Do I have to say the words...(AR) #1 - Page 13

Thanks for the pm Richa.

Loved the update and the AR chemistry. Hope they realize their true feelings soon.

Hey, are we getting an update today?

Originally posted by: crimson_10

Hey, are we getting an update today?

Hey Aashi.......I will update soon, but not today........the next part's still not ready

Originally posted by: richa_b

Hey Aashi.......I will update soon, but not today........the next part's still not ready

Part 5:

Kuch To Hua Hai

Kuch Ho Gaya Hai

Do Chaar Din Se Lagta Hai Jaise

Sab Kuch Alag Hai

Sab Kuch Naya Hai

Kuch To Hua Hai

Kuch Ho Gaya Hai.........

Muskaan didn't know why, but this song had suddenly caught her fancy overnight. In fact, she was humming it right now as she sat working on a few designs. Yup, Muskaan was a talented fashion designer who had her own boutique with a very good clientele. The most important factor that drew customers to her designs was their vibrancy, which in a way reflected her positive attitude and love for life.

As she worked, Muskaan's thoughts went back to last evening and unknowingly a blush crept up her cheeks. She had a crush on Rahul since the very first time they met, but never did she consider it to be anything more than that. However, she felt something different as she danced with him yesterday. The way he looked at her, his awkwardness and the manner in which this otherwise gregarious guy was fumbling with words, everything seemed different. The woman in her understood very well that she was affecting him, but was puzzled as to how this came about all of a sudden.

There had been numerous times when Rahul dropped her home and they would blabber non-stop till they reached, but there was something new in the air yesterday. They did talk, but the comfort level they had reached as friends was missing. However Rahul soon broke the ice and asked Muskaan if she would like an ice-cream before he dropped her home and she readily agreed. While having her ice cream, Muskaan dropped some on Rahul's shoes. Soon enough, they found their tongues and were torturing each other with merciless jibes. Both of them were relieved to see that they were talking normally again, but the fact that there was something different about their relationship now wasn't lost on either.

"Lets see if this change works out for us. I think we should give it some time" thought Muskaan while bidding goodbye to Rahul. Not surprisingly, Rahul was thinking exactly on the same lines that very moment.

Muskaan's train of thoughts was disturbed by a phone call.

"Hey Ridzy, good morning!"

"Muskaan ki bacchi! Kal mujhe chod ke kyun chali gayi thi???"

"Yaar, you know that Mom wanted me at home. I realize tujhe us sadu ke saath akele jaana pada, but I couldn't help it dear. By the way, usne tujhe pareshan to nahi kiya na? If yes, just tell me and I will take care of that pompous jerk!"

"That's fine" said Riddhima in a clipped voice. She didn't know why, but she was suddenly angry at the terms Muskaan used for Armaan.

"Muski, I got to go, will catch up soon. Have a nice day ahead!"

With this Riddhima disconnected the call and started staring at the ceiling again.

"What made me behave in that foolish manner yesterday? The way I was clinging to him as he carried me....goodness, how am I going to face him now? God knows what he must be thinking of me! Just hope he realizes that I am not a bit like those girls who make use of every opportunity to throw themselves at him. Going forward, I will make sure that we don't cross paths unless it's absolutely necessary."

This resolve made her feel somewhat better and she turned back to her work which had been suffering since the time she came to office today, thanks to her flustered emotions.

Things weren't very different in another cabin at the other end of the corridor where Armaan was pacing up and down. He was angry at himself, angry because he allowed himself to get carried away and in that process he totally forgot about a major responsibility of his and it was his Mom.

