I just wanted to apologize for the long time that I have taken up to post the next part. It's pretty longgg, hopegully it'll make up for the delay :)
Will wait to know your response. I think a word of appreciation dsnt take much time, so plz leave behind ur view.
Love...
Chapter 17:
The sun was bright and high in the sky, its warmth seeping through the partially opened window. Riddhima kicked off the duvet to her ankles stirring from her deep slumber. She squinted her beautiful forest green orbs to adjust to the light flooding her room. A lazy grin graced her lips remembering the events from the previous night. Finally things seemed to be falling in their rightful place. All her tears, agony, longing and remorse washed away with the knowledge that Armaan reciprocated her emotions leaving her heart with over flowing love and adoration for him. She was gratified by the positive turn of events in her life. Even a few hours of sleep had done her good; she felt rejuvenated. She stretched her arms raising herself to a sitting position and reached for her mobile. Her eyes went wide and a hand flew to her mouth not because of the gorgeous face smiling at her but looking at the time. It was 9.42 am; way past her scheduled waking time. Why hadn't her alarm clock worked when she had specifically set three alarms? It shouldn't have come of as a surprise that she had slept through them all but she groaned in frustration. Now she was late in bidding bye to her parents who were leaving for Shimla in the morning. This was all Armaan's fault. He was adamant on putting her to bed and waking her up daily while she stayed at his house and even after the gap of eight years the habit had stuck with her as now Rahul performed this duty happily. Where was Rahul anyway? Didn't he know he had to wake her up? She jumped to her feet and dashed towards the door hoping to catch her parents.
"Mamaa. Papaa." Riddhima called out loudly skipping two steps at a time seeing them cross the threshold.
"Ah my baby's awake now." Shashank said taking her in his arms and kissing her head.
"You were leaving without meeting me." She complained with a pout.
"Aisa kabhi ho sakta hai ke main apne bache se milay bagair chala jaon? I had come to see you." Shashank responded with another kiss to her forehead.
"Phir mujhe uthaya kyun nahi?"
"You were sleeping so peacefully that I didn't have the heart to wake you up." He replied while pointing towards Padma with his eyes. Riddhima bit her lip understanding her mother was upset as she didn't have breakfast with them. She had wanted them all to spend sometime together before they left for two weeks. Being in the profession that Rahul and Riddhima were, it was hard to take out time regularly but they both tried their best to spend weekends with their family. Only if that Rahul had woken her up, her mother wouldn't be standing there with a disapproving look on her face, she thought bitterly.
"Mama. Meri pyaari Mama. I'm solly." Riddhima said hugging her mother from back. She batted her eyes giving her best puppy look as her mother faced her. If there was one thing that Padma couldn't resist, it was her youngest child's puppy eyes with an adorable pout. It always melted her heart. This time was no different. She smiled lovingly and wrapped her in a tight embrace.
"I loveee you Mama." Riddhima said giving her mother a sloppy kiss on her cheek.
"Nautanki." Padma muttered returning the affection.
Armaan stood near the car witnessing the scene unfold in front of him with great eagerness. He couldn't take off his eyes from the vision his love, Riddhima, made in pink silk shorts slitghlty skimming over her knees and a grey shirt with a huge pink heart. Her always silky straight hair were now tangled and fell in soft waves till her waist. Her eyes, the color of freshly rain washed forest, sparkled with mirth as her mother continued to lecture her about taking care of herself and explaining points from her list of do's and don't's. Her pink full lips stretched into a dazzling smile, teasing and urging him to touch and feel their softness under his own. He shook his head trying to break the Riddhima induced stupor and focused at the exact time Shashank mentioned his name. He noticed how Riddhima gasped seeing him there but quickly masked her shock with a smile and waved at him. Her cheeks glowed with a rosy hue as her gaze swept over her attire making her look adorable. He wanted to take her in his arms and never let go.
