Mere Apne5(AR) - Epi91, Pg11(29/08) - Page 5

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"Not again..." Groaning he pulled his pillow and placed it over his eyes. Few minutes later, feeling slightly chilly, when he tried to pull his duvet that was lying near his feet on the bed, his fingers touched something that felt like a pile.

Confused he opened his eyes to see what it is. He realized that it was the duvet spread over something, making it look like a pile of stuff. Then he felt some movements due to which that pile of something slid near his legs. Rubbing his eyes again, he looked up and noticed back of a slender figure... again.

He sat up immediately. Earlier, he thought like always he was imagining her. Rubbing his eyes again, he blinked rapidly. Is she really here?

She moved again, this time turning around to face him in her sleep. Still blinking continuously, he bend towards her and very lightly touched shoulder.

She didn't DISAPPEAR. She really is here. He wanted to be 1000 percent sure of it, so he bend more on her. She adjusted her head into her pillow and he felt her sigh that blew cold air on his face. She really is here. He was damn sure now.

"Yay..." he almost yelled out loud in joy.

Damn Armaan, he stopped himself at the last moment from doing so by placing his palm over his mouth. He laid beside her with a slaphappy smile. With his hands joined together and his head resting on his joined hands over his pillow, he didn't know till when he kept staring at her with the same smile. Then slowly, he got up and taking his pillow, went to sleep on the couch. He didn't want her to freak out when she wake up in the morning.

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The following morning, he got up with a jolt. Rubbing his eyes, his gaze darted toward the bed, almost immediately. For a moment he was disappointed finding it empty. Has he been dreaming? But it felt so real. Sitting straight, he felt the fabric of couch under himself. But then why is he sleeping on the couch? He never slept on it unless Riddhima was there in the room.

Anyways, its time to get up and pump some iron. He went to freshen up, then headed straight to his gym. Chatur brought his juice a little later as per the routine. Armaan got ready for his office still thinking about Riddhima. Maybe it was just dream that felt like reality. And maybe he just slept on the couch imagining her.

He joined others at the breakfast table, a little lost in his thoughts. Finishing his breakfast, he was about to leave when Omang called him.

"Armaan..."

"Yes Dad."

"Wait for a little while. Use bhi to Office hi jana hai, to tum dono saath hi chale jana." Omang said following him into the living room.

"No Dad, Bhai ki aaj Oberois mein ek meeting hai. Kal raat ko hi bataya usne. Wo straight wahin jaayega." Armaan replied.

"Bhai? Ismein Atul kahaan se aya?" Omang asked. Then understanding Armaan's confusion, he added, "arey main Atul nahi, teri biwi ki baat kar raha hu. Use bhi to office hi jana hai. Riddhima ko saath hi le jana."

"Riddhima? Par wo to Rahul ke ghar hai na?" He scratched his forehead.

"Huh?" Omang looked at him as if he is a goner.

Thankfully, Riddhima saved Armaan from further questioning, "Dad, I am ready." She said as soon as she came down after getting ready. Riddhima after preparing breakfast, has gone upstairs to get ready.

"Arey waah. Humaari bitiya tayyar ho gayi." Omang smiled at her. When she touched his feet, and stood up, he kissed her forehead and conpmained, "I told you not to do that. Kaha tha na, ki betiyaan paanv nahi chhuti."

"Kaha tha, par aaj itne din ke baad office jaa rahi hu, to socha ki aapki blessings le lu." She said.

"Wo tu humesha tumhaare saath hain. All the best for joining office again." He wished.

"Thank you Dad." She beemed ecstatically.

Armaan, who was still not sure if she is for real, kept gawking at her as if she was a ghost. His doubt cleared when Omang nudged him.

"Armaan, kya muh khol kar paagal ki tarah khada hai. Jaa na ab. Riddhima wait kar rahi hai."

"Err, yeah." He nodded, "Bye Dad."

