Part 3: Ekk Baar...Phir Se

Part 3

Muskaan left with the file. While riddhima continued with her work. 

NEXT DAY
AFTERNOON 3 PM
GUPTA MANSION

Muskaan was sitting in the lounge, looking at a magazine when padma came and sat next to her with a plate of fruits. She started to cut the fruits.

Mu: arre mom aap fruits kyu kaat rahi ho itne saare?
Pa: beta woh aaj appetizer keliye salad aur fruit salad serve karenge shaam mein!!!
Mu: ohhh! Kab aana hai billy uncle ne?
Pa: unki flight shaam 6 baje land honi hai aur tumahre papa 5 baje nikle ge ghar se!
Mu: (thinking) 3 hrs till he comes! Idk what will be riddhima's reaction!
Pa: arre yeh riddhima kahan hai?
Mu: mom uski night duty thi na to woh so rahi hai!!
Pa: usse jagah de! Unn logo ke aane mein sirf 3 ghante hai! Air yeh minnie kaha hai?
Mu: woh aapne room mein bethi padh rahi hai!!
Pa: acha jao jaake riddhima ko jaga do!!!


Muskaan silently nodded and went to hers and riddhima's room. She opened the door to see riddhima sleeping hugging the teddy bear. She went next to her and caressed her hair lightly making her smile in her sleep.

Mu: ridzi tu nahi jaanti aaj teri zindagi ek naya mod (turn) lene wali hai! Pata nahi tera reaction kya hoga!!

Riddhima slightly opened her eyes and sat on the bed.

Mu: ridzi uthke tiyaar hoja! They'll be here in 3 hrs!
Ri: di u r saying like jaise woh mera rishta leke arahe hai!!
Mu: mom ki help bhi karaani hai!
Ri: haan bhai! Abh aap to kuck dino ki mehmaan hai! Aapse koi kyun kaam karaega?

Muskaan smacked her arm and riddhima hugged her. She went to take shower while muskaan started to get ready. She wore a denim jean pant with a white 3/4 sleeve top which had "Beauty" written on it.
Riddhima came outside in a sea green towel around her body and a white towel which hid her hair.

Mu: ridzi main neeche jaa rahi hun! Tu tiyar hoje aaja!!!
Ri: okay di!!

Riddhima went and combed her hair. She opened the drawer to wear her bracelet when she came across a bracelet which was in heart shape. The heart was broken in to pieces. On one piece it said "A" in a glitterish writing. On the other it said "R" carved in glitter.
She took that bracelet out and caressed it remembering the memories attached to it.

FLASHBACK

Riddhima was sitting on the grass when armaan came with a black box in his hand and his sat down next to her.

Ri: yeh kya hai?
Ar: tumhara birthday gift! Sorry thoda late hogaya!

He opened it and showed her a beautiful bracelet which had a heart which was broken into two and was joined together. One piece had a on it and the R.

Ri: thank u sooooo much armaan!!! That is so beautiful!
Ar: this is the symbol of our love! Yeh dil humesha jura rahega! These letters, A and R, will never be seperated!!!

FLASHBACK ENDS

Tears fell out of her eyes. She was about to put the bracelet back when it fell from her hand and the pieces that were joined together broke apart making the A and R separate. Riddhima bent down and tried to put the pieces together but it didn't work.

Ri: tumne jhoot bola tha armaan!

She looked the bracelet and threw it in the drawer. She quickly changed into a plain white skirt and a white sleeveless shirt which had blue flower on its borders. She went downstairs and went into the kitchen.

Ri: soooooo aaj kya kya bann raha humare dubai wale doctors keliye?
Pa: doctors nahi beta unku family bhi arahi hai! Aur woh muskaan ki shaadi keliye yahi ruke ge 1 mahina!!!
Ri: (nugding muskaan) acha mom di ki shaadi ke functions kab shuru karne hai?
Pa: beta aaj shaam ko rahul ki family arahi hai to fir hum decide karenge sab milke!!!!
Ri: oh no! Iska matlab woh leechar chichora Sid bhi araha hai?
Mu: ridzi woh mera devar hai!!!
Ri: bada pyaar araha hai aapne devar parrr!! Rahul jeeju is so sweet pata nahi yeh chichora kis pe chala gaya!!
Pad: chalo abh baatein waatein chodo aur mere kaam mein haat batao!!!

