Chapter 10

"Hi."

She managed a tiny smile but her mind was already playing different scenarios of her best friend's reaction. Her eyes unfocused from the present to the ideas in her mind, as the thought of the amount of scolding she would be receiving from her. Her hand unconsciously went to her mouth and she bit on her index fingernail. Anji would kill her for sure.

"Khushi? Are you alright?"

"Huh? No... I mean... yes... I mean no... Yes... No... Oh shit! I'm dead!"

***

Arnav watched in amusement as she stammered, as her eyes danced with fear. This girl was really a wonder and he doubted he would ever understand her. Could even her family do that? He didn't quite think so. She turned around abruptly for them stairs, her hair whipping his face and she ran away in panic.

No, seriously! She was mad! What the hell was wrong with her?

Had he scared her? No. Then what?

"Unbelievable!" he muttered before walking back to his room.

***

"Listen to me, na, Anji!"

"No Khushi! You listen to me! Just come back here and you'll see what I'll do to you! You know what? First I'll strangle you, then I'll drown you, phir tere chhote chhote tukre kaantungi, chat pe sukhaaoungi, tera achaar banaaoungi aur tujhe khaaloungi! Samjhi?" ( ...then I'll cut you into small pieces, dry you on the roof, make your pickle and eat you up! Understand?)

"Sorry, Anji! I forgot, yaar!"

"Shut. The. Hell. Up!"

"I'm sorry. Really very sorry!"

***

What the-? He stopped to look at the eighth wonder of the world who was busy begging for apologies on the phone.

"Hello? Hello? Anji? Hello?"

She looked at the cordless with a miserable scowl and eyes full of tears. He smiled. Maybe that's what he freaked her out. Her eyes fell on him and widened with shock.

"Tum theek ho?" he fired before she could say anything. (Are you alright?)

What the hell? Arnav Singh Raizada was starting a conversation? Something was definitely wrong with him. Maybe he should consult a doctor or something when he returned to London? He did not know what to expect of her. She was so confusing. But her expression softened.

"Haan... shaayad..." (Yeah... maybe...)

He found himself smiling gently at this little creature, supposed to be a woman, but her actions made her nothing more than a child.

"Wanna talk?"

She sighed.

"Come here."

He led her to the balcony where he knew there was a wide wooden swing. He used to love sitting there as a child. It was far from the noise and problems of his house- he couldn't say home, he had never had one really...

To his surprise, she followed him obediently and sat down beside him, her ankles crossed and her hands on each side of her knees. She afternoon sun shone on her beautifully and arose a question in his mind.

A question he would never have an answer for.

Why did she have to be so beautiful?

***

Why had she followed him?

Oh, yeah, right. She needed to talk. Fighting with Anji was not new, but she considered her more as a sister than as a friend. And every time they fought, Khushi's heart broke.

"So?"

She jumped at his voice, then she shook her head. "It's my friend. I promised her I'd call when I'd reach here... but I forgot and now..."

He chuckled. "Oh... don't worry. It'll be fine."

She smiled slightly. Maybe he was right. But Anji took time. She could buy her something. A gift perhaps? Anji loved gifts. And besides, Anjali Jha could never stay angry with her friends for too long.

***

Why did he feel better when she smiled?

Maybe he was truly going mad? She looked back at him as he looked at her.

"So... what had happened earlier?"

Curiosity killed the cat. It was true. But at that precise moment, curiosity was pricking him and he wanted to know why she had run away so brutally. Thinking of that, he could still feel her soft hair on his face.

What the hell?

Confusion clouded her face, but then suddenly, she remembered.

***

"Oh! Earlier! I was looking at y-" Shut up, Khushi! You can't tell him you were looking at him! "Actually, it clicked in my mind that I had to call her..."

"Khushi!"

They both turned at the voice. It was Payal.

"My sister must be looking for me. Bye." She skipped off.

"See you later."

He was smirking. Khushi smiled back. As she walked to her room, from where Payal's voice had come, she thought about him. 'See you later' he had said. That meant he wanted to see her? Did she want to? Well, he wasn't as bad as she had thought earlier, was he?

"Khushi! Where were you? Amma has been looking for you since a while! Come downstairs for dinner now and go to sleep early. You know that we have to go shopping tomorrow morning, right?"

Khushi nodded enthusiastically. Shopping! Here was one thing Khushi Kumaari Gupta enjoyed to the fullest!

***

"Aaj mausam hai suhana, shopping karne ka hai bahana! Lala lala lala!" she sang under her breath as she pranced down the stairs the following morning. She was excited. Finally, some shopping! She had spent the whole night dreaming about the types of clothes she could buy for the wedding. Hopefully, she would find what she wanted...

A group of children was playing on the stairs. She smiled. Kids! Suddenly, she stepped on a ball they had dropped there carelessly. Khushi gasped and tried to grab the banister, but it was too late. She was already falling. Her eyes scrunched shut as she awaited the crash on the floor, expecting to roll down the remaining steps. But all that never came.

Instead she felt herself fall in a pair of arms, holding her, protecting her from the fall.

"Khushi? Be careful."

She was still a bit shocked but she nodded. Tanishq smacked the top of her forehead.

"Paagal!" (Mad girl!)

"Kaun hum?" (Who? Me?)

He laughed and continued on his way upstairs. "I'll just come in a few minutes! I forgot my mobile."

Khushi was just going her way too when she bumped into another person.