"Bye... take care of her, and bring her with youself at night, ok." Omang instructed.

"Sure Dad."

Their ride to the office went almost silent, as Riddhima was busy checking a few files. Though she has been visiting office twice a week for the last one month, but from today she was resuming her regular work after more than two months, so she had lot to catch up.

Armaan kept stealing glances of her. Somewhere his heart was still trying to take in the fact that she was with him... atlast. One on of the occasions, she almost caught him staring at her and he has instantly looked away, pretending to check his messages in his phone. She just shrugged and went back to her file.

She was actually there with him... like for real. He was too happy to see her back. Good that Omang has instructed him to take her along, He himself had wished to do so when she joins the office again. They had to go to the same place, then why not go together. His mind had told him to which his heart had given a sarcastic 'Yeah, right' reply.

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Riddhima was received with an extra zeel at the office. As mentioned that she has visited office earlier as well, however her timings have never been fix. Today she was finally going to join the office to work regularly like she used to do before wedding and everyone in the staff knew that. All thanks to Atul and Anjali, who pre-informed everyone about it.

Besides, today she was coming office with Armaan. So in a way it was Armaan-Riddhima's first day in the office as a married couple working at the same place. And to greet their favorite pair, the whole staff has not only gathered in front of the building, but also offered them with flowers and tons of good wishes. A few staff members who couldn't attend their reception due to some reason bought them some gifts as well, which they accepted wholeheartedly.

Once in the office, Riddhima slumped into her chair. "Uff, that was some welcome." She sighed. "Wow..." She noticed that her cabin had been decorated with too many flowers and bouquets. She couldn't help but smile seeing them. Taking in the fragrance of one of the flowers from a bouquet, she sat there caressing it in daze.

*BUZZ* The voice of the alarm (the one she always sets to inform her about the time to go to Armaan's office to narrate him his schedules), brought her back from her la-la land. "Work time." She said to the flowers. Collecting her notebook, Armaan's appointment tracker and other stuff, she went to his cabin.

Armaan, on the other hand was noticing her from glass wall that separated their cabins. He was happy that she liked the flowers. As she got up from her seat, he sprinted back to his seat.

"Good Morning Sir."

He looked up confused as soon as she greeted him. "Huh?"

"Good morning sir." She repeated.

"You are greeting me NOW." His brows knitted.

"Yes. If not NOW, then when?" She asked casually.

"I thought its already past morning."

"Well, its just 09:30am. And as far as my knowledge is concerned, it stays 'morning' until 12:00"

He kept staring at her for a moment. Is she still in the same oh-I-am-so-casual mode? "Riddhima, don't you think you are forgetting something?"

She checked the stuff in her hand and said, "No, I am not. I have got all the files with me."

"I am not talking about that."

"Then?"

"We live in the same house now... as a married couple."

"So?"

"SO?" He repeated, "You are asking me 'so'? Don't you think you should be behaving a little differently with me now?"

"And why is that?" She couldn't understand.

"Because we are married now."

"Sir..."

He interjected, "First of all, stop calling me that."

"Stop calling you what?"

"Sir, stop calling me 'Sir'."

"But I always refer you in the same way, then..."

"Kya ho raha hai..." Atul stepped in, "Armaan, man you left the security ledge open today. See I got in so easily." He pointed mischieviously.

"Spare me Bhai." He replied a little irritated, "The security personnels were doing their regular check-ups."

"Ok, easy-easy Tiger. Whats up with this crankiness? Don't tell me you got into your first couple-fight." He said taking a seat beside Riddhima, "Hi Riddhima."

"Hi Atul Bhaiya." She smiled back.

Armaan stared at her shocked. Atul turned to see him gawking at her like that and asked, "Oye, ye kaisa look hai huh?"

"Its the reason behind my crankiness."

"What?" Atul twisted his lips.

"Let me tell you Bhaiya..." Riddhima interjected, "He is just making a hill out of a mole..."

