ArSh*Asli True Love* #2//NOTE Pg 118/PAGE 122 PART COMPLETED/see index

"shilpa...uh...before we go inside, I need to talk to you...I mean...yeah, we really need to talk...shilpa? Shona?"

he shook her by her shoulder when she hadn't responded at all...

"huh?" she took out the earphones in her hand and looked at him baffled..

"you were listening to songs?" he aksed accusingly... what the hell was wrong with this girl! Why was she bent on scaring the hell outa tha poor guy! Her actions were clearly making him feel that she was angry now... or maybe just too polite to tell that she was angry...was she gonna kill him for kissing her? He really considered that. But even if that, why not just kill and get over it? Why was she scaring him so much? And that consistent blush on her face. The pinkness in her cheeks had never faded.

"haan! Listen to this song...its so much fun! Aishwarya and abhishek bachchan...I've listened to it so any times now that I think mujhe yaad hi ho gaye hain lyrics!" she chuckled and put one headphone in his ear. He listened for a second, some stupid song, abhishek trying to make aishwarya listen to him and she showing nakhras...yeah, the perfect song for the scene going on in his life!

"uh...andar chale? Nikki hamara wait kar rhi hogi na..." he said dragging their suitcases... the talking could wait, but amidst all the feelings, listening to abhishek aishwarya song was a torture.

"mishaaa diii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" shilpa shouted and dropping her ipod on the floor, ran upto her cousin and hugged her tight. Armaan looked at her bright face. Then at the ignored I pod near his feet. Then back at her smiling face. She was an angel. He finally concluded.

Shilpa called him over and introduced him to her cousin, misha di, her 7 year old daughter spriha and her husband, raj. They were good happy people, and as much as armaan saw, shilpa seemed to really love them. She seemed really happy and cheerful around them. He again wondered if what he did was wrong. And the best way to know it was to talk to her. He again tried, "shilpa..uh..i.."

"arre shilpa..please jaakar nikki ko bata de that you've come! Bechari kab se pareshaan hai tum dono ke liye..." misha advised and shilpa immideately went to nikita.

Armaan fussed for a while, deciding whether to wear a red tie or a blue one. Red had been his favourite colour once. But then again, that was years and years ago..after shifting to Chandigarh, precisely after leaving sanjeevani that is, there weren't any particular favorites. He held up both the ties and tried to see if he still liked red that much. He didn't really feel it. Blue looked equally good. And both were suiting him well with his white shirt and the black coat that he intended to wear. Shilpa. Oh yes! The best solution! Without thinking twice, he made his way to shilpa's room, also hoping that by this way, he will probably be able to talk to her.

He knocked on the door and saw her coming out of the washroom. She was wearing a white knee length bath robe. Her wet hair were dripping on her back. Her eyes looked even bigger and clear.She was indeed an angel. He wondered for a moment, how in the world was any guy living and doing his work? Why wasn't everyone just after her!? Good that they weren't actually. She belonged to him. Only and only him.

She noticed him and went blank for a moment. Just a fraction of a second, but it was blank, When she looked at him standing at the door of her room with two ties and a black coat in his hand. He hadn't combed. She wished he'd never comb in his life. He looked so good with those strands on his forehead. His eyes gazing intensely into hers. His bluish grey eyes seemed to converse on their own. There was so much to read in them. And right now, they were full of desire. It seemed like he wanted to say so much to her.

And of course he did, he wanted to say so much. Bt then and there, at that moment, he felt so blank...and yet so complete..

She looked down at what she was wearing, there were chances she'd be embarrassed in front of him but surprisingly, she felt comfortable enough to call him in.

"uh...vaise..i didn't tell you in the day that you were looking really good today...in that dress...and that side ponytail of yours.." he smiled as he moved closer to her.

"thank you.." she merely whispered. His proximity was so intimidating sometimes that would be speechless. But he praising her like this... she felt out of the world. she thought if she should kiss him her thank you, but decided against it.

