Chapter 10

Nikki

@desire_nikki

PART 8

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 on her legs. They both were feeling nervous. So not saying a word Riddhima moved towards a table where as Armaan too moves towards the table opposite to her.

The day went on its usual...some more fighting...laughing...overall a perfect day. Armaan and Riddhima went back to normal after their intimacy at Library. Riddhima was avoiding any kind of eye contact with him as she was feeling restless...Old Memories have that much effect on her which she is neither able to resist nor overcome so easily. And after the time she came to know that his name is Armaan she was just not able to wash away the thoughts. So finally she decided to maintain an appropriate distance with him...She had just met that guy and his nearness was affecting her badly.

That day Riddhima and Anjali came back to their house. As Riddhima was not feeling like talking she directly moved towards her room without saying anything and having any kind of eye contact with anyone. Others were surprised but they brushed away the thought thinking she might be tired.

Reaching to her room she locked the door and cried her heart out while saying

Riddhima: yeh kya ho raha hai mere saath...main kaise khud ko control nahi kar payi..! aj se pehle aisa kabhi nahi hua hai..! Sid mujhe kitna kehta tha ki mai khush rahu pehle jaisi ban jau jaise mai Armaan ke saath rehti thi...par yeh baat mai kaise samjhati Sid ko ki Armaan ke bina wo Riddhima kaise zinda reh sakti hai..! Armaan ke jaate hee wo Riddhima bhi kahi kho gayi...Maine khud ko badal liya ..Par aj ,...Nahi mai aisa nahi kar sakti...Yeh mera Armaan nahi hai...Nahi hai yeh mera Armaan...Mai kisi ko uss Riddhima ke pas nahi aane de sakti...Wo Riddhima apne Armaan ke bina kuch nahi hai aur na hee kabhi hogi..!
Mai nahi janti ki aj mai khud ko samjha kyu nahi pa rahi hu...Aj ek baar ke liye aisa laga ki sach mein mujhe mera Armaan wapus mil gaya hai...wo naam sun kar samaj hee nahi aa raha tha ki kya kahu...par phr ...

And she again started crying. She didn't understand why she behaved like that...why she reacted on his every action...why she was not able to hide that Riddhima which she had buried somewhere deep down in her heart not wanting to show because all that riddhima could do was cry for her Armaan...But this Riddhima was far away from old one. THIS Riddhima always keeps her happy and busy here and there. She showed how strong she was. But the truth was far away from the reality.

Riddhima was adamant on her decision. She moved towards her room window. Rain was falling uncontrollably. She looked at the drops of rain. She loved this season a lot as it brings peace to her heart and mind. She said to herself

"Aj jo hua wo wapus kabhi nahi hoga...mai jaisi baki sab ke liye hu is Armaan ke saath bhi waisi hee rahugi...mai uss Riddhima ko wapus kisi ke saamne nahi aane dugi.! Aur Armaan se jitna dhur reh sakti hu rahugi..! Nahi janti wo kaun hai...par mai ab nahi tootugi wapus..kabhi nahi...itne saal khud ko sambhala hai toh aage bhi sambhalugi..! "

And with that he washes away her tears and decided that she will ignore Armaan as much as she can. She will talk to him as they both have to do assignment together but she will keep reminding her limits to her mind as well as heart.
**********

Four days passed, everything was going normal till now. Armaan had become one of the most important members of their gang. No one in the college was able to escape his charms. Armaan being friendly & caring in nature was always ready to help anyone and was getting infinite importance from every other person or teacher in college. Even in few days Gang too has been so dependant on Armaan.

There was a time when they were fully dependant on Sid. He too was caring towards his friends and always ready to help anyone. Gang too discussed about this thing when everyone was completing their assignment at Abhi's house. Armaan was busy with a call which was from London where as whole gang started talking. Suddenly Atul started with this topic

Atul: Guys...ek baat kahu...mujhe Armaan bohot achha laga...! Pehle kaise hum sab Sid par dependant the na aur uske jaane ke baad kitna miss kar rahe the usko par ab Armaan ke rehne se uski kami nahi lagti...!

Anjali: Haan Atul...Armaan sach mein bohot achha hai...kitni selflessly hamari help karta hai aur kitna caring nature hai uska...aisa lagta hee nahi hai ki wo London mein raha hai itne time tak ..!

