ARSH SS: IT NEVER GOES AWAY NOTE PG6 - Page 2

"You know, you would think that by now I would realize that I shouldn't expect anything from both of you."

Her voice wasn't full of pain. It didn't contain any sort or anguish. It was full of anger; anger, disgust and to some point regret. Of these three people, two had been through a lot, together and to see where they stood in each other's lives at this point hurt them both. Armaan looked at Shilpa as she raged on. She was gorgeous. She was caring, talented, a complete sweetheart and she was his, but she wasn't his anymore; not for the past two years. For the past two years each time he looked at her, he saw everything he lost; his life, his love; the one person that stood by him through everything.

"shilpa how could you say that?" shilpa looked at riddhima sharply. Riddhima always wanted what she could never have, even from college years. She ensured that whatever she wanted she got and she wanted armaan. Now that she had him, she felt that she had won some epic battle and she was ahead of shilpa. She knew armaan's affections' for her where somewhat forced, but she still had him and shilpa didn't and that boosted her ego.

" shilpa, I..."

"riddhima, I really don't want to hear anything from you,"

"but,"

"don't!"

"shilpa listen to me," armaan began, "we-"

"the same goes for you armaan," it hurt her to say his name, "I don't want to hear you," she said each word carefully and slowly enough for him to realize that the conversation was over.

"shilpa,"

She turned away before he could continue. Walking away she tried to block armaan and riddhima out of her head. She had gone through too much with and because of them, especially tonight and needed to get home. Inattentive due to her thoughts, she misbalanced. Her slight gasp stilled when she felt herself enclosed by a very strong frame. Slowly, she opened her eyes and met a pair of blue eyes looking down at her. Usually she would have complained, she would have been the self-independent woman she was and get up, thank him and walk away, but this time, she didn't want to. This time she didn't mind being hypnotized by the stranger' for a few more seconds. Helping her to her feet, she took in the way his secret smile broadened as she realized who he was; Shahid Kapoor; one of the most successful singers of her time.

"you ok?" his voice was sincere.

She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. Crossing his hands over his chest, shahid looked at shilpa with a smile, " and there I thought this would be my reaction when I finally met you shilpa."

Her eyes widened...more, " you know my name?"

"of course I do shilpa, I'm a huge fan," he extended his hand towards her, "I'm shahid."

She did nothing, she just looked at him. "you listen to my music?"

With his hands still extended he spoke, "almost every day," he stated matter-of-factly.

"huh?" her pitched raised in shock.

Shahid chuckled. Taking her right hand in his, he spoke with a small smile, "when a fan extends his hand to you, you should take it."

She gave him a small, nervous smile, "Hi"

"hi,"

Hesitantly removing her hand, she spoke, "thanks for not letting me fall,"

Shahid glanced at the ground and then at her with an honest but barely noticeable smile, "pleasure was all mines." And with that, she blushed.

Some distance away, someone was taking in their interaction. His blood boiled as jealousy flowed through his veins. Armaan tried to hide it, but it wasn't worth hiding.

"so what are you doing here mr. kapoor?"

"shahid please, and I came hoping to get an autograph,"

"from?"

"you"

Shilpa's eyes widened, "from, from me?"

"I'm a fan, a huge one at that. Weren't you listening?" he grinned as he took out a pen and piece of paper from his pocket, "may I have your autograph?" he looked at her, as shock pulsed through her, admiring her beauty, "please"

"sure," stretching out the word.

After signing his piece of paper, she spoke, still baffled, "as much as I would love to stay, I need to leave."

Her statement genuinely disappointed him, "already?"

A small smile crossed shilpa's lips, "yea, I live about an hour away and I have some stuff to do home,"

"but this was the point where we would talk a little bit more and then I would sneek asking you out into the conversation,"

Shilpa laughed a little and that was enough to have shahid spellbound, "well, as much as I like the idea, I really need to go. Sorry,"

"I guess it's ok," he voice was soft, "how about your number then?"

"uhh, sure."

After their brief exchange of numbers, shahid spoke.

"do you really need to go?"

"yea, I kind of do,"

"well, if you don't mind, what are you doing tomorrow?"

"tomorrow, I unfortunately, or unfortunately, not sure which one it is at the moment, have to go out,"

"oh, ok."

"I have to perform for a valentines concert tomorrow,"

"you don't want to?"

"no I want to, but the company,"

"I understand. What time is it?"

"eight. Why?"

"if you don't mind, I may show up,"

"I don't mind at all," she smiled.

"it's just that I have to perform somewhere too. Where is it?"

"central park,"

"ok, so I might see you tomorrow."

THE NEXT DAY; VALENTINES DAY

Shilpa looked at herself in the mirror. Her knee length red flowing dress hugged her in all the right places and made her look classy just as she loved and her makeup was minimum. She looked gorgeous in her simplicity but there was one problem; she hated this day. Valentine's Day was ruined for her. Seven years ago armaan asked her to be his girlfriend on Valentine's Day. Four years ago, armaan proposed to her on Valentine's Day, and she accepted. Two years ago, they broke up, on Valentine's Day.

Three years ago, Valentine's Day

"hey gorgeous," As Shilpa looked at the single red rose in front of her a smile claimed her lips. Taking it, she turned around and looked at armaan.

"hi," She looked at armaan for a moment taking in his smile, his mischievous smile, "armaan what are you up to?"

"is that how you greet me?" his head titling a bit.

Shilpa smiled, she always loved when he did that. Giving him a quick kiss she leaned back before he could hold her, "hi armaan, what mischief are you up to?"

"oh, shilpa my darling," he circled his hands around her waist as she placed her hands on his shoulder, "yes armaan my love,"

"my love?" he looked at her with a slight smile. She just looked at him knowingly with a tiny smile, "that's a new one. I like it,"

Shilpa giggled. "and I love that sound"

Armaan began walking shilpa back until she hit the wall.

"armaan what are you going-"

She was interrupted when he started tickling her.

Present day

Sighing, shilpa looked down before she could see a tear could escape. She refused to see herself cry for him. Quickly wiping her tears, she looked at herself once more in the mirror and made her way out of her room.