TRUTH OR DARE - Epilogue on Pg 112 [26th Aug '17] COMPLETED - Page 46

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CHAPTER 7

Arnav pulled out his hand from Lavanya's hold and walked ahead leaving Lavanya staring sadly at his back. She hurried ahead and pulled Arnav from behind. "What are you doing, Lavanya?" Arnav was irritated. He pushed her away and kept walking. Lavanya was disappointed seeing this, but she remained silent.

Khushi walked with Lavanya, her mind was full of thoughts, questions, doubts.

"Aaah!" Khushi cried as she fell to the ground having a twist in her ankle.

Arnav instantly turned and rushed back to her. "Khushi?" He knelt down too see what had happened. "Are you alright? Let me see!" he said, worried, as he say Khushi wince in pain.

Lavanya was green with envy seeing Arnav care so much for Khushi. She clenched her fists in jealousy and fury as she saw Arnav holding Khushi's foot gently and trying to make it move to check what had happened. By that time, the others too had gathered around Khushi.

"Is the pain bearable?" asked Arnav observing Khushi's expressions as he tried rotating her foot. He stopped immediately when Khushi pursed her lips shutting her eyes tight as she felt the pain. "Okay okay... relax..." said Arnav.

"Oh ASR, she will be alright!" said Lavnya, "Don't be such a spoilsport Khushi. Get up now.."

Khushi was surprised by Lavanya's words. The others too were shocked to hear Lavanya say that. That was rude!

"Don't you see she is in pain?" said Arnav, not liking the way Lavanya spoke to Khushi.

"But ASR, it's just a small twist.. What is there to..."

"Don't worry Khushi, you will be fine soon" said Arnav ignoring Lavanya completely.

NK quickly took out the first-aid box from his backpack. Arnav wound the crepe bandage around Khushi's ankle as the others watched.

"Khushi, let me take you back to the farmhouse..." he said taking the keys from Aman. "You guys move on. I will stay with Khushi"

Lavanya couldn't believe this was happening. She didn't want Arnav to go back to the farmhouse, and that too with Khushi... no way! "I will also go with Arnav and Khushi!" she said at once.

Arnav glanced at NK telling him to handle the situation.

"La, Khushi will be fine with Arnav... You need not worry so much for her..." NK said sarcastically. Everyone controlled their laughter. "Come on, La! The spot we are going to is too good to be missed for no reason. You must come with us..."

NK somehow convinced Lavanya to go with him and the others, and not with Arnav and Khushi.

Meanwhile, Arnav helped Khushi stand up, but she wasn't able to keep her foot on the ground. "I don't think you will be able to walk the distance even with support..." said Arnav seeing Khushi's condition. The others too agreed, except Lavanya.

Without another thought, Arnav lifted Khushi in his arms and nodding to others for approval he began walking back towards the farmhouse.

*****

Khushi was in his arms, her one hand around his neck and the other tightly holding the collar of his T-shirt. Arnav was silently walking ahead as Khushi looked at him with feelings unknown to her. Her eyes were set on his face. He is so caring! I didn't know he is such a kind-hearted person. He came back for me! She felt like never leaving him. A drop of sweat from Arnav's face fell on Khushi's hand. She realised that Arnav was sweating profusely, he was tired though he didn't want to show it.

"Arnav..." said Khushi.

"Mmm?" Arnav kept walking.

"Let me down"

Arnav stopped at his place. "What happened, Khushi?"

"You must be very tired and your arms must be aching, I know..."

"No, not a problem... We are half way through... We will be there by another 10-15 minutes"

"Listen to me Arnav... Let me down, let's take rest for a while"

"I am not tired at all" he said panting, as he began walking ahead.

Khushi smiled. She knew Arnav would not accept that he was tired and he needed rest. "You are not, but I am" she said, "My body is aching now staying in the same position for so long. Time please!"

Both laughed. Arnav carefully placed Khushi on a rock by the side and began stretching his arms.

"You are not tired at all, are you?" said Khushi with a smirk.

"Umm... A little" said Arnav with a smile.

"Have some water" said Khushi handing him the bottle of water from his sack.

"Thanks!"

Khushi watched as Arnav gulped the water. She insisted that she will try and walk with Arnav's support. Arnav reluctantly agreed.