Smirti Mallik was the perfect wife and mother anyone could wish for. On top of that she was a very successful entrepreneur. Everything was going fine till she decided to retire and settle for a peaceful life at home. Sadly the peaceful life she wished for was a distant dream as her retirement brought her face to face with a guilt which she had been carrying for the last 18 years. It was related to the death of her daughter Ahana who left the world at the tender age of 5. Yes, Armaan had a sister who was five years younger to him. A naughty but lovely child, she was the apple of everyone's eye until the day she accidentally tumbled down a flight of stairs and hit her head in the process. The injury was so fatal that she soon succumbed to it. The whole family was rattled by her sudden death with Smriti reduced to a wreck, as she was the one who was playing with her daughter when she fell. There was no way in which she was responsible for this accident, but being a mother she felt she could have been more careful.

She was in deep depression for almost a year, but on her husband's insistence started working again and gradually got out of it. However, soon after she retired, this guilt came back to haunt her again. To her family she always seemed to be the normal Smriti, but deep inside the guilt was torturing her like hell. It was Armaan who on his return from the US realized that there was something different about his mother and on probing further, his worst fears were confirmed. She was slipping into the same depression all over again. Since then he had always taken good care to keep his mother happy and engaged. Every night he used to go up to her and talk till she fell asleep, but yesterday he was so pre-occupied with Riddhima that he forgot about his Mom and that she might be waiting for him.

"No, I can't let that girl distract me! Nothing is more important than my Mom and I will make sure that nothing of this sort happens again."

Thus he resolved not to let Riddhima affect him any longer, much as his heart pained at the thought. Deep inside he knew he was overreacting, but the stubborn streak in him refused to accept that.

With Riddhima and Armaan deciding to stay away from each other for their own reasons, it was not surprising that they rarely came face to face. At times Armaan would catch a quick glimpse of her having lunch with Rahul or interviewing candidates in the board room, but that was it. The situation was exactly the same for Riddhima. She used to see him in the corridor at times, in deep discussion with some colleagues or walking past her cabin with his face buried in a file.

It was almost two weeks since the eventful evening at Jazz, when Rahul decided to invite Riddhima and Muskaan to his house.

"Come on girls, it's a Saturday and I know very well that neither of you have any plans for the day" said Rahul when the girls hesitated. "We will follow that up with a quick visit to your favourite ice cream parlour, promise!"

Since there was nothing much they could say, the girls accepted Rahul's invitation and in a couple of hours Rahul picked them from Muskaan's place.

The Mallik house was nothing short of an architectural masterpiece that left both girls entranced. Everything about the house spelled elegance and high taste. Rahul gave them a tour of the place before Muskaan said she was thirsty. The three friends sat in the living room and started chatting when the soft drinks arrived. Muskaan was sipping her drink when Rahul threw a cushion at her and in an attempt to dodge it, she ended up spilling a part of her drink on Riddhima's new salwar kameez.

On realizing what happened, both Rahul and Muskaan sat down with sheepish grins on their faces, while Riddhima only gaped at them in shocked anger.

"Sorry Ridzy, actually it was Rahul who did this. Who asked him to throw that cushion at me?"

"Hey Muskaan.... I guess you conveniently forgot who started it. I was just trying to get even" complained Rahul.

This was just the start of a long argument and realizing there was no way she could make them stop, Riddhima just rolled her eyes and sat down with a glum face.

Noticing this Rahul said, "Sorry dear..... do one thing, just go up to my room and get straightened. It's the second one to the right."

"Tu jaa Ridzy, main bhi do minute me aati hoon. Let me first take care of this lying scoundrel" said Muskaan with a murderous look at Rahul.

When Riddhima entered Rahul's room, she could very well make out that it was his room. It had a very lively and positive feel to it, just like Rahul. As she relieved herself of her dupatta and wiped the stain with a wet tissue, she could see the massive collection of DVDs which he always boasted about and the punching bag he never used. Then her eyes went to the pictures of his childhood.

"Awww, he was so cute" she murmured.

Her eyes then fell on a picture of Rahul with a slightly older boy with mysterious grey eyes and who was exceedingly handsome even at that tender age.

