PART 9

Suddenly a voice came from behind startling her

Voice: Muskaan...!

Muskaan turned around

Muskaan: Rahul...tu yaha kyu aaya hai...dekh mujhe tujhse koi baat nahi karni hai...toh chala ja yaha se.. Rahul: Muskaan bas ek baar baat toh sun le meri.. Muskaan: jaha tak mujhe yaad hai tune apne uss aakhri letter mein sab saaf saaf likh diya tha... Rahul: Ek baar sun toh.. Muskaan: Bas Rahul..please...mai wo sab bhul chuki hu...

She was going from there but again stopped and turned around

Muskaan: Aur haan...kyuki tu ab yahi issi college mein rahega isliye ek baat abhi bata rahi hu...hamare friends ke saamne mai chahti hu ki hum...hum dono normal behave kare...Isse jayada mujhse umeed mat rakhna...

And with that she left from there leaving Rahul behind, muttering to himself

Rahul: I m sorry Muskaan jo maine kiya wo galat tha...aur mai tujhse promise karta hu ki mai sab thik kar dunga.

***********

Whole day went in hustle bustle, when finally they have to attend their last lecture, The Hitler's Lecture. All of them were feeling relax that finally they will be free from this problem where as Atul was pouring information about Hitler to Rahul

Rahul: Abbe..maine sun liya sab hitler ke bare mein...ab dara toh mat..

Atul: Arre main dara thodi na raha hu...mai tujhe aane wali musibat ke bare mein samjha raha hu...kyuki use toh bachne ka bhi solution nahi hai...

Rahul: Bhai mere..isse samjhana nahi darana kehte hain...

Muskaan: Chod na khotte..kiska sar kha raha hai...jab musibat gale padegi na apne ap samajh aa jayega isse...

Anjali: I hope everyone is ready..Atul please atakna mat presentation ke beech mein...bohot embarrass feel hota hai..

Atul: Kya karu Anjali par mai..uss hitler ka chehra dekhte hee mai sab bhul jata hu..

Anjali: Haan par aaj nahi...aur ridzy...

She looked around in the class only to find Riddhima nowhere in the class. She made her way towards Armaan.

Anjali: Armaan...wo actually mujhe tumhe kuch batana hai...I guess mujhe yeh pehle bta dena chahiye tha par mere dimaag se hee nikal gaya..

Armaan: kya huya Anjie...any problem..

Anjali: haan Armaan...badi wali problem...wo bhi tumhare liye..

Armaan looked at her confusingly and waited for her to continue

Anjali: Wo Armaan..Ridz ko presentations dene mein bohot dar lagta hai...wo bohot nervous ho jati hai...use kuch samajh nahi aata wo kya bol rahi hai...actually uska nature hee aisa hai...isliye uska confidence level bhi low hai...

Armaan: Tumhe yeh pehle batana chahiye tha Anjie...wo hai kaha..

Anjali; pta nahi abhi toh hamare saath hee aa rahi thi class tak...phir pta nahi kaha gayi..

Armaan:mai dekhta hu...abi class mein 10 minutes hai...don't worry mai dekhta hu

Anajli: Armaan suno..ho sake toh tum presentation de dena..kuki I know her...wo nahi kar payegi..

Armaan think for a minute and nodding his head he moved out in search of Riddhima. He had almost looked everywhere but couldn't find her. Then finally he spotted her in garden sitting on a bench. Reaching near her he sat down beside her and turned towards her side to face her. Riddhima feeling someone's gaze turned to other side only to find Armaan sitting beside her. She turned to face him and said

Riddhima: Tum yaha kya kar rahe ho..?

Armaan: I think yeh sawaal mera hona chahiye na basket..

Riddhima; mai toh..wo..wo. bas aise hee yaha aa gayi thi ...class mein time tha toh wo..

Armaan: Dar lag raha hai...hai na..?

Riddhima turned to look at him in utter shock. She thought how he knew that she was feeling hell scared and nervous at that time. Still gathering herself she said lamely

Riddhima: Dar...na..nahi toh...muj..mujhe kyu lagega dar...mai bilkul nervous nahi hu...

She gave a fake smile which did not reached her eyes. Armaan noticed that and said

Armaan: Pata hai Riddhima...agar humme koi kami hoti hai na...toh use chupana nahi chahiye...balki uske against fight karna chahiye...usse yeh prove karna chahiye ki tum bohot strong ho aur kisi cheez se nahi darti...

Riddhima looked at him and finally admitting her nervousness she said

Riddhima: wo actually mujhe aisi presentations dene mein thodi nervousness hoti hai...Mai logo ko face nahi kar pati...aur aj toh mere saath tum bhi ho...

