Chapter 12

Helloo everyoneee..

Back with an update..this one isn’t very long 5k words.

And it totally had to stand out on its own.

Will let you all dive in without further delay

I shall also give another update tomorrow!

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CHAPTER 11 – THE THRILL OF KNOWING ‘YOU’

EIGHT DAYS LATER

Khushi’s POV

7.15 PM – Chai and Coffee

I smile at Varun as he steps in to take over the till, from me, and I walk over to the coffee station to brew myself my coffee, and I smile to myself automatically as my thoughts return to Him.

I thought about him , everytime I made myself coffee, because he liked his in the same flavour as mine.

Ok.

To be like Honest.

Really Honest.

My thoughts werent just shifting to him when I made Coffee – he was at the back of my head pretty much all the time!

I have no logic to explain the how’s off it, but its true that Arnav Singh Raizada – has managed to tiptoe his way into my thoughts – a lot more than I had anticipated him too.

Because I find myself thinking about him pretty much all the time, he’s always in the back of my head – it starts the minute I wake up and goes on until I sleep.

Hes literally the first thought on my mind as I wake up, because I always have a goodmorning text waiting from him , when I wake up!

And he is literally the last person on my mind as I sleep, because I spend the time thinking about our conversations or reading up our chats from the day, before crashing to bed.

What was wrong with me??

The software of my brain is probably malfunctioning at a different level now.

Or

What was wrong with him??

Or

What was wrong with both of us??

Its been nine days since he left Cape Town physically, but not even for a single second did I feel like that he’d left.

Because we were literally talking all the freaking time!!

He would call me first thing out as id message him goodmorning after id wake up, we’d talk for a while, and then keep chatting up in between as much as time permitted between work and then I would use my time in the lunch break to talk to him and then again return to texting in between until I got free from the Café shifts and then retreated to my room to get on a video call or a voice call as time and place permitted, and on the days I was driving my uber, id often be on calls with him too in between my pick ups, until it would be 10pm here in Cape town and I would have to remind him that it was now 1.30am in India and he had to sleep.

I couldn’t stop thinking about him.

Did I want to stop thinking about him?

I don’t think so.

Because never before in my Life did it feel so good to have someone occupy my thoughts in this way.

But then again.

There are times – I feel myself worry, because I feel if I keep going on like this, I might just start falling for him in the ways I haven’t fallen for anyone in all my life and in my gut I don’t know why it totally felt like that this was going to hurt me.

Yes we had a connection brewing in between of us,that was so instant, that felt so right, that felt so comforting and good.

But I had no idea about what this truly meant?

What was the tag that I could give to this connection in between of us?

Just friendship? – It surely wasn’t feeling like just that.

Something More ?? – It felt it was heading there, but given the circumstances and the person in reference to context here  - the possibility of the former resulting into the latter was really low, because it would never work.

It wasn’t the distance.

It was the fact that I was Khushi, from the other side of his world, living in a world and life that was way too different and humble and simple from his.

There was such a vast difference in here – that no matter how good this felt, the realities were never going to change.

He was always going to be Arnav Singh Raizada- a demi god in the cricket celebrity world, and an heir to a business empire post that – there was so much glamour and enigma around him that it totally felt like that sooner or later – he’d get bored of my goofiness and simplicity and realise the true fact that there was absolutely nothing special about me, and that I was just a normal girl next door - living across the globe.

The geography of our locations might just become a problem then.

And the chemical formula of this instant connection in between of us would obviously just fizzle out.

I take a deep breathe as I now sip my coffee, and my phone beeps.

It’s a text from Arnav.

Him : Khushi, was chilling with everyone after dinner.Just got to my room.Can we talk? I need to talk to you now..maybe video call if its ok with you??you know i had a long and a gruelling day.

I cant help but smile to myself as I read that – all that worry in my head washing away in a second.

I quickly text.

Me: I will call you in five Arnav.Getting up to my room now.Ofcourse its 1045 pm for you now..the day was obviously hectic for you first half with the practice sessions and then the boardrooms.

