Arnav : Kaha thi tum hamaari intermediate ke baad ??
I took my wallet and saw him . Why is he asking me that ??
He closed the door and locked the car . Meanwhile I was thinking for the answer ...
Arnav : Bolo kaha thi tum hamaari intermediate ke baad ?
Khushi : I got a scholarship in an university ..
Arnav : You know what ? I joined that inter college just for you ... I joined there so that I will not miss you .. Remember I made Aman ask you about your college on the farewell day and I was beside him ??
$$$$FLASHBACK ON THE FAREWELL DAY IN TENTH STANDARD
Aman : Hey Khushi !!
Aman called me . I was with Ramya , Anusha and a my new other best friend Usha .
Arnav was beside him too . I took small steps towards them .
Aman : Hey Khushi you are looking nice in this saree .
I gave him a strange look .
Aman : I .. I mean you became lean and fair ... I mean you used to be a bit fat and dark and now you are fair and lean ... I mean what's the secret .
Aman's gone mad !! How can he say something like that ??
Arnav : Yeah he's right ... Absolutely ..
Saying this he sipped his juice gazing at me . Agitated by his look I turned towards Aman and said
Khushi : Why did you call me ??
Arnav was continuously staring me sipping his juice .
Aman : No I just wanted to ask you where are you going after tenth .
Khushi : Well I am joining the same inter college which my sister graduated from .
Arnav : That college is near your house right !!
I was shocked to see Arnav talking to me . I turned my gaze towards Aman .
Aman : Oh you are talking about the one beside the cafeteria ?
I nodded my head . Why are they asking me all this ?
Khushi : But why are you asking me this ??
Aman : Well we just wanted to know our friends where abouts after tenth .
Now it's confirmed that they asked all this intentionally
Khushi : From when did we become friends Aman ?
I asked him folding my arms across my waist .
Arnav spilled his juice slightly and
Arnav : There's nothing wrong in that . You both are in the same section for three consecutive years .. So he just wanted to know about you . That's it
Aman : Yeah !!
Aman said sarcastically . Arnav gave him an angry glare . And I decided to go .
Aman : Hey why are you going !! SO soon ??
I turned back towards them and saw Arnav slapping him on his shoulder .
They straightened as soon as they saw me .. I felt strange and moved away from them .
Anusha : Hey Aman's actually right .. How did you become so thin and fair ??
Khushi : Well there are many who are fairer then me over here .
Anusha : Yeah but you used be very dark and fat but now you are very lean and fair !! How ??
Khushi : That's a secret baby !!
I side hugged her and we all were laughing then I saw Arnav looking at us .. But I saw him with that Swathi . I turned away .
The farewell was over and we friends i.e., Me , Ramya , Usha and Anusha decided to go to a cafe . Since my house is on the same way to their houses we decided to go to a cafe a few blocks away from my house which is also beside my sisters intermediate college .
We went over to the place in Ramya's car . We got down and entered the place .
We ordered some salads and were waiting for them to arrive .
I turned towards the entrance door as I felt something .
I was right .. I saw him coming with his friends . Swathi was there too .
They saw us and I turned my gaze to the other side .. Why is this happening to me ??
Arnav sat in such a way that he could see me clearly .
After a while we received our orders . I was the first one to finish .
I quickly made my way to the wash area and washed my hands .
While coming back I felt strong winds blowing . Since I have a fantasy for all this I went out and stood their .
I was enjoying this whether . It's so nice and pleasant . Just then I heard a familiar voice .
I hid behind the wall and bent a little to see who it was . I found Swathi and Arnav discussing something .
Swathi : Now we can publicly do anything . Remember what mess they created when I kissed you in school ?? Come on it was just on the cheek !!
I was stuporous at the moment !! What is she speaking ??
They hugged , they kissed ... And I was expecting a lot form Arnav when he was never mine !!
This was enough to bring tears in my eyes . They were flowing continuously .
Arnav wasn't speaking anything . He was looking down .
Just then Swathi hugged him tight .
Swathi : Now no one would even dare to stop us !!
Saying this she kissed him again and hugged him more tightly .
I didn't have the strength to see or hear anything now . Tears were not stoping . I hope they do . I am not able to bear this pain .
I made my way towards my friends and I saw them laughing and giggling . I can't spoil their happiness .
I cleared all my tears ...forced a smile on my face and went towards them . I sat on my seat .
I saw Arnav and Swathi coming too ..
They sat on their seats . Arnav saw me and started talking to his friends .
Ramya : Khushi ... Did you cry ?? You are looking so pale !!
She asked me aloud . Arnav and his gang turned towards me with surprise .. But I saw Arnav and Aman worried ...
Khushi : Why would I cry ?? You know na I have allergy so I was sneezing continuously ...
Ramya : Oh !!
His friends too turned and started to talk .
After some time my driver came and I went back to my house .
That day I decided one thing that Arnav will be my love for my life , I will cherish the moments we spent together but I will never let him intrude my life when he actually wants to be a part of my life . I know that this would never happen .
$$$$
Now I understood why they all were so interested in me that day . They wanted to know totally about me .
