Part 7 : The Small Gestures
"Riddhima, thanks for today sweetheart. It feels so proud when you're daughter spends money on your clothes and shoes." said a smiling Padma. "Mom, seriously. You need to change your lines at least now. This is exactly what you said when i brought you clothes from my first pay check."said Riddhima. "All you hear is the same line . The emotions, they remain the same all the time. You just don't value them" said Padma in an over dramatic tone. "Yeah right. Emotions." said a miffed Riddhima adding "Thanks to you for making my day. I love you mom. I hope you're going to authoritatively tell me to take you for shopping or a lunch the next time. " "Oh! Trust me i will. Beta i love you too. You dont have to feel guilty anymore. " assured Padma "But mom" said ridhhima onbly to be interrupted by padma "Enough said. Nobody's going to talk on this issue anymore." Riddhima smiled genuinely this time.,knowing all was well between her and her mother.
Padma lovingly caressed her hair.Riddhima had very well admitted her folly and confronted padma for the same in the morning. She knew how genuine riddhima had been in her apologies. She had intsantly agreed to this shopping trip and continuously assured her that she is forgiven. Yet riddhima wouldnt be convinced enough and this was for the first time in the day that she genuinely smiled. Padma always knew that riddhima if gets involved with somebody new, she tends to keep the others at the back seat even though not intentionally. She often missed the simple signs but when she realises, she goes all the way to make up.Padma had no complaints from her earlier also. She just wanted to be a part of her daughter's life. Riddhima never hide things from her parents,but wouldnt always share everything. She kept so much to herself. She wouldnt share her inner most feelings with anybody, not even anjali or muskaan. Thats the reason why she chose to right her diary from eleventh standard. Padma was bussy thinking about her daughter when riddhima told her or rather shouted, "Mom, We are home !!". They were coming back from their shopping trip. Getting home, riddhima sat near her father and talked to him for like hours. She discussed everything. From the shoppiing to lunch. about the magazine, charity event . eveything. Feeling contented she climbed upstairs to her room. She was glad that she could mend it all in time and happy that her mother forgave her. She did the work for the charity event. Talked to Rahul muskaan, discussed her layout and explained them the execution. She slept on her table while doing the work.
On the other hand,Armaan too had an eventful day. He woke up to her call and wished her all the best and pacified her that she was like always making it too big a issue. Riddhima argued back and tried to explain him her case, he already understood her and was just telling her to take it easy.After a lot of convincing and pacifying she had finally hung up. He took a bath and got ready for the office. It was a big day for himself as well. He was busy the whole day for the meeting and the presentation of the big project. He didn't have his lunch, didn't text riddhima nor did receive a text from her. He didnt even realize how the day got over and he finally got the project on run. He was soo happy but soo tired. He managed to call atul and anjali in between the work, talked to them and Krish.Listened to all the allegations of forgetting the brother from atul and promising krish to buy him a chocolate the next time and few loving taunts from his bhabhi he kept the phone down. Now all he wanted was to tell riddhima the happy news and have a cup of coffee. He went to pick her up. He knew he was forgetting something but couldnt figure out what. He parked his car near the office and waited for her. He texted her telling her that he was waiting, didnt get any reply. He heard the sound of somebody coming, assuming it to be her he got out from his car. He was taken aback on seeing Muskaan and Rahul coming his way. They always leave early. What are they doing at this hour. He thought about riddhima and then it occured to him that he royally forgot that riddhima took an off today. He could see their smirks ready to fall off their faces. Feeling hot near his ears, he decided to stay calm and cool.
"Armaan!! what a pleasant surprise." chirped muskaan. "Armaan, nahi muskaan this cant be armaan. What would he be doing here at this hour." said rahul. "Yeah, you are right. But i am sure its armaan. Look againn"added muskaan. "Haan, this is armaan." said rahul . "You guys, stop it. " shouted armaan. "I was here to pick riddhima up but i totally forgot that she has taken an off today" he further added. He knew coming up straight to the point might shut them up. "Ohh,I thought you were here to meet us up and may be we could go have some dinner. But all you care about is riddhima" muskaan tried to change the topic. "Nice attempt muskaan. But let me remind you that i have my breakfast,lunch and dinner with you guys only. There is no need to specially come and meet you here" said an irritated armaan. "Muskaan, stop it naa. Cant you see how tired our friend is. Moreover he hasnt met riddhima the whole day. Understand !!" said rahul. "Oye! bus kar.Armaan we were just pulling your leg. Let's go and have some dinner " concluded muskaan. "Hmm, fine but the i am going to chose the restaurant this time. You married people are soo boring." smirked armaan. With this and more wars of words they finally decided an italian restaurant, on the other side of the city.Rahul decided to let his car be parked in the office only and the three of them sat in armaan's car and drove. "Armaan chose italian, Riddhima loves italian. Considering there is no relation here, i would still like to tell the two of you that we have missed out on Riddhima. If she finds out, we are soo dead." said Muskaan. "Muskaan in case you havent noticed, we are heading towards riddhima's place only." pointed out rahul. "these girls, they are soo bad with directions and locating places." called out armaan, leading to a chuckle from rahul's mouth and a murderous glare from muskaan's eyes.
