TheWorld'sOldestStory!!#12|pg135 inc updt|03/02/12 - Page 40

Riddhima was sprawled on the living room floor in front of the television with her back against the wall, the remote control in her hand, as she flipped through the channels, irritated by the lack of entertainment on the small screen today. The TV had gone from being the 'Idiot box' a few years ago to the 'Useless idiot box' these days.. She couldn't find one show that could hold her attention for longer than 5 seconds! Though she knew her frustration on the content of entertainment on television and her lack of interest in the same stemmed from the fact that she was having a really really bad day.. But it was just easier to blame the TV than remind herself of why she was feeling so lousy today.. Not like she was having a blast the last few days.. They had been as bad and she had been feeling as down and out the entire week.. But today had been the limit!

Early this morning she had blasted of a nurse for misbehaving with Armaan during his general check up of a patient in the children's ward. She had been doing her rounds at that time when he had walked in followed by the nurse in charge of his patient.. Unfortunately, the nurse had turned out to be one of those who had spent their new year in jail.. She had continuously had a teasing smile on her face and like everyday, refused to cooperate with Armaan during his check-up.. When he asked her for the sphygmomanometer she handed him the stethoscope.. When he asked for a Tylenol injection she handed him a tube of Burnol.. He had finally given up and stopped seeking her assistance.. But Riddhima had totally lost her cool when the nurse had deliberately put out a foot and made Armaan almost trip and fall.. Luckily he had balanced himself, but Riddhima's tolerance had all but fallen.. She gave the nurse more than just a piece of her mind reminding her of how she had not even been invited for the party and had no right to blame Armaan for whatever happened.. She reminded her in quite a few rude terms the meaning of professionalism and even threatened to suspend her.. Even Armaan had not been able to calm her down at that time and she had ended up in Dr. Keerti's cabin, at the receiving end of a warning for suspension if she misbehaved in front of patients with the hospital staff again.. As unfair as that warning was, Riddhima had had no choice but to listen to Dr. Keerti's tirade.. This, added to the building tension during the entire week had caused her to finally break down..

Of course Armaan had been there to soothe her and be there for her.. He had tried to cheer her up all he could while she wept on his shoulder pathetically.. She couldn't believe the new year had started on such a sour note for them.. But Armaan had tried to be optimistic by pointing out that the worst that had to come in the year had come and gone in the beginning.. What could possibly be worse than this pathetic mess they had landed themselves into.. But they soon discovered how wrong he was.. Coz Anjali and Atul walked into the fire escape to see her on Armaan's lap and completely mistook what they were doing there.. She thought that Riddhima was cozying up with Armaan during work hours and finally lost her deliberately maintained cool from the last few days.. As a result, all her simmering anger had boiled over and what followed was one of the ugliest of fights Riddhima had ever had with her elder sister.. Her Di had been extra sarcastic in pointing out to Armaan and her that the fire escape wasn't their bedroom and the hospital wasn't their house.. Armaan had tried to explain the situation to her, but her Di had lashed out at him and blatantly accused him of being responsible for Riddhima's shamelessness.. Riddhima had lost her head at that accusation, defending Armaan as best as she could and had finally ended up on the receiving end of a long lecture from her Di..

"Of course tu tere Armaan ki hi side legi na Ridzi.. Everything is always about Armaan isn't it!! Its okay to be in love but it's not okay to forget who you are coz of someone else's influence.. Ridz tu kabhi itni irresponsible nahi thi.. Humesha pehle dusron ke baare mein sochti thi.. But Armaan ke saamne toh tujhe kucch dikhta hi nahi hai.. I don't understand what is so special with the two of you.. Pyaar sab karte hain.. Main bhi Atul se pyaar karti hoon. But we don't go around being blind to other people in our life, do we!"

"Anjie..", Armaan had tried to intervene but had been cut off by his extremely furious sis-in-law-to-be, "Please Armaan.. Sab tumhari wajah se hua hai.. You've totally ruined my little sister.."

"Di maine pehle bhi kaha hai.. Main kucch bhi sunne ko tayar hoon.. But not a word against Armaan..", Riddhima warned as she couldn't bear to stand that kind of a blatant accusation, her eyes spitting fire enough to douse her di's cold glares.

Anjie just scoffed sarcastically at that open defense from her sister of her fiancee, "Of course! Armaan Armaan Armaan.. It's all about him.. What about the fact that your Di spent a night in jail Ridz! Because of your Armaan!! What about the fact that she was so desperately trying to contact you while you were fooling around with your Armaan!! Having fun is a different thing.. But you just become blind Ridz! Tu kitni badal gayi hai.. What you did that night! Sab ke samne aise.. Wo phir bhi theek tha.. But disappearing on us like that! And the way you're arguing with me now.."

