TDBU #3 [An AR FF] - (Track 71- Epilogue - Page 65) - Page 65

A/N : Y'all, I'm so sorrryyyyyy! I'm a day late. I had planned to update on 5 December cause that's when I uploaded the first chapter of the fic, but my cousin got married yesterday and I was busy with that the entire day, so this completely slipped my mind. But, we get an early start to the weekend with this, so something good? Anyway, hope y'all like these next few chapters!!!

____

Track Seventy One - Ghar

“Guys, did the Lonavala plan not work?” Nikki cribbed as the gang, sans Armaan & Riddhima, assembled in the cafeteria before work. “I'm not seeing any progress.”

“Nikki, it worked!” Abhi soothed. “They were having so much fun together. Didn't you see? They were attached to the hip the entire time.”

“But I don't think they've confessed yet,” Anjali complained.

“You mean Armaan hasn't,” Atul corrected her. “Ridzy already told Armaan she loves him even before we left New York.”

“Yes, whatever. That!” Anjali exclaimed. “How much longer are we supposed to wait?”

“Anjali, this is a relationship, not instant noodles. These things take time. We will have to be patient and let them figure things out at their own speed,” Abhi explained gently. “Getting worked up will achieve nothing. And, you should be focusing on the baby right now. All this stress isn't good for you.”

“How do I not stress about this?” Anjali questioned. “It's my baby sister's entire life we're talking about here!”

“Your ‘baby' sister is 33 years old, Anjali. I think she can look after herself,” Abhi answered. “And you know she'd never want you to overlook your own health at her expense.”

Rahul & Muskaan were happy to blend in the background, stepping back from the chaos. They were the only ones who knew about the date. Riddhima hadn't been able to hide from Muskaan and Muskaan hadn't been able to hide it from Rahul. Rahul was contemplating about coming clean, but Muskaan subtly shook her head. Yes, Anjali was coming from a place of concern, but if Riddhima or Armaan wanted others to know, they'd have said something themselves. If they wanted to take time and keep it between themselves, they were within their rights to.

Muskaan understood their hesitance to be open about their relationship well. After all, in the past, it was only after everyone found out about them that so many misunderstandings had cropped up between the couple. They had not been able to live up to others' expectations and things had gone incredibly wrong. They didn't want to make the same mistakes they'd made last time. She appreciated that.

Who could blame them anyway? Their little group of friends was easily excitable and extremely rowdy. They wouldn't take a moment to jump to conclusions and push Armaan & Riddhima into things they weren't ready for. Muskaan absolutely didn't want that to happen. This time, she needed things to work out between them. For good. They'd both endured heartache to last ten lifetimes, not just one. They deserved some happiness now.

“Okay, guys! Iss topic pe baad mein discussion karte hain. Duty ka time ho raha hai,” Atul announced, breaking their chatter. Everyone reluctantly left for work, already making plans for how to bring Armaan & Riddhima closer.

On the other hand, their pet projects were busy in their own world, remembering moments from their date, feeling giddy about their relationship. That morning, Riddhima walked into the hospital with a certain skip in her step that left everyone stunned. She even smiled at the interns when she was assigning them duties for the day, which left all of them completely flabbergasted. When she went on her own rounds, she was full of laughs for her patients and staff alike.

Last night had felt like a new lease on life for their relationship. Riddhima was now waiting for the day when Armaan said with words what his silence had already confessed. And she knew that day was not very far. She had felt the shift in him last night very keenly, even though he hadn't said anything. It was in the way he'd held her a little bit tighter, the way he'd looked at her, the way he didn't want to leave at the end of the night. It reminded her of that old Armaan who was always finding excuses to be close to her.

She blushed a pretty pink as she remembered how close they'd been at the restaurant, the way Armaan had been so uninhibited in his attention. And then suddenly, she was pulled into the fire escape. It took her a second to realize what was happening, but when she did, her heart started beating in overdrive, knowing that there was only one person who would do this. And, sure enough, a moment later, she was standing face to face with Armaan.

“Hi,” he murmured softly, a grin firmly in place.

“Hi,” Riddhima replied, unable to help her own smile.

“Hi,” Armaan repeated, and she was so lost in him that she responded with another, “Hi.”

Armaan laughed, a happy and soft sound that made home in Riddhima's heart. Yet, she could see that something was troubling him. His eyes always gave him away. While he was grinning down at her, his eyes told a different tale. She reached up to him, cupping his cheek, and was relieved at the way he immediately nuzzled into the palm of her hand. “Hey,” she whispered. “What's up? Why are you so worried?”

Armaan was taken aback by her question for a brief second. How did she know? He hadn't said a word yet. But then, he realized, this was Riddhima. Of course, she still knew him better than most others. She had always been able to read him like an open book. Whether he was happy or sad, elated or angry, she would be able to tell within seconds of seeing him. Always had been. He was glad that hadn't changed in all their time apart.

“I've been thinking,” he told her honestly.

“Never a good sign,” she teased, flicking his nose.

Armaan rolled his eyes at her antics. “Sure,” he snorted.

“Okay, okay,” Riddhima stated. “No masti. Tell me. What are you thinking about that is worrying you?”

Armaan sat down on the second last step and Riddhima followed suit, taking a seat beside him. She patiently waited for him to tell her what was troubling him. Armaan took a deep breath before he started talking. “So, last night was great. Right?” He looked up at her in askance.

Riddhima was confused by his line of questioning, yet she nodded immediately. “Yes. It was really great. I had a lot of fun.”

“Good,” Armaan smiled. “I had a lot of fun too!”

“So then, why are you so down?” Riddhima asked.

“Well, because of what happened after,” Armaan honestly told her.

“What happened after what?” Riddhima questioned.

“After I went back to Nikki's place,” Armaan said.

“What happened? Is everything okay? Did someone say something?” Riddhima got agitated with each question and Armaan immediately sprung into action, rubbing her shoulders in a soothing motion meant to comfort.

“No one said anything,” he assured her. “Nobody but Rahul even knew where I'd been. And it was late by the time I got back, so they'd all gone to sleep anyway.”

“So? Then?” Riddhima pressed.

“Last night made me…” Armaan trailed off, thinking of the right word to use in the situation. He didn't want to give away all his feelings, but it was imperative that Riddhima understand how important it had been. Finally, he settled on, “hopeful.”

“About us?” Riddhima asked, nervous yet eager.

Armaan chuckled, reaching up to place a Swift kiss on her cheek. “Yes,” he confirmed. “About us.”

“That's a good thing, right?” Riddhima wondered. “Why are you worried then?”

“I'm coming to that,” Armaan replied. “I became hopeful about us… And it got me thinking.”

In truth, Armaan had started imagining their future together and how it would look like, before realizing the major flaw in his musings… He didn't know what their future would be like, because he didn't know where it would be.

“And I realized that we didn't have this very important conversation yet. About after,” he continued.

“After what?” Riddhima asked him, confused.

“Well, let's say things go great and both of us decide we want to be together. What then?” Armaan questioned.

“Then we'll just… Be together?” Riddhima answered, confused.

“Basketttttt,” Armaan sighed. “Not like that. I meant logistically. I mean… I'm in New York and you're in Mumbai. And sure, I don't mind doing long distance for a few years, but it can't be forever, right? At some point, one of us will have to move. So, will you come to New York or would you want me to come to Mumbai?”

“Oh,” Riddhima breathed. She hadn't thought that far ahead. Frankly, she hadn't thought of anything other than the fact that she wanted to be with Armaan. The rest of it was just noise. It didn't matter. What mattered to her was that the two of them were together. And she said as much. “I don't care. As long as we're together.”

“You say that now, but have you given moving to New York a true thought? Riddhima, your entire life is here. Your family, your friends, your job. Leaving all of that behind will not be easy,” Armaan stated.

“It won't,” Riddhima agreed. “But neither would it be easy for you. Your entire life is inNew York too. Will you be able to leave?”

Armaan thought about his life in New York. His job at the hospital, the studio, all his friends, but most importantly, his family. Rahul was happy there, and from what he knew, Muskaan was planning to move after they got married, because it would be better for her career. Plus, Rahul couldn't leave the care of the nursing home to someone else. He was too attached. He knew that Tamanna would never move back to India, especially now that she was a single mother. She would be judged too harshly and would have to face a lot of belittling by the society if she did. And then there was Jaan. His little sister. Who was happily married to the love of her life. She would never move back to the place where she had so many bad memories. And, of course, both her & Rohan were settled in their careers and with their families in New York. They had no reason to move.

Armaan could leave everything else behind. He had already done that before, for Riddhima. But, he would never be able to leave his family behind. The thought of Rahul not being two doors away from him, a time where Tamanna was not living under the same roof as him, and the mere possibility of being an ocean away from Jaanhavi again made Armaan's heart beat faster, and not in a good way. They were his people. They'd seen him through the roughest patches of his life and had helped him put the broken pieces of himself back together. How was he to live a life so separate from theirs? He didn't know.

And yet. “I don't want to be that person,” he admitted out loud to Riddhima.

