New OS Gallery - Tani

Hi Guys...

I am back with a new OS gallery cuz all the old ones have shit down...I hope to see all of you here with the same love and support as always ✌🏻

~INDEX~

Through The Black & The White: A-C1--Page 1

Through The Black &The White-C2

Through The Black & The White (AR OS)

Part-A

Glancing towards the mirror she couldn't help but admire the beautiful black chiffon saree that was delicately draped around her. The heavily beaded, silver halter neck blouse just further enhanced the beauty of the otherwise plain piece of cloth…Smiling back at her reflection she mentally thanked her husband who had so thoughtfully gifted her this saree which was perfect for the evening….Lost in her own thoughts she was carefully fastening her diamond studs when she suddenly felt a pair of strong arms creep through her waist and hold her firmly yet passionately. “Armaan…” she said startled by his sudden act but smiled nonetheless. “Mmm you look absolutely stunning, dil hi nahi Kar raha ab party main Jane ka….” Said Armaan who himself looked dashing in a well tailored black suit accompanied with a deep grey shirt to match Ridhima’s saree, while nuzzling his face on her bare shoulders. “Acha? to kya dil kar raha hai apka?” She asked lovingly while lightly cupping his cheek as they continued to stand with her back against his chest. “Hay…Yeh puchiye kya dil nahi kar raha hai…” He replied in a deep husky voice as he leaned and placed a deep kiss on her palm that rested against his cheek which did nothing but make her blush a deep red for she knew exactly what he meant. “Armaan no badamshi haan…Chalo ab jaldi karo…Sab guest ate honge and us being late for our own party doesn’t look good” she told him trying to control her own racing heartbeats as she somehow got her palm back and continued to get ready. “Tch…Ridhima! Jana zaruri hai kya?” He asked almost pouting like a two year old as he rested his head on her shoulder and pulled her closer to himself. “Armaan…Party humare ghar main hai obviously jana zaruri hai…” she replied while rolling her eyes at his nonsensical question. “Haan but still…I just want to spend this time with you” he replied honestly making her smile inspite herself. “Armaan you know na this is important puri media ane wali hai, after all you have bagged the biggest deal of the year and well even our employees deserve this na?” She explained him softly knowing very well how lowkey he preferred to be but somethings were just needed specially when you were pretty much running the biggest company of the country. “Hmm…I guess you’re right but its not me its WE…Is deal ko pane main jitna mera hath hai utna hi tumhara bhi hai, if not more actually” he replied back honestly making her heart swell in utmost pride because she for once may forget that she is actually an equal partner in the business but he never did so and specially not when it was time for giving credit. Smiling back at him she couldn't help but mumble a small I love you which was replied back with a lingering kiss on her temple. “Arey main to bhul hi gayi…Thank you for the saree…I absolutely love it” she told him earnestly making him smile happily. “You’re most welcome my love…Aur vaise bhi yeh saree tumpar bohot zyada achi lag rahi hai…” he complemented her yet again but even before she could say anything he spoke up yet again, this time making her frown with his words “Par kuch kami hai…” “Kya? Are the earrings looking weird ? Should I tie up my hair…?” She asked him endless questions as she checked herself out in the mirror trying to pinpoint what the missing factor according to him was. “Armaan bol….” Getting no response she was just gonna question him again when she felt something cold sit against her neck…” Armaan yeh…” “Thank you Ridhima…Agar tum nahi hoti to yeh deal, yeh Sapna mera kabhi Pura nahi hota…When literally everybody was against me you stood by me, for me…I can’t tell you how grateful I am for having you in my life jaan” he replied with a slightly chocked voice while fastening the hook of the delicate diamond chain that had a beautiful heart shaped rose quarts stone enclosed in a diamond rim right in the centre of the chain. Ridhima did not say anything but just held his arm which once again rested over her waist and squeezed it a little trying to convey that she was always gonna be there for her. For sometime neither of them said anything, they just stood there in the same position taking a moment to feel each others presence, to absorb the success that they had earned after extreme levels of hard work and just to feel the gratitude of having each other.

Tu Hi Meri Hai Saari Zameen

Chahe Kahin Se Chalun

Tujh Mein Hi Aake Ruku

“Janti ho what this stone symbolises ?” He asked her breaking the silence as he somehow took hold of his emotions. Shaking her head she caressed the lovely pale pink stone “This stone is called Rose Quarts…It symbolises unconditional love and thats why I specially got this piece to symbolise our unconditional love…” he told her as he placed another kiss on her hair making her smile widely. “Its beautiful…Thank you” she replied back as she looked in his eyes through the mirror reflection to tell him just how much she adored this little gesture of his…. “Hmm…Thank you to theek hai but don’t you think I deserve a little bit more after all tumhe saree bhi pasand Ayi and even this necklace you liked to sirf thank you to bohot kam hai na” replied Armaan in a slightly mischievous tone as he slowly turned her in his arms so as to come face to face with her. “Hmm baat to sahi hai…Thank you is too less na?” She played along in a teasing tone knowing that the last few moments got them a bit emotional. Seeing him nod his head with a cute puppy face she couldn't help but smile a bit more. “To kahiye Mr. Malik how can I show you just how much I loved these gifts that you have so thoughtfully gotten for me?” She asked him in the same teasing tone only to have him pull her closer to himself. “Well…I can think of a million ways but Abhi ke liye I mean seeing that we have to attend the party I think ek kiss se bhi kaam chal jayega, haina?” He said in his deep husky voice which did nothing but brighten her cheeks as he eyes on their own accord dropped down which was good enough cue for him that she was okay with his little demand….And so without wasting anymore time he slowly pulled her chin up and then ever so softly he placed his lips on hers and took her in a gentle, yet passionate kiss….Taking this time to celebrate their success in the truest form they savoured every second of the kiss and broke apart only when they felt the absolute need to do so. Resting their heads against each other they took a moment to calm their racing heartbeats post which “I love you…” mumbled Armaan placing a tender on her forehead. “I love you too…” she replied simply yet conveying a million emotions through those three words.

Tere Siva Main Jaun Kahan

Koi Bhi Raah Chunu

Tujh Mein Hi Aake Ruku

Taking her in a warm hug, he held her close to himself letting them both take in the moment they shared to the fullest however just then Ridhima felt something tug at her saree forcing not only her but also Armaan to look down. The sight however made both of them smile widely for down on the floor they found their ten month old daughter- Aria who seemed to have crawled her way from the bedroom to the walk-in closet where her parents were enjoying amidst themselves which was absolutely unfair to the little baby…With her favourite small Pooh bear in one arm while she had raised her other arm asking her parents to pick her up which needless to say was done immediately by her daddy dearest….”Aley mela baby to kitna cute lag raha hai” said Armaan while admiring how adorable she looked in her cute little black frock that a had silver bow in the centre so as to match both her parents. “Meri Aru to hai hi shabse cute…Haina…” Ridhima added while softly pinching the baby’s cheek making her flaunt her two teeth grin and before Ridhima could move apart she instantly caught onto the pendant that Armaan had just gifted her “Wooooowwwwww…..” She exclaimed in the cutest way possible making both her parents chuckled at her way of expressing her liking for something. The child may have had a limited vocabulary but she defiantly knew how to express herself and more often than not it did make her parents laugh. “ Wowwww…” Ridhima mimicked her only to see her nod further and repeat yet again…”Woooowwww” making both her parents now laugh heartily and of course so did Aria cuz well everyone was laughing so even she had to. “Aru ko acha laga na…Jab aap bade ho jaoge tab aap yeh pehna okay? Abhi chod ko mama ko oiii hi jayega na babu…” Ridhima explained her lovingly as she tried to get Aria to stop pulling the necklace lest it breaks but the little baby was least interested for her entire attention was focused on the beautiful pink stone. “Tab nahi…abhi!” Exclaimed Armaan making Ridhima frown but the next second her frown was replaced with a million dollar smile for she saw him remove an exact miniature replica of the necklace from his blazer pocket and place it before Aria’s eyes who instantly left Ridhima’s piece and held this one….”Main apni choti se jaann ko kaise bhul sakta hoon…Aru to dada ki princess hai na…Mama and dada’s unconditional love can never be complete without you my baby” he said rather softly as he kissed her head with utmost love while Ridhima too nodded with moist eyes as she stepped ahead to caress her little angel’s hair. “Acha ab Aru bhi necklace wear karegi na mama ke jaise…” Armaan while slowly detangling the piece from her little hands and giving it to Ridhima so that she can make Aria wear it. “Mam-ma” the little angel panicked seeing the necklace being taken away from her hand but soon relaxed as she felt Ridhima place it against her neck. As soon as Ridhima fastened the hook and stepped back both Armaan and Ridhima looked at each other and then as if on cue they together exclaimed “Wooowwwww” before breaking into an another fit of laughter making Aria giggle loudly as well….”Acha ab bas masti bad main we are really getting late Armaan…” Ridhima reminded him to which he nodded knowing she was right and so quickly setting their clothes straight and obviously reapplying her lipstick the trio made their way towards the party with Armaan’s one arm around Ridhima’s waist and the other one securely holding Aria against his shoulder.

Tum Mile To Lamhein Tham Gaye

Tum Mile To Saare Gum Gaye

Tum Mile To Muskhurana Aa Gaya

Tum Mile To Jadoo Chaa Gaya

Tum Mile To Jeena Aa Gaya

Tum Mile To Mene Paya Hai Khuda

——————————————————————————————————

The trio managed to get every eye ball on them as they gracefully entered the elegantly decorated garden. Making their way towards Billy and Ananya (Armaan’s parents) who had specially flown down from Delhi for this event they first bent down to take their blessings “God bless you…I am so proud of both of you” Said Ananya while hugging Armaan as Billy had already taken Aria in his arm while he draped his other arm over Ridhima’s shoulder. “Yeh sab humari angel ka kamal hai…Iske ate hi dekho sab kitna acha acha ho raha hai…” Said Billy while bouncing the little baby in his arms. “Bilkul aur aaj to humari Aria lag bhi kitni pyari rahi hai…Kisi ki nazar na lag jaye humari gudiya ko…” Ananya agreed and immediately removed some kajal from her eyes and imprinted it behind the little one’s ears so as to protect her from any evil eye. “Haan mom ab Sara pyaar sirf apki poti ke liye, dekh lo Ridhima humari koi importance nahi bachi hai ab” Armaan complained teasingly as he still had his arms around Ananya. “Oye apne bache se bhi koi Jalta hai kya aur vaise bhi Tu apni baat kar, Ridhima to mere liye bohot important hai” stated Billy while pulling Ridhima closer to himself making her smile and Armaan’s gasp in utmost shock. “Yeh acha hai…Beta main hoon apka lekin sara pyaar sirf apni bahu aur poti ke liye sambhala hai…Huh Nobody loves me” Said Armaan pouting and pretending to be rather upset making all three of them chuckle. Aria however though did not get the context of what they were talking about but seeing Armaan standing with a sad, though fake but sad face and hearing him say that nobody loved him the little princess definitely did not feel good and so before anyone could say anything she instantly jumped towards Armaan indicating him to pick her up “Daddaa…Aru lub….” She mumbled making everyone and specially Armaan smile at how she tried to cheer him up by conveying to him that she loved him. “Awle my baby…Dada also loves you sweetheart…Dada loves you the most” Armaan coed holding her close to his heart as this little act of hers had really managed to touch his heart while the other three just silently admired the father daughter duo.

Tujh Mein Kinara Dikhe

Dil Ko Sahara Dikhe

Aa Meri Dhadkan Tham Le

“Acha ab tum log Jake announcement kar do…Sab kabse wait kar rahe hai…” Ananya reminded them making everyone nod. “Jee mom…Lekin aap aur dad bhi chaliye na, vaise bhi announcement ke bad immediately cake cutting hoga…” Informed Ridhima to which both Ananya and Billy just nodded agreeing with her. “Oh haan Ridhima beta Smriti aur Shashank (Ridhima’s parents) ka phone aya tha tumhare liye, uhne bohot bura lag raha hai ki woh yaha nahi hi sake” Ananya told Ridhima as they all walked towards the stage while Billy, Armaan and Aria walked ahead of the ladies conversing about some paper work. “Jee mom maine baat karli thi unse…I know they are really upset even we are but aab aise last minute London se yaha ana was also a little difficult…But its okay unhone promise kiya hai ki bohot jaldi ayenge hum sab se milne” Ridhima said smiling with slightly moist eyes to which Ananya just caressed her hair head lovingly knowing very well that she obviously did miss her parents…They all reached the stage where both Armaan and Ridhima made the official announcement of getting the deal. A huge round of applause echoed all around as a two tire cake was brought in to celebrate which the entire Malik family cut together.

The party sailed through as anyone and everyone came to congratulate both Armaan and Ridhima. “Yeh Rahul kaha reh gaya?” Armaan mumbled as he checked the time and left a quick text to his best friend who as usual was late for the function. “Sir…Business Mode magazine se do log aye hai, they are saying they have an appointment with you” Informed John- the head security of the Maliks, who was on extra alert owing to the function being held. “Yeh John, unhe andar living room main bithao…Main aur Ridhima bas araha hai…” Armaan replied and looked around to find Ridhima and Aria as hadn't seen them for a while now, after a short search he found Ridhima along with Aria in a far off table where she had made the little one sit while she herself sat in a chair in-front of her….Smiling at both his princess he walked towards them and smiled whole heartedly as he saw Aria giggle away to glory as Ridhima kept playing peekaboo using her saree palu. Standing just a few feet away he took in a moment to admire both his angels who had really changed his life for the better…The two of them were the reason behind his existence and he was not willing to change anything about this fact.

Teri Taraf Hi Mude

Yeh Saas Tujhse Jude

Har Pal Yeh Tera Naam Le

Tum Mile To Abb Kya Hai Kami

Tum Mile To Duniya Mil Gai

Tum Mile To Mil Gaya Asra

“Boo…” Armaan happily jumped from behind startling both Ridhima and Aria and while Ridhima glared at him for scaring her so bad the little one couldn't hold her giggles and just laughed gleefully which soon enough melted Ridhima’s glare as well. “Armaan tum bhi na…” She scolded him softly as he too took a chair and sat beside her. “Tum bhi na Ridhima ekdum darpok ho see Aru ko to itna maza aya, she’s my brave baby.” He teased Ridhima as he gave Aria his phone which she kept pulling from his hand, to which Ridhima just rolled her eyes and asked him to shut up which he obviously did cuz he knew exactly what the consequence of teasing her too much could be. “Acha lave this aur yeh Batao ki tum dono yaha kya kar rahe ho, main kabse dhund raha tha tumhe guests bhi puhuch rahe hai aur tum yaha kone main ake baith gayi ho…” Armaan asked her seriously. “Kuch nahi yeh jo tumahri choti si jaan hai na woh itne sare logo ko dekh kar dar gayi aur rone lagi…Isliye I got her here for a while” Ridhima replied while lightly caressing Aria’s face who was now busy discovering the the mobile phone that Armaan just made her hold. “Arey kya hua meri princess ko….Dada ki brave baby ho na aap aise kyu dar gaye?” He asked the little one who gave him nothing but a two second glance before she got back to playing with the phone making her parents chuckle…“Acha, jaan woh magzine wale aye hai, they have bought the exclusive rights for a first interview regarding this project so we have to go and attend them” Armaan informed Ridhima to which she nodded. “Hmm tum chalo main Aru ko mom ke pass chodkar ati hoon…” Ridhima said but Armaan stopped her “Arey nahi…Use le chalo, vaise bhi they can’t take any pictures without our consent so its okay. Aur I don’t think itne bheed main Aru tumhe chodne wali hai” pointed out Armaan “Hmm baat to sahi hai…Plus she’s anyway getting cranky with all the noise, theek hai use leke chalte hai” Agreed Ridhima and soon enough they went inside the house where John had already seated the journalists for the interview.

—————————————————————————————————

They were just finishing the interview when Aria who was seated in Ridhima’s lap really started getting restless. Both Ridhima and Armaan tried to keep her distracted for a few more minutes more but they day just seemed to have gotten really long for the little child and so not paying any heeds to her parent’s buttering she eventually burst into tears. “Shh…bas bas baby its okay…Hum Abhi nini Karne jayenge…” Ridhima coed while rubbing her back. “I am sorry Ms. Sahani but we will need a few minutes before we can continue” Armaan apologised rather informed the journalist as he gently wiped Aria’s tears as the baby continued to cry in her mother’s arms.”Armaan Aru bohot thag gayi hai…I think its best agar main ise room main Jakar Sula doon” Said Ridhima as the couple stepped aside from the interview with the sobbing baby. “Hmm…You’re right, tum ek kaam Karo ise change karke sula do tab tak main Sophie( Their house help) ko bhejta hoon…She can stay with Aria while she is sleeping so you can come and finish the interview “ Armaan suggested to which Ridhima nodded, not having much of a choice.

Taking Aria to the room, Ridhima quickly changed her clothes and in no time the little angel was fast asleep….Just then Sophie knocked on the door to which Ridhima asked her to come in. “Sophie aap please Aria ke sath hi rahiyega, don’t leave her at all….Main jitni Jaldi ho sake ani ki koshish karungi aur agar koi bhi problem ho ya Aria uth jaye to please call me immediately “ instructed Ridhima as she lightly caressed a sleeping Aria’s head. “Yes ma'am don’t worry…Main Aria baby ke sath hi rahungi” Assured Sophie to which Ridhima gave her a polite yet worried smile. Glancing one last time towards Aria and making sure that she was fast asleep Ridhima finally made her way back to the party…This was one aspect of her work that she hated, the times she had to leave Aria alone…Even though it was just for sometime and she still was under the same roof, yet she hated leaving Aria under the care of someone else. With that thought she reached the living room where Armaan was waiting for her along with the journalists….The two of them quickly winded up the interview post which they thanked the journalists and also requested them to have their dinner before leaving which they politely refused and so promising to send a copy of the magazine asap the journalists left from there. “Aru so gayi?” Armaan asked as soon as the journalists were out of sight. “Hmm…Bohot thag gayi thi…Doodh bhi nahi piya bas aise hi sogayi…” Ridhima replied in a rather worried tone “Don’t worry jaana Abhi raat ko uthegi to main use pila dunga…” Armaan told her to which Ridhima just nodded, not having much to say and Armaan too did not push it knowing how she just wanted the best for Aria. “Khair ab bahar chalo, mom-dad ke kuch important guests aye hai and they want us to meet them…” Armaan informed her “Cheer up sweetheart…Aru theek hai aur tension mat lo, Sophie hai na uske sath kuch bhi hoga to she will call us” he continued as he saw her still a bit worried to which Ridhima just gave him a small smile.

——————————————————————————————————

Greeting almost every guest and thanking each one of them for their good wishes the entire Malik clan were just coming back inside their house when just at the entrance they bumped into Rahul. “Rahul…Tum Abhi arahe ho? Kitna late ho gaya hai beta, party bhi Khatam ho gayi” Asked Ananya in a motherly tone to which Rahul just smiled. “Kya karu aunty…Kaam hi Itna tha…” Replied Rahul while bending down to take both her and Billy’s blessings. “Haan mom aap nahi janti pure sheher ka crime isne ek hi din main solve karna hai…” taunted Armaan while giving him a hard glare for literally missing the party. “Armaan… Bechara busy tha na” Ridhima tried defending him but Armaan was having none of it “Ya of course yahi to busy hai because if ACP Rahul Garewal is not present for work then all the prisoners would plan to throw a party it seems, right?” Added Armaan sarcastically only to receive a smack on his head from Rahul itself. “nataunki band Kar aur chup chap gale mil samjha…” Rahul ordered and without even waiting for a reply he himself took Armaan in a hug and though it took a few seconds but that one hug did melt Mr. Malik’s anger as well “Congratulations…” Rahul wished him with a genuine pat of his back before parting away “I am so proud of both of you” he completed as he hugged Ridhima as well. “Acha ab yeh to Batao meri choti si princess, Aria kaha hai?” Asked Rahul as everyone made themselves comfortable in the living room. “Aru Chachu ka wait karte karte so gayi…” Replied Armaan only to see Rahul pout and everyone giggle knowing how much he loved playing with Aria and how he had missed his chance for that day. “Which reminds me kafi der ho gayi hai…Main use dekh Kar ati hoon…” Ridhima said before getting up to go and check on Aria.

Both Billy and Ananya chatted with Rahul, as usual scolding him to get married while Armaan just chucked seeing Rahul having no choice but to listen to them like a school boy… “Armaan…Armaan….Armaan” It was Ridhima’s urgent calling that brought all of them out of their conversation. Panicking at the urgency her voice held they all got up to go to her but instead found Ridhima running down the steps nearly tripping over her own saree “RIDHIMA…Sambhalke Jaan kya hua hai…Why are you running like this? And why are you so tensed?” Asked Armaan, extremely worried as he somehow saved her from having rather bad fall. “Ar…Armaan woh room main…Aru nahi…Maine dekha….” She fumbled as her words suddenly did not seem to support her. “Aru?? Aru kya Ridhima? Kya hua Aria ko?” Asked Armaan shaking her up a bit forcing her to answer as a weird kind of fear set inside his heart. “Woh…Woh room main nahi hai….So…Sophie bhi nahi hai, maine bohot awaz lagayi…har…har jagey dekha but…” She couldn’t complete her sentence as she succumbed to her tears as everyone else stood shocked at what she had just said. “Room main nahi hai matlab…Arey yahi kahi hogi jaan tum…Tum ghabrao main…main dekhta hoon…I’ll just get her” Armaan tried to calm her down as he, Rahul and Billy instantly went around the whole house looking for Aria and Sophie while Ananya who was equally worried tried to calm Ridhima down as she was getting restless with each passing second.

In spite of searching the entire house the three men returned back to the living room with a sullen expression for they just couldn’t find Aria or Sophie anywhere….”Aria kaha hai? Armaan Aru kaha hai…Tumne bola tha woh yahi hai,you said you will get her…To kaha hai woh…KAHA HAI WOH?” Ridhima yelled while holding onto his collar and demanding him to give her an answer. He shut his tearful eyes and turned his head aside not having any answer to her questions but she forced him to turn his face back….”Aria kaha hai Armaan? Kaha hai meri beti….?” She cried helplessly as she eventually placed her head on his chest with her hands still against his collar. Not being to hold himself any longer he just wrapped his arms tightly around her as his own tears betrayed him…Not having any words to say he just held her close as both of them cried, worried for their daughter making everyone’s eyes moist…Just then they heard another servant shout for them from the garden area which obviously alerted all of them. Running towards the garden they all where shocked with what they saw in-front of them and before anyone could say something or react Ridhima lost her balance and the next second she fainted in Armaan’s arms.

-To be continued-

Note: Happy 2021 everyone! I know I have been very irregular with updates but ab kya karu…Anyway here I am with a new one shot (which will be divided in two parts). I hope you guys like it….Also as usual the update of the next part is highly conditional to the response I get for this one, so don’t forget to like, comment and share this story :D

-Tanishka (Tani)

what are you doing tani.... you should be banned from writing half updates... I so hate you for this.
i mean it was going so so so cute and lovely until you have to put this twist and what the hell was in the garden. Do tell me you did something to the little cute baby.....

But really I loved it so much. those simple words did impact more in the story. and Especially that small panic in the baby when Ridhima took off the necklace from her had to make her wear was too good to be added. loved it totally

Hello there,

Finally I've managed to login after numeroussss tries 😅 Sorry for the delayyyyy, but finally m here!

So I'll directly jump to the part, well I didn't think I need to mention it everytime how amazing you're when it comes to AR with theircute babygirl! Like that's a genre you excel at I feel😎

Everything about the part was just so awwdorable 🥺 ❤️

AR (ofcourseeeee) to begin with

The Rose quartz scene

The pyaari si Aaru

**AND**

SPECIAL MENTION: The scene where only Aaru supports poor Armaan ❤️😂

It's just such a cute family and the moments were just ❤️

But then of course, khushi kaise mile kisiko na itni achi achi cheejein likhke. So the end had to be sooooo "nice" 🙄

I won't even get started with that cuz I am hoping you have some good story ahead to justify thi ending scene 🥺

Butttt all in all it was just sooooo amazing.

P.S : Glad that you've finally written sonwthing after centuries btw!

Nowww nowwww the most important by part: I'm waiting for the part superrrrr eagerly! So I hope you better update soon varna toh dekhli fir 🔫

Hehe, pleashhh update soooooonest! ❤️

Hahah...Okay beta then to ill have to stop writing altogether cuz bina cliff-hanger ke I can't write only ...Just kidding :P

Glad you liked the part that necklace scene was one of my favourites too <3

Thank you for the kind words <3

Originally posted by: ..Phoenix..

what are you doing tani.... you should be banned from writing half updates... I so hate you for this.
i mean it was going so so so cute and lovely until you have to put this twist and what the hell was in the garden. Do tell me you did something to the little cute baby.....

But really I loved it so much. those simple words did impact more in the story. and Especially that small panic in the baby when Ridhima took off the necklace from her had to make her wear was too good to be added. loved it totally

Hello ji finally :P (well you know why the finally :p)

Pehle to Thank you I am glad you like my way of expressing this genre (kaki shy is coming).

Dusri baat that special mention scene is also my favourite so, same pinch <3

Lastly of course not...You know me well enough to know I can't leave a story without thodu sa suspense :p

But everything aside thank you for the comment, I am glad you liked it and haas beta bas abi post kar race hai second part (hides face)

Originally posted by: Jennifer_Grover

Hello there,

Finally I've managed to login after numeroussss tries 😅 Sorry for the delayyyyy, but finally m here!

