Escaping The Hell 2 (AR OS)

Escaping the hell- 2 another rihana story...

It's never too late, no matter how late it had been. There's always hope...

I should've guessed something was wrong when she ever so affectionately kissed my forehead. I mean my mum has never shown any affection towards me ever since she dragged me in the house at the age 7 "chal ander!" she'd snapped when she brought me from my father's house. I didn't understand hindi that time as I only spoke in English for the seven years of my life and after sudden death of my father, my mum got my custody. They were divorced for many years and fortunately I was given to my dad and my brother sohail and sister mena was given to my mum. As soon I came to Glasgow (my mum's house) from Manchester (my dad's house) , all my clothes were taken away from me and got replaced with salwar kameez. They never accepted me in the family, but I kept doing all the work they used to throw at me just in the hope that one day they'll start to love me. What else would a seven year old would crave for? My mother never used to ask me how my day was whenever I used to come home from school, rather a snappy command used to be thrown at me, "get me some tea" and the dirty breakfast dishes were piled up in the sink for me to clean them. I used to stutter back then and once my mother tried to cure my stutter by pinning me to the floor and cutting the skin under my tongue with a razor blade. I was child back then and just accepted that was what life was like.

At age 13 we all went India for holidays and all of a sudden my mum started behaving really nicely with me, told me "what a good girl you've been rihana" and even kissed my forehead. I thought finally after years of yearning my mum realised her love for me. But that hope was short lived as next day I was taken to some isolated village in the middle of nowhere in India and made me meet my future husband!

My eyes widened in shock and I helplessly pleaded my mum to not do this with me. I mean I was just 13 and my "future husband" was in his late twenties.

"I am not going to marry him!" I finally said adamantly in front of everyone when they brought engagement ring in front of me. Next instant I got slapped by my mum and my "future husband" shoved the ring in my finger so harshly that his sharp nails scratched my fingers which started bleeding.

"kitni nalayak ladki hai, iske to baal khicke ek thappad maarna chahiye"

"aur nahi to kya? Apne hone wale shauhar (husband) ke saamne uchi aawaz mein baat karti hai"

"chi chi laanat aisi aulaad par to. Paida hone par hi maar dena chahiye tha"

"rashida begum ki to izzat par thu thu ho rahi hai"

"BATAMEEZ!" my mum's word stung me as she slapped me again and tears started to roll down my red from slap cheek. I just looked around at people's faces literally begging for help with my eyes but I only got disgusted looks in return.

"mummy don't do this to me" I licked my parched lips and fell on her feet practically begging her to have some mercy on me. A few men came and dragged me by my own puny arms and dumped in a room filled with maulana (Islamic priest). It was all so intimidating. I just sat there and hugged my knees. Afterall I was a mere 13 year old, what could I have even done. I made up my mind that I am not going to say "kabool" for this marriage no matter what and they can't make me marry some guy double my age.

The maulanas started praying something which I didn't listen but i faintly heard that my name was taken and they were marrying me with some guy called Afzal sheikh. They suddenly stopped praying and the room got silenced, i reluctantly lifted my head up and they all were glaring at me to say "kabool" and accept this Afzal guy as my lawfully wedded husband. I firmly shook my head in a no and bit my tongue hard. No matter what they do, they can't get that kabool out of my mouth. Afzal just pulled my hand while other men pinned me down on the floor and captured a small helpless 13 year old. He stretched my hand and dipped my thumb in the ink box. Then it dawned upon me what they're about to do. They're forcefully gonna make me thumbprint the wedding certificate.

"NOOO LET ME GOOO" i screamed and tried to take my hand away from his strong grip but it was a futile attempt as he effortlessly dabbed my inky thumb on the wedding contract and that time all hell broke loose as I realised I just got forcefully married to a man double my age while am just 13 year old teenager!

I felt my vision going darker and darker as my head spun, I felt my bones going jelly and slowly i gave up all the hope to keep my eyes open. I let them shut and fell back hoping that when i wake up, i'll be back in England away from this hell.

My mind was keep zooming and showing me images which looked horrific and absurd. Totally! I mean how I can dream about getting married to a guy double my age. Uh what a stupid dream. I'd rather wake up then dream about something so spine chilling. I quickly opened my eyes smiling to myself that I woke up from some bizarre dream and suddenly felt my heart stop when I realised that I was lying down on the someone's bed and felt dried rose petals under my palm. I swallowed my saliva as i scanned the room and suddenly all the images of my "forceful marriage" came flooding back in my mind. My body jerked up from the bed and the blanket fell over my chest revealing my naked body. I blocked my mouth to stop a tearful scream coming out. What the hell is happening?

