Part 13 Thanks

Arnav walked with disappointment, anger, and weary. He didn't expect Lavanya to come up with such an embarrassment.

Lavanya rushed behind him and stopped him by holding his hand. Arnav looked at her rigidly.

"Why are you leaving without saying anything, ASR? Don't you have concern for me?"

"Yes, I don't have SUCH concern you are expecting from me..." he said, gritting his teeth.

"What do you mean? Don't you love me?"

"Love? What do you mean, love? I love all our friends... because you are my friends. Not such kind of love you just expressed..."

Lavanya looked at him, perplexed. She didn't expect that from him because she grew feelings for him alone, thinking she was unique.

"What do you think of me, Lavanya? We have been friends since childhood. Is this what your friendship is? What you showed in the name of friendship is not friendship but something..."

"But you always showed special concern for me..."

"It's you who always highlighted yourself as a special person. Did I ever say you are more special than others? No... it was you who asked, am I not special to you? I didn't deny it because I didn't want to hurt you, but I didn't know you would have such an idea in your mind. if I had known your idea, I would not have let you grow it... I would have prevented it in the beginning. I thought you were my best friend. I thought I had friends who understood me... but I felt disappointed. I didn't expect this from you, Lavanya... I never expected this from you" Arnav left the place.

Lavanya stood with pooled-up eyes. Sheetal rushed to her and touched her shoulder. In no time, Lavanya cried, hugging her. Sheetal caressed her back, smirking.

"Arnav is angry with me and highly disappointed. He shouted at me for loving him. He didn't have feelings for me like I have for him. He considers me his friend... only his friend..."

"But you were so confident about his feelings..."

"I thought he loved me..."

"How did you think so, Lavanya?"

"His gestures seemed so."

"What gesture are you talking about? He moved equally with all of us. I never saw him showing any special gesture for you."

Breaking the hug, Lavanya cried, closing her face.

"Arnav is furious with me. He will not talk to me anymore. He won't let me be a part of our gang from here on."

"Relax... nothing will happen like that..."

"No, I have never seen him so angry before. He is upset."

"Will you say he is wrong? How could you think he loves you without knowing what was in his mind? Of course, he will not talk to you because he got to know what you are thinking about him. He got to know your feelings for him. How could he behave coolly with him?"

"I will try to change my mind if he accepts me as his friend like before. I can't lose his friendship. I need his friendship. Please do something..."

"Ok, but you should promise you will never bring your love issue to him again."

"I will not..." Lavanya said in a low tone and again cried.

"OK, I will talk to him, but give him some time. He is angry now, so approaching him now is not advisable. Please don't go in front of him today. I will talk to him tomorrow."

Lavanya nodded. Sheetal smirked because the first part of her plan had succeeded, but she didn't know someone had heard their talk.

Khushi saw Arnav talking to Aman and NK about something serious. His face emitted fire. Aman hit his forehead, whereas NK ran his fingers in his hair, all frustrated. It was clear that they were upset about something.

Their class started. Arnav and his friends didn't concentrate on the class. They were physically present in the class but mentally absent. Khushi was confused. He was so brisk in the morning practice. What happened to him all of a sudden?

The first period was gone. The Physical instructor sent a senior student to bring Arnav and Khushi to the playground. Arnav walked to the ground, not looking at Khushi.

When they came to the ground, he stopped and looked at Khushi.

"Thanks"

Khushi frowned as she didn't know why he thanked her.

"Thanks for?"

Or not accepting my friend request."

Khushi raised her brows. What had happened to him? In the morning, he was upset because she didn't accept his friend request. Now, he was thankful to her for not accepting his friend request! What was wrong with him? She went to the physical instructor, following Arnav.

"Guys, your practice should be started..."

"We already started, sir," Arnav said.

"Started means?"

"As usual, Khushi and I did our morning practice today in the Nehru stadium."

"How are you guys together?" The PI asked.

"Our company is sponsoring her. That's why we are together, sir."

"Oh... that's nice to hear."

"She is a state Gold medal winner, sir... that's why our company adopted her."

"Is it?" He asked Khushi.

She nodded yes and said,

"Yes, sir, we signed the contract yesterday."

"Oh...So, will you do practice every morning?"

"In the evening, also in the sports academy, sir."

"That's great... Ok, you guys, get in touch with our athletes. Come to the ground daily. Only then will you get the privilege token provided by our college. You can use it to get eatables from our college canteen."

"Sure, sir", Arnav said, and Khushi looked at him surprisingly. He could buy the college canteen in a single cheque. Then why did he want the privilege token to get something from the canteen?

"Ok, get your today's tokens."

"Thank you, sir, let's go, Khushi,"

Arnav said and walked with Khushi to the canteen. They came to the canteen and got their tokens. They were provided with anything they asked.

Arnav asked for fresh juice for both of them and came to a table with Khushi. As it was working hour, only sports boys and girls were in the canteen.

Khushi looked at Arnav questioningly.

"Whaaat? Have the juice."

"You provide a healthy diet for me, and of course, you, too, have them. Then, why do you accept this token?"

"Our college students should recognise us as sports personalities. This is a collage that celebrates sports, girls and boys. We should not miss it. We don't get the recognition if we stay aloof. We should mingle with other sports guys. That's why I didn't deny it."

Khushi nodded.

"You thanked me for not accepting you as my friend. Why?"

Arnav drank the juice smilingly and said,

"It's because you didn't accept me as your friend."

Khushi nodded yes, frowning.

"So?"

"Nothing... that's all."

She shrank her nose, and Arnav chuckled.

"You looked upset in the first period. Is everything alright?"

Arnav's facial expression changed.

"I'm sorry. If I..."

Cutting her,

"Nothing... shall we go to the class?'

Khushi nodded ok and stood.

"We are already doing enough practice. So, don't do that in college. It will make you tired. Then you can't give your best in the sports academy."

She nodded ok.

When they came to the class, the short break bell rang. Khushi came to Preeto, who pulled Khushi's hand and asked,

"Did Arnav tell you anything?"

"About what?"

"About Lavanya"

"Lavanya? What's there to tell me about?"

"She proposed to him."

"Whaaat?"

"Yes, didn't you see Arnav being upset?"

"Was that the reason?"

"Yes,"

"How do you know?"

"I heard Lavanya and Sheetal talking about it."

"Is it...?"

"Yes, being his FRIEND, how could she love him?"

Khushi looked at her dumbfounded.

"They have been friends for many years. Poor Arnav. Didn't he feel distraught when she proposed to him? She spoilt the name friendship. If she had feelings for him, she should not roam with him in the name of FRIEND," Preeto spoke.

Khushi was looking at her dumbfounded, thinking about Arnav's THANKS. Didn't he thank her for not accepting his friend request? What did that mean? Khushi gulped down.

To be continued...