Part 37
Ridhima wasn't sure how long she had stayed on the dance-floor, but she was pretty sure it had been a while since sweat was settling on her back, her hair was sticking to her neck, and her feet ached from being in the heels during the course of the night. But Ridhima laughed and smiled as she danced with her sister. It had been so long since she had felt so carefree, since she had gone out and just let loose, since she and her sister had held each other's hands and spun each other around and laughed till their stomach hurt. To anyone passing by, it would seem that a smile had been plastered on to Ridhima's face, and even though her cheeks were hurting from grinning so much, she couldn't stop the occasional giggle as she danced some more.
The alcohol that she had drank was starting to take its effect. Ridhima always knew that she was a light-weight, and the fact that Shashank never approved of the girls drinking, might have contributed to that. Every time she had gone to a party, Ridhima had refused to drink, wanting to abide to her father's wishes of being pure and simple. But every now and then Ridhima let loose, and had some fun, with a sip of a drink now and then. Even Anjali hid her drinking from her dad, though Ridhima was sure that Shashank knew Anjali drank, because he had the disapproving look on his face every time Anjali went out.
Spinning on the spot, Ridhima moved her hips and her hands to the beat of the music. She felt her hair move from side to side, as she moved her head and body in rhythm. Running a hand through her hair, Ridhima tried letting some cool air pass across her back and neck, to help cool herself down a bit, but so many people had packed onto the dance-floor that Ridhima felt no relief from the stickiness.
Grabbing on to Anjali's drink, Ridhima took a gulp to let some coolness wash over her, however she spluttered and coughed when the drink burned its way down her throat.
"Di-" Ridhima coughed, tapping her chest as she looked at Anjali in disbelief. "What was that?!"
Anjali gave her a lopsided grin and spun on the spot, grabbing Ridhima's hand and swinging it around. "Ridziii my sweety!" Anjali squealed, as she grabbed Ridhima's cheeks and pulled. Feeling laughter bubbling in her stomach, Ridhima cracked up holding on to Anjali's shoulders. She had no idea why she was laughing, nor the hilarity of the situation, but the environment was getting to her and Ridhima just felt so happy.
"Di.." Ridhima started, clutching onto the side of her stomach as she leant on Anjali for support as her feet were starting to throb from the pain, "What are you having?"
Anjali looked at her surprised, and then sniffed her drink. She thought about it for a moment and then said, "I think it's vodka with something else? Not too sure, I told the bartender to make me a strong one" Anjali giggled as she finished talking. Ridhima shook her head in amusement and took a step away.
"Hey Ridzi, there you guys are! We've been looking for you all over!"
Turning around, she saw Atul and Rahul making their way through the swarm of people, towards Ridhima and Anjali. Giving him a huge smile, Ridhima motioned for them to join in.
"ATUL!" Anjali exclaimed, as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a hug. Ridhima giggled at Atul's expression of wonderment and happiness.
"I swear, tonight is the happiest night of my life" Atul said, as he grinned up at Anjali, holding onto her arm so she won't stumble.
"You know Atul, you are very nice" Anjali slurred, as she waved the drink in her hand, around.
"Woah!" Atul said, and took the drink from her, sniffing it in the process. "How much alcohol does this have?!" He exclaimed, and wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"No idea" Anjali giggled, and held onto Atul. "But. Shut up Atul. I was talking" She scolded him, glaring at him, her eyebrows scrunching up, and a pout forming on her lips.
Atul chuckled but nodded for her to continue.
"Like I was saying. You are the nicest person around. You are so sweet...you are like a brother I never had" She giggled. Atul's mouth dropped open, and Rahul snickered.
"B-bhai?" Atul asked, perplexed, and Ridhima almost felt sorry for him.
Anjali nodded, and swayed once more to the music.
"Nahi Anjali! You have it wrong. Rahul!" Atul exclaimed patting Rahul on the back, "Is your brother! Me? I am your...your...really good friend. And hopefully something more" Atul muttered the last part to himself.
Ridhima shook her head in amusement, and her eyes darted around once more. Where was Armaan? Why wasn't he here?
