Chapter 64

The story so far :

16 year old Newbie Khushi at Stanford High, is a girl one of her kind, and slowly even though awkwardly gels in with the people around, giving in Vivek Mandvi the place of her best friend, and the popular dude around who she initially starts of on hate terms, slowly turns into being a love interest to her, Arnav Singh Raizada. While the story revolves mainly around two inter linked households the Gupta's and the Raizada's a major part of this FF is dedicated to friendship values, between the characters, and siblings bonding. With time, after the Science exhibition, when Khushi finally begins to feel something for Arnav other than hatred, she comes to terms with her feelings at the field trip weekend arranged by the school. A turn of events lead her to confronting Arnav about the situation, which she escapes temporarily through Viveks smart intervention however, against all odds, and getting into a fierce fight with Vivek she brings forward her feelings before Arnav, who cuts her short, breaking her heart, and creating a rift between the two. In the last two chapter it self, Khushi is seen having a rough time struggling with her emotions, topped with exams,she and Vivek mange to reconcile, however she is sour about Arnav now and in the midst of all this the entry of Nikhil Ahuja is now set to change the dynamics of every relationship for the rest of their lives.

She picked up the intricately designed earing, a large circular ring of white diamond, with a small dangling crystal bead of black right in the middle of the loop. Her fingers adjusted the black crystal tightly on her ear, letting them rest on them for a second, while she admired the jewelry on herself, retreating her hand away from it, giving a final look at her dressed form. Clad in a lemonish green lehenga, with hues of black and blue running wild in it, embroidered with silver resham, and baby pink flower patterns, she looked absolutely gorgeous in it. Her hair that were pulled to one side, the curls flowing free over her shoulder, covering one side of the strapped blouse she was wearing, her straight bangs, flapping against her polished skin, the other shoulder mildly covered with her duppata, peacefully resting on it in delicate fashion.

Even though there was no space for final touches on her face regarding the makeup she still felt queasy about it, adjusting it wherever possible, since unlike every time wearing eastern dresses always made her more particular of her figure and looks. There was something about them that made her want to look perfect, to look lady like, and since that was a rarity in itself, taking up time to dress up like all girls, for one special occasion was not much to do.

"Khushi come on, we better get going, it's 8 already." Khushi heard Aparna calling her from outside, as giving a final look to herself, completely satisfied with it at the moment she walked outside, only to have her mother waiting at the door step, looking all heavenly in her sea blue sari, the color appearing to be made for her only. The moment Aparna saw Khushi she walked towards her that expression of glee and happiness flickering in her eyes, as extracting a bit of kajal from her eyes she put a dot on the back of Khushi's ear, looking at her daughter in admiration.

"I wasn't wrong when I told you Eastern dresses suit you." Aparna said a motherly affection spread all over her face, as Khushi managed to give her a small smile, without showing the annoyance she felt handling such dresses. The matter of how she looked in them was not what was the problem here, the problem of handling the thing was more the thing that concerned her.

"Like mother, like daughter." Khushi commented a few minutes later, giving a broad smile to her mother winking at her mischievously, as the two of them made their way out of the house, securing the lock to the main door carefully, the Ahuja's next door coming outside as well, Nikhil exiting in the very last locking the doors to their house.

As he came into full light, thankful to the street lights, for a full moment Khushi found it hard to breathe, she had never seen someone look this handsome in her entire life. And she meant it. Her entire life. The off white rust shaded sherwani that he was sporting, complimented his physique so amazingly she was left in awe for a good two seconds, as he walked towards her extending his hand towards her which she promptly took despite the lack of blood to her brain.

"I haven't seen someone look this handsome in my whole life." Khushi said in a dazzled completely smitten voice, causing Nikhil to stifle a small honorable smile, his own face lightening up in admiration as he trained his eyes top to bottom on Khushi.

"I haven't seen someone look this beautiful in my whole life either." Nikhil complimented her on the perfection of her beauty, everything about her beyond par excellence. To him it felt she couldn't look any more better, this being the epitome of her beauty. Khushi blushed slightly at his compliment, putting up a causal smile on her face as the two made their way to the car, Mr and Mrs.Ahuja in the front seat, with Khushi, Nikhil and Aparna in the back seat. It was a quite ride, considering they were fairly foreigners to each other, though Aparna and Mrs. Ahuja kept up talk frequently, Khushi and Nikhil sharing a word here and there, while Mr. Ahuja kept mute the entire journey.

It was about 15 minutes later, that the car pulled into the highly polished and sophisticated area of the backside of the Stanford Army Quarters, the usual place where large scale events were organized. As Mr.Ahuja found a suitable place to park his car, Khushi's eyes darted to and fro searching or any signs of the Raizada's car and most certainly to her utter dismay she saw Mr Ahuja pulling in the car in the empty space right next to the car which Khushi was sure belonged to the Raizada's. So they were already here, the only thought that came into her mind. She had planned on disappearing the instant she saw the Raizada's coming, and consequently avoid Arnav the whole night, now it seemed like her plan back fired, she would have to face him no matter what.

