Chapter 8: He's just not that into you… (Part B)
"Ridzy!!!!!!"
Riddhima tossed and turned in her bed as she heard her name being called, or rather screamed… She grabbed her phone from the side table and opened her eyes halfway to look at the time.
"Riddhimaaa!!"
Now someone knocked on her door loudly…
"7 in the morning. Muski has no patience at all" Riddhima grumbled and lazily got up to open the door for the sleep invader.
"Ridzyyy!" Muskaan whined outside along with her non stop knocking on the door.
"Muskiii! Stop knocking on the door, I'm coming" She yelled making her way to the door and finally letting the freak in!
"Itna time lagate hain! Idiot!" was the first thing that came out Muskaan's mouth as soon as she was let in.
An amused Riddhima looked at her with her mouth wide open, but before she could say anything, Muski continued with her own conversation…
"Now go get ready, I told you we were going to the coffee house! You took so long to open the door, please don't take this long to get dressed. Rahul wait kar raha hoga, I don't wanna be late!"
Riddhima crossed her arms and stared at her in disbelief, how was this girl her best friend again?
"What? Stop staring!" Muskaan said embarrassed, hiding her face behind a pillow on the bed.
But only to make Riddhima giggle at her, "Muski, I love you!" She hugged her removing the pillow from her face, and laughing at her flushed face.
"And I'm sure Rahul wouldn't mind waiting for you" she winked at her making her go even redder, if that was possible.
"Shut up!" Muskaan shyly looked away, her smile not leaving her face even for a second.
"Awww" Riddhima continued with her teasing, making sure she gets her back for all those times Muskaan teased her about boys!
"Chup re! And go take a shower now!" She finally pushed Riddhima away and toward the bathroom, still blushing about their conversation.
"Plus, Armaan will be there too, you know…so you need to look good too!"
Muskaan playfully said smirking at Riddhima, who was stuck in her position.
"Armaan" she mumbled to herself as though she heard it wrong. Then slowly turning around to Muksaan who was cracking up now, she fake smiled.
"I'll be right back" she muttered and rushed inside the bathroom before Muksaan starts to question about the sudden change in her attitude.
After about 10 minutes approximately, Riddhima was out and ready to head out with Muskaan. She looked at herself in the mirror, the first and the last time for the day. Armaan was going to be there at the coffee house, if it was the normal her, she would've made sure she looked perfect today. But now, she could care less. Hence she wore a plain black formal skirt, with a dark gray button down and her grayish heels. Her hair was tied today and she had no make up on. Satisfied or not satisfied with the way she looked, Riddhima didn't care at all. Sighing, she headed out to the living room where Muskaan was sitting at the dining table with Sammy.
"Let's go"
Muskaan and Sammy sat staring awkwardly at Riddhima, who frowned in respond.
"Kya?" She asked finally, still looking at the two of them stare at her.
"Ridzy, are you sick?" Sammy questioned worriedly.
"No! Why would you say that??" Riddhima immediately spoke, feeling her forehead just in case she didn't realize she was sick.
"No, why??" she asked again.
"Cause you look sick! What's the matter, why do you look so dull huh?" Muskaan asked suspiciously while Riddhima tried avoiding her gaze.
"Noo, no I don't guys. I look like this everyday! You guys are just…just being silly" she replied playfully, trying to divert their minds.
"Ab chal Muski, or we'll get late and Rahul wouldn't like that, would he?"
"Haan, par.."
Let's gooo! Bye Sammy" Riddhima said cutting her off and grabbing her hand as she walked out the door, while Sammy shook her head at the two of them, munching on her cereal.
__________________________________________________________________________
"Hey Rahul" Riddhima greeted him with a smile as she sat down on the couch at Central Perk. Rahul smiled back saying "Hey Riddhima" then quickly turned to Muskaan, engulfing her in his arms. Feeling like a third wheel between the two, Riddhima slowly got up while they were still lost in each others arms, and excused herself to order her break fast.
