Chapter 41

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Batool Imran

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"Silence please! (The assembly hall goes quiet) The next announcement, is one of loud hoots, like every year its time for this academic years first field trip! (hoots and cheering by happy students) The year on the request of Ms.Anita students will be taken to the forests outside Stanford. All students interesting in making the field trip should register themselves latest by Thursday to Ms.Anita Thawer." The Principal stepped off the stage, another round of cheers accompanied with some groans from the educational task of Biological study being associated with the field trip.




"Now whose going to take what, Anji my sissy?" Aakash remarked with a large grin playing on his face, as Anjali clenched her jaw and walked away pulling Shyam with her towards her own friends group, leaving back Aakash to roar in laughter.




"Aakash you shoudnt embarrass her like that. She's your sister" Payal told him, as he waved off her accusation and told her how Anjali was a nit wit, and by the time they were packing up she would be acting like nothing had ever happened.




"Khushi you coming with me to register ourselves?" Karan asked her in a cheerful manner, as she nodded quickly, but then the reality of her situation struck her, remembering how her mother was still at the hospital and with her being discharged today, she had to stick at home to take care of her. Her facial expression dropped down and she stood frozed to her spot, cursing her own fate, while Karan who had already made an attempt to go to Ms.Anita stopped when he saw Khushi not moving.




"I won't be able to come Karan. Sorry. You please go and register yourself" she told him with a sad face, as he instead of going to Ms.Anita walked towards her and kept his arm around her, consolingly.





"Is this about your mother?" he asked her and she nodded still looking down at her feet, while Arnav who was being a silent spectator to the whole show finally stepped into the conversation keeping his hand on Karan's shoulder. Communicating with their eyes, Karan excused himself away leaving Khushi and Arnav alone together, as Khushi began to walk away, Arnav holding her with her hand back, she turning back looked at him in confusion. Before he could even say something she had started blabbering away aimlessly about their previous conversation.




"Shutup Gupta! Just Shutup and listen to me! You are making the field trip understood? I don't go on field trips I'll stay behind with Aunty and take care of her. You can go." He proposed his idea to her, as she stopped talking and listened carefully to him, shaking her head vigorously signaling a straight away 'No'.




"Absolutely not. Maa needs me right now. I can go to field trips any other time, it's not the end of the world if I don't go. Doesn't matter. (smiling at him sadly) Thankyou for thinking about us anyway." Khushi said, the sadness in her face not leaving him as she walked him, this time him letting her go, since he knew her too well and was convinced that she woudnt make the trip on her own accord, something else was to be done about it. Thinking o himself, he returned back to class, ignoring Karans questions about Khushi's plan making little conversation.




The day at school, was usual this time with an added spark of field trip plans surrounding the students, however for some of them the day was nothing but to feel how deprived their fate made them appear to be. Arnav walked out of the last class of the day waiting for Khushi and his siblings to join him, when he saw Vivek approaching him with a tensed face, diverting all of Arnav's attention towards him. Vivek stopped right in front of him, looking around for any signs of Khushi and then made direct contact with Arnav.





"Chun's not making the trip." he told him disappointingly, and he nodded slowly, waiting for Vivek to say something else, which seemed like not to be coming any time soon.


"So?" Arnav asked his eye brows raised up, observing the hesitant look on Vivek's face, who apparently was stammering to gets words stringed up right.




"Can you do something about it? I really want her to come." Vivek told him, kind of holding an expectant look on his face, but instead just got a blank confused look from Arnav.




"I don't see why you would want Gupta to come along? You will be spending the trip with Vishaka." He told Vivek in a matter of fact tone, seeing the expressions on Viveks face flinch badly, but then a straight determined look came on his face.




"That doesn't stop me from not wishing that Chun shoudnt come. After all shes my best friend, things with everyone and not her, are I erm..just not right." Vivek explained a small fond smile on his face, while opposed to him Arnav was still sporting a blank expressionless look.




"I'll see what I can do." He told him, and Vivek gave him a huge smile, shaking his head up and down in a frenzy moment, leaving no doubt in Arnav's mind why he was Khushi's best friend and nobody else was. Crazy two fit eachother, he thought to himself.




"You coming?" he asked Arnav conversationally, but before Arnav could reply, they saw Anjali and Aakash along with Khushi approaching them, Khushi evidently looking down on spirits, while meeting opposite ends Anjali and Aakash were soaring away in extreme joy.




"She won't make it, if you don't come btw, so whatever you do make sure you are part of it too." Vivek told Arnav quickly, receiving a kind of hurried look from him as he bid goodbye to all them giving Khushi a tight hug, and whispering something like, 'Cheer up you are coming', rushed away to his car not turning back to see the confusion spread all over Khushi's face.




The foursome walked out of the Stanford ground towards the car that was waiting for them propping themselves inside and directed the Driver to take them to the hospital. Once at the hospital Anita already ready with the discharge papers was standing with Aparna in her room, waiting for the teens to arrive. With them there they helped out Aparna out of the hospital, Anita coming with them, asking one of the junior staff to bring her car to the main entrance door of the hospital.




