Heart wrenching adoration Part-36

The mildness of April soon dissolved into blustery April and as the month slowly inched towards its end, in a mad jumble of Accountancy, Economics, English, Business Studies and I.P., I found myself getting increasingly restless, despite my tight schedule and crazy race between school and coaching.

And strangely enough, the reason for my anxiety was the approaching Summer Vacation, which had everyone in the school all perked up, except me and the cause was indisputably khushi.

How will I stay away from her for one and a half month?!

Over the past month, khushi and mine relationship evolved a lot. We became best of friends, literally becoming the famous sidekicks of the school. She has become my addiction...my obsession. I found every minute that I didn’t spend with her as waste. So, naturally I was the most disturbed on the prospect of living away from her for such a long time. I looked forward to the Summer Vacations with obvious gloom.

I had absolutely no idea how very terrible and drastic this Vacation was going to be!

Just four days prior to the Vacations, as we sat in the cafeteria for breakfast one warm Sunday morning, we got the foreboding of the oncoming storm.

The big plasma T.V. on the wall of cafeteria was tuned on to a news channel NDTV, where an immaculately dressed news reader was reading news with crisp astuteness.

“ The well-known Mafia in the world of smuggling Arms and Ammunition, Zachary Pilaster was granted bail in the famous Greenboroue Arms and Ammunition smuggling scandal and cold- blooded murder of the M.D. of the Company and his wife , by a session court in the U.S.A. Zachary Pilaster was detained after the daughter of the victim, who was also an eye-witness claimed of his involvement in the infamous scandal and murder of her parents. However, Merlyn Miranda, who was convicted for the murder of the M.D. and his wife was detained by the police. The chief Investigation officer My.Carl Baron said that.....” 

“Khushi!” I called, alarmed by the expression on her pale face. She was absolutely white, her lips cold and her hands balled up into fists, tendons rising, yet it wasn’t what shook me so deeply. It was the look of pure, naked fear and mind-numbing loathing on her face that disturbed me.

“Khushi, not here! Let’s go!” Payal whispered, her eyes wide with fright. Until now, I hadn’t noticed Payal, but khushi’s expressions was mirrored on her face and she was shivering.

“Payal what...” Akash began, but Payal had already taken khushi’s hand and had stated walking towards the door of the cafeteria.

Immediately we all were on our feet and followed their suit. I looked and at Akash, Anvesh and Aman, and they looked just as mystified as me.

Payal simply dragged khushi with her, not uttering a word. I followed them, unable to make out the head and tail of the whole thing. 

Just as I decided to ask them directly what was going on, before I went mad, I heard khushi speak.

“Di, he’ll kill me! He’ll kill all of us di! I can’t risk your life for me. Already you, Masaji(Uncle) and Masiji(Aunty)have done so much for me. I can’t live with myself if something happened to you guys. I’ll leave...I’ll” Khushi began hysterically and Payal shushed her comfortingly.

I glanced wide eyed at Akash, Aman and Anvesh and like me they too had not missed the word ‘kill’. 

“Khushi what’s going on in here? Who’ll kill you?”I asked sharply.

“Arnav I’ll appreciate if you guys will leave us alone. There’s something me and khushi need to sort out here and...”Payal began furiously, but I cut her off equally incensed.

“To hell with your privacy Payal! Do you think we are imbeciles as to not to understand something big is going on in here? Do you know you and khushi are looking simply freaked out? How can you expect us to simply leave you alone? You have got to tell us!”I snapped. I knew Payal was always a bit pigheaded, but I didn’t know she was capable of acting so stupid!

“Please don’t fight!”Khushi moaned, tears trickling down her cheeks as she swayed lightly on her feet, looking as if she’ll collapse any moment.

“Khushi!” I said, alarmed and rushed forward to catch her in a one-sided hug, supporting her weight.

“Are you...are you ok? Do you need water, doctor...anything? Just tell me.”I asked wildly , panicking.

“Arnav, I’m just fine! Just get me to sit somewhere!”Khushi gasped, her face pale.

“Of course!” I acceded towing her gently along with me. I took her once again to the place where I had told her about my ghastly past.

I made her sit on the merry-go-round, under the cool shades of a huge birch tree, chafing her cold, clammy hands gently.

“Shh khushi don’t cry! Tell me, what’s wrong?”I asked her softly, kneeling before her and rubbing her tears away.

“Yes, Payal tell us! What was khushi talking about someone killing her and harming you family? Is it true?” Akash asked, his face pale.

“Akash I really don’t think you should know. I mean I don’t know what to tell you!” Payal wailed and I’ve never heard her sound so desperate.

