Part 15
When she entered the room she was shocked seeing nikki in that state. Her room was messed up. Clothes were lying around the floor, perfumes were thrown down the dressing table. Everything was unorganized. Nikki was sitting on the floor, near her bed. Her face was dug in her arms. Riddhima heard her sobs, she was sniffing.
Ri: ni-nikki! Kya hoa bacha!!
Riddhima ran towards her and took her in her embrace. Nikki held on to Riddhima very tightly.
She cried in Riddhima's arms. Riddhima pulled her out of her embrace and cupped her face. She wiped Nikki's tears.
Ri: Nikki - nikki kya hoa hai? Kyun to rahi ho!
Ni: (crying) bhabhi dad ne humare saath Aisa kyun kiya? Kya begada tha humne unka?
After hearing about Nikki's dad, Riddhima now knew the reason behind Nikki's state. Nikki was crying because today she saw her step sister and step mother.
Ni: bhab-bhabhi m-main humesha Sab ko D-dhekti hun, to jealous Hoti hun! Aapko pata hai kitni takleef hoti hai jab koi mujhe poochta hai ke mere dad kahaan hai! Main unko kya bataon ke mere dad apni dusri biwi ke saath Mazay se zindagi guzar rahe hai!
Ri: dheko nikki! Jo haqeekat hai hum usse badal nahi sakte na! Aur waise bhi mazi ko bhool jao!
Ni: bhabhi humesha bhai ne Hume baap bann ke pala hai lekin unko kissi nahi pala siwaye mom ke! Bhai iss haqeekat ki waja se itne talkh ho chuke hai ke koi bhi Nahi jaanta ke woh hasta khil khelata armaan kaha chup gaya hai!!
Dad ki berukhi ke baad mom bhi bohot change hochuki thi, na hasti thi na muskurati thi!!! Saare change ho chuke thay even muski di!! Muski di jo humesha dusron ki help karti thi, aaj itni selfish hogayi hai!
Now, after listening to all this, even Riddhima was in tears. She couldn't believe what she just heard right now. Nikki held Riddhima shoulders while Riddhima looked at her confusingly. Nikki joined wait hands infront of Riddhima.
Ni: (crying-pleading) bhabhi plZ bhai ko ekk baar maaf kardijye!!! Wo poori Tara se toot chuke hai! Woh apna past bhula karr Ek nayi zindagi ki shuruwat karna chahte hain, aapke saath!!! Plz unhe maaf kardijye!!
Before Riddhima could reply they both heard Muskaan calling them for dinner. Nikki looked at Riddhima while Riddhima hugged her. After a while both parted from the hug and Riddhima cleared her tears.
Ri: jao jaa ke muh saaf karo! Main wait Kari hun saath chale gein neeche!!!
Nikki nodded and passed a sweet smile towards Riddhima. She was going to the bathroom while Riddhima was looking at her smiling. Nikki stopped where she was and ran back to Riddhima, hugged her leaving her surprised.
Ni: (kissing on her cheek-running away) bhabhi ur the best!!! Love u!
Riddhima smiled at her craziness.
DOWNSTAIRS
The atmosphere was awkward since everybody was quietly eating their food. Armaan still wasn't talking to Muskaan and Ananya thought not to interfere in sis-bro fight. All three turned their heads towards their staircase to see Riddhima and nikki coming downstairs laughing. Armaan smiled dreamingly at Riddhima. While he was staring at her, he felt the world stop around him. To him she was coming down very slowly. His trace was broken when Ananya asked them.
An: beta kaha reh gaye thay tum log?
Ni: mom vo-
Ri: maa nikki apni aissigment complete Kari thi na to main uski help Kari thi!
An: oh Acha chalo dono Khana kha lo!
Nikki thanked Riddhima from eyes. Soon both started eating.
AT NIGHT
Riddhima was standing near the window looking at the moon. She was remembering the conversation she had with nikki.
Ri: (mind) kya mujhe waki mein apni kismat pe bharosa karna chaiye aur Armaan ke saath ekk nahi zindagi ki shuruwat karni chaiye?
She looked back at the bed and saw Armaan sleeping. He looked so cute while sleeping. He didn't look like a business man while sleeping instead he looked like a cute baby. She so wanted to go pull his cheeks and kiss them. But she couldn't do it.
She went towards the bed and took a pillow and put it in the couch. She went to the wardrobe and opened to take out her night cloths. When she was taking out her clothes she saw a book fell down from the wardrobe. She took it and opened the first page to see the mallik's family picture in which armaan's dad was also there.
She decided to read it. She took out her shawl and a flashlight. She quietly closed the door and went to the balcony. She went and sat in the stairs which lead to the garden downstairs.
She switched on her flashlight and opened the book. She opened the first page and saw a ask boy's handwriting.
Ri: (mind) yeh to Armaan ki diary hai! Main kaise padh sakti hun? Lekin Armaan ko wapis khush hone wala Armaan banane Keliye to yeh karna hoga! Unka past jaana hoga!!!
She opened the first page and read it. It was when Armaan was 8 years old.
"Aaj mom dad ki Anniversery hai!!! Aaj unki shaadi ko 10 saal ho chuke hain!! Mom kitni perfect wife haina!!! Humesha dad ka khayal rakhti hai, unki cheezein unko time per deti hai, Poori RAAT wait karti hai jab dad thoda late hojate hai!
Main hi bhi ussi ladki se shaadi karunga jo mom ki Tara ho! Main bhi usse waise hi gifts dunga jaise dad mom ko dete hain! Main bhi usse waisa pyaar karunga jaise mom dad karte hain!!"
