ArShi SS-Love in Delhi University~Thread 1 - Page 12

Chapter Three

Buaji and Payal stared, confused. The youngest of their family had now officially lost it. It was six thirty in the morning and there she was running around the house like something had caught fire. "Jiji! Aapka pink sweater aj ke liye de do! Pakka khana nehi giraungi! Please, Jiji!" cried Khushi, almost falling on a bewildered Payel's feet. (Jiji! Lend me your pink cardigan for the day. I promise I won't spill food on it! I swear I won't! Please, Jiji!)

"Arre, Sankadevi! Nashta toh karke jao!" (Arre, Sankadevi! Have your breakfast at the least) screamed Buaji behind a Khushi who literally flew out of the wooden door. "College mein naashta karlenge, Buaji. Ap chinta mat kijiye" (I'll have it in college. Don't worry about it) screamed back Khushi, leaving a flabbergasted bunch of people in her wake. "Kuch toh garbar hain" muttered Buaji under her breath as she scratched her chin. (Something's fishy)

Khushi checked herself for the umpteenth time on the glass windows of the metro. She was wearing a white anarkali with soft pink flowers on it, her favourite. The cardigan just matched the colour of the flowers on her salwaar suit. Small white earrings dangled, glimpsing out for moments from in between her hair which was lightly clutched from behind, letting loose the rest of it. There were no clips behind her ears to tuck in her hair today. Arnav had once told her that she looked pretty with open hair.

Khushi uncomfortably looked at the white jhola she was carrying. Yes, she even changed her favourite purple-green jhola to the white to match her attire. Should she do it? Preeto did it. Even Lavanya did! No! She wouldn't think about Lavanya. Not today. She got back to trying to convince herself. Most of the people she knew in college did it.

"Khushi! Tu kar sakti hain ye!" she encouraged herself. (Khushi, you can do it!). She stealthily put her hand in her bag and took out what she had nicked from Payal's dressing table, early in the morning. She looked at the little tube on her palm with uncertain eyes. Her Jiji looked pretty with this subtle pink shade of lipstick on.

"Agar sab kar sakte hain, toh tu bhi kar sakti hain, Khushi!" she reassured herself and opened the lid. (If everyone can do it, so can you, Khushi). Turning the base of the tube, she looked at her reflection in the window and lightly applied the lipstick on her lips. That didn't look bad, now did it? Perfectly happy with the outcome, she smiled to herself and finally sat back in peace on her seat.

The morning on the other side wasn't as chaotic but was surely filled with as much apprehension as there had been on Khushi's part. Arnav had carefully chosen his clothes and Nani had smiled secretly as she saw her Chotte piling up his bed with clothes, unable to settle on one. Finally, he had put on a white shirt with navy blue sweater, both of it together rolled up to his elbows. His pair of jeans was and sneakers were perfectly complimenting his shirt. His hair was perfectly gelled up and while moving out of his room, he picked up the black aviators which rested on the study table.

College was a restless one. The clock just didn't seem to tick its way through the long torturous hours. Preeto's words didn't make any sense in Khushi's head and the professor's words just passed Arnav like a gust of wind. Both awaited the clock to strike twelve fifteen.

As the two professors in two different classrooms in two different colleges, closed shut their books on the table, two lost-in-their-own-worlds students walked out of the class without a word as the classes and professors looked on. Fifteen minutes to get there on time.

Khushi rushed to the girl's washroom and checked herself on the mirror. She wouldn't dare to reapply the lipstick with so many girls all around her. She locked herself in the in the cubicle and quickly reapplied it. Getting out, she fixed her hair for the last time and soothed her kurta and rushed out of the washroom, the corridor, the lawn and then finally the college gate.

Arnav put his glare back on and checked his hair on the rear view mirror before he impatiently kicked started his bike. Just as he was about to put his leg on to the other side of the bike, he saw Lavanya, clad in a black and blue short dress approaching him. "Hi, ASR!" she wished sexily and waved at him as she neared him. Arnav automatically checked his watch. He had just five more minutes in hand.

