*Sacred Bonding* New AK-AR FF* Ch-3 Page 19 Feb20 - Page 10

Chapter 2 - To the rescue.

All three of them were walking down the corridor making their way around the crowd. Nikki spoke up trying to look innocent, "Kripa, you go. We'll just be back. I have to give Dia her book back. It's the last day you know. Ridhz, chalo gi mere saath?"

"Sure. Kripa, we'll come to the canteen." Kripa nodded and the duo left.

***

Somewhere in the hills of Kasauli, a sweet, singing voice woke up a household and the neighbors living around it. The women of the house came out of the kitchen to open the main door speaking, "They'll be here already. I'm sure."

As she opened it, two people stood in front of her. One girl and another, a boy. They were waving hands at each other and fighting to ring the doorbell. She laughed seeing them and just before the girl could open her mouth to cuss at the boy, she interrupted. "Bas. Don't you dare say bad words this early in the morning Muskaan."

Muskaan shut her mouth and looked at the middle-aged women. "Aunty!" she then pouted and buttered her. "I wasn't going to. How do you always manage to open the door before we knock?"

Rahul came in and taunted, "Just the sound of your anklets wakes up whole Kasauli. Then one house is no big deal."

"Chup kar ullu ke pathe." She replied back as Beeji hit her on her head. "Sorry Beeji. I didn't start today. He did!"

Rahul asked, "Beeji, we'll listen to your lecture later on. Right now, where's Amy?"

Beeji replied getting back to her work, "Where do you think he is?"

Both shared a knowing look and ran out of the house, again fighting to reach there first. They ran through the street hand in hand, jumped over small fences, climbed the rocky stairs and finally stopped reaching the top. They panted heavily and rested first before looking up to find Armaan sitting on the broad railing with his favorite red guitar in his hands and strumming the strings of it.

"Amy, why do you always do this?" Muskaan asked.

Amy turned to look at them and smiled widely. "Good afternoon!" He taunted as they were late. As usual. He continued, "And you both know very well why I play this tune."

Rahul sat next to him. "We know. She loved it very much."

Muskaan sat on the bottom taking support from the wall and facing the opposite direction as the boys. "You need to stop hurting yourself by playing this all the time." She said softly.

Armaan laid down a little and looked at the bright sky which was cloudy today. And not just today, that's usually how it was at the hill station. "I can't be more hurt. And – playing this gives me comfort. It makes me feel like she is still with me. Sitting right in front of me as I play it."

Muskaan looked at Rahul. He knew what she wanted. Both of them always tried to bring the old Amy back. But ever since the fire, he wasn't himself. He would always be lost in his own thoughts. His thoughts about Riddhima.

Rahul said for the millionth time. "They never found her. She might as well be dead. Armaan, we all loved her just as much. But we can't change that."

Armaan shot. "No. I don't believe that alright. She's still here and alive. And one day, I'm going to find her."

Muskaan piped in as she always did. "Ok. We believe you. But for now, we need to finish our shopping remember?"

"Shopping? For what?" he asked getting back to his guitar.

Muskaan had enough and she took it from him. "Alright Romeo. Enough for today. We have packing to do. Now let's go."

Unwillingly, Armaan got up and followed Muskaan and Rahul and in no less than a minute, he was out there enjoying the weather and running with them from one shop to another.

***

Ridhz stopped when she saw Dia pass them. But Nikki kept on walking. "Nikki, Dia just went that way. Then why are we going towards the class?"

Nikki puts her hand around Riddhima's shoulder. Sometimes she wandered. Why was my friend so nave?!She informed, "'Cuz we're looking for Abhi."

"But why? You told Kripa you had to give Dia her book." She asked innocently.

Nikki slams her hand thinking. Aab iss ladki ko kaise samjhau. "Yes. I said that. But only because I needed a reason so that she doesn't find out what I'm about to do!"

The way she said that, it scared Ridhz a bit. Whenever Nikki started talking like that, it meant that a big trouble was heading towards someone. She gets concerned and takes quick steps to stop Nikki. Holding her by her wrist she asks seriously, "Where are we going? And what are you thinking?"

Nikki sensed her fear and replied calmly, "Don't worry. I won't do any such thing that someone gets hurt. I only want Angad to remember what he's forgetting."

Riddhima responded. "But we promised Kripa we won't tell him." Nikki puts a shoulder around her and makes her to continue walking.

"Who said we're going to tell him? That's why we are looking for Abhi. He'll tell Angad. And besides, did you forget what Kripa said if he doesn't remember? You don't want that to happen. Do you?"

Nikki knew inwardly that Riddhima won't be able to say no to that. After all, anything for friends! Riddhima thinks hard for a few seconds. "Baat toh thik hai. Ok fine. Let's to talk to Abhi."

Nikki gives her a one side hug and says beaming, "That's my girl!"

