The light in the room seemed to have a mind of his own as to make the speedy decision of throwing his shadow from one part of the room to the other in the merry shift of a nano second as he rapidly paced about his presently dimly lit room, letting all his pent up frustration and anxiety from the day in this mundane exercise of pacing over and over again through the length of his room which wasn't as formidable or wholly wide to even count his long strides as paces', they were merrily the ghost of what could have been a marathon had he been in a real ground with real facilities, except that was not his reality, and here he was.

Arnav raked a hand through his hair, almost yanking it off his roots though he resisted at the last minute and instead just resorted to throwing punches in thin air not that that was helping much. His mother had very helpfully' much to his complete disbelief hid his punching bag somewhere and even after having had screamed, but mostly howled for nearly an hour to let him know, not that he really though his absent minded siblings would know anything to begin with he had resorted to kicking and punching air. Ofcourse the lack of solid objects to let out all that negative energy inside him was not the sole problem, the overlying burden of not wanting to physical injure himself was the problem. Well Damn the God damn play! Damn them all! He thought for the millionth time cursing back and forth to every person involved in that God forsaken play and he didn't even now why.

No, he was not loony or anything as absurd as that, he was as sure of his sanity as he was that there would never be spinach in his house in a trillion lifetimes, but there were too many reasons to blame the play right now, not one of them having a direct connection to them, except for one. The intense work load, or lets just say the horrifying, otherworldly news of more work for him if that was even a scenario possible, but apparently it was because he was living it now. Not literally now, but well in the near future, which was quite precisely tomorrow. But that was not the real reason behind his nerves going wacko. It was the sudden serious disappearance of Khushi Kumari Gupta.

Early in the morning after the extremely weird and not to mention confusing episode of Khushi stalking away from the auditorium after seeing the poster for the play, he hadn't been able to catch up on her all day, which was in itself weird, because really she was like a shadow attached with him, not in the clich sense but they seemed to be in eachothers path more often than necessary more often than human concident-iality allowed. Yet today of all days when he needed those memorable run ins, none of them had happened and she disappeared into thin air. She wasn't even at home, where he could unleash the full extent of his stalker tendencies on her, but at Casey's house, the name it self left him slightly unhinged at the moment but he desperately ignored it instead fueling his worry for Khushi's whereabouts.

Why had she suddenly gone? Where had she suddenly gone? Was it normal behavior to go on a run whenever she was a bit depressed not that he didn't have first hand experience of her non existent sense of self preservation but really if her mother wasn't worried and seem to take the whole thing casually then why couldn't he? Why did he have that nagging thought that she really wasn't at Casey's place? Ofcourse he knew he could have all those thoughts confirmed or denied in a second if only he could get himself to call.

That was the second part to his anger fueling club. Vivek. That temporal cowardly asshole. He was angry, no Arnav was downright murderous at the point when Vivek had in almost like a blank numb tone told him that Casey knew the truth of his disease. That was not the problem though about somebody else knowing about Vivek's disease he admittedly felt like he didn't have to share the burden of that secret alone now, now that another human knew, but he could barely give anytime to consider that rational train of thought when he thought sourly to himself about how that person was supposed to be Khushi not Casey. Vivek owed her the truth foremost before everyone, after his parents ofcourse, but he had already told them, and now it was her turn to know. She was his best friend wasn't she? Or was that all just some sort of crack pot show of loyalty which he had unknowingly started to admire? Arnav knew that that wasn't true atleast, but he wanted to nourish that thought in his head all the same. In whatever twisted way it made him feel minutely better but it hurt ten times worse like he was facing the emotional edge of the betrayal Khushi was being subjected to at Viveks hands. Like he was channeling the supposed knowledge of her pain and feeling it. But she didn't know, he muttered to himself violently and that was the whole problem. She didn't know, and yet something kept haunting her something he could only vaguely guess upon but something he didn't know the entire truth about and that itself was enough to frustrate him out of his mind.

With a huge thump Arnav threw the weight of his heavily built but lanky body on his bed that groaned under the weight as he flipped on his back and then on to his stomach over and over again uncomfortably, his eyes stuck on the phone on his side table. Finally after what was like an extended rather gruesome version of usual internal wars he made a grab for his phone and hurriedly punched in the number he needed to contact before he lost the nerve to talk again.

"Is Gupta with you?" He asked point blank careful to keep his voice devoid of any lingering emotions, as he waited for a reply getting all the more riled up with every silent moment that seemed to drag between them.

"Why would she be with me?" Vivek answered back from the other end thoroughly on edge with the feelings that he had been dealing. The fact that he had been overjoyed seeing Arnav's name flash as the caller ID had been thoroughly miffed by the fact that he was asking about Chun's whereabouts to him.

"Fine. Then give me Casey's number." Arnav tried again driven even though the thought of it was completely mental to the edge of frustration as Vivek took another millennia to form a coherent response, not that the actual response turned out to be anywhere near that either.

"Casey? Wh..wha..t..why? Wh..y.Casey's number? (his voice becoming strained) What the hell is going on?" Vivek asked confused, sitting up straighter on his bed now as he pushed the phone closer to his ear probably in an attempt to will out an answer from Arnav by some paranormal connection but since that wasn't happening and Arnav wasn't helping with his acute silence Vivek jumped up from his bed pacing tensely in his room.

"Arnav where the hell is Chun? Why do you need Casey's number?" Vivek roared from the other end, stomping his feet on the rug that was now covering the ground he was pacing on, letting out a pathetic wisp of dirt to come flying almost sending him into a fit of coughing though he expertly quenched the urge to do so and let his body process the repercussions of his impulsive act.