"What?" Armaan shouted.

"Armaan let her finish first." Atul commanded and told Riddhima to continue, "Tum bolo."

"Bhaiya, I just wished him Good morning and he started off with his non-sense saying that I am forgetting something, we live in the same house, you should be behaving with me differently, we are married, stop calling me 'Sir' and all..." She blabbed.

Armaan looked at her baffled. She really told all that to Atul? "Enough." He roared making her stop. "Don't you have a stop button?"

"Huh?" While Riddhima gave him a puzzled look, Atul burst out laughing.

"Bhai stop... I said STOP." Armaan said irritated.

"Ok-ok. Par hua kya?" He asked.

Before they could discuss it further, Julie buzzed Armaan telling him that the security personnel are on their way for the regular inspections. Armaan, Atul and Riddhima then moved to the conference hall from where they resumed their work again.

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Two more weeks went by. Riddhima had now completely been adapted into her new family. She was more than happy living in her new house. Everyone loved her to the core. They cared for her, pampered her, helped her with everything to adjust in the house and what not. Not for a moment she felt like Aashiyana was new for her. She also got used to her new room and every night, she slept peacefully in her huge bed.

Within a span of a weel Riddhima became acquainted with the whole Ashiyana. The maids, house-helps, gardners, security guards, family, floor, walls, roof, garden, everyone and everything familiarized with her. Whenever she made a visit, Armaan's family would chat for hours with her, forgetting everything. On one of the occasion when Armaan came back he was surprised to see his family ignoring his presence as they were too busy with her. Forget else, even Vaibhav seems to have forgotten him.

Armaan, on the other hand was still in two-minds. Riddhima has become more frank with Atul and Omang even when in the office. Actually she was free and open with every single soul in his family. But the question stayed the same... WHAT ABOUT HIM?

Its been over two and a half months of their marriage and nothing has changed... well besides Riddhima-getting-all-home-and-comfortable with his family (for which he was 'extremely' happy), nothing changed for HIM.

She was the same Riddhima when with him. He was 'Sir' for her in the office and Armaan in the house. Nothing else has progressed. Ahh... actually a few things have, like they were living in the same house, sharing a room, closet, study, washroom etc.etc... Naah, actually, she has also opened up a little more with him. Atleast she doesn't shout unnecessarily or sang her 'Aaa...' song every time seeing him around.

But the point is, he wanted more. He wanted to talk to her, he wanted to spend more time with her, he wanted to just sit around with her, he wanted to... there was endless list of what he wanted to do with her. He wanted to share the same intimacy with her that every husband shared with his wife, both emotionally as well as... ahem-ahem physically. He knew physical things can wait, but what about the emotional stuff?

The truth was she was different in a different way. In the last few weeks that he has been married to her, many things have cleared out about her, one of which was her being an grown-up-ignorant-idiot about the relationship between her and her husband. She was a dumb-case, a goner when it came to those things.

HOW? She is bloody over 27 damn it. In this 21^st century, how can a girl, actually well-educated girl like her be like that? But then all those explanations given by others, including Shashank, Padma, Anjali, Rahul, Muskaan and now a days even Atul, laid the facts. Even though all that sounded extremely lame to him, but what was true, was true. The reality was he was married to a dumb-case... Not that he regret it, coz he has fallen in love with the same dumb-case.

He could have done something about their relationship, if only Riddhima was a little different, like other clued-up females on the earth. Her behavior and then Shashank's words about her being 'clueless' stopped him for being for doing anything. He didn't want to do anything that might scare her off, or take her away from him in any way. He was hopelessly in love with her and didn't want to loose her.

His wife, Mrs Riddhima Armaan Malik, was one exceptional piece manufactured in god's creative factory. He was married to the girl he love, who had no clue what he is to her... He couldn't do anything about it. He didn't know how to deal with his situation and this was why he was getting a frustrated day-by-day. Fortunately for him, it didn't go unnoticed by a certain someone in his family.

