SS:A Little More Than Friends---ON HOLD!! - Page 12

I immensely enjoyed reading this SS...different and unique...loving the sarcastic arnav...and I almost fell off my chair when I read the part abt khushi being gollum..rofl...great going...could you please PM me when you update next..thanks

Hey...Thanks for the PM. Finally an update...have been waiting for this. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this chapter.

Originally posted by: rkapoor1382

LOVED IT...

CONTINUE SOON

Yes! Payal and Anjali are right!

Originally posted by: Crazy_soul

Loved it.do continue

oooh i like this story
continue soon

Originally posted by: darkninja

oooh i like this story
continue soon

Hey there
I just got hold of this story and it's wow!! I just loved it so far and hope to read more of it

hey...finally back with an update...and look its not even three weeks yet!!!😆 this chapter is dedicated to all those cartoons that I watched since I was born...how is it dedicated to them you ask?? read on to find out!!😆

P.S: the update is long...as usual...😆

Chapter 4

Next day, Gupta House, 8:00am

Shashi and Garima sipped on to their tea and darted nervous glances at each other and then their daughters who were chewing onto their cornflakes silently. Seeing them both silent, especially Khushi, as if they had been reprimanded by a teacher for being mischievous, Shashi had mentally drawn up a list of possible reasons for the deathly silence:

1) Overnight, they had been teleported to the days of silent movies.

2) They were both mourning something. Khushi and Payal, at the age of six and seven respectively, hadn't spoken for a whole day, when their favorite cartoon channel had decided to stop telecasting 'The Little Lulu Show'. Shashi had to keep on checking in on them the whole day to make sure they were in the house. Then, next day 'The Powerpuff Girls' started and they found their voices back to sing its catchy title track.

3) They needed a raise in their pocket money. They adopted new techniques every time, and were successful every time in getting the raise. This was an important sign of being a good businesswoman, he would think every time before forfeiting.

4) It was some stupid new trend that they were following. Last month, Khushi wanted an eyebrow piercing because some of her friends were getting it done. Shashi had given her "If your friends jump off a cliff, will you jump too?" lecture and then given her the stern stare that all fathers are so well known for. Khushi had nodded like an obedient small child and had silently gone to her bedroom.

5) They had still not come to terms as to what had happened last night because it had ended on a very awkward note with Payal storming off and now they had no idea how they should start a conversation. Yes, he thought, now this could be a very valid reason.

If a book named "A Guide to get your extremely talkative sister to talk when she stops talking." was released, Payal would be the first one to order it because she was in need of something like that. Immediately.

Payal loved peace and calm. She was all for it. But not in her own house when she had a lively sister like Khushi. There had to be noise. It felt so wrong when Khushi wasn't speaking or laughing or shouting. Hell, she even spoke in her sleep. Just today morning she was mumbling something on the lines of "Prof. Mehra, I know you are Snape in disguise. Don't lie."

Not being able to bear the crunching of cornflakes as the only sound at the table, she started, "Khushi, listen...about last night, I shouldn't'"

It was as if Khushi was just waiting for Payal to open her mouth. She cut her off and said, "I, its okay. I understand you were angry because I eavesdropped on your date like that. I have finally started feeling a little guilty for that. I also know that you didn't mean any of the things that you said about Arnav and me. You just said it to tease me back. After all, everyone knows that we are just best friends. Besides, I like someone else. So, cut yourself some slack and relax."

Payal's mind had gone blank right after "you didn't mean any of the things that you said about Arnav and me". She had to tell Khushi that she had meant every single syllable and she had not spoken it just out of irritation. It was high time that these two realized that they could not hold the tagline of "Just friends" anymore. It was not because of the cliched "A boy and girl can never be just friends." But it was because Arnav and Khushi were never "Just friends". No one ever mentioned it in front of them because everyone knew they were both young and impulsive and everyone feared that they would grow distant from each other if they were linked together. But she was sure they were mature enough to understand now. At least she hoped they were.

