Part 8
She comfortably sits on bench.Wind was blowing.Few gush of winds touches her face.Sometimes she smiles and sometimes she shivered.
She inhale deeply ,smelling the fragrance of plants.Spring is on its way.
"Hey..here goes our coffee"She stare at her husband who came with two cup of coffee in her hands.Her heart churned a bit seeing the handsome form of her husband.
She unknowingly smiles at him.And that smile got bigger seeing him smiling back at her.
He sat beside her and forward her, her cup of coffee.Both sit in silence for a while when finally he broke in.
"You didnt reply my answer"He asked while sipping his coffee.But was not able to hide his anxiety.
Riddhima/Shilpa smiles at him"What are you expecting?" She added further"As an answer?"
Arman looked at her with intensity and replied"Definitely a No"
Riddhima/Shilpa hold the mug of coffee at her lips and look forward.
"Then it is definitely no,Arman"
The breathe that arman was holding ,releases.He took deep breathe to control his breathing.
Riddhima/Shilpa tap his back and says"You should do what suits your age.Holding breathe is not good for you"
Surprised by her words arman kept staring at her.
"What arman?"Riddhima/Shilpa said as she start again sipping her coffee.She know he was surprised at her behavior.She herself is.But she want to loose a bit with him.She wants them to be couple.
"You start speaking"He replied in same sarcastic tone.
Riddhima/Shilpa turn to look at him with mocked anger"So before I was mute?"
Arman shakes his and says"No.I mean..Leave it..!"
Both just smile.Unknowingly arman kept his hand on her shoulder and
Riddhima/Shilpa her head on his shoulder.
"You never tell me arman.Why you marry me?"
Riddhima/Shilpa asked out of blue.
Arman inhale fresh air and then he kept his mug on table and his head on the bench post.
"I don't know why I marry you exactly"He replied while staring at particularly nothing.
Riddhima/Shilpa raised her head and irritatedly look at him"Arman I need answer"
He raised his hand and removes few tendrils from her cheek and lips.
"I cant tell you the exact reason.But i was being selfish
Riddhima/Shilpa .Riddhima/Shilpa you were siddhi's life.Her most of the life went bringing you up.Making you like she was"
He become silent as he remembers siddhi worry for
Riddhima/Shilpa ,her care for her younger sister.Gently raising her head from his shoulder he got up and help her hand.
*******
Both enter into the old room of Siddhi and Arman.
Riddhima/Shilpa leaves his hands and stare at her sister pictures.It had been a while she last saw her pictures.Back at her father place her mother removes all the pic to avoid sadness.She move her slender fingers on her sister photo.
Arman saw her doing that/"You ask the reason why I marry you?
Riddhima/Shilpa look back at arman and nods.Her eyes blur with tears.Arman move forward and held her hands.
"Coz with you I felt Siddhi with me.Your every action ,your feisty behavior,your compliant nature,everything makes me me remember of her.After her death I forget her this nature.But with you.I feel her with in you.May be you had her essence cos she brought you up"
He took her in front of the mirror.
"
Riddhima/Shilpa see your self in the mirror.Can you remember your sister by seeing you"
Riddhima/Shilpa stare at him dumbfounded and then at her self.
"
Riddhima/Shilpa you know our eyes color are same.Papa see
Riddhima/Shilpa and mine eye color same"
"
Riddhima/Shilpa just laughs like siddhi garima ji"
"Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between you two siddhi
Riddhima/Shilpa "Garima says while looking at her daughter "The only difference is one is big girl and the other one is small girl"
For the first time
Riddhima/Shilpa realized her closeness to her siddhi di.A teary smile came to her lips.Yes she is really like her sister specially her eyes.She turn around and look at arman.She smiles at him"I didnt thought it before our eyes are similar"
Arman stand their without saying anything.He caressed her cheeks and kissed her fore head."I had realized it long ago
Riddhima/Shilpa long ago"
**********
She played with her chain and momentary take deep breathes as his deep breathes fanned her neck.
Arman can feel her moment.He opened his eyes and raised his head."Why are you not sleeping?"
Riddhima/Shilpa look up at him"Cos one question is eating my head"
Arman sits on the and moves his palms over his face.
He says as he closes his eyes again"Ask?"
"Well.Don't mind ha.Or don't take me wrong.I am not jealous.But this thing eating me.i MEAN"
Arman shakes his head .After long time he is actually seeing
Riddhima/Shilpa .Stammering but keep talking one.He finally breaks her talk"
Riddhima/Shilpa ask..!"
Riddhima/Shilpa stops and speak"Sorry siddhi di.Actually do you love me.Like me without me being like siddhi di"
Arman look at her thoughtfully and says with extreme seriousness "From where love come between us??"
Riddhima/Shilpa goes numb.Did she actually expect him to love her.She just nods her head and lay back on her side.
Arman did the same.
There was no love between them.Yet there was.But definitely love was not the only factor that keep them together.It is actually not about love always...!
