NO PROOF READ. NOT EVEN ONE WORD. SPARE ME WITH TYPOS.

Aman who is getting ready to sleep heard a knock on his door. He checked the time and went to open the door.

“Arnav?? Is everything ok? What are you doing here at this time?”

“I’m fine Aman. And everything is also fine. I just came here to ask you about the envelope. Did you check that?”

“Envelope? Which envelope?” seeing Arnav’s surprising expression, Aman remembered “crap... I forgot to check that. Give me one minute... I will get that, it’s still in car”

“Let’s go together” both walked out the room. They stopped in their tracks hearing Arnav’s dad’s voice

“Where are you both walking at this hour?”

“Um... mamu... Just for a walk in garden. We will be back in half an hour. You relax” said Aman.

“Are you sure? Because YOU BOTH are going out. I can’t trust you guys when you BOTH are together.”

“What the Dad... we are...”

“I know... don’t be late” saying this Akul left to his room.

Sighing in relief both Arnav and Aman went to their car and took the envelope out from the car. After sitting on the bench in the garden they opened the envelope. But whatever they saw in that envelope left them shocked and terrified. It had the images of Khushi hugging Arnav in bus stop with her bare back where her dress got tore. Arnav’s hands are on her bare back trying to cover maximum with his large palms. Another image is Khushi clutching his vest when he tried to make her wear his shirt. Another image is Khushi is clinging to his neck where Arnav is carrying her to the car. They also find one letter in that envelope. It said

“Aman and Arnav – Get ready to lose her. You never ever can compete with me. I have experience more than your age”

They looked at each other.

“What the hell is going on here Aman? Who is this person? Di got call about this. And you got envelope. What’s going on? What to do?” said Arnav.

“Don’t know Arnav. I can’t understand who it can be. What did Choti do for this much revenge? She is a kid after all. She never ever can hurt anyone. In college also...” Aman’s eyes got widened with the word college. At the same time hearing the very same word something hit in Arnav’s mind. Both looked at each other and said together “Rahul???”

“We have to check that fellow Arnav. We can’t let him harm Choti. He is a disgusting person. We shouldn’t allow that spoiled brat to win in this matter.”

“If he is the person behind all these, then I won’t spare that stupid” anger and hurt is clear in their voices.

“Fine... we will do that. But remember Arnav... never ever leave her side. Either she should be in her class room or with anyone of us. We are not going to leave her alone. Ok?”

“Yeah... Morning I will tell Khushi to stay with me whenever she is free. But Aman... I don’t know why... but from two days I’m feeling restless. I couldn’t understand why I’m feeling scared. I don’t know why and how but I feel something is going to happen. Something won’t be good anymore. I feel I won’t be there for her to protect her. I’m feeling like I’m going to miss her. I’m scared Aman” A lone tear of fear rolled down on his cheeks.

“Shh... nothing will happen. We will see to that. First let us confirm whether this Rahul involved in this or not. Then we can think about all. Relax Arnav... Choti will be fine. Relax... she won’t go anywhere leaving you alone. She loves you... and you know that. Relax...” Aman side hugged Arnav and consoled him. Aman knew how much important Khushi is to Arnav. Aman well knows about Arnav’s affections and possessiveness. Aman is aware of Arnav’s behaviour if he loses his loved ones. He silently prayed god to give all happiness to his friend cum his younger brotherly figure.

“I’m thinking to talk with mom and dad about Khushi” said Arnav suddenly shocking Aman.

“What?”

“I can’t lose her. I need her in my life Aman. If only marriage is the way to keep her with me all the time then I’m ready to marry her. I can’t lose her. See now... I can’t go to her hostel or she is not ready to come here. Then how can I take care of her all the time Aman? She is way too precious to lose. I can’t. That’s why I am thinking to talk with dad and mom. Anyways this is my last year of studies. And Dad already started to look for girls for me. I can’t see any other girl in that place. I need only Khushi. I can’t live without her and I can’t love any other girl as I love Khushi. I can’t lose her. I can’t even imagine my life without Khushi”

Aman hugged Arnav tightly. “Don’t worry Arnav. Everything will be fine. We will talk with mamu and mami. After we come from youth festival we will talk. And I will make sure that Choti will come to this house as soon as possible. Because I know and I can understand how desperate you are becoming” said Aman to lighten Arnav, winking at Arnav making him slightly blush.  Both left to their rooms thinking about the things happened and what to do next and how to do.

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

When she is walking in corridor, she felt sudden pull with a firm yet soft tug on her hand. She knew that touch. Slight pink colour adored her cheeks. She followed the man of her heart silently without protesting. Without waiting even for second after entering the room Arnav hugged Khushi as much tightly as he can leaving Khushi surprised and breathless. She waited for some moments to let him loosen the hug. But when he didn’t, she knew something wrong. Her hands slowly travelled from his waist to back to his shoulder. For the first time she hugged him with so much intensity matching his. After she hugged him, she felt his body getting relaxed. She stayed some moments hugging him feeling their upper bodies touching each other. She felt content.