So before Khushi could fly away like the wild bird that she was, Payal said, "Khushi, listen to me. What I meant was, I shouldn't have said it the way I said it last night in anger. But I meant every single word I said. Do you understand?"

Payal placed her hand on Khushi. Khushi's face held a look which could only be equated with an infant looking at its parents who are talking to him or teaching him the alphabets'a big question mark.

Shashi intervened, "Now, now Payal. Look how long you took to finally agree for a date with Akash. Just give her some time. I think she is mature enough to make decisions for herself. Right, Khushi?

On the inside, Garima was praying that Khushi would get the hint that Shashi had so subtly dropped in but Khushi's suddenly brightened face stated otherwise. Khushi nodded vigorously like Noddy, smiled sunnily at her father and said, "Thanks Dad!! You are the best. That's why I love you the most! Besides, didn't you'll listen to me when I said there is someone else who I like? Don't panic, I'll tell you'll about him if we decide to go out."

Khushi had said the words with utmost casualty as if stating the obvious. Even though she had said 'Don't panic', the thoughts that entered every family member's mind and their cook, Ramu Kaka, who was eavesdropping on the conversation from the kitchen, were something like this:

Shashi: Someone else? Now who could this be? I will have to get someone to run a background check on him too now! Why can't she date Arnav? What is happening to the choices of girls these days? Ours were the good old days...

Garima: Hmmm... someone else. I just hope that he is a boy and is good looking. Though it would been better if it was Arnav. He is such a sweetheart!! I wonder if Khushi will mind if I call him for dinner...

Payal: *Snorts and rolls her eyes in her mind* Some other guy. Yeah right. Run little sister, run. But you can't escape the truth that is probably dancing naked in front of you.

Ramu Kaka: Khushi bitiya does not like Arnav babu? Yes!! Wait till I tell this to HP, OP and JP. They owe me a lot of money. I nearly lost all my savings when Payal bitiya said she likes Akash babu. Payback time!!

Khushi (looks at the thoughtful faces of her family): Why are they not reacting? They should have pounced on me with questions about NK and wouldn't have let me rest in peace till I told them about his forefathers.

*Smiles in relief and shrugs her shoulders in her mind* Well, good for me. Families never fail to surprise!!

Khushi cleared her throat to shake her family members out of their thoughts and said, "Okay. I think that went well. I thank you'll for not pestering me with questions. I have lectures to attend at the college. So... buh-bye. Ciao."

Saying this, she slid from her chair, flung her bag over her shoulders and headed towards the door. She wanted to get away from the house as soon as possible. Thoughts about Arnav and her dating were weird and she didn't want to get any weirder than she already was. For now.

She thanked her stars that Di didn't have college that day because she had to complete her "assignment".

"How are you going to college if I am not coming? Who is going to drop you there? I don't remember you growing a pair of wings", asked Payal just as Khushi was leaving.

Khushi was at the door when she turned and answered, "I am way quicker than you Di. Arnav is dropping me to college. "

That earned a frown from everyone because it was a well known fact that Arnav never attended college. It was like he had taken an oath to never attend college, for reasons known only to him. No number of defaulter's lists or blacklists had deterred him from his mission of not attending college.

Khushi immediately understood their source of confusion, "Don't worry. He is not attending lectures with me. He says he has some important work. I might be late. I'll be mostly at the cafe with Arnav. And Di, have fun with your 'assignment' ". She grinned cheekily as Payal glared at her and waving her hand in final goodbye, she closed the door behind her.

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"She spends more time with Arnav than with us and then she tells me "Di, we are just friends" On completely different lines, how long do you think Khushi and that 'someone else' are going to go out assuming that they actually do go out?", asked Payal, after she was absolutely certain that the door had been closed properly and Khushi was well out of earshot,

Shashi smiled at his daughter's confidence and said, "I just hope they survive the first date. I promise you anything you want if you don't find Khushi hiding from the guy after the first date."

