Friends..lovers! II ArSh pt 11 pg 67 - Page 44

Draped in the gorgeous green sari with black backless blouse, she sat infront of the television, changing channels, finding a good channel to watch, just to pass the little time. She unconsciously blushed, as her brain reminded her the moment which passed inside their room.

She had seen armaan coming really close to her trapping her between the wall and his divined body, she for the first time had felt flushed and though staying with armaan had made her realize how her neck and cheeks suddenly feels hot, but then she didn't knew how quickly they turned hot.

She had stared into his eyes, for a moment, when she felt his hand going towards her waits to capture it, being her, she quickly made her brain worked and without hesitation, she pushed her own body into his!

She chuckled remembering how surprised armaan had gotten, when she had thrown herself on him, and then within a moment his surprise face turned into a shock when she pushed his hard enough to make him fall and she, herself ran away, laughing.

"I'll see you for this bracelet" he shouted behind her back, as she made her way down stairs.

"See me after you get ready mallik" she giggled, reaching downstairs, knowing that atleast right now he wouldn't follow her.

As soon as she realized that armaan would be busy in shower, she slowly had gone upstairs, towards their room and within quick five minutes she did very little touch up, took her cell phone and clutch which she had chosen to drive in with the sari and wore her high heels, making herself look simple yet elegant.

And since then she had been changing channels infront of the television. Her eyes moved towards the clock, 9 25 already! She didn't understood when they will reach to the dinner and when they will get back! They had already taken loads of time, fighting over dresses, making her dress and enjoying few moments together, and then she has to start early the very next day!

She felt the door being closed off their bedroom and him clasping his watch on his wrist, knowing that he would be coming down soon, she closed the television with the remote and stood up! And then for once both didn't know who was short of breathe.

He didn't had the words to describe how gorgeous she was looking, the color suited her skin so well, that he couldn't pin point any one looking this elegant in the color she had worn. She had her earrings hung on her ear looked like small chandeliers which dazzled as the light fell on to their surface; she had worn black high heels making her almost reach to his height! And her lips looked extra pink, so fascinating that he gave a second thought about going to the dinner, his mind stayed hooked trying to find words to compliment her, while she just stood there admiring the man himself!

She looked at him standing on the stair case busy with something running in his mind, slowly making his way down towards her, wearing a black suit with a crisped white shirt and a black tie, he looked ready to kill! She just stared at his figure which was coming towards her! If she was in love with him she would have died just with the little fact that this man belonged to her! His hair all spiked up, still it didn't gave him a rough look! Instead for once she thought that maybe by chance she looked older than him!

He smiled at her, a little smile of admiration and then he moved his hand to note the time! And then she realized that she had never seen him wearing any man accessory! For the first time she was watching him with a watch attached on his wrist, his tattoos were hidden due to the sleeves, still his manly hand look great due to the watch! And then something caught her mind! How could he ever blame her for being fashion conscious! For the sake of God he was wearing Longio watches that too from their limited tourbillion collection!

"So done staring me?" He questioned, he had to tease her, her looks were worth taking a picture, he forgot to compliment her for a second and just stared at her looking at him.

"Huh?" she brought herself out of the world she had gone into, the world of fantasy and compliments, and then as she took a normal breath she realized the he had used 212 men! God why was she good with fashion!! And why was he trying to drive every woman crazy tonight? And why was he here, standing infront of her, with such divine, eatable looks?

His own personal smell was so gorgeous and then he had to go around and use the hottest smelling perfume! To make everyone go flat on him! She was dead sure tonight any man could turn gay to get him open up his first few buttons which were closed, hiding his striking body, and perfectly with a tie to go on.

"Shilpa!" he looked at her now worried, she hadn't spoken anything expect of that "huh" and this was so unlike her.

"Yeah! Yeah… ummm yes" she felt herself babbling as their eyes met! If she dies today, it would be his fault, totally HIS!!

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he questioned, looking concerned at her, frown totally visible at his face, making her smile.

"You!" truly she answered and he stared at her with more confusion!

"Me! Wow! And how could that be?" He question, a bit relaxed now.

"You look so gorgeous armaan, so ready to eat, that I feel old, ofcourse in front of you" she babbled, making him smile at her seductively.

