Chapter 5

Here's the next chapter, everyone! Hope you like it!

P.S.: There's a slight time jump too.

It had been two years since that fateful night. Two years to the horror. In many ways it had broken Arnav and Anjali, while in other ways, it had made them stronger.

Anjali was aiming to complete her unfinished Master's in English Lit. via the IGNOU distance learning programme. It gave her enough time to help her nani and mami around the house and the boutique. Yes, they were proud owners of the AR Collections!

It had taken some time to get over the trauma of being rejected because of something you could never control, but she did it.

Devyani and Manorama never let her wallow too much, the love that they showed her was good enough to make her believe in love again.

Arnav and Akash had grown taller over the past two years. Both had changed.

While Akash became sweeter, more soft spoken and fun to be around, Arnav's ambitions made him tougher. He was focused to a point of excluding anyone else in his life. His consistent first rank in class and almost 100% result when possible, had attracted the attention of all his school teachers and the head master. They had decided that it would be best for the school to sponsor him to study at the Delhi Public School, one of the best private institutes of that district. What most people didn't know was that DPS, as it was commonly called, had a kind person as its head. The Principal of DPS was a friend to the head master of Arnav's school. He had been intrigued by the numerous praises of this boy who had broken all school records when it came to academics and impressed everyone. In fact, it had been he, who had proposed the transfer, wanting to groom the child himself.

Call it a stroke of luck, if you wish, but that is how Arnav found himself standing at the doorway of his new classroom. He didn't miss the various looks of contempt and frank disdain that passed around his soon-to-be classmates. He wanted that to happen. He thrived amidst competition.

A storm had arrived.

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It barely took 2 weeks before the students of 12-C at DPS realised it was no use provoking the newcomer. For one, he did not react. It was as if he zoned them out when he was in class, and after class he always rushed home.

They had tried every trick they knew- taking away his pen, dumping his lunch in the dustbin, writing various cuss words on his bag, tripping him in the hallway.. But the man wouldn't bat an eyelid.

All the guys were jealous. They had worked hard to create a reputation for themselves amongst the elite crowd of the school and were used to girls swooning in their presence. And here was this low-class charity case. His looks and well toned body had turned many heads on the first day of his arrival, he had to go and best that with his intelligence and wit.

What they hadn't known that it was hours pouring over books that gave him that intelligence and a few more hours helping his mama at the boutique- hoisting heavy stuff, and running around with Akash that had given him his toned body. His looks- well, he didn't want to be thankful for anything that reminded him of his parents.

Oh, yes. His parents. That had been brought up, too. That was the only time Arnav had lost his cool. The result was that a group of 4 people entered with various forms of limps and bruises the next day while Arnav came with a single black eye. The Principal had admonished all of them for the act and threatened to inform the families. It had affected Arnav. He didn't want his family to feel ashamed because of him.

The girls tried to catch his eye. Except one, that is. Reva was the most popular girl in school. She was also the girlfriend of the guy whose popularity Arnav had usurped- Rehan.

Together, they were considered the best couple in the school- both coming from affluent backgrounds, both extremely good looking. When Arnav had joined their school, Rehan had never been insecure. He knew his girl. But the man wanted revenge.

Using the oldest ploy in the book, he made Reva seduce Arnav. Arnav had lost focus for that moment and fallen for her charms- forgetting his reasons for coming to the new school. His performance had declined slightly. Soon, it came to a day where the 12^th graders decided it was time for some serious roughhousing. Arnav was invited to a party at Reva's farmhouse. He couldn't refuse if he wanted to. Also, a night-in had been hinted at. Arnav was a budding man, he swayed against family time in favor of his girlfriend.

That night, he was humiliated in front of all other 12^th graders. Reva had kissed Rehan in front of the whole class and made a mockery of Arnav's status. Labeling him a wannabe, they had kicked him out into the biting cold with nothing but a thin jacket. He had run all the way from there to his home and vowed never to fall for a girl's charms again. He promised himself he would never let a girl distract him from his ambitions. One more facet of ASR thus developed.

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Halfway through his school term, Arnav had re-discovered his skills as a tennis player. Gone were the days when his classmates mocked him. These days he was considered the hottest property of the school.

He found himself an arm candy and flaunted her around the school specially whenever Reva or Rehan were around. Rehan's friends had joined Arnav's 'gang'. That is what his friends were called. Girls fought for a chance to be around him, near him. In class, there would be daily re-arrangements of the seats which always baffled their teachers.

In all of this Arnav did not forget his aim. Once, he had allowed a girl to blur his vision. Not again.

He graduated school with the highest rank, a privately-sponsored gold medal and scholarship to INIFD. He had always liked picking up a pen and drawing new designs for his Nani and Mami's shop, he would take it up as a profession.

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The Raizadas had never been a lazy bunch, so it was no surprise to see Akash taking top honors in his school. With Arnav gone, it had become a bit easier for Akash to achieve that spot. Shravan was lazing around as usual.

During the two years that Arnav spent in the same school as them, they had become pretty good friends- relying on their strengths to overcome each others' weaknesses. Arnav had regularly tutored Shravan in Mathematics, while Akash took up the job of teaching him the basics and more of Chemistry- his favorite subject. Both were paid by Mr. Joshi for the amount of time and energy they spent on his son.