"uth gayi tu?" said a scruffy male voice from next to me as I turned my head away with a jerk to look at my husband afzal lying next to me without any clothes on. He looked uglier than i though with his beer belly and dark chest hair scrambled all over his front. He reeked of beer and fags and even had nose and ear hair. I wanted to puke but clamped my both hands on my mouth.

"don't come near me..I'll scream." I cried as i saw him getting up from bed coming over to me like a tiger approaching his prey.

"Sali kamini! Ekto aadhi raat se so rahi hai aur muje bolti hai paas mat aao. Tujhe to mein batata hu" with that pulled me in the middle of the bed and pinned me down. I just kept my eyes closed while wrapping my small hands around my chest as I kept taking god's name in my mind. But it was a futile attempt as that night he mercilessly raped me. I lost my soul I guess. He killed an innocent 13 year old's soul that night; I couldn't even believe that someone can do such disgusting thing to me?

He kept raping me every night for a year until I got pregnant which was my mum's wish. I was fourteen-years-old when felt my stomach bulging and got all the pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness, sweat breakout, blackouts etc. I was bloody 14 and got pregnant! I hugged my bulging stomach and cried that whole day. It was practically impossible for me to run from here. There was no way! I was always locked up in the house. 6 months later i gave birth to my son and suddenly I found a reason to live. That day i decided that no matter what happens i won't let scratch come on my baby. I will protect my baby from everyone and make him so strong that he will never have to face what I've faced. I named my baby ishaan.

Three years later and it was still the same, everyday was pure harassment but I kept living, kept living for my son and kept him away from all the troubles, even from a young age of 14, my motherly instinct came so naturally that I sometimes wondered why my mum never loved me like that? Was I that misfortune that I couldn't even stimulate any motherly instinct in my mum for me? Maybe I was just very unworthy of being a daughter, no wonder I ended up like this! But my son will get all the love he deserves or even more than that. I reached a tender age of 17 with a 3 year old at me hip but no matter what the circumstances, i was a proud mother and i got all my affection i craved all my life from my baby ishan. I was just sweeping the outside courtyard when I suddenly heard a heart piercing scream of ishan and ran inside where I saw my husband walking away from ishan into his room. I picked ishan up and started cradling him.

"naa baby, don't cry. Why you crying mela baby?" i started patting his back when i saw red bruise on his back. It felt like someone squashed my heart out, whatever they did to me, I'd live with that, but if someone touches my son I wouldn't take that. That time I knew that I had to run, I don't know how but for my baby I had to run.

"AFZAL! DID YOU SMACK ISHAN?" I couldn't keep my inner mother calm. He came out of the bathroom with shaving cream smeared all over his face.

"AWAAZ NICHE RAKH! Haan maara to? Kya kar legi? Chal nikal mere muh ke saamne se" he barked while pushing me out of the house and locking the door on my face. That night I spent with crying ishan outside in the cold as afzal refused to open the door.

I had nowhere to go, simply nowhere... i didn't even knew where the hell I was!

I felt someone shaking me up. Slowly i opened my eyes and shut them again as it was bright sunshine outside and my eyes couldn't focus with the quick change of light intensity. Instinctively I stretched my arms out to feel ishaan but he wasn't there. I jerked opened my eyes in panic and saw a guy holding ishaan in front of me. Unfamiliar face I registered while quickly snatching ishaan off his gentle hold.

"hey easy tiger" he said with a smile, a comforting smile.

"where did you find him? I swear he slept next to me and.." for some reason I trying to prove my point that am not a bad mother who lets her 3 year old son disappear. I don't know why but I felt like a need to tell this stranger.

"yeah honey calm down, I just found him playing around you but you were in deep slumber so I thought of not waking you up. I was playing with him for about 10 minutes but then suddenly started to cry screaming mumma mumma so I thought of waking you up and asking if you've seen his mum" he finished with a smile. Okay did I tell you I felt a tug in my heart when he addressed me as honey? Darn! Before i could answer, he quickly said playfully pulling his cheeks, "you're brother is adorable, but why are you sleeping with him outside in the cold?" he asked frowning. His dimples disappeared!