"Byeee." Riddhima hugged her mother one last time and turned around to dash back inside but couldn't get too far as a pair of strong arms curled around her waist like a band of steel.
"Good morning My love." Armaan whispered huskily in her ear.
"Morning." She replied meekly.
"Where do you think you're going?" He asked as she pulled herself free and tried to escape.
"Fresh. Clothes. Change." She murmured so softly that he could only catch a few words. He turned her in his embrace but she refused to meet his yearning gaze suddenly feeling too shy.
He chuckled lightly pulling her close to himself.
"Spend the day with me Riddhima." He requested leaning in and pressed a lingering kiss on her cheek as she nodded in approval.
"Will that be all, Sir?" A waiter dressed in army pants and a yellow shirt asked after scribbling down the orders on his pad. Armaan responded with a nod. They were currently seated in one of the finest restaurants in Delhi awaiting their breakfast. They had been shown to a table set in the balcony, upon request for privacy. It was separated from the rest by tainted glass walls on three sides. On the fourth lay the calm, glimmering lake and the sweeping green gardens around.
"It's so beautiful out here, haina?" Riddhima asked taking in her surroundings.
"Mhmm." They had a perfect scenic view but Armaan's eyes refused to look anywhere but at the beauty sitting in front of him. He found it absolutely hard to tear his gaze from her. Riddhima looked stunning in a turquoise blue embroidered long skirt and a white crochet off shoulder top. It was the first time he was seeing her in this attire and he could say he loved it. He would have to get her more of these, he thought making a personal note.
"Armaaan." She whispered feeling hot and bothered.
"Hmm." He hummed in response again. Though she had kept her make up minimal and accessories simple, the blush spreading on her cheeks and her lowered lashes under his searing gaze made her look all the more alluring to him. He ached to hold and kiss her senseless but because that wasn't possible he settled on threading their fingers together across the table, for now. His grip tightened as she tried to pry her hand away when the waiter came back with the order. She gave him a pointed look before giving in knowing he wasn't letting go of her anytime soon. To be honest she loved the attention and affection he showered on her, she was just a little shy that's all. They dug in the food with gusto, savouring the exotic taste of each dish. Light hearted conversation and each others' company made the breakfast even more enjoyable. Riddhima told him about her time abroad, away from her love and loved ones, and though it reminded him of the time spent in anguish, Armaan was more than grateful on knowing the details. He couldn't be a part of those days, even when all he wished was for him to be by her side all along and now the only thing possible was to share the moments etched in her memory and be part of her present. She squeezed his hand in thanks and flashed him a big smile on seeing the waiter bring out molten chocolate lava cake, one of her favourites. They picked up from where they ended talking while relishing the dessert and cups of warm beverages. How time flew by they didn't notice so engrossed were they in their little bubble until Rahul called to check on them. Armaan's wide dimpled smile faltered as Riddhima's body stiffened besides him. He followed her line of vision and saw Dev enter the restaurant with a lady. Dev was shocked too but quickly moved forward to greet them.
"Hey Buddy. How are you?" He accepted the silent glare in stride knowing he had betrayed his best friend cum brother years ago, who had to bear the brunt of his silly actions. Looking at how irked Armaan was he knew all attempts at having any conversation would be in vain so he jumped to the point.
"I've been trying to reach you Armaan but couldn't get through. I wanted to apologize.." Dev was cut short when Armaan interrupted him.
"Save your words for those who are interested. I don't give a damn about what you have to say."
"Ridd.."
"Don't you dare bring her name on your tongue or look her way again. I will not spare you Dev, remember that." Armaan said furiously standing in front of Riddhima like a shiled and protecting her from his eyes. He wrapped his arm around Riddhima's shoulders and guided her out of the restaurant leaving a visibly upset Dev behind.
"Don't worry Dev. Ap dobara koshish karye ga, I'm sure Armaan ap ki baat samajh jaien ge." Simmi said looping her arm through his and walking towards their table.
