Pablo's Muse#2 - AR Part 35(Completed) Sept.1 Pg 51 - Page 37

Riddhima lay in bed going over everything including the little spat they had before he had stormed off, "So this is what that was about?" he was furious at her, for taking that decision by herself and their night together had complicated things no doubt. He just needed to think.

"No...no" she was admanat but he wasn't willing to listen yet, Riddhima trailed him all the way to the car, "Armaan, wait listen to me..." He stopped and turned around, clearly in no mood to listen, "You just spring something like this on me. And for the past two days, I've been kicking myself, because I felt I took advantage... Do you know how much I've hated myself?" he pulled her towards him, holding her tightly by her arms, forcing her to look at him, "You can't take all the decisions yourself Riddhima"

"Armaan...that's not" No he was getting it all wrong, but she couldn't explain. To his credit, he waited though despite his anger but when she didn't say anything, he had had enough.

Armaan waved his hands in frustration, "You know what, and never mind" and drove away. He was pissed mighty pissed, how could she take all the decisions herself? If there was one thing he positively hated about her, this had to be it.

That was two days ago.

The first day it was easy to stay away from her, he was angry and it was easier to remain mad at her but the second day he had gone back to Pablo's Muse in the morning and that had been a bad idea because everything reminded him of her. And the memories of their first night meant Pablo's was no longer the reprieve it had been before. Frustrated, he headed to Sanjeevani, their first day back after the accident.

Trust Dr. Keerti to thrust them together, "Is there something wrong?" an observant Dr. Keerti had sensed the tension in the room all along but when these two refused to even acknowledge eachother, she had to ask. She may have been a strict disciplinarian but she was human afterall and curiosity was an itchy bugger.

He didn't say a word just shook his head while Riddhima spoke for the both of them causing Armaan to snap his head up in surprise, "We're fine Dr. Keerti..."

He should have felt anger but when they finally looked at eachother at that moment, he felt none of that. It was definitely not anger, on both ends as everything came back; damn two days had been hard. And he was annoyed at himself that he couldn't even stay angry at her any longer.He had other much better things in mind; anger certainly wasn't on that list. He hated himself.

"Doctors" Dr. Keerti broke that little eye-lock much to their embarrassment, "I trust you two to be professionals" to which they just stared back impassively, "Given the new..." she paused trying to think of the appropriate words, "developements..."

Was she talking about them? Riddhima's mind went into over drive; "We are proud of our professionalism here" there you go, Dr. Keerti couldn't have been more obvious. Riddhima just wanted to disappear somewhere then and there.

"We'll keep that in mind Dr.Keerti" it was Armaan this time speaking for both of them. Did they even realize that? Dr. Keerti counldn't help but wonder, it was amusing and she was having way too much fun to stop, the expressions on their faces were priceless, "All right, enough of that, let's get down to business, please take a seat"

At the end of what eventually turned out to be a long meeting, Dr. Keerti surprised them with a rare show of niceness, "It's good to have you back Doctors. Welcome back to the team!"

But she wasn't Dr. Keerti for nothing, just as they were about to exit the door, with Armaan at the door, she gave one last parting shot, "Just keep off the roads will you two?" And even she struggled to hide that smile.

They just scampered out of the room as quickly as possible, "What the heck was that all about?" Riddhima turned to Armaan, "You don't know...?" he asked slightly amused, "I have a feeling this is just the start today" he mused, he was pretty certain; their friends wouldn't be too far behind. And suddenly as they approached the lounge, they weren't too keen on going inside, Riddhima stopped and looked at him, "I thought you were supposed to be angry with me?" She was just trying to delay the inevitable.

"May be I still am" and stomped off towards the cabins instead leaving a bewildered Riddhima behind.

And he kept his word; he avoided her religiously the whole day. It wasn't because of anger though; he was just trying to avoid any more awkward situation like the one with Dr. Keerti earlier in the day. And partly for his sanity too, he didn't need any distractions on his first day back.

But not everything went as planned; it was Sister Lovely who was the first to tease Dr. Riddhima about "Dactaar" Armaan and it had taken a lot of effort from Riddhima to get away from that bone crushing hug of hers! By the end she couldn't decide whether Sister Lovely was angry or genuninely happy for them. That was just the start even though no one else made it as obvious, the subtle teasing was hard to ignore including the blatant stares all the nurses gave Riddhima.

Later in the Cafeteria.

"See Rahul, I was right!" Muskaan spoke triumphantly, "Yep and I'm pleased to announce that Muskaan has decided to hang up her match making boots from this day onward in honour!" Rahul teased her.

"Actually..." it was Dr. Atul's voice from behind, "We have an announcement to make" Anjali who was right behind Atul added in, "Go ahead, you tell them" Atul smiled at her.

"What's going on here?" Rahul looked at Armaan who just shrugged, well okay he had an idea but this wasn't his moment to gate crash. Riddhima smiled at her sister giving her the go ahead, "We're getting engaged this weekend!" Anjali certainly did not waste any more time in coming out with that announcement.

