Track Sixty Seven - Raakh, Arijit Singh
Sid sighed as he watched Tamanna playing with her daughter and some of the other kids from the orphanage. It had been weeks since he'd confessed to Tamanna but was yet to get a response from her. He understood that it might've been sudden for her, and she needed time to process what he'd said. He was happy to wait till she was sure. He just hadn't anticipated that she would take so long to come to a decision. Maybe he ought to speak to her himself, he decided.
Luck seemed to be on his side as the moment the thought crossed his mind, he saw Rahul amble his way across the lawn and pick Myra up in his arms. Suddenly, all the kids' attention was taken by whatever Rahul was saying, and Tamanna was left alone as the gaggle of children ran around with Rahul. Deciding to take advantage of the situation, Sid immediately walked up to Tamanna.
"Hey," he greeted her, a hopeful grin etched across his face.
"Hey," Tamanna replied, looking anywhere but him. It struck Sid as odd, but he shrugged it off. Maybe she was feeling shy.
"Ummm, how are you?" He asked her.
"Fine," she replied, not saying anything else, not even politely enquiring after Sid.
It was getting clearer that she didn't want to have a conversation with him. Maybe it was still too soon for her? Sid didn't know. What he knew was that it had been too long for him. He couldn't wait any longer in this limbo without knowing the outcome. So, despite her disinterest, Sid continued. "Ummm," he mumbled, scratching the back of his neck. "Can we talk? In private?"
Tamanna exhaled sharply through her nose. She should've known it was coming. There was no way that she could avoid this. Sid would demand answers. She had always known that. She was just hoping for more time to get her bearings in order and make peace with his past, lest she did something unforgivable in her anger. That she would never get romantically involved with Sid had become abundantly clear to her by now, but she still wanted to let him down gently. She wasn't entirely sure if he deserved that kindness, but she didn't want any unnecessary drama in her life. But, Riddhima's words were echoing in her mind, clear as the day she'd spoken them, Riddhima's sobs still plaguing her thoughts, Armaan's helplessness in being unable to comfort her, still playing like a scene when she closed her eyes.
However, if Sid was so eager, she wouldn't make him wait. It struck her just then, how Sid had promised that he'd wait however long she wanted, but was now here, only a few days since their previous conversation. Clearly, he hadn't meant what he'd said back then. It only strengthened her resolve.
"What's up?" She asked once they'd walked to a somewhat secluded spot on the premises.
"I'm sure you know what I wanted to ask," Sid replied. Tamanna bobbed her head but didn't verbalize a response. "Look, Tamanna. I know I said I'll wait for you. And I will, trust me. But I just… I need to know. Are you thinking about it? Which direction are you leaning in? Can we be together? If not now, then sometime in the future?"
Tamanna almost scoffed at him. If he was willing to wait, why was he pressuring her for an answer? She took a deep breath so as to not shout, before saying. "I did think about it. And I've decided. I just hadn't said anything because I was trying to find a way to break it to you gently. I'm sorry, Sid. I can't be in a relationship with you."
"You… What?" Sid looked at her, almost flabbergasted. She didn't? In any scenario, Sid hadn't expected that. Whenever he pictured this conversation, Tamanna was eagerly saying yes. Or, asking for a few months to get her affairs in order to move back to India, which is when they'd date. Maybe even some time to get her daughter used to the idea. But never an outright no.
"We cannot be a couple," Tamanna repeated patiently.
"Why?" Sid demanded.
"Sid, I just adopted a child. My entire focus is on my daughter, like she deserves. I don't have the time for a relationship. Not when I'm trying to build a family with her," Tamanna replied, hoping to dissuade him.
"Okay," Sid replied. "So… I won't get in the way of that. Your relationship with your daughter is none of my business."
Tamanna didn't know if that was a good or a bad thing, but it was definitely not the response she'd been expecting. "That doesn't change anything. I want to spend all my time with Myra."
"I get that. But, anyway, I'll be here and it'll take a while before you can move back home, right? So, you can spend all that time with her," Sid tried.
