ArTi FF: Enmeshed in Love (Complete)

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Kankshita

@thegameison

Stunner

+ 4

Posted: 15 years ago

Hello guys! This is me, Kanky! I'm not able to access my old account and therefore, I made a new one and I'm gonna continue writing the FF in this new thread only. 😳 I'm posting all the chapters in here again so that nobody has a problem.

PS: Please let the others know too. I haven't added everybody in my buddy list yet. 😛

-Kanky

Edited by -Kanky- - 15 years ago

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Kankshita

@thegameison

Stunner

+ 4

Posted: 15 years ago

Chapter One

"This is one novel of enduring interest." Said a lad of seventeen to a friend of his, sitting next to him on the staircase near the corridor of the school.

"Yeah, fine. Whatever! Make it fast Arjun! We need to go for the tennis practice." His friend said to him glancing at the clock hanging on the wall.

"OKAY! Let's go!" Arjun replied and they moved to the tennis court in haste.

' * *

The clock struck seven. A beautiful young lady of seventeen came out of the washroom wearing an expression of nervousness on her face, in a school uniform.

"RATI! Come here right now or I'd leave!" somebody shouted from the other room.

"No! I'm coming! Wait for me!" The girl replied and made way out.

"Rati! You know I am always on time to school. I'm sorry, I shouted but you know I lose my temper very easily." The girl sweetly apologized.

"It's fine, Shaila. I know that and that is why I never take what you say to heart. Come, let's go!" she said, hugged her friend and they moved forth.

The distance from the house to their school was very less so they preferred walking. On the way to school, Shaila asked Rati if she was nervous and though, Rati really was nervous, she dint tell her friend about that.
Rati was a girl whose reality was unveiled. She was perhaps the only one who knew what she really was and what she actually felt. The world perceived her to be a cheerful, amiable and confident girl. She was an orphan; she had lived in the orphanage all her life. She had recently shifted to her best friend Shaila's place. She had met when Shaila they were in the first grade.. Shaila's parents were very rich and they loved Rati. They wanted to adopt her too when she was young, but dint because they wished to bring up Shaila as a single child and groom her well.
Rati cleared her tenth grade and it was all the orphanage could do for her, she wished to study more and therefore, Shaila's parents agreed to sponsor her studies. She was really grateful to Shaila and her parents. They were her only family. But one thing that always kept her bothered was that she might actually be causing nuisance to them. However, Shaila and her parents adored her very much.

' * *

"It's time now, Arjun! The assembly is to take place in ten minutes." The same guy told him.

"You go and attend that crappy thing! How I wish I had cotton to put in my ears! I can't hear the same lecture by Mr. Singh, our PRINCIPAL everyday. Bloody stupid." Said he, still playing the game with all his concentration there.

"As you wish! Don't temme I dint warn you! You are not supposed to play here while the assembly is on!" his friend said and ran to the assembly area.

"Whatever!" Arjun said to himself.

' * *

The girls showed up late for school. They missed the assembly, however, as it was Rati's first day at school she was left while Shaila with all others was punished.
Rati held her ears and looked at Shaila, as if apologizing to her. Shaila looked at her from the corner of her eye and smiled. It meant she wasn't angry at Rati, she smiled and left.
She knew not as to where her class was and there was not a single person to be seen in the assembly area. She was now in the corridor, she went near the notice board and started questing for the room no. of class XI-B.
She found it out. She made haste and went to the room and heck, the teacher had already started taking the attendance.

"May I come in, ma'am?" she asked.

"Roll no. 41!" she screamed at the top of her voice, leaving Rati unnoticed.

"Present Ma'am!" she shouted from outside. She was really apprehensive about the whole thing. She thought her new classmates as well as the teacher would think ill of her.

"Huh? Where did this voice come from?" she shouted, again.

"There, Ma'am!" The guy, Arjun said laughing his lungs out.

The teacher turned around only to see the new entrant, roll no. 41 standing near the door. "Oh, I dint notice you! Come on in! And better be on time from tomorrow." She told her and welcomed her inside. "Class, this your new class mate, Rati. Who's gonna help her to do up the portion she missed?" the teacher answered. And nobody raised up their hand but the hunk, the head boy of Sanksriti School, Arjun. Everybody looked at him with an expression of astonishment on their faces. While, he paid no attention and said, "I'd help her Ma'am!"

"Good! Rati, go and sit next to him!" the teacher said.

Rati did as her teacher asked her to and sat next to him. She dint even look at him and straight away, dug her face in the chemistry text book. "Hey! Arjun Khanna!" he whispered. "Rati!" she replied and smiled.
Arjun was quite an ignorant guy and never gave a damn to the teachers however, he loved studying and listened to them carefully except for the times when he felt he could teach better than the teacher himself.
They were both equally engrossed in studying. An hour passed and the bell rang. The teacher left and the class turned into an ultimate fish market. Their chemistry teacher was the strictest and whenever she was around they kept quiet and they moment she left, they used to talk, talk and talk some more. Or rather gossip, which Rati utterly hated.

"I wonder, what do these girls talk about?" she said to herself looking at two girls gossiping since past 15 minutes, what she said was audible to Arjun.

"I think the same, you know!" he told her.

"Oh!" she said, with a confused expression on her face.

"What are you confused about?" he asked.

"Nothing! I don't know myself. You see, I have never been talking guys, before. I was in an all girls school and an orphanage with only girls in there." She told him and smiled.

"You, umm' are an orphan?" he asked.

"Yeah!" she replied and left abruptly.

"HEY!" he said so as to stop her but she left and dint turn back. "I think I hurt her." He said to himself and followed her.

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

Chapter Two -

Rati ran to the girl's washroom, all teary while Arjun followed her. "Hey, stop!" he said but she dint. He couldn't go inside the washroom so he waited for her to come out so that he could apologize. He stood there, waiting for her ' 15 minutes passed. He preferred keeping quiet and waiting some more. Just then, a girl brushed past him. It was Shaila. She noticed him standing outside the girl's washroom. She went up to him and asked what the matter was. Shaila was a commerce student and therefore was in section C however, she knew Arjun considering, he was the head boy of the school.

