AR FF~Set Ablaze~ part-14 page-110 28/07 - Page 12

"Riddhima where are you headed to?" Fatima asked as she entered the room and saw Riddhima all dressed up.

"Dai Jaan its John Wilton's anniversary party. He is a business man but he had once financed my movie and so I know him. Anyways you take care and don't worry I'll try to come back on time." She hugged her Dai jaan and left the house.

****************

"It's so good to see you here Riddhima and thank you so much for coming." John walked towards where Riddhima was standing. Riddhima gracefully kissed him on his cheek, wishing him a happy anniversary and handed him the gift she was carrying.

Erika Wilton narrowed her eyes at Riddhima, animatedly in conversation with her husband. She looked at her husband whose eyes were slowly slipping up and down Riddhima's body. She walked towards them and smiled at Riddhima and took her in a hug.

"You look smashing Erika. Many men here are going to be jealous of John who I hope is aware of just how lucky he is." John who was busy checking out Riddhima suddenly came out of his thoughts and spoke hastily "Oh'err'yes of course I am indeed very lucky to have Erika in my life."

"I think the Jonathan's have arrived. Please excuse us Riddz darling but we must receive all the guests and we'll join you soon."

"Oh!! Yes please go ahead." Riddhima smiled at Erika who linked her arm with that of John and walked towards the guest who had just entered the hall.

Riddhima picked up a glass of champagne from a waiter passing by and placed it on her lips, her gaze not moving from the couple talking to their guests'it was their anniversary party'5^th anniversary party. 5 years of a happy married life, content and insanely in love with each other'and though the husband had been ogling at Riddhima a while back, she was aware that love was something he had only for his wife Erika, it were his carnal lusts getting the better of him. The couple was the very picture of true love'something too good to be true. She narrowed her eyes as she saw Erika looking into John's eyes and laughing at something he told her. Her fingers tightened around the glass she was holding and her face hardened, the couple had made their own fantasy world in which the harsh realities didn't exist. She wanted to give them a taste of it. She wanted to break them and than see the fall of their beautiful, divine love'test how true their love is and see if they can build it back to what it is now.

"Aren't they a beautiful couple??" Riddhima jerked out of her thoughts as a sexy male voice fell on her ears. Turning around she found herself face to face with the handsome actor and her current co-star, Samuel Presley. Her face was immediately covered with a huge smile as she moved forward and hugged him.

"Its so good to see you and you look really handsome." Riddhima complimented him as she broke the hug but his hands remained around her waist.

"And you look ready to kill. Oh!! My poor heart." He placed his hand on his heart and did a dramatic dying act.

Riddhima burst out laughing and punched him lightly on his arm.

"And look who we have here." They both turned around and saw Neena Orsini standing there with her hands on her waist. She moved forward and kissed Riddhima and gave a hug to Samuel.

"Riddhima you merciless wretch, always stealing all the attention. Now look there to your right, Monica has been looking at Samuel from the moment he came in but the only person he has looked at is you'she is loosing all hopes to get him with every passing second. Have some mercy Samuel and go talk to her."

Samuel shook his head and than winking at Riddhima he bowed and walked towards Monica who had been in love with Samuel ever since he entered the acting industry and did his debut film against her.

Riddhima smiled and turned towards Neena, her one of the very good friends. She looked closely at Riddhima and leaning closer she spoke "I bet almost all the men in the hall including Sir Ronald who is almost 85 now are ready to trade their souls to have one chance with you. What say lady? Though I don't see anyone who is occupying Madame's interest here'Tell me Riddhima when would the day arrive when I will see you in love with someone and planning to settle down'.its such a magnificent waste'you deserve it all babe. There must be someone'"

She stopped abruptly, her eyes glued to the man who just entered the party and than she continued, "'.someone like him."

Riddhima turned towards the direction Neena was looking at and her eyes fell on the very handsome Armaan Malik. She heard Neena remark further, "Though I have known him from last three years but he still manages to make me go weak in my knees. The lady who would capture his heart would indeed be a lucky one. Say Aphrodite, you think you can make him fall for your much talked about brandishing charms?"

Riddhima looked at Armaan, dressed in a plain black suit with his hair, as usual, standing in all direction and his gorgeous smile setting hearts on fire..

"hmmm'.I definitely wouldn't want to be another notch in his belt. He has the reputation of a playboy." Riddhima spoke still looking at Armaan who was talking to the Wiltons.

