Chapters 1-4
The couple sitting at the corner table made a charming pair but the experienced eyes of the waiter dismissed the idea immediately. He had seen too many couples at various stages of romance to mistake these two for one. They seemed to be more like brother and sister in the way they acted. The guy was certainly good-looking even arresting; with those blue-grey eyes surrounded by thick lashes any girl would happily kill for…eyes that twinkled with the mischievous glint of the born charmer. The rest of his features were equally eye-catching, the cherry on the cake being the eye-catching pair of dimples that softened that firm jaw line. Moreover, he was blessed with the perfect physique; currently clad in a pair of faded blue jeans and a white shirt partially opened to reveal that hard chest. No wonder then that a number of feminine gazes were conducting an intense perusal of him as well as the girl who was lucky enough to command his full attention. The couple in question however was too engrossed in their own discussion to mind or even notice their scrutiny.
"So you're sure about it?"
"Positive, I think his parents plan to visit next Saturday."
"Damn, then we have less than two weeks to come up with a plan"
"Yeah, but that's not enough, remember we have to get di to agree to it as well"
"Don't I know it! It's amazing how a girl who looks so angelic can beat the mule for stubbornness"
"Hey!"
"Come on krips, you know how stubborn Ridz can get, besides I'm the man who loves her, I'm allowed"
"I guess, but just loving her is not enough; you need to be a member of the family to get the full rights to criticize a fellow member and that Armaan, is not going to happen unless we find a way to deal with Mr. Angad Khanna"
"Angad Khanna, *hmph* what kind of a name is that?"
"Then what kind of a name should it be? Armaan Malik? "
"ABSOLUTELY!!!"
"Relax, you got smoke coming out of your ears and it doesn't suit your *Cool dude* image…now stop over-acting and feed me, I'm starving; honestly, you should have been an actor not a doctor"
"Waise, I do have the looks not to mention the body for it, you may well be looking at the next SRK if I hadn't decided to commit myself to serving humanity…"
*********************************
Riddhima looked up from her laptop when she heard the familiar ring tone. Her face was glowing as she picked up her cell and if only Padma was in the room at the moment, she would have immediately understood that her daughter was in love.
"Armaan..."
"Oye Hoye...you know sweetheart, people have been calling me by that name for 25 yrs, but no one has managed to colour it with so many emotions as you have"
She blushed, though there was nothing new in that. It seemed to be her permanent state around him. They've been together for more than a year, but it still felt as though she had only confessed yesterday.
"Armaan! Why did you call?"
"Well that's nice! Who said I needed a reason to call the woman I love"
Hearing his words, she blushed even more "you don't and you know it! I just wondered if there was anything specific you wanted to tell me?"
"As a matter of fact there is…could you open your window because there's this squirrel here that's looking at me really suspiciously. I think he believes I'm having an affair with his wife and you know how dangerous these jealous husbands can get..."
"WHAT!!!!" she whirled around to see him sitting on the branch outside her first floor window, grinning like a Cheshire cat.
She quickly went and opened it only to have him go "what light in yonder window dawns, 'tis the fair Riddhima" in a mock-soulful voice clutching his heart with an exaggerated expression.
"Get inside you idiot!"
"A word and a blow..."
"Armaan!!!"
"I'm coming, sheesh, God Ridz sometimes you sound like my kindergarten teacher. Boy was she a horror!"
She waited until he climbed into the room before saying "so I remind you of your horrible kindergarten teacher? How romantic!"
Looking at her standing there arms crossed he realized that he had just committed relationship hara-kiri. Commending his soul to all gods, known and unknown, Armaan took a deep breath and said "I love you" accompanied by the puppy-dog eyes that was his get-out-of-jail-free card with Ridz. She could never hold out against it and he knew it.
Riddhima tried to keep frowning but the smile broke free anyway. God he looked so adorable when he did that and he knew it, the rat! *I love him so much* she thought looking at him grinning away, clearly proud of himself *I never thought I would feel this way about anyone*.
"I can never win…can I?"
"Nope, do you want to?"
"All I want is to be with you for ever" suddenly emotional, she went into his arms, hiding her face in his strong chest. His arms closed around her immediately, automatically. She stood there silently, feeling secure, feeling loved.
Chapter 5:
Suddenly Armaan's arms tightened about her. Ridz looked up in surprise only to freeze seeing the expression in his eyes.
"Arma..."
