Because this is life (AR).. Chap26: 2/12 - Page 10

It was the best part till now
Poor riddhima had to go thru so much
Aww armaan is a sweet heart
He us feeling guilt for no fault of his
I cant wait for the next part
But ofcourse after ur xams
Best of luck for them :)

Originally posted by: -AK-

It was the best part till now
Poor riddhima had to go thru so much
Aww armaan is a sweet heart
He us feeling guilt for no fault of his
I cant wait for the next part
But ofcourse after ur xams
Best of luck for them :)

naww.. really? good!
and thanks.. :)

Chapter 21 – Something Something!

In all his plans of making things right the next morning what he forgot was that he was to leave for his official trip early morning.. thankgod he fell asleep for those few hours he did, and the rest he'd have to make up for in the flight so that he doesn't kill someone. But when he was rudely awoken by the vibration of his phone at 5:30 in the morning he was in no mood to even open his eyes. It was evident he hadn't had enough sleep but it was a good thing he had kept an alarm in his phone.. more like riddhima had done it for him.. because she refused to give him a wakeup call in the morning and ruin her sleep herself when he had asked her for it.. he smiled at that memory.. she was feisty.. and after knowing everything about her.. he knew that's how she survived till date.

Well without delay he carefully got up, realizing she was still sleeping.. that must have been a first for her.. sleep for soo long, he wondered if her insomnia was cured after last night. But then his phone started vibrating again.. this time it was a call from his Pepsi..

So he took to the balcony and after carefully closing the glass door shut behind him he answered the call..

'Hey.. morning pepsi!'

" Morning kiddo.. rise and shine.. u need to start getting ready if u are to reach the airport on time"

'I knw pepsi.. and for your kind information I had set an alarm and was already up'

"Since when do you set alarms?.. I thought you were too cool for them"

'Whatever.. come to the point Pepsi..!'

"Fine just a reminder, its Karan's birthday while you are away.. he'll be up in an hour and by the time you'll be just about ready to board your flight.. so call him before you leave.. I've already put in a good word for you.. and he's understood you have to be away for work.. but he'll appreciate a call.. and I want you to do it now so that you can concentrate on work later!"

'Okay! Anything else..?'

"No, that's all.. you okay armaan? sounding a bit low and distracted.."

'I'm fine pepsi.. but could you please do me a favour and check up on basket while I'm away.. but don't let her know yea?'

"ofcourse.. any special reason.. ? has she been keeping unwell again?"

'No its not physical.. its more emotional.. I can't get into the details.. but she's just been through some stuff and ive not exactly been supportive when she confided in me last night, I thought I'd make up for it today but then I remembered my trip. So while I'm away I just want to make sure.. she's okay too!'

"ofcourse.. you know I care for her all the same as I do with you or karan.. Okay now go change and get ready.. do u need a ride to the airport? I can send shubhankar to drop you."

'Nah its okay.. I'll get a taxi!' he would love a ride to the airport but he wouldn't have a clue how he would explain him spending the night at riddhima's. Although it was a frequent event for them.. neither had actually ever mentioned the fact to anyone else. The older lot ofcourse knew they hung out together but that was it. And although he knew his parents and bhaiya, bhabhi would be cool with it.. he just didn't feel it was appropriate.. especially when it involved her.

So he opted for the best option possible, neither lying and neither admitting to the truth.

With that call being made he made his way to get ready and grab his bags.. before leaving he left a sticky note on the kitchen counter for her as a goodbye. Anything more than that on an informal note wouldn't be appropriate. So he just left with that.. closing the door shut behind him after locking it from the inside.. then he smiled wondering why he even bothered she never actually did that for herself. Even though her mother would continuously remind her to do so!

So much so that he himself had gotten into the habit of double locking the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Knock Knock..

Whilst struggling to put on her stilettos she hopped her way along to the front door of the apartment.. she was almost ready but this boy was early like always. Opening the door she greeted her date for the night.. "Hey Adi, you're early again!"