“What person?” She probed gently.

“The kind of man who expects his girlfriend to uproot her entire life for him. The kind of man who thinks that he's more important than her. The kind of man who expects this level of devotion that she moves continents for him when he can't do the same for her,” Armaan confessed. “Because I don't know if I can, Riddhima. I can't leave my family behind. If it was anything else, anyone else, I'd move in a heartbeat. I can get a new job anywhere in the world. I can make more friends. But my family is there. And I don't think I can live so far away from them.”

He turned away, unable to look her in the eye. Riddhima gently held his chin, making him turn back to face her. “You're not asking, I'm offering. I can also get a new job in New York, Armaan. In fact, Rahul Uncle has been asking me to join the NYC branch for years. I just didn't have any reason to do it before. I'm sure if I call him now, he'd have all the paperwork filed and my name on a cabin before lunch. And… I already have friends there. Rohan is one of my best friends. Always has been. And, I'll have family there. Rohan's family is like my own. Juhi Aunty has always been so close to Papa. And, you know… Even Muskaan will move there after the wedding.

But most importantly, you'll be there. And we'll be together. If I'm being honest, I'm a little skeptical about staying in Mumbai. Yes, it's home and I have so many beautiful memories here, but this city has never been kind to us and to our relationship. Maybe, a fresh start requires a new place too. And that place can be New York for us.

It's not a sacrifice for me like it is for you, Armaan. I'll be very happy there, but I think you might be miserable here. And that makes all the difference in the world. You're not the kind of man who would only take in a relationship and never give. You've never been that. You've always been the giver. And I love you for that, but you don't have to give up your life like this when I'm happy to move.”

“Are you sure?” Armaan pressed. “This is a huge decision. Take your time to think about it.”

“I'm sure,” Riddhima replied. And she was. She might not have planned so far ahead, but the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. “After all, my dream home has been waiting for me in that city for so long. I think I'd like to live in it. What about you?”

Armaan grinned wide, pulling Riddhima into a tight hug. “Thank you,” he murmured. “Thank you so much, Basket. You're the best. I —”

He stopped short, realizing what he was about to say. “I — I'm so… So… Grateful. Thank you,” he stuttered.

“I love you,” Riddhima replied, smiling into the hug. “You're welcome.”

As she sat in the fire escape, encased in Armaan's embrace, her lips stretched into a grin at his awkward fumbling, Riddhima felt the happiest. Armaan was thinking about a future with her. She was sure that someday very, very, very soon, he would vocalize his feelings too. He wouldn't have to comically fumble through his words, afraid that he'd spill the beans without meaning to. Till then, she'd wait.

Khaali hai jo tere bina
Main woh ghar hoon tera (x2)

Ghoomein phire…
Tu chaahe sab shehar
Tu hai mera… (x2)

Khaali hai jo tere bina
Main woh ghar hoon tera (x2)

Mujhpe kabse likha hua
Tera hi naam hai
Mujhme jo hai mera
Sabhi tera hi naam hai

Chaahat bhi tu meri
Aur haq bhi hai mera (x2)

Khaali hai jo tere bina
Main woh ghar hoon tera (x2)

Na na…

O humse jaane kyun bewajah
Jalte hain faasley
Milna tere gale par mill rahe ye gale
Aaja mita ye jo hai faasla tera mera
Aaja mita ye jo hai faasla tera mera

Khaali hai jo tere bina
Main woh ghar hoon tera (x2)

- Ghar, Nikita Gandhi & Mohit Chauhan

Track Seventy Two - Lae Dooba

So, maybe… Riddhima had miscalculated. Maybe, Armaan wasn't in love with her. Maybe, he was just covering all his bases with his talk about the future. Maybe, she'd read too much into his silence. Maybe, he wasn't as easy to read anymore. Because nothing else explained the sudden distance between them.

Things had been going so well, Riddhima had been counting down the days till Armaan told her he loved her. And then, all of a sudden, he'd pulled away. After their talk in the fire escape, when Riddhima had told him she'd move to New York to be with him, Armaan had become distant. He'd been extremely grateful when she'd said the words, had expressed it too, but after that had been a different story.

It had started out normal enough that at first Riddhima didn't even notice it. She'd try to talk to him at the nurse station after a briefing, but Armaan would excuse himself stating he needed to speak to Dr. Sonawane. Whenever she invited him for coffee in the cafeteria, he would have to collect lab reports or go on rounds. They ate lunch with the rest of the merry bunch so there was never enough privacy to ask him what was going on. And then, he had avoided meeting her outside the hospital these past few days stating that he was spending time with Myra.

Riddhima couldn't understand why he was being so standoffish. Had her eagerness put him off? Had she come across as too desperate when she'd agreed to move in a heartbeat? Or was it something else that she'd done which had left a bad taste in his mouth? Riddhima couldn't tell. And Armaan was not telling her anything. In the past few days, they'd barely talked apart from exchanging pleasantries. She'd talked more with Armaan while she was still married to Sid, for the love of God!

She could not understand what had gone wrong. Armaan had been so talkative of late. He made it a point to tell her everything he was feeling, even if it wasn't pretty. He never kept any secrets from her, telling her every little and big thing that went on in his head. He discussed cases with her, bitched about their friends, and even spoke more freely of the past. Ever since they'd started talking again, genuinely talking, Armaan had never held back.

Even when he was upset with her, he had been upfront about it and told her that. He had argued and been angry, but he hadn't avoided her like this. The only time he'd done that was when he'd found out she'd lied about still being married to Sid. But, this was different than that cold, cutting silence where he'd made it clear that he didn't want to speak to her. Now, he still tried to be normal. He smiled at her when they were together, bantered with her sometimes, and never left without a quick hug. Yet, the distance still prevailed.

The connection they'd built over the past few weeks, the openness and honesty that had quickly become the foundation of their relationship was suddenly feeling shaky. Because Armaan was trying his best to portray that everything was fine, but it clearly wasn't. She had been shying away from bringing it up in front of him lest she spook him more, but enough was enough. She would have to confront him if he would not volunteer the information himself.

Determined, Riddhima made her way over to Nikki's place, intent on speaking with Armaan. “Ridzy? Hi! It's so good to see you!!” Nikita greeted her friend, inviting her in.

“Hi, Nikki! How are you?” Riddhima asked.

“I'm good. Tu bata. How's everything going? All good?” Nikki questioned.

“Yeah,” Riddhima replied breezily. “All good.”

“Riddhima!” Abhi exclaimed when he walked into the living room to see her & Nikki chatting. “Hi. It's so good to see you!”

“It's good to see you, too,” Riddhima smiled back. “As always.”

“You're right on time,” Abhi said. “We were just about to start dinner. Come on along.”

“Oh, I don't want to intrude,” Riddhima protested.

“What's there to intrude? You're our friend. You're always welcome,” Nikki assured. “Come, eat. We've not eaten together for so long.”

“Nikki, we get lunch together almost everyday,” Riddhima rolled her eyes.

“That's different,” Nikki waved her off. “That's a quick meal between work. We don't get to sit and chat much any longer. Not like we could when we were interning. Nowadays, somebody's pager is always going off every other minute.”

“That's true,” Riddhima agreed. “The life of a resident is much worse. Can you imagine, we used to think it couldn't get bad after interning. But that was barely scratching the surface.”

“We were such fools,” Nikki laughed. “Absolute idiots.”

“We were,” Riddhima chuckled. “But, I would give everything to have those days back. Things were much simpler then.”

“Were they?” Nikki asked knowingly. “I think, if you really think about it, not much has changed since then.”

“It hasn't,” Abhi agreed. “You're all still idiots.”

“Abhi!!” Both the women exclaimed in unison, scandalized.

“What? It's true,” Abhi shrugged. “Duffers, all of you. And I'm stuck here. Sadly.”

“Shut up, Abhi!” Nikki cried. “And stop calling me and my friends stupid in different words! We're not.”

“You so are,” Abhi snarked back. “Just because you lot don't get in trouble with Dr. Keerti any longer, doesn't mean you aren't still the same people. You definitely are!”

“Okay, okay! Time out! Let's eat?” Riddhima asked.

“Yes!” Nikki agreed. “It'll be fun. It's just the three of us tonight.”

“Where is everybody else?” Riddhima wondered.

“Well, Nikumbh is at a friend's house for a sleepover,” Nikki explained. “My in-laws have gone back home. Rahul is out with Muskaan. And Armaan…” She trailed off, then with a smirk added, “I'm sure you know where he is.”

Riddhima rolled her eyes. “I don't, actually. Contrary to popular belief, we don't spend our entire time glued to the phone with each other when we're not in the same room.”

Abhi laughed. “Is that so? I thought you two were incapable of being apart, actually. Good to know that you can function without each other.”

“Ahhh, the feeling of new love,” Nikki sighed dreamily.

“Shut up, Nikki!” Riddhima whacked her arm. “Where is he? Do you know?”

“He's out with Tamanna,” Nikki replied. “They're taking Myra site-seeing today, I think.”