So I'll directly jump to the part, well I didn't think I need to mention it everytime how amazing you're when it comes to AR with theircute babygirl! Like that's a genre you excel at I feel😎

Everything about the part was just so awwdorable 🥺 ❤️

AR (ofcourseeeee) to begin with

The Rose quartz scene

The pyaari si Aaru

**AND**

SPECIAL MENTION: The scene where only Aaru supports poor Armaan ❤️😂

It's just such a cute family and the moments were just ❤️

But then of course, khushi kaise mile kisiko na itni achi achi cheejein likhke. So the end had to be sooooo "nice" 🙄

I won't even get started with that cuz I am hoping you have some good story ahead to justify thi ending scene 🥺

Butttt all in all it was just sooooo amazing.

P.S : Glad that you've finally written sonwthing after centuries btw!

Nowww nowwww the most important by part: I'm waiting for the part superrrrr eagerly! So I hope you better update soon varna toh dekhli fir 🔫

Hehe, pleashhh update soooooonest! ❤️

~Through The Black & The White (AR OS)~

Recap: Armaan & Ridhima a happily married and successful couple hparty in their house to celebrate a deal that they recently bagged. During the party their ten month old daughter - Aria starts feeling sleepy so they make her sleep in their bedroom instructing their maid - Sophie to watch over her…Soon after the party gets over they realise that both Aria and the maid are missing from the house…Worried and scared they are both crying when they hear a loud scream from their backyard and reaching there they see a sight that leaves all of them shocked and before anyone could react Ridhima faints in Armaan’s arms.

Part-B

“RIDHIMA…” Armaan screamed in sheer panic as he caught hold of her limp body just before she could collapse badly on the hard ground. “Ridhima…Akhein kholo…Open your eyes jaan…Please Ridhima open your eyes” Armaan patted her face and called out her name rather worriedly as he sat on the ground with an unconscious Ridhima in his arms…. ”Ridhima please…Doc…doctor ko bulao….Someone call a doctor dammit…” He yelled frantically as he saw Ridhima not respond to him at all. “Armaan shant ho jao beta… Tum…tum Ridhima ko kamre main lekar jao…Main Abhi doctor ko bulati hoon” Ananya tried consoling him though deep down even she was very scared with everything that was happening. “Haan…haan main….” Armaan agreed and was all set to get up and take Ridhima in his arms when his eyes suddenly caught the sight in-front of him and he was instantly reminded of how did Ridhima faint in the first place. “Aria…” he whispered painfully as he saw Rahul, Billy and John (The head security of the Maliks) towering around Sophie who laid on the ground, badly bruised, unconscious and without Aria. It was not that he did not care about Sophie, he definitely did care and would make sure that she is taken proper care off but seeing her in such a condition he couldn't help but worry about where Aria was because as per all of them she should have been with Sophie but instead they have found Sophie in a very bad condition while Aria was just nowhere to be seen…He once again glanced at a faint Ridhima and felt his eyes sting with tears because he knew that seeing Sophie’s condition she had definitely imagined the worst for Aria, heck so did he and he couldn't deny the fact that it was probably the most dreadful think to even think about.

“Beta Ridhima ko room main lekar chalo, doctor bas ati hogi…” Ananya informed him as she rushed back to the garden after quickly getting back inside to call two doctors knowing that Sophie too would require medical attention. “Mom main…Aria…” he tried to frame a sentence as he currently felt so torn and helpless, on one side was Ridhima who refused to open her eyes and on the other side was Aria who was literally nowhere to be found. Rahul who was already dictating orders to his team over the call saw his predicament and decided to step in “Armaan…Tu ja abhi Ridhima ko room main leker ja…Doctor bas ati hogi.” He spoke as he too did not like the sight of a pale and lifeless Ridhima. “Rahul…Lekin…Aru….” Armaan fumbled as his heart feared the worst. “Aria ki chinta mat kar, I have already issued a search warrant for her…Hum sab use dhund rahe hai…Woh jaldi mil jayegi” said Rahul to assure him but it did not seem to help. “Armaan, Aru meri beti jaisi hai…I promise you use dhundne main, main koi kami nahi chodunga…” Said Rahul softly as he assuringly squeezed Armaan’s shoulder while. “Janta hoon…Thank You Rahul” Armaan replied in a barely audible voice as he looked up at Rahul while wiping away a stubborn tear from his face to which Rahul just blinked his eyes conveying that the thank you was absolutely not needed….Without another word more Armaan carried Ridhima in his arms and took her to their bedroom while Rahul began to instruct his team who had just arrived about his plan of action.

~AR Bedroom~

Armaan carefully placed Ridhima on the bed and just as he was removing her heels he heard heard some murmurs and soon realised that Ridhima was mumbling in her unconscious state. “Ar…Aria…ma…mama pas….Ar…Aria” she kept chanting these broken words while her eyes remained tightly shut and her body still as a log…Armaan’s heart ached and his eyes leaked seeing her longing so badly for their child, he wasn't behind either even he was dying to get at least a glimpse of Aria but he just couldn't do anything about it and that very fact disturbed him to no ends. “Kya karu main Ridhima? Kaha dhundu Aru ko? I know Rahul puri Koshish Kar raha hai but mera dil bohot dar raha hai…How do I assure you about something that is scaring me also so much…” he cried his heart out as he sat beside Ridhima with her hand in his hold…Just then his eyes landed on Aria’s favourite Pooh bear which was casually kept on the extreme opposite side of the bed. He had bought that teddy for her when she was around six months old and since them it had been an integral part of ‘ALL’ their lives so much so that initially Armaan couldn't help but actually feel jealous of how much his daughter loved a teddy .

~FLASHBACK~

It was a late Friday evening when an exhausted Armaan had walked inside the house after a long day at work. Usually he did not mind having long hours as normally Ridhima would be with him but since she joined back post her maternity leave she would try and leave as early as possible which of course Armaan supported but well he did miss having the company of his beautiful wife on his way back. Nonetheless he was glad to finally meet both his princesses and so with his blazer in one arm and his laptop bag in the other he entered their room only to find Ridhima busy tidying Aria’s crib while the little monster was seated on their bed rather busy with her new teddy bear that Armaan had so careful gotten for her a day before. Smiling at that sight and glad that she had liked his gift he first very quietly placed his things on the couch and then tiptoed towards Ridhima and hugged her from behind, startling her in the process. “Armaan…aisa koi darata hai kya?” She exclaimed with a light smack on his hand before she again continued with her work, the only difference being that now she had his arms around her. “Mmmm I missed you…” he said while hugging her closer and totally ignoring her question making her smile her million dollar smile. “I missed you too…” she replied and for a few seconds just let him hold her as she knew thats all that he wanted for the time being….After a few minutes she gently turned in his hold and lightly caressing his tired face she asked softly “Bohot thag Gaye ho na?” Which just made him smile seeing how concerned she got. “Hmm thak gaya hoon but I am better now….” He replied as he planted a quick kiss on her head… “Thats good Lekin abhi Jaldi se fresh ho jao, i'll go check if dinner is set” she told him as she too smiled at his little gesture. “Bas apni little angel se milke jata hoon” he replied as Ridhima slowly moved out of the hug and quickly got back at setting Aria’s crib before she went down to check on the dinner preparations. “Nahi mil sakte…” she replied almost instantly making him frown really hard. “Excuse me?” He asked almost offended. “Excused Mr. Malik…Aap aapni angel se abhi nahi mil sakte” she repeated again facing him yet again. “And why is that Mrs. Malik?” He asked with a raised eyebrow as he could see that naughty glint in her eyes but couldn't make out what it was for. “Because…apki little angel abhi ‘Bohot’ busy hai…” she replied emphasising on the bohot making him frown again as he glanced at Aria who was simply playing with the teddy. “What are you saying jaan…Mujhe kuch nahi samaj raha…” he asked now a little fed up at the riddles, making Ridhima giggle. “Armaan tum bhi na…She’s busy with that Teddy you got her, since the last two hours she hasn’t left it for a minute isliye Bol rahi hoon aaj koi chance nahi hai ki woh tumse baat karegi…The teddy has her complete attention” Ridhima finally told him making him shake his head. “Kuch bhi, I mean I agree she is fascinated by the teddy bear but tum janti ho na how she waits for me to come back from work…Tum dekhna abhi uske pass jaunga and she will leave that teddy and come to me” Armaan replied confidently making Ridhima smirk. “All the best Mr. Malik” she said only to get an airy smile in return.

Slowly walking towards their bed and now coming in Aria’s view he sat in-front of the baby with a huge grin on his face. “Hi my baby….Dada’s home” he said extremely cheerfully to which Aria looked up from her toy for nano second and giving him a quick toothless smile she once again got back to her teddy making Ridhima chuckle at Armaan’s shocked face. He looked at Ridhima who had a triumph smile on her face and giving her a tight, sarcastic smile he decided to try his luck one more time. “Aru baby yaha ao na dada pash…Apko pata hai Dada ne apko Kitna Mishhh kiya aaj…” he said in an absolute cute voice to lure the baby who just looked at her father before showing him her teddy “Da-Da…Ni-Ni…Pooo” she blabbered explaining to him that she had to make her Pooh bear sleep first. “Arey…Hum bad main karayenge na Pooh ko nini…Jab Aru nini karegi na tabhi karayenge….Abhi aap ajao dada pash….please?” He requested her very sweetly yet again but the little princess shook her head “Niii….nini poo…” she said yet again stating her ‘important’ task at hand. Armaan just pouted seeing his stubborn daughter and Ridhima who really tried to hold herself eventually burst out laughing. “Tch tch tch…Kya hua Armaan, nahi mani na Aru?” She teased him only to see him pout further. “I shouldn't have bought this silly bear only…” he complained super cutely which just increased Ridhima’s laugher. “Haslo tum bas huh…” he complained again before looking at Aria who just refused to leave the damn bear. “Theek hai mat ao aap dada pash…Dada is going I will not talk to Aru anymore” he said sounding really upset and trying to emotionally blackmail her as he slowly got up from the bed knowing that she definitely couldn’t resist this and he hit a bulls eye for the moment he stood up the little baby panicked and hurriedly crawled towards the edge of the bed where her dear father stood. “Ni…Da-da…Aru” she stopped him immediately by holding on to his trousers and trying to stand as she practically ordered him to stay with her making both her parents smile wide at the little cutie pie. …“Nahi abhi dada is going…Apko nahi ana na dada pass…” he said just to have some fun as he still did not turn around and face her although he did place his arm lightly over her tiny frame so she wouldn't fall down due to her lack of balance.”Ni…da-da…Aru…Ma-ma” she explained yet again while tugging at his trousers impatiently wanting him to pick her up before looking towards her mother for some help. “Tch Armaan mat pareshan karo use…Woh royi na to I won’t spare you” Ridhima warned him with a light smack on his shoulder seeing the little baby all set to cry making Armaan chuckle in spite of himself. “Acha ab aap Itna bol rahe ho to….Dada will not go….” He said sounding really excited towards the end as he effortlessly lifted her in his arms and tossed her in the air making her giggle loudly. “My baby….I missed you shooo much…” he said while cuddling her close to his heart and placing innumerable kisses on her tiny face while the little angel to responded by giving him a big wet kiss on his chin making him smile even more if that was even possible. “I love you…” he coed hugging her closer as she too quietly stayed in her father’s arms for a few seconds before she slowly pushed her tiny body away a little and patted his face grabbing his attention “Da-daaaa” “Yesh my bacha?” He asked taking hold of her tiny hand and kissing that as well because try as hard as he did he just never got enough of cuddling and kissing his little bundle of joy. “Poo…Nini” she stated so seriously while looking at the teddy laying on the bed that for a second both Armaan and Ridhima were taken a back but a second later they both burst out laughing knowing that there was no way they were getting rid of that teddy anytime soon.

~End Of Flashback~

He smiled with moist eyes remembering that day and unable to hold himself he stretched his body a bit and picking the teddy up he cuddled it close to himself as him trying to feel Aria’s presence through it. “Please come back baby…Please come back” he sobbed while holding the teddy really tightly in one hand and the other hand holding Ridhima’s cold hand…It was Ananya who had come with the doctor that managed to break him from his zone. Wiping away his tears he slowly got up from the bed giving the doctor some space to check Ridhima…”Mom…Sophie….” “Uske pass Bhi ek doctor hai, plus some lady constables are also checking her over…I think use hosh to agaya hai but I am not sure…” Ananya updated him even before he could complete his question as they both stood on the side of the bed waiting for the doctor to finish Ridhima’s check up. Armaan just nodded, hoping that Sophie could tell them where Aria was but even before he could dwell on that topic he saw the doctor inject something on Ridhima’s hand before slowly getting up from her side. “Doctor is she okay? I hope there is nothing serious ? Koi tests wagera karwane ho to…?” Armaan asked alarmed seeing the not so pleasant look on the doctor’s face. “Nahi nahi nothing very serious…” She assured him seeing him getting so tensed. “Her blood pressure has dropped really low isliye yeh behosh ho gayi hai…Aisa lag raha hai jaise koi bohot bada shock mila ho and that is not good…Abhi ke liye to Maine injection de Diya hai, it should stabilise the BP for now…Lekin please see to it ki inhe zyada stress na ho , we cant afford her BP dropping like this regularly” the doctor informed to which Armaan just nodded with a lump in his throat…How on earth was he to keep her away from stress at a time when their daughter was missing, it was humanly impossible for her to be stress free but he barely had any say. “Hosh…Yeh hosh main kab tak ayegi…?” He asked somehow swallowing the lump in his throat. “In an hour two…Just check her blood pressure once she is up and update me about it. Also make sure she is well hydrated at all times, aur main kuch medicines likh ke de rahi hoon woh Bhi start Kar dejiye ga…” The doctor pointed out while scribbling on her prescription pad and handling it to Armaan who somehow managed to thank her before she left…”Armaan beta…” Ananya came towards him seeing his tear filled gazed fixed at Ridhima. “Kya karu mom kuch Samaj nahi araha…Apne suna na doctor ne kya kaha Ridhima ko koi stress nahi dena but how am I supposed to do that…Aria, humari Aru…humari beti kahi nahi mil rahi aise main uski maa ko kaise stress se dur rakhu…kaise main…” he could barely complete his statement as he chocked on his own words. Ananya who herself was teary seeing her son so vulnerable somehow controlled her emotions and soothingly caressed his head. “Beta main janti hoon all this is not easy Lekin humain himat rakhni hogi na…Tum dekhna bohot jald Aru mil jayegi aur Ridhima bhi theek ho jayegi…Sab theek ho jayega beta…” she soothed him as he tried to find some comfort in his mother’s arms….”Mom aap please Ridhima ke pass rahiye main Rahul ke pass ja raha hoon…I can’t just sit like this mujhe khud Aria ko dhundna hai…Pata nahi mera bacha kaha…Aap please yahi rahiye, Ridhima ko bilkul akele mat chodna…I don’t want her to get up alone woh bohot Ghabra jayegi” Armaan told her tearing up just at the thought of where his child could be as he slowly parted from the hug after a few seconds. Ananya who understood his situation assured him that she wouldn’t leave Ridhima’s side at all to which Armaan was extremely grateful for and so giving one last glance at Ridhima he walked out of the room determined to find his daughter at any cost.

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Armaan reached the guest room where Sophie was being attended by the doctor and a few female constables. He found Billy standing outside and talking on the phone as he tried to pull out all his contacts to search for Aria. He then spotted Rahul with some members from his team standing right at the entrance of the room busy in some deep discussion. He quickly walked towards them and called out for Rahul which caught Billy’s attention as well. “Armaan…Tu yaha? Ridhima kaise hai, doctor ne kya kaha?” Billy questioned him even before Rahul could say anything. “She’s still unconscious dad, Doctor ne kaha shock ke vajah se her BP has dropped drastically isliye behosh ho gayi. Injection diya hai she should come around in an hour or two…Mom baithi hai uske pass, I had to come here and look for Aria myself…Rahul kuch pata chala? Has Sophie gained her senses ? Usne kuch bataya ki kya hua? Kisne kiya yeh sab aur Aria kaha hai?” Armaan informed Billy before turning to Rahul and firing multiple questions at him. Rahul who had already sent off his team members for their allocated tasks now had his full attention on Armaan. “Haan…Bas abhi kuch dair pehle hi hosh aya use, zyada chot nahi lagi hai thankfully aur ab woh aram…” “Aria…Aria ka kuch pata chala Rahul…Dekh I am genuinely glad ki Sophie theek hai but I really need to know ki Aria kaha hai? Wasn’t she supposed to be with Sophie…?” Armaan cut Rahul midway and asked rather impatiently as every passing second seemed to have increase his anxieties regarding Aria’s whereabouts. “Armaan…Maine khud Sophie se baat ki hai and as per what she is saying…Koi admi Aya tha while Aria was sleeping who claimed to be your friend…He told Sophie that you are calling for her and have asked him to stay with Aria till she comes back…As expected she left Aria with him and was just coming towards the room when she realised that she had by-mistake switched off the baby-monitor because of which she ran back to the room to switch it on when she found the room absolutely empty. Suddenly she heard a vase break from the corridor end and ran to that direction. There she found this same guy trying to literally rush away with Aria and when Sophie tried to stop her he took another showpiece and hit her head with it…Sophie was semiconscious and so he literally dragged her by her legs till the kitchen backdoor and just dumping her outside (the backyard Sophie was found in was the kitchen area and hence nobody from the part realised) he fled away with Aria…” Rahul narrated the entire incident that Sophie had told them as per her statement. “WHAT? Iska…iska matlab…” “Iska matlab kisi ne Aria ko kidnap kiya hai…Ya phir to put it up in a more specified form kisi ne khas yaha akar, pure planning ke sath Aria ko kidnap kiya hai…” Rahul completed Armaan’s sentence as he fumbled while trying to register what he just heard….
”Lekin kyu…koi aisa kyu karega Rahul…Aru…woh…woh bohot choti hai Rahul…She…she’s not even a year old yet….Koi uske sath aise kaise kar sakta hai…This…this is just not right…Woh itni choti si…” Armaan cried and chocked just thinking about his little baby who definitely did not deserve this kind of cruelty. “Armaan…Shant ho jao beta….Dekho tum aise bikhroge to Ridhima ko kon sambhalega…You have to stay strong Armaan” Billy explained as he took Armaan in a fatherly hug while he cried his heart out. “Kaise shant ho jau dad, kaise? Waha meri beti…Meri choti se Aria ko pata nahi kon aur kyu kidnap karke le gaya hai aur waha meri patni itni bimar padhi hai…Main…Main kya karu dad…Kya karu main?” Armaan asked as he completely broke down in Billy’s arms leaving even him speechless. “Armaan please shant ho ja…Main puri koshish Kar raha hoon, pura sheher ko alert kar chuka hoon….Tum dekhna Aria bohot jald mil jayegi” Rahul tried to assure him as he placed a comforting hand on Armaan’s shoulder….”Rahul please tujhe jo Karna hai kar, Jaise Karna hai kar…Par please Meri beti mujhe lota de…Please get my baby back…Please” Armaan begged while literally folding his hands as he parted from Billy’s arms and faced Rahul. “Oye pagal ho gaya hai…Maine tujhse kaha na Aria meri bhi beti hai uski talash main, main koi kami nahi chodunga…I will do every single thing possible within the rule book and even beyond just to find Aria…Trust me” Rahul assured Armaan while holding onto his folded hands before taking him in a brotherly hug knowing very well how hard this time was for him.

~One Hour Later~

Rahul had managed to connect all phones with their tracking devise so as to track the kidnapper if he called, an artist was specially called to sketch out an image as described by Sophie and not a single vehicle in the entire city was allowed to move about without any checking as every news channel flashed a picture of Aria with the headlines “Baby Malik Kidnapped” written in bold. “Rahul its been more than two hours since Aria is missing…Sophie ko hosh ake Bhi ek Ghanta ho chuka hai…Lekin abhi bhi Aria ki koi khabar nahi hai…Kuch pata kyu nahi chal raha dammit…” A frustrated Armaan asked Rahul as they sat in the living room. “Armaan please calm down…These things take time…” “How much time Rahul? How much time…Nahi ruk sakta main itna…Pata nahi woh kon hai, kya chahte hai…Agar uhnhone Aria ko kuch…I can’t wait Rahul” A highly disappointed Armaan cut Rahul in between. “I understand, hum puri Koshish kar rahe hai but yeh kidnapper bohot smart hai…He has not only managed to kidnap Aria but has also hacked into your CCTV system and has completely erased all traces of his presence…” Rahul informed only to be cut in by Armaan again “Exactly Rahul…That guy knows his shit…Jo Banda itni detailed planning ke sath mere hi ghar me ake Meri beti ko le ja sakta hai woh uske sath kuch Bhi kar sakta hai…Aur main…main kuch nahi kar sakta?” Asked a helpless Armaan as another stubborn tear rolled down his cheek. Rahul too felt miserable looking at his best friend in such a state moreover, Aria was literally like a daughter to him and he too was badly hurt by whatever was happening but he knew he had a long fight ahead. He was well aware of how these kidnappers functioned and so was definitely a little scared but he knew all he could do at that point was be extremely alert.

Before either of them could say anything further they heard really urgent foot steps and even before they could register that they heard Ridhima’s loud, painful cries as she somehow stumbled her way through the living room till she finally reached Armaan who was absolutely shocked to see her there. “Ridhima tum…” “Ar…Armaan…Aru…Aru kaha hai… Kaha hai Aria? “ She panted literally gasping for every breath as she simply cut his words and demanded an answer while tightly holding onto his collar to support herself. “Ridhima tum…Tum please shant ho jao…Tumhe hosh kab?” he tried his best to calm her down a little while trying to make her sit down as she looked like a complete mess, with her hair scattered, saree all creased up, eyes blood red and a very tearful face. “ARIA KAHA HAI…?” She demanded with a firm tone cutting his words yet again without bothering to listen to him or to sit down. Armaan knew he could not hide the truth from her but nor did he have the courage to tell it to her as well. “ARIA KAHA HAI ARMAAN?” She asked yet again shaking him a bit and leaving him with no choice but to comply. “Ridhima…Aru…Aria has been kidnapped” he said in almost inaudible voice but just those words were enough for her to instantly let go of him and take a step back almost in a daze. “Ridh…” “Ar…Aria kidnapped” she spoke still in a trance as he tried his level best to hold her but she just kept moving back chanting the same words repeatedly. “Ridhima please calm down…We are all trying jald hi us kidnapper ka pata chal jayega” he said really worried to see her react that way while he somehow managed to hold her arm and pull her closer to himself. “Nahi aisa…aisa nahi ho sakta…Aru kidnap…Nahi… woh…woh yahi kahi hogi…Tum…Tum logon ne dekha nahi hai theek se…” she blabbered more to herself than anyone as she slowly freed herself from Armaan’s grip and moved around the whole house trying to search for Aria. “Ridhima meri baat…Meri baat suno jaan please…” Armaan pleaded worriedly as he followed her and tried his best to shake her back to reality but she just wasn't stopping. “Aru…Aru baby kaha ho aap? Bohot badmashi ho gayi abhi ajao mama pass…” she kept calling out for Aria while searching each and every room with Armaan still behind her. “Jaan Meri baat suno…Aru yaha nahi…” he tried his best to explain the situation to her but it seemed like her mind was too numb to understand anything at the moment. “ Armaan tumhe pata nahi hai…Aru na bohot shaitan ho gayi hai…She…She keeps crawling anywhere…Tum…tum dekhna woh yahi kahi hogi….Aur…Aur main use khoob daat lagaungi…tum…tum bhi nahi Rokna mujhe…Aise koi apni mama ko parehsan karta hai kya…” she said while chocking back a sob as she continued her search but thankfully enough just as she entered their room Armaan somehow managed to get hold of her. “RIDHIMA ARIA NAHI HAI YAHA…SHE HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED” he spoke in a louder tone than intended while emphasising on each word as he held her shoulders and shook her body forcing her to accept reality. The very next minute Ridhima burst into tears that she had been holding on to so long and not even a second later Armaan had engulfed her petite frame in his strong muscular arms with an attempt to comfort not only hers but even his fears.

“Kyuu…kyu…kyuu….” She cried while hitting his back as if trying to lessen her pain and also get an answer to a question she knew he had no answer to. While he just held her real tight burying his own face in her hair and letting his tears fall freely as well….” Koi…koi aise kaise kar sakta hai…Aru…my baby…us…usne kya bigada hai kisi ka…she…she’s so small…so small” she sobbed rather badly making it even difficult for her to breathe and that obviously caught Armaan’s attention “Shh…shh…bas…calm down sweetheart” he tried to soothe her as he gently rubbed her back but her pain was a little too intense to just be soothed by words. “Ar…Armaan woh…Ar…Aru Kaise rahegi mere bina…She…she’s too small she…she needs me Armaan….” She gasped for air with every word as she slowly parted from the hug and questioned him with a really frightened expression and that really worried Armaan because she already wasn’t well and he knew all this stress was definitely gonna worse her health condition. “Ridhima listen to…” “Bhook…Ar…Armaan Aria…Aria ne dudh Bhi nahi piya tha…She…she would be hungry by now…Woh kaise….” She panicked while stepping back so as to face him as her body trembled with immense fear for her child “Jann meri baat…” Armaan tried to say something but it was almost as if she could not hear him at all. “Nahi…she…she needs me…tum…Armaan tum…lekar aao use….Get…get Aria to me…she…she needs me Armaan…tum lao use mere pass…GET ARIA BACK” she screeched as her damn broke and she slid down the floor crying hysterically as her heart ached tremendously for her daughter. “Shhh…bas..bas jaan…please calm down baby” Armaan soothed her as he too at once sat beside her and took her shaking frame in his protective arms. “I want Aria back Armaan…Mu…mujhe Meri beti wapas chahiye please….” She begged him amidst her loud cries as she tightly held onto his now untucked shirt and buried her face deep in his chest.

