hi, I have chapter 1, the story will be slow but i would like to spend time on small incidents and actual emotions and thoughts of the characters. I hope you like it, also it will have its twists and turns too.
Chapter 1: Stupid thoughts
Arnav realized that his white shirt and creme pants were wettoo, it had been not been raining heavy just a light drizzle but enough to makeher appear like that.. "Oh no... not again".
He dragged himself to his wardrobe and took hisfolded track pants and grey Hollister T-Shirt out and went to his bathroom to dryup and change. It was a Friday and he did not have any tuitions or sports clubstoday so he could relax and take it easy.
Once he was out of the bathroom, he saw himself in the fulllength wardrobe mirror and saw a 5'11'' tall lanky guy with wheatishcomplexion, hair all wet and had rain drops still in them which was not toweledyet, he saw into his brown chocolate eyes and thought "Does she notice me?".
His thoughts were broken by his door opening, his Mum stoodthere with an annoyed look.
"Why are you not responding? I have been calling youdownstairs since past 10 minutes, You came and did not meet me and came up herestraight." Ratna said
"Nothing, Ma, was little wet from the rain so came up tochange first" Arnav responded.
"Okay, good, come downstairs I have your lunch on the table" Ratna said, she came inside and took the wet school clothes from the bathroom.She stood by Arnav while walking back and held him by shoulders "You don'tspend much time with us any more, always busy in your studies or your differentclasses, sports or your guitar".
Arnav hugged his Mum whose head was coming tohis shoulders and nurmured "Never busy for you, Ma, it's just quite tough withall syllabus finishing up and we need to get ready for exams".
"My son has never been like other boys, always thinkingabout studies, not like other boys of your age, hmm. I am sure your friendswould be after girls, unlike you" Ratna uttered while hugging him and lookingup into her son's unshaven handsome face.
Arnav's tummy jolted... hearing his mum's words and simultaneously thinking about his not so pristinethoughts some time back.
Arnav followed Ratna downstairs and sat on the 12 seaterdining table, filling up his plate with the different dishes.
"Chote, can I use your laptop?" Arnav turned to see Anjali,his elder sister by two years coming into the dining area, she seemed to be inhurry.
"Don't call me Chote" Arnav muttered. Anjali laughed "Why? I have alwayscalled you Chote... or do you think that you are becoming a man and should becalled Mr. Chote, now" Anjali snorted.
Arnav said "Just call me by my name ARNAV, Di."
Anjali said "Okay Please can I use your laptop, mine is discharged."
Arnav replied "hmmm, it's inmy room I will give you wait let me finish my lunch."
Ratna came from the kitchen, talking on the phone "YeahGarima, even Chote got wet, poor Khushi she too." Arnav scrunched up his eyeshearing that and understood what the ladies were talking about ... prayed to himself.. fearing that he does not see her wet image again.
Garima and Ratna met each other atleast once after thehusbands and kids went to respective office, school or college. And continued toupdate each other about the tiniest things happening throughout the day via thephone - they have been like sisters for years now. Ratna had turned out to bereal friend when Garima and Shashi were unable to have any children even after6 years of marriage, Ratna had been a real support for Garima then, since thenboth of them considered each other like sisters and had deep love for eachother.
Khushi was born after 6 and a half years of marriage toGarima and Shashi, and that too with lots of medical intervention but with God'sblessings she had entered their lives and from day one was like a shining starto both the parents. They loved and cared for Khushi like she was the mostprecious little thing in the world now, for them.
They were both so involved in taking care of Khushi thatGarima did not realize when she got pregnant again, it was one fine day whenlittle Khushi was about 6 months old that Garima felt some lower abdominalpains and nausea, after the medicalcheckups it was known that Garima was about 8 weeks pregnant.
Shantanu Gupta was born when Khushi was about 13 months old and the family was complete, Shashi and Garima considered Khushi as their luckycharm as she got them a little son too.
"Are you giving your laptop, or should I just go in your room?" 18 year old Anjali kind of shouted into Arnav's ear.
Arnav responded "Di,dare you go to my room and once I finish eating, will hand over, wait"
Arnav had been in that stage where he did not like anyone entering his room, though there was nothing obnoxious which anyone could notsee there, but he preferred his privacy nowadays.