"uh...aap yahan tayyar hone waale ho?" she indicated to the things in his hand..

Thank god she was atleast talking to him! Now, without making her nervous or uncomfortable, he would slowly and steadily come to the point.

"uh..kind of...actually can you help me decide which color tie to wear...I am confused between this red and blue.."

"aapko kaunsa color pasand hai? Vohi pehen lo.." she simply answered taking out things from her suitcase..

"uh..what..what are you wearing?" he asked..

She pointed to a blue-black saree kept on the bed..

"badtameez dill!" he exclaimed as he saw it..

"what?"

"the saree..its exactly like deepika's in badtameez dill..."
"who deepika? What badtameez dill armaan? Aap bol kya rhe ho?" frowning, she kept her hands at her waist and asked..

"arre...deepika padukone yaar...in a song from one of her recent films she was wearing this kind of a sarree..do you even know deepika padukone? Ya sirf Jennifer aniston aur Angelina ko hi jaanti ho?" he smirked..

"deepika padukone! Of course I know her! She's ranbir's ex girlfriend...I love ranbir!"

"and I love you.."

"what? Kuch kaha aapne?"

"uh...nah..nahi...uhm..ye tie...tie baandh do na please.."

"which one? Red or blue?" she took both in her hands and asked.

"blue...it would go with you saree na.." he winked at her..

She looked down to hide her pink cheeks and started to knot his tie.

"oh! And why exactly do want yur tie to match with my saaree?" she asked naughtily. However intimidating he was, there was something unusually comforting about him. She did not have to think twice to call him in the room even when she's wearing a single bath robe. Hell, she did not think twice before letting him kiss her! Oh, that kiss.

"you really want me to answer that?" he smirked and lazily rested his hands on her waist making her come closer. She stopped for a moment and looked into his eyes. What was this man upto?!

"what?" he feigned the most innocent looks and came closer...just casually.

She shook her head and finished her work. "here, done!" she said making him look in the mirror..

"looks good na?" he looked at both their reflection in the mirror. Her bath robe's little opening leading to her cleavage. Water droplets were still dripping down.. will he ever have an access to the pristine valley? Will he be able to make her do his tie everyday for the rest if his lifetime? He smiled at that thought. He hated to wear ties since he believed he couldn't breathe with the knot smothering him to death. But if she does it, who cares about death!

"perfect!" she said admiring the reflection in the mirror and before he could turn around, she picked up his black coat and starting makin him wear it, giving him more insights to their hopeful future.

"ab main tayyar ho jaun?" she asked after he was done. He came closer, and closer, and even more closer until she was utterly confused about his intentions. Was he going to help her dress up like she had done? Her eyes widened on their accord as that thought passed through her mind.

"ar...armaan..mujhe tayyar hona hai.." she managed to whisper but it didn't seem like affecting it. He came even more closer, if it was at all possible, held her by the waist, pecked her forehead softly and murmured a thank you'..

He hadn't seen her for the past thirty minutes. And it was the limit now! How can girls take so much time to get ready! The party had already started...all the guests were here. Abhi and nikki were here...though not really together since abhi was just running after nikki apologizing and manaoing her. Armaan loved the sight. Imagining him and shilpa in their shoes was perfect. But then again, will shilpa also make him run after her? For a millisecond, he was reminded of riddhima...

"oh here you are! Aap aa gaye dr. armaan mallik? Aap kyun aaye? Kya hai yahan? Kisi ki shadi hai kya? Par aapko isse kya? Aap jaakar kisi ki life bachahiye na? work comes first right?"

Nikita's unremitting taunting brought him out of his reverie...

"arre nikki...maine bataya toh tha subah phone pe..tune khud hi permission di thi na..." came armaan's reply..

Abhi just stood unknown like a kid between two teachers.

"permission di thi toh tu raat ke 9 bje waapis aayega? And did you even care to tell me that you have returned? Look at shilpa! Atleast she had the decency to come and meet me!"

