"Zara zara touch me... Touch me... Touch me..." Riddhima belted out, way out of tune, as her and Armaan made their way to the hotel.
"Basket... Baby... Shhh," Armaan shushed, chuckling lightly.
"Tum kyu mujhe shhh mar rahe ho? Mujhe gaana hai! Toh main gaungi. Tum bhi gao! Touch me... Touch me... Touch me!!" Riddhima replied.
Riddhima was swinging her legs around, which caused on of her shoes to fall.
"OH NOOO!" She cried. "Mera joota!"
"Kya hua?" Armaan asked, completely oblivious to the fact that her shoe had fallen.
"Mera joota gir gaya! Pata nahi... Pata nahi kaise! Abhi toh... Abhi toh tha! Ab... Ab bilkul feel hi nahi ho raha!" She sobbed.
"Kuch nahi, Basket. Hum... Hum naya le lenge. Okay?" Armaan said.
"Nahi! Mujhe wohi wala chahiye," she replied stubbornly.
"Toh hum waisa same le lenge," he promised.
"Nahi na! Tum samajhte hi nahi. Mujhe wohi wala chahiye jo maine abhi pehna tha. Same. Wohi. Koi aur nahi!" She declared.
"Riddhima, baby, abhi kitna andhera hai! Kahaan milega joota? Hum abhi room mein chalte hain. Kal... Kal subah dhoond lenge," he suggested.
"Nahi! Raat mein... Raat mein kisi ne chori kar liya toh? Aur... Aur yeh jo mera doosra joota hai, woh... Woh lonely ho jaayega na. Akele akele. Nahi. Woh joota abhi hi chahiye!" Riddhima said stubbornly. "Tum... Tum nahi dhoondoge, toh main hi dhoond lungi."
"Ruko. Yahin kahin gira hoga," Armaan told her. "Main dhoondta hu. Okay?"
"Tum dhoondoge?" She asked him, her voice filled with awe.
Armaan nodded.
"Really?" She asked. Armaan nodded again.
"Yay!" She cheered, tightening her arms around his neck in a hug.
Armaan shook his head at her antics, smiling fondly, and turned around to look for the shoe. Thankfully, it hadn't fallen far and he was quickly able to find it.
But, issues arose when he tried to bend down to pick it up. With Riddhima in his arms, he wasn't able to crouch properly.
"Kya hua? Kya kar rahe ho?" Riddhima whined. "Mera joota mila kya?"
"Haan. Mil gaya," Armaan replied. "Woh dekho," he pointed to the shoe which was just 2 steps away from them.
"Yay!" Riddhima exclaimed, clapping her hands.
"Ab mil gaya hai toh khade kyu ho? Uthao usse! Jaldi... Nahi toh koi aur le jaayega!" She instructed.
"Basket, yahaan koi aur nahi hai," Armaan replied, exasperated, gesturing to the empty hotel grounds.
"Oh, haan!" Riddhima answered, looking around. "Koi nahi hai. Good. Lekin... Agar usse darr lag raha ho toh? Tum jaldi utha lo. Warna problem ho jaayegi."
Despite his annoyance, Armaan couldn't help laugh at her cuteness. Gods, she was so adorable!
He smiled and kissed her forehead, before attempting to bend again. And, he was unsuccessful, just like he had been earlier.
"Pch! Ab kya karu?" He thought to himself.
A staff member of the hotel who was just passing by, saw them and walked over.
"Good evening, sir, ma'am. Kuch help kar sakta hu aapki?" He asked.
"Oh! Thank god!" Armaan muttered. "Haan, please. Uh, woh... Wahaan woh joota gira hai, woh de sakte ho please?" Armaan requested, pointing towards the shoe.
"Of course, sir," the staff replied, bending down and picking the shoe up.
He gave it to Armaan, but Riddhima's eager hands, caught them first.
"Isse mat do! Mujhe do, mujhe! Yeh na... Yeh bohot kharab hai," Riddhima pouted, slapping Armaan's cheek. "Maine kaha mera joota gir gaya, lekin isse toh koi farak hi nahi pad raha tha. Bas room mein chalo aisa bol raha tha!" She pouted.
The staff member got alert at once. Was this man trying to take advantage of the woman's intoxicated state? He'd seen the guy around with a group of other boys in the afternoon, when they'd all checked in and they seemed to be nice people, but you could never tell these days.
"Ma'am... Are you okay?" He asked concerned. "I mean... Aapke... Aapke saath koi zabardasti nahi kar raha na?" He asked, point blank, glaring at Armaan.
Armaan stared at him, shocked. "Listen, buddy..." He read the badge on his chest, "Aryan... Aisa... Aisa kuch nahi hai jaisa tum samajh rahe ho."
"Sir, aap please kuch mat kahiye. Main ma'am se pooch raha hu," Aryan replied cordially, yet with a cold tone.