"Princess, Monkey Boy you two come with me to Aparnas home. Chotte take Khushi back to the house to get her things, then meet us at Gupta house, understood?" Anita gave the four of them instructions who nodded, Khushi handing over the house keys to Anita and walked off to a different direction with Arnav towards the car they had come in, Anita and the two twins helping Aparna into the car, while Anita took the front drivers seat.




The car ride back to Raizada house was a silent one with Khushi lost in her thoughts, and Arnav figuring out ways to get Khushi agreed to make the trip. They stepped out of the car, the driver leaving them going away with the car. Going inside quietly Khushi went straight to her room, and got out her bag which she had already packed last night. Seeing the dressing table in a bad state a small smile crept up on her face, remembering how it was something only Arnav would be doing creeping in side her room to get her accessories. Shaking her head, she hurriedly change into something comfortable, waiting for Arnav to come out, meanwhile she collected a fresh set of clothes for Anjali and Aakash as well.




Keeping all the things on the couch outside, she stood on the door of the room she had been living in for the last three days, looking at it fondly, and apparently having grown to adore it. She was definetly going to miss it. Arnav stepped out of his room, seeing her standing still looking at the room, knew exactly what she was thinking and kept his hand on her shoulder, causing her to turn around.





"I am going to miss this room. (Arnav gave her a one sided smile) That doesn't mean I don't want to go to my own room. This room is too girlish." She remarked defending her side of the argument, which though silent was battling on to take place somewhere inside their heads.




"Oh yeah whatever Gupta. Are you going to be bringing the same bag on to the field trip?" he asked her keeping up conversation as they made their way out of the house Arnav carrying her bag, trying to be a gentle man which he was actually badly failing at.




"I told you I am staying with Maa. Where does the bag thing come from then?" she asked him her eyebrows raised up indignantly, looking at the smirk on his face which made her feel comfortable, that knowing look of him planning out something coming on to her face. Vivek had told her earlier that she was coming, and now Raizada was asking all assured questions, as if they already knew she was coming. What was going on here?




Reaching the Gupta house was a whole new level of crazy for Arnav with Khushi bickering him all the way about what he was up to. Shutting her up was one job that was kind of he had learnt was impossible to do, unless he actually plastered her lips with something, so she would stop pestering him. Entering inside Gupta house, Arnav kept Khushi's bag in her room directly, her still following him around like his shadow. Thankfully enough with arrival of Vivek her mind seemed a little diverted from following him everywhere, and without her looking he could actually breathe in peace. Everyone was in the living room, Aparna in her room, seeking this to be his chance he went inside Aparna's room and sat on the bed next to her, where she looked up smiling tiredly at him.




"Are you fine now?" he asked her softly, and she nodded, keeping her hand on his cheek and pulled him forward to plant a kiss on his forehead.




"It wanted to tell you something." He stated after some time, collecting his thoughts and the way he was going to present them to Aparna. She smiled at him and nodded looking at him intently, waiting for him to continue speaking.




"We have school field trips every year. The Principal announced in the morning about it being this weekend. So erm.." Arnav stumbled for words, even though he had prepared the speech already in his head, now that he was practically putting it into effect it seemed a new level of difficult.




"And Khushi doesn't want to come? That's what you want to say dear? (Arnav looks stupefied but quickly nods) Just like your father would have done if I wasn't coming (Arnav arches his eyebrow) Don't worry dear, I'll talk to her and convince her to come with you" Aparna Gupta said assuringly, squeezing Arnav's hand who merrily gave her a small smile to her, his mind in a jeopardy of how to break out the news to Aparna that he didn't attend field trips. It was not his thing, but seeing the flicker of emotion and undying trust in him in her eyes, he could only doubt his own policy.




"I won't go. I never go to field trips." He said soberly, making little eye contact with Aparna, who was now sitting up straight resting her back against the plank of the bed, looking at him in confusion and surprise.




"Why not?"



"Just like that. I don't like going to field trips, I would rather prefer playing football in our backyard." He said in a no emotion tone, continuously staring blankly at his thigh, wishing that he never had asked Aparna at all about Khushi coming. Why did he even care if she went or not, he wasn't going, was it necessary for her to go?




"Then why do you want me to convince Khushi to go, if you aren't coming?" Aparna asked him confused, and for the first time in the last few minutes he looked up into her eyes, trying to communicate through them, but then realized apparently he really wasn't a Xerox of his dad and besides dad would never say no to field trips.




"For her. I think she needs some fresh air and a well deserved break. After the party, and then you, her life hasn't been on a good track, so some outing would do her good." He said convincingly, that purity and affection in his eyes for her well being reflecting like a mirror, making Aparna swell with emotion.




