Anjali: kaam hai ya anna nahi chahta…??
Both Riddhima and Padma whipped around to see Anjali standing there, her arms folded, a grim expression on her face. She was clad in a beautiful green lehnga….and she was staring at Riddhima. Riddhima closed her eyes and sighed. Not another confrontation, please, she thought. She had had enough for the day already.
Riddhima looked at her and sighed. With a dejected look on her face, she looked at Anjali.
Riddhima: Di please…not right now…
Anjali: what do you mean, not right now?? Maine tum se kuch pucha hai, uska jawab do Riddhima…
Riddhima: agar ap janana chahti ho to khud Armaan ko call ker ke puch lo na…mujhse kyun puch rahi ho? (in a rude voice)
Padma: Riddhimaa…!!! (looks at her, surprised) aissay kyun baat ker rahi ho Anjali se…??
Anjali: rehne do Mom…iss per sangat ka asar ho gaya hai….(frowns at her)…obviously, jese logon ke saath rahaygi, unhi jaisi ho jayegi na…
Riddhima: DI PLEASE!!! (her voice increasing)
Padma looks from Riddhima to Anjali, shocked. They had never fought like this. She knew something was terribly wrong.
Padma: Anjali..beta I don't think this is the right time….baad main baat ker lena, okay…who abhi bohat thakki hui hai aur…
Anjali: See?? This is what I am talking about…ap sab ko harr waqt sirf Riddhima ki fikar rehti hai…it's my day today aur phir bhi ap sab….just forget it…
Saying that, she runs out of the room with tears in her eyes. Riddhima sighs with exhaustion. The day's events had taken the toll on her and she was feeling extremely depressed and tired. Padma stroked her hair and spoke to her softly.
Padma: Riddhima, what's wrong beta??
Riddhima: nothing Mom..i am okay…ap chalo, main change ker ke ati hun….(turns to her wardrobe)
Padma looks at her and then leaves. She knew it was the end of their conversation for now.
………………………………………….
Riddhima walked down the stairs wearing a beautiful white sarri, looking glamorous in it. She had her hair lightly pinned up, and though her face was glowing with the makeup, there was no expression of happiness in it. She landed on the last stair and looked around at the people. There were many guests in the hall which had been beautifully decorated.
She could recognize most of the people, and as her eyes wandered around the hall, she saw Padma and Shashank standing together, talking to some guests. The smile and happiness on their faces made Riddhima smile a little, then she saw Anjali and Dev and her expression faltered. Then she saw Muskaan and Rahul, obviously fighting a little. She sighed and grinned a little, they would never change. She was about to move over to them when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
She turned around to see Sapna standing before her, wearing a bronze and golden colored sari, looking exceptionally pretty. Riddhima squealed and hugged her tight.
Riddhima: SAPNAA!! Kaisi ho tum??? (separated from her and smiles fully)
Sapna: main to theek hun…TUM kaisi ho??
Riddhima: (jiggles a little) kaisi lag rahi hoon…?? (then laughs)
Sapna: bohat bohat khubsurat…hamesha ki tarah…par itni udas shakal kuun banayi hui hia….Armaan ko miss ker rahi hai kia?? (winks at her)
Riddhima blushes a little and looks at her surprised
Riddhima: tujhe kese…??
Sapna: Muskaan ke pait mein koi baat rehti hai kia??
Riddhima shakes her head, sighs and then laughs.
Riddhima: so…mother-to-be…(looks down at her tummy) when's our baby coming??
Sapna: soon…ab to tum bhi shadi ker hi lo Riddhima, about time huh…(winks)
Riddhima: no yaar…abhi to, koi planning nahi hai…
Sapna: achaa….?? Armaan to barra utawla hoga shadi kern eke liye, I am sure…
Riddhima: Sappnaaaa….
Sapna: you just wait….tum dekhna main uski kese taang khenchti hun..meri shadi per to itna tang kia tha uss ne mujhe…ke bass….
They both laugh and are soon joined by Muskaan and Rahul.