Tamanna scoffed. He'd just assumed she'd move back. "Sid, I'm not moving back," she told him.
"No?!" Sid was surprised. "But, your parents are here. I thought you'd want to be with them."
"My parents are here," Tamanna agreed. "Because their life is here right now. Mine is not. It never will be. It's something they understand. They're happy for me. And anyway, I will have them move in a few years once I'm in a higher position at work and can give them the life they deserve in New York."
"Oh," Sid replied. He was quiet for a few minutes, contemplating. He shouldn't have assumed. Who would want to give up a life in America for one in India? Not him. "Ummm, I can move there in a few years. And then we can try?"
"Sid, there is nothing between us. Not now, not ever," Tamanna finally said. "There is no future in this."
"Why not?" Sid questioned. "I understand your priorities are different right now and I respect that. But once you're settled in your dynamic with Myra, we can try then."
"We can't," Tamanna stated. "We can never do that, because I don't see you that way."
"But I thought you liked me!" Sid exclaimed. "Before you left for Canada… Back when we were interning together… I thought you liked me."
"I might've had a small crush on you back then but that doesn't mean I still do," Tamanna told him.
"But, if we tried, it could happen again, couldn't it? You liked me once. You can like me again," Sid tried. He was trying too hard, he knew. But, he didn't know what else to do. He was coming on too strong, but it was because it felt like this was his last chance. In the time since he'd separated from Riddhima, he'd spent many years trying to fall in love again. At first, he'd waited for Riddhima to come back to him, but when she hadn't, he had also tried to move on. At first, there had been casual flings, but later, he had genuinely tried to date someone. It had not panned out the way he wanted, though. None of his relationships had lasted long. With Tamanna, there had always been that what if. He'd carried it with him for close to a decade. He thought she had too, that she would be just as eager to give him, give them, a chance, to at least see where it could go. Her vehement refusal to be with him left a sour taste in his mouth.
"I can never like you again, Sid," Tamanna stated calmly, as if she was more than sure of the fact, which irked Sid even more. Was he that unlikeable?
"Why not?" He asked her. "Am I that bad?"
"I just can't, Sid," Tamanna sighed. "Please, let's just leave it at that!"
"I want to know, though," Sid insisted. "If you're turning me down, you have to give me a reason at least. I deserve that much, don't I?"
"And I gave you a reason already," Tamanna replied. "I don't have to explain myself further."
"That's not really an explanation, Tamanna. What do you mean by you can never like me? Why can't you?" Sid pressed.
"I just can't," Tamanna said, still not elaborating. She didn't want to confess to the things Riddhima Di had told her in confidence. She didn't want to break that trust they'd built. As a survivor, she understood just how difficult it would've been for her to open up. Riddhima Di had placed a lot of faith in her by telling Tamanna her story.
"Tamanna…" Sid started to say something, but was cut off by Tamanna. "No, Sid. I don't owe you explanations. I told you I don't want to be with you. That's it. There's nothing more to say," she told him.
"There is," Sid countered. "You have to tell me why!" He exclaimed.
"You lied to me," she finally settled on. She might not want to reveal anything else, but she could tell him she knew he'd been married before and never told her. She had hoped for a quick conversation, but should've known that Sid would never leave well enough alone. While she didn't like him badgering her for an explanation, she could see that it was important to him to have a reason for the rejection, and maybe giving one would provide him the closure he needed as well. Tamanna might not like Sid, especially now after finding out just how bad it could get with him, but she wasn't cruel. She would never be cruel. Sid wanted closure. She would give him that. She would give him her truth, but not all of it. Never, all of it. He didn't deserve that.
"I have never lied to you. Ever," Sid said, indignant at the accusation. Tamanna sighed. This wouldn't be as easy as she hoped. But maybe, it would be worth it.
"Were you or were you not married to Riddhima Di in the past?" She questioned him, almost daring him to refuse.
"So what?" Sid fired back. "You were married too!"
