AR FF: Love is.. [Link to my work+Thread 2: Pg 1] - Page 59

PART 10

NOTE: everything in italics is a part of their thoughts. This is how it's gonna be from now on! :)

Armaan could almost hear her thinking. He'd started their banter for fun but she really thought she could beat him? "We'll see just how good you are Riddhima Gupta."

And without saying anything further they both placed the ball in the middle, ready for the kick off.

"Whoever scores 5 goals first, wins. Deal?" he asked the challenge clearly evident in his voice.

"Deal. What about other rules?" she questioned. She wasn't going to let him get away with ANYTHING.

He smirked and winking at her, said, "What other rules?" Laughing at her annoyed face and grabbing the opportunity, he kicked the ball. The game was on.

So that was how it was gonna be huh? Two seconds later she bolted after the ball trying to control it.

She ran after him, easily matching his pace and using her skills to pry the ball out of his control and direct it into her direction. There was no way Armaan was winning this.

Armaan watched her from the corner of his eyes. She was good he realized. He should've known, he thought. She never said anything she didn't mean! He remembered the first time he'd met her. Even then she was like this. Cool, focused and very, very confident. It was admirable, he conceded.

Riddhima saw him zone out for a while. That was all she needed. She quickly deviated the ball and using all her strength and speed, she ran towards the goal post, with Armaan not far behind. They were both panting by now, even though it was barely 15 minutes into the game. They were breathing heavily having run all over the place in pursuit of the ball. Dodging, kicking, tackling their way through the came they left no stone turned in the race to score the first goal. By now, they'd realized they were more or less equally matched and the game propelled in to high intensity. Finally, after running till she thought her heart would stop beating, she fought her way towards the goal post and slammed the ball into it.

"Goal!" she screamed. Ha! I did it! Take that Armaan. Hope it helps in shoving your monumental ego right out of the window.

He watched her smirk in exultation as she shot the first goal. Annoyed, he tried to keep his expression nonchalant, hoping it was sending the message that he was indifferent, when he knew he wasn't. What the hell dude? How did she manage to score before you? Football is YOUR thing Armaan. Don't let her beat you at your own game! And where on earth did she learn to play like that? She played like him. Rough and unbelievably fast. Arghh...focus Armaan, focus.

"It's only the first goal Riddhima...itna udo mat!"

"Haan haan. Tum toh yahi kahoge. After all you haven't even scored yet!" and sticking her tongue out at him she lunged for the ball again, hoping to beat him 5-nil.

Armaan almost smiled at her childishness but willing himself to focus, he ran after her. One goal more and she'd be soaring in the skies. After all he was the one boasting about his skills!

90 minutes into the game and the score was 3-2 to Armaan. Her heart hammered and she felt like stopping for breath. But she heard him grunt as he ran faster and she willed herself to run more. Only 3 more goals to go. They were drenched in sweat and were out of breath but neither of them stopped. He panted heavily as he tried to dominate the ball and steer the game towards his goal post, but she wasn't gonna let him do that! He saw her pant and her face was all read but he could see her upping her game every moment and although he admired her stamina, he'd be damned if he let her win. Armaan Malik never loses.

Riddhima felt him catching up to her. They were at war. Hell she didn't even think soldiers fought like this! There was so much passion...so much stamina and the tension created by their silence, which was accentuated by their grunts in order to score, was palpable. It was do or die. Neither one of them was going to back down. They both knew this.

She pushed herself harder. Come on Riddhima. You have to make the score level. You can't let Mr. Ex-Captain of the uni football team beat you! Up your game, baby. It's time to shove his game right in his face.

Armaan watched her as she ran faster than ever. He wondered where her motivation came from. She was so driven all the time! He watched her, distracted by the shape of curves which were emphasized as her t-shirt clung to her body, drenched with sweat. She's beautiful...so, so perfect. Perfect??? What the-? Oh my God what's wrong with me? Focus on the game Armaan. ONLY on the game. He felt his resolve to focus crush when he saw beads of sweat trickling down he spine seductively. He itched to touch them. TOUCH them? Shit...I really, really, really need to do something about this stupid crush or it'll ruin everything! He snapped out of his jumbled thoughts when he heard her jubilant cry.

Walking up to him, Riddhima saw his face. He was looking at her with the strangest expression and something in his eyes made her shiver...in a good tingly sort of way. Good tingly sort of way? Listen to yourself Ridzy! Pagal sound kar rahi ho! Oh God...yeh ho kya gaya mujhe? Pehle bhi score 2 par equal tha par pata nahi mujhe achanak uske muscles mein kya interest jaaga aur usne score kar diya! Concentrate Riddhima. Pehle toh tujhe yeh problem kabhi nahi hoti thi. Yeh Armaan na ek din meri jaan nikaal dega. Arghh!

Snapping herself out of her warped mind's useless thoughts, she snapped her fingers in front of her face, bringing him back from his thoughts.

"Kya hua? Thak gaye ho? Koi baat nahi...tum haar maan sakte ho. Waise bhi, it's anyone's game now..." she trailed off grinning at him.

"Haar maanlu? Aur woh bhi tumse? Please! The game's still on babe." And with that they were at it again.

