Part 6 Khushi's Fear

Arnav stood, looking at Khushi. He turned around, sensing a touch on his shoulder. He saw his friends standing.

"What did you tell her, ASR?"

"Just congratulate her."

"Oh..."

"What's there to congratulate her on?" Sheetal asked, as she could not tolerate someone taking a place in Arnav's good book.

"What do you mean?" Arnav shrank his eyes.

"I mean, you are also a Gold medal winner. According to you, it's not a big deal."

"It may not be a big deal, but for Khushi, it is...! Being a sports personality, don't you know how hard it is to win a medal in the State meet without needed facilities? She doesn't even have shoes, damn it... I didn't expect this from you."

Sheetal cursed herself for talking idiotic.

"No, no... I didn't mean it. Instead of congratulating her, you should have helped her buy shoes..." She managed to see Arnav's face soften.

"Yeah, I should have..." he didn't say; he gave her his number.

"Let's go ASR"

They walked out. Arnav saw his driver, Mohan, waiting for him. Arnav extended his hand towards him. Mohan looked at him, not understanding.

"Key..." Arnav asked.

Mohan hesitated.

"I'm nineteen now... I can drive."

Mohan gave him the car key. Arnav sat in the driver's seat and started the car. His friends occupied the seats. He dropped the girls at their places and looked at his friends.

"Shall I drop you guys?"

"Nannav... you have started driving the car too..."

"It's because I became a MAJOR today."

"So, you are eligible to do anything that an adult does,"

"So?"

"What about a PEG?"

Arnav looked at him shockingly.

"You mean alcohol?"

NK nodded yes.

"Why not we just taste it?"

"No... a big no."

"Why Nannav? You have no one to question you... definitely your father won't dare..."

"I don't want to drink, not just because I'm not answerable to anyone. I don't want to drink because I don't like it. Just because I have money and can do anything, I won't do anything which could spoil my health and reputation..."

NK sighed and said,

"You are spoiling RICH BOY's rules..."

"What do you mean by Rich boys' rules? Should rich boys not be nice and disciplined?"

They looked at each other.

"Yeah... why not?" Aman smiled.

"I don't want us to be in the circle of rich boys."

"Won't we get a treat?"

"Why not? Let's go to the restaurant."

"That's great..."

"Before that, I have to take a bath. I badly need one."

Arnav started the car and headed to RM. After taking a bath, he took his friends to the restaurant.

"Order what you want and eat as much as possible," Arnav said.

They ordered their favourite food and had their stomach full. Arnav got the bill. It was nine thousand five hundred. He never minded about the money he spent, but then, he didn't know why he thought about Khushi's barefoot when he settled the bill. A girl could not afford shoes, but some people didn't mind spending thousands of dollars on dinner. He felt terrible about it. He didn't know such a lifestyle existed.

Arnav started practising for the National meet, whereas Khushi was sad that her school principal didn't agree to send her to the National meet because it would be held in Bengaluru. He said he could not spend a few thousand on a single girl. Her PET master tried his best but could not change his mind.

"No, chance. I agree that she won the state medal, but the national meet will have tough competition. She can't win..."

"She will, sir... because she had an excellent lead in the state meet."

"Ok, I will send it to her if her father is ready to share half of the expense," the Principal said.

"Sir, she could not even afford shoes..."

"What can we do about it? There are only a few months for the Board Exams. Ask her to prepare for it. She will get a good job... studies are most important. She could do nothing with her gold medal if she didn't pass the exams."

"She studied well, sir."

"Then, ask her to score good marks."

The PET master felt helpless. He came out of his room, all disappointed.

Khushi was more disappointed when she got to know his denial.

"Ask your father once, Khushi"

Khushi nodded no.

"I know my family's condition, sir. I can't ask my father."

"Then, what are you going to do?"

"Going to prepare for my exams," she said sadly.

"We can't even get a sponsor as this is just a State meet. Companies will give sponsorships only if you are a National Gold medalist," he said sadly.

Khushi was silent.

"I thought someone would like to sponsor you, seeing you running with a barefoot" He sighed.

Khushi could not hold herself from thinking about Arnav. Didn't he ask her to ask for any help? But how could she ask him for help? What if he just said that as a courtesy? He was undoubtedly a kind guy, but she should not forget that he was a rich guy...! What if he insulted her? More than that, Shashi might feel inferior if she went to Arnav for help. She could not let her father feel low. People might also talk rubbish about them. She gave up the idea of seeking Arnav's help.

Khushi didn't tell Shashi about the National meet and started concentrating on her exams. Her only aim was to score good marks in the board exams. It didn't mean there was no pain in her heart about the National meet. Yet, she didn't bring it to her mind.

On the other hand, Arnav was excited to meet Khushi at the National meet. He had no chance to know the actual scenario. He didn't expect a principal to deny sending her to the National meet. So, he wanted to present her with shoes and Spikes. He saw her feet and guessed her shoe size. He bought shoes and spikes for Khushi and met her at her school.

He waited for her, but he could not see her. He didn't know if he could enter the school, as he thought her school would be like his school, with the same rules and regulations. He was fed up not meeting her.

Arnav's face brightened when he saw the boy he had admitted to the hospital. He rushed to him.

"Hi..." he smiled.

The boy looked at his tip-to-toe. He didn't know who he was. After all, he was unconscious when Arnav admitted him to the hospital.

"How are you feeling now?"

The boy nodded his head with confusion.

"I'm the one who admitted you to the hospital."

The boy smiled brightly.

"Hello, Bhaiya... thank you so much."

"You are welcome... are you all right now?"

"Jee... I'm all right. You here?"

"I came to meet Khushi Gupta."

"Oh... Gold medal Didi..."

Khushi's school students started addressing her Gold Medal didi.

"Yeah, she won a Gold medal in the State meet. I want to meet her."

"Wait, I will bring her."

Arnav nodded ok. The boy was supposed to run but stopped hearing,

"One minute..."

He looked at Arnav.

"What's your name?"

"My name is Ashok. Studying in the Sixth standard, C section."

"Oh... what about Khushi?"

"She studies in Twelfth standard, D section."

"Ok, I will wait here."

Khushi came to the school and saw Arnav standing outside, leaning on a car. She looked here and there. She doubted he was there to meet her and was embarrassed to see him there. She hid in the nearby shop and watched him.

She saw Ashok rushing.

"She has not come to the school yet."

"Oh... could you ask her to call me?"

"Sure"

Arnav gave him his card. Ashok took it from him.

"Tell her I came to meet her."

"Ok..."

Arnav removed a five hundred note and gave it to Ashok.

"Keep it"

"Is it for me?" his face lightened.

Arnav nodded yes.

"Thank you so much."

"Don't forget to ask Khushi to call me."

"I will make her call you."

"Thank you"

Arnav left the place. Khushi waited until his car vanished from her sight. She walked to the school as if she didn't know anything.

Ashok rushed to her smilingly.

"Didi, someone gave you his card," he said, extending Arnav's card.

"I know anyone," Khushi said and walked.

"But, he knows you, Didi. Please call him once."

Khushi snatched the card and tore it into pieces.

To be continued...