Part 2 Khushi's idea

"Cold Blood Monster," NK said.

"Why did you guys name him like that?" Khushi questioned.

"He always looks cold... that's why"

"His real name?"

"Arnav Singh Raizada" Said NK.

"Oh... is he a north Indian, just like me?" Khushi asked excitedly.

"He is half north Indian and half south Indian"

"Means?"

"His father is a north Indian and his mother is a Tamilian"

"Oh..."

"Three generations ago, his family immigrated to Ooty. His great-grandfather liked Ooty and settled down here. Since then their family has been living here. His house is far away from the town, nearly fifteen kilometers away. He comes to the college by bus daily"

"How do you know all these details? Would he talk to you?"

"He and talking to me? That too about his family history? No way... I saw him in the market once with his mother. She is a nice woman, and speaks nicely. I got to know these details from her and spread it all over the college"

"Why?"

"I like social service" he grinned.

Khushi chuckled.

"Is spreading information about someone social service?"

"Is not it? Do you know how hard it is to collect information about CBM? When I got it, I gave it to everyone freely" he said as if he had done something great.

"I thought I could get the notes from him through you if he talks to you"

"I told you, he won't talk to anyone"

"But why?"

"He is like that. We never have seen him talking to anyone. I don't think he has a special reason for it. His nature must be like that"

"Mmm... let me see"

Khushi came to the last bench where Cold Blood Monster aka Arnav Singh Raizada was sitting.

"Excuse me, could you move a little and make a space for me to sit?" She asked.

Without looking at her, Arnav moved to the edge of the bench, not giving her the space but blocking her from entering. Khushi dropped her jaw and composed herself.

"I think you didn't hear me..." She said smiling cutely.

Arnav didn't look at her.

"I said give me a space"

"No"

"Why? Is this desk only for you? Is your name written on this desk or what?"

Taking his pen, Arnav wrote his name on the desk. Yet, he didn't look at her.

"So smart," Khushi chuckled.

"Khushi, come and sit here" NK pointed to a place next to a girl.

Khushi went to the girl. Arnav, who didn't see her till then, looked at her for a few seconds and looked at the book again.

"She is Lavanya..." NK introduced her.

"Hi..." Khushi extended her hand for a shake.

Lavanya clutched her hand.

"Do you know Tamil?" Lavanya asked.

"I was in Chennai for four years. So, I can understand Tamil well and manage to speak too. But it will be a bit crude if I talk" She smiled.

"That's not a problem. Try to get fluency."

"Is it necessary?"

"Yes, people will counter in the local language. If you want to handle them then you must get fluent in Tamil..."

Khushi nodded ok. She turned behind and looked at Arnav whose eyes were on the book.

"Would he always study?" Khushi asked.

"Yeah, he always studies and always gets the first rank," NK said.

"Tell me a way to get the notes from him"

"Climbing Everest will be easier than that," Lavanya said.

Khushi sighed. Her mind was thinking about how to get the notes from CBM. She was not ready to leave it easily.

The next day

Arnav was late to the college as his bus broke down. He entered the class and got stuck, seeing Khushi sitting on HIS bench. She smiled at him like a fresh flower. Arnav closed his eyes and sighed annoyingly. He saw no bench was free. He walked to his bench, looking at Khushi sharply.

He came to her.

"Hi, dude.." She smiled.

He was supposed to say something, Khushi wrote her name on the desk, next to his.

"This desk became mine too... because my name is also written on it" she winked at him.

Arnav sat at the edge.

"Be careful, Arnav... you will fall" she laughed.

All the students looked at her wondering, whereas Arnav wondered as she called him ARNAV. He knew what the students would call him. He opened his book and looked at it.

"What's your problem?" she asked.

He closed his eyes gritting his teeth.

"Do you have a toothache?" she asked controlling her laughter.

He glared at her.

"You gritted your teeth. That's why I asked... Please give me the notes..." she pleaded.

The classroom became silent as the same computer professor entered.

"Good morning, sir" the students stood up.

"Good morning," he said and got stuck to see Khushi sitting with Arnav on his bench. He raised his brows and smiled.

