Chapter 18

Hellooooooooo everyone

Back with a superlong 10k update.

Let you all dive in wirhout further delay.

Pls ignore errors haven’t proof read.

Thanks for all the time and support.

Much love guys

………………

Chapter 17 – Virtuality-REALITY

Next Day – 730 AM- Cape Town

 Khushi’s POV

My eyes flutter open on reflex.

My phone is on flight mode as usual and I pick it up to see the time on it.

730 AM.

Ok so obviously I had taken this week off from my management accounting firm due to exams and everything.I was supposed to report to work on Monday for another three weeks,before I finally started college full time for the remaining of my third and final year.

So todays schedule was to relax a little by sleeping in a little late to pamper myself and then I had a lot of personal chores to do, you know laundry, stock up a little on my groceries etc, so I had planned to get up by 9am today which was luxury for me, and then get to all this personal chores and then get down to the café to work on the accounts and process the invoices that had piled up and then I was going to do my café shift until the evening and then go for that little networking mixer at the Big Bus headoffice by 7pm, and then be there for a while and then proceed to my uber schedule.

But I guess my body has a alarm clock system of its own.

For I have woken up on reflex.

Usually everyday as I wake up, first thing I do is switch my phone off my flight mode and then the messages from Arnav pop up immediately as hes always up due to our time difference and I read them the first thing, as I open my eyes, lying down in bed and then I message him first thing back and we get on a quick call always.

I want to do that too right now.

But before I get to that.

I need to think a little and process everything that I am feeling within.

So ofcourse last night after I had arrived home, I had messaged him as usual.

I am very serious about the fact – that I cannot stop talking to him.

I am very serious about the fact that – I cannot pull myself away from him.

I am very serious about the fact – that I cannot detach myself from this string in between of us.

I can’t.

I JUAT CAN’T.

He is way too important to me.

BUT.

I also had to process all these new complexities that were going to arise by default anyway,because of Hoodie Guy also being Arnav Singh Raizada – a semi God in the country where cricket was no less than a religion.

He was a popular public figure.

A Celebrity – whose Life was constantly surrounded by a lot of Limelight, glitz and glamour because of the Love for the Sport he played.

He wasn’t just a national hero for India..he was also an International cricketing superstar.

I close my eyes as I take a deep breathe.

That’s a strong part of his reality I cannot ignore because of this crazy virtual-reality magnetic bond in between of us.

I am just figuring out a way in my head to be more open and accepting to all of this.

I know this is not his fault.

All this glitz and glamour and limelight, and the popularity overwhelms him too. I know he wishes that all he could do was just go about playing his game and not be involved into all this stuff himself.

But then.

You cant pick and choose.

Its like a package.

You gotta accept things you cant change.

There are two sides to the coin always – you cant just accept the good side and try to shut out the other side.

That is not how it should work – to be fair.

You have to be fair to the person at the other end.

And I always knew that this was what it was.

I didn’t want to be mean and rude and shut out this aspect of Hoodie Guys Life.

But because all of this being so new and alien to me, as im a awfully private person when it comes to these matters – I just needed time to process this a little.

I had slept over it.

I was feeling a little better.

I mean I still feel like I am on ground zero, standing in front of that Burj Khalifa.

But wait.

I am not feeling this way or being overwhelmed because I’m undermining myself or something.

Ok wait – to be honest.

I was probably doing that a little – like ten percent maybe but ninety percent was all about the true facts of these vast differences in between our worlds –  how could I not feel insecured???

I mean.

Look at me.

And.

Look at HIM.

Its not that I am looking down at myself or something.. I am not thinking all of this with the intention of  doing that.

I live Life, with my head up high and take things on with conviction and belief in myself.

I love myself and I am proud of who I am.

Its just about Accepting the fact that this  Vast Difference is going to exist by default anyway. I cant do anything about it.I cant change who I am.I cant change who he is.

And I know – I mean something to him.

I know I am important to him too.

Just like it is for me the other way around.

However.

These Contingent liability factors of the reality of our different worlds have to be accounted for right??

(Ok- that was a thought out of my accountant’s side of the brain. I am officially crazy)

Anyway.

Just to point out – in Accounts we usually always make a reserve in the books for contingent liabilities. A contingent liability is a liability that may occur depending on the outcome of an uncertain future event.A contingent liability is recorded if the contingency is likely and the amount of the liability can be reasonably estimated.`

Now – I had to prepare A Emotional Contingent Liability Reserve in my Head and account for it in the a Balance Sheet of my emotions.

I definetly aim to probably try to figure out a way of accounting for these vast differences that are marked in between off him and me,in default by Life itself – as emotional contingent liabilities in that balance sheet of my heart.

Ok so first thing out.

I think I had to make a major accommodation in that balance sheet and set out a big reserve for these emotional contigent liabilities – so that they don’t come as such a shock and blow to my system.

I should have been prepared for it mentally in my head.

Because I know these Contingent Liabilities are going to a regular feature in my Life because of Hoddie Guy being who he was.

I take a deep breathe and I remember his worried face, and the his panicked voice and his messages last night.

He does care about me.

I know he does.

My heart can feel it.

That is why he’s probably as overwhelmed as me right now.

I quickly pick up my Samsung Tab and google all these articles I had seen in Diya’s tablet last night.