Tum bin kya hai jeena, kya hai jeena

Tum bin kya hai jeena

“Shh bas…Listen to me…meri baat suno jaan…” said Armaan who himself was breaking somehow gathered himself because he knew at this point he had no choice but to be strong not only for Ridhima but also for Aria, while slowly parting from the hug and forcing a still sobbing Ridhima to look at him. “Tumhe Aria wapas chahiye na?” He asked her straight out to which she immediately nodded “Then you have to be strong jaan…Main janta Hoon tum bohot takfleef main ho and trust me I am going through the same thing…Lekin yeh waqt tutne ka nahi hai Ridhima, we have to be strong and fight for our daughter…” he explained to her very very softly just as he sometimes explained things to Aria. “I can’t do this Armaan…Mujhse nahi ho raha…mujhe bas Aria wapas chahiye…” she cried while shaking her head while her eyes dropped down helplessly. “Aur tumhe Aria zarur milegi…” he said with a very determined voiced as he cupped her face and made her look at him again. “Main wada karta Hoon tumse Ridhima…Within the next twenty four (24) hours you will have Aria back in your arms….” He said with his eyes firmly licked with hers as he promised not only to her but also to himself. “Lekin uske liye I need your help jaan…I cannot do this alone…Tumhe Meri help Karni hogi Ridhima” he continued as he lightly caressed her face with his knuckles . “Tum…Tum jo bologe main Karungi…I'll do anything to get Aria back…” she replied at once making him smile tearfully. “Tumhe Apna khayal rakhna hoga Ridhima…If I have to focus on finding Aria then I need you to be alright…Agar tum aise bikhrogi, bimar rahogi to I won’t be able to concentrate on Aria…Tum Meri takat ho Ridhima, tum aise tutogi to main kaisa ladunga?” He tried cajoling her but ended with a lump in his throat making him stop his sentence mid way. “Please Jaan…I need you to be strong, not for yourself but for me, for Aria…” He somehow continued as she yet again lowered her head. “You will be strong right? You’ll help me fight this right, you’ll help me find Aria na?” He questioned her while gently taking her hands in his and even though a moment later but he was not disappointed for he saw her nod lightly making him smile inspite of himself. “Thank you sweetheart…” he whispered before yet again pulling her in his arms and giving both of them a minute to mentally prepare themselves for the most painful journey that awaited them… “Shh bas…We will get through this okay?” Said Armaan after a few minutes as he broke the hug and wiped off the remaining tears from Ridhima’s face and though she was really scared she still forced herself to nod her a bit. “Chalo ab utho…Freshen up and change your saree it must be really uncomfortable by now na” he told her as he stood up on his feet and got her to do the same before leading her to the washroom and asking her to freshen up hoping it made her feel a little better. Not having too much to say she just nodded and went inside while he quickly grabbed her a pair of leggings and a simple pink kurta to change in…He stood outside the washroom while she changed and couldn't help the tear that somehow rolled down his pain filled blue eyes…Seeing a woman like Ridhima so vulnerable broke his heart in a million pieces. She was probably the most feisty and level headed woman he had ever come across and seeing her so broken literally shook him from within. Just then his eyes fell on a cute smiling portrait of Aria that was neatly hung in the wall in-front of him “Dada bohot jald apko vapas layenge bacha…bohot jald…” he promised yet again as he walked closer and tearfully caressed the picture while sending a silent prayer to the almighty to keep his little baby safe.

Tum bin jiya jaye kaise,

Kaise jiya jaye tum bin

Sadiyon se lambi hai ratein,

Sadiyon se lambe huye din

Aa jao lautkar tum ye dil keh raha hai

Aa jao lautkar tum ye dil keh raha hai

Few minutes later Ridhima walked out of the washroom and even though she looked a little more human her swollen and lost eyes gave away the inner turmoil that she was going through. He made her sit on the bed and quickly checked her blood pressure as per the doctor’s instructions and was not surprised at all to see the still very low readings on the machine. “BP Abhi Bhi bohot low…” he spoke while moving his gaze away from the machine but just stopped mid-way as he saw her staring blankly at the same picture of Aria that he had been looking at a few minutes back. “Ridhima…” he called her out as he gently placed his hand on her shoulder. “Aria…” she replied in an instant snap making him lower his eyes for a second so as to hide the water that seemed to gather in them yet again. “Who did this Armaan? Kon kar sakta hai yeh sab?” She finally asked while wiping away the tears that refused to stop leaking from her eyes. “I don’t know…I really don’t know Ridhima Lekin main Itna zarur janta hoon that whoever that person is won’t be alive for very long…Armaan Malik ki beti ko hurt kiya hai usne, tumhe hurt kiya usne… Iski saza to use zarur milegi” he replied with a firm voice as he now looked up to face her. “Aria wapas ajeygi na?” She asked him after a few seconds of silence between them as she chocked up on her words. “Of course ayegi…Maine Wada kiya hai na tumse, I will bring her back no matter what…” he assured her looking straight in her eyes as he took hold of her hand and held it tightly before she once again crushed herself in his arms.

“Shh bass…we have to be strong…hmm?” He pacified her after a few seconds as he parted from the hug and wiped away her tears, to which she nodded with a slight sniff. “Chalo ab tum araam ko BP abhi bhi kafi low hai na baby…So please rest it out for a bit while I go down and check on the progress of the case. Dad ne kisi private detective ko Bhi hire kiya hai he should be here any minute now” Armaan informed her as he stood up from the bed and moved aside the BP monitor as well. “Nahi Armaan…Main Bhi niche aungi…I need to know what’s happening” she refused straight away as she too stood up and came in front of him. “Ridhima, Jaan please try to understand tumhari tabyat…” “Meri tabyat yaha rehne se Bhi theek nahi hone wala Armaan…In fact ill just be more restless here…” she cut his words and put forward her point giving him no option to refuse. Giving in he quietly took a shawl for her as it had turned a little chilly and taking her hand he led her downstairs where his parents, Rahul and his team along with their personal security and the private detective were waiting for them.

——————————————————————————————————

“No Rahul…I don’t think I have seen this guy anywhere” Armaan confirmed while carefully scrutinising the sketch made as per Sophie’s memory as all of them sat together in the living room awaiting some information from or about the kidnapper. “Ridhima tumne? Uncle, Aunty anybody ?” Rahul asked all of them only to receive a negative answer. “ACP sahab mind if I say something?” Asked Nihal Singh the private detective hired by Billy after himself giving a thorough glance to the sketch. “Not at all Mr. Singh you’re here to help us solve the case and so all inputs are welcome” replied Rahul politely making the middle aged man smile. “Yeh jo sketch hai…Yeh is admi ki asli shakal nahi hai…” he pointed almost casually making everyone gasp in utmost shock. “Mr. Singh aap yeh…” “Sahi keh raha hoon Mr. Malik…This kidnapper has very slyly hidden his actual identity” Nihal replied while interrupting Armaan’s question. “Lekin Mr. Singh aap itne sure kaise ho sakte hai…” Rahul asked what everybody else had been wanting to ask. “Common sense ACP…Jo admi itni cleverly CCTV block karvade woh us insan ko aise thodi chodega Jisne uski shakal dekhi thi…The very fact that he left Sophie proves that he was under cover aur isliye use is baat ka dar nahi tha ki woh itne asani se pehechan main ayega…” Stated Nihal almost as if he was reading that day’s weather report while taking the glass of water being offered by Anvar, a servant at the Malik household. “Also…If you notice clearly iski pagdi pehni ka style bilkul galat hai…Sikh hoon Itna to ache se janta Hoon ki pagdi Kaise bante hai and I agree that there are various fashion trends lekin none of them really include letting your fringe fall out of the turban…That in fact is rather funny, nahi? ” he joked while leaning back on the plush single couch he was seated on making frown at his fortuitous attitude. (NOTE: THIS IS PURE FICTION AND IS NOT MEANT TO HURT ANY RELIGION). “Create a sketch of the same face without the turban and the beard…In fact cut the specs out as well…” instructed Rahul to the artist who simply nodded taking back his previous sketch. “This was the only clue we had…Ab hum kidnapper tak kaise pohochenge” asked a worried Billy grabbing everyone’s attention. “Well normally the kidnapper calls within two hours of everyone noticing well at least if getting a ransom is his only aim…” replied Mr. Singh again in his nonchalant tone which did nothing but agitate Armaan. “Aap kehna kya chahte hai?” Asked Armaan trying hard to control his now raising anger. “Common Mr. Malik aap kafi padhe likhe lagte hai itna to jante hi honge na ki not all kidnappings are for a ransom…Yeh Duniya kafi buri jage hai Mr. Malik, child trafficking, child molestations and….” “SHUT UP…BAND KIJIYE YEH BAKWAS AND GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE” A furious Armaan yelled as a super scared Ridhima clutched his arm tightly. “Armaan beta shant hojao…” Billy tried to calm him down but he was too furious to listen “Kaise shant ho jau dad…Can you even hear what he is saying and yeh yeh case solve karega…His body language is such as if yaha chill Karne Aya hai…” Armaan replied with gritted teeth as he glared at Nihal who still looked unaffected. “Mr. Malik agar mere mooh sadane se apki beti wapas ajati hai to Ill gladly do it…Aur rahi baat kindaper ki to maine kuch galat nahi kaha…I was just presenting the facts to you” replied Nihal with his trademark side smile making Armaan want to do nothing but punch him hard on the face and he surely would have done so had Rahul not pulled him back and forced him to calm down for Aria’s sake.

They waited for another hour which seemed more like a year but all in vain. Ananya brought a glass of juice for Ridhima knowing that her BP was still low but she refused to have it. “Bache thoda sa pee lo aise thabyat aur kharab ho jayegi…” Ananya tried to persuade her but she just shook her head with a tear gliding down her face while tightly clutching onto a photograph of Aria. Ananya helplessly looked towards Armaan who though was seated on the opposite couch was still observing everything. Getting up he walked towards them and took the glass of juice from Ananya “Ridhima…” he called her out softly only to be met by her tearful gaze. “Yeh kya baat hui sweetheart ? Apne promise kiya tha na that you will take care of yourself…Phir juice kyu nahi pe rahe ho? Your blood pressure is still low na bacha?” He spoke to her in a childlike tone as she just looked so vulnerable at the moment. “Aur vaise bhi abhi Aru ghar ayegi aur dekhegi ki tum bimar ho to she’ll feel so bad na? Woh sochegi ‘Mama apko to mera take care Karna tha par aap to khud hi bimar padh gaye’ hai na?” He continued hoping that she’d agree but all his words fell on deff ears… “Ar..Armaan kitni der ho gayi hai…Aru ka kuch pata hi nahi chal raha…Us kidnapper ka Bhi koi call nahi aya…What if…What if that detective was right?” She chocked while voicing out her inner most fears. “Aise kuch nahi hoga…Aru bilkul theek hogi aur bohot jald mil jayegi…” he stated in a firm tone. “Magar kaise? Kaise milegi woh? Na us kidnaper ka koi call Aya hai…Na humare pass koi clue hai…Kaise milegi woh Armaan…Kaise?” She cried in sheer frustration while he just turned his face feeling just as helpless.

Phir shaam-e-tanhaai jaagi

Phir yaad tum aa rahe ho

Phir jaan nikalne lagi hai

Phir mujhko tadpaa rahe ho

Phir mujhko tadpaa rahe ho

Just then as if by some divine vengeance they heard the shrill sound of Armaan’s phone which instantly alerted all of them. “Phone uthao Armaan and keep it on speaker ho sakta hai kidnaper hi ho…” Rahul instructed seeing the unknown number while signalling a team member of his to start tracking the call. With shivering hands and a thumping heart Armaan answered the call while everyone and specially Ridhima had her eyes glued on him. “He…hello” he spoke trying and failing to hide the nervousness in his voice. “Tch Tch Tch kya zamana agaya hai the great Armaan Malik ki avaz main itna dar…Hahaha…I like it…In fact I love it” Came a shrewd, sarcastic voice from the other end making everyone frown. “Kon ho tum? And what the hell do you want?” Asked Armaan with gritted teeth…”Uff beti chali gayi par akad abhi bhi vaise ka vaise hai…Kyu Mr. Malik?” Instigated the person on call but hearing him talk about Aria alerted each and everyone in the room. “Bakwas band karo apni and tell me who the hell are you? Aur tum kya jante ho meri beti ke bare main?” Asked a now hyper Arman…“Relax Mr. Malik pehchan karwane ke liye to bohot time hai humare pass abhi ke liye bas itna jaan lo ki tumhari pyari si, ladli beti Jisse dhundne ke liye tum puri duniya hila rahe ho…Woh mere kaid main hai” Said the guy on the other end which made almost everyone’s eye widen in horror for they were now sure that it was the kidnaper’s call indeed. “Kon ho tum and what the hell do you want…Meri beti kyu, usne tumhara kya bigada hai?” Fired Armaan trying hard to tone himself down as Rahul told him to control his anger. “Huh…Tumhari beti ne nahi Armaan Malik…Tumne bigada hai…Mera kaam, mera parivar…MERI PURI ZINDAGI BIGADI HAI TUMNE…” Yelled the kidnapper making everyone flinch at the aggression that his voice held. “Dekho…Tum jo koi bhi ho, tumhe problem mujhse hai na…To fight me dammit, meri beti ko beech main lane ki kya zarurat hai?” Armaan explained rather desperately as he could feel his insides churn with just the fact that his daughter was in danger just because someone wanted to get back to him. “Tadap…Yeh jo tu abhi tadap raha hai na apni beti ke liye, bas usi tadap ko dekhne ke liye main teri beti ko beech main laya hoon….” Said the kidnapper still in an angry voice but even before Armaan could reply the guy continued changing his tone back to the casual sarcastic tone that he had started the conversation with “Vaise tumhari beti hai badi pyaari, yeh Chote Chote hath…Yeh masum chehra…Aur sote waqt to she looks so peaceful but how can I let her stay in peace knowing that her peace will keep you peaceful as well…Tch sorry baby daddy ki vajah se apki nind kharab Karni padegi.” “Nooo…Use hath lagane ki koshish bhi mat…” “WUAHHH…Mamm….mammmaa…WUAHHH” Armaan warned him sensing his evilish intensions but even before Armaan could complete what he had to say the kidnapper ruthlessly pinched the little baby’s leg making her cry out loud and call out for her mother in immense pain. “Aria…” Ridhima whispered almost stumbling backwards but thankfully enough Billy caught her preventing her to fall down while Armaan’s eyes stung with painful tears hearing his angel cry. Shrugging herself from Billy’s hold Ridhima quickly walked towards Armaan and hurriedly took the phone from him “Aru…Baby…Mama…Mama yahi hai bacha aap…aap daro nahi…Mama is here shona…” Ridhima blabbered helplessly as she heard her little baby cry out for her. “Oho…Ridhima ji…Aap bhi humari battein sun rahi hai…Haha koi nahi, I won’t be surprised to even find your so called best friend ACP Rahul Garewal in the picture “ taunted the kidnapper shocking everyone at how he knew such intricate details about their family. “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT? CHAHTE KYA HO TUM?” Armaan yelled as he heard his little princess continuing to wail rather loudly which just showed the amount of pain she had been baring… “Ahaan now we are talking aren’t we…Ab aye na tum mudde ki baat pe…” the kidnapper commented with a smirk which was clearly heard in voice. “Tum…tum jo chahte ho hum denge…Kuch…kuch bhi lelo…Lekin please…Please meri beti ko chod do….pleaseeee….” A trembling Ridhima cried miserably while holding onto Armaan who was just as teary. “Uff…I can’t even tell you Mr. Armaan Malik ki tumhe, tumhare puri family ko aise tadapta hua dekh kar mujhe kitni khushi mehsos ho rahi hai….I am absolutely loving it” the kidnapper said sadistically making Armaan tighten his hold on the phone while his other arm automatically went around Ridhima’s shoulder so as to give her some support which he had no idea how he was doing because at the moment he himself seemed so broken…. “Khair yeh maze to ab chalte rahenge lekin agar apni beti ko sahi salamat dekhna chahte ho to sbabse pehle tp apne us ACP dost aur uski puri team ko is case se bahar nikalo…Aur haan agar koi chalaki ki to yaad rakhna abhi jo teri beti royi hai na woh to bas trailer hai, agar main apne pe aya na to uska aisa haal karunga ki duniya to kya, tum khud apni beti ko nahi pehchan paoge…I will call back in two hours aur tab tak mujhe is case par se police ki boo tak nahi Ani chahiye and this Mr. Armaan Malik is my first and last warning to you…So you better act wisely…” the kidnaper put forward his first demand and before anyone could react he cut the call. “He..hello…Aria…ARIA….Dammit” Armaan banged the phone in sheer frustration as he could still hear Aria’s whimpers while kidnaper spoke. “Armaan…Armaan hum…hum kya…karenge…Woh…Aria…Aria ko….He…hurt her…Nahi mujhe…mujhe meri beti wapas chaiye…We….We can’t leave her there Armaan…Hummein…Hummein use wapas Lana hoga…Woh…Woh admi…woh chodega nahi Aru ko…Tumne suna na usne kya…NAHI…I…I wan’t my daughter back…I WAN’T HER BACK….” Ridhima got hysterical as she kept crying and hitting her fist on Armaan’s back who did nothing but just hug her tight and cry himself. There was nothing that he could say to assure her as he himself was dying a thousand deaths hearing Aria’s cries and so he just held on to her tightly letting both of their tears fall freely…The cried in each other’s embrace for what seemed like eternity and broke apart only when Armaan felt Ridhima’s body lose its balance “RIDHIMA…” he panicked holding a swooning Ridhima in his arms. “Armaan use yaha bithao…” Billy instructed while Ananya ordered someone to quickly get a glass of water for her. “Ridhima…pani piyo bache…Its okay…It's okay sab theek hoga” Billy spoke soothingly while patting her head as he sat beside her and gently made her drink some water while Armaan who sat on her side frantically rubbed her palms. “Aria…Aria…” Ridhima kept chanting her name like a brocken tape recorder between her really erratic breathing making Armaan turn his face away as a feeling of extreme helplessness seeped through him. “Haan bache…Aria ajeygi wapas hum sab hai na yaha…Sab theek ho jayega…Tum bas shant ho jao, okay?” Billy consoled her as he kept patting her head gently to make her feel a little better while Ananya squeezed Armaan’s shoulder to let him know that they were all gonna fight this together.

Is dil main yadon ke mele hai

Tum bin bahot hum akele hai

Aa jao lautkar tum ye dil keh raha hai

Aa jao lautkar tum ye dil keh raha hai

It took a few minutes for Ridhima to calm down and for breathing to normalise as well, her fluctuating BP and such breakdowns were a clear indication that she had not taken too well to the situation which even though very understandable was so heartbreaking for all of them to witness because usually Ridhima was always the one to tackle every situation head on and seeing a person so level headed turn so vulnerable was just a horrible experience. “Bas bas beta…sab theek ho jayega…” Billy assured her yet again as she hugged him and sobbed. “Bilkul theek ho jayega…Humari Aria to fighter hai, Yaad nahi tumhe? Tumhari pregnancy main itne complications they. Doctors to hath Utha chuke the ki baby ko nahi bacha payenge lekin humari Aru ne sabka muh band kar diya…Bilkul apni mama jaise strong hai humari gudiya…Tum dekhna use kuch nahi hoga” Ananya affirmed while moving in-front of Ridhima and lovingly pecking her forehead before taking her in a motherly embrace…Armaan was extremely glad to have his parents at the moment because he was almost a thousand percent sure that he would not have been able to handle this situation alone and specially not with Ridhima turning so vulnerable. His mother’s words rang in his ears as well and made him realise that it was not the time to sit and cry, he had to fight to get his daughter back, he had to fulfil the promise he made to his wife…He had to fight for his family and he was not gonna back off. Nobody messed with Armaan Malik and by involving his innocent little daughter not only did that kidnaper cross the line but also dug a grave for himself…Roughly wiping off the stubborn tear that had rolled down his face he lightly parted Ridhima from Ananya’s embrace and firmly yet affectionately took hold of her hand “I promised you that Id get Aria back within twenty four hours and trust me I have no intention of breaking my promise. Chahe kuch bhi ho jaye main Aria ko bilkul sahi salamat tumhare pass le aunga…” he told her with a clear determination in his voice “Pa…par woh kidnapper…woh…” she questioned as fear set in yet again. “Kuch nahi karega…Kuch bhi nahi karega he has already taken a step to hell by taking Aria ab iske agey ka rasta woh nahi main teh karunga…” Armaan cleared away all doubts with a tone that spelt nothing but surety as he took Ridhima in his arms and lightly caressed her hair while his eyes burned with determination to get his daughter back. Both Billy and Ananya smile proudly at how their son had taken control of the situation and was not only ready to move heaven and earth to find his daughter but was also sensitive enough to tend and assure his wife.

Holding Ridhima close to him he gave her a few minutes to get a hold on herself and find some solace in his arms while he did the exact same. “We need to be strong…For Aria” Armaan reminded her in a gentle whisper as he parted from the hug and planted a soft kiss on her head while she simply nodded her head while reaffirming his words “For Aria”…”Armaan beta agay kya Karna hai kuch Socha hai tumne?” Billy asked him as he saw both of them a little more in control than what they were a few minutes back. “Pata nahi dad…I need to ask Rahul if they were able to track the kidnapper’s location aur agaey ka plan bhi usi ke sath banaunga…” Armaan replied while letting go of Ridhima and getting up from the couch to go meet Rahul who was was busy in a deep conversation with John and Nihal. “Rahul se matlab? We have to keep Rahul out of this, Armaan” Ridhima replied almost instantly making Armaan frown .“Matlab?” He asked stopping and facing her direction with confusion written all over his face. “Armaan tum yeh puch bhi kaise rahe ho…Didn’t you hear the kidnapper usne saaf saaf kaha hai ki agar Rahul ya koi bhi police officer is case main involved raha to woh Aru ko…Nahi hum…humein Rahul ko in sab se dur rakhna hoga” She shivered as she remembered the kidnappers words and immediately stood up facing Armaan stating her point loud and clear. “Ridhima, dekho I understand ki tumhe dar lag raha hai lekin trust me getting the police out will just complicate this whole situation” Armaan explained but she was not ready to budge “Ise zyada kya complicate hoga Armaan? “ She questioned him irritated by the fact that he even thought of going against the kidnapper at such a crucial point”. “Ridhima tum baat samaj nahi rahi…” “Baat tum nahi samaj rahe ho Armaan…Do you really think we can take such a big risk at this point?” She asked raising her voice as he tried yet again to explain his point to her. “Ridhima bache ek baar Armaan ki baat sun lo ho sakta hai koi reason….” “Kya reason dad? Kya koi bhi vajah Aria ki safety se badkar ho sakti hai?” Ridhima said adamantly as she refused to listen to anyone. “Aur tumhe kya lagta hai ki us shaks ki baat manne se woh humein Aria wapas kar dega?” Armaan retorted agitatedly as he was already mentally disturbed and the fact that Ridhima just refused to be rational at the moment got the better of him. “Agar humne baat nahi manni tab to woh bilkul Aria ko wapas nahi karega…Abhi at least there is some hope” she replied in the same tone but couldn't help but the tear that glided down her face as she actually thought if the kidnapper would ever return Aria to them. Armaan sighed hard seeing her argue so irrationally but seeing the tear roll down her face he understood that at the moment she was only thinking as a mother who was willing to do anything to get her child back. “Jaan please meri baat samjhne ki koshish karo…I know you’re scared trust me even I am but yeh waqt dar se nahi balki himmat se kam karne ka hai…We have to be wise Ridhima…” Armaan tried to reason out with her as calmly as possible but she was just to stuck with her point. “Main bhi Wahi keh rahi hoon Armaan…We have to be wise and right now being wise means simply listening to whatever that kidnapper says” she replied back stubbornly making him shake his head at her. “Ridhima, Rahul kahi nahi jayega he is gonna help us find Aria and we are not gonna talk more about this” he stated finally in a firm voice but who was he kidding she was a queen when it came to being stubborn. “Rahul is case pe kaam nahi karega…I am Aria’s mother and I very well get to decide if I want to involve the police in her case or not…” She matched his tone loud and clear….“PAGAL MAT BANO RIDHIMA…tum khud bhi janti ho ki police ko nikalna will just double our problems…” Armaan yelled really frustrated by her lack of understanding while Billy and Ananya stood mum knowing there was no point to interfere at the moment. “Pagal to pagal sahi but I am not letting Rahul or the police get involved in this case…” Ridhima replied clearly unaffected by his anger at the moment. “Fine then…I guess its better if I just leave…” They heard suddenly and turning around found Rahul standing with his hands tucked inside his pockets and hurt visible on his face. “Shut up Rahul tu kahi nahi ja raha…” Armaan spoke coming towards him as he understood that Rahul had heard their entire conversation. “Armaan mere yaha rukhne se kya fayda hai jab khud Ridhima ko mujh par bharosa nahi hai…” Replied Rahul in a low voice making Ridhima feel very guilty. “Baat bharose ki nahi hai Rahul, par tum hi batao ki main Kaise itna bada risk loon…Tum hi kehte ho na Aria tumhari beti jaise hai to tum Kaise yeh risk le sakto ho?” Ridhima said in a very low voice as she genuinely took Rahul as a brother and saying all that to him made her feel very bad as well but she had no option. “Enough Ridhima…Yeh bakwas band karo and Rahul tum…” “Armaan shant ho ja…She is right, Aru meri beti jaise hai and if Ridhima thinks that me being involved can make matters worse then its better I leave…Main khud Aria ke sath koi risk nahi lena jata” Rahul spoke up cutting a furious Armaan in between….”Risk nahi lena chahta matlab? How can you even say that Rahul…Is this what you guys in the police department are trained to do?” Asked Armaan unbelievingly and really frustrated with both his wife and best friend cum brother…Rahul couldn't say anything more as he too felt horrible for having to take such a step but he anyway couldn’t do anything till both parents agree and so just kept his head bowed before mumbling a soft sorry making Armaan really angry “jab faisla ho hi chuka hai to ab mere bolne se kya farak padne wala hai” he stated really pissed as he shot an angry glare to both Rahul and Ridhima before storming away to the study room…”Armaan meri…” Rahul tried to stop him but he was out of sight even before Rahul could say something. Sighing hard he glanced towards Ridhima who looked like she had aged at least ten years in the past five hours and Armaan’s anger was definitely the last straw for her. Feeling very bad for her he looked towards Ananya and Billy who themselves seemed to be out of words with what was happening… “Gusse main hai abhi but tum pyaar se samjhaogi to samaj jayega…I…Ill get my team to clear up and leave as soon as possible” Rahul told Ridhima as she stood mum with her head down and tears rolling down her eyes. “Rahul beta…” Ananya tried saying something but Rahul cut her short requesting her to not say anything as he won’t be able to refuse her and then before anyone could react he too walked away asking his team to clear up before leaving the mansion himself.

