Unleashing what Remained Unsaid#2-END*NOTEpg42* - Page 29

God save me Riddhima, when you're with me I see no other logic. Let me hold onto my sanity of whats real and has to remain so - I'm married, Lovely is my wife, yet you're the only one I ever loved and always will. Neither could facts be any simpler to state nor any harder to survive. And if that wasn't enough, now you're daring me to hope again, I know how much I've wanted to, these past years in your absence, without admitting its what I need. But I can't deny how terrified I am, scared to even hope to be happy, it never lasts, and one more time I lose it my life will be in desperate shambles if it isn't already. Spare me that misery again Riddhima, if thats where you're taking this. I really have faced my share, can't see how much more I will withstand. I'm imploring you to stay away from me, and if you refuse to, then this time stay till the end, even if I have to leave don't let me...cause I want to stay - with you...as us."

"I really have no intentions of interfering in your personal life Mr. Malik, save yourself the reasons. Besides, why are you really bothered? This isn't the first time you've left me waiting without an explanation, and a couple of hours at that, should be nothing to compare with five long years."

"You told me once I mattered more to people than I realized, its not any different for you. Why do you refuse people who care for you a chance to be a part of your life, and of everything in it. Its not just about how much you suffer trying to cope with everything alone, but just as much about how they suffer in knowing you don't trust them enough."

"I love her still...and always will...did I tell you her name? Its Ridhima. I wish she could meet you...maybe..." He stopped. Then turning around abruptly he walked away.

"You're right Ritu, this picture is definitely better, and much more natural, because we did not have to smile in effort for the camera. My happiness on our wedding was boundless, it was the most special day of my life, and Ridhima was thrilled beyond words you know it. But we both missed the one person who should have been there, as my best man for the evening, and the man of her life. No one can fill his void, neither for me as my friend, nor for her as the man she loves. And the love will come back into her life, trust me."

"Armaan and Ridhima...a desire to love...perfect fit ain't it Armaan?"

"Being in love was wonderful. I think I never got enough of the feeling it invokes, so much that I can't let go of being in love."

"I love you Ridhima," he paused certain she could hear his smile in his words as it widened to its maximum, "And yes you can call me later, please do, I'll wait for the call."

"The desire to love...your desire, my love..."

Wiping her face again against the now damp sleeve she realized unbelievably she had almost smiled for a moment here.

She felt herself swell with pride at being his support, she wished he would always need her the same way, and even when he didn't need her she hoped he would let her be there for him anyways. She needed him, and that would never change.

"Armaan I've just...waited for the moment you would confess so long...everything else becomes insignificant compared to having you with me...I had always known it would be so if you came back, you would apologize and I would give in cause theres nothing I want more. I never thought I would say this to you, and I dont know if I can humble myself to say it ever again," she paused and he frowned trying to read her tone, "I want you to know Armaan, and don't believe me if I ever revert from this in moments I get mad at you," paused again, "You took the right decision."

"I forgot it was in my pocket during the game and when I took a shot it fell down n broke.."
Gappu almost choked at this one. He had never attended a more entertaining meal. Gathering a huge bite onto his fork he stuffed his mouth with it so he would not laugh out loud and spoil the fun.

"Well I take my words back. Its my laptop which beats all records to claim that position. Its like they stole some Gothic processor from the dark ages and fit it inside the body of a 21st century Apple Mac." - This has nothing to do with the story, but I like it coz this is one reason even Naseem keeps rambling every now and then ;) (oh, we do believe u Naseem) And not to deny, even me(ummm .. when am not in mood to work)

"Yes the best of them have stayed on." With a reckless second thought she added, "Including, the man I love."

"Gaurav, I can keep meandering forever. But I think I'll quit. You've given me what I can't repay with my life."
"You did. The moment you confessed to massi."

"I see a dream I wished for; and then I see myself living the dream every single moment I let it come true."
Armaan congratulated himself mentally. He had hoped just for this

Could it have been the fact that he had been so hard to come by? It could never be the only reason, not even the dominant one, but could it have been a reason at all? If it was, Ridhima felt extremely uncomfortable thinking about it. She did not want to think that her wait even if for an insignificant bit had been a whim in the least.

