Next morning, a group of six consisting of Armaan, Riddhima, Khushi, Arnav, Kripa, and Angad left for Jungle Adventure. It was going to be a fun day. It was also their last day in Goa. Only, Khushi wasn't too happy with Arnav tagging along everywhere with them and Riddhima was still mad at Armaan.

They split into two canoes, one consisting of Armaan, Riddhima, and Angad and Arnav, Khushi and Kripa in the other. Khushi wanted to be in the other canoe so she wouldn't be in the same one as Arnav. But then Kripa gave her a look and looked at Riddhima and Armaan. She sighed, she couldn't go back on her own mission. Finally, she reluctantly agreed with the set-up. Once they set off, Armaan looked at Riddhima. He was happy to see she hadn't taken off the bracelet. Though, she was avoiding him to let him know she was still mad at him.

She made it clear to him, "Only reason why I'm still wearing it is because I can't take it off with one hand." He chuckled at her excuse. Did she really think I was going to believe her? If she really wanted to take it off, she could have asked any number of people to unlatch it for her.

"What's wrong with buying something for you?" He questioned.

She looked at him, wondering if he truly wasn't able to understand her perspective. "Armaan, the problem is that you buy things without looking at the price."

"I can buy anything I want to with my money, and for whomever I want to."

"Fine! You win. Do whatever you want. Buy whatever the hell you want for whoever you want to. My opinion obviously makes no difference. And I'm not in the mood at argue. All I want to do is enjoy."

Armaan sighed. Why was she being so difficult? "Your opinion makes all the difference."

She heard it, but pretended not to as she started talking to Angad. "So, you and Kripa?"

"Don't start, girlfriend." Angad warned her to stop before she started. He had spent the most of the trip hanging out with Kripa. But, here is the reason he gave, "We both were the odd ones out with you and Armaan and Khushi and Arnav."

Riddhima didn't believe it, "Yeah, right. Why won't you just admit you like her?"

"Why won't you admit you like that bracelet Armaan got for you?" He threw back at her, causing her to glare at him. She didn't need Armaan to head that.

"I don't." She lied, and got up to get him to row. "Your turn."

She was going to take his seat while he took hers, but he tripped her on purpose. She fell the other way on Armaan. He held back a chuckle while Armaan's arm went around her.

He glanced at where she landed with a smirk. She felt shy for only a second at being on his lap. Then she realized she could have fallen in the waters. Her fingers had clutched on to his shirt, a relieved sigh escaping her lips as she hadn't fallen in the water. She really did fear deep water and drowning, even if she was strapped in a life-jacket.

"Not cool, Angad." She admonished him though he did not feel guilty over his actions at all. There were multiple people in their life always playing cupid, and they yet wouldn't just get together. If there was a real cupid, even he would give up on love after everything these two did to run from their feelings.

===

@armaangupta Jo bhi mai ban paaya hu; tumse hi... hey you, I owe you two everything. :* <3 PS: I hate you both for hanging out without me

Attached was a picture of Riddhima and Khushi that Riddhima had taken from her day out with Khushi and had sent to Armaan. The two of them had been at the mall shopping and stopped by the food court for a late lunch. Khushi was seated on Riddhima's lap sideways as she had fit both of them into the frame.

Khushi laughed and showed Riddhima the post Armaan had made within twenty minutes from when the pic was sent to him. Riddhima pleaded, "Please tell your brother to stop posting my pics everywhere. Just because we did that interview, he thinks he has the free reins now."

Khushi admonished her, "Oh please, Ridzzi. You like that he showers his love."

Riddhima couldn't deny that. She did find his actions sweet. He didn't leave any opportunity to make her feel special. And usually, it was through random phrases from songs that he used as captions, using them as a way to let her know what his current mood was.

"Gosh, just look at the comments! Everyone loves you two." Khushi commented, showing her the phone screen again. Riddhima first read Khushi's response.

@khushigupta Bro that's what you get for being too busy.

@armaangupta still hate you two >.<

@khushigupta love you too <333

Riddhima returned the phone, reminding her. "Shopping for Diwali gifts. Remember? We've only managed to buy 3 gifts so far."

Khushi put her phone away, slurping on the remnants of her milkshake. "Right. Let's go." They disposed of their trash and went down a floor in the mall to continue their shopping. The next time Riddhima opened her phone, she just about dropped it in the shock of the number of countless notifications. It had pretty much drained her battery from 54% to 32%.

"What the fuck is the matter with your brother?" Riddhima cursed out loud, scrolling all the way down to realize what had started that surplus amounts of messages.

