Chapter Seventeen

The two hadn't done so great in their mid terms, so Khushi would drag them to the library with her. After numerous study dates, not to mention fooling around, it paid off and all three passed.

Summer had arrived and it was the last day. Lavanya and Khushi cleared out their dorm since Lavanya would be heading to Rajasthan to stay with her parents. She had to leave early, so Khushi and La had bid their farewells early in the morning, La already bidding her farewell to Arnav the day before.

Khushi was out on the campus, preparing to leave, when Arnav came by.

"Hey," Arnav said, his thumbs hanging from the loopholes of his jeans.

Khushi turned, surprised. "Oh, hey! What's up?"

He tilted his head. "Not much. You done packing?"

"Uh, yeah. Most of my stuff is back home. Just a few stuff here and there and I'm done."

Arnav nodded. "Um, can I help?"

Khushi smiled. Thanks Arnav, but it's okay-"

"No, no! I have no problem."

"Well...-"

"Come on! I'll help you," and he entered the room.

"Well, if you insist."

Arnav smiled and helped Khushi pick up the last of the clothes left. Khushi was putting away some t-shirts, when Arnav chuckled.

"What's wrong," Khushi asked, not looking.

"Hmm, polka dots."

Khushi scrunched her eyebrows. "What?"

"Polka dots with lace... sexy."

Khushi's head whipped around and she gasped. In Arnav's hands were her polka dotted, lacy bra, with matching panties. She quickly grabbed it and shoved it into her bag, looking side to side, embarrassed, while Arnav chuckled.

"Not funny," Khushi blushed.

"I'm sorry yaar! Really," but he still chuckled.

Khushi's face flushed and Arnav made her face him.

"It's okay Kush. Chill."

Khushi still felt embarrassed.

"So what are your plan," Arnav asked, changing the topic.

"I'll be at my place, spending time with the folks."

"Hmm, same here. My mom will be ecstatic when I get back."

Khushi smiled. "Same here... even though I see my mom like every weekend."

Arnav chuckled lightly, nodding. "Wait Khushi, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Well, you always invited Lavanya to your place, even having her stay over."

"Uh huh...?"

"Well, how come you've never taken me there?"

Khushi blinked at him. "Uh... well, I don't know. I guess... well, I don't know how my parents would take that. They're chill, yeah, but it's not so much of a good idea."

"But your parents are chill?"

"It's not my parents that I'm worried about. It's my Nana that I'm worried about."

"You're Nana?"

"Yeah. With him..." she groaned.

"You wanna tell me," Arnav tried, trying to ease it for her.

"No," she sighed. "I just... don't get me wrong, he's sweet at times, but..."

"But what?"

Khushi crossed her arms, moving her cardigan to fully cover her, even though it was warm. "I hate him," she whispered.

"Why?"

Khushi fought back tears. "I... I really don't wanna talk about it."

Arnav nodded. "No problem," and he headed towards the door.

"Arnav?"

He stopped and turned.

"Please don't take it the wrong way. I just... I don't like to talk about it."

"I get that. I was just going to take your bag out."

"Oh. ... Um, okay?" She let out a light chuckle.

Arnav smiled and took her bag. Khushi checked the room one last time and sighed, grabbing the keys. She took a deep breath and shut the door, locking it.

"Khushi, relax. You'll be here two months later."

"I know. But still."

Arnav shook his head and they headed to the lobby. Khushi dropped off the keys and then they headed out to the parking lot. Arnav got her bag in her car and Khushi leaned against the drivers side door.

Arnav sighed. "So this is it."

Khushi sighed, tears coming to her eyes. "Yeah."

Arnav shook his head, crossing his arms. "Oh Kush, it's just two months."

"Yeah..." Two months without you, she said in her head.

She bit her lip to control herself. Arnav shook his head and reached out to her and hugged her. He held her tightly around her waist, holding her close to him. Khushi gripped into his shoulders, shocked. Though they had hugged a lot, they were always side hugs. This hug was a full-out, bear hug! ... And she sure did like it.

"Oh Kush, will you always be this emotional?"

Khushi rolled her eyes. "Arnu!"

Arnav moved back and looked at her. "Don't."

"Arnu."

"Kush," he warned.

"Arnu."

"Kush, I'm serious."

"Arnu!"

"Khushi-"

"Arnu! Arnu! Arnu!"

Arnav let go, rolling his eyes and shaking his head. Khush giggled, loving how that it always irritated him when she called him that, sort of like how he would call her Kush. His intention was to always make her sound like a guy, but Khushi didn't mind so much, since a lot of people called her that. Truth be told, she loved it how he called her that.

"Well, I'm certainly not going to miss that," Arnav said, as a matter of fact.

"You never know. Today you'll hate it, but tomorrow?"

Arnav scrunched his eyebrows.

"Tomorrow when I won't be there, you'll be wishing and begging to be called that."

"I doubt that."

"I don't."

The two looked at each other and from looking turned into an intense eye lock. They just looked at each other, when all of a sudden someone screamed, breaking their trance.

The two looked awkwardly away, and then looked back.

"Um, I guess I should get going," Khushi muttered.

"Yeah. I should too."

Khushi nodded and got into her car. Arnav walked up to her window and knocked on it. Khushi rolled it down and looked at him, eyebrows scrunched.

"I'll miss you Kush."

Khushi smiled. "I'll miss you to Arnu."

Arnav didn't mind this time and looked down, smiling. "See ya in the fall."

"See ya in the fall."

Arnav backed away, nodding and Khushi's car came to life. She waved back one last time for the year and so did Arnav. It pained Khushi's heart as she pulled away. She looked into the mirror and saw Arnav getting smaller and smaller, standing in the same spot she left him.

When she pulled out of the campus, she sighed.

This is going to be one long vacation, she said in her head. She sighed. I love you Arnav, she smiled.