Heart wrenching adoration Part-4

The great yellow orb appeared on the horizon,painting it a delicate and loveliest shade of gold and crimson.I woke up,rubbing sleep away from my eyes having slept a peacefully.

My dorm mates weren't awake as yet so I decided to go down for a bit of walk and hopefully with any luck,catch khushi on her own.

I put on my sneakers and donned my jacket.The hostel was still and silent.I moved out quitely,savouring the serenity and beauty that wrapped the verdure. I lolled around,wandering towards the football grounds when I caught up with Payal and Akash.

I wasn't surprised to find them there as my brother had been roaming about like besotted,moony-eyed fellow.I could wager that it was his idea of some early morning romantic walk!So,I decided to let them be and walk past silently,but Payal's words caught my interest.

''Akash,Arnav seems to be very fond of khushi.''She whispered and I swear I blushed.

''Yeah,I could see that!They seem to have hit it off!''Akash replied and I could almost hear his smile that must have spread form ear-to-ear.

''That's all right,but I....I don't like it.''Payal grumbled and I was startled and so was Akash.I inched closer to hear,feeling quite nutty.

''What do you mean?''Akash demanded.

''Listen Akash,its not as if that I've some problem with Arnav or something and you know it very well that he is one of my best friends,but khushi is my sister too and.....well knowing Arnav's track records of flirting even with a stone is unsettling me.I can see he likes khushi,even a blind man couldn't ignore that,but can you understand why it makes me anxious?Khushi is already messed up.I mean,that she had to go through a lot recently ,yet she is trying to cope up.But ,if something happens then she won't be able to bear it.She is not in a position to endure more,or something.So,I think it will be better if Arnav stayed away from her and...''Words came out in tumbled rush as Payal grew more uncomfortable with every utterance.

''Are you doubting my brother Payal?''Akash asked sharply,his voice cold.

I was too numb to react.I had always thought of Payal as me best friend,but it was the first time that I was seeing that calm,anachronistic,sweet girl in a fiercely protective,elder-sisterly avataar!Yet I couldn't blame her though I felt bad not because she had said those words,but for my deeds,my flirting and cheekiness.

Though,I had always enjoyed girl's company,yet never had a girl friend,which was of course a record of sorts considering the number of girls who ran behind me,battling their eye-lashes coquettishly,I had never given a damn about how people thought about me or how many hurts I had given to gals whom I had rejected.

But,now I thought of it and felt repentant.I wasn't mad on Payal,but my brother felt otherwise.

''Do you really think that my bhai will ever hurt khushi?''Akash's voice notched up a few octaves.

''No,Akash I was just...''

''Just what Payal?How could you even think that way?''Akash snapped.

I immediately strode towards them.I didn't want to have them started over me!

''Hi Payal,Akash!What's up?''I asked cheerfully,acting as if I hadn't heard a word.They both flushed.

''Hi,Arnav!''

''Bhai,how come you are here?''

''Oh,I was just having a walk.What about you two?''

''We too were just roaming about.Umm..Excuse me guys,I've to do a bit of touch up to my English essay.''Payal scuttled away and it wasn't long before Akash excused himself and was gone.

I sighed sadly,feeling wistful.I brooded on Payal's words and they constantly gave me conscientious scruples.I didn't notice when I took the path to girl's hostel but the site that greeted me made my day,making my anxiety vanish in an instant.

Khushi was striding down the way looking very stunning even though she was all messed up.Her hairs were scattered around like haystack, and it was evident that she was coming straight out of the bed.She was wearing a loose T-shirt and hot pants,which clung on to her.

She was the most innocent girl I had ever seen,yet she looked so....sexy!

''Hi  Arnav!''She chirped,breaking my sweet delirium.

''Hi!''I breathed.

''What are you doing?Jogging?''Khushi asked smiling,her cheeks still flushed.

''No,just walking around.How about you?You are up so early.''

''Did you see the time?Its already 6:30.I need to get ready for school.''Khushi was incredulous.Dang!I too was running out of time!

That's when I saw some of the boys ogling at khushi and I realised that the pants she was wearing was too short.I glowered at the guys.

''Khushi,go and change your clothes!''I hissed.She was startled with the sudden change in my mood.

''Why?What's wrong with this dress?''She asked bewildered.

''Just go and do as I say!''I growled,catching her be her arms and pulling her to hostel gates.

''Arnav what?....''

''Just don't wear those pants out of the hostel.Its just too short!Guys stare.''I told her,nodding towards the group of boys that were hurriedly looking here and there to feign disinterest.Khushi's cheeks turned red and her eyes flashed as she glared at the group and then turned towards me.

