Armaan had entered Dr. Shashank's cabin with a knock and a polite 'may I come in sir' only to derail his sasurjee's train of thought, following which he had been asked to take a seat at his desk. Armaan, who had hoped his Shanky papa would not take the remaining of his lunch break so that he could go back to his Basket and continue his romance, did not like the drawl and warm smile with which he had been welcomed in. It was not everyday that his Basket was in her romance-extreme moods. And taking a seat at Shanky's desk definitely meant a long conversation which ruled out all possibilities of him going back to her this afternoon at least.
"So Armaan! Khana khaya?", Dr. Shashank asked his damaad a little nervously, not knowing where to start the conversation he had been rehearsing in his head for the last twelve hours.
Armaan frowned as he heard that question. Why was sasurjee doing so much time pass? Couldn't he just come to the point and let him go fast!! He was sure this was his deliberate scheme to not give him time with Riddhima. The stupid alarm wouldn't just leave them alone. He had to find out how this mechanism worked before he gets married to her. He didn't want Dr. Shashank interrupting their honeymoon at least!
On the other hand, Dr. Shashank wondered why Armaan was frowning at his question. He had not even said any of the potentially upsetting things that he was about to say, "Uh.. Armaan.. Aapne khana khaya? Or did I interrupt your lunch.. I'm so sorry.."
Armaan gave him a sarcastically fake smile, not knowing whether to cry or laugh at the situation. Surely Shanky papa had interrupted his lunch.. But what was he going to do about it!! "Nahi papa.. Aisa kucch nahi hai.. I haven't had lunch yet.. I was doing some other important work", he told him, dreaming about the amazingly important work that had been interrupted by sasurjee.
"Oh.. I'm so sorry Armaan.. I didn't know you were busy.. Agar kucch important ho toh you may go.. I'll talk to you later.. ", Dr. Shashank apologized at once, partially relieved that he had gotten a chance to postpone the conversation that he could not bring himself to have with his to-be-son-in-law.
Armaan however was stunned at those words! Was he in some kind of a dream! Did sasurjee just tell him to go and finish the 'important' work that he had left incomplete coz of his unwanted interference!! This was unbelievable! And unknowingly a grin formed on his face at the thought of going back to his Basket, "Thank you sir.. I mean papa.. No.. I mean.. We're in the hospital.. So thank you sir.. Main aapse baad mein baat karta hoon..", and he got up excitedly to leave.
But before he could turn his back on Dr. Shashank interrupted him. He was certainly nervous about starting the conversation. But he knew delaying it wasn't the best thing to do. He had to do it before he left for Pune tonight. So he thought to seek an appointment and fix a time, "Armaan!! Uh.. Actually.. Who.. When will you be free?.. Meri che baje tak meeting hai.. Aur fir ek ghante mein mujhe Poona ke liye nikalna hai.. So.. You know.. Mujhe aapse kal raat ke baare mein baat karni thi.."
And as Armaan heard those words from Dr. Shashank, he froze!, "Kal raat ke baare mein?.. Sir.. Who.. Main.. Sir.. We're sorry.. I mean.. I didn't know Riddhima was coming to my place.. I don't know if she informed anyone.. I'm really sorry.. Sir.. I mean.. She was safe.. I mean.. She was at my place.. And I was.. Yeah!.. I wasn't even at home all night.. I came home only in the morning.. So.. I mean.. You know.. ", he didn't know how to explain. In all that had happened this morning he had completely forgotten to take into account the fact that Riddhima had spent the night at his place. And knowing her impulsiveness where he was concerned he feared that she had upset her dad and come to meet him. Or worse still, not tell him at all. And thanks to his lack of foresight, he did not even have a ready excuse to save her and him of course from Shanky and his curses. He sent a silent prayer to Riddhima's bhagwaanji to save them from this doom. He clearly remembered Shanky's warning about personal time and limits where his dearest daughter were concerned. He could almost see Shanky murdering him with his bare hands.. No.. Maybe he'll put on his surgical gloves. He had a stock in plenty of course. He was the dean of a hospital after all!!
Dr. Shashank raised his brows at Armaan's fumbles and changes in expression as he stuttered around trying to make an appropriate excuse. After a few broken sentences however, the smart sasurjee understood what Armaan was talking about. He thought he was angry about Riddhima staying over at his place. Well he was a little. He had sent her over to talk to him and had hoped she'd come back within an hour or two. Not spend the night there. But then that was not the point of his focus right now. There were other important things he needed to tell Armaan. And for that he'd first have to clear his misconception. "Yes Armaan.. I know.. I know Riddhima was at your place last night.. Calm down.. Itna ghabrane ki zaroorat nahi hai.. "
"Jee?", Armaan's eyes rounded wide open as his forehead scrunched in confusion. Why was Dr. Shashank being so calm about this. Not a single hint of anger in his voice! There had to be a catch!
But Dr. Shashank ignored his surprise and continued with his explanation, "I know that Riddhima aapke ghar par thi.. In fact maine hi usse bheja tha.. "
"Jee?!!", Armaan's voice was now double the volume. So much that his shocked exclamation made Shanky jump a little.
And with that nod from sasurjee, the scene started to sink into Armaan's brain.."Oh.. I mean.. ", but not so much. He was still confused. Dr. Shashank sent Riddhima to his house last night! WOW!! This had to go into the Gunnies book of world records!!
Dr. Shashank however was tired of these confused expressions that were displaying themselves on Armaan's face in varying degrees with every word he said. So he thought to just say what he had to and clear all the confusion, "It's okay Armaan.. Don't worry about all that.. I had only sent her over so she could talk to you.. I don't know if both of you managed to talk to each other about everything that happened, but I want to talk to you about it.. Maine issi liye aapko bulaya tha..", he explained in what he thought were clear words. But these clear words of his seemed to increase Armaan's confusion even more. Now the fear of Shanky knowing about Riddhima spending the night at his place was fading away and a new feeling of weirdly heightened sorrow and slight anger was making through. Did he sasurjee mean what he thought he meant! "I'm sorry sir.. I didn't understand..", he stated his confusion, though the expression in his eyes darkened a little, not knowing whether he wanted to hear the explanation which he was about to hear.
But Dr. Shashank was now determined to have the talk. Too much had been said to delay it anymore. He stood up to an eye level with Armaan and just said all that he had to say, "Armaan.. I.. I kind of overheard your argument with Riddhima last night.."
"You what!", Armaan's furiously confused exclamation interrupted him the very moment he had uttered those words. Boy! He didn't look happy about it. He had seen Armaan glare at him after a long time. This expression of his reminded him of the angry young lad in med school who he had a problem with. But again, that was besides the point. He had to explain himself. So he continued before his damaad could say anything else or worse still, just walk out on him, "I am sorry for eavesdropping like that Armaan.. I know I was wrong in doing that.. But tum gusse mein the.. Aur mujhe Riddhima ki chinta ho rahi thi.. So I just stopped to check on you both.. I know I shouldn't have.. But honestly, I'm glad that I heard everything last night.. And Armaan.. Son.. I think Riddhima is right.. Aapko aapke past se bhaagna nahi chahiye.. You must accept it and move on.. I know yeh kehna asaan hai aur karna unta hi mushkil.. Lekin it's the right thing to do.. Beta if not for yourself, at least for your parents.." Armaan, whose expression was hardening with every word that was coming out of Dr. Shashank's mouth, couldn't take it anymore once his parents were dragged in the matter, "Sir.. This matter is personal.. I have made my decision and I would prefer if this topic is not discussed further.. It's a closed chapter in my life.. And I don't intend to go reading it again.. I'm sorry. I have to go.. ", and he started to move out as he said all he had to in a cold expressionless voice with his eyes fixed on the painting that was put up behind the deans desk, not bothering to even look at him while he gave his final verdict.
"Armaan.. Try to understand what I'm saying beta.. ", Dr. Shashank knew it wasn't going to be an easy job convincing Armaan about this. But he had thought that at least he wouldn't rebel against him. He had been under the impression that his damaad would just obey whatever he asked of him, or at least respect his opinions. And he had come to this conclusion after a lot of contemplation. He had thought from every point of view possible and found the best possible solution to the complicated problem that had plagued his children's life. What he didn't know was that Armaan was completely going to misunderstand his intentions! What he didn't know was that his daughter and his damaad had already sorted their matter without his expert opinion! What he didn't know was that his apparently fatherly intervention was only going to create more problems in the life of his children that slove the already existing ones! And all this struck him only when he heard Armaan's frustrated growl, "Try to understand what Dr. Gupta?.. " it wasn't loud, but menacing enough to make him think twice about the genius plan of his. His warm blues had turned into cold grays as he glared at him once demanding an explanation, then looked away, "I'm sorry.. But you were not supposed to know about this in the first place..", he apologized, though coldly and reluctantly, for his curtness and started to turn to leave again.
But Dr. Shashank dared to speak once again. Why wasn't he trying to understand him! "No I'm sorry Armaan.. I know aapko yeh accha nahi laga hoga.. But the truth is, I have every right to know about your past.. Considering I am Riddhima's father and you're her husband to be, I have every right to know about what kind of a background you come from.. I have every right to ask you about your past.. But trust me Armaan.. I don't want to know any of it.. I don't want you to tell me things that are closest to your heart.. I understand those are meant only for you.. I'm just worried about all the hurt and pain that's still filled in you.. I just want you to be happy.. And I want you to give your parents their share of happiness too.. "
"My parents don't exist!! How many times do I have to say it for you to understand that!", and this time Armaan's voice was loud and angry! But Dr. Shashank was taken aback by the rude tone of his "Armaan.. I wont be spoken to like that!!", he glared at him to show his dominance. Just because he was trying to be nice didn't mean that Armaan could treat him the way he wanted to. He had never heard him shout at him like that! Not even when they hated each other.
Armaan's jaw tightened as he heard Dr. Shashank's cold and reprimanding remark, "Then please.. For god sake do not interfere in my personal matter..", he requested in the most civil tone he could manage, not bothering to look into his glaring black eyes. He was damn pissed right now and wanted to leave before he said things he shouldn't be saying to his father-in-law-to-be. And his sasurjee was only getting on his nerves and provoking his inappropriate reactions. Why couldn't he just shut up and mind his own business. He couldn't bear to hear the same dialogue from him that Riddhima had uttered to him last night. And while he felt the need to explain his viewpoint to her, he completely disregarded Dr. Shashank's concern and interference.
However, Dr. Shashank was determined to not let it go, "It's not just your personal matter Armaan.. It's mine too.. I want you to be happy.. And above all that, your happiness reflects Riddhima's happiness.. At least listen to me for her sake.. ", what had started out in a curt tone by him, ended in almost a plea.
But it did nothing to melt Armaan. In fact, it hardened him even more, knowing that Dr. Shashank was doing all he was only for Riddhima's happiness. Even if it was indirectly, what he implied was that he wasn't keeping his daughter happy. And that made him even more angry, "Riddhima is happy sir.. And if you're concerned about her happiness, you should ask her.. I am done explaining myself..", his curt tone had a finality to it as he started to march out of the cabin.
