Armaan Riddhima

One of the most difficult scenes to write. I enjoyed writing this - balancing the emotions and just hinting at the underlying depths, without being obvious or too descriptive. Tried to leave a lot to the readers' imaginations ...

Originally wrote two 'morning after' endings - only one was used.

ARMAAN RIDDHIMA in mandir and barn

Armaan looks around, panicking rapidly – clouds are gathering and there is going to be a storm – where has she disappeared???
Riddhima!!! … he calls out desperately, but there is no answer. How did she disappear so quickly? He curses himself for losing his temper and letting her out of his sight – just yesterday he had sworn never to do that and today …

He sets off at a run along the path they had come by, his eyes searching through the dim light – then he heaves a sigh of relief. She is sitting under a tree not far off, her legs curled up under her, her head on her arms, one sandal off her feet. He reaches her as fast as he can and quietly kneels down next to her without saying a word. She looks at him and gives a sniff and turns her face away.
Ar (gently): gir gayi kya? … (she nods slightly and he takes her foot in his hands and examines it. She gasps slightly with pain as he moves her ankle and he frowns.)
Ar: I’m sorry …
She makes a small face, but still doesn’t speak. He sighs.
Ar: I’m sorry, baba. Main bahut gussa ho gaya na … (as she nods) … kya karun, basket … jab mujhe worry ho jaati hai to main aisa hi ho jaata hun … tumhe to pata hai na …
She nods slightly, still not looking at him and he puts his hand under her chin and turns her to face him.
Ar: bola na … sorry … ab to maan jao …
Ri: maine yeh hum dono ke liye liya, Armaan … tum …
Ar: I know, main samajhta hun … lekin … I don’t know … tumhe vahan nahin dekha to main ekdum ghabra gaya … tumhe phir kuch ho gaya to … I can’t live without you, Riddhima …

He looks into her eyes intensely and she sees how worried he had been … she feels guilty … especially after yesterday, the whole Vicky episode, he was still as upset about it as she was and this was his way of expressing it … she puts her hand to his face.
Ri (as intensely as he had spoken): main bhi nahin … main bhi tumhare bina nahin reh sakti, Armaan.
Ar (softly): to phir mujhse vaada karo … yeh aakhiri baar tumne aise manmaani ki hai … tum aise dobara kabhi nahin karogi … mujhe bina bataye kabhi nahin jaogi …
She takes his hand in hers and smiles slightly.
Ri: Vaada …
He pulls her to her feet and kisses her hand.
Ar: I love you …
Ri: I love you …

Thunder rumbles distantly in the sky and a few drops of rain start falling. They both look up at the sky.
Armaan (says urgently): we’d better get back fast, bahut baarish aane vaali hai.
Even as he speaks, thick storm clouds roll in and then, without warning, the rain starts pelting down in a fast heavy downpour, catching them completely unawares. Within seconds, they are wet – there is no question of them making it back to the resort in this rain. The rain is so strong, the wind so fierce that they can hardly see through the downpour.

Armaan looks around desperately for some shelter as he pulls Riddhima under a tree – he spots a dark shadow a little distance away. It looks like an empty shed – he points it out to Riddima and indicates through gestures that they should make a run for it. The rain and wind are so strong by now that they can barely hear themselves speak.

Holding her hand, Armaan runs to the barn as fast as he can, pulling her along. But the rain is already pouring down in buckets and by the time they enter, they are both soaked to the skin, clothes dripping, hair wet. Armaan shakes his head and runs his hands through his hair to shake off the water – he turns to look at Riddhima. She is doing the same thing – head on one side, her hair over one shoulder as she tries to shake off the water from it. He looks at her and his heart contracts in his chest – she is looking so beautiful, her hair wet, droplets of water running down her face …

