Chapter 74

Batool Imran

@nav_bat

"Yeah." He replied to her, and she just pasted a small smile on her face, thought the look of horror and dread still lingered in her yet very terrified eyes. Resolving the tension within her, for the first time ever since she came to meet him her, she realized it had been a long time since they had talked like this, since they had felt their heart to heart connection, the best friend that tied them together, that made them inseparable. Her nose crunched and her facial expressions fell to a dark and mystified look when she began scanning his features which looked tired and vary like they had been drained out and it was not because of what was happening right now, she knew, it had been quite some while that she had seen him like this.

"What?" He asked her curiously raising her eyes brows at her and instead of answering she inched away from as he retreated his hands from around her, her seizing the opportunity to grip his hand firmly and guided him to the nearby bench both of them seating themselves on it, her eyes looking at him intently, waiting for him to speak something, but he remained dead set quiet and she sighed. She knew she had to start this talk.

"I know something is going on with you Vivek that you won't tell me. (Viveks face darkens) You seem aloof all the time, won't meet my eye, wont to talk me like I am your best friend. You have gone into hiding from me Vivek and I know that, so there is no point in thinking that I haven't. (Vivek twitches his nose a bit but then goes expressionless again) If you aren't telling me something, I know there is a good reason behind it. But whatever reason behind it is not worth it. (Holding his hands in hers) Listen to me alright? I don't know what you are up to but I know this for sure that you are guilty from hiding it from me. (Vivek looks down slightly) Don't do that Vivek, it's not right. I won't force you to tell me if you don't want to. Instead I will wait. That is the right thing to do. I have waited for the crappiest people in my life who don't deserve it, it is okay to exempt Arnav btw (Vivek only barely grins), but you, you deserve everything of it Vivek. Really. You mean the world to me, and you know that. So whatever it is, tell me when you want to, I can handle everything when it comes to you. (Vivek gives her a watery smile, fighting back the tears) Nothing that you will ever say or do will make you anything less than my best friend." Khushi finally said, sighing to herself, her voice no more shaky, instead it was surprisingly steady and bold, giving a glimpse of the extraordinary person she was. He wasn't sure where she gathered all that strength, it was almost like a miracle to him. As if reading his mind she answered his question.

"I gather my strength from you Vivek. Atleast now I do. Previously I used to do so from my fears, but now I do from you. Losing you is my biggest fear. (Vivek bites back another tear) So try not to break apart will you? Because you won't be the only person breaking apart." Khushi told him tiredly, all the energy within he having drained with the high voltage emotions that had been running and were still running inside her.

"I know Chun. (smiling at her) I promise I will tell you when it's time. I am sorry to make you wait like everyone else. I am really sorry." Vivek told her sincerely, ashamed of his own drawbacks and she nodded at him sighing to herself squeezing his hand tightly to let him know that whatever she did for him out of the ordinary was all worth it. Better late than never. An abrupt silence fell between them now, which was only broken when Khushi's phone began to ring wildly inside the pocket of her skirt. The moment she picked it up Arnav's annoyed groggy voice busted into her ear, having her pull it away from the ear, giving Vivek a good fit of laughter which was a seriously up turn from their over whelming talk minutes ago.

I was bruised so bad inside
You sheltered me and gave me light

"Where the hell are you? (realizing her voice sounded low) Did something happen?"He asked now completely worried, as he matted the mess of his hair, and jumped out of the bed, waiting for her to reply.

"Locker room." She said, ignoring rest of his questions. The last thing she wanted was Arnav thinking that she was a crazed fool.

"Fine. I am coming." He said in a final note of urgency and disconnected the call, as she kept it down informing Vivek that Arnav would be coming. Once more an unusual silence invaded as Khushi looked at her wrist watch frowning to herself seeing the time on it.

"Our class started five minutes ago. (Vivek nods as if he had already known that) Chemistry it is. Are you going?" Khushi asked him, not sure if he would go, for one he usually missed all his chemistry classes not that he was really good at it, but because he really didn't mind failing it. For where he was concerned, he would rather do Domestic Sciences instead of Chemistry.