"haan toh..shilpa ne bata diya na..ek hi baat hai! Hello, I am dr. armaan mallik, nikita's best friend." Armaan ignored niki and shook hands with abhimanyu..

"worst friend" nikita murmured..

"I am abhimanyu singh..nikita's future husband.." he winked at nikita..

"introduce just as fiance' ye future husband kya hota hai!" boy, niki was hell angry!

"arre nikita...baat toh suno.." he again went after nikita as she stomped her foot and went to greet other guests..

And his eyes fell on her. She was descending the stairs like a goddess. Gracefully stepping each stair, she was smiling at her cousins. She hadn't noticed him yet. The goddess that she was looking, lost in her even he himself had forgotten to notice anything around. the saree kept on the bed surely reminded her of deepika padukone, but the saree wrapped around her slender figure now, it closed all his senses.

She came down and met the guests. It seemed like the hall had got a new energy with her entry. Everyone seemed so happy. The world seemed brighter. Oh wait. Those were the disco lights. Some of nikita's cousins were performing something for her and that's why the disco lights. Oh, he realized. All the other lights in the hall were dimmed as everyone looked up at the stage.

Armaan, however, was not interested in what was happening in the party. As the lights dimmed, he carefully made his way to her stood behind her with his hands folded against his chest. Oh, she was a mighty sight!

She was gazing at the stage with a pout, but realized some heavy breathing behind her. She looked back and frowned at him. "aap yahan kyun khade ho?" she held his hand and brought him closer. They were almost standing side by side now. She again concentrated on the performance on the stage..

"arre...why this frown?" armaan again rested his hands on her waist. That seemed like the perfect place to keep his hands.

She applauded for the performance as it ended but the frown never left her face..

"arre hua kya? Batao toh sahi.." he requested again..

"its all your fault...agar aap mujhe apne sath lekar na jaate toh I would have also practiced with all of them aur main bhi dance karti!" her frown, her pout, her lips, her eyes...it was really difficult for armaan to concentrate on her words..

"what?" she glared at him angrily when he didn't reply..

He was still smiling. What goes on in this man's mind, she could never tell! She removed his hand from her waist and started to move away.

But he held her hand...

"baat meri suniye toh zara.." he didn''t say it, he sang it! Oh god! Did he actually just sing it? That song she was listening in her I pod and had made him listen too? Did he just SING it?

She looked back at him,just like everyone else looked back at him, before nikita started clapping. She was the only one knowing there was a singer side to armaan.

He repeated "baat meri suniye to zara...meri baat sunke ye batayie ke iske baare me hai aapka khayal kya... Itna Kyon Guroor Aap Mein Hai...Itna Aap Mein Hai Naaz Kisliye...Bataiye Hai Kisne Yeh Sikhaya Aapko...Ke Jo Bhi Tumko Chahe Jo Bhi Tum Ko Pyaar Se Mile Usi Se Tum Raho Khafa Khafa!"

There was silence. Armaan still holding shilpa's hand and his smirk clearly telling of his intentions. He raised an eye nudging her to sing as well...

"baat meri suniye to zara.." she made him leave her hand and went away..almost in the centre of the hall... Aise Hum Nahi Hai Lekin Hum Agar Ho Aise Bhi To Iss mein Kya Hua!
Kyon Na Ho Guror Humko Kyon Na Hum Ko Naaz Ho Ke
Hum Haseen Logo Ki Hi Thokaro Mein Hai Zamana...
Jisko Dekhiye Humara Hai Deewana!!" she smirked and armaan was literally surprised...did she actually sing that well?

Meanwhile, shilpa invited nikita too, and she obliged, "Hum Kisi Ka Bhi Dil Tod De
Kisko Aadhe Raste Mein Chod De
To Usko Bhi Duniya Kehti Hai Ada
Hey Hey Hey Aap Ko Jawab Mil Gaya
Ho Ho Ho Kahiye Kaisa Aap Ko Laga"

Both the girls chuckled seeing armaan's face and the party seemed to have a new light..