"You're taking me wrong Armaan.. I don't want any explanations.. I just want to see you happy.. I want to see my son happy.. ", Dr. Shashank attempted explaining himself one last time, almost saying something he thought he never would. He really wanted this for Armaan. Coz he thought he deserved it. And he knew he understood him like a father would understand his son.
Armaan however, didn't understand Dr. Shashank at all, "I don't know which son you're talking about.. ", he said coldly, taking a moment to turn and give him an icy glare. Dr. Shashank was surprised at the hurt he felt as Armaan uttered those words. Of all the things that he had ever believed to be true apart from Riddhima's love for Armaan, was the fact that his son-in-law treated him like a son would treat his father. Ad he had never realized the depth of that feeling until today his so called son had mercilessly dethroned him. He was broken indeed. Coz he didn't have anything to say to him. His hundred and one rehearsals for this conversation had gone completely waste, coz not even in one of them had he anticipated Armaan to react the way he did. And just like that he watched Armaan storm out of his cabin, but not before delivering his final decision, "Thank you for your advice sir.. But my life is just fine the way it is.. I'd appreciate your cooperation in not messing it up more than it already is.." His cold expressionless voice rang in his ears even after he had gone out of sight. This was not how it was supposed to go.
Armaan, on the other hand, wasn't bothered about Dr. Shashank at all. As he stormed out of that cabin and into the corridors of the hospital, only one thing occupied his mind and made him angrier by the minute. Dr. Shashank had sent Riddhima to his place last night! That certainly meant she knew that he had overheard their conversation. And despite that, she had not mentioned it to him even once! She had chosen to hide it from him! All the fury that had built up in him for his interfering sasurjee was suddenly being diverted towards Riddhima. Coz he couldn't yell at Dr. Shashank Gupta. And he really needed someone to vent his frustration out to right now. Finding Riddhima guilty of keeping such a big development from him, he couldn't help but channel his frustration towards her. As he marched on menacingly, his eyes searched for a sight of her. This time not so he could ogle at her, but so he could blast her the first opportunity he gets!
Armaan and Riddhima were both mad at each other and ready to rip each other apart as soon as they got the chance to do so. While the vein on Armaan's forehead was pulsating with his boiling blood, Riddhima's teeth couldn't take the friction that her gritting, grinding and clenching was resulting in. Unfortunately for them, and fortunately for the world, both had work to do. So they had to postpone the war and head back to their duties. However, neither of them forgot about the war and were waiting in the wings to ambush the other when the right moment comes. So when Armaan finished his rounds of the ICU and general ward he headed back on his hunt for his beloved. What he didn't know was that his prey was hunting him back, marching angrily through the corridors just having finished her OPD duty. She asked for him at the reception and was told that he had duty at the general ward. Clenching her jaw at the thought of how she was going to blast him apart for betraying her and lying to her, she set off towards the general ward. But midway she changed her mind. She didn't want to create a scene in fron of the patients. So she thought of going to his cabin and waiting for him there. He would have to come back some time. So first she went to the residents' cabin to drop off the files she was carrying as she needed her hands free in case she needed their services to beat him up if her temper got the better of her.
Despite Armaan's thoughts not being as violent as Riddhima's, his temper certainly matched her in terms of magnitude. He never ever felt the urge to scream mad at her like he was feeling today. It probably was a mix of the frustration of the last few days, his never ending internal struggle with himself regarding his past and the fact that his ever irritating sasurjee had finally broken through his tolerance. And Riddhima was the only outlet to his rising fury which rose with every second he failed to locate her. He asked about her at the reception only to find out that her OPD duty would go on for another half an hour. So he reluctantly headed for his cabin, deciding to hold base there for the next half hour till he got an opportunity to confront her. He stormed through the corridor towards his cabin, the delay in the confrontation adding to his already hot head. And in the heat of the moment he didn't notice that Riddhima was storming towards his cabin from the opposite side of the corridor. She too was oblivious to his presence as she continued to curse him under her breath hoping she catches hold of him in his cabin. The next thing she knew, she had collided headlong into the one she was hoping to catch hold of. She got thrown backwards due to the impact of the collision. But Armaan caught her right in time to break her fall, pulling her into him as he steadied himself. It didn't take much time for him to realize who he had bumped into. It didn't take much time for her to realize who had saved her from the fall. They recognized each other, breath for breath, heartbeat for heartbeat. And the proximity at which their collision had left them made it impossible for them to ignore the violent beating of their hearts. Armaan didn't even realize when the heat from his head relocated behind his ears, his hand clasping her waist tighter as he felt her warm sweet breath on his lips. Riddhima didn't realize when the reason behind her flaming red cheeks changed from anger to a blush, his love filled blue eyes sending her heart aflutter. Their minds got wiped off all the animosity they felt for each other by the love that they had between them. The love that always took over everything. So much that they forgot their destructive plans of blasting the other down. Anger suddenly felt like a worthless feeling to waste your time and energy on. In fact any other feeling other than the love they shared made it to the list of time waste. What would they give to just stop time in this moment! This moment which consisted of just the two of them and a vast expanse of the love that was between them even in the close embrace that they were locked within. Unfortunately for them, it wasn't just the two of them who shared this moment. Coz they were brought out of their everlasting eye-lock by the giggling of the onlookers who had stopped in the corridor to look at the love struck duo. Evidently, time had decided to stop for all of them today. Armaan and Riddhima scowled as they saw a few nurses, a ward boy, Nikki, Muskaan and an aunty on a wheelchair giggling away to glory at the sight in front of them.
"Kya hai!! What's so funny?", Armaan asked them with a frown on his face, the heat starting to build up in his head again.
"Tum log kahin bhi shuru ho jaate ho nahi!", Nikki teased them as Muskaan guffawed, giving her a high five. And that made the others gathered over there giggle even more.
"Nikki!! That's enough.. Armaan dekh kar nahi chal raha tha.. Iss liye hum takra gaye.. That's it..", Riddhima defended herself as she made considerable distance between her and Armaan, reminding herself of how she was angry with him and wasn't supposed to lose herself in his eyes.
Armaan however was flabbergasted by her claim, "Main tumse takraya?!! Hello!! Tum mujhse takrayi!! ", he retorted back, glaring at her. And that started a bout of bickering between the two of them as Riddhima readily retorted, "Nahi Armaan.. Tum mujhse takraye.. You were the one who was walking like a blind man.."
"I was walking like a blind man!! Excuse me!! Agar maine nahi dekha toh tum toh dekh sakti thi.. At least you could have moved!!"
"Why should I move!! You move!"
"What!! Are you serious Riddhima!! Fine!! Humesha ki tarah main hi galat hoon.. Aur mujhe hi maafi mangni padegi! I'm sorry.. Is that okay!!"
"What do you mean Armaan!! Ki main humesha tumpar jhoota blame daalti hoon and you have to accept it?"
"Oh.. So you accept ki tumhara blame jhoota tha.. Tum dekh kar nahi chal rahi thi!"
"Nahi.. Mera kehne ka matlab yeh tha ki galti humesha tumhari hi hoti hai!!"
"Of course!! Galti humesha meri hi hoti hai..", Armaan said derisively as he heard Riddhima's open accusation.
"Don't say it like that Armaan!! It is a fact!!", Riddhima asserted, offended by his tone.
"So I am accepting it na Riddhima!! How else should I say it??", he asked her, his voice raising with every new argument that they got into.
"Stop saying it like its always my fault and you do me a favor by taking it on you!", she said angrily, irritated by the way he was talking to her! She was the one who was angry with him! Why the hell was he being such an ass!!
On the other hand, Armaan was irritated that Riddhima was accusing him without reason. She wasn't allowed to be mad at him the one time he got to be mad at her! "Of course not Riddhima.. Tum toh kabhi galti karti hi nahi.. You're just perfect!!"
"What are you trying to imply Armaan.. Am I not perfect!! "
"I just said you are perfect!! Tumhe ek baar mein baat samajh nahi aati kya Basket!! Oh.. That just proves how perfect you are!! "
And Riddhima just lost it at all of Armaan's sarcastic remarks.."Armaan.. Tum..", she pointed her finger angrily at him, shooting him her deadliest glare. But before she could continue she Nikki's voice distracted her from her intention of strangling Armaan, "Guys.. Guys what's wrong with you two.. Yeh hospital hai.. And staff and patients ke saamne tum dono aise lad rahe ho.. Stop it guys..", she reprimanded them, reminding them that half a dozen other people were witnessing their fight.
"She started it..", Armaan claimed pointing his finger at Riddhima as he watched all the shocked faces that were staring at the two of them with their mouths agape.
"Excuse me!! You started it..", Riddhima held his finger and twisted it as she countered his claim.
Muskaan frowned at their stupid fight.."How old are you guys!! Seriously!", she asked them, completely forgetting the fact that this was exactly how she fought with Rahul every single day!
"Chalo guys.. We must get back to work..", Nikki looked around at the nurses and the patient that the ward boy was wheeling towards the testing center of the hospital and started to walk off giving them the cue as they followed her. Muskaan gave Armaan and Riddhima one last scolding glare and shaking her head left for her duty.
Armaan and Riddhima, who were looking at all of them apologetically for their unprofessional behavior before they left for their respective duties, immediately put on their murderous glares and turned to each other once they were out of sight. Their jaws clenched, their teeth gritted, their fingers pointing at each other.
"You started it!!", Armaan started the senseless argument again.
But Riddhima refused to argue on a point that was moot. She turned swiftly on her toes, her hair slapping Armaan in the face as she barged into his cabin,"Shut up Armaan!! I am not interested in finding out who started what!! I need to talk to you!!"
But her attitude didn't go down well with Armaan as for once he didn't get lost in her 'zulfein', instead getting more irritated with her for defying him the way she did!
"No Riddhima!! I need to talk to you first!!", he shot back, following her in angrily and banging the door shut behind him.
"No Armaan!! I need to talk to you first! Don't test my patience.."
"You don't test my patience Riddhima!! I am very very angry!!"
"Oh!! Now You are angry!! Wow!! Ulta chor kotwaal ko daate.. "
"Chor main nahi tum ho samjhi!!"
"Tum chor ho Armaan!! "
"Nahi tum!!", he twisted the accusing finger that she was pointing at him and pointed it back at her.
It was unbelievable how they continued to argue on something that was not even the point of discussion, "Tum!!", she screamed defiantly as she pulled her hand out of his grip.
"Riddhima!! Main chor nahi hoon!!"
"Tum chor ho Armaan!! "
"How can I be the chor!! Maine kya churaya hai?"
And that effectively confused Riddhima, "Huh!?.. I.. I don't know.. ", she said, unsure of what they were fighting about. And Armaan took advantage of her confusion as he declared, "So its decided! You are the chor.. Humesha ki tarah mujhpar blame daal rahi ho.."
"Shut up Armaan!! Main tumhe bewajah blame nahi kar rahi.. Tumne kaam hi aisa kiya hai..", she didn't take long to come back.
"Of course.. Aur jo tumne kiya hai uske liye toh tumhe medal milna chahiye!!", Armaan was back to being his sarcastic self!
Riddhima however couldn't understand why he was being so hostile. She had thought she would throw attitude on him for his mistake and he'd spend the rest of the day trying to get her to forgive him. But here, he looked equally, if not more, angry with her. What the hell had she done!! "Maine kya kiya hai Armaan?!!"
