In The Heart Of One:AR Ch. 7 Pg.20 - Page 10

Chapter 7

Riddhima is helping Karan put on his shirt because they are about to leave to go for grocery shopping. Armaan had promised Riddhima and the kids that he'll come back and go with them to the store.

"Mama, is Superman our daddy now?" Karan asks, cutely. Riddhima stops what she was doing and looks at Karan. "Mama, say something!"

"Karan...me and Armaan...aren't married," Riddhima tries to explain in the best way she can.

"You two can get married and he'll become our daddy," Karan said as if it was the simplest thing to do.

"Karan, go get your shoes," Riddhima says, ignoring the topic about marriage and Armaan becoming Karan's and Sneha's father. Karan frowns then walks away with his head down. Riddhima closes her eyes and sighs.

"Mama," Sneha's voice makes Riddhima opens her eyes. Riddhima looks at Sneha and sees her struggling with her shoes. Riddhima goes over to Sneha and helps put her shoes on. "Where's Sneha's man? He said he will be coming."

"He will be here," Riddhima replies, not looking at Sneha. For some reason Riddhima felt that it wasn't a good idea for Armaan to come with them. What if Karan mentions about Armaan becoming there father? She didn't know what to do. Riddhima had noticed that Armaan wasn't comfortable when Karan asked if he was going to stay with them forever. He looked a bit apprehensive. Armaan is probably looking for relationship first before a life time commitment. The knock on the door brings Riddhima out of her thoughts.

"I'll get it!" Karan yells and he opens the door. "Superman!" Karan jumps and Armaan catches him.

"Hey," Armaan walks in and closes the door. "Hey," he says to Riddhima and Sneha. Riddhima gives him a smile while Sneha runs over to him. The kids were already attached to him. Riddhima doesn't if this is a good thing or a bad thing. "So ready to go?"

"Yes!" Karan and Sneha run out the door.

"Wait!" Armaan yells for them. Both of them stop. Armaan looks at Riddhima. "There are paparazzi outside." Riddhima nods.

"Paparazzi?!" Karan says with fascination in his eyes. "That means we'll be in magazines!! We will be famous!!" Riddhima grabs her bag without saying anything.

"Yes, but that also means you have to stay with us," Armaan said.

"We always do. Mama doesn't let us go anywhere without her," Karan tells.

"Well, that is good. Let's go," said Armaan.

"Wait," Riddhima says. Armaan looks at her. "Are we going in your car?"

"Yeah," Armaan replies.

"Let me get Sneha's car seat from my car," said Riddhima, grabbing her car keys. All of them walk downstairs. At least the paparazzi stayed in one place and took pictures and didn't bombard them. Riddhima kept on glancing at the paparazzi as she went to her car and Armaan noticed it.

"Riddhima, relax. Nothing will happen," Armaan tries to make Riddhima feel better. He takes the car seat out from the car. "Okay?" Riddhima nods and gives him a small smile. Riddhima wasn't worried much about the paparazzi, but scared about Karan asking Armaan to become their father. She sighs and locks her car. Then, follows Armaan and the kids to Armaan's car.

Riddhima is walking through the aisles of food with the trolley and Sneha settled in on the baby seat of the trolley. Karan is walking alongside Armaan which made Riddhima nervous and kept on looking back at them. She hopes that Karan doesn't say anything to Armaan. She thought too soon because she stopped what she was doing.

"So, are you our dad now?" Karan asks, looking up at Armaan. Riddhima freezes and Armaan looks down at Karan.

"What?" Armaan wasn't sure if he heard right.

"Are you our dad now?" Karan asks again. Riddhima turns around and looks at them.

"Karan, go pick your favorite snacks." Riddhima tells him quickly. Armaan looks at Riddhima.

"But - "

"I said go!" Riddhima yells. Karan flinched a bit before walking away to the next aisle where his favorite snacks were. Riddhima turns back to the trolley and starts moving it again. She didn't want to face Armaan right now. Armaan follows behind silently. No one said anything to each other.

"Here, take this," Armaan said, handing Riddhima his credit card as they were standing in line to check out the items. Riddhima looks at Armaan. "You're going to use my money for anything you have to pay." Riddhima shakes her head. "Yes, now take it." Armaan takes Riddhima's hand and puts the credit card in her hand.

"Mama, that's you!" Sneha exclaims and points. Riddhima looks at where Sneha is pointing and her eyes become wide. It was a picture of her and Armaan on the front of cover a magazine. It wasn't from their latest shoot, it's from the first shoot. Riddhima looks at Armaan scared. She didn't want the kids to know that this is what she did to get money. Riddhima wanted to forget that day too.

"No, it's not," Armaan stands in front of Sneha, hiding the magazine stand. Riddhima looks at Armaan thankfully. Armaan gives her a small smile.

"It is Mama," Karan said, picking up the magazine.

"Karan, put it back!" Riddhima says sternly. Karan knows that he is not on the good side of Riddhima today, so he obeys and puts the magazine back.

They go home and again it was filled with silence.

Riddhima walks in the kitchen and leans against the counter it. She closes her eyes as the tears fall. Riddhima relaxes when she feels Armaan's arms around her.

"Shh," Armaan holds her tight. "Everything will be okay."

"I don't want the kids to know that I exposed myself just to get money," Riddhima cries, covering her face. Armaan looks at her and sighs.

"They won't know, okay?" Armaan rubs her arms. He kisses her temple.

Riddhima turns around and looks up at Armaan. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Armaan asks, confused.

"For crying like this. You probably think I'm some idiot," said Riddhima, looking down. Armaan lifts her chin up.

"I do not think that you are an idiot," Armaan says. Riddhima looks in Armaan's eyes.

