Edited on May 25th, 2018.
| . . . C H A P T E R . . . 1. 2 4 . 1 : S O M E O N E - T O - S E E . . . |
Arnav opened the door to his room with a key and went straight to his closet. He opened drawers under his hanging clothes to look for these infamous pajamas for which he just risked my life for with that crazy driving. Not finding it in the first drawer, he opened the middle one and ofcourse, it was in the bottom one.
I just stood there as he got them and put them in his bag before going to his desk and from the very back of the drawer, pulled out a key. Walking back to the closet, he pushed his hangers to one side to reveal a safe behind it.
More than the fact that there was a hidden wall-safe, my eyes widened a bit at the cash I saw inside. Why the hell does he keep that kind of money lying around in a dorm room instead of a bank? He grabbed about four wads of them and put them in the bag as well along with some document file. From the transparency, I could only see they were some official, legal, documents. Lastly, he looked through three passports before selecting the one he needed and returned the other two to their place. Locking the safe, he hid the key in the back of his desk drawer.
Should he be keeping it there? I wasn't a thief but he'd just shown me where he hid it and the amount of cash hiding in the safe that it opened.
Then he looked at me as if he'd forgotten I was even here. "Uh... I'll be back," he settled on saying that at the end and closing the bag, left pulling the door behind him but leaving it unlocked.
I had no idea what to think as I pulled out the chair and sat there. My fingers dabbled on the desk as I hummed having nothing to do. I picked up a pen next from the holder and pulled the notepad from the edge of the desk to sit in front of it. I doubt he'd mind me using a piece of paper from it to doodle.
I thought about what to doodle before changing my mind to sketch out this design for an evening gown that I had in mind for days. I stopped hearing a sound and realized it was coming from the closet. More specifically, inside the safe.
I recognized his ringtone. Did he accidentally leave his phone in there?
I shook my head and dismissed it. I continued drawing the rough sketch before the image I'd seen while turning away from the safe flashed as an afterimage. My eyes narrowed at his hangers and curiosity getting the best of it, I walked closer to it.
It was a button up shirt that had caught my attention. I turned it to face me clearly and noticed the same fashion house's logo on its sleeve. This lot of cousins...! They seemed to have bought many things from this place. When I go to India next, I am going to have to find out where they are located. I was ready to turn away when I touched the next shirt. A normal tee but its fabric felt the same as the button up. It had the same softness and yet a sense of rich quality to it.
I reached for its inside tag to find out what material it was. I didn't read what I set out for when I noticed the symbol on the tag. Same logo. I checked the next and the next, and the next till I was looking through every single of the hangers.
It started to feel weird. Every single one of his shirts was bought from the same fashion house as if he didn't wear anything that wasn't from that brand.
No wonder Kripa thought the shirt I had belonged to Arnav.
She must know it's all Arnav wears. I just never knew since he wears normal tees, not button-ups to college, and ofcourse I wasn't going around checking his inner tags then. With the brand logo nowhere visible, I couldn't have known.
I shrugged it off wondering just how obsessed he had to be with their clothes to wear only that.
However, when I returned to the desk after moving the hangers back to how they were, I couldn't shake the logo out of my head. Instead of giving the sketch I'd drawn a final touch, I started drawing the logo in the corner of the sheet. I didn't need an example to look at. It was imprinted in my memory.
No matter how many times I would try - not that I want to - I could never forget it. It was the only thing I had of the person because of whom I was alive right now. Else, years ago, I'd have bled out to my injuries.
. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .
I got up from the chair to reach the door when I heard the front door opening, thinking it would be him. Instead, I heard unfamiliar voices. His flatmates. I turned the lock on the door to lock the door.
Ten minutes were up five minutes ago.
I was getting impatient.
Just as I turned to walk back to the door, I heard the conversation. "ASR!"
Arnav greeted, "Hey Mitch."
ASR? Why call someone by initials?
Mitch said, "You're alive after all. Where have you been, mate? You're never here these days."
"Just around," he answered briefly as if trying to cut the conversation short. "Are you staying?"
