Part 4: Ekk Baar...Phir Se

Part 4

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

NEXT MORNING
7 AM
HALL

Everybody was seated on the dining table eating breakfast except Armaan, Riddhima, and Ananya.

Riddhima moved out of her room dressed in a beautiful White salwar suit. Her suit had net sleeves.

She was about to go downstairs when she saw Ananya coming her way. She greeted her and took ashirwaad.

An: beta woh armaan ke room ka shower nhi khul raha, sirf tap water araha hai! To tum plz usko theek kardogi?
Ri: aunty main-
An: thank u beta!

Saying so she left leaving riddhima worried. Riddhima paced back and forth, her hands joined on her lips.

Ri: (mind) seriously baghwan? Aapko main hi milli thi? Harr embarrassing moment aapne meri life mein hi likha hai? 

She took a deep breath and went towards armaan's room. On the way she was blabbering and was complaining to god. She entered his room to see no one there. She went in the bathroom and saw armaan bare chested and just in his pants with his back towards the door.

Ri: (shriek) Armaan!!

Riddhima put her hand on her eyes while armaan turned around to look at her. He frowned to see her here. 

Ar: (mind) mom ko bhi yahi mili thi? Maine unhe kaha tha ke koi servant bulaye aur isse bula diya!
Ri: tum bina shirt ke kya kare ho!!
Ar: obviously shower lene laga hun! Lekin paani nahi araha! 

Riddhima put her hand on the side so she could not see him. She went and opened the tap and saw water running.

Ri: (frustrated) armaan paani araha hai! Tume bass mere paas aane ka bahana chaiye!
Ar: excuse me? Galat fehmi hai tumhari! Main mom ko servant bulane ko kaha tha! Tumhe nahi! Isse theek karo aur jao yaha se. 

Riddhima rolled her eyes and went and stood on the bath tub's side. She held the shower curtain rod fir support and started to push a button which was attached to the shower. Armaan got confused and looked at her.

Ar: yeh kya kari ho? Ur gonna fall!
Ri: tumhe isse matlab? Aur main shower mode on kari hun dhek nahi raha kya!!

The button was stuck and she moved a little. Her heels fell off and now her dupatta came under her foot, it was almost slipping from her neck. She tried hard and the button pushed and now the shower mode was on. Cold water coming out of the shower. Riddhima sighed, unaware of the fact that a side of her dupatta was under her feet, she put her one feet down. But because of the dupatta she was about to slip, when armaan held her. She was bent inwards in his arms as cold water fell on her making her soaking wet. She closed her eyes. Armaan admired her face and soon straightened her and got in the tub and stood infront of her as she stood right infront of him. Cold water was falling on them making them wet. Riddhima slowly opened her eyes to see armaan lost in her. She got lost in his blue orbs. Unknowingly her hands slowly went up to his chest and she caressed his 6 packs and well built chest. He held her by the waist and pulled her closer. She jammed into his chest. Her hands were sandwiched between his body and hers. He cupped her face and bent down moving closer to her lips while she shivered under her hold.

Ri: ar-ma-aan!
Ar: (putting finger on her lips) shhh!

She closed her eyes feeling his wet finger on her wet lips. He sensuously caressed her lips. Water was falling from her lips and he was having a hard time control his desire. He bent down more and now their lips were just 2 cm away from eachother. Unable to control his desire anymore, Armaan smacked his manly lips on her soft ones and took her into a passionated sandwhich kiss. He chewed her lower lip making her moan lightly. She was too shocked to respond. He bit her lips and she also started responding. They came out of the kiss for air. Riddhima didn't even catch her breath properly when armaan took her in another kiss. He chewed her lips very passionately while his hands worked on her waist. He sensuously traced her waist making her go weak on her knees. 

They broke the kiss when riddhima heard muskaan calling her. Without even looking at him she ran out of the bathroom. It took armaan few seconds to realize what happened between them.

Ar: shit! What did I do! I shouldn't have done that!!!

RIDDHIMA & MUSKAAN ROOM

Anjali and Muskaan were sitting on the bed talking. Muskaan didnt go to hospital as the functions would start in evening and as she is The Guptas' daughter, they would have many ceremonies in this whole wedding month.

Anjali was on maternity leave.

They were talking about wedding and the baby when riddhima rushed in the room all soaked. Her clothes were now transparent and almost could see her skin underneath.

Riddhima didnt realize Anjali sitting there. She went to the wardrobe and quickly took out her clothes.