"That's very thoughtful of you sweetheart, but I still don't think it's a good idea if shes going with you not coming. I understand Vivek is coming, but Khushi told me about his girl friend, I suppose he will be spending his time with her? Aakash and Anjali are a grade senior and besides Khushi said they both are in a relationship? (Arnav awakwardly nods) I am not sure Khushi is good friends or comfortable with anyone else, so if you don't go, convincing her to go will be hard" Aparna said sensibly, her hidden intentions being to send Arnav somehow on the trip, Khushi was just a pawn to do that. She was no stranger teenage emotions, she knew he wanted to go, and she knew her daughter too, she woudnt accept that he was special but apparently her actions did say everything.





"Karan. Karan is also coming. And Priyanka even shes coming, Gupta is good friends with them, They would keep her company." Arnav said trying to defend his part of the conversation not wanting to go, but somewhere inside he was giving a good amount of thought and consideration to Aparna's reasoning. Besides even Vivek had told him earlier that Khushi woudnt come if he didn't come. Was that really the case?, he doubted the possibility greatly.





"As you wish dear. It would have been absolutely amazing if you would have given her company, I trust you with her safety, it makes me relaxed when shes with you..but anyways its your choice I woudnt want to change that. (Arnav makes a far fetched face) Your work will be done, I'll convince her to go. Okay?" Aparna told him smiling a motherly smile at him, as he squeezed her hand lovingly to let her know that he was fine with whatever she did. Getting up from the bed, he stepped out of the room, and stepped in the living room that was buzing with laughter though he could see Khushi's laughter was something mixed with sadness. He could feel Vivek's eyes trained on every movement of his, questioning him of what had happened through gestures but he did not say anything and went over to sit on the dining table chair quietly.





"Is she coming then?" Vivek crept up form behind, keeping his hand on his shoulder, merrily causing Arnav to jump out of his skin for a moment, his eyes blazing with irritation.





"Don't come up like that from behind! (Vivek makes an apologetic face, Arnav calms down) I explained the situation to Aunty. She said she'll convince Gupta to come." Arnav told him in an off handed way deeply lost in his own thoughts, not realizing when Vivek had let out a big squeal and was hugging him from the back.




"I love you Arnav! Thanks a lot for the effort dude!" he almost shouted, and Arnav had to whiz around from the chair and clasp his hand over Viveks mouth, before everyone in the hall would start looking in their direction specially Khushi, which whatever he did, was looking at everything he did from the corner of her eye, skeptically staring at him. Arnav pulled Vivek to a corner, his hand still firmly on his mouth, Viveks eyes wide as button staring at him.




"What are you? Star Trek? And dare you say those cheesy I love you things to me! (pointing his finger at Vivek) Next time you do that, I am kicking you out of our football team, understood? (Vivek makes a screwed up expression) And nobody, (stressing on Nobody) is to know that I talked to Aunty about Gupta, except for you and Me, get that? (Vivek slowly nods) Specially Gupta. Zyada hein free hojati hain warna." Arnav told Vivek threatenginly, Vivkes pupils bouncing in his sockets hearing Arnav speak fulent Hindi. Apparently in all the years he knew him, he hadn't heard him speak any language other than English, and it surprised him that he knew Hindi like the rest of the Asian students in the campus did.




"You know Hindi?" Vivek coudnt resist asking him, causing Arnav to make a poker face at him.




"Ofcourse I do! What were you thinking I am fromUganda?" Arnav said rudely, moving away from Vivek and went back to sit on the chair, the most haunted expression on Khushi's face welcoming him on the table.




"Will you tell me what have you two been up to (pointing at Vivek and then him)? Plotting against me right?" she asked him in a low dangerous accusing tone, him looking at her with wide surprised eyes at her stupid assumptions.




"Plotting against you? Gupta I mean it. Seriously go get your brains checked. Too much of Super Natural and those clich serials have made your brain work at some retarded pace" he remarked sarcastically, her narrowing her eyes at him, lips pursed insides pulling all her facial features outwards, making herself look like some lawyer on a trial.





"We will see later about my brain and its speed. Now are you telling me, or do I take actions?" she asked this time more seriously, looking at Vivek from the corner of her eye, who had all his eyes ears, in their conversation. Meanwhile Anita, Aakash and Anjali had gone to Aparna's room to check on her.





"Actions and you? What actions are you going to take? Hug, kiss, black mail? That all girls know." He said in a casual manner hardly affected by her threat, but little did he know that she was Khushi Kumari Gupta and if she wanted to ridicule people who didn't do what she told them to do, she played it hard, real hard.




Arnav looked queasly as she got up from her seat, and pulled the chair on which he was sitting causing him to stand in a giffy before he himself fell to the floor with the chair. Before he could even react to that, she had started shouting on the top of her voice, shaking him madly, and skipping about like a mad fool, Vivek nearly crashing to the floor hearing all the sudden frenzy.




"OMG! OMG! OMG! Di Bhai, Aunty everyone come out! Arnav's going! Arnav's going!" she skipped around happily, while he stood their standing at her frozen, not making heads or tails out of what was she doing.