Riddhima hummed. “I think he did mention that sometime. He's been spending a lot of time with Myra so it's all blurring together for me now.”

“He is spending a lot of time with her, isn't he?” Nikki murmured. She levelled Riddhima with a look. That look. The one which said she knew something was going on even if she didn't know what. And Riddhima had no answer because she herself didn't understand what was going on. So, she just lightly shrugged in response.

Nikki, thankfully, didn't press further. The three of them ended up at the dinner table, trading stories back & forth as they ate. It was all very domestic, and Riddhima loved watching her friends together. The way Abhi wordlessly picked out all the tomatoes from the salad and served Nikki only cucumbers, and the way Nikki just instinctively knew when to pass the dal to Abhi every time spoke of an intimacy and understanding that came only after years of togetherness.

She wanted that. She wanted to share her life with someone. Not someone, she corrected herself. She wanted to share her life with Armaan. She'd already tried doing it with someone else and it had only made her miserable. She could not envision growing old with anyone but him. If not him, she'd spend the rest of her life alone. The thought scared her. She wasn't used to being alone. Her father, Sid, Muskaan… Someone had always been there for her. She had never, ever been truly alone. But now, Muskaan was moving forward in her life with Rahul. Someday soon, the two of them would get married, and Muskaan would move to be with her husband. She couldn't fathom living with her parents again. She'd gotten too used to living apart. And, she didn't know how she'd ever share the same space with her father again, knowing what she did. He'd abandoned her brother when he needed a parent, just as her own biological father had abandoned her. How was she to ever move past it?

“You're quiet today,” Abhi observed as they ate.

“I'm always quiet,” Riddhima quipped, not wanting to burden him with her troubles.

“Yes,” Abhi agreed. “But you're too quiet today. Something is not right.”

“Everything is fine,” Riddhima assured. “I'm just woolgathering.”

“Are you and Armaan having problems?” Nikki questioned. “You know you can tell us, Ridzy. We'll try to help if possible.”

“No,” Riddhima laughed her concerns off, even though a part of her longed to talk about it with someone. She just didn't know if that someone was Nikki. They were building their relationship back and things had been going great for them. Nikki felt very much like that old Nikki who used to be Riddhima's best friend once upon a time. But, the wounds were too deep and would not heal within a day. Years of brusqueness from Nikki had made it difficult for Riddhima to reconcile that Nikki with her best friend. She was now trying her best to restore that old dynamic, but she doubted it would ever be the same again. Maybe, they'd never trust each other the way they once did. Riddhima was no longer the only person who understood Nikki's love for Abhi. There were others who Nikki turned to for advice when she needed it. Similarly, Nikki was no longer the person who was privy to the finer details of Riddhima's romance with Armaan. That privilege belonged to Muskaan now. Perhaps, it would for the rest of their lives.

So, yes… Things were getting better, but were nowhere near repaired. Yet, it wasn't like they didn't know each other at all. Nikki still could see through Riddhima. “It's okay if you don't want to talk about it,” she said. “I understand. But just know, I'm always here for you.”

“Thanks, Nikki,” Riddhima replied, smiling wide. She was glad for it. Nikki offering to listen meant the world.

“Thank you, Riddhima,” Nikki stated. “I know that things have been very tense with us in these past few years and it's all been my fault. Going back to the way we were will take some time, but just you giving us a chance again means so much to me. So, thank you.”

“Shut up, Nik!” Riddhima reprimanded, tearing up. “Woh sab puraani baatein hain. We're starting afresh, right? Nothing else matters then.”

Nikki nodded, smiling wide. She pulled Riddhima into a hug that Riddhima reciprocated instantly. The two women sat there, wrapped in an embrace for a few minutes, glad to have the moment. Abhi, understanding that they needed this time together, made himself scarce, retreating to his office.

“You're the best,” Nikki choked out through the lump in her throat.

“So are you,” Riddhima blubbered.

A few minutes later, they'd managed to stop crying and finally extract themselves from the hug. Nikki put on a pot of coffee for them as Riddhima lounged on a high chair by the counter. “Why don't you stay the night?” Nikki asked. “We can catch up and then once Armaan comes home, the two of you can speak.”

“I —” Riddhima tried to protest, but Nikki didn't let her.

“Just because I don't know what's going on, doesn't mean I don't see that something is troubling you. And I know you well enough to know that whatever the issue is, it's about him. Don't tell me if you're not comfortable, but at least speak to him,” Nikki advised. “This has always been the problem between the two of you. You never talk it out. Keeping things in then festers into bigger problems and things get out of control. Why do you want that cycle to repeat? Didn't you learn from last time?”

“I did,” Riddhima sighed, accepting the mug that Nikki gave to her. “But I don't know if he did. He's being very cagey.”

“Well, you know better even if he doesn't, so make him see that,” Nikki told Riddhima. “Talk to him and tell him what's bothering you. Tell him that you're both grown ass adults who should not shy away from talking to each other. Remind him how it always created trouble when he tried to hide things from you. Make him understand that telling you is the only way to move forward. Otherwise, this will become a pattern again, Riddhima. And both of you will suffer because of it. Those silly banters will turn into big, serious fights and before you know it you will be fighting more than having fun. Then, the relationship will start feeling like a chore and it won't end well. Do you want that?”

“Absolutely not!” Riddhima cried instantly. “We've already been down that road once. I absolutely do not want a repeat.”

“So, then… Take the initiative so it doesn't,” Nikki encouraged. “Honesty really is the best policy. Especially in relationships, be it romantic or otherwise.”

“But what if me confronting him makes matters worse?” Riddhima asked Nikki.

“You know… This is the same excuse you used when you didn't want Armaan to find out about your separation from Sid,” Nikki observed. “This is also a pattern. Avoiding the issue because you're scared. You remember how that whole thing turned out, don't you? Can't be worse than that, in my opinion. Do you remember how Armaan didn't look your way for weeks? Is that what you want again?”

Riddhima sucked in a sharp breath, looking anywhere but at Nikki, unable to face the truth that Nikki had laid bare. She was afraid. Just like she had been then. She was trying to be brave, had decided to confront Armaan about everything, but had been secretly relieved when she realized he was out with Tamanna. Because she was afraid that if she asked, he would say yes. That yes, he didn't want this relationship, didn't want her. But, she couldn't exist in a limbo, wondering what if all the time. She had to talk to him, ask him what was wrong, where they stood. It was the only way to move forward from whatever was happening between them. Even if Armaan decided to not pursue their relationship further, wouldn't it be better to know that now than later?

“You're right,” Riddhima finally mumbled. “I was trying to find excuses to not talk to him. But, I should. I can't run away every time. And neither can he. It only creates more problems.”

“Exactly,” Nikki agreed. “You get it. And don't worry. I see that boy. He's not turning away from you. Not ever again, I don't think. He's in too deep, even if he doesn't see it yet. Trust me. You've got nothing to worry about.”

“I hope so,” Riddhima murmured.

Smiling, Nikki pulled Riddhima into another hug, rubbing her back in a soothing gesture. “You've got this,” Nikki told her.

Riddhima closed her eyes and recalled all the moments she'd spent with Armaan in the past few weeks. Them planning the wedding, Armaan flying out all the way to Mumbai just to see her, them bringing Rahul & Muskaan together, them finally finding their rhythm again, them finding themselves in Lonavala. Every smile, every touch, every hug, every word… Everything that brought them where they were. And, she believed.

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba

Haan ishq tera lae dooba

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba

Haan ishq tera lae dooba

Aisa kyun hota hai

Tere jaane ke baad

Lagta hai haathon mein

Reh gaye tere haath

Tu shaamil hai mere

Hansne mein, rone mein

Hai kya koyi kami

Mere paagal hone mein

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba

Haan ishq tera lae dooba

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba

Haan ishq tera lae dooba

Har dafa wahi

Jaadu hota hai tu jo mile

Ho… sab sanwar jaata hai

Yaara andar mere…

Ik lamhe mein kitni

Yaadein ban jaati hain

Main itna hansti hoon

Aankhen bhar aati hai

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba

Haan ishq tera lae dooba

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba

Haan ishq tera lae dooba

Fursatein kahaan

Aankhon ko hai meri aaj kal

Ho… dekhne mein tujhe

Saara din jaaye nikal

Aur phir aahista se

Jab chhu ke tu nikle

Teri aanch mein dil mera

Dheeme dheeme pighle

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba

Haan ishq tera lae dooba

Mainu ishq tera lae dooba

Haan ishq tera lae dooba

- Lae Dooba, Sunidhi Chauhan

Track Seventy Three - Prem Ki Naiyya

“You're the best!” Myra exclaimed, giving Armaan a big hug. “I love you, Mamu!”

Armaan placed a loud kiss on Myra's cheek, echoing the sentiment. “I love you too, sunshine!”

Myra hopped out of Armaan's arms, rushing inside the house, calling out for her Nanu and Nani, full of tales from her day. Armaan & Tamanna looked on with wide grins on their faces. When Myra disappeared, Tamanna turned to Armaan, giving him a hug of her own.

