HALF TRUTH HALF LIE
Part 1
She was sitting there, on the black bench outside her house, in the park, trying to wipe out her tears which kept rolling down on her cheeks. Her lustrous, long, shining hair were falling on her face from the sides which were shining even brightly in the moon light and the wind was blowing them back beautifully but the pain inside her was as black as the night was. If anyone would have seen her like this he would have immediately fallen in love with her but she couldn?t think of it all. Her beautiful eyes were filled with tears, her dupatta was hanging down from her shoulders and she was holding the bench tightly with her hands. She heard faint voices of laughter nearby but didn?t turn to see what it was. She should have, as it was midnight and surely whoever?s voice it was might have been dangerous but her pain had been hitting her so badly that she couldn?t think of any fear except for her pain. Why was her life doing this to her.
He was sitting with her girlfriend. Tall, handsome, muscular. His dressing sense showed that he was an example of fashion in fact latest fashion. No doubt he had a new girlfriend every week that he always brought here in the park at midnight to have a cozy romantic talk and walk. This was the same place where he made girlfriends and broke up with them. Tonight was no different night. He was tickling her girlfriend and both of them were joking. Soon he bid his girlfriend goodnight and she went to her car and drove away. He relaxed on his bench and stretched out his arms. When he turned his head he saw her sitting their. Sobbing. She wiped her tears and as the wind moved back her hair, she closed her eyes and then looked up at the moon. His eyes had caught her beauty. He kept looking at her as she wiped few more tears and then he wondered why was she crying?? Doesn?t matter, let?s go flirt with a new beauty!! Was all that came in his mind. He stood up quietly straightening his collars and went forward to her.
?Err?hi May I join you??? she looked up at him quietly. ,?well I thought you needed a company and im not a very bad company you see?
Still she stayed quiet. He thought of turning away when she said in almost a whisper,
?Yes I think I need a company too? he looked at her, surprised by her pained yet beautiful voice. He at once sat down besides her keeping a distance so she wouldn?t feel uncomfortable.
?Well? I am arman?arman malik?
?Nice to meet you arman? she said with a weak smile and stayed quiet. He waited for an answer but when it didn?t came he asked,
?And? you are???
?Oh. Im sorry. Im ridhima. Ridhima?gupta? she said gupta with a breath of uncomfort that he noticed but stayed quiet at this. They both shook hands and for once he saw her beautiful face completely. Those innocent eyes, rosy cheeks, petal like lips and the perfect features of her got him mesmerized. He left her hand but didn?t wanted to.
?so ridhima do you live here in Mumbai??? he asked.
?yes. Just nearby. And you??
?oh yeah me too but on a short drive. And what do you do here???
?im a doctor. In fact a dietician.?
?don?t tell me!! Are you the famous dr. ridhima gupta from England???
?ahh yes I am. The famous dr.ridhima gupta? she said with sarcasm in her voice, ?and what do you do???
?just where you stand with a little difference. Im dr.arman malik. The famous cardiologist?
?ahh so nice to meet you. The famous, handsome heart throbbing dr of India. Iv heard your show on radios and read your articles in magazines and in newspapaers? She said with a smile that wasn?t weak anymore. He realized she was easy to forget her pain which ever was hurting her.
?ahhh same here. wow what a night! One of the top doctors of the country are sitting here all alone in a romantic night. So I think you have your own clinic na!?
?yeah that?s right.?
?so how do you manage to get free time to sit here??
?well mein ne assistant rakhi hui hai who takes all the appointments and then give me all the dates. What about you??
?main ne bhi ek assistant ?rakhi? hui hai but I work in sanjivani.? he stressed on ?rakhi? with a naughty smile, ?tum ne ?rakha? nahi hua assistant???
?no, im more concerned with the efficiency of work? she smiled at his question knowing that he was being flirt.
Soon they started talking about a little this a little that about Mumbai and their work. They forgot about the time passing. When ridhima?s cell rang at about 2a.m, their conversation broke. She picked up the cell,
?Hey Minnie?
?Hi di. Apka ghar anay ka irada nahi hai kiya aj rat??? arman heard a child?s voice and as if something got struck in his throat. He thought to himself,
?array baap re ye to iski beti lagti hai!! Per aisa kuch suna to nahi tha to phir ye kahan se agayi???
?nahi jan. abhi ayi. Tum soyi nahi??? ridhima asked
?nahi apka intazar kar rahi thi. Ap ne khana bhi to nahi khaya tha na?
?hmm abhi ati hun dus minute main. Bye? and she hung up. After hanging the call she stood up and said,
?iv to go? arman also stood up pushing his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans and said,
?err?your daughter??? she laughed out loud and said,
?oh no. Minnie my youngest sister. Wo intazar kar rahi hai mera. I?l have to go? arman took a sigh of relief and said,
?well would you mind me escorting you to your home???
?err?yaheen pas main hai mera ghar to. Ap kiyun takleef kar rahe hain??
?firstly pls don?t be formal as we are friends now so call me ?tum? and takleef kaisi I just wanted to have a walk as well or phir raat bhi to kitni hogayi hai?
?yeah sure?. They started walking together in a slow pace.
?so you live with your family here???
?my sister is my only family? she looked down and arman decided not to ask anymore about her family.
?and how old is Minnie???
?she is 12. school jati hai or phir ghar a k khelti rehti hai. Neighbors main uski kuch friends rehti hain. Or tum??
?I live alone here. Parents ka accident hogaya tha 3saal pehle and I was the only son?
?oh im sorry?
?hmm?
?so I have heard that dr.arman has lots of girl friends and all? said ridhima being casual.
?true? said arman being a little uncomfortable that he wanted to flirt with her and she is talking about his girlfriends. Talking like this, they reached at ridhima?s home. She said,
?mera ghar agaya!?
?oh yeah? he took a look at the home memorizing it well from all aspects.
?so, goodnight?
?bus aise hi good night???
?to or???
?koi see you! When? Where? I mean koi milna milana, when would we see each other again??
?arman main roz rat ko waheen park main ati hun?
?oh cool main bhi ata hun roz. How come we never met each other before? I suppose just a coincidence na?? at this question she smiled uncomfortabaly and just looked around and said,
?bohat rat hogayi hai. I should go now. Bye?
?ok. Bye? he waved his hand to her and started to turn back taking again a good look at her beauty. She smiled and waved back to him and went inside.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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35