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EPISODE FORTY-SIX
What? How does she know about his flight timing? Dad had told her about flight timings as well? Does she also know what his family is upto? Have they involved her in all this?
He was boiling with annoyance. He has to get out of here right away. Without saying anything or giving her a chance to say something else he sat in his car and drove away leaving her standing alone in the dark cark park.
Riddhima looked at his car leaving the car park shockingly. He LEFT... he left her like that...??? In this Stupid Disco, in its stuffed and stinky car park. Gosh the smell of patrol and diesel was blocking her nostrils. He left without telling her whether he is actually going back home or not...??? Without any word of assurance that her efforts are not wasted...??? How SLAPDASH he is? She fumed. Coz of some reason she was still suspicious about his intentions.
What am I going to tell Omang Uncle? That Uncle, I am so sorry, I couldn't even do the only thing you have ever asked me to. He has trusted me to send Armaan back home, and I couldnt even do such a small thing for him...
Well... its not actually a SMALL thing to convince Mr. Irritating, she defended. He is not a small kid who could be wooed easily by sweet-sayings or by some candy bribe. He is Armaan... Armaan Malik... The Mr. Irritating Armaan Malik, she stressed.
Why is my boss so obdurate? What harm could it do if he hears what others say at once? Its not like I was asking him to transfer his property in my name. Oh Bhagwaanji! Didn't you have a better option? Why did you have to make a taut skull, my boss?
'Its all your fault Ridhima. What was the need of betting on something related to Mr.Irritating with Omang Uncle? You know him right. It means, you should have also known that this one is not going to be an easy task.'
"Ah! I knew it, but I had to do it for Omang Uncle. He was so worried and I wanted to help him."
'Oh really? You could have tried to find some other way to help him then.'
"Hey, I tried... and tried a lot. I swear... But you were the one who betrayed me at that time." She retorted to the argument her brain was having with her.
'Stop blaming me ok. I could have helped you if you had given me a moment to ponder over the silly thing. But no... You were dying to rattle on your stupidests and make a fool of yourself and me too. Now be ready to bear the consequences of being such a big dim-witted busybody. Be ready to be metaphored a fool.'
"Fine, if you don't want to help me, then go AWAY." she rebuked, then thought again, "Riddhima, why are you thinking so negatively, maybe he is actually going back home. If Armaan Sir actually meant his words when he said he will go back home, then atleast he will reach on time. And if your optimism is proven right, everything will be done correctly on right time. And even if he doesn't go home, then you can still talk to Omang Uncle and tell him about everything. I am sure he will understand. Atleast you tried. It means, your job was done." She consoled herself by trying to be optimistic.
She remembered that her bag and Office folders were in his car. She panicked but then thought that atleast her stuff is safe. She can get them later from his car. He is not gonna throw them away, or will he?
Of course not, they are important... very important, coz they are mine, she thought driven by her innocent snootiness.
But what will she do now, without her belongings? She sulked sitting on the side-walk.
"Ab ghar kaise jaaon?... mmm... haan, Rahul bhaiya ko phone karti hu..." she searched her phone, and when she didn't find it, she recalled that Armaan has taken her phone with him by mistake "Idiot... Mera phone bhi saath mein le gaye." She said, but then immediately hit her head. "Huaaa Riddhima, bad habit, aise apne boss ko Idiot nahi kahte..." she giggled speaking to herself "Agar Rahul bhaiya yahan hote to aise hi kahte..."
Then she searched her pocket again "Thank god, Atleast I have enough money to take a taxi." Sighing as she found some money in her pocket she got up. Thinking about all this and mumbling things to herself, she walked to the Taxi Stand outside the Disco premises.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Armaan drove away, he tried to settle down his brain. He was still mad, and annoyed, and angry, and frustrated, and disturbed, and distracted, and upset, and irritated, and aggravated, and barmy, and troubled, and... and... Well everything... everything... Yes, all of these words someway or the other have the same meaning, but he felt all of it... separately.
Heck... Dad, what was the need of telling 'HER' about it? He scowled. Here he was trying to avoid her, to rub off her reflections from his head and she came all over to Disco stalking him and that too on his own father's request or instruction... whatever it is. His father has send the same girl after him whom he is trying to keep away from, who has been hassling him for don't know how long, who is drawing his wits out of him, who is driving him insane, whos thoughts are plaguing him like everything...
