A Walk On The Beach..-AR[New Page Link: Page 150] - Page 33

We would not mind can u please put up with u have so far?

Part 12 completed! Yay! Rejoice! 😆

Part 12:- The Men Rules!

[Still in flashback!]

"Riddhima, honey! Open your eyes please!" I could faintly hear a voice, a

voice that could calm my racing heart beat, that could soothe every pain...I frowned a little as I felt warm hands rub my cold ones.... "Riddhima please wake up!" I heard him again, this time his voice was choking...I wanted to wake up, tell him I was okay, probably that would calm him down....But my eyes felt heavy, and I couldn't bring them to open, but I tried anyway...

"Armaan..." I blinked a few times, to get my eyes back on focus, and as soon as my eyes opened completely, they were met with a shade of sea-blue...

"Thank god!" Armaan shut his eyes and held my hand tightly clasped in his own...

His worry-etched face made me wonder what had caused him that worry...And while trying to adjust my mind, the night's memories came flooding back....The two men, the knife; tears began to prick my eyes, and they slid down as I lay there staring at the ceiling...On an impulse I checked my right hand, and sighed in relief....The bracelet remained intact, safe...

"Armaan..." My voice choked, and I tried to get up...Sitting up, the events replayed in my head...The way they had forced me into giving my things away, the slap, I could still feel the man tugging at my hand and my hair, and as a reflex I withdrew my hand from Armaan's tight hold...

"Munchkin?" Armaan looked at me questioningly, and I realized I was safe....He was here, I was home, with him...And the tears came out, flowing as easily as ever.... "Hey, hush..." Armaan pulled me to himself and held me tight in his arms, while I cried, burying my face in his shirt, to pacify myself, to make myself believe that I was safe, he was there, and he hadn't left me alone...

"Armaan don't leave! Don't leave! Please! They'll come back!" My voice broke, as I coughed... "They'll-They'll come back...Arm-Armaan...Don't-Don't leave please!" I sobbed harder, while he kept murmuring 'Hush' and 'I'm here' in my hair to calm me down...Although I knew they wouldn't, my mind wouldn't register that fact...

I felt his arms hold me even tighter, as my cries broke into hysteria....I clung onto him, trying to wash over that feeling of fear, wash off those moments of terror I had witnessed...

"Don't leave!" I kept repeating, more to myself than to him, and held him tighter...

"Riddhima I'm not leaving okay? I'm right here! Hush now!" I felt him kiss the top of my head, and I shut my eyes, savouring his hold.... He pulled back and cupping face, wiped of my tears.... "I'm right here, and I'm never ever, ever going to let anything happen to you! I promise!" His eyes showed the depth of his words, and I instantly calmed down...But there was something different in his eyes this time...Fear? And something else I couldn't point out...But it was enough to stop me from crying....

Gently placing me back on the bed, he covered me with a blanket, and gazed right into my eyes as an assurance that he wouldn't leave...Planting a small kiss on my forehead, he shut my eyes with his hand, since I refused to do so on my own....

I was there again...But how did I come back there? And those men were back...I could see them drawing closer, closer....I looked around...Someone...Anyone....But there was no one...The place was empty...But Armaan had promised he wouldn't leave me alone...I called out his name, probably he would come then, like he had come the last time...

"Armaan!" I shivered, and kept calling out, but he didn't come...Where is he? And then I heard him...

"Riddhima wake up! Riddhima!" I opened my eyes, yet again, and his eyes still had the fear in them.... "Nightmare..." It wasn't a question...He understood what I was trying to convey... "I'm right here okay? Relax please!" I wept silently as he said that, turned and hugged him tight, placing my head on his lap... "Hush! Riddhima, Munchkin I'm right here! You think I would ever leave you alone? Relax please okay?" He pulled me up slightly, and then pulled me back into his arms, holding me firmly...He probably knew I was feeling giddy...He placed a glass of water in my hands and I instantly gulped it down...

"Everything's hurting..." I mumbled quietly, not sure if my voice had been loud enough for him to hear... "And I'm cold...." I said again, still unsure, but my voice couldn't be any louder at that moment....

"What's hurting? And wait a sec," He removed his black blazer and placed it on my shoulder... "Better?" I nodded and clung to his jacket for warmth... "What's hurting?" Armaan asked me again...I looked at him, frowning...