I love her … the words said so many times before, have never meant as much as they do at this moment. I love her, he thinks dazedly, as though he has just discovered it, she is my life, my world, my everything … she is part of me and I am part of her …
She looks at him enquiringly and he looks away quickly … before his eyes give away too much. They are alone here, stuck for the night, by the sounds of the storm raging outside … he tries to control his feelings before they overwhelm him …
Riddhima shivers with the cold and the wet.
Ri: Armaan …
He looks back at her and sees her shivering. To mask his concern, he starts scolding her …
Ar: Aur niklo aadhi raat ko baarish mein … thand to lagni hi thi … ab hum dono yahan phas gaye hain! Aaram se kamre mein coffee pi rahe hote, razai mein ghus kar …
Ri (miserably, still shivering): Armaan, … I’m sorry, meri vajah se tum bhi …
He comes back to her, unable to hide his concern and love any more.
Ar: Bahut thand lag rahi hai?
She nods.
Ar: Lo, meri jacket le lo … (he starts taking it off. She stops him.)
Ri: Tumhe thand lagegi …
Ar (touched to the heart at her concern for him): Aadat ho rahi hai … (he smiles teasingly at her and lifts her chin with a finger) … tumhare saath reh kar …
Ri (so relieved that he is teasing again that she can tease him back, just a little): Aadat ho rahi hai to do jacket le aate …
Ar: haan, haan … poori wardrobe na le aata … ek to itna pareshan tha ki tum aadhi raat ko kahan chali gayi ho … akeli …
Ri (softly): akeli nahin … (as he continues to look at her, she blushes, looks down and confesses) … maine socha … agar tum payal ki awaaz sunoge, to tum shayad mere peeche aaoge … main akele nahin aana chahati thi, Armaan. Lekin mujhe darr tha ki tum mujhe rok loge … issliye … main jaldi jaldi … aage nikal gayi …

He shakes his head at her, now realizing why he had woken up – in his sleep, he had the sound of her payal as she tiptoed outside his door – and she had meant for that to happen!!! He doesn’t know whether to be annoyed or relieved – he settles for the latter – after the trauma of what they went through just the night before, he can only be thankful that she did what she did.

Ar: At least itna to khayal aaya tumhe … meri haalat ka … varna agar tum raat ko yahan akele phans jaati … aur main subah uthta aur tum nahin hoti … especially kal raat ke baad … main to paagal ho jaata! Really, basket … tum mujhe shaadi ke baad bhi itne heart attack dogi?
Ri (she puts up her hand as though she wants to stop him from saying such things): Armaan … I’m sorry …
He smiles and comes close to her.
Ar (softly): main mazaak kar raha tha, baba … tum mere paas raho, bas – baaki sab manzoor … (she smiles, then shivers again) … dekha, thand lag gayi na?
Riddhima nods, still shivering, and tries to wrap her dripping dupatta more closely around her. He strips off his jacket and puts it around her shoulders.

Ar (he looks around at the bare shed, but it is empty except for a rickety table and a pile of straw at one end): Yahan to kuch bhi nahin hai … shayad aag jala sakein … (goes and pokes around, takes a better look all over) … nahin … kuch hai hi nahin …
She shivers again, not saying anything, shivering in spite of the jacket. He frowns as he sees her – her clothes are soaked through. He shakes his head and holds out his hand.
Ar (softly): Mujhe do …
She looks at him questioningly. Very slowly, he reaches out his hands and very gently, slowly, holding her gaze, he pulls her sodden dupatta from around her neck …
Ri: Armaan …?

She is trembling again … not only from the cold now … unable to look at him, her gaze drops, her skin heating, face flushing.
He takes the dupatta, wrings it out completely and shakes it to dry it as much as he can. He turns back to her and holds out his hand with the damp cloth. She takes it – he holds out his hand still. For a moment, she doesn’t understand, then she blushes bright red and shakes her head …
Ar (patiently): Riddhima, thand lag jayegi, jaldi do. Agar geele kapde pehne rahogi, jacket bhi geeli ho jayegi. Phir kya fayda? Aur koi raasta nahin hai!
She looks at him and slowly slips off the jacket from her shoulders, handing it back to him. She reaches down to the hem of her kurta – then she hesitates. He looks at her and smiles very slightly.

Ar: mujhpe bharosa nahin hai kya? (very softly)

She murmurs to herself: … aaj khud par bharosa nahin hai, … then she looks at him, her eyes very dark : … Armaan … please …

His eyes hold hers for a second … she lowers her eyes at the expression in them … then he gives a small smile, and turns his back to her. She pulls off her soaked kurta, struggling with the wet cloth, and quickly wraps the damp dupatta around herself. She reaches out to put the kurta in his hand, outstretched behind his back.

Their hands touch … stilling for a long moment …

Ishq mein deevaangi ki … had se … guzar jaun …Tere pyar mein aaj main … jikar … mar jaun …
ishq mein jalte hain hum … raat din … ha, yeh mera dil na mane … tere bin … tere bin …

Without looking back, he hands over his jacket and she removes the dupatta and snuggles into the jacket quickly, gratefully … still warm from his body heat, the dry material envelops her in his warmth, his scent ... and she starts trembling again … this time not from the cold.

