Heart wrenching adoration Part-32

“Khushi!” N.k squealed delightedly as soon as he spotted us emerging from ‘Chocolate Story’.

“What the!”I muttered irritably.

 Why did that dumb N.K.  have to follow khushi around like magnet!

“What the hell do you want N.k.?” I asked rudely. Khushi looked at me and elbowed me in the ribs whispering ‘Behave’.

“ Oh I was just looking through that Book Store upstairs and then came across this....so I bought this for khush, since she enjoys reading a lot!” N.k said cheerfully, pulling out a thick book from the paper bag. It was Hitler’s  Autobiography ‘Mein Kampf’.

“Khushi doesn’t enjoy reading Autobiographies.” I said shortly, without giving khushi a chance to so much as open her mouth. 

She looked round at me surprised again at how much I knew about her. But, I refused to meet her eyes, glaring at N.k. who now looked disheartened.

“ I’ll get another book for you khushi. I didn’t know that you...”

“Oh no Nk.! Just because I have never read and Autobiography doesn’t mean that I won’t enjoy reading it. Besides, I have been hearing a lot about this one, so I’m definitely gonna keep this. Thank you so much for this lovely gift.”Khushi cut N.k off, smilingly and I looked at her in disbelief.

She was actually entertaining that stupid and foolhardy N.k! I gazed at her and the smiles that she gave to that generic boy made my heart pinch. Just polite smiles. I told myself,still I couldn’t rein in my jealousy so I decided to separate the duo fast to keep my sanity intact.

“Khushi, let’s go and search for Payal and Akash. I think I’ve annoyed her enough for a day. I don’t want her to get restrictive orders put on me.” I said solemnly and pulled khushi with me without waiting for her response.

She barely managed to get hold of the book that N.K. was handing her over and muttered a swift goodbye.

“What was that Arnav?Why are you always so rude with N.K?”She asked frowning.

I clenched me hand. Did she really didn’t notice that N.K. was all but smitten with her.

“Because I don’t like the way he sticks to you...like ants on jaggery.” I snapped, looking rather annoyed. Khushi stared at me while I stubbornly refused to meet her eyes even once. I wonder whether jealousy that was simply burning my insides was evident on my face too.

“Why does it bother you?”Khushi whispered, asking the very question I didn’t want her to ask. I could feel her intense gaze on me.

I looked in the deep hazels of her eyes and lost grip on myself. 

“Khushi, I...I...lo....”                                    

“Khushi! Bhai!” Akash broke our reverie and we turned look at him, waving frantically from the entrance of the ‘Gaming Zone’.

Sighing in relief and grateful of this interruption, I silently led, what I thought a very disappointing looking,  khushi towards him.

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We started for our school after a sumptuous dinner of mouth-watering pizzas and desserts in ‘Dominos’.

I settled in beside khushi as Akash kept Payal engaged while Aman and Anvesh didn’t dare to come within two feet of me after the morning debacle. Exhausted after the outing, the bus was wrapped in a peaceful quite as we moved towards the school.

Though khushi sat beside me, none of us spoke, and the awkwardness was almost tangible. I was worried. Maybe my words back then were too much...maybe khushi couldn’t keep up with me now that I’ve shown her a little bit of what I really felt for her, maybe she could understand my unspoken words..my feelings...perceptive she was. All the same, I knew the equation in our relationship had changed due to those hasty words of mine and I will have to deal with the repercussion.

I was gazing out of the window, lost in my thoughts when suddenly I felt a warm body snuggling up to me. I looked down to find khushi fast asleep, nestling into me, clutching my shirt tenaciously. 

I stared at her, my breath hitched at the sight of her cherubic face aglow in the silver of moon. Her supple lips slightly parted as she breathed evenly and her tresses caressing her face. I had never seen any sight more beautiful than this!

I gazed at her, utterly lost in her beauty till I noticed she was shivering. The night air coming through the open window was quite chilly. So, carefully, I extricated my arms from her grip and shut the window, taking care as to not to jostle her.

Khushi slept like a baby in my arm as we trundled through the silent streets of Dehradun to our school!

I didn’t get much time to dwell on the happenings in our outing the next day  as I was all sucked up in practicing for the final match of C.B.S.E Cricket Tournament which was scheduled the day after.