Armaan took his hand and kept it on her shivering hand to calm her. She looked at him. He assured her through his eyes. Both were intently looking into each other's eyes when Armaan said

Armaan: Riddhima...meri baat suno...tumhe issi baat ki chinta ho rahi hai na ki tum apni wajah se meri presentation kahi kharab na kardo...hai na

Riddhima nodded her head in yes

Armaan: Toh tum nhi chahti ho na ki mera 1^st impression hitler par kharab ho...toh aj tum bina dare pure confidence ke saath waha sabke saamne khadi hogi...Aur kisi ke liye nahi toh mere bare mein hee soch lena...kyuki yaha tumhari ya meri baat nahi hai..hamari baat hai...wo hum dono ko affect karega...

Riddhima: Isliye hee mujhe aur dar lag raha hai...mujhe pata nahi kya ho jata hai mai sab bhul jati hu aise time par...

Riddhima said with a cute pout on her face where as Armaan smiled fully listening to her and said

Armaan: Achha suno...ek baat btao darna toh un logo ko tumse chahiye...tum kyu dar rahi ho itna..

She looked at him dangerously...Armaan laughed and continues

Armaan: Arre baba mazaak kar raha hu sorry...daraao toh mat aise... Nahi lekin suno...tum kisse darr rahi ho..waha jo log tumhare saamne baithe hai wo tumhare khud ke dost hee toh hai...aur wo bhi sab tumhare liye best chahte hai..hai na

She nodded obediently.

Armaan: Phir bas darna kiska...koi unknown face toh hai nahi...aur rahi baat meri...toh hum dost na sahi par dushman ki tarah hee itna achha present karenge ki sab dekhte reh jaye...aur ab rahi baat Hitler ki toh usse toh sabko dar lagta hai mujhe bhi..uska kuch nahi ho sakta...

She laughed a little and said

Riddhima: Par phir bhi Armaan...

Armaan: Achha suno...tum hamara 1^st day yaad karo...for almost pure din humne ladaai kari thi...toh jis confidence se tum mujhse ladhti ho...khud ko sahi prove karne ke liye of course...ehhehe ussi confidence se aj tum apni presentation dogi...samjhi...huhh .. samjhi kuch..

Riddhima: Haan samajh gayi...aur phir bhi dar laga toh kya karu...

Armaan smiled at her innocence but this time he decided to bring jungli over-confident billi back so he said

Armaan: Ab kya har baat mai hee btau...itni ache dialogues bole ab wo tumhari choti bhuddhi mein nahi ghuse ismein meri kya galti...

Her mouth fell open in an o-shape.

Riddhima: Armaan...main na main na...

Armaan stood up and was all set to run away while saying

Armaan: Kya main na main na kar rahi ho jungle biili...aise toh over confident banti phirti ho...

Riddhima too stood up and ran behind him while saying

Riddhima: hoo Armaan mai kab over-confident huyi...

Armaan: Kyu mujhse match karte waqt jyada bann nahi rahi thi..aur end mein huya kya bhaag gayi game aadha chodke..

Riddhima: Dekho Armaan jhuth mat bolo tum...maine scores equal kare the phir bhi...

They continued their chase till the time they reach to their classroom. Every head turned into their direction listening to them and sighed "Not again".

They both stop near gang and said

Armaan: Anjie ek baat btao...tum dono kaha se behan lagte ho...tum kitni gorgeous ho..tumhara style hai...class hai...aur isse dekho...Miss behanji..

Riddhima: Armaan tum chup raho...khudko bohot cool samajhte ho...

Armaan: Arre basket tumhe na har baar yaad dilana padhta hai...mai cool samjhata nahi hu already hu..

Riddhima: Awww...mujhe toh pata hee nahi tha... Mr.Supercool hamare sath hamari hee class mein padhta hai...

Riddhima said mimicking like an irritated kid.

Atul: Arre please bas karo tum dono...

Muskaan: Haan aur nahi toh kya...aj yeh assignment bhi tum dono ko wajah se hee hum sabke sar par pada...huh...aj usne dekh liya toh pata nahi kya karwayegi...

At that time to their luck Mrs. Sharma arrived in the class. All went to their seats. Turn by turn whole class has presented their assignment with presentations. Now it was Armaan Riddhima's turn. Whole gang mouthed all the best to Riddhima...as they knew she feels nervous.

Armaan quietly went near to her and said in her ears

"I trust you Riddhima...i know tum kar sakti ho...Just believe in yourself...and you can conquer the world and I am...i am always with you..."

They both looked at each other and smiled. Mrs.Sharma called them for presentation. Armaan was little nervous thinking about Riddhima. He was stealing glances from her face. He started with his part of presentation and stopped after several minutes as he knew its Riddhima's turn to speak. He looked towards her to find her eyes close. He thought that she is not ready so he decided to speak.

