AR FF -||MY Bride2||-|page 156| - Page 43

18 – Realization

Padma was bitterly crying with her hands over her face, hiccupping – weeping badly enough that her mouth was letting out soft snivels. "she wants this wedding soon? She wants to get out of this hell? She takes her house as hell for her…." Padma spoke to herself. Sobbing with constant gasps, "she hates me, she hates her mother… how awful mother I have been… she is going to leave me after a week and never meet me… as.. . I … I didn't!" Padma cried as she realize the fact that she won't get Riddhima back, "I had lost her… .lost her for ev..er…" Padma cried.

She had followed them upstairs, and had heard each and every word of Armaan and had notice a happy response of Riddhima, which meant she was happy as the wedding got proponed. Though it didn't mean that she wasn't happy that her daughter got an angel named Armaan, who took care of Riddhima's every wish and need. She knew he is the best, but still the realization has dawned over Padma and she was really upset.

Today she understood how her child must have waited for a motherly love all this years and today, when she is all grown up and doesn't require much of mother attention, Padma being a mother had proved herself a mean, and a heartless mother. She had gone so blind in the love she got that she forgot about Riddhima. "Padma kya hua?" Shahank walked in worried, settled by her, he hold her hands in hers, "Kya Hua?" he asked again, "Shahank… Riddhima…" Padma fell in his arms and kept her head over his chest, "Kya hua? Padma?" Shahank soothed her, "she … hate us Shahank… she hate us!" Padma mumbled, weeping, "what? Did she said anything?" Shahank asked, a little frown caressed his head, seeing Padma shook her head in no, "Padma could you tell me what exactly happened….?" Shahank asked, "Today…. When I told her that her wedding is preponed, she was so delighted so happy Shahank, as per her… this is hell…. She wants to get out of here soon… we disappointed her as parents Shahank…. We were never there for her …. When she needed a father, "Padma looks up at him, with moist eyes, " a mother…. I failed myself… I was never there for my daughter Shahank…" Padma cried, telling him, "all these days… I had been building this in my heart Shahank… I can't …. I am guilty… I feel guilty every day I wake up and every day when I sleep… it's eating me up like a night mare… I hear voice of a child crying for her mother, that child is…. Riddhima…" Padma was quickly embraced by Shahank, "bas karo Padma… pagal ho gaye ho!" Shahank scolded her with love, rubbing her back, smoothing her… "Will she forgive her mother? Will she Shahank…?" Padma looks up at Shahank, "I don't know Padma… I don't know… let her go Padma, if she is happy with Armaan – then we should be happy, her happiness should be what is important from now on…" Shahank whispered, looking at empty space, while thinking at his own bad, "I had been bad too… I knew I can never have my own blood… all this years, you thought it was you, who couldn't give heir to my family… but the truth is Padma…. It is me…. Who can't give heir to my own family…" Shahank had tears in my eyes, "I had a default Padma… not you… i guess… this is a punishment from god, as I pushed Riddhima away when she needed a father… a mother… we left her… we left a crying baby… who didn't even new what's' right and what's' not… but still she is marrying Armaan for our sake, for our reputation…. I know she is not my blood but still she kept my head high Padma – she always did what I told her to do… never opposed, never fought… I am as guilty as you are Padma… but never had the courage to say all this, but today when I think of her wedding…. I feel… if we could live together for more days… we could have got a chance for a forgiveness from her…." Pause, sighing… "I want these last ten day of her in this house to be the most beautiful day for her Padma… can we do this much for her? Can we Padma?" Shahank asked, "we will try Shahank… we will let her go happily Shahank not with tears but with a smile…" Padma spoke, soothing Shahank as he let out a small sob… "I feel guilty Padma… I want ask for forgiveness… I can't keep this in heart anymore…" Shahank gulped the pain down his throat, speaking what he had started to feel, "this feeling… it is being built up in my heart…. When this girl, my daughter – Riddhima had walk pass that door and called me Dad…." Shahank silently sobbed, holding on to Padma in a side embrace – sharing his pain with her, "I had been a worst father too Padma… I was there for our daughter… I never took her as my own daughter…. For me it was always Veer's daughter…" Shahank confessed, "but today…. The day she said yes to my chosen boy – my… my chest had swollen up… with proud and love for her…! I couldn't confess… but I want to do that now Padma… we should love her the most – we should make her feel the best in last few days of her in this house…." Shahank spoke in affirmation, and determination, soothing a crying Padma – but her voice was covered up with another hysteric cry… Shahank looks up at partly open door to see Riddhima crying while leaning on the latch of door.