"I just might. Are you? (Khushi nods) Fine I'll come too." Vivek said determined to spend most of his time with Khushi, any little moment that he had, to make up fo all the ignorance he had done in the past few weeks. They settled in for a vague silence both lost in their own very thoughts.

"Casey is a really nice girl you know." Khushi said abruptly and Vivek looked up at her, barely smiling but looking at her curiously.

"I talked to her this morning. (Meeting his eye now) She really admires me; it's really funny that she does, and it takes guts to actually even tell me that. (Vivek smiles broadly at her) And I also think she has a crush on you." Khushi broke out abruptly to him, scrutinizing every inch of Vivek's face for any kind of self-explanatory explanation, but nothing of that sort happened, Vivek seemed far from shocked, he looked like he was actually expecting her to say something like that.

"Yeah, I know." Vivek told her casually like it wasn't really so much of a big deal, or so that he made it sound like and her eyes went wide, of a good whole minutes staring at him like she saw Shrek's face in his then normalized and went back to contemplating about what to say next.

"So..what do you think about it? As in you and her?" Khushi asked him in a serious yet a mildly causal manner, and it took him a considerable amount of time to answer her question the best way he could.

"I like her, but I don't think it's enough. (Khushi smiles but it fades slowly with his words) Besides I don't really need a girl right now, I have enough problems of my own to deal with. (Khushi looks at him suspiciously but then removes it reminding herself he still hadn't told her) She deserves more than halfhearted attention from me." He said in a resigned wary tone, as if he was as tired of his nonsensical life as she was of keeping up with his untold secrets. Khushi inched closer to him and kept her hand on his shoulder to which he looked up, his eyes full of emotions that ran wild inside him, but somewhere even she could see he was missing something. He was hollow.

You gave me love
You gave me hope

"She looks like the kind of girl who would wait for you to come around, if she sees anything positive from your side. I mean you can give her a heads up that you might look forward to a future with her (Vivek looks at her apprehensively) If you won't I will (Vivek is about to say something to argue with her) Hey, I want to see you with a real girl too, not shit like Vishaka, (Vivek winces but says nothing) like you want to see me with Arnav. We both are supposed to look out for each other punching bag. (Vivek nods) So do it, trust me she'll stick around. And if it makes you feel any more good about it, she is all admiration for our friendship unlike Vishaka." Khushi told him in a half consoling, half 'I am here to put sense in you' manner and he nods acknowledging her words partly aware of half the things she said. He wasn't sure he was head over tails after Casey like he had been for Vishaka, he wasn't even sure if dating he would be a good idea, but all things could wait, he could buy time without hurting Casey. After all in the end whatever it might be, she was still his friend, and well admittedly a person he really liked too.

"Well I'll think about it. (Khushi only nods) But if I sense her falling for someone I wont come in between mind you." He told her Khushi as a fair warning that he was not going to get involved in any dirty business, because he knew exactly that was what she would suggest him later on.

"We will see about it. As far as I know, she won't really. She looks like she has been in love with you since forever. (Vivek snorts) I am serious. Don't screw up stuff. Good stuff. You put with crap like Vishaka come on!" Khushi said disapproving of Vivek's rigid loner attitude, most of it she was taking out by showcasing her hatred for Vishaka who gave her a bitter feel even now that she thought of her.

"Let Vishaka of the hook Chun! She isn't even around anymore, and we don't even talk. In fact she is seeing someone else last I heard, so her and me is over. Move on!"Vivek lashed out at her, more harshly than he intended, and she intentionally enough swallowed a lump in her throat not wanting to say anymore. She suddenly felt foolish for bad mouthing Vishaka in the first place, even though he wouldn't admit, Khushi knew he cared deep enough for Vishaka that he still missed that, that was primarily one of her reasons of setting him up with Casey, atleast she was real to the least of anything. They both became silent again, but this time Arnav's hurried steps broke the silence between them.

They both looked up when Arnav entered, looking completely disheveled like he had been wrestling something, his facial expression contorted into an odd expression of worry, and the moment he entered he set his eyes on Khushi letting them run wild to check if she was okay, lingering on the faintly haunted look on her face, but seeing Vivek sitting beside her, he knew whatever had been going on somehow Vivek had taken care of it already.

