PART XXXVII
"Hi mom!" Ridhima asked as she walked into the living room, followed by Armaan, to give Shashank a hug!
"Hi beta..just get Suman to lay the table while I get dad's food..oh Armaan? How are you beta? What a surprise!" Padma smiled at him, "I haven't seen you last few days?"
"I am good aunty, how are you?" Armaan gave her a quick hug, "I was away to Delhi, just came back, so dropped in to see how you were. Couldn't resist the study so picked up a couple to read" pointing to the books in his hand, "Good evening sir. How are you?"
"Good evening Armaan. I am fine, thank-"
"Dad! Just sit down! What did the Doc say ma?" before Shashank could complete his sentence, Ridhima interrupted as she made Shashank comfortable on the sofa and pulled up an ottoman for him to rest his feet.
"I am not an invalid Ridhima, just recovering from a heart attack that occurred a few weeks ago" Shashank's sardonic protest fell on deaf ears, "and the doctor said that my recovery has been splendid and that I am fine enough to get back to work on a limited basis, should I so desire."
"However, you shall not so desire" Padma cut in firmly in a voice that brooked no interference, "not for another week or two at least. I am not risking your health over 10 hours of work this week. We'll see next week" as she walked off into the kitchen
"All right, I won't...have you seen Armaan how the two of them bully me? They are tough women" Shashank threw up his hands in a resigned manner.
"I can empathise sir, I see Ridhima in college everyday" Armaan smiled as Ridhima gave him a dirty look.
"...so you can well imagine what I have to deal with" Shashank laughed, "even my union is less formidable than the two of them together. So how come you went off to Delhi in the middle of a semester. Ridhima tells me your family is based there?"
As they chatted, Armaan was delighted to find that Shashank knew his dad professionally. Shashank was a keen conversationalist and by the time Ridhima came to get him for dinner, Armaan was startled to realise how much about himself he had revealed to Shashank. If it wasn't for the fact that Ridhima's parents were unaware about their relationship, he could have sworn Shashank was getting the low down on him!
"Good night sir" Armaan said as Shashank got up for dinner, "I'll take your leave. I need to get back home"
"Stop being so formal Armaan, and, yes, stay for dinner" Padma called out as she walked out of the kitchen, "Ridhima tells me that you came here straight from the airport. She would be really upset if I let you go without dinner, won't you Ridhima?"
"Huh?" Ridhima was a little taken aback at the unexpected question, "ya, sure."
"Yes, do that son. Come on, pull a chair" Shashank waved away Armaan's protest, indicating that he take the seat next to him.
"Thank you sir, but I do have to leave. I have a car and driver waiting outside who by now must be contemplating running away with my overnighter to recoup his money...." Armaan laughed, "Good night aunty"
"That's not a problem Armaan, Ridhima can drop you home after dinner...or did you only come to see her? And here I thought maybe you had also dropped in to see me!" Padma smiled as Armaan looked a little flustered.
"Mom!" Ridhima protested, "what's wrong with you?"
"Well, seemed a perfectly reasonable question to ask" Padma looked at Ridhima with mock indignation, "Why? I shouldn't have?"
"Of course not, you can, but he is my friend mom, so it's logical that he would have come to see me, na?" Ridhima countered refusing to rise to the bait and someone needed to rescue poor Armaan, "Anyways, I think it's late, we've got school tomorrow, so I think he should be getting home, right Armaan?"
"I think it would be really nice if you both would allow Armaan to decide for himself but by all means entertain yourselves...I have finished and am going to call it a day" Shashank watched in amusement as mother and daughter happily sparred much to poor Armaan's discomfort, "Goodnight Armaan, learn from my experience and ignore the two of them..."
Grateful for the diversion, Ridhima gestured for Armaan to make his escape. Bidding everyone a hasty farewell, Armaan made his escape as Padma fussed over Shashank as he walked off.
Ridhima nervously twirled the food in her plate, her appetite gone, as she felt Padma's eyes on her while they both finished dinner. She had a sinking feeling that her mother had figured the truth about Armaan and her; how was she going to explain why she hadn't told her anything? But she had wanted to wait till Anjali's shadow......
