Chapter 19

Pebblez

@Pebblez

Half an hour later.

Riddhima is standing in front of the mirror, putting the pally over her shoulder. After an effortful half an hour, Armaan had finally suceeded in making her wear the sarri, by putting the holder in the right place around her waist. They had almost given up in between, but Armaan had insisted, and on the last time, he had succeeded. Now, he had gone to change himself.

Riddhima: (muttering to herself) I dont know how these people wear this stuff...yards n yards of cloth....uff....thank God for Armaan...if he hadnt been here, i couldnt have worn it....ab yeh pallu aissay...oh noooo!! yeh to khul gaya fir se.....Armaaaan!! kidhar reh gaya yeh ulu da patha...(a word she had picked up from bey-jee)....ARMAAN!!!

Armaan walks out of the bathroom, wearing a white coloured pajama kurta and looking really nice.

Armaan: haan bolo, ab kia hua??

Riddhima: yeh fir se khul gaya...(making a crying face)

Armaan: (frowns) kia khul gaya? (walks closer)

Riddhima: yeh...!! (points down to her sarri) yeh sarri...

Armaan puts a hand to his forehead.

Armaan: ufffooo!! Kia museebat hai yaar....Ragz, tu ne kia kiya iske saath?? (hands on hip)

Riddhima: maine?? (points to herself) I didnt do anything...yeh khud khul gaya...!!

Armaan: itni mushkillon se bandhi thi...uff...acha ruk..

He gets down on his knees and pulls back her pallu, while Riddhima stands with her hands on her hips. Armaan looks at the hook and the folding where he had to put it, and sighs.

As Riddhima feels Armaan's fingers across her waist, she feels something weird happening at the pit of her stomach. This had been happening since the time he had been helping her wear the sarri: everytime he touched, she felt a little spasm all over her body. However, she had chosen to ignore these little shivers, not accepting what her body was trying to tell her. They were best friends, yes, but no guy had ever touched her so sensually ever especially around the waist. Morever, she and Armaan had never had that kind of intimacy, but now, in the present situation, they were both helpless.

As Armaan fixed the hook into its place, he looked away from her waist and concentrated on what his fingers were doing. Being this close to her gave him the creeps because he started thinking of doing things he would never imagine doing in his wildest dreams. Riddhima was his best friend, she was doing all this for him, he better stick to his best behavior. One wrong move and she would beat the pulp out of him.

Lost in their own thoughts, they were oblivious to the door opening and someone entering the room. They didnt realize that they were in a very uncompromising position: Riddhima was standing in front of the mirror, and Armaan was kneeling before her on the floor, his hands around her waist.

Riddhima turned instantly as she heard a gasp, and Armaan also looked up. To their utmost horror, a young, beautiful girl and a handsome man were standing at the door.

Girl: oh my god!! I am so sorry...(her hand on her eyes) humain nahi pata tha tum log....sorry!!!

Guy: yeah...sorry Armaan...really didnt know...

Armaan stands up at once, as Riddhima pulls her pallu over her shoulder. He looks at the guy and the girl and then at Riddhima, looking confused. Why were they saying sorry?

However, he goes forward and hugs first the guy and the girl. He hugs the girl really tightly and pulls her up into the air, as she was really short. Riddhima narrows her eyes.

Armaan: Nikki!!! Kaisi hai tu?? Aur kidhar chali gai thi, huh? No contact, nothing!!

Nikki: Armaan, chalay to tum gae thay....London kia gaye, tum to badal hi gaye bilkul....no phone, no mail...n SHADI ker li tum ne....idiot...duffer....(hits him on his arm) bataya takk nahi...

Armaan laughs at her and gives a foolish smile

Armaan: sorry kiddo...(ruffles her hair) itni jaldi hua sab kuch ke...n Atul!! Tu kesa hai yaar...!

Atul: kesa matlab kia yaar...theek hun...teri tarah married nahi, abi takk single hun...(winks at him)

Armaan laughs, then looks at Riddhima as she clears her throat

Armaan: ummm...Ragz....(bites his tongue) Riddhima...this is Atul...n Nikkita....my college friends....

Nikkita waves at her and Atul smiles

Armaan: and guys, this is Riddhima....my...umm...wife...(winks at her)

Riddhima: hii...!! (comes forward) Armaan hasnt gotten used to the wife word yet...(grins)

Nikki: hmmm....seems like he's still dreaminga about his bachelorhood...(laughs)

Armaan: yeaah...you wouldnt forget...would you? Ragz, Nikki aur main college main best friends hua kerte thay...(looks at her)

Riddhima keeps smiling, though a bit fakely.

Riddhima: *thinks to herself* hmmm, best friendd...??? Move over missy, now he is all mine....!! (looks at Nikita from head to toe) Not bad actually...quite Armaan's kinda girl...i doubt whether they were just friends...hmmmmm!!! And this Atul guy, he looks kinda sweet.

Nikki: wese Armaan...i am really sorry huh...(naughtily)

Armaan: (frowns) kiss liye?

Nikki: woh iss tarah knock kiye beghair kamre main annay ke lie....i didnt know you guys were....(winks at him)

Armaan blushes at the thought and so does Riddhima

Riddhima: nee nee...you are taking it wrong...we weren't....(shakes her head) you know....doing THAT....(raises her eyebrows to emphasise)

Nikkita and Atul burst into laughter.

Riddhima: OMG!! Did i just say that...? (she starts laughing herself too, while Armaan seems very uncomfortable)

Armaan: acha, hansna band kero...aur yeh batao, ke tum lgoon ko kese pata ke i am back?/

Atul: Armaan!! tu shayed apni chatterbox behen ko bhul gaya hai...Aditi ne bataya tha...in fact the whole gang wanted to come...but they will come tomorrow...!!

Armaan: ohhh!! acha...anyways....pooja takk to rukk rahay ho na?

Nikki: of course...anyways...we are going downstairs....you guys, carry on...(winks at Riddhima and leaves)

Armaan turns to look at Riddhima, murder written in his eyes.

Riddhima: WHAT?? I didnt say anythig....i just said, we werent doing what they thought we were doing...

Armaan: thanks a lot...for ruining my reputation again...(makes a sarcastic face) now i have been officialy disgraced in my family n frends too...

Riddhima laughs

Riddhima: its kind of funny though...what would they be thinking...you down on your knees, doing what...i think they thought you were...(makig weird faces)

Armaan: (cuts her in between) ewww....shut up Ragz...let's go!! You pervert...

Riddhima laughs as Armaan takes hold of her hand and leads her downstairs.

...................................

To be contd.