"ASR! I walked all the way in my heels from my college to meet you" said Lavanya, making a face and pointing towards her black peep-toe heels. "How you doing, Lavanya? I wasn't expecting you!" replied Arnav, trying to hide impatience in his voice with surprise. He took his aviators off. "Surprised?" she asked, batting her eyelids. "Yeah! Very!" he replied shortly, intending the pun and fidgeting with his bike. "You want to go to Bercos and catch up on some lunch?" Lavanya asked casually, acting as if she had no agenda playing in her mind.

ASR, being ASR, did not fail to understand the underlying game. "I'm sorry, Lavanya. I have to meet Akash. He met with an accident while bike racing last week. Remember I was telling you about the race which was to happen." Lavanya nodded "Yeah, there" lied Arnav, putting on a firm small smile. His father's threat played in his mind and his Nani's face flashed before his eyes. ".. but let's meet up in the evening in Big Chill. I'll pick you up at seven" he added quickly. He couldn't let that monster anywhere near his Nani.

"Yeah, sure" replied Lavanya, stiffly. "I'll see you later then?" asked Arnav with a casual smile. "Yeah" came a reply. "Ok then. Will see you, then" concluded Arnav, as he put his shades back on and zoomed past Lavanya to meet the love of his life.

He wound his way through the busy roads, crowded with students with partial deafness as they just didn't seem to budge at his honks. "Damn it" he cursed, it was twelve forty already. Finally, as he reached the library gate, he saw Khushi waiting by entrance, looking around, searching for him. She looked adorable in that pink and white dress and her hair was loose too, just the way he liked it. He turned off the ignition on parking and got off his bike and made his way towards Khushi.

A gust of wind fluttered Khushi's hair and her heart soared high as she spotted Arnav walking towards her. He was looking so good and that soft smile made her heart mellow. She didn't realize when that brightest smile of hers had crept its way upto her lips. "Hi" he said huskily; as he walked in close and saw Khushi take a step back with her head down. He was glad he had an effect on her.

"Andar chale, Khushi?" (Shall we go in, Khushi?) he said with that sexy smirk on his face as he removed his glares. Was that lipstick she was wearing? He loved how Khushi was shying. He couldn't help but smirk. "Huh? Haan. Haan, andar chalte hain" she looked up, pretending to get all serious.

As they walked in, Arnav walked upto the window-side table which faced towards the green lawns.The library was a complete wooded one and the air had a musty smell lingering around. The day was bright and the view was beautiful. "Sit" he told Khushi. "Main books leke ata hoon" (I'll get the books). Khushi slid in without a word and waited for Arnav's return. She was looking out the window, admiring the flowers when she felt Arnav occupy the seat next to hers. "There you go. These two books are more than enough" said Arnav, showing the two hard bounds he was holding.

The next two hours were strict business from both of them. Arnav explained Marxism to Khushi in the most extensive way and was pleased when she asked intelligent questions in return. They both got lost in the world of 'historical materialism' and 'Engels' without glancing at their watches even once. Arnav was pleased. He knew Khushi was no dumb girl but her intelligence did take him by surprise. She understood the toughest thing in the minutes and when she didn't, she stated proper reasons for so. At the end of the two fleeting hours, Arnav closed the books and relaxed back on his chair. "You're not dumb" he said casually. "Haa!" she gasped. "Toh aapko kya laga tha?" she asked with narrowed eyes. (What did you think?)

Laughing at her expression, he picked up the books from table and started towards the Economics aisle in the library. Khushi followed him at his heels. "Aapko kya laga tha? Main bewakoof hoon?(Did you think I was an idiot?) She poked Arnav. "Class topper hoon main!" (I topped my class) she said, priding her glory. "Achcha?" mused Arnav, as he turned to enter the aisle. It was empty. "Haan achcha" started Khushi. She was about to start off again when handed her the second book. "Ye uss wale rack pe rakh do" he said, pointing towards a high rack behind Khushi. (Keep it on that rack.)

Arnav kept his own book on an even higher rack and looked back to see Khushi jumping to keep her book back in its place. She had her back towards him and Arnav just leaned back with folded arms and enjoyed the show. Every time she jumped, her hair would bounce too and Arnav would smile a little more to that. The sun rays from the old window lit up the old room full of wooden racks and books. The rays reflected back from Khushi long silky black hair. Finally giving up, Khushi turned towards Arnav with a flustered face and said "Haath nehi pohoch raha hain. Aap rakh dijiye" (I can't reach it. You keep it back.)

