After a long delay posting the overdue and last part of this story. I would understand if you dont remember the story....u can review it...as it's all posted above...not too long.....This part is dedicated to each of you taking  out the time to read this story...and leaving the wonderful comments...though i hvn't replied to any of them....but did read each of them....thanks Hina!!!

 

 

They stepped out of the car, making their way towards the lavish house. The place was fully lighted'it was as if every kind of bulb in the world was used as if to match up with the moon's brightness. She was constantly trying to keep up with her heavy dress and keeping her hair intact at the same time. The wind was fiddling with her silky hair, playing its own games as she tried to keep it back.

"Muski?", she called out to her cousin. Muskaan looked back and smiled at her. "umm...I..I still don't think I should be here...you've brought me here for no reason, Muski.", she stopped midway to explain. She had been feeling nervous and a bit conscious from the morning, without any sensible reason. "Hey! You dare say that again and you'll see me complaining to uncle auntie this very moment. You've been here for almost a week but you've only locked yourself in the room all this time instead of enjoying ...Is that what you call a vacation?", Muskaan was angry and somewhat upset. She had noticed the unpleasant change in Ridhimma and felt that it was about time to talk the matter out with her.

"Muskaan, I'm very much serious. See, you'll only get bored because of me. I don't know anyone here, not even the fact that whose wedding it is", she glanced at Rahul for support but he just shrugged his shoulders, quietly standing in the corner.

Nearby her sat a group of girls..some were talking, others were giggling and a few were even singing. Ridhimma smiled sardonically remembering the days when she used to be like them, however, she had changed nowshe was going with the sudden flow of life, wherever it took her, accepting whatever it gave her. She knew she had fallen for him from the day they met last...the feeling was long admitted by her but she decided never to look back with a thought to satisfy her that he'd probably be happy with Anjali and others who cared for him more...

"You okay?", Rahul asked interrupting her thoughts. Her eyes had moistened....she quickly looked away to stop the tears. "Ridhimma?", his voice came back.

"Ofcourse Rahul, I'm absolutely fine. Why wouldn't I be anyways? You go ahead, your friends might be waiting.", she tried to put up a smile.

"Ah not so fast missy. You are not getting rid of me so easily. Here, Muskaan sent it for you...finish it up! It's her order", he winked and placed a plate of sandwiches and pastries in her lap.

"Are you mad? I'm not going to eat this...please take it back Rahul!", she protested, making faces by looking at the food.

"Nuh uh. She told me you have not eaten anything since morning except for a toast. So, take it or I'll call Muskaan right here.", he grinned evilly. Ridhimma frowned and took up the plate reluctantly knowing it was a much better option.

After waiting for a while, she walked up to search for Muskaan and Rahul. Sitting in the lonely corner and looking at unfamiliar faces had bored her. There was a hustle and bustle of people roaming around, making it hard for her to make her way out. It felt as if she wasn't even walking and only getting pushed around to cover the distance. She lost her balance as her foot slipped all of a sudden. Scared of the upcoming fall, she closed her eyes tightly and got ready to face the floor. Realizing that it was something else instead of the rock hard floor, she opened her eyes slowly but only to meet a set of green eyes staring back at her. Her stomach flinched and her heart beat rose to higher levels, thumping louder than ever. Unable to deal with this anxious feeling, she closed her eyes again on purpose. 'Calm down Ridhimma. It's just a dream. Nothing real. Just open your eyes and it will be gone', she repeated to herself in a barely audible voice. When she managed to open her eyes yet again, she found herself standing on the ground. She was more than glad that it was indeed a fragment of her imagination as she saw Muskaan standing beside her. But the joy was short lived, "Ridz, meet Armaan Mallik. He's from the bride's side.", Muskaan introduced to the person standing infront of them.

She barely looked upto him, keeping her eyes glued to the ground. She didn't have that courage. "And, Armaan this is my closest cousin, Ridzie...I mean Ridhimma. She just came from London", Muskaan continued in her usual jolly mood.

"Welcome to the city Ridhimma.", he said in a low voice. She noticed he still carried the same tone and way of talking, keeping it short and to the point.

