Chapter 2
Riddhima is cleaning the table after lunch on a Saturday afternoon when her cell phone starts ringing. Riddhima walks over to the tiny coffee table and picks it up.
"Hello," Riddhima answers.
"Hey! It's me Anjali." Riddhima heart starts racing.
"Oh, hi."
"Well, I just wanted to tell you that you have been selected as the model to do a photo shoot with Armaan Mallik," Anjali gives her the good news. Riddhima's mouth went dry and she wasn't able to speak. "Hello?"
"Uh...yeah, I am here," said Riddhima.
"That's great! So we want you to come in Friday afternoon around one o' clock."
"O...kay," Riddhima said slowly.
"I never asked your name. What's your name?" Anjali questions.
"Riddhima," she answers.
"That's a nice name," Anjali compliments.
"Thank you," Riddhima said in a soft tone.
"Well Riddhima, I won't be there at the photo shoot because I have to go out of the country for some work."
"So, I'm...going to be alone?" Riddhima didn't want to be alone at the photo shoot. If Anjali was there then she would probably felt a bit comfortable by knowing someone.
"You won't be alone. There are other people who will be working there and will be taking care of you as if you were a star," Anjali said. "You'll do fine. I promise you."
"Alright," Riddhima replies.
"I hope you have an amazing time at the shoot. Bye."
"Bye." Riddhima hangs up and sighs.
"Who was it Mama?" Karan asks, sitting next to her. Riddhima looks at Karan and smiles at him.
"It was a friend," she said. "Go play." Karan walks away. Riddhima sighs and runs her hand through her hair. She actually got the job to do a photo shoot as a model, and that too with Armaan Mallik. Riddhima immediately dials Nikki's number.
"Hello!" came Nikki's chirpy voice on the other end.
"Nikki, I got the photo shoot!" Riddhima went straight to the point.
"OMG!!! That's amazing!" Nikki yells. "When is it?"
"Friday at one."
"This is so exciting!"
"Nikki, I am scared. What if I mess up? It's Mike Smith along with Armaan Mallik. They are the best in their professions in the whole world."
"Riddhima, you'll do fine," Nikki consoles Riddhima.
"Nikki, you know how nervous I get in front of small and big crowds," says Riddhima.
"Yeah, I remember how nervous you were to even start talking with me when I was crying hysterically," Nikki said.
"Exactly!"
"Did she tell what kind of photo shoot it is?" Riddhima's mouth opens slightly. She forgot to ask.
"No, I forgot to ask!" Riddhima exclaims, cursing herself mentally.
"Call her up and ask," suggests Nikki.
"I am not doing that. She has other things to do rather than telling me what kind of photo shoot it is," Riddhima responds.
"Riddhima, you are too shy. You need to start becoming more free," Nikki tells Riddhima.
"Nikki," Riddhima says in a warning tone.
"What? It's true."
"I don't want to hear it."
"Alright, well good luck for your shoot. I have to go. Me and Abhi are going out for shopping and then dinner."
"Have fun and say hi to Abhi from me and the kids."
"Will do and give love to the kids from me and Abhi."
"I will." Riddhima hangs up.
Riddhima leans back on the couch and thinks back at Nikki and Abhi going out. Both of them love each other so much that they ran away from their homes just to be together. Riddhima wishes she finds a guy who will love her and the kids immensely.
The camera flashes go off as he steps out of his car dressed in a white t-shirt and jeans. His eyes covered with aviators sunglasses.
She wants someone who will accept her the way she is and won't take Karan and Sneha as a burden.
He starts walking while the paparazzi scream questions at him. He just holds his hand up telling them that he doesn't want to answer anything along with a wave.
Riddhima simply wants a man who will take the three of them in his heart as a family...as one. Right now her responsibility is to give Karan and Sneha a better life, so she doesn't have time for a relationship.
He enters the building and takes off his sunglasses.
"Hi sir, Mr. Smith is waiting for you in his office."
