Posted:
hey friends
this is my first attempt at a one-shot fic
watching christmas tv all day with my kid and missing nj made me do this,
hope u like it
all I want for christmas is you.......
She admired the shimmering christmas lights and gaudy decorations while waiting for the traffic lights to turn green ...
Christmas - time of the year to spend some precious moments with loved ones
how valued was christmas to her ? she thought as she wearily maneuvered her car around the mini roundabout leading to the street where she lived ...
Christmas was special to her !
she cherished it more with every passing year
it was christmas eve then and now.....
she hummed along her favourite christmas song playing on the radio
A nostalgic spell made her blush and her eyes brimmed with sweet tears as she reminisced her memories of
'where it all began'
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxO1iGGw8t4[/YOUTUBE]
by Mariah Carey
I will be posting the story tomorrow or later tonite,plz do let me know if I shud
thanx very much
love you all
315 n's
Hina
~~~~~~~~
Part 1
"I'm sorry sir ,but you'll have to wait here ,why don't you grab a coffee or something ?
nurse plz can you show Mr???
"Malik,Armaan Malik"
"yeah show Mr Malik the coffee shop and the waiting area plz"
said Riddhima walking swiftly with the porter pushing the patient bed into the operating theater
Dr.Riddhima Gupta was on special duty that night ,it was daunting working on the accident and emergency department ,but she loved challenges and hence loved her work
She had voluntered to work that evening against her norm,
may be coz things happen for a reason and her reason was to meet HIM.
The hospital's emergencies area heaved with patients owing to the RTA(Road Traffic Accident)that involved a 3 car pile up caused by
binge drinking and driving.
Armaan must have been in one of the cars ,he had a few minor injuries but the friend he accompanied looked critical ...
He walked down the steep stairs lost in a trance of how it all happened in a split second...
hesitantly he switched on his mobile and searched for the number to call....
~~~~~~~~
"Hi,can I sit here? " asked Riddhima holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a croissant in the other...
the little cafeteria run by the hospital's charitable fund couldn't afford much furniture and since there were many patients and relatives visiting the hospital that night,it was hard to find a lone corner...
"yeah sure go ahead !" replied Armaan pulling out the chair looking at her occupied hands...
He hadn't noticed that she was the girl who he'd met a couple of hours ago outside the operating theatre ,neither did she recollect his face,
she had seen too many of the same injuries in a day to remember any face in particular
"Cheers!" she sat herself down on the chair opposite him and looked out through the main entrance .
She watched the snow flakes fall and settle on the giant christmas tree sitting in the middle of the little green patch outside the hospital...
a white christmas it was ,with snow covered houses and streets ,
carols heard in the background and the tiny lights flickering on the christmas tree she pondered over the significance of it all ...
it was a time to rejoice and celebrate...
She sniffed ironically when an ambulance pulled in with yet another emergency
This was her life ,dealing with life and death almost everyday which had somehow turned her into a stern character ...
she was a loner with no family around ,only had a few good friends from the hospital and she was content with that ,no regrets and wishes none.....
She found her happiness in things too little for others to notice and perhaps the big things never seem to impress her much as expected
she never had many expectations from life and accepted all that came her way wholeheartedly
She sipped onto her coffee with tiny bites of her snack in between as her eyes now noticed the box of presents under the tree
"what did she want for Christmas this year?..."
a sweet smile played on her face at the thought
A few minutes later Armaan pulled himself up to leave and accidently hit his bruised elbow onto the pillar
"Ouch" he cried in agony,Riddhima instantly thrust her cup on the table and reached out to help him
"dont worry I'm a doctor,she flashed her hospital ID badge to confirm...
rolling up his sleeve she examnied the injury,much to her surprise the triage nurse and the doctors that had attended to him previously had completely ignored the wound
It may have been due to their overworked hours or sheer negligence,she cared the least about ,all she wanted for now is to get him sorted...
She called for the lift immediately and took him back to get the wound dressed and observed
Resuming her duties after the eventful break ,Riddhima lost herself in the notes she had to complete for handover
~~~~~~~~
"Thanks doc" shouted Armaan as he limped out of the treatment bay
"Oh Mr Malik,right? "
"yeh "he nodded
"so how is the pain now,have they given you any painkillers?" she hoped he had been given the right treatment this time round
"yeah thanks !they 've been very good "
he knew they had been at fault of improper administration of treatment
but preferred to forgive and forget
since it was Christmas,time to give all ill feelings a rest...
"oh by the way ,the friend you came in with is a lot better now"she smiled gleefully
"were any of the two of u drunk by any chance?" she asked
"No! not at all ! we were completely sane and we couldnt be drunk" he looked disappointed
"I was to perform at the Royal Albert Hall tonight, I'm a violinist and my friend Keiron ,the guy who's in there ?...well he had organised this event for me..."
he seemed on the verge of crying as the thought of the accident returned and the feeling of his dreams being shattered sank in
"I'm sorry I didnt mean to interrogate u this way ,its just that we get the usual drink and drive cases mostly on popular nights and its hard not to think away from the most common reason"
she explained but it didnt quite make much of a difference to him,
the tragic mishap of the evening had left him in a dilemma
with too much at stake
"Sorry ,I never introduced myself ,I'm Dr.Riddhima Gupta"
she smiled as a gesture of apology and offered him a handshake
"Hi!"
"Dr.Gupta, am I allowed to see my friend now?" he looked calmer now
"yeh sure,no problem ,but he still is under anesthesia,why dont u wait till he comes around,like a few hours ?
"hmmm ok, as u say doc!
there was a sudden whiff of clear air between the two
"You've got an American accent" she said
"thats coz I am from New York " he replied
"interesting!....."
~~~~~~~~
Part 2
Riddhima was done for the day and couldn't help smile thinking another day gone by
Armaan walked out with her watching her smile in relief
As they parted ways at the exit ,he thanked her again ,
she smiled and asked him to take care
The snow had got thinner than before,
she wrapped her scarf round and rummaged through her handbag for the car keys
The tiny snow flakes tickled her cheeks and lips and a few fell on her eye lashes,making the vision blurry
She walked up to her car and brushed off the snow before getting inside
Slotting the key in,she turned the engine and the windscreen wipers on to clear off the layer of snow
resting her head on the headrest while the car defrosted ,she shut her eyes
On an impulse she barged out of the carseat and looked up at the sky
Standing still for a little while enjoying the sensous moment as the flakes kissed her skin again,she felt pleasured...
it was a romantic experience!
Armaan happened to pass by the parking lot and stopped when he saw her enjoy her moment of joy
He watched her from a distance as he jiggled away merrily
this was the first time he noticed how beautiful she actually was...
the very next moment she screamed and swayed dancing like a little kid as she lived her romantic high...
"It must be her way to destress after a long day " thought Armaan as he saw her go wilder by the second
He let her dance longer and when she looked drained ,her movements a little slower than before, he approached her and asked
"fancy a drink to calm that hyperactive side of u? ...promise I wont let anyone in on this little secret side of yours" he grinned wide
Riddhima chuckled instead of being embarrassed
"Yeh why not ! I'm sure that would help"
she giggled again and joined him to walk to the pub around the corner leaving the car where it was...
~~~~~~~~
"Hmm,its nice and warm in here "Armaan rubbed his hands in comfort
while Riddhima found a corner for the two of them to relax
After warming up a little he turned to her and asked
"what would you like to drink?"
She tried to hide her silly laugh and before he could ask why
she smiled out wide and said nothing!
whatever u're having ,make it two please...
he thought that was rather strange to go by the choice of a person she barely knew
She smiled looking at his red reindeer nose as he ordered the drinks from the bartender
As he reached his wallet to pay for the drinks, he realised he only had dollars on him with only a pounds to last a few drinks...
he made himself a mental note to not get carried away with the drinking
he would hate it if the lady had to pay
The night progressed as they talked about music initially
and then came the love for different kinds of food
followed by the books they read and enjoyed
They talked as though it was a reunion they had after years
letting go of all inhibitions they drank like they never had before
it wasn't the quantity that made it special,but the quality time they had...
