PART 11- A Tale Of Two Strangers

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.
She composed herself and said ...
"Na..Nahi...ar..armaan tum ku..kuch galat samaj rahe ho...aisa toh kuch bhi nahi hai... ..."
"mujhe koi galatfemi nahi huyi hai Riddhima...aur ek baat main tumhe btadu...tum mujhse jhuth nahi keh sakti..tumne mujhe apna dost maana hai na Riddhima...apne dost ko toh bta sakti ho..."
"Armaan aisa kuch nahi hai...mai aisi hee hu...mai ek simple ladki hu Armaan...aur mai jaisi aj hu...hamesha se waisi hee thi Koi asli kuch nahi...mai jo hu tumhare saamne khadi hu,,..."
"Abhi bhi jhuth...tum sach kyu nahi kehna chahti..kya baat hai...tumne uss din ke baad bhi mujhe kitna ignore kiya hai...aur mai janta hu jab bhi hamari ladaai huyi hai maine uss Riddhima ki jhalak dekhi hai jisko tum sabse chupaake rakhne chahti ho...agar koi baat hai toh mujhse kaho...mai tumhara dost hu...aur...mai tumhari help karna chahta hu...mujhe dosti aur dost dono ki ehmiyat (importance) achhe se pta hai...aur tum" Armaan was speaking continuously. While she became restless hearing his words so she spoke in frustration.
"Armaan...bas karo...maine kaha na kuch nahi hai...agar kuch hota toh mai tumhe bta deti...aur ek baat...mujhe meri life kisi ke saath bhi discuss nahi karni hai...mai janti hu mujhe kaise rehna hai...jaisi hu khush hu...tum mere dost ho...dost hee raho...please Armaan..." She said turning her back to him so that he cannot see the pain which was easily evident on her face.
He moved towards her and kept his hand on her shoulder and said " Iska matlab tum mujhe dost hee nahi manti na Riddhima...trust me...jo bhi baat hai mujhse kaho...kab tak aise khud ko puri duniya se chupaaogi..."
"sahi ho tum...Nahi hu mai aisi...Nahi hu mai aisi Armaan.. Maine khud ko kho diya hai kahi...ab wo Riddhima phir kabhi wapus nahi aayegi...wo Riddhima toh apne pya (She stopped suddenly when she realized what she was going to speak and tried to jumble the words)...wo..uss Riddhima ka wajood hee nahi hai...ab wo kabhi wapus nahi aayegi...aur aana bhi chahe toh kabhi mai wapus nahi aane dungi..." She was almost on the verge of crying when she controlled herself.
Armaan was shocked listening to this. He almost thought about those moments when he felt her as his Riddhima but then next second proved wrong. Not able to control more and seeing her crying like this, he move forward and hugged her and whispered "Shona" in her ears. He didn't know when but in consoling her he even forget and lost his senses and called her from that name.
Riddhima jerked back to reality as she heard her name. This was the name used by her best friend Armaan whenever he uses to pamper her. She all off a sudden became numb but as the reality dawned upon her she recalls the words that have been escaped from her mouth. Where as being near to her he felt as if he was with his Riddhima...and unknowingly the name had slipped from his mouth as he was not able to control his emotions.
Riddhima didn't know what to do now, as she doesn't want anyone to know about her past. And apart from that what she heard from Armaan now was a mere whisper but have a shocking effect on her. She in a second pushed Armaan away from her. He was looking at her confusingly when she said
"I..I am so..sorry Armaan...mai shyad kuch jyada hee bol gayi..." Riddhima was about to turn when Armaan stopped her.
"Riddhima...I am too sorry...mai khud ko control nahi kar paya...par kya mai tumse kuch puch sakta hu...bas ek aakhri sawaal ka jawaab dedo...please..." Armaan almost pleaded to her. Riddhima knew what question he wants to ask. Maybe she wanted to ask the same question to him but in this moment she had spoken more then she wanted to.
She only nodded her head in response. Arman moved lil closer to her and asked..." Tum..tumne mujhe Ammy...kyu...kyu bulaya..." Armaan asked controlling his emotions and expecting the answer but little he was aware of that next few words from her can crash him back to reality.
