The Clear Mirror –A&R-Part9pg17|NEW!!!14/07 - Page 7

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Part 5

As Riddhima had heard the news, she quickly came home and locked herself in the dark room. She couldn't stop crying, the cold tears kept running down her face. There was no stop now, even if she did want to, she knew she couldn't. This part of her life was never planned, will I mean is type of incident ever planned. Riddhima just had to except the truth, but she just wasn't ready to accept the truth the reality. At the doctors had first broken the news to her she didn't believe it. Obviously how would she believe it, her mom could never believe leave. She loved her mom so much, and her mom loved her back too. Her mom couldn't just leave her. But that's what the doctors said, as fresh tears rolled down Riddhima's checks. Her mom had suffered and sever heart attack, and she was unable to come through. Now she was gone, and Riddhima just couldn't do anything about that.

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"Ridz, please darwza toh kholo, tumne 15 gaanteh ho gaye hai, tumne toh pani be nahin piya, toh tum aisa kaisa…" As Muskaan voice trailed off, as she saw a very stable Riddhima in front of her. She had changed her close since last night, looked well than her state last night after she ran from the hospital. But, she still the sadness overshadowing her face.

This is a drastic improvement Muskaan, she couldn't believe how much Riddhima had taken in, in one night. She knew Riddhima was a strong, and had the ability to take in a lot, but this she couldn't believe. Muskaan thought Riddhima should express her feelings, not bottle them up inside her. Muskaan knew she was only doing this for her family, but Muskaan was still they're to support her.

Muskaan quickly put up a smile, and she knew she had to support her best-est friend even more than before now.

"Muskaan, tum khoye se lage rahi ho, Muskaan!" Riddhima shouted.

"Haan, haan sorry, chalo neeche, hum sab wahan he hai … chal"

As Muskaan supported her drained out friend downstairs, everyone stared at her, in a shocked state.

"Riddhima beta, aao yahan aker baat jao" As Muskaan mom, helped her sit down.

"Ek minute, mein tumharliye khaana lekaar aitye hoon…"

As Riddhima looked around the room, she saw uncle (Muskaan's dad), Malik uncle, and aunty and other relatives. All discussing everything, and all the preparations. Suddenly, her eyes stopped at someone praying in the little temple, as he turned around, he saw Riddhima looking at him. He gave a quick smile of motivation. As Riddhima saw him smile a bit, it felt as her world came back to her, and felt as if she had someone with her. She gave back a weak smile.

"Ridz beta, lao tohra sa kahlo…"

"Aunty, mein baad mein khate hoon, mujhe tohra see fresh air chahe, mein abhi aate hoon"

As Riddhima left from the living room and headed outside, she couldn't breathe in their, today her own house felt suffocating, it felt incomplete with her mom… As she went and sat down on the bench outside on their porch, she just could feel the memories in every brick. They were filled with happiness and laughter and all the memories her and her mom had spent from day one. Now, it felt cold and lonely. She wondered, would she ever be able to adapt to her life with her mom? What would she do when she needed advice, who would make her breakfast for her, who would always be there when she just needed a simple hug, a motherly warm hug, who would she turn too? She always had Muskaan and her parents that never treated her less than her own daughter, but no one to call her own. She had no family, she was an orphan…

As words quietly came out of her mouth

"I'm an orphan… I'm a nobody…"

"Riddhima don't you dare, every, every, EVERY, say that please" As Muskaan came and quickly hugged her.

"Riddhima tum toh hamse se meri sister, meri bestfriend, meri saab kuch thi, phir tum kaise kahe sakti ho, ki tum koi be nahin ho… Riddhima mein hoon tumhara saath hum sab hain, so phir"

"Muskaan, mein jaante hoon kit tum saab ho phir be…"

"Phir be, kya Riddhima, tum aise nahin ka sakti ho, tum hamre family ho!"

"Muskaan…"

"Ab chup ho kar khanna khao, mein abhi aati hoon, ma bhulariya hai mujhe" As Muskaan gave Riddhima the plate and left.

