Part 45 For One Another

While having dinner, Arvind and Ratna witnessed a change in Arnav. He didn't take the topic of surrendering himself to the police again. They wondered if Khushi could make it possible.

"Aunty, did you show Arnav's horoscope to any astrologer?" Khushi asked.

They stopped eating and looked at one another.

"He may give a solution to Arnav's problem... I mean, he might find a solution to this problem. We can get him out of it, Aunty"

Ratna looked at Arnav who looked down.

"If there is a curse, the curse would definitely have an absolution. There is no curse without absolution" she said hopefully.

There was no reaction from the trio.

"Please try once, aunty"

Ratna nodded ok.

Just like the last time, Ratna came to the guestroom to sleep with Khushi. Ratna was thinking about Khushi's idea of getting an absolution for Arnav from the curse.

The next morning

Arnav and Khushi left RM together. Arvind looked at Ratna.

"I'm also leaving. I think I will be late tonight. CM is coming to Ooty. So, I will be busy for the next week until his program gets over"

"Mmm"

"What do you think about Khushi's idea?"

"We will think about it" Ratna smiled.

Arvind nodded yes smiling.

"Bye..."

"Bye..."

........

Arnav entered the college on his bike with Khushi. Students didn't react to seeing them together as they got used to it. They headed to their class. They could hear students discussing the werewolf, which was a hot topic in the town. Khushi reached the class all the way observing Arnav's facial reaction. Their classmates were also talking about it. NK had a newspaper in his hand in which the werewolf was a HEADLINES. Arnav saw Khushi thinking something deep. She looked at Arnav and said,

"What are you going to tell Sheetal if she approaches you?"

Arnav looked at her surprisingly because he was also thinking about Sheetal only but he didn't think she would reach him after the news leaked.

"What made you think she would approach me? do you think she will come after the news leaked?"

"She will not approach you knowing the news but she will definitely approach you if she sees us together"

Arnav nodded yes. She wouldn't be silent if she got to know Khushi was in love with him. Something clicked in his mind.

"How did you know about Sheetal?" he asked.

"I saw her following you the other day. I too followed her. I saw her questioning you about being close to me. after you left the place, I asked her about it but she refused to tell me anything in brief"

"Brief?"

"Yes, she told me, if I propose to you, you would tell me the biggest truth of your life that would shake me to the core"

"But, you didn't ask me anything..."

"I was scared... I was not ready to hear anything that could separate you from me. I wanted to give you a firm declaration. That's why I chose my birthday to propose to you because I needed time to make myself up"

Arnav dumbfounded. After meeting Sheetal also, was she stubborn to marry him?

"Understand, I sketched a complete plan to trap you" She chuckled.

Arnav pressed her hand and said,

"No one will agree with you because you don't have any reason to trap me. It's me who needs YOU"

"No matter who needs whom, we will be together," she said placing her hand on his.

That was when his phone vibrated. He put it in the vibration mode as he was in the class. Seeing the number, Arnav's facial expression changed. He looked at Khushi panicking. Disconnecting the call, he kept it in his pocket.

"Whose call is that?"

"Wrong number"

Khushi raised her brows. If it was a wrong call, why did his expression change seeing the number? She saw his mobile again lightning. Arnav took the phone and again cut the call, seeing the number.

Khushi looked down as if she didn't mind it. That made him a little relieved. He stood up and Khushi looked at him.

"I will just come," Arnav said.

Khushi nodded ok. Arnav left the class. After coming to the playground and standing behind a big tree, hiding himself well, he took his mobile to dial the same number. The call was attended.

"Hello..."

"...."

"Yeah, I will come"

"...."

"I said I will come..."

"....."

"I became busy... that's why I could not come to get it"

"....."

"I will transfer the full amount now itself. You don't have to bother about whether I will get it or not... ok?" he said gritting his teeth.

"....."