"Everything..." I said again...I held my head, that being in the worst situation...

"You haven't had anything to eat have you?" Armaan held my face and made me look at him...I shook my head, still frowning... "You're the most irresponsible person I've ever met!" Armaan yelled, as I stared at him, shocked at his sudden outburst...I looked down again the tears made their way out again...At this, Armaan expressions softened and he looked at me with sheer concern... "Do you even know what I went through when I saw you there? I was so scared..." He winced...I looked up to see his wet eyes...I had never seen him cry before....But somehow, even though I was able to sense everything, I wasn't able to make sense of it all...He pulled me into a light hug, and I felt warmer instantly...

He pulled back and I groaned...He smiled a little... "You gotta eat! Don't grumble...I'm not gonna listen....I'm the doctor here!" He warned me, as I began to retort...I pouted and sat there, but caught his arm when he got up to leave...

"Don't leave!" I pleaded him, a lone tear escaping my eye...He wiped it off with the back of his hand and shook his head...

"I'm right here okay?" He placed a small kiss on my forehead again and began to make his way out...But I pulled him back yet again, frowning a little...

"There's something different about your eyes..." I stated and gazed into his eyes trying to decipher the change...He just smiled and looked on as I tried in vain...

"There is...." It wasn't a question...It was a fact he had stated...And with that he finally walked out...I frowned again...Nothing was making sense anymore...All I knew, was that somehow his touch had felt good, had felt warm, safe...And there was this inexplicable feeling in my heart when I thought of that...But what intrigued me most were his eyes...I lay back down and shut my eyes, trying to drive out that confusion, only to be woken up again by an annoyed Armaan who knew I was faking sleeping to escape eating...

"Andrea she's my best friend, and very important to me, and if this simple fact can't get through your head then be it! I'm not gonna bother explaining myself!" I heard Armaan sigh irritably as I leaned on the door to listen to him talk to Andrea over the phone...I knew she wanted him to come back to the party, although it was almost midnight now... I wondered in my head, what Andrea's response would be when I heard Armaan talk again... "You know what screw it! I give a damn...I don't care if she needs me or not, but I need her..." Again a pause... "I told you she's unwell...She's uhh....Running fever...Yeah fine I'm lying, we're actually making out in my bedroom, and we do that all the time! So stop bothering us, and Merry Christmas to you too!" He snapped back and I giggled at his reply...

I quickly ran to my bed before I would have to face his wrath of getting out of bed...He looked at me suspiciously as I held the quilt to my neck...

"Since when did you become like me? I see I'm being a bad influence on you!" I asked, smiling a little, as he glared at me...

"I knew you would be eavesdropping!" He shook his head at my ill-mannered behaviour...

"You know me well...But seriously you can go now if you want to...I'm fine..." I said earnestly... "And it's Christmas, you should be with your girlfriend..." I shrugged and tried smiling, although I was failing...

"I'm not leaving....And can you decide what you want? First you fight with me about not defending you, and now when I'm doing that you're telling me to go back to her?" Armaan asked me incredulously...

"I wanted you to stay before out of care, not out of pity..." I said quietly, although my heart was cursing me for saying something which was untrue...Armaan held his face in his hands, as if trying to control himself...

"You know Riddhima, I'm just gonna pretend I didn't hear you! Anyway for you, everything I do is pretence! What I went through tonight, looking at you in that state, pretence...I'm worried sick out here, pretence....And I'm feeling terrible to see that smile wipe off of your face, but that too pretence....Everything's pretence okay? Does that make you feel better? You know I hope it does, because you obviously can't stand being wrong!" Armaan said rudely...I looked down guiltily...I didn't blame him, I knew I had brought this on myself...

Armaan must have softened looking at my state, as the next minute his voice to back to his normal and caring self... "Rest for sometime okay? I'm right in the next room if you need anything!" He got up to leave, when I tugged at his arm again...He turned with a 'What-now' expression on his face...

"Stay here! I won't be able to sleep!" I looked at him pleadingly, and he didn't think twice before sitting on my bed beside me...