"You bloody hell have no right to ask me any of that! What in the name of God was all that bullshit earlier in the day? (Vivek flinches at the other end) Screw the reply cause you aint got any! As for Casey's number, I need it. And I need it now! Gupta's supposed to be at her place according to Aparna Aunty but I am betting all my freaking shit that shes not there!" Arnav shouted furiously from the other end, all the ends that he was very feebly holding together snapping at Vivek's thunderous demand fueling his already raging temper all the more so that now he could barely stand on his own two feet without shaking.

Vivek blanched at Arnav's response, sitting thickly on his bed as he stared into space, nowhere in particular, Arnav's words ringing in his ear. Chun at Casey's place? But..that..wasnt possible..okay it was possible..it was just not true though.

"That's because she isn't there. I just talked to Casey..Chun isn't there." Vivek said slowly, like his brain was taking a million hours to process one single thought process and string it into something coherent, his voice was more like a drunk drawl than anything none of which seemed to help Arnav's already pretty tight form.

"So where is she?" Arnav demanded angrily, though even before he had asked the question he knew how stupid he sounded when Vivek had only two seconds ago made it clear that he was as clueless as Arnav at the moment.

"Probably at her hate park..thats where she was last time..last time you ditched her." Vivek mumbled back half rudely half miserably obviously struggling between which emotion to let triumph but as was certain when talking to a highly ticked Arnav Singh Raizada, anything and everything Vivek said at the moment set him off. Again.

"Thanks for the reminder." Arnav muttered back caustically seizing his pointless pacing and standing straight now as he let a rather vicious streak of emotion consume him, not that it was foreign it was just that self loathing wasn't exactly a very desirable feeling.

"So are you coming with me to get her from there or what?" Vivek asked him after a beat, already up even though he felt oddly tired and wasted he made a sincere effort to look upbeat and somehow faked the attempt quite successfully as he scooped up his car keys from his drawer and marched out of the house wishing his concerned but blissfully patient mother a hasty good bye before he shut the door behind him.

"What are you coming for? I'll get her on my own." Arnav replied coldly, having had made his way out of his room the instant this rather bright coherent thought had formed in his mind readily ignoring the inquiring looks his siblings threw at him who just shrugged at his non responsiveness and returned back for once to studying quietly something they didn't do very often either.

"I am not up for handling her skinned raw and answering to Sir Brandon about how his two main leads are in for a two week stay at the hospital." Vivek replied back distractedly, switching off to Bluetooth as he pressed the key into the ignition, it roaring to life and he sped off towards where he knew right now Arnav, who was with him on the line was sending a bunch of inventive curses his way.

Exactly 6 minutes later Vivek turned into Mapel Street where Arnav was already standing at the edge of the street saving him the ride to the end of the street, as with a particularly lethal expression Arnav sat in the front seat, keeping his eyes well off on the street and away from Vivek's concerned gaze. Audibly sighing Vivek collected himself, at the same time maneuvering to the park he had last found Khushi in when she had been on one of her run away sprees, trying to process a reasonable explanation for Arnav.

"Arnav...(Arnav looks pointedly straight) quit it will you? You are being such a child right now! (Anav whips his head to look at Vivek with an incredulous expression possibly cracking a bone or two) I mean..damn I didn't tell Casey! She just sort of figured it out!" Vivek told him sheepishly, his face contorted with lines of worry and frustration but Arnav was positively still stone faced unmoved by any of these very evident signs of internal turmoil.

"She figured it out? What do you mean she figured out a freaking disease? How the hell do you figure out a disease?" Arnav asked him savagely, his gaze penetrating now into Vivek who had averted his eyes from Arnav and unceremoniously the car screeched to a halt sending Arnav almost flying out of his seat, hadn't it been for his seat belt, earning a round of curse words from Arnav yet again.

"What the f**k Vivek? Are you mental?" Arnav barked brutishly, flaring up more when Vivek only gave an apologetic shrug like being sent almost flying out of the car was no big deal whatsoever for him.

"Her brother had Arrhythmia too. He died two years ago. She recognized my symptoms..she is uhh observant. (Arnav mutters something incoherent under his breathe) What gave me away were those pills..she saw them..and well..she figured it out. (Arnav gives him a pointed look) I swear I didn't tell her! I..get why you are angry. Why..it feels like I betrayed Chun..but..(Despondently)..I didn't want her to know..not anyone..you know that..its not something I planned on..she..it just happened and well (Arnav continues to look at him icily) I don't want to betray Chun." Vivek said dejectedly in a barely audible voice as he leaned forward in his seat and kept his forehead on the steering wheel willing himself to calm down and let all the knots of emotion inside him loosen, while Arnav's expression only slightly, very slightly, lost his edge as he looked straight ahead refusing to be a heart patient's baby sitter.

"Last night you were ready to tell Gupta all about it, was it because of this?" Arnav asked him in a blank voice chancing a look in Vivek's direction who had gained enough control to look up at Arnav and face his questions.

"Yeah and because its been eating me up from inside to hide this from her. I..I..dont mean to be selfish..but I want her to be a part of this...not share my pain but..(tapping his fingers on his knees) I want her to just know..and be there.." Vivek muttered fragmented parts of his actual string of thoughts but Arnav being as emotionally daft as he was did not catch on the hint anyway.

"Be there? She's been going on and on about how she WANTS to be there and you wont let her! What do you think you are fighting for? Protecting her from? She seems to be too homicidal about her intents just about now!" Arnav yelled, losing his nerve all over again probably making a personal record of how quickly he got to lose his temper which by going from his track record must be quite a list. Vivek snapped out of his dooms day reverie and looked at Arnav like he had grown three horns on his head and turned green, his eyes bulging and mouth set in a tight line like if he didn't acknowledge Arnav as a human and a friend he probably lung up on him at the moment and effectively beat him to a pulp. Thankfully the only thing he did was resort to a shouting match.