I sweated it out with my team right from the dawn to afternoon  and then retuned back only when the Sun beat down our necks to have lunch.

I took a shower...nothing can be more refreshing and invigorating than a shower to relax after an absolutely tiring day, and then moved to Study area to find my friends or more so to find khushi. I entered the room to find Payal, Akash, Aman and Anvesh ensconced together in the far corner. Khushi was nowhere to be seen. 

“Hi”I greeted them tiredly, looking around for khushi and right on the cue, as if she knew I was waiting for her, as if she could tell how much anxious I was on not seeing her, khushi entered the cafeteria.

She was followed by her usual gang of friends who were giggling themselves stupid over something. I gazed at her in astonishment as she turned around and definitely gave her friends a right little left, right and centre before making her way towards us furiously. I had never seen her that angry. 

“Khushi, what’s wrong?” I asked as I watched her belligerent, frowning face. She stormed towards me and pulled up a chair beside me.

“Khushi did someone say anything to you? Did anyone hurt you?”Payal demanded, flexing just like a fierce tigress.

 Suddenly someone wolf-whistled from the other end of the cafeteria and we looked around to see some khushi’s classmates staring pointedly in our direction and smirking.

“Now really!” Khushi  snapped.

“Are you going to tell us what happened?” Akash asked.

“Its...its that stupid Mrinal! Well...he kind of...he said he likes me and asked me to be his girlfriend today!”Khushi said wrinkling her cute, little nose, dropping the bomb on me.

Heart wrenching adoration Part-31

“Here you go khushi!” I said as I placed a pile of books in front of khushi.

We were in the Book Store. Several long mahogany tables were placed in neat rows in the huge room, with books arranged systematically on them.

“ Inferno, Are you afraid of the dark, The lost symbol, The night over water, The best laid plan.” Khushi quietly read the titles and looked up at me, surprised.

“But these are of my favourite writers! How do you know?” She asked me incredulous and I barely stopped myself from rolling my eyes.

What a silly question! Since the time I had met her, that was the only thing I did because she manipulated all my attention; I considered it a waste of the precious time the seconds I spent away from her, not observing her, not noticing her likes and dislikes and her little slips that everybody else failed to notice, when she was being diplomatic so as to not to hurt anyone’s feelings.

But that wasn’t the reason I could give her;it will shock her to the core to say the least. So, I decided to be a tease.

“ How thick will I have to be to not to notice the speed with which you finish the novels of these writers khushi? You could set a record or something!” 

Khushi narrowed her eyes in mock anger and spanked me on my arm playfully. I laughed and mussed her hair lightly.

We spent our time in the similar fashion, laughing and teasing each other, further strengthening our camaraderie!

“Khushi, let’s kip in! I’m bushed.” I said as we emerged out of the Book Store.

“OK!”She acceded happily and I led her to cafe ‘Chocolate Story’.

We ordered chocolate brownies and cold coffee with ice-cream-a speciality of theirs- and settled comfortably  at the far end of the cafe, away from the milling crowd.

“Hmmm...I like this song very much! Its so much invigorating!” Khushi commented casually and I paid attention to the song that was being played softly in the background. It was ‘Its a climb’ by Miley Cyrus.

“You like preachy sort of songs?” I asked disbelievingly. Such kind of music got on my nerves.

“Yes,I do! Why?What’s wrong in that?” Khushi asked, a bit miffed.

“So, don’t you like rock music?” I asked.

“No, I don’t! They use too much bass and all that shrieking and wailing drives me nuts!” Khushi screwed her little nose. I gaped at her.

“There’s nothing too wild about you, is there?” I commented and khushi laughed merrily.

“What?” I was curious again.

“Oh it was pretty much below the belt you see! My Mom used to say that a lot too! She reckoned that I should’ve been born in 50’s or 60’s;that I was too tame for a 21^st Century teen!” Khushi chortled and I tensed.

I couldn’t disagree more with khushi’s mom’s thoughts. If khushi had really been born in 50’s or 60’s then how could I have found such a cherubic, beautiful person like her? I shook my head hopelessly. Did I still delude myself into thinking that I merely liked khushi?