"Yes, but I never hid that from you, Sid," Tamanna told him. "But you never told me about your marriage. If Riddhima Di hadn't told me, would you ever have?"
Sid scoffed. "Of course Riddhima told you."
"Don't make that face!" Tamanna exclaimed. "You should've told me, Sid. It's what I deserved."
"I was going to tell you," Sid replied. "In time. When I was comfortable."
"Don't you think you should've told me before?" Tamanna asked.
"Why? Why is it so important? Would me being married change how you look at me?" Sid questioned.
"It would," Tamanna replied, explaining it to him as if he were a child. Frankly, Tamanna was surprised he didn't think it was important to reveal something like this. She got that he might have not shared any passing fancies with her. But that wasn't even important. Sid had been married before. And Tamanna hadn't known that about the man who had told her he loved her. "Depending on why you separated, it would make a huge difference. People realize they're not compatible all the time. They separate. That's life. But, there are reasons other than that too. And I need to know why you two aren't together anymore."
"What are you insinuating?" Sid whispered into the eerie silence that had suddenly surrounded them. She couldn't be saying what he thought she was, right? She couldn't be standing here and saying such things about him. Couldn't be thinking that he could be that kind of person.
"You know exactly what," Tamanna stood her ground, saying so much without ever saying the words. It didn't take a genius to figure out what she meant. And she could see it, in Sid's eyes, that he knew just what she was saying, what she was accusing him of. Of being a bad husband, of being an abuser. She hadn't been able to break free of the abuse heaped on her in the past, not easily. But, she would be damned if she let something like that happen again. She would not be intimidated by Sid. She would not be intimidated by anyone, ever again.
Sid turned around and stalked out of the clearing, not replying to Tamanna's questions. Tamanna sighed in relief at being left alone, before realizing that maybe she had said too much without ever saying the words and rushed behind him.
— — —
The moment Armaan saw Sid approach Tamanna, he was instantly alert. Knowing what he did about Sid now, he was extremely uncomfortable to let any woman in the man's presence, let alone his sister. As much as he wanted to, he did not intervene, not just then. He knew that Tamanna wouldn't like it. She would want to handle it on her own. He understood why she did. And he respected her choice. So, he would content himself with watching from a distance, making sure that she was okay. But then… Then, the two of them started walking away, out of Armaan's line of vision and his feet started to walk, almost involuntarily, when he was stopped by Riddhima.
"No," she told him, holding his arm in a vice grip.
"But…" He tried to argue. Riddhima was not having it. She cut him off. "I know you're worried. But, this is something she needs to do on her own. You know that, don't you?"
"I do," Armaan sighed. "But why do they have to go and talk separately?"
"Let them have their privacy," Riddhima advised.
"What if something bad happens?" Armaan questioned.
Riddhima sighed. "I think Sid is smart enough to not create a scene," she said. "Not when all of us are around. And still, in case he does, I'm sure Tamanna knows to call for you. She will do that if she thinks she needs it, won't she?"
Armaan nodded. He knew Tamanna would ask for help if she needed it. "Then trust her," Riddhima said. "Let her do this on her own."
"Fine," Armaan acquiesced. "But that doesn't mean I like it."
"I know," Riddhima smiled gently.
"How about we go eavesdrop?" Armaan suggested a moment later. "It is, after all, tradition."
Riddhima laughed. "No way," she said. "You did not just try to use 'tradition' to get your way."
"I did," Armaan replied, chuckling along with her. "Come on! We can do that, can't we?"
"That is a gross invasion of privacy," Riddhima reminded him.
"That has never stopped us before," Armaan pointed out.
"Armaan, har cheez ka time hota hai. Iss baar nahi," Riddhima stated.
"Oh? Har cheez ka? Aisa tab toh nahi socha jab Rahul aur Muskaan ki saare baatein sunn rahe the mere room mein chupke!" Armaan lectured. "Yaa jab cabin ke bahaar khade rehke Dr. Keerti aur Dr. Shubhankar ki baatein sunn rahe the!"