I read through them again.

I find myself staring at the picture of Arnav and Aisha Khanna in one frame.

Well – Rahul was definetly right – she is bloody drop dead gorgeous.

Maybe Diya was right too – the world is probably going to keep talking and give life to these rumours, hoping it would be true, because the two of them did compliment each other well.Not just in appearances – but just the simple fact that they were both celebrities in their own way – lots of glitz and glamour – same world – etc – moms are friends etc – they do live in the same country etc.

I sigh as I shut the tablet.

Thank god.

I was not social media.

For I definitely didn’t want to see all that- that was trending on Twitter , Instagram, the memes etc.

Not until I made adjustments to that contingent liabilities in my head and included a subsection – for the Social Media court of judgements and perceptions.

God.

I was feeling so taxed emotionally right now.

I quickly pick up my phone and put off the flight mode.

And just as I do.

My whtsapp tings.

I have a couple of messages waiting from Arnav.

My eyes start to read them.

Him : Goodmorning Sunshine.Its 830am Here, and I have just woken up! I am going to get ready and then meet the boys for breakfast and then catch up with a swim and then gym and then we have a usual pre-match meeting with coach.I also think I will step into our Bangalore head office here for a bit after lunch and then get back to the hotel by around 4ish.We only have to leave for Chinnaswamy (Which is the name of the stadium here in bangalore) by 545PM.The match as you know is going to begin at 8pm IST.So that is going to be my day.

I smile a  little on reflex and then my eyes move onto the next message.

Him : Khushi, I hope you are feeling better, and I understand that you need time to process all this, because its alien to you..i just hate that I absolutely have no control over all this limelight and buzz around me at all.Its by default a part of who I am.But I am used to this – you know they have labelled me as a rich spoilt entitled arrogant playboy too right in the past?? And all these things , rumours, link ups with some model or the other has always gone on around me,but none of this even mattered to me before, I mean I didn’t care about what they wrote – because I have grown accustomed to turning a blind eye to all of this.Because this is a projection that people want to perceive and talk about anyway – and you know iv never been in a real serious relationship ever before so none of this mattered…for there were no strings attached.But now I am worried and nervous about this, because now its just not me anymore…I have my strings attached with You in this magnetic bond in between of us. I know you feel it too.Im just very nervous because I feel like all this nonsensical shit around me is going to overwhelm and scare you ,and then probably make you want to push me away.Dont push me away, Khushi.Please.This bond in between of us is very special.i know that.i also know you know that.We both know that.

So that Theme Park Adventureland in the pit of my stomach just opened its operations for the day.

My eyes move over to the next message.

Him : I don’t care about what people say.But I care about you, I care about what you are thinking.I care about what you feel.You have no idea – id do anything to just a little sneak peek into your head right now…to know what you are thinking.Call me please? The minute you get up. I need to talk to you.

I sigh as I put my phone aside for a second and then I pick up my tablet and see all those articles.

I am just switching my eyes constantly between the two – my head kind of weighing in the reality and my current virtuality reality on the balancing scale.

And my emotions are going all haywire.

Because on one side is that Reality of our worlds being so strongly apart and on the other side is this virtual magnetic intense string/connection that ties me to Hoodie Guy.

Will this virtual crazy connection ever be able to transcend into something in the Reality of our Lives for Real??????? And How?????????????????????

I don’t know.

I absolutely don’t know.

Maybe I just need to go with the flow and get around to making that balance sheet in my head first.

Yes.

That would prep me and help me sort things out.

I pick up my tab and look at Aisha Khanna again.

And I end up googling her name and all her pictures just pop up into my screen.

Why did she have to be so drop dead gorgeous and magically glamourous yaaaaa???????

I go back to the dailies online websites to read the articles again and this was like I was doing it to prepare myself by creating a contingent section of emotions for all this kind off news that might arise in the future,right when I see a fresh article being published.

I groan.

My hands flick it open anyway.

Now there is this gorgeous picture of Aisha from one of her movie shots in which shes getting out of the ocean in sexy one peice swimsuit and right next to the picture is the picture of Arnav all rakishly handsome suited up in is BCCI cricket blazer and he has that enigmatic grin up his face.

The title reads – Has this Epic Love Story been brewing Up Behind the Scenes All the Whilst?

My eyes fall on whats written and I feel my insides groan as I read about how apparently Aisha was cornered by the media last night outside the restaurant and she mentioned that they were just family friends and there was nothing ever going on in between of them even though she had been crushing on him forever!And then I read about the speculations that maybe all this has been brewing up undercover for a while now, and the first step of making It go public was this appearance of them together after the match at the Feroz Shah Kotla, and then theres a speculation that the engagement is already on the cards because their mothers have been such good friends etc etc.

Greattttttttttt!

Now this gorgeous woman has just admitted to the media about her crush on ASR.

They are probably going to blow this out of proportion on another level now.

I shut the tab and I put my phone on flight mode, after putting a alarm for my time 9:30 AM, which was after an hour now.

And I lie back in bed, and I shove my quilt up my face,and I close my eyes.

I just feel torn in between off all this stuff ,the world wanting to brew up a relation in between of ASR and Aisha(in their realities) and My Hoodie Guy wanting me to keep focus on the connection that was brewing up here in between of us in our Virtuality - Reality.

