Previous part page 8
Thankyou allso much for your wonderful comments. I know alot of you didnt want Armaan back but he needed too come back so we could all get closure once and for all.😊
Hope you enjoy the next part!😳
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Part 3
'Armaan?'
Ridhimma was confused. She thought she had felt him near her but……
"Ridhimma. Im so glad I found you. I couldn't wait till 4 o clock. I had to see you again.' Armaan sat next to her and attempted to hold her hand.
Instinctively Ridhimma snatched her hands away and got up quickly, spilling her cappacino on the table.
"Armaan, Im married and the whole hospital knows that!' she said with annoyance.
'Im sorry Ridhimma I was so….'
'Armaan I will see you at 4 o clock!'
Ridhimma hurried away leaving a frustrated Armaan sitting at the table staring after her.
'How could Armaan be so insensitive!' she thought angrily. 'And what if Sid had been there?'
She stopped suddenly. 'Sid! I have to see Sid!'
She couldn't explain to herself why the urgent need to see Sid had suddenly manifested. Something just didn't feel right. She began to walk faster towards Sids office almost breaking into a run when she collided into Sue.
'Ouch Bhabhi! Wheres the fire?' asked Sue rubbing her arms where Ridhimma had bumped into her.
'Im so sorry sweetie I was just on my way to see your brother,' apologized Ridhimma.
'Oh,' grinned Sue, 'so that explains the 100 meter dash! By the way has my darling brother told you my news?'
When she saw Ridhimmas confused face, Sue realized she didn't know about her wedding so she explained everything.
Ridhimma was delighted and gave Sue the tightest of hugs. She truly loved her sister-in-law and was extremely excited for her, especially knowing what a wonderful man Raj was.
'Im so happy for you Sue! We will have so much fun at your wedding! Ive already got so many ideas. We can….'
As Sue listened to Ridhimma chatteringon about her plans for the wedding, her thoughts went back to her brother and the sadness that had seemed to surround him this morning. She knew how much he loved Ridhimma and was suddenly scared.
She grabbed hold of Ridhimmas hands tightly halting Ridhimmas flow of words..
"Bhabhi please make me a promise!'
Ridhimma looked into Sue's troubled eyes which were suddenly full of fear.
'Whats wrong Sue?' she asked in a worried voice.
'Please promise me Bhabhi. Promise me you will never leave my brother!'
Ridhimma looked at Sues pleading face and tears began to fill her eyes.
'Sue, I …….'
'Ridhimma!'
Sue and Ridhimma both turned round to look at the voice that had interrupted them.
"Armaan?' Sue looked at him with confused look. 'Whats he doing here?' She thought to herself.
Sue had never liked Armaan and when Sid had told her about the Lonavla incident she was close to hating him for what he had done to her brother. But then he had left and she had simply forgotten about his existence.
'Hello Sue. I came to Bombay to take back something important which I should never have left behind .' explained Armaan without even being asked.
As Sue gave Armaan a puzzled look, Ridhimma stood quietly next to her in an uncomfortable silence staring down at the floor.
'Well it was nice seeing you again Sue. Ridhimma I will see you in 10 minutes.' And saying that Armaan walked away towards the stairs leading to the terrace leaving behind a totally bewildered Sue.
As she turned to question her Bhabhi about Armaans strange behaviour , Sues pager went off asking her to meet one of the Doctors urgently. As Sue hurried away, Ridhimma was relieved that she didn't have to answer any of Sue's awkward questions about Armaan.
She glanced at her watch. Five minutes to 4 o clock. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Suddenly feeling enlightened, she knew exactly what she had to do.
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Sid bounced the hard, orange ball on the ground and aimed it in the basket. He missed.
He gathered the ball and re aimed it at the basket. He missed again. He watched the ball trickle away to the other end of the court.
He was so stupid! Such a fool! He actually thought she was looking for him, that she had sensed he was there. When would he learn? Time and time again he had convinced himself that Ridhimma loved him. That she stayed with him because she wanted to. And now he realized all that was a lie. She stayed with him not because she wanted to but because she had to! It was her duty, her farz! He was fast beginning to hate those words.
He began to walk to the other end of the court to collect the ball when he suddenly stopped. His heart started racing. His breathing became faster. Even without turning around he knew she was there. He closed his eyes tightly willing his heart to stop pounding so fast. Why did this hurt so much? Why did he love her so much?
He turned around slowly knowing there was no avoiding the meeting.
"Might as well get it over and done with it,' he thought.