"Armaaaaaan!" Riddhima whacked his shoulder. "Shut up!"
"I will not!" Armaan exclaimed. "Come on, Basket! Please! I need to be there for Tamanna! I need to protect her. Agar phirse kuch ho gaya toh?" He shuddered. "Nahi. Kabhi nahi. Tamanna needs me!"
"Armaan," Riddhima sighed, rubbing her hands down his shoulders in an effort to calm him down. "I know, okay? Main samajh sakti hoon ki tum darre hue ho. But, Armaan… Tamanna is a big girl. Agar usse tumhaari help chahiye hoti, toh kya woh maangti nahi? Usse yeh khud karna hai. Let her make her own decisions. Iss tarah uski independence kyu cheen'na chaahte ho tum? Woh independence, woh confidence… Jo usse tumhaare support se mila hai. Ab phir aisa karna? Iska toh yehi matlab haina that you don't trust her?"
"Of course I trust her!" Armaan cried. "I'm just…"
"Worried," Riddhima completed. "I know. But just… Wait here. Tamanna ko tumhaari zaroorag hogi toh woh zaroor bulayegi. I know. We have to do this for her. Have faith in your sister, Armaan."
Armaan couldn't help but smile at that. Riddhima had called Tamanna his sister. It always warmed his heart when someone did that. But in this moment, with Riddhima, it meant even more, because she knew and understood just how true it was. Also, because there was a time, a mere fortnight ago, when Riddhima thought that Tamanna had been his girlfriend.
"Why are you smiling like that?" She asked him. Armaan shrugged. "You're beautiful," he blurted out, just for something to say. Riddhima immediately blushed, ducking her head to hide the pink dusting her cheeks. Armaan rubbed the back of his neck in a nervous gesture. "Thank you," Riddhima whispered. Armaan shrugged again. "It's the truth," he mumbled. It felt so silly, to be so bashful over something like this. He had used much better words to describe her in the past. Gorgeous, stunning, even hot a time or two. And here the two of them were, behaving like bumbling fools over him calling her beautiful. Well, more him than her. Riddhima had always reacted that way to a compliment. But he had never been shy. Not ever with Riddhima. It was like he was peeling away parts of himself with Riddhima too, finding things about himself that he hadn't known before. He had been made anew after Riddhima had chosen her duty. Like a phoenix rising from its ashes, Raj Uncle liked to say. He'd thought he knew everything about this new person he had become. But apparently not. He hadn't known that just one genuine smile from Riddhima could still send his heart fluttering, that one look from her could set him ablaze, that feeling her touch could make him breathless. He hadn't known he still had room to love again, the way he had loved her.
In the past few years, Armaan had dated a lot. Mostly at the behest of his sisters, but also at times of his own volition. But nobody had made him feel the way Riddhima still managed to. He'd spent so long thinking that he was over Riddhima, but now, standing here, in front of her, his heart in his mouth at the sight of her blush, he realized that he'd only been fooling himself. Maybe, he had never been over her, not even for a second. He'd just learnt to live without her. Mesmerized, he reached up, his fingers stroking Riddhima's cheek as if she was the finest silk, which she was, and much more. Riddhima leant into his touch, pressing her face into his palm and Armaan revelled in the feeling, amazed at how well they still fit together.
He opened his mouth to say something, he wasn't really sure what, but never got the chance to do so, because at that exact moment, Sid reappeared, calling out Riddhima's name, Tamanna hot on his heels. Instantly, Armaan turned in Sid's direction, shielding Riddhima. When Sid got close, reaching for Riddhima, Armaan pushed him away with a firm hand on Sid's chest. "Stand back," Armaan ordered.
"Stay out of this, Armaan," Sid spit out. "This is between Riddhima and I."
"As you can see, the only thing between Riddhima and you is me," Armaan replied. "And it will always be so."
"I don't have time for your games," Sid said. Stretching up to look at Riddhima, he added, "What did you say to Tamanna for her to decide that she doesn't want to be with me?"
