Ah well . Here goes nothing:
Chapter 15:
Shilpa was waiting impatiently for Sue to arrive at their meeting spot just opposite their favorite shopping centre. Something very crucial had happened not 5 minutes ago, and Shilpa had texted Sue immediately to come and meet her.
Finally, Sue appeared, huffing and out of breathe as she had been running to reach their meeting spot. Still panting heavily, Sue leaned against a wall and said, "Sh-shilpa- what- k-kya itna urgent - hua - tell - me -quick!!!!"
Breaking into speech at once, Shilpa said excitedly, "You know what I just saw??? Kya tumhe pata hai ke meine 5 minutes pehle kya dekha???? Riddhima Di was trying on clothes! Riddhima Di was trying on clothes!!! And not just any clothes, butdresses! Without even me pushing her!"
Gasping in shock, Sue said, "Ridz Di???? and dresses? And that too without your begging and urging and blackmailing? Nahi yaar," Sue waved a hand dismissively in the air. "Aisa nahi ho sakta. Tumhe zaroor koi ghalat fahmi hui ho gi."
"Oh really? Phir yeh dekho!" Shilpa whipped out her iPhone and gave it to Sue. "Just look at the pictures! Just look at them!!!"
Sue looked at the pictures and her jaw dropped open. Indeed, here was not one, but four different pictures of Riddhima trying on different dresses. Two of them were so pretty that it made Sue's mouth water (figure of speech girls!) just to look at them. "I don't believe this!" gasped Sue. And she looked at Shilpa. "You know, iss baat ka sirf ek hi matlab ho sakta hai. You know what?"
Shilpa was excited and jumpy now, "Totally!"
Then both grabbed hold of each other and started jumping up and down and said together, "Sid and Riddhima are going out on a date! They're going out on a date!!!! OH MY GOSH!!!!"
Both of them were giggling and squealing like 13 year-olds. Then Sue asked Shilpa, "Any idea where they're going?"
Shilpa said, evilly, "Oh, I think I do. I definitely think I do....................."
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At Ridzy's
Riddhima was standing in her bedroom in front of her full-length mirror holding three dresses that she couldn't choose between. Of course, Shilpa was totally right abt her getting ready to go out with Sid somewhere. (She's an expert in these matters) Ridzy wished that Sid would just call her right now and tell her which kind of dress he liked, as she could not handle the stress of choosing a dress without Shilpa's help.
Almost as if her prayer was answered, her cell phone started ringing. Without looking to check who it was she immediately answered the phone: "Hello?"
"Hey Ridzy!"
"Sid!" Riddhima's heart started beating just at the sound of his voice. "W-what happened?"
"Hmm, do I have to have a reason to call you? Kya sirf tumhari aawaz sunna kaafi nahi?"
Blushing idiotically even though no one was there, Riddhima said, "Shut up Sid."
"Oho! Mein itni romantic baatein kar raha hoon aur tum mujhe shut up karne ko keh rahi ho!" came Sid's voice in fake anger. "Bas sahi hai! Mein -"
"Sid!!" Riddhima laughed in spite of herself. "Kya hua?"
"Huh? Oh haan! Mein ne yeh kehna tha ke kuch bohat causual or simple pehnna. As in extremely simple! As in nothing that can be torn or spoiled easily or anything like that. And even if it does it won't matter! Got it?"
"Umm, kya tum humari pehli date pe mujhe jungle le jaa rahe ho?" Riddhima asked in mock shock.
Sid's voice came through lovingly: You never know. Ab jaldi tayyar ho jao. I'll be there in half an hour.
------
Half an hour later Riddhima was ready: her hair was dry and smooth, she was wearing a simple but cute pink shirt and cream-coloured capris. And she wasn't wearing lip-gloss (for some weird and totally non-understandable reason).
Outside the door Sid was about to ring the bell, looking his sexyface best in black trousers and dark blue-ish T shirt (☺️☺️). But just for a moment he stopped. What if Riddhima didn't like his idea? Sure it wasn't the most romantic spot for a date but he always knew that unnecessary romantic-ness made her nervous. It was best to just keep things natural. And of course, they'd have alot of fun afterwards too.........
The door opened before Sid had time to ring the bell. Riddhima was standing there, her whole face lit up as soon as she saw him. Sid's face broke into a warm smile at the sight of her, his heart pounding with love.
"Hey........" said Ridzy breathlessly.