He replies : Waiting for your call, Khushi.

I smile as I read that, and I make my way up the stairs, deep in thought.

Maybe, I shouldn’t let the worry be the spoilt sport in these moments.

As I remember my very own words that I had once spoken to him – that sometimes in the worry of the result one often forgets to enjoy the ride while it lasts.

And I know from my experience that Life can cut itself short on you in a fraction of a second, so why go on fighting against something that you might regret later.

Ok so even though I have no idea where this was heading,and it totally felt like that I was going to be the hurt one in here, I still wanted to go on with the flow of this connection.

Enjoy the feel of it as long as it lasted.

Because even though id like to believe in the longevity of this connection, I didn’t know how and where would it take me and what was the time limit I had in store for myself for this thrilling roller coaster ride of ups and downs in my stomach that Arnav was making me feel.

So just like when I go into the amusement park and sit on the scariest of the rides for the thrill off it, even though I know that its going to scare the hell out off me at that deep plunge or speed or ups and downs and upside down swinging.

I do it anyway – because I want to experience the thrill.

And so even though this ‘thing’(because I don’t know what else to call it) with Arnav ..was making me nervous , I wasn’t going to stop myself from indulging in the experience of going with the flow off it and getting closer to him(in this weird bond in between of us) even if it was for a shortwhile.

He was amazing.

Everything about him was amazing.

I had never met anyone like him and not just that id never felt what I was feeling with all these ferris wheels, Columbus and roller coasters being set off in the pit of my stomach,and that is why it was easier to conclude that - Knowing him was a thrill in its own way.

So For Now.

I wasn’t going to think too ahead of myself and just live in the moment.

Because from my Life’s experience I know that as humans that’s all we should probably just do, for the past is not going to change or come back , the future is uncertain, so you might as well live in the present anyway.

I walk into my little room ,and close the door behind me and then sit on my little dining table next to the window, keeping my coffee cup on the side and I quickly text him.

Me : Arnav, am good to connect now.

And my whtsapp video call went off the very next second and I smiled as I swipped up the green button to see a picture of a smiling Arnav fill in through the screen, plonked up against his sofa ,all changed into his round neck track tee for the night and I grinned – “ hello hoodie guy..not fair ya..i don’t get to see you in your hoodie anymore…”

He grinned – “ want me to wear my half jacket one?? I can khushi ..”

I sipped my coffee and I smiled – “ no no..its ok..i know its not that cold in India now..”

He nodded – “ yes it isn’t because we are now into the first week of march right? Its getting better now..”,and he winked – “ and how unfair you are having my favourite cup of coffee all by yourself again..”

I grinned as I sipped it again and gestured the cup a little bit towards him through the phone – “ here you can have some??”

He chuckled – “ I wish…”

And I sip my coffee and I ask – “ you do look exhausted though..”

He smiled – “ maybe..I don’t feel exhausted anymore Khushi.why do you think I wrote that I need to talk to you and see you too.one look at you and my exhaustion washes away..”

I smiled and I rolled my eyes – “as if..”

He grins – “seriously khushi, you are like my very own battery charger..everytime my battery is running low, I just need to connect to you..”

I laugh at that.

And he laughs too.

I grin – “ ok, no one has ever called me a battery charger ever before..”

He winks – “ which is great because you are like my personal customised charger..”

Damm Him.So this sentence from him resulted in another roller coaster upside down flip in my stomach.And I sip on my coffee, so that my body language doesn’t give me away.

He asks – “ so how was your day..uber schedule is on again right??”

I nod – “ yes, its 740pm now here, I think ill start by like 830..so we can talk till then..”

And he asks – “And dinner khushi?? Have you eaten??”

I answer honestly – “ so the thing is that I don’t want to eat a sandwhich today, and my cooking skills aren’t great, because I don’t have much time to experiment in the kitchen..so just gotta stick with the basics but I was thinking about whipping myself some pesto pasta..”,and I get up from the chair as I ask – “ is it ok if I cook for myself whilst we talk??”

