~Tomorrow Is Another Day (AR Version)~
PART:-6
~Present~
Armaan's sleep was disturbed when he felt the sun rays peep inside the room welcoming a bright new morning. He opened his eyes lazily only to be greeted by a heart-warming sight his little angel was still fast asleep, cuddled on his chest with her little pink blanket around her tiny frame. On having a closer look he saw her frowning cutely probably because of the disturbance in her beauty sleep by Mr. Sun, while she constantly sucked on her little thumb. Smiling at the little bundle of happiness that he held he gently removed her thumb from her mouth making her lips form a cute little pout. He whispered "good morning princess" in her ears making her feel ticklish; annoyed at being disturbed she turned her face and continued to catch up on here sleep. Armaan chucked at her antics and decided to play a little more and anyway he really wanted his angel to wake up so that he could spend time with her before he left for work and so he bent down and tickled her a little near her neck making her frown deeper and wiggle a bit, Armaan bit his lips tight to refrain himself from laughing aloud and repeated his act again only to hear a whining a baby who opened her sleepy eyes, highly annoyed at being woken up, Armaan could no longer refrain himself and ended up in fits of laughter making little Arima more annoyed and this time she cried telling her dadda how mad she was, making Armaan smile wider. "Aww my baby, don't cry, acha okay dada is shoo shorry for disturbing his angel, uhmm now what should I do to make up for my mistake?'' asked Armaan resting his back on the bedpost and making Arima sit on his lap, wiped the little tear that she had shed after being annoyed by her Dadda. The little one looked up at him with her big round eyes as if she understood every word that he just said and tapped her finger on her chin imitating Armaan who was acting as if he was deeply thinking of a solution. "Idea! How about Dadda and Arima go out in the garden and watch the birds?" said Armaan and the next second heard a loud and happy squeal from Arima who absolutely loved watching and playing with the birds that often come in their garden. Armaan kissed his angel's forehead. He carried her in his arms and draped her blanked over her so as to shield her from the early morning winds...Arima was very happy to see the birds and even fed a few of them. "Daadaa...ohh..bid" she said pointing to a butterfly all amazed at this new kind of "bird"...Armaan chucked at his baby and caressing her cheek said "baby, that's not a BIRD that is a BUTTERFLY" . "B..b..bfly" asked the little angel amazed to see a new creature and even more amazed to hear it have such a fancy name. Armaan smiled at her and going forward gently picked the butterfly by its wing and brought it close to Arima "not bfly baby, BUTTERFLY" said Armaan trying to make her say the word correctly...Arima clapped her hands happily "BFLY.." she said seeing the butterfly fly away and sit on another flower making Armaan shake his head at her cute antics...After playing for some more time in the garden the father and daughter finally went inside the house. Armaan gave Arima a bath which was no less than play time for her and himself took a shower and got ready for work while Arima laid in her crib drinking her milk dressed in a casual pink frock. Once Armaan was ready he carried Arima who had already finished her milk in his arms and brought her down with him for breakfast. He sat on his chair and made Arima sit on her high chair, he sipped his coffee and fed her Cerelac which was a task in itself as the little baby was more interested to feed her hands then her tummy :p "Aru, pls baby, have it na... Dadda is getting late bacha..." he said holding her hands and somehow making her have a bit. "Sir if you want I can feed Arima baby, if you are getting late?" asked Maria their middle aged maid, politely. "No Maria! It's okay I like feeding her and besides being a few minutes late won't harm as long as my baby is happy" said Armaan replying to Maria who smiled at the duo and left to complete her chores. "And now you my little brat, stop playing around and finish your food" said Armaan lightly tickling her making her laugh and she finally started eating her food as if having some pity on her Dadda :p...After breakfast Armaan handed Arima to Maria before leaving for work, as usual giving her a long list of Do's and Don'ts... "My baby, you go and play with Maria Aunty okay?" said Armaan kissing his baby's forehead who nodded happily hearing the word play time. Armaan gestured Maria to take Arima up in her nursery so he could leave as if he left in front of her Arima would have cried really badly seeing her dada go somewhere...Armaan was not in the mood to drive that day and so he sat behind asking his driver to take on the wheel. As the journey to office began he could not help but once again think about the past. He clearly remembered that night where Ridhima had blurted out her innermost feelings in her drunken state...
