Definitely Yes, Maybe I- (AR) pt1- 13 - Page 23

Hi Sangeeta Di... When are you updating this...

[quote=tanasha1993]Haha ridz imagining her armaano as DAVID was totally hilarious;D

PART 3:

RECAP: Our jaws dropped simultaneously as he towered above us in a pair of jeans and a sports vest with tattoos over both arms, a complete contrast from the suave man on the plane.

"NICE TO MEET YOU LADIES….I AM ARMAAN MALLIK!" He stretched his hand out as I stared at him with disbelief written all over my face.

Who was he? He couldn't be the Armaano I saw on the flight. Was I being judgmental in thinking that this Armaan Mallik, with all his display of tattoos and brawn was a very different league from 'my debonair David?' But he had the same smile and glint in his deep blue eyes. I felt the blood rushing into my ears as I saw the deep dimples indenting into his fine masculine features.

"HI!" Anjali's eyes lit up on seeing the handsome man in front of us, "I am Anjali Gupta….or Anji for short….nice to meet you," she shook his hand and looked up in an effort to meet his gaze. As my face reflected various shades of crimson and pink, I lowered my eyes to hide myself from his piercing gaze fixated on me.

"So is our third meeting going to go without introductions too?" His palm, a few inches from my chin waited to be acknowledged. So that meant, my Armaano was actually Armaan Mallik! A part of me was thrilled to know that we had the same roots, but his tattoos disheartened me- was he a rock star or a movie star-someone from a world inaccessible to me?

Hesitantly, I raised my hand, sweaty and wavering like a thief's who had just been caught red handed by a cop. With the corner of my eyes, I glanced at a stunned Anjali whose expression of oh-my-God-Riddhima-you-chupi-rustam, made me want to bury myself under the table at that very moment.

"Nice to meet you, Signora." His voice softened a bit, with an Italian lilt in his 'signora.' As I nodded gently, I felt my fingers being gripped inside his palm, "HI! I am Anjali's sister….R…Riddhima Gupta." I wouldn't say that our handshake sent shivers down my spine or I felt goose bumps all over my body, a clichd statement I had read in many a romantic novel, but if there was anything like an out-of-body-experience, I think I had just felt it for the first time in my life. Something about his hand was very comforting; at that moment I forgot my reservations about the artwork on his arms. I felt my heart thud against my chest as he refused to let go of my hand.

"Nice name!" Reluctantly, he pulled away, "tourists? Students?"

Anjali chuckled, "I am an art student in Florence….and my younger sister is just visiting…..so Ridz," she turned towards me, "you know Armaan?"

"No…of course not," I don't know why I snapped defensively, "we don't know each other."

Armaan pulled a chair and made himself comfortable at our table. He smiled at me and then leaning back on his chair replied, "She is right……we really don't know each other…….we were on the same flight…….what a coincidence……and here we meet again…….maybe we are destined to know each other."

"Wow….that's interesting," Anjali glanced at me with the corner of her eyes. I could tell she was mentally trying to put the pieces together; her expression told me that she knew I was hiding something from her. There was no way, I was going to divulge my vivid dreams and thoughts about this stranger.

"So Mr Armaan Mallik….what are you doing in Italy?" Anjali could not help asking, "you have a bit of an Italian accent….and a bit Indian…..I am confused."

Silently, I thanked Anjali for directing the conversation to more mundane stuff. At least, that forced him to look away from me.

"I am confused too," he chuckled back with a twinkle in his eye, "My dad was Indian…..and my mom is a native…..so that makes me an Italian Born Confused Desi….or IBCD."

"Nice one!" Anjali tapped the table, "like us ABCDs…..I guess you know we are from the US…….although we were both born in India, but raised in America."

"I am not sure about the confused part," his gaze wandered back and forth between me and Anjali. Each time his deep blue eyes rested on my face, my heart leapt a few hundred times. I felt awkward as I felt his eyes caress the upper half of my body. His gaze shifted from my eyes to my lips, pausing there leisurely, then dropped to my neck and then taking their sweet time to meander away from my deep V- necked dress. It was all my fault- I cursed myself. He had probably figured out how insanely I had been drooling and ogling him on the flight. My only recourse was now to put up my defenses and be on guard from revealing any more of my feelings.

