Chapter 4
Another five years have passed and still no sign of Armaan coming to visit them. He said in both the letters that he sent to his parent's and Riddhima that he will come soon, but hasn't come once in the ten years he has been gone. Armaan did send them money every month and occasionally sent them letters. Now all Riddhima, Balwinder, and Ananya do is wait for a miracle to happen to get their son and husband back. Riddhima still prays for Armaan's well being and health. Riddhima has been taking care of his parent's like she has for the past ten years. Now she feels that she has no chance with Armaan to be hers. Spending ten years apart from each other, how are they suppose to act with each other if they do meet after ten years. There is nothing to say to each other.
The three of them are comfortable in their new big house that Armaan had specially made for them. Armaan knew its his parent's dream to have a nice lavish and grand house. The reason Armaan left to the city is to fulfill his dream and also his parent's dreams.
Every morning like Riddhima does, she walks down the stairs and opens the door to get the mail. Instead of finding mail she finds him. After ten long years, Armaan is right in front of her. Riddhima feels herself stop breathing as she stares at Armaan with her eyes wide. Armaan stood there same as Riddhima and just stared at her. Ten long years they are seeing each other. Riddhima slowly moves back, tears welling up in her eyes at the same time. She starts breathing heavily and runs away. Armaan became a bit confused and his stomach felt weird because of the nervousness. He's going to meet his parent's have ten long years. Armaan doesn't know how they will react. He takes a step in.
"Ma ji!" Riddhima yells. Armaan looks up to find Riddhima banging on the door of Balwinder and Ananya. Finally, after a few more banging Ananya opens the door to find a crying Riddhima.
"Riddhima, kya hua?" Riddhima doesn't answer Ananya's questions and grabs her hand. While Ananya kept on asking Riddhima what is wrong, Riddhima ignored her words and dragged Ananya down to the front door.
Ananya's eyes fall on Armaan and she stares at him with wide eyes. Armaan smiles, tears stinging his own eyes. Ananya runs to Armaan and puts her hand on his face to make sure that Armaan is actually here. Armaan takes his mom in a hug and Ananya starts crying, hugging him back. Riddhima leans against the wall to steady herself. She could feel herself getting weak. Armaan looks at Riddhima while Riddhima is still staring at him. He could see fat tears slide down her cheeks. She's changed a lot. Last time he saw she was a child and now she is a grown woman. Armaan had to admit that Riddhima is looking beautiful. Ananya pulls back, making Armaan stop staring at Riddhima and look at her. Ananya strokes his hair back and kisses his forehead.
"Tum...tum kaise ho?" Ananya asks, crying. Armaan smiles through his tears.
"Ma, main theek hoon," Armaan replies softly. Ananya hugs him again. It's been so long since she has heard his voice.
"Tu kitna badal gaya hai. Salman Khan ki tarah lag raha hai tu." Armaan chuckles. "M...main...main abhi tere Papa ko bulati hoon." Ananya runs to the living room to call her husband. He had gone out to do a few errands. Balwinder is now retired so he doesn't work at the factory anymore.
Armaan's eyes again find there way to Riddhima. She stood the same way she was before. Her hand against the wall like her shoulder and staring straight at Armaan. Armaan slowly takes long strides and stands right in front of Riddhima. Riddhima's eyes slowly lift up as Armaan came closer. Riddhima observed Armaan too. He has become much wider with the body he has made. She could feel her breathing becoming irregular and her heart beating faster when Armaan came close. Riddhima takes a step back. Armaan stops where he was. Looking at Riddhima's face, he could see hurt and fear. She thought that he was coming close to her when he wasn't. Armaan was walking towards her because Riddhima is standing at the entrance of the living room. Giving her a small smile, Armaan walks in the living room.
Riddhima walks in the living room after a few minutes to hear,
"Armaan, baith na main tere liye paani laati hoon," Said Ananya. Riddhima becomes scared. She didn't want to be alone in the same room as Armaan.
"Ma...ji main le aati hoon." Riddhima rushes to the kitchen before Ananya could say anything. Armaan knows Riddhima is uncomfortable with him being around. Her face said it all. Obviously when Riddhima knows that Armaan doesn't feel anything for her then it just makes things awkward when everything is one sided. Riddhima walks out with a full glass of water on a tiny tray. She stops, to give Armaan the water, she will have to go closer. Taking a deep breath, Riddhima goes to Armaan and forwards the tiny tray to him. Armaan looks up at Riddhima. Riddhima is looking here and there, but not at him. Armaan takes the glass.
