Ariya Fluff Weekathon NOTE 27/10 Pg 16 - Page 5

Awesome part...loved it...

Awww...Its so nice

I liked it... Thanks for PM dear...

Hey, sorry for the late reply...

That was Awesome... I loved this softer side of Arjun 😊

Read both Monday and Tuesday right now and although I do love the fluff the angst wasn't bad either!

@ sbp1971 - Thank you so much! I really was worried, but you made me feel better! Glad you liked it!

@ Arya1991 - Thanks a ton! Glad you like fluff that isn't just fluff! I love how you put it, btw. Thanks again for commenting!

@ riti - Thanks babe!

@ immayurfan - Thank you! Happy you liked it...

@ Priya - Shree-Chotu have a death wish! Lol! Don't you just love them with Riya? Me too @ impressed by Arjun's attitude! sigh. Thanks for commenting.

@ Sree - Thank you! Happy to please!!

@ Leki - Thank you!

@ Radhika Shah - Thanks!

@ vidya.anand - Thank you so much! Glad you liked it!

@ Tani partner - Awww thanks!! That's very sweet of you!

@ jankisoni86 - Thank you!

@ lola123 - Thank you!

@ luvzindagi - Thanks a ton!

@ Hot.Pink.Heels - Yeah? Yeah!! Thank you!!

Happy Dussehra/Vijaya Dasami/Bijoy Dasami people!! Sorry this is late. Festival time, you know? Guests swarming the place! Sigh

For Sree (KiSha13), who wanted a Durga puja special. Hope this works for you sweets!


"Mujhe nahin aana hai Riya," Arjun growled, annoyed at being asked the same question for what was probably the tenth time in an hour.

"Par, Ar-," Riya stopped short as he shook his head at her. "I mean, SIR, hum sab jaa rahe hain. Aap bhi aayiye na. Bohot maza aayega," she pleaded, opening her eyes wide at him.

Arjun sighed, steeling himself. There was really no harm in going, but he couldn't. Everything was happening too fast. It hadn't been two months since he'd almost lost her, and now they were in love. Not that they had said all that. The minute she'd opened her eyes in the hospital, and seen him sitting by her bedside looking gutted, she'd known. And so had he. For good or bad, he was bound to Riya Mukherjee and he wasn't about to let her go. But the strength of his feelings scared him and he was frankly ashamed of how tightly she had him wound around her little finger. A little bit of space would probably be good for both of them...

Riya pouted and stepped closer to him. She snuck a quick look to check that no one was watching them, and laid a hand on his arm. "Kyun itna bhaav kha rahe ho, Arjun Rawte?" she purred, enjoying the way his breath hitched. "Chalo na. I promise you'll have fun." Arjun looked into her eyes, dancing with mischief and shining with love, and nearly gave in. He was just about to agree when Rathore came bursting in and Riya jumped back. For the first time in his life, Arjun was glad that Rathore had once again worked himself into a fury over his unconventional methods. "I'll speak to you later, Riya", he said, showing her out of his office, not missing the way her eyes narrowed. His heart sank; she'd be sure to find some way to make him pay. Dreading the inevitable confrontation, Arjun turned back and started his unenviable task of trying to pacify an irate Rathore.


He knew he had to talk to her. He knew it would just get worse the more he delayed it. Trouble was, no one seemed to know where Riya was. Rathore had given her a half-day off, and was being more irritating than usual with his knowing looks. Chotu and Shree were behaving like giggly teenagers each time he tried to ask him about her. The whole scene was calculated to drive him mad! Sometimes he suspected Riya had told them everything, although they'd decided to keep it a secret for a while. But then again, why would she do that? They had agreed to take things slow after all. He hadn't even told her he loved her, for god's sakes! No, that couldn't be it! They team was probably being annoying in general and he was reading too much into it. "It's not like these bunch of duffers have the insight to read people, anyway," he thought to himself, smirking.

What the great ACP Rawte failed to realize was that he was dealing with Riya's best friends and the man who had once been his partner for three long years. They might not be as observant as he was on the field, but they definitely weren't blind. Rathore had guessed Arjun wasn't indifferent to Riya when he'd seen his helpless fury that horrid day at the hospital, and he had watched them closely since then, delighted to see his friend open his heart to love once again. And Shree and Chotu? Well, they'd seen Riya look at Arjun and they'd known. Chotu was inclined to be angry, believing Arjun was a bad choice for their Ree, that he'd hurt her, but Shree disagreed. And now, he was on a mission to prove his point.