"Ok. I will send the remaining amount of the SILVER KNIFE. Don't call me again. I will come when I feel to receive it"

Disconnecting the call, he turned behind. He was shocked to see Khushi with a shocking expression. He understood she heard his talks. He cursed himself for spilling the word SILVER KNIFE. Could not he just talk without uttering it?

"Khushi..."

Taking two long steps, she reached him.

"Did you order a silver knife?"

Arnav averted his gaze. She turned his face and made him look at her.

"Did you...?"

He nodded yes closing his eyes.

"Why?"

Arnav was silent.

"But why?" she shouted, clutching his collar.

Arnav gulped down. His expression didn't give her a good vibe.

That was when the college bell rang. Students started to go to their respective classrooms.

"You didn't even touch the keer when I gave it in the silver bowl. On that day, I was confused because I didn't know the reason. Later I got to know that. It's because silver causes death to the werewolf. Then, why did you order a silver knife?"

Arnav looked at her vulnerably.

"Did you decide to kill yourself?"

"The bell rang... let's go"

Not letting him go, she shouted.

"Tell me, damn it..."

"When I told you the truth, you rushed to your house not consoling me. I thought you would not talk to me after that..."

Khushi was supposed to say something, but he stopped her showing his palm.

"I know you went to read your granny's diary. You told me later but at that time, I didn't know that. So, I decided to kill myself which could happen with a silver knife or silver bullets. As I could not get a gun with silver bullets, I decided to buy a silver knife and ordered it"

Khushi looked at him horrified. Did he decide to kill himself? Would he have killed himself if she had not accepted him?

"What the hell have to decided? Don't you have sense? How could you think of killing yourself?" her eyes pooled up.

"Khushi, you are the only one who showed me the other side of the world. Knowingly or unknowingly, I have fallen in love with you. I could not hold myself in front of your charms. I can't even imagine my life without you, Khushi. What will I do without you? You are my LAST hope. There is no reason for me to live if you leave me. I can't live without you, Khushi. That's why I made such a decision but you made me feel ecstatic by giving yourself to me. You gave me the reason for my life. You are everything to me Khushi. You are important to me... more than my parents..."

She threw herself on him and cried. Arnav stood closing his eyes. She looked at him, staying in the hug. Her eyes poured tears. he nodded his head, gesturing for her not to cry. She wiped her cheek, breaking the hug.

"Let's go to the class"

Khushi nodded and walked. Arnav followed her. Khushi looked moody and thoughtful for the whole day. Arnav didn't conclude what was she thinking. She just answered his question and didn't talk frequently like she always did. That bothered him.

"Khushi, are you all right?"

She nodded yes with a smile but Arnav knew she was not all right. Something was running in her mind. He knew that.

Yes, something was running in her mind.

"You look upset"

"I'm not upset... trust me"

Arnav nodded.

Evening

Arnav dropped Khushi in the SP Bungalow. They saw a police jeep on the premises. It seemed Shashi returned home. Khushi brought Arnav inside clutching his hand which was unusual. They saw Shashi in the hall, having coffee. Seeing Shashi, Khushi left his hand.

"Hi, guys..."

"Hi, Dad"

"Hello, uncle"

"Take your seat, Arnav"

Arnav nodded and sat on the couch. Shashi ordered the servant to bring them coffee. They had coffee. Shashi noticed Khushi who looked distressed.

"Khushi..."

"Haan?"

"Are you all right?"

She was silent. Shashi looked at Arnav questioningly who suffocated.

"Did you guys fight?" Shashi asked.

Arnav looked at Khushi. He wanted her to answer.

"I want to talk to you, Dad," Khushi said.

Arnav was horrified. Would she tell him the werewolf truth?

"Tell me, Khushi"

"You may get shocked but I have no choice, Dad"

Arnav gulped down hard.

"Tell me, Khushi. What's the matter?"

"I and Arnav are in love..."

"Don't I know that?" Shashi smiled.

"I would like to marry him"

"That too I know..."

Arnav's nervousness increased.

"I would like to marry him, NOW ITSELF...! I mean, as much as possible" she said making both of them thunderstruck.

To be continued...