He has come over to the Disco and was singing, dancing and flirting with girls only to clear up his mind from her thoughts, and he has also been successful in it to some extent until she dropped in with her same old trouble magnetizing vibes... He was about to kiss a girl and vent out all his pest and she landed right in the middle of it. In the middle of god damn KISS.
Why? Why is she after his life? She had nothing to do with his personal mess ups, then why was she sent to convince him for it?
She is always around. She never leaves his mind. She never let him avoid her. She never listens to him. She even snaps at him, at her boss.
Yes, today she didn't retort, in fact she was being so sweet... he smiled inadvertently... What SWEET? no she is not Sweet, he straightened. She was just trying to 'convince' him to go back home by being sweet and all, to go back to the place where he will be made a butcher's goat...
Butcher's goat? What is that? He scratched his brow...
Arghhhh, whatever it is, thats not important. The fact is, to make things more difficult for him she-is-so-STUBBORN. Why is she bothered to send him back home? Why cant she mind her own business? Why she never listen to him?
And why does she have to follow him to the Disco? To this god damn Disco...
Oh god! Suddenly it hit him. What have I done? He cringed. What have I done?
As the realization stuck him, he took a U-Turn from the next road barrier speedily and drove back to the Disco.
I shouldnt have done this? I shouldnt have left her alone in a place like that? She is alien to it.
Glancing at his wrist watch he realized it was 9:03pm. How will she go back home at this time? She can grab a cab, but it might not be safe for her. She is so... credulous.
He was worried about her. Yes he admitted it to himself. Especially after Vivek incident and his discussion with Rahul, he felt responsible for her. Rahul has trusted him by sharing her past with him, and what has he done a few minutes ago? Left her alone... unaided... at past 9pm... that too in a place like Disco... even worse, in its dark lonely car park... in a place, where almost every single soul is inanely drunk... every bloody soul...
He cant let down him down. He cant downer Rahul.
What if she got scared? What if she lands up in trouble? What if something happens to her? He will never be able to face Rahul... Actually he will never be able to face himself...
No, nothing will happen. I wont let anything happen to her, he resolute.
Driving at jet's speed he pulled in near Disco.
As his car passed through the opposite side of the road where the Disco was located he glanced at the main entrance gate to find her. He could see a number of couples walking in and out of the place clinging to each other, cars entering and leaving the premises, but she wasnt there. Reducing the speed, he drove a little ahead towards the Taxi-stand, his eyes desperately searching for her while his left foot quavering involuntarily in agony...
A few meters ahead, he saw a silhouette figure strolling back and forth, as if waiting for someone. There she was... Alone... at the Taxi-stand waiting for a cab.
A bike passed her riding from the wrong side. He saw her glancing towards it for a moment and then ignore. She looked nervous and jumpy. He took another U-Turn from a road divider a several meters away and drove back to the Taxi-stand.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Riddhima looked at the busy road waiting for the taxi, but none was in sight at the moment. Looking at her watch she saw it clicking 9:06pm. She has been waiting for the cab for last 10 minutes or so, but no luck till now. She has never been out so late. Yes she did work late a few times before, but every time she was accompanied by someone... mostly Atul. This was the first time she was out at this time... all alone... without a soul's company...
She was feeling restless and jumpy. The road wasnt silent or secluded, in fact the traffic was quite loaded out there, but she still felt awkward and scared. In the past few minutes she has seen almost hundreds of vehicles flighting through the road. All of them strangers.
A bike drove past her. She looked on either side on the road for a cab. She waved seeing one coming from her right, but was disappointed when it went away ignoring her signals. Seems it was occupied, she will have to wait for the next one. Another bike passed her driving through the wrong side from her left, it had two riders. She ignored.
Then a few moments later she saw the same bike drive back to her yet again. When she observed it closely she found that it is the same bike which has been riding past her right to left, left to right repeatedly for the last 10 minutes. She squirmed in agitation as the bike jerked stop in front of her. The guys checked her out from top to bottom.
***PHHUEEE-PHHUEEEEE***
As they wolf-whistled at her she made a face looking away to ignore them again. She tried her best not to look at them, but they kept making weird sounds and calling her by names. She was feeling scared now and has nobody to help.
"Oye Madam, yahaan akeli kya kar rahi ho? Aao hum tumhe home-ride de dein..." one of the guy spoke seeing her look away.