Im torn in between the scales off Reality and the Virtuality – like I have never been before.

I need to sleep.

I need to shut down my brain.

And then restart my system and then focus on working on that Balance sheet in my Heart.

That had to be prepped on priority basis now.

Or I was just going to loose my marbles surely.

I was crazy in my head anyway.

………..

Arnav’s POV

1210PM – RITZ CARLTON ,BANGALORE

I finish my run on the treadmill and I pick up my phone on reflex.

Nope.

Not even a single text from Khushi yet.

Not even the usual call, the one she made to me the minute she would wake up.

I pick up my phone again and I open whtsapp.

She had read my messages.

The double blue ticks on whtsapp told me that she had gotten up and read these messages.

Then why hadn’t she replied?

God.

All I wanted was a little sneak peek into that head of her’s right now.

I had to know what she was thinking.

That’s it.

My patience was running out now.

I pick up my phone and I call her.

Its unreachable.

Dammit.

I run my hand over my face in sheer frustration and I think I need to channel it out into another fifteen minute aggressive run on the treadmill.

I check my phone for the signal reception, just in case it was faltering.

It wasn’t.

I take a deep breathe,and I resume my run on the treadmill, channeling all my frustration and anger into the run.

And I can’t stop thinking about her though.

Im seven minutes into the run and I watch Ravi come and start his run on the treadmill next to me and he gives me a side grin as he says – “ you never told me you like Aisha Khanna..she is hot..you guys would look bloody gorgeous together..tell me is there something brewing up really? Why do you have to be so crazily private about what you feel in your heart?????”

I just glare at him but I continue running – “ because that’s what it is supposed to be Ravi..private..”

Ravi continued running as he shook his head – “ as if..we are public figures, people don’t expect us to have a private quotient in our lives..”

I increase the speed up on the treadmill – “ which is so crazyy..”

Ravi gave me a side look – “ask me about it..anyways..is there any truth in any of fit..”

I gave him a look – “ it's not true..you know it isnt.”

Ravi grinned – “ I thought so too because I know you..anyways the media is going to have a fun week anyway..”

I continued my run – “ what do you mean??”

He increased his speed too – “ I just saw another article up a while ago..and don’t even ask me about twitter and Instagram right now…people are literally tweeting and messaging Cap and Me and the rest of our core Indian team on social media that if we knew about this relationship brewing up under covers all along…”

I pushed the stop button on the treadmill and I looked at him now totally flabbergasted as I asked – “ whatttttttttttt??????????????

Ravi continued running and I bent forward and pressed the stop button for him too and he turned to look at me and he gave me his phone and he spoke – “ look at the my Instagram..its gone beserk with comments..some are asking me if I am going to be the best man at your wedding already..Cap’s twitter and insta is gone beserk too, because they all know you are close to both me and Cap..Cap’s just posted a message saying that he would like it if your privacy is respected and stated that you would talk about it yourself if there was anything concrete, also asked people in the post to not waste their time and energy into this and let us all focus on the remaining two matches of the IPL..”

I take a deep breathe -  “ I need to send Cap a thank you..”,and I paused as I asked – “and what about you??? Pls tell me you haven’t been cheeky in replying to any of these comments..”

Ravi winked at me – “ I swear to god..i was so tempted too in order to have some fun, but I didn’t ok..im just not going to give them any reply at all..”

Right then I see Ravi’s face go blank and white as a sheet and I turn around and to my surprise I see my sister,Anjali walk into the Gym.

Now I know why Ravi paled like that.

I pull her into a hug on reflex and I asked surprised – “ Anjali..what a pleasant surprise???”

She grinned at me as she hugged me – “ bhai..i just took the morning flight in, I wanted to be there for the semi’s today..”,and she finally lets go of me and looks at Ravi and she says – “ hello to you, long time..”

Ravi is shocked and frazzled and he nods – “ long time indeed..”

I look at the two of them and I say – “ ok…so you guys need to talk..”

Anjali folds her arms – “ bhai im here for you..anyway, I just checked in, im going to freshen up and relax a little, lets meet up for lunch bhai in an hour or so maybe??”

I nod as I say – “ im heading to my room too right now..”,and I see her give one last look to Ravi before she turns around on her heel and walks away.

Ravi finally grins as he says, pressing on the treadmill – “ your sister is going to drive me crazy..im just going to run for a while to keep my mind sane..”

I smile at him and pat his shoulder and pick up my stuff and make my way to my room.

I know exactly what he meant by that.

…………….

I now walk out of my shower and put on my tee and shorts and I pick up my phone on reflex again.

Its 1245PM Now in here.

9.15AM in Cape Town.

Khushi always wakes up by now.

I try calling her again and her phone is unreachable again.

I groan in despair.

I don’t know what to do.

My heart wants me to just fly down to Cape Town immediately and be there with her for a while in reality so that I can give her some more sense of security about this connection between of us and definitely waste no more time in getting things started for us officially.

But I couldn’t.

Because I was bound by my duty to cricket.

I still had the IPL semi to play tonight and then on the basis of that result – maybe the final and still that tour to West Indies.

I could not back out from my duties to the sport that I so deeply loved too.

This was also my sport duty towards my nation too.

Goshhh.

