HER LAST GIFT-AR FF- PART 1-PAGE 5- 17/3/10

PROLOGUE

A BEAUTIFUL morning the deep in love couple met at their secret place in the cafeteria fire exit stairs , the only safe place for the boss's daughter and the company's nominally payed employee to meet. Any other place would have had the risk of facing a known clleague who might just spill the beans in front of ridhima's scornful father .Arriving from opposite directions, greeting everyone smiling and full of life they entered in leaving between a small gap of time so that no one turned suspicious. Ridhima was very nervous ratyher a better term of tensed or deppressed can be used and Armaan was all anxious to hear to the news she wanted to announce, he came near her and almost leaned onto her moving forward covering the distance between them towering her to the wall behind. An inch from her, he stopped and she read the silent question in his serious blue eyes. Too anxious to speak, she simply shook her head, watched the movement in his throat as he swallowed. She was losing herself deep into those blue eyes'full of love yet there were unanswered questions which reduced their shine to a vast extent.

'You're pregnant then,' he said quietly and paused just to continue " and you are sure that this is not just a case of a late period."

Ridhima dropped her gaze to her clasped hands. 'I'm almost sure armaan..the most I could be by the tests I ran and the symptoms that provoked.' She heard his sharp indrawn breath and whispered, 'I'm sorry.' And she realised for the first time that she was a little afraid of this tall and divine young fellow who was no less than a greek god and loved her so much. Furthermore she wondered to herself what that sorry really meant. Was she saying sorry for having loved him or was she not sure of if she wanted a baby. When decisions were crystal clear was that apology really needed

Suddenly, she felt as if she didn't really know him, in spite of the many hours she'd spent with him here during the long months when she handled office while her dad was away from business meetings- more than three quarters of a year. Right from there first meeting at a conference deeply impressed by the liveliness of this youth she had been weaving dreams of a bright future ahead. Pregnancy changed everything, changed something precious and perfect into a shameful mistake or was it so shameful'can the gift of love ever be shameful. And it forced the two of them to consider a future they weren't prepared for or they thought that their respective lives had to be better woven before they finally settled tying the knot. More than anything, Ridhima was scared of what her father would do when he found out. His bad temper was beyond volcanic and a superactive one. He would never forgive her for this and she was certain that he would offer her only one option. She trembled at the thought, drew a hasty breath for courage.

'My parents will want me to have an abortion.they would never be able to fathom the fact that their daughter did this. They would see the child as one looks onto a mistake. They are so orthodox and cruel. And moreover they aint my real parents. I am an adopted daughter and thus any istake made on my part would indeed hold a bigger sin in their eyes'

Armaan's frown was fierce. 'You don't want that, do you?' he almost screamt

No. She couldn't bear the thought of terminating a baby they had made. She shook her head but tears in her eyeswere ready to appear. She knew this was a tough yet important decision on which their entire lives depend

'You mustn't do it then, Ridhima. Don't even think about it. It is a sin to destry a life which trusted you enough to get built inside you. Which had been felt secured while in your womb. Which would have been sure that once concieved it will be guarded from obstacles. It is not just a zygote now.. it is our baby and who better than you can understand this'you wanted to become a gynaecologist just because of your fondness for the baby in the womb. You remember talking hours to your sister's baby while the sonographies were on' He reached for her hands, threaded his strong fingers affectionately through hers and she felt the familiar shiver run down her spine on his touch. Even though every part of her body had been touched by him yet evrytime his touch felt so magical. There was not a part of her that did not react to his touch

'I'm sorry,' she whispered again. 'Don't be.' Armaan gave her hands a gentle shake.

'Don't apologise..we were equally involved and don't undermine our love with this apology..it is far more than I can bear.' Tears stung her eyes. She knew apologies shouldn't be necessary.

From the moment she and Armaan had met on that first afternoon, when she'd returned to india after getting graduated from OXFORD the blame had been equally shared. She'd seen him give an impressive presentation on her first day at office and Cupid had started firing those dangerous little arrows of love which seemed to be sweeter than honey.