It was two hours into the game and the scores were in her favour, 4-3. She only had to score one more and then she'd win. Just as she was advancing towards the goal post he came in front of her. He kept walking towards her coming closer and closer while she tried her level best to remove those unhealthy thoughts that were starting to plague her mind again. She wished he would stop. It really was getting difficult for her to focus on the football and looking into those piercing blue eyes didn't help one bit!

He kept coming closer to her until their bodies were almost touching. They were both breathing heavily, and were drenched with sweat but he just kept coming closer and their proximity was making her lose her sanity. The ball was still in between her feet but neither of them moved, for a long immeasurable moment.

"Armaan?" she asked him, unsure of how to proceed.

He didn't say a word. He just kept staring at her with those blue eyes and she lost herself in their magnetic stare. No...no...no. This is wrong. Look away Riddhima. This is dangerous. These feelings are dangerous. What is it about him that makes me lose my sanity?! I don't know WHO I become when I'm around him! Pata nahi ho kya jaata hai mujhe! Stop staring Riddhima. STOP.

"Uh...umm...Ar-Armaan? Kya kar rahe ho?"

He came closer to her and with his lips at her ear, he whispered, "Goal score raha hoon."

Before she could comprehend he laughed and taking the ball, slammed it in the goal post, while she was rooted to the spot.

Riddhima meanwhile, was fuming. That idiot! Ullu ka pattha....kameena....usne purposely yeh kiya? Aur main pagalon ki tarah pata nahi kya soch rahi thi. Oh no. Iss aadmi ke liye mujhe kabhi koi feelings ho hi nahi sakti. How immature can he be? Looking at me as if he was going to....wait what am I thinking? Ussne score level kar diya! I have to score...Two can play the same game Armaan. Just wait.

She ran after the ball with renewed fervour while he looked at her. Kitni cute hai. Waise toh kabhi pata nahi chalne deti ki woh kya soch rahi hai but sometimes there's all these expressions on her face which anyone can read and figure out. She's angry at me for that thing....usse kya pata maine usse almost kiss kiya tha....she doesn't know I was coming towards her because I wanted to kiss her then and there. Woh toh finally sahi tie par akkal thikaane aa gayi warna aaj toh...God! I hate these feelings. I don't want them!!! Why don't they just disappear, damn it! Arghh...game par dhyaan de dude.

Riddhima looked at him running after the ball. She was furious. Not at him, because that thing back there was exactly the kind of immaturity she expected him to display, but at herself because she fell right into it! It's payback time Armaan...

She went up to him, purposely making herself trip so that she'd fall right into his arms. They stared at each other for what felt like hours until Riddhima remembered that she was supposed to score. Helping herself up she put her hands in his shoulders and leaned in slowly, as if to kiss him.

Armaan was shocked. He thought he was the only one who had those disturbing feelings...she was going to kiss him? He looked at her while she came even closer, making him lose his mind. Her strawberry smelling hair blew into his face and wrecked havoc with his senses as he tried to collect himself. Just then he felt her hot breath near his ears and she said, "Did you really think I was going to kiss you?" and then giving a peal of laughter she took the ball away and scored the fifth goal, winning the game, while a slow smile formed on his lips, before he wiped it off, and ran after her.

They ran all around the garden, forgetting their fatigue. She laughed as he tried to catch her and ran faster. Just then she felt her self getting drenched. She looked up but it wasn't raining. Whatever it was, it was so blissful that she just spread her arms wide, enjoying the feel of the water on her skin.

Armaan watched her as he came up to her. She was so beautiful. She was childish, adorable and completely sure of herself. He loved that!

Running up to her he said, "Sorry! Umm actually I forgot to turn the sprinklers off."

"It's okay! It feels amazing anyway!"

They sat down, getting soaked but loving it. The silence was peaceful and neither of them said a word.

Suddenly, Riddhima sneezed, breaking the serenity of the evening. They were both startled out of their thoughts. He quickly helped her up and said, "Come in. You'll catch a cold...chalo!"

Se came with him, shivering slightly as she felt the chill. They entered the house and Riddhima looked appreciatively at the simple but tasteful dcor. She already loved this place. It was one of those homey places that you fall in love with in no time!

He stopped abruptly and she looked back.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Woh actually, we're all wet, muddy and sweaty and we need a shower right?"

"Right. Par ussme itna sochne wali kaunsi baat hai?"

"Riddhima, yeh mera ghar hai. I have clothes that I can wear. What about you?"

She cocked her head thinking about his question. She didn't have anything extra to wear...neither of them had thought about this!

His voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Umm if you don't mind, you could wear my t-shirt and boxers...." he trailed off embarrassedly.

"Won't they be big for me?"

"I'll find the smallest ones....that is if you don't mind..."

"No! I mean, no I don't mind. Umm where do I take the shower?"

"Come, I'll show you."

~~~~~~~~~~

The part is now complete :) Haha their evening isn't over yet.....but all that'll be in the next part! If any of you found the part boring because of too much football then I'm so sorry! But it WAS a football "Date" so I had to put football in there :D

Please, please, please COMMENT! Doesn't matter whether you like it, hate it or whatever. Just comment to let me know what you think. Even silent readers. It doesn't take too long. Believe me :)

xoxo

Aanya