"because I am his mother!" I stated sternly, rather proudly lifting my chin up as I saw his mouth open in small o.

"but you're still so young? How old are you honey?" he asked while looking at me carefully which made me flush for some reason. I could even feel my cheeks going red. Again honey? man what's happening to me?

"that's none of your business to be honest, so just go mind your own." I snapped defiantly. I hate it when someone doubts my motherhood. So what if am young? I can perfectly take care of my son, my blood!

"okay okay easy tiger but if am not wrong, I can catch hint of British accent in your voice. Are you okay?" he asked while keeping his hand on my shoulder and felt my eyes welling up at sudden affection from someone in decades. I thought for a moment. Was I okay? Hell no! But is it worthy telling this guy? I mean he looks young as well what can he even do? Nah it would be waste of time.

"am fine thank you. Now if you please?" I said while getting up with ishaan on my hips which made me stagger a bit but the young stranger quickly held my shoulders to prevent me from falling. After years I felt this feeling for someone as soon as our eyes locked, I felt desire. I mean don't get me wrong, I know am a 17 year old mother with a 3 year old on my hip but he was so damn hot! He was wearing white see through shirt with front three buttons open showing his chiselled tanned chest and perfect abs underneath, i could just see them. OH MY GOD! AM I STARING?

"ahem" the hot stranger cleared his throat and I looked around feeling my cheeks going red. When I finally looked up into chocolate brown eyes, I saw his lips twitch in mischief.

"look if someone saw you with me, am gonna be in deep trouble, so just go" I pleaded as I realised that now it's going from dawn to morning and people will start waking up.

"uh huh" he nodded while tracing his finger on my neck which had a dark bruise. I closed my eyes in embarrassment and something else. Was this pleasure?

"chale jaooo" I moaned while slightly pushing him back with one hand as I had ishaan on other hand.

"The name's Mallik, Armaan Mallik" he stretched out his hand and I defeatedly slid my small hand in his.

"Riddhima, My name's riddhima" I addressed myself with my fake name. I didn't want this Armaan guy to know about the real me, it's too terrifying.

"okay so riddhima it is, now let me introduce myself to you. I am an intern and came here as a part of my internship course."

"What kind of intern?" I was happy to get the conversation going with someone. I felt like I've got a friend outside my family now.

"I am a law student from Oxford University and came to India to do some research on Indian domestic crimes, so my mate suggested me to go and stay in small villages and see how people live there without any proper law system. I mean I realised there is no lawyers here as well. What do you lot do when people need to voice themselves against the crime?" he took his notepad from his rucksack and started taking notes. I realised I was being interviewed by an Oxford Law student. What an irony!

"We just have to live with it" i whispered as i felt a small tear forming at the end of my eyes. Armaan seemed to notice that and he quickly kept his notepad away and squeezed my hand.

"you can tell me riddhima. I can help you." And for the first time in this four year of my marriage I saw a small hope of escaping. Could it be possible that Armaan can help me get out of here? If there is a slightest chance, then am ready to take the chance.

"Armaan I..I was brought from England saying this was a holiday but instead they brought me here in this isolated village and got forcefully married to a man double my age. My mum was involved in as well" I finished with a hiccup as I wiped my tears away. Ishaan miraculously stayed still in my arms as if even he understands my pain.

Armaan jaw tightened and his eyes was filled with fury but managed to stay calm and professional throughout. After all he was becoming a lawyer.

"tell me more, like what was your age when you got..forcefully married to this dude and why did you had a child as such a young age?" he was mentally calculating all the possibilities to get me out of here. I was never comfortable with discussing the past few years of my life with anyone, so I reluctantly said,

"uh I was 13 when I got married, 14 when had ishaan and now am 17. Armaan it was my mum's wish that I get pregnant as soon as possible so I get stuck here forever but hey I don't care what shit happened to me all these years, am still a very proud and capable mother" I said defiantly while lifting my chin up which made Armaan smile after a long time.

"Off course honey, you're the best mother ishaan could ever get. Okay answer my quick questions." I nodded

"you're passport?"

"they destroyed it"

"ishaan's passport?"

"was never made"

"do you love your husband?"

"no" i said grimly which made his lips twitch

"do you want to get out of here?"

"HELL YES!"