Garima laughed and gave her opinion on the subject saying, "I second him. No one can handle Khushi like Arnav. I just pity the 'someone else' who she is going to ask out. He is going to be judged harsher than a murderer on trial."

Payal smirked and said, "I don't need a bet to know what is going to happen. I already know it's going to be a tragedy. For that 'someone else' ".

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Arnav couldn't suppress a yawn as he sat in his car waiting for Khushi to get in and he yawned loudly, not bothering to cover his mouth, too sleepy to care about etiquettes.

Just then Khushi got in and she tapped Arnav's chin to close his mouth. She smiled her usual smile and said, "Good morning, sleepyhead. Rise and shine."

Arnav looked at Khushi's bright-as-the-sun face. Looks like someone got a really good sleep at night, he thought. He, on the other hand, had barely slept a wink. His Di's words would keep on repeating in his mind like an alarm clock on snooze and that coupled with Khushi wanting him to get her a date with NK had ensured that he didn't sleep throughout the night.

He nodded at her, acknowledging her presence but not even greeting her back because he was just not in the mood to. Yeah, that's him. ASR--the king of mood swings.

He was about to start the car when Khushi noticed Anjali who was just leaving the house for her morning jog. He would have sped off and not stopped till he had reached the college gate, if Khushi hadn't screamed,"Anjali Di!! Anjali Di!!"

Arnav drawled, "Khushi, it's just Di. Not Richard Castle. Stop screaming like a banshee. People around here are really concerned about noise pollution, you know." Khushi didn't pay any heed to him because she was so busy calling out to Anjali but he was sure he saw something close to rolling of eyes.

Anjali finally looked their and with a smile that could only be called devilish, she walked over to the pair seated in the car. Arnav recognized that glint in her eyes and that smile which clearly said," Yeah, I am going to do exactly what you think. Tease the hell out of you. Mwahahaha."

The first thing that came to Arnav's mind as Anjali walked coolly over to the car was, "Holy crap on a cracker".

Anjali bent near the car window facing Khushi and said,"Hey Khushi! How you been doing? I missed talking to you so much when I was away in London!! No problem. Now that I am here, we'll talk every day, have sleepovers and all the things that I have not been able to do in London."

Khushi agreed, "I missed you too Di! Sure thing. Being the best friend of Arnav Singh Raizada, I hereby proclaim that for the next few months, Raizada House is going to be the host for multiple sleepovers, movie marathons and experimental cooking!!"

Though Anjali didn't really understand what 'experimental cooking', she didn't ask about it because she had way more important matters at hand.

She looked at them both with a very amused smile and said, "Best friends still eh? I was really hoping for a change of status now. What do you say, Khushi?"

Naive and innocent were the two words that Anjali always described Khushi with. She was sure that Khushi would fail to catch the meaning. And boy, she couldn't have been more correct about it.

Khushi looked on confused as Arnav glared at Anjali while Anjali simply smiled. What's up with these two? she wondered. They were both looking at each other as if fighting telepathically.

Arnav said,"Di, this is not Facebook. 'Change of status'. What did you expect when you came back? A tag attached to us which said 'Arnav and Khushi are now best friends.' or 'Arnav and Khushi are now in a relationship' ", blabbered on Arnav without realizing what he was saying.

Anjali and Khushi looked at Arnav with their eyebrows raised and Arnav stopped abruptly what wrong had he said. Judging from their expressions, he just realized what he said and he decided that it was better when he was quiet. And that's what he exactly did.

This is probably one of the best days of my life. I wish I had brought a camcorder, thought Anjali as she looked at Arnav look away embarrassed. She tried diffusing the awkwardness by saying," Uhhh...right. Yeah. I was certainly not expecting that. But anyways, where are you guys going? To college?"

Khushi had apparently ignored Arnav's words because she said with absolute ease, "Yes. Well I am going to attend the lectures in the college and Arnav is just dropping me."