"Ma'am... Yeh aapko... Force nahi kar rahe na?" He asked Riddhima again.
"Kaun?" Riddhima slurred. "Yeh? Junior Hulk?" She pointed to Armaan.
Aryan nodded.
"Nahi! Tum... Tum na... Tum sach mein poore dabbu ho! Yahaan sab dabbu hain. Sirf... Sirf Armaan hi genius hai... Usse sab samajh aata hai," Riddhima ranted.
"Armaan?" Aryan asked, confused.
"Haan, Armaan! Yeh!" Riddhima gestured to Armaan. "Itna hatta kattha hai. Dikha nahi kya? Yeh hai Armaan!"
"Oh," Aryan replied.
"Haan! Aur yeh... Yeh kyu mere saath... Mere saath zabardasti karega? Arre... Yeh toh... Yeh mera boyfriend hai," she told Aryan. Armaan grinned.
"Sure?" Aryan confirmed.
"Haan," Riddhima replied easily. But, a second later, she hit her head. "Arre nahi! Main... Main toh bhool gayi! Hawww! Kaise? Mujhe... Armaan... Mujhe... Mujhe tumhaare saath rehke... Tumhaari tarah amnesia ho gaya kya? Jaise tumhe hua tha... Woh... Woh accident ke baad? Yaad hai?"
Armaan nodded miserably.
"Ma'am? Aap kya bhool gayi? Yeh aapke boyfriend nahi hai?" Aryan asked, worried.
"Nahi na!" Riddhima replied immediately.
"Basket! Yeh tum kya keh rahi ho? Main hu. Armaan! Tumhaara boyfriend," Armaan pleaded. "Aise mat bolo. Woh tumhe galat samjhega."
"Arre! Main jhooth kaise bol sakti hu? Tum nahi ho mere boyfriend!" Riddhima repeated.
"Right ma'am! Aap... Aap bilkul jhooth mat boliye. Mujhe sach - sach sab bata sakti hain aap. Main aapki help karunga," Aryan promised.
"Mujhe na... Mujhe... Mujhe tumhaari help nahi chahiye," Riddhima replied. "Armaan haina! Woh dhyaan rakhega mera."
"Lekin... Abhi toh... Abhi aapne kaha na... Woh aapke boyfriend nahi hain," Aryan said, confused.
"Haan. Toh woh mera boyfriend nahi hai," Riddhima agreed.
"Aapke dost hai?" Aryan asked.
Riddhima shook her head. "Nahi!"
"Toh bhai?" Aryan asked.
"Paagal hai kya?" Armaan asked, before Riddhima could say anything. "Bhai nahi hu iska! Boyfriend hi hu. Nashe ki haalat mein, sab bhool gayi hai."
Riddhima giggled. "Armaan! Tumhe sach mein waapas amnesia ho gaya hai! Tum... Tum mere boyfriend nahi ho. Ab... Ab uss din... Uss din... Tumne... Tumne basketball court pe... Court pe mujhe propose kiya tha! Yaad hai? Toh ab... Ab fir... Ab tum... Tum mere fian... Fiance hue na?" She asked.
Armaan chuckled loudly when he heard that. "Right. Lekin, baby... Abhi... Official engagement nahi hui na!"
"Oh, haan!" Riddhima answered. "Off... Official engagement... Woh toh nahi hui. Tum... Tum na... Tum abhi Papa aur Dad ko... Unko phone karo... Hum... Hum official engagement kar lete hain. Fir... Fir tum mere fia... Fiance ban jaoge."
"Basket... Abhi late ho gaya hai. Hum kal baat karenge. Okay?" Armaan asked. Riddhima nodded.
"Oh! Uh... Sorry, sir," Aryan said. "Woh maine..." He trailed off, not knowing what to say.
"Arre nahi! Please. Don't apologize. In fact... Mujhe toh tumhe thank you kehna hai. Tumhe laga ki shayad main galat faayda utha raha hu toh tum yahaan khade ho gaye, help karne. Aise bohot kam log hote hain. Thank you... I'm really happy ki hum tumse mile. You're a good man," Armaan told him.
Aryan blushed at the praise and thanked him.
"Okay, sir. Good night. Agar... Kuch aur help chahiye, toh please bataiye," Aryan said.
"Thank you! But... I'll manage," Armaan replied.
Aryan smiled and walked away.
"Chalo, Basket!" Armaan said, after he left. "Aaj toh tumne poori khatiya khadi kar di! Sab gadbad karne wali thi."
"Hawww! Maine kuch nahi kiya! Tum... Tum... Fal... Faltu mein mujhe... Mujhe blame mat karo. Ab... Chal... Chalo ab," she ordered.
Armaan chuckled. Somehow they made it to the girls' room and Armaan opened the door with the spare key card he had.