Armaan in his intoxicated state had forgotten about the little reminder he had set for himself
she had seen him check his wallet and had gathered what it meant
They laughed, sang and danced together
he made her feel special and she loved the feeling
Time had passed quick and the place was close to shut for the day
both wished not to part and chatter for as long as they could
Disappointed ,they grabbed their jackets and walked out
"See ya,it was great talking to you...." as muttered as she hailed a cab
"yeh it was fun! thanks!"
he hugged her
she hugged him back
breaking the hug she said "do you know where you're going?..." he didnt quite know what to think of that
"I mean do you have the address to the place you're living at?" she corrected herself before he made any false presumptions
"yeh,I think I do,dont worry..I'll be fine,bye!"
he waved at her as she jumped into the cab and gave him a sweet last smile of the night
He walked back to the hopital with no money to pay the cab and no place to go....
~~~~~~~~
Part 3
The next morning Riddhima resumed her normal 8-6 shift
She had a splitting headache resulting from the hangover of last night
popping an aspirin in her mouth ,she gulped it down with water and
thought if HE suffered a hangover too?
Looking through the partially open blinds on her cabin's window,she watched Keiron awake in his bead
Instantly she walked out of her room to talk to him,to ask where Armaan was...
The nurse attending on the ward was surprised to see a doctor so effecient to visit her patient first thing in the morning,little did the nurse know of Riddhima's selfish reasons...
"Hi Keiron! I'm Dr.Gupta,you were brought in last night with severe injuries which we managed to deal with successfully...how do you feel now?"
"Sore!...but happy I could see christmas day!"
said Keiron trying to sit himself up
"well ,the progress seems impressive and the soreness with gradually fade away..."
As she scribbled the prescription of his next set of medication ,he asked
"Dr.Gupta, do u know anything about the person I was brought in with? Armaan Malik?"
Riddhima was glad he asked of Armaan before she could
"Yes Mr Malik had a few minor bruises and cuts,he was given treatment and discharged last night,he should be resting at home probably,I had updated him of your stable status..." Riddhima replied in a professional way not knowing how close of friends Armaan and Keiron were to tell him about the time they spend together
"Home? he cant be at home,he doesn't know where I live,I had picked him up from the airport late afternoon yesterday and he insisted on reaching the venue of his performance before time...we met with the accident on the way there..." Riddhima cursed herself for trusting him with the convincing lie ,
she was annoyed to have left him out in the freezing cold especially when he had no money on him....
"Do you have a mobile number we could call,to find out where he is? "
she wished his answer to be a yes...
"Yes I do,its stored in my phone,where are my belongings?" inquired Keiron
he was a little suspicious of her interest in Armaan,'hope he isn't in any sort or trouble' he wished while Riddhima reached the locker room that contained patients belongings...
She smiled with delight to find the device that could connect her with him
switching it on she searched through the contacts to find his number
Armaan Malik...she dialled instantly only to reach the voicemail on the other end...
urghhh! she hated it when she had to speak to a machine,
she left him a message anyway and hoped he'll call back soon
switching the mobile off ,she wiped her frustration and walked out to hand it over to its owner
"here u go,but I'm afraid u aren't allowed to use it on the ward..." she quipped
"can you please find Armaan's number and make the call for me?"
he requested
"Ok !" she assured him and rushed down to the cafeteria expecting to find Armaan there...
She searched all around and then asked the lady at the counter if she had seen him
She found herself surprised with the description of Armaan she gave,
'had she observed him so closely?
had he influenced her more than she she thought he did?...'
pushing off the random thought ,she ran to the waiting area by the main entrance after the lady at the serving counter refused to recognise any such person visiting the cafeteria
She looked around like she'd lost her one of her favourite possesions...
Panic soaring high,she regretted the moment they'd bid farewell
how she wished she could see him again
lightly panting ,she turned around to the stairs leading back to ward
something caught her eye as she stepped onto the stairs
Armaan was asleep in a concealed corner ...shivering a little... cocooned under his flimsy jacket he looked cute but cold...
he probably had spent most of the night in that corner by the stairs where the central heating was minimal...
his nose was red again and she couldn't help smile remembering the laugh they had about it last night ...
she broke away from her thoughts when she saw him pull his jacket right upto his face
happy to have found him eventually ,she sneaked up and sat on the chair next to him
"Armaan!..." she whispered
he wasn't affected much
"fancy a drink Armaan???..." she smiled playfully
eyes open wide he stared at her as though it was a continuation of his dream
"Armaan??? " she retorted
making sure it wasn't a dream ,he frowned as she gave him a quizzical look
"Riddhima???sorry I thought it was my dddrrrr....."
she chuckled again and said " Keiron is waiting for you,do you not want to see him?"
"Yeh ,of course I do" he was glad she saved him the embarassment
They walked up the stairs and she left him to chat with his friend....
~~~~~~~~
It was almost midday and Riddima had been busy all morning dealing with emergencies non -stop
She longed for a break desperately to rest her busy head
Armaan had left soon after having a brief chat with Keiron
She wondered where he could have gone ...trying to pretend heedless to his absence ,
she tried to focus on her tasks
she had developed a longing for him unknowingly...
feeling infatuated ,she wished to spend time with him again...
his natural charms had her thinking of him excessively...
Taking a bite off the bland cheese and tomato sandwich ,she thought of treating herself to a lavish dinner tonight.....
she had been lately skipping meals and eating junk and now since it was christmas ,
she desserved to spoil herself a little ....
Smiling with the thought playing in her head ,she looked for change to buy herself a drink to wash down the dry bread
"Coffee?" she heard a familiar voice approach her from behind
"Armaan!..." the delight was evident in her tone...
"where had u been all morning? " she asked without thinking
"I mean ,is everything alright with sponsors and all ?" she tried not to meet his eye
"Riddhima ,its christmas day,I dont think the sponsors would care to speak today...we'll have to wait for the offices to reopen ...." he sounded worried although his tone was light
"it'll be fine ,dont worry!" she reassured
he smiled mechanically and preferred not to talk about it
"fancy having christmas dinner at mine? she asked instictively
feeling like she was taken over by a new Riddhima,he liked her new carefree self...
"Christmas dinner? " he wasn't quite sure if he'd heard her right
"yeh ,nothing huge,just a home cooked meal ..." she looked at his expectantly
Armaan gave the invite a thought and wondered what made her do this...
watching him think deep,she muttered "its okay if you have other plans Armaan...I wouldn't be offended ...some other time may be?..."
"No! Riddima,it isn't that , I would love to join you...infact its my pleasure ,thanks for the invite...tell me where u live, whats your address?
~~~~~~~~
Part 4
Riddhima gave herself a quick look in the mirror before running down to get the door
"Hi Armaan !..." she greeeted his a wide smile
"Merry Christmas Riddhima! " he smiled back handing over a 'not so fresh' bunch of flowers
"Sorry,unfortunately all good florists ditched me on this special day ,this is all I could find in a little corner shop,by the end of your street..." she burst out into a small giggle at his attempt of cheesy humour...
"Thank you ! ...and please come in before you freeze yourself again..."
her cheeky statements stirred up an unexplored set of emotions in him
He loved her company ....she made him rediscover himself.....
he walked in carrying a box in his hand,she wondered what it could be
reserving her thoughts about the box she ushered him through the long corridor
"make yourself comfortable ....I wont be a minute,just need to check if the roast potatoes are done"
Riddhima showed him into the gorgeously furnished sitting room and walked off to the kitchen
She returned back to find him browsing through the collection of the books she owned
she loved reading ,it was her passion...a source of inspiration and relaxation.....
"Wow,this looks amazing" Armaan was impressed with the variety of food displayed on the table
since they talked about their love for food,she decided to go for an international cuisine ...
She had picked her favourite recipes for the meal tonight
Munching away the starters they continued their incomplete talk from the night before
As they moved to the main course ,they talked of their worst food tasting experiences
and their laughter turned highly audible by now
towards the end of dinner Armaan talked of how good a cook his mum is
he ended the talk abruptly when she asked him about his dad...
Riddhima sensed his despise at the topic and moved on to new discussion to ease the pressure....
Armaan helped Riddhima clear away the table and while he waited for her finish off the clearing up
he couldnt resist observing her physical beauty,she was an attractive girl ...
her unseen charm was shielded by the 'not very glamorous ' professianal mask she had to wear everyday
the sleek hair partially covered her bare shoulders ,the black halter neck knee length dress enhanced her
perfect curves ,her lips a floral pink,her eyes a symbol of passion...
Riddhima noticed him stare as she consciosly placed the pots and plates in the dishwasher
She gave herself a moment of thought as she placed the unused food in the fridge
She poured herself a glass of wine while Armaan opted to take break
They sat together on the sofa and she switched on the tv to kill the awkward silence....