"See, the professor also said nothing. So, give me your notes. Or else, I will torture you..."

Arnav didn't look at her. She sighed.

The class started. Arnav started taking notes. Khushi peeped in his notes and wondered. Anyone could understand the lesson easily if they followed his notes. She had a strong reason to nag him more for the notes. She decided to get it from him by hook or by crook.

But... it was not as easy as she thought.

Four days later

Nothing changed. It had been four days but Arnav didn't give heed to any of Khushi's antics. She tried her best but it did nothing with Arnav. She was fed up. She could not cope with second-year portions. How could she read a SENTENCE, without knowing ALPHABETS? She could solve the problems only if she knew the formula, right? She was blank.

It was a short break. The students went to the canteen but as usual, Arnav didn't. He was going through the notes he wrote. Khushi waited for the students to leave. She pulled Arnav's collar and made him turn towards her. He looked at her hand and then at her, shrinking his eyes dangerously.

"What do you think of yourself? Do you want me to run behind you?" She asked.

Arnav shrugged her hand off.

"Look Arnav, you can't be ignoring me. Don't think, I'm behind you because you are handsome"

Arnav looked at her raising his brows.

"Yeah, you are looking handsome. Don't you look in the mirror?" She grinned cheesily.

He rolled his eyes.

"What harm if you give me your book?"

No response.

"See, I won't disturb you if you give me the notes. I will go to the front bench then... Promise..." she pinched her neck.

He was supposed to leave the place, but Khushi jumped over the desk and came in front of him, spreading her hands, making an angry face.

"I won't let you go. Say, you will give me your notes"

There was no expression on his face.

"I will not pass the exams if you don't give, understand that" she pouted.

Arnav pushed Khushi and walked out of the class. Khushi pouted making a sad face.

Vedika and Swetha entered the class and saw the scene.

"Poor she... trying hard to get the notes from the CBM. Give it to her, Vedika..." Swetha felt bad for Khushi.

Vedika said nothing.

"She seems a nice girl and not showing the pride of SP's daughter. Help her, Vedika"

"Do you have the notes?" Vedika asked.

Swetha nodded no.

"Are you thorough in all the last year's chapters?"

She again nodded no.

"Yet, you don't mind about it. Can't she just study what the professors teach? Why is she behind him?"

"Why?"

"To show herself superior"

"What do you mean?"

"She thought she could get the notes from CBM that no one could do. If she had done that, she would become a super heroin of our college for achieving something that no one has done so far... that's her plan. Understand that"

"Oh... is this issue have such a point?"

"It's the only point. I don't think she is a smart student. If it is so, she would not have been in grief for her lost grandmother. Do you think anyone could feel sad for their grandmother to that extent? Don't we see, students casually killing their grandparents every day to get leave to roam with their friends? It's pathetic!"

Swetha nodded yes.

How did they know what her grandmother meant to Khushi? Khushi lost her mother in her childhood. After that, her grandmother became everything to her. Being the daughter of a policeman, Khushi didn't get her father's time and concern ever. It was her grandmother who raised her pouring love and care. After her demise, she went under stress. She could not bear the emptiness given by her grandmother. She could not think of life without her grandmother. She needed many counseling sessions to get back to the normal life. That was why Shashi didn't want Khushi to be in Chennai which reminded her of her grandmother.

Khushi was disappointed. She could not get the notes from Arnav. It seemed it would not happen. She understood that she could not get it from him in a loyal way. So, she decided something to get it from him.

Evening

Khushi waited for the last bell. She saw Arnav walking towards the main entrance of the college. She followed him giving enough gap. Arnav walked in the short route to go to the bus stand as his route bus would not come to their college bus stand. Khushi followed him. When they reached the lonely place, she snatched his bag and ran fast. Arnav could not understand anything for a few seconds because he didn't expect it. Before he composed himself, she got into an auto and said,

"Bring the notes, then only you will get your bag back" the auto moved.

Arnav stood gritting his teeth.

Khushi reached the SP Bungalow area and got out of the auto with a winning smile. Her smile vanished to see the Cold Blood Monster standing in front of her.

To be continued...