At Sid's words, Riddhima stood tall. She should have anticipated something like this happening, should've known that Sid would very conveniently blame her for Tamanna's rejection instead of owning up to his own faults. In the past, when they'd still been married, the exact same expression that Sid was sporting now would have sent Riddhima in a tizzy, would have scared her to death, and would have made her cower to his demands like the good little wife he expected her to be. But, not now. Not anymore. She'd spent a long time suppressing her thoughts in front of Sid. First, because she was scared, and then later, because she'd felt it was her duty. After they'd separated, she'd only been too happy to let go of every memory associated with that time. When the two of them had somehow managed to become friends, it had seemed too late to talk about those things, to upset the balance they'd finally found in their lives for something that happened so long ago. But she wouldn't stay silent today. Resolved, she gently squeezed Armaan's shoulder. "It's okay, Armaan," she told him. Armaan deflated. He stepped to the side, but didn't step away, still ready to intervene at a moment's notice.
"I told her the truth," Riddhima stated. "I told her what you should have already told her. I told her how I never wanted to marry you, how I was pressured into it, and how you treated me after we were married, simply because I didn't love you, even though you knew I loved someone else when you married me."
"I didn't treat you badly!" Sid defended himself. "We had our differences, but I was a good husband!"
"Yes," Armaan scoffed. "Because a good husband asks his wife to wipe his shoes in front of all their friends and colleagues. A good husband pushes his wife so hard that she hits her head. A good husband tries to get close to his wife even when she's uncomfortable. A good husband shuns his wife instead of getting her the professional help she needs when she gets suicidal."
"How do you know all this?" Sid questioned, directing his anger to Armaan. "Why do you know all this? What business is it yours… Whatever happened between the two of us doesn't concern you. She was my wife."
Armaan scoffed. "Wife. Yeah, right. Do you even know how to treat a woman well, much less your wife? Don't come at me with all this, 'it's none of your business what happens between a husband and a wife', when you'd been seeking my help to make your wife happy at every turn. If not for me you'd have never held even an ounce of her affection. You had her attention because I gave it to you. Because I made your relationship my business. So don't say it isn't, because it is.
And anyway, anything concerning Riddhima is always my business. I don't need permission from the likes of you to speak up when I see her being ill-treated. You're lucky I wasn't there when you actually did all this, because I can promise you that I had been around, you wouldn't be standing here to accuse Riddhima of whatever shitty things you're accusing her of. So, just be grateful, thank your lucky stars, and get lost!"
"Armaan!" Riddhima soothed, stepping into his personal space and rubbing his shoulders. "Shhhh. It's okay. That's in the past."
Armaan exhaled sharply. He reached out and gathered Riddhima in his arms. She went willingly, hugging him tight. "I'm here. You're here. We're okay," she murmured in his ear. "We're okay."
"We're okay," Armaan repeated.
"Dada!" Tamanna exclaimed, finally finding her voice. She walked up to him and rubbed his back in a comforting gesture. Riddhima smiled at her and let Armaan go, Tamanna's arms replacing hers instantly.
"I told her the truth," Riddhima repeated. "It's not my fault that the truth is bitter."
"She didn't change my mind," Tamanna added. "I was always going to say no, Sid. I don't like you like that. Riddhima Di just strengthened my resolve. And you know what? Even if I was going to say yes? After hearing what she said, I would have said no. Just so you understand that. I can never ever get involved with a person who has such a history. Never."
"But…" Sid sighed helpless. He knew he'd made mistakes in the past. A lot of them. But he thought that that was what they were. The past. He wasn't that person anymore. "I'm not that person anymore," he repeated out loud.
"I've heard that before," Tamanna scoffed.
"I'm not Aniket!" Sid thundered. "I would never do that. I would never abuse someone."
"Oh, but Sid. You already did," Tamanna replied. "You just don't want to admit it. But you know, deep within yourself."
