I forgot to post this yesterday, idk how :O SORRY! 

===

Riddhima wasn't as naïve as she would have been a year ago. And so, she did see what she was trying to do. She had played it safe till now. Even though she recalled Abhi's words, she reached for his hand on her shoulder. "Armaan, we don't have to play these games, okay? You and Khushi are family for me, you already know that. But yes... Khushi and you do hold a place in my heart and her place is different than yours."

"I hope you know how very sorry I am that I said those things to you back then." He mentioned the night that had ended their friendship – all thanks to the horrible words he'd spoken. "I didn't mean any of it."

She smiled at him, "Ofcourse I know that. You were being a jerk then, yes, but I did understand where you were coming from."

"Is that why you left?" He challenged her stance and past actions, "You didn't even give me a chance to apologize. You know, I came back that night."

"I know, mom told me." She nodded along as he didn't need to explain to her what he'd done after. She might not have stayed in touch with him last summer after it all happened, but her mom would tell her everything.

"Do you think you could ever forgive me?" He asked with all the vulnerability in the world. Her forgiveness, her acceptance, her love... it all meant everything to him and more.

"Armaan, yes I was really hurt you said those things to me." She began to explain her side in a calm tone and working on not letting her emotions sweep her away, "But, I also knew where I stood. Khushi is my best friend and will always be. I would do anything for her, sacrifice anything without a blink of an eye and you... Do you remember that time I said something about your parents and you got mad? Khushi had to lock us up in her room to get us to talk to each other again?"

He nodded, clearly recalling that argument. It was one of their bigger fights, but not the biggest.

"Yeah, so you see, we've both hurt each other plenty of times and more than my forgiveness, you need to be able to forgive yourself." She gave him the advice.

"But I said such mean things to you."

"Yes, but you forget that I'm not ignorant to your anger, Armaan, and when it's come to your sister, you've always been the most protective one. If you think I can ever hate you for the way you love her, then you couldn't be more wrong. It's one of your best features," she chuckled lightly before confessing, "actually, the first reason I fell for you."

He glanced away from her eyes, blushing a little at the compliment. Riddhima didn't compliment him often... well, more like never. It was a feeling in itself to receive a compliment from the person you are in love with.

She cleared her throat and tried to not be awkward after she realized her small acceptance of feelings, "Um, yeah. I think I'll go check if dad's done with his work."

She stood up and started walking towards the door. He called, "Hey, Riddhima?"

"Yeah." She twisted her head back in his direction.

He stood up from the couch and closed the distance between them in an embrace. "I missed you."

===

[Two Weeks Later]

Riddhima arrived at the airport and Kripa picked her up. She was back in Australia. She didn't want to. She wanted to stay in India for the summer, help Khushi and Armaan through these tough times – but both of them had forced her to go back and not cancel her summer courses. It was a university requirement to take atleast two summer semester with a total of 15 credit hours combined. Riddhima had already signed up for classes earlier, but then with everything that happened with their parents, she didn't mind taking the summer off.

The ride back to the apartment, Riddhima filled Kripa in on everything that happened the last two weeks she'd spent in India.

While at the airport, she had texted both Armaan and Khushi as well as her parents to let them all know she's arrived safely. Armaan texted back right away even though it was very late in India to text him again when she reached her apartment. She had to smile cheekily at his ordering words because it only went on to show he cared about her getting from the airport safely to her apartment.

She could feel it, the comfort between the two was returning to what it used to be. There weren't any hurt feelings or anger as there had been for the past year they didn't talk to each other. Everything was returning to normal, and with that came another realization for Riddhima.

There was no way she could move on from Armaan.

"Could you actually drop me off at Abhi's?" Riddhima asked Kripa who gave her a teasing look.

"Not even 5 minutes back and you can't wait to meet your boyfriend, huh?"

Riddhima rolled her eyes at the teasing, "Just take me there, woman, and focus on your own love story."

She sighed, "No love story, babe."

"What? What happened with Aaron?!"

"What do you think happened? Arnav." She muttered in a salty manner before beginning her rant, "I seriously wish he'd butt out of everyone's life! It's my life after all. I should be allowed to date whoever I want! I really thought he was changing when he let me go to Valentine's Day party with Aaron."

Riddhima whispered in a small voice to herself, "He was changing."

"What'd you say?" She asked as she didn't hear her.

Riddhima shook her head, glad for the escape as she pulled up in front of Abhi's apartments. "Oh nothing, just that I'm sorry. I know you really liked Aaron."

Kripa shrugged her shoulders, shifting the gearstick to parking. "Yeah, I did but I guess it is what it is. I'll find some way to get back to Arnie."

Riddhima smiled at the smirk on her friends lips and knew that Kripa was not one to slip into a sour mood simply because things didn't go anywhere with a guy she liked. Many a time, Riddhima admired her strong personality. "I'm sure you will. Thanks for the ride."

