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It was one of January's best days...unexpectedly cool with a slight breeze n an almost full moon beaming at them. The night was a quiet n a peaceful one, contrary to the hectic day he had had...n now as he nuzzled into her neck, her hands tightly clasped in his, the resolutions they had both very carefully created a few minutes ago were all thrown out of the window. Despite her breath taking a higher pace, as she felt him kiss the side of her neck, n her eyes closed as though in a world of their own, it was she who spoke first, not wanting to stop him, but knowing that he should..
'Armaan...' she whispered, sitting in between his legs, with her back to his chest, n his firm grip tightening with every breath, it was almost impossible to stop him..'Armaan..' she moaned, as she felt his lips all along the length of her neck, licking her, 'Armaan please..' she smiled slightly, n as he looked up at her, her breath was caught in her throat. What with that look his eyes contained, n the strong hold he had on her hands, n the sight smile his lips were curving into with the close proximity they shared, Riddhima closed her eyes yet again, unable to move another nerve.
He smiled, n kissing her cheek lightly, he put his arms around her, n then stared out at the sea. Sitting at a corner on the beach, up on those sturdy rocks, just the two of them..with not a soul to be seen, or any sound to be heard, this was what they had always dreamt of...to just sit in each other's arms on a quiet night like this one...This was one of their meetings before the wedding, before the official no-more-milna-julna between the bride n the groom...it was okay to be sitting there at almost midnight, the families knew, n after a quick desert at Mocha's, it was the beach that she had wished to come, so here they were...now, talking...
'Pagal ho gaye ho..paanch bache?'
'Of course...that completes a family, according to me..two girls n three boys..or no, two boys n three girls... yeah, thats better..'
'Armaan, first of all...five kids is totally out of the question...I mean, five?' she counted her fingers..
'Haan yaar...dekho, its very simple...tumne bas ghar par rehna hai, apna dhyaan rakhna hai, phir jab baby aa jaayega toh uske dhyaan rakhna hai..phir use bada karna hai, then the time for the next one..phir phirse apna khyal rakhna hai..use paida karna hai, uska dhyan rakhna hai..use bada karna hai...n like this, the process goes on n on..' it was quite short n simple...what was she giving him those looks for..? he wondered..
She stared at him..he was gonna be her HUSBAND??
'Armaan..see..' she thought he looked very serious about this whole thing, n it was then when it occurred to her that he needed to be explained things..'umm...sabse pehle..paanch bache aaj ke zamaane mein..is like impossible..okay? aur phir bache sirf paida karke rakhne ke liye nahi hote...unka dhyan rakhna koi mamuli si baat nahi hoti...iss sab mein humein bohot mehnat karni padegi..use ek ache school mein, achi padhai, ache dost, acha khana..yeh sab dekhna padega...'
What followed was some bickering about the number of kids, n Armaan coming up with the most bizzare of ideas n she hitting his chest while he teased her...n now, as she looked at him, somewhere in her mind she knew that it was not only that he had matured alot since that night on the beach...three years hence, today, he had also come to terms with the reality...it wasnt just possible to have kids one after the other...as he now had her face cupped in his hands, the tears stopped for a moment, n before she knew it, he had already begun speaking...
'Riddhima...I am sorry..I am really, really sorry, sweetheart...' he whispered against her lips, 'Mujhe iss sab mein ehsaas hi nahi hua ki its not only me, but you too who has to go through all this..I mean..' he paused as he looked at her eyes depicting confusion, 'I was worried..what if we would not be able to make it? Handling two little kids..is well..' he looked at her, as she stared back, 'pretty difficult..lekin maine iss sab mein yeh toh ek bhi baar nahi socha ki its both of us who just need each other, no matter what...' his fingers caressed her cheek as he continued, 'Please tum aisa matt sochna ki I am against this baby or anything...absolutely not..I love it more than anything else in the world..n always will chahe kuch bhi ho kyun na ho jaaye..' he said softly.
She looked at him n tried her best to understand the depth of his words, n the sentiments attatched to them. She did. '...Armaan, main bas darr gayi thi...shayad tumhaare hi tarah..' she sniffed, '..in kuch dinon ki doori ne mujhe behaka diya tha..I felt as if I just couldnt do it without you...not at all..' she broke down again in his chest, n his arms went around her tight, yet again. The fact that they both had been somewhere hurt deeply n even more so because of the unknown distance that they had managed to develop between them, was something neither of them could tolerate.
