Chapter 1
GREEN SHEPERD'S HIGH SCHOOL
The school reverberated with all sorts of hustles and bustles. It was one of the busiest inter school competitions. All the participants from the respective schools were busy preparing for the events and the non-participants were having a great time observing them or strolling around and mingling with the students from different schools. That's when a huge throng of students walked into the corridors, trailing behind two guys who looked up to 17-18 years. To say they both were the most good looking chaps among the crowd would be least and they well resembled to be the gang leaders, both wearing white linen t-shirts with black jeans and jackets, manly crisp and perfect. one held a laptop and a backpack , the other had a guitar hung on his back and a metal chain tied around his right palm adorning his fingers and both of them had one of their arms around each other's shoulder as they walked towards the allotted class for their group. "they're from the masters' " whispered a girl to her friend standing beside. "oh my!!! a girl exclaimed. "what ? another asked. "I'm just wondering which one of the two to lay my eyes on came the reply. "aren't they The Firestorm from masters'? they heard a guy ask and the reply to him didn't take another second "any doubt? These guys will bag the prize this year too, "glad it's their last year.
Meanwhile in the auditorium
"khushi.. where are you? a 15 year old Madhu was searching for her best friend for past 15 minutes. They were going to participate in light music and their teacher had been calling them for practice but khushi was nowhere to be seen. "where is this girl gone? She is not even there in the canteen. God , I'm tired of running around. I wish she just magically appears in front of me right this moment Madhu muttered frustrated. "hey ria, did you see khushi somewhere? she asked her classmate seeing her pass by. "yes I saw her going to the main block. She said she had forgotten her music book came the reply. "why cant she just inform me before leaving? Ok ria, thanks she thanked ria and ran towards the main block.
Khushi entered the class to look for her bag and got shocked seeing that group of unknown people had occupied it. "what's it? she heard a girl belonging to the group ask her. "my.. bag. She stammered not able to utter anything to the new faces. "this class has been allotted to us for the practice session. One of your classmate and teacher removed all the bags and belongings from here the girl informed khushi. "ok.. she nodded and turned to look for any of her classmate when she spotted NK near the soft board. NK saw her coming towards him and waved at her. "hey NK, where have they moved our bags to? I need to get my music book , "our bags and all have been shifted to the union room but I suggest you not to go there. He said. "but why? I need to go for practice she asked confused. "umm... the twelfthies from masters' are practicing there and they don't like even a slight disturbance. The ones who disturb, for whatever reason it might be, they're bound to get into trouble. Especially their leaders, those guys are unpredictable. You'll only know after you fall into trouble.he explained. "I'm not scared of them. And why should I be? I need my book and I'll get it. And even if they try to create any trouble, we can complain right? Why should we bear their tortures?, "no one dares to complain about them. And even if someone does no action will be taken against them. You're new to this place that's why you don't know themhe gave the last advice he could. But khushi was least bothered. "I'm going to get my book. Bye NK khushi said and walked off as NK stared at the innocent girl unknowingly walking herself into purgatory and not only herself but pulling someone else too along with her.
