Recap: Armaan and Ridhima meet in a caf for studying. Armaan irritates Ridhima but finally they get down to some serious studying. However, Armaan cannot help joking around. He throws a dare at Ridhima. She accepts it but throws back at him in return. He sees his friends nearby and before they could see him, he dashes out of the place.
PART 4
(Still in flashback...)
One week later...
"Hey Muskaan!" Ridhima came out of the classroom in search of Muskaan, who was found lazing around in the corridors.
"Hi! How are you?"
"I am good... Accha listen, I am organizing a party next weekend... be there, all right?"
"Hmmm... What's the occasion by the way?"
"You don't remember, do you?" Muskaan shook her head. "Try and remember then, I am not going to oblige!" Ridhima dashed out of her sight angrily while Muskaan smiled. I wonder who else she is going to invite...
Later that day...
"Everyone invited?" Muskaan came up to Ridhima and asked.
"Yup! Everything done. I'm ready to go home for a nice long sleep." She sighed and stretched her arms. As she was doing so, Muskaan put her arms around her shoulders.
"By the way, ma'am. I haven't forgotten the occasion, I pretty much remember it. Kisi cute, jhalli ladki ka happy birthday hai!" Ridhima smiled her widest smile and hugged her best friend.
"Muskaan, why don't you come over tonight? It's been eternity since we had a sleepover!"
"Ok, as you say. I will have to ask my parents, though. I think they will agree."
"Of course they will!" Ridhima slapped Muskaan's cheek lightly. "Come soon, I will have everything ready. Bye!" Giving her a last hug she departed towards her house.
...
Her cell phone rang and Ridhima dashed to pick it up. She kept her guitar safely to one side.
"Hey Muskaan! When are you coming over?" Ridhima chirped.
"Oh God! I am so sorry Ridhima, I really can't come over today. Mom has a small injury and Dad is out of town. I will have to stay at home..." Ridhima's face fell immediately as she heard it.
"Hmm...," she muttered sadly. "How is aunty now?"
"She is fine, but she can't properly walk right now. Gosh! I am so sorry! I wish I could come. I hope you are not upset with me..."
"Oh! No, no! Not at all! Are you stupid? It happens, right? Don't worry about it."
"I wish I could. What were you doing by the way?"
"I was just strumming the guitar, as usual. I learnt to strum another song. I wanted you to hear it tonight."
"Don't make me listen to it right now. Just prepare yourself more for it and that will be the return gift for everyone on your birthday, okay?"
"Really? Do you think everyone will enjoy that?"
"Of course they will. Well, actually, everybody does enjoy listening you play. Not a problem. You'll be a star!"
"Thanks Muskaan. I will do as you say then. See you!" Ridhima cut the call, and settled back on the bean bag in the middle of the room, strumming her guitar.
On her Birthday...
Ridhima waited anxiously at the door. She was excited as hell about this party and couldn't wait for her friends to come. Her parents were in the kitchen preparing for the evening. The door bell rang and Ridhima dashed for the door knob and had it open even before Muskaan could withdraw her hand from the bell.
"Gosh! This is one desperate Birthday Girl!" Muskaan grinned at the ever excited Ridhima at the doorway and hugged her right away. "Happy Birthday yaar! I love you!"
"Thanks so much Muskaan! I love you too! Come on in." Ridhima led Muskaan inside the house and the latter was surprised to be the first one to arrive.
"No one's come yet?" She asked.
"Na! You're the first one just as I had expected. And I am glad that you're the first one jaaneman!
"You know we are get too flirty with each other these days, aren't we? I think we should stop doing that."
"What do you mean that we are being flirty?"
"On second thoughts, I kinda like it that way. I love to flirt with my best friend!"
"I still didn't get you though..."
"Dumbo!"
"Where's my present?"
"You wanted one?"
"Of course! I love presents!"
"Okay, wait right here. I'll go get it." Muskaan went out through the door and came back with a large packet. "Here you go. Open it fast!" She said handing out the gift to her.
Ridhima didn't say anything but concentrated only on her gift. She was happy as well as surprised to find a violin inside the wrap.
"OMG! I totally love this! This is awesome! Thanks Muski!" She gave her a rib crashing hug.
"Alright, alright, don't get over excited, please!"
"How come do you expect me stay calm and normal when I have received the best birthday gift?"
"Oh! I didn't know it was that special."
"Of course, it is! How did you know I wanted that?"
"Oh! That was easy. I had caught you a lot of times searching for books about violin in the library and you looked pretty interested to extend your talent. So I thought about gifting this to you, you would save on the time and it would make a good birthday present as well..."
"Correction: this is excellent!"