Billy slumped himself on the single couch not knowing what was gonna happen now while Ananya who still stood beside Ridhima just squeezed her shoulder lightly understanding her plight as well before walking away and settling herself on another single couch. “I guess we have no choice but to wait for the kidnapper to call back…ACP bata rahe the ki he had managed to lock his number and hence they were unable to track him up” Nihal spoke up a little softly this time as he too had witnessed all that happened. “Pata nahi kya hoga ab…I just hope Aria jald se jald wapas ajaye…” Billy spoke sighing as he leaned back on the couch thinking deeply about the whole situation while Ananya just hummed in response as she placed her hand above his that rested on the arm rest of the couch. She could see how much Aria’s absence was affecting her husband well it affected her as well but just that he already had an existing high blood pressure problem and she just hopped for all this stress to at least not affect his health…Seeing them in such a situation both John and Nihal walked away trying yet again to decode the CCTV. Ridhima looked around as the eerie silence creeped through veins raising her already high anxiety. She suddenly felt that maybe she made the wrong decision by asking Rahul to lave but just as she remembered the kidnapper’s words her actions seemed justified to her. She knew Armaan was not happy about this but this really wasn’t the time for them to fight, they had to be on the same team if they had to get Aria back and so she decided to go and have a word with her husband.

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Slowly opening the study-room door she found the entire room immersed in darkness with a small lamp being the only source of light in it. Looking around she found Armaan seated on the large single couch that was neatly placed near the window with his head buried in his hands. He looked so defeated at the moment and she knew that he was hurting just as much…Aria was his princess, he had always wanted a baby girl and needless to say having gotten Aria had made him the happiest man alive. He had pampered, loved and protected her fiercely…She knew that this incident had definitely shaken him up too but yet he stood strong to support her and she was extremely grateful for that because she was very sure that had he not been there she would have not even beet standing at that moment…Right now seeing him so lost and hurt made her feel extremely guilty for arguing with him but she had her reasons and her own fears which forced her to do so…Somehow gulping the painful lump that had formed in her throat she walked towards him and very quietly sat down on the floor by his side. He obviously had felt her presence the moment she had entered but yet just stayed still because he was just too mentally drained to fight back at the moment. “I am sorry…” she whispered almost inaudibly while placing her head on his thigh and hugging his leg tight almost like a two year old. Armaan let out a deep breath hearing her as he gently moved his hands away from his face and just kept staring at her for a few seconds till she spoke again. “Main…main ladna nahi chahti Armaan…I know tum bhi bohot pareshan ho and even you want nothing more than getting Aria back Lekin main kya Karu Armaan…Main…main bohot dar gayi hoon Armaan…Agar us kidnapper ne jo kaha woh kiya to…I…I can’t take such a risk Armaan…Itni himmat nahi hai mujhme…It’s…It’s barely been a few hours since Aria is not home and I already feel like its huge task to even breathe…Aise main main Kaise us kidnapper ki baat nahi manu…I am not that strong Armaan…Not that strong” she cried holding onto him tightly which got even his eyes misty and in that one moment he forgot all his anger and very affectionately bend down and placing his head over hers he he hugged her still in that position. He kept rubbing her back knowing that she was just thinking as a mother for who nothing mattered more than getting her child back… “Shh bass…I am sorry too…Mujhe Itna nahi chilana chaiye tha…Everything is just very stressful right now Ridhima…Sahi kya hai, galat kya hai even I can’t make out at the moment…” he confessed softly as he very carefully lifted her face up and cupping it between his palms he swiped off her tears lovingly…”Woh…woh Kidnapper Aru ko chod dega na…Ab to humne uski sari baat manli, so now he will leave her right?” She asked while sniffing as he pulled her up and made her sit on his lap. “I hope so jaan…Abhi ke liye we can do nothing but wait for that bloody ass***le to call back” he replied honestly while stroking her head that now rested on his chest…Neither of them said anything post that as they just sat in the same position counting every second for the kidnapper to call back.

~One hour later~

It was an hour past since the sun had risen but not for the Malik’s who were engulfed in probably the darkest moment of their life. It was nearly time for the kidnapper to call back as per the time he had told them and all of them had waited eagerly for the same… After a few minutes of being in the study room both Armaan and Ridhima had come out to the living room where Billy and Ananya had been waiting for them. Armaan tried convincing them to go and get some rest but they refused downright and so all the Malik’s sat by the living area awaiting some news of their little angel who seemed to have taken everybody’s smile rightfully along with her…Ananya had managed to force a glass of juice down Billy’s throat who made her have some as well but both Armaan and Ridhima were unable to swallow even a drop of water. “Ab tak to call ajana chahiye tha…Armaan apna phone check karo beta…Kahi battery ya network down to nahi ho gaya hai?” Billy asked as it was a little after the time allotted by the kidnapper and yet there was no phone call. “Nahi dad…Phone theek hai bilkul…He has just not called yet…” Armaan replied exasperated and worried as he checked his phone for the umpteenth time in the last hour. “This guy is just very shrewd …Bato se to aise lag raha tha jaise koi Jaani dushamni nikal raha ho humse…Armaan tumhari kisi se koi ladai to nahi hui thi beta?” Ananya asked as she remembered the kidnapper blaming Armaan for spoiling his life. “Nahi mom, meri to kisi se koi dushmani bhi nahi hai…I mean yes there is some competition within the industry but not as bad that someone will stoop so low” Armaan replied while lightly rubbing his thumb over Ridhima’s palm while she just sat extremely quietly yet every expression of hers spelt her anxiety. “Phir kon ho sakta hai yeh kidnapper…Ek to he is so clever ki ek bhi saboot nahi choda hai…” Billy sighed while rubbing his chin as if trying hard to find some clue. “Saboot nahi gava choda hai Mr. Malik…” spoke Nihal out of nowhere as he along with John started walking towards the family, “Mr. Singh? Aap gaye nahi abhi? I thought you left quite some time back…” Billy exclaimed in surprise while Ananya too agreed to his point as she too had not seen him anywhere while Armaan was least bit bothered because according to him this detective was just an insensitive human being who was good at playing with words. “Not at all Mr. Malik Apna kaam kiye begair Kaise ja sakta hoon…Main yahi tha but since you all seemed very shaken so I thought to give you all sometime to settle down” replied Nihal with John still such by his side. “Huh…He actually cared about someone’s emotions…” Armaan commented sarcastically only to receive a hard glare from Billy while Nihal just chuckled knowing that his breezy attitude was not well received by him. “Khair, moving on…Main yeh keh raha tha Mr. Malik ki ho sakta hai kidnapper ne ek bohot ahem saboot yaha choda hai but we just couldn’t guess it?” Nihal spoke completely ignoring Armaan’s earlier comment. “Aap kehna kya chahte hai?” Billy asked while everyone else too eyed him curiously. “Abhi batata hoon…” Nihal said before eyeing John who quickly nodded and rushed to open the huge door that led anyone inside the house. “Mr. Singh aap yeh…” “Just wait Mr. Armaan…I am sure this time apko mujhse koi shikayat nahi hogi…” Nihal assured as he saw Armaan get a little annoyed probably thinking it to be something stupid that he was upto. Looking at Nihal’s confidence Armaan decided to just stay silent and wait which was not for long because barely two minutes later they saw Rahul walk in but that was not all they also a few of his team members dragging in Anvar (their servant) with handcuffs on.

“Rahul…” A shock Armaan exclaimed standing up along with everyone else who mirrored the same emotion. “Tujhe kya laga main sach main ‘apni’ beti ko aise halat main chodkar ja sakta hoon? When I say I take Aria as my daughter I mean every word of it aur tum main se koi bhi mujhe Uska case handle Karne se nahi rok sakte…” Rahul spoke confidently while his words made Armaan frown hard because he just was not able to comprehend what was happening. “Rahul mujhe kuch nahi samaj araha…If you wanted to solve the case then why did you leave in the first place…Itna natak hi kyun kiya? “ Asked a confused Armaan. “Natak karna pada Armaan sach tak…” “Ra…Rahul please tum…tum…I know you mean well lekin tum please samjo woh kidnapper abhi kisi bhi waqt call kar sakta hai and if he finds out that you’re helping us to woh Aru ko…Nahi…Rahul tum please…Please jao yaha se…” A panicky Ridhima spoke in between sweating really badly as she couldn’t help but think of the worse. “Jaan let him…” “Ek minute Armaan…” Rahul who saw Armaan gearing up to explain Ridhima stopped him and himself walked towards Ridhima and gently made her sit back down as he kneeled down in front of her. “Tum humesha kehti ho na that I am like a brother to you? To kya ek baar tum apne is bhai par bharosa nahi kar sakti?” Rahul asked her softly as he wiped off the tear that glided down her cheek while Armaan just stood still knowing it was best to let Rahul handle Ridhima because he knew for a fact that Rahul indeed shared a brotherly bond with her and right now she probably needed that assurance from his end. “Bharosa hai Rahul par Aru…” she cried before Rahul cut her off her yet again “Aru ko kuch nahi hoga…Kuch bhi nahi hoga…” he assured before rubbing his chin a little to frame his words correctly. “Ridhima please try to understand yeh case jitna simple lag raha hai utna hai nahi..Aria ko jisne kidnap kiya hai he is quite a dangerous guy aur agar tumhe lagta hai ki uski shartein manne se woh Aria ko wapas kar dega then you’re wrong…The police needs to be involved Ridhima agar tum Aria ko wapas chahti ho then please corporate with us…I promise you main apni Jaan de dunga Lekin Aria ke upar ek aanch tak nahi ane dunga..” Rahul promised as he took hold of her hand taking away every ounce of doubt that she had in her mind and so though a little reluctant she gave in and nodded lightly making Rahul smile a bit. “Thank you…” he mumbled before placing a brotherly kiss on her head while everyone appreciated how calmly Rahul handled the situation inspite of actually being on the receiving end. It just showed that he truly did take them as his family and they too were blessed to have a guy like Rahul with them…“Wait a minute what do you mean by the kidnapper is dangerous? Kya tum jante ho ki kidnapper kon hai and why have you placed handcuffs on him?” Armaan asked pointing towards Anvar as Rahul stood up and went towards his team where Anvar was standing as well….”Kyuki Aria ko kidnap karne ke liye jis insan ne kidnapper ki help ki hai woh aur koi nahi balki Anvar hai” Rahul informed them as he glared at the culprit who stood with his head hung low. “WHAT?” Armaan was the first to exclaim as almost all the Malik’s stood shocked at the sudden piece of information. “Yes…Armaan tumhe yaad hai teen saal pehle tumne apne ek employee ko arrest karwaya tha because you found him dealing with drugs?” Rahul asked to which Armaan nodded not knowing where this point was leading to. “ Haan…I remember this Saurav naam tha Uska shayad aur tumahre hi help se I had got him arrested” Armaan replied as he somehow remembered that guy’s name. “Exactly…Saurav Mishra naam tha uska and he was found guilty and was sentenced to at least seven years of being locked up(NOTE: ITS PURE FICTION HERE)…Lekin tum yeh nahi Jante ki around six months back he had managed to run away and since then has been tracking each and every move of yours…” Said Rahul shocking Armaan yet again. “WHAT?? How’s that possible? Itna bada lapse ho Kaise sakta hai?” A furious Armaan asked while everyone else awaited the answer as well. “I myself am not sure, since his cell was shifted a year back to woh mere under nahi tha but I have heard that uske koi bohot bade underground dealers se connections the and they somehow got him out…However the point is not that, the point is he blames you for ‘spoiling’ almost two years of his life and has thus taken it upon himself to destroy your life as well…Aur isliye…Usne…” Rahul paused for a micro second knowing that Armaan was gonna get super mad at what he was gonna say next. “Usne kya Rahul?” Armaan probed getting a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach while holding on to Ridhima who looked like a lifeless doll all set to drop with the roller coaster of emotions that her mind was going through. “Isliye Usne Aria ko kindap kiya…” Rahul completed as everyone stood mum trying to absorb what they just heard. “Aur Anvar?” Armaan asked in a mere whisper as he couldn’t help the rage that bubbled inside him. “Use Saurav ne hi appoint kiya tha to keep an eye on you guys and call it their good luck it was just then that you guys were looking for a new servant…Isliye Saurav ne sab plan karke Anvar ko yaha bheja aur Anvar use is ghar ki, tum sabki life ki pal-pal ki khabar deta hai…” Rahul cleared it out. “Lekin beta tumhe yeh sab pata Kaise chala?” Billy asked as Armaan had a death glare fixed on Anvar…”Main batata Hoon Mr. Malik” Nihal intervened grabbing everyone’s attention. “Jab ACP ne bataya that the kidnapper had cleverly managed to block the CCTV footage of that area for that specific time tabhi mujhe kuch to ajeeb laga and I mentioned it to Rahul as well who agreed ki yeh Karne ke liye that person needs to be super familiar with everything at home. We cornered John who backed our point by informing us ki yeh security system bane hi aise hai that it can be handled only from the control room at this house…Ise yeh to humain pakka ho gaya ki koi tha jisne ghar pe reh kar kidnaper ki help ki hai because had the kidnaper even blocked the CCTV par woh chalu Karne le liye wapas to nahi ata na…” Nihal pointed out while the Malik’s listened attentively to every point. “what caught our attention then was Anvar who seemed to have appeared every-time we were in between a conversation…Kabhi pani dene ke bahane kabhi cleaning ke bahane…He was always around and that just did not go well with us. Main tumhe ake batane wala tha when I heard Ridhima react to the kidnaper’s call and in that moment main samaj gaya agar humein Anvar ko pakadna hai to yeh natak Karna padega. So I decided to act hurt by Ridhima’s comments and actually leave because I was sure ki Anvar us kidnapper ko yeh baat zarur inform karega and thats exactly what happened and that’s when we caught him red handed” Rahul joined Nihal and summarised the whole scene. While the Maliks’s stood aghast at the fact that the person responsible for their daughter’s absence was none other than a guy who they had been keeping and nurturing under their own roof…Eyeing Ananya to hold Ridhima Armaan steadily walked towards Anvar and before anyone could say anything he placed a tight slap across Anvar’s face who nearly fell down with the intensity of the slap. “Armaan Malik ki beti ko chuhne ki saza ki shurwat bhi nahi hai yeh…Bas ek baar Aria wapas ajaye aur tum soch bhi nahi sakte ki main tumhara kya haal karne wala hoon…Aur haan dua karna ki woh theek ho kyuki agar use ek kharoch bhi Ayi na to kasam hai mujhe Aria ki pal-pal apni maut ke liye tarsoge tum…” Armaan spoke with gritted teeth as he held a fearful Anvar’s collar tightly before mercilessly throwing him on the floor. “Ab kya Rahul…Now that we know who the kidnapper is what are we waiting for? Chalke use arrest kyu nahi karte? ” Armaan asked impatiently not wanting to let Aria stay with that guy for even a single second more. “ Armaan shant ho ja…Please calm down, humein abhi bohot samajdhari se kaam lena padega because one wrong move on our part and Aria will be at the receiving end” Rahul explained making Ridhima shiver in Ananya’s hold as she knew Rahul was right. “Ill do whatever you say Rahul par bas Aria ko wapas lade…” Armaan chocked making Rahul sigh and hug him knowing how hard this was for him. “Rahul beta…Armaan sahi keh raha hai tum jaisa kahige hum karenge par ab bas humari angel wapas ani chahiye…” Billy added making Rahul nod understanding how stressful this was on all of them. “I understand uncle…Aap chinta mat kijiye Aria bohot jald aap sabke pass hogi…” Rahul assured before turning towards Armaan. “Armaan abhi kisi bhi waqt Saurav ka call ayega…I know it's delayed but thats just his way to make you feel more anxious and eventually agree to everything that he says.” Rahul clarified even before the Malik’s could raise their doubt regarding the delayed phone call. “So main keh raha tha woh phone karega aur tum use bilkul Pehle ki tarah baat karoge…Use ek chota sa bhi hint nahi Milna chahoye that we know who he is or who Anvar is else he might run away which will really complicate matters…Aur haan apne gusse ko control karna…Yaad rakhna Aria uske paas hai and he is already pissed at you, kahi tumhara gussa us bache pe na nikle…okay?” Rahul explained to which Armaan just nodded without even giving it a thought. He was too drained at the moment and wanted nothing more than having Aria safely back in his arms and for that he was willing to do literally anything.

Fifteen minutes later just as Rahul said the Kidnaper called and first thing he did was praise Armaan for shooing away all the police (since that’s what Anvar told him). He further instructed Armaan to keep fifteen crores aside and just when Armaan tried questioning him, he told him off and warned him that if he tried to question him ever again then he will never be able to see Aria…Armaan had a huge urge to kill him from the phone itself but because of Rahul’s instructions he forced himself to stay calm. Disconnecting the call he looked towards Rahul who was already busy instructing his team as they were all set to go and catch the criminal. Just as Rahul started to warn Anvar, Armaan walked towards them coming face to face with Anvar “Maine jo pehle tumse kaha tha use ek khali dhamki samajne ki bhool mat karna…Tum soch bhi nahi sakte main tumhare sath kya-kya kar sakta hoon…So make sure that you follow every instruction…Ek bhi galti hui aur anjam aise hoga ki tum soch bhi nahi paoege ki akhir gulti hui kab…Am I clear?” Armaan cautioned as his red, angry eyes bore into Anvar’s meek and timid eyes. “AM I CLEAR?” He roared repeating his question as Anvar stood in a daze “Ye…Yes sir…” he replied in a meek voice really cursing the moment he agreed to be a part of this plan in exchange for some extra money because he already knew that the Malik’s were not gonna spare him at any cost and seeing Armaan at the moment made him realise that he had just ended up committing the biggest mistake of his life. “Rahul Ill be coming with you…Main khud Saurav ko apne hathon se mar dalunga…” Armaan informed making Rahul sigh before eventually nodding, knowing that at the moment there was no point in telling him otherwise. “Okay, lets leave then humein aur deir nahi Karni chahiye…” Rahul spoke while gathering his team but just as they were about to leave Ridhima who all along was standing with Ananya came towards them “Ar…Armaan main bhi chalungi please…” she requested to which Armaan instantly shook his head. “Nahi jaan…Its absolutely not safe tum yahi ruko mom-dad ke sath, okay?” Armaan explained softly as he cupped her tearful face but she refused to listen. “No…Main chalungi please Armaan…I…I won’t be able to bare this anxiety” she replied back while shaking her head making him shut his tightly at his super stubborn wife. “Ridhima please bacha zid mat karo…Tumhari tabyat bhi theek nahi hai jaan…Your blood pressure is super low and ro-roke you have just gotten yourself more sick, aise main tum kaise…” he tried yet again not even wanting to raise his voice at her as she looked so fragile at the moment. She had turned so weak in the last seven to eight hours and that very fact made Armaan’s heart ache. He was even more determined to kill that Saurav for causing not only his daughter but even his wife so much pain. “Please…” she whispered almost pleading “Ridh….” “Its okay Armaan let her come…Yaha wait Karna padega to aur pareshan ho jayegi…Its okay we will mange it, let her come” Rahul intervened as he saw Armaan again trying to persuade her and so not having any other choice and pretty much agreeing to Rahul’s words Armaan agreed to take Ridhima along as well but made her promise to be by his side at all times which she immediately obliged.

~Crime Point~

It took them more than an hour to reach the place as it was located in the outskirts of the city. Throughout the journey Armaan had held a shivering Ridhima tightly in his arms assuring her time and again that everything would be fine soon a she cried almost throughout the journey, but end of the day he himself found it difficult to hold up his fears and couldn’t help the few tears that leaked out of his eyes as well…As they finally reached Rahul instructed Armaan and Ridhima long with a few of his men to wait in the car and even though Armaan tried protesting Rahul was having none of it. “Armaan please…I know you want to come and help us and probably even beat the shit out of that ASS***E but abhi nahi…The stakes are just too high. Our first priority is to get Aria out aur main Wahi Karne ja raha hoon…Ek Baar Aria safe ho to main khud us Saurav ko tumhare samne launga and then you are free to do as you wish Lekin abhi ke liye please tum yahi ruko Ridhima ke sath…” Rahul explained “Lekin Rahul Aria…” “I promise main use sahi salamat launga just trust me…” Rahul assured making Armaan nod for he definitely did trust and at this point he was more than grateful for everything that he had been doing for them. “Take care of yourself too…I want both my daughter and my brother back absolutely fine…” Armaan said as he took Rahul in a brotherly hug. “You don’t worry at all…Apna wadda zarur nibhaunga main…” Rahul told Ridhima as he lightly patted her head making her nod tearfully before he finally went inside the building were Aria was trapped with the kidnapper while both Armaan and Ridhima just waited in the car holding hands and praying desperately for both Aria and Rahul’s safety.

It had been almost an hour since Rahul along with his men had gone inside and there still was no news about anything which just made both Armaan and Ridhima really uneasy. They were just about to ask the police officer who Rahul had left with them if there was some way to get some news of what was happening when they saw the police officers who had accompanied Rahul running out of the building hurriedly. Worried as to what had happened suddenly they all stepped out from the car and proceeded to go and ask them but before they could move an inch they heard a huge blast and in a flash of a second saw the whole building burning in a deep red fire. Unable to move a step further Armaan and Ridhima stood rooted at their spot as suddenly all of Aria’s memories right from the time she was conceived till the night of the party ran through their minds.

NOTE: Hi Guyss…..First of all I am super sorry for the delay of this part but as you can see its super long so it took super much time to get completed. Khair ab maaf kardo aur part padh lo pleaseee…I hope you guys like it and would love to hear what you felt about in the comments so pls do comment cuz thats the only incentive I get to write :)

-Tanishka (Tani)

~ Through The Black & The White (AR OS)~

RECAP: Ridhima faints due to a drastic drop in her BP which was caused due to a massive shock of finding Sophie badly bruised laying unconscious in the kitchen backyard. Later they come to know that Aria gets kidnapped by an ex-employer of Armaan and Ridhima who they had gotten arrested on account of drug dealing. Rahul and Nihal (the detective) also find out that Anvar, the servant at Malik Mansion too was involved in the kidnapping and this leaves Armaan furious…They decide to go and catch the kidnapper red-handed but Rahul strictly tells AR to wait in the car while he along with his team go and catch the culprit…Getting restless by waiting for so long AR decide to get down from the car which was parked at a safe distance from the crime point. Just as they get down they find Rahul’s team members running out of the building and before they get a chance to react they hear a huge blast and not even a second later they see the building burning in a deep red fire.

PART-C(1)

Numb…Thats exactly what both Armaan and Ridhima felt as they saw the fire rising in the building where their eight month old daughter resided. Standing rooted on the spot they were simply staring at the fire when a few cops who had just exited the building were frantically calling in for more help “Gas ka cylinder phat gaya hai…Rahul sir aur bacha dono andar hai…” the cop alerted his colleague and thats what snapped Armaan out of his shock.

