Part 1
Cupid's Shot
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There was growing discontentment in the world of the gods, following the irresponsible actions of young Cupid wherein he had jest fully paired up unsuspecting divinities drowning them hopelessly in the pool of love at the week of their annual meet. After this mismatch, Cupid had been rightfully banished for a year's service in the mortal world; he would get only three shots that would be the key to his redemption. The purpose was to teach him a lesson so that he would show more prudence in using his special powers. Otherwise he was doomed to a live the life of a mortal.
Three months later, one beautiful spring day, when the flowers had started to bloom and there was a lovely breeze flowing in the surreal landscape where Venus was sitting under an apple tree in the garden of amour... waiting for her clandestine tryst with Jupiter when to her great surprise Cupid, her son came flying in instead! Her initial shock was soon overwhelmed by the happiness that she felt seeing him after three months... as they hugged warmly under the cool shade of the tree.
She knew he would not have come to her unless the need was dire, "Cupid, what brings you here?" Venus asked him looking behind him to make sure Jupiter wasn't around. No one knew of them yet ' Cupid's spell had not been undone.
"I forgot how peaceful it is up here", Cupid said placing his bow and arrow down by her side.
"You shouldn't be here", she was genuinely concerned for him
"I have a dilemma and I need your help mother", he replied.
"What is the issue?", Venus asked.
"Love" ,he replied.
"But you are cupid?", she was flabbergasted.
He looked at her and sighed "There are two brothers, identical twins named Armaan and Arman. And there is only one girl, Riddhima"
"So wound the one you are supposed to"
"But I cannot decide which one is better for her?"
"What is the issue?"
"The identical twins were separated at child birth and have totally different personalities. One is rich, spoilt, does not respect women, sleeps around and is always intoxicated either with alcohol or with his rich father's vast wealth. I fear he does not respect women enough to ever deserve this girl. The other is poor, always works hard and has no life and only dreams of becoming rich. I fear she will never be the love of his life, it will always be money. I cannot decide which boy is better for Riddhima, Armaan or Arman?"
"Do they know they are brothers?", Venus asked.
"They have never met since the time of their separation. This secret is known to three people only"
"What about Riddhima?" ,tell me about her.
Cupid sighed and looked away dreamily at the unicorns grazing in the distant fields below the azure sky bathed in glowing sunlight. "Now on the threshold of her 21st autumn, she is the most beautiful woman I have seen adorned in white silky like dresses ... like the goddess of love that can survive on love alone. She can intoxicate a thousand men with those green orbs that pierce deep into the beholder's soul. Eyes that sparkle like the rarest diamond washing the darkest darkness away in a flash; her long shiny 'lustrous black hair flows in the wind spreading the fresh scent of her fruity shampoo. And when she blushes, with those cheeks that burn deep shades of crimson she puts ripe tomatoes to shame... and ignites the brightest fire in yearning hearts!"
Instantly, Venus felt a pang of jealousy. Prettier than me? She thought and started to comb her hair, while Cupid continued oblivious to the brewing jealousy and she to his new found fondness.
"She is a perfect daughter who loves her parents, spends time with her grand-parents...I am sure she will make the best mother...and at night when she stares out of her balcony like Juliet did years ago waiting for her Romeo she seems like the epitome of passion; she believes in romance and firmly believes that one day her dark knight in shining armor will come to save her from her step-mother's evil plans"
" Step mother's evil plans?"
"Yes, her father had married soon after her mother died hoping she would take care of the young girl. But things only got worse, and life became hell for the beautiful girl. As per his will, half his wealth would go to Riddhima on her 21st birthday."
"Strange are the ways of the mortal fools" Venus added.
"Her mother has drugged the helpless father who is bound to his bed and lives precariously close to death. She hopes to marry off Riddhima before she reaches her 21st birthday to a worthless scum and impregnate the notion that she ran away from home with him in the father's head thereby making him hate her. She plans to blackmail the naive young girl to wed the man of her choice, who would agree to this marriage for a meager sum of money. Thereby, she will make it appear as an act of disobedience on Riddhima's part that will break her husband's faith in his daughter so that she can then claim all his wealth and nothing would go to Riddhima. She has already given an ultimatum to Riddhima, either marry the man she chooses or see her father breathe his last. She being the soft-hearted girl that she is, the mother knows, all she needs now is find the willing suitor who will wed Riddhima for money."