Purposely, I placed my left hand on the table. With a faint smile and fleeting glance at my efforts to flash my engagement ring at him, he turned his attention to Anjali.

"So do you live here?" Anjali asked.

"Naaa…this restaurant is owned by my cousin……I live near Siena……my family owns a winery there…..in fact you both should try some fine wine here….what are you both drinking?" He checked our glasses, "hmm….water?" He gave me a curious look, "they say the real taste of Italy lies in its grapes and wines…..I cannot let my guests drink water," and then came closer, his face a few inches away from mine, "when in Rome…..drink like the Romans," he drawled amorously, "have water with the man who gave you that beautiful ring."

I felt my face flush with embarrassment; I withdrew my hand and placed it on my lap. Obviously, my engaged status was not a deterrent to this man-anyone could tell that he was openly flirting with me. I tried to convince myself that perhaps, he was just trying to be a good host and wanted us to order some expensive wine from his winery at his cousin's restaurant.

Anjali sat back quietly with a suggestive smile, enjoying the interplay of words and gestures between Armaan and myself. It was strange being the center of attention; in the past it had always been Anjali the guys were interested in, whether it was school, neighborhood or the two years we shared in college. The guys always went for the outgoing, sexier and more boisterous sister. Was that why, I had always found comfort in Rahul's company? Why was Armaan directing most of his attention at me and not Anjali? Of course, it was my unpardonable act on the flight – he must think I was the one who instigated the flirting, and not him.

Anjali found that statement amusing; she clapped and cheered for Armaan, "I like your sense of humor Armaan….so which wine would you like us to try?" She picked the wine list and ran her finger through the list.

"My pleasure signora," he took the list from her and yelled in Italian, "Toni….please get us two glasses of a red dessert wine from Tuscany."

"Dessert wine before dinner?" Anjali asked.

"Yes…..I would like you both to appreciate the sweetness of Italy first," he turned towards me again and to my horror, I thought he had just winked at me.

Mortified, I gulped down the glass of water in front of me, and retorted, "as far as I am concerned….all wines taste the same."

"Not Italian wines……maybe American wines do," he murmured huskily and stared at my engagement ring as if mocking at it.

"I will have to taste it to believe it." I snapped back.

"My pleasure…..tasting is always available…..and we don't even charge for it," he smiled again, this time suggestively. If one read between the lines, which I am sure Anjali was, there was no doubt that he was strongly coming on to me.

Before I could protest against him misconstruing my totally innocent statement, he asked, "Well ladies……why don't you both accompany me to Siena tomorrow morning?"

"Siena?" Anjali's mouth widened excitedly, "I have never been there."

I gave her a dirty look, "di! How can we go to Siena? We still have a lot to do here in Florence."

"Why don't you see Italy through my eyes?" He tilted his head towards me, his gaze again fixated on my eyes, "no one will give you that experience…..trust me."

"That sounds like fun…..what will we do there?" Anjali asked. I squeezed her foot with my foot under the table, hoping she would not entertain the idea of going away with this stranger.

"Our winery is close by….I will take you on a tour ……we can shop…..we can enjoy the countryside…..and may be," he glanced at me mischievously, "may be even get inspired to write poetry……and may be find some romance."

I felt myself choking on the water I had just sipped at his last statement. As I coughed and sputtered, Anjali held my hand, "calm down Ridz….it's just a joke."

"Riddhima," he offered me the glass of wine the waiter had just placed on the table, "try this…..you will feel better……by the way…the word Romance originated from the Latin word Romanice…..to speak in Roman…..I meant the language…… you misunderstood me…..or maybe that's what you were hoping to do there." He teased me with his eyes, and poured himself a glass of the wine too.

Infuriated, I sipped the wine and lashed out, "Mr Mallik…I think you are mistaken……I am engaged to be married……I can't even imagine being unfaithful to my fianc."

"Who is talking about being unfaithful Signora?" Armaan was bewildered, "I romance with the countryside….the grapes and the wines everyday…..and why do I think you need to keep reminding yourself that you are engaged?"

Anjali was in splits; she savored the sweet wine, 'mmmm….I love it Armaan…..I love your wine and I love the way you talk…..we are definitely coming with you tomorrow…..do we take a train?"

"Naaa! I will fly you in my private jet ladies."