Rahul: hey Riddhima…feeling better?? (smiles at her genuinely)
Riddhima: yes Rahul…thanks a lot…(smiles at him)
Muskaan: oye Riddhima…iss party main koi maza nahi araha yaar….Armaan kahan hain?? (looks around) who nahi aya…??
Riddhima: nahi Muskaan…who nahi ayega yaar….
Sapna: Kyun?? (surprised) Angie ki engagement party per ARMAAN na aye…?? Hows that possible..?
Riddhima: who…ummm…actually who Atul ke saath hai…he needs him more right now…(looks dwn)
Rahul: baat to sahee hai…he must be really down right now…
Muskaan: hmmm…(thinks about something) oyee….!! Kyun na hum party ke baad sab uss se milne chalay?? Thora cheer up ekr deinge…
Riddhima looks at her and brightens up
Riddhima: excellent idea Muskaan…!! Of course, aissay time main friends ki sabse ziada zarurat hoti hai….
Sapna: yeah…that's true…
Rahul: okay then…party ke baad, Atul ke ghar…done??
All: DONE!!!
……………………………………………………………………
Armaan: Atul, tu darwaza khol raha hai ya main torr dun??
He stood outside Atul's house, and had been banging the door since the past 10 minutes with no reply. Exasperated, he finally decided to break down the door when the door opened.
Atul stood in front of him, a dejected, lost look on his face. He seemed like a man who had lost all. Armaan looked at him and entering the house, hugged him.
Armaan: kitni der se khatkhata raha tha…darwaza kyun nahi khol raha that u…??
Atul: kyunki main bhi subah se tera wait ker raha hun….kahan that u??
Armaan: sorry yaar…aj Riddhima ne wapas anna tha, ussay leney gaya tha…kuch der us ke saath time spend kia, abhi usse ghar chor ke seedha yahan ayah un….
Atul: haan, tujhe to Riddhima ke aggay kuch nazar atta nahi hai…(smirks a little)
Armaan: ach ab yahiin kharray reh ker tannay de ga kia??
They both walk in and while Atul goes to get a cuppa coffee for Armaan, he makes himself comfortable on the sofa. Atul returns with two cups and they both start conversing. As Armaan was trying to get him to talk about Anjali so that the matter was discussed once and for all, Atul was changing the topic as best as he could. At last, Armaan came straight out.
Armaan: dekh Atul….tu janta hai na main yahan kyun ayah un??
Atul: haan, mujhse milne…!!
Armaan: aur main tujhsee milne KYUN aunga??
Atul: kyunki tu mera bhai hai…(smiles)
Armaan: wrong!!! Main tujhse milne aya tha…cuz I wanted to make sure…that you are okay…
Atul: kyun, mujhe kia hona tha??
Armaan: oh come on Atul…tu janta hai aj Anjali ki engagement hai aur tu…
Atul: so…??
Armaan looks at him, surprised. He hadn't expected this at all.
Armaan: ummm…what do you mean by so??
Atul: So Armaan…aj Anjali ki engagement hai, us se mujhe kia farq parta hai??
Armaan: matlab tujhe farq nahi parta?? (with raised eyebrows)
Atul: of course not Armaan….woh Dev ko chor ker kisi se bhi engagement kere, I don't care…
Armaan; yeh tu mujhe keh raha hai ya khud ko…??
Atul: Armaan!! (looks at him seriously) haan, main Anjali se bohat pyaar kerta hun, hamesha kerta rahunga….par who mujhse pyaar nahi kerti, and that's the truth….au main iss sachayi ko maan chukka hun…
Armaan: par Atul…jis larki se tu pyaar kerta hai who kisi aur ki ho rahi hai….tu kaisey itna normal hai…??
Atul: main normal nahi hun Armaan…I am just learning to live with it….agar who meri na ho saki to kia hua, who khush hai and that's enough for me….maine kabhi yeh khwahish to nahi ki ke Anjali bhi mujshe utna pyaar kere jitna main uss se kerta hun….
Armaan looks at him, extremely confused
Atul: mein uss se pyaar apne liye kerta hun Armaan…maine uss se pyaar iss shart per to nahi kia tha ke who bhi mujhse pyaar kere….
