AR: Ricochet [Thread #2: Page 1/150] - Page 23

I want to write more, but this is gonna be it, for sometime now. But yea, you write awesome! x

THANK YOU😊

I AM HERE...LOVING IT...👏

CONTINUE SOON

Yeah! Since before it started airing here :P

'cause over the weekend I have to do prep for board practicals

Um, firstly, THANK YOU <3 No seriously, I cannot stress this enough, you guys are brilliant. I feel like I haven't said that enough and no I'm not sucking up to you guys, I have my reasons :P

Thing is, that this story isn't like others. And I don't mean that in a my-writing-is-superior-than-others' kind of way. It's different. I read a lot of fanfiction. I used to read a lot on IF too but now I just follow a few old ones that are works in progress and every time I read updates I get this feeling that this story is different. Not better, mind you, in no way am I saying that, it's just different. And it's not too happy, too fluffy and cheesy and full of romantic moments between AR like eye locks and dupatta falling and people falling on each other. Not that there's anything wrong with those stories I love them too. Thing is, that Love Is was a lot like that. It was more too, but it had all of the aforementioned "moments".

And I know how much people like those stories with that kind of writing and what I'm trying to say is that I'd like to thank you guys for sticking with my story amongst all the other great ones even though it's slow and not cheesy and romantic at all. You get the drift.

Which is why writing this story makes me so happy, because all the readers I have here, you guys appreciate what I'm trying to do even though it's not conventional and you review and ask for updates and pester me even when AR haven't even talked barabar se, so thank you so much, again <3

If you're wondering why I feelings-barfed all over you out of nowhere, it's because I've realized recently that I've lost a few of my old readers. Some are inactive, I know that. Others have stopped reading I guess, maybe they didn't like this version but I'm so so so proud of this story that I'm gonna keep writing even if I have like 5 readers left 😆

So basically this is me thanking you guys for all your reviews/support no matter how short/long they are <3

xoxo

Chapter 4: Kairosclerosis

Kairosclerosis. N. The moment you realize you're currently happy ' consciously trying to savor that feeling ' which prompts your intellect to identify it, pick it apart and put it in context where it will slowly dissolve until it's little more than an aftertaste.

Malik Associates, New York City, Present

Two hours, one office tour and four handshakes later she's back at her new office, trying to take it all in. She's seen the entire firm, met the people and decided that her workplace is every man's wet dream, because wow. She thinks maybe working here as a salaried employee wouldn't be that bad, and then the thought scares her because she's already letting her guard down and that's not what she came to do here.

She meets Ashley; blonde hair, blue eyes, petite and quintessentially American. Ash, as she's been instructed to call her, is interning here and plans to specialize into interior design and work as an interior designer in Malik Associates. Nick, as they call him, is of Italian descent (and ridiculously good looking in a sexy nerd way) and plans to go into urban planning once he's got enough experience. She also meets Tyler, the firm's lawyer and Joe, his right hand man and Tracy's husband. She's told she will be meeting Brittany next week. They're an eclectic bunch of people, similar in their choice of career but so different just the same. She looks forward to working here.

Her first project is to design a high-end apartment. She decides to get in touch with the clients and start working on the project once she knows what kind of people they are and the kind of design they would (hopefully) like. She asks Tracy to set them up for an appointment as soon as possible while she takes one of the company cars and decides to scour the site for details. It's exciting and she's a bit nervous but the good kind of nervous and she can't wait to get started on this project because it looks interesting and is right up her alley. Things really don't get much better than this.

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It's close to five pm when she finishes work. Getting a feel of the site had not been as easy as she'd originally thought. She was to begin from scratch and the ideas just kept coming. Taking the basic parameters of the site, she returned to the office, trying to make sense of all that she'd seen, being careful not to miss anything. A good thirty minutes later they invite her for coffee in the cafeteria downstairs and she agrees.