He nods – “ ofcourse khushi..”

I walk up to my sink and place the cup of coffee in it and then place the phone in the position on my mini kitchen slab so that he can see me and I can see him too, and I start to prepp up my dinner, as I take out the pan and then the pasta from the drawer, the sauce from my mini fridge and I put the pasta in the water and drained it once and right before I was about to put it to boil and I then look up at the phone and I ask – “ why are you silent hoodie guy??”

He grinned – “im enjoying watching you cook..”

I smiled as I now put the pasta on boil ,and im about to tie my hair up in a ponytail and he says – “ don’t…”

I look at him confused – “don’t what??”

He smiles – “ don’t tie your hair up Khushi..i like to see them open..”

OK.So another roller coaster flip in the pit of my stomach.

I leave them open anyway, and distract myself by adjusting the heat level on my induction plate.

And I ask on reflex – “so office must have been super hectic no today??”

He nods as he goes on and I also keep my out on my pasta – “yes khushi, you know because the games start tomorrow..i had a lot to do with dad at work today..”

I nod – “ofcourse ya..”,and I open my mini fridge and fill in a glass of cold water and he speaks immediately – “ you know I love a glass of cold water myself, but I cant have it..because it catches my throat immediately..”

I grin – “ really??”

He nods – “ really..”

I wink at him – “ then ill just have some on your behalf..”

He chuckles and he asks – “ what time do you think you will end uber today?”

The pasta is now ready to boil and I take out another pan and open the lid of the pesto sauce bottle and I speak – “ lets see Arnav..i might just push it two 130 am today..”

He asks in a concerned tone – “ 130 am? Really khushi? Youv had such a long day too right..”

I nod and I pour in the pesto sauce in the pan and start heating it up– “ I know I know but then im planning to rejoin for my third and final year in three months Arnav..that starts in June, and before that I have my charted accountancy exams in May, so ill not be able to do much of uber in the second half of April until the exams are over..and im almost there with my savings for the tuition fees..i half 75 percent scholarship because of my scores..but I just need to keep saving up still...oh on that note do you know im going for a little interview with the big bus tomm and I think I will also start with the private Sunday tours soon..”

He nods and he speaks – “ I understand khushi and I think that’s a good plan up your sleeve but what if you fall sick..?”

I liked the fact that he was so subtly supportive and caring.

I stir up the sauce and pour the pasta into the pan and then strike a marshall art pose with my frying paddle wooden stick in my hand as I say – “ I wont..even my immunity is trained in marshal arts..”

And he laughs.

He is literally in splits.

I like that I could make him laugh.

His laugh was amazing.

It was very soothing to my ears.

It had a very weird affect on me.

Oh wait – Khushi.

Hold.Hold.Hold.

Don’t let the brain shut down happen now, you still have to talk to him.

He controlled his laughter and leaned back into the cushions as he spoke, placing a hand over his head in a relaxing posture  - “ god khushi..you crack me up..no one can me laugh like this..”

I grin at him – “ great..so now along with being a battery charger, im also a comedian..”,and I fake being in thought as I ask him again – “do you think I can pursue a career in that as well??”

He chuckled again – “ god khushi..”,and he paused as she spoke – “ but im serious khushi..i don’t want you to ignore your health please..”

I nodded – “ I promise I wont..”,and my pasta is now done so I  I quickly serve it up in my plate and pick up my phone and walk over to the dining table and place the phone against my books for support and I start to eat and I wink at him as I ask offering some to him through the phone – “ want some??”

He grins – “ I wish…”

I grin back taking a bite – “ you know maggi isn’t the only thing I can make hoodie guy..”

He chuckles and he speaks – “ I miss your maggi khushi..im not going to have another one until I see you next for sure..”

Another flip in my stomach.I feel like im dropped from a high edge of a thrilling ride.

I try to control my body language from giving itself away as I say casually taking another bite of my pasta – “ but  im sure that’s not happening any time soon hoodie guy..look at all your play schedule lined up..”