"Hey Gunther!" Riddhima called out as she stood at the counter.
"Hey…hey Ridz" A shy Gunther came forward with a shy smile on his face as he looked at the love of his life…
"Can I have a plain bagel and a cappuccino please" she said while taking her credit card out from her purse.
Gunther's smile only widened, and he nodded his head in delight as he went back to make her cappuccino.
"Thanks" Riddhima said grabbing her drink and bagel from the counter, along with her receipt that Gunther handed her.
"You're very welcome, enjoy Ridz" he managed to stop smiling for a second to tell her that…. But Riddhima just nodded in reply and walked back to the couch.
"Arey Ridzy, you got your food already? You didn't even ask me!" Muskaan complained when she saw Riddhima sit down with her break fast in front of her.
Rolling her eyes, Riddhima replied with a "haan, you never said you wanted to come with me! You were too busy with the larvee of your life!"
Rahul giggled at that, siding Riddhima in this one…to which Muskaan frowned.
"Why are you laughing? Sab teri waje se hua hai!" Muskaan pointed at Rahul, blaming him for no reason.
"What?! Meri waje se?? What are you talking about!" He looked amused, while Riddhima couldn't stop giggling.
"Haan… haan teri waje se! You were hugging me!"
"So?! Tu door bhaag jaati. You hugged me back!"
"Toh, I didn't…woh…tu naa! Bas chup re, pagal!" Muksaan almost yelled, annoying Rahul now.
"Tu chup re! Aur tu pagal!" he yelled back emphasizing on the "tu".
"Rahul, shut up!"
"No, why don't you!"
"I don't like you!"
"Good, then I can go hit on the other girls in my hospital!"
"Go die".
"NO!"
"Guys! You two! Stop fighting!" Riddhima finally screamed at the two, while she looked at them in disbelief. Just a while ago they were being all gushy mushy, hugging each other; and now…they were fighting like they were never even friends! But then again, that's what Rahul and Muski's relation was all about.
After Riddhima's outburst, the two of them settled down and started joking around again. Riddhima too, was happily enjoying the conversation, until Muskaan brought up that night…that night.
"I don't even remember anything from that night" Muskaan said with a straight face, while Rahul narrowed his eyes at her.
"Well obviously, cause you and Armaan were drunk as hell!" He exclaimed making Muskaan frown harder. However, Ridhdima just wanted to leave that very moment, she so not wanted to be a part of this conversation…or any conversations about that night!
"I took you home and Ridzy took Armaan home. Or you two would've been on the streets with the hobos" Rahul added proudly, and Muskaan just stuck her tongue out at him.
But what Rahul said as a fact, made Riddhima's life miserable the next minute, as Muskaan started talking about Armaan...
"Toh, guess what Rahul? Riddhima aur Armaan, Riddhima ke ghar mein akele the uss raat!" Muskaan said in one of her melodramatic voices, while Riddhima closed her eyes holding her head.
"Really?" Rahul faked his interest, he already knew that, pshht!
"Yeaa and then they were all alone! Andheri raat mein"
"Raat hamesha andheri hi hoti hai Muskaan" Rahul interrupted a very dramatic Muskaan.
"Tu chup re!" She said scrunching her nose, annoyed by Rahul for interrupting her in her story telling session.
"Guys, can we go now?" Riddhima quickly asked as soon as she got the chance.
"Not yet, let Armaan come first" Rahul said and Muskaan nodded, making Riddhima sink back in her seat…
"Muski…" Riddhima began to say something, but stopped as soon as she saw Armaan come in from the door with Noah following him. Not wanting to look at them directly, she turned to Muski and looked at them from the corner
"You been amazed!" She heard Noah say, he was probably joking around since Armaan was busy laughing, she thought.
"Yo Gunther my dude!" She watched Noah give Gunther a big bear hug while poor Gunther just stood straight in his position, trying to get out of his hold.