"Homicidal? That's her dreams being homicidal! And you were the one who told me not to tell her last night! I cant tell her right now! What with her dad going on spy sprees, and Nikhil turning out to be some contorted version of James Bond and you being a daft imbecile for not proposing her! (Arnav stiffens) How do you suppose I am to tell her about this? Just spring it up like hey Chun you know what? Because you don't have enough on your plate already here I am adding some more because that's how generous I am? So you see your best friend has a defected heart and well he might drop dead any moment so you know keep your guard up because you might be attending a funeral soon along with a heartless dad, a foul friend and your baboon headed lover!" Vivek screamed in a rather deranged manner losing ever ounce of self restraint and control that held him together, all the emotional turmoil, the countless thoughts that had buzzed inside his head all day came sprouting out; his eyes shooting daggers incessantly at Arnav who was rendered speechless by this sudden outburst, and even though he would never admit it but being at such closed quarters in a locked car with a positively diseased mad boy sort of unnerved him.

"She said she will wait for me! And what the f**k do you mean I have been baboon headed? Like how the f**k am I even supposed to propose her when she's always holding the merry fact that I know your secret instead of her against me? How do I do it when she's always ready to throw hard back books on my head purely out of spite! I..its hard to believe she has any romantic feelings for me whatsoever." Arnav said in a rather subdued tone a flip contrasting flip fom his voice echoing in the confines of the car, alerting Vivek instantly who looked at him like really he couldn't wrap his mind around the idea of susceptible doubtful Arnav and was probably caught in some horribly conceived nightmare.

"It..it's..hard to believe? I thought I was the terminally ill one here! She's crazy about you Arnav! I don't know how that isn't obvious to you! It's painfully obvious to anyone in a 100 mile radius from you both that you have a gag worthy romance going on between you two! Never ever doubt that. I can't believe you even ever did." Vivek spluttered disbelievingly starting off with a wide googly eyed look and ending with him shaking his head like a maniac as if he had just witnessed the single most shocking moment of his life.

Arnav stayed quiet not bothering to grace this rather uncomfortable explanation with an answer and resorted to looking out of the window yet again, as Vivek shook his head violently again and spurred the car to life driving much more calmly now, the air between them stiff but visibly much more relaxed prior to confession period, the car whizzing off into the numerous lanes that finally led to the Stanford Army Park.

Last time Vivek had been here the park had been errily quiet and not oddly so, considering it was freezing and only someone as completely insane as Chun would sit there stiffly on a bench holding a book but staring into space looking at nothing particular. The awful memory of that send his heart twisting painfully, restraining himself from throwing a scathing look at Arnav even though he knew that Arnav couldn't be held so much as responsible for the ordeal as Khushi was supposed to be, the whole situation was particularly self inflicted by her. Parking the car quietly in an empty spot he killed the engine and immediately stepped out his nerves still a bit all over the place, making him feel fully heavy headed but it wasn't something he couldn't handle and so that realization made the whole thing a lot more easier. Arnav though seeing the park felt a swooping sensation hit his stomach like something particularly heavy had been dropped into his stomach. He had a very very good idea of how the park was like in the month of December and imagining Khushi there doing God knows what, because he wasn't keen on knowing the details of her previous visit here, he could only rely on his very vivid imagine and that made him all the more instable and if possible much more furious. What the hell did she think she was doing here lieing to her mom? Lieing to him? Well..technically she hadn't really lied to him but that was definitely besides the point.

Banging the door shut probably unhinging it a bit he stormed off towards the park, a troubled Vivek following him in his wake as he effectively without so much as saying anything scared the living daylights out of two 6 years old who were playing a game of tag now though having switched to how-to-best-steer-away-from-angry-mad-teenage-boys'.

Arnavs eyes critically scanned the park for her familiar figure balling up his fist in frustration every time he didn't spot her as he mindlessly walked on looking around for his precious, Vivek doing the same though obviously in a more subtle, less disruptive manner. Abruptly Arnav stopped his eyes fixed on the swing set as Vivek behind very nearly bumped into him, earning an involuntary scowl from Arnav, but like him Viveks eyes fixed themselves on a quick wisp of light brown hair that disappeared as soon as they caught sight of it, taking along with it the head and in turn the body that it was attached to, blurring it completely as she literally swung her way into the air.

Copious amounts of his anger seemed to ebb away though he stubbornly hung onto it not allowing himself any form of lover gazing as he marched towards where Khushi was swinging on the kids swing set, earning a rather large amount of dirty looks from the waiting kids and their parents, but by the care free way she continued to seal her place it looked like she couldn't care less of what anyone thought.

"You might not want to start a shouting match with her here with all these kids and their parents around." Vivek shot at him warningly walking rather close to him in case Arnav decided to run towards Khushi instead of marching and cut the chase to the inevitable disastrous match between them.

"Who cares?" He answered back viciously not sparing another look at Viveks thoroughly annoyed face who seemed to have resigned to his fate though wasn't nearly as sure about the parents who had now spot a furious teenage boy approaching the swing set, hopefully for them to get her off it, though it was quiet clear they weren't really expecting anything of a rash wrestling match here or anything.

"Gupta will you get off that stupid thing? NOW?" Arnav shouted startling the parents who had briefly treated themselves to ideas of him being their swing saviour except well they weren't too sure they could rely on him anymore what with their children cowering in fear behind them hearing Arnav's deafening furious voice.

Khushi snapped open her eyes instantly, cringing slightly at the sound of his voice, as confused she looked down at him from her position in the air now back in the ground at a totally savage Arnav who was in all senses mutilating her with his eyes. Khushi gulped but that was a gesture only she seemed to notice, or maybe Vivek did too as she saw him now standing right behind Arnav giving her a small smile, looking at Arnav and shaking his head like he couldn't help matters any more than she could from her swing. She shot him a baffled look but when he only shrugged and Arnav growled impatiently she had no choice but to turn her attention to him though she dare not bring the swing to a halt much to the complete vexation of the waiting parents.

