Chapter 4
[MEMBERSONLY] [NOCOPY]
I am deeply endebted to every single comment. Keep them coming because they are my biggest motivation for writing. I can't express how grateful I am for each like and comment. Wish I can reply to each, but my work life and personal life are hectic nowadays.
I just find enough time to pen down the chapters. But I read every comment.
And please don't ask when they will meet and why they parted. If you know that you won't feel the agony of these star crossed lovers and won't enjoy the ride.
So hold on for each chapter.
PS: I don't pm due to the very long list of buddies. Plus I don't have the time. If you read, then keep a look out for an update same time (8.00 pm IST) for update. There will be no updates on weekends,
Thanks
Part 4
Arnav went up to his cupboard and brought an old photograph of him and Khushi holding a trophy and grinning into the camera. How innocent and carefree those days had been. This snap was clicked after a particularly special incident-----
The college sports and games competitions were on. Arnav had amassed five medals already in various outdoor games. He loved to win and he worked hard for it. He had been winning the 'Sportsman of the Year' for the past two years. And he had resolved to win this year too and had gone on to achieve his aim.
When it came to indoor games, he was a little more skeptical. He was fine enough with table tennis and indoor badminton but he was not great at scrabbles or chess. He was better than most, but he had his arch competitor in Khushi.
She had qualified for the finals, just as he had. Deep down, he knew she was better than him in both the games as she had won all the inter-college championships for chess and scrabbles, in the past 2 years. He did not mind losing to her. But he would miss the 'Sportsman of the year' trophy this year if he did not win the scrabbles and chess, because he needed a total of 9 points out of 10 to edge ahead of his competitor.
Ironically, Khushi had participated this year because he had insisted.
She had resisted multiple times saying, 'I want you to win the Sportsman of the year' trophy. With me out, you will have at least one less person to compete with.'
'Are you nuts Khushi? Do you think you can win over me this year? No way! That year, when you won, it was just fluke. This year, you will lose to me,' he had goaded her, knowing she would raise to the bait and participate.
Predictably, she had raised her chin defiantly and declared 'You wait ASR. You are going to eat your words. If I don't win chess and scrabbles, I am not Khushi Kumari Gupta.'
'Woah! Get a new name ready,' he had said.
She had defeated all her opponents and qualified to the finals. Amused he had watched her show a thumbs down sign and stick out her tongue to him, after every win. 'You are so going to lose the finals' she had gloated, clapping her hands in glee and he had merely shrugged her off.
On the contrary, she lost both the games to him in the finals. He had gloated no end about this. 'So what are you going to call yourself? Haari Gupta? Loser Gupta? Phati Gupta. Come on. Pick a name. I personally like Haari Gupta,' he had laughed wickedly.
She had merely glared at him and walked off.
But when he received the 'Sportsman of the year' trophy, she had cheered the loudest from the gallery and clicked umpteen snaps.
When he came down from the podium, she had thrown herself at him with a bear hug, 'You did it. You won! I just knew it!'
She had insisted on taking many snaps with him as they both held the trophy. Looking at the snaps today, it would be difficult to say who had really won the trophy, because she looked happier than him.
He had been surprised at her happiness, since she had competed against him.
But only later he knew, she had lost to him deliberately. He had overheard her talk to La.
'Chamkili. You did what you planned didn't you? You let him win. But why?'
'La. Not winning a small competition is not a big thing for me. But if he does not win, his self esteem would be affected. What's bigger than his happiness? See how happy he is to win the trophy. Anything is worth that smile'
Arnav had been stunned at her gesture. That moment he had felt, for the first time that after his mother, there was another person in this world, to whom his happiness meant more than her own...
Yet she had left him, hurt him, chosen NK as her life partner. Why? Now that he was older, he tried to find the rationale behind her actions. But it just did not make sense to him even today.
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Khushi tried to get some sleep. She had to go and meet the clients next day. She could not afford to look haggard and tired. But sleep eluded her. Arnav's face crept into her thoughts. His face had matured. The boyish face now had the strong lines of a man. His hairstyle and sideburns made him look older. His face had a grim expression, as if some great weight was pulling him down. What could possibly be bothering him? He had it all-money, looks, gorgeous wife-----
Her thoughts skidded to a halt at the painful thought of La as his wife. She would not go there. She was happier thinking of the time, when he was all hers-her best friend and soul mate, someone who understood her and knew what she needed, even when she did not speak a word, like the time she had been struggling to pay her semester fee---
She had received the letter from her father two days before, explaining the lack of finance to pay her second year semester fee. Her father had requested her to hold on and have faith in him. He was trying his best to generate the resources.