You pulled me from the flames and through the dark
Out of this bed and into open arms

"You shouldn't have come out like that! For a second I thought you were with Nikhil and crying." Arnav said angrily, which he had worked hard on keeping at bay, but since it was out of his habit, he hadn't really excelled at it. Khushi couldn't help frowning at him in an expression of complete displeasure, and Vivek on her side was struggling to not grin. For a brief second he even considered leaving the two of them to themselves but a sharp look from Arnav and Khushi getting up from her seat, made him react perfectly against his own better judgment.

"I thought you were long over that insanity. Apparently I was wrong." Khushi said irritated, much more by the eye to eye talk that she was witnessing between Vivek and Arnav. So she was here, and they were communicating like they knew each other since forever. Arnav didn't seem to consider her remark any more than he considered brushing his hair up, and vexed she began to walk past him, leaving him and Vivek dumbfounded.

"I am going to the washroom. It is best to leave you two at your bro-mance ALONE. (Arnav and Vivek both suppress a grin) I'll see you two in class if you guys get any time off each other." Khushi said in a completely off handed pissed, manner, and conveniently, walked away from the boy's locker room to her own locker, after which like she had said; planned to go to the washroom. The moment she was gone, wide grins flashed on both of their faces, and nothing could absolutely stop the laughter that came out of them, effectively removing the gloomy atmosphere that had been there only minutes ago.

"I can't believe she is jealous of us together." Arnav couldn't help saying, despite his own stern rigid avatar even the most rowdy of people could break into laughter. Trust Khushi to do that for him.

"I can't believe you are jealous of that nit wit Nikhil." Vivek burst out, and Arnav sobered down only considerably now shooting out daggers at Vivek, though the hilarity of the situation was still not off him.

"He is still competition. (Vivek nods, more like bobbing his head up and down) Why the hell is she jealous of us?" Arnav questioned back still ridiculed by the fact that Khushi would be jealous of his and Vivek's bonding. That was the last thing on Earth that he had expected to happen.

"Gay partners eh?" Vivek said going all up and cozy on Arnav, wrapping his arms around bringing his face closer to him, as if he was going to kiss him, grinning as wide as possible, and Arnav with utmost horror pushed him, having him staggering back a good distance almost knocking the breathe out of him for a good whole second. It didn't even take a minute for Arnav to recall the fact that Vivek didn't really have a normal heart inside his body and immediately he rushed over to Vivek's side, where Vivek was preparing to get back to normal again.

"You okay?" Arnav asked him in a disturbed voice, and Vivek had to really look at him in a way which showed anything but appreciation of Arnav's concern.

"I am sick not elderly. Get off me! (Arnav doubles back, but Vivek almost immediately breaks into a grin again) Guess this is what Chun is jealous off. Our chemistry." He said having had a light bulb moment and Arnav only scowled at him for a moment than got back to normal, getting back to remind himself why he was here in the first place.

"So what happened to her? She looked like she was back from hell." Arnav remarked, very unlike himself, but Vivek had only this past month come into terms with this very 'normal' side of Arnav. He was like anybody else, just with a more stronger defensive mechanism he had finally realized.

"I don't know. She didn't tell me what brought her here, but it was pretty gruesome because it had her crying. Chun doesn't cry that easily." Vivek told her his voice rigid, recollecting Khushi dismantled devastating form that had pounced on him out of nowhere and refused to let go him, at any cost, not that he mind that, but the thought was admittedly the scariest thing he had witnessed in his entire life. He could see Arnav who was standing next to him growing very grim, the expression on his face for what he interpreted telling him that Arnav was pondering over how best to ask the details.

"It must be a bad dream or something about you. She was sleeping with me a while ago." Arnav said after some time thoughtfully, mentally calculating the time he had realized Khushi wasn't with him. If he could best make it out, Khushi had hardly been thrity minutes away. Beside him Vivek seemed to be looking at him oddly, with an expression that held close to a surface of accusation and anger, his eyes wildly boring into him for an answer. For the brief moment that he didn't realize what he had said, he was sure Vivek was suffering from an insanity moment, but having had remembered what he said, his face clouded with an unbelieving expression, Vivek's expression still unflinching.

