*For Sanaa - Happy Birthday <3*
Chapter 1: Part B - Do I Know You?!
He wondered if she'd forgiven him. He had been since the past entire year, ever since he'd broken it off. It wasn't really a break up even. He had just stopped receiving her calls, and responding to her texts. He had never been good at confrontations.
Rahul wasn't a bad person. He just avoided anything with depth. He didn't believe in relationships, not after spending 18 years of witnessing cold vibes between his parents. Oh, they wouldn't fight and nor would they throw verbal stones at each other. It was more of silent insults, cold shoulders, basically, a Cold War in the making. And although his parents hadn't separated, he couldn't help but blame himself for being the reason they were tied in a relationship which made them miserable. He did love both his parents after all, no matter how much they hated each other!
But, these past traumas had resulted in him being phobic to anything which would lead to emotional harm. And so he'd never given much thought to any relationship for more than a few weeks, or max, a few months. And that's exactly what had happened with Muskaan. He didn't blame her for acting like he didn't exist in the last few days of his college life, but it still frustrated him that he couldn't go against his norms and stick to something which could've been something amazing. And that's why, in spite of having gotten into Carnegie Mellon effortlessly, he'd chosen Kings' instead. The reason was sitting right behind him. And he was aware of her cold glares in his direction.
He was sitting there in the cafeteria all alone until he first saw her. Armaan grinned. She was the first girl he'd noticed there, and my, was she hot? Walking up to her, while she laughed along with another girl, he tapped her on her shoulder to get her attention. Her black eyes zoomed towards him, and for the first time in his life, Armaan Mallik was nervous.
"Uh, hey!" He mentally smacked himself for sounding stupid. But nevertheless, this girl in front of him didn't notice his stupidity.
"Hey!" She said pleasantly. Armaan relaxed a little.
"Could you tell me, uh, you know, ummm..." Armaan couldn't believe he was stuttering at a time like this!
"Way to Dean's office, or the way to the class you have your next lecture in? Or is there something else? Well whatever it is, you should know, I'm new here too, so I really wouldn't know!" She grinned cheekily. Armaan grinned back. "But I do know when someone's trying to flirt!" Her eyes twinkled.
"Pretty and smart. That's a deadly combo!" Armaan said in an impressed tone. "Armaan!" He lent his hand forward, waiting to find out what her name was.
"Nikita!" She smiled.
"So, uh..how's your first day going?" Armaan tried hard to make conversation, because, he couldn't believe it, for the first time: he was out of words!
"Going pretty good actually! Your's?" Nikita asked him pleasantly.
"Its okay, I guess. I am where I wished to be." Armaan said, a bit lost, thinking about his Mum.
Nikita guessed his changing tone and decided to end the topic. "So, 2 years to spend here? Looking forward to the Designing programme?"
"Are you kidding me? 2 more years of courseworks, assignments, pile-ups? Nah!" Armaan grinned. He frowned as he saw Nikita looking around. "And am I already boring you so much that you're looking for something to escape?" Armaan joked. Nikita looked at him and giggled.
"Nah, at least not yet! I'm looking for the way to the Staff Office, I have to submit paper work!" Nikita frowned. Looking at Armaan's raised eyebrows, she continued, "Oh, I just shifted a while ago from India, so I have extra paperwork!" She smiled.
"Oh! Must be hard, leaving your life behind that way." Armaan replied back.
"It is..But, I'm dealing with it, in my own weird way!" Nikita smiled. At Armaan's questioning look, she sighed. "Its not easy to explain, really."
"Its fine, don't stress." Armaan smiled and shrugged. "Do you have anyone here, or..?"
"Nope, just me. My family's still there. Mum was a bit jittery, but Dad was all for it. And plus, now I know you, so not completely alone I suppose." Nikita smiled at him meaningfully, and Armaan felt his heart do cart-wheels. He grinned and nodded. "Anyway, I have to get my paperwork submitted. I'll see you around!" She gave him a bright smile and waved.
"Hey, wait up!" Armaan called out, feeling nervousness creep up all over again. What did you say when you wanted to ask someone out again? Oh yeah, coffee! Coffee. "Would you like to grab coffee sometime? You know…" He asked sheepishly as Nikita turned to face him.
"Yeah, maybe sometime! See you!" Nikita answered back with a cryptic smile and waved, turning on her heels. Armaan sighed. Ah, well, it was at least worth a try.