"DI! Are you crazy?" I protested, "we are not flying in a private jet. Do you even have a license?" I snapped at him. What I really meant to say was –'how did you know my dream?' I couldn't believe that my vivid dream on the train about us flying in a plane over a beautiful countryside was actually not a dream anymore.

Armaan burst out in laughter, "so you don't trust me signora?"

"Of course NOT!" I snapped.

"Then why don't we change that wrong impression? I would hate for my guests to go back to the US with a wrong impression about my country."

"I am sorry….we cannot go!" I said vehemently.

"Ridz…sweety….relax…..come on it would be fun……..after all Armaan travels in it all the time." Anjali tried to reassure me, "and what better way to see the country than through the eyes of a native?"

"Let's go DI! The wine is making me sick…..I need to get some sleep." I stood up.

"We haven't even ordered yet," Anjali protested.

"You will feel better with a full stomach….trust me," he touched my elbow ever so lightly and gazed at me. Something about his calm expression and his touch convinced me to stay.

"Ok….let's order," I looked at my watch which was still set on US time, "I think I should call Rahul…..he must be wondering if I have reached or not." It was unusual for me to not have corrected the time the moment we landed in Rome. Rahul would have done it while we were in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Armaan took his phone out and handed it to me, "If I am correct, your phone doesn't work here…..my phone is always at your service signora."

Guiltily, I looked at Anjali who I thought would give me the 'aahaa-so-you-have-used-his-phone-before' look, but to my surprise, she just sat back and smiled.

"No…that's OK….I will call him from di's place," I declined his offer.

"Does borrowing a phone count as being unfaithful too?" He smiled mischievously.

"No….I just don't want to talk to my fianc in front of everyone," I lied.

Armaan just nodded his head, one eyebrow raised as if he did not really believe me.

"ARMAANO!" Someone called for him from the bar area.

To my relief, he got up, "excuse me ladies…..but I need to take care of some business….I will see you tomorrow morning….can I have your address Anji?"

Anjali obliged and paid no heed to my disapproving looks.

"Bye!" She waved.

"Ciao!" He waved back and walked away after a lingering glance in my direction.

"OH-MY-GOD!" Anjali clutched her heart as soon as he left, "wasn't that the most ridiculous smile in the world? Mar jaawaan Ridz…..he is HOT! And his eyes……aaye haaye…..kya baat hai….doob jaane ko mann karta hai! Armaano…..hai rabba!"

I felt a pang of jealousy as Anjali kept ooh-ing and aah-ing after Armaan's departure.

"Di! Relax! He seems such a flirt…..dekha kaise ghoor ghoor kar dekha raha tha?"

"Ridz! I don't believe it!"

"Don't believe what?"

"You just spoke in Hindi! Armaan has really had an effect on you sweetheart," she giggled incessantly.

"Di…you have had too much wine….I don't like that man…..he seems like a reckless and wild kind of guy….imagine inviting two strangers to fly with him in his private jet to an unknown place? Di…we shouldn't go!"

"Come on Ridz! He is such a cool guy….and a thorough gentleman…..why are you scared to go with him? Wo hamara kuch nahin bigaad sakta……we will have fun."

"But di……I don't like his intentions…..why was he talking about inspiration…romance….it's almost like he is trying to seduce us."

"May be he already has?" Anjali asked softly and smiled suggestively.

"What do you mean? You have already fallen for him?" I asked, hoping that she would actually say NO! All our lives, we had never competed for guys, but somehow I felt 'David' was mine and could not fathom seeing my sister fall for him.

"Ridz…..don't try to act innocent….I just witnessed the world's greatest chemistry experiment in front of my eyes dear…..and trust me I was not part of that experiment."

"DI!"

"Yes Ridz……he was all eyes for you and you only…..I was just an innocent bystander……and you kept turning red each time he looked at you……aag dono taraf barabar hai jaan-e-man." She bit into her pasta and winked at me.

"DI! How can you think like that? I am engaged to be…"

"….to be married…..yada yada yada…." Anjali rolled her eyes, "how many times do I have to hear that sermon from you? Is there a law against checking the menu again once you have already placed your order at a restaurant?"

"No…" I replied sheepishly.

"So….just have fun sweety….if a guy shows interest in you….savor it…enjoy it….it means you are worth it….it doesn't mean you are being unfaithful……you know I have been going steady with my current boyfriend for a year…..but that does not mean I cannot admire something as beautiful or desirable as Armaano…..grow up Ridz….think outside the box……see the world….learn to admire the different colors and flavors…..trust me when you do that….your relationship with Rahul will improve also."