"Di aisi baat nahi hai.. Armaan and I were fighting.. We needed to talk.. You're not trying to understand di! "

"I can say the same for you Ridz.. You don't understand me anymore.. You don't even spend time with me anymore.. Do you remember the last time we went out shopping together.. Or just spent time chatting together.. You don't even bother to ask me if I'm okay.. You didn't even bother asking what's up in my life.. I doubt you even remember that it's my first wedding anniversary at the end of the month!! All you can see is Armaan! Just Armaan.. Tere friends, family.. They don't matter to you at all, do they! I would have probably not said any of this to you Ridz.. It's probably not such a big deal too.. Coz I thought you were doing it unknowingly.. At least trusted you to be there when I was in trouble.. How many times did I knock on that door Ridz!! How many times did I try calling you!! Do you even care how terrified I was of the police.. They thought it was some rave party.. And I was the only one who wasn't as drunk!! I had to take all the responsibility!! But of course.. Why am I telling you all this! Tumhe toh sirf tumhare Armaan se matlab hai.. You don't care about anyone else, do you!"

And Riddhima really was lost for any excuse to what her sister had said. Had she really become that insensitive and blind to other people's feelings.."Di I'm sorry.. I'm really sorry.. But I had no clue.. I'm..", she tried apologizing sincerely but was cut off by a very pissed off Anjie, "Save it Ridz.. Jo ho gaya wo ho gaya.. But please try not to treat this hospital like your own home.. All those things that people are talking about you.. If papa hears of them, if he already hasn't, he'll be disappointed.. At least think about his reputation.. But then again.. Not that you care.."

"Di enough!! There's nothing wrong with what.."

"Basket.. ", Armaan intervened when Riddhima tried to make another excuse.. He knew there was no point.. Anjie was mad not only about that incident on New Years eve, but about a lot of other small things that had built up over the last few months.. It was only smarter to let her get it out of her system than challenge her at the moment. Riddhima realized what Armaan was trying to tell her through his eyes and nodded in agreement as she stopped arguing mid-sentence. But that just incited Anjali even more, "Dekha Atul.. Armaan ne kaha toh immediately chup ho gayi.. Maine.."

"Anjali.. Please.. You need to calm down.. Chalo.. Lets go.. We'll talk about this later..", this time Atul took control of the situation and cut her off before she could start again. He knew she was saying things she normally wouldn't because she was mad at Riddhima.. And he didn't want her to regret saying things that are better left unsaid.. She had seen him give Armaan an assuring blink and asking him to take care of his sis-in-law as he dragged his wife out of the fire escape thinking of ways to calm her down..

Armaan on the other hand had a bigger challenge.. Coz now Riddhima's tears had increased two-fold.. He was sure Sanjeevni was going to flood that afternoon if he didn't stop the rush of tears from her eyes.. He had tried to explain to her in vain that her Di had been really angry.. Luckily for him, her pager had gone off and she had been summoned to the ER urgently.. At least that had stopped the crying.. But her Di's words had pierced her heart. Even more so coz all that she said sounded so true.. But there had to be another explanation to it! She could not accept that her relationship with Armaan was in the wrong in any possible way! She kept mulling over all the why's and how's and what's of the problem and how she could solve it. But she had ended up with zilch.. And that had only added to her foul mood. To top all of that, she had lost a patient at the Operation table today.. And when she got home late because of all the post operational formalities her mom had taunted her saying that there were people waiting for her at home to have dinner but all she cared about was spending time with 'some people'.. Normally she would just ignore her mom's gibes.. But today after all that had happened, she was extra sensitive to everything that was being said and especially if Armaan was involved.. So instead of nodding her head or apologizing to her mom she had gone sarcastic on her mom, "Mamma what I do with Armaan is my personal matter! Besides its better to spend time with him that to come home to this tension everyday.."

Padma noticed the tremble in her daughters voice and knew there was something wrong.. She kind of had an inkling that she wasn't with her fiancee all this while.. But Riddhima's words totally riled her up and she couldn't help but yell back at her, "Yahi sunna baaki reh gaya tha.. Very good Riddhima.. Glad to know that you don't need any of us any more!! Why don't you just move in with him Riddhima! Besharmi ki saari hadein toh paar kar hi chuke ho.. Bass ek saath rehna hi reh gaya hai.. Wo bhi dekh lenge.."

On another day Riddhima would have tried to explain things to her mom, tried apologizing even.. But today, she was beyond all that.. After her Di's accusations, now her mom was insinuating something on the same lines.. It was just too much for her to take.."Mamma agar aapko yehi believe karna hai toh theek hai.. You're right! All I care about is Armaan.. Main itne dino se aapki wajah se usse time nahi de rahi thi.. But not anymore.. And you know what.. Maybe I will move in with Armaan.. At least you'll stop using your imagination then..", and with that she left the dining table with her plate untouched, to rush up to her room.. Within seconds she had changed into a pair of denims and a t-shirt, thrown a few clothes and her bare essentials into a bag and was on her way out.. Her dad and naani had tried to stop her, but she had not paid heed to any of their requests and zoomed off in her car. She knew she was being rash in staging this extreme rebellion, but her patience had been stretched too far today! She had had enough.. The only place where she would find her peace was with Armaan..