A couple of minutes later, more people had started to pour in with a present in their hand. Ridhima was extremely happy, this was her best day. She waited patiently for everyone to arrive so that nobody missed out on anything. But much to her dismay, her newest friend, Armaan, hadn't reached as yet. Much time had passed and Muskaan was pestering Ridhima to showcase her 'return gift' to everyone.
"Kiska wait kar rahi hai? Chal na, everybody is waiting. You don't want people to get bored on your birthday, do you?" Muskaan flanked Ridhima's side.
"No, no! Let's go!" She gave up and walked towards the centre of the living room and clapped her hands in order to catch everyone's attention. They turned towards her.
"I would like to show something to you. Rather, make you listen to something I have been practicing for a long time, I hope you like it. Please take your seats, everyone," she said with as much confidence as she could muster.
She sang the popular track 'Fifteen' by Taylor Swift. Her friends and family were surprised by her performance. Few people knew that she played the guitar and even fewer knew that she sang. It came as a surprise to them when she sang in front of an audience. Muskaan admired her friend from the back of the living room.
Meanwhile, Armaan had finally come. He was terribly late, and he knew that he would have to face some music from Ridhima's side. But as he was approaching the living room, he heard her voice. At first he was surprised, but later realized that Ridhima was a gem of hidden talents and that she won't cease to surprise him every time.
"She really sings or am I dreaming?" Armaan nudged Muskaan. He had come to stand besides her. In response she merely pinched him.
"Whoa! She has some great voice," he spoke in admiration.
Your very first day
Take a deep breath girl
Take a deep breath as you walk through the doors...
She finished singing, took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She was glad to see the smiling and happy faces before her. Then came the loud applause. Her eyes twinkled with excitement.
"Hey Birthday girl!" Armaan said.
"Armaan! Why did you arrive so early? The party hasn't even begun," Ridhima replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Don't be sarcastic, okay? I got late deciding what to wear. I am not good at deciding clothes."
Ridhima giggled.
"What?"
"Nothing, nothing at all."
"No, come on! Speak up."
"It's a surprise that a boy like you will have confusion on deciding what to wear. And did I tell you? You look like a joker right now. Thanks for the free entertainment!" She giggled even more and Armaan made a dirty face.
"I forgot to say it, happy birthday Ridhima!" The previously dirty face showed no signs of dirtiness now. Instead he gave her his biggest smile.
"Aww... Thanks you!"
"You want to look at your present?"
"Yes, of course! What have you brought?"
'Nothing extra-ordinary, still, I hope you like it..."
"Come on, show it to me." He handed it over to her. It was a small package. It contained a pendant. Although it was a piece of imitation jewelry, it was a beauty. From the end of it hung a beautiful 'R'.
"This is so good... Thanks Armaan!" She spoke and immediately wore it around her neck.
"You like it na?" Armaan asked.
"What do you think?" She flashed her brilliant smile.
"Okay, what is this singing and guitar thing all about?" Ridhima gave him a blank expression. She didn't get what he meant. "I mean, why didn't you tell me that you can sing and play the guitar?"
"It never came up, simple."
"Show-off!" Armaan teased and Ridhima hit him on his shoulder to make him shut up.
"Show-off!" He did it again and got another punch.
The cake was cut after some time and dinner followed. For Ridhima, this was the best birthday ever. She hadn't hosted too many parties in the past and she really enjoyed this experience. However, Armaan's presence hadn't gone down well with a few of Ridhima's friends. They didn't think of him in a very bright light and were actually shocked to see him there.
"Hey Armaan! Crashed here by mistake? I am sure you don't want to be here." Atul was the first one to say something about it.
"I don't know what exactly you are pointing at, but for your information, I am invited and this is my friend's birthday party which is exactly the place I will want to be at," he replied. Before Atul could say something, he left him.
Everyone took leave after some time.
Flashback ends (finally!)
~*~*~*~
"Is that all?" Anjali had been listening to Ridhima in rapt attention was disappointed when Ridhima stopped talking.
"You want more? Well, sorry. But I don't have anything else to say." Ridhima replied, amused at Anjali's response.
"And why is that?"
"It is because, he changed schools like after a month and I haven't seen him since."
"Don't you miss him?" Ridhima went silent at the question. She missed him; he was a dear friend of hers.
"Yes, sometimes. Like some time back when I didn't have a single friend here. I missed each one of my old friends."
"Aww... I hope you see him soon."
"Even I hope so..." Their conversation was interrupted by the loud noises from the university campus which meant the classes for the day were over.
~*~*~*~
I hope you like this part. Sorry for any mistakes, haven't rechecked it. This will be the last part where you get to see Armaan for a while, so enjoy! I made use of 'show-off'. I hope you guys remember that Bella addressed Edward like this. The Twilight Saga fever is growing up on me!
Please leave your valuable comments and suggestions. Do click the like button!
And as once Mia di provoked the silent readers, please make use of the Right to Speech granted to you all by the country! :D
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