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He caressed the bulge that has started showing up. Now that she was in her fifth month, he started spending a little more cozy time with her. With her in his arms, he felt content. His wife and his life were both beautiful. Atul noticed slightly lost look on Anjali's face.

"Hey..." He nudged her and she looked up, "Kya hua, kya soch rahi ho?"

"Armaan ke baare mein." She mumbled.

"Armaan ke baare mein, aur wo bhi is time?" He raised a brow.

She slapped his hand, "Mazaak nahi Atul."

He stopped chuckling. "Achchha baba, no mazaak. Ab bolo kya baat hai."

"Atul, tumhe nahi lagta ki Armaan thoda frustrate hota jaa raha hai?"

"Frustrate, Aur wo bhi Armaan? Main samajha nahi..."

"Mch, arey dekha nahi, kal kaise chilla pada tha Chatur pe bina wajah... Aur us din jab hum shopping ke liye gaye the tab us salesman ko kaise ghura tha usne..."

"To usmein kaunsi badi baat hai. Chatur to aksar hi ulte-seedhe kaam karta rahta hai. Use to Armaan humesha hi daanta hai. Aur rahi baat us Salesman ki, to usne zaroor kuchh bewakufi ki hogi, tabhi Armaan ne use ghura. Ismein frustrate hone ki baat kahan se aayi? Tum kuchh jyada hi soch rahi ho." He argued.

"Atul, tumhe ye baat jaise simple dikh rahi hai na, waisi hai nahi. Mana Chatur bewakufi karta rahta hai, aur us din bhi us Salesman ki galti thi, par phir bhi, aajkal Armaan aksar bada irritated sa behave karta hai."

"Aur tumhaare hisaab se iska kya reason hai?"

"I guess its because of Riddhima."

"Riddhima ki wajah se? Naah, its not possible. Uski wajah se Armaan kyun frustrate hoga? Wo to use bhot pyaar karta hai. Besides, she cant do anything to make him feel so. Wo to ekdum bachchi hai." Atul shrugged.

"Exactly my point."

"Matlab?"

"Unfortunately Riddhima ekdum bachchi hai..."

"Anjie, tum kahna kya chaahti ho, saaf-saaf kaho na."

"Offo Atul. Riddhima ekdum bachchi hai, par Armaan to nahi."

"Haan, par he does behave kiddishly at many times." Atul commented chuckling but stopped when she glared at him, "Sorry."

"I think Riddhima ke behavior ki wajah se wo thoda pareshaan hai."

"And why do you feel so?"

"I don't 'feel' so. But its because I have seen it." She saw him raise his brow, and continued, "Us din I went to their room to call Riddhima and you know what I noticed?"

"Kya?"

"A pillow and a duvet on the couch."

"So?" He shrugged.

"Tch... Atul, it means one of them has slept on that couch instead of the bed."

"So?" He repeated.

She slapped his arm, "Atul, tum na, ekdum bewakuf ho. Arey, it means that they don't sleep on the same bed. Either Armaan or Riddhima sleeps on the couch."

"Arey yaar, ho sakta hai ki un dono mein us din jhagda hua ho." Atul said casually.

"Nahin, aisa nahi hai. I am damn sure they have never gotten even slightly intimate till now."

"To kya hua? Its just third month of their marriage. Aur un dono ne unfortunately jyada time bhi saath nahi bitaya hai ab tak. I am sure that they will get to that phase soon."

"Pahli baat to ye ki, the third month is almost over. And secondly, I don't think so." Anjali nodded, "Jaise un dono ke beech sab kuchh chal raha hai na, I don't think it is going to happen any soon. Things are not the way they should have been. They aren't living exactly like a typical husband-wife."

"Anjie, un dono ki shaadi kaise hui hai, ye to tum jaanti ho. How can you expect them to behave the way we do in just a small time?"