"Sure thing, Ridz. Go get your guy."

Riddhima quickly informed, "Yeah, right. Tonight, we're both going to be single ladies."

Kripa gaped at the shut door after Riddhima stepped out. "Wait, what? Why the hell are you breaking up with Abhi?!" Ofcourse, Riddhima didn't hear the question as the door was shut and she was always walking away from the car. Kripa muttered angrily how she was always the last person to learn of things as she revered out of the parking spot.

Riddhima knocked on the apartment door and waited a few seconds till Abhi answered the door. "Red, you're back!" He instantly took her in a tight hug, momentarily lifting her off the ground. "I missed you! I was going nuts here by myself."

Riddhima smiled, feeling a bit of guilt as she knew what she was about to do. After parting from the welcome back hug, she asked. "Abhi... can we talk?"

His expression turned grim because ofcourse, no one says those words to mean anything good. "I'm not going to like this conversation, am I?"

She pressed her lips in a firm line while shaking her head. "No, probably not."

"Come in," he invited her in first and after sitting on the couch, he asked. "First, how's everything back there? Khushi's dad?"

"Paralyzed, but the doctors are hopeful. With the right treatment..." She trailed off, letting him get the picture himself.

He nodded in acknowledgment, "Wow, that can't be easy."

"Yeah... but they've gone through things. I know they'll pull through." She was confident Khushi and Armaan could survive this. They were all survivors after all. Life hadn't always been sunshine and rainbows for them. "And actually, that's what I've been thinking about lately. It's caused me to reevaluate a few things."

"Like your relationship with Armaan?" He asked, for he had a feeling it had to do with him. He wasn't in the dark about her feelings for him after all.

"Amongst others, yes." She inhaled sharply to gather the courage as she's never had to have such hard conversations with people before. "Abhi, with Armaan, I've played it safe for years. If I hadn't, if I had actually confessed my feelings to him earlier, things might have been different. And now... now I do know what he feels for me. You told me about a month ago to live my own life, that I hold the key to my own happiness, not him. And I do get that, but see, even if he doesn't hold the key to my happiness, he is my happiness. I think whatever path I choose, it is eventually going to lead me back to him. What I feel for him is too deep and there is no way I could ever move on from that. It's another thing you were right about, I don't want to move on. And when that's the case, it just feels wrong to be with you and prolong my relationship with Armaan... I hope you understand."

He gulped before putting on a smile, "Ofcourse Red, I've always known we were temporary and that you'd eventually go back with him. I couldn't forget you two were the end goal even if I wanted to. I think you should give yourself and Armaan a chance now that you know he has feelings for you too."

His words felt like a strong wave that crashed to the shore and pulled back all her worries in the form of sand particles. Her heart truly felt light and guilt-free. "Thanks, Abhi. I really can't express how much this means to me."

He playfully chided, "Hey, don't talk as if this is the end. We'll still be friends, right?"

She grinned, "Yes, ofcourse. Who else is going to help me with my chem stuff?"

He rolled his eyes, laughing. "You always find a way to take advantage of me, don't you?"

She defended herself, "Hey, you let me."

"Right, now get serious and listen to me. Just don't let him fall back to his patterns and take advantage of you."

She firmly shook her head, "Abhi, he wouldn't do that."

"Riddhima, no guy ever intends to hurt the people they love, but still I have to warn you because I care for you. I know you, not Armaan. And forgive me for saying this, but sometimes you do let people walk all over you and you forgive people way too easily. You have a clean heart but the world is a cruel place."

Riddhima touched his hand, "Trust me, Abhi. I know this very well from experience and believe me, I never have to worry about Armaan. He'll go against the whole world to save me from any hurt if need be."

Abhi dropped it upon seeing her firm belief on Armaan and his inability to hurt her in the future. She may be too optimistic, but he couldn't dictate her actions for her. "Okay. So what now?"

"First, Armaan and I have to figure out how to help Khushi out of her engagement."

===

[Armaan]

I paced back and forth in Angad's room for the last five minutes. Angad finally stood up, having enough of my frantic behavior and no explanation, "Armaan! Stop fucking burning a hole in my rug and use your damn words to tell me why in the hell you are going back and forth like a madwoman."

"Stop swearing."

Angad rolled his eyes, "Don't be like the girls."

"I have a problem. A huge problem." I ignored his previous taunt, sitting at the edge of the bed and hiding my face in my palm with my elbows on my knees.

"No shit, Sherlock." Angad answered. I supposed my answer was an obvious one.

So, I expanded, mumbling into my palm. "I think I like Riddhima." He didn't respond, making me think he might not have caught my words. My voice had come out muffled after all. I removed my head from my palm to repeat clearly, but never got around to it.

He started laughing. Now, who is being a madwoman? In between his manic episode, he commented. "You think? You fool. You do like her!"