"What do you want Raizada?" She asked indifferently, not sure why she was going for the harder way around this undesired intervention by him, but she really wasn't in the mood to actually be civil with him, or anyone at the moment who had she might mention unceremoniously tottered on in her alone time.

"Get off the bugger swing Gupta!" Arnav cried in a marginally calm voice yet again though his voice was so strained from the effort he sounded all the more intimidating than he did when he was openly shouting.

"Sod off Raizada! Why are you here anyway?" Khushi snapped back annoyingly looking away from him once again and up in the sky resuming her swinging exercise as Arnav stared at her incredulously apparently having more than a reasonable amount of trouble believing her defiance. What in the world was wrong with her now?

"To find you damnnit! You lied to your mom that you were at Casey's house and instead are out here swinging your butt off on this worthless swing!" Arnav explained dead pan not refusing to back off just now as Khushi's head immediately whipped into his direction, successfully catching her attention, and she blushed embarrassedly at his announcement though quickly collected her self giving him as pointed a look as she could manage what with her constant motion.

"Were you stalking me Raizada?" She asked him sharply keeping his eyes fixed on him as best as she could without risking a trip to the hospital by falling face first into the ground if she lost her balance on the swing pleased to see that atleast momentarily Arnav had been rendered speechless. Not that it mattered much now she thought to herself irritated. Deputy Vivek took over instantly. Ah-mazing.

"Chun just please get off the swing. Arnav was just worried about you. (looking at the kids and now the parents that seemed to be watching the verbal insulting match in a rather offended manner) Those kids need a turn too man! Just get off Chun." Vivek said slowly as if he assumed that up in the air Khushi's brain probably processed stuff a lot slower, which was probably true considering the amount of energy she was putting in glowering at him, something he had sort of grown immune to by now and merrily ignored.

"No! I am not getting off! I..need this..(looking at Vivek) and for Devi Maiyan's sake take him away from here! We don't need him raising hell in a children's park!" Khushi said in a desperate pleading tone though the annoyance she felt at Arnav's presence and at Viveks now that he was here at breaking her reverie wasn't masked at all, however that annoyance was quickly replaced by a feeling of horror as Arnav stepped directly into her path where she had legs outstretched and in direct sight with his chest.

"Raizada are you crazy? Get out of the way! (panicking) Vivek pull him away!" Khushi screamed shrilly as she found herself up in the air again narrowly missing Arnav who seemed to have glued himself to the spot, the best of Vivek's efforts failing to have him bulge even an inch from there, as Khushi now seeing that Arnav had no intention from moving from her path and would probably be kicked off in the process though she couldn't summon any hard feelings about that happening either, she desperately tried to slow the swing down but to no avail. She had geared it far too up to have it slow down in the next few minutes. Thinking fast and only quickly looking at the horrified parents behind her and a stone carved Arnav standing in front of her she made a decision.

The swing picked up momentum her feet still dangling awkwardly in the air as she mentally prepared herself for her completely idiotic landing but then if you had a crack pot like Raizada blocking your path there weren't too many options out there in the field. Readying her self for the impact of the fall she loosened her grip on the ropes that she had been holding on either side and as soon as her legs dangled at face level with Raizada though thankfully atleast a feet away she crazedly jumped.

Everything around her seem to spin out of proportion like she had been caught in a particularly drastic plane crash that was about to drown as she landed heavily on her feet..probably fracturing a bone or two and possibly her skull as well as her head heavily collided into Arnav's iron chest, taking him completely by surprise so that the only movement he managed was to wrap his arms around her waist to stop them from falling but there was no avoiding that. With a loud thud that ringed in his ears he fell, back first into the ground with Khushi on top of him looking extremely disgruntled and a dazed Vivek who had landed painfully on his left arm still clutching Arnav's arm tightly probably blocking his blood supply not that he found it in himself to be concerned about that as of now.

"OW! What the f**k was that about Chun? What in the name of this God damn love story is wrong with you two fools?" Vivek yelped as he attempted to get up from the ground brushing grass off his sweat shirt, cradling his bruised arm which had taken the full impact of his fall. Miraculously he found himself functioning enough to reflexively duck as the crazed swing set seat came rocking towards them very nearly sending him on a vacation to their city hospital.

While Vivek seemed to at least try to recollect himself Arnav and Khushi laid motionless, Khushi's face buried deep into his chest, as it heaved up and down heavily in synch with the dull throbbing in his head probably ensuring a dent in his skull because not even his thick hair could cushion a sudden dramatic fall like that. What was probably after an eternity, Khushi extracted her face from his chest and opened her eyes initially squinting as he looked at her blankly incredulity written plainly on his face.

"Are you seriously out of your pig head mind Gupta? (Khushi shifts her weight off him only causing more mayhem causing him to groan unrestrainedly) You harassed me to death damnnit!" Arnav shouted, as Khushi finally gaining some sense rolled off him and quickly managed to sit up having had suffered no bodily harm though her leg seemed to be acting permanently wacko but that was the least of her concerns now. The object of her wrath was right in front of her, very much like trying to bring himself back from the dead, that being no easy feat seeing that he had been hit on the head for one, and because simply a mundane task like picking yourself off the ground wasn't in Arnav Singh Raizada's expert skills set.

Materializing out of nowhere, or atleast that's what Arnav and Khushi thought when they saw Viveks unnaturally tall lanky form looming over them both of his hands extended towards each of them respectively as Khushi took it gratefully steadied by a firm hand on her waist by Vivek, and Arnav only scowled as he took Viveks extended hand barely managing to subdue his dizziness as the impact of hitting his head came back to him. What broke this little show of getting themselves to assemble like humans was the chaos behind them as multiple men wrestled the swing to a halt, leaving those who weren't involved in the activity to approach the three of them with aggravated violent looks on their faces.

