Part 3
Riddhima stood at the window sill...staring out at the moon as the memories came flooding back to her...she'd fallen in love with him at first sight....she just hadn't realized it....she closed her eyes...as she recalled their first meeting...
She saw her best friend struggling with a pile of books...and she just knew that any second she would fall. In an attempt to save her Riddhima ran towards her..but it was too late..because before she could reach Nikita's foot went in a wrong direction..and she fell.."Ouch..." thought Riddhima..
"Nikita are you alright??"
"Yeah I'm fine Riddhima..I just lost my balance"
As Nikita got up..Riddhima felt her breath get stuck in her throat. Standing in front of her was the most handsome guy she'd ever seen in her life. She almost felt like comparing him to a greek god..but felt that even that comparison would be too little for him. His hair was a bit messy..and a few strands were falling carelessly over his forehead. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a baby blue fitted tshirt that brought out the unique color in his eyes. They were a mixture of grey and blue..his eyelashes were long..but not too long..just perfect in her opinion. The best part though..were his dimples. She noticed they got even deeper as he was smiling..at Nikita..OMG Nikita is she alright?
Turning her head to look at her best friend she noticed her laughing at something "I guess I missed the joke.." thought Riddhima..
"....I'll catch you later Armaan..bye.."
As they walked forward..she had this urge to turn around and look at the handsome man behind them..but at the same time she knew that she'd be to obvious. She didn't want him getting any idea's...she hadn't even said one word to this man yet..and the last thing she'd want him thinking is that she's some stalker!!
Sighing a bit too loudly she grabbed a few books away from Nikita..
"Riddhima..are you okay??"
"Yeah Niki I'm perfect...soo tell me why soo many books?"
"Well Malhotra has us working on a big research project ....he says that even though the first step is just getting a degree in the general medical field..we should have an idea about what we want to specialize in..if we do want to go further..and you know I've always wanted to be a Cardiologist...so these are just some books on that..there's some pretty interesting cases in these books...and even better I found this great website that's been very helpful....I just need to get this paper out of the way..so that this weekend I can be free..."
"Why what's so special about this weekend?"
"I'm thinking about going home and visiting Ma and Papa...it's been a while since I"ve last seen them.."
"When's this paper due by?"
"Next Monday...you know life would've been easier if you would have also gotten stuck with Mr. Malhotra..we could've been working on our papers together at the same time..."
"Well Niki my love..I didn't get stuck with him unfortunately..but if you want I can keep you company and help you with the paper to make it go by faster?"
"Really Riddhima?? I love youu!!" Jumping up and down hugging her best friend
Her cellphone rang bringing her back into reality...
"Dr. Kirti? Hellooo..anything important?"
"Riddhima.. I want to ask about the meeting with Mr. Mallik..how'd it go?"
"Mam it went great. He's agreed to perform..and not just one song but two. He'll be singing one song and the other he'll be dancing on as well...which reminds you..do you know any good dancers? He's going to need a partner...."
"No Riddhima I don't..you're going to have to look into that and see if you can find any...and the songs?Is he going to decide..or are we?"
"I haven't really thought much about that. But I think it would be best if we decided them together. I'll call him up tomorrow morning and finalize these little details with him...so are we still going to start out with a speech by Dr. Sapna shah..??"
"I don't know Riddhima..I was thinking instead of a speech if we just gave a short clip of Sanjeevani that would be better? And we can just tell Dr. Shah to mention things about how the concert is benefitting patients in the hospital as well as half of the money we make is going into childrens cancer research..."
"Okay that sounds good. I'll see you tomorrow Dr. Kirti...is there anything else??"
"No Riddhima...good night."
"Good Night Mam.."
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Armaan paced his room back and forth trying to decide if he should call her or not. He had so many things to ask Riddhima...he never thought he'd run into her again....
Glancing at the clock he saw it was eleven..okay definitely too late to call her. Going into his kitchen he decided to make himself a cup of coffee..he couldn't sleep and some coffee would do him some good.
Grabbing the coffee jar..it reminded him of his first real conversation with Niki...
Walking towards the canteen...he felt somebody hit into him. The hot liquid from the cup poured all over his bare chest....and it burned...
"Ouuu..." he stopped midway realizing who spilled it...it was her...
Grabbing a handful of tissues she tried wiping the coffee away from his chest..blowing on his chest to try and make it sting less..but instead..it sent this tingly feeling in him..having her this near to him...her touching him....it all seemed a bit too good to be true..
"I'm so sorry..I don't know where my mind was..oh gosh i'm really sorry..sorry...sorry..." blowing some more air over his chest while gently wiping away the coffee..she kept apologizing repeatedly.."I'm sooo sorry.."
Finally just grabbing her hands...with one hand and putting his other hand over her mouth he got her to bequiet...but instead he found himself getting lost in her dark brown eyes..they were beautiful..just like her.