"Where are you going Arnav?" Vivek asked walking towards him with a large grin on his face, Aakash, Anjali and Anita coming out of Aparna's room to witness the madness going outside.





"Where am I going?" Arnav asked him back confused, looking at Khushi who had the winners mark on her face, that moment being the one when he realized what a player she was.




"What happened Khushi, why all the party animal mood?" Aakash and Anjali asked at the same time, both exchanging looks with eachother to mark the hilarity of the situation while Anita continued to looks questioningly at Khushi. Before Arnav could say anything, Khushi had in a giffy rushed towards them, beaming in happiness.




"Arnavs coming with you people to the field trip! He said this year he wants to go! Can you belive it? Arnav Singh Raizada who has never been to field trips will go this year!" she skipped around, telling the mcheerfully, Anjali and Aakash both looking happy about the news, while Anita coudnt be more gladder. Arnav looked around at everyone and then at the ceiling, confused as hell about the news she had broken, Vivek on his side closing towards him grinning at him a knowing edge in it.




"That's my Chun there! She's the wrong gal to mess around with dude!" Vivek winked at him, before everyone had started to hug him and congradulating him for changing his mind, Khushi from a far end meeting his troubled angry gazed a huge smirk on her face, making 'Don't mess with me' signs with her fingers.




"I am not going! Stop pulling at my T-shirt Di, its not your skirt that you are pulling down! (Anjali moves back going red) This Gupta (pointing at Khushi, gritting his teeth in anger) shes just making up stories!" he broke out the news, but nobody seemed convinced and went away not giving any consideration to what he said, thinking it was only his double headed mind playing tricks on him. Stupified, he looked at them and stomped his foot in anger, taking his seat back on the dining table, as Khushi all glad marched toward him triumphantly.




"How was that Raizada?" She told him in majestic tone, ducking a punch that he was aiming at her, giggling back with laughter, and rushed to where Vivek was standing giving her a thumbs up sign and bowing down before her.




"Chun tou bus Chun hun." He said bowing down in front of her, as she started laughing, the two of them taking their seat at the empty space on the couch. The Raizada's stayed at Gupta house for the rest of the evening, having supper with them, the combined effort of everyone getting Aparna back on her feet. Vivek left early, excusing himself for some urgent errand he had to run, and soon after wishing Aparna good health the Raizada's had also departed, Arnav throwing ugly looks at Khushi as he left, and went to sit first in the car, trying to avoid the endless bickering he would be subjected to by Anjali and Aakash. Anita lingered behind for a while, and seeing she was not in notice had a small chat with Khushi on the front door.




"Khushi I cant thank you enough for convincing Arnav to go. Actually you see Arjun is coming to Stanford Thursday morning and probably I am deciding on his meeting with Aparna on Friday, so don't want you people to be around, after all these years, I feel they deserve to have a moment alone. *pause* Don't tell the three of them about their father coming it's a surprise." Anita said resignedly, and Khushi uncertainly nodded, bidding Anita goodbye, after Anita had planted a small kiss on her cheek. She waved the Raizada's off, and went inside, lost deeply in her thoughts. That was just an act she had put up, she didn't even know if Raizada was going to make the trip or not. What if he did not make it? That would spoil everything for their parents, and her too. Determinedly she picked up her cellphone, but then remembered that Anita had told her that it was a surprise for all of them. How was she going to explain to him why she wanted him to come? Danm.




Reaching her mothers room, she went stepped inside greeted by Aparna who had just woke up, and Khushi quickly changed into her pajama's sitting next to Aparna after doing that, her mother loving arm around her, the duo staring out at the blank wall in front of them.




"Khushi, you thought about the field trip?" Aparna asked her daughter causally, causing Khushi to raise up her eye brows at her mother questioningly.




"Aakash told me about it. He said you weren't going. Is that true? (Khushi nods) But why honey? I know you don't want to go so you can take care of me, but please dear I really want you to go, it would be nice if I could spend the weekend with Anita" Aparna said convincingly but Khushi just shook her head strictly not at all convinced by Aparna's talk.




"No Maa. Whatever you say, I am not going." Khushi told her evenly, making herself subject to a very grim look by Aparna, something she hadn't received in years now.




"Fine then. You can stay and do what you want to. You are just your father's daughter never listening to anyone else" Aparna said in a grim, disappointed voice and straightened herself , taking the medicines that Anita had left on her side table with a gulp of glass of water, while Khushi just sat silent looking at her mother's detached actions.




"Okay I'll go." She said in a defeated voice, some part of he rangry that her mother had referred to her as her fathers daughter, but a part of her had chose to subside it and think of how even Anita would like it if she was out of the way. She knew their was little to worry about now that Arjun was coming over too, however broken relationships were, friendship was the one that could never go to the point beyond repair, and and sooner or later everything would be fine. It was not like she could help staying her anyways.