Arnav stood up straight and turned her back towards the rack softly by her shoulders. He felt Khushi stiffen at his touch. He gently took up Khushi's right hand, which was holding the book and lifted it. Their palms went up as one. Khushi went on her toes and together, they kept the book back to where it rightfully belonged.

Arnav softly nuzzled against her left ear through her hair and turned her by shoulders again so that Khushi was now facing him. His free hand took her left hand and moved her hands on her either side. He stepped forward and Khushi stepped back. He raised both her hands and they were now beside her ears. He was drinking in her beauty. The soft locks fell on her face in just the right way. Her face was flushed, making it more beautiful. Her eyes had a hint of grey and green, he noticed and then suddenly something caught his eyes. Against the filtering sun rays from only one broken window, her nose pin was shimmering rainbows, like Khushi always did. She was his rainbow amongst the darkness. Unable to contain himself anymore, he started leaning in and saw Khushi's eyes flutter close. He leaned in and tilted his head to softly kiss her on the nose pin. Khushi let him as his lips lingered there for few seconds. Moving on, he kissed her deeply on the forehead and stepped back. Khushi opened her eyes in surprise.

Arnav had stepped back. He knew his limits. Kissing Khushi right now wouldn't help the situation. It would just complicate the circumstances even more but surprisingly, he was satisfied with what he had got. Those luscious pink lips were inviting but Arnav was a man of self control. He would do nothing which would later prove wrong for Khushi and him. Yet he was happy. Khushi saw the smirk of happiness on his face and looked away, being too embarrassed and started playing with the hems of her dupatta. She too wasn't too sure if she wanted to get kissed right now and was pleased with Arnav.

Arnav stepped forward and cupped her face. He flicked the locks off her face with his fingers. She looked so innocent. Her eyes met his. They reflected love. Her skin was smooth and natural. He was admiring her features when Khushi's stomach decided to growl.

Arnav bit in his smile and stepped back. Khushi looked away, too embarrassed.

"Arnav Ji, woh.." she started.

"Didn't have breakfast. Did you?" asked Arnav.

She nodded negatively and not meeting his eyes.

"Khushi, let's get something to eat" he said lovingly.

"Nehi.. Woh.." Khushi tried denying.

"Khushi, come on. Let's go" said Arnav as he took her hand in his and crossed the aisles, making their exit from the library. They finally halted where Arnav's bike was parked. "Kahan chalna hai? Crazy noodles, Chings, Bercos, CCD?" he asked casually. Khushi, obviously not used to such expensive restaurants, said "Uncle Tom's Maggi Point". It was a place where you could find cheap but the best and various kinds of Maggi; Plain, spicy, with vegetables. It was a hang-out for university kids for more than thirty five years now.

Arnav looked up at her, surprised. He thought Khushi would choose something very different. Something more expensive like his friends in college always did whenever it was his turn to throw a treat. Nobody missed a chance as they knew how rich he was but he was glad that he was proved wrong. His Khushi was different from the rest and that is what made her so special.

He started his bike and looked back at her, asking her to take her seat. She snuggled in her bag around her more closely and climbed up to sit behind him in a lady-like way, putting the pressure on his shoulder through her palms. Once settled, she removed one palm from his shoulder and gripped the handle behind. She let the other one linger where it was, on him.

Arnav was taking a girl out on his bike for the first time. Putting his glares back on, he smiled at Khushi's touch and together, they zoomed out of the place. They cut through the roads which were now empty as it was late afternoon and the crowd had trickled out and passed Khushi's college not noticing Lavanya gasp as they passed her by.

~

Chapter Four: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/71737571

____________________________________________________

A/N: I really don't like proofreading.. So, Kindly ignore typos😊

LINK TO MY OTHER WORKS:

_____________________________________________________________________________

HIT THE LIKE BUTTON

DO LEAVE A COMMENT!!!

SILENT READERS: PLZ RESPOND!!