Reaching the farmhouse, Arnav lifted Khushi and climbed the little staircase to reach her room. He carefully placed her on the bed. As he was about to move away he felt a pull on his neck as Khushi had tightly held his collar. Khushi left it at once feeling embarrassed.

"Take rest, I will take a quick wash and be back" he said.

*****

Arnav looked at Khushi as she slept peacefully. He silently sat beside her on a chair watching her innocent face. Khushi opened her eyes to find Arnav staring at her. And he didn't move even after she woke up. Seeing this, she tried to sit up but felt pain in her foot. Arnav supported her to sit up resting her back on the back-rest.

"Feeling better?" he asked.

"Hmm"

Khushi looked around and realised the others had not returned yet. She was alone with Arnav at the farmhouse. She should have felt insecure or scared. But she did't. She felt so safe with Arnav. She didn't mind him being so close to her. What was this? Why did she trust him so much?

Arnav gave her some water to drink. "We are here in this farmhouse, only two of us..." he said trying to scare Khushi.

"So what?"

"Be scared, be really scared!"

"Scared of you? Never!"

"And why is that?" asked Arnav with a glint in his eyes.

Khushi was silent. She had no answer to this question.

"You trust me, Khushi" said Arnav. "You feel safe with me because you know I would never hurt you"

Khushi stared at Arnav with surprise. Is that... true?

"You didn't mind when I touched your foot. You didn't try to stop me when I lifted you in my arms. Why?"

Khushi's heart was beating faster by every word Arnav spoke. The questions Arnav asked her were making her restless. Whatever he said was true. Why didn't I stop him? Khushi's eyeballs were moving constantly in her eyes as she thought over Arnav's words.

"You didn't stop me when I kissed you" he said making Khushi miss a beat.

Why didn't I? How could I do this? Khushi gulped recalling the kiss. I let him kiss me! Oh God! What has happened to me?

"You know why?" Arnav slowly leaned towards Khushi. She stared back into his eyes, her chest heaving with every short breath that she was taking to meet her raising heart beats.

"You are not pushing me away even now" Arnav's husky voice sent shivers across her body. She closed her eyes as Arnav kept closing in. Her lips quivered as she felt his warm breath over her ears. "Because you love me..." he whispered.

Khushi opened her eyes in shock hearing Arnav's words. Arnav moved back. Flashing a mischievous smile at Khushi, he left the room. Khushi was numb yet again. Because you love me... Those words made her cold. Love? "No!" she shouted, "That's not true!"

She saw Arnav standing at the door. "Don't lie to yourself, Khushi" he said with a smile, "You will accept it soon!"

Khushi was scared at the thought of falling in love. I can't fall in love, can I?

*****

On returning to the farmhouse, everyone came to meet Khushi to see whether she was alright. Lavanya waited for everyone to leave the room.

"So, I am sure you are alright. What can happen to you when Arnav is around?" said Lavanya.

Khushi blushed unknowingly when she heard Arnav's name. Lavanya smirked and said, "I am so lucky to have him with me!"

Khushi's eyes went wide in shock. No! This can't be! But then she was surprised seeing that she was so affected by all this. Why should I care? She tried to tell herself. But the thought of Arnav being with someone else was troubling her. Lavanya's face beamed with a feeling of success as she could see she had rightly hit the target. Her evil smile went unseen.

*****

Everyone had gathered around the small camp fire as they sat witnessing the beautiful night sky. Khushi's eyes were searching for Arnav only to realise that he was looking back at her with the same capturing smile. She saw Lavanya sit as close to him as possible. Girlfriend? I must find out!

Everyone suggested of playing "Truth or Dare" and a bottle was brought from inside. Khushi and Arnav were sitting against each other in the game. After a few turns, it was Arnav's turn. Khushi was so excited and so jealous seeing Lavanya sticking to Arnav that she had already decided that she would tell Arnav to come and sit beside her as a dare.

"Truth!" said Arnav looking at Khushi in anticipation.

Truth? Khushi didn't even think twice. "Do you have a girlfriend?" she blurted out, her heart thudding, her body numb, her eyes wet, waiting desperately for Arnav's answer.

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