"We were sleeping on different sauna beds, both 2 inches apart. (Vivek doesn't say anything) Halt all other thoughts. I would never do anything with her, if she doesn't want it. Not at this age." Arnav told him sternly, a hardness and a deep resolve in his voice that cannot be missed, compelling Vivek t only slightly nod, and let go off the tension that had developed in his muscles. He didn't know why he felt so protective of her, when he did actually trust Arnav, but this was just his love for her speaking, he didn't want her to do anything stupid or foolish.

"Yeah okay. *pause* Are we going to class?" Vivek asked Arnav abruptly changing the topic into something else since they could sense things were beginning to get uncomfortable with it. Arnav seemed to consider Vivek's question for only a mild second before he shook his head.

"Does that mean we are going to bunk class?" Vivek asked ever so innocently, not at all bothering to mask the sarcasm in his question, and Arnav only frowned at him slightly, narrowing his eyes at Vivek like he did typically enough.

"Yeah it does mean that. Always a first time for everything." Arnav said vaguely, making Vivek grin harder, not wanting to comment on how he strictly attended classes and how prompt he was of not missing any lecture. But he really wasn't bothered to attend this lecture for several reasons, for one he didn't feel like studying, he was worried about Khushi's ghost like form, and being naturally good at Chemistry missing a lecture wouldn't affect him all that much. Though he knew his reasons, he raised his eye brows at Vivek well aware of his nature to skip Chemistry class merrily because he was bad it.

"I am not attending class. But YOU ARE." Arnav told him sternly, and Vivek only rolled his eyes, merrily laughing at Arnav for saying something like that.

"Sure I am. Like I care. Attend or not, I am failing it anyway, so yeah whatever. (Arnav frowns) Hey! Don't look at me like that. I am dropping Chemistry next year anyways, so chill." Vivek told him convincingly, in such a causal tone, it didn't even matter to him, what would happen to Chemistry. Arnav only shot a grim look towards him, before the two of them were walking out of the boy's locker room, going towards the canteen, passing the girls washroom and they both stilled the same thought going in both their minds.

"Is she still in there?" Arnav wondered out loud, and Vivek bounced his shoulders up and down indicating he had no idea.

"Are you sure she doesn't need any of us with her?" Arnav asked him skeptically yet again, deeply worried for Khushi, but Vivek didn't say anything, in his mind he knew all his efforts to push Khushi with Arnav hadn't been futile, he could see even if he was not told, things had changed between them, never ever would Arnav Singh Raizada wonder aloud for a girl unless of course, he was in love with her.

This runaway heart
it's running to you

"I never said she didn't need either of us with her. For one if she's in the washroom, even if we want to go, we cant. I am really not up for slipper beating by the girls you know. (Arnav only slightly grins) Secondly, she hasn't told any of us what happened. Though I am pretty sure it was a really creepy dream about me. (Arnav nods grimly) You can ask her later during lunch break or drama practice. Right now, let her be."Vivek suggested and Arnav nodded, both of them picking up their pace yet again towards the canteen, and even though Vivek said very little Arnav could tell pretty easily how much troubled he was with the whole affair. His eyes were down cast and lost, like fingering something out. And it was no issue for Arnav to know what Vivek was fingering out exactly; when to tell Khushi the truth about him.

"So when are you telling her?" Arnav asked him, and Vivek looked at him for a moment caught confused then stepped back to reality a depressed anguished expression painting itself on his face.

"I don't know. I haven't contemplated upon that yet." Vivek said slowly, self-drowning into his own thoughts, of guilt and misery, and pain.

"What do you mean you haven't contemplated? You have to tell her Vivek pretty soon! Don't you understand she is dead worried and frustrated about the fact that you are keeping a secret from her?" Arnav lashed out at him angrily, and Vivek glared at him only slightly seeing the crowd around them, Arnav lowering his tone down to hush though still growling mad.