His mouth swooped down on hers with the unerring skill of a raptor. As usual, her senses were overwhelmed and she forgot everything except the feel of his mouth angling over hers…his firm lip pressing against her soft ones in an arrogant demand.
Ridz had no idea of how long the kiss lasted. It could have been hours or mere seconds, but she was definitely getting short of breath…She struggled to break free and Armaan at once gentled his kisses; easing away slowly though he didn't let her go. He bent and brushed his lips against her forehead as she stood there in his arms, one hand around her waist while the other moved over her back in steady strokes, soothing her.
They stood there in silence, taking comfort from each other's presence as their heartbeats slowly returned to normal. Riddhima's thoughts drifted to Armaan and their relationship. She had learned over time that just as the playboy image concealed a doctor par excellence, similarly the laid-back persona concealed a fire and intensity, which could take her breath away in the rare moments when it broke free. The first time she had encountered that white-hot core of his, she had been overwhelmed and had instinctively sought to escape it by breaking the budding relationship. Not that he had let her she thought with a wry smile. He had made it clear that she was his and nothing would change that fact. She broke up with him, fought with him, tried to play at being "just friends" and all the while, he continued to bind her to him with bonds that were unbreakable in their strength. In the end, she had bowed down to the inevitable. Of course, like everything else about their relationship the confession too was accompanied by plenty of fireworks.
Chapter 6
****flashback****
Armaan and Riddhima stood on the terrace. It was one of their special places in Sanjeevani and there were many memories attached to it, good as well as bad.
"So Riddhima, what did you want to talk about?"
"Armaan I …god this is so difficult! Armaan I know after all that's happened b/w us you'll find this hard to accept and I can totally understand your anger but I just wanted one last chance to try and explain things to you the way I should have ages ago. I know it's probably too late but you've been so patient with me so far, I'll like you to continue to do so just once more…please?" she finished looking pleadingly into his eyes.
"Riddhima I don't understand you! First you tell me to stay away, then you want us to be friends, then you come close to me only to drive me away and now you want us to talk again? About what? Honestly, I dread our "talks"; they generally mean another round of 'try and figure out what the hell is going on in Riddhima's brain' and I can't handle any more of that. You drive me crazy trying to understand you, it's too much…"
"Armaan, I know you're upset…"
"Upset? Why would I be upset? After all I'm only in love with a girl who seems to have made it her life's mission to drive me into a mental asylum."
"Armaan…"
"Nothing to get upset about, oh no, absolutely nothing…who's upset…do I look upset…why would I be upset…"
"Armaan…"
"Hell no, I'm not upset, huh who say's I'm upset, galloping towards lunacy maybe but upset oh no, no WAY, no…" (He lapsed into incoherent mutterings)
"Armaan!!!!"
"WHAT?!!!!"
"I LOVE YOU!!!!"
"OH CHRIST!!! HERE WE GO AGAIN, STAY BACK, I'M WARNING YOU, I'M ARMED, well I'm not, damn! BUT, I HAVE A PARAPET HERE AND I'M NOT AFRAID TO USE IT….YEAH, I'M TELLING YOU, ONE MORE WORD AND I'LL JUMP! I SWEAR IT! I'D RATHER DIE THAN GO THROUGH ALL THAT AGAIN!!!"
"WILL YOU SHUT UP YOU IDIOT!!!!?"
"SHUT UP?!!! YOU'RE TELLING ME TO SHUT UP?!!! HERE I AM, QUIETLY TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING, MINDING MY OWN BUSINESS, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU DRAG ME HERE AND START HARASSING ME, DRIVING ME TO POSSIBLE SUICIDE AND YOU TELL ME TO SHUT UP?!!!"
"OH FOR GOD'S SAKE, A I DID NOT *DRAG*YOU HERE AND B I'M TELLING YOU I LOVE YOU NOT HARASSING YOU!!!"
"YEAH RIGHT!!!"
"YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME? FINE THEN!"
"FINE!!"
"FINE!!!"
"FINE!!!!"
"Wait a second, why are you coming closer? Hey, stay back! Riddhima I'm warning you, I know kick-boxing and I'm not afraid to use it, Riddhima? Riddhima! Riddhima…"
"…"
"Umm…did you just kiss me?"
"You just had my tongue in your mouth Armaan, what do you think?"
"So you kissed me?"
"YES ARMAAN! I kissed you"
"Wow, you kissed me!"