Finally, Arnav finished his meal and dragged himself out ofthe chair and with deliberate slowness moved to kitchen to keep his soiled dishes, all the slowness to spite his Di. Anjali was exasperated but just kepton staring at him... once he was on the stairs she followed him and was about toenter his room after him, but Arnav stopped her. "Wait, I will get it."
Arnav came to the door and handed over the laptop to Anjali.Anjali scornfully bowed and said "Thank you Jahapanah." Arnav grunted "Hand itback to me in an hour".
Anjali was climbing down the stairs when Arnav heard a softgiggle downstairs and he was all ears.
Khushi?
Arnav heard a loud high five being exchanged between Di andKhushi, he did not understand, both had a gap of 5 years but still got alongwell, Anjali always pampered Khushi as her younger sister and Khushi idealized Anjaliin every aspect - her looks, her dresses, her hair style, her talking style...Arnav thought that Khushi maybe tried to become like his Di.
He could still hear all three females laughing and chattingabout something, Arnav compelled himself to shut his door, but he could notstop himself to walk to the balustrade which overlooked down to the dining areaand there he saw her ... he just scrunched up his eyes again, but opened themagain to have another look.
She was dressed in casual grey knee length shorts and a pinkT shirt, she really was very thin, all bones jutting out and he could easilytake her to be a boy except for her brown black hair, she had them open andneatly combed upto her waist, she looked so sweet and serene, at that momentAnjali shouted looking up "Chote now why are you not in your sada room?"
Hejust gave a stare to his Di and replied "Its my home too, I can be wherever Iwant" He could feel Khushi looking up but he did not have the guts to look ather, as if fearing his eyes might reflect what he was thinking from past coupleof hours.
"Chote, come downstairs, you guys never interact nowadays,Khushi is here" his mother said.
Arnav said "Maa... It's Arnav, now not you too!
His Nani just came out of her room downstairs and joined theladies group, she must been having her afternon nap in her room. She called outto Arnav "Arey Chote, you came home early, come to me".
Arnav could not avoidhis Nani's command as he loved his Nani. He walked down the stairs with hiseyes everywhere except Khushi, and headed toward his Nani.
Nani pulled Arnav's head down and kissed him on hisforehead, Arnav had his eyes closed and had a contented look on his face, allthis while Khushi was staring at him and he knew that.
He opened his dark chocolate eyes and stood to his fullheight hugging his Nani, and looked towards Khushi for the first time, she hada kind of wonder look in her eyes and Arnav thought she will grow into a beautiful lady! Again, Arnav coiled away withthe realization of his thoughts and looked away.
He just said to his Nani "You are the most beautiful lady inthe world Nani", he could see Khushi smiling hearing that.
Nani smiled "Ah... areyou trying to impress me? He said "Nah, you are, If I was an adult and youlittle younger I would have eloped with you?" winking.
Arnav did not know whyhe was saying such things, maybe just to linger around.
He heard Khushi saying "What does eloped mean?"
That was the moment he turned to completely look at her as if acknowledging her presence for the first time in the room and said "Youneed to spend some time reading and looking up Dictionary, Miss" He saw how shetook his answer and looked down a bit downcast,
Maybe he was a bit abrupt, hewanted to soothe away ... and then he heard Anjali saying "Forget him, I willtell you, come to my room Khushi".
Khushi's eyes changed and he could see theacceptance in her eyes for his Di.
Arnav thought "Why did I have to be stern to her?"
Nani cleared her throat and said to Arnav "Stop nagging the girls,come I will oil your hair, you have such long hair, you need a haircut and alsoa shave... ummm"
Arnav's dad had helped him shave for the first time last year,but he did not like the razor on his skin so he always avoided it for monthsand now again he had soft hair growing into a mustache and a beard, he lookedall unkempt maybe ... but it was better than having a shave every morning.
His Nani made him sit on the carpet and she sat on the armchair in the living area and asked for oil from Raju kaka, the help. Nanistarted gliding her fingers into his hair and Arnav felt good and in reactionclosed his eyes and laid his head on his Nani's lap. After some time, Naniasked "How are studies?"
Arnav was lightly snoring by then and Nani felt lovefor her grandson, he was such a good boy and she prayed that may he always getwhat he want in life from the Almighty.
Edited by Shilpi77 - 6 years ago
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