Part 29 Ploy

Sheetal threw the phone on the bed wrathfully. What she doubted was right. Arnav also was in the same mindset as Aman. Both of them thought she was in the race intentionally. Her pretext to make them believe didn't work. She was annoyed. It was clear she could not get her place in their gang again. It was because of the one girl... Khushi...!

If she had not entered their life, Arnav would not have been behind her, leaving his friends behind. What did he see in her that he adored her like a goddess? Of course, she ran well. It didn't mean he could forget their friendship.

Sheetal planned something to keep Khushi away from Arnav. She thought it would work.

The next day

Arvind came out of his cabin to go to the conference. He got stuck for a while and smiled at Sheetal, who was grinning at him.

"Hi, Sheetal..."

"Hello, uncle, how are you?"

"Good... What about you?"

"It's ok, uncle..." She said with disinterest.

"What happened? Why do you seem weary?"

"It's because of your son, uncle."

"Why? What did he do?"

"He is doing everything like a fool these days..."

"What are you talking?"

"He is not even talking to us now... He is roaming with a low-class girl who doesn't deserve to be with him."

Arvind understood about whom Sheetal was talking. So he kept silent.

"Being his best friend, I can't tolerate his actions. How big your name is...! How big your repetition is...! He spoils everything, uncle. I am so fed up with him. Please stop him from doing anything, uncle. The girl will become a headache to you and your family. Ask Arnav not to talk to her. Have you seen her house? We don't even stand in that area. Yuk..." Sheetal said, making a weird face.

That was when they heard,

"If you don't want to stand in that area, you don't have to go there..."

They looked behind and found Radha standing with Arvind's lunch bag. She advanced them.

"Do you think what you are doing is right?" She asked Sheetal.

"What did I do, Aunty? I am doing this because I want to save uncle's reputation."

"Arnav is your friend. Being his friend, you should stand for him, but you are backstabbing him..."

Sheetal tried to say something, but Radha stopped her by showing her palm.

"Accepted it or not, you are doing wrong. What will Arnav think if he knows what you are doing on his back? Will he be happy with your proceeding?"

Sheetal looked at Arvind, expecting him to say something in her favour, but he stood numb, disappointed Sheetal.

"What's your problem if Arnav rooms with Khushi?"

"What's my problem, Aunty? I just am worried about Uncle."

"Khushi is a talented athlete. No wonder he gets attracted towards her. He wants to lift her. So he is helping her to shine in her career..."

"No, Aunty, this is not just about her talent. Arnav had fallen in love with her. That's why he is behind her."

"How are you so sure of it?"

"When she won the race, he hugged and lifted her to celebrate the victory. He encouraged her like he would die if she lost the race. He had never been like this. That's why I say he fell in love with Khushi."

Radha sensed a kind of hatred in Sheetal's tone.

"Is it? Did he encourage her like he would die if she lost the race?"

"Yes, Aunty... I saw him doing that..."

"If he could not even bear her loss, then what will he do if he loses her?"

Sheetal and Arvind were struck.

"You said you are his best friend. Do you know what the best friend means?"

Sheetal gulped down hard.

"The best friend would stand for her friend no matter what. She would like his victory. She will never want him to be disappointed."

Sheetal looked at Arvind, who was silent.

"Understand one thing, Sheetal. Arnav will start hating you if he learns you are trying to separate him from Khushi. Is it ok?"

Sheetal looked down.

"If you can't hold him back, please don't backstab him at least..."

She walked to Arvind's cabin, and Arvind followed her.

"She is advising me as if she is a sage..." Sheetal murmured and turned behind, only to find Lavanya.

Sheetal volunteered a smile, but Lavanya left the place, not paying her heed. That frustrated her more, but nobody knew that someone heard Sheetal's talks with Radha. It was none other than Lalith Kashyap... Lavanya's father.

He was furious like ever before. He could not tolerate the truth that Arnav was in love with some other girl instead of Lavanya. He had been building up his expectations about their relationship. He was considering getting AR's entire share in the name of marriage. He didn't want ONLY to be the partner of his whole life. He rushed behind Sheetal.

"Sheetal..." he called her.

Sheetal looked behind, and her face lit, seeing Lalith.

"Hi, Uncle"

"Is it true? Arnav loves the girl?"

Sheetal nodded yes without thinking.

"Could you do me a favour?"

"What do you want me to do? What can I do when his father is fine with his relationship?"

"But, I'm not fine with this relationship. Arvind promised me that Lavanya would be the Raizada Bahu. I can't change it..."

"But, how could I help you in this?"

"Tell me about the girl."

"She is an athlete. Getting ready for the State meet. The National medal is her goal... maybe more than that. That's what attracted Arnav. He likes her talent. He will do anything for her to achieve her goal."

"It should not happen. She should fail..."

"What are you going to do?"

"Just do what I say. Will you?"

"Sure... I will do anything to make Lavanya happy. She is my friend, after all."

"If you do what I say, you will get an unforgettable reward from me."

"Lavanya's happiness is my reward, uncle. I don't need anything more than that. I don't want Arnav to get married to a classless girl."

Lalith was so satisfied that it was as if his plan had worked.

On the other side, Khushi was practising hard to achieve her goal. Her goal was not just a medal but more than that. She wanted to prove herself to the one who trusted her more than himself.

Arnav stopped talking about his feelings for her. He didn't want to distract her mind. He didn't talk about it, but that didn't mean she didn't think of it. How could she not think of the beautiful confession? Didn't he say he would be with her for his whole life, whether she won the medal or not?

Her responsibility was to win the medal and make herself worthy of him.

Though Arnav didn't disturb her, he was glad to see her sincerely practising. Khushi followed an assigned diet. She never got tired before, no matter how hard the practice was, but nowadays, she would get tired due to heavy practice. She could not compromise. She fell on the bed, exhausted.

Khushi was on track, and Arnav waited with the TIMER on the finishing line. Their physical instructor clapped. Khushi ran to give her best, and she gave. Arnav hopped in happiness as she reduced two seconds. He rushed to Khushi and was supposed to hug her, but Khushi stepped back. Arnav pressed his lips together, but Khushi's stance made him smile.

"You said you would not DISTRACT me..."

"Will you get distracted?" he snapped back.

Khushi turned opposite to him without answering, making his smile broad.

"You have reduced two seconds..." He forwarded his hands for a shake.

Khushi clutched it, and they shook hands. They saw their physical instructor rushing.

"Well done, Khushi... well done..." he tapped her back.

Khushi smiled.

"It's not a simple achievement, Khushi. If you continue your practice like this, you will surely win the National medal," The PI said gladly.

"Thank you, sir."

"Keep practising"

Khushi nodded. The PI left the place.

Arnav gave her a juice bottle with a smile.

"Thank you," Khushi said, taking it from him.

"By the way, Khushi, I can see a sudden hike in your performance... I'm glad about it." He didn't say it was for me, yet Khushi understood that.

She walked, drinking the juice.

"I thought you may stop practising", he teased.

Khushi stopped walking and looked at him.

"I might stop practising if you had told me you would marry me ONLY if I won, but you said something..."

"What did I say?"

Khushi looked at him like, DON'T PRETEND.

"Tell me, Khushi, what did I say?"

"You said you will be with me whether I win or lose, and it's my wish to do it with respect or not..."

"So, you are ready to accept me."

"I should accept one thing... Khushi is nothing if you are not there for her."

"Hey... I just..."

"I know..." She walked. Arnav followed her silently.

It was clear that Khushi was ready to accept him. If she had been prepared to take him, she would have started loving him too. That thought chilled Arnav's spine. He followed her smilingly.

To be continued...