Here's the part...their meet in college! The BB bit was suggested by Radhika..Thanks Sweetie :) Come on guys! Comment !! Although I feel this turned out to be stupier than ever! :P
***
Part 8: Beginnings
*Flashback*
20th April,2002
"NIKKI!",she called for the tenth time.Nikki turned over and groaned,not willing to get up.
"Uth na!Nikkita Mehra! Come On!!Its already 10 Dude!"
"Abhi go naaa..I don't wanna romance now..I'm..Sleeepppyyy..",she streched her words,smiling stupidly.
Riddhima took a breath in then a breath out. Living with Nikki had been harder than she'd expected.This girl was So crazy.Staying in the same house,she calls her at 6 in the morning to try give a morning call,then dozes back to sleep.And now,she's dreaming of her boyfriend?It was pissing her off.
"Okay..",she began,"Nikki baby..",she said in her sugary tone,"You know if u dun wake up,I'm gonna marry someone else..Remember my neighbour's daughter?She's so sexxxyy..and she likes me,you know?I'm gonna marry her..NOT YOU.."
"NO! ABHIMANYU MALHOTRA I WILL KILL YOU RIGHT NOW!!",she sat up and once,wide awake,her eyes flaming. Riddhima couldn't help but get into fits of laughter.Nikki got up and searched her whole room,"Ridzi,he..he's planning to BETRAY me!NO! And that neighbour's daughter...URGH,Uss Ki toh main-"
She left her words unfinished as she picked up her phone and waited for him to pick up.Riddhima tried her best to explain,she waved her hands away.She guessed that Abhimanyu had picked the phone very early,because Nikki had began with her never ending I-will-kill-you-if-you-think-of-someone-else lecture.
"WHAT BABY? BABY KE BACCHE,When are you planning to tell me about your OTHER GIRLFRIEND?Huh..What do I mean,Other Girlfriend? Playing Games,Are you?I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU! YOU DESERVE TO ROT IN HELL,NO Wait,phir toh woh Churdail bhi Ayegi...Somewhere Else,Oh Yes,You Deserve to stay Immortal like a Horrid Horrid Ghost! You'll not get any girl then!! Go around doing 'Shhh,Phir Main huuu..'",Nikki said,shouting and waving her hands,trying to imitate the ghosts from a horror movie,"Huh? Angry? Nai nai..Why would I be angry? I should be like your Mom and doing your Witch's aarti,Go Run and Prepare your wedding,Dance on 'Happy Boys and Happy Girls' on her bachlorette,then Go and Tell her,'Be happy with Abhi,Okay? If you get bored with him,give him back to me!',"she said sarcastically,"Whom I am talking about? ASK YOUR NEIGHBOUR! GO TO HELL! I HATE YOU!"
She cut the phone angrily and sat on the bed,huffing and puffing from the sudden outburst.Her face was red,her eyes were flaming and she was taking deep breaths. Riddhima hesistantly sat beside her and thought of a perfect way to begin the conversation.However,it was nearly impossible.
"Uhm..Nikki.."
"KYA HAI?",she blasted off at her.
"Uhm,woh..Niks,Abhi wasn't here...and um..he isn't marrying anyone! I was-"
"Ridzi,tu na jhoot mat bol.That guy,he is always doing something or the other to make me jealous.This time toh uss ne hadh par kar di."
"But Nikki,I was the one talking to you!"
"WHAT?",she looked at her,eyes wide.
Riddhima gave her a sheepish smile,"Uhm,woh I was trying to wake you up,so you said,that,'Abhi go naaa..I don't wanna romance now..I'm..Sleeepppyyy',",she imitated Nikki,"So I said that wedding wala thing to wake you up.."
Nikki stayed in her place,silent and staring her,but then after a pause,she started laughing hysterically.
"Omg..Ridz,Maine..Maine Abhi ko daat diya,bechara I can imagine his face..Like a ghost..OhGod..",she laughed on,rolling on the bed,"Nice..Nice one,Ridzi..",she said,complimenting her.
Riddhima's jaw dropped at her cousin.What was she?Just a moment ago,she was huffing and puffing in anger,and then when she should be angry,she was rolling away,laughing,even after she'd scolded her boyfriend?Seriously..she was one unique creature.She giggled at the thought and have a sheepish smile again.
"Sorry Niks.."
"Arrey chal no problem.After that outburst,I am SURE that Abhi will NEVER look at anyone again!",she said,proudly.
Riddhima laughed,"You know Niks,you are.."
"One Unique Piece.Pata hai,yaar..Chill..Temme something new!Now go and change,Sheeessh,dun tell me you're wearing THIS to college?",she said,pointing to Riddhima's attire from top to bottom.
"Whats the problem with THIS?",Riddhima said pointing at herself.