"I don't think so Simmi, I've hurt him really bad. I wish I could win his trust and friendship back. But anything I do now will look insincere to him. He will never forgive me." Dev said dejectedly slumping in the chair.
"Aisa kuch nahin Dev. Time is the best healer. The bond you shared with Armaan and Prem will be restored too bus thoda patience rakhiye." He smiled at her. She was the only ray of hope in his life, steering him towards light and happiness. He was grateful at being given a second chance at love; requitted love.
Riddhima watched Armaan looking ahead with a far away look in his eyes leaning against a thick tree trunk. It was as if he was miles away from here. They had been standing in the surrounding garden for the past twenty minutes without saying a word to the other. The silence hung in the air like a thick, heavy blanket of darkness above their heads. She knew seeing Dev had triggered bad memories. She could see vivid flashes of that unfortunate night and the horrible days that followed before her eyes with each blink hence she gave him some space but every ticking minute seemed to constrict her chest, making it hard for her to breathe. She couldn't see Armaan so closed off and lost.
"Armaan." She called out his name as he continued to stare in space. Her voice jerked him back to reality the second time she called. He looked at her with a penetrating but confused gaze.
"What happened?" She asked as he continued looking at her in a trance.
"I.. I'm scared." The afternoon breeze carried his soft response.
"Kis baat se Armaan?" She asked tenderly.
"Of losing you again." His eyes filled with fear and apprehension sliced through her heart. She understood his fear as she was battling with the same emotions but she wouldn't accept it and increase his worries. She wouldn't let the demons of the past ruin her present. She would be strong for both of them, for their relationship and their love.
"Come here Armaan." Riddhima said opening her arms for him. He looked at her oddly trying to gauge the reason of sudden change in her body language but she didn't give him much time. She beckoned him towards her once again and he complied.
"Bus wahin ruko." She said as he raised his foot to take the sixth step. Riddhima covered the remaining distance between them and wrapped her arms around his torso, pressing her cheek against his frantically beating heart.
"Is ka kya matlab hai Princess?" Armaan asked breathing in her scent. He enveloped her in a tight hug not being able to resist her, he never could.
"This means that we have come to each other, conquering all that separated us, willingly. We have left behind our past. Now we are together. No one can take us away from the other, except us, ourselves. We shouldn't fear anything. Our love will protect us and our happiness from the harsh world. Armaan, I love you very much. I want and need to be with you. I will never let anyone pull us apart again. Will you trust me on this one?" Riddhima asked looking up at him hopefully.
"I trust you Riddhima. I love you too. I need and want you just as much as you do." He said pressing a kiss on her forehead and tightening his hold one last time.
"Common now let's go. I don't want to spoil our first day together anymore." He pulled her along with him to the parking lot from where they left to their second destination for the day.
"You love this farmhouse, don't you?" Armaan asked reclining on the sofa as Riddhima traced her fingers lovingly over the framed pictures hanging on the drawing room's wall in a trance. His suggestion of going to the farmhouse to spend some alone time had earned him a big beaming smile from her and now she looked around as if she hadn't been here just last night.
"I do. I always had a lovely time over here. It holds so many fond memories of us." She replied with a smile reliving each moment, again, that was capured through the eyes of the camera.
"I agree. Pata hai I always felt closer to you over here, your essence is embedded in these walls. We had beautiful moments in the mansion as well but then the bitterness between us dimmed their charm." He replied reminiscing that time.
The last two photographs held Riddhima's attention the longest. One was from their last trip to the farmhouse before she left for studies. She was running in it as Armaan was chasing her with a garden hose. The other was from Anjie's sangeet ceremony where they had danced together. Their eyes were locked in a heated gaze. Riddhima bit her lower lip on noticing the obvious difference between the two. The vibrant, happy go lucky attitude and laughter in the first was replaced with reservations and veiled pain in the second. She tried to come up with appropriate words to ask the question that had been nagging her a lot since last night. She didn't want to hurt or offend him.
