Chapter 13

Nikki

@desire_nikki

PART 10 B

RECAP: gang's shopping for abhi and nikki's engagement. Armaan and riddhima's fights and Armaan selected a dress for Riddhima.

Everyone was done with their shopping. The girls were having a satisfied smile on their faces as they have done the most important work of their life where as boys look lil annoyed as they were feeling worn out due to holding the bags for girls. When girls moved out of the mall Armaan stop all the boys and whispered to them
"Guys..suno..agar aise hee raha na...toh for surely aj hum pagal ho hee jayenge...ab yeh log dusre mall jaane ka plan bana rahi hai..." Armaan said getting annoyed.
"Haan Shaadi iss Abhi ki hai..aur jhelna hume padh raha hai.." Atul said looking at Abhi while Abhi glared them back. While Rahul interrupted and said "Mai toh bolta hu isko inn ladkiyo ke saath chod kar apan sab chalte hai...Dimaag kharab ho gaya waise bhi.."
Abhi glared at the trio and said "Waah...kaise dost ho...aur tumhari akele ki yeh halat nahi hai...lekin agar maine kuch kaha toh sidha meri engagement cancel hogi...ya Nikki mujhe apni hee sagaai se Bann kar degi...Aur phir mai tum mein se kisi ko nahi chodunga..."
"Arre chill...relax...mere pas idea hai...Atul tu aisa kar..tu Anjali ko leja..kahi...date par...Aur Abhi tu Nikki ko ...Aur Mai aur Rahul Muskaan aur Riddhima ko sambhal lenge..." Armaan said smiling widely.
"Haan yeh achha idea hai...mujhe meri Anjali ke saath time spend karne ko mill jayega..." Atul said dreaminingly while Armaan teased him "Ohho Champ..Kya baat hai..aj toh romantic date par..ahaan...".
Listening to Armaan's comment Atul blushed a little when Abhi said "Hmm..idea toh sahi hai...atleast inki shopping se toh bachenge...".
All them gave evil smile to each other and moved out and made their way where girls were waiting for them looking angry. When Anjali saw them coming out she blasted on them.
"What took you people so long...jaldi chalo..humhe bhuk bhi lagi hai...aur abi hamari shopping bhi complete nahi huyi hai..."
Atul interrupted her and said "umm Anjali suno na...hum bohot dino se kahi bahar nahi gaye hai...toh chalo na saath tumhari favorite restaurant mein dinner karte hai..please please mana mat karna..."
Atul said almost pleading to her where as Rahul Abhi Armaan sniffled a laugh but soon controlled it as if coughing. Armaan saw Anjali melting a bit so he supported Atul " Haan Anjali...you should go...afterall itna achha mauka baar baar nahi milta hai.."
"Kya...?? " Anjali asked Armaan being all confused where as Abhi interrupted "ahh..Kuch nahi Anjali...wo toh bas itna keh raha tha ki tum jaoge toh mujhe bhi Nikki ke saath thoda time spend karne ko mill jayega...Kyuki kal se phir sab busy honge..."
Anjali at last agreed with them where as Nikki too agreed at Abhi's suggestion of having romantic dinner at her place and watching a movie. Both the couples left the place happily. Riddhima and Muskaan were talking about something when Armaan nudge Rahul and said "Oyee..please..kaise bhi Muskaan ko apne saath leja...dinner par yaa jaha bhi..."
"ohh..toh asli baat yeh thi...tujhe Riddhima ke saath..ahem ahem..." Rahul teased him when Armaan glared but again pleaded "Please Rahul...ek tu hee toh mera achha dost hai...tu Muskaan ko.."
Rahul cut him in between " Wo mere saath nahi aayegi...". He said all in a bit serious tone. Armaan noticed that and said " Sab thik hai...mai tujhse pehle bhi puchne wala tha...tum dono ladhte ho wo thik hai...but I hope isse jyada aur kuch nahi hai..." Armaan said a bit concerned.
Rahul knew his friend is concerned but he didn't want to share it with anyone until he himself was not clear about his feelings. He replied " Aisi koi baat nahi hai Armaan...tu toh janta hai na..yeh Punjab ki sherni hai...agar maine isse kuch kaha...toh wahi kha jayegi mujhe..."
Armaan laughed and said " uski naubat (situation/condition) nahi aayegi...I will take care of that...chal pehle inhe dinner ke liye le jaate hai...phir kaise bhi Muskaan ko convince kar lenge..."
Rahul nodded and soon they made them agree for dinner. They all had fun with each other as Rahul and Armaan shared each other's secrets and all four laughed. But there was an uncomfortable silence between Rahul and Muskaan which was evidently noticed by Armaan. He made a mental note of asking Rahul about this. He was sure something was there.