"Why are you standing outside the girl's washroom, Arjun?" she interrogated.
"Oh hi, Shaila!" he greeted.

"Huh? Don't hi me and tell me what you are doing here. I never knew you waited for your girlfriends outside the washroom?"

"Eh, girlfriends?"

"Yeah, girlfriends. The girls you are around all the time. Be it class x, xi or xii ' "

"Not my girlfriends honey, correction ' my pastime." He joked.

"Whatever! You are waiting for another pastime here?"

"Na na, the new entrant, Rati. I think I hurt her."

Just then, Rati also came out of the washroom. She took almost half an hour and half the period. She had swollen eyes and yet a bewitching smile playing on her face. She was anxious though she dint show that. Without wasting even a second he said, "I'm really very sorry Rati. I have this forthright way of talking which hurts people, I'm sorry. Really." He said and smiled however, he felt bad. He shook his head.

"Arjun, you need be sorry! You did nothing! It's fine. Really, Sorry to have wasted your time." She replied and smiled back.

Shaila was standing right next to Rati and was observing the whole thing. She knew Arjun was a ladies' man, big time. The ultimate Casanova, however, there was still something missing in her knowledge about the stud. He knew his limits very well and respected women but Shaila being a person having dim view about anybody and everybody never noticed that.

"You better stay away from my best friend, head boy. Mind you!" she said and pulled Rati with her.

He stood there, still wondering why Shaila was always so rude to him. She was one girl he regarded as his own sister, he could see his late sister in her but she was just so rude to her all the time. This time, he was hurt. Rati, who turned back and was looking at the guy sensed it and told Shaila she should apologize.

"You don't know him, Rats. I do! He's a big time libertine. Don't let him cross your path ever. He already has many friends, he doesn't need you and don't you turn back again." Shaila commanded.

Rati kept quiet. She wasn't that bad a judge of nature. Arjun was really not of that kind. Instead, he was of the good guy kind. She knew what Shaila was like who had a negative opinion about everybody under the sun. Nevertheless, she talked no more of the subject and went to her class while Shaila went to hers.

Rati was joined by Arjun while climbing down the stairs. "Hitler's gone na?" he asked, or rather mumbled.

"You mean Shaila?" Rati laughed.

"Yeah, Shaila. Why is she always rude to me, I don't understand. Anyway, how do you know her?"

"We are the best of friends since childhood. Then, we were about five years old or something!" She estimated.

"That means you've been suffering since 12 years?" he joked.

They both giggled and had now reached the class. "May we come in, Sir?" they requested to the teacher, together.

"Yes, of course. Please come in. You have all the time in the world, spend as much time as possible in bunking and then if any time left, come to the class." He said ferociously.

"We're really sorry, Sir. I had been crying all this while and he was waiting for me outside the washroom since past 30 minutes. The fault is mine." Rati protested before the teacher could say anything to Arjun.

"New student, eh? First day, you behave like this, bunk the class; hide our always on time Mr. Arjun Khanna's fault. I wonder what are you going to do the whole year." He screamed at the top of his voice.

"You cannot scream like this at her, Sir. It was my fault that she started crying. Punish me." Arjun raised his voice.

"Wonderful! You keep hiding each other's mistake but please don't disturb the class. OUT!" he said and shut the door hard. "Friggin' hell!" Arjun muttered and stood next to Rati, taking the walk's support. "I'm sorry!" he apologized. "It's okay! This is new and I love it!" He wore a confused expression now.

"Arey! See, in my previous school, I was never punished. I have been punished by a teacher for the first time ever and this is new to me. Fun!" she said and winked. "Huh! You quite fast! I thought it would take me a decade to make you feel comfortable talking to me. Forget talking, you winked at me. Impressive!" he said, astonished.

Rati chuckled. "See, it takes me a lot of time to open up usually. But never before had anybody waited for me outside the washroom for half an hour and no hunk, school hottie ever fought with the rigid teacher for me." She said and moved her hand forward, "Friends?" she asked. "Yeah, friends!" Arjun replied and they shook hands.

Rati made a friend at the very first day of school. That too with the school's most popular guy.

During the recess time, Arjun introduced his new found friend to all his friends, a group of 4 boys and 2 girls to be precise and now Rati was in acquaintance with them all. Rest of the day went good as they had two back to back periods of her favourite subject, English.

The first half of the day for the girl went bad, really bad though the second half was awesome. She loved it all. Be it the atmosphere, the mess which had food at least edible ' not like her previous school, the teachers who did not ask her to stand up and introduce her and most of all, loved the new friend she made.

_________

After school, Arjun went back home. His father was a rich man, one of the biggest business tycoons of the nation who died of a car crash along with his 12 year old daughter, Alisha. Shaila resembled Alisha in nature. Rigid yet sweet, always angry, bossy and very kind hearted' and that is why he was always sweet to Shaila even after her being rude to him all the time

After his father passed away, his mother ' Mrs. Komal Khanna looked after the huge empire Arjun's dad left behind. She was one strong woman. She had groomed her son well. She knew about his carefree nature and flirtatious behavior, yet she knew her son was a gem of a person and showered a lot of love on him. Arjun wanted to take over the empire and let his mother have all the time in the world to relax after doing his MBA. He was really ambitious and had his vision clear.

Arjun always studied at night, quite a nocturnal fellow. He was used to it, studying from 11 to 2 and then doze off at the study table itself. However, today was different. He was not able to concentrate and this was weird as he never was unable to do that before. All he could think of the angelic young lady he met with that day at school.

It wasn't like he had never seen a girl as beautiful as she was, just that ' he could see something in her eyes which no other girl had. She was simple and quiet and turned chirpy and vibrant all of a sudden. This suggested to him, that she had a whole world hidden in her. She had something hidden inside her jet black eyes.

Her jet black eyes complemented her long black tresses perfectly. Her face, with all it's glow seemed to him like the moon, shining brightly and lightening up the dark. Her cheeks and nose were pinkish red in color and she looked really cute. Her lips were rosy and petal like in shape. Sweeter than the sweetest fruit, they appeared to him. Craving to suck them.

