Her Hidden Love

Eight

/* On hearing the sound, Arjun comes running to her */

Arjun- Arohi what happened? What is all this mess? I know you like a books a lot but letting them fall on you is too much.

Arohi- Don't play the fool. Help me. Take these books off me. All this because of the damn lizard.

Arjun- I didn't know help can be asked in such a demanding way and what did you say? A lizard? Haha you're so funny.

Arohi- I am not funny, stop laughing. Aah my leg is sprained I don't know what to do. I can't even get up from here.

Arjun- Anyway we have to stay here all night. We'll sit down here itself. May be the pain will reduce by morning.

/* He sits beside Arohi and she tries to move a little bit away from him but her leg hurts. */ 

Arjun- Sit down now. Even with sprained leg you want to move away from me.

Arohi- What were you doing here? You don't come to college right and that too its so late.

Arjun- Actually I do come to college every evening to help students. Anyone who needs help can meet me in the college after its closed. See today you needed me.

Arohi- Me? Don't think so and what do you do? Fights? Bhaigiri?

Arjun- Leave it. Say could you stay whole night in this room without me?

/* Arohi didn't have an answer. Anyway Arjun knew that she couldn't stay without a person around. Arohi again cries of pain. */

Arohi- I just wish some magic would happen and this gets cured.

Arjun- May be I could do that magic. Show me your leg.

/* He holds her leg and tries to see where the pain is but she pulls her leg back */

Arohi- You..are not supposed to do this.

Arjun- Oh fine then sit with the pain whole night and I will go away through that window there.

/* He gets up and starts moving away. He was just acting though. */

Arohi- Please don't go away, take me also with you. Okay fine do whatever you want to do with my foot.

Arjun( smiles at her)- I know a little about first aid and I have already dealt with sprains.

/* He catches hold of Arohi's foot, she closes her eyes tightly. His eyes are fixed upon her and suddenly he twists her leg. Due to pain she shouts and catches Arjun's shoulders tightly. Slowly she opens her eyes and then they are lost in each others eyes that they have no attention on anything else. They remain still like statues but due to thunder they come back from their world. */

Arjun( looks at her hands on him)- So are you supposed to do this?

Arohi- My pain is gone. This really is magic.Let me see if I can get up.(stands up) Thank you now lets go out.

/* First Arjun jumps from the window and calls Arohi. She hesitates and jumps catching Arjun's hand. After coming out they start walking.It was very cold outside. */

Arohi- If you knew about the window then why didn't you tell me before. We could have come out long time by now.

Arjun- I wanted to ask you something.

Arohi- Me? What?

Arjun- Khushi said me that you sing songs nicely. I wanted to listen to some of them and we could have no better time. So would you?

(It starts drizzling just enough to suit the mood)

Arohi- Its true that I love singing but I am not so good at it.

Arjun- Come on.. you owe me a favour too.

/* Arohi sings after hesitating for one more minute and by the time she finishes they reach her hostel. */

Arjun- You sing so beautifully. You can even try singing competitions.

Arohi- Oh no no I just sing for my pleasure and if anybody just compliments me that I sang nicely I feel so happy. That is enough for me. By the way I'll be coming to you tomorrow evening.

Arjun- Okay but come to my room all the books are there and we can't afford one more night in the library right.

Arohi- Yes. Good night.

Arjun- Sweet dreams. Dream about me.

Arohi- Enough now.

/* They go to their rooms. Their friends are ready to put series of questions. Arjun doesn't say anything to Raghav but Arohi says to Khushi and Neha that she was in the library and somebody had locked it up. She doesn't say anything about Arjun. Even she didn't know why she hid it from them. The next day after college all of them meet in Arjun's room. This time Arohi takes permission from the warden. While Arjun is dictating notes to Arohi, the others are watching movies and having a good time*/

Arjun- So that is it. I hope you can do your project well now. No tension?

Arohi- Not at all and yes your notes will help me a lot.

Arjun- So hey guys! Shall we go out for a coffee?

Khushi- Yes we are so tired lets go.

Arohi- Oh so you are tired. All the work is done by us and you are tired?

Neha- Come on now.

Arjun- Huch!  Arohi- Huch!

Raghav- So both of you are having cold at same time. I am tired of this sound all night.

Neha- Me too but how come both of you fell sick at same time?

Arjun- Lets go now.

/* All of them have good time in the canteen and this time it was Arohi's treat. Arohi works the whole night and submits her project the next day. After a few days the result is announced and she calls Arjun first */