"Oh.. Stop acting so innocent Riddhima! I know about Dr. Shashank!", he finally revealed to her what he was mad about. But that didn't clear her confusion at all, "What do you know about papa?"
"Everything!!", he told her only to confound her more.
"What?", she asked, her face contorted in a confused frown.
"Don't try to act like you don't know what I'm talking about Riddhima! I know ki Dr. Shashank ne kal raat humaari saari baatein sun li! And he was the one who sent you to talk to me!!"
"What!", she exclaimed as he finally said in clear words what was troubling him for so long.
But he didn't not buy her confused exclamation, "Why didn't you tell me Riddhima!! Why were you trying to hide it from me!!", he confronted her angrily as he almost charged forward while she retreated in her defense, "What!! I wasn't.. I wasn't trying to hide anything from you.. And who told you about this?..", she asked him, genuinely wondering about all that was happening.
"Dr. Shashank himself!!", he informed her, clenching his jaw as he remembered his lunch time conversation with Dr. Shashank.
"What!!", came another one of Riddhima's shocked exclamations. Why would her dad tell him that!! But Armaan answered her unasked question anyway, "Haan Riddhima.. He was trying to convince me that you are right!! Of course.. He and his daughter are always right aren't they!!"
But now Riddhima couldn't stand Armaan's derision, "Armaan.. Stop being so rude.. And tell me what happened.. Papa ne kya kaha tumse.. ", she asked him, offended by the tone he was taking with her.
"Wahi jo kal raat tum mujhe kehene ki koshish kar rahi thi!!", he told her straight away.
"Toh isme galat kya hai Armaan!! He was just trying to help.. He cares for you..", she defended her papa and rightly so.
"Oh please!! All he cares about is you and your happiness! He thinks you're not happy with me.. Or I'm hurting you somehow!!", he said spitefully, the hurt that he felt at Dr. Shashank's words still fresh in his head.
"What rubbish are you talking Armaan!! Papa doesn't think like that.. Bakwaas mat karo..", she didn't understand why he was reacting like that. Why would her papa think that! And even if he did, why was she being yelled at?!!
"Of course he does Riddhima!! Why else did he eavesdrop on our argument last night.. Unhe laga main mere gusse mein tumhe hurt karunga!! He doesn't trust me and I'm tired of proving myself in front of him!!"
Riddhima stared at him for a minute as she tried to make sense of what he was saying, her heart softened at what she heard. She realized what had him troubled so much. Her dad had apologized to her last night for eavesdropping, but he had defended himself saying that he was wary of Armaan's anger and was just being his protective self. And Armaan here had taken that to heart, "Armaan.. He trusts you.. Tum unhe galat samajh rahe ho.. He just wanted to make sure things were okay..", she tried to explain to him, her voice soft and caring as she gave his shoulder a pleading squeeze.
But Armaan wasn't going to melt so soon. He was still mad at Dr. Shashank for over hearing something that he shouldn't have and then having the guts of coming and giving him his unrequited advice, "No Riddhima!! He was trying to make sure you were okay.. Like I was going to hurt you or something!! Does he really think you're not happy with me! Are you really not happy Riddhima??"
"Oh God! What is wrong with you? Why are you making such a big issue out of this Armaan? And even if papa spoke to you about it, tum mujhpar kyun gussa ho?.. Maine kya kiya hai?", Riddhima asked him, her irritation getting the better of her. She didn't like where this conversation was going at all. Coz she had run out of arguments to defend her dad. But she still didn't understand why Armaan was taking it out all on her.
Armaan however had all her answers ready, "Tumne mujhse yeh baat chupayi Riddhima.. You didn't tell me that Dr. Shashank knows about this.. He's not supposed to know Riddhima!! You were the only one who had the right to know.. And that at least gives you the right to advise me on the matter.. But I cannot stand your papa interfering in my personal issues.. ", his voice rose with every word he said, forcing Riddhima to go on the defensive, "Armaan.. He's just doing what he thinks is right.. And besides.. Look at it from his point of view.. He has every right to know about your past.. But he never pressurized you nor me to tell him about it.. Doesn't that show his trust in you.. Aur rahi baat meri tumse yeh sab chupane ki, toh Armaan I didn't want to hide it from you.. I swear I didn't!! I just forgot to tell you about it!!", she told him in a controlled voice, defending herself and her papa rightly. But Armaan was furious at her last claim, "You forgot!! You forgot!! Are you serious!!", he almost shouted as he asked her, unable to believe that excuse of hers. But Riddhima had a perfectly valid reason to give for it too, "Armaan after what happened today morning.. The only thing that mattered was you!! I didn't think this was so important.. In fact, it didn't even occur to me ki tum yeh sunkar aise react karoge.. I genuinely forgot about it Armaan!!", she tried to calmly get her point across to him. Only he wasn't ready to understand. He was just being particularly pig headed about this issue, "How can you forget Riddhima!! How the hell can you forget to tell me about this!!", he demanded, giving her a fiery glare.
"Like you forgot to tell me about the party that you are throwing at our house tomorrow night!!", Riddhima retorted returning the fire through her eyes at the first opportunity she got to turn over the argument.
"What!!", this time it was Armaan whose shocked exclamation punctuated their argument.
"Invite karna toh dur tumne mujhe bataya bhi nahi Armaan!!", she continued, seething as she recollected how Payal had handed her the guest list.
Armaan had gathered himself by then and couldn't believe the reason she was angry with him! "Riddhima.. Have you lost it.. Are you seriously comparing the f**kin new years party to your papa eavesdropping on our conversation!!"
"No Armaan.. I'm comparing the fact that just like you forgot to tell me about the party, I forgot to tell you about papa..", she argued back in the same tone as he had adding to his rage, "So you think that the party is more important than your papa's lecture on how I should make peace with my past to keep you happy!! "
"Armaan as far as papa is concerned.. Let him say what he has to.. You know I'm not bothered about your past anymore.. How does anything else matter.. But tumne jo kiya! I think it was more important for you to ask me.. Forget asking! At least inform me about the party!!"
"Ask you??!! Now I need to take your permission to keep a party at my house!! Are you kidding me!!"
"Your house!! Your house??!! It's as much mine as yours!!", she couldn't believe he had just said that!! No wonder her voice had doubled in decibels.
"How does it matter Riddhima!! Why can't we have a party there?"
"Of course we can Armaan!! But my problem is that here the 'we' is not 'you' and 'me'.. It's 'you' and your 'beloved Dr. Payal'.."
"What!! Where did Dr. Payal come from?.."
"Armaan jhoot mat bolo.. I know she is helping you out with the party preparations.. Tumne uss se madad lene ki kya zaroorat thi Armaan? Tumhe ek baar bhi mera khayal nahi aaya?", she asked him, hurt by the fact that he had not even discussed the party with her once and had asked Dr. Payal to make the invitation list. No wonder her name wasn't on it. She knew that bitch hated her!!
"Riddhima have you lost it! I wasn't even thinking about the party!! And stop blaming Payal for no reason.. I had just asked her to make the guest list coz she knew all the people that were invited for the party she and her friends were going to host.. Yeh sab kal lunch time mein hua.. I didn't even think about the freakin party after that!! Why are you making such a big deal out of it!!", he defended himself. But what angered Riddhima was the way he defended 'Payal'! Now she wasn't even Dr. Payal for him!!
"Armaan.. How can you forget to tell me that you're having a party!!"
"I was going to tell you Riddhima!"
"When??!! Party khatam hone ke baad??!! "
"Riddhima stop over reacting.."
"Look who's talking!! I'm over reacting! At least I'm not blaming you of lying to me and hiding things from me!! I'm just assuming you forgot.. I hope you weren't hiding it from me!!", she asked him sarcastically.
"Riddhima! Stop being ridiculous!! And please ask your papa to keep his nose out of my business!", Armaan tried to get out of his mismanaged new year party fiasco by bringing Dr. Shashank back into the picture. And it worked.. At least temporarily.
"Armaan!! Stop insulting papa.. He was just trying to help you.."
"I don't need his help!!"
"Of course you don't!! You have Dr. Payal with you!! Hai na!", Riddhima cleverly taunted him with her Payal gibe!
"Kya!! Riddhima!! Will you please let that go!!", he couldn't believe she was being so stuck up on that one little mistake of his. He obviously had more important things on his mind other than the stupid party. And she knew it well!
But she was as obstinate as he was, "No I wont!! And you know what.. I'm not going to help you with that stupid party at all now.. In fact, I'm not even going to come for it!", she declared angrily.
Armaan was no less. He could easily match the level of stubbornness as he countered, "Toh don't come na!! Who invited you for it!! "
"I wouldn't come even if you gave me an invitation!!"
"Arre tumhe invite kar kaun raha hai!! Go do what you want!!"
"You go do what you want!", and they were back to their mindless bickering as Riddhima pointed her angry finger at him.
"You go!!", he returned the favor with his forefinger pointed at her flaring nose.
"Why should I go!! You go!!"
"This is my cabin!! I'm not going anywhere.. Darwaza uss taraf hai!!", he pointed to the door with his thumb, asking her to get lost from his cabin. Her mouth fell open in shock at his hostile behavior!! She was never going to forgive him for this one!! "That's it Mallik!! I'm not talking to you ever!!", she declared as she started towards the exit.
"Good!! I don't even want to talk to you!!", came his ready reply.
"I wouldn't talk to you even if you wanted to!!"
"But I don't even want to!!"
"Like I want to!!"
"Then why are you still talking to me!!", he asked her as she stood at the door of his cabin.
"Bhaad mein jaao!!!!", she shouted back as she banged the door shut behind her.
"Tum bhaad mein jaao!!", he called out as he saw her leave.
"Tum jao..", her voice came from the other side of the closed door.
"Tum jao!!!", he screamed again but didn't get any response.
They both had the last word in their own respective points of view, but their argument had not lead to any kind of conclusion and had instead just increased their anger towards each other.
Payal was headed towards Armaan's cabin when she heard loud noises in the corridor. When she neared Armaan's cabin she realized that the noises were actually angry voices coming from inside. And it didn't take her long to figure out who the warring parties were! And as much as she denied it, to hear them fight the way they were, made her feel happy somewhere deep in her heart. She knew it was wrong to feel the way she was feeling. But she couldn't help her heart. It was stuck on Armaan, waiting for an opportunity just like this one to win him over.
"Sir.. May I come in?", she knocked on his door and peeped inside moments after she had seen Riddhima storm out of there.
Armaan who was sitting at his desk, with his head in his hands, looked at the door warily to see his intern standing there, "Yes.. Come in..", he invited her in, not so cheerfully.
"Sir.. I mean.. Armaan.. You're not looking too good.. Sab theek toh hai na?", she asked him, genuinely concerned at the tension on his face. She of course knew the reason behind his sullen mood. But she'd be glad to relieve him off his stress.
"Don't worry Payal.. It's nothing.. Tum kaho.. Kya kaam tha?", he asked her straight away coming to the point.