"then we've gotta plan honey" he said smirking

I heard the door open behind me and I froze. Shit afzal's coming out and armaan's still here. As expected afzal came out in the courtyard glaring at me. huh what's new in that? Armaan quickly got up and went up to afzal causing my heart to thump against my chest. He outstretched his arm and greeted politely,

"Hi am Armaan. Am a law student from England and came to India and especially the small villages in India" he said while showing him his ID card and I wanted to laugh seeing Afzal's pale face.

"w..what kind of research?" he stammered in nervousness. Damn he's getting scared of a guy who's about 10 years younger than him.

"research on domestic crime. You know sexual harassment, dowry, beating wives behind closed doors et cetera et cetera" Armaan finished with a tight smile on his face and I was suppressing my laugh seeing afzal's face.

"oh oh par h..hamare gao mein aisa kuch nahi hota hehe" he said while patting armaan's back who just started at him with his eyebrow raised up.

"sure, I believe you so i guess this will a holiday for me then and by the way, you're wife invited me to stay down your people's house for a week. I mean isn't it just awesome!" Armaan turned around to look at me and gave me a quick wink which made me blush to no extent. I mean c'mon I was a 17 year old at the end of the day!

"KYA? TUNE ISSE GHAR MEIN REHNE KE LIYE BULAYA?" afzal came marching up to me showing me his eyes but long gone were the days when I used to get scared of those eyes. Now I have Armaan with me. I walked next to Armaan and said confidently,

"yeah I did, I mean even he's from England just like me, so we'll get along just fine. I haven't had a proper friend since 4 years now ever since I came to India, so don't I deserve one?" I asked while pouting. It's like am experiencing this new girl which I didn't existed inside me. before afzal could answer, Armaan stepped forward and took out a wad of cash from his rucksack and slapped it on afzal's greedy hand.

"here dude, my advance. Chill man it's not like am gonna stay here like a bin bulaya mehman, i'll pay for your wives company" he said winking at afzal which infuriated him to no extent and was about to punch the gut out of Armaan when Armaan effortlessly caught his fist.

"ooh, and someone told me no domestic violence in this village. Never do the mistake of messing around with a lawyer, cuz one scratch on me and I'll drag you to jail and then you know if am not in a good mood, then all the other crimes also come out. What's that saying in hindi? Yeah kala chittha khul jayega" he finished with a lazy grin as he dropped afzal's hand down.

"Rihana mehmaan ko chai pila aur ek hafte mein chalta bana" afzal scowled at me while putting the wad of cash in his pocket. I got so happy seeing our plan working that i ran upto Armaan and hugged him tight, even ishaan was gurgling with joy. I never felt so much protected in years. Armaan patted my back and whispered in my ears.

"if you do that again, then am not gonna be responsible for kissing you in front of your husband as right now you're turning me on" and i quickly pulled out while tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I..I'll get you some tea" and was about to run away in shyness when Armaan caught my hand and pulled me back gently.

"Don't bother, am a self sufficient man and can take care of myself. Right now I have take you're details to make a new passport for you and ishaan. It will take a few days but I have contacts in British embassy which will make sure yours and ishaan's passport comes within a week with a VISA stamp on it." He explained me everything and all I could do was just nod in happiness. He continued,

"how long have you been living in india?" he asked me while writing my information on a piece of paper.

"I've lived here for four years"

"GREAT! That means you're still a British citizen and there is no way in hell these people can stop you but make sure afzal don't get suspicious otherwise he might shift you to some different place...and don't worry, as long as am in the house, he won't dare hit you or ishaan. Okay babe, now I need to make some calls" I kissed ishaan's head and was about to get up when i held his hand.

"Thank you" i mouthed as words were stuck somewhere inside my vocal cords.

"The pleasure's all mine" he winked and went away talking to someone on his phone. Can this really happen? Can my life really give me a second chance? I thought it was too late but I guess it's never too late, there's always hope and here my saviour came in form of a law student, a very hot law student! I mean he's so witty and sharp that with a few punch lines and a wad of cash he locked up afzal's mouth and made mines and ishaan's life safer until we're here. I clutched my locket and fiercely prayed to god to help Armaan get me and ishaan out of here.

In a matter of five days, our passports came as Armaan promised. Man he must be some powerful person otherwise how can British passports can come in five day? I was folding the clothes when suddenly afzal barged into our room and i backed away immediately. The fear was still there, no matter what I say.

"VO KAMINA KAB TAK RAHEGA YAHA PE? MUJE USKA AANA JANA BILKUL PASAND NAHI HAI SAMJHI" he took a few strides up to me and pulled my hair so strongly causing my scalp to feel a sharp pain.