"Thanks," saying this she quietly tugged Muskaan's dress sleeve like a kid indicating the need for a secluded talk. As soon as Muskaan gave her an agreeing nod, she practically dragged her out in the lawn, outside.

"Ridz? what happened?", Muskaan inquired almost panting.

"Muski, I want to go home. I'm not feeling well so can you call Rahul from inside?", she asked hoping she wouldn't ask for details.

"But why? The groom hasn't even come yaar. Let's just wait for sometime and we'll all go home together, okay?", Muskaan was utterly confused of the sudden change in her.

"I want to go now, Muski. You stay here please, your friends would mind otherwise. You know what, I'll just go by myself. I think I can manage it.", she said making instant plans in a haste by herself.

"Waoh. Hold on yaar Ridz, please yaar for my sake, can't you stay back? Please? It's like one of my closest friend's wedding. It's a request. No no...no requests, it's an order now. You are staying right here with me, until the wedding is done.", Muskaan gave her a stern look. She knew it would work with Ridz; she knew her too well.

Ridhimma groaned, "Okay, I will stay with you. But please don't ask me to go inside. It's just too crowded. I want to stay in open air for a while.", she requested.

"Alright, but I'll call you when the wedding starts.", Ridhimma nodded as Muskaan rushed inside.

Finally finding a peaceful atmosphere around her, she breathed in deeply and tried to relax the sudden panic rising. She still couldn't believe what she had witnessed. Such a co-incidental meeting that too in an unknown place wasn't something she could even imagine, more so if she would ever allow herself to even imagine anything related to him.

She looked up and stared at the sky which had an enormous amount of twinkling stars embedded on it. As she closed her eyes, his image formed; him with a subtle smile. She quickly snapped out of the moment as a fear came over her. She was letting her emotions out again. She couldn't do that..Armaan was already happy with Anjali, she shouldn't interfere.. She held her head tightly and made a quick decision that she would tell Muskaan everything tonight and would leave for London by tomorrow itself. It would end the matter once and for all!

He watched her secretively as she snuggled herself closer because of the cold. He had been standing in the same place for the past few minutes, observing her only. It was visible that she was sobbing silently, lost in herself and oblivious to world around her and his intense gaze. He had so much to tell her but didn't know where to start from...he knew that somewhere he was the cause behind her ailment and the probable cure to it too. It felt the perfect time to let things out as he felt she had a certain right to know it all. He felt bounded to her in a way; an incomprehensive feeling it was. Shrugging away the ongoing battle within him, he made a decision that he will confront her now only. An unknown energy stirred him as felt himself run in her direction.

"Ridhimma?", he called out, stopping at a few steps distance.

She turned around and stood up by the sudden disturbance.

"Armaan...", the name escaped her mouth without her knowing it. "I have to go", she tried to get away before the things not supposed to be said and known slipped out. But a firm grip held her back.

"I need to talk to you. Stay back for a few minutes....please?", Armaan said, leaving her hand the very instant. He knew she would listen.

"But I don't want to discuss anything. Just leave me on my own," she didn't want to turn weak. It would ruin everything if she stayed back for even a second.

"Ridhimma, I'm only asking for a few moments of your time. If you remember you were the one who once used to tell me to speak up more, then wouldn't you hear what I've got to say now?", he looked at her with a faint expectation.

"Why are you doing this? Don't you realize you have a WIFE? What will Anjali think ...are you really that insensitive?", she mocked him, but was herself struggling to get away from the emotional trauma.

"Ridhimma, I am not married!", he made her look at him. She was confused though she didn't utter a word but her questioning eyes were conveying the feeling.

"Anjie is not my wife," he assured another time but no reaction was received from her side. He wondered if she atleast heard him. However, he was taken aback by her next move as she rushed inside the house and in moments came out with Rahul as they both left in his car. It all seemed to happen in the blink of an eye as he helplessly stood in the same position, unable to stop her.