"I don't want to force you into changing your decision Khushi. Do you really want to go?" Aparna asked her in a concerned voice and Khushi put up a bright smile on her face nodding away happily much to Aparna's greatest relief. Suddenly the smile on her face had vanished replaced with a curious troubled look on it.




"Maa, can I ask you something?"




"Go ahead, sweetie"




"Why didn't you ever tell me that you and Mr.Arjun Raizada were childhood best friends?" Khushi asked in a hesitant, skeptical kind of voice, Aparna moving slightly away from her on the bed, looking at her in utmost surprise.




"Who told you that?" Aparna asked her evidently surprised that such a dark hidden secret which she had guarded for years had come before her daughter now.




"Anita Aunty did. (Aparna's expressions flinches) But that's not the point Maa. I thought the two of us were forever best firneds of eachother. Didn't you think I was worthy of knowing about your past life?" Khushi asked her in a disappointed, sad voice, blinking back a tear of two which were hopelessly forming in her eyes.




"No Khushi. (keeping her hand on Khushi's cheek) I didn't tell you because I wanted to forget everything. I wanted to forget everything about Arjun but I could never do it. You always told me, and accused me of loving your father and crying for him, when he to the least deserved it? Sweetie, while some of my tears were for getting your fathers betrayal, most of them were of guilt and shame, about how wrong I was choosing love over friendship." Aparna said her voice breaking away, fresh set of tears making their way down her cheeks, lightening up her previously dull skin.




Khushi felt extremely silly and stupid for asking her mother about it when she was already physically weak, and by the looks of it looked more mentally then physically weak.




"I am sorry (wiping Aparna's tears) I did not mean to upset you, I am really sorry for asking, I should have waited" Khushi said cursing herself, and Aparna removed Khushi's hands from her face, and closed them into hers, kissing the mound of it, a small smile on her face.




"I know that honey. I need no explanation from you. Now that you have asked, I think its time I should tell you everything. *pause* How much do you already know?" Aparna asked in a serious tone, looking at Khushi who wa shaving some diffciculty accepting the fact that Aparna suddenly seemed okay with sharing her thoughts with her.





"Just that you and Mr.Raizada were best friends. Mr Gupta and Anita Aunty were best friends. That's about it" Khushi said in a flimsy tone, curling up her hairs in her fingers out of sheer nervousness.




"Okay. I am sure you have a lot of questions to ask, and today I intend to answer all of them, so just that you are clear about it, I'll tell you the whole story from the beginning."



Khushi sat in anticipation as a deep lost look painted itself on Aparna's face her mind drifting away in the memories of those blissful days, when life was a near definition to being perfect.




"Arjun jump down danmmit! I just saw her fathers call pulling up!" Aparna exclaimed in deeply troubled voice, Arjun still engrossed in staring into Anita's eyes, while posing his two finger sup and pointing them down at Aparna who was going frenzier with every moment that Mr.Shantanu Malhontra's, Anita's father's car pulle dup the street.



"On second Appy. Just one second. Cant you hold her father any longer?" Arjun asked looking at her for a fleeting moment, when she made an extremely horrid expression at her, disgusted right, left and center.



"Excuse me? Do I look like a bull dozer to you? How am I supposed to suppose to block his path?" she shouted back annoyingly at him, in deep vexation over his lame of estimating her abilities as if she was a watch guard or something. Arjun who was too busy communicating something of sheer importance with Anita, lashed back irritated at Aparna's frenziness.




"Jump in front of his car! Do something I need just one more second!" he told her haughtily, and before he even knew what drastic effect his words had caused on her a course could be heard just on the street and he jumped down, waving hurriedly to Anita only to find Aparna lieing flat on the road just inches away from the wheel of Mr.Malhontra's car, a very grumbly him subjecting her to a non sensical talk of teenage suicidal attitudes. Aparna listened soberly, giving Arjun the chance to pull her away from Mr.Malhontra saying his apologies and excusing themselves, dragging her to the end of the street roughly, while she fidgeted about with his crude touch on her.



"Have you lost it! How could you jump in front of the car?" Arjun lashed at her angrily, shaking her by her shoulders, while she merrily kept smiling, making him more and more suspicious of her intentions.




"Because you told me to. You needed another second and I intended to give you that. After all its not a lot of times that you ask something from me." She told him modestly, while he stared at her unbelievingly shaking in fury.Calming downa bit taking over his emotions, he cupped her face in his hands looking at her with utmost care.




"What would I have done with another second, if it meant you not being with me in it?" Arjun asked her and she smiled, removing his hands from her cheeks.




"I cant be in your every second Arjun. I dread to say this, but there could be a time where you would have years without me, and you'd still be living, living a life without me"




"A life without you. Right. That's what you always wanted, a life without me." Arjun murmured to himself, his uneasy form resting itself against the soft head rest of of the airport seat, his back a bit curled up, hands resting on either sides of the arm rests, eyes closed as he remembered those memories, those cherished moments which had haunted him all these years.