After having a delicious dinner, Armaan signaled Rahul and said " umm..muskaan tum aisa karo Rahul ke saath chali jaao...uska ghar tumhare ghar ke paas hee hai...aur mai..mai Riddhima ko chod dunga..."
Muskaan, not wanting to go with Rahul said " umm Armaan..mai khud chali jaungi..waise bhi mujhe usse pehle thoda kaam hai...". She was about to say something more when Riddhima said " Arre muski Rahul chod dega..iss waqt tu akele kaise jaayegi..aur phir yaha koi taxi auto kuch nahi milega..."
After insisted by Armaan and Riddhima she agreed and bidding bye left from there with Rahul.
In rahul's car
An awkard silence was there between Rahul and Muskaan. Both were busy in their own world where enormous of thoughts were clouding their mind. Rahul thought that it was the best time to talk to Muskaan. He wanted to clear everything as soon as possible. He wanted his old chirping Muskaan back.
"Muskaan...mujhe tujhse kuch baat karni hai...please ek baar meri baat toh sunle..." Rahul said pleading.
"Rahul please...mai tere saath sirf Armaan ke kehne par aayi hu...and please maine tujhse pehle bhi kaha hai...ki yeh dosti ka natak sirf hamare friends ke saamne karna hai...akele mein hum strangers se jyada aur kuch nahi hai..." Muskaan said turning her face towards car's window so that Rahul could not see the tears which she was controlling.
On the other side after Muskaan and Rahul left Armaan asked Riddhima for a small walk which she gladly accepted as it was a cold and peaceful evening. They both sat in Armaan's car and he drove away.
"Armaan...hum ja kaha rahe hai waise..." Riddhima asked looking at him.
He gave her a smile and said " Pehle toh mera aisa koi plan nahi tha par ab soch raha hu...kar hee leta hu..." He gave a naughty smile to her to which she glare at him and said "Armaan tum koi jawaab sidha sidha nahi de sakte kya...aur kya karne ki soch rahe ho....".
He gave a smirk and coming little closer he said "Kyu darr lag raha hai...mere saath akele..." .
She moved back and while seeing here and there in nervousness she said while stammering a little "Nahi...darr wo bhi tumse...shakal dekho apni...aur waise kya karne ke liye keh rahe the..."
"Arre yaar...tum toh jyada hee serious ho gayi...mai toh tumhe kidnap karne ki soch raha tha..." He said smiling naughtily.
"What...Kidnap...Armaan...u can't be serious..." Riddhima said angrily and continued " tum kabhi sidhe muh baat nahi kar sakte kya...jab dekho bakwas karte ho...ab btaoge..kidnap karke bhi kaha le jaa rahe ho.." Riddhima said turning her face in fake anger.
"Ohh toh matlab tumhe kidnap hone mein maza aa raha hai..tumhe darr nahi lag raha mere saath akele aa kar.." Armaan said genuinely.
"Waise baat toh sahi hai...tumhara chehra dekh kar kisi bhi normal insaan ko darr toh lagega hee.." She said laughing at him.
"heheh...very funny.." He said turning his attention to the road.
"umm...armaan bta bhi do kaha le kar jaa rahe ho..."
"Surprise...and I am sure tumhe jarur pasand aayegi wo jagah..." He said smiling.
Soon they reached to their destination. Riddhima while coming out of the car was memerised with the view. Armaan had brought her to a beautiful beach. It was very peaceful as mostly people were not aware of this side of the beach.
Armaan and Riddhima both moved in after putting their sandals and shoes in car. They walked on the beach bare foot as the waves of cold water were tickling their bare feets. It was really a quite place. Cool breeze were touching their body which was giving them soothing effect.
"Armaan...Thankyou so much..." She said looking at him while continue walking.
"Ab yeh thankyou kisliye...?? "
"Mujhe yaha lane ke liye...mujhe beaches bohot pasand hai jab bhi meri mere best friend se ladaayi hoti thi ya mai kisi se naraz hoti thi toh aise hee beaches par aa jati thi...kitna peaceful hai na yeh place..."
"Hmm..mai jab Mumbai mein tha pehle...toh yaha aksar aata tha...Jab bhi akela feel karta that oh yahi samundar ke kinaare baith jata tha..."
"umm waise Armaan...mai bolna bhul gayi...tumhari choice sach mein bohot achhi hai...mujhe woi dress bohot achhi lagi..." Riddhima said smiling cutely.
"well ur welcome for that..mujhe pata hai..Meri choice kisi ko pasand naa aye aisa ho hee nahi sakta..aut phir tum meri friend bhi ho...toh itna toh kar hee sakta hu na..." Armaan said returning her smile.
