IPKKND: The Bet - 2 ***IMPORTANT - Page 129 - Page 73

Chapter 10: Kissing Booth

Arnav smirked as he handed her all of the boxes and started the car. "Do you really want me to answer that?"

She gasped absolutely outraged at his audacity to indirectly call her a dog. Who the hell did he think he was?

"Put your seatbelt on."

Not even two seconds passed before she pulled him by the tie and yanked him closer, making their noses touch slightly. She could feel his breath washing over her lips and involuntarily her eyes trailed down to his lips for a second.

Arnav looked at her, blinking in shock, his expression unreadable.

She bundled up his tie in her fist angrily while looking into his eyes furiously. "You don't order me around, got that?"

She didn't know what she was hoping for. Maybe some sort of fear in his eyes, or at least a nod or some sort of agreement, but she sure as hell wasn't expecting the amused smirk he was giving her. Not one bit.

He shrugged coolly and leaned even closer, making her push herself back into her seat as he grabbed a hold of her seatbelt and put it on for her.

She could feel her cheeks heating up when he pulled back and she scowled, hating the effect he was starting to have on her.

****

"Oh good you're home! And you brought sweets! Thanks Bhaiya!" Reihana instantly grabbed the 3 boxes of sweets from Khushi's hands as Khushi and Arnav stepped inside Shantivan and then scurried upstairs, yelling at Khushi to come into her room.

"So I completely forgot about the college fair we are having this weekend." Reihana said once Khushi plopped herself down on the bed while munching on a jalebi and reading something on the computer. "We signed up for a booth remember?"

Khushi bit into a jalebi and realized that they had indeed signed up for a booth at college fair and it was less than 24 hours away. They didn't even have anything planned for it which of course did nothing to ease her tension. "We don't have anything planned."

"Yeah, thanks captain obvious!"

She sighed irritably and got up, putting her jaw on Reihana's head while she googled ideas about fairs and booths. "Wait wait." Khushi moved around and took the mouse, clicking on one of the links and then scrolling down the page and reading the contents curiously. She looked at Reihana in satisfaction after a few seconds and gave her a high five.

****

"A kissing booth?!" Rahul cried looking absolutely thrilled about the idea.

Khushi and Reihana shared a look while Aryan shook his head at his hormonal cousin and continued watching ESPN. They were inside the den in the basement, with Khushi doing some more research on what was needed for the kissing booth while Reihana called up friends to ask if they could work at the booth. Rahul, on the other hand, kept pestering Khushi and Reihana, begging to work at the booth.

Khushi sighed for the umpteenth time and gave Rahul a look. "No Rahul ji! Only college students are allowed to work the booths!"

"Is it too late to apply?" He asked desperately.

"Yes!" They all said in unison. Rahul grumbled under his breath as he sat down next to Aryan and snatched the remote out of his hand.

"Hey! I was watching that!"

"Oh stop it you two!" Reihana snapped while taking a seat next to Khushi and rubbing her temples. "So Sameer said he can work during the first half as one of the boys, and I just called Soumya, she said she can work the first half as one of girls. So now we need two people to work for the second half."

Rahul shot up in his seat and offered them a hopeful look.

They ignored him.

Khushi clasped her hands together as an idea came to her. "Would you work for the second half?" She asked Reihana hopefully.

Reihana snorted. "Yeah and get beheaded by Bhaiya, no thanks."

"But you could only have them kiss your cheek? That still counts."

Reihana frowned thoughtfully and then nodded after a few seconds. "Alright, that works."

"So now we just need a boy."

Rahul waved his hand in the air wildly while Khushi and Reihana shot each other a frustrated look.

"If you don't make me work at the kissing booth, I will tell Arnav she is working there too." He said while pointing an accusing finger at Reihana.

Khushi looked at him in shock. "That's blackmail!"

He shrugged innocently, looking mighty smug. "Take it or leave it."

****

Khushi grabbed the can of spray paint and tip-toed down the empty hallways of Shantivan. Reihana and Aryan were probably already waiting for her down at the den so they could paint the board of their booth and set it up by tomorrow. She was about to turn around the corner when an audible sigh had her skidding to a halt. She pressed herself against the wall and peeked out, surprised to find Arnav standing by the French windows talking to someone on the phone.

"I told you not to call me!" He hissed into the phone bitterly.

"I don't know how or where you got that idea from but I don't…I never did and I never will…" He ran a hand through his hair. He looked so stiff, so angry. She could clearly make out the wide panes of his back and she had a strong urge to go over and unweave his tense muscles.

She shook her head and pushed herself off the wall. Nervous, unsteady, she peeked out again. He was still talking on the phone and had his back turned to her, she could still make it to the stairs if she was absolutely silent.

She tip-toed towards the stairs, and turned back to look at him once more. He had stopped talking on the phone, and was gazing up the stars. She could clearly make out the side of his face and as she walked downstairs towards the den, she couldn't help but think about how lonely he had looked.

****

"Are you sure you don't need help Ree?" Arnav asked once the car had stopped out by the student parking lot of their college.

"Yes Bhaiya, you don't worry! Let's go guys!" Reihana yelled nervously unable to meet his eyes for some strange reason while she got out of the car with Khushi, Rahul and Aryan. He waited until they had walked up to the commons which was now filled with students before he started the car again. Everyone was busy organizing the booths. It all looked so bizarre yet so inviting at the same time. There were so many different booths, he even saw a sent for Tarot card reading.

It wasn't until he got home and opened the trunk to take out his briefcase, did he see the big wooden board placed in the middle of the trunk. The letters were so big, it was impossible to miss what was written on it.

Kissing Booth

"What the?"