He nods and the disappointment is pretty much evident on his face and he says – “I know khushi..the sri lanka tour is going to go on for 25 days, starting with the test, and then odi series and then the t20..and then the IPL begins within a week..”

I nod as I continue eating my pasta,and I wanted to take that frown off his forehead and make him smile so I give him a smile as I say – “ no worries ya Arnav, where am I going, im here only..just a call away..all you need to do is pick up your phone, and im right there..”

He smiles at that and he says – “ thank you khushi…you understand me in the ways no one can..”

I smile as I ask on reflex – “ so tomorrow the test series begin right??”

He nods – “yes, and test cricket is a total different scene from odi and t20..”

I nod – “so iv heard..but Rahul keeps going on and on about how you have an excellent record in all three formats..is it true?? I mean iv never seen the stats myself..so..”

He grins – “ well what can I say, im blessed with a cricketing gene after all..but yes as per the current icc rankings I am kind of in the top 5 in all three formats.no 2 in odi..no 3 in test and also no 2 in t20...”

My eyes widen at that as I speak – “ whattt???? Reallyyyy???? That’s amazing Arnav..why didn’t you ever tell me..thats such a remarkable feat..”

He smiled and now got up taking the phone and plonked on his bed and leaned against the headrest placing a pillow on his lap as he spoke softly, the concern evident on his face – “well..i know cricket is a sensitive topic for you khushi, so I will only talk about it when you bring up a question in context to our conversations..”

Ok.So I have just been spinned thorough five supersonic speed like twirls in the rollercoaster.

He cared.

It was on his face.

I take the last bite on my pasta and my eyes fall on the time – it was 820.

I sip my water and I say – “ ok hoodie guy..uber girls gotta rush now..need to get ready..”

He nods – “ ok..but im not sleeping yet..call me from the car in between pick ups??”

I grin – “ I will..”,and I wave at him as I say – “ tadaaaa..hoodie guy..until we video call again..”

He chuckles and waves back at me and I smile to myself and put my phone aside and start to get ready for my uber schedule.

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Same Night@ Delhi Indian Standard Time – 1:15 AM

Arnav’s POV

I finish watching up on a couple of repeated telecasts of international test games in order to observe the shots and the game.

On most occasions, I usually do observe and watch a lot of cricket too, because I like to watch the other batsmen and bowlers and their techniques too.

Because in sport just like it is in Life – learning never stops.

We learn so much each day as we train and practice.

That’s why I play.

Because I want to keep improving myself and grow to my best potential as much as I can until my two more year to cricket time limit.

I close my laptop and I keep it aside and I pick up my phone on reflex.

It was 945 Pm now in Cape Town.

And khushi was on her uber schedule.

We had already connected on two wuick 5 minute calls in between her pick ups.

I pick up my phone as I open our whats app chat and I cant help but smile as I browse our conversations from earlier today.

It was what I did every night , before sleeping.

I loved thinking about her.

I loved getting lost in her thoughts for a little while every night before I slept.

I was falling for her more and more with every minute.

And she always in my thoughts at the back of my head, and it felt so good.

And the fact that we were able to connect all the time was a big relief.

Id usually always wake up with a message from her that informed me that she had reached home safely after the uber schedule(I had asked her to do so),and on the days she wasn’t on it – id get a goodnight message after she finished studying and hit the bed.

And then id leave her a goodmorning message as id wake up and wait for her to wake up and respond to it,and then once she was up, id try to make time to atleast get on a quick call with her.

It felt so so freaking good, and I was super happy that she was making as much effort as me into making time and staying connected.

Everything I was feeling was now like a thrill in its own way – it was amazing.

I was still lost in that thought when my phone beeped.

It was a text from Khushi.

Her : sleeping yet? I just dropped a customer, and have stopped on the side for a five minute break.

I smile as I quickly text : you know I will not sleep until I wish you goodnight khushi.can I call now?

My phone buzzed immediately.

