Part 5 Why?

Flashback...

Khushi came to Arnav's class wing to see him as that was their college founder's day. So, no classes took place. She saw him talking to a girl. Khushi knew who was she. She was Rosemary. Arnav's classmate. She always ogled at Arnav. Khushi never liked her. In fact, she never liked anyone talking with Arnav. Arnav saw Khushi glaring at him. He knew what would come next. He excused himself from Rosemary and came to Khushi. She waited until he came close to her. Then she started walking away from him, making an angry face. Arnav ran to her and blocked her way.

"What happened Khushi? Why did you come here?" Arnav asked.

"I came to meet someone but he was so busy entertaining other girls," she said gritting her teeth.

Arnav rolled his eyes smiling.

"She just asked for notes to correct hers"

"She didn't ask notes to correct her notes but to CORRECT you... this is a pretext to talk to you"

"Khushiiii..." Arnav rolled his eyes.

"Why is she coming to the college? Are you her PA or what? Why does she come to college if she could not write the notes on her own?"

"Ok, ok, I won't give her notes anymore... happy?"

"You should not talk to her... then only I will be happy"

"Ok, I won't talk to her"

"But, how will you avoid her?"

"Yeah, It's a little hard to avoid her as she is my classmate... but I will do that"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, sure"

As of now, they came behind the auditorium. Khushi leaned on his shoulder, making a puppy face, making Arnav smile.

"I don't like to see you with anyone," she said.

"I know... I too could not see you with anyone" Arnav said.

"Really?"

"It hurts me like hell... how could I see you with someone...? You are mine" Arnav said.

"Keep it in your mind... If you entertain anyone or spend time with others, I too will do the same to irritate you..." she warned.

"I told you... it won't happen"

"My sweet baby" Khushi pinched his cheek.

She looked here and there in a cautious manner whether anyone saw them or not. After making sure, they were not watched, she kissed his cheek. Arnav smiled at her lovingly.

Flashback end

Arnav opened his eyes, coming out of the flashback as the lunch bell rang. Knowingly or unknowingly, fate pushed them into the pit into which they didn't want to fall. Khushi and Arnav were facing the terrible phase they never wanted to be in. Khushi saw Arnav with someone and Arnav also went through the same. Though Khushi didn't marry Suman to revenge on Arnav it just happened.

It was a lunch break. Khushi made sure that all the kids had their lunch properly. After that only, she started eating.

"What are you eating, teacher?" A boy asked with a cute blush.

"Come here" Khushi called him.

He came to Khushi and stood holding the table edge. Taking a piece of poori, she dipped it into aaloo curry and fed it to the boy. He ate it chuckling.

"What's that?" Khushi asked.

"Aaloo poori" the boy said.

"How is it?"

"Super," he said looking at his classmates proudly.

The children looked at Khushi longingly.

"Ok, who likes aaloo poori?" Khushi asked.

"Me... Me... Me..." everyone raised their hand.

"Ok, form a line and come to me one by one..."

Children formed a line and Khushi started giving a morsel to all of them including Baby Khushi. She saw the extreme level of happiness on their faces as if they climbed Mount Everest.

"Is not it tasty?"

"It's so good"

"Our teacher is so good"

Children talked within them cheerfully. Aaloo poori was over. Khushi had nothing to eat. Yet, she closed the tiffin box with satisfaction.

Baby Khushi came to her.

"Shall I go to meet my Daddy?" she asked.

Khushi was stuck. She didn't know whether she should deny or permit. After all, her father was the principal of the school.

"Wait, I will send an aunty with you," Khushi said.

Rishab school children were taught to be called the caretakers as aunty respectfully.

"No teacher... I will go alone"

Khushi nodded ok. Baby Khushi rushed out. She came to Arnav's room and knocked on the door.

"Come in," said Arnav.

Khushi got inside. Arnav raised his brows, seeing Baby Khushi in his room as she usually won't come to his room.

"Khushi...? What happened? Why do you come here? Where is your teacher?" Arnav asked.

"She is in our class. I came here for her only" she came to him.

"For her?" Arnav could not understand why she was there for Khushi.

"Yes, she ate nothing."

"Why?" he frowned.

"She fed her lunch to us"

"Ohh..." Arnav raised his brows.

"Didn't Fatima chachi send you Orange juice from home?"

"Yeah..."Arnav smiled as he understood what she wanted.

"Could you please give it to my teacher? Poor she..." Pinching his chin, she pleaded, making a cute face.