"What'd he do now?" Khushi questioned, walking up to her from the end of the isle in the kids store they were in getting a gift for Aarav.

"This," Riddhima showed her phone.

@armaangupta guys! Help a guy out! @fulloflove refuses to accept my follow request! Such a mean girl she is.

He had added a picture of her that had been taken during Khushi's calendar launch, letting people know who the ID he had tagged belonged to.

And that had led to the thousands of fans who had seen his post on IG in the last hour to send her DMs. All said the basic thing. Now that everyone also knew what her ID on the social media was, they had sent her follow requests. People couldn't find her easily before since her profile was on private mode.

"I'm this close to deactivating it."

Khushi suggested, "Or, you could just accept it. I understood why you didn't before because neither of you wanted others to know that you were R. Gupta who wrote his lyrics but now? What's the issue?"

"The fact that I don't know these 2.3K people who sent me a follow request in the past hour!" Riddhima exclaimed as more and more DMs and requests flooded in.

@fulloflove @armaangupta what have I told you about peer pressure? You know better!!

@armaangupta @fulloflove you didn't leave me another choice :(

@fulloflove @armaangupta so you give me a heart attack with getting your fans to blow up my phone? >.<

@armaangupta @fulloflove Funny, I wasn't aware you could get a heart attack when you don't have a heart

Riddhima gaped at his bleak comment. "How dare he say I don't have a heart?!"

Khushi chuckled, "Pretty sure he means you can't have a heart attack when your heart belongs to him."

Riddhima's jaw shut close, realizing the indirect meaning. She had simply read the direct lines and reacted. "Oh."

Khushi shook her head, having picked out the gift she wanted to buy for Aarav while Riddhima and Armaan had been replying on the post to each other for the public to see. With the latest feature on IG where people could also press a heart to like comments, Riddhima's phone was receiving more and more notifications each second.

"Anyway, let's go. I've got what I wanted."

Riddhima followed her out, though her head was buried in the phone as she replied.

@fulloflove @armaangupta Rude! Now I'm def. not accepting your request.

@armaangupta @fulloflove even if I said pleeaasseeeeee?

@fulloflove @armaangupta even then! :P

@armaangupta now you're just proving my point. See guys, she really doesn't have a heart :(

@fulloflove @armaangupta don't you have any work to do rather than spread false rumors about my heart?

@armaangupta @fulloflove right now, my most imp work is to get your follow back

Riddhima didn't get a chance to reply as her phone blanked out on her, dying. Khushi laughed at the expression she pulled before grumpily stuffing her phone back in her purse. Khushi texted Armaan what had happened, so he wouldn't worry on why she didn't reply.

===

All the time Armaan spent with his friends, his sister, Riddhima, he knew what he wanted in life. There should have never been confusion of what to do next. Singing was meant to be temporary, and he was ready to make the sacrifices.

On the way back to his penthouse in Mumbai, he sent the message to his manager.

<<Armaan: Set up the interview for Saturday.>>

Saturday was day after tomorrow.

He was going to take one day to help Khushi and Riddhima settle into the place, and then he'd get on with the more important things.

Armaan was in the shower Friday morning and his phone went off. Khushi bounced on the bed on her stomach to look at the Caller ID. It read "Never Ignore". Khushi rolled her eyes at her brother's tendency to keep weird tags as contact IDs instead of names.

She answered the call, "Hello, who is this?"

The person asked back, a female voice. "Who is this? Where's Armaan?"

"I'm his sister. Now, who are you?" She questioned while walking out of the room and to the living room area.

"I'm his manager, Suvarna." She introduced herself, "Get Armaan on the line."

Khushi did not like anyone ordering her to do anything, and so she snapped at her. "He's busy. If you have a message, speak and I'll let him know. If not, I'll be ending the call now."

"Just let him know the interview we talked about is confirmed for tomorrow. I'll email him the details."

"Okay, bye."

Riddhima turned up from the kitchen and questioned after hearing the tone, "Who got you mad? Arnav?"

Khushi scoffed, "Please, I don't let him affect my mood."

Riddhima's face said otherwise. "Yeah, you do."

"Whatever."

"If not Arnav, who was it?"

"His manager, Suvarna." Khushi answered, sitting on the couch and pulling her feet up. "He's got some interview tomorrow. In case I forget to tell him, remind him will you?"

Khushi asked to cover her tracks, as many times she'd forget to relay the messages after she'd answer his calls. Armaan had often scolded her to not answer the calls if she wasn't going to give him the messages, but that still didn't stop her. She loved irritating him from time to time in order to bring out the sibling rivalry. She'd claim how unnatural they were at times. Being siblings, it should be their birth right to fight and argue all the time. But Armaan? He almost always give in to Khushi's whims without a fight. He just loved her so.