“Thank you, Dada,” Tamanna murmured softly. “It's been the best day.”

“Anything for the two of you,” Armaan promised, returning the embrace.

“I was so worried that she would find it difficult to become a part of our family, but all of you have been so warm and welcoming,” Tamanna said, getting emotional. “She's already so attached to all of you, and she's accepted everyone as her own. I never imagined it would be so easy.”

“Hey,” Armaan comforted, wiping away the tears that were starting to form at the corner of her eyes. “Of course, we welcomed her. Woh sirf teri beti nahi hai. Humaari bhi kuch lagti hai woh. And all of us love her so much, Manna. We all do. We've wanted this for you for so long. And I know just how long you've wanted this for yourself. We would have accepted any child who became a part of your life. But, Myra is… She's everything. I'm so glad she has a family now, has us… But most importantly you. You're such a good mother already. And you'll only get better as time passes. Myra couldn't have found a better parent.

And you're lucky to have her too. She's so lively and good and just… Perfect. She's brought you so much happiness. And she's brought all of us just as much happiness too. Never doubt her place in the family, okay? She's one of us. Always will be. I'm just grateful that she feels comfortable enough with us to think of us as her family too.”

“Of course she does,” Tamanna stated. “How could she not? You're all the perfect family. You were one for me, and you're one for her. The way you so easily accepted me into your fold, you've done the same for her. Thank you for that, Dada. For being my big brother when I needed one the most, for saving me. And for accepting my daughter too.”

“You're family. I didn't do you any favours. Not then, and definitely not now. This is your right. It will always be. And it will always be Myra's too. And any other kids, if you decide to adopt more in the future. I promise,” Armaan told her.

Tamanna grinned widely at his words, giving him another hug. “You really are the best.”

“That I am,” Armaan agreed with a laugh.

“Okay,” he said a few minutes later. “It's getting late. Get inside. I'll pick you two up tomorrow. We'll go to the beach.”

“Again?” Tamanna asked.

“What? We've not been to the beach yet. What are you saying?” Armaan questioned, confused.

“I meant, you're going out with us again?” Tamanna clarified.

“Ummm, yes. Of course. Why are you so surprised?” Armaan probed. “There's so many places to see!”

“Dada, I can take Myra to see those places on my own,” Tamanna answered.

“Oh,” Armaan breathed. “I didn't realize. Of course, you want some one-on-one time with Myra. Okay. You can hang out together in the morning. I'll come by in the evening? Will that be better?”

“Oh my god!” Tamanna exclaimed. “That is not the problem. I don't think you're intruding.”

“So then what is the issue?” Armaan wondered.

“If you spend all of your time with us, when will you spend time with Riddhima Di?” Tamanna huffed. “All day you're with us and by the time you drop us home it's too late to go see her and you're both tired so you can't really spend any quality time together either.”

Armaan kept quiet, not knowing what to say. Tamanna sighed. “Dada, Myra and I aren't going anywhere. We'll always be there. We're coming to New York with you. But, Riddhima Di is here. She's not going back with us. Why don't you spend time with her when you have the chance?”

“Meri company se bore ho gayi hai toh seedhe bolde na! Yeh Riddhima ka excuse mat use kar,” Armaan commented lightly, trying to diffuse the situation.

However, Tamanna was not deterred. “Dada, stop it. I don't know what the problem is, but sort it out and go be with her.”

When Armaan didn't respond, she pressed harder. “Okay?”

“Fine, fine,” Armaan gave in. “Whatever you say.”

“Good boy,” Tamanna praised. “Now, give me another hug.”

Armaan happily obliged. “Don't come tomorrow. Spend time with Di. Got it?”

“Anything else, ma'am?” Armaan asked.

“That's it for now,” Tamanna laughed. “Now go. It's getting late!”

“Good night,” Armaan wished her softly, dropping a kiss to her forehead.

“Good night, Dada,” Tamanna replied, smiling.

Armaan drove off after Tamanna went inside the house and he was sure she was safely inside. He was aimlessly driving through the city, turning left and right without much conscious thought, taking where the road took him. So, he was surprised when he found himself parked outside Riddhima & Muskaan's apartment building. He hadn't even realized he was driving this way. Perhaps, he'd been missing Riddhima too much and his subconscious had sought her out.

Ever since that day in the fire escape, when he had accidentally almost told Riddhima he loved her, Armaan had been keeping a distance. He wasn't ready to verbalize his feelings to her yet, and was afraid that if they spent more time together, he would end up blurting the whole thing out. In such a scenario, he felt that spending as little time with her as possible would be the best way forward.

But, even as he was doing it, he knew that it was stupid. He had gotten too used to her presence now to be deprived of it for long. He knew that Riddhima too, had gotten used to having him around. They were both suffering because of his very idiotic decision to avoid her, but sadly, he didn't know what else to do. In a bid to distract himself, he had taken to spending more time with Tamanna and Myra, and it did work. When he was with Myra, she easily became his singular focus, the axis around which his entire world revolved. She kept him engaged in everything she did. She was a wonder and Armaan was awed every moment he spent with her.

But, what Tamanna had said was right. Myra would be coming home with Armaan. And Riddhima would stay here in Mumbai for the foreseeable future. After they went back, Armaan didn't know when he'd get a chance to see Riddhima in person again. Both of them had gruelling schedules with demanding jobs that kept them extremely busy. Finding time to take 22 hour intercontinental flights could not be an everyday occurrence for sure.

So, he should be spending more time with Riddhima. He could keep his mouth shut, if he so decided. He was a grown adult, for God's sake. It should not be too difficult to not talk about things he didn't want to talk about. He could be in Riddhima's presence and not blurt everything out. Yes. He could.

Determined, he got out of the car and jogged up the stairs to Riddhima's home. He rang the doorbell and waited impatiently. When no one opened the door, he knocked and kept knocking till a disheveled Rahul opened the door, absolutely annoyed. “What the hell???? Can you breathe?!”

“Jaana?” Armaan asked, confused. “What are you doing here so late?”

“This is my fiance's house, Armaan,” Rahul replied. “What are you doing here so late?”

Armaan unceremoniously pushed Rahul out of the way and went inside the house without answering his question. Rahul followed, repeating, “I asked you something. Why are you here?”

“What, now that the two of you are engaged, I can't visit my friend now?” Armaan questioned, just to annoy Rahul further. He grinned wide when he was awarded with an exasperated, “Armaan!” for his efforts.

“I'm kidding,” Armaan laughed. “But, I think you're forgetting that Muskaan doesn't live here alone. I came to see Basket.”

It was funny how easily Armaan had fallen into the habit of calling Riddhima Basket again. Just like before, no other name fell from his lips as easily, and he had a hard time addressing her as Riddhima, always defaulting to Basket, no matter who he was speaking to. In so many ways, the transition into being a couple, for that's who they were, had been extremely easy. Almost like breathing. But in others, it was way too difficult. Like, when it came to actually accepting out loud that he thought of them as a couple.

“Rahul?” Muskaan called out. “Who is it?”

“Armaan!” Rahul called back. “He's here to see Ridzy!”

“Hero!!” Muskaan exclaimed in greeting as she came into the living room. She took a seat beside him on the sofa. Turning to face him, she added, “I'm sorry, but you came all this way for nothing. Ridzy is sleeping over at Nikki's tonight.”

“Nikki's?” Armaan echoed, confused.

“The two of you are too alike,” Muskaan chuckled. “She went there to meet you, but you weren't there and somehow Nikki talked her into a sleepover.”

“Oops,” Armaan smiled sheepishly.

“Yes, so why don't you go there now and leave us alone,” Rahul quipped.

Armaan, never one to miss out, made himself more comfortable on the couch. “I'll stay here, I think,” he announced. “Anyway, Nikki will keep Basket occupied with one billion things and we won't get to speak. I'll get bored there with Abhi. So, it's better I stay here instead.”

“Armaan!” Rahul cried, annoyed, while Muskaan just laughed. “Take the hint.”

“I did take the hint,” Armaan laughed. “But I'm going to ignore it. You two are joined at the hip anyway these days. Some distance won't hurt. Waise bhi, Jaana… Muskaan isn't coming with us now, so you should get used to spending time with people other than her.”

“Oh, like you've been practicing by avoiding Riddhima?” Rahul snarked, making Armaan's grin drop.

“Oooh!” Muskaan cheered. “Shots fired! Very true, Rahul. Why have you been ignoring Ridzy, Hero? Listen… If you've decided that all this is too much and you don't want a relationship with her, then it's better to be upfront about it rather than stringing her along. I'm telling you right now, I won't take it if you hurt her unnecessarily by raising her hopes only to quash them later.”

“It's not like that!” Armaan shouted. “I'm just… Processing everything. It seems like everything is happening too fast. I need to step back for a minute and think. That's what I'm doing right now.”

“Bullshit,” Rahul snorted.

“What? My feelings are bullshit now?” Armaan asked, affronted.

