6. Stuck!!!

 

 

Two weeks later.

 

Armaan is sitting up in his room at his house, while everyone else is downstairs. He is busy talking on the phone, of course, with Riddhima, when Divya's son, Aravh, enters his room.

 

Riddhima: yeah…so guess what happens next?? (on the phone)

 

Armaan: what? (lying down on the bed, his legs dangling on the side)

 

Riddhima: Rahul comes from behind, and hugs me…thinking I am Muskaan…and I yelp out so loud, and when I turn to see who it is, the whole salad dressing is all over him…and we both are shocked…like hell shocked…the expression on his face…God, it was hilarious…(she laughs)

 

Armaan starts laughing too

 

Armaan: what I don't get is…why don't they just get engaged or something?? Why are they limiting it just to courtship when they are so madly in love….

 

Riddhima: cuz Armaan…the fun and charm one has in courtship is all lost after engagement..and stuff…

 

Armaan: main nahi manta…its not necessary….only love has to be there, charm and fun come by their ownself…

 

They are busy arguing over it when Aravh, whose 7 years old, enters Armaan's room without knocking, holding a basketball

 

Aravh: Chachuuu…(though Armaan was Aravh's mamu, he used to call him Chachu cuz every other child of the family called him that)…mujhe basketball khelna hai…

 

Armaan sits up at once as Aravh enters

 

Armaan: oye…abhi nahi…abhi main busy hoon...

 

Aravh: kia khakh busy ho…hamesha ki tarah phone per lagay huay ho….wese aik baat to batao Chachu….(naughtily raises his eyebrows) yeh phone per kiss se itni der baatain kerte ho…(winks at him) girlfriend…???

 

Armaan looks at him in surprise and stands up…

 

Armaan: teri to mein….(runs behind Aravh, who runs outside his door) girlfriend ke bachay….abhi batata hun tujhe….(pokes his face out of the door and shouts loudly) Oh hello…..yeh please apne bachay ko sambhalain….

 

He walks inside the room and closes the door behind him

 

Armaan: haan Ragz bolo…sorry wo Aravh agaya tha…

 

Riddhima: hmmm…no problem…..anyways…(she starts talking again)

 

After 15 minutes, Armaan's conversation is again interrupted by a LOUD call from Padma. (who is absolutely fit and fine now)

 

Padma: ARMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!

 

Armaan: aik second Ragz…(puts the phone away from his ear and shouts back equally loud) HAAAN MAAMMMMAAA….???

 

Padma: AKEY KHANA KHA LE…SAB WAIT KER RAHAY HAIN….

 

Armaan: AYAAAAAAAA!!! (back to the phone) Ragz…I will call you back in a while….Mama bula rahi hain..okay??

 

Riddhima: yeah okay…bye…(puts down the phone, a little pissed off)

 

Armaan: (getting up from the bed and muttering to himself) yeh mere gharwalon ko chain pata nahi kyun nahi hain…

 

…………………………………………………

 

Riddhima puts down the phone and throws it on the bed angrily. It had been the third time in a row that she had been taking to Armaan and someone or the other had come in and he had to put down the phone. She hadn't been able to talk to him properly since days, and even though she had moved in with Muskaan, she still felt lonely at times. Just as she threw away the phone, muttering angrily to herself, Muskaan entered.

 

Muskaan: (saw the mobile flying in the air and caught it in time) WHOAAA!! What's wrong with you today??

 

Riddhima: Nothing…don't ask!!! (sitting down on the bed angrily)

 

Muskaan: God…seems like hell froze over…what happened?? Come on tell me…(sits down in front of her) kia hua??

 

Riddhima: its…..(sighs) its Armaan…you know…he is not the same since he has gone there…I mean….(looks at Muskaan) he does not have any time for me…

 

Muskaan: (smirking slightly) come on Riddhima…he calls you thrice in a day…even Rahul doesn't call me that much…

 

Riddhima: yeaaah…because you meet Rahul everyday…meeting face to face and talking on the phone are two different things…and he does not even talk properly;…(pouting, folding her legs under her)

 

Muskaan: why…what does he do???