Nikki: Haan guyss mujhe bhi Armaan bohot change lag raha hai...Haan main usko janti hu pehle se aur pehle jab wo Mumbai mein tha hum milte bhi nahi the...hum toh delhi mein jab wo aaya tabse usse aur Rahul se meri dosti huyi...we three were use to have loads of fun...Aisa nahi hai ki wo caring nahi tha pehle but iss baar I am shocked...How come wo iss college mein aaya aur usne kisi se flirting nahi kari...

Everyone turned their heads towards Nikki and started laughing

Atul: Tu bhi na Nikki...hum yaha uski taaref kar rahe hai aur tu yeh soch rahi hai ki usne kisi se flirting kyu nahi kari..waah...!

Muskaan: Aur yeh Rahul kaun hai..?
Nikki: Rahul hum dono ka bohot achha friend hai...hum delhi mein saath the..even Armaan ne bataya hai ki wo humare saath issi college mein apni studies complete karega...

Anjali: cool...phir toh hamare group mein girls and boys equal ho jayenge..!

Abhi: Haan..matlab ab basketball teams divide karne mein problem nahi aayegi...and iss baar mujhe Nikki ki maar nahi khani padegi...Ohh Thank God..!

Atul: Aur mujhe Anjali k...

He stopped in the middle as he saw Anjali glaring at him and Nikki at Abhi. Then Finally Armaan was back after his long call and they were back to their assignments forgetting about everything.
On the other side Armaan was whole confused with the behavior of Riddhima. She was behaving like a stranger to him. She only talks about assignments and even whenever Armaan tried to initiate any conversation she refused to talk about anything else other tham their work.

Armaan did not understand why she was behaving like this. Everyone in the gang has taken initiatives so that he did not feel left out. But there was only one person whom he seems is the last person who willingly intiated the talk between them. i.e. Riddhima. From her activities he sometimes feels that he knew her better than anyone but the other second he feels he didn't know her. She is nothing more than a Stranger to him, a mysterious Stranger. Then his thoughts travelled to very first day, when they both have several encounters with each other and they end up fighting.

He knew what she pretends to be in front of everyone, she is not the same. Armaan have felt the fact that she is faking her silence. Her eyes speak a lot, it seems like her heart and mind was doing a brief war.

Then an idea popped into his mind and he decided to fight with her like they have on the very first day.

Armaan: umm Riddhima mai soch raha tha ki shyad hume iss par nahi uss topic par karna chahiye..mujhe yeh bohot boring lag raha hai...

Riddhima: Ku Armaan kya kharabi hai ismein..aur yeh boring nahi hai...

Armaan: Tumhe nahi lag raha hoga..tum hogi kahiki miss padaku...but agar humne iss par presentation di toh definitely hitler hume fail kar degi..!

Riddhima: Aisa kuch nahi hoga..!

Armaan: Main keh raha hu na aisa hee hoga...and hum topic change karenge...hum iss wale par banayenge..

Riddhima: Nahi hum mere wale topic par banayenge

Armaan: nahi mere...

Riddhima: maine kaha na mere...

They knew this fight might be turn into a war so gan decided to intervene.

Anjali: Guyss Guyss...listen...yeh project mutual hoke karna hai...aur especially tum dono toh uski top list mein ho...

Nikki: So guys u both better start with your work...parso hee dena hai yeh...

They made faces but then agreed upon some other topic suggested by Nikki. But Armaan Riddhima can never change. They both continued fighting over one thing or else some other thing. Whole gang was feeling like kicking them out of the house. But only one person was satisfied...Armaan...He knew he was successful ...but then still something was still there bothering him.
***********
Armaan was so happy getting all this attention and love from them. He after meeting the gang didn't even missed any of his friends or that place. But except for one his Best buddy Rahul, who knew his inside out and understands him well. He was very eager to share his feelings to Rahul. He knew Rahul is the only person who will help him out of this.

That evening Armaan was at terrace standing there enjoying the beautiful sunset. It gives peace to his mind everytime he feels lonely and sad and whenever he missed his childhood best friend or family. Armaan was in his deep thoughts. He was thinking about these four days he had spent in this college with the gang. He was happy that in so less time gang had made him comfortable and even he had become so important for them.

All of a sudden his mind travelled to Riddhima. He was getting confused with her behavior in these days. He accept the fact that four days is really very less time to judge someone or to know there inside outs but then something was there, he was still confused with the thought. His heart says if she is only the one he was searching for and was missing for many years, may be at least he can ask for once, but then again his mind ruled over his heart saying, No, she can't be if she was then she would have said something or she should at least have talked once but no. She did nothing. But then he thought he was not sure of any possibility.