Armaan: par Atul tu…I don't get this…agar teri jagah main hota aur Riddhima ki…(he cant even say it) Riddhima ki kisi aur se engagement ho rahi hoti to main…main to …I don't know main kia kar deta…
Atul: (smirks a little) yehi to farq hai tujh main aur mujh mein Armaan…tumhare liye Riddhima tumhari zaroorat hai, tu uss ke beghair nahi reh sakta….mere liye Anjali, sirf aik khwahish…
Armaan sighs at hearing what he had said, he truly couldn't live without Riddhima.
Armaan: Atul…I am really sorry for whatever happened….but there's always the brighter side of the day…you know…
Atul: I know Armaan….thanks for being there…
Armaan playfully punches his arm when his cell rings.
……………………………………………
Riddhima excused herself from the company of her friends and going to a corner of the hall, calls Armaan, who picks up at the 5th ring.
Riddhima; hello…?? Armaan…!!!
Armaan: Riddhima…?? Tumhari…awaz nahi arahi…(putting a hand on his other ear)
Riddhima: Armaaan!! HELLO…?? (looks around) uffo, itna shor hai…(mutters to herself) bahar jati hun…
She moves out of the hall and the quiet of the garden is very welcoming after the havoc inside.
Riddhima: hello…Armaan??
Armaan: haan Riddhima…(settling down on the futon inside Atul's room)
Riddhima: kaisay ho…?? (extremely sweetly)
Armaan: (smiles) theek hun…tum batao…hows it going….ummm, maza araha hai?? (raises his eyebrows)
Riddhima: maza…yeah right!!! You cant imagine main kitna bore ho rahi hun….kaash tum yahan hote…(makes a face)
Armaan: hmmm…but Riddhima…you know na…Atul and all…I cant come sweetheart….(understanding her situation)
Riddhima: I know….(in a low voice) oh btw, Atul kesa hai??
Armaan: surprisingly okay….he's a stronger guy than I thought….
Riddhima: you are a stronger guy than I thought….(whispers into the phone)
Armaan smiles at her comment
Armaan: ahaan…!!! And why is that so, mademoiselle…?
Riddhima: kyunki jo insane itna kuch sehne ka baad bhi sabki zindagi main khushi lana chahay,who tumhare siwa koi nai ho sakta Armaan…
Armaan is left speechless at this….then she whispers into the phone…
Riddhima: I…I miss you…(leaning against the pillar)
Armaan: I miss you too sweetheart…!
She smiles. He had called her that twice in this conversation, and it had been a first. She felt herself elated, the night had proved fruitful in only one way….they had definitely moved ahead in their relationship, trusting each other with their innermost secrets.
She hears some voice behind Armaan, saying something and then Armaan laughs loudly. It was so good hearing that voice again.
Riddhima: kia hua…??
Armaan: nothing…Atul tang ker raha hai…
Riddhima: acha suno…hum log party khatam hone ke baad waan ayenge….we all want to be there for Atul…that okay??
Armaan: ya sure…balkay, its better…tum logon ko anna chahiye…
Riddhima: yeah…ab mujhe jana hai…main thori der baad call kerti hun, k??
Armaan: yeah…I love you…!!
Riddhima: love you too…bye…!!
As she put down the phone, she smiles to herself a little and turns around to find Dev standing right behind her. The proximity was disturbing, she instantly moved two steps back.
Dev: Hi Riddhima…(smiled at her)
Riddhima: Hi…(in a firm voice)
Dev: so…how was Delhi?? Maza aya…?
Riddhima; main udhar kaam kerne gait hi, maza kerne nahi…aur btw, ap ko andar hona chahiye…aur mujhe bhi…
Dev: exactly!! Yehi to main puchne aya tha…ke apki behen ki engagement hai, to ap yahan bahar kia kar rahi hai…?
Riddhima rolls her eyes…
Riddhima: none of your business…
Dev: it is…of course it is…ab to main tumhara honey wala jeeja-jee hun…I have the right to ask…
Riddhima: no you don't…(glared at him) main kiss waqt kia karti hun, yeh puchne ka haq sirf mere parents ko hai….