"Hi 40" he waved moving as far away as he could form Noah, probably trying to save himself.
"Why you running away man?" Noah asked in a serious tone, making everyone else laugh out loudly. Seeing Gunther shrug nervously, 40 finally gave in and laughed at Gunther's annoyed face. Then he went to Rahul and gave him the usual bro hug and side hugged Muski, gesturing Riddhima to wait till he gets back from the bathroom.
In response, Riddhima smiled and nodded at him while he walked back. But her eyes were still on Armaan, who was at the counter ordering food for him and Noah.
"Ridzy, you were saying something before right?" Muskaan's voice broke her trance and she looked blankly at her. What was she saying again? She asked herself, then shook her head…Why does Armaan always make me forget about other things. Why am I even thinking about him? I should stop staring at him like that too!
"Ridzy?" Muskaan spoke again as she saw her get lost.
"Huh? Haan I was…" Riddhima was stopped once again. She looked over to the counter at Armaan, who was not standing by himself anymore. A girl with dark hair and fair skin was standing next to him, smiling and giggling as they talked. She looked Indian but Riddhima couldn't really tell since Armaan was in her way. She watched them openly now, caring less about what Muskaan or Rahul were thinking… When will Armaan stop flirting with each and every girl he sees?! She clenched her teeth in irritation, why was she being so affected? She didn't care! Right, she DID NOT care! Exhaling deeply, she was about to turn to Muskaan again when she saw that girl lean into Armaan and whisper something in his ear. The furry in Riddhima's eyes just kept blazing as they both laughed out after that…"I don't care!" She turned herself all the way to Muskaan.
"I was saying, We have to redo my new office…the walls are freaking disgusting!" Riddhima glanced at Armaan and that girl.
"And I hate it when it's disgusting! I can't concentrate" She continued to talk and stare at Armaan, who was busy smiling and laughing with that girl.
"I feel like punching it in the face!" Riddhima blurted out, having no clue how Muskaan, Rahul and now Noah were looking at her.
"Woahhh! Who's about to get punched sis?" Noah asked as he plunged himself on the couch next to Riddhima.
Muskaan frowned confusedly… "I thought you were talking about redoing your office? Why would you punch the walls?" she asked even more confused now.
"Riddhima, you hate your office so much?!" Rahul asked amazed by her sudden furry for her poor office and its walls…
Riddhima sighed closing her eyes, "No guys, it's nothing…I just got carried away."
"Whaaa? I thought there was going to be a cat fight, I was about to get my popcorn!" Noah crossed his arms disappointedly while Riddhima just shook her head.
"Anyway, Muski we'll do that this weekend okay? I asked Avni too and…"
"What's up guys?" She looked up at Armaan flashing his dimples at all of them, and once again she was speechless. He sat on the chair next to the couch, only a feet away from Riddhima.
"And yea" she finished in a whisper as she stared at him, still furious about what she saw a few minutes ago.
Suddenly seeing everyone so quiet, Armaan curiously asked…
"What? Were you guys talking about me?"
"No Armaan. You're not always everyone's topic of conversation!" Before anyone could even say hi to Armaan, Riddhima answered his question for him, or in other words, she snapped.
All of their heads went from Riddhima to Armaan and back to Riddhima, who stared at Armaan with the straightest face ever.
"Oh shnap! You tell him sis!" Noah smiled excitedly, but stopped when Muskaan nudged him.
On the other hand, Armaan was yet again extremely confused about Riddhima's sudden outburst. He was just asking, why did she get so mad?
"I was just asking cause you guys stopped talking as soon as I came" he said looking at Riddhima…
But she looked away, realizing that she just wanted to yell at him, for no reason at all. Or maybe there was a reason…Yes indeed, there were several reasons for her to snap out on Armaan!
"I'm gonna go, I'll get late for work" She stood up and waved at everyone, except Armaan of course, and walked out.
