ArHi FF: Journey To Love CH 4 PG 27 *SEPT 11*- Page 9

CHAPTER 3: FACETS OF LOVE

School days are best days of our life. This is the place where we make friends who may last for few days, few years or may be a life time. And finding true love in school? Is that even possible? Yes, it is possible. Everything was possible for Anjali Singh Raizada. Four years. She has been dating him since 4 years but it feels just like yesterday when she met him. And today, she suddenly realized that this is the last year when they would be in same class. Yes, this year was the crucial year for them. It was their class 10 boards. This is the same year where one lays down their foundation for a better career.

Anjali had been lost in her own musings with little tears in her eyes. Sameer was observing her since a long time and when he saw tears, he gave up. He wiped the single drop that threatened to fall from her eyes. As his fingers touched her face, Anjali came back to the current world.

"What happened?" Sameer asked. That's it. Anjali started wailing loudly gaining the attention of the fellow students in the canteen. Sameer was flabbergasted with this reaction, "Anju? Stop crying. What happened?"

"This is our last year"

"What?"

"THIS IS OUR LAST YEAR" Anjali yelled

"I know. So? You should be happy that finally we will be out of school."

"Exactly, out of school. No you and me together, studying and frolicking around" she sniffed

"So what?"

"You will forget me"

"I will never forget you"

"Sachchi?"

"Muchchi. No matter where we go, we will be together for life" he said wiping her tears

That morning, some promises were made. But would they last forever? Time would tell

...

Meera sighed for the umpteenth time while looking out of the window. She could see her sister along with her classmates outside playing. But her eyes was stuck on one person. Akshay. He was playing basketball. Her eyes never left him. His smile, his laugh, his anger, everything made her sigh. She felt her partner nudge her again, "what is it, Aditi? Can't you see I am busy?"

"And what's so interesting outside Meera that is keeping you so busy?" she heard her Science professor speak.

CRAP

Meera glared at her partner as if saying why-didn't-you-warn-me-look. She saw her shrug. She sighed," sorry Ma'am"

"What were you doing?"

"I was looking outside" Meera blurted while the class laughed.

"I very well know you were looking outside. My question is what you were looking at?" she asked

Meera sighed, "Air, ma'am"

"Air? I didn't knew we could see AIR"

"I was feeling the air, ma'am. The weather is so pleasant"

"Ms. Meera, why don't you leave the class and FEEL the air properly, at the same time enjoy the PLEASANT weather" she said sarcastically.

"Sorry, ma'am"

"LEAVE"

Meera immediately scurried off her class.

...

The next lecture was about to start in few minutes. Khushi saw Arnav sitting few benches behind her along with his cousin Akshay. She smiled to herself and gave an evil smirk to Lavanya who was looking at her curiously. Before she could speak anything, they saw their History professor entering the class.

"What's going on in your mind?" Lavanya whispered. Khushi smiled, "nothing" Lavanya rolled her eyes, "it is anything but nothing. Please, don't do anything that will land you in trouble again. You already are having detention since two days, I hope you are not planning to get another one. It is history again. Please don't do something stupid"

"We will see"

FEW MINUTES LATER

The class yawned. The lecture was boring, as usual. Some students were dozing off while some were passing chits. Khushi found this moment appropriate. She took out a notebook and tore a page. She looked at her professor once. He seemed busy. She scribbled something on the paper. She saw lavanya giving what-are-you-doing look. Khushi winked at her. She made a ball of the paper and kept aside while took out some more spare papers. She made a ball of all the papers.

Khushi kissed the ball and threw it behind her. It landed on some random classmate's forehead. He looked around and opened the ball. There was nothing written on it. He shrugged and threw it randomly. Now this landed on someone else's forehead.

Lavanya realized what Khushi was doing, "you are so in trouble again. I bet it" Khushi gave her a smug look and threw many more paper balls randomly. Now, almost whole class took a fascination towards the paper balls while the history professor was lost in his own imaginary world of history. This time, Khushi picked up the same ball where she had scribbled something and aimed at her bratty Raizada. It directly hit his forehead.