As she surfed through the channels to find something suitable to watch together,he excused himself to use the loo .
She directed him up the stairs and returned back to tele browsing
'Armaan heard her laugh out loud,it must be a comedy she decided upon' he gathered
just as stepped down the stairs her bedroom caught his eye ...walking back up he peeked inside the room to find a single bed stuck to a furry headboard,more books and a giant teddy sitting in the corner
He almost giggled to see the number of alarm clocks sitting on her bedside chest
"Mr Bean? I love him...." screamed Armaan as he joined her back in the sitting room
The two were a riot ,they laughed and laughed harder making the scene funnier than it actually was...
Riddhima reached for the remote control again as the credits rolled up the screen
concluding that there was'nt much on , she switched the tele off and poured another drink for herself
Armaan requested one for him as well...
"Tell me about the US Armaan..." Riddhima knew she could'nt possibly go wrong with this topic
Armaan talked of his love for music and how his mum supported him to persue a career in accounting and balance it with his passion to play the violin
"close your eyes Riddhima!,I have a surprise for you...."
~~~~~~~~
Part 5
"Surprise? " Riddhima immediately thought of the box Armaan had walked in with
She shut her eyes obediently as he opened the box and placed the instrument on his shoulder
"you ready? " he asked thinking of the first piece he'd play for her
"yep..." she replied impatiently
"ok here we go"
he played the most magnificent piece of music she had ever heard
she feared her neighbours would come knocking at her door ,
drawn but the depth in the notes he played
his music was romantic,it was touching and passionate....
As he slowed down nearing the end she went up to give him a hug of appreation ...
the friendly hug soon turned into a close and tight embrace
the flow of emotions soaring high,
they looked into each others eyes after breaking away from the hug
he could see a craving in her eyes,and she saw a burning desire in his.....
he placed his lips sensuously on hers,
she felt her lips tremble and limbs go liquid
her lips parted next ,giving him access to savour the sweet irresistable passion
he pulled her closer as their tongues stirred the wild sensations in their aroused bodies
" NO! Sorry,I'm sorry I can't do this..."
Armaan jerked out of the sinful moment and turned away leaving Riddhima gasping in shock
A few seconds later he turned back to face her
"Armaan,are u ok?..." the rage in his eyes disturbed her
"Riddhima,it must have been a similar moment of passion when I was conceived..."
"Huh? " Riddhima was more confused than shocked at his strange statement
"Armaan,plz calm down,and tell me everything u want to..."
Riddhima held his hand as he narrated
"My mom was on a visit to London with her friends for christmas,she was young and immature to know the difference between right and wrong...
she met my biological father at a club in central London ...they spent most of their time together and my mum mistook the physical attraction for love ...soon their meetings turned out intimate and one one such meeting lead them to sleep together...
horrified to find him missing the next day ,my mum suffered severe depression and returned back to the US soon after
But unfortunately she soon found out that was bearing the seed of a person who betrayed her in time of need,
she was hastily talked into marrying my dad ,Rohan Malik in exchange of a huge chunk of my grandad's business.
My mum ever since then has become an emotionless soul ,her only reason to live is me..."
Riddhima listened to all he had to say without speaking a word of her own
she was now glad to have stopped before committing to something he wasn't ready for...
"I think I should get going now,its quite late and u probably have work tomorrow right?"
"Yeah ,I do,let me call the cab for u...."
~~~~~~~~
"Goodmorning Keiron,how are feeling today?
Riddhima looked around for Armaan
"here,he left this letter for you...."
Keiron looked upset and Riddhima baffled
She ran to her cabin and unfolded the little piece of paper
Dear Riddhima,
Thanks for the most wonderful dinner last night
The sweet moments I 'll cherish forever
I 'm sorry to be leaving this way,but there is somewhere I need to be urgently
try and keep in touch
I've noted my address below
Riddhima...
I never found the right time to say,but I think I like you
I dont know if its love ,
but what I do know is that I 've never ever felt this way before....
will miss u
-Armaan.....
~~~~~~~~
Part 6
She instantly looked down to the address wishing to find a phone number with it,there was none
She dialled his UK hired mobile number, again to be answered by the voicemail
He probably had left the country by now she thought slipping the letter into her handbag
Keiron had no extra information than she already had...
wishing him the best of eveything,wherever he may be ,
she tried moving on with her life ......
~~~~~~~~
"Hi Nikki!" Riddhima answered her phone after several rings
"Dont tell me you havent left yet Ridzie ...honey plz can you try and get here before the party ends?..." Dr.Nikita was her colleague and close friend now
"yeh,I was just just about to leave Nikki,waiting for the cab,see you there in a bit byeeee!...."
Riddhima clicked the red button on her phone's keypad and rushed down the stairs .
It was their christmas party that evening and she was running late...
Quickly slipping on her heels and wrapping the silky pashmina around her bare arms,she gave herself a quick last minute look in the mirror...the moment reminded her of the time Armaan had spent christmas with her...
It had been 3 long years and he hadn't returned ,
they had communicated through emails and phone calls initially when he explained his rushed departure .
His mum had come to know of his secret visit to London and she suffered a mild heart attack coz she thought Armaan came in search of the person who destroyed her life,her biological father....
whereas Armaan was oblivious to his fathers wherebaouts and would'nt want to see him ever
Despite his explanation of his real purpose to go London was music ,his mum made him pledge he wouldn't visit England ever again
Riddhima empathised with his awkward situation and they continued to support each other across the miles seprating them
A few months had passed and her phone calls were ignored more often
emails ,a few unread and some unanswered
She decided to give him time to come to terms with living away and living together
When she lost all contact with him for almost a month and it was nearing christmas the following year
she decided to pay him a surprise visit
Booking the flight over the phone ,she was skeptical of her decision
but since this seemed the only way to find solace,she smiled wishfully
confirming the flight schedule
Hopping into a cab at the airport ,
Riddhima instructed the driver of Armaan's address ,
she had a constant smile play on her lips,
the thought of meeting him after a complete year made her blush
she the felt the jitters within her as the cabby announced their arrival to the destination...
Lightly touching the door bell ringer,her heart throbbed visibly
She practiced her greeting depending the on the person answerin the door
If it was his mum,what would she address her as?
and what would she say if it was his dad or grandad?
what if it was Armaan hismself ?
she smiled gleefully and waited for the door to open
"Hi,can I help you?.."a young lad answered the door eventually
'may be Armaan had a younger brother he never me about' she presumed
"Hey,I'm here to see Armaan,I'm a friend from London..."
"Armaan??? I'm sorry but there 's no such person of that name in the entire neighbourhood..."
"Are you sure ?..his name his Armaan Malik,the violinist?
"Who is it is Ryan?" shouted a voice from the top of he stairs in the hallway
"its this lady asking of a certain Armaan Malik "
the lady hopped down the stairs and said " I'm sorry ,were bought this house off 'The Maliks' a few months ago and I'm afraid I dont have any idea of their current residence ..."
she felt her heart sink under the load of misfortune as she thanked the lady and turned around in dismay
Dragging herlself along the snowy path with silent tears flowing
she smirked looking back at the house,where Armaan had once lived
She shut her eyes and faced up to the sky
All she wished for christmas was him....
~~~~~~~~
Another year gone by and she heard nothing from Armaan
She drowned herself into her work to get rid of the betrayed feeling
Her attempts were nearly successful and he was now history....
He was the most beautiful phase of her life and she loved him for making her feel special
although it was a meeting of a mere 2 days,the bond he had made left her a longlasting sweet memory to cherish forever
She knew she had no right to expect much of the so called raltionship
and she preferred to treasure the happier fun dreamy moments to the bitter moments of reality
~~~~~~~~
It was christmas eve the following year and Riddhima picked up the mail at the front door before leaving for work
She didnt pay much interest to the letters and stacked them onto the unsorted pile of papers
When she returned home that evening,she decided to sort through her letters
and couldn't believe her eyes when she stumbled upon a christmas card from
Armaan Malik
Toronto
Canada
~~~~~~~~
Part 7
"Armaan Malik?"
she re read the name one last time to confirm it really was him
Her fingers trembled and heartbbeat erratic as she tore open the envelope carefully,
She blinked away the tiny tears in the corner of her eyes as she read the contents of the card
"Merry Christmas Riddhima!..."
love
Armaan
"Is that all he had to say?"
tears rolling down her cheeks ,she brushed his name carved on the card
'Armaan ,a desire you truly are !...."
shutting her eyes with pleasure in pain she mulled over the essence of his name and its implications...
