Riddhima smiled and said, "Come on, go freshen up. We will cook dinner together today, hmm?" "ok" he said smiling. "Good bhaiya" she said pulling his cheeks. "I will take a quick shower and come. Than we will make dinner" she said and went to her room. She locked the door as soon as she entered and cried silently. After a few minutes she took a quick shower and went down to the kitchen. Atul was already there chopping the vegetables talking with John. They smiled at riddhima when they saw her entering the kitchen. "Looks like my bhaiya wants to eat noodles today" she said looking at the noodles packets in the table. He smiled at her and said "yes". "okay, let's get started" she said and took the noodles packet. "Riddhi, I will cook tonight. You never let me cook dinner" john said in a complaining tone. Atul and riddhima smiled at him. "Uncle, you do all the work full day and you need rest too. Plus, I love cooking. So, you take rest and I will cook" she said smiling. Again, John tried to convince her to let him cook, but she didn't listen to him. At last, riddhima cooked.
Atul chopped all the required vegetables. The three of them talked and laughed while she cooked. They ate together and after cleaning everything and wishing good night to john, atul and riddhima went to atul's room. They watched Tom & Jerry for some time. She went down to take water and saw atul sleeping when she came back. She turned off the tv, covered him with the comforter properly and kissing his forehead went to her room.
*******
Three days passed after Armaan and Riddhima sang together. In those three days, they both felt something new in them, which riddhima ignored completely and armaan was confused about. He noticed her lost in thoughts sometimes. He tried to talk to her and know what is bothering her. But she didn't even a say a single word about it. After atul cried that night, she was more worried for her bhaiya. Shashank was making it very difficult for atul to get a job. He was using his influence and making sure he doesn't get a job anywhere.
Riddhima smiled at Armaan who was coming towards her. He came and sat beside her, as usual leaving some distance between them. Before he could speak anything her phone rang. She smiled seeing "Bhaiya" flashing on the screen and answered the call. "Hello bhaiya" "You reached your music class riddhi?" "haan bhaiya, I just reached five minutes before. Bhaiya, you sound happy? What happened?" "Yes princess, I am so happy. I have a good news" "What Good news bhaiya?" she asked him excitedly. Armaan smiled looking at her. "Princess, I will tell you when you come back home, not now" "tch..bhaiya, I can't wait till I reach home. Please tell me now, please please please" she asked him like an excited kid. Atul giggled hearing her. "She is so cute" armaan thought in his heart. "Stop it bhaiya. I won't talk to you if you don't tell me now" Atul frowned "ok ok..i am telling. Remember riddhi? You said someone will be out there who can't be influenced by MR.Shashank Gupta? There is someone like you said and I got a job" "What??? Really??" she asked with a big smile. "Yes" "I am so happy bhaiya. Congrats. You did it. But how? I mean mama papa..?" "Don't worry about them. They can't do anything now. We will go out for dinner to celebrate this, don't cook tonight" "ok bhaiya" "bye princess" "bye bhaiya" she smiled wide ending the call. "I am so happy Armaan, bhaiya got a job" she said smiling wide. "Congrats basket" "Thank you Armaan".
They came out after their classes were finished. Armaan spoke, "You were tensed about your brother not getting a job and that's what was bothering you" it was more of a statement than a question. Riddhima looked at him surprised how he knows it. "I didn't tell him the reason when he asked why I was tensed. Then how he knows?" she thought and said "yes". They reached the gate and bidding bye to each other they went home. Armaan was happy as he saw the genuine smile back on her face after three days. One thing caught his attention when she was speaking to atul "But how? I mean mama papa..?" it kind of gave him a feeling there is something about her parents and he wanted to find out what it is.