The air was filled with laughter, a rush of music invaded every bodies minds, as the girls and boys danced about on jovial tunes enjoying the wedding of the couple who seemed to busy hiding the pink blush on their face. It was a face off between the boys relatives and the girls relatives where one by one pairs of people came and danced to the beats of the songs being played.




Her arms stretched wide in a Punjabi step of a dance as her partner, her bestest and oldest friend did his part in the dance, dancing behind her doing identical steps as her. Her shocking pink and yellow lehenga seemed to glorify its beauty more when she twirled around and landed straight into the arms of her best friend who was was laughing at her dazed state. Anita Malhontra, restored her position and deliberately stepped her foot on Aryan Gupta's foot, making him catch hold of her arm tightly, and pulled her joyful formed to himself, her back to his front, whispering something in her ear.




"Anita, I can see that boys eyes trained on you. You reckon hes got something..forr you?" he asked her kidishly, and she turned around throwing her arms around his neck looking at his extremely flabbergasted face, the look which he quickly wiped away continuing to move his feet on the beat of the music.




"Well if he has, let him know I am taken. What are you my best friend for?" she asked him with a smug look on her face as he continued to stare at her extremely shaken by her boldness, the two in the same position dancing their way off the stage and sitting on the girls relatives side, putting up their successful act of acting like in a relationship couple.




"Danm! She's taken." Arjun whispered in Aparna's ear disappointingly, who seemed to have her lingering back and forth over Aryan's handsome form, admiring him appealing features.





"Appy are you listening? (seeing her eyes trained on Aryan) Don't. Don't do it. That blokes taken my girl." Arjun told her in a highly pissed manner, as she craned her neck sharply at him looking at him with intense fury.




"Your girl? Do you even have one girl? Yesterday it was someone else who was 'your girl' and now this nobody gal is ' your girl'. Grow up Arjun." She told him raspily, as before Arjun could even reply her back a storm of relatives from behind were pushing both of them, asking them to tak over the stage as the next of performances of the girls party was over. Both of them hesitated first until almost half the relative had dragged them onto the stage and nevertheless to say they had to put up a saving grace act. Aparna stood shyly in her hazy blue and grey colored, while Arjun in his royal blue sherwani seemed to be staring into blank space and at the girl he was eyeing, who now seemed to be staring at him interestingly. Seeing this to be his chance to impress her, he grabbed hold of Aparna's arm, and pulled a shaking her to himself, putting up some desirable act of dancing.




"You really think we should put up this girl friend, boy friend act?" Aryan asked nervously mesmerized by Aparna's beauty as her facial features flinched and eyes fluttered away unknowingly, her completely unaware of the startling effect she had on her secret admirer.




"What do you mean think? Ofcourse we have to do this! Cant you see the chemistry between the two of them? They are a couple, I can bet my entire pocket money on that! *pause* The guy just seems to be a flirt, must be staring at me for nothing." Anita reasoned back, but Aryan hardly seemed convinced, since Aparna had already invaded most of his thought by this time.




Anita smiled to herself thinking how she had mistaken Aparna and Arjuns comfort with each other, with some sparkling chemistry. Now all she could do was grin, and feel how lucky the flirt who she thought was looking at her for nothing was now her very handsome husband, whose arrival she had been waiting for since 3 months. Finally as Thursday was growing nearer her anticipation was also growing, as well as the harshness of the foursome memories were hitting hard on her brain, making a severe head ache rise in it.




*********************************




"What happened next?" Khushi asked now her sleep flying somewhere else, intrigued by the events that were unfolding before her, her excitement knowing no bounds now, as she lay propped up on her the bed, her one arm supporting her head, while Aparna was still sitting straight resting her back against the wooden plank of the bed.




"Since Aryan and Anita were mistaken that me and Arjun were a couple, and Arjun and me were mistaken that Anita and Aryan were a couple, we spent rest of the dance session eyeing each other, not speaking a word her and there, until it was time for us to get our food servings" Aparna said losing herself back into the momentum of her past life, revitalizing all those memories into words in front of Khushi.




Anita helped her self to a huge bowlful of salad, putting it in her bowl from the tray the salad was laid in, and but accidently dropped the large serving spoon on the ground. Before she could pick it up a helpful hand had already grasped the spoon and put it forward to her, her eyes meeting with the owner of the hand, it being the same brown eyes of the man who had them boring into hers a while ago. Grumpily she snatched it from his hand, and moved ahead in the line, him still on her back looking at her with surprise.




"No need to be so indignant Miss. I wont eat you up." Arjun said light heartedly, causing Anita to turn around with her plate still in her hand, looking at him an aggravated expression.




"Its no use wasting your time on me. You have a very pretty girl friend there (looking in Aparna direction), respect her." Anita said in a shrewd manner helping herself to the fried rice in the buffet dish and walked away from Arjun who seemed moved by what she had said, and caught on with her steps.




