Part 20:

After hearing what Arnav said, both Anjali and Aman looked at each other and felt bad for 'Sneha'. Their thoughts are disturbed by hearing Arnav's voice,

"I don't know what to do... I really felt bad when she is crying... I don't know why, but I felt bad. And she is asking me to do friendship with her. I don't know what to do... I'm really confused. Di, Aman you tell me what to do. She said she won't come in my path and she won't come in front of me even. Shall I accept her friendship? What if she creates any problem later? And I don't want any mess between me and Khushi. I won't spare anyone, if they try to create problems between me and Khushi"

"I don't think she will create problem. She seems to be a nice girl. Maybe you can accept her friendship" said Aman.

"Yes Chote... Aman is right... at least u can try..."

"Try...? Di you are saying to try? How can you say this? This is not any damn thing. Its feeling... what if anything goes wrong? What if after sometime, she begins all this love drama again? What if Khushi comes to know and misunderstands me? What will I do then?"

"Yeah... you are right Arnav... we couldn't take any risk."

"Then do one thing Chote... you talk with her and clear everything to her. You can't give her anything except friendship. If she is ready for that then you will continue."

"Hmm... I think you are right DI... I will do the same" with that he left for his room. After reaching his room, he thinks about what his Di and Aman said. "Di is right... I have to clear everything to 'Sneha', before I start a relationship with her. Either it is friendship or something else. I couldn't take any risk. And I have to be very careful about Khushi. I can't lose her." he said to himself. Thinking all these he went to sleep.

***********************

Sunday, Khushi spent her full day locking herself in her room. When Lavanya and Anjali called her to their house, she politely rejected their invitation. She doesn't want to meet Arnav now. They insisted her to come over there, but she rejected their invitation saying her sister will come to meet her. As a last attempt Aman and Arnav also invited her. But this time she said bluntly to Arnav that she can't come over there. She is not ready to face him. She knows well about what her condition if she sees him in front of her. She doesn't want to show her helplessness to any other. Full day she spent her day alone not even answering her family's calls. She didn't even take her food. She is totally lost.

It is Monday morning when Khushi woke up with the alarm sound. She is not feeling well today... she is perfectly fine physically. But, she is not well psychologically. She is feeling like her full energy is drained out from her body, this morning itself. Her head is paining like anything due to yesterday's crying. She is not ready to go for college... so she decided to stay in room. After getting freshens up she went to hostel kitchen and had her breakfast. After returning from dining hall, she made calls to her family members. When they asked about her, she said that she had a bad headache due to that she couldn't attend the call. After talking with them, she felt little relaxed. And then she called her most close family member cum friend – her brother. When she said 'hello' with that only her brother recognised that something is wrong. He knows his sister well. She won't be/ can't be this gloomy without any big reason. So he asked

"What is it Pooh? Why are you so sad today? What happened? Why are you sounding so low?" asked Shyam.

"Nothing Bhai... I'm perfectly fine... just now I talked with amma and babuji. Everything and everyone is fine there."

"I know they are fine. I'm not asking about them, I'm asking about you. Don't give me any excuses which you gave to others."

"No Shyam... I'm fine... I have a bad head-ache... that's all nothing more."

"Oh... you have BAD head-ache? So you cried yesterday... may I know the reason?"

".........."

Shyam sighed deeply and said "Look Khushi... I know about my little sister very well. You can't lie to me. I'm you brother dear... you know you can tell everything. By sharing our sadness with our close ones it will reduce the pain. Come on... tell me what happened..."

With this much concern from her brother made Khushi burst out into a loud cry. Hearing her crying, Shyam got tensed

"Pooh... Pooh... what happened dear...? Why are you crying? Is everything ok in college? Did anyone say something to you? Oh god... Come on Pooh... please tell me... you are scaring me now... what happened Pooh... tell me dear..."

"Bhai... I can't say anything now... please give me some time... I will tell you... don't worry I'm fine... BYE" with that she disconnected the call making Shyam hell confused and tensed about his little sister. He immediately called her, but she didn't answer the call. He tried some more times, but no reply. So, he thought of giving her some time.

After talking with her brother and crying her heart out, Khushi felt relaxed... she is feeling lonely in hostel. So she decided to go out. She got ready and went to Gateway of India. Seeing the pigeons, sea, moving vehicles and people; she don't know how, but she felt relaxed and contented. She sat there for long time thinking about her yesterday's talk with Arnav. A small smile appears on her lips. "He deserves happiness. I can't spoil his happiness... I know how we feel if we won't get our love. This is the worst thing and shouldn't happen to anyone. Then how can I allow my love to face that situation. Never... I never do this to him. He deserves happiness, love... If my absence in his life brings him all happiness and love, then I'm ready for anything. I won't interfere in his life. I won't disturb him in his life... Devi Mayya... please help him to get his love and happiness. And please support him always..." she thought. She checked her watch... its 12.30 in the afternoon. She sighed and left for the window shopping.

*********************

Same time, someone is very restless... waiting for someone. After having a powerful and emotional conversation with 'Sneha', he became very disturbed. He wants to see his Angel. Yesterday when he called her to come to their house, she straight away rejected his invitation. He thought she may feel obligated. That's why he didn't force her to come. But, its already 12.30 noon, there is no trace of her. He needs her badly. He doesn't know why, but he is having feeling like he may miss her. He may lose her. She may go far from him. He wants to know where she is, why didn't she come to college today, why didn't she answering his or anyone's calls. He wants to confirm that she is alright. He went to Aman and

"Aman, I need a favour from you. Can you call Khushi? I need to talk to her. Please"

"So, what need for making call? We can go to her class and can talk" said Aman

"No she didn't come to college today. And she is not answering my calls. I don't know where she is" said Arnav getting worried.

