Ariya SS-If Only updted pg 114 9/11/13 - Page 22

Chapter 10: The Beginning of the End
Past:
"Arjun" Riya voice sounded worried as she looked at him. He had held her as she was trying to move back and the look on his face was making her anxious. She knew that something was wrong because for the first time she was feeling jittery around him. There was an unfamiliar tension in the room which they both were aware of. Arjun on the other hand was back from his dream as he saw her staring him with confusion etched across her face .His dream felt so real that he was still under its effect. Slowly he entangled himself from her and replied "Thank you "his voice coming out huskier than he would have thought.
"Riya, let's leave its already getting late "Arjun added trying to remove the tension
The drive to her house would have been silent if Abhi hadn't called and discussed their plans for the karaoke night at their friends place.
"No way Abhi! ,You know I can't sing" Riya exclaimed
"You have to come, no excuses!" Abhi ordered.
"Fine!" she finally relented
"I love you."
"I love you more! Bye!" Cutting the call off, she turned back towards Arjun
Arjun hands clenched with anger as he saw her smiling to herself thinking about him.
"So tell me about Abhi?" Arjun asked clearly masking the anger he felt for him.
Riya was surprised because they never discussed their personal lives but then she could definitely know Arjun about him.
"Abhi understands me so well that it is freaks me out sometimes. He is the mature one, while I am the impulsive one. He is like the balancing agent of my life "
"How long have you two been together?"Arjun Asked
Riya chuckled at this and replied "We never decided to date but I know we were meant to be. We have been together nearly our whole lives."
No you aren't meant to be with him, Arjun thought
"That's so sweet...but are you sure he is the one for you? I feel that falling in love with a best friend is convenient, almost as if you are avoiding rest of the world and not really testing your feelings. If you would have tried to you might just discover that there may be someone who is actually the one for you. You know it might happen that the passion just might be lost down the line " Arjun voice held a bit of a challenge.
"There is thin line between love and friendship and sometimes people just confuse the two. Habit can't be termed as love neither the vice versa .Make sure of what you want in life as it might not give you a second chance" Arjun replied almost enjoying teasing her but slowly backed off.
"However I don't know the details of your relationship and I guess I am not one to judge it."
"Love isn't just about passion, but mix of care and loyalty "Riya replied
"Love isn't just passion but mix of care, loyalty and that unknown factor which binds all of it together "Arjun replied back
"Well we all have our views so I can't say who is correct amongst us, But you should definitely meet Abhi, I am sure you both will get along well" Riya added effectively ending the discussion
"Sure." It's always good to keep the enemy close.
That night was the difficult for all three of them. Abhi knew that Riya was distracted and what was alarming that for the first time she didn't confide in him as to what was bothering her .He thought that Arjun might be the reason for this as he was cropping in their conversations more than he would wanted but he brushed the thoughts aside .Riya on the other hand was thinking on Arjun words .In the car she was confident but now thinking about it there were numerous thoughts clouding her mind. She was sure she loved Abhi but then the pull she felt towards Arjun was something she couldn't put her finger on .The way he held her today had redefined the word attraction for her .It just might be a crush she has on her boss and no doubt that he was a handsome man and mysterious .Its normal for any girl to be curious for a man like him.Yes he was just a Crush nothing more
Arjun on the other hand was angry as hell. The way Riya smiled while talking to Abhi or when she proclaimed her love on phone it killed him. He hadn't felt such rage in a very long time. Only he knew how he had kept his anger in check and stopped himself from taking her to a faraway place and love her with all his passion .But he knew better that this wasn't the time and neither he was like this .By today conversation he was sure that he had to test her love with Abhi and also win because if he fails then he had to back out and be away from her forever.
But the voice in his mind said-"He had to win or the result would be that she would belong to some other man"
Present:
Even as Arjun's lips worked their magic on her, she knew that she had to pull away now before things got out of hand. For them it would always start from a kiss and in no time were both of them lost in each other but she couldn't afford lose control considering the current situation but she didn't have the luxury to pull away quickly so she slowly untangled from him.
Arjun stared at her eyes and could read the love masked with anger and the pain of seeing Abhi here. She tried to hide it all but they both knew that her eyes were always as clear as glass for him
"What do you want from me?"Riya asked her voice devoid of any emotions.