Dev: ap kuch bhul rahi hain…Dr. Armaan ko bhi to yeh haq hai na…(winks at her)…ya ap bhul gai?? Tut-tut…unhain kaisay bhul sakti hain ap??
Riddhima sighs and raises her eyebrows.
Riddhima: dekho Dev…main apni life mein kia karti hun, aur kis ko meri life mein kitna haq hai, yeh mein khud decide kerti hun….meine apse koi advice nahi mangi, iss liye please apne mashwaray apne pass rakhiye…aura b mera rasta choriye, ,mujhe andar jana hai…
She passes him when he doesn't move to go inside…when Dev holds her hand from behind. Riddhima whips around, her eyes burning with anger.
Riddhima: leave…my…hand…!!
Dev shook his head defiantly.
Riddhima: I said…leave my hand…!! (in very angry tone)
Dev: uh-huh….(shakes his hand)
Riddhima: DEV LEAVE MY HAND!!!
Saying that, she jerks her hand away from him and stomps inside the house, fuming with anger. Dev watches her go and then smirks to himself.
………………………………………………………
The engagement was about to take place. Anjali, Dev, Padma and Shashank were standing on the stage, and Anjali was looking extremely happy. Riddhima looks at her, standing with her friends, and feels a tug pulling at her heart. She wanted to be happy for her sister, but she knew that the guy wasn't right for her. She was lost in her thoughts when Muskaan nudged her.
Muskaan: oye…kidhar khoyi hui hai….ja na, Dr.Shashank tujhe stage per bulla rahay hain…
Riddhima: huh…??
Muskaan points towards the stage, from where Shashank is looking at her and beckoning her over. She walks upto the stage and stands beside Anjali, who looks at her and Riddhima gives her a small smile.
Shashank: ladies and gentlemen…main ap sab ko yahan annay ke liye thanks kehna chahta hun…meri family ki khsuhi main shamil hone ke liye, bhut bhut dhanaywaad…jese ap log jante hain,, aj meri beti Anjali ki sagai aik bohat hi qabil aur honehaar insane se hone ja rahi hai, jo na sirf aik achay doctor hain, balke aik bohat achay insane bhi hain…
Riddhima rolls her eyes at this while Dev grins.
Shashank: aur mujhe khushi hai ke meri beti Anjali ne Dev jaisay insane ko apna jeevan sathi chunna…
Everyone claps. After that, Anjali and Dev exchange rings and then they are congratulated by everyone. Riddhima could not get off the stage because there was a whole photo shoot going on and Padma had made her stay. Dev moved over, now standing between Anjali and Riddhima.
Dev: So….Ridzi….we are relatives now, huh??
Riddhima looks at him, disgusted.
Riddhima: excuse me??…mujhe Ridzi sirf mere friends ya meri family keh sakte hain…you are none of them…
Dev: aaah, par tum bhul rahi ho…ab to tum rishte main meri saali hui na, so we are practically family!!
Riddhima: please…mujhe kisi bi tarah se khud ke saath jorne ki zarurat nahi hai…!! Ap Anjali Di ke fianc ho, and that's it. Mera aur ap ka koi relation nahi hai…
Dev: rishta to hai Ridzi, tum manno ya na manno…
Riddhima turns around, disgusted and is about to walk down the stairs of the stage when her foot turns and she is about to trip. Dev instantly holds her around her waist and as Riddhima looks up, he winks at her. Riddhima gives him a sick look and tries to get away when she feels his hand moving up her waist. She looks at him startled and is about to say something when a voice interrupts.
Rahul: hey…what's going on here??
He was standing just below the stage and had seen the exchange between Dev and Riddhima. Somehow, he could tell that whatever was happening, and the way Dev was holding Riddhima, was not right.
Dev instantly stands straight, leaving Riddhima who stumbles but then balances herself. He gives a guilty look and then turns his back towards them, walking over to Anjali. Rahul looks at Riddhima.
Rahul: hey, you okay???
Riddhima nodded, a deep flush arising in her cheeks. Rahul gives him her hand and she walks down the stairs, her foot was badly twisted.
Riddhima: owww…..
Rahul: aik second ruko…let me get a chair for you…
He makes her sit down, and then kneels down before her.
