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OS: Melting Snowflakes
'Bhai, can you ask Shankar to get the helicopter ready please?'
Arnav looked up from his laptop to where Akash and N.K were standing in his doorway, 'sure, why? Where are you going?'
N.K stepped further into the room grinning, 'well I was on the phone to Khushi and we were talking about Christmas and she said she's never seen snow before! So we found out it's snowing right now in Shimla so Akash and I thought we could take Payal and Khushi to see some snow!'
Arnav tensed at the mention of Khushi and N.K speaking on the phone and the idea of them going to Shimla together angered him. Why had he already said yes? 'Oh, erm actually
Akash I forgot, Shankar is on vacation today.'
'Bhai, are you sure he can't come in?'
'Oh man, that sucks Nanav! The news said there would only be snowfall today and Khushi really
wanted to see snowfall not just snow.'
Arnav felt something tug inside him at the thought of making Khushi upset. As much as he'd hated seeing Khushi smile and laugh with N.K recently he'd also loved seeing her so genuinely happy after so long. 'Okay, I'll call him in,' Arnav shut his laptop as he spoke and walked over to his wardrobe.
'I'll phone Khushi and tell them to get ready!'
Akash watched N.K bounce off energetically before he turned back to his brother. 'Bhai what are you doing?'
Arnav looked back at Akash, 'I'm getting ready. Or did you think I was going to go to Simla wearing just a jumper?'
'But Bhai, there won't be any space.'
Arnav dumped the clothes in his arms onto the bed 'what?'
'Well there are only four spaces in the helicopter. You know that.'
'Oh right. Well I meant that I'm going to fly and then you four can sit. Right?'
'But Bhai I thought you said you were going to call Shankar in?'
'Akash! Go and get ready!'
---
Having finally reached the desired altitude Arnav allowed himself to look back at Khushi sitting in between Akash and Payal with her head buried in Payal's shoulder out of fear. Arnav had successfully managed to organise the seating so N.K sat in the cockpit with him rather than next to Khushi as he'd wanted to originally.
He'd done that purely to keep as much distance between Khushi and N.K as possible but now he realised the additional benefit as the horrifying image of Khushi with her head buried in N.K's shoulder flitted through his mind.
'Hey Khushi look we're steady now, you don't have to be scared anymore.'
Arnav shot N.K a look at his attempts to pacify Khushi. 'Of course she's scared, it's a helicopter! It's not like it's a car that I can do 30 miles an hour in, to make her feel safe.'
N.K looked at Arnav confused, 'what?'
'Erm.. I,' Arnav noticed Khushi's head had also shot up at his statement. 'What I meant was, we'll be there soon,' he said roughly turning his shoulder so as to put a stop to any further attempts at conversation.
---
Arnav stood at the window in his room at the lodge looking out at the hills still lit with bright lights bouncing off the pristine white snow.
It wasn't snowing when they'd eventually reached Shimla and Arnav had noticed the look of disappointment on Khushi's face although she got over it quickly enough, making a snowball and throwing it at N.K. There it was again, that smile, that laugh that made his heart ache. He wanted to simultaneously punch and hug N.K for making her smile like that.
Arnav had stood on the sidelines and watched as the other four played in the snow, happy and carefree in a way that he never was, a way that he never allowed himself to be.
He sighed and began to close the curtains to go to sleep when he noticed it. Light and barely visible but undeniably real.
Arnav rushed to leave the room and knocked hurriedly on the door two doors down from his own. It didn't take long for the door to open, obviously she hadn't been able to sleep either. He noticed she was wearing a white suit, slightly different in style than her usual ones, possibly her sleeping outfit but perfect for the occasion.
'Arnavji? What are you...?'
Arnav didn't let her finish, pulling her arm and dragging her behind him down the stairs. He stopped at the door, jamming his feet into some boots and extending another pair towards her.
'What's going on?' Khushi asked looking perplexed even as she put the boots on.
'Just put them on quickly,' Arnav hurried her before holding her arm again in one hand and opening the door with the other before he pulled them both outside where he let go of her arm and stepped back to admire her.
She looked at him and then around in shock with her arms around her shivering in the cold. Arnav watched as a snowflake landed on her nose and she finally looked up into the sky, twinkling with stars and her eyes grew large as she realised what was happening. 'Snow?!' Khushi looked at him in disbelief before she spread her arms wide out and twirled around as her lips curved into a smile just as wide as her arms.
The snow began to fall heavier now. Arnav watched in awe at the beauty and innocence that radiated from Khushi, intensified by the pure white snow gathering in her hair and on her nose and eyelashes. Her head was upturned towards the sky and she put out her tongue letting a snowflake fall on it so she could taste its purity.
Arnav felt a sense of pleasure overtake him at her happiness, at the thought that if not the cause of her happiness, he had at least assisted in some way. But he wanted more than just Khushi's happiness; he wanted more than to make her happy. He wanted to be just as carefree and happy
as she was, he wanted her to be the cause of his happiness.
Khushi had her hands outstretched watching as the snowflakes fell onto her hand and then disappeared when Arnav pulled her against him. They stood in silence, staring into one another's eyes, breathing heavily from the cold, snowflakes still falling and collecting on their skin and clothes.
Slowly Arnav saw Khushi's hand reach up to his jaw and touch him lightly. His brain told him she was only moving a snowflake, nothing else. But his heart leapt at the touch, taking it as a sign and he leaned forward closing the gap between them.
The cold was soon forgotten as Arnav explored the warm recesses of Khushi's mouth, pulling her as close to him as he possibly could as she threaded her fingers through his damp hair and melted into his body as the snow had melted earlier on her hand.
The kiss might have lasted longer if it wasn't for the snowball Arnav felt on the back of his thin jumper.
'Hey Nanav! Khushi! Get inside and do your kissing there! It's freezing out here!'
Arnav looked at Khushi as she once again broke out into a wide smile and Arnav smiled back at her. He kept one hand around her shoulder and she put hers around his waist as they slowly followed N.K back into the lodge.
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