Riddhima took a notepad and pen and passed it to her. "Here. Write it down. I refuse to be the messenger between you two."

Khushi exaggerated by rolling her eyes, "As if. If anything, I end up being the messenger when the two of you fight."

Riddhima laughed, 'Yeah, right. Stop lying. You just lock us up in one room so you don't have to do the work."

"Well, duh. Only an idiot would want to get between you two." Khushi commented, finishing writing the message.

"Our fights are not that bad." Riddhima defended, for she believed atleast in the past two years, they haven't really fought. She wasn't counting their disagreement in Goa over the bracelet. "Anyway, just stick it to the fridge. The number of times that guy drinks juice during the day, he's bound to get the message."

Khushi laughed at that as well. It was ridiculous - Armaan's obsession to apple juice.

===

The journalist who was going to be conducting the interview was one Armaan was familiar with. She had a name of herself in the entertainment industry. Sapna Shah. Despite being the young age of 24, she was a well-respected journalist. The reason she was famous: she had a way of getting things out of celebrities with her line of questioning. She gave meaningful interviews instead of giving in to the celebrity rumors, gossips and scandals.

Suvarna Rai, Armaan's manager confirmed one last time, "Are you sure you want her to interview you? We can get someone else from the channel to..."

Armaan interrupted her, having made up his mind. "Suvi, its fine. Sapna or anyone else, it doesn't make a difference."

She sighed and stood up with Armaan to leave the green room they had been allotted, "Will you atleast tell me what you plan on announcing?"

Armaan knew she had to be a nervous mess with his continued insistence on letting it be a surprise. He also knew Suvarna was not going to be too accepting of his decision. It had been why he had been reluctant to tell her. He didn't want her to talk him out of this decision.

Armaan walked on the set as Suvarna handed him his jacket and he put it on. He noticed Sapna by the camera as a make-up artist did her touch up. She nodded at the guy that that was enough when she saw Armaan and went to greet him. "Armaan. Hi, Sapna Shah."

Armaan chuckled, shaking her hand, "Sapna, ofcourse I know who you are."

She smiled in response and pointed out, "Well, we are officially meeting for the first time."

"Indeed." He answered and she waved for him to sit on one of the single couches while she sat on the other. "Thank you for agreeing to this interview so last minute."

Sapna gave him a look, "Seriously? No, I should be thanking you. We have all been waiting for the latest from you but you've been avoiding us for some time now."

Armaan didn't get a chance to respond as the cameraman announced they were ready to begin the interview. Sapna, getting in her professional stance and sitting more upright, looked in the camera. The man behind the lens showed a thumbs up to signal they were good to go.

"A lovely good morning to all our viewers. This is Sapna Shah, and welcome to my show. As always, we bring you the latest from our celebrities and keeping to that, in our midst today, we have the latest heart-throb singer of our nation. A name I'm sure all girls must go crazy when it is said. This 21 year old has released 2 albums in the last 2 years. 6 songs. Ladies, and gents if any are watching, please welcome the one and only, Armaan!"

She looked at him with a grin, and with that the camera shifted to focus on him as well. "Thank you for having me here, Sapna." He said to her before looking at the camera, "Hi everyone, hope you all have had a fabulous summer."

"If I may ask, how was your own vacation? We have the latest pictures of yours from your Instagram account."

"Yes, great. It was amazing. Actually, I think it was well needed." He answered, thinking back to the time spent with family and the much needed time with Riddhima.

Sapna agreed, "Oh yes, I'm sure. Balancing work and studies cannot be an easy task."

"No, not at all. Especially when you're taking all science courses."

Sapna spoke, impressed, "Wow, talented and intelligent, huh? Is there something you can't do? Singing. Playing the guitar. Composing music. What's next, acting?"

Armaan laughed. This is what he meant. She had a way of twisting things out of her interviewees. "Oh no. Trust me, I'd be a horrible one."

"I'm sure that's not true." Sapna spoke otherwise, "You definitely carry the confidence and looks. Didn't you ever take part in school plays?"

"Sure, once. But, I never made it to the stage. I remember it was our science teacher directing the play as we didn't have a drama class then. She got so fed up with me arguing over everything that she kicked me and my friend out of the play. My friend, she was so mad at me. I had to go beg the teacher to give her role back to her. She agreed, but made me paint the set for it. I'm sure she regrets that decision even today, because... let's just say the night sky was painted green instead of dark blue."

Sapna laughed at the last comment, "Was that you getting back at the teacher for making you paint?"