EVENING
6 PM

Shashank had went to the airpot to pick the mallik familly up. Padma was getting ready the her room while muskaan and riddhima went to change into salwar suits.

The bell rang and padma went to open the door. She was looking beautiful in that maroon saree which had sliver beads on its pallu. She opened the door to see shashank standing with a lady and a man, same age as him.

Pa: namaste!
Man: namaste!!
Women: namaste
Pa: ayye na!

They walked in and sat in the Hall.

Sh: padma yeh billy hai aur Ananya uski wife! Bataya tha na!
Pa: jee bohot khushi hoyi aap se mill karr!
An: hume bhi! Padma bachiyan nazar nahi arahi!!
Pa: tiyaar horahi hai! Aati hongi!!

Minnie came running down the stairs.

An: arre yeh pari kon hai?
Pa: yeh Manali hai! Pyaar se isse Minnie kehte hai!
Min: hello aunty!
An: hello beta! Kitne saal ki hai yeh?
Pa: yeh 13 saal ki hai! Riddhima se 10 saal choti hai aur muskaan se 11!!
An: beta school kaisa jaa raha hai?
Min: bohot acha aunty!
Pa: minni muskaan aur teri riddhima didi kahan hai?

Muskaan glanced at the staircase to see muskaan and riddhima running downstairs. Muskaan was wearing a white patiala salwar and a pink shirt on top with deep neck. She had her hair tied in a lose side ponytail.
Riddhima was wearing a purple salwarsuit with net sleeves. Both came down and took ashirwaad of elders.

When ananya looked at riddhima, she thought she riddhima somewhere but she couldn't remember. Same goes with riddhima, she thought she saw ananya and billy somewhere.

Pa: arre bhaisaab bache log nahi aaye?
Bi: arre padma woh Anjali thoda tiyaar hone mein der laga rahi thi to atul ne kaha ke woh saare akhate hi ayenge!
Pa: chalein phir hum log coffee pete hain jab tak bache aate hain aur phir jab woh ajayeinge to khana laga denge kyu Ananya?
An: haan bulkul! Padma theek keh rahi hai!
Pa: chalo phir riddhima, muskaan! Jao jaake coffee leke aao!!

They nodded and left. The doorbell rang and the servant opened the door. Armaan, Atul, Anjali, and rohan entered.

Bi: lein aagaye bache!!

Anjali came in with the help of atul as she was 5 months pregnant.

Pa: anjali beta kaiso ho? Aur humara aane wala mehman kaisa hai?

Padma made her sit comfortably on the sofa. Ananya and Padma sat beside her while Atul and Armaan sat on the sofa in front of Shashank and billy.

They were talking. After a few minutes, Riddhima and muskaan came outside with coffee. Shashank, billy and the boys were indulged in talking while The ladies were talking about the baby.

Riddhima and muskaan were just outside the kitchen when muskaan stopped.

Ri: kya hoa di ruk kyun gayi?

Muskaan looked at anjali. She saw her best friend after sooo many years. She kind of changed but not that much that she wont recognize her best friend. Even armaan, besides being a doctor he was A POPULAR NBA BASKETBALL PLAYER. He was in the NBA's best bb team. Doctor was his job cuz most of the men in his family were doctors, but basketball was his passion. Atul had also kind of changed. And Rohan when she saw him he was 6, but he had grown up, now he was 13, same as Minnie.

Riddhima saw slight tears in Muskaan's eyes. She followed her gaze and what she saw she froze. After soo many years, she saw him. Why did he come back in her life? She had tried so much to forget him and now when after 7 years she slowly started to forget, he came back with a bang. She recognized him as she was a big time NBA fan and he was a famous NBA bb player. Yes, she had seen him on TV many times thats why she recognized him.

