TheWorld'sOldestStory!!#9|NewThreadLink[pg1/150] - Page 66

Riddhima was so nervous that she just continued to fumble.. "Papa.. Woh.. Woh..", oh god! Was she even going to say anything else.. Armaan on the other hand just stood behind Riddhima with his head hanging down, his gaze stuck on Shanky's chappals.. What if he hit him with those!! At that thought he looked up at Shanky immediately, only to meet his murderous eyes..

And as expected, as soon as their eyes met a fiery glare was thrown right at him that burnt a way through him through and through.. He looked away to save himself again as Riddhima continued with her 'who-papa's..

"Riddhima.. ", Armaan's head shot up at the first word that came out of Shanky's mouth.. And to his surprise there wasn't a hint of anger in it.. Was he the same guy who was ready to break the door down five minutes back!!

"Jee papa.. ", a visibly nervous Riddhima asked him tentatively..

"Main paanch minute se darwaze par tha.. You didn't open it..", he merely stated, his tone casual.. But Armaan's heart beat that had slowed a little at his sasurjee's lack of overreaction picked up pace again.. He knew this was a new trap that Shanky was trying to get him in.. The good cop-bad cop treatment probably..

Armaan just stared at the buttons on Shanky's kurta.. Buttons!! Damn them!! But again he could hear a faint voice from his head.. His mind was trying to tell him something again.. Why was he noticing buttons around him!!

"Papa who.. Who.. Actually.. Who..", Riddhima stuttered her answer, not really giving a coherent answer to her papa's rhetorical question..

Shashank, who's gaze was stuck on Armaan, who for some weird reason was looking at the buttons on his kurta.. He knew this guy was mad!! But he couldn't bear his daughters nonsensical blabber anymore.. "Who kya Riddhima.. ", he asked her, still glaring at her fiance..

Armaan looked down, then up at him again, and realized that Shanky papa wasn't taking his glare off him.. So that question was probably meant for him.. But he didn't understand why he was asking them this.. Like he didn't know!! Wouldn't it be awkward if they actually told him what they were doing.. This had to be a trick question..

Shanky on the other hand stood there deriving sadistic pleasure as he watched his daughter fumble with words and his damaad-to-be hiding behind her. He just glared on, mostly at Armaan..

While Armaan just wondered on at what sort of a death sentence he was headed for.. "Armaan.. Say somethin!!", he heard Riddhima hiss angrily at him as she stamped his foot, bringing him out of his thoughts.. He realized that he had to save the situation here or else Basket would hand him a divorce even before they got married. Under that kind of pressure it was a do or die situation for him. And lying was the only way out. So he made up his mind to lie. But its in these kinds of situations that you don't know how to make up one.. "Sir actually.. uuuhhh.. Papa.. actually.. Hum.. Uuuhhh' uhhh.. Haan.. We were in the balcony..", he managed something, his forehead scrunched up in concentration as he tried making up something between the 'uuuh's with elaborate hand movements that always accompanied when he found something hard to explain.. "We were talking.. Yeah!!.. We were talking.. You know.. Discuss kar rahe the. Uuhh.. Uuuhhh.. Humara future and all. I am sure you understand. ".. he smiled sheepishly as he almost confidently dished out the lie..

Dr. Shashank raised his brows as he heard Armaan's attempt at something that both of them knew was a lie.. "Really Armaan? That's wonderful.. I know bohot important discussion hota hai yeh.. About the future and all.. I do completely understand..", he tried hard not to grind his teeth together trying to act all calm..

Armaan however was completely taken aback by this approach of sasurjee.. "You do?.. Really?", he asked him, still in a daze only to find Riddhima's elbow nudge him right in his stomach.. "oWW!!", he moved away from her, glaring at her as he rubbed the spot that she had certainly made sore.. Riddhima glared back at him, clenched her teeth at his frown.. But almost immediately her scowl turned into shock and horror as she noticed Armaan's unbuttoned shirt!! In all the frenzy with her 'buttons' they had completely forgotten about his!!! Was that a hickey she had left!!! OMFG!! What were they going to do now!!

Armaan, who was still wondering why Riddhima's expressions changed so suddenly followed her gaze down to himself.. And that's when realization struck!! They both stared at each other in shock, eyes wide open, wondering what fate had in store for them! Why! Why.. Why did they always get on the wrong side of sasurjee.. Why! Why! Why!!!

Both of them turned towards monster Shanky slowly, hoping he hadn't noticed the situation yet.. But alas.. The murder in his eyes told them that it was too late.. The damage was done.. The intensity of his glare had exponentially risen as he looked at the disheveled state that Armaan was in..