Everyone started to join in...abhimanyu was the first one...leaving no chance to get closer to nikita.." Baat Meri Suniye To Zara
Aaj Sunhi Lijiye Ke Kya Hai Husn Aapka
Kya Hai Aap Ki Ada
Aap Ke Har Ek Sitam Ko Humne Hi Ada Kaha
Aur Aap Ki Har Ek Ada Ko Haske Humne Hi Saha
Humne Hi To Zara Si Baat Ko Bada Ke Daastan Kar Diya
Humne Hi To Husn Ki Zameen Ko Aasmaan Kar Diya Hai
Duniya Mein Jo Aap Ka Yeh Husn Bemisal Hai
To Is Mein Bhi Hamare Ishq Ka Hi To Kamal Hai
Agar Humhi Na Hote Isko Kaun Poochta!"

But the kyrics seemed to have an opposite effect on the girls, the eldest cousin, misha, now came ahead and answered her to be brother in law..."Aapko Agar Khayal Hai
Aapko Agar Khayal Hai
Ki Hum Husn Jo Mila Hai Aapne Diya Hai
Yani Jo Bhi Hai Kamal Aapne Kiya Hai
To Yeh Baat Saaf Hai Ki Humko Dekhte Hi Aapko Nasha Sa Ho
Gaya Hai Sara Hosh Kho Gaya Hai
Warna Aisi Ulti Sidhi Behki Behki Baato Ki Waje Hai Kya!!"

She kept her hand on nikita's shoulder with all the much needed adaa' waale expressions, and challenged the ,en to answer..

Armaan tugged at shilpa's hand and before she could rrespond, he twirled her around in his arms.." Nahin Samaj Mein Aayi Meri Baat To Nahin Sahin
Jo Aap Apne Husn Par Guror Karte Hai
To Kariyen Par Na Bhool Jayega
Hum Ne Hi To Khoon E Dil Diya
Jisse Rop Mein Yeh Rang Aa Gaya Hai
Aap Ka Yeh Husn Duniya Bhar Pe Cha Gaya Hai!" he took both her hands and put them around his neck while his own hands again found their place on her waist..

His brown-blue orbs gazing right into hers and his lips sporting the perfect smirk...it was only after he winked at her, that she realized he was playing her. He made her busy so she couldn't sing or reply...but she didn't fuss out, she smiled sweetly, battling her eye lashes at him and stomped his foot before running out of his arms "Ho Jadoo Ban Ke Hum Nigaho Par Cha Gaye
Dilo Mein Jo Samagaye Hai To Hairat Ismein Kya Hai
Chehra Phool Hot Kaliyan Aur Zulfein Hai Andhera
Aisa Jo Mehak Raha Hai!" she teased him back. She was smart,oh so smart!

Nikita too giggled at that...abhimanyu was finally happy that atleast she wasn't upset in her own party...a little bezzati in the song was not a big deal if he could just see that face happy...

Armaan was quick to reply,however. He was not gonna lose on this one today!

"Humne Hi To Aap Ke In Hoto Ko Gulab Aur Chehre Ko
Kamal Kaha Hai Hum Ne Hi To Aapki Nazar Ko Jadoo Baton
Ko Ghazal Kaha Hai Hum Ne Hi Zulf Ko Kabhi Kaha Hai Raat
Aur Kabhi Ghata Agar Humi Na Dekhte Na Chahate Na Poochte
To Patharo Ke Booth Ko Kaun Kehta Phir Kudha!"

That flushed the girls completely..their jaws dropped as armaan and abhi hi-fived each other..