'Was that a compliment Adi style, for his date.. who by the way is saving himself from the embarrassment of attending a charity ball himself as his real life girlfriend whom he was counting on attending this ball with dumped him this afternoon.'

"Ouch.. fine i'll remember to not compliment you ever again. You can't just simply say 'thankyou' like other girls and move on right.. you're comebacks are killer you know that right?.. you can effectively manage to shut me up in seconds.. not a nice thing.' He finished pouting.

'Yea.. yea fine cry baby. Get over it princess I can never be nice to you! You're my punch bag.' She replied whilst actually punching his arm.

"Can we get a move on.. if you're done then.. can't be late. I have a reputation to maintain you know!"

'You are a scumbag of the true order.. I am never late. I'll just grab my purse and be right out.'

And she left to grab her purse whilst leaving him in the kitchen/living space. Adi was a friend from the lab she worked at. Him and her often quarrelled over petty things.. they just liked it.. it was never anything serious and it kept them awake during their night shifts so it worked well for the both of them. He was super-duper rich and his parents annual charity function was a must for him to attend. Only problem being he'd rather be with his friends in a club on his night off and not be all proper in a tux.. So it was an absolute must that he took a date to these kinds of events to make them more bearable ofcourse, his plans although fell through when he got dumped this afternoon as riddhima had earlier jested him about. So he had asked riddhima to come along, she couldn't really refuse.. she owed him. He had covered all her shifts at the lab all this week without any questions asked, so she could hardly say no! But now he wished she had.. it was obvious she hadn't been well.. she was paler and thinner in a week. How did that happen? he wondered, but he knew even if he'd let go of the jokes and asked.. she will just come up with a witty remark and avoid his questions. She guarded her life like a baby.. or atleast she didn't consider him a good enough friend to share her problems with. But he knew she had other close friends and he hoped she shared her troubles with them. She was a beautiful person otherwise, both inside and out and always a great friend to him.

His thoughts were interrupted as he heard footsteps behind him. Riddhima was yet to be back.

Then he heard the man speak, "Hi, can I help you?"

'Armaan! You're back.. how was your trip?' Riddhima asked coming out of her room, shutting the door of her room behind her, making her way towards him to give him a hug.

He hugged her back aswell.. and then held her back when she pulled away. "What's going on? How come you are all dressed up! And more importantly why do you smell of so much perfume and a hint of muscle relaxant cream?"

'Damn your nose armaan, its northing.. I'll fill you in later, I've really got to go now though. This is my friend Adi, he's my good friend and colleague at the lab. I've told you about him remember? So anyway his parents are having an event and he needed a last minute date and so I somehow got roped in. I'll be late, if you're planning on staying here for the night, take the bed! You look tired and I'll only be back very late. Don't argue I know you don't like it but seriously grown up for once.' With that she removed his and her hands away but in the process shook his jacket and out fell some packets whilst she was walking back to Adi. She looked back and to the floor when she heard the noise. 'Well now I know why you look tired.. rough trip buddy?' she laughed a little at his embarrassed face and walked towards the front door where Adi was holding it open for her. When she heard him call from behind.

"It's not what it looks like riddhima!"

'Oh, really! Then what should it look like armaan?. Oh god chill, I'm not your mother I won't ask details. You are entitled to enjoy your life. Don't think I didn't know already. You did date my friend once. And girls tell each other everything! Always remember that amraan' and she left winking at him whilst doing a fist pump.

Oh god he groaned, that wink and fist pump was his move during school and college.. till he grew up a little and realised how lame it actually was.. shit she really did know! But it's still not what it looks like right now. And he needed to make his point clear before she left.. but she was out of the apartment.. and she didn't even look like she cared! He just opened the front door to see her with her friend waiting for the elevator. He heard it ding, signalling its arrival so he just screamed across the hall to make his point when he saw her and her friend still laugh at his embarrassment probably.

"Those weren't mine. They were from the hospital, my last shift was for the youth clinic and since I had to run to the office every five minutes to get them for the kids after my check-ups and the keep safe talk I decided to just stock a few with me. I must have forgot to empty my pockets when I left. I always keep them on me during shifts.. most commonly asked product in a hospital..!"