"Oh!!Crap!!", Armaan's eyes widened even more in terror, grabbing the end of Riddhima's duppatta as he covered himself with it, hiding behind her again, wondering what Shanky was going to do with him now.. Riddhima on the other hand was tugging at her dupatta from the front, wanting to run away from there before she embarrasses herself more in front of her dad.. This could be singled out as the most embarrassing moment of her life.. And she really wasn't in a mood to face it..

Both of them watched sasurjee with horrified expressions on their faces as he glared mostly at Armaan.. But their hearts almost stopped when they realized he was walking towards them.. Armaan's grip on Riddhima's arm tightened as he could sense an outburst from his Shanky papa any moment now.. As they waited with bated breath for the harangue to start, Shashank kept walking towards them and finally.. Walked past them?.. A confused Armaan and Riddhima turned around to see what sasurjee was upto, Armaan turning with Riddhima still in front of him, almost using her as a shield..

"Riddhima..", they heard his voice all of a sudden and both of them cringed, almost closing their eyes in fear, wondering how he was going to murder them today.. But what they heard next left them completely baffled, "Riddhima.. You should go down.. Dekho tumhari mom ko kitchen mein help ki zaroorat toh nahi hai.. ", Dr. Shashank said in a very controlled voice, though Armaan knew he wanted nothing but to scream right now!!

Riddhima, however, was so confused by what her dad said that it took her a minute to gather her thoughts.. She just stared at him in utter disbelief.. "Riddhima.. I think you should go down..", she heard her dad say again..That brought her out for good.. She nodded slowly, relieved that her dad wasn't going to make this an embarrassing issue.. But then why was his jaw still clenched.. Who cared!! As long as they were getting away with this.. He was really turning into a cool dad, wasn't he!! She couldn't believe that he was letting go of this issue so easily.. But as she started moving forward she felt some resistance and realized that Armaan was walking out with her, keeping close to her as he tugged at her dupatta, trying hard to save his izzat.. "Armaan.. ", she hissed as she pulled her duppatta hard, but Armaan had held her arm well and was moving out slowly with her before Shanky changes his mind about letting them off the hook so easily..

Dr. Shashank watched as his nalayak damaad-to-be tried to make the escape and almost grinned at the state he was in.. He was sweating with all the tension now.. But he wasn't going to let him go this easily.. He had to talk to him.. Their proximity of any kind made him uncomfortable.. And that was becoming too embarrassing for him to handle now-a-days..

"Armaan.. Tum kahan ja rahe ho?..", he asked as Armaan was caught in his stealth..

"Papa.. Main who.. Main.. Padma mom ko help karne.. Mehmaan aane waale hain na.. She may need help..", he tried his best to sound convincing, but failed miserably..

"Riddhima.. Tum neeche jao.. I need to talk to Armaan.. Akele mein..", as soon as Armaan heard him he shouted, "Nahi.. "

Seeing both the father and the daughter glare at him, he changed his tone quickly, "Mera matlab.. Uh.. Appko jo bhi kehna hai.. Riddhima ke saamne kahiye na..", he said cautiously, dreading what Shanky would do with him if Basket left him alone..

But Shashank had started enjoying this now, "Jee nahi.. Riddhima.. Tum jao.. I need to talk to Armaan in private.. ", he almost ordered Riddhima.. And well .. Was she ever going to defy that.. She looked worriedly at a terrified Armaan who was pleading to her through his eyes not to leave him alone.. But then.. She really didn't have the guts to say anything else after this embarrassing encounter that they had just had with her dad.. With a heavy heart and a lot of effort, she wringed her hand out of Armaan's grip and pulled her dupatta, apologizing to him in a whisper, before walking away.. Armaan had no choice but to let her go.. His heart raced as he watched her go and finally shut his eyes before turning around to face the terror called Shanky!!

"So Armaan!.. Aap normally shirt kholke baatein karte hain.. Ya aaj koi special occasion hai.. ", Dr. Shashank's sarcastic question came the minute Riddhima left the two of them alone in her room..

Armaan was startled by the question and immediately realized that shirt was still unbuttoned.."Jee!! Nahi woh. Woh.. Main.. ", he spluttered as he held the front ends of his shirt close together to save himself, wishing he could disappear from that place like he had never wished before..

"Please could you button yourself up.. I m feeling uncomfortable.. ", Shanky spat as he glared at him and his over reaction.. Did he think he was going to molest him or something! God knows why this guy was the one his daughter had chosen for herself..