*******
Next day morning, riddhima went for a walk in the beach. On the way back home, she saw armaan playing in the basketball court. Armaan also saw her and called her. "Good Morning Armaan" she said in a cheerful voice. "Good Morning basket" he said smiling at her. Her smile made him smile wide. "You want to play?" he asked her. She thought for a few seconds and shook her head in "no". "Why basket? You like basketball right?" "Haan, par..i don't know to play it properly" she said in a low voice. "No problem basket. I will teach you" he said. She looked at him and after thinking for a couple of minutes, she nodded. Armaan smiled. He taught her to play basketball. They both felt like current passed through their body when they accidentally touched each other while playing. When riddhima jumped to basket the ball, she fell down. Armaan rushed to her. She got up and sat rubbing her elbow. "Basket, what happened? Are you hurt?" he asked her worried. "I am fine Armaan. Don't worry" "You sure?" he asked caressing her elbow softly and she closed her eyes feeling his touch. His touch sent shivers running down her spine. He looked up at her and saw her eyes closed. "Basket" he called her. She opened her eyes and they were lost in each other's eyes. They drowned in each other's eyes and forgot the world. They stayed like that for ten minutes. Armaan's phone rang breaking their eyelock. Riddhima lowered her eyes blushing. Armaan smiled looking at her and pressed the red button in the phone. Riddhima looked everywhere but not him. "A..ar..armaan, I go..got to go now, bye" she said her eyes lowered not looking at him. "Bye basket. See you in the evening" he said smiling and she nodded. She walked towards the exit. His dimples deepened when she turned and looked at him before going out.
*******
Armaan entered "Sangeet" and went towards the piano class. He got late as he had to discuss about a presentation with his professor in college and was stuck in the evening traffic. Because of it, he missed the time he gets to spend with her before their music class starts. Knowing she will be in her piano class now, he went there. He stood beside the door as he saw every eye focused on riddhima and she was sitting infront of the piano. She was nervous. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and started to play the piano.
Everyone clapped for her when she finished. "Well done riddhima. It was really good" her piano teacher, MR. Rahul Khanna appreciated her. "Thank You Sir" she said smiling and saw armaan standing near the door. "Come in Armaan" Mr.Khanna called him. He went in and wished him "Good Evening sir" "Good evening Armaan. I heard you and Riddhima sang together a few days ago. I missed listening to two wonderful talents that day. Why don't you both sing now?" he said. Armaan looked at riddhima and she nodded. "Sure sir" they said together. "Armaan, I want you to play the piano now. It's been long since listened to your piano" MR.Khanna said. Armaan nodded and sat in front of the piano. Riddhima stood beside him.
He started playing the piano. Armaan and Riddhima sang leaving everyone present there mesmerized by their music and voice. They were lost in each other's eyes and music. A sense of completeness filled their heart as they sang together. They forgot the world and sang lost in each other's eyes. Their eyelock was broken by the clappings in the class when they finished singing. Everyone including Mr.Khanna praised them. Armaan and Riddhima thanked them. They looked at each other smiling and thought about what they felt when they looked in each other's eyes.
*******
Armaan was lying on his bed thinking about Riddhima. She was always in his mind from the first time he saw her. He remembered the day when he saw her in the mall. She was looking like an angel in the white salwar suit when he saw for the first time in the lift. His heart skipped a beat when he looked in her green eyes. Then, he saw her in the same shop when he was thinking what to buy for the b'day gift. He wanted to talk to her and smiled when he got an idea. He went to her and asked her to help him in selecting a b'day gift. She seemed a bit hesitant at first but then nodded. He observed her carefully. He was amazed at how her expressions changed when she was selecting a gift. His heart skipped beats when she smiled at him when he thanked her. He wanted to talk to her more, but his phone rang and cursing the person under his breath, he left from there. From the moment he saw her, an unknown feeling crept in his heart and he was always lost in her thoughts. Then he saw her in the beach, sitting in the rock and staring at the sea with a smile. He smiled to himself when she stammered speaking to him. Her smile this time held a happiness, which came from her heart. He doubted if she was happy to see him and that thought made him grin. After two days, he saw her in the basketball court when he went there. She was trying to basket the ball. She frowned when she missed the basket. He so wanted to pull her cheeks when she smiled wide, clapping and jumping like a kid when she basket the ball. He didn't know what made him ask her if she will come there the next day. He felt kind of sad when she said she doesn't know. But when she said she will try to come, he felt happy. He didn't expect he will meet her in the music class. Her voice, her smile and her green eyes which held many emotions in it, enchanted him. They became friends and as he started to know her, he understood she is reserved, an introvert. He didn't know how, but he started to understand her unspoken words. He read her eyes. Her smile always made him smile. As days passed he understood he is getting attracted to her.
