

On the other hand, Sameer was really happy to see them alive... but another part of him was annoyed seeing them in such an intimate position... his fist clenched when Arjun pulled her even closer... but he shoved that thought asside as for him the important thing is RIYA IS ALIVE...

Arjun tried to part himself from Riya... But she was too terrified that she didn't even bother to look up...she was clinging to him like a horrified kid... After some failed attempts, Arjun looked at Sameer helplessly. Sameer, understanding the situation came forward and put his hand over her shoulders and called her name... Riya slowly looked up... As soon as she recognized her brother she started crying uncontrollably hugging Sameer... Sameer felt bad seeing his little sis like that... He started consoling her patting her back... her sobs subdued in his arms... he started walking towards the house with her in his hand like a shaken lamb.

In the house, Sreevidya was waiting for everybody's return worriedly. As soon as she saw a crying Riya, he knew something had gone terribly wrong. The next thing she saw shook the ground underneath her... Her only son was coming, his body soaked in blood... she ran towards him and started crying hysterically... Arjun was having a difficult time consoling her...

That day night nobody felt hungry. Everyone was still in the shock of what had transpired in the evening... Arjun was ok as the cut was not deep... Riya was lying in Sreevidya's lap looking at the stars in the sky... Karan was sitting quietly in a stone... Sameer was pacing here and there... everyone was silent.. Sameer was the first one to break the silence.

"I have decided..."

Everyone raised their heads questioningly...

"I have decided that we are going back... tomorrow early morning..."

All four of them were shocked hearing that. Arjun felt that someone has ripped his heart into pieces. Riya looked at Arjun painfully.

Karan: "But Sameer..."

Sameer (interrupting him): "No buts Karan... We are going from here tomorrow early morning. That's final..."

Riya wanted to scream that she doesn't wanted to go... but she controlled her feelings and tried to reason with Sameer.

"Bhaiyya, why we have to go? I feel safe here... and by the way, it is not even one week passed... I don't wanna go..."

This made Sameer very much angry. He growled at her.

"Safe? Do you feel safe here? How can you feel like that when today you almost lost your life? You may be feeling safe, but I am not feeling like that... today, if that boy who have seen the thugs fighting you would not have informed us, I don't know what would have happen... it was mere luck that we and the police came in time and captured them... It was a mistake coming here... I can't let you in more danger... we are going back... DO YOU GET THAT? Pack your stuffs..."

Riya looked at Sameer horrified... It was the first time he shouted at her... before the scene get worse, Karan forcefully grabbed Sameer and led him inside.

Riya looked at the way her brothers went. Her gaze then fell upon Arjun who was looking at her as if he had lost everything in his life... the tears started streaming from her eyes... before she completely break down in front of him, she ran towards her room...

Arjun don't know for how long he was sitting outside in a dark corner... his life turned upside down with Sameer's one decision... he had lost her again... this time... for permanently... how can he forget her, when she is his life... how can he forget the girl who taught him to seek happiness in small things... how can he forget the girl who ignited the power of love in him...but he has to... he has to forget her... for her own good... he cannot be selfish... put her life in jeopardy... one year before, he had taken a decision which he forgot in the past few days... now it was time for him to remember that... to obey that... leave Riya to live her life...

He entered the house with heavy heart... each step he took towards her room was heavy... he slowly opened the door. There she was, sleeping in the bed...he slowly went and sat near to her. He stared at the innocent face in front of him... there was traces of tears in her face. His heart wrenched seeing that... he slowly touched her face and started talking to a sleeping Riya.

"How can I forget you Riya? How can I stay away from you? You are soo angelic Riya. I have fallen hopelessly, helplessly and irrevocably in love with you... I wish if this was another time... I wanted to confess my feelings to you Riya, but not like this... probably you will never come to know that I had loved you soo much... That's good... Because, you don't have to endure the same pain which I have to suffer... You know Riya, I have hated you soo much when first I saw you. Then I realised that first impressions are not always the best impressions... I don't know when the hatred turned to the beautiful feeling called love... I don't know when I started noticing the small small things in you... But one thing I know for sure is that I love you very much... the one year, in which you were far away from me, made me realised that... I don't want to lose you Riya... But I have no choice... Your brother is right... You are not safe here... You are not safe with me... You deserve a better life... a better someone... Even the thought of you with someone else is hurting me... But... I have to let you go... That's the best way to keep you safe... I love you and I always will... I will not try to forget you... Because I know, It is not easy to forget you...I love you... Love you Riya..."

He closed his eyes letting the tears flow through his cheeks... his heart was crying aloud to him to hug her closely... to kiss her madly... to feel her... but he controlled all his feelings. He slowly bent down and dropped a soft kiss in her forehead. He cast a last look at her and slowly walked out of the room... Riya slowly opened her eyes. The tears flowing from her eyes showed the sign that she was awake when he confessed his feelings.

"Arjun ... When will you understand... the best way to keep me safe is to keep me with you... always..."

CHAPTER 11

The next morning atmosphere itself was gloomy. Birds were not chirping that much. Sun was not ready to come out of the clouds. Cattle was crying continuously as if she sensed the loss.