“Well try us!” Anvesh urged, looking very grim, which was a first!

Payal and khushi glanced at each other uncertainly and I could tell they were still torn between whether to tell us or not, but after a lot of reasoning and persuasion, they agreed to spill the beans.

 “You saw that news about the Mafia who was recently released on bail by a court in the U.S.A. in that Arms smuggling scandal.”Payal began resignedly.

“Yes?”I probed,

“When he was arrested he had, threatened the girl who got him convicted-the daughter of the dead M.D. of the company-that he’ll kill her as soon as he came out...to make a clean job!”Payal whispered, her face pale. Beside me khushi shifted in my embrace.

 I had a foreboding of something momentous and drastic. I automatically tightened my grip on khushi, almost knowing the inevitable before Payal told me. It could not have been more obvious!

“So what has got it to do with you guys?” Akash asked befuddled.

“The girl who got him convicted, is nobody but me!” Khushi said in a small voice, her entire frame shivering as she proclaimed of her death sentence.

Heart wrenching adoration Part-35

“Arnav come on dude! Don’t be such a spoil sport!” Anvesh yelled as I refused umpteenth number of time. 

We were in the crowded dining room of the girls’s hostel. Though, usually girls and boys dined separately in their respective hostels, yet today out hostel wardens had decided to cut us a lose slack and let us party together to celebrate our victory.

Although, out of politeness and social decency than anything else we had invited the team of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Haryana , but they didn’t turn up, possibly crying buckets on their defeat as Anvesh pointed much to general agreement. It seemed that the guests hadn’t gone down well with the entire school!

The huge room was bustling with activity. Famous numbers, like ‘Party all night’, ‘Blue eyes’ and ‘Lungi dance’ was bursting intermittently from the Music Systems that Anvesh and Akash had set up after much pleading and persuasion with our hostel wardens.

The long tables of dining area were practically creaking under the mounts of food-burgers, pizzas, pastas, paneer tikka, chole bhature, naan, kashmiri biryani, cakes, pastries, ice-creams, tarts, brownies, and most important and pride of place- golgappe! This bizarre mix of Indian and continental was attacked with ferocious speed by laughing and cheering students.

Everyone was lolling around, playing games or gossiping around and enjoying a bit of relaxation from the usual tedium to the fullest when Anvesh came up with the idea of ‘Golgappe race’ between girls and boys and suggested-wriggling his eyebrows wickedly –that I and khushi should compete with each other in the nonsensical game.

“Come on Arnav! You just have to eat golgappe and preventing yourself from letting khushi win!” Aman pleaded, winking at me.

“I don’t want to take part in it and I won’t have you badgering me about it, that’s it!” I snapped angrily, although he had hit the bull’s eye. Of course I couldn’t compete khushi, see her get all disappointed if I won!

“Leave it Aman! Anyways, what’s the point in letting him participate? He’ll let khushi win!” Anvesh quipped, catching my pink cheeks.

“Ok then,I compete with her. You guys don’t know but I’m champion of eating golgappes!I’ve participated so many times in such kind of competition and have always won! I’ll defeat her in seconds! ”Akash jumped up and  said loudly so that girls could hear his proclamation clearly and then marched over to the table kept in the centre of the room, between girls’ and boys’ team. 

The girls on the other side giggled shrilly and some of them leaned over to whisper something to khushi, who nodded in agreement shaking with laughter.

“Ok now, khushi come over here!...Now, we’ll begin the game. You guys have 5 minuted during which you have to eat as much glogappe as you can! Manju ma’am and Rajat sir will note down the number of golgappe you ate and at the end, the one who would’ve managed to eat more, will naturally win!”Anvesh announced and everybody cheered at hooted.

The game began and I stood staring amusedly at khushi as she gobbled golgappe after golgappe, smacking her lips. She looked so over-joyed, so ecstatic and so child-like that I felt all the more drawn to her as if that were even possible! But then again, I may never get used to khushi and her sweet presence ever! I’ll never have enough of her!

Akash too was trying to match her pace, but he was not successful! I should’ve known better than to think that a guy can ever even think of defeating a girl in a ‘Golgappe eating competition’!

“Akash! Akash! Akash!”

“Khushi, come on you can do it!”

“Akash don’t let us get defeated mate!”

“Khushi, come on khushi!”

“Come on!”

“Buck up guys!”

The crowd nearly went wild cheering and encouraging the two competitors who were busy attacking the poor golgappe while Manju ma’am and Rajat sir noted the number of golgappes they ate, furiously!

