AR FanFic~ You're my Solace. (Chapter 7, FIRST INSTALLEMT: Pg20)

"Half Time!" the amateur referee shouted over the cheers of the crowd when Sanjeevani Hospital's team was leading 3-0 against Mumbai Young Basketball Club in a friendly yet heated match.

Unsurprisingly, the arena was houseful. Though the men from both the parties graced the event for the love of the game, the ladies came for a totally different love of theirs.

Now walking towards the stands, clad in a yellow sando and army shorts, with sweat dripping on his perfectly built biceps, Dr. Armaan Mallik was a treat to watch. The girls ooh-ed and ahh-ed as he temptingly, and deliberately so, emptied a bottle of chilled water over his head. With that, he blew a flying kiss over the stadium and the ladies' crowd was in an uproar.

To say the least, Armaan Mallik was delicious. The youngest surgeon of Sanjeevani was the ideal blend of brains, and oh, of course beauty! The gaze of his ocean blue eyes was hypnotizing, his enviously flawless physique would make the girls go weak on their knees and the guys hot in the head. He was smart, he was clever, he was witty, and undoubtedly, he was handsome.

Flashing his dimpled smile, a smile to die for, Armaan sexily ran back to the ground. As he was about to begin the game, Atul leaped on him and whispered, "What's your secret, bro?"
Armaan chuckled, and had Atul been a girl, he would have fainted right there at the sexy laugh. He winked at him and said, "I hope I had one, Champ. But, you man, are talking to an open book."
He slapped his friend's back, laughed once again, and went back into the game.

***

"Armaaan, congratulatons!" Nikki screamed at the top of her voice. "As always you were awesome!" And with that, Nikita Malhotra placed a kiss on her best friend's cheek.

"Woah! How did I get so lucky?" Armaan joked, and leaned in playfully.

"Armaaan!"Nikki pushed him in exasperation. "At least stop it NOW. Now I'm..."

Nikita was cut off by a voice from behind her. "Now she's getting engaged to me." Abhimnayu said in a hoarse, deadly voice. He gave Armaan a deadly stare and put his arm firmly around Nikita's shoulder. Abhi leaned over Armaan, placed his free hand on his shoulder and whispered, "And trust me, my bad luck bro."

The two mean broke into leaps of laughter and Nikita was left murmuring curses to herself.

"What a shameless faince you're Abhi. Jackass!"

Armaan, who was now nearly in tears, suddenly wrapped Nikita in a hug and said, "I am so happy for you Niks. Can't believe that you're getting engaged in a week!"

Nikita pulled out and smiled. "Now, you moron, get a girl for yourself too! So many hot chicks after, and you haven't fell in love once! It's a damn shame."

"Not again Nikita!" Armaan was sick and tired of this lecture he got from Nikita on a daily basis. "She's yet to come, Nikita."

Nikita threw up her hands in the air, because she had heard of this She' for too many times to handle. And when enquired about, all Armaan said was, "She, the one who's going to teach me to love. Because I don't know a thing about it yet."

"Let's go Nikki", Abhi said. "We can never decipher her mysterious She. Not even Sherlock can find her. Dude, you'll die single." Armaan laughed and hit Abhi on the arm.

As the two men went laughing and slapping each other, Nikki trailed behind. No matter how much she jested about it, deep inside she genuinely hoped that one fine day, Armaan would find the SHE of his life.

"By the way!" Armaan shouted to her, "Where are we heading to?"

"Lonavala", Nikita replied, catching up with them and twirling her arm around Abhi's.

"Lonavala? Why? Not that I don't want to go. What can be a better Sunday! But why, may I ask, Madam?" Armaan asked, dramatically bowing in front of Nikki.

Nikita spanked on his head before replying. "To receive a friend of mine. Rahul and Muskaan are going to bring her from the airpot straight to Lonavala at the Fest. I thought it's the last day of the Sanjeevani fest, so I'll show it to her. Moreover, she is joining Sanjeevani from tomorrow."

"Hmm", Armaan nodded, least interested. "All I want is a good road journey, and of course, the Fest! I'll buy some chocolates for the children en route. Oh and Nikki", Armaan said, as an afterthought, " Rahul is going to pick her up? Isn't she your friend?"

"Yes Armaan, but she is Rahul's friend too. We were together at Boarding. And I guess Rahul and her are family friends too."