“What’s happened Arnav Ji? Why are you tensed” after few minutes of waiting she whispered.

He loosened his hug and looked at her eyes which are full of concern.

“What’s wrong?” she asked again seeing unexplainable pain in his eyes.

“Khushi... how are you? Are you ok? I mean after that incident... at... bus...”

She stopped him saying anything further. She cupped his cheeks and said “As long as you are with me I’m will be fine, more than fine. Don’t worry...”

He looked at her face. It has so much peace. ‘By seeing her face I can forget all my tensions’ he thought and smiled little to get the smile from her.

Suddenly his smile changed into naughty smirk sending alarms to her mind. ‘Oh no... What’s his dangerous romantic mind thinking now?’ she thought.

He pulled her into him not leaving any space between them. “What did you say that day near my class? Something you mouthed and ran from there. Now I got you... tell me... what were you saying that afternoon?”

She gulped hardly after remembering what he is mentioning. She looked everywhere but him. Deep shade of red adored her cheeks. Unable to control his feelings, he leaned to her and kissed her cheeks and let his lips stay there for some more good moments. Her breath hitched up. She closed her eyes feelings his lips. ‘Oh god... I can do whatever he says for this touch of his’ thought Khushi.

Controlling his urge to kiss her senselessly he kept his forehead on her shoulder. His breath is in rapid speed. He tilted his head slightly and left few butterfly kisses on her neck. She bit her lower lip not letting the moan to come out. She turned her head to the side and closed her eyes feeling his kisses. Both can hear each other’s heart beats. Both looked at each other. Arnav cupped her face and whispered “I Love you Khushi...” he saw her eyes growing wide with surprise and shock. His lips curved into a small smile. He looked at her amused and continued “Yes Khushi... I Love you... and I know what words you mouthed that day. But I wanted to hear... from you... loudly... now...” He can see all the expressions like fear, love, shyness, embarrassment, happiness and tension passed her face. He doesn’t want to make her feel tensed and scared. And he doesn’t want himself the reason for her panic state. So, he held her by her waist and whispered “Shh... relax Khushi... no need to be tensed whenever you are with me. Relax... I know what feelings you have for me. It’s just... I wanted to hear those three words from you. I will wait. Tell me whenever you are comfortable. But please don’t make yourself uncomfortable around me. I can’t bare that. I love you Khushi.”

She hugged him tightly letting him to know about her feelings, about her response, about her happiness. She broke the hug and cupped his cheeks. She tiptoed to reach his forehead and planted a lingering kiss. He bent his head to make her comfortable and closed his eyes tightly feeling her lips on his forehead. After a more than ten seconds she came back to her feet from toes. Her hands are still cupping his cheeks.

“Give me some time Arnav Ji. I will say what you want to hear. Please... it’s my shyness I can’t say directly. I need some time. Please...”

“I will wait. But please don’t let me wait for long” he said nodding his head

“I won’t take much time promise” she gave her word nodding her head

Both hugged tightly not letting each other to go. They want to stay like that. They broke their hug with Khushi’s phone ring. Arnav sat on the bench and pulled her in his lap. She smiled little and answered her phone

“Yeah... Payal...”

“Where are you Khushi? Why didn’t you come to college till now? Is everything ok? Where are you? Are you on the way?”

“Payal... Payal... relax... I’m in...” she stopped saying she is in college and continued “I mean... I’m on the way. In few minutes I will reach. I will come to class. Bye” she dropped the call

“Why did you say that you are on the way?” asked Arnav innocently.

“Then? What should I say? Do you want me to say that I’m in the college and kissing Arnav Ji? Do you want me to say Arnav Ji is confessing his feelings and we are almost making out? Haa? Tell me? What do you want me to say?” she blurted out

Arnav raised his eye brow and smiled amusingly. He never thought Khushi will talk like this. Seeing his face, smirk and raised eyebrow Khushi got alarmed.

“What? Why are you smirking? Did I say anything wrong?” she recollected what she said. Automatically and immediately her hand went to her mouth and eyes grown wide. Arnav burst into a loud laughter seeing her expressions. But his laughter got reduced listening her next words

“Hey Devi Mayya... Arnav Ji... How can you laugh like that on me? you shouldn’t do that” she pouted

Suddenly He remembered Sneha talks – ‘Hey Devi Mayya... Arnav Ji... how can you shout like that at this early morning? You shouldn’t do that’ – ‘How can two people use same words in same way?’ He thought. His thought got disturbed with Khushi’s words

“Ah... if they know about us they will kill me with teasing. Here I’m hell scared and you are laughing. Is this the way of behaving with me? Lad Governor kahike”

He again remembered Sneha talks – ‘Ah... first time I’m talking with you. Is this the way of talking with friend? Lad Governor kahike’ – ‘This is not helping. I need to see to this’ he thought. When he came out of his thoughts he saw Khushi leaving the room. He rushed to her and held her hand

“What did you say?”