Somehow, she had managed to make it to their place in one piece, without getting herself killed or killing anyone else with her rash driving, only to be greeted by an empty house. Literally! Most of the furniture in the living room at least was missing.. Except for the center table.. As much as she was intrigued by the mystery of the missing furniture, she was way too angry and depressed to care much about it.. She would probably have to ask Armaan.. But of course there was no sign of him being in the house! She assumed he was still at the hospital working himself crazy like he did these days.. So she just decided to wait for him to come home.. She wondered how he was going to react when he found out that she had run away from home to move in with him.. Surely he'd be thrilled about it.. He had so many times blatantly asked her to move in with him., Now that his wish was going to come true she was sure he would be on top of the world.. But somewhere at the back of her mind she was sure that he would send her back home once she told him why she had taken such a step.. Just like he had done the last time around she had defied her parents and come to him.. But no.. This time she wouldn't leave even if Armaan picked her up and threw her out of the house! That much was clear to her.. The only thing she feared was that he would find a way to make her see reason and do the 'right thing'!! Arrghh.. Why was he such a good boy!! But then she was the last person to complain about him being the proverbial 'good guy'.. She had spent almost all of her life being the 'good girl'.. Somehow, Armaan's company had taught her to rebel.. Ironically, her company had probably toned down the 'bad guy' image that Armaan had so painstakingly built over his teen years to be the so called 'chic magnet'.. But whatever had happened, it had worked well for them so far.. The only time it had gone against them was when he had given up on them and she had been extra rash about it.. But today was a completely different story. Today she wasn't going to listen to him! She wasn't going back home! Come what may!!

"Hey Basket! What are you doing here?", Armaan's voice from the living room entrance snapped her out of her reverie.. But his genuine surprise, almost proving her thoughts regarding his reaction correct, did nothing to improve her irritated mood, "Kyun! Cant I come here!!", she asked acerbically, continuing with her channel flipping activity as she stared at the LCD screen..

Armaan frowned as he heard Riddhima's acidic reply.. It surprised him more than her surprise visit had.. He had in fact been more than happy to see her car parked outside his house when he had come.. In the week that followed the New Year night fiasco, both of them had been so busy with work that they had hardly had hardly seen each other.. He had exceptionally tight schedule at the hospital these days, leaving him with no time to spare to even talk to Riddhima.. The rest of the time that he got, he had spent in cleaning up the mess that had been left behind as an aftermath of the disastrous new year eve at his place.. And though he knew that cleaning up mess was Riddhima's idea of Disneyland, he had not bothered her with it, coz she was already dealing with more than her share at home as well as at work.. But he also knew that today the bridge had gone under the water as far as people getting on Riddhima's nerves was concerned.. Even he had not been able to do much today.. Maybe that is why she was in a foul mood.. But that still didn't explain why she was here at this time of the night..

"Chill Basket.. You know I didn't mean it like that.. But it's 11:3o in the night! Iss liye puch raha tha.." As far as he remembered they had decided not to meet up at odd hours.. Not after the way Padma mom had behaved the only time he had gone over to her place this week.. He was so terrified that he had withdrawn from his breakfast-dinner routine at the Guptas too..

Riddhima realized it was unfair that she was taking out her frustration on him for no fault of his.. But she really needed a break.. She sighed as she dropped the remote control at her side and held her head in her hands.. "I'm sorry Armaan.. I'm just.. You know.. I'm not having such a great day!"

Armaan threw his car keys on the center table, knowing exactly what she was talking about, and walked off into the kitchen with a sigh..Riddhima noticed him walk away without a word and her frown deepened.. She pulled her knees close to herself and buried her head between them.. Today was really such a terrible day.. She was pissing everyone off today! The limit was Armaan!! Armaan, who had stood up with her throughout the day.. Now she had gone and bugged him too.. Arrgh!!

"Paani?", she looked up as she heard his voice.. He was holding out a bottle of ice cold water and a glass that had one edge chipped off.. Riddhima realized it must be one of the survivors of the new year's eve massacre and an amused smile formed on her face..

"Thanks..", she accepted the bottle and the glass, but kept them aside at once.. Instead, she took Armaan's hand and nudged him to come join her on the floor..

He chuckled as he saw that longing in her eyes.. He knew exactly what she wanted.. She snuggled up to him as soon as he made himself comfortable next to her and hugged him tight, burying her face in his neck.. He caressed her hair with one hand, pulling her closer by the other as he leaned back on the wall behind them..

"Basket.. Will you tell me what happened? I thought we had decided not to sneak around and meet each other behind Padma mom's back..", he asked as nuzzled her hair..

"Trust me Armaan.. I'm not sneaking around behind her back.. She knows exactly where I am!", Riddhima replied casually, but she couldn't hide the bitterness in her words.

Surprised by that claim of hers, Armaan pulled her out to look at her, "What! Padma mom knows you're here! And Shanky papa?!!!"

"He also knows.."

Armaan stared at her agape, wondering the possibility of what she was saying being true.. "Basket I don't understand.."

But before he could state his confusion, Riddhima cut him off.."Forget that Armaan.. I don't want to think about it! Pehle you tell me why am I sitting on the floor? What happened to the couch??"