"Baat Meri Suniye To Zara" shilpa started on sweetly to gain armaan's attention..
"Chodiye Bhi Kehne Aur Sunne Ko Hai Baki Kya!" armaan rolled his eyes to tease her and started walking in the opposite direction..
"Dekhiye Main Keh Rahi Hoon Baat Meri Suniye To Zara" she faked a smile and stood in front of him...
"Aap Kya Kahengi Mujhko Khoob Hai Pata!" armaan feigned the most serious face and walked away again..
"Are Baat Meri Suniye To Zara!" shilpa too turned and faced him..
"Phir Milenge Agar Waqt Agar Mila" he showed a hand waving a small bye with a smile..
"Par Baat Meri..." she was left saying there...

The song was a great fun...shilpa had enjoyed herself to the fullest. All thanks to the kiss wala hero. She blushed as she murmured shona' again to herself. Even in the evening earlier, when she had spent good twenty minutes in the bathroom while bathing and practicing not to blush when she hears this word again, it all went in vain realizing the pink color of her cheeks now.

She could see him at a distance...he was giving his phone to nikita...someone related to armaan wanted to talk to her maybe, shilpa thought. While nikita got busy in the call, armaan spotted shilpa standing near the bar table and begun walking towards her. Oh shit. She murmured to herself as she saw him coming nearer. She didn't want to face him right now. Not with his we-need-to-talk mode again.

"shona.." he called out and quickened his pace when he saw her turning away from him..he held her arm and made her turn around...

"what?" he asked..

"what what?" she gave back..

"where were you going? You just saw me coming and.."

"oh nhi..actually armaan I didn't see you coming...I was just uhm..."

"you were what?"

She thought he was getting more serious with each sentence...

"I was just...uh..yeah..i was going to ask if my drink was ready." She smield and turned to the bartender "so is my drink ready?"

"uh..i am sorry mam but which drink did you order?" the bartender asked confused..

"uh..i..i ordered-" before she could make up something, armaan held her by her elbow and took her to a secluded corner..

"armaan kya kar rhe ho aap?" she asked irritated by the way he had held her..

He left her at once but his eyes did not leave her at all..

"why are you running away from me shona?" he asked in the smallest of voices..his tears threatening to spill out any moment..she could clearly see the pain in his eyes. And she felt guilty for it. She blamed herself. If not for her, those big eyes would have not turned red..

"ar- armaan.." she didn't know what to say. She just didn't want to see him in that condition..she put her palm on his cheek and he leaned more into it closing his eyes..

"shona.."

"sshhh...stop those tears first.." she cupped his face and wiped off his tears..

"so we'll talk?" he asked hopefully like a little child..

"kitni jaldi hai na baat karne ki aapko!" she let out a small chuckle.

"2 parts pehle kiss kiya tha..ab toh readers bhi pareshan ho gaye hain...its high time we talk or nobody's gonna read!" he exclaimed kissing both her hands one by one..

"WHAT?" not even a single word of what he said made sense to her..

"nothing..so...I was asking why do you keep running away from me...look...I'm sorry...if what I did that day hurt you, I'm really really sorry..but its just that..-"

"its just that you're mad...aur agar zindagi me kabhi bhi aisi bakwas baat kari na..toh main maar daalungi aapko! Bafekoof!"

He chuckled at that.."its baWekoof...not befekoof!" and pecked her nose with that..

"Whataver! Aap samajh gaye na aap kya ho!" she hugged him and kissed near his neck..he closed his eyes letting the feeling in..she was finally here..not running away..talking..and kissing! Well, atleast on the neck for now!

"I am never ever gonna turn away from you armaan...I promise.."

He made his hold tighter as he softly dropped a kiss on her head.."and when are you going to start addressing me as tum' and not aap'?"

"never!" she looked up at his face and showed a tongue..

"by the way...thanks!" she continued...

"kisliye?" he asked confused..

"just...for being there...for being you.." she herself didn't know what was she thanking him for..she was just grateful for having him..."and also...when are you going to complete?"

"complete what?"

"complete what got interrupted by the rain in mumbai.." she winked at him..

"oh! My pleasure mam.." he leaned in more but"

"shilpa maasiii..." a voice interrupted them..

"hey shona.." shilpa left armaan and turned to her neice..