“You can lie to the entire world. You can even lie to yourself. But you can't lie to me. And I know that you don't believe whatever you said just now. The reason is something else entirely,” Rahul replied. “I know it and I know you know it too. So, either tell us what's really bothering you, or drop this thing altogether and come to me when you're ready to talk. We can't help you otherwise.”

Armaan glared at Rahul, but Rahul stood his ground, staring back at Armaan in defiance, daring him to question Rahul. Finally, Armaan was the one to give in. He fell back on the couch and sighed. “Whatever,” he mumbled.

“Armaan, what's up?” Muskaan questioned softly. “You know you can trust us.”

“Of course I know,” Armaan answered immediately. “I trust you. I don't trust myself.”

“With what?” Rahul probed.

“With my feelings,” Armaan responded, almost as if on instinct. His eyes flew open at that, widening comically. “I didn't mean that.”

“You mean you didn't mean to admit that out loud,” Rahul corrected gently. “What's troubling you so much? Won't you tell me? You've told me everything, Maani. Don't freeze me out now.”

“I'm in love with Basket,” Armaan blurted out and then fell silent. For a second, no one said anything, as they all understood the gravity of the situation. Armaan felt much lighter. Admitting it out loud felt better than he could have ever imagined.

“I'm in love with Basket,” he repeated. And suddenly, it seemed he was incapable of saying anything else. “I'm in love with Basket. Oh my god. I'm in love with her. I'm madly, deeply, irrevocably in love with her.”

“Glad you've caught up with the rest of us,” Rahul laughed, teasing. Yet, his eyes shone with tears at Armaan's admission. Rahul didn't know the last time he'd seen Armaan so happy. Probably the day of his roka to Riddhima. His eyes were shining brightly and he said a smile that could light up the entire world. His entire stance was more relaxed than Rahul had ever seen. For so long, Armaan had carried so much weight, but Riddhima's presence in his life had made him infinitely lighter. It wasn't that Armaan wasn't living his life before Riddhima, because he was. He had a satisfying job, caring friends, and a loving family. Armaan had found his happiness in life with all of it. Yet, with Riddhima, there was a new lightness to Armaan. He smiled brighter, laughed louder, and his happiness seemed to drip out of his very being.

Rahul was absolutely ecstatic for Armaan. It had taken Armaan years to truly get over Riddhima, but Rahul had always known that Armaan would never love someone else like he loved Riddhima. He was not surprised when Armaan never found romantic love with anyone else. He knew that anyone other than Riddhima would mean that Armaan was settling, and Rahul never wanted Armaan to settle. But now, Riddhima was back. And they'd both grown up, and they both knew better.

In the past few weeks, Rahul had seen a new side of both of them. They were still those fools in love that they'd always been, but they were more mature about it. They talked and communicated more, were more thoughtful and understanding of each other's feelings and emotions. It was all they should have been to each other when they'd first fallen in love but had been too young to realize. They were stupid kids back then. They weren't anymore. They were smart enough to put in the work and actually invest in their relationship in the right way now.

“Shut up, Rahul!” Armaan exclaimed, making Rahul laugh. Rahul stepped forward and pulled Armaan into a tight hug.

“I'm so happy for you, baby,” he whispered. “So, so, so happy.”

“I know,” Armaan replied. “You're probably the happiest.”

“I am,” Rahul agreed.

“Guys! Main bhi hoon!!” Muskaan whined, breaking their moment. Armaan chuckled and pulled back enough to pull Muskaan into the hug with them.

“I'm so happy, Hero! Ab sab theek ho jaayega. Everything is the way it was supposed to be now,” Muskaan stated happily.

Armaan squeezed them both tight before stepping out of the embrace. “But, I'm scared,” he admitted. “I don't know if I can tell her.”

“Is that why you've been so distant?” Rahul asked.

Armaan nodded. “Yes. I almost told her the other day, and after that I've been avoiding her because I don't want to tell her.”

“Why don't you want to tell her?” Muskaan asked. “Isn't this a good thing?”

“I don't know,” Armaan admitted. “So much has happened. The last time, we weren't able to handle it. Our relationship ended so badly. And now, I'm afraid to move forward. What if, things don't work out again? What if this changes things? What if it breaks our hearts again?”

“You're an idiot,” Rahul declared.

“I just told you I'm afraid to tell Basket I love her and this what you have to say to me?” Armaan asked, shocked.

“Yes,” Rahul replied. “Because you are an idiot. Anything can happen anytime, Armaan. That's not a reason to not do anything. Do you stop living because you're going to die one day? No, right? So, why are you afraid to tell Riddhima you love her in case it doesn't turn out well?

You're not the same people anymore. Neither you, nor Riddhima. You've both grown up in these years. You're wiser, more mature. You know what you want. You know that you need to be honest with each other. You won't make the same mistakes again. You won't hurt each other again that way anymore.

I have faith in you. I have faith in Riddhima. Remember, when I was afraid about telling Muskaan how I felt? You were the one who told me that I can live my life with what-ifs. That I have to brave if I want her to be a part of my life. Nothing worth having comes easy in life, Maani. You have to take a chance. Come on. Be brave. Tell her how you feel. I know you can do it.”

“Whatever Rahul just said,” Muskaan agreed. “And also, I don't know how much you know… But, Armaan for the past so many years, all Riddhima has wanted is you. She has spent all this time just thinking about you, living in the memories of you. She would have continued doing that her whole life. She really loves you. And that will never change, no matter what. I can guarantee you. Her feelings for you are forever. Whether you're together or apart, whether you accept her as a part of your life or not, she will always, always, always love you.

Please, don't break her heart. And don't break yours either. Because I see it in your eyes. How much you love her. You'll also love her forever. You'll love no one else but her. In all these years, did you have even a single relationship? I don't mean flings or anything. Actual, real relationships with feelings? Where you truly cared about someone? I don't think so. Because you can never love anyone else the way you love her.

So, then, why do you want make both yourself and her miserable? Don't you two also deserve a chance to be happy? Tell her. Please.”

“I think you're both right,” Armaan finally said. “I mean, the entire point of this exercise, of coming here, of being with her, spending time with her, was to see if we can be together. That was always the end goal. But I don't know why, when I accidentally said it out loud, it suddenly became too real. And I got scared for a minute thinking about everything bad that's happened before.

But, I do want a life with her. I don't think either of us can be truly happy with anyone else. We love each other. And that's what matters more than anything else. So, I should tell her. So that we can truly be together. We've already lost so much time. I don't want to lose more.”

“That's the spirit!” Rahul cheered. “Now, why are you still here? Go get her!!”

“Yes,” Armaan agreed. “I'm going. I'm going to tell her now. I can't keep it in. Not any longer. And she deserves to know. Thank you, Rahul. Thank you, Muskaan. You're both the best. I love you!”

Armaan gave both of them tight hugs before sprinting out of the apartment. Rahul shook his head fondly as he watched Armaan jump down multiple steps at once as he went down the stairs. He closed the door behind him and turned back to Muskaan who was looking at him with a soft smile on her face.

He walked up to her and took her into his arms, kissing her deeply. “I'm so happy,” he sighed, melting into her embrace as her arms wrapped around him.

“Me too,” Muskaan replied, kissing the corner of his mouth. “I can finally stop worrying about them. They'll figure it out this time. I'm sure.”

“They will,” Rahul murmured in agreement. “Now. Where were we before he barged in on us?”

Muskaan pulled Rahul into the bedroom with her, closing the door firmly shut, their laughter echoing in the otherwise empty house.

Sapano me aayike jaayike o ri goriya

hamari churai le nindiya

sapano me aayike jaayike o ri goriya

hamari churai le nindiya

hum pe giraike haye re tu bijuriya

hamse churaile hum ka

baharo me tu hai, najaaro me tu hai

dekhu jidhar mai wahan tu dikhaayi de

prem ki naiyya hai raam ke bharose

apni hi naiya ko paar tu lagai de

prem ki naiyya hai raam ke bharose

apni hi naiya ko paaar tu lagai de

Katate katate kat na jaye bina hi pyar ko paye

dekho meri sari hi umar karu mai kya

kahi to hoga koyi upay ke meri tu ho jaye

chahe mujhko tu bhi umrr bhar, karu mai kya

kya mantar padhu mai, kya tantar karu mai

aankho ki chahat tujhe bhi dikhayi de

prem ki naiyya hai raam ke bharose

apni hi naiya ko paaar tu lagai de

prem ki naiyya hai raam ke bharose

apni hi naiya ko paaar tu lagai de

Dil ko dil ki prem kahani jaruri hui sunani

dil ki baat kaise mai kahu, karu mai kya

samajhe kyu na tu baat wo pagali

dil ki adlabadli ab to bin kiye mai na rahu

karu mai kya

mai rah bhi na paau, mai kah bhi na paau

bole bina kaise tujhko sunai de

prem ki naiyya hai raam ke bharose

apni hi naiya ko paaar tu lagai de

prem ki naiyya hai raam ke bharose

apni hi naiya ko paaar tu lagai de

Sapano me aayike jayike o ri goriya

hamari churai le nindiya

hum pe giraike haay re tu bijuriya

hamase churaile hum ka

baharo me tu hai, najaro me tu hai

dekhu jidhar mai waha tu dikhayi de

prem ki naiyya hai raam ke bharose

apni hi naiya ko paar tu lagai de

prem ki naiyya hai raam ke bharose

apni hi naiya ko paar tu lagai de

- Prem Ki Naiyya, Neeraj Sridhar

Track Seventy Four - Suraj Hua Maddham

Riddhima had just gotten into bed when her phone started ringing. She'd waited up for Armaan, hoping to speak to him, but when it was almost 2am and he hadn't turned up, she'd decided to go to bed. She'd speak to him in the morning. Thinking so, she'd changed into one of Abhi's tees that was too big on her, and a pair of Nikki's shorts that were a little too short on her, but would do the job.