"Wait, Ridzy!" Muskaan called out but Riddhima didn't look back.
"Rahul…" Was the only thing Muskaan had to say and Rahul quickly got up to drop her off to work.
"Bye guys" Muskaan waved to Noah and Armaaan before leaving.
"Muski, can you talk to Basket and see if she's fine? I really didn't mean it like that" Armaan said worriedly, feeling guilty for some reason.
"Don't worry, I'll talk to her. She's acting weird today" Muskaan frowned thinking about this morning.
Armaan nodded and mumbled a "thanks" to her.
"I'll see you in the hospital Armaan" Rahul said and left with Muskaan, leaving Noah and Armaan by themselves.
And since everyone got so serious at the moment, Noah tried making the atmosphere a tad bit lighter by joking around again…
"Yo, sis told YOU! You should step your game up my man!" he playfully punched Armaan's arm…Whereas Armaan rolled his eyes,
"Shut your face 40" and grabbing his neck under his arm, he dragged him out.
_________________________________________________________________________
Riddhima was busy and lost in her work when she heard someone knock on her door.
"You can come in" she said with her eyes still on the laptop screen.
When she looked up, she saw Muskaan smiling at her from the door. Frowning and smiling at the same time, she wondered when did Muskaan start knocking on her door before coming in?
"What's up?" Muskaan asked as she sat on the chair in front of the desk.
"Nothing just working…what about you?"
"Noope, something's up Ridzy. You know you can't lie to me…now tell me, what's wrong?" Muskaan looked straight in her eyes, while Riddhima tried looking else where.
"Arey, nothing's wrong! What's wrong with you! Why are you asking all these questions??" Riddhima tried changing the topic, but failed as Muskaan narrowed her eyes.
"Do you think I'm stupid? I hope not, cause I'm your best friend! Stop tryna hide stuff from me, now tell me…what's bothering you?"
Riddhima frowned, "It's nothing…"
"Riddhima" Muskaan said in a serious tone, indicating her to just spill it out.
Sighing deeply, Riddhima gave up. Isn't this what she wanted to do? Share this with someone so she could feel better? She asked herself and knew Muskaan was the best person to do this with, well… obviously because she was her best friend.
So taking a deep breath, she told Muskaan everything. Everything from what happened that night, and how she thought she was in "love" with Armaan after what had happened. Then she finally told her what Armaan said to her, and how she cried because of her own dumbness! She did tell her the fact that Armaan still believes in the "friends with benefits" pact they made 3 years ago. And how that was the only thing that had set her off…
After telling all this to her best friend, Riddhima surely felt much better. Feeling like Cronus's temple being removed from her back, she sighed in relief.
But unlike her, now Muskaan was furious. Only if she could see Armaan right now, she'd punch him so hard he'd forget everything he did in the past 3 years! Well, anyone would be this mad if someone made their best friend cry. All she wanted to do was strangle Armaan, but she decided to talk to him first instead.
"She didn't text me back" Armaan was muttering this to himself for the 5th time today. He had been texting Riddhima since they left the coffee house, but Riddhima didn't reply to none of his texts.
Then he tried calling her, but every time her phone went to voice mail after 2 rings. She wasn't picking up either. What was wrong with her? Is she ignoring me? He asked himself, scratching the back of his head. It was halfway through the day, and till now, they would've talked at least once either on break or before leaving work.
But it was already time to go home, and not one call or text from Basket. She didn't even call or text him back!
He sighed heavily, hoping she'd talk to him soon. Because…talking to her was a part of his day now. Probably the best part? But he knew one thing for sure, if he didn't do that…his day would be incomplete.
Hence, he decided to go see her, like she came to see him! That'd be good, and then he could drop her home as well. Yep, he should do that.