And the fact that she was unreachable right now, was making me wonder if she was having her second thoughts and doubts about us in the first place.

I feel dread grip my heart.

What if she never gave us a chance?????????

What if all of this nonsense has scared the shit out of her on another level altogether and all my efforts to offer her comfort and security are failing to hit the mark??

I pick up my ipad and I see the dailies in order to see the article Ravi had just mentioned.

I was shell shocked!

Where do they even brew up all of this nonsense from?????

Doesn’t the world have anything better to do right now than trying to play cupid in between me and Aisha???????????

I just hoped to my stars that Khushi hadn’t read this.

I pick up my phone and read Khushi’s message from last night.

Her : Hoodie Guy, iv just reached home now.Will be crashing to sleep immediately.I had a lovely dinner, had a lot of jalebi’s that aunty made for me.Did I ever tell you that they are my favourite Indian dessert? Anyways goodnight to you and goodmorning too.speak soon hoodie guy.

I read  a part of her previous message : I don’t think I can stop talking to you!

I feel a little relieved and calm in my heart now as I ask myself to just be a little patient and have some conviction and faith in this bond in between of us.

Khushi felt something for me.

I was sure about that.

It wasn’t official yet in between of us, but that doesn’t change the fact that the emotion didn’t exist.

I knew it wasn’t probably as deep as my feelings ran for her, and that it would take her a long time to come around to that, and maybe that’s why I was a little worried, what if she never lets us kickstart the engine on us officially?

Im weighing in the ups and downs on the scales of reality of all this nonsense around me and the importance of this virtual reality connection in between of us that feels so Real and so bloody strong.

My emotions for khushi totally outweigh the other side, for in my heart I know this is the most ‘real’ connection I have ever had in the 28 years of my Life.

I cant let her go.

I was not going to .

I was going to see her first thing after my West Indies tour.

Im still on that thought when I see a message pop up my screen.

Its her.

Thank God

Her : Hoodie Guy, goodmorning.ok technically goodafternoon to you.i woke up a little while ago but then went back to sleep for another hour.i have some personal chores like laundry, stocking up on groceries etc to take care off first and then work on the accounts and invoices for the café and then then café shift, and then the networking mixer at the big bus head office and then uber shift.thats going to be my day hoodie guy.i hope you are relaxing yourself though, to get yourself ready for the major semi’s tonight.What are you upto right now hoodie guy?

Ok reading that message brought some relief to me , she sounded like she was better and I quickly messaged : Goodmorning Sunshine! Its good that you slept in a little more today.Can I call you??

My phone buzzes immediately.

She’s calling me.

Thank God.

I pick up immediately and I say, sure the emotion is evident in my voice – “ khushi..”

I hear her say through a yawn – “ Yes Arnav…”

And I literally feel like I can breathe again as I hear my name in her voice.

I ask on reflex – “ you are still in bed aren’t you..??”

She yawns – “ yess yess hoodie guy, still lazing in a little in bed..i don’t feeling like getting up yet, maybe I just will continue to be a little lazy for ten more minutes and then get up..hows your day coming along ??”

I smile to myself as I say honestly – “ my day just got better after listening to your voice..”

I hear her say in a soft voice – “ gosh..arnav..”

I plonk on my bed as I say – “ yes khushi..”

And I hear her take a deep breathe – “ this is crazy..absolutely crazy..”

I answer honestly – “ I know it is khushi..”

And she takes a deep breathe – “ so to be honest..i slept over it and then I did wake up and I read your messages.. I was just in the middle of processing things in my head and right then this another article pops into my screen..as I was online on that daily’s website..”

Gosh.NO.

I groaned.

Did she read the latest one??????

The one I didn’t want her to read Like Ever!

And I ask – “ you read the one published in times of india entertainment section this morning???”

She – “ ahaann..”,and she paused as she now asks softly – “ how are you arnav??are you ok???you are very overwhelmed by all of this aren’t you????”

Did she just ask me how am I feeling about all of this right now??

Shes concerned about me??When shes probably feeling no less than a mess within too??

I just fell in Love with her all over again.

Now you know what I mean by the fact that she is a perfect fit for my Being.

God – has totally made her exclusively for Me.

I ask immediately – “ I need to see you..can I convert this voice call to a video call???”

She – “ but I look like a sleepy mess right now Arnav..”

I say honestly – “ I don’t care..i need to see you..”

She sighs – “ okk hoodie guy, but im warning you..i look like a sleepy goofy mess..”

I convert the call into a video call straight out and just as I see her.

I feel like my breaths been taken away.

Is she crazy to think that she’s a sleepy goofy mess.

She was propped up in her bed, her eyes still not completely up from the slumber, her hair were all messed up and she was in her hot pink sleeveless tank top.

And she Glowed like a beautiful Firefly as the sun rays fell partly fell onto her face through the slits of the blinds on her window side.

I swear to God, in this moment she couldn’t even imagine the things I wished to do to her right now.

I wished I could just have a teleportal open right into the air right now again, so that I could just be next to her right now, hold her close into me, kiss her mindlessly until we both couldn’t breathe, and then just probably drive both of us insane with all this passion building up inside of me for her.

I catch on my breathe as my eyes lock with hers and I admit honestly sure my voice was intense with emotion– “ I swear to god, I am wishing for a teleportal to open in between us in the air so that I can just hop through right in and get to Cape Town to be next to you this bloody second..”