Padma wondered when her little girl had suddenly grown up, or maybe she had just not noticed. Ridhima had never hidden anything from Padma before - all her crushes, relationships ' Padma had always been her confidant but now..... While she knew Armaan genuinely liked and respected her, Padma was beginning to suspect that it was the younger Ms. Gupta who was the object his attention. In fact, Padma was in little doubt that she had found that "someone" on whose account Ridhima had been so miserable just a few weeks ago. But it bothered her that Ridhima had not talked about it. Her normally ebullient daughter had never been hesitant before. She had noticed the two of them together over the last week or so, and Armaan's indulgence of and concern for Ridhima was obvious. However Armaan's absence the last couple of days, and, Ridhima's hassled preoccupation had made her wonder if she had been wrong in her surmise and this was just a fleeting infatuation. She worried about Ridhima ' she tended to keep her emotions bottled up when she was hurt. But tonight, the heightened colour on her daughter's cheeks, as she had come out of the study, had not escaped Padma's keen eyes, nor had the fact that Armaan had come straight from the airport to see Ridhima even before going home. Still there was something that didn't strike her as right. Was there something that was bothering Ridhima that she had chosen to hide her relationship from her mom?
Unnerved by the silence, wondering what was going through Padma's head, worried that her mother might be upset with her, Ridhima ventured a hesitant, "Ma?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you need anything else or should I ask Suman to clean up?" Ridhima asked as Padma absently shook her head, "er..why are you so quiet, ma? All ok?"
"You know Ridhima, relationships are strange things....you don't realise when they get formed, but once they do, they need a lot of care and nurturing....especially a man woman relationship....it's fragile and needs a lot of care, trust and maturity....many relationships crack under the weight of expectations and inability to communicate.....bottling up emotions never helped..."
"Ma, why are you saying all this to me now?" Ridhima asked hesitantly as Padma seemed to be lost in thought.
"Are you in love with him Ridhima?" Padma's next words almost made her drop her plate.
"Ma....I...er..I mean.."
"Yes or no?"
"Ma....I." Ridhima was unable to fathom Padma's reaction from the non-committal look on her face.
"Ridhima, either you are or you aren't! Can't be that difficult, there isn't a third option." Padma drummed her fingers on the table as she continued to look steadfastedly at her. "By the way" her expression softened at the panic on Ridhima's face, "if you do, I approve"
*****************************************
Ridhima looked up from the book she was reading as Armaan slid into the seat next to her. To her surprise, he pulled the book out of her hands and then proceeded to flick though it with great curiosity.
"What?" Ridhima asked shaking his arm as he continued to flick through the other books lying in front of him, a look of intense concentration on his face, "Armaan!"
Clearly unsuccessful in finding what he had been looking for, he sighed, elbows on the table resting his chin on interlocked fingers. Unable to contain her curiosity, she pulled his elbow causing him to jerk and look at her. She raised her eyebrows questioningly before indicating the books.
"
A special world for you and me
A special bond one cannot see
It wraps us up in its cocoon
And holds us fiercely in its womb"
Startled, Ridhima looked at him, surprised that he remembered a verse that she had penned and then scratched out a long time back. She looked at his quizzically, "nothing...just hunting for lost poems in library books..' he smiled as she shook her head eyebrows raised," doesn't qualify as a dirty look my love...you just look cute." he finished.
"God, stop being cheesy Armaan Mallik...and while you might have finished slogging for your first year, I still have to clear it. So let me study...go find someone else to bother."
"Really?" he grinned at her, "you are sure? You won't give me grief later? If I remember correctly, Marguerite was quite a firebrand in her own right."
"Of course, and, if I remember correctly, I told you I am terribly territorial" Ridhima gave him a sugar sweet smile, "and I was talking about someone to bother, not someone to hook
up with"
"Jealous?" Armaan asked with mock seriousness.
"He who is not jealous is not in love" Ridhima countered self-righteously, giving up all pretence of studying.