~Flashback~
Armaan glanced at an unconscious Ridhima in his arms. He felt so bad for her he did not even know why but hearing her story made his heart bleed...looking at her dried tear stains on her cheeks somehow twisted his heart in a knot he so badly wanted to open. Without wasting much time he picked her up in his arms and settled her on the passenger seat of the car, reclining the seat enough to provide her comfort and safely bucking her seat belt he jogged towards the driver's seat and drove towards his apartment as he most definitely could not let her stay alone that night. Throughout the journey silence was all that prevailed in the car. To anybody it would seem like a calm night and somehow even Ridhima had a calm and serene look on her face probably because it was after years that she lightened her heart however Armaan's heart was absolutely restless. He had heard a lot of people suffer in his life but somehow seeing Ridhima's painful eyes stabbed his heart. He could not erase the helpless image she had while she cried her heart out. He then understood the depth of grief hidden beneath that smile of hers. He was lost in his thoughts when they finally reached his house, parking his car he carried her in his arms and brought her to his room. He made her lie down and getting her shoes off he tucked her inside the comforter to which she immediately snuggled to making Armaan smile. He kept staring at her for a while and After a few minutes he was just leaving the room when he heard a small whimper from Ridhima. He immediately rushed to her side to see her crying and murmuring something in her sleep and that very sight tugged his heart. He bend down towards her to hear what she was saying "I...I ne..need to be...br..brave...ca..can't cry...do..don't cry" it was as if she knew that she was having a weak moment, and was reprimanding herself for having one. Armaan could not help the moisture that had gathered around his eyes hearing her so pained and without thinking twice her caressed her cheeks wiping the tears off them "You are brave Riddhi! You are very brave..." whispered Ansh as if assuring her that she was still the brave Ridzi/Ridhi that she wanted to show the world...Once she was calm and back to sleep Armaan decided to leave the room as after all she was "just a friend" and a girl as well, however his heart was just not willing to leave her alone, he somehow wanted to just be there with her feel her presence, he did not understand why but it was as if his heart would not settle for anything less than being with her at the moment. He was thinking as to what to do when his eyes fell on the couch and a smile escaped his lips and so without wasting much time he settled himself on the couch in such a way that he had a clear view of her and slowly and gradually himself drifted off to sleep...Next morning Armaan woke up first and seeing Ridhima still asleep he decided to take a shower and get dressed, but before that he went to the kitchen and prepared a glass of lemonade, he kept it on the side table of the bed along with a painkiller just in case Ridhima woke up while he was taking a bath...As expected while Armaan was taking a shower Ridhima woke up, with a throbbing headache...She glanced at her surroundings and realised that she was in Armaan's room. The only reason she knew this was because a few days back she had come to pick up a file from his place and Armaan invited her to sit in his room as he looked for it so they could talk as he searched for the file..."But what am I doing in Ridhima's house? In his room ? And oh god why is my head pounding" thought Ridhima rubbing her temples to ease the pain, when her eyes fell on the painkiller and lemonade kept beside the bed, without thinking twice she grabbed the painkiller and swallowed it with the much soothing Lemmon water. After a few minutes when she was feeling better she recalled a few happenings of the previous night. Though not very clearly but she did remember telling Armaan about her past and that very fact made her shudder. "Oh god what have I done...How can I do this, I should not have had that much alcohol. All these years I hid my pain so well...why did I breakdown last night, why could I control my emotions like always. I am sure Armaan sabko bata dega, and then everybody will pity me, the people who once considered me to be a strong, independent, brave woman will look at me with pitiful eyes...Oh God what have I done " Ridhima could not help but think about all this. She never wanted anybody to pity her, she built a wall around her which she allowed nobody to break,not even herself and after realising that she spoke about her fears and problems,made her feel horrid. She felt angry on herself and involuntarily a lone tear escaped her eyes, which she wiped of immediately hearing the bathroom door open. Armaan who came out all fresh dressed in a white T shirt and black track pants smiled seeing Amaya awake. "Good morning Ridhi! I am sorry I got you here last night, actually you were really high and actually so was I so I thought that it's best I bring you here" said Armaan greeting a visible disturbed Ridhima . Somewhere he knew that if she remembered her breakdown which looking at her face he judged that she did then she would most definitely be unhappy with herself and so he decided to not mention anything about it for the time being at least. Hearing him greet her very casually Ridhima was shocked for a minute she wondered if her breakdown was a dream but then she was sure it happened. She vaguely remembered him feeding he ice cream