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!