So what he may have thought would be a nice save for himself from the situation turned out to be a complete opposite when she said the following in midst a lift full of complete strangers.

'Tch tch armaan.. I didn't know you liked getting kinky whilst working.. or is it that you are not getting any at all.. and they just started overflowing !' She smiled her evil smile just as the lift door closed.

He knew he lost that argument.. but he had an odd feeling that even though she was unaffected about this facet of his life, she was flirting with him. Either that or he was just satisfying his ego with that little victory.

What he didn't know was that she was working her best in distracting him in noticing too much, she knew he would yell at her if he figured it out.. so she thought she might as use his own tactic on him. Flirt with him, surprisingly it worked and it didn't even get awkward, infact it felt like something... Wasn't flirting within friends supposed to be awkward? Her thoughts were stopped short though when she saw Adi leading her towards a limo..

This man always style was her last thoughts..

Awesone part it was really very cute
They both really do understand eachother to some extent
Oo so riddhima s going on a date even though she doesnt want to
Wondrr what happened to her health while armaan was on the trip
He got a real sharp nose there my fav scene the way they hugged yhen hm smelking her :P she finding those hidden packets her teasing him abt it he wanting to give an explanation and theb shes flirting with him it was all very very very romantic in a totalky different way :P
I hope ur xams went well and hoping that u will update suuuper soon :D
Cont sooon :)

Tc
Ak

Originally posted by: -AK-

Awesone part it was really very cute
They both really do understand eachother to some extent
Oo so riddhima s going on a date even though she doesnt want to
Wondrr what happened to her health while armaan was on the trip
He got a real sharp nose there my fav scene the way they hugged yhen hm smelking her :P she finding those hidden packets her teasing him abt it he wanting to give an explanation and theb shes flirting with him it was all very very very romantic in a totalky different way :P
I hope ur xams went well and hoping that u will update suuuper soon :D
Cont sooon :)

Tc
Ak

Originally posted by: Gudduluvs

Wow...nice one..luvd it...

Part 22- when everything is wrong

'you're a tool… just because your ex came here as a date to your friend does not and I repeat DOES NOT mean that you go around puncturing the tyre for their limo..'

'It felt nice.. and don't deny it… you liked it just as much.!'

'Okay maybe it was kind of thrilling.. but it was insane.. and you clearly aren't a good influence on me! Now thankyou for the lift.. goodbye!'

As she bid Adi goodbye for the night or well the wee hours of the morning.. she then

Holding onto her heels and purse turned around to wave him a final goodbye right before entering the apartment lobby so that Adi can drive off. Her smile that was pretty big at the time of waving fell immediately upon turning around and realising that there were a lot of paramedics and cops all over the building. The whole place that should have been quiet at this time.. was buzzing with people. In midst all of this she saw someone being wheeled out by the paramedics. All the eyes were being focused on the stretcher. But it was when the paramedics went past her towards to exit of the building did she glance at the body lying on it. And that one glance was enough of a stock to make her heart beat ten times faster than normal and her hands that were holding her shoes to go limp causing her to drop her stilettoes and purse right there on the lobby floor. To say that she was shocked and scared was an understatement.. but she gathered herself just in time.. and ran towards the ambulance where the paramedics had already loaded the patient and were about to close the door.

'Hey.. wait! What happened to him? Is he okay?'

"Sorry do you know him, are you family?"

'Yea.. No I mean I'm not family.. he's my friend.. he was staying in my apartment. Is he okay?'

"Oh well I can't give any information to non-family members.. but he was jumped in your apartment. Someone broke and entered you should go upstairs and talk to the cops."

'No, I don't care about the apartment.. where are you taking him, he's a doctor.. he'll want you to take him to his hospital. Please.. if you can! That's what he'll want!'

"Look Miss, we are taking him to city central hospital, I don't know where he works. What's his full name, the hospital would like to contact his family.'

'Yea, that's where he works. Dr. Armaan Malik, that's his name! I'll contact the family. But the staff there should be able to give you more details. And I'll just catch a cab.. I'll be right there myself. '

"Mike, just let her in.. he's a doc! The hospital won't complain this time for busting the rules!"