Stepping out of the car, the whole lehenga issue irking to no bounds, she kept one of her foot on the ground, the door ajarly open Nikhil standing on the opposite side of it, trying to keep the other foot on the ground she succeeded in holding herself in place only to trip on the dangling beads of the lehenga in the very next step. Luckily enough, as her body began to tank down towards the ground, she felt a firm hot hand tightly grasp her waist, keeping her still, with her senses still bizzard to comprehend anything she automatically let her hand rest on his chest giving her the stability that she needed to stand upright once again. Upon standing up straight, she met his eyes for a moment a strike of coldness passing through them but instantly they were replaced with humility and an affection that made her connect to him, to Arnav. Backing away a bit, this time taking care not to trip she managed an un easy smile, as their parents came around to check on what was happening, Nikhil promptly removing his hand from her waist once he was sure she could stand on her own, her features still shifted in a bit of a havoc.

"You okay?" Nikhil asked her concerned as she clumsily managed to nod her head, looking at her self from the bottom her eyes apparently not getting the strength to look up since she felt ashamed, and erm to be quite honest very embarrassed then most situations, because she had just acted intensely clumsy in front of an extra attractive guy. Hamming a quick thankyou which he acknowledged with a small knowing smile, they proceeded towards the main hall, Khushi this time walking steps behind him in fact almost at the end of the queue, in fear of making a fool out of herself again.

A homely tap on her shoulder, knocked the living life out of her yet again, though this time she took heed of holding her lehenga up with both her hands turning around in a frenzy only to have a baffled cheeky faced Vivek staring at her, her eyes going down the moment she saw his parents appearing too from a distant.

"The hell dork face! I would have tripped again!" She said angrily punching him right in the chest, which he only missed by an inch, doubling back and looking at her still in complete comic mode, that easy going smile on his face irritating her more and more.

"Hold it. (Noticing her looks for the first time) Danm Chun! What have you done to yourself?" He asked her his jaw almost instantly dropping wide open as Khushi suddenly become flustered examining herself from top to bottom, until the shocked expression on Viveks face gave way to a hilarious expression again. Landing a punch this time totally on spot, Vivek was thrown back a little by the force she had applied, stepping inches away from her which miraculously to her seemed like yards, as she made a poker face at him, sticking her tongue out.

"Today a loser, always a loser." She sneered at him, as he slipped his arm around her letting it hang loose on her shoulder cap, both of their faces automatically lightening up in a huge grin, as Viveks parents from behind approached her broadly smiling at Khushi. Saying her greetings, to them they walked in front of the two of them, Khushi and Vivek coming behind, when suddenly Khushi stopped dead in her tracks for the first time now noticing how Vivek was looking. Shaking her head, she kept his arm back to where it was, walking silently the thoughtful expression still on her face.

"I think I have eye disorder." Khushi said almost to herself, but at the close proximity they were at Vivek heard, giving her the explain yourself look.

"You are looking good. I mean really good. This compliment doesn't exist in the real world when it come's to you." She said mischievously, as Vivek made up a screwed up expression, narrowing his eyes at her in a critical manner, then quickly looking away distantly smiling at the indirect compliment she had given, which he had positively received.

"Where's Nicki?" He asked her after almost 5 seconds, her whole face contorting into something that was beyond explainable, since the degree of annoyance she felt at him right now, could not be measured at any scale. Just as she was about to answer, from the front they saw Nikhil walking towards them, looking slightly disturbed seeing Vivek, and the way he was walking with Khushi.

"I thought you might have tripped again, so I came back to check on you." Nikhil said to her, his eyes fixed on Vivek, Vivek exchanging a mischievous look with Khushi, who shot him a deadly look shutting him up for the love of God, going all embarrassed in front of Nikhil.

"Erm..no. I saw Vivek..(Nikhil looks confused at her) Vivek. Vivek Mandvi (Nikhil shakes hands with Vivek, both of them looking at each other uneasily) NIKHIL Ahuja" She said, stressing deliberately on Nikhil's name, earning a cheeky glare from Vivek again, Nikhil all but confused in the whole banter, forcing a smile on his face taking the lead, Khushi and Vivek following behind. The moment he knew Nikhil was out of ear reach Vivek expressed his view regarding Nikhil.

"Danm, he is hot."

"Shaadi karlein tu." Khushi told him, her entire face lit up with naughtiness, as Vivek pinched her hard on her shoulder causing her to squeal, for a brief second making Nikhil turn around, when making a screwed up expression she managed to give up a forced smile, stepping hard on Viveks foot after that, her eyes blazing with anger.

"Puh-leez. I am the straightest guy in existence. Straight as a pole." Vivek told her in a matter of fact boss like tone, as she struggled to control the laughter that was erupting from within her.

"Sure punching bag. Sure. Straight as a pole yeah. You are a pole love, no doubt." Khushi remarked impudently causing Vivek to bore his gaze in vexation into her getting the indirect implication. From day one of their meeting, she had always referred to him a pole for his height, now him using it to describe his sexual preferences was just another loop hole she was going to use against him all their life.

