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

CHAPTER 4: REVENGE OF A RAIZADA

Revenge! It was revenge on his mind. Arnav Singh Raizada had a mission on his hand. He had been tolerating that irritating classmate of his since a long time. He had been landing into detentions which was something that never happened to him. And this mere chit of a girl had managed to land him there for 3 consecutive days. He had it enough. It was time for some payback now.

Arnav saw Khushi keeping things in her locker. He smirked. He had a perfect plan on his mind. As he saw Khushi walk away, he looked around to make sure he was alone at the moment. He quietly sneaked in front of her locker. Her locker had a small lock attached to it. He looked around again. He removed a hair pin from his bag which he had "stolen" according to his sister and burrowed according to him and inserted it. After struggling for few moments, the lock snapped open. "BINGO!" he air punched.

Arnav removed a small packet of white powder from his bag. He spread the contents of the powder inside her sports wear which laid in her locker in its glory, "Khushi Gupta, you are so in trouble. Itching powder is just something what I needed." He heard some footsteps. He immediately closed the locker and locked it using the same hair pin and scurried off without being noticed. Now all he had to do was wait for the sports class which was due in 2 hours.

...

Khushi was walking by the corridor for the class. She saw some of her classmates standing and whispering looking at her. she was confused. What the hell was happening? As she walked further, she saw some girls giggling while others eying her as if they were ready to pounce on her. she shrugged it off but somewhere, it was definitely making her uneasy.

She entered the class. The moment it happened, she saw all her classmates go silent for a moment and then suddenly she could hear some whispers. Now this was annoying. What the hell really happened? She saw Lavanya smiling at her nervously. She kept her books on the desk and sat next to her, "spill it out fast"

"what? I have nothing to spill"

"I know you very well Lavanya baby. So, instead of playing around the bush, I would like to know what is really happening."

"khushi, there is nothing..." Lavanya tried to dodge her question but Khushi was in no mood to let it go, "now means NOW"

"everybody-thinks-that-there-is-something-going-on-between-you-and-arnav" Lavanya said quickly.

"what? give a break between words la. What the hell is happening?"

"everybody thinks there is something going on between you and Arnav" Lavanya said stretching on every word and closed her eyes immediately. She waited for Khushi to react but she didn't. she opened her eyes slowly, "are you alright?" the moment lavanya asked this, Khushi burst out laughing, "damn! Damn! Damn! So this is what is happening. Everyone thinks..." Khushi laughed till she had tears in her eyes.

"whats there to laugh in this? I thought you would be angry" Lavanya said annoyingly. Khushi wiped her tears, "I am laughing because that's the biggest joke of the year, no scratch that, century, no scratch even that, it must be universe. Me and bratty Raizada?" she laughed again.

"you are seriously not angry?" she asked again to confirm it. Khushi shook her head indicating no, "nope, I am not. Who cares la. They are rumors. Ignore it." Lavanya looked away immediately. Khushi knew there was more to it, "spill it out, la. And this time completely"

"actually, after yesterday's fiasco, our classmates felt that Arnav likes you. You know the note was full of praises"

"so what? that was written by me"

"I know. You know. Not them"

"and?"

"you know that loser Tia? She found a note addressed to certain K' by certain ASR' on your desk and it wasn't a note, it was a love letter"

"Fudge! We have many girls with the initial K and we have 4 freaking ASR in our class- Arnav Singh Raizada, Akshay Singh Raizada, Arun Sinha Rai and Avik Shetty Roy! How the hell they can assume that the letter is for me by that brat? Forget that, who the hell wrote that letter? I swear if its that Raizada, he is so in trouble"

"it is Raizada!"

"Arnav, you are dead" Khushi stood but immediately but Lavanya stopped her, "wait! Its not Arnav. its Akshay."

"Freaking hell" Khushi muttered. She looked at Lavanya who was longing to say something more, "spit it out, la"

"err...actually that letter was for Kiara by Akshay. He wrote K and ASR as initials. He had actually kept the letter on her desk"

"which happens to be in front of us" khushi said

"yes..and somehow that letter flew at our desk. Tia assumed it be for you"

"how can a letter fly'? how the hell do you know this, anyways?"