"Wow, may I know the name of this infamous HER?"

"Riddhima Gupta."

***

By the time the trio reached Sanjeevani's orphanage in Lonavala, it was lunch. And Armaan was hungry, exhausted and so bored. All the way, Nikita was blabbering about her friend from London, who was to soon grace the Sanjeevani hospital by her presence. All Armaan gathered from the constant ramble of Nikita that she- what was her name?- whatever. She was Nikita's really good friend. If Nikki could talk about someone without one curse word, she had to be super close with her. But why bore the others! Abhi, the loving fianc he was, did not interrupt her once, and Armaan, he had dozed of soon.
"Girls", he murmured under his breath. "Kitna bolti hai. And Muskaan Madam is yet to come!"

"Hey guys!" came Muskaan's chirpy, over excited voice as she ran to Nikita and engulfed her in a hug as if they were meeting after years of exile.

"Hey Muski!" Nikki said, equally enthusiastic. "Where is Riddhima?"

"She went to her tent. But I must say Nikita, what a lovely girl. I really feel bad for her. I mean, Rahul told me what happened and it is so sad. You know..." And Muskaan went on and on.

Armaan didn't hear a word of their pleasantries and rushed straight to the kitchen. Had he been there, he would have heard Nikita shut up Muskaan's big mouth and warn her to not discuss Riddhima's past at all.

***

Armaan Mallik was in his best mood. With his stomach full with his favourite Aloo ke parathe, Armaan was in form, and that meant trouble. Ganging up with Atul, a reluctant Abhi, a lazy Rahul and a few other guys, he was playing mission "Kudiyon ko daalo daana."

Each guy was given a shooter, made by barks and thread, and had to score as much as they could in 15 minutes. The winner, Armaan had declared, got his PSP for a month. Armaan knew he would win, as no girl had the heart to scold him, or take away his weapon. He was too adorable for that.

With that over-confidence in mind, Armaan victoriously cleared the first two tents and the third one was a bumper prize as he fainted at the sight of Armaan Mallik in archery mode.

As he made his way around the tents that had been set up for the doctors from Snajeevai in the ground behind the orphanage, he heard a soft humming. It was like a nightingale's humming. He walked towards the tent and slowly slid away the small curtain that hung on the little circular window. And the sight he beheld took his breath away.

There she was, her back towards him. From what he could see of her, she was in a purple gown, her wet hair falling in front of her face. But luckily for him, the angelic face conveniently reflected in the mirror. Armaan kept staring, and if he could, he would do it forever.

It was serene. Her eyes weren't one of those, thickly lined with kajal and kohl, endowed with eye shadow and massacred by the mascara. They were, he could clearly see, a deep shade of green with a little caramel swirling in the middle. There was an underlying sparkle to it, an undecipherable mystery to it and an intriguing pain in them.
Her lips were moving in the soft hum of the lullaby. Her voice ringed in his ears, like the music of the temples linger in the ears of the pilgrims. He closed his eyes, and saw the perfect picture of her face take shape in the darkness. He sighed and said, "Beautiful."

The trance was broken by Rahul's rough shake. "Mallik? Mar gaya kya?"

"Kya hai Rahul?" Armaan asked irritated. "Don't shout. I have to aim." Armaan pointed towards is shooter and covered up quickly.

"Chal oye, time over. How much did you score?" Rahul dragged away Armaan.

Poor Armaan kept looking back, and felt as if he could trade his life for one more looks of hers.

***

"Riddhima? Are you ready?" Nikita asked from outside the tent.

After a few seconds, Riddhima came out. She was relieved to see that Nikki had come alone.

"Hi Nikki", she said softly. "I really don't want to come out. I don't know anyone here, and I am just not in the mood Nikita", Riddhima said hesitatingly.

Nikita gave a knowing nod. She completely understood that after what Riddhima had been through, it was tough to come back to normal. But the whole point of Riddhima returning to India was she being able to redeem herself! And Nikita, being her best friend, had to play the key role and ensure that did happen, ensure that Riddhima Gupta would be back soon.

"I get it Ridzi, but then you can't just sit here. Come on! It's an amazing weather outside. A little walk won't harm, right? Please, pretty please." Nikita put her best puppy face up for show.

