Part 8 They fled...

Bosco brought them to his sister's house. They greeted them with tea pleasantly as they were told about the situation.

"Sister, do you have any idea what you are doing?" Bosco's sister's husband asked Khushi.

Khushi nodded yes.

"Yes, I know what I'm doing," she said sternly.

"What CASTE do you belong to?"

Though she got stuck she told the caste she belongs to.

"Do you know what caste Arnav belongs to?"

Khushi nodded NO which made him wonder.

"Don't you know about it?"

Khushi again nodded no with a bewildered expression.

Arnav told the caste that he belongs.

"Oh..."

Khushi couldn't resist thinking about her father. She knew how caste freak he was. There was no use in thinking about it now. She had left her house. A plan was ready to take them away from Delhi. She became panicked. They have to leave Delhi as soon as possible and should go beyond her father's reach.

It was 11 o'clock. Arnav was still sitting with Khushi. He could not leave the house, leaving his loved one with some strangers. But he has to... he had no choice. He needs his certificates to find a job for their survival. He has the responsibility for Khushi and her future.

"Arnav, you are getting late. You have to wake up early in the morning. Go and sleep for a while if possible" Aman said.

Arnav looked at Khushi hesitatingly.

"You don't worry brother. I will take care of her" Bosco's sister assured.

Arnav nodded ok and come out. Khushi followed him.

"I'm sorry Khushi. I have no choice than leaving you here. This is the LAST DAY we are staying alone. From tomorrow onwards, we will be together forever." Arnav said.

"I will be alright, Arnav. You go..."

Arnav nodded ok.

"I will be here with Bosco. You don't worry" Aman said.

There is relaxation on Arnav's face.

"Thanks, Aman"

"I will also be with you," NK said.

"You have to attend an interview tomorrow. You just concentrate on that" Aman said.

"What does that mean, are you not going to take me with you to Ghaziabad?" NK asked.

"No, NK. You just complete your interview and then come to Ghaziabad if needed"

"Then I will stay here. You go home and come in the morning. You also take a rest. I will be here until you guys come"

"NK..."

"Please Aman... you go"

Aman nodded ok.

"Take care of Khushi," Arnav said.

NK nodded yes.

"Our bus is at 5 o'clock. we have to be here at 4 o'clock" Aman said.

Arnav nodded ok.

"You too wake up earlier Khushi" Aman instructed.

"I don't know whether I could sleep" she smiled softly, looking at Arnav.

Arnav was also in the same condition. Who would ever sleep in such a condition? He needed to go home just to bring his certificates. Or else, he would not have thought of leaving Khushi with a stranger. He and Aman went to their respective houses.

"Why are you coming late? How long I will wait for you? Come and have dinner" Arnav's mother chided.

"No, Mom. I had dinner..."

"Really?

Arnav nodded yes.

"Mom, I have to register my Degree in the employment exchange office. Tomorrow, I'm going to do it with Aman"

His mother nodded ok.

"I will leave early in the morning... to finish earlier."

"Ok..."

"You don't have to wake up"

"Mmm"

Arnav went to his room.

Neither Arnav nor Khushi slept. They couldn't. they were in a crucial and also dangerous phase of life. Until they leave Delhi, they are not safe.

The next morning

Arnav and Aman got ready and reached the place as they planned. They saw Khushi also ready.

"Did you sleep peacefully?" Arnav asked even though he knew she would not have.

She nodded yes. He smiled even though he knew she lies.

"Take care, guys..." NK said.

"Thank you, NK" Arnav hugged him.

"Inform me after getting married to Khushi"

Arnav nodded ok and they started. They reached the bus stand. Ghaziabad bus was not so full. All of them got seats. Arnav asked Khushi to sit in the window seat and he took the seat next to her. This is the first time, they sat beside each other.

Khushi was floating in happiness. Just like a flying bird... she is going somewhere with Arnav... she is going to marry him... she is going to start a life with him. How blissful this feel is...! There was a constant smile on her lips. Though she was happy she was nervous. This is the biggest step of her life. She didn't know whether this decision is right or wrong.

"The bus will stop somewhere in a few minutes. We will have coffee there" Arnav said.

She nodded ok.

