|Meant To Be #3|AR|NewThreadLink-Pg1&150| - Page 87

i asked you have your exams finished and you didn't even reply.

i messaged you so many times but you ignored me :(

😭

OMG I JUST GOT THIS NOW :|
stupid FB 😡🤣

okay i gotta go now, but i'll check and reply later 🤣

Part 15 : Two Hearts That Beat As One

Riddhima still held tight to his arm,while her eyes stayed numb and expressionless. She wouldn't have cared if she would stop breathing forever. The words had hit her hard,right through her heart. Her throat had constricted,words were lost. Her mind spinned with dizziness in disbelief. It couldn't be happening. Sid had to be joking. Armaan couldn't leave her. He couldn't do this to her.

"No..",she finally choked out,a single tear gushing down her cheeks,"You're joking..You're..",she trailed off,realizing how fake she sounded even to herself. It was like her whole strength had drained out. She jerked him.
Sid's eyes were moist,and his hands were shivering slightly,holding his cellphone tight in disbelief,in shock,in numbness. The words he had heard had shaken him so much that even the pleas of her beside him was insignificant. It couldn't be.
"Armaan..Is..NO!He Can't be..He Can't be..",he heard her mutter to herself,while her face was pale with horror.
"Riddhima..RIDDHIMA!",he held her shoulders and jerked her,"Riddhima..he had an accident..Someone called from his phone..They said..t-they said-"
"What?What did they say?",her panicked voice asked him,tears still gushing down her face.
"That..That a car's..hit him..in the head,and he's injured badly..they have tried to see..if..he's..Al-Alive..And his breathing is very low...they've carried him to Sanjeevani..he..wanted to inform us..but he isn't sure if he's..gonna survive..he looked as immovable as..a..deadbody.."
"He CAN'T BE DEAD!",her screams turned to sobs,as she held his collar and sak to the ground,"My Armaan..Armaan..he..can't.."

"Riddhima,Riddhima please you Have to be strong..",he pulled her up,while trying to balance himself,"For him.."
He held her as she just stared blankly,her eyes devoid of any emotion. She looked weak,weaker than anything in the whole world,as if she had accepted defeat to herself. Her tears stained her face,and she looked drained and defeated. He knew her well,he knew what was going on in her mind. She was afraid,and so was he. He was her Everything,her life. Even if they weren't together,she was living because of him..breathing because of him. She would kill herself if anything happened to him,he knew. Why was destiny so cruel?
"Armaan..",she said in between snifles,"Sid..We have to,we have to go to him..",she said with sudden panic,"He..will be hurt,Sid.Lets go,I need to see him. Sid,SID..What are you waiting for,SID COME ON!",she pulled him without letting him say anything.

His hands trembled on the steering. The thought of Armaan covered in blood was shaking him so badly that he could not do or say anything..he felt himself to be so scared. No,he couldn't let Armaan die. He couldn't let his best friend suffer for a relation between his lady love and himself..which didn't even exist. He wiped his eyes and started the car with a jerk. She looked as panic-striken as ever. Part of him knew that even she was in a dilemma as to how to react. Maybe all senses had stopped working within her. He had never seen her so weak,so vulnerable before.

The car zoomed across the street. Sanjeevani wasn't really far from Riddhima's house,but they had to cross two big traffic signals to get there. All the other roads were closed that day,due to some procession. His hands moved mechanically,as his heart trembled. What if..what if they couldn't save him?What if they were too late..? On the other hand,she was constantly panicking. Her heart was thumping so hard,and her breath was coming so fast that it was almost choking her. Her words were lost again,and tears didn't stop. She was lost. It couldn't be. Disbelief,fear and panic bound her and she just wanted him. There were thousands of questions in her mind but she wanted to answer none. It was almost as if she could feel Armaan's voice calling out to her.

