SS: Wounds From A Flower *Chapter 3 on Page 27 - Page 6

An interesting concept,something different with shades of Grey ...

Continue that was amazing :))

Kushi, a university student or works there?

Arnav and contract - I think they are born together.

But what is that which leaves Kushi no choice but to accept the proposal??

Update soon!

Thanks for the PM

sounds very interesting and different.
please continue super quick coz want to read more and would love it if you could pm me, many thanx

sounds very interesting..cant wait to read more
:)

CHAPTER 1

PERSUAUSIONS

"Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open."

~J. K. Rowling~

Khushi walked along the almost deserted corridors of the university towards Professor Dixit's office. She knew she had to try, at least once more, to convince him to replace someone else at her place. All her previous attempts had been fruitless and ended in vain. Regarding her reputation with the Professor, it shouldn't have been difficult to persuade him, but then maybe her reputation was the cause of all this. If she wouldn't have been his favorite student, he wouldn't have asked. She decided that she would be less active in extracurricular activities from now onwards, and then she will be able to avoid all this. Who was she kidding? Herself? If she knew herself very well, than she knew better that all these promises to herself, were merely futile. Every year ended with she making a promise to herself that she will quit these activities next year and give her undivided attention to the studies, but like each year that promise was meant to be broken.

It wasn't like she didn't want to do the job Professor Dixit had put on her shoulders, but with the university's Annual Fair just around the corner, it was becoming difficult for her to cope with her studies. She also had to spend extra hours at the hospital. She had been an average student throughout her academic year, but this year was different. It was her last year and she wanted to pass with flying colors. Nonetheless, she didn't know what tomorrow held for her, and she wanted to make her family proud, especially her sister for that matter. She didn't know, if she will be able to survive one more year. She immediately dismissed that disturbing thought. She will be there. She had to be. She won't ever let her go.

As head of the cultural society, Khushi's all the time was spent in organizing events and looking after them. Even this year she had put a handicraft's stall at the fair, the money collected from which will be used for her sister's recovery. They belonged to a lower middle class family, and money was something that came after a lot of dedication and hardwork. She had decided to display all her sister's creative work at the stall this year, which she had made with her free hours spent at the hospital.

Khushi had talked Nanidini into looking after her stall in her absence. Nandini, who had been her friend and classmate for the past three years, understood her very well and had agreed in a jiffy.

She knew it was her last chance before the big day Monday. After today she wouldn't be left with any choice in the matter on hand. She passed several classrooms before reaching Professor Dixit's office, and gave glance at the blank ink carved into the silver plate, which read:

Professor Anurag Dixit

Head of Sports and Extracurricular Activities

Khushi had always worked under him, and had always enjoyed it, but this year it was different. She adjusted herself and took a deep breath, before knocking twice at the dark brown wooden door. A faint 'come in' from inside the room made her pull down the handle and open the door to his crowded room. Plastering a large fake smile on her lips, she greeted him.

"Good Evening Sir," Khushi said, as she closed the door behind her.

On the other side of the door, Professor Dixit's office lay in the same perfect mess, as she had always seen it. His office was smaller than most of the other staff, which always gave him a reason to complain. He always told her how he never got the stature he deserved, even after giving his devoted service to the university for the past twenty years. He always asked her opinion in every matter, and Khushi who thought that it was safe not to choose between the devil and the deep blue sea, always agreed with him. Professor Dixit had been her favorite professor so far, and she didn't want to disappoint, though everyone in the university vicinity knew very well that he should retire by now.

As Khushi saw his tiring smile, as he raised his head from from a file, whose contents were not visible to Khushi, she clearly knew that whatever she had planned didn't stand a chance.

"Good Evening, Khushi! What brings you here today? I am hope so you don't have any problems regarding the work I appointed you."

"Actually…….Sir……I was here to speak about that," Khushi stammered.

"Please have seat."

Khushi sat on one of the two comfortable arm chairs, facing him.

"Sir, is it possible if you could ask someone else to show the chief guest around, as……."

"Not again Khushi. How many times I have to tell you that I cannot trust anyone else with this job?" he interrupted, a little irritated.

"Sir, please," she tried to plead, desperately, "try to understand. I have a stall at the fair this year and I need to look after it too with all the other arrangements," which is much more important that some damn chief guest, the end she added in her head, off course.

"I see," he said thoughtfully, and just for a moment Khushi felt a ray hope crossing the room, "If that's the only reason you don't want to take up this job, then I can arrange some student to look after your stall."

Khushi's bubble burst, spluttering water droplets everywhere. Khushi's shoulders slumped down, cursing the ray of hope that had passed by, only to tease her.

"No sir. That's fine. I will arrange it myself," she said, thoroughly dejected. Professor Dixit either was too old to hear melancholy in her voice or if he heard it, he was very good at hiding.

Ready to leave the room, without any preliminary progress, Khushi slowly got up from her chair. She was feeling exhausted after the long day at the university and above all dreaded what lay ahead. Turning around, she walked towards the door. Professor Dixit, who was shrewdly scrutinizing her every move, stopped her before her hands reached the door handle.

"I hope so you have done the thorough background research on our chief guest. You know very well that the university authorities don't want to disappoint him in anyway, as he will prove to be a very big asset to us. If we are able to make a good first impression on him, you never know, he might as well sponsor us," the Professor declared. His words contained a hidden challenge and warning for her. "I hope so you understand the delicacy of the situation, so I will want a small report on your research by tomorrow morning on Arnav Singh Raizadah."

"Arnav Singh Raizadah?" Khushi looked at him quizzically

"Yes Khushi. Arnav Singh Raizadah, our chief guest," he reminded her.

Her mouth formed into a shape of a small O. The chief guest's name had totally flown out of her mind, "Yes, off course sir," she lied quickly, a little embarrassed at her lack of presence of mind.

Professor Dixit gave her a reassuring smile, "Good," and dismissed her.

Thank you everyone for the response on the prologue.

It means a lot to me.

Please keep showering them over me.

It may seem like a filler chapter, but it was need for introduction.

As I always say, do leave you honest feedback and comments.

Thank you for reading.

I was so excited when u updated nice job please continue soon

Me

--Edited--

Sobi! Nice start.

Was the prologue was something in future or is current one? Chapter 1 is just prologue time? Does that mean Kushi knew Arnav already??

But I don't think it is of same time as Kushi has to go on leave for considerable no. of days and for that she has to get permission.

But no clue. I'm just speculating. Sorry, if that was annoying. Couldn't help stopping myself!😆

Kushi gonna show the college expanse to Arnav.. Good one!

Waiting for it, Thanks for the Pm.

great update sobi 🤗

You like the setting of colleges a lot,don't you?😆