"I know, I was there, remember? *sigh*"
"You kissed me!!!"
"Armaan you're beginning to sound like a broken record, for the last and final time YES! I kissed you"
Riddhima couldn't help but wonder what was the record was for the shortest time between confessing your love and braining your boyfriend with a blunt instrument…She had a feeling she was about to break it.
"Why?"
"I told you, I love you!"
There was a couple of minutes' silence, which was broken by Armaan's voice.
"Are you serious?" he asked quietly, suddenly serious, a vulnerability he couldn't hide clearly visible in his eyes along with harshly suppressed hope.
"Yes Armaan," she replied, equally quiet, "I love you, truly, madly, deeply love you and only you, now and forever".
"I don't know Ridz, can't you see how hard it is for me to trust you after all the games you've played"
"I do see it Armaan and they weren't games, not exactly. Armaan, I was never the type to fall in love. I mean, I never considered myself that kind of a person. I always believed that I would go through life alone until I got married in a sensible way to a guy of my mom's choice, you know, an arranged marriage thing. I mean, that was my life until I met you, calm, ordered, sensible. Then I met you and it was as though someone had thrown this huge stone into the calm pool that was my life. Suddenly, there were all these emotions and every thing was chaotic and I couldn't make head or tail of what was happening or what I was feeling or anything. It was something completely new and I was petrified. I didn't know what to do or how to react, or anything. Even when I had thought about love, I never imagined it to be like this. It was like picturing a lake and suddenly being thrown into the middle of the Atlantic in the middle of a force ten storm. So I panicked and I reacted and well, you saw the results. I should have told you how I felt. But I never could, not till now, I'm sorry" she finished abruptly, suddenly running out of words. She hadn't thought of what she was saying, her rehearsed speech was completely forgotten, whatever had come out of her mouth just now was raw and true. And maybe that is how it's meant to be, not rehearsed, not polished till each word shone; but from the heart, felt rather than finished. Now it was up to him to decide.
There was another silence; she stood there with her head bowed, silent tears running down her cheeks unknown to their owner. Suddenly she was swept into his arms. Ridz gave a sudden sob and threw her arms around his neck; breaking down completely, letting all the suppressed emotions and unhappiness of the past months wash away in a cleansing stream of tears as she buried her face in his strong chest.
"You idiot! You beautiful wonderful, little idiot! Can't you see how much I love you?"
"I can, I do, that's what scares me or rather scared me, not any more though; I want that love now, I need it, I don't think I'll be able to live without it."
"You won't have to, not anymore, not even if you suddenly change your mind again. You're mine Ridz, you'll always be mine even if I have to drag you kicking and screaming to church", he said, his arms suddenly tightening around her.
"You won't have to, but in case I get a sudden case of insanity anytime in the future you've got my full permission to do so." She replied snuggling deeper into his embrace.
"Good, now that that's settled, shut up!"
"Why?"
"Because I want to kiss you"
"Oh…"
**********flashback ends**********
Chapter 7
"You know basket it's really high time we worked on your communication skills"
"Why?"
"Why? Hmmm…..let me see…well, there's the slight matter of your parents looking out for guys for you and then of course let's not forget Mr. Angad *I'm a freak* Khanna"
"Armaan, you've gone crazy…my parents are two of the sweetest people in the world and the last thing they are going to do is foist some guy on me without warning and besides what has Angad to do with all this?"
"Oh…so it's Angad now, is it?"
"Well yeah! And it's always been Angad; I mean we've been pals since what? Pre-school?"
"*It's always been Angad*…what the hell does that mean???? And if he's your childhood pal (god, I hate those…born kebab-mein-haddis) what am I? The next-door-neighbour? Last time I checked I was the man you loved and Boyfriend trumps School-friend any day, ask any one…"
"I have no intention of doing so...since it isn't relevant in any other place except the weird dimension you seem to be living in…"
"Weird dimension? Weird dimension??? you, my girlfriend, don't feel it's important to tell me, your boyfriend that you're going to get married and you think I'm the one living in a *weird dimension*???"
"Armaan…have you gone nuts? Why the hell would I be getting married? Especially since you don't seem to be proposing anytime soon" she muttered the last bit almost under her breath.
"Wait, you don't know?"
"Know what Armaan?"
"Sweetheart I'm so sorry, I thought you knew…please don't panic o.k.? The thing is your parents are looking to fix u up with that Khanna fellow…wait, what did you say?"