"Riddhima…" Shahank choked her name out, Padma looks up teary, "Riddhima…" Padma let out a cry, softly. Shahank got up, and steadily walk up to Riddhima, standing beside her – he kept a hand over her shoulder, making her shudder and open her eyes, and look up at her father, whose face was soaked with dry tears, his frame had almost hidden her from Padma… "Dad…." She whispered, leaning forward she hugged his motionless father. His face was hard but soon soften and he circled one arm around her…

If looking at old records, the ultimate aim of getting married to Armaan was to make her parents love reawaken – and today seeing her parents cry for her happiness – her heart had somersaulted trillions of time… though now she was in love With Armaan and didn't even think of regretting it – because the day Armaan stepped in everything had furiously changed, she had got a chance to meet her parents, she had got a chance to live her life with Armaan, she had breathed open air with Armaan – had fallen in Love with Armaan and Got the Love of her parents finally because of Armaan – what else did she needed? All what her heart had desired for – whither for is right in front of her waiting for her just to embrace it… and if she doesn't do that – won't she be a complete fool?

However, feeling her father's love as he sooth her to calm her down, she waited patiently for him to apart her but he didn't so she kept her head over his chest and cried, "i… I missed you dad…" she whispered, shahank's heart flattered and melted, "I am sorry Riddhima… I am a bad father!" Shahank's heart finally let it out…

She push her head away seeing her dad trembling, she intake her breathes in shock, shaking her head in she reached out to clear her father's tears, whispering not to cry, "please Dad… no…" she whispered. "you are… a …very good father," Riddhima stated, "don't lie…" Shahank stopped her, parting away, he turned his back at her. She quickly kept her on the back and hugged him lightly, "dad… you provided me everything… the best you could… every necessity of my life – from toys to books to a girls want! It was always a call from me at home and the thing would reach at hostel!" Riddhima confessed, knowing counting negative points would do much and today she wanted to get them back – If they are willing to get her back too! "at a point I was alone whining to have my parents with me… the thing that is happened can't be changed but still dad… I love you – owe you for everything you had been and are doing for me – know…. Knowing that I am… I am …. Not your… blood… not your daughter!" Riddhima sobbed, she felt Shahank turn, slightly withdrawing her arms off him – he held her shoulder, "You are my daughter!" he spoke gravely, looking deep in her eyes, "You belong to me! You get that! You can shout at me! You can cry – and say everything you want – tell me how bad father I am! How I left you alone in hostel! How I was never there at your annual function BUT never mention this! You are NOT veer's Daughter!!" Shahank slightly became anguish at the name of Veer! "You are MY Daughter! You don't Owe me for that!! You get that?"Shahank shook her shoulders, "you get this Riddhima…?" he softened again, feeling wrecked, but still a hope was shining deep in him, "ji…" she whispered and hugged him, crying… "I am sorry dad…" she whispered. "I am sorry … Riddhima beta… I am sorry… please give a chance to renovate this relation…" he uttered, feeling her shook her head in yes, he embraced her tightly, "thank you …" he whispered, "I missed you dad…" she whispered, clutching on to him like a two year old baby…

That is when they heard the door bell ring, Padma all time was crying while settled on bed, it was her fault the most – if she had kept Riddhima or called her back this day would have never come –the distance that Shahank and Riddhima shared was not going to fill up soon… and that everyone knew… "I will go…" Shahank pass by her quietly to door, Riddhima cried softly till her eyes fell on Padma who was settled on bed with her head in hands, Riddhima walks up to her and kneel down in front of her, keeping her head on her mom's lap, she closed her eyes, her heart missed a beat when she felt her bent down kissing her forehead and caressing her hair… fresh tears spilled out of her close eyes… "I am sorry Riddhimaa…" Padma cried, hiccupped while apologizing. "No mom…" Riddhima replied, Leaning in – she hugged her waist, hiding in her mother's warmth, this is what she had always wanted, an embrace of Love from her mother, the feeling that she felt was indescribable… Padma tired to apart, seeing someone staring at them, "Mom… Please… for a while…" Riddhima mumbled hugging her with close eyes. Today Padma realize how much Riddhima much have missed her mother.

After few minutes, Padma shook her softly, "Riddhima… Armaan!" Padma pointed that someone, named Armaan was at the door staring at them, smiling –holding back his tears, "I guess… she slept…" Padma called him in, "hmm … it's okay, I just want to see if she is okay… but I guess… now I don't have get worried about her… she has got what she desired for most…" he whispered to Padma, staring down at Riddhima, Padma understood, and shed few tears…. "aunty… don't cry… it's time to make things work correctly," Armaan gave Padma's hand squeeze to which she meekly nodded, "could you place Riddhima, over this bed, I want her… here beside me…" Padma spoke to Armaan, who looks up in her eyes for a second and nodded.