Coffee is a lot more fun than she's imagined it to be. She loves the fact that she fits right in with the rest of them and time flies by quicker than she could believe. Turns out Nick likes the same kind of music as hers and the two of them launch a discussion of the most epic bands ever (they agree on AC/DC, she decides she likes him instantly because anyone who likes AC/DC is certifiably awesome and that's the truth), they decide to exchange music and then conversation moves on to other topics like books (which he had no taste for, sadly) but she still finds herself smiling as the cab takes her back home because it had been a productive day all around and she thinks she might finally be okay here.

She thinks Home while opening the door to their house and it terrifies her just a little, there have been plenty of houses but no homes, yet. This is new and she's a little out of depth here and its scaring her because she's started to let go, to adapt already and she doesn't know what to make of the fact that she feels at home in the one city where nothing stays the same. It constantly moves and everything is just faster, better, stronger but she loves New York City in all its detached glory and maybe home might not be that bad a thing.

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Having just texted Rahul (he'd said they'd take another forty minutes to get home, courtesy of New York's crazy traffic) she makes her way upstairs and takes a hot shower. The water is scalding and she exhales loudly, exhaustion seeping in the base of her spine until it moves upwards, upwards and spreads through her entire body leaving her suddenly tired. She spares a ghost of a smile when she catches the tattoo at the nape of her neck and runs her fingers over it absent mindedly before wrapping the towel around her.

Changing into sweat pants and a t-shirt she waits for Muskaan to come home and whip up something awesome; it's her turn anyway.

Just as she's about to sink into the beanbag the doorbell rings and she wonders who it is because she's in sweats and she's hardly presentable if it's one of her posh neighbors. She peeps into the little hole and wonders never cease because it's Arjun. Her first thought is, Shit, something's wrong with Ishaan followed by Now would be an excellent time to open the door, Riddhima. Brain kicking into action she lets him in and blurts out "Is Ishaan okay?" and then chastises herself; she hasn't even said hello.

But he's smiling wryly like he expected the question because he hardly ever comes to their house. Apparently he doesn't like Riddhima which frankly she finds appalling; she's awesome thank you very much. But he obviously doesn't agree which is a shame because she thinks he's completely amazing and they have so much in common if what Ishaan says is anything to go by. Oh well. You win some, you lose some.

"Uh, sorry. That was...rude. Come in!" She smiles at him, without trying to look like she isn't freaked out by his appearance (she meant it when she said he rarely came down to her place).

They head for the kitchen when Riddhima insists on coffee and her newest batch of brownies.

He finally breaks the deafening silence after he's had a sip of the coffee and a bite of the brownie. "Ishaan is fine."

She whips her head around at this because he spoke. Ishaan hasn't told her anything about Arjun regaining his speech; he's been worrying about it constantly.

"Yeah. I can speak, now." There's only the barest hint of a stammer in his voice and she's incredibly proud of him. A car accident had left him speechless. Literally. They'd been working on it for months and he'd begun to say a few words here and there a while ago but this normal speech was a massive development. She feels nothing but pure admiration for the man, he's seen more than she ever will and she knows he still has nightmares about it, Ishaan's told her. But he has Ishaan and he looks healthier than ever not to mention more alive.

She finally gathers her wits and questions him as to whether Ishaan knows about the return of his speech.

"Of course he does!"

"Oh, he didn't tell me."

"I told him not to, I've been wanting to talk to you so I figured I'd come by.

She can't think of a single reason why he would want to talk to her. He doesn't even like her.

"I've started to th-think differently."

Hearing him answer she realizes she's spoken out loud and if possible, she's only more confused.

"You have? I, uh, thanks?"

"I apolo-I'm sorry for the way I've acted towards you in the past."

She mutters an "It's okay" with an embarrassed smile because she's used to it, used to moving on when people don't like her. She won't lie, it hurts, because she tries so damn hard to be a nice person but she knows how to deal with rejection. You push it away in the farthest corner of your mind and never open that door. It's not healthy, far from it, but it's how she deals, so fcuk it.