But as her word hit him he realized that he hadn't complimented her. He was so much into her expression that he felt compliments won't be necessary, taking her hand in his, while she hesitated first, he took her to the guest room where a large mirror was placed and made her stand infront of it with him standing behind her back.

She stood perplexed not knowing what he was upto, as she felt his hand draped themselves going around her waist carefully not aiming to destroy their well ironed dresses, while she felt him placing his chin on her right shoulder.

"Do you see that?" their eyes meeting each other through the mirror, while his voice was slow like a whisper.

"What's there to see?" not an expression on her face was present, the confusion was all gone, she just stared at their picture in the mirror with zilch in her eyes. It made him a bit frustrated, he wanted to see something on her face, a blush or confusion, but this time there was nothing, as if she didn't even like the thought of acknowledging them standing together.

He replaced his one hand from her waist, and pointed to themselves on the mirror, "that" he mouthed at their reflection and then bring the hand back to his original place he again whispered "and this", his heart begged her to acknowledge the image infront of them, he wanted to tell her how much he was liking the moment together, she was his bestfriend, someone, no one can replace, not even ridhima!

"It looks perfect. We look so good together! Just perfect! Right?" he heard her say, he hadn't imagined her saying this but she did, this was what his heart was shouting, but she was a wonder woman, she knew what his heart felt! She just had to know the amount of importance his heart held for her, so much that he could just stay like this, standing and holding her forever.

And if this made him stun, her other words were killing "and still so wrong" he saw her smiling, yet her eyes betrayed her, he could see a flash of sadness passing in them, but she hid it so well that he had to question himself, about whether he had seen it or not.

"The next time you will stand here, it will be with ridhima in your arms, and I swear, mallik, I'll capture the moment in my canon" she told him with a smile, staring into his eyes through the mirror, and as soon as she ended up with the sentence he left her, because he had just realized how much he hate her for saying such statement!

Why couldn't she just imagine herself with him! Like he had started to do! Like he had started to feel! He didn't know why? But he knew that if he had to choose between ridhima and her! He would choose her!

He loved ridhima, but somehow, shilpa was the most important person in his life! Someone whom can hold him when he would fall, someone whom he could rely upon, knowing that she would be always there with him, someone whom he can trust! And hell with it! She was always the most important one! She was his everything since the start! She was his best friend!

"I think we should get going" he quickly said and left the room, where as she just stood looking at herself in the mirror, and then she realized how the perfect image of them had been destroyed, she looked into her own eyes, knowing well that her inner soul suddenly felt incomplete.

"This is what in store for future, Shilpa Malhotra" her heart and brain shouted together, where as she just stood there, until and unless she heard armaan voice calling her.

"So we have to stick together till the mid night?" the car was running at the normal speed, and since the moment in the guest room they both had felt slight tension around them, though they both were having normal chats still the air felt slightly different.

"Yes! And that mean no going to Sidhant Modi" armaan answered, ofcourse! He had to do this, he just couldn't watch them both together at all, and his inner self would burn into ashes if he saw them standing together and closer.

"Oh come on! Mallik seriously there is nothing to get all worried, I am not going to him, and he is just a friend" she answered.

"Correction, he is your new best friend" he smiled at her; finally they were getting back to normal.

"Armaan! I have only you as my best friend okay" frustrated she answered.

"Yeah right! That's why you go around having coffee with him while cracking jokes and ignoring your husband" he finished, turning his car toward the main lane.

"Oh my God! You are so jealous" giggling she looked at him, and saw how red he was getting, either with anger or with the thought of being caught.

"I am not! Okay, I am just being protective; I just can't imagine you and him together! That day in fire escape, the way he was close to you! Was…" he had blurted enough! Or may be too much! He didn't have the guts to turn and look at her face because he knew what would happen next, he knew her too well.

"I don't get it mallik! Why the hell you act like this! Don't you just remember we are doing this to get ridhima! Plus what's bad in me and sidhant? We both can hook up after you and ridhima get back right? He isn't a bad guy! And I like him as a friend, there is nothing wrong in practicing something which would happen in future!" she was angry, frustrated! She knew whatever she had said was totally wrong! But then everything was changing drastically! And for the first time she couldn't take it! And even if she liked armaan protective side still this was the limit! And then don't they both know that they would be separated sooner or later!

