Ridhima stared at Armaan, the tears brimming at the corner of her eyes.
"Armaan?" She whispered. A lump had formed in her throat...
What did I do wrong?...why isn't Armaan saying anything?...Is it too late?...oh god, I really hope it's not, please!
Ridhima slightly closed her eyes and prayed to god.
Swallowing the lump, she tried calling out to Armaan again.
"Armaan?" She said, a bit louder this time.
Armaan snapped out of his trance, and took one look at Ridhima before looking away.
He ran a hand through his hair, and looked at her again.
"Ridhima" He began.
"Ridhima...this was very unexpected...I mean I didn't really...I...don't know...Ridhima...I don't know if I can-" He was cut off by Ridhima.
"I know it'll be very hard for you to trust me again, and I am sorry Armaan...but please give me one more chance?...please?...let's start all over again...hi my name is Ridhima" She said, stretchiing out her hand.
She looked at Armaan expectantly, who just stared at the hand, then at Ridhima, and then at the hand again.
Ridhima had just apologised to him and was waiting for an answer...
He almost opened his mouth to forgive her, and start over again, when suddenly a memory flashed through his head.
panting, he reached the terrace and looked around. His hope was vanising quickly.
"RIDHIMA?!" Armaan shouted, looking around frantically trying to find any signs of her...of Vivek.
The thought of him got Armaan's blood pounding through his veins.
Taking a deep breath he tried to calm himself down, but it was no use.
Running a hand through his hair, he had given up hope, and was close to crying. Ridhima was hurt and he coudn't do anything.
He wished he could, but where else could he look.
Turning towards the door, he was about to walk out when he saw something that caught his eye.
Turning around he saw somthing pink, going closer he realized it was Ridhima's dupatta.
Suddenly hopeful, adrenalin was pumping through his veins when he picked up the dupatta.
Looking around he tried finding signs of Ridhima.
"RIDHIMA?" He shouted again.
He knew she was here. If Vivek was holding her somewhere, he would find her and beat the hell out of Vivek.
He looked around frantically, and then he finally saw a shadow move towards him.
His arms automatically flexed to fight...if it was Vivek...he would be ready to make sure that this time he would not be able to walk out on those two legs of his out of here.
What he saw made him sigh in relief.
Ridhima was slowly walking towards him, he head slightly low....when she looked up, his heart nearly stopped.
feeling his stomach drop, he took a step towards Ridhima.
She looked so broken...so vulnerable. He felt a sudden need to protect and comfort her.
"Ridhima?...Ridhima?, kya hua?" Armaan asked, holding her shoulders and shaking her slightly.
She didn't respond, just kept looking down...
Armaan felt a pang in his heart.
"Where is he?" He asked in a deadly low voice.
When she didn't respond, he shook her some more.
"Ridhima,where is he?...VIVEK KAHAN HAI?...mein usse nahin chodoonga...I will kill him!" Armaan shouted.
Ridhima finally looked up, and what he saw broke his heart.
She had so much pain in her eyes.
A tear fell from her eye, and that was the most he could take....what his heart could take
Quickly grabbing her, he pulled her into a hug.
Holding her tight, he tried holding his rage.
He would not leave Vivek after this...
"gussa aya?"
Frowning, a chilling feeling crept into him.
Pulling away, he looked into her eyes in disbelief.
Any signs to prove what he was thinking was wrong.
There was no way, Ridhima woud pull such a sick prank...no way she would break his trust like this....
He searched her eyes for any signs...any
He didn't find any.
It was a prank.
"Armaan?" He heard Ridhima calling him, a hint of desperation in her voice.
He snapped out of his trance, and took one look at Ridhima before looking away.
am I going to do the right thing?...isn't it time I forgave and forgot?...but the pain is still very fresh..this is so confusing! He thought, running a hand through his hair and looking at Ridhima again.
"Ridhima" He began.
"Ridhima...this was very unexpected...I mean I didn't really...I...don't know...Ridhima...I don't know if I can-" He was cut off by Ridhima.
"I know it'll be very hard for you to trust me again, and I am sorry Armaan...but please give me one more chance?...please?...let's start all over again...hi my name is Ridhima" She said, stretchiing out her hand.
She looked at Armaan expectantly, who just stared at the hand, then at Ridhima, and then at the hand again.
It's now or never He thought, taking in a deep breath.
Taking her hand in his, he gave her a wide smile.
"Hi, I am Armaan...nice to meet you basket" He said, giving her a wink.
His smile widened as he heard Ridhima laugh.
Anupamaa
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