And that effectively distracted Armaan enough to let go of that topic and frown, "I threw it out..", he told her, a grim expression on his face as he recollected the condition of the couch when he had to throw it away.

This time it was her turn to be shocked.. "What!! Why did you throw it!!!", she asked him agitatedly..

"Coz I had to Basket! It was broken.. I think Police waalon ne bohot roughly handle kiya.. And I think someone had thrown up on it also!"

"EEWW!!.."

"I know.. I figured it would be cheaper to buy a new one instead of cleaning it and getting it repaired.."

Riddhima stared at his defeated expression through her scowl for a long time.. Then sighed as the same defeated feeling settled over her.."Armaan that party was a disaster!!", she said as she put her arms around his neck and leaned her head on his shoulder..

"You're telling me! It took three days for the cleaners to clean the whole house and make it inhabitable!", he had not even told her that he had spent three nights at the hospital, sleeping in his cabin and showering there too! That would have really ticked her off!! Under normal circumstances he would have either climbed his way through her balcony into her room.. Or probably have been invited over to her place by Padma mom or naani.. Or at least one of their friends would have let him crash at their place for a night or two.. But this time, no one had even noticed.. And he had been more than happy to lie low without causing anyone anymore trouble..

But that even without that elusive piece of shocking news, Riddhima couldn't help exclaiming in ridicule, "You paid professional cleaners Armaan! Mujhe kyun nahi kaha?"

"Basket.. You already had a lot to worry about.."

"Don't you know.. Cleaning can be therapeutic.. I would have probably felt better after doing it.. Plus it would have saved all that money that you spent on it.."

"It's okay Basket.. Itna kucch nahi tha.."

Riddhima huffed as she heard him dismiss off the topic.. She knew Armaan was trying to be modest about it, but she was well aware of the hefty fine that he had paid the police for a fault that wasn't even his..Apart from that the party crashers had totally ruined his house, their house, to a trash bin.. It had cost him a bomb to pay the cleaners to clean the place. He had to even throw out his couch coz someone threw up on it! But everyone was so busy being mad at him that they didn't even notice.. That's what irked her most about these people.. It wasn't like he had planned for things to go wrong.. Not like he wanted something like this to happen! But still he had taken responsibility for it..He was done repenting.. He was done apologizing.. What else could be done about something that was a mere unfortunate coincidence!! But the fact that Armaan just silently bore every snide comment and every icy snub irritated her all the same.."No Armaan.. That's what makes me more angry.. These people who are giving us such a hard time about what happened that night don't even realize what it's cost you to clear the whole mess.. And I don't mean just the cleaning bit.. Look at this place.. Sab out of order hai.. And you had to pay the fine also.. For no fault of yours!! And still all of them are cribbing about spending one night in jail.. Not like they've been charged! Not like you wanted it to happen! Not like we planned for it to happen.."

"It's not like that Basket.. Tumhe agar aadhi raat ko koi party se utha kar jail mein daal de.. Wo bhi chor samajhkar.. I'm sure you wouldn't be saying the same thing!"

"I agree Armaan.. And wo humari galti thi.. We could have saved them that trouble if we were here.. But humne maafi bhi toh maangi na.. How can they still treat you like that.. I can understand our friends.. But those idiotic nurses who weren't even invited!!"

"Basket.. I think you took care of that today.. I don't think they'll be bothering me from tomorrow.. Thank you for rescuing me.." he teased her as he reminded her of how she had given that nurse a earful this morning,

"Of course.. Tumhe toh yeh sab funny lagta hai na Armaan.. How can you tolerate such nonsense from them.."

"They're just angry Riddhima.. And I don't really care about them.. Tum kyun itna gussa ho rahi ho.. Ignore them for a while, they'll eventually get bored of it all.."

"Fine you don't care about them.. But what about Di! How could you listen to what she said! She was way out of line today!.."

"Basket I think this was building up from a long time.. What she said today wasn't just about what happened on New Years Eve..I think you should talk to her once she calms down! Spend more time with her.."

"I agree Armaan.. Maybe I neglected her for too long.. And all that came out today.. But that's my fault! It doesn't give her a right to blame you Armaan.."

"Common Basket.. She was just angry.. It was just easier for her to blame me than believe that you have changed so much.. And don't worry.. Mujhe itna bura nahi laga.. Its not completely untrue that I have changed you Basket.. Anjie loves you too much.. She's just having a difficult time adjusting to the new and improved Riddhima.. It's not her fault.."

"Armaan how can you be so patient!! I cant believe what a saint you are..", she exclaimed, almost in a complaint, as she crinkled her nose at his extremely passive response to all that had happened throughout this week..

Armaan just chuckled at her expression, bumping his forehead playfully against hers as he pulled her closer, "No Basket.. Its not like that. I think I've been in enough such situations to let it affect me.. I wasn't a saint like you were.. So I am fine with being looked upon as brash, irresponsible, spoilt and insensitive.."

"But you're nothing like that..", she refuted him at once.. And that only made him grin that devilish grin of his, "I'm glad you think so Basket.. As long as I have you fooled I don't care what anyone else thinks..", he joked with his trademark grin and wink routine..