Riddhima woke up to her phone ringing. She immediately picked up the call "Haan armaan, bolo!" she said in her sleepy tone. "Kyaa boluun?" arman could'nt help irritate her. he further added, "Basket, the scowl's visible till here". "Riddhima, tu iski baat chod. Get dressed in five minutes, we are going to you're favorite place to have dinner." muskaan snatched the phone ."Wow, I am already dressed, waiting for you guys." Riddhima kept down the phone. Immediately freshened up , put some kohl on and climbed downstairs. "Mumma, muskaan rahul and armaan are coming, we're going to have dinner." she told her mother. "Okay!!Dhyaan rakhna" said padmaa. Riddhima kissed her parents good night and the horn was audible all around. She immediately rushed outside. Looking at the three of them, brought a smile on her face. they meant the world to her. Armaan had the same expression on his face. He missed her soo much and only yesterday, they had a coffee together. He loved that vibrant energy Riddhima brought. She would never wear make up and yet will be glowing all day.He loved this bit about these two best friends. They were always laughing and acting like maniacs. All positive and energetic. Riddhima sat at the back of the car with Muskaan, both of them got involved in the noisy chatter. Riddhima gave the pair of earings she brought for Muskaan. "Ridsy, these are soo nice." muskaan complimented. "Come on, now wear them. See even i am wearing the same pair. I got one for di as well." Riddhima excitedly told her. "Wow, I dont get the point of the same things. Would'nt it be better that the three of you had three different pairs and you could borrow them from each other" pointed out armaan receiving a similar nod from rahul. "Yeah, we do that always, Beg borrow and steel from each other. But sometimes its nice to have similar things" explained muskaan. "Exactly! You wouldn't understand." said Riddhima. Rahul and Armaan just rolled their eyes. She even gave the little cuff lings she brought for Rahul and the watch for Armaan.Riddhima was not a shop a holic. But when she took a trip like today's she always kept in mind to get her loved ones a little something. Armaan remembered the first time she had landed at his apartment with a white crisp shirt. Armaan was appalled at the gift. It was soo expensive and he couldn't just take it from her for no ocassion. Riddhima Tried explaning him how she noticed that armaan wore white mostly and the moment she saw this shirt, she brought it for him. After a lot of persuasion, Armaan took it. After a while, he was habitual of getting a random gift from her. Similarly Riddhima would get a chocolate from him everyday. Riddhima would just love the chocolates. She still collects all the wrappers of the gifted chocolates. Even her extended family knows how much she loves them. Everybody would bring one for her. "Thanks Riddhima, i am gonna wear these on the chairty event." thanked Rahul, "I would love to see you wearing them" Riddhima added. "Guys, Charity event!! Cant you give it a name. Charity event doesn't sound good." suggested Armaan. "True that. So guys come up with a name before the day ends." added Rahul. They reached the restaurant , ordered the various kinds of pastas and pizzas. chit chatted all the way.Riddhima noticed how Armaan had strapped on the new watch already. She loved him for his small gestures. He didnt even once mentioned about the watch, he liked it or not. Riddhima was waiting, but then bam! Its on his wrist. What better could she ask for. Armaan caught her staring at him and asked her through his eyes, she pointed towards his wrist and smiled. Armaan also smiled at her warmly. Riddhima shouted "Gestures: the small little gestures" only receiving a "What" look from her friends. "Guys, the name of the event." Finally, they could see through the ideaa. "Its great" "That is amazing" "Wow" were the response. "All thanks to Armaan" Riddhima said and then bit her tongue. "He told us to have a name" she shyly smiled.
Soon after dinner, they all headed back to home. Armaan on reaching his apartment received a text message.*Thanks for the name. Its you're small little gesture that is the inspiration behind it.* Armaan read the text twice, thrice, four times. He couldnt help smiling. He was smiling so much that his jaw started hurting. He never knew that an act as little like that will impress her soo much. But this is Bakset for you, she wouldnt even look at the bigger aspects of life but the little things blew her away.*You are crazyy Basket. But trust me, you're gesture of bringing me gifts is appreciated very much the same. And Do i need to tell you, how much i loved the watch.* One text leading to the other. They kept talking to each other via text the complete night. Armaan told her about the success of the project and how he went to pick her up. Riddhima was surprised at his forgetfulness, yet happy that Armaan wanted to share the news with her firstly.
Life as we know it is appreciating the small little efforts.
Edited by Angel.ARlover - 13 years ago
Ye Hai Mohabbatein
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