6:00 AM, Bed
Shit happens. It's the way of life. Either you can moan and bitch about it or you can rise above, wash it away and leave with your head held high.
That second option is dumb.
I'm dying.
I hate my life.
I want to jump off a cliff.
HAI DEVI MAIYYA.
"Khushi stop talking to yourself, it's just a cold. Have these tablets and go to college."
Did I mention I hate my life?
7:30 AM, Home
"Khushi, where are you?" A stoic voice broke through the phone.
"I'm dying."
The stupid Laad Governor didn't even miss a beat.
"Oh?"
My rather loud sniffle and subsequent sneezing must have given it away. But whatever ..he could at least pretend to feel sorry. Stupid Laad Governor.
"You're sick?"
I sighed. Okay, so I was probably stretching it a bit much. Arnav wasn't aware of my overly whiny side and the poor guy didn't deserve to be put through it at such early stages of our delicate friendship. (Friendship where he kissed me once but who cares we're pretending it didn't happen).
"It's just a cold. Don't worry about it. I'll catch the bus today. I can't hold a camera on my best day let alone when I'm bleary eyed and sniffling."
Without even so much as a take care Khushi' or I promise to bring your favourite flowers to the funeral', the line went dead.
And that's why we'll never work out, do you hear me? NEVER.
8:00 AM,Bus
"Ew stay away from me Khushi, I don't want to catch whatever you have."
Right. Way to boost up a girl's confidence Priya. Really, I'm eternally grateful.
9:30 AM, Creative Writing.
"Khushi, please let the class know about your progress on the project."
"Well actually..."
Thirty pairs of eyes were fixed intently on me.
Oh SHIT.
"Yes you see it's all very.. well secret."
"Secret you say, Miss Gupta?"
She looked at me like I was speaking Greek.
"An..air of mystery. Suspense. It's so..um..mind-blowing..it'll well..blow your mind. Obviously. And there will be lot's of blowing up as well. Oh yeah. What mystery is complete without something going boom..."
"Suspense."
"Ermm. Yes."
She looked at me for a bit, trying to decide if she should send me to the nearest mental asylum.
"If I don't have the full abstract of your project on Monday, Miss Gupta, rest assured that you will no longer need to attend this class."
Great.
Just. Great.
11:30 AM, Free Hour
You know what can cheer up a sick girl? Hot soup. They're the best. That spicy aroma that can straight up clear your blocked nose, the hot liquid down your throat, soothing and killing the annoying beast that's been having a party with the back of your tongue.
"Hey Khushi, I just got some soup from the cafeteria, you look like you need it more." With an easy smile and the heart of an angel, Anil, bless his soul, handed it over to me.
"I love you."
"Don't I know it." He said almost wincing. Hm. He pulled up a chair and sat down opposite to me, on the other side of the table.
"So I heard about your night of doom with the Raizadas."
Cough. Choke. Splutter. Yep attractive thy name is Khushi. Still trying to recover from my mini Final Destination moment, I answered his implied question with a noncommittal "Hmmm"
"So it's going to be like that now?"
"Hmmm."
"Khushi, I've known Arnav my entire life. I've known Anjalie my entire life too. They don't see eye to eye on a lot of things and one of those things was Shyam."
I looked at him quizzically, wondering why he was telling me these things. Their whole clique was so close knit and so unforthcoming with information that this was a huge surprise, especially since it was coming from Anil. The same Anil who was practically Arnav's shadow.
"Arnav blames himself a lot for what happened to her. That he wasn't able to put his foot down and tell her what she was doing was wrong. Shyam isn't like every other rich kid here, you know?"
"What does that mean?"
"He was adopted when he was 10. Lived on the streets, practically, before that. Because he knows how it is to have nothing, he'll do anything to make sure he always has what he wants. He's crazy"
"That's what Arnav said, that Shyam is crazy."
"He's not wrong. Shyam feels he's obliged to everything, that it's the universe's way of paying him back for the first 10 years of his life."