Riddhima couldn't help but roll her eyes at his facetiousness, "Ha ha ha.. Armaan Mallik is the funniest man alive!!"

"Keep working on the sarcasm Basket.. You're almost there!"

"Armaan!!", she scowled at another one of Armaan's high-handed retorts..

But Armaan just pulled her closer and pretended to bite off her nose as she tried to snap back,. When she almost pushed him away and continued to frown, he gave up on teasing her, and decided to give her his all enlightening advice.."Just stop thinking so much Basket.. The more you think about it, tumhe aur irritation hogi.."

But that piece of advice didn't do anything to clear her head, "Then what should I do Armaan..", she asked rhetorically, returning to hold her head between her hands as she supported her elbows on her knees..

That gave him an opening to start working on the plan that had slowly started forming at the back of his mind the moment he had found her sitting there on the floor.."I can think of a few thinks you can do.. Rather.. We can do..", he suggested cheekily, the naughty glint back in his eyes as he pulled her hands away from her face and directed them at the back of his neck, so he could get closer to her..

Riddhima just shook her head in disbelief at his suggestions, but couldn't help but play along with him, "No thanks Armaan.. I'll find other ways to distract me.. I don't want to make a deal with the devil.."

But Armaan was determined.. He knew how to turn her 'nos' into 'yeses'.."Please Riddhima.. Let me distract you..", his husky whisper left her in a daze as he leaned in to her..

And in her defense, she didn't give up till the end.."Armaan..", she whispered his name in half a reprimanding tone, but was cut off by him before she could say anything else, "Seriously Basket.. I missed you so much this week.." the way he looked into her eyes, with all the love and longing in the world, was all that was needed to melt her there and then.. "I missed you too..", she whispered back, as she felt him lean in to her.. Oh she had missed him so much.. She had not realized until this moment that all she could do to make things better was this.. Be with him.. Her eyes closed on their own as she felt him close the distance between their lips, sealing them together in a soft, sweet kiss. Her heart was overwhelmed with his love as he kissed her gently, his thumbs caressing her cheeks as his hands cradled her face between them.. She felt so safe, so secure, so loved.. There was nothing better in this world than being loved like this by him.. But soon the gentle prodding of his lips turned demanding a deluge of desire took over the already overwhelming feeling of love.. She didn't even realize when his hands left her face and travelled down her front, burning her with his incinerating caresses.. She couldn't help but let out a moan when she felt his hands undoing the clasp on her back while pressing her closer into him.. All she could do was hold on to his shoulders and let him distract her, like he had suggested he would.. And he was indeed good at this distracting business.. She couldn't even remember who she was let alone think about anything or anybody else at the moment.. His breath on her neck as tantalizing as his lips on her skin, his hands caressing her waist under her T-shirt in a way that set her skin on fire.. She drew in a sharp breath as she felt his hands draw her T-shirt up as they made their advances.. She shivered as she felt his hands crawling up her front while his expert tongue kept her from thinking straight.. But the realization of the kind of distraction he had in mind hit her hard when she felt his soft fingers caressing the hard tips of the desire he had aroused in her.. A jolt of electricity passed straight through her spine to her core at the strength of these feelings his touch brought out in her.. Feelings so strong that she couldn't handle them anymore.. Shocked, she withdrew from him immediately as if she had touched molten iron..

"Armaan..", she whispered his name, stealing a glance at the desire that was still burning in his eyes, then closing her eyes, hoping what had happened between them turn out to be one of her crazy dreams.. But the warm caress of his breath, fast and short, so close to her was too real to make her believe otherwise.. She shivered when she felt him close the distance that she had so abruptly created between them.. But when she felt him hold her by her shoulders, she was just thankful that his hands were at least out of her clothes now..

"Basket?", his questioning whisper forced her to open her eyes.. And what she saw was a mix of disappointment, desire and confusion in his eyes.. She blinked her eyes too fast for his liking and turned away from his questioning gaze.. But he forced her to look at him again, and just looked straight into her eyes, trying to find his answers in their green depths.. And the honesty with which he probed into them, made her shiver.. Clearly she was the only one suffering from the guilty complex of not knowing whether what they were doing was right or wrong.. Unlike her, he didn't look like he felt a tinge of regret at what had happened.. All she could see was a lot of love.. Which kinda made everything look like it was the rightest thing in the world.. But then, why was she feeling this guilt take over her, her mom's words from throughout last week replaying in her mind in echos..

"Basket.. What's wrong?", Armaan asked her again, this time finding his voice, as his breathing eased out.. He could see the guilt and regret on Riddhima's face, in her eyes.. But he didn't understand why..

"Riddhima..", he called out her name again, hoping to get her to say something..

Her cheeks flushed, her forehead beaded with sweat, but she didn't look into his eyes.. "Armaan tumhe bhook lagi hogi.. I'll get you something to eat..", she told him as she got up quickly and headed for the kitchen..

