TheWorld'sOldestStory!!#9|NewThreadLink[pg1/150] - Page 88

"Armaan!!..", he heard her hiss as he reached the foot of the stairs.. He saw her hiding behind the stairwell as he turned to see where she was..

"Basket!! What are you doing here?..", he asked, peeping from behind the stairs to look at her..

"Shh.. ", she shushed him before taking his hand and pulling him under the cover of the staircase.. She had been waiting here ever since her dad had sent her down to help her mom, hoping that her Armaan comes down in one piece.. But more importantly, she wanted to know what her dad told him.. Surely it wasn't anything pleasant.. And Armaan's expression as he came down had told her everything she needed to know.. But she wanted the first hand account of the encounter from the man who had to endure the torture himself!.. So she had waited for him to come, hiding behind the stairs, so she could accost him without her dad finding out that she was doing so..

But Armaan who had just gotten a deadly dose of the stay-away-from-my-daughter lecture from Shanky himself, was absolutely freaked by this unusual behavior from Basket!!.. "What the hell are you doing Riddhima?.. Chodo mujhe!! Kisine dekh liya toh..", he hissed back as he tried to get his hand out of her grip!

Riddhima couldn't help but burst in a fit of giggles as she heard him and saw his worried expressions, "Armaan.. I don't believe you just said that.. "

"This is not funny Basket.. Chodo mujhe..", he tried again to struggle away from her, looking around as he hoped Shanky wasn't around to witness this..

But she backed him up the wall behind him and asked him before he could actually push her away and move out.."Armaan.. Shut up!.. Shut up and tell me.. Papa ne tumse kya kaha.."

Armaan stopped struggling as he heard her question and the 'talk' that had taken place a while back between him and Shanky came flashing in his head.. Riddhima watched as his expressions as they changed from horror to terror.. He was probably terrified of whatever he was thinking about.. But what could have happened that brought this expression to 'the Armaan Mallik's' face.. "Armaan.. Armaan.. Baby what happened.. ", she asked him, patting his cheek slightly to get him out of his flashback mode..

Armaan snapped back at once as she did that.. "What happened!! Don't even ask what happened Basket.. Tumhare papa pagal hain.. He's a mental case I tell you.. Please.. please take him to a psychiatrist.."

Riddhima immediately flared up in anger as she heard Armaan's nonsensical blabber.. How could he call her dad mental!! "Armaan!!! Kya bakwaas kar rahe ho.. Dekho.. Papa ke khilaaf ek word bhi mat bolo.. You know I cant tolerate it.. And I don't understand who aisa kya kar sakte hain jisse tum itna over react kar rahe ho.. ", she asked him, still scowling at what he had said, poking a finger hard into his chest as she demanded her explanation..

But Armaan had had enough from the Guptas tonight.. "Over react!! Main over react kar raha hoon..!! That man is an incarnation of the devil himself Basket.. I swear.."

"Armaan Shut up.. Bohot ho gaya.. Mujhe tumse yeh bakwaas ki baatein nahi karni.. Just tell me what he said, coz I am sure it concerns me too..", she asked him, coming to the point before he angers her to a point beyond control..

And Armaan's had his sarcastic retort ready at the tip of his tongue, "Absolutely not Basket.. This does not concern you at all.. That is why I get blamed for everything that both of us do!! Ab se na.. Don't come near me.. Samjhi.. Warna tumhare papa mujhe maar daalenge.. Tumhe toh koi kucch nahi kahega.. ", he said, almost accusingly as he tried to push her away..

Riddhima's mouth opened in shock at what he said.. She was so mad at his accusation that she kept resisting his attempts at getting out of her hold and glared at him as she replied.. "Stop being such a dramebaaz Armaan.. Just tell me.. Kya keh rahe the papa..", what could he have possibly said that had Armaan so agitated.. She just wanted to know if she was in any kind of trouble..

"Oh please.. I am not the dramebaaz.. Your papa is the biggest drama queen here.. Keh rahe the ki he understands us.. ", he said sarcastically, remembering Shanky's words..

But that left Riddhima in such a state of surprise that she couldn't help but exclaim.. "Say what again!! "

"He was saying he understands us Basket.. What we're going through and all..", Armaan continued, only to be interrupted by her again.. "Really.. So he's okay with all this..", she asked him in utter disbelief..

And Armaan's brows scrunched the moment she said that, "Are you crazy!! Sirf dikhane ke liye okay hain.. Like I said.. Draamebaaz.. Dhamki deke gaye hain.. Riddhima is my princess.. Don't let me catch you in this situation again.. Blah blah blah.. Na.. Na.. Na.. Na.. Na.. ", he did a mock impression of Dr. Shashank's bhashan, completely losing his self control, almost wanting to strangle him now..

"Armaan!!.. ", Riddhima yelled, interrupting his babble as she shot him a furious glare.. Whatever he said, he was her dad after all.. And this time, she thought his reaction was quite fair..

Only Armaan didn't agree with her even an ounce.. "What Armaan yaar!! Tum humesha mujhe kyun bolti ho.. Both of you are like that only.. Baap-beti milkar mujhe ghumate rehte ho.. ", he complained, a cute frown adorning his face..