"Don't think so hard, just ask whatever is troubling you. I will answer it sincerely." Armaan said interupting her reverie.
"A..aisa tou kuucch nahi hai." She stuttered.
"Your eyes are saying something entirely different Princess. You want to know why I didn't tell you about my feelings before you left, don't you?" She stared at him with an open mouth as he voiced her question. He chuckled softly at her reaction.
"Princess, I had developed feelings for you within the first few months after you arrived and with time they only intensified. I didn't know the extent of your feelings for me but I knew that you did feel something and that was enough for me. You were so ambitious, I didn't want to become the reason of your distraction. Time was on our side, or so I thought." He took a deep breath and shook his head slowly before continuing.
"I didn't share it with you because I was afraid of scaring you away as you were so clear about not having any relationship besides friendship. I started putting distance between us when I couldn't rein my emotions and that was very frequent. It didn't help much because the pull became more stronger the longer I stayed away. There was another reason as well. You were in my house, Uncle trusted Dad to keep you and Anjie safe and Dad had given me your responsibility. I didn't want anyone to think that I took advantage of the situation. I had decided to tell you before you left not wanting to repent later but never got a chance." He walked up to her.
"Why Riddhima?" He whispered but she heard it clearly, understood it well and felt the pain behind it too.
"I heard that you had taken Sanya for the last university function and that you were planning on proposing her. You were away for the workshop, it was my only chance to get away without having my soul crushed. I wanted your happiness, I truly did, but I couldn't bear the thought of you with someone else. I couldn't share you Armaan. I can't share you." Her lips quivered and tears ran down her cheeks. She slumped in his hold as he gathered her in a tight embrace.
"You won't have to Princess. Never. I'm only yours." Armaan pulled back a little and kissed her tears away. He placed soft kisses all over her face trying to reassure her of his love through affection. He heard her sharp intake of breath as he traced the outline of her lower lip. He kissed the corner of her mouth hesitantly. She stepped closer to him and tilted her head up answering the unasked question. He took the cue and continued his sensual ministrations, stoking the flames of desire within her. Just as their lips were a hair's width apart, his mobile rang dousing the rising passion. He stayed put in his place willing the phone to stop ringing but the caller had other plans. Riddhima placed a palm over her thumping heart and took deep breaths trying to overcome her disoriented state. Armaan turned around running a hand through his hair in frustration cursing the person who had ruined his moment.
"You want to eat something?" He asked after ending the call.
"Hmm. Nahi. I'm full." She replied.
"How does ice-cream sound to you? We have a few hours before dinner." He suggested.
"Tempting." She beamed making him chuckle.
"Great. We can enjoy it with a movie of your choice." He took her hand and moved out of the room.
"Riddhima." Armaan called her name impatiently pacing from one end of the lobby to the other waiting for her to come out. They were going out for their dinner date. Riddhima had wanted to stay home and eat but he insisted.
"Bus do minute Armaan."
"Tum pichley 23 minutes se yehi bol rahi ho Princess." He replied rolling his eyes at her answer. What was taking her so long was beyond him? It had taken barely 15 minutes for him to get dressed, shower included, and here she was in the room for the last one hour.
Riddhima stood in front of the mirror examining her reflection in the dress gifted by Armaan. She would have to applaud his choice, he surely had an eye for fashion. She was wearing a mint sleevless gown. An intricate beaded lace overlay the sweetheart bodice with a bateau neckline and a deep v-back. A wide ruched waistband gave way to the layered chiffon full length flowing skirt. He had gone as far as getting her pearl white heels and a matching pouch. Her hand trembled while turning the doorknob. She suddenly felt conscious about her appearance. She wanted to look her best tonight; for him. Taking a deep breath she pulled the door open and was greeted by the sight of him leaning against a pillar. He looked impeccable in a charcoal grey suit with a crisp white shirt underneath. It emphasised his broad shoulders and bulging muscles of his arms. The 5'o clock shadow peppering his jaw made him appear ruggedly handsome. He could give the GQ models a run for their money. Everything about him screamed perfection personified. She turned ten shades of red under his scorching gaze that leisurely roamed over her. His usual calm blue orbs were dark and stormy causing her body to shudder.