An extremely bewildered Armaan stared at her retreating back in confusion.. What had he done so wrong that she had stopped him all of a sudden.. From all their encounters in the past few weeks he had come to think that she was ready to take a step ahead as far as their physical relationship was concerned.. Maybe he had gone a little over board here.. Okay.. He had definitely gone over board.. But she was acting like he caught her completely off guard.. Whatever had happened between them in the last few weeks had led up to what had happened today.. She had hardly objected to anything else that happened so far.. Then why was she making him feel like he had done something terribly wrong today.. He had to find out.. When he managed to think straight, he stood up and decided to talk it out with her.. When he entered the kitchen he found her struggling with the clasp on her back and desire flared in him again.. But the sight of the panic in her eyes when she saw him come doused all the flames of desire for the night! Fumbling with the clasp, she finally managed to hook it up, then turned to the fridge to apparently look for food..

Armaan sighed at her attempts at nonchalance, unable to believe she was acting like it was the first time he had kissed her or something..

"I don't want anything to eat Riddhima.. Stop running away from me.. Kya hua? I thought you were okay with this..", he confronted her, getting to the point straight away, while she aimlessly rummaged inside the refrigerator..

But she stopped as soon as she heard Armaan's confrontation and turned to face him.. Her cheeks were crimson and her lashes lowered as she shut the door of the refrigerator behind her and leaned back on it.. "Armaan.. Its not like that..", she mumbled..

"Then what's it like?", he asked her, bracketing her between his arms as he placed his hands on the fridge, leaning into her..

Riddhima drew in a breathe, forcing herself to look into his eyes as she faced him, "It's just scary Armaan..", her breath coming out all shaky..

"Riddhima..", was all he could say.. Half confused, half bothered by that statement of hers, he didn't know what to do next.. So he just waited for her to explain..

After a long silence, she finally tried to explain what she was feeling, "Armaan I'm just feeling guilty.."

Armaan's face scrunched up in further confusion as he failed to understand why she was suddenly so guilty of being with him after so many days.. She could just tell him to stop making advances if she thought it was too much for her.. But why was she feeling guilty about it? Weren't they way past that stage.."I don't understand.."

Riddhima sighed as she saw the conflicting emotions in Armaan's eyes.. She had not told him anything about why her mom was being cold towards her.. She had just told him that she was angry because her papa was put in jail because of their carelessness.. Which was true.. But partly.. The other embarrassing part about her mom having a problem with them getting too close for her comfort was what she had deliberately avoided telling him.. She wasn't sure of how he would react to that.. And she didn't want him confronting her mom about such a touchy subject.. It was practically none of his business.. But if she wanted to get her point across to him today, she would have to tell him the whole story.."Armaan I didn't tell you why mamma is so angry.. As in.. Armaan.. She thinks we broke her trust.."

"Why?"

"Like everyone at the hospital, she thinks we're.. You know.." and she told him about everything that had happened between her mom and her since the day she drove home with her parents from the police station.. Including today's fight..

Armaan was a little taken aback by what she told him.. Especially the whole running away from home and 'moving in' with him bit! But he pushed that thought at the back of his mind and focused on Padma mom's reactions that Riddhima had hidden from him.. He always thought Dr. Shashank was paranoid about stuff like him sleeping with Riddhima. But then he couldn't blame Padma mom either.. She had seen them in a really compromising position just a day before he had run away with her daughter for a night! But on thing was clear. As cool as Padma mom was, she was after all a conservative mother of a really beautiful daughter.. And she really cared about the clean reputation of her family that she had built over all these years.. And this whole running away episode had definitely smudged that picture perfect reputation that the Guptas enjoyed thus far.. At least at the hospital.."Basket! Did you tell her it's not like that..", he asked her, a worried expression on his face as he stepped back from her..

"Of course I did..But I don't expect her to believe me after what she saw that day in the morning.. When you had stayed over.. And then we ran away all night.. I mean.. Obviously, she's not cool with it.. And she thinks we're wrong.. Armaan, I know we haven't done anything wrong.. Yet!" she couldn't help but add the 'yet' as she looked away from him, embarrassment burning crimson on her cheeks.. But she had to talk to him about this.. She had thought about all that had happened between them so far many times during the last week after her mom had accused them of taking advantage of the freedom she had given them.. She of course tried to defend their actions from every angle possible but found herself guilty.. Sure they were crazy in love.. And everything felt right.. But was it really. Their temptations had forced them to believe that right and wrong didn't matter when it came to love. But that didn't mean it didn't matter to others around them.. Not so much the world.. Them she didn't care about.. But her parents! Though her mom thought she was doing all sorts of wild things with Armaan, she didn't want to prove her right by actually going through with it.. At least she had a clear conscience to fall back on so far.. But the bewilderment on Armaan's face was much too obvious for her to know that he didn't agree with what she was saying even before he stated his disagreement.."Basket.. Padma mom jo sochti hain wo sab theek hai.. That is not related to why you are being so strange with me.. Why didn't you tell me about this so far.. And why are you acting like it's the first time I touched you or something.. I thought you were in it too.. If you thought it's so wrong then what was all that.. That day our wedding date was decided.. The day after that.. The night at the party! I mean.. I don't remember doing anything against your.."