Riddhima just couldn't help but smile at his expression.. This was so much fun.. Teasing the Armaan Mallik.. She had to take this opportunity while she got it.. You don't get to trouble Mallik everyday.. "Aww.. My baby thinks its unfair.. Tch tch tch.. Too bad Mallik.. Shaadi toh tey ho gayi hain.. Ab tum chaho tab bhi bhaag nahi sakte.. You'll have to bear this for the rest of your life.. ", she teased him, winking and adjusting his collar as she almost threatened him with that..

Armaan's jaw clenched in irritation as he realized she was taking advantage of the situation.. "You.. You.. Tum na..", he started, pointing a threatening finger at her..

But she took hold of it and pulled him closer.. "Main kya huh!!.. Kya kar loge.."

Armaan looked at the naughty grin on her face and that glint in her eye and knew he couldn't do much here.. Whatever he does, if Shanky catches them, he would be in trouble.. So he decided to let it go before he created more trouble for himself.. "Kucch nahi.. Let me go.. ", he mumbled, trying to push her away to make way for himself..

But she wasn't going to give up so easily.. "Kyun.. Dar gaye.. " she asked him, raising her eyebrows and almost smirking at him..

Armaan returned a fake smirk as he retorted.. "Jee nahi.. Mujhe Padma mom ki madad karni hai.. Guests aate hi honge.. And bechari akeli sab handle kar rahi hai.. You toh don't even help her.. Mera farz banta hai.. Besides.. She's the only one who understands me..", he finished, hatching a plan in his mind to take Padma mom on his team..

"Oye Padma mom ke chamche.. Who pehle meri mamma hain.. And don't worry about the guests sweetheart.. Anjie di hain na mamma ki help karne ke liye.. ", Riddhima continued to tease him stepping closer still, so he was completely backed up against the wall..

Armaan saw Riddhima's face extremely close to his and gulped in fear.. "Basket.. Dekho.. Let me go..", he pleaded, shutting his eyes and looking away from her..

"Aur nahi jaane diya toh..", she asked him cheekily as she played with the topmost button on his shirt.. Teasing him was so much fun!..

But Armaan wasn't about to get bullied so easily.. "Toh mujhe dhakka dena aata hai..", he informed her threateningly, taking a step closer to her..

Unfortunately, that failed to threaten her as she didn't move behind at all.. "Accha.. ", she asked him, unfazed by the proximity..

Armaan knew he was fighting a lost battle here.. When Riddhima decides to take his case then no one can stop her.. Besides.. He didn't really have an option here.. Whatever he does, Dr. Shashank was going to catch hold of him.. That reminded him of the terrifying talk.. No no .. He couldn't let Shanky catch them twice in a single day.. He would surely murder him!.. "Riddhima.. Please.. Agar Shanky papa.. Matlab.. Dr. Shashank ne dekh liya toh he'll kill me..", he expressed his fear out loud at once as the picture of Shanky strangling him flashed in his mind..

Riddhima just giggled as she saw the fear in Armaan's eyes.. Was he cute or what.. "Really.. That would be so entertaining..", she replied teasingly, placing a kiss on his cheek.. Armaan glared at her as she did that and resumed his struggle to get out of her hold.. But Riddhima didn't pay heed to any of is requests, nor to his threats.. It was just too much fun to give up so easily.. The ever ready chipku Armaan was getting so hyper at a meer kiss on his cheek.. Serves him right for being so besharam over the last few days..

Armaan kept looking over her shoulder, hoping against hope that Shanky doesn't decide to check where the two of them have disappeared again.. He would certainly serve him a death sentence if he catches him again tonight.. But just when he had actually accepted the fact that he was going to get murdered tonight the door bell rang, "Bell.. Bell baj gayi.. Guests.. Basket I think we should go..", he said excitedly, thanking god for sending a savior.. Riddhima was bent on getting him killed today..

But she wasn't done teasing him yet.. She frowned at his suggestion and leaned into him again.. "Tch.. But I don't want to.. "

He leaned back against the wall as she came closer, trying to keep a distance.. But he had had enough now.. "Riddhima stop it yaar.. This is not funny anymore.. ", he declared with a scowl..

But she just grinned at his discomfort and the cute frown as she closed the little distance between them.. "I know Mallik.. This is not funny.. And I am serious.. I love you..", and she kissed him on his neck before undoing the button on his shirt..

"Riddhima no!!!..",Armaan almost shouted in agony at that action of hers.. "Don't touch the buttons.. Dr. Shashank ne kaha hai ki if I am seen with an unbuttoned shirt in this house even God cant save me.. ", he told her, his eyes wide in fear, his hands holding the front of his shirt together even when it was all buttoned up from top to bottom..

Riddhima just giggled at Armaan's over reaction, enjoying this torture now.. "Really.. Phir toh It'll be fun watching the drama..", she declared with a wink, pricing his hand away from his shirt and unbuttoning the topmost button against his will..

"Riddhima!!", he almost shouted at that action of hers..

