Posted:
...Its from you, n for you ...the 'evil' daughter ;) love yu a lot, n always!! mwah
'Whether it is as fleeting as the sun-kissed days of summer or lasts nearly a lifetime, love is always worth it'
' My Riddhima,
You're the writer, not me, but I had to try to put down some of my feelings about your incredible news. I always thought that you couldnt possibly make me any happier, but I was wrong.
Basket, I'm flying so high right now I can't beleve what I am feeling. I am, without a doubt, the luckiest man in the world. I met the best woman, and now she has agreed to spend the rest of her life with me. How could I not be a pretty good husband with all that going for me? I will be, I promise.
I love you even more today than I did yesterday, and you would not beleive how much I loved you yesterday.
I love you, my basket...
Armaan '
...If only I could tell her this...
Love is always worth it...
'...n yu take care...okay?' she whispered before giving a quick peck on his cheek, n he drove off.
Nikita Malhotra sighed. In less than a week, she would be engaged to this guy. Yeah...she was gonna marry him soon in some months...Gosh! she let out a little gasp as the reality of the situation hit her hard. She cudnt beleive it for a minute...engaged..? married?? ...really? as in she wud be 'someone else's'...? Try as she might, she could not bring herself to face the reality...she was gonna get engaged...in less than a week...engaged!!!!! . She gulped. Her stomach felt uneasy, n for the first time, she felt what was she doing...what had she been thinking...had she really agreed to do all this...?? She pressed her forehead as she recalled his words '..just go to bed immediately..you've had enough to drink...' She turned from the street to walk the flight of stairs that led to her apartment. Nikki almost managed from bumping n hitting her head twice.
Two minutes later, she was sprawled over her couch, her head still aching, n her stomach still behaving in that unusual manner. Her mind drifted off to what she had been thinking a little while back...next Tuesday was her engagement...that left just five days before it...oops! there went her stomach again...five days...engagement...someone else's...marriage..some months..five days...someone else's... She had to literally hold her head to save the pain from the throbbing. She sighed again. Her room was dimly lighted, but she could still look around, inspite of her head dancing...n her eyes fell upon their photograph. She reached out for it, her hands wandering over the side table, before she actually took hold of the photo frame, n got it in front of her eyes. She stared at it...it stared right back at her. It was a small picture of a handsome couple. She was smiling as usual, looking straight at the camera, n he was leaning on to her, his dimple flashing on his cheek. Her fingers traced her fiance-to-be in the picture...n she felt herself smile. Armaan Mallik. He was every girl's Prince Charming...he was the dream of every teenage girl..he had the perfect smile..the perfect daze...the perfect glint in his eyes...the perfect hold..everything seemed to be just perfect about him....actually everything was perfect about them...or was it?
Nikita had been working with an event management firm in Mumbai. She was twenty-two when she started with work n it was something that she loved to indulge in. She was absolutely crazy about her work, n her lifestyle. She was young, pretty, attractive, had an amazing job, her own apartment, n yea...a boyfriend. Life could seriously not have been better. Before Armaan, she had been dating Raghav Mittal for approximately two months, n they were very excited about each other. Despite her busy schedules, they always used to take out time for a dinner, or a coffee, or a walk, or a friend's party once in a while...neither of them had any intentions for a commitment..n it seemed just fine. It was working out perfectly smooth for Nikki, until she found out about Shyna Arora. Raghav had been having an affair with her, n Nikki was shocked out of her wits to know about it. It all seemed just plain n simply impossible...for she had never thought Raghav would do that to her...but as luck wud have it...she saw the true picture, n that was where she faced her first breakdown. She had cried so much that night, she still remembered. But things had not been bad for a long time. Armaan had made his entry at just the correct time...At the juncture when she needed him the most..n they had clicked at their very first meeting.