"Excuse me Miss? Who told you shes my girl friend? (Anita stops walking and arches her eyebrow at him) You are very mistaken if you think like that. She's my best friend. My Appy" He said with a hint of fondness looking in Aparna's direction and back a Anita annoyingly who seemed to be blushing a deep red now, out of utter embarrassment.




"That's what they all say." She replied back haughtily, as a last saving attempt to prove her assumption to be right, but instead now Arjun was eyeing her with a very screwed up expression.




"Well I am not part of 'they' you are referring to, so before telling me to respect her, start stretching your own mind, so it gets broad" Arjun told her sarcastically, and marched away from her in a disgusted manner, going towards to Aparna to take his seat next to her, while Anita now burning with embarrassment the plate of food in her hand shaking went in the opposite direction towards Aryan who questioned her amidst chomping on the crunchy salad.




"Those two are not a couple. It was me who mistook them for one, they are best friends." She told Aryan still lost in her own thoughts, looking at the pair of Aparna and Arjun having fun, though Arjun's mood did evidently seem spoiled and the laughter a bit forced.




"I told you didn't I? I have been noticing them for quite some while, they hardly look like a couple."




"That's because they are not one!" Anita said angrily and got up from her seat only to be stopped by Aryan who was holding her wrist tightly, looking at her questioningly.




"Where do you think you are going? Leave it now. There is no space for sorry now. It's highly unlikely of us to meet them again."




It felt like his words still rang in her ears all the time, everything seemed like yesterday to her, however little was there to know that nothing was the same, it was all going to be different it always was going to be different. Anita drifted off to sleep with Aryan's words still ringing in her ears, because she knew those words were the turning point to a new story, a story that yet to be revealed.


********************************************************************



Regarding The Title



Terminating Loop Holes- Simple as it will sound, this chapter was named this base don one single event and that is the past revelation, which has been revealed to some extent. I intended to complete it, but this post wont accommodate anymore work, and I forgot to reserve another post so just have to wait for the next chapter to include rest of the story in it. There are things in peoples life that remain to be a question just like that of our teenagers, who are juggling with multiple questions at a time, and have no absolute solution to it. I know this is the not the best choice of title for this chapter, but I cant rack my brains to think anything else, because I am getting just too excited for posting the Special update! Danm I have written it, and I just cant wait for you people to read it!.๐Ÿ˜ณ


**************************************************


Events In The Chapter


Wont say a lot about it, since the events are usually self explantory but there is one thing which might be a question to most of you. Why the filler scenes? Well for one, because I believe that what seem to filler scenes to us when we read it are usually NEVER filler scenes in real life. I intend to capture the essence of real life, with no fake fairytales marring it, and thats what this FF is about. You could skip through the scenes if you like, but remember all those readers who use to use WAT know that I can put fillers to the best of their use.๐Ÿ˜‰ And those who dont know it, hopefully you will know about it int he rest of this journey.๐Ÿ˜ณ


*************************************************


Precap


"Khushi there is something I wanted to tell you." Mayank said leaning close to Khushi who was looking behind from her seat to see a very irritated Arnav who was pestering her about when she was returning back to her seat next to him. Hearing Mayank's mechanical voice Khushi turned to face him, only to seem him holding a strange expression on his face, her rising a questioning eyebrow at him.


"What?"


"I think Arnav has a crush on you" He almost whispered into her ear, much to Arnav''s greatest interest as Khushi moved back forward staggering back and looked at Mayank with wide eyes making them look like pot holes.


"He doesnt. He never can" she answered back sturdily, however her mind was lost in a whirlpool of questions and she stole a fleeting glance at him sitting back, thoughts of previous events churning inside her brain at full speed.


*********************************************************


Precap Of Special Update (1)


"Let me on the ground Raizada, you can't carry me off like this!" She struggled in his arm causing him to tighten his grip more on her wrists, as he met his eyes angrily, full of annoyment for her childish actions. Khushi gazed into them with a fiery look her self, trying to make him realize that this time they were not alone he couldn't put up such a public act in front of everyone, as if things between them were not very complicated already.




Hua jo dard bhi kabhi toh aaj kuch zyada hua
The pain today which I suffered was more than usual pain



Ishq wala love
Love that is like real love





"
Don't act like I am carrying you for the first time. We both know this had happened before" he replied back to her in a straight face as she stared blankly with at his face, surprised at his audacity to commit to things without even flinching for a second.




"What? Are you mad? Why don't you understand this time it's different, we are in a public place, not alone" she said her eyes still holding that look of importance which he wasn't even paying attention to anymore.


*************************************************


P.S: SO how was the update? I trust you people to complete this thread because I have already opened the next threadd.๐Ÿ˜ณ Btw, Thank me for the double Precap, you will be getting a second Precap to the much awaited Special Awaited in the next chapter as well, so dont worry. Just for the record Special Updates are Precap free.๐Ÿ˜†


Leave back loads and loads of comments, I try to reply to them all the least I can do for you people.๐Ÿ˜ณ Dont forget to likee btw.๐Ÿ˜‰ I am gonna be scrubbing my PM list soon.๐Ÿ˜ณ


Love,


Batool๐Ÿ˜ณ










nav_bat2012-10-31 10:29:49

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Comments (122)

Hey. All of you following TL the rest of the story has been continued in the link given under the heading Thread 3 on the very first page.Please check it out.

