~Dil Dosti Etc New thread AR Excerpt pg 37 NEW~ - Page 21

Part 45

January 3^rd, 8:45 am

"Armaan Balwinder Malik"

Armaan flinched as he heard someone shouting at the top of their lungs, and flung a pillow over his head to block out the noise.

He felt tiny hands try to shove him, but he hardly budged, and gave out a small groan when the persistent hands kept trying to push him.

His eyes snapped open as he felt a foot connect with the side of his stomach, and his breath left him suddenly, as pain started radiating at the site of contact.

Looking up he saw Nikki standing in front of him, her hands on her hips, her hair tied back, glaring at him with narrowed eyes.

"What Nikki!" He groaned, and turned over so his back was to her and tried getting back to sleep. But he felt her hands curl around his shoulder and pull him back so he was facing her again. He sighed, and kept his eyes closed, as Nikki kept poking his shoulder trying to get him to open his eyes,

"Armaan Malik, if you do not open your eyes in the next 10 seconds, you will regret it" She told him, as she sat down next to him, her hands still pushing him, trying to get him to open his eyes.

Armaan let out a low chuckle, though he kept his eyes closed, "Oh yeah? What can you do?"

"Tickle you" She whispered in his ear, and Armaan's eyes snapped open as the words left her mouth, and he scrambled back from her in fear, a pillow clutched to his chest. Nikki threw her head back and laughed at the sight of Armaan's expression, while Armaan scowled at her.

"What the hell Nikki" He groaned and fell back on bed, putting an arm over his shoulder but Nikki removed it and leant over his head, a wide, mischievous grin on her face.

"When were you going to tell me?" She asked, her eyebrows raised as she grinned down at him,

"Tell you what, Niks?" He asked, wanting to sleep. But Nikki kept a firm hold over his arm, refusing to let him put it over his eyes and block her out.

"Duh. About you are Ridhima" She rolled her eyes, and sat back in eagerness as she indicated for him to start telling her the story.

"Nothing Nikki" Armaan groaned closing his eyes, "Let me sleep" and he opened his eyes again when he felt her slap his arm.

"Armaan!" She whined, a pout forming as she looked at him with wide, pleading eyes.

"Fine" He sighed, rolling his eyes in amusement, as he sat up, and Nikki gave out a squeal of excitmenet and settled herself against the headboard, looking at Armaan expectantly.

"So" Nikki started, "Once upon a time, there was an ass. An ass who used every girl, without thepromise of commitment and did not believe in falling in love. Then came along a beautiful princess-OW!" Nikki said, when Armaan grabbed her head between his arm and chest, and ruffled her hair around, while Nikki tried breaking free. "Armaan, you jerk! Let me go!"

"Who's an ass, Nikki?" Armaan asked, laughing, while Nikki tried getting free.

"Accha! Okay! Fine! Sorry you are not an ass!"

Armaan reluctantly let her go, and ducked his head when a pillow came flying at him. "Can I tell the story now?"

Nikki nodded, crossed her arms across her chest, and leaned back, her hair in a mess from the friendly tackle they had just had, and Armaan grinned, as he positioned himself in front of her.

"Ridhima could not refuse my amazingly good looks" Armaan winked, and Nikki chucked another pillow at him, which hit him smack in the face.

"Tell me the real story" Nikki glared, and Armaan chuckled.

"Okay Ms. Nikita. We...I..we both apologized, got rid of the misunderstanding and differences between us. We...or well at least I, was really attracted to her. And she felt the same for me. Nikki, when I saw that man, her ex, standing in front of her, hurling all kinds of abuses, you have no idea how much I wanted to go to him and kill him for saying those things. For making Ridhima cry." Armaan said, as the events from New Years flashed through his mind, "But the anger and determination in Ridhima's eyes...I knew I had to let her do this. She needed this for herself. So when she slapped him and screamed at him, I have never felt more proud of her. She...stood up to someone. The same Ridhima who always pleases others, finally did something that made her happy"

"I went to her and apologized for everything, and she apologized for jumping to conclusions. We were both wrong in some way and we both accepted that. I...had to tell her what I felt for her. I had been wanting to for a while. I just could not gather the guts to tell her my feelings. She took the initiative, and I saw how hard it was for her, which is why I was even more appreciative of that fact" Armaan said, his eyes focussed on the pillow next to Nikki, though his thoughts were swirling with the memories from the New Years night.

Finally Armaan focussed back on Nikki and saw she was staring at Armaan with a shocked expression on her face, her mouth dropped open, as she hugged a pillow tightly to her chest. He raised an eyebrow as he looked at her warily, "What?" He asked, and tried scrambling back as Nikki threw away the pillow and jumped at him, her arms tightly wrapping around his neck, as she hugged him tightly. His arms hesitantly came around to hug her back, still shocked at what was happening.

"Armaan Mallik. Who would have thought that the man who refused to let any girl close to his heart, would actually fall in love!" She squealed as she hugged him tighter. Armaan rolled his eyes and said,

"Niks, it's not a big deal"

She moved back and smacked him on the arm again and Armaan rubbed the spot, "Nikki I am going to get so many bruises living with you." He groaned as he pretended to be hurt.

