ArShi teenStory: Entwined Souls |~| Chap8 Pg-31 updtd 2nd June|~ - Page 5

-Chapter 3-

"Mom.. Where is my Blue shirt!?" Arnav called out his Mom in hurry.

"You'll be wearing that!" Asha panicked at her son's choice and took up another shirt to hand him, "Wear this"

Arnav got ready in a rush and with the same speed he left for the party. On the other hand, Khushi wore a red evening dress and the murky color suited her fair tone very well.

Khushi reached before Arnav and saw her Anjali waiting for her at the gates. One by one Lavanya, Payal and Shayam and Akash finally reached. After a few words all of them parted their ways to meet others but all this time Khushi was all lost.

"Hey Akki.. " she said waving at Akash.

"Hi. Where are others?" Akash inquired seeing her alone.

"Somewhere here" Khushi replied looking around and said, "There" pointing towards Lavanya and Anjali who were standing a few steps away from them.

After a little chat, the hosts came up on the stage and the evening started. But before Akash could leave from there Khushi stopped him asking, "Aman & Nk aren't coming?"

"There late but they'll come!" he answered and resumed; "but Yes, Arnav told me that he isn't sure" Akash announced and went away.

"Seriously? He'll miss out the fun!" lavanya stated and Anjali agreed.

"Lav Arnav wasn't coming at the first place" Payal spoke telling

"Arnav will come." Khushi smiled at her friends what made them both Confused unintentionally. "But I wish that Moody doesn't comes" she complained pouting at Aman's going to be presence.

"Khush! Come on, that poor guy isn't that bad!" Anjali defended him getting a look from Payal.

"Look who's talking!" Lavanya said and ran away from Anjali could strangle her.

Presently everything started... Before other things there were some games been held like, dares. Selected people were being given a dare and they had to complete that.

Shayam had to act as Akash's girlfriend and both danced too making everyone laugh out loud. And the next was Rohan who was asked to kiss the peon and he ran away before anyone make him do that and next on the cue was Neel one of the most seniors and was asked to eat Raw Onions and it did it till tears came out of his eyes. There were all very different dares. The fun was on full swing.

"I'm sure if Khushi gets a dare she would use a lame excuse!" Payal intentionally said so that Khushi would participate.

"Yea Khush… Don't do that!" Anjali bucked up Khushi.

"But.. " She tried defensive herself but in vein, as Anjali spoke "Khush! It would be fun.. Go Nah." to which khushi nodded.

Finally Payal & Anjali pushed Khushi to volunteer and got engrossed in their talks when Lavanya spotted Shyam going over and saying something in the host's ear and to which the host gave a thumps up in reply.

"So.. Khushi, Are You ready for the Dare?" the host asking giving a smile to her and Khushi nodded.

"You will have to go to your class and stand at the window and wave us from there.. That's it." As the host finished telling, Khushi was stunned. The Whole building lights were switched off. And at the same time her class was on the second floor but the thing unknown to people present there, else than her friends was that 'Khushi was Afraid of dark' but... Seeing her friends cheering her she couldn't back off.

But Lavanya had got some sense unlike Payal and Anjali who were acting all stupid at the moment and reminded them, "Are you guys mad! Khushi is afraid of dark!" and it was when Payal's eyes went wide and Anjali started panicking. That's was all could be done.

Lavanya tried stopping Khushi but was too late and was stopped from going after her and had no other option.

Khushi made her way to the building and could hear the Voices being more and more louder that were chanting her name. She gulped down her fear and made her way in… Finally she reached the stairs and remembering her God she made her way up.

"Devi Maiyya.. " As she placed her feet on the second stair.

"Devi.. Maiyyya.. Save me" as she placed her feet on the fourth stair.

"De.. Deevi..Maiyya.. Sa..Save.. Mee.." Her fearing was rising and rising as she was going up.

"Devi…..Maiyya.. Save. Me… me.." She tried closing her eyes in fear but couldn't as she had to walk.

"Devi.. Devii… Ma.. Maiyya.." her body was totally cold because of her fear and she could hardly speak anything.

But.. At last she reached the up floor and her fear was making her numb and legs go weak. On the other side, Arnav reached the place was well festooned… This time it was no costume theme so only selected people were dressed as ghosts, witches, vamps and So on… He went to join his friends. As everything already started.

Khushi opened her classroom door which even scared her by the sound, "Crreeecchhh" She shut her eyes tight and placed both her hands at her heart.

As she Heard Arnav saying, "Khushi.." she turned around not including thinking for a second she hugged him and started weeping slowly and by that Arnav could see how badly afraid she was.. And while he returned the hug… Wait, it was their first Hug! Within seconds he somehow calmed her.

As he sighed remembering what happened sometime back, As he went forward he saw Lavaya scolding Pyala and Anjali and when he asked the reason Nk told him that Khushi was given a dare to go there. He saw pointing upwards at their class window and that was it. He went around the back gate of the entrance and as fast as he could he made his way up to her.

By Arnav's support Khushi completed the dare and came back...

As soon as it was time to visit the haunted room Khushi excitedly joined her friends but before she could join them Arnav declared Khushi won't.

"But Why?" she acted adamantly.

"Do you even know what was your condition upstairs.." care was obvious in his voice.

Khushi knew he was right and somewhere she liked the way he cared… He did? But she wanted to and didn't know how to.

Khushi looked up at him with a shine in her eyes.. "But now you're with me" for a moment Arnav went all quiet, she trusted him but then he gave up and both of them went to join others... Their fingers entwined together.
"A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart."