Sleeping with the Enemy- new thread link pg1 - Page 30

She sighed fighting tears. "Where do I start?" She spoke in English as opposed to their fun and ever sweet Bangla. He looked at her knowing something was definitely amiss. "What happened that's changed everything so much? How are you feeling? What are your feelings? Your worries?" He wiped a tear off her face.

"What's the difference between love and responsibility?" He looked at her not knowing the underlying depth to this question. "Everything was going so great. At first I was so worried kyun ki Armaan and I never got along. But he proved me wrong. He was always there for me. My every small need and desire was fulfilled even before I said anything! He always knew everything about me; as they say your enemy knows you better than anyone else. He spent every waking with me. It felt like we were a small family. My fears of how we would raise a child together were gone. I started to dream about raising our baby together, how we would argue over her first word, and it would probably end up being papa, not mama. How we would teach her how to walk, to play basketball, how we would cuddle with her, take her out, throw her parties, buy her presents. I would try and discipline her, but he would always spoil her. I don't know when I started to think like this, it just happened. Then at our last doctors appointment, Abhi called. It brought up some confused and hurt emotions in me and I wasn't sure what to do. That led to me saying some hurtful things to Armaan ' like how he wouldn't understand what I was feeling because he had never been in love. I didn't meant it. I just, I don't know. But he was so hurt. He just left me at my parents house and disappeared. That's when it all started to go down. He was gone for hours. I was so worried. I had no idea where he was for so long. Then finally someone answered his phone, but it wasn;t him. It was a girl ' Shilpa. Armaan had been with her the whole time. She said he left his phone there. Apparently they had a great time that night. He came to pick me up with a lipstick stain on his cheek. I don't know why but it hurt seeing that so much. Then well slowly he started distancing himself from me. He spends more time with Shilpa then with me. I feel like I'm losing him, WE"RE losing him. What if he decides he doesn't want to be apart of this anymore? What if he leaves me and our baby? What if he loves her?"

Riddhima ended in a whisper. Arjun Chatterjee was quiet for a while. "What if he loves her, marries her, has children with her, but still acknowledges your child together, still takes care of the baby and fulfils his duties? He will still be doing his duty right?" He looked at her intently trying to gauze her reaction to his question. She could feel him analyzing her every move, but she didn't mind. He was a psychology professor after all, he would try to understand the full situation then give his input based on that. He wouldn't just give a useless oh well or get over it. That's what she liked so much about him.

She hadn't thought that far herself. She never thought about the fact that he might actually marry elsewhere and leave them. What would she do then? "Pata nahin, I'I never thought about that. I don't'I don't think I could survive'I'" Mr. Chatterjee put his hand over hers, "shhh, relax, calm down. I didn't raise the question so you would stress out more and potentially harm the baby. He isn't going anywhere yet okay? Riddhima I want to know something honestly, is it just the baby you are worried about or'" He trailed off letting her finish the sentence herself. She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Toh what is the deeper issue here?" A tear escaped her eyes as she thought of his face. "I've fallen in love with him'"

Mr. Chatterjee nodded as if he knew this all along. She supposed he did, after all that's what he did. He analyzed people and gauzed their emotions and feelings. "Aapko pata tha?" He looked unsure for a moment then spoke with confidence. She noticed this brief gap of confidence and knew she didn't' know the full picture as he did. This made her nervous. "haan, I could see you getting closer and closer to him over these few monthes. I could see how you began relying on him for things you could do on your own. You always sought his approval. His small opinions seemed to matter more to you. You tried to hold his hand whenever possible, trying to make it seem as if you are nervous or scared, but I could see you just wanted hold his hand. Being with him, holding on to him, it seems to give you a sort of confidence and assurance. You smile when he does unknowingly. I could see you fall in love."

She paused for a moment realizing that was all true. But what was he leaving out? "I can tell you aren't telling me all you've picked up." He slightly laughed. "Well yes, I guess that's why you and Armaan our my best students huh?" She looked at him waiting for him to get to the point. He sighed and continued. "Well he seems to be uncertain about something, confused almost. At first he was purely and utterly happy regarding the baby, but overtime something has changed. He is still happy about the baby ' and possessive may I add, but he is sensing your growing attachment to him, and he seems to want to break it for some reason. This attachment doesn't seem to agree with something in his mind. He seems to be at war with something in his mind. Now the brilliant student that he is, he's trying to mask his emotions and what's going on in there. He is using every counter method he can come up with making this more difficult. But I don't understand why."

Riddhima looked at him trying to make sense of what he had just said. "Toh it's possible ki this Shilpa ' he really does love her? He really wants to be with her not me?" She watched him sigh not sure of what to say the first time all afternoon. "I wouldn't jump to any conclusions yet, but yes it is possible. But it doesn't make sense, I had always thought he liked you in that sense, but now' Armaan Mallik is one complicated guy." He looked at her serious face, "what no smile at that last line? Come one I said it in a creepy voice and everything! I deserve a slight smile at least okay!" She tried to laugh at his pleas for a smile, but couldn't find it in her.

