Part 13 Our Personal..!

"Where will you take me?" Khushi asked Arnav curiously.

"Shall we go to Doddabetta?" Arnav asked.

"Oh, yes... let's go," Khushi said excitedly.

Arnav took Khushi to Doddabetta, the fourth-highest peak in South India and the highest mountain in Nilgiri Mountains, 2637 meters. It was nine kilometers far from Ooty. The areas around Dottabetta were mostly forested.

They came to the TELESCOPE HOUSE which was at its peak. Two telescopes were available for people to view the surroundings of the peak. Khushi enjoyed it a lot. It was all new to her. She enjoyed Arnav's company even though he talked less...!

Khushi didn't get bored of being with Arnav. It was Arnav who voluntarily sent her home as it became late evening. Khushi got the courage to be with Arnav after seeing his fighting ability. So, she roamed with him casually. Arnav dropped her at the SP Bungalow bus stop and went to his bus stop.

..............

Arnav came home. Ratna asked him nothing even though, he was late. He went to his room fell on the bed and smiled. He liked Khushi very much because she didn't question him unnecessarily even after seeing his diabolical side. She was the nicest girl he had ever seen. She said she liked him. He liked the feel. He liked to be with her.

Suddenly, his facial expression changed. What if...? He sat on the bed and closed his face with his palms. Why his life was so hard?

"Khushiiii" his lips murmured her name painfully.

.........

Arvind came late at night. Though he called Ratna and said not to wait for him, she waited for him.

"Why haven't you slept yet, Ratna? I told you I would be late"

"I want to tell you something"

"Tell me" he looked at her.

"Where did you drop, Chotte today?"

"In his college"

"But today is a holiday"

"Mmm... but he didn't go to his college to attend classes. I went somewhere else with Khushi"

"Do you know that?"

"When I dropped him in his college, Khushi came there and they left the place in an auto," he said

"Did you see them?"

"I did... I was in a hurry to report for duty. So, I could not get to know where they went. I became busy controlling the crowd that's why I could not call you"

"They went to Botanical Garden"

"Did he tell you?"

"No. Aman said"

"Did he meet them?"

"Yes, he spoke to Khushi too..."

"Oh..."

Ratna said what Aman said about Arnav and Khushi's relationship. Arvind became thoughtful.

"I don't know about Khushi but I think Chotte loves her," Arvind said in a low tone.

Ratna was silent.

"I'm scared Ratna. Chotte will not tolerate the pain if it doesn't work"

Ratna nodded yes.

"I think we should talk to Chotte"

"Please don't do it. We never forced him for anything so far. Likewise, let him do what he wants. If it is his fate to lose her, we can do nothing... but, what if she likes him? What if she was ready to accept him?" She pleaded.

"Do you think so?"

"I believe God will hear our prayers"

Arvind nodded yes gulping down.

They hoped for good.

The next morning

Khushi got ready for the college. Shashi also came out of the room getting ready.

"Good morning, Dad"

"Good morning Baby... how was your outing program with Arnav?"

"Awesome and adventurous..."

"Is it?"

"Yeah... we went to Botanical Garden and Doddebetta"

"That's good... it seems he became quite comfortable with you...?"

"I don't know about him but I'm very much comfortable with him, Dad. He is a nicer guy than I expected. I will roam the whole world with him without fear" She didn't say how protective Arnav was. If she said that she would have to tell him what made her think so. So she skipped it.

"I was a little tensed sending you with a guy who is naïve because many unpleasant events are happening in society nowadays. I would not bother if your friend is smart enough to save a girl but he seems soft"

Khushi controlled her laughter. Arnav and SOFT? Damn it, her father should have seen his ghostly avatar. Then he would not have spoken like this.

"Don't worry, Dad...! I will take care of myself and also Arnav" she said seriously. She didn't tell him what happened that day because she didn't know how Shashi would react to it.

"That's my daughter..." Shashi smiled.

Khushi took his leave and went to the college.

........

Arnav and Khushi became so much closer than before. They were seen together everywhere. Seeing them together became normal to Beryl's college students and professors.

