Chapter 6
Kushi was treading petulantly back & forth around the living room like an expectant father pacing nervously outside the labour room. To say that she was nervous would be the understatement of the century. She could feel a million butterflies scooting around her insides. Her heart was doing a hysterical jib inside her ribcage, her throat was completely parched & every time she tried to speak what escaped was a hoarse squeak. She was a nervous wreck even before actually setting foot inside the college. She cursed Arnav one more time for his blatant indifference. Yesterday night before leaving her house, he had told her that he would have a car sent to drop her & then he had swept away in his usually annoyingly regal manner completely ignoring her panic attack & palpitations. When she had screamed that she felt on the throes of an oncoming heart attack or stroke he had cheekily told her to have her mobile with his number selected clutched in her right hand since the left hand is the one which first gets paralyzed in such cases. He had closed the door smartly & the flower vase had harmlessly crashed into solid wood before disintegrating spectacularly into hundred irregular pieces.
LAAD GOVERNER KAHIN KE. Would it kill him to at least call me now just to sooth my jangling nerves.
She heard a car honk impatiently. She grabbed her bag, barged into the lift, scurried out of it once it clanged to a stop in the lobby & skidded to a halt abruptly before the car. She panted & tried to ignore the stich in her chest. She saw the person leaning nonchalantly onto the car & gaped at him with her trademark saucer eyes & o shaped mouth. He chuckled at her hilarious expressions & then slowly gave her a once over before mumbling softly.
"So you took my advice."
She flushed & he continued to chuckle.
"Arnavji one more snide remark from you & I swear I will murder you. Only the love of Nani & Anjali Di is currently stopping me from embarking on my killing spree."
"Come on Kushi you must accept that my advice of ditching your chamkeli salwars in all their pom-pom glory is the best option for you. Already this being your first day in college you would be ragged by the seniors & I don't want you to end up being the convenient target for everyone by dressing like a loud billboard. You look good in these. Remember they were personally chosen by Di."
Kushi scowled at his snobbish attitude & got into the car with a huff.
"Kushi I have an important meeting today morning & still decided to drop you on your first day in college & you are mad at me. Sheesh this world is littered with ungrateful brats."
He chuckled again & turned to find Kushi staring at him with regret written all over her beautiful face.
"Arnavji I am really sorry. In fact you are right. You have done so much for me these past few weeks & I have not even told you a simple Thank You. "
She touched his cheek gently & smiled that heart wrenching smile of hers.
"Sorry & Thank you."
"Hey remember no sorry & thank you in friendship. After all this is THE famous dialogue of your hero."
"Arnavjiii..."
He smiled & started the car.
"Arnavji I hate this concept of ragging. Why doesn't the faculty prevent the seniors from indulging in such tomfoolery? Why can't they spare the hapless Freshers from this trauma. Already I am shivering. God knows what my condition would be as the day progresses."
The car screeched to a halt & she was astounded to find Arnav turn & grab her.
"Kushi both the founder & principal of this college are good friends of mine. I will be damned if I get a call in the middle of my conference with people screaming hysterically into the phone that you had barged into the college kitchen ready to unleash your jalebi-making fury on all the harassed victims in your vicinity. Promise me DAMMIT!"
Kushi wrenched her hand out of his vice like grip & pouted angrily.
"Fine I won't sully your reputation Mr Arrogant Snooty Raizada."
The rest of the journey was spent in terse silence. Kushi was still angry with Arnav & Arnav was annoyed by her childish tantrums.
They had reached the college & the moment she saw the gates beckoning her into her new-found hell which she was entering out of her own volition her heart sank once again. She felt the whole gravity of her decision sink in slowly & she was temporarily paralyzed. As she sat immobile she felt his hands on her shoulders.
She turned & stared into those enigmatic eyes for a long time.
"Kushi believe me you took the right decision. You will be alright. Just calm down & take it one at a time."
"Arnavji I am sorry for yelling at you. I was just nervous & simply venting my frustration on you. I am really sorry."
Her eyes were dangerously misting over. He leaned & placed his finger lightly on her lips.
"Sshhh. You talk a lot Kushi. You know that right?"
"Yeah & you are the only person who patiently puts up with my eccentricity. Jiji was right. No one would be mad enough to tolerate me."
"Kushi stop wallowing in self-pity. You were the one who wanted to forget all that transpired between us. Now why are you reminiscing the past which gave you only pain & tears. It's time to move on baby. Remember it's always better to forget horrible memories. Instead think of your future. So many new things to be learnt, so many new friends to be made & who knows you might even end up finding your Prince Charming replete on a white horse here in this hallowed portals of knowledge."