and thereafter that breakdown which she wished never happened, "but he is acting as if nothing happened...maybe he does not remember, but then how is that possible! But if he does remember then how can he behave so normally" she was lost in her thoughts when Armaan snapped his fingers in-front of her "penny for your thoughts madam?" He asked in a mocking way, making Ridhima shake her head in response ..."Anyways if you do not mind we shall discuss you're thoughts later but right now I am famished and if I don't get food in this tummy of mine then I am sure the mice inside are gonna create an earthquake in my tummy :p" said Armaan rubbing his tummy in self pity making Ridhima smile inspite of herself..."Uhmm Armaan , I am really thankful that you let me stay in you're place last night...but I really don't want to be much of a burden on you, so I guess it's better that I leave now, plus I really need to get changed also so,..." "And I thought we were friends, but it's okay if you don't consider me as your friend then I possibly can't do much about that " said Armaan in a dramatic way countering her request/suggestion to go home. "Of course we are friends Armaan...but..." Ridhima tried reasoning with him when he cut her in between "good! We are friends and so no ifs and buts in friendship...and yaar why are you being so formal, Matlab tomorrow if I come to you're house I'll be burden on you? No right? So then pls chupup and stop talking rubbish" said Armaan with mock attitude Making Ridhima smile inspite of herself. "Really Armaan? Chupup...is that even a word in the English or Hindi dictionary?" Ridhima said giggling away to gory making Armaan smile, for some reason when he saw her tensed face his heart seem to be restless and now seeing her giggle. He to smiles widely..." I don't know why I feel so strongly for her...Her one smile seems to give so much peace to my heart, one crease on her forehead, bothers me so much...within a few days she has become so precious to me...And..." He was lost in his thoughts and this time Ridhima snapped her fingers "hello mister now who is off to dream land, I asked you something you know " she teased him back making him give a goofy grin..."puhlease I was not off to dream land...And about the word well it's invented by Armaan Malik and that says enough" said Armaan with mock attitude making Ridhima smirk with a "ya right" kind of attitude..."Jokes apart why don't you shower and change till then I'll arrange breakfast for us, and don't worry about clothes you can borrow mine for now" said Armaan . "Uhmm no it's fine, I'll take a shower when I go home" replied a hesitant Ridhima. She was already feeling a bit awkward after last night's incident. Somewhere she knew that Armaan kept joking around only to divert her mind and though she did find him amusing, her thoughts at the moment were not really something that could be diverted so easily. Also the fact that she had to wear his clothes made her a bit uncomfortable. She was thinking about all this when she felt a warm, masculine hand squeeze her hands ever so softly. Shocked she looked up and found Armaan sitting on his knees in front of the bed holding her hand. His eyes were fixed on her face as if trying to read all the unspoken emotions. The warmth his eyes held made Ridhima want to hug him tight and break down once again, she did not even know why but her heart seemed to have find some solace with him. She looked away not wanting to loose herself any further when she heard him speak "Ridhi! I know you are hesitant to be around me after last night but trust me you don't have to be...Ridhi if you think after knowing you're past I pity you then you're absolutely wrong rather I am in awe of you...You are indeed a brave woman! Being you're friend I definitely have a lot to talk to you, a lot to listen from you, but owing to that very same friendship I also know that whatever you said last night was in you're drunken state. I respect your decision Ridhi...I would not force you to tell me anything, that you are not comfortable with. True I would be waiting for that day when you trust me enough that you tell me you're feelings without being drunk cuz mahn it's difficult to handle a drunk woman " said Armaan making Ridhima chuckle a bit and then he continued " Don't worry like I said I respect your decision and till you do not want to tell anybody my lips shall be sealed too! And that my dear is a gentle man's promise. So pls don't worry about last night for now let's just forget about everything okay?" Asked Armaan in a soft tone trying his best to calm her down, cuz though she never said anything but he could read the disappointment and fear in her eyes. Ridhima nodded her head still looking away afraid that she might once agin loose herself in her emotions. After last night Armaan understood one thing and that was this girl hates showing her actual emotions to anybody, he knew she needed some time to herself so he simply got up and going towards his cupboard he removed some clothes for her and handling them to her, he went down to arrange for breakfast...As soon Armaan left Ridhima sighed, she was glad that Armaan was not those types of people who would pester her to speak up. She admired him for his patience and choice of words, She was so touched with the way he choose to console her, not once did he let her feel that she needed a helping hand but very subtly he did give her that helping hand. She thanked the almighty for giving her a friend like him and without wasting much time she went to take a shower and get dressed ...