"You know envy can be a positive motivator. You should let it inspire you to work hard for what you want" Armaan responded sagely, wondering how she would react. But to his surprise she became very quiet. "Ridhima?" as she continued to stay silent, he shook her gently, "hey, I was just kidding-"
"I know" she smiled self deprecatingly, as she got up and collected the books "its nothing...come on let's go...in any case the library will shut in half hour...I'd better head home..." and as Armaan eyed her speculatively, "come on....aren't you going to drop me home?"
"Ridhima" Armaan caught her hand as she started to walk, "you are still mulling over whatever happened while I was away.' It was a statement and not a question.
Ridhima looked at him startled. How had he guessed? Their innocuous play with words had evoked memories of Anjali's outburst and ruined the moment for her. She knew she was being unreasonable and perhaps she should share her unease with Armaan but Anjali's tear stricken face stopped her. To tell Armaan that Anjali was in love with him was Anjali's prerogative, not hers. Anjali was suffering enough on her account, she couldn't add to that misery by revealing her breakdown to Armaan. "Nothing...come on.....before we get thrown out for making noise" she managed a smile, feeling Armaan's gaze on her back as she checked out the books at the counter.
To her surprise, Armaan didn't take her straight home, and, drove instead to the fort at Bandstand. For a moment Ridhima's heart sank wondering if he was going to pursue his query at the library, but to her surprise he just lounged on the parapet, watching the sea as he held out his hand for her to join him. The sounds of the waves crashing against the cliff on which the fort stood, soothed her nerves as she glanced at the man sitting next to her, seemingly completely at peace. She envied him this equanimity, grateful that he did not bring up the topic again. He never ceased to surprise her, which reminded her, "Armaan?"
"Hmm?"
"How come you remembered that verse that I had written? I had actually scratched that out because somehow I felt something was missing.."
"I don't know.. it just stayed with me..." Armaan responded, linking an arm through hers, as he suddenly smiled, "do you remember how I tormented you with it at the pub?"
"I think I should remember! God I was so stressed, didn't know which was worse, singing in front of an audience or letting everyone read my poem! You really had me over coals on that one! Wretch!" she laughed as she remembered her dilemma.
"If I remember correctly, it blew up in my face, and how!"Armaan grinned at the memory, "but I have a confession to make..." Ridhima leaned back a little to see his face clearly, "when I heard you sing....you know the first thought that crossed my mind?' as Ridhima raised her brows questioningly, "I wondered what it would be like if you were singing to me, for me?" he said sheepishly as Ridhima looked at him disbelievingly, "no am serious, I did, so much so that I impulsively even asked you for that close dance. I had to practically knock myself on the head to bury that thought some place where I would not find it..." he grinned as she ruffled his hair indulgently.
"You know that was the first time I admitted to Rahul and myself that I found you attractive" Ridhima admitted, "despite your caveman act that night!" she gave Armaan a haughty look as he chortled with laughter at her description, "I was so confused that night, but Rahul thought you had a lot of honesty and integrity - a straightforward, no nonsense chap who would always be a pillar of strength"
"It seems like Rahul trusts me more than you do"
Armaan said quietly. Sensing the change in the mood, Ridhima looked at Armaan anxiously, "Armaan?" she asked hesitantly. "I meant what I said that day Ridhima, I will not coerce you into saying anything, but there's something I'd like you to-" he stopped as he shifted a little to pull out something from his pocket.
Surprised to see a small gift wrapped box in his hands, she looked at him quizzically, 'open it" he instructed gently.
Ridhima's breath caught in her throat as she drew the ring from its velvet case with shaking fingers ' the entire shank encrusted with small diamonds, it appeared to sparkle with an intensity that matched the accelerated thudding of her heart. She looked up at Armaan, tears starting to blur her vision as she barely managed to whisper, "Armaan?"
"Don't cry sweetheart, I promise when we get formally engaged, it will be a huge one" Armaan wiped away a tear, as Ridhima managed a laugh at his facetiousness.