Standing on the stairs that led to the main hall way, Vivek retreated his hand away from her, since walking like this in public was oh well, not really the best behavior to be at according to the society so walking side by side, with Nikhil having traced his way to one side of Khushi, the other occupied by Vivek, the three entered inside, only to have the Raizada's greeting them at the door way only. Aakash and Anjali gave a broad smile to Khushi and Vivek, arching their eye brows towards them to give them an introduction of Nikhil.

"Nick, (Vivek pokes her from her side, Nikhil looks at her) This is Di and Bhai. I mean Anjali Raizada and Aakash Raizada. (pointing simultaneously at the siblings, Nikhil shaking hands with them each) This, Mr and Mrs Raizada" She said again, trying her best to not look at Arnav who clearly looked clean bowled by her looks his eyes fixed on her as she mumbled something inaudible to herself, Vivek's eyes bouncing back from her to Arnav, containing himself to not say anything to either of them. Nikhil looks at Arnav's direction who draws his eyes away from Khushi to Nikhil instantly smelling the air of competition around him.

"This..is..erm..Arnav. Arnav Singh Raizada." Khushi said hesitantly, largely speaking to herself, but just enough for Nikhil to identify with the names putting up a broad smile on his face he stretched out his hand towards Arnav, who took some time to grasp it, but finally did, his eyes never moving away from Khushi and then at Nikhil.

Uneasily, she walked away from the door way taking hurried steps followed closely by Vivek who had just sighted Vishaka and was trying his best to not let his eyes meet with her, since things between them had become really awkward right from the moment they had broken off. Taking a seat at an empty table, Nikhil with them, they sat, though Nikhil thinking it wasn't appropriate to intrude their private space started to walk away to where his parents sat only to have Khushi hold his hand back.

"Sit with us. I mean no pressure but it really wouldn't be fun hanging around the adults at Diwali you know." She had in a casual, easy going tone, still holding his hand, as he gave her a small smile, and nodded, seating himself next to her, the opposite seat taken by Vivek. From the corner of his eye Vivek looked at Arnav whose eyes were trained keenly on Khushi and Nikhil, his expressions flinching in what Vivek could tell was jealousy when Khushi held on to Nikhil's hand. He grinned to himself, pleased with the development, even though he knew this was like the most probable reaction to be expected from Arnav, he just wished Arnav would realize the voice of his sub conscious as well.

"This is really weird." She whispered into Vivek's ear after some while, as he looked at her promptly, making an agreement face.

"I know right? She has been looking at me since forever you know. From the time we entered. She's got to stop doing that its making me uncomfortable" Vivek told her in a complaining voice, as Khushi tried to set her mind straight to what he was talking, trying to see if they both were even on the same path or not.

"You talking about Vishaka? (Vivek looks at her in a matter of fact tone) Post breakup jitters I guess. But seriously dude, not sure if she's looking at you or at Nikhil. (Vivek frowns) Technically speaking, you are coming in her line of sight if she is looking at Nikhil." Khushi told him, as he looked at her in a ridiculed way toning down talk with her and becoming really silent.

"Don't you feel weird? (Nikhil looks at her) Every other person seems to be looking at you, doesn't it creep you out?" Khushi asked Nikhil after some while, the eyes of people on him making her feel very uneasy.

"Well, I am kind of use to of it, so I don't really care." He answered back modestly falling silent again.

"You aren't really the chatty kind are you? Not much of a talker?"

"Not sure if the questions says Nikhil doesn't talk much, or that you blabber a lot." Vivek commented, receiving a tight blow in his chest from Khushi, as Nikhil for the first time in a long time began to laugh, then sobered down as he saw Khushi and Vivek looking at him quizzically.

"You two just reminded me of a person I use to know." He told them, as both of them nodded, both eager to know more details.

"Best friend?"

"Girl friend?"

Khushi and Vivek asked simultaneously, both looking at each other in a peculiar manner at the co incidence Nikhil pausing for a moment to answer them.

"Both. She used to be my girlfriend and my best friend too." Nikhil told them, his smile fading away a bit, as the two continued to look at him.

"We broke off. It's a pity that it didn't work, and that she backed away from our friendship too. Cant do much now though, life goes on." He said, having mostly like an inner conversation with himself, Vivek and Khushi quieting refraining from anymore questions that might be upsetting or something in that context.

They sat in silence for some time, however that was conquered by the announcement being made by Arjun Raizada, for the guests to follow outside to the parking lot where the fire crackers would be lit up. Khushi most certainly, full of energy jumped up from her seat, taking quick steps, both Nikhil and Vivek laughing at her feistiness, behind her back but its not like she was bothered right now about Arnav or them, or anyone for that matter. It was firecrackers and her now, no one could come in between.

"Bhai, I want some." Khushi extended her hand towards Aakash who was giving out the firecrackers, as he grinned at her pointing in a far away corner indicating to her where he had kept reserved boxes of firecrackers for his specially. Saying a quick thankyou, she made a run towards them, nearly tripping on her lehenga once or twice, but since the excitement had gotten the better of her, she did not bother about cursing it either.