~LoveLand~AR-epilogue on pg 40

PREVIEW:

He headed towards her in a lazy but meaningful pace and from her senses she felt danger in his eyes. She stepped back and turned around to run towards the door but as she reached to open the door knob he caught both of her wrists from behind. She gasped and then went stiff probably due to fear by his touch. Her spine went stiff and her heart beat raced. He felt a pang of irritation that she after knowing him so well she still feared him. He raised her wrist slowly to his lips and pressed his lips tenderly upon it caressing lingeringly and making her tremble. She closed her eyes as he traveled his hands slowly to her shoulders. She tried to shake off his hands but he held her firmly without hurting her. He bent his head and kissed her neck softly while she shivered as he nuzzled to her soft skin and pulled her to his chest holding her soothingly.
"Let me go" she whispered gathering all her courage.
"I won't until you calm down" he said against her hot skin.
"I can't"
"Then I will make you" he said and he pulled her closer cuddling her in his arms securely and protectively.
"Arman!" she pleaded when for the first time in her life she felt secure and he understood it.
"Ridhima!" he said her name and nuzzled to her hair.


PART 1


Spring was in the air and with it came another beautiful morning bringing hopes and brightness and success at every corner of life. While everyone was busy on the street, a young man still laid in his bed cursing the alarm clock that wouldn't stop ringing. Finally he threw his pillow on it, breaking the hundredth time piece again. He turned around by the loud crash and got up to see the time which was 10 a.m. shoot! Late again! He jumped off his bed and ran inside the bathroom kicking away the mess of clothes and papers in the room and came out 15 mins later rubbing his messy hair and threw the wet towel on the bed. Wore a clean jeans and a decent light blue shirt for his job and hurriedly ran outside in the kitchen. Took out a bottle of juice, and a cold piece of bread, stuffing it inside his mouth, he ran for his car keys and ran out of the house.

20mins later

"Hey guys wassup?" a deep, calm and lazy voice came on the nurse station from the same guy where all his friends stood gathering their case files in sanjivani, one of the best hospitals of the city.
"hi arman aj phir late?" a man of medium height, fair complexion, not too built up and considerably cute greeted his friend.
"jo jaldi ajaye wo arman malik nahi!" arman said with a charming grin.
"right! Or abhi jb dr.kirti tujhe puchengi na tb tujhe pata lagega" a girl with curly hair, high cheek bones, extremely beautiful, wearing a jeans with kurti spoke in her snappy yet jolly tone.
"array yar muskan, I can charm her" arman walked coolly towards the shelf and picked out his file after winking at the young, new nurse at the chair who smiled at him.
"you couldn't do it in two years than how come now??" said atul shaking his head and looking at his file.
"acha chod na! heard the news?" asked arman excitedly and his big blue eyes opening wide and his grin widened showing off his perfect white, gleaming teeth which made a 'million dollar smile' that confirmed his charm.
"what news?" both atul and muskan turned to him attentively.
"about the new doctor?"
"han suna. To? What's so special about that? Sanjivani main har maheenay naye doctors ate hain or jate hain" atul said carelessly. Both muskan and atul not interested in the new doctor, obviously.
"Array this time it's a 'she'" arman said placing his elbow on the counter and leaned his muscular built with it and crossed his legs.
"Arman grow up man!" said atul to him maturely.
"Dude I've grown but you haven't"
"i think you should leave her alone"
"y, has she got thorns?" arman teased atul who was never interested in any girl yet he was friendly.
"She's' " atul started trying to convince his friend.
"I'm an NRI!!" armand said replied with his eyebrows raised cockily.
"arman she wouldn't even bother with you"
"oh come on dude she's a girl. No girl can resist arman malik's charm"
"she might not be your type"
"I'll make her my type" amrna winked at his irritated friend.
"tu nahi sudhrega" atul shook his head and walked away from him.
"True" arman said to himself with a cheeky smile.
soon that day, at around 4 in the evening, arman, atul and muskan stood at the nurse station by arman's force and waited for the new doctor.
"arman we've got other important stuff to do than wait for a'"
"sshh I think that's she" arman pointed towards a girl wearing a fitted jeans and sleeveless top.
"hi I've an appointment with dr. Harman. Can you please inform him?"
"that's not her arman! Can we go now?" muskan asked pacing around restlessly with her arms crossed across her chest.
"sshh that might be'" arman started but stopped as the beautiful girl in short pink shirt and white shirt spoke,
"where is ward number 56?"
"that way ma'am" the nurse pointed towards the corridor.
"thank you" the girl spoke and walked that way.
"not her as well" atul spoke getting bored.
"array yaar tu sabar to kar na" arman said stil looking at the main door.
"arman wo ajayegi na. tb mil lenge" muskan stopped and snapped at him.
"wait' that'" arman started but stopped suddenly looking at the girl in light yellow shalwar kameez and dupatta.
"hi may I see dr.kirti??" her polite, soft and melodious voice came,
"and whom should I say is here ma'am?" the nurse asked.
"I am the new resident doctor"
"sure ma'am. She's waiting for you in her cabin. Straight and left from the first corridor."
"thank you" the girl walked towards the corridor straightening her dupatta and pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear that were tied in a loose pony tail and was holding a file securely in front of her chest as if using it as a shield.
Atul and muskan both saw the shocked expression on arman's face and controlled their laughter,
"hmmm she's pretty, she has got good figure, nice hazel eyes, graceful and delicate she is but she's a bhen ji'"
"shut up atul" arman snapped suddenly with so much anger that both muskan and atul had jitters and with that he stormed away.
"array isay kiya hua? Subha se to itna excited tha or ab achanak" atul spoke.
"jo expected tha usse bilkul alag hi hua na kuch shayad isliye" muskan spoke and they both laughed.
Soon everyone got busy with their normal routine, except arman, who was behaving angrily towards everyone since he had seen the new doctor. Everyone was noticing his aggressive behavior but they couldn't point out the reason.
"by the way what's her name?" rahul garewal, a good looking man with grey eyes at the age of 26 spoke while they all sat in the cafeteria and they saw the new doctor walking inside the cafeteria with muskan who was busy talking to her.
"ridhima. Ridhima gupta" arman spoke without looking up from his coffee placed on the table.
"how do you know it?" rahul asked suspiciously.
"saw her name on the notice board" arman spoke again carelessly but had an edge in his voice that atul, rahul and sapna noticed.
"how come we didn't?" sapna asked.
"abhi abhi notice laga isliye" arman almost snapped at her and the three of them looked at each other as arman walked towards the counter of the caf to get one more coffee.
Muskan approached them with ridhima who was smiling,
"hi guys. I am doctor ridhima" ridhima introduced herself holding her stethoscope nervously but had her pretty smile on her face.
"Pleased to meet you dr.ridhima" they all spoke good naturedly and asked her to sit down.
"And you are??" ridhima asked them.
"I am atul joshi." Atul extended his hand in front of her.
"Rahul garewal" rahul nodded his head with a smile.
"Hi. Sapna shah" a girl with long waist length black hair, small chin and brown eyes held out her hand to her and ridhima shook it with a smile.
"or main arman malik" a familiar deep voice shook her senses and she turned around to find a man standing in front of her whom she had known for so long but she felt she didn't knew him now. The cold stare, sarcastic smile, and his lazy lounging on the chair while he held out the cup of coffee to her were all unfamiliar to her.