Once inside, he took Riddhima to the nearest room and placed her on the bed. He removed her shoe, took the other out of her hands, and placed it on the side. He covered her with a blanket.
He turned to pour her a glass of water, but Riddhima immediately took a hold of his hand, stopping him.
"Ka... Kahaan... Kahaan jaa rahe ho?" She asked.
"Kahin nahi, Basket. Bas tumhare liye paani aur Advil lene jaa raha hu. Abhi dawa leke sona warna kal subah bohot bura wala hangover hoga. Aur headache bhi," he explained softly.
"Nahi... Tum... Tum please mujhe chodke mat jao. Mujhe achcha nahi lagta," she whined.
"Jaana, main tumhe chodke kahin nahi jaa raha. Bas, ek minute mein waapas aaya. Pakka promise," Armaan persuaded her.
"Promise?" Riddhima asked skeptically.
"Promise," Armaan vowed.
"Jao. Jald... Jaldi se waapas aana," she reiterated.
"Okay, my princess," he said, bending down and kissing her forehead.
Riddhima gave a loopy grin and fell back on the bed. Armaan chuckled softly at her cute antics. He quickly found the first aid box in her bag and removed two advils for her. He then poured her a glass of cold water and rushed back to her.
"Basket, baby. See, main aa gaya," he told her.
She was lying in bed, her eyes closed. Armaan suspected that maybe she'd nodded off to sleep, but when he sat by her side, her eyes opened immediately. She struggled to sit up and Armaan helped her. When she was finally in a comfortable position, she wasted no time in wrapping herself around Armaan and snuggling close to him.
"Kahaan chale gaye the? Kabse wait kar rahi hu tumhaara!" Riddhima whined.
"Paani laane gaya tha. Lo, pi lo. Aur saath mein dawa bhi lelo," Armaan told her.
He made her swallow the pills and then made her drink water. When she was done, he placed the glass on the bedside table just as Riddhima wrapped her arms around him.
"You're the best, Armaan!" She told him. "Mera kitna khayal rakhte ho!"
Armaan grinned and pecked her forehead. "Of course, Jaana. Yeh toh meri responsibility hai."
Riddhima started to cry when she heard him say that. Armaan was absolutely baffled when she did that. "Kya... Kya hua? Ro... Ro kyu rahi ho?" He asked her, worried.
"Tum... Tumhaari wajah se hi ro rahi hu!" Riddhima replied.
"Maine kya kiya?" He asked, confused.
"Tum... Tum... Mer... Mera dhya... Dhyaan sirf... Sirf isliye... Isliye rakh rahe ho kyuki yeh tumhaari res... Kya? Res... Respon... Responsi... Responsibility hai?" She asked. "Tum... Tum... Ab... Ab mujhe... Mujhse pyaar nahi karte?"
Armaan chuckled softly on hearing her. He just couldn't help himself. She was so cute!
"Has... Ab mujhpe has rahe ho! Sach mein mujhse pyaar nahi karte?" Riddhima asked. Her voice was extremely vulnerable in that moment and Armaan stopped mid laugh.
"Basket! Baby!" Armaan replied. "Tum... Tum paagal ho kya? Bohot pyaar karta hu tumse. Bohot, bohot, bohot saara. Hamesha se. I promise." He kissed her forehead and pulled her closer, hugging her small frame to his bulky one, hiding her in his embrace.
"Really?" Riddhima asked.
Armaan nodded against her head, kissing the top of her head. "Really."
"Hamesha... Hamesha karoge na?" She asked.
"Hamesha, hamesha," Armaan vowed.
Riddhima grinned. She squeezed him tight and kissed his chest. "I knew it! Mera Armaan sabse best hai! I love you!" She said exuberantly, making Armaan grin.
He just looked down at her with complete love and adoration, basking in the glow of her love.
"I love you," he murmured dreamily, pulling her closer.
"Pata hai... Main na... Tumse itna saara pyaar karti hu," Riddhima said, spreading her arms as wide as she could, trying to indicate how much she loved him. "Aur... Aur... Aur I promise... Main... Main hamesha karungi."
"Sachchi?" Armaan asked.
Riddhima nodded frantically.
"Jab... Jab humaari... Jab humaari shaadi ho jaayegi na, Armaan, hum... Hum hamesha ek saath rahenge. Aur hamesha khush rahenge. Ekdum... Ek... Ek happy couple. Mr. & Mrs. Mallik," she told him.
Armaan's face split in a wide grin on hearing that.
"Achcha? Aur kya?" He asked her, enjoying this. She was rarely ever this open with him, and he was really happy.
"Aur kya? Tum aur main... Hum apne dream house mein rahenge. Apne doggy ke saath," she said, referring to the plans they'd, well, it had really been only her, made for the future with a dog and a house with a lawn and a picket fence.