“Ar…Aria…ARIAAA…” He screeched as he tried to run inside the building but was instantly stopped by two cops who had to use all their force to stop him. “JANE DO MUJHE…LET ME GO IN SAID….” Armaan yelled angrily while struggling to get out of their hold. “LET ME GO DAMMIT…Meri Aria aur Rahul bhi…JUST LET ME GO INSIDE…” he demanded while crying out in sheer distress as he felt his heart sink with an unknown fear while the cops continued to keep their hold tight…However hearing Armaan’s desperate cries were enough to bring Ridhima back to reality “A…Aria” she whispered almost inaudibly as her body stumbled backwards where thankfully a lady constable who was stationed their to guard her caught her on time preventing her from hitting her head on the floor. “Mrs. Malik…” the constable called out loudly as she held a shivering Ridhima on the floor, catching everyone’s attention. “Ar…Aria…” Ridhima continued to chant while blinking her eyes uneasily and in the mean time Armaan and those two cops who held on to him came running towards them “RIDHIMA…Ridhima….” Armaan shook her body worriedly as he saw her breathing get heavier every second and her body shaking severely. “Ar…Aria…” was all that Ridhima could utter as her eyes began drooping making Armaan’s heart pace quicken ten times more. “NO…NO…Ridhima akhein mat band karna…Don’t close your eyes jaan…” Armaan mumbled frantically while rubbing her sweaty palms vigorously before sprinkling some water which was just bought by a cop on her face and that seemed to have helped a tad bit because at least she was able to open her eyes thereafter. “Aria…ARIA…Armaan…Aria…Aag…Andar woh…Mujhe…mujhe jana….” Mumbled Ridhima tearfully suddenly being more aware as she sat up straight feeling rather anxious about her daughter’s well being. “Ridh…” “Ar…Armaan Aria…Aria andar…Aag…’’ she just continued to ramble with tears flowing freely from her eyes almost oblivious to everything else around her. Armaan who was already devastated just felt more horrible seeing how broken Ridhima was and so without a word more he just engulfed her tightly in his arms letting his tears flow out as well. “Maam, Sir…Please calm down…Fire brigade agayi hai jald hi aag Bhuj jayegi aur hum immediately andar Jake apki beti ko dhundege…” Said the cop who was still standing there feeling rather bad for the couple who were sat literally on the road crying for their child. “I want Aria back…Muj…Mujhe Aria wapas chahiye Armaan…Agar use kuch…Kuch bhi hua to main mar…mar jaungi….” Cried Ridhima helplessly while clinging to Armaan who just pulled her closer to himself as they watched the fire team moving about and trying to get the job done…With every second that they sat their their restlessness just increased, all of Aria’s memories came rushing to them and the fact that Rahul too wasn't safe wasn't going well with them either.

Tu jo gayi to soona hoga yeh jahan

Pheeki pheeki hogi saari yeh dastan

Arman looked down to an extremely pale Ridhima who was holding onto him with all her might and knew that he couldn't just sit there and wait, he had to do something and do it fast….Quickly making up his mind he roughly wiped off his tears and slowly got up from the floor taking Ridhima along with him. “Ar…” She tried questioning him as he very gently made her sit inside the car but he placed a finger on her lips and shushed her. “You want Aria back right?” He asked her with a deep voice while looking straight into her eyes to which she immediately nodded without a second thought. “I will get her to you…” He replied with such confidence that she was literally taken aback for a moment but even before she could react he spoke again “ Maine Wada kiya tha tumse Ridhima that I will Bring Aria back to you within twenty four hours aur un twenty four hours ko Khatam hone main abh bhi dho Ghante baki hai…” His voice held a different kind of determination that almost forced Ridhima to think that he would definitely fulfil his promise but then at the same time her brain screamed at her and told her to glance at the fire that still seemed to burn so strongly. “Ar…Armaan tum kya…” “Mujhe wade todne ki adat nahi hai Ridhima…Main Aria ko agle dho ghanto ke andar tumhare pass le aunga that too safe and sound” He affirmed even before she could complete his question. Deep in his heart even he did not know how was he going to be able to fulfil his promise but he knew he had to for Ridhima and for himself because no matter how brave an act he may be putting on the fact was that he was dying a million deaths with each passing second of not having his little princess in front of his eyes. “Tu…Tum sach bol rahe ho?? Le…Lekin Tum kaise…Yeh aag?” Ridhima finally put forward he insecurities while she continued to hiccup amidst her sobs. “Bilkul sach bol raha hoon…Main Apna wada zarur nibhaunga Ridhima but at the same time tumhe bhi apna wada nibhana hoga…” He assured her as he continued to wipe the streaming tears off her face. “Tumne mujhse wada kiya tha jaan that you will be strong, tumne wada kiya tha ki Chahe kuch bhi ho tum himat nahi horogi , You promised to take care of yourself so that I can focus on finding Aria…Aur meri Ridhima Apna Wada nahi Tod sakti…Nahi Tod sakti apni wada” he said in an almost choked voice as he took in the image of her pale face while gently holding her hands and trying hard to hold back his tears. “Tum apna wada nibhaogi to hi main apna wada nibha paunga Ridhima…You have to help me through this jaan…Yeh waqt tutne ka nahi hai we have to get our daughter back and we will…Right?” He explained extremely softly knowing how hard this entire situation must be on her else a woman like Ridhima breaking down like that and too in public was impossible. “Le…lekin agar Aru ko kuch…” “Kuch nahi hoga Aru ko…Kuch bhi nahi…Just trust me, please ?” She voiced her fears still in a choked voice but he immediately cut her not even wanting her to think in that direction. Seeing him so confident gave her even though very little but some relief and so giving in she just nodded her head indicating that she did trust him. Armaan smiled a painful smile and hoped that he would not break her trust. Not wanting to waste another minute he requested a female constable to be with Ridhima while he quickly stepped aside to make a call to the commissioner so as to get permission to go inside the building along with the police team and as expected it took him exactly five minutes to sort that matter post which he came and stood outside the car were Ridhima was sat with her door open just watching the fire team do their work and constantly praying for both Aria and Rahul.

Tumse judi hai har khushi

Tere bina kya hai yahan

Chaahein tumhein hum maange tumhein

Sun le duan yeh asmaan

Nearly fifteen minutes later a cop came towards them “Mr. Malik I have just spoken to one of the fire men he has confirmed that they should be done with their task in less than five minutes, aap tayar rahiye we will have to go in immediately” Informed the cop, making Armaan nod. “Armaan main bhi chalungi please…” Ridhima spoke almost instantly while coming out of the car and standing in-front of him. “Nahi jaan, its very risky…Tum yahi Ruko” Armaan replied at once. “Armaan please…” “Ridhima…Please bacha is baat pe zid nahi, you’re already not well and the situation` is very crucial. Tum yahi ruko main jaldhi wapas aunga aur Aria ko bhi lekar aunga” he stated firmly leaving no room for further discussion. Giving a quick kiss on her head he once again requested the female constable to be with Ridhima and she very politely agreed telling Armaan not to worry.

~ Inside the building~

A smoke filled entrance was what greeted them making them take a good minute to adjust both their vision and breath as all of them broke into a bad fit of coughs…Afterwards they looked around scanning the entire area but all they could see was the disaster that the explosion had caused and that very sight made Armaan’s heart beat a thousand times faster….”Were…Were you guys able to locate Aria earlier?” Asked Armaan with a trembling voice as he somehow tried to think straight. “Yes Mr. Malik, we had found the child and Rahul sir khud bache ko lene wale the but the kidnapper walked in and soon enough we started smelling the gas leak and gauging the situation Rahul sir instructed we evacuate the building while he would handle everything” updated the cop to which Armaan just nodded not knowing if he should be glad that they found her or be upset that she was in this building while it was burning down. “Okay…Lets search for them woh…yah…yahi kahi honge, aap log theek se dekhiye and ill do the same” said Armaan before all of them dispersed in various directions of the two storey abandoned building to search for Aria and Rahul…Five minutes into the search a cop who was going towards the second floor began shouting and calling out for his senior which immediately gathered everyone’s attention and they all ran towards that direction only to find the cop sitting beside an unconscious, soot covered Rahul. “RAHUL…” screamed Armaan in sheer Panick before rushing towards him and taking hold of his hand. “Oh My God…Rahul uthh yaar please…” Armaan chanted while helplessly shaking his lifeless body. “Sir theek hai…He is just unconscious shayad dhue ke vajah se, kuch dair main hosh ajayega…” said a cop who was checking on Rahul and just hearing those words were enough for Armaan to let out a breath that he did not even know he was holding but not even a second later he suddenly felt his entire body tighten as he realised that he hadn't seen Aria yet. “A…Aria kaha…?” He asked while roughly wiping away the tear that had glided down his face as he instantly got up and looked around hoping hard to see her somewhere but all his hopes went down the drain when all he could see was the poorly constructed building and its rather old and unkept furniture. “ARIA KAHA HAI INSPECTOR ?” He demanded urgently while turning and asking the senior cop who had been guiding him all along. “I am sorry Mr. Malik hum abh tak bachi ko dhund nahi paye hai but you don’t worry humari puri team…” “HOW CAN I NOT WORRY DAMMIT…Meri choti si beti kabse lapata hai and you're telling me not to worry? She’s not even a year old for god’s sake…Pata nahi kaha aur Kaise hogi woh” Armaan yelled in utmost frustration while finally bursting into tears as the fear of losing his little baby crept deep in his heart….”I can understand your state Mr. Malik but aap please shant ho jaiye, this floor seems to be the least damaged and its also the only unchecked floor to hopefully apki beti humain yahi mil jaye” assured the inspector in an understanding tone making Armaan nod tearfully and glancing one last time towards Rahul who was being handled by one cop both Armaan and the senior inspector moved away to look for Aria.

After having searched almost every area they were just about to lose hope when out of nowhere they all heard a small whimper but in less then second that whimper seemed to have been muffled by something. “Ar…Aria…That was Aria…Woh…Woh Aria ki Awaz thi…It was her voice…I know…” Armaan exclaimed feeling happy yet weirdly scared at the same time. Nodding in agreement the inspector signalled his team to be ready and very silently follow him however they were all left surprised when Saurav himself came out from the corner he was hiding in. Covered in soot and a big red scar on his head he came limping out of the room with that shameless grin plastered on his face but what caught Armaan’s attention the most was a small basket in his hand that held his little angel in it. His eyes welled up on finally getting to see his little baby after nearly twenty four hours…He could see her tiny body too was covered with soot but what hurt rather angered him the most was the dirty, rough cloth tied around her little mouth to hide the sound of her cries but her trembling body and restless face gave it all away. “Tch Tch Tch kafi dair nahi laga di apne Mr. Malik…Kitni dair se main apka wait kar raha tha par aap to kafi slow nikle…” commented Saurav rather sarcastically making Armaan turn back his blood shot gaze at him (Saurav) . “Give me my daughter…” said Armaan with gritted teeth as he fisted his palms to control his anger before taking a step closer to them only to be stopped by a stern warning. “Uh..uh…uh ek Kadam bhi agaey ane ki koshish mat karna warna anjam shayad acha na ho…” Saurav said extremely casually before removing a revolver from his back pocket and placing it over Aria’s head making not only Armaan but the entire police force stop in their tracks. “Wise decision I must say…” commented Saurav as he saw them all just stop where they are. “De…dekho whatever your problem is its with me, meri beti ko beech main lane ki koi zarurat nahi hai…Tum Please use chod do…” Armaan almost pleaded as he felt his heart thump with that revolver still towering over his little Aria’s head. “Wowww yaar aaj to maza agaya…Kabhi nahi socha tha that The Armaan Malik kabhi mujh jaise mamuli insan ke samne gidgayega, Ufff….But acha to bohot lag raha hai…I definitely can count this as one of my best living moments ever” Said Saurav with a devilish laugh making Armaan want to literally kill him but he somehow controlled himself for his child. “Dekho tum…Tum jo chahte ho main tumhe dunga but please…Please Aria ko chod do, woh…woh bas ek choti se bachi hai…” Armaan almost begged him as he saw Aria cry rather miserably inspite of the cloth around her mouth and of course the revolver that was still placed over her just made his heart sink with every passing second . “Arey aap bhi na…Apko option to diya tha maine to settle all this nicely but you wanted to chose the hard way…Police ko inform kiya, meri baat nahi maani to aab in sabka nateeja bhi to apko hi bhugatna padhega na or should I saw ki apki beti ko bhugatna padega?” Said Saurav with that filthy smirk of his leaving Armaan with an absolutely turbulent heart. “Dekhiye aap agar bache ko chod denge to hum bhi apke sath kuch nahi karenge but if the child is harmed the consequences will not be good” Tried the inspector only to receive a chuckle from Sourav. “I can see that aap log ne mujhe bohot underestimate kiya hai…Main pagal nahi hoon inspector I very well know that aap log mujhe nahi chodne wale and honestly its okay…Zinda rehne ka zyada interest bhi nahi hai mujhe lekin Marne se pehle apna badla zarur pura karna chahta hoon…” Said Saurav nonchalantly before fixing his red gaze at Armaan and speaking up in a voice that spelt nothing but hatred “ Armaan Malik…Mera career, meri life sab kuch barbad kiya tune…Bohot mahan banne ka shok tha na tujhe, mujhe jail pohochakar society main apna naam ucha Kar liya tune…Par mera kya…Maana…Maana drugs nahi lene chahiye the mujhe par…par main koshish karta na…I would have left it had I been given a chance par tune mujhe woh mauka nahi diya…Maine bheek mangi thi tumse to forgive me but you did not let go…And today I won’t let your daughter go…Today you will realise what I felt that day…” “Saurav please these are two very different things….” “THEY ARE NOT DIFFERENT DAMMIT…” Armaan tried explaining Saurav but his mind had totally lost all rationality. “They are not different Mr. Malik…Us din tune meri zindagi barbad ki, tere wahjah se meri biwi bache mujhe chodkar chale gaye…Aur aaj main teri zindagi barbaad karunga, Aaj teri beti tujhse dur hogi” He said with that signature smirk making Armaan’s eyes widen as he understood his intention. “Saurav no…Please tum…” “Sorry baby daddy ki galti ki saza apko milegi but koi nahi agli baar chose better parents…” Armaan fumbled as he literally folded his hands in front of him but Saurav’s mind was definitely not in the right sense and so he absolutely ignored Armaan’s words. “Agle teen second main tumhari beti humehsa humesha ke liye tumse dur jane wali hai…Say bye Mr. Malik” He said in a psychotic tone before taking a micro second to prepare the revolver that still was placed over the little baby’s head. “No…No…Please…” Armaan cried “ONE” “Saurav please…Please…” The sight was so painful that Armaan literally fell down on his knees but the merciless kidnapper did not feel even the slightest of pinch and just continued with his countdown. “TWO…” Armaan had possibly never in his life felt so helpless as he was feeling now while watching his own daughter die in-front of his eyes. “THREE….” *BOOMMM*

~TWO MONTHS LATER~

Wrapped up in a shawl Ridhima stood by the railing of their room balcony just staring into the dark cold sky. A strong breeze brushed through her face making her shut her eyes and forcing the tear residing in her eyes to drop down…Just then she felt a pair of strong arms hold her waist from behind startling her for a micro second but soon she realised that it was just Armaan and so she simply rested her weight over him. “Its been two months Jaan kab tak us baat ko yaad karke apne aap ko dukh pohoachogi…You have to move on sweetheart” he spoke very softly while lightly kissing away her tear as they continued to stand in the same position. “Tum bhul paye ho?” She asked him straight out to which he could say nothing. “Bolo Armaan…” she demanded softly while now turning in his hold and coming face to face with him. “Maine to sirf woh dard mehsush kiya hai lekin tumne…You have seen everything happen with your own eyes Armaan…” she spoke with a chocked voice while he just shut his eyes tightly so as to not let her see his tears. “Tum jitna bhi koshsih Karlo Armaan…I know you're just as affected as me, maybe more actually. Haan mere liye khud ko strong rakhne ki koshish zarura karte ho par mujh main itni takat nahi hai Armaan…Nahi hai takaat” she cried and before she knew it he literally crushed her in his arms where they both cried to their heart’s content as they once again remembered that horrendous day of their life.

~FLASHBACK~

*BOOOMM…* That one sound echoed through the room sucking away every ounce of life that was present within Armaan. He stood numb for two seconds, staring blankly towards Aria while his mind ran through a million of thoughts ranging from the first time he held Aria in his arms to Ridhima begging him to save their child to the moment he heard the gun shot…So lost in his thought he almost did not realise what was happening till he saw Saurav’s body swooning and before he knew it he crashed down on his knees with the basket holding Aria landing, thankfully safely on the floor beside him. It was then that he saw Rahul standing behind Saurav with his revolver pointed towards the latter. It was as if time just passed and in less than a minute Saurav’s body gave away and he fell completely dead on the floor…Seeing the blood gush from the back of Saurav’s head as his dead body laid on the dirty floor was enough to make Armaan what just happened and his eyes instantly drifted towards Aria who was still struggling and crying with that cloth tied around her mouth and so without wasting another second he got up from the floor and ran to his little baby. “Aria…” he whispered more to himself as his teary eyes took in the sight of his little angel and assured his heart that she was absolutely okay and with him…Seeing the baby so restless he took no more time to gently untie the rough cloth from her mouth and not even a second later he picked up his waling child in his arms…If only words could ever describe what he felt at the moment, it was as if he was reliving the moment of holding his baby for the first time all over again. Hugging her closer both father and daughter cried their eyes out making almost everyone around teary. “I am so sorry mera bacha…So so sorry” Armaan kept chanting amidst his cries as a howling Aria clung on to him.

Chhote chhote khwaabon ko aa jodenge

Yeh bhi vaada na tumhein ab chhodenge

Somehow controlling himself Rahul signalled his team to complete the formalities and though not wanting to do so he had to disturb the father-daughter duo knowing that Ridhima too was waiting and also that it was best for Aria to get out of that environment at the soonest. “Armaan…” Rahul called out softly while lightly tapping on Armaan’s shoulder so as to snap him out and thankfully enough it did work. Seeing Rahul standing there with nothing but just a light bruise over his forehead made Armaan aware of the situation and he instantly got up from the floor holding a sobbing Aria tightly against his shoulder “Ra…Rahul yeh sab kaise? Tum…Tum to behosh the phir how did you manage to come here and…And shoot Saurav on time?” Armaan asked extremely confused at how swiftly things were happening while he kept patting Aria’s back as she clung on to him. “Armaan main tujhe sab samjhaunga lekin abhi ke liye tu please yaha se ja, Ridhima must be waiting and Aria has already been exposed to a lot of smoke which is not good for her…To please ja, mera ek team member Bahar khada hai he will take you guys home” Rahul explained seriously. “Magar Rahul main aise kaise…Tu…Tu bhi sath chal mere” Armaan replied, hesitant in leaving Rahul alone knowing that he already had fainted just a while back. “Tu chinta mat kar…Main jald hi ajaunga but you need to leave RIGHT NOW” “But Rahul…” “Nahi Armaan…Abhi kuch nahi. Tu Aru ke bare main soch…Dekh kitna roye ja rahi hai” Armaan tried hard to fight Rahul’s reasoning but when he brought Aria in the picture he was left with no choice but to just agree as he definitely could sense Aria’s restlessness and knew that she needed to get out of that rotten place and so seeing no other way out Armaan finally nodded. “Theek hai but you too please take care aur Jaldi se ghar aja” Armaan instructed to which Rahul nodded before lightly patting Aria’s back and finally asking one team member of his to escort Armaan and Aria out.

~OUTSIDE~

A highly anxious Ridhima stood outside the car awaiting some news of the people who she loved more than her life. Somewhere deep in her heart she really wanted to believe that Armaan would keep his promise and get Aria back to her but every-time she looked at the burnt building her practical side would kick in forcing her to think otherwise. “Dekhiye aap please ek Baar apne colleague ko call karke puchiye to sahi ki andar sab theek hai ya nahi, Aru…Aria mili ki nahi…Please…please ek Baar call kijiye” Ridhima requested the lady constable for the nth time in the last hour. “Maam aap please shant ho jaiye…We cannot just call them like this. Apke husband Gaye hai na, aap chinta mat kijiye apki beti jaldi mil jaygei…” Tried explaining the lady constable but Ridhima was just too disturbed to be able to think rationally. “Dekhiye app please samjane ki….” A miserable Ridhima went on to try her luck again but stopped abruptly as she heard a distant sound of someone crying, a sound that she would have recognised even on her death bed. “Aruu….” She whispered more to herself before immediately running towards the direction of the sound which was nothing less than a miracle given how weak she had turned in the last twenty four hours. Not even a minute later she finally spotted Armaan who was carefully holding a crying Aria in his arms exit the building and it was probably only in that moment did she realise the meaning of the word relief…Running even faster she almost stumbled hard but holding herself up she ran towards the duo and instantly taking Aria in her arms she broke down….”Ka…kaha gaye the aap mama ko chodke pata hai mama kitna dar gayi thi, agar apko kuch….” she chocked on her words and just hugged her child real close to herself as if making herself believe that this moment was not just another dream. Armaan too felt a lump in his throat as he saw the two girls of his life hugging each other and crying their eyes out. Literally every tear of theirs were voicing out the agony that both of them had faced in the last twenty four hours and deep down he couldn't help but feel guilty about the fact that his angels had to suffer so much just because someone wanted to seek revenge from him.

Jeena chaahein phir tere liye

Aankhein na pherenge

Saansein meri tu le le bhale

Ab na tumhein jaane denge

Painfully swallowing the lump in his throat he wiped off a lone tear and engulfed both his princesses in his arms letting them all take a minute to actually absorb the moment… “Humari Aru apni mama ki tarah brave hai to use bhala kaise kuch ho sakta hai…” Armaan spoke after a few seconds as he slowly parted from the hug and gently wiped off Ridhima’s tears before patting Aria’s back. A tearful Ridhima looked up towards him and mouthed a heartfelt thank you to which he at once shook his head telling her to not thank him and thereafter planted a soft kiss on her head followed by a kiss to Aria as well… “Excuse me sir, I am sorry to disturb Lekin I just wanted to inform you that apne jo seperate car ki request hai woh agayi hai…You can drive that and two of us will be following you in the next car as per Rahul sir’s instructions” interrupted an inspector. “Thank you inspector, aap chaliye hum bas Abhi ate hai…” said Armaan to which the inspector nodded and went away. “Armaan yeh sab? Rahul kaha hai? Woh aya kyu nahi? Is he okay?” The moment the inspector left a highly confused Ridhima fired her questions all at once. “Woh theek hai jaan, he just needs to get done with some formalities….” “Par…” “Main tumhe sab bataunga but for now lets get going, Aria kafi dair se yaha hai its not good for her aur use bhuuk bhi lagi hai shayad isliye maine sepearte car ki request ki hai so that you can comfortably feed her on the way” explained Armaan not letting her ask any question for that moment and just like him she too was defeated when he brought up Aria’s topic and so without any further discussion she just nodded at him and soon enough the trio made their way towards the car all set to finally head home.

Driving through the empty roads Ridhima tried her best to feed Aria who though hungry kept resisting the feed and instead was crying continuously “Bashh…bash bacha thoda sa aur shona…” Ridhima coed lovingly while caressing Aria’s hair as the little baby struggled to take her feed. “Kya baat hai Ridhima, why is Aru being so cranky…I thought she was hungry” asked a worried Armaan as he too could see how hard it was getting for Ridhima to feed Aria and worst of all how badly Aria was sobbing in between her feed which was definitely not normal. “She is hungry Armaan…Lekin iske mooh main kafi chot Ayi hai…Her lips and mouth are fully swollen jiske vajah se its hurting her to suck…” Ridhima said almost chocking on her own words as she finally let go of her attempts to feed and held a distressed Aria against her shoulder “Shh…bas…bass baby” she soothed while little rubbing Aria’s back. Armaan on the other end fisted his hand tight against the steering wheel on hearing what Ridhima just told him. Suddenly the image of a restless Aria with her mouth tied hard using a dirty cloth, laid in that wooden basket held by Saurav came into his mind and he couldn't help the anger and guilt that came with that image. Angry because inspite of him being alive someone had the audacity to cause his daughter, his princess so much pain and guilty because he couldn't prevent this from happening rather according to him he was to be blamed for all that happened. “Armaan…” Ridhima called out softly as she could see how rigid his body had turned and instantly knew what was running in his mind. “Armaan please its not your fault…” She spoke in a very gentle tone trying to get him rid of all the unnecessary guilt. “It is my fault Ridhima…Mujhe us Saurav ke matter nain Itna ghusna hi nahi chahiye tha, I should have just fired him and closed the bloody chapter. Na main use jail bhejta aur nahi woh mujhse badla lene ke liye Aru ko…”Unable to hold himself any longer Armaan finally let out his inner most feelings but stopped as he felt a lump form in his throat. “Us…Us jaanvar ne jis tarah se Aru ko rakha hua tha, he…he had tied her mouth with such a dirty rough cloth…Woh…Woh roye ja rahi thi and he still did not take any pity on her? She’s a baby for god sake” he somehow described that painful scene as he continued to drive while roughly wiping away a tear that glided down his face. Ridhima’s own eyes had turned misty and she almost instinctively held a now sleeping Aria more tightly as just the description of what her little child went through was enough to break her heart. “Meri Akhon ke samne yeh sab hua aur main kuch nahi kar pa raha tha Ridhima…Kuch bhi nahi…” Armaan choked while glancing towards her with his red-blood shot eyes as they thankfully stopped at a signal. Not waiting a second longer, Ridhima moved a little closer and hugged him tight with one arm while the other arm held Aria carefully. The two of them just cried their hearts out as they held on to each other as if their life depended on it. The last twenty four hours had been horrid and their tears were a clear cut signal of the innumerable deaths they had died in the span of one day. Right from the moment they found out that Aria was missing to seeing her in such a miserable condition, every moment of the past day hurt and they were just letting their tears wash away all the pain that was over burdening their heart…”Tumne kuch galat nahi kiya Arman, kuch bhi nahi…In fact now more than ever I am glad ki tumne is insan ko jail pochaya, he deserved that and possibly more…Aur tumhe guilty feel Karne ki zarurat nahi hai agar tumne tab woh step nahi liya Hota to woh Nashe main na Jane kiske sath kya Kar baith ta…I am super proud of you Armaan and so is Aria…Tum to literally uske super man ho so please don't ever feel guilty about this…” Explained Ridhima in a tender tone as she lightly cupped his cheek making him actually feel a lot better. “I love you…” she ended with a watery smile making him smile as well, planting a grateful yet affectionate kiss on her head he once again began driving but with a much lighter heart this time as he somewhere realised that Ridhima was right had he not taken that step then Saurav might have caused more harm to somebody else who probably would not have been as fortunate as them, plus now that Aria was back he really just wanted to forget Sourav and though he knew it won’t be that easy but they had to try. The journey was much more calm thereafter, Armaan filled Ridhima with whatever happened inside the crime location and though it pained her immensely to hear about it she was glad that he did not chose to hide anything from her. Aria kept tossing restlessly in her sleep but fortunately managed to remain sleeping throughout the way making both Armaan and Ridhima feel better because they knew how important this rest was for her.