"WO WO WO! What's wrong with you, dude? Don't forget, she's a friend now and not like your other pastimes. You are not authorized to think like this, get it clear." He said to himself and dug his face in the book.

Edited by -Kanky- - 15 years ago

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Kankshita

@thegameison

Stunner

+ 4

Posted: 15 years ago

Chapter Three-

After going back home from school, Rati and Shaila had tuitions. The only difference was, Shaila had to attend her Math tuition while Rati was giving tuitions to fifth and sixth graders. Rati always kept her busy with things so that she dint have any time to feel blue. Also, in order to fetch money she did all sorts of work. She wanted to be financially independent and earn her living. She knew giving tuitions couldn't help her much and therefore she was questing for another part time job.

Shaila and Rati came back, they had dinner with the family. Shaila's parents and grandfather that is. Shaila went to her room and Rati went to hers. Rati switched the TV on and watched until she was all sleepy. She dint study everyday. She had fixed days of the week and time for the same. She was really organized. Before going to sleep, while watching some random TV stuff, she ended up watching an English TV show; the male protagonist was quite similar to her newest friend, she thought. The second friend she made ever in life after Shaila. She couldn't help but think of Arjun. She had never met such an affable fellow before. She could speak to him without hesitation. Though, sometimes, she gradually lowered her eyes while talking to him. It happened some five times that day, the first day she met him. She switched off the TV' busy thinking of the guy who had completely smitten her, she dozed off.

__________

Early next morning, the huge alarm clock in Arjun's room rang. Loudly as ever, enough to get the guy out of his dreams. "Boy!! This is so loud! It almost scares me." He said to himself, getting out of the bed. He wore his bathroom slippers, still sleepy. Rubbing his eyes he opened his closet and took out his uniform. He opened the door of the washroom attached to his bedroom. His eyes were still half closed; he washed his face with fresh water and opened his eyes. Welcoming the morning, he got the ever so charming smile playing on his lips and said, "Good morning, Arjun Khanna! Time to get ready and go to school."

_____________

The guy reached school on time, as usual at sharp 6 am. He dint have his tennis practice that day so he thought of going to the mess and study there for the library got opened only after 9 am and the reason why he wanted to study was that he couldn't practically study the previous night and so, thought of finishing rest of the portion.

Arjun studied for some 45 minutes and finished the last chapter of his Geography portion. He headed to the counter, with all his concentration in the novel he was reading. He brushed past a girl. "Sorry!" he said and moved forth, not looking at her. "Please gimme a glass of water." He supplicated to the old lady who had been managing the mess ever since the school started. Arjun had been seeing her working there since his kinder garden days. Everybody called her Khala, she was a Muslim. "Here!" she handed over the glass to him.

Khala loved all the students dearly and everybody knew her. They always complained to her about the yucky food cooked and served to the "poor" children who had no option but to eat it and every time she used to reply back by saying, "I can't help it either kids. I'm paid for cooking that yucky food."

Arjun was talking to Khala, like always. She was an aged woman with no kids of her own and she lost her husband long back. Arjun believed that he if she had people talking to her, she might feel a little less lonely. And he himself loved talking to the old and hilarious woman.

Rati had been trying to find Arjun out. She looked for him every where, only the mess was left. And there he was, she went up to him and patted on his shoulder. He turned around to see the girl whose thoughts dint let him concentrate on his studies all night. "Hey Rati! You aren't late today! Good!" he greeted her.

"Morning! I'd been looking for you since past ten minutes. Assembly's at 7:30, right?" she asked.

"Why were you looking for me?" he inquired and winked at her playfully. The woman standing right behind him could see it and was observing them both closely.

"Just like that!" Rati answered and her yet again, her eyes lowered gradually.

"Gosh! No! Arjun' she's a friend. DON'T FORGET!" he thought to himself and immediately apologized and the girl smiled.

"Anyway, this is Khala. The manager of our mess since 20 years, right Khala?"

"Hello Khala! I'm new in school." Greeted Rati, smiling at her.

"Hello, child. You've got a nice name. Your parent's named you Rati, if I'm not wrong." Khala said.

"No! I don't know as who named me. I am on orphan, never happened to see my parents." She said and a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Arey mera, baccha ' I'm so sorry. I dint know that. You have a mother now and that is me. However I am of our grandmother's age." She joked and hugged Rati. Rati had never come across such a humble and loving woman ever.

"Khala' that's really sweet of you! I'm glad to have joined this school. I have a really nice friend and now, a mother. I just love it." She said, wiping her tears off.

__________

Arjun picked up his books and they made way out of the mess. After attending the assembly, they went to the class together. "Freak! Why does this grumpy old man speak out the same rubbish all the time?" Arjun muttered in anger. Rati silently chuckled.

Arjun rolled his eye and looked at her. He noticed she had tied her hair differently the previous day. Today, she was flaunting her highlighted flick of hair. A strand of hair was repeatedly disturbing her right eye. Every time she put it back, due to the blowing air it came back and started irritating her eye. "Wait a minute!" Arjun told her, came in front and adjusted her hair with his hand. This was enough for her to start shuddering all the way. Chills ran down his spine and she closed her eyes. "Problem solved." Arjun said with a huge smile on his face and made way down the stair case, leaving her behind. All she could do was, smile at the guy she had met some 24 hours before and was completely bewitched by.

One after another, four periods got over and it was time for the recess. The head boy, head girl and school prefects were called over by the principle for some work.

Rati joined Shaila in her class where she was busy completing her notes. They had food together and Rati went back to her class. She was all happy that day however; something kept her bothered, still.

The recess got over. Rati was sitting, Arjun came and sat next to her blabbering, "Saala Sanki Buddha" He noticed his seat partner cum friend cum distracter's facial expression. She looked bothered and disturbed. "Is anything troubling you?" he asked.
"Umm, yeah. I need a job." She told him. Shaila too asked her the same but she told her nothing. She wondered as to why she told Arjun what troubled her and not Shaila who was repeatedly asking her the same since morning.

"Job? What for?" he asked, looking puzzled.