''Thank you!I'll take care.''She said with a smile and then she was gone.

 

Heart wrenching adoration Part-3

''On hi there!''Nk said nervously.

''Um Nk,he's Arnav and Arnav,he is Nk.He is my classmate and really sweet.In fact,he is helping to catch up!''Khushi introduced us excitedly and I couldn't help but grimace on hearing praises for that good-for-nothing twerp.

We shook hands and I grasped his hand just way too hard to let him know that he really shouldn't get any ideas!When I released his hand Nk flexed his fingers and I smirked satisfied.

''Khushi,you can talk with your classmate later!''I said,emphasising the word 'classmate'.

''Payal and Akash must be searching for us.''

I pulled her along away from that Nk without giving her time to even bid a goodbye.

''Where were the two of you?''Akash asked as we caught up with them in the library.

Payal scooted some books aside,finally emerging from her as she called it,'deep reading'!

''Oh nothing jiji,I was just roaming about in the grounds,exploring.''Khushi said sweetly.

''In fact,I just wanted to talk to you guys!My class teacher told me that I need to make a choice amongst Hindi,Sanskrit,French and German for my second language and I'm really confused!You see,Sanskrit is simply not my cup of tea and Hindi,well,its my mother tongue,so I already know it.So,that leaves me with German and French and I'm unable to decide which one to choose!''Khushi concluded in a single breath.

Before Payal or Akash could utter a word,I beat them to that.

''Khushi,why don't you take German?I mean,you yourself have ruled out Hindi and Sanskrit and as for French,you will have to catch up with all what they had taught since 6th and that may pose quite difficult for you as neither me nor Akash and Payal had opted for that.If you go for German,I can help you to catch up as I myself was A german student.''I looked at her expectantly.

Payal and Akash looked at me in a bewilderment so I wild that it seemed that I had cropped up webbed feet and eight eyes at that instant.Akash was the first one to recover from the impact.

''Of course,why didn't we think of it?You can take help from bhai!In fact,he was Marker's Cup holder for German language for three consecutive years!''

''What's a Marker's Cup?''

''Its given to the highest scorer of a particular subject in the entire class!'' Payal told her,somehow finding her voice.

''Wow!That's really cool!If you're ready to help me,then I will definitely go for German.''Khushi looked at me awed and I felt my stomach flip in joy.

''Sure,and you don't have to thank me,khushi!After all we're friends.''I grinned at her thumping her on back.

''If you don't mind,can we please start with some basics now itself?'' Khushi's eyes shone brightly.

''Sure!Why not?Let's first begin with Alphabets,its pronounced the same in English and German,and Der Zahlen,which means numbers.So,'A' is pronounced as 'aa','B' as 'bay','C' as 'cay'.....''I began and  it continued for the rest of the evening,during which I had -to my utter contentment-monopolized and undivided attention of khushi.

She was not just girl with beauty and anachronistically, gentle disposition,but with shrewd brains too,a perfect example of the phrase 'beauty with brains'! Khushi was quick learner and keen listener.It was only a matter of an hour or two when she learned all the the alphabets,numbers and simple conjugations by heart.

We continue until,the bell rang shrilly to announce dinner time.

''Its 8 o'clock!I didn't even realize!Time flew away so quickly.Thanks Arnav!'' Khushi said,glancing at her watch in amazement.

''My pleasure! We'll continue tomorrow!''I replied half-heartedly.I was not ready to let go as yet.

We left khushi and Payal near the entrance of the Girls' Hostel and pootled towards ours at a leisurely pace beneath the star-dappled sky.

''So?''Akash began and I had the feeling that he was bursting to broach the subject.

''So,what?''I asked,feigning disinterest.

''You like khushi,huh?''He asked starightforward,leaving me disorientated.I didn't know what to reply when I myself wasn't sure,so I decided to refute him.

''Don't be ridiculous Akash!I was just trying to help her out because she's Payal's sister!''

''Literally bhai!Whom are you kidding?Your face shrivelled like a roasted brinjal when you bade her goodnight!''Damn!Akash was more observant than I ever gave him credit for!

I simply kept my mouth shut and rolled my eyes.Akash sighed.

''You should've seen how you were looking at her,absolutely gooey-eyed!Wow! Arnav Singh Raiazada in love!Di,will bring sown the entire hose in jubilation when I'll tell her!''Akash sniggered and ducked into the crowd of boys,swarming down the stairs to dining room for dinner,before I could find something to throw at him.