"aah Armaan.." immediately came out of my mouth and afzal slapped me hard.

"KAUN LAGTA HAI VO TERA! Kaat dalunga Sali agar mere alawa aur kissi ko dekha bhi" he pushed me away and stormed away from the room. I got so scared that I just sat in the room crying my heart out. I could still feel his strong grip on my hair but I was more worried about how will Armaan manage to get us out of here?

That night i heard some noises coming from the store room and my heart paced up because I hid mines and ishaan's passport in the store room. I peeked inside and to my absolute horror i saw afzal looking at our passports menacingly and i clutched my taweez (locket) for support. I ran in my bedroom and took my dad's only photo and wrote "help me Armaan, he found the passport" behind the tattered photo. I knew something's going to be absolutely wrong now, where are you Armaan? He didn't used to sleep in our house so i had no idea where he is at this time of the night.

"RIHANAAA YEH SAB KYA HAI?" afzal came storming in the room showing me mines and ishaan's passport. I could feel my heart in the throat. i don't know what got over me that i picked a sleeping ishaan up and ran out of the house, screaming,

"ARMAAAN HELPPP ARMAAAN ARMAA-" afzal blocked my mouth with his hand and dragged me somewhere with him. I dug my heels in the ground but he kept dragging me and ishaan with him. I realised he wasn't taking me to our house rather somewhere else. That time realisation dawned upon me that I was getting kidnapped! I have to tell Armaan, but how and i felt the photo which was still in my death grip. I silently dropped the photo on my way and let afzal take us. If I am destined escape this hell then no matter what, Armaan will found us!

He took us to this old stable which was a bit far from the village and tied me and ishaan there in the corner with a bamboo stick. I felt sorry for ishaan as he constantly cried and to prevent that afzal tied his little mouth as well. My heart burnt seeing my baby taking silent hiccups. He was freaking 3 years old baby! Have some mercy! But my voice refused to penetrate the cloth around my mouth.

"mhmmm ahmmhfmm" i kept mumbling but no louder than a hiss voice came out. Finally looking pleased with his work, he smirked at me and dusted his hands,

"Sali tujhe kya laga? Tu aur tera aahiq yeh sab karenge aur muje kuch pata nahi chalega? Muje to pehle din se shak ho gaya tha, bas sabot dhoondh raha tha! Ab reh yaha jab tera vo aashik tujhe dhundh dhundh ke wapas nahi chala jata England shingland!" afzal spat next to him in satisfaction and marched away leaving me behind with silently crying ishaan, oh my baby. Even i closed my eyes giving up hope of escaping.

"riddhima riddhima wake up quick" i heard armaan's voice and i jerked open my eyes. There he was kneeling right in front of me trying to open the knot from ishaan's mouth and who instead of crying, he just hugged Armaan and gurgled happily. With the other hand, Armaan opened the cloth knot from mouth.

"Armaan, tum aa gaye" i whispered as tears of happiness formed in my eyes. I think in a matter of a few days, I fell in love with Armaan, or maybe I fell in love with Armaan as soon as I saw him. Shit talk about falling from the frying pan, into the fire!

"yeah honey I followed you and that son of a bitch. I heard your voice the first time you came screaming for me and I silently followed you here. I found your message here, you said he got your passport, so I sneaked in the house and stole the passport while he was here with you, now c'mon we have to run" he picked ishaan up and took my hand within his.

"what took you so long moron!" i couldn't help but ask, i mean he was with me since the past 5-6 days but he was waiting for afzal to know about our plan! Huh.

"easy my tigress. I was waiting for your passport to arrive and i've also informed british embassy about you, they're sending police force tomorrow morning but I guess we don't have time as afzal already knows about your escaping plan. Now honey before he goes back home and finds out that the passports are missing, we have to get out of here. I know the way" we were running now, a rush of adrenaline filled my veins. We are finally getting out of here!

"Armaan what if we get caught? Don't worry, we just have to be safe this night, and tomorrow police will come and you'll be officially free." Now i just wait for the sun to rise man. I've been bearing all this from the past 4 years, now I don't have any patience.

