Part 2
Her so called father had made a toy out of her. He had sold her for that merger and after 6 months he expected her to come back and start her life again as if nothing changed in those 6 months. She was hurt; really hurt. Though she knew he never treated her as his daughter but this contract had snatched away even the slightest of respect that she held for him.
Moreover; she was worried for Samaira. He was so nave; innocent. Unknown to this mean world and her father's plans; Riddhima had brought her up as her own child. She had taken care of her at every step. But now what was she supposed to do. Though Mallik family was good; but what about Armaan.
Could she trust him enough to hand over her sister to him for lifetime. Was he worth that?
Noo...He couldn't be; shouted a voice inside her.
Agar uski niyat acchi hoti toh usne Papa se Samaira ka haath maanga hota.
But then the other voice protested; Par vo Samaira ko humesha khush kar deta hai.
But again the first voice debated back;
Ho sakta hai ki ye bas dikhawa ho. Armaan ne shaadi ke baad kabhi dhang se baat bhi ki hai tujhse? Toh kya bharosa hai ki vo Samaira ko khush rakhega? Kya pata use bhi ill treat kare. Aur ek baar ye contract poora ho jaye; companies merge ho jaye; uske baad toh uska kaam bhi poora ho jaayega. Kya pata fir vo badal jaaye? Fir kya Riddhima?
She was tired and confused. Armaan was a good guy. He loved his family and he could go to any extend for all the people who were close to his heart. But the question was; whether Samaira was included in that list; or was it just a show off for the sake of the merger!
The next day Armaan brought Samaira home and showered her with lots of chocolates and gifts. Aarav too joined in and greeted her with a huge smile. The guest room was specially been made ready as she was supposed to come and the three musketeers (Armaan, Samaira and Aarav) got busy with their games and bickering about silly things.
Riddhima; as soon as got free from her kitchen work; headed towards the guest room with some snacks to finally meet Samaira after so many days. She was about to enter the room when she heard some commotion and stopped at the door.
Samaira was busy fighting with Aarav about who would go first for the bike race video game round. But as Armaan had been on Samaira's side; saying that ladies first so Aarav should let her play Aarav faked anger and sat with a pout. Samaira could never see anyone upset so she quickly tapped Aarav's shoulder and said;
Sa: Okay let's do one thing; tum aur main dono shaath main khelte hai; theek hai. 2 player game; theek hai!
Riddhima smiled at her sweet little sister who was unaware of her di standing at the door admiring her. Finally as Aarav agreed and both of them turned to the screen to start the game; Samaira saw Riddhima standing in front of her with snacks tray. She pouted looking at her di as she was supposed to be angry with her; put her eyes twinkled as she saw her favourite chocolate pudding and some waffles in the tray.
Riddhima placed the tray on the table and hugged Samaira tightly. But Samaira purposely stood still and did not hug her back. Riddhima drew back from the hug and stared at her questioningly.
R: Kya hua Samaira. Aap mujhe huggy nahi doge? I missed you sooo much! Aapne mujhe miss nahi kiya.
Sa: aap jhooth bol rahe ho. Aapne mujhe bilkul miss nahi kiya. Is liye; main aapse naaraz hu.
How was she supposed to explain Samaira what turmoil she was going through. She had obviously missed her terribly and had spoken to her almost daily; but it wasn't possible to go back and meet her as per Shashank's instructions! Tears flew down her eyelids as Samaira turned around all upset with her.
Aa: Arey Sammy...tum bhi na. Dekho aate hi meri bhabhi ko rula diya. Vo toh tumhe kitna miss karti hai; roz tumhare baarein main kitni baatein karti hai aur tum unse hi naaraz ho gayi. Dekho tumhare liye ye chocolate pudding bhi laayi thi; par chodo tum toh naaraz ho na toh main hi apni Riddhima bhabhi ke saath chala jaata hu. Tum yahi baitho apne is akdu boyfriend ke saath.
A: Acha bachu; bhabhi kya nazar aa gayi main akdu ho gaya!
Sa: Hey mera Armaan akdu nai hai; vo toh prince charming hai; jo meri di ko princess banake yaha le aaya hai.
A: Huh...dekha yahi ek samajhdaar hai yaha; jo mujhe achi tarah samjhti hai.