"I know that. We were talking about it earlier. She said she would wait for me to tell her everything when I wanted to." Vivek told him, though even the sound of his own words sounded devastating to him, no wonder they were just feeble words from a failing young teenager to Arnav.

"I think you are the one who told me that Gupta hates waiting." Arnav said sarcastically, his voice having a hard edge, eyes piercing into Vivek like sharp daggers, his overall stony exterior pulling the nerve inside Vivek.

"Yeah. But..I don't know how to tell her..not after this..after how I saw her today..She looked haunted..and lifeless. Like she was a living dead." Vivek tried telling Arnav exactly how she was, but even words could not do justice to the height of terror that he felt remembering her rushing to him, the horror in her eyes was something he knew would stay with him forever. Arnav seemed to consider Viveks words, he hadn't seen her in exactly great shape either, but he also knew for a fact whatever he had seen had been better than whatever Vivek had seen.

"You will have to give her a chance to handle it Vivek. You can't hide it forever."Arnav reasoned back, his voice a lot more considerate now, but Vivek only shook his head indignantly.

"No. That's too much of a risk to take. I can't do that. Not until I am sure." Vivek told him his jaw fixed, mind set to what he had to do, the reason behind hiding was clear in his head, but Khushi's heightened response to everything was messing up with his own systems and decisions.

"When are you going to be sure?" Arnav asked him now square faced, the very question that Vivek feared being asked, and even though he vaguely knew the answer, he wasn't sure if he wanted to tell Arnav that at all. Arnav was patient, unlike him very self, he was giving Vivek time to ponder over his question, he understood the fact perfectly clear that all of this was really hard on him, but he also knew that what would come after would be a lot more harder.

"When you are." Vivek finally replied, confusing Arnav beyond his own wits, but his eyes were gloomy and yet they held a skepticism and determination to them which Arnav was beginning to despise the very instant he saw that streak of emotion pass Vivek's eyes.

"What? What do you mean?" Arnav asked him baffled taking an empty seat in the canteen directly across Vivek his eyes never leaving Vivek.

"When are you going to propose her?" Vivek asked him suddenly catching him completely off guard yet again.

"What? I..I don't know." Arnav said perplexed and slightly irked, resulting in him stumbling for a good answer to give, but he had nothing to say, and suddenly he realized when it hit him, Vivek was trying to place him in the same spot that he was.

And even though it might be hard
to stop what I can't start

"Exactly. I was expecting you to say that. (Arnav hardens) Look here's my thing, I need you to go first with your thing, because I need you to be there to hold her when I tell her. She is obviously not going to come running to me for support the moment I tell her that I might die any time. She will need you, and when she does come to you, I don't want her to be conflicted about what you are to her. I want her to be sure, unlike the both of us." Vivek said in matured, resolved tone, impressing Arnav with how much emotional stability and maturity Vivek had. There was no denying that Arnav had never really gotten to that point of thought as Vivek had already conquered.

"I am carrying both of our luggage's." Arnav said after a while to himself grimly, not infuriated with the fact that Viveks and his future with Khushi both depended on him, but with the fact that one wrong step from him could end both of his and Vivek's relationship with Khushi.

"I didn't want to put you in such a position, but I have no other option man." Vivek said, his voice apologetic he really had not wished such bad luck on any of them. Arnav moved his fingers on the table a sign that he acknowledged what Vivek had said, but refused to speak another word after that. They sat in silence Vivek getting snacks for both of them, while Arnav waited on the table, his eyes now lingering at the unusual sight of Nikhil and Purab sitting together. Vivek came in with the order only to find Arnav staring at the table on the far end where Nikhil and Purab were seated.

"They are cousins." Vivek informed him, taking his seat on the table, and picking up his bottle of Sting, gulping it down thirstily. Arnav seemed to be shocked to hear about Nikhil and Purabs relation and scowled to himself, thinking of how the two most hated guys on the campus for him, were somehow magically bonded to each other.

"Fit together good." Arnav said sourly, as Vivek looked at him thoroughly amused by the venom he had for them.