"Can you help me with something? I..I need some time away from Armaan to clear my mind. Can you help me get some of my things from our place to my parents place?" He looked at her confused, then realized she wasn't looking at him, but at the window behind him. He followed her gaze and spotted Armaan laughing and smiling while twirling a girl around in his arms. She looked like she was around Riddhima's age, maybe a year or two younger.

He nodded then helped her out to his car. She watched as he smiled hugging that girl. She began to cry silently as he didn't even turn and notice her. She had felt his presence nearby, that's why she noticed him, but could he not tell when she was around? Did he really not feel anything for her? Not in the slightest?

---

Riddhima sat in her parents house as Mr. Chatterjee helped her dad take her suitcases to her room. "Riddhima beta? What's going on?" Riddhima tried to smile, but couldn't fake it in front of her mom. "Nothing, mama, I just'I really missed you and papa. I know ki yeh baacha is both armaan and mine so I should let him be near me during the pregnancy, but I just really wanted to come home. I'I miss you guys." Padma nodded and hugged her daughter. "Shh, we missed you too beta. Ab shant ho jao, it's okay. Ab batao, does Armaan know about you coming home?" Riddhima shook her head. "Nahin'Woh..he was out with someone toh I didn't tell him'." Padma nodded realizing something was indeed wrong.

Mr. Chatterjee came down and hugged Padma and Shashank. 'Bye Mama, bye Mami. And Riddhima, don't worry. I promise everything will be okay. I gotta run now warna tumhara behen will kill me!" Riddhima nodded thanking her teacher, cum cousin in law bye. Yes, Arjun Chatterjee was her cousin's husband from her dad's side, but they chose not to share that in school. They maintained a strict teacher student relation throughout her college years, but at those few moments, the brotherly part of him came out.

Shashank sat down and hugged Riddhima welcoming her home. "Don't worry, we'll call Armaan and let him know okay?" Riddhima nodded.

Padma held Riddhima's hand. "Remember Sid? Woh larka jo tumse shaadi karma chaati thi? He's back from America. He heard about your situation with Armaan, and how you are pregnant. He came to see us yesterday. He still wants to marry you. Just as soon as your exams finish." Riddhima looked at her mother shocked. Why would any man want to marry her now, while she was pregnant with another man's child? "Mama, I need some time to think about it."

--

Riddhima watched as Armaan stormed into her parents house. "Riddhima ' YOU JUST LEFT? WITHOUT EVEN INFORMING ME?" Riddhima looked at Armaan not knowing what to say. "woh I was really missing mama, papa aur'I'm sorry'" Armaan ran his hand through his head. He spoke in a calmer voice, "Basket, dekho aisa nahin karte okay? You should have at least talked to me first na? Ab chalo, let's go home. I promise you can come visit uncle and aunty whenever you want." Riddhima shook her head. "Nahin, Armaan. I want to stay here." Armaan looked at her shocked. "Kya? Dehko, can we go talk in your room alone? Please?" Riddhima nodded and followed Armaan to her old bedroom.

"Waise congrats Armaan." He looked at her confused, "on what?" She tried her best to smile, "woh not that you told me, but you're in love with Shilpa na?" Armaan nearly fell off his bed. "KYA? Why would I be in love with my cousin?" Riddhima looked at him confused. "cousin? Then who were you hugging today?" Armaan looked at her confused, how had she seen him? "I was hugging shilpa, but only because Karan accepted her proposal. She asked him to marry her, actually she was scared to do it, par I told her to go for it as Karan is such a duffer he'd take too long! Par how did you see us?" Riddhima gulped. "uh I was at the ice cream shop with Mr. chatterjee talking about exam schedules and stuff ' woh I have to take them a month early na?" He nodded wondering if there was more to it or not.

"Riddhima please come home." She shook her head. "Nahin, I can't." He looked at her, "par KYUN?" She sighed. "Armaan if I say ki I've fallen in love with you what will you say?" Armaan looked at her shocked. Silence took over the room for a few minutes. "I'd say you're mistaking the need for your baby's father for love. It's common to mistake emotions in pregnancy." She looked at him trying to convince her. "Aur if I say you are wrong?" he sighed, "I'd say ki you aren't realized, but I'm right. It's not love Riddhima. Maybe you're right, maybe we should take a break from each other for a few days."

Riddhima nodded and watched as he left her room. Making up her mind she went down stairs to her mom. "Mama, I'm ready to marry Sid."

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Two more weeks passed by. Armaan had started to distance himself from Riddhima. She tried to be brave in school and in front of everyone, hoping for him to realize her love was real or for her love to die down. Either way, there was no hope left for them. She had said yes to marrying Sid. He was getting ready for the arrangements. They were to be married just after her final exam. She didn't know how the arrangement would work out with Armaan and the baby. In fact, Armaan had no idea that she was now engaged. She didn't wear the ring to school as she had no answers to the questions that would arise.