Breaking out of her musings ,she toddled to the kitchen on hearing the beep of the microwave to say
the jacket potato was done and ready to eat....
Wearily placing the food on a lap tray ,she poured out a glass of water and sat herself down on the couch and swichted the tele on...
Browsing through the channels to find something watchable ,she shoved in a bite of potato in her mouth
Mr.Bean they played again ...
A worn out smile crept up her cheeks and a hearty one lurked in her eyes
the compelling acts of Mr.Bean left her laughing wholeheartedly
she then instantly spat out the bite she tried to chew on...she realized how bland and tasteless her life was
making a quick christmas resolution ,
she rushed back to the kitchen and sprinkled a little salt and grated lots of cheese to garnish her meal
His few but enough to last a lifetime memories helped her to steadily transform the sore aching feelings into strong healed thoughts...
the pain she'd harboured for the last couple of years was almost replaced by wishful thinking of the future...
Although he had included his new address ,she didn't attempt to contact him
she had a feeling he was held a lot back in him and needed more time and that is exactly what she decided to give him....
'Time is the best healer'
a thought contradictory to her profession ,she strongly believed and implimented it in her life...
but since it was christmas ,his memories came flooding back to make her fall weak yet again....
The piercing sound of the door bell broke her chain of thoughts
Her cab had arrived and she hurriedly headed to the vehicle covering her head with her clutch bag
~~~~~~~~
Dear Riddhima
I love you and I love you lots...
I know I owe you a bank of apologies and also a long explanation for all that happened and all that did not...
to say sorry would be an insult to the bond we share,but that is the best I could offer and do..
I want to share with you all that I've held back in myself,right from the time I left you two years ago
I had never wished for things to take that nasty turn ...
It all began when I was made to ignore your phone calls after I learnt of my dad's verbal abuse on mom
He had found out of my visit to London and misinterpreted it as a search for my real dad
exactly like my mum had done,the only difference was that he assumed mom was in the plan...
Mom chose to bear the blame rather and lived with that person only for me ...
things had started to go beyond bearable limits and mom and I moved to Canada to live with grandad after my dad sold our house without letting us know...
I was lucky to find a well paid job and also got my big break to perform at a concert once
when I had held the violin in my hand that evening ,all I could think of was you
Riddhima...you are my inspiration and I owe my success to you
Its Christmas time again and my heart longs to be with you
Will you be able to forgive me at all?
something inside me says you will
all I wish for christmas is you...
~~~~~~~~
Part 8
The party was at its high when Riddhima walked in flustered...
Nikki had been waiting restlessly at the door
"what took you so long Riddhima? and why do u look so pale ?...is everything alright ?
"Yeh,everything's fine and why shouldn't it be..." Riddhima moved in to join the party leaving Nikki a little confused....
"You sure everything's ok yeh?" Nikki wasn't able to budge her concerns
" yeh,all's good ,lets get some drink shall we?" Riddhima had mastered the art of concealing her inner feelings owing to her experiences in life....
She lived a dual life ,one for Armaan and one for the rest of the world ,sadly none for her own self...
she did have a few instances when the two sides of her intervened and left her disturbed...
and tonight was turning out to be one of them...
The loud music and merrymaking gave her a chance to relax ...
the hospital staff from consultants to nurses ,all loved Riddhima,
they admired her earnest dedication to her job and the natural friendly and helpful attitude she possesed...
She was popular among her patients ,the most wanted consultant ....
Armaan was the love of her life,
she loved him unconditionally albeit their relation lacked a real confession
He was a part of her life ,despite not being physically there with her ,she happily lived with him in her heart
she had never met anyone like him,may be coz she never expected to...
Hoping that he'd return someday ,she was prepared for wait for as long as eternity...
Towards the end of the evening,the DJ played soft romantic music and
the couples danced intimately ,some drunk and some genuinely in love...
Riddhima reminisced the time she'd danced with Armaan
and much to her surprise she could feel the notes of the violin in the song
The passionate music made her senses ripple and heart flutter as she dipped back into the memory of thier desirable kiss..........
A loud applause brought her back to the present time,
the time she wished he was there...
to love and be loved.....
Riddhima tipped the driver and wished him 'Happy christmas'
he wished her back and drove away merrily....
She then wrapped herself and carefully walked over the thin layer of snow
While unlocking the door,she noticed an envelope stuck in the slot of the letter box
She immediately pulled it out to read the senders name
'Armaan Malik'
............
........
...
Shutting the door behind her she quickly unsealed the envelope
her heart skipped a beat when she read
Dear Riddhima
I love you and I love you lots...
..............................
~~~~~~~~
Part 9
.....................
All I wish for christmas is you....
her heart cried out with joy as she read the lines over and over again...
feeling giddy ,she clutched onto the banister and slumped onto the stairs
kissing the letter ,she smiled and whispered
I knew u loved me Armaan
of course I love you too...
This was the best christmas present she could have wished for...
the feeling of being loved stood parallel to none other
Whilst enjoying her moment of glory she continued reading further
Riddhima ,you are the best thing thats ever happened to me
just a couple of meetings and I knew I had found my soulmate
Life hasn't been the same ever since .....
Yours always
Armaan.....
p.s: A few wise people believe that hand written letters add a personal loving touch to the message and I happen to be one of them
I had written this letter last year at christmas but never found the courage to send it with the card
and now since its christmas time again ,
I thought of making it special for the extra special person you are
'Merry Christmas Riddhima'
With all my love
Armaan
pps:' This letter was personally hand-delivered
with a bunch of red roses
Please open your front door and claim them from the sender
awaiting in the freezing cold........
~~~~~~~~
Epilouge
Briefly shutting her eyes to contain the dream in herself forever
"I love you Armaan..."
she whispered to voice her heart
The door bell rang moments later and her eyes gleamed with joyful ecstasy,
her heart jumped and her body stiffened.....
"Is it really him or am I fantasizing again?" she asked herself
knowing the former was what she'd like it to be...
Inching towards the door to cover a distance of 3 long years,
her heart and mind entangled in a debate of dream and reality,
she turned the knob open with a tremble running through her body....
bedazzled by the moment of bliss ,
she blinked her eyes in disbelief .....
Its was him, her 'Armaan' standing at her doorstep
with a bunch of red roses and a lifetime full of love .....
He took a step ahead ,her senses weakened and her thoughts played havoc...
a second step further and she was drawn into his arms for an embrace to last an eternity...
While he stroked her hair ,she felt his numb fingers tickle her ear and neck
breaking out of the hug ,she realized he was close to frozen...
Intertwining her fingers with his,she sweeped him indoors into the warmth of togetherness...
His enchanting eyes appraised his love and she knew her quest was now complete...
~~~~~~~~
Breathing erotically ,she gasped and whispered
"I love you Armaan"
" love you too Riddhima"
he replied with a smile to find his wife confessing her love yet again in a state of slumber...
"She must be dreaming of the night we met not to part again..." he thought
Gently tracing his finger along her oversized bulging belly ,he then grinned wide with hope and pride...
It was their first Valentines after they'd married at Christmas the year before ,
Armaan was offered to play at a concert that promised recognition amongst the most renowned musicians of the UK...
with his mom's good wishes and Riddhima's inspiration and undying support
his performance was a huge success ...
That evening after the show,she danced like an angel in the snow...
just like she had when he was first captivated by her innocence and beauty...
he danced along with her to celebrate their love
It was then that they had wished for a christmas baby,
and now their wish was soon going to come true...
The rhythmic sensation within , made her smile as she opened her eyes to find him snuggled up to her tummy,murmuring ever so soft...
She ran her fingers through his hair and held her bump with the other hand and said
all I want for Christmas is you...
~~~~~~~~
hey guys
I know I said this was a one shot ,
but cudn't keep myself from making it a little longer,
here's part one -nine ,all complete and finally ended
this is the first time I've written an end ,please do let me know if it was worth a read
and on your sweet requests,I've added the epilogue
hope u guys like it,please do leave a short comment if you can
or click the thank you button if u find that easier
thanx for the appreciation
love u all
Hina
this is my first attempt at a one-shot fic
watching christmas tv all day with my kid and missing nj made me do this,
hope u like it
all I want for christmas is you.......