"Whaaa...?" Muskaan spilt the coffee on the table out of shock, this she had not seen coming, "You two too?" her hands instinctively went up to her forehead, "How did I not see thing comining" and turned to Rahul aghast, "May be you are right, it's time to..." Rahul motioned her to stop talking, "I don't think Anjali is done yet, Shhh..."

"Sorry, sorry Anjali, go on" Muskaan apologied.

"Now that this idiot is safe" Anjali took her sister's hand in her's, "We felt it was the right time..." And so, Riddhima was spared from anymore teasing for the rest of the day, the focus had well and truly shifted to Anjali and Atul.

Armaan was happy seeing Riddhima like this, at peace and happy. And for the first time, he felt like he belonged in this place, with this crazy bunch of people who were now friends and may be even family. No more an outsider, but very much part of everything, of this group who genuinely cared for eachother. It felt good to belong. His expressions were not lost on Riddhima though, "What's wrong?" she asked coming over to his side he shook his head, implying nothing, "It's perfect" and smiled at her.

"Okay you two don't get started here again..." it was Muskaan who just had to interrupt them, "This calls for a celebration" she added demanding a dinner from the soon to be engaged couple, "What are we waiting for then? Let's go, treat's on us" Atul wasn't one to be left behind. And so they headed off, the six of them, "Rahul call Sumit too" Atul spoke.

Riddhima and Armaan were at the end following their friends to the parking lot when he turned towards her, "Riddhima..."

"Hmmm..."

"You said no marriage..."

"Yeah..." she wasn't sure where this was headed, "But I haven't proposed marriage to you yet?"

"I was being premtive" pat came her response.

"Pre-emptive is hardly the word, I'd say presumptuous is more like it?"

"Well..." Damn this man, wasn't he supposed to be angry at her, she wondered,"I'm still angry with you though" he didn't let her wonder for too long.

"It doesn't seem that way you know" She looked up at him as he held up the door for her at the exit, "After you"

She kept mum, "I was curious Riddhima" Armaan added, "About what?"

"How does this actually work?" He had that look on his face which only meant trouble.

"What?" she stopped and turned to him wary of his confusing questions, "How does WHAT work?"

"This no marriage thing..."

"Whaa..." And she was well and truly lost, nope she had not thought beyond that point.

"I mean" and he pulled her towards him interlocking his fingers with hers, while the other hand held her to him by her waist, causeing her to look around a little flustered, "Armaan chodoo" her voice soft, but he wasn't in no mood to relent, "Armaan...what are you doing, people can see us?" she looked positively scandalized as she struggled in vain to wriggle out of his hold. He wasn't ready to let go yet.

He leaned in, deliberately slow... and when he was close enough, too close for comfort, he drawled in her ears, "so...that means you don't mind me holding you when no one's looking?"

"Armaan..." Ridhdima kept praying her friends and sister wound't turn back to look for them, this would be embarrassing, and almost as if he read her mind, "Hurry up Riddhima..." he gave her some space, only some, "you don't want them seeing us like this do you?" that mischief was back in his eyes.

"I'm not answering that..." She stopped stuggling and stayed still, hell with it; she too could play this game! He liked that, no scratch that, loved that! And let her go begrudgingly just on time before the others could see them, "Ridz Armaan...hurry up!" it was Anjie's voice, "We're waiting for you guys!"

"Coming Di..." Riddhima didn't waste another moment; he followed her, only to whisper in her ears as they walked towards the car, "So does it mean we can't..."

"We can't what?" her eyes still focused on the familiar faces upfront, pretending that everything was fine when it wasn't. She knew what Armaan was getting at, ofcouse she did, they had been downplaying that for days now but it was always simmering right below the surface. There was no escaping it any more.

"You know..." he said with a lopsided smile and when she didn't get it shifted his gaze to her lips, and trailed a finger lazily on her back hidden to everyone, "Is that all you can think of?" she was not comfortable talking about this with her sister less than five feet away, "when it's you, yes" she had let loose a devil! Realizing that there was no wining against him, she chose silence as the best option, and quietly, got into the car at the back with Anji and Atul at the front. Armaan joined her at the back, he was not done yet, "I'll take that as a yes then..." he said.

"Armaan stop flirting with my sister, will you?"

Riddhima was thankful for the second time that day; Anjie was a life-saver or so she thought, Anjali had secrets of her own, "Oh and there is one more thing we need to tell you guys"

"What's wrong Di?"

"Atul and I, have a condition for our marriage"

Anjali didn't miss how Riddhima and Armaan shared a silent glance before responding, "That we'll get engaged only if you guys do too"

"Whaaat!?" Armaan and Riddhima spoke in unison.

"On the same day" Anjali concluded.