"Oh no. That was my sister getting back at me, and before you ask, no. I won't tell you why."

"Dang." Sapna commented as he beat her to it, "Okay, well. You often talk about your sister in your interviews. Are we ever going to see her? Even on your social media, you hardly post pictures of your family."

"Yes, well, I try to keep my personal life personal more for the sake of their own privacy. Also, she was studying out of the country and she's just returned a month ago. That's actually why I took the vacation. It was the perfect time, you know? So yeah... maybe you'll see me on some random street with her as she'll be living with me or maybe you won't."

"Well, it certainly sounds as if you admire her."

Armaan smiled and nodded.

Sapna changed the line of questioning, "Alright, well let's get to the part that I'm sure our viewers might be more interested in."

"Yes."

"Speaking of your past songs, we've noticed a somewhat shift from soft songs to a more upbeat tune. Still, the themes of your songs remain to be romantic in nature. Do you mind sharing where this comes from? When you compose your songs, what's usually going on in your mind?"

"See, as I have mentioned in past, I don't write my songs. So when I do get the lyrics, I read them and then spend a day or so to just let them sink in, you know? I try to say them in my head, see what mood it sets for me. And then depending on that, I fit the tunes, notes, beats, etc. And it's not just me doing all that work anymore. It just so happens that my first album was a set of songs that were written when I was still in school so it had a calmer mood to it. Second one, you know, you go to college, spread out from your home, explore."

"And thus the upbeat tunes." Sapna concluded, with Armaan nodding in response. "That definitely makes sense. Now, I know for a fact you have been asked this before and you haven't answered, but I'll try my luck as well."

Armaan said, "Go on." Somewhere having an idea of what he'd be asked.

"You mentioned you don't write your songs, and all your songs except for Tu zindagi have a common lyricist." Armaan chuckled. Sapna too smiled as she noticed he had figured out where this was going. "R. Gupta, correct?"

Armaan commented, "I knew you were going to ask that. Why is everyone so curious?"

Sapna answered in a jovial tone, "Well it certainly does add to the mystery when you refuse to say who she is, and no one else in the industry seems to know her either. The very first video of yours that went viral, even in that you mentioned her."

Armaan nodded, knowing which video she was talking about.

"Honestly, why such mystery surrounding who she is?"

"I think it's simple, isn't it? She doesn't want to be known. It's her choice and I respect that."

"Alright, next question. Will you ever sing a song written by someone else?"

"No."

Sapna raised her brows at his blunt and instant answer.

He eased his tone as he continued, "Don't get me wrong. All the well-established lyricists we have in the industry are amazing and I love their work. This is just a personal choice. I grew up turning her words into music. The only reason I sing is because of that and I don't want to lose that which started my journey as a singer."

"But what about exploring?"

"This is my originality, singing her songs. I'm not ready to lose that."

"So if she stops writing for you?"

Armaan smiled in response, conveying the unsaid words. If Riddhima stops writing, he stops singing. Sapna's eyes widened, "Oh. Wow. I'm sure that is not something your fans will be happy with."

"I suppose not... so in her defense, I'll say that that won't happen for a long time to come because ... she can give up on a lot of things but I don't think she'll be able to go on living if she stopped writing. Her head would probably explode if she kept everything within her, you know?"

Sapna eased up as he once again turned the atmosphere into a light one, removing the threat of him quitting singing. "For your fans' sake then. What does this mean about your plans for Bollywood if you have any?"

"Ah. This actually brings me to why I'm here today."

Sapna's interest was piqued, "Okay, go on."

"Yes, I have been getting offers and my own manager wants me to collab with some of the artists for a duet. I know this will sadden many, but the truth is that I have no plans for Bollywood or playback singing. I never did. When I first signed a contract with SLP, it was for just one song and it was meant to be a temporary thing for me... just a way for me to pay for my degree, a source of income. Then somewhere along the way, I got talked into another album and concerts around the country – things needed to promote the album. You know how it is, marketing and all"

"Sure, I get it. Now, there are rumors of tours?"

"Yes, which I am not sure I want to do at this point."

"What would be the reason for it?" Sapna interjected the question.

"My studies. Like I said, singing was meant to be temporary and I am taking science courses. There is no way I can be both a doctor and a singer."

"Are you saying you plan on giving up singing?"

"I'm saying I can't be a full time singer like many would like. Doing tours, going into Bollywood... that would all require all of my time and I have more dreams than singing."

"But wouldn't it be a one in a million opportunity?"