"I'm also sorry for Karan asking you about...being...their...dad," Riddhima said. Armaan looks away from Riddhima. "He's never had a male to look up to. I guess when he met you, he took you as that male figure." Armaan nods.

"Armaan, please don't leave me because of what Karan said," Riddhima cries. Armaan looks at Riddhima.

"Riddhima, I will never leave you and not over what Karan said. He's a kid and he needs a male support in his life. I'll happily be his support, but marriage is not something I'm thinking of right now."

"I know, and I'm not going to force you into marrying me. That's not the reason I said yes to you," Riddhima replies.

"I know," Armaan whispers, kissing her lips.

Riddhima is sitting on the couch and going through her mails while Armaan was in the bathroom and the kids had gone to Nikki's and Abhi's house because Nikki and Abhi had especially come to pick the both of them. So Armaan and Riddhima can have some alone time.

Riddhima runs her hand through her hair by seeing all the bills. Armaan walks out and sees Riddhima's stressed face. He sits next to her.

"Everything okay?" Armaan asks. Riddhima puts the bills aside and nods. "I'm going to ask you something and promise that you won't say no."

"What is it?" Riddhima asks, curious. Armaan takes Riddhima's hand and entwines his fingers with hers.

"Use my money to pay all your bills," said Armaan, looking at her.

"No!" Riddhima stands up.

"You said you wouldn't say no," Armaan argues.

"That was before I knew what you were going to say," Riddhima looks at him.

"Come on Riddhima. This will help you. Remember, I'm here to take all your worries and pain away." Riddhima looks down.

"I can't Armaan. You worked so hard for it," Riddhima sighs. Armaan pulls her on his lap.

"Riddhima, if you use my money, I'll still be left over with lots of money." Armaan makes Riddhima look at him. "Please." Armaan looks in Riddhima's eyes.

"Are you sure?" Riddhima wants to confirm before anything happens.

"I'm positive," Armaan kisses her hand. Riddhima looks at Armaan still doubtfully. "Riddhima," Armaan's came in a warning tone.

Riddhima looks down. "Okay, fine. No need to get so mad." Armaan chuckles and kisses Riddhima cheek.

"When are the kids going to come back?" Armaan asks, looking around.

"I don't know," Riddhima shrugs.

"Lets do something before they come back," Armaan pulls Riddhima close. Riddhima's hands land on his shoulders and she looks at him.

"Like what?" Riddhima teases. Armaan smirks, recognizing the teasing hint in her voice. Riddhima smiles at him.

"The bed's empty and it's just the two of us," Armaan sighs and leans his head back. Riddhima just stares at him.

He gets up with Riddhima in his arms making her squeal. Armaan drops Riddhima on the bed and gets on top of her. Riddhima sits up but Armaan pushes her back down by placing his lips on hers and completely putting his weight on hers. Riddhima felt that this kiss is way to intense than the ones they have shared previously. She puts her hands on his chest to calm him or stop him. Armaan ignores her hands on him and puts his hand in her hair, pushing them back. Riddhima pulls her face a bit away, but Armaan captures her lips again.

"Armaan," Riddhima breathes out, gasping. Armaan stops, but keeps his forehead against hers. He was himself breathing hard. "Aren't you...we..."

"Don't worry, I won't do anything," said Armaan. Riddhima looks at him. "Not until you're ready." Riddhima wraps her arms around him and hugs him. Armaan hugs her back and they lay in each others arms.

Armaan is standing outside their apartment door and he is leaving to go back to his own house. Riddhima stands with Sneha on her hip and Karan beside her as they bid him a goodbye.

"Superman, you will come tomorrow right?" Karan asks, pointing up at him.

"Karan, you have school tomorrow," said Riddhima.

"So, I can always meet him later," Karan looks at Riddhima. Riddhima looks at Armaan and he smiles at her then looks at Karan.

"You don't worry, I will be here when you get home from school," Armaan said.

"Why don't you come pick me up?" Karan said getting excited.

"Karan," Riddhima's voice came in a warning tone. Karan pouts and looks at Riddhima.

"I was just saying," he said in a low voice.

"It's fine, and I will come pick you up," Armaan tells Karan.

"Yes!" Karan jumps and sticks his tongue out at Riddhima.

"But Armaan - "

"You shut up," Armaan said. Riddhima's jaw drops.

"Finally, someone who can make Mama shut up!" Karan grins. Riddhima glares at him and Karan hides behind Armaan's legs. Sneha starts jumping up and down in Riddhima's arms knowing that there is someone who can talk back to Riddhima now. Armaan laughs and kisses Sneha's cheek. Karan and Sneha would always have to listen to Riddhima's rant about them doing wrong things.

"Okay, I have to go now." Armaan gives Karan and Sneha a kiss and he stops at Riddhima. He thought to go for the cheek in front of the kids.

"It's okay," Sneha says as she covers her eyes with her tiny hands.

"Go ahead!" Karan covers his eyes too. Riddhima blushes and Armaan kisses Riddhima's lips softly.

"Bye," Armaan whispers to her and then again another kiss.

Riddhima giggles, "Bye." Armaan walks away.

"Bye Sneha's man!" Sneha yells after Armaan. Armaan turns around and winks at her. Sneha blinks her eyes. Armaan chuckles and goes down the stairs.

"He's my man," Riddhima said, looking at Sneha.

"No, he's Sneha's man," Sneha fights back.

"No, he's my man," Riddhima continues the fight.

"He's Sneha's man!"

"No! He's not Sneha's or your man! He's Superman!" Karan walks inside, annoyed with Riddhima's and Sneha's fighting. Riddhima and Sneha watch him walk away then look at each other.

"He's my man," Riddhima starts again, walking inside and closing the door.

"He's Sneha's man!" Sneha yells.