All Riddhima could do was stare at the food, she had lost her appetite, and it wasn't coming back soon.

As Riddhima said to herself…

"Muskaan tum kabhi nahin samjo gi…"

"Yes, I know she won't Riddhima, I know how you feel" As Armaan came and stood next to her.

"Armaan, what are you doing here, you should be inside with everyone else."

"Why, can't I come support my friend?"

As Riddhima placed the plate on the side table, she stood up.

"Yes you can Armaan, but you will never be able to understand…"

As Riddhima started to walk away… Armaan quickly grabbed her hand…

Armaan and Riddhima both felt electricity go through they're veins. But ignored the feeling for now.

"Riddhima, don't keep your feelings bottled up inside you, say them out…" Armaan said.

As Riddhima slowly came back and sat down on the bench, now she ran her hands through her hair…

"Armaan, I just lost my mom, and everyone's inside talking about it, don't they understand we need some time alone to take it all in, I need some time alone…" As little tears started building up inside her .

"Riddhima, you know this isn't going to be easy, just let it all out…, maybe if you let it out, we can all support you and understand you better…"

"Armaan, I don't know how I'm going to live my life without someone who loved me so much, what am I going to do…where am I going to go…?"

As little tears trickled down.

"Armaan, mom was all I had, all the memories we shared, everything, us going out on crispy Saturday mornings to go shopping, us sharing those sweet little moments, Armaan who am I going to share those with now?"

"Mom was , mom, was my everything my mother, my father, my guider, my supporter, my helper, my role model… she was my only family…"

Now Riddhima was heavily crying. She had let all her emotions out, to some stranger…

"Armaan, I'm sorry for that sudden burst…"

As Armaan stopped Riddhima in her track…

"Riddhima no don't be sorry, how did that feel now getting everything off your chest?"

"So much better, a lot better in fact"

"That's exactly what I wanted, Riddhima now you can go face the outside world."

"Thank you so much, Armaan, thank you for understanding me, truly understanding me…"

"Riddhima I'll always be here, if you every need to burst out on someone I'll always be here, I'll be your target" As both started to laugh a bit.

"Riddhima, but seriously, no need to say thank-you, friends are always the saviors, trust me, now common lets eat" As Armaan said as he smiled.

Riddhima couldn't believe how close she had gotten with Armaan, within the last 48 hours. He was truly a nice person, and bestfriend, well not bestfriend but friend a true friend. As Riddhima just stared at him, trying to make her laugh, she gave in quick smiles. Armaan Malik, one heck of a person.

"Now with that food, that waiting for us to attack it" Armaan said, as Riddhima smiled back.

"Haye, my favourite food too shahi paneer, and paranthe, aunty just totally rocks" As Armaan started to eat the food.

"Ahem…ahem…" Riddhima pretended to clear her throat.

"Riddhima, I totally forgot you were still sitting here…" With his naughty smile, on trying to tease Riddhima.

"Oye, Armaan" as Riddhima stuck her finger out, pointing towards him.

"Don't oye me, Ms. Riddhima, you ain't got anything to oye me for, I'm hungry and you were too lost in me, so I decided to eat!" As Armaan said once again teasing Riddhima.

"I'm hungry, Armaan mujhe kalo na!" As Riddhima opened her mouth.

"Here" As Armaan placed a small little piece in her mouth.

"Armaan, you know shahi paneer is my favourite sabzi, I love it!" As Riddhima had a bright smile on her face.

"Mine too, weird…"

As Armaan and Riddhima spent rest of the day together, Riddhima totally forgot about her sorrows and was fully embraced in her new friendship. She just forgot everything around Armaan, she felt different, like a new person. As Armaan and Riddhima's friendship grew every second, they both knew it was a start to something new.

