Arshi OS: A midnight encounter

"NK, are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Sshh.. Arnav.. stay quiet. Do you want us to get caught?"

"Of course not! Why did you have to drag me with you?"

"Well, you lost the bet! You had to do as I said. So now shut up and help me jump up."

Arnav hoisted NK up a wall and followed him. They slowly climbed down a tree on the other side of the wall. Somewhere a clock struck midnight.

They tiptoed to a white building. NK froze and Arnav crashed into him. Arnav was about to say something, when NK put his finger to his lips. He then pointed to something. Arnav looked at what NK was pointing at and noticed an old man, leaning against his chair, snoring. NK tiptoed past the old man and into the white building. Arnav followed NK as he ran quickly down a brightly lit corridor. NK stopped and Arnav stopped behind him, looking around.

"Stay here and warn me if the matron comes."

Arnav raised his eyebrows. "What? Then the matron will see me."

"Nanav! Hide! Hide so that the matron won't catch you."

"But how will I warn you? She will hear that and then find me."

NK smiled and grabbed Arnav's arm. "You are smart, Nanav, my bro! I know you will figure something out!" NK ran off, leaving Arnav fuming with anger.

Arnav waited in the corridor and looked around. There were doors on either side of the corridor. It was quiet! Who knew girls sleep so early? In the boys' hostel, the night began at 12! He chuckled, but his smile disappeared as he heard a door open and loud voices echoing in the corridor. He raised his eyebrows and looked around, terrified. He pushed open the nearest door and quickly jumped in and closed the door behind him. He heaved a sigh of relief and looked around the room. On the wall smiling at him, was a huge poster of Salman Khan. Lighted stars were hanging over the bed, that was covered by a pink and white floral bedsheet. On the desk was a laptop and neatly stacked books. On the shelves, apart from neatly stacked books was an idol of Devi Maiyya and an idol of a dancing Nataraj. Suddenly he heard a voice of a girl outside the door. Arnav raised his eyebrows and moved behind the door. The door opened and in stepped the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on. Her smile! Arnav felt his heart skip a beat.

Khushi stepped into her room, waving goodbye to Lavanya. She closed her door and turned around. She raised her eyebrows and screamed. Arnav put his hand over her mouth and pushed her against the door. "Khushi?" came Lavanya's voice outside. "Are you alright?" Khushi raised her eyebrows and looked at Arnav. She blinked. Her eyes, doe-like, innocent and yet magical! Arnav's heart was beating wildly. She blinked again, breaking the trance that he was in. Arnav moved close to her and whispered. "If I were you, I wouldn't scream. What would others think if they found out that there was a guy in your room at such a late hour?" Khushi raised her eyebrows again. "Don't scream!" Arnav said, through clenched teeth. "Will you scream?" Khushi looked at him, then at his hand that was covering her mouth and then at him again. She nodded, and then stopped. She raised her eyebrows and then quickly, shook her head. Arnav had to control himself from smiling.

Arnav removed his hand from her mouth and stepped away. "Khushi? Are you alright?" Lavanya's voice was heard from outside. Khushi looked at Arnav and said quickly. "Yes, I am fine, Lavanya. I saw a cockroach. That's all." "Ok, good night! Don't let the cockroach bite." Lavanya said, giggling and she walked away. Khushi looked at Arnav and asked, "Who are you? What are you doing here?" Arnav folded his arms and looked at her. Khushi looked away. "Look, whoever you are. I want you to leave immediately. Otherwise I will scream again." Arnav smirked. "Oh really, if you scream and someone comes, I will open the door and tell them that you invited me to your room and your scream was not out of fear.." There was a naughty twinkle in his eye. Khushi looked confused at first, then suddenly raised her eyebrows.

Arnav's smile disappeared. He moved closer and she stepped back, until she hit the door again. He put his hand next to her on either side of her on the door and said, "Look, I have no interest in staying in this room with you. My friend came to see his girlfriend. He dragged me to your hostel and then left me stranded in the corridor. I want to leave. Can you help me get out of this building?" Khushi raised her eyebrows. "What? You will leave your friend stranded?" Arnav smiled. "He will manage on his own. He comes here often." Khushi gulped, as she looked at Arnav; his face was close to hers that she could feel his warm breath on her lips. She looked into his eyes and then his lips and then at his arms. Arnav realized that he was making her uncomfortable, so he moved away. Khushi looked up and then adjusted her kurta. Arnav said softly, "Sorry, I didn't mean to.." Khushi looked into his deep, brown eyes and suddenly she felt a tingling sensation all over body.

Khushi quickly turned around and opened the door. She peeped out in the corridor, then closed the door and turned around. "Look, there is no one in the corridor now. Maybe you can leave now." Arnav smiled and walked towards the door. Khushi opened the door and tiptoed out. Arnav followed her. Suddenly Khushi raised her eyebrows. She turned around, put her hands on Arnav's chest and pushed him back into her room. She closed the door behind her and turned around. Arnav was confused; he raised his eyebrows and moved towards her. Khushi turned around and saw that he was standing close to her. She lost her balance and fell on him. Arnav put his arms around her and fell backwards, straight on her bed. The bed creaked under the pressure.

When Khushi opened her eyes, she realized that she was lying on top of Arnav, her hands around his neck. She looked into his brown eyes again and gulped. She could feel his tight abdominal muscles pressed against her chest and tummy. She hadn't noticed how handsome he was before; his chiseled jaw, his stubble, his luscious lips, his brown eyes.. yes.. his eyes.. there was something about them; she couldn't stop looking at them.