Riddhima laughed. "Nikita, you haven't changed at all, bitch! Okay, I'll come."

"Yay!" Nikita exclaimed and leaped in joy. She happily turned around to leave with Riddhima when she was stopped by. "Nikki, listen?" Nikita turned around to see tears in Riddhima's eyes.

"Nikki", she said, her voice heavy and breaking. "Only you know how the last year has been for me. And I can never repay for what all you have done for me, and for all you're doing. If there was one person I could always fall back on, it was you. And I know, it will always be the same with you. I love you, Nimmo."

Nikita laughed though her tears, recalling the funny fusion of her name and surname "Nimmo" being used by Riddhima. All she could say was, "I love you too Riguu", using the same fusion for Riddhima and recalling their school days.

The two girls hugged, cried, laughed and comforted each other. Riddhima pulled out first and said, wiping her tears, "Aur haan. I cannot even tell you how happy I am for you and Abhi. He is an amazing guy Nikki. He loves you so much, it shows in his eyes."

Nikita smiled, took her Riguu by the arm and they made their way towards the basketball court.

***

Armaan was dribbling around the court with the little children running after him. As he dribbled towards the basket and was about to score, the ball fell off his hands. He stood agape, stunned once again into the trance he was a few hours back.

There she was, again. The face that had incredulously plagued his mind for the last two hours was now in front of him, and it was even more breath-taking this time.

She wore a plain white chicken kurta on white leggings. She was barefoot, and was being twirled by Rahul playfully. Her long, black hair danced with her, tickled the hair and fell on her face. She pushed it back to reveal the most beautiful face on the face of Earth.

No, Armaan had seen far more gorgeous girls. But none were so beautiful. There was something about those eyes and their mystery, something about the little smile that played on her lips- reluctant yet overwhelming, there was certainly something about her which made her beautiful.

Armaan was quick to snap back from his reverie this time. He chained up his read sweat shirt, straightened his hair and went towards her. Despite all the over confidence, a part of him knew that this lady wouldn't faint at his sight. She was different, a like he had never come across before. Maybe because there was only one in this whole wide world.

"Hey", he said, his eyes instantly looking into hers, searching for answers to unknown questions. All he received from her side was a frown which he didn't even notice, whilst lost in her eyes.

"Ridzi!" Nikita said, "this is Armaan Mallik. A surgeon at Snajeevani, and my best friend. And Armaan, this is Riddhima."

Armaan heard nothing what Nikita said and just saw Riddhima's hand move towards him, poising a handshake. "Hi", she said. The world was blocked out- there was silence all over apart from her voice, there was blur all around apart from her face. And Armaan knew that if, at this point, he would feel hear touch, breathing would be task.

So he combed his hand though his hair and said, "Itne jaldi haath milana hai?" and winked.

Riddhima withdrew her hand, gave him a hard gaze and turned to leave.

"Ruko, ruko. Khel ka maidaan chod ke jaana? Not allowed."

Armaan put his hand on Nikki's moth to shut up her protest. "Shut up, Nikki. London se aayi hai, khel ke nahi dikhayegi?"

Riddhima turned around, and Armaan had expected her to be fuming. But instead, she smiled in a smothering way and said, "Sure. One to one?"

It took Armaan a second to reply. "Game on."

"But Armaan! Meri baat toh sunn", Nikita shouted as soon as she was released.

"Shhh", he said, his gaze fixed on Riddhima. "Ready to loose, Madam?"

Riddhima paid no heed and walked towards the court. Armaan followed suit.

And within 50 seconds, Armaan had realized what Nikita's warning was all about. Riddhima moved on the court like a hurricane. Armaan Mallik did not even realize when she scooped of the ball and ho! Goal.

Riddhima bent down to take her dupatta, put it over her shoulder and started to walk off.

"Yo Basket! Naam to batati jaao," Armaan called out.

Riddhima, once again, paid no heed and kept walking. Suddenly, he jumped in front of her and said, "Soch lo! Naam nahi bataya toh Basket hi bulaunga."

And with that, Armaan began to chant Basket' Basket' Basket' and soon the whole ground was in momentum.

"Urgh!" Riddhima stomped her foot in exasperation. "You're such a beast!"

As Armaan saw her retreating figure, he smiled recalling the fairy tale from his childhood. The Beauty and the Beast fall in love.

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