I smiled and placed my head on his lap, and then looked up to him to see if he had any problem with that...He looked slightly surprised, but nevertheless smiled down at me and leaned back himself, against the bedpost...And this time, I was sure I would sleep peacefully without any nightmares....

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Back to the Present!:-

I averted my gaze from Armaan's eyes as I finished replaying that night in my head...I was sure he was immersed in the same thoughts at that moment...

We had decided to keep that night a secret, and it had been well-kept...Although Armaan was against the idea, I convinced him into doing so, knowing that my parents wouldn't waste a minute in sending me a ticket back home if they came to know...

"Hey you know what, I'll just call Andrea and tell her tonight's plan..." Saying so, he got up and moved out, while Rhea stared after him confused...

"I'll be right back!" I smiled at Rhea and followed Armaan out...I raced up to his room, and saw him lying half down on his bed, his face covered in his palms...

"I dunno why, but I feel that night affects you much more than it ever affected me!" I said, leaning against the door, as he saw me and sat up...

"Just like you were affected much more than I was when I had that stupid accident..." Armaan gave me a sceptical smile and shook his head....I glared at him...

"I told you not to ever mention that!" I huffed, he smirked...

"And I told you not to mention that night!" He said in the same sarcastic tone of his...I rolled my eyes...

"My not mentioning it, won't stop you from thinking about it..." I said quietly and sat next to him...

"Quit it Munchkin! Let's not talk about that please!" Armaan sighed and lay back down...

"Do you have to go out with your blonde girlfriend tonight?" I said, changing the topic, knowing full well the consequences of doing otherwise....

"I cancelled on her last night!"

"So? I didn't ask you to do it last night! I'm asking you now!" I shrugged, as if it was the most obvious thing to do! "But if you would rather spend time with her than it's okay...Main bechari...Mera waise bhi iss duniya mein kaun hai!" I shrugged and shook my head sadly, in a dramatic tone...I saw Armaan roll his eyes from the corner of mine...

"Drama Queen! Fine! It's anyway the last time she'll fight with me because of you!" He winked at me and grinned...I grinned back happily... "But what're we gonna do? Go out?" He asked me, still smiling....

"Nope! Stay at home! And watch a nice romantic Bollywood movie!" I saw Armaan's smile turn into a frown...

"You want me to give up a night with my girlfriend, to sit at home with you and my crack-pot sister to watch a damned Hindi movie? You serious? Fine let's see...Freaky loner at home on a Sunday night with two freaky girls, or a romantic outing with a hot girl?" Armaan pretended to think, his eyes narrowing in fake concentration...How cute can anyone be, I thought, but the next minute reprimanded myself...What the hell was I thinking?

"Hmm let's see, stupid jerk leaving his best friend alone on her last night, or stupid pervert snogging his girlfriend, who he still prefers to call 'hot chick'? Seriously?" I said, imitating his tone and expressions...

"You're incorrigible..You always want things your way don't you?" Armaan shook his head in a 'You're hopeless' sort-of way...I shrugged and grinned proudly in reply...Getting up I marched towards the door victorious... "Fine I give up! But no Bollywood movie!" He called out as the door shut behind...

We ended up watching a Bollywood movie that night after all...Rhea called for 'Hum Tum', a movie she had downloaded in context with her latest obsession of Saif Ali Khan....

"Have you even seen one movie of his?" Armaan said, sitting on the couch helplessly, losing to two crazy girls who loved watching Hindi movies!

"Well, he's cute, and Riddhima told me his movies are nice! We have to make a start!" Rhea shrugged, and said as if it was the most obvious thing to do...Armaan shook his head at the two of us in disbelief...I giggled...

As the movie began, Armaan groaned ("No! No! Please no!"), while Rhea curled up on the couch next to him and I sat on the floor, leaning against the couch...

"I so empathize with the poor guy!" Armaan said during one of the scenes....

"What? Why?" I asked shocked, pausing the movie at where the protagonists are fighting....

"She's so confused! That Ria chick...Like seriously...? She's been flirting with him for like ages, and then she objects when he kisses her? So typical! Al girls are the same!" Armaan declared and shook his head...

"Excuse me? And you guys are any different? All perverted, with a one track mind, wanting nothing but physical intimacy!" I glared at him, my mouth wide open as he generalized the movie's character to all girls on the planet...