Picking her up, he makes her lay down on bed, while she was in deep slumber as she had wrecked out in emotion s that she wasn't able to react or get up, "I will leave… aunty, take care of yourself and hers too." Armaan softly gave her a peck on forehead, she mumbled his name, in daze, "good night… sweet dreams, sweetheart…" he whispered while adjusting a blanket over her, and left saying a bye to Padma. Whole Night Padma had kept on brushing Riddhima's head, caressing her – aimlessly looking at her daughter, who still looked like a baby, holding onto on Padma's free hand. Padma had kept on shedding tears whole night, from time to time. Shahank had stayed out in lounge thinking over things, the night had been quite heavy for both the parents; they just could get their eyes down to sleep.

Riddhima snuggled in her opening her eyes she saw Padma laid beside her – with her hands, in Riddhima's head, ruffling them softly. Riddhima thought she is in sleep, moving closer, she kept her head below Padma's head and softly hugged her, Shahank who was settled on couch inside the room working on laptop notice this and knew Padma was acting to be sleeping he knew she had been awake whole night caressing her daughters head, he knew Padma had closed her eyes purposely to make Riddhima believe that she is asleep, however, feeling Riddhima so close, Padma hugged her back, "Good morning beta…" whispering, Riddhima turned alarmed but relaxed, "good Morning mama…." Riddhima spoke, softly hiding herself in her mother's embrace,

"If you and your mother had enough of the good time, can I please get a tea?" Shahank spoke in a teasing manner which was not only surprise for Riddhima but a shock for Padma. He had never shared a joke in last few year and he spoke with tease visible in his eyes, "h-haan wait.." Padma got out of bed, when, "Mom…. I will make tea for both of you today!" Riddhima stopped and rushed out leaving a smiling parent behind, "we missed so much Shahank… didn't we…?" Padma looked at Riddhima's retreating figure. "Yea… we did! But it's not too late! Padma…. It's never too late to realize your mistake and try your best to correct it!" Shahank walks up to her as they both sat on bed beside each other, "Yeaa… it's never too late…!" She whispered back to him.

Muskan And Anjali had been there in whole drama, But had not went in and create an awkward atmosphere for the three, though Anjali had been clever enough to inform Armaan about all it; and he had endlessly waited for Riddhima to call and tell him, but as she did he had landed over there making his presence embarrassment for parents but they didn't reacted and forgot as their focus had turned from society, class, dignity to Riddhima, their daughter!

Muskan and Anjali had started to calm the atmosphere and every had a good day, while preparing house for evening as Maliks would arrive at that moment, Shahank had left for work but had came back at 4 in afternoon. Delighting Padma, "it had been ages that you showed up so early Shahank, just for …." Padma had been interrupted by him, "for family!" he completed, kissing her cheek he went in to see what three girls were doing – leaving a daze Padma behind, who softly, lightly blushed.

In the evening Naina and Billy Maliks had walked in along with Rahul to Gupta house – as a get together dinner. Riddhima had dressed herself in a sari as per Padma's insistence, Riddhima herself was impressed by her beauty in sari, the first time that he had came to see her – she had worn a sari but that day, she hadn't been so happy about wedding as she is Today, sitting beside Naina, she spoke nicely to everyone, disappointed as she couldn't find Armaan! For whom she had given extra effort on herself, which she rarely do, "Ahem Ahem!" Rahul coughed, getting Riddhima's attention, she looks up at him as saw him passing a teasing smile, while cocking his eye brows up, she shook her head and looks down with little bit of blush growing up on her cheeks, "Riddhima, bhai will be around in some time…" Rahul spoke, embarrassing her infront of elders, "uhmm…. I need to go to washroom," Riddhima excused and walk steadily out of the drawing room, "Rahul! Tu kyu Aus ko tang kar raha hai!" Muskan smacked him, scolding him for teasing her friend, "but Muskan – I was just having… fun!" Rahul rubbed his arm, where Muskan had hit him hard, "chup kar Tu!" Muskan scolded and he pouts, melting her, though she maintained the strict face and sat straightly like a dignified women.

But soon she let out a nervous smile when she saw four elders looking up at him, shock… "he Hee heee" Muskan got up, "excuse me!" Muskan got up and rushed, Naina looks at Rahul – asking what was all this about, "nothing mom…. I mean…" Naina glared at him knowingly, smirking, "we are … I mean Good Friends!" Rahul gulped, while Anjali giggled at his status, "good friends?" billy got in to it, "Yea… you know, we are friends… we got out… together… eat food… and all like good friends…." Rahul spoke stammering.

