"Us ne manzil pe la kay chord diya
Umar bhar jiska raasta dekha"

- Nasir Kazmi

★★★★★★

Riddhima closed her eyes for a minute and tried to calm down her heart beats which were on a racing spree.

She turned her head a little and met with his red and rage filled eyes. There was a safe distance between them for which Riddhima was thankful because she knows she won't be able to deal with that volcanic warmness.

Riddhima fully turned to face an irked Vansh. Not being able to hold his piercing gaze she looked down as if she found the floor more attractive.

"I...... I was...

She shuttered in his dominating proximity. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath calming herslef down and then looked at him again.

"Maa told me to give you coffee." She pointed at the tray which she placed on the table earlier.

Vansh narrowed his eyes to look at the tray and then at her.

"You are done. Right? " He asked, to which she nodded "Then get out." He said moving away, engrossing himself in a file he grabbed from his table to read.

Riddhima stood there for a second. Even though she wasn't waiting for him to welcome by pouring Rose petals on her but still this sounded so rude. She was hurt would be an understatement. He could have said that he was busy but no he bluntly asked her to get out from his room. She spared him a last glance and came out of his room with a  heavy heart.

"No no no Riddhima you can't cry on such petty things." She told herself moving toward the room she was given. Entering inside she sat on the bed egde contemplating her actual place in this house and most importantly in his life.

Didn't he want me as his wife?

She came back from her reverie when her phone buzzed. She instantly smiled looking at the caller's name.

"Papa" She said swiping right the call.
"How is my baby doing?" Her father asked in a gentle tone.

"I am doing good. How are you all? " Even though she tried to sound cheerful, a tear escaped her eye because she  hasn't seen her family for almost more than 12 hours.

"I miss you all." She said in a cracked voice.

"We are missing you too my baby. Come home we all are waiting. Rehaan is on his way, will be reaching there soon."

"Really?" She was surprised, she will be able to meet her family today.

Her father laughed at her excitement. "Come soon" He said before cutting the call.

Riddhima took out her carry bag, placing her mobile phone inside, she literally ran downstairs.

Uma smiled when she saw her daughter in law coming down in excitement.

"Maa Rehaan is coming to get me. I can go right? " She asked being a little skeptical to which Uma laughed "I know beta Rehaan is coming. It's a ritual where brother comes to get his sister the next day after wedding and then in evening husband goes to get her back." Uma told her.

Riddhima's excitement dropped down as soon as she heard husband. "You mean to say Vansh will come to get me? " She asked even though she knew the answer already, still was praying in her mind, what she heard wasn't true.

"Of course he will come to get you. Don't worry." Uma smiled.

That's my only worry!!!

Ek aur naya shyapa!!!

She fake smiled at her mother in law. She should not break her expectations, after all, she is his mother.

Riddhima shook her head, she doesn't want to think about him right now. She is in a good mood and she doesn't want to ruin it, thinking about his obnoxious behaviour. She is going to meet her family and that's all what matters right now.

"Riddhu" She heard someone calling her, turning to the side from where the voice came , she ran toward her brother, who was waiting for her to come jump on him like every other time and she didn't disappoint.

Riddhima ran to him and hugged him ever so tightly. The hug was saying it all, how much they both missed each other. Uma smiled at their bond.

"How have you been?" He asked coming out of her hold and scanned her face.

"I missed you. " She said and tears escaped her eyes.

"Pagal ladki" He wipped her tears "There is nothing to cry. I am here. " He gave her his brightest smile.

"Let's go now everyone is waiting. " Riddhima doesn't want to waste a second to see her family.

"Riddhima beta at least let him come in. " Uma chuckled at her eagerness.

Rehaan greeted coming inside and laughed along with his sister's mother in law and Riddhima pouted embarrassingly.

They both took a leave and left for their house after few minutes when Rehaan's phone buzzed revealing his father's call and he ordered his to come back soonest with his princess.

As soon as the car entered in the grill gates of their compound, she ran out of the car so carelessly that Rehaan had to scream to slow down but his words didn't even reach her because even before the words came out from his mouth she was no where to be seen near his proximity.

Since she stepped inside, she was sitting beside her father, hiding in his arms, her safest place in the whole wide world. She knows nothing will happen to her till he is beside her, her very own Iron man she use to call him. Surely, she missed her mother and hugged her mum too when she came but being daddy's princess since childhood, she missed him more no doubt.

It's a secret no one will tell that to mummy okay?

Garrulous Riddhima , didn't stop, she kept talking and talking till her heart's content because she knows no matter what they are always open to her witty replies and sarcastic comments even though Rehaan sometimes calls them lame but no worries because she always wins with majority on her side, her parents obviously who laugh at her lame jokes.

Riddhima was as happy as a clam being back to her home. The place where she lived for all these years, the place where she had her share of ups and downs in her life.

What? Being a student is not easy okay!

And don't forget about the college what a  rollercoaster ride the college have been. But she had a feeling that the original roller coaster ride is going to start now, what she had in the past was just the trailer.

Picture abhi baki hai mere dost.