"Oh, is he now?" asked Anjali her interest rejuvenated in the conversation.

But Arnav had had enough. Teasing him was one thing. He did that too her too and it was mutual. But teasing him in front of his best friend was completely a different issue and his sister was unknowingly crossing the lines of the age old Sibling Pact which every pair of siblings have adhered to. And he was not going to let her do it.

"Yes, I am dropping her off to college. I am helping her. That is what friends are for. Seriously, what happened to 'A friend in need is a friend indeed'? Now in order to help my friend I will have to start my car which I can't because you are leaning on its window. Khushi, tell Di you are getting late for lectures because you actually are." Arnav had said all this one breath. He never spoke so much. NEVER

Anjali gave a full blown grin to them and thought, there is definitely nothing sweeter than revenge. She winked at Arnav and said as innocently as possible, "Chhote, you are looking too much into things. I had never meant to imply anything that would cause such an outburst from you. But you know what? I forgive you because you are my little brother. Now you'll get going to college and me to my impending jog. I'll see you around Khushi."

She waved them goodbye to which Khushi responded quite enthusiastically by waving back while Arnav who was still fuming, simply glared at her retreating back.

He inserted the key in the ignition and finally started the car. As they began driving towards the college, he stared straight ahead while Khushi looked out of the window.

Khushi didn't know what to talk about so she looked out the window at the houses and lanes that she had passed nearly every day. She got bored soon so she looked at Arnav once.

His hair was ruffled, like he had just stumbled out of his bed and sat in his car. His eyes had dark circles. Didn't he sleep last night? She wondered. Must be watching one of those soccer matches late in the night. But he usually tells her about any match because he is so excited about them. He had not shaved, she observed. But that slight sign of beard that made his chin jut out just made him look more handsome.

Her eyes widened at her thought. Did she just think that? Her jaw dropped down and she immediately looked away from him surprised at her own thoughts.

"Do I have anything on my face, Khushi?" asked Arnav, still looking ahead.

How the hell did he even know about it? I am dead sure he has eyes at his temples, thought Khushi before answering, "Nope. Nothing at all. It's as clean as the windshield of this car." She put her hands over her mouth as she realized what she has just spoken.

"What? Are you alright Khushi?" asked a concerned as he looked at Khushi who still had her hand over her mouth. In response, Khushi simply nodded, not ready to remove her hand off her mouth.

He gave up and the rest of the ride was pretty silent with Khushi not speaking anything and Arnav not wanting to encourage any conversation.

They reached the gates of the college and as Khushi undid her seat belt, Arnav said, "Let's meet at the cafe after your lectures. I'll be there at our normal place."

Khushi replied, "Sure. I'll see you there as soon as I am done with the lectures. Bye."

She was about to leave when Arnav called out to her and said, "Khushi?? I will do it."

Khushi frowned at the absurd behavior of Arnav and asked, "You'll do what?" to which Arnav replied, "I'll talk to NK about the date."
Before he could drive away because he didn't want to hear that 'Thank you so much', Khushi engulfed him in a bear hug which was a difficult task given how thin she was. Arnav couldn't help but hug her back.

Khushi withdrew and said, "And that is why you are my best friend and always will be. I don't know how crazy I or my wishes will get, but I know that you will always be around to fulfill them for me."

Saying so, she gave him the warmest smile, and stepped out of the car and walked into the college, a little skip in her step, leaving behind a grinning Arnav seated in the car.

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So how was it folks??? I need to know...is this story too slow for you'll??do you'll need me to increase the pace??
Do like and comment!!!😃
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DEVANSHI

"Prof. Mehra, I know you are Snape in disguise. Don't lie"
I literally laughed out loud reading this line and thank god my family was not arnd otherwise they would have seriously thought that I have gone mad 😆
The whole chapter was awesome, simply brilliant and I like the pace of the story as it is, just quicker updates would be really good