"Is it just an attraction armaan? Is she just a friend? You understand her unspoken words, you know the difference between her fake and genuine smiles, when you saw her crying and the hurt and pain in her eyes, it hurt you. You lose yourself in her green eyes, you are always thinking of her. Her one smile is enough to brighten your day. You are looking forward to those three hours in the music class where you get to spend time with her. You miss her when she is not with you. You wish to be with her always. You want to take away all the pain from her and give her happiness. Do you think all this is just an attraction? It's more than that Armaan. Think of it" his inner self said to him. He was confused, what is it if it is not attraction? He thought of the moments he spent with her. Her smile, her eyes, her music, her voice, her soft nature everything is making him crazy. "I am falling for her?" he questioned himself. He smiled to himself at that question. He took his phone and played the song which she sang. He closed his eyes as her face flashed in his heart and drifted to sleep listening to her melodious voice, only to see her in his dreams.
*******
Armaan was searching riddhima in the beach. It was a full moon day and he knows she will be in the beach today. He didn't meet her as they don't have their music class in Sundays. He felt restless without seeing her and talking to her. After searching for almost twenty minutes, he found her and was surprised when he saw her wearing a skirt and top, as he had always seen her in salwar suits only. He stood there looking at her. She was lifting her long purple skirt a little which showed just her feet. She backed away from the wave when it came near her feet and giggled. Armaan's dimples deepened as he understood what she was doing. She was playing with the waves as if challenging them to touch her feet if they can. She looked so beautiful with that heartfelt smile on her natural pink lips. She hadn't applied any makeup, just kohl in her eyes. The cool evening breeze was playing with her long black silky hair. He kept on looking at her. Riddhima felt someone's gaze on her and looked around. She found Armaan standing a few feet away from her and staring at her with a dreamy smile. His intense gaze on her made her shiver and she blushed lowering her eyes. He came back to reality when someone bumped on him. He smiled scratching his head when he realized what he was doing and walked towards her. Riddhima looked up at him when she felt him near her.
"Hi basket" "Hi Armaan. What are you doing here?" "Why? I am not allowed coming to the beach?" "Not like that Armaan. I just asked" "Just kidding basket. I came here to meet a friend" he lied. "You met your friend?" "No, he is caught up in some work and couldn't come". She nodded. They walked talking. They reached a rock and sat in it. Armaan noticed her looking at the moon while talking to her and stopped. Riddhima looked at him when he stopped talking. He understood what she was thinking and said "I don't want you disturb you basket. You carry on with your Moon & Sea staring session. I will come back in few minutes" he said and went from there. Riddhima felt bad. She thought he was upset because she didn't listen to him. She wanted to apologize and looked at him at the direction he went. But she couldn't see him anywhere near. She stood up to search him but sat down again as she remembered him saying he will come in a few minutes. She looked at the sea but her thoughts were on him.
