I'll Love You Longer Than Forever

Chapter Thirty Six

Armaan and Rahul on the other hand, were angry beyond words. They looked at each other and a silent communication happened.

Then, they moved in unison. Armaan held RK as Rahul landed the first punch.

"Armaan!" Riddhima shouted, appalled, just as Muskaan called out "Rahul!"

But, the boys didn't listen and soon, a fist fight broke out. It took sometime for the rest of them to pry Armaan & Rahul away from RK who took the punches a lot more easily than they had anticipated. Not once did he hit them back, moving only to block them.

After pulling them apart, Riddhima took Armaan, Muskaan took RK & Anjali took Rahul to tend to their wounds.

"Armaan tum paagal ho kya?!" Riddhima said as soon as they were alone.

Armaan raised his eyebrows in question.

"Tum aur Rahul, RK ko maar kyu rahe the?" she asked.

"Riddhima tumhe sunaayi thoda kam deta hai kya? Tumne sunaa nahi usne Muskaan se kaha ki woh engagement tod raha hai?" Armaan asked sarcastically.

"Maine sab sunaa bhi, aur dekha bhi. Sirf isliye ki usne aisa kaha, iska yeh matlab toh nahi na ki tum usse maarne par utar aao?"

"Toh tum kehna chaahti ho ki woh humaare saamne Muskaan se kuch bhi kahe aur hum usse jawaab bhi nahi de?"

"Maine aisa nahi kaha, Armaan. Tum meri baat ka galat matlab nikaal rahe ho."

"Toh tumne kya kaha, Riddhima?"

"Main yeh kehna chaahti hu ki is problem ka solution ladayi nahi hai. Jo bhi baat hai woh Muskaan aur RK ke beech hai aur poori kahaani jaane bina humein aise react nahi karna chahiye. Aur agar Muskaan nahi chaahti toh humein interfere bhi nahi karna chahiye."

"Toh woh kamina Muskaan se kuch bhi kahe aur hum bas khade - khade sunte rahe? Bina kuch kare?"

"Agar Muskaan aisa chaahti hai, toh haan."

"Kya bakwas kar rahi ho, Riddhima? Muskaan humaari friend hai. Usse protect karna humaari responsibility hai."

"Main jaanti hu, Armaan. Lekin tumhe uske perspective se bhi sochna chahiye na. Socho ki agar kal ko humaare beech koi problems ho gaye aur Rahul, Atul, Di, Muskaan ya phir koi bhi interfere kare, toh kya tumhe achcha lagega?"

Armaan shook his head mutely.

"Toh us hi tarah, zaruri toh nahi na tumhaara aur Rahul ka is tarah interfere karna Muskaan ko achcha laga ho."

Armaan nodded.

"Main yeh nahi keh rahi ki Muskaan ko protect karna buri baat hai. In fact, main bohot khush hu ki tum usse apni itni achchi friend maante ho ki tumne uske liye RK se ladaayi ki. Lekin Muskaan is baare mein kya sochti hai, humein woh bhi sochna chahiye. Main nahi chaahti ki iss baar kuch aisa ho jaise Nikki aur Abhi ke waqt hua tha, Armaan."

He sighed, nodding. Unable to help himself anymore, he wound his arms around Riddhima's waist and pulled her close. He kissed her forehead before whispering, "I love you."

Not moving his hands or lips, he spoke against her skin. "Main jaanta hu, jo tum keh rahi ho woh sahi hai. Lekin usne sabke saamne, bina kisi wajah ke Muskaan ke saath engagement tod di. Agar koi problem hai toh unhe sab kuch discuss karke, saath mein decide karna chahiye. Is tarah hum sabke saamne, bina Muskaan se kuch pooche, usne keh diya. Mujhe bilkul achcha nahi laga. Muskaan hum sabko apne fianc se milana chaahti thi aur ab toh woh uska fianc hi nahi rehna chaahta. Woh kitni embarrass ho gayi hogi."