 

Riddhima: I am not blaming him or anything…he does want to talk…but whenever we are in the middle of our convo, someone or the other from his family comes in….there is always someone who wants to have something to do with Armaan….(imitating voices) Armaan, khana kha lo…..Chachu, basketball khelna hai…..Armaan, neeche ajao, dad bula rahay hain….Armaan, tayar ho jao bahar jana hai….GODDD!!!!

 

Muskaan starts laughing…

 

Muskaan: come on Riddhima chill…natural si baat hai…he has gone there after 3 years….they all want to spend time with him too…they are his family you know…and family always comes first my dear…(holding her cheeks and pulling them, in a cute manner)

 

Riddhima looks at her in silence, and Muskaan is shocked to see tears in her eyes

 

Riddhima: (in a very small voice) He is my only family too….(Muskaan looks at her, biting her lower lip) …he is all that I have got….don't I matter even a little bit more than they do…?? If he is all that I have got, then shouldn't I be the one for him too,,,??

 

Muskaan: I am sorry Riddhima…I didn't mean it in that way…(puts a hand on hers)

 

Riddhima: its okay…I understand…perhaps its my fault…you see Muski, I have never seen the love of my own family…I don't know what it is all about…Armaan is everything I have got….he is the only person I consider to be my own..you know what?? (looks at her) when other people talk about family, they talk about their mothers and fathers…and brothers and sisters…..when I talk about family, the only person who comes to my mind is Armaan….

 

Muskaan: I know baby…I am soo sorry I didn't mean to hurt you…(pulls her into a hug) and of course you matter a lot to him…don't think like that…..he forbade me to tell you this…but you know what?? (pulling apart from her, a small smile playing on her lips)

 

Riddhima clears her tears and asks: what??

 

Muskaan: he calls me every night after 10 to ask whether you are at home and whether you are studying or not…he strictly forbids me to let you go out any time after 10…(snickers)

 

Riddhima: (her eyes widen) Seriously??? (laughs) Oh my God…Armaan is so crazy….he thinks I will run away some day…he treats me like a kid…

 

Muskaan: no…he treats you like family….(smiles at her)

 

Riddhima's face bursts into a happy smile as she heard that, her eyes twinkling.

 

………………………………………….

 

Armaan came running down the steps and went towards the dining table, where everyone was seated.

 

Armaan: sorry guys…I am late..main actually Ragz…I mean…Riddhima se baat ker raha tha…(as he took his seat)

 

As Armaan sat down on the dining table, he looked around to see every eye on him. He smiles at everyone and then pours a glass of juice for himself, and then he notices again that everyone is looking at him and no one is moving or eating.

 

Armaan: what…?? (puts his glass down) ap log mujhe esay kyun dekh rahay hain?? (looking conscious)

 

Just then, his younger sister Aditi and his cousin sister, Shubhankar's younger sister Minnie and Divya, who are all sitting in front of Armaan, look at each other and burst into laughter.

 

Armaan is surprised to see them laughing…..

 

Armaan: whaaattt??? Tum log aissay hans kyun rahay ho….(he looks around at his dad and mom)….Mama,..?? Dad…?? (they had also started laughing by then)

 

Armaan is getting conscious by the second. What had happened, why were they all laughing?

 

Armaan: koi mujhe batayega yahan sab hans kyun rahay hain?? (feeling left out now)

 

Aditi and Divya had controlled their laughter by then

 

Aditi: maine kaha than a D….Bhai yehi kahain ge…(laughs again)

 

Divya: haan bhayi…ab iske pass humare liye time kahan hai…(winks at Aditi who again starts laughing)

 

Armaan: ye hap log kia bol rahay ho…?? Mujhe koi please bataye yahan ho kia raha hai…(looking around incredously)

 

Everyone ignored him and Aditi turned towards her Dad

 

Aditi: come on Dad…ap bet harr gaye…ab nikaliye paisay…

 

Armaan: bet…?? Kaunsi bet??? Guys, I am feeling left out here….

