Part 31 Khushi's anger

Khushi was looking at the thin moon. It would give pain to Arnav when it grew into the full moon. She hated the full moon which she liked a lot till the previous day.

Was this what Parthiban said about the other day? Didn't he say there was a wild animal in Arnav's house? Was that a FULLMOON day? Yes, Arnav didn't come to the college the next day. It was because he would have been tired due to the transformation.

She opened her laptop and surfed about the werewolf which she never did before. She had watched one or two werewolf movies but never gave heed to them. According to her, it was a myth. Werewolf was a fictional creature. Some things started clearing.

Werewolves are supernatural and have powers that they can hear, see, and smell better than regular canines. Even in human form, they can sense and smell things normal humans can't.

She understood how Arnav got such powers. She remembered how he hit the guys in the Botanical Garden uprooting the tree! How fast he reached her when the snake was about to bite her! How he reached the place hearing her calling his name when Parthiban tried to assault her!

A werewolf's main weakness is its vulnerability to SILVER or any substance containing silver as it can kill with a SILVER KNIFE OR BULLET. Just a single scratch from a silver weapon can take down a werewolf.

Was this why he became tensed when she gave him keer in the SILVER bowl? She could remember how he panicked seeing the silver bowl.

The next point wondered Khushi.

Some legends suggest that a werewolf's weakness is actually their own reflection. If a werewolf sees their reflection, it will cause them so much shame and embarrassment that they will lose their powers and turn back into their human form. If you are being chased by a werewolf, just whip out a mirror and show them their reflection. It might save your life!

Is escaping from a werewolf that easy? Khushi supposed

If a werewolf is wounded while in its wolf form, the wounds may remain visible after it regains its human shape. This trait helps to identify werewolves during the day.

Was this why she saw a wound on his wrist the next day to the full moon day? Did he get hurt? She remembered the heavy iron chain she saw in his house. Was he tied up with the chain on the full moon day? Khushi gulped down hard. How hard his life had been! How painful his parent would have felt when they tied up him with those chains...! She felt their pain. Her eyes tear up. It was everything because of her grandfather. She was angry like hell with her Grandfather. She wanted to do something to the family not because his grandfather was the reason. It was because her love for Arnav was true.

Taking her pone, she ranf his number but Arnav didn't receive it. He turned his phone into silent mode when he came to Khushi's birthday party. He forgot to turn it on as he was not in the mood to think of it. She was fed up. She decided to talk to Arnav the next day. She wanted to clear her stand in his matter but she didn't want to tell him about his grandfather. He didn't want to think she was doing redemption.

The next day

Khushi came to the college. She was distraught as Arnav didn't come to the college. He was busy buying the SILVER KNIFE to kill himself. He was so stubborn in his decision because he could not think of his life without Khushi. Instead of living without Khushi, it was better to leave his life he thought.

The silver knife was not available anywhere in Ooty. That fed up him. He roamed all over the Ooty. Finally, a silver merchant took his order and asked for ten days to deliver it. Agreeing to it, he gave the advance amount. He returned home, all the way thinking about his life.

Khushi waited for him in the college till lunch hour and she understood he would not come to the college that day. She was nervous as she thought it was because of her. Removing her phone, she called Arnav but he didn't attend it because his phone was at home. He didn't even removed it from his pant pocket that he was wearing the previous day. As he thought there was no chance for Khushi to call him, he didn't take it with him. So, he kept it at home and it was on silent mode.

On the other hand, Khushi became nervous because Aranv never ignored her calls. Was he angry with her for forcing him to tell his story? Did he feel ashamed? She became restless. Yet, she tried to his number non-stop.

Arnav walked to his room and saw his phone lightening in his pant posket that was hanging in the hanger. He rushed to it and removed it to check it. There were twenty-eight missed calls from Khushi. He could not believe Khushi called him. His eyes pooled up even though he didn't know the cause of her calls. He cursed himself for leaving his mobile at home. He didn't know whether he should call her back. But, he received a call from Khushi the next minute. He gulped down hard and attended the call.