"At least we know what we want! A girl can never ever figure out her feelings...." He gave me a meaningful glance, his eyes having that different depth in them yet again...I frowned as I tried to decipher that depth, for the millionth time, trying to hurry before it would disappear again...That look in his eyes only came out occasionally, but yet they were so intriguing, I could never stop thinking about them!

He took the remote from my hand and un-paused the movie, while I sat there thinking about what he had said...Why would he say that, and that too direct that fact at me? But then I shook my head...Maybe I was just thinking too much....

"For the first time, I actually liked the movie...It shows the true facts of a girl's life...!" Armaan announced as the movie got over...Turning off the TV, I looked back at him a rolled my eyes...

"Really? You think this is all to a girl's life? FYI, it's not!" I smiled sceptically and got up, but he pulled me back down, and got up himself...

"I second Riddhima's argument...You guys think we love turning simple things into complications, but how do you'll know, seeing that you guys are the biggest complications in our lives!" Rhea sided me, and I gave her an approving nod...

"Yeah I've heard those Women rules a hundred times...Its time you'll hear the Men's side of the story..." He smiled at the two of us...Rhea and I looked at each with raised eyebrows, wondering what was coming next... "These are our rules! I would recommend you use a pen and a paper, but never mind!"

He then paced the room back and forth and began-

"1. Men are NOT mind readers. 2. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down."

Rhea and I had scandalized looks on our faces, disgusted with the rule he had just stated, but he paid no attention and went on...

"3. Sunday sports, it's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be." He shugged... "4. Crying is blackmail. 5. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!" He looked at me, as if trying to say, 'Especially you!'...I looked at him daggers, and he chanted on...

"6. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question. 7. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for." He shrugged again, while Rhea and my mouth opened in shock at the blatant and blunt statement...

8. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 Days." I shook my head disgusted, as Armaan winked at me while stating that one....

"9. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us." Armaan shrugged as if it was the simplest fact known to mankind...

"10. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one!" Armaan grinned down at us, while we continued giving him murderous glares..."11. You can either ask us to do something. Or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself! 12. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials...!" I massaged my head, trying to look as disinterested as I could, but Armaan wouldn't stop...

"13. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we. 14. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is. 15. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle..." Our mouths dropped open again at that curt insult, but Armaan paid no heed to that either...."16. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear! 17. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really! 18. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as Football or Hockey!" I rolled my eyes and shook my head...I began to murmur, "Shut up, shut up, shut up!" ; loud enough for Armaan to hear, but if he would have listened to me, he wouldn't be Armaan!

"19. You have enough clothes and finally no. 20. You have too many shoes! So stop SHOPPING! Leave something for the others as well!" Armaan sighed, and slopped into the seat opposite us, exhausted with his non-stop talking... "Phew! There!" He grinned at us...Rhea and I looked at each other one moment, and the next moment, pounced on him, trying to beat him black and blue!

"Armaan! Where the hell are you yah?" I raced up into Armaan's room (without knocking of course!) and looked around...It as usual looked as if a tornado had hit it!

"I'm going for a shower!" Armaan said from behind me and I turned, having a disgusted look on my face...

"It's 5 in the evening! And you haven't washed up yet?" I said scrunching my brows...He shook his head vigorously with a smile! "Eeewww! Go, go right now!" I gagged and pointed towards his washroom...

"No I really feel like giving you a hug!" He came towards me, my eyes widened and I stepped back as a reflex...

"Shut up sicko! Go and bathe now!" I kept stepping back but he wouldn't budge...I finally stopped, having hit the wall and he blocked my way with his hands...I shut my eyes, this time with nervousness along with disgust....

"What if I just stay here...?" He said in a husky voice...My eyes opened an I noticed half of his shirt buttons were unbuttoned and I could catch a glimpse or two of his well-toned, chiselled body....I looked away, trying to reprimand myself...What the hell was happening to me? I looked back at him and to my dismay met with his eyes...

"Your eyes are different again...." I mumbled, the words made their way out unintentionally....But they were...His eyes were again having that different meaning in them, and I didn't know what that was....They were telling a different story again, but I just couldn't understand what that story was....I wanted to capture that meaning before it would disappear again, but he blinked and it was gone...He stepped back, but this time I moved closer, trying to see his eyes...