Arnav Singh Raizada who was busy listening to the professor ignoring the paper ball fight was annoyed when a ball hit his forehead. The moment ball hit him, his eyes fell on Gupta who winked at him and stuck her tongue out. He was about to throw the same ball at her when he heard her speak, "Sir, look, Arnav is throwing paper balls at me writing stupid notes on it"

"What the" he thought. He saw professor giving him angry looks. And he knew what it looked it. He gave Khushi you-are-dead look, "sir, she is lying. I didn't throw any paper ball at her and I am definitely not writing notes to her"

"It doesn't look like that to me" the professor eying the paper ball in his hand, "why don't you come here and read out what is written in that note."

"But sir, this isn't mine and I haven't written this"

"Mr. Raizada, do as I say or be ready for another detention" he looked at the class and saw some paper balls, "others are going to clean this mess after this class"

Arnav gave angry looks to Khushi and stood near the white board. He opened the crumpled paper. The moment his eyes fell on first line, he looked at Khushi throwing daggers while she shrugged.

"We are waiting. Come on. Make it fast"

Arnav sighed and started reading the note,

"Khushi O Khushi, you are the best

Everyone in front of you is like a pest

You are miss world, you are miss universe,

You are the only one, the precious on this earth

You are beautiful, you are witty, and you are smart

You would define uniqueness of any art

You, Khushi Gupta, rocks

While I, Arnav Singh Raizada is a jerk!!"

As the Arnav completed the note, the class laughed with oohs and aahs at regular intervals. Khushi laughed holding her stomach. "I didn't write this" Arnav yelled

"Then who wrote this interesting piece of art?" the professor asked

"Gupta did"

"No sir, he is lying" Khushi stood up immediately

"No you are lying"

"I don't lie, bratty Raizada"

"Gupta, this is the biggest lie you have ever said"

"Get a life brat. I have better things to do" Khushi snorted

"I can see that. Writing such beautiful notes are definitely better things to" he said sarcastically

"Raizada, you..."

"ENOUGH" the professor yelled, "This is the third time I am saying this. DETENTION after class. Now get out"

"But"

"GET OUT! NOW!"

...

"Gupta, this is the third time I am sitting here. You have had your chance. Now it's my turn. Beware. My eyes are on you. And this time, you are going to be in serious trouble" Arnav said

"We will see"

"We will definitely see, Gupta"

...

Arnav walked into his house tired. It was definitely a tiring day. He immediately laid on his bed and closed his eyes. Araina walked into his room and saw his son sleeping. She sat next to him and caressed his forehead. Arnav smiled and kept his head on her laps with his eyes still closed.

"Tired?" he heard his mother ask. Arnav smiled," not anymore"

"So, what happened today? Another detention?"

Arnav snapped his eyes open," how do you know?" She laughed, "I am your mother. Tell me what happened" He sighed, "she is crazy ma. She irritates the hell out of me. You know what she did today? She..." and he continued to relay today's events. Araina laughed, "She is amazing. I like her already"

"So you told me already" he snorted. She chuckled, "I am sure she isn't doing this purposely. You must have definitely done something." Arnav looked at her in disbelief," whose ma are you? Mine or her?"

"I am your mother. That's why I am saying this. You must have definitely done something" She ruffled his hair

"Maaa!" he whined, "don't mess my hair"

"But I like doing this" she ruffled again and laughed

"Maa!"

...

Khushi saw her mother after a whole one week. She had been off to some place for vacation. A big smile appeared on her face, "AMAAA" she yelled and hugged her. Her mother, Sunaina Gupta hugged her back, "khushi, how are you? And please don't call me Amma. It sounds so...so...bad?" She laughed. Before Khushi could say something, her mother continued, "Anyways, I am getting late. I have an important function to attend. I will meet you later. I came to drop my luggage. Bye, baby. Take care" and the very next moment, her mother took off.

Khushi felt her eyes burn with tears, "I am fine, Amma" she whispered to herself. A tear rolled down her cheek. She immediately wiped it off. This was a routine. Then why did it still hurt? She saw her brother looking at her. He shook his head indicating not to cry and spread his arms wide. She ran to her brother, hid her face in his chest and cried, "Why? Why us, Bhai?"

"I don't know, honestly. Don't cry. Not for them. Khush, we don't need anyone. We are enough for each other." He said while taking Meera too in a group hug who was standing quietly in the corner.

"I love you both" Khushi mumbled

"We Love you too" Meera and Sameer said in unison.