Tere dil ka mere dil se

Rishta purana hain

In aankho se har aansu

Mujhko churana hain

~Malik Mansion~

After possibly the worst nightmare of their life Armaan and Ridhima had finally come back with their little princess and the joy they felt was absolutely unmatched…With a sleeping Aria in Ridhima’s arms the couple walked towards the living room where Billy and Ananya who had been worried sick for their grand child were waiting to meet her and needless to say seeing her finally back home bought the grandparents immense relief. “Aru…” Billy whispered tearfully before getting up slowly from his chair along with Ananya who mirrored his expression. “Bhagwan ka shukar hai ki humari bachi wapas ghar agayi…” Ananya spoke softly while lightly caressing the little angel’s head while Billy took her hand and kissed it lightly making both Armaan and Ridhima smile. “Was is it really Saurav behind all this?” Billy asked to which Armaan nodded with hard face. “Rahul se Kaho ki chahe kuch bhi ho jaye that guy shouldn't be spared. Balwinder Malik ki poti ko hurt kiya hai usne…Use kadhi se kadhi saza milni chahiye” Said a fuming Billy as he saw the bruises over Arias little face and legs. “He’s dead…” Armaan said with a cold tone that held no remorse whatsoever. Seeing the shocked faces of his parents Armaan just roughly briefed them on what had happened but before any of them could react the little princess got up and instantly started crying in her mothers arms. “Alley humari Gudiya uth gayi…Ajao dadi pass” Said Ananya affectionately while trying to take hold of Aria’s hand but the baby firmly resisted. “Ma…maa…” she sobbed hard while turning away from Ananya and hiding her face deep in her mothers chest. “Areyyy…Kya hua baby??? Dadi hai na bacha….Apko pyaari kar rahi hai shona” Ridhima tried to explain Aria while trying to make her face Ananya but that just made her cry harder and shake her head rather stubbornly. “Mamaaa….” She chanted amidst her cries while holding onto Ridhima more tightly making Ridhima worriedly glance towards Armaan who mirrored her expression. “Acha…Acha koi baat nahi bache aap mama pass hi raho okay…” Intervened Billy softly while lightly running a hand over Aria’s back. “Mama I am sorry…” “Chup pagli main bhi maa hoon bhul mat…I can understand ki is waqt Aru ke Mann main kitna dar hai so its okay…Aur vaise bhi main to yahi hoon to main baad main mil lungi apni Gudiya se” feeling a little bad Ridhima was gonna apologies to Ananya but was at once told otherwise. “Ab tum zyada socho mat, aur Aru ko upar lekar jao…Clean her up tab tak main tum sab ke liye kuch halka sa dinner bana leti hoon.” Ananya instructed in her typical motherly tone making Ridhima smile gratefully before she left for their room with Aria still sobbing in her arms. “Main soch raha hoon we should call the doctor once. Ek baar bachi ko dekh le…Already itni chot Ayi hai, kuch aur bhi na hua ho…Plus in sab ke vajah se infection na hua ho ise” Said Billy as an afterthought as he saw Ridhima trying her best to calm the baby down while going towards the room making Armaan agree at once. “jee dad…Main bas doctor ko call Karne hi wala tha, main khud koi risk nahi lena chahta” Armaan informed making his parents smile proudly. Quickly asking about Rahul Ananya sent Armaan to freshen up as well knowing that Ridhima too would want to change and Aria will need at least one parent around. So it was better that he freshens up while Ridhima was bathing Aria so he can sit with Aria while she takes a shower.

~AR Room~

Ridhima sat on the bed gently changing a freshly bathed and immensely cranky Aria. “Bas..bash baby ho gaya…Abhi hum soft soft clothes pehenge aur yummy yummy khanna khake nini karenge, okay…” She spoke in the gentlest of tones while changing the little princess being extremely careful of the little bruises over her body and the swelling on her mouth. “Bas shona…shh bass bass” she continued while now picking up a fully dressed Aria in her lap and hugging her close to herself which though just a little but instantly seemed to have calmed the baby. Just then Armaan who had already freshened up in the other room walked in with a tray that Ananya had handed him on the way. “Arey wahhh Meri princess ne to nai nai bhi Kar liya…” Armaan said with a smile while carefully placing the tray on the centre table before coming and sitting in-front of Ridhima and Aria. “Apko pata hai dadda ne apko kitna mishhh kiya…Meri jaan ho aap” He said with a small tear shining in his eye while lovingly taking Aria’s hand in his hold and placing a tender kiss on it. Thereafter he looked up at a tearful Ridhima and blinked his eyes as if conveying to her that their dark days were finally over. Seeing the moment get really emotional he decided to lighten up the air knowing that they all needed it at the moment. “Acha Ridhima tumhe pata hai humse zyada Aru ko kisne miss kiya?” He asked building unnecessary curiosity which at once caught the little one’s attention while Ridhima too frowned not knowing what he was talking about but she did not have to wait long for not even a second later he brought Aria’s favourite Poo bear making Ridhima smile. “Tandadada…Poo…Sabse zyada Aru ko Poo ne miss kiya, haina Poo? Apne miss kiya na humari princess ko?” He spoke animatedly to the teddy bear making Ridhima shake her head at his antics but the little princess though was watching everything yet remained extremely quiet which was not liked by either of her parents. Ridhima anxiously glanced towards Armaan but he just blinked at her telling her to relax. “Acha koi baat nahi…Poo meri princess pehle mere sath khelegi phir apka number ayega to abhi aapko wait karna padega…Haina Aru aap dada sath kheloge na pehle?” He asked her in an adorable tone while stretching his arms for her to come but she just snuggled more into Ridhima. “Aruuuu dada bula rahe hai baby? Apko pasand hai na dada sath khelna…” Ridhima added while lightly caressing her back but she said nothing. “Aru doesn't love dada anymore…” Armaan pouted dramatically knowing that it always worked on Aria, “Hawww Aruu…Dekho dada kitne sad ho Gaye hai……Chalo jaldi se dada pass jao aur uhne happy happy karo” Ridhima prompted as she saw Aria stare at Armaan contemplating what to do but just as Ridhima tried to give her to Armaan she at once held onto Ridhima’s kurta “Ma…ma..ma…” she mumbled almost tearfully which made both Ridhima and Armaan stop their attempt. “Acha acha koi nahi…Koi nahi aap mama pass baitho…Dada aise hi khel lenge okay? Aap ro nahi bas…” Said Armaan while moving closer to her and trying to calm her down immediately as he saw her bottom lips tremble all set to cry her lungs out… “Armaan I think yeh kafi dar gayi hai upar se yeh chot, its causing her a lot of discomfort and making her very cranky and clingy…” Said a worried Ridhima as she just hugged Aria closer trying to soothe the little baby who kept hiccuping due to her constant crying. “Hmm you're right, even I think ki yeh kafi zyada dar gayi hai isliye tumhe nahi chodna chahti…Khair maine doctor ko call Kar diya hai she will be here in an hour, at least she will get some physical relief” Informed Armaan while once again taking hold of Aria’s hand and kissing it.

Teri bechaini ka

teri tanhai ka

ehsaas hain mujhko sun

“Acha main to bhul hi gaya mom ne khana bheja hai aur Aru ke liye khas custard banaya hai…Aru ka favorite hai na” He said smiling at the little baby and trying ti cheer her up before getting up from the bed and bringing the tray he got to bed itself. Picking up the Aria’s bowl he handed it to Ridhima who carefully started feeding her. Her swollen mouth was definitely making it very difficult and she kept sobbing every now and then but somehow Arman kept distracting her by concocting some weird stories while Ridhima kept feeding her slowly and this way they did mange to feed her more than half the bowl of custard and that for sure was a big relief for both Ridhima and Armaan. While Ridhima kept feeding Aria, Armaan made it a point to feed both of them and even though Ridhima refused he did not listen to her knowing that she too wasn’t all that well and thus needed to eat at least some food.

”Ridhima doctor kuch dair main ajayegi tab tak tum bhi change Kar lo…Tumhari tabyat bhi zyada theek nahi hai thodi fresh ho jao you'll feel better” whispered Armaan after keeping the dishes in the kitchen and returning back in the room only to find Ridhima walking around the room to burp an almost asleep Aria. “Jana to hai mujhe but Aru ko chodke kaisa…” She whispered back while continuing to pat the baby. “Jaan don’t worry main yahi hoon uske pass and now that she is sleeping its the best time, ek Baar woh uth gayi to tum bilkul nahi ja paogi” he pointed out practically making her nod in agreement. “I know par…Woh…Woh itni dari hui hai…Itne dard main….” Ridhima chocked on her own words as she felt horrible seeing her otherwise chirpy baby so upset and quiet. “Ridhimaaa….Sweetheart agar hum hi aise tooth jayenge to Aru ko kaise sabhalange” He said while stepping forward and cupping her face in his palms. “Humne itne bade toofan ka samna kar liya, Yeh to bas us toofan ke thamne ki baad ki hawain hai and I am sure we will get through this too….Tum dekhna kal subha tak Aru yaha waha khel rahi hogi aur tum uske peeche peeche bhag kar thag jaogi” He continued as a tear glided down her eye which was wiped off instantly by him. “Promise?” She asked him so innocently that it literally melted his heart. This one one thing that he adored about their relationship that even though for the world they carried on a hard exterior but in front of each other they always let her guard loose and never tried to hide their vulnerabilities. “Pakka promise…” He sealed his words with a gentle kiss on her forehead which was more than enough to calm her down. “Ab ise pehle ki Aru uth jaye tum jaldi se fresh hoke ajao” he said seeing Aria now fast asleep in her arms. “Hmm…” she agreed before very cautiously handing Aria to him knowing that she would feel better in his arms than being alone in her crib and also because she knew how much he had missed Aria and had been craving to hold her and the tearful smile that spread across his lips as he held a sleeping Aria just validated her point. “She’s a daddy’s girl…Tum dekhna kal Subha hote hi tumhare peeche peeche ghumne lagegi…” Said Ridhima knowing how pained her must have felt when Aria refused to even go to him, he just smiled at Ridhima silently thanking her for understanding his unsaid emotions. Smiling back at him and caressing Aria one last time she finally went to washroom to take a quick shower.

With extremely quiet steps Armaan made his way to the bed and resting his back on the bed post he just kept staring at the sleeping angel in his arms. It was after so long that he had held his baby in his arms and he couldn't help the tear that escaped his eye, his heart was full with a feeling that he couldn't never put into words. …“Mere baby ne bohot dard Saha hai na…Dada knows and dada is very sorry my love, very very sorry” he whispered in an almost inaudible tone as he lightly caressed her face. “Lekin dada aapse promise karte hai ki aaj ke baad dada apko kabhi khud se dur nahi Jane denge, kabhi bhi koi takleef nahi hone denge…kabhi nahi” he chocked on his own words as he remembered the moment he had seen her in that unkept basket with that dirty cloth around her mouth. “I will always protect you my love…Always…” he promised while lightly pecking her forehead, before pulling her closer and cuddling her little body.

Main jo saath tere hu

Phir tujhe hain kaisa gam

Dard baat lenge ham sun

Planning to take a small nap with his little princess Armaan had just shut his eyes when out of nowhere Aria started to get fidgety in her sleep and before he knew it she had accidentally rubbed her mouth a little which needless to say hurt her wound making her get up fully and cry out loud in extreme discomfort. “Sh…Shhh…Its okay…okay kuch nahi hua bacha…” Armaan consoled while sitting up all alert as he at once checked to see if she had made the wound worse but thankfully it was just as it was before. “Bash…bashhh…” he soothed while placing her against his shoulder and patting her back softly as she just continued to cry. “Ma…ma…ma” she blabbered amidst her loud sobs as she kept banging her little fists on his shoulder. “Haan jaana mama is coming…Aap chup ho jao please” he tried his level best to calm her down but nothing worked, she just kept calling for Ridhima. “Mama nai nai kar rahi hai Aru…She is coming in five minutes bache” He tried explaining her while trying to wipe of her tears but she was being very stubborn and so he eventually got up from the bed with Aria still in his arms and went and stood right outside the washroom. “Acha acha hum agaye yaha…Ab mama ko bulate hai hum okay?” He spoke in a sugar coated voice trying his best to distract her. “Mama…Jaldi karo bhai Aru wait Kar rahi hai…” he called out dramatically as he saw her almost fall for his trap but he was extremely wrong because the next second not only did her wails increase but she also tried jumping out of his arms to somehow reach Ridhima. “Nahi…Nahi Aru shhh…bas bas…Mama is coming baby…Shhh…Ridh…” He got extremely worried seeing her so restless as he had never before seen her in such a state and it was at that moment that he realised how much that one incident actually scared her. Not only was she kept away from any familiar face but was also left hungry, hurt and crying all of which she had never till date experienced and he swore to never let it happen again either. Further with the way she was crying he actually feared her being more hurt that what they could see and that thought itself was enough to send chills down his spine. She was not even a year old and any kind of internal injury could actually be very serious. Hugging her closer he hurriedly called out for Ridhima who not even a second later stepped out changed in her nigh robe. As soon as Aria saw her mother she jumped into her arms and held her as tightly as possibly

“Bass…bass shona mama is here…shhh….” Ridhima cooed while lightly rocking her in her arms. “Kya ho gaya haa? Mela baby kyu Itna roi roi kar raha hai…Mama agayi na bache…” Ridhima spoke in the softest of tones as she hugged Aria closer and walked towards the bed with Armaan right beside them. Now being in her mothers arms Aria had stopped struggling but she still continued to cry which made both Armaan and Ridhima really worried. “Armaan mujhe lagta hai ise kafi dard ho raha hai…What, what if she is hurt internally as well?” An anxious Ridhima voiced her fears while caressing Aria’s little chest as she hiccupped due to the constant crying. “hmm…Mujhe bhi yahi lag raha hai…” agreed Armaan who was seated right in-front of them while lightly patting Aria’s head. “Tum yaha ruko Aria ke pass ill just go and check where the doctor is ab tak to ajana chahiye tha…” He said making Ridhima nod however just as he was about to step out from the room Ananya and Billy entered with the doctor making him sigh gratefully.

-TO BE CONTINUED-

-TANI (TANISHKA)-

~ Through The Black & The White (AR OS)~

PART-C(2):-

Without any further delay he guided the doctor towards the bed where Aria was sat in her mom’s embrace. Settling herself in-front of Ridhima the doctor tried checking Aria but the child absolutely refused to let go of Ridhima and instead turning around in her hold she hid herself completely from the doctor’s view while now crying at the top of her lungs making Armaan and Ridhima sigh hard knowing that this was not gonna be easy and specially not with how insecure Aria was at that point. Sitting beside Ridhima, Armaan forcefully detangled Aria from her hold as she was just not letting go “Bashhh mela baby…Just five minutes princess aap to dada ka brave bacha ho na” Armaan tried to soothe her while feeling horrid for making her cry more than she already was as he forcefully made her lay on the bed. “Ma..mama….” She cried making Ridhima’s heart ache for her little baby “Mama is here baby…Yahi hoon main apke pass…” Assured a teary Ridhima while holding her tiny hand while Armaan had held her little body in place as she kept trying to turn and go back in Ridhima’s arms….It took a good five minutes to thoroughly check on Aria and the moment she got done, Armaan loosened his grip and a miserable Aria almost jumped back to Ridhima’s arms. “Sab theek hai na doctor ? Koi ghabrene wali baat to nahi hai?” Armaan asked as he lightly patted Aria’s back while she sobbed against Ridhima’s shoulder. “Well…Sab theek to nahi hai…” the doctor said with a pointed look making everyone super disturbed. “Ky…kya matlab? ” Ridhima asked with so much fear that her heart was all set to burst from her chest. Sensing her anxiety an equally worried Armaan at once held onto her hand waiting for the doctor to continue. “Dekhiye something really dirty has gone in her mouth and that has ended up causing an infection. For now it seems mild but since she is so small you have to be extra cautious…Make sure her mouth is kept clean at all times and try to avoid letting her touch that area. She’s teething also isliye discomfort zyada hogi because of which she will want to bite on almost anything but kuch din ke liye you will have to control that as well “ the doctor informed professionally making both Armaan and Ridhima just look towards Aria who looked like she was in so much pain and that very sight made both their hearts bleed. “Woh theek ho jayegi na….?” Asked Ridhima almost scared to even hear the answer as she tightened her hold on Aria. “Yes Mrs. Malik…Agar aap sare instructions follow karenge and her medicines are given on time then she definitely will recover soon. Baki I don’t see any kind of symptom for any internal injury but you continue to monitor her aur agar kuch ajeeb lage to let me know immediately ” Informed the doctor before handing the prescription to Armaan. Soon she was escorted down by Ananya while Billy waited to take the prescription. “Armaan yeh mujhe do ill arrange for these and get it sent here tum yahi ruko Aria and Ridhima both need you…” said Billy as he saw Armaan all set to go and get someone to buy the medicines. “Thank you dad…” Armaan nodded extremely grateful as he himself did not want to stay away from Aria or Ridhima for even a minute. Patting his back Billy turned his attention towards Ridhima who looked super pale herself as she kept patting a now quiet but still sullen looking Aria. “Ridhima…” Billy called out lovingly making her look up towards him. “Sab theek ho jayega bache aap chinta mat karo…Humari gudiya to bohot strong hai aise Chote mote infections se to woh yu lad legi…”Assured Billy while affectionally placing his hand over her head… “Bilkul sahi kaha apne uncle Humari Aria bohot strong hai tabhi to itne bade blast se aur itne bade shaitan se ladke wapas ayi hai…” Even before she could react they all heard a voice and turned around only to find a smiling Rahul standing by the door of the room along with Ananya.

“Rahul…” Armaan was the first one to come out of the shock and at once ran to give him a big hug. “Tu…Tu kab aya? Tu…Tu theek hai na? When did you change…Tu theek hai na Rahul?” Armaan fired multiple questions while checking him from top to bottom just to make sure that he was fine, even Billy and Ridhima had come towards them to meet Rahul which made him feel so blessed to have such a family disguised as friends. “Arey arey arey…kitne sawal puchega yaar…Main bilkul theek hoon don’t worry aur yaha ane se pehle main ghar gaya tha so thats how I changed…” Chucked Rahul while answering his impatient friend. “But Rahul I don’t understand, woh aag tu behosh….” Asked Armaan making Rahul sigh knowing that Armaan would want to know everything. “The moment we entered the building we had found Aria but the problem was that Saurav somehow sensed our presence aur isliye usne Aria ko kaskar apne sath pakda hua tha…After sometime us building main koi gas cylinder leak ho gayi thi…Even Saurav sensed it but he knew ki agar woh building se nikla to police use pakad legi and that he was not ready for. Isliye woh sirf police se bachne ke liye upar ki taraf bhaga and I followed him because he still had Aria. Fortunately blast hone ke baad aag upar itni nahi feli which kept us safe but dhua Itna ho gaya tha jiske vajah se main behosh ho gaya…Call it good luck or whatever mujhe exactly tab hosh Aya jab woh Saurav ka bacha Aru par banduk lagaye khada tha…I knew I had to act fast isliye chupke se crawl karke main uske peche aya and before he could shoot I shot him…” Rahul explained everything that happened in short making everyone mum as they realised how much the little child must have suffered in all this mess and also how much Rahul did for them. “Rahul I…Thank you so much yaar…Tu nahi Hota to…” “Do Thapar marunga agar bakwas ki hai to…kya Aria Meri beti nahi hai?” An overwhelmed Armaan couldn't help but thank Rahul only to be rebuked making him (Armaan) smile tearfully at his (Rahul’s) selfless behaviour, that was probably one quality of Rahul that Armaan loved the most and so without a word more he just hugged him again and that very hug was enough to convey the amount of gratitude his heart held for him. “Nahi Rahul, Armaan bilkul sahi bol raha hai aaj agar tum nahi hote to Aria ka pata nahi….” Ananya intervened feeling really grateful towards Rahul. “Aunty…Aria ko kuch nahi hota…Humari Aru bohot brave hai bilkul apni mama pe gayi hai…Is Armaan pe jati to mujhe dar hota” Rahul joked making everyone chuckle except for Ridhima. She just kept her head down feeling super guilty as she remembered how she requested Rahul to stay away from the case and that very Rahul had stayed in a burning building just to save her child…Rahul had already sensed her guilt and that was part of the reason why he cracked that joke, to get some reaction from her but all in vain. Hence he decided to himself go to her and clear all the air out between them. Armaan too could sense Ridhima’s mood and just gave her shoulder a light squeeze as Rahul approached her while both Billy And Ananya decided to leave the kids alone…”Hello my baby doll…Kaise ho aap?” Rahul cutely spoke to Aria while lightly caressing her hair but the little baby just snuggled closer to her mom making Rahul smile understandingly. “Doctor ne kya kaha? Zyada chot to nahi Ayi hai?” Rahul asked while looking up towards Armaan. “Infection hai…We will need to be precautious” Answered Armaan while patting Aria’s head a little making Rahul nod before once again turning his gaze towards Ridhima expecting her to say something but once again he was left disappointed. Armaan too looked towards Ridhima and knew she was crying with her head down but yet he decided to stay mum because he knew that Rahul and Ridhima shared a very special bond and it was better if they handled this themselves. “To ab baat bhi nahi karogi mujhse…” Rahul asked her straight up in a slightly stern voice hoping she’d say something then at least but he got the same response. “Yah acha hai pehle to khud hi galti karo aur phir mujhe silent treatment do…I am telling you Armaan Teri biwi ke drame na bohot badte ja rahe hai…” Rahul said jokingly making Armaan chuckle knowing that he was just trying to make her feel better and secretly thanked him for that. Hearing Rahul, a teary Ridhima finally looked up making both Armaan and Rahul sigh. “Arey ab ro kyu rahi ho…Rona to mujhe chahiye na?” Rahul said, again adding some humour to get her to smile but instead she just cried hard making the smile vanish from both the men’s face as it was genuinely rare for Ridhima to cry like this but it seemed like the last twenty four hours had been a little too overwhelming for her and the guilt she felt for misbehaving with Rahul just acted like a fuel to her already burning emotions. “Ridh…”Rahul tried to say something but was instead met with an instant apology “I am sorry…I am so…sorry…” She apologised while crying hard and holding tightly onto Aria who herself got confused at what was happening. A highly perplexed Rahul glanced towards Armaan who looked equally flustered at her sudden outburst. “Jaan…Its okay…Rahul naraz nahi hai tumse” said a highly tensed Armaan as he tenderly draped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer to himself. “Haan Ridhima…Main bilkul naraz nahi hoon tumse…” Rahul added at once but nothing seemed to help as she just went on crying. “Maine…Maine jaanke nahi kiya tha…Aru…Aru kidnap…Usne kaha police nahi….Main…main bohot dar gayi thi…Bohot dar gayi thi….I am sorry Rahul…Really really sorry” She blabbered amidst her tears making Armaan’s eyes well up too as he could feel every word of hers and knew just how hard those moments were and so not saying another word more he just hugged her closer let her cry for sometime knowing it was best for her to let it out. Rahul felt extremely horrible seeing his closest friends so broken and so after giving them some time to calm down he finally intervened. “Ridhima…” he called out after a few minutes when he was sure that she was a little more calm. Sniffing she looked towards Armaan who encouraged her to talk to Rahul and so somehow gathering herself she moved away from Armaan and once again came face to face with Rahul. “I am sorry Rahul…” she whispered again still feeling highly ashamed of how she told him to back off from the case. “Ek thapad marunga na sab sorry nikal jayega tumhara…” Rahul said in an angry tone making her simply bow her head. “Pagal ho tum puri…” He continued in a softer tone as he stepped ahead and lightly hit her head making her look up at him. “You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for…Tumari jage main bhi Hota na to bilkukl vaise react karta…Halat hi vaise the Ridhi, I know tu bas ek maa ke nazariye se soch rahi thi and like I said its absolutely understandable so please stop feeling guilty about it…” Rahul explained while wiping away another tear that glided down her eye. “Maine tumse Itna kuch kaha aur phir bhi tumne bina soche samjhe Aru ki jaan bachane ke liye apni jaan ko khatre main daal diya…I will never be able to forget this Rahul…Tumne jo mere liye….” “Oho…Aru aab na aap hi apne mama-dada ko bol do ki aap Chachu ki baby ho aur chachu apke liye kuch bhi kare nobody has the right to question him or thank him…Boldo in dono ko…” As she started thanking him Rahul cut her at once and made his point loud and clear making not only Armaan but for a change also Ridhima smile. Not having any words to describe her gratitude she simply stepped ahead and hugged him taking him off guard but nonetheless he smiled wide and hugged her back keeping in mind the little baby who was still in her mother’s arms. “Thank you Rahul and I am really very sorry…” she whispered in his ears making him smile tearfully and place a brotherly kiss on her head. “Ahem ahem…” Armaan fake coughed after a few seconds of them being in the hug making Rahul and Ridhima laugh a little. “Tumhare pati ke jalne ki bimari na kabhi nahi Jane wali…” Rahul teased him as let go of Ridhima. “Whatever…” Armaan retorted while possessively placing his arm around Ridhima’s shoulder making them laugh more which was eventually joined by Armaan as well…” Khair ab main chalta hoon tum log bhi Aria ka dhayan rakho aur khud bhi kuch dair aram Kar lo…” Rahul informed as he saw Aria yawn sleepily. “Rahul tum yahi ruk jao na aaj…Tumhari tabyat bhi zyada theek nahi hai” Suggested Ridhima but he politely refused. “Nahi Ridhi I am absolutely fine aur abhi I need to submit these papers before going home so bas woh karke hi jaunga” Said Rahul leaving them with no choice but to agree and soon enough bidding both of them goodbye and placing a light kiss on Aria’s head Rahul left leaving the little family alone.