After 30 mins Ridhima came down dressed in black track pants and a grey sweat shirt , both of which were loose to her and so made her look like an over grown kid. Armaan who was trying his best to toss an omelette was suddenly lost in her, she looked as fresh as a flower with her long hair wet and face sans any make up. Ridhima felt his burning gaze on her an her cheeks turned red on their accord. Gently tucking her hair behind her ears she walked towards him and whisperer a small "hi" bringing him out of his trance, "Hi..." He greeted her back. They both smiled at each other when suddenly they both smelled something burning twitching their noses they tried to judge the source..."kuch jal raha hai na?" Asked Ridhima still sniffing when Armaan replied "ha! But kya?"...suddenly his eyes Widened in shock and he screamed scaring Ridhima momentarily "Oh God! Not again yaar Ridhi this is the 3rd omelette that has burned..." Whined Armaan. Ridhima looked up at his pouting face and could not help but chuckle and pull his cheeks "Aww! Armaan you look so cute" she said giggling away to glory and Armaan well he was simply lost in the touch of her soft hands on his masculine cheek. No sooner did Ridhima realise what she was doing than she pulled back, playing with her fingers, she spoke in a little embarrassed tone "uhmm...I...I am sorry...I shouldn't have...I..." As she tried framing a correct sentence Armaan could not help but smile at the girl standing in front of him, as brave and independent woman she showed to be she was no less than a little kid. "Sorry for what? Calling me cute? Well in that case you better be sorry cuz I am not cute yaar! hawt, dashing sexy these adjectives suit me better" said Armaan with a wink trying to get her out of her embarrassment. Hearing him as expected Ridhima just rolled her eyes when her eyes landed on an extremely messy kitchen. "Uhmm Armaan? What's wrong? I mean you're kitchen ?" She asked trying to put her question in the most decent way possible, making Armaan smile sheepishly..."Actually my cook is on a 3 days leave starting from today, so I thought that I'll make breakfast for the two of us but uhmm...as you can see cooking and I don't really get along...the only thing I can cook well without any fuss is a cup of coffee...but you don't worry...ill order something for us, I am sorry you will have to wait a bit but..." Replied Armaan a bit upset with himself..." You need not be sorry about anything Armaan so many people are not good with cooking, and at least you are trying" said Ridhima trying to cheer up which was definitely not unnoticed by Armaan. Giving her a small smile he said "thanx! Anyways tell me what would you like to eat? So I can place the order?" Asked Armaan while grabbing his mobile from the counter behind when Ridhima spoke "uhmm Armaan if you don't mind? Can I cook breakfast for us?" "I don't mind Ridhi! But it's not done yaar! You are my guest and I make you work, no it's not right, we better just order" replied Armaan. "Armaan! You yourself said that we are friends and there should be no formality between us then why are u acting so formal! I am cooking and that's that...no more arguments on this topic " said Ridhima with a tone of finality in her voice, for a minute Armaan was shocked to see this side of her the girl who herself was so formal with him a few minutes back pretty much ordered him to shut up! However as he registered her words a wide smile adored his face "we are friends..." He kept rewinding these words in his head with a toothy grin and was only brought out of his Lala land with Ridhima's voice..."Armaan! We're is the salt kept?" She asked while whisking the eggs in a bowl...With a little chatter here and there they finally made breakfast ...yes they, after all chef Armaan made coffee too and that is nothing less:p...The two of them sat on the dining table relishing the delicious eggs and piping hot coffee when out of nowhere Ridhima spoke up..."Thank you Armaan " the simplicity and honesty in her voice was enough to touch Armaan's heart. He did not need to know the reason behind her thank you, for he very well knew it already. Without saying anything he simply squeezed her hand giving her a wide dimpled smile conveying to her that no matter what happens he will always be there for her...