He was a media person, a news reporter, to be frank, working with one of the most well known news channel networks of the country. They had bumped into each other in one of the events Nikita had been organising. He was there to cover it up for his news network, n they had chatted for quite a while till he reluctantly left her, only to meet her two days later at a coffee shop. She talked about her family n work..n he talked about his passion: cricket n news, n his best friend: Muskaan Chaddha. Nikita soon found that he was crazy about this best friend of his, who happened to be sharing his apartment for the time being... she tried hard not to suspect no more than just friendship, but the truth was, that even though she loved Armaan n trusted him to hell...her experiences just irked her so much that she often felt uncomfortable a great deal..it was true though, Armaan could never hide anything from her n all..but then they were living together yaar...that made her uneasy..n to top it all..that Muskaan thing just got on her nerves many times...she had the craziest laughter Nikki had ever heard..her hair could be mistaken for a broomstick n the way her teeth just chattered n chattered n chattered....she seriously wondered how COULD Armaan stand her...Muskaan was wierd, Nikki thought...n she hated it when Armaan would always defend these thoughts of hers..n therefore, lately she had just stopped talking to him about the whole issue. From what Armaan had told Nikita about Muskaan, Nikki knew her to be a NGO worker, who had currently taken up a project against female foeticide. After their initial few meetings, soon enough, Nikita n Armaan started meeting up almost every night, n Muskaan used to see less of Armaan day by day. Nikita had been hesitant for the first few weeks...Raghav was fresh on her mind, n it ached her heart to think about how things had taken shape...she used to spend hours thinking about what went wrong...but then since Armaan, most of her attention had been diverted...n she opened up to him, n lightened her burden by sharing it with him...It had not taken long for Armaan n Niks to create a mutual liking...n life was once again beautiful for Nikita.
And now, as she half-lied on her couch...still staring at hers n Armaan's pic, she realised it had been seven months since they had met...six n a quarter actually...she had met his parents n family many times...at certain ocassions at Armaan's place, she met his mom n dad n his aunt, who stayed with them... they were nice folks..all of them..they liked her n they liked them together. Though Nikita's mom was just 'fine' about her n Armaan...his job was nice, his place was nice, his office was nice, n his pay...well that was cool too...thats it..n thats nice..thats all that mattered for Mrs Malhotra. She was glad her youngest one hadnt created much trouble as she had imagined it could, n after a few meetings with Armaan, she had talked about some kinda commitment, n was really surprised when Nikki informed her that they were ready, the same week. The families met, n talked, n arranged, n teased, n laughed...n soon the dates were fixed. Nikita was happy. Armaan was such a sweetheart...she got along with him easily n he could always cheer her up like no one. Her work came before anyhting else, n she had been absolutely clear about this, n Armaan chose to just leave that particular issue for a while. She just wanted to finish off with this whole marriage thing, which was always such a 'big' deal in her family..something that she just couldnt take. Why couldnt it be just a little ceremony..then finished? Why did it have to involve designing, n printing, n writing n sending cards...n placing orders for food stuff...n the mehendi waala..the dholki walaa..Her sisters forced her to look for her dresses..n then the sizes..the colours...jewellery..slippers..bangles..selecting rings...gifts for the freinds...uff!! it was all so hectic...she was getting bored of it all... She just wanted it to be all over so she could get back to her normal schedule n all. Her parents were happy, her work timings suited her just the same..Armaan's house was located at a fair distance from her office..it was all good actually. That night Armaan had come for a little while n they were talking about his latest project in hand, n the latest fiasco Muskaan had in her kitty. Salad n drinks was all that they managed...n it was close to half past one when he had left her. Now, her head ached badly...n for a while she forgot all about what was bothering her, as she slid comfortably with her comforter, n drifted off to sleep.
................................
Armaan kissed Muskaan's head n went down to make them coffee. It was close to ten, the next morning, n he had to reach his office at one, for his evening shoot. They had just called him to inform about the election commission, n that all the proceeding were doing well..n it was not likely that they had a new piece of news any time soon. So he rubbed his eyes, still groggy as he walked into the kitchen, n put some water for boiling, smiling as he remembered how cute Muskaan looked when she slept.