"What's wrong with you?" Armaan frowned as he saw me having that curious face, with extreme concentration...

"Trying to read your eyes...They keep going back to being different...It's been three years, but I still can't make out what that different is!" I muttered while still looking straight into his eyes....

"And you maybe never will!" He said quietly, picked up his towel from his bed and made his way inside the washroom...

I sat down on his bed, dejected, that I had yet again failed to grasp the depth in his eyes...But at the same time, I couldn't stop thinking about what I had just experienced a few moments ago...He had been that close to me physically before...Why was it affecting me so much, NOW? That was weird! And all of a sudden I had started describing his physical appearance? I mean of course, I had always thought he was hot, but when did I start adding adjectives like 'well-toned and chiselled body' to that existing description! And I couldn't even begin to explain how my heart rate had increased when he was that close to me...It was the same sensation which had occurred last night when he had held me up by the waist...The same sensation I had felt when I fell on him...I shut my eyes trying to calm myself down...It meant nothing, I thought...None of this means anything! But isn't denial the first stage to love?

Wait a moment!!! Love? Like LOVE, LOVE? The L-O-V-E love? Nah impossible! I don't love Armaan! I mean of course I do, but not that way! And I'm not denying it, I told my inner-self...I'm just stating a fact! That's not called denial! Yeah!

To divert my mind from the absurd course it was taking, I looked around his room, which was as messy as ever...I got up and began to pick up things from here and there...I stopped when I saw a couple of pictures lying around...I picked them up, and the first one was of that Christmas party 3 years ago...It was before our stupid fight of course, and before I got high that night....

It was Armaan, with me and Andrea on either side of him, Nikki to Andrea's other side, and Sid next to me, with a bunch of our other gang mates behind us....I smiled, as I looked at that, trying hard to not think about what had happened minutes, or maybe hours after that picture had been taken...

I tried shifting my mind to what had happened a few days after that...I couldn't say they were the best days of my life...But they had been great...For one, Armaan and I were back to normal, and the rumours about him and Andrea having broken up were the cherry on the cake...But to my dismay, they were only rumours, because Armaan denied that, but he had refused to talk about that as well...But I never got the time to test my suspicions, as my life took an about turn right after New Years'...I remembered how Armaan and I had had a small fight right after, but this time not because of Andrea; because of Sid...

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FLASHBACK: 3 years ago, a few days after New Years':-

"Sid asked me out!" I yelled, as I barged into Armaan's room....He looked up from his book, slightly disgruntled, as he hated being disturbed while studying, but who cares, I asked myself!

"What?" He looked at me confused...

"Oh god, should I spell it out for you!" I hit him on the head with a book as I sat in front of him, on his bed... "Sid-asked-me-out! Finally!" I said slowly, with a huge smile on my face...

I saw his expressions change from those of confusion, to realization, and then, to my surprise, laughter...

"So?" He asked while laughing....I scowled...

"What'd you mean by so? Can't you sense my excitement?" I asked, still scowling.....

"I can! That's exactly why I am asking! Not like you're gonna say yes!" He shrugged and got back to his book...I looked away, frowning...Now this was a reaction I wasn't expecting...

"For your information, I did...!" I said slowly...He looked up again, looking disoriented... "I said yes..." I said again, trying to sound clear...

I was shocked, when his smile vanished, and he looked at his book again, his face devoid of any expression...He looked lost...

"Wow...Congrats! Now can I please study?" He said in a monotonous tone...My mouth dropped open at his reaction...

"No you may not! Why are you behaving this way...?" I asked, baffled...

"Because I can't be happy when fools take foolish decisions!" He shrugged and got up, walking out of the room...I got up in a huff and followed him down, into the kitchen...It was still evening, so no one was home beside the two of us, who were forced to study for the coming exams...

"You called me a fool?" I asked in disbelief...

"Yeah I did! And you just proved you are one!" He opened the fridge to remove a carton of juice....

"Excuse me? What problem do you have? You filthy hypocrite! You're dating yourself..." I yelled, frustrated at his comments....