"Shut up Armaan. It is a big deal." Nikki said, moving off the bed and going towards the door, "Get ready Mr. Mallik, we have to be at the hospital in half an hour"

Armaan groaned and fell back on the bed, a small smile resting on his face at the thought of seeing Ridhima.

********

January 3^rd 9:00 am

"Abey Rahul! Piddhe, Saale, iddhar aa!" Muskaan screamed, as she ran behind Rahul, pushing her curly hair out of her eyes as Rahul ran in front,

"Dekh Muskaan, don't come near me...otherwise"

"Otherwise what?" Muskaan asked, as she ran behind him, while he dodged her jumping on the bench in the locker area, and then jumping off trying to run towards the entrance as Muskaan ran after him.

Armaan grabbed a hold of Muskaan and stopped her, as she tried clawing her way out, to go to Rahul,

"Armaan, let me go. Today I will not leave this idiot!" Muskaan told him, her eyes narrowed, her cheeks flushed as she glared at Rahul.

Rahul gulped and gave Armaan a helpless look when Armaan tried asking what was wrong.

"Okay, okay, Muskaan" Armaan said, trying to calm her down by placing his hands on her shoulder and gently making her sit on the bench. "What happened?"

"He told Mom and Dad that I got drunk on New Year's! They were already paranoid about me never finding a boy to get married to, but after hearing this news, they have gone on a frenzy trying to find me a man, so I don't start doing "things" that could put the family to shame" Muskaan said, as she glared at Rahul who looked at her apologetically.

Armaan ran a hand through his hair and looked at Rahul, resting his hands on his hips, "Rahul, yaar, why did you tell her parents that?"

"Yaar, it..just..slipped out" Rahul said shrugging and when Muskaan rolled her eyes, he turned to look at her, "Anyway, it's a good thing your parents know, the way all those men at the party were staring at your that night..." He trailed off looking at Muskaan.

"So what?" She asked, getting up, and putting her hands on her hips, her hair falling around her shoulders, as she glared at Rahul. "So what does it matter to you?"

Armaan smirked, and turned to Rahul raising an eyebrow, "Yes Rahul, Muskaan is right. Why are you so bothered?"Rahul glared at Armaan before looking back at Muskaan who was fuming besides Armaan.

"Muskaan-" Rahul started to say, but Muskaan cut him off.

"Rahul tune jo mere liye problem create ki hain na, I will kill you!" Muskaan said, and started running behind Rahul once again, as he dodged her, trying to escape her before she could beat him up.

Armaan looked on amused, and shook his head sympathetically for his friend. Muskaan was a handful, but no one understood her as well as Rahul, just like no one understood Rahul as well as Muskaan did. The question was when the two would realize this.

He opened his locker, and strained his ears for the sound of her soft payals. But hearing nothing, he gave out a disappointed sigh, grabbed his lab coat and walked out of the locker area, hoping to bump into Ridhima soon.

********

January 3^rd, 10:00 am

Rajeev opened his eyes and groaned out loud as his head pounded rhythmically in pain. He put a hand to his head and pressed down hard, trying to alleviate the pain away.

"Does it hurt a lot?"

He looked to the side to see Ridhima at the door with a small smile on her face, as she looked at him, concern reflecting in her eyes. He averted his gaze and nodded stiffly, guilt settling in his stomach.

She stepped forward and pressed down on the button that released painkillers into his bloodstream, "That should help" She said softly. She stood around for a few minutes, before she took a deep breath and continued,

"Rajeev, tell me more about your daughter" She said, and Rajeev's eyes flickered over to her to see her standing there, her cheeks flushed slightly, looking at him expectantly.

"Why?" He asked gruffly, his eyes blurring with tears as memories of his daughter flooded his mind.

She sat down on the stool next to his bed and hesitated, "I just...I..."

"You want to help" He finished for her, and seeing her halt, he knew he had said the right thing. He closed his eyes painfully as a lump formed in his throat. "You can help Dr. Ridhima. But it's risky"

"I can do it" She said with such determination that Rajeev almost believed her.

"It's dangerous" He whispered.

"If it will reunite you with your loved one, with your daughter, i am willing to take the risk" She whispered back, and a tear slipped down Rajeev's cheek. She was making it harder for him, and he wished that she wouldn't be as nice or helpful, so the guilt feeling in his stomach could be eased away. But Ridhima mistook his tears for his longing of his daughter, "Mr. Malhotra...Rajeev...please tell me how can I help?" She asked in a soft voice.

"I can't" He choked out, and he saw Ridhima frown in confusion.

"Wha-"

"Leave me alone" He whispered harshly, trying to contain his emotions.

"Mr. Malhotra.." Ridhima tried saying, but Rajeev turned his head away indicating that the conversation was finished. After a few moments of silence, he heard the stool scrape back as she stood up, and then walked towards the door,

"I am here, if you need to talk about anything" She whispered as she stood at the door. Rajeev closed his eyes and clenched his jaw tightly. He heard the door open and close.

Opening the beside drawer, he took out his daughter's picture and stared at it silently, wishing things had been different.

Hope you enjoyed that part! Please let me know what you thought of it, I really appreciate it! :)