"Are you nervous?" Arnav asked.

"Little bit"

Arnav entwined his fingers with hers. She pressed his hand tightly.

"Sleep for a while if you want," he said.

"I will sleep if I want to..."

"you need not worry. I will find a job soon... everything will be alright"

"I know..."

As Khushi didn't sleep the whole night, she fell asleep. She leaned on the seat and closed her eyes. After a while, her head landed on Arnav's shoulder. Arnav adjusted himself for her to sleep comfortably. He too closed his eyes and slept.

After two hours, they reached Ghaziabad.

Delhi

Sharmila came to the college with swelled-up eyes. She saw Preeto and Nisha in the girls' room. she came to them.

"Do you know Khushi eloped with Arnav?"

"What? when?"

"Yesterday"

"Really?"

"Yes... her father came to my home and threatened me. what's my mistake in that? Do you know how angry my family members are with me? They restricted me to go to college. I promised them I will never talk to any boys. Then only they permitted me to come to college."

Preeto and Nisha spared a glance.

"Her brother Trimurti is the one who recited everything about Khushi and about her friends"

Nisha pressed Preeto's hand nervously.

"Be careful, they will come to your house too because her brother would have told your names too" Sharmila left.

"Preeto, I'm scared..."

Preeto was silent. They knew Trimurti. Though Khushi didn't tell them about him completely they knew about him slightly. They had seen him staring at Arnav many times.

"My mother will peel my skin off if they come to my house" Nisha shivered.

"Let's go"

They came to the class.

After a while,

To get Arnav's address, Govind came to the college with Linga.

"What if they don't give his address?" Govind asked.

"I will be waiting outside the room. Just call me if they denied"

"mmm... I want my daughter... by hook or by crook..."

"She will be with you... soon" Linga said.

Govind nodded yes and went to meet Khushi's department HOD. Linga waited outside the department.

"I'm the father of Khushi"

"Oh... why is she not coming to the college?"

"She is missing sir... we couldn't find her anywhere"

"Do you have any idea where she could be?"

"A guy named Arnav studied in your college sir. He completed his graduation last year. Khushi eloped with him, sir"

"Arnav? He is a good boy..."

Cutting him,

"My daughter is also a good girl, sir"

"What can I do for you?"

"I want to enquire about her friends Preeto and Nisha"

"Sorry, sir. It's beyond our rules and regulations"

"Can't you do a favor for me? please help me to find my daughter sir..."

The HOD sighed. He called an attendee.

"Bring Preeto and Nisha"

He said ok and went to their class. He claimed to the professor in charge, "HOD is calling Preeto and Nisha to the department"

The professor looked at them. Preeto and Nisha stood up and gazed at each other.

"You can leave," The professor said.

They went to the Department and saw someone sitting in front of the HOD. They somehow understood who it might be.

"Preeeetoooo" Nisha murmured.

"Shhh... come"

They went in.

"He is Khushi's father," HOD said.

"Hello, uncle, how is Khushi? Why she is on leave?" Preeto asked.

"Don't you know she eloped with someone?"

"Eloped? And Khushi? Is it?" Preeto looked at HOD unbelievably.

"Yes... you are her friend... Why didn't you advise her?"

"Sorry, uncle we know about it"

"But, you could have controlled her for her their relationship. Couldn't you?"

"Why didn't you stop her from doing such things?" HOD raised them.

"Sir, her brother Trimurti is also studying in this college. He knows everything. When her own brother is cool, why should we question her? We thought her family knew everything. So, we stayed quiet." Preeto said redirecting their fault.

"She is right. Why didn't Trimurti tell you anything about them? If he would have told you everything at the beginning itself, this total scenario would have been avoided..." HOD said.

Govind went speechless and wreckless.

"You two move..." HOD sent them back to the class.

Preeto and Nisha left the place.

"I need Arnav's address"

"Sorry, sir... it's out of our rule" HOD denied.

"Linga..." Govind shouted.

Linga went in.

"He denies their rules," Govind said looking at HOD.

Linga removed a knife to threaten HOD holding on to his neck.

"if you didn't give his address, you will leave this world"

The HOD nodded yes. Linga removed the knife from his neck. They left the college, getting Arnav's address.

To be continued...