"Just because that night...just because I was....you didn't have to" she whispered still looking at the ring.
"I didn't have to..." his intense gaze did nothing to steady her emotions, "I wanted to"
"Eternity ring?" she finally looked at him questioningly.
He nodded smilingly as he took the ring and slid it onto her finger, "a promise to love and trust forever...I don't know what it is that's bothering you Ridhima or why you will not share it with me...for what its worth, this ties me to you in ways that even a wedding / engagement band would not.....a pledge that no matter what, I'll always be here with you, for you....and notwithstanding all your fears and insecurities, you should have no doubts that I love you..."
********************************
Anjali looked at her mobile phone for the umpteenth time debating whether to call back Armaan or not. It had been two days since her crazy outburst with Ridhima ' two unbearable days and countless excruciating moments where she had alternated between cursing herself and living in trepidation of the moment when she would have to finally face Armaan.
"Coward!" she berated herself as she looked at herself in the mirror, "hiding from the consequences of your actions! How could you Anjali?" asking herself the question about the hundredth time in the last two days didn't help her get any closer to an even remotely acceptable explanation. Never before in her life had she ever lost control like this. Yes, in the past she had been unable to control her irritation with Ridhima but to confess her love for Armaan and to plead with Ridhima ' how would she face Ridhima after this? What would Ridhima think of her? A weak, snivelling fool, unable to control her emotions, willing to expose her vulnerability and beg for relief from her tormentor....but she had been unable to help herself...seeing Armaan bid Ridhima goodbye ' it was almost like something had snapped...the obvious familiarity in the way that they stood together, the hint of intimacy in the way Armaan had looked at Ridhima, the obvious comfort in each other's presence hinted at a relationship that probably transcended a normal friendship ' and she had lost control. Ironical wasn't it? She couldn't confess her love to the object of her affections but had spilled it out to the object of his affections?
If it was not enough to have made a fool of herself, she was now hiding like a skunk.
She had been unable to force herself go to school the last two days, preferring to find comfort in the unquestioning familiarity of her room and the comforting affection of her mom. She knew her mother was curious about her bunking school but thankfully had chosen not press for any answers. However, she couldn't hide forever, Anjali sighed, she would need to face Ridhima and Armaan sometime unless she intended to finish her MBA by correspondence, she smiled ruefully at the thought. But more than Ridhima, it was the thought of facing Armaan that filled her with trepidation..she was sure Ridhima would have told Armaan about her outburst...what would he think of her? How would he react? Would he be very angry with her? Scornful of her behaviour? Disbelieving of her confession? Disappointed at her outburst? Ashamed of their friendship?
This wasn't quite how she had imagined confessing her love to him......but she wouldn't be able to deal with his contempt. Oh God, what had she done? But she couldn't keep hoping to postpone the inevitable by running away and hiding, could she? No she couldn't be a coward...she needed to get back to school and face whatever happened....
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her door. On opening the door, she was surprised to see her mother ushering Ankit in. "Why don't you guys talk? I will send in some coffee. Ankit, coffee is ok or would you prefer some tea or something cold?" her mother smiled, glad to see one of Anjali's friends, maybe Ankit might be able to pull her out of whatever was bothering her.
"Coffee sounds wonderful aunty, thank you so much...and could I please get something to eat too? please...am coming straight from school, I am famished!" Ankit smiled beguilingly at Anjali's mom as she smiled in response, ruffling his hair on her way out. Still smiling, he turned to look at Anjali. She looked a little woebegone, much like a little girl. He waited in silence for her to say something and then after a while "Hi! How're you?"
Anjali smiled despite herself, "Ankit, you came all this way to ask how I was?"
"So?'
"So?" Anjali looked at him with raised eyebrows, "so what?"
"You tell me?" Ankit responded.
"What should I tell you?" Anjali looked at him exasperatedly
"How should I know?" he responded teasingly, "the last time I was inside a woman's head was when I was inside the Statute of Liberty!"
"God... stop being corny, Ankit! Why are you here?"