Payal was disappointed that he didn't take her bait, but got his hint loud and clear. So she didn't waste time in telling him why she had come, "Armaan.. I just wanted to ask you if you got the guest list for the party.. I mean.. The one I gave you in the morning.. "
"What guest list? I didn't get any guest list!!", Armaan exclaimed in confusion.
"Oh.. But I gave it to Dr. Riddhima.. Uh.. The guest list. She said she'll give it to you..", Payal looked as confused.
Armaan's eyes narrowed at that piece of information. Of course!! If Riddhima had the guest list, he would never see it in his life!! It must be lying in tatters in some dustbin in the hospital.
"Payal.. Can you do me a favor.. Please can you make me another list.. And this time please give it only to me.. Or just roughly tell me the number of people who are coming.. I have to make all the arrangements and I haven't even started.."
"No problem Armaan.. I can do that.. And if you want I'll tell Rohan to arrange for the food.. I mean he had already arranged for a caterer for the party that we were planning..", she offered with the sweetest of her smiles.
And that's exactly what Armaan needed. Someone to take care of the party that he didn't care a damn about, "Oh that'll be great Payal!! Thanks so much.. You're a lifesaver!! Can you also make arrangements for a DJ.. ", he asked her hopefully, wondering if he was asking too much of her.
But she readily obliged to his request, "Of course sir! I was in charge of the music anyway..", she informed him happily.
"That's great then.. Ab sirf drinks and lights.. I'll handle that.. Thanks so much Payal.. You're the best!!", and he gave her his best smiles before getting up from his chair and putting on his lab coat as he got ready for his duty.
"Thank you Armaan.. But aapko thanks kehne ki zaroorat nahi hai.. I'd gladly do it for you..", Payal dished out the filmiest of all dialogues, genuinely glad that she was going to be of some help to him. It was definitely a step closer and in the right direction.
Armaan on the other hand was just glad that he wouldn't have to worry about the good-for-nothing party much now, "Yeah.. Thanks so much anyway!.. Okay.. Now I gotto go to the OPD.. I'll catch you later.. Let me know about the food and the music..", he told her as he left the cabin smirking to himself as he thought about Riddhima and her decision to not help him with the party. Take that Basket!! She was right.. He did indeed have his beloved Dr. Payal with him to take care of his party after all!!
Rahul and Muskaan were lost in each others' eyes in one corner of the residents' cabin when Anjali barged in breaking their two seconds of bliss. While Rahul groaned at the interruption, Muskaan just blushed and made some distance between him and her before turning to Anjali.
"Guys!! Ghar jaane ka time ho gaya hai you know!! You can continue your romance at home..", she half teased them and half reprimanded them for using the cabin for purposes it wasn't meant to cater.
Muskaan bit her tongue at that cheeky remark from Anjali, her blush deepening as she ran off to her locker to pack her stuff. Rahul however remained unfazed and just drawled at Anjali, "No Anjie.. We can't continue our romance at home! That's the problem!! ", he complained with a frown.
"Rahul!! Chup kar..", Muskaan shot him a reprimanding glare from her locker as Anjali remained unaffected by that shameless complaint of Rahul's, "Kyun?.. Ghar mein romance kyun nahi kar sakte?", she asked him genuinely to clear her doubt, like it was the most normal thing to discuss peoples' romantic lives right in front of them. Coz Rahul and Anjali surely seemed to ignore the scandalized expressions on Muskaan's face as they continued their conversation, "Kya bataaun Anjie! Jabse mom dad aaye hain.. They've been playing major kabab mein haddis.. They are not letting us share a room till we get married again! Can you believe it!!", he put forth his problems to her with a pout.
"Rahul! That's enough!! Tu pagal ho gaya hai kya?", Muskaan scolded him for his shamelessness as Anjali started laughing at the two of them, "In that case Rahul.. I'm so sorry I disturbed the two of you!", she teased them as Muskaan turned a deeper shade of crimson while Rahul just smirked at his fuming but blushing wife.
"It's okay Anjie.. But may I ask tumne hume disturb kyun kiya?", Rahul asked her as he shamelessly slipped one arm around Muskaan's waist and pulled her closer to him..
While his wife struggled to get out of his hold cursing him all the time, Anjali just ignored their banter and answered his question, "Oh yeah!! Main toh bhul hi gayi.. Actually, main Ridzi ki car ki chaabi lene aayi thi.. Atul has to wait for a surgery but I need to go home..", she told them as she looked for her sister's car keys at her desk. She knew she had come on her own today due to an emergency and she could always go back with Armaan. So she had decided to take her car home tonight instead of taking a cab.
"God!! Yeh Ridzi ne keys kahan rakhe?", she asked aloud as she looked under the files on her desk and the drawers. Muskaan and Rahul on the other hand had started to bicker and were completely ignoring Anajli's bakbak as she looked for what she wanted.
"Di!! Kya hua? What are you looking for??", luckily for Anjali her little sister came to her rescue. Riddhima had come to the cabin to see two of her friends bickering and her Di almost ransacking her drawers in search for something. She ignored Rahul and Muskaan's banter as that was the most normal thing to see in their cabin every evening and went over to her sister wondering why her files were being treated the way they were.
"Thank god Ridzi you're here.. Mujhe tere car ke keys chahiye the..", Anjali told her as she hugged her little sister.
"Kyun?", Riddhima asked as she fished for her keys in her bag and handed them over to her Di.
"Arre.. Atul has a surgery and I'm going home early today.. Tu Armaan ke saath chali jaana okay!..", Riddhima's expression hardened as she heard Anjali's request. She just nodded absent mindedly as her Di thanked her and hugged her before she left while she stood thinking about Armaan and the argument she had with him this afternoon. She was still upset with him. And now the reasons had doubled. Not only had h e accused her of hiding things from him he had had the nerve of defending himself and that good for nothing Payal as he justified his forgetfulness while pointing hers out. What irked her most was the way he spoke to her about her papa. He had never been so rude to him after they had started dating each other. This reminded her of his rebellious ways before they got together when her dad used to hate him and vice versa. And she hated that attitude of his.. She had gotten so used to seeing him fear and respect her dad that this change wasn't going down well with her. And his open defense for his intern that she hated so much just added fuel to the fire! How did her Di even expect her to go home with him!! No way!!! She wasn't going to even talk to him ever!!!! Let alone travel in the same car with him!! And with that stubborn determination in her eyes, she left Rahul and Muskaan arguing with each other in the cabin while she headed for the children's ward for her rounds.
Armaan was finished with his work and ready to head home when he remembered what Anjali had requested him to do. And he couldn't even refuse what she had asked of him. As much as he didn't want to talk to Riddhima, he couldn't let her go back on her own. It was almost nine o clock and letting Riddhima travel by a cab was not going to be tolerated by him, however angry he was with her. But he really didn't want to go to her place for dinner tonight and face Shanky papa again. He was still mad at the both of them.. With Dr. Shashank coz he took Riddhima's side.. And with Riddhima coz she defended her dad against him.. But now he'd have to drop her home. He wondered how she would react if he just dropped her off at her doorstep and refused to go in. But then why should he bother about her reaction! He was going to do exactly that!! He was going to drop her off and then go back home. Now he just hoped she was done with her work too. Coz the last thing he wanted was to wait for her. Luckily for him, he found at the reception signing out for the day. He still had to go and get his bike keys from his cabin and sort a few things out. So he thought he should inform her that he'd be dropping her home. He hoped his saali had told her about their arrangement too. In any case, he thought it'd be better if he informed her. So he marched over to the reception and cleared his throat.
Riddhima turned to look at him as she heard his 'ahem' and gave him a cold questioning glare. And he just returned a fiery one in her direction as he spoke, "Sister Lovely! Please could you inform Dr. Riddhima that I am going to drop her home tonight. She can wait in the parking next to my bike till I wrap up my work. I'll be there in five minutes."
Riddhima's jaw clenched as she heard his supercilious tone, his glare fixed on her while he spoke to the nurse at the reception. How dare he!! "Sister Lovely.. Please could you inform Dr. Mallik that I am not interested in going home with him and I don't need his favors. I can go back on my own..", she coldly spoke to sister Lovely whose eyes were wide open in shock. She certainly didn't know how to handle this situation and hoped that the two of them don't drag her between their fight. She just gulped as she watched them glowering at each other in front of her. Luckily for her Riddhima turned her icy glare from Armaan and started to walk off towards the exit, "Good night Sister Lovely.", she called out as she started to walk at a brisk pace.
Armaan's teeth clenched at the attitude she was throwing him! Not like he was dying to take her home!! But it was his responsibility nonetheless. So he followed her as she marched on and stopped her by catching hold of her hand, "Riddhima Anjie has asked me to drop you home. Zidd mat karo. Main tumhe drop kar deta hoon..", he almost ordered in his curt tone.
"Mujhe tumhare saath kahin nahi jaana..", Riddhima stuck to her stubborn stance.
"Stop being stubborn Riddhima.. You are going to wait here while I go and get my keys and jacket!! Don't you dare move! Tum mere saath aa rahi ho and that's final!", he declared holding her hand tight in his grip as she tried to get it out. But she stopped her struggle when she felt him come close to her. She looked up into his eyes and she stood mesmerized by them. Coz this time, they weren't cold or murderous. All they reflected was his love and concern and a request for her to listen to him. "Stay here..", he whispered near her lips before leaving for his cabin to pick up his stuff, hoping she'd listen to him for once.
But if he thought she was going to stay put just because of his orders, he was so wrong!! As soon as he left her, she got her senses back and his demanding and commanding tones didn't go down well with her. So without paying heed to any of his warnings she stubbornly started to walk off towards the exit and out the gates of the hospital. But she didn't find a cab near the exit. She knew if she waited any longer Armaan would catch her there. And she'd do anything to not go home with him tonight!! So she started to walk off onto the road hoping she gets some form of public transport to get her home. But today her luck wasn't with her. There was not a cab in sight. And hoping for a rickshaw at this time in the night was foolishness. So she just walked on and on farther away from the hospital, now hoping that at least Armaan doesn't catch up with her. But to her dismay, just when that thought occurred she heard the roar of a motorbike behind her.
"Armaan!! Stop stalking me.. Mujhe tumhare saath ghar nahi jaana!!", she shouted over the roar of the bike as she continued to walk without sparing him a glance.
"Armaan ke saath na sahi.. Mere saath hi chalo sweetheart.. I swear mera naam Armaan nahi hai..", she froze on her spot as she heard a voice that didn't belong to Armaan!! Her heartbeat rose as her mind blanked out. She turned sideways to see the bike parked next to her and its rider grinning at her wickedly as he stared at her lecherously from top to bottom. And she couldn't help but be disgusted by that dirty gaze of his as anger took over her fear momentarily, "Listen! I don't know you.. Please mind your own business!!", she spat back at the ruffian who was giving her a lascivious smirk and started to walk off in a hurry, clutching her handbag tight to her self.
But that sick excuse for a man wasn't going to give up, "Oh common sweetheart.. Let me give you a lift.. I promise tumhe bhi mazaa aayega!..", he said disgustingly as he followed her slowly on his bike.