"Shh.. Chillao mat.. Koi sun lega..", she warned him as she continued with the stripping process..

Armaan, clenched his teeth in frustration.. Why was she doing this to him!! What if Shanky came here and saw them like this.. "Kyun.. Ab itni fikar kyun..", he asked her sarcastically, as he hoped and prayed to keep Shanky away from this place..

Riddhima couldn't help but laugh at the pained expression on his face.. "Tumhare liye hi keh rahi hoon.. Agar papa ne dekha toh pata hain na kya hoga.. ", she reminded him of her dad's threat..

And that instantly did the trick.. "Basket please.. Please mujhe jaane do.. Koi aa jayega..", he told her seriously.. This wasn't funny anymore.. But Riddhima thought otherwise.. She continued her giggling and unbuttoning as she said.. "And I thought I'd never get to hear that from you! Wow! This is so much fun!!", she openly declared only to make him scowl in anger.. "Basket!!.. "

She looked up at the glare he was giving her and realized that he would seriously push her away if she tested his patience too much.. But teasing him wasn't the only objective of this activity that she had undertaken.. Only Mr. Mallik was too scared to realize what she was doing.. "Haan haan Armaan.. Stop cribbing you coward.. Main tumhari help hi kar rahi thi.. Buttons bhi theek se lagane nahi aate tumhe.. Guests ke saamne aise jaaoge.. " she scolded him playfully as she started doing up the buttons neatly..

"Please.. Tumhare papa jab ghoor rahe ho toh naam bhi yaad nahi rehta.. Still I managed this much.. ", he complained to her with a frown on his face..

Riddhima looked up at him as she straightened his collar once his shirt was set right and couldn't help but smile at his pout.. "Armaan.. You're soo cutee!!!", she finally said it, pulling his cheeks as she tried to hug him..

"Stop it yaar Basket!!", he pulled her hand away from his face at once as she did that.. How dare she call him cute!!

But Riddhima just laughed at his expression and hugged him anyway, putting her arms around his waist, before he could push her away.. Armaan had started to protest this action of hers.. But she shut his half open mouth by placing her lips on his.. Giving him a quick tight kiss she mumbled ,"I love you.." against his lips..

"Riddhima!!.. ", came his instant reaction when he realized what had happened..

"Kya Riddhima.. ", she asked him with a smirk as she got out of the hug and pulled him out by holding the collar of his shirt..

Armaan slapped her hand away as he tried to free himself.. He was so mad at her for giving him such a hard time.. "Chodo.. Chodo.. Main tumhe baad mein dekh lunga..", he threatened as she continued to walk ahead of him, still giggling superciliously at his antics.. He just followed her with a very irritated expression on his face.. But he froze in his tracks the moment he heard that haunting voice again.. "Kya dekhna dikhaana hain Mallik?..", Dr. Shashank came from the living room and had apparently heard him threaten his daughter.. Why god!! Why!!

"Kucch.. Kucch nahi.. Maine kucch nahi kiya I swear..", he blurted in a rush, his hands up in the air like he was being held at gunpoint..

"Okay.." Dr. Shashank raised his brows at his over reaction.. This guy had to be a retard.. May be he should seriously get him checked before the wedding.. But when he saw Riddhima giggling at his condition and Armaan glaring her down for that, he just couldn't help but smile.. Ignoring Armaan's crazy response he turned to his daughter who had never looked happier to him before today.. " Riddhima beta.. Dr. Mehra has come.. Chalo.. Sab intezaar kar rahe hain.. Where were you?.." he asked her, putting his arm around her shoulder as he led her to the living room while Armaan followed the pair of devils..

"Main.. Main toh yahin thi papa.. Main aane hi waali thi.. But Armaan kucch bakwaas karne laga toh.. You know..", she purposely said it loudly, faking innocence with a naughty grin to tease Armaan..

"Main!!.. Main bakwaas kar raha tha.. Liar!!..", Armaan flared up at once, catching up with the duo, glaring at Riddhima who was smirking at him..

But Shanky papa came to his dear beti's rescue at once.. "Armaan.. Are you saying meri beti jhoot bol rahi hain..", he asked him with a glare..

Armaan just couldn't help but frown.. This was so freakin unfair!! He knew both of them were doing it to take his case.. "Main.. Who.. I .."

Riddhima and her daddy dearest suppressed their laughter as they saw Armaan splutter.. "Forget it na papa.. Everyone's waiting.. Jaldi Chaliye na..", she said as she increased her pace, leaving a fuming Armaan behind..

"Yeah.. Chalo.. ", Shashank agreed with his daughter at once and walked out..

"Armaan.. Tum nahi chal rahe..", Riddhima asked Armaan innocently, turning around to see his angry glare.. "Nahi aaunga.. Kya kar logi..", he replied sorely, glowering at her..

"Okay.. Mat aao.. Bye!! ", she replied with a teasing grin before winking at him and walking away.. Poor guy was just left cursing his luck and wondering what wrong he had done in his past life to deserve this.. His condition had certainly become like the proverbial 'Dhobi ka kutta'.. Na ghar ka.. Na ghat ka..

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