"See, I live with Shaila. Her parents are really kind to me and don't mind spending money on my living but I want to earn my living on my own. Shaila's father is one of the board members of the school counsel and basically and I'm going to get a scholarship soon hopefully and then he would not have to pay my fee. All I want is, after getting the scholarship; I have enough money to get myself a rented apartment. So that, I'm no longer a burden to them. I already give tuitions but that doesn't get me much money. I need another part time job, too." She finished and sighed.

Arjun was really impressed. That day, he started respecting her all the more.

"Hmm, lemme think!" he replied.

He ruminated for quite some time. He came up with an excellent idea finally. "Why don't you become the assistant to the librarian? He doesn't have one and is in search for."

"You mean the school librarian?"

"Yes, of course. They don't mind hiring students for work. And you get quite a meaty salary too. 900 bucks a day, I guess."

"Wow! Really? But that's way too much!" she said.

"I know but it's good for you. Isn't it? We'd go to the Library and talk to the librarian about this post dispersal. Is that okay?"

"Cool!"

_________

After school got over, Arjun and Rati were going to the Library. Rati dint notice water was spilt on the floor and she slipped and could have terribly sprained her ankle, but before that Arjun grabbed her wrist and said, "Be careful." His gaze was intense and the concern was moving. She was busy looking into his green eyes, ended up losing her balance and again, fell into his strong arms. "Yaiks, girne ki bimaari hai kya?" Arjun was chuckling and the girl was still in his arms. "Haan, I guess so! Could you please leave me now, it seems like you forgot to!" she joked. "Oops. Sorry." He said, leaving her.

They reached the Library. Arjun introduced her to the Librarian, Mr. Murli. Rati told him why she wanted the job and stuff.

"You are hired, child. You can join me from tomorrow after school. At 2:45 pm sharp." Mr. Murli said and shook hands with her.

"Thank you, Sir." They said together and left.

Shaila had to go to her tuition centre, early that day. She left straight from school. Although, she had informed Rati, she had forgotten that. "Where's Shaila?" questioned Arjun. "She left, I guess." Rati answered.

"Eeh, but I thought you girls go home together!"

"Damn! I completely forgot that she has her tuitions at 3! How forgetful of me!" she said and slightly slapped her forehead.

"Oh, okay! I'd drop you! Come!" he offered.

"No, I'd be fine. Walking distance. Don't bother."

"You sure?"

"Absolutely." She assured.

"Kay then, see ya tomorrow. Bye!"

"Bye!"

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

Chapter Four '

The clock struck three. Rati was still awake, studying economics. She had no plan to go to bed that night. She first completed her notes and then started off with the portion. With her spectacles on, holding the pen in her teeth, she was busy reading the text book when her cell phone rang. "Eeh, what time is it? OMG, three! And who's this moron calling me up at three in the morning?!" she thought to herself and picked up the phone.

"Hey! How's it going?"said the caller, it was a guy.

"Who's this?" Rati asked.

"Arjun!" the guy replied.

"Heck, Arjun? Where did you get my number from?" she inquired.

"You need sleep Rati!"

"What?"

"Yeah, you yourself gave me your contact no. yesterday! Remember?"

"Oops! Sorry! I forgot!"

"Aah, that's fine."

"BTW, I would have never given you my no. if I knew you called people in the middle of the night!" she joked.

"Hehe! That was so not funny sweets!"

"Okay, fine. Sorry! So ' what is it? Tell me?"

"Umm, actually ' see, I won't turn up to school today as I have to go somewhere. But that somewhere is a place you might be interested in visiting so just thought of inviting you to come along!"

"Aah, Arjun' today's the first day of my library job! Remember?"

"Of course, I do. We'd be back by 2:45'don't worry!"

"And I will have to miss school?"

"No! Of course not! You can attend school if you want and I'd go out on a date with your soul."

"Huh?" she asked, all puzzled.

"Sheesh! I mean, hang out."

"Okay! Where are we going, but?"

"To Delhi, you haven't been to Delhi na?"

"Delhi? We live in Chandigarh, lemme remind you! How would we go to Delhi and be back by 2:45?"

"Arey! Shut up! That's my problem. You go, get ready. Make haste, we'd leave in an hour. I'd come to pick you up, Mom's gonna be with us too!"

And he hung up.

"This is one strange fellow!" she thought to herself and made way out of the room. She went upstairs, to Shaila's room. She knew she'd be awake, busy watching the highlights of some stupid football match.

"Shaila, I am going to miss school today!"

"Okay!" Shaila replied, totally engrossed in watching the match, paying no attention to what Rati actually said.

"S!!!" Rati squealed and gave her a jerk.

"Oh! Sorry sorry! What were you saying?" she asked getting up from the bed.

"I'm going to miss school today; I'm going to Delhi with Arjun and his mother."

"Have you bloody gone bonkers?" she shouted. Shaila looked angry and she did not want her to go with him, for obvious reasons. However, Rati firmly stuck to her decision, did not pay heed to what she blabbered out in anger. She knew Shaila had problems with Arjun and misunderstood him but to her, he was a very nice fellow and she believed she was right even though, it had been merely three days since she knew him.

"Look, S! I have to go. I umm' I like this fellow. He's someone after you; I think I can be great friends with!"

"Be friends with whom? Arjun Khanna? You've lost it, Rats. I know him since sixth grade. He's not worth being your friend, trust me. Otherwise, get ready to get your trust broken by him. I'm sure he'd do that some day or the other." Shaila finished and left the room, hitting the door hard.

__________

On the other hand, Arjun was anticipated. He got ready and wore his favorite pair of jeans and a light yellow T-Shirt. He rushed to his mother's room where she was sitting in front of the dressing table, combing her hair.

"Mom, make it fast! It's already 3:30 and we are getting LATE." He shouted.

"Son, another ten minutes won't make a difference. Go, get into the car, I'd be there."

"Okay!" He said and left.

Arjun's mother, Mrs. Komal Khanna single handedly, looked after his father's empire. She had a very important meeting in Delhi and asked her son if he and his friends wanted to come along. He did not invite anyone but Rati, he wanted to invite Shaila too but thought she won't come and end up hurting him again so he chucked the idea.