"Chotu, main Ree se 7.00 baje milne jaa raha hoon. Tu aayega na?" he asked casually, hiding his smile as Arjun visibly stiffened on hearing Riya's name. Chotu looked at him confused. "Main kyun...ouch!" he yelped, wincing as Shree elbowed him and jerked his head slightly in Arjun's direction. Understanding dawned. "Arey haan. Ree ke saath pandal dekhne mein bada maza aata hai. Main zaroor chaloonga", he agreed, with his signature grin. Catching on to what his juniors were trying to do, Rathore joined in. "Tum log bhi chutti le lo ab. Riya ke saath kisika hona toh bohot zaroori hai. Woh Ms. Popular jo hai. I don't what it is about her that every guy at the pandal tries to hand her his number," he said, fighting hard to keep a straight face as Arjun's jaw clenched.

"Iss generation ke ladkon ko toh andar daal dena chahiye. Pandal pe puja karne jaate hain ya ladkiyon pe line maarne?" Arjun burst out, much to their amusement. "Arre nahin sir, yeh toh bohot harmless hota hai. Thodi bohot flirting karne mein hi toh har tyohar ka maza hai," Shree grinned, then grimaced as Arjun glared at him furiously. "Hum yeh sab nahin samjhenge Rawte", Rathore joined in mercilessly. "Ab hum donon ki woh umar kahaan rahi," he continued, with a dramatic sigh. Arjun got up with so much force that his chair fell backwards. "Mujhe kuch kaam hai," he gritted out and stomped away. Waiting till he was at a safe distance, the so-called duffers burst into convulsive laughter. "Did you see his face?" Chotu guffawed, thumping the desk. Shree had tears running down his face, while Rathore shook his head amusedly. "And so it begins."


"Iss ladki ka main kya karoon? Meri life mein kam problems thi kya jo ab main isse roadside Romeos se bachata phiroonga? Damn!" Arjun cursed, kicking the wheel of the SUV. "Ab toh uske saath jaana hi padega." He was just getting into the car when his phone beeped. He opened it to find a message from Rathore. 'Tejpal Hall near Grant Road. 7.30 p.m. Don't screw up! Take a bike, the traffic is going to be insane today. And don't worry, none of us are coming! Kabab mein haddi banne ka shauk nahin hai humein.' He couldn't help but smile. Trust his partner to help him out when he needed him the most! 'I owe you, Rathore', he muttered. "I really do."



Riya Mukherjee was not particularly religious, but Durga Puja had a special place in her heart. It made her nostalgic, reminding her of her childhood in Kolkata when her extended family got together for four days of unbridled fun, food and happiness. Since she'd moved to Mumbai, she made it a point to return home for Puja, but this was the second year running that she hadn't been able to, thanks to work. So all she could do was to go to one of the many pandals right here and attempt to recreate the Kolkata experience. This time, she'd wanted to introduce her community and its distinct culture to the man she loved, but the moron hadn't wanted to accompany her! Though upset, she made up her mind to enjoy the festivities. She'd deal with Arjun the next day. Oh, would she deal with him! By the time she was done with him, the man wouldn't know what had hit him. That'd teach him to ignore her! "And I'm thinking of him again! Stop it Ree. Have some self-respect," she scolded herself as she reached Tejpal Hall. The beauty of the place and the sheer happiness of everyone around her took her mind off everything for a moment. She let herself be swept towards the magnificent idol, thanking God every minute for her new lease of life and for the man who'd made that possible and now was making it more beautiful. She'd almost reached Maa's feet when she spotted him to her left. "Shit Ree, you're now seeing him everywhere! Pathetic!!" she thwacked her forehead slightly and took a step forward, bowing her head. Her closed eyes shot open when a familiar voice whispered "Kya maang rahi ho Maa se?" in her ear. She whirled around to find Arjun smiling at her tenderly. "Tum?" was all she could get out. "You look beautiful Riya", he said softly, kissing her hand. Riya finally realized she wasn't imagining him. "You're here," she squealed and threw her arms around his neck, forgetting where she was. It was only when a couple of middle-aged ladies beside them tittered that she stepped back, embarrassed. "I'm sorry", she mumbled, unable to meet his eyes. He hooked a finger under her chin and made her look at him. "Don't be. I liked it."

They stood there for a while, lost to the world till one of the ladies came up to them. "Happy Bijoya, my dear", she said, smearing Riya with vermilion. "May the mother bless you both with happiness and love." "But aunty, I'm..." Riya began, but Arjun stopped her. "Thank you", he said, with a small smile. "Arjun, you don't understand, only married women..." Riya stopped, as Arjun laid a finger on her lips. "You will be, very soon." was all he said, as he led her away.

have just read all your short stories dear...

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hey dee...