"Riddhima, me and you are different okay? I was dating-I mean I am dating....I am dating someone who lives here, but you're not gonna be staying here forever! You're gonna have to break up with this dude sometime!" He said calmly, but I had a feeling he was hiding something...

"What the hell do you mean? So what?" I said, still shouting... "It's not like I intend on marrying him or something!" I looked at him, completely incredulous...

"Exactly my point! Every guy here has only one thing on his mind! To get a girl into bed!" I could see him clenching his jaw-a sign that meant I was stepping on dangerous nerves...But nevertheless, I was shocked at the way he put it across to me...

"You don't!" I said quietly...

"Yes, but it's not me you're dating right?" He said, and I didn't know why, but I sensed hurt in his words... "I mean, I am different...He's not me..." He shrugged...

"Armaan I'm not a child! I can handle myself! I'm not some crazy blonde who would go sleeping around!" I said, infuriated...Didn't he trust me at all...

"Whatever..I don't understand why you have to get into a relationship which you KNOW isn't gonna last forever!" He shrugged...His nonchalant attitude was only adding to my rage...

"Oh so you think you and Andrea are gonna last forever?" He stopped in his tracks when he heard that, but his back was facing me so I couldn't see his face... "And why exactly do you think that Sid and I can't last forever?" I said, crossing my arms with cocked eyebrows...He turned to me, with an unreadable expression on his face....

"You know what, do what you want! And you wanna know why I think so? Because I know you don't love him!"

"What if I do?" I said, matching his tone...

"Then go ahead..." He shrugged, yet again, and I sighed, exasperated...

"No...I wanna know why you so strongly disapprove of this!"

"I'm just trying to protect you Munchkin!" He said in a concerned voice, but I was too angry to pay attention...

"I don't need your protection...And what are you protecting me from? Something I need, something I have been waiting for since so long? In case you haven't noticed, I'm sick of being the single one! Easy for you to say, you have someone, but I don't! I'm sick of not having a date who could pick me up for a party, I'm sick of having to sit all alone at home or in Uni on a Friday night while all of you guys go out on dates and stuff...Al this probably sounds to teenager type to you, but this is how I feel...I feel lonely! When you and stopped talking...I didn't have anyone who I could rely on...I want someone who would be possessive for me...Be there for me at all times..." I said, as I felt small tears slide down my cheeks...Armaan's expressions softened and he came to me, wiping my tears off....

"If only you would look a bit more closely..." I looked up at him shocked; his eyes were different, yet again, having that same unreadable depth in them which I had seen on Christmas night... "But if this is what you want, then go ahead..." He smiled down at me, that depth vanishing from his eyes... "I will be supportive of anything that makes you happy okay? And Sid's a nice guy....And anyway if he ever hurts you, I'm sure you'll punch him right across his face!" He chuckled, and I smiled slightly at that...

"Thanks!" I mumbled, still unsure...Something was wrong, I couldn't point out what....But I shoved that feeling away... "Thanks!" I said again and shut my eyes as Armaan hugged me tight...

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PRESENT DAY:-

Now that I thought about it, I realized just how many times I had witnessed Armaan's eyes changing, but I could never point that change out...I could never name it...

But nevertheless, he had been right...Sid and I just weren't meant to be...I sighed and began to look at other pictures...

"What're you still doing here...?" I heard a scandalized yell, and I turned to find Armaan, his lower half covered in a towel, his hair dripping wet...I turned away, my eyes wide, feeling my heart thump across my chest....I had never seen a body as, whatever, as his....

"Idiot, who the hell told you to not take your clothes...I mean...You knew I was here and..." Words failed me, and I realized it wasn't his fault...He had gone for a shower, this was his room, and I had no business to be here at this time...

"Riddhima seriously...." I heard him say in disbelief...

"Oh just wear your clothes first! I can't even leave! You're blocking the door..." I said...I got no response, so I took it that he was wearing his clothes....

"Bet you found me hot..." I heard him whisper in my ear...I turned and saw him smiling mischievously...

"I've seen better!" I declared smartly and sat back down on his bed, the pictures still in my hand...

"Hey where'd you find those?" He sat next to me looking at the pictures...