Smiling to himself, he walked out of the hospital to the parking lot, ready to see Riddhima for the second time in a day
Like every other day, Riddhima was packing up to go home. She did feel better by talking to Muskaan about the whole thing, but she still felt helpless. She couldn't get Armaan out of her head. No matter how much she tried not to think about him, somehow he'd always pop up in her thoughts. When she did stop for a while, he started texting and calling her, forcing her to think about him!
Now all she wanted to do was go home, and not ever see him again! Okay, maybe not the not ever, but not right now…she didn't wanna talk to him or even face him right now. That was one of the reasons why she didn't text or call him back today.
Picking her purse up along with some folders, she stepped out of her office…only to find a crowd of people or rather "girls" around the couches in the main hallway.
Riddhima walked down the hallway, with a suspicious look on her face and only one question on her mind, "What the hell was going on?"
Finally she was close enough to have a look at what was happening, when a few girls moved to the side…she saw Armaan sitting on the couch talking blissfully with everyone.
"Armaan?" Riddhima's mouth flew open at the sight in front of her…she looked up at the ceiling, why did God always go against her will! She said she didn't wanna see him! And here he was, in her office! Talking to girls yet again, plus some gay guys who were standing in the corner admiring him. Riddhima looked at him again, then the people around him. She recognized all of them…she saw Stephanie, Caroline and Bree sitting on the couch with him in the middle. Of course, the sl*ts would be there, she thought. Then she looked to the side, and her mouth fell open again! Avni was standing there, next to him, talking! Flirting probably. Oh god, Riddhima wanted to bang her head against the wall she was leaning on! Why did this always happen to her??? Just, why?
"Basket!" She heard him call, and she automatically stopped… even though she didn't want to.
Everyone around him turned their heads to look at the person apparently named "basket"…
Armaan ran to her immediately, and smiled fixing his shirt and hair as he stopped with a jerk in front of her.
Avni followed him, since she knew Riddhima, while the other girls just eyed Armaan from the back.
"She's not Basket, Armaan, she's Riddhima" she spoke smiling at him politely. But Riddhima looked at her annoyed as hell now. She was talking to him like she knew him since forever, for goodness sake they just met! And he knows who I am! Riddhima shook her head in disbelief.
"Pff, I know her! She's the reason why I came here for!" He said to Avni who just raised her eyebrows in respond.
"Basket, why weren't you answering my calls and texts, I've been…"
"So? Why'd you come here?" Riddhima cut him off coldly, looking at him with that blank face again.
Armaan smiled confusedly, "I.. came here to see you" he said quietly.
"Avni, do you want something?" She asked looking daggers at her. While Avni shook her head and silently backed away from the two of them, Armaan took a careful look at Riddhima thinking… what happened to her all of a sudden?
"And you, did you see me? Now I have to go, bye" She started walking down the stairs, not looking back at Armaan running behind her.
"Bask…Riddhima, what happened?" He asked following her out of the building.
"Armaan, go home" was the only thing she said as she stepped out of the door.
"Riddhima, Riddhima!" He caught hold of her wrist and swung her around, to face him.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"Let go off my hand Armaan!" She yelled irritated, pulling her hand away. "Just leave me alone!"
"Why?" He asked stubbornly, not letting her turn her face around.
"Why?!" He looked in her eyes, maybe he could find answers in them… since they never lied. Maybe she was depressed about something, but what?
"Why Riddhima?" he asked softly this time, boring into her hazel green eyes, as she stared back speechless.
Her lips trembled as he brought her closer to him. All she wanted to do was runaway from those questioning eyes, before they could hypnotize her.
"Just…bye" She looked away in defeat and felt him loosen his grip on her hand. After one last look at his face, she walked away…as he stared blankly at her retreating back.
Chapter finito!!! Sowwy for the late update, I wrote this yesterday but my internet wasn't working soo I posted it noww :) COMMENT COMMENT COMMENT is all I gotta say :D And THANK YOU to all the beautiful people who did comment! I love you all <3
Laahhve, Simmy <3
p.s. sorry fro any errors :)
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