FF-Imagination becomes authenticity-COMPLETED! - Page 10

They went inside the jungle; it was dark and scary for a girl like Khushi. Khushi kept looking here and there in fear. Arnav felt how Khushi was scared; he thought he should talk to her so it would distract her from the darkness.

"Scared of the dark, sunshine?" Arnav said while smirking at her.

Khushi instantly looked at him as she heard his voice. So different in front of others and so different in front of her, she thought.

Arnav gestured a hand in front of Khushi's eyes to get her attention.

"Huh?" Khushi said, blinking her eyes.

"Scared of the dark, sunshine?" Arnav said again pressurizing the words.

"Sunshine?" Khushi frowned.

"Yes." Arnav said as a matter of fact.

"Why are you calling me that?" Khushi asked.

"I feel like calling you that. It kind of suits you." Arnav said smiling slightly.

Khushi just smiled nervously. So many questions were going up and down in Khushi's mind about Arnav.

"Why are you scared of the dark?" Arnav asked the third time.

"Because, I don't like it. Nobody likes it. It scares me. I like light, open and bright places." Khushi said.

"Not everybody dislikes darkness. I kind of like it." Arnav said.

"Why do you like darkness? You never used, I remember when...um.. Why are you so different now, Arnav?" Khushi asked.

"With time things change as well, Khushi. Now look at you...you used to be so shy, quiet and now you are so talkative, lively and fun loving girl. You never used to say a word when we all used to sit and talk." Arnav said with a chuckle.

"I am not talkative! And I wasn't shy as well." Khushi said defensively.

"Yes you are. You've change. Everybody has and it's not a bad thing you know." Arnav saidm shrugging his shoulders.

Khushi giggled.

"Can I ask you something, Khushi?" Arnav said.

"Sure?" Khushi said.

"Why did your father send you to England?" Arnav said hesitantly.

"Well, it's a long story" Khushi said looking at the ground.

"We can always ditch them." Arnav said with a smirk.

Khushi laughed. "But promise me you won't tell anybody?" Khushi said looking at him innocently.

"Promise." He whispered looking into her eyes.

"Well, my dad had retired and we were using his pension to fulfill our necessities. My mom and dad used to fight everyday because of this. Everyday waking up in the morning was a torture. But I soon became used to." Khushi said with tears brimming in her eyes.

"Soon my mom became very ill, and we found out that she...she was suffering from a tumor. I didn't know what type of a disease it was and what it could do to my mother, I even asked my dad but he never told me. He'd spend days in the hospital not eating or drinking anything. And I was all alone at home, scared and alone. Soon my mother became sicker and my Aunt who lives in England sent us money to bring her to England so that my mother could be treated in a better hospital. So yeah...I did not go alone. I hadn't gone there for my studies. It was for her, my mother. But things became difficult for us so we had to stay back. My father started settling in England and so did I. Agghh...It's a complicated story." Khushi said, a tear fell on the ground which didn't go unnoticed by Arnav.

"I'm so sorry Khushi. I shouldn't have asked you all this" Arnav said feeling guilty.

"No, its okay. You don't have to be sorry." Khushi said forcing a smile on her face. "and you say I have changed and I have become talkative, it's because I think a lot. Just to get my mind of stuff I had to change.

Being talkative was a part of it." Khushi said while softly laughing.

"You know I love your accent. Even when you cry you look cute." Arnav said cheekily.

It was an oh-my-god moment for Khushi. She blushed and started smiling.

"Haha, umm...thanks" Khushi said.

"So now what? What does your father do now?" Arnav asked.

"Oh now? Now, he's a successful business man. Payal's father and him are business partners." Khushi said.

"Oh a business man. What's his name? Maybe I know him." Arnav said.

"Shashi. His name is Shashi." Khushi said.

"Shashi Gupta? Is your father?" Arnav said shockingly.

"Umm...yes. Why?" Khushi said.

"He is the one who deals with my items in England. He was a great friend of my father." Arnav said in a happy tone.

"Really? He was? I'll ask my dad about him." Khushi said in excitement.

"No no don't." Arnav said.

"Why not?" Khushi asked.

"Well just like you I also have a sad-ish story." Arnav said looking down at the ground

"Oh come on Arnav. I told you everything and now you're hesitating." Khushi said.

"I'll spare you with my sob story." Arnav said looking away.

"No, I want to know." Khushi said.

"I don't know where my father is. He used to drink and come late at night. So we soon were brought to my grand-mother's house. It has been years I haven't seen him nor do I want to. He once told me that I will never be successful but here I am the most victorious business man of India." Arnav said.

"And your mother? Where is she? Is she with your father" Khushi asked.

"No, she died when I was young." Arnav said.

"I'm sorry." Khushi said.

"I never wish for good. Whenever I do everything goes wrong. That's why I've never believed in God." Arnav said.

Khushi just looked at him with concern. She wanted to tell him everything. Everything she has ever thought about him. The way she loved him, the way she still loves him.

"We should go now. Everybody must be waiting for us" Arnav said with a heavy sigh.

Khushi's thoughts brushed away.

"Yeah. We should pile the wood up." Khushi said.

*

While walking back...

"You know I don't think you're such a bad guy. I mean you don't seem so scary once a person gets to know you." Khushi said with a bright smile.

"Haha, really Sunshine? Well don't tell anyone about the whole conversation we had and neither will I." Arnav said.

"Yess..I know." Khushi said. "And stop calling me that." -Khushi said while pouting her lips a little.

"I trust you" Both Arnav and Khushi said at the same time with. They looked at each-other for a second and then started laughing.

"I hope we are better friends than we used to be." Arnav said.

"Of-course we are. The things I told you back there, nobody knows them except for Payal. So now imagine how much I trust you." Khushi said.

"Haha, yes and I don't discuss my family stuff with anybody except you. Only you know." Arnav said.

Both smiled at each-other.

A special bond was made this time. Inside true love but outside they had become good-friends.

*

Chapter#11