PART 2

"hi' arman'dr.arman" ridhima almost stuttered and quickly stole away her gaze and looked down and towards the others ignoring the cup of coffee held out to her.
"hello dr.ridhima" arman spoke and she noticed the sarcasm and mockery in his voice as he sipped coffee from the cup that he had offered her.
"it's nice to meet you all." Ridhima spoke looking at others as if he didn't exist. Arman leaned back in his chair and stretched out his one leg and eyed her with amusement while he had a lazy yet wicked grin on his lips. Quickly she stole a glance at him and found him watching her with a laughing gaze and she felt humiliated. She suddenly stood up,
"ao na betho have some coffee with us" sapna spoke.
"nahi I'll see you guys later' abhi I've to see dr.kirti. kuch files leni hai. See you guys around" ridhima refused politely.
"ok see you" atul waved his hand towards her.
"she's nice isn't she?" rahul said as he watched her walking out.
"ya she is" sapna replied. All this muskan wasn't oblivious to arman's coldness and ridhima's uncomfortable ness. She hadn't been this much nervous when she had been with muskan. She had talked and laughed but in front of him she was quiet, and reserved while he was cold and angry which so not 'arman malik' was.
In the night ridhima sat in her rocking chair at her house and rocked quietly lost in her thoughts when the lights turned on,
"hey ridzy. How was your day?" a tall girl with shoulder length hair, wearing classy jeans and top and high heels, walked up to ridhima and threw her clutch on the sofa and walked towards the coffee table where a water bottle with glass was placed and started pouring water for herself.
"good" ridhima spoke absently.
"riya kahan hai?" the girl eyed her and looked back down on the glass.
"so rahi hai"
"khana khaya?" she asked again this time leaning back and taking off her shoes and curled her legs beneath her and held the glass in her hand.
"dil nahi hai" ridhima spoke not once looking at her sister.
"ok so kiya hua?" the girl asked taking a long sip of water and quenching her thirst.
"nothing"
"ridzy I know you. Khana or tu na khaye aisa to ho nahi sakta. Kiya hua?" the girl spoke knowing her sister's foody habits even though both the sisters were skin and bones but still they ate like hell.
"arman bhi sanjivani main hai" ridhima spoke still looking at the empty space in front of her while the other girl was left in shock for a while.
"ridzy!" the girl leaned forward and held her sister's hand reassuringly.
"it's ok di" ridhima spoke and looked at her sister.
"you know it's not ok"
"I am there just for my job nothing else" ridhima replied coldly.
"and what about him??? You know him. He will surely try to get in past"
"it's been two years di. Main ab bhool gayi hun or wo bhi bhool gaya hoga"
"and you know that's not true. Arman bhoolne walon main se nahi hai"
"to main kiya karun di?" ridhima spoke helplessly turning her face away obviously wanting to drop the subject.
"ridzy you'll have to face him"
"I don't want to"
"but you have to. Or kiya karegi tu? Ek hi jaga kaam karte huay use ignore karegi? Avoid karegi?"
"I'll try"
"that's impossible. Or riya?"
"riya ka kiya di?? She's got nothing to do with him" ridhima shot her head towards her sister.
"what if he thought something else?" the girl asked nervously.
"to sochne do. I don't care"
"ridzy is it possible k wo' tum dono ne' I mean abhi and'" her sister started nervously not knowing how to ask.
"di! How many times do I have to tell you k un chay(6) salon main humare beech kuch bhi nahi hua tha kabhi bhi. Now can we please drop this subject?"
"ok ok relax" the girl got up and patting her sister's shoulder went inside her room to change leaving ridhima in her turmoil which she knew she would have to face herself.
It had been two days now since ridhima had come and everything about arman seemed to change from his way of talking, laughing, eating, sleeping. He spent most of his time working while ridhima spent her time knowing everyone except arman. Everyone was beginning to notice the cold war between the two of them but seeing arman agitation. Nobody dared to ask him anything and ridhima was new therefore nobody asked her anything but it was obvious that both of them were avoiding each other's company.

"tum ne residency new york main hi ki thi?" muskan asked ridhima when they sat in the caf in evening.
"han"
"to phir continue kiyun nahi kiya?"
"kiyun k maa papa ki death k baad anjali di akeli pad gayi thi yahan isliye main yahan agayi" ridhima told muskan. She was totally relaxed with her. In just two day's time both the girls were getting along with each other really well.
"hi guys"
"hi atul." Ridhima greeted as atul came and sat on the chair opposite to both ridhima and muskan's.
"yaar aj to bohat thak gaye. Dr.kirti ne to maar hi dala"
"kiyun kiya hua??" muskan asked atul who obviously seemed tired as he started gobbling down his sandwich and samosas with cold drink.
"yaar wo bus accident k cases aye huay hain na emergency main to uskay liye mujhe or arman ko pakad liya or to or night duty bhi de di"
"hi guys" came the voice that sent shivers inside ridhima and she went rigid.
"lo agaya arman bhi" muskan spoke looking at ridhima's reaction by his persence.
"hi arman. Kaisa hai yaar?" atul spoke munching at the food.
"good. Great. Never better" arman spoke sarcastically and sat down glancing at ridhima who as usual looked down and away from his gaze totally ignoring him.
"uh-huh" muskan said looking from ridhima to arman.
"wat??", arman looked at muskan, "Guys I was thinking why not have a party?"
"for what?" muskan asked confused.
"for dr.ridhima" he spoke his voice deepening and ridhima choked on her coffee and placed the cup on the table.
"kiya hua ridhima?" muskan patted ridhima's back who was coughing and held out her hand to muskan to assure her that she was ok and looked up to meet arman's gaze.
"what???" ridhima asked.
"yeah. Why not welcome her in our little family?" arman spoke with a lazy and sarcastic grin.
"but that's not'" ridhima started nervously.
"do you mind?" arman asked with an arrogant edge in his voice.
"d'i'" ridhima hesitated to speak seeing the coldness.
"come on ridhima that's such a great idea but arman teri to night duty hai and itni hectic routine main tu ne party ka socha bhi kaise?? I mean main to bilkul hi thak gaya hun" atul spoke covering the 'almost' argument.
"what to do? She was all on my mind since she came" arman spoke again and everyone looked at arman and then at ridhima who was glaring at arman.
"what?" atul asked confused.
"I mean m a really hospitable person as dr.ridhima must have guessed by now so I wanted to throw a party for her" he kept looking at every color her eye took out of anger and her eyes hit him like daggers.
"ok great. Venue??" atul spoke finally making ridhima look away and she started to sip her coffee again.
"my place" arman said hitting the right spot and ridhima choked again on her coffee.
"ridhima are you ok dear?? You seem like having a cough. Is the coffee ok?" muskan looked at ridhima concerned.
"yeah'yeah m fine" ridhima spoke breathless.
"I certainly hope you are dr.ridhima" arman said and ridhima shot him a glare and saw the humiliating laugh in his eyes and voice.
"arman why are you being so formal with her??" atul asked.
"do you mind me calling you by your name 'ridhima'??" he spoke as if knowing what her name from his mouth had effect on her because she felt her heart skip a beat by it.
"no! of course not" she spoke trying to avoid the tingling sensation inside her.
"I thought so" he replied lazily but kept looking at her making her nervous.
"so guys tomorrow at 8, my place"
"cool. Ridhima we'll pick you up. Just give me your address" atul asked wiping his hands and mouth with the tissue paper and took out a pen.
"street 52, house# 42, 9th avenue, gul mohar, Mumbai" arman spoke in one breath as ridhima opened her mouth and she looked at him shocked.
"how do you know her address?" muskan asked.
"it's in the register where we sign daily." Arman said without breaking his gaze to ridhima's who knew that he was lying.
"ok then all settled. All cool" atul said avoiding the question arising in him regarding both of the people in front of him.




PART 3

"he's going to make it difficult" ridhima said wiping her wet hands off her apron and placed the dishes on the shelf to let them dry, "he has already showed me signs of it"
"ridzy if you really want me to help you then at least tell me what happened which caused you two to break up?" her sister asked exasperatedly looking at her sister.
"Later di" said ridhima and walked out of the kitchen after placing her apron on the hook.
With that ridhima quitted the subject and went inside her room and sat near her window alone.

A girl of 16 sat on her bench in the class room, being her 1st day in college she sat on a 2nd bench on a corner one to be away from everyone's sight and not catch too much attention. She kept herself busy in her new books as part of her 'non attraction' strategy. Her hair tied in a ponytail, wearing glasses, plain light pink salwaar kameez on her petite small figure hid her beautiful features and eyes as well as her blossoming figure at a tender age.