"I am heartbroken" Ankit responded in mock dejection, "here I am, all worried about my best friend, come knocking on her door to find out how she is and all she can do is to ask me to stop being corny...I am absolutely devastated!"
"Oh please! Stop being facetious and funny...this is so not you...stop trying to be-"
"-like Armaan?" Ankit asked quietly, the teasing look gone, replaced by a piercing gaze that made Anjali shift uncomfortably as she looked away, unwilling to let Ankit read her expression.
"Armaan? Why Armaan?" Anjali faltered a little as she turned to her table trying to tidy it.
"Come on Anjali, cut the crap....we've been through too much together emotionally for you to play hide and seek with me" he responded curtly, and then as he realised he was being tough, he softened, "I am sorry...look.. I was worried...you didn't come in for 2 days, you wouldn't take calls...Armaan also mentioned that he had called you a number of times but you didn't take the calls, nor did you return his calls...we were all worried-"
"All?" Anjali looked at him instantly, "or just you?"
"All of us" Ankit reiterated firmly, "Armaan too...why didn't you return his, Atul or my calls?"
"Nothing...I...just wasn't feeling too well.."
"Liar" he sighed as he moved closer to raise her chin forcing her to look at him, "What happened?" it bothered him to see the usually strong and headstrong Anjali look so unsure and vulnerable. He could understand some of her pain, after all they were in the same boat, weren't they? In love with people who were in love with someone else?
"Nothing..." Anjali's lips quivered. Weighed down by her guilt, tormented by her fears, Ankit's gentleness was almost her undoing.
"Anjali, this is me, remember? You can talk to me..." and when she continued to remain silent, "it's to do with Armaan, isn't it?"
Anjali nodded as she finally let go of the restraint she had had been exercising, as Ankit held her, patting her hair as she cried. "Come on, sit down, have a hot cup of tea and we'll talk...ok?" he asked as a knock on the door ushered in the tea.
"I have been such a fool, haven't I?" Anjali waited for Ankit's denouncement of her actions as she finished narrating everything.
"Yeah, you have been but not as much for what you did as for trying to run away.."Ankit smiled to take the bite out of his words, "Anjali.." he took her hand in his, "running away never resolved anything...if anything, the longer you postpone it, the more difficult it will be to face...and facing it, you'll have to, there is no getting around it....."
"I know Ankit, believe me I have berated myself for being a coward like a hundred times but each time I thought about school, my courage failed me..."
"Fancy a little Dutch courage?"
Smiling at his feeble attempts to cheer her up, Anjali shook her head, "how am I going to face Ridhima, Ankit? She must be wondering what kind of-"
"Trust me Anjali, the last person you need to worry about is Ridhima...she is a sensitive and gentle soul...whatever I know of her, she's probably more distressed thinking about your distress..."
"You seem to know a lot about her" Anjali sniffed as she took the tissue Ankit offered her, "I can see falling in love has made you really sensitive to a woman's feelings.."
"I guess...it has..." Ankit ran his hand through his hair a little bashfully, and then after a moment's silence, "at least it has for the people you love...you're so much more tuned to their likes and dislikes, their moods, what makes them happy.. you notice the smallest inconsequential things like how she chews her nails and bites her lip when she is pre-occupied... how she disdainfully raises her eyebrows when she's irritated..." Ankit stopped, wondering in the silence that followed, whether he had said too much and given himself away.
"So?" Anjali asked quietly when he finally looked up at her.
"No" Ankit shook his head
"Means so little?"
"No... far more than you can imagine..."
"Then why?" Anjali whispered a little bewildered.
"Sometimes, that's not reason enough...." as Anjali continued to look at him questioningly, "... there is a small question of sphere of influence and impact...which needs to temper perspective...' as he seemed to be lost somewhere.
"You know just then...when you said that....that bit about sphere of influence.... this entire conversation.... you sounded just like Armaan...if it weren't for the voice, you could be Armaan- "
"I could never be an Armaan Anjali, not to you and never to her..." Ankit trailed off, still lost, as he contemplated the futility of that thought.
