Chapter 5

Riddhima closed her eyes trying to control her anger that was slowly bubbling up. She couldn't believe she was going through it all over again. She didn't understand why this man wouldn't let her be. Why was he constantly after her despite her telling him that she didn't need nor want his help? What was he trying to do? Why couldn't he just leave her alone? Why was he tormenting her with his nonstop rambling? Was he stupid? Didn't he get things the first time? She felt like punching him in the face. For the past 2 and a half weeks now Riddhima had sat across from Armaan listening to him talk. At first she had thought that he was just doing his job and trying to gather information but now as she sat across from him for the umpteenth time her initial feeling had been proven wrong. His actions were now telling her otherwise. He wasn't here to just do his job. It was something else. He wanted something else. Well whatever it was she wasn't going to give it. She was going to give him a piece of her mind. She was done listening to his crap!

"So then I was like...

"FOR GOD SAKE CAN YOU JUST ******* SHUT UP!"

"I'm sorry..."

"WHAT PART of I DO NOT WANT YOUR HELP DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND! Are you deaf or something? Or are you just plain stupid? Why are you after me? I told you very clearly that I do not want to live! I told you that so many ******* times and yet you are still sitting here day after day rambling nonsense! Now you listen to me Mr.Mallik for the last time! I DO NOT WANT YOUR HELP! I WANT TO DIE! NOW PLEASE LEAVE BEFORE I KICK YOUR ***!"

Armaan sat shocked out of his mind as he heard her finally express an emotion that was more then just silence. He didn't know what had caused it or why she was yelling at him but he was glad that she was at least communicating with him and not sitting idly by. But the fact that she was screaming at him was what he didn't appreciate. How dare she yell at him! He was only trying to have a normal decent conversation with her and here she was telling him off. Well if she could sit there and give him a piece of her mind then so could he.

"First of all. Lower your voice Riddhima. I'm not deaf. I heard you the first time. Secondly I don't know what you are going on about. I only came to have a decent conversation with you like a friend would. I didn't come here to be told off. I have other things to do. And as for helping you I'm going to do it whether you like it or not. And I'm not after you in anyway by the way. So I have no idea where you are getting these crazy ideas from. You know what...I'm done. I'm done trying to help you see that you deserve a second chance. I'm done trying to make an effort of extending a hand in friendship. I'm done trying to help you. I can't believe I wasted a whole year trying to help you. I don't know what I was thinking. But what do you care! All you care about is yourself. You don't see how much the people around you are trying to bring your life back together. You want to die. Go ahead cause I don't give a **** anymore! Goodbye!"

And without another word Armaan got up from his chair and walked out of the room slamming the door behind him leaving a stunned Riddhima behind.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Riddhima sat in her chair numb to the core as she watched him slam the door behind him as he walked out. She couldn't believe what she had just done. Ever since Armaan had come into her life she had never once seen him yell or scream at her. He always had a calm and cool demeanor around her but today because of her actions she had caused him to pop. She knew she had been rude and said things she shouldn't have but she wasn't used to it. She had never had a friend or someone even try to be her friend. She wasn't a very social person and didn't know how to be around other people. After what she had been through she wasn't used to having anyone even treat her as if she existed. She didn't know how to trust anyone and because of her own insecurities she had sounded off on him because that was all she knew. It was her defense mechanism. It was her way of telling the other person to back off. And that was what she had done today. She had gotten scared of the fact that Armaan was being friendly towards her and she couldn't handle it. But that didn't mean that what she had done was right. She owed him an apology and an explanation for her behaviour. He deserved one. After all he was the first person in her life after ages that had shown any sign of concern towards her. Now all she had to do was wait until the next time she saw him and she would apologize and everything would be fine. At least that's what she hoped.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Yo A-Man"

Hearing a voice boom into his ears Armaan raised his throbbing head up that he had been trying to clam down since he had left from Riddhima's cell only to see Z walk into his office.

What does he want now? Can't a man sit in peace?

