Cold winds, dim moonlight, divine atmosphere, peaceful surroundings and silence in the air. It felt nature was showing her its beauty and inviting her soul to get romantic. But there she was, in her balcony, with stone cold tea in her favourite mug. She was so lost in her thoughts that she did not even realise that hours passed since she was sitting there. It was past midnight and she was sitting there with bandaged wounds all over her body. She was not in her senses to even understand what had happened. There was a not a single drop of tear in her eye. Her heart was shattered. Her hair were messy and her body lifeless.
The doorbell rings and she gets up without a single emotion on her face. She had lost her glow. Her eyes had lost the spark. Her gorgeous smile was gone. She walked past some torn clothes lying on ground. She opened the door and saw a tensed and angry face.
"Riddhu, kitne phones kitne messages... Ek ka bhi reply nai.."
She doesnt reply. Instead she goes and sits on the sofa. The boy follows her and sits facing her. He cups her face. " I know its difficult but bhul jaa vo sab. He did not deserve you. All he needed and loved was your body and not your soul. Look at what he has done to you. You are not my riddhu. Forget him. You sit, I will get coffee for you." She rests her head on the sofa and closes her eyes.
*Flashback*
"This is not right Siddhant."
"We are engaged. I have full right on you."
"We are not yet married. And is this the way you show your right?"
"Yes Miss Riddhima Gupta this is what I am." And he laughed sheepishly. "And if you dont let me, I know how to get it done."
And Siddhant comes closer and a loud scream is heard.
*Flashback ends*
Riddhima holds the cushion next to her and screams a big NO loudly and sits up with a start. The guy rushes in and sits next to her. "Riddhu, u ok?" Riddhima hugs him tight and hides her face in his chest. He holds her protectively and caresses her tresses with one hand while other hand is holding her with all the love in the world. She breaks down. "Armaan..." Barely able to speak she says in between sobs. "Why did he do this to me? I loved him with all my heart and soul. And he loved my body. All he needed was fulfillment of physical needs." Armaan did not know what to say. The girl who was in his arms totally broken was raped that morning and shockingly by her fiance.
And the same evening he called off the marriage. He went to Dr. Shashank and said she was a characterless girl and he was so wrong in his choice. But minutes later he went to Riddhima and sensing that she was alone he revealed that it was only his needs that he had to get fulfilled. He never loved her nor did he ever want to get married.
It was only few hours that all this had happened. Nikita had helped her change after that and made tea for her so she could get a little out of the stress. But she had to leave urgently as an emergency had come up in the hospital. Armaan was out of town, but as soon as he heard of the incident, he had been calling and messaging Riddhima continuously and left immediately for Bombay. He reahed only few minutes ago and came directly to Riddhima's house afraid and tensed. He was continuously praying that she would not have harmed herself or not fallen ill. He loved her from the core of his heart but Riddhima was getting married to Siddhant because Dr. Shashank Gupta, her dad wanted so. That very day Armaan decided he would never let her know of his love but would not leave her side even. He was always next to her, as her best friend. He would go out of the way just for her single smile. But today she was there, in his arms, crying, broken, manhandled, and wounded. And all he could do was hold her till she was ok. His heart was crying but his mind was angry. He wanted to kill Siddhant but taking care of his Riddhu was far more important to him at the moment.
She had been crying hysterically in his arms. But he was relieved that atleast she reacted. None of the two said anything. They just hugged each other and sat. Armaan wanted to tell her how much he loved her, how much he craved for her. He loved her, her soul, and not her body. With every passing minute he fell more in love with her and all the moments he had spent with her flashed in front of his eyes. He smiled thinking of her antics, got tensed when he remembered how she had fallen in the basketball ground and had hurt herself, blushed when he remembered how she gave him a flying kiss when he had won a match, and was swollen with pride when he remembered how she had got the Best Student' trophy in college. He had been there in her happiness, sadness, joy, grief, rains, dances, matches, each beautiful memory of his had his Riddhu in it. He was so immersed in his thoughts that he did not even realize that she had dozed of to sleep. He wanted to pick her up and lie her on bed so that she could sleep comfortably but the very thought that she would break again if she did not find him around scared him so much that he sat there in the same position. Each time she stirred a little he would check if she was ok. There she was, his angel, his reason to smile, princess of his life, the girl who taught him what love was, in his arms, secured, safe and relaxed.
Hours passed and the bright light hit Riddhima's eyes. She opened her eyes only to find Armaan looking at her without a blink and flashing his dimpled smile. His cuteness, his care, his charm made Riddhima smile. Armaan had seen her smiling after long and pecked her forehead with all the care in the world.
Riddhima(guiltily): Armaan, tum puri raat..?
Armaan: Ab mein tumhe is halat mein akela thodi chhod sakta tha. Ek baar chhoda aur dekho uska anjaam. (And he sounded even guiltier)
Riddhima: Shhh... Is mein tumhari kya galti? I deserved it.
Armaan(pulling her closer): No Riddhu, you don't. It was just an incident. It had to happen.
Riddhima: Armaan, meri sagai tut gayi hai. Papa ka pata nai kya haal hoga.
Armaan came out from the hug, holds her hands in his and maintains a long eyelock.
Riddhima: Armaan, kya hua?
Armaan: Riddhu, i know tumne kabhi mujhe apne best friend se badhkar nai mana, lekin for me, you were the only girl i loved. Mein nai jaanta yeh sahi hai ya galat lekin shayad hum dono ka saath hona hi likha tha.
Riddhima( in utter shock and with tears): Armaan, tum yeh sab isliye to nahi kar rahe kyunki mere sath...
Armaan cups her face and moves closer.
Armaan: Nahi Riddhu, mein yeh isliye kar raha hun kyunki mein ab tumhare matter mein kisi ko trust nahi kar sakta . Tum shayad kabhi mujhse pyaar na kar pao lekin mein hamesha tumhara best friend to rahunga na. Tum aisa samajna ki mein tumhara best friend hun, aur mein tumse bina kisi expectation ke pyaar karta rahunga. Riddhu, i want to love you, take care of you, stay by you and be there for you... Always. Please maan jao.
Riddhima: So you mean tum life time mujhse pyaar karoge? Vo bhi bina koi expectations.
Armaan: Haan. Lekin sirf agar tum chaho to.
Riddhima: Armaan aise insaan se pyaar kaise na ho jo meri khushi ke liye apni zara bhi parvah nahi kar raha.
Armaan: Nahi Riddhu, yeh mein tumhare liye nahi, apne liye kar raha hun. Is puri duniya mein sab selfish hain, kuch apne liye aur kuch apno ke liye. Mein tumhare liye hun. Tumhare aansu nahi dekh sakta mein. So i want to stop them even before they come out.
Riddhima gives him a huge smile. And a big hug.
Riddhima: You know Armaan, meine kahin padha tha being in love is the most beautiful feeling, but i disagree, Being Loved by someone is the most beautiful feeling. I want to spend my entire life with you because i know you will never hurt me or let anyone do that. And jahan tak baat pyaar ki hai, to vo to mujhe shayad ho hi gaya hai.
Armaan: Sachi?
Riddhima: Yes Mr. Armaan Mallik, I Miss Riddhima Shashank Gupta is ready to be Mrs. Riddhima Armaan Mallik.
Armaan (lifts her and shouts) I Love you going to be Mrs. Mallik.
Riddhima (chuckling) I love you too Mr. Mallik.
Pati Patni Aur Panga