When she didnt respond they moved the bike closer. "kya hua madam, humse koi naraazgi hai kya? Hum naraazgi dur karne ko tayyar hain aur lift dene ko bhi." Other guy winked.
"No thanks, main taxi le lungi." She replied finding it hard to avoid them. She adjusted her duppatta over her chest as she could feel their scrutinizing gaze swimming over her body which was unmistakably not at all appreciative. There was something wrong with the way they were gaping her, she knew that. She was trembling inwardly in fear, and was trying not to show it to the guys. Her eyes became wet in helplessness as they came closer.
Just then her eyes were forced to close as a bright light penetrated her eyeballs. She raised her hand to cover her eyes and save them from the glaring light.
The guys who were still sitting on their bike went off balance and nearly fell as a car almost hit the front wheel-guard of their bike.
"Oye andhe, dikhta nahi hai kya?" one of the guys shouted at the driver of the car.
Riddhima removed her hand from her eyes slowly as the lights moved away. She heard the car's door open and saw a man stepping out of it. Her teary eyes beamed in delight as she recognized him. No doubt, he was Armaan.
"Armaan sir..." she mumbled silently under her breath wiping her tears away.
Stepping out of his car, Armaan watched her feebly looking at him with wet eyes for help. It hurt him seeing her in such vulnerable state. She looked very scared... and helpless. It really hurt him... Rahul was right, she is not what she shows. He shouldnt have left her alone. Something in his heart told him that she is important to him. He didn't know in what sense, but yes, she is. Hearing a guy comment, his fist balled tightly, his nails digging deep in his palm.
"Oye hero, dekh ke gaadi nahi chalaani aati. Andha hai kya?"
Armaan wanted to answer back and he would have done it, but seeing Riddhima's state he chose to ignore the guys and walked towards Riddhima. He was about to say something when he felt a hand over his left shoulder. He rolled his eyes and turned to the man to face him, why are they trying to mess up with him? Don't they love themselves? he thought.
Riddhima moved backward and encircled her arms lightly but yet protectively around his right arm from back hiding behind him.
Armaan stood tall facing the two guys shielding Riddhima from them, his hands popped in the pockets of his trousers. He chewed his gum nonchalantly. Feeling her grip on his arm, he glanced sideways at Riddhima and then back at the guy who commented again.
"Oye Hero, beech mein se hat, ladki ko pahle humne dekha tha. Chal phut le yahan se... warna..." the guy said in a threatening way.
"Hmm..." Armaan just nodded. He removed Riddhima's hand from his arm and moved aside while leaving Riddhima facing the guys. Walking lazily, he went to his car and leaned back on his car's bonnet with his hands folded against his chest and one of his legs crossing over the other.
Riddhima was taken aback by Armaan's reaction. She turned to see the guy nearing her and started fidgeting with her fingers. Feeling his hand sliding towards her, she tried to back off.
"Chalo ma..." the guy was about to touch her when he was thrown away by a strong blow. The other guy got flabbergasted as he saw his friend falling on the ground and gasped loudly seeing blood ooze from the corner of his friend's mouth.
Riddhima saw the guy fall on the ground and groan loudly in pain. She turned back to Armaan with her mouth slightly open in surprise, her eyelids denying to blink.
Both guys looked up to see Armaan bend-sitting on his car's hood the same way as he was sitting earlier, looking around and behaving as if he didnt do anything. His arms were still folded over his chest while an arrogant smile playing on his lips.
"Kya hua bhai..." Armaan asked the guy as he got up helped by his friend. "Wahan neeche kya kar rahe the tum? Mujhe to laga tum in Madam ko saath le jaane waale the. Dekho to, kabse wait kar rahi hain ye. Der ho rahi hai, chalo le jao inhe." He said taking off his Jacket and then placing it on his car's hood.
The guys looked at him and walked towards Riddhima hesistantly. But they stopped in their track as their eyes fell on Armaan's toned biceps projecting toughly from the tightened sleeves of his shirt as he rested his arms backward on the hood of car allowing his weight on their support.
Armaan's single punch was more than enough to make the guys understand that they were at the wrong place, at the wrong time and messing up with the wrong guy...
Fearfully, they backed off, "Chal Sahil, bhaag yahan se..." the guy who was hit told his friend and picking up their bike lying on the ground, rode away disappearing in a wink of eye.