"Nah, a bunch of us are getting together to go out and celebrate the end of the semester. Want to come?"
"Another day."
Mitch complained, "Really, ASR. Where have you been these days? You haven't hung out with us in ages. There'll be girls."
Arnav's voice was right outside the door as if they had walked over. "Not in the mood."
Mitch gasped, "You and not in the mood for a hot girl? Found someone, have you?"
"I just have to pack up, Mitch. Nothing much."
"Pack? Don't you have another year though?"
"I got my internship requirement override and the few classes I have left, I'm taking them online over the summer so I'm pretty much done."
"Dang, mate. Lucky. But hey, if not today, you have to come out and celebrate with us tomorrow. One last time, yeah?"
"Sure," Arnav replied as if realizing Mitch wouldn't leave till he agreed.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Mitch seemed to be happy and bid, "Alright, catch you tomorrow."
I heard ruffling outside as Mitch probably left again and the knob was turning. I remembered I had locked it so I unlocked it again.
Arnav was done with college? I was trying to wrap my head around it when he pushed the door open. I was standing too close and it ended up hitting my nose.
I hissed stumbling back and he gaped in shock. "Ow!"
He asked through a curse "Shit, you okay?" and I rubbed my nose to relieve the sting.
"No," I grumbled. "Just take me back."
"Uh, yeah." He answered walking into the room, "Just a sec." He got the key for the safe again and quickly retrieved his phone. This time, he kept the key with him not wanting to take a detour to the desk and I walked out ahead of him.
If I had walked instead, I'd have already been back to my room.
The whole drive back, he didn't acknowledge that I'd have heard the conversation. It was still hard to believe he'd wiped off an entire year of college by getting an override and online classes.
Normally, people finished courses over a four-month regular semester. Summer only gave two months. Wasn't it rushed? Trying to cram courses worth an entire semester over the summer term and that too online?
I wondered if that's what the passport was - his to go back to India.
I scolded myself to stop thinking about it. It was none of my business. If he's done with college, good for me. And the plus for me, I wouldn't have to see him around campus for the next year. Or perhaps, never see him again.
I wanted it to be a good thing... but then why was there this strange sadness inside of me?
. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .
I opened the car door when he pulled up in the front of the flats. "Khushi?"
I turned to him with one foot out.
He opened his mouth hesitating to say something. I waited but he seemed to change his mind and bid instead, "Bye."
Confused, I repeated the words and got out of the car. It didn't sound like that's the reason he had stopped me. I watched him drive away. It was impossible to understand him. Shaking my head mentally, I turned to walk in but briefly stopped on seeing Amanda standing there.
I made the decision to duck my head and walk around her. Since that confrontation months ago, she hadn't talked to me but I sometimes heard news of her from Kripa or Riddhima. She remained friends with them.
She surprisingly stopped me just as I walked past her. "Khushi."
I stopped and turned to face her. What more did she have to say?
"I'm sorry."
I cautiously eyed her... wasn't it too late?
She added, "I'm glad things are okay between you two."
I broke my silence, "What?"
She clarified, "You and Arnav."
Is she passive-aggressively taunting me? "Are you...?"
"I know. He told me."
"He told you." I decided to repeat it and act like I knew what the hell she was talking about.
"Yeah, he told me you'd asked him to stay away from me. I admit, I was mad when I found out but I get it now. You were always a friend and though you don't say it, it was your way of looking out for me. I'm just sorry you two fought because of me."
When did he tell her this? Why did he tell her this? I was so lost. "We didn't fight because of you."
To be honest, there was no fight after he kissed her. We just never talked about it.
She gave me a knowing look, "C'mon, he asked me not to tell you this but I'm sure you already know so might as well say it. He'd said he needed someone to see that kiss. He might have not said it but it was obvious that someone was you."
What the actual fuck? What is she talking about?
She glanced down at her phone when it beeped and she rushed it along, "Listen, I know I said a lot of rude things to you and I really regret not talking to you about it as soon as I found out but forgive me? I hope we can be friends again. See you after summer?"