It was at that moment that they realised that for any such step in their life, it had to be them...them together to tackle any sort of situation. Armaan couldnt possibly keep his share of problems in his heart, without discussing it with her, n same went for her as well..The insecurities she felt couldnt be overlooked...today, they had both experienced the need that had aroused for each other...n it was tremendous. It had always been a proven fact that couples could not just take every step without the other person in the relationship, n now, it seemed more real than ever.
'Armaan...main yeh tumhaare bina nahi kar paungi Armaan...' she sobbed, clinging onto him, as he gently stroked her hair n kissed her forehead. She had been truly dead scared about it, n 'guilt' was not the exact word to describe what he was feeling at that point. She had been struggling through all this..they had been struggling through all this alone, but not any more...
'Riddhima, main kahin nahi jaa raha..am here, with you...' he pacified her to his best, knowing how much she needed him at that moment.
To just hold her in his arms, tight n secure, meant everything to Armaan...n he also came to terms with the fact that he had missed her...missed her so, so much. He pulled her closer to himself n then kissing her head again, he whispered, 'I am really sorry Riddhima...I love you...n this baby...I can never, ever wish to lose it, you know that...shayad agar hum dono ek saath honge toh yeh sab itna mushkil nahi rahega...hmm?' he looked down at her n she sniffed, nodding her head.
He bent his head lower, his hands on her waist, tighter than ever before n brushed his lips with hers. She closed her eyes as she tugged his shirt n then very gently, as he kissed her, she felt herself relax. He fondly put away a few locks of her hair from away her cheek n then rubbed his nose against hers. Drawing back, he slightly smiled to look at her with her eyes shut tight n her lips pursed. He couldnt resist, but to just lean forward n kiss her again. She gave in to the moment, n before either of them knew it, the magic had worked...leaving them feeling far better than they had felt in ages. She opened her eyes to look at him. 'I love you Basket...' he whispered softly, holding her as close to him as he could. She breathed softly as she kept her head on his shoulder, n leaning on to him. 'I love you too Armaan..' she muttered. He smiled, perhaps after a long, long time n bent his head to kiss her head, then closed his eyes as they kept standing, close to each other. Life could not have been more perfect, Riddhima sniffed.
....................................
'Ssshhhhhh,' he put his finger on her lip n motioned her to be quiet. She nodded slightly, n then leaned forward as they made their way into the sheets. Her tiny fingers made way upto her cheek, then on her head n finally to her nose, queaking it gently. Riddhima groaned, n turned her head to the other side. Armaan glanced mischieviously at her n then winked at Arima. They leaned more, till he was totally pressed into her, n Arima was sandwitched between them. He poked a finger into her ear, n she frowned. Then went her little hands to mess up her mommy's hair n she groaned again. Armaan smiled as he saw her pouting in her sleep, n then being the naughty one that he always was, he slowly moved his hand towards her stomach, n within seconds she was turned around, laughing as hard as she could. 'Armaaan!!!!! stop tickiling mee!!!' Riddhima laughed, n used all her strength to remove his arms from anywhere near her. She cocked an eye open n saw two naughty smiles beaming down at her. She stuffed her head into the pillow n closes her eyes tight. What? she frowned now, couldnt she get some sleep on an early Sunday morning?
'Riddhima yaar..utho please..hum bore ho rahe hain..' he said, looking down at her with Arima sitting in his lap, hitting on his leg. 'Armaan pleaseee..' he heard her mumble n he smiled. Then gently putting Arima aside, he came close to rest his head on her pillow. 'Uuummmmmm,' Riddhima groaned as she felt his hand going round her waist n pull her closer. He turned her face so she woud look at him n then grinning mischievously he leaned in to kiss her cheek. There went her head, stuffed back into the pillow as she groaned again, hitting his arm. He smiled slightly, n then making her turn her face again, she screamed, 'ARMAAANNN!! chodo mujhe...please sone do..' she frowned at him as he kissed the side of her head again.
Riddhima was one person you had to meet while she was sleepy. She was the funniest, silliest, n the cutest ever early in the mornings. She would come up with all types of words that ever existed, n some even not...rambling about peculiar stories that came upto her head while groggy, n Armaan, a witness to all this, would simply LOVE the Sleepy Riddhima!! She would be too cute..fighting with him to not wake her up, forgetting what day it was, n what time it was to get up, n how she would be sleeping, or that either her comforter or her pillow was down on the floor!
'Riddhima...Ridddhhhhiimmaaaa,' she heard him say it in a sing-song way, n pushed him back for disturbing her beauty sleep. He pulled her closer still, n tucked the loose strands of her hair behind her ear n then bent down to kiss her cheek.