Armaan called them as they rode, "Arey bhai, ye madam ghar kaise jayengi, inhe to lete jao." He chuckled seeing them run away as if seen a ghost while the guys didn't even dare to glance back. He picked up his Jacket; springing it on his shoulder opened the door of his car. Throwing his jacket on the back seat carelessly, he went back to the driving seat.
He ignited the engine and straightened the car on the road. He saw Riddhima still standing in the same stunned and confused state with her mouth slightly open. He sniggered again at her state. She looked like a lovely statue. Seeing her not moving from her place, he honked.
Riddhima jerked lightly in her place coming out of her dazed condition when she heard the loud horn. She saw Armaan looking ahead on the road while his car engine made rumbling sounds as he pressed the accelerator. Understanding his gesture she went straight and sat in the car.
Armaan got confused as he heard the back door closing and looked around to find her sitting on the back seat of the car. "Tumhe kya main tumhara driver lagta hu?"
Watching her behave that way he was back in his irritated mood. First she follows him, then she scares his date coz of which she runs away, then she insists him to go back home, after that she falls in another stupid trouble forcing him to rescue her and now instead of thanking him she is treating him as if he is her driver. WOW, Great...
Riddhima got the clue from his voice. She opened the door and took the passenger seat besides him in the front. She didnt know what else to say or do. Sensing the car not moving she looked up at him confused. He was looking on the road, his foot pressing onto the accelerator.
"kya hua?" she asked while he rolled his eyes.
With his left hand he unbuckled his seat-belt. She understood again and buckled her own seat-belt while he did the same and started the car.
A strange edgy silence soared in the car as they drove towards their destination. Riddhima sat silent looking down playing with the hem of her dupatta, chewing her soft lips coz of tenseness within herself while he was looking straight on the road driving circumspectly.
Both were busy thinking about nothing... Actually both of them were thinking about each other in some way, but didnt know what to say, where to start the conversation again. Riddhima was still thinking about the way Armaan has shoved away the rodent thugs while Armaan was thinking if he hadn't reached on time what could have happened.
After a few moments Riddhima stole a glance towards him. She couldnt understand what is going on in his brain by the blank expressions he wore. What is he thinking? Is he mad at me? But why? What is the thing he is mad about? And why did he come back? Is it to tell me something? Tell me that he is going back home... Oh, she remembered her old task. She checked the watch which clicked 9:16PM. Oh god! He will be late.
"Sir..." without thinking about anything else she called. Hearing her voice he turned to her then back at the road "Sir, where are you going?" she asked.
He didnt answer and kept driving at the same speed.
"Sir bataiye na? aap kahan jaa rahe ho?" she asked again.
"To the hell, you've got a problem with that." He snapped.
"Sir... " she was interrupted.
"Kya Sir huh? Kya sir... sir-sir karke mera sir kha gayi ho."
"But what did I do?" she asked bewildered at his behavior.
"What did you do? You are asking me 'what did you do'? No, actually you didn't do anything. Whatever it was, I did it. Now are you happy?"
"Main to bas kaam se aayi thi. Aap itna gusaa kyun ho rahe ho?"
"Tumhe maine ghar jaane ko kaha tha na, kaha tha ki nahi?" he shouted looking at her angrily, "to tum gayi kyun nahi? Kya kar rahi thi wahan, agar tumhe kuch ho jata to? Wo gunde agar kuch kar dete to?"
"Ghar hi to jaa rahi thi main." She mumbled writhing defeatedly by his authoritative question.
"Kya? ye mu-muh mein badbadane ki bajaye zor se bolo jo bhi bol rahi ho." He couldnt hear what she muttered.
"Ghar hi to jaa rahi thi main." This time she spoke loudly enough to be heard, "Warna mujhe koi shauk nahi hai wahan Taxi-stand pe itni raat ko akele khade rahne ka." She was getting aggravated at his tone.
"Shauk? Rahne do, tumhara kuch pata nahi hai. Maybe you do have one." He mocked.
"Main..." she raised her finger towards him to counter his comment, but then decided against it. If she didn't had this task to be completed for which she has chasing him all night, she would have definitely retorted to shut him up, "Sir aap kahan jaa rahe ho bataiye na?" she asked again. But before he could answer she added quickly, "Now don't say that you are going to hell."
Armaan's expression softened at her nearly retorting but yet innocent reply. Without looking at her he answered in a calmer voice, "Tumhare ghar."