I looked at him, trying to digest this new found information. I feel like every new piece of information only led to more questions. Was Shyam a crazy person who'd become obsessed with me? Did he want me?
A sudden chill settled down my spine.
"Does.. does he want me?"
Anil looked sharply at me. His gaze hardening. He pushed his chair back and stood up.
"Khushi that's not what I meant. Just stay away from him. That's all I'm saying. He's not the kind of guy you can go sleuthing about for fun. Okay?"
He looked pointedly at me expecting an affirmation. I gave him a, you guessed it, "Hmmm"
1:00 PM, Political Science
Ever since I was a child I really enjoyed going into the little woods near the vacation house that bauji rented out during summer. I was Nancy Drew solving a new exciting mystery, complete with holding my finger gun against Payal's head, for she was always roped into my plans, and crying out - ah ha take that, you evil crook.
I think I'm ready to channel that part of me again.
5:00 PM, In Jerk's car
I don't know why he's seething. I'm the one who's mad, why is he acting all prissy? Look at the rakshas, I can see the steam from his ears...And his jaw is clenched too. Hmmm it's a nice jaw.
WAIT NO. Ugly. He's ugly. Well his personality is. Humph. Why can't people with ugly personalities also be ugly? Pshh.
I guess I should give some perspective?
So after class I decided.. well, to sleuth around. Don't give me that look; I've never had actual stuff to sleuth about before. You try to sit all nice in your home while a creepy creepster is (might possibly ish) be after you. What? You'd stay away? Pshhh. LIARS. Every one of you.
So yes, I knew Shyam had tennis practice because, well, Arnav had tennis practice and by the use of logic, of which I'm amply gifted, I guessed right.
Of course the main problem I had undermined was not being spotted by Arnav. The guy has spidy sense when it comes to me, I swear.
Case in point - I was hiding behind a nice big tree, occasionally peeping, some 50 meters away from the tennis courts, near the locker rooms. I kid you not, he stopped mid serve and turned around. Then he directly looked at the tree and shook his head. That condescending jerk.
So anyway, I pointedly ignored his knowing stare. He probably always showed attitude towards poor lonesome trees because there's no way he could have spotted me.
What I did uncover was tennis practices are deathly boring. Put the ball up, hit, repeat. Yawn. I almost fell asleep right there.
Moving on, what's my plan? You know how in almost every action movie ever the hero just happens to be at the right place at the right time to garner vital information?
Yep. That.
I knew I had a narrow time frame and an even narrower space to complete this daunting task. You see if, in fact, Shyam was obsessed with me, he'd have pictures of me framed everywhere, right? Right. So all I wanted was a nice little peep into his locker. Easy peasy. No harm. No foul.
What I didn't anticipate was one Mr. BossyPants to ruin my genius plan. The jerk's main aim was to ruin everything. EVERYTHING.
As the infinitely long practice finally came to an end, I went and hid behind the perfectly shadowed alcove behind the open door which conveniently opened inwards. From there the lockers were perfectly visible but I was well hidden. All I had to do was wait for Shyam to step into the shower leaving his locker open because the poor sod had no clue about my sleuthing expertise and BAMN a quick look, mystery solved.
And I would have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for that meddling brat.
As the perfect time slot approached. And everyone left to shower. I stepped in. The gold pot was clearly in sight.
Except.
It was roughly snatched away.
Or rather I was roughly snatched away. I was pulled back into the alcove and a hand closed around my mouth stopping my scream.
"Shhh."
He was too close. Way too close. I couldn't breathe. No I mean I literally couldn't breathe. I bit down hard on his hand.
"Ouchhh. What the?"
"Let go of me."
That only spurred him on. In one quick motion he had me against the wall and with nowhere to escape.
"What are you doing, Khushi?
"What's it to you Arnav?"
Oh my. Ahem. I never quite understood the term "losing the cool" as much as I did now.
Because he lost it. Like all of it.