"wholf whistle"
hey see it's a new girl! Ridhima glanced up from her glasses at the two good looking men standing in front of her. She shifted slightly and got herself ready to backfire at them she might look shy and scared but she wasn't.
"bhenji hai yaar chal chod na" said the one who was slightly darker then the other one but was equally well built. Ridhima pretended to keep her eyes down and busy in her book.
"array chal to!"spoke the fairer guy whose dimples flashed with his perfectly gleaming white 32 and his blue eyes widening with excitement.
"she's not even looking up"
"so what? chal to" the dimpled man tugged at the other guy's shoulder.
"hey what is it han??" a girl of medium height wearing a classy skirt and shirt came forward with her long hair straightened and held loose over her thin waist.
"array niki tu yahan?" the guy with dimples spoke surprised but looked back at ridhima who quietly turned the page to avoid them totally.
"han to??? Get out of the sight ok and go to your own class" the girl named niki snapped at them and pointed her long delicate finger at them.
"we're bunking and you looser are taking this boring class. We always bunked this class niki" the other guy shrugged his shoulder and both the guys gave each other high five.
"I'll tell prof.gaurav and he'll see to you guys" niki threatened them with her hands on her hips and her eyes shooting fire.
"array niki yar chod na" the guy with dimples tried to give a chill pill to the small girl compared to him and placed his large hands on her small shoulders.
"then get out of here"she shrugged his hands out and pointed towards the door.
"who's that girl??" the guys asked niki in a hushed tone.
"meri friend hai"niki snaped again this time taking ridhima's attention as well who stopped pretending to read but didn't look up either.
"really??"the darker man's voice came as a surprise that was almost of a disgust and she knew what he meant that a girl like ridhima wearing such bhenji sort clothes could be friends with such a classy and beautiful girl.
"han to?"niki spoke again in her sharp tone.
"nahi kuch nahi we just thought of ragging her" the guy with dimples spoke cheekily and ridhima almost laughed out and wanted to look at his face after what niki had exclaimed her to be.
"oh yeah?? Now get lost you two"with that niki threw both of them out of the class room.
"see ya later" both the guys said.
"ok" niki said with a smile and shrug of her shoulders and walked upto ridhima's bench.

"hey"said niki sitting down beside ridhima with her arms crossed upon the table.
"hi" ridhima closed the book and looked up at her.
"sorry about that hun!" niki said reffering to the guys.
"no no actually thanks"
"no problem. That's my duty to save every new soul" said niki shrugging her hair off her shoulder with a light blow of her hand and rolled her eyes in a funny manner as if she was all high and mighty and ridhima almost giggled at her jolly manner.
"yep actually they are my best friends" niki said shifting her shoulders with a bright smile.
"really??" ridhima was shocked.
"han thode shararti hain wo but they are my friends"
"and you guys are in the same year?" ridhima asked.
"nope one of them is two year senior than me and the other is three year senior though in age he is 4 year older than me"
"so how come you guys are friends?"
"cuz they did the same with me at the very first day of mine what they tried to do with you but I pulled their leg and made a fool of them" said niki raising her brows in a proud manner.
"they must have been angry" she said keeping in mind the looks of the two well built, strong, tall and broad men.
"nope they were impressed and since then we all are friends"
"that's great" ridhima said still unable to believe it and surprised.
"by the way m nikita but everyone calls me niki" niki extended her hand to ridhima.
"I'm ridhima" ridhima shook her hand happily. She liked this nikki.
"and everyone calls you ridhi??" niki said with a smile reffering to her own nick name.
"no. actually its ridzi. My sister calls me ridzi"
"and your mom and dad?? What do they call you?" niki asked.
"err... My parents died in a car accident when I was little" ridhima replied with her smile faltering just a little.
"oh m sorry" niki spoke getting a little uncomfortable.
"it's ok" ridhima smiled at her.
"so you live with??" niki asked.
"my elder sister and my granny"
"sweet" nikki wrinkled her nose with a smile.
"and you?" ridhima asked.
"I live in rent house with arman and abhi"
"arman and abhi?" ridhima asked confused who were they.
"yup those two guys who were here just a moment ago" niki pointed towards the place where the three of them had stood before.
"oh and your parents?"
"they are divorced. Maa is in Canada and dad is in paris" niki replied with the same happy manner not even showing a slight bit of disappointment.
"m sorry" ridhima spoke suddenly shook at the mere thought of divorce which this girl had taken so lightly. She must have gotten through a lot to get so light abot the idea of a divorce.
"y?? when m not! It was the only good thing for them and me" niki said.
"do you meet them?" ridhima asked.
"nope. Very little. I saw my mother two years ago and dad' well ages ago" niki waved her hand as if she swished her worries away.
"do they approve of you staying with two guys??" ridhima asked clearly not comfortable with the thought that a girl lived with two guys.
"who arman and abhi?? Oh they are not at all like what they seemed. That was just fun. They are really nice and I love them a lot. They are my family. They take care of me a lot" niki tried to make ridhima understand.
"oh. When is the class going to start?" ridhima diverted the subject when she wasn't convinced with the thought that those two guys could be anywhere near caring.
"in like 37 seconds" niki looked at her wrist watch and shook her head.
"is it actually that punctual??" ridhima asked opening her book again from where she left reading.
"yep." niki nodded with a jilt of her head.
"errm where are your books?" ridhima looked around niki for her bag.
"I hardly bring any"
"why?"
"because arman and abhi teach me all and what's left I read it like in one go"
"They teach you??" ridhima got even more surprised and her eyes opened wide at the thought of those two ever studying after what they had said about bunking.
"hahaha you still don't believe me right? That they actually are good" niki laughed at her expressions.
"a little hard that's it"
"you'll see soon"

"kiya logi??" niki asked as both ridhima and her sat in the cafeteria.
"hmm lets see m really hungry! I'll have samosa, chicken sandwich, tea with plain cookies and' yup chips too' filhal that's it and what will you have??" ridhima said looking at the menu chart pasted at the front wall of the caf.
"woah! Do you eat like this everyday or today is your birthday?" niki looked at her with her eyes wide.
"no I eat like this? I get hungry really sooon"
"well you certainly don't seem like one getting hungry that much" niki replied looking down at ridhima's extremely thin waist and her even slimmer arms and legs.
"hahaha my di says that too" ridhima shrugged her shoulders. In just two hours both the girls were getting along really well. They had same likes and dislikes about the subjects and the professors, even the people of the class.
"well I'll just have a sandwich and tea" niki said and soon they sat there chatting away and eating their food when ridhima's ears and eyes shot up to see two extremely cheaply street clothing clad guys with long oily hair passing by, who wore black leather jackets thinking they were looking like some heroes and were wearing ripped cheap jeans.
"akeli na itna khaya karo
nazar lag jayegi
sb ki nazar main na aya karo
nazar lag jayegi'
samjho zara baat meri janab..." ridhima looked down and with an effortless motion she stuck her feet out slightly and the man tripped down taking the other one with him on the ground.
"OWWW" they both shrieked.
"I hate men singing cheap songs. Hai na niki!!" ridhima pouted her lips and tilted her head at her tea and looked up at niki as if she was talking to her just to see niki's mouth wide opened at the two most hated men lying on the floor on their faces. Ridhima followed her gaze as if oblivious to the fact that she had tripped them, "Oh what are you guys doing there??" ridhima asked them with the most 'ms.bholi bhali' look on her face and they both stood up while the entire caf laughed at them knowing what had happened and they shook their jackets and went away quietly. As they went away ridhima shook her head and raised her brows rolling her eyes because she was angry at them.