I could only nod in response for I was trying to still wrap my mind around what she just revealed to me thinking I already knew. Not only did he tell her he'd promised me and fixed our friendship - Amanda just waited too long to talk to me - but did he also kiss her because he knew I would see it?
Why would he do that on purpose? Push me away like that... make me hate him and think he broke his promise... for what? On top of it, he didn't want me to know.
What was he doing?
. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .
| . . . C H A P T E R . . . 1 2 4 . 2 : T A K E - M E - H O M E . . . |
Friday afternoon, Kripa, Riddhima, Abhimanyu, and I were seated in the living room trying to decide where to go in the evening to celebrate the end of our very first year of college. It didn't apply to Abhimanyu since he was 2 years ahead of us but given he was in our group too and currently the only guy since Ron and Jasper had gone home for the summer already, he was tagging along to celebrate the fact that he'd finally be a senior.
At the knock on the door, everyone looked at me since I was sitting closest to it. Rolling my eyes, I stretched over to reach the knob and did my best to open it while sitting.
I could be very lazy.
Arnav pushed the door open and walked in. He eyed the way I had stretched out before shaking his head and looking at Kripa.
She expressed, "Perfect timing! Help: Emerson or Brown Alley."
He raised his brow, "Who said you could go to a club?"
She rolled her eyes, "We're all going. Now don't be prude and help. I know you've been to both. Which is better?"
He sighed walking over to the empty space next to Riddhima. "Neither."
She started to chide, "Arnav, I..."
He cut her off, "Chill. I know a better club. I'll take you there."
Her eyes almost popped out and mines widened as well. Did he just offer to personally take her without so much of a fuss?
He added a question, "Will your boyfriend be joining?"
The doorbell rang this time. I groaned when everyone looked at me again. "I'm never sitting near the door again."
Huffing, I got up this time to get it, only to find Armaan standing there. My forehead narrowed and I was about ready to close the door on him thinking I had to be dreaming. Then, the expression on his face made me stop.
He looked pissed off.
Armaan wouldn't be beyond angry in a dream.
"Armaan?" I questioned.
"Where is he?" He questioned at once.
I grew more confused by the second. "Who?" He was in Australia right now looking like he did and instead of greeting me, he was asking about some guy? "Abhi, hide." I said thinking he looked livid because maybe he found out about Abhi and Riddhima dating.
Abhi asked in confusion, "What?"
But I didn't get to answer as Armaan walked in, leaving his bag by the door. I waited for him to look at Abhi but his eyes seemed to be glaring at Arnav, who stood up on seeing Armaan. Why was Armaan...? Before I could finish the thought, he punched Arnav square in the face.
I gasped and Riddhima stood up too, shocked. I was still reeling since I hadn't glimpsed his anger in some years but Riddhima was quick to recover, getting in between two males before Arnav might retaliate. "Armaan, what the hell?"
She was better at this. Growing up, she had often pulled Armaan away from any brawls he'd get into at school.
He ordered not once looking at her, "Basket, move," and all the while glaring at Arnav. He tried to walk past her when she didn't listen but she put her hands on his chest and pushed him back.
She demanded, "No, not until you calm the hell down."
I added finally finding my voice to include myself instead of standing by and watching this unfold, "And tell me what is going on."
He turned to me on hearing me and seemed to realize he'd scared me for he momentarily closed his eyes and exhaled while taking a step back so Riddhima's hand didn't have to hold him back. "Riddhima. Khushi. Would you leave us alone?"
"No." We denied together.
Kripa had by now stood by Arnav's side, "You okay?" She touched his jaw but he winced, pulling my attention away from Armaan to Arnav.
He answered, "Armaan, listen, I..."
I observed all the while, he had been awfully silent instead of retaliating instantly. He didn't seem the kind of guy to let someone punch him and not punch back. Now, he was trying to talk?
Armaan gritted pointing his finger at him, "No, you don't get to talk and justify yourself. Who gave you the right to talk to my dad?"
"What?" I let out.