Riddhima's heart raced in fear as she heard him and realized he was still following her. She looked around nervously to realize that the road was completely devoid of fluid traffic. She had never noticed the barrenness of the road when she drove through it in the car everyday. And never in her life had she faced this kind of a situation. She had always been so protected that she lacked any kind of experience where eve teasing was concerned. She had only seen this in movies. And the possibilities of how this could end scared her to death. Tears started streaming down her eyes as she tried to increase her pace. But the lecherous man was on a bike, he easily kept up with her, hooting and whistling cheaply as he passed dirty comments on her. But she completely lost control of her emotions when he stopped her in her tracks by halting his bike right in front of her making her almost bump into him. As she looked into his filthy brown eyes and the licentious grin on his face she started crying, "Dekho.. Please let me go.. ", she requested to the bas***d through her tears as she sniffed to hold them back.
But her plea just made the guy laugh, "Tu mere saath chal toh sahi.. We'll go wherever you want sweetheart!!", and this time he held her arm and pulled her forcefully into him only to hear a resounding SLAP!!!! Riddhima's free hand had reacted as a reflex and slapped the cheapo in his face as she freed her hand and ran in the opposite direction towards the hospital. She couldn't control her tears as she ran back, hoping, praying that someone from the hospital spots her. Her adrenaline pumped full force, her fear getting the better of her as she felt the man following her on his bike hurling abuses at her for slapping him. She knew he would catch up with her soon. And the thought of what he would do to her once he caught hold of her made her cry even more. But she ran for life wishing she had not defied Armaan now. Where was he when she needed him!! But this time it was her fault! Fresh tears poured out her eyes at that thought. She turned around to see the cheapo laugh at her as he followed her on his bike. He had caught up with her but was taking sadistic pleasure in making her run for her life. She couldn't believe she was stuck in this nightmare. Why wasn't she waking up!! She sent a last prayer to her bhagwaanji to help her as she saw the bas***d turn his bike into her again to halt her sprint. She stumbled as she almost fell but balanced herself, not wanting to go colliding into him again.
But before he could turn completely into her she saw another bike skid to a halt perpendicular to him blocking him from coming anywhere near her. And even through the blinding light of the motorbikes that had stopped in front of her, she didn't take more than a second to recognize who had come to her rescue.
"Armaan!", her voice was barely a whisper as she hiccupped through her tears and ran straight into his arms.
Armaan was giving his deadliest glares to the eve teasing rascal on the other bike when he felt her cling onto him for life as she cried like a baby. His fists clenched shut as anger rushed through him. He wanted to rip the guy apart for putting her through this. He parted her from him as he got off his bike without taking his glare off that man, wanting nothing but to beat the shit out of him. Riddhima hid behind him as she saw the man look at her before his eyes shifted to Armaan's murderous ones. The mad intensity of rage in those blue-gray eyes sent a shiver down his spine. He thought better than to take panga with this guy. Even through his jacket he could see the bulging biceps and the tight fists that were eager to feast on him. He didn't want to become this guy's punch bag for tonight. So he just gave his engine a menacing raise using his bike to show his domination since he didn't have the balls to speak in front of Armaan. But he stopped his hollow threats when he noticed the throbbing vein on Armaan's forehead. Another moment here and he knew this guy would beat him up! So he quickly turned his bike and showing them the finger zoomed off into the night.
Riddhima breathed a sigh of relief as she saw him disappear from sight. Armaan turned to her to ask her a laconic and expressionless, "Tum theek ho?" when she threw herself onto him, hugging him tighter than she possibly could. Tears of relief ran down her cheeks as she tried to hide herself into him.
But she didn't feel that security that she normally would feel in his arms. When she spared it a thought she realized that Armaan had not engulfed her in his arms like he normally would. He was just standing there like a statue not doing anything. When she pulled out from the hug to look at his face she saw his jaw was still clenched and a dark raging storm was brewing his eyes. No wonder that man had run away!
"Armaan.. ", she whispered his name to catch his attention as she stood close to him hoping he'd crush her in his protective embrace. But he didn't. Instead, he diverted his fury towards her, "Didn't I ask you wait Riddhima??!!", he asked her, his tone threateningly dangerous, his eyes spelling murder. It was rather scary. So much that it made her nervous, "Armaan.. Main.. Main.. I..", and it didn't help that she had no valid reason to disregard his request other than her pigheadedness!
"Tum apne aapko kya samajhti ho Riddhima!! Can't you just listen to me for once?? I had clearly asked you to wait for me!! But no!!!! I was equally angry with you Riddhima.. But I still offered to drop you home!! Couldn't you have just left your ego aside for ten fifteen minutes!! ", he shouted at her for being so stubbornly disobedient. And his raised voice brought fresh tears to Riddhima's eyes. She just wanted him to hug her and assure her that he wouldn't let anything happen to her. But he was just shouting at her and making her more scared than she already was.
"Armaan tum chilla kyun rahe ho?", she asked him in a small scared voice as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Toh kya karun Riddhima!! Agar main nahi aata toh kya karti tum!!", he shouted at her again, her tears not melting him one bit as he still stood shaken by the fear of the harm that could have come her way if he had been even a second late. He had collected his jacket and keys from his cabin and rushed to the parking hoping she'd have not left already. But as anticipated, she had disobeyed him. However, the panic struck him hard when she didn't answer his calls. So without wasting another second he had zoomed his bike out of the hospital hoping he'd locate her as soon as possible. But when he had found her running for her life from that bas***d of a man, his temper had blown his head. He had wanted to gouge that man's eyes out of his socket and hand them to him so he could never ever dare to look at his Riddhima with those dirty eyes ever again!! Unfortunately, the coward had not even dared to put up a fight. So he had let him go for her sake. But the moment he left, all his anger got diverted to her. He was mad at her for being such a stubborn bitch and not listening to him. It was her own stupidity that had put her into the situation she was in. And now she was crying about it!! What was the whole point!!, "Now please will you stop crying! Ek toh khud problem khadi karo aur phir khud hi rote baitho.. Could you give me a break! Just shut up and sit.. I'll drop you home..", he coldly told her as he mounted his bike and roared it to a start.
Riddhima couldn't believe Armaan was behaving the way he was with her. She knew she was at fault. But at the moment she just wanted him to hug her tight and just make her forget the nightmare that she had lived through. She couldn't believe he was yelling at her. This was so not her Armaan! A new batch of tears pricked her eyes at that thought as she quietly got onto his bike.
All the way back home, her tears didn't stop as she clutched onto the bar behind her seat instead of her life support who was sitting in front of her. She wanted nothing but to hold him close and stay like that forever. But his curt reactions had made it clear to her that he wasn't going to allow her near him. And she wasn't going to impose herself on him.. If he had so much of a problem with her then she wasn't going to come in his way. She wasn't going to let him have the satisfaction of knowing that she needs him. But even as she determined to not talk to him ever in her life again she couldn't stop the rivulets that were gushing down her eyes at the hurt she was feeling by his rejection.
On the other hand, Armaan had started to feel guilty about the way he behaved with her. He couldn't bear to see the way she was crying throughout the ride as he stole glances at her through his rear view mirror. He realized he shouldn't have yelled at her right away. He realized she had been frightened to her wits end and wanted nothing but just a tight reassuring hug from him. But he had just heightened her trauma by scolding her right away. That did not take away the fact that he was still mad at her for running off on her own into the night like that. He shuddered even to think of the consequences had he not found her on time. But the fact was that he had come to her rescue and nothing untoward had happened in the end. Now he had to make sure that such a thing never happened again. She was his responsibility after all. He shouldn't have given her so much attitude in the first place. He had known all along that she would defy him but still he had deliberately annoyed her. And that had resulted in her rebellion. He needed to apologize to her. And more importantly, he needed to assure her that everything was okay and there was nothing to be scared of. So when he braked his bike to a stop in front of the Gupta residence he made up his mind to apologize to her for his behavior tonight.
Riddhima however had decided that she didn't need Armaan and his favors anymore. At least for tonight! So as soon as he stopped the bike she got off it, thanked him curtly and started to walk off towards her house.
Armaan's face contorted in a frown as he heard her dry 'thank you' and watched her rush towards her house!
"Riddhima!! Wait..", he called out as he followed her, holding her hand to pull her back to him.
Riddhima just glared at him through her moist eyes as she tried to get her hand out of his grip, "Kya hai Armaan! Just let me go!!", she said rudely, trying to get away.
But he just turned her into him without letting go of her, "Riddhima.. Riddhima look at me.. Please.. Tum theek ho?", he asked, forcing her to look at him. Her sniffing increased as she tried to get away from him, "Main bilkul theek hoon Armaan!! And tumhe yeh fake concern dikhane ki zaroorat nahi hai.. I don't need you to take care of me.. I can take care of myself.. ", she said defiantly, trying to look away from him as she tried controlling her tears.
Armaan smiled at her claims, chuckling as he forced her to face him again, "Of course Basket.. I saw that today.. ", he teased her unable to believe what she was claiming after all that had happened tonight. Her silly claims did nothing but amuse him.
"Oh please Armaan.. Tumne kucch nahi dekha.. You weren't even there when I slapped that asshole!! Khud toh tumne ek haath bhi nahi uthaya.. Bade aaye mujhe bachane waale.. Don't think of yourself as some hero! Coz trust me you're not!!", she yelled back, making him laugh all the more..
"Of course not Riddhima!! Main hero thodi hoon.. You're the heroine!! Mujhe toh uss bechare pe taras aa raha hai.. ", he teased her as he continued to laugh at her claims.
"Bechara!! ", she couldn't believe he was calling that disgusting man a bechara.. He would have been a bechara if she would have kicked him in his balls so hard that he'd never be able to walk straight. But then she remembered that he was on a bike and she had no direct access to her area of target.
Armaan however continued to tease her, easing the tensed atmosphere with his loud and deep barks of laughter, "Of course he's the bechara Basket!.. You slapped him!! You actually slapped the poor guy.. Bechara zindagi bhar yaad rakhega.. I remember jab tumne mujhe mara tha tab my jaw had dislocated.. Abhi bhi mera muh tedha hai.. See..", he rubbed the side of his cheek, pretending it was crooked as he leaned into her to give her a better view.
"Shut up Armaan!! Tumhe har waqt mazaak hi sujhta hai na..", she asked him, scowling at the fact that he was teasing her now. First he shouts at her then makes fun of her!! Was she really so madly in love with this guy!
"Tum itni funny ho Basket.. What can I do? I cant help but get inspired..", and he continued to tease her, laughing as he kissed her softly on the cheek caressing it with the back of his hand.
And as he did that, "Armaan!! Just let me go.. ", she struggled against his arm that had held her tight around her waist. But he wasn't going to let her go without making sure she was okay, "No.. Pehle bataao tum theek ho?", he asked her, cupping her face in his hand as he forced her to look at him.
But she just continued to struggle, "Agar tumne mujhe nahi choda toh tum theek nahi rahoge Armaan! I'm warning you!", she almost shouted at him through her clenched jaw. But stopped struggling when she heard his very soft but firm voice, "Please Riddhima.. I'm serious.."
She took a moment to look into his eyes that reflected nothing but concern and love. That's what made her believe that she was indeed madly in love with this guy. But then she was still mad at him for the way he behaved. And out of habit, forgiving him was not exactly the first thing that came to her mind.
