Part 22

"Ah... it is nothing Khushi. Come we will go inside" saying this he held Khushi hand and made her to walk inside the college. He smiled at Aman and Anjali who is relaxing a bit. While all are moving ahead, Khushi moved Arnav side and asked in low whispering voice

"Arnav Ji... is everything ok? Why are you smiling like that? And why Aman Bhai and Anjali Di looking tensed?"

"I'll tell Khushi but not now... later... you just relax..." said smiling Arnav.

"Relax!!! I can't Arnav Ji... if I want to know anything, I should know immediately. Otherwise it will be difficult for me to bear that curiosity. Please bathaiye na... please tell me" pleaded Khushi with an adorable pout.

'Oh god... Please save me from this angel. Please don't make things difficult for me. Please... give me strength to control myself' prayed Arnav silently while fisting his hands to control his temptation of kissing her. 'Oh god... It is really hard to not kiss that adorable pout. Please Khushi don't test me more... please' thought Arnav.

"What's happened Arnav Ji? Why are you looking at me like that? What are you thinking?"

Before Arnav says anything they heard NK shouting

"Oh my god Khushi Ji... what happened to you? Why are you looking so dull? Why your face lost its charm?"

"NK Bhai... Relax... Khushi Ji had fever yesterday that's all. Now she is fine..."

"Fever? Why didn't you tell me Khushi Ji? I should have come there to help you"

"You should have gone there to help Khushi or flirt with other girls in hostel?" asked Arnav gritting his teeth.

"Oh Bhai... nnnnn...nothing like that... I was just..."

"Oh shut up NK... it is already late, we have to move to our classes" he turns to Khushi "Khushi if you need anything just give me a call. Don't hesitate to ask anything. We are friends right? So you can ask anything to anyone of us. Ok. Just be relaxed and don't strain yourself much. Ok... go..."

"And Payal... take care of her. If she or you need anything don't forget to call anyone of us. Ok. I think you both have our numbers" both Khushi and Payal nodded their heads saying that they had the numbers "Good... then now we will go to our class... bye Khushi take care..."

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One after all, everybody moved to canteen as it is lunch time now. Everybody occupied their seats. Aman is the last one to join his group. After reaching there he asked "where is Choti? Didn't she come for lunch yet?"

"No... She said she will come after some time" said Lavanya

Just at the same time Payal came alone.

"Payal... where is Khushi?" asked Anjali

"Di... she got a call from her parents. She is talking outside. She said she will come after finishing that call. She asked me to join you people."

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"Mamma... don't cry... I'm fine. Now I'm in college. Lavanya helped me in hostel. Here all my friends, means Aman Bhai, Anjali Di, Arnav Ji, Akash Ji and Payal all are helping me. Yesterday also Arnav Ji only took me to hospital. They are very nice mamma. Don't get tensed ok. I'm fine now. Ok now I've to go, eat my lunch and take tablets. Otherwise Arnav Ji will surely shout at me saying Khushi you should not be this careless... blah blah...ok bye"

Today she is feeling far better... yesterday she thought a lot and made a decision. Without knowing who the girl is Arnav in love with, without knowing that particular girl is suitable for Arnav or not, without knowing that particular girl deserves Arnav or not... she won't cry like this. She has to know who the girl is. If that particular girl is not suitable or eligible for Arnav then she won't back out from her feelings. In fact she even ready to pull that girl's hair. If she finds that particular girl is taking advantage of Arnav, then she will make sure that day is last day for that girl. Arnav's happiness is most important to her. She has taken decision. She won't come back. She won't regret.

She entered canteen to have lunch with her friends. When she saw only place available to sit is next Arnav, she is more than happy. She immediately went to him sat next to him. She is back to her normal self. Everybody felt relief. Arnav sighed by seeing her normal behaviour. He is really happy to see Khushi sitting next to him. Suddenly she remembered something and turned to Arnav

"Arnav Ji... you didn't tell us what was the matter in the morning at parking lot. You said you will tell later. Will you tell us now?"

"Yes ASR... Khushi is right... tell us what's the matter is?" said Lavanya.

Immediately a mischievous smile crept on Arnav's lips when he checks Aman, who is playing with his mobile pretending that he didn't hear anything. He turns to Anjali, who is already in some kind of tension. All others – Khushi, Lavanya, NK, Akash and Payal observed this.

"From morning onwards I'm observing. Why are you looking like that at Anjali Ji, Arnav Ji? What is the matter? Is it related to her?" asked Khushi, not knowing indirectly she is supporting the devil brother of Anjali.

"Khushi you are really smart. How do you know the matter is related to Di?"

"What's there... when we are asking, you are looking at her and Aman Bhai. Then Di face is turning red. I think she is scared of something. Why are you scaring her like that Arnav Ji? She is elder than to you right?"

"Scared?!!" asked Aman checking Anjali's expression. He asked her through his eyes whether Khushi is right or not.

"Of course she is scared. Look at her face... how red it has became. Why do you do this Arnav Ji? You shouldn't do that" saying this she turns to Anjali and said "Sorry Di... because of me you have to face this lad Governor... I'm sorry"

Everybody surprised at her words.