She smiles.

And this one is straight from her heart.

She blushes too.

Godddddddddd.

I am a goner!

Just when I think I cant fall more crazily for her.

She’s about to straighten her messy hair as she says – “ a teleportal would be nice Arnav…why haven’t they invented that yet??”

I say on reflex – “ don’t..”

She looks at me – “ don’t what??”

I say honestly – “ don’t straighten up your hair, you have no idea how sexy you like right now..”

She chuckled immediately as she spoke – “ are you crazy?? Me ?? and sexy??meeeeee???????nobodys ever called me sexy hoodie guy….so I know you are being biased yet again..”

I cant help but smile as I say – “ well, im kind of glad about that latter part of the information sunshine..”

She blushed again.

And she was about to straighten her hair again but I raised my eyebrow at her to stop her, and she just rolled her eyes at me but let them be.

Thank God.

She brought her knees up to herself as she placed a hand around them and held the phone in front of her as she spoke – “ its you who is looking so rakishly handsome in that article this morning..gosh Arnav…”,and she paused as she looked away now , picking up her tablet and she spoke – “and its Aisha Khanna who is so gorgeously sexy in that picture next to you too..”

I shrugged but I admitted honestly – “ I don’t care, im not interested in her or anyone else for that matter, my eyes are on you Sunshine..”

She finally looks up at me and our eyes meet in an intense eyelock and she takes a deep breathe as she speaks softly – “ did I ever tell you I still get goosebumps when you call me Sunshine..”

I smile on reflex.

She got goosebumps when I called her Sunshine??

She was falling hard and fast for me too!!

Happy Dance in my heart and head!

I grin – “ well I am glad you tell me that now , Sunshine, better late than never..”

She speaks now leaning back into her pillows – “ so iv figured something out Arnav..”

I ask on reflex – “ what Khushi??”

She takes a deep breathe – “first you tell me..are you ok????i know all of this has overwhelmed you as well..”

I nod – “ im ok..like I told you, im used to all this nonsense…are you ok??? Do you feel better now after sleeping over it??

She nods.

She takes a deep breathe as she speaks – “ like I told you give me some time to process all of this, I mean iv figured something out to help me process all of this so that I can be more open and accepting to all of this..”

I ask – “ wanna tell me about it??”

She smiles and nods – “ yes ofcourse, do you have time?? I mean give me ten minutes, ill just freshen up and call you back??”

I nod – “ I have all the time in the world for you Khushi, you know that..and Anjali is here for the match, il be catching up with her for lunch and probably ask Ravi to join in..if Anjali doesn’t kill me for that ofcourse..”,I finish with a chuckle ofcourse

She smiles at that – “ that’s an amazing surprise hoodie guy..im sure she and Ravi can atleast talk things out..”

I nod as I say – “ that’s what khushi..talking is important right, being transparent to each other is important right???”

She nods – “ it is..”,and she smiles again – “ ok give me ten minutes no, I will call you…”

I nod and give her a smile and I hang up.

God.

Thank You.

She was not shutting the door on me or US.

……………..

Ten minutes Later, which were the longest ten minutes of my Life.

My phone beeps.

Her : Hoodie Guy, just making coffee.Good to connect.Can we connect now?

I videocall her immediately and I know spot her wearing her night knee length tracks under her tank top.

I was kind of disappointed I didn’t get to see her in those adorable night suit shorts of hers.

Her hair is now tied up in a messy bun and shes making coffee and breakfast for herself and I ask – “ you are to join back the firm on Monday right??”

She nods – “ahann hoodie guy..”

And I now see her pour the coffee into the cup and she sips on it and she gives me a wink – “ that sip was on your behalf..”

I grin – “ thank you khushi ..”

I see her pick up her toasts now, placing it on a plate and she takes them to the little table and then comes back to take the coffee cup and then she sits on the chair and she places her phone on a spot as she takes a sip of her coffee as I see her picking up a file and she says – “ you see this file hoodie guy??”

I nod.

She flips it open and she brings the paper up to the screen and she says – “ okk so obviously we format this a little differently here in South Africa from how its done in India..but you see what this is right??”

I nod as I say , now totally confused about why was she shoving a balance sheet in my face – “ yup, I know it’s a balance sheet..”

She closes the file and she keeps it aside and she sips her coffee and bites her toast – “ so the accountant in my head has it all figured out..”

I look at her confused – “ what do you mean???”

She takes a deep breathe and sips her coffee again and she says – “ ok hoodie guy..see..you and me belong to different worlds…it’s a true fact…”

I interrupt her – “ Sunshine…please..don’t start with that..”

She holds her hand up to stop me as she says – “ hear me out…please..”

I sigh as I nod and she continues, now very serious – “ so see, I mean it when I say that there is a huge difference in between of you and me ok..our worlds, our realities, our lives…its like if im ground zero..you are the burj khalifa..”

What the?????????????

How did she even come up with something like that?????

I glare at her as I say in a scolding tone – “ khushi..just stop it dammit..i am not going to let you undermine yourself that way..what the hell..ground zero..burj khalifa..are you crazy..”

She takes a deep breathe – “ listen no..”

I nod – “ fine go on..but you are crazy, you have no freaking idea how priceless you are dammit and that fires me up..”