He was deep lost in his thoughts when a hand patted his shoulders. Armaan turned to see the person and got shocked. But after this shocking moment his lips broked into a big smile and he move forwardto hug the person while saying

Armaan: Rahul...Tu kab aaya...Mai soch hee raha tha tujhe call karke puchu...

Rahul: mai aj subha hee aya hu...abi niche Bi se milla toh unhone kaha tu upar terrace par hai...aur tu kya call karega naye dosto ke aage puraane dosto ko toh bhul hee gaya hai...maine socha ek baar toh call karega India aake...par dekho...

Armaan smiled sheepishly and said

Armaan: Arre yaar naraz mat ho...wo bas aate hee kisi ki itni meherbani huyi mujh par ki pehle din hee Hitler par mera impression itna achha pada hai ki mai uski hit list mein aa gaya hu..!

Rahul looked at him confusingly and Armaan laughed remembering it and told him whole story of his side. Rahul too laughed and said

Rahul: Waah kya welcome huya hai tera...! Oyee waise iss ladki jisko tune Miss. Jungli Billi Basket ka name tag diya hai iska naam hai kya...Kyuki normally maine girls ko dekha hai..wo tere charm se flat ho jati hai tujh par...par yeh kaha se aayi hai jo Armaan Mallik ke charm se affect nahi huyi..!

Armaan had given a brief pause and then said

Armaan: Riddhima...!

Rahul: Riddhima..??

Rahul looked at him in shock and asked for all clarification about what's up with this matter as he saw Armaan's face. Armaan told him everything about his thoughts and what he felt about her despite the fact he had met her just 5 days ago...!

Armaan: Mai nahi janta Rahul...mujhe nahi smaajh aa raha hai...wo ek pal toh aise behave karti hai ki main sach mein koi Anjaan hu...mujhse uss pehle din ke baad usne dhang se baat bhi nahi kari hai...aur uska yeh behavior mujhe pareshan kar raha tha...mujhe ek baar ke liye lagna laga tha kahi yeh meri riddhima toh nahi...Kyuki maine uska wo chehra dekha tha jab usne mera naam suna tha... ek pal wo mujhse ladhti hai...aur durse hee pal wo bilkul chup ho jati thi...jaise usne kuch galat kar diya ho...

Rahul: Armaan iska matlab wo hee teri Riddhima hai..?

Armaan: Nahi janta par maine uski behan Anajli se baat kari thi...aur hamare friends ne bhi mujhe yahi bataya ki Riddhima aisi ladki nahi hai...usse ladna and all aur aise fights ka part banna bilkul achha nahi lagta...aur wo bohot kam bolti hai...Phir Anjali ne mujhe bataya ki Riddhima kisi se itni jaldi dosti nahi karti...wo har kisi ko apne itne kareeb nahi aane deti...isliye uske bohot kam friends hai...

He stopped for a moment and again continued turning around facing the sunset

Armaan: Aur shayad isliye wo mujhse aise behave karti hai...

Rahul: Armaan tune toh kaha ki tujhe lagta hai ki yeh teri riddhima ho sakti hai phir tune ek baar bhi usse kyu nahi pucha...tune kuch react kyu nahi kiya..
Armaan: Mai puchna chahta tha par mujhe laga kahi pichli baar ki tarah wo iss baar bhi mujhse baat karna na chahti ho..aur kahi phir mujhe chod kar chali jaye,...isliye kuch nahi keh paya mai..! Aur waise bhi mujhe Anjali se uske bare mein jaanne ke baad ab aisa nahi lagta ki wo meri Riddhima hai...

Rahul: Phir toh Armaan shayad wo riddhima ho hee nahi jisse tu dhundna chahta hai...kyuki jaisa tune btaya uske nature ke bare mein toh may be wo tujhse ladhne ke baad ek dum se chup ho gayi ho...may be kyuki wo aisi nahi ho...aur tujhe lag raha hai ki wo tera naam sun kar react kar rahi ho..!

Armaan: Haan shayad..! Chal meri chod..lekin phir bhi..uss ladki ki aankhein bohot kuch kehti hai...Uske friends ne jaise uske bare mein mujhe bataya...maine usse bilkul alag person dekha hai apne saamne...jab wo mujhse ladhti hai...uski aakhon mein kuch aur hee nazar aata hai mujhe...pata nahi yeh log kaise nahi dekh paye...Itna toh main janta hu ki koi baat hai jo usse pareshan karti hai...aur wo aisi nahi hai...usne khud ko aisa bana rakha hai..! Aj jab hum apne assignment kar rahe the tab bhi wo aise hee chup thi toh maine usse jaan kar poke kiya...jisse wo mujhse lade and it worked too..!