Armaan on the other hand started buttoning up in a frenzy.. Shanky's raised voice setting him off completely.. Sometimes he cursed the damn buttons that refused to coordinate with him and sometimes he cursed Shanky who was being the biggest pain in his back right now!! He was the one feeling uncomfortable!! Really!! Did he really think he was enjoying this situation.. Oh God!! Why Shanky!! Why why why Shanky for a sasurjee.. Even Gabbar himself would have been less scarier.. But now he had to make do with what he had.. He struggled with the buttons as he tried to do them up in a hurry, making a mess of it all.. What was with these buttons today!! Why were all of them on Team Shanky!!!

Dr. Shashank shook his head in irritation as he looked at the messed up job that Armaan had done with his buttons.. How can a guy not know how to wear a shirt properly!! Was this buffoon really going to be his son-in-law!! How did Riddhima ever fall for him.. But nothing could be done about that now.. Plus he had more important issues to discuss with him.. "Sit down..", he asked Armaan to sit on the stool next to the bed..

Armaan flinched as he heard his voice, expecting him to start screaming at him.. Then realized that his tone was pretty friendly.. How was that possible!! "Nahi.. I am okay.. Main khada hi theek hoon..", he replied a little warily..

"Armaan Mallik.. Chup chaap baith Jayiye..", came a crisp order from General Shanky!! Yeah he was back!! Why did he have to test his patience!!

Armaan did not waste any more time and immediately dropped his ass on the stool before he infuriated his sasurjee anymore than he already had..

"Look Armaan.. I know this is going to be embarrassing for you and for me.. For the both of us.. You know.. Par mujhe yeh karne par aapne hi majboor kiya hai..", Dr. Shashank said, chuckling sheepishly in the middle, clearly painfully embarrassed by what he was about to do..

Armaan was even more scared than he was earlier.. What the hell was this devil planning to do with him!!

And he didn't have to wait too long to find out as he heard, "Armaan.. You are like a son to me.. Tum mere bete jaise ho..", Shanky's words reverberated in Armaan's head as they left his mouth.. This had to be a dream! Did Shanky just say that..

Shashank looked at Armaan's open mouth and grinned a little before pulling up a stool next to him.. Boy this was going to be fun!!

Armaan watched in bewilderment as his sasurjee took a seat next to him.. He couldn't figure out if he was having a nightmare or a dream.. But he almost jumped out of his seat when he felt Dr. Shashank thump his back as he sat down.. But Dr. Shashank was quick to pull him back down.. "Relax Mallik.. "

Armaan's eyebrows looked like they were going to disappear in his hair.. Who was this man!!

Dr. Shashank let out another short chuckle before continuing his lecture.. "So.. As I was saying.. Aap mere bete jaise hain.. I mean.. If I had a son like you.. I would have.. You know.. Had this talk with him.. "

Armaan's eyes widened in horror at those words.. Was Shanky going to do what he thought he was going to.. No no !! He's rather let him kill him than have this talk.. He had already embarrassed him enough at the airport before leaving to Singapore.. But Really!! What did this man think! He was a doctor for god sake!!

Shashank, unaware of the storm that had flooded Armaan's mind continued his so called talk, "So.. I was saying.. Ki.. I understand you Armaan.. "

And Armaan did a double take at yet another line that Shanky had maroed today.. He was being unusually unpredictable.. "Jee?!!", he asked him in a very surprised question..

"Yes son.. I know what you are going through.. You know.. Kisi zamaane mein main bhi tumhari umar ka tha.. ", as Dr. Shashank said this, Armaan let out an involuntary snort.. Shanky's expressions hardened at that as he glared him down and soon enough Armaan had covered it up with a cough..

"What's so funny?", came Shanky's curt question..

"Ku.. Kuch nahi.. So you were saying..", Armaan smartly parried his question and that brought Shanky back to, "Haan.. Toh.. Even I was your age once upon a time.. "

Armaan wondered ho long ago that was .. He couldn't imagine a young fun-loving Shanky even in his wildest of imaginations..

"Humari bhi engagement hui thi.. ", and that made Armaan snort again.. Poor Padma mom!! But he covered it up with a fake sneeze this time before Shanky could take notice..

"You know.. I can understand what you kids are going through.. Padma thinks I am very orthodox.. And very rigid in my thought process.. And I don't understand you.. But.. I do.. Really.. ", he continued earnestly.. Then added, "At least main try toh karta hi hoon.. ", and chuckled sheepishly at Armaan before looking away..

