I'll Love You Longer Than Forever

Chapter One Hundred & Twenty

After the mehendi ceremony was over, Riddhima went to get some rest, understandably tired from sitting still for so long. She was very sleepy too, having not gotten enough sleep last night because she and Armaan had been talking till the wee hours of morning. Intent to catch up on some of that missed sleep, she made herself comfortable in bed, only to be disturbed by insistent knocking.

"Kya hai?" Riddhima asked, irritated as she opened the door to see Armaan standing there.

"Baskettttt!" Armaan cried, rushing inside the room and closing the door behind him. "Tum kya kar rahi thi?"

"Main sone ki tayyaari kar rahi thi. I'm so tired, Armaan!" Riddhima whined. "Tum yahaan kya kar rahe ho?"

"Arreee... yahaan tum soti raho aur wahaan poori ki poori sangeet rehearsal finish ho jaayegi aur humein kuch pata nahi chalega!" Armaan cribbed. "Yeh time sone ka nahi... jasoosi ka hai! Humein pata lagana hoga ki woh sab milke kya khichdi paka rahe hain."

Any other day, Riddhima would have been very interested in partaking in these hijinks with Armaan, but today, she really needed a nap. So, she told him, "Armaan... kya karoge jaanke? Abhi thode time mein toh humein sab pata chal hi jaayega na? Yeh sab karne se humein kya milega? Bas humaara time waste hoga aur kuch nahi!"

"Lekin, Basket..." Armaan tried to say something, but she cut him off. "Lekin kuch nahi, Armaan. Tumhe jaana hai toh tum jao. But mujhe bohot neend aa rahi hai aur mujhe sona hai."

Armaan pouted. "Basket! Where is your sense of adventure? Tumhe kuch exciting nahi karna kya?"

"Tum rehne do!" Riddhima fired back. "Aise toh tumhe bada akele time spend karne ka mann karta hai... aur aaj jab sab kahin aur busy hai aur humein koi disturb nahi karega, tab toh tum kood-koodke kahin aur jaana chaahte ho."

Armaan's entire body language changed at her words. She was right. As always. When would he get such an opportunity before the honeymoon now? When both of them had nobody else to disrupt them? He didn't think he would. And to waste this precious time chasing a silly dance performance instead of spending it with her... There was no competition. Of course, he should take advantage.

"Hmmmm," he pretended to think, catching hold of Riddhima from around her waist and pulling her close. "You're right. Humein yeh time waste nahi karna chahiye. Iska thoda achcha use karna chahiye."

"Yes! So kar," Riddhima agreed. "Chalo... tum bhi toh thak gaye hoge," she commented, getting out of his arms, intent on going to bed. He pulled her back to him and held her tighter than before. "Lekin, agar main tumhaari baat maan raha hoon," he added. "Toh badle mein... kuch reward toh milna chahiye na?"

"Reward?" Riddhima asked, scoffing. "Ab isme bhi tumhe badmaashi soojh rahi hai?"

Armaan shrugged. "Mujhe kab nahi soojhti?"

"Armaaaaaan!" Riddhima warned.

"Riddhiiiiimaaaa!" Armaan repeated in the same tone as hers. "Ek kiss toh banti hai!"

"Really?" Riddhima questioned, though obviously very rhetorically.

"Really," Armaan confirmed. "I mean... mujhe sabki sangeet rehearsals dekhni hai, you know, like an adventurous person... lekin main itni badi qurbaani deke tumhe yahaan company de raha hoon jab tum boring, old logon wale kaam kar rahi ho... toh kuch toh reward milna chahiye na?"

"Hawww!" Riddhima cried, elbowing him, as she did not want to get her mehendi dirty by swatting him like she usually did. "Tumne mujhe old aur boring kaha?"

"Basket, tumhaare kaan kharab ho gaye hain kya?" He fired back. "Dekha... old hone ki nishaani hai yeh. And yes, maine wohi kaha. Ho tum boring. Arree... itni masti karne ka mauka hai lekin tumhe kya karna hai? Tumhe sona hai! Toh boring nahi bulau toh kya bulau?"