"Purab's an ass hole I know. But what is it with you and Nikhil though? Nikhil's a likeable fellow" Vivek told him casually and he shot a deadened unbelievable expression at him shaking his head in exasperation at Vivek's supposed dumbness.

"Likeable? He is far from 'like'. Let alone 'likeable'. The guy keeps sticking to Gupta like a magnet, he really needs to get his ways right, or one of these I am going to lose control." Arnav grumbled endlessly in a dangerous voice, but Vivek was only grinning, taking Arnav and Nikhil's rivalry as free entertainment at the moment.

"Calm down dude! You are jealous only because Chun has a thing for him." Vivek said in a easy going manner, instantly regretting what he had said, since Arnav's eyes had shot up wide, not at all expecting such a crude remark from Vivek. 'Oh Danmmit Shit!' Vivek heard himself say though luck for him Arnav had barely heard or else he knew he had stuck Khushi in pretty deep mud right now. Magically enough Arnav just practically calmed down, his eyes still lingering on the duo of Nikhil and Purab.

"Yeah I know. She is all into his looks and whatever personality. (Vivek heaves a huge sigh of relief) But he gives me the negative vibes. Not because I am jealous, It is something else. He just looks fishy to me." Arnav voiced out his thoughts out aloud, his eyes still resting ideally on their table, while Vivek opposite to him studied him thoroughly before proceeding with the conversation.

"We don't know him that well Arnav. That can explain the fishy feeling you have."Vivek reasoned out smartly, as Arnav diverted his attention from the table back at him not at all convinced with Vivek's explanation of his attitude.

"I have been spending all my breaks rehearsing my voice over for the song with him, so I do know him just enough. (Vivek waits for him to say more) He..He..doesn't look at Khushi the way..I..mean guys do when they are into someone." Arnav said vaguely remembering what Nikhil had told him the first day of rehearsals. He had been pondering over it a lot of the time, but hadn't been able to get any concrete evidence regarding his own messed up thoughts, beside he had too much on his plate to worry about this too.

"That's a good thing right?" Vivek said mildly, still unable to figure what Arnav was really trying to say. He seemed as messed about his own life as Vivek was at the moment.

"Not really. If he did look at her like that I would do know what exactly I am dealing with. This, this doesn't lead me to anywhere. He is this really normal person most of the time, like any of us, with Gupta too, but it is just the way he looks at her. It is..weird." Arnav said, trying his best to explain his feelings for Nikhil, though he wasn't really sure why he was telling all this instead of Vive, probably the thought that if he ever married Khushi and would have god father it would be him, it gave him reasons to trust him over a lot of other people.

"How does he look at her?" Vivek asked curiously, right into the conversation now, his thoughts still blurry over what Arnav was really feeling, he wanted to know more, only because Khushi was a subject here and Arnav was only try to look out for her.

"He is affectionate guy and a friend one second, and the very next one he is cold and dangerous. Like he would rob you any second and go away." Arnav said, getting the exact description of Nikhil's towards Khushi finally in his head.

"How much time have you really spent observing him Arnav?" Vivek asked suddenly, stupefied by the merry fact that Arnav had gone into so much details, and observation for Vivek. This was really the height of obsessive jealousy. Arnav's eyes seemed to go dark at his question, and he closed his eyes brief drinking in the anger, not that it was directed at Vivek but because he consciously realized that he was putting too much thought into looking at someone who meant so little to him. Arnav really had no answer to Vivek's question, and though Vivek seemed in no hurry to get one, or make Arnav feel embarrassed for not giving one, the voice of the one of the clerical staff on his shoulder came as an apparent relief to him.

My runaway heart
it's running to you
and even though it might be hard
to you it's not so far

"Arnav Singh Raizada, you have been called by Sir Brendon in the theatre room." The short, grey suited man told Arnav and he nodded, getting up from his seat.

"Is Khushi Kumari Gupta required to come with me?" Arnav asked him, in his mind thinking he would pick Khushi up on his way to the theatre room with him, since he was sure she had to come too.