Armaan looked at him bewildered.. Wow! Shanky was so human.. He had almost started to believe this thing was sent to our planet from Mars.. But he did have a good side to him.. Obviously he knew that.. He also understood his Sasurjee.. At least he tried to.. He must really be embarrassed to talk to him about this.. But he was still doing it.. That was so sweet.. But why was he telling him all this.. And almost as an answer to his unasked question his sasurjee continued, "The thing is Armaan.. I have gone through all this.. And I know that I have no right to speak between your personal life.. I mean.. Its not right for me to interfere.. I know.. And I wont interfere either.. But Riddhima is my daughter.. You have to understand that she is my princess.. ", he stuttered a little, but his tone became a little cold.. Never in his dreams had he thought he would have to have this conversation with him..

Armaan was damn amused by him now.. So the tables had turned.. Shanky papa was being his protective over possessive daddy dearest again.. He didn't blame him this time though.. This whole situation had really become extremely embarrassing.. And he was glad that at least he had tried to openly understand him than blame him for being a brat.. He had to give that to him.. "Papa.. ", he dared to interrupt his Shanky papa.. "I know what you're saying.. But trust me.. We wont do anything wrong.. I mean.. We havent.. ", his voice faded too, his ears turning crimson all of a sudden, wondering what he should say next.. Yes! This was embarrassing.. He wondered how Shanky had managed to say so much.. He wouldn't have been able to.. It was easier to yell at him and forget.. Really!..

"Oh trust me son!! Your ideas of wrong and right are very different from mine.. So don't give me that..", and that brought Shanky back on top!! So Shanky wasn't as understanding as he was claiming to be after all.. This match was getting interesting now.. Armaan gulped at Shashank's harsh tone.. They definitely had done things that were wrong according to him.. But then.. Wasn't he supposed to not interfere in their personal lives!!!

Shashank realized he was going back to being his non-understanding self and soon controlled his anger before it got out of hand.. "Look Armaan.. All I am saying.. Is that Riddhima is my daughter.. And I know I cant control her life.. But I cant bear to be in such embarrassing situations like I was today.. Aap samajh rahe hain na meri baat.. ", he asked Armaan, whose eyes had widened at the sudden change in Shanky's tone.. "Yes.. Yes sir..", he could help but look away from him, his ears going red in embarrassment at that explicit confrontation from his sasurjee.. It was more like a threat coated in sugar.. "So keep this in mind.. Do what you do in your personal time.. But make sure ki mujhe pata na chale.. Kyunki agar mujhe phir kabhi aisi situation mein dala, toh I swear Armaan, main apna gussa control nahi kar paunga.. Do you get me!!"

"Yes.. Yes sir.. ", Armaan spluttered as he almost cowered under Shanky's monstrous demeanor..

Dr. Shashank saw the fear in his eyes and knew that he had understood.. Finally he had driven home the point.. Satisfied with the success of his activity, he smiled, scaring Armaan with his maddening mood-swings.. Armaan now firmly believed that this man was a mental case.. He surely had a split personality.. He had never seen anyone displaying such a wide range of expressions in such little time.. The only good thing about this was that finally this 'talk' of his was over and he could go back safely to his basket.. Unscathed and unmarked!.. At least physically.. Mentally, he knew Shanky's new nightmares were going to haunt him for several nights to come.. He sighed in relief as he watched him get up from next to him and walk towards the door.. But before he could rejoice in peace that haunting voice came back to his ears, "And Armaan.. One more thing son!!.. ", Shashank called out from the door..

"Yes sir?", Armaan asked him as he jumped at that voice that he thought had disappeared for good..

"Get one thing straight and clear in you head.. if I ever find your shirt unbuttoned in my house again.. Even god cant save you!", Armaan gulped at that threat and nodded a small "Yes sir.. "

Shashank was satisfied with the terror on Armaan's face and grinned at him again.. "Why are you still sitting there son!! Dinner?..", he raised his eyebrows as he beckoned him to come down..

"Yes sir.. ", Armaan got up obediently and went to the door where his doom was waiting for him with a devilish grin on his face..

"You can stop calling me sir now!!"

"Yes sir.. I mean.. Papa.. "

"Good.. "

"Good!!"

Dr. Shashank almost burst into a fit of laughter as he heard Armaan's mock impression of his 'good'.. The scowl on his face was worth the embarrassment that he had gone through tonight..

Armaan just followed him down the stairs, wary now of Shanky papa's cackles.. This was kind of scary.. Definitely a case of the Bipolar disorder!! He would have to talk to Basket!

"Armaan!! Why are you still up there.. "

Oh that voice was going to kill him one day!!!.. Cursing his luck and also this mental case he had for a Father-in-law, he scurried down the stairs for dinner..

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I know the part is short and a little weird.. I mean different from my usual stuff.. It may be a little crazy too.. But I hope you just enjoy it.. Its all that matters.. I'll try coming up with a better one next time.. 😳