Rahul: But yeh uska koi personal matter hoga...aur wo toh tujhe friend bhi nahi samajti.

Armaan: Nahi samjhti toh kya huya..! Main usse dosti jarur karke dikhaunga..! Mai toh usse dost manta hu...bhale hee wo meri riddhima nahi hai par dost toh hai na ab...toh mai uski thodi si help nahi kar sakta kya..!

Rahul: Armaan...bhai teri tabet toh thik hai na..! Yeh tu jabse yaha aaya hai mujhe lag raha hai tere dimaag ko gehra sadma laga hai... ek baat bta tu itna na kabhi sochta than na bolta tha...toh suddenly ek hee baat ke quention bhi tune pucha answer bhi tune diya...ye kya tha..

Armaan laughed and said..." Kal college aa pata chal jayega.."

They both laughed and had a great buddy's time together.

*********************

Next morning, everything was going normal. Students were walking through the gate of college. Suddenly some loud noises disturbed the silence of parking area. Each and every person's head turned into their direction...

(Guyss next dialogues u may find offensive..! But that was not to point out anyone. There is no intention of hurting; these dialogues are itself some what taken from dmg episode at the time of Rahul's entry. So guys I hope u will enjoy..! )

Boy: Oyee Chipkali tu...tu yahaan kya kar rahi hai..!

Girl: oyee Tu kankhajure...kaha than na agli baar mere saamne aayega toh mai tera khoon kar hee dugi..!

Boy: Chal be badi aayi mera khoon karne wali..! khud ko pata nahi kya smajhti hai...Aur jabaan sambhaal ke baat kar...

Girl: Oyee chup kar khotte...jhadu ke aakhri tinke...Common sense ke mare huye putle...

Boy: Dekh Muskaan mujhse panga na le..

Muskaan: Oyee kya karlega tu haaan...Rahul the kankhajura...

With that they continued fighting where as everybody was enjoying their one to one match. Gang was standing little far from the parking area. But suddenly they heared some noises.

Atul: Arre yeh awaaze kaisi..

Armaan:umm guys tumko nahi lagta yeh awaaz suni suni si hai...

And with that they all looked each other and understood at once. They all ran in the direction of noises as they knew it is very important to save the person whose life is in danger right now.
As they reached their Armaan & Nikki looked towards each other as they came to know it's none other than Rahul whose life is in danger. But they all saw a different view...They both were fighting as they knew each other so they decided to stop it.

Nikki: (moving towards muskaan) muski pagal ho gayi hai kya ...chod usse kya kar rahi hai..

Armaan: Rahul kya kar raha hai...chod...

Everything went back to normal and finally they asked them the cause of fighting

Rahul: Dekh le Armaan is chipkali ko samjha le...warna kisi din meri bike ke niche aa jayegi

Muskaan: Oyee kankhajure...jyada mat bol...tune meri parking place churaayi...

Atul: Kya ...? Toh tum dono sirf isliye ladh rahe ho kyuki isne tumhari parking leli...!

Anjali: grow up Muskaan..!

Armaan knew he has to stop else the fighting will start again so he said

Armaan: Achha guys..listen...Yeh hai rahul ...Rahul garewal mera friend...

Nikki: oyee mera bhi friend hai.

And with that she hugged him, while introducing him with others. Muskaan made a face and they all move to their class.

After their lectures got over they were sitting in canteen when Atul asked rahul

Atul: Ek baat btao Rahul yeh tum Muskaan ko pehle se jante ho kya..

Rahul and Muskaan looked at each other. Rahul was about to say something when Muskaan interrupted

Muskaan: usse kya puch raha hai ..mujhse puch..mai btati hu...yeh kankhajura Patiala mein hamara neighbor tha...

Rahul: haan mujhe laga tha Patiala se nikalne ke baad isse picha chutega...Par mujhe nahi pta tha yeh mujhe yaha mil jayegi...!

Armaan: Waise tum itna kyu ladh rahe the...ki abi ek dusre ki jaan le loge...

With that Rahul & Muskaan's face colour changed and they look bit uncomfortable. Finally rahul spoke

Rahul: Kuch nahi bas iski bakwas sunke gussa aa jata hai..

Muskaan: mai..