~Cut from flashback! Back to present~
Armaan was brought out of his memory lane with the driver's voice, "Sir! Office agaya" giving the driver a courteous nod he got down on the car and asked the driver to leave for the day as he would come alone...A lot has changed since the past few years Armaan was now the managing director of the company "global markets". The entire gang was also there with better and permanent posts as well...As Armaan entered an old receptionist who had been in the company from the day Armaan had joined greeted him with a big smile..."God morning Armaan baba!" Armaan too smiled at the lady "Good morning Mrs. Irani , kya baat hai somebody is looking very beautiful" he wished her making the old lady blush..."Armaan you are such a naughty boy! Ab is Umar mein bhi tum humse flirt karta hai" said Mrs. Irani in her typical Parsi accent..."Pyaar Ki koi Umar Nahi hoti beautiful woh to apne Mr. Irani pe Daya khake shadi karli warna I swear aaj to ap Aur mein Mauritius mein honeymoon mana rahe hote" said Armaan teasing the lady further and making her blush even more. "Badmash!" She replied lightly slapping his check. "Hum Sab janta hai tum humse thodi na pyaar karta hai tum to Ridhima baby se..." Mrs. Irani immediately stopped speaking as she realised what she was saying and the expression Armaan held was enough to make her curse herself. Looking down she whispered "I am sorry..." Armaan gave her a small smile and without any further conversation went towards his cabin...
The day was going on normally, it was post lunch time when Armaan was sitting in his cabin deeply engrossed in a file when cellphone began to ring...irritated at being disturbed he answered the call without looking at the name however the moment he heard the person on the line his heart skipped a beat. "How can you be so careless, she is just 6months old, how could you have left her alone like that" yelled Armaan as he grabbed his car keys and rushed to his car."Da...Daa..." He heard a faint voice of a crying Arima, which stabbed his heart to no ends...however getting a grip on himself he spoke "Aru baby Dada is coming sweetheart, pls stop crying my bacha...Maria, call the doctor and till then place an ice pack on her head...I am reaching" said Armaan and cutting the call he drove like a maniac desperate to reach to his little angel...within 15 minutes Armaan reached home and without wasting another second he rushed inside only to find a panicked Maria pacing around the living room holding a hysterically crying Arima in her arms. He immediately went ahead and took the crying baby in his arms..."Bas...bas...shh dada is here bacha...shh stop crying..." Armaan cooed in an attempt to console the little one. He looked at her face and found a small little red bump on her head, her eyes were red and swollen by crying for so long...even her leg had a little cute which was bleeding a bit. His own eyes turned misty seeing this state of his baby. He glared at Maria demanding and explanation from her..."uhmm sir actually I took Arima baby in the garden to play and as we were playing the somebody came on the door...and so I...I made Arima baby sit on the table and came to attend the door...I was just shutting the door when I heard a loud cry and when I...I came back I found Arima baby on the floor crying bit...bitterly...I am sorry sir...I should have been more careful" said Maria in a scared tone, she was truly apologetic and ashamed for her carelessness. Armaan was furious he wanted to give her a peace of his mind but at the moment it was more important to console Arima. Giving a last glare to Maria he took Arima to his room, he tried to make her sit on the bed so as to get the first aid box but she just held his shirt tighter and cried louder "da...daaa". Armaan's heart went out to the little baby..."Mera bacha, it's okay, dada is right here...shh stop crying..." He said consoling the little one. Holding her in one arm he grabbed the first aid box with the other. Sitting on the bed, he settled Arima in his lap who was still sobbing hiding her face in his chest. He caressed her hair, and hugged her trying to calm her down but nothing seemed to have work at the moment. He somehow broke the hug but made it a point to still