"Mere ghar?" she repeated and checked the time again. Oh no! 9:18pm, she was checking time now every second minute. "Sir..." she almost yelled making him flinch coz of her shriek. "Sir rokiye-rokiye... car rokiye' abhi aur yahin rokiye..."
He didnt know what else to do as she kept voicing 'Rokiye-rokiye' to make him stop the car, so finding a safe corner he stopped the car along a footpath.
As soon as the car stopped, Riddhima hopped out of it and opening the back door collected her stuff while muttering something under her breath. Before leaving she found her mobile on dash board of the car. Grabing her phone from the dash board, she closed the door and starting walking away from the car.
Armaan was baffled at her sudden and strange response. What is she doing? Why did she step out? And what is she upto now? Hasn't it been enough for the evening? He opened the door and stepped out himself and went to her to ask what is the next adventure she is planning, but as he neared her she started her same record again.
"Thank you sir, I will go back at my own from here. You should have to go back your home right away, you are getting late sir." She looked at the board installed besides the road indicating the name of the place they were at the moment and tried to figure out what will be the direction to reach her home.
What? she has started the same tape once again. Oh God! please not again, he felt like banging his own head somewhere. She is a real difficult girl to handle... an absolute riot... By the time he spoke, she had already started walking aside.
He called, "Where are you going?"
"I will grab a taxi, you go back home." She replied without looking back while walking away.
He ran to her and stood in front to make her stop. "Chalo." He said.
"Kahan?" she stopped immediately saving herself from banging into him.
"Gaadi mein baitho." He replied.
"But sir..." she opened her mouth again and got scolded again.
"No if and no buts..." he commanded again in a finalizing tone. Enough is enough... he has been trying to remain aloof yet as calm as possible and she isnt ready to listen or understand. More than plenty has already happened for the evening and he was in no mood to be a part of another stupid adventure she was looking ahead for. "Enough is enough... Did you get that?" He tried to hold her wrist but she took it back so he grabbed her bag and started tugging her along since she wasn't ready to move.
"Sir... sir... please go back home, its important... you will miss your flight and your Dadi will get angry. Even Omang sir will get scolded. Please you are already very late..." she kept nattering while he yanked her into the passenger's seat. Locking the door he moved to driving seat driving to her home again.
"Sir, aap sun rahe ho na... please sir..." she kept pleading but he behaved like a deaf.
Suddenly he pushed the breaks making the car stop with a screeching sound at once. She was still blabbering.
Women you see, why they talk so much? He turned to her and closed her mouth with his palms. "Shut up." he ruled her again finally making her quite.
Her eyes opened far and wide feeling the warmth of his palm on her lips and cheeks. In the dim light of the car she looked at his gleaming face. It was dark and she could only make out contour of his jawline, his hair were falling over his forehead. But his eyes... those gray eyes shone like a ray of hope in darkness. He was just a foot and a half away from her. This was the first time he was so close to her... in this way. Something made her go mum. She lost words. Her heart beat stopped in that tad moment. She couldn't move a bit. As light of a passing vehicle lightened their surrounding for a moment, she came out of the unknown daze. Her eyes dropped as a reflex. Slowly she took his hand off her mouth and turned back towards her window looking out.
Armaan took his hand back as she turned around still thinking. His eyes refused to blink. He hadn't noticed the light of the passing vehicle and it was only a responding reflex that he has took his hand back. He couldn't notice the color of her eyes properly in dark coz of her glasses, but they still felt familiar. There was something in them which made him narrow his brow as slipped into his thoughts... Whats was in them? Why do seem familiar? If only he could glance in those eyes for another moment... She has dropped her eyelids within 2 seconds saving him to have a proper look... He wanted to see, but couldnt.
His chain of thoughts broke when another car drove past them honking loudly. Shaking his head he stepped out of the car and opened the door of her side. He stood holding the door, waiting for her to come out. Riddhima looked up confusingly to find him standing holding onto the door.
"Tumhara ghar aa gaya." He answered her confusion in a very soft voice.
She looked around to see they were parked outside her house "Oh..." collecting her stuff once again. She was about to step out but stopped and looked at him.
Seeing her open her mouth to say something, Armaan knew what is she gonna say... once again... so before she could say something he said, "Main ghar hi jaa raha hu."
She smiled widely and came out of the car beaming, "Sach mein sir? Aap sach mein ghar hi jaa rahe ho?" she wanted to confirm.