"Are you kids crazy? Going suicidal and wacko jumping? This is a kids park not an adventure resort where you can put up these absurd antics!" A young man with golden brown hair and twinkling blue eyes which were currently narrowed at them spoke quickly barely giving them time to catch any words out of his rant except for crazy', jumping' and adventure'. Khushi and Vivek exchanged uneasy looks with each other from either side of Arnav who was with the thought that the best way to end this matter was to kick the young man to the ground.

"Sir..we are really sorry..for uhh what happened. (The young man continues to look ardently at Vivek along with his parent mates) We'll..well just leave. Good day to you all!" Vivek said in an apologetic tone speaking in a falsely cheerful manner as he dragged Arnav by the arm out of the park who initially resisted and than freed from his grip completely followed mutely while Khushi had gone into a full scale internal rant to herself.

"What the hell were you two thinking coming here? (Arnav opens his mouth to protest) Oh C'mon I can take care of myself! I don't need you two trailing my every move like body guards!" Khushi snarled rounding up ferociously on the two of them as soon as they reached the spot where Vivek had parked his car, Vivek far too gone to even say anything to her preposterous accusation while Arnav who seemed to be riling up for it since forever was all armed for this show down.

"You. Most.certainly.cannot.take.care.of.yourself.Gupta." Arnav said bitingly, pausing after every word for added effort at which Khushi just shot him a dirty look taking three steps towards him so that she was barely inches away from him now. They both stared glaring at eachother the heat waves of anger concentrating around them like a giant bubble giving of vibes to every passer by, which happened to be Vivek who shifted onto his feet uncomfortably his arms folded across his chest resting his back against the neighboring car.

"If you two are going to make out right now a signals all you need to give me." Vivek said in his best cheeky lighthearted voice as both Arnav and Khushi in synch whipped their heads towards him shooting a trillion daggers by the second. Had it been anyone else they would have dissolved into thin air and run for their life, but Vivek kept looking like really his comment was the smartest thing the moment needed. Which it probably did. After a decade of killing Vivek with their eyes Arnav and Khushi resumed to their former activity flaring their noses at each other, gritting their teeth in frustration.

"Bugger off Raizada! Stop bossing me around! You aren't my dad or my best friend! Just..go.. just chill out!" Khushi screamed at him her eyes in locked on his as he went momentarily frigid hearing her comment about his relationship importance with her but quickly he masked his hurt by resorting to his usual off handed manner of dealing with everything.

"Mature aren't you Gupta? Havent received an award for it have you yet?" Arnav said mockingly his face set into a deep frown as Khushi rounded up on him hitting him squarely on the chest backing him up until his back hit Viveks car her tomatoe red face barely inches away from his.

"Who do you think you are Raizada? Walking in like that and stealing my alone time? That was Khushi time you intervened in damnnit!" Khushi shouted her nostrils flaring up as she said so, and despite him self Arnav found his lips curving up into an amused grin something he did not even try to suppress much to Khushi's increased enragement.

"Khushi time? That is a very inventive name Gupta." Arnav commented back entertained as Khushi briefly closed her eyes and stepped away from him much to his disappointment crossing her arms around her chest and walking away from him towards the car.

"You are an insufferable git Raizada!" She muttered hotly under her breathe, pulling Viveks arm along with her as she took her place on the back seat and Vivek squeezed her shoulder only briefly at which she flashed him this-is-all-your-fault' look at which he just shook his head and was about to open the door to take his drivers seat when Arnav stopped him holding out his hand as if it was plain what he was asking for.

"What?" Vivek asked confused, awarded with another glare from Arnav who pointed at the keys in Viveks hand intolerantly.

"No ways! I have better ways up my sleeve to commit suicide than have my nutters knocked off with you driving like this!" Vivek exclaimed utterly astonished that he would even propose an idea like that not to mention when he was in a particularly murderous mood at the moment.

"Shut it! Just give me the damn keys. We are going for ice cream." Arnav said calmly, though strangely it didn't look like it was thoroughly forced this time, it was more of a genuine attempt to being calm than he had aimed for one in his entire life time. He didn't know what had taken over him, the whole ice cream thing hasn't even on his mind a second ago but right now he just felt like following this impulse and thus he was.

"Huh? Ice..cream what?" Vivek spluttered shocked his eyes almost bulging out of his sockets at Arnavs proclamation who made a very unpleasant face yet again though before he could retort Khushi had popped her head out of the window looking at Arnav as if it was an alien standing in his place.

"Who are you and what have you done to toe rag Raizada?" She asked him seriously searching his face intently and all too close to him, her breathe hitting his face squarely making him slightly uncomfortable not with the proximity but because she thought he was incapable of making any humane gesture.

"Stop being so dramatic Gupta! We are going for ice cream not a slug fest." Arnav retorted annoyed at her inept character descriptions of him but she was continued to look at him like he was an otherworldly creature.

"Exactly! That's a Raizada thing. Going to a slug fest. Not..not..buying ice cream! (Sudden realization hitting her) OH MY GOD Raizada you have hidden candy stash too under your bed don't you?" She asked this with wide eyes looking at Vivek and then at him, Vivek briefly snickering leaving Arnav with making the horrible comparison as if he had encountered a raving mad women, which he supposed he had.

"Are you off your rocker Gupta?" He asked her in suspicious voice, while Vivek on his side still seemed to be getting over the shock of Arnav suggesting going for ice cream when exactly fifteen minutes ago he had been raising hell. Quite literally.

"The fall didn't addle your brain did it?" Vivek asked skeptically, looking at him curiously like there were any physical tell tale signs of mental derangement, ticking Arnav all the more with the way both Vivek and Khushi were looking at him like he was a run away artifact from a museum.