He goes to the rickety old table in one corner and wringing out her kurta, spreads it to dry on it.
Ar (without turning around, his voice is not very steady): Kal subah tak sookh jayega …
He strips off his damp shirt as well, and spreads it out to dry next to her kurta. He stands at the table, his back to her, his hands clenched on the edge of the table.
Ar (still not looking around): Ab tum so jao …

She looks at him, his back straight and stiff with tension, the same tension that is gripping her – she has never loved him more than at this moment … she has never felt so close to him, as though they were two parts of a whole … she knows what he is thinking, what he is feeling, because she is feeling the same …
Her heart clenches painfully inside her chest. Slowly, almost without volition, she walks to the table and spreads her damp dupatta over both their clothes on the table, her hands shaking as she smooths the cloth unnecessarily. He looks down at her hands without speaking. His hand comes over hers to stop the nervous movements and she draws in a breath sharply.
He turns then, to face her, and looks deep into her eyes. His other hand comes up to her face to gently push back the damp locks of hair from her cheek, behind her ear … she bites her lip, her eyes closing as his lips follow his hand …

Ar (so softly it’s little more than a whisper): Riddhima …
Ri (whispering back, her voice lost in her throat, heart beating so fast she can barely breathe): Armaan …
She feels his kiss like a soft brush of warmth against her skin … then he bends and lifts her into his arms. She opens her eyes to find him looking intensely at her. She wraps her arms tighter around his neck, her head falling back against his shoulder.
He takes her to the pile of straw in the corner and lets her down on it gently. He kneels next to her … eyes burning into her in the dim light … she can’t look away.

She raises herself to put out a hand and cover his eyes …
Ri (her voice is shaking, little more than a whisper): aise mat dekho …
His hand covers hers and brings it down to his lips … his hand is shaking too … he turns away with an effort …

Ar (speaking in a muffled voise): tum bhi …

The dim barn is lit by a brilliant blue flash of lightening as a deafening crack of thunder splits the sky … for a moment, they stare into each others’ eyes in the diamond sharp blaze … then, outside, very near, a giant tree crashes to the forest floor, and the fragile walls of the barn shake with the impact so close by.

Riddhima screams and clutches Armaan tightly, hiding her face in his chest, and feels his arms come around her and hold her in a grip of steel. The thunder outside quietens … she can feel his heart thudding deafeningly against her … he doesn’t release her, and she makes no attempt to move away from his arms … to release her hold … she tightens her grip and looks up into his face. He is looking down at her, his emotions stark in his eyes, even in the dim light … He bends his head to her and she closes her eyes, unable to stop him … and herself …

The thunder rumbles again outside, lightening flashes, the wind whips up its fury and the rain pelts down steadily as the storm rages outside unabated.

Inside, oblivious to the fury of the elements, another kind of storm gathers strength … and bursts …


Next morning

Riddhima wakes up very early – the cold grey light of dawn is just stealing into the barn through the small window. She looks at it, trying to remember where she is … and then memories flood back … her birthday, the temple, the barn …
Armaan is still sleeping peacefully … she looks at him, her heart full, and wraps his jacket more closely around herself. He stirs a little, and she waits … then he rolls over and goes back to sleep.
Riddhima goes to the table and checks her clothes – they are dry. Quickly, stealing glances at Armaan, she struggles into her kurta and pulls her dupatta around her. Armaan’s jacket … she looks again at him … as quietly and gently as she can, she covers him with the jacket and he stirs again. For a moment she kneels next to him … her hand goes out to touch his face … then she stops herself … she whispers … I love you.