She admired the shimmering christmas lights and gaudy decorations while waiting for the traffic lights to turn green ...
Christmas - time of the year to spend some precious moments with loved ones
how valued was christmas to her ? she thought as she wearily maneuvered her car around the mini roundabout leading to the street where she lived ...
Christmas was special to her !
she cherished it more with every passing year
it was christmas eve then and now.....
she hummed along her favourite christmas song playing on the radio
A nostalgic spell made her blush and her eyes brimmed with sweet tears as she reminisced her memories of
'where it all began'
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxO1iGGw8t4[/YOUTUBE]
by Mariah Carey
I will be posting the story tomorrow or later tonite,plz do let me know if I shud
thanx very much
love you all
315 n's
Hina
~~~~~~~~
Part 1
"I'm sorry sir ,but you'll have to wait here ,why don't you grab a coffee or something ?
nurse plz can you show Mr???
"Malik,Armaan Malik"
"yeah show Mr Malik the coffee shop and the waiting area plz"
said Riddhima walking swiftly with the porter pushing the patient bed into the operating theater
Dr.Riddhima Gupta was on special duty that night ,it was daunting working on the accident and emergency department ,but she loved challenges and hence loved her work
She had voluntered to work that evening against her norm,
may be coz things happen for a reason and her reason was to meet HIM.
The hospital's emergencies area heaved with patients owing to the RTA(Road Traffic Accident)that involved a 3 car pile up caused by
binge drinking and driving.
Armaan must have been in one of the cars ,he had a few minor injuries but the friend he accompanied looked critical ...
He walked down the steep stairs lost in a trance of how it all happened in a split second...
hesitantly he switched on his mobile and searched for the number to call....
~~~~~~~~
"Hi,can I sit here? " asked Riddhima holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a croissant in the other...
the little cafeteria run by the hospital's charitable fund couldn't afford much furniture and since there were many patients and relatives visiting the hospital that night,it was hard to find a lone corner...
"yeah sure go ahead !" replied Armaan pulling out the chair looking at her occupied hands...
He hadn't noticed that she was the girl who he'd met a couple of hours ago outside the operating theatre ,neither did she recollect his face,
she had seen too many of the same injuries in a day to remember any face in particular
"Cheers!" she sat herself down on the chair opposite him and looked out through the main entrance .
She watched the snow flakes fall and settle on the giant christmas tree sitting in the middle of the little green patch outside the hospital...
a white christmas it was ,with snow covered houses and streets ,
carols heard in the background and the tiny lights flickering on the christmas tree she pondered over the significance of it all ...
it was a time to rejoice and celebrate...
She sniffed ironically when an ambulance pulled in with yet another emergency
This was her life ,dealing with life and death almost everyday which had somehow turned her into a stern character ...
she was a loner with no family around ,only had a few good friends from the hospital and she was content with that ,no regrets and wishes none.....
She found her happiness in things too little for others to notice and perhaps the big things never seem to impress her much as expected
she never had many expectations from life and accepted all that came her way wholeheartedly
She sipped onto her coffee with tiny bites of her snack in between as her eyes now noticed the box of presents under the tree
"what did she want for Christmas this year?..."
a sweet smile played on her face at the thought
A few minutes later Armaan pulled himself up to leave and accidently hit his bruised elbow onto the pillar
"Ouch" he cried in agony,Riddhima instantly thrust her cup on the table and reached out to help him
"dont worry I'm a doctor,she flashed her hospital ID badge to confirm...
rolling up his sleeve she examnied the injury,much to her surprise the triage nurse and the doctors that had attended to him previously had completely ignored the wound
It may have been due to their overworked hours or sheer negligence,she cared the least about ,all she wanted for now is to get him sorted...
She called for the lift immediately and took him back to get the wound dressed and observed
Resuming her duties after the eventful break ,Riddhima lost herself in the notes she had to complete for handover
~~~~~~~~
"Thanks doc" shouted Armaan as he limped out of the treatment bay
"Oh Mr Malik,right? "
"yeh "he nodded
"so how is the pain now,have they given you any painkillers?" she hoped he had been given the right treatment this time round
"yeah thanks !they 've been very good "
he knew they had been at fault of improper administration of treatment
but preferred to forgive and forget
since it was Christmas,time to give all ill feelings a rest...
"oh by the way ,the friend you came in with is a lot better now"she smiled gleefully
"were any of the two of u drunk by any chance?" she asked
"No! not at all ! we were completely sane and we couldnt be drunk" he looked disappointed
"I was to perform at the Royal Albert Hall tonight, I'm a violinist and my friend Keiron ,the guy who's in there ?...well he had organised this event for me..."
he seemed on the verge of crying as the thought of the accident returned and the feeling of his dreams being shattered sank in
"I'm sorry I didnt mean to interrogate u this way ,its just that we get the usual drink and drive cases mostly on popular nights and its hard not to think away from the most common reason"
she explained but it didnt quite make much of a difference to him,
the tragic mishap of the evening had left him in a dilemma
with too much at stake
"Sorry ,I never introduced myself ,I'm Dr.Riddhima Gupta"
she smiled as a gesture of apology and offered him a handshake
"Hi!"
"Dr.Gupta, am I allowed to see my friend now?" he looked calmer now
"yeh sure,no problem ,but he still is under anesthesia,why dont u wait till he comes around,like a few hours ?
"hmmm ok, as u say doc!
there was a sudden whiff of clear air between the two
"You've got an American accent" she said
"thats coz I am from New York " he replied
"interesting!....."
~~~~~~~~
Part 2
Riddhima was done for the day and couldn't help smile thinking another day gone by
Armaan walked out with her watching her smile in relief
As they parted ways at the exit ,he thanked her again ,
she smiled and asked him to take care
The snow had got thinner than before,
she wrapped her scarf round and rummaged through her handbag for the car keys
The tiny snow flakes tickled her cheeks and lips and a few fell on her eye lashes,making the vision blurry
She walked up to her car and brushed off the snow before getting inside
Slotting the key in,she turned the engine and the windscreen wipers on to clear off the layer of snow
resting her head on the headrest while the car defrosted ,she shut her eyes
On an impulse she barged out of the carseat and looked up at the sky
Standing still for a little while enjoying the sensous moment as the flakes kissed her skin again,she felt pleasured...
it was a romantic experience!
Armaan happened to pass by the parking lot and stopped when he saw her enjoy her moment of joy
He watched her from a distance as he jiggled away merrily
this was the first time he noticed how beautiful she actually was...
the very next moment she screamed and swayed dancing like a little kid as she lived her romantic high...
"It must be her way to destress after a long day " thought Armaan as he saw her go wilder by the second
He let her dance longer and when she looked drained ,her movements a little slower than before, he approached her and asked
"fancy a drink to calm that hyperactive side of u? ...promise I wont let anyone in on this little secret side of yours" he grinned wide
Riddhima chuckled instead of being embarrassed
"Yeh why not ! I'm sure that would help"
she giggled again and joined him to walk to the pub around the corner leaving the car where it was...
~~~~~~~~
"Hmm,its nice and warm in here "Armaan rubbed his hands in comfort
while Riddhima found a corner for the two of them to relax
After warming up a little he turned to her and asked
"what would you like to drink?"
She tried to hide her silly laugh and before he could ask why
she smiled out wide and said nothing!
whatever u're having ,make it two please...
he thought that was rather strange to go by the choice of a person she barely knew
She smiled looking at his red reindeer nose as he ordered the drinks from the bartender
As he reached his wallet to pay for the drinks, he realised he only had dollars on him with only a pounds to last a few drinks...
he made himself a mental note to not get carried away with the drinking
he would hate it if the lady had to pay
The night progressed as they talked about music initially
and then came the love for different kinds of food
followed by the books they read and enjoyed
They talked as though it was a reunion they had after years
letting go of all inhibitions they drank like they never had before
it wasn't the quantity that made it special,but the quality time they had...