"Thank you," he says politely and walks over to Mr. Smith's office. He knocks on the door then walks in.
"Armaan! My man!"
"Mike!" Both of them walk over to each other and give each other a hug.
"How's everything?" Mike asks as he sits back down on his seat and Armaan sits in front of his desk.
"Everything is the same as usual," Armaan says with a smile, showing off his dimple.
"Yes, so you know this photo shoot has to be and is going to be my best shoot ever," said Mike.
"Yes, and you are also doing it with a new female model. It's all over the magazines. Armaan Mallik posing with a new female model in his photo shoot with Mike Smith," Armaan quotes the lines from the magazines.
Mike chuckles, "I don't know how these reporters find out everything without any of us saying anything."
"It's their job. They have to get something to make their magazines work." Armaan said. "So, who's the new girl?"
"I knew you would ask." Mike turns his laptop to Armaan. Armaan leans forward and looks at her. Riddhima's eyes were light color of hazel because of the sunlight hitting her eyes and her smile was sweet. "How do you think she is?" Armaan was just staring at the screen of her picture. "Armaan!" Armaan looks at Mike. "How is she?"
"She's nice," Armaan said. "What's her name?"
"Riddhima," Mike says. "I just hope she does well because you know I don't have much patience." Armaan didn't say anything and keeps on staring at Riddhima's picture. "Uh...Armaan..." Armaan looks at Mike.
"Can I have my laptop back?"
"Yeah...sure." Armaan leans back in his seat. "I guess I'll see you this Friday." Armaan stands up.
"Yup," Mike said. They shake hands and Armaan walks out.
"Hey Anjali," Armaan said, seeing her walking in the corridor.
"Hey Armaan! How are you?" Anjali asks and starts walking with him.
"I'm fine, you?"
"I just about to leave for Switzerland for work," said Anjali.
"Oh yeah, you have another photo shoot right?"
"Yeah," Anjali says. "Did you see the new model's picture?"
"Yeah, I did."
"How did you like her?"
"She's nice."
"Just nice? To be honest, when I saw I kind of knew that she would perfect for the new model. I just took a half shot since Mike wanted more focus on the face, but she has a model body, and is also very beautiful."
"Did you suggest her to Mike?"
"Well, I did put more emphasis on her name and her qualities," Anjali said, laughing. Armaan laughs with her. "I'm just worried that Mike will get mad with her."
"Why?" Armaan inquires.
"When I offered her she looked hesitant. She is a shy girl. Her voice is soft that I had barely heard her."
"Seriously?" Anjali nods.
"Yes! I mean she is beautiful, but I guess she doesn't want to flaunt it or she doesn't know it."
"This girl seems interesting," said Armaan.
"She is, but I think you can make her feel beautiful and she'll know it after the shoot," Anjali says with a teasing smile. Armaan grins and looks down, a bit shy. "Now I know why all the girls die on you." Armaan looks at her with the grin still in tact. "When you get shy you look so cute!"
"Anjali, don't you have fiance?" Anjali giggles.
"I do, but he doesn't have to know."
"Oh okay." Armaan nods, playing along.
"I have to get going," said Anjali.
"Alright, when are you coming back?"
"2 weeks."
"Aw, how is poor Atul going to stay alone without his girl?" This time Armaan teases Anjali at the name of her fiance, Atul.
"You two are tight so I don't think he'll miss me much."
"Funny." Armaan tilts his head to the side.
"Bye, and good luck with the photo shoot." Anjali gives him a hug.
"Thanks and have a safe flight going and coming back."
Armaan puts his sunglasses on and walks outside to bombarded with questions and flashes. This is his life, but he does want to have someone with him who will accompany him to events and appearances. She has to be someone who he can happily show to the entire world that this is Armaan Mallik's girl. She has to be different from every other girl. She also has to be the one who loves him for who he is and not for his fame and money. Armaan sits in his car and drives off.
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Thank you so much for the lovely comments for the first chapter!!! I'll try to reply to them whenever I get time.
Anupamaa
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