"wow that was a good shot!" came a familiar voice and ridhima's head shot back to where the guy from the morning stood behind niki clapping and obviously impressed by ridhima.
"hai na abhi! Ridhima was awesome. Great start" niki shook ridhima's hand that was lying on the table and ridhima smiled.
"hi m abhimanyu but all call me abhi" the guy stepped forward and shook hands with ridhima. Ridhima shook his hand pleasantly knowing that this time he wasn't in the least bit trying to tease her.
"hi m ridhima" ridhima replied.
"thank God we didn't ragged you in the morning" abhi spoke and ridhima giggled at that.
"n am arman"came a deep voice from behind her and ridhima turned to see the owner of the husky voice and found herself staring into greenish blue eyes and below them their was a wicked smile playing upon his lips.
"hi and all call you ammy??" ridhima replied with a giggle ignoring his smile and eyes and looked at niki and abhi who laughed at that nick.
"well nobody does but you can if you like. I liked it though" arman came and sat down beside her chair lazily with a grin playing upon his mouth and eyes and he eyed her interestedly.
"m sorry I just thought that all of you have some nick so may be'you'" she got nervous at his sudden frankness and obvious flirt. She wasn't used to the flirting part.
"well guys ridhima also has a nick" niki spoke oblivious to the nervousness.
"really? What is it?" abhi asked excitedly.
"ridzi" niki told them.
"and whats your sur name?" arman asked.
"gupta. Its ridhima gupta" ridhima spoke.
"nice name it is" arman spoke with a genuine smile that warmed up ridhima to him.
"thanks" she smiled back and knew instantly that these both guys weren't what she had thought them to be in the morning as they opened up that day in the cafeteria.

Her smile vanished at the memory of them four being friends at the sound of the baby crying on her bed, she walked upto her bed and smiled at the baby lying there with her eyes opened as she stopped crying by seeing the girl in front of her who smiled at the baby and sat down beside her,
"oye mela(mera) baby jag gaya!! Mela pala(pyara) baby jag gaya! Itni thori(thodi) shi(si) der shoya(soya) or uth bhi gaya" ridhima picked up the smiling 7months old baby in her arms and kissed her on her cheeks and carried her outside to get milk for her.
"anjali maashi(masi)!! Ye dekho kaun aya!! Jaldi shay(se) ajao baby bula raha hai mashi ko" ridhima called holding the baby cuddled in her arms as the baby looked up at her face intently as if knowing that she was calling her masi.
"ye kahan shay(se) agaya pala(pyara) bacha! De do mashi ko meri princess" anjali came in and held the baby from ridhima's arms and swing the baby playfully in the air as the baby squealed delightedly and came back in anjali's arms while ridhima prepared milk in the bottle for the baby.
Soon the baby was asleep again after two or three hours of her, ridhima and anjali's playing and then ridhima sent anjali out and ridhima made the baby sleep and lied down herself there beside the baby on the bed and went back in her past that was now standing again in front of her.

"God ye arman kahan reh gaya??"abhi spoke pasing around the hall where ridhima and niki's farewell party was held and as arman and abhi were seniors they had been sneaked inside.
"zurur nayi girlfriend hogi koi tabhi itni der laga raha hai" niki spoke with her arms folded on her chest.
"array nayi to har haftay hoti hai per abhi tk yahan kiyun nahi aya?" abhi spoke also looking towards the door.
"array ata hoga na" ridhima spoke calmly looking around at the people who were busy in dancing, talking and drinking.
"per abhi! tumhare sath nahi tha wo?" ridhima asked abhi.
"lo main to kb ka niki k sath tha"
"damn this man yaar"ridhima cursed him looking at the time as it was getting late.
"damn his stupid girl friends!" niki spoke rolling her eyes.
"lo agaya" abhi said finally with a sigh of relief and pointed towards the door.
"wow she's a hottie" abhi spoke after checking the hot girl in black cocktail dress beside arman who had his hand around her waist.
"I agree she is" ridhima spoke softly with a small smile.
"eeww ridzi!" niki looked at ridhima backing a step away.
"what?? She is hot" ridhima spoke.
"whatever! I thought at least your taste was better than arman's" niki shook her head.
"I mean she looks hot and she's beautiful" ridhima extended her hands to show that she actually thought the girl was pretty.
"oh shut up you're better looking than her" niki looked at ridhima up and down to her modest yet pretty long skirt and quarter sleeved shirt that hugged her thin frame beautifully.
"excuse me we're not comparing his girlfriends with ridzi ok! She is nowhere near those cheap girls" abhi spoke defending her friend.
"thanks abhi"ridhima smiled and shook her head at her friends's love.
"hi guys" arman approached them with a wide grin. At the age of 23 he still had a boyish grin.
"hi arman" niki and abhi spoke too sweetly that showed their irritation while ridhima lowered her head hiding her giggle at the look on arman's face.
"guys this is jiya. Jiya these are my friends. This is abhi, niki and ridhima" arman introduced all to his girl friend.
"hi guys" jiya waved her fingers in a graceful yet in a richy rich and proud manner.
"hi" everyone smiled at her.
" Arman chalain?" jiya spoke and tugged at his arm.
"chalo" arman lead her on the dance floor after giving them all a pleading glance.

"she's not just cheap she's a s**t! See the way she's clinging to arman" niki spoke horrified after looking at both arman and jiya for about 5minutes.
"oho just don't look at them na its his problem he'll handle it" ridhima spoke after glancing at the way jiya was literally falling over arman and he was holding her closely by her waist.
"come on ridz how can some one be so chipku?" abhi spoke disgustedly.
"ask her!" ridhima glanced away from arman and jiya.
"hey guys what are you all talking about?" came arman's happy voice as they both approached them.
"nothing just in general" niki said rolling her eyes at arman showing that she hated jiya.
"so you're ridhima?" jiya came forward looking at ridhima up and down and she knew something was coming her way.
"yep I am" ridhima smiled at her.
"what's with the clothes and this party anyways?" jiya spoke shrugging her shoulder.
"I beg your pardon" ridhima said with a confused smile.
"no no it's nothing wrong with you it's just that ridhima no offense but your clothes are a little out of place aren't they arman and those glasses just that' they look really old fashioned.. I mean we use lenses' don't you think so too arman?" jiya said loking at her up and down ignoring niki's dropped down open mouth who hated her guts.
"I think she's looking perfectly gorgeous jiya and there's nothing wrong with her" arman replied totally coolly giving a glance at ridhima who stood perfectly calmly not even bothered a least about jiya's comment.
"well of course she is perfect but it's just'"
"listen jiya why don't we just keep in our own company?" niki spoke rudely stepping forward and pulling ridhima behind her and abhi.
"huh?" jiya got confused at he sudden outburst.
"yup I mean you came with arman then why don't you just keep yourself with him" said abhi.
"sure. Shall we go arman??" jiya shrugged her shoulders and raised her brows at arman.
"hmmm" arman knew his friends were offended and even he was offended but he was too busy at looking at ridhima's calm behavior that it overtook everyone else's reaction. How could this girl be sooo normal??
"that b****" abhi cursed as arman and jiya went away.
"tch relax abhi forget it" ridhima placed her hand lightly on his shoulder and made them both turn away from arman and jiya's sight.
"look at arman. How could he just let her say it" said abhi.
"he took our side as well abhi" ridhima defended arman.
"no ridz that is seriously something. This girl is not right" niki spoke looking back at jiya who was again all over arman laughingly.
"I know she is not but arman will get fed up of her and she'll be gone like the others" ridhima said calmly.
"but she tried to comment on you. Who the hell is she'" niki started.
"she's arman's girlfriend yar"
"ridhima bohat hogaya tera ye 'non attraction thing' ok. Chal tu mere sath" niki took ridhima's hand and started pulling her towards some room.
"array niki kahan?" ridhima looked at her friends shockingly.
"han niki utaro iski ye bhenji glasses and do something with her hair." Abhi said the same that two minutes ago jiya had said but she knew that they felt right on her that's why they said it while jiya's comment had been an insult.
"per main'"
"koi kuch nahi kehta tujhe ok. Hum sb hain na yahan . chal abhi tu"niki said and took her inside the room.