She gives me a heartfelt smile as she speaks – “ im being honest to you Arnav, I am not undermining myself, I am proud of who I am, I love myself, you know I live life with my head high..this isn’t about that..please..its about just looking at this difference in between of us which exist by default because of Life itself..anyway..now just let me talk and you listen until I finish please..”

I nod.

She goes on – “ you are a celebrity, I am a commoner, a normal girl next door living in a world which isn’t just half away across the globe, its also a world which is way too humble and simple from your’s..”

Ok.Shes driving me nuts now.

I say – “ khushi..pls..”

She takes a deep breathe – “ listen to me..will you please..”

I nod, and I sip on a glass of water now and she speaks – “ and despite that our lives our in different realms..our paths crossed in the most craziest unexpected of the ways and now we are three months into knowing each other being tied into this magnetic bond in between of us..i agree with you when you say that is what it is..its bloody magnetic..i cannot pull myself away from you..i just cant , I just don’t have it in me to..”

Ok.Finally I was liking what I heard.

This felt good to my heart.

And I ask softly – “you are not going to push me away right??”

She nods and whispers softly – “ I cant push you away..i just cant..gosh..Arnav..”,and she pauses and she picks up the file again and she says – “ so that’s why iv used my accountant brain for some help..”

I looked at her confused – “ huh??”

She smiles – “so you know how we have this contingent liabilities sections in the balance sheet.that we keep aside as a reserve for unforeseen circumstances that may arise due to a factor that is inevitable...”

I nod – “yes..”

She grins – “ so exactly now…I mean its going to take me some time ofcourse, but im going to make a emotional contingent liability reserve in the balance sheet of my emotions..these emotional contingent liabilities are meant to help me deal with all these new alien things that may arise due to this vast differences in between of our worlds…I mean..i am trying to figure out a way of being mentally prepared for all of these kind of things..”

Emotional Contingent liability reserve – how did she even come up with something like that????????

Her brain freaking fascinated me.

And

She looked so freaking adorable right now.

Where is that bloody teleportal?

I look at her amused – “ sunshine..seriously…you are probably the only person on this planet to make an analogy like that…”

She looks at me with her big innocent eyes – “ does it make sense to you?? You think im crazy no???goshh that I already know that you know that im crazy..but im just trying to come up with a coping mechanism ya..”

I smile – “ khushi..please go on..talk to me..”

She nods and she says – “ so to elaborate..this will come handy so that all this stuff does not come as a shock to my system..like the shock it was to my system last night..because these differences aren’t going to go away..but because of this strong connection in between of us..maybe if I start working on this emotional contingent buffer, ill probably get to a position of being more accepting and open to all of this..so im just going to make a little adjustments in my head now and account for a Emotional Contingent Liability Reserve – which will come handy to me, when these contingent liabilities arise by default due to the fact that you are Burj Khalifa, hoodie guy and I am ground zero..”

I say immediately – “ you are not ground zero khushi..”

I was going to tell her when I meet her that she was probably going to be the future foundation that could keep me standing tall and high.

And she gives me a mischevious wink now – “ ok ok..fine not ground zero..maybe im on level three..but you are still a skyscraper yaa…look at the world around you hoodie guy..we should not close our eyes to it..that will make things crazy and difficult, the only way to cope up with these vast differences is to be looking at them with a open eye..”

I take a deep breathe as I say – “ you know you are important to me Sunshine..”

She nods – “ yes I know..you know you are important to me too right????”

I nod.

I take a deep breathe, dying to confess to her but then I hold on because I want to do it face to face for real and I say honestly just to give her a intended hint for the meanwhile – “ you have no idea what you mean to me sunshine..”

And she sighs now – “ you are special to me Arnav..you are..you know you are..goshh yaa..this is crazy..there is this reality on one side of the scale and this crazy virtual reality on one side of side..im just like to be honest very torn in between switching my eyes back and forth between the two ya..but ill be ok..i mean.. I just need some time to figure this out and implement this system in my head, and I also need to make a subsection in that contingent liabilities for the judgements from the high courts of social media..”

Wait what??

Judgements from High Courts of Social Media?

That cracked me up and I was literally in splits and she chuckles now too and we share a laugh.

Gosh.

I wanted to be with her right now – so badly.

I sigh as I admit honestly – “ I need to see you..i mean for real..i cant tell you how I wish I can just be with you right now..”

She whispers softly now, keeping a hand under her chin – “ no way..ok..i mean..you still have your matches and then the west indies tour and you still have something post that too right..id never ask that off you Arnav….dont worry about me, I will work on my contingent liability reserve and figure things out..and I will be ok..and we are good..nothing changes..but I just need some time to figure this out and implement this system in my head,”,and she paused as she spoke again – “i know what cricket means to you....id never want you to turn away from your duties as a national player..cricket is the love of your life Arnav..i understand that..”

No it isn’t.You Are – I wanted to tell her that.

And maybe one day I would.

Because I know I have to step back from cricket one day or the other , even if I didn’t have the promise with my family for steeping back by when I was 30, I always knew that it’s a sport it’s a game, there will come a time and age when I will have to pull myself back from the games.

But I could never pull myself away from her.

Not in this Life.

Surely.

She consumed my being.

And on that note.