Glimpses of the accident he had when she came back to Mumbai flashed in her mind. He was covered in blood,his eyes hazzy as he finally managed out her name. Her heart constricted more at the memory. Her hands shaking,she took out the phone,and dialled his number. The number was unavailable. She wanted to bang the phone in a part of the car and run to him. She wanted to hug him and feel his arms around her,telling her he was alright. She couldn't even imagine anything happening to him..especially..him to be..gone,forever. Was this pain not enough,staying away from him? Why was everything happening,so against them? Was destiny trying to tell them,they weren't meant to be,then? She sniffed her tears back as she saw that they had stopped at a traffic signal.

"MOVE,MOVE,MOVE!",she yelled at the cars before them.
Sid held her hand tightly as to assure her,"We'll get there,Riddhima..we'll get there.."
"What if something happens to him in that while,Sid?What if he really..DIES!",she cried and tried to wriggle out of his grip to open the car door.
"What are you doing RIDDHI!"
"I can't..I can't let him,Die,Sid..He's my soul.."
Sid didn't answer. Instead,he pulled her in and banged the car door close. The signal went off green,and he started driving again.His hardened expressions scared her. Had she angered him?
"Sid.."
"What the hell do you think...that only YOU care about him?Is he NOTHING to me!",he said,without looking at her.
"He is my LIFE,Sid..You won't understand,I can't live without him! I have nothing except him..He is..my heartbeat.How can you even compare?You don't know him as well as I do..He.."
"Okay,Enough Riddhima.Its not the time to..Argue.",he said,stopping the discussion.

The car raced,sometimes even crossing the road limit. She cared to less about how he was driving. She would do anything to see Armaan. Literally anything. She didn't care that she was messed up,her eyes were puffy..and her heart was racing like crazy,and she looked like she had just emerged out of a prison or something. She just knew she had to see him. She had to hold him once and feel,that her Armaan wasn't going anywhere..

As soon as Sanjeevani came,she opened the door in a hurry and ran. Ran with her life,without waiting for Sid. Gasping for breath,she asked,"Dr.Armaan..",at the reception. The receptionist told her,"ICU."
She had to run again,her feet felt heavy,as if they couldn't carry her anymore. She herself felt so weak,and so drianed out. Muskaan stood outside the ICU,talking to a nurse. She balanced herself as she reached her.

"Muski.."
"Riddhima?",she asked,stunned. She held her tight as Riddhima gasped for breath.
"How..is...he?"

"Um..",Muskaan glanced inside,unsure,"Not very good..I'm worried yaar. His head injuries are really deep,but I hope he makes it. Gosh,he looked real bad when he was brought here. Anyone would cry out..I was so panicked..Thank God..they brought him here at the right time,otherwise..We don't know..",her voice shivered slightly.
"He has to be okay,Muski..you know..he'll be fine,na?",her voice shook with worry.
"Ridzi do you know this man..I mean..",she hesitated.
"Muskaan I can't believe you're asking me that!",she said,shocked,"How can I not know my life,My Armaan?"
"Armaan?",Muski asked stunned,"Who told you that man is Armaan?Infact..Armaan was the one who brought him here!"

Riddhima's breath hitched as she took in Muskaan's words. A air of relief swept over her as she smiled slightly..but her heart still thudded hard in her chest. She was still in shock and scared,a part of her still wanted to see Armaan.

"Where is he..",she asked breathless.
Muskaan smiled slightly,"Fire Escape.He was a little moved,I think."

She staggered on her steps to the Fire Escape. Nothing else mattered in the world,and the only thing that mattered was him. Armaan was okay. Nothing had happened to him. A part of her was really angry...Angry at him for putting her through all that..for distancing himself from her,and punishing himself in every way possible. Thinking no one cared for him..Didn't he know he was hurting her? The pathway infront of her seemed hazzy,but she pulled herself up and walked. Swinging the door,she saw her life,with his head in his hands,his hair dazzling in the sunlight.

"Armaan..",her voice shook.
"Riddhima?",he asked,shocked. She looked messed up,and a certain flame was there in her eyes..A flame of..anger?
And before he could react further,or answer his own question,her hand came up and slapped him hard across his face.

