Chapter 2
Sorry for the delay. Caught up in work. This is turning out longer than expected So I am making it a short SS. I will try to update one part everyday same time, except weekends.
Never Say Goodbye Part 2
When she returned to her room, Khushi let the mask crack and her tears fall. Arnav Singh Raizada, in flesh and blood, here again to torment her---
And she could not stop the memories that were as vivid as ever, despite seven years...
**********************************************************************************
It was a month after she had joined college that she had met him-The Arnav Singh Raizada-son of successful industrialist and fashion scion, Ajay Singh Raizada
If being rich was not enough, he was also extremely handsome.
She still remembered being knocked out of her senses at the first glimpse of his handsome face, the devilish glint in his eyes, the roguish charm.
He was, without a doubt, the college heartthrob.
Perhaps she was one of the many fans he had.
She doubted if he had even glanced at her, the lowly 'behanji' as she was called.
She had very few friends in this high profile college in the heart of Ahmedabad, known for its fashion design institute.
Perhaps because it was a fashion institute, the students were very trendy and upbeat, unlike her, the simple Khushi Kumari Gupta from the backstreets of Jabalpur.
She came from a very lower middle class family, who owned a small sweet shop. She had slogged her way into the exams and subsequent selection, while they had slogged their way to pay for her dream.
She was wonderful with ethnic creations, which is why she was selected. Her taste in Indian attire was also excellent. But she could barely afford the clothes she liked to wear. So, she wore simple cotton salwar kameex that she could afford. She chose them with care and wore them with taste, but she stuck out like a sore thumb among her trendy batch mates.
One fine day, in the second year of college, she had been introduced to him through some teachers, who wanted him to work with her on an assignment. He had done a double take looking at her braided hair, nose pin, jhumkas and salwar kameez. But he had been nice enough to cover it up with a polite smile and a warm hand shake. This gesture, however small, had warmed her heart.
But the happiness did not last long. He had wriggled his way out of the assignment and she had been left without a partner. Soon she found out, he was working on it with Raisa, one of the prettiest girls in the college. She remembered crying that day, remembered feeling worthless and friendless.She had sworn she would crush her crush on him and get over it. He is just another handsome face, she told herself.Nevertheless, her heart always skipped a beat at the sight of him.
She had struggled to find a partner for her assignment, which is when God answered her prayers in the form of Lavanya Kashyap, a late joinee and a relative of one of the trustees.
She was drop-dead gorgeous and sultry, a combination that had guys swarming around her like bees.But they were in for a surprise, because Lavanya Kashyap hated guys with a passion. The reason, which Khushi learnt later, was her troubled childhood with an alcoholic father.
Lavanya made many girls insecure with her sultry allure. They felt threatened by her 'hot' looks and hesitated to make friends with her.
It was then Lavanaya befriended the strange 'Chamkili' as she called her.
'Chamkili, will you help me with the assignment?' she had asked Khushi, who had been overjoyed at this honor.
And that had started a give and take relationship between them, where all the giving was from Khushi and all the taking was from Lavanya.
Khushi had been gratified that a gorgeous girl, wanted by many boys was friends with her. With Lavanya, she also received attention, because most guys had seen her as a ticket to get through to Lavanya, who also soon her room mate.
Khushi had found the attention she received due to Lavanya strangely exhilarating, until the day Arnav Singh Raizada had joined the league of men queuing up for Lavanya----
************************************************************************************
Arnav had returned home, having driven like a maniac. Khushi! Where had she been? Why had she disappeared? Was she married? She had no ring or any other sign to indicate it. But could she really be married? Enraged at the very idea, he smashed a glass on to the wall.
Why? Why? Why? Dear God why did she have this effect on him, even after 7 years?
He wasn't lost to the irony of the situation. When she was still available and madly in love with him, he had been blind to it. His lips twisted into a grim smile as he remembered that day he had approached her to help him chase Lavanya, and the poor girl had believed he was interested in being friends with her----
'Hey Khushi, ummm---do you want to do the other assignment for ethnic casual wear with me?' he asked her
Surprised, she had opened her large hazel eyes at him and just stared.
She has beautiful eyes, he had noted, quite amazed with himself for even noting this. She just wasn't his type. She was too homely and probably will make somebody a good wife. But he just believed in chasing skirts and having fun. He was not into the serious, emotional, homely types like Khushi. Moreover, she was too, 'behanji'. Nothing wrong in that, he had thought, but she was not arm candy types.The cool ASR, as he was called, could not afford to lose his 'cool' reputation in college.But there was no harm befriending her to chase her friend, he reasoned. He was not going to give her any wrong impression, he vowed.
And that had seen the beginning of the strange trio in college'Arnav, Lavanya and Khushi.
Through Khushi, Arnav had found many chances to hang around Lavanya.Lavanya had been cold to him initially. So, Arnav found himself talking to Khushi, laughing with Khushi, working on assignments with Khushi and hanging out with Khushi, with the sole aim of winning La's attention and acceptance----and it had taken almost 8 months for Lavanya to thaw, a time during which Arnav had met Khushi almost everyday----
How foolish we are when we are young, Arnav mused as he stared into the embers of the dying fire. The cold winter night felt lonelier as his heart burned in the agony of the bygone days and he remembered how he had let his happiness, his love, Khushi slip away due to his own ego and the tangled web fate had weaved...
Your reaction
Nice
Awesome
Loved
LOL
OMG
Cry
Continue Reading next part >
Comments (22)
Interesting concept!!It is not uncommon for people to make judgements based on attire & appearances!! I am glad Khushi rose above all that and finally marked for herself a great career...And ASR😡 How mean of you to use Khushi like that and break her heart...Wondering what happened to NK & La...and whats with those wedding plans and announcements but no band now...hmmm...
11 years ago
Hi Rima, Glad you turning this into a SS, the concept is so beautiful that it needs more than OS. So Arnav was part of the crowd: The crowd that always judges people based on what they wear, what they drive and where they live. He dismissed Khushi because she wore simple clothes. The crowd that lived to show off to others and live up to the reputation that others build for them. He didn't want to be seen Khushi as others would think he is not cool. The crowd that used people for their own means and needs and then drop friendship like hot potatoes. He will ignore Khushi once he gets Lavanya's attention. Oh! Heartbreak in on the way for Khushi. In the present, I think Arnav and Khushi are making the mistake they made in the past – Not communicating or expressing their emotions. Look forward to read next chapter.
11 years ago
An amazing and brilliant update, written exceptionally well,I can't believe Arnav was such a jerk in college, he tried to use Khushi to get lavanya's attention. Loved the update, eager to read more.Please continue soon and can you please PM xx P4rveen122013-06-04 16:37:52
11 years ago
i always try to read your stories but never get a time but this new and i easily catch first two chapterslove the you r writing this story arnav used khushi her to reach out to lavanya doesn't like that arnav No time changes both get in the professional world
11 years ago
its an awesome update...loving this homely khushi a lot...
11 years ago
Just came across this SS. You are doing an amazing job Rima! :) I love it <3
11 years ago
C'est magnifique,i just loved it.When is next part?
11 years ago
And it gets as twisted as a jalebi! 😲 There are a horde of questions in my mind but I will wait till you give a clear picture .I really wonder where NK features in this twisted love story.
11 years ago
This is really good ... Do continue and update soon ...
11 years ago
Arnav Has USED her...Thats really bad...Now Is he repenting...For hurting her or becoz she has gone..thats why???
11 years ago