I smiled to myself as I picked it up and leaned back against my pillows, now stretching myself in bed and I heard her voice fill through the phone – “ hoodie guy,you need to sleep..i thought you would be asleep..you have a workout session in the morning right?and then the game?are you crazy..rest yourself..test cricket is a longer duration right?”

I answer – “ yes khushi it is, so a day in test cricket is usually like three sessions of two hours each and we have two breaks in between 40 minutes for lunch and 20 minutes for tea..this will go on for the next five days..”

She – “ then surely rest..its going to be hectic..what time does the game begin?”

I answer – “ 10am khushi..ends at 5pm..”

She – “ ok good..thank you for letting me know the timing..so I will not disturb by messaging or calling..you message me whenever you can ok?”

I answer honestly – “a message from you can never disturb me khushi..”

She – “ya I know..but still its game time..i know what it means to you…go to sleep now hoodie guy..goodnight..sleep well..”

I smile – “goodnight Khushi..please text me when you reach home..”

She – “ I will Arnav..ok I just got another pick up..bbye..”

And she hangs up.

And I walk to my washroom to freshen up before crashing for the night.

I did have to catch up with the team at 730am.

Which meant I had to leave home by 700 am.

The test match was in Firoz Shah Kotla Stadium here in delhi.

As I walk back to bed, my phone buzzes.

It’s a text from khushi.

Her : oh shoot.i forgot to wish you all the best for the game!i will be asleep when you hit the stadium.all the best hoodie guy.enjoy yourself like you do and that will make it a good game anyway.

I grin as I read that and I quickly text.

Me : thank you khushi.but wait?did you just text while driving?please don’t.its not safe khushi.

Phone beeped.

Her : I know! But I couldn’t not wish you too right? Ok tada now!no more texting while driving.ill message once im home.you please sleep now.goodnight Arnav.

I quickly reply.

Me : Good.Dont reply now.Goodnight khushi.

And I cant help but smile again.

My heart is feeling all warm and fuzzy.

What was this girl doing to me??

I was falling for her more and more.

Hard and Fast.

So you know in my game, in the shots I play, one of my favouritest shot is the cover drive,and I feel a thrill go through me everytime I smack a cover drive off my bat.

So Khushi had already been clean bowling me left, right , center.

And now, I was starting to feel this thrill everytime I texted her, talked to her, or saw her on a video call – the same bloody thrill that I get when I play the cover drive.

It’s a adrenaline rush that I cant really explain in words.

Because no words can probably depict the magnitude of that feel.

Its like a emotional adrenaline rush that I cant explain in words.

Im so drawn to her that its insane.

I smile as I remember that adorable expression on her face when id called her my customised battery charger.

She really was my very own battery charger.

Being connected with her charged me up in a way I cant explain.

All exhaustion would wash away with just her voice or a sight of her on a video call…and even today all the stress from back to back gruelling meetings at office started easing out by just reading a text from her in the evening.

I know this meant something to her too.

Maybe not as much as what it meant to me.

But it meant something to her too.

I was sure about that.

And that made me very very happy.

Things were heading in the direction I wanted, in the smoothest way possible..and I cant stop thanking my destiny here again and again – for I shall be eternally grateful to it for making me walk into Chai and Coffee the other day.

I close my eyes and Khushi’s face revolves in front of my eyes, as she talked to me while cooking a while ago on the video call.

She had no clue how adorable she looked.

And as usual her cluelessness added on to the irresistibility.

Everything about her anyway always fascinated me and mesmerised me.

And now this everything about her was starting to thrill me in the ways I cant explain.

She literally - Thrilled me.

And this thrill was directly proportional to all these amazing feelings she was making me feel.

I smile to myself as I feel sleep nearing and her face revolves in front of my eyes again.

And I realise another very important point in here.

She was giving me the kind of feelings that people wrote books and novels about.

And That Realisation in this moment in Time – Just Thrilled the Hell out of Me.

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Tada!!! Let me know what you guys think.

Will give another update tomorrow.

Please ignore editing errors.

Havent proofread.

Thanks for all the time to my work.

Much Love Guys