Rishab sat correcting the strings of his guitar at a corner, facing the wall, with his back towards the door while arnav had his hands on the drums, practicing with the others in the group. Both very much engrossed in their work when khushi popped in. hearing a knock at the door, arnav looked up irritated to the one who had caused it. But soon his irritated frown slowly faded seeing the nervous yet very pretty intruder. But what attracted him more was her anxiety. She looked so vulnerable which made her more attractive to his eyes and a low smirk formed on his face. Khushi who had walked in with all her courage felt all that slip away from her seeing the strange crowd of seniors. She felt like she had just walked into another planet. And then among all those alien eyes staring at her, she stopped at a particular pair of eyes which unlike the others didn't have an irritated stare. When her eyes landed on his face, she fell into a daze. His physique and handsome features made it unable for her to move her eyes from him and to top it off, his gaze was making her go weak. who could be this handsome creature?', "you need something? his words made her aware of her surroundings. "i.. that.. she stammered not getting words to speak. "yes, what do you want? he urged her to talk. For a moment, Rishab raised his head stopping playing the guitar. He understood that someone had come in, hearing arnav but didn't look back. Usually arnav blasts off the person who dared to disturb them. But listening to his soft tone, he understood this person has caught his interest for entertainment and went back to his guitar. "I came to get my bag. I need my music book she said. "ok. Which one is your bag? arnav asked looking at the bags kept on the corner benches. "the purple one she said pointing to one of the bags lying on top. 'arnav went and picking it up forwarded it to her. khushi was about to take the bag from him when he pulled it back. "before that, we need to take care of your punishment he said smirking at her while his other gang members started hooting and cheering for him. "ppp..punishment?khushi asked shocked. "but for what?, "for disturbing our practice a guy from the group answered. "come on ASR. Show her what happens another girl shouted. Khushi who was already scared went worse seeing him advancing towards her after placing her bag behind him. hey devi mayya, where did I bring myself into?'
"you asked for it. You shouldn't have disturbed us now. And punishing you is inevitable. You must do what I ask for arnav said stepping close as she kept moving back. "what should I do?she asked seeing that there is no more space left for her to move. "you already have knowledge about music I guess, so let's do something different. Dance with me he said forwarding his right palm to her. "WHAT?she shouted shaken. She couldn't believe that a guy elder than her was asking her, a 15 year old teen to dance with him that too infront of his wild moronic gang. "dance else you wont go out of this room anytime soon he finished and she heard the room door close shut. One of them had closed the door. "so let's begin he asked making her look into his eyes and there she got lost. Unknowingly she kept her palm in his as he gestured one of his friends to on the music. They started swaying to the tune with khushi lost in him , and arnav feeling something unusual with this girl so near that they notice the track changing to a fast number. An idea popped up in his mind and he started swaying, turning and twirling khushi very fastly matching the beats. Khushi found it hard to match up to his speed. She was never forced to dance before and his closeness was making her go weak. She hadn't gotten out of the daze completely. As he pushed her a little and pulled her back to him, she tripped on her shoes and fell down. Everyone in the room excluding arnav and Rishab started laughing at her. khushi had never felt this humiliated ever and her eyes filled with tears. She wanted to get out from there at the very moment. She wanted her Madhu.
Madhu had reached her class and saw that it was occupied, also khushi wasn't in there either. She was about to turn around when she heard NK call out to her. "hey Madhu Madhu smiled at him as he strode towards her. "are you looking for khushi?he asked without beating around. "yes. Ria told me she had come here to take her book but didn't find her in the class. Did you see her? do you know where she is? Madhu asked with a bit of hope. "yup she is in the union room he replied. "thanks NK she was about to walk off when he stopped her. "Madhu wait he told her about his conversation with khushi a while ago and that he feared she was in trouble.