"I was only trying to help."
"Help? No, help is not saving my dad first by buying his business with the condition that you marry Khushi and then put him in the hospital by telling him what happened to her."
"Hospital?" I echoed focusing on the dangerous word rather than everything else.
Armaan continued speaking however as if he hadn't heard me, "Tell me, when you had already told me no when I asked you to look after her, why do this? Add to her problems?"
I exclaimed needing some clarity for nothing made sense, "What the heck are you two talking about? What happened to dad? Is he okay?"
Armaan turned to me, "Doll, pack your things. We need to go back to India." It told me dad wasn't okay. But what's this about help? And why are they talking like they know each other and that Armaan doesn't just know Arnav from my phone conversations with him?
I looked directly at Arnav to find him looking at me too. Even though Armaan said it, I had to ask him. I needed to hear him from him, "Did you buy my dad's business?"
He didn't even try denying as he answered in a singular word, "Yes."
My heart started beating faster than it already was, "That... that marriage condition?"
"Yes."
I was baffled. Why? What?
I hoped against hope next that he wouldn't say what I am afraid of for my next question. "What did you tell him?"
He spoke with no regret in his voice or eyes. He said it so bluntly that it once again made me question everything about him. "What he needed to know."
I felt myself take a step back with the way he crushed everything. All air seemed to have been sucked out of my lungs with that one statement. "Why?!"
"You said he was getting you married. Why else would you tell me that if you didn't want him to know?"
I yelled, "Are you twisted, or what? I didn't tell you so you could do this! I told you I didn't want them to know! How could you?" It hurt so much that he didn't respect my wish and because of his arrogance, dad was in the hospital now.
He, however countered, "If not me, he'd have gotten you married to someone else. I saved you. It's all I've ever tried to do."
"Saved me?" I challenged how absurd he sounded right now. Did he not see what he had done? "You didn't save me! You put my dad in the hospital!"
I stopped because it was useless. There was not an ounce of regret anywhere.
"He needed to know what he was doing to his own daughter. He was going to get you married to...!" He raised his voice back at me, angry why I wasn't seeing things his way. Is he for real right now? "Married! Do you know what that means? Just to save some business."
"He is my dad!" I screamed back in tears. "My dad! Do you even know what that word means?"
He was ready to take a step towards me when Kripa grabbed his arm with both her hands to stop him. My words did register in my brain and it recalled faintly how he did lose his parents at a young age. Right now, though, I did not apologize or take back my words.
He had no right to make this choice for me. He has ruined my life.
I spoke through clenched jaw and blinking to clear the blur from tears, "If anything happens to him..."
Some days ago, I had pieced together things with Amanda and was considering waiting for him to return so I could ask him about it. I was ready to listen to Jennifer's words from a few weeks ago and accept that something was going on in his life and I should try to be a friend to him too. But now... now I know what he had been doing since then behind my back.
There is no forgiveness for him.
I turned my back to him and whispered to Armaan while controlling the heavy lump in my throat. "Take me home."
. . . ∞ . ∞ . ∞ . ∞. . .
| . . . A U T H O R - N O T E . . . |
Oh, this mess. There are things to learn from Arnav's POV, obviously, but for it, you shall have to wait for the next book!
As you see, I removed the whole part about Khushi having a memory block after her hospitalization and Arnav telling her he cared for her while trying to explain why he kissed Amanda to push her away. When I think this second time, I think it was not convincing and forgetting her memory of few days seemed a bit dramatic too, yeah?
This time, with there being a lot more misunderstandings thann just Amanda, I decided it couldn't be easily solved in that one part. So yeah, I've got a different plan for that which I think will come off much better and relatable (:
It may be frustrating how the two won't just sit and talk it all out but bear with me. It'll take some time but they'll get there after a few learned lessons. Also, the part with all these hints just staring Khushi in the face but she still doesn't connect that the guy who saved her that night and the one whose shirt she has is Arnav only :P So close yet so far...
Shall be back soon with a conclusion! Meanwhile, look forward to your comments on this chapter!