Anjali stopped swaying, and looked at Atul seriously, "Why do you like me so much?' She asked, getting slightly teary. Atul smiled, and took her hand in his,
"Anjali, yaar, honestly. It's because I find you more fascinating than my plants" He answered sincerely, and Ridhima was taken aback. Anyone knew the love and care Atul bestowed upon his plants. The fact that he liked Anjali more than them...was quite exceptional.
She wished she had someone who liked her so much.
"Muskaan ko dekha hain?" Rahul asked her as his eyes darted around.
Ridhima frowned and shook her head, "Wasn't she with you?"
"I left her to get another drink, when I came back, both Nikki and Muskaan were gone. I texted them, but no reply" Rahul explained, as lines creased his forehead.
Just then Ridhima felt a hand clasp onto her shoulder, and she turned around, to find Nikki grinning up at her.
Was everyone planning on getting drunk tonight? Ridhima wondered, as she saw Nikki and Muskaan were quite tipsy.
"Abbey Raool! You left me and went! Some gentleman you are" Muskaan said, as she broke into a fit of laughter. Rahul rolled his eyes and retorted, "Muskaan how much have you had to drink, you drunkard?"
Muskaan's mouth dropped open, and gave him a small shove. "Ey! I am not a drunk, okay?" She slurred, and leaned onto his shoulder, for support. His arm snaked around her waist to support her and he exchanged a look with Atul.
"I think we are going to be looking after the girls tonight" Rahul joked, as Muskaan rambled on about something.
Armaan was missing, and it didn't make sense since Nikki was standing beside her, swaying to the music. So where was he?
She needed some fresh air. It was getting too stuff on the dance floor, and she needed to get away from the crowd.
It turned out that doctors from many hospitals had come for the New Year Party.
"I'll be right back" She told Rahul as she started making her way through the crowd, towards the balcony.
"Are you sure, you're alright? Do you want me to come with you?" Rahul asked, concerned.
Ridhima looked over her shoulder to see Muskaan's head resting on Rahul's shoulder, and her pinching his cheeks while laughing. She shook her head.
"No. I'll be fine, thanks" And she made her way towards the balcony. Stepping out into the fresh air, Ridhima let the wind cool her down. The party was going really well. It had been months since Ridhima had been able to go out at night and let her hair down.
She should be in there, going insane with everyone else, but she still found herself worrying for the man who had hurt her.
Where was he? Why wasn't he with his friends?
Why do I care? She thought, and ran a hand through her hair.
Leaning against the railing of the balcony, Ridhima closed her eyes blissfully as the wind washed over her face. It was such a peaceful night tonight.
"She doesn't like him, does she?"
Ridhima's heart skipped a beat and for a second she thought that Armaan was standing beside her. Opening her eyes, she looked to her side and saw Raj standing next to her, looking straight ahead, enjoying the fresh air. Disappointment tugged at her heart, though Ridhima chose to ignore it.
"Who?" Ridhima asked, though she had a nagging feeling that he was talking about Nikki. He turned and gave her a look. Her suspicions were confirmed.
"Nikita." He said. And Ridhima looked back straight ahead. Taking in a deep breath, she tried mulling over the question. Should she tell him? Should she not? Was it her place to tell him?
"I..don't know what you are talking about" Ridhima said hesitantly, trying to avoid answering the question.
"Bullshit" He said, as he continued to stare at her. He turned his body sideways, so his body was facing her, and leaned the side of the body against the railing.
Ridhima looked at him from the corner of her eye, but did not say anything.
"Even bhai can see that Nikita has a particular distaste for him. And the fact that she got her friend to pretend to be her boyfriend.." He trailed off, his eyes trained on her watching the display of emotions on Ridhima's face.
Ridhima's mouth dropped partially in shock. How did he know? Raj let out a loud laugh at Ridhima's expression, and clapped his hands in amusement.
"How dumb did you think we were, Doctor?' Raj said, his mouth still stretched out into a grin. This made Ridhima slightly uncomfortable as she thought that he was trying to make her feel bad for what Nikki had done to them.
"I don't think you are dumb" Ridhima said, still refusing to look at him.
Raj didn't say anything, and then finally looked away from her, back at empty darkness surrounding the balcony.
"I am sorry about what all I said before. I didn't mean to sound sexist. It was truly a joke" Raj said, and Ridhima finally chanced a look at him. Nodding her thanks, she looked back out.
