Chapter 20

Ana

@..oneOone..

Part 19

Armaan turn to look back at Riddhima who was looking at him with a surprise  emotion face. He wanted to ask her what she think about this proposal  laid by his friends but refrained himself. His gaze went to Bi and  Smriti. Bi as expected was so happy with this suggestion and eventually,  that happiness was showing on her face too but he wanted to ask  Smriti's consent on this matter as being a mother of Riddhima, She has the  perfect right to put forward her thoughts. He knew may be because of the  reason that they are staying in his home, Smriti didnt say much into  the discussions or interfere in his matters, but he need to bring out  the real her. He took steps towards Smriti who was sitting on the two  seater with Bi. He bend down on his knees beside her slowly and started  politely while looking into her eyes. "Aunty, What do you think about  it?" Armaan's question got everyone's attention. Smriti was actually  shocked with his approach. Armaan hold her one hand which was resting in  her lap in his and started again. "Aunty, being Riddhima's mother, you have  a right to say in every matter and plus,as my mom is not here, so I am  too looking up at you to make decisions for me" His true words touched  everyone's heart and made Smriti eyes got teary. She looked up from  Armaan to Riddhima who was also having tears in her eyes right now and  nodded in her direction, after perfectly reading her eyes which were  asking about Riddhima's decision. Smriti looked down at Armaan and cupped  his face tenderly in her hand.

How wrong she was before? Always,  She tried to find her son in a man, who had never respected her as a  mother and she was forcing her own blood, her own daughter to marry that  selfish person. And here, the man destiny choose for her daughter, even  without her asking, consider and respected her as a mother. Does she  deserve such immense love? she asked herself as her thumb caress his  cheek.

"I dont know Armaan... what good deeds of mine have  blessed with a great son like you" She moved forward and kissed his  forehead as Armaan closed his eyes to feel the moment. How much, he  himself have craved for this love. How much he missed on this comfort,  that only a mother can provide you. He was speechless and so were all  others. " Aunty, your decision?" An impatient Shaina broke the trance  and got Smriti's attention. "I am happy with this engagement idea...and  now all I wish is for the happiness of my son and daughter" Smriti  caressed his face and he smiled widely. "Yipee... so that means they are  gonna get engaged with us" Aryan squealed and jumped in excitement,  punching his fist in the air. All looked at his excited actions with  raised brows and he stopped looking away in embarrassment as shaina  shied looking down. "Actually i was excited about...hmm...Armaan Riddhima's  engagement" He look down that made everyone laugh out loud and the  hugging session began.

With the finalization of engagement date,  the shopping trips of the couples started. Venue's were already fixed  for Shaina Aryan's engagement and as Armaan and Riddhima themselves didn't  have any relatives to call, they didn't find a need to change it. All  the now needed was the engagement dresses and rings. Both couples along  with Aditi and Nitin went out for shopping. Aryan and Nitin helped Armaan  buy a very nice light grey prince coat having light embroidery on only  one side of the chest. Riddhima too approved of that suit with an  appreciative look. Shaina and Aditi helped Riddhima selecting a red  anarkali frock having silver and ferozi work on the edges and a ferozi  broad jama var patch on the border. It had very nice churidar sleeves  with churidar below. Armaan heart went on to her as she tried that on. A  perfect fit and an amazing combination of her skin with the color. They  also got the rings and get them in their size. They had dinner outside  in a trendy restaurant and enjoyed it with there chatters.

Two  days later, in the office when Armaan was busy discussing on the purchase  issue of one of his project with Nitin and Aditi, a soft knock on the  door divert there attention. Definitely, it was the door that leads to  Riddhima's cabin. "Come In" Armaan said out and the door opened, allowing  Riddhima in. She came and stand near the desk and giving a cursory nod to  Nitin and Aditi started. "Sir, Can I get a half day leave today?" Armaan  quickly looked up from the files at her. He don't remember her  mentioning anything last night. In office, they maintain a professional  code of conduct so he started in a boss like tone. "Miss. Riddhima? Is  there an emergency?" He asked. A mused Aditi and Nitin were watching  this discussion with a grin on there faces. It was looking fun seeing  them behaving so formal. "No. No emergency Sir...but I have an urgent  work in home...so I need a half day off" She explained hoping that he  willn't ask anymore questions. Its really needed to keep this discussion  getting into depth and she knew, if he asked further on, she willn't be  able to lie.