"Oh Cummon Riddz you don't have to fear about that'he is not going to toy with you and as you must be aware that once he walks into your beauty trap he is likely to remain there for the rest of his life. So Aphrodite think he can be your Adonis?"

"I don't think so. I don't want Persephone on my trail. Nor do I intend to share my man with anyone. And why the hell are we discussing so much about him? If you are so smitten by the charming Armaan Malik than you have all my blessings to go ahead and have his heart."

"I wish I could. If only I had your beauty and charm. Here Samuel is coming back. Poor boy is mighty besotted by you. You think you can give him a chance?" Riddhima rolled her eyes and sighing she spoke "For heaven sake Neena give me a break. Why the hell are you after my freedom and stop matchmaking." Neena grinned cheekily at her and looked at Samuel approaching them.

"Hey beautiful the music is on. So cummon lets hit the dance floor."

Samuel took Riddhima's hand and they both were on the dance floor swaying to the music.

****************

"Hey Handsome!!"

Armaan knew who the voice belonged to and his face was immediately lit up with a smile. He turned around and hugged the girl tightly.

"Hey Sara. How have you been?"

Sara Vikings, another Hollywood heroine hugged Armaan and placed a kiss on his cheek. Armaan looked carefully at her heart shaped face with two beautiful bottle green eyes, distinctly set apart and beautiful round lips with a small chin and delicate cheeks'she was Armaan's best friend and extremely beautiful. Armaan would have included her in his long list of conquests but he knew that Sara loved him with all her heart and hadn't wanted to hurt her feelings'.she deserved better. Sara had fallen in love with him the moment she had set eyes on him in an orphanage where he had come to meet a little kid whose father was working for Armaan and had died in mining work and his mother had lost her life in child birth. Armaan later took the kid with him and had blasted his manager for leaving the kid in an orphanage. He maybe an acknowledged playboy with a devil-may-care attitude but there was a sensitive side to him that very few people knew about and she was one of them. She loved him with all her heart but Armaan had never made any advances towards her.

"I missed you so much. And you didn't even show up for my birthday party." She pouted at him.

"Babe you have no idea how bad I feel about that but I had to be in Rome for some really important work. I am so sorry but I'll make it up to you. I promise."

"Oh!! Okay fine." She gave him a smile seeing which Armaan too broke in a smile and than suddenly frowned and spoke, "Is that Monica there? Gosh!! I should go see her'its been ages since we have spoken to each other. I'll see you later."

He moved towards Monica who was another one of his dear friends and according to him one of the nicest and sweetest person he ever came across.

"Hey beautiful!!" Armaan looked at Monica who didn't hear his greeting and was busy staring at a couple on the dance floor. Armaan looked harder and realized it was Samuel Presley, Monica's long time crush. He moved closer to her and spoke a little loudly "Lucky Samuel, has the attention of the most beautiful lady here."

Monica whirled around and broke into a smile. "Hey Armaan. Its so good to see you." She hugged him tightly and than looking back at Samuel spoke "So you too are smitten by Ms. Gupta?" Armaan frowned. "What?? What are you talking about??"

"The girl dancing with Samuel is'."

"Hey I wasn't talking about that girl. I was talking about you. You were so busy looking at him that you didn't even notice that I have been standing here and trying to get your attention for so long." He pouted at her.

"Oh!! I am so sorry Armaan. Tell me how have you been??"

"Forget that. I know I don't have your attention today so I better get you the guy who does. Cummon." He didn't wait for her response and grabbing her hand took her to the dance floor. They moved right next to Samuel and Riddhima, whose back was towards Armaan. When Armaan saw Samuel spinning his girl around, he too did the same with Monica and grabbing Riddhima's hand took her in his arms while Monica landed with Samuel. He smiled at them and spoke "Hey Samuel dude!! Mind if we swap partners??"

"It looks like we already have but since its Monica, its my pleasure so you can go ahead." Samuel looked down at Monica who was blushing as she did at every compliment Samuel bothered to give her.

Armaan smiled at them and turned to see who he had in his arms. His smile fell and he had a sharp intake of breath as he realized he was holding the gorgeous Riddhima Gupta in his arms and now it struck him who Monica had mentioned as Ms. Gupta.

He quickly got hold of himself and smiled at Riddhima.

"A mighty pleasant surprise Ms. Gupta. Its good to see you."

"The feeling is completely mutual Mr. Malik. So how do you know the Wiltons?"

Riddhima smiled back at him and waited for his reply. If she was scared by the feelings Armaan Malik's touch was arousing in her, she did a great job of hiding it from him.