"What the f**k do you even mean by that shilpa" he was ragged his eyes showed her! Luckily the car had stopped infront of the Gupta mansion, but then the war was in here, how she could even say this!

"Do you even know what the hell are you saying? And yes! You are practicing future! Wow! that sounds awesome! Then let me remind you and you get it stuck in your head! No one! I mean it Shilpa Armaan Mallik! No one is allowed to touch you or try to get close to you! Get that! No one has a right to see you with eyes full of lust or excitement!"

"And who are you to say that to me Armaan Mallik?" she shot back, gazing into his blazed eyes; they both were so angry that the car could easily break open into fire.

"Your husband sweetheart got it!" he smirked angrily.

"Yes! A husband on a deal!" she finished, and opened the door, getting herself out as fast as she could, she pushed the door hard, as it got closed with a massive sound. While he sat inside ready to burst at her!

Here! He was busy analyzing his recent feeling and there she was practicing her so called coming future! He wanted to go to her, shove her hard into him, shake her until and unless she realizes that he couldn't live without her! He just couldn't imagine himself staying lonely without her! He turned to see her slowly and consciously moving towards the gupta's door!

He had never seen her so conscious, maybe that was because of the attire she wore, but then as he was watching her he saw her going away from him, her every step was making him realize that she was going far away from him. And he felt a pain arising in his heart! Something he had felt when he had lost ridhima! But this time the only difference was that the pain was unbearable! And stronger, just the thought of her moving away from him made him suffered such pain!

With thoughts running in his mind, he got himself out of the car, locking it securely with the automatic buttons, and almost ran towards her, not letting her feel that he was trying to catch up with her, and then he saw her just standing looking at the entrance door of the house, he went behind her huffing his breathes out, and stood still!

No wonder!!! He was surprised or traumatized! He didn't know! Because they both had thought it would be a random dinner, but here the whole house was glowing like a wedding was taking place, every corner of the house was lit, the garden was shinning with the lights, which were thrown to it through the roof! They stared at each and every spot their eyes could see, and they only found it glowing!


"Do you by any chance think the bitch is getting married again?" his eyes turned sharply towards her, she was still looking at the glowing Gupta house and as he was about to answer her, he heard her continue.

"No need to answer that, I happen to be still angry" she threw the words at him and his eyes glared at her angrily.

"Shilpa" he moved slightly towards her, but she moved at bit back, not letting him get close to her, she was angry at him, firstly because of his possessive nature, or maybe Don't-Get-Close-To-Modi nature, then by ordering her about foolish things, and the biggest part, because no matter how confuse he was getting, his behavior was making her confuse too!

She knew that now, things were different, they were turning different, but she didn't wanted to accept it, because she knew they had reasons, but now his confused and weird behavior was making it difficult for her.

"Mallik, don't touch or don't dare order me" she replied, and then they felt the front door opening and a voice of Shashank and Padma came up to their ears.

Not thinking twice armaan moved up to her, placing a hand on her waist and pulled her close, making them stand like a couple "remember one thing, you aren't leaving my side today, and yes, No Modi!" he whispered into her ear while trying to put a calm smile on his face, while Shashank and Padma stood smiling infront of them looking at the gorgeous couple.

She, herself forced a smile, trying to make both Gupta's feel that there was nothing wrong between them, and then smiling she whispered back "dream on, sweetheart! And yes, No orders".

"as your husband, I have the right to order, now no more argument, let's move ahead" making his hold tighter on her already held waist, he moved forward, going towards the old couple standing right at the door, with a huge grin on their faces.

She looked at both Dr.Shashank and Padma; she didn't know how to react! Her relationship with Dr.Shashank was completely professional, infact she had just met him only during conferences and meetings otherwise she didn't even went to him for case discussion.

Plus they were Ridhima's parents and she almost disliked everything related to that bitch! She even tried hating Sidhant when she first saw him! But she failed; he was too good to be held captive by her hatred. Her running thoughts abruptly stopped, when she felt his warm hands leaving her waist and then she looked at them, just to see armaan smiling and going to hug Dr.Shashank.