Rahul: Riddhima…do you want to tell me what that was or you are just gonna stay mum??
Riddhima looks down. It was so embarrassing, telling someone that her sister's fianc was hitting on her.
Riddhima: Rahul who…Dev….he just…freaks me out….i will tell u some other time…(mumbles)
Rahul gets what she is trying to say, and is definitely surprised. He had never thought Anjali would be such a bad judge of character. Just then Muskaan and Sapna come over and they all sit down, and start chatting, and Riddhima soon forgets about the whole scene.
……………………………………………..
All: AUNTY PLEAAAAAAAAAAASEEEEE!!!
Padma looks from Rahul to Muskaan, then to Sapna and at long last at Riddhima, who was timidly looking down and not meeting her eye.
Padma: (straight to Riddhima) mujhe laga tum thakki hui ho…??
Riddhima looks up and gulps.
Riddhima: guys its okay…tum log jao na….i wont come…(making an apologetic face and turns around to leave)
Padma: Riddhima…
Riddhima turns again, a small victorious smile on her face.
Padma: theek hai jao…lekin please jaldi wapas ajana….and no late night outings, okay? Ice cream khaa ke straight ghar….All of you!! (points her finger at her everyone)
They all nod obediently, then Riddhima hugs Padma and they all leave as soon as they could, lest Padma changes her mind.
Padma; adhi raat ho gai hai…aur in bacchon ko ice-cream khanni hai…hmmmphh!! (then she smiles to herself) at least Riddhima khush tohai…
……………………………………………..
They all stand outside, waiting for the door to open. Riddhima was standing right next to the door, leaning against the wall, her foot now swollen to the size of a football and wounded by the dressing Rahul had done on it. Rahul was standing next to her, and Muskaan and Sapna were standing behind them. The door opened and Armaan emerged from it. Without wasting a minute, he turned to Riddhima with an angry look on his face.
Riddhima: Armaa-……
She is cut in between by his angry banter.
Armaan: dekh ker nahi chal sakti tum?? Lag gai na…?? Ab betho araam se, do din hospital ki tarf dekhna bhi matt…stupid, idiot….andhon ki tarah ghoom rahi hoti ho…
Riddhima looks at him, shocked out of her wits. How had he come to know that she had injured herself?
Riddhima: tumhain kese….(her mouth open, then something clicks and she turns around to look at Rahul angrily) RAHUL!!! Tumhare pait mein koi baat nahi rehi na??
Rahul: (hands up in the hair) maine kuch nahi bataya…promise!!
Now Riddhima looks angrily at Muskaan and Sapna, who both shake their heads vigorously.
Armaan: stop it!! Un per kyun ghussa ker rahi ho…mujhe jiss se bhi pata chalay, that's not important….now let me see, kitni lagi hai…
He moves forward but Riddhima at once backs away. She knows the second she would show him the injury, he would make a great big fuss out of it and then she would be in for a long lecture.
Riddhima: nahi…itni…zorr ki nahi lagi..promise….
Armaan raises his eyebrows at her while she gulps at his scrutinizing gaze. Rahul, Muskaan and Sapna snicker at this cute banter.
Armaan: who to main dkeh ker bataunga na…Padma auntie theek kehti hain, tumhain do parni chahiye kaan ke neeche….andhi!! (he bends down, muttering to himself, and takes hold of her foot)
Riddhima closes her eyes, baring her teeth.
Armaan: (looks up) RIDDHIMAAAAA!!
Riddhima: *uh-oh*
…………………………………………………………….
Okay, guys, that's it for today. I admit, it was pretty long, okay!! Hehehhe.
P.s. So, what's up Dev's mind now…?? What is he gonna do…?? And how is Anjali gonna find out the truth about him?
P.s.s I am super glad u guys liked the last part….it was the main part of the fic…
P.s.s. SPRI, I don't agree with u…Green Blue and this one had two very contrasting flashbacks…Riddhima's past was way different than his…!!
P.s.s.s Sorry for the delay again guys!!
So please please please do leave your comments. They are much appreciated, trust me.
Loads of love
Kiran
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