"is that ridhima??" jiya spoke just when both she and arman were busy in drinking their non alcoholic cocktails. Arman followed jiya's gaze and found a girl dressed in an A line skirt that fell just above her pretty ankles while she wore a sleeveless top that hugged her beautiful curves of a 19 year old and the dark blue colour of the top and black of the skirt accentuated her fair complexion. The dark brown hair fell in luscious waves from her shoulders down to her waist. Her glasses were gone which even showed her hazel eyes to arman's perfect 6/6 eye sight. She walked so gracefully and carried herself with such dignity that arman felt a smile appearing on his lips.
"y'ya that is" he said unable to find his own voice when he saw ridhima in a totally different attire then the previous one which was as plain as he had mistaken her to be. Even though he knew she wasn't plain and that she was disguising it for some unknown reason but he had no idea that she was this much in disguise.
"per abhi to she was' and ab'" jiya spoke looking at arman's reaction.
"she definitely is unpredictable" arman spoke quietly and took a sip of his drink eying ridhima who was now being appreciated by abhi who had been standing outside waiting for niki and ridhima to come out.
"arman m sorry" jiya spoke immediately looking at arman's devoted attention to solely ridhima and she felt anger at that girl.
"for what darling?" arman looked at her and spoke half heartedly.
"she's your friend and I' I talked to her that way'that's why" jiya pouted trying to be cute which she wasn't. she was actually more of a hot material than the innocent, sweet and cute thing. Arman grinned at her try and spoke with a tilt of his head,
"well you can apologize to her"
"what?" jiya was shocked. She hadn't expected this instead she thought arman would pay her attention.
"of course why not?" arman raised his brows.
"you want me to apologize to that girl?" jiya pointed towards ridhima who was taking a long drown of cold water after all it was getting really hot inside the hall and she had been through a lot of excitement with her friends who were equally excited.
"well you felt that you did wrong then you should put it right" arman said twirling the stem of the glass in his hands.
"fine" jiya said and with an arrogant shrug she started walking towards ridhima, niki and abhi and arman followed her with his lazy walk after drowning the last sip of his drink and settling the glass at the counter and smacked his lips.

"arahi hai idhar hi" niki spoke as she saw jiya coming to him with arman following her.
"to?? Just ignore her. Why are you taking her so much over your head?" ridhima tried to calm her friend.
"because she is getting on my nerves" niki spoke again turning her gaze to the other side and rolled her eyes while abhi kept watching her approaching and thought what was coming now?
"she is'" abhi started.
"hey guys" jiya interrupted him.
"hi jiya" both niki and abhi spoke with the same irritated sweetness that they had shown arman when he had came late and gave her a fake smile that reached their ears and jiya cocked one brow and made them know that she knew they were being fake.
"ridhima' wo actually I wanted to apologize to you" she directed ridhima and ridhima stood up immediately and obediently.
"huh?? For what?"
"for' I commented and I shouldn't have like that' it was rude'" jiya tried to be sweet again though fakely.
"it's ok jiya" ridhima spoke with an honest smile.
"well you are pretty" jiya complemented her.
"thank you. After all friend kis ki hai?? Arman ki or hamari" abhi spoke standing up as well beside ridhima and eyed arman.
"abhi!" ridhima glared at him trying to make him see that jiya was trying to be good here.
"what?" abhi mouthed to her returning her glare.
"well friends?" jiya extended her hand in front of her and niki stood up crossing her arms across her chest and thinking what ridhima was going to do.
"I beg your pardon" niki spoke.
"I mean if you really forgive me then we can be friends" jiya ignored niki and directed ridhima.
"aah'actually jiya the thing is' I do forgive you actually I never minded it at the first place'but still' but I can't be friends with you'" ridhima spoke nervously knowing that arman's eyes were on her in all this time.
"huh?" jiya got a shock and she shook her head in a manner that showed 'who do you think you are? And that nobody ever rejected jiya malhotra'.
"umm don't mind but friendship is really special for me and I'm sure we won't share the same relation as I do with them and it won't be sincere'besides just because you are arman's girlfriend doesn't mean you have to be our frined too. Hai na arman??" ridhima glanced at arman trying to assure that he didn't jiya being not friends with them because she knew the only reason jiya came here was for arman and she didn't want to be a barrier between these two.
"ya'ya of course" arman understood her eyes.
"see he doesn't mind as well and I hope you won't take offense of what I said" ridhima spoke with a genuine smile.
"why would i?" jiya shrugged her shoulders and rolled her eyes with rudeness on T.
"I thought so" ridhima spoke quietly knowing well that she had offended jiya.
"well see ya guys. Shall we go arman?" she turned away to arman.
"ya'jiya just wait up for me in the parking lot" said arman and jiya stomped away.
"what was all that about?" arman spoke as jiya went away while abhi and niki gave each other a high five.
"great job ridzi! We are proud of you" abhi spoke without giving ridhima chance to reply to arman.
"ridhima what was all that and'this?" arman pointed to her attire.
"this what and that what?" ridhima spoke trying to figure out with what point he was offended? Her rejecting jiya's offer or was he surprised by her changed look.
"well you know all this changed attire first of all?"
"well that's niki's doing" ridhima pointed her thumb happily to niki who patted her shoulder and patted her lashes.
"and it's awesome. You actually are pretty' actually beautiful' and that' what was that with jiya?" arman complemented her honestly.
"that not doing friendship thing?" ridhima asked.
"that was the right thing she did arman" abhi spoke taking a step forward and niki nodded.
"of course why should she if she doesn't want to. She's your girlf friend nothing to us" niki spoke.
"but still'"
"if you didn't like it then I can be friends with her and I can apologize'" ridhima started her smile wiped off and she thought arman hadn't liked it.
"no no it's totally your choice and m not at all offended. M just saying that' you were really honest" arman stuck his hands in his pockets and eyed this girl in front of him who was ready to do what she didn't like.
"blunt I should say. I hate it when I have to be this straight forward but I can't help it" ridhima looked down and moved her hands nervously. He couldn't understand her nervousness. She was usually like this when in front of him.
"don't try to help it. It's great and you're great" arman spoke with a grin and ridhima looked up at him and saw his honesty in his eyes and smile.
"see you guys later" arman winked at her and went away.
"ya.. Without that jiya with you" niki spoke
"bye" arman heard that and he smiled at his friends.


That was the beginning when arman started drifting apart from them thanks to jiya malhotra.



P.S hey guys heres a long part on their past. hope you like it and the next part would also be on the past of them. do comment plss as i love comments
😃

loved the start .. plzz continue .. n PM me love ya

The intro seems damn interesting...

hey asmara
very nice intro
PM me
plz counti....
update soon. 👍🏼

hey guys i just got my result and i cant believe m a graduate now 😃 so in treat here is a looooong part