"They were lying around..." I smiled and shook my head....I started flipping thorugh the pictures again and laughed at one where Armaan and I were in the backyard, completely wet, after a huge fight over the water-hose...I was holding the hose and laughing while Armaan was glaring at me for getting him wet along with myself...Another one had Armaan holding Andrea by the waist, while I was looking at the two, standing on Armaan's other side, having a disgusted look on my face (You're expression' priceless!" Armaan guffawed!). Another one was with Rhea, Armaan and me, holding our favourite chocolates in our hands ' Hershey's, Snickers and Toblerone repectively...Another one was the three of us in Christmas hats, with Uncle and Aunty laughing behind us while we made funny faces; It was taken on Christmas 2 years ago....The next one caught my attention - Armaan's face was covered in cake and he was hugging me from the back while I was laughing... "Hey this one was from your birthday the year before last!" I laughed...

"Yeah...One crazy day..."

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FLASHBACK: 2 years ago, Armaan's birthday:-

"Oh c'mon Armaan it's your birthday! Don't be such a wimp!" I groaned as I saw Armaan surrounded by a huge pile of books....Our exams were to begin in a week, and we had to make best use of our study-leave...

"Riddhima I'm not taking you out for ice-cream! I have to study man! Try being in med school, you'll know how difficult it is! And besides I'm not taking Andrea out anywhere!" Armaan said, not averting his gaze from his book... "And what's that noise down there?" He looked up at me and frowned....

"Uhhh....Rhea's watching TV..." I stammered...Armaan frowned, confused... "And I come after Andrea! You dirty dog!" Armaan rolled his eyes at my antics, but didn't budge... "Oh c'mon man! Please! I'm really tempted! I wanna have my Belgium dark chocolate! Pleash?! Pretty pleash!?" I asked with a baby face, that always worked...

"No-can-do's ville! That baby face ain't working tonight it isn't! I have to study!" He smiled, his dimples showing, while I scowled...I got up and snatched his book away... "Riddhima give that back to me now!" Armaan said in a serious tone...While my mind yelled 'Uh-oh' in response to his angry glare, my naughtiness got the better of me...I stuck my tongue out and ran...He ran behind me...

I raced downstairs, he following close behind...

"SURPRISE!" A huge cheer echoed around the house as Armaan stepped into the living room...I smiled widely when I saw Armaan's pleasantly surprised face...He looked at me, smiled and shook his head....I winked back in response...

After a huge round of hugging and 'Thank yous' from Armaan's side, I went up to him and grinned...

"Liked?" I asked and smiled happily...

"Your idea right?" I nodded, proud of myself... "You're a freak! And it will be absolutely your fault if I fail!!" He grinned down at me and pulled me into a tight hug... "Thanks!" He whispered in my ear and gave me a slight kiss on my cheek...

"Ahem-ahem...!" I turned to find Andrea having a questioning look on her face...

"Andrea, if we wanted to make out, we wouldn't do it in front of you! Get a grip you blonde!" I rolled my eyes, I understood those expressions on her face very well... "Oi Peanuts, c'mon let's your cake! I'm starving!" I pulled Armaan towards the cake, where Aunty and Rhea stood with huge smiles on their faces...

He cut the cake and fed Aunty and Rhea a piece...I opened my mouth, expecting to be next, but my smile vanished when he fed it to Andrea instead...He then went on to feed it to Sid, Nikki, Alex, Sam and Krish, while I stood there scowling, tapping my feet, waiting for him to approach me...But he didn't...He looked at me and gave me a naughty grin...I picked up a piece and tapped on his shoulder while he was talking to Nikki....

"You forgot to feed me, but I won't forget to feed you!" And with that, I smacked the cake right into his face....I laughed as I saw his face drowning in shock, and obviously cake....He glared at me while I joined the others in their loud guffaws...

"Riddhima ki bachchi!" He said loudly....The others stopped laughing, while I ran to save my life ' He spoke in Hindi only when he was angry....He ran behind me, with a huge chunk of cake in his hand....I was laughing and running at the same time....I stopped in front of Andrea suddenly and ducked, while Armaan shoved the cake into her face by mistake....I laughed, pointing at Andrea's terror-stricken face...I caught Armaan glaring at me and ran again, laughing my head off....

Finally he caught hold of me from the back and held me tight.....I was still laughing, and I could sense he was too....