"It's fine...I'm fine..and you don't need to apologize. How about I treat you to a cup of coffee?"
"No I really.."
"Pleasee...you spilled your coffee because of me..it's the least I could do.."
"Alright.." smiling gently at him...
Bringing back two cups of coffee..he took the seat across from her..
"So Nikita..what are you majoring in?"
"I'm a medical student here...and I'm hoping to specialize in Cardiology..it's always been my dream ever since I've been little. Actually that's the reason I had those pile of books that day..."
"What day..?" he said with a teasing smile..
"Armaan..THAT day..." hitting him playfully on the arm...
"Why do you keep referring to it..as THAT day?..just say na..the day you fell on me.."
She felt her cheeks burn...it was embarrassing with the way he put it..and she was sure the actual incident hadn't been as bad as it sounded right now..
He looked at her blushing..and god she looked even prettier..
"So friends?" he extended his hand out to her...
"We just met Armaan..and I don't make people my friends that easily..let one or two more accidental meetings happen..with you as my savior like everytime and I think I might just end up making you my friend for life.." she said winking at him...
"Friend for life huh? Hmmm let's see Niki..I'll always be there to save you.." smiling at her..
"Nikiiii there you are!! I've been looking for you everywhere...we need to leave it's time to go to volunteer at the clinic..and then after I'll help you with editing that paper..you finished writing it "
Armaan looked up and saw the same girl that had ruined their moment last time as well...Why does this girl always come in at the wrong times??
"Yeah coming Ridz...alright Armaan I'll see you later.."
"bye.."
Pouring his coffee into a cup..he almost laughed thinking about how annoyed he was at Riddhima for always barging in at the wrong moments...but then again she'd proved to be a great friend later on..well atleast for a while she was..
Finally going against his initial decision..he decided to call her..
"Hello..."
"Hey Riddhima..did I wake you?"
"No I was just finalizing some details for the Charity concert.. actually I was going to call you but I thought you'd be sleeping...."
"Not at all...I just made myself a cup of coffee actually.."
"You couldn't sleep huh?"
"How'd you know Riddhima?"
"I guess it's true..old habits do die hard..you always drink coffee when you can't sleep..though I still don't understand how that makes you go to sleep better...it's suppose to make you feel more awake..more energetic..NOT sleepy.."
"And it does make me feel all those things..when I drink it during daylight..just at night time..it always helps me go to sleep..."
" You are one unique person Mr. Mallik..okay anyways we never decided the two songs...so how about we just meet tomorrow?"
"Or we could just decide over the phone right now..I can't sleep...entertain me Riddhima..."
"Umm do I look like some entertainment package to you..no wait we're on the phone...do I sound like some entertainment package to you??"
"Relax Riddhima...you know I was just joking..but you know you do have a soothing voice...makes me feel relaxed..."
The color started flowing to her cheeks automatically..Thank GOD he wasn't hear in front of her to see her blushing...
"Riddhima..??"
"You know it's funny..I should be saying this to you..you're the singer.."
"Then say it to me...I'm always ready to hear compliments about myself..."
"Hate to break it to you Armaan..I have none to give ya..."
"You know you're mean..I think I liked the old Riddhima better..the one that was always there to help me.."
"I'm still always there to help you Armaan.." the words escaped out of her mouth before she could stop herself. It's not like she didn't mean these words..she did..it's just they'd met after so many years..and she wasn't quite sure yet if they shared that same relationship...and she also knew that her saying this would trigger old memories for him...
"Then why'd you leave Riddhima..?"
"Armaan....I have to go..I have an early shift tomorrow..how about we meet in the afternoon and decide the songs..?..Bring Anjali along..I'll text you during my lunch break..good night...bye..."
"Riddh.." the line was cut before he could say anything...okay maybe he shouldn't have brought the subject up...but she was the one who started it by saying that...a part of him was happy that she said that and the other was hurt..because if she had really meant those words...she wouldn't have left him when he needed her most...she was HIS best friend...she pretty much knew everything about him..but what surprised him even more..was that she remembered the little things still...such as his coffee habit...
His thoughts lingered back to his first talk with her...
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I'm soo sorry for this delayed update. I'd actually planned on cramming in a lot of parts before I started back up with classes...but I just got so busy in finishing up work..that I'd left pending that I didn't get time. I'm also really sorry because I won't be sending out PMs for this part...it's 1 in the morning here and I have to be up in 4 hours....yepp you guessed right...classes start again tomorrow =(
From the next part onwards..I will send PMs though...for sure! Just tell me if you want a PM or not...
@Aarora- Sooo sorry honey..I promised you an update of AR love story by today..and I know I didn't update..but was seriously finishing up work till this last minute..I'll try and have the part up by next weekend if possible.....sorryyyy =(
Edited by ..Mira.. - 16 years ago
Udne Ki Aasha
Anupamaa
55