IPKKND-Arhi FF: In Disguise *Chapter 9 on Page 112 - Page 55

Originally posted by: ss374

Commented above!! I see, as I have been answering back too !

Originally posted by: nimishakumar

superb...!!
luved it...!!
n surely it is a vry mysterious FF..!! :P
cont soon...!!
tanx fort the pm...!!
do pm me wen u update..!!
luv ya hun...!! :D

Originally posted by: BarunForever

Excellent Sobi

👏 👏

Originally posted by: ..Anj..

Awesome!! =)
keep updating soon...

CHAPTER 6

SHADOW OF DOUBT

Khushi saw that evil smile; threatening playing on his lips and knew immediately that danger didn't lie far behind. She glanced to her right, finding Arnav standing frozen and rooted the spot, mirroring the exact terrified looks as hers, but only he knew that he wasn't afraid of NK, rather he was afraid for Khushi. He feared that she might give NK a benefit of doubt.

NK stood there, with his hands in his pockets and his usual gang of three friends beside him, thoroughly enjoying their perplexed behavior and gazing fixedly at them. She didn't know what to expect next, maybe a physical attack. She hoped beyond hope that he wouldn't do anything in front of all the students passing by. She wished by some miracle he didn't know about her presence that night; now regretting not informing the police.

Khushi retreated back her steps, ignoring eye contact with NK and ushered Arnav towards the class, but not before NK's friends blocked their way. Khushi stopped dead in her tracks and waited with bated breath for their next move, which never came.

"Take it easy," NK motioned with his hand, "Let them go."

NK's last three words left her confounded. Before NK could take back his words, Khushi thought better to leave when the opportunity provided, leaving the gang laughing uncontrollably.

*
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*

Khushi was now almost sure that NK was unaware of trespassing on his territory that night, but then who had knocked her out. Was this some kind of joke, but April seemed quite faraway and Halloween was nowhere round the corner? One thing that she was sure about was that something was definitely not right. If the meeting in the woods had a high level of secrecy attached to it and she wasn't supposed to hear it than why weren't they concerned about it? Something fishing was brewing in a pot and she wanted to find out what. She wanted to make sure that NK didn't know about her existence last night.

That day the three of them were working late in the library, when Khushi's mind was clustered with all these thoughts. Khushi, Arnav and Anjali were already having a hard time coping up with all the piling assignments day after day and Fresher's Night was just around the corner. All the three of them were having difficult time concentrating on their work, as each one was concerned about something or the other. Anjali was worried about what she would wear to the Fresher's Night, while Khushi kept on calculating the odds about NK knowing the truth. Arnav was more concerned about keeping a permanent eye on Khushi and wanting to do it without her suspecting him.

Arnav had lately started staying with two of them regularly for assignments, making sure he stayed close to her, but he knew this won't be enough. He had found a way to keep an eye on her, even when she wasn't around and it was time to implement it.

Anjali kept on suggesting different her different dress choices, asking Khushi's opinion for each one of them, but in the end reaching only her conclusion. Sometimes she didn't want to wear the dress because she didn't have the matching jewelry and sometimes she though the color wouldn't go with her complexion.

"Arnav, will you be coming for the Fresher's Bash?" Anjali asked beaming. A question she had asked almost every class member.

"No. I have some important work to do."

"It's weekend. You should come. We will have fun," she said excitedly.

Khushi got up from the table and walked over to the shelves to get some book, leaving Anjali to convince Arnav for the party.

"Oh, I just remember I have the dark blue dress, which I haven't worn till now and I have matching jewelry with it also," Anjali was talking to herself now. Arnav looked at her flabbergasted, not knowing whether to respond to her statement or not, but he thankfully got saved from making a decision because Anjali suddenly got up from her chair and over to Khushi.

"What do you think about my dark blue dress?" she asked clapping her hands together and a wide smile stretched across her face.

*

*

*

After two hours, the Khushi and Anjali left the library, leaving Arnav behind as he had some more work to catch up on. They both had decided that they will first go to Khushi's home and collect her things from, before they leaving for Anjali's home. Khushi had taken off today from the on campus work, on Anjali's request and she herself also thought that it would better this was.

Khushi plunged her hand into her back to get her mobile and check for any messages, but she couldn't place it. She frantically ran her hands inside the bag as they walked towards the parking lot, "I can't seem to find my mobile." She was afraid that she had lost her mobile, and being really low on income, she couldn't afford another one.

She turned in relief as she saw a panting Arnav running towrds them, calling out Khushi's name, "I think so you forgot your mobile in the library."

"But I don't remember taking it out," Khushi said troubled.

Arnav shifted on his weight, while Anjali suggested, "Maybe you forgot that you took it out."

"I am sure I didn't take it out," she said definitely, but she thought it was better than to much ado about nothing. At least she got her mobile back.

*

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*

Khushi and Anjali were awake till late that night, talking and gossiping. It was a wander how two people who met every day, could still exchange words endlessly about similar things over and over again.

"I really like Arnav. I think he is a nice guy," Anjali said after sometime. They both lay on their back on the bed, holding each other's hands and staring at the ceiling. The lights were switched off, for which Khushi was extremely glad, as she didn't want Anjali to find how her smile had suddenly been wiped off immediately at the mention of Arnav's name.

"Hmmm…….Maybe," Khushi said disoriented. A doubt that had long been lurking in the corner from the first day of their meeting had today completely entered her heart. She always had her doubts about Arnav, about his weird behavior at times but she was not ready to share it with anyone, not wanting to arouse false rumors, in case if she was worng. Especially after today's mobile incident, she thought Arnav was not what he seemed like. There was no doubt that he was a helpful person, but her intuitions told her something else otherwise. He did not seem like what he showed. She could tell that he as hiding something, but what and why? She sighed deeply and pushed away these thoughts away from her mind. For tonight, she only wanted to enjoy their girl's night out.

She looked at Anjali and smiled, before shifting the topic, "What am I going to wear tomorrow?" her voice a little tensed.

"Not to worry about that. I am sure you will find something. You always do," Anjali answered nonchalantly.

"Oh, really. Here I spent my whole day deciding what you were going to wear tomorrow night and you don't seem to care about," Khushi said hurt as she folded her arms on her chest. Her declaration was followed by a pin drop silence, which was soon broken by a fits of laughter leaving Khushi's lips, as Anjali attacked her weak spot.

"Ok. Please stop," she said in between her laughter, but Anjali continued to tickle her, unaware that not far away from them, in the boy's hostel someone was eavesdropping on their conversation.

*

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*

He leaned back comfortably on the chair, as he stared at the dancing waves of green light on the black screen on the laptop screen and fixed his headphones properly in his ears, listening to the sweet tinkle of her laughter. A smile escaped his lips, but it was soon replaced by dejection as he remembered her earlier reply, maybe. He knew that it won't be easy to keep an eye out for Khushi Kumari Gupta. He had been observing her closely from a very long time and knew that she was one hell of a smart woman. She was a difficult woman to convince, who knew that only seeing was believing. If there was one thing more that he feared for her, it was her falling into danger's arms every time, but what fascinated him was her emerging out in all these situations, unscathed.

He took off the headphones, as the voices in the background died away and were soon replaced by heavy breathing. Then only he himself went and lay down on the bed, lost deep in her thoughts.

Many people have been wandering about Anjali's character, but I just want to tell you that she is a very positive character.

Please do leave your comments and feedback to let me know how the chapter turned out. Hope so I was able to give more answers, rather than create more doubts.😆

Some people might not find this chapter upto the mark. I understand because even when I read it again I thought something was not right.😆😳

Anyways, thank you for reading.😊