AR FF: TMLS [Chapter 13: Pg.76] 30/7/14 - Page 39

New York, 12.35 pm:

It is said, that when someone experiences a shock, or faces something they try to forget, time seems to stop for a while. Maybe that is what happens when a person goes into coma, they experience a shock. In this case though, time seemed to stop for both Armaan and Riddhima as they came face to face with their biggest fear or rather, something they were still struggling to forget, each other. Maybe this wasn't the case with Armaan, but it sure was the case with Riddhima. How their minds work, we will never know.

"Asad"

"Kumud"

"Well, I see you two have met each other. Mr. Malik, this is Miss. Gupta, who is going to be working with you and Riddhima, this is Mr. Armaan Malik. Hope you guys have fun while working together," saying this, the headmistress winked at Riddhima and went away from there, hoping that Riddhima found someone trustworthy in this handsome man.

Time had gone still for Riddhima. All her fears were rushing back at her. Well, that is clich. She just wasn't in the mood to deal with Asad right now, or Armaan. Well, it was getting very confusing now.

"Asad, what are you doing here?" she asked Armaan, gathering up all her courage for speaking that one sentence.

"I am Armaan Malik now, Ms. Kumud Sundari. You seem to have changed your name too so would you prefer Riddhima or Kumud?" he replied to her curtly, while on the inside, he was shaking with anxiety.

"Riddhima is fine; Kumud has too many bad memories attached to it." Riddhima replied, seeing that Armaan' to preferred to use his new name.

Strike 1, Riddhima-1, Armaan-0, of course, Armaan isn't going to get any points this time. But this time around, hopefully, things will be a little different from usual.

"Ridzy, Rahul, Atul and Anjali are searching for you and you are sitting here chatting with someone. That Atul is on the verge of becoming Devdas again and we are not able to handle him. You are the only one who can, so come fast!" saying this, Muskaan dragged Riddhima from there while Armaan was left staring. He quickly regained composure and decided to follow them, since he already had a reason to talk to her now. They are working together after all. With a smile, he left in the direction where Riddhima and her crazy friend had left.

"Ridzy please, say yes, say yes, and say yes." Atul was begging Riddhima. Just then, Armaan entered the cafeteria. He was shocked at the sight in front of him. "Is this how you behave with other teachers? When she is saying no, why are you forcing her to date you? This is a free country and she has complete rights to say no to you. Do not dare to repeat this act in front of me again. And you all, what are you laughing at. She is being forced to accept a proposal and you are sitting there just like that. What is wrong with you all?" he shouted at them.

"Okay Atul, I'll do it." Riddhima replied, shocked at the outburst. "I love you Ridzy, you are the best. Muski, learn something from her, and you too Rahul." Atul jumped and cheered.

"Excuse me Mr. Whoever You Are, without knowing the situation; do not interrupt in between two people talking. Nor was Atul proposing to her, nor was he forcing her to do something, he was only begging Riddhima to do something which she wanted to do but was confused and now that she has finally agreed, I think you can leave." Muskaan, being the impulsive person she was, screeched at Armaan.

Riddhima kicked Muskaan from behind her and muttered, "Muski, this is Armaan Malik, please try to control your anger." Muskaan's face immediately changed from confident to terrorized. She could see her future in front of her after she was kicked out of this school for angering someone who had come for the good of the school. Oh yes, she was definitely going to be fired. These were the times Muskaan wished that she didn't have such a big mouth.

"Somebody is dead" Rahul said in a sing-song voice, enjoying the frustrated expressions on Muskaan's face. "Oye Khankhajure, shut up!" Muskaan shouted at him.

Armaan looked at this scene with an amused expression, he could maybe have fun with them while it lasts, was his only thought.

"Excuse me, Miss. Gupta; the seminar is in the evening, so if you don't mind, can we go through the speech now." Armaan stated after clearing his throat.

"Sure. Could my colleagues come along too? The more people helping, the better you see." Riddhima asked him, hoping to take them along, since she didn't want to be alone with him.

"Yes, they can come along. I hope they help rather than disturb though. I'm pretty sure the headmistress wouldn't like it if the speech is messed up," he said, giving a pointed look to Muskaan.

"Sir, please go ahead to the auditorium, first building after you take the first left and then first right." Riddhima told him and then turned to her friends. "Come on guys, let's go."

She felt herself being pulled back and she turned to see Muskaan pulling her back. "I'm not going Ridzy. I am dead scared and there is no way I can stay normal. I will say something else in front of him and my firing is confirmed." Muskaan told her, terrified. "Oh wow, the great Muskaan Chaddha is scared. This is definitely going in the record books." Rahul interrupted which made Muskaan glare at him. He shut up after seeing her and waited for Riddhima to reply.

"You all are going with me and that is final. Now come on." Riddhima said and dragged Muskaan to the auditorium while the others came along with her. As they reached the entrance, Riddhima left Muskaan's hand and glared at her, indicating her to come inside rather than run away. Muskaan, knowing that look, followed her inside timidly.