He rolled his eyes, she is such a kid, "Nahi main yahi tambu daanle wala hu." Her smile was falling when he added, "Arey yaar, ek baar bol to diya jaa raha hu ghar."
"Thank you sir, thank you very much." She thanked him profusely, "But now don't go your home." she said checking the time once again.
He was baffled. Now what? All night she has been after my life forcing me to go back home and now she is telling me NOT go home. Has she lost it? "Kyun? Ab kya hua?"
"Sir ab aap apne ghar jaane ki bajaye directly Airport chale jaiye. Is waqt 9:29pm ho rahe ho, agar aap apne ghar gaye aur phir wahan se Airport to tab tak aapki flight miss ho jayegi. Isliye aap directly Airport jaiye, bas 20 minutes rah gaye hain aapki flight jaane mein."
What? She even knows my flight timings? He thought, how many more surprises I will have to handle this evening? "Tumhe meri flight ka time bhi pata hai?" he asked loudly.
"Haan, Omang unc... I mean Omang sir ne bataya tha. Aap jaldi jaiye, main tab tak Omang sir ko inform kar dungi. Wo aapki dadi ko bhi bata denge." Saying so she took out her phone to inform Omang, but couldnt reach him as the network couldn't not be found. Armaan was gawking at her in disbelief when she nudged him "Sir, khade kyun ho, jao na..."
He nodded robotically and moving into his car drove away. Riddhima looked at him retreating and sighing relief. Then still trying Omang's number she walked into her house.
~~~~~~~~~
As soon as she entered her house she was assailed by her family. Usually it was Kanahiya who opened the door but today it was Rahul.
"Kahan thi tu ab tak? Tujhe pata hai hum kitne pareshaan ho rahe the? Mom ki haalat waise hi kharaab hai, dad aur Muskaan bhi jaage hue hain. Kisi ne khana tak nahi khaya. Aur Yash ko badi mushkil se sulaya hai." Rahul bombarded tons of questions and statements on her.
"Riddhima..." Padma came running and hugged her safely in her arms. She was too worried for her daughter. This wasnt the first time Riddhima came back so late, but it was certainly the first instance when she didnt call them or inform them about her whereabouts. "Kahan thi tu?"
Before she could answer the first two, there came the third one, her father Shashank.
"Riddhima, beta tu theek to hai na?" he asked pulling her into a hug.
Muskaan who just came into the living room on hearing the commotion came to her rescue, "Arey aap log use saans to lene do. Wo ghar safely aa gayi hai na."
"Haan lekin..." Rahul was to start again, but got interrupted by Padma.
"Par kitni der laga di aaj." Padma fussed.
After their important hugging session was over, Riddhima pulled back, "Sorry mumma, sorry papa, bhaiya, I got stuck in some work."
"Work? Lekin ek phone to kar sakti thi tu, hum kitna pareshaan ho rahe the." Rahul demanded.
"Rahul?" Muskaan came forward and took Riddhima's hand, "Bas bhi karo ab. Thoda time to do use. Dekho kitni thaki hui lag rahi hai. Abhi-abhi to aayi hai, thodi der mein sab bata degi."
"Kanahiya..." Omang called Kanahiya as they sat in the room together to grill her further. "Paani leke aa." He turned to Riddhima and asked, "Bete tu theek to hai na?"
"Papa? Main theek hu, aur mujhe kya hona hai. Main bas kaam mein atak gayi thi isliye phone nahi kar paayi."
Kanahiya came with water, "Didi khana khaogi? laga du kya?" he asked from Riddhima.
"Haan Kanahiya, bhot bhook lagi hai." She replied rubbing her tummy childishly.
As she picked up the land-line cordless to call someone, Rahul asked "Kise phone kar rahi hai?"
"Omang Uncle ko." She replied and dialed his number. "Offo, ye number bhi nahi lag raha." She made a face.
"Unka number nahi lag raha to Atul ko phone laga le." he suggested.
"Oh yes. Thanks bhaiya." She smiled dialing Atul's number while walking away towards the garden. As Atul picked up the phone she spoke hurriedly, "Atul bhaiya, Omang uncle aapke saath hain kya, mujhe unse baat karni hai, urgent."
"Riddhima..." once she finished he spoke "relax, wo yahin hain mere saath, le baat kar." He handed the phone to Omang, "dad, Riddhima wants to speak to you."