“Arnav? What’s wrong?You are looking all lost!” Khushi asked, snapping me out of my reverie.

“Its nothing. Ummm...So how do you like Dehradun?” I asked abruptly, like a game show host and khushi laughed on my tone.

“Oh its really beautiful! So pristine...so pure, especially like a nature lover like me, this place is like paradise!” Khushi said and I gave her a sceptical look for her hyperbole.

“No literally Arnav! You really have no idea how tired one can get of living in the concrete jungle of New York!”She sighed. I cocked my eyebrows questioningly so she continued, shrugging.

“Well being a nature lover is in my gene. Both my Mom and dad were one heck of nature enthusiasts. During my vacations, we always used to go to Amsterdam, Alaska and sometimes even Africa, Kenya, Brazil, Portugal. We used to do a lot of hiking and trekking, though I didn’t like walking on rough path of forests, still the beautiful scenery used to drive me. I still remember the numerous times my dad carried me piggyback to our camp whenever I sprained my ankle or something.” Khushi chuckled and I smiled.

 I could only imagine her curled up and being carried like a baby. A perfect picture of cuteness indeed!

“Once we even came to India to visit Payal di, Mausa ji(Uncle) and Mausiji(Aunt).I was ten then. When I saw the huge garden my di had, I threw such a colourful tantrum of spoilt, little tyke... My dad and Mom literally had to move mountains to calm me down...I came a notch down only when dad promised to gift me lots of indoor plants and a huge garden for myself once we shifted to our new house!” Khushi grinned.

“You and tantrum!” I said in a tone of disbelief. Yes, she was stubborn, but she was not a thoughtless brat.

“You really don’t know how adamant and stubborn I can get Arnav! You should be on your guard you know!”Khushi said playfully, winking at me.

“Oh you bet, I’ll be!” I replied easily.

We talked endlessly, wrapped in our own happy little bubble as she told me everything about herself...everything except on thing...her dark past which changed her life forever.

Heart wrenching adoration Part-30

The bus trundled to stop in the parking lot and the students alighted excitedly. Nobody bothered to obey teachers as they called us to be in order and narrated a long list of ‘Do’s’ and ‘Don’ts’. Suddenly I felt a small, warm hand enveloping mine and the next thing I knew I was dragged to the very edge of the teeming crowd.

“Khushi, what’s wrong?”I asked as she pulled me behind chattering teens.

“Di!”She huffed, pointing towards the crowd and I immediately sensed khushi’s predicament. Distracted by the prank my friends had played on khushi, I had all but forgotten about the promise I had given khushi and now I was all set to honour that.

I couldn’t really allow khushi to go away from me! I knew Payal won’t be too chuffed with me for denying her, her pleasure in shopping for khushi and going along whatever crazy plan she had made for khushi’s makeover. 

Still if khushi didn’t want it, then there was no way Payal could make her do it. I was going to see to it.

So, I grabbed khushi’s hand and carefully steered her in and through the group of chatting students as we swarmed towards the entrance of the Mall. But it seemed my luck wasn’t going to favour me as Payal suddenly materialised at our side, literally out of blue, with a breathless Akash.

“There you are khushi! I was searching around for you! Now come on, let’s go shopping. Where should we begin from?”Payal mused, clutching khushi’s arm as if afraid that she’ll run away, which was exactly the sort of thing khushi wanted to do.

She looked at me with a pleading, desperate look and I looked back at her helplessly. Payal wasn’t on quite a good term with me as it was and if I knew that if I so much as uttered a word now, she’ll literally bite my head off!

“Umm...let’s go to ‘Pantaloons’. I’m sure they must have some good collections down there!” Payal murmured as she scanned the shops interestedly. She started pulling khushi along.

Khushi reached out for me and caught my hand, towing me with her.

“Khushi, what are you doing? Why are you bringing him?” Payal asked, frowning.

“Di, actually...actually...yeah...its Arnav’s di’s birthday next month and he asked me to help him select a gift for her and...”

“But Anjali di’ birthday comes in June.” Payal contradicted suspiciously.

“Is it so?...I...I mean that...some on di, can he not have any other sister than her. Its his cousin sister’s birthday.”Khushi spluttered piteously and her nervousness was an obvious give away so I decided to intercede.