"I HATE YOU!",she yelled at him. He rubbed his cheek,he hadn't expected her to Slap him. He looked at her in distress. Tears overflowed from her eyes,and Her eyes were Swollen Red,she was literally shivering. Shivering due to...fear?,he asked himself. He almost felt he could reach out and hug her,soothe her. She isn't yours,for God's Sake,he reminded himself harshly.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOURSELF TO BE,MR.ARMAAN MALLIK?",she yelled and let her emotions flow down,her heart racing like his own,"THAT YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT? YOUR LIFE IS YOUR BLOODY OWN AND NO ONE ELSE'S? DO YOU EVEN REALIZE WHAT YOU DID TO ME?", she shook him like crazzy,holding his collar and breathing against him.

She cried in his arms as he stood dumbfounded at her closeness. Her body was shivering and she muttered God know's what as she held him tightly,never to let go. She was acting crazy,suddenly coming into the Sanjeevani Fire Escape and yelling at him,Slapping him,then hugging him tight..It seemed as if she was scared to lose him forever. As if something terrible had happened and she wanted him back.The Question was,What was the matter? And where was Sid? Wasn't she with him?

"Riddhima..",he whispered to the fragile girl holding him tight. She sniffed and looked into his eyes. The moment it happened,he could hardly register what was going on. He just stared into the eyes that held so much love for him that he wanted to look away and hide his tears,wanted to hold her in his arms forever,wanted to sigh her name.

And then,his mind stopped working altogether when suddenly,beyond words,she placed her lips on his.
He was transpired into a different world..as if everything else was just so insignificant,everything else had ceased to exist. His hands wound themselves round her waist automatically and he kissed her back,as she gripped his hairs and pulled him closer if possible. She put all her love for him in that kiss and just lengthened it,and he didn't protest. They were kissing like two people who were away from each other for a long time and were finally meeting.

He pulled out,his heart thumping hard against his chest which rose and fell rapidly due to intake of breath. Tears still swarm in her eyes,and for that second,he knew nothing but that he loved her. She was so beautiful. Still so beautiful. He had never stopped loving her,he-

Cutting off his own thoughts,he pulled himself away from her grip and turned to the other side. What had he just done? Closing his eyes,he reprimanded himself and mentally kicked himself for getting carried away. She was engaged,and they could not be together. That was the truth. She was getting married to his best friend who didn't have a clue about this. And he wouldn't let him know. Damn, it was like backstabbing his own friend. How could he?

"Where were you?",her unsteady voice asked.
"What are you doing here,Riddhima?",he avoided the question and asked her.
She put a hand on his shoulder and pulled him to face her,"I was here to see,whether you were alive..Because evidently,someone called from YOUR phone to say you had an accident and were..were..",she trailed off,and softly said,"Dying..I was So scared,I thought everything was-"
He raised his eyebrows for a second and then after realizing what had happened,he said,"Riddhima.It wasn't my fault. That man in the ICU had an accident with a truck when he avoided my car. I brought him here. My phone must've fallen down somewhere there,and you know..",he said,as she nodded once,and then hugged him again.

"I'd die if anything would happen to you..I swear..",she whispered. He closed his eyes tight once more. No,he couldn't let this happen. He couldn't break the promises he made to himself. No ways. He couldn't let her bother herself about him any more. She was Sid's now.
He pulled her out of his arms,"Does Sid know you're here? Riddhima come on,you're engaged..how will he feel when he comes to know you come here like this..and this.."
It took a moment for Riddhima to answer,because she was shocked out of her wits,she never expected Armaan to ask such a question.
"Sid..is here,sitting outside the ICU. He knows about us,Armaan. He knows everything. And we,are no longer engaged."