"Are you completely and utterly insane? You don't know anything. You never listen. Your sole aim is to drive me up the god damn wall."
"Well glad we have that sorted out."
He closed his eyes, as if praying for patience. Psh. He opened them and then his hands dropped from the wall on the side of me to my waist, pulling me closer.
"You're not going to stop are you?"
"Nope."
A smirk lined his face. Remember that bi-polar behaviour I was talking about?
"You really shouldn't have said that."
I gulped.
"Well,um,that is... what...what can you do? Nothing. You can't do a single thing."
"Can't I?"
He moved closer. (How was that even possible?) I had to lean into the wall, turning my face away from him.
Then, mark this, he leaned down and nuzzled me. I kid you not. His breathe was warm on my neck and I felt a slight brush of his lips.
I want to die. Oh my god. I think I'm actually dying. I'm in heaven.. no Hell. I meant hell. This is hell.
His hands moved up to small of my back and he pulled me forward. His warmth seeped through me and my head was tucked under his chin.
We were hugging. In case you're confused. I know - what the f***?
"I know you love me Khushi, I love you too."
...
...
...
.
.
...
...
...
Then he moved away. I just stood there (being dead and all, not like I could move.)
Then he turned his head and his expression morphed into a cold mask. I glanced up and go on take your best guess. Who do you think was standing there?
Shyam.
Oh. My God.
"Come on Khushi, let's go."
I let myself be dragged because what's a girl to do? There's only so much your brain can take before it short circuits.
We walked out and began heading towards the gates. Funny how a little distance can give clarity. I was going to kill him. I know I've said this many times but this time I actually mean it.
I roughly pulled my hands away from his grasp.
"You.. you Neanderthal! What are you going to do now? Piss on me? How dare you... How f***ing dare you."
"You're over reacting." He was regarding me coolly. Like this was normal as hell situation.
"Did you just stage a love confession? Why?"
"Who said it was staged?" He smiled and tried to move closer. Bad effing move.
I braced my hands against his chest and pushed.
"Don't you ever come close to me again.. I can't believe you just.. How dare you.. I can't. Tell me now, why did you do it?"
I knew I was sprouting nonsense. I was fuming and wasn't thinking clearly.
"Okay."
"What.?" I barked at him.
"Okay. You're right. I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?" I asked incredulously.
"Yep"
"Yep?"
And then let's just say it was my turn to truly lose it. I stomped on his foot and the guy just stood there like it didn't hurt at all.
"Ouch." He said sardonically.
"Are you going to tell me why?"
"No."
"Never. I never want to see your face again. I... I hate you!" I turned around and walked away.
If he thought he could do whatever the hell he wanted, well he had another thing coming for him. Khushi Kumari Gupta is not to be trifled with.
Not many people know about the "Khushi - Silent - treatment - level - over - 9000". But Mr Raizada was going to learn first-hand how devastating it can be.
But before that, since it was late, and I didn't have any mode of transportation, instead of walking out, I walked towards his car. If he's going to trample all over my mental stability, the least he can do is give me a ride.
He turned weary and his eyes narrowed as he came towards me. Finally, the fear I wanted to see in his eyes. Well okay not fear but he knew I was going to make him pay and gosh did I love seeing that expression on his face.
"I really am sorry." He said, opening the passenger door.
I'm sure he was. As if. The idiot didn't regret a single thing.
"What do you want me to say, Khushi?"
I don't know... the truth? But I continued to ignore him.
I was looking out the window. I was never going to look at him again. Ever. Or talk to him. Or anything, until he gave me the answers I needed.
Let the games begin.
a/n - There we go chapter 19. Lots of references in this one. How many did you catch? :D
I'm a horrible person, I know. But I would never abandon my first story :') Chin up my readers (that is if any of you are still following this story :').)
If you're still following this story please leave a comment below letting me know how much of a jerk Arnav is. He's a college dude, they're all dumb af. SMH right? He'll come around. Khushi won't back down.
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18