Part 22 Revenge?
Arnav came home, keeping the cup and medals in his bag. He didn't want to show them to his parents. He didn't want to give them hope about Khushi. They would exaggerate things limitlessly. He kept the lunch boxes on the table and walked to his room. He locked the door and kept the cup and medals in his cupboard.
Getting fresh, he prepared for the upcoming exams. They just had two days for the exams and that day went into the sports day celebrations. The exams were going to start the day after tomorrow.
That was when he got a call from Khushi. He attended it smiling.
"What are you doing?"
"Studying"
"Didn't you show the cup to Aunty?"
"I told you what will happen if I show them"
"You told me you already started doing things that's not your cup of tea... so it this. What's the big deal?"
Arnav closed his eyes. He didn't know how to tell her about his condition.
"Arnie, we don't know what will happen tomorrow. Nothing is constant in this world. So, live this moment. Don't mind about tomorrow"
Arnav was silent.
"Are you there?"
"What do you want me to do?"
"Show the cup to your parents"
"Mmm"
"Is it? Don't you have a problem?"
"Even though I have a problem I will do it as you say"
Khushi smiled brightly.
"Do you like me to that extent?" She asked excitedly.
Arnav closed his eyes and said,
"I RESPECT you to that extent,"
Khushi pouted. She knew Arnav had a special feeling for her but she didn't know why he was intentionally avoiding admitting it.
"OK, will see you tomorrow"
Arnav sensed disappointment in her tone.
"Bye," she disconnected the call.
Arnav sighed. He didn't know how was he going to handle this.
Taking the cup, medals, and certificates, he came out of the room. Ratna was watching TV. He came to her and kept them on the tea table. Ratna looked at him wondering. She took the certificates and gave them a look. She stood up from the couch.
"Chotte... did you participate in the sports events?" she asked unbelievably with excitement.
Arnav nodded yes.
"But... how did it happen?"
"A guy challenged everyone that there is no MAN in our college to beat him... so, I participated"
Ratna was stunned. Did he participate just because someone challenged him? She didn't believe it because she knew her son. He would not give heed to such blabbers. She understood SOMEONE should be behind his participation. Yet, she didn't ask him anything regarding it. She kissed his forehead and smiled.
"I'm so happy... be like this, Chotte...! Let your future be like anything... enjoy your life..."
Arnav gulped down hard.
"Wait, I will bring sweets to celebrate this happiness"
Ratna was about to go to the kitchen, but she stopped hearing,
"Mom..."
She looked at him.
"Why is my life so hard? What's my mistake? Why I'm leading a painful life?" he asked gulping down.
Ratna's eyes tear up. She hugged Arnav and cried. Arnav closed his eyes, gulping down. Composing herself, she cupped his face.
"Chotte... no one could deny your life is painful but I believe, all your struggles will be answered. All your struggles will soon come to an end..."
Arnav walked to his room silently. Ratna sat with the thud and cried.
"Hey, Devi Maiya... when will you hear my prayers? Should my son be struggling for his whole life? Won't you end them soon? I see many changes in my son... please don't disappoint us by snatching that from him. you know what's there in his heart. He never wished for anything... never liked anything... for the first time, he likes something... Please give him what he likes. He will break down if he doesn't get it... please don't disappoint him" She prayed sobbing.
...............
The term exams started. Fortunately, or unfortunately, Parthiban sat with Arnav on the same bench in the exam hall. He always would copy from the next person. Students who sat next to him would show him their answer papers because they were scared of Parthiban. No one dared to defy him but this time, Arnav dared. He hid this answer sheet well and wrote the exams. He didn't even look at Parthiban no matter how hard he tried to get his attention. That irked Parthiban.
After the Lunch Break
Parthiban came to Arnav who was having lunch with Khushi. Arnav looked at him and continued eating.
"Won't you look at me if I call you?" He asked.
"When did you call me?"
"Didn't I call you in the exam hall?"
"How could I look at you in the exam hall?"
"Leave it... from tomorrow, you should show your paper to me..."
"I don't like malpractice"
"Arnav... don't touch my wrong nerves"
"I'm also telling you the same. I'm doing my work without disturbing anyone... don't cross my path"
"Will you show me your answer sheet or not?"
"Why should I show you? Did I study hard to show you my paper in the exams? If you want to pass the examination, do it on your own... stop threatening me. Your threat will do nothing with me"
Throwing a glare, he left the place.