Aa: Acha; par mujhe toh lagta hai ye ek bad girl hai. agar samajhdar hoti toh meri bhabhi ko thodi na rulati!
Samaira frowned at his words but looked at Riddhima through corner of her eyes and actually found her in tears. Instantly she turned towards Riddhima and wiped her tears.
Sa: Aap ro kyu rahe ho? Main toh thodi si naaraz hu; toh aap humesha ki tarah mujhe sholly bolke mana sakte ho na. Is main rone ki kya baat hai? Chalo jaldi se sholly bolo; fir main aapko jaldi se maaf kar dungi na!
Riddhima held her ears and said in an ever so sweet tone; Sooorry!
Sa: It's okay! Samaira hugged her tightly instantly forgiving and forgetting the reason behind her anger.
Sa: Dekha main good girl hu; dekho meri di kaise smile kar rahi hai ab. Bad boy toh tum ho; har waqt mujhse ladte rehte ho.
She showed her tongue to Aarav and again hugged Riddhima. Riddhima gave her the pudding and sat down with her listening to her nonstop banter for the lost days. Armaan kept staring at Riddhima who he could see was genuinely smiling today. Till date after their marriage he had never seen that smile and glow on her face. He walked out with Aarav for a while giving them their sister to sister time.
Later Armaan made sure that he spent the entire day with her making her smile go wider and wider. Riddhima did realize one thing that Armaan could always take good care of Samaira; he always made her smile and would never ever let her cry.
It was a very sunny day and for some reason everything felt so good today. Riddhima woke up all fresh and started with her routine as usual. Once the breakfast was ready; she got all his things ready and went down to get the table ready for the breakfast. Everyone gathered at the table but Riddhima seemed unusually chirpy and in a hurry today. Armaan had been observing this but did not have the courage to ask her out anything; as as far as he remembered they did not share such a relation so as to ask each other about their good/ bad mood!
But his questions were given voice by his lovely mother who too was thinking on the same lines.
"Kya baat hai Riddhima? Aaj bohot khush lag rahi ho? Kuch khaas hai kya aaj? Badi jaldi bhi hai tumhe?"
The question brought an angelic smile to her face and she nodded excitedly.
" Jee maa; vo maine kaha tha na ki mujhe aaj kuch shopping ke liye jaana hai. Bas isi liye thodi excited thi."
Armaan's head shot up at that. Shopping. Really? That is what made her so happy! Now he was getting what Shashank was trying to say. Though every girl has some detachable bond with shopping is what he knew; but the excitement in her voice and that smile was just not fit in any measures today. He shook his head and continued with his breakfast.
Aa: Par bhabhi aap bahar jaogi kaise?
R: Kyu?
Aa: Kyunki bhabhi abhi thodi der main bhai aur chale jaayenge car leke. Dusri car se main college jaa raha hu.
R: Haan toh main auto ya taxi se chali jaungi na!
Aa: Nahi bhabhi; par aaj toh taxis ki strike hai. Aur auto toh aapko yaha milne se rahi!
Riddhima's face fell as he informed her about the strike. She now stopped having her breakfast as a big she was now in a big dilemma. She had to go and get the thing that she wanted today itself; but destiny seemed to play a villain for her today.
Just as she had only thought so; as if on a cue Armaan's phone rang and he got to know that his morning meeting had been cancelled and he had absolutely no meeting till noon now. He was a bit angry at the sudden change of plan but this worked ihn Riddhima's favour; as as soon as Ananya got to know the cancellation of his meeting she spoke up for her.
" Arey Armaan; ab tujhe toh office jaldi nahi jaana na; toh fir tu hi chod de na ise mall. Tub hi chala ja iske saath shopping pe"
A: Par Mom...
An: Kuch nahi sunna mujhe. Tu jaa raha hai toh bas jaa raha hai. Vaise bhi tu is bechari ko shaadi ke baad kahi baahar nahi lekar gaya hai. Sharam nahi aati tujhe; ab ye sab bhi mujhe batana padega tujhe;huh? Peeechle do hafto se tu apne kaamo main laga pada hai; aur ye bechari yaha din bhar baithe baithe ghar ke kaam sambhalti rehti hai. Aaj itni khushi khushi meri bachi jaana chahti hai kahi; toh uska dil kaise tuta dekh sakti hu main? Bas mujhe kuch nahi pata; tu abhi isi waqt uske saath jaayega! Aur tum iski tarafdari bilkul mat kar Riddhima; main dekhti hu ise aaj!