"Akshay confessed. He said he was sorry" lavanya smiled nervously

"he is dead. CHICKEN COME OUT. WHERE ARE YOU?"

...

Akshay had finally gotten guts to confess his little crush to Kiara. Ofcourse, he didn't have a bone to confess it at her face. So, he had written a letter. He had made sure to come early to the school and keep it on her desk. And soon the class started filling up with the students. He had been keeping an eye on the letter and soon he saw the letter flying. It landed near Khushi's desk. Before he could get to the letter, Tia picked it up. He had seen her reading the letter. And then he knew, he was in big trouble.

Few minutes later, he realised that there was a buzz in the class something about Khushi and his brother. And then it hit him, the letter had K and ASR as initials and now he was in biggest trouble. He had gone to Lavanya who had been standing in the class shocked due to the latest buzz. He had confessed everything and apologized. He couldn't face Khushi and definitely not his brother. So, he did what he could. He hid under the desk.

He had been under the desk for around 15 minutes when he heard Khushi scream. He flinched. He closed his eyes shut and didn't even think to open it anytime soon when he felt someone poke him. he knew who it was. He slowly opened his eyes and saw Khushi spitting fire at him.

"COME OUT THIS INSTANT, CHICKEN" Khushi yelled. Akshay gave a sheepish smile and came out, "I am sorry"

"sorry? sorry? do you have any idea what you have done?" she said exasperated

"sorry, Khushi"

"don't sorry me, chicken. Clear my name this instant"

"i...I cant" he said

"why?" she asked. Akshay gave a nervous smile. Khushi rolled her eyes, "ofcourse. I should have known. You are afraid. You are a chicken. Wait? Does your brother know?"

"NO! he doesn't. the moment he comes to know, he will kill me"

"good. You deserve it" she snapped back.

"Khushi, forget it. its not a big deal" He smiled. Khushi glared at him, "not a big deal? You think my name attached to your brother is not a big deal? You are so dead. Chicken" she walked towards him while Akshay took a step back. As soon as Akshay realised that Khushi is still walking towards him, he ran. He ran for his life. As he ran in the whole class, Khushi chased him around, "you chicken, stop right there" Khushi picked up some chalks and started throwing at him, "you chicken rotten egg. Why are you running away now"

Khushi threw the chalk again but this time, it hurt someone else.

"what the"

And she knew who it was. Arnav glared at her as the chalk hit him," what are you doing with these chalks?"

"Ask your brother, brat. Look what he has done"

"now what?"

"CHICKEN COME OUT NOW IF YOU WISH TO SEE YOURSELF ALIVE" Khushi yelled. this time she gained everyone's attention.

"why the hell are you shouting?"

"Look, the boyfriend is here" Arnav heard someone speak looking at him. He looked confused while Khushi was huffing. Khushi let out a frustrated sigh," this is what I am talking about. Our classmates thinks we are a couple"

"what the! what rubbish"

"Ask your brother"

Arnav looked around and saw Akshay standing in the farthest corner giving a nervous smile. he signalled him to come near him. Akshay sighed and walked upto him.

"care to explain?" Arnav said

"I am sorry. I swear I didn't do it purposely"

"out with it now"

And Akshay began narrating the story. To say Arnav was shocked would be an understatement. He was furious. Akshay hung his head low, "I am sorry"

Arnav glared at him," for the first time in my life, I am happy with what Gupta is doing. you deserve every bit of it" he sauntered off while Khushi gave him a evil grin, "CHICKEN. I am going to roast you now and then feed you to stray dogs" And with that Khushi took off running behind him while Akshay ran for his life.

...

The sports class was here. Every student had changed into their sports uniform. From the time khushi had worn her uniform, she had been feeling uneasy. She was feeling to itch at various places. She ignored it. she stood in the girls line. Today there were to play throw ball and this was boys v/s girls match. She gave a glance to Arnav who gave her a smug look.