Riddhima somehow managed to control her tears and took a deep breath. She knew somewhat she had to face him.

Ri: di lets go!
Mu: ridzi tujhe koi farq nahi padta?
Ri: nahi di! I dont care anymore!

She started to walk towards the hall and muskaan followed. She went and served coffee to everybody. She walked past armaan and atul to give coffee to anjali, padma, and ananya.

Armaan just rooted on the spot. He saw her after sooo many years. She changed, but not that much that he wouldn't recognize. She was much more beautiful now, she didn't wear glasses anymore.

She gave coffee to everybody and went and stood behind the sofa where muskaan was standing. She was feeling VERY uncomfortable as armaan had an intense gaze on her.

Sh: so armaan? NBA to north america mein hai na to phir how did u get into it?
Ar: actually uncle! Dubai mein high school complete karne ke baad mein US chala gya tha to wahin se Basketball join kiya!!

Billy looked around the house and a painting on the wall caught his eye. He was shocked to see such a beautiful painting. In the painting, there was a girl sitting on the grass, reading her book and was wearing glasses. Next to her was a boy who was talking to her.

Bi: arre shanky yeh itni pyaari painting kahan se li?
Sh: (pointing at riddhima) aare billy! Yeh li nahi hai! Balke yeh humari choti saabzadi ne banayi hai! Riddhima bohot achi painting karti hai!!!
Anj: jee uncle ur rght!! Riddhima to high school se hi bohot achi painter hai!! Isse rangg se khele ka bohot shauk tha!!

Now everybody stared at anjali as if she was a ghost.

Anj: kya hoa sab mujhe aise kyun dhek rahe ho?
Bi: anjali tum riddhima aur muskaan ko jaanti ho?
Anj: woh- dad, main, armaan, riddhima, atul, aur muskaan ekk hi high school mein padte thay!

Riddhima started to sweat. She didn't want others to know that armaan was her ex-boyfriend.

Pad: kyun riddhima? Tum jaanti ho armaan aur anjali ko?
Ri: maa voh- voh- anjali ko jaanti hun k-kyunke woh muski di ki friend thi, main armaan ko nahi jaanti kyunke woh meri kissi class mein nhi tha!

This statement of riddhima made, armaan, anjali, muskaan, and Atul look at her.

Anjali could see pure hurt and hatred in her eyes towards armaan. It wasn't her fault she thought. Anjali could still see the love for her brother in riddhima's eyes.

Atul was shocked. Was she the same riddhima who was really possessive about armaan and never usedto let him flirt with other girl. Even though they broke up, did her love for armaan change into hatred?

Muskaan knew why riddhima said this. She was trying to forget him but it failed and now him being in front of her, god knows what is going to happen between the two as she could see fire burning in riddhima'a eyes seeing armaan.

Armaan, was hurt. Even though they broke up, he still loved her. After seeing her after sooo many years, he was falling for her all over again.

Armaan could see tears in riddhima's eyes while she was trying to smile towards the elders. Her fake smile made everyone believe she okay but not Armaan, Anjali, Atul and muskaan. They could see her fake smile.

Ar: (mind) tum maano ya na maano! Tum aaj bhi mujhse pyaar karti ho!!
Bi: to beta muskaan? Shaadi hai tumhari, waise agar mujhe tum ananya se pehle milli hoti na, to main tum se shaadi karr chuka hota!

Muskaan slightly blushed and giggled while the others laughed at billy. The bell rang. Riddhima saw the golden opportunity to run away from armaan's constant gaze.

Ri: main dhekti hun kon hai!!

Before anyone could answer, she ran towards the entrance door. She opened the door and a man and a women entered. Behind them, Rahul and Siddhant entered.

Shashank got up and hugged the man while padma hugged the lady.

Sh: lo aagaye Anuraag aur Prerna!!
Anu: kaisi ho shashank?
Sh: main theek hun! Inn se milo! Balwinder mallik, my partner in the hospital deal. And yeh inka beta hai Armaan, the new senior doctor in Sanjeevani.