Felling Aria snuggling closer Ridhima lightly caressed her hair before turning towards Armaan “Aru theek ho jayegi na?” She asked in a really scared tone. “Of course theek ho jayegi…Mera baby to bohot strong hai, haina?” Armaan assured her while smiling at Aria as he took her little hand and kissed it ever so softly for the hundredth time that evening. “She’ll be fine jaan don’t worry…Tum Aru ko sulado aur khud bhi thoda rest karlo Ill just get her medicines from dad” Armaan said and was just about to exit the room when he felt a slight grip on his index finger and at once realised that it was none other than his little princess who had held onto his finger and though it was a very tiny and normal gesture but at that moment it just really warmed his heart for it was after a very long time that she actually held onto him. “Hey my bacha…kya hua? Aap nahi chahte ho dada jaye?” He asked her with that dimpled smile while all the little baby did was held onto that finger a little tighter and stared at him with her big round, sleepy eyes making both Ridhima and Armaan smile wide. “Maine kaha tha na tumse She’s a daddy’s girl…You’re her most favourite person in this whole world, tumse kaise dur rahegi?” Said Ridhima while smiling at him knowing how Aria’s aloof behaviour was killing him from within. Armaan smiled back at her and tearfully kissed Aria’s little palm yet again just taking in a moment to cherish this beautiful feeling after a long battle of sheer pain and distress. “I may be her most favourite person but you are the most important person in her life and I am extremely proud of this fact…” Said Armaan while looking towards Ridhima with that dazzling smile of his while both their eyes held a layer of unshed tears. Stepping even closer Armaan simply engulfed both his angels in his arms and mumbled a heartfelt I love you which was reciprocated with the same passion as the little family finally found some solace in each other’s embrace.

~END OF FLASHBACK~

Wrapped in each other’s arms Armaan and Ridhima did not know for how long they stood in the cold just crying out to their heart’s content…It was only when a loud gush of wind passed by did Armaan gain his senses back and realised that it was not only pass midnight but also extremely cold out there. He couldn't deny that he felt much better after letting all the pain out but he also was aware that it was not very practical for them to be staying out in the cold for so long and so he somehow took hold of his emotions and very gently parted from the hug. “Shh…bas…bas…” He very carefully swiped of her tears with his thumbs while she just looked down and continued to hiccup trying her best to stop her tears but those painful memories seemed to be extremely daunting. “I know its not easy to forget jaan…Yeh hadsa hum dono shayad kabhi na bhula paye lekin apne dar ke vajah se hum Aria ki zindagi main to dar nahi bhar sakte na…” He spoke extremely softly as he cupped her face and rested his head against her head. “Ridhima Aria will turn one in the next two days aur hum dono kabse is din ka wait Kar Rahe the…We had planned so much for this one day, specially you. Aur sirf is dar se ki kahi woh hadsa wapas na ho jaye tum un sare plans, sari excitement ko bhulana chahti ho?” He asked her being as gentle as possibly while she continued to sob even in that position. “Meri Ridhima itni kamzor to nahi hai jo ek dar ko apne zindagi main itni importance de ki woh zindagi jeena hi chod de…Meri Ridhima to bohot strong hai, she’s the strongest woman I know and I am sure ki woh is Baar bhi apne dar ko jeetne nahi degi” He spoke almost as if speaking to Aria as he now pulled her face up a bit and brought it to his eye level. “ You won’t let that happen right?” He asked her while lightly brushing off her fresh tears with his finger tips. “Main…main Aria ko nahi kho sakti Armaan….That…That day…I can’t live that again…I just can’t” she cried while leaning her cheek against his palm getting his eyes moist yet again as he realised at that moment how deep the scar of that incident actually was. “You wont have to…I promise you sweetheart chahe kuch bhi ho jaye par mere hote hue main Aria par aur tum par kabhi aanch nahi ane dunga…I know I failed once but I promise you Ridhima that I won’t fail again…Main apni Jaan se zyada hifazat karunga tum dono ki…I will never ever let either of us relive those moments again…” He assured her softly yet with a strong determination as he once again embraced her in his strong arms easing out all her anxieties. They stayed in that position till they heard a small cry from the baby monitor which immediately got them alert and so moving apart from the hug and quickly wiping off her tears Ridhima moved inside the room with Armaan right behind her. “Shh…bas…bas shona…Mama is here darling…” Cooed Ridhima while picking up a whiny Aria from her crib where she had been sleeping and taking her towards their bed to feed her knowing that she had woken up for that. “Yeh hadsa humari zinadgi main ek bohot bada ghav chod chuka hai Ridhima but I don’t want Aria to feel the same pain and fear that we both feel. Main nahi chahta ki humari beti apni puri zinadgi is dar se nikale ki use koi uske mom-dad se dur kar sakta hai…I just don’t want that for her and I know you don’t want that either, right?” Armaan asked her in a mere whisper as he snuggled closer to his girls and lightly caressed Aria’s head who was hungrily taking her feed before looking up to face Ridhima. “Right?” He asked her yet again as she just stayed mum but this time she did not disappoint him for though very meekly but she did nod in response making him smile tearfully but genuinely. “Hum milke Aria ko protect karenge aur use zindagi ki har woh Khushi denge that she deserves to have and even more” he whispered while draping his shoulder over Ridhima and pulling her closer to himself as they both watched Aria slowly lull herself to sleep while having her feed.

~2 DAYS LATER~

“Arey bhaiya ache se lagao na…Ek bhi kona nahi chutna chahiye, I want every corner decorated perfectly” instructed Amaan who was looking extremely drool worthy in a baby pink shirt with sleeves folded till his elbows and to go with it he had an ankle length white trouser….”Mom, Rahul ko call karo na please he said he was on his way aur cake bhi Wahi pick Karne wale tha…” Armaan requested Ananya who was seated with Smriti making both the women smile at how enthusiastic he was… “Uski koi zarurat nahi hai because I am here…” Announced Rahul even before Ananya could reply. “Late Lateef hi Rahega tu…” Armaan teased while walking towards him and making Rahul frown “Dekh aaj Mera mood bohot acha hai so Faltu logo ke mooh main lagne nahi wala…samja “ Rahul retorted while giving him a quick hug while all the elders laughed seeing how they were bickering yet hugging each other….However suddenly Armaan’s expression turned really serious and that at once caught everyones attention “ Rahul aaj ki security ka department Maine tujhe Diya hai…I have even told John to stay in constant touch with you. I hope tune sab check Kar liya hai…please Rahul last time jaise kuch…” “Don’t worry Maine khud Sara system check kiya hai and I have also added extra security…Sab kuch theek hai aur theek Rahega…Ill make sure of that” Rahul assured before even letting him complete knowing how scared both Ridhima and he were to host this party after how Aria got kidnapped during the last get together in their house. “ I know Rahul, I trust you completely but Ridhima bhi kafi Dari hui hai…Tu to janta hai na woh to yeh party rakhne ko tayar hi nahi thi…Kisis Tarah use mana to liya Maine but dar to hum sabko hi hai” Armaan explained making Rahul and everyone else nod knowingly… “Acha vaise decoration to bohot acha lag raha hai…Pehli baar life main dhang se kaam Kiya hai tune” commented Rahul after a few seconds to divert his mind and it worked for the next second a wide smile spread across Armaan’s face. “I just hope Aru likes it…” Said rather whispered Armaan more to himself as he looked around to see the purple and pink princess themed decor done at every nook and corner of the house while everyone smiled seeing his excitement. “Acha kaise nahi lagega uske dada ne itni mehnat jo ki hai…I am sure she is gonna love it” Said Smriti while lovingly caressing Armaan’s hair while Ananya, Billy and Shashank nodded knowing how hard he had actually worked to make sure everything was perfect. “Acha Armaan preparations to sab ho Gaye but yeh to batao humari princess akhir hai kaha, abhi guests bhi ana shuru ho gaye hai…” Asked Billy while everyone else also awaited his response. “Dad woh actually din ko sab gifts ke chakar main she slept very late and we did not want to wake her up in between because phir woh bohot cranky ho jati. Abhi kuch dair pehle hi uthi hai to bas abhi Ridhima use ready kar rahi hai. They should be here any minute now” Armaan informed but before anyone could reply they heard the sound they all had been waiting to hear. “Hello everybody the birthday princess is here…” at once turning around they saw their little angel who looked extremely adorable in a designer pink and white frock with a cute little headband holding her soft hair back, standing by the edge of the staircase balancing her little body by holding her mommy’s hand tightly. It had been a few days since she had started to walk and even though she hadn't perfected it yet she was not willing to give up. An instant smile made its way on everyone’s lips face but particularly Armaan’s face who was absolutely awestruck looking at his little doll, his tiny little baby who seemed to have grown up so fast. His eyes moistened as he recalled how exactly a year back he had held a small, fragile Aria in his arms and instantly felt a sense of unconditional love. He had always wanted a baby girl, a reflection of his Ridhima and at that moment seeing a tiny Aria standing beside Ridhima who was draped in an elegant baby pink halter neck gown that flowed freely from her waist below with nothing but white pearls embedded on the neck of the gown, he could see that wish coming true.

Meri duniya,

Meri duniya,

Meri duniya tu hi re

Meri Khushiya,

Meri Khushiya,

Meri Khushiya tu hi re

“Da…dadaa” Aria called out gleefully breaking his trance as he saw the baby somehow dragging Ridhima’s finger to bring her towards him. Chuckling at his eager baby he himself walked towards her and in less than a second gathered her up in his arms making her squeal all the more. “Happy Birthday mela bacha…Aaj to Mera baby sach main princess lag rahi hai” Armaan wished while giving her a big kiss “Daddaa….lubbb” she exclaimed happily while returning his kiss with a sloppy one of her own which did nothing but deepen his already highlighted dimple as he just hugged her closer to himself letting his heart absorb all the love. Ridhima too smiled widely seeing her favourite duo in front of her, the way Aria expressed her love for Armaan and the way Armaan dotted on her always warmed her heart and that moment was no different… “And me??? Aru doesn’t love mama…” She said faking a pout after a few seconds to lighten the air a bit as she could clearly see how emotional Armaan was getting and going through the same emotions herself she knew exactly how he felt. Armaan chuckled hearing his drama queen wife also knowing very well why she suddenly spoke up. “ Bilkul bhi nahi…Aru to only loves Dada…haina Aru…” Armaan teased while quickly brushing off the slight wet corner of his eyes as he nodded his head rather animatedly indicating Aria to do the same and the little parrot that she was, she did exactly that leaving Ridhima with an annoyed come angry expression while Armaan just giggled away which made Aria laugh as well thinking that she gave the right answer. “Theek hai phir…Aap Raho dada pass hi, mama is going…” Ridhima said sounding really upset and angry before turning her back towards the duo making Armaan now laugh out loud while Aria suddenly stopped laughing and just looked confused at what was happening. “Dadda…” She called out while patting Armaan’s face. “Yesh my bacha??” Armaan replied while trying really hard to control his giggles. “Maamma…Cyyyy…?” She asked ever so cutely wether her mom was crying with a glint of sadness in her own little eyes and voice. That little gesture of hers was enough to melt not only Armaan but also Ridhima who at once got a little teary before turning to face her little one year old. “No my baby…Jab mama ke pass inna pyala sa baby hai to mama cry Kar hi nahi sakti…Haina mama aap nahi cry karoge na?” Armaan consoled her in the most adorable way as he too couldn't help but feel extremely proud of her sensitivity at even such a tender age. “Bilkul…Mama can never cry with Aru…Aur aaj to Mere baby ka birthday hai to mama to sirf happy happy hai aaj…” Ridhima replied while taking Aria’s little hands and kissing it affectionately before lightly tickling her to make her laugh once again.

Raat Din Tere Liye Sajde Karu

Duwayein Mangu Re
Mai Yaha Apne Liye

Rab Se Tere Balayein Mangu Re

“Arey ab tum dono ka ho gaya ho to humein bhi to Aru ko wish karne do…” Rahul butted as he and the elders also made their way towards the trio who seemed to have been completely lost amongst themselves. “ Aru apke mama- dada na bas Akele hi apke sath khelna chahte hai humain to wish hi nahi karne de rahe jabki we all know that Chachu is your favourite person haina baby? Aap wait Kar Rahe the na Chachu pass ane ke liye?” Said Rahul while literally taking a giggling Aria from Armaan’s arms who just had his mouth hanging at how his own daughter was actually laughing away at his silly friend’s comment. “Acha? Aru to bilkul wait nahi kar rahi thi?” Replied Armaan sarcastically as he saw Rahul cuddle Aria. “Dada is so jealous na….” Rahul teased further making Armaan just click his tongue while everyone laughed at their never ending banter. “Acha bas bas… Ab humain bhi to humari gudiya ko wish karne do….Kitni pyari lag rahi hai Meri bachi, kahi ise meri hi nazar na lag jaye” Ananya spoke up while lightly placing some kohl behind Aria’s ears….One by one they all wished the little angel, showering her with immense love and blessings while her parents just looked on with extreme pride and gratitude in their heart. Their moment however was broken by John who came to inform that all the guests had arrived and were waiting for them. “Haan beta, we must get going acha nahi lagta ki sab mehman agaye hai aur hum sab yaha hai…” Billy added making Armaan and Ridhima nod. “Ji dad…Aap log chaliye hum bas ek minute main ate hai…” Armaan said as he suddenly felt Ridhima’s hold tighten on his arm and knew that she will need a minute to calm her nerves. Nodding at the duo and giving Aria back in Armaan’s arms everybody left them alone as per Armaan’s request. “Hey…What’s wrong sweetheart” Armaan asked her extremely softly after giving a balloon in Aria’s hand to keep her distracted. “Ridhima…look at me jana…” he continued while lightly pulling her chin up as she just stayed mum. “Sab theek hai Ridhima…” he stated himself knowing what was bothering her. “Ar…Armaan main…I am just very scared” she fumbled finally as she knew that he definitely understood her fears. “You don’t need to be sweetheart…Tumhe mujhpe bharosa hai na?” He asked only to see her nod at once which instantly lit up a smile on his face. “To bas tum aaj sirf enjoy karo…Yeh pal bohot khas hai jaan aur main nahi chahta ki tum in khas pallon ka ek bhi pal is dar ke vajah se gavao…” he said while tenderly swiping away a tear that had glided down her face. “I promise you aaj sab theek hoga…I myself have supervised the security for today aur phir aaj to Rahul ki team bhi hai so you just relax and enjoy every moment of today, okay?” He assured her so lovingly that she actually forced her heart to just listen to him. “Okay…” she whispered back making him smile before leaning in and placing a tender yet assuring kiss on her forehead… “Ab chale before Aru officially turns this balloon into a teether…” he joked as he saw the little baby trying hard to bite onto the balloon which instantly cracked Ridhima up as well and so finally holding on to his free arm the trio finally made their way to the party.

Much to Ridhima’s relief the party was going on pretty well, as promised the security was really uptight and the most calming factor for her was the fact that Armaan made sure that Aria was always in his sight. Even when someone wanted to play with her or wish her Armaan would always have his eyes on her. In fact he and Rahul suddenly seemed to have forgotten their age as they left all the adults and simply got involved in playing all the games organised for the kids and attending puppet shows all through which Armaan made sure that his little princess was given VIP treatment. “Ridhima tum yaha kya kar rahi ho…chalo na waha kitna maza araha hai…” Armaan excused himself from a game to specially go and call her as he saw that she just kept running around to make sure that all guests were well attended to. “Armaan pagal ho kya…You might be two but I very well remember ki aaj mera nahi Meri beti ka first birthday hai so let her enjoy while I play hostess…” she replied while teasing him making him frown sarcastically. “haha very funny…Also you don’t need to be two years old to enjoy aur ab tum yeh aunty wali baat band karo aur chalo…” he gave her a sarcastic laugh while Aria who was along in his arms too giggled loudly seeing her parents in a good mood. “Armaan tum…” Ridhima genuinely tried to explain to him that she really needed to tend to the guest but he was having none of it. “Kuch nahi sunna mujhe you are coming with us bas…Haina Aru? Mama ko bolo to come and play with us…” he said knowing that she wouldn't refuse Aria and just as per daddy dearest’s orders the little brat actually repeated his words. “Mama…payyyy……” she requested in her sweet little voice while stretching her little hand and asking her mom to come with them. “Bass ab to birthday girl ne bhi Bol Diya ab to chalna hi padhega…Chalo chalo chalo….” Said Armaan and even before she tried protesting he held her hand carefully and literally dragged her to the games corner where they had just started off a game of musical chairs for which Armaan made sure that Ridhima too participated in and soon enough the entire place was filled with endless laughter that was not only coming from the kids but from the three adults who were actually enjoying way more than the kids and so they kept playing and goofing around till Billy announced that it was time to cut the cake.

A three tire specially customised princess cake was neatly placed over a beautifully decorated table where Armaan had made Aria stand while he and Ridhima stood right behind her holding her hand to guide her through the cake cutting. The whole mansion echoed with the birthday song as the little family cut the cake while relieving every moment of the last year. Taking a little cream in their fingers Armaan and Ridhima first fed Aria who just licked it off in a span of a second making everyone laugh at the eager baby before taking a small piece towards each other. “Happy birthday mamma…” Armaan whispered as he placed a small kiss on her cheek making her smile that million dollar smile of hers. “Happy birthday to you too dada…” she wished him back while smudging a little cream over his dimple which was instantly copied by Aria making Ridhima laugh heartily while Armaan tried hard to frown at both his girls but not even a second later her too started laughing and just hugged both his angels affectionally.

Tune Hi Jeena Sikhaya

Humlogo Ko Accha Inshan Banaya

Zindagi Hai Tera Saaya

Anjanao Ko Seedha Rasta Deekhaya

~SEVEN YEARS LATER ~

Sinking his tired body on the plush leather chair he let his muscles take in a moment to relax as he finally finished off all his work for the day. Just then his gaze fell on a small photo frame that sat proudly on his desk and as if by some magical force that tired frown was instantly replaced with a big dazzling smile. Loosening his tie a little he picked up the frame and lovingly fixed his gaze on it. How fast time flies he thought, seven years…Seven years had gone by and yet it seemed like just a day. Lost in his thought he never realised how long he had been staring at that picture till his PA knocked on the door. “Come in…” he called her in while neatly placing the photo-frame back to its place. “Armaan Sir, I have updated your calendar for the coming week aur Mr. Mehta ko bhi mail kar diya hai as per your request” informed Lisa (his PA). “thank you Lisa…You can leave for the day, have a good weekend” he replied with a smile making the PA smile back as well. “ Uhmm Lisa just a minute…Do you have any idea if Ridhima has left yet?” Armaan asked while stopping her back for a tad minute. “Yes Sir…Woh do Ghante pehle hi ja chuki hai…She said she has left you a message” replied Lisa making him nod and dismiss her finally. Quickly checking his phone he indeed found her message which he at once opened.

“Armaan…I am leaving for the day Aru ke school ka last day hai so I am going to spend some time with her. Tum apni meeting Khatam karke jaldi ajao vaise bhi tumhari princess bohot dair tak tumare bigair nahi rehne wali…See you soon…Love You”

A million dollar smile seemed to have pasted itself on his face after reading that and he almost instinctively again looked at the photo frame on his desk. The picture of the three of them where Armaan and Ridhima where smiling at each other while the little baby helped herself to a large piece rather smudge of cake, that Rahul had beautifully captured on Aria’s first birthday. Time indeed seemed to have flown by his little Aria was now all of eight and boy was she a handful. She was the naughtiest yet most affectionate child he had ever seen. Being their only child she was pampered left right and centre specially by Armaan who literally treated her like a princess but inspite of that she was supremely sensitive and kind hearted and that very fact made both him and Ridhima extremely proud. Ridhima…the name that literally never failed to make him smile. There were so many time in the last seven years were he was almost sure he wouldn't have survived without Ridhima, she was not just his wife but literally his life. She had proven herself to be the best business woman, best life parter and mother that he had ever seen and he till date wondered how she managed everything so perfectly. He was almost sure that she had some magical powers because he was one thousand percent sure that he wouldn’t be able to half of what she does. She was just perfect and inspite of ageing in years and having a million commitments to adhere to he almost wondered how she managed to still look so gorgeous. Smiling at his own thoughts he caressed their picture one last time before deciding to quickly rush home and actually meet the two angels of his life.

~Malik Mansion~

A folded blazer in one arm and his laptop bag in the other Armaan finally reached home only to find it submerged in complete silence which was a rather rare sight for usually his little sweetheart would have been playing around the whole house and more so if Ridhima was with her. Surprised at the unusual welcome he passed his blazer to a housekeeping staff who was also kind enough to tell him that Ridhima had just some time back taken Aria upstairs. Not wanting to wait and being extremely tired he made his way up to their room and found his lady love looking ravishing in her lavender colour nightie as she stood by the mirror in their room applying her night time moisturiser. He could clearly smell the jasmine fragrance from her body and knew that she had just taken a shower. Taking slow baby steps he came and stood behind her and in a swift yet gentle motion crept his arms around her waist causing her to jump up in surprise. “Armaan…Tumne to dara hi diya mujhe…” she scolded lovingly while continuing to rub the moisturiser along he bare arms while he just hmmed and nuzzled his face on her neck. “Tired…” she asked while cupping his cheek in one palm as he just stood resting his head on her shoulder with his eyes closed. “Very…” he whispered back while pulling her closer and letting her back completely rest over his chest. “Buttttt….Apni itni hot wife ko dekhkar meri kafi thakan dur ho chuki hai…” he said flirtatiously while opening his eyes and winking at her through the mirror view making her blush and shake her head at his antics. “Armaan…Is umar main bhi tumhe yeh filmy lines kaha se sujti hai I really need to know” she teased making him gasp “Excuse me madam yeh koi filmy line nahi Armaan Malik ki original line hai…” he corrected to which she nodded her head sarcastically teasing him further. “Also what do you mean by is Umar main…Apki jankari ke liye bata doon ki aaj bhi agar main kahi Jaun na to ladkiyo ki line lag jati hai…” he said proudly while pulling her closer and kissing her bare neck making her shiver in his hold. “Acha…Aur kya karte ho aap un ladkiyi ka” she played along while trying her best to not lose her senses completely as he continued to plant a trail of kisses over her bare shoulders. “Welllll…Kar to main bohot kuch sakta hoon buttt….” He spoke seductively while spinning her around and making her face him “You see my loyalties lie with my wife and I am actually quite content with that….” He added in the same tone while cupping her face in his palms and letting his pointed nose trail along her soft features making her shut her eyes and yet feel so proud. He may be teasing her but every word that he said was true and just hearing him say it made her want to thank her stars for the millionth time in her life. Suddenly feeling his movement stop she slowly opened her eyes only to get lost in a pair of greyish blue eyes that had its gaze fixed on her. “I love you…” she whispered with her eyes still locked with his and just those three words were enough to plant that dimple across his face and without a word more he just bent his head a little and captured her lips in a very gently yet affectionate kiss. “I love you too…” he replied as they slowly parted from the kiss while at once taking her in his arms and just letting them devour the bliss of being together.

Their moment however was not long lived for barely a second later they heard a loud, excited squeal and soon enough found their blue eyed, eight year old who had already changed into her favourite unicorn night suit come running inside their room with her dark brown hair bouncing over her shoulders. “Dadddaaa….” she happily ran and at once jumped in Armaan’s arms giving him a big kiss making both her parents smile wide. “Hi mela bacha…How was your day sweetheart?” Armaan asked her with the same excitement as he returned the kiss she had given him. “My day was reaallllyyyy good dadda…Pata hai aaj school main humne game khela and main first ayiii…” She happily reported while flashing her dimpled smile which did nothing but make Armaan and Ridhima’s heart flutter in extreme joy. “Arey wahhh…Yeh to bohot achi baat hai…I am so proud of my princess…” Armaan replied genuinely as he cuddled her closer while Ridhima to took hold of her little hand and kissed it. “Yeh kabse wait Kar rahi thi ki tum ao to tumhe yeh baat khud bataye…Ab to aap Khush ho?” Ridhima spoke making Aria nod her head vigorously “Bohot khush…Aap bhi happy ho na dada?” The little baby replied and once again asked her father while turning his face towards herself “Very happy darling…Dada to vaise bhi apni princess ki har baat se happy hote hai aur yeh to bohot achi news hai…” Armaan beamed while affectionally kissing her head. “Ridhima main soch raha hoon ab Aru ne itna acha perform kiya hai to celebration to banta hai…What do you think?” Armaan asked trying to sound genuinely confused as he turned to look at Ridhima who immediately mirrored his expression while the little one looked to and fro her parents awaiting their final verdict. “nahi I don't think so…Ab kya celebration karenge” Ridhima said acting all serious while Armaan too agreed making the little baby’s face fall at once. “Butttt….A small pizza party will be nice na…” Armaan said trying to sound all skeptical but as soon as Aria looked up at him he just winked at her while Ridhima too ended up giggling confusing the poor little kid. “Obviously hum celebrate karenge na…Aise ho sakta hai ki aap itni achi news do aur hum celebrate bhi nahi kare?” Said Ridhima while stepping a bit closer to the duo and finally clarifying all Aria’s doubts which at once lifted up her dampen spirits. “Yeahhhh….Pizza party….” She exclaimed excitedly while almost dancing in Armaan’s arms making her parents laugh out loud as well. “Acha bas bas… Aab dada ko change karne do aur aap mere sath chalkar pizza order karo apna…” Ridhima said after a few seconds while purposely adding the order incentive so that she leaves Armaan without a fuss and as expected it worked like magic for the next second she jumped off Armaan’s arms and after nearly ordering him to hurry up she dragged her mom to order the pizza that already made her mouth water.