"It's really not. I, I've lost a lot of people. Serving as a SEAL does that. And then I found Ishaan. He's really all I've ever wanted and I think if I lose him, I wouldn't know how to deal. I'm a soldier, I'll move on, but that's all we do, Riddhima. We move on, we never have the time to deal. And for the longest time, I was- am, really, insecure about my relationship with Ishaan. I had a hard time figuring out where we stood and then he was so close to you, he still is and I was jealous. Sounds petty now, when I say it, but it wasn't, to me. I mean look at me, I'm having a hard time dealing with the aftermath and it's been close to a year since my last posting. But you; there you were, dealing with whatever was thrown at you, fighting it and coming out victorious. And it doesn't matter if your methods are healthy, for all I know they're in the "things not to do list" of every shrink in town, but you dealt with your shit and I couldn't. That bothered me a lot. Still does, sometimes."

She doesn't know what to say. It's the most he's ever said to her and she thinks he's maybe putting her on a pedestal because she's really not all that brave. And he knows. Everything, apparently. She can't help but feel slightly betrayed by Ishaan. Those things were said in confidence dammit.

"You know."

"He didn't betray your confidence, he only told me bits and pieces, I figured the rest out."

"Of course you did."

"Are you angry?"

"I don't know." And it's true, she doesn't. She doesn't know if she's angry, betrayed, or simply weirded out by the fact that a guy she's said five sentences to, in her entire life knows all about her past.

"Fair enough."

Taking the coffee mug and holding it between her palms, she takes a sip of the coffee and out of the corner of her eyes, watches him do the same. It's still not clear as to why he's come here, she knows it's not for the apology and she can't help but wonder.

"I'm here to ask for your blessing. And that sentence sounded a lot better in my head, I swear."

"How are you doing that?"

"Doing what?"

"Starting to speak from where I left thinking! It's creepy as fcuk."

"I'm really starting to regret all that hostility now, you're not bad."

"I know, I'm amazing right?"

There's a grin on his face that turns into a chuckle and then a full blown laugh that she joins in and she's pretty sure they're both thinking about how stupid they've been.

Catching her breath she gets back to the matter at hand. "So. What do you need my blessing for? I have an inkling but I'm not sure."

"You're probably thinking correctly. I'm going to propose."

She hears the surprised huff that forces itself out of him when she takes him into a spontaneous hug. "That is awesome! Of course you have my blessing, but why would you need mine? He does have parents you know. That's probably more traditional."

"Yes but he's closer to you and just, yeah. You're important to him. To me too. Sort of."

"Sort of, my ass. Shit, this is really amazing, Arjun."

"Yeah, it is, isn't it?"

And for a moment she is blinded by the boyish grin he throws her way, not because he was attractive but because he's never quite smiled like that at her. She grins back.

"Do you have a plan?"

"Not yet, to be honest. It won't be fancy though, I don't think he'd like that."

"He wouldn't, you're right. Will you stay for dinner?"

"No, some other time, I promise. I need to go home and there's a lot of traffic right now."

"Aw yeah, traffic's a bitch right now. Rahul and Muskaan are stuck too."

"Yeah. I'll, uh, see you later then?"

"Sure thing. Come over for dinner sometime, with Ishaan. It'll be a lot less awkward now that we're talking."

He laughs again and so does she; "We'll be there."

She sees him out and then sinks into the beanbag, taking a sip of the now cold coffee and closing her eyes; she's incredibly glad of straightening things out with Arjun. He is a nice guy and it hits her then, that this has been one of her best days in ages.

Her eyes close of their own accord and she falls asleep almost immediately. They try to wake her up for dinner, she doesn't and Muskaan ruffles her hair affectionately while Rahul carries her to bed and tucks her in, shaking his head at her ability to sleep through anything.

i mean which dictionary is installed in ur brain??? plz lend me that...

loved the chapter...

i loved how u described the all ridz... .😃

a lovely update...

the description part a beauty...

and the arjun ridz part was so fun...

beautiful set up rey...

awesome usage of words...

P.S: we have same choices in regards for english show... eavesdropped over ur comment..😳

All the shows I follow are my favorites 😆

Criminal Minds, Castle, Hawaii Five-0, How I Met Your Mother, Supernatural, Sherlock, Homeland, Grey's Anatomy, Glee :)