2#Never wished u to be mine part-14 pg-41 *05/07* - Page 23

14. How it all started

It was a beautiful morning in the valley of massourie, and fresh cool air was freezing up the atmosphere where as the sun peeping through the clouds simultaneously warming up the surroundings. Green lush grass fields layered with sparkling dew drops and birds chirping away. Khushi made her way through the broken pathway beside the woods towards her college St. Mary's wrapped up in my crme colored shawl draped securely saving her from morning cold.

She can be really sensitive without this shawl, without properly being draped Khushi tends to catch cold before you can actually utter the word Pine. This cold will surely give her a frost bite, and her glasses got misted too. She moved as fast as she can, as she doesn't want to be late for the class. As she reached her college, she breathes out a sigh of relief and makes her way to her class.

As Khushi entered the class and settle on her seat that she usually take, she heard an annoying cackle that she was used to by now but she swear this voice she hears everyday can get sharper day by day to pierce through her ears. Khushi turns to face her and ask her "what is amusing you now, Alisha?"

"The usual" she answered me with a smirk. "Oh god, what have I ever done to her? She literally loath me for no valid reason and as usual I better ignore her" Khushi thinks. By the way, "the usual" as she quotes it means she still wonder how Khushi managed to study in this college when she is not from any elite families and also nowhere rich to actually afford education here. Alisha had no idea how much Khushi has worked hard for admission in this college.

When Khushi was 15, she lost her parents in an accident, when their car got skid and fell off the cliff due to thin layer of ice formed on the road. I almost managed three years of my life without them. Life without them was horrible, without mom fussing over my less eating and father daughter picnics that we arrange once a month. No one to care for me and love me and even I don't have someone to care for except myself. I have our house and some money they kept for me that is how I managed my survival and I work part time in the city library too.

"Khushi" I hear someone yell my name and I know the tornado is coming, I smile and turn only to be attacked in a bear hug. Hugging back Payal I grin, she is my best friend forever.

"Khushi, I have great news" said Payal with excitement clear in her tone. "Guess what, we are going to --" Payal was about to complete her sentence when Mrs. Dhillon the class and class went silent, "I will tell you later" whispered Payal in a hushed tone and rushed to her seat beside her.

After few more classes, few Interesting and few boring ones, it was lunch break when the bell rang. Payal literally jumped on her feet from seat to rush for the cafeteria, but not before dragging Khushi with her on the way. They were inseparable from childhood, when that accident happened Payal tried to convince Khushi to live with her, but Khushi denied it. Payal's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gujral actually asked her the same; they considered Khushi as their own daughter but want to be on her feet, without anyone's support. Payal always said she was stubborn but Khushi always said the only thing she wanted is her friend beside her and she has Payal, what more she could ever as for.

As they reached cafeteria, they got their lunch and sat on their regular table and Payal was more than excited to tell her the news, she was grinning like a fool. "What is it Payal?" asked Khushi with a sweet smile, "you know what, we are going to Darjeeling" said Payal almost squealing. Khushi frowned and questioned "how?" to which she replied "you remember Inter College Fest in Darjeeling" Khushi nodded, "so we are attending it", "but I didn't applied for it, I can't afford it" replied Khushi with sadness.

"There there, Miss Khushi I discussed about this to Mrs. Dhillon, other teaching stuff and administration and as you are such a studious and discipline girl, as well as you are studying on scholarship they have seen to it and all you need to do for attending this fest is pack your bags and get yourself on time when the bus boards. All the expenses are taken care by college" replied Payal with a smug smile, "Oh really?" replied Khushi almost shout whispering and hugging Payal.

"Yes yes, I would have paid for your trip but as I know you, I don't think you would have liked it an all the way to trip you would have sulked like a puffer fish" chided Payal pinching Khushi's cheek.

Khushi was really happy and excited for the fest happening three days later, after she reached home and performing her daily chores, she started packing up for the trip. They are staying up for a week over there and she was very much ecstatic.

On the other hand, in the busy city of Delhi -- at Sheesh Mahal, there was Arnav who currently was in his shower cabin after a tiring match of basketball in the college. After shower, he entered his room with bare chest and track pants on, his towel hanging on his shoulders using which he was drying his dark hair. He was currently working on a project of his company and he was going through the mails as well as progress statistics.

He joined his father in business when he was barely 18, now at 21 he was an important part of Raizada group of companies. He was one of the board members in the company and when the time comes, he will be the managing director of the company which is not farfetched. Due to his Abilities, Looks as well as his achievements he is considered the most eligible bachelor in the town. Most of the businessmen are actually looking over like hawks to loop Arnav in matrimony with their daughter to grow their business.

Tomorrow he has meeting in Darjeeling about his perspective offer of having a resort for tourists in Darjeeling. According to him, he wants to make this resort one of its kind with exotic features like never heard of in any around the place. He has to stay for a week, not only for meeting but surveying the appropriate site for his project. Pia is accompanying him because she wanted to have a free space away from strained city life and his father too said as their respective families see them as perspective match.

Only Arnav knows how irritated he feels when Pia is clanged at his arms like they were born glued to each other. He denied saying it wasn't proper for them to be like a couple before marriage and dragged Akash, his younger brother with him. He was glad about Akash, it would restrain some of Pia's advances towards him.

Once he finished checking the latest quotations and other faxes and emails, he stretched his arms and back with a groan dropped on his bed with a yawn. He lifted his hand and covered his eyes with his forearm and slipped into dreamless slumber, to get ready for a new tomorrow which will turn his dreamless life and sleeps with dreams.

***

"Come fast Khushiii" screeched Payal for Khushi to hurry up as they were going to board their bus for college trip to Darjeeling. "Oh god Payal, I am coming" said Khushi fumbling with her bag.

"What if bus leaves us huh" Payal questioned Khushi impatiently to which Khushi just gaped at her. Why not surprise as Payal was so happy. They are two hours early because she could not contain her bubbling excitement and thus dragged Khushi along with her.

When they boarded their bus it was a sight to see, it was filled with active college goers filled with joy and spirit. All were cheering throughout their bus journey, cracking up jokes, singing songs and performing standup comedy stunts. Few were listening to music, few were enjoying the beautiful sight of hills emerge amidst the fog, with in the beauty of green blanket of forest.

Small monkeys with their respective bunch playing around the trees, jumping onto branches as well as beautiful colored birds can be seen from her window seat. Khushi liked nature very much and felt really close to the beautiful cavern of forests and hills.

Once they reached their destination, Khushi got out of bus gathered her bags along with Payal by her side. As she was turning a little boy of 6 years old dashed into her catching bunch of balloons around 30-40 in his hands.

With that Khushi tumbled and fell on a hard surface and she dint had any idea where she ran into. Balloons scattered away from her face and then she realized she fell on a man. Her hands were clutching at his warm, navy blue sweater and then she saw the most exquisite eyes she ever had observed. A pair of chocolate dipped into honey gazed at her and drowned her forever in its depths.