Arjun did not know as to why he was so excited. It was just a friend he was going out with, after all. "How can a three days old acquaintance get you crazy!" he thought to himself, sighing. It had been two days that he couldn't study properly and that was probably the first time he experienced such a thing. Where nothing he had, belonged to him anymore. No peace of mind, no concentration and most of all, no sanity. The guy had gone bonkers and it was getting difficult with each and every second for him to control the craziness.

Finally, Arjun's mother came and they made way to Shaila's residence, some 5-6 km away from their place. When they reached her house, they saw Rati standing outside with a li'l bag in her hand, dressed in a beautiful red one shouldered kurti and a pair of black jeans. This was the first time Arjun saw her beautiful tresses left open, all wet. She looked mesmerizing.

"Son! Go, call her!" his mom said, busy with her laptop breaking his chain of thoughts.

"Yeah, Maa!" he replied and got out of the car.

"Hey, Rati!" he greeted her.

"Hey!"

"You look beautiful today!

"Thanks! Let's go!"

"Umm, kay. Come."

They got into the car and Arjun introduced her to his mom. "Maa, this is Rati, my classmate. And Rati, this is my mom."

"Hello beta! Nice meeting you!"

"Same here, Auntie."

"So, how do you like this city? You earlier lived in an orphanage at Manali, right?"

"Yes! I love the city Auntie."

"Is it?"

"Yeah!"

All through the way, the trio had chats on such random topics and dint notice the time. However, Arjun kept noticing every single action of hers. The way she talked, how beautiful her smile was and how mesmerizing her eyes were.

By 6 am, they were at Delhi.

"Here we are!" Arjun said happily, stretching his arms.

"I've never been to Delhi before!" said Rati.

"I know beta, Arjun told me each and everything about you last night!" she said teasingly.

"Maa!" Arjun said, all annoyed.

"Fine! I shall take your leave now, kiddos. I have a meeting at 8:30 and out office is quite far away from here. You guys have the car and the driver, everything's in there. I baked some cookies last night; they are in the car too. Have them. And Arjun, call me up before leaving, okay?"

"Yes, mom!" Arjun said and hugged his mom.

She said bye to both of them and made way to the other car.

"Arjun! I really like your Mom. She's such an all rounder. How does she manage to do everything so perfectly?"

"Huh?"

"Like see, she's looking after such a massive business; she has her son and mother in law to look after too. And such a busy woman has time to bake cookies for her son and his friends. Amazing!"

"Aakhir Mumma kiski hain?"

"Whatever!"

_________________________

They had breakfast at the hotel Arjun's mother checked in before leaving and then head to India Gate. After spending about half an hour there, they made way to the various museums nearby. Since, Arjun had visited them all a million times, he was utterly bored however, the expressions on his classmate while looking at those things kept him going. He admired her angelic and childish nature a lot. She was one mature and independent girl, that he knew but there was a normal and ordinary girl in her, who loved doing silly stupid things, get over excited, jump, scream and enjoy. He believed her to be complete in herself, she had it all. Flawless!

And the last spot was a Mall in South Extension, Delhi. Here again, the guy noticed that she like, any ordinary girl loved shopping. Like any other girl, she also got crazy on seeing some extra cute and expensive dress.

"Arjun! See, I have some five thousand rupees with me right now and if we go on like this'I'd spend them all. So, better we leave." She said and the guy broke into laughter.

"Why are you laughing, dude?" she questioned.

"Ignore!"

"Shut up!" she said, all angry now!

"Okay, fine. I want to go the Archie's Gallery. You go, get your banana ice cream. The ice cream parlour is right there."

She smiled and made way to the ice cream parlour. She wondered as to how he remembered her favour ice cream flavour.

The guy came holding a packet only to see Rati eating the ice cream like a six year old baby! She licked it and licked it some more, with her eyes shut ' enjoying it. "yummmmmm!" she said in between and all Arjun could to was stare as the angel standing next to him. He noticed she had some ice cream on her nose and a Lil near her lower lip.

"Enough! Rati ' clean you lip and nose! Ice cream ki baad aayi hui hai wahan!" he told her taking away the ice cream from her. She had had three already and this was the fourth one.

"Huh?"

"Uff!" he sighed and cleaned her nose and lip with a napkin.

"Eeh, I dint notice!" she said, all embarrassed.

"I know!"

_____________

Arjun called up his mom and informed her that they were leaving. It was 12:45 then.

"Hey, we still have two hours! Aaraam se pahunch jayenge!" Arjun said as they got inside the car.

"Yeah!"

They were both exhausted. Rati a lot more, considering she hadn't slept all night. She dozed of and placed her head on Arjun's shoulder. Arjun rolled his eye and noticed she was fast asleep. She looked beautiful all the time but while she was asleep ' he believed, there was no adjective in any language that could describe how angelic she looked.

"Tuitions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and the Library job on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays." Rati recollected, putting some note on the school notice board.

"Sundays?" asked Shaila, out of monotony.

"Sunday's gonna be a fun day, huh?" joked Arjun.

"Did anyone ask you?" Shaila grumpily said.

"Did anyone talk to you?" Arjun replied and leaving her unnoticed, turned to his friend Saksham and started discussing the previous night's football match.

Rati chuckled.

"Why are you laughing?" Shaila groaned.

"There are people who can shut you up." She said, chuckled a bit more and vanished into thin air.

"Err'" Shaila said to herself and made way to the class room.

Arjun and Saksham made way to the mess, as it was recess time. They couldn't find Khala in there.

"Khala dint turn up today?" asked Arjun to the counter guy.

"Yes, she hadn't come yesterday also." He replied and went into the kitchen.

"That's strange." Arjun said.

"Umm' yes. We'd visit her if she doesn't turn up by tomorrow. What say?" Saksham offered an all concerned Arjun.

"Yeah, buddy! Sure. Come, let's go! I'm in no mood to eat this crap." He joked and they made way to the ground.