Muskan and Riddhima peeped their head outs from kitchen from where they could get a good view of everyone and even could hear them, Muskan was blushing and Riddhima was laughing to which Muskan smacks her head, as she had her head peep out on top and Riddhima's below. "That means you both are Girl friend Boy friend?" Naina grinned, "No mom… app… bhi! I will go make a call to bhai!" Rahul got up, turning red like raspberry, "I think, junior Malik is on its way to marriage to! Like his brother!" Billy joke, while Shahank laughingly agreed.

Hearing the bell ring, Riddhima was about to rush out of kitchen when Anjali held her hand, "Pagal! Wait, everyone outside shall notice how desperate you are to meet him, let some else open!" Anjali's words turned Riddhima startled, "I … I am not… desperate… I was just volunteering…" Riddhima make up an excuse, making Muskan and Rahul giggle, they all had settled in kitchen letting elders mingle in their own. "Yea yea… There's no need for a volunteer!" Anjali took passed a bunch of green vegetable, "chop it, volunteer over here!" Anjali teased, Riddhima made face and took a knife, chopping it over chopping board, she heard foots step making its way to kitchen after meeting everyone in lounge. "Hey…" Armaan spoke, making his presence, acknowledge, "Hey bhai… you know some was so desp…." Before Rahul could complete Riddhima, turned and smacked him, "Shhhshh! Kuch bhi mat bolo Rahul!" Riddhima scold him, instead of making him scared she made him laugh, "essa kon danta hai Riddhima?" Rahul laughed, "You looked so babyish when you scold me right now, Nahi Muskan!" he high fived Muskan, who were laughing At Riddhima… "urrgggh!" Riddhima hit her feet on floor and turned her back at them, knowing Armaan was here, made her really conscious. She didn't know if she looks enough fresh as she looked an hour back. "Oye… stop teasing her…" Armaan walks up to her, standing beside her, he leaning on the counter while facing others, and she had her back at them, busy in chopping, she turns at him and smiled, "Hii…" he smiled at her, "hi" she replied, breaking the eye contact, she pulls a strand behind her ear and began chopping.

"Yea… no one tease her from now on… that's my right only!" Armaan got in the game, seeing Riddhima frown at him and pouting her lips, made her smirk, "and between Rahul! She is your bhabhi! Why do you call her Riddhima?" Armaan changed the topic, "Bhai, she is smaller to me! And I guess, Riddhima is ok with me calling her by name! Right Riddhima bhabhiii" Rahul teased, laughing along with Muskan. "Please for god Sake! Don't even dare calling me Bhabhi Rahul, everyone will make fun of your brother saying how old he is!" Riddhima played along, passing salty comments, and this is what Armaan frowned at. "Oh Please! You are going to be 20 within 10 days! Stop acting!" Armaan retorted pulling a chair and settling randomly on dining table where Muskan and Rahul sat "Still you are 5 years older to me!" Riddhima passed chopped vegetable to Anjali who was working over food on stove with a female maid, helping her, "so what? My mom is 7 years smaller to dad!" Armaan frowned at Riddhima as she took a seat, main chair and not beside Armaan… he sat leaving a chair in between.

"An Jaaaaali!" Armaan called her, her trance of thought was broken, the rest of four had been so busy in teasing and joking that they didn't notice that Anjali had been lost somewhere, "missing Atull….!" Armaan teased, "No… actually from tomorrow, us three going for shopping naa! Rahul will accompany me, you Riddhima – so Anjali is sad that Atul won't be here – as he is going sans Francisco for a meeting!" Muskan explained, Anjali rolled her eyes, and told the servant to complete the rest of work and took a seat that was empty between Armaan and Anjali. "Who said I am accompanying Riddhima! She had not even told me about shopping!" Armaan spoke, "Armaan? I mean …. I was going to tell you today… anyways, I am telling you now, we all going for shopping! And you will accompany me! That's it!" Riddhima told him, frowning at him – he had already spoiled her shopping last day by bringing that witch, Riya!

"No Riddhima, you all are going, I can't yaar – I have delegates coming tomorrow for the new projects approval!" Armaan explained, politely to her, "I don't know… I will wait and you will come!" Riddhima said getting up she went out to elders.