After ten minutes, he came there with two ice creams in his hands and sat beside her. She looked at him surprised when he gave her an ice cream smiling at her. She hesitated for a few seconds and took it from him. "I..i am sorry Armaan" she said looking in her lap. "Sorry? For what basket?" he asked her confused why she was saying sorry. "woh.. i wasn't listening to you properly when you were talking and was lost in admiring the sea. Yo..you might be upset na? I am sorry Armaan. I didn't do it intentionally. I.." he interrupted her "Basket, I am not upset. No need to say sorry. I know you love admiring the sea in the full moon light. Remember our second meeting? It was a full moon night too and when I saw you staring at the sea that night, I understood you like admiring this picturesque sight. I went from here to buy ice cream for us. In fact, I should say sorry for disturbing you" he said. She was surprised how he knows her and remembers everything about their meetings. She said "No armaan, you didn't disturb me. Please don't say sorry" "Okay, I will take my sorry back if you take yours back" he said. "I take my sorry back" she said smiling, her eyes shining in the moon light. "I take mine too" he said smiling showing his dimples. "Basket, eat the ice cream yaar, its already melting" he said and they ate their ice creams admiring the beautiful sight in front of them, Riddhima admiring the moon and the sea glowing in the silvery moon light, armaan admiring riddhima who was smiling her eyes shining.
After 30 minutes,
Riddhima looked at armaan when she heard him calling her. "haan armaan" she smiled at him. "If you don't mind, can you give me your number?" he asked her in a hopeful voice. She looked at him for a few seconds and nodded. She said her number and he saved it in his phone. He ringed her number once and asked her to save his number. She saved it nodding. "Noddy" he said to himself smiling. "Armaan, it's getting late. I got to go now. Thanks for the ice cream" she said and forwarded a hundred rupee note to him. Armaan frowned looking at the money. "What is this money for?" "For the ice cream" "You didn't really accept me as your friend..hai naa?" he asked her, his voice clearly showing he was upset. "Why are you saying like that? You are my friend armaan" "Then why are you giving me the money for the ice cream?" "Armaan woh.." he interrupted her. "If you really accepted me as your friend, take the money back" he said in a determined tone. "We are friends basket. You are insulting me by giving money. Don't I have the right to buy an ice cream for you?" he said hurt clearly visible in his voice. Riddhima looked at him with a blank face for a minute and kept the money back in her clutch. She spoke "I didn't mean to insult you Armaan. It's just that.. this is how I am. I don't accept things from others. No one buys anything for me except bhaiya" she said in a low voice. "What do you mean no one buys you anything except your bhaiya? What about your parents?" he questioned her. She didn't say anything and just sat silently, staring at the sea. He tried to look into her eyes to find what she was thinking, but he couldn't as she was sitting facing the sea. He stared at her not knowing what she is thinking.
Armaan clicked his fingers in front of her eyes when she didn't speak anything and was staring at the distance lost in her thoughts. She looked at him and armaan found confusion, pain and hurt in her eyes. His heart twitched when he saw the pain and hurt in her green eyes. She lowered her eyes when he bored his eyes into hers. "Look at me Basket" he said in a soft voice. She didn't look at him and kept on looking in her lap. He lifted her chin making her shiver with his touch and made her look into his eyes. Holding her right hand in his, he spoke "Basket, I know you are hiding something from me. May be, i am not the person who you trust enough to share your feelings and tell what is bothering you. I just want to say that, I will be there for you..always. I will be there for you when you need someone to share your feelings, when you want a shoulder to lean on and speak your heart out. I won't force you to say anything. If you ever feel I am worth your trust, talk to me..okay? Now smile basket, please.. for me" he said wiping the tears which rolled down her cheeks. She smiled a little with teary eyes and nodded. On an impulse, he hugged her. She stiffened when he hugged her. Armaan separated from her when he realised what he was doing and lowered his head. "I am sorry basket..woh..i..iam sorry" he fumbled and looked at her. She nodded. He was surprised when he saw her blushing and her cheeks little red. He grinned. Riddhima looked at her watch and said "I got to go now. Bye armaan" she said without looking at him and stood up. "Bye basket. See you tomorrow. Good night" he said and she nodded. They walked together till they reached the place where he parked his bike and she left to her home waving bye to him. He stood there looking at her retreating back and went home after she was out of his sight.
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Madura
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