"Ab kyun itni fikar ho rahi hai Armaan? Tab toh kitna chilla rahe the mujhpar..", she reminded him as she looked away from him angrily.
He sighed as he heard her. It was true. He shouldn't have reacted the way he did. So he apologized immediately,"I'm sorry.. Really Riddhima.. But I was so angry.. Maine tumse kaha tha na to wait for me.. What if I wouldn't have come on time.. What if something happened to you because of me..", his fear and worry clearly visible in his eyes.
And that was what melted her. She knew he was taking the blame again to make her feel better. But the fact was that he had every right to be mad at her. She was really and truly at fault and no justification from either side was going to change that. So she just decided to come clean with him, "Armaan it wasn't your fault. It was my stupidity.. Mujhe aise akele nahi jaana chahiye tha.. I'm an idiot!", she told him honestly. And he agreed with her, "I know!!"
"Armaan!!", she scowled as she saw the teasing smirk return to his face. But he sobered soon enough this time, "I was so scared Riddhima.. Please promise me tum aisa phir kabhi nahi karogi.. Even if we're fighting with each other.. Even if we're not talking to each other.. Please.. ", he pleaded to her earnestly, leaning his forehead on hers as he held her face in his hands, trying to reassure himself that she was fine.
"Promise.. ", she couldn't help but whisper back, touched by his concern.
"Okay now tell me.. Are you okay? Honestly..", he asked her to make sure she was okay.
She nodded her head in a small yes as she answered, "I'm okay.. Just thoda sa scared.."
"Don't be.. I'm there..", he assured her, wrapping his arms around her, just like she had wanted him to, and enveloping her in a tight protective embrace.
"Pakka?..", she asked him inspite of herself.
"Pakka..", he promised as he placed a soft kiss on her forehead and continued to hold her close.
She closed her eyes as she rested her head on his shoulders, holding him close as she finally felt secure, her fears disappearing with every second he held her in his arms, "Tum humesha mere saath rahoge na Armaan..", she asked him as she held his jacket in a fist on his back.
Armaan smiled a little at her question and then tightened his grip around her, "Haan.. Till you ask me to stay away from you..", he said, kissing her hair softly as he did.
"You know I'd never do that..", she countered his reply returning a small kiss on his neck.
Armaan smiled at her gesture and that line she had copied from god alone knows which rom-com she had watched recently, "What rubbish! Din mein hazaar baar toh kehti ho.. In fact just five minutes back you were saying.. Let me go! I don't need you.. Blah blah blah..", he teased her, pulling out a little to see that famous scowl of her adorning her face, "Toh that wasn't the serious waala 'let me go' Armaan.. Woh toh bas aise hi kehti rehti hoon..", she defended herself and hugged him back.
He smiled at her cuteness as he pulled her close, "Kyun aise hi kehti rehti ho Basket.. I don't like it..", complained, mumbling as he hid his face in her hair, taking in a moment to breathe her in. It had been a long day of screaming and shouting at each other. He had not realized until now how much he missed this today. Just like she had. She caressed his back as she smiled, whispering a "Sorry.. ", temporarily forgetting about all the fighting that they had been up to throughout the day. In this moment, she of didn't understand why they bothered fighting with each other.
"Riddhima.. ", she replied in a "Hmm.." as she heard him whisper her name.
"Do you remember something?", he asked her, running his hand lovingly through her hair as he pulled out to look at her.
"Kya?..", she asked him, scrunching her nose as she tried to remember what he was trying to remind her.
Armaan smiled as he kissed the tip of her nose before reminding her, "We were supposed to run away remember.. "
"Armaan.. We cant.. It's late.. ", she gave up on the idea without sparing it a thought.
"Please na Basket.. You had promised.. ", he pouted in a complaint. He knew cute always worked with her. And he knew just the place he wanted to run away with her at the moment.
Riddhima couldn't help but giggle at his cute expression and actually started to think of the possibility, "But hum mamma aur papa ko kya kahenge?", she asked him, hoping he'd have a plan in place for that too.
"We're running away Basket.. You don't tell your parents before running away..", he said smartly, pecking her lips while she slapped him lightly on his face, rolling her eyes at his brilliant plan, "Shut up Armaan. We cant just disappear without telling them.."
"Then what's the point of running away Riddhima!", he whined as he frowned at her disagreement.
But just as she was about to answer that, his phone vibrated in his pocket, effectively diverting her attention from the idea of eloping with him for the night.
"Armaan.. Tumhara phone..", she pointed out to him as he didn't seem to be interested in answering it.
"Pehle tum kaho you'll go with me..", he tried his luck, hoping she'd say yes.
"Armaan!!", she sang his name out, trying to get out of his hold now so he could take the call. But he refused to let her go, "Forget na Basket.. I don't want to answer that.. Tum batao.. Will you go with me.."
"First answer that call, then I'll answer your question..", she smartly put forth her condition.
"Tch.. ", he frowned at that, "No.. You answer my question first, then I'll answer the call..", he put forth his counter conditions.
But by that time the phone stopped vibrating effectively removing itself from the equation. Armaan smirked at that, "No call!! Now you have to come with me.."
"No Armaan.. You didn't take that call.. Now I'm not coming with you..", she frowned as she tried to get away while he still held her tight by her waist.
"That's not fair Basket..", he has started to protest when luckily or unluckily his phone started to vibrate again. He groaned in frustration at that while Riddhima smirked in triumph, "Stop being such a baby Armaan.. Take that call! It could be an emergency..", she tried to convince him. So very very reluctantly he got the phone out of his pocket, but didn't let her go.
"Armaan.. Take it before it gets cut again!", she scolded him as he kept frowning at her with the buzzing phone in his hand. When he refused to budge, she pulled the phone out of his grip to look at the caller. And the moment she did that, hell broke loose. Her jaw clenched, her eyes shot fire as she glared at the display of his phone.
Armaan wondered what made Riddhima so stiff all of a sudden in his arms and didn't like the expression on her face at all. He peeped to see who had brought this effect on her. He didn't need another explanation when he saw what was flashing on the screen of his buzzing phone, 'Payal calling...'
He gulped as Riddhima turned her glare from his phone to him, looking almost like she was going to throw his phone down in her mad rage. He didn't know what she was going to do now, but one thing he knew was decided for sure. Whether he takes that call or not, Riddhima wasn't going to run away with him.. Not now, not ever in her life!
Padma mom and nani were watching their favorite soap on television as they waited for Riddhima and Armaan to come home for dinner. Dr. Shashank had just left for Pune a couple of hours back and was going to be absent for dinner tonight. Anjali and Atul had plans of their own and weren't going to join them either. In such a situation they decided to wait for Riddhima and Armaan, instead of having dinner on their own, hoping that the two of them would bring in some cheer and noise to the unusually quiet and lonesome house tonight. And their wish did indeed come true. Coz even if they didn't bring the cheer, they definitely had brought in the noise!! Padma mom rushed to the door as she heard her daughter's angry voice blast through the quiet night periodically interrupted by loud growling and equally angry "I don't know!!"s and "How am I supposed to know??"s from Armaan! So much, that nani actually switched off the television and walked to the window behind it, replacing her favorite drama with the live one that was playing at the front porch.
"What do mean by you don't know Armaan!!! Why does she have to call you so late in the night??", Riddhima just reworded the question that she had already asked in a hundred different ways ever since Armaan's good-for-nothing intern had had the misfortune of calling him at a time when he not only was with her nemesis and his fiancee but also when he was almost about to convince his beloved to spend the night with him.. That of course in the most prudish of terms!! Uss bechare ki aisi kismat kahan?!! But the situation he was in he would gladly accept even if Riddhima offered to sit one foot away from him and just talk all night! Unfortunately, his stars seemed to have some kind of a tiff with him. Coz ever since they had been called upon to decide the date of his wedding, he had been consistently fighting with Riddhima. And considering his ever increasing temper at the way she was screaming at him for something he wasn't at fault for, he knew this was becoming another addition to that list of arguments that he had had with her in the last three or four days.
"How many times should I tell you Riddhima!! I DON'T KNOW!!! How difficult is that to understand!! Aur tumhe yehi pata karna tha toh why didn't you just take the call and ask her yourself!! Bechari ka call cut karne ke liye maine nahi kaha tha tumhe!", he shouted back at her, matching her tone and volume.
"Of course!!.. Of course!!!.."
"Of course Of course kya!! Ho gayi bolti band??!!"
"Bolti toh main tumhari band karti hoon.. You moron!! You asshole!! Even after all this, the only thing you can think of is that I should have taken her call.. 'Bechari ka call cut nahi karna chahiye tha!!'..", she mimicked him mockingly, "Bechari my foot!!!"
"Riddhima I don't understand.. Tum bina wajah uspar kyun itna gussa kar rahi ho.. Stop over reacting.. She's just an intern damn it!! I don't even know her well enough!!"
"Yeah!! And still you let her decide the guest list of the party that you are throwing!! And guess what! She doesn't even bother writing my name in it.."
Armaan's face contorted painful exasperation at that accusation from her, "She wasn't making that kind of a guest list Riddhima.. She was just.. Oh god!! Why am I even bothering with explanations.. Tumne toh decide kar liya hai na.. To hate her.. Anything I say is not going to make a difference.."
"Of course!! Now I am to be blamed.. You run out of arguments to defend her toh dalo mujhpar sara ilzaam.."
"Main tumpar koi ilzaam nahi daal raha hoon.. Don't use these high fundo hindi words on me..", he shouted back, putting forth the crudest of defenses if you could even call it one!
"FYI.. It's not hindi! It's Urdu!!", she corrected him, still shouting at the top of her voice!
"So.. What am I supposed to do??..", he angrily countered, running a frustrated hand through his hair.
"Don't do anything!! Just go and call your Dr. Payal! Maybe she wants to ask you whether it's okay if she leaves me out of the invitation list!"
"Riddhima please will you let that go! And anyway.. Tum party mein aa kahan rahi ho? Dopahar mein kya keh ke gayi thi.. 'I won't come to your stupid party even if you invite me!!' Toh now what's your problem?", he asked her sarcastically. He had had enough of her unreasonable arguments now! He could fight back, even if it meant using her hatred for that Payal against her!
"Of course! That's what you want right!! Ki main party mein na aaun! That's why you kept me completely out of it from the beginning! Very smart Mallik.. But now toh I'll pakka come.. Whether you and your Payal invite me or not!", she declared stubbornly.
"Have you lost it Riddhima!! Why would I not want you to come to my party!! Fine!! Agar tumhe aisa lagta hai toh wahi sahi! And I really don't care if you come or not.. I have other friends and of course my Dr. Payal for company.. ", he countered, unable to believe the kind of accusations that he was being charged with! If she could get ridiculous, so could he!!
"You!! You.. I'll kill you.. And I'll kill her I swear!! "
"Why!! What the hell has she done! She's just trying to help me!! Tumne toh help karne se saaf mana kar diya!!"
"Main kyun tumhe help karun Armaan!! Woh hain na tumhari help karne ke liye.. I'm sure uss stupid party ke baare mein discuss karne ke liye hi phone kiya hoga.. Maybe she cant decide what dress to wear.."