I gulped down my food as fast as I could; Anjali had just made two very heavy duty statements- one that she was going steady with someone and two-that my relationship with Rahul was far from perfect.

"Di…you have a steady boyfriend?"

'Yeah….his name is Atul…..he is a research scientist in Florence….we met a year ago…..and are still together," she blushed.

"Wow….chupi rustam," I slapped her hand gently.

"Yeah….I wish he was here….abhi India gaya hai apne parents se milne."

"I would love to meet the man who has made history by being my di's boyfriend for that long," I chuckled.

We finished our wonderful dinner and headed home. On the way, I could not resist asking her, "why did you say my relationship with Rahul needed improvement?"

Anjali smiled, "may be not improvement…..but it definitely needs some zing……some seasoning…..a little flavoring…don't you think so?"

I nodded, "I think I know what you mean."

"So take this trip to Siena as a challenge sweetheart….this will definitely bring that excitement into your lives."

"May be," I smiled and dozed off in the car, exhausted and worn out from jet lag, shopping, wine and rich food. As soon as my head touched the back of the seat, my vivid dream about Armaan and me flying over the open fields and he bending over to kiss me came back once again…..

….to be contd………

reserved!!!!!!! yaaay!!! me first..!!!!! first for the first tym!!!! yaaay whoopeee!!!!!!!

hey bheegi!!!!!!!
this part was a surprise!!!!! i thot u must have updated before but it was not yet....so i read ur other ff...but when i returned back to the forum, i saw u had updated!!!!!!! i was so happy that i wudnt have to wait for tomorrow!!!! hehe.... 😆


armaan was khullam khulla flirting wid riddhima!!!!! that was soo much fun!!! 😉
and anjali was like totally enjoying 'the world's best chemistry experiment'!!!!! hehe....armaano was lyk totally onto ridz...wid the 'romance' n all.... 😉


i cud clearly imagine ridzy's haalat...i've been in tht situation soo many tymz n its soooooo embarrassing.....i just hope armaan has something exciting in store for ridzy.... 😃


and armaan's doule meaning comments were sooo enjoyable!!!!!! u left me in splits!!!! 😃


i am now such a fan of anjali....i just love her!!!! she gives like the best advice in the world!!!!! as i've said before also, her character is so cleanly sketched......perfect clean strokes!!!!!!!! 😃


armaano is such a mysterious character...i just cant get enough of him!!!!! u have to give him more footage in the next update.... 😉 😉


u've kept me waiting again!!!!! i know this is too early but still, pls update as soon as possible!!!!!!! plss.....


love u!!
Niyati..

reserved

Ok me here too...early his time Yay!! hehe

hi bheegi di😊

WOW realy nice part armaan is soooooooo flirting with her i cant wait to read the next part it will defenatly b the fun to read part n i think that he realy want to romance with her that is y he said that ha ha poor ridzy went through a lot n will have sooooooooooo much of overtime thing after this trip

yayyyy!! new update!!!

OMG again!!! ahhaha!!

i luved d part wer she narrates his gaze on her!! oohhh...sooo nicely dne!!

luv Anji bein so pushy on her..she needs it..even though tey r siblings..ter seems 2 be a lost touch betn d two..tis is defin makin up for it!!

dt was super!!!! worth d wait!! ;)

its such a fantasy world types...soo me!! i experienced sumwat...similar!!lol
i think i was in italy too or maybe germany..d same tour!! tis indian guy frm calc..he was sum musician or smg ter..but ohhh-soooo-happenin!! lol i even danced wit him on 1 of ma fav songs.."Right here waitin by Richard Marx"...and he made me sing it wit him..n in front of ma parents...ohh i wish tey werent ter ten!!ahah!!
it was lik a lil party for us indian toursits stayin at d hotel..n ovb we were d last 1z to leave d place!! he sand d song twice!! OMG!!!!! bheeegi!!! i luv ya rite now!!! ahahah!! u can imagine my bp fluctuatin rapidly!!
wow!! i can totally reminisce it yaar!! LMAO!!

phewww!!!

omg bheegi, that was too good. continue soon plzzzzzz!!!!!!!