"Most definitely not." Arnav snapped incensed snatching the keys from Viveks hand who was only holding it limply, as Vivek without a second thought not revisiting his earlier suicidal ideas side stepped and let Arnav take his seat, going over to the other side to get in his seat, while a confounded Khushi gaped at the scene before her.

"Why are you taking us for ice cream?" Khushi inquired shiftily as Arnav craned his back to look at her not estimating the proximity of her face to his as her nose bumped with his leading to her rubbing it furiously until it was cherry red much to Arnav's amusement.

"I don't fancy poisoning you Gupta if that's your problem." Arnav answered her vaguely and she rolled her eyes at him slumping back into her seat, making sure she was seated directly in front of the rear view mirror so he saw her, shaking his head imperceptibly perhaps because he was having a hard time believing he had fallen for someone with the sense of a 3 year old.

They sat in silence as Arnav drove, Vivek and Khushi still exchanging significant looks of bafflement and disbelief with each other at Arnavs unbelievable time framed personality. The atmosphere in the car fell into a dull lull with Khushi indulging herself into looking outside escaping back into the glum mood that had accompanied her to the park earlier while Vivek constantly seemed to fidget with the cloth of his pants another nervous habit of his. Arnav was singularly focused on the road ahead stealing quick glances at Khushi from the rear view mirror his earlier troublesome thoughts regarding her unnatural behavior returning. As if a flash of lightening had just jolted his brain cells into functioning creatively he punched in the ON' button of the music floor the car bursting with an unfamiliar music that had him almost crash the car in the car ahead.

"How do you even drive with music like that playing?" Arnav asked indignantly to a shocked Vivek who was still trying to come back from his reverie and wrap his mind around the sudden burst of sound around them after the erry silence having had enveloped them for so long.

"Whats wrong with it?" Vivek questioned back dead pan as Arnav gave him a pointed look stealing another glance at Khushi who was now looking straight at him through the rear view mirror. There eyes met, hers full of curiosity and unasked questions his mirroring the same emotion but in a completely different context.

"It's distracting." He said in a dull voice never taking his eyes off Khushi where they were still locked with hers, their gazes unabashed, their surroundings blurred as the only conscious awareness that they had was of each other.

"Really now? Is it the music or is it Chun sitting in the back seat that's distracting? I'll bet my bank account that it's the latter." Vivek scoffed back part annoyed part amused as Khushi hurriedly broke off their eye lock throwing Vivek a dirty look who in return gave her his best I-am-just-being-your-best-friend' look.

"Thanks for being such pleasant company" Khushi told him scathingly, Vivek looking back at her grinning attempting to jump from the front seat to the back seat much to Khushi's hilarity and Arnav's horror.

"What the f**k are you doing? Do you want all of us to die?" Arnav screamed senseless stopping the car at an empty side walked as the drivers behind him honked angrily, this momentary lapse of attention from his side and stationary form of the car enabling Vivek to jump in the back seat nearly on top of Khushi who dived to the extreme right just on the last second.

Arnav looked at him with eyes as wide as saucers possibly because he couldn't believe Viveks nerve or help feeling infuriated by that annoying smile that was etched permanently on his face since the last few minutes.

"Its fine Raizada. Nobody died. Well..(looking at Arnav and Gupta) unless you two are very real ghosts. Either way I don't mind. (Arnav grunts impatiently) Carry on! Take us to this ice cream spot already!" Khushi told him pleasantly, the first sentence she had said ever since this bizzare car ride started, Arnav looking at her with his figuring out a difficult equation' face but slowly he turned around not before giving Vivek another sullen glare and revved up the engine setting on his route again.

"Now tell me what the hell did you put that stunt up for?" Khushi whispered in his ear furiously scooting further towards the window as she made space for Vivek to sit closer to her within whispering distance actually.

"I was bored. (Khushi looks at him likes he's mad) Okay Fine! (Vivek puts his hands up) I was worried about you. You are awfully quiet not to mention deliriously uneasy." Vivek told her, the seriousness in his voice that he had been trying to mask creeping back as Khushi's shoulders slumped and she teared her gaze away from where she had momentarily caught Arnav listening to their conversation, her head hanging limply looking away from Vivek and outside at the approaching night.

"It's nothing." She said unconvincingly, determinedly looking away from him.

"C'mon Chun please. You'll feel better if you tell me..(looking at Arnav listening them) tell us." Vivek said pleadingly, his voice soft but concentrated with emotion as Khushi with a herculean effort looked at him shaking her head at him painfully.

"I..cant..It's too..painful to talk about it." She said mournfully looking down at her knees but not before she caught a shadow of Viveks worry multiplied in Arnavs eyes as well.

"Its doing you no good by keeping it inside either. Let it out. Let it stop hurting you Chun." Vivek told her soothingly convincing, putting his arms around her shoulder as Khushi drew herself closer to him hugging him tightly.

"The..dream..it..was about..you..dieing. That..line..on the poster..that its..its what you say to me in my dream..before you code.." Khushi relayed in a heavy voice, choking back her tears as carefully as she could without making it too obvious. Arnav stopped the car not only because he had to but because the ice cream parlour was there. He stepped out of his seat leaving a pale Vivek supporting Khushi who didn't seem to be aware of Arnav stepping out not until she felt another warm body pressed against her side, his familiar warmth getting to her as Arnav silently sat next to her keeping his hand on her shoulder. She unfastened herself from Vivek who was too rigid, too white to comprehend what was happening and looked at Arnav his eyes full of compassion and the warmth that she associated distinctly to him.

"I..I..am sorry I am such a mess." She said in a small voice averting her gaze from his as he kept his arm around her Vivek's hold over having had faltered instantly when she had relayed her tale to them.

"You have nothing to be sorry for Gupta." He said gently, squeezing her shoulder, she managing to give a feeble smile but as soon as she turned her attention back to Vivek her face became as ashen as his.