Ri: d-di aap b-bula rahi thi?
Mu: haan woh main aur Anjali- Ekk second! Why are you wet?

Riddhima was shocked to see Anjali there. She went and peeped outside the door and so the coast was clear and she shut the door and latched it. Anjali and Muskaan got confused by her actions.

Ri: woh-main- ananya aunty ne mujhe- bheja tha armaan ke room ka shower kholne keliye!

Muskaan and Anjali raised their eyebrows and gave a suspicious look. Riddhima put a few strands of wet hair locks behind her ear and looked down. 

Anjali and muskaan looked at her lips and saw they were swollen. Riddhima nervously looked at them.

Anj: ridzi tere lips ko kya hoa!
Ri: (shutting her eyes) We Kissed!!

Anj & Mus: WHATT!!

Both girl's eyeballs came out while riddhima. Muskaan got up and held riddhima by the shoulders. She checked her forehead, neck, cheek. Riddhima got confused and lightly pushed her hands away.

Ri: di what are are you doing?
Mu: ridzi teri tabiyat to theek haina? I mean u kissed armaan? U hate him?
Ri: haan di I do but-woh-arghhh! U know what I don't even wanna talk about him!

Riddhima grabbed a yellow salwar suit and rushed to bathroom to change as she was getting late for sanjeevni. 

Mu: (sigh) armaan ke naam pe yeh yaa to rone lagti hai ya for ghussa! Bohot pyar karti hai par woh isse nhi karta?
Anj: kisne kaha nhi karta? Uske keliye hazaar rishte aaye parr armaan ne inkaar kardia!
Mu: kyu? Phir break up kyu kiya issne ridz ke saath? 

Anjali whispered something in Muskaan's ears which brought tears in her eyes and small smile on her lips.

Mu: abh humein hi kuch karna hoga!
Anj: haan plan Armaan Riddhima milaan is on
Mu; yup plan RAM
Anj: waise RAM se Riddhima Armaan Mallik bhi banta hai
Mu: heheheheh 😉 she would get that name when she officially becomes his!

They high fived eachother and laughed.

SANJEEVNI

Atul, riddhima, armaan and Rahul were standing at the nurse station wait for their duties. Armaan and Atul would just do duties for a week and the 3 weeks they would attend conferences with Billy and Shahshank, as they were here for deal.

Riddhima and Armaan were avoiding eachother after their encounter this morning. She was reading a file while Rahul, Atul, and Armaan were talking. 

She couldn't stop thinking about the kiss they shared a while ago! Her cheeks were flushed and she was trying to control it. She remembered her first kiss, the kiss she first shared with Armaan, in 8th grade, their second yr of High school.

FLASHBACK

Party was on a full swing in Armaan's house. They were celebrating the victory of his and his teams' basketball win against rival school. Atul and Armaan were talking to some girls while Anjali and Riddhima were talking with dadi. Dadi excused herself to go get the cake while Anjali noticed Riddhima glaring at armaan.

Anj: u love him na?
Ri: haan- wait nahi!
Anj: u do! U do!
Ri: ok fine i do! Why is ur retarded bro flirting?
Anj: awwnn tu jealous horahi hai ridzi?
Ri: shut up anji!

Anjali smirked and left to muskaan while riddhima walked towards armaan and dragged him to a secluded corner. 

Ri: why on earth were u flirting with that chipkali?
Ar: someone us jealouss!!!
Ri: why would I be jealous its not like I'm in Love with you!

Armaan smirked while Riddhima bit her tongue for blurting out. She gasped when Armaan pulled her and she jammed into his body. He smacked his lips on hers and kissed her passionately. She was too shocked to respond. He bit her lips and she started to respond. Both shared a passionate kiss. After a few mins both drew back and reality hit riddhima. She started to hit armaan.

Ar: ouch- oye-riddh- chashmish!
Ri: how dare u? How dare u kiss me?

Armaan held her wrists and twisted them behind her back making her loose herself in his eyes.

Ar: (huskily) I love u too!

She giggled and pressed her lips on his and both kissed eachother.

FLASHBACK END

All four saw Sid running towards the nurse station with a rose in his between his lips and a file in his hands. He ran towards riddhima and fell on his knees infront of her spreading his arms. He took the rose and gave forwarded it to her.

