|| Lost And Found ||AR|Part13(Complete)-Page91|((16May2014) - Page 19

Part 5 : The Stranger

I held the chair handle tight,as a support that'd prevent me from stumbling down in my own self.Rahul's words shook me to the core.It repeated itself like a living medicine a hundred times..My life was coming back to me.His mere name gave my life a meaning.A thousand questions jumbled up in my mind.My blood rushed up to my cheeks,warming them up with a new sensation,a unknown yet familiar rise in my heart gave a more evident proof to the fact that I was Happy.Escatic.Maybe Words would fall short if I start what his coming back meant.

Turning slowly,I looked at Rahul,who smiled a soft smile at me.He knew..He understood.I wanted to sob,I was so happy that I could hardly have anything to say.Instead,I left the files which I'd held in my hand and hugged him,whispering words that only he knew what it meant to me.
"Thank You..",I said softly.
He laughed and circled his arm around me,"Hey,don't get senti,okay?I'm your friend yaar,Ofcourse I'll do this for you!",he said as I left him,"You know when I came to know about Armaan's company coming in India,I just knew that they had to work with us..and after what happened between you and Armaan,you deserve a chance to explain yourself."
I sighed and looked away,"No I don't,Rahul..tu jaanta hai na,maine jo kuch bhi kiya,that hurt him so damn much?"
"Thats because he loved you!",he made me turn and jerked me.
"I know I was special to him,Rahul..I know that maybe I was the closet friend he had..but he didn't have feelings for me,Rahul..he didn't ! He wouldn't hate me this way then!"
"You aren't getting the point,Riddhima.",Rahul said sternly,placing his hands on my shoulders,"He was hurt NOT because you were a good friend to him,but because he loved you immensely.He couldn't believe the girl he loved could do that to him."
"I didn't mean to..",I whispered back,"I did it for him,Rahul..but then.."

"Now,hey..Its okay.Galtiyan sab se hoti hai..And we'll mend them.Surely.You better go and prepare the presentation,because tomorrow you'll be meeting them.After 5,I am going to meet them at the Foodsters' Resturant,then we're fixing the time for tomorrow's meeting."
"Does he know I'm in this company?",I asked curiously.
Rahul looked guiltily at me and said,"Uhm..no..I thought.."
"No,its fine.",I interrupted before smiling up at him,"Thanks for doing this for me."

"Hey,Ridzi?",he called as I was turning to leave,"Smile,Okay?You look good when you smile.."
I smiled a small smile in response and left the room and got into the darkness of my cabin.Armaan always said that.

***

I wiped my tears as more furiously and unwillingly spilled down my cheek and into his picture.Why did it still hurt? He was gone years ago,when I was 10 years old.I loved him,and I missed him terribly.Holding his picture close to my chest,I burst out crying once more,not knowning what to do.I called him my Star..the night sky holding his name alight now.I gazed above and stared,searching for a answer.
"Dad..",I said in a soft whisper,"Come back please.."

A gush of memories surrounded me as I thought of him.My Dad,My hero..He was gone.He had brain tumour,and he knew it.He'd left me everything,his world..but did I need all of that? No,I needed him by my side.I missed him.No one came to disturb me.I cried softly,silently,letting the night enwrap me like a world of darkness with no light,I felt alone,although knowning that Ma and Maasi would always be there.

"Are you okay?",I heard a soft gentle voice near me and startled,I looked into his soft blue eyes.At once,the pain seemed to dissolve away,my heart beating eratically against my chest.I felt dazed,and when I realised that he was sitting beside me,I finally said,"Tum?Armaan,tum yahaan?"
He smiled again,"I had to be here.You're sad.",he said simply.
"No..I'm..I..",I fumbled as I hurriedly wiped my tears.I couldn't let him know.
He brought forward his hands and gently wiped away my tears,while I closed my eyes,feeling his touch,feeling his fingers linger on my skin,"You cannot hide anything from me,BBG..",he whispered and I opened my eyes.

"You know?",I asked,my eyes blinking back the tears,my voice squeaking like a kid's.
He nodded,"I know it hurts,BBG..atleast you have a family..I don't even know where or when I was born,I never had a family..I did feel a void,but I always kept happy.My mother had left me a letter..she said,life is too short to be wasted in tears,you should love,and let love..Because thats what the world will eventually mean to you.."
"Armaan..",I said,dumbfounded and stunned,my tears drying up.
He gave a gentle look to me,"Don't worry,I'm fine BBG..As always.Mujhe aadat ho gayi hai..Lekin tell me,now? Are you Okay?"
"Today..is..Dad's Death Anniversary..",My voice cracked up as I reached out and held him.
"Shh..",he wiped my tears and my heart started beating eratically,again,"Your Dad wouldn't like that,you know."

My sudden urge took over,and I hugged him tight,never to let go.I kept sobbing in his shirt,and all he did was to ruffle my hair and whisper that he was there.My inexplicable and unbearable grief took over and I could feel his arms around,My guardian angel protecting me.After a while,when I finally calmed down,he whispered into my ear once again,"I am here.."

I looked at him.The night sky twinkled its star's rays on me,and his face illuminated in the moonlight.He was gorgeous,and I was in Love.He was here for me,and I needed him like that forever.I knew.Our eyes locked with each others,taking me into a world of his own..Of a world I knew was made for me..My heart belonged there.My heart thumped hard and suddenly,he leaned and placed a soft kiss on my forehead,letting his lips linger.

I found my heaven in his arms.