"Thanks," he said in a low voice. Riddhima gives him a nod, looking down and walks back into the kitchen.
"Armaan!" Balwinder barges inside the house. Armaan stands up and faces his dad. Balwinder stares at Armaan. When Ananya had called him and told her that Armaan has come back, he didn't believe her, but the excitement and happiness in Ananya's voice made him believe her. He left everything and came straight home. Armaan walks to his dad, tears again in his eyes. Balwinder was already crying.
"Papa," Armaan said in a low voice. Balwinder takes Armaan into a rib crashing hug. Armaan smiles and hugs him back. Balwinder pulls back and stares at Armaan.
"Tujhe dus saal baad yaad aaya ke tu apne ma aur baap se mil aa? Pehle nai aa sakta tha?" Balwinder's voice cracked as he spoke. Armaan looks down and holds his ears like an innocent child and that melted Balwinder right away. Balwinder hugs him again and cries.
"Riddhima," Ananya gets Riddhima's attention who is looking at the father and son. Riddhima looks at Ananya. "Jaldi se khana laga do. Armaan ko bhuk lagi ho." Riddhima nods weakly and walks in the kitchen.
All of them are settled at the dining table except Riddhima who is serving all of them. She starts with Balwinder while Ananya helps herself and gets her food.
"Riddhima, tum Armaan ko khana dal do. Main khud le lo ga," said Balwinder. Now Balwinder will do anything to get Armaan and Riddhima closer.
Armaan looks at Riddhima. She slowly walks to Armaan's side and starts serving him. Armaan was looking the other way, while Riddhima concentrated to put Armaan's put food, well she tried because her own eyes were deceiving her and kept on looking at Armaan. Riddhima couldn't take it anymore so finishing quickly, she turns and walks away, but feels a tug at her dupatta. Her eyes go wide. Riddhima's stretched dupatta caught Balwinder and Ananya's attention too. Riddhima turns her head slowly and looks at Armaan. Armaan is still not looking in her direction and he holds up his hand. Riddhima's dupatta is stuck on Armaan's watch that wore on his wrist. She glances at Armaan, who is not looking towards her. Riddhima walks back and tries to free her dupatta from his watch, but was having difficulty because of feeling nervous with her in-laws eyes on her. Armaan sighs and just tugs at her dupatta harshly and its free. Riddhima looks at Armaan who started eating. Riddhima walks away.
"Riddhima, tum nai kha rahi?" Ananya asks. Riddhima stops mid-way.
"Mujhe bhook nai hai," said Riddhima and walks upstairs to her room. She closes the room and leans back on the door. Riddhima starts crying again and slides down the door. She didn't know whether to be happy or sad. Armaan is back which is what she wanted from the day he had left, but now that he is back, she didn't know what to do. He doesn't love her and will never know if he will ever love her.
"Armaan, tum yahan kitne dino ke liye rehne aaye ho?" asks Ananya, happy that her son is back.
"Dus din," Armaan said. Ananya's face falls and Armaan notices it. "Mom, mujhe wapis kam pe bhi toh jaana hai. Main phir kabhi aa jaoga. I promise."
"Iss baar tu phir se dus saal toh nai lagaye ga?" Armaan feels guilty and shakes his head.
"Nai lagao ga."
"Tum Riddhima ko bhi iss baar lekar jaa rahe ho na?" Balwinder asks slowly. Armaan freezes and stays quiet. He didn't expect this question. "Hm?" Armaan looks at Balwinder then at Ananya. Both of them waiting for his answer. Armaan couldn't say no otherwise he knows he'll hurt his parent's.
"Hum iss baare main baad main baat kar sakte hai?" Armaan asks politely. Balwinder knows he asked to soon, but he wanted Armaan and Riddhima to come together as a husband and wife should be.
"Theek hai." Balwinder continues to eat.
"Shashank uncle aur Padma aunty kaise hai?" Armaan questions, looking down in his plate as he spoke.
"Woh bhi theek hai. Unn ko bhi tumhari bohut yaad aati hai," answers Ananya.
"Kya main unse milne jaa sakta hoon?" Armaan looks at his parent's with a hopeful expression.