"Naahhii !!! Not Indian dress today! Today's your first day,you gotta wear denims and tops!! oooh,what about that cute light orange top I got you?YOU HAVE TO WEAR THAT!Pllleeassshhh..?",she pleaded.
Riddhima raised her hands in surrender,"Okay,Okay.Fine."
She went to her room and changed,laughing lightly at her cousin's antics.However Nikki might be,Riddhima loved her.She'd always be there like a sister when she needed her,and even with her most stupid moodswings,she was closet to Riddhima.Fixing her top,she scrutinised herself in the mirror.Not bad.Good enough.Smiling in satisfaction,she turned and smiled at what had caught her attention. It was a picture of her childhood with her Ammu,his face covered with a chocolate cake he was busy licking off his fingers and she was trying her best to share it.They looked adorable.
Sometimes,she would wonder if he still remembered her.9 years was a long time,especially for children growing up.He being the perfect kid would have many friends,might be that she wasn't so important anymore?Out of nowhere,the pair of blue eyes flashed in front of her.Riddhima opened her eyes,perplexed.Those eyes were so familiar,that face she saw in the temple..He was gorgeous,ofcourse.But she didn't quite understand the immediate strange reaction her heart gave,it fluttered.Just a sight? She wasn't justifying herself.
"Ridzi!Chalo,what are you thinking about?",Nikki said and sat beside her.Riddhima quickly hid the photo,not wanting to start her banter about Boyfriend or Best Friend.She got up and twirled round,"How do I look?"
Nikki grinned,"Shoo Cute!You'll get many many boys crushing over you,Pakka!"
"Niks!"
"Kya,sacchi yaar! Chalo,I'm So excited,I want you to meet my friends!Come on!"
They hurried to the car and sat inside.Nikki drove very casually,not worrying about the traffic,but constantly blabbering about her gang.How they were,who were the couples,what they did,liked,that they were popular,etc.etc.Riddhima felt asif she knew them from birth.Nikki's phone beeped and she gestured Riddhima to see what it was.
Baby why did u shout like that?And Neighbour..what neighbour yaar..Meri neighbour toh ek 40-saal ki moti aunty hai,aur uss ka beta hai !! I'm NOOTT Gay,I swear,sweetheart!! What happened Nikki?Baby reply..I love you,Only You,seriously..I'm gettin worried sweetheart,what happened?
-Abhi
Nikki giggled as Riddhima read the sms.Another one popped up.
'Nikki,Pleaseee dude tarpao mat! This is depressing :( :( Reply baby!
-Abhi
Riddhima showed the sms and Nikki smirked to herself,showing a thumbs up sign to Riddhima,her boyfriend was giving her more attention than ever!It was pleasing her,and she went on giving a bit more attitude.She knew she was definetely getting a date today out of Abhi.The thought made her smile.
They finally reached the college and Riddhima looked around,impressed.The B.R. Medical College of Mumbai had a large open space near the impressive buildings of classrooms,large windy corridors,and beautiful surroundings.Homely.She knew it was made for her.
"Look at this place,Its gorgeous!"
"Isn't it?",Nikki replied,excited,"I LOVE it !! Seriously yaar..Its so clean and healthy around here!"
"I know! Its beautiful..",then trailed off,as she felt Nikki tug at her hands,"Nikki,what!"
"THEY'RE HERE!! GUYSSS!!",she shouted and waved to her gang,pulling Riddhima with her on her marathon,asif after a few moments,they would disappear.
"They aren't running away!",she said,panting as they skided to a stop.
A girl with curly hair laughed,"Welcome to our world of crazziness!Hey,I'm Muskaan..You're Riddhima,right?",they shook hands,and Riddhima grinned at her,nodding.She could see a very friendly girl in her.
"And..This is Rahul Atul Abhimanyu Anjali !!",Nikki said in her superspeed.
"Huh?",she looked at Nikki.Now the whole gang laughed.A guy with fair features,brown hazel eyes and a pretty good height came forward,"Hi,I'm Rahul.",then he pointed to the others,"This is Anjali,Atul,Abhimanyu.Welcome to the college,Riddhima."
"Yes,Nikki speaks a lot about you."
"So",she smiled,"I think I must be very important,nai Nikki?"
Nikki hugged her instantly,"Awww yesh!You're my sister!"
After sweet welcomes and a little chats about herself,Riddhima felt at an complete ease with the gang.She wasn't such a bad mixer herself,but this gang was special.They were really nice people.She laughed with them when they teased Muskaan and Rahul,and they both went red,she whispered with Nikki when Abhi gave her pleading looks,she bonded with Anjali because of almost same sense of style,and found Atul really sweet when he talked to her.