She still remembered that day, when jiya finally managed to break them apart. It was the last day of niki and ridhima in the college and they had all wanted to celebrate it together and abhi wanted to propose niki as well. They had planned to meet in a hotel while abhi had only told ridhima of his plan to propose niki as arman was always busy with jiys therefore he and ridhima had came to the hotel an hour earlier to arrange a surprise for niki. They were both in the hotel room arranging flowers, candles, cards, scents, music and abhi was rehearsing how to propose niki.
"ok ridzi last time" abhi called ridhima down from the chair on which she stood pasting the I love you card on the wall.
"abhi she'll say yes na yar" ridhima spoke with a tired smile on her face as she saw her friend's jitters and nervousness as if he was a girl getting proposed.
"acha ek baar na pls" abhi pleaded.
"fine abhi" ridhima came down slappinbg her hands on her thighs in giving up manner and abhi bent down on his knees in front of ridhima with a rose in his hand.
"niki… I love you… will…will you…?" abhi stuttered out of nervousness and shot his head down towards the floor and held his head in nervousness.
"abhi itna daroge to kabhi accept nahi karegi niki" ridhima spoke hiding her laughter even though she knew niki loved abhi as madly as he loved her.
"aise mat bolo tum. Acha phir se… niki! I love you…and…i…" abhi started again but broke down all over again.
"phir wohi baat. Abhi kitni baar rehearsal karoge tum?? Ab chod do. Wo ayegi tabhi bolna" ridhima started to turn around but abhi held her hand and stopped her.
"ridhima tum smajh nahi rahi ho na. I hv got butterflies in my stomach niki kabhi bhi ati hogi" abhi looked towards the door anxiously..
"I know tabhi keh rahi hun bas chod do ub"
"acha bas ek or baar" abhi raised his finger and closed his eyes pleadingly.
"fine" ridhima raised her shoulders and let him hold her hand.
"niki! I love you…" abhi started and broke down but took a deep breath as ridhima didn't interrupted him,
"I love you! Will you… will you marry me??" abhi spoke with a little difficulty and he looked at ridhima with hopeful eyes waiting for the answer.
"yes! Yes! And yes abhi I love you too and I will marry you" ridhima replied letting him breath and showing him that niki would give him this answer while they were oblivious to the door opening behind them.
"yess yess yess" abhi stood up shouting and turned around on his heel with his hands in air.
"great going guys" they heard a deep voice.
"array arman tum agaye! ao na!" ridhima saw him and she called him in happily.
"ye sb…" arman started but ridhima interrupted him excitedly stepping forward.
"dekho na abhi just…"
"proposed you?" arman completed her sentence in a cold voice with raised eyebrows.
"what??" abhi stopped and looked at arman in shock while ridhima froze on her spot.
"I saw it! Jiya was right. From the very beginning" arman spoke taking his hands out from his pockets.
"what??? What are you talking about arman?" abhi spoke but ridhima just kept frozen on the spot looking at arman as if she had seen a ghost.
"you!! You took away my friends… you just… you are a witch" arman pointed at ridhima and then waved his hand in a way as if she was nothing and started walking out.
"arman you're getting it all wrong dude" abhi started.
"just shut up abhi! I don't even want to talk to you. I'm going. I can't take this anymore" arman walked upto the door.
"arman ruko" ridhima found her voice back as she saw arman leaving.
"arman meri baat suno" abhi tried to stop him. Ridhima ran after arman outside the room and caught up with him.
"you know what I don't wana listen to anything in fact I don't even wana see your face" arman said looking at her with venom in his voice and eyes.
"arman listen to me this is wrong" ridhima tried to speak pleadingly.
"yeah! Yeah ridhima this was wrong that you did" arman spoke angrily and sarcastically.
"i didn't do…" ridhima started again.
"THEN WHAT WAS THAT I SAW WITH MY OWN EYES???," arman started shouting at her and she stepped back in fright, "YOU, HAND IN HAND WITH MY FRIEND'S LOVER! I JUST DON'T KNOW WHY I EVER THOUGHT YOU COULD BE OUR FRIEND WHILE YOU WERE THE SERPENT IN US YOU TOOK US ALL APART. JIYA WAS RIGHT ABOUT YOU AND I… DAMN ME! I HAD BEEN DEFENDING YOU THAT NO RIDHIMA IS GOOD AND SEE WHAT RIDHIMA DOES FOR US… JUST GO TO HELL RIDHIMA IN FACT THIS IS HELL AND I'M GOING… I JUST HOPE NIKI REALIZES THIS SOON"
With that arman left them all. He left India and never came back or even contacted them.
Ridhima turned to the other side after kissing the baby's cheek beside her and slept.
"morning" ridhima came downstairs yawning and saw anjali on the dining table. Anjali greeted her.
"morning di" ridhima replied with a sleepy smile who was still in her night shirt and trousers.
"aja nashta ready hai" anjali called her sister.
"han agayi!"
"sun aj sham ko market challenge" anjali said as ridhima took paratha on her plate and started eating it.
"di wo… aj sham ko arman ne apne ghar pe party rakhi hai"
"or tu jarahi hai?" anjali asked anxiously.
"mujhe nahi jana!" ridhima spoke wrinkling her nose.
"to ab?"
"main bol dungi use" ridhima spoke with her mouth filled with a bite.
"tu arman ko bolegi k tujhe nahi jana?"
"nahi main atul ko bol dungi. Usi ne ana tha mujhe lene"
"theek hai jaise teri marzi. Riya ki tension mat lena wo mere pas hi hai" anjali talked about the baby who was sitting near her on the baby chair while she referred of the baby taken care of if ridhima wanted to go to the party.
"han I know"
Ridhima went to the hospital keeping in mind that how to refuse atul and tell him not to come to pick her up when she actually bumped into atul at the same time.
"hey ridzi tum aj arahi ho na?" atul asked just assuring.
"umm atul mujhe tumse kuch baat karni hai" ridhima said but suddenly caught sight of arman coming right behind atul.
"han han kaho" he spoke and ridhima gestured him to start walking and she walked both of them away from arman.
"wo main… aj nahi asakti arman k ghar" she spoke lightly.
"kiyun kiya hua?" atul asked worriedly.
"wo meri behen… uski tabiyat theek nahi hai" ridhima lied.
"oh chalo main arman ko bata dunga. But this party is for you" atul said understandingly and ridhima was glad for the space he gave her.
"I know and m sorry but I can't help it"
"chalo I'll talk to him" atul smiled at her and as he went away ridhima sighed and walked away thinking that she was out of the trouble but she wasn't aware that arman had listened to her every word.
Arman, who had tried to forget what ever happened two years ago and move on in life couldn't forget his friends and specially ridhima, whom he hated too much. After he left USA and came to India he only had niki and abhi as friends and family. Then ridhima came along and he accepted her as well as friend just like abhi and niki did. Then jiya became his girl friend and instantly arman knew that she didn't like ridhima but he ignored the fact. He knew that niki loved abhi and abhi loved her but they both hadn't confessed their love to each other. Since jiya came, she had been pointing that she thought ridhima liked abhi and she was trying to get close to him but arman had told her that abhi and niki loved each other yet jiya kept adamant on her point. The day when the four of them were going to celebrate jiya had told arman to believe her the last time nad go to the hotel a little earlier just to assure himself of abhi and ridhima and he had gone there knowing that he could prove jiya wrong as he himself was getting a few doubts as well as irritated by jiya's constant nagging. But as soon as he got there he found abhi holding ridhima's hand and proposing her. Arman had been angry and broken. Ridhima had broken his trust and his friends as well.
Since then he had hated ridhima like hell. Now that she had come back in his like he wanted to take revenge from her for taking away his friends from him and breaking his trust.