Sid: ishqqqqq hayyye!!!
Ri: excuse me???
Sid: I love you!!
Ri: (looking at rahul) Jeeju dhekein isse!!
Ra: oye!!! Khabardaar meri saali ke saath flirt kiya to!!! Akhir saali adhe ghar wali hoti hai!
Ri: shut up jeeju!!!!
Ra: chal sid duties de!!
Ri: what yeh kyu dega? Kirti bhabhi kaha hai?
Sid: woh mom ko help kar hai! Aaj dholki hai na humare ghar pe!!
Ri: whatever!

Sid opened the file and started to read the duties.

Sid: Dr Armaan in ICU, Dr atul and Dr Rahul in OPD, and dr riddhima!
Ri: (annoyed) bakko!
Sid: (flirting) aap....humesha ki tara mere saath hai, general ward mein!!

She went closer to him and took the rose from him and the file also. Her eyes widened in shock as she read the file. She indeed had duty with Sid.

Sid: Waise aaj raat aap humare saat dance kare ge?
Ri: dance aur tumhare saath? Shakal dheki hai aapni?

She tore the rose petals and threw them on his head and went from there stomping her foot.

EVENING

Atul, Armaan, And Riddhima came back from Sanjeevni to see Anjali, Padma, and Ananya ready along the kids. 

Pad: arre Riddhima tu aa gayi! Chal jaa jaa karr haldi se tiyaar hoja? Hum already late horahe hai!
An: maani beta tu bhi jaa!
Ri: maa? Muski di nahi jaa rhi?
Pad: arre riddhi woh tiyaar horahi hai!!!

Both Armaan and Riddhima nodded and left to change. After a few min Armaan came dressed in a black kurta while riddhima came down in a Pink choli and Green lehnga. She was holding her lengha carefully so she won't fall looking down. Her choli was very short till her under bust revealing her long navel. Armaan was mesmerized to see her. She looked damn hawt to him. Muskaan walked behind her looking ethereal in a blue saree.
Atul broke Armaan's trance as both girls came down. 

At: chalo! Anjali, Muskaan, Ananya mom, Padma aunty aap log meri car mein beth jao aur Riddhima and kids go sit with armaan!
AR: WHATT?
Mu: (smirking) haan haan ridzi and kids will go with Armaan!!!

Riddhima glared at muskaan and sweat started to form in her hands. Her heart was beating fast as if it was gonna explode any minute. After 7 whole years she was going to travel with Armaan, alone, just 2 kids in the back. The girls and Atul along Padma and Ananya sat in Atul's car. Rohan and Minnie ran towards Armaan's BMW and sat in the back. They had became good friends as Rohan started school with her only for the the Malliks were here. Riddhima slowly walked towards his car fidgeting with her dupatta followed by Armaan. 

He opened the door for her and she mumbled a slight thank you, sitting in carefully holding her lehnga. This was probably the most embarrassing day of her life. In morning they shared a kiss that to under water, and now alone in his car. How awkward could this day get? 

Atul's car zoomed out and Armaan's car followed. Minnie and Rohan were constantly talking about their school while awkwardness was growing between our poor AR. Both were stealing secretive glances at eachother.

Min: omg riddhi didi aapko pata hai aaj uss rohit ke bache ne aaj school mein kya kiya?
Ri: k-kya?
Min: he proposed me to be his girlfriend???
Roh: uss me aisa kya khaas hai jo tum itna uchal rahi ho?
Min: omg rohan are you jealous?
Roh: main kyu jalne laga uss idiot se?

Hearing Rohan and Minnie fight, AR remembered their fights in high school.

FLASHBACK

Both were in the first year of high school. In grade 7. But now only were best friends nothing more.
Armaan was dribbling the ball in basketball court when riddhima came. 

Ri: armaaaan i have news!!!
Ar: what?
Ri: since u r my best friend you should know this first!
Ar: bolo bhi chashmish!
Ri: can u imagine Vivek proposed me to be his gf?
Ar: what? And what did u say?
Ri: pf course no idiot! Thoda sa attitude to dhikana padega na! After all ussne Riddhima Gupta ko propose kiya hai!!!
Ar: So u have a crush on him?
Ri: secretly yup!
Ar: srsly chashmish you know i hate him and he is my enemy!
Ri: arre yahi to mazze ki baat hai! Best friend aur hone wala boyfriend ekk dusre ke enemies hain!

Armaan rolled his eyes and shoot the ball in the hoop.