"wo..bas aise hee...muh se nikal gaya...umm..Nikki tumhe Ammy bulati hai na...toh galti se bol gayi...sorry bura laga ho toh..." Riddhima said looking towards him while he smiled and said "Bura kis baat ka...Ammy mera naam hai...jab chahe bula sakti ho..." He again stopped and spoke

"I know riddhima..Shyad mai tumhari life mei abhi itna important friend nahi hu jisse tum sab share kar sako...and trust me..mera intention sirf itna tha..jisse mai uss ladki riddhima ko wapus laa paau jisko tumne kahi chupa diya hai...Jab bhi hum ladhte the...aur tum apne jungle billi wala avatar le leti thi...(they both laughed a little) mujhe lagta tha ki tum khud ko rokne ki koshish karti ho..aur bas yahi jaanne ke liye mai tumse ladhne aata tha...pareshan karta tha..." He said smiling
When riddhima was about to reply, Armaan's cell started ringing. He picked it up only to hear Anjali's voice on the other side
Anjali: Armaan...kaha ho tum dono...aur ridzy tumhare saath hee hai na...wo phone bhi nahi utha rahi hai...
Armaan: Wo hum beach par walk ke liye aaye the...ek minute...
He handed the mobile to Riddhima and she talked for a while and asked Armaan to drop her home as it's getting late. Journey to the gupta house was a silent one. No one spoke but steal glances at each other's face from the corner of the eyes.
Armaan stop the car infront of the Gupta house as directed by Riddhima. Armaan stepped out of the car and reaching to the other side opened the door for her like a gentleman. She smiled and came out of the car. Armaan moved away slightly from the gate as to give her space to stand and move. She stood up and said "Thanx Armaan...bye...Goodnight..."
She started moving towards her house but stop when she heard Armaan's voice "uhh..riddhima.."
She turned around and asked "Kya huya.."
He didn't know why but he wanted to talk to her...he wanted to listen her...he wanted to stare at her...He was still staring at her without saying anything when riddhima getting all confused again called him "Armaan kya huya...kuch kehna tha..."
Armaan was just looking at her intently but then instantly realized about his actions and looked here and there all embarrassed and thinking of a good excuse so he said "Nahi kuch nahi...Bas yahi kehna tha...ki aj ki baat jo adhuri reh gayi hai...I hope tum khud usse jaldi pura karogi...goodnight.."
Saying this he left from there leaving riddhima with a long train of thoughts. That was another sleepless night after armaan's appearance in her life. She herself thought about armaan's words again and again when she recalled something. Her eyes became wide with shock and tears when she remembered some event from her childhood.
FLASHBACK
"Shona...tum yahan ho...aur mai tumhe pure school mein dhund raha hu..." Ammy said coming near ridzy who was sitting in an empty class room in their extra period.
"Kya hai Ammy...kyu mujhe disturb kar rahe ho...mujhe padhna hai...exams aa rahe hai..." Ridzy said again engrossing herself in her book when ammy snatches her book and started to run in the whole class while ridzy was chasing him all the way and shouting
"Ammy..plz..na..meri book wapus karo...kyu tang kar rahe ho...tumhe toh aur koi kaam hai nahi...last time par mere pas hee aaoge padhne...ammy plz na..." She said pleading to him while he was adamant to give her book and said "Book chahiye toh pehle mujhe pakdo..." He said smirking at her.
Ridzy ran her naughty mind when a idea struck her mind and she knew it will never fail so she just intentionally tripped herself with a table and shouted in fake pain "ahh..ahh...ammy.." .
Hearing her painful voice Ammy rushed towards her. Helping her in getting up and made her sit on a chair. He asked "Are you okay...jyada toh nahi lagi na Shona...bohot dard ho raha hai..ruko mai tumhe medical room le chalta hoon..."
Armaan stood up but before he can understand ridzy got up with a jerk and took her book and ran away out of the class. Armaan registered what have happened and now was more adamant to seek for a revenge for making again a fool out of him. But little did she knew that he was already aware of her naughty plans still he wanted to her to be happy and smiling so he didn't showed anything to her and went with her naughty plans.