Armaan in his intoxicated state had forgotten about the little reminder he had set for himself
she had seen him check his wallet and had gathered what it meant
They laughed, sang and danced together
he made her feel special and she loved the feeling
Time had passed quick and the place was close to shut for the day
both wished not to part and chatter for as long as they could
Disappointed ,they grabbed their jackets and walked out
"See ya,it was great talking to you...." as muttered as she hailed a cab
"yeh it was fun! thanks!"
he hugged her
she hugged him back
breaking the hug she said "do you know where you're going?..." he didnt quite know what to think of that
"I mean do you have the address to the place you're living at?" she corrected herself before he made any false presumptions
"yeh,I think I do,dont worry..I'll be fine,bye!"
he waved at her as she jumped into the cab and gave him a sweet last smile of the night
He walked back to the hopital with no money to pay the cab and no place to go....
~~~~~~~~
Part 3
The next morning Riddhima resumed her normal 8-6 shift
She had a splitting headache resulting from the hangover of last night
popping an aspirin in her mouth ,she gulped it down with water and
thought if HE suffered a hangover too?
Looking through the partially open blinds on her cabin's window,she watched Keiron awake in his bead
Instantly she walked out of her room to talk to him,to ask where Armaan was...
The nurse attending on the ward was surprised to see a doctor so effecient to visit her patient first thing in the morning,little did the nurse know of Riddhima's selfish reasons...
"Hi Keiron! I'm Dr.Gupta,you were brought in last night with severe injuries which we managed to deal with successfully...how do you feel now?"
"Sore!...but happy I could see christmas day!"
said Keiron trying to sit himself up
"well ,the progress seems impressive and the soreness with gradually fade away..."
As she scribbled the prescription of his next set of medication ,he asked
"Dr.Gupta, do u know anything about the person I was brought in with? Armaan Malik?"
Riddhima was glad he asked of Armaan before she could
"Yes Mr Malik had a few minor bruises and cuts,he was given treatment and discharged last night,he should be resting at home probably,I had updated him of your stable status..." Riddhima replied in a professional way not knowing how close of friends Armaan and Keiron were to tell him about the time they spend together
"Home? he cant be at home,he doesn't know where I live,I had picked him up from the airport late afternoon yesterday and he insisted on reaching the venue of his performance before time...we met with the accident on the way there..." Riddhima cursed herself for trusting him with the convincing lie ,
she was annoyed to have left him out in the freezing cold especially when he had no money on him....
"Do you have a mobile number we could call,to find out where he is? "
she wished his answer to be a yes...
"Yes I do,its stored in my phone,where are my belongings?" inquired Keiron
he was a little suspicious of her interest in Armaan,'hope he isn't in any sort or trouble' he wished while Riddhima reached the locker room that contained patients belongings...
She smiled with delight to find the device that could connect her with him
switching it on she searched through the contacts to find his number
Armaan Malik...she dialled instantly only to reach the voicemail on the other end...
urghhh! she hated it when she had to speak to a machine,
she left him a message anyway and hoped he'll call back soon
switching the mobile off ,she wiped her frustration and walked out to hand it over to its owner
"here u go,but I'm afraid u aren't allowed to use it on the ward..." she quipped
"can you please find Armaan's number and make the call for me?"
he requested
"Ok !" she assured him and rushed down to the cafeteria expecting to find Armaan there...
She searched all around and then asked the lady at the counter if she had seen him
She found herself surprised with the description of Armaan she gave,
'had she observed him so closely?
had he influenced her more than she she thought he did?...'
pushing off the random thought ,she ran to the waiting area by the main entrance after the lady at the serving counter refused to recognise any such person visiting the cafeteria
She looked around like she'd lost her one of her favourite possesions...
Panic soaring high,she regretted the moment they'd bid farewell
how she wished she could see him again
lightly panting ,she turned around to the stairs leading back to ward
something caught her eye as she stepped onto the stairs
Armaan was asleep in a concealed corner ...shivering a little... cocooned under his flimsy jacket he looked cute but cold...
he probably had spent most of the night in that corner by the stairs where the central heating was minimal...
his nose was red again and she couldn't help smile remembering the laugh they had about it last night ...
she broke away from her thoughts when she saw him pull his jacket right upto his face
happy to have found him eventually ,she sneaked up and sat on the chair next to him
"Armaan!..." she whispered
he wasn't affected much
"fancy a drink Armaan???..." she smiled playfully
eyes open wide he stared at her as though it was a continuation of his dream
"Armaan??? " she retorted
making sure it wasn't a dream ,he frowned as she gave him a quizzical look
"Riddhima???sorry I thought it was my dddrrrr....."
she chuckled again and said " Keiron is waiting for you,do you not want to see him?"
"Yeh ,of course I do" he was glad she saved him the embarassment
They walked up the stairs and she left him to chat with his friend....
~~~~~~~~
It was almost midday and Riddima had been busy all morning dealing with emergencies non -stop
She longed for a break desperately to rest her busy head
Armaan had left soon after having a brief chat with Keiron
She wondered where he could have gone ...trying to pretend heedless to his absence ,
she tried to focus on her tasks
she had developed a longing for him unknowingly...
feeling infatuated ,she wished to spend time with him again...
his natural charms had her thinking of him excessively...
Taking a bite off the bland cheese and tomato sandwich ,she thought of treating herself to a lavish dinner tonight.....
she had been lately skipping meals and eating junk and now since it was christmas ,
she desserved to spoil herself a little ....
Smiling with the thought playing in her head ,she looked for change to buy herself a drink to wash down the dry bread
"Coffee?" she heard a familiar voice approach her from behind
"Armaan!..." the delight was evident in her tone...
"where had u been all morning? " she asked without thinking
"I mean ,is everything alright with sponsors and all ?" she tried not to meet his eye
"Riddhima ,its christmas day,I dont think the sponsors would care to speak today...we'll have to wait for the offices to reopen ...." he sounded worried although his tone was light
"it'll be fine ,dont worry!" she reassured
he smiled mechanically and preferred not to talk about it
"fancy having christmas dinner at mine? she asked instictively
feeling like she was taken over by a new Riddhima,he liked her new carefree self...
"Christmas dinner? " he wasn't quite sure if he'd heard her right
"yeh ,nothing huge,just a home cooked meal ..." she looked at his expectantly
Armaan gave the invite a thought and wondered what made her do this...
watching him think deep,she muttered "its okay if you have other plans Armaan...I wouldn't be offended ...some other time may be?..."
"No! Riddima,it isn't that , I would love to join you...infact its my pleasure ,thanks for the invite...tell me where u live, whats your address?
~~~~~~~~
Part 4
Riddhima gave herself a quick look in the mirror before running down to get the door
"Hi Armaan !..." she greeeted his a wide smile
"Merry Christmas Riddhima! " he smiled back handing over a 'not so fresh' bunch of flowers
"Sorry,unfortunately all good florists ditched me on this special day ,this is all I could find in a little corner shop,by the end of your street..." she burst out into a small giggle at his attempt of cheesy humour...
"Thank you ! ...and please come in before you freeze yourself again..."
her cheeky statements stirred up an unexplored set of emotions in him
He loved her company ....she made him rediscover himself.....
he walked in carrying a box in his hand,she wondered what it could be
reserving her thoughts about the box she ushered him through the long corridor
"make yourself comfortable ....I wont be a minute,just need to check if the roast potatoes are done"
Riddhima showed him into the gorgeously furnished sitting room and walked off to the kitchen
She returned back to find him browsing through the collection of the books she owned
she loved reading ,it was her passion...a source of inspiration and relaxation.....
"Wow,this looks amazing" Armaan was impressed with the variety of food displayed on the table
since they talked about their love for food,she decided to go for an international cuisine ...
She had picked her favourite recipes for the meal tonight
Munching away the starters they continued their incomplete talk from the night before
As they moved to the main course ,they talked of their worst food tasting experiences
and their laughter turned highly audible by now
towards the end of dinner Armaan talked of how good a cook his mum is
he ended the talk abruptly when she asked him about his dad...
Riddhima sensed his despise at the topic and moved on to new discussion to ease the pressure....
Armaan helped Riddhima clear away the table and while he waited for her finish off the clearing up
he couldnt resist observing her physical beauty,she was an attractive girl ...
her unseen charm was shielded by the 'not very glamorous ' professianal mask she had to wear everyday
the sleek hair partially covered her bare shoulders ,the black halter neck knee length dress enhanced her
perfect curves ,her lips a floral pink,her eyes a symbol of passion...
Riddhima noticed him stare as she consciosly placed the pots and plates in the dishwasher
She gave herself a moment of thought as she placed the unused food in the fridge
She poured herself a glass of wine while Armaan opted to take break
They sat together on the sofa and she switched on the tv to kill the awkward silence....