"Armaan.. I did not suggest even once that you forced me into something I didn't want to.. I wanted it as much.. Its true.. And I didn't realize it then.. But after what mamma said.. I don't think it's a good idea.. I mean.. We've surely toed forbidden lines.. I mean.. It could just lead to something that could be wrong.. So.. Maybe we should just.. You know.. Keep a little distance.. I mean.. Till we get married.. I just don't want something like that on my conscience all the time.." she tried explaining to him as best as she could..

On the other hand, Armaan couldn't believe what he was hearing, "Keep distance? Basket I cant do that..", he blatantly refused her suggestions without consideration, looking at her as though she had gone mad.. He had not thought he would be hearing those words from her again in this lifetime at least..

"Armaan..", Riddhima scrunched her brows at his determined denial.. But Armaan didn't let her speak this time, "Seriously Riddhima.. I cant just agree to stay five foot away from you till we get married.. That's ridiculous.."

"Armaan! I didn't say you have to stay five foot away.. What are you saying!"

"You just said we should keep distance!", he frowned, almost pouting as he crossed his arms across his chest.. Riddhima just couldn't help her smile at that sight.. But she had to get him to agree with her on this one.. So she went on with the embarrassingly difficult topic of discussion.. "Armaan I only meant.. We should be careful.. Not get carried away like we have been doing since the Singapore trip.. You know what I mean.." and in spite of herself, she found herself blushing at that statement of hers.. Armaan, however, didn't stop frowning one bit, "Tch.. I get it.. I understand.. But I don't want to..", he stubbornly told her, looking away..

Riddhima sighed as she turned his face towards her, pulling his arms away from between them as she slid an arm around his waist, "Armaan weren't you the one who had said that if mamma thinks its wrong, then it must be wrong.."

And Armaan couldn't deny what she was saying when she looked him in the eye like that.. But that didn't mean he agreed with her, "Yes Basket.. But that was when we had just started seeing each other.. Ab humari shaadi hone waali hai.. And waise bhi, last that didn't really work out for us, did it? We ended up doing what we wanted anyway.. Its human psyche Basket.. You make rules.. And the first thing you'll want to do is break them.."

Riddhima giggled at Armaan's attempts at explaining the human psyche to her.. But she knew she had won this round,. She could sense his defeat in the way he held her wrapped in his embrace, "We can always try Armaan.. I'm very good at following rules.. Have been doing it all my life!"

"Good for you then! You follow the rules.. I'll try breaking them..", he challenged her, a wicked glint flashing in his eye as he leaned in threateningly..

"Armaan.. Please! We have to do this together.. You know I cant follow a single rule where you're concerned right!"

"Riddhima..", he almost whined, wanting so bad to find an excuse to convince her why making these rules and all was a bad idea..

But Riddhima played dirty.. A "Please.." and pout was all it took to break his last string of defense.

"Yeah.. Okay.. Fine.." , he gave in, sighing in disappointment as he buried his face in her hair..

Riddhima just giggled at that, "Thank you! You're the best!! I love you so much!!", and a tight smack on his lips to support her last claim..

"You cant do that and expect me to follow your rules Riddhima!", he warned her, tilting her head up to steal another kiss as she pulled away from him..

"Live with it Armaan.. I cant not kiss you at all now, can I!", she teased him, as she started walking away from him, a genuine smile on her face in what felt like forever..

"Very funny.. So I guess there's really no chance I'll get lucky before we get married!", Armaan wondered aloud as he followed her out..

"Not in a million years..", she winked at him teasingly only to see him roll his eyes in disbelief, "Great!"

"Common Armaan.. It's not that difficult.."

"Easy for you to say..", he mumbled, muttering to himself as he watched her walk ahead of him, noticing every curve of hers that was now off limits.. How was he going to survive!!

Her giggling stopped when she realized he was muttering something under his breath, "Kya? Kuch kaha?"

He just put up a fake smile and shook his head in denial, "Nahi.. Kucch nahi.. anyway.. Its late.. You should go home.. Otherwise Padma mom will start imagining things that I'd rather not have her imagine.. Not when I'm not really even allowed to do any.."

"Armaan! Shut up!", she cut him off mid-sentence, not wanting to give him a chance to start teasing her again..

He just frowned at that response.. What now he wasn't even allowed to tease her! "Fine.. Now please jao na Riddhima.. The more you stay around the more I'll find reasons to seduce you into doing something 'wrong'!", who said he couldn't tease her!!

She just gave him a derisive smile as she retort, "Very funny Armaan.. But I'm not going home..", she told him stubbornly as she started dragging her bag on its trolley wheels towards his bedroom..

Armaan was a little stunned by her stubborn behavior.. He knew she had fought with Padma mom and come here.. But after what she had told him about Padma mom in the kitchen a few seconds ago, he knew that 'moving in' bit was too good to be true.. Apparently Basket had other plans in mind.. But after knowing what Padma mom thinks about them, staying together would be the last straw.. Of course she couldn't stay back.. As much as he wanted her to, he had to send her home, "Basket! I know you fought with Padma mom.. But you can't move in with me because of that.."

