Next day

Arnav went to school early as he could not sleep at night. So, he thought to leave before anyone woke up.

Many parts of his body were aching badly because of the beating of last night. Some parts had swollen up. He tried his best to hide those bruise marks, but few of them could be seen easily as they were visible on his face. Specifically, that one mark on his cheek.

He again made an unsuccessful effort to hide that mark with his uniform collar. He looked up and found some students staring at him.

He felt uncomfortable, so he turned back and ran out of the school.

..........................................................

The assembly finished a few minutes ago. Most of the students were gossiping while Khushi and her group were waiting for Arnav.

''What's wrong with Nannav? Why is he late today? '' Nk asked, irritated.

''If I had known that, then I would have answered you. You stupid.'' Aman replied dramatically.

''Stop it, guys. He must have stuck somewhere. Why are you two making it too dramatic? '' Zoya intervened to stop their never-ending discussion.

Aman was ready to pick another fight with her when Zoya signaled him to look at Khushi...

It wasn't rocket science to tell Khushi was more worried than anyone, but poor girl could not express her worries because of her voice.

''Don't worry, baby. He must be stuck with something very serious. Otherwise, he would not have made you worry when you were already sick. '' Zoya tried to console her.

Khushi just nodded her head, not knowing what to do.

.....................................................

Break Time

Khushi was more worried now. Arnav did not come to school. What might have happened that he did not come. Was he okay? Did he manage to return home safely after dropping her? Was he sick?

She had so many questions to ask, but to whom? Getting annoyed when she was about to lose her temper, she heard..

''Arnavvvv.... Where were you, man?'' NK shouted first..

Khushi looked up and saw Arnav standing at the door of their classroom with two heavy bags on his hands.

Arnav smiled at her, but she didn't smile back. She could clearly see his bruised cheek from far. Even the slight cut on his lips.

Arnav walked in just like any other normal day, but his posture was different.

''Aman, I bought some sweets for everyone. Can you distribute it to everyone?'' He asked Aman.

''Sure.'' Aman took the two bags from him and started disturbing them.

Everyone behaved normally, not minding about his rowdy look. They didn't avoid him like past. Some of them even voluntarily thanked him, too. This scenario brought back some past memories.

Flashback

Arnav entered inside the school with a few bruises on his arms and face. Everyone gave me disgusting looks. They behaved as if he were a pich of trash.

''Look.. look. The rowdy of our school has entered.'' Someone said from behind.

''Don't know this time with whom he fought?''

''Who asked him to come to school with like this?''

Ignoring all their comments, he proceeded towards his classroom.

Their classroom is always more like a fish market than a place to study with all the gatherings and gossiping. That day was no different either. But as soon as he entered inside the room, everyone fell silent and looked at him in fear.
Ignoring them, he went towards his seat and sat there.

Few gave him a scared look while Aman and NK looked at him longingly. If things were good enough, in a situation like this, they would have stayed beside him.

Present

Arnav walked towards Khushi and sat next to her. Khushi turned opposite, showing that she was angry.

''Sorry'' Arnav apologized.

Khushi didn't move.

''Sorry naa. I went to bring your favorite Jalebies?'' Arnav tried to melt her anger with the mention of her favorite sweet, but still no response.

''Don't you know the famous dialogue?'' Arnav paused after saying that.

Khushi waited for two minutes to know the dialogue, but when he didn't say that, she angrily turned towards him.

''What?.... You wanna know?'' Arnav asked dramatically.

Khushi nodded, folding her hands as she tried to show him that she was still disappointed.

''Ki........

''Ki.......

''Ki......

''Ki jalebi ko kabhi na Nabi bolte....''
(That never says no to jalebi...''

Arnav said that and started running outside of the classroom as he knew Khushi would surely come behind him.

They ran around the school and stopped at the backside of their school building when Khushi was out of her breaths.