A sudden realization dawned on Armaan as he heard that ridiculous suggestion of hers, "Oh crap.. You're right.. She had told me she'll call me later to decide.."
"WHAT!!! Are you freakin kidding me!!!", she didn't even let him finish his sentence at the very idea of him agreeing with her on what she had said!
Armaan's eyes widened in horror at her over reaction, "Let me complete the damn sentence Riddhima!! She had said she'll call me to decide what menu I want for the party!!"
But if he thought that explanation was going help him reason with her, he couldn't have been more wrong. Coz fresh wave of flaring fury burned in her eyes as that information reached her ears, "Menu?.. As in khane ka menu???", she asked angrily only to hear his equally angry, "Nahi.. Nahane ka menu!!"
"Armaan!!!!"
"Basket!!!"
"Tum uske saath menu discuss karoge?!! Uske saath?? How could you!!"
"What! Are you serious?.. She offered me help with some caterer she knows.. At least she offered her help.. Tum toh mujhpar chilla kar nikal gayi.."
"Coz I thought tum apni galti mankar mujhse maafi mangoge.. But no!! You toh screamed back at me.. Upar se you insulted papa!! Did you really expect me to offer you help with a party that you didn't even bother inviting me to!"
"Riddhima.. I did not invite anybody okay.. It was a damned collective decision!! And you were too busy to talk to me that day.. Besides your papa was poking his extra long nose in MY personal matter!!"
"Stop insulting papa Armaan!! And whatever he does.. It does not mean you go behind my back and invite that Payal to your party! You know I don't like her.. Phir bhi usse invite kiya.. Invite karna toh chodo.. Tumne usse Menu decide karne diya?!!!"
"Haan!! Aur music ki arrangement bhi wahi kar rahi hai!! Toh kya kar logi tum!!"
"Main.. Main.. Main.. Main tumse kabhi baat nahi karungi!! Aur tumhari sadi hui party mein toh kabhi nahi aanewaali!! That's it! Don't even try to talk to me after today..", she declared, stomping her foot as she crossed her hands angrily across her front, her glare piercing, her breath a fiery flare.
But Armaan was far from getting scared of her dramatic threats, "Fine! But please tell me tum ultimately aa rahi ho ya nahi.. Pehle keh rahi thi you'll come even without an invitation.. Ab keh rahi ho kabhi nahi aaungi.. Kya pata kal phir decision change ho jaaye.. Coz I need to know in advance to keep a tighter security in case you decide to crash my party..", he coolly told her, giving her a wicked smirk..
"You.. You!!.. I.. I hate you!!!", she declared pointing an angry finger at him to which he returned a ice cold glare and a curt, "The feeling's mutual!!"
Riddhima could have strangled him at that moment as she glowered angrily at him. But before she could take any such action Padma mom's angry voice cut their ridiculously foolish argument short, "Armaan.. Riddhima.. Enough!! What is wrong with the two of you.. Ghar ke bahar iss tarah khade hokar koi ladta hai kya? Who bhi itni zor zor se!! Get in right now!!! Both of you!!", she seethed, ordering them to get inside immediately! She had listened to their conversation from behind the door, not wanting to interfere in their personal argument, in the hope that they would sort it out soon and end it. But their bickering just went from bad to worse with every argument they made. When it got too much for her to take she decided it was time to take things under her control. If they were going to behave like small children, then she would have to treat them likewise!!
Armaan and Riddhima, taken aback a little by being yelled at like school kids, hung their head in shame and walked quickly towards the door and inside the house.
Once they were in, Armaan decided to apologize to his Padma mom, "Sorry Padma mom.. But aaki beti puri tarah se pagal ho gayi hai.. She's fighting with me for no reason!!", he tried to justify his juvenile behavior.
Did he really think Riddhima was going to stay shut! "You liar.. You.. Mamma.. He's kept a party for new years and forgot to tell me about it! Isn't that reason enough!!", she complained to her mom, justifying her childish reactions.
"No Padma mom.. She's angry with me coz my intern apparently is trying to trick me into falling for her! And she actually believes I'll fall for it!", Armaan stated mockingly, giving her a challenging glare.
But Riddhima had a more than fitting reply to that, "Mamma he insulted papa!!" , she sang her complaint as she tattletaled on Armaan who defended himself at once, "I did not insult him Padma mom.. I merely requested him to not interfere in my personal matters!! Basket.. Don't lie okay.."
"I'm lying?? Did you call papa's nose extra large!! Mamma.. Ask him!!"
"I don't need to.. I heard all that while you were busy shouting at each other!", Padma mom interfered again before they could go on with the argument, not to mention insult her husband and his nose more than they had already done!
Armaan bit his tongue, wincing as he heard Padma mom's cold interruption, "Woh.. Padma mom.. Sorry.. Woh main.. Gusse mein tha.. But I said 'extra long' not 'large'.."
And Riddhima lost it again at that comment of his, "How dare you Armaan!! And how shameless is that! You're actually correcting me on that one!"
"Yes I was! And I will!! If I am yelled at and blamed for things I haven't said or done!!"
"You know what!! I don't want to see your face!! Just get lost!!!"
And that was it for Padma mom! She couldn't believe the two of them! She would have to set them straight now, "That's enough Riddhima!!! Kya ho raha hai yeh sab!! Tum dono bacche ho kya? Arre bacche bhi aise nahi ladte! What is wrong with the two of you? Shaadi hone waali hai tum dono ki! And in fact I've noticed, jab se shaadi ki date decide hui hai tabse roz roz koi na koi ladayi hoti hai tum dono ki.."
"But mamma.."
"Don't!! Don't interrupt me! Chup chap dono haath muh dhokar khaana khalo.. Phir insaano ki tarah baat karke apne problems solve karo.. ", she sternly gave her final decision as she glared them down threateningly.
They stood there looking at the floor unable to meet their eyes with her. But even as they were being yelled at they were shamelessly shooting angry glares at each other through the corner of their eyes!
"Padma mom.. Main khaana khaane nahi rukne waala.. Main bas Riddhima ko drop karne aaya tha..", Armaan informed her softly but firmly, not wanting to spend another moment where Riddhima and her father could gang up against him and get the better of him!
But Riddhima wasn't keen on having him around either, "Toh kar diya na drop.. Aur kitna drop karoge.. Jao..", she pointed at the door rudely only to be reprimanded by her mom, "Riddhima!!"
"Mamma.. Just look at that attitude! Nahi khaana hai toh let him go to hell!!.."
"Riddhima!!", Padma mom gave her scolding glare. But none of them cared even about her as Armaan seethed, "Tum na.. bhaad mein jaao!!"
"Armaan!!" , she scolded him this time.. What was wrong with them!
But it fell on deaf ears again as Riddhima shouted a, "Tum jahanum mein jao!!", which confused Armaan a little, but didn't do anything cool his temper , "Tum jao.. Jaha.. Waha.. Jo bhi hai udhar.. And What's with this new fad of using urdu words yaar! Samajh mein nahi aata.."
"That's the whole point! And BTW.. This one's Arabic!!"
"ENOUGH!!! And this is my last warning!! Koi kahin nahi jaayega!!", Padma mom raised her voice above the both of them. And this time she seemed really angry. Angry enough to scare them into shutting their traps.
"But Padma mom!", Armaan tried to protest against that declaration of her after a long tensed pause.
But she wasn't in a state to hear them out. She had had enough!, "No Armaan!! Tum bhi kahin nahi jaa rahe.. Not till both of you solve your problems.. Chahe tumhe saari raat hi yahan kyun na rehna pade! Is that clear?", she asked him strictly almost forcing him to nod in a defeated yes.
But this wasn't exactly what Riddhima wanted, "Mamma please don't interfere in our matter.. Yeh yahan ruke ya na ruke, main iss se koi baat nahi karne waali..", she declared defiantly.
"Riddhima don't talk to Padma mom like that just coz your angry with me!", Armaan came to the defense of his Padma mom at once when he heard Riddhima's rude tone.
"You stay out of this Armaan!! She's my mamma!", she asserted angrily only to be reprimanded by the one she was claiming to herself, "Riddhima!! Stop misbehaving!!! I want you to go wash up and come down to the dining table in exactly five minutes.. Aur kucch nahi sunna hai mujhe!", she ordered her rarely rebellious daughter who just huffed away to her room.
Armaan, who was left in the doorway with her, tried to butter her up with his apologies, "Padma mom.. Sorry.. Woh..", but she didn't give him much of a chance, "Save it Armaan.. Maine kaha na mujhe kucch nahi sunna hai.. Jao fresh ho jao.. Main khana laga rahi hoon!", and with a finality in her voice as in her decision, she left for the kitchen, giving him no choice but to find the nearest washroom to freshen up before dinner.
"Padma.. Beta mujhe bohot bhook lagi hain.. Ab mujhse nahi raha jaata..", Nani exclaimed in a very bechara voice, breaking the tensed silence that had enveloped all of them for the last fifteen minutes. Armaan and Riddhima had obeyed Padma mom and freshened up alright. But when Riddhima refused to have dinner under the pretext of being unwell, an argument had broken out again. Padma mom had gotten extremely pissed at the two of them not knowing what would make them stop fighting. At least you could punish kids when they misbehaved. But these two didn't get threatened by anything at all. Ultimately, Armaan had also refused to eat dinner saying "Meri bhook mar gayi hai..". And though she had managed to shut them up from screaming at each other, she had not been able to change their mind about having dinner. So they sat at the dining table staring at the food in front of them, not talking to each other at all. Nani who had witnessed their entire fight from the sidelines couldn't take the tension anymore as she tried to lighten the situation. She knew emotional blackmail was the only way she was going to get them to have dinner tonight. And her daughter understood exactly what she was doing as she played along, "Haan ma.. Bhook toh mujhe bhi lag rahi hai.. Maine toh subah se kucch nahi khaya hai.. Lekin jab tak yeh dono nahi khate hum kaise kha sakte hain.. ", she faked some drama, looking expectantly at Riddhima and Armaan, hoping at least one of them would take their bait.
Riddhima who was used to the tricks of her nani and her mom didn't buy their drama at all. They had used it on her since she was a baby to trick her into eating when she refused to do so. Armaan however, nave to this whole concept, immediately expressed his concern, "Kya.. Nani.. Padma mom.. Aapne ab tak khaana nahi khaya?.. Aap dono please khana kha lijiye.. ", he requested them in a worried voice, while they probably mentally high-fived each other for trapping the bakra, "Nahi Armaan.. Jab tak tum khaana nahi khaoge, hum bhi nahi khyaene.. Hum toh tum dono ka hi intezaar kar rahe the.. Aaj toh Shashank bhi Poona gaya hua hai.. Anjali aur Atul bhi nahi hai.. Aise mein khane ki iccha hi nahi hoti.. Par bhook toh lag hi jaati hai na..", Nani presented her sob story while Padma mom stifled a giggle and Riddhima rolled her eyes as she watched Armaan fall neatly into the trap, "Nani please.. Aisi zidd mat kariye.. Aapko dawayi bhi toh leni hoti hai.. In fact apko time pe khana chahiye.. Please iss tarah humara wait karne ki zaroorat nahi hai.."