Parthiban who entered the class after a week, saw Khushi sitting with Arnav and talking to him smilingly. He was taken aback.

"Heeyyyy.... What's happening here?" he asked, looking at them.

Students looked at them and didn't react as they used to it. He came to them.

"What taste do you have? Would you talk with only STONES?" he asked, looking at Arnav who was gazing at him.

"You don't have to bother about my taste. Mind your business." Khushi said.

"What did you see in him that you are behind him?"

Khushi looked at Arnav and said,

"What I SEE in him is purely OUR PERSONAL. I can't tell that to anyone" she said without thinking, making Arnav embarrassed and Parthiban perplexed.

He walked to the next last bench and sat. He could not believe Khushi became Arnav's friend and more to his surprise, Arnav accepted her as his friend.

"It seems their friendship will be long-lasting. They are getting closer every day. Khushi really is something..." Swetha said.

"What something...? She was behind him shamelessly even after he refused to talk to her. That was why he gave up. If I had known he would give me a chance, I would also have sat on his bench with him and would have trapped him" Vedika said with attitude.

"Don't talk meaningless, Vedika, Arnav spoke to Khushi because he liked her..."

"What do you mean? Do you think he will not like me?"

"He liked no one until Khushi came. I bet you can't take her place"

"Challenge accepted. I can also become his friend"

"Take your time and do it"

"What's the big deal? My father is a big shot in Ooty. Guys are dying for my one look. Arnav will be under my feet soon and the whole college will see it" She said with attitude.

Swetha looked at Arnav and Khushi who were seriously talking.

"Are you upset?" Khushi asked Arnav.

He nodded no.

"Don't take him seriously. He is not worthy of it" she said looking at Parthiban who was still looking at them with unbelievable expression.

Arnav nodded yes.

"Shall we eat ice cream in the break?" she asked.

"Don't eat ice cream often..." He said calmly.

"Didn't you hear what the shopkeeper said that day? He said their ice cream formula is unique...! We both didn't catch a cold as he said"

"Are not you health conscious?" he asked plainly.

"Why?"

"You will gain weight if you eat ice cream often"

"Who said? I ate ice cream every day when I was in Chennai... yet, I didn't gain weight" She said proudly.

"Mmm..."

"By the way, why are you bothered about me gaining weight?" she asked him teasingly.

Arnav was suffocated. Yes, not that he was bothered about her gaining weight. It was because he thought she looked so awesome with exact structure.

"I just said that for your betterment" he said not looking at her.

Their talks stopped as the professor entered the class.

Short Break

"Arnav, I'm going to the girls' room"

Arnav nodded ok. Khushi went with Lavanya.

Vedika who was waiting for the chance, came to Arnav.

"Hi, Arnav..." she said smiling.

Arnav raised his head from his book and looked at her plainly.

"I have a doubt in today's lesson. Could you clear it?" she asked cheesy.

Closing the book, Arnav stood up to leave the class without giving heed to her. She hurriedly climbed on the front bench and came in front of him. Blocking his way,

"Why don't you do it for ME? Please help me, Arnav"

Arnav saw the students who were in the class looking at them surprisingly. They knew Vedika. She never asked anything from anyone. Arnav again tried to leave. As no one expected, she clutched his hand.

"I won't leave you until you answer me," she said fondling.

Arnav looked at her clutch and then at her face.

"Please, Arnav" she whined unaware of the RED-EYED monster inside him.

In no time, Arnav shrugged her hand off. Palming her head, he pushed her. She fell on a bench losing her balance. The students in the classroom became stunned. Vedika felt insulted.

Arnav walked out.

"Hey... Crack...! Don't you have sense? Is this how you behave with me? Then why did you cling to Khushi? What did you see in her that you are behind her?" she shouted from behind, asking the same question Parthiban asked Khushi.

Arnav stopped and looked at her.

"What I SEE in her is purely OUR PERSONAL. I can't tell that to anyone" he gave the same answer that Khushi gave to Parthiban, making everyone dumbfounded.

He turned to leave the class but stopped to see Khushi looking at him perplexed.

To be continued...