I hadn’t told her about the little break because I wanted to surprise her.

But you know what else im feeling right now?

Blown Away – as if shes the cricketer and im the ball, shes smashed away into the stands for a mindboggling sixer.

I cant believe she said that too me, when shes feeling like such a mess inside herself.

She understands me in the ways I don’t probably even understand myself.

I smile as I say – “ thank you khushi, you understand me in the ways I don’t even probably understand myself..”

She grins as she now asks – “ acha acha now you don’t start off with your biasness ok..tell me how many more hot models have you been linked with in the past..”

I chuckle as I admit honestly – “ a lot actually..but none of that is true..except for just one international model I hooked up with in Jamaica last year..”

She asked on reflex – “ for a casual one night stand??”

I am very embarrassed but I admit honestly – “ two nights actually..the last two nights of our tour there last year but it didn’t mean anything, you understand what I mean right, it was just a casual hook up..that was just how it was for me khushi..until..”, and I paused.

And her eyes shot up to meet mine now.

And right then the screen went blank as her video vanished and it was back in the next couple of seconds as she says – “ ok ok hoodie guy, that was uncle..i really do need to get to shower now..hes waiting for me to get to some invoices and I still need to shower, laundry and then stock up a little on my grocery..speak later then??”

I nod – “ im so glad we talked this out khushi..thank you, I don’t know how to thank you enough..”

She smiles and she gives me a wink – “ just shut up ok..dont you go all formal on me now..and incase I am not able to videocall with you again.all the very best for the game tonight…..just enjoy yourself out there Hoodie guy and its going to be a good game anyway…ok tada nowwww…until we video call again…”

And I say – “ bye sunshine..”

She blushes a little again and then she finally hangs up.

I have to thank god for blessing me with Khushi.

How did I get so damm lucky???????

Right then there was a knock on my door and I walked upto open it knowing who it was already.

I see Anajli’s smiling face as she steps in and hugs me and I grin back and she says – “ oh you grinning…seems like things are ok with khushi..i had to fly in bhai..to be with you because I know earlier you never cared about all these things but now ofcourse..did you talk to khushi???is she ok??..”

I nodded – “ we talked things out..itll be ok..she understands..”

Anjali grinned – “ great..im sure you cant wait for that West Indies tour to end already..and get to Cape town..”

I grinned – “ you bet I cant…”

She smiled as she hugged me and then spoke – “ ok bhai my stomach is rumbling..can we head to eat??”

I nod and we start to walk out tonight – “excited about the game tonight?? The chinnaswamy usually is a batter’s pitch..”

I grin – “ its going to be a good game..”

Anjlai smiled – “ and im so glad I am here to witness this..”

I grinned as I hugged her – “ thank you for coming..you are the best sister in the whole wide world..you know that don’t you..”

She hugged me back – “ you are the best brother in the whole wide world too..”

……………………………….

Khushi’s POV
Cape Town – 7.30 PM

I walk out the washroom, and now I am really thinking that I shouldn’t listen to Diya ever again.

So last night whilst I was at Rahuls, I told her about this mixer and she took me to this wardrobe she has in Rahuls room and literally forced down her gorgeous tube black -white striped flaired jumpsuit into my hands, telling me that if I didn’t wear it to the mixer she would never speak to me again.

Just like Rahul,Diya was very dramatic when she wanted to get me to do things her way.

I walk up to the mirror and adjust my hair again by brushing through them and then just check on my reflection.

Thank god for this long lasting matt lip stains.

I was wearing a deep mauve nudish colour and some smok

Ok so ofcourse the jumpsuit was amazing.

But it was so uncomfortable to tackle when you get to the washroom in a hurry.

I’d worn my white high stiletos -wrong choice – I was getting a terrible shoe bite!

Ughhhhhhhhhhhhh.

I had to get to out of here quick and then go back home get into my comfortable jeans and tee and be off on my uber schedule.

Maybe another 30 minutes.

It was good chatting up with some fellow guides of the Big Bus.

I walk to the bar to get myself some water.

As a major rule in my Life – I never took a drink from anyones hand in a party or a get together.

And I was not going to drink anyway tonight, because I had to get on my uber schedule.

I ask the bartender for some water politely and right when I spot a man all suited sitting on a stool next to where I was standing and hes speaking into his phone in a rather urgent and rude tone – “ but how is it you don’t know the new rates and clauses, I need to know the revised tax slabs for the international trade immediately,yes I know its an increase…but by how much??? I am about to make a very important financial investment here, I give you three minutes..to check up and call me back..i cant believe you aren’t even keeping yourself updated for a chartered accountant whose supposed to know it all..”

Ok then.

So this guy was probably a major businessman, he wasn’t very old though,maybe 27-28, just like Arnav.. and I caught his side face.

He looked Asian.

I saw him type firecly into his phone, literally abusing the screen.

His Poor Chartered Accountant.

But wait.

It isn’t all chartered accountants job in south Africa  to know about things related to financial management.

Some of them chose the audit route.

Maybe that’s what his CA’s specialisation is.

I ask the bartender for a pen and he gives me one from the one near the till and I pick up the napkin and I write down the revised tax rates on it and I shove the napkin in front of this gentleman.

I knew the revised rates by heart, because I just gave my exam today right?

