Chapter 13

"Kripa?" A soft and gentle voice called out to me; I turn reluctantly, one person I really didn't want to meet right now was him, I mean after all this crazy stuff in our lives and after knowing we are connected in a way, it's awkward facing him. Pouting slightly, I turn to look at him to find him deeply troubled. "What's wrong Angad?" I continue staring at him as he stares back. Finally after moments of silence he walks toward me with what seemed like all the courage possible.

"umm, I …I just wanted to say that ugh Armaan, yeah Armaan is calling us!" I stare at him with narrowed eyes, he definitely was hiding something and was trying to say something apparently. I laughed he was so cute not to forget dashing. "Yeah, let's go, we can't keep him waiting now can we?" I said, playing along with his game. He smiled gently at me and followed as I led the way back to the restaurant. "Armaan?" I called out to him, hoping to find him sitting and discussing with Aditya about our problem, but nope neither of them were there. I frown that was pretty much weird.

"Umm Angad, let's go I guess they left!" I turn around and speak softly to Angad. But damn was I surprised to find him so darn close to me, just an inch away from me as if he were about to take a hold of me and pull me into a hug. He nodded and turned abruptly towards his car. Angad rushed out while I followed slowly and cautiously behind; perhaps I was alarmed by his nervous behavior, whatever it was had me thinking. "Ouch!" I scream slightly, as hot coffee spills on my shirt. I glance up annoyed to be brought out of my thoughts in a rather harsh way and on top of that for being burnt.

The same funny looking man, dark, furry eyebrows, deadly eyes with a visible glance of danger and that malicious smile. I shuddered involuntarily; "sorry beautiful!" his voice sent scary shivers down my spine, he looked oddly familiar and that was much deadlier than I could think. "Excuse me!" I spoke rather quickly and ran away from him while my hands fluttered anxiously across my favorite navy blue shirt. Sigh, this was the end of this shirt, but hopefully not.

"Kripa, what happened? Why…OMG! What happened to your shirt?" I glanced up at Angad paranoid, I really wanted to scream at him for acting so dumb. Of course something happened to me, and that something was coffee being spilled all over my shirt, duh, how dumb could he be? "I just played kabaadi with an old friend, sorry I forgot to invite you!" Angad glared at me, not at all happy with my unnecessary sarcasm. "anyways, I'll drop you off at home! Let's go!" I nod now smiling, he was so sweet although I was being rude to him because of a fool.

"Angad?" I ask nervously. Hmm, he mumbles lost in his dreams. I nudge him carefully and get him back to the real world before he landed us in an accident. "pay attention to the road, your going to get us killed AGAIN, I think, if you drive lost in your thoughts!" I laughed and watched his bemused expression change into mock horror; as if I had just said something scary. "That is an insult, I can drive without even paying attention and I walk out completely fine!" he murmurs under his breath, while pressing hard on the pedal. "Angad!! Don't do that please!" but my attempts of slowing him down go in vain, he just presses harder on the pedal and stares at my face without realizing where he is headed.

"Angad, cliff!!!!!" I scream at him, he turns as if it were a reflex reaction, "damn!" the car came to a halt in loud screeches; while I sat holding on to the edge of my seat, gritting my teeth. "sorry!" I glanced at him, he was surprising still calm. "Jeez Luezz, thank you for allowing me to experience death so early on in my life, never did I think I would have to go through that, ever again especially after what Prithivi did to me, and the way you beat him up Angad!" I froze…we both glanced at one another. Automatically, I reached out to him, grabbing his hand only to feel the memories grow sharper; I let loose and ran out of the car. Standing just feet away from the cliff, I practiced on controlling my breath.

"Armaan, may I speak to you please?" Riddhima approached a baffle Armaan. "What? Your speaking to me again, let alone staring at me! Omgawsh! Someone call the paramedics, I am going to die, she finally is speaking to me after an HOUR!" Armaan mocked a teary-eyed Riddhima. "I'm sorry!" She mumbled and ran off. Armaan watched shocked, firstly, Riddhima just talked to him, he mocked her, she mumbled sorry and ran off and now here he was fighting with himself.

"How crazy can my world get after meeting her!" he questioned himself and ran after her to find her crying in the corner. "Riddhima?" Armaan asked concerned. Riddhima glanced up at him, and wiped her tears quickly. "Are you okay?" she nodded carefully and turned to walk away when Armaan grabbed a hold of her arms. "What's the matter? Why are you crying, I'm sorry I was rude but what's bugging you?" Armaan asked innocently. "it's a long story Armaan and plus you would never understand!"

"I can, just give me a chance and plus we are friends, I'll always be here for you and you know that!" his voice so full of power, love and truth compelled her to spill the beans. "Armaan, today inside that very labor room, I felt the pain that I thought I would never have to go through again, twenty years ago my mother Padma Gupta, gave birth to me and never walked out of their smiling, laughing or alive. It hurts Armaan, it really hurts to know that I was the reason for my mother's death, for the reason my father never saw my mother again. Not that he had that much time for her before…..!" She stopped but the tears rushed down her eyes continuously. Armaan placed his finger on her lips and shushed her quietly.

"Riddhima, don't you ever, and I mean ever think like that again! You know it wasn't your fault and you experienced today it wasn't the baby's fault either…its all because of destiny and what God has decided for our life, whether it be good or bad. Think of it this way she is somewhere where she is happier, where she can watch you and guide you; and you know she loves you. That's why she decided to have you although she probably knew there were complications, that proves it was never your fault, that she loves you and wants the best for you. So by blaming yourself your not only paining yourself but her as well; if she sees you crying like this do you think she'd be happy?" Armaan spoke with gentleness in his voice.

Riddhima stared at him surprised, she had never seen it that way and what he said was suddenly making sense; perhaps he was right. "Thank you Armaan, thank you so much!" Riddhima cried with a small joy and hugged him tightly, this time not letting loose to run away. Armaan smiled and hugged her back, he wanted to keep her safe in his arms, to love her, to show her the true beauty of love and to just hold her in his arms to keep her away from all the negativity the world carried on its shoulders. Smiling he placed a soft, and friendly kiss on her forehead and walked away towards the children's ward to meet the love birds.

Riddhima watched him leave, she was happy she could have a friend like him but so suddenly that he let go of her from their hug it felt as if she were going to loose everything; she sighed and decided to follow him but then thought otherwise. Tapping her head lightly she walked towards the lockers to crap her stuff and walk out the door. Armaan watched with a smile on his face, he knew what she was thinking with just one look at her eyes, she was so easily readable….like an open book, so innocent, as if she were an angel.

To be continued…more flashbacks and new entry…