Their unavoidable attraction had blinded them to anything else, especially to common sense. They hadn't taken precautions that first time. Now, Armaan gathered Ridhima in to him and his big hand cradled her head against his shoulder. She fixed into him as if made for his arms. Both their dodies sculptured to be together. Her face below his neck she sobbed. She adored the smell of him'musky and warm and clean'and something very masculine that she couldn't identify.his cologne was an intoxicating stimulant for her.

He kissed her brow. ' I know I am hard to tolerate guy but will you tolerate me for forever Will you marry me, Ridhima?' She gasped, feeling hot and cold with excitement. This was what she'd been longing for, the words from Armaan she'd been silently praying for, secretly clinging to the hope that Armaan would want her and his baby.

It was the only way she could possibly face up to her parents. With trembling fingers, Armaan traced the curve of her cheek.

'I'll look after you, I promise. We'll be all right.'of course. They'd be all right. Ridhima had no doubts. Armaan was a brillliant worker, an intelligent strategy planner and overall a perfect business material and if only luck would have been kind to him he would have been ruling the world however with those virtues he would find work anywhere in anypart of the world. It was just the goddess of fortune who had been disfavouredly partial towards this youth She wouldn't mind giving up on some luxuries and being a bit careful while spending, not if she was with him.

Her parents were the only problem. They were such painful rich arrogant snobs. There were not negative words enough to describe their character for people below their society. They'd only sent her to oxford university to snare a rich husband and World War Three would erupt if Ridhima announced she was marrying an employee at their office who was blessed with divine looks but fortune ill favoured him.

She needed to consider Armaan too, needed to be sure that he was being completely honest. He'd told her about his long-term plans to have his own business empire, but that was in the distant future. An early marriage hadn't figured in his scheme. She did not want to be a barrier to his success. She did not want their child to limit his opportunities. She did notwant her pregnancy to be an obstacle to his dreams.

'Are you sure about this, Armaan?' With his arms about her waist, he leaned back to look at her and he frowned as if this were a matter of life and death but the love in them had grown deeper. He could feel the unborn anaerobically breathing young one through her. No doubt the baby was a part of him too .

'I've never been surer, Ridhima. I know I don't have much to offer you. You deserve a more socially acceptable husband, someone rich ' It was exactly what her parents might say but, coming from him, it sounded wrong..he continued " but what I promise you is that never will there be a tear in your eye.. I can promise you that the first scream of our baby would be a chuckle and not a sob."

She opened her mouth to protest over the first statement, but Armaan hurried on. 'I love you, Ridhima, I swear. And I promise I'll look after you. I'll work hard. I'll get two jobs. I will work overtime..I'll make enough money for you and the baby and one of these days we'll have our own place. A big property like your father's mansions.' He was so determined and defiant and Greek god gorgeous he banished her fears as easily as the sun scattered mist.

He said again, 'I love you. You must know that.'

'Yes.' Smiling through happy tears, she wrapped her arms tightly around him.

'And I love you so much.' Ridhima lifted her lips to meet his and they kissed deeply, hungrily.

She clung to Armaan, confident that his hard, lean strength would protect her for ever.

'Everything's going to be wonderful a marriage I had dreamt of..i guy I had felt in my dreams,' she said and his face broke into a beautiful grin.

'So you'll marry me?'

'Oh, yes, Absolutely. There can absolutely be no doubt about that'

'Yes!' His sudden, joyful shriek was loud enough to be heard by some people and they would have been caught if they did not realize this and hide in time..

They were going to be married. With their baby, they would be a little family. No one would stop them. All was right with their world.

Armaan raised ridhima from the floor and spun her around in the little space available but slowed before Ridhima got too dizzy as he knew that now with the child he will have to be careful over some os these activities.and he let her back to earth, let her body ride slowly'.

Again their mouths met, hungrier than ever. Ridhima poured her heart and soul into the kiss, wanting him to be certain of how intensely, wildly, completely she yearned for him and more than that she loved him

His hands slipped under her shirt and skimmed lightly over her skin, giving her exquisite shivers.

Abruptly, the stillness of the calm office was broken by the sound of a ridiculed sigh followed by a firm low pitched pronounciation of her name.

They froze. Ridhima felt Armaan's heart leap against hers as they turned. Her father stood at the door, with a face flushed with anger'she knew there is an explosion coming up . one that could blow the entire living species off their feet