Would save the other man across the phone from this man’s trouble.

He was really rude to him.

Im just about to walk away with my glass of water when this man holds the napkin in his hand and looks up at me and he asks – “ whats this????”

I give him a polite smile – “ your revised tax rates for that international trade..its the latest one that’s been revised last week by that new regulation..its correct..you can google it..”

And he looked at me in doubt narrowing his eyes ,as he looks at me up and down – “and you are at this mixer because you are a tourist guide for the Big Bus..how would know this???”

How rude.

I still gave a polite smile as I spoke – “well, yes I am a tourist guide for the big bus but I am also a student of charted accountancy , I know because I just gave my exam this morning..”,and I paused as I added – “And you are surely a businessman, but just so you know, not all CA’s in south Africa would keep up with the changes that can result in an impact on financial investments, because some take the audit route..maybe that’s what your CA specialises in..there are two routes for us – one is financial management and one is audits..”

He now leans back a liitle in the stool and he asks – “ and clearly you have the financial management route..”

I nod.

He asks by raising his eyebrow – “ is this correct?”

I nod – “ yes it is..now if  you will excuse me..”

Right then his phone rings and he eyes me and picks it up and he listens to what the person on the other end and he asks – “ ok so this is what it is ..are you sure?? “,and he pauses as he asks – “ Andrew, do you specialise in the audits in your chartered accountancy??”, he pauses as he nods – “ yes you do…ok then I was rude to you..i apologize..thank you for getting back to me on this..”,and he hangs up.

And I just shrug my shoulders in a I told you so look and make my way out.

It was almost 8PM Now.

1130 PM in India.

The match was probably going to get over.

I had to get to my car to hear it in the commentary.

Right as I am walking out I hear this mans behind me – “ wait up…whats your name?? thank you for your help..it helped me maximise return on my investment just in time..my counterpart was waiting for my message back in London..he was holding up on his work waiting for my message for this trade to go through..”

I turn around and I give him a polite smile – “ technically sir..you should thank your CA Andrew..”

He smiled as he offered his hand out to me for a shake – “ My name is Asher.Asher Khan..”

I shake his hand, politely so as not to be rude – “ my name is Khushi Gupta..”,and I pause as I say – “now if you’ll excuse me..”

He looks at me puzzled – “ but the mixer just began where are you going??”

I smile – “ I have my uber schedule..”

He looks at me – “ you drive Uber too??”

I nod – “ yes sir..now if youll excuse me..im getting late..”,and he asks now starting to walk with me out the hall – “ how long have you been working with big bus??”

I shrug – “ not very long actually..just two months..and only on Saturdays..”

Right then his phone beeps and he picks it out and he reads it and he then looks up – “ the Ipl semis just finished..that was a notification telling me that Mumbai won..and will now meet Chennai in the finals..you watch cricket?”

I feel my insides glow.

Way to Go Hoodie Guy!

I admit honestly – “ I don’t..”

He gives me a polite smile making conversation – “ really??..”

I nod as I now reach the exit and I say – “ ill take your leave now..thank you..”,and before he can say anything I walk out.

I quickly make my way into the car and just as I sit my phone beeps.

Its Arnav.

Him : Khushi guess what I enjoyed myself out there and it was a good game anyway.we are into the finals what a thrilling game it was, last over finish.Ravi took amazing wickets in the last over and bangalore couldn’t complete the chase.Are you still at the mixer? I just got to the locker room, will be heading back to the hotel in fifteen minutes.Also can you please send me a picture of yourself??

I quickly type : that’s amazing hoodie guy! congratulations on the win yaa!! So excited and happy for you! I am just leaving the mixer.why do you want a picture of me??

Him : I need to see you now.and I cant video call that’s why.

I quickly send him a picture of myself the one I had clicked in front of my full length mirror before stepping out for the mixer in order to share the entire look with Diya.

My phone beeps in a second.

Him : Holy Shit!

Me :????????????????

Him : you just blew my mind away sunshine! You look so freaking sexy! I cant take my eyes off you dammit.

Before I can reply my phone beeps again.

Him :Please change into your jeans and tee before you get to driving uber late into the night.

I cant believe he just wrote that to me.

Theme park operations in the pit of my stomach in full swing now.

I quickly type : ofcourse im going to change hoodie guy! just going to stop by home quickly for that.

Him : I will call you the minute im free ok? And we will definetly get on a video call too. I will wait up until you finish your uber schedule.Need to see you and talk too.

Me : ok hoodie guy.ill see if we can video call in between my pick ups.

Him : thank you and just so you know I cant stop looking at this picture of you,Sunshine! My eyes cant look away..That’s how gorgeous you are looking.and I am not being biased.I mean it.

I send him a smiley in return.

God.

This man gave me goosebumps.

I sigh as I feel my insides swing in between that scale of Reality and my Virtual-Reality again.

At this rate of my emotions – my virtual reality scale is probably going to leap up miles into the air, very soon.

I couldn’t stop this thing we’d started.

I wasn’t going to.

I smile to myself as I realise that no matter what happened, I also couldn’t stop myself from falling for My Hoodie Guy.

……………………………………………………..

Tada!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me know what you all think!

Superlong back to back update guys!

Now I am going to be writing Chaotic Wires for the next three-four updates.

Then will get back to this.

…………………..

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