Arshi FF: Jeene Laga Hoon (NOTE pg. 68) - Page 7

After that first night, Arnav began to pay more attention to Khushi, particularly her behavior. Every expression that went across her face, even for a split second, did not go unnoticed by him. However, she wasn't able to see this because he was observing this all from behind the lens of his camera. For the next two days, while they were hiking and hanging around town, Arnav captured every expression on Khushi's face. But that smile that was suppose to reach her eyes never showed up.

As he had promised before, the conversation wasn't over. He didn't want to bring it up in front of the others. First of all, he would most likely get made fun of because of his actions. Secondly, he didn't want to say something that would ruin the rest of the trip. Therefore, Arnav decided to wait for the right time to continue their conversation. That moment didn't arrive until the end of the second day when everyone else went to sleep.

Arnav woke up in the middle of the night with a serious need to pee. Dressed in his black track pants and black V-neck shirt, he grabbed his flashlight and went into the forest to relieve himself. As he came back he found the campfire still dimly lit. A dark figure sitting on the ground was silhouetted by the light. Arnav slowly moved closer and pointed his flashlight on the figure. It turned out to be Khushi. She was leaning against the log on the ground, dressed in a large gray sweater and thick black leggings. Her hair was in a loose ponytail. She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose when the white light of Arnav's flashlight hit her.

"Khushi?" he said. "What are you doing?"

She looked up at him, surprised, "I couldn't sleep. Why are you here?"

"I had to pee."

She looked away slightly flustered, "If you're done you should go back to sleep."

"I would, but remember what I said a few days ago?" Arnav sat down next to her with his elbows on his knees. "Our conversation still isn't over."

Khushi felt her heartbeat increase. Her eyes remained focused on the little fire, but she could feel Arnav's stare boring into the side of her face. He was looking at her, but remained silent. Arnav knew that this was his best chance to talk to her, but now he was contemplating what to say. He stared at her side profile for a good five minutes before he finally broke the silence.

"Why have you been sad?" he asked.

She looked at him, "I'm not sad."

"Yeah you are. I can see it."

"See it? We barely know each other."

Arnav smirked, "Yeah, you're right. But like every other girl you have this smile that reaches your eyes. It's when you laugh and smile wholeheartedly. But for some reason, your smile doesn't reach your eyes."

Khushi remained silently, but listened intently.

"It's been like that since the bet the first night, and I don't get why. I mean you guys won. You should be happy right?"

"Winning isn't everything."

"What do you mean?"

Khushi stood up abruptly, making Arnav stand up as well. She began pacing back and forth in front of him, trying to put her words together. He stood in one spot, watching and listening.

When she came up with a response, she stopped and faced him, "I don't know what made me ask that question in the bet, but when I did I realized you guys didn't know my name. Even though we won, I really lost. I realized that coming here was a terrible idea."

"Why was it such a terrible idea?" Arnav asked, eyes narrowing as he took in her response.

"You wouldn't understand. This is all easy for you."

"What is?"

Khushi sighed and gestured all around her, "All of this. Packing up and going on a trip. Making new friends daily. Chilling with those new friends. It's easy for you. I bet in school you were like this too."

Arnav looked away before meeting her gaze again guiltily.

"See. You've always been like this. Always cool. Always chill. Easy-going. But do you know what I'm like? Apart from Lavanya and Payal, I... I don't have any friends. I never did. In school I always sat by myself in a corner and studied. No matter how much I want to, all this stuff that you do I'm not capable of doing. I've never been able to, and I never will be able to...because...I'm boring."

Arnav stood there, letting what she said sink in for a moment. The first thought that went through his mind was disbelief. At first, he thought that she was just joking with him, but the look in her eyes made him realize that she was serious. Arnav couldn't believe it. Khushi really thought that she was boring, that she was just another fly on the wall. In his mind, Arnav thought that he should wake NK and Akash up, so the three of them could tell Khushi that her perception of herself was completely wrong. But this was a conversation between the two of them and he was going to end it just between the two of them. Arnav grabbed her hand to stop her from pacing again. She turned to look at him.

Honesty emanated from his eyes as he said, "You're not boring."

Khushi paused before she rolled her eyes at the comment.

"You are not boring, Khushi," he pulled her so she was fully facing him and let go of her hand as her full attention was now on him. "You just think you are. You came here, to Manali, with two friends in the spur of the moment. You agreed to join three guys who are complete strangers to you. Most girls in India would never do what you did because of the way people are nowadays. We practically in an action scene from a movie when we were running away from those goons. You have guts. Stop feeling bad for yourself, and do something about it. Enjoy life. Happiness isn't given to you on a platter. Sometimes you have to reach out and steal it."

Khushi felt a warmth radiate in her heart. She was staring at Arnav, her doe-like eyes stuck on his face, thinking about what he had just said. She had never seen herself from the perspective of someone else until today. And as Arnav spoke, Khushi couldn't figure out if he was just crazy...or if he was the only one who ever really understood her. She had never been so complimented before in her life, not even by Lavanya or Payal. But here was Arnav, the stranger she had just met three days ago, talking about her as if he had known her for years. It was endearing to hear such things especially from him, because it made her realize that she was coming out of her shell.

Arnav waited for Khushi to say something. She had been staring at him for a good four minutes now in complete and utter silence. Her face was expressionless, making him wonder if he had crossed a boundary somewhere in his small speech. They were still facing each other, and the flames of the fire still seemed to be holding on as it made both of them glow. Arnav was about to say something with the unimaginable happened. A smile spread on Khushi's face, one that was accompanied with a beautiful glimmer in her eyes. The image was so unreal that Arnav blinked a few times to make sure he wasn't imagining it. But it was real. Khushi was actually smiling...wholeheartedly smiling! This made Arnav smile too, with the same vigor as her.

"One more thing," he said. "You should smile like this more often."

"Really?" she asked curiously.

"Yeah. Do you even realize how dangerous your smile is? If I had a heart, I would have probably fallen prey to you!"

Khushi couldn't help but laugh at the response, which made Arnav laugh as well. When it died down the smile was still on her face, as it was on his.

"Thank you Arnav," she spoke. "I really think I needed to hear that."

Arnav mischievously grinned, "Just a thank you? I'm going to need more than that for cheering you up."

Her eyes widened, "...W-what?"

"...Khushi relax, I don't want to eat you."

Khushi's gaze softened a little, "Then?"

There was a pause, "I want...your name. Tell me your full name."

She grinned, "Khushi. Khushi Kumari Gupta."

Arnav nodded then extended his hand out, "Arnav. Arnav Singh Raizada."

Khushi takes his hand and shakes it, formalizing an official introduction. When they pulled their hands away, Khushi looked at the fire, which had almost completely burnt out. As Arnav glanced at the pile of ash, he realized it was almost pitch black around them and he turned on his flashlight.

"We should get some sleep," he stated. "We have to get up early if we want to catch a ride into town."

"It's going to be crazy tomorrow," Khushi responded.

"What do you expect? It's Holi. I'll see you in the morning."

"You too. Night."

"Night."

Arnav and Khushi turned in opposite directions and went into their respective tents, but not before taking one quick glance over their shoulders at each other.

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Okay, so that's it for this update! It was just like Ranbir and Deepika in YJHD, with a little revision! Let me know what you thought by leaving your comments and feedback below!

Next update: Holi Hai! Witness the drama, the bhaang, and the mast!

Thanks for reading!