The Distance Between Us

Track Seventy - Aadha Ishq

Previously On...
The gang goes to Lonavala.
Armaan, Riddhima, and Tamanna confront Sid.
Armaan & Riddhima spend time together and share more with each other.

Track Seventy - Aadha Ishq

Riddhima checked her reflection in the mirror, smiling brightly as she got ready for her “official date” as Armaan had taken to calling it. They had come back from Lonavala a couple days ago, having the best time together. It was exactly what they had needed. Away from the hustle-bustle of the city and work, with no mounting responsibilities taking their time, Riddhima had spent almost all her time with Armaan, reconnecting with him. 

They took long walks around the property, spent their nights dancing in the garden, played with the kids till they fell from exhaustion, and joked around with their friends as much as they could. But in all of it, there was a quiet togetherness they shared that seemed too intimate but never enough. It was in the way Armaan would wink at her as he played football, in the way Riddhima's eyes would find his as they shared a laugh with their friends. It was the way their fingers would brush before Armaan would hold her hand, in the way Riddhima had curated an entire playlist of songs that she wanted to dance with Armaan to under the stars every single night. 

Ever since that confrontation with Sid, something had shifted between them. Many times, Riddhima felt that Armaan was just one breath away from admitting he loved her, but held himself back. She understood, of course, she did. There was too much history there, and Armaan wasn't ready yet. But, she still felt his love in every gesture. The way he would reach out to caress her cheek with the back of his hand, the way he would always smile just a little brighter after seeing her, the way he would seek her company above everyone else, insisting that they spend all their time together. It was a glimmer of that old Armaan, that old relationship that she cherished so deeply. It was an affirmation that though they had both changed and grown, things were still the same. Armaan still loved just as loudly as he did back then, and she could not have been more grateful. 

After they'd come back from Lonavala, Armaan had insisted on dropping her & Muskaan home, and in an unbearably shy and quiet voice asked her out on a date before leaving. Riddhima had been too charmed to do anything but manage a small nod that had made Armaan grin brighter than the sun. The hug he'd pulled her into afterwards had left her feeling its warmth for hours later. 

She'd been extremely excited about it ever since then, even going out shopping with Muskaan to find the perfect outfit for the night. Now, she looked at herself, dressed in a beautiful white sundress, she couldn't help but think back to the last time they'd had their first date. It felt silly now, being so shy about it, being conscious in Anjali's dress. She'd been such a different person back then, so unsure of herself where Armaan was concerned, and too timid and shy to keep up with him. 

It was funny how the tables had turned. Now, she felt sure of her feelings, of what she wanted out of this relationship with Armaan, while he was the one who was taking his time to analyze his feelings and find his footing in this tentative new beginning they'd found for themselves. But, she wasn't worried, especially not now, after everything they'd shared. She'd seen Armaan vulnerable in ways she never had before, not even when their relationship had been at its strongest. He trusted her enough to be open & honest with her like he wasn't before. That in itself spoke volumes. She was sure that sooner or later, Armaan would come back to her, and they'd be together again. 

“Kya tota lag rahi hai,” Muskaan whistled, breaking Riddhima's reverie. 

She laughed. “Shut up, Muskaan!”

“I'm serious,” Muskaan insisted. “Armaan won't know what to do with himself.”

Riddhima rolled her eyes at her best friend's antics though she was internally pleased. She wanted to look good for Armaan. It felt nice to feel comfortable in her own skin and not shy away from his attention, instead of being a bumbling fool stumbling her way through her first proper date in an ill-fitted dress she had “borrowed” from her oblivious sister.