"I know it will take time for them to get to the comfort level that we share. But the fact is, they aren't even trying to be husband-wife."

"They will... I am sure with time, they definitely will." Atul assured.

"Kab, jab humaare bachche apne bachchon ke bachchon ko khila rahe honge?"She made a face, the placed her head on his shoulder and mumbled, "I am worried for Armaan."

"Aww... He will be alright Anjie." He tried to pacify her.

"But HOW? I have noticed Atul, they don't even talk to each other the way a husband-wife should. I mean they aren't that free around each other... like we are. Forget about husband-wife, they aren't even friends. Riddhima ka to kuchh kiya nahi jaa sakta, kyunki wo kaisi hai, ye hum sab jaante hain, par what about Armaan? I feel somewhere he is suffering due to all this."

"Give her some break Anjie. Ismein Riddhima ki kya galit hai?"

"Maine ye nahi kaha ki uski ismein koi galti hai. But some or the other day, she has to understand the meaning of their relationship. If not, don't you think it will lead to problems for both of them in future?"

Atul pondered over things and realized that she is right, "I guess you are right. Even I have noticed Armaan getting cranky or looking lost many a times these days. Sometimes it seems that he wants to talk to Riddhima about something, but then..." He recalled the office incident that happened when Riddhima joined back the office two weeks ago.

"See, I knew it. That's what I am saying. I am sure, Riddhima doesn't even realize that he wants to talk to her." She replied.

"Hmm..." Atul rubbed his chin, "You are right. She doesn't seem to. In fact, she hasn't even noticed him passing occasional glances towards her."

Anjali looked worried, "We should do something about it Atul."

He sighed, "Anjie, darling ismein hum kya kar sakte hain? We cant push them into a relationship. Hum log jo kar sakte the kar chuke. We got them married. Now its their turn to take a step ahead. Its them who should be doing something about it." He replied helplessly.

"Wohi to. Karna to unhe hi chaahiye, but you are forgetting that here we are dealing with two wonders of the world." She rolled her eyes and added sarcastically, "Ek aisi ladki jiske dimaag ke circuit mein bhagwaan 'romance, pyaar, husband, relationship, intimacy etc.' jaisi feelings ki chips lagana hi bhul gaye hain. Aur ek aisa bewakuf-over-smart ladka, jo apni biwi se pyaar to bhot karta hai, but god knows for what idiotic reason, use admit karna nahi chaahta."

"Anjie, I differ to agree with you on this." Atul twisted his face clandestinely.

"You disagree on what?" She asked grumpily.

"Armaan has already admitted that he loves Riddhima." He stated.

"KYA? You are kidding me right?" She looked at him surprised.

Atul grinned shaking his head, "No, I am telling you the truth."

"But... but who... I mean..."

"He told me himself." He answered.

"KAB? KAISE? KAHAAN?" She yelled.

Atul laughed at her response, "Its been over a month. He told me when Riddhima was at Rahul's house for Muskaan's delivery."

"Aur tum mujhe ye ab bata rahe ho?" Her mouth was literally hanging open with shock.

"Sorry darling, it just slipped off my mind." He replied sheepishly.

"Itni-impotant-baat, aur tum mujhe batana BHUL GAYE?" She glared.

"Arey naraaz mat ho darling. Kaha na main bhul gaya. I am really-really sorry." He held his ears while she just sat angrily facing away from him. He pouted, "Please..."

"Alright..." She said. Seeing Atul trying to hug her, she added, "But I have one condition."

"Haan bolo na."

"I want to know everything... right NOW." She commanded.

"Anything for you." He smiled and pulled her closer as he started telling her about the event of the millennium.

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***Flashback***

It was two days after Armaan came back from Delhi on finishing his meeting with the Labor welfare Minister. He was in his office. Atul knocked the door a few times, but not getting any response, he just walked in using his own set of security key. He stood near the door-partition looking at him for a moment.

