Hey guys, this is Chahat here. I am back to this forum after a long time. I don't know how many of you have read my last piece of work or those who have read, I doubt they would even remember it because its been quite sometime. Here is the link for my last FF if anybody wants to go through it :
http://www.india-forums.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1392062
I have come up with a new mini Armaan-Ridhima FF for you guys. It a love story again. I aint giving any character sketches because you will discover them as and when the story unfolds. Like I said, its a mini FF, I would try to wrap it up in 5-6 parts. And I would try to finish it within next week so you guys don't have to wait long for updates...I hope you all enjoy it :)
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PART 1
She ran away to her home crying not believing what she just saw and heard. Tears blinding her making her trip on the stairs. Other students were turning and staring at her but for now she could care less. She was totally zapped. The guy she loved the most in her life has turned out to be a bas***d. She trusted him with her life and he took advantage of that and broke her heart and trust.
Tears were flowing down her facing continually. She reached her room and tried to open the lock but she was shaking from head to toe. It took considerable amount of effort to do such a trivial thing. Her flatmate, Naina saw her running towards her room from the glass door of the kitchen and came out to see what's wrong with her. But before Naina could say anything, she dashed in her room and locked it behind her, leaving a very confused Naina behind.
As soon as she locked the door, she slid down taking its support and burst out in fresh bout of tears. The scene she saw 5 minutes ago kept flashing infront of her eyes. How could he do that to me, she thought furiously. She wanted to be angry with him but all she could feel right now was hurt. It felt as if someone has ripped open her chest and squeezed her heart out.
And it's not just him but Nikki also. She has hurt her just the same if not more than him. She trusted both of them more than anybody in this place and they stabbed her in the back in the worst way possible. Slowly everything that had happened in last six year came rushing back to her.
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It was a pleasant Saturday afternoon with just the right temperature of cool October air blowing. She stepped out of the airport and took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh and cool air of Manchester. She immediately fell in love with the place. She wasn't such a big fan of summers any which way, so escaping Delhi heat was quite pleasing. Although even in Delhi Octobers are comparatively cooler than June and July but it was still hot and humid there, so UK's weather was a welcoming change.
'I can't believe I made it till here' she said to herself. It took her almost 3 years to convince her parents to send her here for further studies. Not that her parents didn't trust her or anything, they were just a little overprotective about her since she is their only child. 'Papa please it's just a matter of one year. I want to study further. I have gotten through University of Manchester for masters in marketing programme that too on scholarship. Please let me go. I really really want to do this. I want to make something of myself and for that I want to gain as much education as I want. Please Papa' she had said to her father. And he agreed seeing her determination despite the opposition from her mother. Though her mother also came around in some days and helped her in shopping and packing all the required stuff.
And here she is now. Standing at the threshold of her dream life. She has never been away from home alone. She has been on school and college trips but they weren't more than 4 or 5 days. She was excited as well as nervous. 'All the best Ridhima' she murmured to herself. She took a cab and reached her university hall for checking-in in her room. It was building no. 9, 12th floor. She immediately liked the place and her room.
The beginning of the academic year was pretty good. She met a lot of students from India and other countries and immediately made friends with many of them owing to her chirpy self. She loved everything about the place. She always wanted to live this independent life, where she can make her own decisions.
Couple of weeks passed by and she made some Indian friends - Nikki, Muskaan, Rahul and Atul along with Abhi and Armaan, whom she just knew socially. They all lived in same building but different floors. Only Muskaan was with her in the same programme, rest all of them were in finance programme.
She had met Nikki in Delhi before once and when they met in Manchester again, they kick off really well. Hence, Nikki became her closet friend there. She used to share almost everything with Nikki and had a comfortable equation with her. Although as the time passed, she became good friends with Muskaan also.
Everything was going peaceful until once when Abhi messaged her on her mobile phone. 'Hey, what's up? How are classes going? 'Abhi'.
She found it a little weird since they weren't such good friends and used to talk only occasionally, that too because the whole gang used to go clubbing together. But not reading too much between the lines thinking he would have generally been asking, she replied 'don't ask'too hectic'so many assignments to do already'so been quite busy'what about you? Haven't seen you around lately?'
Abhi replied back saying 'same here'even I have got essays to write'it sucks'was in London since a week'just came back to campus an hour ago'anyway, you wanna go to the college bar downstairs, there is this live band performing'I have heard its good'. She got excited hearing about the live band performance and immediately agreed to go.
They met at the bar after 10 minutes, got their drinks and enjoyed the live band. Although she felt a little weird initially considering no one else from their group was there except the two of them. She could see the bar was full of students from her building and she knew most of them but none from her group. But brushed it off realizing most of them had gone back to their home due to Christmas vacations.
Hence, began their friendship, which involved lot of talking on the phone and long walks in the city. She thoroughly enjoyed Abhi's company. He used to flirt with her and she used to take it in a stride knowing he is just harmlessly flirting. And since there were no classes due to the holidays, they used to talk all through the nights or used to spend evenings in each other rooms, watching movies or just chit chatting.
Once, while having dinner together at Ridhima's place, Abhi asked her 'how come a beautiful girl like you is still single'?
'Well, I had a boyfriend in undergrads but it didn't work out that well. We broke up like a year ago'.
'Let me guess, he broke your heart and you lost faith in love, right?'