"Armaan! Son!" Shashank almost shrieked in pleasure to meet his boy! "You happen to come late, but then I understand you just got married" he joked, as armaan came and hugged him with a great smile.

"Shashank! You and your jokes" Padma exclaimed, and moved towards shilpa who looked slightly red due to Shashank comment "look, the poor girl has turned red" her statement made armaan leave Shashank from the fatherly loved hug and he saw shilpa! She was truly red, just like tomatoes.

And just to save her from the embarrassment he heard himself saying "Oh! There is nothing like that!" he saw her eyes moving at him and then he added "actually we were busy figuring out, how to get done with the sari" her eyes grew big, how can one not be embarrassed!?! She never knew he would be this frank with Shashank and Padma, the people which she barely knew.

"stop it you two" this time Padma glared both the guys standing infront of her, and then with pleasure she kept her hand on shilpa's cheek, caressing it, she stared into her eyes, which only showed confusion in them. And then she whispered, as if a secret between four of them "welcome to the family sweetheart" and as the words came out with a smile she took the stunned shilpa into a motherly hug.

For the very first time she didn't knew what to say, what to do! On a true note she didn't even remembered anyone hugging her with so much care, she moved her hands up to complete the hug as she felt a sadness creeping inside her heart!

She couldn't recall, when had she seen her mother maybe when she was six and when her mother died due to cancer! She couldn't even recall if her mother had ever hugged her like the Padma was doing!

Because this was the first time she realized what she had been missing! She was missing her mother, her father! Suddenly the loss of no family took over her, she didn't knew what to do? She didn't even care that she was hugging the bitch mother, she just knew one thing! That she wanted a mother, who could hug her the same way like Padma was hugging her.

With love, care and a bit of possessiveness, the only person who hugs her this way was armaan! And no one, she realized that Padma hand was slowly moving on her back, caressing her with concern, unconsciously her own hold tightened on padma's back, not letting her go, and she felt her tears building inside her eyes! She missed her mother! She missed her father! She missed being in a full family, a family which had a mother, a father, sister and a brother!

She didn't know whom to curse! God who took her parents away or the doctors who couldn't save them! He wished to go back in time, just to meet her parents, she had a feeling that they too would be missing her up somewhere, she wanted to cry ask them to come back in her life! To provide her with the love she deserved! For once she didn't hate ridhima! She was jealous of her! Because she had realized, that ridhima had everything she wanted! She deserved! She cares about! She needed! And she can't live without!

Armaan looked at shilpa hugging Padma! He knew what she would be feeling! He knew her too well! She was strong, but he knew she had weak points too, and family was one of them! His eyes wandered at her face, which was now hidden in the crook of padma's neck! She must be crying! She would be missing her mother! Her parents! How he wished to get her father back for her, because he knew that she still missed him badly!

He memorized the time when she had vigorously taken him to her father who was busy in a meeting, just because she was missing him! The driver had told them that he wouldn't drive them to the office, just because he had a strict orders of not to take them anywhere after the school!

But she had started crying and the next thing he knew was they both were in her father's office, and she was busy sitting in his lap, while he just sat reading a story book, "the whole meeting went in trash, but I love our children most" armaan had heard him saying in the evening when his parents and shilpa's dad were sharing tea.

"See he loves me the most, I told you right" he turned to see the girl with broken toothy smile, they were just 12, still the fight of who loves who the most was the best thing they could end up doing.

"He said "our" that mean me too" he answered back, fixing his glasses perfectly, and moving ahead of her.

"No he said he loves me" the shout was enough to drag his parents and her dad inside the house! And then he just saw them taking shilpa in their arms, the three circling her while she hugged the strongly, with all the strength a 12 year girl had! He felt bullied! So badly! That the next thing the whole house heard was his wails!

His own eyes felt a bit wet, as he realized that the tears would slowly make place in his eyes too. Quickly closing his eyes, he quietly, inside his heart promised his best uncle "I'll take care of her, just the way you always wanted me too! I promise" his heart spoke, and then he opened his eyes, just to see Padma taking her out of the hug, while she gave a wet teary smile to her, and then her eyes moved to armaan, who smiled at her, telling her that he would be there with her always, holding her when she needs him.