keep her in his arms. He gently wiped her tears and tucked her hair properly..."Arey...bash bash my baby is so brave then why is she crying ha???...acha chalo dada will tell his princess a story okay ?...once upon a time..." He began concocting stories to divert her mind from her pain. While doing so he gently placed an ice pack over her bump, and just as he did that she hissed and was about to cry when he spoke in an animated way , again diverting her mind "and then, the lion said but I am the king of the jungle...". Armaan was pretty successful for Arima was totally lost in the story and every time she would hiss he added a little drama to his tone making his little princess chuckle. Once that he found the swelling a bit less, he decided to treat her leg as well and that was when the real challenge came for the moment her dipped the antiseptic filled cotton in her little cut, Arima began to cry again as it really burned her and no matter how hard Armaan tried to distract her it really did hurt her, and no matter how much it pained to see his Angel in tears the dressing had to be done. He very gently cleaned her wound blowing on it time again to soothe her but her cries would just not stop..."bash baby Ho Gaya...it's done my princess" said Armaan keeping her on his shoulder and patting her back as the dressing was done...He kept caressing her back for a while till her sobs subsided. Once she did calm down a bit he made her have a little water from her sipper kept on the side table and then again took her in his arms towards her wardrobe, and picked up a little cute blue polka dot onesie..."my baby, aaj kitna cry, cry kiya mere princess ne...but it's okay now my baby is absolutely alright! Haina?" Armaan spoke with a childish tone as he changed Arima as her earlier dress was covered with dust...Just as he had finished changing her he heard a knock on the door and looking up he found Maria standing there along with the doctor...Asking them to come in he held Arima in his lap as the doctor checked her up...Arima was very amazed with the stereoscope and kept playing with it as the doctor spoke to Armaan "don't worry Mr. Mallik it's just a small hurt, it should heal soon, keep applying cold compress on her head till the swelling subsides completely and apply this ointment on her leg twice day, for the next 3 days" said the doctor patting Arima's cheek lovingly. "Thank you so much for coming and checking her doctor" replied Armaan as he freed the stereoscope from Arima's hand,and returned it to the doctor. He then paid the doctor and thanking him again bid him goodbye... Armaan brought Arima back to his room and laying her in his arms he fed her her milk, and exhausted with all the crying the little angel was fast asleep in his arms. Armaan was burping her gently so as to not disturb her when his cellphone rang which he immediately answered without even looking at the name as he did not want Arima to wake up. "Hello..." He whispered as he gently patted Arima's back..."Mr. Malik, Parth Sharma (the lawyer) here" hearing this Armaan stiffened for a moment as he remembered that Mr. Sharma was going to submit the papers today, however composing himself he spoke "yes! Mr. Sharma tell me..., did you submit the papers ?" Hesitancy could clearly be heard from his voice... He waited eagerly for the reply and was not disappointed..."yes Mr. Malik, I did and the court has approved of it, so Arima is now legally you're daughter, you are her father and guardian by the law" a sigh of relief spread through Armaan while a million dollar smile adored his face..."Thank you so much Mr. Sharma...pls send me the papers in my office tomorrow...thank you" genuinely thanking the lawyer Ansh kept the phone. His happiness could be seen through his shining eyes and dimpled smile. He slightly parted Arima from himself and admired her beautiful, innocent face..."I love you my bacha..." He whispered while placing a tender kiss on her forehead...
Note: hello guys! So here goes the next part...I know this story has not been updated in ages and I am truly very sorry for that...:( however here goes the next part...I hope you all like it...feedback as usual is always welcome:)
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