"What the hell are you talking Khushi? What is your mistake in this?" asked Aman.

"Bhai... morning Arnav Ji said it is weird when I call you and Anjali Di as Bhai and Di... for that she felt embarrassed. Now also, I only asked about that. So I'm the reason for her uncomfortable state right?"

Arnav slapped his forehead saying "unbelievable"

"Really Arnav... she is unbelievable... Khushi Arnav is teasing Anjali for something." said Aman.

"But why her face turned red? When we are scared that time only our face will turn red, right?" asked Khushi innocently.

Everybody surprised to see Ingenuousness of Khushi.

"I can't believe this" muttered Arnav and turned to Khushi and says "Khushi when we are scared our face will turn into PALE... when we are shy its turns into RED. Of course in anger also our face will turn red. But not in scariness."

"Oh... really? That's why Di's face turned into red colour due shyness?"

"Yes... Khushi... didn't you know this simple thing?" asked Lavanya surprising by her friend's nature

"Ahh... sorry for that but really I don't know this." said Khushi with full of honesty.

Everybody smiled at her. 'She is an Angel. She is unique" thought Arnav. They finished their lunch and went to their classrooms.

After entering the classroom, Payal and Khushi occupied their seats in front. As Khushi is the dear student of the faculty, they always ask her to sit in front, and Khushi happily agreed. She is the student, who uses SITARA for playing SHRUTI (sur). Once class starts, she completely forgets her surroundings. She involves in her singing. She enjoys singing. She is the best student indeed.

After college finishes... Lavanya went to their home along with Aman, Anjali, Akash and NK; where Arnav dropping Khushi at her hostel.

In car,

"Why you are not ready to come to our house Khushi? Whenever we ask, you will politely refuse our invitation. Don't you want to come to our house or anyone's house?" asked Arnav

"No... It is not like that Arnav Ji. Actually, my Amma and bua Ji are not satisfied with my decision of staying in hostel. So, they strictly said that, I shouldn't go anywhere except college, hostel or places related to my studies like library, some competitions, or some programmes. I shouldn't cross their word, right? After all they accepted for my staying far from them. So, I don't want them to feel bad."

"Hmm... I can understand their feelings. But you said they are not ok with your stay in hostel. If not that, where will you stay?"

"Actually my bua Ji stays here. And my Di also stays here with her family. But I don't want to be burden for them. And that too she is staying far from university. I'm planning to take admission in evening courses also. If I get admission then it will be difficult for me to go there at late night. So, I joined in hostel. My babu Ji is ok with me. But my bua Ji won't trust anybody that easily."

"And you?" asked Arnav looking ahead

"What me?" Khushi asked confused

"Will you trust?" he asked

"Why should I trust? If I trust anyone easily then my bua Ji will kills me"

"You won't trust me also?" Arnav asked not giving any expression on his face

Khushi couldn't understand his meaning. With confused face she asked him "What? I didn't get you Arnav Ji"

"You said you won't trust anyone easily, right? So I'm asking will you trust me or not?" he cleared his question

"What made you ask that? I mean what made you think like I won't trust you. Of course I trust you Arnav Ji. If I don't trust you then how can I come with you every time whenever you drag me with you? Of course I trust you more than anyone else" said Khushi with more confidence.

'This is the big step towards you, Khushi. That you trust me' thought Arnav. He smiles at her and says "Thank you Khushi, for trusting me. I won't, in fact I never break your trust... it is my promise to you"

"Thanks for the promise Arnav Ji."

After some time of silence, Khushi asked him again

"Um... Arnav Ji, can I ask you something?"

"Of course Khushi ask me"

"Will you be my friend at least? You don't need to worry; I won't give any chance to others to tease you that you have a girl as a friend. I never come to your class and disturb you. I just want to be your friend, that's all." Khushi completed hurriedly

Arnav was confused by her question. He thought he heard it wrong. So he asked again

"Girl Friend?!" his heart skipped a beat

"No... Girl as a friend. But I want to be just a friend..." she said hopefully

Before he says something Khushi notices that they reached hostel. She sighed deeply and got out from the car. Before she goes towards her hostel, she turns to Arnav and says "Ok... hope you won't reject my friendship at least. This is the last thing I want to happen. Ok bye good night take care... Tata" and she went inside.

Arnav is hell confused about her request "What the!!! AT LEAST... where the hell it comes from? Oh god... this girl definitely makes me crazy. Crazy girl" he started his journey to his home while thinking about his crazy angel. A huge smile crept on his lips thorough out the journey.

After having dinner and little chit-chat with his siblings, Arnav went to his room and occupied his bed. He is thinking about his angel. She is the only subject which is occupied in his mind these days. He smiles widely. His mobile beeped indicating him that he got a message. He checked that message and replied with required. When he is keeping his mobile on side table something caught his attention. He suddenly sat on the bed with a jerk and took his mobile in his hand to watch it keenly which caught into his eyes.

He is unable to beleive what he is watching. He is unable to beleive what his mobile showing...

"Is it true? I can't beleive this... It can't be true. She can't do this..." thought Arnav.

...to be continued