She watched him as he slowly moved towards her,gazing right into her soul and her heart cried out.
'He knows!' she thought, 'He knows!'
As he reached her he steeled himself for the worst. He looked at her with emotionless eyes.
'I wont breakdown in front of her no matter what happens,' he promised himself and waited for her to speak.
'Sid, please could you come to the terrace with me. Armaans waiting and theres something that you need to know.' Ridhimma spoke with a quiet voice not wanting to hurt Sid anymore then she already had..
Sid simply nodded and lead the way. His face was impassive not revealing his true feelings. But if Ridhimma had cut open his chest she would have seen his heart bleeding.
Wordlessly they climbed the stars towards the terrace each of them determined not to show the other what they were truly feeling fearing that they would breakdown.
As they neared the terrace, Ridhimma quickened her pace and walked past him. A surprised Sid gave her a questioning look but she did not respond. It was when he saw her walk straight upto Armaan, he understood. She needed to be by his side when they broke the news to him.
Armaan was playing with his phone when he heard the noises of feet approaching. He looked up with a wide grin and arms wide open ready to welcome Ridhimma. But just as his arms went up he brought them straight back down to his side as he saw Sid standing behind her.
What was he doing here?
He gazed at Ridhimma questioningly.
' Sid needs to be here ,' Ridhimma spoke in a firm voice..
"I guess your right Ridhimma. We might as well tell him now.' Armaan took a deep breath and looked straight at Sid.
'Look Sid. You're a nice guy. You just ended up marrying the wrong girl. Ridhimma was not and will never be yours. She loves me but is simply staying with you out of a sense of duty. But im sure you don't want to stay in a loveless marriage so its best for everyone if you set Ridhimma free.'
With each word, Sid felt as if a knife was stabbing his heart. But he stood motionless willing his face not to give his emotions away. A silence suddenly fell and Sid realized Armaan was waiting for him to say something.
'All I want is Ridhimmas happiness. And if this is what she wants then I wont…...' Sid could feel himself beginning to falter so he stopped abruptly.
He had to leave….now! He knew if he stayed there another second he would completely break. As he turned to leave he heard Ridhimma speak.
'Armaan. Do you want my happiness?'
Armaan looked at Ridhimma with a strange expression. Sid turned back confused. Why was she asking such an absurd question?
'Ridhimma,' Armaan said his voice full of exasperation, 'of course I do!'
'Then for my happiness would you be willing to walk away like Sid was?'
'I…..,' Armaan was confused, 'Ridhimma I did walk away but now Im back because we both know we cant live without each other.'
'Yes Armaan, you did walk away but that's because I asked you to leave. Sid was willing to walk away without me asking him to, for my happiness. And you still came back. Because YOU couldn't live without me. But did you try and find out if I could live without you?'
Sid held his breath. What was Ridhimma trying to say? He watched as various emotions flickered over Armaans face ranging from surprise to anger.
'Ridhimma what …..what you are saying? Your MY Ridhimma, my basket. Only I can make you truly happy. You belong only to me! .' Armaans voice was rising.
But by now Ridhimma had taken as much of Armaans delusional ranting as she could!.
'Enough Armaan enough! Why does everything have to be about you and what you want! Do you want to know the truth? The truth is that you make me cry, and Sid wipes away my tears. You left me to die, and he brought me back to life. You suffocate me, while he leaves me feeling breathless. Your selfish and he's totally selfless. The truth is I can live without you, but I would die without Sid.'
The air was soaked with a deafening silence.
Arman looked at Ridhimma not fully understanding what she was saying. But as she continued to stare at him with cool contempt a cold realization began to dawn on him.
Sid could not believe what he was hearing. Ridhimma slowly turned round away from Armaans bewildered face and looked at Sid with tears in her eyes.
'I love you Sid. Only you.'
And without anymore hesitation she ran straight into Sids waiting arms where he held her tightly knowing he would never let her go again.
And Armaan knew it was over. Slowly, he walked past the two of them and without a backward glance walked down the steps of the terrace and out of their lives.
Sid and Ridhimma didn't know how long they stayed in each others arms. Nothing mattered at that moment but the two of them being together where they knew they belonged. Ridhimma rested her face against Sids heart knowing that it beat only for her. And finally when she looked up at Sid, he saw the love radiating from her sparkling eyes only for him.
'Lets go home,' he said lovingly, stroking her soft,silky hair.
'I am home,' she whispered with a beautiful smile.
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Kumkum Bhagya
Debate Mansion
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