Ariya FF: The One I Love Last Chapter Pg 53 June 5, 2016 - Page 16

Chapter 5

That incident changed everything! Arjun was more open to Riya now. Sakshi was brooding everyday seeing their closeness. Well for rest of the EFTians, it was fun to watch!

Even though Arjun was more open to Riya, she knew, deep down that he was just trying to make her feel better and protect himself from painful moments with Sakshi. It's true he had kissed her, but he did that to make her feel better, at least that's what Riya thought. There was no way to know the truth as asking Arjun meant breaking all the comfort that had built up between them in past 1 week. Riya was not ready to risk that. Being a hopeless romantic she was, she was ready to keep her feelings aside if that meant keeping the man she loves close to her.

Another day came. Riya in her high spirits, walked towards the conference room. She saw her teammates gathered around a man who had his back towards her. Eventhough she was intrigued, her eyes were searching for Arjun. As it registered to her that Arjun is not there she let out a sigh and started walking to her desk. At that same moment the stranger decided to turn around abruptly causing him to bump into her. She let out a shriek and held a chair nearby to stop herself from falling. But the chair toppled and the fall was ineveitable. She closed her eyes welcoming the cold floor mentally. Instead she found herself in the arms of someone. Her first thought was that the stranger had caught her. She felt disgusted at that thought as she could feel his fingers on her waist. But then it hit her. The touch was familiar. She abruptly opened her eyes only to drawn in the pair of eyes she was waiting to see.

Arjun was just at the door when he saw Riya bumping into someone. He sprinted towards her as he calculated that the chair will topple down. That happened also. So she fell into his waiting arms. He was glad that he reached there on time. He looked at her who had her eyes closed and her face showing a myriad of expressions; from fear to relief to disgust and then to realization. She then opened her eyes and looked at him with her big eyes. He could see through her.

He slowly lifted her up to her feet. She mumbled a weak Thank You'. He nodded his head. When he turned towards his team, he registered the other person. His eyes widened in shock. He rubbed his eyes vigorously and again looked at the other person. Riya was clueless seeing his reaction. She looked at her other team mates and found them grinning at Arjun's expression. She was about to ask Chotu when all of a sudden she heard Arjun;

"Karan... Are you really here or am I dreaming?"

The other person, Karan, laughed at this and jumped upon him for a hug. Arjun hugged him back, his eyes moist. Riya understood that this was the Karan about whom Arjun spoke on that day. Her lips twitched to a smile as she saw Arjun who was smiling like a small kid who got his candy.

"Bhai... I am also here", pouted Sakshi.

Karan broke from the hug and chuckled at his little sister.

"Come here" he beckoned her. A huge smile adorned her face as she ran to them and engulfed them in a hug.

The smile was wiped out from Riya's face as she saw the trio. She felt the same feeling of loneliness creep up her life. She realized that deep down, Arjun still cares for Sakshi and the friendship among three of them. May be he still loves her. A stray tear rolled down her face watching them and she immediately wiped it away.

Karan Anand, an encounter specialist was the new addition to ETF. He was nice guy who has that charming attitude. He loves his sister a lot. When his sister chose Arjun, he was ecstatic. Arjun was the best partner anyone could wish for. So he had given a green signal from the starting of their relationship. But his stupid little sister ran away from commitment breaking Arjun's heart and it gradually resulted in the distance in their relation, or that's what he thought until he met Arjun after long years in ETF. But one hug was enough to make him realize that Arjun was still the same.

Thinking about Arjun still being the same created some hope in his heart. The only reason to get transferred to ETF was because of a phone call from his sister. She called him one day middle of the night and started crying. He was a brother who has treated his sister as princess. So it was unbearable for him to see her cry. He always knew that Sakshi was still in love with Arjun and what she made in past was just a mistake. When she wanted to join ETF he didn't object her because of this. He knew that Arjun's wife is no longer with him and he need someone whom he knows, whom he can trust and whom he can love. He also reminded her that it won't be easy to win his heart all over again. But he was hopeful that since Sakhsi was his first love, there might be some feelings hidden deep inside his heart. When Sakshi called him and cried over phone telling that a certain Riya is coming between her and Arjun, he was enraged. So he decided that he will personally see it to that his sister and his best friend will get back together once again and no Riya can stand in between them.

Speaking of Riya, he imagined her to be a snobbish woman who seduces men into her whims. But what he found was a sweet and genuine girl who was beautiful like an angel. He felt his heart goes out to her as he saw the pain in her eyes. He was no blind to understand that Riya was irrevocably in love with Arjun. But he was helpless; he wants his sister's happiness that means crushing Riya's dreams.

What he can't understand in all these that Arjun's feelings. He tried many time but he couldn't make out what Arjun is feeling. He had seen genuine care and concern for Riya in his eyes, but love, he dared to ask that question. When he was fed up of trying to gauge Arjun's feelings, he decided that, even if Arjun has feelings for Riya, he will make sure that Arjun will once again start loving Sakshi.

Weeks passed. ETF atmosphere again changed. Everybody could see a playful side to Arjun. Everyone was happy, except Riya. She tried hard to fit in. but it was difficult for her and the absence of Chotu made the matters aggrieved. Chotu has gone for medical leave for one month as he was shot in one of the cases. So Riya was practically alone in ETF. Shree was always with Liza. Arjun, Sakshi and Karan were always together and Rathod, well he was being the ETF change never had much friendly interaction with Riya. So she was left alone. It was like Arjun had totally forgotten about her. He stopped dropping her home as always Karan and Sakshi will drag him to somewhere as soon as the office hours crossed. She went alone, came alone, had coffee alone. Only the time people engaged her in any conversation was when they were in the middle of the case. Otherwise in those days when there is no case, Arjun, Sakshi and Karan will indulge in some fun activities within themselves, conveniently forgetting about her.

She was sad about her condition yet she managed to smile when she saw the happiness in Arjun's face. She knew that he deserved happiness in her life. But what about her? She knew that sadness is her middle name. Even though she felt vulnerable, betrayed, she held up a brave face infront of everyone, including him. She didn't want him to feel bad.