She smiled opening the door of her room. She ate like a pig downstairs and now was feeling almost sleepy. She jumped on her bed happily.

Nothing gives more happiness than being on your own bed and feeling relaxed.

She closed her eyes and just like always the person came again in her la la Land. The person who brings a smile on her face, the person who has her heart, the person whom she loves.

No it's not my husband by the way because the Vansh I love was the Vansh Rai Singhania, the college topper, the guy everyone wants to befriend, the guy who was famous for his generosity, the guy who cracked jokes, the guy who smiled often. Not the one I married. He is a chalta phirta robot who doesn't even smile. My Vansh was the best.

"Riddhima wait yaar" Sejal screamed literally running behind her best friend.

"You know I can't" Riddhima yelled running toward the library. Bending her left hand a little she saw the time in her wrist watch.

"Shit you can't be late Riddhu!! " She said to herself and tried to take a deep breath while huffing when she finally reached the door, leaving Sejal far behind her.

She took her usual place hastily and like always brought a book in front of her to cover her face.

Her heart beated like a drum when she heard his foot steps. Yeah she is so used to this routine that she even knows that it's him by his foot steps. Wierd I know!

Riddhima peeked from the side of the book to look at his face clearly and her lips turned upward like every damn time she looks at him.

"The way you are going na, one day you will be given the award of best stalker if they ever made that category in college. " Sejal whispered slowly, huffing from the running session and sat beside her best friend.

"Shhh!! " Riddhima shused her friend who was interfering in her view with her hand. Riddhima swated her hand away. Her eyes never leaving her mesmerizing view.

There he was sitting with his friends. This was her daily routine, she had his every minute update, his whereabouts in college, his favourite food in canteen, his favourite colour, everything which we usually do whenever we like someone. Her face glowed like a fresh daisy as she gazed at his smiling face. That smile has her heart. She gets a new reason to love her life when she glance at him everyday.

Riddhima opened her eyes when she heard the knock on the door. She gave her mother a smile who entered inside with a bowl full of her favourite desert. Ras Malai! Even the name is mouthwatering. She kissed her mom on her cheek in return and her mom laughed at her cute antics.

"When is Vansh coming? It's already 6." Her mom asked

And the question left her speechless. Her moment frozen for a second. She didn't know he is coming or not and honestly speaking she is 99% sure he won't come.

Why will he?

"Accha tell me what should I make in dinner? He is coming here for the first time. I will make his favourite food. Do you know what he likes to eat? " Her mother asked brushing away the sticky liquid near her daughter's lips with a smile.

"'Order? " The man who was moving things from here to there in canteen hastily asked Vansh.

"One cup latte with a cheese dipped French toast and French fries. " Riddhima murmured from her table not loud enough to be heard by people in the canteen but it surely was heard  by her best friend who was sitting beside her having her food. Sejal shook her head when she saw Vansh moving to his table with the same food Riddhima said minutes ago. She is indeed a stalker, thought Sejal.

"Riddhima beta Where are you lost? Leave it yeh bata do you know what does he like?"

Riddhima wanted to chuckle. Her mom is asking does she know? Her mother is so naive. She doesn't know her daughter's achievements. Note the sarcasm.

"Mummy he likes everything. Aap kuch bhi bana do."

"Toh mai Paneer bana leti hoon. Vo toh kha hi lega. " Her mother went out of the room to prepare food for her son in law and Riddhima sat there with a dejected look on her face.

Khayega toh tab na jab aayega. Mujhe toh lagta hi nahi vo aayega.

Two hours later, Riddhima was regretting her homecoming. She should not have come here. Now what will she say when he won't come. She doesn't want her family to know what is going on between them.

Actually that's the main problem that nothing is going on between them. She tried to convince her family to have dinner without him but they rejected her idea.

Rehaan asked her to call him. Only if it was that easy for her. Though she tried for the first time after almost two years with her shaky hands but the phone was switched off. Even the destiny is playing games with her. She is actually happy that it was off because she doesn't know what will she say to him. They haven't talked normally since ages.

Two more hours passed and now every eye was on her. They were looking at her with  expressions which demaned answers to their unasked questions.

Sighing she mustered enough courage to let them know that he won't come and she will go by herself tomorrow morning. Let's have dinner she was hungry.

"Mummy papa I

Before she can say anything further Rehaan screamed " Finally Jiju is here. " Riddhima's eyes widened.

He is here?

She turned to look backward where her parents were giving gentle smiles. And there he was standing next to Rehaan.

Vansh Rai Singhania

She looked at him in shock. He was actually here. And shiver went down to her spine when his cold eyes landed on her gentle ones.

★★★★★★

He should not have been so cold directly get out bol diya aaise kon karta hai? 😏

So our Riddhu was a stalker back in college days. I am sure most of us are too. 🤭

Vansh is here to get her back. Is he here on his own will or due to someone's pressure that we will find out in the next one. Till then you all can guess and tell me ;)

Also today is the birthday of the girl who has caged all Riansh lovers in her book Caged In Love. Meri Priyashi03 pooji ka birthday hai please spam her with your wishes. 😉

Until next time

Read, vote and comment ❤