As she surfed through the channels to find something suitable to watch together,he excused himself to use the loo .
She directed him up the stairs and returned back to tele browsing
'Armaan heard her laugh out loud,it must be a comedy she decided upon' he gathered
just as stepped down the stairs her bedroom caught his eye ...walking back up he peeked inside the room to find a single bed stuck to a furry headboard,more books and a giant teddy sitting in the corner
He almost giggled to see the number of alarm clocks sitting on her bedside chest
"Mr Bean? I love him...." screamed Armaan as he joined her back in the sitting room
The two were a riot ,they laughed and laughed harder making the scene funnier than it actually was...
Riddhima reached for the remote control again as the credits rolled up the screen
concluding that there was'nt much on , she switched the tele off and poured another drink for herself
Armaan requested one for him as well...
"Tell me about the US Armaan..." Riddhima knew she could'nt possibly go wrong with this topic
Armaan talked of his love for music and how his mum supported him to persue a career in accounting and balance it with his passion to play the violin
"close your eyes Riddhima!,I have a surprise for you...."
~~~~~~~~
Part 5
"Surprise? " Riddhima immediately thought of the box Armaan had walked in with
She shut her eyes obediently as he opened the box and placed the instrument on his shoulder
"you ready? " he asked thinking of the first piece he'd play for her
"yep..." she replied impatiently
"ok here we go"
he played the most magnificent piece of music she had ever heard
she feared her neighbours would come knocking at her door ,
drawn but the depth in the notes he played
his music was romantic,it was touching and passionate....
As he slowed down nearing the end she went up to give him a hug of appreation ...
the friendly hug soon turned into a close and tight embrace
the flow of emotions soaring high,
they looked into each others eyes after breaking away from the hug
he could see a craving in her eyes,and she saw a burning desire in his.....
he placed his lips sensuously on hers,
she felt her lips tremble and limbs go liquid
her lips parted next ,giving him access to savour the sweet irresistable passion
he pulled her closer as their tongues stirred the wild sensations in their aroused bodies
" NO! Sorry,I'm sorry I can't do this..."
Armaan jerked out of the sinful moment and turned away leaving Riddhima gasping in shock
A few seconds later he turned back to face her
"Armaan,are u ok?..." the rage in his eyes disturbed her
"Riddhima,it must have been a similar moment of passion when I was conceived..."
"Huh? " Riddhima was more confused than shocked at his strange statement
"Armaan,plz calm down,and tell me everything u want to..."
Riddhima held his hand as he narrated
"My mom was on a visit to London with her friends for christmas,she was young and immature to know the difference between right and wrong...
she met my biological father at a club in central London ...they spent most of their time together and my mum mistook the physical attraction for love ...soon their meetings turned out intimate and one one such meeting lead them to sleep together...
horrified to find him missing the next day ,my mum suffered severe depression and returned back to the US soon after
But unfortunately she soon found out that was bearing the seed of a person who betrayed her in time of need,
she was hastily talked into marrying my dad ,Rohan Malik in exchange of a huge chunk of my grandad's business.
My mum ever since then has become an emotionless soul ,her only reason to live is me..."
Riddhima listened to all he had to say without speaking a word of her own
she was now glad to have stopped before committing to something he wasn't ready for...
"I think I should get going now,its quite late and u probably have work tomorrow right?"
"Yeah ,I do,let me call the cab for u...."
~~~~~~~~
"Goodmorning Keiron,how are feeling today?
Riddhima looked around for Armaan
"here,he left this letter for you...."
Keiron looked upset and Riddhima baffled
She ran to her cabin and unfolded the little piece of paper
Dear Riddhima,
Thanks for the most wonderful dinner last night
The sweet moments I 'll cherish forever
I 'm sorry to be leaving this way,but there is somewhere I need to be urgently
try and keep in touch
I've noted my address below
Riddhima...
I never found the right time to say,but I think I like you
I dont know if its love ,
but what I do know is that I 've never ever felt this way before....
will miss u
-Armaan.....
~~~~~~~~
Part 6
She instantly looked down to the address wishing to find a phone number with it,there was none
She dialled his UK hired mobile number, again to be answered by the voicemail
He probably had left the country by now she thought slipping the letter into her handbag
Keiron had no extra information than she already had...
wishing him the best of eveything,wherever he may be ,
she tried moving on with her life ......
~~~~~~~~
"Hi Nikki!" Riddhima answered her phone after several rings
"Dont tell me you havent left yet Ridzie ...honey plz can you try and get here before the party ends?..." Dr.Nikita was her colleague and close friend now
"yeh,I was just just about to leave Nikki,waiting for the cab,see you there in a bit byeeee!...."
Riddhima clicked the red button on her phone's keypad and rushed down the stairs .
It was their christmas party that evening and she was running late...
Quickly slipping on her heels and wrapping the silky pashmina around her bare arms,she gave herself a quick last minute look in the mirror...the moment reminded her of the time Armaan had spent christmas with her...
It had been 3 long years and he hadn't returned ,
they had communicated through emails and phone calls initially when he explained his rushed departure .
His mum had come to know of his secret visit to London and she suffered a mild heart attack coz she thought Armaan came in search of the person who destroyed her life,her biological father....
whereas Armaan was oblivious to his fathers wherebaouts and would'nt want to see him ever
Despite his explanation of his real purpose to go London was music ,his mum made him pledge he wouldn't visit England ever again
Riddhima empathised with his awkward situation and they continued to support each other across the miles seprating them
A few months had passed and her phone calls were ignored more often
emails ,a few unread and some unanswered
She decided to give him time to come to terms with living away and living together
When she lost all contact with him for almost a month and it was nearing christmas the following year
she decided to pay him a surprise visit
Booking the flight over the phone ,she was skeptical of her decision
but since this seemed the only way to find solace,she smiled wishfully
confirming the flight schedule
Hopping into a cab at the airport ,
Riddhima instructed the driver of Armaan's address ,
she had a constant smile play on her lips,
the thought of meeting him after a complete year made her blush
she the felt the jitters within her as the cabby announced their arrival to the destination...
Lightly touching the door bell ringer,her heart throbbed visibly
She practiced her greeting depending the on the person answerin the door
If it was his mum,what would she address her as?
and what would she say if it was his dad or grandad?
what if it was Armaan hismself ?
she smiled gleefully and waited for the door to open
"Hi,can I help you?.."a young lad answered the door eventually
'may be Armaan had a younger brother he never me about' she presumed
"Hey,I'm here to see Armaan,I'm a friend from London..."
"Armaan??? I'm sorry but there 's no such person of that name in the entire neighbourhood..."
"Are you sure ?..his name his Armaan Malik,the violinist?
"Who is it is Ryan?" shouted a voice from the top of he stairs in the hallway
"its this lady asking of a certain Armaan Malik "
the lady hopped down the stairs and said " I'm sorry ,were bought this house off 'The Maliks' a few months ago and I'm afraid I dont have any idea of their current residence ..."
she felt her heart sink under the load of misfortune as she thanked the lady and turned around in dismay
Dragging herlself along the snowy path with silent tears flowing
she smirked looking back at the house,where Armaan had once lived
She shut her eyes and faced up to the sky
All she wished for christmas was him....
~~~~~~~~
Another year gone by and she heard nothing from Armaan
She drowned herself into her work to get rid of the betrayed feeling
Her attempts were nearly successful and he was now history....
He was the most beautiful phase of her life and she loved him for making her feel special
although it was a meeting of a mere 2 days,the bond he had made left her a longlasting sweet memory to cherish forever
She knew she had no right to expect much of the so called raltionship
and she preferred to treasure the happier fun dreamy moments to the bitter moments of reality
~~~~~~~~
It was christmas eve the following year and Riddhima picked up the mail at the front door before leaving for work
She didnt pay much interest to the letters and stacked them onto the unsorted pile of papers
When she returned home that evening,she decided to sort through her letters
and couldn't believe her eyes when she stumbled upon a christmas card from
Armaan Malik
Toronto
Canada
~~~~~~~~
Part 7
"Armaan Malik?"
she re read the name one last time to confirm it really was him
Her fingers trembled and heartbbeat erratic as she tore open the envelope carefully,
She blinked away the tiny tears in the corner of her eyes as she read the contents of the card
"Merry Christmas Riddhima!..."
love
Armaan
"Is that all he had to say?"
tears rolling down her cheeks ,she brushed his name carved on the card
'Armaan ,a desire you truly are !...."
shutting her eyes with pleasure in pain she mulled over the essence of his name and its implications...