"WHAT? Riddhima What did you do!",he shook her.
"What do you mean?",she asked weakly.
"Riddhima how could you tell him everything...Riddhima you don't even know anything about Sid's past..he's never ever dated after that, and you're the first one..That means he moved on,and you broke his heart? Riddhima your Dad wanted you to marry him..and frankly,he was perfect, Sid would keep you so happy,Riddhima..He is a great guy! He must've been broken that I hid this from him..he'll always be guilty around me and stuff..Its because you are behaving so stupid!"
"Stupid,Armaan? Really?You think I don't know about Sid's past? I do know..I know about Megha. I know Sid loved her..and still does. He Did not move on,he was marrying me because his parents wanted him to. I was doing the same...but I always knew Armaan,that I would never ever be happy with him...because I would NEVER love him. I didn't tell him because he'd be hurt..but it turns out,both of us were living a fake life.."
"Riddhima you don't know ANYTHING about Megha. And I'm sure he's lying because-"
"Megha is back.",she said in a sentence and he looked at her shocked.She nodded,"He told me himself. And he was the one to break the engagement..because we both knew,there was NO DAMN FUTURE in this relationship! Armaan why,WHY are you doing this?"

Armaan turned away again,"What am I doing?"
"Keeping yourself away from me, trying your best that I get settled and be happy, try that I don't love you,keeping me aloof from whats happening in your life..why? Just because of my Dad,Armaan? Armaan he's No one..to say who comes and who doesn't in my life!"
"Riddhima you're forgetting that its your father you're talking about. That father,who brought you up,that father who loved you, who knows the best for you..Who stood by you in those times when you needed him,who-"
"Didn't understand my love and thought his reputation was more important and broke my heart?",she completed her own theory,"Armaan which father are you talking about? He isn't my father..7 years,and he still didn't bother to look how I was. How heartbroken I was. That father? Armaan when he didn't understand our love, will he ever understand my happiness?"

"Riddhima Your Dad is the one who sacrified innumerable and unknown happinesses of his own,to fulfil yours. You're doubting him?Riddhima I know we can be together- but I know we can never be happy without the consent of our parents. Riddhima you'll be losing your parents..Those people,who fill up that part of your life that no one else can fill. You don't know how much it hurts..I've gone through it for years..and I won't let you go through that. I've seen it with my own parents,and I won't do the mistake of separating you from your family."
"Armaan I don't need anything if you're with me..Everything will work out,I promise..My Dad will also forgive me..and accept us,but please Armaan,its enough now..I can't bear this fake life any longer."

"Then we can wait more,Riddhima..and if this wait never ends,we'll know we weren't meant to be..but the fact is,I won't let you lose your parents. Its not only for you,its for me too. I'm selfish,very selfish. I always dreamt of a family with you, and your parents,who would be my parents in turn. I want to be a son again,I want someone to share our happiness,bring us together when we're fighting,give us guidance when we're facing problems, be there for us when we need them, scold me when I'm wrong and hug me when they think they love me..whom I can call,Mom and Dad, whom my children can call their grandparents and proudly show off to their friends..Riddhima I can never dream one without the other. Its you,always, but a family is a family,Riddhima. I always thought you would be the one who would give me a family..."
"What if that never happens?",she asked,in a broken voice,her tears staining her cheeks.
"Then..we would just have to live with it..",he answered softly.

"So,you mean,we can't be together without my Dad's consent?",he shook his head while wiping his tears,"Then listen to one thing,Armaan Mallik. You cannot stop yourself from loving me,nor can you stop me from loving you. I can't move on,and you know that. So By keeping us separate,you're killing both of us. I am never gonna be happy without you..because I WILL NEVER LOVE ANYONE EXCEPT YOU!",she yelled the last part and ran out of the Fire Escape,unable to hold back tears. He leaned on the staircase handle and closed his eyes. Her last sentence had shook him. But he knew that was the truth. Sighing,he whispered,"I Will Never Love Anyone Except you.."

***

He watched as she sighed and took a place beside him on the benches outside the ICU. She looked tired and drained, and he almost guessed what would've happened in the Fire Escape.
"You okay?",he asked gently.
"No,Sid..",she looked at him,"I'm not. He's just..he just won't listen. He thinks I'm the reason that you broke the engagement..and that you moved on after Megha to me and I broke your heart, he thinks we can still wait, but never go against my parents,and he wants me to be happy..Without him.."

