Chapter 1: HOPE!
It was Tuesday, my classes had just ended for the day and I was mighty pissed. Walking to the cafeteria on our campus, I dialed the one person who was the cause of my anger since morning. I heard the call being cut and my blood boiled just that much more.
Muttering curses under my breath, I walked to the cafeteria and spotting a table, sank down in a chair while reserving the remaining for my friends. As soon as I was settled, I started the calling spree again, after about eight calls, he had the decency to attend one, and I charged off instantly,
"What the hell is your problem, I've been calling you for ages and you... First I have to attend that taxation class alone because you didn't show up, then the teacher insults me for using my cell which by the way I was using to text you ... but hey, you cut my calls! HOW DARE YOU? You idiot! Where the hell are you? I hate tax, you could have at least informed me if you weren't coming and I..."
but I was cut mid sentence by a very tired voice,
"Khushi, please shut up..."
That did shut me up, he wasn't well, concern washed all over me instantly,
"What happened to you? Are you well? Arnav, I'm freaking out, what's wrong?"
"Will you let me speak?..."
he paused and I nodded to myself before he continued,
"I'm fine..."
I opened my mouth to protest but shut it when he spoke again,
"Okay, no I'm not well. I've caught diarrhea, man. It's bad, the doc has prescribed complete bed rest and so many meds, so I won't be coming to university for at least two weeks..."
Once again, I opened my mouth to enquire if he would give the exams and why he kept cutting my calls but he beat me to it and spoke in a very exhausted voice, I could almost imagine him pressing the bridge of his nose - something he unconsciously did whenever exhausted or irritated.
"... I don't know about the mids, will think about it later. And I'm sorry about the calls, Akash was writing an application on my phone, so he kept cutting your calls - he says sorry - and I picked the first call I got with the phone back in my hands. Now, what else do you wanna know?"
"Nothing, you rest. I'm so sorry, dost! for charging off at you like that... anyway, you, you rest, take care. Tell Akash it's okay. And you don't worry about university and classes and mids, I'll inform the teachers, the mids you can skip - talk to the institute's administrator... actually, don't do that, ask uncle to do that, yeah that's better..."
"Khushi? relax!"
"unmmm, yeah. You take care, okay? and do let me know if you need anything, alright?"
"yeah I'll let you know. I'm tired now, I'll rest I think. Thanks"
"yeah okay, bye"
"bye"
With that, I put the phone down, and put my head in my hands while my elbows rested on the table. I wanted so desperately to see arnav, but I knew I couldn't, I had never gone to his house and I definitely wasnt starting now. But he was unwell, and I couldn't help but feel like a part of me was in pain.
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A week and a half later:
It was almost midnight and I was watching tv with my sister, a bowl of chips on my lap, when my phone rang. I checked the caller id and saw that it was arnav. Quickly dusting my hands off, I took the call while munching and swallowing real fast the chips in my mouth.
We had both been in contact ever since his absence from university. He was doing better, still, I'd submitted his application, talked to his teachers, kept him updated with whatever course was being covered in classes, and he'd kept me informed about the progress he was making with convincing the administrator for letting him miss the upcoming mids.
"You free?"
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
"It's the exams, It's all so f**ked up..."
"Arnav!"
I admonished. Oh I hated how he so casually used the F word. No, I wasn't anti abuse, I swore quite a lot when I was angry but the F word, it just irritated me, annoyed me to no extent. And arnav, oh he had a thing for that word, a real deep thing.
"Sorry, but seriously I'm in deep shit!"
"Who is it? Your secret Valentine?"
Arnav and Payal spoke at the same time, the first from the other end of the line, while the second from the other end of the sofa.
"Arnav, hold on a second..." "Payal, it's Arnav, NOT my secret Valentine"
I answered simultaneously, with the phone still held to my ear, and before I could take a breath, the two were speaking again,
"WHAT? Secret Valentine? You're SEEING someone?"
"Arnav has some timing! Did he call to wish you?"
This time I laughed, oh they were funny. Payal started laughing along and in turn I laughed harder, but someone didn't have a sense of humor,
"What the hell, khushi? What's this Valentine crap? You're really seeing someone?"
At hearing his outburst I tried to control my laughter but a few giggles escaped me but before he started screaming in frustration and exhausted himself further, I responded
"Aray, nothing. Actually you called at mid night, toh payal was just making fun saying you called at this hour to wish me on Valentine."
"Oh!"
Was that relief I heard in his voice?
"yeah, anyways... hold on arnav..." "Payal, stop annoying me... he's got diarrhea, he's... go annoy your friends... okay... what... no..." " haan arnav, ek minute..." "Payal, What? Okay" "Arnav, Payal wishes you a happy Valentine's day...ay ay ... ouch PAYAL!"
As Payal stopped pinching me, I heard laughter coming from the other and of the line, and I forgot whatever I was about to say,
"Hahahaha, say... say Hahaha say thanks to payal, I guess. Hahaha and what in the world is going on? Hahaha, you sisters are hilarious!"
I couldn't help the teasing retort that left me the next instant,
"You didn't seem to find any hilarity in our jokes a while ago"
"About that, you're uh, I mean, are you? As in, do you? I mean, uhh, have... have a Valentine?"
What the hell? Arnav Singh Raizada was stuttering? In front of ME? Wait... he really thought I had a secret Valentine?
I rushed to reassure him,
"NO! That was a joke, payal was just messing! No secret valentine, please."
"Oh! Okay..." He was actually relieved! I knew it! jingalala woot woot!
After a short pause, arnav continued,
"Did you tell payal I said thanks? Wish her a happy Valent..."
"Aray I was kidding dost, she was actually wishing you a speedy recovery, not Valentines. So no need to awkwardly wish her back, relax!"
"ohkaaay then, I'll ttyl then, you enjoy with payal..."
"But Arnav you wanted to talk about something!"
"Uhh yeah that, I'll call you in the morning, It's late. You should sleep. yeah, so uh, yeah bye."
And that was how abruptly the call was cut, leaving me with a few things to think about,
- It was only midnight, and I normally don't sleep before 3:00 am so it wasn't late at all.
- We normally spoke to each other in the late hours only, so what made him act this way tonight?
- It was impossible to annoy the great Arnav Singh Raizada yet a simple joke about a secret Valentine for ME had done it.
- Most importantly, he'd been angry, annoyed, frustrated and then RELIEVED, so one thing was for sure - There was still HOPE, for him, for me, for us!
Authors Note:
Its really late, so pm's later. I just got done with the chapter and wanted to put it up A.S.A.P! So, here it is! I hope you all enjoy it... I'm trying to focus on events and situations in this story, there are so many true incidents that I want to incorporate into this concept, I just really hope you all enjoy reading about them!
P.s. Please press like (if you like) and do comment, pretty please! Comments make me only so happy 😃
NOTE: This is solely my work. Kindly do not share or copy without my permission!
Lots of love
Sonia
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
All things Korean
Ganesh Kartikeya
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