"Aur humaare babies... Oops! Humaare toh babies hi nahi hai!" She giggled.
Armaan chuckled at her words.
"Basket... Abhi... Abhi nahi toh kya hua? Shaadi ke baad ho jaayenge," he teased her.
"Haan!" Riddhima agreed.
"Pata hai... Humaara na... Beta hoga. Bilkul tumhaare jaisa. Aisi... Blue eyes aur dimple wali smile. Aur tumhaare jaise soft baal," she told him, as if she was letting him in on a secret.
"Achcha? Aur?" Armaan asked.
"Aur... aur woh tumhaare jaise hi smart aur charming hoga. Lekin... Lekin main usse tumhaari tarah har ladki ke saath flirt karne nahi doongi," Riddhima said. "Woh... Woh good boy hoga. Achche se padhega aur zyada masti nahi karega."
"Really?" Armaan questioned, amused. His baby was the absolute cutest.
Riddhima nodded.
"Aur? Aur kya?" He probed.
"Arre... Jabse main hi bol rahi hu. Tum... Tum bhi toh bolo. Tumhe bachche nahi chahiye kya?" Riddhima asked.
"Chahiye na," Armaan replied.
"Main... Main chaahta hu... Ki... Ki humaari ek beautiful si baby girl ho. Bilkul tumhaare jaisi. Wohi beautiful green eyes, wohi cute si smile. Woh na... Woh ekdum tumhaari tarah daddy's girl hogi aur sabse zyada... Humesha sirf mujhse pyaar karegi. Aur... Woh... aise... Kamine ladko ko toh main uske aas - paas bhi ghoomne nahi dunga," he ranted. "Aur... Woh na... Bilkul tumhaari tarah shaitaan hogi. Phir... Hum dono team bana lenge aur tumhe milke pareshaan karenge."
Riddhima laughed. "Wow. Kitna... Kitna achcha hoga na, Armaan? Afar aisa hua toh? Bas, humaari choti si, cute si family. Hum hamesha ek saath rahenge. Happy happy."
Armaan nodded. "I promise, Basket. Hum hamesha khush rahenge."
He would do everything in his power to fulfill this little dream of theirs. A happy, cute, loving family.
"Lekin..." He added, "humaari family choti nahi hai. Woh... Humaare annoying dost. Woh bhi toh humaari family hain."
"Oh! Unhe toh main bhool hi gayi," Riddhima said, biting her tongue. "Woh... Woh log bhi toh hai! Aur... Aur Nikki ka baby toh kuch mahino mein aa bhi jaayega! Dekhna... Main... Main best masi banungi. Baby sabse zyada mujhse hi pyaar karega."
"Achcha?" Armaan teased. "Aisa kuch nahi hai, okay! Baby sabse zyada pyaar mujhse karega! Waise bhi... Dr. Armaan Mallik ke charm se koi nahi bach sakta. Baby Modi bhi nahi."
They continued talking through the night, Riddhima blabbering on and on about something or the other. It was as if she wanted to tell Armaan everything right in that instant. Armaan was absolutely loving it.
When she stopped mid sentence, Armaan looked down, surprised. She'd dozed off. Armaan chuckled and shook his head fondly.
He kissed her forehead and laid her down on the bed, covering her with a blanket. He set the AC to a moderate temperature. When he got up to leave, he felt Riddhima's hand hold his own.
"Armaan... Please mere paas raho na," Riddhima mumbled sleepily. "Mujhe tumhaare saath rehna hai."
Armaan grinned and turned back, sitting on the floor near the head of the bed. He kissed Riddhima's cheek and settled down, leaning against the bedside table.x
"I love you, Basket," he murmured softly. "I promise... Main tumhaare saare sapne poore karunga. Humaare saare sapne poore karunga. Ab kuch galat nahi hoga."
Saying so, he lifted his head to drop another kiss to her nose before settling down again. He rested his head on the bed and smiled when Riddhima moved so that her head was resting against his.
Staring at her, looking so absolutely beautiful, Armaan never realized when he drifted off to sleep either.
xxx
Hey guys!!!
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT IT HAS BEEN 4 YEARS?!?! 4 YEARS OF THIS BABY RIGHT HERE AND WOWZA!
Thank you so much for sticking by along this bumpy road full of long absences with zero updates! I am so very sorry! I know it must've frustrated you guys so much but you're all still here and I love you guys for it. Thank you so very much! :D
Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAKOOO!!!! I LOVE YOU! :D
I hope you guys liked this one cause I think that ILYLTF & Paki's birthday warrant for a fun chapter and what's better than Drunk Ridz combined with some AR fluff? I hope it lived up to your expectations! I promise we shall have a Drunk Armaan chapter soon! :)
But, till then, isse kaam chala lo!
Next update will be after 25 cause I have an exam on that day. But, after that, hopefully we shall have much more frequent updates! :)
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