Riddhima descended the spiral staircase with an elegant stride. As she sauntered into the colossal and lavishly designed kitchen of the mansion,insinuating the oppulence of the family to which it belonged, she bumped into Anamika who was, in all probability, striding out. Riddhima smiled seeing her mother in law n bent down n touch her feet to take her blessing.
Anamika smiled at the sweet girl and felt immensely proud to have a daughter in law who had her roots deeply imbibed in Indian tradition and culture.
Anamika placed her hand on Riddhima's head n blessed her :"Jeetey raho beta. Humesha khush raho. I wish you have a very happy family life with lots of love and care from your husband."
However, as soon as the words left Anamika's lips color drained off Riddhima's face, not that much colour had left after the revealings she went through the previous night which was supossed to be the most special night of her life. Well it was special but in the worst way feasible. Now after hearing her mother in law the remaining colour too drained off her beautiful features leaving behind an almost bloodless paleness and a deathly tranquility domiciling in her beautiful dark black eyes. As soon as Anamika percieved the striking paleness on the exquisite features of the beautiful girl in front of her and also the latter's puffed up n crimson eyes, she instantly grasped the situation n also the unsaid words. Almost immediately dejection enveloped the ambience of the place. Gulping down the agonizing lump that formed in her throat and combating to keep her tears at bay, Anamika gestured the servants to leave the kitchen. Obeying their mistress' order, one by one all the servants walked out of the kitchen.
Anamika cupped the side of Riddhima's face and with tears brimming up in her eyes, finally managed to speak out :"Beta tumhein usne apne ateet ke baarey mein sab bata diya hain, hain na? Woh ab tak aagey nehi bar paaya. (Abruptly Anamika joined her palms) Mujhe maaf kar do Riddhi beta. Maine tumhari jindagi kharab kardi. Mujhe laga tha ki agar tum Armaan ke jindegi mein aaogi toh shayad wo apne ateet se aagey bar jayega. Par na yeh larka khud kuch bhoolta hain na kisi aur ko bhoolne deta hain. Riddhi mujhe maaf kardo beta."
Riddhima immediately grasped Anamika's hands n shook her head negatively :"yeh aap kya kar rahi hain mom? Aap ma hain aur ma apni beti se maafi nehi mangti. Jo kuch bhi hua wo meri kismat thi aur isme aapki koi galti nehi hain. Wo kehtey hain na waqt se pehle aur kismat se jyada kisi ko kuch nehi milta. "
Anamika smiled through tears at the extreme goodhearted nature of the girl who,inspite of whatever happened with her,wasnt willing to blame anyone except her own destiny. At the very instant Anamika knew that if anyone could bring her jovial,lively, funloving son back than it was none else than Riddhima.
Anamika :"Riddhi beta sirf tumhi yeh kar sakti ho. Sirf tumhi la sakti Armaan ko us shell se baahar jisme khudko bandh kar rakha hain. Beta tumne agar haar nehi maani toh tum badal sakti ho apni aur hum sab ki kismat. Wapas sab kuch thik ho sakta hain. Bolo beta kya koshish karogi tum mere Armaan ko tanhaiyo ki gehraiyon se wapas laane ki?"
Tears brimmed up in Riddhima's eyes n finally streamed down her rosy cheeks as she witnessed the helplessness of a mother. Riddhima closed her eyes for a moment as if gaining sufficient strength and after a while when she opened her eyes there was indubitably a stark reflection of determination.
Riddhima squeezed Anamika's hands with assurance n replied :" Ji mom. Main apni taraf se poori koshish karungi. Poori koshish karungi ki Armaan apne ateet ko peeche chor jindagi mein aagey bar jaaye."
Anamika beamed through tears. Her heart confirmed that Riddhima would fulfill her promise for sure.
Anamika :"Main janti hu beta tum mein wo himmat hain ki tum apne khushiyo ko wapas hasil kar sako. Mera aashirwad humesha tumhare saath rahega."
Riddhima beamed n letting go of Anamika, she hugged her tightly as she was overwhelmed with the love and support that her mother in law showered on her. She genuinely fulfilled her promise of being Riddhima's mom instead of mom in law.
While patting Riddhima's thick,shiny,jet black hair, Anamika spoke out with a voice chocked with emotions :"Riddhi humesha yeh yaad rakhna ki chahey kuch bhi ho Armaan ki nehi main tumhara saath dungi tumhare har faisle mein."
As soon as Riddhima heard this she closed her eyes n some fresh tears streamed down her rosy cheeks. Those were very simple words yet they succesfully bolstered up her drooping spirit n infused a new determination to face the adversities of life within her. In Anamika's embrace she experienced the same soothing feeling which she always experienced in her own mother's embrace. After a while Anamika pulled back n cupping Riddhima's face, she pecked her on her milky white forehead. Both the ladies came out of their emotional state by a chirping voice.