"so if this is enough of emotional flows, then can we all move inside" Shashank spoke, he had felt the tension peeking into the air between the four, and quietly decided to break it, otherwise the whole dinner would be effected.

"sure, we can" shilpa answered, and then just to make the air more chilled and to tease armaan who had done enough to embarrass her she added "only if, armaan promises that he would not hold me, and wouldn't keep me next to him"

Padma chuckled hearing her and by the recent developing look on armaan's face, "he can! Yes armaan?" she winked at shilpa, questioning armaan, who looked more brooding than he could ever be.

"So much of girls' power! Ofcourse he can do that! No wait I am on his side! He will promise" Shashank threw his arm on armaan shoulder, supporting him fully, only to be inwardly cursed by armaan.

"Ofcourse, I can honey!" he finished, so much of needle piercing in his heart! How could he ever think of winning against her! She was way too ahead of him! But then he knew that at the end he would win! No matter how worse the game turn, he would be the winner! And he smirked looking at his best friend, whose smile quickly got evaporated as soon as she saw the smirk on his face.

"We thought you would never arrive" sidhant smiled, as he went ahead to hug armaan, who felt a bit uncomfortable! He was the man who married his love, and then he was the man with whom his best friend was practicing future!

"Hi Sid! We were actually stuck in traffic" he finished, not wanting to drag the sari scene between them, it was personal, he had already spoken about it infront of Padma and Shashank!

"Oh right! The traffic was bad today" as soon as he finished, he saw ridhima coming and standing next to him, he turned to see her but her eyes were stuck on armaan, who was staring at her too.

"hey" she spoke, "armaan" and she finished, making armaan just stare at her, he didn't knew what to say, he felt that this was the first time he was talking to her, he felt that he never knew her, her voice, her style, her way of talking felt so alien to him.

But the newest thing was, his heart didn't skipped a beat, like it always did when he use to speak to her, it didn't beat twice like it does when he sees shilpa smiling at something, his eyes weren't stuck to her like they used too, and like they get stuck when he sees shilpa! Her voice didn't affect him at all! The name "armaan" felt nothing to him when she mumbled, last time shilpa whispered his name, he felt his world complete! And now he didn't even felt like a complete person, which he does when shilpa is around him.

"Hey" he murmured back, because he knew this woman would now; never affect him, not in a good way and not even in a bad way! The person who an effect him was his best friend! His wife!

His eyes stayed stuck on her face, while he slowly understood, that maybe, just maybe he was only attracted to this woman! Because he knew, that love can never be replaceable! And now when he sees her, he couldn't feel anything! Nothing! And therefore! He might not have been in love with her ever!

He didn't know what shocked him more! The sudden realization! The realization of not being in love at all, or the voice of shilpa behind his back! Which made him known to the fact? That he had not only played with himself, but with her too! Because! He had married her to get ridhima! The woman who he now thinks was never someone he loved!

"Shilpa" he turned to see her, while she smiled at something next to him.

"Shilpa" he heard, and he knew the voice belonged to sidhant, he saw him standing next to him, and knew that she was smiling looking at him.

"Sid" she answered back, and then she threw herself into sidhant arms, taking them both into a friendly hug, not caring what armaan's thinks, she couldn't destroy her friendship with sidhant, just because she knew that armaan had issues.

Armaan, looking at the two in a hug slowly moved backward, his eyes didn't left the two bodies' joint together, he wanted to cry! He didn't know why this was happening, why she was doing this! But right now he wanted to cry! Badly! And who was he to say something to her! Because no matter what! It was his idea to land them together into this!

"Someone is looking hottie of the day, I bet you are late, just because your husband planned to skip the dinner altogether" sidhant chuckled, as he left shilpa who punched him back.

"Atleast my husband considers such things, I bet you don't even have the chance to consider about considering something" winking she moved ahead, making him follow her.

"Why did I even thought that you would leave your bitchy side at home today?" he exclaimed, as he saw her meeting few of their collogues.

"Man! You thought that! Sorry! I don't leave important stuff at home" he laughed at her statement; she knew how to win every conversation.