"Hello..."

"Why the hell don't you attend my call? Do you know how restless I was? Why didn't you come to the college today?" She shouted.

Arnav closed his eyes and tears rolled down from his eyes. She didn't get an answer.

"Arnie... I'm sorry for forcing you to tell me about the curse. I know it would have hurt you. If you think I might hate you... understand one thing... I can never hate you"

Arnav bit his lip to control his sob.

"Will you come to the college tomorrow?"

No answer.

"Please come... for me...! I want to talk to you. I hope you won't disappoint me. Bye," she disconnected the call.

Arnav kneeled and cried closing his eyes. Khushi still talking to him...even after knowing the truth, she didn't hate him.

He opened his eyes as something hit his mind. She didn't hate him... but what about LOVE? Would she be firm in her love or, would she ask him to be her friend? He didn't know whether he should go to the college the next day. What would he do if she kept her distance from him? The SILVER KNIFE would be the solution. He supposed.

But... what if Khushi was firm in her love? Would he accept it? Would it be right? Would not it be selfishness? He swallowed hard. Khushi was a nice girl. Her love for him was true but what if she repented later? There was a chance for her to do it in the upcoming days. Could she stand his transformation? Arnav closed his eyes wearily.

He was hesitating to accept her love. At the same time, he was scared about her denial.

The next day

Khushi got ready and came downstairs. She saw Shashi having tea.

"How are you, beta?"

"Dad, I would be the only daughter who listens to such a question from her father who resides in the same house"

Shashi sighed.

"It was two days since I saw you... you left the house leaving my birthday party. After that, I'm seeing you now..." She glared at him.

"What to do, beta? Don't you know about police job? Your father is the SP... he is responsible for the whole district"

She sighed.

"Tea?"

"Already asked the servant... come and sit"

Khushi sat with him. That was when Shashi noticed the new Gold bracelet in her hand.

"Did you buy it?"

"Birthday gift"

Shashi frowned.

"Gold?"

Khushi nodded yes.

"Arnav?"

She again nodded yes.

"I know he too loves you" he smiled.

She nodded yes. When she proposed to him, he didn't say I don't love you but just said it won't work...!

"See, how costly his gift is...!"

"He is the priceless gift I could get, Dad"

Shashi nodded yes.

"Dad..."

"Mmm?"

"Where is Grandpa?" She asked sipping the tea and Shashi coughed.

She rubbed his back. Shashi looked at her perplexed.

"Tell me, Dad, where is he?"

"Why are you asking about him now?"

"I would like to meet him"

"But why?"

"After all, he is my Grandpa..."

Shashi frowned.

"I would like to know his lifestyle... that, how he lives with wolves"

Shashi looked somewhere feeling awkward.

"Dad, do you know the name of the boy he cursed?"

Shashi nodded no.

"Why didn't you try to know it?"

"What can I do knowing that, beta? If I hear the name anywhere, I will think of my father and his curse"

"Didn't Dhadi know?"

"I think no... she didn't utter his name ever"

"What was the curse, Dad?"

"I don't know," he said not meeting her eyes.

"Dad, you are not an expert in lying..."

Shashi gulped down.

"You know about the curse... right?"

"Khushi, it's not a matter at all"

"For whom, Dad?"

Shashi looked at her.

"It may not be a matter for us but what about the boy? Does not it matter for him?" She asked painfully.

"Khushi, why are you talking about it now? I told you already not to talk about it"

"That's all? We can skip it... no need to talk about it because it's someone who lives in pain... not us... right?" she became angry.

"Khushi, I don't know what made you talk about it now... just stop it..." Shashi tried not to get angry.

"Won't you tell me about the curse?"

"I don't want to talk about it again. Ok?"

"Are you sure? Won't you talk about it again?" she controlled her anger.

Shashi shrank his face and left the place. Khushi sighed closing her eyes. Her lips murmured,

"Arnav..." unknowingly.

To be continued...