Arshi SS: Love or Marriage Pt8, Pg 67, 26/01 - Page 4

"Thank you." Khushi said as she walked towards the shelves.

She ran a finger through the books as she walked past them. "Hmm.. Chinese.. French..." She made an annoyed face and stopped. "Where is Italian?" She asked herself. She looked up and saw the books she wanted on the top shelf. She looked around. There was no one in sight, but there was a portable stepladder leaning against the shelf next to her. She pulled the ladder towards her and climbed up the steps, slowly. She was reaching for the books, when suddenly she felt the ladder jerk and she lost her balance. She screamed and closed her eyes, as she fell; the books fell from her hand.

Arnav couldn't believe what just happened. He had been walking by the shelves, reading the book in his hand, humming a tune to himself, when he had accidentally hit something. He heard a scream and looked up and saw a girl falling from the ladder. He had dropped the book in his hand and without thinking, had opened his arms to catch her when she fell. As she lay in his arms, he looked at her. She was beautiful; the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on her. Her eyes were tightly shut, scared. She was saying something. He leaned closer and he smiled as he heard her say, "Devi Maiyya, Devi Maiyya.. "

"Devi Maiyya sent me to catch you. Don't worry you are fine." He said smiling. Khushi's eyes opened wide. She looked into his eyes; her lips parted as she stared into the deep brown eyes. She noticed his lips; she was mesmerized by his smile.

"Are you alright?" His voice interrupted her thoughts. Khushi suddenly realized that she had her arms around his neck and that she was in his arms. She nodded and he gently put her down.

She looked at him, muttered quick thanks, turned around and ran away. Arnav watched her, surprised. He picked up the books that had fallen on the floor and his eyes opened wide.

"Stop, excuse me. Please stop." Khushi was walking towards the exit. She turned around and saw the man who had saved her, running towards her. She gulped and adjusted her dupatta. He reached her and handed her her purse. "You dropped this earlier". She smiled, as she took it from him. "Don't you want your books? I left them at the counter for you." Khushi wanted to say something, but suddenly she couldn't find her voice.

Arnav looked at her confused. Maybe she is nervous. She looks like she is not comfortable with strangers. "Hi, I am Arnav." He extended his hand. She looked at his hand and then at him, confused. She put her hands together in prayer and said, "Namaste, I.. I am Khushi."

Arnav smiled. "Are you a student, Khushi? Are you new around here?" She had to be new. He realized, seeing her salwar. Girls who have been in the US for a while would have changed to jeans, especially since it was close to winter already. She must be freezing, he thought, as he saw the thin sweater she was wearing. Suddenly Arnav raised his eyebrows; why does it matter to you?

Khushi smiled. "No, I am not a student. But yes, I am new here."

"I see. And your first trip was to the library? Interesting." Arnav said, chuckling. Khushi smiled.

"Do you know anyone here, Khushi?" Khushi looked at him, her eyes wide open. Arnav realized what she must have thought. He continued, "I mean.. I am meeting my friends for lunch in a few minutes. Feel free to join us".

Khushi looked hesitant and Arnav continued, "Do you have other plans? Else do join us. It's just three of us. My roommates NK and Lavanya and I. We are all studying here and all of us are from India. In fact I am from Delhi, but I am originally from Lucknow. How about you?"

Khushi's face relaxed. She had a wide smile on her face. "Lucknow? I am from Lucknow too. Where in Lucknow?" Arnav told her and she got excited. "Wow, my chachi's brother lives in that street. Maybe you know him." Arnav smiled and shook his head. "I doubt it. I moved to Delhi when I was a kid and then I came to live with my brother in the US a few years back. He and his wife live in New York. Right now I am studying at Berklee College of Music, that's why I am in Boston".

Tring tring. Arnav took his phone out of his pocket. "That was Lavanya. She is on her way to the cafe." He looked at Khushi and smiled. "Are you coming or not?" Khushi smiled and nodded. "Can I go and get the books quickly?" He nodded and she ran to the counter. Arnav watched her, smiling.

Arnav smiled as Khushi sipped the hot chocolate, topped with whipped cream. She licked the cream off her lips and closed her eyes. "Mmm.. this is heaven! Whipped cream!" This girl was different! They were sitting outside the caf on a table, waiting for NK and Lavanya. On the walk from the public library to the caf, she had asked him about the Indian stores in town, where she could watch Indian movies, especially Salman Khan movies. She wanted to watch Ek Tha Tiger on screen; he chuckled. She had also asked him about his studies. "Guitar, wow! I have always wanted to learn music. I wanted to learn the violin, but I never got the chance." "Lavanya plays the violin, maybe she could teach you." He had said and her smile had disappeared. He wondered why, but then her smile had reappeared as she had talked about how excited she was about the upcoming fall season. He had told her that it might get colder and that she should go shopping for clothes, maybe with Lavanya. Her smile had faded, but she had said that she hoped Lavanya would have time to do so.

Yes, this girl was different! He had met her only fifteen minutes ago, but already he felt like he had known her for ages. He looked at her, as she took another sip of the hot chocolate. Her eyes, her smile, her hair.. she was breathtakingly beautiful. Arnav, you don't know anything about her, you idiot. You have been listening to her talk all this while. Arnav wondered what to ask her. Then he saw the books on the table.

"Italian?" Arnav smiled as he took the cooking book from Khushi. Khushi shivered in the cool breeze. It was cold, but she loved it. She couldn't wait for fall season. She looked around. A few trees already had red leaves. She had seen pictures of fall in the books in the library; she couldn't wait for all the leaves to change color.

Khushi looked at the book and took it her hand. "Aah, yes, my husband loves Italian food." Arnav's smile disappeared. "Husband?" Then he noticed the red color of the kumkum along her hair parting, that was partially hidden by her hair. He looked at her neck and saw the glittering of the diamonds in her mangalsutra; her dupatta had hidden it earlier.

Khushi looked at him, confused. "Yes, my husband works in Boston. I came here with him."

Arnav stared at her, his eyes wide open; he felt the world shake under his feet, as the T, the subway train passed under the ground.

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Is it interesting? Should I continue? I waited this long to update, because I wasn't sure how to make such a controversial topic cute.. Hopefully the way this story is going, it will again be like a fairy tale, like New York to Delhi was, at the same time real, as all my stories are!

Please do leave your comments!