"What? Didn't she come today? Wait I will ask Lavanya"

"How Lavanya will know? Yesterday she was with us. And I didn't see Lavanya using her mobile yesterday. We all are together only."

"Yeah, you are right. Then let me call her" saying this Aman tried Khushi's number. At the same time Anjali also came there. Seeing her brother and Aman in tensed expression, she asked them

"What happened Chote? Why you and Aman are looking tensed? Is there anything wrong?"

"Yeah Di... we are getting tensed because Khushi is not lifting her phone... don't know where she is"

"What? Don't know where she is means? She will be in her class right?"

"No Di... today she didn't come to college and not even lifting the phone. I don't know but I'm feeling something wrong Di" said Arnav.

"Don't worry Chote. She will be fine and will answer phone... relax"

After trying so many times, Aman turned to Arnav and said "No she is not lifting the phone. I don't know where she went?"

"Aman, why can't we ask hostel warden? She may know where Khushi went?" said Anjali.

"Hmmm let me call her" he called and asked warden about Khushi's whereabouts. Warden said that Khushi told her that she has some work in city and she will come by evening. Aman said same thing to Anjali and Arnav who is waiting for his reply. They really got surprised to hear that. Khushi is not a girl, who can or will move around alone. Someone should be there. With that thought they really get tensed thinking where Khushi will be. Suddenly Arnav remembered and said gritting his teeth "Shyam"

"What? Who is Shyam? And why are you getting angry on him?" asked Aman with little bit worry and confusion.

"I think Khushi is with him only. That day also she got call from that man. And I know Khushi is not a girl who will/can go out without any one. And that too in a new city like Mumbai. Definitely he took her out... otherwise how will she know about the city?" said Arnav with anger and frustration

"Oh... shut up Chote... how can you say like this? You didn't even know who Shyam is, then? How can you decide the relation between them? And stop the thought which is in your mind right now... don't dare to think wrong about Khushi without knowing anything..."

"Oh come on Di... if he is not that someone, then why did she go out from the canteen to talk with him?"

"Stop it Arnav... that day we are making so much noise and we couldn't hear our voices. Didn't you remember that? How much loudly we are talking that day? And in this world so many relations are they which a boy and a girl can share. Without knowing anything don't think stupid, which you may regret later" said Aman.

"I don't know all those things; I didn't like that Shyam guy. I don't want anybody near Khushi. She is mine that is all... I never allow anybody to make any type of relation with Khushi. As I said... she is mine and that's final. No more arguments..." said Arnav with determined voice.

"But Chote..." Anjali was stopped by her brother saying "No Di... not this time... I already told my decision... if I decided I won't walk back from the situation or person, particularly about Khushi. She is mine... that's all... and I don't want any discussion about this." and he went from there making call to Khushi.

*********************************

She is getting call after call from Arnav. She doesn't want to answer the call. She kept quite. She is just roaming around the shopping malls. This is the first time she is roaming outside alone. She is watching all the shops, trying to forget yesterday's conversation with Arnav. Some what she is successful until she started getting the calls from HIM. But now, she became gloomy again. She doesn't want this to be happened. She wants to stay happy as always. She trying for that... but this Arnav is not leaving her alone. For some more time her mobile continued ringing and then stopped. She felt relaxed and sighed deeply.

When she saw a toy shop, she went inside and searched for a big teddy bear, which can help her in her tough times, who can give solace to her. When she is searching teddy, she received another call. But, it is not from Arnav this time from Aman. She wants to answer the call, but immediately guessed who made Aman to make a call to her. So she didn't lift the call. She purchased her teddy and went to some restaurant to have her lunch. She is not feeling well after all this, what happened from yesterday. So, she ordered light food. When she is having her lunch her mobile started ringing again, which made her irritated. She took out her mobile and kept in silent mode. Because, she know that she can't reject his calls nor leave his calls unanswered for long. Sighing deeply she finished her lunch and left for the hostel.

**********************

Arnav, who is becoming frustrated and irritated with this ignorance, made his way to girls' hostel in university. He wants to see her now... he wants to shout at her. 'How dare she? How can she go out without telling me? I won't spare you Khushi' he thought.

Khushi, leaving restaurant after having lunch, took a bus to university hostel. She is feeling really weak. She can't even walk. With so much difficulty she made her way to hostel. When she reached hostel, she saw well known personality standing in front of hostel. She immediately recognised that person by seeing his back with the help of her raising heartbeats. After seeing him, she really lost all her strength. 'From morning onwards I'm trying my level best to avoid him. But here, he is standing in front of my hostel. Oh... Devi Mayya... what can I do now' she thought. She moved forward to enter in hostel.

When Arnav is waiting for Khushi at hostel, suddenly he felt his heart beat rising. He turned back to see whether she came or not. When he saw her, immediately he noticed that something is wrong with her and something is bothering her. Seeing her face, he forgets about his frustration and anger. Immediately his expression changed into concern. He moved towards her and asked her

"Khushi... are you fine? Why are looking different? And where were you? Do you know how..." he was stopped by fainting Khushi. He immediately held her in his arms and brought her to his car. He made her sit in the front seat and touched her forehead to check whether she has any temperature or not. When he placed his hand, he found her skin burning with high temperature. Next second, he made her sit securely with seat belt and took the driver seat then drove to the nearest hospital.

...to be continued

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