A thirteen year old Khushi suddenly cried out from her room one day. Nani and Arnav rushed to see what happened. Khushi was sitting on the bed and there were tears down her cheeks. Nani and Arnav were alarmed. The nineteen year old Arnav ran to her in anxiousness. "What happened Khushi? Are you okay?" He almost shook her in his anxiety and worry.
Khushi mutely shook her head. She looked at Nani and asked her to stay back. "Arnav go." Her voice still sounded tearful. Arnav was baffled at this. Why was she pushing him away. Nani asked him to wait outside and closed the door behind her. As expected, Khushi had started her periods but she didn't know what it was. Khushi had become scared at the sight of blood on the sheets. She was especially scared of blood after the accident.
Nani sighed. Had her mother been there she would have explained everything to Khushi. It was an oversight on Nani's part that she did not tell anything to Khushi. She had assumed Khushi would discuss it with her girl friends at school. With a firm resolve Nani explained to Khushi it was nothing to be scared about.
Nani made her change and changed the sheets too. She also spoke to Khushi about her own safety. Nani talked about a good touch and a bad touch from anyone. She asked Khushi to consider her own safety first and never roam about the city after dark without Arnav or her friends. Nani asked her to be circumspect around boys since she was no more a little girl. And that also included Arnav she said.
Khushi's head swam with so many instructions. No more a little girl? How can it all change in one second just like that? And what's the harm in going about places for eating gol gappas and being friendly with her Arnie? She decided to just nod her head anyways and go with the flow. Else Nani would be very strict. She knew that from experience.
Nani went out of Khushi's room at last. Arnav was waiting for Nani. "What happened? Is she okay? And what were doing for so long inside Nani?" He was bursting with questions.
Nani smiled and said Khushi is okay and it was nothing that he needs to be concerned about. She asked him to run along and continue with his work. Arnav felt left out for the first time. What were these two hiding from me? He decided to get it out of Khushi later. One plate of hot jelabis would do the trick he thought with a smirk.
Arnav had come out with flying colors in his junior college. He had enrolled in a short time fashion course in Delhi while he was applying for various universities abroad to pursue fashion seriously. Arnav was confident he would get through one of the top universities. He had taken more time convincing Khushi that he wanted to go abroad.
Khushi had been devastated when she learnt Arnav wanted to go away from her. She had run to her room and had refused to come out for hours. Her sobs could be heard outside. Arnav felt something pierce his heart deep when he heard her sobs. He even decided it wasn't worth it if it meant Khushi was going to be this miserable.
With a long face Arnav had dropped the idea. He waited for her to calm down and then went into her room. "Khushi, am sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry. You're my best friend, my family, my everything. Don't cry Khushi." He had taken her in his arms.
Khushi had held him tight. "Don't leave me Arnie. You're the only one I've got apart from Nani. You're everything for me too. I can't be away from you." She sounded so sad even at the prospect of him going away. Arnav had reluctantly agreed. But in the next few days Khushi noticed a very subdued Arnav and she felt bad. Khushi knew she should not stop Arnav's dreams only because of her selfishness.
Finally after two days she mustered courage and told him he could go provided her called her daily and he talked to her through skype. And he should not have any best friend there. She was adamant about that.
Arnav held her gratefully. He was touched by her understanding and her selflessness. He too was reluctant to go away from her. But he knew he wanted to pursue this. Hence he had applied and thought that if he was meant to go he would get the admission. Else he would happily stay back with Khushi.
And that was a month ago. Now Arnav was waiting for a response from the universities he had applied. Finally the call came from three universities and he chose the one in Paris for his grad in Fashion technology.
Khushi was happy and sad for him. She was smiling bravely but every night she was in tears since it was one day less with Arnav. Nani understood what both were going through. She made Khushi understand that she couldn't be with Arnav every day. "Some day you have to get married and go from us bitiya." Her tone was regretful.
"No Nani I won't. I have decided. I will only marry Arnie else I won't marry anyone else." Even at thirteen Khushi was so sure of this. But Nani just laughed away her statement with a "Sanki". She was amused at Khushi's supposedly childish outburst. But Khushi was the only one who knew she meant every word that she said that day.
Arnav was meanwhile confused by the way Khushi had been behaving with him from that day she shouted from her room. She never came too close and even when he hugged her she immediately pulled out. He was irritated and finally asked her what the matter was. "No Arnie, Nani asked me not to get too close with guys anymore. I am a big girl now."
Arnav then understood what had happened that day and almost laughed out loud at how she was repeating his Nani's words. He knew she didn't have a clue why Nani had said those things to her. Arnav still pulled her by his side and said "That's only for others Khushi. Those rules don't apply to me. I am your Arnie remember?" She happily agreed and gave him a hi fi.
They continued sitting by the pool side chatting about this and that. The two of them were conscious of their limited time together and they wanted to make the most out of it.
CID
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