"Hope to be an Armaan? To her? Why to her? Does she know Armaan? Who? Huh?" she sounded confused till something clicked and she covered her mouth in shock as she realised the implication of his inadvertently uttered words, "Oh my God...you ...no....it can't be....you and Ridhima....no, this can't be happening...when..I. mean how...Ridhima?" she whispered questioningly, repeating the name, trying to absorb what she had just about figured, "NO..it can't be....." and then seeing the stricken look on Ankit's face, "I am sorry Ankit" as she moved forward to hold him in a comforting hug, "I am sorry.."
**********************************
"Atul, have you seen Armaan?" Ridhima asked breathlessly, stopping besides Atul, trying to catch her breath. She had been trying to locate Armaan in between classes and unable to locate him, had run to catch up with Atul as soon as she spied him.
"Strangely enough I should be asking you this question my girl considering the fact that he appears to have forsaken his old friends." he smiled teasingly.
"You disappoint me Atul, I would have thought you would have been a little less clichd and predictable" she scrunched up her nose at him haughtily, "but where is he?" her impatience getting better of her.
"Before I think of answering that, why are you in such a tizzy?" Atul smiled affectionately at her. Really, sometimes Ridhima was such a little child, completely without pretence and so spontaneous, Armaan really had stood no chance.
"I am sorry, I should have asked you too...there is a live performance by George Zamfir day after tomorrow ' a supper concert at the Oberoi and I want to go...do you want to go? I was hoping I might get Armaan to come with me..." Ridhima trailed off as Atul looked a little puzzled, "you don't know Zamfir?" she looked at him incredulously, "He is the most famous exponent of the pan flute...I've grown up hearing him...and it would be wonderful to hear him play live..."
Atul shook his head regretfully, "I hate to disappoint you Ridhima, but unfortunately my cultural education was a little stunted....and I suspect Armaan is not going to be a very enthusiastic or willing volunteer either, though of course, his compulsions are vastly different from mine..." he laughed as Ridhima whacked him on the arm, " Why don't you ask Anjali? She loves all kinds of instrumental stuff...you know Ridhima it is so strange.... it's amazing how different the two of you are as individuals and yet in some of your likes and interest, you are so alike..."
Even as he finished speaking, Atul couldn't help noticing how Ridhima momentarily stiffened at the mention of Anjali's name. Mentally castigating himself at the faux paus, he was surprised nevertheless...much as Anjali may have taken off on Ridhima once in a while, Ridhima was too sensible to let it affect her, but he was sure he had not imagined the startled expression on Ridhima's face at the mention of taking Anjali along, followed by a rigidness, almost like Ridhima was holding herself in check, afraid to say or do anything. While he had suggested Anjali's name in all earnestness albeit unthinkingly, aware that Anjali loved instrumental music, with hindsight it might not to be a bad idea for the two women to bond over something that they were passionate about....other than Armaan of course, he thought wryly.
"er...no..I mean..yeah...I..I am not sure.....let me see...maybe the next time-"
"Ridhima" Atul interrupted her gently, "it was just a suggestion, instinctive but misplaced and unthinking, completely unintentional and you don't have to explain..."
"No, I didn't mean that-" Ridhima fumbled wondering how to react. How could she explain to Atul why she couldn't ask Anjali?
"She is not a bad kid Ridhima....unfortunately caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.....that's all........she's a good kid and a great friend...she's just hurting right now.... so just give her time."
"I...I didn't...what?." Ridhima looked at Atul startled wondering how much he knew, "Do you-" she started to ask when Atul shushed her, "Don't let it affect you or your relationships Ridhima...don't allow it to stress you.....that moment when you realise that you've lost something precious is difficult to deal with...she'll get over it...she just needs a little space and time.....what is important is the reality and truth of your relationship..." and as Ridhima nodded slowly he gave her a gentle push, " now go, the last I saw, your Scarlet Pimpernel was heading towards the council room"
As Ridhima walked towards the council room, Atul's words kept ringing in her ears. Did Atul know? Had Anjali told him about their conversation? No, somehow she didn't think so. Anjali and Atul maybe good friends but Anjali was too proud to admit her fallibility to him. With her, Ridhima suspected it had just been a moment of weakness. Whatever Anjali's faults, Ridhima didn't believe that Anjali would deliberately say all of that. So should she tell Armaan or let things be, hoping that this would pass? Maybe Atul was right - she just needed to give Anjali time...she knew how she would feel if she was in Anjali's shoes and Armaan loved Anjali and not her. As she shuddered at the thought, seeing Armaan leaning against the council room door, she resolved to keep her peace.