_______________________

It was Friday, the Library job day that is. And Mr. Murli hadn't turned up. He had already assigned Rati her work and now it was time for her to do it.

She threw herself on the chair, rested there for some time. She was mighty tired and then, finally, started off with the work. She was supposed to write down the codes of all the fiction novels they had in book shelf no. 3.

"Gosh, that's huge. I have some 250 books and 250, obviously' codes to jot down." She mourned.

"Can I help you?" asked Arjun entering the Library.

"Oh, hi!" she greeted him.

"Shush! It's a Library!" he whispered and took out some books from the shelf and started jotting down their codes.

"Thanks!" Rati whispered.

"That's more like it! Anyway, you're welcome." He said and broadly smiled.

They were done with the work by 4:30. Rati locked the Library as all the students had left by 4 and handed over the keys to the peon.

"So? It exhausts you, big time? Arjun asked as the climbed down the staircase.

"Yes, pretty much. But I HAVE TO work so I don't have a choice." She said and smiled.

The guy smiled back and said, "Isn't it dampening your study?" he asked and the girl nodded gesturing a no, after a pause, he continued, "Ah, that's great. But, let me tell you, you must concentrate on your studies or working this hard won't benefit you."

"Yes, I realize that." She said, heartily accepting his advice.

They made way out of the campus. They had a fifteen minute long chat all through which the guy had been staring into her eyes.

"Okay then, bye!" Arjun said'

"Hey wait!" Rati shouted from the back so as to stop him from going.

"Yeah?" he turned around and asked.

"Coffee?" she offered.

"Sure, come. Let's go!" He accepted the offer and they made way to a caf, nearby.

________________________

"So?" Arjun asked, sipping his coffee.

"So?"

"Uh, I mean' so? You'd break the silence or shall I?" he joked.

"Okay! Let me do that, for a change! Hmm, so' what's with you and Shaila? Why do you guys keep fighting all the time?" she asked.

"Umm, well' see, I don't like fighting with her in the very first place. It's always her who provokes me to fight back."

"I know, I can see that but what is the actual reason behind this, that's what I meant to ask."

"Aah, I don't know. I'm the kind of stud' Casanova kind, maybe this is why she thinks ill of me. She is indeed one head strong young lady, she's quite prejudicing too. She once makes up her mind about some person; she never ever does change her opinion about that very poor thing." He sighed and continued, "No matter how wrongly or rightly she puts it."

"Umm, I agree. I understand what you say but trust me, she'd soon find out you are a gem of a person." Said she, squeezing his hand.

"Why are you comforting me?" he questioned, taken aback by her gesture.

"Because I realize you miss your late sister and find some part of her in my best friend." She said and smiled.

The guy felt gloomy however, he smiled back.

"Okay now, cheer up! Teri cold coffee hot aur meri hot coffee cold hone wali hai. Quick." She joked.

The guy slightly laughed.

___________________________

Arjun dropped Rati home and made way to his place. He decided to go to bed early as he still felt equally gloomy and found it better to sleep and start afresh the next day.

"It's been a month now that I know this girl, and I sure was crushing on her. But I guess, I realize I look up to her as a friend who understands me extremely well and I cannot let go off a friend like her due to mere attraction. In the name of "just friendship", I had been ignoring my feelings since a month. Face it dude, you like her but what you would like more is her friendship and will eventually start forgetting the whole crush thingy. BTW, she happens to be my first crush. Huh, yeah. Really. Umm, well, YES! Funny. Whoa' don't you deviate' here I come to the point, no more staring in the eye, no more getting mesmerized. Get back to your real self and explore the feeling of true friendship." He thought to himself, smiled a bit and went to bed.

Edited by -Kanky- - 15 years ago

Quote

Kankshita

@thegameison

Stunner

+ 4

Posted: 15 years ago

Chapter Five -

"Tuitions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and the Library job on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays." Rati recollected, putting some note on the school notice board.

"Sundays?" asked Shaila, out of monotony.

"Sunday's gonna be a fun day, huh?" joked Arjun.

"Did anyone ask you?" Shaila grumpily said.

"Did anyone talk to you?" Arjun replied and leaving her unnoticed, turned to his friend Saksham and started discussing the previous night's football match.

Rati chuckled.

"Why are you laughing?" Shaila groaned.

"There are people who can shut you up." She said, chuckled a bit more and vanished into thin air.

"Err'" Shaila said to herself and made way to the class room.

Arjun and Saksham made way to the mess, as it was recess time. They couldn't find Khala in there.

"Khala dint turn up today?" asked Arjun to the counter guy.

"Yes, she hadn't come yesterday also." He replied and went into the kitchen.

"That's strange." Arjun said.

"Umm' yes. We'd visit her if she doesn't turn up by tomorrow. What say?" Saksham offered an all concerned Arjun.

"Yeah, buddy! Sure. Come, let's go! I'm in no mood to eat this crap." He joked and they made way to the ground.

_______________________

It was Friday, the Library job day that is. And Mr. Murli hadn't turned up. He had already assigned Rati her work and now it was time for her to do it.

She threw herself on the chair, rested there for some time. She was mighty tired and then, finally, started off with the work. She was supposed to write down the codes of all the fiction novels they had in book shelf no. 3.

"Gosh, that's huge. I have some 250 books and 250, obviously' codes to jot down." She mourned.

"Can I help you?" asked Arjun entering the Library.

"Oh, hi!" she greeted him.

"Shush! It's a Library!" he whispered and took out some books from the shelf and started jotting down their codes.

"Thanks!" Rati whispered.

"That's more like it! Anyway, you're welcome." He said and broadly smiled.

They were done with the work by 4:30. Rati locked the Library as all the students had left by 4 and handed over the keys to the peon.

"So? It exhausts you, big time? Arjun asked as the climbed down the staircase.

"Yes, pretty much. But I HAVE TO work so I don't have a choice." She said and smiled.

The guy smiled back and said, "Isn't it dampening your study?" he asked and the girl nodded gesturing a no, after a pause, he continued, "Ah, that's great. But, let me tell you, you must concentrate on your studies or working this hard won't benefit you."