I shake my head, ignoring his amusement and starting to pace again. "No. No. Damn. No. I can't. I can't like her! She's Khushi's best friend. She's my best friend!"

"Hey!" He took offense, as he reserved that position for himself.

I correct, "Best girl-friend. You know what I mean."

"Much better."

I slap the back of his head, "Then do your fucking job as a best friend and help me out instead of laughing! Whatever this is, it has to end."

"Why?"

"Why? Why! Because!" I exclaimed at the ridiculous question of his. "My head is just hormones. I can't mess up my friendship with Riddhima because of that!" I went to sit again, but Angad hit my head this time. "Dude!" I scold him, for that hurt. I hadn't hit him that hard.

He shrugged, defending his actions as he sat next to me, "You asked me to help. I thought slapping your head to knock some sense in it would do the deed."

"What are you talking about?" I turned my head sideways, confused.

He dragged out a sigh, "You are such a slow idiot for someone who has near perfect grades."

"Khanna, just get to the point." I snapped at him, not in the mood for his snarky comments.

"The point is that it is not just hormones." He pauses before amending, "Well, it might be playing a huge part in the realization step, but dude, you've had feelings for her for forever. Your head is just not choosing to acknowledge it."

"No, I'm..." I start out to refuse that, but trail off. The more I focus on his words, the more I realize. "Fuck." I cursed. Have I really liked her for that long?

He chuckled, "Exactly. I don't get how someone can be so blind. Like honestly, you two know everything about each other, down to the littlest dirty details. You go to lengths for her when you wouldn't even bat an eye for some other girl. Whenever you're not in your karate classes or basketball practice, you're pretty much with her."

"And Khushi." I interject, but he dismisses it as unimportant.

"You're like the living encyclopedia on the life of Riddhima Gupta, and you want to call yourself just friends? I say bullshit."

"When did this happen? It can't happen!" I start to sit up.

He grabbed the back of my shirt and pulled me back on the bed. "No, you're not going to pace again!" He scolded before quickly changing his tone to a calm one and questioning, "Why can't it happen?"

"It'll complicate everything! I won't be able to be normal around her! And the biggest thing, let's not forget her. She probably thinks I'm some huge flirt or a player or whatever."

"Armaan idiot Gupta, this is Riddhima we are talking about! She sees through your exterior man!  She knows your core soul. Besides, technically, you haven't taken a girl out in what – three – months? You've obviously shown you're changing."

I observe him silently for a second, taking his words into considering. Perhaps, it was true? I had told her I hadn't even had my first kiss yet. Surely, her perspective had to have changed? Then, I narrow my eyes at him. "You know something." The way he quickly glances away tells me I have hit the bullseye. "You do! What do you know?"

"Nothing, man." He lies.

"Khanna, are you going to be my best friend right now or her fake boyfriend?" I try to intimidate him by crossing my arms and narrowing my eyes at him further, glaring.

But damn that boy. He doesn't get intimidated, "You're not going to hear anything from me, Armaan."

I ask hesitantly, thinking he would only hide something from me if it were a huge thing, "Does... does she like me too?"

"If you want to find out, you need to ask the source directly."

"Come on, man. Help a brother out." I aim for the emotional blackmail.

Again, he disappoints, "Ask her." He looked over at the watch, "Now, I have a date to get ready for. Get the hell out of my house and congratulations on your much awaited realization. We will discuss another time as to how it finally happened."

"You're an ass, you know that?" I say, for he has the nerves to dismiss my urgent problem for some meaningless date. "Whatever happened to bros before hoes?"

"Language, Armaan! Do I have to get your mom to discipline you on how to not name-call girls?" He dramatically exaggerated by placing his hands on his hips and acting as if he were disappointed.

I, in turn, roll my eyes and scoff. "It's not name-calling when it's a code."

Ofcourse, I don't believe that. I don't say such words. I only meant to tease him for breaking one of the top most bro codes.

But anyway, that is not the main concern.

The main concern is: how am I going to face Riddhima? If I ask her, everything will change. I hate change. If I don't ask her... well then. I may as well die of never finding out. The tension I'd feel would also come to be a very close second reason for my death.

Avoiding her was not an option.

===

authors note:

sorry yall, in a rush and wasn't able to reply personally to comments, but to ease your minds, YES. I will continue this. It's not the 'end-end'. It's just the end of this first book :)

*dun-dun-dun* !!! Who else is cheering? No more Abhi-Ridzzi. More on the fight in the past that had Riddhima not talking to Armaan at all: to do with Khushi... Armaan's guilt. His realization in the past. Angad with Armaan & Kripa with Riddhima <3 

Next Chapter 25 - Biological Parents on Tuesday. (I can try early but I highly doubt it seeing I'll be at a conference Fri-Sat & planning on taking Sunday to recuperate from it... maybe even Monday depending on how high-stressful it goes :$ but do gimme like 17 votes & 12 comments? ;) Its always a great thing to come back to those notifications!