Sighing, he looked around him at people hustling and bustling around. He smiled softly, thinking about Nikita. And no, he wasn't smitten. No way! He was just…intrigued. And she was the first one he'd interacted with, and he was glad. At least now he knew someone.
He turned, only to bump into someone.
"I'm so sorry!" He muttered as she bent down to pick up her books which probably fell from her bag. He looked at her, only to see her eyes reflecting nothing short of hatred and anger. "I really am, sorry!" He said uncertainly. He looked at her narrow her eyes into slits and glare at him. But she didn't reply back. And now, he was definitely spooked - what had he done to offend this psycho?
Riddhima had been careful to leave the lecture room long after Armaan, to make sure she didn't bump into him. She knew he probably didn't even recognize her - she had seen him look around and guessing from his expressions, he knew no one, which included her. But she still had to be safe.
She had seen Muskaan make no attempts to hide from Rahul, and wished she could do the same. But unlike her, she didn't love her past, did she? On the contrary, she hated it. Hated him. And he was back! Why?!
She had been relieved when she saw him with someone, happily chatting away, and made sure their paths didn't cross. But just as she rushed to where Muskaan was when she received her text, she bumped into someone. Who else?
She didn't bother replying to his stupid 'sorry's. This wasn't an apology she wanted. And so she stuck to her silence.
"So you just don't talk, do you?" She saw Armaan pass her an amused look as she ignored his apologies. She rolled her eyes. "I'm sorry, but am I really missing something here?" He said exasperated. He was sick of the silent deadly looks. If only looks could kill, he would've been dead by now! Her hazel eyes were like bullets. They would've been pretty if they hadn't been so cold, Armaan thought.
"I have to go." Riddhima said in an icy, composed voice.
Her voice was familiar, Armaan noted. He was sure he'd heard it somewhere. With wide eyes, he realized she was probably one of his one-time dates. But he always remembered their looks if not their names! And he honestly didn't remember her!
"Do I know you?" Armaan voiced his doubts.
Riddhima clenched her fists into balls and tried hard to refrain the urge to punch him. "I so wish you didn't!" She muttered under her breath. Unfortunately for her, Armaan heard her.
Wow, this chick really had some problem, Armaan thought. "Seriously, do I know you?" He repeated.
Riddhima turned back to face him and stared at him defiantly. Armaan was once again shocked at how cold her eyes were. Her pretty face was masked with nothing besides hatred, hostility and resentment.
"A bit hard to recognize without the glasses isn't it?" Riddhima asked bitterly. Armaan's eyes widened and he winced at her tone.
"Look, seriously, I'm having the toughest time placing you an-" Armaan began calmly, even though he could feel frustration pumping in his veins.
Riddhima cut him out by a gesture of her hand and he looked on, watching her fiddle in her bag for something. She finally removed her phone, and held it up for him to see. He looked at the screen and frowned.
It showed a girl hugging a woman, most probably her mother. The girl oddly looked familiar - the freckles and acne on her teenage cheeks, her black-brown hair tied back into a tight plait, and big, brawny glasses covering her eyes. He knew this girl. He was sure he did. He vaguely remembered her shrill voice, much like the girl standing in front of him, and her big, fat tears which would drop every time he called her -
"Pimple-town." He said in a monotone.
Riddhima gave him a cold, dry smile. "Very good. You're getting warmer. Does that refresh your memory a little bit?" She gave him a sardonic reply.
"Oh my God! Riddhima right?" Armaan mumbled, as realization dawned. But contrary to her, he was excited to meet her. It had been over 6 years since he'd even given her a thought. "You've changed so much! I almost don't believe its you!" He smiled at her.
"I don't believe it either!" Riddhima said coldly, rolling her eyes. "Now if you'll excuse me!" She gave him a dry smile and turned to leave. But Armaan wasn't done yet.
"No, hey, wait!" He caught up with her. Ridddhima cursed her luck for the nth time that day. "So, how have you been, its been so long!" He said excitedly.
"Unfortunately not long enough to meet you at my deathbed!" Riddhima replied back sarcastically. And that finally gave Armaan the hint.
"Okay, I'm really trying to reconnect here, what is the matter with you?" He shot back irritably.
"Well, you really don't need to! You're the last person I want to reconnect with! So, get the hint, and get lost!" She said in a tone filled with venom, catching Armaan completely off-guard. Before he could reply, she had turned and left.
He didn't know about good or bad, but his day so far had definitely been interesting.
~~*~~ Edited by Castle-Beckett - 13 years ago
Bigg Boss 19
Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Cricket
12