Omang immediately took the phone as Atul strolled away, "Hello, Riddhima bete, kya hua? Kahan se bol rahi ho? Tum theek to ho na?"
"Relax uncle, main ghar pe hu, bas abhi pahunchi hu. Maine ye batane ke liye phone kiya hai ki Armaan sir abhi yahan se nikle hain. Wo directly Ariport pahunch jayenge. Aap unki dadi ko inform kar dena."
"Armaan tujhe mil gaya?" he asked with surprise.
"Ji haan."
"Kahan? Kahan mila tujhe wo?"
"Blue Night, ya Blue Dreams... aise kuch tha. Usi Disco mein." She shrugged.
"Blue Dreams Disco mein? Wo wahan kya kar raha tha?"
"Mujhe kya pata?" she replied unsurely, "Wo apni kuch friends ke saath the wahan... shayad."
"Aur tune use convince bhi kar liya?" he asked surprisingly.
"Ji, thodi mushkil hui par kar liya." she chuckled victoriously.
Then he remembered something, "Tu kahan hai ab, ghar kaise pahunchi?"
"Uncle, maine bataya na, main ghar pe hu. Aur Armaan sir ne mujhe drop kiya. Bas abhi 15 minute pahle to nikle hain wo yahan se Airport ke liye."
"Armaan ne tujhe drop kiya?" he asked unbelievingly glancing towards Aarti and Dadi who were standing a little away from him.
"Haan Uncle." Riddhima nodded yes on the other side.
"To Armaan directly Ariport aa raha hai?" Omang was ecstatic hearing that. "Sach mein?"
"Hmm..." she shook her head again.
"Thanks bete, thanks a lot. Tu nahi jaanti tune mera kitna bada kaam kiya hai. Thanks a lot." "Its ok uncle, bas mujhe thoda ye dar hai ki kahin unki flight miss na ho jaye, I mean wo abhi yahan se nikle hain, flight 9:50pm ki hai and its almost 9:45pm now. Pata nahi wo time se pahunchenge ya nahi..." she said unsurely.
Omang smiled again "Uski chinta tu mat kar. Lagta hai bhagwaan bhi aaj yahi chahte hain ki wo apni manzil pe har haalat mein pahunche."
"Kya matlab?" she asked.
"Uski flight delay ho gayi hai. Abhi thodi der pahle ek flight attendant ne bataya ki kuch technical problem resolve karne mein thoda time lag gaya isliye flight 25 minute delay ho gayi hai. Aur main Armaan ki driving ko achchi tarah se jaanta hu, agar flight delay nahi bhi hui hoti, tab bhi wo yahan time se pahunch jata. Mushkil kaam to use convince karna tha, jo tune kar diya." He informed while praising her work along.
"Thank god." She breathed out relievingly placing her hand over her heart. "Main to dar rahi thi ki kahin unki flight miss ho gayi to aapko unki dadi se daant na pade." She chuckled.
"Dadi se daant? Lekin ky..." he got interrupted hearing Atul's voice. "Riddhima bete, lagta hai Armaan aa gaya hai, mujhe ab jana hai. Main tumse baad mein baat karta hu... Ok... Good Night." He closed the call hurriedly.
"Good night uncle." She smiled back and placed the receiver down.
Then she thought, Armaan sir wahan pahunch gaye? What does that mean? Armaan sir was to go to the Airport, and Omang uncle should be at his home... Then how come they are with each other at this time? Is that coz instead of going Airport Armaan sir has gone to Omang sir's house to scold him. Oh god! What did I do? I shouldnt have taken Omang Uncle's name.
Her brain was so occupied with ideas that it didn't even hit her that Omang has just told her about a Flight Attendant informing them the reason for its delay.
She heard Shashank calling her "Riddhima beta... khana lag gaya hai."
"Aayi papa." She replied and walked back to the dining table.
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Hi Friends 😊. I know i am late again. Sorry about that, i was busy. So here is another one for you all. Thanks again to all of you who read and commented; and to those as well who didnt. Friends, unfortunately i may not be able to send PMs from next episode onwards coz as you can see i am unable to keep up with the pace of the episodes. I will try to send PMs to those, who are the regular respoders, but i cant promise that. Please fogive me for that.
And one important thing, i mean it may not be for you all, but it is for me. I am dedicating this episode to my mother. It was her Birthday yesterday. I love you mom 🤗.
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Edited by Wild.Aimee - 14 years ago
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