The paramedic who was talking to riddhima got persuaded by his partner.. the driver. As a result she got in, even before the man closing the door had a chance to relay the message. She even helped him close the door then quickly took her seat next to armaan. Just when she heard Mike speak from opposite her.

'We have intubated him, to help him breathe. His blood pressure is really low, probably from all the blood loss. I suspect rib fractures and a broken leg along with non serious bruising, but the doctors would have to confirm it first. It's not life threatening, he'll be alright but he is injured quite a bit.'

Riddhima nodded at that piece of information, as she held one of his hand, stroking it a little with her thumb more for her own comfort than his unconscious form, as well as pushing his hair back from his forehead whilst stifling a sob herself at the state he was in.

'How did this happen, I left him only a few hours ago. He looked tired, but nothing like this.'

"we don't know the whole story, that we will get once probably your friend here wakes up, but apparently there was a burglar who entered the apartment. He probably got shocked on someone's presence inside, I'm guessing since you weren't supposed to be there. And may have jumped him to save his identity."

'Why would anyone want to rob me? I don't have anything expensive in that apartment.'

"It could have just been a drug seeking junkie, they'd rob a place for just change! Don't beat yourself up about it okay! Look we are pulling up here at the hospital now. Go to the nearest pay phone and call his family immediately, just incase he needs surgery, they'll need to consent it. Okay?"

Riddhima nodded at that, understanding the situation as she saw the ambulance pull over, meeting two doctors that were present there receiving it. She got off it after they had armaan pulled out and rolled into the emergency room. She made her way to the pay phone, only to stop infront of it to realise that she had no money on her to put it to use. Having faintly remembered dropping her purse in the lobby, then she looked down and realised she had no shoes on! At that she groaned, looked up to the heavens and ran her hand over her face to calm herself down uttered an incoherent profanity and stormed her way towards the reception of the hospital emergency room whilst holding her gown all scrunched up in her hand to reduce the length of it to her knees, to allow herself to walk with ease.

'I'm here with Dr. Malik, he had just been brought in. I'm his friend. I don't have my phone on me and I need to contact his family. Could you look up his emergency contacts please and let me know the numbers for either Dr. keerthi or Dr. shubhanker Malik. That's his brother and sister in law, please the paramedics said that I needed to contact the family just in case he needed surgery or anything.'

"yea, we've already contacted the family! Someone called in early from en route and we've called them already. You can have a seat in the waiting area, right there" she pointed to a little room with benches a little to the right of the reception. "And we'll be sure to inform you if anything changes, as much as we can anyway! You aren't family, I hope you understand mam."

Riddhima nodded, 'yea thanks!'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She was sitting where she was told to.. her head thrown back, eyes closed.. hands secured together over her legs, as she sat to calm herself over the happenings of the past few days in her life. She was a fool to think it was over, that her bad luck had finally left her. The past year.. although tough was still quite bearable here in London. But from the past week things had again started to fall apart. And tonight was the final nail in the coffin, she's had several decisions to make over the past couple of days, but tonight did it for her. Her decision was made. As she was thinking about her decision she felt someone tap her shoulder, and as she opened her eyes she felt someone graze her shoulder as they took the seat next to her.

"Coffee?" asked the man in a doctor's scrubs.

'Umm..' but before riddhima could complete the rest of her non-sensical sentence the man cut her in between, probably judging from her confused expression.

"I'm Liam, remember we met at the Christmas party, you came with armaan! Although I don't blame you. It was a mascarade. So allow me to introduce myself again, I'm Liam Hammersmith, a friend and colleague to Armaan. He's okay by the way, relax.. you can sit comfortably." At that he freed her hands that were busy strangling each other.. but he didn't let them go. He warmed them a little for her.. probably feeling the chilled carcasses they were at the moment. Then he handed a cup of coffee he had offered to her before and placed it in her left hand. Then grabbing her right hand got her to stand. All the while, riddhima was just looking at him, hoping to get more information other than 'he is fine' from this doctor or friend or whoever he was.