Arnav for the first time in his life felt sorry for a stranger. He didn't know why but somewhere inside he knew this time he was wrong. He bend down to help her seeing her struggling to stand up when he heard the door bang open, which was followed by a furious roar "leave her you moron. Khushi looked up smiling through her tears hearing her best friend's voice. The only one she wished to run to at the moment. Everyone in the room looked at the door shocked to see an enraged Madhu throwing daggers at arnav with her glare. They just couldn't believe the audacity of the girl to talk that way to ASR. No one dared to do that. arnav himself stood dumbfounded but someone else was burning now. Rishab stood up and throwing his guitar aside, turned around to blast off the person who dared to mess with his ASR. He won't tolerate anyone saying or doing anything against his best friend. He would make sure that the person faces hell. He turned around with such a rage but froze on spot seeing the angry angel in front of him. She looked nothing less than an angel for him. Her fair and clear skin, doe brown eyes, lovely button nose which was now flaring in anger, and her soft pink lips which quivered on rage, he couldn't help but stare, she looked like a little porcelain doll. Madhu felt an intense gaze pierce through her and turned to the one causing it just to get lost in those intense pair of eyes. Never had she seen such a male beauty before. His silky hair, dark brown eyes, chiseled jaw, brisk and manly physique made her float to another land. he should try getting into movies', "Madhu "she heard her bestie's puzzled call. Where was her savior lost?' tearing her attention from him Madhu went towards khushi to help her up. "why did you come here alone?, "are you all right? first Madhu and then arnav asked making khushi wonder whom to answer first as Madhu glared at arnav and arnav kept staring at khushi. "i... arnav began , out of concern which was forbidden for strangers from him. He didn't know why but this girl didn't seem like others. "who do you think you are? Madhu asked stepping in front of khushi shielding her. "how dare you touch her. play your stunts on someone else. We are not scared of you. Get that? Madhu roared at arnav who looked at her irked. No one talks to him like that. no one. Rishab watched her amused with that trademark smirk of his playing on his lips. feisty. I like it'. "how dare i? I dare a lot arnav replied and pulled on khushi's wrist bringing her close shocking her and the audience. "you.. devil. Madhu raised her hand at arnav but within a fraction of seconds felt both of hands chained at her back and a hot breath fanning her neck. One thing RK won't ever allow, someone trying to hurt his best friend. He was watching her moments closely and the moment he saw her hand begin to raise up, he pulled out his chain, swayed it imprisoning her hands behind her(an art he had solely mastered and patent to him), and pulled her close with her back dashing onto his hard chest, adding more oil to the burning fire. At such times the usual reaction of the victim would be a shock, or screaming "leave me..., "get your hands off me," etc . what she said was , "How did you do that? with a shocked surprise. He didn't answer her but kept staring at her, tilting his head, as if piercing into her soul and she kept staring back. "please leave her khushi cried. She couldn't see her friend getting into trouble because of her, but neither did rk leave her nor shift his gaze. "please we are sorry, leave her. punish me however you want but just let her goarnav felt something prick his heart hearing khushi's pleas. "Rish, let her go. Its fine he said as he himself released his hold on khushi. Khushi looked at arnav a bit shocked with his sudden change in demeanor. "say sorry RK whispered into madhu's ears audible enough for arnav and khushi. "I won't. your friend is the one at fault. Not me she retorted turning her head away. "I said, say sorryhe said raising his voice more louder this time. And I said I wont she hissed back as they started glaring at each other. He pulled her more closer,diving his head in her neck whipering, "I can do a lot more than he did, here infront of everyone. Don't make me do something you will regret. He saw her eyes tear up. Clearly she was disturbed with their proximity. Something melted in him seeing her like that. he loosened the grip but didn't let her go. "sorryshe said with her eyes cast down as she tried to stop her unshed tears from flowing down. He released her from the cuff letting her go. Khushi ran to her side to check whether she was alright. "let's go khushi told Madhu and nodding to her, she walked out along with her, s the boys stood watching their retreating form.