"ridzi tu ne to jana tha na?" anjali asked coming to the room at the evening when she saw ridhima changing diapers of riya.
"nai main ne atul ko bol diya." ridhima replied.
"arman ne kuch nahi kaha?" anjali asked as ridhima got up picking up riya in her arms.
"pata nahi main ne baat nahi ki usse aur waise bhi…" ridhima started to pick up riya's rattle when they both heard a horn honking madly.
"ye horn kaisa hai?? Bar bar baj raha hai!" anjali spoke frowning.
"main dekhti hun" ridhima started towards the window but stopped as her phone rang as well.
"ruk tu fone utha main dekhti hun" anjali said and she went outside while ridhima picked up the phone.
"hello"
"hello ridhima" ridhima heard the deep voice that had now come very close to make her shiver by the coldness in it.
"arm…an tum?"
"yup its me again" the lazy voice came.
"what… is it? I'm sorry main a nahi paongi" ridhima snapped at him frowning and rocked riya in her arms.
"dun worry atul is outside waiting for you. Now hurry up! Bye" he ordered her and then hung up rudely.
"but… wait arman…" ridhima's mouth dropped open in irritation and shock.
"ridzi tere dost aye hain tujhe lene" anjali came in frowning.
"I know di" ridhima sulked and held riya to anjali.
"what's all this about? Tu ne jana nahi tha na" anjali spoke confused.
"ab jana hai" ridhima picked up her dupatta and caught a catcher to tie her hair.
"but…"
"di riya ka khayal rakhna. I'll be back in an hour" she said and came forward to kiss riya on her cheek.
"sure. Ridzi just take care of yourself. Stay away from that guy and if you're in any trouble just give me a call" anjali started anxiously and worriedly referring to arman.
"relax di he is not THAT kind of bad! I'll be ok" ridhima said giving her sister a small smile to assure her.
"take care" anjali said.
"yup bye" ridhima went out after wearing a casual sandals.
Ridhima went out and found a black car outside where rahul, muskan and atul sat.
"so how come you guys are here?" ridhima asked already fearing the answer.
"thanks to arman. He said this was the only way to get you here" atul spoke giving ridhima the expected answer.
"it seems like he knows you quiet well. Do you guys know each other?" muskan asked finally as the question had been bothering her.
"yes. Umm…we knew each other in college" ridhima shifted slightly uncomfortably as the car drove towards the road she had known quiet well two years ago.
"but you seem like you hate each other" rahul asked eyeing ridhima from the rearview mirror.
"we had a fight before we left so yup there are some differences" ridhima spoke quietly trying to put an end to the topic.
"ohh that means arman is trying to clear up the differences" rahul spoke with a smile.
"so sweet of him" muskan said.
"hmm" ridhima smiled at the irony.
After a few minutes they were at the door of their host who wore a black t shirt that hugged his rippled muscled huge body, his broad shoulders, chest and arms and his narrow waist seemed more handsome than two years ago and ridhima wondered how many more girl friends he had had in these years.
"hi guys" his deep voice came.
"hi arman" everyone spoke except ridhima who stood behind with muskan.
"iv been waiting for you like ages" arman spoke as he let all of them in and ridhima felt strangely that he was only referring to her.
"kiya yar ridhima ko lene main der hogayi. Sorry" atul spoke as he slumped on the couch..
"koi baat nahi a to gayi na" arman spoke and ridhima felt his gaze on her but she didn't look at him and stayed quiet.
"yup your idea worked"atul said smiling at ridhima who was helping muskan with her pin that had stuck in her dupatta and pretended to ignore arman and atul's talk.
"my ideas always work"
"so what's the plan?" rahul asked excitedly.
"cake katainge and then we'll have dinner, phir dance, phir movie and then drive per jayenge sb" arman spoke in one go while his arms were placed stretched out on the back of his couch while he leaned lazily on the couch.
"sounds cool so where's the cake?? Hamesha ki tarha chocolate hai?" muskan asked excitedly.
"nai this time it's strawberry! Kisi ka favourite hai?" arman spoke again, his voice changing to depth again and ridhima raised her brows irritated at him.
"really? Kiska?" rahul asked but already knowing the answer was ridhima because they all loved chocolate.
"our guest of honour! Ridhima" arman spoke and ridhima knew it was sarcasm while everyone else whistled excitedly.
"aha that's great or kiya kiya ridhima ki pasand ka hai?" atul asked.
"well movie, music, dinner sb usi ki pasand ka hai" arman spoke again and ridhima wished to have a bat in her hand and blow it on his head.
"awesome to chalo phir what are we waiting for. Let's cut the cake" rahul spoke and arman stood up nodding his head.
Arman had had written on the cake with cream 'al the best ridhima' and she smiled sarcastically knowing the irony behind it. She knew arman had it written on purpose telling her that he was going to give her a tough time.
"I never thought you knew about my taste" ridhima spoke as she cut the cake and gave them all a bite with her own hand and then stood where arman was already standing beside her as he was the host.
"I know a lot about you if you don't remember well" he spoke with a sarcastic smile and looked straight in her eyes while she did the same. She walked sideways while he followed her as well meanwhile rahul, muskan and atul were busy eating and were laughing at something that sister stella did in hospital today.
"what do you want??" her smile vanished and she spoke in a deadly calm and quiet voice.
"later dear! We'll have our little fight later or do you want to create a scene?" he spoke with the same calmness.
"oye tum dono yahan kiya kar rahe ho??? Catching up on old times?" muskan came towards them with her mouth full with cake.
"what??" arman spoke shocked that how come she knew that he and ridhima knew each other.
"yup ridima told us that you guys knew each other in college" muskan told him.
"knew?? Just knew ridhima?" arman looked at her with a lazy grin and he cocked his brow at her.
"yes!" she snapped at him.
"waise if you guys only knew each other how come you know about her taste so much arman?" muskan asked oblivious to their cold war.
"should I tell ridhima?" arman gave her a challenged look.
"tell whatever you like arman" she smiled coldly at him.
"what is it? Is everything ok?" muskan was no longer unaware of their verbal war.
"I think we should start dinner" arman spoke taking his gaze away from ridhima's.
"han yaar bohat bhook lagi hai" muskan also thought it best to change the topic and arman called them all towards the dining table.
"wow Italian! Ridhima you like Italian?" atul exclaimed as he raised the lid of the dishes.
"she loves it" arman spoke instead of her while she just pasted a smile on her face for the sake of the others while from inside she just wanted to throw these dishes on arman's head.
While they all chatted, ridhima ignored arman but he kept asking for her thoughts on every subject that was raised. Over all the environment was happy only when ridhima managed to ignore him totally. She was talking to muskan about something when her cell phone rang. She excused and got up from the table. Everyone got busy again in their chat except arman who had his eyes and ears on ridhima who picked up her cell phone,
"hello"
"hello ridzi wo niki ka fone aya tha abhi" anjali's voice hit her ear.
"niki ka fone?? Kiya hua sb theek to hai?" ridhima asked excitedly, lowering her volume so that nobody especially arman wouldn't listen and walked in a corner that led to the powder room.
"han actually wo keh rahi thi k uski parson raat ki flight hai. They both are coming back"
"yaa? that's great. Riya kahan hai?" ridhima asked happily.
"han usi k liye kiya tha fone. Uski tabiyat kuch theek nahi lag rahi. Roti jarahi hai wo. Hosake to thoda jaldi aja tu"
"main abhi ayi di. Don't worry. Bye" ridhima hung up the phone worriedly and turned around only to find arman standing there with his hands on his waist and his jaw set rigidly.
"who was that?" he asked curtly.
"that's none of your business" she snapped at him and started to walk past him but he caught her upper arm firmly.
"it is. Niki k baray main kiya baat kar rahi thi tum?" he asked.
"oh so you remember her still?" she mocked him.
"ridhima tell me" he pulled her towards him.
"you don't deserve to be told arman" she tugged at her arm only to be held more tightly.
"you have no idea how much… just how much iv hated you in these two years. Jal raha tha main ek aag main. You took away my only friends and family from me" he spoke with so much venom and ridhima knew that he actually was burning with anger and hatred.
"no arman! You drifted apart yourself. I didn't do anything. Or jis aag ki baat kar rahe ho na tum wo tum ne khud lagayi thi or usmen sirf tum hi jale ho or koi nahi. Sb aj bhi waise hi hain jaise tb the balke usse kaheen ziada khush hain" she pulled herself away from him and stood about a feet away.
"shut up! Mujhe batao niki kaisi hai? And where's abhi? How come you guys still know each other? You must have lied to niki! Bataya nahi k abhi and you have been betraying her? Bolo ridhima" he asked all questions in one go.
"aise bohat se jawab de jo main tumhare ankahe sawalon k dena chahti thi do saal pehle per ab nahi. I won't tell you anything. Tum sawal karte reh jaoge per main tumhain koi jawab nahi dungi. Or jin logon k baaray main tum ab puch rahe ho unka khayal in do salon main nahi aya?? Ek baar bhi nahi pucha k sb kaise hain?" she smirked at him.
"that's because you were with them" he spat at her.
"I still am with them." She kept smirking angering him more with every ticking second.
"ridhima don't try to…" he took a dangerous step towards her.
"iv to go arman! M not here to listen to your nonsense" she ignored him and started towards the door.
"you can't go…" he blocked her way just then they heard rahu's voice,
"hey guys tum log yahan… sb theek to hai?" he stopped in his tracks as he saw them both serious.
"han sb theek hai. Rahul tum mujhe ghar drop kar sakte ho?" ridhima spoke.
"what? abhi? Per abhi to…" rahul looked from arman to ridhima.
"rahul it's urgent. Mujhe jana hai"
"come on ridhima it can't be that urgent" arman leaned with the cupboard lazily cocking his brows.
"exactly ridhima you can wait na. movie dekh kar chali jana" rahul spoke.
"rahul I have to go" ridhima ignored arman.
"kiyun ridhima kiya jaldi hai tumhain? Koi mar raha hai kiya?" arman asked again mockingly in a faint hope of getting some answer.
"shut up arman! Its about a ba…" ridhima snapped at him angrily.
"ruk kiyun gayi bolo???" arman asked again sarcastically. This girl was really testing his patience.
"tum chal rahe ho rahul?" ridhima breathed and asked rahul.
"rahul kahen nahi jaraha" arman spoke before rahul could agree.
"fine I'll go by myself" ridhima said and stormed out.
"arman I'll just be back" rahul hit arman's shoulder lightly and ran out behind ridhima.
"guys m going. M sorry but I gotta go" ridhima came out and spoke apologetically to the others while arman and rahul came following her outside.
"why is everything alright?" muskan stepped forward looking behind at arman to ridhima.
"meri behen… she's just… not well" ridhima lied finding it difficult to lie in front of arman.
"is it anything serious?" atul asked.
"nai nahi nothing serious but I still have to go"
"ok let's do one thing. We'll skip the movie and dance and we can all go on the drive. Is it fine?" atul sorted out a solution after a moment.
"yup that sounds great if its ok with you ridhima?" rahul said.
"yup sure why not" ridhima spoke with a little hasitation.
"great let's go" muskan spoke and they all headed outside after picking up there stuff.
The drive was mostly quiet for both arman and ridhima while the others noticed the tension between them but decided to avoid it. Soon they all stopped at ridhima's house and nobody asked how did arman knew the address so well that he didn't even ask her once where did she lived.
"won't you call us in?" atul asked as ridhima got out.
"umm… wo…main…" ridhima glanced at arman who kept his eyes solely on the steering wheel.
"come on ridhima be a little hospitable… won't you call us in?" rahul asked teasingly and they all got out slowly.
"I would guys…but…"
"we won' take long just see if your sister is alright and then we'll go" muskan said and they all headed towards the door while ridhima stood beside the car.
"b…but…"
"what is it 'ridzi'? trying to hide something 'again'?" arman spoke near her ear in a whisper as he got out of the car. Ridhima looked back at him and saw the sarcasm, the venom and hatred.
"go to hell" she whispered one word at a time and walked ahead to the others.
The door opened and out came anjali,
"hey ridz…I" she stopped as she saw four other people with her sister.
"hi di… come on in guys" ridhima spoke meekly and stepped aside to let all of them in. arman lingered a while near ridhima an dthen went inside.
"hi we are ridhima's friends. Sorry to budge in like this but we just wanted to see if you're alright" atul spoke and rahul and muskan nodded with a sweet smile.
"I'm perfectly fine. Umm ridhima you go and see riya. She's crying like anything in your bedroom and you guys come inside" anjali sent ridhima inside and pointed towards the couches where they all sat while anjali eyed arman as she had seen him in pictures and they had met her as well. She nodded at arman who smiled back.
"who's riya?" rahul asked.
"she's… umm… she's a baby" anjali spoke with hasitation as arman's head shot up at the mention of baby.
"really? Who's baby?" arman asked.
"a… friend's. you guys sit I'll brink drinks" anjali excused herself quickly before arman asked any more questions.
"sure we never say no to drinks" atul shrugged his shoulders and smiled while arman stood up and went inside avoiding everyone's eyes and followed ridhima inside her room after making an excuse to go to bathroom.