Voice:"Arey wah kya baat hain. Aunty this is not fare. Bhabhi kya aayi aap toh humein bhool hi gayi. Saara pyar bhabhi par hi lutayengi kya? Humare liye khaskar mere liye bhi toh kuch baaki choriye na."
Riddhima whirled around while Anamika glanced over her shoulders n a smile crept up into her lips. It was none else than Rahul. He was leaning against the frame of the door leading to the dining hall from the kitchen with a mischievous smirk playing on his lips. Anamika shook her head while smiling n wiping off her tears. Riddhima too wiped off her tears before whirling around n smiled at Rahul.
Anamika exclaimed :"Chup badmash!"
All three of them giggled.
Rahul :"Chaliye sab dining hall mein aa chuke hain. "
Anamika :"Haan bas yeh thora hi kaam hi baaki hain. Main jara dekh lu.."
However she was interrupted by Riddhima.
Riddhima :"Mom aap jaiye main dekh leti hu."
Anamika smiled n patted her head n turned to Rahul :"Dekha kaise jhat se meri problem solve kar diya aur tumlog humesha meri tension aur bara dete ho. Ab pata chala kyun yeh saara pyar deserve karti hain?"
Rahul grinned n replied :"Sach hain aunty. Humari bhabhi toh hain hi best of all."
Riddhima smiled n replied :"jo log khud acche hotey unko sab acche hi dikhtey hain."
Anamika smiled :"koi faida nehi Rahul. Yeh larki kabhi apna tareef nehi sunegi. Tum iski tareef karogey toh yeh palatkar tumhari hi tareef kar degi. Isliye chalo hum chaltey hain."
once again she patted Riddhima's cheek n meandered out of the kitchen with Rahul.
(Dining hall)
Shailendra Mallik had already settled down on his usual chair of the head of the family when Anamika n Rahul sauntered into the hall. Shailendra folded the newspaper he was reading n placed it on Anamika's outstretched hand with a sheepish smile. Anamika was about to scold him yet again for bringing the newspaper on the breakfast table which was strictly prohibiten but the arrival of their princess saved shailendra from Anamika 's flare up. Anjali darted into the dining hall with her usual hasty stride n approaching her father, she wrapped her arms around her father's neck from behind.
Anjali :"Good morning dad."
Shailendra smiled n patted her head :"Good morning princess."
Anjali giggled n then walking upto Anamika n Rahul she hugged them both n wished them n they too wished her. All three of them settled down. Rahul glanced around n frowned at not getting a glimpse of his best buddy.
Rahul :"yeh Ammy kahan hain?"
A booming male voice enticed his attraction :"Peeche murkar dekh, dikh jayega."
Rahul whirled around and sure enough there he was standing immobile on the entrance.
Rahul smiled n shook his head :"Arey wahi khara rehne ka iraada hain kya? Chal aaja yaha beta. Sharma mat apna hi ghar samajh."
All except Anamika chuckled. The fact that she went stiff didnt go unnoticed by Armaan. That very instant he knew that she was aware of all the incidents of the previous night. He sighed dejectedly as he knew that this was bound to happen. Resignedly he made his way towards the table. Anamika's glare was sufficient enough confirmation to his doubts. He averted his gaze. It was right at the moment that Riddhima walked into the dining hall with servants following her with small trolleys laden with scrumptious food. She approached the table n instructed the servants to arrange the dishes in order n set the table accordingly. Armaan was baffled as he wondered how she could still do anything for him or his family after what all he had done with her. However,being an expert in camouflaging his emotions, Armaan managed to maintain a straight face. Yet he couldn't help but feel a certain sense of respect surging in his heart for the girl who was dauntless enough to face the adversities of life with a strange intrepidity and determined enough to make everyone happy no matter what tempest must had been going on in her heart n life. Riddhima,on the other hand, felt a strong gaze on her. She turned back and her gaze fall on Armaan. For a moment they both stared right into each other's eyes n both could feel the agony n affliction being starkly reflected in each other's eyes. Unable to tolerate the agony in each other's eyes, they both averted their gaze. Armaan lowered his gaze n concentrated on the platter placed in front of him while Riddhima concentrated on serving everyone. However no matter how much they endeavoured to evade any contact with each other apparently destiny had something else in store for them. Seeing the couple evading even eye contact, a sudden, mischievous idea struck to Anjali, causing her lips to curve into a mischievous smile. She pondered over the idea for a while n then smirking slightly she texted quickly to her sole supporter in all her pranks, her another brother - Rahul. Rahul was about to help himself with some delicious looking "Paranthas" when abruptly his cell beeped, startling him, n insinuating the reciept of a text. He rummaged his jeans' pocket n fished out his blackberry. He glanced at the text with a frown which was soon replaced with a smirk. He looked up n as his eyes met Anjali's she winked at him while he nodded with a smile. They both knew what they had to do. The only thing left was to mutate thought into action.
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