"Has she found an accomplice yet?"
"Yes, she has zeroed in on the evil twin Arman. I don't get it- how money means so much to them! " Cupid sounded frustrated.
"I'm afraid I cannot help you Cupid. If the god's get a whiff of me helping you, I fear I may be banished to the mortal world too. Just remember son, listen to the voice in your heart, it never lies." Venus replied.
"Just answer one question mother" Cupid looked at her.
"What is it?"
"If you were Riddhima, which Armaan would you choose?"
"The one her heart beats for, only she can answer that. I am not Riddhima!...wait is she in love already?" She inquired.
"She hasn't fallen in love yet but I know who she was meant for" There was a hint of guilt in his eyes. He continued averting his mother's piercing gaze, "they have met only once when his wretched spirit bruised her pure heart'by mocking her because she was simple and did not play games like those plastered dolls he roamed around town with", Cupid replied sadly with a trace of anger reflecting in his eyes.
"So, then it's resolved"
"But how?", Cupid looked up at his mother.
"Let nature run its course. Everything will settle on its own" , Venus replied calmly "I see the mother succeeding in her plans, the girl will wed the evil twin Arman"
"But there is another twist"
"What is it?", Venus asked curiously.
He replied in a low voice, "There is a third man" and after a brief pause he added, " an imposter...who looks just like the other two men but loves her more than the greatest depth of the ocean blue"
"Oh...", covering her mouth with both her hands, Venus shook her head in disbelief, " you did not?"
He looked down guiltily.
"Tell me you did not!" ,she shook him frantically.
He remained silent confirming her worst fears!
"But how? Why? Would you waste one shot so carelessly?" , a distraught mother demanded answers.
"I mis-fired my shot..." He was cut off my Venus' disappointed words that mocked him, "you misfired?"
He clearly did not appreciate her cutting him off, " As I was saying, I mis-fired the arrow in front of a mirror and it struck my reflection instead of Armaan. Now I fear I have fallen hopelessly in love with Riddhima too. And I cannot see her choose another man that too a mortal laced with flaws over me! As a result of my error, the man that was destined to fall for her hasn't been wounded yet. And there is no hope for that anymore" ,there was an evil look in his eyes. "And I will make sure she does not wed the evil twin either"
"Do not make things any worse than they already are and remember you only have nine more months and two more shots left...before you become one of them" Venus warned him. But she was bound by the laws not to divulge the true conditions of his banishment; he would have to find out on his own.
Ignoring the mother's plea, Cupid carried on, " but ever since that one meeting, she has been thinking of him a lot, she wants to meet him one more time so that she can repay his rudeness back with interest. She hates him even more now ever since she found out about his womanizing nature through a close friend of hers that he had befriended. She has wanted to make him pay back for her friend's misery. This is good...for me"
"So I have decided, I will ask for her hand in marriage on her 21st birthday- as the third Arrmaan. The one who is best suited for her with no mortal flaw like the other two! Her mother would not know...and neither would she..."
"But?"
"But what Mother?" He sounded agitated.
"But you are not a mortal Cupid...and she has the evil step mother and her plans to contend with"
"I am in love with her" Cupid declared. "She will be only mine"
But what Cupid did not know was that while he was having this discussion with his mother in the garden of amour, Riddhima and Armaan had a second chance meeting, away from all preying eyes including his!
~~~~~
Alrite folks, I know a few of you were probably expecting an update on Pablo's but that one is on a Season's break :P ...which means I will continue it. Just can't say when...
In the meantime, hope you enjoy this new one. The credit for the title goes to Sookie. :D
So who will Riddhima choose, Armaan, Arman or Arrman ?
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Index of Chapters
Part 1 - Cupid's Shot - Pg 1
Part 2 - Frendor - Pg 7
Part 3 - Two women and a mysterious girlfriend = One big mess - Pg 11
Part 4 - The aftermath and the birth of F.O.T.W - Pg 17
Part 5 - The night before the dawn - Pg 30
Part 7 - A Family that Preys together stays together - Pg 53
Part 9- The Pursuit - Pg 62
Final Part - Pg 69
Cricket
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Geet - Hui Sabse Parayee
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