Muskaan had met Armaan in college, since they had both chosen the same field, they got to spend most of their time with each other...they had the same friends' groups, mostly the same classes, same professors, n same homework..n an instant bond had been formed n Armaan felt a sudden n a close liking towards this punjabi kudi...she was everything that Nikki wasnt, Armaan smiled...where Nikki was prim n proper n always concerned about how she looked n how her eyelashes were painted n her lips coloured, Muskaan had never walked into a cosmetics shop! She wore jeans n kurti...n rarely a pair of capris..she felt the most comfortable in them n did not give a damn if that was the least girlish...her scruffy, brown curls were a rare beauty, as Armaan always put it...n unlike Nikki, Armaan had always, ever since their first meeting absolutely loved her sweet n silly banter...she could talk for hours..about anything n everything..he loved her for her confidence n bravery..she was always involved in such dangerous projects that Armaan was often left surprised n wondered how could she be handling all this? After graduating, n for the next four years, they had been each other's lifeline. Armaan talked about practically everything to Muskaan...n she found a great friend in him..for they shared the same ideas, same view points..they felt exactly the same about a number of things, n the best part that Armaan liked about Muskaan was that she understood him..like she actually cared about him, n listened to him...n deep inside her she would relate to his problem..thereupon, she wud totally get in what kind of a situation he was in..n she had the best solutions to it. He could not imagine life without her...n she felt the same. She depended upon him for her bills, food, maids, laundry..everything fell upon him...n he treated her just like his lil kid...But strange as it might sound, they had never found themselves as what other people say to be 'love'. It had just never happened to him..like they had just never felt about each other that way..or had never imagined, or thought to be like 'lovers' to each other..that seemed just wierd..n as it is each one of them was enormously happy with what they shared between themselves. But Nikki was unsure about this relationship, n she always felt uneasy with Muskaan..she didnt know why, but it seemed sometimes that she always faced this insecurity about Muskaan living with Armaan.
Though in fact Muskaan's feelings about Nikita were much the same as what the latter felt for the former, Muskaan never felt any pang of jealousy with Armaan going out with Nikki, not that Armaan knew anything of that sort. He was aware of the fact that Muskaan simply didnt like Nikki much, n he also knew that Muskaan wasnt Nikita's bestest of friends, he tried his best to keep the two most important women of his life separate from each other. He loved them both..Muskaan was his best friend n Niks his girl friend..hell, how could he compare between the two? Nikki was sweet...n fun..she was modest about everything, n independent..that was what Armaan liked. Though sometimes he couldnt really confide in her the way he could in Muskaan, yet there was something else about this little lady with dazzling eyes n her honey - sweet smile that made him adore her. He liked her, he really really liked her...as in he liked to spend time with her..to listen about her n her four sisters..all of them who were elder to her n were married, with kids n all...he liked the way she was crazy n passionate about work..she never minded the long hours for she was actually dedicated to it...n she did it all sincerely..that was one of her many beauitful qualities..but many times that caused trouble, which Armaan chose to ignore for the time being. He liked the way she cooked...she was a champion in cooking italian stuff...they were all fans of hers...he liked the way she danced..the way she moved so gracefully..the way she always had a smile lit up..the way her hair was always tied up in a neat pony...n occasionally left loose in curls..he liked all that about her..but yet, once or twice he had felt that there was not that desire, or passion about her that he had ever felt...n perhaps that was what made him feel a bit reluctant about her...it was as if he just never felt that she was 'it'...yeah..they had always got along very well...rarely did he ever complain about her..or did they indulge in any sort of fight..but then he could not always talk to her about ...like everything...that was perhaps what was missing, he wondered..but nevertheless, she was his little sweetheart, n he knew that she loved him, n he loved her too..
Armaan poured coffee in two cups, took the morning papers from the door, n went back to his room , as he heard his cell ring.
'Yeah..hi mom..how are yu feeling?' He sat down on his bed, taking a look at the Times News...'After Lahore, now its Washington...' his eyes drifted away to read the Sports Weekly as he heard his mom at the other end speak,
'Am better beta..u tell..hows work going? Have they agreed to give yu some days off?' Armaan sipped his coffee, looking at a pic of the Indian Cricket Team, them all smiling with a big trophy in the captain's hand. '
'Nai mom..I told yu..not abhi...shaadi ke time we'll see...' he sipped.
'And what about Nikita?' she asked n he was about to say something when he heard Muskaan calling.