'Armaaannn..' she groaned. He would always be this naughty in the mornings...n she hated it when she would not get her full seven hour sleep n then work the whole day with a terrible head ache. 'Armaan pllleeaasseee mujhe chodo..' she cried as she felt his lips lick her neck, n then stay there. He felt her palm push his face, but who was she competing against..Armaan!! he kissed her fingers n then looked at her as she frowned back at him.
'Good Morning sweetheart..' he moved forward to kiss her neck n then nuzzled it. She groaned a little, n took his hand that was clasped tightly on her waist.
'Nahi abhi nahi...' she mumbled, as sleepily as she ever had.
'Kya abhi nahi..?' he asked naughtily, rubbing the back of hand with her cheek.
'Armaan please..abhi nahi uthna..' she cried, closing her eyes tight, preparing herself for a long sleep.
'Really Riddhima..?' she could make out his voice as naughty as ever, n then she felt it. He put across his arms, n pulled her with a jerk, so she bumped into his chest. Smiling as she groaned, he bit her neck slightly n when he felt her hands hitting his arm, he slightly kissed her. She dug her head deeper in his chest, smiling as she did so.
'Riddhima...' he felt her lying quietly next to him, n that was when he decided to have some fun, '..kya kar rahi ho? Arima dekh rahi hai...' he whispered into her ear, n she looked up n saw him wink down at her. She turned her head to find Arima sitting behind Armaan, playing with her books, least interested at what else was happeneing in the world.
Still sleepy, she placed her head back against his chest, n closed her eyes.
.................................
'ARIMAAA!!!' he screamed...rushing at a pace he never knew he could inside Mother Care, n caught the glass bottle from her just in the nick of time before she could manage to shatter it into a dozen pieces.
She looked at him, clearly astonished, n then with her naughty smile she sheepishly let him pick her up in his arms, n then putting the piece back into the shelf, he turned to look at his daughter.
'Arima,' the strict, fatherly look didnt come that easily to Armaan, but remembering the conversation he n Riddhima had carried out a few days back about the little one's behaviour, he knew he had to be stubborn about all this.
'Aapko kitni baar bataya hai ki aise cheezein nahi chedni?' he frowned, n she looked at him n managaed a small gulp, 'papaa...do do dooo' she stretched her hand out making a little face, she spoke in a queaky voice, n he pointed, 'No..no..chalo dekho mumma kya kar rahi hain..' he held back her hand n walked towards a corner where Riddhima was choosing a few baby mats.
'Kya ho raha hai?' they heard her speak in her shrill, a-little-angry-n-a-little-irritated voice, not looking up from where she was choosing a few colours n shades.
'Kuch..kuch nahi,' he blurted out, taking a firm grip on Arima's hand, n stopping another disaster. He frowned at her, n knowing that it was a fake one, she smiled back at him, clearly enjoying herself by troubling him.
'Yeh bohot zyaada naughty ho gayi hai...Riddhima, remind me to throw away all her dolls from her room,' he looked at her, n at the mention of the word 'dolls' Arima hit his arm. Dolls were one thing she adored, n Armaan loved teasing her about all of them.
'Armaan' she spoke strictly, hearing Arima wail as he pinched her cheek, 'Use tang matt karo..'
'Riddhima please chalo..please..' he looked at her,' Tum jaanti ho main yahaan kitna bore hota hoon,' he pleaded, as he pouted. One of the salesgirls looked at him n smiled flirtatiously, he turned his back, tugging at her dupatta, 'Riddhima..plleeaasssee,' he whispered.
He seriously hated it when she would drag him along to these maternity centres n everyone would stare at them helplessly. Eeeeeeee!! he wanted to barge out of there just then!!! 'Riddhimaaaaa...'
She sighed, stood up with half a dozen sheets n looked at them, 'Chalo..' she said, much to his relief.
.................................
'Arrey Armaan..?! Riddhima?' Padma smiled, 'Kaise ho...hmm?' she hugged Riddhima, n then Armaan, who had Arima sleeping in his arms.
They walked inside the Gupta Mansion, surprising Padma who was busy in cooking when she saw them enter. She was ever so glad to see her children, n sitting in the living room, she turned to them, feigning annoyance...
'Kitne dino baad aaye ho...bilkul bhi yaad nahi aati kya?' she asked, looking at Armaan fondly, as Riddhima saw Arima fidgeting in his lap.
'Nahi Ma..aisi baat nahi hai..aap toh jaanti hi hain ki Sanjeevani se fursat hi kahaan milti hai..' Armaan said, handling Arima to Riddhima, who walked inside one of the rooms with her.
'Acha yeh batao, ki tum loge kya? Kaafi thakke huye dikh rahe ho..' she said, smiling at Armaan.