"I feel a bit pitied for armaan, the man had married a bitch" he finished, as he took the drinks from the waiter and handed it to her.

"And this is said by the man, who himself is stuck with a bitch" taking the drink, she smirked, as she saw sidhant glaring at her.

"Okay, now stop doing that to her, I mean comeon! You and armaan are both happy together, right! Then why the hell do you even look at the past" not realizing that armaan was just behind then, sidhant poured it out from his heart, and for armaan! He wanted the answer; he wanted to hear what shilpa would say!

"Because" she smiled taking a sip from her drink, she moved her eyes directly at Sid face "that past, had made my present and is planning about my future"

Sidhant didn't understood anything, nothing at all infact he just blurted "foolish" and ended everything, but for armaan! He knew what she had said, what she had meant, she didn't show how things were affecting her, but her one statement was enough to tell him what she felt!

He wanted to go to her, tell her that there was nothing like that! They both came be happy, only if ridhima get away from them, he had to make her realize that he wasn't in love with that woman! Infact he wasn't in love with anyone!

Infact the only close person he had was her! Only she was the closest he had, he now realized why he use to go to the room, and he had build in his house with their pictures in it when he fought with ridhima! Because he wanted to feel her, he wanted to know that even if ridhima left he would have her with him!

After his parents died! He cried for them, but most of all he cried knowing that she was not with him! And now he was happy and complete because he knew that she was there with him!

Fustrately, without thinking about his dashing hairstyle, he moved his hand on his hair angrily, willing to pull them! Because he couldn't stop thinking about the time he didn't wanted or needed her! He was so confused that he never gave a thought about how much he was dependent on her! And how much he needed her!

For him she was his air, the air he breathes, to stay alive! She was his everything! The fear to lose her was so deep that he didn't wanted her to go away or leave his side! He was jealous of every man she had in her life, because he thought that maybe they would snatch her away from him!

He was so deep into his thought that he didn't know when she had left from there, his eyes searched for her! and he saw her at the corner with Padma and few other doctors, they were in some serious discussion, and then he saw her smiling at something Padma said, and his heart skipped a beat!

No doubt, he wasn't in love with ridhima! No doubt he wanted her badly like oxygen! No doubt he was dependent on her! No doubt his need for her was growing emotionally as well as physically! Because now with all his doubt cleared away, he knew that he didn't loved ridhima! Because he was in love with his best friend! With his wife! Since the start, when he had seen her for the first time! He was in love with his shilpa!

"I love her" he mumbled to himself, and then he felt his heart almost dancing inside his chest, they way it had never danced before! He huffed out the breathes, which he now realized that he was holding back, and smiled! With all his heart! With every wits he had! He smiled, knowing that he was in love! Not with ridhima! But with shilpa! His bestfriend! His wife!

He stared up at the ceiling and closed his eyes! Who says God didn't had ways to make you meet the person you love! He had never thought that he would love her! And now he realized that he loved her since the start of everything! They had met in a wrong way! He wished ridhima would have never come into their path! But then he didn't care, he knew he loved her!

Now he just wanted to know what she felt! What she wants! And with that he thanked God for making him realize this. He knew the more he hid his own feeling from himself the more he could have made himself and herself confused! But right now he wanted to think about nothing else!

Except the fact that he loved her! He loved shilpa! And with that he turned around to go towards the bar, just to see her standing behind him, smiling at him, a smile which could take his breath away.

"Shilpa" he breathes out, he wanted to hug her badly! Kiss her badly! He wanted to tell that he loved no one but her, only her.

"Armaan" she whispered, and then moved ahead, to finish the distance between them, her hand went on his waist, as she kept her head on his chest, he stood confused not knowing what she was doing.

"Shilpa?" he questioned this time, not understanding her sudden hug.

"Hug me armaan, please" and that was it, he wrapped his hands around her securely, pulling her more into him, tightly not even letting the wind to pass between them.

"And why are we hugging now?" he asked, he knew that most of the eyes would be on them, but he damn cared, because he loved her!

"Because I was missing my husband" her hold got more tightened, as she finished the sentence "and I don't want to fight with him" taking his smell into herself she ended.

Love you all
maleeha :)