Chapter 9

PART 7

Riddhima: Hi..I..I..am...Riddhima...

She was feeling a bit hesitant first saying her name...but then she thought maybe she can be wrong and with that she just spoke and waited for him to react.

Many thoughts have had engulfed her mind that time...She was feeling scared with each and every passing second...because in last 8 years she had encountered such situations but at the end nothing happened...but today like those days she was feeling more restless because of the thoughts which were running in her mind like what if she is not wrong this time ...maybe she is just thinking and reacting too much...may be he is not the one she was missing for those years...but suddenly again other thoughts waved in her mind...What if he is the one who was her best friend...what if he is the one whom she had liked since they became friends...what if he is the one whom had left her without saying a word...what if he is the one for whom she had fallen...fallen in LOVE...When she was missing him...When she remembered him in every moment of her life...She was actually falling for him..!!

But soon she composed herself...and again went back to normal as she didn't want to show her emotions to any stranger...!! Her face was cleared ...no emotions can be seen...her pale face suddenly came to normal..!!

After waiting for another minute When she found no reaction & even not his voice she looked towards him. She was just in shock and same time confused looking at him. First he was staring at her and then suddenly broke into a big smile...She was getting confused by each passing minute as she was eagerly waiting for him to say something...but he was smiling like an idiot do..So not waiting for him she asked...

Riddhima: Aise idiot ki tarah hass kyu rahe ho..!

Armaan smile had now become more bigger showing his cute dimples..when she continued

Riddhima: ab kuch bologe bhi kab se apne yeh 32 teeths dikhaye ja rahe ho...

Finally Armaan spoke

Armaan: woo mai yeh soch raha tha ki tum apna hee naam bolne mein itna kya soch rahi thi...lagta hai tumhe apna naam bilkul pasand nahi hai..! waise bhi Riiiddhhiiimmmaa kuch jyada bada aur 1950's ka naam lagta hai...tumhara naam toh Basket Ball ya jungli billi hona chahiye tha...!

Riddhima was shocked hearing him but her face had become normal...no one can say that she was on her verge of crying. But hearing Armaan's rubbish talks Fighter Riddhima returned back & was ready to attack him any moment

Riddhima: Armaan...u better shut your mouth...!!

Armaan: i wont..!! kya karlogi..!!

Riddhima:...uhhuhuuhuh gosh tum kitne irritating ho..!!

Armaan: (imitating her) "tum kitne irritating ho"...bol toh aise rahi ho jaise khud bohot interesting ho...!! huh..

Riddhima gave him a disgusting look and left the class muttering and discovering new adjectives for Armaan.. Whereas on the other side Armaan gave a big smile seeing her irritating tone...He smirked but then he thought to himself...

"Armaan Mallik ka charm har kisi par chalta hai...par ye...oh god...na jaane yeh kaha se aayi hai..! dekhte hai..!! "

But suddenly a thought engulfed his mind and he was able to utter only a word
"RIDDHIMA..."

And with that he too left the class. He all of a sudden became serious, all his laughter vanished hearing that name. He would have reacted in front of her. Don't know why he was not able to ask her anything at that time. He have had saw her pale face but as at that time he thought may be there will be some reason so he helped her out by giving answers to the question which gang was asking without paying any attention to Riddhima.

He moved out of the corridor and made his way towards an empty corridor. He sat on the stairs. It was the place where normally no one roam around. He was feeling restless as Riddhima's name was continuously echoing in his mind. He couldn't take it anymore and held his head in his hands. Some tears made their way in his eyes. As after a long time he had met someone with whom he felt some different connection. May be we can say that being years apart one can easily forget their friends...But it was different...Armaan being the closest person to his best friend ...He could recognized her...

He remembered the scene when Riddhima told her name

FLASHBACK

(From Armaan's Point of View)

Riddhima: Hi..I..I..am...Riddhima...