“Oh yes!  Khushi volunteered to help me Payal ! You know, I’m a dud at girly stuff!” I said with a poker face. Akash, who was the silent spectator till now jumped in too.

“Yeah, I have to get her a gift too! Payal you can help me! Your choices are too good!” Akash babbled admiringly and that did the trick. Payal turned pink and acquiesced with good grace for us accompanying her and khushi. 

I and khushi caught each other’s eyes as Akash and Payal became all lovey-dovey like Amitabh Bachhan and Jaya Bhaduri and looked away trying to control our laughter. So with that we attacked...or at least Payal pillaged the shop with ferocity.

She pawed through the neatly arranged dresses as we tagged along with her.

“Khushi, see this white blazer...It looks really chic with all sorts of tops even those classy camisoles. Hmm, and maybe this satin one, but its has got too deep a neck. Mom, will kill me if I got this for you. Oooh look, they have such good collection of shorts! Let’s go in there and...” Payal continued to go like that for what seemed like hours as she splurged happily on dresses for her and khushi.

“Khushi come on! Just try this one out. Its surely gonna look amazing on you and you’ll really appreciate an Indian dress!” Payal said, trying to force khushi into wearing a fusion-print palazzo and a matching kurti, beautifully embellished with Swarovski crystals.

We were standing in front of the changing room as Payal tried to bully khuhsi into wearing the dress she had chosen for her for what seemed like the hundredth time.

 She had made khushi wear all the dresses she had chosen for her, unintentionally torturing me as khushi looked ethereal and sublime in every one of those pretty dresses she wore- the white shorts with navy blue tank top that had sensuously clinged to her curves or the red knee length, strapless number, that made her look no less than a fashion diva and numerous more in which she had knocked my breath out of me! 

But then again khushi was probably the sort of person who could wear all but rags and still carry it effectively and stunningly! 

“Di please! I’m tired of all this shopping.”Khushi  moaned, looking on the verge of crying.

“Oh come on khush! Don’t be such a spoil sport! I swear this is the last dress.” Payal promised, egging her.

“I wonder how many times I heard you say that...Couldn’t have been more than a hundred or two!” Khushi’s voice dripped with sarcasm. Payal ignored her comment studiously.

“Oh go on khushi! There is no need to be so melodramatic!” 

“Give it a rest Payal! Cut her a lose slack and let her be! Besides, she’s perfect the way she is!” I interjected in their heated discussion, but the words burnt with too much fervour. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw khushi blush furiously.

Payal opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her short.

“You have had your fun shopping for her. Now, its only fair that you let her her have hers.” I said solemnly.

“ Khushi, come on! There is a Book Store up there and they always keep some pretty good novels. Let’s so and hunt for books!” I said like and khushi’s answering, exultant smile made my heart skip a beat. I had really never appreciated how very beautiful she was!

“Oh really?And what about that gift you needed to buy for your cousin sister?”Payal asked sardonically and I knew that she had never bought our lame excuse in the first place, but had allowed me to come along just for the sake of Akash.

“I think I saw enough shopping to last me a lifetime!” I replied condescendingly and marched out with my nose in the air and khushi at my side.

Heart wrenching adoration Part-29

I practiced hard with my team to make up for the time we’ll spend away on outing, then took a power nap in the afternoon before assembling with others in the parking area.

I lolled around amidst the group of excited students as  teachers took our attendance and despite the fact that teachers asked us again and again to sit in the buses with our own class, everyone was too keyed up to do just that. So, in the end teachers had to give it up as a lost cause.

I entered the bus after giving my attendance and settled beside khushi who was engaged in an earnest conversation with Anvesh and Aman who were seated in the seat which was immediately in front of us. 

“Arnav I want to watch Ragini MMS-2!” Khushi squealed excitedly as soon as I was beside her and I nearly fell from my seat.

“You want to watch what?”I gasped, horrified, looking at her as if she were an alien.

“Why? What’s wrong in that mate?” Anvesh asked innocently and I gave him a suspicious look. Did he have something to do with khushi sudden...er... desire?

“Arnav, we can watch it in PVR. Aman told me that it released just today and its a kickass!”Khushi raved.

“Khushi what really...”I spluttered, totally nonplussed. Where did this come from? I couldn’t believe that my childish, innocent khushi watched adult movies!

