Update 2
Riddhima was still in shock when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She immediately turned and saw muskaan was standing with blank expressions. Riddhima gulped down her saliva and then again turned around and faced the stage. This time she found him looking towards her and she immediately looked down towards the floor. Armaan who was standing on stage smiled seeing riddhima and then looked at others.
Shashank: I am very happy today that he is back. With this I would like to officially announce that both armaan and atul will handle the companies once they are merged and then I will retire from the business though will keep helping them. Whenever they will need my help I will be there to guide them. May God bless you both. May you get all the success and happiness in your life all the best to both of you. Now you all can enjoy the party
Armaan and atul smiled while looking at shashank and then hugged him. The trio walked down the stairs. After shashank finished his talk riddhima immediately walked towards the counter and drank a glass of water. Muskaan who understood her condition followed her to support her.
Riddhima (After she drank the water): muski mujhe pata tha ki kuch gadbad hone wali hai.
Muskaan: Kya matlab?
Riddhima: Since morning I was feeling something unexpected will happen and when I was getting ready for the party I had this strong feeling that something wasn’t right.
Muskaan: hhhmm.
Riddhima (mumbled): I should have guessed it.
Muskaan (who was confused asked): Kya?
Riddhima: muski since morning he didn’t call me something which he has never done till date unless he is coming back to India for a while. I should have guessed it but this time he’s back forever.
Muskaan (not knowing what she should say to console her sister said): its ok ridzy we’ll handle.
Armaan after he came down from the stage wanted to meet riddhima but was pulled by shashank to meet few business men, with whom he might work in future. He was getting bored talking to them. Suddenly Armaan felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned around. He smiled seeing his two best friends and immediately hugged them.
Armaan: Gosh I missed you guys so much.
rahul and abhimanyu (together) : Even we missed you.
Armaan rahul and abhimanyu were friends since childhood. Armaan excused himself from the business men, to whom he was talking a minute ago and started walking towards a secluded area along with his friends.
Abhimanyu: So how was your life there?
Armaan (winked at them): It was awesome.
Rahul: Armaan how many times I have told you
Armaan (cuts rahul in between): And how many times have I told you not to say the same thing again and again? I am tired of listening to it.
Rahul: Armaan what will happen once shashank uncle comes to know about it?
Armaan: He will never come to know about it and leave this topic, the thing is girls out there are really wild (Armaan said with a wink and rahul shook his heading while abhimanyu smiled)
Armaan (in a serious tone): Anyway, thank you guys for keeping a check on riddhima for me for all the years when I wasn’t here. Thanks for confirming whether she was lying or speaking the truth.
Rahul: Armaan we did this for you but you do know na it’s wrong?
Armaan: Of course it is not wrong. She is mine and I have full rights to keep a check on her. Whether she is lying to me or not or whether she is following the rules or not that, I had set for her before leaving. Don’t forget I am her to be husband and this gives me the rights to keep a check on her.
Abhimanyu: yeah she did follow them. Whatever she told you on phone about her whereabouts she was indeed there she never lied to you.
Riddhima who was standing with Muskaan in a corner was trying to control her increasing heartbeat.
Riddhima: I am scared Muskaan.
Muskaan: scared but why?
Riddhima: you know it Muskaan. He is back an year early. Now if papa says to me to marry him I won’t be able to say no to him and after marriage Armaan won’t let me continue my studies.
Muskaan: but why wouldn’t he let you continue your studies?
Riddhima: I don’t know when our 12th standard ended Armaan had come to India for a month. He asked me that what I wanted to do after completing my graduation. I told him I wanted to do MBA so that I can join business and help papa. He said when he is there to help papa why would papa require my help? He said after graduation we would get married and after marriage I working in some other company won’t look nice so what’s the point of doing mba?
Muskaan: oh god riddhima he said it won’t look nice he hasn’t said no we can always convince him.
Riddhima: convince him do you know what you are speaking? And you know even papa wouldn’t like me working with him so Armaan does have a point there I better not do mba then.
Muskaan: Yeah I know it’s hard to convince him but we can try and tauji won’t mind just keep that thought aside for a while and concentrate on your final year.
Riddhima: hard? I would say it’s an understatement, convincing him is impossible. Muski you know how papa is then also you saying this?
Muskaan: We’ll talk about tauji later First you tell did you tell him it’s your mothers wish?
Riddhima: I didn’t get a chance to tell him.
Muskaan (she hits her forehead when she heard riddhima): you idiot if you would have told him he wouldn’t have even said it won’t look nice. He loves Padma tayji a lot and would love to fulfill her dreams too. Why didn’t you tell him?
