SS: FOREVER, maybe...

FOREVER, maybe'

Chapter 3

She snapped out of her reverie as Arnav came and hugged her from behind.

Arnav: "Sorry, sorry, sorry..am late 'was stuck in traffic'don't be mad...please, really..not making excuses '"

Momo: "Hey, hello...am here too you know, no hi, no hello'am waiting for you too."

A: "Yes, of course Momo, you are certainly waiting for me, dying a little all the while, I'm sure'not that it's a bad thing."

Momo aimed a kick at him. This is how it started, all the time and ended in fist fights and sometimes graver injuries. That Momo was a doctor was actually a good thing, as free supply of pain meds were often a pre-requisite when the relation is as volatile as Momo and Arnav's.

Khushi: "Guys, please'can we act like decent human beings in public? Seriously, just because I don't tell you off doesn't mean you are going to keep behaving like 11 year olds all the time' you both piss me off soo badly'."

A: "See, now it feels like a Friday night' bicker bicker hit hit bicker bicker'."

Khushi just couldn't keep up the stern face anymore and broke into a smile as Arnav pulled her up to his end of the couch and made her rest her head on his shoulders. Khushi closed her eyes and relaxed her muscles.

A: "How was your day?"

K: "Monotonous'yours?"

A: "monotonous' huh??...isn't it a tad rich coming from the person who eats the same lunch and breakfast every single day?..mine was adventurous..as usual"

'These two are so much in trouble'

Momo watched this from across the table. She was a little jealous of this comfort that her two best friends shared. Something that can be achieved only through unquestioned acceptance of a person in the others life. But she couldn't be happier for them. She had never seen them so at peace before, i.e. before they decided to change cities. They were the best kinds of people you can find, kind, caring and so full of love. But fate had never really been on their side. Arnav was a kid from a broken marriage, a rich one that too. Her first memories of Arnav were that of a rich, spoilt brat prancing around the school grounds in search of his next prey. Khushi on the other hand was a geeky, chubby teenager with braces, the punching bag of bi***y girls in school. They had met during one of Arnav's hunting sessions. Arnav being the as* he was, had taken up Khushi's case badly, little did he know that the girl he had poked had an IQ of 170. She had replied back with tart answers, no smiles and had walked off. He had continued his observing sessions for a week, to find that the girl had seriously deficient social skills, spending most of her time alone but was a fighter soul. A month later they were best friends, to the surprise of every one, how, no one knew'

K: "Momo, where are you lost baby?"

M: "'Baby'..Huh?..How many drinks did you down?"

K: "How is that relevant?"

Khushi has no idea how much different she was with drinks inside. Arnav and Momo smiled at each other. This was their favorite time pass. You could get Khushi to do anything and say anything when she was drunk. She had little self control after 4 drinks. It was the same for Arnav, so he never crossed the two drink limit in front of anyone.

A: "Let's dance, Khushi..."

K: "I can't dance you idiot' don't you know that already?"

A: "See, I know you can't' but this is a new workshop of the "Rescue of the Social Retards" program'you see"

K: "you a**'what did you just call me?"

"RESCUE OF THE SOCIAL RETARDS PROGRAM" had been initiated in high school, whose founding member, chairperson and technical advisors were Arnav and Momo while the only 'social retard' was Khushi. They had poked and harassed her incessantly about her hairstyle, shoes, dresses, bags, walking, talking, eating standing, till she had given herself up completely to these monsters to be slowly metamorphed into her present self. The pumps had been replaced by heels, the aimless skirts by classy trousers, loose tops by formal shirts. The braces were gone in a year. She had been poked dead, both literally and figuratively, till she enrolled in every possible club in college, spoke in every public platform and took part in every social event. The only thing that remained was the waist length long black hair that she absolutely loved. Khushi hated the tag, but truly they had made her come a long way from the self conscious shy kid to her present day dynamic self.

Arnav pulled her up from the couch. She stood up and held Arnav for support, three drinks down, she was really feeling dizzy. Two steps later she felt her balance leave her as she made her way down towards the floor, only to be caught at the last moment by Arnav.

A: "Watch it Khushi'why are you so dizzy, didn't you have your lunch?" his tone was serious

K: "too much work, but I ate the shredded chicken'"

A: "Seriously Khushi, how many times ' why on earth are you drinking in an empty stomach?"

K: "Sorry, sorry, sorry baby' but this is Friday night"

Arnav sighed''baby' 'that usually meant nothing was registering in her mind at the moment.

A: "Chal'no dancing today...enough 'lets go home"

K: "Nooo'I want to dance...you can't do this..this isn't fair..I work soo hard...I deserve a break"

That was so true. The woman had the spirit of Roman gladiator. Little had anyone thought that her career would rise to such amazing heights in two years in a new city. But the woman had surprised everyone with her zeal and strength. Arnav understood that workaholism was a part of her defense mechanism. He had known her to do that before. 'Immerse yourself in so much work that your mind doesn't get free cells to think about the problem you are escaping from'. He felt strangely protective at the moment as he held her close.

He loved the feeling of contentment that came when Khushi was around. Not just dancing, but the very fact that she was there somewhere nearby. He sighed and buried his face in her hair as they moved slowly to the romantic number. The sigh found a partner in Khushi's as she felt that this moment should last forever.

M: "Guys, I have to leave, Siddharth just called, I need to assist him in an emergency surgery"

K: "Oook..byeee'happy flesh cutting'baby !!!"

M: "Arnav, you better take her home too' I don't really mind surgery termed as 'flesh cutting' but she is a potential bomb at the moment."

A: "Yeah I will, bye'and Momo, ...take care..and thanks for giving Khushi company."

M: "she is just not your friend you know."

Arnav pecked her on the cheek as they made their way outside.

A: "wait...the bill'"

M: "I paid it already..."

A: "You take a lot for granted, woman'"

M: "Yeah...like you don't'"

A: "what's that supposed to mean?"

M: "How are you going back'did you come on your bike 'but Khushi can't ride, nor can she drive'"

A: "Relax Momo, I came in a cab'.knew she wouldn't be driving back."

Apparently satisfied with his answer she made her way to hail a cab while Arnav pulled a dizzy Khushi to the parking. Half an hour later as they reached home, he found her asleep in the seat beside him. He carried her up to the apartment and made her sit on the couch. She needed antacids to avoid the next morning hangovers. She refused to move to her bedroom and he was too tired to do anything. He tucked her in the couch with a blanket as he switched on the TV. He silenced it as he watched the lights from the television dancing across her face wishing all the while that she was happy.

After all, is it not what he had tried to make her, since like forever?

For PMs..Buddy me

LINK TO CHAPTER 4

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/2961742/ss-forever-maybe?pn=2

LINK TO CHAPTER 5

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/56877696

LINK TO CHAPTER 6

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/fan-fictions/2961742/ss-forever-maybe?pn=6

LINK TO CHAPTER 7

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/56972538

LINK TO CHAPTER 8

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/57216884

LINK TO CHAPTER 9

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/57529788

LINK TO CHAPTER 10

https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/57806401