"Armaan!" she called out as she quickened her pace, "where have you been? I have been looking all over the school!'
Armaan turned around in irritation as he heard his name being called. He had just managed to find Anjali and was concerned to see her looking very subdued and for the lack of a better word, fearful. Having just about exchanged a few words, the last thing he wanted was to be pulled out by someone for something inconsequential, and then play this wait and chase game all over again. What was it with women? Why couldn't they just talk? The frown was replaced by a quizzical look as he recognised the voice and turned to see Ridhima walking towards him, clearly excited about something. This obviously negated any chances of talking to Anjali but Ridhima looked so excited that his irritation just melted away.
"Armaan? Where have you been?" she questioned, tapping him on the shoulder "Its like looking for a needle in a haystack...I wanted to show you this" she waved the newspaper under his nose, "a Zamfir concert that I am dying to see...please, please, please can we go? Rahul & Muskaan refused point blank, even Atul says no-" Ridhima stopped short as she registered Anjali's presence, "I am sorry, I didn't realise that you were not alone".
Anjali's subdued demeanour didn't escape her. She could sense an uncomfortable silence indicative of a suspended conversation. Once again she was the interloper, she acknowledged wearily as she slowly removed her hand from Armaan's shoulder, "Hi Anjali.... I am sorry.... I didn't see you" stepping back, her body language almost apologetic for the trespass. Seeing apprehension clearly etched on Anjali's face, in her hesitant acknowledgement of Ridhima's presence, Ridhima thought she sensed an earnest plea beseeching help, almost like she was imploring her to step back. As she backed off, to her surprise, she was halted in her tracks, her wrist held in a firm grip. "After hunting for me all over the place, where do you think you are pushing off?" the twinkling eyes and the firm grip on her hand, bellying her misgivings.
*******************************
Ok guys, here's the next part...very delayed I know...but lots happening in my life right now...most of it quite exciting and a cause for celebration, so please, please forgive me the delay...in between all of this, how I have managed to pen down a part is a source of wonder to me!
I know I said I will wrap up in 2-3 parts some while ago (lol) but am afflicted by foot-in-mouth and inability-to-be-succinct diseases! 😆
I know many of you feel that the pace is exceedingly slow and that the Anjali bit is dragging but in my experience ' both first 😉 and second hand 😊 ' relationship problems almost always do...we are usually reluctant to rock the boat and scared to admit our fallibility and so we subject ourselves and others to torture that could have been less drawn out! It takes the really brave and the iron willed to acknowledge reality quickly and move on. But this is a story, and, in the interest of its readability (I suspect that's not even a word), I should be hastening the pace, lest I begin to sound like an Ekta Kapoor serial, 😆! So, I promise to try and do so! Bear with me please!
And now that I have updated a part, I can, with all the righteous indignation that I can muster, ask for updates from all my favourite authors whose FFs have not been updated (😉) ahem..ahem...for a long time! And for all of those who have been updating regularly a big HUG! Kudos girls, dunno how you girls manage to do so, luv ya for that!
Cross my heart, the next part will not be so delayed!
So please, please do read and comment!
Love
Sam
P.S. My spell check on Word had declared that there are too many errors in the doc for it to check, 😆 so if there are spelling errors and the words appear to be what they ought not to be, blame it entirely on my lack of language and typing skills!
Edited by bernard shaw - 16 years ago
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Anupamaa
Love Friendship Dating and Relationships
Hindi TV Shows
252