"awww mama alahi(arahi) hai baby ki! Dun cry baby! It'sh(its) ok! Bash bash(bas bas)! Shonu ka kiya hua? Come on now" ridhima was calming the crying riya and was rocking her lovingly in her arms cuddling her to herself.
"who's baby is it?" came arman's lazy drawl from the door. Ridhima looked back and saw him leaning his shoulder to the door frame.
"what are you doing here?" she asked in a low tone but an angry one.
"I asked something" he snapped at her and stepped forward.
"I asked something too. Did you forgot your manners?" she snapped back.
"and did you forgot his dad?" he spoke and ridhima's mouth dropped open at the vileness of his question.
"what??" she whispered in shock as she couldn't found her voice while she stopped rocking the bay.
"isn't it your baby? Abhi and you? Or some one else?" he asked sarcastically and ridhima raised her hand as she took in her breath but stopped herself immediately. As his eyes traveled on her raised hand lazily yet hatefully, she closed her eyes and let out her breath and dropped her hand to her side and spoke hoarsely,
"you know what, the last time when everything happened I thought it couldn't get any worse but you just proved me wrong… you are the worst creature I've ever seen. Get out and keep your eyes off the baby" with that arman smirked at her and walked out. She slumped on the bed and his disgusting words rang in her ears. How could he get so low?? She never thought he would be like that.
Ridhima didn't heard the soft footsteps in her room,
"why don't you tell him ridzi?" came anjali's voice who apparently had heard the fight.
"I won't" she spoke frozenly and got up with riya in her arms.
"but why? It will save you all this hatred" anjali said pleadingly seeing the pain and hurt in her sister's voice and eyes.
"I don't want to. i went through hell in these two years because of his words and now he will suffer not knowing the answers" ridhima replied adamantly.
"this is wrong" anjali tried to make her sister see the pain she would go through.
"might be. I don't care" with that ridhima went out carrying riya who had stopped crying in ridhima's arms.
Ridhima came out and saw arman sitting beside atul on the couch and anjali came from behind. Ridhima handed her riya and went in the kitchen to do some work while anjali sat with her friends.
"so who's baby is it?" muskan asked caressing the baby.
"umm… ridzi's friends… abhi and niki" anjali looked back to check that ridhima was out of sight and then spoke in a lowered voice. Only arman noticed the checking and lowered volume.
"wow" rahul smiled and held the baby.
"are they married?" arman asked immediately/
"of course arman. How stupid question was that?" muskan said horrified looking at him.
"I mean… can we see the pictures?" arman looked at anjali who understood quiet well that he wanted to know everything.
"errr wo ridhima k pas hain" she narrowed her eyes apologetically.
"and when did they got married?" he asked again while the other three were oblivious to the matter as they got busy playing with the baby who smiled and squealed at them happily.
"two years ago" anjali told him quickly and looked back to see ridhima who was still inside the kitchen.
"so why's the baby with ridhima?" arman asked.
"because they both have gone to paris to see niki's father"
"what happened to him?"
"he was ill and then he died" anjali replied.
"oh" and before arman could ask any more questions ridhima was back with stiff and angry eyes leaving arman with even more confusion. He was adamant that what he had seen two years ago was the truth then how come they both were married? Was the baby really abhi and niki's or was it some compromise? Were they cheating ridhima? Or did abhi left ridhima? But if he left her then why were they still together and what was their baby doing with ridhima? Why wasn't ridhima telling him anything? Only ridhima could give him those answers.
When ridhima picked up the glasses and went in the kitchen to wash them, arman followed her after glancing at anjali who nodded,
"are you betraying them so well or is it just niki?" she jumped at hearing his voice so near behind her while she placed the glasses on the stand.
"arman what do you want?" she turned around at him angrily.
"I want answers. This is hell lot of complicated" she saw the restlessness in his eyes to know the truth and answers to his questions.
"you made it yourself for you" she replied curtly.
"what are you ridhima? Two years and you and abhi did it so well. How?" he started sarcastically.
"I won't tell you" she said looking staright in his eyes and one word at a time.
"you…" he took a step towards her clenching his teeth but she didn't moved a step when suddenly muskan came in,
"arman shall we go?" she stopped as she saw the closeness between arman and ridhima and sensed she stepped in the wrong time or perhaps… the right one.
"han chalo" he said still looking at ridhima with hatred.
"I'll see you tomorrow" he told her and she knew it wasn't over yet. Her gaze followed him outside and she closed her eyes. Di was right that this was going to be difficult but it was already difficult and she wanted to see him suffer the way she did.

That whole night arman kept thinking about everything. What had actually happened two years ago?? What happened between these two years? What games have been ridhima playing? Or was abhi also playing the game?? Did niki know?? How was niki? Where was she and abhi? If niki knew why was she married to abhi? Or perhaps abhi and ridhima were lying to her? God…he needed answers… and he was going to get them tomorrow… at all cost.

thnx alot crazy_4_karan and moonlight2630

Hey nice concept....Do PM me whn u update next....

omg thats wicked i love it plz add me to ur pm list

plz continue soon it was reaally interesting