"That you're crazy," she replied promptly
"No, you always say that anyway…" a mischievous look entered his eyes, "something about a proposal…hmmm, am I to understand a proposal would be welcome?" He asked looking at her quizzically.
"Am I to understand a proposal would be welcome?" She mimicked him angrily, "who do you imagine yourself to be? Avon? Don't think that just by reading Georgette Heyers, you can get nth of the elegance or finesse her heroes have o.k.?"
"Really?"
"Really!!!"
"Hmmm…then I guess this description must be of someone else:
He was disturbing…and intriguing. From the very first moment I saw him, the man had succeeded in capturing my attention with terrifying ease. He was arrogant and overconfident and smug and…and…*argh* everything I would have thought I would hate on sight in a man but there was something about him…oh who am I trying to kid here? I find the guy absolutely fascinating. And he's just so adorable, not to mention an excellent doctor, charming and confident, kind, gentle, has a wonderful sense of humour, an endearing smile you just can't help but respond to, a delightful pair of dimples…
"Armaan!!!"
"Yes sweetheart?"
"Armaan I can't believe you read my journal! How could you?"
"No sweetheart, the question of the hour is how can you be so stupid as to believe that you can leave such fascinating stuff just lying around and not have people read it?"
"Oh so it's entirely my fault is it?"
"Definitely, in case you haven't heard sweetheart alls fair and love is war, besides I didn't snoop purposely but I'd have been an idiot to let go of the opportunity when it so providently fell in my lap…it was fated!" he finished triumphantly.
Riddhima shook her head in exasperation, it was her own fault for getting into an argument with him in the first place, she should have realised he would naturally come up with some crazy reasoning of this sort. She was brought out of her reverie by the feel of his arms circling her…
"But really Ridz, you have to thank your lucky stars that I read that entry of yours cause otherwise I would never have had the courage to transfer this from my drawer to my pocket…it's an entirely different matter that I never could never work up the nerve to give it to you."
*This* turned out to be a magnificent antique gold ring set with a magnificent traditionally cut emerald that shone with a dark fire of its own.
"Armaan…"
"Did you know that before DeBeers began their advertising blitzkrieg the emerald was the traditional stone for engagements? For centuries, the emerald has stood for beauty and constant love…besides; it reminded me of your eyes."
He gracefully went down on his knee before her and took her hands in his, "I never had a problem expressing myself in my entire life, never been at a loss for words…but now I find they've deserted me in my hour of need…all except the three that go "I love you" and so that is all I'll say to you, but believe me when I say I've never uttered any more heartfelt in my life. Your presence makes my days on this earth a life rather than mere existence. I'm selfish Ridz and in my selfishness I want you to be all mine and I want the world to know it as well…marry me sweetheart, say you'll be mine…"
For a minute she could have sworn the world stopped spinning, it couldn't be….he didn't just say what she thought she heard…but seeing him kneel before her, his eyes brimming with love and tenderness, she realised that it was true…her greatest wish had finally come true and her heart felt like it would burst for joy. A wild happiness filled her, a joy like no other and yet she found she couldn't say a word…
"Ridz?"
Bending down, she touched his lips with hers, trying to convey all her emotions to him though the contact… "I love you Armaan," she whispered, "always have, always will and today you've made me the happiest girl in the world."
"Love you too sweetheart, love you too…"
*****************
Chapter 8
Riddhima had never felt happier in her life…sitting here curled up in his lap while he gently stroked her hair, that was one of the things she loved about her fianc she thought…giving a little shiver of pleasure at the thrill of calling him that…he was so tactile. It was like he just had to be in constant contact with her, little touches and caresses that were almost instinctive.
"Ridz…"
"Hmmm…"
"Tell me about this Angad Khanna fellow"
"Really Armaan, this is too much, I told you…he's a close friend of mine, though we've rather lost touch in recent years…actually Dilip uncle and dad were at school together and even mom and Naina aunty studied together. They were both Lit. majors you know... Anyway, Angad and I went to school together and we used to hang out together as well but once school got over we went our separate paths. I entered Med. School and he went into Law. He was fascinated with Stanford and to give him his due he got in as well, on a full academic scholarship too. Actually he reminds me of you in some ways…the same drive cloaked by a seemingly laid-back persona…though coming to think of it, I never felt the slightest inkling of desire for him…wonder why," she mused with a teasing half-glance up at her fianc (god, would she ever get used to that word?) who was no doubt stewing in jealousy…I do so love his possessiveness she thought with a slight smile.