In the canteen
Madhu stared at her food plate, playing with her food, burning within her. she just couldn't take that incident off her mind. It kept coming back to her. her whole day got spoiled coz of that moron. Khushi saw Madhu disinterestedly playing with her food but her eyes told her another story, shone with anger. "I'm sorry Madhu khushi began, softening her gaze she turned to khushi. "I know you're mad at me for going in there without telling you. "yes I'm angry with you. Madhu agreed nodding her head. " but I needed my music book she tried to reason to Madhu. "and that's exactly why I'm angry with you, "hun? But why? khushi asked confused at madhu's reply. "I would've shared my music book with you if you had let me know about it. But no. you didn't. and instead you made run around the whole school looking for you, yourself got insulted in front of the rival team, made me undergo torture from an insane devil , all this for your God damned music book which you wanted so badly but did you take it while leaving that room? NO. you abandoned it there. Then why the heck we had to go through all these? Madhu screamed all riled up making khushi's jaw drop down. "so you where angry at me for not taking my music book? khushi asked back perplexed. "then what? And that devil, how dare he do that to me? I really felt like kicking squarely his face. Just because he looks good and is strong doesn't give him any right to mistreat girls. And what was the other guy doing with you? How did you fall down? And why the hell you sat crying there? You, khushi kumari gupta not giving back to the one who messed with you, how can that possibly happen? Madhu asked hysterically, in a single breath making khushi gape at her even more. "woo... I was a bit distracted. "khushi said casting her eyes down trying to not blush, as she thought about arnav. "distracted? Madhu asked confused and got shocked seeing her friend colour. "you aren't talking about THAT guy, are you? Madhu asked mentioning arnav. "he is good looking khushi shrugged. "khushi ogling at someone other than salman khan? Bappa , where has the world come to? Madhu exclaimed feigning shock earning a nudge from khushi. "I didn't say I like him khushi replied. "only that is left now Madhu said and both started giggling. Suddenly madhu's eyes fell on the gang who came to occupy the opposite table. MR.DEVIL' Madhu saw Rk and started glaring at him as he smirked back. jungli billi, Not bad' he thought. khushi followed madhu's gaze and saw what held her stare, but what caught khushi's attention was arnav who kept staring at her curiously, sitting beside Rishab. When he saw her eyes on him he quickly winked at her making a small blush creep up her cheeks. To avoid him, she looked down and tried concentrating on her food.
In the evening
NK strolled into the manor whistling some randome tune when he heard arnav. "Nandu he called. "its NK, nanav. Haven't I told you not to call me nandu or kishore or krish etc. " NK asked tredding towards arnav. "and haven't I told you not to call me nanav? My name is arnav, not nanav.leave all that, I need to have a talk with you, come to my room. NK was arnav's cousin from his mother's side. They walked into arnav's room to find Rishab laying leisurely on the bed scrolling through his phone. "yes what is that you wanted to ask? NK asked making himself comfortable on the two seater. "hmm, Its about one of your classmate he started nervously. NK frowned seeing the daring ASR nervously sitting infront f him. The CLASSMATE word had also got the attention of another occupant in the room. Rk stopped scrolling through his phone, and started paying attention to the duos conversation, without looking up. "which classmate? NK asked. "I don't know her name... arnav started but was cut off by NK, "her? , now rk knew where this is heading to and a naughty smile crossed his lips. "yes. Her. stop interrupting me ok? The one who came to the union room today afternoon, whats her name? arnav asked , "there were two of them. Which one? NK asked confused as to why arnav was showing so much interest in his classmate. "the one who came first he replied the next second. "her name is khushi . and why are u inquiring about her ?are you going to hurt her? NK asked suddenly getting scared for his friend. " didn't plan yet arnav replied cooly. "then why did you ask? NK probed again. "that...Rish arnav looked at RK for help, but he pretended blissfully unaware. "Rish likes her he said making Rk jolt up. "WHAT? screamed Rishab and NK in union. "RK, you like my classmate?, I mean like in real? NK turned to Rishab. RK took his phone and dialed arnav's number. Arnav looked at NK and picked up the phone with plastic smile. Just and when he took the phone near to his ear, "if you like someone learn to accept it. Don't drag your best friend into it. Do you understand the consequence? What if our family keeps this in their mind and after I settle in life take my proposal to her house???? I can't stand a family drama Rishab screamed making arnav grimace. RK had just taunted him back for taking his name with khushi. He didn't like that. 'Rk was right. He shouldn't have taken Rk's name with khushi.' That thought itself made arnav angry at himself. Turning to a stupefied NK, Rishab continued "and yes I do like your classmate..., "but its not khushi arnav completed for him