Khushi had felt guilty for the strain she was putting her father through. She was tensed about the fee payment, as a very late payment could result in her suspension from college.
Depressed, she had taken off to her secret hideaway after classes, to find some peace and cry to her heart's content.
When Arnav had found her at 6 p.m. she was sitting with her face buried in her arms.
'So here you are. Do you even know how crazy I went looking for you? Do you know what time it is and what can happen to you in a lonely place like this? You must have lost your mind,' he had thundered.
When she had not replied, he had shaken her violently and forced her to look at him. Her tear streaked face melted his anger in the fraction of a second.
'What happened baby? Are you fine? Did someone hurt you? Were they mean to you? Tell me who it is. I am going to kill them,' he raged.
But she had merely shaken her head.
He had pulled her into his arms and soothed her as she had sobbed uncontrollably into his chest, 'Shhh it's ok. Are you going to tell me or am have I got to threaten you into telling me?' he had asked her, wiping away her tears.
But she had stubbornly refused to tell him.
He had not asked her anything further, but gently rocked her into silence and walked back with her to her dorm.
He had gently held her by her shoulders and looked into her eyes and said 'I will get to the bottom of this Gupta. Things will work themselves out. And I don't want another tear drop in your eyes, ever, you got it?'
She had nodded mutely and hugged him once again. She felt safe and protected in his arms and somehow she knew things would work out, if he said so.
Miraculously, when she had gone to her the college office room to let them know her fees would be delayed, they had thrust a receipt at her, saying 'Your fees have been paid already.'
'But who paid it?' asked a stunned Khushi.
'Your classmate ASR,' they informed her.
She had gone charging at him from the office room. 'How dare you! How can you pay my fees? I can manage,' she had said.
'Khushi, consider this a loan. After you cried that day, I did some detective work through La. She told me she had overheard you talk about your semester fee and how your Dad was unable to pay it. I have money to burn Khushi. What is wrong in it, if it help a friend? Am I not a friend?' he had asked her.
Khushi had nodded mutely. And then he lifted her and twirled her around in his arms.
' Now smile. Because when you smile, the world smiles along. And yes. You better dedicate your first pay cheque to me, whatever be the amount. I want interest on the loan. I am a businessman's son you see,' he had grinned. 'And one more thing. I order you not to cry. You soil all my hankies with your tears.'
She had grinned back at him, as he held her. She remembered thinking 'Why should I cry when you are my friend?'
Khushi's lips twisted in a bitter smile. How ironic! This man had given her tears to last a lifetime. Yet he had always been fiercely tender and caring towards her then. Perhaps they should have remained friends?
The first seeds of trouble had started after their first intimate moment on that day in the Design lab---the day their innocent friendship turned into a fierce hunger for each other
Part 5 : 84914060
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Comments (37)
I totally intrigued by this story! Please update soon and thanks do much for the PM!
11 years ago
Awesome SS rima...read all the 4 parts till now in one go...update fast...waiting...
11 years ago
m really surprised...i actually thought bck then...he was after La...but now...without askin he just went nd paid her fees😃...nd she...let him win only to see him happy 😃 (thts the love i want 😳)whn she was cryin..he just couldn bare it...such a wonderful update...Loved it ❤️ the story is really gettin interesting 👏👏
11 years ago
Very interesting look forward to next update
11 years ago
Khushi could do anything, she even lost the game to see Arnav happy. And Arnav would find the reason for her tears and solved her problems. A great, genuine friendship. Then what happened????
11 years ago
That's a fabulous update Rima.Im just loving this to the core. The way you jumping from past to present and vice-versa is bang on!!!!Im loving both Khushi and Arnav in these and felt the characterizations so real...
11 years ago
Its getting really interesting. I like this gradual closeness and development in their relationship. Also i'm believing that there are hints in the chapters to tell what had happened. Its captivating.
11 years ago
Oh my gosh this is so good just read all 4 parts. Beginning to wonder what could have happened between the 2 seeing as they were such good friends and so close. Can't wait for the next update tomorrow upset soon!
11 years ago
I Adore The Flashbacks :) Their Friendship Was SO Beautiful
11 years ago
Wow that was a beautiful and amazing update, written perfectly.So Khushi had lost on purpose, just so Arnav could win the trophy that was so sweet.Awww the care and concern Arnav showed Khushi when he found her crying and bless he even paid for her college fees. Arnav's sweet request to Khushi not to cry and always to smile was just so lovely.So there friendship got ruined by a small intimate moment, eager to read more.Loved the update and Please continue soon xx
11 years ago