miss cullen
PART 1
As the crowed congratulated Armaan and Riddhima, her eyes searched for someone. Someone who has been her support system for almost a year. Someone who was there for her during her toughest times. Someone who is the reason she is alive today. He was there a while ago and now except him, everyone else is there. While the crowd around them were joyous, that someone though had a smile pasted on his face, looked lost, broken. She just wanted to make sure he is alright. Riddhima slipped away from the crowd to find Sid who is missing from the scene. Last time she saw him, he was with Yuvi. She walked towards Yuvi who was busy romancing Naina.
Riddhima : Hi Naina.. Yuvi..
They looked at her and gave her a sarcastic smile.
Your real friends are the ones who stick by you in your toughest times. Here, when JP Jiggy proved to be jackass, Yuvi, who once was in Sid's blacklist proved to be a good friend.
Naina : "Congratulations di.." she managed to say the words out while Yuvi just kept staring at Riddhima with the sarcastic smile.
Riddhima smiled at Naina and turned to Yuvi "Did you see Sid anywhere?"
Yuvi said nothing but pointed his finger towards Sanjeevani building.
Sid was shattered. His wife whom he loved dearly has gone away from him... forever... he let her go... because that's what she wanted... Sid needed to be alone and so found solace on the terrace. Away from the happy gang, alone fighting the pain bestowed on him. As he walked towards the parapet, he could see from there the celebration going on in the basket ball court. He turned his back to that sight. Leaned on the parapet and slowly crumbled to his knee. He sat there, his head bend on his knee and covering his face with his palms. He cried. He cried his heart out. He had build his life around his wife and that has come down crashing. It was too much for him to take. His girl, his wife whom he married twice is no more his. The thought killed him. He has never cried so much in his life and so as the exhaustion got to him, he became unconscious.
Meanwhile Riddhima searched Sid everywhere. She was scared. She looked for him in the locker room, fire escape everywhere before finally going to the terrace. Riddhima saw Sid sitting on the floor leaning on to the parapet wall. She rushed to him panicking and knelt beside him. "Sid... Sidd" She was terrified when he didn't open his eyes. Riddhima shook his shoulder calling his name but there was no response instead he now collapsed to the floor. Riddhima started choking as tears blurred her vision. She rushed to the pipe on the side, carried water in her palm and sprinkled it on his face. As he opened his eyes she helped him sit straight. She hugged him as she cried "Oh God Sid! You scared me! I thought.." Before she could complete her sentence, Sid who was now fully back to his sense wriggled out from her embrace and stood on his feet.
Sid : "You thought i was dead" He tried to smile at his forced joke through all the pain.
Riddhima slowly got up to her feet, her eyes fixed on him. "No Sid..."
Sid : "You shouldn't be here..." He turned his head to the basket ball court behind him, then back at her. "i have let you off the hook... no more burden... no more chains... no more farz...you are free... you don't have to prove anything to anyone anymore Riddhima..." He tried to smile.
Sid kept walking back as he spoke. "Take Care Riddhima... I'll try not to ever come in front of you again... ever again... Have a great life... Good bye" He turned and walked away.
Riddhima just stood there looking at him walking away from her forever.
'Forever... he is going forever...' she murmured to herself in disbelief.
She almost took her first step towards Sid to stop him when her phone rang.
"Hey basket! Where are you..?"
Riddhima : "in.. in the hospital"
Armaan : "Oki! I have a surprise for you!!"
*****
Next morning Sid was packing his bag to fly to Houston when he heard the doorbell.
He left his half packed bag on the bed and went to see who it was.
"Hey.." Armaan hugged him and walked in as Sid opened the door.
"So what plans?" Enquired Armaan.
Sid : "Nothing... just packing my bags to leave. I have a flight to catch in the evening"
Armaan : "Nope! You are not going anywhere today"
Sid : "You will stop me?" he smirked.
Armaan : "Pleaseee Sid!! Just this one day! I don't know when we will see you again once you take off"
Sid : "But Armaan..."
Armaan : "No if's no but's you are coming!"
Sid : "Where to!?"
Armaan : "PARTY!"
Sid : "What"?
Armaan : "You must come... "for us"... we wouldn't have been together today if you hadn't been there..."
Sid didn't know what to do. He stood there helplessly. After a lot of convincing by Armaan, Sid finally had to give up. He agreed to go for the party.