Sparks of awareness jolted her as their eyes met.
"So gorgeous." He said coming to a stop in front of her.
"But something is amiss." She scrunched her nose in confusion making him smile.
"Close your eyes. Please." He lead her to a glass painting there and turned her around.
"Sshhh." He hushed as she opened her mouth to protest.
"Now you can open them." Riddhima gasped at her reflection. She gingerly touched the delicate diamond encrusted halo opal tear drops in white gold that now adorned her neck and ears.
"Armaan, this is too much. There was no need of it. You've already.." She said.
"You don't like it?" He asked interpreting her words wrong.
"What? No. I love it. It's so beautiful but.."
"I'm glad. No arguments on this. I've already been denied the pleasure of pampering you for so long. I want to spoil you. Please let me, for my happiness." He said looking at her image in the glass. She sighed not wanting to spoil his mood.
"You look absolutely ethereal Princess." He pressed a kiss on her temple encircling her waist from behind.
"Thank you. You look very handsome too." She ducked her head wanting to hide her flaming cheeks.
"I'm glad to have your approval." He dipped his head in her hair, inhaling the scent that was a mixture of shampoo and her essence. Loud honks from outside interrupted them.
"Oh my goodness! What is this Armaan?" She exclaimed looking at the limousine awaiting them.
"It's called going in style, My Princess. Shall we?" He looped her arm through his and walked down the pebbled pathway.
The perfection with which the rooftop of the 7 star luxury hotel was done had left Riddhima speechless. Every little detail had been kept in view while decorating. The glass roof twinkling with white fairy lights, white smoke fumes and a single illuminating globe portrayed a full moon night to the hilt. The candles placed along the parameter cast a soft glow all around. A table for two was set at one corner and a plush crescent shaped sofa on the other. It was grandeur. It had cost Armaan a substantial amount to arrange it in such a short time but it had been all worth. His heart warmed at seeing his love's lips adorned with the biggest smile and her eyes sparkling with excitement. He wanted nothing else than her happiness. They sat across each other at the table. Few words were exchanged during the course of dinner but they didn't mind as companionable silence embraced them. The air was charged with desire and passion; their eyes doing all the talking for them, each accidental brush of hands and Armaan devouring her with his eyes raising the temperature of the otherwise calm and cool night.
"May I have this dance?" Armaan asked bending on one knee, extending his hand. Riddhima's emerald orbs glimmered as she placed her delicate hand in his. He slipped a hand around her petite waist and whisked her to the centre of the floor. They twirled around to the soft melodies of a violin floating in the air. He pulled her closer, his eyes falling on her lips. He caressed the rosy tinge on her cheek while the other rubbed circles on her back. His touch made her skin erupt in goosebumps and set free a swarm of butterflies in her belly. She splayed her hand against his chest, chiseled to perfection, feeling the fluttering of his heart match the rhythm of her own. He leaned down and nuzzled her neck before kissing the hollow between her collar bones, sending ripples of current through her. He showered her with soft, gentle kisses all over her face and the exposed column of her neck. She felt bliss envelop her, making her heart soar with pure joy and unadulterated love. She felt the loss instantly as Armaan pulled back to gaze at her with tender, loving eyes before they darkened with smouldering desire. He threaded his fingers in her soft tresses and lowered his mouth to hers. Her eyes shut on their own accord and lips parted, anticipating his touch. They felt the world tilt on its axis as their lips met. The kiss was everything they had imagined and more; warm, sweet and sensual yet ardent, consuming and amorous at the same time. They parted only when the need to breathe grew difficult to resist anymore. Armaan hugged her tightly pressing a kiss on her head. The kiss they shared was a promise of a future filled with many more loving and passionate moments to cherish.
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