Anjali: stop it guys..kitna ladoge...hum canteen mein hai sab hume hee stare kar rahe hai so chup...and tum dono

(Addressing Armaan and Riddhima)

Anjali: Tum dono better apne assignment complete karlo...kal hee dena hai..hum sabka ho chuka ha...and tum dono ka 50% bhi nhi huya hai so plz..! tumhe pata hai na hitler..?

Armaan: haan...we know...

Muskaan: Chalo mai bhi chalti hu library book return karni hai...

They all made their way towards Library..! muskaan and rahul were keeping as much distance as they can. As they both don't want that any of them again raise any questions regarding their fights.
***********

After reaching Library Armaan was having his eye only for Riddhima. She was unusually quite that day. She was not taking muh interest in conversations. So he decided to atleast make her speak. They both sat on a table in library and started their work. Others were roaming here and there. Muskaan and Rahul, both were not there in the Library.

Almost after one hour whole gang except for Atul and Anajli as they both was doing some work. Armaan was playing with his pen and making clicking sounds with his pen where as Riddhima was sitting patiently with him on the same side of the table. But the truth was she was getting so irritate by each passing second because of the sound of pen which was in Armaan's hand. Little did she knew was that Armaan was deliberately making that irritating sound so that he can poke her and made her to talk to him...or else fight with him.

Riddhima have had enough of him. She was so impatient that she just turned around, facing him and said

Riddhima: Kya problem hai tumhari...chup nahi reh sakte..

The people present their turned their heads in their direction where as Riddhima felt that she was unnecessary loud. She murmured sorry and again sat on her seat where as Armaan gave a nervous smile and he too seated facing her and said in a low tone

Armaan: Kya hua Basket...tabet thik hai na tumhari...Any problem...?

Armaan was smiling but he was trying not to laugh in front of her as she was already red in anger.

Riddhima: Dekho Armaan...mujhe tumse baat karne mein koi interest nahi hai...par it's a mere request please agar help nahi kar sakte ho toh for god's sake apna muh band rakho...!

Armaan: Main toh help karna chahta hoon agar tum yeh bekaar sa boring topic ki jagah mera wala topic lelo...

And they both just were giving each other deadly looks. Armaan was impressed with her features, kiddish behavior, different faces while talking...yeah he was enjoying her irritation. Anajli saw them bickering and sighed. She move towards them and said

Anjali: Guys...mai aakhri baar tum dono ko samjha rahi hu please apna kaam karo. You both are so intelligent, apni in stupid fights ki wajah se ek dusre ka bhi nuksaan karva rahe ho...grow up guys...tum medical final year mein ho...Kindergarden mein nahi ho..! so please stop behaving like one. Aura b mere saamne hands shake karo. Tum dono bado ki tarah toh samajhne nhi wale aise hee samajh aayega tumhe...come on I am waiting...mere pas pura din nahi hai...

Armaan and Riddhima turned towards each other and shaked hands giving each other a fake smile. As soon Anjali left library with Atul they both gave typical Armaan Riddhima famous dagger glare to each other. They again sat down but this time they thought over Anjali's words. Armaan felt he is going too far in irritating her. If he will continue that both of them will be at loss. Same here riddhima was too not feeling good. She too was thinking that ignoring him is possible and apart from that tolerating him is next to impossible. So she thought to be calm and work with mutual consistency. Both of them turned to face each other at the same time and said

Armaan/Riddhima: I am sorry..

Listening to each other they smiled and Armaan said

Armaan: Woo ...I think hume fights ki jagah is par concentrate karna chahiye...warna Hitler hume nahi chodegi..

Riddhima: Haan...hum tumhare topic par karte hai project,...mujhe bhi yeh achha nahi lag raha..!

Armaan: Sachhi...dekha maine kaha tha na...i know mai kabhi galat nhi ho...s..k..tta..
Umm...lets continue ...

Armaan smiled nervously as he saw Riddhima's expressions, which was about to change to irriatation. They both worked sincerely whole after noon and soon finished with their work.

***********

Next day, in morning muskaan was early. No other gang member was there. She was feeling bored while roaming here and there in the garden. Her thoughts were drifted at rahul, whom she hadn't expected here. Suddenly a voice came from back "Muskaan".

Precap: Armaan and Riddhima became friends. Abhi & nikki's engagement was on full swing. Armaan felt something for Riddhima.

Guyss...plz hit like button..!! and do comment..! plz plz..!!

nikita..! 😊😊