Irritated, she picked up her phone, ready to tell the person off, but stopped short when she saw Armaan's name flashing on the screen. Excitement bubbled up in her. This was the first time Armaan was initiating contact with her in a few days. Nervous, she picked up the phone with shaky fingers. “Hello,” she whispered.

“Hi,” Armaan replied. Just the sound of his voice made Riddhima smile wider.

“Hi,” Riddhima repeated, making Armaan laugh - a soft sound that made its way straight to Riddhima's heart.

“Hi,” he mimicked through his chuckles, making Riddhima's heart skip a beat.

“Hi,” she repeated yet again, and could feel Armaan's mirth at her words.

“Hum kab tak sirf Hi kehte rahenge?” He laughed. “Aur kuch kehna hai ya nahi?”

“Phone toh tumne kiya hai,” Riddhima pointed out.

“You're right,” Armaan agreed. “As always. You are correct. I have called so I should talk first.”

“Exactly,” Riddhima stated. “So, what do you want to talk about?”

“Ummm, not like this,” Armaan said.

“Not like how?” Riddhima asked, confused.

“Not like this… On the phone,” Armaan replied. “I want to talk in person.”

“As much as I would love that, you're not here,” Riddhima reminded him.

“Are you sure?” Armaan questioned.

“Sure about what?” Riddhima asked in reply.

“About whether I'm there or not,” Armaan explained. “Keep up, Basket!!”

“I'm sorry I'm not completely coherent at 2am in the night!” Riddhima cribbed.

Armaan guffawed at that, unable to help himself. “Look out the window,” he directed.

“What now?” Riddhima moaned. “I'm already in bed, extremely comfortable. I don't want to.”

“Pleaseeeee,” he begged and Riddhima could already imagine the pout on his face as he said that. “Come on! For me!!”

Shaking her head, Riddhima got out of bed and went to the window. Sure enough, Armaan was looking up at her, a sunny smile on his face, waving madly.

“Hi,” he laughed.

“Hi,” Riddhima replied.

“I would have loved to climb up the pipe,” Armaan stated. “You know, for old times' sake. But, I'm not 25 anymore and that looks impossible now. So, can you please come downstairs?”

“Why don't you come upstairs instead?” Riddhima asked. “I'll open the door for you. You won't have to disturb anyone else.”

“Where's the fun in that?” Armaan questioned, rhetoric.

“In case you've forgotten already, let me remind you. It's 2am,” Riddhima repeated.

“Where's your sense of adventure?” Armaan challenged. “Come on! Come down!!”

Knowing he'd hit a nerve with his comment, Armaan smirked. Sure enough, Riddhima hung up on him without a word and disappeared from the window. A few minutes later, she emerged from the lobby, still dressed in Abhi & Nikki's mismatched clothes.

“Hey you,” Armaan greeted her when she was within hearing distance.

“Why have you gotten me out of bed at this hour?” Riddhima asked him, annoyed.

“Wanna go somewhere with me?” Armaan questioned, offering her his hand. He was gratified when she took it instantly, but kept up with her usual stream of questions - where, why, what.

“Have a little patience, Basket,” Armaan told her, helping her into the car. He made her sit in the seat, making sure to protect her head from hitting the roof of the car and then got her seatbelt, buckling her in. As he wound the belt across her body, the proximity between them made Riddhima's breath hitch. She could smell the faint traces of his perfume and could hear him breathe. He was staring at her unabashedly, even as his hands never strayed from the task at hand. Nervous, Riddhima looked away, eliciting a smile from Armaan. He dropped down and placed a lingering kiss on her cheek before jogging to the other side and getting in the driver's seat.

It didn't take long for Riddhima to realize where they were going. After all, she had walked this path countless times in her life. It led to the one place she felt closest to Armaan, and to herself as well. The basketball court where they'd first met. Looking back, Riddhima felt it was a sign by the universe. Why else would she meet Armaan the way she did when just a few hours later they'd have become colleagues anyway? If not for that first meeting, would their story have unravelled the way it did? She didn't think so.

If the two of them hadn't spent so much time fighting and bickering, they would never have fallen in love. Perhaps, if she'd not one-upped Armaan at their first ever match, and had instead made his acquaintance in Dr. Keerti's cabin, she would have always looked at him as just a colleague, or perhaps a friend as time passed. But she did beat him and that set the tone for their future interactions, which led them to where they were today. Despite all the pain and anguish in their journey so far, Riddhima wouldn't change anything. It was their story, however messy it was, and she loved it.

“Here we are!” Armaan's voice brought Riddhima out of her thoughts. “I know you already guessed we were coming here, so no surprises there, I'm afraid.”

Riddhima laughed softly. “It's okay. I love it even though it's not a surprise.”

Armaan grinned back at her and quickly got out of the car, rushing to open her door as well. Riddhima waited patiently till he did that, knowing how important these little things were to him. When they'd first started travelling together, even before they were dating, Armaan would get annoyed if Riddhima opened her own doors and didn't let him do that for her. Not just her, even Anjali & Sapna. Armaan always made it a point to be a gentleman. A fact that always pleased Riddhima.

“Shall we?” He asked, offering her his hand.

“We shall,” Riddhima replied, immediately placing her hand in his and letting him pull her out of her seat, closing the door behind her.

“Hey, yo… Basketball!” Armaan called out as they entered the court. “Ek match ho jaaye?”

“You'll lose, as always,” Riddhima snorted. “What's the point?”

“The point is that I'm going to win this time!” Armaan cried. “Just you wait and see!”

“Oh, is that so?” Riddhima cackled. “This I have to see! Bring it on, Mallik. Do your worst!”

And thus, began the oldest story in the world. The story of Armaan, Riddhima, and basketball. However, the story didn't end the way it always did. Riddhima didn't win. No. It was Armaan who did. Which was a complete surprise to him as well. “Did you lose on purpose?” He demanded, breathless from the match, as they both sat on the bleachers.

“No,” Riddhima panted, sitting beside him. “I didn't.”

“How did I win then?” Armaan wondered. “I've never won against you. Never. Well, unless you've lost on purpose.”

“Times have changed,” Riddhima replied. “It's actually been years since I played. So I'm rusty.”

“You've… Not played in years? Why?” Armaan asked, making Riddhima pause.

The truth was that she hadn't played because the game reminded her too much of Armaan. She hadn't even realized when Armaan & basketball had become synonymous for her, but they had. She didn't know how to tell him that so she just shrugged.

“Come on, Basket! Tell me,” Armaan probed. “Is it because of me?”

“Yes and no,” Riddhima replied, knowing he wouldn't give up till she told him. “It's just… Basketball always made me think of you, of the times we played together. It got too much. I couldn't play because it would bring back all your memories. Not that other things didn't, because they did. Everything reminded me of you. But especially, basketball. And playing without you… I don't know. It just didn't seem right. So, I didn't.”

“You suffered a lot because of me, didn't you?” Armaan asked her. “I'm sorry, I wasn't there. You needed me and I wasn't there.”

“Hey, it's not your fault,” Riddhima reprimanded. “I've already told you. I don't blame you for anything. In your place, I would've done the same. I get it, Armaan. And I didn't suffer alone. You did too. Circumstances were beyond our control and things spiralled too quickly for either of us to do anything.

But in the end, it was my decision to stay with Sid instead of leaving him and coming to you, the way I should have. I always knew I'd never be able to love Sid, that I'd never be happy with him. But, I felt the weight of responsibility too keenly back then. And maybe, that's how things needed to happen, so that I could understand how much I truly loved you.

I have no complaints. That marriage taught me so many things. Lessons I wouldn't have learnt otherwise. About who to trust, who to believe. It made me a better judge of character, and it made me strong enough to make my own choices instead of going along with what others decided for me. So, I'm glad.”

“You're so resilient,” Armaan remarked. “Finding a silver lining even in such a horrible situation. Not everyone can do that. But again, you've always been one of the bravest people I've met, so I'm not surprised.”

“Me? Brave?” Riddhima scoffed. “Please!”

“You are,” Armaan insisted. “Bravery isn't just beating up goons and saving someone. Bravery is also fighting the day to day. Bravery is making the best of a bad situation. It's finding ways to be happy despite all the shit in your life. You've done all that.

