Part 12 She is alive

The next day

Khushi came to the college with a determination to finish the matter with Arnav. She saw him sitting on the stage under a tree with his friends. She advanced him.

Aman saw her coming.

*guys, don't look in that direction...* he alerted them.

*Tell me...* Arnav said.

*Khushi is coming*

*Oh...*

*she is just ten steps away from us*

Arnav started.

*I didn't expect that my in-laws would be so nice.* Arnav said loudly.

*Really?*

*Do you know how they treated me pleasantly...? they are utterly like their daughter...*

Khushi rolled her eyes high. She knew he addressed her parents as his IN-LAWS.

*They have huge respect for my father you know... they are so sweet...*

*Arnav...* Khushi called him.

*See... now also I feel like Khushi calls my name...* he said without looking at her.

*Arnav... I call you* She said firmly.

Arnav looked at her and widened his eyes like he didn't know her presence. He rushed to her.

*Did you call me?*

*I need to talk to you*

*Wow... really?*

Khushi nodded yes. Clutching her hand, he dragged her a little aloof.

*Tell me, darling...*

Khushi rolled her eyes. Arnav chuckled at her.

*You are not my type...* she said firmly.

Arnav understood what she was pointing out and also what she meant.

*What you are thinking about me is not right. I don't like guys like you. You are not my type... so, please stop chasing me...* She said.

*What type am I?* He asked her with a stern expression.

*I don't want to be a girlfriend of a playboy* she said without hesitation.

*Playboy...? Like really? Who said am I a playboy?*

*No one said... I saw you roaming with girls... I saw you going on the bike with many girls*

*I went with a girl. so, I'm a playboy?*

*According to you, maybe no... but I can't accept any excuses*

*It's not an excuse but the truth* Arnav said.

*I know the truth about you...*

*I won't deny it because you had seen me going on date with girls... But what I feel for you in my heart is different*

*I'm sorry... I'm not interested...*

*Are you not interested in me or my past behavior...?*

*whatever... I don't want anything...*

She left the place.

Arnav stood, looking at her retreating figure. His friends came there and touched his shoulder.

*What did she say...?* Aman asked.

*She doesn't like my behavior...*

*What behavior...?*

*She called me PLAYBOY*

They looked at each other feeling bad.

*What are you going to do now, ASR?* Aman asked him.

*What can he do other than stop roaming behind her...?* NK said sadly.

They looked at Arnav.

*She said I'm a playboy. Let me play with her...* he said with a smirk.

*What are you talking about? Why are you wasting your time if she doesn't like you?* Akash asked.

*She didn't say she doesn't like ME... she just said, she doesn't like my BEHAVIOR* he smirked.

*That's my buddy...* Aman tapped Arnav's shoulder.

*What do you mean, Nannav?*

*He is going to keep trying...* Akash said.

*Go ahead, Nannav...*

They saw Khushi going to the computer lab.

*I will just come...* Arnav rushed to Khushi.

He stood in front of her. Khushi said,

*I told you...*

Cutting her,

*Yeah, you told me... but you didn't hear my stance...*

*What?* she frowned.

Arnav nodded NO taking back steps. Khushi rolled her eyes but she understood one thing that Arnav won't back off. She went to the computer lab with her friends. Lavanya sat with Khushi.

*I heard Arnav is not going on date with anyone after the accident* Lavanya said in a feeble tone.

Khushi stopped typing for a second and continued.

*So...?*

*Everyone says it's because of you...*

Khushi didn't reply.

*You know, our college girls are damn angry with you...*

*Why?* Khushi asked as if she doesn't know the reason.

*It's because you trapped our college HERO...*

*I didn't trap him...* she sneered.

*Who will believe it? You were with him for the whole night in the hospital, taking care of him...*

*Is that wrong?*

*Maybe... or may not be...*

Khushi glared at her.

*Admitting the person who is struggling for life in the hospital may be humanity... but what's necessary to be with him...?*

*He had no one for help... his father was out of the station at that time... how could I leave him all alone?*

*That's what makes them jealous because they didn't get the chance to take care of Arnav as you got* she teased.

Khushi sighed.

*To avoid such problems only I hid the matter from everyone...*

Cutting her,

*Including us...*

Khushi nodded yes.

*I didn't want the matter to get leaked. That's why I didn't tell you, guys*

*It's ok... by the way, why not you give him a chance?* she asked controlling her laughter.

Khushi shrank her eyes, gritting her teeth.

*Don't make decisions in hurry... just watch him...ok?*

*Let me do the practical*

Lavanya took her mobile out and checked it.

*Hey, see here... Arnav's status...*

Khushi looked at her phone.

*Playboy became a good boy* Lavanya laughed.

*Stop laughing... Professor will throw you out of the lab...*

Lavanya closed her mouth with her palm.

*By the way, how did you get his number?*

*He called you yesterday when you went to the washroom... I saved his number...*

*But I didn't save his number... how do you get to know it's his number?*

*I attended it...* Lavanya smiled.

Khushi hit her head.

*Do you know how happy he was when the call got attended? He thought you attended the call...*

Khushi was silent. She didn't know what to do... how to stop Arnav from following her. But she didn't know it was next to impossible.

When college got over, Arnav followed her to her house. He returned, leaving her in her house. He is doing bodyguard duty for Khushi. Arnav followed her wherever she goes. Khushi was suffocating by him. She was facing a tough time with him because he did that without disturbing her.

After two days

Khushi came to the college as usual. But, what she saw is not usual. Arnav and NK were missing from the gang. Only Aman and Akash were sitting under the tree.

When she crossed them,

*Arnav won't come to the college today...* Aman intentionally said.

*I know...* Akash said.

*I'm not talking to you...*

*Ohhh...* Akash smiled.

She went to her class silently.

*Let's go... ASR will be waiting for us* Aman said.

Akash nodded yes and they left the college.

Khushi came to the classroom and sat beside Lavanya.

*Khushi, Arnav won't come to the college today...* Lavanya said.

Khushi glared at her and her face softened, seeing La's expression.

*What happened?*

*Today is his mother's death anniversary* She said sadly.

*How do you know?*

Lavanya showed Arnav's status in which he kept his mother's photo. He had been writing, MISS YOU MOM.

Taking the mobile from La's hand, Khushi looked at the photo.

*What happened, Khushi?*

Khushi's stance shocked Lavanya.

*She is alive... I had seen her somewhere...* Khushi said nervously.

To be continued...

The next chapter is available on INKITT

The Truth

Khushi was thinking, squeezing her brain. She was damn sure that she had seen Arnav's mother somewhere. But she couldn't remember where...

Taking her mobile, she checked her contact list. She believed that a person from her contact list must be related to Arnav's mother. She was scrolling her list losing her patience.