Riddhima: muski just now I said that I never got a chance to tell him. You know na whenever he is around me, I am so scared that I hardly speak anything plus he doesn’t even let me say anything so how am I supposed to tell him all this? (riddhima pouted by the end of her conversation)
Muskaan: yeah right tabhi kaha tha uske samne bheegi billi ban jati hai.
Riddhima (in a whining tone): muski
Muskaan: kya muski I know he hardly lets you speak he instead keeps giving you orders or tells you his new rule. You should have tried telling him. Anyway try and tell now ok?
Riddhima: tujhe kya lagta hai miene try nahiin kiya hoga kya?
Muskaan: hain mujhe yahi lagta hai agar tune try kiya hota na toh ab tak bol chuki hoti. 12th standard jab khatam hua tha tab se lekar ab tak do saal ho chuke hain or ab hum final year main hai. Jab tu in do saalon main kuch nahiin bol payi toh ab kya bolegi?
Riddhima: forget it you won’t understand. It may look easy but it’s definitely not easy to speak.
Muskaan: or mien bhi bachpan se keh rahi hoon try kar usse badalne ki darr kar kuch nahiin hoga.
Before riddhima could say anything she saw kirti coming towards them.
Kirti: Muskaan armaan se mili tum (kirti asked smilingly and Muskaan shook her head saying ‘no’)
Kirti (in a stern voice): Or tum riddhima? (Riddhima nervously shook her head saying ‘no’)
Kirti (in not so pleasant voice): Muskaan didn’t meet him yet I can understand but why haven’t you met him till now? After all he is soon going to be your husband right?
Muskaan (before riddhima could answer): vo mom hum bas jaa hi rahe the chal ridzy. (Muskaan knew any reply from riddhima would make kirti scold her more so she better takes Riddhima away from here. Muskaan held riddhima’s hand and started walking towards armaan.)
Muskaan and riddhima walked towards Armaan. He was standing in a corner along with his friend’s rahul and abhimanyu. Riddhima, on seeing Armaan stopped walking due to which there was a pull. On feeling the pull Muskaan also stopped walking and turned around. She looked at riddhima and found her to be nervous. She understood her nervousness. She smiled and squeezed her hands and then they again started walking towards Armaan.
Muskaan (after they reached): Hey Armaan (Armaan stopped talking with his friends. He looked towards Muskaan and smiled).
Armaan: Hey Muskaan (Armaan then looked at riddhima and their eyes meet. As soon as Armaan and riddhima’s eyes met, after few seconds she lowered her eyes) Hey riddhima how are you?
Riddhima (looked at him and mumbled slowly): hi I am fine and you?
Armaan: how do I look? (riddhima looked at armaan with a confused face and then in a stern voice armaan said) I am fine.
Riddhima could feel Armaan was angry on something but what? Was he angry with her? But what had she done that he was so angry? Her thoughts were broken when Muskaan started talking with rahul.
Muskaan: Hey rahul seeing you after a long time.
Rahul: Yeah I was busy. (Muskaan and rahul started talking. Riddhima just stood there and heard rahul and muskaan’s conversation).
Armaan (while looking at riddhima): Hey abhi where is nikki? She doesn’t seem to be here.
Abhimanyu: she won’t come today as she has fever. She said she is very happy that you have returned back forever and will meet you soon.
Riddhima did feel Armaan’s gaze on her when he was talking to abhimanyu but rather looking at him she was trying to think what she had done that he was angry because If she was the reason for his anger then she would have to face something worst.
RIDDHIMA’s BEDROOM
Finally, the party was over and riddhima was in her room. After freshening up she was applying some cream on her face when she heard her door being opened and closed. It was just not closed but also latched. Riddhima immediately turned around and was shocked to see ARMAAN. He was leaning on the door with his hands crossed in front of his chest. Riddhima immediately stood up and gulped down her saliva. She realized that the strong feeling which she was feeling since morning that something was wrong was right. Armaan smirked seeing her condition.
Armaan: Hey soon to be wifey how are you? (Riddhima just looked at him blankly. He already asked this question in the party so why was he asking her again?)
Riddhima (in confused tone): Uumm I am fine.
Armaan (in an angry tone): Good that you are fine because now you won’t be fine anymore.
Riddhima shivered hearing his angry voice. Riddhima didn’t know that whether she should ask him the reason of his anger or not? She wanted to know why he was angry at her. But if she asked anything and it increased his anger then things might not be in her favour so she remained quiet. Armaan started walking towards her. With his each step towards her, riddhima’s heartbeat kept increasing. Riddhima just stood still. She didn’t know what she should do because even if she shouted and people came no one would help her after knowing that Armaan was in her room. Armaan stood in front of riddhima and held her left hand. He twisted her hand and placed it behind her back.
Riddhima (yelped in pain): aaahh.
Armaan: Why and where did you go before the party started?
Coming up: – Armaan punishing riddhima