Sid took her hands in his and pulled her close to himself. So close that their faces were not even inches apart. And said (well, whispered actually) "Hey sweetheart."
Riddhima blushed, but smiled, and moved her gaze to the ground. Sid looked at her red cheeks and downcast eyes, feeling happier than ever. Riddhima turned her gaze back to his irresistible eyes and just got lost in them. She had been about to say something but completely forgot it as her heart started racing wildly at their proximity. Sid moved one hand to her face as he moved a few hairs out of the way and cupped her cheek. His touch only caused Riddhima's heartbeat to accelerate even more and her breathing to become rapid. He moved his face closer to hers slowly, and it was all Riddhima could do to resist not closing the gap between their lips quickly. She closed her eyes, her lips parted in anticipation as their mouths touched each other's..........
Ring-RING-RRRRRRRRRRRRING!!!!!!
The moment was shattered as Riddhima's cell-phone rang through the silence. More irritated than anything else, she took out her phone impatiently and answered it in an annoyed voice: God, Shilpa, kya masla hai? What happened?
On the other end, Shilpa gave Sue a surprised look and mouthed 'bad mood' before saying to Riddhima: Di, aap abhi kahan hain?
Riddhima said, still annoyed "Mein ghar pe hi hoon. Kyun? kya hua?"
"Oh........nothing.........." Shilpa cut the phone quickly.
Riddhima glared at the phone as if it was all its fault. Sid looked at her in amusement at her irritation for the kiss-that-did-not-happen. I mean, it was just so obvious that she was angry because Shilpa's call had disrupted the moment.
Completely natural, you know.
"Chalein?" Sid entwined his fingers in hers, trying to hide his smile.
"Huh? Oh. Oh haan. Yeah. let's go," Riddhima had momentarily forgotten that they were going out together. She had been so focused on -
Nevermind.
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Sid stopped the car and looked at Riddhima seriously. The car ride so far had been spent in comfortable silence in which Riddhima had kept on stealing glances at Sid and smiling like an idiot. And Sid caught her a few times and had raised her eyebrows in question. And then Riddhima would just blush and shake her head.
But now Sid said, "Ok Riddhima, I just want to say that this might not be a typical place for a date, but I just wanted you to enjoy yourself rather than just sit in one place and stare at me. But maybe you'd be happy doing that too, who knows?"
Riddhima let out an "Oh!" of indignation and punched Sid on the shoulder playfully. "Sid!"
Grinning, Sid continued, "Hum khana khane baad mein jaayein ge. Tell me if you get bored okay?"
"I'll never be bored with you around Sid," Ridzy said without thinking. When Sid looked at her, she then suddenly added, "You know what I mean. I mean, you're fun and interesting and funny and you always have something to talk about........" she trailed off when she saw that he was clearly distracted. He was just looking at her as she talked.
"Mm-hmm," said Sid, leaning across his seat and tracing her face lightly with his finger. This motion sent goosebumps all across Riddhima's body, who shivered slightly under his touch. Looking into her eyes, he said casually, "You were saying?"
Trying to act indifferent to his touch (and failing miserably, what's new?) Riddhima tried to continue but his chocolate eyes were just so mesmerizing. "Uh- I was saying......" her voice sounded about ten octaves lower than it had been a few minutes ago.
"Hmm....." Sid threaded one of his hands in her hair while cupped the other one to her cheek.
"That - umm......" Riddhima forgot what she was going to say. Heck, she even forgot who she was. And what was with her heart overreacting so much?? She could feel it going dhak-dhak against her chest as it was. She gripped the side of her seat tightly as she too leaned unconsciously in Sid's direction, pulled as if by some magnetic force.
Sid held her face in both of his hands and pulled her close enough that they could feel each other's breath on their faces. Sid touched his lips to hers for a few brief seconds, then rested his forehead against hers. It did nothing to satisfy Riddhima's longing or Sid's passion. If anything, it only intensified things, but before any of them could act again:
RING RING RING!
"Oh God, who is it now?" Sid took out his phone exasperated. "Sue!" He said through gritted teeth. Answering the phone he said loudly: "What is it Sue????"
Sue: Huh? Oh yeah. Ummm..... where are you right now superboy?
Sid (angrily): I'm in my car!!! WHY????
Sue: Oh......ummmm......nothing........ *line dead*
"Good God, she's so annoying sometimes!!" Sid stormed as he irritably put his phone on 'silent'
"Tell me about it," muttered Riddhima.