"Yes, I realize that." She said, heartily accepting his advice.

They made way out of the campus. They had a fifteen minute long chat all through which the guy had been staring into her eyes.

"Okay then, bye!" Arjun said'

"Hey wait!" Rati shouted from the back so as to stop him from going.

"Yeah?" he turned around and asked.

"Coffee?" she offered.

"Sure, come. Let's go!" He accepted the offer and they made way to a caf, nearby.

________________________

"So?" Arjun asked, sipping his coffee.

"So?"

"Uh, I mean' so? You'd break the silence or shall I?" he joked.

"Okay! Let me do that, for a change! Hmm, so' what's with you and Shaila? Why do you guys keep fighting all the time?" she asked.

"Umm, well' see, I don't like fighting with her in the very first place. It's always her who provokes me to fight back."

"I know, I can see that but what is the actual reason behind this, that's what I meant to ask."

"Aah, I don't know. I'm the kind of stud' Casanova kind, maybe this is why she thinks ill of me. She is indeed one head strong young lady, she's quite prejudicing too. She once makes up her mind about some person; she never ever does change her opinion about that very poor thing." He sighed and continued, "No matter how wrongly or rightly she puts it."

"Umm, I agree. I understand what you say but trust me, she'd soon find out you are a gem of a person." Said she, squeezing his hand.

"Why are you comforting me?" he questioned, taken aback by her gesture.

"Because I realize you miss your late sister and find some part of her in my best friend." She said and smiled.

The guy felt gloomy however, he smiled back.

"Okay now, cheer up! Teri cold coffee hot aur meri hot coffee cold hone wali hai. Quick." She joked.

The guy slightly laughed.

___________________________

Arjun dropped Rati home and made way to his place. He decided to go to bed early as he still felt equally gloomy and found it better to sleep and start afresh the next day.

"It's been a month now that I know this girl, and I sure was crushing on her. But I guess, I realize I look up to her as a friend who understands me extremely well and I cannot let go off a friend like her due to mere attraction. In the name of "just friendship", I had been ignoring my feelings since a month. Face it dude, you like her but what you would like more is her friendship and will eventually start forgetting the whole crush thingy. BTW, she happens to be my first crush. Huh, yeah. Really. Umm, well, YES! Funny. Whoa' don't you deviate' here I come to the point, no more staring in the eye, no more getting mesmerized. Get back to your real self and explore the feeling of true friendship." He thought to himself, smiled a bit and went to bed.

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

Chapter Six '

Another bright sunny morning, as Arjun entered the class room' he saw an all gloomy Rati sitting, with her head reposed on the desk.

"Hey, morning!" he greeted her.

"Oh! Hi!" They shook hands, Rati tried her level best to sound cheerful, but all in vain.

Arjun kept his bag in the cage and sat next to her. "What is it, Rati?" he asked her, patting her shoulder.

"Nothing re, don't bother!" she said and passed him on her ever so cute smile.

"I know you since precisely three months now and for me, that's quite a long time period in order to know of a person perfectly!" he said, paused for a moment, looking at her and repeated in order to alarm her, "PREFECTLY!"

"Okay! See, I've got two problems." She finally said.

"Go on, I'm listening." He replied and showed her his extra charming dimples.

"Don't distract me, Arjun!" she said in an impulse after seeing him smile. She loved his smile. She wished she could pull his cheeks; he was the "cutest thing" she had ever come across.

"Huh?"

"IGNORE!" she joked. The word "ignore" by then, had become their favorite word along with one or two all time one liners.

"Kay!"

"Hmmm, so' problem one is that well, umm' I'm so not able to find an apartment for myself. A reasonable one, I mean. And problem two which is way more serious is that' SHAILA'S IN A RELATIONSHIP!" she finally said it all only to hear to the "Raavan-like laughter" of the fellow.

"I wasn't bloody joking Khanna jhi, this really is serious." She said angrily.

She called him "Khanna jhi" whenever she felt terribly angry at him, like this for instance.

He chuckled some more and at last managed, to speak'" Look, the apartment thingy' you don't have to worry about that. I'd help you! And I'd help you means, I'd find one ASAP. And Shaila relationship thingy'uh'oh' that's news to me!" he finished and broke into laughter yet again.

"ARJUN! DON'T YOU DARE LAUGH NOW!" she squealed and got up from the seat, she was to leave but the moment she turned around, Arjun caught hold of her hand.

"I don't understand, Rati. Why is it bothering you so much? The guy she's in love with has to be bothered now; he's in love with SHAILA, man! How I wish I could save the guy from falling so "terribly" in love." He noticed her all teary eyes and immediately paused' he turned her around and wiped off her tears, smiling at her, he continued, "Okay! No more jokes cracking now! Stop crying and tell me, what exactly is the problem in this?"

"Arjun' look, Shaila's hard outside and tender inside and trust me, this guy would leave her shattered. Shattered in true sense! He, well' is faking to be in love with her. I'm afraid she might end up'" she could say no more and her eyes were flooded with tears.

Arjun took her out, holding her hand tight. She wiped off her tears as there were so many people in the corridor. They reached an all isolated place. Not many people knew there was such a place in the campus, right behind the staircase was a small room.

"Hmm, okay! We can talk now. Nobody's here and nobody would find us here so we can miss the assembly and reach the class before Khadusodeen comes." He said and smiled. The entire XI batch called the head Physics teacher so.

"Hmm!!" she mumbled.

"I haven't brought you to my secret place to listen to your hmmms! Let me know the whole thing, in detail. Because, I feel as much protective and concerned about Shaila as you do."

"I know!" she said and wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his chest. He reciprocated and felt his shirt wet. He pulled her apart, gave her his handkerchief and asked her to wipe off her tears.

Rati at last managed to tell Arjun how intelligently the guy was bluffing Shaila. How big a faker he was! He just pretended to be in love with her and nothing more. The guy's name was Rahul, a third year student who lived near to Shaila's place.