He made his way out in the garden and saw that Sid was helping riddhima in standing up. He ran in their direction and helped her to stand on her feets when she winced in pain. He was about to scold her when he heard Sid saying
"Yeh kya karti rehti ho...tumhe lag jati toh...tum apna dhyaan kyu nahi rakhti ho Shona..pta hai tumhe.." But before he can complete his sentence Armaan came in between and said " Thanku Sid for helping...Par mai hoon yaha...uska dhyaan rakhne ke liye...aur ek baat...usse Shona...sirf mai bulata hu...tumhe jo bulana hai bulaao...par yeh sirf meri Shona hai so plz..."
Sid was fuming as whenever he tried to show his concern to her or even tries to gain her attention from nowhere he came in between which made him more furious.
"Yeh Armaan khud ko samajhta kya hai...riddhima sirf meri dost hai...bachpan se sirf mai uske saath raha hu...sirf mai hu uska best friend aur koi nahi..."
Saying so he left from there where as armaan took his Shona from there and settled her on a bench in the garden and he himself sat besides her checking her leg.
"Ammy ek baat puchu..."
"Haan..pucho na..." he said now looking at her while she continued "Tum mujhe Shona Kyu bulate ho..i mean...mujhe yeh naam tumhare muhh se sunna achha lagta hai..par phir bhi...koi toh wajah hogi na.." She asked innocently to which he smiled ad took her hand and said
"Wajah toh hai...maine kahi pada tha...Shona ka matlab hota hai...very pretty...adorable...khoobsurat... Aur tum toh yeh sab ho...toh maine socha ki itne saare naamo se bulane ki jagah in sabko mila kar ek hee naam rakh du,,,,...Isliye Shona...ab samaj aaya bhuddhu..." He said hitting her head affectionately.
"Haan haan aa gaya...aur ammy tum Sid se aise baat kyu karte ho...usse kitna bura laga hoga na..."
"Usse aur bura...ek toh usne tumhe Shona bulaya...yeh jante ve bhi ki sirf mai tumhe yeh bulata hu...aur waise bhi...mujhe wo bilkul nahi pasand...pta nahi tum bhi kaise kaise dost banati ho..."
"Ohh...toh phir tum bhi mere dost ho na...matlab sach mein meri choice kharab hai..." She said teasingly while he glared at her and said "What...tum mujhe usse compare kar rahi ho...Mai usse kahi jyada better hu...aur mai tumhara dost nahi best friend hu...uss Sid ko toh na mai chodunga nahi...I promise...school khatam hone ke baad agar kabhi bhi yeh mujhe milla na..isse toh mai nahi chodunga...jab dekho..naye naye plans banata rehta hai..hamare beech mein ladaayi karwaane ke..."
"Nahi ammy...Sid aisa nahi hai...wo toh.."
"shona...cut him...chalo pehle medical room chalet hai..."
She quietly nodded her head as he took her to the medical room.
FLASHBACK END
She thought to herself and said "Sirf mera armaan hee mujhe Shona bula sakta hai...aur aaj jo maine suna...wo sach tha ya imagination...nahi wo sach tha...itne saare incidents sirf ittefaaq nahi ho sakte...par usse pehle mujhe jaanna hoga sab...mera armaan...mera ammy wapus aa gaya...mai sahi thi...mai kaise nahi pehchaan payi...usne mujhe "Shona" bulaya...usne mere andar chupi uss riddhima ko sabke sammne laya...mai kaise nahi samaj payi...khud ko usse dhur rakhne mein,,,kaise nahi soch payi...ki yeh mera hee armaan hai...lekin...agar wo mujhe phir se chod kar chala gaya toh...bina kuch kahe...mai phir tuth jaaungi...nahi..mai armaan ko abhi kuch nahi btaungi...mai bhi dekhna chahti hu...armaan mujhe pehchaanta hai yaa nahi...aur phir kitne sawaal hai jinke jawaab mujhe usse chahiye..kitna gussa...nafrat hai...jo armaan ke kuch jawaab hee mita sakte hai..."
That night she was all herself realizing her love...her life is back. But somewhere there was an unknown fear of loosening him again. What if after knowing her identity he will not accept her...and will leave her like he did several years ago.