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I hope you are doing fine. I have been meaning to tell you this from a long time but only found the courage today when I saw you sitting alone in the lawn. I don't know why that I feel you have a right on me and I'm obliged to share the facts of my life with you. I have a lot to say...let's see if I can manage to pen it all on this piece of paper. I had never thought that we'll meet again after the first incidental meet outside the mall, in Paris. But the thought changed as we met again and again on sheer coincidence. To tell you the truth, I was glad that you had approached me that time in the caf' your presence proved to be a source of comfort on each of our meetings'I found solace in your company and felt myself at peace everytime I talked to you. Your long chattering always made it seem like everything was normal even when I was heading along a tough time; the reason of my visit to Paris. Anjali was undergoing serious treatment for her illness in Paris from a well-known doctor and my best friend, Atul.

Anjali meant and still means a lot to me as she is my only baby cousin I know (Yes, she is like a sister and NOT my wife, Ridhimma!!). I was adopted by Anjali's parents at a young age and after them, she had only me to look after her. I had taken full responsibility of her. That's why when you asked me at the porch, in my house, I had purposely made it obvious that she was an important part of my life, a responsibility that I would never neglect. At that time, I felt that I couldn't commit to anything else but towards her.  But I never knew you would take it all in the wrong sense! Do you even know that the wedding you "half attended" today was Anjali's? I knew you wouldn't know otherwise you wouldn't have run away like that...

The letter is getting long and I still have other things to mention. I want to apologize to you for my rude attitude at times in Paris. And I wanted to thank you for being such a special friend...I never knew I would be missing your presence as much when I left Paris. Now, that I think I've said most of the things, it is time for some confessions...

-I don't speak French and neither do I understand it. I was pretending to listen to your French driver when he cut you short, during the first meeting.

-The coffee you made in my house tasted horrible'the worst coffee ever but I lied that it was nice (just joking!!! It was the best I've ever tasted)

-I think the british accent suits you!

I hope the letter does justice to whatever I intended to explain initially as I think I got carried away in between. On a serious note, please come back!! (over the past months, I've realized that you value way more than a friend...)

Yours truly,

Armaan

 

She sighed and folded the letter back, with a broad smile on her face. She had read it countless time but today was memorable day as it embarks their official journey together; it was their wedding anniversary. She still remembered how she had left the wedding abruptly, and after an hour received that letter. The writing style was different and almost deceived her into thinking the letter wasn't written by him. It had made her smile, laugh, and cry all at the same while. Muskaan and Anjali had been a big support throughout after they got to know the story but ofcourse they did laugh like Armaan on how she thought Anjali was his wife...God it had been like a joke of the town after, embarrassing for her and hilarious for them.

"Reading it again?", he snatched the paper from her hands, bringing her out of the trance.

"Armaaannnn!! Stop being so childish", she tried to take it away from him but he just ran around giving her mischievous looks. She just shook her head, "only if I knew that I'll be marrying someone else instead of the original Armaan!" That did the work as he stopped and moved towards her in a quick stride.

"Lady Ridhimma, what are you talking about huh? This is the one and only Armaan you'll find in this whole universe you know," he held his head in pride.

"You weren't like this before. You would always let me talk and listen to me. And now, you're just the opposite.", she made a puppy face as she looked at him.

"Ridhimma ji, you gotta try harder to fool me you see. This wouldn't do," he pinched her nose lightly as she made faces and then engulfed her in a long hug.

"Happy Anniversary", he whispered making her smile wide, bringing a twinkle in her eye and a new glow on her face.

In just a span of an year, their lives had taken a drastic change, the people they once met and called strangers became the people they would know for a lifetime. Her heart had finally found the ray of hope that it waited for all along, the ray called, "Armaan".

 

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There it is! Finally, I finished one of my stories....it took time but accomplished this task atlast....Please do leave your thoughts/comments on how this last part was....took me good amount of time to come up with this....comments will be much awaited....thanks again for all the support and the silent readers too.....Hope you all enjoyed this little tale.....do press the thank you button so i atleast know that ppl hv read it and my hard work didnt go waste...lolz....in anyway, don't just do it becuz u felt compelled to....nyways....

 

tc.

ania =)

ania_912009-02-02 14:56:37