Sid tried to defend himself, but Armaan stepped forward, having calmed down, even if just a smidge. "You might think you've changed, but you've not," he stated. "If you had, you wouldn't have hidden my letters. You were abusing Nikki's trust by doing that. You were abusing the chance that Riddhima gave you to be a part of her life despite everything. And, you were abusing the friendship we shared. I thought of you like my younger brother," Armaan scoffed. "I feel disgusted with myself right now, for thinking that. For helping you. For thinking that you could ever love Riddhima the way I love her, that you could keep her happy. I'm disgusted that I ever thought you ever deserved someone like her. You don't even deserve to breathe the same air as her."
"A— Ar— Armaan," Sid fumbled.
"No, Sid," Armaan cut him off. "There's nothing more left to say. Tamanna has made it clear that she doesn't want to be with you. And Riddhima has done that years ago. Now, I'm telling you… You better stay away from them. You don't ever speak to Tamanna again, and if you dare to even look in Myra's direction, I will claw your eyeballs out. If it's not professional, don't even think about breathing in Riddhima's direction. Stay away from my family, Siddhant Modi. Otherwise, I don't think I need to spell out what I'll do to you. You know that very well after our previous encounters."
"I…" Sid sighed. "I didn't… It was… I didn't mean too," he finally managed to say and it sounded weak, even to his own ears. It was a poor defense and he knew it, but he had to say something, had to defend himself, had to tell Armaan that he was a good person. Armaan had been the one person who had stood by him, had always been there to help him, no questions asked. These past few years without him there to put out the fires he had inevitably started had been so difficult. Sid had been hoping that with Armaan back, maybe they could settle into their old patterns and Sid could rely on Armaan to get him out of a fix, especially when Abhi always refused to do so. But now… Armaan didn't seem inclined to do that. So, he had to try.
But his hopes shattered as Armaan scoffed at his words. "You didn't mean to? That's your defense for the whole thing? That it's okay because you didn't mean to? Intentions mean nothing when actions are so dirty, Sid. You keep telling yourself that to make yourself feel better but just because 'you didn't mean to' doesn't make it go away, and doesn't erase the horrible things you did. Especially when we both know it's false. You didn't mean to what? Humiliate your wife so publicly? You didn't mean to hit her? You didn't mean to get in bed with her while she was sleeping to click those disgusting photographs? And yet you did all that.
You know why? Because you absolutely meant to. You wanted to do it. You wanted to hurt Riddhima, because you thought she hurt you. You know what bothered you the most? That Riddhima preferred death over marrying you. Your fragile ego couldn't handle that she wanted to get away from you so desperately, so you did everything to make her life hell. And when Riddhima took it all, out of a sense of duty, and nothing else, you deluded yourself into thinking she had feelings for you because why else would she put up with such nasty and atrocious behaviour?
And then, because you thought she had feelings for you, just because she was ready to lie to your mother about your relationship, you started developing feelings for her. You want to know why? It's because you thought that Riddhima could love you the way she loves me. You thought that she'd love you enough to fight the world for you, that she'd take a bullet for you. You fell in love with the love she had for me. Which was always going to end in heartbreak. You know why? Kyuki Armaan aur Riddhima sirf ek hi hai. Jis tarah Riddhima par Armaan ka haq hai, jis tarah Riddhima Armaan se pyaar karti hai… Woh kisi aur ke liye nahi hai. Woh sirf Armaan aur Riddhima ke beech ki baat hai.
Tum toh kabhi Riddhima ko respect bhi nahi de paaye, pyaar toh bohot door ki baat hai, Siddhant Modi. So don't you come here with your I didn't mean it bullcrap because we all know that you absolutely meant every single, repulsive thing that you did to Riddhima in the name of revenge. When she needed you to understand her struggles and support her, be a good husband to her, you couldn't even be a decent human being in her presence. She was suicidal and instead of getting her the help she needed, you instead made her life worse with everything you did. That's not something that happens on accident.