"Armaan......" she said in a barely audible whisper when there was the sudden click of a doorknob. With her dupatta still lying on the bed Riddhima turned around thinking it to be Muskaan. What she hadn't expected was the sight that accosted her. There was the person whose name she just whispered standing in front of her. Without her dupatta, Riddhima felt very conscious of the deep neckline of her kurta. Another fact that made matters worse was that Armaan was wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his hips. Apparently he had just come out from the attached bathroom after a shower. With his hair still wet and water droplets rolling down his chiselled chest, he was a gorgeous sight to behold and Riddhima felt herself go weak in the knees.

"God, please help me" she prayed in sheer desperation.

On the other hand Armaan couldn't help but notice how desirable she looked in the pale blue sleeveless salwar kameez. With the flushed face and nervous licking of her lips, she was making him go mad and what he wanted at that moment was to grab her and kiss her like no tomorrow.

They stood there for a couple of minutes looking at each other, not realizing what they were doing, their minds battling with their hearts. Anyone looking into their eyes could have realized that they were talking to each other in a language that was only known to them. After what seemed to be a long pause, Riddhima's mind won the battle.

Grabbing her dupatta, she said "Sorry, I thought this was Rahul's room. I had come here to freshen up."

She had just reached the door when Armaan said, "You did come to the right room. It's only me who decided to use Rahul's bathroom today."

Nodding her head Riddhima just ran away from there, her heart beating wildly. She had seen a look in Armaan's eyes which she knew would torture her every night in her dreams. On reaching the living room downstairs, she saw Rahul and Muskaan sitting with an elegant looking lady.

"Hey Riddhima, come meet my Tai Ji, Armaan's mom. But mind you, she loves me more than him" he said with a cute pout.

"Of course beta, I do" said Smriti with a loving smile.

"Hello aunty" said Riddhima and with that she bent to touch her feet. She knew this wasn't necessary as a polite "namaste" would also have been perfect, but Riddhima's heart wanted her to do it. Also, there was something about this woman that reminded her of her own mother Padma.

Smriti was really touched by this beautiful girl's gesture. One look at her and she could feel a strong connection already. She made Riddhima sit beside her and soon all four of them were talking animatedly.

Armaan saw the quartet engaged in a very lively chat from a distance. He could very well make out that his Mom was really happy and relaxed as she told the attentive three about her childhood and college life. Also, he could not ignore the fact that his Mom was bonding very well with Riddhima, who was also reciprocating in the same manner. The way she touched her feet also took him by surprise and it also made him wonder, "Are my fears unfounded?"

"Beta, do keep coming" said Smriti as she hugged both the girls before they left.

"Sure Aunty, we will and it was great meeting you" said Riddhima.

Seeing Armaan walk down the stairs leading to the living room Rahul asked, "Wanna come for some ice cream bro?"

"No thanks kiddo, you people enjoy yourselves. I will sit with Mom for some time."

Once they left, Smriti said, "What a lovely girl this Riddhima is! She is beautiful, intelligent, charming and also very connected to her traditional roots. I simply adore her Armaan, just hope Rahul likes her and it seems he does. It will be wonderful to have her as a part of the family."

As soon as Armaan heard those words, it felt as if a dagger had pierced his heart. He couldn't utter a single word himself and only nodded with a very strange expression on his face. This however didn't go unnoticed by Smriti. She had also seen Riddhima's expression change the moment she sensed Armaan near her. Convinced that Riddhima felt something for her son, Smriti wanted to know what was going on in her confused son's head and she was very happy to see that he felt something for Riddhima too.

"Seems like a great love story is shaping up in the sidelines. Just hope the two people concerned realize it soon. Otherwise, I will have to step in I guess" thought Smriti with a smile on her face.

Wow thts a nice update... i guess Smriti's going to play cupid in between AR.. very interesting.. do continue soon..

grt part.loved ar's interaction and thoughts..........hope they realize their feelings for each other soon......cont. soon

hey the update was amezing..i totally loved reading it...really well organized and written....aww that AR moment.....cant wait to read more udpate soon and thank 4the pm..

Yes! Go Smriti Aunty!!!!😆

Update soon!!!!!!!