As soon as she entered, she heard her favorite song blaring from the speakers.

Written in these walls are the stories that I can't explain,
I leave my heart open but it stays right here empty for days.'

She looked up and stared straight into Armaan's eyes. His eyes seemed to be conveying something foreign to her and she was urging to understand.

For Armaan, these lines seemed to make all the sense in the world. He had written down all his feelings in a diary, and was unable to speak it out to anyone. He couldn't explain it. After Kumud had left, the diary had been his only support. He thought he could forget and move on from her. He had been a pretty much free man but there was no girl who captured his heart the way she had.

She told me in the morning she don't feel the same about us in her bones,
It seems to me that when I die these words will be written on my stone.'

She had done absolutely that. She told him she didn't trust the relationship and the love. Who would have thought a song could describe them so perfectly. She seemed to have moved on happily too, so these words will be engraved in his heart, which was pretty much like a stone.

And I'll be gone gone tonight
The ground beneath my feet is open wide
The way that I been holdin' on too tight
With nothing in between'

Well, he is going back tonight and he had been holding on very tight to the hope that she would come back to him someday but now, it didn't seem possible. It was an empty possibility and he wasn't going to hope anymore about that.

The story of my life I take her home
I drive all night to keep her warm and time...
Is frozen (the story of, the story of)'

What a fitting title too. The Story Of My Life. This song has been the story of my life. Where has this song been all life? We did drive at night and I did feel like there is going to be no tomorrow and that time was perfect, so much that it felt like I was stuck in that moment.

The story of my life I give her hope
I spend her love until she's broke inside
The story of my life (the story of, the story of)'

This was getting freaky. He had given her hope of a forever and I was so high on her love and was using her love selfishly and in the end, she was broken by this. She may not be broke now, but she was then, which I could see in her eyes clearly.

Written on these walls are the colours that I can't change
Leave my heart open but it stays right here in its cage'

His room had been painted to suit his mood and now, he couldn't change it. His heart wouldn't allow him to. His heart was given the choice of colour but it doesn't want to come out of the cage and change it now.

I know that in the morning now, I'll see us in the light upon a hill,
Although I am broken, my heart is untamed still'

In the morning tomorrow, I would see her in my dreams like I do every day on the hill where the sun is rising and it looks as if she is on the light along with me. How much ever I try to face the heartbreak and move on, my heart is not willing to let go and is not obeying my mind.

And I'll be gone gone tonight
The fire beneath my feet is burning bright
The way that I been holdin' on so tight
With nothing in between'

Again, I will be gone and this song is reminding me again and again about this fact. His feet is urging him to move and it is burning with the pain of standing exactly where she left and I'm still holding on to it with absolutely nothing to hold on to.

The story of my life I take her home
I drive all night to keep her warm and time...
Is frozen (the story of, the story of)

The story of my life I give her hope
I spend her love until she's broke inside
The story of my life (the story of, the story of)'

Do they have to keep reminding me with this song that this song is an interpretation of what is going on in my life? How do they even know what is going on in my life? Am I not the only person to be feeling this?

And I been waiting for this time to come around
But baby running after you is like chasing the clouds'

I was waiting to meet her. But now, I feel it is impossible to catch up to her. She has moved on far ahead, from where I can see. Now, it feels like I'm just following useless dreams and chasing the clouds.

This has exactly what has been going on in my life and this song has been a reminder of that. Maybe, it's time to move on after all.

Riddhima was frustrated watching the changing emotions in his eyes. She hated being clueless. What had happened to the time when she could understand him through his eyes. His eyes are now clouded by something like misery. He seems to be quite happy though.

The whole song had gone through so quickly and she had been staring into his eyes through it all. For four minutes, she hadn't looked away and he hadn't even noticed her staring at him. Hoping her friends didn't notice, she told him, "Mr. Malik, shall we start." He simply nodded.

She sighed and thought, "Okay folks, let's get to work."

"Sir, could you try to cover up the part about how you had to cheat some businessmen who were corrupt? Though it is excellent, the headmistress wouldn't appreciate it if the children were taught to cheat. Otherwise, the whole speech is fine. It is excellent, actually. We are glad to have you give a seminar for us." Rahul told Armaan in a proud tone.

"Thank you, Mr. Rahul Garewal. It is good to see some sensible teachers here unlike many other teachers I have come across." Armaan told him, in the same tone.

After finishing up the job, the teachers went to change since the trustee was also going to be arriving and they had to be in their best clothes and Armaan went to freshen up and to have a look around school.

"So kiddos, ready for the seminar?" Riddhima asked her students before they went into the auditorium. They too, had changed into their crisp uniforms and wanted to make a good impression on the trustees and Armaan. One guy stood up and said, "Ma'am, you are looking very pretty in the saree. I really wish you were our age though you do look it." Hearing this, Riddhima started blushing and said, "Jason, how many times do I tell you, no flirting with teachers."

She went away from there and sat in the seminar, waiting for it to end so that Armaan or Asad went from her life after coming in like a hurricane.