"Haan, kyun nai?" said Balwinder.
Armaan walks upstairs to go rest for a while before they left to go meet Shashank and Padma. He knew that going into Riddhima's room wouldn't be right. After all, they don't share anything. He walks to one of the guestrooms and closes the door behind him. Armaan sits down on the bed and puts his elbows on his thighs and entwines his hands in front of him. Ever since he got here him and Riddhima didn't exchange any words. All they did was stare at each other. On the other hand his parent's were so delighted to see him that he couldn't feel happier, but then his dad asked if he is taking Riddhima this time. Armaan didn't know what to say or what to do. In these two weeks he doesn't know what will happen but he's not going to let that bother him. He's going to spend as much as time he can with his parent's.
That evening, all four of them are standing outside of Shashank and Padma's house. They still lived in that same house as they ten years ago. Riddhima didn't want to come but Ananya had forced her to come with them. They are going to meet her parent's, so it doesn't look right if their daughter doesn't come and visit them. Padma opens the door and is shocked to see Armaan standing right in front of her. Padma smiles wide and Armaan grins at her. He takes her in a hug. Shashank and Padma were like his second his parent's, but after leaving Riddhima like that he didn't know what their reaction will be. By Padma's expression, she is overwhelmed to see him, but scared about Shashank.
"Andar aao na," said Padma, moving aside. All of them walk in and Riddhima walks in last. Padma looks at Riddhima, who looks a bit worried. Padma walks up to Riddhima and puts her hand on Riddhima's head. "Kya hua beta?" Riddhima looks at her mom startled and shakes her head. "Andar chalo."
"Armaan!" They hear Shashank's yell. Shashank runs and hugs Armaan. Armaan did not expect any of them to welcome him with open hands, especially not Riddhima's parent's. He left their daughter the very next day of their wedding. "Kaise ho tum? Body shody bana li tumne." Armaan laughs then looks at Shashank. Shashank is smiling at him and by Armaan's face he understood. "Armaan, tumhe fikar karni ki zaroorat nai hai. Humne tumse zabardasti ki aur tum toh sirf apne sapne poore karne chahthe aur woh tumne kiya. Isse aur khushi ki baat kya ho sakti hai? Main aur na hi Padma tumse naraz hai." Armaan smiles and hugs Shashank.
"Lekin phir bhi main aap se maafi maang na chahtha hoon. Agar aap thode aur arse ther jaa te toh main Riddhima se khushi khushi shaadi kar leta." Riddhima looks at Armaan. Armaan sees Riddhima look at him from the corner of his eyes then turns his head to look at her completely.
It is true. If they had waited at least ten years then Armaan would have happily married Riddhima. Armaan wanted to be a successful person before he got married, but because of girls getting married at a young age was mandetory, he had no choice. If they hadn't gotten married at such a young age then Armaan would have never left Riddhima. There is still one thing missing, and that is if he would feel anything for her. If Armaan didn't take her as the reason of him taking such a drastic decision then he would have, but now that all that is done, Armaan doesn't know if he will fall for Riddhima.
Armaan is the first one to look away, but Riddhima's eyes remained on Armaan. What he said, made her feel special. He would have married her if they had just waited, but they couldn't wait then. Riddhima looks down to hide her tears and turn herself away from everyone else.
"Ananya, inn dus dino mein hume Armaan ko Riddhima ke kareeb lana hoga," said Balwinder to Ananya, only in a voice that is audible to Ananya.
"Lekin kaise?" she questions.
"Pata nai kuch toh karna padega."
"Dekhiye, yeh Armaan aur Riddhima ka mamla. Unn ko sambhal ne dijiye. Aur main jaanti hoon ke mera beta iss baar Riddhima ko apne saath lekar jayega."
"Yeh tum kaise keh sakti ho?" Balwinder looks at Ananya.
"Bas jaanti hoon," Ananya said, looking at Balwinder.
"Kash aisa hi ho." Balwinder and Ananya look at Armaan and Riddhima who are standing far from each other. All that needs to happen is the distance to disappear.
***
Armaan is here! Are all of you happy? Now wait and see what happens next ;) Please comment and like. Add me as your buddy if you want PMs. For the previous 3 updates, I have replied to all of you, so if you want to see please check it out :)
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Anupamaa
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