"shona? My name is not shona.." she whined..

"yeah...I know your name spriha..but isn't shona a sweet word? It means sweetheart in Bengali!" she knelt down in front of her and coaxed her..

Armaan guffawed from behind her..

"armaan bhaiiyaa.." spriha now went to her and he picked her up.. "jee kahiye." He kissed the little girl's cheek..

"eee don't kiss me! Mumma kehti hai not to let boys flirt with me."

"yes..armaan uncle..don't flirt with my little baby.."

"main uncle nhi hoon miss new york! Wahan har koi uncle hota hoga..i am young abhi...haina baby?" he turned to spriha..

"I am not a baby either.." she fussed and got down from his hold..

"you're not shona..you don't want to be kissed..you're not a baby..i won't talk to you if you decide once.." armaan pretended to be offended..

Spriha rolled her eyes.. "I don't know..maasi..just help me serve dinner for myself..mumma's busy and she said you would do it...will you?"

"of course baby..i mean spriha..not baby,ok. Yeah let's go and have dinner..." she held her finger and started going towards the buffet table where dinner was laid.

"armaan uncle aapko dinner nahi karna?" shilpa turned around and asked with a wink..

"not uncle." He crossed his arms in fron of his chest..

"yeah..you too call him bhaiya maasi.." spriha suggested but armaan jumped up on that. "no no...no bhaiya shona..uh..uncle hi theek hai...but don't even think of calling me bhaiya! Ever!"

Shilpa giggled.."pagal! come..have dinner.."

"not hungry.."

"maassiii challooo" spriha whined in the middle..

"come armaan.." shilpa simply ordered him and went to help spriha..

Spriha and armaan sat on chairs with their plates in front while shilpa sat on the table,feeding spriha .

"aap kha kyun nahi rhe?" she asked armaan giving another morsel to the girl..

"mujhe bhi tum khilao.." he pushed his plate towards her..

While shilpa glared at him, spriha started giggling.."aap bhi chhote bache ho?"

"I am tired yaar shona..pleaseee.." he pouted..

"armaan! Pagal mat bano! I am not feeding you like this..jaldi se khaalo chalo.."

"nops.."

"khila do na maasi...aap pyar se khilate ho..mumma to keeps scolding me.."

"khila do na maasi!" armaan too spoke like spriha and brought his face forward..

Shilpa rolled her eyes and put a morsel in his mouth.. he faithfully opened his mouth again for the next one..

In the middle of feeding both armaan and spriha one by one, came an exhausted misha and sat beside her daughter..

"kya chal rha hai yahan?"

"dinner!" spriha chuckled with a mouthful.. "this chicken is so tasty mumma.."

"hmmm? Shilpa, khila na mujhe bhi.." misha requested and shilpa obliged, after of course, rolling her eyes at misha too.

So two plates, three eaters, and one shilpa...and then came nikita..she sat between misha and armaan and rested her head on the table..

"thak gayi?" armaan asked..

"apni party me kuch khaane ko bhi nhi milta.." nkita complained..

"arre...tu kha na..here" shilpa offered her a bite and she too opened her mouth and joined in the party.

"oh armaan...here's your phone..aunty se baat ho gayi meri.."

Armaan kept the phone in shilpa's lap.. "baad me le lunga.."

"aunty as in aapki mom?" shilpa asked putting a bite in his mouth..

"isko bhi tu khila rhi hai?" nikita asked on seeing the gesture..

"I am also tired yaar.."armaan tried to justify..

"hmm..of course..fir toh maine aunty se bilkul sahi baat ki hai!"

"arre kaun aunty?" shilpa asked again iritaited.

"armaan ki mumma yaar...kabhi khud bhi unse baat kar liya kar armaan.." nikita turned to him..

And there went the glorious dinner...

Misha,spriha,nikita and armaan...everyone eating from shilpa's hands one by one. Abhimanyu too saw this from a distance, but before he could reach the table, shilpa got a call from her father and had to excuse herself...