"Yes Z?"

"Dude! I need your help!"

"Not right now Z. I have a really bad headache."

"You really think that is going to stop me from asking you for help?"

"No."

"Okay. So I need you to help me ask this really really hot girl out."

"What?"

"See I saw this really hot girl last night when I went to pick up my pizza and I found out that she is a friend of Muski's and I really want to ask her out. But I don't know how. So I need you to help me."

"No."

"What do you mean no? You have to help me!"

"No I don't. Now please leave me alone."

"Fine. Don't help me. Next time you need a favour don't ask me!"

"Okay. Okay. I'll help you. You don't have to be a baby."

"Thank youuu! I love you! So tell me what should I do?"

"First of all. Never say that again. Second. You are not going to do anything. I'm going to talk to Muski first. Then I'll let you know. Until then you are going to sit tight."

"But.,

"Bye."

"Fine. I'm going. Oh but before I go I just wanted to let you know that Barbie called. She wanted to ask you something."

"Z!"

"What? She's a Barbie! It's not my fault she's made of plastic and has no brain."

"How many times have I told you not to call her that!"

"Hey! If she can call me Zipper! I can call her Barbie!"

"Okay. Fine. Just go. I already have a headache I don't need it to get worse."

"Bye. And make sure you call Muski!"

"I will. Bye."

As he watched Z walk out the door. Armaan sighed in relief. Sometimes Z was just a little too much. Armaan knew he meant well but there were times like today where he would cross a line by saying things he didn't mean.

God as if one problem wasn't enough now I have to deal with Z's problem too. Great. Just great. But first things first better call Muski before Z rips me apart.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You want me to WHAT?"

Muskaan griped the phone between her fingers even tighter as she tried to keep herself from dropping it. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. How was this possible? How could Z have all of a sudden developed a liking towards one of her friends? For as long as Muskaan had known him Z was the kind of person who changed girlfriends like he did shirts. Every week he had a new girlfriend. Then what in the world had gotten into him that he would think that he would get permission from her to date one of her friends. The guy had to be crazy! cause there was no way she was going to say yes!

"I'm sorry Armaan. But there is no way I'm letting Z date Mia."

"Fine. I'll tell him. But if he starts complaining or crying you are dealing with it not me!"

"Fine. I will deal with it. Oh! Wait! I almost forgot a certain someone called me before you. She didn't sound happy."

"Oh man she called you too? Now I'm really dead."

"That's for sure. You better call her ASAP!"

"Yeah I am. Bye and sorry for bothering you."

"It's okay. And bye."

Hanging up the phone. Muskaan sighed in relief. She thanked god that she had just saved her dear friend from Z. Now all she had to do was wait to see how Z would take the news.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Armaan held the phone against his ear listening to it ring hoping someone would answer. It had been 15 minutes since he had been trying to get a hold of her and there was still no answer. He was starting to get worried. It wasn't like her not to answer the phone like this. She usually answered on the first ring. Then what was going on now. Why wasn't she answering the phone? Was she in danger? Maybe I should go check! And so just as he was about to put the phone down and leave he suddenly heard a small voice speak through the other side bringing a wave of relief over him and his troubled mind.

"Hello?"

"Thank god! I was getting worried! What took you so long to answer?"

"Sorry. I fell a sleep."

"Oh.Okay. Anyway Z told me you called. What's wrong?"

"Oh so finally Zipper told you I called. Well it's okay now. I don't need you. I found what I wanted."

"How many times have I told you not to call him Zipper! You know he hates that!"

"Then tell him to stop calling me Barbie! I don't like it!"

"Fine. I will tell him Ava. Anything else?"

"No. Bye Dad."

"Bye. And if you need anything call me!"

"I will."

Hearing the dial tone ring into his ears. Armaan sighed and put the phone back onto it's base. He was glad that she was safe and sound. He had almost had a heart attack! She was his responsibility after all and if anything had happened to her he would have never been able to forgive himself. He didn't want to lose her. She was all he had.