"Arnavji I don't think I will ever be able to fall in love again. Love is something which happens only once & it lasts for a lifetime. For me it has already come & gone leaving me heart broken in its wake. I can never ever love again."
"Kushi you were the one who made me understand that we don't control our destiny. We were destined to fall in love & then separate. Similarly you never know what fate has in store for you. Just approach life with an open mind. You will finally manage to find that elusive happiness & peace."
"Oh really so you mean to say that somewhere right now in this wide world, there is a person whose life might end up getting entwined with mine?"
"Mom Mom I am getting late for college. It's my first day DAMMIT. Don't waste my time with all this pooja nonsense. And DON'T I repeat DON'T stuff me with food."
"Yes Kushi someone who will make you smile, laugh, cry, angry..."
"Dhruv I will kill you. Give me back my mobile."
"Oh Bro you should learn to take a break & smell the roses once in a while."
"Arnavji I have learnt that all those fairy tales are just pure hogwash. Prince Charming on a white horse indeed." She snorted derisively.
"Dad I am taking that white Honda city of yours. Less flashy than the other cars in your stable."
Arnav leaned further & tucked the rebellious strand of hair lovingly behind her ear.
"If not me at least Believe in your Devi Maiyya Kushi. Who knows you might meet your prince today right here in this campus."
"Mom, bro, dad I am off to college. Hell I hope they don't rag my pants off my a**"
"Dhruv mind your language."
He laughed heartily & fled before his dad could launch into one of his boring lectures about discipline & sanskar.
Kushi held his hands gently.
"What about you Arnavji. You sermonize about letting go the past but you are still wearing our wedding ring though I have removed my mangalsutra. Will you repeat your own words to yourself. Will you ever manage to forget me & find a new love to brighten your life."
Arnav smiled at her & unbuckled her seat belt.
"Kushi I am a moron. Who will be crazy enough like my lovely Sanka Devi to love me & tolerate me. No Kushi it's easy for anyone to fall in love with an angel like you but that's not the case with me. Remember I am the child-devouring Rakshas."
"Arnavji you are not Rak..."
"Kushi that's enough. He opened the door & literally pushed her down. Get going kid. I have a meeting to attend where I need to charm a new client into loosening his purse strings. So away you go."
He watched her stumble towards the entrance & couldn't help but smile at her innocence. He revved up the engine & sped away.
Will you ever manage to forget me & find a new love to brighten your life.
Her words kept reverberating in his ears. He sighed loudly.
"Kushi how can I tell you that when a guy like me falls in love it's for eternity. I can never ever forget you. I loved you, love you & will continue to love you till I stop breathing. There is no place for anyone else in my heart."
BAM. BANG.
Someone had collided with his SUV.
"WT*"
He braked abruptly & stormed out the car slamming the door shut with a deafening crash.
A purple scooty was lying sadly near his car & he found a messy mass of arms & legs tangled all over the bike.
"Who the hell do you think you are? Driving like a raving loony."
The arms & legs untangled themselves & he heard someone mumble CRAP.
Before his eyes he saw an angel rise from the ashes. Was it an angel which had fallen from heaven right into his arms.
She shook those dark tresses nonchalantly & he simply stared at those beautiful eloquent hazel eyes. He was completely transfixed by the vision before him. For the second time in his entire life he was speechless & dumb founded.
Edited
Ummm interesting reactions frm everyone. i guess i ve really angered ppl here with this update đ anyway no probs i ll take all the tomatoes, brickbats, karelas thrown at me.
all i can say is i suggest that the readers b patient & take the journey along with ARHI. Of course i understand if u guys stop reading but my advice w'd b 2 still give it a try đ
And also i think some ppl r confusing physical attraction with love here. At the end of this chapter Arnav has not confessed his love to an unknown stranger. He is just stuck by the beauty of the new girl. So guys plz hold on 2 ur horses. I dont want 2 reveal anything now.
All i can say is that i ve planned something interesting. Hope u guys ll b patient enuf. Remember this is slowly morphing into an FF đ
what the hell my note is slowly turning out 2 b longer than the chapter. anyway those who ve forgotten my words at the beginning of this SS plz do read it esp the part marked in BOLD. so no pt in complaining wen i ve already given a fair warning.
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However in keeping up my promise i ll b writing this new SS titled Mujse Dosti Karoge? It follows the journey of Arnav & Kushi after they separated at the end of the previous SS.
Please b warned. I am not promising any happy ending. Its merely a journal of their journey where they try to pick up the pieces of their broken hearts & broken lives. It also shows how the rest of the family members especially Anjali copes with the trauma of learning the ugly truth bt Shyam.
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Itti Si Khushi Sab TV
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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