Why was he standing here?
"I really liked you" Raj finally said, and Ridhima's eyes bugged out.
Oh God... She thought.
"Don't worry. I understand that you may not hold the same feelings for me. Considering the hard competition I have with Dr. Mallik" He said. Ridhima's mouth dropped open once again.
"W-what?" She stammered, completely flabbergasted.
Raj let out another loud laugh, and Ridhima's eyebrows scrunched up in confusion as she looked at him bent over, laughing to his heart's content.
"Like I said, doctor, we aren't stupid. It would take a blind man not to see the way Dr. Mallik looks at you" He said, his eyes focussed on her.
Ridhima's frown deepened.
"Excuse me?' She asked, still baffled at the change in conversation.
He did not like her. How did he look at her?
"I had my suspicions. Every time I came to the hospital, he was attached at the hip with Nikita. But his eyes would constantly be on you. At first I thought he was cheating on Nikita. And for that I hated him. But then tonight, when Nikita was standing besides him, and he did not take his eyes off you, and then I saw Nikita comforting him, my suspicions were confirmed.' He said, his eyes still focussed on her.
Ridhima continued to listen, curious to know what Armaan had been doing while she didn't know.
"Then I decided to ask you for a drink. It worked to my advantage anyway. You are a beautiful woman' He said, winking at her, but Ridhima did not react, 'I had liked you, and the way Dr. Mallik was looking at you, I knew that he would be affected by me asking you. Plus I wanted to get him back for playing a game with bhai" He explained, and Ridhima nodded for him to continue.
"You accepted, and I was ecstatic. The heat of Dr. Mallik's glare further confirmed my suspicions. The funniest thing was that when you would look at Dr. Mallik, he wouldn't look at you. But when you were looking elsewhere, his gaze was fixed on you"
Ridhima's eyes widened.
Really? She thought. Maybe he just felt guilty? Ridhima shook her head and listened to Raj.
"But then I blew it with my not-so-funny jokes, and Dr. Joshi dragged me away. So I came here to apologise." He said, a small smile resting on his face.
Ridhima was slightly taken aback, but gave him a smile in return. "It's okay. Thanks for apologising"
He nodded and then stepped away from the railing.
"I'll let you be now. It was nice meeting you Ridhima" And Raj came forward, his arms held out, waiting for a hug. Ridhima felt a bit silly, hugging someone she didn't know that well. But then it would seem rude not to. So she took a tentative step forward, and wrapped one arm around his back as she hugged him lightly.
But his arms wrapped around his waist, and hugged her tightly to him. Ridhima's eyes widened, as she felt a chaste kiss on the side of her temple. However before she could comprehend anything, he had stepped away and started walking back to the party.
Ridhima stared at him incredulously, and then took a hand to subtly wipe away the kiss on her forehead.
Weird guy She thought. And turned her attention back to her thoughts as she faced out of the balcony again. The wind has picked up slightly, fluttering her hair around, and a small shiver passed through her as she realised that she hadn't really brought a jacket with her, and she was standing in a sleeveless dress in Mumbai winters. The heat that she had got from the dance floor had vanished now, and let Ridhima get goosebumps on her skin.
Rubbing her hands up and down her arms, she continued to stare out the balcony. She didn't want to go in, yet. It was too peaceful out here.
"Well that looked cosy"
Ridhima turned her head in surprise and her heart stopped for a few moments as she saw Armaan standing next to her, his coat in his arms, as he stared out the balcony. His jaw was clenched, and his lips had thinned into a thin line. Ridhima quickly looked away, and said,
"What did?"
Armaan scoffed and transferred his coat from one arm to another, but he did not face her once.
"Do I have to explain it to you basket? You and Raj. Raj and you. Or whatever nick names you have for each other by now" He said, his jaw still clenched, and a small line forming on his forehead as he glared at the darkness in front of him.
"Excuse me?" Ridhima's mouth dropped open in shock as she stared at him in surprise. "Raj and I?!" She said, her voice going up an octave She saw as he looked at her from the corner of his eyes for a moment or two, before staring ahead once more.