"Par Riddhima… suno tou yaar!" Armaan stopped at kitchen door, thinking not to create a scene in front of his parents who would surely end up taking her side, which he didn't wanted not right now, chuckling at her stupidity – he went to his friends, while she kept on cursing him, for not coming after her and persuade her for a forgiveness but no he was in there laughing over Muskan's lame joke, she thought and listened to her mother and his mother – talking, "bhai Billy – I want to send my daughter from this house! I want the marriage to take place right here in the lawn area, its quite big enough to get people in there! I want to send Riddhima from this house foots' step not from a hotel or whatever!" Shahank requested with determination, Riddhima's eyes got moist but an arm of her mother circled around her from behind soothing her. And a hand over her shoulder she knew it was him, she turned to look at him and saw him smiling at her – she smiled back and sat straight.

"Acha suno…" Armaan hold her hand and cornered her on the roof where all the young pile had gathered to enjoy the weather of night, but that was a complete lie to elders, as soon as Atul stepped in – Atul suggested that they should go up on open terrace, to spend some time with their loved one's – but Atul was much more desperate to Anjali to a isolated corner as he was leaving tomorrow morning to Sans Francisco for some work of his own independent business. "Armaan! Chodo… I am still angry!" she twisted in his hold, but he was fast enough – he placed his palm over her wrists, and turned it on her back, "ahh…. Armaaan!" she whined twisting badly, he had been grinning all the while but soon as he brought his body closer and her twisting made him lose control over his head, as her body kept on brushing him, which she was not conscious about he badly was, his eyes were locked in her – as he leaned over her, "why are you angry Riddhima?" he teased as he got back his sense and parted his body away from her, "you don't know?" she asked, fuming, looking dead gorgeous as she took deep inhale and exhale in anger, "okay seriously, tomorrow shopping is a bit difficult! Day after tomorrow?" he spoke, still holding on to her, "armaannn! We are getting married… and still you talk about is work!" Riddhima winced in his hold, keeping her hands on his chest she fidgeted with a button! He looks at her, "Please Riddhima… paka I will make it up for the shopping" he was interrupted, "Paka promise!" she asked, looking at him with pout. "paka promise," he whispered and kissed her lips, his hand left her wrist and he placed it over her waist, feeling her bare skin tingle over her palm, melted him and frozen her…. She gasped, as she felt his lips leave hers and caressing her skin with lips till he reached to her ear lobe, "armaaan…" she whispered, circling her arms around his neck with close eyes, he nuzzled his nose in her neck, making her go weak on knee, softly banging her with the wall to help her stand, he deepened his kisses on her neck, lowering to her collar bone he kissed as if there was no tomorrow. She felt his palm moving over her back, she had wore a halter blouse that had left most of her back bare, that was too much for Armaan – he admired her bones that were coming out as she tilted her body, to give him more access to off her, his one hand pulled her closer through waist, and kissed the other side of her neck, "I love uh…" he whispered,

"Ahem Ahem!" Anjali coughed, "my boyfriend is leaving me tomorrow for 4 days and here you to seem so desperate as if Armaan had to go out of city for some work!" Anjali commented, "You are just jealous with the height of our love!" Armaan holds Riddhima with one arm around her, pulling her close; she had hid her face in his arm, shy of the blunt conversation that took in front of her between her fianc and her friends. "Armaan!" Riddhima tried to stop him, slightly smacking his chest, "okay okay… stop fighting … let's go down stairs! I am hungry!" Atul pulls Anjali along with him – Rahul and Muskan walk down hand in hand, while Armaan and Riddhima stayed for few last minutes…

"Can't we meet up after dinner…?" he asked, looking down at her as she kept her head on his shoulder with close eyes, "its not… possible Armaan… how will I come out… finally when I am getting my parents back – I don't want to mess it up…" she told him, "Ohkay… tell me something?" he smirked, turning her to other shoulder of his, she giggled as she change position, "what?" she asked, smiling, "are you going to sleep in your room today or in mama's room?" Armaan asked, "Why are you asking…?" pause "No okay… you aren't coming to my room at night! Mama ya dad na dhekliya…!" Riddhima blurted pushing him away. "Oh yes I will – and you better stay locked in your room with an open gallery!" Armaan whispered and began to walk down

"Armaan No!" Riddhima rushed after him, "what if…" she added, when he peck her lips, leaving her dumfounded, "Armaa…." He walks back at her and peck her lips. "If you continued talking about it tou I might peck your lips in front of others too… so better not to say anything related that" he desirably spoke, "par…" she was interrupted by his lips but backed and moving her hand like a zip over her lips telling him she is mute.

"Good… now let's go and have food!" he holds her hand and lead her down, smirking to himself.

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Okay, i know this part was a bit senti, but i thought it was imp for her and for her parents.... next part would surely make you happy but that would be update on Friday okie...😳

yuppy!!!!!!! I am first!1!!!!!@@@###$^$#