You've been through so much in life, Riddhima. Finding out about the adoption, dealing with my mood swings, getting married to Sid, our separation, your relationship with Dr. Shashank… And yet, you've not given up. You've done your best at every turn. That's incredibly brave. I'm so proud of you.”

“Thank you,” Riddhima replied. “That means a lot coming from you.”

“Of course,” Armaan murmured. “Anytime.”

He opened his arms and Riddhima immediately hugged him tight. As his arms closed around her, Riddhima exhaled loudly, her relief at the contact visceral. She had been so worried these past few days, but just this one little conversation and one hug was enough to assuage her fears. Maybe, there was another reason for Armaan's distance. Maybe, it wasn't because her eagerness had scared him. But, whatever the reason, she had to know.

After a few moments of companionable silence when neither of them said anything, basking in the warmth of the embrace, she finally broached the topic. “Armaan, we're okay, right?”

“Of course we are,” he replied instantly, without a moment's hesitation. Riddhima's heart thawed further at that. “Why would you think otherwise?”

“It's just that… You've… You've been kind of… A little… Distant these past few days,” Riddhima managed to stutter out an explanation. “Ever since that day… In the fire escape… You've been… Ummm… You've been… Avoiding me. I thought that… That you… You were… That you were rethinking this whole thing. That you didn't… Didn't want to be with me anymore. Maybe… Maybe, I came on too… Too strong for you. It was too soon. We've only been… Dating, seeing each other… Whatever, for a few days.”

“No, no, no!” Armaan burst out. “You can't… You don't… You don't mean that. Come on! You can't mean that!”

Riddhima pushed back, looking him in the eye. “What else am I supposed to think? I say I'll move to New York to be with you and you start pulling away from me. Of course, you felt it was too much too soon. What else could it be?”

“Why don't you think what else could it be? Since you're so smart, jumping to conclusions like that!” Armaan challenged.

“There's no other reason. You think I'm too desperate. That's why I agreed to move within a moment. I'm sure you think that!” Riddhima insisted.

“I don't!” Armaan disagreed. “I really don't think that. I could never think you're desperate! I was overwhelmed that you loved me enough to do this. How can you think I'd think badly about you for that?”

“Then why have you been avoiding me? If it's not because you think I'm too needy and desperate, why are you distancing yourself from me?” Riddhima pressed.

“BECAUSE I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU, YOU FOOL!” Armaan bellowed. For a beat, there was stunned silence. Armaan could feel his heartbeat in his throat, in his ear, in his head… Everywhere. Riddhima was staring at him, gobsmacked, not saying anything, not doing anything. Armaan wasn't sure she was breathing at the moment.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally let out a long breath. His heart rate reduced, going from an insistent thump to a soothing beat. He could feel the tension leaving his body, one atom at a time. “Because I'm in love with you,” he repeated, softer this time, looking her square in the eye, his heart on his sleeve for her. Always for her.

Armaan took a tentative step forward, afraid anything might spook Riddhima, and gently held both of her hands in both of his, squeezing them lightly. The movement seemed to pull Riddhima out of her trance. “Wha— What… What… Did you? What did you just… Say to me?”

“I'm in love with you,” Armaan repeated yet again, firmer this time. Completely sure of himself and his feelings. “I've always been in love with you.”

With a choked gasp, Riddhima threw herself into Armaan's arms, the force of the collision sending them both tumbling to the ground. Armaan landed with a loud oof, shielding Riddhima's body from the fall. “Say it again,” Riddhima demanded.

“I love you,” Armaan told her.

“Again,” Riddhima ordered.

Armaan laughed. “Bas main hi bolta rahoon? Tum nahi bologi?”

Riddhima lifted her head from where she had made home on Armaan's chest, looking down at him. Tears streamed down her face continuously, her eyes turning red along with her nose. But, the most brilliant smile lit up her face. To Armaan, she'd never looked more beautiful. “I love you,” she whispered softly. “I really, really, really love you.”

She'd said it to him countless times. In the past, and also in the present. She'd declared time and again just how much she loved him, with words and actions both. But, for some reason, this declaration left Armaan speechless. His breath hitched as he started crying as well. “Water tank phir shuru ho gayi,” Riddhima joked in an attempt to make him laugh.

He did laugh, which made Riddhima grin brighter. Armaan reached up and wiped her tears. “Look who's talking! Meena Kumari!” He exclaimed, teasing a giggle out of Riddhima as well.

“Shut up!” Riddhima whacked his chest. “I'm allowed. I've waited for years to hear you say that.”

“I love you,” Armaan repeated, just because he could now. Nothing was stopping him. Not the circumstances, not Riddhima's denial, and neither his own hesitance. They had overcome all of that.

“And I love you,” Riddhima told him yet again. Despite hearing those words from her so many times, they never got old. Armaan suspected they never would.

“I'm sorry,” Armaan finally mumbled. “I didn't mean to make you think I was avoiding you because of what you said. That day in the fire escape, I almost confessed. I almost told you I loved you. And that scared me. I didn't feel ready to say those words out loud. So, I thought it would be better to keep a distance from you because I didn't think I'd be able to control myself in your presence and would blurt them out without meaning to. That's why I was being weird. Not because of anything you did.”

“Oh,” Riddhima breathed.

“Yeah,” Armaan agreed. “Oh.”

“Then… What made you confess now?” Riddhima asked.

“Rahul to the rescue, as always,” Armaan chuckled. “He made me see that if I kept waiting, I'd be waiting my whole life. That I was only making both of us miserable by not telling you. And that if I wanted to be happy with you, I'd have to take that risk and come clean, because apparently nothing worth having comes easy.”

Riddhima laughed, putting her head back down, snuggling into Armaan's chest. His arms around her tightened, holding her close. “I'm glad. Remind me to thank him. Once again.”

“I will,” Armaan promised.

“Oh, look!” He exclaimed, turning over and placing Riddhima on his side. “Toot'tha taara!”

He pointed at the falling star flying across the sky. “Kehte hain toot'the taare se kuch maango, toh mil jaata hai,” Riddhima whispered.

“Who told you that? Mr. Shah Rukh Khan?” Armaan laughed.

“Yes!” Riddhima huffed. “He did. And he's always right. So, let's ask for something.”

Saying so, Riddhima immediately closed her eyes and started praying. Armaan though, stared at her unblinking. He had everything in life now that he had her in his arms. What more could he even wish for? Lying her in the basketball court, with the love of his life with him… Life could not get any better than this.

[Intro]

Suraj hua maddham, chaand jalne laga

Aasmaan yeh, haaye, kyun pighalne laga?

[Instrumental-break]

[Pre-Chorus]

Suraj hua maddham, chaand jalne laga

Aasmaan yeh, haaye, kyun pighalne laga?

[Chorus]

Main thehra raha, zameen chalne lagi

Dhadka yeh dil, saans thamne lagi

O, kya yeh mera pehla-pehla pyar hai?

Sajna, kya yeh mera pehla-pehla pyar hai?

[Instrumental-break]

[Pre-Chorus]

Suraj hua maddham, chaand jalne laga

Aasmaan yeh, haaye, kyun pighalne laga?

[Chorus]

Main thehri raha, zameen chalne lagi

Dhadka yeh dil, saans thamne lagi

Haan, kya yeh mera pehla-pehla pyar hai?

Sajna, kya yeh mera pehla-pehla pyar hai?

[Instrumental-break]

[Verse 1]

Hai khoobsurat yeh pal, sab kuch raha hai badal

Sapne haqeeqat mein joh dhal rahe hain

Kya sadiyon se purana hai rishta yeh hamara?

Kе jis tarah tum se hum mil rahe hain

[Pre-Chorus]

Yunhi rahe har-dam pyaar ka mausam

Yun hi milo humsе tum janam-janam

[Chorus]

Main thehra raha, zameen chalne lagi

Dhadka yeh dil, saans thamne lagi

Haan, kya yeh mera pehla-pehla pyar hai?

Sajna, kya yeh mera pehla-pehla pyar hai?

[Instrumental-break]

[Verse 2]

Tere hi rang se yun main toh rangi hoon, sanam

Paa ke tujhe khud se hi kho rahin hoon, sanam

O, mahiya, veh tere ishq mein

Haan doob ke paar main ho rahi hoon, sanam

[Pre-Chorus]

Sagar hua pyasa, raat jagne lagi

Sholon ke dil mein bhi aag jalne lagi

[Chorus]

Main thehri raha, zameen chalne lagi

Dhadka yeh dil, saans thamne lagi

Haan, kya yeh mera pehla-pehla pyar hai?

Sajna, kya yeh mera pehla-pehla pyar hai?

[Post-Chorus]

Suraj hua maddham, chaand jalne laga

Aasmaan yeh, haaye, kyun pighalne laga?

[Instrumental-break]

[Outro]

Sajna, kya yeh mera pehla-pehla pyar hai

- Suraj Hua Maddham, Sonu Nigam & Alka Yagnik

Epilogue

two years later.

