RECAP:
Signing, Muskaan held out her hand waiting for the guy to hand her the package. Instead, he removed his cap and looked at Muskaan.
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Part 5:
Muskaan screamed in surprise and delight.
"Armaaaaaaaaaaan!" She screeched, launching herself into his arms with such force it caused him to stumble back a few steps.
"Ooof... Muskaan... Have you ever considered taking up Rugby?" he teased as he held her in his arms.
Pulling back Muskaan punched him lightly on his arm.
"Chup kar Kotthe!" She smiled tearfully.
Looking around Armaan saw people staring and whispering.
"Ummm Muskaan I think humein andar chalna chahiye" He glanced sideways indicating the crowd that was now staring at them and whispering.
"Haan Chal andar chalte hain... Waise bhi ab jo meh tumhara hal karne wali hoon... Let's just say you wouldn't want an audience." She smiled sweetly. Too sweetly. Something was up.
"Oooh I'm scared" Armaan laughed.
Grabbing his hand, Muskaan pulled him into the room and closed the door behind them, as soon as the door closed she was on at him.
'You Idiot. Donkey. Monkey. Rat. Ullu. You Chooha' She yelled punctuating each word with a punch. 'You...'
'I think the word you're looking for is sexy beast' Saying the last two words in a husky voice, Armaan winked at her and grinned.
'Arghhhhh! You're IMPOSSIBLE!' She screamed, frustrated. She started punching him again, continuing her verbal tirade.
'Ok... Ok... Mike Tyson ki bichdi hui behn, agar tumhari Animal Encyclopedia ki recitation khatam hogayi ho toh kya main puch sakta hu why I'm getting such VIP treatment?' He asked sarcastically.
'You know why!' She levelled a stare at him.
'Ummm... No I don't...' Armaan looked confused.
'You.' She pointed an accusatory finger at him. 'Haven't bothered calling me in MONTHS and NOW
you show up!' She shouted.
'Bas?' Armaan chuckled.
'Bas?!' Muskaan screamed. 'What do you mean bas?!' She was almost hysterical now, pulling her arm back she got ready to swing at him again.
'No Muskaan... Muskaan Don't!' Armaan warned, shielding his face with his arms.
Cocking an eyebrow, Muskaan grinned mischeviously. Itna bada "macho man" banta hai and he's so scared of a little punch Muskaan thought struggling to keep the smile of her face.
*COUGH* *COUGH*
Rahul looked at Muskaan, amusement dancing in his eyes. Muskaan's angry expression faltered for a minute as she looked around her. She'd forgotten Rahul and Atul were here. From behind her Armaan turned towards Rahul and mouthed 'thankyou' at him, rolling his eyes in Muskaan's direction and making a circular motion near his temple. Rahul grinned back. He could tell Armaan adored her whether she was crazy or not. It was part of her charm, her... Attraction.
'Humein introduce nahin karaogi apne... Friend say?' Atul's voice broke into Rahul's thoughts.
'Haan Muskaan won't you introduce us?' Rahul turned his attention back to the conversation glad of the distraction from his thoughts.
'Sure.' Muskaan gave Armaan a steely smile. 'Rahul, Atul meet Armaan my friend'
'Sirf friend? Come on Muskaan we're more than that... ' Armaan looked wounded.
'No, we're not Armaan' She glared at him.
If looks could kill thought Armaan struggling to contain the laughter bubbling up inside him.
'I'm your boy-' He was cut off before he could finish.
'You're Riddh-' Muskaan was interrupted.
'Riddhima's boyfriend' Rahul finished. Everyone looked at him.
'How did you...?' Muskaan asked, her mouth hanging open in shock.
'I don't know...' Rahul looked as baffled as everyone else. He had no idea how he knew. He just did. The words had come pouring out of his mouth before he could think to stop them. He was going crazy. Oh My God he was crazy. Oh no. No. Oh No.
'Looks like it's true' Atul said. Everyone looked at him. 'Arre yaar, mene kahin padha tha ki a person in a coma remembers everything someonesays to them, issi liye toh mene Dr. Keerti se volunteer dundne ki baat ki thi' He looked at Muskaan and smiled. 'Taake maybe he'd get better quicker... Looks like it did the job...' Atul grinned.
Oh no... That means he's going to remember... Muskaan shook her head to get rid of the unsettling thoughts.
'Ohhh ok, that explains it' Rahul smiled. 'I'm not crazy' he whispered to himself in relief, grinning.
A few hours later...
'She didn't!' Rahul looked at Armaan in disbelief.
'She did' Armaan grinned.
'No!' Rahul couldn't keep the shock from his voice.
All this while Muskaan and Atul looked back and forth, back and forth as if they were watching a tennis match.
'You guys sound like a couple of 10 year olds' Muskaan looked mighty peeved. A snort of laughter escaped Atul's lips, meanwhile Rahul and Armaan were still chatting away, oblivious to Muskaan and Atul.
'I have pictures...' Armaan grinned boyishly.
Muskaan looked up, her eyes widening in shock.
He couldn't have... Riddhima said she'd destroyed all evidence of the so called 'Wild Years'... Riddhima and Muskaan had done some pretty wild things. Things they were more than happy to forget.
'... Now those I would LOVE to see' Rahul grinned at Armaan. Turning to Muskaan, he cocked an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Muskaan turned towards Atul, her head lowered to hide the blush creeping up her face.