"Vivek? (panicking) It was just a dream! It wasn't real Vivek! It was just a dream!" Khushi said in a panicked voice, not sure who she was trying to assure, herself or him, as he momentarily stepped out of his self induced trance looking thoroughly dazed.

"But..what..what if its real?" Vivek asked her in a low deadened voice, missing out the warning look that Arnav had shot him his eyes cornering Khushi into a dark black corner of truthful possibilities. She gulped at his question, the hair on her arms raising out of fear and the fear of the possible, but as quickly as the emotion gripped she shook her head violently in an unbelieving manner.

"I don't want to consider that as a possibility." She muttered quietly, not looking at either of them, Arnav shooting another look at Vivek which I might as well as not, considering Vivek didn't even seem to recognize that he existed as of this moment. He was too busy looking at Khushi with a pained expression though his body language was dark and unnerving.

"But what if it is Chun?" He asked her in a quiet whisper, his voice barely audible even to himself but the occupants of the car heard him just the same. Khushi looked up into his eyes locking hers with them, confused beyond reason but in an instant her features potrayed defiance and determination.

"Then we'll have to deal with it as best as we can right?" Khushi answered back in an unwavering tone, instantly making Arnav glow with pride, while Vivek swallowed another uncomfortable lump that had been rising up in his throat and stiffly nodded.

"Right." He said distractedly, looking away from her and staring outside, Khushi still staring at him intently her brow furrowed in confusion before turning her attention to Arnav who seemed incapable of speech.

"Is this normal?" Khushi asked Arnav, Vivek still sitting deadened staring into the seat in front of him but not really looking at.

"I suppose. You just told him you saw him dieing. That's like giving a death sentence. Obviously he's a bit scared, hes always been a wimp you know" Arnav replied in his usual offhanded manner in a very obtuse attempt to lighten the mood, successful in doing so too as Vivek snapped out of his death bed scenario and looked at Arnav annoyed.

"I am not a wimp. Or scared." He said flatly, his eyes locked on Arnav but their was no irritation in his eyes like there was in his voice, there was nothing but plain gratitude in his eyes, which Arnav seemed to hush up on his own, and while Khushi keenly noted this bizzard silent conversation she did not attempt to question it. It was yet another secret between them two and she was out of the loop again. She sighed. Guess this was a permanent situation. Her being out of the loop in certain unknown matters.

"What? What is it Chun?" Vivek asked her troubled having had heard her audible sigh, both he and Arnav's attention zeroing on her making her feel slightly giddy with all the attention.

"Nothing. Just you two keeping me out of the loop again. (Vivek looks ashamed, Arnav is advancly fidgety) Nah its fine. I'll wait for when you are ready to tell. (for the first time looking outside and seeing they were in Pal Alto's main food curb) When did we get here?" She asked surprised taking in her surroundings now that she felt a bit emotionally unburdened. Vivek followed her lead looking around not having had realized either when they had reached their destination but Arnav who was well aware just rolled his eyes at their absent mindedness.

"About 20 minutes ago." He said in his usual crisp voice opening the door of the car and stepping out Khushi following him out as Vivek got out from the other end, both of them following Arnav who lead them to a small yet cozy and rather homely ice cream parlour at the end of the street. They took a seat at a lone round empty round table with three identical silver seats surrounding it.

The three of them gave their orders, Double Chip chocolate sundae for Khushi, praline for Arnav and a triple flavoured sundae for Vivek. Moments until the order arrived passed in comfortable silence as Khushi rested her head on a cushion of her arms on the table, while Vivek played candy crush on his mobile, and Arnav indulged himself in completing a book he had downloaded earlier on his smartphone and left incomplete. As soon as the order arrived though all hell broke loose, well not literally, but if Arnav was asked at this very moment what in the world he was doing with two ice cream obsessed lunatics right now he would have punched your nose off your face because as legit as the question is, asking Arnav something like that was indeed asking for your death sentence. In less than 15 minutes Khushi and Vivek had completed their respective sundaes, while Arnav sat their eating his praline taking all the time in the world, shooting daggers at them both as they looked at him like he was the one who was mental.

"Game for more?" Vivek asked Khushi grinning to which she violently shook her head enthusiastically both of them ordering cream and cookie ice cream for themselves this time. Khushi tapped the table with her fingers, creating some off key music which putting mildly was pretty horrible, while Arnav just rolled her eyes at her though working hard to fight the amused grin of his face.

"Feeling better?" He asked her smugly, putting in the last spoon of ice cream in his mouth, while Khushi took her time answering considering she had dug into her recently arrived bowl of ice cream more than enthusiastically.

"Loads." She replied back smiling at him, her eyes twinkling with the contentment she felt inside. Arnav gave her a brief but assuring nod, and she squeezed his hand as Vivek cleared his throat, not intent on destroying their rare moment of civility but also their was the problem of him just third wheeling right now making him more than uncomfortable.

"Sweet." He snickered, licking his spoon dry pushing away the bowl of ice cream away from him, to face Arnav and Khushi incessantly glare at him.

"What? I was talking about the ice cream!" He feigned a voice of mock innocence, Khushi kicking him hard under the table, while Arnav just looked at him as if challenging to say another word out of line so he could strangle him to death.

"Oooff Chun! (rubbing his calf) That really wasn't necessary." He muttered painfully, giving Khushi the chance to just roll her eyes at him and give him another punch on his shoulder.

"Dude control your bae!" Vivek yelled at Arnav light heartedly as he dodged another punch from Khushi and hopped off his stool closely pursued by his best friend who was screaming death threats at him, calling for unwanted attention towards herself by the pedestrians on the road, Arnav closing his eyes to shut out their immaturity and shaking his head, payed the bill and stalking out minutes later.