His motivation to the profession was a changed focus, he no longer wanted to help people to escape his own void; it was now his wish to be able bring back the spirit of life to as many as he could reach out to.

"Ridhima..." he murmured pounding the back of his head lightly onto the headrest of his seat, "Three dam hours..." and he closed his eyes remembering her face.

Chirag smiled through glistening eyes, then slowly raised his fist high up to him and Armaan hit back before the two of them pulled into a hug. Armaan shut his eyes pursing his lips and Ridhima smiled to herself blinking away the tears at the sight of them. Unknowingly, as Gappu moved forward to interlock his hand with hers she gripped it tightly. He looked at her, then Armaan, then back at her. And then he looked at Chirag. And catching his eye he smiled raising a 'V' to his accomplice.

"I had wondered, everytime I looked at the chart thinking of you, what I could ever do with a whole wall you had assigned for pictures in my room. There wasn't much from my childhood, perhaps a handful with Muski and Daadu, and another handful from the annual events at Shantiniketan."

"You won't ever leave me and walk away?"
"No honey I won't," he said simply.
"But 0 farhenheit is a freaking retard temperature, if you did throw me out I really will die, so let me stay."
She broke out laughing, throwing her head back and he thought of the perfect timing. At the start of a new phase in their bond, she was laughing again, just like the very first time

"I could act for her and for the world that she was my wife, but I could not live that act for myself. It was always you I saw in that spot, the one I wanted to spend my life with, share a home and a family with, the one I wanted to grow old with, And in my heart I couldn't give that spot to anyone else."
(This is a masterpiece. Just love this statement ... sigh ... am not Riddhima)

"I do," she retorted though her voice was still constricted, but she smiled genuinely at him, "When you ask Di and Jeej for our wedding." And he felt like his heart might stop functioning from the sheer happiness of the moment.

"You still remember my name? That is very impressive honey!"
(Funniest bit ever. Gaurav-Minnie are real cool couple)

"Its the ringtone sweetheart, the ringtone on his cell phone...which was my cell phone before he stole it from me and dropped it during a practice into a puddle which gave it a cracked LCD and a damaged battery beyond repair."
(This was the cutest reason Armaan gave for the mobile. Am gonna put it up in my cubicle and in gloomy days, this will lighten me up)

"I'm trying to fix your habits for future convenience. Armaan wont live with coffee, and he wont let go of tea." She couldn't stop herself from smiling tentatively. "And you wont live without him, so why don't you start adujusting with tea?"
(Cannot really place Gappu. At times he is kid of the family, but next moment he is all grown up and mature person who knows how to relieve someone's stress. )

She didn't say a word, she couldn't, her rush of emotions rendered her speechless and she knew when he held her back that she just wanted to be there in his arms forever, she knew without thinking, she had never felt weaker in a moment before. She had fought to shun away her fear for him in the past hours, forcing herself to believe nothing could happen, but her despair had remained impossible to alleviate. And now, held in his arms she felt drained with relief to the extent that she did not trust herself to part from the hug and stand on her own two feet. Anything that would not make her let go of him and if she died in this moment she would hold no regrets.

Part 23J - Concluded pretty well. Armaan has managed everything for a long time all by himself. For once, he accepting Riddhima as his need, he has finally taken their relationship to the next stage. The satisfaction of finally being home - not just for Armaan but even for Riddhima left me with wet eyes.

I so wish this ff just keeps going on and on. Like a never ending story.

Can imagine all of the following in the epilogue
1. Armaan taking Riddhima to Chatimtola and showing her his favorite tree, or driving with her to Tiger Hill Top to see the rising Sun
2. Muskaan and Rahul happily dancing seeing Armaan happy after all these years
3. Armaan and Riddhima tying wedding knots for Gaurav and Minnie
4. Armaan and Riddhima spending hours in the corner cafe at Cambridge
5. Both just walking down the memory lane with Riddhima's photo collection
6. Daadu holding Armaan's kid with teary eyes
7. Riddhima passing the heirloom to her daughter-in-law
8. Just a happily ever after end :) like some fairy tale

Naseem, I was living thru this story ... not sure how its going to be without this AR couple now. Thanks a bunch for this fabulous ff and hats off to you.

wow loved the update thanx