Sid slightly bit his lower lip and stared at her for sometime,then said,"He's right in a way..he's wrong in another. But the thing that has been bothering me isn't this. I've been thinking all the time,why Shashank Uncle never liked Armaan.."
Riddhima sighed,"I don't know. I never came to know,because he never let me speak after he came to know whose family Armaan was from. His grudges,his damn reputation..and his desicions,are more important than my happiness,I think they always have been, I saw them just 7 years back."
"Grudge? Against Armaan's family?",Sid frowned in confusion,"Thats strange. I mean, you only said na,that you two were best friends from childhood? And doesn't that mean that the parents were friends too?"
Riddhima put a hand to her head,"Long story.."
Despite the tensed situation,Sid smiled,"Later then.Now,I think you should go and meet your parents."

"WHAT?",Riddhima almost yelled in shock.
"I'm serious.",Sid nodded,"You should go and meet your parents..Fine,Mom, and tell her about everything thats happening. Come on Riddhi, even I know you're missing her."
"But..Suddenly?",she did not like the idea of going home. What if..her Dad was there?
"You mean you can't go to your home without a reason?"
"I don't want to see him,Sid."
"Riddhi.",he patted her hand gently,"He's your father."
"No..he's not.",he said,and he looked at her surprised. "My mother's name after marriage was Mrs.Padma Desai. My Dad's name was Dr.Mohit Desai. He was a neuro-surgeon and he died in a terrible train accident when I was just two. I didn't know anything about him..but came to know about it,when Mr.Gupta said once while naming Armaan,'You were never my blood.' He had married my Mom and taken care of her alright, he had accepted Mom as his wife..but not me as his daughter. After that incident,It hurts to go infront of him...and know that he's the reason I lost everything in my life."

"Riddhima Gupta.",Sid said slowly,"He gave you this name. He brought you up. He loved you as a father..and just because he didn't accept Armaan,you think he doesn't love you?"
"Sid,you're forgetting that the reason for not accepting Armaan was nothing but fake."
Sid sighed. "I don't know why,Riddhi..But I feel you should face him now. Tell him that you're not happy. Atleast tell them about us,Please?Maybe..after all these years,it works?"
"What if it doesn't?",she asked unsurely.
"Its worth a try.",he smiled softly.

She nodded in a trance and finally wiped her cheeks to get up, and to face him. Mr. Shashank Gupta.

***

Standing in front of her own house, Riddhima's hand shivered at the thought of ringing the doorbell. What if..what if he opened the door and slammed it back on her face? The imagination of facing him again..and hearing Armaan's insults,almost made her stoned heart fill up with bitterness. She had not forgotten the day she left for Delhi, and how even at the last minute,she had looked back at her "father" , her eyes pleading to change his desicion. But he hadn't. He had broken her forever.

She knew she wasn't here to say sorry. She wasn't sorry. It wasn't her fault. It was entirely his fault,his desicion, that made her stay lifeless for about 7 years. What was she doing here,then? She asked herself. Almost immediately her mind answered, to see her mother. Her mom..her symbol of strength,her pillar of love. She needed her now, after all that had happened during the day.

Taking a deep breath,she finally rung the doorbell. It didn't take even a minute before the door opened. Her heartbeats racing,she almost bit her lower lip in nervousness. Padma looked up at her daughter and gasped. Riddhima stood rooted to her position, unsure of what to do.Her mother's eyes moistened and it felt like eternity after she said,"My baccha.."
Riddhima almost broke down in her hug. Her two words made her realise how much she'd missed her Mom. Her Mom was her home,her friend, her support and her guide,a big part of her life. She was always there. "Mumma..",she whispered,her hands wound around her mother's arms.

Padma got out of the hug and kissed her daughter's forehead. Riddhima smiled at her mother and felt so loved after so many years. Padma brought her in and caressed her face like she was seeing her for the first time.