Armaan was as usual busy working on his Laptop. His finger worked on the keyboard frantically, but next moment they stopped all of a sudden. A few minutes passed with him sitting still in the same way, thinking about something. Then slowly his finger moved on the mouse pad. A second later, a soft smile appeared on his lips.

Atul narrowed his eyes at him as he observed Armaan looking at something intently and smiling to himself. Slowly and sneakily, he went behind Armaan's chair... and he got an unexpected response when Armaan didn't notice him move from his front side to behind his chair.

Atul peeked into Armaan's laptop to see what has brought that smile on his brother's face. What he saw didn't surprise him, however the fact that Armaan was smiling, unaware of everything around him was greatly a pleasant surprise. 'Hmm, to ye baat hai...' He wolf-whistled.

Armaan almost jolted off from his seat startled by the sudden sound of wolf-whistle. He looked back at Atul, "Bhai? Tu andar kaise aya?"

"Darwaaze se." Armaan gave him a weird look, to which he replied, "Don't forget ki tere cabin ka ek emergency security code mujhe bhi pata hai. Waise bhi tu darwaza khol nahi raha tha, to maine socha aaj use hi istemaal karke dekh lu."

"Oh..." Armaan asked, "Achchha bol kya kaam tha?"

Not moving his gaze away from his Laptop screen, Atul whistled again, "Kaam to hote hi rahenge. Tu bata, chhup-chhup ke ye sab kya ho raha hai?"

Armaan followed his gaze. His eyes went wide with shock when he noticed what Atul has seen. Instantly he closed the screen looking away.

"Arey-arey band kyun kar diya yaar, mujhe bhi to dekhne de." Atul tried to pull his Laptop.

"Bhai, it-its nothing." Armaan held his Laptop firmly.

"Achchha beta mujhse jhoot?" Atul went to sit on the couch.

Seeing him settle on the couch, Armaan opened his Laptop and started working again. A few minutes later he felt his gaze on him. Atul was continuously staring at him. Armaan tried a lot to ignore, but when Atul kept whistling and mumbling things, he started getting irritated.

"Bhai..." Not able to stand it anymore, Armaan glared at him.

"Hmm..."

"Stop it." He said firmly.

"Stop what Armaan?" Atul asked innocently.

"You know what I am talking about."

"Hey this is supposed to be my line." Atul said.

"Oh really?"

"Of course." Atul spread his legs on the couch and kept looking at him. "So?"

Armaan knew there was no use to arguing or trying to avoid things. He got up from his chair and went to sit beside Atul. "Bhai... wo..." He trailed.

"Yes Armaan...?"

"Wo..."

Atul sighed, "Spill it Armaan."

"I-I miss her." Armaan spoke in a small voice.

"That I can see." Atul pointed towards his Laptop and asked intentionally, "But why were you looking at her pictures and why are you missing her."

"Coz I love her." He mumbled almost inaudibly.

"Do you want me to start nagging you again?" Atul raised a brow when he heard his mumbling.

"Ok fine. I was missing her coz I love her Bhai." Armaan blurt out finally. Atul kept gazing at him for what seem like too long to count, which further irritated Armaan, "Bhai stop staring at me and say something."

"Pinch me." Atul mumbled. Armaan squinted, but then he pinched Atul, "Oye... Sss... Saale..." Atul jumped in his place rubbing his arm and glaring at him at the same time.

"Tune hi bola tha." Armaan shrugged.

"Abey, itni zor se?" Armaan just shrugged again. Then a minute later, Atul got up and yelled, "Yayyy... I am gonna send this to the genius book of world records."

"Kya?" Armaan looked at him as if he has lost it.

"Arey a miracle has happened. And don't you think miracles are eligible enough to secure a place in the genius records book?" Atul said excitedly.

"Bhai, bakwaas karne mein PhD poori ho gayi na teri?"