Arnav was excited. His plan was finally in action. Few minutes more and Khushi would be scratching herself. He couldn't wait. He took his position on one side of the net while girls stood on the other side. He had a constant eye on Khushi and with the look on her face, he knew that the powder had started to show its effect.

Khushi was throwing ball when she felt her skin burn and at the same time itch. She couldn't take it anymore. She scratched at a place or two but that only increased her problem. She gave up. she started scratching her hand and neck roughly. Her classmates gave her a eww' look. Some started laughing. She saw boys making fun of her. Her eyes watered immediately. As if the itching wasn't enough, her classmates were making fun of her now. she immediately ran towards washroom when she realised a tear rolling down her cheek.

Arnav who had been observing her since a long time smirked. his plan worked. She was humiliated like he was in the class. Now it was time for the final hit. As he saw Khushi running towards the washroom, he followed her. He saw her entering into the washroom which was in the extreme corner of the school. Perfect. He knew she would go there as that was the nearest to the play ground. But being in the extreme corner of the school, students hardly came there. As he saw the door close, he quietly locked it from outside, "have fun" and he walked off.

...

Khushi felt her whole body burn and itch. She took some soap and washed her hands, face and legs. She felt better but she still felt like scratching at some places. But she was fine now. she could endure it. She decided to change her clothes back. After wiping herself dry, she tried to open the door, but to her horror, it was locked. She banged the door, "HELP ME"

"SOME ONE HELP ME"

"I AM STUCK HERE"

"OPEN THE DOOR"

"I AM LOCKED"

She kept banging and hitting the door but there was no response. She felt tears rolling down her cheeks. Never in her life, she felt so vulnerable. "help me, please" she whimpered.

...

Arnav was happy. He had finally taken his revenge. Khushi Gupta would never mess with him again. but at the same time he had some guilt. Did he go overboard with it? was it too much? His heart said yes but his mind said otherwise and his mind won the debate. No! he didn't go overboard. She did deserve it. once the school is over, he would unlock her and hopefully she would learn her lesson. He grimaced. She would realise what are the consequences of pranks.

Arnav sat throughout the lectures but he couldn't concentrate. And soon it was time to leave for school. He was about to leave the classroom when he saw Lavanya sitting worriedly packing her bag. He knew why she was worried yet he walked upto her, "what happened? Are you alright?"

"yes I am fine" she said

"and where is gupta? I cant find her. why was she absent for rest of the day?" he pretended to know her whereabouts

"she wasn't well. I guess she bunked the lecture. Must be in the infirmary. I will just go and check on her" she left immediately.

...

Khushi was afraid. She was hungry. And her skin was burning now. She could see some red patches on her skin now, all thanks to the scratching.

"help me please" she yelled for the last time and then gave up. Suddenly, the lights went out. she jumped in fear. It was dark. Sheer dark. She tried the switches but there was no response. She looked around to find a window but there was none. She panicked.

Darkness. She had always been afraid of dark right from the age of 5. Everytime when she was afraid, her brother had always been there to take care of her. But today she was alone.

"HELP ME. I AM LOCKED" she banged the door. she felt her heart beat rising. She felt like the darkness would engulf her. she sat in one corner and hugged her knees tight, "help me. I hate darkness" she whispered to herself. "I will be fine. I will be fine. No one will harm me" she kept chanting to herself and didn't even realise when she felt unconscious.

...

Arnav scurried off to the washroom where he had locked Khushi. it was extremely dark now. "may be there is some electricity problems" he thought. He unlocked the door and knocked it slightly to make sure she hears it. he hid behind a nearby pillar. He waited for some moments for her to come out. but she didn't. was she alright? He knocked the door, "khushi?" but there was no response. He thought whether he should go in or not. He finally gave up and opened the door. He walked in. it was very dark. "how can it be so dark like midnight even in the afternoon?" he thought. He tried the switch, but it wasn't working. There was definitely some electricity problem. He walked further when he hit something and to his horror, Khushi laid there, unconscious.

"Khushi? DAMN!"