"What the.. ? Get off me!" Arnav's voice interrupted her thoughts. She looked at him, her mouth wide open. She pushed herself off him and stood up. "You pulled me on the bed with you and then wouldn't let me get up! Now you are accusing me of not getting up?" Arnav sat up on the bed and said, "Whatever! Why did you push me?" Khushi sat down on the chair, her face annoyed. "Oh, the matron was coming." Arnav raised his eyebrows. "Really? I didn't see her." Khushi giggled. "Oh, I could hear her. I can hear the sound her cane makes against the marble floor from a kilometer away. All of us can." Suddenly there was a knock on her door. "Khushi, switch off lights now!" A stern voice was heard. Khushi raised her eyebrows, looked at the door and then at him. "Khushi!" "Yes, ma'am." She got off the chair and switched off the light. The room submerged in complete darkness. Khushi turned around and gulped. She couldn't see where he was.

"Relax!" came his voice. Khushi gulped again.

"I won't hurt you. I would never hurt you. Do you want me to get off the bed?"

"No, no, it's ok. Don't move, just stay there."

"Look, I'm sorry that I walked into your room. I didn't intend to walk in here. I was standing outside and I heard noises. Yours was the closest room."

"Oh, yeah, we were having our hostel meeting in Payal's room. She is our representative. She was talking about the upcoming cultural festival."

"Oh, so that is where I know you from. You are the dancer. Your name is Khushi Gupta right?"

Khushi smiled and blushed. She raised her eyebrows, why was she blushing? She was happy that he recognized her. Why?

"I have seen your dance." Suddenly, there was a sound of a match striking. She saw Arnav's face in the flickering flame. She gulped; there was that familiar tingling sensation again. Arnav gulped as he saw Khushi's face, glowing in the light; she looked like an angel. "Do you have a candle?"

Khushi nodded and picked one from the shelf. He lit the candle. She took it from him and put it on her desk.

"As I was saying, I have seen you perform. You are amazing. Graceful and expressive, your performance last week was brilliant!"

Khushi blushed. She wasn't sure what to say. It was as though she lost her voice. Normally she would have been humble about it and said something like, "Oh, I thought I did alright, but I can always improve". But somehow, with him, it was different.

"Oh, don't think I'm flattering you just like that. I have some knowledge about dance. My sister dances too. She has learned Kathak as well. So I grew up seeing her dance".

Khushi raised her eyebrows. "Oh, really? Where did she learn?" Arnav said a name of a dance school. Khushi smiled and said, excitedly. "Oh wow, I learned there too. What's her name?"

"Anjali Raizada. Do you know her?"

"Anjaliji. Oh wow! You are her brother? Wait. Arnav. That's your name, right? She and I were really good friends. I mean until she stopped coming to the classes, after her marriage".

"Oh, yes, she moved to the US with Jeeju three years back after her marriage. So, you are that Khushi. You were all Di talked about. She even thought you and.."

Khushi raised her eyebrows. "What?"

Arnav smiled. "She even thought you and I would make a great couple."

Khushi opened her eyes wide. She looked away. There was an awkward silence. Suddenly a phone rang.

"Ssshh'" Khushi jumped up and moved to Arnav. She slipped and fell on him, her face on his shoulder, her arms around him. He put one arm around her, while he took the call with his other hand.

"Yes, NK?" Arnav whispered.

"Why are you whispering? Where are you?"

Arnav looked at Khushi and whispered, "You don't want to know." Khushi looked at him as well, and their noses brushed against each other.

Khushi stood up straight.

"Ok, I will meet you outside in 5 minutes." Arnav stood up. Khushi stepped back and looked away.

Arnav cut the call and looked at her. He said softly, almost hesitantly, Khushi noted. "Hmm.. looks like.. I .. I have to leave now."

Khushi nodded, turned around and walked to the door. Her back facing him, she opened the door and closed her eyes. Her heart felt heavy. Arnav walked to the door and stopped. He looked at her, she looked at him; their eyes met. He turned around and walked away. She let out a sigh, disappointed and started to close the door. Suddenly her eyes opened wide as someone put their arm in through the door and pushed it open. Khushi raised her eyebrows, as she saw Arnav step in through the door.

"What? Is the matron still outside?"

Arnav shook his head, "No. I .. I had to see you once more."

Khushi smiled. She took his hand in hers, took his mobile phone from him and typed something in it. He looked at her confused. Suddenly a phone rang and stopped.

She smiled, a naughty twinkle in her eye as she handed the phone back to him.

"There you go, now you have my number and I have yours. Want to grab breakfast tomorrow morning?"

Arnav smiled and said excited. "You bet!"

He stepped outside the door, stopped, turned around and said, "Bye."softly.

Khushi felt her knees go weak. She smiled and watched him walk away. He reached the end of the corridor, turned around, smirked and disappeared. Khushi closed the door and leaned against it. She had a wide grin on her face, which had turned a bright crimson. She cheered!

Arnav jumped down from the wall and landed right next to NK. "Where were you? What took you so long?" NK asked, confused.

Arnav had a wide grin on his face. He turned to NK and threw his arms around him.

"Nanav! What's up man?"

Arnav pulled away and smiled. "Thank you, bro! Thank you." He turned around and walked away, with the same wide grin on his face.

NK watched him walk away, confused. "What happened to Nanav?"

---

Liked it? Leave your comments!

Unfortunately no, this was an OS. So there won't be any more parts!

But I have two more SS's coming up! Do check them out!

Love or Marriage

The Guardian Angel