Ignoring 'PhD' part of his remark, Atul said, "Bakwaas nahi. Bakwaas kaise ho sakta hai yaar. The Armaan Malik, who has kept us, his own family, on our toes with our nails off for don't know how long, just to convince him to marry... he has finally confessed his love for his very own wife, that too so easily... You call it a bakwaas? Gosh, its a miracle."

Armaan rolled his eyes, "Spare me with your drama Bhai."

Instead of stopping, Atul kept dancing singing loudly, "Jiska mujhe, tha intezaar, wo ghadi aa gayi-aa gayi-aa gayi..." Armaan made a few futile attempts to stop him, but Atul pulled him from the couch, making him dance with him, "Ho gaya hai tujhe pyaar..."

Atul kept rambling songs tunelessly making Armaan laugh with him, "Bhai... you are gone." He commented as they slumped into the couch again sitting with each other.

"No, I am not. For once, this time you are gone." Atul chuckled.

Armaan closed his eyes smiling to himself. They sat in the same position for next few minutes. Then Armaan opened them again when he heard Atul.

"Talk to me Armaan." Atul said softly.

"I don't know when and how, but I admit it Bhai... that I love her. I love Riddhima." Armaan admitted. "You were right. I kept fighting it, but I cant do it anymore."

Atul placed a hand over his shoulder and said, "You know, I had a feeling right from the beginning that something is going to be there between you two."

"Beginning?" Armaan raised a brow.

"Yep... Or else why do you think I wanted to hook you up with her?" He grinned, "You remember her first day in the office?" Atul reminded chuckling, "Your first meeting with your feisty wife... It was something yaar." He paused when he noticed the dazed look on Armaan's face. Something told him that there was a little more to it. "Armaan?"

"Yeah?" Armaan pursed his lips.

"Why do I have feeling that there is more to it..." He asked almost suspiciously. Armaan glanced him sideways, giving him a mysterious smile. Atul narrowed his eyes, "It was your first meeting, or was it not?" When Armaan's expressions didn't change, he understood, "Oh, it wasn't." He turned to him asking firmly, "I want to know everything."

Armaan shook lightly, "You remember the time I missed my Bangalore flight?"

"The one that crashed?"

"Hmm..." He nodded, "It was because of Riddhima."

"What? How? I mean I don't understand..." Atul fumbled in surprise.

"Argument." He replied recalling his first encounter with Riddhima.

Atul pondered over it and realized that Armaan had told him about his argument with someone, "You mean the person you got into that argument that day, due to which you missed your flight, was none other than our Riddhima?" He asked astonished. Armaan agreed silently. Atul went quite, then mumbled, "Wow..."

"But that too wasn't my first encounter with her. That was second." Armaan saw him looking at him questioningly. "Earlier even I thought that it was the first one, but with time I figured that we have met earlier as well. Its just neither of us knew who the other person was on our first meeting." He said playing with the paper weight placed in the table.

"Matlab?"

"Matlab ye ki, I met her first at Hotel Regal. I and Rahul were there for a meeting. I saw her first in the Disco there."

"Riddhima and Disco? You got to be joking?"

"Naah I am not."

"I wonder what was she doing in a Disco? She doesn't seem like a girl who goes to a place like Disco, that too Hotel Regal's, which is quite popular for its booze-aired environment. In fact, as far as I know, she is not even a party person."

"We all know that Bhai."

"Then?"

"Actually I don't think she was visiting Disco." Armaan started explaining, "Rahul had forgotten an important file related to that meeting. He left it at his home. My intuition says that her presence in that Disco was due to that file. I guess, Rahul must have called home and asked her to bring that file to the Hotel."

"Naah, it wasn't Rahul..." Atul mumbled recalling something.

"Kya matlab?" Armaan looked at him on being interrupted.