Thankfully, Armaan's cellphone ring that took his  attention and on the other side, he had Mr. Thomas who was on a short  trip in india and wanted to have a meeting with Armaan right away. Armaan  agreed and after cutting the call, turn back to Aditi and Nitin first.  "Nitin we need to stop this discussion right here...Aditi can you please  bring out Mr.Thomas files...i have to go on a meeting with him  tonight...and i need to read the statics before i leave...and Nitin,  Please ask Aryan to be ready for tonight...He has to go with me" Nitin  and Aditi nodded and left to do there work. Armaan quickly collected the  files placed on his table when Riddhima called him. "Sir...??" Her raised  brows indicating that Armaan still haven't answered her question. Armaan  pushed his hands on the table with a sigh and asked. "Why you need this  leave Riddhima? I dont remember till last night you mentioned anything  about it" Riddhima bit her lip "Because I wanted to take leave as Riddhima  your secretary, not Riddhima...your to be fiance...I don't want anyone to  raise the issue that you do favors for me" She replied honestly holding  her diary in one hand and taping the pen, she was holding in another  one, on it. Armaan get up from his chair. He was feeling so proud of  Riddhima right now. The much she cares about herself, equally she cares  about his reputation, his name. He round up the table and get near her,  took away her diary and softly hold her hands in between his. "I still  don't know what i did to deserve you" His voice was genuine that made  Riddhima smile. "Ok, you can have the half day...but after getting back  home, i will make sure to know why you take this leave...I so hate  driving alone now...You have to pay for that" He said with a grin that  made Riddhima blush. After a soft caress, he left her hands and get back to  his chair. "Please tell Bi that i will be late and will have dinner  out..." Riddhima nodded and left the room, silently saying thank you to God  for helping her to save from Armaan's back-to-back questions.

Armaan  was hell busy after Riddhima left. He went through every file and get  himself updated with the contracts going on with Mr.Thomas. In the  evening, He changed himself in sleek chocolate color trousers and coat  having a white shirt underneath along with a grey striped tie and went  with Aryan to meet Mr.Thomas. The meeting went fine and to there  happiness, Mr.Thomas was planning on a new project with his company.  Armaan and Aryan were elated to agree to it. After the meeting, Aryan  left for his home in his own car and Armaan went towards his. In last few  weeks, he has got so much used to Riddhima's presence in his car that it  was killing him to drive back home alone. During there drives, they will  share there day experience, discuss about home, Ananya, there coming  engagement ceremony...and today, without her chatters, he wanted to just  rush back home quickly but it was almost a distance of one hour and the  heavy traffic at that time was not allowing him to drive on a good  pace. He switched on the radio to kill the time and heard an old soft  romantic song.

The song just send him to his dreamland where no one exist other than him and Riddhima...Surly the time was telling him again and again that they were made for eachother.

Armaan remember there picnic where for the first time, he felt that spark. Her drenched clothes exposing her body for his eyes could still send chills of excitement and passion in his body.

He  remembered there kiss in his room, when he caught hold of her and they  expressed there love. Her lips so soft, so rosy, so sweet. His mouth  went dry with just his imagination. He is surly got hardly struck with  her love. He run his hand through his thick hairs. "GOD!!! I can't wait  to get married now" He said and smiled. He couldn't wait to belong to  her in every way possible. Love is coming out to be an addiction for  him.

He reached home around 11:15. Most of the lights were  closed. Everyone seemed to be off to sleep. Armaan felt strange. He put  the coat on a sofa and rolling up the sleeves went towards ananya room  who was sleeping sweetly in her bed. He corrected the cover and sit down  to give a peck on his forehead and caressed her curly hairs. A shopping  bag was placed on the small study table in her room. Armaan looked at it  and get up to check on it. It contained a very beautiful small silk  maroon maxi which was having straps that comes around the neck. The  flowery pattern on the body and glitter were adding charms and the silk  below was looking extremely elegant. "So thats the reason why Riddhima took  a half day leave...so she can go out with Ananya and choose a dress for  her to wear on our engagement...Nice choice" He complimented and  carefully put that back in the bag. He gave a last look to Ananya as he  exit the room and close the door quietly behind.

Next he went  towards Riddhima room that she shared with Smriti. Though he didn't wanna  get in, but he need to see Riddhima. Just how can she go to sleep without  talking to him. It felt wrong. There small little time in the backyard  everyday is what they both look for the whole day now. He quietly open  the door and peek in to see Riddhima and Smriti both were sleeping. He felt  bad and pouting he closed the door and went back to his room where he  took a nice shower and after changing into his night suit, hit the bed.  Sleep was far away from his eyes. He was just laying in the bed, lost in  his thoughts about his life when his cell beeped, signalling for a  message.

He took hold of the mobile quickly and saw Riddhima's message.

"Meet  me in the backyard in 5 minutes...Waiting :-)" A smile formed on his  face as her message just filled his heart with so much love.

He  get out from his bed and wearing his sleepers, went towards the  backyard, making sure to not make a noise. As he stepped into there, he  was shocked.

A few candles were burning on a small round table  that Riddhima must have brought from the kitchen. A medium sized cup cake  was placed on it having his favorite strawberry icing and as he reached  forward, he could see a card placed beside it saying "Happy Birthday".  He was overwhelmed seeing this. He has almost forgotten about his  birthdate. It was almost 7 years back that he had last celebrated it. He  was still lost in his world when a soft sugary voice whispered in his  ears.

"Happy Birthday Armaan"

Next: Romance, Engagement and Wedding date😳