As soon he was about to begin again she started with her part. Everyone in the class was looking at Riddhima with disbelief. As for the first time she was not looking nervous. A smile crept on her face; Eyes were sparkling with utmost confidence. Armaan smiled seeing this confident Riddhima when he remembers about her childhood Riddhima..but the case was totally opposite in that.

FLASHBACK

School Debate competition

Riddhima: Kya hua Ammy aise muh latka ke yaha kyu baithe ho...

Ammy: Kuch nahi Shona...bas kuch soch raha tha

Riddhima: Ohh soch rahe the...mujhe pata nahi tha yeh kaam bhi aata hai tumhe...very good socho socho...

Riddhima started laughing where as Armaan get up and started moving towards auditorium. Riddhima followed him.

Riddhima: Achha baba kaha ja rahe ho...Sorry na...ruko toh..

Armaan: (while stopping) Kya hai...

Riddhima: Sorry na..jayada bhav mat khaao mere saamne...wo tum dusri ladkiyo ke saamne karna..ab btaoge bhi ki yeh chaand sa chehra latka ke kyu ghum rahe ho...

Armaan: Yaar kabhi toh mazaak chod diya karo...aur yaha maine debate competition mein naam toh likh wa diya...kyuki meri uss class ke so-called topper se bet lagi hai...aur mujhe kisi bhi haalat mein jeetna hai..

Riddhima: Toh problem kya hai ismein...

Armaan: Shona tum samajh nahi rahi ho...maine abi dekha..waha kitne saare log hai...mai un sabke saamne nahi bol sakta..

Riddhima: Toh mat bolo..simple..

Armaan: Abbe duffer nahi bolunga toh wo topper chatterjee class mein meri image ki band baja dega..

Riddhima: Ammy tum decide karlo tumhe kya karna hai...kabhi bolte haa kabhi na...huh

"Tumse toh kuch puchna bekaar hai...khud toh hamesha 1^st aa jati ho aisi cheezo mein...yaha mai aur phas gaya tumhara best friend banke...huh.." Armaan said while moving towards auditorium when Riddhima holds his hand and laughed a little listening to his non-stop blabbering.

"Ammy suno...tumhe mujh par trust hai..." Riddhima said with utmost care. Armaan nodded in positive.

"Toh phir meri baat maanoge na.' He again nodded.

Suno phir...Ammy jab tum waha stage par khade ho kar Apna debate start karoge na toh apne pure confidence ke saath bolna...koi tumhara mazak nahi udaayega...kyuki sab yeh jante hai ki kahi na kahi tum ne wo himmat dikhayi stand lene ki jo har koi nahi kar sakta hai..."

par Shona agar mainahi kar paya toh...unke chehre dekh ke kahi mai blank ho gaya toh.." Armaan said with worrying about the consequences.

"Kuch nahi hoga Ammy...wo koi unknown nahi hai...tumhari tarah he is school mein hamare saath pdhte hai...hamare dost hai...unse kaisa dar..tum agar khud par trust karte ho na Ammy toh ye sab kuch matter nahi karta..! "

"Mai koshish karunga Shona...bas ek promie karogi...tum waha mere saamne rehna please...kyuki tumhare chehre par apne liye wo trust dekh kr mujhe bi khud par vishwas hoga ki mai kar paunga..." Armaan said with utmost sincerity.

"jarur...mai mere bestie ke liye itna bhi nahi kar sakti kya...achha aur suno...tum jitney confidence se mujhse ladhte ho na...utne hee confidence se tum aj yeh competition jeetoge..dekhna tumhe kin hi hara payega...All the best..! "

"Thanks..!' Armaan said as they gave a side hug to each other and moved towards auditorium.

Little did they know that a pair of eyes was watching them from a little distance and was burning in anger..!

FLASHBACK ENDS

Armaan came out of his memory lane as he listen clapping sounds all around. He was first confused then the reality dawn upon him. He turned to look at Riddhima and found her already smiling at him. They both went back to their seats happily. Mrs. Sharma took another 5 minutes & spoke

Okay Students...well ap sabne sach mein bohot hard work kiya hai...kyuki wo aapke work mein dikh raha hai... I am happy aapne isko seriously liya...and ab jiske sabse jyada highest marks hai & jisne sabse best work with best presentation diya hai wo hai.." She gave a little gap and then again said " Armaan and Riddhima...well done both of you...waise uss din aap dono ko dekh kar mujhe laga nahi tha ki aap itna achha group work kar sakte hai...well impressive...I hope a bap log iss image ko maintain rakh sakenge...aur dobara waisa kuch nahi hoga..."

Mrs. Sharman left from their after saying all that when Riddhima shouts in excitement and turned around and gave a hug to Armaan.

Thanku so much guys..!!

do leave comments..!

nikki