When Armaan heard his best friend's name from her, he was rooted to his spot. He was in big dilemma...he was confused...he had seen her face pale when the whole gang was asking questions but as soon as he came back to her asking whether she is fine or not he saw her face showing different emotions and finally became normal. he couldn't understand and when finally she spoke it was a bombshell...but as Armaan was not knowing how to react so he brushed the thoughts away for sometime and acted being normal. It was not easy for him to control himself as the person standing in front of him with whom he is fighting can be his best friend, his Shona..

He acted normal in front of her...But still he wanted some reaction from her after knowing his name. He was expecting that if she is the one she will definitely say something about their friendship or else will ask once at least, But she didn't...she acted normal and even had a fight too...

FLASHBACK END
He was sitting there for a long time...! He was still in his thoughts. He didn't expected this that on the very first day in mumbai and in his college he will have an encounter with that name...which he didn't want to listen but still for once wanted to see her ..He said to himself...

Armaan: Ye kyu ho raha hai mere saath...Mai jab Mumbai se..Riddhima se Dhur nhi jana chahta tha tab phir bhi mujhe alag kar diya...aur ab itne saalo baad jab wapus aaya hu toh iss tarike se mere past ko mere saamne laya ja raha hai...maine socha tha ki yaha phir ek nayi shuruwat karunga par phir uss ek naam ne mujhe wahi la kar khada kar diya hai...

He thought of that encounter with Riddhima and again said

"Nahi wo meri Riddhima nahi ho sakti...!! Mai janta hu wo kahi bhi ho wo mujhe kabhi nahi bhuli hogi...! wo meri best friend thi..hai ...aur hamesha rahegi,..!! Ussi ne mujhe dosti ka matlab sikhaya hai...wo nahi hoti toh mera pata nahi hota..!!

He smiled at himself and started remembering the day he met her. When he said again

"Lekin agar ye meri riddhima nahi hai toh us waqt iske chehre par wo dar kaisa tha...kyu wo itna ghabra rahi thi jab sab usse puch rahe the...Lekin agar wo meri Riddhima hoti toh mera naam sun kar ek baar jarur kuch toh kehti kuch react karti...!! shayad yeh meri ridhima nahi hai...Shyad mai kuch jyada hee soch raha hu...Ek naam ke hazaaro log hote hai...! "

He cleared his face and again came back to her normal mode. While he uttered to himself

"Koi baat nahi...shayad abi mera usse milna nahi likha...par mai usse dhunduga jarur...mujhe mere bohot sawalo ke jawaab lene hai usse,..!! jab tak meri riddhima nahi milti mai iss riddhima ko hee pareshan kar leta hu...!!

Suddenly he started thinking about her. He had almost forgot that he was in a pain a while but now suddenly he was all smiling to himself thinking about her...

He still having that big smile on his face remembering their first day first show fights from morning. Laughing at her kiddishness and her anger he realised that he was sitting here for almost an hour now. He made his way towards canteen where whole gang was already present except Riddhima. He looked where gang was seated..he too move towards them. Seeing him coming Muskaan's face lit up and she excitedly said

Muskaan: Aao na Armaan...yaha baitho na ..!!

Armaan: (while sitting) Thanx Muskaan...!

Muskaan was staring at him when Anjali's voice broke her trance

Anjali: So Armaan...tum yeh aise sudden medical ke final year mein kaise...?

Armaan: well actually..mere mom dad chahte the ki mai ab India aa jau wapus..!! Mai last 8 years se Mumbai nahi aaya hu...abi 6 yrs se London mein tha aur usse pehle 2 years delhi mein Nikki ke saath..!!

Nikki: Bas 2 years hee toh the Armaan...kehne ko bachpan se saath the..par kabhi yaad bhi aayi tumhe meri..!!

Armaan: Oyee pagal..bol toh aise rahi hai jaise tune bohot yaad kiya ho..!! Itni hee yaad aa rahi thi toh apni engagement par toh invite kar leti..!!

Nikki was about to retort back to Armaan but Atul stopped her...