***
He got off from his car and was heading towards the locker room when his eyes stuck on something.It was the same girl he'd encountered at the temple.He was in Awe at the sight of her,she looked different as well as beautiful in denims and a light orange top.Her hair flowed down her back,and she was luaghing off with her gang.There was something oddly familiar about her,only that he didn't know what.He saw Nikki hugging her,he wondered...Was she her cousin?He raised his eyebrows.She was beautiful..
He saw a guy going near her.He recognised him immediately,it was Rohan.He wanted to go and kick him off,not only because he knew that he would be messing with that new girl,but also because he always tried to copy him.But something stopped him.He watched.
***
"Hey beautiful..New here?"
Riddhima at once understood the tone of the guy standing behind her.She turned,to see a guy,trying to showoff he was cool (but actually wasn't) standing behind her,giving her one of his most idiotic flirtious smiles.
"Just back off,you loafer.",Rahul came forward as well as the gang.
She raised one hand and stopped them.Then looking at them,she gave a silent nod,saying,'I-will-handle-it',so the gang moved backwards,still glaring at the guy. Riddhima turned back.
"Hm..So,what were you saying?Sorry..pardon my friends,you know they don't understand the worth of a person..Sorry,I didn't even ask your name?",she spoke in a sugary sweet tone,as her friends stood their puzzled.
"Ya,ya..",the guy was probably whisking his imaginary collars inside,"I was saying that you are very beautiful..You know,I feel like I know you..Like you're someone near my own heart..You know me too,just forgotten,I guess..I'm Rohan..And you are?",he tried his best to flirt and impress her.
"Well,um...If you know me,you should know my name too,right?",she asked,batting her eyelashes.
"Well,I don't kn-I mean,I might have forgotten,so could you please..",saying that,he picked her hand.
Riddhima's inside turned into disgust and anger.She had to follow her plan,so she went on.Behind her,she knew her friends were fuming in anger,and still glaring at the guy,but at the same time,she also knew she could handle the situation best.
"Uh...Sure! But,before that,I want to give you something.You know people who are really",she touched her heart,"REALLY special to me..I give them a gift.I want to give you too,but I can only do it,if you close your eyes and leave my hand..Just for a while though..",she said,sugary again.
The guy looked thrilled.He left her hand and closed his eyes,his stupid grin plastered across his face.She motioned her friends to move backwards and she prepared herself,and then..
BAM!
Two things fell down at that instant-her friends' jaws and the guy,holding his stomach in pain at the very PAINFUL kick she'd given him.
"No One Messes around with Riddhima Gupta.",she said,pointing a finger to the guy,"And that..Was just a trailer."
She turned to her friends,their jaws still dropped.Nikki was the first to recover and speak up,"What in the hell world was THAT?"
"Oh..",Riddhima dusted her hands very casually,"That was nothing.Just a Simple Karate Kick."
"KARATE?",the gang echoed in unison.
"Yeah..Not a biggie,guys,I'm a black belt.",she grinned,"Now lets go and see the college round,what say?"
He watched from a distance and shook his head to himself,punching the guy once more as he ran away hurriedly.He knew one thing,Riddhima Gupta had to be Very Interesting to be with.
***
"Armaan,Pass the Ball !!",his teamate shouted and he did. His mind constantly hovered around that stranger,with green gorgeous eyes.She was distracting him.When the ball dodged back to him,he aimed at the goal,but the ball didn't go in and went the other side.To..her.
"Oh Wow!",he heard her say,"Basketball,Cool !!",she said as she picked up the ball and threw it right on spot,in the goal.It was a pretty impressive shot.
"That was great,Ridz!",Rahul said,"So you know BB,eh?"
"Yeah!",she said,"I was the captain of the girls BB team in my school!"
"Huh?",Nikki srunched up her nose,"But how?Weren't u in a Co-ed school?"
"Yes..We had two different teams of boys and girls,we girls always won!The boy's team's captain was a total idiot!"
"ALWAYS?",Muski questioned,excited.
"Yup,actually you know what?That boys captain had a crush on me",she grinned,"And I took adavantage of the situation!",she smiled.
"Ridzi!You're a Rockstar yaa!",Nikki laughed.
He decided to go forward now.He walked over and smiled at her,"Good Shot."
Riddhima looked up and suddenly,and very strangely,her heartbeats rose.He looked gorgeous..Same face,as she remembered him to be.She smiled back.
She looks so good when she smiles,Armaan thought to himself,but even that smile seems so familiar.Do I know her?Pushing away his own thoughts away,he knew that he had to know who she was.
"Wanna play?",he asked.
"You sure you wanna lose?",she said,smirking.
He couldn't help but grin at her confidence.He liked it,somehow.She was different,not like girls who swooned at the sight of him..She had attitude,she had nobility,she had looks.Man,this was going to be difficult for him.
"Lets see,what say,guys?",he called to his teamates.
"Yeah!",came the enthusiastic reply,chroused. This was catching a lot of attention,no one had ever challenged Armaan Mallik before.And Definetely,not a girl.On the other side,Nikki and the gang were also very much intruguied,this was going to be very very interesting.
Riddhima nodded,"So lets!",she said.
The court cleared,the cheers rising,Riddhima dribbled the ball,smiling at him.He guarded her verysmartly,preventing her from moving forward.She hadn't thought he'd be so good.One moment,and the ball flicked to Armaan's expert hands.She was the one guarding him from back.Her hands brushed his arm,and he felt electric currents run through him.He looked at her,and that very situation helped Riddhima to get the ball and score her basket. Armaan was left dumbfounded.Had she just made electric currents run through him?Gosh..It wasn't good.He decided.
"So,Whos winning?",she said,dribbling the ball.
He was back to his form,"Oh yeah...Let us see!"
They were back to the game.Armaan played cautiously this time,finally putting aside his overconfidence and bringing in concentration.Therefore,as said and done,the basket was in his form this time.They were on a tie.And playing so hard to compete,they were tired,both were almost close to huffing and panting.
"GUYS!",Nikki interrupted,"ENOUGH yaar! Subah Subah you're challenging each other!Ammy,I came here to introduce her to you,its her first day,and you guys are PLAYING? Seriously don't you think you need brains?"
Armaan grinned at Riddhima,"We on tie.Is that,Okay?"
She threw the ball to him,"You're good,not very good..although.Nice game!",she replied and turned the other way to go.
"YO MISS BASKET!",Armaan called,shocking his own self. Basket?The name was familiar to him,he himself had said it numerous times,but how?Did he call someone that?Someone so close that he remembered this name?
Riddhima,on the other hand,froze on the spot.Her Ammu,Her Armaan called her that.Her childhood best friend.Could it be him?Could it be?Was she so close to him,and didn't even realise it?She turned and went back to him,"What did you call me?"
"Uhm..Me..Uhn..Actually,I..don't know,how..",Armaan fumbled,confused in himself.Why was she and this damn name so familiar?And no other name?Just..Basket?It sounded ridiculous!
"Why did you call me that?",she asked with uncertainity.
He scratched his head,"I don't know..the name is so familiar to me and it came out like that,slip of tongue maybe.."
Riddhima's head lowered in disappointment.It wasn't Armaan...not HER Armaan,or he would atleast recognise her,right?Oh God,Ridz,she spanked herself,How stupid of you.He met you 9 years ago,how would he remember?Although he should..Shouldn't he?
"I..I..I'm sorry..",he said,trying to understand the meaning of her sad look.
She looked up,"Um..No,Actually I got a little nostalgic..My childhood best friend called me that.",she smiled.
Childhood best friend?,Armaan's head pondered at the words,"Ooh,Ok..I'm sorry if it hurt you..I wanted to ask your name.."
She grinned now,"Riddhima Gupta..And you?"
"Armaan Mallik.",he said,shocking Riddhima again.
Armaan Mallik..Armaan Mallik..the name buzzed in her mind.Armaan..her best friend?Her Ammu?Could it be? His eyes were so familiar..Then Basket..Could it be?She blinked back her shock,and smiled,hiding the inward fight that was going on between her heart and mind.She couldn't say anything till it was confirmed,she didn't want to make a mess out of herself.
"Okay,Okay..Guys,chalo Canteen chalte hai.Gosh these two playing made me HUNNGRY!",Nikki butt in and the others laughed.
"When will you tell me what have I done?",Abhi said in a pleading tone.Riddhima suppressed her urge to laugh out and Armaan gazed her,perplexed,still thinking why she looked oddly familiar.Nikki gave Abhi a full-on attitude glance and walked off.
They sat down in the cafeteria,while Armaan was called to the office.There he wasn't called to be yelled at,but to be told of the recent college fest,and he was the coordinater for his batch mates,along with Riddhima.Her report of co-cirricular activities and taking up responsibilites had been very good from her H.S..Armaan was impressed,and a small part of him smiled at the thought.He was working with Riddhima Gupta.
"Guys..",he said,coming back to the canteen,"I've got news.I'm the coordinator for the First years in our annual Fest!",the table cheered and Nikki gave her a thumbs-up between her munching of her sandwich.
"And..",he quitened them down,raising his hands,"Someone else is working with me..Guess who?" The gang waited as he answered,"Riddhima Gupta!"
The whole of the table turned to look at her.Riddhima went red instantly at the sudden attention and Armaan grinned to himself,she looked beautiful.Then his mind reprimanded himself and he shook his head.Working with her could have the adverse effects,too..right?
***
So thats Done! Comments pllleasee !! I feel VERY Low without them :( So Please,Comments needed! LOVE YOU GUYS! :)
Love,
Maitree
Edited by MaitreeluvKajen - 14 years ago
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