Armaan grumbled, "That's not fair, doesn't a man get to decide" he sulked, "Decide what?" Anjali asked, "One sister decides on no marriage" only to be elbowed by Riddhima, "Ouch! That hurt you know" he stared at her, "While the other decides on an enagement!"

"Welcome to my world" Atul spoke for the first time in the car only to be immediately silenced by Anjali, "You focus on the road Atul"

"Wait let me think about this" Riddhima needed sometime to process things, "Armaan will you stop talking for a minute..."

"In that case, Atul bro, get ready for the no-marriage clause. I don't see how your khadoos..." he paused, "To be Sasurji will agree to our engagement given that he hates me" Armaan spoke ignoring Riddhima's plea for silence.

"Leave that to us" Anjali was way to calm about all of this Ridhdima noticed, "What's going on Di? There is more right?"

"Tomorrow, Armaan's mom is coming over for dinner" That surprised Armaan alright, "What?"

"With Armaan"

~~~

This was Padma's plan ofcourse, Shashank was not happy. But he had to relent after gave him the worst scenario a few months down the line, she had been blunt but it needed to be that to drive home the point, "Are you ready for a grandkid out of wedlock?"

"Do you have to be so blunt?" he didn't like what he was hearing as it painted all sorts of troubling thoughts in his mind, "No...they won't" he didn't sound terribly sure of himself either, "Have they?" Why did she need to bring this up, a father did not need to know. He did not like that look on Padma's face, Damn that boy!

She walked over to him and sat by him on the sofa, trying to calm him down, "Look I know you are not comfortable with this idea..." and took his hand on hers, "But think about it, an engagement at least makes it better than nothing...and we don't have to rush towards marriage right away. Otherwise, people are already talking...I heard"

"Where?" he looked up, "In the hospital...Anjali told me"

And so the father didn't have much of a choice, "I still don't like him..."

"We can work with that..." Padma was elated that the first part of her plan was on track. When the door bell rang, she knew who it was already, "Ready Shashank?"

He didn't look too glad, "That must be them"

"Is Aman going to be here too?" he asked not sure he could take all this at once, "No, just Ananya...and Armaan" Nope, Shashank positively did not like him but was glad for small mercies.

So that was the start of one weird dinner, where two mothers bonded over their children, a father sulked his way through while the other four looked on amused. Armaan did not miss Shashank's disapproving glare but his mother had given him an ultimatum as well, agree to this engagement or call of the whole thing. Armaan was now beginning to realize that this whole idea one grand plan driven by Riddhima's mom and aptly supported by his.

"So Anjali...Riddhima...why don't you guys show them around the house?" it was Padma again, they needed to talk a little more in private, just the three of them. Shashank did not seem too comfortable with the idea.

It was a welcome escape for Armaan, who could feel Shashank's eyes shooting daggers at him from behind as they ascended the stairs to the first floor.

"This is our room..." Riddhima walked in taking Armaan with her, "It's purple" he looked disappointed, "And pink?"

"Why don't you like it?"

"I didn't think you were the pink type..." she couldn't tell if he was genuinely disappointed or just messing with her mind as usual, "What's wrong with pink?"

"It's...too girlie"

"So..."

"So..." he waved his hand dismissing her concern, "Look at this bed" walked over and sat down on it almost as if he was testing it, "Not bad..."

"What?" she narrowed her eyes at him, hands on her hips, she knew exactly where this conversation was headed, "I say this looks strong enough"

She arched a brow at him"Really? With our parent's right outside and Di can walk in any moment now"

His smile grew by proportions, "That's what makes it so tempting..."

"I'm out of here...Armaan..." Riddhima needed to get away fast, nope she did not want to hear the rest of it.

And that was it, against all odds, despite the sulking man and the confused bride-to-be-or-not-to-be, Armaan and Riddhima were engaged on the same day Anjali and Atul were. All the parents were present, even though it was a strange affair, with Shashank and Aman avoiding each other, Ananya and Padma on the other hand were like lost buddies glad that the first part of their plan had worked out. They weren't planning on wasting any more time for Phase II to kick in either.

"So... this is it huh?" Armaan finally managed to get Riddhima to himself, "We're engaged..." he took her hand in his starring at the engagement ring.

"Yea..." she could not believe it yet though, "So this is like a liscense you know..." he spoke inching closer, "what?" Riddhima was genuinely confused, "You know..." he fiddled with the dupatta, "You look good in this...color..."

"Armaan stop it...Dia is approaching us" Riddhima nudged him, "Damn..." he swore..."

"Shh..."

~~~

And that's it. Finally. I know the end probably feels rushed but I wanted to finish this with a happy ending, instead of leaving it incomplete. I hope to write an Epilogue after some time since there are a few things that could use a closure. May be.

Thank you to everyone, all my readers - both the silent ones and others, including the ones that communicate via PMs. Thank you for reading, it has been a lot of fun reading your comments and responding.

Take Care,

A.