"Don't hurt Abhi even more, Arjun?"
"I want you and I hate him." Arjun added
But I thought you "had" me. Also I am sure Abhi hates you more than you ever could hate him. After all you are the one who won."
"You know what I mean Riya; also I won because he didn't fight for his love. You are angry at me but what about him. I wasn't the one to leave you Riya but he was. His eyes bore in to hers, trying to impart a message. Almost unconsciously his hands trailed up her arms, until they rested on her shoulders.
"You made him do so "she added
"No Riya I didn't and one day you would also realize the same "Arjun added, his each word etched with utmost sincerity.
He knew she found him ruthless and cruel but he had seen no other option. And not for a second would he change his actions.
PAST
Riya was getting apprehensive about Arjun. They were slowly becoming good friends outside the office .Within the office premises he was still the same boss who used to get irked by her stats but once outside she saw a different persona altogether . Her relationship with Shree & Chotu was also progressing well and Sameer had officially coined them as the Three Musketeers. Such was the inseparable friendship that these three had formed with each other in such a short span. They had teased her mercilessly when they had found out that Arjun used to drop her home every day and how much she would deny them but she was sure that the blush on her face gave an entirely wrong signal. This was worrying her, Arjun slowly was seeping through all her shields and was becoming a necessity for her. Something with the way he spoke to her and their interactions didn't sit right with her. The way he looked at her made her think as he could look right through her and those black orbs were so captivating that she had a hrad time moving her gaze away. Damn, everything was becoming confusing and she couldn't talk to Abhi regarding this nor did she want to. Some battles are meant to be fought alone. She did try to pull back a little from him but it was ineffective because had to see him nearly every day and spend every hour with him.
But today was her day off because it was her birthday.
As usual she had been woken up with the wishes from her father and then a call from Abhi in the morning .As a tradition all her favorite dishes were made and the whole house was gearing up for the party tonight. Shree & Chotu had already sent her the lilies along with her favorite cake in the morning .She had already seen and loved the pendant that Abhi had gifted her .Her father had wished her and left for his office .She would never accept any gift from him as to anything was just too small compared to the life he had given to her .As she was about to retire to her room then one the workers in their house came over with a parcel.
"Riya ma'am this came for you."
Her eyes widened with pleasure, assuming it to be a birthday present from one of her friends. But as she opened the parcel she was shocked beyond wits to see a jewellery box containing a beautiful diamond necklace which definitely was expensive.
Her question regarding the owner was answered by the note in the box.
Riya
Best wishes for the day.
I am sure that you will make this necklace look beautiful
Arjun
PRESENT
Sameer came towards the couple to bid them bye but he could clearly notice the anger on his best friends face.
"Riya, u partners in crime are looking out for you. Don't make them wait "Sameer said
"Sure let me see what they want now "and with this Riya went to meet the trio.
Sameer knew that all wasn't well between the two as Arjun had never hidden anything from him. Since the time he had come to realize that Abhinav Choudhury was Abhi he was worried for his friend .He didn't want him to take any decision in anger which could destroy their already entangled relationship.
"Arjun, Abhi is the new prosecutor in the court and you will be seeing much more of him going forward."Sameer Said
He continued seeing no reply from his friend "Please don't make any decision in haste and keep your anger in check .Riya loves you a lot and for that you don't require any proof or none of us do .But currently she is angry as she was hurt by the two men that were important to her .You already know that Riya feels guilt regarding Abhi and thinks that whatever happened in the past was all your doing which to some extent is true. Let's not jump to any conclusions regarding Abhi coming back shall we" Sameer added apprehensively
"Sameer , if Abhi left her and didn't believe her how am I to be blamed .It was his love that was weak and not mine .If he would have loved her he would have fought for her but he didn't ,he just chose the easy way out. Anyways now that he is here let's make sure that everything is out in the open . I trust my love Sameer nothing could go wrong at least this time" . Arjun added his eyes full of determination. With this they both went towards the trio and effectively bringing an end to the party
We are going home Riya, bye guys."Arjun said
As they were about to leave they met Mrs. Sharma & Abhi
"You two are such a lovely couple and such amazing dancers "!" Mrs. Sharma exclaimed. "
Riya felt apprehensive, being stuck between Arjun and Abhi. She knew that Arjun could blow up any moment