Atul: Oyee Nikki...Armaan ne sahi yaad dilaya...tum dono ki engagement party fix huyi ki nahi...!!

With this Nikki blushed a little and said

Nikki: wo haan...mai toh tum logo ko btana hee bhul gayi thi...wo..hamare parents ne iss month ki end ki date nikal vayi hai..!!

Muskaan: Ohh...wow yaar phir toh bohot maza aayega..!!

Anjali: Ohh no...!! arre next week toh hitler ka assignment bhi dena hai aur tum dono ki engagement bhi hai uski bhi tyaariyaan karni h ..!! ab kya kare..!! dono hee important hai...

Abhi: aur hume tum logo ki help toh chahiye organize karne mein kyuki mere parents abi 2-3 din ke liye bahar hai...

Nikki: Haan guys kuch toh socho..!! hamare paas jyada time nahi hai..!!

Till then Riddhima had also joined them

Riddhima: Kya hua guys tum sab itne pareshan kyu lag rahe ho

She said while comforting herself on a chair.

Atul: Arre Ridzy next week Abhi aur Nikki ki engagement fix ho gayi hai aur bohot sari preparations bhi karni hai par hum bhul gaye ki hume project bhi karna hai hitler ka diya hua warna wo iss baar hume nahi chodegi..!

Armaan: Guyss I have an idea...hamare pas 1 week hai na...so aisa karte hai ki abi se project par kaam karte hai i think 3-4 days mein ho jayega then sab mill kar tum dono ki preparations mein help kar denge..!! College mein assignment aur uske bad masti...i mean tumhari shopping wagerah..!!

Riddhima: Haan dono kaam ho jayenge..!!

Nikki: Haan assignment bhi aur meri shopping bhi..!! Girls be ready..!!

All girls became happy while listening to the idea as they will get a chance to buy all new dresses from them. While boys rolled their eyes as the only thought of shopping make them so excited.

Abhi: Thats a good idea..!! But Nikki please ek request hai...thodi kam shopping karna..!! kyuki bags toh mujhe hee uthane hai

Atul: Ab zindagi bhar iss Nikki ko uthana hee hai tujhe toh usse pehle thode bags uthale..

Everybody laughed at this while Abhi glared at Atul dangerously shutting him and his giggle as well.

Armaan: Waise guyss ek baat kahu mujhe toh lag hee nahi raha mera pehla din hai yahaan...Tum sabke saath reh kar aisa lag raha hai ki mai hamesha re hee yahi tha...!

Atul: Oyee Armaan tu bhi ab hamara dost hai...itna mat soch..!! Tu toh mera bhai jaisa hai...aur phir tu meri help bhi toh karega na Anjali ko impress karne mein..

Atul said his last words in a whisper only audible to Armaan But Riddhima too listened as she was sitting next to him...and while Armaan said to Atul

Armaan: Han..haan Champ,...tu bhi mera Bhai hai...aur jab bhi help ki jarurat ho i am always there for you..!!

Atul: Thanku Bhai...waise yeh Champ kyu..!

Armaan: Tu mera Bhai hai na...isliye maine tera naam rakh diya Champ..!!

Atul smiled and hugged him...while Riddhima thought to play along and she said

Riddhima: hooo Atul ...tum di ko impress karne mein is junior hulk ki madad lene waale ho...

She gave a mischievous smile to both of them while Anjali said

Anjali: Ohh...really..toh yeh baat ho rahi thi...!! Dare you Armaan agar tumne iski koi help kari toh aur Atul ...ab mujhse tum baat mat hee karna..!!

Armaan: Arre Anjie...Atul ne aisa kuch nahi kaha tum naraz mat ho...!! Wo kya hai na actually kuch logo ko jyada hee sunyai deta hai...

Riddhima: Dekho...

Abhi: Guyss ...phir mat start ho jana tum dono.! subha se dekh rahe hai tum dono ko lade ja rahe ho..!!

Nikki: Haan tumhe ho kya raha hai...Ridzy...humne tumhe kabhi aise fight karte ve nahi dekha kisi se...tum toh kitni shaant rehti ho...