Armaan took ashirwaad of Anuraag and Prerna and Billy hugged anuraag and shook hands with him.

Anu: nice to meet you!!

The elders went for dinner while the youngsters moved to the garden.

GARDEN

All were sitting in a circle around a small fire on small logs. Riddhima, Anjali, muskaan, and Minnie were sitting on one side of circle and Armaan, Rahul, siddhant, Atul, and Rohan sat on the other half circle.

At: tau Rahul? Tum Riddhima aur Muskaan ke saath college mein padte thay?
Sid: sirf rahul hi nhi main bhi!
Ra: hmm wahin parr mujhe iss se pyaar hoa!
Sid: waise mujhe samaj nahi aati, rahul, poore college mein saare ladke riddhima pe maarte thay, aur tujhe Muskaan se pyaar hogaya!!

Riddhima shifted uncomfortably in her place and armaan noticed that.

Ri: Shut up sid!!
Mu: arre ridzi! Sach hi to keh raha hai woh!!
Mu: (mind) lets find out if armaan still has hearts for my baby sis!
Ri: di lekin-
Mu: what di? Yaad haina poore college mein larke tumhare peeche peeche phirte thay! Woh alaida baat hai ke tu unko bhaav nahi dalti thi!

Armaan looked at riddhima who glared at siddhant and muskaan.

Ar: (looking straight in riddhima's eyes) kyun? You never dated anyone?

Hearing armaan, riddhima's breath stopped. In this whole evening, it was the first time he talked to her that too his question was really shocking. She was shocked and looked in his eyes!!

Ar: bataona riddhima?
Anj: (low whisper-only heard by armaan and atul) armaan stop it!
Ar: arre riddhima tum jawab kyun nahi de rahi!!
Ri: NAHI! I NEVER DATED ANYONE! NEVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!!

Hearing this everything went quite. They could only see the fire burning. Armaan and riddhima who were sitting opposite eachother and the fire was between them. The light of fire was shining on both of their faces making it glow in dark. They were having a silent conversation threw their eyes.

Ri: (👀) kyu aaye ho?
Ar: (👀) kyun nahi aana chaiye tha?
Ri: (👀) mujhe koi farq nahi padta!
Ar: (👀) main jaanta hun ke tum abh bhi mujhse pyaar karti ho!

Riddhima broke eye contact as tears were forming in her eyes and she didnt want him to see those as she didn't want him to know that she still loves him.

Sid: ahem! To main keh raha tha ke Riddhima jee aapki shaan mein ekk sher arz hai!
Anj: sid tum shayari bhi karte ho?
Sid: arre anjali nahi! Main shayari nhi karta lekin pyaar mein sab karna padta hai!
At: matlab tum riddhima se-pyaar karte ho?
Sid: bohot zada! Haan to sher suniye,

"Hasrat hain sirf tumhey paaney ki,
Aur koi khawahish nahi is deewane ki,
Shikwa mujhe tumse nahi khuda se hai,
Kya zarurat thi tumhe itna khubsurat bnane ki"

Armaan looked at sid with a face full of anger. How could he flirt with his riddhima?

Riddhima looked at sid and he blew a flying kiss towards her.
Soon Anuraag and Prerna left with sid. Atul and Anjali retired to one of the guest rooms as anjali was tired. Muskaan also left and now only riddhima and armaan were sitting. Riddhima started to feel uncomfortable and she got up to go but stopped when she heard armaan.

Ar: Chashmish!

Riddhima furiously turned around and looked at him who was now standing face to face.

Ri: riddhima, if u dont mind!

She again turned to leave when he held her elbow and spinned her around and she landed in his arms.

Ar: meri baar sunno!
Ri: mujhe tumhari koi baat nahi sunni!!

She freed herself and ran from there. Armaan ran his hand threw his hair.

Ar: kya hogaya hai mujhe? Dude! U guys broke up! Stay away from her.

#Humaira

PRECAP:
Kiss between AR? AA? RAMUS?
Hospital mein takarr
Jealousy