“Last 10 seconds guys! 10!9!8!7!6!5!4!3!2!1! Aaaaand...STOP!”Anvesh yelled, wielding the stop watch and khushi and Akash stopped eating.

 Khushi looked immensely jazzed, but Akash looked very red in face. Tears were coming from his eyes.

“Akash its Ok mate!Its just a game! You don’t have to cry like this!”Aman feigning bafflement, and I rolled my eyes. It really seemed that Anvesh’s bug had bitten Aman to!

“Shut up Aman! Of course...I..I’m not crying! The golgappe were so spicy!” He gaped and everyone laughed.

“Water!”Akash panted.

“What happened Akash?I though I heard you saying that you are Champion of eating golgappes, haan? Then now come you are looking like a red-faced monkey?” Someone from the girls’ side asked sarcastically and they all giggled, seeing him guzzle water crazily.

“Cat caught your tongue, did it?” Payal commented, grinning evilly. She and khushi hi-fived.

“Enough! So, its time to the result and the winner is....Khushi! She ate 25 golgappes while Akash could manage only 16!”Manju ma’am announced and for the first time I saw her actually smile!

“Yayyyyyy!” The girls squealed, grinning hugely and jumping up and down while khushi looked simply delighted.

“They are acting as if they’ve won the World Cup!”Aman murmured, irritably so that only we, boys could hear and then called out loudly for the girls.

“Oh hello! If you all are done with jumping around, then let me remind you that the competition is still on! We haven’t lost yet and we’re not going to!” Aman said, much to smattering of applause from boys’s side and boos from girls.

The fun and joy-filled evening continued till late in the night and as Anvesh and several others clicked photographs of our fun-filled eve and shared it on facebook, What’s app, and their respective social networking site on which they were active, I had no idea that the countdown to the disaster had started...the one which will probably snatch my khushi away from me forever!

Heart wrenching adopration Part-34

“All the best Arnav! I know you’ll win!”Khushi squealed, practically flattening me to the ground as she caught up with me  in front of the changing room. I grinned at her rather pleased.

“Thanks khush!”I said fervently. 

“You are still apprehensive, aren’t you?” Khushi asked and I swallowed. As much as I could try to feign nonchalance in front of everyone, I couldn’t get away with my pretences with khushi.

“ Arnav, you are so silly! You are just so perfect! In fact, even though I don’t know a bit about cricket, even I can tell that you’re the best, then what’s the need of fretting over so much?Just show that Singha his actual place and then we’ll party tonight!” Khushi enthused, bobbing up and down on her toes. 

  I was overwhelmed with the confidence she had in me. Really what would I have ever done without her in my life, acting as my own angel?

“Arnav, come on! The match is gonna begin soon!” Rakesh, a teammate of mine called me, emerging out of the changing room.

I darted in the changing room after a swift goodbye to khushi and soon enough I was walking down the pitch with my team, clad in a white jersey, to immense roar of applause. I couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear, at the grimaces on our rival team’s face, especially on that of Ranveer at our warm welcome.

“Captains, shake hands!” The umpire ordered and I stepped forward to shake hand with a troll-like boy with pockmarked face-the Captain of the team of Kendriys Vidyalaya, Haryana.  

 The guys clasped my hand more forcefully  than necessary and I glared at him evenly. Playing a fair game was literally a fat chance with Kendriya Vidyalaya, Haryana!

We lost the toss and thus had to bat. I sent Ranjan and Rakesh for the opening and sat in the pavilion all padded up, clutching my helmet and bat. The bowlers of Kendriya Vidyalaya bowled really well, especially Ranveer who took two out of three wickets of our team, leading us to a really tight spot. 

  I went for batting when the fourth wicket fell and I could literally feel my skin prick as I knew that all the spectators must be having their eyes on me.

I looked round the pavilion and wondered where khushi might be. Just the thought of her made me feel all energetic. I reached the pitch and as I turned to take the strike, I saw Ranveer going up to the captain of the team and whisper something, smirking at me evilly. I rolled my eyes , amusedly. 

So, it was going to be one of those days!

I knew what was cooking in Ranveers’s mind and sure enough as if to confirm my theory, latter took up the ball. I tried to hit the ball to the mid- off, but couldn’t manage to score run.

Ranveer looked rather pleased with himself and discreetly showed his middle finger to me so that no one except the wicket keeper noticed and laughed rather unpleasantly. I glowered at him and clenched my fist, fighting the urge to make the same rude gesture as I had promised khushi that I won’t let that cheap Singha get the better of me.

Focus Arnav! I told myself as I grasped my bat tightly and squared me shoulder to face the next delivery. 