Riddhima didn't know what to answer she herself wasn't aware of this answer. One thing she knew for sure was she only like to fight with her bestie and no one else...Wo hamesha apne best friend se ladhti aayi hai...kyuki wo janti hai ki wo usse aa kar manaayega jarur...!! But wo Armaan se kyu ladh rahi hai...Usne jis Riddhima ko apne andar band ka diya...wo kyu apne ap ko control nahi kar payi...But for getting out of this discussion she said being normal

Riddhima: Pata nahi di ..aur maine aisa kya kara...yeh stupid subha se mujhse lade ja raha hai...aur mujhe gussa dila raha h...mai kya karu

Armaan: Ohh madam..ladhti tum ho mujhse/...bechare iss bachhe par ilzaam laga rahi ho..

Armaan retorted while he smirked at her

Riddhima: Tum na chup hee raho...

Anjali: Chalo guys...time waste nahi karte...tum dono ladhte rah hume bohot kaam hai...Abi library mein chalte hai...!!

Whole gang headed towards the library the last one to enter was Armaan and Riddhima who same time enters the room and bumped into each other..

Armaan: Ouch..

Riddhima: oww...! Tum dekh kar nahi chal sakte kya..!

Armaan: Miss Basket mai toh dekh kar chal raha tha par apko jyada jaldi ho rahi thi andar jaane ki..ismein mai kuch kar nahi sakta na..!!

Riddhima: Huh..! fine meri galti khush..!! Ab kuch kaam karle..!!

Armaan: Haan mujhe koi shok nahi hai ek bhais (cow) ke saath bhais (argument) karne ka..!!

Riddhima hearing him was all in her anger now when a teacher came their hearing their non-stop blabbering and asked them to shut their mouths or else they will not be allowed in library for a week. Both shut their mouths and silently move in while the gang exchange looks saying God help them. When Atul uttered

Atul: Oyee Muskaan hum sabne toh apna life partner dhund liya hai tu bhi kisi ko dhund hee le ab yaar..!!

Muskaan looked towards Atul and then at Armaan and smiled a little and said

Muskaan: Dhundne ki kya jarurat hai ...dekhna wo khud hee mere saamne aa jayega..!!

They both got busy with their works but same time Muskaan was not able to concentrate. Her mind was again and again rushing towards Armaan. But she controlled herself on time so that no one doubts on her.

On the other side Armaan was searching for a good topic for their assignment he was searching a shelf when on the other side of that shelf Riddhima was standing. She too was searching when her eyes move to a book. It was above her height level. She tried to reach that book when suddenly a hand came from backside tracing her hand and picked the book and both of them brought their hands back. Riddhima turned to see who was the person. But as soon she turned she nearly bumped into the person. She lost her balance and her hands suddenly collided with the person's chest. She closed her eyes in fear for a while and then open it to look for the person. She saw it was none other than Armaan.

Armaan was here to help her as he saw her from the space between books that trying to reach the book but couldn't so he decided to help her. Armaan moved towards her. He traced her hand and took the book but when she turned she collided with him and her hands automatically reached to his chest for preventing herself from falling. She had also closed her eyes in fear. Armaan was observing her and her features closely. Armaan's hands were on Riddhima's waist as his grip was tight on her so that she didn't lost balance and fall. When she opened her eyes she saw Armaan staring at her. They both were so lost in each other that they didn't realised where they were. Armaan could see that her eyes was covered with fear.

Riddhima suddenly realised their position and try to straighten herself. When Armaan realised Riddhima's movements he too came out of his trance and made her stood oh her legs. They both were feeling nervous. So not saying a word Riddhima moved towards a table where as Armaan too move towards the table opposite to her.

Thanku guys..!!! hope u all like this part..!! take care..!!
love u all..!!
plz do like and comment..!!!
If you will not comment and tell me how u find it..!! how will i able to know about ur expectations with the part..! how will i improve..!
Nikita..