"Why not?"

Ha! He didn't have an answer to that one. Any other time, he would have locked her up in his room and not let her get out ever.. But not this time.. This time he would have to scare her into leaving.. But how.. And teasing her was the first thing that came to his mind.. "Because if you do I wont be able to stop myself from you know..", he mocked her with a devilish grin, running his hand up her arm suggestively.. But Riddhima wasn't going to be put down by his cheap tricks.. She just made a face at him and continued towards the bedroom.."Armaan! Tum kucch bhi kar lo.. I'm not going from here.. Maine already decide kar liya hai.."

"Riddhima.."

"No! Don't try to talk me out of this..", but before she could reach his room, he held her arm and pulled her to him.. He needed to knock some sense into her now.. Coz if she entered his room, he wouldn't be able to convince himself to let her go ever, "Basket you just told me that you want a clear conscience.. So do I! I mean.. Padma mom trusts me.. And I'm sure she let you get away only coz she was sure I'd send you back home.."

"Then that's even a better reason for me to not go back.. Armaan if you don't let me stay here I'll go somewhere else.. But I'm not going home..", she crossed her arms across her chest just as stubbornly, refusing to listen to anything he said.. Her mom had wanted her out of the house, so be it.. She wasn't going back there! Not when her mom thinks she doesn't care about her own parents!!

"Riddhima! Don't be ridiculous..", Armaan tried to convince her again..

"Armaan what is your problem.. Tum hi toh kitni baar kehte ho move in with me.. Ab main aayi hoon toh you're sending me back.."

"Riddhima Padma mom kya sochengi? You cant move out just coz you had a fight with her! So much for asking me to keep a distance.."

"Armaan those are completely different matters..", she argued back at his more than cogent argument..

"No they aren't Riddhima.. You're going home that's it..", he declared as he took hold of her bag and started dragging it in the opposite direction..

"No I'm not!!", she stomped her foot as she hurried behind him to get possession of her bag.. Armaan in turn tried to increase his speed.. But she managed to catch up with him.. After playing five minutes of tug of war with the bag, Armaan finally decided it was too childish for him to be a part of.. So he let her keep the bag, but trapped her in his arms as he tried to make her see reason,, "Riddhima.. Fine.. Stay here.. But just listen to me once..", not like she really had a choice.. She stopped struggling against his hold, resisting a temptation to kick him where it hurts most as he started with what he had to say "Look at it this way.. Everyone including your Di and Padma mom think that I am the reason you're ignoring them.. Or being so rebellious.. And careless.. Do you want them to blame me for this decision of yours too Basket.. For no fault of mine! I've had enough already.."

"No one's going to blame you Armaan..", she said those words, looking him in the eye, but knew she had lost the battle right there..

"Really? Are you sure?", he asked her, his eyes probing hers, pleading her to do the right thing..

"Tch.. Armaan..", she looked away from him, irritated by the fact that he was correct.. As much as she didn't want to believe what he said, he was right.. And she obviously didn't want people blaming him for more than he has already been blamed for.. Sighing, she placed her head on his shoulder and he knew the victory was his.. Placing a soft kiss on her forehead, he took hold of her bag as he led her out, "Basket.. I agreed to your keeping distance thing.. Now you have to agree to what I say about this moving in.. It's a mutual deal or none at all.. And I'm not giving you an option to back off.. Chalo.. I'll drop you home.. It's just one o clock.. It's not too late.."

"Yeah right!"

"Please Riddhima.. Mere liye..", and just like she had expected he had managed to sway her into agreeing to go back home.. Even through her reluctance she couldn't help but let him drag her out of his house and towards her car.. Damn this guy!!

"I hate you so much Armaan!", she told him through gritted teeth..

"Tell me something new Basket!" , he coolly replied as he dumped her bag into his car..

"Whatever!!"

"I love you.."

"I ha.."

"Shut up!"

"You shut up!!"

"Gaadi mein baitho!"

"Stop bossing me around.."

"You stop acting like a teenage rebel.."

"Aur bakwaar ki toh I'll ban kissing too Armaan.. I'm warning you.."

"Eyh.. Stop threatening me haan.. Ban on kissing my foot.. I'll see how you stay without kissing me.. "

"I can live without your kisses Armaan.. Don't be so full of yourself.. "

"We'll see.."

"We'll see.."

"I'll see.."

"Why should just you see.. I'm also going to see.."

"Fine Riddhima.. You see what you want to see.. I'll just sit back and watch you see.. Whatever you see.. We'll see.."

"Huh.."

"Blah blah blah.. Blah blah blah blah.."

"Blah blah.."

"Blah.."

"Blah blah blah Armaan.."

"Blah blah blah.. blah blah.."

Yeah.. As Armaan and Riddhima drove back to the Guptas, their mindless bickering faded into a mind numbing number of blah-blahs that I couldn't comprehend any further.. I'll keep you posted on the next sensible conversation they have.. 😆