****
Armaan was over the moon. He never left his girl's side. He was enjoying all the moment. Riddhima seemed to have lost in Armaan's happiness. She stood next to him smiling welcoming everyone.
DJ's trance music got them moving. Everyone were having a good time. Their where laughs all around. In came Yuvi and Naina with Sid. Riddhima was quick to spot him. She was happy to see him. He looked ravishing in his black tux. But the glow on his face has vanished. He looked out of place. His eyes were dead, trying to hide from the crowd.
The three walked towards Armaan & Riddhima. Yuvi and Naina greeted them and excused themselves. Sid was left alone with the two. He found it difficult to meet his eyes with theirs but somehow managed to do so.
Armaan hugged Sid and said : "I knew you would come..! Thanks Sid"
Sid forced a smile. He turned to Riddhima and handed over the bouquet to her. He quickly retracted his hand when it touched hers. Her smile too faded when she felt his touch. Her smile faded because she was taken aback by the spark she felt when her fingers touched his arm. Sid quickly walked to one of the corner. He leaned on to the pillar, his head bent. He had his one arm in his pocket and he fidgetted with his mobile with the other hand. Sid slowly lifted his head and shifted his glance to the couple at the far end near the entrance. His eyes fixed on the girl who walked away with his heart. Riddhima felt someone watching her. She naturally turned to where Sid was standing. Their eye-lock was broken by Yuvi who came and stood by Sid. Naina was with her. And the two were arguing as usual.
Naina : No way Yuvi! No way you can drink so much!
Yuvi smirked
Naina : I challenge you!
Yuvi : Really? You will challenege me? You mean who will compete with me?
Naina : "No, Sid will compete in behalf of me!" Naina grabbed Sid's arm as she said that.
Yuvi : ooo
Sid : Are you mad. I am not doing this.
Naina : "Common Sid Please Sid! Pleasee!!" Sid had to give in as Naina started begging him.
The three went to the bar counter and found a place. Sid and Yuvi took the seat next to the counter and Naina stood beside Sid leaning on his shoulder.
"BRING IT ON" Yuvi banged on the counter and thus came the 1st round of shots. The two gulped it together and squeezed the lime in their mouth. After 5 rounds crowd started to gather around the two cheering for both. Naina moved aside from Sid and stood near Yuvi when the girls flocked in. There were loud cheer after every rounds.
After 8 rounds Yuvi withdrew from the counter to answer his phone. Sid waited for a minute and was soon seen gulping shots after shots despite Yuvi not being there. The girls were now all over him. Sid got up and removed his jacket as he felt hot. He swirled his jacket in the air and the girls started cheering and screaming. Rest of the people who were not at the counter, including Armaan and Riddhima rushed to the counter to see what was going on.
While Armaan tried to calm everyone down Riddhima was taken aback by the sight of Sid amidst of so many girls. As an involuntary action she fisted her arm seeing that. Soon Yuvi intervened and handled the situation by declaring Sid as the winner. The crowd dispersed as the winner was declared. Sid continued to smile sheepishly looking at everything and everyone. His glance fell on Riddhima who was still staring at him. "Heeyloo Mrs Modi!" He smiled but soon cupped his mouth with his finger realising what he referred her as. "oops" said Sid, his eyes widened. Armaan stood beside Riddhima akward and Riddhima didn't know how to react.
Sid turned his back to the two and leaned on to the bar counter. Armaan grabbed Riddhima's arm and walked to the other end.
"Yuvii... i lovvyuu pahleez dont leave me and go" Sid hugged Yuvi as he said that.
They laughed and craked jokes but Sid's expression totally changed when the next song played. It was Albert Morris - Feelings.
Feelings, nothing more than feelings,
trying to forget my feelings of love.
Teardrops rolling down on my face,
trying to forget my feelings of love.
Feelings, for all my life I'll feel it.
I wish I've never met you, girl; you'll never come again.
Feelings, wo-o-o feelings,
wo-o-o, feel you again in my arms.
Feelings, feelings like I've never lost you
and feelings like I've never have you again in my heart.
Feelings, for all my life I'll feel it.
I wish I've never met you, girl; you'll never come again.
Feelings, feelings like I've never lost you
and feelings like I've never have you again in my life.
Feelings, wo-o-o feelings,
wo-o-o, feelings again in my arms.
Feelings...