Now both of them were stuck and had no option out of it. So quietly Armaan had to follow Ananya to let let her get any more suspicious about the truth of their marriage. Riddhima too quickly got dressed and went ahead with him.
A: Aaj jo khushi tumhare chehre pe dikhi hai; vo aaj se pehle kabhi nahi dekhi! Tumhe itna lagaav hai shopping se!
R: Tum nahi samjhoge! Jo main khareedne jaa rahi hu na vo badle main mujhe dher saari khushiyan dega. Aur vo khushiyaan mere liye behisaab hai!
A: Huh...he gave a sad smile as how he wished she wasn't what Shashank had told him but unfortunately she had come true on his words. He was brought back from his thoughts with her loud shriek.
R: Ruko ruko; mujhe yaha thoda kaam hai; bas 2 minute.
He turned around and found her getting into a jewellary shop. He shook his head and waited for her to come out. As much as he wanted to just let her be and go away; he knew that he was answerable to his mom. However though; but she was his responsibility so he could leave her just in middle and go.
She came back within 10-15 minutes and told him to drop her to so and so mall.
A: Dekho ye bilkul expect mat karna ki main yaha tumhare liye wait karne wala hu; ya fir tumhare saath andar aakar tumhe join karunga. Ghar pe mom ke saamne kuch nahi bol paaya; lekin please there's no way that I am going to accompany you!
R: I never asked you too: Mr. Mallik! Agar main tumhare saath yaha aayi hu toh vo bhi maa ke hi kehne par. Varna mujhe bhi koi shock nahi tumhare saath ghumne ka! Anyways tum jaakar apna kaam kar sakte ho. Par bas itna karna; ki thodi der baad mujhse yaha milna jarur. Chahti toh main bhi nahi; lekin agar alag alag ghar laute toh Maa ko vapas shak hoga so...
A: Ya ya...I get it. Now go!
She moved out of the car and was about to go away when he stopped her all of a sudden.
R: Kya hua?
A: Vo...umm...God this was so embarrassing! Asking your own wife for her number after a good 15 days of marriage; he felt so stupid. But then he had to; otherwise how would he let her know when he would be back!
R: Kya hua; bolo jaldi mujhe late ho raha hai.
A: Vo...vapas aane par mujhe dhundogi kaise; koi gps nahi laga hai mujh main. Apna number do mujhe so that I can let you knew when I am back!
Oops the guy had a point; she thought with a silly smile and immediately exchanging the numbers she carried on with her work.
She entered the mall and went towards the gift section. She took some decent saree and shirt for Maa and dad(Ananya and Balvinder). While she took a new PSP for her lovely brother in law cum friend Aarav! After rejecting and accepting the goods and bads of some teddy bears she ultimately found the one that she was looking for. Samaira who had come home 2 days back had told her about this teddy that her friend had; and how she admired it. That was the moment Riddhima had decided that even if Samaira had these uncountable number of teddy bears at home; she would get her an exact copy of what she had described.
She told the guys to pack the teddy and handed over the credit card; but just in few minutes the guy was back saying that the card wasn't working. He took her along and tried few more times right in front of her but all in vain. She ultimately called up the services but they told her that there was some technical issue and she would have to wait for nearly 12/24 hours to get the card working. She sighed in anger but what was she supposed to do now? The gift was packed and she couldn't even go back to get the cash as Armaan must have gone by now. Moreover she hadn't carried along that much money either! But as she fiddled with the phone in her hand something struck her and she instantly opened her contact book.
Armaan; who just found a place to finally park his car; had gotten down from his car when his phone started vibrating. He frowned seeing Riddhima's name flashing and instantly received the call.
R: Hello. Armaan; tum kaha ho? Tum abhi tak yahi aas paas ho kya? Please tum vapas aa sakte ho? Mujhe thodi si help chahiye thi tumhari. Dekho main jaanti hu tumhe apne kuch kaam honge but I seriously didn't know and this stupid credit card; ise bhi aaj hi...
A: Hello...hello...Ri...Riddhi...OKAY ENOUGH JUST SHUT UP GIRL!
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