"Yes. She is already with Sir Brendon,(Arnav exchanges a look with Vivek, which said clearly that she had missed class too) If you would please follow me, I have been requested to bring you to them urgently." The man told Arnav in a hushed dainty voice, almost like a female, and Arnav nodded, passing a 'talk to you later' look at Vivek who casually nodded, as the man and Arnav walked away from the canteen.

"She wasn't up for class either. Didn't give her any point's lying to me." Vivek muttered to himself, sipping down the last of his Sting and got up to dispose of the trash, making his way towards the washroom. The only place he could take medicines without raising suspicion.

Across the table from Vivek which had been a subject of discussion for him and Nikhil a more fierce and heated argument was going on between the two boys sitting opposite to each other.

"Your dad told me to keep an eye on her, so I am only going to give updates to him. Just f**king stop annoying me!" Nikhil said apparently pissed off with Purab's continuous insistence on giving him insider information on Khushi. He was hating himself for everything and it was only enough of an added torture to tolerate a douche like Purab. This was his night mare of high school life.

"Giving me a heads up on her from time to time won't hurt and dad really won't mind, I assure you of that." Purab said adamantly, for thousandth time in a month completely failing to understand Nikhil's secretive 'oh so professional' attitude.

"How am I supposed to get sense in that hay filled head of yours? Khushi is taken. Do you get me? Sooner or later you will know that she is Arnav's girlfriend. So leave her alone. She doesn't give a moment's thought about you, if she does accidently, it is just pure hatred. Do you understand? (stressing on his words) PURE HATRED." Nikhil said now, going out of totally irked by Purab indignant non understanding attitude. Why the f**k was he making this so difficult for him? Coudnt he just stay out of his hair for a while, or even better just get danm lost with his dad?

"They are partners in a drama doesn't mean they will end up together. She has been declaring for a quite a while that he just a friend or not even that. I could have a chance if you agree to set me up with her." Purab said convincingly, still wanting to make himself be in the vague illusion with Khushi. Nikhil shook his head in complete vexation this time, getting up from the table to go before a snide comment from Purab hit him square in his conscience.

"The moment you walk away from this table, your baby girl may suffer another money crisis. (Nikhil's raspily turns around his face dark) You are bound to me and my father for her." Purab said his face pulled into a devilish expression, tone evil, and forcefully Nikhil dragged the chair and sat down, hating everything around him. He wished secretly that he could die, but the moment he thought of that he felt guilty, he had already promised to die with someone, he couldn't die alone.

"Look, I made a deal with your dad to be friends with you and keep you company Purab. I don't know if this sounds offending to you, but I am telling you to stay away from Khushi. Don't try to get near her, I won't let you. And if you do somehow, Vivek and Arnav won't let you." Nikhil said in a reasonable dead set tone, not knowing what better way to tell Purab to stay out of Khushi's hair.Even though he had no direct intention he was somehow looking into the best of intentions for his cousin.

"We will see about that." Purab said in an irritated haughty tone, and walked away from the table much to Nikhil's utter relief and he sighed to himself contented with thought of having a moment's peace without his irksome cousin troubling him all the time. Just as he was about to put his head down his mobile phone beeped into his pocket and he extracted it, opening the message that enabled a wide smile to spread across his face flourishing his handsome features but almost instantly he was frowning.

1 New Message

Christine Strauss

Hey Baby,

I just received the remittance an hour ago. Thank you so much for it, like always. :* I have no idea how you are managing this, though its high time you tell me because really this a much more bigger deal than you are admitting to me.

Anyways, I love you baby.

Got to go back to work and then school.

I'll call you tonight.

'I love you too girl' He felt his lips moving into those words, but his face was devoid of any expression of affection, it was troubled and tortured and he knew he had gotten himself into some really deep mess which he and her did not deserve a bit, but mostly Khushi did not deserve to have a deceitful betraying friend like him around her. Shaking his head he typed in a quick reply completely avoiding her complain of how he managed all this, because you knew the moment it was out, everything would beover. For him that was one thing he feared, more than anything else, after years of being a jock, he had finally fallen in love and now, not ever did he want to lose the girl who made him into a better person.

This runaway heart
You loved me from the start
You raised me through the dark
And now my heart it runs to you in open arms.

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