"It was me. I called Rahul's home to tell Muskaan to send that file to Hotel Regal. Ab mujhe yaad aa raha hai. It was your meeting with Rahejas regarding a steel contract, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, it was. But I couldn't understand what you meant by it was you."

"Arey, actually that day Rahul tried calling his home as well as Muskaan many times, but none was taking call. He then called me about it. I was going to send someone his home to bring that file and get it delivered to you at the Hotel, but then I thought of calling his home landline atleast once. So, I called his home. A girl took the Call. And now I remember, the girl who attended the call said that she is Rahul's sister." He cricked his nose, "Tch, how idiot of me, obviously it has to be none other than Riddhima. She is Rahul's only sister. She told me that Muskaan wasn't home... or something like that. Then she said that she will send the file to Hotel Regal." Atul finished.

"Hmm... that explains her presence in the Hotel."

"Right. I think it means she must have come to the Hotel herself instead of sending the file through somebody else." Atul added. "Never knew it will become the reason of your first encounter with her."

"Me too." Armaan smiled.

"But I still don't understand how she went to Disco, instead of going to the conference Hall."

"She might have lost her way."

"Quite possible." Atul raised his brow, "And what about you? You were there for the meeting, then what were you doing in the Disco at that time?"

"Mujhe wahaan Mr.Ghai mil gaye the. He was throwing his birthday party there. I was entering the elevator for the conference hall, when he saw me and invited to his party. There was still some time for the meeting and we were waiting for the file as well. So, I just went for courtesy's sake." Armaan explained.

"Then how did you meet her?" Atul asked curiously.

"I wouldn't call it a meeting. It was just a chance encounter that we saw each other. She wasn't even inside the Disco. Actually after wishing Mr.Ghai, I was standing near the bar looking around casually... and then I saw a girl standing near a pillar."

"Strange that you noticed a girl." Atul teased.

"Well, I wouldn't have, but the fact that she was hiding, plus she was dressed quite unusually for a place like Disco, became the reason of me noticing her."

"I understood the dressing part, but why was she hiding?"

"I don't know. How would I know that?" Armaan shrugged, "But I can guess. Maybe she lost her way and was just standing behind that pillar trying to locate Rahul. Then she must have covered her face due to the severe smell of booze and all."

"What do you mean, she covered her face?"

"It means, that neither of us had seen each other's face. I couldn't see hers coz she had her face covered with her dupatta due to the severe smell of booze, and she couldn't see mine as I was wearing a theme mask of Mr.Ghai's party. Before we could see each other or talk, you called. She disappeared by the time we finished and I turned back to see her."

"What a filmy occurrence." Atul chuckled, "Then, how do you know that it was her?"

"Initially, I didn't know. But her eyes... I saw her eyes that day..." Armaan said dazely, "Those green eyes. I just couldn't forget them. The pure innocence in those eyes, it kept haunting me ever since that chance-encounter."

"Ooo, innocence kept haunting you ever since huh?" Atul ragged again.

Armaan rolled her eyes, "Yes, so?"

Atul smiled curiously, "Phir, when did you realize that it was Riddhima?"

"Very late actually. You recall our visit to Dhule, Raogunj?"

"Of course I do. Riddhima too was there with us."

"It was during that trip I noticed her eyes closely and finally figured that it was Riddhima at Hotel Regal's Disco that day." Armaan revealed.

"Tubelight, bhot jaldi pahchaan gaya." Atul laughed.

"Kya karun Bhai, teri company mein rahte-rahte, tera asar hone laga hai." He retorted.

"Mera asar hota to ab to tera kam se kam ek baby bhi ho chuka hota." Atul laughed, "I never took this long to confess my feelings to Anjali."

"Theek hai-theek hai. Jyada khush hone ki zaroorat nahi hai." Armaan rolled his eyes.

***Flashback Ends***

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Hi Friends😃... I miss all my best buddies and their funny comments, critisim and all. Thanks to all of you for bearing with me. Hope you like and respond to this episode.