She goes to the door of the barn and opening it slightly, she looks out. The storm has passed … she stares outside, not seeing a thing, hugging her arms around her.
Armaan wakes up and for a minute he lies there, looking at her. He remembers the events of the night, and a burst of protectiveness surges through him.
He gets up and goes quietly to her. She looks around suddently as she feels him approach … as he comes to her, she blushes and looks down, unable to meet his eyes.
He lifts her chin with his hand to make her look at him … she still doesn’t meet his eyes.
Ar (very softly): mujhe dekhogi nahin?
She shakes her head.
Ar: kya main dekhne mein itna bura hun?
A small smile comes on her face, but she still doesn’t look up.
He pulls her to himself and holds her tightly in his arms.
Ar (softly): I love you …
She looks up at him, her eyes moist, her heart too full for words. He sees the sheen of tears and frowns.
Ar: Riddhima …? Kya hua?
Ri: Armaan … hum kabhi alag nahin honge na?
Ar: Riddhima …? Tum yeh soch bhi kyun rahi ho …?
Ri (tears welling over): Pata nahin Armaan … jab bhi meri zindagi mein khushi aati hai … mujhe dar lagta hai … ki yeh mujhse chhin na jaaye … aur hamare rishte mein itne utaar chadhaav aa chuke hain … lekin ab … agar tum mujhse se door ho gaye, to main seh nahin paaungi, Armaan …
Ar (he lifts her chin to make her face him, and looks very seriously into her eyes as he speaks, as though to convince her of the truth of his words): Aisa kabhi nahin hoga, Riddhima … bas, ab kuch dinon ki to baat hai … phir shaadi bhi ho jayegi … aur phir hum kabhi bhi … ek pal ke liye bhi alag nahin honge (he holds her tightly again, trying to reassure her without words, and she relaxes a little, her fears receding as she lets his love surround her.
They stand for a few moments like this, together, feeling a closeness of the hearts and minds, a oneness, a togetherness …
… then he looks at her again.
Ar (a little urgently): Riddhima … humein vapas jaana chahiye … jaldi … sab ke uthne se pehle …
She nods, understanding. They leave for the resort, reaching before anyone wakes up and stealing quietly back into their rooms.





Next morning (the one we didn't use)

Riddhima wakes up very early – the cold grey light of dawn is just stealing into the barn through the small window. She looks at it, trying to remember where she is … and then memories flood back … her birthday, the temple, the barn …
Armaan is still sleeping peacefully … she looks at him, her heart full, and wraps his jacket more closely around herself. He stirs a little, and she waits … then he rolls over and goes back to sleep.
Riddhima goes to the table and checks her clothes – they are dry. Quickly, stealing glances at Armaan, she struggles into her kurta and pulls her dupatta around her. Armaan’s jacket … she looks again at him … as quietly and gently as she can, she covers him with the jacket and he stirs again. For a moment she kneels next to him … her hand goes out to touch his face … then she stops herself … she whispers … I love you.
She sits down next to him, and draws up her knees to her chin, resting her head on her knees. One hand picks up a blade of straw and she twirls it in her fingers, her eyes unseeing, her brow furrowed.
Armaan wakes up … for a moment, he is also confused as to where he is … then he sees her sitting next to him and remembers. He sees that she has covered him with his jacket, and his eyes soften. He sits up next to her. She gives him a quick look, then looks away. With a gentle finger, he tucks a lock of hair behind her ear.

“Kab uthi?”

“bas, abhi ….”

“Mujhe jagaya nahin …?”

She shakes her head wordlessly. He takes the straw from her hand, and lifts her hand to his lips.
“I love you, Riddhima,” he says, softly, intensely. She looks at him then and he is startled to see a sheen of tears in her eyes.
“Riddhima … I’m sorry … I’m really sor…”

Before he can complete what he’s saying, she puts her hand to his mouth to stop the words. She shakes her head, still unable to speak. Armaan gets even more worried at her continued silence.

“Riddhima, … kuch bolo to … please …”
She whispers then … “Armaan …. Hum kabhi alag to nahin honge na?”
He is shocked at her words. “Riddhima … tum aise kaise bol sakti ho … ab??? Tum aise soch bhi kaise sakti ho?”

A tear trickles down one cheek. “Pata nahin, Armaan …. Jab bhi main bahut khush hoti hun … mujhse meri khushi hamesha chheen jaati hai. Ab to … bahut khush hone se bhi dar lagta hai … hamare rishte mein itne utaar chadhaav aa chuke hain, lekin ab … agar tum mujhse door hue, to … main sehen nahin kar paaungi, Armaan …”
He pulls her into his arms and holds her close to him as though trying to reassure her without words.

“Aisa kuch nahin hoga, Riddhima. Hum saath hain … aur hamesha rahenge. Aur … ab to kuch hi dinon mein hamari shaadi bhi ho jayegi … (he smiles at her) … phir chah kar bhi tum mujhe apne se alag nahin kar paogi!
He holds her tight again and whispers, “Tum meri ho, basket … sirf meri …”

He presses a kiss against her temple. She relaxes against him, feeling surrounded by, reassured by the warmth of his love, her fears receding.
Then he looks at her again.
Ar (a little urgently): Riddhima … humein vapas jaana chahiye … jaldi … sab ke uthne se pehle …
She nods, understanding. They leave for the resort, reaching before anyone wakes up and stealing quietly back into their rooms