"Friend...yeh kab huya..." She said smirking at him while he stopped walking and was looking at her making a puppy face and asked " Kyu nahi hai kya...". She smiled seeing his puppy face and first time she felt that his puppy face and eyes are do dangerous.
"umm...hai toh...par officially nahi hai na...jabse mille hai bas ladh hee rahe ..toh chalo aj mai haath badati hu dosti ka...So Mr. Junior Hulk mujhse dosti karoge..." Riddhima said extending her hand and a big smile on her face.
He too smiled and said " Not bad basket Ball...mujhe toh laga tha tumhari fantasy hai mujhse ladhna...but .." She cut him in between and said "Kuch bhi ammy I me mean Armaan...!!"
All of a sudden Riddhima have taken her best friend's name "Ammy" but as soon she realized it she corrected it but Armaan was still in daze. He was watching her intently as if he has seen any ghost. Again the thoughts clouded his mind of the day they met to each and every moment she was with him.
Riddhima too saw his face expressions but could not make out the thing running in his mind. She again called him "Armaan...tum thik ho..."
Coming out of his thoughts he said "haan..mai...mai theek hu..."
He knew it was the most appropriate time to ask her for the question's answers that have clouded his mind for each and every second passing. As Riddhima turn around and started moving Armaan held her wrist and said "Ek minute Riddhima...mujhe tumse kuch puchna hai..."
Riddhima didn't know what was in his mind. She was totally unaware what was coming next.
"Kya baat hai Armaan..Kya puchna hai.." She said not looking towards him when she heard armaan's voice.
"Riddhima...ek baat ka sach sach jawaab dogi..." He said turning her to face him. "Riddhima..pehle mujhe yeh jaruri nahi laga puchna..par ab...riddhima..tum aisi nahi ho na...jo tum sabke saamne banne ki koshish karti ho...dikhati ho..."
She was not expecting this from him.
"Armaan...kya matlab hai tumhara..." She asked directly looking into his eyes
"Wahi jo tum samajh rahi ho...mai nahi janta ki kaise itne time tumhare saath reh kar bhi..tumhari behan Anjali...atul..muskaan..inn logo ne kabhi dhyaan nahi diya...mai hairaan hu...tumhe jhuth bolna nahi aata phir bhi ye log kabhi wo nahi dekh paye jo maine tumhari aankhon mein dekh liya..."
"ky..kya..." She said stammering.
"tumhara dil...pta nahi kyu mujhe lagta hai ki tum aise chup rehne wali ladki nahi ho...logo ke saamne bolne se darna...ya chup chup rehna...ye sab ek dikhava hee hai...aur yeh Riddhima toh sirf logo ko dikhane ke liye hai...asli Riddhima ko tumne khud mein band kar rakha hai...kyu mujhe aisa lagta hai ki tum bhi hasna chahti ho khul kar...khush hona chahti ho...khul kar apni life jeena chahti ho...maine uss Riddhima ki jhalak dekhi hai tum mein...jab bhi tum mujhse ladhti ho.,.."
Hearing all this tears started brimming in her eyes. She shut her eyes to hide them but still some tears escape from her eyes making their way down to her cheeks. She immediately clean her face and while turning her back to him she said "Aisa kuch nahi hai Armaan.. kuch galat samaj rahe ho...aisa toh kuch bhi nahi hai...tumhe koi galatfemi huyi hai..."
"Mujhe koi galatfemi nahi huyi hai..."
"please Armaan...mujhe iss bare mein kuch nahi kehna...please..."
She started moving again when Armaan came in front of her and said "ek minute...mai tumse kuch aur bhi puchna chahta hu..."
somewhere she was feeling restless as if she wants this to happen, as if she was yearning for this moment.
"riddhima jab hum pehli baar mille the toh hum sirf lade ek dusre se...par phir jab ...jab tumne mera naam suna...toh achanak se tumhe kya ho gaya tha...Sab tumse sawaal kar rahe the aur tum ...tumhe dekh kar lag raha tha jaise tum unki baatein sunn hee nahi rahi ho...kya ho gaya tha tumhe...tumhare chehre se koi bhi feeling koi bhi expression..kyu kuch nahi tha...Btao Riddhima...sabke saath tum wo banne ki koshish kyu kar rahi thi itne din jo tum ho hee nahi...bolo.." Armaan said calmly but in stern voice.
Riddhima was shocked listening to all this. She was not expecting this from him. She was wrong ...he indeed noticed her change of expressions after hearing his name...He noticed all those times when she ignored him...when she use to ran away from him.

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