'Come on guys stop teasing my Muski' he smiled. She smiled back gratefully, at least someone was on her side.
'At least not without me' he added, winking at Armaan and Rahul.
'Stupid, Idiotic... Idiots!' She whispered to herself as she went to sit down.
A little while later...
'Well guys... I'm off... I'm taking Riddhima out for dinner' He winked, getting up to leave.
'Can I get a lift with you Armaan? Daisy ko feed karne ka time hogaya hai' he said to both Rahul and Muskaan.
'Sure' Armaan grinned. 'You have kids?' He looked at Atul incredulously.
Atul laughed, whilst Rahul and Muskaan exchanged knowing glances.
'Tum chalo, main tumhe samjhata hu, let's walk and talk' he grinned.
Muskaan looked around at the now empty room. All to aware of the sudden silence.
'So...' She fiddled with the hem of her salwaar kameez, keeping her eyes fixed to the spot she was fiddling with, feeling uncharacteristically shy.
'So...' Rahul echoed, looking at Muskaan.
*COUGH* *COUGH*
Muskaan looked up concern clouding her features.
'Actually woh... I wanted to break the silence... Toh isliye tumhara attention lenne ke liye kiya'
Rahul grinned sheepishly. Muskaan laughed.
'So... Armaan seems like a nice guy' Rahul spoke again.
'He is' Muskaan brightened at the mention of Armaan.
'He seems to really care for you' Rahul added.
'Hmmm... if it weren't for him...' Muskaan cut herself off suddenly realising what she was about to say.
I've really gotta learn to think before I open my mouth she chided herself in her thoughts. Yeh main kya karne ja rahi thi'
'If it weren't for him what?' Rahul asked.
'... I wouldn't have got this job' She lied.
Rahul laughed, a deep throaty laugh.
I could listen to him laugh forever thought Muskaan dreamily. Wait, where had that come from? I'm just happy to see him awake. She reasoned with herself. That's all it is. Nothing more. At least that's what she would've liked to believe.
'You look lost' Rahul's voice interrupted her thoughts. 'Kya soch rahi ho?' he smiled at her warmly.
'Ummm...K...Kuch nahin...' She smiled shakily, how could she tell him what she'd really been thinking? She'd die of shame. A smile tugged at her lips. He is so adorable. The thought entered her mind unannouced. Stop! Muskaan yeh tu kya soch rahi hai? Focus. Focus. She inhaled and let out a deep breath.
'Earth to Muskaan' Rahul waved his hand in front of Muskaan's face.
'Huh? Wha... Oh.' She smiled weakly at Rahul, realising she'd drifted into her thoughts once again.
'So... Kya soch rahi ho? Jo itna interesting hai ki you're ignoring THE Rahul Grewal?' He teased.
If only he knew. thought Muskaan struggling to hide the grin forming on her lips.
'Ummm... Nothing bas main yeh soch rahi thi... How strange it is hearing your voice' Muskaan smiled. Rahul raised an eyebrow quizzically.
'I mean... After so many one-sided conversations it's great to finally be able to talk with you instead of to you... Know what I mean? It's just a little strange' She smiled again.
'Strangely, I know exactly how you mean' Rahul smiled back.
'Your voice is exactly how I imagined it would be' Muskaan sighed happily.
'What? Did you just say...' Rahul trailed off pleasantly surprised at Muskaan's statement.
Oh. My. God. OhmyGod.OhmyGod. She clapped her hand to her mouth. Had she just said that out loud? Dear Lord Muskaan tera mooh (mouth) hai ya bulldozer? She scolded herself in her head. Kuch soch... Kuch soch... Kya kahun...
'Ummm... I mean... Woh... Main... I... Aah.' Great. Now he's gonna think you're a gibbering idiot. Well done Muski. She grimaced.
Oh what the hell. Just tell him. It's not like he's gonna let it go any time soon she reasoned with herself, scowling.
'My voice is exactly how you imagined it...' Rahul prompted, grinning wickedly.
Muskaan groaned inwardly. He was enjoying this.
'You know how I was talking about one-sided conversations before?' She began. Rahul nodded.
'Well... Part of those one-sided conversations was imagining what you'd say back if you could reply and how your voice would sound...' She looked down in embarassment, anything to avoid looking into those bottomless eyes. 'That's what I meant when I said that' She continued.
'Look at me Muskaan' he whispered.
Looking up slowly Muskaan met his eyes and was surprised at the warmth and understanding she saw there. He understood. He didn't think she was crazy! Her heart did a somersault in her chest. She grinned at him.
'I'm just glad you don't sound like David Beckham' She teased. 'I mean he looks great but when he talks I just wanna laugh' Muskaan made a face.
'Oh, so you admit I'm good looking?' Rahul raised an eyebrow, teasing her back.
Muskaan blushed. 'You're so full of yourself' She laughed, punching him playfully on the arm.
Rahul laughed.
He sure was gonna enjoy his stay in the hospital ESPECIALLY if Muskaan had anything to do with it, he smiled to himself. Suddenly everything seemed brighter.
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So here it is guys... Part 5 😃... Dedicated to my CRAZY 🤪 Resortians for inspiring me... *COUGH COUGH* sorry... Threatening me to update 😆...
It might be a little boring though 😛...
Silent readers don't forget to (Please) press the Like Button 😆...
Edited by N786 - 15 years ago
Cricket
Anupamaa