“What?” she is little irritated

“What did you say about behaving with you?” he asked carefully

“What? What did I say? I said ‘Here I’m hell scared and you are laughing. Is this the way of behaving with me?’ she understood what he wanted to know. She stopped before uttering ‘Lad Governor’

“Later that... did you say some Lad Governor?” asked Arnav.

“Haa... I said... what’s there?”

“How did you know?”

“Matlab? I heard her saying that”

“Her? Who?”

“Woh... your friend Sneha”

“You met her? But she didn’t say you both met before? And you are busy these days. Where did you meet her?” he is not in a mood to stop.

She cursed her blabbering. She doesn’t know how to escape from this situation. She don’t know how Arnav will react if he knows that Sneha and Khushi are same. She doesn’t want to spoil this beautiful moment of his confession.

So she immediately covered up and said “telling you and talking to you is waste of time. Jab dekho you want to tease me or interrogate me. I’m going now,” showing some fake anger she ran from there leaving thinking Arnav back.

‘What I’m thinking is it true? Of course I had my doubts from that day. But... I took this easily. This is highly impossible for two persons to use same words in same way and in same volume and in same voice. I think Khushi already confessed her feelings directly. Hmm... Run Khushi run... but you can’t escape from me. I know how to bring the truth out. I have my ways. And I’m sure that brother of yours – Aman Mathur is with you in this. I will bring you out soon Sneha oops Khushi Kumari Gupta’ Arnav thought. An arrogant smirk occupied on his face.

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

Khushi ran to her class. With thudding heart she sat beside Payal, who is looking confusingly at Khushi. Khushi nodded her head and they concentrated on class. In fact she tried to concentrate. But she couldn’t. ‘This Lad Governor won’t leave me now. He will definitely find out the Sneha. I don’t know how he will react to that. Will he get angry? Will he shout? Will he accept? Will he take it easily? Will he...”

“KHUSHI...” she heard her lecturer voice

“S...s...sir...”

“What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you answering my question? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Looking at you?” she asked confusedly and turned to Payal who nodded her head. “Oh... Um... sorry sir... I... I actually...”

“I don’t want any explanations or I don’t want this to repeat. Concentrate and give me answers” the lecturer said with a serious tone. Nodding her head she sat on her bench, with a low face. After that warning from her faculty, Khushi concentrated on class and successfully forgot about the Lad Governor.

But both Arnav and Khushi failed to notice Rahul, witnessing their private moment and their behaviour after that. Rahul went out from college fuming. He directly went to house to inform his mother about today’s events.

That day evening after college, Aman and Arnav along with Khushi went to her recording studio to get the record of her song. Then Mr. Shah informed Khushi that the audio will release in two days. Khushi thanked him and went to Arnav’s car.

“Bhai, Arnav Ji... Mr. Shah said audio will release in two days. Here is the record of my song”

“Congrats Choti” said Aman.

“Wow that’s great Khushi. Congrats” said Arnav genuinely happy with her achievement. They all sat in the car and Arnav drove towards Khushi’s hostel. Suddenly Arnav said to Aman “Aman... do you remember Sneha my crazy caller?”

Aman immediately looked at Khushi who is fidgeting her dupatta. This is not gone unnoticed by Arnav. He smiled inwardly.

“Aman... I’m asking you something. What are you thinking?”

“Uh... No... I’m not thinking anything. Yeah I remember her” said Aman still looking at Khushi.

“Hmm... I’m just wondering these days I didn’t get any call from her. Khushi said she met her. But Sneha didn’t say anything to me about this. She only asked me to be friends and no more secrets between us. But she didn’t say anything about their meet. What do you think? Should I call her? Should I talk with her?”

Without thinking much Aman said “Of course you should. After all she is your friend. You should talk with her. If she wanted you to be her friend then you should be. She is a nice girl. If you don’t talk with her, she will feel hurt. Don’t disappoint her Arnav. Talk with her and take care of her”

Listening to Aman’s words Khushi got panicked. Before she says anything Arnav said “Then I will. Today night I will call her and talk with her. But how did you know she is a nice girl and she will feel hurt?” Aman gulped not knowing what to answer. Arnav acted like he didn’t notice anything. He stopped his car before Khushi’s hostel building.

“Here we are. Good night Khushi...”

“Good night Arnav Ji. Good night Bhai” bidding bye to them she went inside almost running. Arnav smirked and drove the car to their house. After reaching house they had dinner and went to their bedrooms.

‘I will you call you tomorrow morning Sneha. Get ready to come out from Khushi. It will be a very good morning for me. Let’s see what will be your reaction after getting caught’ said Arnav seeing Khushi’s image in his mobile. He drifted into peaceful sleep remembering his confession and their sweet encounter in the morning, leaving a tensed Khushi awake full night.

I'm really sorry for making you all wait. Actually I wrote this part recently again. But I have that new one in my laptop which is not with me. So, this is my older version (I don't think there is much difference between both parts) As I'm busy in my son's land 😍, I will try to post next one as soon as I can. Thanks for loving my stories and waiting.

Sri