"He's not conscious yet. We are actually keeping him that way, with the strong painkillers for his own good. But he's really alright! His family's not able to come in for the night atleast, they were at their farmhouse for the weekend and the snow has blocked their way, they have to wait for the plougher to come in the morning and clear off the roads, but I have personally talked to them over the phone and assured his health, so they are at ease. His sister-in-law did although ask for me to look after you. Since you are sitting here still, im assuming you want to stay till he gains consciousness?"

Riddhima just nodded, holding the cup of coffee tight, she didn't drink coffee it was too bitter for her taste, but she was just using it to keep her hands warm.

"Okay well, you aren't allowed in his room, he's not family." Riddhima looked up again ready to tell Liam that if they'll have her, she would continue waiting in the chairs, near the entrance, where each time the door opened it brought with it ice cold wind from the outside.. only to see him smile and apologise as he began to use the right hand of hers he was still holding onto to direct her into walking through the corridors of the hospital maze.

"I said you aren't allowed, well technically. But Armaan would kill me personally for not looking after his friend, as well as the fact that that his sister in law threatened me to never let me enter her house and eat her food if I were to not treat you nicely, so here this one is his room. Remember let him rest, and let him wake up on his own alright? There's a couch in the room there. There's a heater too.. so you can warm yourself up! But remember only family is officially allowed so anyone other than me or the nurses that you may find asking around should only get the answer that you are family. Whether you chose sister, cousin, fianc well that's your decision entirely. Although I would chose the latter, it might help his recovery… sister or cousin may just give him a heart attack or at the very least an anxiety attack… I know I would." He winked, let go of her hand as he gestured towards the room infront of them and let her walk inside. He watched as she stood close to the bed, and then within seconds moved right to the couch. Not taking another glance. Shrugging his shoulders at the weird behaviour he just left to attend his latest page.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She finally looked towards his bed once again.. when she heard him move. She hadn't looked back all night. Not in the morning when the nurses came and gave him more medicines, and not during the whole day, whilst keerthi and shubhankar had come to see him. She was in the room, she looked at his chart, she could hear him breathe.. but she didn't want to look at him, fearing he'll look the same way he did when she had first entered the room. Pale, weak and just….. small. He looked small lying on that bed. That was a first for her to realise, and quite disturbing too. She'd seen him asleep before, but that was on the couch in her apartment. She didn't know whether he always looked small whilst sleeping or it was just the fact that he was usually trying to sleep in a couch smaller to him or whether it was the fact that all the wires and the hospital gown were making him look small. Either way, she didn't like it. So she just chose not to look at him. The whole time she was there, Keerthi and shubhanker had stayed for a while to check up on him, but saw no sense in staying since he was going to be unconscious. Also Karan needed to be dropped to school, and they had work they needed to get back to. So they did the best they could, they bought riddhima food and got her some slippers.. well rather embarrassing betty boob ones from the gift shop downstairs. Which she chose to hide under the couch she was sitting on to avoid wearing them. But now that he was finally coming around, she needed to face him again. She just hoped he looked big again.. she realised she sounded crazy, even to her own mind. But it was just a feeling she couldn't explain, other than the fact that things look good when they are normal, and armaan feeling big was normal, period.

As she looked at him, she saw him opening his eyes, and got up to the side of his bed, she got hold of his hand that was still attached with tubes and whilst caressing it lightly she said 'good evening, mister! It's about time you get up from your beauty nap, or all your co-workers will start nicknaming you sleeping beauty, and I don't think you'll like that name affecting your work reputation.'

He smiled at that, he still hadn't managed to open his eyes, but she could see them moving. In response he just got hold of her thumb on his hand that was supposed to be comforting him with his own thumb and replied in a whisper, "does that mean I get a kiss, to wake me up?"

That was it, just as he joked, just as she heard his voice again, just as he was back at flirting with her, annoying her with his hand that wouldn't let her go free.. he was back to looking big again. He didn't look that small anymore. And the slight smile on his face was proof of it. She just shook her head slightly and using her other hand removed his grasp on her.