Turns out, Armaan had been extremely wrong that night when he'd finally confessed to Riddhima. Life could get much, much better. And it had. After confessing to Riddhima, Armaan had spent the remainder of his time in Mumbai glued to her side. They did everything together. Armaan had practically moved into her flat, rarely ever sleeping over at Nikki's anymore. A week or so after that, sadly, he went back to New York.

Things were a little tough with the distance, and especially the opposite time zones the couple found themselves in, but they managed to weather through it. Skype became their best friend. Endless video calls, morphing nights into days, kept them going. And then, only 3 months after they had officially announced that they were a couple, Riddhima had surprised Armaan in New York with a proposal at Central Park. It was the exact same spot where they'd played chess when Riddhima was visiting during Rohan & Jaanhavi's wedding. Of course, Armaan had instantly said yes.

They decided to have a long engagement though, marrying almost a year later, only after Rahul & Muskaan had tied the knot first in a grand wedding. In contrast, Armaan & Riddhima's wedding had been an intimate affair with only their closest friends and family in attendance. Since it was Riddhima's second wedding but Armaan's first, to share a first with him, they had decided to have a Catholic style vow exchange first, and then a traditional Hindu wedding after that. They'd flown to Kasauli for the same, tying themselves to each other forever in the first place Armaan had called home after Shalini had passed.

A few months after the wedding, Armaan had decided to focus more on his career as a singer and had come out of the shadows, revealing the identity of Reve to the rest of the world. It was an adjustment for them to get used to the constant nosiness in their lives with it, but they had slowly gotten used to it.

And today… Armaan was walking the stage to receive his first ever Grammy. It felt a little too surreal as he held the trophy in his hands. When it was time for him to give a speech, he took a deep breath before starting. “Wow,” he started. “This is surreal. I wrote a speech. I really did. Just in case. But now I don't remember anything that I had prepared.”

His words were met with laughter. Thankful for the outburst, he continued. “Well, in the words of the GOAT… Diljit Dosanjh… Punjabi aa gaye Grammy oyyeeeee!!

I always wanted to do that. So, thank you for creating this moment where I could. As an artist of colour, this is a huge moment for me, and for all my brethren across the globe. I want to dedicate this to all the artists who have been working so hard to tell their stories and be heard around the world. Our stories do matter. And I hope and pray that we continue to get the recognition we deserve so that more people are inspired to tell their own stories.

But, what you see here today… Me standing on stage, receiving this award… This is a team effort. I didn't do anything alone. A lot of people have helped me reach this stage. And I want to thank all of them. To my manager, Peyton. Thank you for seeing the potential in me after one performance at an open mic night in a club. You took a huge gamble on a nobody, who didn't even want to show his face to the world. Thankfully, it has paid off for all of us. But, you saw me when no one else did. And I will forever be grateful for that.

A huge thanks to every single producer I've worked with at Red Bedroom. You've put up with a lot of tantrums from me because I was stubborn and refused to accept your suggestions. Yet, you powered through and helped me make the best music I could.

To all the artists I've collaborated with over the years - thank you so much for being so kind and welcoming. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with you. I've had the pleasure of working with the best of the best and I'm beyond grateful.

But, more than anything else, I'm grateful for my family, who have stood by me through thick and thin. They've pushed me, motivated me, and been there for me every single step of the way.

To my sisters, Jaanhavi and Tamanna, thank you for being my strength in everything. You were the ones who convinced me to pursue my dreams and do this. If not for you, I would never be here.

Thank you, Rahul - my friend, my brother, my guide, my everything. Only you truly know how much you mean to me and what you mean to me. If not for you, I would not be half the man I am today. Truly, this award belongs to you more than it can ever belong to me. There's no Armaan without Rahul. There's no Reve without Rahul either.

Bua Maa - my guru, who is watching me from up there. She taught me everything I know. I hope she looks down on me and is proud of the work I'm doing and the music I'm making. She's my inspiration forevermore.

My daughter, Ardhi… Who has only been in my life for a few months, but who I cannot live without. She brought me endless hope and love. With her, I've become a new man, a better man.

And last, but never the least… My gorgeous, gorgeous wife. The love of my life, Riddhima. You changed my life the day you met me. All my love songs are always about you, always have been, and always will be. I love you. We're finally here, Basket. Thank you.”

With that, he stumbled off the stage amidst thunderous applause. He rushed into her waiting arms and then nothing else mattered. It was just her. His entire world reduced to the feeling of her in his arms, her heartbeat in tandem with his, the smell of her filling every sense.

“I'm here, you're here, we're okay,” Riddhima whispered softly in his ear, grounding him like she always did.

“I'm here, you're here, we're okay,” Armaan echoed. As long as he had her, he always would be.

Afterword

Ummmm, surprise? I know nobody saw this coming. I didn't either. I'll be honest with you guys. When I had planned this story, this was just the beginning. There were supposed to be a lot of plots to unravel after AR got together. Most of them would center around characters other than AR and would just be the two of them being the supportive friends they are, helping others through the ups and downs of life.

Of course, there would also be difficulties that the two of them would face, as a couple, and as individuals both. Basically, this fic should have read like an itv show watches (??) but better because AR would never break up no matter what situation they found themselves in.

However, I don't need to tell you guys how sporadic updates on the fic have become in the past few years. Real life got in the way first and in the midst of that people moved on from this fic and I was left with very few readers. It makes sense. It's the circle of life. I didn't update, and so people didn't stick around. But, because there weren't a lot of people reading this, engagement on the fic dwindled which in turn made me lose motivation to write. And it became a vicious cycle to the point where this fic would not get updated for months and months on end. I think in the past couple of years, this fic has only been updated on special occasions - 20 August, 29 October, and the fic anniversary. That's it.

So, I can understand that readers were frustrated. But I hope you guys understand that I lost motivation too. However, I'd always promised that I would never abandon this fic and I did not want to break that promise. Instead of leaving you guys waiting for updates for months and months, I decided the best course of action would be to end the fic. And this seems like a high point to end the fic on.

The main motive of this story was always to show how Armaan & Riddhima found each other again after such a long separation. I think I did a good job bringing them back. Post this, it's up to you to imagine how they end up. In my head, they're happily married with their adoptive kids and the rest of their family.

I know that a couple plot points have been left unresolved, majorly the whole arc with Shashank and Karan. So, let me tell you in summary what I'd planned. The middle of it was not thought out yet, but I always wanted it to end with Padma & Anjali finding out about Karan. They would both be mad at Shashank and perhaps cut ties with him. Well, Anjali definitely would because she's already distant from Shashank. Padma, I'm not sure of. But there definitely would have been a whole plot of where Shashank begs Padma to forgive him and take him back. Whether she does or not… Well, you get to decide cause I hadn't thought of that.

And then, Anjali, Riddhima, and Karan would try to be more involved in each other's lives. Similarly, Riddhima & Shilpa would also try to have a better relationship and Anjali would also try to establish some sort of connection with Shilpa. So they would all just culminate in one big happy family.

Another major plot point that I wanted to show but didn't was Riddhima having an abortion because they realize she can't carry a pregnancy without risking her life due to the bullet injury in her spine. It would have been the angstiest sub-plot of the fic but I wanted to show AR choosing each other and making the very hard decision to abort the foetus. I know many people might not agree with this thought process, but I'm firmly pro-choice and I wanted to have such a plot mostly because itv shows always show women carrying such risky pregnancies to term with no regard to their own life when they very well could die and that just sends the wrong message. Real life isn't a tv show. There's no guarantee of survival. You're not a DKP or Balaji lead that the writer will save you even in such a case. You could easily lose your life. So, yeah.

Of course, the other major plot was going to be how Armaan decides to stop hiding behind the persona of Reve and how his and everybody else's life is impacted by that. Because in this fic, Reve is an established global sensation, all of them would have immediately fallen under intense media scrutiny and coping with that would have been difficult. So, there was gonna be a few chapters of that.

But other than that, I think I've covered most of what I wanted to show with respect to AR & their life together. So, I feel good about ending the fic now where all of us are happy that our leads have found their way back to each other. I know that most of you would be sad with my decision to do this, but I hope you understand where I'm coming from.

If you've stuck with this fic till now, thank you so very much. Your support means everything to me. If not for you, this fic would not have reached even this phase. Maybe, I'd have abandoned it long ago. But even the 3-4 people who diligently read and commented gave me the push to finish the story, just so that you guys weren't disappointed. So, thank you!! Big shout out to Sanju, even though she did jackshit to make sure I wrote these chapters just cause I know she'll whack me if I don't thank her separately LOL.

Despite everything, this fic is close to 200k words and I'm extremely proud of that! I hope you're proud of me too, for reaching this point. With this final note, I bid adieu to my only unfinished AR fic. I feel a little hollow inside right now because these fics have been such a huge part of my life since I started posting them. They've seen me through so much and I'm forever grateful to them.

I make no promises of any AR fic in the future, but you never know. If inspiration hits, I might start something new, but until then… It's been an absolute honour sharing my words with this fandom. You've been the best audience a girl could ask for. Thank you so very much. ❤️

Signing off for probably the very last time,

Prags