***

In the canteen, Kripa was impatiently waiting for them to come as it had been longer than few minutes. She kept looking at the watch every now and then. The waiter of the cafeteria kept on glancing at her too. He was around their same age but younger. Finally, he went to her and asked, "Didi are you mad at me?"

Kripa was surprised hearing this. "Why do you say that?!"

"Because you've been here from a long time but still not ordered your lunch." He replied sadly. Kripa chuckled at this and nudged his head playfully.

"Silly! I can never be mad at you. I'm just waiting for Nikki and Ridhz." He beamed hearing this. Even though he was just a waiter, Kripa had helped him a lot of times when in need. Thus, he considered her as his older sister that he didn't have. He got back to his work seeing the line of people getting longer.

Kripa sat back down with a long sigh still waiting…

***

They all reached the house for lunch and sat at the dining table demanding dinner like little kids. Then they all laughed at Beeji's expressions. She gave them their plates and sat there watching them eat.

"Armaan, do you guys have to go?" she asked once again hoping this time, they might change their decision.

Armaan stopped eating and replied, "Beeji, you know we are still going to go to Mumbai. Summer is the perfect time to get to know the city. We'll be back in time for college. You know that."

Beeji sighed. "I know… I'll just miss all of you here. I'm not used to spending my day without seeing either of you…"

Armaan smiled along with others.

***

Riddhima and Nikki go inside their class the first thing to search for him. Knowing Abhi, they were pretty sure they'll find him there goofing off with his boy pack. Certainly, they found him at the very end of the class in a huge group playing a game with a group of boys. They walk over to him and Nikki interrupts the boys, "Abhi, we need to talk."

He gives her a quick glance before concentrating back on the game. "What now?"

Nikki looks at the boys and then says, "Not here. Come with us."

"What is it?! Can't you see I'm playing an important game? I'm about to win. We'll talk later."

This irritated her. Why can he never understand the difference between my pranks and seriousness?! Meanwhile, Riddhima remained calm. It took a lot out of someone to irritate her!

"Very important huh? Oh! Then I'll show you how to win." Saying so, she grabbed his collar and pulled him up and out of his chair. They boys backed away not wanting to interfere and Riddhima's eyes widened. If she starts a fight now, then he will never help us!

"Nikki! Leave him." She ordered and hearing that, she let go of him not wanting she. She felt him kicking him bad. It was only this sort of behavior from him that annoyed the hell out of her.

He almost fell to the ground. Straightening himself out, he asked. "What is soimportant?"

Before Nikki would get mad again, Riddhima spoke up. "Well...you know Angad forget Kripa's birthday. (Mutters) As always!"

"I know. So what can I do in that?" he replied back being annoyed.

Nikka threatened, "Are you gonna shut up and listen or..." Understanding what she meant by that, Abhi replied instantly not letting her complete her threat.

"No no. I'm listening. You keep going."

"So I was saying, if he doesn't remember then Kripa has decided not to talk to Angad. Like never ever again."

Abhi gave a look as if to say, 'No! You can't be serious?!' Riddhima gave a stern smile with a nod and another nod from Nikita confirmed to him. He burst out.

"What? That can't happen!!!"

Nikki retorted, "We now that idiot. That's why we need your help. You have to tell Angad because we can't. We promised her."

He understood. "But, I also told her I won't tell Angad anything."

"Yes. You said that. She didn't make you promise. And if you don't want to tell him directly, then do it indirectly. Like write a note or get someone else to tell him. Anything. But do something!"

Riddhima backed up her words. "Yah. Just tell it to him in some way. We'll keep Kripa busy till then. Okay?"

"Sure thing. I'll think of something. Don't worry." He satisfied both of them. They left to do their part of the work while he stood their thinking if there was any other way to pass the message on.

***

Nikita and Riddhima reached the cafeteria just when Kripa was fed up of waiting and had gotten up to go back to the classroom. Seeing them come in, she sat back down and waited for them to reach the table. They hurried up taking quick steps and sat around her.

"Where were you both?!"

Both said together, "Classroom." "Teacher." Kripa looked at them confused and they looked at each other. Nikki quickly covered up saying, "We went to the classroom to give Dia her book back but when we were coming, teacher stopped us to help her."

Riddhima agreed with her. Kripa found it bit suspicious but brushed the thought aside.

They started eating their lunch which Chotu (the waiter) brought the instant he saw them. Sipping the drink, Nikita asked, "So, everything ready for the End of year party?"

Since it was Kripa's idea to throw a party, the principle had informed that Kripa can be in charge but everything has to be put back in order before they leave.

Kripa gave a sad look preparing herself for the insults that were going to come her way. "Guys. I'm not coming. I don't feel good."

Riddhima (totally freaking out) replied instantly, "What?! What do you mean you're not coming?! You have to! You are holding the party and all!"

Nikita talked sensibly, "Look. We understand that you don't want to come because of Angad. But please, come for us! It won't be the same without you…" Both looked at Kripa with hopeful eyes.