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7 Days Later…

As Riddhima woke up one crisp morning, it was quite cold; the events that had taken place the last few days had worn her out, just a tad bit. She had accepted the new change. She had to move out of her house now, because she didn't have money to pay for it, so she moved in with Muskaan's family. For now she was in one of the huge rooms beside Muskaan's room, and it didn't feel completely like home, but it was her new home, so she accepted it. She knew what ever god does, is for good. And somewhere in this deep mess, something good will turn out to happen. She just had to wait.

As for her friendship with Armaan, it took an enormous step. It felt like the old times. Armaan was her biggest supportive system, he was there for her, and she knew that. She could trust Armaan with her life now; he was part of her family now. Even Armaan's parents treated her like their own daughter, Riddhima liked the attention, though it was kind of weird.

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As Armaan yawned, as the morning sun shone through the curtains, he couldn't believe everything that had happen in the last week or so. He thought he had come her for a trip, but it turned out to be ten times better or worse he couldn't decide. For sure it was better, but weird as well. He couldn't believe how good of friend he was with Riddhima. She was one his closest friend he had made since he came here.

As Armaan got up and went to the washroom, he looked in the mirror at his reflection. This was one tough Armaan that supported his friend through so much, he just couldn't believe he had those qualities in him. Riddhima was a special part of him now…

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As Armaan, was heading out his room, to go downstairs for breakfast, his phone rang, and quickly went back and picked up his phone.

"Sam, Hey whatsup" Armaan answered.

"Don't whatsup me, you totally forgot me once you came here, how could you?" The voice on the other line spoke.

"Ay, a lot has happened here, hard to explain, but you tell me how are you, really miss you lots"

"Aww, my poor bacha, shut up I don't take that for an excuse, a lot had happened, I'm good still, I shall come visit soon"

"No way, Sam you planning to come here, sounds awesome come nah"

"I'll , kay I gotta go I shall talk to you later, bye bacha" As they laughed on the other line

"Shut up, don't call me bacha, and bye"

As Armaan turn off the phone, he headed downstairs.

As he was walking down, he accidently bumped into Muskaan.

"Shit, I'm sorry, my fault wasn't watching" Armaan apologized.

"Yeah, was your fault and move loser" Muskaan retorted.

"What is wrong with you?"

"What is wrong with me, what is wrong with you, your like invading in my friends life, she doesn't need you there, she has us. You just came yesterday, and you think your so important, but guess what, you aren't we don't need you, and especially Riddhima, she doesn't need you either. Now, can you please move aside so I can go upstairs!"

Armaan couldn't believe what this little brat had just said to him, what did she think she was, the queen!

"Really Muskaan, I didn't see you there for your friend when she needed you the most, I didn't see you giving her a change for letting her feelings out. I didn't see anything a bestfriend would do for a friend in need of support. That's why I had to step in, and may I get his clear to you, I didn't step in because I needed to , it's because I couldn't see a friend in that condition. I don't know what kind of heart you have but, I'm sure it's not a heart of a true friend." Armaan replied angrily.

"You know what Armaan…"

As Muskaan tried to say something back to Armaan, someone screamed out

"Can you both just stop, I don't need your sympathy or support or anything I'm fine by myself. I thought I would be able to overcome this whole thing with the support of my friends and family, but I guess I don't even them now" Riddhima screamed, as she cried, and ran back into her room.

As both Armaan and Muskaan felt ashamed of what just happened, they decided to go up together and apologize to Riddhima.

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As Armaan and Muskaan both had apologized to Riddhima, and wanted them to give her some time, they both left for her room. As Armaan was heading back to his room, he heard some people talking…

"Hume Riddhima ki shaadi kar daaniye chahi…"

"Haan, hum usko is ghar mein inti dheer ki liye… ape jaante ho ki mein kya kare hoon na…"

"Haan, hum itna toh afford tho nahin kar sakhte hai, aur upre se Muskaan be shaadi karni hai, usliye be paisa…"

"Riddhima ko is ghar se jaana he hoga…"

Armaan was shell shocked; he couldn't believe what he just heard…