"Tch.. I was just warming your hands you know. How you let them remain ice cold really baffles me."

'they are fine usually, you know! It's just your scary appearance that does that to them' she just jested back as she walked towards the door to the room and indicated to the nurse that he was awake.

She turned back when he started coughing, and walked back over, and using the remote made him raise his head to sit and offered him some water. He finally gained enough energy to open his eyes. They were red, well one of them.. the side where he had a bruise on. She just closed her eyes again as she pretended to put the glass of water back down slowly as she struggled with her emotions. She had been in the exact same position before, when during summerhill she had run him over. And here he was again, at the hospital. That was his fault atleast, but this wasn't. And this hurt way more than it did all those years ago. But she wasn't weak.. she'll joke with him again.. she told herself.. but looking at him was proving to be a task since last night.

Seeing her trying to compose herself, armaan grabbed her hand back and made her sit next to him. He also somehow managed to get her legs that were dangling off the bed to come up on the bed and under the blanket, under his own legs, to warm them. She protested at first, but gave up once she could start feeling her feet again. And just gave up for a bit, and lay her head on his shoulder. Just her head though.. he still had rib fractures. Seeing her finally relax he was about to ask how she was doing when she hissed a little when she moved to turn towards him.. he was just starting to wonder why, when there was a knock on the door.

"Nia, hey! You think you could come back in 10 for the checkup.. it's all good I swear!" Armaan almost ordered. He knew the staff, that was an advantage he was willing to take to get some privacy.

'You shouldn't have sent her away, it's not good for your health.. and it certainly isn't good for your reputation.. the nurses will gossip now.'

"Communication. It's the first thing we really learn in life. Funny thing is, once we grow up, learn our words and really start talking the harder it becomes to know what to say. Or how to ask for what we really need."

'Huh.. come again?' she was thoroughly confused so she just lifted her head up suddenly and rested on her arm to support her as she turned towards him more to look at him.. to get some clue as to what he was blabbering about. That was usually her job!' But the sudden move caused her own pain to exaggerate again and she barely controlled another hiss. But not the twitch of her facial muscles.. This time though Armaan had enough, he put the arm he had around her shoulder onto her lower back and gave it a little rub, with a little pressure. And said "You've trusted me before, trust me again and communicate. Please!"

In response she just hissed as he applied more pressure, and snuggled closer to him resting her head back on his arm closing her eyes, she just said.. 'I will.. I promise. I just need you to get better first.'

--------------

i really wanted to put lots of detail.. and i had the time to do that today, so im happy! don't know about anyone else.

Originally posted by: Gudduluvs

Nice update...luvd it..

you always say that..! 😛

You write so amazing- such a normal concept of a boy-girl but still so much uniqueness in events,situations happening in their life! And man don't you love suspense ? So much suspense - so much to know as something is always hidden! You just want to keep knowing more and more about Armaan-Riddhima.
You are really a great story-teller! I love the way you explain their feeling,thoughts in their head- and there is such a mystery about your Riddhima that I am just on the edge of my seat wanting to know what will happen next. And the other thing is your Armaan- You have to managed your characterisation that we know Armaan knows her thoughts but we readers don't know what is going on her mind. THIS IS SUCH AN AMAZING FF 👏

Anyways I'm gonna stop my blabbering! I've been inactive but your part made me comment 😳

Originally posted by: Accio_kajen

You write so amazing- such a normal concept of a boy-girl but still so much uniqueness in events,situations happening in their life! And man don't you love suspense ? So much suspense - so much to know as something is always hidden! You just want to keep knowing more and more about Armaan-Riddhima.
You are really a great story-teller! I love the way you explain their feeling,thoughts in their head- and there is such a mystery about your Riddhima that I am just on the edge of my seat wanting to know what will happen next. And the other thing is your Armaan- You have to managed your characterisation that we know Armaan knows her thoughts but we readers don't know what is going on her mind. THIS IS SUCH AN AMAZING FF 👏

Anyways I'm gonna stop my blabbering! I've been inactive but your part made me comment 😳