11 years ago

When is d nxt update?? Update soon dear!!

11 years ago

you know you r the best writer i have seen and this is the best arhi ff no doubt but plz can u update quickly as i cant wait for the next part .

11 years ago

@nav_bat: Awesum n fantastic!!!!๐Ÿ˜Š

11 years ago

just read all the parts of your story. Amazing๐Ÿ˜Šplease update it as soon as you can and pm me. Will regularly comment from now.And lengthy updates are awesome๐Ÿ˜‰

11 years ago

wow i love this story and i love ur length updtes - please pm me :)

11 years ago

Can't wait for the field trip...sounds like its gonna be a lot of fun!!!The adults story is looking interesting too!!!!Many thanks for pm

12 years ago

Hmmm...finally I have read the update...after a long time u have posted...I am a bit busy with all my work and been very late to comment on this...๐Ÿ˜” Anyways, I am very sad knowing that I wont get any update for WAT...one of my first FF's ever to read...so sad but...as you said in your note better wait for a good update rather than having a bad one...so here I am waiting for it impatiently and you have sprinkled water on it...ok I wil wait but a huge hug for u for WAT...I love it... Khushi and her never ending antics...poor boy arnav...got scared and burnt his fingers...oh boy...๐Ÿ˜† khushi really scared arnav, scared or whatever...she is really stupid... And why did arnav take her to his room...after that convo...and boy he is so caring from now itself...ironig her skirts...getting her things she needed...good going arnav... The way khushi had taken care of arnav adorable and the siblings really u are just making them so funny...I love them...they always wanna get into the gossips or create some and just wanna pluck the hair out of each other...reminding me the moments with my sister... In this update u really reminded me of school days, getting ready for school is one unforgettable thing, your Mom being running behind you making you eat and get ready for school...thank u for that... The washroom scene...hahahha...khushi can make arnav go mad and even make him forget himself...and the girl there getting crimpson I am sure it will get a guy to his nerves...being caught in that position...hahahhaa... I really cant beleive that arnav not going to those trips...who will find them boring yaar...its really fun...and the way khushi wandering around arnav to know whats going on with him and vivek...and asking him that are they planning against her...oh man so cutee...and the way she made a fool out of all of the members in the house making them beleive that arnav is going for the trip,...hahaha really I cant hold my laughter while reading...amazing... The fla

12 years ago

Darn You Batool! You are waaay tooo awesoome!!!!I just fell in love with your writing all over again!! Teenage Love rocked my wooorld (well mind and brain really! ๐Ÿ˜†)!!!AAAH! I feel so honoured to be dedicated in your thread!!! AAAH! Anz told me at school and I was just like R U SERIOUS!! Shut up! Can't be true!! And I raced home Logged onto TL And again AAAHH! Thanks sooo much! I swear to god I'll be a great commenter and liker! ๐Ÿ˜›OK OK, Lemme give u my feedback b4 I forget everything I want to say!Awww! How cute is ARNAV? I am going gaga over him!! The Ironing scene was just awesome! And the way he literally wrecked the dressing table made me giggle!! Too cutee!As usual, the car scenes were waaay to good! And I just love how Akash and Anjali soo jokingly scold Arnav! They rock! Best bro-sis eva! (Aftaa me and ma bro o-course! LOLOL kidding!) Loved Arnav's sarcasm!!I loved the school scenes! The Vivek-Khushi relationship!! The Arnav-Khushi relationship!! OOOHH Too good! LOL The bathroom thing was epic! Cracked up in that part! And the assembly scene was also hilarious! I am really wondering why Arnav never goes to field trips! SUSPENSE! Lu it luv it luv it!OMG! Khushi actually said that! (nobody did, nobody has to. I already know you are mine!) AAH! Go Khushi! U rock! Khushi's friends are such darlings! Infact everyone are such darlings! Taking care of Appy! (love the nickname by the way) So supportive and caring! Touched by it, really!Gah! ๐Ÿ˜ก I am dying to know why Arnav doesnt want to go the field trip! And I loved the Arnav-Appy scene! So aaadorable!The mother and daughter relationship was also really sweet!๐Ÿ˜ณThe flashback! Best flashback evaaah! It was soo funny, sweet, charming, adorable and totally mad me go I WANT TO MEET THEM! LOLIn short Batool, U are just pure awesomness! Missed ur updates but u're back witha bang!!And soz for the late replies and all, stupid exams going on! Always time for TL! Luved itand lemme just say I can't wait for the special updat

12 years ago

wt? OMG i actually forgot tat..๐Ÿ˜ณ one more chapter before special update ๐Ÿ˜ฒ i ll wait for it.. try to update soon

12 years ago

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