"Nahi Armaan.. Ab maine itna intezaar kiya hai, toh main tum dono ke saath hi khaungi.. ", she declared.
"Haan.. Main bhi.. Armaan at least tu hi humari baat manle..", Padma mom supported nani knowing very well that he was a soft target. And she was also sure that he wouldn't eat unless Riddhima ate her dinner, making this a win win situation for super brilliant idea.
And as expected Armaan was in a turmoil. What was he supposed to do? He couldn't eat coz Riddhima wasn't eating.. And if he didn't eat then Padma mom and nani would remain hungry!
"Riddhima.. I think hume khana chahiye.. ", he suggested hopefully. But she disregarded his request almost as soon as he had made it, "Tumhe khana hai toh khao Armaan.. Don't count me in.."
So he turned to his Padma mom, hoping at least she'll understand, "Padma mom please.. Aap aur nani khana kha lijiye na.. Please.. "
"Tum nahi khaoge toh hum bhi bhooke reh lenge..", came her crisp and firm reply with a tinge of fake disappointment in it.
Armaan sighed in defeat as he looked at the three women sitting at the dining table, each more stubborn than the other. Cursing his luck under his breath, he shot a warily look at them, wishing at least someone would cooperate with him. Having left no choice, he took the plate full of food that he had pushed away a few minutes ago and stared at it, wondering how he should solve the problem. And that's when it struck him. Taking a morsel he put it forward towards nani first beckoning her to eat it. When she refused as expected, he shot forth his condition, "Nani jab tak aap aur Padma mom nahi khati main nahi khaunga.. So please..", he requested, reversing the equation completely.
Nani sighed as she smiled at him and ate without another argument. Riddhima couldn't help but let out a smile as she saw Armaan feeding her nani with so much love and concern. He was undoubtedly adorable. In that fashion he blackmailed her mom to start eating as well, winning her heart over. But what touched her most was that after convincing her mom, he came to her, forwarding a morsel of the chapati dipped in daal, "Same goes for you Basket.. Now don't argue.. Just shut up and eat.. Warna hum saari raat issi dining table par baithe rahenge.."
She rolled her eyes at what he said, frowning at how he was ordering her to eat. Couldn't he have requested her sweetly like he did to her mom and nani! Why did he have to boss her around like that! Almost instantly all the love and affection she felt for him vanished to be taken over by her ego as she slapped his hand away and started eating from her own plate, "Main khud kha sakti hoon.. You don't have to put it in my mouth!", she told him curtly as he shook his head in defeat at her attitude. But at least she had started eating. That meant he could eat too. Coz even if he had claimed otherwise, he was really dying to attack the food ever since Padma mom had laid it on the table.. All the shouting and screaming had made him ravenous!! Nani and Padma mom were left smiling to themselves as they watched the two of them gobble down their food hungrily, leaving the plates wiped clean within five minutes flat!
"Padma mom main ghar jaun?", Armaan took her permission to leave after all of them had finished having their dinner. He hoped she wasn't serious about her decision of not letting him go till he sorts out his problems with Riddhima. But as it turned out, she was pretty serious about it, "No Armaan.. Maine kahan na.. Not until you talk to Riddhima and sort everything out. I don't want this fighting to become an everyday routine.."
"But she doesn't want to talk to me Padma mom.. What's the point of me waiting..", he reasoned with her. And it was quite a reasonable argument to considering Riddhima had gone off to her room immediately after dinner and was in no sort of a mood to talk to anyone, let alone him of all the people!
But Padma mom wasn't going to listen to all that, "No Armaan.. Tum dono ko jo karna hai woh karo.. But this is my final decision.. I don't believe I'm saying this, but don't make me lock the two of you up in a room!"
"But.. ", he had started to protest, but thought better of it, "Fine.. Where do I sleep?", he asked her right away. He knew there was no point in talking to Riddhima right now. It would only lead to another mindless argument. And the pounding in his head was a clear indication that those foolishly ridiculous fights were not going to be appreciated. Not at this time of the night.
"You don't have to sleep Armaan. What is wrong with you.. Go talk to her.."
"Agar usse baat karni hogi toh who khud aa jayegi. I'm not going to talk to her first..not this time.. ", he stubbornly refuted her and dropped himself on the couch, leaning back as he shut his tired eyes to give them some relief.
"Bhai tum dono ko jo karna hai wo karo.. Main toh sone ja rahi hoon..", nani declared as she got up to leave, "Aur Padma beta.. Meri maano toh tum bhi so jao.. Thodi der shaanti se baithne do inhe.. Khud hi gussa thanda ho jayega.. " , she gave her expert opinion to her daughter.
"Aap theek keh rahi hai ma.. Mujhe bhi neend aa rahi hai..", she agreed with nani and got up to leave too, "Armaan agar baat karne mein bohot late ho jaye toh tum guest room mein so jaana.. Good night..", and with that she and nani left for their respective rooms.
Armaan just sat there, slumped on the couch, eyes still closed, wondering why he was putting up with all this. He just wanted to sleep peacefully for some time. He needed to relax his frustrated mind and overworked vocal chords. What would he give to just snuggle up in his bed right now and slip into a temporary coma where nothing that happened in this world could reach him! Just like the times he slept in Riddhima's arms. Her fragrance, her warmth, her very being zonked him out taking him to another world altogether. A world where there was just peace and love and of course the two of them. He sighed as he wished he could have that tonight. But almost immediately he brushed that thought away. NO! He was supposed to be angry with her!! And besides that, after all those threats she had made earlier, she wasn't going to let him anywhere near her. At least not tonight!! And if she could sleep in peace without him, then it wasn't going to affect him either!! He could do without her. With such overtly conflicting thoughts in his head he slowly slipped into a slumber on the couch itself, the long tiresome day, taking its toll on him, physically and emotionally.
However, not long after he had gone into the subconscious, his conscious prodded him awake. Or was it someone's elbow digging into his ribs! He slowly opened his eyes, wondering what was going on only to find himself drowned in a pitch black darkness. He pulled himself up immediately wondering where he was as he realized he wasn't on the couch in the living room anymore and was lying flat on something that most definitely was a bed! But as soon as he sat up, he heard a loud groan from a very familiar voice as he felt a weight lift of his chest.. Like literally!!
"Basket?!!", he half questioned, half exclaimed as he felt her sit up next to him.
"You idiot!! ", he heard her angry hiss while he looked for his phone in his pocket so he could throw some light on her.. Literally!!
But he failed to find his phone in his pocket.. "Where's my damn phone?", he asked in a frustrated tone as he checked his other pocket.
"It's on the side table you ass!! I had to remove it coz it hurts when you turn and put all your weight on me!!", he heard her snap back at him and then give him a tight rap on the back of his head.
"Why are you hitting me!! And where are we? Main yahan kaise aaya?..", he asked her angrily, still blinded by the darkness and ignorant to his surroundings.
"I'm hitting you coz you're a moron and a jerk and such a Khumbkaran!! Only I know how I dragged your fat ass into the guest room!", she tried to keep her voice down, but couldn't help but raise her voice as she recollected how she had managed to shift him there from the living room.. She had had trouble sleeping in her room, partly coz she was still fuming and bothered by the fight she had with him and partly coz the memory of the eve teasing episode was disturbing her peace of mind. This was the first time she had been in such a situation and as much as she tried to play it down, it had left her in a trauma. So she had tried diverting her attention to Armaan, wondering if he had actually listened to her mom and decided to stay back. Coz she knew, the only way she was going to get sleep tonight was in the security of his arms. So she decided to go down and check only to find him sprawled uncomfortably on the couch. She had tried to wake him up for a long time. But he was in such a deep slumber that she had to finally drag him all the way into the guest room. She couldn't believe he slept through all that and didn't even get up when she had mercilessly dumped him on the bed, cursing him for being so heavy! She had probably never called him a fat ass before today. At least not the number of times she had called him that today! But the good part about it was that at least she could take advantage of his non-consciousness and sleep. She wasn't sure he would allow her near him if he would have been awake. But her luck wasn't that good! Just as she was making herself comfortable in his warmth, snuggling into him after switching of the lights, he had woken up all of a sudden! Well there was a possibility that she elbowed him by mistake while trying to find her most comfortable spot in his embrace! But she was going to ignore that for all purposes that concerned being angry with him.
While Riddhima was busy cursing him for disturbing her peaceful sleep inspite of it being the other way round, Armaan was shocked at the fact he had actually ambulated from one room to another and not even realized it! But then, on second thoughts, he had been dreaming about Riddhima kidnapping him in his sleep! So it wasn't a dream after all! No wonder it felt so real!! But that still didn't explain why she had taken the trouble of shifting him to the room.. And it absolutely did not explain why she had been sprawled over him when he woke up!! He watched Riddhima's mouth go jabber jabber as she kept hurling curses at him and his mistiming as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He could see her frowning and the glare in her eyes even in the dark. Even her dark silhouette and the most unromantic of her words had him mesmerized. Or maybe he was just dazed due to the sleep? Was he still dreaming? Coz it was hard for him to believe she was on the same bed as he was..
"Armaan Mallik!! Ab kya baithe baithe so gaye??!!! Like seriously.. Tum toh Khumbhkaran se bhi gaye gusre ho!!", and she hit his shoulder hard, bringing him out of his daze.
"Oww!! Riddhima are you crazy??!!! And what is all this? Why am I in the guest room?", he asked her, rubbing his shoulder where she had hit him. That's when he realized.. And his eyes widened in shock at the realization.. he wasn't wearing a shirt!!
"Where the hell is my shirt!!!", he exclaimed out loud, "Riddhima what are you doing with me?!!!"
"Shut up Armaan! I am not doing anything! Tum uncomfortable the.. That is why I took it off.. Ek toh help karo.. Upar se naatak!!", she shouted back as Armaan's hands went down to check if at least he had his pants on! The feel of his rough washed denims had never felt this good before. Thank god there were where they should be!!
"Now will you please let me sleep!!", her frustrated question snapped him out of his thoughts again. And before he could process that question, he felt himself being pushed down as she crawled on him, laying her head softly on his chest.
And his arms automatically went around her waist pulling her tighter onto him as he felt her warm breath caress his skin, "I'm still mad at you for being mad at me for no reason..", he informed her, slipping his hand under her night-shirt as he caressed her back lovingly.
"So.. Even I'm still mad at you for insulting me and my papa!", she whispered back angrily.
"I did not insult you! You assumed that! And as far as your papa is concerned.. He deserves it!!", he countered only to make her slap him tight on his waist, "Maar khaoge Armaan!!", she threatened him angrily!
"Mujhe bhi maarna aata hai..", he retorted, rapping her back lightly with the hand that had access to her skin under it..
"How dare you hit me Armaan!!"
"How dare you take off my shirt Riddhima!!"
"Shut up Armaan!!"
"You shut up Riddhima!!"
"You shut up!"
"You shut up!!"
"Aaargh!! I hate you Armaan!!"
"I hate you too Riddhima!"
"I hate you more.."
"I hate you more than more.."
"I hate you more than more than more.."
"I hate you more than more than more than more.."
"I hate you more than more than more than more than more.."...
Cricket
Book Talk
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