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Back to the Present! :)

"That was so much of fun!" I laughed remembering that day....Armaan nodded his head, grinning...

"Best was the look on Andrea's face....It was priceless...!" He shook his head, while I laughed louder remembering that sight...

"Seriously..." I huffed, trying to stop laughing... "I'm taking this...It's so cute!" I smiled as I looked at the picture...

"No you're not!" Armaan said frowning...

"Why not...You look like a cake-monster anyway! Let me have it! I look good...!" I shrugged and grinned...

"Is that why you want it?" Armaan asked me softly...

"Nope...I think this is our best picture..." I smiled, feeling a huge bout of nostalgia...

"I'm really gonna miss you Riddhima..." Armaan said earnestly, and I gave him a sad smile to say 'Me too...'

He pulled me into a tight hug, as I felt tears pricking my eyes...But I reprimanded myself....No tears...Not today...

"Yeah...Please no tears today...." I looked up at him shocked, as he said that...How did he know? "I'm your best pal right?" He said answering my silent question...I shook my head...I could never get used to him reading my mind every time!

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Adhoore-Break Ke Baad (Feel it's perfect for AR! Riddhima is the bindaas one, while Armaan is the more practical one! =))

Ik aawara nadi
Chalke woh khul ke sansanati sanan sanan

Aur woh hai jheel sa
Khamoshiyan ki ik tarang liye tarang

Rishta yeh kaisa jalti re rait paaon ka
Rishta yeh kaisa jhil mil dhoop chaaon ka
Bolo oo adhoore
Tum adhoore
Hum bin tumhare
Oo adhoore
Tum adhoore
Hum bin tumhare

Mutthiyon mein baadalon ko le ke woh nichhod de
Woh raat ki chuppi mein shor natkhat chhod de
Mutthiyon mein baadalon ko le ke woh nichhod de
Woh raat ki chuppi mein shor natkhat chhod de
Bebaak hai, bindaas hai
Uss se zindagi ki pyaas hai
Paas hai, par dooriyaan
Makhmali majbooriyaan hain
Oo adhoore
Tum adhoore
Hum bin tumhare
Oo adhoore
Tum adhoore
Hum bin tumhare

I'm incomplete without you
Can't find my feet without you

Mann ke kamro mein, woh khole khushbooyon ki sheeshiyan
Wo saahilon pe dhoondta hai, ishq wali seepiyan
Mann ke kamro mein, woh khole khushbooyon ki sheeshiyan
Saahilon pe dhoondta hai, ishq wali seepiyan
Pyaar hai romance hai, bas yehi saransh hai
Do dilon ke darmiyan, khwaishon ki kashtiyan hai
Oo adhoore
Tum adhoore
Hum bin tumhare
Oo adhoore
Tum adhoore
Hum bin tumhare

Ik aawara nadi
Chalke woh khul ke sansanati sanan sanan

Aur woh hai jheel sa
Khamoshiyan ki ik tarang liye tarang
Rishta yeh kaisa jalti re rait paaon ka
Rishta yeh kaisa jhil mil dhoop chaaon ka
Bolo oo adhoore
Tum adhoore
Hum bin tumhare
Oo adhoore
Tum adhoore
Hum bin tumhare ..

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*Phew* done!😆 Hope the part wasn't very confusing! With that constant switch-over from Present to Flashback and then back to Present...But I wanna get done with the Flashback bits fast...

I had a question for you guys...Do you'll want more Flashback scenes, or you'll want me to go ahead with the Present now? I just have one or two more Flashback scenes left, and then the story will move forward only through the Present, with some mentions of the past in the middle...So let me know what you'll prefer! I've covered the important parts in the flashback, like about Andrea and Sid, and AR's reaction to all of that...So Flashbacks will be insignificant from now....But let me know what you'll want, I'll try incorporating it!😊

Hope you'll like the part! Please comment and let me know!😳 And thanks to all those who commented and hit the like tab!😊

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!!!!!!!!

awesome part....love the rules of armaan......

The part was really gud ❤️

lovely part!!!!!

wowwww u updated the part......loved it yaar...soooooo beautifull.....thanks for the PM....do continue soon.....

OK So this is the first time i'm commenting here!

loved d part shrutika...........

awewsum awesum!!!!