"Mumma I missed you so much..",came her muffled voice.
"Then why didn't you come home? You couldn't come for me Also?"
"Mumma..",she trailed off and held her hand,"I'm sorry. I missed you. And there is loads,loads I need to tell you."
"First.",her mother took her hand up to wipe her daughter's tears,"These tears will go away. And now tell me, Is it about Armaan?"
Riddhima nodded and began. Her mother listened and squeezed her hand for assuring her when her voice almost broke. She told her mother about everything-the accident,two days at Armaan's,the party,Sid coming to know,their engagement broken,Armaan's disappearance to their talk in the Fire Escape.

"I feel like I'm alone..and he's never going to come back. Mumma I know he loves me too,and its hurting him way more than its hurting me,but he won't accept it. He doesn't want that after we're together, I regret my desicion, and I hurt myself by staying away from you and...Dad.But even after so many years,he thinks I can live without him?"
"I don't know..Baccha,as your mother,I will always tell you to do something your heart says,and that keeps you happy. But Armaan is right in his own way,he has lost his parents,and he knows the feeling to go through that..he just doesn't want you to go through it. He loves you too much to do it to you."
"Seven years I waited,mumma..We waited..that Dad will break his egoish desicion and accept Armaan. And Still you're saying this? What if Mumma..this fear of Armaan's, never lets us be together?"

Her mother was about to answer,when they both heard footsteps and she stiffened. Her daughter immediately knew who it was. She watched as her mother's expressions changed completely,from caring and gentle..to..guarded?

"What is she doing here?",his voice thundered into the room.
Padma sat up startled in her seat at the anger his voice held. His eyes were flaming,and stared right into his daughter. Riddhima was unfrazzled. Her deep bitterness for him,the poison that she had held for seven years came back to her,and she closed her eyes before gathering herself up again. Standing up,confident,tall and strong,she faced him..Like she hadn't ever wished to.

Her eyes bore staright into his as she said,"I came here to meet my mother,Mr.Gupta. I hope I don't need Anyone's Permission for that.And you Don't have to worry.I won't be coming here anymore."
His jaw hardened. Shashank Gupta knew this part of his daughter,afterall..he had faced it from the past seven years. But today it was a little more power-packed,he thought. He always wondered,had his One desicion made him lose her forever?He never knew his desicions to be wrong. And nomatter what,he wouldn't change them.

"This is MY House.",he replied.
"Well,ofcourse. Unfortunately,my mother lives here too. I just came to see her.",she replied calmly.
"Is this the way you talk to your father?",he asked,his anger visible in his tone.
Riddhima almost laughed,"Father?Are you joking? I Don't even have a father!"
"Riddhi-",Padma tried to say something,but Riddhima turned to her and said,"Please Ma,let me say it. Finish it for once and all. I'm tired,okay? Tired of having lived this way for seven years.Tired of having a name..thats not even mine!"
"See,Padma?",he told her,"This..This is why I sent her to Delhi!All these years,she didn't say anything at all..And now when she's back.."
"Yes,Mr.Gupta,definetely. I know you'd like me better to stay back in Delhi.Ofcourse,why wouldn't you? I was Dying out there..Suffocated with all the fake smiles I was giving people,and you'd like you're daughter to do all that! Thats why,Thats why Mr.Gupta..I say,like I've told you before,I was Never Riddhima Gupta and I shall not be. I was always Riddhima Desai.Always!You have no right on me..Not even the right to call me your daughter!"
"I was Right.",he said,clenching his teeth,"I was right. That boy was always wrong for you. How will a Orphan know the worth of manners,Parents.."
"You have no right to speak about him.And his name is Armaan.Armaan Mallik."

"I know his name,and how he is. I can't believe you've still held on to that. He wasn't worth you."
"Oh Thank you,Mr.Gupta.",she replied,tears threatening to spill,and her mind hardening,"But I know what to do in my life,and what not.Who deserves me,who is worth me..its up to me to decide.You do NOT need to interfere."
"Interfere!I am..an..Interference?!",his voice thundered,more like a stunned shock,"You know,you are crossing your limits."
"No,Dad..It was you who crossed All his limits!",she said,her voice breaking,"It was YOU who broke me seven years back! It was you..who sent me to Delhi to supposedly LIVE,and it was YOU..Who Killed Armaan!"