Smiling in spite of himself, Sid got out of his seat and went around to open Ridzy's door.
"Well, Ridzy, I hope ke tum iss din ko enjoy karo gi!" said Sid, turning his mind to more cheerful matters. Like how he was going to spend the whole day with Riddhima. "Remember, not a typical place!"
Scared but excited too that probably he had brought her to the jungle instead of a plain old restaurant Riddhima thought that in fact her idea of a perfect date spot with Sid would have been a -
Water Park!!!!
Riddhima mouth turned into a perfect circle and her eyes popped out in shock. How had Sid known that this was exactly where she had wanted to come for a first date!?!? She grabbed Sid's arm and started jumping up and down in excitement. "OMG, Sid are you serious??? Are you really serious?"
"Well, yeah I am," said Sid, overjoyed at her reaction. "C'mon."
Guess how Sid found out about Riddhima's secret desire to have a date in a water park? Yeah.......
--Flashback--
Long long ago, when Sid an Riddhima had just barely met one another, Sid had overheard Sue, Shilpa and Riddhima talking:
Shilpa: oooooh me? I'd love to go to Taj Mahal for an ideal date!
Sue (rolling her eyes): We're talking about the continental US, Shilpoo dear.
Shilpa: You said ideal, so that's my ideal! Ab tumhari bari.
Sue: Hmmmmm I think I would like a nice candlelit dinner followed by a slow dance!!! Provided of course, that I actually likethe guy.
Shilpa: WHy would you even go out with a guy you don't like?
Sue: Ever heard of blind dates and guys whom your parents have set you up with? Oh and your friends too?
Shilpa: Oh c'mon Sue! That was just one time! I really thought you'd like Rohit!
Sue: I didn't even know him back then!
Shilpa: But he was so nice and cute and everything!
Sue: Cute yes, but nice? I think he was more in love with himself than in me!
Shilpa: It was your first meeting! How was he supposed to fall in love with you without even knowing you???
Sue: SUBJECT CHANGE! Riddhima Di, what's your ideal date spot?
Riddhima (thoughtfully): Seriously, do you wanna know?
Su/Sh: YESSS!
Ridzy: Ok, but you have to promise no to laugh!
Su/Sh (excited now): Ok ok, just tell us!
Ridzy: I'd really like to go to a water park with my date! I swear I'm serious!
Shilpa: Why??????????
Ridzy: because - well, i don't know. I just like all the candlelight dinner and just staring at each other over a table thing. I wanna have fun!!
Sue (nodding wisely): I see what you mean. (to Shilpa) I change my mind. My ideal spot would be Florida Disney World! OMG, that would be epic!
Shilpa: Am I the only sane person in this room with even an idea of romance????
--Flashback end--
After getting their tickets and putting their shoes in a locker, Riddhima pulled Sid after her and said excitedly, "What do you want to do first?"
Shrugging, he said, "Whatever you want is fine with me."
"Great!" Riddhima immediately headed towards what had to be the largest, tallest water slide in the park. Looking at it apprehensively, Sid asked, "Are you sure about this???"
"What, oh yeah, totally, it's awesome! C'mon!" Riddhima pulled Sid forcefully, they officially started their first date.
After nearly two hours of sliding, splashing, getting wet, and ultimately having a whole load of fun, they started moving towards the last area of the park. Tired, drenched to the skin, holding hands, and laughing like idiots, Riddhima was talking about Sid's latest idiotic venture:
"Oh God Sid! *laugh laugh laugh* You looked *laugh* so funny and so stupid *laugh laugh* and so cute when you slipped down the slide! *hahaha* I mean you *hahaha* slipped down that baby slide *hahaha* and landed in the pool of water *hahahaha* looking like you were *hahaha* -"
Sid was laughing too: "Oh really? What about you when *laugh laugh laugh* that kid pushed you *laugh laugh* over the edge of the pool? You looked as if the ground had gone from under you - "
"Which in a way it had!" said Riddhima, blushing over the incident, as they reached the last pool of water.
There weren't many people around here as most of them were at the other rides and things. Only a handful of people were in this area.
Oh and Sue and Shilpa were also here of course. They had guessed two things correctly 1)that SR were going out on a datewithout telling them and 2) that they had come to a water park. And they were absolutely right of course. Theyy had been watching Siddhima the whole day at the park (having a lot of fun themselves too, of course), but as such they were oblivios to the fact that they had interrupted SR twice. Hiding themselves expertly, they positioned themselves in such a way that could see and not be seen.