''Okay.. okay. I'm sorry. I will never do anything like this again.'' Arnav promised.

Khushi looked away. Arnav came in front of her and held his ear.

Khushi stopped him from doing so and took the packet of jalebies from his hand.

They sat on the ground, and Khushi silently munched her jalebis. She forced two large jalebies into her mouth. When she was about to choke, Arnav handed her a water bottle. Khushi drank it slowly. Once done, Arnav wiped her mouth with a tissue.

''Such a baby.'' Arnav teased, making Khushi glared at him.

Arnav gestured like zipping his mouth and sat silently.

A few moments later, Khushi fully turned around him and looked at his face. Arnav didn't look up.

A minute later, Khushi traced the long red scar that had bruised his lips along with his cheek. Arnav closed his eyes as he did not want to let her see the moisturizer in his eyes.

Khushi tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. Arnav opened his eyes and looked at her as if nothing had happened?

''What?'' Arnav asked smilingly.

Khushi gestured him to talk about the bruise.

''It's nothing yaar. It's just... just.. yeah. I fell down and hit something.''

Khushi gave him a look as if saying ''Really. ''

''Yeah.. sacchi.'' Arnav said, avoiding looking into her eyes.

Khushi grabbed his hand and forcefully folded his sleeve and revealed some more of the red marks.

''This...''

Khushi showed him her palm as she wasn't in a mood to listen to his another lie.

''Such a terrible liar.'' Khushi mumbled.

Although her mumble didn't have any sound still Arnav knew what she said and made an innocent face to save himself.

''Is it panning a lot?'' Khushi's eyes held that question.

Arnav nodded his head negativity, to which Khushi angrily got up from there and started running towards the classroom.

Arnav, too, followed her. He entered the class and saw Khushi writing something. He wanted to approach her when Akash blocked his path.

''Arnav, thanks for the Jalebies. But I don't like Jalebi. So, I didn't eat them. Don't think I'm complaining about it. I'm just informing you so that from next time you don't bring them...'' Akash said.

He was on a mission to talk to him and wanted to talk more, but Arnav stopped him..

''Yet you will always get jalebi for me. I'm not going to buy any other sweet except them.'' Giving a clear-cut reply he walked towards Khushi and saw her giving a small paper to Aman.

''Your work will be done.'' Aman replied after reading the paper.

''What work?'' Arnav asked.

''None of your business. It's between me and Khushi. '' Aman said and smirked.

Khushi, too, nodded in reply.

''Okay. I WON'T ASK.''

They took their seats as the next teacher entered.

''What you wrote on that paper?'' Arnav kept asking in every five minutes throughout the class time.

After all their classes were over, everyone left the classroom one by one, but Khushi took enough time to pack her bags, and Arnav was patiently waiting for her. Arnav snatched her bag from her hand and started walking ahead when he bumped into Aman.

''Where is Khushi? ''Aman asked and looked ahead.

Seeing Khushi, he pushed Arnav and went to her and handed her a packet.

''My part it done now it's your turn..'' Saying this he left from there.

''What work! What's inside the packet? '' Arnav asked.

Khushi held his hand and walked towards the stairs. Then, she made him sit on one of the stairs, and she too sat on one of them.

Tearing open the packet, she showed him the anointment, and then after opening it, she carefully began to apply them to his bruise.

Arnav smiled, looking at her cute expression. She hissed each time she touched those wounds.

Once done, she got up and handed him the anointment along with a paper. Handing him the note, she ran away from their.

Arnav opened the folded paper.

'' Put it on your every bruise. If you didn't listen to me, I would never listen to you ever. One more thing.. who asked you to bring so many jalebies for the whole class? Have you gotten a job? No, na? Then why? Don't waste your hard earned money. ''

Arnav smiled, reading it. Then he carefully put it in his pocket and ran down the stairs to catch Khushi.

.......................................................

How was it? Let me know!

Thanks for reading

Krity🫰