"we'll hide at this place for tonight where no one can find you and once in the morning as soon as police comes, we'll escape officially not like kids running around." He took me and ishaan to this..uh place? I don't even know what the hell it was but we were literally in the middle of forest. Okay now in bollywood movies, a guy always find a little kutiya or cottage in the middle of the forest but unfortunately currently it seems like government has taken all of them away so we just roam around in the woods holding hands. Ah what a perfect it looks; Armaan holding my hand and with other hand he's holding ishaan. Damn I can get used to this *sigh*

Suddenly I felt cold wind drifting through my thin nighties, and shivered while hugging myself. Armaan seemed to notice that and decided the stop under this big tree for tonight. Ishaan was already asleep so Armaan took his coat off and wrapped ishaan with it. Then we both finally sat under the tree with our back resting on the trunk.

"thank..s..so much arrrmaan" i said with clattering teeth as now I was shivering like a leaf in this freezing wind of the woods. Atleast ishaan was warm and sleeping.

"anytime sweetheart, come here i'll give you a nice warm hug" Armaan while enveloping me in his warm peaceful embrace. There was faint smell of cologne and without thinking nuzzled my nose on his neck taking in as much of that smell as i could. I felt Armaan stiffen in his place.

"what happened?" i whispered in his ear while gently kissing his ear lobe.

"if you do that again and i'll lose my control" he said huskily while pulling me out of his embrace. I know me and Armaan can never be together, i mean c'mon who would want a 17 year old mother? Definitely not a hunk like Armaan who has a bright future ahead of him as a successful lawyer. I would never be an obstacle in armaan's way. But if for one night, just for one night, i could have all the love from him, then i can surely live with the memories.

"Then lose it, I want to lose control as well, just for one night, i don't want to be an obedient daughter, a responsible adult, i just want to be your love. Can you give me memories of a life time tonight? Just once?" i asked while bringing my face really close to his, our lips inches apart. I could see the desire burning in armaan's eyes, which made me even more happy as that desire was for me, only me.

"Let's do it riddhima. Let me show you the pleasure of lovemaking under the stars. I promise i will make this night memorable for you" with that he placed his lips on mines and i opened them to give him entrance inside my mouth. As soon as tongues met, there was crazy excitement between us and we both started exploring each other's body. I tangled my fingers through armaan's silky thick hair which smelt of pine and citrus causing me to go wild like never before. Armaan played with hooks of my nighty and slowly one by one started opening them kissing his way through making me close my eyes in pleasure. Never in my life i've experienced such pleasure while love making. It was pure bliss..

He slowly slid off the nighty from my shoulder and and sucked the pressure point somewhere between my shoulder and neck causing me to hiss in pain. Eventually i felt my skin meet with cold air as i realised that Armaan has taken my nighty fully off. He was tracing his finger around my hip when i spoke,

"stop" he froze and burrowed his eyesbrows, i blushed and continued, "i mean you..you're fully clothed and i don't want to be the only one getting naked" Armaan smiled mischievously and sat straight,

"be my guest" i got the messege and started fumbling with the buttons and slowly slowly unbuttoned his shirt completely. I was mesmerised to see his perfectly shaped body and abs without any single extra flab. Total film star body this guy has. I went forward and kissed his chest tracing my kissed all the way up to his neck and gently slid his shirt out of his sleeves. I licked his neck and bit on the sensitive spot which snapped his control and he pinned me underneath him and kissed me hungrily while taking every piece of my garment from my body. he stood up and shrugged his jeans out not before taking a small packet out of his pocket.

"it's a condom. I don't want you ending up getting pregnant at such tender age again" i blushed profusely at his comment thinking about the contrast in the personality between Armaan and my so called husband! He got me pregnant at the age of 13 and here armaan's being so careful. Oh man i love him so much..

"hmm" i nodded my head and smiled gratefully at him. He's the best thing that had ever happened to me in my whole life!

"I want you Armaan..inside me NOW" and then the next thing i knew was Armaan coming on top of me and kissing me passionately like there're no tomorrow.

"before we finish i would like to tell you something, i know you're not, but am a virgin riddhima and you'll be my first lover in the literal sense" and with that his pushed his way inside me causing my world to spin. I am his first lover? My eyes filled with tears, i don't know it was the sudden pain or pleasure but my love for Armaan reached new boundaries. We both didn't speak the whole night, just spent the night of passion in each other's arm under the stars and the moon.

Next morning i opened my eyes and realised that i was resting my head on top of Armaan's rock like chest. We both were fully dressed by now as it's a bit stupid to sleep naked all night when you've got a 3 year old son sleeping next to you.