When he walked 10 minutes later to the car Vivek and Khushi were still bickering like a pair of mad cows and it was only when he flashed the pair of headlights directly into their faces and threatened to run them over did they come back to their seat, Vivek amused and Khushi still positively ticked off. The ride back home was silent and uneventful, as they individually mulled over the events of the day in their mind silently. It wasn't long before Arnav pulled up into Khushi's driveway and stopped outside her front door, jolting Khushi awake from her half asleep induced state. Groaning audibly, as she stretched her legs and set the motor neurons to work she stepped outside, the warm March air assaulting her skin, Vivek and Arnav seated still in the front watching her get out.

"You could crash over here tonight you know." She remarked standing outside Viveks half open window, as she took in their tired weary faces, her eyes shifting from one to the other.

"It's just a five minute ride to my place Gupta." Arnav pointed out, though even he couldn't hide the slight enthusiasm he felt at not wanting to drive another extra five minutes, considering his body seemed to be in mutinous mood with him.

"I really don't mind crashing though Chun. Don't fancy driving back home." Vivek announced happily, Khushi's face splitting in a grin, her eyes now all set on Arnav who still seemed to be contemplating the idea.

"But there's school tomorrow." He voiced out, though even more half heartedly if it was possible his manic body taking over his more rational thought processes. Honestly the idea of sleeping anywhere even in the car looked thrilling at the moment.

"Well I am skipping it tomorrow. Its not like they can cram any more stress into us at this point." Vivek grumbled loudly, thoroughly pleased with the idea, while Khushi even though not as completely convinced, reluctantly nodded, gaze still fixed on Arnav's wavering resolution.

"We deserve to sleep it off Raizada. C'mon!" She argued, using her best persuasive voice. Arnav after a beat nodded at the pair of them and parked Vivek's car in front of the main gate stepping out to join them both as the three of them paraded to the front door. Once inside, Khushi ushered them both into the guest room, throwing a pillow and blanket in their direction from her room, which Arnav's quick reflexes caught on fairly quickly seeing as he was the one lingering around, vivek having had plopped himself on the double bed without any reservations.

"I'll go tell Maa you two are staying over. (to Vivek who had already buried his face in the below, and Arnav still holding the blanket in his hand standing at the door of the guest room) You know the drill, make yourself at home, and well you know if you don't find anything..just well find whatever you need on your own alright?" Khushi told them groggily rubbing her eyes furiously, as Vivek made a muffled sound of acknowledgment while Arnav just stared at her rolling his eyes though fascinatingly amused.

"Such a brill host Gupta." He commented sarcastically, Khushi giving him her patented bugger-off-Raizada' look, at which he just smirked self satisfactorily, and turned around trotting inside, dumping the comforter on Vivek disheveled form, receiving a round of rather savage threats from Vivek who refused to leave the bed leaving Arnav to kick him to the other side so he could claim one of them.

"The pair of you are going to murder me before my impending death!" Vivek complained, shooting knives at Arnav who effectively ignored it, taking off his shoes and socks to deposit at the side of the bed, only a second later Khushi entering taking in the scene before her comically. Pulling off Vivek's shoes and socks much to his incessant grumbling, she deposited it at the far end of the bed, giving him a slap on his back for good measure at which if answered back by complaining even more loudly.

"Night dung head." She grinned at him affectionately, as he responded with something that sounded like N'gt Chun' and she shook her head at him, her eyes now resting upon Arnav who had taken in the scene play before him with a bemused expression and rare crooked smile on his lips. For a fair fee seconds they let the silence engulf them, their sleepy weary forms pulling them down but for all it mattered this was a moment, in all it quietness and simplicity that they don't want to ruin just yet.

"Thankyou" Khushi found herself saying softly, her eyes twinkling as she said so locked with his that burned with undiluted compassion and sincerity.

"Night Gupta" He answered instead in a low whisper almost as if he was afraid that a voice a few notched over would break this fragile air of peace, but if he thought she didn't catch up on this, he was wrong because she only smiled wider blushing slightly and turned around on her heel closing the door with her only stopping momentarily as her heart thudded straight out of her chest with the unwavering gaze he had fixed on her.

"Goodnight Raizada." She said smiling wildly, closing the door behind her and with a slight skip in her step she proceeded to her room that untroubled smile of hers even if temporary not leaving as she tucked herself in, pushing back the underlying sea of worry to the back of her mind and letting the tranquility she had recently acquired drown her with it.

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Regarding the Title

Demons- Its fairly obvious about where this title stems from considering the bizzard twists and turns in this chapter. I really don't feel like elaborating on it, because its rather self satisfactory, but I do want to shed light on the fact that since the next update is the Special Update, it was because of this that this chapter was heavily loaded with emotion mainly with Khushi's, but definitely in connection to Arnav, Vivek, Casey and Nikhil. I actually loved writing this chapter, but the fact that it took me 3 months to get it up says something on its own. It was a hard chapter to write. Hard because of the time span of events that has been covered but also because the disposition of every character seemed to change by the second and to actually get it write I had to imagine the scene playing before me atleast a 100 times before I nailed it.

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Events In The Chapter

This was possibly one of the most eventful chapters of TL till date, what with as Vivek said it, a dieing best friend, a baboon headed lover, and a pseudo James Bond friend, not to mention a psychotic dad going all and about in Khushi's life. Like I stated earlier this was a hard chapter to write, not to mention the fact that I kept developing an in and out writers block hence taking me three months to get it up. I hope the length and quality is worth it though.

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P.S: Eagerly waiting for reviews! I am sorry for not replying to the ones for the previous chapter, I'll get onto it as soon as I can, though I am making finish writing the Special Update at this point my first priority.

Thankyou for being so patient!

Love you all,

Batool. 😳

nav_bat2015-09-12 00:47:26