Flashback End

Riddhima was cursing god for putting her in this awkwardness. She thanked god as Armaan parked infront of Grewal Mansion which has yellow lights all around, on trees, candles stands, for the very first Dholak/Dholki Function Of Rahul Muskaan wedding.

She let out her breath which she was holding since the start of this awkward car ride as Armaan got out of the car.
Rohan and Minnie ran out of the car in to the mansion. Armaan opened her side door and she got out holding her heavy lehnga. She ran towards Muskaan and Anjali who got out of Atul's car.

Ananya and Padma walked ahead While Riddhima, and Muskaan walked behind. Anjali walked with Atul's help while Armaan walked with a hand on her shoulder. Prerna walked towards them in a off white saree with green work. Behind her, a girl walked in a green salwar suit with dark green work.

Prer: Ananya isse milo! Yeh Kirti hai! Meri sabse bade bete Shubhankar ki patni!!

Kirti met everyone while the Armaan and Atul were looking around to find all girls, dancing, playing dholak, singing. Prerna looked at them and giggled.

Prer: armaan beta? Larke log ooper hai!
Ar: (sigh) thank u aunty!! 

Armaan and Atul went to the terrace to see Sid, Rahul and Shubhankar sitting near a fire with beer and wine. The boys went and sat down near them.

Downstairs, they made muskaan sit in a decorated with flowers swing. Riddhima, and some girls were sitting on a yellow sheet on grass singing whilst The elder ladies along Anjali were sitting on comfy chairs. They put on music and started dancing when Riddhima went inside to get herself a glass of water. She saw Shashank and Billy in the study with Anuraag holding cigars. Both men had came 2 hrs ago. 

She went to the kitchen to get herself water.

TERRACE

The boys were having a good time except Armaan. He was getting annoyed of Sid praising Riddhima.

Sid: Aur Atul tumhe pata hai? Ekk baar college mein kya hoa?
At: kya?
Sid: library ke old section mein koi nahi tha! Bas Riddhima stool ke ooper chadd kar books nikal rahi thi when her foot slipped.

Hearing her slipping, Armaan's ears shot up. He couldn't imagine the love of his life getting hurt. But hearing the next thing, his blood boiled. 

Sid: and she fell in my arms! Ufff yaar best moment of my life!!!
Ar: Sid yaar tere paas koi aur topic nahi hai? Harr wakt Riddhima Riddhima?
Sid: chill dude! Seems like she've made u her enemy also!
At: (confused-mind) enemy also? Woh to bohot friendly nature ki hai fir who is her enemy??
At: arr sid?
Sid: (gulping down a sip) haan bol?
At: she has enemies?
Sid: tck in college boys used to flirt with her and she hated that! She was mean to all boys so boys kept distance from her! They called her 'lady Hitler'. 

The boys chuckled hearing him. Shubhankar looked down from the parapet and saw girls dancing and smirked. 

Shub: guys aaj free dance dheklo!

All boys ran to see Muskaan, and some others girls dancing. Armaan's eyes were only searching for his Girlfriend, oops i mean ex-gf! 

Sid: lekin where is my girl?
Ra: my girl?
Sid: arre riddhima!
Shubh: abhay mere chote bhai! She is not ur girl! U r not in a relationship with her!
Sid: lets check inside the house!

All boys went down and were standing on the stairs when they saw riddhima drinking water.

Sid: (whispering to boys) guys lets prank Riddhima!
Ar: are u sure u wanna prank her?

Armaan was getting jealous as he used to do all this stuff to Riddhima and now someone else was doing it. Sid nodded and told boys about his plan. 

Riddhima gasped as the kitchen light went out. She was very scared of the dark and now she was all alone in the dark kitchen. 

Ri: koi-koi hai?

She slowly walked when her hand hit a glass and it fell down. She slowly walked but shrieked when she felt a piece of broken glass under her foot.

Boys heard her shriek and Armaan was the first one to run towards the kitchen. He turned on the lights and saw her on the floor, bloody oozing out of her foot, tears brimming in her emerald eyes. His heart pumped faster seeing her like that. He picked her up and made her sit on the counter. Sid brought a first aid box while Armaan cleaned her wound. 

After cleaned she got up to go when armaan stopped. 

Ar: u'll feel pain in ur foot! Let me help you!
Ri: (rude voice) thank u so much for ur concern! But i can go! I've beared much more pain in life than this!
Ri: (to atul) can u help till outside plz!

Atul nodded and put a hand around her to support her walking till outside. Armaan was deeply hurt from her indirect taunt.

Humaira