"riddhima? Ek baat poonchu?" Armaan first time talked to me in hindi and smiled against his chest.

"uh huh"

"why did you say you're name's riddhima when you're real name's rihana? I mean don't you like your name or something?"

"no silly. It's because that time i thought i finally got a new friend and if i tell him about my life which is very terrifying, then i might just scare you off. so i made a new name for you, only for you to use. Rihana had a terrifying past, but riddhima has a beautiful present and future, so i'd prefer if you call me by my new name- riddhima" i asked while looking into his eyes.

"off course honey but let me tell you one thing, no matter how bright riddhima's present and future will be, always remember rihana because she is the girl who i can't tell you how much am proud of. You were not only a wonderful mother at the age when you were still a child, but you are also the bravest person i met in my life. I am proud of you rihana" and with that he kissed my lips tenderly and affectionately.

Suddenly armaan's phone buzzed and he saw the number. A smile appeared on his face as he snapped open his phone,

"yeah you reached there?... wonderful, did he get arrested for all the charges i put against him?...THATS AWESOME! We're coming to the village, just keep the car ready cuz rihana and ishaan and directly sit in the car and we'll take them out of here...yup we're coming in about half an hour...good bye officer" Armaan cut the call and hugged me super tight.

"kya hua?" i asked knowing very well kya hua but still wanted to clear my doubts.

"RIDDHIMA YOU'RE FREEE HONEY!" my heart was thumping against my chest. Did he..did he just said that am free? Crap my eyes are welling up now. Shit am going to cry now. Watch watch.

"Armaan..armaan i can't believe you made this happen. Oh I love you Armaan" without realising what slipped out of my mouth. I quickly tried to change it, "i..i didn't mean it that way silly" i laughed meekly but Armaan was looking at me intently now. Oh my god riddhima what the hell were you thinking, you just lost a friend!

"but I mean it that way riddhima"

"w..what?"

"i love you honey, with all my heart and please marry me. i know you're just 17 but i want ishaan to have a dad, a proper dad who will give him all the happiness in the world along with his mother" he tilted my chin up and placed his lips on mines.

"i..i thought you wouldn't want the responsibility...i thought i lost a friend" i was crying again while taking him in a tight hug.

"are you crazy? I fell in love with you the first time i saw you sleeping outside in your courtyard. I madly fell in love with the child who was playing next to his sleeping mother. I love you and ishaan more than anything in this world. please marry me" he kneeled down on one knee in typical style but it was too much for me.

"YES YES YES ARMAAN" i pulled him up and hugged him again. We broke the hug as we heard ishaan's crying noise and both ran to pick him up giggling in response as we banged our head while bending down.

______________________________________________________________

1 year later

"ARMAAN KAMINE UTH THE HO KI PANI DAAL KE UTHAO?" i screamed while shaking the sleeping beauty (my husband) who was too busy sleeping.

"kiss de kar uthao gi to shayad jaldi uth jao" he said smiling while still keeping his eyes shut. I rolled my eyes thinking yeh kabhi nahi sudhrega.

"okay fine but just one" i said pressing my lips together to prevent smiling as i saw him jerking up from his sleep.

"sacchi? There what are you waiting for babyyy" he rolled me over him and pinned me down.

"hahah arma..armaan w..wait" i couldn't speak between giggles and before i could speak Armaan gave me full frontal French kiss while i sighed of content and kept ruffling his hair. Our lip lock broke as we heard the bedroom door click open.

"MUMMMYYY PAPAAA i woke up" ishaan said cheerfully as he came running in the room and started bouncing on the bed.

"come here big boy, give papa a BIGGG kissu" Armaan said catching ishaan by his waist and kissing sloppily on his cheeks causing him to burst into giggles. I fell in love with the sight. As soon as Armaan rescued us and brought us to England back. he took us to his house in London where he lived alone as he said before he is a self sufficient man, he lives away from his parents. His house was a massive two story mansion type painted white from outside. When i asked him, he simply replied he parents are a rich bunch of people. I filed for divorce when we were in india and because of armaan's influence i got divorce almost immediately and i couldn't tell you the feeling of being free and still being protected. A month later after coming to London, we got married in the court and that time i knew that Armaan was 21 years old. Jeez can you believe on my wedding day i got to know my husband's real age! Well our story is unique what can i say?

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain" that's riddhima did and she finally met with the sunshine at the end of a very dark tunnel

Love

sani