Part 14 No Friend No Bestie

Khushi stared at Preeto. Arnav thanked her for not accepting her friendship, the man who had requested it in the morning. What did that mean? Why did he change his mind suddenly? What did she think could be right? Did he change it after Lavanya's confession? Did he feel proposing to a friend was not right?

"Khushi..." Preeto shook her shoulder.

"Hanna?"

"I suspect Sheetal," Preeto said.

"What? Why do you suspect Sheetal?"

"Yes...Khushi, I strongly suspect Sheetal."

"Why?"

"I saw her smirking when Lavanya was crying"

Khushi looked at Preeto, perplexed, who nodded her head firmly.

"Which friend would smirk when the dear friend faced a love failure? Even though she was not fine with what she did, she might have gotten angry or upset with her, but she smirked."

Khushi became thoughtful.

"I think she plays DOUBLE game, Khushi."

"Whatever she does, why should we bother about her?"

"A fire burning in the house next door will spread to our house too. Knowingly or unknowingly, you are one of them now. The man person of the gang is close to you. So, be careful. She may play her card to you, too."

"Preeto, I don't think she will give us heed. Didn't you see how proud she is? Accept it or not, we are not equal to them..."

"I'm not talking about equality, Khushi. Understand that. I don't want any problem between you and Arnav. I'm sure you will achieve many things if he is with you... he is willing to help you, Khushi. I'm scared these guys will spoil that."

Khushi remembered how Arnav spoke to her about the International Medal. She felt Goosebumps. Why was he showing so much interest in her? Who was she to him? Why did he want her to achieve something big? Was he that confident in her abilities? Preeto was right. She could never get such support in her life. Arnav was a nice guy. He had no pride and arrogance about his status. She was so lucky to have such a friend... Khushi was stuck. FRIEND? Would he accept it if she addressed him as her friend?

"What are you thinking, Khushi?"

"I will be careful, Preeto"

"Especially with Sheetal"

"Yeah, especially with Sheetal."

"Let's go"

They came to their class. Arnav smiled at her. Khushi thought something and went to him. Arnav sat straight with a smile. She extended her hand towards him and said,

"Friends?"

Arnav was taken aback. He nodded, no sighing.

"I'm ready to accept your friend request."

"I already deleted it", he smiled.

"But why? Don't you like to be my friend?"

"No need... we can continue like this..."

"Like what? Sponsor and a sports personality?"

"Yeah... sounds good... more than that, we can be classmates, college mates, and sports mates... anything."

"You are ready to be any MATE but my friend?"

Arnav nodded yes, pressing his lips. Khushi made a sad face and walked back to her place. Arnav became nervous because she became upset. He came to her,

"Khushi..."

Khushi looked at him, making a face.

"What about BESTIE?"

"Means?" she tilted her head slightly.

"Means you are not just a friend but something more than that."

"Something more than that means?"

"Means a person with RIGHTS."

"Rights?"

"Yeah..."

"I'm sorry. I can't be your Bestie."

"But why?"

"If I became your Bestie accepting the RIGHTS you gave, I should also give you the same rights in return. I can't do it."

"Why?" he inserted his hands in his pant pockets.

"Somehow, you understood I won't take advantage of your rights. That's why you give me rights without bothering me, but I know nothing about you. Then how do I give you the rights?"

Arnav folded his hands smilingly.

"What do you think I will do?" he asked.

"I don't think anything... I don't want to... because, according to me, you are a nice guy. I don't want it to change."

"Khushi, you are so smart... but I don't want you to be my friend. You don't want me to be your Bestie. Then what's our relationship?"

"No relationship... I'm Khushi, and you are Arnavji..."

"Arnav JI? Like really?" He chuckled.

"I respect you."

Arnav rolled his eyes, smiling.

"Sounds nice... do you know why?"

Khushi nodded no.

"Nothing..." he smiled.

Khushi raised her brows.

Khushi sat in her place. Arnav was smiling all the time in class. Khushi noticed it, and she, too, smiled.

Lunch Break

The lunch for Arnav and Khushi arrived. Of course, he asked Aman and NK to join them.

"Congratulations, Khushi... you became Delhi Cement's Ambassador."

"Not yet..."

"But, one day, you will surely", Arnav said.

Khushi smiled.

"I would like to tell you something."

"Tell me"

"Actually, I will not eat non-veg on Fridays," Khushi said hesitatingly.

"Khushi, being a sports girl, you should not think about fasting. It would be best if you had energy, Khushi. By now, your diet chart has been prepared. It will be hard for them to change it... " Aman said.

Khushi looked at Arnav, who was smiling. Khushi ate the boiled eggs silently.

"ASR, I'm thinking about resuming my practice. What say?"

"Great..."

"Don't think he will sponsor you, too," NK said.

"Dude will do everything to me without sponsorship," Aman said proudly.

Arnav blinked his eyes.

After eating, Aman and NK met their friends, but Arnav didn't go.

That was when they saw Sheetal coming. Seeing her, Arnav's facial expression changed. She came to him.

"Arnav..." she called.

Arnav looked at her rigidly.

"Please come"

"We have an important period now...leave," he said.

"Won't you give me five minutes?"

"why?"

"I want to talk to you."

"I'm not ready to talk to anyone. Leave Sheetal"

"But, what I did?"

Arnav glared at her.

"Relax Arnav... we are friends..."

"Friends, my foot."

"Arnav, relax. I can understand what you are undergoing. That's why I came to meet you."

"Whaaat?"

"Please come out... for five minutes."

Arnav sighed and walked out. Sheetal followed her. Khushi looked at Preeto, but she was not in her place. Where did she go? Khushi searched for her, but she was not in the class.

Arnav came out and looked at Sheetal furiously.

"What? What do you want to talk to me? I won't spare you if you speak about Lavanya and her love."

"What do you think of me, Arnav? This is what you understood me? How do you think I would stand for Lavanya when I know how wrong she is?" she asked disappointedly.

Arnav calmed down.

"Tell me..."

"This is so unpleasant. I didn't expect Lavanya to have such an idea about you in her mind. She disappointed us, but we can't say she was completely wrong."

"What do you mean?"

"Look at yourself, Arnav. Which girl would ignore your charms? Your smile, style, and attraction can attract a girl. That's how Lavanya would have attracted to you. More than that, you too created such an idea in her mind..."

"Whaaaat?"

"Unknowingly... by showing your concern, care and love. Didn't you notice she always thought she had a special place in her heart? Poor she... it's all common in this age, Arnav."

Arnav rolled his eyes irritatingly.

"She is our friend. She wants your forgiveness because she realised her mistake. If we don't forgive her, who will? We have been friends since childhood, Arnav. For the sake of our friendship, please forgive her. You don't have to talk to her like before. Just give her a place in our gang. Or else she will feel ashamed of herself. Please Arnav..."

"I have no problem if she is in our gang..."

"That's enough... just tell her you forgive her..."

Arnav glared at her.

"For once... please. She will never come up with such ideas. You can trust her."

"It will be good for her."

"Thank you, Arnav"

Arnav went to his class. Sheetal saw Khushi going to the girls' common room. She followed her, smirking.

To be continued...