Sue: Is that them?
Shilpa: Yes. Yes it is. Don't they look awesome together??
Sue: Tell me about it yaar!
Shilpa: Why are we here again? I totally forgot during all the fun and water and romance!
Both of them looked at each other questioningly, waiting for the other to answer. When none of them did, they simply shrugged their shoulders and resumed their spying.
Riddhima pulled Sid towards a huge pool of water that produced waves every few minutes. Standing in ankle-deep water (they had put their shoes in a locker near the entrance) Riddhima gestured with her eyebrows to Sid to get into the water. Sid held out his hands in an 'After you' kind of way. Riddhima pushed him in, laughing.victoriously. But then to her shock, Sid (who was in the motion of falling) grabbed her hand and pulled her down with him.
(Sue and Shilpa: OMGOMGOMGOMG!)
Although the place was shallow, SR got wet again in seconds, because obviously water gets you wet. But neither of them had actually noticed the fact. Riddhima had landed with her arms around Sid's neck and her expression somewhat dazed. Sid was smiled at her and, stroking her face gently, said in a seductive voice, "Abhi sahi time nahi mila aur line maarna shuru?" And then, he kissed her. Passionately.
Shilpa's mouth dropped open. Sue closed it and put one hand over Shilpa's eyes and one over her own, saying, "PG-13 PG-13 PG-13." Shilpa replied (her eyes still covered with Sue's hand): "Oh ok." and looked in the opposite direction.
Taken by surprise, it took some time for Ridzy to react. But then, she entwined one hand in his hair and pulled him closer, kissing him back fiercely. Love, passion and longing coursed through their veins as they lost themselves in the kiss, giving themselves completely over to their feelings. All went well for several moments before an exceptionally large wave came there way, drenching them and slapping them back to reality. Although they broke their lip-lock, they still didn't let go each other. Leaning her forehead against his, Riddhima said, "I love you Sid."
Smiling at her lovingly, Sid replied huskily, "I love you too Ridzy."
Returning the smile shyly, Riddhima got up and headed out of the water. Sid followed.
In their hiding place, Shilpa said, "Wait a second! I'm not 13!!! I'm nearly a legal adult!!!"
Once outside the park, Riddhima, in a happy daze till now, suddenly said, "Oh my God! I don't have any more clothes!!"
Looking at her drenched figure, the clothes clinging to her body and her wet hair Sid said in an innocent voice, "Why? I think you look perfect."
Blushing, Riddhima said quietly, "Shut up Sid!"
Sid continued: No I'm serious! Water suits you! It makes you look extremely......."
Riddhima looked at him suspiciously. Sid had been about to say "It makes you look extremely hot," but thought the better of it, and tried to think of another adjective.
However, Riddhima said, "Don't worry, you look extremely hot yourself!" Winking at him in a sexy way, she made her way to his car, glad that she had stumped him for once.
Momentarily dazed, Sid too went to his car and found Ridzy frowning at something in the passenger's seat. It was a shopper full of clothes with a note attached:
From Your Guardian Angels! :) We Love You Both!
"Sid?" said RIddhima. "Yeh kya hai?"
Sid, looking all around, "I have a funny feeling we're not alone." Then he said, "Ah, who cares. Now come on. Let's find a place to change and then we'll go eat."
"Mm-hmm." said Riddhima, looking around suspicious.
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Hope you liked it 😳, coz I worked HAAAAAAAAARD on this chapter! 😕
Do leave your feedback/ comments/ rants/ complaints/ dhamkis/ tamaters/ jootes in the comments! 😃
Coming up next: ............ continuation of date 😳!! or not 😕.......... you decide! 😃
Either way, in the coming few chapters the focus will mainly be on SR romance ☺️. Because I can't seem to get enough of that even though I must be reading at least 6 different FFs nowadays.
And after that...... the problems will start.
Hey, you didn't think they'll just end up married peacefully, did you 😲? Of course you didn't! 😆
Hope you enjooooooyyyyyed! 😃
Oh, and I'm so sorry I couldn't reply to your comments ! Please please please phorrrrrrgive me 😭!! But remember it's only, and I mean ONLY, your comments that keep me going 😃! So stop them and I stop the FF! 😆
As Isha said, the comments actually seem more interesting than the story! 😆😉
I love you all! 🤗
Anushka 😎
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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