Part 24 Understanding

Arnav was shaken to the core, knowing Seema's plan. She called him brother only to get him to her house. Unaware of her plan, he was about to fall into her trap! Could a woman stoop so low to avenge one? His inner soul shivered, thinking about the consequences. Who would have believed him if a woman accused him? This world had been designed like that. The world thought that no one would lie in this matter. How brilliantly Seema called the principal here! In the tension, he didn't remember that the principal's residence was in the same area. The principal would have fired him if he had not been there with the police man. He heard his heartbeat. That was too much for him to handle. He would not have cared if she had accused him of something but this. His reputation was everything to him. He worshipped the teaching profession. How could he face people after this? Even though people knew about him and Seema, who would help him if the situation was totally against him? He was absolutely disappointed with Seema.

Arnav closed his eyes, feeling dejected. When he opened his eyes, he saw Khushi standing at the doorstep, looking at Seema, smirking with an attitude. Arnav shrank in confusion, seeing Khushi's smirk. Neither was it a situation to smirk, nor was Khushi a girl who would enjoy it. If it were the case, why did she smirk? He could not conclude anything.

The women police arrived to arrest Seema. Handcuffing her, they took her with them.

"Sir, please ask them not to take me," she pleaded to the principal.

The police took her by pushing her. The principal looked at Arnav.

"I'm sorry for whatever happened, Arnav. I lost it. She called me and said you were trying to rape her; she was hiding in the loft. After hearing that, I lost my thinking ability because I didn't expect her to lie."

Arnav gulped down hard. The principal was not wrong because no woman would lie in this matter, but she uttered the same LOFT lie to both of us.

In the meantime,

Seema was made to sit in a police Jeep. She was crying, of course. She had to reap what she sowed. Khushi slowly reached her. Seema looked at her and turned away. She looked at Khushi, jerking, hearing,

"Did you think you could humiliate my Varnie?" The same smirk curled on her lips.

"Until Khushi is alive, not only you, but anyone can do that..." She said

Seema looked at her, perplexed. What did Khushi mean? What did she do about it? Was that she who brought the police there? But how? How did she know about her plan? She was confused.

"You don't deserve to be a professor. You are going to the right place. Jail... Go and spend your life there..." Khushi said, gritting her teeth.

Seema raised her hand to hit Khushi, but the police pushed her. The jeep started. Khushi stood looking at her pale face.

Khushi turned around only to find Arnav standing, looking at her with a stunning expression.

"What did you mean? Do you know her plan?" Arnav asked.

Khushi nodded.

"How? When? Why didn't you tell me about it? What if something had gone wrong?" he asked unbelievably.

She smiled weakly.

"How could I let it go wrong when it's about you?" She questioned him, stunning him.

"Everything had happened as per my plan only." She said, pressing her head.

"Khushi, are you feeling dizzy?" He asked with concern.

She nodded.

"Let's go..." He opened the car door and made

Khushi sit inside the car. Arnav started the car to head to her house. Khushi closed her eyes, leaning on the seat.

Arnav wanted to know what had happened, but Khushi looked tired and weak. So he kept silent.

They reached Khushi's house. Stopping the car, he got out and came to her. He opened the door and saw her closing her eyes.

"Khushi..." He tapped her cheek gently.

Khushi opened her eyes and looked at him.

"We have reached. Come..."

She got down slowly.

"Could you walk?"

She nodded and walked, circling his bicep. Arnav walked with her. Removing the key, he opened the door.

Entering the house, Khushi sat on the couch and leaned on it.

"You have to take medicine. Before that, eat something..." he said with concern.

"There is bread on the dining table."

"No... I will prepare mush for you. It will be light."

He went to the kitchen. He fried rice and then powdered it in a mixer. Boiling the water, he added the fried rice powder and then boiled it with half a teaspoon of salt. Pouring it into a wide bowl, he brought it to the living room and placed it on the table to cool.

Khushi looked at him lovingly as he did things for her. That was when Khushi's phone started ringing. Arnav took it and frowned, seeing Asha's name flashing.

"Asha madam is calling," he said.

Khushi extended her hand, asking for her phone. Arnav swiped it and turned the speaker on. Khushi didn't mind it and answered the call, as the call was from Asha.

"Thank you so much, ma'am..." She said.

"Did you save Arnav, sir?"

Arnav looked at her with wide-open eyes.

"Yes, ma'am, I saved him... "

"Thank God. Did you stop him from going to her house?"

"No ma'am. I sent him to her house."

"Whaaat? But why? Why did you do that, Khushi? Don't you know how risky it is? You could have just stopped him from going to her house... What's wrong?"

"Of course I could have stopped him, but Seema madam would have escaped, and that I don't want to happen. Now she is behind bars. This is what I planned... "

"Whaaaat? Is Seema behind bars?" She was shocked because she hadn't expected that.

