I'll Love You Longer Than Forever

Chapter Ninety Four

"Ummmm… What?" Armaan & Riddhima sputtered in unison. "What did you just say?" Armaan continued. 

"You're getting engaged today," Rahul repeated. 

"Today? As in, today today?" Riddhima asked. 

"Yes, Riddhu. Today. Now. In a few hours," Rahul explained patiently. 

"What?" Armaan & Riddhima cried once again. 

"Haan," Anjali said. "Kyu? Koi problem hai?" 

"Nahi!" They both answered, a little too quickly, making the gang chuckle. 

Riddhima blushed and looked down. These people were such idiots. Even in such a situation, they couldn't stop teasing. 

"Di… Woh aise achanak?" She asked. 

"Achanak kahaan, Ridzy? Armaan ne toh tujhe already propose kar diya haina," Anjali replied. 

"Haan. Lekin… Yeh… I mean… Maine bilkul expect hi nahi kiya tha," Riddhima said. 

"Exactly!" Armaan seconded. "Tum ab aisa bomb fodoge toh koi bhi shock ho jaayega."

"Uh… Guys, woh… Actually… Pichli baar… Um… Pichli baar jo hua uske baad, Dr. Shashank aur Billy Uncle ko laga ki tum dono ko kuch batana nahi chahiye. You know… Kyuki unhe lagta hai, and I quote, jab bhi tum dono ko pata hota hai ki kuch hone wala hai, tum sab gadbad kar dete ho. Already do baar kuch na kuch galat ho chuka hai. Isliye iss baar kisiko koi issues nahi chahiye the. Toh humne socha ki…" Nikki trailed off. 

"Ki humein batao hi mat!" Armaan finished for her. The gang nodded. 

"Armaan…" Atul said. "Tujhe… Tujhe bura laga kya? Humne tum dono se pooche bina yeh sab kiya?"

"Oyye!" Muskaan jumped to their defense. "Isme bura lagne wali kya baat hai? Ek toh humne sab unke liye kiya. Unki engagement ke liye. Aur upar se… Ab yeh log humein attitude bhi de rahe hain!"

"Thand rakh, Muskaan!" Rahul told her, not wanting to agitate Armaan and Riddhima further. What they'd just revealed was bound to come as a huge shock to them both. Of course, they needed some time to process. 

"Look," Abhi finally spoke up. "Armaan, Riddhima. Agar tum dono comfortable nahi ho, toh main, Anjali aur Rahul jaake abhi Dr. Shashank aur Mr. Mallik se baat karte hain. We'll figure it out."

"No, no!" Armaan cried immediately. "Iski koi zaroorat nahi hai!" 

"Waah, Hero! Badi jaldi hai tujhe engagement ki!" Muskaan teased. 

"Armaan!" Riddhima scolded, blushing.

“Okay, but, jokes aside,” Rahul said, “Humein pata hai ki ekdum se yeh news… thodi shocking hai. Maine kaha tha Shashank Uncle se ki ek baar tum dono se baat karle, lekin unhone toh bilkul meri baat hi nahi suni. Do baar aisa ho gaya, toh woh toh bilkul convinced the ki sab gadbad isliye hui kyuki tum dono ko pehle se pata tha, aur agar tumhe pata nahi hoga toh engagement iss baar achche se ho jaayegi.

Lekin, woh tum dono pressure nahi karna chaahte. Toh agar tum dono abhi ready nahi ho, toh bata sakte ho. Koi darne waali baat nahi hai. Thoda time le lo, ek doosre se baat karke, soch samajhke jawab dena, okay?”

Armaan & Riddhima looked at each other and gave him a curt nod. 

“Okay!” Rahul exclaimed, clapping his hands once. “Let’s go!” Saying so, he ushered Armaan & Riddhima upstairs to an empty room.

“Take your time,” Rahul reiterated. “No pressure.”

The couple nodded meekly. Rahul smiled at them and then left, closing the door behind him. As soon as he did it, Armaan turned to Riddhima, a huge grin lighting up his face. “Are we doing this?” He asked her.