AR's 'Mine Forever.' A Note on pg 76. - Page 4

"Hey Rahul, come." Riddhima pulled him in linking their arms.

"He's Rahul Garewal, my best friend. He's the only one who made my survival possible over there and has been my rock." she said looking at him with a warm smile. Rahul recognized everyone as he had seen their pictures with Riddhima.

"Umm sorry, are you also Ridz friend? I don't remember her talking about you." Rahul spoke as he stood in front of Armaan.

"It's okay, maybe I wasn't worth mentioning." Armaan said dejectedly. Riddhima's heart constricted in pain on seeing Armaan's hurt expressions. Everyone could feel the tension between them but didn't interfere.

"Rahul, he's Armaan Mallik. Umm.. Billy uncle's son." Riddhima said hesitantly. Rahul looked at her sharply as she smiled meekly.

"Oh so now I'm only Billy uncle's son for you, not even worth calling your friend. Thanks for the reality check." Armaan thought sadly.

"I'm sorry buddy. She mentioned all of you daily but I just forgot. It's nice to meet you too." Rahul said shaking hands with Armaan to which he nodded with a small smile.

"OmG, she's so adorable. Bi can I hold her?" Riddhima rushed over to Bi as she brought Pari.

"No you can't." Nikki replied.

"Nikki! Of course Riddhima you can hold her." Abhi spoke glaring at Nikki.

"No means no. You didn't have time for any of us or our wedding. So you don't have any right over her." Nikki said with fake anger.

"Of course I have the rights, after all main Bua hoon." Riddhima said spreading her arms to take Pari.

"Aww mela Baby. Hi, I'm your Bua. I'm sorry I couldn't come on your parents wedding or your birth. But I love you a lot my Shona." Nikki and all smiled as they saw Riddhima shower kisses on Pari's face.

"Riddhima are you sure you'll need all this stuff for a stay over?" Sapna asked as Rahul and Abhi wheeled in two suitcases. Riddhima quickly made Pari sit in her lap as she unpacked her bags. She handed over the gifts to everyone but pouted at Rahul and he rolled his eyes in response.

"Kya hua? You want something?" Nikki asked looking at her.

"Yes. My remaining things are in Rahul's bag and he has left it at home."

"Why does Rahul have your things?"Atul asked confused.

"Her poor bags were near exploding due to the luggage so I took pity on them and put rest of it in my bags. You know Madam went on a shopping spree at the airport as well, despite having paid luggage tax." Rahul teased her.

"Tum dono paas mein rehte ho?" Nikki inquired.

"Yup, just next doors. But majority of times he's at my place because there's no room to keep a step at his place, so messy." Riddhima answered zipping the empty bags.

"No please don't start here. You know guys you won't believe how these two fight. Yesterday they brought the whole room down within minutes." Anjali told everyone.

"Riddhima, fight and mess? Not possible." Sapna said with determination.

"You're right Sapna, I don't fight or make a mess. Di I told you na, yeh Rahul mujhe tung kar raha tha, is ne mujh pe pani phenka tha. Maine kuch nahin kiya tha." Riddhima complained.

"Oh really, you didn't do anything Sleeping Beauty?" Rahul asked with a raised eye brow.

"Didn't I just tell you not to fight? So stop behaving like kids." Anjali scolded them.

Armaan left from there not being able to take in more. His heart broke seeing Riddhima so frank and free with Rahul. He carried all the boxes from Riddhima's room back to his. They were all her gifts from him on all occasions since she left. Armaan had waited for her to return so that he could show them to her but today he felt as if they would only act as a hurdle for her to overcome her past and he didn't want to hold her back by force. He looked up and prayed in his heart.

Everyone had changed in to their night suits and gathered in the hall again. Riddhima had taken upon herself to do everything for Pari, who was enjoying the shower of affection on her by her new bua.

"Finally you've got competition haan? Ab Pari tumhari taraf dekh bhi nahin rahi. She has changed her favorite person." Abhi joked with Armaan.

"There's nobody who can give me competition and I will always be Pari's favorite." Armaan replied and whistled. Both Pari and Riddhima directly looked at Armaan. Pari squealed and clapped as he made faces at her, whereas Riddhima smiled at the interaction between the duos. But just after 5 minutes she turned Pari to the other side so that she couldn't see Armaan and glared at him as he whistled again to gain her attention. He laughed softly at her reaction.

The night went on with lots of talking and munching on snacks. After midnight, dey all devoured kulfis with Choco sauce which Abhi brought just then. Riddhima enjoyed her vanilla and strawberry ice crme with almond crunch like always.

"Armaan, yeh lo." Riddhima said forwarding her hand with the ice crme tub and licking her lips clean. Armaan and others looked at her in shock as she said this. It was her habit to do this whenever she ate an ice crme to make Armaan eat from it though she wouldn't share it with anyone else. Her head shot up as her words sunk in. She looked around and found everyone busy eating, Armaan had motioned them not to embarrass her now.

"Lao do." He took the tub from her hands and relished it just like always, completely ignoring her curious looks.

A week was left for the official functions of Anjali's wedding to begin. The friends had decided amongst them that boys, Armaan's parents and Nikki would join from Atul's side as he had no close family. Everyone was at their toes running around doing their part of the work. Shashank and Padma had returned from their business trip and were now spending time with their two daughters and son, Rahul. Shashank had taken an immediate liking towards Rahul when he first met him during his visit to Riddhima abroad. He had appreciated and thanked him for helping Riddhima with everything. Rahul, who had lost his father at an early age, loved and admired Shashank for the love and support he showered on him. He had become an integral part of the family. The Guptas were almost done with the preparations and hence they went out for lunches, dinners and long drives.

