Chapter 5

Ch 5.Teenage Love

 

 

 

Today I'll talk to Khushi and will try to understand her. I hope she will listen to me. Payal let out an audible deep breath decided in her mind, it was 7 PM and as usual she was on Guptas doorstep as Payal and Khushi used to study together.

She rang the bell and waited for Khushi to open the door but she got surprised when instead of Khushi Aunty Nandini had opened the door.

"Aunty where is Khushi??"Payal stepped inside."She is sleeping" Nandini replied with the calm voice.

"Sleeping!at this time?" Payal had given a loud gasp in amusement before turning back to look at Nandini.

 "yeah..she doesnt even have her lunch" she added further and this thing made Payal realized something"something that she feared, Khushi  was affected by her words and whatever had happened in the school. 

"Oh my poor Khushi , she needs me why I had a fight with her??"Payal cursed herself under her breath letting out the sigh of regret. 

"Aunty I see--- 

"Payal is everything fine with Khushi?"

Nandinis voice had made her words left in mid way and she felt rigid on her heels, she had asked a question from her that was very difficult to give answers. She breathed in uneasily, pressing her fingers against her palm she tried to get control on her nerves before lifting up her eyes at Nandini.

 

"A.un..ty"yeah--everything is fine'"she smiled in trying to cover her lie while her tongue shook with nervousness.

"Are you sure because I don't think?"Nandinistone was softer suspicious and Payal turned down her eyes to ignore looking back at her. She feared to speak what she didnt want to as she had promised to someone---someone who was very close to her heart--her friend Khushi.

 Seeing the changing color of her cheeks and her panicking expressions Nandini stepped closer to her and then pressed her hand on her shoulder.

 "Listen Payal you're Khushis best friend and I know she tells you everything, nowadays Im noticing Khushi's change behavior and feels there is something wrong with her, something which is in her heart  and I don't know about that. I just want to know about the thing that has become a cause of her change behavior she spoke softly and Payal felt momentary guilt for hiding the truth.

      Is it right to tell her about Arnav and Khushi relationship? She is her mother she has right to know what is happening in Khushis life"OH GOD! What I should do?

   Payal closed her eyes for a fraction of second, thinking about the effect of her truth about Khushis life, their friendship. She sucked in a sharp breath .she could break her promise; she couldnt betray Khushi"Never. 

"Payal beta"Nandini shook her shoulder slightly to see her lost in thought and Payal startled, roused from her deep thoughts. She gasped and lifted her chin to meet with Nandinis gaze.

"Aunty..Nothing is wrong with Khushi.she is fine. She is upset about our final exams which are coming soon She lied shrugging off the frisson of regret that ran down into her spine.

 "Are you sure?"Nandini looked unsatisfied at her tone and stared into her eyes to find some clue Payal quickly banished the guilt from her face and met with her eyes.

 "Yeah"she gave an assured smile Nandini didnt insist anymore but she could see Payal was trying to hide something from her and it had increased her doubt .

 

 

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"Khushi don't you think it's we should go out for a date" Arnav whispered dreamingly closing the receiver to his mouth.

 

"Date!!!"Khushi gulped her saliva and almost yelled in shock throwing her comforter on the other side of bed and got up. Arnav suppressed a laugh to imagine her reaction .Khushi gasped several times before again sinking down on the bed.

 "Arnav youve gone mad how can we go on a date?"

Khushi,Are you afraid of Payal??He drawled taunting voice biting his words and Khushi sighed uneasily, its not like that She explained.

 "Listen Khushi,we hardly get time to spend with each other and after three weeks our final exams are coming so I want to spend some quality time with you without any interruption His voice was firm and it seemed he had been decided everything already and she feared to argue with him but she tried once more time to convince him to drop that idea.

 "Arnav we can spend time alone in school"

 "Not in schoolHe growled irritatingly but then gasped to control his rising temper at her unnecessary argument.

"Ive been decided, well go for a date on the beach '."His tone was firm and ordering.

 "But Arnav."Her protesting voice faded into the air as he interrupts her.

 "Please Khushi don't you give me just one day?"He let out the long gasp as he considered his tone before speaking, Khushi sighed she wanted the same but she feared if someone saw them together then what would happen.

Arnav! Please  try---

Cant you give me a few hours of a day His voice sounded adamant yet pleading and she knew she hadnt any other way except to bow her down in front of his wish.

"ok"she sighed finally accepting her defeat and  he grinned.

 

"I love you'"

 

"I love you too"She confessed with all her heart and smiled in contentment. "But Khushi you have to wear what I'll say you to wear??"

 Khushi raised her eye borrows at his suspicious tone and her voice drawled in confusion

 "Arnav what do you want me to wear...??"

 "I'll tell you on Monday"

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