 

Padma: (who was standing behind him, puts a hand on his head) ab bass bhi kero tum log…kyun mere bte ko tang ker rahay ho??

 

Divya: Mom…apke bte ne khud hi apna mazak banwaya hai…

 

Armaan: mazak?? Mama…(looks up at Padma) yeh kia ho raha ha???

 

Padma: kuch nai beta…in donon (points at Aditi and Divya) ki to aadat hai…aissay hi kuch bhi bolti rehti hain…tu khanna kha…

 

Aditi: no no Mom…esay nahi…akhir Bhai ko bhi to pata chalna chahiye na ke kia baat ho rahi thi…to bataun Bhai?? (looks at him, laughing)

 

Armaan: haan bata…

 

Aditi: actually kia hai na…ke jub hum yahan bethey apka wait ker rahay thay…to Dad ne Mom se pucha…key eh Armaan itni der se upar ker kia raha hai??? (looks at Divya and smirks)

 

Armaan: haan to…??

 

Divya: to ye…ke humne Dad se kaha…tu zaroooorr apni uss London-wali se phone per baatain ker raha ho ga….(winks at him)

 

Armaan: D…uss London-wali ka koi naam bhi hai…Riddhima…Ri-ddhi-ma…kitni baar bataun apko…naam se kyun nahi bulati ho???

 

Minnie: ohooooo…possessiivvveeee…….(hi-fives Aditi and laughs)

 

Armaan glares at both of them

 

Armaan: shut up!! (glaring)

 

Minnie and Aditi sober up

 

Aditi: haan to kher…phir Dad ne kaha…nahi nahi…who zaroor kuch kaam ker raha hoga…to maine kaha theek hai….bet lagi…agar Bhai ne neeche aker yeh na kaha ke 'sorry guys…I am late…actually main Ragz…I mean…Riddhima se baat ker raha tha' to who bet haar jayenge…

 

Armaan looks at her, open mouthed, wondering how she had memorized what he had said minutes ago

 

Armaan: par tum logon ko kese pata main yeh line…

 

Divya: kyunki bachu…tu pichle do hafton se harr din dining table per ake yehi line bolta hai…balke yehi kia…tu to baat hi Riddhima ki krta hai….mujhe to uska pura bio-data takk yaad ho gaya hai….

 

They all burst into laughter again, and Armaan slightly blushes, feeling highly embarrassed. He himself had not noticed he talked SO much about Riddhima.

……………………………………………

 

Armaan is sitting down on the floor, his back against Divya's legs as she gives him a head massage. Padma is sitting next to them, and both Divya and Padma are busy discussing the upcoming shaddi of Shubhankar and Keerti, while Armaan is just busy in enjoying the head massage.

 

Divya: (hitting Armaan's shoulder lightly) oye Armaan…tub hi kuch bol na…itna chup kyun betha hai…

 

Armaan: hmmm??? Kuch nahi D…esay hi…

 

Divya: kyun?? Riddhima ke barray main soch raha tha…(winks at Padma and nudges his shoulder lightly)

 

Armaan: (turns his face to her exasperatedly) tch!! D!! Ap log bhi na…harr waqt mere peeche parray rehte ho…mujhe to lagta hai mujhe apko Riddhima ke baraayy main kuch batana hi nahi chhaiye tha….esi esi baatain boltay ho ap log jo maine sochi bhi nahi hongi kabhi…(really annoyed)

 

Padma: arey…itna chirr kyun raha hai…mazak ker rahi thin a who…

 

Armaan: Mama apko nahi pata…yeh sab log mill ke harr waqt mera mazak uratay rehte hain,…aj who Dad ke saamne bhi shuru ho gaye thay…

 

Divya laughs

 

Divya: kyun?? Tujhe Dad se sharam ati hai…?? Aur wese bhi, tum log to sirf dost ho na…phir kyun itna mind ker raha hai??