"No need to put on the innocent act. I saw it with my own eyes. You two seemed...close" He strained out, and transferred his coat from one arm to another, once again.
Ridhima narrowed her eyes, and gave him a small shove on the shoulder, to make him face her. He let his body be turned slightly, so his body was almost facing her, but his face turned the other way, and continued to look out the balcony.
Ridhima could tell that he was grinding his teeth, by the way the muscle in his cheek was jumping about, but she didn't care. How dare he?
"I am putting on an innocent act?" She asked, her voice lowered to a threatening tone as she glared at him with narrowed eyes. "You know what. I don't need to provide you with any explanation. You weren't even with us this entire night for me to tell you anything" She hissed, her fists clenched at her sides, and her chest heaving up and down in aggravation.
Armaan did not reply, however he did not look at her either.
"For all I know, you could have been with so many girls in this party. And now that you have had your fill, you have come here to torture me again" She said, tears swimming in her eyes, as she continued to glare at him
He finally looked at her. "That's not true"
"Oh! So Raj and I are?!" She exclaimed. "That's right, Mr. Mallik. Whatever you say is the truth, but if I say anything, it doesn't hold any significance, because you don't believe it"
Everything was bubbling up. The betrayal, the pain, the frustration. Ridhima had had enough of everything and everyone. Why did people continue to take her for a ride all the time?
"I didn't mean it-"
"No, that's exactly how you meant it. Well for your kind information, Raj came to me to apologise. Something that definitely cannot be expected of you. And why am I even telling you any of this. It's not like you care" Ridhima said, through clenched teeth, her face twisted up in fury and hurt evident in her eyes.
"Apologize? Did he do something to you?" He asked, looking at her, concern washing over his face. Ridhima laughed mirthlessly.
"Stop with the act, Armaan. I am tired of this. Tired of getting hurt all the time" Ridhima said, as a few tears slipped down her cheeks. Taking a step away from him, Ridhima made the move to go towards the door, back into the party. However a hand gripped her upper-arm and stopped her from taking any more steps. Giving out a sigh of frustration, Ridhima felt a headache coming on. She was drained, Armaan had completely drained her.
"Let me go Armaan. I don't want to talk to you anymore" She said, dejectedly, as a few more tears slipped down her cheeks. But Armaan pulled on her arm, and Ridhima found herself stumbling and facing Armaan once more.
"No. Listen to me" He said, a frown still on his forehead, and his lips turned down at the sides.
"There is nothing to listen' Ridhima retorted, trying to free her arm from his grip, but his grip tightened its hold.
"Just...keep quiet. Please" Armaan said, his voice strained. But Ridhima did not listen and said, "Let. Me. Go", all the while tryign to tug her arm out of his grip.
Armaan let out a sigh, and then moved Ridhima so she was against the railing and he was standing in front of her, Stepping in closer, he blocked her body with his, stopping all routes of escape for her.
Ridhima glared up at him, but did not say anything.
"Ridhima, please. Just hear me out." Armaan pleaded, looking into her eyes. Ridhima stared up at him, the closeness starting to get to her. His eyes were beautiful, she concluded. The intensity with which he looked at her, blew her away. Ridhima did not say anything, and Armaan took this as a cue to continue.
"I am...I am sorry Ridhima. Hurting you was never my intention" Armaan said, looking deeply into her eyes. His hands had come to rest on the railing beside her and Ridhima felt like she was being caved in by him.
Her body felt petite next to him, and Ridhima found herself getting flustered by the closeness.
Taking in a deep breath, she shook her head to clear of the haziness.
"You don't mean it" She finally said, looking away from his eyes and staring past him. However what her eyes met next made Ridhima's knees go weak, almost making her collapse. Armaan's hand gripped her waist from letting her fall over, and Ridhima was grateful for the support.
There she stared into the eyes of her ex-boyfriend. Sameer Hansraj.
So I understand that the entire thing was in Ridhima's POV, but I thought it was important for the readers to understand a bit more about Ridhima.
Anyway, hope you all enjoyed!
Please comment and like! Really appreciate it guys! :D
Btw on a side note, I am NOT condoning drinking excessively. I just thought that the doctors are finally letting go after being in the hospital day and night. Also it's everyone's personal choice :D
~Sweety
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
272