I looked at Arnav . His eyes were mirrors of happiness .
I now understood that he is thinking that I still love him . I did love him . But I buried all his memories in my heart . I agree that I used t go to the sea shore just to recall him daily . But I also used to leave all those memories there itself . He was never a part of my life after that .
He was only remembered by me in the mornings and that too along the sea shore .
Khushi : Sir I think we have to go .
He came really close and pointed his finger towards me and said
Arnav : Dare you call me SIR again !! You will be punished .
I saw him with shock . But I found a perfect reply for him .
Khushi : Teekh hai yaha tho nahi bula sakte hai par office mein tho bula na padegha na ! [Ok , I can't call you over here but I have to in the office right !]
Arnav : Wherever it is you should not call me sir . I don't like you calling me sir all the time .
He said right away looking in my eyes .
Khushi : But we share a relation of boss and employee so I have to call you SIR , sir .
I said . I could see anger rising in his eyes . This was scaring me now I never faced his wrath . My lips started trembling . My breaths were becoming irregular . I looked down and I was holding my hands together .
Suddenly I felt him clutching my hands . Within no time he pinned me to his SUV door .
Arnav : We are not just sharing a relation of that so called boss and employee dammit . We in fact are sharing much more than that !!
He actually said more than enough . What is going on in his mind ?? What does he mean ??
Khushi : We don't share anything other than a relation of boss and employee ... That's it ... Nothing less or nothing more ...
He clutched my hands more tightly .. He is giving me immense pain . Tears were forming in my eyes .
Arnav : Enough !! Don't say that ever again ! I said that we are not just sharing an official relation .. That's final .
Khushi : What do we share ?
Arnav : We are
He stopped ... he released my hands and took a few steps backward .
Tears were flowing continuously form my eyes . They weren't stoping .
He turned to the other side and again turned towards me .
He took steps towards me and placed his hands on my cheeks . And leaned a bit and looked straight towards my eyes . His eyes were moist too
Arnav : Don't cry Khushi ... Pls Khushi don't . I can't see you crying .. You don't know how I feel when you cry .. Pls don't . Pls ..
He slowly rubbed his thumb along my cheeks clearing those tears from my face .
He slowly hugged me . I remained like that . I closed my eyes and composed myself . Then I realised our position .
I pushed him a bit and took a few steps back .
Khushi : Hume jaana chahiye [We must go]
I took steps forward .. He moved to the side and asked me
Arnav : Tum theek ho ? [Are you fine ?]
I just nodded and moved . I really don't know what's going on with Arnav . Why is he speaking like that . He was walking just beside me . I saw him . His focus was on the front path . I turned my head and looked down .
I now sensed him watching the same way I did just a few seconds back .
He became really tall now . There was a point of time where we were of same height . But now he is may be 5 inches tall then me .
He is really tall may be he is 6.3 . My head comes till middle of philtrim when I am wearing flats . But since I am in my heels my head is till his eyes .
Wait !! What am I thinking ?? I promised myself not to bloom any feelings towards him again . I don't want to become a fool again .
We both entered the place and I think the party has come to an end . Half of them are leaving .
Even I decided to leave .
Khushi : Ahh I have to leave now .
Arnav turned towards me and
Arnav : Ok come I'll drop you .
Khushi : No it's ok , I can manage .
Arnav : As if I'll listen to you
He dragged me by hand and was making our way towards the parking lot .
He opened the passenger seat door which is beside the driver seat and guided me to enter .
I entered and comforted my self he then closed the door and took his seat .
Why does Arnav leave no stone for me to decide something . He has everything set for me without my wish .
He started the car .
Khushi : Aman didn't come still .
Arnav : He'll go in his car ..
Oh no they both didn't come together . Now I have to travel with him for 20-30 minutes .
And I am alone . I don't know what all he will so now .
Khushi : Sir right .
He took left and he started to drive in full speed .
Khushi : Yeh aap kya kar rahe hai ??? Kaha. Le jaa rahe he aap Hume ??
[ What are you doing ??? Where are you taking me ?? ]
He stopped the car in an isolated place and got down . He opened my door and clutched my hand tightly and dragged me out side .
He pinned me to the door again .
Arnav : How many times shall I say ?? I already warned you but you didn't stop calling me sir . Now it's the time for punishment .
Punishment ?? This was enough to make my knees weak ..
He placed his palms on my cheeks and leaned towards my lips .
His eyes are fixed on my lips .
I am struggling a lot to release myself but his grip on my face is really strong .
As always my lips started to quiver and I'm heaving . He was leaning more towards me . I pressed my lips together refraining his touch .
I felt him moving my hair strands on my neck . I placed my hands on his shoulder and started to push him with my eyes closed still but he is too strong for me he is not moving . Forget about inch not a millimetre at least !!
He leaned and kissed the crook of my neck . He traced along the shoulder bone and came back to the crook and bit it .
I gasped with pain and started to push him with more force . But it isn't affecting him !! What should I do ??
Anupamaa
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