Her last words sent a shiver of horror and disbelief down him.He watched,as his heart constricted on seeing tears down her eyes. His words had been a blow to him,and when he realized what he was losing,he saw her out of his gate,wiping her tears with a free hand,and banging the door after her with the other. Shashank Gupta sank to his seat. He had lost his daughter,maybe forever this time.

***

Armaan turned and held his cup to his mouth again,and then said,"From the past 15 minutes,Siddhant Modi,I'm telling you I DO NOT want to talk about this."
"Oh then,Trust me,I Do. And You're not allowed to order me,Okay? So just Speak up."

Armaan stared for a long time and decided that Sid was resolute. He was not going to listen to any excuses,and he was trying to talk about Riddhima, here in his cabin. Already he had given his best friend a almost-lecture for being terribly careless with himself,and now he wanted to talk. Armaan knew that talking would help him..it would make him feel better. But it also would bring back memories of Riddhima's tears,her broken words..her closeness to him,her love for him evident in his eyes. Why? Why would this happen everytime that when he tried to forget it all,it all came rushing back more?

"Sid-"
"No,really,Armaan. You realise how much you hurt her?"
"Ofcourse I do.",he said softly,"Thats why I didn't want to hurt her more. She doesn't deserve so many pain. She deserves to be happy."
"Yes.She does. And you know very well,that her happiness is only with you. Not with me. Or anyone else."
"Don't even get started with that,Sid.",he looked angry now,"You told her that you loved Megha,and that she is back.I'm sure you lied to her just so that we could be together. Sid I know you better than she does. It may be easy to fool her,but not me. I know that after Megha, you never ever dated or whatever..but you moved on finally,to such a big desicion,MARRIAGE, with Riddhima..and what does that mean? That you love her."
"You think a lot,Armaan. You think you can go on keeping people happy by hurting yourself. You think that people are better off without you. But you don't know me. I NEVER stopped loving Megha,Armaan.I agreed to marry Riddhima,because Mom practically begged me to move on. I couldn't say no to her. Riddhima is a friend..and nothing else. I never had any feelings for her,and its unlikely that I ever will,coz I love Megha and I will always do. Armaan I did not lie to Riddhi. Megha is back. To me.And I'm not going to lose her..like you are doing."

"Its not easy,Sid.It just looks easy."
"DAMN IT,Then why are you doing this to yourself? Why the hell?Fine I agree with the fact that you want Riddhima to be happy with her family,but for God's Sake Armaan...See this seven years? She hasn't even talked to her Dad,and today..she told me,that she is adopted. Seven years she almost died without you,and now you literally want to do that to her?"
"No.",his voice was a whisper,as he closed his eyes,"But she doesn't know what she's losing.I know."

"What if her family accepts your marriage afterwards?",he suggested.
"Sid..My father committed Suicide.Because he lost his family.",he said in a broken whisper.
Sid looked at him dumbfounded. His eyes were bloodred,and tears had stained his cheeks. His voice had so much emotion in it that Sid almost wanted to go and hug him once and let him take out all his frustration. But he was at a loss of words,and totally paralyzed with his body.

"He loved my Mom a lot, but he didn't want to hurt her. On the other hand,it killed him to live away from his family like a stranger. I am not saying that what they did was wrong,but what happened..should not repeat itself."
"Armaan.."
"I love her,Sid. I love Riddhima too much to kill her.",he said and left the cabin.

Sid had to balance himself for a while. His head was spinning..All the secrets,and so many relationships had been revealed to him. And on top of that, these two idiotic best friends of his were hurting each other,and still, their Hearts Beat as One. He had to do something. Destiny may be cruel,but Siddhant Modi was resolute. Armaan Riddhima had to meet.

He could try talking to Shashank Uncle. But before that,he knew that Armaan needed Riddhima around him,And Riddhima needed exactly that. Maybe they won't be together soon,but atleast not without each other. And he knew what to do.

Riddhima had to join Sanjeevani.

***