I concentrated hard and hit it for a neat six, that had the pavilion erupt loudly with the smattering of applause. I smirked happily at Ranveer who spat on the ground bitterly before bowling  

The game continued in the similar fashion as I was skilfully aided by my teammate Ashish as we made a partnership of 80 run of 45 balls, hitting sixs’ and fours every now and then.  We gradually led our team to a respectable score of 138 in 20 overs and then walked back to the changing room rather pleased with ourselves after all 138 wasn’t a bad score really!

After a short break, the Kendriya Vidyalya took to bat and I got busy arranging my team on the ground. I had made my team practice hard for a month for this moment and now it was here, the grand scene, whether we’ll make it or mar it, we didn’t know!\

The game became very high-voltage and as it inched towards the climax, the entire stadium ‘Oohed’ and ‘Aahed’ in unison. Every time someone from Kendriya Vidyalaya hit a boundary, the audience booed and jeered and whenever any one of them  got out, the stands nearly exploded with cheers. 

We fought really hard and ultimately when we won the match with 20 runs and 2 wickets, the entire crowd was on their feet, even teachers were jumping up and down enthusiastically, all dignity forgotten.

I took a stump, waving it above the heads of my teammates as they caught me in a fierce embrace. I searched for Ranveer in the crowd which came pouring out from the stands, feeling rather ecstatic because it was me who had caught the catch that got him dismissed. 

Suddenly, I felt a small, warm hand encircling my arm as khushi teared through the caught and latched herself on me, jumping madly.

“You won! You won! YOU WON! Yay!! Arnav, you showed him! You showed that Ranveer Singha so DAMN well! You were simply WOW!” Khushi screamed herself hoarse, clutching my arm and bobbing like a child.

“YOU DID IT ARNAV!” She continued screaming as we ambled towards the stage where the Principal stood grinning, clutching the cup. 

As I was dragged my laughing and cheering teammates and rest of the school up the stage, I grabbed khushi’s arm, pulling her along. After all, it was khushi who was the sole reason that I had won the match...she was the source of my encouragement and hope throughout, then I could forgo her at this crucial juncture of my success.

“Come on khushi!” I said.

“Arnav what?”Khushi asked me, perplexed as I towed her with me through the crowd.

“Khushi, you are the sole reason I reached here! You led me here, making me come out of my past that haunted me for so long! You gave me the courage to take Ranveer face-on, otherwise I never had the guts to do that khush! You know what, you are my lucky charm,  my source of courage and encouragement. This cup is as much mine and my team mates as it is yours and so I want you to be there with me...now and always!”I stated simply, letting her know a bit of what I really felt for her and smiled at the stumped expression on her face. 

She looked stupefied, so I simply pulled her with me, taking advantage of her momentary silence and as I rose the Winner’s cup in the air, amidst the cheering crowd, with khushi at my side, I truly felt like the luckiest guy alive!

Heart wenching adortion Part-33

“What did you say?”I asked sharply, half-hopeful and half dreadful of her answer. Khushi threw me a scathing look.

“Obviously I refused! I need to concentrate on my studies now. I can’t afford to entertain such kind of distractions!” Khushi said indignantly, gaining an approving nod from Payal.

“Of course you can’t khush! Besides you are too young just now to...”But we never got to hear whatever saintly reason Payal was about to give khushi as she was cut short by Anvesh.

“Bit rich coming from you isn’t it, considering you and Akash have literally been the gooey-eyed lovebirds, though not officially girlfriend and boyfriend?” Anvesh said sarcastically, making Payal glare at him dangerously.

“I don’t know what you are talking about!” She said frostily, though her reddened cheeks gave her away and so did Akash’s.

“Save that for someone who’ll believe it Payal!” Aman quipped sardonically and I rolled my eyes. It seemed that Anvesh’s company was finally beginning to take its toll on the ever-silent-goody-boy Aman.

Payal and Anvesh continued to bicker childishly until they were interrupted by khushi’s loud, enthusiastic squeal.

“Oooh look! Twilight will come tonight at 9 on Star Movies!” 

“For Heaven’s sake khushi! How many times have you seen that god forsaken movie? You remember its each and every dialog by heart! How can you stand watching it so many times? Don’t you get bored!” Payal asked exasperatedly and I looked in amusement as khushi’s cheeks reddened.

“Di it has been ages since I last saw it!” She defended.

“Really? Since when was a week considered an age?” Payal said rolling her eyes.

“Di please! Its his movie and I...” Khushi began but I didn’t let her complete. 

“His?”I asked, raising my eyebrows.

“Robert Pattinson’s!”Khushi squealed and to my horror I saw her go all dreamy.