All were ready to go. Riya had done her packing, anxiously waiting for Arjun . But he was nowhere to be seen. It was the time for them to go. Still Arjun was out of sight. She wanted to go and search for Arjun , but she was afraid of her brother. So instead she went and hugged Sreevidya. Riya was having hard time controlling her tears. She had started considering Sreevidya as her own mother. She thought that she'll never lose her...but now...she doesn't want to lose this mother and her son who love her madly...but what to do...sometimes life doesn't give us choice...

After bidding Sreevidya a teary farewell, Riya took her bag and went out of the house. Still Arjun was not present. Her heart was hammering rapidly... each passing second without seeing Arjun 's face...she felt she is dying...she silently prayed to God to grant her at least this wish...to see Arjun before she goes...

And the God did grant the wish... There he was near the gate waiting for her. She almost ran towards her...she want to hug him and tell that she too loves him the way he loves her... but something inside her stopped her from doing that...

Arjun extended her hand towards her. Riya looked at it only to see a bunch of Plumeria flowers in his hand. Her vision blurred as her eyes filled with tears. Even in the last minute he was trying to make her happy by gifting her favourite flowers... she felt soo lucky to love him...she looked at his face... she became concerned as she saw the sand all over his face indicating what had transpired when he was plucking the flowers. She took hold of her duppatta and with that slowly started wiping the dirt off his face. He closed his eyes as it to saviour her touch for the last time...

At this moment, Sameer also came out of house. He saw both Arjun & Riya in a trance. He coughed in order to break them from their trance. And it indeed did. An embarrassed Arjun and Riya started looking elsewhere.

Sameer: "Challo Riya... Let's go... Arjun ... Won't you come with us to the car?"

Arjun wanted to say No. But he didn't want to miss a single second he can with Riya. So he reluctantly followed the brother-sister duo. They all walked through the paddy field to reach the main road. All were immersed in their own thoughts. Riya was feeling that each step she take is equal to hundred steps... she wanted to yell at her brother to stop and run towards Arjun ... alas...she can't do that... Fully involved in her own thought process she almost lost her balance... If it was not for Arjun , she would have definitely fallen down... this didn't go unnoticed by Karan.

As they reached the main road, Riya directly opened the car door and sat inside without looking at Arjun . This hurt Arjun deeply. Little did he knew that Riya had done like that so as to avoid her breaking down in front of him... she knew that if she look at him, she would lose control over her emotions... she doesn't want that... especially in these circumstances... she closed her eyes remembering all the times spend with him, her hand still holding the plumeria flowers...

Sameer: "Ri... what is this? You already sat inside? Come out... Won't you say goodbye to Arjun ...?"

She wanted to protest...but... she managed to keep her emotions at bay and got down from the car still holding those flowers. With great difficulty she extended her trembling hand for a handshake. Before it could meet Arjun's hand Sameer pushed her hard from backside. She lost her balance and fell on Arjun ... But this time he managed to keep his balance holding her from the waist securely...her chest almost touched his... her hands were in his abs... His hands were wrapped around her securely... after a second's pause, they both looked at Sameer bewildered.

"What you guys think of yourself? Was about to sacrifice your love? That too for me? Idiots... how can you do that? Agreed, I was too preoccupied to notice the bond you both share from the beginning. It was only because of Karan that I realised everything..."

Arjun and Riya looked at Karan shockingly. Karan smirked seeing their reaction.

"What? You people were too obvious... since I didn't have any other work to do; all my eyes and ears were on you... I gotcha..."

Sameer went towards Arjun , his voice possessing a serious tone.

"Arjun , my little sis had suffered a lot of pain from her childhood itself. If it was not for me and my parents, she would still have her parents...I tried to give her all happiness in her life... Now, her happiness lays in you... you saved her life yesterday...and you took her heart with you... I can see that she loves you with each fibres of her body... I am giving you the most valuable person in mine and Karan's life... Make sure that you give her all happiness... Will you promise me that?"

Arjun and Riya were on cloud nine hearing that... they never expected such a happy ending... Arjun immediately promised him the happiness of Riya... Sameer's smile widened hearing this. He gave Riya a small kiss in her cheek and went towards car... now it was time for Karan to take control of the situation...

"Well... happy ending huh? You story doesn't end here... you, Arjun ... we are giving you both one week time... you can enjoy how much ever you want... after one week, you need to come to our house with your mom and our sis so that we can fix it officially... till then, try to have control over your overpowering feelings.. Will you?"

Karan's words embarrassed Arjun and Riya... Riya's face flushed red. Karan could not help but to smile at their reactions. He got in the car with Sameer and waved them goodbye. They too wave them back... Arjun and Riya looked at the car till it went away from their sight.

Now it was time for them to express their feelings which were unspoken till now. Arjun slowly disengaged himself from her... he cupped her face in his hand...his hazel eyes pierce through her baby brown eyes...he leaned forward... she closed her eyes in anticipation... he smiled seeing the effect he have on her. Slowly, slowly he dropped a soft kiss in her forehead and whispered

"I Love You Riya..."

She opened her eyes which were glowing in love. Arjun scooped her in his arm and twirled around... she started giggling like a kid hugging him closely. She threw the flowers in the air which gave an additional effect to their love... he slowly stopped twirling her... he looked at her rosy lips... An unknown emotion surged through him... he slowly bent towards her lips... Riya closed her eyes waiting for Arjun 's lips to touch her trembling ones... As their lips met, they felt fireworks inside their body... they could no longer feel any pain... they could feel only love... Pure Love...

*******THE END*******