'Okay Mom..I'll just talk to u in a while..yu take care' click, he disconnected it, n taking his mug, he walked into Muskaan's room.
'Hey baby...had a good night..?' he smiled at the girl beneath the sheets.
'Hmmm..when do u have to go?' she took his hand as he sat beside her, looking down at her, sipping his coffee.
'In a while...kyun? something important?' he played with her fingers, n she closed her eyes again.
'Nahi...I had to go to the university..the same issue yaar...I cant do it aise hi...I think you'll have to be there with me' she whined, her head in her pillow, n her curls tickling his fingers. He smiled at her..she was such a kid.
'Yeah..okay..I'll come...chal hurry up with it then..they called me at one..' He got up from her bed, when she pulled him back.
'Dont do it naa...' she whined again, n he groaned.
'For Chrissake Muskaan..please dont start with it all over again...You know we are getting engaged in four days..its all been done...I love her, n she loves me...both our families are so bloody excited with it all..mom just called for the umpteenth time since yesterday..n here yu say that I just pull back at it ..'
He looked annoyed n irritated with her, but she didnt mind,
'Fine..so everyone is super glad with this shaadi..thats great...but what about you..?? You Armaan..teri khushi ka kya hua?? doesnt that seem of any value to u?' she snapped back at him, sitting against the bed post, her pillow supporting her.
Armaan sighed. If there was anything that was beyond him, it was Muskaan...n her fundas. Sometimes she just got a bit crazy. Muskaan was well aware of what kind of a relationship Armaan n Nikita shared, n she thought that Armaan wasnt really happy...but then that wasnt true, Armaan thought. He knew her just too well to get jealous or anything like that with Nikita..nahh..that wasnt Muskaan...he knew she was just genuinely concerned about him, as any other best friend would be. But this was one problem that he did not wish to talk about. Even with her. In fact, this wasnt a problem at all. I mean Nikki loved him, he also..umm okay.. loved Nikki..then why did Muskaan have to be against all of this? He found it a bit too much when Muskaan practically thought about everything that used to concern him... yeah, that was good in a way..it felt extremely nice n special to have someone like her who loved him so much..who wanted to see him happy...but then how could he tell her that he was happy with Nikki. Why did Muskaan have to be such a pain in the ass...he frowned..
'See, Muskaan...sweetheart, I love Nikki, okay? I have no clue why you feel that there is something between us which makes me unhappy...sweetie, its all okay...I know u n Nikki have probs with each other..but please Muski' he took her face in his hands,
'I love her...n I AM happy with this...n she feels the same way too...u want me to get stuck with some stranger as mum n dad want?? atleast um with Nikki yaar...try n understand...' he looked at her as she spoke,
'Its just that sometimes she just makes me feel...as if..am just...well..I feel that she is not the right one for you...' He sighed as she finished. How many times had he heard this line? He decided to make things lighter for the moment n spoke,
'Or is it the fact that now, after marriage, when I moved to my parents' with Nikki, there wud be no one to give yu THE most yummiest cup of coffee everyday in the morning?'
He winked n she brushed his arm from around her. It wasnt funny, if he thought so...she got up from the bed n walked to the washroom to rinse her mouth, before she turned back n looked at him in his eyes, n spoke,
'Armaan..No one has any idea what gem of a person you are...n I dont want any silly girl just walking past n yu suddenly agreeing to marry her...dont yu see..she doesnt deserve you yaar...?? Sorry to say, but am telling yu that this marriage is NOT gonna work..rest is your call...' n she slammed her bathroom door.
Armaan let out a deep sigh n ran his hand across his hair. This wasnt gonna be easy...He saw Muskaan's cell vibrate next to her pilow n saw 'Riddhima Gupta calling'. Armaan took the call.
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It would really mean a alot to me if only you could tell me whether you liked it or not..whether I should continue with this, or not. Thank you so much!!
P.S. Many thanks to my lil kiddo, Kavya, n Mahak for the initial reading n reviewing..love yu guys! n yea, of course the 'evil' daughter, for being there for everything..yu mean the world to me! Thanks sooooo much!!
All my Love,
Spriha
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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