An hour later the trio sat on their dining table chatting away and giggling to their heart’s content as they enjoyed their pizza and celebrated the princes’s little yet very big achievement…. “Oh no…Main to bhul gayi…” exclaimed Aria Suddenly while enthusiastically narrating an incident from her school making both her parents frown a little as she dramatically slapped her forehead. “Kya bhul gaye baby?” Ridhima asked softly while Armaan to awaited her response but instead of replying she got up from the table and ran towards her room yelling “Main Abhi ayi…” as she did. A highly perplexed Armaan looked towards Ridhima asking if she knew something about this but all he got was shrug in response and so they just decided to wait for their little monster who thankfully enough did return in exactly two minutes running with the speed of lightning… “Aru…” “Careful bache” cautioned Ridhima and Armaan simultaneously as the latter somehow held her before she crashed hard with the dining table. “Shorry…” she very cutely apologised seeing Ridhima all ready to scold her for running so fast but the miss smarty pants knew very well that even mama could not resist that level of cuteness. “Its okay…” Ridhima said trying and failing to maintain a stern face making Armaan chuckle lightly and shake his head at both his drama queens. “Acha ab yeh to batao ki aap gaye kaha the or apke hath main kya hai…?” Asked Armaan after a moment as he saw Aria clutch a piece of paper tightly in her hand. “Yahi to bhul gayi thi…” said the little one rather excitedly. “Mama- dada mere school ne two days ke baad ek summer camp organise kiya hai one week ka…Waha pe singing hoga, dancing hoga and bohot sare games honge…Mere sare friends ja rahe hai aur maine bhi apni teacher ko bola ki main bhi aungi…Good na?” She spoke rather enthusiastically as both Armaan and Ridhima had always encouraged her to participate in all sorts of extra curricular activities and so the little girl was very sure that her parents would be just as excited as her for this trip too. However so lost in her excitement and narration of all that she planned to do at the trip that she failed to notice the fallen expression of her parents. “Mama main apna pink jacket pehenungi and apne jo new song sikhaya na woh bhi sing karungi aur…” “Aap nahi jaoge Aru…” just as the little child was busy in planning for her trip she heard her father speak in a plain voice that confused her a little for she had never heard her dad talk in such a flat tone with her and moreover he was telling her not to participate in something was even more shocking for her. “Why dada? Apne hi bola tha na ki we should participate in everything…Phir aap kyu no Bol rahe ho…” Aria asked extremely innocently while staring at Armaan with her little confused eyes. Ridhima looked towards Armaan who had fixed his gaze to the front with a prominent frown on his forehead and knew that she would have to take charge here. “Because…Because humein nanu-nani se Milne jana hai…Apko yaad arahi thi na unki aur hum Jane wale the apke holidays main to ab aap camp pe jaoge to waha kaise chaloge…” Said Ridhima trying her best to convince Aria as seeing Armaan’s expression she knew he would never allow her to go and well she knew and understood his reasons very well but Aria was too little to understand all that and hence she tried to simply divert her mind. “But mama apne to bola tha hum next month jayenge tab tak to main ajaungi…” Replied Aria honestly leaving Ridhima completely tongue tied. “Ab to main ja sakti hoon na mama…” she asked getting all excited again as according to her that was the only issue that her parents had. “Aru aap…” “Aap nahi jaoge Aru…” just as Ridhima tried saying something Armaan spoke up repeating the same words with the same tone. “Kyu dada? Aab to problem solve ho gayi na…Main Nanu-nani house Jane se pehle ajaungi aap tension mat lo…” she explained extremely politely while going closer to Armaan and using her small hands to try and make him face her. “Princess please zid mat karo…Dada mana Kar rahe hai na…Aap Abhi bohot Chote ho to be going for such camps” Said Armaan trying his best to explain things to her calmly as he saw her little eyes that spelt sheer confusion boring into his. “No dada…Rhea mere se one month small hai, woh bhi ja rahi hai…Main to big girl hoon na…Aur sare teachers bhi hai…” The little girl stated feeling extremely baffled at why her dad was reacting like this. “Armaan tum…” Ridhima tried saying something but Armaan just gave her one look that stated loud and clear that his decision was final and so she went all mum letting him handle the situation. “Bolo na dada…I can go na?” Aria asked yet again making Armaan rub his chin knowing that she was not gonna let go so soon. “No Aru, I am sorry baby but aap nahi jaoge…” He said trying his best to be calm yet again but this time the little girl had enough and so stepping back she folded her arms against her chest getting all stubborn. “But kyu nahi ja sakti…Mere sare classmates ja rahe hai…Aur waha bohot sare prizes bhi hai…” she stated while looking at Ridhima who at the moment felt extremely helpless because she could understand both their plights and hence was finding it very hard to take a stand. “ They can do whatever they want but aap nahi jaoge and thats final…” Armaan spoke keeping his tone a little firm this time making Aria feel a little bad as she was absolutely not use to Armaan saying no to her for anything. He in-fact was that person who would have happily gotten the stars for her had she just asked. However not wanting to miss the chance she too became extremely stubborn and started throwing a tantrum “Nahi main jaungi…Sab ja rahe hai main bhi jaungi…” she stated stubbornly while puffing up her cheeks. “I said no Aria…” Armaan stated while glaring at Aria but at the moment all she cared about was going and hence did not stop her tantrum. “But whyy….” She demanded almost angrily. “BECAUSE I SAID SO…AAP NAHI JAOGE AND THATS FINAL…I DON’T WANT A WORD MORE ON THIS TOPIC…UNDERSTOOD” at last Armaan lost his cool and ended up shouting at the little girl making her almost jump in her place. She had never before seen Armaan so angry and that too with her who he treated literally like a princess.Even Ridhima was shocked with his sudden outburst as she never had expected him to yell at Aria like that. She looked towards Aria knowing that the poor baby must be feeling extremely bad and the tinny tears in her eyes just confirmed her point. “Shit…” he mumbled under his breath as he realised that he just yelled a little too much at the little baby. “Ar…” he looked at her apologetically and tried talking to her but even before he could call her out she turned around and ran towards her room. “Aru…Aruu…” Ridhima kept calling for her but she did not stop once making her sigh hard while an equally upset Armaan just banged his fist hard on the table. “Armaan…” Ridhima scolded while taking hold of his injured hand but he just released it and walked back to his room feeling extremely horrible at seeing those tears in Aria’s eyes because of him. Leaving a highly disturbed Ridhima all alone…She looked at the dining table to see most of the food unfinished and sighed to herself, how such a perfect night had turned into a disaster she had no clue. She herself was taken a back with Armaan’s anger but somehow she understood where it stemmed from and hence she was not very surprised but Aria…She was daddy’s little princess, Armaan had not even as much as glared at her and today he ended up yelling at her. She knew the the child was not going to take it down well and so she first decided to go and check up on her.

~Aria’s Room~

Slowly entering the room Ridhima found her little baby lying down flat on her stomach and trembling with tears as she tightly hugged her favourite poo bear. Her heart ached seeing her child so upset, she knew Aria was a very fierce child but she was also very sensitive and specially so when it came to Armaan. Somehow controlling her own tears that were threatening to spill she moved towards the bed and gently sat herself on the edge of it. “Aru…” she called out softly while lightly caressing her hair and call the touch of love or just a motherly presence the little baby at once turned around and placed her head on Ridhima’s lap. Hiding her face in her mom’s tummy the little girl cried rather badly while Ridhima tried her level best to calm her down. “Shh…Bas…bas shona….”Ridhima soothed as Aria clung onto her with her tears flowing non-stop. “Da…da does not love me…He is very bad…” Hiccupped the small child as Ridhima pulled her up and made her sit in her lap while she continued to cry hard. “Shh…aise nahi bolte baby…Dada is not bad…And who said he doesn't love you? Woh to aapse kitna pyaar karte hai…Sabse zyada aap ko love karte hai, hain na?” Ridhima said softly so as to not let Aria hoard any such silly thoughts in her head but Aria was very very hurt and so just shook her head against Ridhima’s chest to convey that she did not agree with her. “No…He doesn't love me…Unho…unhone shout kiya mama…Woh bhi inna sara…Aur…aur maine to kuch Kiya bhi nahi…Koi…koi masti nahi…Nothing…” she justified herself amidst her sobs leaving Ridhima teary eyed as well as she realised just how bad Aria had taken Armaan’s words. She was just going to say something when her eyes fell on the door only to find a teary and just as sorrowful Armaan standing there. She knew he was hurting just as much if not more and seeing the dejected look on his face as he wiped a tear away and quietly left from there broke her heart as well. Swallowing the lump in her throat she somehow parted a still crying Aria from herself and very gently wiped off her still flowing tears. “Shh…Bas…Chup ho jao…Aap to mama ke strong baby ho na…Phir aise kyu ro rahe ho?….Chalo ab bilkul rona band okay ” Ridhima cajoled her gently as she lightly fixed the little girl’s hair and very affectionately kissed her forehead. “Good girl…Ab chalo yeh thoda sa paani piyo…Just one sip sweetheart…”Ridhima encouraged as she took hold of the glass of water from Aria’s bed side and somehow made her have a sip from it. “My good baby…” Ridhima cooed while once again taking her in a hug while Aria who had stopped crying just sat quietly in her mom’s lap still very very sad. “Apko pata hai jab Mama-dada ki shaddi hui tha na tab Dada bohot khush the…Itni badi wali smile thi unki face pe…” Ridhima narrated very gently after a few seconds as she lightly rocked Aria in her lap while the little one just stayed mum but yet listened to what her mom was saying very attentively. “Pata hai unka dimple bhi dikh raha tha…Bilkul Jaise apka dikhta hai…” she added while lightly pocking Aria’s dimple hoping to get a small smile but in vain and so she just decided to continue. “Maine pehle unhe itna khush kabhi nahi dekha tha aur us din mujhe laga ki bas yeh moment apke dada ke liye sabse khas hai aur ise zyada khush woh kabhi nahi ho sakte…” Ridhima continued the story while lightly caressing Aria’s back awaiting some response from her but she just remained silent. “But I was wrong…” she added slowly and that seemed to have hit a bulls eye for the little princess who though was silently listening to every word of Ridhima instantly grew alert at this and parted herself from the hug while still sitting on her mom’s lap. “Matlab dada us time se bhi zyada happy hue hai mama?” She asked very cutely unable to hold back her curiosity making Ridhima smile wide at her innocence. “Bilkul…Us moment se kahi zyafa happy hue hai apke dada…” Ridhima replied honestly making the little girl’s eyes widen in shock for she had always witnessed the love between her parents and though too young to understand details but she knew they always were happy when together. “But whennn???” She asked eagerly making Ridhima smile at how easily the bundle of joy got distracted. “Dada sabse zyada happy tab hue the jab unhone apko pehli baar dekha tha…” Ridhima replied while completely wiping off Aria’s tears as she just continued to stare at Ridhima but this time she decided to stay silent once again. “Jabhi dada apke sath hote hai na to woh sabse zyada happy hote hai…Jante ho kyu?” Ridhima asked softly while pulling up Aria’s chin as she suddenly just decided to look down “Because he loves you the most baby…Dada aapse bohot pyaar karte hai Aru…” Ridhima herself answered the question while wiping off the lone tear that yet again slipped off Aria’s eye. “Phir woh mujhse angry kyu hue mama…Maine to kuch kiya bhi nahi…” Aria said while sniffing her tears back making Ridhima’s heart melt completely at her little sweetheart. “Awle mela bacha…” she cooed while hugging Aria close to herself. “Dada aapse angry nahi hai baby, woh bas us trip ke liye pareshan the aur anjane main apna tension aap pe nikal diya…” Ridhima explained while rocking Aria in her arms. “But why mama? Woh trip main sab ja rahe hai phir dada mujhe kyu nahi Jane de rahe…” Aria questioned her while once again parting from the hug and looking at Ridhima straight in the eye. “Aruu…Baby, apko aaj tak dada ne kabhi kisi cheez ke liye mana kiya hai?” Ridhima questioned back very softly knowing she’d have to be extra careful for this topic. Being the honest child that she was Aria at once shook her head to answer her mom. “Exactly woh apko kabhi mana nahi karte lekin agar aaj woh mana kar rahe hai to koi to reason hoga na…Don’t you think apko unki baat maan leni chahiye…” Ridhima said making Aria just bow her head down. “Main apko force nahi karungi…Aap soch lo apko kya karna hai…Agar apko phir bhi dada pe gussa hai aur aap trip pe jana chahte ho even if that makes dada sad, then I will let you do so…” Ridhima added carefully yet honestly to which Aria said nothing and Ridhima knew that her point was conveyed but Aria just needed sometime to cool off. Kissing her head one more time she placed Aria back on the bed and lightly caressed her hair “Main Sophie didi ko bolto hoon to give you your milk here…Peelena…” Ridhima said while bending and kissing her head before leaving her alone to think for sometime.

~AR Room~

Entering the room Ridhima found all the lights except for a small lamp shade on her side of the bed switched off. Glancing through the room she found an almost defeated Armaan sat on the arm chair with his face buried deep in his palms. She knew he was hating himself for the way he behaved with Aria and must have died a thousand deaths when he heard her Aria cry because of it. She very well understood his fears, ever since Aria had been kidnapped he was supremely possessive about her security and she did not blame him one bit because she shared the same fear. In fact she time and again would even voice it out while he always tried to be strong. However today when Aria spoke about going away even though it was just for a week he probably was not able to hold himself and lashed out on her instead. She remembered how during Aria’s first birthday he had convinced her to move on from her fear and knew that today it was her turn to help him through this because thats what loves ones do and she would do it too…Taking slow steps she walked towards him who had already sensed her presence but yet did not move and inch from where he was. Standing behind him she bend down a bit and hugged him around his neck forcing him to drop his hands from his face and reveal his blood shot red eyes. “Woh aise soch bhi kaise sakti hai that I don’t love her?” He asked in a mere whisper as his tone clearly gave away how hurt he was. Ridhima simply kissed his head a bit and rubbed his shoulder just letting him wash out all that was going in his mind. “I love her so much Ridhima…Uske liye to main haste haste apni Jaan de sakta hoon and yet she thinks….” He continued while pausing to swallow a painful lump “she thinks I don’t love her…” he completed as a stubborn tear glided down his eye making Ridhima’s eyes moist as well. “Aisa nahi hai Armaan…She knows you love her a lot…Woh khud sabse zyada pyaar tumse karti hai…You are her most favourite person remember ?” Ridhima told him while leaving his neck and coming to kneel down in-front of him so she could see his expressions. Armaan just shook his head exactly like Aria did making Ridhima smile at how similar the two were. “I lost that position today…Aria hates me” he whispered painfully making Ridhima shake her head this time. “No…She can never hate you…” Ridhima replied firmly. “Woh bas thodi upset hai Armaan and rightfully so, papa ki pari ne kabhi daat jo nahi khayi hai…” She joked making him smile a tiny winy bit as well. “Aria kabhi tumse naftrat kar hi nahi sakti hai…She loves you beyond words…Yaad hai jab woh kidnap hoke wapas Ayi thi aur mujhe chodkar kisi ke pass nahi ja rahi thi…Tab bhi she wanted you around…She always wants you around because she adores you Armaan…Abhi woh bas thodi naraz hai ,shayad confused bhi ki akhir usne aisa kya Kar diya ki uske dada ne use aise daata…” Ridhima explained softly making him bow his head as the image of a teary and shocked Aria came into his mind. “I did not want to…Main use daatna nahi chahta tha Ridhima…Par woh us trip pe Jane ki zid kar rahi thi…How could I have allowed that…” He tried to justify himself though deep down his couldn’t help the guilt bubbling in his heart. “Why can’t you?” Ridhima asked straight up making him at once look up towards her. “Ridhima tum…” he stated in sheer shock but she did not let him complete and continued to state her point “Bolo Armaan…Kyu nahi Jane de sakte hai hum Aria ko…Everyone from her class is going, all the teachers are going…Phir Aria kyu nahi ja sakti?” “Because it's not safe it dammit… Waha woh akeli…” Armaan replied while getting up from the chair feeling frustrated at how Ridhima was okay to send Aria alone. “Akeli nahi hogi Armaan waha pe uske sare freinds, school ki faculty hogi uske sath…” Ridhima replied calmly while herself getting up from the floor and standing in-front of him. “I don’t care…She’s too small for all this aur main use nahi Jane de sakta no matter who will be there…” Armaan stated adamantly while turning his back towards her making Ridhima shake her head at her stubborn husband.

“Yeh hadsa humari zinadgi main ek bohot bada ghav chod chuka hai, but I don’t want Aria to feel the same pain and fear that we both feel. Main nahi chahta ki humari beti apni puri zinadgi is dar se nikale ki use koi uske mom-dad se dur kar sakta hai…I just don’t want that for her and I know you don’t want that either, right?”

Ridhima quoted the same words that he told her before Aria’s first birthday as she once again came and stood face to face with him. “Yeh tumhare hi Shabd hai Armaan…You were the one to explain to me ki hum apne dar ki vajah se Aria ko suffer nahi Karne de sakte phir aaj tum hi apni kahi hui baat Kaise bhul sakte ho?” Ridhima spoke softly while once again holding his hand while he just turned his face the other side. “Armaan I know you’re scared trust me so am I…Itne Saal baad bhi woh hadsa hum dono hi nahi bhul paye hai but tumne hi kaha tha na that we shouldn’t let Aria get to know about that incident…” Ridhima continued while lightly cupping his cheek in her palm. “Us ke liye humain khud ko strong rakhna hoga Armaan…We have to fight this fear so that Aria doesn’t have to…Aur hum karenge…Right?” Ridhima explained while turning his head to face her as he just stayed mum knowing that Ridhima was not wrong. “Right??” She asked again and this time he ended up nodding his head a tad bit. “I am just really scared Ridhima…Agar waha use kuch…” “Kuch nahi hoga…We have to have faith Armaan, for Aria…” He stated his fears but Ridhima at once cleared all his doubts making him nod yet again knowing that he had to be brave for his daughter, he was most definitely not gonna let Aria live with the fear that they were cursed with. Knowing how hard this was for the two of them Ridhima just stepped forward and took him in a warm hug letting both of them calm their fears down a bit.

“Woh mujhse bohot naraz hai na…” Armaan asked after a few seconds while tightening his hold on Ridhima as he tried to wash away all the negative thoughts from his mind. “Bohot nahi par thodi si hai…” Ridhima replied honestly while looking from his chest to face him “But I am very sure ki tum use mana doge…Woh kya kehte ho tum…’Armaan Malik ke charm se koi nahi Bach sakta’” She said jokingly making him chuckle lightly. “Thank you jaan…” He said while just staring at her continuously “For what?” She asked being a little confused at this sudden thank you. “For being there with me…For standing beside me and holding me tight through all the good and the bad…” He replied genuinely while kissing her forehead making her a little teary. “We will always be there for each other Armaan…Through the black and the white…” she said making him smile wide. “I love you…” was all that he could say further and she too found her reply in the same words. “Ab chale…Tumhari princess ko manane…” Ridhima teased making him chuckle yet again and simply taking hold of her hand he walked towards the little Miss. Malik who was yet to be mollified.

~Aria’s Room~

Quietly entering Aria’s room both Armaan and Ridhima found the little princess sat by the window sill with her favourite poo bear in her arms. She wasn’t playing around or chatting away with the bear like she usually did, instead she just sat really silently and looked out at the stars which showed them how sad she actually was with the small argument she had with her dad. It ached both Armaan and Ridhima to see their ever so lively baby so upset and for a minute they just stood in their place and stared at her. Sensing someone else in the room Aria looked up once only to find her parents standing by the door, she stared at Armaan for a whole minute with nothing but hurtful eyes but then again she was a Malik after all and was not gonna back down so easily and hence at once turned back to look at the stars again conveying clearly that she did not want to talk to him. Chuckling at his little angry bird Armaan gently walked towards her and sitting right in front of her he instantly held his ears and masked the perfect puppy face just like she did when she did some mistake. He looked up from his lashes only to see her head still towards the window but her eyes still scanned his act and thus he just made his puppy face even cuter. Ridhima couldn't help but giggle at Armaan and his ways as she too slowly walked towards them and decided to help her hubby dearest a bit. “Very good…Ache se kaan pakdo mere bechare baby ko Itna daat diya…Ab pakadte raho kaan…Haina Aru…” Ridhima spoke animatedly to which Aria for once looked towards her and then finally focused her full attention towards Armaan who still sat in the same position. “I am shorryyy…” He said ever so cutely while now looking up towards her with his hand still holding her ears. “Ache se sorry bolo…Aise thodi Aru maaf karegi Itna jaldi…” Ridhima joked “Kyu nahi karegi…Woh meri princess hai, woh mujhe zarur maaf karegi tum uska mind mat divert karo…Haina Aru…Aap dada ko maaf karoge na…?” Armaan replied in the same tone so as to cheer Aria up but all in vain as the little kid just got up from the window sill and went and sat on her bed making Armaan worriedly glance towards Ridhima who just blinked at him and told him to try again. Nodding at her he walked towards her bed and kneeled down on the floor just in-front of her “I am sorry baby…Dada ko aise nahi chilana chaiye tha aap par…I am really sorry…” He apologised softly while taking hold of her hand but yet again she said nothing making him sigh sadly. Just then his eyes landed on that poo bear that she brought back with her and taking hold of that he tried to convince her with it “Poo aap hi bolo na Aru ko mujhe maaf karde…Pata hai jab woh mujhse baat nahi karti na to main bohot sad ho jata hoon…Please aap bolo use mujhe maaf Karne ko…” He spoke cutely to the teddy bear before once again looking towards Aria only to find her looking straight back at him with tiny tears in her eyes which simply raced his heart beat a million times faster. “Aruu….” He whispered with a sinking heart as he at once left the bear and cupped her face in his palms while Ridhima too came and sat beside her on the bed. “Kya…Kya hua bache…Aap…Aap ro kyu rahe ho?” A worried Armaan asked as he saw a stream of tears flowing down his little princess’s eyes. Not bothering to reply and not being able to hold herself back Aria at once jumped off the bed and hugged Armaan tightly while crying rather badly. “Shh…bas…kya hua princess aap ro kyu rahe ho…Ab to dada ne sorry bhi bol diya…Aap please ro nahi bache…” Armaan consoled while running his palm over her back but she just continued to cry making both her parents teary as they realised at that moment how much that one episode had bruised her little heart. Armaan just hugged her tighter and caressed her back letting her wash out all her pain in the form of tears. It took a few minutes for her cries to subside into sobs and thats when Armaan slowly parted her from the hug and wiped off the tears from her face as she continued to hiccup and just look down. “ I am really sorry sweetheart…Dada ko aap par aise nahi chilana chiaye tha…” Armaan spoke extremely softly while caressing her red cheeks. “Aap mujhse gussa ho dada…?” She asked him amidst her hiccups while looking up towards him with her teary gaze. “Bilkul nahi…Mera baby hai hi Itna pyara ki main kabhi use ghusa nahi ho sakta…” Armaan replied at once letting not even a single thought like that brood in her little heart. “Dada thoda dar gaye the bache…Aapse dur rehne ki adat nahi hai na isliye main dar gaya tha ki apko one week kaie khud se dur karunga aur dar main aap par chila baitha…I am sorry…” Armaan apologised again while kissing her little hand “It’s okay…” she replied with a sniff making not only Armaan but Ridhima also smile. “Aap tension mat lo…Main nahi jaungi aap meri sare baatein mante ho to main bhi apki baat manungi…” she confessed making Armaan feel immense pride at how well brought up his little daughter was. He looked towards Ridhima and blinked at her thankfully knowing that she was the one who explained things to Aria. He knew at that moment for sure that Ridhima was right he was not gonna let Aria live in the same fear as them and just like that he knew he was taking the right decision “Nahi baby…Aap jaoge trip pe, I know dada thoda dar gaye the but phir maine Socha ki jab mera baby Itna strong hai to mujhe bhi to strong hona chaiye…Haina.” He said softly while taking Aria’s hand in his while Ridhima smiled at him assuring him that he was doing the right thing. “Really dada? Aap sad nahi Honge if I go for the trip…?” She asked to confirm while already getting excited for the camp. “Uhmm thoda sa sad to hounga because I'll miss you but jab aap waha se sare games main Jeet Kar aoge to main happy ho jaunga…” He replied making her squeal happily. “Yeahhh….Thank you so much dada…I love youuuu…” she exclaimed while hugging and kissing him bringing his dimple back at its place. “I love you too darling…” He said while hugging her back making Ridhima quickly brush off a happy tear that glided down her eyes. “Bas…Aab baap beti ka patch up ho gaya to mama ko bhul gaye dono…” Ridhima complained teasingly with a fake pout making both Armaan and Aria giggle. Not replying to her Armaan looked towards Aria and they both winked at each other before pulling Ridhima down on the floor and hugging her tight amidst her light slaps that she gave each of them on their shoulder for pulling her like that. Finally all the tears were wiped off and their night ended with the sound of laughter and essence of love.

Tu nai ek roshni le aai hai

Jeevan ki raahon mein

Har ghadi guzre teri

Saari umar abb apne baahon mein

~The End~

-Tanishka(Tani)-