Riddhima started crying after reading all this. Fat tears were falling on the pages making them wet. She flipped a few pages. Now the hand writing was a bit better. It was the hand writing of a 14 year old boy.
"Aaj meri life ka sabse kharab dinn!! Dad ko mom ko pyaar karna sirf aur sirf dikhawa tha! Aaj dad meri step mom ghar le aaye!!! Aaj woh Rashmi Aunty ko ghar le aaye aur saath saath mere sautele bhai ko bhi!!"
Riddhima was crying bitterly now. Her eyes were puff red. Suddenly she heard foot steps coming towards the balcony, she quickly closed the diary and hid it under her shawl. She wiped her tears and cleared her throat.
Armaan came to the balcony and saw her sitting there. He got confused and went up to her. He put a hand on her shoulder when she turned around quickly. She had a scared look on her face.
Ar: tum itni raat ko...yahan kyun bethi ho?
Ri; woh...mujhe neend nahi arahi thi to yahan agayi!
That's when he noticed her bloodshot red eyes. He knew she was crying cuz he saw her dried tears on her cheeks and her nose was red due to crying.
Ar: tum ro rahi thi kya?
Ri: (not meeting his eyes) mere khayal mein bohot raat hochuki hai! Abh humein sona chaiye!!
Saying so she left leaving Armaan in guilt. He went and sat in the stairs. Two years came out of his eyes dropping on his hands while he was looking at his hands.
Ar: (mind) aaj meri waja kissi ke ankh mein aanson aaye hai! Main soch bhi Nahi sakta! Maine itna bura kaise Kiya Riddhima ke saath! Main maannta hun me yeh Shaadi meri marzi se nahi hoyi Lekin atleast Mujhe usse thapad nahi marna chaiye tha! I promise Riddhima ek
Dinn main tumhare hauntoon (lips) parr Muskaan laa karr rahunga Aur woh Muskaan meri waja se hogi!
He kept shedding tears while inside the situation was different. Riddhima was laying on the couch. She wasn't crying right now but was lost in a deep thought.
Ri: (mind) Armaan ne kitna bura past face kiya hai...Shayad mere Se bhi zada!!! Maine soch liya hai! Unho ne MUJHE thapad mara tha Lekin unka haq hai mujh par!!! Abh main Armaan KI zindagi mein khushi laakar hi rahungi!!!
NEXT MORNING
Riddhima woke up to see the bed empty. She got confused and went outside in the balcony. She Armaan sleeping sitting in the stair, While his head was leaning in the side railing.
She went to him and sat down next to him. Sun rays were shining in his face disturbing his sleep. She put a hand infront of his face so the Rays don't hit his face.
Armaan suddenly woke up and looked at Riddhima. She took her hand away and there was a few minutes of awkwardness between them. Finally Riddhima managed to speak.
Ri: aap...yahan k-kyun soye?
Ar: (getting up and going) umm Tum mere kapde nikal do!! Mujhe der horahi hai!
He left from there leaving Riddhima post in her thought. Riddhima mistook his avoidance and thought he was avoiding her because he isn't really ready to move on. While Armaan didn't have guts to answer her question. Both of them were playing with different emotions sadness. Regret.
Riddhima went inside the room to see no one there. She heard the water tap running and assumed that he was in the bathroom. She took out his clothes and fixed the bed and quickly went downstairs to help Ananya.
She entered the kitchen to see the three ladies chatting. Ananya had changed into a red saree while nikki and Muskaan were still in there night suits. Nikki was wearing baggy trousers and a half sleeves yellow shirt. Muskaan was wearing a pink tank top with a white patiala salwar on the bottom.
Ananya saw Riddhima enter the kitchen and a sweet smile.
An: Arre beta tu uth gayi?
Ri: haan maa! Muskaan tum kaam pe nahi gayi?
Mu: bhabhi give me a break! I wanna rest with my family and spend quality time with my precious bhabhi!!!
Ni: (melodramatically) behan behan na rahi! Bhabi bhabhi na rahi!!!! Mom dheko inki kitni achi bonding ho chuki! Abh Mai kahan jao????
All laughed at nikki while she pouted. Riddhima went and hugged her.
Ri: awww tu bhi aaja!!!!
All three girls hugged eachother while Ananya smiled at the trio.
Ar: RIDHIMAAA!!!!!
Suddenly they heard riddhima's name from armaan's mouth and they were surprised. Nikki winked at Riddhima while Muskaan giggled. Riddhima left to their room leaving the ladies smile.
An: finally unke beech ki Doriyaan kam horahi hai!
Mu: Hmm abh I hope they realized their feelings soon and forgot the past and move on!
AR ROOM
Riddhima entered to see Armaan struggling with his shirt's button as he still had a bandaid on his right hand which lead him to difficulty in closing his shirt buttons.
He turned around to see Riddhima dressed in a beautiful sea blue saree. She was looking so beautiful. He was staring at her for eternity, forgetting everything around.
Riddhima felt nervous under his gaze. After looking at his bare chest which was visible because only half of his buttons were closed, she felt more nervous.
Ri: a-apne mujhe bulaya?
He came out of his trance hearing her voice.
Ar: umm...woh tum meri shirt ke button band kardo gi plZ kyunke mer haath-
Before he could complete his sentence Riddhima started to button his shirt up. Her hands were shivering while doing it. Her hand accidentally brushed his bare chest. Armaan who was already staring at her, felt a weird sensation. Riddhima looked in his eyes and got lost in them. Both of them were lost in each other's eyes. Their trance was broken when nikki was calling both of them downstairs. Riddhima quickly buttoned his shirt up and ran downstairs. While Armaan ran his hand through his hair. He quickly got ready and went downstairs.
Cricket
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