“Yeah, they told me that its really worth watching. Its all mystery and really spooky...Something about a MMS of a ghost goes round and people die. So these suave NSA(National Security Agency) look into the matter and a very big racket of criminals comes into light...well something like that and I really want to watch it! I mean I haven’t really watched much of Hindi movies ever...just a handful and I don’t have much idea how they make it. But Anvesh reckons that this movie is really awesome! Its  prequel was a chartbuster too!” Khushi rhapsodized and with each word she spoke, my surprise turned into anger as penny dropped on me.

Aman and Anvesh were taking advantage of her innocence and lack of knowledge regarding Hindi movies so badly! This was crossing the limit! 

“You’ll enjoy the movie khushi.”Anvesh said solemnly, though I could clearly see evil humour in his eyes and that didn’t do anything to calm me down.

“In fact, why don’t you take Arnav with you too? He really enjoys that genre!” Anvesh continued and Aman, who was red in face and looked as if he would explode any moment in his attempts to control his laughter, burst out laughing.

“Why are you laughing?”Khushi asked curiously and Aman just shook his head.

“Its nofink...just rememb...ered a j...oke!” Aman choked and winced at the same time as...undoubtedly Anvesh kicked him hard beneath the seat. Khushi looked at the strangely for a moment, then shrugged and turned towards me. 

“Arnav will you come with me please?” She pleaded cutely and I hated myself for denying her, that too when it was the first time when she had asked me to give her something, still I had to do it. There was no way in the hell that I was going to allow khushi to watch an adult movie! I glared at Aman and Anvesh murderously before turning to look in khushi’s soft, pleading eyes.

“Khushi, we cannot watch that movie.” I said decisively.

“Why? What’s wrong in...”Anvesh began but I cut him off angrily. I couldn’t allow him to make fun of khushi so badly.

“Shut up Anvesh! Just shut up! What’s wrong with you guys? This is crossing the limit you know!” I said angrily.

“Arnav, what’s wrong? Why are you so upset?” Khushi asked bewildered and I threw a very nasty  look at Aman and Anvesh.

“You two will be very lucky if you survive till tonight. Mark my words!” I enunciated every syllable slowly and Aman and Anvesh, who could clearly see the danger, immediately faced forward.

I took a deep breath and looked down at khushi who was regarding me with shock and bafflement and I immediately felt the heat of my anger being replaced be heat of my embarrassment. I had to give her an explanation for my reaction.

“Khushi, Anvesh and Aman were pulling your leg. That movie...that movie is no mystery or ghost one and you really shouldn’t watch it.” I said hoping 

desperately that she’ll drop the topic now and save us both the embarrassment. I could only imagine telling her why she couldn’t watch Ragini MMS-2 and I shied away from that though in horror. 

“I’m not quite that delicate as you seem to think Arnav!” Khushi  snorted, looking at me with disapproval.

“Huh?”I couldn’t make out head or tail of where she was going with this.

“I know why you are preventing me from watching this movie. Anvesh told me there is lots of spook in that. But I swear I won’t scream or get frightened,...or anything like that. I want to watch that movie!” Khushi whinned. So, khushi was being khushi. Absolutely adamant and stubborn as usual! I cursed Anvesh and Aman vehemently under my breath, but carefully enough so that khushi couldn’t hear my uncivilised slurs.

“What?”She demanded.

“Nothing! Khushi you can’t watch that movie.You really shouldn’t. That movie is not like...like good. Its an adult film and really...”I trailed off, too embarrassed to speak, but I saw khushi’s cheek turn a dark magenta.

“Oh! Er right!”She puffed and turned away from my, looking out of the window and I looked at the floor of the moving bus, clearly searching for a pit to fall in or simply become invisible.

Not that I was too touché or sensitive about ‘the topic’. In fact, I was pretty blasé about it since until the time I met khushi, I had kept up with Lavanya’s all sort of shitty and vulgar jokes, but really I never imagined speaking about it with the girl I adored! Chicken through and through!

We sat in awkward silence for the rest of the journey as the bus slowly trundled towards the Mall through the labyrinth of  trees, green vales and cobbled streets of glorious city of Dehradun!