By the end of the 11^th standard (grade), both Akash and Arnav had saved enough to but a new sewing machine, new dress materials and get a proper board painted to be hung outside the small boutique now owned by the family. Business was doing well. More and more people had started coming in to give orders.

When Arnav had transferred to a new school, Manorama had been scared of losing him. After the initial few jerks and trouble with some girl, Kailash had again knocked some sense into his nephew. Raizada men don't play with their futures. Message delivered, loud and clear.

Devyani had decided to give some time to Anjali. They had started looking for suitable grooms for her, but she was adamant and decided to achieve something for herslef before she settled down. Her scars from the previous failed relationship were well hidden beneath her smiling countenance.

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Akash packed his overnight bag. He rechecked that he had packed an extra pair of shorts and t-shirts apart from his regular wear. He looked towards the other side of the room. Arnav was almost done with his packing.

Akash was amazed with the fact that Arnav had not changed in the one year he had spent at DPS. Of course, Akash knew about the various girls who 'loved' his bhai, his popularity and immense confidence had grown as ever. But Arnav had never changed his behavior with the Raizadas.

What Akash hadn't understood was the way Arnav thought. After all, he was one of them now. And the other thing that Akash wasn't very well aware of was the fact that Arnav did not forget the first month following their arrival in this family. Sure, they lived in a better locality now, but the family didn't change.

For Arnav, Akash was the true friend he could always count on, and for Akash, bhai was the person he could look up to.

In this manner, they had pushed each other to become better and achieve the best of what they could.

And today, a week after their results had been announced, they were going out with Shravan. Shravan was leaving to go to the US of A; he wanted to spend some time with his buddies.

An overnight picnic of sorts was planned at his home- God forbid they would call it a sleep-over!

Arnav and Akash left for his place a few minutes after 8 pm. It was a night that would change the way Arnav had mapped his life.

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Shravan's voice rang in Arnav's head. Try as he might, he couldn't concentrate on the designs in front of him.

"Mr. Raizada! Would you like to show us your completed work?" His professor's voice rang out.

A year later, Arnav found himself drifting off into day-dreams that involved studying abroad. The night out with Shravan, talking to Mr. Joshi.. it had given him a new insight. He decided that he would not restrict himself to being a first-rate yet mediocre graduate from some design school. No. He would do better.

He sighed as the day at college ended. His day, had begun.

He waited patiently in the room adjacent to their home, for the 10^th graders from a few different schools to make an appearance.

"Arnav, sir! Can you please help with the laws of refraction? I can't get my numericals right.."

Thus began his coaching class- for 10^th, 11^th and 12^th graders in various subjects.

He and Akash earned enough between the two of them to buy a small 3 BHK flat at a good rate in a good area. Yes, it was slightly cramped- Anjali and Nani occupied one room, mama-mami, the other, and the last room was for Arnav and Akash. No privacy at all. But hey, it was their own home.

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"Di, can you ask at your college and find out which is the best University in the US? And how do I get there? I want to study at such a place.."

"But chhote, the money..?"

"You leave that to me, Di. Just find out. Please?"

"Okay..but be careful of what you decide. It will involve all of us, specially mamaji who has started depending on you for help around the boutique."

"Di, Akash will manage. He told me so."

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"Arnav beta, there is a young woman asking for you. Should I tell her to come in your room?"

"No, no, Nani. I was about to leave for the movie, anyhow."

"Beta, what happened to the long-haired girl you had gone out with, last week?"

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"Bhai, my assignment is almost done. Can I flip through your books if its okay with you?"

"Sure, Akash. In return, if you don't mind, I would like to go through your textbooks.. Just to gain some extra knowledge."

Akash was pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Business studies. Despite working very hard, he wasn't able to achieve the required score to get into a good Bachelor's course that offered Chemistry, and the ones that did were way too expensive. At the behest of his head master, he had decided to take a risk and change his field entirely, enrolling in the Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business studies. He liked it, so far.

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"Hey Arnav! Kya haal hai bhai?" Shravan sounded pretty happy over the phone.

"I'm doing well, Shravan. What about you? Partying tonight, too?"

"Haha! That won't end! But listen, man. I found out about that programme you were talking about. They do give scholarships, but you have to be outstanding for that. They take only the best."

"You don't worry about that, just get me the brochure. Mail it to me. Specifically, their requirements. And you are at Boston for the next week, anyhow."

"But Arnav, are you sure you'll be able to cope up with the change in subjects? I mean.. designing, and then management, that too at such a place? I don't even know if they'll accept you."

"They will. I'll give them no other choice."

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Arnav was working on a sketch. It was a random one, not related to his current work at the college.

The bright colors on the page somehow spurred him on, and before he knew it, a wonderful dress had been created on paper.

He simply left if along with a pile of other such sheets at the foot of the table, and went to his room to catch some sleep.

He had to be fresh for his date tonight!

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Manorama found the sketches lying carelessly on the ground. An idea came to her mind, and she quickly called a few people from her list of contacts.

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Okay, there are a few disclaimers-

I am not very aware of the various institutes in Delhi, nor do I have a practical knowledge of their workings. If you find any discrepancies, please ignore. I have tried my best to research it, but lack of time hinders that.

This is a fiction, so obviously, a lot of things are made up. Again, please ignore the flaws.

Apart from a few names, I don't own the names that belong to the cast of IPKKND. The story is my work, though.

Thanks for reading this story! Stay with me for future updates. 😊

-Chibi

Next: Chapter 5: Going all out