You know what? You're really freaking lucky that Riddhima is as resilient as she is and that she put up with your abhorrent behaviour and still found the will to live all on her own without any help from anybody. I'm so proud of her for that, but it makes me loathe you even more. Mujhe laga tha ki tum Riddhima ke liye achche ho, Sid. Mujhe laga tum ek achche husband banoge, lekin tum toh insaan hi itne bure ho, kisi ke pyaar ke layak hona toh bohot door ki baat hai!
If you really want to change, Sid, the least you can do it is admit what you did. You made Riddhima's life hell and you abused her. That's the truth. If you can't accept that, you'll always be that person. Always."
Defeated, Sid surrendered. He couldn't exactly argue with anything Armaan had said. Fueled by indignation and a thirst for revenge, he'd single handedly destroyed the best thing that ever happened to him. He should've never behaved so perversely Riddhima. He should've helped her, should've supported her when she needed it. But, he hadn't. Instead, he'd made it even more difficult for her to adjust to her life without the man she loved, in a relationship that she was forced into. Sid was no child. He had known, right from the start, that Riddhima had only agreed to the wedding to appease her parents. She had never liked Sid like that. But, he'd felt like it was his responsibility to make up for all the things that he'd done that had landed Riddhima into that mess in the first place, so he'd said yes. Even then, he hadn't thought that what he wanted wasn't what Riddhima wanted too. In fact, he'd felt so proud of himself for playing the hero and saving the day, had felt superior for having made this sacrifice for Riddhima's sake, when it was the last thing she'd wanted. To have her scorn that sacrifice by taking those pills, to see her dying, knowing that it meant nothing to her that he was throwing his life away for her, realizing that for her even death was a preferable alternative to being with him when he was doing it only for her, had made him do things he'd never dreamt he'd do. Before he'd found Riddhima dying, Sid hadn't even known he was capable of doing such things.
"Fine," he replied shortly, still not admitting out loud, that he'd been wrong. "Whatever. Like I give a damn."
He turned to walk away from the trio, wanting to lick his wounds in privacy, but turned around when Armaan called out to him. "Listen to me! Siddhant Modi!"
The moment Sid turned, his face was greeted with Armaan's fist, and a resounding crack filled the air, a tell-tale sign that Sid had broken his nose. "ARMAAN!" Riddhima cried, rushing forward. "You promised!"
Armaan raised his hands in surrended. "I'm done," he vowed. "No more. But I couldn't let him get away just like that. He deserves so much worse, but I'll settle for one hard punch that'll hurt for a while."
Sid looked at him in disbelief. He raised his hand too, not ready to accept the insult quietly, but stopped when Tamanna placed herself between him and Armaan. "Don't," she said. "You might not admit it to us, but at least admit to yourself that you were wrong and that you deserved this. You're lucky you're still alive. And I think you know that it's best for you to not provoke Dada into actually hitting you the way he wants to. So, why don't you take a step back and we can all move on from this, consider this chapter closed?"
Sid scoffed at the lot of them and stalked away, not deeming them worth a reply. Armaan opened his arms and both his girls crowded him, hugging him tight. "Thank you," he told them. "For holding me up today."
"No, Armaan," Riddhima replied, dropping a hard kiss to his cheek. "Thank you for standing up for me and fighting for me."
"Thank you for supporting me," Tamanna said. "And, for not hitting Sid too much," she added as an afterthought. "Not that I'd have minded, but you know that violence puts me off."
"I'm so proud of you for taking a stand for yourself and saying no," Riddhima told Tamanna, dropping a kiss to her forehead as well.
"I couldn't have done it without the two of you," Tamanna answered. "Thank you for all that you've done for me. Especially you, Riddhima Di. Thank you so much. I'm so proud of you, too. Thank you for taking a stand in front of Sid like that. I'm sure it wasn't easy for you."
"I had the two of you to give me all the courage I needed," Riddhima assured Tamanna.
"And you always will," Armaan vowed, clutching them both tight in his embrace. "You always will," he repeated. He would make sure of that, that none of his girls ever felt that sort of fear again, from anyone. He'd be their shield and their armour. No one would ever be able to hurt a single hair on their head. Not if he could help it.
...
...aage milega kya?
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