"Waahh, Arnie... you becoming a hero nowadays...!" Khushi chuckled.
Arnav ate smilingly.
They finished eating.
"Khushi, I will just come," Arnav said and went out.
Khushi thought he was going to the restroom but she frowned to see him going to the staff room. What was he doing there? She ran to him and stood a little aloof, seeing their professor coming towards Arnav.
"Tell me Arnav..."
"Sir, I'm unable to sit in the last exam... that's your subject..."
"Oh... why?"
"There is an important family event in Coimbatore, sir. Will you allow me to write the exam the next day?"
The professor became thoughtful.
"If it's so, I will give you a different question paper"
"No problem sir..."
"Ok... as you are the TOPPER of your class, I will give you the chance. Use it well..."
"Sure sir. Thank you so much"
The professor nodded and went to the staff room.
Arnav turned around only to find Khushi staring at him. it was clear that she heard their talks. He smiled at her composing himself.
"Will not you sit in the last exam?"
Arnav nodded yes.
"Why didn't you tell me that?"
"I thought to tell you after getting permission from the professor"
"I'm not talking about the permission. Didn't you feel to tell me about the family event?"
Arnav was silent.
"I really can't understand you..." she sighed.
"By the way... it was the next day to the FULL MOON day... your parents will go to the temple on the full moon night. Then how did you guys go to the family event the next day? Will not they be tired being up for the whole night?"
"They will manage"
"What family event are you guys going for?"
"Wedding"
"Whose wedding?"
"Relative's wedding"
"But, Ratna Aunty said you guys don't have close relatives...?"
"They are our distant relatives"
"Are you skipping the exam for the distant relative's wedding?" She asked wondering.
"Mom wants to..."
"Oh...so you're going to give the exam the next day alone... that too to a different question paper... you have guts..."
Arnav walked and said nothing.
...........
Three more exams were over. Parthiban was angry with Arnav like hell. He was not sure he would pass the exams. He didn't even write a single exam well. It was because of Arnav. Yes, he thought so...he would fail the exam not because he didn't study but because Arnav didn't help him in the exam. He supposed.
It was the FULL MOON day.
They attended the exam as usual. This time also Arnav strictly avoided Parthiban. Parthiban was at the peak of anger. He snatched the paper from a girl behind him and copied it. After completing the exam, Arnav came to his class.
Khushi was waiting for him with the lunch boxes. Arnav sat with her and ate silently. Khushi sensed a kind of tension in Arnav. She sensed his constant look on her unusually. When she looked at him, he lowered his gaze. It felt different.
"Arnie..."
"Mmm?"
"Are you alright?"
"Mmm"
"I can see you look tensed..."
Neither Arnav stopped eating nor did he say anything.
"Is there anything I should know?"
Arnav looked at her plainly. There was a lot she should know about him... and about his life...! But he was not sure how she would react to it. Whenever he thought about it, he became tense. No girl would like to stay in his life after knowing the truth about him. At the same time, he could not skip telling her the truth. He had to... he had no choice. She should know about it but he had no idea whether he could get the courage to tell her that.
"Arnie..."
"Mmm"
"What are you thinking?"
Arnav nodded no.
"I will not come tomorrow"
"Yeah... you are going to your relative's wedding"
Arnav was silent.
"By the way, I wanted to ask you something"
"What?"
"You will be ALONE in your house tonight, right?"
Without answering her, he looked at her.
"Your house is far away from the village area. It looks like a forest. Won't you be scared to be ALONE in your house after your parents went to the temple?"
Arnav smiled softly.
"You should get used to it, right?"
Arnav nodded yes.
"You are so brave..." Saying, Khushi went to wash the tiffin box. Arnav followed her with his box.
Parthiban's friend who was on the next side heard their talks. He ran searching for Parthiban. He saw him in the opposite shop to their college.
"Parthi... the chance you waited for came..."
"What chance?"
"Today, Arnav will be alone in his house. His parents are going to the temple. He will be at his house alone for the whole night. His house is far away from the village area... no one will come for his help if you attack him"
Parthiban smirked. How dare he deny helping him with the exams...! Not only that, because of Arnav, he lost his respect in the college. He snatched the Champion tag from him and going to be the reason for him to fail the exam. This was the best chance to revenge on him. he supposed.
To be continued...
Note: The next few updates are available on INKITT