FF: A Fate Intertwined
Prologue
She stood on top of the pavilion with her arms spread allowing her pristine white dupatta to billow in the warm evening breeze. Jet black wisps escaped the tightly oiled braid and caressed her face. Khushi Kumari Gupta had the biggest smile on her face. Dusk was her favorite time of the day. Jiji would be waiting at home and making up a million excuses to Amma and Babuji about her whereabouts but this was the one hour Khushi didn't give up for anyone.
Khushi was used to giving up everything she could for the family that had been her strength and support since that fateful night 5 years ago when she had lost her own Amma and Bauji to a car accident. Payal Jiji and her parents had taken her into their fold like one would a long lost daughter and for that Khushi would always be grateful.
Khushi closed her eyes in a moment of silence, remembering her parents, wondering if they were looking down at her and smiling. They would have smiled if they were alive. Khushi was the ideal 15 year old. Well mannered, academically brilliant. True, she had her share of filmi-ness in her personality but a good heart went a really long way in endearing her to everyone she met. A giggle rose up in her throat as she remembered her enactment of a recent movie scene which had caused her entire class to double up with laughter during what was supposed to be study hour. Her father was going to hear about it. Khushi sighed. Having your father teach in the school you study in was not the easiest situation to be in.
"Wake up, Happiness!"
The sudden voice behind her made Khushi jump and she was about to lose her balance and fall when a strong pair of arms caught her by her waist and pulled her close in an attempt to break her fall.
The fear of falling must be truly great because what else could explain this sudden increase in heart rate. She felt as if he would hear her heart beating if he didn't look busy laughing at her.
"Arnav, you are going to kill me someday. I would have plummeted to my death today."
"Drama queen! I wasn't going to let you fall, you know. What were you thinking about anyway? Do you know that people will think you belong to a mental asylum if they see you giggling with your eyes closed, standing all by yourself on the top of this deserted pavilion?"
He hadn't let her go and for some reason it bothered her to be standing this close to him. Khushi shook her head. She was being silly. This was her friend, Arnav. "This is what happens when you see romantic movies all the time!" she muttered.
"Khushi, this is another one of those things... talking to yourself. I am telling you, people are beginning to refer to you as that crazy girl from the tenth grade." Arnav continued to laugh as she pushed him backwards.
"And what do you think they refer to you as? The grouch from the tenth grade?"
"Handsome grouch, sweetheart"
Khushi made a face but then burst out laughing. "They do call you that by the way. And I am beginning to think you like that. Why are you a grouch only around the others? I mean, here you are talking to me perfectly fine. Even laughing! I saw Lavanya trying to cosy up to you the other day in the science lab and you were downright mean to her. And you know the worst part; she still thinks you are god's gift to this school! Unbelievable!
Arnav chuckled. "Tell me when you are done talking, ranting and I will respond."
"Ha ha, very funny. I wonder sometimes why we are friends."
"Because 5 years back, I pulled at your pigtails, you hit me on the head with a hard-bound book and I lost my mind!"
"And I felt guilty for pushing an already crazy boy over the edge!"
They both laughed out loud at the memory. It was exactly how they had become friends.
He pulled at her hands and made her sit on the top step next to him. For the next ten minutes, neither of them said a word to each other but stared at the valley below them. It was exactly how they spent each day for the last 5 years.
"So when are you leaving?" Khushi asked softly knowing that the next few minutes were not going to be pleasant.
Arnav's mood darkened instantly.
"It will be ok this time, Arnav." Khushi said softly, covering his hand with hers.
"It won't and don't try and tell me it will. Sometimes, I wish they just..." Arnav's words were harsh. But Khushi knew that they hadn't meant to hurt her. He was going home for summer vacation and for as long as they had been friends, she knew it was the worst time of the year for him.
"Arnav, we've been friends for so long. Won't you tell me what is wrong? Maybe I can help?"
"Nobody can help me. And I've asked you not to talk about it. Why can't you just do that for once!"
Khushi couldn't help wince at the sharpness at his tone. He immediately looked at her with regret.
"I am sorry, Khushi. But..."
"I know. Forget it. Let's talk about something else. Tell me, what is Di planning to do after school?"
"Get married, I think. All she talks about, and to if I may add, these days is her boyfriend. I mean I like Shyam and everything but isn't it a little early in life to be thinking about romance all the time? Why are all you girls like that, by the way? What in the world is big deal about romance? I mean I get the physical attraction part and everything but..."
Khushi blushed instantly. They could talk about anything under the sun and that was exactly what he was doing. Why did she then feel uncomfortable? Why was she suddenly so aware of the hand that she held and the boy who sat by her?
"Typical! I wouldn't expect you to understand. Just write it off as another one of those girl things you don't get, ok?" Khushi replied as she removed her hand from his and placed it on her side.
"Tch! Girls!" Arnav said as he rolled his eyes.
"Boys!" Khushi replied making a face at him.
Chapter 1: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/2924347?pn=5
Chapter 2: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/2924347?pn=10
Chapter 3: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/2924347?pn=18
Chapter 4: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/2924347?pn=27
Chapter 5: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/2924347?pn=35
Chapter 6: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/2924347?pn=42
Chapter 7: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/2924347?pn=49
Chapter 8: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/2924347?pn=56
Chapter 9: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/2924347?pn=65
Chapter 10: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/2924347?pn=75
Chapter 11: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/2924347?pn=84
Chapter 12: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/2924347?pn=92
Chapter 13: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/56198738
Chapter 14: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/2924347?pn=108
Chapter 15: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/56271808
Chapter 16: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/post/56315765
Chapter 17 onwards: Thread 2: https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/topic/2950618
I wish there was a love button cos i would have pressed it a 1000 times by now❤️. i loved your chapter and everything about it. The emotions, the feelings, the fun, the sudden seriousness, everything, you just have beautiful imagination👏. And i dont think i cud miss such a beautiful ff. Can u plsss PM me. pls. PM me when you update and then update soon too.
Love,