Taking the juice bottle, Arnav extended it to Baby Khushi.

"Happy?"

"So sweet, thank you" she kissed his cheek and rushed to her class with the bottle.

Arnav came following her but stood in the distance and watched through the window.

"May I come in, teacher?" Baby Khushi asked.

Khushi nodded yes. Baby Khushi came to her and extended the bottle.

"What's this?" Khushi asked.

"Orange juice"

"Are you going to drink it?"

"This is for you"

"For me? But why?"

"You ate nothing. You gave your lunch to us. That's why"

Khushi caresses her cheek lovingly. How cute this girl was...!

"That's ok... You have it" she said as she knew from whom Baby Khushi would have brought it.

"Won't you have anything if I give you?"

Khushi caressed her own forehead with a smile.

"Don't you love me?" Baby Khushi asked making a sad face.

Khushi got stuck.

"Please drink this, teacher" she pleaded.

Khushi gulped down. She didn't think she could hurt this little girl for anything. Taking it from her, Khushi drank it, not only making baby Khushi delighted but also her father. After having two third of the juice, she gave the remaining juice to baby Khushi.

"You too drink a little"

"I don't like orange juice but grape juice," Baby Khushi said.

"Then, why did you bring this to the school?"

"This is not mine but my daddy's juice. I bought it from him for you. So, you complete it"

Khushi spilled an awkward smile and drank it.

"Thank you so much" Khushi gave the bottle back.

Baby Khushi rushed out with the bottle. She saw Arnav standing at the corridor. She gave the bottle to him. Arnav took it from Baby Khushi, looking at Khushi with a slight smile. Khushi turned her face somewhere. Arnav walked to his room with the same smile.

Evening

After sending Baby Khushi, Khushi came to the staff room. Lavanya smiled at her. Khushi sat next to her.

"Shall I ask you something?"

"Yeah... anything," Lavanya said.

"Actually..." she hesitated.

"Tell me, Khushi"

"Oh... it's about Khushi"

"About you?"

"I mean baby Khushi"

"Oh, daughter of our Principal?"

Khushi nodded yes.

"What do you want to know?"

"I saw her identity card in which her mother's name is missing"

"Oh... that one?"

"Doesn't she have a mother?"

"No no... she has... Sheetal Kapoor"

"But..."

"Don't ask about that woman, Khushi. You could never see such an arrogant woman. I heard Khushi calls her by her name because she doesn't want to be called MOM"

Khushi frowned.

"Do you ever hear about such a mother?"

"Why is she so?"

"No one knows anything about her... she hardly comes here. I saw her only once in this school... there are many gossips wandering about her"

"Whaaaattt.... Gossip?"

"She is a drunkard... she won't care about Khushi, etc., etc.,"

"Is it true?"

"Why would people talk about something that is not existing?"

"It may be a rumor..."

"Maybe... or may not be. You know what, after baby Khushi joined this school only people got to know about her. Before that, no one knows about Sheetal. Arnav sir spend his time with baby Khushi because Sheetal didn't give heed to her... majority people have doubt on her"

"What doubt?"

"Whether she is a real mother of baby Khushi..."

Khushi became confused. Why Sheetal didn't want Khushi to call her MOM? What kind of mother she was? Was Arnav that unlucky to have such a haughty wife? Why did he marry such a woman?

Khushi felt bad for Arnav. Suddenly, she thought of something. Sheetal didn't like to be called MOM, it didn't mean, she won't be a good wife to Arnav. Why won't she be? Anyone would be happy with Arnav. Arnav was a good-hearted man. No one could deny it. She thought. Why won't she think so? Arnav was the only man whom she admired forgetting her own existence.

"A senior teacher is there in our school. Her name is Manju. She might have known the real reason why Sheetal restricted Baby Khushi from calling her MOM because she is close to Arnav sir. He calls her Didi"

"Oh... but, how could I ask her about it particularly? It won't be good"

"Don't worry, I will ask her"

"Will she tell you?"

"I'm not sure but I worked with her at the time of our school's last annual day function. Sheetal came to our school to meet Arnav sir at that time. I saw Manju teacher murmuring, gritting her teeth, seeing Sheetal"

"Oh... but, why would we show interest in their matter?" Khushi said even though she wanted to know about it.

"It's just for general knowledge, Khushi. We are working in their school. What's wrong if we want to know about them? In fact, I too want to know about her. However, I would have asked Manju Teacher about it."

Khushi nodded ok. She was curious to know the reason.

To be continued...