"Yes, ofcourse it is. But, I have always dreamed of more important goals. I'm not saying singing isn't important to me. It is, but so is becoming a doctor. I've always wanted to save lives, do something that would make the entire difference to a person's life, a family's life."

"Big dreams, huh?"

"You can say that."

"Well then, here's wishing that you can continue giving us more amazing songs for as long as you can, even though Bollywood will certainly be missing out on a talent of your caliber."

"Thank you. Yes, I am going to do my best in not disappointing my fans any more than I am sure I already have."

"So is there an update you can give us on any new songs you might have been working on?"

"There was one song I was working one before the breaks. Would you like to hear it? I think I can do that?" He directed the later question towards Suvarna, who nodded in response. "There, Suvi says I can."

Sapna chuckled, "Let's hear it then!"

"Now, I'll warn you all beforehand. This is an older song... I think I am going back to my softer tunes."

"I'm sure it'll be much welcomed either way." Sapna assured.

"Alright. Here goes. It's called Kuch toh hai." Armaan said, sitting up instead of comfortably leaning back on the couch. "Kuch toh hai jo dil ghabraaye,. Kuch toh hai jo saans na aaye. Kuch toh hai jo hum honthon se, kehte kehte keh naa paaye."

After a few vocals, he ended it at that and nodded his head in a bow when those present in the studio applauded. "Thank you, thanks!"

"As always, Armaan. Your voice is just intoxicating. I have to say, this sounds pretty damn romantic."

He laughed while saying thanks and accepting the compliment.

"Let me ask you this, the pain that I felt in your voice today... We know you have this charming, carefree personality, but have you ever been in love?"

"Come on, Sapna. In one way or another, we all have been in love at one time whether or not we are with them still. I'm sure even you've had one. School or college, hmm?"

Sapna grinned at his subtle way of deflecting the question. She didn't let it stop her though, "So is there someone you think of when you sing?"

"Honestly, yes. But mostly, I hold on to that feeling I felt when I first started to learn what love meant for me. See, the person you love can evolve, but I think that feeling doesn't. That stays the same, so I prefer to hold on that and the rest of the emotions just fall back in line, you know?"

"Hmm, I think that's a unique way of looking at it. And it is true to a great extent."

"Exactly, yes."

"So you think you can fall in love multiple times."

"It's possible, ofcourse. You love your parents, your friends, your neighbors..."

Sapna laughed at his joke along with him, "No, but really. Do you believe in true love?"

"Yeah, I do. I'm still too young to be talking big things on love, but I think you can fall in love a few times, but you only ever go all in for someone just once. You feel something so strongly for someone that you can feel as if you can't breathe properly if they weren't in your life. It would be that if they weren't around, nothing in the world would make sense. If that's not true love, than I don't know what is."

"Wow, there you go, girls." Sapna said turning to the camera, "We've run out of time for now, but parting words: Armaan does believe in true love."

Armaan joked, "Sapna, are you trying to get more girls to propose to me? Am I going to have to increase my security?"

Sapna laughed, "Oh trust me. You do that all on your own with how you just explained true love works for you. On a more serious note, Armaan, thank you for the first look of your upcoming song and it has been an honor chatting with you."

"The pleasure is all mine, Sapna."

"Some last words for your fans?"

"Uh... I know I've been silent lately but I promise to make it up soon. You all are simply amazing with all the love you shower on me, so thank you so very much for that and I know this interview might be bitter-sweet, but I hope you'll continue to support me on my next projects. I love you all." He then blew a kiss for the camera and then it tuned to Sapna.

"Thank you, Armaan. Ladies, I hope you enjoyed this segment. I'll be back in front of your screens again soon. Until then, stay blessed."

She smiled at the camera until a second later when the camera guy announced "Cut" and she stood up.

Armaan commented as they got up and walked down the steps of the set, "I don't get why Suvi was nervous with you doing the interview."

Sapna chuckled, "You're lucky, Armaan. Since it was your first time with me, I went easy on you."

Armaan shook his head, "Nah, you love me." He meant to say with that that she wouldn't grill him even if they had a second interview.

"Keep believing that." She answered with a wink. "Anyway, once again, I appreciate this."

Armaan responded with a friendly side hug before they parted ways. Almost instantly, Suvi came over to blast at him, "Announcing you're declining Bollywood without even discussing it with me?! What were you thinking?!"

Armaan answered in a dry tone, "I was thinking, its my life. I don't need your permission."

===

hola!

So this bank of updates is to make up for being absent last two weeks. I was going through some emotional things and couldn't bring myself to get the motivation to update, but here it is... I'm traveling for new years, so I'll try to see if I can sneak in some hotel wifi to update!

Happy holidays!!!