Ridhima laughed hearing him and said 'naah nothing too dramatic. It was a mutual break up...we realized it wasn't going anywhere and we would rather be friends than anything else.'
He looked at her surprised and asked 'are you still in touch with him?'
'I am. I mean I don't talk to him on a daily basis and all but yeah we are in touch and call each other once in a while. You see we were friends even before we started seeing each other so it was quite easy to go back on that level but ofcourse we aren't as good friends as we used to be'. Looking at his surprised expression she added 'wait let me guess, you don't believe that two people can be friends after a break up, do you?'
'Kind of. I think it's difficult to be friends once you have been dated each other. I mean I gets so awkward', he finished rather lamely.
'hmmm'sometimes but I guess it's very subjective too. Had my relationship ended on a bad note, it certainly wouldn't have been possible to be friends with him. So it depends.'
'So this means you are available and I have a chance' he said winking at her.
She laughed and said 'well well try your luck', knowing he is just teasing her. He laughed and got up to leave.
He gave her a friendly hug as always but before she could pull away from the hug, he planted a soft kiss on her cheek, whispering 'I just might' and walked off.
She stood there rooted to her place for a couple of seconds. Not that any of her guy friends have never kissed her on cheek before, infact she was quite a friendly person and hugs and kisses meant as friendly gestures to her. But the warm feeling that traveled from her cheek to her heart totally caught her off guard. She hadn't felt like that since a long time. But what shocked her completely was that she didn't mind thinking of Abhi on those lines. She couldn't comprehend her feelings and was jolted out of her reverie by the buzzing of her intercom.
'Dude where the hell are you? I have been trying to get through to you since so long but it's switched off. You are fine, right?' said a frantic Muskaan as soon as Ridhima said hello.
'Sorry babe, battery ran out and I forgot to put it on charge. And don't worry I am fine.'
'You scared me silly girl. Anyway, come down lets go for a walk.'
'Be there in 5'. After hanging up, she collected her thoughts, put on her boots, grabbed a jacket and gloves and ran down. It was very cold outside owing to the snowfall last night. Muskaan was already there, wrapped in 2 layers of clothes herself.
'I will never understand your love for night walks in this chilly weather Muski' said Ridhima, trying to balance save herself from slipping on the frozen ice on the walkway.
'It's cold but it looks so pretty. And what you complaining about, even you like winters and look at the amount of clothes you are wearing. I doubt even a speck of dust can pass through' she said making a face.
Ridhima giggled but said nothing after that. Part of her brain was still working overtime trying to comprehend the way she felt about Abhi a while ago in her room. Muskaan noticed her lost in her thoughts and said nothing, trying to give her some space.
After a while, Muskaan said 'you know you can talk to me anytime you want and about anything'.
Ridhima looked at her with a blank expression mulling over how to explain her thoughts. Although she was closest to Nikki but she has started feeling strangely comfortable around Muskaan so didn't mind sharing. She took a deep breath and said more to herself than Muskaan 'I think I am falling for Abhi'.
Muskaan was looking straight ahead with a blank expression and waited for her to go on. But since nothing else came from her, she said 'about time'.
Ridhima looked are her with a confusing face, trying to understand what exactly she meant. Muskaan shrugged and said 'well, the chemistry between the two of you is pretty damn obvious. Anybody can tell that and I thought you already knew you like him but I guess I gave your peanut sized brain too much credit'.
Ridhima hit her playfully on her arm 'heyyy stop being mean. Anyway, I guess it was coming to me since sometime now but I was only avoiding it.' After a moment's silence she asked Muskaan hoping for a positive answer from her 'do you think he likes me too?'
Muskaan smiled and shook her head 'don't you think you should be asking this from the guy in question instead of me'. She is such a baby, she thought.
'I don't know. I am not sure. I mean I am sure about my feelings for him but what if he doesn't share the same feelings'. Even the thought set her heart racing.
'Big deal. Not like you are truly deeply madly in love with him. Stay friends if he doesn't like you that way and if he does then I will start calling him jeeju' said a laughing Muskaan.
'Muskaaan, be serious. But you are right. There is no point harboring feelings without articulating them to the concerned person. But you know what, I will give myself sometime as of now to be 100% sure of what I feel for him and what I want from him because there is no point jumping the gun. Maybe its just momentary attraction since we have been spending quite a lot of time off late' said Ridhima thinking logically.
'Hmmm'that's fair'can't believe you said such a logical thing' said Muskaan with feigned sarcasm.
'Atleast I did'I am still to hear anything remotely logical and non-nonsensical thing from you' Ridhima teased back.
They continued pulling each other's leg and laughing all the way back to their hall after walking around for another hour.
As soon as Ridhima got into her bed after changing into her nightclothes, her phone beeped with an sms. Even without opening it, she knew who it would be from.
'Good night beautiful. Sugar dreams..cya tomorrow *kiss*'
Ridhima blushed a little after reading his sms and replied 'Good night'sweet dreams J'
'No reply to my kiss :P ' It's ok, I'll take one tomorrow myself ;)'
She blushed even deeper reading this and replied 'Bye Abhi. Night.'
Finally she slept peacefully with a smile on her face, dreaming her sugar dream, eagerly waiting for the next day.
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Thanks for reading it guys.
Please do comment. Good or bad, how ever you like, please do let me know.
Chahat
Anupamaa
Pocket Mein Aasman
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