'Nahi bass..woh hum Mother Care gaye the aur..' n before he knew it, Padma raised her eyebrows, n for a moment, she gave him an amused look before she smiled fully, getting up to hug him, 'Congrats Armaan!'
Armaan smiled, as he hugged her back, 'Haan woh bass..humein abhi kuch hi din pehle pta chala..' he said awkwardly, not knowing whether Riddhima would be annoyed at him or not..
'Riddhima!! Beta Congratulations!' Padma said, as she saw her coming out of the room n hugged her, as Riddhima looked at Armaan with an interrogative look. He closed his eyes, n nodded.
'Tune mujhe bataya kyun nahi...hmm?' she patted her head, n Riddhima looked into her eyes that gleamed with happines of turning into a grandmother, yet again.
'Umm..woh bass...' she looked at her, n then at Armaan, a little embarassed at the mention of her pregnancy.
'Anyway, Shashank abhi aate hi honge...unhein bhi toh pata chalna chahiye ki hamari ek aur nanhi se bitiya aane waali hai..' she pinched Riddhima's chin, n said, 'Chalo..tum baitho, main kuch peene ko laati hun, hmm?' Patting her head, she walked towards the kitchen.
'Riddhima..' he frowned at her as she sat next to him, 'Tumne inhe bataya nahi ki iss baar humein ek aur beti nahi beta chahiye..' putting an arm around her, he looked down at his wife.
'Armaan,' she said, 'sabse pehle toh tumne Ma ko bataya kyun? Maine kaha tha na ki main bataungi..aur phir abhi beta hoga yeh beti..please tum iss baare mein phir matt shuru ho jaana..'
'Aiyee, maine kuch nahi kaha tha..woh unhone pucha toh maine aise hi Mother Care keh diya so thats how she guessed...n mark my words, iss baar beta HI hoga..' he looked at her n she shook her head..this was going to go on for the rest of her six months.
'Ahem..ek aur baby?'
Armaan n Riddhima turned around to see Anjali standing there, with an amused look on her face, as she removed her glasses n smiled at them.
'Di!?..aap kab aayi?' Riddhima was so happy to see Anjali after a long period of time. Last was at Arima's birthday, which made it nearly a month or so. As she hugged her little sister, Anjali smiled, looking down at her, 'Congratulations Ridzie!! Am so happy for you..' she uttered, n Riddhima knew she meant every word...'Thank you di...' she squeezed back her hand.
'Hey Anj!' Armaan looked at her, 'How are you doing gorgeous?' he kissed her head n then saw the little monster, Arjun, run inside, with an ice stick in his hand laughing as he looked behind him. Closely following him was his dad. Atul sighed, taking each step as though it was a huge burden on his heart, with a face that made Armaan sneer.
'Hey Champ!...kya ho raha hai yaar?' there was no need to ask though, as Armaan noticed Anjali carry out a smug look as she placed herself on one of the sofas, n said, 'Dont ask Armaan...just thank God that am still safe n alive with these two morons crowding around me like mad all day n night..'
Armaan scoffed...so typical a Joshi family scene! He received a frwon from Riddhima, n quickly changing his looks to those of sympathetic ones, he spoke, 'Yeah..I can understand Anjie...how it all must be..'
She rolled her eyes n looked at him closely to find any jitter of sarcasm in him...surprisingly, she found none.
'Caught you big boy!!' his two strong n sturdy arms leapt Arjun off the ground as he picked him up feeling him hit his arms, as he laughed.
'Anjali?' Padma cried, 'Arrey waah!! mere itne dinon se tamanna thi ki tum log aao...lagta hai aaj unhone sun hi li..' she smiled at her daughter, n then looked at Atul, who had by now managed to walk upto the room, n explained to his mom-in-law about how while running after Arjun he had tripped off a stone n got a little sprain in his leg.
'So guys...aaj ka plan kya hai?' Armaan looked at Riddhima n Anjali, as they shrugged their shoulders. He thought for a while before saying, 'Lonavla...what say?'
...........................
P.S. Umm..okay, this didnt come out the way I wanted it to be...forgive me if it bored you guys!
Anyway, am off for a week now..have a few friends coming over...n plan to go visit my homeland...Shimla!! So I'll be back after some days...all i can say is..miss me!!
Am replyin to u guys, right after this...so dont burst out on me :P
And yeah, about my other fic, 'Love is always worth it' ...umm THAT is still to be worked out, so most prolly next week I'll continue with it
And oh!! My dogguz doing well..thanks for asking!!
Take Care!!
Love,
Spriha
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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