"We have worked together and I and Erika have been friends from college." Armaan spinned her out and brought her back in his arms.

"Mr. Malik we'

"Its Armaan please." Riddhima frowned at him. He smiled and spoke "I know we have business to do together but who says we can't be friends at the same time?? We can right??"

Riddhima smiled and spoke, "Armaan it is."

"And I get to call you Riddhima right?"

Riddhima chuckled and nodded and looked up only to see the killer dimples deepening. She looked into his startlingly gray eyes and was captivated. She felt his arms tighten around her waist'.Armaan pulled her closer to himself. She could feel his breath on her naked flesh and as his eyes roved over her body she felt totally naked. It was like he was stripping her with his intense eyes but she still failed to look away for it was as if his eyes were controlling her. Riddhima for the first time was loosing control and unknowingly she was leaning into Armaan's body as she felt her feet go liquid. Looking at the intoxicatingly handsome man Riddhima felt as if she was on a high. The way he looked down his aristocratic nose at her she found him like a college girl's fantasy of her sexy English teacher who discusses improving her grades in his office on top of his desk.

Armaan looked down at her perfect face, the flawless skin and he reluctantly admitted to himself that Riddhima Gupta was the first woman who had attracted him sexually. She was the first woman who he wanted to **** and see and feel what lay beneath the black cloth'..looking at her half exposed breast which were so white and looked so soft that he found himself tightening his grip around her waist to keep himself from grabbing her and taking her on the floor that very moment.

"You look beautiful today." He whispered to her in a husky voice he could barely recognize.

"Don't I always?" Armaan chuckled at her remark and Riddhima too smiled, thankful that the little remark broke the building tension in her body.

"Cummon guys its time to cut the cake." They both heard John speak from the centre of the hall.

Armaan and Riddhima walked towards him. Riddhima saw Sara Vikings grab Armaan's sleeve and take him to the other side of the table and Riddhima was glad coz she wanted to focus her energies on John Wilton. She saw him standing next to Erika Wilton who was practically glowing with happiness.

They both held each other's hand over the knife and cut the cake. Riddhima clapped her hand along with all others.

They all were having dinner when Riddhima saw Armaan standing with a bunch of women surrounding him.

"What are you looking at? Considering my suggestion?" Riddhima sighed and turned towards Neena who was again trying to match make.

"Seriously Neena don't you have anything better to do other than finding me a groom." She exclaimed exasperatedly.

"Oh okay fine. You are one ungrateful girl. Anyways tell me about your coming movie."

The topic of her coming movie got Riddhima excited and she started explaining to Neena her new role and the technicalities in the film.

************

"Oh shoot!! I left my cell inside." Riddhima who had just bid goodbye to the Wiltons along with the other guest turned around and ran to get her cell.

Erika sighed as she looked at the empty hall after all the guest had left. John wrapped his arms around her and placing his chin over head spoke, "the party was my gift to you'what about yours?"

Erika turned around and looked into John's eyes and than taking his hand she placed it on her stomach and spoke "That's your gift." John frowned not understanding what she was trying to say but when he realized the meaning of her words, she was pregnant, he lifted her in his arms and twirled her around making her giggle with joy.

"This is the best gift ever!! I am so happy." He yelled in joy.

Riddhima gnashed her teeth as she saw John and Erika basking in yet another happiness that their love had given them and now she was more determined than ever to break them apart. She wanted to crush their complacent love, grind it in dust and hear its final cries of anguish. She turned around on her heel and with her blood boiling in jealousy and anger she left the place and got into her car. She drove like a maniac trying to vent out her frustration on the vehicle.

When she had loved a man, he had toyed around with her and her parents had labeled her and her love as a disgrace. She remembered every insult whirled at her. She would never forget the way her father had pushed her out of her house'.the way her neighbors had called her a **** and the man she had trusted had turned his back on her and till this day she had not been able to forget the tears that she had cried, the pain that she had suffered and the way she had howled and cried in those lonely nights. She wanted to crush and destroy everyone's happiness, just the way her happiness was killed. She would get her revenge'.though it never gave her complete peace but at least she felt happy for sometime knowing that another person was going through the same pain that she had been carrying in her chest for so long.

Oh!!! She wanted John Wilton to forget his wife and baby for her'she wanted Erika Wilton to cry over her husbands betrayal and feel the pain that she, Riddhima had felt when her happy world was burnt by everyone'.including the man she trusted. She wanted to set their perfect world on fire'set it ablaze and watch its death throes.