Armaan climbed the stairs of Gupta Mansion to Riddhima's room. He knocked several times but was met with no response. He turned the knob to peep inside and found it empty. Armaan called out for her as he knew Riddhima was at home. He had inquired before coming. Tomorrow the functions would begin and he wanted to clear the doubts between them. He was pulled out of his thoughts as Riddhima stepped out of changing room. Armaan stood rooted at the sight of her. She was dressed in a baby pink gown with black sequins belt, her hair tied in a high ponytail, eyes outlined with kajal, and lips colored in rosy pink gloss and a pair of delicate black studs. Riddhima was shocked to see him in her room and his intense gaze was making her conscious. She shifted uncomfortably looking here and there, not understanding how to begin a conversation. Armaan had caught on to her nervousness and smiled sadly. Today she couldn't find words to talk to him and before she wouldn't end talking unless he diverted her attention.

"I'm sorry. I had knocked a couple of times at your door before entering." he said.

"It's okay. Di's gone to the parlor and nobody's home right now." she said.

"I know. Are you going somewhere?" he gestured towards her clothes.

"No, Mama said that guests will start coming from today evening and I have to help them settle in the outhouse, so."

"Okay, I want to talk to you. Can I get a few a minutes?" she nodded in response.

"Can we sit and talk?" he gestured towards the sofa. They sat in silence for the first few minutes.

"Riddhima, why are you doing this? What have I done to earn this punishment?" he spoke softly, inhaling deeply.

"I don't under.."

"Please, both of us know what I'm speaking about. I've spent these 7 long years in guilt and self-loathing. I know I have done something that you've pushed me away completely, but I swear I have no memory of any of it. All I remember is dropping you off at Sapna's house for the party and since that day you kept going away from me. Where did I go wrong? Did I hurt you?" he spoke helplessly.

"There's no such thing, you're just assuming. I didn't push you away nor am I ignoring you. We're still friends like before." she spoke looking at her hands.

"Look at me Riddhima. Look into my eyes and repeat this." he said raising his hand to touch her face but she stood up abruptly.

"Armaan please, I've told you once and I don't find it necessary to repeat myself. Now please leave, guests will be coming any moment."

"You said we are friends like before. Really, is that why I get only hi and how are you after all these years? Is that why I was made to keep away from hearing your voice even once? Is that why you never bothered to check on me?" he said standing behind her.

"Ridz, where are you? Come down. I have a surprise for you." Rahul's voice boomed through the silence of her room.

"Rahul is calling me. I need to go." she said turning towards the door.

"Is it too much to ask for an explanation?" he asked dejectedly.

"I've told you that it's nothing like what you're thinking. I had become busy with my studies and life over there so didn't get the time to interact with everyone over here. That's it." he gulped hard and closed his eyes tightly as the pain in his chest became unbearable.

Riddhima sprinted down the stairs as she saw Muskaan and Sid standing there. She hugged Muskaan earning a loud voice of throat clearing from behind her. "Why does she get a hug first? I've also traveled the same distance for you. She didn't come by foot; she travelled by air, in fact she woke up just after the landing." Sid complained with his arms folded across his chest. Riddhima opened his arms and hugged him tightly. "Thank you for coming, I'm honored you decided to grace us with your royal presence, Your Majesty." all of them giggled.

"Hey Armaan. Nice to see you man. How are you?" Sid looked up at Armaan and moved to meet him to which he just nodded and shook hands.

"How come you're here? Weren't you guys supposed to check on the arrangements?" Rahul asked.

"Oh he just came to see if we needed any help." Riddhima said quickly.

"Yeah. Thanks for your time. I'm sorry to have disturbed you." Armaan spoke looking down and left hurriedly.

The groom's side had brought in the mehendi for shagun. They were treated with snacks and refreshments. Everyone was enjoying the function except for Armaan. He was mentally absent, his inner turmoil was taking a toll on him but he sat through everything just because he couldn't break Atul's heart, who was his brother. He had become a pro by now at hiding his emotions from everyone. He stood up to go out in fresh air when a flash of light caught his attention. He turned around to see Riddhima standing in the lobby decked up in a green and magenta churidaar, trying to tie the doris of her shirt in front of a wall sized mirror.

"Namaste uncle." she greeted hesitantly as Shashank approached her with his friend.

"Namaste uncle." Armaan said rushing to stand behind Riddhima, covering her naked back from everyone's gaze. He gestured her to bend and take blessings. Later he pulled her away under the staircase saying he needed something.

"Aap yahan rukye, I'll send one of your friends to help you." he said turning away quickly.

"I love you. Will you please marry me?" Sid asked Riddhima.

"Umm.. Is that how you're planning to propose in front of everyone? Where's the ring?" she asked opening an empty box in his hand.

"Remember we've still not gone to get the rings? What's wrong in proposing like this?" Sid asked.

"This way will surely get you a big no. And don't count on me for ring shopping, I'm very busy. I've already told you what to get." she said putting the box back in his hand.

"Do you even know how hard it is to say this in front of everyone and to top it you always have the fear of rejection."

"Well in your case you're saved. Because you already know the answer is yes. Now don't spoil it with this long face and an empty head." she said. The two continued to bicker and failed to notice that Armaan had witnessed the whole scene. He staggered back and walked out of the house silently.