Breaking out of her musings ,she toddled to the kitchen on hearing the beep of the microwave to say
the jacket potato was done and ready to eat....
Wearily placing the food on a lap tray ,she poured out a glass of water and sat herself down on the couch and swichted the tele on...
Browsing through the channels to find something watchable ,she shoved in a bite of potato in her mouth
Mr.Bean they played again ...
A worn out smile crept up her cheeks and a hearty one lurked in her eyes
the compelling acts of Mr.Bean left her laughing wholeheartedly
she then instantly spat out the bite she tried to chew on...she realized how bland and tasteless her life was
making a quick christmas resolution ,
she rushed back to the kitchen and sprinkled a little salt and grated lots of cheese to garnish her meal
His few but enough to last a lifetime memories helped her to steadily transform the sore aching feelings into strong healed thoughts...
the pain she'd harboured for the last couple of years was almost replaced by wishful thinking of the future...
Although he had included his new address ,she didn't attempt to contact him
she had a feeling he was held a lot back in him and needed more time and that is exactly what she decided to give him....
'Time is the best healer'
a thought contradictory to her profession ,she strongly believed and implimented it in her life...
but since it was christmas ,his memories came flooding back to make her fall weak yet again....
The piercing sound of the door bell broke her chain of thoughts
Her cab had arrived and she hurriedly headed to the vehicle covering her head with her clutch bag
~~~~~~~~
Dear Riddhima
I love you and I love you lots...
I know I owe you a bank of apologies and also a long explanation for all that happened and all that did not...
to say sorry would be an insult to the bond we share,but that is the best I could offer and do..
I want to share with you all that I've held back in myself,right from the time I left you two years ago
I had never wished for things to take that nasty turn ...
It all began when I was made to ignore your phone calls after I learnt of my dad's verbal abuse on mom
He had found out of my visit to London and misinterpreted it as a search for my real dad
exactly like my mum had done,the only difference was that he assumed mom was in the plan...
Mom chose to bear the blame rather and lived with that person only for me ...
things had started to go beyond bearable limits and mom and I moved to Canada to live with grandad after my dad sold our house without letting us know...
I was lucky to find a well paid job and also got my big break to perform at a concert once
when I had held the violin in my hand that evening ,all I could think of was you
Riddhima...you are my inspiration and I owe my success to you
Its Christmas time again and my heart longs to be with you
Will you be able to forgive me at all?
something inside me says you will
all I wish for christmas is you...
~~~~~~~~
Part 8
The party was at its high when Riddhima walked in flustered...
Nikki had been waiting restlessly at the door
"what took you so long Riddhima? and why do u look so pale ?...is everything alright ?
"Yeh,everything's fine and why shouldn't it be..." Riddhima moved in to join the party leaving Nikki a little confused....
"You sure everything's ok yeh?" Nikki wasn't able to budge her concerns
" yeh,all's good ,lets get some drink shall we?" Riddhima had mastered the art of concealing her inner feelings owing to her experiences in life....
She lived a dual life ,one for Armaan and one for the rest of the world ,sadly none for her own self...
she did have a few instances when the two sides of her intervened and left her disturbed...
and tonight was turning out to be one of them...
The loud music and merrymaking gave her a chance to relax ...
the hospital staff from consultants to nurses ,all loved Riddhima,
they admired her earnest dedication to her job and the natural friendly and helpful attitude she possesed...
She was popular among her patients ,the most wanted consultant ....
Armaan was the love of her life,
she loved him unconditionally albeit their relation lacked a real confession
He was a part of her life ,despite not being physically there with her ,she happily lived with him in her heart
she had never met anyone like him,may be coz she never expected to...
Hoping that he'd return someday ,she was prepared for wait for as long as eternity...
Towards the end of the evening,the DJ played soft romantic music and
the couples danced intimately ,some drunk and some genuinely in love...
Riddhima reminisced the time she'd danced with Armaan
and much to her surprise she could feel the notes of the violin in the song
The passionate music made her senses ripple and heart flutter as she dipped back into the memory of thier desirable kiss..........
A loud applause brought her back to the present time,
the time she wished he was there...
to love and be loved.....
Riddhima tipped the driver and wished him 'Happy christmas'
he wished her back and drove away merrily....
She then wrapped herself and carefully walked over the thin layer of snow
While unlocking the door,she noticed an envelope stuck in the slot of the letter box
She immediately pulled it out to read the senders name
'Armaan Malik'
............
........
...
Shutting the door behind her she quickly unsealed the envelope
her heart skipped a beat when she read
Dear Riddhima
I love you and I love you lots...
..............................
~~~~~~~~
Part 9
.....................
All I wish for christmas is you....
her heart cried out with joy as she read the lines over and over again...
feeling giddy ,she clutched onto the banister and slumped onto the stairs
kissing the letter ,she smiled and whispered
I knew u loved me Armaan
of course I love you too...
This was the best christmas present she could have wished for...
the feeling of being loved stood parallel to none other
Whilst enjoying her moment of glory she continued reading further
Riddhima ,you are the best thing thats ever happened to me
just a couple of meetings and I knew I had found my soulmate
Life hasn't been the same ever since .....
Yours always
Armaan.....
p.s: A few wise people believe that hand written letters add a personal loving touch to the message and I happen to be one of them
I had written this letter last year at christmas but never found the courage to send it with the card
and now since its christmas time again ,
I thought of making it special for the extra special person you are
'Merry Christmas Riddhima'
With all my love
Armaan
pps:' This letter was personally hand-delivered
with a bunch of red roses
Please open your front door and claim them from the sender
awaiting in the freezing cold........
~~~~~~~~
Epilouge
Briefly shutting her eyes to contain the dream in herself forever
"I love you Armaan..."
she whispered to voice her heart
The door bell rang moments later and her eyes gleamed with joyful ecstasy,
her heart jumped and her body stiffened.....
"Is it really him or am I fantasizing again?" she asked herself
knowing the former was what she'd like it to be...
Inching towards the door to cover a distance of 3 long years,
her heart and mind entangled in a debate of dream and reality,
she turned the knob open with a tremble running through her body....
bedazzled by the moment of bliss ,
she blinked her eyes in disbelief .....
Its was him, her 'Armaan' standing at her doorstep
with a bunch of red roses and a lifetime full of love .....
He took a step ahead ,her senses weakened and her thoughts played havoc...
a second step further and she was drawn into his arms for an embrace to last an eternity...
While he stroked her hair ,she felt his numb fingers tickle her ear and neck
breaking out of the hug ,she realized he was close to frozen...
Intertwining her fingers with his,she sweeped him indoors into the warmth of togetherness...
His enchanting eyes appraised his love and she knew her quest was now complete...
~~~~~~~~
Breathing erotically ,she gasped and whispered
"I love you Armaan"
" love you too Riddhima"
he replied with a smile to find his wife confessing her love yet again in a state of slumber...
"She must be dreaming of the night we met not to part again..." he thought
Gently tracing his finger along her oversized bulging belly ,he then grinned wide with hope and pride...
It was their first Valentines after they'd married at Christmas the year before ,
Armaan was offered to play at a concert that promised recognition amongst the most renowned musicians of the UK...
with his mom's good wishes and Riddhima's inspiration and undying support
his performance was a huge success ...
That evening after the show,she danced like an angel in the snow...
just like she had when he was first captivated by her innocence and beauty...
he danced along with her to celebrate their love
It was then that they had wished for a christmas baby,
and now their wish was soon going to come true...
The rhythmic sensation within , made her smile as she opened her eyes to find him snuggled up to her tummy,murmuring ever so soft...
She ran her fingers through his hair and held her bump with the other hand and said
all I want for Christmas is you...
~~~~~~~~
hey guys
I know I said this was a one shot ,
but cudn't keep myself from making it a little longer,
here's part one -nine ,all complete and finally ended
this is the first time I've written an end ,please do let me know if it was worth a read
and on your sweet requests,I've added the epilogue
hope u guys like it,please do leave a short comment if you can
or click the thank you button if u find that easier
thanx for the appreciation
love u all
Hina
Hindi TV Shows
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
Noyontara
Kumkum Bhagya
Current Affairs