 

Armaan: haan D…hum log sirf dost hain…par ap log to pata nahi kia kia sochte rehte hain…(sighs) anyways….main uss ke barray main nahi soch raha tha…

 

Padma and Divya look at each other and silently laugh as he was getting annoyed

 

Padma: wese Armaan..main soch rahi thi ke tu meri baat hi kerwa de Riddhima se…

 

Armaan at once quips his head towards Padma

 

Armaan: ( a bit too fast) Kyun????

 

Padma: arey…teri itni achi dost hai…thori jaan pehchan to honi chahiye na…(smiles at him)…tum log itne achay dost ho…meri to beti jesi hi hui na…

 

Armaan is touched by her concern

 

Armaan: awwww Mama…(puts his head in her lap) you are the best….main kerwa doonga apki baat…okay??

 

Divya: haan hana meri bhi…(excitedly)

 

Armaan looks at her with narrowed eyes

 

Armaan: NO!! Don't even think about it…D, tumhari aur Aditi ki to main marr ke bhi uss se baat na karwaun…

 

Divya: kyun kyun kyun??? Humne kia kiya hai???

 

Armaan: tum log itni ajeeb ajeeb baatain kerte rehte ho….uske samne kuch bol dia to ussay bura lag jayega…

 

Divya: ohooo…uska barra khyal hai apko…

 

Armaan looks at her with damn narrowed eyes which is a sign for her to shut up..hehhe…

 

Divya: wese Maa….main soch rahi thi…ke jahan hum Shubhankar ki shaadi kerwa rahay hain, wahiin lagay hathon Armaan ka bhi tanka fit kerwa hi dete hain…(winks at Padma)

 

Padma: bilkul sahee kaha tumne…

 

Armaan: KIAA?? Shaddi?? No way…not again…(gets up, facing Padma)

 

Padma: Kyun?? Shadi nahi kerni hai tujhe…?? Tu shadi ke naam se itna bhagta kyun hai??

 

Armaan; Mama please na…we have had this discussion before…mujhe koi shadi vadi nahi kerni hai…(irritated)

 

Divya: kyun?? Puri zindgai kunwara rehna hai tujhe??

 

Armaan: nahiii…shadi keroonga…par abhi nahi…

 

Padma; kyun?? Abhi main kia problem hai…shadi ki umar ho gai hai, parhai bhi khatam ho gai hai…ab tu Dad ke business main kaam bhi ker sakta hai…masla kia hai??

 

Divya: exactly!! I think you are eligible enough to get married now…

 

Armaan: nahi naaa….mujhe abhi London wapas jana hai…wahan kafii kaam hai mujhe…

 

Padma: koi zaroorat nahi hai…(Armaan looks at her, horrified) teri parhai khatam ho chuki hai…tujhe parhne hi bheja tha wahan…ab tu yahiin rahay ga aur apne Dad ka kaam main haath batayega….aur shadi bhi kerega…

 

Armaan: Mama??? (surprised and shocked)

 

Padma: haan Armaan…pichle aik hafte se ghar mein issi baat per behas chal rhai hai…hum ne tumharii bohat sun li hai….ab tum humari bhi sun lo…kal tumhare dad ke business colleague hain…unki family humare ghar dinner per arahi hai….(Armaan looks at her shocked out of his wits as Padma stands up) unki beti Gunjan bhi hogi satah ain….tumhare dad chahaty hain ke tum uss larki se milo aur kuch time akhatay spend kero…

 

Armaan: Mom?? You are hooking me up with someone…..?? (thinking: WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING)….this is so not happening Mom…main kisi bhi stranger larki ke saath time spend nahi ker raha…aur shadi to ap sochein bhi matt…that's final….

 

Padma: aur Armaan…main ne bhi keh dia na…tu uss larki se millega aur sahee se baat cheet kerega…agar tu ne koi chalaki kin a, to dekhna main tera kia haal kerti hun…..you are meeting upp with her tomorrow…that's final….

 

She walks away from there…leaving a befuddled, shocked Armaan behind. He turns to look at Divya, who just shrugs her shoulders and goes from there.

 

Armaan: OMG!!! Ab main kia karun…????

…………………………

 

That's it for today. Plzzzz comment. I am in a hurry is liye chota hai. Will update soon. Love kiran