Sid didn't take his eyes off from Riddhima even for a second throughout the song. Every now and then Riddhima peeped at Sid and their eyes locked briefely. At the end of the song Sid broke down. Riddhima saw that and she tried her best to hide her tears seeing Sid in so much pain. Sid grabbed a bottle of bacardi white rum from the bartender and gulped 3/4th of it in one go. He stopped only when Yuvi snatched the bottle from him. Sid got up on his wobbly feet and walked to the DJ. Yuvi and Naina followed him to see he doesn't fall. When Sid almost tripped, Riddhima, from the other end, stretched her hand in reflex action. When she saw her hand stretched, she herself was surprised by her action. The immense pain she felt made little sense to her. The feeling of being happy is missing. This is her party, party to celebrate Armaan-Riddhima's re-union, and she is not able to enjoy it a wee bit. She tried to ponder the reason behind all this. But all she
could do is kept saying 'i love Armaan' in her mind.
Just the way Riddhima used to remind herself that she is Siddhant's wife, now she is reminding herself that she loves Armaan. But the difference is the feelings she had for Siddhant was not forceful even though the tag 'husband' was forceful. Here the term 'love' is being forcefully used on Armaan. But the adamant woman doesn't realize it. Her love for Siddhant was natural. Nobody forced her into loving him. But the 'dead love' for her ex was forcefully revived.
Meanwhile Armaan rushed to Sid seeing the state Sid is in. Riddhima followed Armaan to see if Sid is alright.
Armaan caught Sid by his shoulder. Sid turned around in irritation and when he saw Armaan he got more irritated. Sid in anger took couple of steps back to free himself from Armaan's clutch. Both Riddhima and Armaan caught Sid when he almost tripped.
Sid : "woaah woaah! Donnu rememba armaan's advice Riddhima! Yew should be takin care eff yor fiance and not yor ex-husband." He laughed at himself and walked to the RJ leaving an embarassed Armaan and teary-eyed Riddhima behind.
Sid took the mike and announced "Ladies and Gentlemen!" This one is for the two unforgettable people in my life! Well... unforgettable because even if i want to i don't think i can ever do that! He asked DJ to start the song
"Sach keh raha hai deewana"
Sid walked towards Riddhima who was quite numb. He streteched his hand and Naina who was behind Riddhima took his hand. Yuvi followed and so did the rest of the interns. They danced
Sach keh raha hai deewana dil
Dil na kisi se lagaana
Jhoothe hai yaar ke vaade saare
Jhoothi hai pyaar ki kasmein
Maine har lamha jisse chaaha, jisse pooja
Ussi ne yaaron mera dil
Toda toda, tanha tanha chhoda
Sach keh raha hai deewana dil
Dil na kisi se lagaana
Jhoothe hai yaar ke vaade saare
Jhoothi hai pyaar ki kasmein
Maine har lamha jisse chaaha, jisse pooja
Ussi ne yaaron mera dil
Toda toda, tanha tanha chhoda
Mausam mausam tha suhaana bada
Mausam mausam maine dekha usse
Hua main paagal bas pal bhar mein,
aah
Mausam mausam tha suhaana bada
Mausam mausam maine dekha usse
Hua main paagal bas pal bhar mein
Aake basi hai voh mere mann mein
Uski kami hai ab jeevan mein
Voh door hai meri nazron se
Kyoon usse main chaahoon
Sundar sundar voh haseena badi
Sundar sundar main to khone laga
Uske nashe mein bin piye baheka,
aah
Sundar sundar voh haseena badi
Sundar sundar main to khone laga
Uske nashe mein bin piye baheka
Ek din usse bhoola doonga main
Uske nishaan mita doonga main
Chaahoonga na main us patthar ko
Jaa usse bata de
La lai lai lai lai la le
La lai lai lai lai la
Maine har lamha jisse chaaha, jisse pooja
Ussi ne yaaron mera dil
Toda toda, tanha tanha chhoda
The other interns danced with Sid. Sid was totally into the song. Singing along, lauhing at his misfortune, every now and then tear drops escaping his eyes.
At the end of the song he collapsed right infront of Riddhima. Except her everyone else rushed to him, even Armaan. Yuvi and Armaan carried him to Yuvi's car. He drove of with an unconscious Sid at the back-seat and a worried Naina beside him. Armaan went back to see Riddhima still standing at the same position like a mannequin, hardly breathing.
TO BE CONTINUED...!