"well that I can answer for you…the reason you never felt anything for him was because quite simply put he wasn't Armaan Malik…I Sweetheart, am your Destiny," he announced grandly with an imperious sweep of his arm that nearly toppled a nearby clay figurine.
"Careful you idiot," she shrieked…"you drop that and a tongue-lashing is what's going to be in your destiny, not me…that was one of mom's fav pieces, mine as well…it's just so evocative don't you think?
The statuette in question was a very abstract work that somehow conveyed an impression of one figure leaning into another…highly androgynous, it still manage to suggest a feeling of being cherished and sheltered, tenderness, warmth….
"You know what…I want our relationship to be exactly like that…each being there for the other…taking turns being the other's strength when one of us falters along life's road…and sheltering each other when times get rough for both of us…what?" he asked seeing that Riddhima was now looking at him with luminous eyes.
"Armaan, each time I think I can never love you more than I already do and then you come out with something like this and my heart just turns over…"
"I know…which is why I have a whole set of them kept ready for just such occasions", he replied in self-congratulatory tones and then yelped as Ridz smacked his arm, "Ouch! That hurt you know."
"As it should… which is why I have a whole set of them kept ready for just such occasions", she quoted, "A smack is the least you deserve bucko."
"Well what else are we poor guys to do when our ladyloves expect such flights of fancy at every conceivable occasion? I mean, have you ladies ever thought of the tremendous pressure it puts on your poor swains? Anyway aren't we wandering from the topic…namely a certain Mr. Khanna?"
"Armaan I don't know why you're so preoccupied with Angad…for the last time he's only a friend and one I've lost touch with in fact. Besides, Angad and I would never suit, and mom and dad would not suggest it either…wait a minute! How did you get to know about Angad anyway?"
"That's what I'm telling you! It was Kripa herself who told me about it. She told me…why are you giggling", he ended totally confused watching his fiance dissolve into helpless laughter.
"I'm sorry sweetheart but I couldn't help it…the Great *Armaan Malik* finally meets his match…"
"What the Hell?!!"
"You've been played sweetheart and that too masterfully!"
"You mean…"
"Exactly! Apparently my little sister decided it was time someone lit a fire under you and now that I come to think of it…the way you so providently found my journal might involve a bit more of human intervention than we originally thought!" she ended with a chuckle.
"Why that little…I ought to…"
"Oh come on Armaan, be a sport…besides you should be thanking her for saving you from a fate worse than death."
"Huh?"
"Umm…dad was getting rather worried about us," she informed him with a straight face but with a twinkle lurking deep in her eye. "I believe he was muttering something about asking you your intentions during supper last week."
"Ridz!" he yelped, "And you didn't think that I might be interested in that little bit of information?" Armaan continued sarcastically.
"Oh I wouldn't dream of putting any such pressure on you!" she retorted, tongue firmly in cheek.
"Course not!" he replied, voice heavy with sarcasm. "Actually, I've only myself to blame…voluntarily opting to ally myself with such a family of Machiavellian schemers!"
"Ooh! Machiavellian! Harsh words for your future in-laws, wouldn't you say? She teased him lightly.
"Maybe! But true," he replied staunchly "I salute you Angad Khanna, where ever you are…may you never know what a close shave you had" and then winced as his fiance made her displeasure apparent once again.
*******************
Well ppl, that was part 8, again a short one cause i wanted to devote this one to starting AK's story but once again Mr.supercool armaan barged onto centerstage draging his ladylove with him....the last month was spent in negotiations with him...honestly i know their characters are very real to each writer but i wish mine weren't quite so real....Armaan simply refuses to listen to me and Angad is fast loosing patience, as is kripa. But the thing is i want their lovestory to go on a totally different track to AR so give me a moment and i'm soo sorry for the long gaps b/w updates but life is just too hectic right now both on the personal as well as the professional front 🤢...so do accept my sincere apologies
Edited by sea_nyx - 17 years ago
😆...lol
😆😆)...lol jkn'...but never the less, gr8 2 read... ur an awesome writer, and i seriously love ur style of writing... u hve gotta give me some tips... hmmm, so when r u free???😆😆..lol
it feels wierd, i hope nothing crazy appens to this thread
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