Riddhima continued to make their side stronger, "Yeah. Please don't let Angad come in between our friendship. If we're your bestest friends than you'll come with us. You'll come for us." (She points her finger at Kripa.) "Or else..." She pauses for a second to think and continues, "Or else I won't talk to you. Think about it, you'll lose your two best friends!"

Kripa did her best to hide her smile. This was the Riddhima she knew; always experimenting emotional blackmail on her. And it always did the trick too. This time, though, she controlled her smile longer and asked, "Two??"

"Yes. One: me, because I won't talk to you. And two: Angad, because youwon't talk to him."

Kripa formed her mouth in 'O' shape and finally ended up smiling. "You always make me choose between a thing and our friendship. Don't you?" She mocked teasingly.

Riddhima said as a matter of fact. "Yeah! Because I know you'll never choose anything over our friendship. So does that mean you are coming?"

Kripa gave a look filled with attitude which the other two seemed to understand. They grinned brightly at their success. It might have seemed like just distracting Kripa, but they actually got two things done while just aiming for one. They convinced her to not change her decision and even bought enough time for Abhi to do his work.

Both just crossed their fingers mentally hoping he had accomplished his part of the mission as well.

***

In the classroom, Abhi was thinking hard on how to tell Angad. He finally decided to go with Nikka's plan as he couldn't think of anything better. He wrote it down on a piece of paper and then went in search of him. He found Armaan sitting in the corner of the basketball court with a basketball in his hands. He was just tossing it from one hand to another dully.

He shook his head seeing his condition and went to him. "Hey buddy. What's up?" He acted.

Angad looked up at him and stopped staring into space. "Nothing." He replied with no emotions.

"Hmmm." (He stressed) "Thinking why Kripa is not talking to you?"

Angad jerked his face towards him. "How do you know?"

Abhi gave a short laugh. "Do you consider me a fool or what? I know you since we were kids. Whenever she gets mad at you or doesn't talk to you, you roam around with a sad face. Just like right now."

Angad rolled his eyes. "If you can't help me than at least don't bother me right now."

Abhi gives him attitude as he gets up. "I did come to help you. But..." And starts turning around pretending to leave slowly knowing that Angad will stop him. Just than he did stop him.

"What yaar… You are so touchy..." Abhi stops but doesn't turn around trying to stifle his smile. "Okay... I am sorry... Now please tell me."

He stays still and Angad tries to butter him up. "Um... if you tell me than...whatever you want I will give it to you."

Abhi gives a winning grin and turns around to say sarcastically, "Okay, okay. You don't have to exaggerate so much." He then takes out a piece of paper from his back pocket. While handing it to him, "Here, maybe this could be of some help."

"What is this?"

"I can't tell you. That is why I wrote it down on a piece of paper."

Angad was totally confused. "What?"

Abhi said getting irritated, "Just open it."

He opened the note. After reading the note his expression changed. His eyes got wide and he started talking to himself. He cursed himself saying things from, "How can I forget this?" "I'm such an idiot!" "Today's a very important day for her." "You're the worst friend ever!" And other things.

Abhi got tired of hearing it. "Stop!!!" he yelled. After Angad stopped talking, Abhi continued, "I know that you are stupid and dumb. But now's not the right time to think of how stupid and dumb you are. Just think of what you are going to do now."

"Point noted." He puts on his thinking face and after a while, he said, "I have a plan. Let's go."

***

Few minutes later, the bell rings and everybody rushes to get to their classes in time. Girls start going upstairs as well. While going upstairs, Kripa says, "I don't know why, but I think something big is going to happen today."

Riddhima asked, "Like what?"

"Don't know. It's just a strange feeling."

Nikka said, "Like one of those sixth sense feelings you always have? Then don't worry. Today's your birthday and you're just exited. Nothing can go wrong." She convinced her. Riddhima nodded as well and Kripa thought. Maybe they're right…

They were already upstairs by that time. As they were about to enter their class, they hear someone calling their names. They turn around to see Mrs. Neelam, principal's secretary, coming towards them. As she reaches them, she informs, "Mr. Singh is calling all three of you."

Nikki asked, "Now?"

"Yes now. Actually, I've been looking for you all for quite a long time now."

They nod as she goes to do other work and they all give each other a look before heading back downstairs to the principal's office which was situated inside the main office. When they reached the office, Kripa knocked on the door and a person from inside replied with a firm voice, "Come in."

They were scared since they only got called in his office when they were caught doing some mischief or he had to congratulate them for winning some competition. But as far as those two things were concerned, they had done neither of it! They both looked at Nikki, who gave a blank look and shook her head negatively confirming it to them that she had done nothing. And no competitions were held lately either that they could have won that. The trio went in with a scared look on.

***

Precap: The trio in Mumbai and Goa News.

***

Like and comment! Hope it was good. And about AR story, that'll be out in the next update too.

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-Khushi