"Yes mam, the police arrested Seema. Arnav and I went to Seema's house with a police man, before our principal arrived. The drama came to light, and her actual colour was revealed. I don't want her to step inside our college again and trouble Arnav, ma'am. That's why I took a risk."

Arnav was looking at her, awed.

"Thank God, finally, you did it..."

"It's because of you, madam. If you had not helped me, I could not have done that."

"Arnav sir is a gem of a person. An ideal professor. That's why I helped you..."

"Thank you so much, madam..."

"What happened to your voice?"

"Slight fever, madam"

"While thinking about Arnav, sir, take care of yourself too," Asha said, smiling.

Khushi smiled at Arnav.

"Ok, mam..." She disconnected the call.

"What's happening here? What did you do with the help of Asha madam?" Arnav asked.

"Asha ma'am was the one who alerted me when Seema tore my exam papers. She asked me to be careful. It seemed she chided Seema and supported me."

Arnav silently listened to her.

"I requested her not to support me and asked her to pretend like she was supporting Seema."

"But why?"

"To know Seema's plan. Asha ma'am spoke to Seema and did the same. Pretending to support her, she made her spit out her plan. Seema told Asha Madam about her plan in anger, and Asha Madam then informed me about it. So, I defeated her with my plan. "

"Did you know her plan when she apologised to me?" Disbelief ran in his face.

"Of course, I knew..."

"But you were like you were sad about her..."

"To give a reality touch..." She chuckled softly.

"Why would you risk? Why didn't you tell me about it? You had a fever. So we went to the hospital. We met a police man. So, this plan worked. What would you have done if you had not had a fever?"

"How won't I have a fever if I intentionally bring it to me?" She smiled.

Arnav looked at her in shock.

"What do you mean, intentionally bring it?"

"What do you think, did I eat ice cream and get drenched in the rain for fun?"

Arnav didn't answer but gazed at her.

"I intentionally ate ice cream and was drenched in rain to get a fever after sending my aunt to her native because I know you will come to my home only if I have a fever."

"Whaaaat? Did you do all of that intentionally?" He was shocked.

"Then, without getting a fever, how could I have gotten her arrested? Do you think I made you stop the car right before the police station because I had a vomiting sensation? No... To make you call the police. I would have made you call the police after Seema called you. But even I didn't expect a police man himself to join you. It was an unexpected twist..." She smiled.

"Is it necessary to spoil your health?"

"My health can be recovered, but your reputation cannot. How dare she think of doing this to you?"

"I would have been cautious if you had told me. We could have avoided these unwanted dramas."

"But Seema would have been roaming around you freely, even after plotting a dirty plan..."

"But..."

Cutting him off,

"You would have become cautious if I had alerted you. What if she keeps trying? What if she stopped sharing her plan with Asha Madam, raising doubts about her? I was not ready to take a risk in your matter. This is about your respect, Arnav, how could I let it happen?"

Arnav was undoubtedly touched. He didn't know what to think, except, WHAT KIND OF GIRL SHE IS?

"I know what a professor's occupation meant to you. You are not even ready to accept me, just because I'm your student. Don't I know what that means? How could I let your head hang?"

Arnav became emotional. She was right. Professor occupation meant everything to him. It was about his respect and reputation. He chose the occupation only to show society how a teacher should be. He didn't know what his condition would have been if Seema's plan had succeeded. He might have even killed himself. But, how did this girl understand his mindset? Why did she hurt herself to save him? She knew he was refusing to accept her only because she was his student. She could have planned something and made him quit the job. But... She didn't even think like that. Instead, she respected his feelings and saved his reputation. What a great character she was! Seeing her always doing something naughty, he judged her wrongly.

Khushi felt like using the washroom. So she slowly went to the bathroom and returned.

"Khushi, one minute," Arnav said.

She looked at him, who was holding the wall.

"You know very well why I don't accept you. This incident is the best chance for making me quit my job. Don't you think of doing that?" he asked in a soft voice.

She smiled.

"I agree, I want to marry you, I want to be with you, and I want to spend my life with you, but I don't want to do that by KILLING YOUR FEELINGS. I know you are already in a deep turmoil. I don't want to make the wound deeper."

"What do you mean by my turmoil?"

Without thinking of anything, Khushi said,

"Anu... your sister... You are going through the worst that no brother should have to. A real partner should be the healing medicine; instead, if I use the chance to snatch you, what's the difference between me and Seema? Respecting others' feelings is the essence of a real relationship..."

Arnav's eyes tear up. He tightened his jaw to control his emotions, but he could not. He failed to do that. Without a care, he took a long step and hugged her, pouring all his feelings into it, leaving her stunned. Tears rolled down his cheek as he closed his eyes to feel the warmth of Khushi, who tried to be his healing medicine.

Khushi stood like a statue, could not believe Arnav was hugging her. She felt like her fever fled away through the window of her house. The girl who was weak felt like she had gained a surge of energy.

To be continued...