"Look, Rats. I can keep consoling you and you can keep crying but the point is, amidst all this ' we kind of forget the real turmoil. We really need to get Shaila out of this love thing because this would lead her nowhere. It will only bring pain in her life which none of us wants at any cost. So, better' get going! You have your tuitions at 3' so, umm' We'd meet at 5:30, at the caf near your place." He said, caressing her hand.

"Okay!" she said and smiled.

"I had been waiting for this since thirty two minutes to be precise." He said and winked at her.

"What?"

"Your SMILE, silly!! You don't even let me flirt properly with you!" he said, all irritated and the girl chuckled.

______________________

After school, Rati went back home and Arjun stayed back for his tennis practice. At 5:30, they met at the caf.

Rati had worn a purple half sleeved Kurti and a white long skirt, with her hair braided in the French style. Arjun stared at her, kept on staring and stared some more irrespective of the fact that; she was standing next to him, feeling awkward.

"Arjun'" Rati broke his chain of thoughts.

"Uh' I'm sorry! Come, let's sit."

They discussed the whole thing over two cups of coffee. Rati decided to talk to Shaila just when her cell phone rang. It was Shaila and she had called her so as to inform her that she is going to the Bowling Alley with her guy, Rahul.

"You told me the guy actually is an alcoholic, right?" Arjun inquired, after Rati hung up.

"Yes." She replied.

"Then, I guess' we must go there too and keep an eye on him."

They sat in Arjun's car and the driver drove them to the Bowling Alley. They entered the place and were stunned post what their eyes met with. Arjun's speculation was right. It was 9 pm; both the girls were generally never out at that time. The guy, Rahul had already created a scene in there.

"What the hell is the security doing?" shouted Arjun and went up to Shaila who was beaten up in front of fifty people by her drunken boyfriend. Her lip was bleeding.

Arjun took her in embrace. She was sobbing, not able to utter a single word. Rati approached them, they broke apart and Arjun immediately asked her to take Shaila out and get seated in the car.

The matter got solved, the Rahul guy was thrown out of the alley and the staff apologized to the girl.

Shaila couldn't believe something so drastic and harsh happened to her. This was the first time ever that she truly felt something for somebody and now she got to know it was all, fake! It hurt her like spears.

____________________________

Thankfully, Shaila's grand dad and parents had gone out in order to attend a wedding and the three were alone at home. Rati dressed up her wounds after she took a bath while Arjun went to the kitchen to prepare some coffee.

Rati made Shaila comfortably lie on the bed and put the blanket on her. She made way to the kitchen only to see the milk boiling big time. It had almost come out of the vessel'

"EEEH! Arjun!" she shouted and lessened the gas flame.

Arjun dint really hear to what she said as he was engrossed in finding out the coffee jar.

"Arjun?"

"I'm trying to find out the coffee jar."

Rati chuckled and said, "Dude, you are holding it right now. It's in your hand."

"Oops!" he said, scratching his head.

"The cute thing" made Rati awe at him again.

__________________________

They prepared the coffee, poured it into three mugs and placed them on a tray. They went to Shaila's room where she was lying in bed, crying badly. Arjun handed over the tray to Rati and immediately went up to her.

She got up and looked away, she dint like Arjun after all.

"Look, you can hate me as much as you want but as of now, my sister needs me and I can sense that. So, for the time being, keep your hatred aside." He said with tears in his deep brown eyes.

"Sister?" she questioned.

"Yeah, I have always considered you as my own sister and that is why I feel so protective for you. Be it the day you fell from the staircase in eighth grade, you failed your Hindi exam in tenth grade or even today, I was the first person to approach you. I can't see you like this. I see my late sister in you!" he finished and got up from the bed.

Shaila had tears rolling down her cheeks, her eyes had swollen. She whispered. "Arjun'" and opened her arms wide, gesturing him to hug her, with tears in her eyes and a faint smile on her lips.

Arjun hugged her tight. Rati who had been witnessing all this from a distance felt like the world's happiest person. The union of her best friends brought tears of happiness to her eyes.

_____________________________________

A week post the happening, Shaila joined school back. To trust an older guy, she dint even know properly was sure a mistake. She was battling heartbreak but to have got her best friend and a brother beside her, lessened her pain.

______________________________________

Arjun found out an apartment for Rati, near to Shaila's place. Rati had discussed this a long time before with Shaila's parents and they were proud of Rati's decision.

It was the shifting day for Rati. Everything was settled and she was really happy. Rati, Shaila and Arjun made way to the place after school that evening.

"What a beautiful house!" Shaila said.

"HELLO ' somebody give me the credit. I got this place!" Arjun jokily said.

"Ha ha! How did you get this, BTW?" questioned Shaila and put her arm around his shoulders.

"Contacts!"

The girl chuckled'

"Theek hai, Contacts ke devta.. chalo ab. Help me out!" said Rati and the trio made way to the bedroom.

__________

Edited by -Kanky- - 15 years ago

Quote

Kankshita

@thegameison

Stunner

+ 4

Posted: 15 years ago

INDEX -

Chapter One - Page One
Chapter Two - Page One
Chapter Three - Page One
Chapter Four - Page One
Chapter Five - Page One
Chapter Six - Page One
Chapter Seven - Page Five
Chapter Eight - Page Eleven
Chapter Nine - Page Sixteen
Chapter Ten - Page Twenty One
Chapter Eleven - Page Twenty Six
Chapter Twelve - Page Thirty Two
Chapter Thirteen - Page Thirty Eight
Chapter Fourteen - Page Forty Two

Edited by -Kanky- - 15 years ago

Quote

Pooja

@kweetrockstar

Rocker

+ 4

Posted: 15 years ago

hey Kanky
am glad u r back with a new thread
waiting for a new update
plz do update soon

love
pooja

Quote

zarfishanzahid

@zarfishanzahid

Rocker

Posted: 15 years ago

hi kanky thx for starting the new thread waiting for ur next update loved the previous ones

Quote

sonal

@Mystique

Dazzler

+ 3

Posted: 15 years ago

This is you Kanky????😲😲........LMAO....i couldn't guess it when u send the friend req😆
Anyway.......good going and UPDATE soon! :)

Edit----------

whats with vanilla muffin???😕😆

Edited by Mystique - 15 years ago