“Oh he’s khushi’s crush. She’s literally crazy for him. She has even got his posters all stuck to the walls of her room back home....She would’ve done that here too had it not been for our Hostel warden!”Payal giggled.

I looked over at khushi and she literally looked lost in her la-la land, her eyes shining. I felt a sharp pang of jealousy. Though I knew it was really nonsensical that I should be jealous of an actor my crush adored, yet I couldn’t help but turn into a pressure cooker with steam coming from my ears with the heat of my envy!

“Oooh he’s so handsome and that smile of his! Hai....It really stops my heartbeat!” Khushi gushed and I clenched my fists in anger.

 That actor wasn’t really so good-looking! He was just made to look hot with tons of cosmetics. Without them, he won’t even be worth glancing at twice! I thought rudely.

“Khushi once insisted on being taken to Hollywood walk of fame down there in California during the premier of the movie ‘New Moon’....She actually fainted when Pattinson signed her autograph book. She doesn’t even let anyone so much as keep a finger on that book since then...sleeps with it beneath her pillow!” Payal told for our benefit and it had Akash, Aman and Anvesh literally on their all fours, laughing their heads off, though not me. I was too charged up to find any humour in that.

“I think you all should eat and get going ...and khushi you have got to study for your German test tomorrow!” I reminded, hoping that her studies will keep her busy enough to refrain her watching that wretched movie and drooling over that actor. 

But I could’ve been talking to a wall, for the effect my words seemed to have on khushi. She still looked all lost and dreamy.

Anvesh, Aman and Akash sniggered at my predicament and I gave them a deadly glare. 

“Khushi!” I called her, again louder than before, yet she was lost in her fantasy world. I could practically feel myself go green with jealousy.

“Arnav , you really have got a tough competition here!” Anvesh murmured  sagely, looking all-too-innocent.

“Shut up Anvesh! Don’t add kerosene to fire!...Arnav don’t bother him. He’s crazy! Besides, someone as intelligent as khushi won’t go hankering after an actor when an unattainable, yummy guys is sitting around, already head-over-heels for her!” Aman said winking, leaning across the table to whisper.

I sincerely hoped that khushi wouldn’t hear our little exchange, but out of the corner of my eyes I saw her head incline slightly towards us and pink spots appear on her cheeks. More for saving us both the awkwardness than anything else I immediately excused myself from the cafeteria, feeling rather appeased.

That night I couldn’t sleep a wink. I was all too keyed up fretting over the oncoming match. It wasn’t just a competition, but a personal tussle between me and Ranveer. As I laid supine on my bed, staring up at the dark canopy and hearing Aman and Anvesh’s light snores, my phone buzzed.

Curiously, I picked up my phone to see who had messaged me so late in the night and my smile widened as I saw khushi’s name flashing on my screen.

‘Go to sleep Arnav. Stop worrying!’

 

Amused, by how much she knew about me and the way she had reprimanded me as if I were a small kid, I called her instead of messaging her.

“I thought I asked you to sleep! You know what Arnav, you’ll be prematurely grey if you kept on worrying so much!” She chided me as soon as she picked the phone and I smiled.

“So sorry Grand mom!”I teased her lightly.

“Grand mom! Do I look like you Grannie?”Khushi fumed and I found her anger so endearing.

“All right, I’m sorry!” I said penitently and she mellowed.

“Aranv, you are worried about tomorrow’s match, aren’t you?But you don’t need to be! You are the best and I’m cent percent sure that you are gonna win! Then why can’t you trust yourself? Why are you fretting over that worthless Ranveer Singa and spoiling your health? Do you know how bad these bouts of insomnia can affect your health?”She sounded so much like a mother scolding her kid. 

“Bring yourself a notch down khushi! By the way, its a bit rich coming from you? You too are awake so late in the night!” I reminded her softly.

“That’s because I knew you’ll surely be an idiot and bust your brain cells for that jackass Singha... Don’t let him get to you Arnav!” Khushi fumed, but her voice rang with sincerity.

“You sound like Aman! He too gave me a don’t-let-anyone-provoke-you kind of lecture to me for tomorrow’s match.”I said. Khushi suddenly became all-too-silent.

“Hmm...and Aman is barely wrong ever!” She murmured after a protracted period, surprising the hell out of me.

What was her comment supposed to mean?Was it a simple reply to what I had just said or did it mean something more...her answer to what Aman had said back there in cafeteria.

“Khushi what...”I began but she cut me off.

“Good night Arnav!”Khushi said abruptly and the line went dead.

Dazed, I kept my  cell back on my bedside cabinet as her words left me hugely confused and fiercely hopeful!