Part 9
As the day passed, Armaan noticed riddhima growing more fidgety and when he stopped for petrol, she went for restroom and leaving or forgetting her purse behind. After he filled the tank, he can't stop himself from making a mission search riddhima bag. Going through it he ignored her cell phone and some sketch pads, he pulled out her wallet, checked the driving license, she really was 22, she seems like just joined college types, library cards and an ATM card and really countable 250 rupees and a photograph of a middle-aged woman standing with some street kids in front of a burned out building, she surely has to be padma gupta though the woman represents the characteristics of riddhima said, it is their features which make him instantly recognize her, and ATM pass out paper with 1,00,000 rupees in savings, he frowned seeing it, she is not as broke as she acts or pretend to be.
She returned to the car. He put everything back in purse, closed it and handed it over, "I was looking for chewing gums"
"In my wallet?"
"Why would you have chewing gums in your wallet?"
"You were sneaking in my purse" her expression indicated sneaking in general didn't bother her, only when it was directed against her, a point to be remember to keep his wallet close to him
"I was just looking at purses, is it Gucci ones or the Prada ones" he asked
"U really make me think over you not being a gay, really knowing ur knowledge of purses brands and it is from chawl in Delhi for ur information"
He was embarrassed by his stupid excuse and started heading the road
"I can't believe u sneak in my purse"
"I can't believe u hit me up for a hotel room. You're not exactly needy" he said irritated by getting caught
He was greeted by silence. She turned to stare out the window and her delicate looking features in the oversized T-Shirt, those sign of fragility aroused his protective instinct.
"Someone emptied out my bank account three days ago", she said flatly, "I'm temporarily broke"
"Let me guess, its Summit, the snake"
She tugged the hair which is out of her pony side of her ear saying "Yeah, that's right. Summit, the snake"
She was lying, he knows. She hadn't said a word about bank account when she is taking the hell out of him yesterday. But her expression says that someone has robbed her. The beav needed more than a ride, she needed money.
He prided himself on being the most generous guy in the world, he treated the women he dated like queens and sent lavish presents when the relationships ended. He never two-timed and he was a damn unselfish lover. But the way riddhima kept resisting him tempered his natural inclination to open his wallet. He took in her disheveled hair and sorry excuse for an outfit. Under ordinary circumstances, he would never have notice her but last night, she had held up a big red stop sign and the game was on.
"So what are you going to do?" he asked
"Well..........." she nibbled her bottom lip. "I don't actually know anyone in jaipur but I have a old roommate who lives after ajmer, since you are going right through there........"
"You want a ride to ajmer?" he made it sound like moon to riddhima
"If you wouldn't mind"
He didn't mind at all. "I don't know. Ajmer is a long way off and I would have to pay for all your meals plus another hotel room. Unless......."
"I'm not sleeping with you"
He gave her a lazy smile. "Is sex all you think about? I don't want to hurt you feelings but frankly it makes you seem a little desperate"
She made a disgusted face and choose to be silent by turning on the radio in car to fill the silence
"The thing is, riddhima , I'm a business man by mind, which means I expect a return on my investment" he was enjoying himself too much to let it go
"You're getting original riddhima portrait"
"Not one more" he muttered increasing the sound of radio to make sure riddhima doesn't listen, as it is the only bargain she can make now.
......................................................
Riddhima barely heard the radio playing in the background. She was so far out of her element with Armaan that he might have been from a different universe. The trick was not letting him realize she knew it. She wondered if he had bought in to her lie about summit and bank account. He didn't gave much away so it was hard to tell, but she couldn't bear him know about her own mother was the villain. Padma is the only family of riddhima, so it had been natural for her to be the co-signer of her accounts. Her mother was the last person to steal from any one. Only a humanity made her take riddhima's account.
She had discovered the theft three days ago, when she had tried to use her ATM card. Padma sent her a message on her cell.
"I only have few minutes, ridhzi. I got into your bank accounts today. I will write as soon as I can to explain everything" her mother rarely lost control, her mom's soft, sweet voice had broken. "Forgive me, ridhzi, a group of girls kidnapped or rather say taken away to make beggars or for that matter prostitutes if they are enough age, I need money to buy their freedom with your money. I know you will see this as unforgivable breach of trust. But ridhzi, you're strong and others aren't. Please forgive me and remember how much I love you".
Riddhima stared blindly outside the window. She hadn't felt so helpless since she was a kid. The nest egg that had given her the only security she had ever known had become ransom money. How did she start over with only 250 rupees? That wouldn't even pay for new living to start with. She would have been better if she would call padma and scream at her but her mother didn't own a phone. If she needed one, she simply borrow
"You're strong and Others aren't" riddhima had grown up hearing those words "you don't have to worry about people breaking into your house and dragging you in to deserted place doing something you fear about" she tried to never think about what her mother had endured so much, even then she prayed for the people who raped her, it is an angel who is her father, Shashank Gupta who gave her the love, surname, respect she needed when she needed without marrying her though, he died in an accident before they planned to, but she still wonders where she is a daughter of him or not.........
Well one thing she can never do is regret the past, the past is the way it is and she accepted it, she gazed across the seat toward Armaan Mallik, a man who took being irresistible for granted. She needed him right now, all she needs to do is to keep him interested and herself fully clothed, until they do to Ajmer
.....................................................................
At an evening last stop, Armaan watched Riddhmia standing by table with her cell, he has been told she was goung to call her old roommate for making arrangement in Ajmer, but she kicked the stone, though small one on her way and slammed her phone back in to her purse. His spirits rose. The game wasn't over after all.
A few hours earlier he made a mistake making up a call from old teammate who lived nearby as he thought he would be bored after she left, but apparent now it screwed up his plans of night with riddhima.
He took her disgruntled expression, "Problem?" he asked hoping there be one
"No. No problem" she reached for car door handle then dropped her arm turning back towards him "well, a small one. Nothing I can't handle".
"Like you have been doing such a good job of handling things so far?"
"You could be just a little supportive" she jerked open the door and glared him being the door of car middle of them "Her phone's been disconnected, apparently, she moved without letting me know"
Surprising how satisfying it was to have a woman like Riddhima Gupta at his mercy.
"I'm sorry to hear that", he said with all kinds of sincerity. "What are you going to do now?"
"I'll come up with something"
As he came back to car inside he decided it was too bad that Mrs.Mehra didn't believe in answering her phone or he could have told her that he was on his way to farm .......bringing along his first overnight guest.
"I have been considering your current difficulties, riddhima" he started the car, "Here's what I'm going to suggest....."
swethap.s.i know its boring one but its really important to get to know what Armaan n Riddhima actually are...i hope u guys comment and criticize
p.s.sorry all no excuses,i wanna update it on feb 14 but i gotta know that i have exams from 20th that day so i really couldn't
p.s.i am going to update a small intro of a character in two days n yes i try to update regular even though small ones😳
Edited by bary - 14 years ago
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